Belize Times December 16, 2012

Sunday, December 16, 2012

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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SUNDAY December 16, 2012

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Issue No. 4826

Scrooge

Editorial: SHUT UP! If one were to list the top five Universal Human Rights as declared by the UDHR we would find the present Government to be in flagrant breach of each and every one of them. The most basic of human rights are being violated.

Mayor taxes city residents but spends tax dollars in Chetumal

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Belize Fails Global Transparency Standards If the Government were serious about meeting global transparency standards it should not be afraid of scrutiny. It is one of the best forms of monitoring and evaluation, which would only help since it exposes areas of strength and weakness that exist.

Belize City, December 11, 2012 The business community in Belize City is enraged at Belize City Mayor Darrel Bradley. Residents are highly disappointed.

Mayor Bradley, who has double and tripled taxes on Belize City residents and businesses and also wrecked the entire city’s infrastructure in the guise

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How Friday’s House Meeting will affect you!

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DPM Vega

presides over

corruption

Belize City, December 11, 2012 Two years ago Mr. Manuel Padron a farmer and cattle rancher of San Felipe Village in the Orange Walk district was approached by the then UDP rep-

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Castro:

The Belize Times must intervene to give a voice to a situation where this UDP politician is being accused of neglecting his own sick child and putting a single mother in fear and under threat from police officers, we have to tell her story.

Sex,

Scandal and Sickness Belize City, December 12, 2012 Edmund Castro, who is the UDP Area Rep for Belize Rural North, is no stranger to the media. His acting skills are wanting but the man loves the spot light. As result we will give him some after much pressure but not to shame him; rather, that the child may equalize the odds against these UDP politicians who manipulate and corrupt the

GANG TRUCE DEAD

Pg. 3

Pg. 24

The Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act which allows for the Government to label our neighborhoods “special areas” or “crime ridden areas” has been hacked up and bludgeoned.

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TOP MODEL inside

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THE BELIZE TIMES

GOB flies to Qatar, forgets Jane Usher Blvd Dear Mr. Editor, Globally in every quarter of this year persons have experienced the effects of our changing climate; from floods, droughts, earth-

Northern Regional Hospital nurse defends her competence December 5th 2012 Ms. Guadalupe Longsworth Ag. Regional Health Manager (North) NRH Dear Ms. Longsworth With regards to your letter directed to me, dated 4th December 2012, in which you request that I be “infallible” in my work ethics and to “demonstrate (my) professionalism”, kindly allow me to clarify the extent of my participation in the care of Ms. Reina Gomez.

This patient was admitted on Thursday 29th November 2012 at 1:10pm to maternity ward with the diagnoses of “postdate”. I took over the nursing care of Ms. Reina at 11:00pm on the same date.

At 12:35am Friday 30th, 2012, I detected fetal tachycardia in the range of 160-164bpm. As per my training and as per sound and “professional” midwifery principles, I initiated intra uterine resuscitative measures by placing the patient on left lateral position and on oxygen.

About an hour later, at 1:30am, the medical officer on call (Dr. Romero) was informed of the persistent fetal tachycardia despite the measures I had already began. (sic) The reasoning for my informing the doctor was based on the firm knowledge that the most frequent cause of persistent fetal tachycardia is fetal distress/fetal hypoxia.

The fact that I, in a “timely manner”, detected a problem (fetal tachycardia) and took the necessary corrective measures (placed the patient in left lateral

Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

quakes, typhoons, hurricanes, severe winter storms to super storms.

In a CNN article (November 2012), on the latest Kyoto Protocol talks, it was reported that: “The

last decade has seen nine of the hottest years on record. And in a new report, the World Bank cites the “nearly unanimous” prediction by scientists that the globe will warm by as much as 4 degrees Celsius this century. It expects the consequences to include “the inundation of coastal cities; increasing risks for food production potentially leading to higher malnutrition rates; many dry regions becoming dryer, wet regions wetter.” ’ With all of that in mind, don’t you find it puzzling that not one of the invited representatives from the Government showed up at the Open Day held by Red Cross highlighting the effects of climate change on the vulnerable Jane Usher Boulevard Community?

In the media there are reports that we sent representatives to

Sunday, December 16, 2012 Doha, Qatar for what has been dubbed Kyoto 2.0.

Doha, Qatar, many of us don’t even know where that is, but we do all know where Jane Usher Boulevard is located.

It makes no sense for us to participate in the Kyoto Protocol talks, when, we don’t see that translating to any action on the ground to address the issues of climate change and its impact on us.

We are sick and tired of all the “profiling and posing”. It is time for those who are supposed to be serving us, the people, to actually start working on our behalf.

Or, do I have it wrong Mr. Editor?

Regards, “Sick and Tired” Resident of Belize City

Our Decaying Health System Dear Editor, I write to ventilate my disgust and utter disapproval at the state of our health system, in particular the recent events of the treatment of pregnant women and newborn babies at the Northern Regional Hospital.

In the last 3 months, there have been 9 cases of major complications in the treatment of pregnant women with mothers losing their womb, babies dying after inhaling their own faeces and babies born with brain damage from the lack of oxygen during prolonged, complicated deliveries. Some of the mothers have been interviewed and every time the mother says they knew things were going wrong, they were in severe pain and they were begging for help, sometimes pleading to the medical staff for a C- section.

The Minister of Health did not answer in the House of Representatives what actions he will take. Apparently, it

position with oxygen) and then informed the medical officer, shows my fulfilment of PSR 20 (a), (c), (e). These actions demonstrate “the highest level of professional conduct in the performance of my duties”. They also demonstrate my “proactive” role in the “exercise of my duties”.

Dr. Romero was present to evaluate the patient at 2:00am and she ordered intra venous fluids (DW 5%) after confirming my assessment of fetal tachycardia.

Despite this additional measure, the fetal tachycardia persisted and she then informed Dr. Orozco, the ob-gyn on call at 2:55am via phone. Through the discussion that they had over the phone, and Continued on page 7

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is ministerial interference that has made this situation worst. Over a year ago the Northern Regional had a Belizean Obstetrician who had been providing that care for many years; but the minister got involved and tried to transfer that Doctor to Belmopan and when he refused the transfer he was replaced by a foreign doctor. Doesn’t this remind you of Minister Heredia and the San Pedro police officer?

The Belize Medical Council, whose chairman is Dr. George Gough, has the responsibility to grant license to practice medical care in Belize. They must ensure that these doctors are properly trained and are competent. Does this new doctor have the necessary skill and training to come into a new system and take over the Obstetric Department? These recent cases suggest otherwise.

The CEO Dr Peter Allen gave a brief interview about on-going investigations which he says have not found any negligence or malpractice. Well Mr. CEO, we demand that the results of these investigations be made public and that the investigators be interviewed and present their findings to the Belize Medical Council, the Belize Medical and Dental Association and the wider public. What happened to your promise of Transparency and Accountability?

The Director of Medical Services, Dr. Michael Pitts, has not said a word.

These cases have brought into question both the competence issues of the hospital’s medical staff as well as the administration and delivery of care. Mr. Pitts, don’t you think you have a responsibility to address these issues? We deserve answers from you sir. You have been in that job for over 15 years and with all your perks you are one of the highest paid public officers.

The mothers and families involved in these sad cases deserve answers and an apology, maybe even compensation

or is that reserved only for Guatemalan trespassers? These public officials need to do their jobs and ensure that proper procedures and competent personnel be put in place to ensure that these incident don’t happen again. The public needs to demand that quicker and more decisive action be taken so that in the future it doesn’t take 9 cases of major complications for corrective actions to be taken.

Signed, Concerned Citizen PS: What ever happened to that Association of “Concerned” People/Belizeans?

THE BELIZE TIMES serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continous newspaper.

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

EDITOR

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams 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

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Frightening Changes:

How Friday’s House Meeting will affect you City of Belmopan, Cayo District, November 12, 2012 The UDP have been known to throw each other under the bus. This however is a new low. On Friday, December 14th 2012 there will be a meeting of the House of Representatives. On that day there will a second reading of the law to amend the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act. Ordinarily, most Belizeans do not care about the chitter chatter of politicians in the House but of late the UDP stuttering in Belmopan has shown up on our doorsteps in the form of GSU blood matches, cavity searches of little girl, and land being taken away.

This time the UDP have done two “speak-easy” things. The Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act which allows for the Government to label our neighborhoods “special areas” or “crime ridden areas” has been hacked up and bludgeoned.

Previously the Crime Control Council was the body to give the ok to special designations of areas as crime zones. Now that has been taken away and placed in the hands of the National Security Council. Not a big deal, the untrained eye might say, but this is big

news.

By this change the Government has excluded all the civil society stake holders. The persons who make up the Crime Control Council are supposed to be important independent people. The Government has muted the input in that body.

The Council is made up of a representative of the Council of Churches, a Judge of the Supreme Court, a representative from the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Magistrate, the DPP, Commissioner of Police, the Bar Association, Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the NGO community.

No longer will these persons have an input. In particular, the Council of Churches, the Opposition, the Chamber of Commerce and the Judiciary. These are four very big stakeholders on such an issue of national importance. How can they be shut out and ignored? This is the truth of the effect and intention of the amendment.

What makes matters worse is that the UDP have admitted that they have been the cause of their own failure. The

BELIZE TIMES has been informed that the expressed admission is in black and white.

The bill to amend the CCCJ Act was sent to the Constitutional and Foreign Affairs Committee. It was sent with an explanatory note. The explanatory note said that the reason for the change is that the Crime Control Council which has been chaired by UDP apologist Michael Young for FIVE YEARS is “too unwieldy and virtually dormant.” Unwieldy also means awkward. In essence, the UDP Government is condemning Michael Young as a failure and non-functioning.

Put that in his pious pipe and smoke it.

Michael Young is a lawyer and a

big UDP. He is the attorney for the Party. We at BELIZE TIMES have long said that he has been a disgraceful failure as head of the Crime Control Council.

He had not called a meeting in years.

Then he showed up with his face powdered on national TV to rubber stamp the “crime ridden areas”.This was done after the fact and after the UDP had already launched their attacks on sleeping children and unsuspecting grandmothers in the Mayflower Street Area.

Continued on page 4

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Scrooge Continued from page 1

of fixing about a dozen streets, also has tricked the business community into supporting the UDP’s idea of keeping the city in long-term debt bondage with a municipal bond.

What Mayor Bradley hasn’t told residents is that his Council has no innovative way of creating revenue to pay back the bond and will have to resort to increasing taxes even more on residents and businesses.

You thought the new garbage tax and the doubling of trade license was enough, right?

But the Mayor doesn’t seem to be concerned about the dilapidated and depressed city. In fact, days after the business community willingly supported the bond; Mayor Bradley showed them total disrespect when he abandoned the city to go shopping across the border, over into Chetumal, Mexico.

Mayor Bradley and a caravan of four vehicles that included his father the defacto Mayor, deputy mayor and three councillors and a few other party friends set off to Chetumal, 100 miles away, to spend city funds

on fuel to buy alcohol and goodies for a Christmas staff party last week Friday.

At a time when the city is economically-depressed and in dire need of investment, small, medium and big, the Mayor chose to slap the very same businessmen by going to shop, not away from the city, but outside of the country instead of buying at local stores.

The Mayor apparently forgot that it is the taxes paid by residents and business-houses that are keeping the Council operational and paying his and the eleven lazy Councillors’ fat salaries.

It gets worse. The Mayor and his delegation also got permission to enter and shop at the free zone, which is open to only a privileged few. They were instructed not to purchase beer and soft drinks. But on their return to the city, Customs Officials searched the caravan and in two of the vehicles discovered 14 cases of illegal liquor - 10 cases of Old Milwaukee and four cases of Heineken.

It is unrealistic to believe that Mayor Bradley was unaware of the

contraband items being smuggled out of the free zone by his companions. It is also incredible that if he knew that this was happening, he allowed it.

The reaction to the Mayor’s shameless behaviour has been sweeping. Even the Chamber of Commerce issued a release yesterday, commending the Customs’ officials for the confiscation of the Mayor’s party caravan contraband goods.

Sunday, December 16, 2012 The Chamber urged officials to “set a positive example”.

The release also condemned the negative effect which the Council’s tax increases will have on businesses.

“Many businesses will be subjected to a massive increase in Trade License fees for 2013, in some cases as much as a 200% increase. This has the domino effect of raising exponentially the cost of doing business”, said the release.

Frightening Changes:

Continued from page 1 In equally shocking news, the previous law only allowed for the “crime ridden area” to cover “an area not exceeding one square mile”.

This will be changed on Friday by the UDP. It will now be applied to “any area of Belize”.There is now NO limit to the area. It can be all of Belize City.

Imagine that possibility.

One commentator thought that the reason for this is because the UDP are afraid to label certain specific and well known areas as “crime ridden” so they have tried to use a wide brush to cover any area that they chose to execute police abuses on citizens’ rights.

There is no evidence that the

designation of the “crime ridden areas” is even effective. All that the members of government do is insult each other and wallow around in their incompetence by slamming through legislation after legislation which does not work.

Belizeans are thankful for the watchful eye of the PUP who is on guard. In particular, the vigilance of Deputy Party Leader, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Hon. John Briceno and Hon. Said Musa. They have been teaming up to let the government know that we are monitoring their abuses. No more harmful legislation will pass through the House without the Opposition doing its part to protect the Belizean people.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Contributed The sixty fourth observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) passed in Belize without fanfare or ceremony. It was also the celebration of the silver anniversary of the Human Rights Commission of Belize. Prime Minister Dean Barrow snubbed the activities of the Human Rights activists who have been recharged, resolved and re-commissioned. Instead, the people of Belize have been given more signs that our democracy is ill. Our human rights indicators are in the red and they are flashing at a dangerous boiling point.

The UDHR is of significant importance to our democracy and identity as Belizeans. The Declaration is the very bedrock and skeleton of our rights used to forge our Constitution. The architects of our Constitution extracted so liberally from the Declaration that significant chunks of Part II of the Belizean Constitution reads verbatim and were inserted mutatis mutandis. The effect of this is that every law, subsidiary legislation and statutory instrument must share the same virtues of those Universal rights promulgated in the December 10, 1948 declaration of Human Rights.

This year’s theme for World Human Rights Day is “My Voice Counts”. The special emphasis is “Inclusion and the right to participate in public life.” This focused sub-theme is as timely as it is prophetic to Belize.

If one were to list the top five Universal Human Rights as declared by the UDHR we would find the present Government to be in flagrant breach of each and every one of them. The most basic of human rights are being violated. Last week we editorialised the recent attacks on the freedom of the press and expression.

We sit in front of the news and drink tea while mothers are mutilated and watch the incidence of infant mortality slingshot back to the dark ages. Everyone has a right to health and healthcare; especially, the poor

THE BELIZE TIMES

SHUT UP!

and vulnerable. Belize has a large population of indigent poor struggling below the subsistence line.

Human rights are guaranteed to all.

The UDP rushed into power in a naïve and reckless stampede of the Constitution. The first to be crushed was an attempt to remove compensation for property from the listening ear of the courts. Belizeans’ voice to complain to the court was attacked. In short measure the Mayan’s voice was gagged as their rights to communal land was pulled from under their feet.

Next the UDP, under Barrow’s Administration, took away the voice of the people in the Referendum Act. In that act the voice of Belizeans would be registered and counted if the Government tried to change the same universal rights stored in the Bill of Rights. The Referendum Act was amended to exclude the voice of Belizeans.

Then the human rights voices against Preventative Detention were dismissed and ridiculed until they swelled into the vocal majority.

We can remember the charades that the UDP did with the microphones at the Public “consultations” for the ninth amendment. In terms of human rights, the UDP have tried to cut out the nation’s tongue.

During those proceedings the public was told that they had already voted and they should not speak now. We were told if we are unhappy wait for the next elections.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu put it best “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs…. Every person shall have the … to have access to public service, as well as to free expression, assembly and association. We all should have a voice that counts in our societies. We should all have free, active and meaningful participation in both economic and political affairs.”

Inclusion in governance is the new virtue of human rights. Timothy D. Sisk noted that “Elected governments cannot tackle social problems and economic imperatives without an extensive structural

role from non-governmental actors in civil society. Civil society groups – businesses and unions, professional associations, media, churches, charitable groups and community based organizations should be working more closely with governments in ongoing, collaborative relationships…there has to be a new emphasis on the broader concept of governance – involving citizens and many organizations of civil society in pursuit of the public good, not just official processes of government.”

This is an important message as voter disillusionment is on an alarming increase in Belize. Voter participation has seen a sharp decline from 90.1% in 1998 to 73.2% in 2012. Clearly there is a “growing disaffection with political platforms” as one social research scientist put it.

But Belize has suffered terrible black eyes to Human Rights under this UDP administration.

Another sharp example is the fact the voice of the Ombudsman has been muted as none of the prepared reports which are to be tabled in parliament have been so done by the UDP. All those reports contain the voices of complaining Belizeans against institutions of government.

There has also been no report which can be had from the UDP for the Perception of Corruption Index which would send signals of the suffering that the people of Belize cry from. That voice has been hidden away in the dungeon of the UDP rule. The UDP want to hear nothing. They want to be told nothing. They want Belizeans to shut up. They want Standards and Poors, Moody’s, IDB, Oceana, Barack Obama, the Mayans, black males in Crime Ridden areas, all to shut up.

Human rights in Belize lives not in the narrow corners but is fleshed out in organizations and NGO’s like the Church, Leader of Opposition, National Council on Aging, Belize Council for the Visually Impaired, the Ombudsman,

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Kolbe Foundation, BGYEA, the Police Association, Judiciary, Refugee Organizations, and the Belize Assembly of Persons with Diverse Abilities amongst others. They are the real human rights. The hands and heart of human rights in Belize.

This year again the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is meeting to discuss the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Belize by the Human Rights Committee. The UDP Government has never filed a report.

We Belizeans are not disappointed by this omission. We are flat out disgusted.

The truism in this quote rings loudly as Belizeans are systematically being stripped of their human rights: “Everybody has the right to have their voice heard and to have a role in making the decisions that shape their communities. …The return on that investment is a society tuned to the needs and aspirations of its constituents. Where this fundamental right is respected, each and every one of us is offered the opportunity to join in the debate, to offer ideas, to campaign for change – to participate. Fulfillment of the right to participate in public life is fundamental to the functioning of a democratic society and an effective human rights protection system. Inclusion of ALL in decision-making processes is an essential precondition to the achievement of both.”

The theme “My Voice Counts” proclaims that the values, endorsed by the international community, are legally binding obligations upon the 167 States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Belize demands our voice to be heard that is our right. We demand that our voice counts.

In 2012 we Belizeans reaffirm our right to voice our opinion and to take part in public discourse and decision-making processes without intimidation, threat or fear.

We will not “Shut Up!”

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Castro: Sex, Scandal and Sickness Continued from page 3 system to victimize those they disapprove.

The fact is that stories of Edmund Castro’s “sexcapades” have long and frequently reached the BELIZE TIMES, whether they are his “feedings” of “under-sized tilapias”, the extra-marital children or the rage of violence from cheating caught in the act. We at BELIZE TIMES have restrained ourselves.

But when we were asked to intervene to give a voice to a situation where this UDP politician is being accused of neglecting his own sick child and putting a single mother in fear and under threat from police officers, we have to tell her story. At the end of this Castro should give proper maintenance and financial support for his child. His actions so far are inexcusable.

A young lady has filed an official complaint against Edmund Castro. This young lady works as an “Infection Control Sister… at the Southern Regional Hospital.” She has mothered a now two-year old child with Castro, who is severely ill.

She had to apply to Family Court to force Castro to pay maintenance but somehow Castro, a Minister, is paying only the very minimum by law. He is paying a grand total of $7.14 a day in maintenance to his child.

If you break it down, if all that $7.14 went only to food and nothing else, Castro is giving his little two year old child 42 cents per meal.

Remember this is a sick child who needs medical attention. So not one prescription can be filled or taxi to doctor be paid and not even a pack of pampers can be bought. This is a sin.

The Families and Children Act allows for a mother to take a dead beat dad to court to increase maintenance payments.

We are told that the law says that there should be reasonable financial contributions to the child. That maintenance should be at a level to keep the child at the same quality of life and has no maximum except the means of the father.

Castro, we all know, is loaded. In houses alone, he has three. One in Carmelita, one in St Matthews and one in Belmopan.

We can also point the young lady to his involvement with the selling of three fancy cars for over $60,000. If you want to see the cars just take a peek at mile one and a half on the Phillip Goldson Highway on the opposite side of the road from Courts.

Then we ask the Integrity Commission to assist this young lady in investigating the relationship between Castro and all the foreign-held food stalls at the various bus stops nationwide. If you notice all those booths have been taken away from locals like Radiance Thompson in Belmopan and somehow they end up in the hands of whom Belizeans would call ‘Turks”.

So with all this money why is Castro paying a measly 42 cents to his sick two year old son? But it gets much worse. The young lady is being harassed by police officers who say that they have been sent by Castro. This is a trend from the UDP if you look at what Manuel Heredia did in San Pedro recently. They interfere with the Police and have them do their personal bidding.

The young lady has filed a formal complaint to the UDP. She did this on November 6, 2012 when things escalated and she must have felt fear. She notes in that com-

plaint sent to us by a sympathetic female within the UDP, “that I was contacted via phone and visited at my workplace by one Mr. Ferrefino Coc, a sergeant assigned to the CIB Branch here in Dangriga.” She was harassed and threatened, she complains in the report. That report is sent to Patrick Faber and copied to the Prime Minister Barrow.

She noted that the Police man came to threaten/warn her not about Castro’s wife but rather about the new sweetheart of Castro, who we are told is an unassuming and very young woman who was also impregnated by Castro. Has Castro abandoned two families and started a third, we are told.

The nurse further complained that

“I fear that Minister Castro is abusing his power as a minister and is resorting to intimidation tactics to gain frugal control of an embarrassing situation which he and he alone created by his philandering ways. I fear that he is of the opinion that he is mighty, untouchable, and above reproach.”

She begged Faber, “As party chairman, I humbly request that you address this matter.” She pleaded on behalf of her innocent young child who is sick. Yet they have escalated their pressure on her to remain quite and continue to punish in silence with the child.

We at BELIZE TIMES are on the side of the innocent victims. Castro’s actions are unbecoming and shameful. What kind of example is this? We at BELIZE TIMES want this to end in the name of all that is

Sunday, December 16, 2012

good and holy.

We have received information that this scandal has become a big nasty ordeal. Our information is that Castro believes that a UDP official might be planning to use the complaint as blackmail to have him deliver votes in the upcoming Deputy Leadership Convention. Please say it ain’t so. It is not about a win. It is about a sick two year old, we repeat again.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Northern Regional Hospital nurse defends her competence Continued from page 1 to my amazement, they attributed the fetal tachycardia to the mother’s prolonged fasting. The medical order given at that time was to continue the same management already in place and to continue monitoring.

At 3:55am, after confirming that the fetal heart rate was consistently high (>160bpm), I practically begged Dr. Romero to inform Dr. Orozco of the lack of improvement. This was to no avail!

Short of physically force, I am not sure of how much more assertive I can be.

At 4:00am, after almost 4 hours of dealing with his frustrating situation in which I felt that a solution was not being sought, my stress level was at its maximum. With the intention of regrouping my thoughts, I asked Ms. Cadle to monitor Ms. Reina for a while. She gracefully did so for 40 minutes as we share the concept of teamwork. Let me point out that I was throughout this time, sitting at the nursing station and most importantly, at NO time was the patient left without nursing care/monitoring.

Keep in mind also that nurses are frequently forced, under the threat of a “bad appraisal”, to work double shifts (16 continuous hours). We are therefore working under stressful mental and physical conditions. This is only made worse when the doctors fail to act promptly to give resolution to the problems that we, as nurses, in a timely fashion detect. This is not a vague assumption as I am willing to demonstrate this, with patients’ charts in hand.

At 4:40am I resumed monitoring of Ms. Reina at which point the fetal heart rate was between 158 and 160bpm and still indicative of unfavorable intra uterine condition.

At 5:30am , rupture of membrane occurred and clear amniotic fluid was seen.

At 7:00am , I handed over my patient to the nurses of the morning shift.

The fetal heart rate was between 158162bpm.

You accuse me of allow my “integrity to be called into question”, but in reality said integrity is being questioned precisely by the persons who in fact, did not act in a timely manner; one of them who in the comfort of her bed, at her home and via the telephone, attributed the persistent fetal tachycardia to “prolonged maternal fasting”.

The fact is that Ms. Reina came to NRH with the brightest hopes of delivering a health child to this world after adequate and uneventful prenatal control and after all the tests and ultrasound confirmed that the baby was normal and healthy. Sadly, such was not the case. Nonetheless, I can say with a clean conscience, that this unfortunate outcome was not as a result of unprofessional nursing care. In fact, I can say that I tried as much as possible, to sound the alarm bells from very early when another course of action could have changed this tragic outcome.

Respectfully, Ms. Yonette Jones Practical Nurse/Midwife

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Taxi careens off Philip Goldson Highway Belize City, December 12, 2012 A taxi vehicle, driven by an unidentified person, careened off the Phillip Goldson Highway just before midnight on Tuesday.

The vehicle with license plate C06705 flipped over several times before landing upside down inside a drain, several feet away from residential homes around Miles 3 ½. The driver escaped with only minor scratches. He was

shaken.

Residents say they heard a speeding car and then the sound of metal scraping on the asphalt road.

Residents say they have asked the Ministry of Works to erect speed bumps in their vicinity to contain the reckless driving that occurs along the highway.

After many preventable deaths and calls for speed bumps along the highway, between the Buttonwood Bay Drive and Haulover Bridge, the Ministry of Works is finally taking some action.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Sunday, December 16, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Party Leader

Francis Fonseca

at work: 18 villages in 2 days

Belize City, December 10, 2012 On December 7th and 8th, Party Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca carried out a working tour of the Stann Creek Constituency visiting 18 village communities in two days. The Party Leader was accompanied on this non-stop working visit by Stann Creek West Representative Hon. Rodwell Ferguson; Toledo East Representative Hon. Mike Espat; Dangriga Representative Hon. Ivan Ramos; and Toledo West Representative Hon. Oscar Reque単a.

The Party Leader and the Southern Team were met by enthusiastic and energetic supporters and village residents at each and every stop along the way. Meetings were held in community centers, yards, schools, basketball courts, football fields, and in homes.

The message from the Party Leader was loud and clear: the PUP appreciates and values the people of our rural communities and we will always fight for the interests of these communities who have so many basic and important needs.

The tour included the following villages: Silk Grass, Hopkins, Sittee River, Maya Center, Santa Rosa, San Roman, Maya Mopan, Georgetown, Independence, Cowpen, Red Bank, Santa Cruz, Pomona, Alta Vista, Steadfast, Valley Community, Middlesex, and Hummingbird communities

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, December 16, 2012

“No Apologies” Tourism Minister Manuel Herredia admits to interfering in Police business Belize City, December 10, 2012 The title of Tourism Minister must have gone to UDP Belize Rural South area representative Manuel Herredia’s head and his arrogance was on full display as he expressly confessed to interfering in the work of the San Pedro Police, even going as far as urging the Commissioner of Police to remove of a highly-respected female Police Officer.

The result of Herredia’s actions has been the dastardly transfer of the officer, former Head of Tourism Police in San Pedro, Sharmane Young, and the lowering of Police morale.

It all has to do with WPC Young’s arrest of a tourist, 43 year old Lisa Merz of New York, U.S.A., who appears to be an associate of Herredia. WPC Young was searching a Belizean believed to have been selling illegal drugs on the beach area, when during the search, Merz reportedly started shouting at Officer Young. It allegedly escalated and Merz became physically aggressive with the female Corporal.

While detained Merz had a visit from the Minister who demanded her release. This high-level interference was resisted by the no-nonsense officer commanding the San Pedro Police Formation, Viennie Robinson.

Merz was eventually charged with using indecent words, using insulting words, boisterous behavior, assaulting a uniformed police officer and resisting lawful police arrest.

She pleaded guilty to all the charges except “assaulting a uniformed police officer” and was made to pay the Court fines totaling $1,350.

The BELIZE TIMES understands that Herredia was furious over the arrest. He admitted that a few months ago, he asked Commissioner of Police to “transfer this officer elsewhere”. But what gives the Tourism Minister the notion that he can interfere in Police business in such an arbitrary manner?

Herredia claimed that he gets his authority by virtue that he is the Tourism Minister. He says he can deal “all issues re-

ASP Viennie Robinson

(photo courtesy The San pedro Sun)

WPC Sharmane Young (photo courtesy The San pedro Sun)

lated to tourism” and since Merz is not a regular person, but a tourist, he decided to intervene.

But Herredia seems to have done much more than that – he went after the livelihood of an officer who swore to protect and serve the country. After the incident of Merz’s arrest, WPC Young received a letter of transfer, informing her that she will be posted in Placencia as of December 15th.

But it doesn’t end there. Herredia, in cahoots with the Compol, could also be behind the removal of the island’s Police Chief, Assistant Superintendent Viennie Robinson. ASP Robinson is respected and known by her colleagues as a disciplinarian. She has resisted the attempts by Minister Herredia to interfere in her work and Continued on page 31

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Belize fails global

transparency standards Belize City, December 10, 2012 The Government of Belize, under the direction of Prime Minister Dean Barrow, seems to be terribly afraid of scrutiny by the international community.

Ever since 2009, one year after the UDP won its first term, the Government has denied the global corruption watch group, Transparency International, access to Government and country data for the agency to carry out its annual review of corruption.

As a result, in 2009, 2010, 2011, and once more in December 2012, Transparency International unveiled its globally-recognized survey, known as the Transparency International corruption index, and Belize wasn’t in the list of countries.

Bad record The last time Belize appeared on the Transparency International Index was 2008, at the end of the last PUP term.

This year’s research was based on 13 data sources. In order for a country to appear in the Index, there must be data available on at least three data sources.

Belize’s record was so miserable, that of the 13 sources required, it barely made it on TWO. Those two were the Global Insight Country Risk Ratings and the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey.

Some of the critical data unavailable for Belize include the Economist Intelligence Unit Country Risk Ratings, the Transparency International Bribe Payers Survey 2011, World Bank - Country Policy and Institutional Assessment 2011 and World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2012.

Responding to a question about the lack of data from Belize, a Transparency International source told the BELIZE TIMES that they try to find alternate sources.

“We will continue to review available data sources and include them when valid, but unfortunately we are unable to influence the data providers on a country by country basis,” said the source.

What is there to hide?

It is as clear as mud why the Barrow Administration has constantly stonewalled Transparency International.

If the Government were serious about meeting global transparency standards it should not be afraid of scrutiny.

It is one of the best forms of monitoring and evaluation, which would only help since it exposes areas of strength and weakness that exist.

But the Barrow Administration hasn’t shown any serious attempt to become more transparent, not globally nor locally. In fact, here at home there have been numerous attempts to muzzle freedom of speech, including the Government’s

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THE BELIZE TIMES

boycott of Channel 5, the manipulation of Government agencies to divert their advertising dollars to Government-friendly media only, threatening businesses with heavy-handed tax monitoring and harassment should they advertise with this Opposition newspaper, and the criminalisation of public protests.

There have also been cases of gross political interference in one of the important arms of Government – the Judiciary. Through a high controversial constitutional amendment – Constitutional Amendment #9 – the Government removed the Court’s ability to review matters involving decisions taken by the House of Representatives – even if they were undemocratic or draconian. This amendment, conspired by Prime Minister Barrow, is identical to the decree issued by Egypt’s Prime Minister Morsi, which has led to public protests and major instability in that middle-eastern country. In Belize, the hue and cry blew over like a breeze, as Barrow expected.

The elephants in the room Then there is the most-glaring evidence of the Barrow Administration’s nose-thumbing to the international community – the expropriations of the utility companies under the pretence of nationalisation.

Since 2009, when Barrow strongarmed the phone company and then the electricity company a year later, there has been no compensation for the previous owners. Additionally, Barrow’s friends and family members were inserted in the management team of those companies to collect fat salaries while the Prime Minister’s favoured law-firms have benefitted from the long-standing and expensive legal tangle which the expropriations have resulted in.

Why it matters It matters for Belize to at least appear in the Index. The data is closely monitored by investors, economists, and civil society campaigners. It is an indicator of the strength of a country’s democracy and rule of law.

Most importantly, it tells the world how corrupt free or not a nation is perceived to be. This could explain the central reason why the UDP Government fears Transparency International.

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 Mortgage under a Deed of Mortgage made the 10th day of March, 2011, between SHELLMA-DEAN MOSSIAH of Lot No. 50 Westlake, Mile 8 Western Highway, 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. 6 of 2011 at Folios 683 – 692, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

SCHEDULE ALL THAT LEASEHOLD INTEREST IN ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 50 situate on the southern side of the Western Highway, Mile 8, Belize District and bounded as follows:- On the North for a total distance of 29.995 metres by Lot Nos. 54 and 55; On the South for 30.995 metres by Lot No. 48; On the East for 14.997 metres by a street; and On the West for 14.997 metres by Lot No. 51, containing 464.832 square meters of land as shown on Plan No. 2042 at the office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 6th day of December, 212.

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

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Belizean & UWI Team win World Human Rights Moot Court Competition Pretoria, South Africa, December 10th, 2012 For the third consecutive year, the Norman Manley Law School took home the winning trophy in the Human Rights World Moot Court Competition.

The contest was held at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa, on Monday, World Human Rights Day, and the University pulled off a record achievement over several prestigious law institutions from around the world.

Among the team is Belizean senior law student Leslie

world enter the competition including U.S. institutions.

Participants in the competition are required to argue a hypothetical case on a non-discrimination issue,

Leslie Mendez (R) along with members of the team Darynka Mendez, the daughter of PUP Orange Walk East Area Representative Hon. Marco Tulio Mendez. The other members were Kemoy McEkron and Tiffany Stewart. The team was coached by Nancy Anderson.

About 45 Universities from across the

using all of the conventions on human rights. They must argue both the respondent’s and appellant’s sides, which requires them to prepare both sides of the argument.

This Week’s

Sunday, December 16, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

BELIZETIMES SUNDAY DECEMBER 16, 2012 13

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

TOP MODEL Scenes from

photos by Will Moreno

CATWALK Fashion Show 2012

Charlyn • • • •

Height: 5’ 8” Career Plan: Nurse Sign: Scorpio Favourite Food: Turkey Dinner • Likes: Dancing, Basketball Exercising • Lives in Belize City • Fav. Quote: “Aim for the highest in life if you want to achieve the best for yourself”

CATWALK FASHIONS What’s Hip...What’s Hot...What’s Now!

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Phone: 203-2936 / 620-7481 #148 Cor. Queen & North Front Streets Belize City, Belize

Photo by Richard Holder

14 SPORTS 14

THE BELIZE TIMES

THE BELIZE TIMES

DEC Sunday, December1616, 2012

2012

BWS are champs

Belize City 2012 Firms’ Basketball Finals

BWSL are 2012 firms’ basketball champions Belize City, December 8, 2012 Belize Water Services Ltd won the Belize City firms’ basketball finals Games 1 and 2 against Ports Belize Ltd at Bird’s Isle last Friday and Saturday nights.

BWS outlasted the Port 58-51 after a buzzer beater win 53-50 over Ports on Friday night. Travis Lennon had drained in a long 3-pointer as he scored 21 pts and snagged 11 boards. After taking the lead 16-15 in the first quarter, BWS remained on top throughout; 33-30 at intermission; and 47-35 at the third quarter.

Karim Thompson also scored 21 points and eight rebounds for BWS. Lennox bowman led the Port with 17 points, 5 boards. Leroy Forbes scored 9 points and 13 rebounds, while Warren Garcia scored 8 points and Kent Franklin added 7 points.

BWS received the championship team trophy and individual trophies in the awards ceremony and the Ports Belize team received the 2nd place team trophy and each player received an individual trophy.

Lennox Bowman

Smart Mundialito under-15 football championship

Hattieville United defeats Brown Bombers in Mundialito finals

Hativille United are champs Belize City, December 9, 2012 The Hattieville United Youth Sporting Club won the Smart Mundialito under-15 football championship, upsetting the up-to-then undefeated Brown Bombers 1-0 in the finals at the M.C.C. garden on Sunday.

Kenyon Lewis and Mario Ri-

U12 selection

Benson Matthews

vera led the Hattieville offensive, but the stiff Bombers’ defense held them scoreless up to the half time break. Sherwin Requena and Tyreek Muschamp led the Bombers’ offensive, supported by Shemar Thompson and Bernard Bailey on the wings and Jaheem Thomas and Keenan Rowley at midfield, but it was a scoreless draw at the half.

In the 2nd half, Kenyon Lewis got off a shot that beat the goalie for Hattieville’s first winning goal.

The Hattieville defender goofed with a hand-ball infraction and the central referee “Chubby” ruled penalty. Sherwin Requeña stepped up to convert, but again goalie Rodwell Viamill proved up to the challenge, stopping the ball and the Hattieville quickly recovered to deny the Bombers another try and secure the 1-0 championship win.

SMART/Speednet marketing manager Anthony Mahler was on hand to present the championship trophy to Hattieville United, the 2nd place trophy to the Bombers, and the 3rd place trophy to the United Rangers. All winners also received individual trophies.

Mahler also presented the individual awrds for Most Goals to Tyrique “Hammer” Ciego, Best Forward – Sherwin Requena, Best midfield – Mario Rivera, Best Defense – Glen Arzu, Best Goalie – Gregory Fisher and Most Valuable Player - Tyrique Ciego

16 DECDecember 16, 2012 Sunday,

BELIZE TIMES THE BELIZETHE TIMES

2012

15 SPORTS 15

National Primary School Football Championships

BES girls are football championships Belize City, December 7, 2012 The Belize Elementary School girls won the national primary school football championships at the Institute of Technical, Vocational and Employment Training (ITVET) football field on Friday, December 7, when they defeated the Santa Elena Primary School in the penalty shootout.

BES’ Donna Che, Keila Oyuela and Chelsea Williams scored, but only Shantel Robinson scored for Santa Elena as MVP goalie Iyannie Castillo stopped the Cayo girls’ three tries.

The champions, 2nd and 3rd place winners each received team trophies and individual medals in

the award ceremonies, and the Most Valuable Player award went to BES goalie Iyannie Castillo for stopping 6 penalties.

BES are champs

How they advanced: BES vs. Trial Farm Government School – 3-0 (Penalty) Goals by Allyssa Mckenzie, Iyannie Castillo, Donna Che Santa Elena Primary vs. Ranchito Government School – 4-1 Goals by Shantel Robinson, Jinelly Betancourt, Sheriece Williams, Marie Fernandez, Becky Cassanova Holy Ghost RC vs. BES – 1-0

Goal by Kaylin Mejia Golden Stream girls vs. Santa Elena Primary - 3-2 (Penalty) Goals by Regina Caal, Emma Pop, Ellia Pop, Shantel Robinson, Shelby Smith Holy Ghost RC vs. Trial Farm Government School - 1-0 Goal by Destiny Garcia Golden Stream girls vs. Ranchito Government School – 2-0 Goals by Benita Bah, Jesseca Caal

Santa Elena Primary vs.

Holy Ghost RC – 2-0 Goals by Sheriece Williams (2) BES girls vs. Golden Stream girls – 1-0 (semifinals) Goal by Chloe Kelly Holy Ghost RC vs. Golden Stream girls – 2-0 Goals by Destiny Garcia, Kaylin Mejia

National High School Basketball Finals

SCA defeats Wesley, advances to nationals

National Primary School Football Championships

SCA’s Gilda Estrada

Belize City, December 10, 2012 The defending national basketball champs, the St Catherine’s Academy girls will represent the Central Division in the national high school basketball finals following their defeat of the Wesley College girls at Bird’s Isle on Friday, December 7.

SCA and Wesley were tied up 6-6 at the end of the 1st quarter. Wesley improved their scoring in the 2nd quarter, and took over the lead 17-13 at the half time break. The same continued after the half time, with Wesley’s lead

Faith Nazarene boys win football champs at 20-17 by the end of the 3rd quarter.

In the 4th quarter, SCA clamped down its half of the court. Indie Dixon scored 17 points for SCA and Gilda Estrada added 12 points as they tied the game at 25-25 to go into overtime. Genae Samuels scored all 5pts for Wesley in the overtime, but Chelsi Noralez scored 2pts and Gilda Estrada 4ps for the 31-30 win to take the championship.

The basketball nationals will be held in Independence Village, on Friday and Saturday December 14-15.

Cayo boys are champs

Farron Louriano

Belize Bank Bulldogs & Tuff e’Nuff clash in Game 3

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THE BELIZE TIMES

The Prime Minister’s Oil Scandal(s) Belize City, December 11, 2012 The oil refinery lie, fooling motorists with cheap and inferior gas while pretending to lower prices at the pump (another scam) and more deferred debt with a Venezuelan lifeline.

The Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow, is said to have visited an Obeah man recently. According to our source, the Obeah man advised him to stop lying about his promise to invest in an oil refinery in Belize. It is said that the PM pretended that he never knew that this promise was not feasible. When the Witch-doctor showed him reasons and told him to stop taking the people of Belize for fools, he pretended that the Obeah man’s revelation was an epiphany to him. “You know me, I would never…” and his conversation faded as he left the darkness of the Obeah man’s shack and began to see the light.

The fact is that after his controversial move to expropriate the utility companies, some (only some) of his supporters began clamoring for more red meat and calling for the “nationalization” of Belize Natural Energy, the company that first discovered oil in Belize in 2006. He knew that this was dicey and that this could have been a very formidable challenge without another high-jacking of the Belize Constitution as a result of his marginal majority in the Legislature. Such a move would have resulted negatively for any further oil exploration in Belize. So he hedged his bet on an alternative political gimmick and promised oil refinery that was easier to explain

away. He also had to say something to pull a trick from his diminished hat-of-tricks to appease the electorate after his big promise to “lower” the price of gasoline at the pump “no matter what”. Since then gasoline prices have more than doubled.

It is alleged that Barrow’s government, and more specifically, one of his Ministers, has taken a huge bribe from a Guatemalan oil company. This under-the-table-deal also included campaign financing for the general elections in February of this year.

The trade-off was that the oil exploration licence to Belize Natural Energy (BNE) would not be renewed.

One of Barrow’s cohorts also recently negotiated a new deal for the purchase of inferior and very cheap gasoline from Santo Domingo. This gas is literally almost from the bottom of the barrel, to borrow industry parlance. Local auto dealers say that customers who recently purchased vehicles from them have complained about engine problems caused by this cheap and low grade gas with which they unknowingly fill their tanks. Industry sources say that the quality of this gasoline, which the government is allowing to be imported into Belize from Santo Domingo, is far below acceptable international quality. But the government’s earnings from this very cheap gasoline have increased as there has not been any significant reduction in the prices at the pumps.

Other inside information from Belmopan suggests that UNO, the new company in Belize that recently acquired Texaco and in effect the traditional reliable source of quality gasoline and diesel, is being threatened by the government’s new partners and its very cheap and inferior gasoline which does not meet acceptable standards in the petroleum industry - nor for motorists.

THE OIL REFINERY PROMISE Even when Prime Minister Dean Barrow was preparing to announce that he will establish an oil refinery in Belize he

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that Jing Biao Tan is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Milly’s Store”, San Estevan Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

already knew that he was telling a big lie. But, as usual, he defied his advisors and oil industry sources who were telling him that this proposition was not feasible. But he had to perform some antics for his electorate.

It was election time and he had to say something as they were getting angrier and angrier that he had failed in his first election promise to drastically reduce gasoline prices and a million other promises that he has not and will not fulfill – reducing the cost of living, for instance, or more investments or even jobs.

It was not surprising when a few weeks ago he announced “that having examined the economics” of oil in Belize he now realizes that an oil refinery is not feasible. Industry sources said as early as 2006 that even with Belize’s potential reserves of oil, an oil refinery would not be economically possible. Even when he was in Opposition, Barrow knew this.

Belize would have to produce 6 thousand barrels of sweet crude oil every day to make talk of an oil refinery even a consideration given the proxContinued on page 17

Notice is hereby given that Jing Biao Tan is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Milly’s Store”, San Estevan Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Jaime Briceño is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “One Stop Service Station”, 29 Belize Corozal Road, Orange Walk Town under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Dalia and Crystal Samos are applying for a Malt & Cider License to be operated at “D’ Ceviche Hut”, #5672 Vasquez Avenue, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Francine August is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “The Wet Lizard”, #1 Fort Street, Belize City under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Chao Gui Cao is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Everyday Fast Food”, Hattieville Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Chao Gui Cao is applying for a Publican General Liquor License to be operated at “Everyday Fast Food”, Hattieville Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Prime Minister’s Oil Scandal(s) Continued from page 16 imity of other refineries within the region and the transportation cost vis-à-vis a new turn- key refinery here. Presently BNE produces 3 barrels of oil per day. This is after investing $92 million in oil exploration.

Despite appearing to be a good corporate citizen, their oil exploration licence has not and will not be renewed. They have not been given any explanation but there will be a new company on their bloc.

LOSS OF OIL REVENUE While Mr. Barrow has moaned the significant loss of revenue from oil production, a lot of this has to do with him and his government’s destructive policies. The denial of the renewal of BNE’s exploration licence has certainly put a stop to their oil exploration efforts, which could have by now, boosted production were it not for his government’s vindictive policies and corruption. It is a part of the UDP’s DNA to hate, to stifle growth and to suffocate success.

One of the many problems Barrow has had with BNE was that the failure to re-negotiate their Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). This PSA is based on the advice of some of the best minds in the global petroleum industry. The government’s

total take from oil revenue is about 59 percent of oil income (Peru’s is the next best at 62 percent, volume considered).

This includes 40 percent income tax, 7.5 percent for Royalties, a production share of 1.5 percent and a working interest of 10 percent. If Barrow had tried to get a bigger bite from the PSA this would upset further exploration, even for his new found friends in Guatemala.

But Barrow may also be upset with BNE after one of his political cronies tried, unsuccessfully, to skim money from the BNE Trust Fund for a political agenda. We do know that the very credible former Chairlady of the Board of the BNE Trust Fund, with the support of the Board refused to support the hustle. She paid for her principles and her refusal to corrupt the Fund with her job.

PERENCO OILAND GAS While BNE will no longer continue oil exploration, as the government without any explanation refused to renew its exploration licence, a Company out of Guatemala, Perenco Oil and Gas, has been granted the same oil exploration licence previously held by BNE. It is a British-based company with a global interest and has been operating in Guatemala since 2001. It has been alleged that this company in Guatemala, Perenco, made very generous contributions to Mr. Barrow’s and that of his Party’s re-election campaign.

CHEAP AT THE PUMPS BUT EXPENSIVE FOR YOUR CAR Fully aware of the hanky-panky and the serious implications, out of desperation the Prime Minister recently gave his blessings to an unscrupulous deal to import very cheap and inferior quality gasoline from Santo Domingo. Industry sources have described this gasoline as literally being from the bottom of a barrel and next to the sludge in the oil refinery process.

One of the Barrow’s lackies and a member of the Board of Directors of Belize Electricity Ltd., was given the go ahead to enter into a deal with Puma Energy, a subsidiary of another company, Trafigura. PUMA recently took over control of Esso in Belize. Under this agreement PUMA is reportedly importing very cheap but inferior quality gasoline.

Several motorists have been complaining about the effect of this very inferior gasoline on their car engines. We understand that even the Prime Minister’s luxury vehicle was affected.

For a brief period the price of gasoline fell a few weeks ago. While the prices are now back up this means that both PUMA and the Government of Belize are making greater profits.

Reliable sources have described PUMA as “an octopus” on the Belizean market. This source warns that UNO and Shell in Belize, and with the

17 traditional and reliable source of internationally acceptable gasoline, could very well be taken over

by PUMA with the support of the underhanded machinations of the Barrow administration.

We understand that the favored new fuel company is also helping this government to negotiate a new “Superbond” with Venezuela or for a re-negotiation of the current Petro-Caribe agreement. Under the previous agreement, the Government of Belize was able to obtain financing as it is only required to pay 60 percent of the cost upfront for petroleum it imports from Venezuela. This is helping Barrow’s government to live off life support.

Barrow badly needs this, along with any friends that he can find, to stop the national economy from total collapse - more so, when he tries to bite every hand, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, that has provided so much assistance to Belize. In the latter cases, his minions are now trying to clean up his vomit but he appears to have a serious stomach problem that is constantly producing venom. Now having a failed economy, he should dismount from his lofty pedestal and taste a little humble pie. For all of us, that would be a good thing.

18

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Of this and that…

DYING BREED Life is a cycle. Revolution and icons come in and out of world history. An era is passing.

Mr. Price is gone. He was one in a league of super heroes. Political legends.

His other super friends are sick.

Fidel Castro is not feeling well. Then Hugo Chavez is fighting cancer. He sounds like he is almost leaving a will.

A will of his political wishes for a successor. This is sad.

Then Nelson Mandela is fading quickly. He recently had a lung infection. He was rushed to the hospital.

To everything there is an end. But it is hard to watch.

The world should be anxious. We need replacements. Revolutionaries are important for balance. Their defiance gives the poor a chance. The forgotten are made relevant. The Davids of the world slay Goliaths. We all have hope.

Who is next? Who is the next Mandela, Malcolm, Castro, Chavez and Price?

DEADLY ENEMIES In December 2011, Iran announced to the world that it captured an advanced spy plane from the USA that had flown over its airspace.

The RQ-170 Sentinel Drone was operated by the C.I.A. for spy missions over Iran. Iran showed photos of the drone.

On Monday, December 10, 2012 Iran announced that its experts, without asking for help from China or Russia, had decoded all the recent information stored in the drone’s computer system.

Iran and the U.S.A. are deadly enemies.

UDP: BEST OPPOSITION EVER The UDP are an insecure bunch.

They are childish. They are petty.

They really are not designed to be a Government. They are high-quality Opposition material. That is their history. That is their training.

When the UDP won in 2008, Belize lost the best opposition since the Mayans. The UDP is designed and programed to be a perpetual Opposition Party. They are not made to govern.

They admit this often in different ways.

Their concern is not building. Their common bond is hate. They live on revenge.

Being in two terms of government is punishing to them.

Ideas are not a feature of that Party. Hate is. Confusion is. Arrogance is.

Hypocrisy is. Bitterness is. Disappointment is.

This is the first time the PUP has been out of Government for more than five years. They are not accustomed to being an Opposition. The PUP was born as a Party to govern. They are a Party of ideas. Of vision. Of nation building.

Latta smart pipple.

The PUP will never adjust to being

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THE BELIZE TIMES

in Opposition. It is engrained in them to serve. They have a poor record of attracting politicians. They attract leaders. They are preoccupied with delivering better to Belize.

They are also a Party of sex and love. So, one member described them.

KHALED MESHAL At the age of 11 years, he and his family had to flee their homeland when Israel invaded the West Bank and Gaza in 1967. Israel has held on to those two pieces of land ever since, despite international condemnation and United Nations’ Resolutions to return them to Palestinians.

Last year, he returned on a visit after 45 years in exile. He is the radical leader of Hamas. Khaled Meshal stood on a stage with the Prime Minister of Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh.

The stage had a huge rocket called M-75, which can reach Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel.

Meshal, told the hundreds of thousands who attended a rally, that they will drive the Israeli invaders from Gaza and West Bank and will regain their homeland as the new independent nation of Palestine.

Two weeks ago the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to grant Palestine observer membership status.

Israel and the U.S.A. were bitterly opposed. Britain did not vote.

STOP IT Police are not liked. They will never be winners. It is not 100% their fault.

We take them for granted. They tend to abuse their power. Cruffy do not trust Police.

The police have a bad history. It is a history of abuse. It is a history of incompetence. It is a political history.

The last Commissioner was more entertainment than results. No one would mistake the current Commissioner for a genius. Poor guy. Clueless.

UDP handpicked. They get a lot past him. Belize should pat him on the head and give him a lollipop. Poor guy.

The UDP choice for the next Commissioner is the son of a rabid UDP. His father is a failed Minister of Government. He is Elodio Aragon. The public was trying to warm up to the boy.

Then he started to act like a puppet. Defending political victimization of a female officer in San Pedro. He could not stop there. He lost all credibility and likeability. He lost it when he said “crime is down”. What foolishness.

He said crime is down…wait… but murders are up! Hurray!!! He actually said this. That curl of hair at the front of his head must be affecting his thoughts. We do not want the UDP and their puppets and parrots to tell us foolishniss. Ask any eight year old. Crime is up. We just broke a murder record.

If there was no crime, there would be no news in Belize.

No more of the stats. No more.

Crime is down????? Stop it!

You are making no sense.

JUST SAYING What is it with these political idiots?

I checked my TV. I thought something was wrong with the color. I went on the roof and turned the line stick with the antenna. I put fresh foil paper on the end of the TV antenna.

The UDP are in office to fatten themselves. They are doing it in a facey way. They have up their red flags.

Whenever the little UDP jankroos go on TV to show that they are wasting tax payers money they wear a red shirt.

John Avery makes sure that he washes his shirt by hand. No Foca soap powder. He wears it in revenge.

He hated BEL. They fired him.

Kenworth Tillet had his life “partner” iron his red shirt with Niagara starch. He was thinking on his cut. 9 million for the municipal strip. Money fi mek.

John August is a UDP roach. He had on his red “shut”. It is a thank you card for the BWS job. Rich mi seh.

Rafael Martinez is a robot. He is the Police Press officer. He emails out the same script he reads out. He is monotonous. He is losing all credibility. He traded his soul. For a political post. Yap it is political. Delroy “endomorph” Cutkelvin is also one of three police press officers. Then Martinez ran for his red “shut” and tie! He took his to the dry cleaners. It was his sign of political allegiance.

The red shirt is a sign. It means that the persons wearing the shirt do not deserve their jobs. They never would have gotten the job without the shirt. The red shirt reminds the political bosses of their blind loyalty. They have one master. They are for political pleasure. They massage the UDP and give them happy endings. They care not for the people of Belize.

Just the satisfaction of their political bosses.

The red shirt is a sign of incompetence. It is an emblem of abuse. It is a warning sign. It means that we are in danger.

It is an insult to you.

DONOVAN RENAEU This is an amazing brother. He is blind. He lost his sight after an accident. He was 13yrs old. Nothing has stopped him. He is a radio DJ. He is a body builder. He trained at the old Hostel Gym. He was trained by Ms. Joan Samuels. Donovan is the Vice President of the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired. BCVI they are called.

No one can tell him he is blind.

Big respect. People who can see cannot hold a candle to Donovan.

Me seh so.

BCVI is doing a work in Belize.

Silently. There are other legends before Donovan like Hector Hoare. He has passed away.

But there is a new generation of visually impaired heroes. There is 24 year old Richard Genus and Charles Chiac. They are DJ’s. They are from PG. They work on Wamalali radio station. They are in UB too.

Rohan has all our hearts. He is so articulate. He climbed the highest

point in Belize. He is also blind. He is going to do big things. You watch it.

Teresita Moh is also visually impaired. She is going to graduate in a few months. She is one of the few 3% of our children who make it to university.

Rather than wasting money on killers and gangbangers the government should be bigging up these champion citizens.

Teresita, Rohan, Richard, Charles, and Donovan, maximum respect.

THE CONGO The country named Congo used to be Zaire.

It has a population of 68 million Africans. Most of them do not have access to electricity and running water. Their per capita income annually is $280. This is less than it was in 1960 when the Congo gained independence from Belgium.

How could this be?

The leaders of the Congo have been selling out the copper and other mineral mines to foreign companies at cheap prices for under the table bribes.

Sounds familiar?

RUBBER DUCKS Last month the Government of Belize issued the BDF with rubber bullets to patrol our Western Border with Guatemala.

This incredible move by Belize came after Guatemala and Britain insisted that Belize adopt this approach following the last shooting death by the BDF of a Guatemalan trespasser into our territory.

Belize was also forced to apologize and pay compensation for the killing.

What a ting.

STRAW BROOMS Not everyone in Belize has carpet.

Vacuums are not “the thing”. Carpets are expensive. Belize’s weather, street and dust, does not gel with fancy carpet. Cruffy dah marley pipple.

You cannot use vacuum on marley/ linoleum. We still use brooms.

Lots of the brooms are imported.

The best brooms know the corners, they say. But the best brooms used to be made locally. They were made of straw.

Now the brooms are all fancy plastic brooms. We noh want that. Give us the old fashioned Belizean made straw brooms. Those are becoming hard to find.

There was a company in Coro that made the straw brooms. They were in Santa Elena. They made quality parlour brooms and mops.

Unu noh stap, please.

XMAS WORD OF ADVICE Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Recipe of the week Christmas Cake

Throughout the Caribbean there are many different versions of our Belizean Black cake. All of our cakes are versions of the traditional English Christmas Pudding. Here’s a version of a Jamaican Christmas Cake.

Ingredients • 1/2 pound unsalted butter • 1/2 pound brown sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2 teaspoons lime juice • 1 teaspoon lime zest • 6 eggs • 6 ounces fresh bread crumbs • 6 ounces flour • 1 tablespoon (or less) browning or substitute (for colouring) • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1 cup Cuello’s White rum • 1 pint Port • 4 cups mixed marinated fruit, recipe follows, squeezed and finely chopped

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla, lime juice and lime zest.

3. Add the eggs 1 at a time, and incorporate well.

4. Combine breadcrumbs, flour, all the spices, baking powder, and salt.

5. Combine rum and port in a separate container. Add flour mixture alternately with rum/port mixture into the batter.

6. Add browning and fold in the chopped marinated fruit.

7. Prepare 1 (9-inch) cake pan or 2 spring form pans by very lightly greasing with butter and lining the bottom and sides with parchment paper.

8. Fill the pan 3/4 of the way and bake until a skewer comes out of the center of the cake clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Mixed Marinated Fruit: • 1 pound black raisins • 1 pound golden raisins • 1 pound prunes, cut in quarters or eighths, depending on size • 4 cinnamon sticks or cinnamon powder to taste (2 tsp.)

• 2 vanilla beans, split or vanilla liquid extract to taste • Cuello’s White Rum • Belizean spiced rum (e.g. Cuello’s Caribbean Gold Rum) • Port/ Red wine (Merlot, Shiraz or a sweet tasting red wine) Put raisins, prunes, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla beans in a glass

jar and cover with mixture of equal parts white rum, spiced rum, and port/ red wine. Cover with a tight fitting lid, label, and date the jar. Put in a cool, dry cupboard. From time to time, check the fruits to see if more liquor is needed, as the fruits will plump and soak up the liquid.

Keep the fruit covered in liquor. It is best to allow the fruit to marinate for at least 1 month for best flavor.

OR Combine all the ingredients as above and cook for roughly an hour on low – low medium heat stirring regularly to avoid burning, 8-10 mins before removing from heat add 1/4-cup sugar and stir well. Allow fruits to cool thoroughly before using to bake.

Your cake can be basted during the Christmas season with white rum, spiced rum or red wine to help keep the cake moist.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Reid Get it right

By G. Michael Reid If all the trees in all the woods were men; And each and every blade of grass a pen; If every leaf on every shrub and tree Turned to a sheet of foolscap; every sea Were changed to ink, and all earth’s living tribes Had nothing else to do but act as scribes, And for ten thousand ages, day and night, The human race should write, and write, and write, Till all the pens and paper were used up, And the huge inkstand was an empty cup, Still would the scribblers clustered round its brink Call for more pens, more paper, and more ink. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes I have been at this business of writing columns for well over two decades. I have had advice, compliments and condemnations. I must say, I enjoy the feedback and try to take them all in stride. I pay heed to every critique and take serious note of each. If they are baseless I toss them aside, but if they are constructive, sensible and with merit, I embrace them and forge forward in my futile fight against this unyielding “cacoethes scribendi”.

I imagine that writing comes easy to some people but for me, it is quite the effort. I try to stay with topics that will interest readers and try to write in order that readers can readily follow the points I am trying to make. While attributed to several persons, I believe it was Alexander Pope who said, “Easy reading is damn hard writing.” Someone flipped it around and said that “Easy writing is damn hard reading”. That reverse version carries equal ve-

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THE BELIZE TIMES

racity. I can think of one particular writer, (if we can call him that) who tosses paragraphs of different topics together and present them as a column; damn hard reading indeed.

I am blessed in that I have folks who endure my offerings even on days when I am not at my best or during those times when I present points with which they might differ.

I remain, sincerely grateful. There are a couple of people, and I mean two, who have messaged me to say that they have given up on me.

According to the pair, I have now gone too political. I imagine there are a few others who feel the same way but have not bothered to make comment. Truth is, I do write for a political organ but aside from that, I sincerely believe in what I write.

I believe that the United Democratic Party has done more harm than good to this country and that the People’s United Party has better ideas, more competent people and a better plan for the future. There are things that were done in the past that could have been done differently but we must move forward and ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated.

Kudos is in order for Julius Espat and the entire PUP for demanding and getting the Public Accounts Committee meetings to be conducted in public. It is a good sign and hopefully more checks and balance will be put in place to keep politicians honest. We must now move on to the dissecting of the Auditor General’s reports and holding these public officials to transparency, accountability and good governance.

I continue to write for the BELIZE TIMES because I believe that Francis Fonseca is the best person to lead this country right now. His humility, honesty and dedication is admirable and hopefully, sooner than later, he will get the chance to show his true worth. Belize is desperate for good leadership and for people with vision to be at the helm.

It is a time for men of action and integrity not simply for big words and pompous pontification. The times are hard and getting harder and we will need leaders with strong character to see us through. What we have now simply will not do.

There are writers galore in Belize today and with many different motives and agendas. It is good to see the BELIZE TIMES back in print because there is a definite need and purpose for this paper and those

who write therein; the truth must be told. Yes, it is the voice of the PUP but an opposition is vital to any democracy and must have a voice. It is not surprising that the UDP are not happy to see the BELIZE TIMES back and will do everything in their power to shut them down. After all, it is the only paper that holds them to task. The Amandala spends most of its ink criticizing the PUP while the Reporter is little more than an extension of the Guardian. Belize needs the BELIZE TIMES. It is imperative that the BELIZE TIMES remains in print. The electronic version is good for people abroad but many folks in Belize do not even have computers, much less access to the internet.

The BELIZE TIMES is also Belize’s longest running paper and has a proud tradition of keeping people informed and abreast of news, apart from keeping the other party in check while they are in office.

Us writers must also continue to ploy our trade and keep the people informed. We will write and should the ink well run dry, “when the ink is done, we will scribblers clustered round its brink call for more pens, more paper, and more ink”.

After all, it is the only paper that holds them to task.

The Amandala spends most of its ink criticizing the PUP while the Reporter is little more than an extension of the Guardian. Belize needs the BELIZE TIMES.”

The George Price Centre for Peace and Development, a not-for-profit NGO, invites applications from suitable candidates to fill the post of

CURATOR / COORDINATOR The Curator/Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Centre and reports to the Executive Board. Primary responsibilities include curatorial responsibilities for the museum and exhibitions, the George Price Archival Collection, the development and management of educational programmes (Conflict Resolution Programme, P.E.A.C.E. Camp and others) as well as the organization of the Centre’s meeting facilities. Additional responsibilities include secretarial duties for the Centre’s Executive Board and Board of Trustees, administration, organization and promotion of the Centre and events, fundraising, basic accounting, personnel management and report writing.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS • Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree with at least five years of working experience; • Strong managerial, administrative and interpersonal skills; • Excellent communication and writing skills; • Experience in archival and records management; • Experience in project management, from proposal writing to execution; • Experience in Conflict Resolution Education will be an asset; • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programmes (including Access Database) as well as WordPress (or similar web software) and Constant Contact (or similar marketing software); • Basic accounting skills (knowledge of QuickBooks will be an asset); • Resourceful, independent and practical.

Salary will be negotiated in line with qualifications and experience.

Please send in your letter of application, resume, one character and one professional reference to The George Price Centre for Peace and Development, P.O. Box 490, Belmopan by Monday, December 31, 2012.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Manuel Heredia:

the Modern Day Rafael Trujillo?

Contributed One of the most divisive leaders of the 20th century is undoubtedly Rafael Trujillo. The longtime dictator of the Dominican Republic ruled in an era called the ‘Trujillo Era’ which is often dubbed as the most bloody in the country’s history. Nonetheless, Trujillo’s years as the leader of the Dominican Republic promulgated the so called ‘personality cult’ and greed through power.

The notorious Caribbean leader and Belize Rural South Hon. Manuel Heredia seem to have a lot in common? Both leaders demonstrate high marks for conceitedness through power.

Less than a year after his party emerged victorious in a nail biter election, Hon. Manuel Heredia is again on the spotlight. This time around, the insidious San Pedro based politician gave the media a strong dose of his political lunacy. Top leaders inside the United Democratic Party are running around, hastily trying to frame a response to yet another blunder

by Heredia. What is the answer?

A bold- NO APOLOGIES! The controversial transfer of Police Officer Sharmane Young clearly demonstrates the wretched reality of using one’s position to quantify power. President Ronald Reagan stated it correctly when he said that “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

The honorable minister was utterly wrong to use his position to please his own agenda. Whether, you call it corruption, or abuse of power, the truth of the matter is that he disrespected and undermined the job of our law enforcement officials.

Here is Minister’s Heredia response in a Channel 5 interview :“And I will make no apologies; that indeed for a few months before that, I had asked Mr. Aragon and I think the Commissioner, if they can transfer this officer elsewhere because she was not performing in the best possible man-

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Surrogate’s Court Rensselaer Citation The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God Free and Independent

ner that she is supposed to”.

Now, either I did not know that the Minister was a high official in the police department or perhaps he pretends to be one. The most decent thing the Minister should have done is to apologize to the police officer and to the people of San Pedro for acting unprofessionally. Failure to do so, qualified for a prompt resignation. Like Heredia, Rafael Trujillo used to manipulate the police force to his own advantage; in Trujillo’s case, his infamous secret police. The Belizean people are weary of government officials doing and saying whatever they please. Mr. Heredia is not our boss.

He is our worker and we, the people of San Pedro are the real bosses. We put him on a threshold and we can dismiss him either through request or by ballot.

Consequently, it seems that the UDP’s miserable vision is being promoted through self-praise. The people of San Pedro are not as misinformed as Mr. Heredia thinks. They can readily see that he and the leaders of his United Democratic Party are ineffectively running the island through a ‘personality cult’. Whose name is printed at the base of the monument in the middle of Barrier Reef Drive? The answer is past Mayor Elsa Paz. A number of streets are being named after themselves. Heredia famously named a park after himself, “Heredia’s Flamboyant Park’. These just bring to mind similar actions of Dictator Rafael Trujillo when he renamed the city of Santo Domingo “Cuidad Trujillo” and that nation’s highest peak “Pico Trujillo”.

Lastly, when a true leader wants to give service to his people, it should come from the virtue of his heart, not by the virtue of either self-progression or self-gain. You were elected to lead; not to give self-recognition for the services the people of San Pedro rightly deserve. A person bursting with conceit is no leader. He is merely smooth sailing in sea of supposedly ‘popular’ covenants from his electorate.

So, can the Honorable Manuel Heredia be a modern replica of Rafael Trujillo? You draw the level of comparison.

TO: Alexander Levin, a beneficiary of the Edward Levin Revocable Trust, last known to reside in San Ignazio, Cayo District, Belize, Central America, and if such beneficiary be dead, then all of the distributes, executors, administrators, devisees and legatees of such deceased beneficiary and all persons who by purchase, inheritance or otherwise, have or claim to have an interest in this matter, derived through such beneficiary, executors, administrators, devisees and legatees and all other persons, if any there be, their names and domiciles and/or places of residence being unknown, and which cannot, after due diligence, be ascertained.

A petition and an account have been duly filed by Rolf M. Sternberg, who is domiciled at 407 Cold Spring Road, North Bennington Vermont, 05207.

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE, before the Surrogate’s Court, Rensselaer Country, at Troy, New York on January 22nd, 2013 at 10:00 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, why the account of Rolf M. Sternberg, as Trustee of the Edward Levin Revocable Trust, should not be judicially settled.

NOTICE To Alexander Levin, The foregoing citation is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Hon. Robert Jacon, Acting Surrogate Judge of the Surrogate’s Court of the State of New York, County of Rensselaer, dated the 28th day of November, 2012, and filed with the petition and other papers in the office of the Clerk of said Surrogate’s Court at Troy, New York. The object of the proceeding is judicial settlement of the account of Rolf M. Sternberg, in his capacity as Trustee of the Edward Levin Revocable Trust.

Dated November 28th, 2012.

Edward J. Gorman, Esq. Attorney for Trustee Sternberg & Gorman, LLP P.O. Box 68 Hoosick Falls, New York 12090

Sunday, December 16, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

23

Home Economics

Cigarettes vs.

Tomato Ketchup

By Richard Harrison Belice no longer manufactures cigarettes……yet it struggles in manufacturing tomato ketchup, BBQ sauces, pizza sauces, spaghetti sauces, Catsup Salsa Dulce and other tomato based sauces.

There are two avenues of cigarette importation into Belice: [1] Caribbean Tobacco Company (CTC), a subsidiary of the Roe Group that imports their own brands of cigarettes INDEPENDENCE, COLONIAL, MILPORT, etc….which is now manufactured in Trinidad & Tobago. It also imports Benson & Hedges, the largest foreign cigarette brand, from T&T. Together, CTC controls 99% of the domestic market for cigarettes [2] several companies in the Corozal Free Zone import many brands of cigarettes duty-free from India, China, etc. and some “escape” into Belice, while others are shipped in containers to Mexico and Guatemala.

When cigarettes were being manufactured in Belice…..the Government of Belice justified protecting the industry with very high customs tariff rates of 100%....in addition to Revenue Replacement Duty, General Sales Tax and Environmental Tax….. so that the imported brands were more than two times the price of the local brands. Of course, the local brands controlled 90% of the domestic market for cigarettes, as a result of this policy.

Verena Foods, a Belice-based manufacturer of food products, started manufacturing tomato-based sauces in 2002, and has since garnered 5% marketshare in Belice…. without any customs tariff protection, as afforded the cigarette manufacturers.

The leading brands of imported tomato-based sauces in Belice are: [1] Grace kennedy 40% [2] DelMonte 18% [3] Criolla Salsa Dulce 18% [4] Hunts 7% [5] Regia 7% [6] Heinz, Kraft, La Costena, others 10%. Verena’s competes directly with 16 brands of imported tomato-based sauces on the domestic market.

Grace Kennedy imports three kinds of ketchup into Belice [1] the glass bottles of Grace brand from Jamaica [2] the glass bottles of Caribbean Choice brand from Jamaica [3] the squeeze bottle Grace brand which is manufactured for them by the Regia company in Guatemala and imported into Belice. So happens....that Regia also exports their own brand of tomato ketchup into Belice...in the same bottles used for the Grace brand...and sells it at a lower price than Grace....growing its market-share in Belice....while Grace market-share is falling. Guatemala

ONE.....Belice/CARICOM NIL.....LOL Belice no longer manufactures cigarettes……yet the Government of Belice maintains the high rates of import duties….protecting the Trinidad-based industry from international competition….and obviously the importers who control the Belice market....who are movers and shakers in this little poverty-stricken country.

Verena’s has been trying to convince the Government of Belice to raise the tariff on imported tomato-based sauces from the existing 20%, to the CSME-allowed boundrate of 60%....for a temporary period….reducing it over five years back to the 20%. During this time, Verena’s would scale up using its domestic market position….creating efficiencies of scale that would allow it to compete sustainably on regional export markets. Of course, others could also use this position to invest in Belice!

Yet….the Government of Belice officials argue that they cannot do this….they make vague comments about WTO and CSME treaties binding their hands…that the “trend” is towards reduction of import duties, not increases….yet they make no reference to which articles of those treaties make up such obstacle. They give us the run around….send us from office to office….talking to this one and that one….and getting nowhere.

The truth of the matter….is that the customs revenues flowing from cigarette trade and imported tomato-based sauces is so sweet for the GOB and its political allies….that they do not care if Belice manufactures more of what it consumes… and create employment for its people. In fact, we the people have put the importers in full control of our government ….its policies…and its “development institutions”.

The greed of the importers does not allow them to see…..that this policy of giving advantage to imports….is running our country into greater debt…..as our imports are consistently double our exports…. and the gap is ever increasing….not even the gift of crude oil discovery could breach this widening gap. Importers greed and need for instant gratification, does not allow them to see….that if the people were fully employed…..and our population mostly middle-income earners….. that they would be in a much better position. WIN-WIN for all of us. But no….the greed is insatiable.

The importers have sought to convince us that we can make up the shortfall in exports vs. imports…..

by expanding our services sector.

They have pushed us towards become more servants of the tourism industry….they are pushing to bring more call-centers and other such “exportable services”…..all of which are cost-driven and unstable income earners. And guess what…..we have heard this since Independence in 1981…..and we are sliding further and further down the road of unemployment, poverty and crime.

The question today is: If we give up the protection for foreign manufactured cigarettes, for the protection of domestic manufactured tomato-based sauces….will we be better off?

I say….we need to give up neither!!! We can enjoy the fruits of both…..all of us can win.

However, if we had to choose, which would you say is better to protect?

One thing we know for sure… is that protection of our domestic industries…have allowed us to start and build manufacturing of beers, soft drinks, juices, rum, hot pepper sauces, corn, rice, beans, vegetables, fruits, meats, chicken, eggs, animal feed, sheet metal, windows and doors, wooden furniture….a very narrow set of successful industries.

Without protection…none of these industries would exist today.

Belice will manufacture more of what it consumes….if we expand our protection of more of our indus-

tries….within what is allowed by our treaties.

The special interests of the importers and their multinational suppliers have turned ‘protection’ into a bad word in Belice and around the world. That is why we don’t even protect our children….we don’t protect our families in our homes….we don’t protect our friends….we don’t protect our neighbors….we don’t protect victims…we don’t protect our territory….we don’t protect our citizenship….we don’t protect anything…..we are blind with our greed.

Good morning!!!.....quo vadis Belice???

Richard Harrison is a local businessman and investor in the manufacturing and service industries.

Send comments to harrisonbz@yahoo.com

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Gang Truce Dead

Belize City, December 10, 2012 After spending millions of dollars in an unsustainable and poorly-thought out programme, which paid taxpayers’ money to gang members so they stop shooting each other, the Government has announced that they have run out of money and have shut down the initiative.

Last Wednesday, GOB officials gathered notorious gang members for an official meeting. In that meeting, the gang members were told that the program, known as a gang truce, in which they were paid a salary would be discontinued

Visit Us Online at: www.belizetimes.bz

as of Friday, December 7, 2012.

As consolation, the Government said they would continue paying for a month. No labour will be needed in return.

The Government has yet to disclose how much tax dollars were paid to the gangs since the programme started in September 2011.

And we want to know both the Gov-

ernment cheques and under the table deals.

More startling is that the Government has still not come up with an alternative programme, one which is sustainable, comprehensive and long –term. The result of all this will only be more unemployed young Belizeans seeking to exact anger and fury on the innocent.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that Alma Alcoser is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Orange Plaza”, Tangerine St., Louisiana Area Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Weizhong Chen is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Benje’s Store”, Teakettle Village, Cayo District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Ying Yuan Luo is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Denny’s Grocery”, Camalote Village, Cayo District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Dora Aguilar is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Bar Blue Star”, Mile 43 Western Highway, Cotton Tree Village, Cayo District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

25

THE BELIZE TIMES

Happy Holidays Christmas Kwanzaa and Hanukkah I like celebrating Christmas, but did you know that in December Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are also celebrated?

Hanukkah or Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights and lasts eight days. It is celebrated in the last part of November or December.

This year it is from December 8th -16th. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means “dedication”.

Jews celebrate Hanukkah to remember the Miracle of the Oil. Over 2000 years ago, the Jews in Judea rebelled against their Syrian ruler, Antiochus, because he wanted all Jewish people to worship Greek Gods. After three hard years of fighting, the Jews won their freedom and to celebrate, they fixed the Temple of Jerusalem and rededicated it to Yahweh (God).

In celebrating getting back their temple they lit an oil lamp, which was to burn all the time. They only

had oil for one night but a miracle happened. The oil lamp stayed lit for eight days, giving them time to make new oil.

It was decided that every year, Jews would remember the day and celebrate the miracle of the oil by placing eight candles in a Menorah (a special candlestick) and lighting one candle for each evening of the celebration.

Kwanzaa is an African American holiday started in the US it is celebrated from December 26th – January 1st every year. Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa to help African Americans remember and celebrate their heritage. Many persons of African descent all over the world also chose to celebrate Kwanzaa.

The word “Kwanzaa” is Swahili and it means “first fruits”. Each of the seven days of celebration reflects on one of “The Seven Princi-

ples of Kwanzaa”. They are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).

A candle is lit each day on a special candlestick, the “kimara”, to represent these principles.

The kimara is placed on a mkeka, a traditional straw mat, and one ear of corn is also placed on the mat for each child in the family. A fruit basket, called a “mazao”, is also displayed, along with a special “unity” cup, out of which everyone drinks.

Families decorate their homes with traditional African crafts. The colours red, green and black - representing the African flag - are used.

Gifts, known as “zawadi”, are given on the last day of Kwanzaa.

Interesting, right? Now have some fun with our Hanukkah and Kwanzaa puzzles!

Answers Kwanzaa crossword Across: Down: 1. Black 2. Corn 3. Kimara 3. Kwanzaa 6. Seven 4. Mkeka 8. Zawadi 5. Mazao 7. Unity

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Jesus Walks in Belize

T

he word “walking/walketh” is mentioned 189 times in the Bible. The word “walk” is mentioned 315 times. That is a large number.

There is a quotation that says “Walk long enough and we all trade places”. A mystic phrase that caused me deep spiritual reflection. Jesus himself was in fact a traveling evangelist who healed and touched the lives of many persons as he walked in and out of their lives and villages. He traded places with the blind and gave them sight.

He traded places with the sick and gave them health. He challenged the cripple and they traded themselves from the places of restrictions to smiles of freedom and restoration.

They were moved from the narrow and daunting corners that trapped them. Whether they were trapped in the small spaces of their physical deformity or their lifestyle habits or their overzealous religious shackles, Jesus walked those who believed on top of the water of life.

His message was liberation and hope, the scripture reminds us to keep walking “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phillipians 4:8.

The trek through life is sometimes overwhelming, and life obstacles, bills and family drag us to a full stop. But these are the times when we must continue as the extremely important reminder which is given to us in 2 Corinthians 5: 7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

This surely is a powerfully simple message which may not be the easiest to follow when the wiles of the times, the Devil and our own disobedience trap us in a corner where we can see no better coming.

But the truth is that we are not restricted by the illusion of what disappointments and trouble want us to see. The Bible clears this up for us quickly. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.

We all have questions of where to go. How do we get out of the dark small enclosed place our lives have become? There is no other confidence and comfort greater than the confirmation the road we need to travel and the direction are all covered by God’s divine design. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105.

This is doubly assured to us. If we were having difficulty with just taking up our bed and walking out of our problems we are reminded again in Proverbs 6:23 “For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,” So we can step in confidence and know that with the next step of disciple and the next stride of obedience to God, we will trade places.

Trade the emptiness and the confusion and the shadows for the light of his redemption.

There must be these challenges that seem to chain us down, that seem to want to keep us locked up in a hopeless place without light. If dark clouds try to occupy where we are now we walk off. We walk until light fills the pain. Living is a conversation with no end, a dance with no steps, a song with no words, a reason too big for any mind to sit and figure out. So walk. Walk. Walk to a better place.

No matter how we turn or are turned the magnificence follows.

I stumbled on a meditation. It is a walking meditation. It is from a New York Times Best Selling author that I got from Image Factory Book Store a few months back. The book is by Mark Nepo. I hope you enjoy the exercise.

Take fifteen minutes during your day and silently walk wherever you are – in the city, by the sea or in your office or home and walk to the one window of light. Breathe evenly as you step, feeling your breath in your feet. Feel the air that others unknown to you have already breathed. Look up and stand in the light no matter how small. Close your eyes and feel the light on your face and say to your self, “I am home” in the end after all the walking and changes because of the walking in your life, remind yourself of the words of God “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Exercise for Healthy Bones and Joints

By Dr. Francis Smith 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 overuse 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. Because bone is a living tissue, it changes in response to the forces placed upon it through constant buildup and breakdown. Osteoclast cells absorb bone when there is no stimulus, as in a sedentary lifestyle and osteoblast cells build up bone when there is stimulus.

Weight-bearing exercise increases the action of osteoblast cells and is the only exercise that increases bone mass. Exercise also improves balance and coordination, which is important in the elderly to prevent falls, the primary cause of broken hips, wrists and spine in the elderly. Below are types of exercise one can do for healthy bones and joints.

Weight-bearing and Strength-training Exercise 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 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.

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.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

27

THE BELIZE TIMES

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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V

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Selected By Chris Williams

The first flexible, fiber-optic solar cell that can be woven into clothes

By Sebastian Anthony on December 7, 2012 An international team of engineers, physicists, and chemists have created the first fiber-optic solar cell. These fibers are thinner than human hair, flexible, and yet they produce electricity, just like a normal solar cell. The US military is already interested in weaving these threads into clothing, to provide a wearable power source for soldiers.

In essence, the research team started with optical fibers made from glass — and then, using high-pressure chemical vapor deposition, injected n-, i-, and p-type silicon into the fiber, turning it into a solar cell. Functionally, these silicon-doped fiber-optic threads are identical to conventional solar cells, generating electricity from the photovoltaic effect. Whereas almost every solar cell on the market is crafted out of 2D, planar amorphous silicon on a rigid/brittle glass substrate, though, these fiber-optic solar cells have a 3D cross-section and retain the glass fiber’s intrinsic flexibility.

The lead researcher, John Badding of Penn State University, says the team has already produced “meters-long fiber,” and that their new technique could be used to create “bendable silicon solar-cell fibers of over 10 meters in length.” From there, it’s simply a matter of weaving the thread into a fabric. Badding says that the military is “interested

in designing wearable power sources for soldiers in the field,” but unfortunately he falls short of actually demonstrating some woven fabric. As we can see in the picture above, the solar cell fiber certainly looks flexible — but we’ll have to take Badding’s word for it that it can turn right angles, and withstand everyday garment stresses, without

Souped-up immune cells force leukaemia into remission 11 December 2012 by Andy Coghlan

Augmented immune cells have made an impressive impact on the survival of people with leukaemia.

Thirteen people with a form of the cancer called multiple myeloma were treated with genetically engineered T-cells, and all improved.

“The fact we got a response in all 13, you can’t get better than that,” says James Noble, CEO of Adaptimmune in Abingdon, UK, which developed the treatment.

Cancers often develop because T-cells have lost their ability to target tumour cells, which they normally destroy. To retune that targeting, a team led by Aaron Rapoport at the University of Maryland in

Baltimore engineered T-cell genes that coded for a receptor on the cell’s surface.

They extracted T-cells from each person, then inserted the engineered genes into

these cells and re-injected them.

100-day remission The soupedup cells were better able to recognise proteins called NY-ESO-1 and LAGE-1, found on myeloma cells but not healthy ones. All 13 people also had the standard treatment for multiple myeloma, which boosts white blood cell count.

Three months after the injection, 10 of the 13 were in remission or very close

shattering.

Moving forward, the potential for flexible, woven solar cells is enormous.

On the most basic, immediate level, you can imagine a baseball cap or t-shirt that can recharge your smartphone. As we move towards bionic implants and other biomedical devices, though, there is a very pressing need to develop a wearable power source — and fiber-optic solar cells could certainly be it.

These fibers also have two other intriguing properties that still need to be investigated. Due to their three-dimensional cross-section, they can absorb sunlight from any direction — unlike their conventional, 2D siblings that lose much of their efficiency when the sun sinks below a certain angle. Further, according to Pier Sazio, another member of the research team, they used the same silicon injection method to embed photodetectors inside the fiber. Sazio doesn’t extrapolate on what this might lead to, but it’s fun to speculate: A wearable computer with built-in solar charging and high-speed networking? Neat.

to it – a 77 per cent response rate – and the others showed drastic reduction in their cancer. Standard treatment alone gives a response rate of between 33 and 69 per cent. The work was presented this week at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Different cancers Only time will tell whether a one-off injection is enough, Noble says. But given the promising results, the firm is treating another 13 people with myeloma and hopes to treat others with different types of cancer. It is also exploring the scope for engineering more T-cell receptors.

The work is encouraging, but a trial that does not include the standard therapy is needed, says Holger Auner, a myeloma specialist at Imperial College London.

Adaptimmune says it has plans to do this.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

THE BELIZE TIMES

DEC Sunday, December1616, 2012

2012

The Music

Mess

By Yasser Musa December 9, 2012 There are many things I need to say about the cultural and artistic affairs of Belize. I wish to start with music.

In April 2010 Moses Michael Levi AKA Shyne was appointed Music Ambassador by the UDP government. Wilfred Elrington, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who appointed him said at the time, “What we want to have him become the director of the music program in NICH working in conjunction with NICH for the government of Belize so that he will put in train the formal music education in all our schools and learning institutions to give our children the chance to tap into that tremendous resource they have.”

The appointment of Shyne as a music ambassador was a slap in the face to the credibility and emergence of a vibrant original music industry in Belize. Nothing against Shyne the artist, I am a big fan, but his grandiosity rubbed many people the wrong way, especially the struggling artists. I heard DJ Keegan recently making the salient point on air that each day that passes with an absentee ambassador is an insult to all artists not just musicians.

In April 2011 at a University of Belize forum on culture Belize’s acclaimed music producer Ivan Duran stated that music in Belize is in a state of “coma.” The reason for this began with the blow to the head from Shyne’s appointment.

Music is about credibility and authenticity. Shy-

ne’s appointment was and remains a sick joke.

The music mess we find ourselves in stems from three structural problems. The first is education. Our education system has no real regard for the arts. It is a system designed to control and crush the youth. The arts are about liberation, so music in our schools remains an extremely marginal activity when we examine the national picture.

The second structural problem we face is the approach to music from a government investment standpoint. Sure we hear of NICH supporting and sponsoring various events and activities, but this is superficial. Even when I was at NICH 2003 - 2008 and we saw the rise of music as a vehicle for social and cultural development with Andy Palacio as a key leader, it was just the beginning and nowhere close to our destination. However, the people currently responsible with making forward gestures for our music industry on behalf of the state are in over their heads.

The only way to move out of our rut is to hand over all the monies budgeted for music to the musicians, producers and activists. Music promotion is not a government activity. Government should be a key investor, not manager or organizer.

Finally, the third problem we face with our dying music industry is the colonial attitude that corporate and private sponsors have toward our Belizean musicians. The producer Young C stopped me in the street recently and bemoaned the disgraceful approach Digicell is taking toward its 10th anniversary concert.

From reliable sources I discovered that Digicell the “great” national company is paying almost one hundred thousand dollars

to bring in international artists. What is criminal is that they are also hiring Belizean musicians, but for cents on the dollar. This disparity has always existed and Tony Wright is one of the few artists who have fought against this corporatist practice for decades. The Digicell concert is just one example of corporate ignorance, arrogance and anti-development mentality that exists.

The time has come for an art bond. If we can raise $20 million for a single small city, then why not raise just half of that for a four-year culture plan. We could use the art bond to do three key things, (a) market music as a global commercial product like peppers, tourism and bananas, (b) establish a culture fund for small grants to artists, musicians, writers, moviemakers and (c) invest in equipment and technical support for art in schools, and non-academic institutions.

At the end of the four years our $10 million investment will create a bloom and a boom. This bond could easily be floated on the condition that a percentage of the NICH revenue is allocated to its repayment. The same way the IDB dished out millions for us to restore our Memorial and Archaeological parks, well the time has come to invest in the living. In the end Belize will have more books, more children in school, more music records, more art, a good name on the world stage and a chance for many to make a living.

16 DEC

BELIZE TIMES THE BELIZETHE TIMES

Sunday, December 16, 2012

2012

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

THE UNREST IN EGYPT CONTINUES

President Mohamed Morsi is at it again. After receiving global acclaim for brokering the recent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, he was plunged into infamy because of his decree to grant himself wielding new powers that

could even interfere with the judicial process.

Egypt is set to hold a constitutional referendum on December 15th. This is despite vehement opposition from liberals, secularists and Christians to the hastily written draft constitution.

NORTH KOREA LAUNCHES LONG RANGE MISSILE North Korea seems to be surging ahead with developing technology to enable it to utilize nuclear warheads.

This is what critics of its regime believe. North Korea launched the long range missile on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 passing over the south-

Critics state that the draft does not “adequately protect women, freedom of expression or religion, and asserted that at least half of the country had similar reservations.” ~ BBC (Dec. 11, 2012)

ern island chain of Okinawa, Japan.

“North Korea says the launch was aimed merely at putting a weather satellite in orbit. It is banned from conducting missile and nuclear-related tests under UN sanctions imposed after its 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests.” ~ AL JAZEERA On a point of interest, the 2012 ranking of military powers list of globalfirepower.com North Korea is ranked at 22nd. The USA heads the list at 1st, South Korea 7th and Japan 9th.

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U.S. AIR FORCE’S SECRET SHUTTLE LAUNCH: X-37B SPACEPLANE TAKES SECOND FLIGHT INTO SPACE

The U.S. military’s small, top-secret version of the space shuttle rocketed into orbit Tuesday for a repeat mystery mission, two years after making the first flight of its kind. The Air Force launched the unmanned spacecraft Tuesday hidden on top of an Atlas V rocket...It is the second flight for this original X-37B spaceplane. The craft circled the planet for seven months in 2010...The military isn’t saying much if anything about this new secret mission known as OTV-3, or Orbital Test Vehicle, flight No. 3. In fact, launch commentary ended 17 minutes into the flight and a news blackout followed.

But one scientific observer, Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, speculates the spaceplane is carrying sensors designed for spying and likely is serving as a testbed for future satellites. He dismisses rumors of “exotic ideas” for the X-37B as weaponry or shadowing a Chinese satellite... ~ THE HUFFINGTON POST (Excerpt Dec. 11, 2012)

CRACKING DOWN ON CAYMAN ISLANDS ‘ PROTESTING CITIZENS PREMIER ARRESTED

Trinidadian environmentalist Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh captured the respect of many in our region during his 21 day hunger strike against the construction of a multi-billion dollar highway. Which, would have had, a severely negative impact on several persons in the affected area and the environment.

We note, that in a Barrowian fashion, Dr. Kublalsingh said that Persad-Bissessar and her People’s Partnership Government refused to listen to the cries of residents. Belizeans know this feeling well so we can sympathise with our Trindadian brethren.

Kublalsingh’s protest and those of the residents of Beetham, who burnt tyres and scattered debris across the highway in protest of no jobs for residents of the area, has now led the “National Security adviser to the Prime Minister Gary Griffith to call for secondary and primary crime-prevention measures to be put in place...He suggested that just like there was swift justice for someone who did not take a breathalyser test, so, too, there must be swift justice for wrongdoers.” ~ Guardian Trindad and Tobago (Dec. 10, 2012) Although, we can’t agree with the actions of the residents of Beetham, we can understand their frustration. We must, however, ask the question: When did the right to peaceful assembly and expressing one’s opinion become criminal?

NEWS

Political interference or strong arming and corruption has recently been in focus on Plus TV’s Rise &Shine Morning Talk Show. Pastor Louis Wade and Patrick Andrews were the first, we believe, to break the news that Belize has submitted no data for the past four years; so as to receive a ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 done by Transparency International.

In Cayman we note that their Premier, McKeeva Bush, who is 57 years old, has been arrested on corruption charges in addition to others.

‘He has been arrested on suspicion of theft, in connection with financial irregularities relating to the alleged misuse of a government credit card, Breach of trust, Abuse of office and Conflict of interest, contrary to S13, S17 and S19 of the Anti-Corruption Law 2008 respectively in connection with the alleged importation of explosive substances without valid permits on or before February 2012.’ ~ Jamaica Observer (Dec. 11, 2012)

BARBADOS ZEROES IN ON CORRUPTION

Leader of the Senate Maxine McClean is expected to move the second reading of the Prevention of Corruption Bill, 2012, when the Upper House sits today at 11 a.m.

Notice of the bill was given last Wednesday.

The bill makes provision for the implementation of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption, as well as Articles 8 and 9 of the United Nations (UN) Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, and the UN Convention Against Corruption.

Barbados is signatory to these conventions. ~ Excerpt The Nation (Dec. 12, 2012)

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THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT GET REAL René Villanueva said to Francis Gegg, “Francis, what topic will be discussing tonight?”

Francis answered, “well poverty in Belize is around fifty-five percent and they promised us to imagine the possibilities…” Before he could complete the sentence, Henry Gordon butts in, “What is poverty?” or was it “Do you know what causes poverty?”

“Poverty”, said the Reverend Henry Gordon, “comes from disobedience to God. When man moves away from God that is when he becomes poor”.

Francis replies, “So in China or Singapore, where they do not follow God, how is it they are prospering?”

Reverend Gordon then goes into religion, theology and issues of the soul.

He ranted of about God breathing the Breath of Life into something he fashioned from the dirt.

René, who has for years operated the most successful media house by keeping away from controversy, did not join in the conversation on Gordon’s side.

A trained priest, Father Leslie from the Roman Catholic Church agreed with the position of Francis Gegg. That the soul never dies.

René on two occasions asked another one of the panelists how come he was so silent and was not joining in the discussion. This person is Steve Duncan, Manager of one of the local banks. He performed a minor miracle. He stayed silent throughout what was a talk show and a discussion panel.

Perhaps, Mr. Duncan was reflecting on the phrase, “Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread”. Or that “Speech is silver and silence is golden.” He made no contribution.

And so last week on Love FM, the Night show called “Belize Watch” had done Belize a disservice.

Francis Gegg did propose an excellent and pertinent topic, rising poverty in Belize. If ever a topic needs discussing, poverty is it.

René Villanueva was apparently willing to hear the discussion.

Henry Gordon succeeded in completely sabotaging what could have been an informative show. It is the type of show and the type of subject that Belize desperately needs to have.

If a little harsh criticism will help, then, let it be said.

We start with the words of James Brown’s song, “Talking loud and saying nothing”.

Love FM has a weekday morning show. There is much talk and very little is said. The hosts are meek and mild. They shy away from anything critical of the government and anything controversial.

Surely, the role and responsibility of the media is to provide information to its listeners/viewers. Not provide some information but provide all information.

It matters not that René wishes to suck up to government or that Ernesto and Ava are UDPs. That is their prerogative. But they owe Belize a greater responsibility than their personal likes and dislikes.

For far too long Love FM has been

behaving like Henry Gordon. He wishes to discuss issues that are of no relevance to the problems of Belize; and, wishes not to discuss the issues that are pertinent and relevant. This is a great disservice to our people.

Mr. Gordon is entitled to believe in God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his strength, yet poverty, crime, pain and economic suffering will increase in our land.

We need God, but we also need practical, secular, worldly solutions to worldly problems.

Get real.

While you talk a talk that is similar to “no talk”, the people of Belize are suffering and the suffering is getting worse.

Belize is in a terrible situation. It lacks leadership. It lacks solutions. It lacks hope and inspiration.

Those of you, fortunate to be in a position to reach large numbers of listeners and viewers have a serious responsibility.

You have a duty to God and his people in Belize to speak the truth.

Otherwise, you are nothing more than, “sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal”.

And René, do not be influenced by contracts and commercials from BTL, BTB, BEL, SSB and other agencies of the Devil and his demons.

Amen! $20 MILLION NEW TAX The Belize City Council has imposed a twenty million dollars new tax on the residents of the City.

It is called a Municipal Bond and it is to fix streets.

For six years the UDP has been in control of the City Council. For five years they are in control of the Central Government.

The City Council has a huge wage bill. They are paying all sorts of high paid chiefs in office. It costs millions of taxpayers’ dollars for unproductive hangers-on.

The City Council is responsible for the picking up of garbage, cleaning drains and fixing streets.

Belize Waste Control does the garbage collection on a contract.

This leaves City Council with drains and streets.

Thousands of drains in the city are unattended.

As for the streets, they are in the worse condition since Hurricane Hattie in 1961. Belize City is breaking up. It is dirty, dirty and looks ugly.

There are thousands of citizens living in areas where there are no drains and the streets are made of clay, which turns to mud when it rains.

Instead of reducing the huge, unnecessary wage bill, the City Council has turned to borrowing.

Remember the last City Council?

Quarrelling for the tourist head tax and wanting permission to mortgage the Commercial Centre.

Where have all those millions gone?

COLLEGE GRADUATES TO SELL BURGERS Last week, a Canadian agency con-

ducted interviews for workers to go work in Canada.

Three days of interviews were held at Radisson Fort George.

Each day hundreds of Belizeans lined up from 6:00 a.m. up to 2:00 p.m. to take part in the interviews.

Over 150 persons per day were interviewed.

The interviewer spoke well of the applicants. How friendly our people are. How well they spoke the English language.

This is what we have become.

We toil and sweat and sacrifice to send our children to college and when they graduate they have to settle for selling burgers in a foreign country.

These are the types of leaders we have.

They take 50 million dollars from Social Security to put in BTL and not a dollar to create employment.

They take 15 million dollars from Social Security to put in BEL and not a dollar to teach skills or a trade or to open up small businesses.

The widespread corruption at the Immigration Department and the outright human trafficking has allowed hundreds of foreigners to come to Belize to sell us groceries, fry chicken and cheap clothes, while our young people sit idle at the street corners with nothing to do.

Where there is no vision the people perish.

WHAT ANANCY DID In Creole folklore, there is a character called “Hanansi” or “Anancy”.

Take your pick.

In Jamaica they have “Anancy/ Anansi” too. It is a West African thing.

One of the local Christmas songs that has survived from bygone days is “Good Morning Miss Lady”.

“Good morning Miss Lady, dah how are you this morning. I come to lodge a complaint on this Merry Christmas morning. Hanansi have wha baby, hide ah ena high grass. Busy Bee was passing and he sting him pan he…”

So, the question is, why would Anansi hide his baby?

And why Busy Bee would sting ‘am?

The song makes a good tune but the words suck.

RESPECT TO DOLORES Dolores Balderamos Garcia has reinvented herself. She was a former Area Representative for Port Loyola 1998 – 2003.

As a Minister of Government she was a relentless champion for the rights of women and children. She steered through many policy and legislative changes for women and children.

Last week Dolores did an incredible thing. Although, her Party is not in government, she was able to get a basketball court for the young people in Mahogany Heights.

This is a huge achievement. Politicians in government, much less in Opposition, seldom do much for their constituents.

Dolores has raised the bar and set a new precedent. With the worst set of politicians in government at this time, the Opposition can really show who is

Sunday, December 16, 2012

the better man or woman.

It will take hard work but it can be done.

Community projects and love is the answer.

Respect is due to Dolores.

CHINA MOVES MOUNTAINS The mighty nation of China, which has one billion, three hundred million citizens, will move mountains.

It is called the ‘mountain-moving project’.

Seven hundred mountains will be torn away and flattened down so that a new city can be built.

This will take place northwest of Lanzhou at a cost of over 6 billion pounds sterling and over 3.5 billon dollars (US).

THEY DID IT AGAIN Another 9.5 million dollars has been taken out of Social Security’s money.

What for?

To upgrade the Municipal Airstrip.

This airstrip is in Belize City. It is on the edge of the National Stadium. It is forty inches from the sea. Its runways become flooded when high waves and tides arise from time to time.

It is nothing short of idiocy to rebuild the airstrip so close to the sea.

Belize City is low-lying. It is subject to high tides and hurricanes.

The very week Belize’s Minister of Environment and a delegation are pontificating at an international conference in the Middle East on the grave effects of climate change, in that same week, Belize announces it is ignoring climate change and will build the airstrip close to the sea.

And, will do so, with workers/employers money taken from Social Security.

FINDING PEACE OF MIND Live below your means.

Return everything you borrow.

Listen more and talk less.

Don’t argue.

Don’t make excuses.

Know when to say something.

Know when to keep your mouth shut.

Stop blaming other people.

Admit it when you make a mistake.

Be kind to people and to animals.

Any clothes and shoes you have not worn for a while, give them to the needy.

Every 24 hours do something good.

Find time to read a book.

Take time out to be alone.

Understand that life is not always fair.

THERE IS HOPE Emma Whitehead, who is 7 years old, has been in full remission for months after scientists used a disabled form of the HIV virus to reprogram her immune system to kill cancer cells. – New York Times 10.12.12 Remission means recovery.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

DPM Vega presides over corruption Continued from page 1

resentative for Orange Walk South Marco Pech and by the Minister of Lands Gaspar Vega for Mr. Padron to sell an 18 acre parcel of land at the entrance of San Felipe Village.

The land was needed to provide house lots for village expansion.

Mr. Padron agreed to exchange his 18 acres of cleared lots for 100 acres of high bush on national land. The Minister agreed to the exchange and instructed the Lands Commissioner to give Mr. Manuel Padron permission to survey the 100 acres of agricultural land. Mr. Padron in turn transferred his 18 acres to the Village Council of San Felipe.

That was two years ago in 2010 when Manuel Padron was a strong supporter of Deputy Prime Minister Vega and the UDP. In the General Elections of March 2012, Manuel Padron, who had become disillusioned with the UDP, openly expressed his support for the PUP candidate Abelardo Mai. He has now discovered that his own niece Darlene Padron who is the National Estate Officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources has been making corrupt deals over the same 100 acre parcel of land. Minister Vega has refused to keep his side of the bargain and even though Manuel Padron has already transferred the 18 acres to the Government for village expansion, he has been unable to get title for the 100 acres he was promised.

What is worse is that the National Estate Officer has offered the same land to a Mennonite from Indian Creek – Wilhelm Harder. Harder has already paid $10,000.00 down payment under

Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that Jose Antonio Sanchez is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Jose’s Relaxing Corner”, Maskall Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Virginia Vaughan is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Jeany’s Restaurant”, Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Roxana N. Perez is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Roxy’s Restaurant”, 2209 San Martin Avenue, City of Belmopan, Cayo District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Verna Samuels and Denvour Gillett are applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Bird’s Eye View Lodge”, Crooked Tree Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

the table for the land.

Manuel Padron is not taking this betrayal lying down. He has already spent a considerable amount of money in excess of $75,000.00 with survey and land clearing expenses. He is taking action in the Court against Minister Vega, and the National Estate Officer and is ready to expose the corruption and rotten dealings going on in the Ministry of Natural Resources presided over by the Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega.

“No Apologies” Continued from page 10 even to break the law.

Then there was the August 2012 incident when the ComPol and ASP Robinson clashed over the arrest of a 19 year old female, who is dating the ComPol’s nephew. The teenager caused a ruckus at the San Pedro station and allegedly assaulted a female Special Constable. A Justice of the Peace witnessed the charges against Teul and, because it was a weekend, decided to remand her until she could appear before a Magistrate. But when the ComPol learnt of the arrest, he directed that the girl be granted bail forthwith. ASP Robinson refused to submit and there was more bad blood between herself and her boss.

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Since then, it is believed that ASP Robinson has been targeted for victimization.

Sources have indicated that ASP Robinson is aware of the plot to have her removed. The BELIZE TIMES understands that ASP Chris Noble will be her replacement in the next few weeks.

As for ASP Robinson, sources tell our newspaper that she will be given a desk job at the Traffic section of the Police Department in the Belize District.

This outrageous disrespect and manipulation of the Police Department should not be condoned and tolerated. More menacing are the undercurrents of gender discrimination perpetuated by the macho men in charge of the Police Department.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, December 16, 2012