Belize Times April 5, 2015

2 02

5 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Barrow could face PUP: On criminal charges Campaign Mode!

Belize City, March 31st 2015 Prime Minister Dean Barrow could face criminal prosecution if a legal challenge currently waiting to be heard before the Supreme Court succeeds, confirming that his Government’s administration of millions of dollars in public funds is in violation of our laws.

Various attorneys with absolutely no political axe to grind but guided by civic duty and conscience, including Senior Counsel Andrew Marshalleck and Magali Marin-Young, have stepped up and are leading the Opposition PUP’s legal case against the arrogant actions of Prime Minister Barrow. The PM’s borrowing of millions of dollars, BZE$228,614,710 to be exact, which were obtained through the Alba Petro-Caribe initiative between September 2012 and August 2014, tipped the scale between what is legal and what is outrageously illegal.

The borrowing was illegal.

A law in our books, the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act, which introduced sweeping reform in 2005, requires that the Government must obtain the approval of the House of Representatives to make any loans above $10 million.

The same law also requires that all monies obtained by Belize must be placed into the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This is also required by the Constitution of Belize.

The Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Finance, obtained the over $200 million loan on behalf of the Government of Belize without first going to the House for approval. The Prime Minister has also said that the millions of dollars have been placed in a special account/fund at the Central Bank, and not the Consolidated Fund, in direct contravention of the Finance and Audit Act and the Constitution.

The great irony of this is that it was Prime Minister Dean Barrow who in 2010 amended the Finance and Audit Act to include “sanctions for a violation of the provisions of the Act”.

The Petro-Caribe monies have given the Barrow Administration a financial war chest from where to draw funds for all sorts of projects to advance their political agendas. Barrow himself announced in his Budget speech that only those municipalities that voted UDP will enjoy from the “spending muscularity” of the Government. He made it clear that he will push a blatant political agenda.

But the same weapon which Barrow is wielding against his opponents

Belize City, March 31, 2015 The People’s United Party (PUP) kicked off its 2015 campaign planning on Sunday March 29th at Leslie’s Farm at Mile 51.5 on the George Price Highway with a full day working session.

One hundred and twenty-five persons participated, comprised of members of the National Executive, Standard Bearers, parliamentarians, businesspersons, members of constituency executive committee and friends and supporters of the PUP. The Party Leader, Francis Fonseca, stated that “the objective of this full-day event was to hear frank views as to the challenges facing the party, as well as to receive recommendations, arising after vigorous debate, as to the strategies required in taking the party to victory.”

The party will, in the course of the next two weeks, craft its plan of action for the upcoming general elections and move quickly towards implementation of this plan.

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WEATHER 2 Apr

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may be that which cuts the wind from beneath his wings. The great master of the games is not flawless. His mistake has been the mishandling of the Petrocaribe sweets. And he knows this.

This is why even after submitting the Petro Caribe loan motion in the House of Representatives last year the Prime Minister had to go where no Prime Minister in Belize has ever gone.

In an attempt to find cover, Prime Minister Barrow panicked and, in a rushed manner, introduced a new law at last week’s House meeting: the Petrocaribe loan motion bill. The Bill, which has become law, provides unchecked and unrestricted authority to the Government to borrow and spend Petrocaribe funds without having to go the National Assembly. It defies the purpose and spirit of the Finance and Audit Act. It disrespects all those who supported reform in 2005 – the Unions, the Student bodies, the civil society groups – who took a stand and demanded more financial oversight.

It is clear that for over five years, the UDP Government has been disrespecting and violating the Finance and Audit Act and the Constitution of Belize. To them all that matters is winning elections. Now the Prime Minister is rushing to cover his back.

The Prime Minister is visibly worried about the legal implications of his actions. He must be reminded that his troubles could come sooner than he may want. Organisations like COLA may very well take up a private prosecution for the very serious violations.

SCAN HERE

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5 APR

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

03 3

Hon. Francis W. Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition, Budget Presentation for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 March 26, 2015 Introduction: Mr. Speaker, I rise to make my contribution to the debate on the General Revenue Appropriation Bill for Fiscal Year 2015/2016.

At the outset, Mr. Speaker, I offer two (2) preliminary observations based on the introductory paragraphs of the Prime Minister’s Budget Presentation.

Firstly, the Prime Minister boasts that this is the shortest Budget Speech he has ever read.

He justifies this boast by explaining that he is sparing the Nation the oral presentation of the review of the economy 2014.

While I for one welcome less talk, the House Record should reflect that the true reason for the speeches brevity is its absolute lack of substance.

The Prime Minister, apart from his usual political rhetoric and grandstanding, has nothing to say and the Budget Speech has nothing to offer.

Mr. Speaker, it is not only the shortest Budget Speech, it is the “emptiest” budget speech ever read in this Honourable House.

I will expose that emptiness a little later on but suffice it to say that neither the year past 2014/2015 nor the year ahead 2015/2016 offer us any meaningful, sustainable path to economic growth and development.

What they do offer Belizeans is more of the U.D.P. Agenda of Tax, Borrow and Spend!

The Second preliminary point, Mr. Speaker is our recognition of the Prime Minister’s confirmation of his Government’s policy of U.D.P. first, Belizeans second.

After 3 years of punishment and petty, partisan victimization of the Dangriga and Punta Gorda Town Councils he must now find “immediate relief” for the new U.D.P. Councils, and promises Central Government money to assist in their return to progress.

This, Mr. Speaker, is Governance at its worst and we on this side of the House condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

While we wished for voters not to reward or submit to this U.D.P. Government for punishing and starving their municipalities, we trust the pragmatism of the people who recognize the petty vindictiveness of the U.D.P. Government.

You see, Mr. Speaker, the people recognize the problem. They see it clearly. It is this corrupt, incompetent and increasingly autocratic U.D.P. National Government.

And yes, they are waiting patiently

to deal with the Prime Minister and his Ministers.

In these two preliminary observations, Mr. Speaker we lay bare for all to see the essence of this budget: Empty Political Rhetoric grounded on petty, vindictive “U.D.P. first” Governance.

Mr. Speaker, this budget is really simply a rehash of the last few years.

As I have said, it offers nothing fresh, nothing new, no real change that will lead to tangible national development.

It presents to us a dark and risky future grounded in massive debt and no sign of any plan to manage and deal with this in the years ahead. The U.D.P. policy of spending and pushing up the debt without stimulating economic growth is a high-stakes gamble with Belize’s future.

And even with all the spending of borrowing money Mr. Speaker, the economy is still simply limping along like a wounded animal.

Ask Belizeans, except for those connected to the family and friends programs, if they are better off now than they were 7 years ago and the resounding response is NO! Mr. Speaker, where is the plan to take Belize forward? Borrowing money and pouring concrete is all well and good but what about our people?

What about their future and the future of our children? What are the plans for the development of our beautiful Belize?

Our rising public debt places us in the top 20 worst countries in Debt to G.D.P. ratio at almost 80%. This excludes the contingent liability of settlement for the B.T.L. and B.E.L. botched nationalizations which, despite the Governments’ best efforts to pretend don’t exist, are very much real and will cost us hundreds of millions of dollars.

The more important and instructive measure, Debt to Revenue, is even more alarming with our overall public debt of $2.7 billion at more than two and a half times that of our revenue.

Even with the so-called Concessionary Terms of our borrowing, our

debt servicing is projected at $180 million for the upcoming fiscal year and begins to spike significantly thereafter as our debt profile matures and the grim reapers come knocking.

Debt servicing commitments are projected to grow by at least 10% per annum as interest and principal payments on our debt pile begin to fall due.

At the same time, Mr. Speaker, there are no new sources of revenue, no increase in the tax base, no real growth in the economy to drive revenues upward. Only the favored players in the engineering and construction industry are smiling and we know why.

In the absence of any plan for economic expansion Mr. Speaker, we are soon to be left with the most undesirable but likely inevitable option of raising taxes to increase revenue. God forbid.

This is the future we face since for the past 7 years there has been no true development, no creation of long-term jobs, no increase in skilled labour, no sustainable stimulation of the economy.

Debt is growing fast but the economy is slowing down with a forecasted contraction of economic growth to some 2% for 2015/2016.

This, in spite of all the spending and use and abuse of Petrocaribe funds.

The world, on the other hand, including all the third world developing and developed countries grew by over 3% last year according to the I.M.F. That means that our neighbors, rich and poor, are all getting richer than us here in Belize. While the world is starting to take off, Belize is creeping along.

Why are we creeping Mr. Speaker? Because no one has confidence or trust in this U.D.P. Government to invest in Belize. Corruption is rampant and management is so incompetent that the rate of return on investment has to be extremely high to offset the risks associated with investing in Belize. Naturally because there is generally not a favourable reward for such risk, people are simply not investing or taking their money elsewhere.

The banking system clearly demonstrates this reality. Excess liquidity in the banking system is at an all-time high at over $1.53 billion as lending and borrowing has severely contracted. More critically, banks are now shying away from commercial and productive sector loans.

So where does this place us?

Perhaps right where this U.D.P. Government wants us. The entire economy then becomes dependent on the largesse of Government. But where does this largesse ultimately come from? It can only come from you and me. Every, Belizean man, woman and

child. All the Petrocaribe funds are simply loans that have to be paid back by you and me. All the revenues of the Government are simply taxes that are paid by you and me.

Sure the loans may be concessionary and we want to take advantage of that, but what are the plans moving forward?

The unbridled spending seems all impulsively centered on political gain, as the Prime Minister confessed to Jules Vasquez in a recent interview, “Jules you know I don’t think beyond the next election”.

Where is your plan for the country, sir? Your obsession with power, obsession with a 3rd Term renders you rudderless and clueless as to Belize’s future.

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister, intoxicated with power, can continue to thumb his nose and offer up the middle finger to the I.F.I.’s but he does so at Belize’s peril as he continues to drag us recklessly down a path of unsustainable borrowing and spending.

In 2015, Mr. Speaker, Unemployment and Underemployment continue to devastate our Belizean families, particularly our women and youth for whom it is most difficult to find meaningful employment at living wages.

Despite the Prime Minister’s cruel empty rhetoric, the fact is that as we meet today more than 30,000 Belizeans actively seeking a job, cannot find one. This budget offers them no hope.

Poverty too continues to widen and deepen. Again the budget offers empty political rhetoric but the fact is that as we meet today some 150,000 Belizeans are living on less than $5.50 per day for food.

Many in the middle class find themselves faced with an uncertain future. A growing number of Belizeans are living from paycheck to paycheck, working to pay bills and unable to save for their children’s higher education or for retirement.

The weekly newspapers’ largest earnings come from Notices of Foreclosures, selling off assets which in many cases people have worked a lifetime to earn and own.

Moneylenders and loan sharks have swooped in across the country offering predatory rates of interest to a growing number of those who have nowhere else to turn.

While real incomes fall, the price of basic goods continues to rise. In the past year alone: Red Kidney Beans up .70¢ cents from $2.25 to $2.95 a pound.

• Baking Powder up$1.10 Continued on page 21

4 04

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 APR

2015

Gunman

Hunts Down Jaime Chavarria!

Belize City, March 31, 2015 Someone wanted Jaime Chavarria dead and twice this month they attempted to take his life.

They succeeded in the second attempt which occurred on Monday night.

The 26 year old construction worker was shot dead in an abandoned yard through an unnamed alley on Berkley Street in Belize City. This area is not far from the busy downtown of the old capital.

Police found Chavarria lying motionless, face up, and bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds.

Police believe that Chavarria was walking through the yard when an unknown gunman ambushed him and shot him. Chavarria had little chance of escape or survival.

Chavarria had been targeted in a similar execution-style assault on Feb 28th. It occurred in the same vicinity. Chavarria was crossing the street after exiting his vehicle that he parked on West Canal, when a gunman appeared from a nearby alleyway and fired shots at him. Chavarria was shot in his left arm and chest, but survived by crawling into his vehicle and driving away.

Back in December of 2012, Chavarria was also shot during an assault that resulted in one death and four persons getting injured, including a minor. Chavarria was socialising with a group of men, playing cards in front of a house, when a vehicle drove by on the street and stopped. An armed man came out of the vehicle, aimed a weapon and fired wildly at them.

Chavarria, who was injured in the shootout, was able to tell the media how he survived.

“The first shot hit my homeboy in his head and he drop to the ground. The second shot caught me. When I took off to run the gun man came and chased me but he couldn’t find me because I hide behind the house. I saw the gunman stand up over my home boy and empty the gun on him but he didn’t die on the spot. When we took him to the hospital he was still breathing,” Chavarria related.

The “home boy” he referred to is 21 year old Allen “Debo” Davis who reportedly received about 18 gunshots, including three to his head.

In 2009, Chavarria was acquitted of a double homicide trial for the 2007 murders of 32 year old Dorian Michael and 24 year old Keiva Leslie. Chavarria had been charged with 26 year old Edwin Flowers and 23 year old Danny Anderson.

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist the UNICEF MICS Consultant (UMC) will support and provide guidance to UNICEF CO and SIB for the preparation, implementation, and completion of the MICS 5 survey in Belize. The UMC will advise SIB, especially the Survey Coordinator and sampling and data processing experts, during survey planning, questionnaire design, sampling, training, fieldwork, data processing, data analysis, dissemination, and archiving, ensuring that MICS protocols and recommendations are being followed at all times. The UMC will communicate effectively with the UNICEF CO and SIB, responding promptly to MICS related needs and issues as they arise.

The UMC will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the work of other resource persons hired by UNICEF to provide technical assistance to the MICS 5 survey. He/she will work in close collaboration with the survey team, the stakeholders, and Steering and Technical Committees and will represent UNICEF in meetings and workshops in relation to the survey as needed.

Main Tasks Related to the Job Provide technical and managerial support to the MICS 5 survey; 1.

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Present the MICS methodology, tools, and guidelines to partners/stakeholders (e.g. ministries, UN Agencies, etc.); Finalize in collaboration with national partners and UNICEF CO, the Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable and share with UNICEF Regional Office (RO); Oversee each stage of the survey process and ensure that the MICS protocols and standards are followed by the SIB, more specifically during training and field supervision visits; Communicate regularly with the UNICEF CO, RO and/or Headquarters (HQ) responding to all MICS related issues in a timely manner; Provide progress reports on MICS activities to the UNICEF CO/RO/HQ on a monthly basis; Coordinate the work of SIB experts and UNICEF Regional Consultants and other resource persons assigned by the UNICEF CO and/or RO to support different survey stages; Ensure that external technical reviews by experts (i.e. Regional Sampling Consultant, Regional Data Processing Consultant, and Regional Household Survey Consultant) are carried out at key survey stages and coordinate the feedback and response between the CO/RO/HQ and SIB; Ensure that all survey related documents and deliverables (questionnaires, manuals, expert reports, final report, datasets, etc.) are properly archived throughout the survey process; Participate in all MICS Steering and Technical Committee meetings; Participate in, and contribute to, MICS Regional Workshops; Ensure that lessons learned, problems, and good practices are documented throughout the MICS process and rapidly shared with the MICS community (other MICS implementing countries, RO, and HQ) through all means available.

Specific Activities In consultation and collaboration with the UNICEF CO, SIB and the MICS Steering Committee, the UMC will be responsible for ensuring the following activities have been undertaken following the MICS guidelines and will contribute to the coordination of these activities: 1.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ 2.

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Survey Planning: The Memorandum of Understanding between UNICEF and SIB has been understood by both parties and signed; A Steering Committee is established and comprised of relevant line ministries/Development Partners; A Technical Committee comprised of all relevant technical experts is established; The Survey Plan and Budget, including timetable is finalized and shared with all stakeholders; Survey supplies are procured and distributed in time for training, data collection, and data entry; Sample Design:

 The final selection of households is reviewed.

Manuals:

 MICS Supervisor and Editor, Measurer, and Interviewer Manuals are customized for the Belize specific context and translated.

Data Entry Templates:

 Data entry template is customized by the data processing expert of SIB with the guidance of UNICEF Regional Data Processing Consultant;  Data entry template is reviewed by the UNICEF RO and/or HQ before finalization.

Household Listing and Mapping, Training, Fieldwork, and Data Entry: Household listing and mapping is planned and performed according to MICS guidelines; Training schedules are adequately adapted to the country context while following MICS guidelines; Appropriate resource persons are identified to facilitate training (i.e. nutritionists for anthropometry training, survey expert for methodology, etc.); Contribute to the fieldwork training; Fieldwork and fieldwork monitoring visits are planned and performed according to MICS guidelines; Field Check Tables are produced on a weekly basis, immediately analyzed by survey managers, and main findings reported to field supervisors for action. Field check tables are immediately shared with UNICEF RO; ▪ Participation of UNICEF CO staff is organized to assist in monitoring data collection; ▪ UNICEF Regional Data Processing Consultant is timely provided with necessary information and Belize visits are well managed and coordinated; ▪ Data entry room, hardware, and software are properly arranged and a working data entry and backup system is established; ▪ Monitor data entry and processing; ▪ Monitor secondary data editing.

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Data Analysis and Report Writing: ▪ Sampling Weights are included in the datasets and reviewed by sampling expert of SIB with the guidance and review of the UNICEF Regional Sampling Consultant; ▪ MICS tabulation plan and standard syntax are used in generating SPSS dataset and tables.

▪ Dataset/Tables including the wealth index are substantively reviewed by technical (e.g. sampling expert) and subject matter experts at SIB, as well as by UNICEF RO and HQ MICS Team before the report writing commences; ▪ Coordinate and contribute substantively to the writing of the Summary Findings Report and Final Report, using MICS templates and according to MICS standards to ensure a timely release; ▪ Ensure that the reports (Summary Findings and Final) undergo the technical review process by RO and HQ; ▪ Coordinate the printing and distribution of the Final Report; ▪ Organize and facilitate the presentation of the Final Report through a national seminar; ▪ Organize wide dissemination of the Final Report and main results; ▪ Ensure that the MICS survey archive (questionnaires, manuals, sampling frame, field reports, database, tables, final reports, dissemination materials, etc.) is being produced by SIB. Estimated Duration of the Contract The duration of the contract should cover the whole MICS process: a minimum of 12 months. Only candidates who can commit for this minimum time in-country will be considered.

The UMC will be recruited at the start of MICS planning and should remain on board until the final report and the survey archive are produced. Without significant and unforeseen delays, the MICS can be conducted over a 12 to 14 month period.

Confidentiality of Data and MICS Documents The UMC must respect the complete confidentiality of the MICS data as well as any specific MICS documents that will be produced throughout the entire MICS process. The UMC can use the documents and the datasets only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

Qualifications and Competencies Education: University degree in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology or any other related technical field is required.

Skills and Experience: At least three to five years’ experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys (prior MICS or Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) coordination experience highly desirable); Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, particularly SPSS); Training experience and ability to organize and facilitate training and presentations; Experience in data analysis and survey report writing; Excellent oral and written communications in English; Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Familiarity and previous experience of working in Belize highly desirable and/or in the region.

Ability and willingness to travel extensively in-country and to attend regional workshops.

Other competencies: ▪ Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organization; ▪ Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability.

Kindly email applications to belize@unicef.org marked “Consultancy: MICS 5” in the Subject Header and must include:

 Cover letter with an updated CV for lead consultant  Completed United Nations Personal History Form (P11) for lead consultant. Link for P11 form: http://www.unicef.org/videoaudio/PDFs/P11.doc  Proposal including financial cost

Deadline for submission of applications is 15 April, 2015; ONLY completed application packages will be given consideration. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

5 APR

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 05

EDITORIAL Barrow is above the Law or so he thinks “It cannot be true! For it would mean that Mr. Barrow is above the National Assembly.” Said a lady at the market on Saturday morning.

But it is true. The Prime Minister of Belize has rammed through a law that he is not answerable to anyone for millions of dollars he has been spending and will continue to spend without prior approval of the Legislature.

Since September of 2012 Mr. Barrow has had the arrogance to commence borrowing and spending of Petro Caribe monies to the tune of almost three hundred million dollars.

This has been done without any prior approval of the National Assembly.

Neither has Mr. Barrow bothered to follow the relevant laws of the country by accounting to the nation for the spending of these millions.

It should be noted that the Constitution of Belize, the supreme law of our country provides safeguards when it comes to public funds.

Section 114 states, “all revenues or other monies raised or received by Belize….shall be paid into and form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“No monies shall be withdrawn from the consolidated Revenue Fund except to meet expenditure authorized by the Constitution or any other law.

“No monies shall be withdrawn from any public fund other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund unless the issue of those monies has been authorized by a law enacted by the National Assembly.

“No monies shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund except in the manner prescribed by law”.

Mr. Barrow has done everything in violation of the above safeguards so clearly listed in the Constitution.

Even the law he rammed through the House of Representatives on Friday night 27 March 2015 is in violation of the Constitution.

Since September 2012 Mr. Barrow has secretly been placing Petro Caribe funds in the Central Bank rather than in the consolidated Revenue Funds as the Constitution stipulates.

The question is why?

From September 2012 up to February 2015 Mr. Barrow has secretly been withdrawing millions up to a total of two hundred and eighty six million dollars ($286 million).

There has been absolutely no accounting for these monies.

None. Neither has the nation seen any tender procedures for the various projects and programs for which millions of dollars have been spent.

As the Hon. Francis Fonseca so lucidly pointed out to

the House of Representatives last Friday, “there has been no audit of these monies spent. No accounting and no accountability. Calling out the names of a few projects is not the same as giving detailed audited accounts to the people of Belize”.

When Mr. Barrow was caught with his hands in the cookie jar, so to speak, he hurriedly in October of 2014 rushed into the House of Representatives with a Loan Motion to cover himself from being taken to Court. All the legal advice given to Mr. Barrow is that passing a loan motion AFTER taking millions and spending it, was still illegal. The mouthy one panicked and came up with a law to cover his unlawful actions.

That law, rammed through the House on Friday night, not only tries to cover Mr. Barrow’s reckless and illegal use and abuse of three hundred million dollars, but in typical Barrow behavior the law now allows him to break any and every law which seeks to protect public monies. It is also in clear violation of the Constitution as pointed out above.

Barrow’s new law states at Section 3 that nothing in the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act 2005 on any other law to the contrary can stop him from borrowing and spending any amounts without the get to get prior approval from the National Assembly.

This is a bold faced and dictatorial move by a power-hungry Prime Minister obsessed with getting a third term in office.

The new law further states that there is to be no limitations on how he uses the money from Petro Caribe.

The elected representatives of the Peoples United Party have been restrained and mature in discussing this unprecedented and uncalled for piece of legislation. No one has accused Mr. Barrow is seeking to enrich himself and his family or that he is engaging in wholesale robbery and thievery. Not yet. But Mr. Barrow is pushing his luck too far.

Drunk with power and miscalculating the results of the municipal elections, Mr. Barrow is playing a dangerous game with nation’s finances. He does not have the majority to amend the provisions of Section 114 of the Constitution. So he has resorted to a sham law while at the same time giving himself power no Prime Minister in the U.K., the Caribbean or the Commonwealth would ever dream of having.

Mr. Barrow’s sham law can be easily overturned and repeated by another House of Representatives. This would leave him vulnerable and answerable in Court to the Criminal punishments of the Finance and Audit Act and the Criminal Code of the country.

Mr. Barrow you have gone too far.

6 06

5 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Senate Trashes PetroCaribe Bill Legislation passes after 6-5 vote in favour, Union Senator abstained

BELIZE CITY, Monday, March 30th, 2015 In a tense, thick and incredibly unstable atmosphere, the Senate met in the City of Belmopan today to debate the Budget and the highly controversial ALBA (PetroCaribe) Belize Energy Limited Loan Bill.

The UDP Senators – Hon. Godwin Hulse, Hon. Joy Grant, Hon. Gerardo Marconi Sosa, Hon. Juliet Thimbriel and Hon. Lisel Alamilla were in pure defensive mode, trying their best to convince the Belizean people that over US$114 million (BZ$228 million) in loans could be dipped into wantonly and without proper authorization from the National Assembly.

The PUP and Private Sector Senators – Hon. Lisa Shoman, Hon. Anthony Sylvestre Jr., Hon. Patrick J. Andrews, Hon. Fr. Noel Leslie (for the Churches), Hon. Mark Lizarraga (for the Business Sector) and Hon. Ray Davis (for the Unions) were not as convinced – not by the bill, nor by the 2015-2016 Budget debated in the House the week before.

And it showed, especially in the fiery presentations

by Senators Lizarraga, Shoman, Sylvestre and Andrews.

Lizarraga, ever conscientious with his views on spending and managing funds, took the UDP Government to task, saying that the Government “only pays lip service to financial transparency at the expense of changing up the rules in order to feed their borrowing needs”. He lamented at the GOB’s lack of alternate financial management, sounding the clear alarm that “unbridled borrowing leads to nothing but pain and misery”.

But it was Shoman who struck high note to the proceedings by calling for a “division vote” (voting openly by individual Senators rather than a collective vote) well before any official debate on the PetroCaribe Bill began. In a sardonic twist, she noted GOB’s complete lack of direction in working through the formula of the loans, quipping: “If you know what portion of the funds you’ll remit (back to the Republic of Venezuela), you’ll know what to keep”. Although any loans taken out by GOB occur at a specific point in the process, she lambasted the Government’s eager willingness to wave a “legislative magic wand” to “forgive” themselves for potentially breaking the Finance and Audit Reform Act 2005, a law that was championed by Godwin Hulse, who is today on the “other side” of the political system as the Senate Leader of Government Business and Minister of Immigration.

For Senator Patrick Andrews, his rage and anger leaned Biblical, admitting openly that he wouldn’t want to become “a hypocrite” if he should ever become a Minister and have the ability to pass Bills into law. He famously gave the most scathing indictment of the entire PetroCaribe spending/borrowing spree: “Am I supposed to trust the Prime Minister’s good judgement to spend and borrow these millions?” And applying his criticism of the usage of PetroCaribe funds to the overall 2015-2016 Budget, he made clear that he considers the funds as nothing else other than to prop up the GOB in their ruthless quest to achieve a third term, as well as creating for ordinary Belizeans “continued dependency for public expediency”.

But Hulse, the once-fierce defender of accountability and transparency, looked like little more than the Chief Stooge in a Parade of Stooges today. He had the face of brass and chided Shoman and Andrews for their fearless honesty and candor. He blustered and strutted at the idea that the PetroCaribe funds from ALBA (PetroCaribe) Belize Energy Ltd. weren’t accounted for, and foolishly quipped that he was “convinced” that the legislation “doesn’t fit” within the parameters of the Finance and Audit Reform Act. The bluster proved to be merely a formality, for even with Senator Shoman’s courageous division

vote, it went down in favor of the Government, 6 votes to 5, with Ray Davis of the Unions abstaining from the vote.

Davis’ abstention has attracted fierce criticism from the public, and even from within the Union movement. This is because the Petro-ca-

ribe Bill strips the authority of the Finance and Audit Act to provide oversight to Government borrowing and spending, which is something the Union leaders rallied and lobbied for in 2005. It’s passing without vigorous opposition by the Union is a matter of great concern.

Tipsy Tuna

Senator Mark Lizarraga

wishes the nation a Blessed and Safe Easter Holidays

5 APR

2015 U.S. keeps Belize on “Major Illicit Drug Producing, Major Drug-Transit, Major Money Laundering” List Belize City, March 30, 2015 United States President Barack Obama has once again listed Belize as a “Major Illicit Drug Producing, Major Drug-Transit, Major Money Laundering” country in their 2015 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR).

The INCSR Report “provides the factual basis for the designations…on the major drug-transit or major illicit drug producing countries and money laundering”. One of its goals is to highlight efforts or the lack of such efforts to fight the drug trade and combat financial crimes. The designation places Belize and other countries under review by the United Sates Government for assistance and support.

The report declared that Belize continued to be a major transit country for illegal drugs destined for the United States from source countries in South America.

The report noted that the drug trade is carried out through undetected maritime channels and via air. “…maritime vessels are able to avoid law enforcement detection by moving at night and using the hundreds of cayes (islands) to conceal their movement,” said the report, adding that the air transport of drugs is equally concerning as, “Belize has no air defense systems and limited capabilities to monitor aircraft at night”.

Drug Use According to the report, while the use of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs such as ecstasy are virtually non-existent in Belize, marijuana and cocaine are, with marijuana being the most prevalent and the consumption cocaine on the rise.

Weaknesses The report noted that despite increasing support of the U.S. Government, the country continued to face tremendous challenges to fight drug trafficking corruption. “…insufficient resources, weak law enforcement institutions, an ineffective judicial system, and inadequate compensation for public officials collectively provide a facilitating environment for corruption”.

It listed specific areas of concern, including insufficient laws to address narcotics-related corruption. In relation to corruption in public office, it noted that while the Prevention of Corruption Act was passed by the former PUP administration in 2000 to tackle corruption related to illicit monetary gains and the misuse of public funds while holding public office, Government of Belize did not charge anyone under this act.

In its conclusion, the INCSR called on Belize “to strengthen its public security and law enforcement institutions through more effective anti-corruption legislation, comprehensive background checks and vetting of new and existing personnel, better training, and continuing education programs”.

Along with Belize, countries designated as “Major Illicit Drug Producing, Major Drug-Transit” include Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

For a report on the major money laundering country designation, see story: “GOB lacks political will to fight Money Laundering and Financial Crimes” elsewhere in this week’s issue.

THE BELIZE TIMES

UDP Town Council fires 7 in Dangriga Dangriga Town, March 31, 2015 The politics of hate, divide and victimization that is the DNA of the United Democratic Party has kicked off in Dangriga, where the Council today issued letters of termination to seven employees.

Reports to the BELIZE TIMES are that letters to have been issued to employees informing them that they are no longer have jobs at the Council.

Employees affected include the Secretary for the Works Department, Security Officer, Works Manager, Front Desk Receptionist and cashier in the Traffic Department.

There have been other reports of victimization throughout the country at municipalities which were held by PUP Town Councils – Punta Gorda and Dangriga. The BELIZE TIMES will continue to investigate.

07 7 Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia making a donation to the Gales Point Manatee Village Council for their Annual Easter Events

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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2015

55 APR APR

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Belizean Beauty

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visit us at www.belizetimes.bz or Facebook/ Belize Times

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Cor. North Front Steet & Queen Street Belize City

10 SPORTS

Belize enters Round 2 of World Cup 2018 qualifiers Grand Cayman, March 29, 2015 The Belize Jaguars have advanced to Round 2 of the World Cup 2018 Russia qualifiers, by an away goal in the 20th minute from Elroy Kuylen to tie against the Caymans Islands 1-1 in regulation time Game 2 at the Truman Bodden Stadium in Georgetown, Grand Cayman on Sunday.

The Jaguars, presently ranked 164th in FIFA’s world rankings, will now gear up to take on the Dominican Republic, ranked 107th according to FIFA, on June 8, and host the

A world-class goal was scored by Elroy Kuyen from a sport-kick to tie the game 1-1

Team SMART dominated 16th Junior Cross Country Belize City, March 29, 2015 Team SMART Zoom Cycling dominated the 16th BEL Junior Cross Country Classic held by the Belize Cycling Federation on the George Price Highway on Sunday, March 29, taking the first 3 places and with 4 riders finishing in the top 10.

Team SMART’s Ernest Bradley, looked a lot like his father, legendary Cross Country great Ernest “Jawmeighan” Meighan, as he took the win in solo fashion in 3:30:52.

Top 3: (L-R) Darien Anderson, 2nd; Ernest Bradley, 1st; Kaydine Pinello, 3rd

Bjarne Gabourel & Kelly Liu

win primary school table tennis champs

Bjarne Gabourel

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THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

Belize City, March 27, 2015 The Belize Table Tennis Association held its annual primary school table tennis championships at the Belize Elementary Gymnasium last Friday, with St. Joseph’s Bjarne Gabourel and BES’ Kelly Liu, winning the boys’ and girls’ championships respectively.

The tournament began with 92 players competing in round robins in groups, from which the top 24 players advanced to Round 2 double elimination, while the second

Kelly Liu

2015 Santo Domingo squad for the rematch on June 16th.

Last Wednesday’s 0-0 Game 1 draw in the City of Belmopan had put the Jaguars under notice that they needed to score goals if they wanted to qualify to the next round, but it was Caymans’ Mark Ebanks who worried Belize fans when he scored first in the 5th minute.

Notably Jaguars’ coach Jorge Nunez started Denmark Casey Jr and Nahjib Guerra, who had played well after he inserted them in the second half of our home game at the FFB field in Belmopan. Khalil Velasquez and the Premier League’s Best midfielder Jordy Polanco also got some minutes on the field in injury time, but Jaguars failed to produce a second winning goal.

The winner was decided by FIFA’s tie-breaker rule that an away goal counts as two goals. The Jaguars will need to improve on that when they visit Santo Domingo, perhaps strengthened by Belize’s most prolific international striker, Deon Macaulay.

Bradley outdistanced his teammates to sweep the last 4 station prizes coming into the city: $100 at the Hattieville police station, $50 at the BEL gas turbo-generator, 4 cases of Crystal juice at the Mile 6 bridge, and $50 at Old Belize, as well as the $800 1st prize, a tablet from VIP Wireless and a 4-year scholarship from the Ministry of Education.

Other finishers: 2nd Darien Anderson – Team SMART – 3:31:37- $500 prize & trophy 3rd Kaydine Pinello – Team SMART – 3:31:37- $300 prize & trophy 4th Anthony Marin – Team Cabral/Marin – 3:31:40 - $150 prize & medal 5th Yan Cattouse – C-Ray Road Addikz – 3:31:40 - $75 prize Youths 1st Brian Sutherland – Team

ranked players who did not make the cut played a separate consolation knock-out format.

Bjarne won 2-0 vs. David Portillo in 1st Round, 2-1 vs. Eric Li in 2nd Round, 2-1 vs. Samron Pott in 3rd Round, and 3-1 vs. Taye Parkinson in Round 4. Taye Parkinson fought his way back into the championship finals by winning 3-1 vs. Samron Pott, but Bjarne won the finals 3-1 vs. Parkinson.

Final Standings: 1st Bjarne Gabourel 2nd Taye Parkinson 3rd Samron Pott 4th Terry Su In the Girls’ tournament, Kelly Liu won the championship final 3-1 vs. Alika Foreman.

Standings 1st Kelly Liu 2nd Alika Foreman 3rd Jazira Butler

Cabral/Marin – $300 prize & a tablet from VIP Wireless 2nd Patrick Williams – Team SMART – 3:31:57 $200 prize & trophy 3rd Shaun Codd – Team Chavarria – $100 prize 4th Jalen Castillo – Team Shake & Bake – $75 prize 5th Damian Usher – Team Shake & Bake – $50 prize Team SMART’s Darien Anderson won 6 station prizes: $150 at the Kontiki Sub Station in San Ignacio, $100 at the Loma Luz Boulevard, 4 cases of Crystal juice at Bowen & Bowen distributorship, $50 at Central Farm, $100 at Go Slow, and a $150 at La Democracia.

Shane Jones won $75 at the Georgeville Community Center.

Belize eliminated from 2015 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships El Salvador, March 30, 2015 The Belize national beach soccer team has been eliminated from the 2015 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships held in El Salvador from March 28th to April 5th, after losing two games and winning one in the quarterfinals.

In their first game of the competition, Belize suffered a 17-2 blowout against last competition’s sub-champions, El Salvador.

In their second match, against Jamaica, Belize played better but not good enough as they lost Continued on page 11

Greg Rudon scored 28

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11 SPORTS 11

Belmopan Mystics spanks SQ Stars 3-1 Belize City, March 28, 2015 The Belmopan Mystics spanked the Simon Quan Stars 3-1 in Belize district volleyball competition at the Belize Elementary Gymnasium on Saturday.

Mystics’ Kori Diego, Kaylani Reid, Alvree Mortis and Kayla Dawson scored points on plays set by Daniella Gibson and Kaylene Flowers to win 25-23, 19-25, 30-28 and 28-26. Khristal Jones, Jhonique Anderson, Loren Henry and libero Vivianni Avila took the court to help the Mystics win the last 2 sets Stars’ only reprieve came in the 2nd set when Marika Zuniga, Precelia Hoare, Rebecca Rath and Mya Musa hammered kills at the net and blocked the Mystics to win the 2nd set 25-19.

Belmopan Mystics

Western Ballaz still No.1 in NEBL basketball (7-0)

Belize eliminated from 2015 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships Continued from page 10 8-5. Belize had started firing quickly and took their first lead of the event, first at 1-0, and then they doubled their lead to leave them feeling good about their chances against Jamaica.

However, the Jamaicans quick-

ly awoke and responded.

In their third game, Belize celebrated by defeating Puerto Rico 6-1.

The favourite in the competition is the United States, who are the 2013 winners.

No Limits’ Brandon Rogers with a fadeaway Belize City, March 287, 2015 The undefeated Cayo Western Ballaz ran over the Belize Yellow Pages Hurricanes: 67-55 when the National Elite Basketball League competition continued at the Belize Elementary Gymnasium in Belize City on Friday night.

The Western Ballaz led from the getgo, soon opening up a double digit lead that they never relinquished until money time when the Hurricanes shaved the lead down to 6 pts. The Hurricanes got 6 free throws that could have tied the ball game, but alas, they missed 5!

Ballaz’ Richard Troyer tallied 18 points and 9 rebounds, while rookie Akeem Watters turned heads with 17 big points and 7 rebounds. Ty Bradley topscored for Hurricanes with 13 points and 5 rebounds.

Other games: No Limit vs. Dangriga Warriors - 77-55 Top scorers: Greg “Chippy” Rudon, 21 pts, 2 rebounds; Macario Augustine, 15pts, 16 rebounds Belmopan Red Taigaz vs. San Pedro Tigersharks - 94-74 Top scorers: Farron Louriano, 23pts, 10 rebounds; Darwin “Puppy” Leslie, 32pts Upcoming Matches, April 11 Western Ballaz vs San Pedro Tiger Sharks at San Pedro high school gym Yellow Pages Hurricanes vs No Limit at Bird’s Isle O. Walk Running Rebels vs Dangriga Warriors at O. W. Multi-Purpose Complex

Lennox Bowman takes the ball to the rim

Team Belize

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THE BELIZE TIMES

5 APR

2015

BUDGET PRESENTATION BY HON. JOSE ABELARDO MAI, AREA REPRESENTATIVE, ORANGE WALK SOUTH National Assembly, March 27, 2015 The Budget Mr. Speaker, I do not plan to dwell much on the sorrowful inadequacies of the 2015/16 budgetary allocation for Agriculture since it is generally known that this is a reoccurring neglect which is most observable in the deplorable state of extension services being offered to our struggling small farmers.

I say so, Mr Speaker, because, we exhort and encourage our farmers to produce more, and thereafter we undermine their efforts by allowing the importation of competing agricultural goods.

Remember the onions and Belize Marketing and Development with the farmers in the north, Mr Speaker? How can we forget?

Remember the potatoes and carrot farmers again in the north, Mr. Speaker.

And, of course, how can we forget the famous Uruguayan rice, Mr. Speaker.

And now it’s deja vu all over again with rice, i.e. Guyana rice!!

Borrowing a line from Mark Anthony of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Mr. Speaker, “I come here to bury this budget not to praise it, because the evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones.”

Mr. Speaker, the document labelled “budget speech for fiscal year 2015-2016”presented in this Honourable House, contains 31 pages!!! The document is divided into 3 sections: the first section is entitled review of the FY 2014/2015 strategy…. Which strategy? 6 pages And then “Summary of the Draft estimates for FY 2015-2016, now this is the real budget!! 6½ pages double space, yes 6 ½ pages including 3 half page tables and one pie chart!! Yes, Mr Speaker, unbelievable, but that is what the budget speech presents!!

And then there is a section entitled “Review of the Economy 2014” that has nothing to do with the details of the Revenue and Expenditures for 2015-2016.

So in essence, Mr Speaker, the budget speech is 6 ½ pages long!

Mr Speaker, do you know how many times the term “Agriculture”, was used is the summary of the 2015-2016 section??

Zero!! Zilch!! Not a single time. Do you know how many times terms like rice policy, strategic export policy, food security, livestock and corn were used?? Zero!!!

Does the GoB have any priorities here?

I rest my case, Mr Speaker, that’s the way it is for the backbone of the Belizean economy and the sector with the highest foreign exchange earning!!

So you see, Mr Speaker, why I say that I come to bury this budget? Because it contains nothing for rice producers, nothing for the grain producers, nothing for the beans producers and much less anything for the powerless and emasculated-disrespected stepsons, the cane farmers of this country!

Mr. Speaker, there is no mention of any plans or programs that the Government will implement to generate more revenue to reduce the 185 million dollar budgetary deficit!!

Do you know, Mr. Speaker, how the PM plans to increase revenue? It’s stated on page 16, first paragraph…”through improved tax administration and closing on existing loopholes. By focusing efforts on tax auditing, monitoring fiscal concessions and CRACKING DOWN ON GST

EVASION”.

There is no mention of plans that will address the balance of payment.

Mr Speaker, we exported less in 2014 than in 2013. We are going backwards!! Obviously, this means we have less income to divide among more producers and their families? This is not progress, it is regression!

Balance of payments kept on growing in 2014 and is now at 366 million dollars, Mr Speaker, but yet the budget speech is totally silent on that matter!!

Revenue and Expenditure Turning to the Revenue and Expenditures, Mr Speaker, I want to discuss a few observations on the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture: pages 110 to 128.

Mr Speaker, the allocations in this component are for twin Ministries: Natural Resources and Agriculture.

I separated the allocations that are specifically for agriculture and they are on page 110.

• No. 056 $15,803,000 Strategic Management and Administration…….

I know this is for agriculture because of the items listed: spraying supplies, spares (farm equipment), animal feed, animal pasture, production supplies, etc.

But interestingly, under Cap II, this same number 56, Strategic Management and Administration, that is supposedly for Agriculture, there is an allocation of $11,000,000 for Land Development and (Acquisition).

So, Mr Speaker, why would the Ministry of Agriculture be allocating 11 million dollars for land development and acquisition? Isn’t this money, supposed to be under Land Management and Administration?

Is this money earmarked to compensate those whose lands have been taken away by the Government and who the Courts have ordered to be paid for the wrongdoing?

If this is so, why is the money being cleverly allocated in an Agriculture Administration program and not under Land Management and Administration program?

• N0. 057 $17,499,000 Agriculture Research- Cap II - $2.1 Million, Cap III $12.48 M from EU Banana Project. This is certainly not for Agriculture Research as the name states. So all that is allocated for the National Research Program is the $2.1 M. • N0. 061 $2,534,000 Extension Program • N0 063 $274,000 Aquaculture • N0 058 $1,600,000 Financial Assistance to farmers If we remove the $11 million for land development and acquisition and the 12.5 million allocated to the EU Banana program for the Ministry of Agriculture under research, Agriculture will only be getting $14.2 million of the

National Budget. The Ministry of Agriculture would be receiving 1.3% of the National Budget.

1.3% of the National Budget, Mr Speaker.

So do you see the reason why I come here to bury this budget…and when we hear that Guyana wants to export its rice to Belize, at half the price of Belize rice, we react with great surprise. Mr Speaker, this is what any country would rightfully deserve if it invests 1.3% of the National Budget on Agriculture. How much does GoB invest in tourism??

And to make matters worse, Mr Speaker, the miniscule allocations to Agriculture are so inefficiently and ineffectively managed. For example, the Yo Creek Agriculture Substation: do you know the size of the livestock herd there, Mr Speaker? 10 head, yes that correct…10 bulls!! And do you know how many people are employed at the station, Mr Speaker? 12!!

I know them by names.

Mr Speaker, for the second year in a row, I have been trying to get the Annual Report from the OW Agriculture Station…I have still not succeeded. They can’t present an annual report in two years! They can’t even provide agriculture statistics!

The officer in charge said he has not finished his annual report yet …we are now in March!! The agriculture budget is being analysed and passed today, using the new Program Budgeting Approach (SEMCAR). The PM stated in his Budget speech that “the document includes both financial estimates and performance information and describes the purpose…this information is intended to inform cabinet, parliament and the public of the results and value for money being achieved by Government Ministries and their programs”.

How can we make decisions on priorities and results, if the progress, achievements and analysis of last year, or worse yet, of two years ago, are not known!!

Mr Speaker, how can any Ministry measure success without proper reporting? How can a budget be drafted without evaluating your success and lessons learnt?

The budget is being debated today and the annual achievement reports are still in the making…we are operating backwards again!

But from the PM’s words, he does not seem to be concerned about the statistics…“We must side step the oppressive orthodoxy of ‘Statistics, damn statistics” and focus clearly on the flesh and blood uplift of our people, in order to do this” , he said.

Mr Speaker, have you visited the Ministry of Agriculture website? The last report on the website is from 2006! My goodness, how much worse can we get? Statistics and reports are used to set important policy directions! Lack of direction and proper policies is what has us facing the rice crisis again!

And many other crises are yet to come, Mr Speaker! And they will come, after we have spent all the money, the borrowed money, the PM spoke about, Mr Speaker.

We are damned if we cannot proceed with crucial decisions on policy, programs and investment priorities, but on the basis of a conspicuous absence of knowledge.

Research: Mr. Speaker, $17.49 million dollars is said to be allocated to Research. But Mr Speaker, in reality only $2.1 million is going to research. $12.5 million and another 1 million dollars are allocated under CAP III. This $12.1 million is being allocated to the EU banana project. So you see, Mr Speaker, there is no real money to do research in agriculture. Imagine, Mr Speaker, Central Farm,

being the National Research Institute of Belize has a budget of $2. 1 m. What a shame for an economic sector that contributes so much to the GDP of this country.

To add insult to injury, Mr Speaker, the person employed to run the National Research Institute is a high school teacher, Mr Speaker. How much lower can the Ministry go? I have only praises for high school teachers, but certainly not for heading the country’s only Agriculture Research Centre!!

Is this person there, just because he is related to a particular Minister? This, Mr Speaker, is how serious our Government is about Agriculture and Research.

BAHA Mr. Speaker, a similar fate has befallen the Belize Agriculture and Health Authority. The wrong person has been hired to manage this very technical institution.

BAHA is not a place for political cronies that have absolutely no training in plant and animal health, food safety, quarantine, etc.

These are highly specialized fields of science and technology. And the irony of such disaster is that Belize has invested in people who now have the professional and technical expertise to lead and manage BAHA. Mr. Speaker, I say here today, just as I warned the Government last year during my budget presentation, about the absence of A National Rice Policy…it’s only a matter of time before Belize is de-certified from exporting products because the leadership at BAHA does not know what is required to keep our exports robust from a health and food safety standpoint.

Gone are the days when BAHA, once a highly-respected innovative institution, once an example in the region, was managed by a qualified and competent Managing Director. This is another example of how the present Government tends to manage, or more accurately, mis-manage our statutory institutions.

Rice Mr Speaker, indeed there is a serious rice crisis in the country. A self -induced rice crisis!

The Taiwanese have shut down their program. The BMDC has no direction and leadership to move the sector forward responsibly; it is seriously deficient.

Mr. Speaker, it is the Toledo Farmers that are most vulnerable and in need the Government’s assistance.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture does not have, nor has never bothered to have, the technical capacity to provide the right level of technical assistance to farmers, not even to the large ones that are highly mechanized.

We have neglected and mismanaged the rice industry for too long. We have abused, disrespected and taken for granted the rice producers of this country. So Mr. Speaker, it was only a matter of time before we were to be challenged

by Caricom nationals, based on the single market and economy agreement.

The rice farmers have been going through very difficult times for the past five years. You will recall when the Toledo Producers were asking for a better price and timely payment from the BMDC. You will also recall when the rice producers in the north were asking for upward adjustment in the control price. The then Minister of Agriculture referred to the

5 APR

2015 producers as the “rice cartel”.

You will also recall when the largest rice producer in the country “Uncle Johns” closed its door to production.

Mr Speaker, the simple reason that the farmers were asking for upward price adjustment was because of the high cost of production which exists in Belize. The government was forcing the farmers to lower their price because of their political promise to “Lower the cost of living no matter what”.

I say again here, Mr Speaker, you cannot lower the cost of food if you do not firstly address the cost of production.

Lowering the cost of food before lowering the cost of production is reverse economics and it will destroy the farmers in any country!!

Mr Speaker, rice in Belize is produced under four different system, each having varying costs of production and various levels of efficiency and various quality types, hence, Mr Speaker, it is imperative that a National Rice Policy be developed to chart and manage the direction of the rice industry.

Mechanized irrigated rice, mechanized upland rice, semi-mechanized rice and milpa rice are different production systems and require each specific care and individual attention.

Mr. Speaker, at last year’s debate, I urged the Government to invest some of the Petro Caribe funds in the agriculture sector! “Instead of investing ALL on streets and drains, why do we not invest in the productive sector to increase and improve efficiency so that our products can be more competitive”, these were my exact words.

Had we done so, Mr Speaker, we would probably not be in such a predicament today. Our entire rice industry is being threatened today.

If we allow rice to be imported Mr Speaker, Thousands may lose their jobs!

Hundreds of families will be left out in the cold and investments in the millions will be lost! I cannot imagine the social and economic disaster.

Families will be unable to pay for their children’s high schools, families will be unable to medicate their loved ones, and food will become scarce!! Unemployment, hunger and poverty in in rural communities, even in urban areas, will increase, Mr. Speaker!!

Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow rice to be imported from Guyana! No sensible Governemnt, PUP or UDP or no P at all, should allow the importation of rice from Guyana or from any other country that subsidizes it production!

We have rice to last us for three years!!! Yes three years Mr Speaker How in the world can the Belizean farmer compete with Guyana producers when the latter have the full backing of their government? The yields in Guyana are the same for irrigated rice in Belize 4000-5000lbs per acre. The cost of production is lower in Guyana because of their government’s support.

Last year Guyana released two high yielding varieties from their Rice Research Center. Guyana Drainage and Irrigation Institute invested $2 billion ($10 million US) in drainage and Irrigation last year. How much have we invested? Low cost Urea alone saved farmers $700 Million ($3.5m US) 5 Billion ($25M US) was invested in bridge financing - 2.5 Billion ($12.5M US) from Petro Caribe funds. How much Petro Caribe funds have we invested in the rice industry? And we want to tell the rice producer - your price is too high! What have we done to lower the cost of production?

How can the Belizean farmer compete with Guyana farmers when the Government of Guyana provides them with thousands of acres of land already levelled, equipped with irrigation gates that

THE BELIZE TIMES require no pumping cost? All they need to do is open the gates and the water is there for all!

How can we compete with Guyana when their Government constructs miles and miles of permanent all weather roads and infrastructure for the farmers?

How can we compete when farmers are offered loans at 1% interest rate? Mr Speaker, the resources used in Guyana is Petro Caribe money. And Guyana is a lower income country than Belize!

GST In an effort to reduce losses due to adverse weather, farmers have invested heavily in irrigation equipment. Irrigation equipment is categorized as zero-rated under GST. So why, are farmers still charged GST at the point of entry? If farmers are GST registered, they are able to get a refund of course 1 to 2 years after.

Mr Speaker $20,000 GST paid at the port of entry for irrigation equipment is what the farmer requires as operating fund to plant his crop, and, Mr Speaker, he must pay interest on $20,000. This, Mr Speaker, does not contribute to the farmer’s efficiency and profitability…because all these raise the cost of production.

Mr Speaker, there are farmers who have not been refunded for the past 2 years with the excuse that they are being audited. This is a disincentive to the producers of this country.

Sugar Cane Although the cane farmers have been overpowered by the allied forces of the Multinational ASR and the Government, we salute them for delivering sugar cane of the best quality in the history of the industry today.

Farmers Tons Cane/Tons Sugar stands at 8.39 on the average. 416,750 tons of sugar cane has been milled, yielding 49,670 tons of sugar. Farmers are performing beyond expectations as they are delivering sugar cane with less than 4% mud.

Important to note that the contract between BSI/ASR and Tate and Lyle for the marketing of sugar ends in October 2015. While ASR and Tate & Lyle have signed the new agreement, members of the BSCFA have not seen the new agreement or its contents. Mr Speaker, we need a fair, transparent and accountable playing field among the key stakeholders, for the industry to grow, prosper and serve our Belize.

While, it is expected that the price of sugar will be going down next year by as much as 20%-25% for sugar sold on the European market, it is critical that ASR/Tate & Lyle explore markets other than the European.

Sugar Roads Regarding repair of sugar roads, it appears that the more funds are allocated to feeder roads, the less work is visibly observed on the ground. Mr Speaker, sugar road repair has become a continuous hustle for UDP contractors. Poor supervision of contractors and crony interference cause materials to be easily diverted to cane fields of individuals rather than to the sugar roads.

So, Mr Speaker, the inevitable result is that every year the sugar roads continue to deteriorate because the required quantities of material are not used. For example, in Santa Martha, the only sugar road repaired is in the Belize district, and would you believe that this road leads to one cane filed, a cane field belonging to a particular Minister of Government. I will say no more!

Cattle Mr Speaker, remember all the glamour and glitter of cattle being exported to Mexico.

Well, Mr Speaker, that show did not last for too long. All media houses converged in Blue Creek to witness the first load of cattle leaving Belize to Mexico legally. Truth be told, Mr Speaker, one load of 44 head left in February 2013. Do you know that those farmers still have NOT received payment for those cattle.

This is NOT business.

Mr Speaker, the fact is that we misled farmers to believe that once the testing for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis is done for a number of times, they will be able to export

cattle to Mexico freely.

That is very far from the truth. Testing negative for both diseases does not guarantee you free market access to Mexico as was being implied. Belize does not have any Free Trade Agreement with Mexico, consequently, any cattle being exported from Belize to Mexico is subject to 31% tariff. Now, that is the reason why Belize’s cattle cannot access the luxury markets in Mexico, legally. And our cattle find their way into Mexico via Guatemala who enjoys a Free Trade Agreement with Mexico.

Records show that exports to Central American countries have grown over the years. However, Belize has not been able to move ahead meaningfully with the Guatemalan Partial Scope Agreement. The Government is now seeking to initiate a Partial Scope Agreement with El Salvador when it has not fully completed PSA with Guatemala.

Mr Speaker, trade negotiations, which should merit priority, should be for the marketing of cattle to Mexico. The Ministry of Foreign Trade should undertake this as millions have been invested in the National Cattle Testing with the objective of gaining market access to Mexico.

Papaya The papaya industry will register its lowest yield in the history of the industry in 20 years. Next week the lowest amount of boxes will be exported (13,000 boxes will be harvested). From 70,000 boxes 5 years ago, production has gone down by 81% in March 2015.

This is unbelievable!

Mr Speaker, can you see the unemployment picture?

A box is sold at 16 U.S. dollars at this time.

The average is around 12 US dollars. 12 US X 70,000 weekly is $840,000 US. From 70,000 boxes to a 80% drop in production is a loss of $1.36 million weekly, Mr Speaker.

There are many reasons for this and we cannot blame the Government entirely for this phenomenon.

But we have to agree that the Government does not have the policies in place to facilitate production. The Department of Environment (DOE) now mandates that before any well can be dug for irrigation, the site must be inspected and approved by them.

But when you do not understand agriculture, you play around with time. The Department has to set the date and time for the inspection and many times they fail to arrive as agreed. The inspection sometimes takes months.

This cannot work with a company that has organized/calendarized and planned production timelines for its market demands abroad. These companies have contracts with customers and planting and harvesting have to be synchronized.

Mr. Speaker, after the inspection, perforation has to be done and water quality testing has to be done followed by land preparation.

The simple delay in DOE inspection will delay the entire crop cycle.

Fruta Bomba cannot afford to wait for one month for a simple inspection to be done. The company has transferred a large portion of their production to another country, simply because we lack policies that will facilitate agriculture - simple and straight forward policies!!!!

Petro Caribe Mr Speaker, the PM mentioned in his budget speech that the Government has borrowed $286 million from APBEL Petro Caribe, of which 126 million has already been used to for capital programs.

How much of the Petro Caribe is being invested in rural communities of the Jewel? If very little, then why?

Mr Speaker, nothing was allocated to boost the agro-productive sector from Petro Caribe. Why Mr Speaker? Is agriculture not important to Belize or to us in this Honourable House?

In 2014, agricultural exports including marine products, accounted for over $482 million or 79.7% of export revenues for Belize.

In addition, primary agriculture, excluding manufacturing, contributed 13.8% to the

13 GDP, and together with value adding, vertical integration and the demand for services agriculture creates, this sector delivers over 40% of the GDP!! Agriculture is therefore the foundation of Belize’s economy and that is a fact!

And knowing that and given the fact that the Citrus Industry is going through a major disease crisis no consideration was given, from Petro Caribe!

Given the fact that the sugar industry will suffer major price cuts up to 25%, no support has reached the cane farmer from Petro Caribe.

Given the fact that Belize is in a strategic position to repay Venezuela with food, no consideration has been given to the rice producers to enhance their competitiveness so that this rice crisis could have been avoided.

I have said this before: let us follow the example of El Salvador, Guyana, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic. They re-pay Venezuela with coffee, rice and sugar.

Investing all on infrastructure and on roads is not good enough. Road construction and improvement provide short term/non-sustainable employment and contributes to widening the trade balance.

100% of cement and 100% of the steel used in infrastructure projects are imported…million and millions and millions of dollars leave the country and nothing is exported!

But if we would invest the Petro Caribe resources in Agriculture, I can clearly see and we can quantify all the immediate benefits and multiplying effects in terms of sustainable employment being created, dignified wages, thousands of acres being developed, labourers, operators, drivers, marketers, financiers being engaged. In brief, long term, not artificial, employment and productivity would be ensured!

And Mr Speaker, the cost of production will go down, and the cost of food will go down! We are then enhancing our competitiveness, and then we can export to Guyana and to anywhere else!

Belize is blessed with good farmers and producers, we can compete against the best and we have proved, not only against the Guyanese. But the Government should know its responsibility and must provide the farmers with the opportunities to perform. All you need to have Mr Speaker is the political will.

Conclusion Mr Speaker, I am deeply concerned about our state of play and national development. I must be honest, I expected more and I am frustrated at times with our poor results and outcomes.

We must work harder, with vision, with strategy and with results in mind at all times. And that is why I wish to end my intervention with a message to us all.

Lee Kuan Yew, truly a giant in the history of national building, passed away a few days ago, on the 23rd of March.

As leader since independence, Mr. Lee took Singapore from the bottom of the third world countries to the top of the first world countries in 31 years.

Belize needs and deserves that kind of leadership and government, and therefore we, on this side and you on that side of the aisle, must learn and emulate his excellent management and development principles and practices that brought success to his country and people.

Noteworthy is that Belize has more resources and development potentials than Singapore had when PM Lee started on the road to development.

God bless Belize, God bless the people of OW South.

Mr Speaker, thank you!!

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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 4th January, 2012, between LEOPOLD ARGUELLES and JULIET MAS of Cahal Pech Hill, Sam Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 1 of 2012 at Folios 473 to 504, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT freehold piece or parcel of land situate in the Kay Works Agricultural Area, San Ignacio Town Extension, Cayo District and numbered Lot 49 containing 412.894 square metres of land and Lot No. 50 containing 399.201 square metres of land being a subdivision of Block No. 47, 56 and 57 bounded and described as shown on Entry No. 10480 Register 22 dated 04th June, 2007 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 19th day of March, 2015.

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

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2015

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CONSUMER NOTICE If you have credit commitments, PLEASE LIVE UP TO YOUR AGREEMENT. If you have problems, TALK TO YOUR CREDITOR. Don’t be known as a “HARD PAYER” blocking yourself out of our growing credit economy.

Always remember “A GOOD NAME IS BETTER THAN MONEY IN THE BANK”.

NANDO’S

Credit Master Systems PUTTING VALUE BACK INTO “YOUR WORD”

Nando’s wishes all its customers a Safe and Blessed Easter The Love of Christ Impels Us

#11 Douglas Jones Street Belize City Tel: 223-5845/2283 Email: cmsbz@btl.net Website: cmssearch.bz

5 APR

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid Setting the stage for dictatorship

By G. Michael Reid Last week Thursday, the Prime Minister of Belize introduced into the House of Representatives a Bill that in the view of many represents a major step toward dictatorship.

The bill was taken through all three readings and it seems our Prime Minister has a very short memory.

One of the things he railed against incessantly while in Opposition was the rushing of Bills through the House in one sitting. According to Section 49(2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, “An interval of not less than ten days must lapse between the first and second reading of a Bill….”

There is however, and as usual, a loophole. The law goes on to state that “unless the House, on motion made and question put, agree to proceed with the Bill at an earlier date or forthwith.” Since assuming office (the House meets at least four times for the year with several Bills being presented at each sitting), there might have been 1 (one) Bill that has seen the required time between readings. What is the rush here; in particular with a Bill of such huge importance and of such potential consequence?

The answer to this is easy but not obvious. In October of last year, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Julius Espat filed a motion in the courts of Belize attempting to restrain government’s reckless spending of Petro Caribe funds. In an interview given at the time, Espat explained his purpose for the lawsuit, “…we are seeking to make sure that the Government of Belize, any party that forms the Government of Belize, ultimately follows the law. In this case we are seeking that we have good governance, we are seeking oversight, and we are seeking that there is proper accountability and transparency. We are not challenging the government’s authority as the policy-makers to seek out funds and to

also spend those funds. That is not what we are challenging. But if you seek out funds, you need to come to the House to seek approval. If you obtain the funds and start spending it, then you need to come to the House to show them what you are spending it on, who is spending it, and in what quantity and if you are getting value for money.” Any questions!!!!

Espat has been contending for months that the loan agreement arrived at between the Government of Belize and Petro Caribe is not in accordance with the existing laws of Belize that govern such transactions.

According to the Finance and Audit Act, (a law that was passed in 2005 on the insistence of the people of Belize and in particular the then Unions and Opposition) any loan exceeding the sum of ten million dollars must be taken to the National Assembly for approval and discussion. The law made sense then and it makes sense now.

Its chief design is to curb corruption and control the very type of wanton spending and squandering of money that we see occurring now. Given the type of system under which we are governed, where the ayes will always have it, it would not be able to stop the accessing of any loan but it would at least brings public awareness to government borrowing and spending of such huge sums of money. To this point, the government has borrowed over 200 million dollars from the Petro Caribe fund and the Prime Minister has made it clear that he plans to use up every penny before remitting office.

What must be clearly understood is that this money is not a grant. It is a loan that must be repaid; albeit at a low interest rate but will have to be repaid nonetheless. At first, the Prime Minister argued that the money from Petro Caribe was not a loan. He then however, quickly moved a Bill through the House affirming the monies a loan and giving him permission to borrow what he had already borrowed.

Now with Espat’s case set to go before the Courts, the Prime Minister has gone even further by presenting this new bill which gives him permission to borrow any amount without the approval of the House of Representatives. According to the Bill which was rushed through the House, “Notwithstanding anything contained in the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act, 2005, or any other law to the contrary, it shall be lawful for the Government of Belize to borrow money from ALBA Petro Caribe (Belize Energy) Limited in any amounts without the prior authorization of the National Assembly and to enter into a loan agreement with APBEL for the said purpose”. As if that was not bad enough, the Bill goes on to state that, “No limitations shall apply to the use of the money borrowed from APBEL and it may be used to finance capital projects as well as to provide social and community assistance to the poor and the socially marginalized, and any other legitimate purpose as the Government may consider fit.” This is particularly insane and gives Mr. Barrow free rein with the country’s finances.

Mr. Barrow bristled when Julius Espat suggested that the Bill will allow him, Dean Barrow, the ability to write a check to his own family. Well, even without the Bill, Mr. Barrow has been channeling huge sums of money to family members and select cronies.

All of his so-called pro-poor programs have been directed through his caretakers and exclusively to UDP supporters. What can we expect now that he has made this practice legal? With

17 Elections looming, no one doubt that much of this money will be used to buy votes under the guise of “community assistance to the poor and the socially marginalized”. Mr. Barrow is obsessed with a third term but there will be hell to pay if he succeeds What has become glaringly evident is that the system under which we are governed is severely flawed.

On Monday, after all was said and done in the Senate, a vote was taken on the Bill. To their credit, the Churches opposed the passage of the Bill but lo and behold, the Unions of all people, voted approval. This is absolutely insane. There is no doubt that the Bill would have passed anyway but that the Unions, who in 2005 marched and took to the streets in protest of much less, would give approval to this type of reckless borrowing and spending is appalling!

In his justification for presenting the Bill, Mr. Barrow spoke of some “sliding rule” aspect of the money that prevents him from knowing in advance what he will use the monies for. Now really folks, the “sliding rule” parameter of which Dean Barrow speaks relates only to the acquiring of the funds given fluctuations in the price of oil and what percentage goes to government. As for the borrowing and spending of the money, how could the Prime Minister not know what he will borrow the money for and how it will be spent?

The Prime Minister goes on to state that he will “allow a debate on the spending that has taken place”. How very nice of him but at that stage, what can be done?

Belizeans need to stop swallowing everything that Dean Barrow pushes in their mouths. We are looking terrible in the eyes of the world and are being made a laughing stock. This man is setting the stage for straight up dictatorship. That is one boat that I for one, would like to miss. May GOD help Belize!

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In loving memory of

Gloria Victoria “Kimari” Tucker-Neal Sunrise: 6 July 1972 Sunset: 1 April 2015 Remembering you with heavy hearts Kimari on your anniversary The last time were together Kim, You looked so bright and well Little did we know it was our last farewell.

We did not see you close your eyes or your last faint smile We pray to God with all our hearts To see and speak with you We only heard these two words “She is Gone” Too late to say goodbye So sudden on earth the sorrow fell, The blow was hard, the shock was so severe It pierced a whole in our hearts forever God knows how much we miss you Kim Whatever is fair “Not this time Kimari, not this time” As you rest in peaceful sleep big sister We said a prayer for you Please Lord, put your comforting arms Around our big sister Kimari Don’t leave her on her own, for today.

It is her one year anniversary, Her first year away from home. Amen.

They say time makes it easier Why did it have to be you God has you in his keeping, We have you in our hearts.

So sadly missed by your sisters: Tania, Neisan, Melissa, Shaffrayn and Shashaye Forever in our hearts

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that XIAO HUI is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “A&B Store”, situated at #35 Queen Victoria Avenue, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that JESUS MUNIZ is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “J Mar’s Shoppee”, situated at San Estevan Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

THE BELIZE TIMES

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2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

Hon. Francis W. Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition, Budget Presentation for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Continued from page 3 from $2.09 to $3.19 • Local Vinegar up .06¢ cents from $1.89 to $1.95.

• Luncheon Meat and Chap ham up .20¢ from $3.95 to $4.15.

• Corn Beef up .50¢ from $4.09 to $4.59.

• Local Jam up $1.06 from $4.39 to $5.45.

• Evaporated Milk up .50¢ from $1.75 to $2.25.

• Condensed Milk up .36¢ from $1.99 to $2.35.

• Soap Powder up $1.36 from $2.49 to $3.85.

That is the Belizean U.D.P. Reality today Mr. Speaker and the 2015/2016 Budget offers No relief, No answer, No hope of anything better to come.

Mr. Speaker, the 2015/2016 Budget is a “Borrow and Spend” Budget.

It is a Budget founded upon NO consultation and grounded in NO economic development plan.

It offers NO new investments in the Belizean economy.

NO new tourism projects.

NO new agricultural investments.

NO manufacturing projects.

NO new investments in Housing Development.

NO investments in Arts and Culture, Youth and Sports.

NO Tax Reform.

NO Governance Reform.

Mr. Speaker, if we are indeed serious about Belize’s growth and development, if Transformation is to be more than a catchy political slogan then it is these types of investments we must attract and make as a nation and people. We on this side fully support putting our unemployed, unskilled people to work, rebuilding and upgrading our streets, roads and bridges but we continue to express concern about the inequity and waste associated with many of these infrastructure projects. There is concern as well that the same small pool of UDP-connected Contractors are hogging up all the contracts in what many view and describe as a well-designed U.D.P. campaign financing scheme, with the money flowing from Central Government’s coffers to the U.D.P. Contractors and then into the U.D.P. treasure chest.

We also recognize and highlight the need for urgent efforts to create jobs for our young graduates many of whom leave 6th form or University with no prospect for employment, becoming increasingly frustrated and hopeless as they continue to sit in their parents’ living room.

In pursuing investments, Mr. Speaker, it is all about creating decent jobs with living wages for our people, jobs for our young graduates, jobs for women, jobs for our skilled workers, jobs in tourism, jobs in the Information Technology Sector, jobs in agro-processing and manufacturing.

The Private Sector must be viewed as full partners in development and enabled to attract and undertake investments, grow businesses, and create jobs.

Government must reduce its bureaucratic spending while focusing on its core function of delivering reliable, quality, affordable public services. The truth is that in 2015 we remain a long way off from the levels of reliability and quality required for meaningful economic advancement.

At the same time, Mr. Speaker, we must remain firmly committed as a Nation and people to those most vulnerable among us, especially the poor and disadvantaged. We must fully accept that growth is not real progress, if in spite of it, families are losing their homes, children are going to bed hungry and remain out of school.

On the issue of Tax Reform, Mr. Speaker, year after year, Budget speech after Budget speech, we are treated to empty platitudes about the need for tax reform but year after year none is delivered. Tax Reform, particularly in a small economy like Belize’s, is directly linked to job creation. Taxes must be strategically designed to stimulate, not stifle growth. The multiple layers of taxes, fees, levies and duties imposed by Municipal and Central Governments must be subject to a comprehensive, rational review with the objective of lowering the costs of production and goods and to particularly target growth in the export of goods and services.

Reform And while on the issue of Reform, we on this side once again extend our hand of cooperation to the Government across Party Political lines. Let us rise above the politics and work together on meaningful reforms to Governance in Belize.

Let us appoint the 13th Senators!!!

Let us review the structure, composition and powers of the Public Accounts Committee.

Let us review the structure, composition and powers of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission and get on with the business of a badly needed re-registration exercise.

Let us review and strengthen the role and function of the Integrity Commission.

And let us work together to formulate and pass fair, reasonable Campaign Finance Laws.

These Reforms, Mr. Speaker, will help us to move as a Nation towards a more solutions-based approach to

governance and development that is so badly lacking today.

Technology In his 2015 New Year’s address to the Nation the Prime Minister declared that this year would be the year of technology. Well the 2015/2016 budget exposes the emptiness of that boast as simply another example of U.D.P. pre-election trickery and deceit. The year of technology began and ended with the Municipal Election tablet giveaway.

Mr. Speaker, another good P.U.P. initiative destroyed by an incompetent, politically-opportunistic U.D.P. Government. Connecting our young students to technology is something we can all support but handing over tablets to students is meaningless if there is not a plan in place to support the effective use of those tablets. The original P.U.P. idea was to load these tablets with the student’s books and other relevant educational material. Regrettably this was abandoned in pursuit of political expediency. Creativity and technology must be the new pillars of our education systems allowing our students, teachers and parents to collaborate and cooperate in the work of Nation Building.

Crime and Border Security Mr. Speaker, on the issues of Crime and Border Security the budget for fiscal year 2015/2016 offers very little sense of purpose and direction.

Law abiding citizens continue to live in fear across our country as Crime and Violence eat away at our social fabric.

Sadly, there is growing distrust of our police and system of justice. The Prime Minister waxes poetic about a social citadel of peace and protection. We know not of this social citadel but we do know that 123 persons were killed last year and some 370 in the past three years. We know that people are routinely robbed and their homes burglarized. Crime and Violence are the order of the day and the stormy waters of hopelessness, despair and lack of opportunities remain the Social reality of Belize today.

Border Security remains an ongoing challenge. Our Nation will never forget September 25th, 2014 when our very own Special Constable Danny Conorquie was cowardly and tragically executed by Guatemalan bandits on the hallowed grounds of Majestic Caracol. To date no one has been brought to justice for this cold-blooded murder. Our country is under siege in the Chiquibul from Guatemalan Nationals engaged in agricultural incursions, illegal logging and xate extraction, hunting and wildlife poaching, gold panning, and looting of our Mayan sites. Most recently a group of Belizean Volunteers visiting the Gracias a Dios Marker Monument were illegally detained in Belizean waters by Guatemalan Military Officers. The issues

21 of Border Security and Crime are National issues and here again we extend to the Government our hand of cooperation. The Belizean people expect and deserve that we act seriously and responsibly together in confronting these challenges.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues will expose the many other glaring shortfalls in the budget in the areas of Education, Health, Housing, Rural Development, and Agriculture, to name a few.

In the final analysis, Mr. Speaker, the budget for Fiscal year 2015/2016 is not only short in length, it is: Short on Vision!!!

Short on Substance. Short on Ideas. Short on purpose and direction. Short on Solutions to the serious social and economic challenges confronting our beautiful Belize.

It is a budget that boasts of unprecedented progress. The question is for whom? For the Prime Minister and his family? For the Ministers and their Cronies? For the high-paid contract officers, consultants and diplomats? But who else Mr. Speaker? Who else?

Mr. Speaker this is a Budget delivered by a Prime Minister and a Government intoxicated by power, and consumed with their so called “historic destiny” of a U.D.P. 3rd term.

It will not be!!

Let them beat their chests and enjoy the Party while it lasts.

Arrogance and corruption shall, yet, bring them to their knees.

To the Belizean people we say: “Do not lose heart in doing good for soon you shall reap, if you do not grow weary”. Galatians.

6:9 We shall not lose heart!

We shall not grow weary!

We love Belize! We believe in Belize!

Mr. Speaker, Martin Luther King Jr. once said that “only when it is dark enough can you see the stars”. Today I want to say to our many supporters across the country that we see you and we appreciate you. And to the independent voters out there, we pledge to work even harder to prove to you that we are a better Party, a Party of women and men worthy of your support and confidence, a Party that will be at all times on the side of the everyday man and woman.

Scripture reminds us that after the long night comes the Dawn, the Morning.

We are down but not out!

We shall rise again!

The work continues and the war shall be won!! And whenever the Prime Minister calls the elections we will be ready! That is our solemn pledge to all our people across the length and breadth of this beautiful Nation.

We will be ready!!!

We pray God’s continued blessings and guidance on our Nation and People.

Thank you Mr. Speaker!

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Getting the job done in OW South Yo Creek Village, March 27, 2015 The Hon Jose Mai, the Village Council of Yo Creek and the residents of Yo Creek this week embarked on a street repair campaign in the village of Yo creek.

For a long time the Hon. Jose Mai and the village Council have been asking the Ministry of Works to do re-

pairs on village Streets. The Ministry of Works has never done so. At the Inauguration of Orange Walk South highway, Hon. Mai spoke personally to the Minister of Works and requested his intervention. The Minister responded that he was unable to repair the streets in Yo Creek because his Ministry did not have money to do

GOB lacks “political will” to fight Money Laundering and Financial Crimes, says U.S. Report Belize City, March 30, 2015 The United States Government, through the recently-released 2015 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) which was tabled by President Barack Obama before the U.S. Congress, criticised the Barrow Administration for lacking “political will” to adequately fight money laundering and financial crimes.

This is a black eye for Belize, for yet another year, as the nation has been designated a “major money laundering country” in the 2015 report.

The report further listed Belize under the “Jurisdictions of Primary Concern”, which is a designation for countries considered a high-risk in global financial irregularity.

“A major money laundering country is defined by statute as one whose financial institutions engage in currency transactions involving significant amounts of proceeds from international narcotics trafficking,” explained the report.

The document noted that “dirty money” sourced from criminal activity and financial crime is a threat to democratic institutions: “Jurisdictions flooded with illicit funds are vulnerable to the breakdown of the rule of law, the corruption of public officials, and destabilization of their economies”. Sounds too familiar to the Belize we are living in!

The report pointed out that in 2014, due to pressure from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), the Barrow Administration introduced new and revised laws that provide oversight and “countermeasures” to safeguard financial systems. These laws include the Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act; the Companies Act; the Domestic Banks and Financial Institutions Act; the Financial Intelligence Unit Act; the Mutual Legal Assistance and International Co-Operation Act; the Insurance Act; the Financial Investigative Unit Act; the International Financial Services Act; the Gaming Control Act; the Interception of Communications Act; Customs Regulation Act; Trust

WANTED: A cook/helper is needed for Resort Restaurant on San Pedro Caye. Must be able to work holidays and overtime hours. Ask for Hugo – 226-4000.

Act; Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Act; Criminal Code Act; and the Firearms Act. However, the report observed that even with tougher laws the Barrow Administration has not shown sufficient “political will” and have lagged behind with enforcement.

“Despite the new laws and regulations, some international experts have noted political will is needed to fully implement and enforce the new legislation through investigations and prosecutions. An absence of money laundering prosecutions and convictions in 2014, coupled with historically low figures, reflects the lack of robust enforcement efforts,” stated the report.

There are a few specific matters, mentioned in the report, which have remained as trouble areas for the U.S. Government. One is that Belize does not have laws or regulations requiring the reporting of large transactions. In 2014, the Government introduced a controversial regulation, Statutory Instrument 95, which declared that its Ministries or Department did not have to report any transactions made to U.S. accounts to the Central Bank.

Another area of concern is that Belize is not a party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

CARTOON

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

Hon. Mai did not give up, however, and his persistence has proved

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

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

For Sale

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

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

DATED this 31st day of March, 2015.

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

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