Belize Times April 24, 2016 by Belize Times Press

SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

24 APRIL 2016 | ISSUE NO: 4990

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

RESPECT TEACHERS! Belize City, April 20, 2016 On April 15th, 2016, the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) mobilized its membership in solidarity with Belize, in the first of a series of consultations aptly named “Stand Up for Belize”. The Teachers are on a fact finding mission to guide their official stance, yet to be taken on the question of the International Court of Justice panacea being offered by the Barrow Administration. If the events of April 15th are any indication of things to come, Sedi and Dean will be in serious trouble with the

Pg. 3

BNTU Shakes Up Sedi, Stands Up for Belize

GAZA DON

GUNNED DOWN Pablo Marin

Grijalva Is Guilty!! His company destroyed 2,300 year old Mayan site, Noh Mul

Danini Contreras

UDP INCEST Gerald “Shiny” Tillett

Pg. 23

Erwin Contreras

Pg. 7

THE FLEECING OF BTL - PT2

GOB GOUGING FUEL CONSUMERS Pg. 4

Pg. 10

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OPINION OUT

OUT

Open Letter to the President, Board of Directors and Administrative Team

April 05, 2016 Dear all, The University of Belize Faculty and Staff Association recently received copies of various articles and letters which were sent to the editors of our key national newspapers. While these public discussions are private views held by those who work/worked at the University, the UBSFA is of the opinion that most of the issues reflect the current reality of our institution. Additionally, the sentiments reflected in these articles echo a sense of acrimony and disillusionment in the work environment. These issues have been brought up to the UBFSA on multiple occasions by numerous employees. It is true that there is widespread discontent and disenchantment at all levels and across all campuses of the University. Unfortunately, the University will continue to receive bad publicity if these issues are not addressed internally. We therefore call on the President and/or Board of Directors to convene, at your earliest convenience, a general Staff and Faculty meeting to discuss the most pressing issues affecting our institution. It is a fact, that Faculty, Staff and Students are fully aware of the issues and problems of the University. The only way that we can move forward is to address them as a team. We look forward to your announcement of a date and time to commence dialogue with UBFSA representatives on the way forward. Sincerely, Harrison Flowers Interim President – UBFSA

LOCAL 21 Apr

24 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Mess Is Here!

Dear Editor, Last week Ambassador Assad Shoman said something important. He said that he doesn’t trust the persons representing Guatemala in these talks. He said that they’re being disingenuous and Belize needs to be always on its guard. Shoman has been involved with negotiations and discussions over the Guatemalan territorial dispute for about 40 years, so when he talks, I think we should listen. The truth is that for the first time I feel that we’re getting the true sense of what’s happening in these talks. For the past few years Sedi has been meeting with Guatemala and we have to listen to his version of events only. I’m not absolutely sure that Sedi always tells the truth. I’m not absolutely sure that he’s been handling this Guatemala situation properly. I think he’s allowed us to be bullied. I think it could actually be his fault that we are where we are – at a point where Guatemala feels comfortable taking the whole Sarstoon, coming into our waters whenever they want and even aggressing our BDF. Sedi says all that is because Belizean civilians are provoking the Guatemalans. He says that the Belize Territorial Volunteers are to blame. I think Sedi has lost it completely. He should be recalled by his Prime Minister. I think no one except for Sedi expected that Guatemala would accept the Sarstoon protocols presented by Belize. I don’t even understand why we have to be coming up with any protocols for the Sarstoon. The border line is the mid-point of the navigable side of the river – half for Guatemala, half for Belize – end of story. As far as the ICJ is concerned, I’m also not convinced that it’s going to happen anytime soon. I believe that Guatemala doesn’t really want to

WEATHER 22 Apr

23 Apr

24 Apr

go to the ICJ. I believe that they’re going to continue pushing, continue asserting control as they’ve done in the Sarstoon – little by little, square inch by square inch. But in the meantime we have big problems which continue to affect the security and stability of our people. The government has been unable to get a handle on this crime situation. Here’s my two cents on that whole thing. I think the criminals aren’t afraid to kill or shoot or stab or steal or maim or wound because they know there’s a better than even chance that they’ll walk free. See, this government hasn’t done anything constructive to fix our justice system. It’s 2016 and we don’t have any sort of witness protection program. It’s 2016 and accused murderers sit behind bars for five years before their cases are called. It’s 2016 and our prosecutors are so overworked that they simply cannot handle their case load. We can’t take our eyes off the Guatemala situation, but we also can’t take our eyes off what’s happening at home. We have people being gunned down in broad daylight and their killers

2016

are walking away – to kill again, and again, and again. Since 2008 this UDP administration hasn’t done anything to fix that mess. Instead they came up with a draconian gun law which targets the innocent much more than it deals with the guilty. The justice system is crying out for help. Where is the government? You know what I can never understand? In the past few years the Barrow administration has paid millions and millions of dollars to select, special attorneys who are connected to the Prime Minister. Lois Young, Michael Young, Rodwell Williams, Denys Barrow – what they’ve made from fighting GOB’s cases could have been put into a strong, well-resourced, adequately staffed prosecution department, or maybe to strengthen the Solicitor-General’s Office. Instead we have a few rich attorneys while our entire prosecution system is in disarray. I don’t get it. We need a change. Change has got to come. I don’t listen when they say the best is coming. We have all learned the hard way. It’s all a lie. Concerned Belizean

THE LAST WORD!

Contributed Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on a matter of great importance, and before I go any further, no it’s not the Sarstoon nor is it the dismal economy but a matter of importance because if we can only get this right the whole country will shout out for joy. Mr. Speaker I speak of the Mile 8 (George Price Highway) to Mile 11 (Phillip Goldson Highway) Road for which the Government is borrowing an ELEVEN Million Dollar Loan. This loan is basically for a road going nowhere. For the record Mr. Speaker, I am not against the construction of the road but believe that it is not necessary at this time. I can’t help but to call on my colleagues on the other side to think this through. To prioritise on their priorities and get the best value for borrowed money at this time. Instead of moving ahead on that project, let us examine the pros and cons of spending on a much needed road infrastructure which is the Manatee Road/Coastal Road. This is a project of greater value and impact to various sectors of our community. A paved Manatee Road will cut fuel cost and save time on road travels to the South by some thirty miles. It will connect the north and the south in key trade and commerce and support the development of lands along the route. Unlike the Manatee Road, the road to nowhere project only favours a few private land owners and is programmed at a time when we are already rehabili-

2625Mar Apr

tating the Phillip Goldson highway, from the Haulover Bridge to the airport junction. Why double spend on the same project? Mr. Speaker, I hope that this call does not fall on deaf ears. Monies from loans are a burden to generations to come and must be made to benefit those who really need it. Let us look at the real benefits of the road to nowhere and the Manatee Road and we’ll find the answers of what is the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker, my vote is for the Manatee Road and for the people of La Democracia, Gales Point Manatee, Hope Creek and the rest of Southern Belize…the road to nowhere can wait. SCAN HERE

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

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

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24 APR

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

RESPECT TEACHERS!

Continued from page 3

BNTU. The mobilization by the BNTU which is perhaps Belize’s most powerful union, signals a menacing but righteous threat to the Barrow Administration’s policy of appeasement in relation to Guatemala. The momentum has been building across all sectors of Belize as it becomes clear to the Belizean people that Mr. Barrow and Sedi has bungled the nation’s most important diplomatic duty—the management of the unfounded Guatemalan claim. Before Sedi and Dean Barrow, the Guatemalans have never attempted to exercise sovereignty over any part of Belize. However, on March 21st, 2016 they sent clear signals to CARICOM, and the entire world, that the Sarstoon belongs to them and as such, they will continue to exercise sovereignty over it. Their recent rejection of Sedi’s Sarstoon Protocols, in favor of what they insist is the agreed status quo, is further indication of the dangerous position to which Sedi and Dean have led us. The annexation of the Sarstoon by Guatemala signals a troubling change of tempo in their overall “reclaim Belize” strategy. This change of tempo now includes the use of military forces to assert sovereignty over Belizean territory. In other words the Guatemalans have stopped talking and are now acting! Back to the BNTU. The BNTU’s showing in Benque Viejo Del Carmen on Friday was historic and the leaders of the BNTU will long be remembered for their courage. We view the BNTU as brave because in Belize any impression that you are not marching lockstep with the Barrow Administration is likely to lead to severe personal consequences. Notwithstanding such hazards the Teachers were probing, forceful, and daring; they laid it on thick on Sedi and rightly so. The Teachers understand that the current roadmap being put forward by Sedi and Dean will lead us to no good place. Teachers are some of the most important public servants in Belize. We must forever be grateful to them, for it is upon their solid commitment to their profession that successive generation of Belizeans are prepared for the never ending task of nation building. Our Teachers have been the primary conduit for the transfer of knowledge to our children and no one can deny that knowledge is the greatest gift that one generation can bequeath to the next. So we welcome the initiative by the BNTU to educate their members on this very important issue. Teachers are intelligent people,

educated too yes, but intelligence as you know is instinctive and deep; the Teachers placed theirs on full display in Benque. Whereas Sedi was intent on sticking to the script, the Teachers were relentless and destroyed every argument he put forward. True to form Sedi returned to his place of comfort: his condescending ways. He blurted out that he has been attuned with the Guatemalan issue for 52 years and implied that as a learned attorney he knows better than the rest of us. The Teachers would have none of it. In response to a question by one of the Teachers about the legal cost relating to the ICJ, Sedi quite shamefully stated that the Barrow Administration is “depending on the international community both to finance the [one sided] education c a m p a i g n ”, the OAS office and Belize’s appearance before the ICJ. According to Sedi “the cost will not come out of Belize’s taxpayers, because we don’t have the money to pay”. Really! Over the last 6 years, the Barrow Administration squandered more than $325 million of PetroCaribe loan funds; $44 million in the weeks before the last election alone. Now they cannot find money for the ICJ option that they are offering us as the final solution? Did Mr. Barrow not so proudly inform the nation that he was paying his own brother $1,000 an hour for many months of legal services related to his nationalization a d ve n tu r e s ? Now he cannot afford the ICJ option and

Wilfred Elrington

so we must go begging? What about the internationalization efforts that is being urged? Oh yeah. We can’t afford that either. Perhaps one of the most significant news coming from the BNTU

03 3 is the indication by its leadership that they will lobby to have the issue of the unfounded Guatemalan claim incorporated in the primary school curriculum. It is the view of the BNTU that the current curriculum does not sufficiently stimulate a sense of nationalism in us so that we are prepared to “stand up and defend this country.” We support the BNTU in this. The BNTU has made it clear that this is not a political issue for them but we are sure that the pigheadedness, arrogance and cowardice of those at the helm of the ICJ train will lead to a collision with the BNTU in the very near future. The Teachers are standing up for Belize! The BNTU giant has been awaken! Our advice to Mr. Barrow and Sedi is: be afraid, be very afraid.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

24 APR

2016

HARD KNOCKS

Grijalva Is Guilty!!

Belizeans are not being told the real story about the Sarstoon. We’re not being told the truth. How did we suddenly get into this position where Guatemala has the upper hand? Just the other day there was no doubt that the border in the South was the midpoint of the Sarstoon River. We could go in there with no problem. That’s the “Sarstoon” we refer to in our national anthem. But suddenly it seems that we’re singing anthems about a river belonging to Guatemala. Suddenly we have to ask permission to go into the river. Suddenly, while someone somewhere in the diplomatic fairy tale castle in Belmopan was asleep, Guatemala established a fully manned patrol base on the Sarstoon. And they took it, lock, stock and barrel. Confidence building measures Do you remember when Guatemala’s Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales stood side by side with Sedi Elrington at the Radisson? Morales explained why they were opposed to the Forward Operating Base at the Sarstoon, and why they had aggressed Coast Guard soldiers at Sarstoon Island. According to Morales, who’s no dummy, there was an agreement between Belize and Guatemala that Belize would not build any military bases on the border. He said that was a part of confidence building measures between both countries. Sedi Elrington did not dispute that in any way. Neither did the OAS. Belizeans would not have known the truth if former PUP Foreign Ministers hadn’t stood up and revealed that Guatemala was telling a lie. That agreement was a complete fabrication. Or was it? Sedi still hasn’t come clean and really explained that one. The Status Quo Now Carlos Raul Morales is talking about another agreement between Belize and Guatemala. He calls it the “status quo”. He says that there is this understanding that whenever Belizeans go into the Sarstoon they have to stop in at the Guatemalan base and ask permission. How do you like that one? We have to ask permission to go into our Sarstoon. The BDF has to ask permission to go into the Sarstoon. Guatemala makes reference to this agreement, this status quo in their official documents. You know what? It’s very likely that there is such an agreement, and if there is, it was brokered in top secret, closed door sessions between Sedi Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales. You know what’s very interesting? Sedi Elrington has never denied that there is some sort of agreement. At the last press conference, Ambassador Assad Shoman fielded the question about that agreement while Sedi Elrington stayed absolutely quiet. There needs to be an investigation into this matter. It doesn’t make sense that Guatemala just woke up one morning and fabricated an entire agreement which states that Belizeans have to ask permission to go into the Sarstoon. That makes no sense. Absolutely NONE. You’ve been punked Did anybody really think that Guatemala would accept the proposals presented by Belize? Those eleven protocols which talked about sovereign equality and respect for fishing and farming in the Sarstoon? Why would Guatemala accept proposals when they already control the entire river? Their people have spread illegal nets across the entire river. In fact, there are nets and illegal fishing all the way into Belizean waters north of the Sarstoon. Fishing camps are popping up between Barranco and the Sarstoon, occupied by Guatemalans. Nobody moves them. There are Guatemalan farms and illegal logging all over the Sarstoon Temash National Park. Government doesn’t seem to care. So why would Guatemala care? They have control. We don’t. So they’ve rejected those ill-fated eleven proposals and called for a return to – you guessed it – the status quo. Guatemala isn’t serious about peace. Guatemala isn’t serious about compromise. Guatemala isn’t serious about sharing the Sarstoon with us. It’s all lies. We’ve been punked by Guatemala. AGAIN.

His company destroyed 2,300 year old Mayan site, Noh Mul Belize City, April 18, 2016 The reckless destruction of the ancient Noh Mul Mayan site by Denny Grijalva’s construction company drew heavy condemnation nationally and internationally in May 2013. The UDP politician from Orange Walk Central admitted that his company was excavating for road material and had set their eyes on the Mayan site. On Monday, April 18th, almost three years since the start of the trial, the slow wheels of justice finally held the callous politician accountable when the Magistrate Court found Grijalva guilty of the destruction of the 2,300 year old Mayan site. In Court, Grijava hung his head low as Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith read out her judgment, condemning the “irreversible” damage to the Mayan site. Grijalva and his wife Emelda were charged as the Directors of the company, De-Mar’s Construction located in Trial Farm Village. Foreman Javier Nuñez was charged for the removal of stones from an ancient monument wilfully damaging an ancient monument and causing the destruction of an ancient monument, respectively. “The Court finds the Crown to have proved all elements of the offences beyond a reasonable doubt and therefore finds the defendants guilty of all charges,”

declared the Chief Magistrate in her ruling. While initially admitting to the allegations during the early stages of the trial, Grijalva later attempted to recant and pass the blame. His employees said that although a DeMar’s excavator and trucks were found at Noh Mul site, the real damages were committed by villagers. But the Court rejected this claim. “The Court is of the view that the company and the directors, i.e., Mr Denny Grijalva, Ms Emelda Grijalva and the project manager Mr Javier Nunez are to be held liable and accountable for the acts of its servants…for the criminal acts of those who illegally excavated Noh Mul. They are to be held accountable,” the Chief Magistrate pressed. Grijalva will be sentenced on Thursday April 21st. Cultural activists are hoping that he faces the maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and a year’s imprisonment. The Court’s pronouncement on Grijalva’s guilt should be followed by political sentencing by Grijalva’s United Democratic Party for the wanton act, but the UDP is better known for covering up wrongdoing. In the case of Grijalva, despite his cultural genocide, he is still the UDP’s Orange Walk Central candidate. In fact, Grijalva is currently paraded as a key northern supporter to Patrick Faber’s campaign in the UDP. There is no shame in the game for the UDP.

Leon Gordon fatally stabbed in Caye Caulker the bar for disorderly conduct, when he was stabbed with a broken pint bottle. The 29 year old was rushed from the island to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City where he underwent an emergency surgery, but around 3am on Monday morning he passed away.

CALL

Caye Caulker Village, April 19, 2016 Well-known Caye Caulker resident, Leon Gordon, was fatally stabbed on Sunday night as he attempted to stop a fight at a local club, Sip and Dip Bar. Gordon was reportedly intervening in a squabble between the bar owner and a customer who was being forced out of

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24 APR

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 05

EDITORIAL

A Product of Dean’s Square “So much political power in the city yet at night it’s a ghost town, imprisoned by fear” – “Policing Crime in Belize City” by Fermin Olivera, The BELIZE TIMES, Sunday April 3, 2016 The legacy of Dean Oliver Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize, and longest-serving member from Queen Square will include the introduction of the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) along with their horror stories of abuses against the Belizean people. While Barrow introduced the American-trained and funded GSU as a paramilitary arm of our security forces, in his constituency he witnessed the rise of members of the well-known George Street Gang which became an asset to his political machinery when it was necessary. The GSU’s objective, as its name declares, is to suppress the gangs in Belize. So far, however, the suppression tactics has only added fuel to the wars on the streets, and at times the police hierarchy itself, but this is a discussion for another Editorial. In August 2011, the GSU struck on George Street residents and well-known members of the GSG when they carried out searches of residences with brutal force. Several residents claimed police brutality and eventually sued and won large compensation for the GSU’s actions. In March 2012, an audio recording revealed the GSU’s planned “War against George Street” as a tactical operation. So much so that when in January 2013, four men connected to George Street were killed viciously in their apartments on Plues Street, the GSU were the first suspects in the eyes of the public. Over the past eight years, the George Street Gang gained prominence in the streets of Belize City. In all “gang truces” with the Barrow Administration the GSG seemed to be the lead negotiating group. At times other “gangs” have felt left out as the senior politicians sat around the table with gang leaders to discuss a quid pro quo. The GSG are priority for work

opportunities in infrastructure projects. The GSG has certainly taken advantage of the closeness to the Prime Minister through his political constituency, so much so that in one instance the Prime Minister cancelled an official trip to a CARICOM meeting to attend a gang truce meeting. When the gangs demanded money to keep the peace, the Government coughed up over a million dollars to buy false security. The irony to Dean’s successes in Queen Square is that the George Street Gang came to be under him. He has had enough time to help his constituents in a meaningful way as the area representative for the past 30 plus years but he turned a blind eye. The Barrow that grew up in the Southside of Belize City knows that the only way out of poverty, out of crime, out of life with no meaning and purpose is to get an education. Barrow at least had the privilege of having people who cared enough to see him become productive. But this he kept to himself. The boys in the hood were only good to become voters. There are powerful UDP politicians in the Southside who hold senior Ministerial posts in Government. They all hold influential portfolios including Education, Finance, Poverty Alleviation, Social Transformation and Housing. Dean sits at the throne. Dean has had enough time, enough money, enough power to change the future for George Street. He chose not to. Now, the chickens have come home to roost. George Street has lost “Pinky”, “Long John”, “Ghost”, “Robbery” and now “Shiny”. While we note that gang members are not saints, they were once children and teenagers looking for an opportunity to become productive. Did Dean Barrow give George Street a fair chance? Our response is that with all the political power and the pretending to be on their side, they never stood a chance in Dean’s Square.

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24 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

PUP Leader

HON. JOHN BRICENO

Meeting PUP Committees OF Queen Square & Pickstock

2016

Alleged Killer Cops Get Bail Wednesday, April 20, 2016 In June 2015 pandemonium briefly descended on the island of Caye Caulker after student Hilberto Sotz, 18, died while in police custody. Islanders rioted and additional Police had to be called out to keep the peace. Justice appeared to be swift. Within days two Police officers, PC Hallet King and PC Leonard Nunez were arraigned for murder after a post-mortem examination revealed that Sotz had injuries consistent with a savage beating. But tonight those two officers are out on bail. On April 15ththe charge of murder against them was reduced to manslaughter based on a directive from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The rationale given is that there was a lack of evidence to support the charge of murder, and with that the men were granted bail of $2,000. Following the incident in 2015, the Ministry of National Security had promised prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, stating via release that the Min-

ister “condemns the alleged use of unwarranted personal violence by PC Leonard Nunez and PC Hallet King and the apparent neglect of duty by all other Police Officers that were at the Caye Caulker Police station at the time of the incident; who seemly stood by and were slovenly inactive during this entire ordeal”. The decision to downgrade charges has brought a fresh wave of grief to the Sotz family, which has been advocating for justice since the death of their loved one. Santorino Sotz, the father of the victim, vented his dismay in media interviews, vowing that he will not rest until the Police pay for what they did to his son. According to the distraught father, “the police officers took my son’s life and now they are back on the streets for two thousand dollars. We are asking the Police Department please - we need justice. If they reach there, if the D.P.P. is not taking justice, I think like how they say…just like how they take action and the law in their hands and kill my son, we can do it too.”

City Administrator

OF Freetown & Caribbean Shores

Caught Up in Love Triangle Again Belize City, April 19, 2016 Over the years, we have heard all sorts of drama coming out of the UDP, Belize City Council. From Zeniada’s under-depositing to guns and money being stolen. There have been all sorts of Human Resource issues as well. Some going all the way to the top. Reliable sources have informed this newspaper that last week the drama landed at the desk of the City Administrator, Ms. Candice Miller. Apparently after hanging out with friends she got information that her partner (who we will call Mr. DJ) was in some house off Wilson Street spending quality time with the partner of a top brass of the police. This tangled web became somewhat violent and we were told that the situation got intense and rough. The Police had to be called to handle the situation. We were also advised that a longtime HR staff of the Council had to lecture the senior employee about her actions and the shame she was bringing on the Council. With all the hustling and ineptitude going on at the Council, how can we afford to have a City Administrator who is constantly embroiled with domestic issues? Obviously with her heart and mind distracted from the Council’s work, it may be difficult for her to do her job efficiently.

24 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

UDP Incest

Pablo Marin could call Erwin Contreras “Dad”

Pablo Marin

Danini Contreras

Corozal Town, April 20, 2016 It has become the hottest-topic in Corozal Town. Residents say that UDP Corozal Bay area representative Pablo Marin has moved out of the municipality and found a cozy home in the western side of the country. The talk becomes more sensational. Marin, it is said by residents, spends much of his time in Cayo where he has found new spice in his life. Someone should call in Jerry Springer because from here it only gets hotter. The BELIZE TIMES is surely not

Erwin Contreras

in the business of prying into people’s bedroom business but when strange conjugations seem too convenient or coincidental, or worse, threaten to negatively affect the nation’s business, then it becomes fair game. This newspaper has confirmed that Health Minister Pablo Marin has found a partner in no other than Danini Contreras. Ms. Contreras happens to be the daughter of UDP Minister Erwin Contreras. Now, if the name rings a bell loudly, it is because three years ago, Ms.

Contreras was in the middle of heated controversy over her sudden appointment to the post of “Drug Inspectorate”, which placed her above the Chief Pharmacist – the most senior public officer post in the Ministry of Health. Multiple red flags were raised by the professionals in the pharmaceutical sector about the appointment, citing as one of their worries that it may just be a political appointment to carry out the directives of her superiors. The professionals had valid concerns. Danini had recent graduate from a university in Guatemala, with no experience or background in pharmaceutical work. Plus her father is a Minister of Government, who is connected to the import business. To appoint someone with her qualifications was disrespectful and discouraging. The Ministry of Health was making a mockery of the profession. Even with all the protests and threats to the move, the Ministry of Health was intransigent and they pushed the appointment. Their insistence was very disturbing and one wondered about the true purpose for this. Fast-forward to today and one gets to understand why it is that the Ministry of Health was so adamant in approving Danini’s appointment. Is it any coincidence that Ms. Contreras and Minister Marin are a couple? The situation is still a major concern and the professionals should once more demand her removal. Beware Pablo Marin! The people of Corozal Bay have their eyes wide open. You have abandoned them. The things “love” makes people do.

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Crystal Ball

A People’s United Party government would look very carefully at regaining control of the Boledo/Lottery system in Belize. This is a staple of our Belizean culture and ALSO a way in which our people can make some extra money to help them make ends meet. BUT it must be a fair game of chance free from any manipulation. For too long this franchise has been in the hands of unscrupulous businessmen who are financiers of the UDP. They care only about making money, anyway they can and in this instance of the backs of the Belizean people. Our people have been complaining for many months that the system is rigged. The Lotteries Commission does not listen. The Government does not listen. And Brads and whoever his partners are rake in all bundles of money. From all accounts, managing Boledo is “pound for pound” one of the most profitable businesses in Belize. Boledo/Lottery must be run by an entity which is honest and works for the people, not a business that cares only about making money. Boledo/Lottery MUST be given back to the people of Belize. We’d love your input. Together WE can make it happen.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

24 APR

2016

UNICEF Belize – Terms of Reference - Long Term Agreement (LTA)

GRAPHIC DESIGN, PUBLICATION LAYOUT, and PROOF READING SERVICES 1. Background and context UNICEF Belize requires the support from graphic design/ companies that are able and available to provide high quality graphic design and publication layout support at short notice. Each year, the UNICEF Belize office produces multiple print materials, including reports, factsheets, infographic posters, many of which are required on short term notice. The office is therefore looking to establish a Long Term Agreement (LTA) with available companies to create a roster of graphic design and publication layout service providers.

GOB LOSES ANOTHER MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CASE!

Court says Government acted in Flagrant Breach – UNICORN Could Get Millions!

Belize City, Wednesday, April 20, 2016 GOB has stated that it will appeal a $9M judgment handed down in January 2016 when Supreme Court Justice Courtney Abel ruled that the raid and seizure of evidence at the offices of Titan International Securities was unconstitutional. According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow in the wake of the decision, he does not think the judgment can stand. But there’s another judgment arising out of the events of that day, by another Justice. And it will potentially cost GOB more millions in damages. On April 15, 2016, Justice Michelle Arana ruled that when an Financial Intelligence Unit team with Police support raided the offices of Unicorn International

2. Justification As projects are recurrent and often similar in nature, a Long Term Agreement and a roster of service providers would save the UNICEF Belize office considerable amounts of time related to advertisement and recruitment. It would also support staff members not familiar with graphic design and publication layout services in recruitment, as each of the LTA holders would have its specified expertise defined by the office. 3. Purpose and Objective Professional design products will be produced at the desired quality level, in a timely fashion, with defined cost limits, with simplified administrative processing and reduced transaction costs.

Securities located at the Matalon Building, they were in flagrant breach of the law. In a written decision, Justice Arana found that the “state team” (FIU) was in “contravention and violation of the Claimant’s right to protection from arbitrary search and entry…contravention and violation of the Claimant’s right to protection from deprivation of property…contravention and violation of the Claimant’s right to be protected from interference with his right to engage in trade or business and contravention and violation of the Claimant’s right to protection from interference with the right to privacy, honour and good reputation” On September 9, 2014, acting on a request by the United States, Police and representatives of the FIU closed down operations at the offices of Titan International Securities and Unicorn International Securities. They seized all documents, files, equipment and computers, effectively closing down operations. Neither business has been in operation since, thus the claims for damages. In her decision, Justice Arana also orders the “return of the documents, computers, equipment, money and things seized by the State Team”. According to attorney Michael Young, representing Unicorn, they are awaiting a date from the Court as to the assessment of damages, but it will definitely be in the millions of dollars based on the losses suffered by the company as a result of the actions of the state.

RUSHEY TRADING LIMITED #56,394 (“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 RUSHEY TRADING LIMITED has been dissolved as at 19th April, 2016 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies. Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent

The objective of these companies would also be to develop UNICEF prints and design products that are disseminated widely by UNICEF and partners as well as online. Another objective would be the ability of UNICEF to act quickly during a crisis situation to create high quality products and mitigate timely paperwork or waiting times for processes. 4. Methodology and technical approach The applying companies should have proven successes with both public and private sector and should have a team assembled or individual that covers the necessary areas of graphic design and publication layout including proofreading services in order to work quickly and skilfully. Constant communication must also be maintained between UNICEF office and the company until the product is finalized. Depending on the particular needs for the production, listed is the expertise requested: • • • • • • •

Developing high quality graphic design for print and online materials. Graphic designer must have the most up to date skills and equipment should be top of the line. Preproduction: working with UNICEF to understand communication needs and develop and execute creative concepts that cover these needs. Understanding new trends in the design realm: must be demonstrated throughout the companies. Creative, brand building ideas. Skills and experience in creating infographic and data visualization products. Skills and experience in proofreading

5. Activities and Tasks The service provider will use their expertise and state of the art software and hardware to provide design services and produce high quality products according to UNICEF needs, including: 1. Infographic and data visualization production 2. Publication design and layout including proofreading 3. Other design materials as requested 6. Deliverables and Timeframe The deliverables are to be delivered digitally in full resolution, with all relevant files attached. The time needed per deliverable will be negotiated at the beginning of each project. 7. Management Supervision will be determined on project basis. 8. Type of contract and Remuneration The contract is a two year Long Term Agreement (LTA) valid for two years based on satisfactory performance. Remuneration will be determined on project basis and each separate project will specify a price based on the established and agreed upon rates and deliverables. Payment will only be made for work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF. Please note that UNICEF does not cover travel costs or offer office space. 9. Experience required Professional design/publication company with a strong portfolio, with experience in: • Data visualization and designing social issue infographic • Publication layout and proofreading • Utilizing the latest hardware and software for print production • On time product delivery under tight deadlines. • Working with non-profits, NGOs or international organisations. Working experience with UNICEF is an added advantage. • Familiarity with UNICEF brand guidelines, quality standards and ethical regulations is an added advantage. Depending on the particular needs for the production, listed are team members and expertise requested (depending on production): 10. Application: Closing date for submitting applications is 27 April 2016. Late applications will not be considered and regret letters will only be sent to short-listed applicants. Kindly submit a technical proposal (specifying equipment and team at disposal), links to at least 3 relevant working samples and detailed financial proposal for each of the following, specifying the detailed cost per service for each category: 1. Infographic design/data visualization of a 4 page leaflet 2. Publication layout of a 50-page document 3. Proofreading service of a 50-page document 4. Any other services offered ALL submissions to be sent by email to belize@unicef.org, attention: Operations Assistant; subject – GRAPHIC DESIGN, PUBLICATION LAYOUT, and PROOF READING SERVICES.

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2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

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GOB GOUGING FUEL CONSUMERS Wednesday, April 13, 2016 The government of Belize continues to increase the price of fuel at the pumps. Last week Friday, like a red-hooded thief in the night, the cost of Regular fuel rose again to $9.06 in the districts, surpassing the cost of Premium fuel in the Belize City at $9.01. Statistics show that only about 20% of consumers use Premium Fuel, while 80% use Regular, meaning that government is raking in the money from the continuous increases. Diesel fuel increased by 8 cents to $7.79 in the city. There is no moral justification for the high cost of fuel at the pumps in Belize. The cost of crude oil per barrel on the global market has plummeted, and for months has maintained a steady and record low, benefitting consumers all over the world. Except in Belize. Despite lowered cost of insurance and freight, the price of fuel at the pumps has gone up steadily since late last year. Instead of passing the benefit of lower acquisition costs to consum-

ers, GOB has taken the decision to continuously raise the taxes on fuel. They did it for the first time in December, and again in February and March. The rationale is that the oil from Spanish Lookout is done and government coffers are running dry, so the answer has been to levy taxes on fuel to increase revenues to bridge shortfalls - $50M worth. According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, “that fifty million or so that we say we expect to realize is conservative. There are experts who’ve looked at current volumes, who’ve look at the fact that people will now spend more and who therefore say that over a full year, we will get significantly more that the fifty million or so we budgeted for”. It is expected that the price of fuel will continue to go up as GOB suffers from an increased lack of revenues as the year progresses. The BELIZE TIMES notes that the formula used by the Government to determine pump prices is a closely held secret.

BDF ™finances∫under investigation Belize City, April 20, 2016 The BELIZE TIMES has confirmed through reliable sources at the Ministry of National Security that there is an ongoing investigation into a “special” Belize Defence Force (BDF) Account for which records of transactions have not been made readily available. That account, referred to as the Belize Defence Force Account Fund, has been the subject of internal Ministry audits since 2014, but things have apparently now come to a head between Ministry of National Security CEO Retired Colonel George Lovell and BDF Commander, Brigadier-General David Jones. In a MEMO dated March 4, 2016, from CEO Lovell to Commander Jones, CEO Lovell is requesting “a response within two weeks as to why those discrepancies, along with your recommendation as to what will be put in place to ensure that those practices do not re-occur”. So what are some of those discrepancies? In October 2014, a threemember audit team concluded that they could not establish “the authority or conditions given for the operation” of the BDF ‘special’ account. And it goes far beyond that. The team found that checks were issued with no record to whom payment was being made; check stubs and purpose of payment could not be established; no ledger recording deposits or withdrawals; no documentation to show authorization

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THE BELIZE TIMES

for payment and nothing to establish the source of funding or income for this account. If there was a checklist for red flags, this account was filled with it. The team also discovered that Brigadier General Jones holds a credit card for the account, but while there is a statement of funds being debited, there is “no receipt, documentation or evidence of what is being paid for and where the items are.” Based on a follow-up audit conducted in January 2016, the recommendation was made that “all transactions for the BDF Account be put on hold immediately until proper auditing of the account is carried out and proper accounting procedures are put in place.” The team at that time, comprised of National Security and Police personnel, advised that the Audit Department be called in to do an in-depth exercise of the account. The BELIZE TIMES has been unable to confirm whether Commander Jones has responded to CEO Lovell in the timeframe given, which expired on Monday, March 18, 2016. Sources tell us that Jones maintains that the ‘special’ account is outside of the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Security, and cannot be audited by any government department. CEO Lovell has publicly disagreed however and has reiterated that on his orders the BDF account has been frozen pending their investigations.

2016

BY ORDER OF CHARGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of a Charge registered at the Land Registry between ERLIN YOUNG of the one part and HRCU of the other part. HRCU will at the expiration of three months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the Schedule below. ALL offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing to Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited from whom full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained.

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 153.8 square metres being Parcel 473, Block 45 in the Albert/Mesop Registration Section TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of ERLIN YOUNG. DATED this 18th day of April 2016 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

STATUTORY NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE ESTATE of NEHMAT MICHEL MALEK Deceased of #4020 Galt Ocian Drive, Apt. #1212 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33308 U.S.A.

NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 36 of the Administration of Estates Act, Chapter 197 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, that all creditors having any claims or demands upon or against the Estate of NEHMAT MICHEL MALEK, deceased, late of #4020 Galt Ocean Drive, Apt. #1212, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33308 U.S.A., who died on the 12th day of April, 2014, and in whose estate Grant of Administration With The Will Annexed has been granted to KAREEM DAVID MUSA of #91 North Front Street, Belize City, Belize, the lawful Attorney of DONALD J. KAHN of #317 – 71st Street, Miami Beach, FL 33141 U.S.A., on or before the expiration of three months from the first publication hereof AND NOTICE IS ALSO HERBY GIVEN that at the expiration of the said three months the said KAREEM DAVID MUSA shall proceed to distribute the assets of the said NEHMAT MICHEL MALEK, deceased, amongst the beneficiaries entitled thereto, having regard only to claims and demands of which they shall then have had notice. DATED this 20th day of April, 2016.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS Attorneys-at-Law for KAREEM DAVID MUSA Administrator With The Will Annexed in the Estate of Nehmat Michel Malek

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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2016

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 Deed of Mortgage made the 22nd day of July 2009, between RUBEN D. LOPEZ of San Anotnio Village, Cayo District, Belize, of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and registered in Deeds Book Vol. 17 of 2009 at Folios 1051 - 1114, 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. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT lot piece or parcel of land situate along the San Antonio-Chiquibul Road, San Antonio Agricultural Layout, Cayo District and being portion of Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 964 of 2004 and being block No. 1 of 0.563 acres being more particularly delineated and descrbed as shown on Entry No. 9377 Register No. 18 dated 30 November 2005, lodged at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Survey, City of Belmopan, Cayo District TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 11th day of April, 2016. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

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 Deed of Mortgage made the 6th day of August 2013, between IDA GALICIA of Bullet Tree Village, Cayo District, Belize, of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded as LTU-201301496, 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. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE All that land, piece or parcel of land situate in San Jose Estate Section, Cayo District being a portion of Deed of Conveyance DBV 10 of 2011 at Folios 1231-1236 dated 27 April, 2011 and more particularly delineated and described as Ida Galicia (4) comprising of 8.640 acres as shown on Entry No. 13621 Register No. 19 dated 16 October, 2011 lodge at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Belmopan City, Cayo District TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 11th day of April, 2016. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

For Sale By Order of the Mortgagee 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 Deed of Mortgage made the 18th day of July, 2011, between TAHEERA AHMAD & BRUCE CODRINGTON of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. of the other part , and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 17 of 2011 at folios 85 to 156 over the property Firstly described in the Schedule hereto. By way of a Deed of Release made the 13th day of May, 2014, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit as Instrument LTU-201400778 the property Secondly described in the Schedule hereto was released from the Deed of Mortgage. 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 Firstly described in the Schedule hereto SAVE AND EXCEPT the property Secondly described in the Schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD. THE SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO FIRSTLY ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Block No. 6 comprising 10 acres situate to the North of the Sibun River in the vicinity of Freetown, Belize District, bounded and described as shown on a Plan attached to Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 12 of 1964 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. SECONDLY SAVE AND EXCEPT ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being part of Block #6, Grant #12 of 1964, now or formerly the property of Taheera Ahmad and Bruce Codrington, situate north of the Hattieville/Sibun Road near the Sibun River Area, Belize District and bounded on the North and West by portion of said Block #6 Grant #12 of 1964, on the South by portion said Block #6 Grant #12 of 1964 and an existing road to the Hattieville/ Sibun Road, on the East by a 66 feet road reserve, containing 1.00 acre, more or less as shown on a plan of survey by Kenneth A. Gillett, Licensed Land Surveyor, dated August 11, 2011 registered at Entry 13486 Register 16 lodged at the Offices of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Belmopan and more particularly described as follows: Commencing at a concrete pillar labeled #1 at the South Westerly Corner of the herein described parcel having UTM coordinates of Eastings 355967.160 and Northings 1927346.046; thence on a grid bearing of 90o 24’ 23” for a grid distance of 86.523 meters to another concrete pillar; thence on a grid bearing of 00o 24’ 23” for a grid distance of 46.759 meters to another concrete pillar; Thence on a grid bearing of 270o 24’ 23” for a grid distance of 86.523 to another concrete pillar; thence on a grid bearing of 180o 24’ 23” for a grid distance of 46.759 meters, more or less, back to the point of commencement. DATED this 31st day of March, 2016. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street, Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

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2016

MEGA PUBLIC AUCTION SALE FOR ORANGE WALK DISTRICT Licensed Auctioneer NOEL J. CODD will sell the following properties at the time and places mention below on Tuesday May 3rd, 2016 On site at 8:00a.m.

On site at 9:30a.m.

All that lot, parcel or piece of land in Orange Walk being Registration Section Orange Walk Town Block 4 Parcel 1911. Property contains 4 bedrooms, 2 Full bathrooms, Living, Kitchen and dining area. The building is also comprised of 1786 S.FT. Being the Fee Simple property of Ana B. Castillo.

On site at 11:00a.m.

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 4 Parcel 421 Orange Walk Town Registration Section, Orange Walk District and containing 711.11 square yards as shown on R.I.M Subject property is located in front of the B.S.I. football field. Property belongs to Amory Jacobs

On site at 8:30a.m.

All that lot, parcel or piece of land, in Orange Walk being Registration Section Orange Walk Town, Block 4 Parcel 4255, Orange Walk district. The property has 775 square feet and contains three bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a living, a kitchen and a dining area. Being the Fee simple property of Dr. Jose Lahera.

On site at 1:30p.m.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being block 4 Parcel 3871 Orange Walk Town Registration section. The subject building is 1,260 square feet containing 5 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, 2 livings rooms and 1 kitchen area being the Freehold property of Juan August.

On site at 10:00a.m. ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 1045.045square meters being Lot 648 situated in Trial Farm village, Orange Walk District. Property is vacant lot. Being the Fee Simple property of Melbourne Rodriguez

On site at 11:30a.m.

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, IN TRIAL FARM being Registration Section Trial Farm Block 4 Parcel 762, Orange Walk District, Belize. The property contains 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, living, kitchen, and dining area being the freehold property of Benjamin Torres.

On site at 9:00a.m.

All that piece or parcel of land being lot No.72 situate at the corner of Evelyn & St. Peter Street,Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District. Being Block 4 Parcel 1618 Orange Walk TownRegistration Section, Orange Walk District and containing 479.3 square meters. The subject building is a 2 storey concrete structure. Main level having 8 bedrooms, 1 part-bath,and living area. 2nd level 3 bedrooms,2 full bath, family room, laundry room, living, dining and kitchen. THE LOWER FLOOR IS USED AS DOCTORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OFFICE THE UPPER AS RESIDENCE. BUILDING IS IN VERY GOOD STATE being the Freehold property of Ricardo Fabro

All that lot, piece or parcel of land containing 642.82 square meters. Being parcel 1460, Block 4, Registration Section Orange Walk Town .The building is a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of 934 square feet. The structure was renovated in 2015. It is a family dwelling of 2bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a kitchen, a dining area and a living room area. Being the Fee simple property of Lionella Chell.

Licensed Auctioneer Noel J. Codd will sell the following properties at the time and places mention below on Wednesday May 4th, 2016

On site at 8:30a.m. All that piece or parcel of land containing 645.890 s. m.3744 Cor. Palmar Boundary Road & Macal River Street, Orange Walk. The Subject Building comprises 1,360sft. The same is occupied as a family home of 2 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms, complete with kitchen, dining & living room spaces. Being the freehold property of Roger Tun.

On site at 1:00a.m.

On site at 10:30a.m.

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 284/1, TRIAL FARM REG. SECTION BLOCK 4, O/ WALK. Property contains 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Living and kitchen area. Property for Lisandro Vargas

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, IN Orange Walk being Registration Section Ann Gabourel Block 4 Parcel 1814. The house contains 2 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, living, kitchen and dining area being the freehold property of Levy Blanco.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Continued from page 13

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All that piece or parcel of land being parcels 157 and 158, Douglas Registration Section, Block 1, and Orange Walk. The Lot 158 contains 1045.159 square meters and it’s the corner lot on the roadside. Lot 157 contains 1040.57 square meters and it’s the inside lot for which the street is not open yet. Both lots are presently in its natural state. Being the Property of Erica Cabral

On site at 9:00a.m.

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 4 Parcels 623,624,625 & 631 orange Walk Town 2054.41 square meters Orange Walk Town Registration Section. Vacant Land. Being the freehold property of M.V. Imports Ltd

On site at 11:00a.m. ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, being Registration: Ann Gabourel Block: 4 Parcel: 1247/1. The property contains IA 26’ X 24’, 2 BEDROOMs, BUNGALOW DWELLING HOUSE being the leasehold property of Felix Rejon

On site at 9:30a.m.

ALL that piece or parcel Being Block 1 Parcels 228, 229, 230, 231 San Estevan Registration Section. Land measuring 657.1 sm, 710.8 sm, 641.7sm, & 729 sm respectively in San Estevan Village, Orange Walk. 39 x 39 feet Concrete bungalow structure: 3 bedrooms, 2 full bath, lkitchen, dining and living room. There is also an open shed, which is used as an additional kitchen & washing area. Being the Freehold property of Wilber & Erica Vega.

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PEICE OF LAND, IN ORANGE WALK being Registration Section Ann Gabourel, Block 4, Parcel 2755 being the freehold property of Van Clarke.

ALL THAT Being Block 4 Parcel 3706, Orange Walk Town Registration section being Registration Section Orange Walk Town Block 4 Parcel 3706, Orange Walk District, Belize. 3 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, living, kitchen and dining area being the freehold property of Ester Vargas.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 348.33sm being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 1473 ANN GABOUREL REGISTRATION SECTION. Located at #49 Yo Creek & San Joaquin St., Orange Walk Town. The Subject Building is a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of 1971sft, including open area. The same serves as a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom residence with kitchen/dining and living room areas. House was originally constructed in 1998 and renovated in 2011. House is 50% tiled, plastered and painted. There is also a second structure within the lot that is currently used as a store room. Property of Edison & Rosita Johnson.

AT 1:00 P.M. IN FRONT SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD. Orange Walk Branch on Wednesday May 4th, 2016

Lease property being lot no. 309 Guinea Grass Village, Orange Walk District, containing 1200.467 sqyds Two storey concrete structure; 2400 sqft Main: 1 living, dining, kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 2 bath rooms,laundry room Second Level - 80% completed: 1 living room, dining, kitchen , full bath, 4 bed rooms being the Leashold property of Primitivo Chan

ALL THOSE THREE pieces or parcel of land containing 1,719.013 s.m. being Registration Section Indian Hill East Block 4 Parcel 514,515,516. Ishwar Mahbubani

On site at 10:00a.m.

ALL that piece or parcel of land being Block 4 Parcel 1946 Orange Walk Town measuring 1199.638 sq yds. being the Freehold property of Ricardo Fabro.

ALL that piece or parcel Being Block 1 Parcels 485 & 486 San Estevan Village Lots Layout, Orange Walk and containing 1084.1 square meters (parcel 485) and 1018.6 square meters (parcel 486) respectively. Land only Property of Amelio Cansino.

All that piece or parcel of land containing 522.5 Square Meters being Registration Section Orange Walk Town Block 4 Parcel 879, Orange Walk District, Belize. Land only being the freehold property of Pabel Torres

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 464.454 s. m. being lot no. 3235 CABBAGE STREET, Orange Walk District, Belize. The house contains 2 bedrooms, living, kitchen and dining area. The house has an outdoor facility being the Freehold parcel of Martin Jimenez.

On site at 10:30a.m.

ALL that piece or parcel of land being BLOCK 1 PARCEL 499 SAN ESTEVAN REGISTRATION SECTION in San Estevan Village, Orange Walk Town. Land measuring 461.9 S.M. Building:Concrete bungalow house with 3 bedrooms, full bath, living, Dining, Kitchen Area and laundry room. Being the Freehold property of Eudaldo & Macaria Patt.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Parcel 206/1 Block 1 Miller’s Bight Registration Section containing 36.7 acres being the leashold property of Apolonio Ramirez.

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2016

Continued from page 14

THE BELIZE TIMES PUBLIC AUCTION SALE FOR COROZAL DISTRICT

Licensed Auctioneer Noel J. Codd will sell the following properties at the time and places mention below on Thursday May 5th, 2016 All that lot, parcel or piece of land in Corozal. Being Registration Section Corozal North, Block 1, Parcel 1982. The property contains two building. The main building contains 2 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, a living room, a kitchen and a dining area. Being the Fee simple property of Robert and Elizabeth Cervera

On site at 8:30a.m.

ALL That piece or parcel being Parcel 188 Block 1 San Jose/San Pablo Village.Containing a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of approximately 700sft. Holding 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living/ kitchen area.Being the Freehold property of Otilio Cacerez & Macedonia Chi. ALL that piece or parcel of land being Parcel 2157/1 Block 1 in Corozal North situate in Hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Layout, College Road, Corozal Town Land - 727.06 sqyds, Building 47.5ft x 32.5ft-split level concrete house, Main level holds 5 bedrooms, 2 full bath, 1 kitchen and living room. Second level 2 bedrooms and a storage area. There is also a 13ft x 15 ft single building in the yard being the leasehold property of Ezekiel Gilharry.

ALL that piece or parcel of land being Corozal Central Registration Section Block 1 Parcel 278, located at No. 8th Street North, Corozal Town, Corozal District. Land - 505.33 sq yds. Building - One single storey bungalow house with 1 bedroom, 1 bath, living, dining and kitchen area. The original house is 21 X 31 fully complete, with an extension that is considered 40% completed and measuring 17 X 31 being the freehold of Abimael & Monica Catch.

On site at 10:00a.m. All that lot, parcel or piece of land, in Corozal North. Being Registartion Section Corozal North, Block 1, Parcel 869, Corozal Town, Corozal District. The building contains 1,395 square feet on the main floor and 930 sqare feet on the second floor.The building is made up off 4 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a laundry, a living kitchen and a dining area. Being the Fee simple property of Mohan and Asha Thani.

On site at 9:00a.m.

On site at 11:30a.m.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 20acres being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 65 DOUGLAS RURAL REGISTRATION SECTION. Located in San Jose/San Pablo Village being the Freehold property of Vicente Escalante.

ALL THAT piece or parcel being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 428/1 SAN JOSE/SAN PABLO REGISTRATION SECTION containing 1646.7 square meters being the Leasehold property of Miguel Briceno.

On site at 11:00a.m.

All that lot, parcel or piece of land, in Corozal North being Registration Section Corozal North Block Parcel 2146.The building is 1050 square feet it comprises of 4bedrooms, 2 Full bathrooms, a living, a kitchen and a dining area. Being the Fee simple property of Teleford Flores. ALL that piece or parcel being Block 1 Parcel 282, situated at No. 96 5th Street North, Corozal Central, Corozal Town, Land measuring 669.91 SqYds, Building - Concrete bungalow structure containing 3 bedrooms, 2 full bath, kitchen, living room, dining room, and office being the Freehold property of Froylan & America Gilharry.

On site at 10:30a.m. ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, BEING PARCEL # 31 Block 1, PARAISO/ SANTA RITA REGISTRATION SECTION. Building:2 Â˝ storey with 5,013 sq. ft. with Main:- 2,294 sq. ft 2 Bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, 1 part bath, with kitchen, dining and living room areas and laundry room. Second:- 2,077 sq. ft. 2 Bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, 1 part bath, with kitchen, dining and living room areas and laundry room. Third:-642 sq. ft. and is used as an additional living room space being the freehold of Ramesh Buxani Co Ltd

On site at 9:30a.m.

On site at 1:00p.m.

AT 10:00 a.m. on site ALL that piece or parcel of land containing 2160.701 square meters. being Registration Section Indian Hill East Block 4 Parcel 523, Orange Walk District. The property currently hosts a one storey structure which is unoccupied. Being the Freehold property of Roberto Santos

All that lot, piece or parcel of land being parcel 510/1. REGISTRATION SECTION: SAN JOSE/SAN PABLO BLOCK: 1 PARCEL: 510/1. The Building is a 2 bedroom bungalow house. Being the leasehold property of Edwin Patt

AT 10:00 a.m. on site

All that lot, parcel or piece of land, in San Pablo. Being Registration Section San Jose/ San Pablo, Block 1, Parcel 69/1, Orange Walk District. The building contains three bedrooms, one full bathroom, a living, a kitchen and a dining area. Being the leasehold property of Alfonso Teck

ALL that piece or parcel being Parcel 62 Block 1 COROZAL CENTRAL REG. SECTION. Located at No 3. 4th Ave Corozal Town. Building is FULLY CONCRETE, DWELLING COMPRISING OF A PARTIAL BASEMENT WHICH CREATES A TWO-STOREY. Measuring aprox. 1800 sq ft. Property of Albertico Gongora

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Continued from page 15

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 28,CAROLINA CALCUTTA REG. SECTION, BLOCK 1, COROZAL containing 907.43 SQUARE YARDS. THE PROPERTY IS IN KENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LAYOUT, AN EXPANSION OF XAIBE VILLAGE AND IS FIVE LOTS OFF THE MAIN ROAD. Building is a one storey concrete structure with 1 bath, living dining and kitchen area. Property is designed for more bedrooms but is not complete. Fee simple property of Valentin Nicholas

On site at 1:30p.m.

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, BEING PARCEL # 1450/1 CONSEJO ROAD S.E REG SECTION BLOCK 1, COROZAL District being the Leasehold of Jose Cawich

AT 2:00 P.M. IN FRONT OF SCOTIABANK (Belize) LTD. Corozal Town Branch on Thursday May 5th, 2016

ALL that parcel Sarteneja Registration Section, Block 3, parcel No. 348/1 COROZAL. Structure is a mix concrete bunglow with addition at the top, holding 3 bedrooms, bath, living/dining/kitchen areas. Property of Ariolo & Diana Samos

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 57/1, BUENA VISTA REG. SECTION BLOCK 1, COROZAL. Containing Approximately 1310.6 S.Y. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS NEAR CENTRALLY LOCATED LOT IN THE VILLAGE AND TWO STREETS PARALLEL TO THE NORTHERN HIGHWAY.Holding a two storey concrete building: main level has 1 bed room, living and dining area. Second level has 3 bedrooms, living, dining and kitchen area. Leasehold property for Florencia Pott

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 1 Parcel 682 Libertad Village Registration Section, Corozal District Land: 10,811.87 s. y Building is a two storey concreted dwelling - Main level contain 3 bedrooms, 1 full bath, kitchen, dining, living and laundry room, Second level is incomplete. According to the owner it has been sub-divided into 4 large lots. There is also a thatch house on the property a open trench that may have been initial work for a swimming pool. Being the Freehold property of Herman Botes.

ALL that piece or parce being Block 3 Parcel 614 Sarteneja Registration Section, Corozal District. Vacant land measuring 1106.8 s.m. being the Freehold property of Juan Perez.

All that piece or parcel 552 Libertad Village Registration Section, Block 1, Corozal District, Belize. The property is big and long lot containing 1799.63 square feet. It has two houses. The first house is a two-storey wooden and concrete structure with 5 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, a kitchen, a dining and a living area. It measures about 2100 square feet. While the second house is situated at the back it is a wooden structure with an additional concrete back, thus giving the building a sort of an L shape. It is about 1300 square feet. It consists of 3bedrooms, a living/ dining room and a kitchen. Being the Property of EMILIO & MELVA SARMIENTO. (EMILA & BALDOMINIO MONTEJO)

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2016

All that piece or parcel containing 1.17 Acres being lot 5 situate approx 10 1/2 Miles On the Belize Corozal Road. Land Only being the freehold property of Noguera Sugarcane Derivatives

All that piece or parcel containing 639.4 Square Meters, being Registration Section Grants Land Block 1 Parcel 322/1 Copper Bank, Corozal District. The property is appraised under the assumption of good marketable title in fee simple volume 28 of 2002. The property in review has a single family bungalow residence with a gross square footage of 980 sq ft at ground floor and 260 sq ft at first floor and land 639.4 S.M. being the freehold property of Sarah Cobb

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, IN SAN ANDRES/RANCHITO being Registration Section San Andres/ Ranchito Block 1 Parcel 792 Corozal District. The building contains 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living, and kitchen area being the Freehold of Jeorge Zetina

ALL THAT piece or parcel being PARCEL 539/1,SANTA CLARA/ SAN ROMAN REG. SECTION, BLOCK 1, COROZAL being the leasehold property of George Moralez.

ALL THAT pieces or parcels of land being 1 Parcel 120 containing 50.2 acres Parcel 97 containing 14.798 acres, Parcel 95 containing 62.79 acres and Parcel 86 containing 88.16 acres situated in Libertad Rural Registration Section cane land only being the Freehold properties of Armando Martinez and Ervin Rancharan.

Continued on page 17

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2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

Continued from page 16

For Sale By Order of the

All that lot, parcel or piece of land, in Corozal District, being Block 1, Parcel 468, Buena Vista Village, Corozal District. The building is divided into differect secetions. The first floor is divided into three secections as follow: a left sectcion is presently being used as a one bedroom apartment. The middle section is open up from the front like a corridor and sitting area. The right section has 2 bedrooms. The second floor of the buliding is a new completed construction. Being the Fee simple property of Ricardo Gutierrez .

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 Deed of Mortgage made the 18th day of December 2013, between DAMION GARBUTT of 19 Miles Sandhill Village, Belize District, Belize, of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded as LTU-201302329, 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. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE All that freehold interest in all that lot piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 34 (578.56 S.Y.) situate in Sandhill Village, Belize District and bounded and described as shown on Plan No. 423 of 2013 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 11th day of April, 2016.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 2995 sm being Block1 Parcel 141 San Andres/ Ranchito Registration Section. The Subject Property houses 3 structures. Building No.1 is 1,200sft. and is occupied as a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home complete with kitchen, dining & living room spaces. Building No.2: concrete two storey structure of 1,920sft. Each floor is a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom space each with kitchen, dining & living room spaces. Building No. 3 is aq 1,200sft. structure with floor & walls in place only Freehold properties of Armando Martinez and Ervin Rancharan.

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

All that lot, piece or parcel of land, in Louisville. Being Parcel 1, Registration Section Louisville, Block 1, Corozal District. The building is 1051 square feet, it has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a living room, a kitchen and dining area. Being the Fee simple property of Saturnino Coba

All that lot, parcel, or piece of land in Sarteneja being Registration Section Sarteneja Block 3 parcel 604/1. The house contains 2 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, a living, a kitchen and a dining area and comprise of 954 sq. ft. Being the Leasehold property of Jael Cobb.

All that lot, piece or parcel of land, in San Andres/ Ranchito. Being parcel 453, Block 1, Registration Section San Andres/ Ranchito . . The property comprises of 1128 Sq. Ft. and has 3 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, living, Kitchen and dining area. Being the fee simple property of Patrick Smith.

NOEL J. CODD Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District Tel: Office: 677-5184 cell: 624-5184 Email:noelcodd@yahoo.com

@Noel Codd Auctioneer

SCHEDULE All that piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 18 comprising 1183.51 S. Y. situate along the Southern Highway, Santa Rosa Village, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 61 of 2005 attached to Ministerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fiat (Grant) No. 61 of 2005 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 11th day of April, 2016. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

Chester’s Curfew By G. Michael Reid The suggestion by Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams for implementing a curfew has drawn fire from several sides. As many naysayers as have come forth however, there seem twice as many who are in support of this idea. This idea, put forward by any policeman other than Chester Williams, might have been quickly dispelled as ridiculous. But, Chester has developed an interesting rapport with the people of Belize; both criminal and law-abiding. Chester Williams is himself is an interesting study of human character and the man is deserving of whatever accolades are piled upon him. Here is a man who picked himself up from humble beginnings, raised by a single mom but has made something substantial of himself. That in itself is a valuable lesson to anyone who engages in self pity and blames their environment and financial situation for their condition. Chester is a success story worth telling. Chester barely finished primary school when he went to work at a bakery in Ladyville, far from his native village of Seine Bight. At that point, his life could have gone in any direction but he decided to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a Police Officer. He joined the Belize Police Department and his life took a turn for the better. While in the Department, Chester began attending night school and acquired his high school diploma. He then went on to Saint John’s Junior College all the while holding down the strenuous and demanding job of Police Officer. He rose rapidly in the ranks but then got stuck at Senior Superintendent where he remained for many years. He then decided to push his education even further. Chester applied for several scholarships but by this time government had changed and Chester had no connections to speak of. He was determined that nothing would stop him however, and he scrimped and saved until he could pay his own way through school. The sacrifices and

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determination paid off and in 2015, Chester completed his law studies at the prestigious Norman Manley campus in Jamaica. In November of last year, Chester Williams was called to the bar and is now the highest serving officer ever with a law degree. His love for policing remains strong and he has vowed to remain in the Department and to dedicate his knowledge and expertise to the fight against crime. Chester Williams is a unique individual and is also in a unique position to help Belize. This has already begun to pay dividends for both the Police Department and the community. He is loved by the public and is re-

that the issue is more discrimination than a preventative measure since it seems to be targeting mainly poor children from the Southside. This has been an issue for many human rights organizations wherever Teen Curfew have been tried. The term curfew is derived from the French word cuevrefeu which means “a covering of the fire”. It stems from a regulation of old that required all burning fires to be doused or covered a certain time. It is a fitting metaphor since crime in Belize indeed is like a fire burning out of control. Ancient curfews served several purposes: it lowered the risk of a spreading fire, it got townspeople who congregated around public fires to go home and it was a useful tactic in times of trouble. There are three main types of curfews, namely emergency curfew, business curfew and juvenile curfew. The business curfew which requires business establishments that sell liquor to be closed at 9pm has been enforced from time to time in Belize but sporadically at the

2016

The 23rd President of the United States Benjamin Harrison once called curfews “the most important municipal regulation for the protection of children in American homes from the vices of the street.” Proponents of Juvenile Curfews believe that laws reduce crime and protect young people from danger while some believe that it does little more than give a “false sense of security to nervous adults”. Mike Males, a senior researcher for the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, who has done extensive research on the effectiveness of teen curfews in cities across the U.S. recently wrote, “There’s pretty much no question that [the ordinances] aren’t effective in either reducing crime or preventing harm to young people.” He went on to state that “It’s basically designed to make people feel better about using a city at night, and it’s an artificial thing. It’s a psychological law and not an effective policy.” Obviously, Chester does not agree and there seem enough people in Belize willing to give his method a try and ready to try anything to make this city safer. There are many challenges to implementing a Juvenile Curfew in Belize, the least not being that people simple do not trust the Police. Chester and a few community workers have been working hard to change that image but it is no easy task. There are too many rogue elements within the Department and many people are not willing to trust, in particular vulnerable young girls, into hands of those unscrupulous individuals. There is much that has to be worked out and credible assurances given before we should give in and say yes to this curfew. There is much that we will be surrendering and we should always keep in mind Benjamin Franklin’s warning: “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”. May GOD bless Belize!

Recently, crime in the city has been inching up again and recognizing that many of these crimes were being committed by young children, Chester decided to try something different. spected by the criminal elements and hardly had he assumed command of Southside Belize City that crime took a noticeable dip. There is only one Chester however and the rest of the country has seen drastic increases in their level of crime. Recently, crime in the city has been inching up again and recognizing that many of these crimes were being committed by young children, Chester decided to try something different. He pulled an old law that has been on the books for several years and issued a warning to parents to start taking responsibility for their children. In 2003, as a part of the Families and Children Act, a Protection of Children Regulation was passed allowing the Police to implement a curfew. Few knew that the law even existed as it had never been used. When the different organizations began to mount protests and objections, Chester pulled out his law book and pleaded his case. There is one problem however, and that is that the Constitution is the supreme law of that land and “if any other law is inconsistent with this Constitution that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.” One organization that is firmly opposed Chester’s curfew is the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF’s representative for Belize Ivan Yerovi is on record as saying that, “We disagree with this measure and I hope the situation is reviewed and revisited”. Yerovi believes

most. Chester is trying to implement the latter two types but it is left to be seen how successful he will be and how successful these measures themselves will be. Many do not realize that over 200 cities in the United States currently enforce juvenile curfew laws, albeit many of these laws have been challenged; some have even been overturned by courts. The effectiveness of curfew laws remain debatable and the question is always asked; do curfew laws really keep children out of trouble or do they just restrict them from having fun?

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2016

MY PERSPECTIVE By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

YOUR OWN BACKYARD

A Jamaica Sunday Gleaner article caught my attention this past week. The headline read: “Jamaican Attorney Slams U.S. Over Treatment of Most Vulnerable.” Of course I went through it with interest and care. It featured Margaret Macauley, an attorney and human rights advocate who was elected in June 2015 as one of the commissioners of the Inter American Commission on Human Rights. The IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States which is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights in the American Hemisphere. Commissioners are elected to a four year term, and Ms. Macauley is thus serving from January 2016 to December 2019. She was previously a judge of the Inter American Court of Human Rights from 2007 until 2012. There was the April 4th hearing of a complaint brought by human rights advocates from the United States, who had lodged their complaints about the difficulties of U.S. minority groups’ access to potable water. Ms. Macauley weighed in extremely strongly about the terrible, almost criminal negligence of authorities in the United States in relation to the severe water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which is seriously damaging African American residents there, and also the contamination of the San Juan and Animas Rivers in Colorado, which is seriously impacting the people of the Navajo Nation. I perused Ms. Macauley’s remarks first, and then went to research the current positions in Flint, Michigan and Colorado. According to the Gleaner piece Ms. Macauley expressed shock at problems faced in these communities wishing to meet only their basic needs. The U.S. is helping many developing countries in a variety of ways, but must balance efforts, she said, and focus on addressing internal issues too. “If you are helping outside your borders can’t you do it in tandem so that no one falls through the cracks?” She went on: “I literally cannot understand the most powerful country in the world having these kinds of stories about the lack of clean, potable water and sanitation. It really blows my mind quite frankly. There should not be these gaps. If you ignore your most vulnerable....you are not a civilized society.” The article reported that there was stark testimony on the Flint, Michigan as well as the San Juan/

Animas water and river contamination. This contrasted sharply with bureaucratic statements of U.S. Officials, who largely failed to address the collective human rights violations which led activists to call for the hearing. Their attempts to speak on international assistance given by the U.S. backfired, as Ms. Macauley zeroed in on the two incredible situations at home in the U.S. In Flint, Michigan the water is contaminated with lead, as officials failed to apply corrosion inhibitors to aging pipes, thus creating a serious public health danger from extremely elevated levels of the heavy metal. Many residents are now experiencing terrible health problems in this largely African American community. Dr. Marc Edwards, an engineering professor at Virginia Tech University, an expert on water quality, conducted a study, and he was shocked by the extent of the contamination. Said he: “It was the injustice of it all that the very agencies that are paid to protect residents from lead in water knew or should have known that federal law was not being followed and that these children and residents were not being protected....And the extent to which they went to cover this up exposes a new level of arrogance and uncaring that I have never encountered.” (!!!) I checked the most recent news, and still very little is being done to remedy this outrage. As regards contamination of the rivers in Colorado, in August last year an “accident” at a defunct gold mine released millions of gallons of yellow, toxic, heavy metal-ridden wastewater, which went downstream and is affecting the lives and farmlands of the native American ‘Navajo Nation.’ This spill was both predictable and preventable in the view of most experts. Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye has asked for their tribal lands to be declared a disaster area in order to access much needed funds from the federal government. “If this were outside of the Navajo Nation and someone reported some kind of toxic plume, this would trigger a whole investigation and fines and sequestering off the area. What applies to the rest of the U.S. should apply to the Navajo Nation too,” said Scott Smith, chief investigator for Water Defense, an environmental NGO. The stern message and rebuke of U.S. officials by IACHR Commissioner Margaret Macauley is surely a cautionary tale for all countries to be ever vigilant, especially in favor of their most vulnerable people. She was certainly pulling no punches in saying to the U.S. take care of YOUR OWN BACKYARD first and foremost.

THE BELIZE TIMES

EDITORIAL en Espanol

24 APR

2016

Un Producto de la Cuadra Dean “Tanto poder político en la ciudad, pero por la noche es un pueblo fantasma, aprisionado por el miedo” “Vigilancia Policial al Crimen en la ciudad de Belize” por Fermín Olivera, The BELIZE TIMES, Domingo Abril 2, 2016. El legado de Dean Oliver Barrow, Primer Ministro de Belize, y miembro parlamentario mayor del distrito electoral Queen Square incluirá la introducción de la Unidad Policial conocida (GSU), junto con sus hechos de horror de abusos contra la población de Belize. Mientras Barrow introdujo la unidad GSU entrenado y financiada por estados unidos como una unidad paramilitar de nuestras fuerzas de seguridad, en su area electoral fue testigo del ascenso de los miembros pandilleros de la conocida calle de George Street Gang, que se convirtió en un activo para su maquinaria política cuando era necesario. El objetivo de la GSU, como lo declara su nombre, es para suprimir las pandillas en Belice. Hasta ahora, sin embargo, las tácticas de supresión sin embago sólo ha añadido combustible a las guerras pandilleras en las calles, y en ocasiones a la jerarquía policial, pero esto sera discusión para otro editorial en otra ocasion. En agosto de 2011, el GSU golpeó a residents de George Street y miembros conocidos de la GSG cuando llevaron a cabo búsquedas de residencias con una fuerza brutal. Varios residentes afirmaron brutalidad de la policía y, eventualmente, fueron demandadó y ganarón gran compensación por las acciones de la GSU. En marzo de 2012, una grabación de audio reveló “una operacion tactica planificada por el GSU contra George Street”. Tanto así que en enero de 2013, cuatro hombres conectados a George Street fueron asesinados brutalmente en sus apartamentos en la calle Plues , la GSU fueron los primeros sospechosos de los ojos del público. Durante los últimos ocho años, la pandilla conocida como George Street Gang, ganó prominencia en las calles de la ciudad de Belice. En todas las treguas de “pandillas” con la Administración Barrow, la pandilla George Street Gang parecío ser el grupo predilecto de negociación. En muchas ocasiones otras “pandillas” se sentieron excluidos cuando políticos de alto rango se reunian con los lideres pandilleros para discutir un quid pro quo.

Pandilleros de George Street Gang han tenido prioridad para las oportunidades de trabajo en proyectos de infraestructura. Ciertamente pandilleros de George Street Gang ha tomado la ventaja por su cercanía con el Primer Ministro por su area política, tanto es así que en una ocasion el Primer Ministro canceló un viaje oficial a una reunión de CARICOM para asistir a una reunión de paz entre las pandillas. Cuando las pandillas exigian dinero para mantener la paz, el Gobierno facilito más de un millón de dólares para comprar una falsa seguridad. La ironía del éxito de Dean en su distrito electoral Queen Square es que la pandilla de la calle George llegó a estar bajo él mando de Dean. Él ha tenido suficiente tiempo para ayudar a sus constituyentes de una manera significativa como representante del área durante los últimos 30 años sin embargo se hizo de la vista gorda. El Barrow que creció en la zona sur de la ciudad de Belice sabe que la única forma de salir de la pobreza, de la delincuencia, de la vida sin sentido y la finalidad es conseguir una educación. Barrow, al menos, tuvo el privilegio de tener gente que se preocupaba lo suficiente como para verlo convertido en persona productiva. Pero esto lo guardo para sí mismo. Los muchachos de la vecindad sólo eran buenos para convertirse en votantes. Hay poderosos políticos UDP en la zona sur de la ciudad Belice que tienen altos puestos ministeriales en el Gobierno. Todos ellos tienen carteras influyentes incluyendo Educación, Finanzas, Alivio de la Pobreza, Transformación Social y Vivienda. Dean se sienta en el trono. Dean ha tenido suficiente tiempo, suficiente dinero y todo el poder suficiente para cambiar el futuro de la area de George Street. Él eligió no hacerlo. Ahora, los pollos han vuelto a casa a dormir. George Street ha perdido a los siguientes: “Pinky”, “Long John”, “Ghost”, “Robbery” y ahora “Shiney”. Si bien, tomamos en cuenta que estos pandilleros no eran santos, en un entonces fueron niños y adolescentes en busca de una oportunidad de ser productivos. ¿Dean Barrow extendio a la area de George Street una oportunidad justa? Nuestra respuesta es que con todo el poder político y su fingimiento de estar a lado de ellos, nunca se les dio una posibilidad en la cuadra de Dean.

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2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT

CLOSE TO CRISIS Guatemala’s claim to Belize and Guatemala’s chance to huff Belize is now close to a national crisis. It is finally becoming clear to thinking Belizeans that there is now a serious problem. It is now clear that Guatemala has indeed taken over our portion of the 30 miles length of the Sarstoon River. The government of Belize handled the matter in the most unacceptable manner. Assad Shoman has publicly stated that this has never happened before. Guatemala has taken territory and is insisting that the “usual” protocol must be followed. This “protocol” (procedure), according to Guatemala, is that the Belize Defence Force and Belizeans and anyone going on the river must get permission from Guatemala. Guatemala has even come to the socalled Forward Operating Base constructed by the B.D.F. and told them they must follow the usual protocol. Again, this latest and serious intrusion into our sovereignty and our territory is being badly handled by our government. Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister (following the intrusion by Guatemala) told the media that the Foreign Minister would raise the matter at an OAS meeting with Belize and Guatemala in Washington. The PM was asked what if the issue was not dealt with in Washington. The PM’s public reply was that he would pick up his telephone and speak to the President of Guatemala. That was the last we heard of that bluster. At the Washington meeting Guatemala insisted that the Sarstoon River incursion was not on the agenda and refused to allow the Foreign Minister to officially raise the subject. For the first time in the whole history of Belize, the Guatemalan Military and Naval Force have taken a portion of our country. Not since the “Battle” of St. George’s Caye in 1798. Or the rejecting of the British Treaty of 1859. Our Prime Minister has done a superb job of keeping silent and pretending the situation is one of a few incursions by the naval personnel in the Sarstoon River. He continues to mock the nation by saying that the Belize Territorial Volunteers are the cause of the problem in the Sarstoon River. That trick is played out. Belizeans are beginning to get a better understanding of the gravity of what has taken place. The monumental failure of our government to talk and act like any government is obliged to do in the circumstances is deeply disturbing. It begs for an explanation. The responsibility and the duty to do so is on the government. Our Prime Minister is a bully in Belmopan. His behaviour as the Head of Government and his abuses of his office is now legendary. Recall his almost criminal abuse of hundreds of millions of Petro Caribe dollars and his refusal to follow the laws governing the finances of the nation. Yet, with the constant series of Guatemala’s aggression, intrusion, invasion and now taking of the Sarstoon River, the PM is a wimp. Is it possible they have signed some secret undertaking with Guatemala and the British? Is it possible that a whole Cabinet can be so coward that not a single member is deeply concerned over the loss of our portion of the Sarstoon River?

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Must the Guatemalans take more territory before the government admits what is so patently obvious? Is there not one single person in the whole UDP that has a little bit of Phillip Goldson in him or her? Not one? Worse is coming. STAND UP FOR BELIZE Congratulations are due to the leadership and the teachers of the National Teachers Union. They helped to organize and participated in a discussion on the Guatemala/I.C.J/Sarstoon issues. The discussion took place on Friday 15th April 2016 at the border town of Benque Viejo del Carmen. Teachers turned out by the thousands and engaged in a serious question and answer period with Wilfred Elrington and Assad Shoman. As teachers they are familiar with Assad Shoman’s history books and they showed him respect and love. By contrast Minister Wilfred Elrington is like the victim/practitioner of witchcraft-unloved. The government gave teachers time-off from classes to attend. The forum was really a Ministry of Foreign Affairs sponsored event. Similar to the Ministry’s sponsored event with lawyers of the Bar Association in February at Biltmore. What is happening is the government, on the advice of the British, have decided to sponsor these types of targeted forums, so that later on the government could claim they engaged in widespread consultations and public education with the major stakeholders. This is not to take away from the importance and vibrancy of the teacher’s forum. What is unfortunate is that these government sponsored forums are all one-sided. The lawyers in February and now the teachers did not benefit from hearing opposing views on the issues. Persons like Sandra Coye, an impeccable educator, should be on the list of resource persons who can properly provide an opposing view. “Stand Up For Belize”, as the teachers called this event is crucial milestone. The Public Service Union is practically leaderless as is the Trade Union Congress and other non-existent groups like artists, journalists, University students, church leaders and community activists. Belize is sorely lacking in informed, educated brave citizens. No wonder the government and their puppet masters are pushing their I.C.J. agenda with such ease. It should be noted that it was in March and April 1981 that the British concocted a document for Belize and Guatemala called the Heads of Agreement. Public officers, the Chamber of Commerce and students carried the torch of the resistance and uprising. The then opposition party were nowhere in sight. GUATEMALA REJECTS BARROW In the new frightening saga which Belize is going through with Guatemala, there was another defeat for Belize. Channel 5 reported on Monday that Guatemala had soundly rejected the eleven proposals in relation to use of the Sarstoon River. Every one of the eleven proposals was rejected outright. Guatemala did not even extend basic courtesies to the Belize government in terms of saying they wish to review the proposals or they would like a

meeting to clarify some of them. Out wid all of them. Shucks people! Guatemala has taken, by military force, and is guarding and occupying our half of the Sarstoon River since July 2015. Our cowardly government has done nothing effective since then. They instead set out to deceive Belizeans by pretending it was only a one and two incursions but that the BDF still exercised sovereignty in our river. This was a naked lie. The new President of Guatemala had made it clear that the loss of Guatemala territory-meaning half of Belize-would not continue under his leadership. He is a man of his words. He is playing rough and our government is playing timid with their tails between their legs. Even as we write this, early Wednesday morning we are conscious of the idiocy that is being perpetrated by our government. In another effort to deceive us, the government is claiming that a small board building to be inaugurated is Belize’s Forward Operating Base at the countries southern flank. It is no such thing. It was to be built on the Sarstoon Island in our half of the Sarstoon River. Last June, Guatemala chased our coastguard off Sarstoon Island when the Coastguard were scouting for a suitable location on the large island. The Belize government, which is an abject failure when it comes to the Guatemala/Sarstoon River issue, has consistently failed to properly inform Belize at home and abroad of the true nature of Guatemala’s aggressive taking of our Sarstoon River. Neither has our government mounted any regional and international campaign to fully inform our allies to the injustice of our situation and the unacceptable behaviour by Guatemala. Under the terms of the 1859 AngloGuatemalan Treaty, half of the Sarstoon River is part of Belizean territory. Guatemala can maintain her claim but has always respected our half of Sarstoon, since June 2015 they have changed their position and TAKEN OVER our half. Our government said and did nothing. Neither the British government nor the American government, both of whom have small number of troops in Belize, have said a word. We should understand this because they have always supported Guatemala. Any by the way do you believe that if we should go to the I.C.J and as the lie has it, we win; then Guatemala will stop her aggressive behaviour? MIMI TURN LESBIAN One of the hottest and most watched cable TV shows in Belize among teenagers is “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta”. One of the stars in this series is a lady called Mimi. She is a bit on the silly side. She was having an on again off again affair with Stevie but lost her man to the red hot bootylicious Joseline Hernandez. Mimi then ended up with an idiot guy who made a sex tape with her. Then now, surprise, surprise. Her new lover is a lady. KILLERS GET SMALL BAIL Two police officers who beat a young man to death in Caye Caulker Police Station last June were charged for murder. Last week the DPP reduced the charge to manslaughter. The Chief Magistrate gave a low bail of two thousand dollars. Many Belizeans have gone to jail because they get a high bail for far lesser offence. Many are taken from court to jail because they are given a huge fine for drugs and told to pay half or go to jail. Two police officers violated their sacred duty to protect the citizens they serve

2016

and they beat a young man to death, inside a Police Station. 50 YEAR OLD ON 5 YEARS A fifty year old was found guilty of having one bullet. He was sentenced to the mandatory jail time of 5 years. He says he has nine months more to complete the full five years. He says the bogus Parole Board does not even want to hear his application. NO HUMAN RIGHTS Belize is crying out for an effective human rights organization. Reports of ongoing Police and governmental abuse. The situation has reached so low that Police entered a house and the officers put their fingers in the privates of three young girls. The Male Police at Maskall is accused of dragging a towel off a young lady at her house and then taking her picture with his cell phone. On the front page of last week’s Amandala a mother tells of a similar behaviour of police exposing her naked in her house. Oh Lord, deliver us from Pharaoh and his goons.

In Memoriam of

Florence Elizabeth Wills ent end, ning

Tomorrow is a mystery and Today is a gift Which is why it is called the PresWhat caterpillar perceives is the To the butterfly is just the begin-

Everything that has a beginning Has an ending Make your peace with that and all will be well It is with a heavy heart and great sadness the Phillips and Wills announce the death of Florence Elizabeth Wills nee (Phillips) J.P. also known as “Betty”. She was laid to rest at a special funeral service held at the Holy Redeemer Cathedral in Belize City. She is predeceased by her parents Aubrey Phillips Sr. and Elizabeth Phillips, two brothers Jaime Phillips and Aubrey Phillips Jr. and one sister Rita Shirley of Jamaica. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Joel Wills, daughter Jacqueline Wills, grandsons, Jordan and Francois Burgess and Adrian Guerrero; her adopted sister/niece Diana Gonzalez; grandnephews Elodio and Sergio Gonzalez and grandniece Princela Gonzalez; two step sons Eric and Herman Wills. She was also survived by brothers Alexander (Sandy), Eugene (Gene), Allison (Alli), Owen (Jerry) Phillips and sisters Selma Phillips and Rose Boddie. Also, her special friend Mrs. Ada Gallego. And a host of nephews and nieces and friends. Sunrise: March 11, 1946 Sunset: April 8, 2016 May she rest in Peace And rise in glory The family expresses its gratitude to Dr. Fernando Cuellar and the staff of Belize Medical Associates, also to the staff at BERT Ambulance who responded immediately. And to Dr. A Martinez and the staff at KHMH emergency room.

24 APR

2016

GAZA DON

GUNNED DOWN … VIOLENCE ERUPTS Wednesday, April 20, 2016 On Saturday April 16th night in Dangriga, Gerald “Shiny” Tillett, the leader of what is considered Belize’s most powerful and ‘connected’ gang, the George Street Gang (GSG), was shot and killed in an execution-style attack. Three others were also shot, one of them being the man suspected of pulling the trigger on Tillett. Tillett was playing dominoes at the popular Wadani Shed along with proprietor David Rodriguez, Carlos Sharp and others when a man arrived and unleashed a hail of bullets. Tillett was killed instantly, with a shot to his temple, while Rodriguez and Sharp were both shot on their chests. As the gunman fled the scene, he was shot twice to the back by an unidentified male person who was also at the establishment.The assailant, now suspected to be as Dangriga-born, turned Belize City resident Nicholas Swazo, would later be rushed to the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan where he is currently listed in stable condition and under heavy Police guard. Since Saturday’s murder, the Police have also detained a slew of persons for questioning. One man who turned himself in for questioning is Wababa, who said that he went to the Police to show that he doesn’t have any reasons to hide or run. Wadani said the Police already have several of his brothers detained, but he hopes they are all released. His attorney argues that Wadani was in Belize City on the night of the shooting. As news of the gang boss’ execution spread Saturday night, Police were on high alert in Belize City, closing certain nightclubs and business establishments early for the safety of patrons. There was also significantly increased Police presence on the streets of the Southside to deter the inevitable repercussions of the shooting in Dangriga. Still, it may not have been enough to save the life of Kadeem Ferguson, 22. He was socializing at home just off Faber’s Road at around midnight when three men drove up in a grey car and fired without warning. Ferguson was hit multiple times in the body and head and died instantly. Police have suggested that his murder may be in retaliation for the death of Tillett, as they say a spate of other shootings in the city Saturday night into Sunday morning may also be related. Belize City Police have indicated that they will maintain a very visible presence throughout the rest of this week, to deter any violence during the wake and funeral of Gerald “Shiny” Tillett. Tillett had taken over the powerful George Street Gang after the murder of his brother, Shelton “Pinky” Tillett in 2012. It is believed that the shooter, Nicholas Swazo, was affiliated with the South Side Gangsters (SSG), known to be rivals of the George Street Gang. While the Police have maintained an increased presence on the streets, they are concerned that Tillett’s funeral service, scheduled for Saturday, April 23, 2016 could result in a flare up of violence in the old capital. They hope that beefed up security on that day could prevent any more shootings as Tillett’s family and followers bury Tillett.

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Fleecing of BTL Pt. II Belize City, April 20, 2016 Last week the BELIZE TIMES exposed a small sample of the political piñata that BTL has become for special UDP friends and cronies with the Prime Minister’s son Anwar Barrow in charge. We published one of several documents in our possession that was leaked to us by a BTL whistle-blower who is tired of the government-owned company being used as a grab-tub. The document showed that one local used car dealership, owned by known UDPs, was paid $251,100 for two USED 2014 Ford F250 vehicle. The price paid by BTL for the USED vehicle is highly questionable A copy of a payment invoice, dated March 30, 2015, also shows that the phone company even made a pre-payment of 75% of the cost to Belize Auto Trader. But that’s not the only big-spending between BTL and Belize Auto Trader. More documents have surfaced showing that the people’s company is fattening the bank accounts of the car dealer and their owners with a barrage of car purchases. It’s almost enough for a fleet. Let’s take a look! Two USED 2014 Ford F250 - $251,100 ONE 2013 Toyota 4Runer - $115,000 ONE Toyota 4Runner - $181,000 ONE 2012 GMC Terrain - $55,000 ONE USED 2013 Toyota 4Runner - $78,500 ONE USED 2013 Ford Explorer XLT - $103,000 So who is so special to get this kind of business from BTL? The car dealership is Belize Auto Trader which is partowned by Said Perdomo, the nephew of Cabinet Secretary Carlos Perdomo. Of course, as we had mentioned, there has to be some big name UDP on the receiving end when you spend that kind of money. The part that really hurt Belizeans is that BTL doesn’t answer the concerns of the public, is the spending being done with accountability. Who screens purchases like these? Are the used vehicles really value for big money spent? Why is so much business going to Belize Auto Trader? Can’t any other company offer a better deal? Of course, these are questions none of us can get answers. You would think this is the end of the UDP hogging at BTL right? But guess what, there is still more for next week.

CARTOON

THE BELIZE TIMES

24 APR

2016