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The Belize Times
Established 1957
The Truth Shall Make You Free
11 AUGUST 2013 | ISSUE NO: 4857
www.belizetimes.bz
|
$1.00
BARROW REJECTS
REFORM
UDP chooses POWER over GOOD GOVERNANCE
Pg. 7
A Tale of 2 PMs
Pg. 3
$US11.5m cocaine hidden in pigtail buckets, destined to Belize Pg. 11
Exploitation Averted
CAYO YOUTH VICIOUSLY beaten Pg. 31
Steven Buckley outsmarts UDP’s diabolical plan
Pg. 31
Elon Gongora recovering at the KHMH
Steven Buckley and his attorney Dickie Bradley
Pg. 6
Pablo Marin MUST RESIGN!
2 02
OPINION OUT
!
Dear Editor, I repeat, it’s a downright shame and disgrace what this UDP Administration is doing to Steven Buckley. The Prime Minister is the leader of this shame and disgrace, and he showed it again in his response to Buckley’s three years of suffering. How in the world can the Prime Minister claim he didn’t know about Buckley when the pains and struggles of this once hardworking man has been ventilated on the airwaves every day for many weeks and months? Even the former Commissioner of Police had taken responsibility and promised to settle. The Minister seems to have blocked it. The Prime Minister ignored the issue. Barrow is now trying to pretend he cares, all of a sudden, and two days after he was shamed on television, the Police moved to settle with Buckley. This case reminds me so much of Hiriam and Captain Charlie Good. Hiriam was fired by the Ministry of Education at a time when the Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, said his people must eat. This was just after the UDP won the elections in 2008. Captain Charlie Good, in defense of his wife, went on a hunger strike and protest outside the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Barrow turned a blind eye, refused to right the injustice, and Captain Good died after suffering from medical complications just outside the Courthouse. Buckley could have been another Captain Good. He had to beg to eat.
9 Aug
2013
OUT
OUT
Barrow was forced to compensate Buckley!
LOCAL
11 AUG
THE BELIZE TIMES
Mark King is a joke
!
Dear Editor, It was a bitter surprise to see Mark King back in the news after his King Gone Wild episode in the Corozal Casino where he went ballistic and assaulted a police officer. I saw the video Mr. Editor, my eyes don’t lie to me. This politician is truly a King because he even beat the Court system, something which we commoners can’t do. The King is also a joker with his claim that he has done more for Lake Independence than Cordel has. All King has been doing in lake I ‘da wa lee tin here, and wa lee ting there’. King has no vision. He has no real plan for Lake I. That’s why he Continued on page 29
GOB AND BEL THIEVES???
!
Dear Editor, Now that Government of Belize owns Belize Electricity Limited, it has been a spit on the face of us the consumers. Reason: for the month of May my electricity bill soared incredibly to $161.12. For April it was $73.40, for March $65.07, for February $64. 07. Isn’t there an obvious trend here? One of outright robbery. The mega increase of $87.72 is ridiculous and surprises me because during this period my family was away from home for an entire week. In May I was away from home for another week. While away, I thought that my absence would result in a reduction of my light bill the following month, but nothing! My June’s bill still came with a whopping $81.34. What I am saying is that BEL has answers to give consumers. I am sure I am not the only one experiencing this pressure from the electricity company. This kind of exploitation, I expect from private/profit led companies but not from one where the salaries are paid by my tax paying dollars!
Stop living in the past PM Barrow
!
Dear Editor, I used to have a lot of admiration for the UDP in the House when they discussed the people’s problems and tried to help the poor people. But after listening to the last House meeting I am ashamed of the Prime Minister and the whole of the government side of the House. Getting personal with people’s lives and spouses is so wrong. The member for Mesopotamia seems to be the House clown. He has no respect for women it seems. Then because talks are being held by the PUP to bring back Cordel Hyde, he started to slander the member from Fort George and Freetown telling them all kind of slanderous words. Can’t the Speaker of the House put him in check? Ask for the PM, it seems he wants to drag on and on about
Signed. Angry consumer
No beggar makes an honest living. No one who doesn’t make an honest living can survive. Mr. Barrow, as a human being I cannot forgive you for how you treat our poor people. It is inhumane. Thanks to God, Buckley will finally get what he deserves. God truly noh like ugly. Your day will come soon Mr. Barrow. Signed, An angry ex-UDP voter
Continued on page 29
weather 10 Aug
11 Aug
12 Aug
2613Mar Aug
27 Mar Aug 6 14 Feb
OUT Should we drill for Oil in the Sarstoon Temash National Park?
!
Dear Editor, Please allow me space in your newspaper to share my views. Belizeans have heard the pros and cons of drilling for oil. Firstly, we know that Oil is “Money”. Secondly, given the dire economic stance of our country, most if not all “eyes” are on how we can make money to keep the economy properly revolving and, of course, to sustain the burdensome debts accumulated over the years. The recent reports I have went through indicate that oil is in “expected” commercial quantity in the Sarstoon Temash National Park. So the question is: Should we Drill? SATIIM, the organization responsible for co-managing the Sarastoon Temash National Park is ensuring that, and I quote from the official website: “to safeguard the ecological integrity of the Sarstoon-Temash region and employ its resources in an environmentally sound manner for the economic, social, cultural, and spiritual well-being of its indigenous people”. Greg Choc, who is the Founding Executive Director, has a Continued on page 29
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The Belize Times
Established 1957
14 APR 2013
|
ISSUE NO: 4840
The Truth Shall Make You Free
www.belizetimes.bz
|
$1.00
serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper. Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus EDITOR
Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST
Chris Williams
OFFICE ASSISTANT
Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By The Belize Times Press Ltd. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize
Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com
editortimes@yahoo.com
Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar
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Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR (GBP): $ 0.32 (GTQ): $ 3.94 (CAD): $ 0.52
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11 AUG
2013
A Tale of 2 PMs Belize City, August 8, 2013 Aside from the fact that it was the same old UDP circus equipped with animals and clowns alike that rolled in for Wednesday’s House Meeting, the occasion offered the public an opportunity to draw a comparison between the current and former Prime Minister of Belize. Unlike the arrogant, disrespectful, vile and hateful behavior of Dean Barrow, Said Musa appeared statesmanlike, humble, honorable and respectful despite the molestation from Dean’s pets on the other side. Dean grandstands. He loves the limelight and cannot help but look up at the camera each time he is about the spew off a slew of mumbo jumbo that no one else can understand. His inability to speak in layman’s terms makes him feel superior intellectually, but more importantly, it shows that he lacks the common touch, a trait fully embodied by Said Musa. Barrow is indeed all about personality. A key difference that many Belizeans may have missed at Wednesday’s House meeting is the difference in their style of governance. Musa, as Prime Minister, may have signed an agreement with the Ashcroft alliance, but the fact that he signed a document in black and white is, in and of itself, a difference between Musa and Barrow. You see, Dean Barrow, the brilliant attorney that he is, does not sign anything in black and white. Just as an example, check out the rosewood scandal, in which one of Barrow’s chief financiers, German Ignacio Vega, was allowed to keep 97% of the proceeds of sale while only 3% went into government coffers. There was no paper trail. Barrow is smarter than that. He attacks Said Musa for not taking the agreement with Ashcroft to the House, but did Barrow take the rosewood scheme to the House? Another instance in which there is no paper trail is Barrow’s gifting of bloated legal contracts to his wife, brother and daughter. Despite many attempts to find out how many millions of dollars they have received, Barrow has kept their earnings in complete darkness. No black and white. No answers. No motion in the House. Even today, the Government is negotiating in secret with Norwegian Cruise Lines over the unpopular cruise tourism in Southern Belize. On Wednesday, it was clear to be seen that Barrow is living in a bubble. He curses Musa for signing agreements, when he doesn’t even put his secret agreements in black and white. In all these instances, the difference between the two men is glaring. By his secret deals, Barrow feeds those close to him with wealth untold, while Musa did not receive any personal gain or benefits from the agreement he signed with the Ashcroft alliance. Barrow must go to sleep at night thinking that he is just the greatest thing since slice bread, by concocting such a hair-brained scheme of not putting anything in writing. If its one thing that you said on Wednesday that is true Dean Barrow, it is that you could never compare to the leadership and vision of Said Musa. Belizean people may be quiet right now Dean, but trust me, they are not asleep.
THE BELIZE TIMES
03 3
UDP Ignores Warning Signs Mass Cruise Tourism dangerous for Southern Belize Belize City, August 7, 2013 THE Prime Minister of Belize likes to play Brer Anansi by pretending to know nothing about anything. This way, he assumes, he cannot be caught lying, but he often is. On the other hand, his Minister of Labour and Immigration, who is also known as “Sabe lo todo” because he thinks that he knows everything about everything, has been appointed the Cabinet’s
point man to negotiate a deal that will allow Norwegian Cruise Line to bring thousands of passengers into the “forbidden” waters of Belize. “Sabe lo todo”, who is an auto mechanic, who recently also elevated himself to that of Engineer, also boasts of himself as a businessman, rice farmer and sugar exporter. He is also an immigration exContinued on page 10
One of the BTB Reports containing warnings against mass tourism in the South
4 04
11 AUG
THE BELIZE TIMES
on the
PUP - A Reform Agenda By Francis W. Fonseca The People’s United Party of 2013 is deeply committed to Reform. We recognize fully that the Belizean people are demanding that Belize is governed in a more accountable and responsible manner. The Belizean people do not expect their political leaders to be perfect but they do expect us to recognize that we are servants of the people and that each day we are honored with the responsibility of public service, we work hard on resolving the many serious challenges
facing our nation. It was in this spirit that the PUP through the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Julius Espat, tabled a Motion in the House of Representatives this past Wednesday, to reform the structure of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The Belizean people are justifiably concerned that political leaders, past and present, have
not done an effective job of accounting for the use of public funds. The PAC has direct responsibility for providing oversight of public funds but its current structure of 2 PUP Members and 4 UDP members has rendered it non-functional. The last PUP administration had al-
2013
lowed for the Chairman of the PAC to be an opposition member but this has clearly not served to resolve the political stagnation which has overtaken the committee. The new PUP Proposal for Reform will lead to a restructured PAC made up of 2 PUP Members, 2 UDP Members, 1 Senator representing the Business Community, 1 Senator representing the Unions, and 1 Senator representing the Churches. This new structure, we believe, has the potential to lead to greater and more meaningful oversight and accountability of public funds. The PUP has
called on the UDP Government to work with us to implement this reform measure and to improve upon it if necessary. We call upon all Belizeans, particularly our unions, churches, and business community, to give their full support to this initiative and to join us in calling upon the Government to get serious about the reforms the Belizean people are demanding. As Hon. Julius Espat said, the PUP Reform Agenda will not go away. We will keep bringing it to the National Assembly and to the people of Belize. The work continues‌
11 AUG
2013
THE BELIZE TIMES
05 5
EDITORIAL Amandala & UDP Propaganda
D
ean Barrow is the Minister of Finance. He does as he pleases with the taxpayers monies. He has personally approved millions of dollars from Government funds to his ex-wife Lois Young Barrow. Millions have been paid to Lois Young Barrow’s law firm where Dean Barrow’s daughter also worked. Most of these monies could have been saved as the “work” done by Lois could have and should have been done by the Solicitor General and her team of attorneys. What Dean Barrow has done is rank nepotism and cronyism of the worst sort. He has been enriching his family. Lois Young Barrow is now an Ambassador living high off the hog at taxpayer’s expense, receiving free medical and other benefits. As Minister of Finance, Dean Barrow has been approving large sums of taxpayer’s dollars to his brother, Denys Barrow, for legal work the government lawyers can do and by law should be doing. It is not yet known if brother Denys has reached two or three million but for certain the millions will be many by the time Dean Barrow is kicked out of office at the next election and answers for his offences. What Dean Barrow is doing is enriching his brother in the most shameful manner, from scarce taxpayer’s dollars, monies that are badly needed to help students at a time of rising tuition fees and other secondary and tertiary education costs. Dean Barrow, as Prime Minister, appointed the most unsuitable person to be Belize’s so-called Music Ambassador. His son, one Moses Levi a.k.a. Shyne a.k.a. Jamal. This misfit is a convicted criminal who spent eight years in an American jail before being forced onto Belize through deportation. He lives in Israel at a huge cost to the taxpayers of Belize. The Supreme Court recently found him guilty of running up a huge rental bill in Belize and refusing to pay. Under Belize’s laws any public official, Ambassador or Minister, who does such a thing must resign. The exception is of course “Shyne” Barrow. Dean Barrow as Minister of Finance removed the boledo and lottery from government control where it has been from the 1940s and handed it over to UDP crony “Brads”. The allegation is that Barrow’s son, Anwar, is a silent partner with Brads. This is a serious allegation and requires the Prime Minister to inform the nation whether it is so or not. Such a revelation is the minimum from a government which pledged accountability and transparency. The Boledo and Lottery is a multi-million dollars cash cow. It should be managed by a government agency and all profits should go to social programs. Dean Barrow as Minister of Finance has been presiding over a most corrupt administration. Hustling is the name of the game. The list is too long to recount in details here. Human trafficking of Chinese and Indian nationals through Belize to the USA. They are facilitated with visas approved through the Immigration Department to a secret list of UDP cronies and given a monthly quota of visa approvals. The medical services has a multi-million dollar budget for medicines. This budget is a grab-tub for UDP hustlers. Top officials in the Ministry of Health are guilty of using tax payers’ funds to buy substandard pharmaceuticals which are re-sold to the Ministry at lucrative prices. It is called racketeering. As the CEO in the Ministry of Health, Peter Allen should tell the nation who is the “secret” owner of the company supplying these meds. Belize is now considered a major drug transit country. Methamphetamine and pseudo-ephedrine have been pouring into the country through Customs by container loads, destined for Mexico and then the USA. Drug planes and drug smugglers closely linked to the UDP have been at their busiest levels. One of the UDP financiers, inside the Deputy Prime Minister’s special political circle, was arrested by the DEA. Another major
UDP supporter/financier is now in a Mexican jail for drug trafficking. This week another drug scandal broke out involving a businessman connected to administration of the Corozal Free Zone, which is led by no other than the Deputy Prime Minister’s relative, Raul Rosado. The corruption at the Ministry of Lands is legend. Even a harmless matter like rosewood has been a huge hustling commodity for UDP cronies and UDP ministers with the full blessing of Dean Barrow, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Dean Barrow as Prime Minister was heard offering a lame explanation as to how his nephew Kimano Barrow, a computer technician, was gifted with thousands of acres of land for oil exploration. A once-humble lad from Port Loyola is now the proud owner of dozens of two and three story mansions, since becoming a Dean Barrow Minister. So has a larger-than-life UDP Senator. No explanation has been offered as to how the Prime Minister’s current wife can accept hundreds of thousands of dollars belonging to taxpayers for approved government projects, as donation to a private fund raising. Was he not the one who launched a criminal prosecution against the former Prime Minister who paid a medical loan with funds donated for another project? Has Dean Barrow, the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance lost his moral compass? In all this hustling and corruption, Belizeans have been getting poorer. Life has gotten harder, much harder. And where is the leading newspaper, the Amandala, in all of this? Busy editorializing and attacking the former Prime Minister. There have twenty-nine attack editorials against Rt. Hon. Said Musa. There is not one editorial against Prime Minister Dean Barrow. The record speaks for itself. Said Musa has not been in government for almost five years. Yet he continues to be the target of vicious Amandala attacks. Barrow is given a free pass. In fact, Barrow has been crowned a hero and a nationalist by his new found apologists and collaborators. When the “nationalist” Barrow parceled out millions of tax dollars to his party standard bearers, the Amandala saw no wrong doing and wrote no editorial. When the nationalist padded the voters list in 2012 with thousands of alien voters, an admiring Amandala editorial explained it as part of a world-wide phenomenon of migration. As little babies kept dying in the Orange Walk, Toledo and then Belize City hospitals, Amandala editorialized about pro-poor health services. Not a word of condemnation. As the editorials increasingly turn against Hon. Francis Fonseca we question the Amandala’s motive. We question also, the absolute absence of a single Editorial or From the Publisher that has offered an explanation on Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde. Why? We ask, would Dean Barrow, days after the 2012 general elections appoint Mark Espat a special Ambassador and Cordel Hyde a diplomatic Ambassador. How? We ask, could a large political rodent and Belize’s worst political traitor not receive some mention in the largest newspaper? True there was an editorial to explain that the PUP lost the 2012 elections by two seats, but there has been no analysis of the real reasons because they would have to talk about Albert and Lake Independence. There has been no mention of Mark Espat’s history of sabotaging the PUP and selling out his constituency and in the process selling out the poor people of this country. It is now August 2013, five and a half years after Said Musa lost the general elections. It is a convenient distraction to attack Musa while Barrow enriches his family and his government keeps the poor in a state of perennial poverty. The X has become a major player in Barrow’s game. Amandala, the newspaper, the TV and the radio are awash in government and government related advertisements, commercials and full page UDP propaganda. The people might be poor but they are not blind, Jack. Power to the people.
6 06
THE BELIZE TIMES
11 AUG
2013
Exploitation Averted
Steven Buckley outsmarts UDP’s diabolical plan Belize City, August 7, 2013 Even after suffering through the pain of being disfigured, disabled, incapacitated and forced to beg on the street sides of Belize City for the last three years, Steven Buckley, has had to continue fighting off the cruelty of the Barrow Administration. On Monday of this week Steven Buckley was being lured into an ambush, similar to the one he faced three years ago on April 2010 when a Police Officer opened fire at him and his work colleagues for no reason. This time, doing the firing were officials of the Government who had called Buckley earlier that day to ask him to attend a meeting with the Police Commissioner at the Raccoon Police Station. There was an evil plot in the making. Buckley was instructed not to bring any attorney and to show up at 10:00am. But Buckley is a wise man, and having already endured more than enough pain, he refused to be tricked any more. Buckley waited outside the police station compound until his attorney
Dickie Bradley arrived and walked with him into the station. After 30 minutes of negotiation, Buckley appeared alongside Bradley. There was good news after 40 months of injustice. Commissioner Allen Whylie had accepted responsibility. Also present at the meeting were the Acting Solicitor General Nigel Hawke and Senior Counsel Trienia Young who reported that the Government did not wish to go through the Court to settle the matter and were prepared to commence negotiations towards a final settlement. The BELIZE TIMES understands that the Government agents, once having lured Buckley to the meeting, had been instructed to offer a measly settlement of $100,000. But the presence of attorney Dickie Bradley flummoxed the agents. Buckley would have none of it either and when asked what amount he expected, he stated “TWO MILLION DOLLARS”. Our checks with various
civil law attorneys have confirmed that Buckley was on target. The Court would factor in a number of things including Buckley’s medical bills, loss of employment, loss of enjoyment, pain and suffering, and abridged life expectancy as part of the full legal compensation. All of this would amount to several millions. The Government’s agents were not able to commit to a final settlement, but agreed, at least, to pay a sum this week as a partial payment towards what will be a final settlement. Until then, negotiations will continue towards this end. Buckley’s waiting has been long and painful, yet even when there is a sliver of hope that justice can be served, the Barrow Administration plots how to take advantage of the poor and suffering.
Buckley resorted to begging on the street side as the injuries left him disabled and unable to work (Pic Courtesy Channel 5)
11 AUG
07 7
THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
Opposition members stood united and strong against Barrow’s theatrics
BARROW REJECTS REFORM UDP chooses POWER over GOOD GOVERNANCE
Belize City, August 8, 2013 Wednesday’s special sitting of the House of Representatives turned out to be a sad disappointment for Belizeans. An opportunity to deal soberly with the real business of the people got flushed down by Prime Minister Dean Barrow who opted for political grandstanding, personal attacks and creating smoke and mirrors over a recent Caribbean Court of Justice ruling. The special sitting was of particular interest to Belizeans because it presented an opportunity to introduce an important reform mechanism through a motion for the establishment of a Joint Public Accounts Committee that would fix a broken section of our system democracy. Currently, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) plays a key role as an oversight body, monitoring an examining Government’s use of public funds. In paper, the Committee looks like a promising layer of check and balance, but in practice it is a different story. The ruling party in Government has majority members with four Ministers hold-
ing seats, over two Opposition members. This political control has stymied the work of PAC and handicapped its oversight role, reducing its impact to that of just another rubber stamp body with no powers at all. The historic motion introduced on Wednesday by the Opposition PUP sought to make PAC a meaningful, working oversight body. The formula was simple: lessen the partisan control. The Joint PAC would have achieved this by giving both political parties equal say with 2 members each and expanding the membership to include the Senators representing the Chamber of Commerce, the Unions and the Churches. The Chamber of Commerce, which is the largest the private sector group in Belize, examined the proposal and gave their full approval. Sensing the political climate and assuming that the Government would have opted to play political games, the Chamber appealed for “the Government and the Opposition [to] work together”. But as much as PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca and Depu-
ty Leader Hon. Julius Espat, the current Chairman of PAC, called for reasoned thinking, the UDP went berserk and torpedoed the motion. Prime Minister Dean Barrow rejected the idea of reform. This man who reigns with a tight fist and who has become drunk with power over the past five years fears losing any kind of power. This was clear for all to see as the Prime Minister came up with all sorts of reasons for the motion not to be introduced in the National Assembly. He said it was “misconceived”, filled with “procedural errors”, “out of order” and “without merit”. PM Barrow even chided the Chamber of Commerce, accusing them of not doing “their homework” and “blindly” supporting the motion. The Prime Minister was at his best political theatrics. He cared not if the purpose of motion was rational and necessary. He cared not that the Opposition and most Belizeans want real transparency, accountability and good governance, and just
the imagination of it. Barrow appears to be afraid of oversight. What does he have to hide? Is he afraid to explain to the people of Belize why the Government paid one million dollars to Barrow & Company and Lois Young Barrow & Co, which are owned by the Prime Minister’s brother Denys and ex-wife, Lois. Is Barrow afraid of serious scrutiny over Government’s plan for BTL, which has turned out to be Belize’s biggest liability, even larger than the Superbond, with over $500 millions of dollars owed to the previous owners in compensation and legal awards? Is the UDP fearful of having to account for the spending of millions in public funds for their election political gimmicks? While Barrow has been able to dodge reform, PAC Chairman Hon. Espat has committed to not giving up. The real judges, however, are the people of Belize who must see past Barrow’s performances and decide when the games he plays will end.
Opposition Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca chastised Barrow for failing to support the reform measure
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11 AUG
THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
Proof that you are being SPIED ON! City of Belmopan, August 2, 2013 In previous editions the BELIZE TIMES had warned Belizeans about the UDP’s suspicious excitement over the US Personal Identification Registration System (PIRS). This PIRS is a system of immigration and national security control. It features readable passports or travel documents by finger printing, photographing and scanning persons at ports of entry. Belize is now finding out in world news, due to former technical contractor for the United States National Security Agency (NSA) and former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Edward Snowden, about the dirty details of their National Security Agency’s (NSA) spy operations. In top-secret materials leaked by Snowden, the National Security Agency discloses that the program, called “XKeyscore”, is its “widest-reaching” system for developing intelligence from the Internet. “I, sitting at my desk,” said Snowden, “could wiretap anyone…” This top secret NSA program things to spy on their political John Avery, head of the PUC? allows analysts to search with no and personal enemies? Where is the know-it-all Prime prior authorization through vast Recently on Facebook, Minister, Dean Barrow? databases containing emails, ona high ranking, former SIS Why are all of them siline chats (messenger and video) agent UDP told a civilian that lent? Will they just sit back and the browsing histories of milhe “knew” that he had postand not tell us what is golions of individuals. ed a comment and that he ing on? Barrow spoke big to Now in the image (Image 1.1) could tell him from which PC Obama a few months ago, accompanying this article you will he had done it and from what now he hides and hopes Benotice that Belize is covered by a IP address. lizeans don’t find out the truth. big blob of red. Those red dots are This is a peeping Tom The big question is not indicating that the XKeyscore proUDP government and citwhether they are but to what gram is present in that country or izens are now aware. The extent are these desperate, region. BELIZE TIMES demands ancorrupt and immoral UDPs Belizeans will remember that swers. using and abusing all these in August 2010 the UDP passed the Interception of Telecommunications Act, which put the telecommunication providers and regular citizens into a tailspin. We were forced to register our phones and the “whys” of the process was shrouded in cryptic language. Belize Rural South Constituency Committee We also note that in their new contract under Terms and ConThe People’s United Party is accepting applications for memditions (see attached Image 1.2), bers of the Belize Rural South Constituency Committee. Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) says explicitly “…voice and data communication transmitted Application forms are available at the San Pedro PUP office over the wireless network may or the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, not be completely private”. Belize City. Where is Minister of Telecommunications, Joy Grant? Where is Application must be filled and returned to the Secretariat, adthe Minister of National Security, dressed to the Secretary General by Friday August 30, 2013. John Saldivar? Where is the Attorney General, Wilfred Elrington? Shouldn’t he be legally advising the country on this? Where is
PUP NOTICE
The red dots show the countries where the spy programme is active. Belize is included.
PUP NOTICE
Pickstock Constituency Committee
The People’s United Party is accepting applications for members of the Pickstock Constituency Committee. Application forms are available at the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City. Application must be filled and returned to the Secretariat, addressed to the Secretary General by
Friday August 23, 2013.
11 AUG
09 9
THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
The Amandala/ Barrow Affair Barrow Rejects Amandala’s “Noisy Nationalism”
Belize City, August 7, 2013 By now most Belizeans have realized that there is a special relationship between the Amandala newspaper and the Barrow Administration. The government of Dean Barrow fills up the Amandala with dozens of paid ads every week, and in return the Amandala glorifies the leadership of Prime Minister Dean Barrow through craftily written articles and editorials. This strictly for-profit relationship was most obvious to everyone when in the bulky 72-page issue for Sunday August 4, 2013, in an editorial fittingly entitled “Personality and philosophy”, Amandala sought to do the impossible and recreate Barrow’s personality and philosophy. According to the Amandala, Barrow, whose administration has been rocked by corruption, incompetence and scandals, is a nationalist. Of course, the Amandala couldn’t explain why they think Barrow is a nationalist. His actions surely don’t make him one. His takeover of BTL and BEL were personal – all about his fight with Ashcroft and FORTIS. If the takeovers
were for Belize, then why has the BTL takeover cost Belize millions more in legal expenses while only Barrow’s family, the choice attorneys, end up making money. As to BEL, the company is now broke and lights bills for consumers skyrocketed after a 17% increase. The Amandala can try to brush up Barrow’s image as much as they want, but they can’t hide the truth. Barrow is absolutely, totally only about himself. While Amandala pleases Barrow, what does Barrow think of himself? The BELIZE TIMES has obtained a Wikileaks cable with details of an interesting meeting held between Barrow and the U.S. Ambassador, in which Barrow laid out his true personality and philosophy. He said he doesn’t believe in “noisy nationalism” and he dissed the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, calling his plan “hegemonic aspirations”. This is an excerpt of the Wikileaks Cable: “Regarding Venezuela, Barrow said that, while not keen on Chavez’s “hegemonic aspirations” Continued on page 20
PUBLIC AUCTION SALE BY ORDER OF THE MORTGAGEE HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED, a Licensed Public Auctioneer will sell on site the following property at the time as listed. At Guadalupe Street, Sarteneja Village, Corozal District on Saturday, 10th August 2013 at 2:00 pm ALL THAT piece or parcel or lot of land situate at Guadalupe Street in the Village of Sarteneja, Corozal District, Belize, being Lot No. 151B (now Parcel 454, Block 3, Sarteneja Registration Section) comprising 490.373 square metres as shown and described on a Plan drawn by Licensed Surveyor L.S. Tingling dated the 12th day of June 2000 and being lodged and recorded at the Lands & Surveys Department in Belmopan in Register No. 15 Entry No. 5129 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of MINERVA CANUL FLORES DATED this 31st day of July 2013 All sales are strictly cash and deemed final. For more information contact: HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738
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 29th day of December, 2009, between PASTOR REYES (also known as JUSTO PASTOR REYES) of Sarawee Village, Stann Creek District, Belize of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in the Deeds Book Vol. 1 of 2010 at Folios 263–292, 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 THOSE pieces or parcels of land being Lots Nos. 163 and 164 comprising 404.550 S.M. each situate in Sarawee Village, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 24 of 1995 dated 23rd day of March, 1995 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 24 of 1995 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.
DATED this 5th day of August, 2013. MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
UDP Ignores Warning Signs Mass Cruise Tourism dangerous for Southern Belize Continued from page 3 pert. The latter two he does not pontificate much about because his sugar exports are not to the traditional markets and the saleof-passports business is, perhaps, a bit too unsavory for a MINISTER of government and for one who in his past life lived by high ideals and principle. Well, not quite, if you check the records. “Sabe”, in discussing the proposed deal with Norwegian, based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between them and the government said: “The agreement has to bring revenue to the government and there is no shame in that and government has to make revenue because there is cost”. Why state the obvious? What we want to know is why the government is ignoring the advice of the experts by persisting to allow NCL to develop a massive cruise ship facility in the south. Nothing else is relevant. Kill the deal! But that is vintage “Sabe”. With all his outrageous ramblings to underscore his “expert credentials”, he appears to be pumped-up with jackass steroids. Neither did he, nor his boss, nor his colleagues in the Cabinet read the memo from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB): NO MASS TOURISM IN THE SOUTH. The recently published IDB Sustainable Tourism Development Plan which was paid for by the Government of Belize is absolutely specific about mass tourism in the southern waters of Belize, including the barrier reef. It recommends ONLY POCKET tourism for ships with no more than 250 passengers. It notes, among other numerous observations that “the tendency of visitors to converge at a few popular sites during the short high season has led to concerns about the capacity of existing destinations for accommodating demand without damaging the quality of the visitor experience and associated natural and cultural heritage”. What’s so difficult about that to understand and why is the government ignoring these recommendations? The government and the minister who is dealing with NCL has chosen to ignore these recommendations. We are positive that NCL must have seen the Plan. If they had any integrity and respect for the people of this country, the decent thing to do is to back off. No environmental impact assessment, no matter how falsified could come up with any mitigation measure to prevent the massive damage to the reef system and the related environment. The IDB Report is not the only one to caution against mass tourism in the southern coastal waters of Belize as is the case where NCL plans to bring 3 to 4 thousand visitors to the area on a weekly basis. There are other similar studies and reports that state that mass tourism in the south will not be the best thing for the tourist industry in Belize in the long term. An article published in Science Digest of 13 April 2010 by Amy Diedrich of the Department of Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island states: “The fact that Belize is attracting the high-yield upscale tour-
ist means it does not need to resort to attracting mass tourists, who tends to spend less, are less culturally sensitive….and which often see much of the wealth escaping back to non-resident owners.” Another study, this one by the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), with the support of the Belize Tourist Board (BTB) and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), came to a similar conclusion. CREST notes that the cruise line business is not as beneficial as stay-over tourism. It also reprimands the Government of Belize and the BTB by observing that “Policies such as number of passengers permitted to disembark per day are waived in order to aide cruise tourism, often to the detriment of ecological and archaeological attractions.” So why will this be any different with NCL? CREST advises that preservation of Belize’s international tourism reputation is important to preserve the critical stay-over market. The Center on EcoTourism and Sustainable Development also warned that Belize should “prohibit cruise tourism in pristine and valuable eco-systems and cultural sites” because “the cost of opening or damaging these areas simply do not justify the limited benefits”. It notes, among other numerous observations that “the tendency of visitors to converge at a few popular sites during the short high season has led to concerns about the capacity of existing destinations for accommodating demand without damaging the quality of the visitor experience and associated natural and cultural heritage”. In a recent report by a journalist, Ross Klein, he describes the cruise ship industry as “The ‘All-inclusive Illusion”. He states that the industry is neither environmentally nor socially sustainable. There are many similar reports cautioning about mass tourism in Belize and for the protection of the sensitive ecological and cultural environments of southern Belize. The talk of jobs, but not the type of jobs, is also a political illusion to bait the people of this area, who will remain better off now that after cruise tourism has destroyed their environment and their traditional means of livelihood. The people in the Ministry of Tourism and the Belize Tourist Board know this. It is therefore incomprehensible that they should have gone in front of the cameras to talk nonsense. While “Sabe” continues to mouth off about his being a businessman who knows a good business deal, he must pay attention to the numbers. Belize has one of the lowest head tax per cruise ship visitor in the region at US$3.50-$5.00. In Jamaica the head tax is US$15.00, in Bermuda it is as high as US$60.00, even higher than Alaska’s US$40.00. What will the nation and people be paying for after you and your government come down from your jackass steroids high?
11 AUG
FACES & OPINIONS
2013
by Micah Vernon
What do you think the government should do with all the vacant houses at Fresh Pond that the UDP cronies are fighting over?
Jose
The UDP are users, even the PUP have done bad in the past according to the people. Cost of living is high right now so I believe it’s nonsense, because not only their people (the UDP) live in Belize and I’d appreciate one of those houses myself as a struggling single parent.
Gilbert
They should give it to the people who need it the most. Do a survey and see which individuals are really in need of the houses.
Bernadine
I believe that they should give the houses to poor people and hardworking Belizeans like myself, and I see no reason why I’m not entitled to one as well.
Martin
They should give the people who really need it; the ones that have don’t worry about them. I rent, I’m a well-aged man and I work hard in the hot sun to make ends meet.
Tisha
Give it to the single mothers or single parents on a whole; do a survey and develop a plan for those houses because as a hard working woman I expect no handouts.
Bensford
Find people that need the houses; and it’s pitiful to fight amongst each other; if your united then stay united if they fight among each other how can they come as one to govern and develop this country.
Ted
Stop greedy up everything and give the real poor people the houses, because there are other people who are really in need of them.
Joe
Give the people who need it.
11 AUG
2013
11
THE BELIZE TIMES
The cocaine packages were inside the pigtail buckets
El Salvador Police officials guard confiscated drugs
$US11.5m cocaine hidden in pigtail buckets, destined to Belize Drug Container busted in El Salvador was for Free Zone Company Belize City, August 6, 2013 Samer Akil Rada, a former Director/Businessman in the Corozal Free Zone, is being sought for questioning by the Police after a container truck transporting goods for his free zone business, CargoYo, was intercepted in El Salvador and found carrying drugs on July 19th, almost three weeks ago. It has been reported that his business was searched by Belize’s anti-drug unit last week Friday, but reportedly nothing incriminating was found. Akil Rada, who resides in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico has not been seen at his business for several weeks but has given interviews to media in Chetumal, denying that he is involved in any illegal trade. The refrigerated container truck was stopped at a checkpoint in the municipality of San Martin, in the outskirts of El Salvador. Drug sniffing dogs alerted El Salvador’s Police of suspicious activity and the Police ordered the truck driver, Nicaraguan national Juan José Matamoros Girón, to another location where the truck was searched thoroughly. The truck with Costa Rican license plates transported over 400 plastic buckets, the kind known in Belize as “pigtail buckets”. The buckets contained frozen pineapple and orange juice, but inside 48 of them, authorities also found parcels of cocaine wrapped inside plastic bags. The drugs weighed 460 kilos, at Police officials have reported its value at US$11.5 million. It has been discovered that
Akil Rada (in red circle) along with CFZ Board members. Far left: UDP Corozal South East caretaker Raul Rosado
the truck intercepted in El Salvador was one of two that were headed to the free zone, in the name of Akil Rada’s company. The second container arrived all the way in Belize on July 21st and the BELIZE TIMES understands that when it was searched by Belize officials, they reported finding only
CFZ companies linked to Akil Rada
buckets of frozen pineapple and orange juice valued at $65,399. Little is known about the businessman Samer Akil Rada, apart from his ownership of CargoYo, a transportation company in the Corozal Free Zone. He is also connected to several companies including Grupo Sol and Sol Fashions, which are registered in Corozal and have business ties in Colombia, Venezuela
and Panama. In 2010, Akil Rada rose to prominence when he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Corozal Free Zone under the administration of UDP Corozal South East caretaker Raul Rosado who is the Free Zone Chief Executive Officer. Rosado is a relative of Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega. In 2012, Akil Rada’s bid for a second term failed. Of interest are reports that the Chairman of the Free Zone David Akierman, who served in the Free Zone administration along with Akil Rada, denied knowing which individual was behind the company to whom the container trucks were transporting goods for, when he was asked by media representatives last week. This eye-brow raising denial begs the question whether Akierman, who has served as the CFZ Chairman under the entire UDP Government’s term, has things to hide. The Corozal Free Zone has been named in annual reports by the United States as a hub for money laundering and drug trafficking.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
11 AUG
2013
11 AUG AUG 11
THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE
2013
TOPMODEL 13
ENTERTAINMENT
NEWS
Destinee Arnold
Destinee Arnold, representing Belize, won the 2013 International La Riena de La Costa Maya pageant held in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye on Friday August 2nd. Destinee graced the stage with poise and beauty, and captured the heart of the audience as well as that of the panel of judges to be named the winner. As part of the cultural presentation, Destinee displayed a costume depicting the hard working Maya women of Belize that included a blue outfit with jewelry and a headpiece adorned with pottery, symbolizing the contribution women made to the artifacts found in ruins across the Mundo Maya Region. Congratulations Destinee!
Location: Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina
2013 Reina de la Costa Maya
Idolly • • • • •
Height: 5’ 10” Career Plan: Dentist Sign: Libra Favourite Food: Pasta Likes: Softball, Pageants, Modeling, Dancing
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Lives in Belize City Fav. Quote: “Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” – Mary Lou Cook.
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14 SPORTS
11 AUG
THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES
2013
Giovanni Lopez scored San Martin’s 1st goal
San Martin wins Cayo 1st Division football champs Belmopan, August 4, 2013 The San Martin Aguilas won the Cayo 1st Division football championship at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan on Sunday afternoon, bombing Roaring Cree: 2-0 in the
Telemedia & Belize Bank
win Interoffice volleyball playoffs Belize City, August 1, 2013 Belize Telemedia’s Digicel 4G team won over Simon Quan Co. Ltd in 3 sets in the playoffs at the Belize Elementary School Auditorium last Thursday, August 1. Victor Hernandez, Eros Dawson, Otis Clother and Rasheed Pollard led the Telemedia attacks hammering kills at the net on plays set by Emily Turner and Shanti Roches to win the 1st set 25-23. The Simon Quan crew proved that they are no pushovers as Shelmadine Cacho, Sherelene Johnson and Crisel Ramirez spiked home points on balls set by Lupita Quan and Karen Quan, while Peter Quan and Alex Quan received the ball and sometimes tricked it over the net to win the second set 26-24. Telemedia prevailed in the 3rd set: 15-12. In Game 2 of the evening, Scotiabank also made the Be-
lize Bank Bulldogs fight for it. Veteran Oscar Arnold, Michael Hernandez, Arthur Neal and Robbie Gongora served, blocked and hit at the net to win the 1st set 25-23. Belize Bank’s Martin Gongora and Cody Kuylen counterattacked with Judith Hoare setting the plays to win the 2nd set: 25-21, they also took the 3rd set 15-12. The defending champs, Rebels, had to go to 4 sets to put away their arch rivals, the Scorpions who won the 1st set: 25-18. Stung by this insult, Rebels’ captain Tariq Campbell rallied his forces with Elton Moore, Jason Carvajal, Elton Middleton and libero Robbie Gongora. The Rebels took 2nd and 3rd sets 35-33 and 25-22, and the Scorpions’ tried to take the game to a 5th set, forcing the Rebels to go to extra points to win the 4th set: 26-24. The playoffs continue on Thursday, August 8.
2nd half. The best efforts of San Martin’s strikers, Giovanni Lopez and Henry Nino Gomez and midfielders Santiago Cruz, Carlos Tzalam Bandido Gutierrez and Nicolas Caliz did not
impress the Roaring Creek’s defenders and goalie Jose Mangar handled all other challenges for a scoreless 1st half. In the 2nd half, Roaring Creek’s Ajani Banner fired a left foot shot at goal, but only served to make the San Martin goalie look good. San Martin’s Giovanni Lopez responded with a shot on goal but Roaring Creek’s Jose Mangar handled the challenge. But when the Roaring Creek defenders tried to clear the ball out of goal, they gifted the ball back to Giovanni Lopez fired right back at goal, and Mangar never had a prayer of stopping the shot. The next Roaring Creek press forced San Martin’s goalie to put his body on the line, and the resulting tension caused a Roaring Creek player to start a fight on the field. The referee chilled the situation with red cards for the Roaring Creek and San Martin players who displayed unsportsmanlike conduct. When the dust settled, the game resume and San Martin’s Santiago Cruz got off a shot at goal that Mangar managed to deflect to Henry Gomez, who beat the last defender and fired back a shot to the back of the net to give San Martinez the title, even though the Aguilas finished with only 9 men on the field as Giovanni Lopez also got sent off with a late red card. FFB program coordinator Cruz Gamez presented team trophies to the champs, 2nd place: Roaring Creek and 3rd place: Cotton Tree. San Martin’s Robert Sutherland won the Most Valuable Player award, while San Martin goalie Marco Hernandez won Best Goalkeeper and Roaring Creek’s Darrel Myvett won Most Goals award.
Sunrise crushes Village Gyals in Belize Rural softball Rancho Dolores, August 4, 2013 The Lord’s Bank Sunrise softball ladies walloped the hosts, Rancho Dolores Village Gyals 13-2 when the Belize Rural softball competition continued in Rancho Dolores on Sunday afternoon. Sunrise’s winning pitcher Stacey Smith allowed only 2 runs, while the Lord’s Bank girls walloped Angie Smith’s pitching to score 13 runs for a mercy rule win in 3 innings. Rains interrupt play for a while, but the next two scheduled games did not play as one of the teams forfeited. The UB Jaguars, who are No. 2 in the competition, won over Bermudian Landing’s Arrows Reloaded by default: 7-0. Buttercup Uprising also gave the
UB Jaguars team
league leaders, Double head Cabbage Mel’s United the easy bye to a 7-0 by default. The competition continues in Double Head Cabbage on Sunday with Flowers Bank’s Easy Does It taking on Buttercup Uprising at 11:00am, while Arrows Reloaded faces Mel’s United at 1:00pm and UB Jaguars await Lords Bank Sunrise at 3:00pm.
11 AUG AUG 11
2013
THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE
SPORTS 15
Belikin Western Spirit sweeps Belmopan Criterium Belmopan City, August 3, 2013 Belikin Western Spirits’ Choto brothers Jose, Peter and Rafael won 1st, 3rd and 5th places respectively in the final sprint to the finish line after completing 20 laps on the Ring Road from Belmopan Methodist High School to the Curl Thompson building and back. Jose Choto won the 1st place trophy, a $325 prize, and also the $150 1st prize in the Master’s Division for over-35 riders. Team Capital City’s Erwin Middleton won the $225 2nd prize, while Peter Choto claimed the $150 3rd prize. Kenroy “Smokes” Gladden, riding unattached, won the $100 4th prize and Rafael Choto collected the $50 5th prize. Henry Moriera was 6th.
The 1st Junior rider Giovanni Lovell had been leading the race from the 5th lap in a 3-man breakaway with Peter and Giovanni Choto, but Lovell’s fast pace soon dropped Giovanni Choto, but Peter hung on for the next 10 laps. Jose and Rafael Choto were sitting in the back of the main peloton over a minute behind the lead breakaway, saving their energy for the sprint. Lovell was caught by the main peloton on the 16th lap and Peter Choto and Erwin Middleton took over the pace on the final lap, but Jose won the final sprint. Lovell - 7th overall, won the $150 1st prize among the juniors; while Team Xibalban’s national junior road champ Oscar Quiros won the $100 2nd prize and Philip Mencias won the $50 3rd prize. Team BECOL’s Joslyn Chavarria was 4th in the Junior category.
Kaya Cattouse converts penalty
Myra lee Ho made 1 run
Triple B’s defeats DFC Gentle Touch 3-1
Belize Bank Bulldogs, Camalote Blazers & Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy clash in softball finals
Atlantic Bank & Central Health
win Firms basketball games
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THE BELIZE TIMES
11 AUG
2013
11 AUG
2013
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Will EU decision dent Belize sugar exports? Belize City, August 5, 2013 Neither the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Sugar Industry Control Board nor Belize Sugar Industries have reacted officially to a decision by the European Union Parliament to bring to an end the sugar quota free arrangement with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations in 2017. The decision, made on June 26, 2013, has attracted some strong reactions from several Caribbean sugar-producing countries who say that it could destabilize their economies. But from authorities in Belize, there has been a deafening silence. In a 2001 trade accord between the EU and the 77-nation ACP, called the Cotonou Agreement, the EU granted preferential market access for ACP states to level the playing field in the competitive market. This access, agreed to last until the year 2020, included free quotas for sugar exports, meaning they were exporting goods with minimal to no taxes. Because sugar is considered a major commodity, the quota has been tariff-free. But the EU wants a change of rules. They have turned their focus to the “Everything But Arms” treaty also signed in 2001. Under this agreement LDCs get duty free and quota free access to the EU market, for everything but military armaments. 48 countries from across the globe are considered LDCs and Haiti is the only one from the Caribbean region. The EU says it plans to strengthen the EBAs starting January 2014, and has decided that those who no longer qualify for preferential treatment have a “generation transition period of three years”. ACP countries have argued that the decision is a breach of economic agreements. “The ACP have regularly and consistently warned the European Union of the damage that early abolition of beet and isoglucose quotas would cause
ASR’s BSI Factory
make the EU market unstable for ACP sugar producers. “In spite of this empirically-based forecast of immense damto their economies. This was seen to contradict and undermine the objectives of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) which many of the ACP sugar exporters had entered into or are in the process of finalizing the negotiations with the EU,” said a June 27 press release from the ACP Secretariat in Brussels. The ACP release pointed the EU to some of its own research indicating the negative consequences of such as decision, including reduction in market prices, which would
BSI’s BELCOGEN
age to ACP sugar industries and, more widely, to ACP economies, the EU decision makers have agreed to put an end to sugar quotas in 2017. This decision calls
into question the coherence of EU policies and seriously undermines the very basis of the long longstanding trade and development cooperation partnership between the ACP and the EU,” declared the ACP states release. ACP nations are calling on the EU to review the situation in 2018 and come up with appropriate corrective measures to enable small and vulnerable trading partners to continue with their economic development and integrate into the world economy.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
11 AUG
2013
Venezuela doubles Petrocaribe interest - Can Belize afford it? Belize City, July 22, 2013 The Barrow Administration has squandered every opportunity to implement a sound and meaningful socially uplifting program with the millions of dollars it has been able to save through Petrocaribe, a Venezuelan initiative which has provided the country with cheap fuel. Instead of being used to end poverty or advance education, the money saved through the deal is used to provide balance of payments support to the Government – who, despite the relief, still finds itself in millions of dollars in deficit every year. With the passing of the initiative’s founder, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the Barrow Administration got nervous that the deal would collapse. To their satisfaction, recently-elected President Nicolas Maduro has committed to keep the programme going, but he has introduced adjustments including an increase in interest. Under the PetroCaribe agreement, which was launched in June 2005, Venezuela allowed Belize and 17 other countries to purchase oil, requiring between five and 50 percent of the cost upfront. The remainder is paid through the provision of food or special services over a period of between 17 and 25 years under a special financing arrangement with 1% interest. This interest under Maduro has stepped up to 2%. Transparency is certainly not a common feature of the Barrow Government. They have yet to reveal how many barrels of oil Belize obtains through the Petrocaribe deal, what Belize pays and how. For example, it is public information that Nicaragua pays its oil bill of about 11.8 million barrels of oil with 496,389 metric tons of food (beans, coffee, sugar and meat) at a cost of US $1.233 billion. The Dominican Republic pays with agriculture products. Cuba, a special case, provides 30,000 medical professionals to Venezuela. While the benefits for the Barrow Administration has been the creation of a financial buffer in our depressed economy, in reality what this has meant is that the Government has failed to follow through with real objective of Petrocaribe, which is for member countries to utilize the money saved to reduce poverty and social ills. The Barrow Administration is hiding behind the lack of information. Belizeans have not seen or felt the benefits of Petrocaribe. In fact, if the high prices of fuel at the pumps is any indicator that the Government is getting hundreds of barrels of very cheap fuel daily, one would wonder if the entire deal is simply a mirage under the UDP.
11 AUG
THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
Scales of JUSTICE
by anthony sylvestre
Majority Rules! “Majority Rules!” he says in response to the clamour for reform and accountability. And in the same breath he tries to condemn the former Prime Minister for the exercise of “overweening executive” power. I wonder if he really listens to what he says and looks in the mirror- this Prime Minister of ours. Ah mean, his and his UDP colleagues’ despicable behavior in the House of Representatives on Wednesday confirmed what all Belizeans (except those rabid UDPs) already knew: this UDP Prime Minister and his government are dangerous and out of control. And the danger is that in the face of all the wrongs they are doing on a daily basis in the various government departments like Lands and Forestry, they have face of brass to act pious and want to scold, disrespect and belittle representatives of the people. It is indeed a rare species of men who can do this: have a log in their own eyes and want to talk about the speck in another man’s eyes. The apostle Matthew spoke harshly of these kind of men: “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye,” he said. [Matthew 7:5] For it is indeed tragic and ironic that on the same day, at the same place, when Barrow would try to demean the former prime minister and the PUP Leader, by pulling extracts from the CCJ decision, he and his UDP colleagues (Finnegan, Boots, Sedi) would display and manifest that in Belize today, there is “a paucity of checks and balances to restrain an overweening [Legislature],” and that these are indeed “malignant tumors that eat away at democracy.” Ah mean, ask any sane person, and they will tell you that the Prime Minister and his UDP colleagues’ (Finnegan, Boots & Sedi) behavior in the House on Wednesday are malignant tumors that are eating away at our democracy, destroying our country- the disrespect for those who are not a part of the majority and the abuse of the majority’s positions and privileges- these were all on display by the UDP in the House on Wednesday. From the taking of legislations through all their readings in one day and passing them, preventing any serious debate or discussion on them from taking place; railroading Hon. Julius Espat’s proposal for reform of the Public Accounts Committee on archaic parliamentary technicalities; Finnegan being contemptuously disrespectful and degrading to the sole woman member of the House and not taken to task by the Speaker; the Prime Minister speaking in the
most disrespectful and unparliamentary way to the minority opposition members and the Speaker not for a second admonishing him to have restraint, decorum and civility.
These were all on display on Wednesday, and all showed how the abuse of legislative power by the majority and the paucity of checks and balance for the protection of the minority, is a dangerous thing, a “malignant tumour” that, if allowed to continue, will eventually kill democracy in Belize. And which therefore makes the proposal by Hon. Julius Espat and supported by the PUP parliamentarians, so necessary and important. For a Public Accounts Committee (which amongst its remit oversees the spending of monies appropriated) not controlled by the majority, is an excellent devise and check and balance to restrain an abusive and overweening legislature like this UDP one presided by Dean Barrow. The former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Said Musa in his presentation on Wednesday, had pointed a few
19 instances of the present out of control, overweening legislature (with majority rule) of Dean Barrow’s and how the courts of Belize have pronounced on numerous occasions that they have passed laws in total violation of the Constitution of Belize. Barrow would have none of that. All he wanted to do was to try and use the occasion to demonize the former prime minister. The court of public opinion has passed judgment on these issues from 2008. They elected Barrow and a UDP government overwhelmingly. They demanded accountability, transparency and a curtailing of legislative and executive powers. Barrow promised them this. He has spat in all our faces. For he will tell you now, majority rules, and there isn’t a damn thing you can make him do, right about now.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
11 AUG
2013
BTIA stands firmly against Major Cruise Port in Southern Belize & Proposed NCL/GOB MOU Belize City, August 7th, 2013 The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) remains firmly against establishing a major cruise port in southern Belize and the proposed memorandum of understanding between NCL and the Government of Belize. The BTIA had previously made a public statement in relation to this development at Crawl Caye and over the past couple weeks, has taken note of another option for development at Harvest Caye. The BTIA opposes this proposed development in the south of Belize for the following reasons: BTIA has publicly supported the National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan and continues to do so as it defines the long-term plan for sustainable tourism in Belize. This plan was recently supported by government and clearly states that “pocket cruise tourism is the only acceptable form of cruise tourism on the south eastern coast of Belize.” The study was emphatic that southern Belize should remain an eco-friendly low impact destination. The BTIA supports this plan and the continued growth of the overnight tourism in this area. The environmental damage the cruise port and quantity of persons from the cruise visits would cause to the pristine marine surroundings and the potential economic and natural resources lost is incompatible with long term sustainability and development of Belize’s tourism industry. The media has brought to the forefront a draft copy of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with Belize Island Holdings. There are con-
The Amandala/ Barrow Affair
Continued from page 9 in the region, the bottom line was that Belize had to get funds from somewhere to be able to service its debt. He said that there was a “slightly bitter taste” in his party from the apparent Venezuelan support for the rival PUP in the advance of the election but that he did not rule out the need to ask Venezuela for additional grants or loans. He said that he “won’t follow Chavez’s wake on anti-Americanism” which he said was “if fashionable, not practical.” Barrow noted that his days as a supporter of “noisy nationalism” were over and that he was now “older and wiser.” Barrow concluded by noting that, while a lot of issues were outside of his control, good governance was “totally on us.” He and his government had the power to improve ethical standards and behavior and if they did not do so they could blame no one but themselves.” We now wonder what the Amandala has to say.
cerns about some of the clauses in this agreement. Government is giving significant concessions to a large international company for local development. Local developers are not able to get these concessions nor is it feasible for government to be giving away these funds, to support a large multimillion company. Belize cannot be giving away more than the country would receive. The MOU is outlining tax exemptions for all necessary machinery and equipment, including specialized machinery and equipment and spare parts, building material, fixtures and
fittings, terrestrial and marine vehicles, including aqua-sport equipment, to establish the port and mainland facility available under the Fiscal Incentive Act. But it also entails the return of $4 of every $7 dollars collected in head taxes to the Cruise Line. The current overnight sector, which is the mainstay of the tourism industry, with continued average growth can earn in excess of $2 billion dollars when compared to the average growth of the cruise sector over the same period as outlined in the Tourism Master Plan. The National BTIA remains stead-
fastly opposed to the introduction of mass cruise tourism to southern Belize. The BTIA asks that government takes a step back and brings these proposals to the public and private sectors and together define a policy toward cruise tourism, develop policies and programs that will promote the long term economic, social and environmental well-being of Belize. The BTIA urges the Cabinet and the Ministry of Tourism to re-consider all the ramifications of this proposed project and reject it outright and immediately. (Press Release)
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2013
THE BELIZE TIMES
Reid New Rules By G. Michael Reid “If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual.” Frank Herbert, The Dosadi Experiment The general consensus is that the Westminster system under which we are governed is simply not working. Since Independence, we have switched political parties six times only to be left with the same disappointing result each time. The parties both come in and start out with fantastic promises and promising potential only to seemingly switch gears shortly into their term of office. I am speaking as a PUP but cognizant of the fact that things have not always worked well under this party either. It is high time that we consider making a few changes. The genius Albert Einstein once defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”. Might we now qualify for that status? Every five years or so, we go to the polls and elect one political party over the other. We then give them a mandate to rule and to do as they will with the resources of the country. Invariably and traditionally, we realize before long, that those elected are simply abusing the power given and feathering their own nests with little regard for the interest of the people. So we go back to the polls and vote them out and vote another set in. When do we realize that doing the same thing over and over will only yield the same results? When do we realize that instead of just changing the players, we need to start changing the rules or at least enforce the ones that exist? I do not entirely agree with the premise that the system under which we are governed cannot work. The fact is that there are adequate checks and balances available to keep these politicians restrained. We have a Contractor General and an Auditor General. We have an Integrity Commis-
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moratorium of at least a month on new citizens before election and an elected Senate are just a few of the proposals so far. This man means business! I must say however, that I would be more in favor of a thirteenth senator than of an elected Senate. Given that Belizeans tend to vote down the line, I would not want to see the same scenario repeat itself if the House and Senate are elected from the same party. The idea is for sion and a Public Accounts Committee oversight and a mechanism for proper that is supposed to provide oversight checks and balance in place. and report to the people in the event Another area that needs to be of misappropriations. How though, can looked at is the monies that are spent any of this work if we leave it up to the during campaigns. Last election, the party in power to select those who will Prime Minister doled out separate watch over them? I do not believe that amounts of $40,000 and $50,000 to all in this country of 300,000 plus people, Standard Bearers just before election. we cannot find non-partisan and objecWhen asked where the money came tive thinking people to fill these jobs. It from, the Prime Minister informed makes no sense for us to leave it up to that it was from BTL dividends. Did these politicians to police themselves. no one see anything wrong with this? What do we expect will happen? Visit any polling station during any This week, the area representaelection and one can see huge sums tive for Cayo South tried a thing in the of money being handed out for votes. House. It was the first step on a long At the end of the day, it is not the best journey but as the Chinese would say, candidate that wins but the one who pays the most. There is one more aspect that must be considered and that is the media. The media Last election, the Prime Minister doled out plays a very important role in separate amounts of $40,000 and $50,000 holding politicians in check. A few pennies here and there to all Standard Bearers just before in the way of extra advertiselection. When asked where the moning can place a whole new perspective on a news story. ey came from, the Prime Minister inI had almost finished writing formed that it was from BTL dividends this article when I read Tuesday’s Amandala. The man seemed to have read my the first step is where every journey mind. Of course, his angle seemed Mr. Espat, the Churches, the Unions must start. During their last term in more at railing at the PUP for daring and Chamber of Commerce could do office, the PUP made the bold move to criticize him and maybe a warning well to level off the field of members. of enabling the Chairman of the Public to the UDP that there was too much Of course, the Prime Minister has alAccounts Committee to be selected going to Guardian and not enough ready gone on record in opposing the from the opposition. Say what you will, going to him. Whatever the case, proposal. The Prime Minister says that but the PUP has always been a party it is a matter of serious concern. Julius Espat is trying to give rule to inclined to reform. As far back as 1994 Maybe media houses should be the minority. According to Espat, it is while in Opposition, the PUP had comrequired to post government businot about rule at all but about proper menced an internal process for studyness (not propaganda) in return for oversight. ing the political system and developing licensing fees. The media plays too Of course, the UDP’s main deproposals for reform. In December of important a role in the shaping of fense is that “you guys did it too so 1999, three months after being electpeople opinions to be bought and why should we stop now”. Well, it has ed, the new PUP government estabpaid for by any political party. Let to stop at some point. I like what Franlished a broad-based Political Reform us resume the serious discussion cis Fonseca and the PUP are saying. Commission which was given a year of true political reform. It is time to A four-year term of office, removal of to submit proposals to parliament. The start playing by new rules! “ministerial discretion” from the laws, jury is still out as to how well governments have done with those proposals but the fact is that the effort was made. Any able thinking Belizean will admit that the need for serious political reform is pressing. Despite grandeur promises of “jumping into action at the slightest whiff of corruption”, Mr. Barrow’s government has been plagued from the very outset by reports after report of vile practices. Cabinet Ministers have been living high on the hog and way above their means; driving high-end luxury automobiles and flying first-class around the world, all at the expense of taxpayers. Ministers have been sharing out land and other government resources to relatives and friends with no accounting to anyone. Julius Espat is right; the Public Accounts Committee might be a good place to start. What Julius is asking for makes perfect sense. Instead of the committee being comprised of four members of government and two members from the opposition, let’s even it up at two and two and bring in three members from the Senate. According to
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Intuition: Sensory Perception of the Soul
By Dr. Angela Banner Joseph “Intuition is always right in at least two important ways: It is always in response to something. It always has your best interest at heart” - Gavin de Becker, The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence What is intuition and how do we use that sixth sense in our daily living? The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2012, described intuition as “a way of knowing directly; immediate apprehension.” Intuition comes in several forms: a dream, a sense of déjà vu, a shiver of something happening to you, or an image in your subconscious of a future event. Some people believe that God knows directly about what is happening in our lives, while others believe that people reach concrete decisions by reasoning. Some believe that we are born already knowing about what we need to know. However, at peak moments in our lives, we do not listen to our inner voice or to our gut instinct to access that knowledge. Writer C. joyBell C. believes, “Our bodies have five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, hearing. But not to be overlooked are the senses of our souls: intuition, peace, foresight, trust, empathy. The differences between people lie in their use of these senses; most people don’t know anything about the inner senses while a few people rely on them just as they rely on their physical senses, and in fact, probably even more.” I write to share that we all have intuitive skills: some more than others. That sense of power is in the core of our souls, male and female. There are people who have mastered the technique of listening to their inner voice. C.J. Heck, in Bits and Pieces: Short Stories from a Writer’s Soul, wrote, “We all have an inner voice, our personal whisper from the universe. All we have to do is listen— feel and sense it with an open heart. Sometimes it whispers of intuition or precognition. Other times, it whispers an awareness, a remembrance from another plane. Dare to listen. Dare to hear with your heart.” Read what happened to me when I did not listen to my intuition. One day a colleague of mine gave me a ride to visit my grandmother, who was in the intensive care unit of a hospital. I shared that I had to get there fast and in a hurry because I sensed that my grandmother was not doing well. As we drove to the hospital, my colleague decided to stop at a fast food restaurant to get us something to eat. I was a little upset, because he did not see the urgency to get there.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
As we pulled out of the fast food restaurant, we saw my sister in her car at the stoplight. I yelled to get her attention and asked her where she was going. She said she had received a phone call from the hospital that instructed us to get there immediately, because grandmother had taken a turn for the worse. We raced to the hospital and arrived 15 minutes later. As I got out of the car, I turned to my friend to say that we arrived too late...grandmother had expired. He told me to stop playing. As we entered the hospital and rushed to her room, we were stopped by several nurses who told us our grandmother had passed 15 minutes ago. I was upset because I should have listened to my instinct to get there sooner. That experience taught me to listen to my instincts and the small whispers when I don’t know why I should listen to them. In society, we often hear that rational thinking is better than intuition. Sylvia Clare, in Trusting Your Intuition: Rediscover Your True Self to Achieve a Richer, More Rewarding Life, contended, “Intuition means exactly what it sounds like, in-tuition! An inner tutor or teaching and learning mechanism that takes us forward daily. It is a resource that, where recognized, has infinite potential.” She further noted, “Intuition is the highest form of intelligence, transcending all individual abilities and skills”. We have a tendency not to listen to our intuition until it is too late. I believe that Albert Einstein described intuition best. He stated, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. We will not solve the problems of the world from the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. More than anything else, this new century demands new thinking: We must change our materially based analyses of the world around us to include broader, more multidimensional perspectives.” Learning to listen to our intuition is a step in learning to trust ourselves. It is important to listen to the signals or clues that come to us. As actor Alan Alda contended, “At times you have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” Dr. Angela Banner Joseph holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Change from the Fielding Graduate University
2013
For Sale By Order of the Mortgagee Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a Company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 25th day of January, 2011, between Priscilla Graham & Dennis Moore of the one part, and the said SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD. of the other part , and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 2 of 2011 at folios 1473 – 1538. 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. THE SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO ALL THAT block piece or parcel of land containing fifty (50) acres of lands (Block No. 11) situate on the North Side of the Punta Gorda/San Antonio Road near the Rice Reserve, Toledo District and bounded:-On the North by Crown Lands (Swamp); On the South by Block No. 10 lands of Allistair King; On the East by Block Nos. 14 & 15 lands of C. Williams & Allistair King; On the West by Block Nos. 6, 7 & 8 lands of S. Coleman & Zadock Moore measuring 1650 feet x 1320 feet as shown on Plan No. 906 by H.C. Fairweather at the Survey Department TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 31st day of July, 2013.
MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street, Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.
11 AUG
Home Economics
Cruise Ship industry challenge By Richard Harrison Those who are against the NCL proposal to create largescale cruise tourism near Placencia in the south claim that they are defending the greater national interest and not merely reacting to what they see as a potential threat to their own self-interest (which they have all rights to do). These actors would do well to pursue two parallel strategies, instead of one: (1) to amplify, in triangulation, their existing position against the NCL investment (2) to push for changes in laws and policies that govern the cruise ship sector, so that more FRAGMENTATION of the sector would increase the numbers that benefit from the crumbs that fall off the table By adding this second strategy, they will be showing that they are truly in the best interest of Belizean people. In the Bahamas......there is a place called “over the hill”. Does anyone know what this means? GDP Per Capita (PPP), US Dollars for Bahamas in year 2013 is US$ 32,397.94. This makes Bahamas No. 29 in world rankings according to GDP Per Capita (PPP), US Dollars in year 2013. The world’s average GDP Per Capita (PPP), US Dollars value is US$ 15173.51; Bahamas is US$17,224.43 more than the average. GDP Per Capita (PPP), US Dollars for Belize in year 2013 is US$ 8,963.61. This makes Belize No. 95 in world rankings according to GDP Per Capita (PPP), US Dollars in year 2013. The world’s average GDP Per Capita (PPP), US Dollars value is US$ 15173.51; Belize is US$ 6,209.90 less than the average. Policies that promote and facilitate DISTRIBUTION of wealth is as important as those that promote and facilitate GROWTH of wealth. For example, FRAGMENTATION of the cruise tourism business would allow the pie to be shared among many more hands.....that is, more widely DISTRIBUTED.
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2013
CONCENTRATION of the sector into a few hands however, leaves too many bellies hungry....while a couple greedy cats get obese. Our SOUTH-SIDE of BELIZE CITY is our “OVERTHE-HILL”......it is our biggest SHAME. We should all hang our heads in shame realizing that all of us have allowed this condition to happen to our very own, over a very long period of time. We need to all do our part to mobilize all the necessary resources to fix this shame. BUT....more than that..... we need to speak up....with every voice.....against CONCENTRATION....and for FRAGMENTATION of the cruise tourism sector. The laws and policies that govern this sub-sector should be overhauled immediately to reflect this ambition....this needs to be done NOW.....otherwise.... it will just be like.....WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE. The un-elected Minister who is the PM’s go-to man for big business is not answerable to anyone, except the PM, at the end of the day. It was seen quite clearly in sugar negotiations....and others. It might be much more possible to get this second strategy than to get the first. If the NCL deal goes through.....which am predicting it will.....and the sector remains CONCENTRATED in the hands of a few....everybody loses. Fragmentation is a most realistic thing that can be achieve.....even as the struggle continues to derail the NCL deal. Richard Harrison is a local businessman and investor in the manufacturing and service industries. Mr. Harrison holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from Lancaster University, United Kingdom. Send comments to harrisonbz@yahoo.com
BELIZE TIMES
The fastest selling newspaper in Belize
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 day of May, 2010, between MONICA MARCELLO of Pescador Drive, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize District, Belize of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in the Deeds Book Vol. 14 of 2010 at Folios 803–830, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.
SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land the subject of Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 874 of 1999 dates 11th October, 1999, being Block No. 3 comprising of 10 acres of land situate in the Ten Acre Holdings, Stann Creek District, Belize, bounded and described as shown on Plan No. 874 of 1999 attached to the said Grant. DATED this 5th day of August, 2013. MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
Recipe of the week
Quick Kid-Friendly Breadsticks This recipe is suitable for little bakers between the ages of 6-15. INGREDIENTS • 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour • 1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp) • 3/4 tsp. salt • 3/4 cup warm water (120 to 130 degrees) • 2Tbsps. olive oil or cooking oil • 1 Tbsps. sugar or honey • 1 egg yolk • 1 egg white
MARRIAGES Alfredo Maquin, 22, to Odilia Josefina Chiac, 16, both of San Benito Poite, Toledo District Benedicto Gregorio Coc, 24, of San Pedro Columbia, Toledo District, to Demesuela Kuk, 24, of Aguacate, Toledo District Ambrosio Ac, 28, to Utilda Coy, 22, both of Otoxha, Toledo District Martin Teul, 24, of Maya Mopan, Stann Creek District, to Terry Teresa Coc, 21, of Otoxha, Toledo District Primitivo Pop, 23, of Indian Creek, Toledo District, to Evangelina Choco, 19, of Hicatee, Toledo District Samuel Tzul, 19, of San Felipe, Toledo District, to Benefilia Amoria Cho, 20, of San Antonio, Toledo District Elroy Jerome Flores, 45, to Agatha Olivia Aranda, 42, both of Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District Michael Emeka Ejike, 28, of Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District, to Angela Louise Greco, 45, of Miamisburg, Ohio, U.S.A. Wilfredo Zetina, 34, to Ingrid Rodriguez, 24, both of San Ignacio Town, Cayo District Elesio Cus, 46, to Marcela Coc, 28, both of San Miguel, Toledo District Estevan Choc, 24, to Maritza Ana Ical, 18, both of Machaca, Toledo District Fredy Enrique Cortes, 29, to Carmen Vasquez, 36, both of Trial Farm, Orange Walk District Everal Michael Wade, 50, to Kendra Letecia Allen, 35, both of Belize City Jose Antonio Ramires, 34, to Ignacia Grijalva, 37, both of La Gracia, Cayo District William Douglas Bailey, 46, of Wells, Maine, U.S.A., to Laura Elizabeth Gorwood, 48, of Lyman, Maine, U.S.A. Jason Richard Irwin, 38, to Ella Ruth Grutman, 37, both of West Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. Mack Courtland Seaton, 56, to Allison Lanford Schratz, 49, both of Germantown, Tennessee, U.S.A.
DIRECTIONS • Adult: In a large mixing bowl stir together 1 cup of the flour, the yeast, and salt. In another bowl combine warm water, oil, sugar, and egg yolk. Add water mixture to dry mixture. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for 30 seconds, scraping the sides of the bowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much remaining flour as you can. • Adult: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough remaining flour to make moderately stiff dough that is
Stacey Todd Cruthird, 51, to Donna Bryant Clark, 47, both of Tyler, Texas, U.S.A. Vaughn Emmanuel Brakeman, 42, of Gracie Rock, Belize District, to Bambi Danalee Morris, 47, of Hattieville, Belize District Delroy Trimane Reyes, 23, to Vanessa Desmarte Sho, 22, both of Belize City Shannon Robert Manning, 37, to Katie Lynn Kocher, 33, both of Reno, Nevada, U.S.A. Donnie Crevin Banks, II, 24, to Katelyn Michelle Adkins, 24, both of Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A. Justin Free Quinn, 32, to Eva Rose Pasch Anderson, 30, both of Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Umar Moulta-Ali, 33, to Nadine Beatrice Patnett, 28, both of Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. Eric Dobson Crawford, 29, of Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada, to Nelva Ramos Gomez, 35, of Estado de Mexico, Mexico Alvin Robert Vasquez, Sr., 49, to Jacqueline Alma Rhodas, 40, both of Santa Elena Town, Cayo District Marlon Rolando Gomez Hernandez, 24, to Toni Allison Bagwell, 32, both of Lilburn, Georgia, U.S.A. Trevor Scott Dallas, 36, to Tera Keesee, 40, both of Austin, Texas, U.S.A. Santos David Murcia, 21, of Sarawee, Stann Creek District, to Karen Vanessa Escobar, 16, of Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District
DEATHS Norris Alexander Wade, 79 Florene Ogaldez, 61 Floyd Colin Foreman, 51 Eleanor Martinez, 85 Balbina Cornelia Ucan, 71 Julian de la Fuente, 70 Harry Robinson, 82 Ernie Lorie Williams, 98 Joi Una Mitchell White, 2 Dalton Quello, 74 Dorla Eugenia Stuart, 74
smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes total). Cover and let dough rise until nearly double in size (about 1 hour). • Together: Punch dough down. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Grease a baking sheet. Divide dough in half. Divide each portion into 8 pieces. • Together: On a floured surface, roll each piece into a 12-inchlong rope for thin, crispy sticks or into a 6-inch-long rope for thick, chewy sticks.
• Adult: Place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Cover; let rise until nearly double in size (about 45 minutes). • Adult: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Beat together egg white and 1 tablespoon water until frothy. • Kid: Brush over breadsticks. Sprinkle with coarse salt. • Adult: Bake about 10 minutes or until golden. Remove from baking sheet. Cool on wire rack. • Makes 16 breadsticks.
Hon Jose Mai supports Guinea Grass village council
BIRTHS Born to Gerald Roland Nabet and Charlene Marannette Nabet nee Estala, twins, Zian Yazir (boy) and Zamari Ixantle (girl). Born to Gabriel Choco and Virginia Choco nee Chiac, a boy, Jefferson Kyle Born to David Charles Sewell and Margaret Elizabeth Sewell nee Flowers, a girl, Davina Davisha Born to Herbert Jones Stuart and Delsia Lupita Stuart nee Dawson, a boy, Genesis Deshane Born to Albert Luis Halliday, Sr., and Camisha Kristine Halliday nee Itza, a boy, Albert Luis, Jr. Born to Lloyd Lawrence Young and Royalyn Amanda Young nee Alarcon, a boy, Kavik Lloyd Born to Brian Lee Ferguson and Cherese Ferguson nee Reynolds, a boy, Conner Amir Born to Kenrick Lincoln Martinez, Sr., and Sheena Melenie Martinez nee Galvez, a boy, Kenrick Lincoln, Jr. Born to Elisama Mardoqueo Tzib, Sr., and Kimberly Nicole Tzib nee Kelly, a boy, Elisama Mardoqueo, Jr. Born to Juliancito Hernandez and Lesty Johanna Hernandez nee Mena, a girl, Juliah Jemima Born to Cornelius Enns and Sara Enns nee Banman, a girl, Margaretha Born to Joseph Fernandez and Deivy Anne Fernandez nee Cowo, a girl, Joniel Janelle Born to Carlos Fabio Carvajal and Elvia Noemi Carvajal nee Canto, a boy, Aiden Fabio Born to Daniel Teck and Melissa Yaniry Teck nee Mendez, a boy, Dariel Evander
Orange Walk District, August Guinea Grass Village Coun5, 2013 cil will launch a 5-a-side On Sunday 4th August, football tournament in the the Hon Jose Mai joined the community. Guinea Grass village council in The Hon Jose Mai conhosting a football tournament. gratulates the Village CounSeven teams participated cil of Guinea Grass for their and the winner was Atlantic vision and desire to help Insurance in Belize City. Secdevelop the Guinea Grass ond place was won by Guincommunity. ea Grass Argentina and third place was won by Guinea Liquor License Grass United. NOTICES The Hon. Jose and the newly electNotice is hereby given that RONed Independent ALD D. MOORE is applying for Village Council of a Restaurant and Bar Liquor LiGuinea Grass have cense to be operated at “Blues, pledged to work Booze and BarB’Que”, situate at together in develMain Street Caye Caulker Village, oping sports in the Belize District under the Intoxicatcommunity. This ing Liquor Licensing Ordinance weekend the Hon Revised Edition 1980. Jose Mai and the
11 AUG
2013
THE BELIZE TIMES
SUDOKU FOR KIDS
CONNECT THE DOTS!
Write the time shown on each clock. Write it the “regular way” and the “smart way.” The first one has been done for you.
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Marshalls President
2013
BRAIN
TEASER
SUDOKU PUZZLE #29/2013
hold successful meeting in Western Zone
San Ignacio Town, August 8, 2013 National President of the PUP Marshalls Corps Stephen Latchman organized one of his most successful meetings. A meeting was held with the members of the PUP Western Caucus on Saturday August 3rd, 2013 at the Cahal Pech Resort which was well attended by the young, middle-aged and senior adults of the area all pledged their continued support for the work of the Marshalls Unit, and the leadership of the Party. Meetings with members of the Marshalls will continue, and the nest one is slated for members of the Southern Caucus. We will continue to serve the people.
Answers for last week’s puzzle SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTION #28/2013
See answers NEXT WEEK
Marshall’s President Stephen Latchment (L) addressing members
Answers for last week’s puzzle
See answers NEXT WEEK
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THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY
SCIENCE & TECH R
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Selected By Chris Williams
Sun Will Flip Its Magnetic Field Soon by Miriam Kramer
The sun is gearing up for a major solar flip, NASA says. In an event that occurs once every 11 years, the magnetic field of the sun will change its polarity in a matter of months, according new observations by NASA-supported observatories. The flipping of the sun’s magnetic field marks the peak of the star’s 11-year solar cycle and the halfway point in the sun’s “solar maximum” — the peak of its solar weather cycle. NASA released a new video describing the sun’s magnetic flip on Monday (Aug. 5). “It looks like we’re no more than three to four months away from a complete field reversal,” Todd Hoeksema, the director of Stanford University’s Wilcox Solar Observatory, said in a statement. “This change will have ripple effects throughout the solar system.” As the field shifts, the “current sheet” — a surface that radiates billions of kilometers outward from the sun’s equator
— becomes very wavy, NASA officials said. Earth orbits the sun, dipping in and out of the waves of the current sheet. The transition from a wave to a dip can create stormy space weather around Earth, NASA officials said. “The sun’s polar magnetic fields weaken, go to zero, and then emerge again with the
opposite polarity,” Stanford solar physicist Phil Scherrer said in a statement. “This is a regular part of the solar cycle.” While the polarity shift can stir up some stormy weather, it also provides extra shielding from dangerous cosmic rays. These high-energy particles, which are accelerated by events like super-
nova explosions, zip through the universe at nearly the speed of light. They can harm satellites and astronauts in space, and the wrinkled current sheet better protects the planet from these particles. The effects of the rippled sheet can also be felt throughout the solar system, far beyond Pluto and even touching the Voyager probes near the barrier of interstellar space. “The sun’s north pole has already changed sign, while the south pole is racing to catch up,” Scherrer said. “Soon, however, both poles will be reversed, and the second half of solar max will be underway.” The current solar maximum is the weakest in 100 years, experts have said. Usually, at the height of a solar cycle, sunspot activity increases. These dark regions on the sun’s surface can give birth to solar flares and ejections, but there have been fewer observed sunspots this year than in the maximums of previous cycles.
Poor sleep makes food more appealing 7 August 2013 by Colin Barras If there was ever a study not to lose sleep over, it’s this one. People deprived of a good night’s rest are more likely to experience changes in brain activity that can increase the urge to eat high-calorie foods. Matthew Walker at the University of California in Berkeley and colleagues conducted the first study of brain activity in relation to food among sleep-deprived people. The team used fMRI to study brain patterns in 23 people, first after a night of peaceful sleep and then after a night without sleep.
Sleep deprivation reduced activity in three areas of the brain that help, among other things, to process odour and flavour signals. It also led to more activity in the amygdala, which helps govern the motivation to eat. The team also found that volunteers rated pictures of high-calorie foods as more desirable after no sleep than after a good rest. It may make evolutionary sense, says Laurent Brondel at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France. The long summer days at higher latitudes deprive animals of sleep, but they use their time awake to eat more, which helps
them get through the short days of winter when food is scarcer. Bad for health That’s only part of the story, though, says Stephanie Greer, another member of the team and also at the University of California, Berkeley. The body does need more energy if someone remains awake for longer – but the high-calorie foods that become more desirable after sleep deprivation would more than meet this additional need. The changes in food desirability encouraged by the sleep-deprived brain may originally have been an important adaptation but today they are maladaptive and
no longer benefit our health. Brondel agrees with this conclusion. “Sleep deprivation could, by an unknown mechanism, modify the hedonic sensation and alter the ingestive behaviour,” he says. Whatever the mechanism, there is one clear message from the study, says Greer. “These findings provide opportunities to adjust our environment and behaviour in new ways to combat such health issues,” she says. “Specifically, our study indicates that one choice people can make is to regularly obtain sufficient amounts of sleep.”
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Political Maturity
W
hile attending a house meeting this Sunday, the topic was brought up by the speaker of the house, concerning a king who had a birthday party. He had a beautiful young lady who danced so well that he offered her anything she wanted, up to half of his kingdom. A couple minutes later, he was very disappointed by his intoxicated offer where in the middle of his party the head of a man was brought on a plate. The young girl asked for the head of John the Baptist! As I think of this king, my mind goes to country of Belize. See, many people do not understand the difference between Belize and Heaven! Heaven is owned by a King who has the potential to offer you half of his kingdom or anything he wants because it’s his. You cannot vote out a king, protest against a king, change the king’s laws or decide which one you are going to keep and you do not go to a king to tell him what to do. Even the air you breathe the king owns. Belize is a totally different situation. We have what is called a democracy…although I prefer to call it a five year mini kingdom. We end up with a ton-load of ministers who even in the year 2013 with all the technology, seem not to know what is happening in the country they are running or, may I suggest, that is now the famous excuse! These ministers suffer from dangerous political concussions the minute their party wins an election. Some of the symptoms include political amnesia, blindness, closely followed by a political “crack head” syndrome. It seems that a party is at its best while in the opposition. Its political screensaver displays a sense of caring, humility, levelheadedness, openness, sincerity, and honesty. But sadly for many countries, and Belize is no exception, something happens as a party enters into power. In the same way one has to strip himself of metal infested wear while entering through a security scanner, it seems each minister has to strip himself of all the quality material they showoff while in the seat of the opposition. The only strong evidence of democracy shown in the country is the election process where politicians come humbly to your home to beg your vote but the minute the deal is sealed with a five year agreement, democracy fades away. We are a young country that has not grown up as yet. The big question is “how do you deal with immaturity?” Well, it begins and ends with fathering! Whosoever we produce now is a product of what we have raised up in previous years. If there is immaturity, then accountability has to be required, and supervision becomes vital! The king mentioned earlier was probably drunk when he made the offer to the young girl. After all it was his birthday party and he was having fun, but he lost his head in the midst of the process and it ended up with one of his citizens innocently losing his head! What are we losing as a county when we function immaturely? Let’s bridge that gap between the screen saver and reality. Let’s carry across the same behavior we modeled during courtship into the marriage. Let’s require all ministers, to those in power, and those awaiting power to keep their values and disposition and passion expressed while in the opposition and live by it while in power! Until next week. God Bless!
By Dr. Francis Smith
11 AUG
2013
Exercise for Healthy Bones and Joints
The human body was designed for physical activity and movement. Humans were not designed for today’s sedentary lifestyle. Regular physical activity is vital for building and maintaining healthy bones and joints and for a healthy lifestyle. The foundation for a lifetime of strong healthy bones is built only during the childhood years of rapid growth, mostly between the ages of 10 to 20 years. Bone mass peaks at about 30 years of age. When we get older, physical activity can no longer increase bone mass. Exercise will slow bone loss and maintain muscle mass which serves to support bone and joints. As we get older, our bodies change. Bones can become weak and fragile, which is a bone –thinning disease called osteoporosis. Muscle size and strength decrease (a condition called muscle atrophy) mostly due to inactivity. Bone mass and density decrease, increasing the risk of breaking a bone (fracture). Ligaments and tendons lose their elasticity, making it easier to suffer injuries such as rotator cuff tendonitis, tennis elbow or Achilles tendonitis. Joint inflammation and cartilage degeneration (arthritis) occurs. Exercise works on bones much like it works on muscles — by making them stronger. Here are types of exercises: Weight-bearing Exercise Weight-bearing and strength-training exercise are effective for building strong bones and muscles that support joints. Weight-bearing exercises are activities done on the feet that work the bones and muscles against gravity. The bones undergo stress and are strengthened. Walking, jogging, dancing and jumping rope are examples of weight-bearing exercises. Strength-training Exercise Strength-training exercises are activities that add resistance to movement causing muscles to work harder and grow stronger. Strength training exercises include using weight machines, working with free weights, or doing exercises that use your own body weight (push-ups, pull-ups and isometric exercises). These resistance exercises also put stress on bones and have bone-building capacity. Non-Impact and Low-Impact Exercises For the elderly and people with osteoporosis and arthritis, non-impact exercises, such as yoga, or tai chi, are useful. Low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling are also useful. Though these non-impact or low-impact exercises are not as effective at strengthening bone, they provide some muscle strengthening, stretching for flexibility and balance training benefits. They also improve heart and lung function. People suffering from arthritis should avoid exercises that are high impact, like aerobic workouts, running, jogging, climbing stairs, uneven or rugged terrain and competitive sports such as volleyball and basketball. These activities put excessive stress on the cartilaginous surfaces of joints causing further deterioration. Rather, people with arthritis should engage in more balanced fitness programs like walking, swimming, cycling and stretching exercises. The stronger the muscles supporting the joints and the more flexible the ligaments and tendons, the healthier the cartilaginous tissue and bone will be. All exercise should include stretching and balance training. Stretching should be done after all exercise. Studies have shown that balance training and tai chi have decreased falls and reduced the risk of hip fractures significantly. Starting a Program for Bone and Joint Health 30 minutes of weight-bearing activity, 4 or more days a week is a good way to start an exercise program for bone and joint health. For strength training, exercise each major muscle group at least twice a week. Rest for a full day between strength sessions. Stretch after all exercise.
11 AUG
PM Plays Passam
Barrow claims he “doesn’t know” about Rosewood fiasco, Fresh Pond land hustling, nor Buckley’s woes
Belize City, August 7, 2013 Prime Minister Dean Barrow played “passam” when he dodged tough questions from the media over the numerous scandals facing the UDP Government. When asked about the latest Rosewood fiasco and the Minister of Forestry Lisel Alamilla’s scandalous underselling of containers of the prized lumber for a pittance while the well-connected UDP exporter laughed all the way to the bank, the Prime Minister said he hadn’t checked with the Minister to find out how she came up with her figures, and so he could not give a proper response. When cross-examined about the land/house grab in the Fresh Pond housing area involving well-known UDP cronies attached to the Minister of Housing Michael Finnegan and Deputy Prime Minister, the PM said he didn’t see anything wrong. In fact, when asked about the brawl that nearly broke out between supporters of the two political elephants, after they were grabbing the same houses and lots, Barrow said it was perfectly in order. Don Gapi’s cronies, including his driver, have been grabbing up abandoned houses at the Fresh Pond housing site. Finnegan’s hustlers have also been eyeing the same properties, and it resulted in a showdown when Finnegan’s CEO Lawrence Sylvester marched up to the Ministry of Lands’ office to query about the status of the land transfers. Sylvester was kicked out of the office. Incredibly, Barrow even admitted that his sister, who is his campaign manager, was eyeing the same house Vega’s
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THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
driver was. And while Barrow’s lack of awareness of the Ministerial scandals seemed too abnormal for a man who runs the Cabinet like Morsi, his excuses for not knowing about the case of Mesopotamia resident Steven Buckley is outrightly incredible and shameful. “I don’t know about the details…” he cried out at first, when asked why Buckley had not received compensation for the injuries he sustained after a Police Officer shot him in April 2010. Yet, he confessed knowing that Buckley had been “horribly wounded and incapacitated and disfigured”. He also offered a legal opinion, saying that “Mister Buckley appears to be eminently entitled to significant compensation”. And then he fumbled, confused again, “But again I don’t know”. The case has been a thorn in the Barrow Administration’s side for three long years. Buckley has done just about everything to get the Ministry of National Security to compensate him for his injuries. He has pleaded on talk shows, shared his tragic story on newscasts and has even blistered his feet with countless walk-in visits to the Police Station. None of these actions had any effect from the cold and heartless UDP Government. It’s been three long and hard years for Buckley, who even resorted to begging in downtown Belize City because he could not work. Barrow pretended to know nothing about it, and his reaction to a question asking how longer it would take for justice, was his greatest act so far. Barrow said, “Dah two years ago? Well I am sorry, I am left speechless… Lord man, if this happened two years ago and we can’t come to terms with compensating this man for the wanton destruction almost for his life, then something is wrong. That dah noh justice; that is not fair play.” For the record Prime Minister, it’s been two years and an entire election since. Barrow seems to be living in the clouds, or too busy machinating his next legal battle for his family to make money from, to worry about the cries and problems of poor Belizeans.
OUT
OUT
Should we drill for Oil in the Sarstoon Temash National Park?
Mark King is a joke
Continued from page 2 point here. These are lands of the indigenous people: the Maya & Garifuna. SATIIM is helping to safeguard what their ancestors have left for them. This park is rich with resources, which the Maya and Garifuna people “traditionally” rely on to make a living. However, the new proposed co management agreement with SATIIM allows third party access into the park. SATIIM doesn’t agree with this and haven’t signed the agreement. Furthermore, the Government has dismissed their management of the park because of their delay in signing this agreement. Now, SATIIM is not allowed to enter the park to perform their regular operations (I believe B.D.F is carrying out security and making sure of this). If I may divert a bit, Chiquibul in the west is losing billions of dollars in its resources to outsiders – is the Government worried about this? Aren’t they putting enough security there too? We also know that this is communal land, as the Supreme Court has declared. However, recently the Court of Appeal affirmed this right with the condition that the Government decides how these rights are used. This now opens a big debate between Government & the Indigenous People for more talk on why we should or shouldn’t drill for oil on their lands. The Maya Leaders Alliance has been very vocal, stepping up their campaign for Government to respect their right to communal land. But what they fail to realize is that while they have a right to the land, the Government has ownership of petroleum, minerals and accompanying substances found anywhere on or under the territory of Belize. US Capital Energy Belize Ltd is preparing to drill for oil very soon, as preliminary phases have been completed. This company has invested millions of dollars in preparation for the different phases. This company has also invested millions of dollars in our education sector, in the cultural sector and many others. They have contributed greatly so far in developing this district. But is that enough? Will the success of drilling for oil in Sarastoon Temash outweigh the alternative of not drilling, thus preserving the lands? Will the people of Belize greatly benefit from the royalties collected from the company? Will Toledo gets if fair share of development, educational and economic wise? Or will just a “select few” benefit from this? That brings us to the people of Toledo. We are very poor, financially, but we are rich with natural resources. However, we are not utilizing these resources properly to receive the greatest benefit. I honestly think that if US Capital Energy Belize drills for oil in a sustainable manner and helps to “spark” the Toledo economy, then yes, it would be outstanding! The Indigenous People must come together and decide their future: should we agree to support the oil company that would aid us in providing jobs and future economic development? Or should we preserve our lands for future generations of traditional living? The question is: will the future generations want
Continued from page 2 isn’t or can’t go nowhere. King thinks he won the last elections because people like him, but he is badly confused. His win was a fluke, a stroke of luck. That luck has run out. King is living off the people of Lake I, and the news story of his living in a mansion begs many questions. How can he afford to live like a King? King’s lifestyle – mansion, luxury cars and bodyguards – is far removed from the reality we face ‘back a Lake’. We need a real leader in our division and only the PUP knows how to bring real leaders. As for King, we have a royal gift for him come election day. On that day he will find out he is just a bad joke. Signed, Queen of Lake I
Stop living in the past PM Barrow Continued from page 2 this CCJ ruling, bringing up matters that happened nearly 10 years ago. Man, let’s move forward. Is this PM going to remind us until 2017 about Musa & Fonseca? Yes they have done wrong; that’s why the people voted them out and the PUP is the Opposition. I must agree with the member from Orange Walk Central, the ruling is now history – let’s move on. I think the PM wants this to be his trump card but nobody in the media and talk shows have given their view on it. Move forward PM, we have a lot of problems presently which you have to solve. Rosewood, Maya land rights, and the cries from the people who are suffering. Signed, Hakeem Bush
to live on traditional lands, and occupying traditional ways of life? Or will they prefer living in the cities and sporting urban features? I am very sure that US Capital Energy Belize Limited has good intentions to help the local Toledo economy. They have been doing quite good this far, in providing jobs, and regulating the economy. The big question I ask again is: will the success of drilling for oil in Sarastoon Temash outweigh the alternative of not drilling, thus preserving the lands? This I leave for you to decide as I am not an oil expert. This is only an objective analysis on my part. Respectfully, Kenny Jacobs Executive Director/TV Host Teens Belize Organization/Developing Toledo TV Show
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THE BELIZE TIMES
EDITORIAL Español
11 AUG
2013
Amandala y Propaganda UDP
D
ean Barrow es el actual Ministro de Finanzas. Él hace lo que quiere con el dinero del pais. El personalmente ha aprobado millones de dólares de fondos del Gobierno a su ex esposa Lois Young Barrow. Millones de dólares se han pagado al bufete de abogados de Lois Young Barrow, en donde la hija de Dean Barrow también trabaja. Este dinero pagado a Lois por servicios legales realizado podría haberse ahorrado ya que ese trabajo está dentro de las funciones del Procurador General y su equipo de abogados. Lo que Dean Barrow ha hecho es demostrar su nepotismo en su peor forma: enriqueciendo a su familia. Lois Young Barrow ahora es la embajadora en Washington, EE.UU, viviendo en grandeza a costa de los contribuyentes, recibiendo gratis los beneficios médicos y de otros. Como Ministro de Finanzas, Dean Barrow ha venido aprobando fuertes sumas de dinero de los contribuyentes como pago a su hermano, Denys Barrow, por servicios legales que por ley abogados de la procuraduría deberían estar haciendo. Aún no se sabe si el hermano Denys ha logrado alcanzar los dos o tres millones, pero seguro que los millones serán múltiples al momento que Dean Barrow sea expulsado del gobierno en las próximas elecciones donde tendrá que responder por sus delitos de despilfarro. Lo que Dean Barrow está haciendo está facilitando el enriqueciendo a su hermano Denys de la manera más vergonzosa de las finanzas escasos de los contribuyentes, fondos que se necesitan con urgencia para ayudar a los estudiantes solventar aumentos en matrícula y otros gastos de la educación secundaria y terciaria. Dean Barrow, en su capacidad como Primer Ministro, nombro la persona más inadecuada como embajador musical de Belice. Su hijo, ahora conocido como Moisés Levi, o Shyne, o Jamal. Este inadaptado es un convicto criminal que pasó ocho años en una cárcel estadounidense antes de ser forzado a Belice a través de deportación. Él ahora vive en Israel, en un enorme costo para los contribuyentes de Belice. La Corte Suprema recientemente lo declaró culpable de ejecutar una enorme factura de arrendamiento en Belice que se ha negado a pagar. Bajo las leyes de Belice cualquier funcionario público, embajador o ministro, que hace una cosa así debe renunciar. La excepción es, por supuesto, “Shyne” Barrow. Dean Barrow como Ministro de Finanzas retiró el Boledo y loterías del control gubernamental en el que ha estado desde 1940 y se lo entregó a un compinche UDP “Brads”. Se alega que Anwar Barrow hijo de Barrow, Anwar, es un socio anónimo de Brads. Esto es una acusación grave y requiere que el Primer Ministro admite o desmienta tal a través de un informe a la nación. Tal revelación es el mínimo de un gobierno que prometió la rendición de cuentas y la transparencia. El Boledo y Lotería es un portador de un fondo millonario que debería ser administrado por una agencia de gobierno y canalizar ganancias a través de programas sociales. Dean Barrow como Ministro de Finanzas ha dirigido la administración más corrupta. La lista es demasiado larga para contar en detalles aquí. El tráfico humano facilitado en la trata de Chinos e Indios pasan a través de Belice en su recorrido a los EE.UU. Estas personas aportan visas aprobadas por el Departamento de Inmigración por medio de un grupo de facilitadores que son cómplices del partido UDP que obtienen una cuota de visas aprobadas mensualmente. Los servicios médicos cuentan con un presupuesto de varios millones de dólares para medicamentos. Este presupuesto es como una piñata para los astutos cómplices UDP. Altos funcionarios del Ministerio de Salud son culpables de usar fondos de los contribuyentes para comprar medicamentos de calidad inferior, que se re-venden al Ministerio a precios lucrativos. Esto es crimen organizado. Como el director general en el Ministerio de Salud, Peter Allen debe decirle a la nación quienes son los quienes integran la compañía “secreta” que suministra estos medicamentos al ministerio. Belice es considerado un importante país de tránsito de drogas. Metanfetamina y seudoefedrina se han desparramado a través del país por la aduana en contenedores de carga, destinados a México y los EE.UU. Narco aviones y traficantes de drogas estrechamente vinculados con el UDP han estado funcio-
nando en sus niveles más concurridas. Un individual que se encontraba dentro de la familia UDP, cerca del político Viceprimer Ministro fue detenido por la DEA. Otro importante financista del UDP está ahora en una cárcel mexicana por tráfico de drogas. La corrupción en el Ministerio de Tierras es leyenda. Incluso una materia inofensiva como Rosewood ha sido un gran producto básico para negocios turbios de cómplices UDP y ministros UDP con la plena bendición de Dean Barrow, Primer Ministro y Ministro de Hacienda. Dean Barrow como primer ministro fue escuchado ofrecer una explicación poco convincente en cuanto a cómo fue regalado a su sobrino Kimano Barrow, un simple técnico en computación, con miles de acres de tierra para la exploración de petróleo. Un entonces chaval humilde de Port Loyola ahora es el orgulloso dueño de decenas de mansiones de dos y tres niveles, desde que se convirtió en un ministro de Dean Barrow. Así también existe una Senadora más grande que la vida. No se ha ofrecido explicación sobre la forma que la actual esposa del Primer Ministro puede aceptar cientos de miles de dólares pertenecientes a los contribuyentes para proyectos gubernamentales aprobados, como donación a un fondo privado. ¿No fue él quien puso en marcha un proceso penal contra el ex Primer Ministro, quien pagó un préstamo médico con fondos donados para otro proyecto? ¿Dean Barrow, Primer Ministro y Ministro de Finanzas ha perdido su brújula moral? En todo esto turbio y la corrupción, los beliceños han quedado cada día más pobre. La vida se ha vuelto más difícil, mucho más difícil. ¿Y dónde está el principal periódico, el Amandala, en todo esto? Ocupados Editorializando y atacando al ex primer ministro. Tienen veintinueve editoriales atacando contra Rt. Excmo. Said Musa. No hemos encontrado ni siquiera un editorial contra el primer ministro Dean Barrow. El récord habla por sí mismo. Said Musa no ha estado en el gobierno durante cinco años. Sin embargo, sigue siendo el blanco de los ataques viciosos del Amandala. Le han dado rienda suelta a Barrow con paso libre. De hecho, Barrow ha sido coronado como un héroe y un nacionalista por sus nuevos defensores y colaboradores encontrados. Cuando el “nacionalista” Barrow repartió millones de dólares de impuestos a sus abanderados de partido, el Amandala no lo vio como nada malo y no escribió ni un editorial. Cuando el “nacionalista” relleno la lista de votantes en 2012 con miles de votantes extranjeros solo para poder ganar las elecciones, un editorial Amandala, admirando, explicó que era parte de un fenómeno mundial de la migración. Cuando pequeños bebés continuaban muriendo en el Orange Walk, Toledo y hospitales de la Ciudad de Belice, Amandala editorializo que los servicios de salud están en favor de los pobres. Ni una palabra de condena. Como van incrementando los editoriales cada vez más en contra de Francis Fonseca y nos preguntamos el motivo del Amandala. Nos preguntamos también, la ausencia absoluta de un solo editorial o del editor que ofrezca una explicación sobre Mark Espat y Cordel Hyde. ¿Por qué? Nos preguntamos, días después de las elecciones generales de 2012 Dean Barrow nombrara a Mark Espat y Cordel Hyde como embajador especial. ¿Cómo? Nos preguntamos, ¿Podría un gran roedor político y lo peor traidor político de Belice no reciba ninguna mención en el periódico más grande? Es cierto que había un editorial para explicar que el PUP perdió las elecciones de 2012 por dos asientos, pero no ha habido un análisis de las razones verdaderas, ya que tendrían que hablar del traidor. No ha habido ninguna mención de la historia de Mark Espat de sabotear el PUP y en el proceso de venta a la gente pobre de este país. Ahora es agosto de 2013, cinco años y medio después que Said Musa perdió las elecciones generales. Es una conveniente distracción para atacar a Musa mientras Barrow enriquece su familia y su gobierno mantiene a los pobres en una situación de pobreza perenne. El X se ha convertido en un jugador importante en el juego de Barrow. Amandala, el periódico, la televisión y la radio están inundados de anuncios relacionados con el gobierno y el gobierno, los anuncios y la página completa de propaganda UDP. El pueblo puede ser pobres, pero no son ciegos. ¡Poder al pueblo!
11 AUG
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THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
Foul mouth Finnegan! Belize City, August 7, 2013 Member from Mesopotamia Michael Finnegan should face tough disciplinary action for his most unparliamentary conduct at Wednesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives. Finnegan, who is known for being disre-
spectful and rude every time he speaks, crossed the line once again when he disrespected the only woman in the House, the member from Belize Rural Central Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia. Hon. Dolores had stood up to raise a serious concern table. The concern was over the criminal-like
Unitedville resident almost beaten to death known as “Sammy’s Shop” when he got in to a fight with an individual. He was attacked with a machete, and suffered a chop wound to his foot. When Gongora showed up, he was attacked by a gang of three men who were armed with machetes and bats. Gongora was badly beaten before he was able to escape by running away. His clothes was soaked in blood and could barely stand up. He was taken to the Loma Luz Hospital in San Ignacio and then to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where a large cut on his head was closed with 36 stitches. He has had to undergo three separate cat scans to determine the extent of the injuries to his head. Gongora also sustained a chop wound to his left wrist and upper left arm. His right hand thumb was broken and he has bruises all over his body. The trio accused of the attack were held for questioning by the Police, but were released after a certain attorney showed up on Mike Juan’s behalf. They have not been detained nor charged since. “I feel very angry. Someone must be held responsible for what they did to my son,” said Gongora. She said Mike Juan has
Elon’s head injury required 36 stitches
been encouraging crime in the community with his irresponsible acts. “Mike Juan must get out and stop destroying the lives of the children in our community,” she said. Gongora remains hospitalised up to today. His family are optimistic about his recuperation, but are concerned about the mounting medical bills.
Yellowman pecially when he asked the Honorable member “if she had seen his [Yellowman’s] size”. Finnegan’s asinine behavior is uncalled for and it is high time he is castigated for his actions. It is not the first time that Finnegan’s dirty mouth drools drivel. Belizeans could recall his last insult of former Speaker of the House Honorable Elizabeth Zabaneh. Finnegan had to apologize for that incident, but since then he has continued to behave with no decorum fit for an honorable member. Sadly, the BELIZE TIMES predicts that Finnegan’s foulness will go unchecked. This is because the UDP thrives on taking advantage of the defenseless and vulnerable, especially women.
CARTOON
Unitedville, Cayo District, August 2, 2013 33 year old Elon Gongora is in a critical but stable condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he was viciously attacked by a group of machete wielding men two weeks ago in the village of Unitedville, Cayo District. Gongora’s mother Josephine Gongora and aunt, Martha Jones-Andrews were livid when they visited the BELIZE TIMES last week to explain why they blame UDP Chairman Mike Juan for the brutal attack. According to the victim’s mother, the UDP Chairman encourages idleness in the community and it has influenced the young male residents in the most negative of ways. Gongora said the UDP Chairman is known for giving out liquor and starting drinking parties. These parties almost always end violently, according to the Unitedville matriarch. Gongora’s son was attacked as he went to one of those impromptu drinking parties to investigate a report that his brother had been chopped. The incident occurred on Friday July 26th night. Gongora’s brother, Julian Cadle, was hanging out at a place
conduct of UDP thug, Macebearer Brian “Yellowman” Audinette, who is facing criminal charges for brutally attacking a Police Officer and well-known activist Phillip “Faada” Henry. Audinette has also been caught and exposed by the BELIZE TIMES in the most compromising of situations, including drinking in public outside the National Assembly and urinating in plain view of the public near a primary school. Despite these exposés, Yellowman remains an employee and officer of the House of Assembly with full salary and benefits. He even continues to mindlessly drive around a National Sports Council vehicle, fuelled with taxpayer’s monies. Hon. Dolores called into question this conduct and was hoping for answers, but instead of saying how the National Assembly would correct the wrongdoings, Finnegan began hurling vile invectives at the PUP Deputy Leader. His comments were offensive, es-
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THE BELIZE TIMES
11 AUG
2013