Belize Times April 3, 2016

SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

3 APRIL 2016 | ISSUE NO: 4987

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

BDF SOLDIER SHOT BY GUAT TRESPASSERS

Pg. 3 Shenanigans at Municipal Airstrip Development Project

YOUNG CHURCH LEADER EXECUTED AT HOME

Pg. 4

POLICING CRIME IN

Business Senator Hon. Mark Lizarraga

“NO STIMULUS, NO ENCOURAGEMENT, NO HOPE,” Business Senator rips into 2016/2017 Budget

Pg. 10

Pg. 23

Alwayne Cherrington

BELIZE CITY Pg. 19

FUEL PRICES GO UP Pg. 3

Shyne Barrow

Anwar Barrow

2016 CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPS Pg. 10

Pg. 9

TOP MODEL

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OPINION OUT Inside UB: Where the best students are last!

!

Dear Editor, In September 2015, my wife and I arrived in Belize.

We had been invited by the University of Belize to be lecturers teaching courses in Sociology, Psychology and Research Methods but also to be undergraduate thesis advisers. We came from Portugal after having been told that the UB needed to “raise standards”, that it needed “new ideas” to help it become a 21st century institution. What we found was an institution that refused to prepare students and preferred to give them passing grades just for showing up. This opinion of ours has been often mistaken for colonial arrogance. It is not. Quite the opposite, actually.

I could tell all the stories about the many students that came to me and asked me “I’m failing your course, what are you planning to do about it?” or about the ones that threatened to hurt us, or to damage our car or to commit suicide if we didn’t pass them.

I could tell you about how many students go through a university program without learning anything but still getting straight A’s. It would certainly be gory and entertaining but that’s not my purpose here. We were often told by students that we were being disrespectful but my point here is that the true disrespect comes from an institution that, while trying not to upset students (who are viewed as clients) in any way, deeply disrespects them by not having standards, by making it virtually impossible to fail, by not preparing them properly and not promoting a strong work ethic.

As the first semester came to an end, it was visible that many of our students became disgruntled. Even after deeply adjusting standards to the national context, most of the students were failing for the very simple reason that most were unable to show a basic degree of understanding of the contents.

It was around this time that the threats started. But also online petitions, belligerent confrontations, offensive emails with as many insults as spelling mistakes. This, of course, was something that we anticipated, it was even something we discussed throughout the semester with the management team

LOCAL 31 Mar

3 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

OUT

and were constantly encouraged to keep up being strict and not lowering standards. What we didn’t expect was that, as soon as these problems arose, not only did the Faculty’s management team do, like Pontius Pilate, leaving us alone to deal with all these things, but they actually encouraged students to be belligerent. We were left unprotected, all internal rules were disregarded and the burden of proof was ours. An Inquisition-like process in which our work was thoroughly scrutinized, looking for mistakes, took place after a group of students decided to file grade appeals based on unsubstantial, ethereal arguments that could have never been proven.

We saw ourselves in the middle of a Kafka-esque maze and the disgruntled students were fully aware of it. As the second semester started, many students tried to avoid us at all costs, many of them laughed at us in the hallways, some even got up and left when they found out who they’d have for lecturers. I will spare you of everything we did to help all students that were hard-working, they, more than anyone else, surely know what we did and most of our colleagues do know that, probably more than anything else we did everything that was asked of us and then some. We were being punished for being professional and for having reasonable standards, for not accepting plagiarism, for making students be held accountable for their own actions (such as submitting papers after the due date), for penalizing students who didn’t study and didn’t work.

We soon realized that we no longer had conditions to stay. It was impossible to establish tertiary level standards because we were (almost) the only ones to do so. Except for a small number of lecturers who still try to make a change, there is a generalized culture of complacency with the students. They are not held accountable for anything. And, quite honestly, more than anything, that culture is disrespectful towards the students. Our efforts to make a change, as soon as they were translated into upset students, were sabotaged by the very management team that had brought us in precisely to make that change.

It was at this time that the true problem revealed itself. Our long process of asking to leave the country (not because we wanted to, but because we weren’t being given the necessary conditions to do our job properly) involved blatant lies from the management team, complicit silences by those whose moral didn’t allow them to agree with what was happening, recorded meetings without our knowledge or consent, emails with no reply, accusations of dishonesty, and personal attacks. No-one wanted our side of

Airport taxi wrongs tourist

!

Dear Editor, An elder couple from the states who is visiting Belize was wronged by a taxi driver of the Ladyville Airport Taxi Union and his colleagues when the driver refused to return the couple’s fare after they found the person who was to pick them up from the airport was right there waiting for them.

The incident occurred on Thursday, 10 March 2016, at about 4:30pm when the couple exited the arrival lounge. They searched among those who had signs showing the parties they were waiting for. They inadvertently went past the person who was waiting for them. The pick-up person and his son were right in front of the waiting crowd. The couple moved away to the airport taxi union booth and arranged to have one of the union driver’s take them to their destination. They mistakenly paid first.

They came back over to the waiting crowd to get their luggage to take to the taxi when the husband recognised the party waiting for them. He got his wife and together they discussed with the gentleman and his son. After they were agreed that this is the person who had come to pick them up, they returned to the taxi driver and asked back for their money. They were told it is non-refundable. Many people present insisted that the US $25 fare should be returned, but the driver refused. In fact, a number of the drivers from the taxi union got together in a huddle and apparently decided that would be their position. They would not return the money, thus forcing the couple to ride with them and taking bread out of the mouth of the gentleman who had come to get the couple.

Their position is illegal and reflects badly on our country, which is a country of laws. Taking a taxi is governed by the contract laws of Belize. Taxi drivers must know the basic principles about this apparently simple contract. Taxi passengers in Belize enter into verbal contracts when they get into a taxi and tell the driver where they want to go. When the driver delivers the passenger to the destination point, the taxi driver has performed his side of the contract and then becomes entitled to payment to complete the contract. The driver is not entitled to payment before the journey begins.

The driver is not entitled to payment before the luggage is placed in the cab. The driver is not entitled to payment before the passengers have had a chance to get into the cab. In this case, the driver got paid first and did not provide any service (what the law calls consideration) to be entitled to the BZ $50; no luggage had been placed in his car

Continued on page 15

WEATHER 1 Apr

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264 Mar Apr

2016 and the couple had not gotten into his car yet. Therefore, the driver was to return the elder couple’s money. What the driver and his colleagues did is criminal!

It amounts to blackmail—“unu don pay me and if unu no ride wid me unu no wahn geh back unu money! Di money non-refundable!” How bad a nation can we be because of US $25.00.

In talking to a couple taxi drivers from the city who were there to pick-up visitors at the time of the incident, these taxi drivers do not belong to the airport taxi union, I came to learn that the airport taxi union and the Airport Authority behaves as if only airport union taxi operators have a right to pick-up and drop-off visitors from the airport. Apparently and reportedly there is an agreement between the union and the authority where union taxi drivers pay a fee of BZ $1,000 per annum to operate on the airport property. This is an exclusive arrangement and the union is an exclusive organisation also that reportedly discriminates in how it admits members.

In the process of executing its agreement with the union, when passengers arrive at the airport, need a taxi, and none of the union taxis are available, it is alleged that the airport security team, as an agent of the authority, unlawfully detains and prevents visitors from taking other taxis if other non-union taxis are around. They are told, reportedly, by security officials that they cannot ride with these non-union operators, just to protect a $1,000 per annum per union operator fee. This is clearly illegal and also another black eye for Belize, if true, and if visitors are subjected to this kind of treatment. To stop a visitor from riding a non-union taxi amounts to an unlawful detention. The authority ought to get advice from its legal minds on how it conducts its $1,000 per annum per driver arrangement with the taxi union.

No one can legally stop a visitor from riding any taxi of choice when that person arrives at the airport and no one can legally prevent a non-union taxi operator from going to the airport for pick-ups. We

Continued on page 15

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

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

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

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3 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

BDF Soldier Shot by Guat Trespassers Belize City, March 30, 2016 Another Belize Defense Soldier nearly paid the ultimate price for his defense of our national sovereignty and territory when he came under attack from armed Guatemalans who trespassed into Belizean terrain near the western border with Guatemala.

Belize Defense Force Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey waited for hours for transportation to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital on Saturday where he was hospitalised and provided treatment for four gunshot wounds to his hand and abdomen.

Sgt. Lambey was released from the hospital today, Wednesday, March 30, 2016 under heavy guard. He only commented that he was doing ok, before being whisked away by his fellow BDF officers.

Sgt. Lambey was shot near a water stream in the Valentin Camp area of the Chiquibul National Park.

According to an official Ministry of Foreign Affairs release, Sgt. Lambey and other BDF soldiers were on “a routine water supply and administration task at about 4:50 on Saturday (March 26, 2016) when they came under fire from men armed with rifles”.

The report further indicates that

the attack occurred 400 meters east of the Belize/Guatemala border, well into Belizean territory.

Only Lambey was injured in the attack.

Unlike the responses from the Guatemalan Government when incidents result in their citizens injured at the hands of Belize’s military official even in cases when the Guatemalans are engaged in illegal activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued any statement of condemnation for the assault. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Sedi Elrington has practised cautious defense and has asked the Office of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in the Adjacency Zone “to conduct an investigation into the circumstances”.

The Government’s response does not seem to contain any urgency, in the face of a serious incident that could have cost the life of one of our BDF soldiers.

More than twenty six expended shells were reportedly found in the area. It is clear that Saturday’s assault could have been a massacre.

This is just the second incident where our BDF soldiers have come under heavy threat inside the Chiquibul in just one month. In early March, BDF soldiers came under fire in an attempt to detain Guatemalan poachers found inside the

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Chiquibul. In that incident, the illegal hunter was shot in the leg and captured.

Belize has seen a massacre and national tragedy before. In September 2013, Tourism Police officer Danny Conorquie was shot dead while holding over his post at the Caracol tourist site. All evidence points to a Guatemalan committing the fatal assault, but Minister of Foreign Affairs Sedi Elrington has refused to accept this.

The Chiquibul area that borders Guatemala is another area of tension between Belize and its neighbour in the west. Friends of Conservation and Development rangers report constantly of the illegal activity in which Guatemalan trespassers engage in including poaching, farming, xate-extraction, gold-panning and logging.

The Valentin Camp area, they have signalled, is one of the key entry points for illegal Guatemalans.

FCD has advised that the Chiquibul National Park requires greater security presence and easier access to its terrain. While the Government has promised helicopters, this has not come to fruition as yet. Helicopter parts that arrived in the country three months ago have not been assembled as yet.

03 3 FUEL PRICES GO UP

GOB begins to squeeze $50 million from consumers Belize City, March 24, 2016 Fuel prices went up sharply just before Belizeans got underway with their Easter vacations as the Barrow Administration began to implement their announced $50 million tax increase.

The cost of Regular gasoline jumped by 62 cents from $8.23 to $8.85 while Diesel went up by 21 cents from $7.57 to $7.78.

The increase fuel prices dampened the spirits of many Easter vacationers who hoped to travel for the Easter weekend.

Many tried to stretch their dollars as much as possible to be able to travel to their favourite Easter weekend spot and the higher fuel price increase will only hurt their pockets more.

Consumers had to brace for increases in fuel prices just a month ago, in February.

In presenting Government’s spending plan for the new fiscal year, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced that an increase in fuel tax was necessary to help to plug a $62 million deficit in his budget. $50 million, he said, would derive from the fuel price adjustments throughout the year.

4 04

THE BELIZE TIMES

Taking us for a rough ride!

Shenanigans at Municipal Airstrip Development Project

The Municipal Airstrip upgrade seems to have become another white elephant project Belize City, March 21, 2016 Almost FOUR YEARS AGO…on December 5, 2012…there was a big fanfare on the ground breaking ceremony for the upgrade of the Municipal Airstrip to a cost of $9.5M BZ. The funding for this project came from a loan given to the Belize Airport Authority by the Belize Social Security Board to double the size in length and width of the runway. No doubt the SSB saw this loan as a positive investment that would have a positive impact in the development of the very important Tourism industry. The loan was to be paid by a $5 rider’s fee imposed on every ticket sold by the local airlines. On June 1st, 2015 approximately 3 years later, the municipal airstrip was still incomplete and it was announced that the rider’s fee would now be $6.00 per leg to “continue” with the project of upgrading the municipal airstrip.

Now if someone is flying from Corozal to Belize City your new rider’s fee is $12 as opposed to a one-time fee of $5. This is because the $6 charged is for each “leg” or “stop”. But some persons with special titles don’t pay this airline tax. In the kingdom where some are more equal than others, this is how it works. It’s called the “notnormal rule” as set by the former Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party.

There happens to be an exemption list for the rider’s fee…and who is on the list first? Of course, no other than “the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation…Minister Heredia and his Chairman of the Airports Authority Lindsay Garbutt.

While all of us have to pay the riders fee…we have to pay the taxes… because this is a tax on us…all be it another hidden one…but the Minister and a few chosen ones are exempted.

But the real monumental shame is that after 4 years and 3 months and after collecting roughly about $5m BZ in rider’s fee in just over 2 years (from the horse’s mouth) the new or upgraded municipal airstrip is still unfinished.

Worst, the air-traffic controllers can’t even get new headsets that they have been requesting and were promised for months. Headsets that cost only a couple hundred dollars each. These critically important public officers who are tasked with and are responsible for the safety of local and international flights can’t even get the minimum equipment and acceptable working conditions that are standard for the industry. So Mr. Speaker… it was not

surprising that these hard working officers staged a sick out the last time at the wake of learning that Minister of State was us-

3 APR

2016 ing and abusing the funds at the Airport’s Authority. Are we serious about Tourism?

It gets worst there is still not enough staff…because the UDP cronies they hired were not successful in the exams for Air Control Officers…so now when it’s the low season…in order for the officers to take vacation leave the radar (a very important equipment) is turned off because there are not enough persons who know how to use it. It’s a miracle that our airport is still certified for international airlines to land. This is not only unacceptable its plain crazy but perhaps the UDP Government would care to explain how come the Airport Authority can’t train and employ more air controller officers but they can pay the celebrations and funerals of the ex-Minister of State.

3 APR

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 05

EDITORIAL

A Hard Lesson Not Learned

T

he details related to the shooting death of Belize Defense Force Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey over the weekend have not been fully revealed to the public for all of us to fully understand exactly how our fellow army men came under attack by illegal Guatemalan invaders in the Chiquibul National Park.

While we await a full account which we hope is provided soon by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and/or Ministry of National Security, we join the rest of Belizeans to make important points in light that in September 2013 fellow Belizean Danny Conorquie was killed in the line of duty in the same Chiquibul National Park.

The brazen daylight killing of Danny, while on duty for his country at Caracol,

by Guatemalan intruders brought to light the serious breaches of Belize’s national security that still continue to take place.

His execution in front of Tourists was also an attack on our vital tourism industry.

The video of the shooting went viral on social networks, exposing the fragility of our tourism sector under the threat of illegal invaders.

Threats by Guatemalan citizens against our security forces must be taken seriously, fully and properly documented, and addressed at the highest levels with relevant Guatemalan authorities.

Danny Conorquie’s murder should have turned things around for the BDF with

the efforts of the Government of Belize.

It should have meant immediate policy changes to meaningfully buttress our national security capacities along our borders. However, instead the most we have gotten is lip service and political posturing.

In 2013, we demanded that the Guatemalan authorities treat the murder of Danny as if it were one of their own, and today we must do the same in the face of Saturday’s attack on BDF Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey.

We also demand that our leaders act with a sense of urgency and purpose to address the failures and weaknesses of our national security structure. Where are the promised resources to ensure the strength and effectiveness of our BDF and Coast Guard in the execution of their primary obligation to protect and preserve the territorial integrity of Belize? Where are the helicopters promised? Was it just an election campaign tactic?

We expect our Government to constructively engage Guatemala on this issue to ensure that any future confrontation or crisis is averted. We expect and demand that the political games end and our Government get serious about governing. The Minister of National Security unfortunately seems preoccupied with a personal political campaign and football. We continue to owe no less to Special Constable Danny Conorquie, and now we owe it to BDF Staff Sergeant Richard Lambey.

06 6

3 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

PUP Leader

HON. JOHN BRICENO

Meeting PUP Committees IN BELMOPAN

IN CAYO CENTRAL

IN CAYO SOUTH

2016

Questions to Ministers!

Can the Minister of Works say who has been awarded the contract to build a new road connecting the Phillip Goldson and George Price highways?

Can the Minister of Lands reveal who are the landowners who will be affected by the acquisition of land for the new road, whether the Government will provide compensation and who will decide the market value of the lands?

Can the Minister of Housing explain how he will meet the increasing housing needs of Belizeans with a budget of $50,000?

Will the Minister of National Security explain why the October 2015 Threat Assessment report compiled by senior security officials at the Belize Defence Force was not shared with the Minister of Foreign Affairs or Prime Minister?

Could the Minister of Education indicate if his Ministry has discovered an alternative plan to the cold and heartless decision to fire over 1,300 teachers in the upcoming school year?

Can the Minister of Human Development say for how much did he buy the large tract of land on the Philip Goldson Highway where he is preparing to open a gas station?

IN CAYO WEST

Corrigendum An article on page 06 of the March 20, 2016 edition featured a picture of the Belize High School students who attended the fourth HACIA debate conference held in San Jose, Costa Rica from March 10 to 13, 2016. The picture was accompanied by the wrong caption.

The caption should have read: BHS delegates of HACIA 2016: Master Zachary Ortiz, Faculty Advisor Mrs. Jamie Lee Usher, Master Tavis Wagner (back), Miss Mia Paige Miles and Miss Annie Ponce (front).

3 APR

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

Belize under terrible leadership

Belize City, March 30, 2016 The UDP had a fine time in the House last week. They didn’t debate the budget because they couldn’t. They know the budget is bogus and bad for normal Belizeans like you and me. But these UDPs aren’t normal. They’re living the high life - their pockets full, wives and sweethearts well taken care of, vacations wherever they want whenever they want, fancy vehicles, filet mignon in the fridge. It’s the best of times for the UDPs and for their bloated contract cronies. So they couldn’t really debate the budget because they don’t have to live the way we do. They don’t get it. So they laughed and made fools of themselves like they always do. Because it’s fun for them. It’s funny to them.

But for the rest of us, there’s nothing to smile about.

While the UDPs were partying this past weekend a BDF soldier was shot near Caracol, near one of our BDF camps.

That’s how real the situation is on the ground. He could have died, like Danny Conorquie. Yet whenever Sedi opens his mouth it is to praise the Guatemalans.

He says we Belizeans are provoking the Guatemalans. He says that you have to expect a reaction if you have Belizeans provoking the Guatemalans. He claims that the Guatemalans have been mature and respectful. Sedi seems more Guatemalan than Belizean.

The other day at the OAS, Krem did an interview with the Guatemala Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales. He says that we need to find a way to deal with these soldiers shooting Guatemalan peasants. He says that’s the problem.

He didn’t mention that these Guatemalan peasants come into Belizean territory with guns. He didn’t mention that they come here to steal our resources, to plant marijuana, to pan for our gold and cut down our trees and take our xate.

The Guatemalan position seems to be that their innocent farmers are being harassed by the BDF. Sedi seems to agree completely.

So are you surprised that those farmers, those poachers, those criminals would target the BDF? Both the Guatemalan FM and the Belizean FM are putting bulls-eyes on the backs of our men who protect our borders.

Nothing came out of the Danny Conorquie incident. And nothing will come out of this latest incident. Nothing.

It will blow over ‘like wah lee breeze’.

Until the next BDF patrol meets poachers, armed and ready to kill.

I don’t think Sedi really cares.

This should have been one of the biggest issues in the debate, a critical national issue...more resources for our soldiers who are tasked with protecting our land while Ministers sleep peacefully in their beds. Some of our soldiers patrol in tennis shoes because there are no boots. They don’t have enough weapons, and not enough bullets. Their gear is old and outdated. It seems that our government can’t be bothered to outfit

our soldiers. We sit like a beggar nation and wait for the US to give us their hand me downs.

The morale of our soldiers is at an all-time low. Their lives are in danger. And the politicians who should have their backs are too busy filling their own pockets.

It is time for us as a nation to act. We can’t wait for these logy, fat cat Ministers to

do the right thing. We are losing things we cannot afford to lose, like the Sarstoon - gone just like that. And now there are more Guatemalans in the Chiquibul and inside our territory than there are soldiers.

Forget that talk about the best coming. They didn’t mean for us normal Belizeans. They meant for them. It is time for us to write our own history.

Chief Operations Officer Speednet Communications Ltd. P.O. Box 1816 2 ½ Miles Phillip Goldson Highway Belize City, Belize ngarcia@speednet-wireless.com

07 7

Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington and his friend, Guatemala Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales

08 8

THE BELIZE TIMES

The SARSTOON Belize Guatemala

UNDER PUP The SARSTOON Belize Guatemala

UNDER UDP

THE TIME TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY IS NOW!

3 APR

2016

3 APR

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

Belizean Beauty

Ashleigh

• • • • • •

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10 SPORTS

3 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

Julio & Alejandro Padilla Miranda win

Guatemalan wins 2016

Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic Belize City, March 26, 2016 Guatemalan national team cyclists Alejandro Padilla Miranda and his brother Julio swept most of the station prizes along the way to win the 1st and 2nd places in the 88th annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic on the George Price Highway.

Julio Padilla took the lead in San Ignacio, and paced himself into a three-man lead peloton with his brother and a lone Belizean, Team Digicell’s John Borland. The Padilla brothers eventually left Borland behind, and rode past the finish line together.

Results: 1st - Alejandro Padilla Miranda - 5:51:09 - $6,000 prize, garland of roses & 6 trophies 2nd - Julio Padilla Miranda – 5:51:09 - $3,000 prize & 2 trophies 3rd - Joel Borland, Team DigiCell 4G LTE - 5:53:07 - $2,000 prize and a trophy 4th - Brandon Cattouse, C-Ray Road Addikz - 5:59:17 – $1,000 & trophy 5th - 2005 Cross Country Champ Bill Elliston - $800 prize & trophy 6th - Scottie Weisse, Team Starlight (USA) - $600 prize & trophy 7th - Nissan Arana, Team Westrac Alliance - $425 prize & trophy 8th - Robert Liam Stewart, Team Western Spirit - $325 prize & trophy 9th - Henry Moriera, Team SMART Zoom - $225 prize & trophy 10th - Ron Vasquez, Team Western Spirit - $150 prize & trophy 11th - Angel Tzib, Team BECOL Uprising – 6:05:38 - $100 prize & trophy 12th - Brandon Morgan, Team Westrac Alliance - $100 prize & trophy 13th - Quinton “Baddest” Hamilton (unattached) – 6:05:45 $100 prize & trophy 14th - Giovanni Lovell, Team DigiCell 4G LTE - 6:05:48 - $100 prize & trophy 15th - Oscar Quiros Jr., Team Western Spirit - 6:06:31 - $100 prize & trophy 16th - David Flynn, Team Starlight (USA) – $75 prize & trophy 17th - Philip Leslie, Team Benny’s Megabytes - 6:07:00 – $75 prize & trophy 18th - Robert Mariano, Team DigiCell 4G LTE – $75 prize & trophy 19th - 3x Lionman champ Kenroy Gladden – 6:07:27 -$75 prize & trophy 20th - Jose Choto, C-Ray Road Addikz - $75 prize & trophy 21st - Tarique Flowers, Team Benny’s Megabytes 22nd - Jose Anastacio Priego, Team Cancun 23rd - Dwight Lopez, Team Bel-Cal 24th - Elston Coleman, Team Westrac Alliance 25th - Yayir Godinez Jimenez, Team Cancun 26th - 2004 Cross Country champ Chris Harkey, Team Starlight (USA) 27th - Giovanni Macario Sam-Poz, Team Guatemala 28th - Mark Staine, Team Smart 29th/1st Junior - Kaydine Pinelo, Team Smart 30th - Fitzgerald “Palas” Joseph, Team Lampaz 31st - 2006 Cross Country champ Shane Vasquez, Team Western Spirit 33rd - David Henderson Jr, Team Benny’s Megabytes

Brandon Cattouse, 4th

Nissan Arana, 7th & Scotty Weisse, 6th

Joel Borland, 3rd

Bill Elliston, 5th

Henry Moriera, 9th & Liam Stewart, 8th

Angel Tzib, 11th & RonVasquez, 10th

273 MAR APR

2016 2016

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

CHRIS GUYDIS WINS 3RD ANNUAL

11 SPORTS 11

Caye Caulker Kayak Island Challenge

Belize City, March 26, 2016 Chris Guydis won the 3rd annual Kayak Island Challenge race, organized by Mr Robert Blease and the Caye Caulker Tour Guide Association, starting and finishing at Palapas Gardens on Caye Caulker on Holy Saturday.

Seven brave kayakers which included one woman, participated in three categories: Men’s Single, Women’s Single, and Rudder.

Chris Guydis, paddling for Paddle Stop, the only entrant in the Rudder Category completed the race distance of about twelve miles in about two hours. He was overall winner and opened a gap of about 21 minutes on the second place overall winner. Although no official time was taken, this was the best estimate looking at our watches. The surfski, such as the one used

by Chris, will most likely be the racing kayak of choice in the near future here in Belize. Chris picked up a $300 cash prize with a trophy and won all station prizes along the way.

Five men contested the Men’s Singles category with Steven Arnold taking the $800 1st prize and trophy, Jerry Rhaburn won the 2nd prize of $400 cash and trophy, while Kenrick Daniels won the 3rd prize: $200 cash and a trophy.

Allie Johnstone, 5th overall, won the Women’s Single Category, picking up $500 cash prize and trophy. Two participants did not finish the challenge: Brandon Lind and Sean Arnold, but they had made a great effort.

1st Womens Single, Allie Johnstone

Chris Guydis won 1st overall

Independence High girls win NSSSA softball champs Roaring Creek, March 19, 2015 The Independence High School girls won the National Secondary Schools softball championships hosted by the Belmopan Comprehensive School at the Elston Galvez field in Roaring Creek over the weekend.

The Independence girls defeated Ladyville Tech 6-1. Winning pitcher Camryn Linarez struck out 6 batters and conceded only one run. The IHS girls got 3 hits off Elma Wade’s pitching, and even though Wade struck out 6 batters, she also walked 4 batters and the diamond made 6 errors.

In 3rd place, the Compre girls walloped Escuela Mexico 17-2 by mercy rule in 4 innings. The Compre girls got 13 hits off Aruny Campos’ pitching.

Campos walked 9 batters and struck out 2 batters. The compre girls left 5 runners on base, but still scored 17 runs as Escuela made 2 errors.

The Escuela girls got only 1 hit off Richards’s pitching, as she struck also out 10 batters, giving up only 2 runs.

SOL Belize’s representative presented team trophies and individual medals to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams; and Camryn Linarez won the MVP award and Most Wins. IHS’ Torry Castaneda received the Most Stolen Bases award, while Compre’s Renisha Richards got the Most Strikeouts Award. Compre’s Dana King won Most RBIs (5); and Ladyville’s Christy Robinson won Best Batting Average (0:833).

Independence girls champs

1st Mens Singles Steve Arnold & Jerry Rhaburn - 2nd

Kenrick Daniels won 3rd Mens Singles

San Pedro High boys win softball champs Roaring Creek, March 19, 2015 The San Pedro High School boys won the National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) softball championships hosted by the Belmopan Comprehensive School at the Elston Galvez field in Roaring Creek over the weekend.

Lester Gamez struck out 12 batters and walked 5, to lead the SPHS boys to a 5-1 win against the IHS boys and MVP Shemar Broaster hit an out of the park homer.

San Pedro boys champs

In 3rd place, pitcher Devontae Middleton struck out 7 batters and walked 7 s he led the Gwen Liz boys to a 24-8 win over the Baptist boys 24-8.

Shemar Broaster won the MVP award and had the Best Batting Average (0:400). SPHS pitcher Lester Gamez won the Most Wins awards; while IHS’ Christian Logan won Most Strikeouts (14). Gwen Liz’s Aaron Young won Most RBIs (6).

12

THE BELIZE TIMES

3 APR

2016

3 APR

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry of Health UNICEF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – BELIZE ECD OPERATIONAL STRATEGY PLAN Background Early childhood is the most rapid period of development in a human life. Although individual children develop at their own pace, all children progress through an identifiable sequence of physical, cognitive, and emotional growth and change. The Early Child Development (ECD) approach is based on the proven fact that young children respond best when caregivers use specific techniques designed to encourage and stimulate progress to the next level of development.

The ultimate goal of Early Child Development (ECD) programs is to improve young children’s capacity to develop and learn. A child who is ready for school has a combination of positive characteristics: he or she is socially and emotionally healthy, confident, and friendly; has good peer relationships; tackles challenging tasks and persists with them; has good language skills and communicates well; and listens to instructions and is attentive. The positive effects that ECD programs have can change the development trajectory of children by the time they enter school. A child who is ready for school has less chances of repeating a grade, being placed in special education, or being a school drop-out.

ECD interventions include educating and supporting parents, delivering services to children, developing capacities of caregivers and teachers, and using mass communications to enhance parents and caregiver’s knowledge and practices. Programs for children can be center or home-based, formal or non-formal, and can include parent education.1 In the year 2010 a situation analysis on Early Childhood Development program in Belize concluded that there was a need to have an ECD policy and provided 21 recommendations for the mainstreaming of ECD within social sector line ministries and other stakeholders providing care and services to the target children. The three line ministries with direct responsibility for the design and implementation of ECD programs have now an approved ECD policy that will guide the strengthening of the program countrywide. The previous ECD TA yielded a mapping of the ECD program, defined strategic outcomes and possible phases for policy implementation.

General Objective To have a five year national inter-sectoral strategic operational plan on early childhood development for Belize developed and disseminated to key stakeholders.

Specific objective 1 The ECD strategy plan must define by consensus and based on evidence the actions [with costing] that are necessary to contribute to the following outcomes and most critical issues from the ECD policy to be addressed or implemented, with consideration of the ECD outcomes:

13

Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry of Health UNICEF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE –BELIZE ECD COMMUNICATION MATERIALS Terms of Reference Production of Belize ECD Communication Materials Consultant Duration of Assignment: 6 Months Start Date: April 2016 Background Early childhood is the most rapid period of development in a human life. Although individual children develop at their own pace, all children progress through an identifiable sequence of physical, cognitive, and emotional growth and change. The Early Child Development (ECD) approach is based on the proven fact that young children respond best when caregivers use specific techniques designed to encourage and stimulate progress to the next level of development.

The ultimate goal of Early Child Development (ECD) programs is to improve young children’s capacity to develop and learn. A child who is ready for school has a combination of positive characteristics: he or she is socially and emotionally healthy, confident, and friendly; has good peer relationships; tackles challenging tasks and persists with them; has good language skills and communicates well; and listens to instructions and is attentive. The positive effects that ECD programs have can change the development trajectory of children by the time they enter school. A child who is ready for school has less chances of repeating a grade, being placed in special education, or being a school drop-out.

ECD interventions include educating and supporting parents, delivering services to children, developing capacities of caregivers and teachers, and using mass communications to enhance parents and caregiver’s knowledge and practices. Programs for children can be center or home-based, formal or non-formal, and can include parent education.1 In the year 2010 a situation analysis on Early Childhood Development program in Belize concluded that there was a need to have an ECD policy and provided 21 recommendations for the mainstreaming of ECD within social sector line ministries and other stakeholders providing care and services to the target children.

The three line ministries with direct responsibility for the design and implementation of ECD programs have now an approved ECD policy that will guide the strengthening of the program countrywide. The previous ECD TA yielded a mapping of the ECD program, defined strategic outcomes and possible phases for policy implementation.

Recommended roll out strategies in phases: Phase 1 – strengthening ECD within each sector: Phase 2 - increasing ECD coverage by each sector Phase 3 - moving toward a comprehensive, intersectoral ECD approach General Objective: By the end of 2016, a comprehensive ECD policy communication plan is completed to support the national ECD intersectoral strategy roll out.

Specific Objective 1: Comprehensive ECD policy communications plan The design and utilization of a comprehensive ECD communication plan is essential for supporting the long-term implementation of a national, intersectoral ECD roll-out plan. An increased awareness to the importance of investing in ECD and the expanded support for implementing an intersectoral ECD strategy is key to guarantee the rights of all young children to a good start in life. More directly related to results for young children, early childhood development in essence is a change in behavior on how institutions, the family and community interacts to enable caregivers and the environment for children to develop, learn and reach their fullest potential, hence contribute to their country’s development as a successful adult citizen. In order to optimize resources a comprehensive ECD communication plan will be developed with the following priorities: • Design and implement communication actions focusing on public awareness on and support for increased investments for ECD • Advocate and mobilize decision-makers and technical staff of the different line ministries to support the ECD Strategy rollout plan.

• Provide service providers from the three line Ministries with the required communication and operational materials to improve the quality of their actions and to strengthen family support/ orientation actions.

• Provide families and caregivers with more family focused materials to assist their daily actions to support early childhood development within the home environment.

Specific objective 2 The ECD strategy plan will include 5 core and 5 important indicators per outcome that the country will focus on in the next five years. A metadata of each selected indicator will be annexed to the strategy plan.

Specific objective 3 The ECD strategy plan will include specific cross-cutting communication components to support the implementation of the ECD roll-out strategy, incorporating those key elements found in the comprehensive ECD communication plan to be prepared during 2016.

Specific objective 4 The ECD operation manual for guiding the ECD strategy roll-out will outline the individual sector (ministry) administrative /technical elements and intersectoral strategy components required for the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of the ECD strategy plan.

Products 1. Consultancy work plan 2. Strategy plan with focus on outcomes, policy and outlined stages (including the cross-cutting strategies that support an intersectoral approach) 3. ECD indicators metadata dictionary 4. ECD operation manual for ministry technical coordinators and district level social sector workers 5. One national consultation session with stakeholders for their feedback on above products 6. Presentation of the strategy plan and other products to stakeholders Duration The estimated duration of the consultancy is for three months.

Qualification • Academic Degree/ Level & Years of Professional Work Experience: Advanced degree/postgraduate qualifications in education, social sciences, public health or related field. Five or more years of professional work experience in Early Childhood Development or social development, project administration, monitoring and evaluation. At least 5 years general experience working with children 0-5 years.

• Languages: English • Areas of Expertise: Specific experience in early childhood development is desired • Skills: Excellent communications skills, results oriented and capacity to manage complex situations towards targets/ goals achievement Products Property All documents produced as a result of this consultancy are property of the Government of Belize. Final products are to be delivered to the CEO’s MHDSTPA, MOEYS and MOH who will certify acceptance of product [s] and recommend payment.

Supervision and Reporting: The Early Childhood Education and Development Center of the Ministry of Education will be the executing agency responsible for the implementation of the work. The ECD task force formed with representatives from all three ministries (Heath, Education and Human Development), and led by the Chief Executive Officers in these three ministries, will meet on a regular basis to review progress and provide guidance and direction.

Administrative Information Suitably qualified applicants are asked to submit their application with the consultancy as subject by: • E-mail to: ncfc@btl.net & belize@unicef.org OR • Post to: National Committee for Families and Children Cleghorn Street, Belize City PH: 223-0059, FAX: 223-1229 Application to include: • Curriculum vitae • Technical and financial proposal Applications close: 17:00 on 08 April 2016 Please note that only complete application packets will be considered.

Specific Objective 2: ECD materials adapted to the Belize context • UNICEF and WHO along with other international agencies have developed generic early childhood materials / kits e.g. ECD kit: a treasure box of activities, care for child development field practice, CDC positive parenting tips from birth to 8 years of age. Whilst the materials are of high quality they need to be culturally sensitive to Belize, including the name of the ECD program. The ECD package of materials for Belize needs to be ensemble using generics and provided to all stakeholders responsible for the ECD policy implementation. The consultant will make the adaptations for Belize, conduct a pilot testing and make necessary changes before submission of the final products.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT The Consultant or a team/company/agency will provide support to UNICEF and partners in the development of ECD materials adapted to the Belize context (specific Objective 2) SCOPE OF WORK Under the overall guidance and supervision of the ECD/Education Officer with support from the Communications Specialist, the consultant will produce the following products: 1. Consultancy work plan 2. Collection and analysis of existing ECD materials in Belize and in the region, to support adaptation or development on materials for Belize.

3. Selected ECD materials adapted to local context (with a priority focus on increasing parenting/caregiver skills). A local team along with consultant will participate in the selection of materials available to be adapted to the Belize context.

4. Report on Pilot testing of materials. Once the adaptation process is concluded, a pilot testing will inform the clarity of messages and acceptance by target audiences.

5. Samples of ECD Communication materials: Radio and TV spots, posters, memorabilia, parenting tips, banner, flyer (including specific information and messages on the importance of ECD investments) 6. Parenting messages booklet for social sector workers 7. Parenting messages booklet for parents – popular version The Consultant will operate from their home-base, participate in meetings, and undertake missions as necessary.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT The consultant will report directly to the ECD/Education Officer with support from the Communications Specialist. The ECD task force formed with representatives from all three ministries (Heath, Education and Human Development), and led by the Chief Executive Officers in these three ministries will also provide oversight and guidance. The consultant will provide briefs and updates to the ECD Officer, Communications Specialist and ECD task force on the progress of the work, challenges encountered, risks foreseen, proposed or taken mitigation measures, and where UNICEF support may be required. UNICEF and partners will review for certification of acceptance the outputs produced by the contracted consultant.

UNICEF staff will provide technical and administrative support to the contracted consultant.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The contracted consultant will report monthly to the ECD Officer and the Communications Specialist to ensure a timely delivery of the expected outputs.

Duration The estimated duration of the consultancy is for six months.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE The Consultant/team/company/agency most suited to complete this consultation should have: • A university degree in graphic design, communications, journalism, public relations, or social sciences.

• A first level university degree with at least five (5) years of professional training/certification • Previous experience producing similar products • Previous experience working with education and child development programs • Previous experience with UN agencies or projects is a distinct asset Other skills: • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Design software Language: Fluency in written and oral English is required ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Suitably qualified applicants are asked to submit their application with the consultancy as subject by email to: belize@unicef.org by 16:00 on 08 April 2016 Application to include: • curriculum vitae • UN personal history (P11) form, including contact information for three references. See link for UN personal history (P11) form: http://www.unicef.org/ videoaudio/PDFs/P11.doc and • price proposal.

Only completed applications will be considered.

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Ariel Rosado Foundation offers more scholarships for 2016 March 29, 2016 The Ariel Rosado Foundation is inviting applications for the following scholarships for academic year 2016-2017. The Foundation emphasizes that once applicants are accepted into a high school or Galen University program the main criteria for consideration is financial need.

Primary School Sailing Scholarships: Interested Primary Schools are invited to apply for a Grant that covers the cost of 1 year membership fee and 25 sailing sessions with the Belize Sailing Association for 10 students attending any Primary School in Belize City. Schools must provide adult supervision for students while participating in sailing sessions.

Secondary School Scholarships: High School Scholarships tenable at any recognized High School in the country of Belize cover the cost of all Fees, Tuition and Books for a maximum of 4 years. In addition to scholarships funded directly by the Foundation the following scholarships are funded by dedicated sponsors: • The Raymond Auxillou Memorial Scholarship • The Joyce and Arthur and Barrow Memorial Scholarship • The Belize Bank International Scholarship • The Dr. Betty Flinchum Scholarship • The FULTEC Scholarship • The Doreen and Louis Humphreys Scholarship • The INFOTEL Scholarship • The Rosaura and Erdulfo Nunez Scholarship • The SMART Scholarship • The Clive Alexander Tucker Memorial Scholarship • The UNICOMER (Belize) Ltd. Scholarship

3 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

Ariel Rosado Annual Bike Ride 2016 March 30, 2016 The 2016 Ariel Rosado Annual Bike Ride will be held on Saturday 16th April 2016 starting at Galen University Campus in Central Farm and ending at Hour Bar and Grill in Belize City.

Ride for Scholarships, Ride for your health, Ride for Fun.

• The Sharon and Chester Walker Scholarship • The Wet Lizard Scholarship Galen University Scholarships: University Scholarships tenable at Galen University cover the cost of Tuition for a maximum of 2 years.

The Board of Directors of The Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation thanks all individual and corporate citizens whose sponsorship and support make these scholarships available to needy and deserving Belizean students. We are also very grateful to all who support and participate in the Ariel Rosado Annual Bike Ride which is our major fund raising event.

Application Forms are available at the Foundation’s Web Site arielrosadofoundation.bz or by contacting the Foundation at email ariel.memorial@gmail.com or by calling telephone numbers 223-5674 or 600-6665 or by visiting the Foundation’s office at 967/968 Ariel Rosado Avenue, Mayflower Garden, Mile 3 Phillip Goldson Highway, Belize City (behind Scotia bank).

CALL 671-8385 or EMAIL:

belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

To place advertisement in the Belize Times Newspaper

Registration and further information available at: Ordonez Bike Shop on Pelican Street or Smiling Meats on New Road. Or call 223-5674/600-6665.

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 18th day of September, 2012, between SHERETT MUSCHAMP of Independence Village, Stann Creek District, Belize of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 22 of 2012 at Folios 119 – 148, 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 piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 713 comprising 615.270 Square Meters situate in Independence Village, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 404 of 2012 and dated the 9th day of July, 2012, attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 404 of 2012 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 15th day of March, 2016.

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

3 APR

2016

What Bob Marley Can Teach Us About Donald Trump Contributed by Stephen A. Cooper, Esq. If he were alive, the Honorable Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley, O.M. (Order of Merit), would have celebrated his 71st birthday on February 6. Even with the thirty-fifth anniversary of his tragic death from cancer coming this May, Bob remains the most recognizable ambassador of reggae music the world over. Marley’s timeless appeal and continued relevance stems in no small part from the stirring political, racial, and social consciousness painstakingly infused in his songbook.

From tracks like One Love to War (adopted from Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I’s historic speech before the United Nations General Assembly in 1963), Them Belly Full (But They Hungry), Get Up, Stand Up, Concrete Jungle – and many, many more of his songs – Bob Marley used the bully pulpit of in-

OUT Inside UB: Where the students are last!

Continued from page 2

the story to be told. So after discussing our departure for a very long time and after a very long period of silence in which no-one replied to our emails, we were suddenly informed on a Friday that we were no longer going to teach any more classes and that we were not allowed to speak to our students. We offered to stay in the country long enough to assure a smooth transition, to prepare the students and to prepare the substitute lecturers but, out of spite, this was not accepted and the ones who ended up losing were the students.

There is something very wrong within the University of Belize. There are power games going on that revolve around everything except the students’ interests. There are those whose main interest is their own personal ambitions, those who keep their heads down, and those who don’t accept it and are either pushed out or dying to leave.

During our time in Belize, we’ve come to love the country and its people and as we left it we couldn’t help but feel like the whole country is being deceived by this institution. Objectively, UB students are nowhere near the level of students of most of the universities in the world and this is not a statement against the students, but rather against the university that disrespects them and disrespects the country by not having the courage to do what is needed.

This is a university that is isolated and that isolates its students from the rest of the world.

Signed, Márcio Augusto

15

THE BELIZE TIMES

ternational music stardom to disseminate the treasure of his accumulated moral wisdom. No different from the revelations of a learned Rasta elder “reasoning” in a sacred Nyabinghi drum circle in the woods, Marley’s lyrics offer much more than mere artful, pleasant sounding ditties set to an engaging tune; unlike lyrics of today, they are not window dressing whose only purpose is to accompany a deep base or gyrating beat.

Instead, through artful poetry, a beatific voice, and his magnetic charisma, Bob Marley spurred dancing and singing. But critically, and I submit, the reason his music stands the test of time: Bob’s lyrics challenge listeners’ hearts and minds. From staunch supporters to his fiercest critics, Bob’s songs force everyone to recognize oppression, unfairness, and inequality – in all its multifaceted, nefarious forms.

This is why there can be no doubt: If Bob Marley was alive today he would denounce – using the strongest, most acerbic terms – the leading Republican candidate for President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. A small sampling of Marley’s discography and musical mainstays evidence the disdain the reggae star would have held for the billionaire mogul.

To prove the point, imagine the following hypothetical conversation between Trump and Marley, using each man’s publicly spoken (or sung) words except where otherwise indicated by brackets (“[ ]”).

Donald Trump and Bob Marley (An Imagined Conversation) TRUMP: That’s one of the nice things [Bob]. I mean, part of the beauty of me is that I’m very rich. [Indeed, I have been known to say:] The second-greatest day of a man’s life is the day he buys a yacht, but the greatest day of a man’s life is the day he sells it.

MARLEY: [Donald,] [y]ou see[m] [like] men sailing on their ego trips.

Blast off on their spaceships. Million miles from reality. No care for [an average Joe], no care for me.” (Stiff Necked Fools) [Donald, don’t you know?] The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires . . . . Don’t gain the

world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold. (Zion Train) TRUMP: [Fine, fine, I get it Bob. Money doesn’t impress you. [But,] [l]et me tell you, I’m a really smart guy.

MARLEY: Here comes the conman coming with his con plan . . . .

(Crazy Baldheads) TRUMP: [Bob! I don’t know why you are being so mean . . . .

After all,] I have a great relationship with the blacks. I’ve always had a great relationship with the blacks.

[That being said about “the blacks”, you should know: Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.]

MARLEY: [Donald, you] don’t want to see us unite. ‘Cause all [you] want us to do is keep on fussing and fighting. [You] don’t want to see us live together. (Top Ranking) TRUMP: I will build a great wall [Bob] . . . .

MARLEY: Why can’t we roam this open country? Oh, why can’t we be what we want to be? We want to be free!” (Three O’Clock Roadblock).

Let me tell you my friend if you gonna live this life, it’s not good for you to build strife. (Craven Choke Puppy) To divide and rule could only tear us apart. (Zimbabwe) TRUMP: [Look here Bob,] [w]e need to make America great again.

MARLEY: [Donald, really, I] [c] an’t take your slogans no more. . . . [just] can’t take your slogans no more . . . . (Slogans) You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time. (Get up, Stand up) TRUMP: [Ok, Bob, no more slogans. But just so you know, so there is no mistake about this,] I do not wear a rug. My hair is one hundred percent mine.

MARLEY: [You] crazy, [Donald,] crazy. [And] we gonna chase . . . crazy baldheads [like you] out of town. Chase [you] crazy baldheads out of town. (Crazy Baldheads).

Mr. Trump walks off in disgust and Bob Marley shakes his head

sadly.

MARLEY: Pressed on [his] conscience. Oh yeah. And [he] live[s] [his life] on false pretense every day – each and every day. Yeah.

These are the big fish, who always try to eat down the small fish, just the small fish. I tell you what: they would do anything to materialize their every wish. Say: Woe to the downpressors…they’ll eat the bread of sorrow! Woe to the downpressors…they’ll eat the bread of sad tomorrow. (Guiltiness) About the Author: Stephen Cooper is a former federal and D.C. public defender. He writes full-time and lives in Woodland Hills, California.

Stephen A. Cooper, Esq. stevecooper7214@gmail.com 21410 Velicata Street Woodland Hills, CA 91364 301-412-3367

OUT Airport taxi wrongs tourist Continued from page 2 would be entering areas of the Constitutional Law if that were to happen, as it is all taxi-operators’ livelihood that is impacted by the security apparatus at the airport.

In Belize City, members of another taxi union, the one that operates out of the former Novelo’s Bus Terminal, enjoys some really special privileges that even affects how taxi licences are given out. This group gets preferential parking, like other taxi unions in the city. Their preferential parking is right outside the bus terminal. But they also have a private agreement with the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi operation to operate on their premises. So their members get the biggest share of the taxi customer base in the city and they are protected. They are protected with an iron fist by the policemen who provide security at San Pedro Belize Express.

A few taxi drivers who operate on public property outside the premises have a tough time as they freelance.

The City Council refuses to give them preferential parking, which they as a group are prepared to pay for. In fact, taxi parking for taxi passengers coming out of the cruise terminals and the San Pedro Water Taxi is non-existent and the City Council is not prepared to carve out parking spaces for the taxi operators, despite the service being a muchneeded one. In fact, the City Council’s traffic officers issue tickets incessantly in the area to taxi operators and private citizens who need to go do business in the area, as there is no parking where parking is needs to be. The logic as to why some areas along angel lane and in front of St Mary’s School and Church are non-parking cannot be fathomed.

The writer of this article was unable to confirm the entire nature of the agreement and arrangement between the airport taxi union and the Airport Authority. People are tight-lipped about it.

Signed: Tony Martinez

16

3 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

“NO STIMULUS, NO ENCOURAGEMENT, NO HOPE,” BUSINESS SENATOR RIPS INTO 2016/2017 BUDGET

Business Senator Hon. Mark Lizarraga Belize City, March 29, 2016 The Senate met on Tuesday afternoon to debate the 2016/2017 Budget which was approved by the Government’s majority in the House of Representatives but not before the Op-

position members lashed out for the lack of ideas and plans for Belize’s development.

The Government Senators were, as usual, singing for their supper and praising the budget even though many of them clearly have not taken the time to scrutinize it. For example, big banker, Steve Duncan, praised the Government’s ability to recognise the need for “stability” in the changing economic climate, yet he overlooked the continued excessive spending in Government luxuries such as fancy rides for Ministers.

The Senators representing business, church and union were more re-

EASTER

REFLECTIONS

By Gilroy Usher, Sr. Easter is the second largest holiday in Belize. This time of the year families visit their loved ones in distant places at home and abroad. Others visit their favorite swimming spots such as Bacab, Gracie Rock, Monkey Bay, and the cayes. Some families also have great fun at home playing games, visiting nearby relatives, and enjoying the different meals for Easter week together. Easter is also the time of cross-bun, special gifts, and the traditional Cross- Country race, the biggest sporting event in the country’s history.

Two of the main reasons we celebrate Easter are 1) to thank Jesus for dying on the cross to wash away our sins and 2) to mark Jesus’ victory over death, when he rose from the dead on the third day after He was buried.

In dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus paid the ultimate price to show His great love for every human person regardless of whether someone is rich or poor. When He rose from the dead Jesus proved that there is indeed life after death for mankind.

God made man with free will.

Millions of persons have decided to follow the teachings of Jesus to enjoy everlasting life in heaven after this earthly journey. Millions of others have also decided to set aside the teachings of the Good Shepherd and live their lives as they choose. The latter is the road to destruction. The result will be a lost opportunity to entire the gates of heaven. Luckily it’s never too late for a person to reverse that decision.

To aid us in following His teach-

ings Jesus gave us the Bible. This Holy Book outlines how during his time on Earth Jesus showed us to love one another by example. In doing so He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, healed the sick, comforted the depressed, sheltered the homeless, and forgave all sinners among countless other good deeds. In His teachings Jesus told us to do unto others as we would like them to do unto to us. When He was asked how many times should a person forgive someone who has done him wrong Jesus said 70 x 7 times.

That was just another way of saying we should always forgive someone, who has done us wrong, just as how He has forgiven us of all our sins whether big or small. Let bygones be bygones.

As they have been doing daily, this Easter priests, laymen, neighbors, parents, relatives, visitors, and friends continue to encourage a number of persons they meet to change their lives for the better by setting aside wrongdoings including violence, bloodshed, and both street crimes and white collar crimes that are responsible for so much hardship and sorrow in the community.

None of the persons giving such advice are perfect. That is why Jesus supports them in their time of trials. In the same way Jesus will support all those who choose this Easter to turn from a life of wrongdoings to a life of doing good in the community in every possible way.

The immediate rewards will be more peace, harmony, happiness, goodwill, opportunities, and prosperity for themselves and all families in the community. The greatest reward for following the teachings of Jesus will be everlasting life with the Creator in heaven.

Happy Easter to everyone.

alistic. They joined the Opposition Senators to discuss pertinent concerns about our country including the economy, the rising debt, the cost of living and social conditions in which Belizeans are living.

Business Senator Hon. Mark Lizarraga described the 2016/2017 Budget as one which offers “No stimulus, no encouragement, no hope” to the business sector.

Senator Lizarraga criticised the Government’s decision to squeeze $50 million in fuel taxes for its own use when the business sector is haemorrhaging from all directions and is need of stimulus.

“We cannot continue to have, every country in the world that has tried to have public sector driven economy has failed and gone bankrupt.

And we’re going there you know. We di head down that path. We spit in the face of all the international agencies that warn us otherwise because we’re hell bent on this path and we are concerned in the business com-

Opposition Senator Hon. Eamon Courtenay munity because we continue to pay for it. The world around us has enjoyed falling oil prices. Here was a perfect opportunity to give the business sector and the productive sector and the agricultural sector a much needed boost. Fifty million dollars could have been injected as stimulus. What did we do? Well you know what we did. When oil prices were high we had high taxes and we were reaping off the top. Oil prices dropped, you think we get reprieve? No. Government takes up the slack. Fifty million dollars tax hike is what the business sector has gotten from this budget. No stimulus, no encouragement, no hope. But a fifty million dollar tax hike,” stated Senator Continued on page 23

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 an Assignment and Transfer of Mortgage made the 6th day of June, 2013, recorded as LTU-201301050 between DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION (the Assignor) SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., and EDWARDO G. PINSEAU, which said property was mortgaged by the said EDWARDO PINSEAU to the said DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION on the 24th day of January, 2001, and recorded at the General Registry in Deeds Book Volume 41 of 2001 at Folios 1169 – 1210, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

THE SCHEDULE All that leasehold interest in all that piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 252 situate in Independence Village, Stann Creek District and bounded on the Northeast for 100.00 Feet by Lot No. 253, on the Southeast for 50.00 Feet by A Street, on the Southwest for 100.00 Feet by Lot No. 251; and on the Northwest for 50.00 Feet by Lot No. 240 containing 555.6 Square Yards of land as shown on Big Plan 35 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Belmopan TOGETHER with all buildings and erections and developments standing and being thereon.

DATED this 22nd day of March, 2016.

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

3 APR

2016

Easter Vibes

By G. Michael Reid “Bicycling…is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. The airplane simply carries a man on its back like an obedient Pegasus; it gives him no wings of his own. There are movements on a bicycle corresponding to almost all the variations in the flight of the larger birds. Plunging free downhill is like a hawk stooping. On the level stretches you may pedal with a steady rhythm like a heron flapping; or you may, like an accipitrine hawk, alternate rapid pedalling with gliding. If you want to test the force and direction of the wind, there is no better way than to circle, banked inward, like a turkey vulture. When you have the wind against you, headway is best made by yawing or wavering, like a crow flying upwind. I have climbed a steep hill by circling or spiralling, rising each time on the upturn with the momentum of the downturn, like any soaring bird …and shoot like a goshawk through the woods.” ~ Louis Halle Credit for inventing the bike goes to one Baron Karl von Drais who wanted an easier way than walking to get around. In 1817, he came up with the idea of sitting on a platform and propelling himself with his feet. His bulky and heavy contraption, dubbed the Draisine, gave birth to an idea that revolutionized the way human beings move around and laid the foundation for today’s sport of cycling. The Draisine of course, has gone though remarkable transformations and today’s bicycles are infinitely lighter and more expensive than the Baron’s original bulky and cheaply made contraption. The world’s lightest bike weighs in at an incredible 6 pounds but cannot be used in competition. The International Cycling Union demands a minimum weight of 7.5 pounds and weights actually have to be added to some bikes to meet the standard. This led in 2004 to a “legalize my Cannondale” campaign by riders who wanted to use the lighter bikes made by that company. A good racing bike can also be very expensive and at the low end, can run as high as $50,000 dollars. Many would be surprised at the cost of some of these bikes that even our local boys are riding. It is an expensive sport.

It was back in 1928 that a man named Monrad Metzgen convinced Belizeans to pump up wheels and take a cross country ride for the first time. What was then a mere expedition has grown exponentially and while it is not yet on the international

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THE BELIZE TIMES

cycling calendar, it certainly is international as far as participants are concerned. Riders from across the world travel to Belize every Easter to compete and try their best to capture the coveted garland. The race has also evolved from riders competing as individuals to a team event. Of course, Belizeans continue to wish for a local rider to win each year and every time that a foreigner rider comes in and takes the garland away, we are left disappointed.

The 88th running of this prestigious classic is now history and once again, the garland has left the country. In fact, the worse possible case scenario has occurred where Guatemalans riders came in first and second and gobbled up most of the station prizes. The first Belizean finisher was young Joel Borland but while he placed third, he gave no serious challenge at the line to the first two finishers.

ment. We waste much money on much more frivolous matters.

There should be a Cycling Hall of Fame. Our local riders should be assigned specific numbers that would be theirs to carry for as long as they compete. At the end of their careers, depending on their performance, they should be nominated for the Hall of Fame and their numbers retired. We have many candidates already, i.e.: Jawmeighan, the Miguel Brothers, Jeffrey O’Brien, Doc Halliday, Tank Hutchinson, the Lewis brothers, etc., etc. We need to honour our heroes and give upcoming cyclists something to look forward to. Cycling is a gruelling, time consuming and expensive sport. It is extremely popular and the people demand much. Let us give a little something in return.

This race should also be finishing at a location where an entrance fee can be charged and the proceeds going to improve the sport. It is a shame that the Marion Jones Stadium has been sitting there unfinished and unused for so many years. This is a political embarrassment and a token to our corrupt ways. The tens if not hundreds of millions that have poured into this white elephant is preposterous and criminal. Somebody should be in jail.

he believes could account for the substance that ended up in his blood. It is not a mistake that a seasoned rider like Pope should have made. The problem is however, that while the Cross Country Classic has come a long way and even our riders have progressed remarkably, there are some aspects in which we must step up our game.

I friend of mine who recently travelled to the states was telling me a story.

He apparently was fortunate to be on a plane seated near to champion world sprinter Usain Bolt. According to my friend, the flight attendant was passing out snacks and drinks and while everyone was enjoying theirs, Bolt declined to take any. Bolt then commented that he was thirsty but had long been advised to never accept anything from anyone. It seems that these successful athletes are always wary of what they ate or drink since there was always a possibility that someone could slip something into their food, whether accidentally or intentionally, and cause them to test positive. I had never thought about that but it makes perfect sense.

The point that I am getting at here is that our local athletes must understand that they are now competing at a different level. Unless we go back to where our competition is only among local contenders, (and I hope that we never do) there are two things we must understand.

Number one, it always possible that a foreign rider will win and number two, anyone who wins, shows or place will have to subject themselves to drug testing.

It is what we might consider, “growing pains”.

As this race becomes even more international, our athletes will have to raise their game both skill-wise and wisewise. They will need help. It is ridiculous that these young athletes do not have nutritionists and doctors to guide them in what to take and what not to take.

This of course, will require discipline, which is something that our athletes have long been accused of lacking. Antidoping regulations have been in effect since 1963 and while some of the substances banned border the ridiculous, any athlete who wishes to compete professionally must abide by the rules.

Step it up Belizeans, step it up.

We need to honour our heroes and give upcoming cyclists something to look forward to. Cycling is a gruelling, time consuming and expensive sport. It is extremely popular and the people demand much. Let us give a little something in return.

While I am particularly disappointed and like every other Belizean was hoping for a local rider to break the tape first, I understand that this race has grown past patriotism. It is time for us to start viewing this event in the light of say, a Tour de France. This means that we stop concerning ourselves about a local rider winning and start looking at this race from the perspective of economic benefits. The Tour de France is the world’s most prestigious and popular cycling event and has lengthened its reach to extend around the globe.

Riders from as many as 33 countries compete and the last Frenchman to win the tour was Bernard Hinault way back in 1985. Yet the French are not the least bit deterred since the Tour pours millions into the French economy every year.

There are several other aspects of our Cross Country Classic that warrants consideration. Firstly, it is time for a national team. We need for our best riders to be working together if we are going to defend our turf. Belize has perfect training weather all year round and our boys can train on the very route that they ride for the race. These guys should be able to ride for any team that they wish throughout the year but whenever it is time to defend the Jewel, they combine their talents and work together. They should also be assigned proper trainers, nutritionists and doctors. As long as they are serious and exhibit the necessary skills, discipline and love for the sport, they should be allowed all the time that they need to train throughout the year. There are races all around the world and they should be allowed to compete, at the expense of the govern-

This year, two of Belize’s best cyclists had to sit it out because of testing positive for prohibited substances. This is another area that needs some attention. Second and third place finishers in the Krem’s New Year’s Day Classic Greg Lovell and Byron Pope reported both tested positive for a banned substance and are both currently on suspension pending a hearing.

This is why it is so important for these cyclists to have proper guidance and assistance. According to Pope, a family friend gave him a substance which he added to his massage cream and which

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3 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

MY PERSPECTIVE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

MAKING A DIFFERENCE I was recently brousing through a back issue of the Pelican Magazine, a magazine of the University of the West Indies, and I came across an article called “Breaking the Glass Ceiling.” A reference to breaking the glass ceiling usually talks about the barriers to women reaching the highest levels of achievement and decision-making due to inbuilt societal structures that make it difficult for women to arrive at the pinnacle. So, to do just that is often called shattering or breaking the glass ceiling.

Certain of my friends say that we should refer to it as breaking through the thatch roof. This, in my experience, is very difficult, but many have tried.

One such person is nowretired, distinguished Professor Elsa Leo-Rhynie of UWI. She achieved many firsts in her long career. The most significant, in my view, is that she was appointed UWI’s first Professor of Gender and Development Studies in the 1980’s. She went on to be the first woman Deputy Principal at the Mona campus in Jamaica from 1996 to 2002, before taking on the challenge of serving as the first woman Principal from 2006 to 2007.

Author of the piece on Professor Elsa, Marcia Erskine, tells us that Elsa Leo-Rhynie has been proud to be called a feminist, fully embracing the definition of the term: “A male or female person seeking to address oppressive societal gender inequalities and put them right.” I certainly associate myself with this concept, and I was impressed to read of Professor Elsa’s career trajectory and great contributions at UWI. During her time at the head of this department, she called on her “enduring relationships across campuses, with women with whom she had been working, towards creating awareness of women and development issues.” With their help, she introduced women’s and gender studies into the University curriculum.

Names like Peggy Antrobus,

Joycelin Massiah, Barbara Bailey, and Rhoda Reddock are among those who contributed to the program. I have met all of these women, and they have been a continuing inspiration in the work for the women’s and gender agenda. Also, hosting Professor Eudine Barriteau, now Principal of the Cave Hill Campus of UWI, in Belize during one Women’s Month for a gender and development seminar provided great hands-on knowledge and skills for many of us who were very fortunate to have participated.

The groundwork was laid by Elsa Leo-Rhynie and the other visionary UWI women. She spearheaded many disciplinary and interdisciplinary seminars to build awareness and capacity on gender and development issues, and she introduced various for-credit courses that moved gender from the periphery of university studies to a central place in the mainstream. She also insisted that the focus should not be on women exclusively, but that relationships between men and women had to be examined and analysed in working towards equal opportunity. Said she “We’ve hosted seminars on masculinity. We’ve supported work on parenting and fathering. We embrace a total, holistic concept of gender and cannot be fairly accused of being only focused on women.”

In the 1980’s the senior academic and administrative staff of UWI had 620 men to 236 women. In 2008 there were 833 men and 585 women. Of course at UWI today there is a majority female student population, even here at the Open Campus in Belize.

Professor Leo-Rhynie’s work was instrumental in engendering a facilitating environment for women at UWI and also regionally and internationally. In October of last year she was the only woman of eight recipients of the Order of Jamaica for her contributions to academia. I would certainly agree with Ms. Erskine that she has made a positive difference in her life and work as a feminist. She contributed in the academic world. I think that we can all make a difference in our various spheres, once we keep the work towards true equality on the front burner of our endeavors.

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 9th day of July, 2014, between ANTUANETTA MARGARITA GILLETT of No. 85 Fresh pond, Burrell Boom Village, Belize District, Belize of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit as Instrument LTU-201401207, 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 piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 85 comprising 0.22 AC. situated in Boom Pine Ridge Area on the Boom Hattieville Road, Belize District as shown on a plan of Sub-division prepared by Kenneth A. Gillett, Licensed Land Surveyor and registered at the Lands and Surveys Department in Belmopan, Cayo District in Register No. 16 Entry No. 7252 TOGETHER with all buildings, erections and developments standing and being thereon.

DATED this 15th day of March, 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 23rd day of August 1999, between CAROL YOUNG of Lord’s Bank Village, Belize District, of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 26 of 1999 at Folios 857 – 880, 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 LEASEHOLD INTEREST IN ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 11 situate in Lord’s Bank Village, Belize District and bounded as follows:- On the Northeast for 120.00 feet by Lot No. 10; On the Southeast for 70.42 feet by a Road Reserve; On the South for 60.68 feet by Well Road; On the Southwest for 130.20 feet by Lot No. 12 and; On the Northwest for 47.43 feet by a Portion of Lot No. 25; containing 1272.92 S.Y. as shown on Plan No. 1399 at the office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 15th day of March, 2016.

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

3 APR

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

19

Policing Crime in Belize City

By Fermin Olivera, MSW As perhaps the holiest of the Christian religious observances draws near, Easter, crime continues its unabated path in Belize City. In spite of all responses to address the issue of homicides in the old capital there is no clear indication that this most unholy occurrence, homicides, is being effectively curbed.

According to the Amandala newspaper dated 20th March 2016, yet another police response was announced by ASP Chester Williams: detaining children found on the streets after 9:00 pm. One can only imagine the pressure on the police department in Belize City who are often seen as key players in the fight against crime and violence.

Others may feel that the police force is responsible for reducing crime and violence in the city, but this is easier said than done.

Often short terms gains have been hailed as meaningful success just to find out in the following weeks that these were nothing more than premature exaltations.

Sometime ago an anti-tinting strategy was employed.

This was to allow somebody to be able to see the drivers and passengers in an effort to solve crime. Today it’s as though that law was null and void. Just look at the number of tinted vehicles being driven around. Another response targeted bicycle riders. Lights and bells became a requirement because it was the view that people were using bicycles to commit violent crimes. Presently, there is the police meet and greet of people in the neighborhoods—the establishment of good police relations with the community to enhance the public’s reporting of crime. While none of the above actions appear to have had any effect on violent crimes being committed one must recognize the police’s effort to try something new. Now, we will have some type of police response to detain children because allegedly, children are involved in committing violent crimes. I believe that this too will fail to have any effect to reduce crime and violence but perhaps have an adverse effect on possible community gain made via the “meet and greet” and further prove to be detrimental to young men of color in the city.

I would like for the police

force to consider re-evaluating their response from one of policing criminality to policing public order. The latter suggests that the Police must be concerned with public order and see themselves as instruments that enforce all laws for the public good. Addressing issues of jay riding on bicycles, improperly parked vehicles, alcohol consumption in public, having open alcoholic beverages in bottles, vandalism, to mention a few, may result in not only intercepting potential criminals but also changing the present notion that some laws in Belize are meaningless.

The acceptance that Belize City is not a safe place at night and perhaps cautioning by police that people should not be out at night may reflect recognition that the issue of crime and violence is Belize City remains out of control. Many may have accepted this reality, choosing each night to remain home and forgo night outings and instead watch TV at home behind locked doors. Major cities just across the northern border are theming with people in the parks and playgrounds at night and I wonder why Belize City is so different.

It must be recognized that the police will contribute to the reduction of crime with increased conviction rates. They are the best to inform us what they need to improve convictions to acceptable levels. If the passing mark was 15% overall, we would still be failing. Our conviction rated declares that if you commit a crime you will not be caught—this cannot be a deterrent.

Police may need to see their work as viable career paths and not what you get into in the absence of jobs. Even if the latter is true, once in the force, the system must respond to the psychological and health needs of the workers that naturally may need to function in a hostile environment and appear to be under continued distress with potential pathological side effects showing up as obesity, substance abuse, domestic violence, use of excessive force etc. It is a dangerous matter for highly stressed persons to be carrying guns. There is need for the professionalization of the force with continued professional development opportunities. In other words we need more brain power than bicep strength or gun power.

Sociologists, anthropologists, and behaviorists among others, have over the years tried to ex-

plain crime and violence and similarly coined a milder term for this phenomenon—deviance. Psychological explanations of deviance traditionally focused on individual abnormalities and inherited personality traits, however, most contemporary psychologists view deviance as a product of social experiences—specifically to poor socialization.

Sociologist Robert Merton concedes that deviance was eminent in all societies; however he argued that people’s inability to succeed as defined by society, largely resulting from a lack of opportunities, could result in high levels of disturbance. In short, obtaining an education, being employed, having the financial means to sustain yourself and your family represents some of the goals that define success in Belize. The wider the gap in achieving this success—the greater the poverty, unemployment, etc. the high the levels of crime and violence, there will be.

Anybody that believes that the police can reduce crime and

violence in the present economic and poverty condition in Belize City needs to wake up. At best the police will have to resort to repressive anti-human rights actions and this too is bound to fail as it has in other jurisdictions in Central and South America. The police department may have their backs against the wall and may start to turn against each other in desperation of not being able to produce results that are not their responsibility. Perhaps our governance structures that may have created the elements for crime and violence in Belize City need to be visited with an aim to make conditions friendlier of the citizens. So much political power in the city yet at night it’s a ghost town, imprisoned by fear.

I can assure you that even young criminals understand justice and recognize that the law in Belize is not applied equally. The continuing erosion of the “rule of law” and waning credibility of the central political authority does little to foster collective interests yet collectively we all pay.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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FBI resists call to reveal Tor hacking secrets

The FBI is resisting calls to reveal how it identified people who used a child pornography site on the Tor anonymising network.

The agency was ordered to share details by a Judge presiding over a case involving one alleged user of the site.

Defence lawyers said they need the information to see if the FBI exceeded its authority when indentifying users.

But the Department of Justice (DoJ), acting for the FBI, said the details were irrelevant to the case.

“Knowing how someone unlocked the front door provides no information about what that person did after entering the house,” wrote FBI agent Daniel Alfin in court papers filed by the DoJ which were excerpted on the Vice news site.

Identity parade The Judge ordered the FBI to hand over details during a court hearing in late February.

The court case revolves around a “sting” the FBI carried out in early 2015 when it seized a Tor-based site

called Playpen that traded in images and videos of child sexual abuse.

The agency kept the site going for 13 days and used it to grab information about visitors who took part in discussion threads about images of child abuse.

Tor, aka The Onion Router, aims to hide the identity of people who use it by bouncing traffic through many different routers and encrypting it at each step. As well as letting people browse the web anonymously it has also given rise to hidden sites that sit on the Tor

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef hit by ‘worst’ bleaching Evidence that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its worst coral bleaching on record has renewed calls for the UN to list it as “in-danger”.

The National Coral Bleaching Taskforce says 95% of reefs from Cairns to Papua New Guinea are now severely bleached.

It says only four reefs out of 520 have no evidence of bleaching.

Unesco voted not to put the reef on its World Heritage in Danger list last year, but green groups want the decision reassessed.

Coral taskforce convener Prof Terry Hughes told the BBC his team was yet to find the southern border where the bleaching ended.

“Tomorrow we will continue further south from Cairns to Townsville about 400km (250 miles) and spend the day scoring another 150 reefs,” he said.

as zooxanthellae that give them colour If normal conditions return, the corals can recover, but it can take decades, and if the stress continues the corals can die The current worldwide bleaching episode is predicted to be the worst on record.

Experts say it is too early to tell whether the corals will recover, but scientists “in the water” are already reporting up to 50% mortality of bleached corals.

Climate change and the effects of El Nino are being blamed for the rise in sea temperatures that causes coral bleaching.

“What we’re seeing now is

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living structure and can be seen from space.

Mass coral bleaching Coral bleaching is caused by rising water temperatures resulting from two natural warm currents It is exacerbated by man-made climate change, as the oceans are absorbing about 93% of the increase in the Earth’s heat Bleaching happens when corals under stress drive out the algae known

network.

The defence team is keen to see if the FBI’s use of technical tricks to identify people on Tor exceeded the authorisations it got in a warrant to run the sting. It has argued that the investigative technique used by the FBI amounted to “gross misconduct”.

The lawyers also want more details to ensure that their client has been properly identified.

In its legal filing, Mr Alfin said defence lawyers were “wrong” to think more information would help them work out if the FBI went further than it was allowed. It said the FBI had already provided details for the defence experts to work this out.

He also said he was confident that the defendant was properly identified. The DoJ documents conclude by asking the Judge to reconsider the order to reveal more information.

unequivocally to do with climate change,” Prof Justin Martin University of Queensland told the ABC. “[At] the Paris climate change meeting, essentially the whole world has agreed this is climate change, and we’re seeing climate change play out across our reefs”.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) spokesperson Nick Heath said the unspoiled northern section of the reef had acted as a vital bank of genetic material to reseed areas further to the south.

“We have been working to save the reef in [recent] years, and we always took for granted that we had the bank in the northern quarter that was safe, and seemed resilient in previous bleaching episodes, but now it’s cooked to an inch of its life,” Mr Heath told the BBC. The Department of the Environment said state and federal governments were investing a projected A$2bn ($1.5bn; £1bn) over the next decade to protect the reef.

FEB 2737 MAR APR

2016 2016

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

Brazil’s Rousseff faces impeachment, coalition collapse

Egypt retires 32 judges for opposing Morsi ouster Supreme Judicial Council forces 32 judges into retirement for having opposed army’s ousting of Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

Egypt’s Supreme Judicial Council has forced 32 judges into retirement for having opposed the army’s ousting of president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, an official has said.

The decision taken on Monday was part of the authorities’ crackdown on all forms of dissent, including secularists and liberals, since July 2013, when then-army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ousted Morsi following mass protests against his rule.

“Today, the Supreme Judicial Council took a decision to force 32 judges into retirement for intervening in politics and supporting a certain party,” after the ousting of Morsi, a senior official from the council told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.

Last week, the council took similar action against 15 other judges for the same reason.

The International Commission for Jurists (ICJ) urged Egypt to reverse the decision on the judges.

“The intensity of Egypt’s attacks against individual judges is reaching a frightening level,” said Said Benarbia, Middle East and North Africa director at the ICJ. He said the move sends a “chilling message to others who might challenge the ongoing crackdown on fundamental rights and freedoms in Egypt”.

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Volkswagen recalls 800,000 SUVs over pedal issue

Second impeachment case filed against President Rousseff for obstructing justice as PMDB prepares to leave coalition.

A legal request has been filed to impeach Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff for obstructing justice and fiscal accounting tricks, the second one against the leader politically embattled by her own government.

The request, filed by the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) on Monday, also involved Rousseff granting international football body FIFA tax-exempt status during the 2014 World Cup. In reaction to the claims, Tourism Minister Henrique Eduardo Alves turned in a resignation letter on the same day, becoming the first minister from the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) to declare leaving Rousseff’s government.

PMDB, Brazil’s largest political party, is expected to abandon its alliance with Rousseff’s Workers’ Party and cause the collapse of the coalition government.

A party vote is expected to be held on the issue on Tuesday.

Rousseff already faces an impeachment process over the alleged manipulation of government accounts that opposition parties maintain helped her win reelection narrowly in 2014 by allowing her to boost public spending.

NEWS

German car giant says recall is a precautionary measure to fix a potential faulty component on the pedal mechanism.

FBI breaks into iPhone of dead San Bernardino shooter US investigators use technique without Apple’s help to hack into phone of dead gunman behind mass California shooting.

The FBI says it has successfully used a technique without Apple’s help to hack into the iPhone used by a gunman in a mass shooting in California.

Monday’s announcement effectively ended a pitched court battle between the Obama administration and one of the world’s leading technology companies.

The government asked a federal judge to vacate a disputed order forcing Apple to help the FBI break into the iPhone, saying it was no longer necessary.

The court filing in US District Court for the Central District of California provided no details about how the FBI did it or who showed it how.

The FBI is reviewing the information on the iPhone, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Embattled German car giant Volkswagen said on Thursday that it was recalling more than 800,000 vehicles worldwide over a potential footpedal problem.

The VW group, which is battling to resolve its deepest-ever crisis after an emissions-cheating scandal, said the recall was a precautionary measure to fix a potentially faulty component on the pedal mechanism.

It said 391,000 vehicles of its Toureg model and 409,477 of its Porsche Cayenne brand built between 2011 and 2016 would be recalled because “a circlip could be loose on the bearing bracket for pedals”.

Emissions scandal The news came as a US federal judge gave Volkswagen and regulators a month to come up with a plan to fix some 600,000 cars spewing illegal levels of pollutants due to emissions-cheating software.

VW acknowledged in September that it intentionally defeated emissions tests and put dirty vehicles on the road.

The cheating allowed cars to pass laboratory emissions tests while spewing harmful nitrogen oxide at up to 40 times the level allowed when operating on real roads.

Colombia to hold formal peace talks with ELN rebels Government and ELN officials to launch negotiations in an effort to end the country’s fivedecade conflict.

The Colombian government said on Wednesday it will hold formal peace talks with the second largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), amid efforts to end the country’s five-decade conflict.

The talks will open a new front in peace negotiations as the government also closes in on

a deal in Cuba’s capital Havana with Colombia’s biggest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Starting as a peasant uprising in the 1960s, and drawing in various armed groups and gangs, the conflict has killed more than 260,000 people, uprooted 6.6 million people, and left a further 45,000 missing.

“If we can make peace, it will be the end of guerrilla fighters in Colombia,” said Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos.

The talks will kick off in Ecuador and then continue in Venezuela, Brazil and Chile and Cuba. The five countries, along with Norway, will act as guarantors of the negotiations.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

3 APR

2016

3 APR

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

YOUNG CHURCH LEADER EXECUTED AT HOME

Alwayne Cherrington

Belize City, March 29, 2016 Belize City Police are investigating yet another murder in the old capital. The ruthless killing of 24 year old Alwayne Cherrington does not have the characteristics of the violent homicides that have taken siege of the city’s southside.

Cherrington was shot dead while he was inside a family home on Lopez Street off Mahogany Street Extension in Belize City on Holy Saturday, March 26th.

Cherrington, his wife and 3 year old step-daughter were sitting on their sofa, watching television in the living room when a gunman walked in and fired shots at him.

With a broken heart his wife, Shantel Cherrington, attempted to explain to media what occurred.

She said at first she thought that someone had thrown dynamite inside her home, but she eventually realised that her family had come under attack.

“I saw everyone scattering in the house and I still thought it was dynamite because it really sounded like dynamite; I didn’t know it was gunshots.

Until I reach that door and reality hit me and I look back and I saw my husband drenched in

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that GLENN BUCKHALTER is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “Biscayne General Store and Service Station”, situated at 23 ¼ Philip Goldson Highway, Biscayne Village, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that WILLIAM CLINTON JONES is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “BJ’s Cool Spot and Grocery”, situated at Burrell Boom Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

his blood, just bleeding from his mouth.

That’s when I realized he got shot. Didn’t know where on his body he got shot so I ran towards him and I was holding him.

I got a towel from someone—I don’t know who gave me the towel—and I was wrapping it around him, cleaning his mouth; trying to get the blood that was coming to stop. I didn’t know where. I didn’t know it was in his head.

And I was screaming, yelling for help… somebody please call 911…my husband is shot,” she recounted.

The Police arrived on the scene shortly and helped to transport Cherrington to the hospital for treatment. He passed away about half hour later from the injuries.

The family is terrified and shocked at the vicious assault. Home is no longer a safe place for them. They cannot come up with any kind of answer or explanation for the attack. Cherrington was a family man.

He was employed as an optician at the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired. He was also a devout religious leader at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Belize City who consistently gave positive advice to the members.

The Police’s investigation has not seen much leads. A bicycle, believed to have been used by the murderer to get to the house was recovered nearby. He escaped on a motorcycle that was driven by someone else.

Inspector Alejandro Cowo, the Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigative Branch, Eastern Division South, has confirmed that three persons were detained for interviews, but there has been no clear indication as to any possible motive for the murder.

CARTOON

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“NO STIMULUS, NO ENCOURAGEMENT, NO HOPE,”

Continued from page 16 Lizarraga.

The Senator further condemned the Government for failing to consult with their representatives in formulating the budget.

Neither were Union representatives asked by the Government to have an input on the draft estimates, and this raised concerns from their Senator. Otherwise, said Senator Elena Smith, the budget will not reflect the interest of the working class.

“The practice of meaningful engagement Mister President, I believe, should be embraced by any government, not to mention an administration which gloats about transparency and accountability and even more so, one that was ushered into office on a promise of accountability and transparency.

Any level of true consultation would legitimize appropriation of funds, as by so doing the administration would truly be allowing for participatory approach by the very people who empower them. While all the workers cannot be directly involved in the process of consultation there are organizations like ours, the trade union congress and civil society who represent a vast number of these people; therefore it would be in the best interest of the government to seek audience with us. So, Mister President, I want to underscore and emphasize the fact that this budget before us is one orchestrated in the absence of a very critical element: consultation with significant stakeholders that would have taken into consideration the voice of the working class,” said Senator Smith.

Opposition Senators Eamon Courtenay, Valerie Woods and Paul Thompson were in top form.

Lead Senator Eamon Courtenay indicated that the budget missed an important factor in our country, that it follows a year of tremendous economic depression and offers no response or path forward. It only continues the “induced recession” he pointed out. “…there is nothing in the budget that provides a credible policy response to the United Democratic Party-induced recession that Belize is experiencing. There is no hope. There is no plan. There is no strategy and yes the UDP won the election but they have lost the will. They have lost the ability to govern. Indeed what we have is a lame duck prime minister whose minister’s, starting with his deputy, who are already abandoning the ship. Madame President, we do not support the budget for the fiscal year 2016/2017 as presented”.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

3 APR

2016