Belize Times December 6, 2015 by Belize Times Press

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

6 DECEMBER 2015 | ISSUE NO: 4972

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

Will Senate Block Corruption Probe?

Senators Patrick Andrews, Lisa Shoman and Anthony Sylvestre Jr.

Pg. 4

A motion for an Inquiry into Immigration Corruption goes before the Senate next Wednesday

Drug plane torched after “drop off”

Prisoner Turns Fugitive

Wanted international fugitive David Nanes Schnitzer

Corrupt former UDP Minister, Elvin Penner

Caribbean’s brightest young minds chat with PUP Leader Pg. 23

Pg. 6

Police are on the lookout for 27-year-old Lawrence Bernardez of Lakeland area Dangriga who escaped from Police custody while being transported to the Hattieville Prison on December 02, 2015.

A BELIZEAN TRAGEDY

Shadisha Arnold

Anna Carlos

Pg. 19

Elizabeth Mckoy

ANDY PALACIO… 8 years on Pg. 2

Pg. 9

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ANDY PALACIO… 8 years on

Andy Palacio, born and raised in the southern, coastal, village of Barranco, received the Best New Artist Award at the Caribbean Music Awards in 1991, the prestigious WOMEX Award in the 2007 and the BBC3 Awards for World Music award in the Americas Category in 2008. In addition to a long career of teaching and serving as Deputy Administrator of the National Institute of Culture and History, Palacio was also named as the UNESCO Artist for Peace. Palacio released five albums including the highly acclaimed Wátina which was produced in collaboration with Garifuna All Stars from Belize, Guatemala and Honduras that he named The Garifuna Collective. His contribution to music and the country of Belize is invaluable as was his commitment to preserving the traditional Garifuna music, culture and language.

by Yasser Musa I miss Andy Palacio. He had a conviction for substantial things, not addiction to superficial things. Today, on his birthday I want to reflect on many things, but time must restrain my enthusiasm. Let me settle for three - Cultural Matters, Climate Change and Andy as an Ambassador of ideas. Often I would discuss cultural matters with Andy and one such issue would be the way many artists in our land are made to feel like cultural refugees. Respect is such an important thing in the multi-cultural space. It is as important to understand the other as much as it is to comprehend the self. Cornel West says, “Tenderness is what love feels

like in private. Justice is what love looks like in public.” Andy was an artist who stood up for all of us. He evolved into a man who negotiated and navigated through our many multiples and brought the emphasis of our lives down to its simplest tones – love for humanity. Andy Palacio was a man engaged in the development of society. When he was awarded the highest global recognition by the United Nations, as UNESCO Artist for Peace it secured a space in the imagination of the world, that we in Belize belong to the community. Today there are serious discussions and plans to extract History as a subject from the curriculum of High

School. If this is indeed so, then the artists, writers, thinkers and teachers of this land must be prepared to stand against this. More than ever a subject such as history must be the foundation upon which we build the educational integrity of each youth, build his or her capacity to reason, analyse and think. This is why the teaching of history from the perspective of oppression, resistance, triumph and accomplishment is so critical. Andy was a big supporter of the teaching of African and Maya History in our school system. He believed that the root lines to our Africaness and our indigenousness is a critical step on the ladder to mental liberation. Andy was a man of enormous kindness and humanity. He had an amazing capacity to listen to and understand the struggle of others. Right now in Paris leaders from across the globe are in heated discussions regarding climate change. Now 99% of all scientists across our planet agree that climate change is a man made disaster, but inside the congress of the most powerful nation there are serious forces latching on to the 1%. What does this have to do with Belize and Andy Palacio? Well, Andy was a man who engaged with his village, his nation and his world, and we too must follow this kind of behaviour – connecting with ideas is the first step to action. Let us explain to our youth the significance of Andy Palacio. Let us recall

PUP NOTICE National Convention The People’s United Party will hold a National Convention on Sunday January 31, 2016 for the posts of: 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) 6.) 7.)

6 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015 how we felt when his live performances enveloped the space of our soul that could never be erased, diminished or deterred. Let us pause today, even for only for a few seconds, on the music man’s birthday and remember how beautiful it is to remember.

Andy Palacio’s Birthday Celebrations Almost eight years after his passing, Belizeans at home and abroad celebrated the 55th birthday of musical icon and Cultural Ambassador Andy Palacio yesterday, December 2nd, 2015. A memorial mass was held in each of the following communities, Belize City, Dangriga, Belmopan, Punta Gorda, Seine Bight, Hopkins and Barranco Village his home town. To continue to keep the memory and legacy of Andy Palacio alive, the Wagiya Foundation partnered with the Andy Palacio Foundation to sponsor the FIRST EVER music festival fundraiser in Barranco Village. This festival will be held this Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 2pm to 10 pm. This effort is intended to be an annual event and will help provide the resources to bring to life Andy’s dream of music education in his hometown of Barranco. This is a family-friendly affair! The main event will feature a number of live performances from Garifuna music favorites. The line-up of artists will include: The Garifuna Collective, Lloyd Augustine, Sophia Blanco, Titiman Flores, Wageirale Drummers, Francisco ‘Chico’ Marcial and World Culture Band. There will be excursions from Belize City and Punta Gorda in addition to boat runs from Punta Gorda. Additionally, there will be shuttle buses and taxis running day and night from the junction to Barranco. Rest in Peace Andy P.

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

Party Leader 4 Deputy Party Leaders Party Chairman Treasurer Legal Advisor National Communications Director National Campaign Manager

14 APR 2013

ISSUE NO: 4840

6 Dec

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

The venue of the convention will be announced on a later date.

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serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

Nominations for candidates for the above-named posts must be submitted in writing to the PUP Secretariat at Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City by Tuesday December 15, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

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03 3 Belize’s Rising Debt Sugar Prices Go Up! 6 DEC

2015

November 26, 2015 Standard & Poor’s, an international credit rating agency, has raised red flags over Belize’s rising debt. S&P forecasted in a November 25th report that the Government’s debt will rise sharply in the upcoming months. It cites that debt to GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ratio will increase to 75% in 2015, from 66% in 2014. The report also notes that Belize’s fiscal obligations has risen steeply due to increased spending for electioneering done by the Barrow Administration in the months leading to the November 4th snap general elections, a 13% public sector wage hike and hundreds of millions of dollars as compensation payments to the former owners of Belize Telemedia Limited and Belize Electricity Limited. In the case of BTL, a pre-payment of $162

THE BELIZE TIMES

million was negotiated between Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Lord Michael Ashcroft. The final payment will come following arbitration proceedings and it is expected to be between $300 and $600 million more. S&P noted that the increased debt and weaker fiscal position has increased the economy’s vulnerabilities against growth prospects, and lead to a decline in the international reserves to less than $400 million. S&P will continue to monitor Belize’s economic status and will be updating their forecasts over the next few months. The report caught the attention of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who issued a press release to record the concerns of its private sector members.

Cane farmers still face bleak future

Belize City, November 27th, 2015 With little concern for the painful consequences to be felt by all Belizean consumers, the Government of Belize announced on Friday, November 27th, that it has approved a 25 cents increase in the price of sugar. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Gaspar Vega delivered the news, explaining that the decision to increase local sugar prices was made to offset the impending loss in revenue for cane farmers, due to an EU decision to lower the prices for sugar imported from Belize and other African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Vega said that the Government was considering a higher price increase, but settled at the 25 cents. Just days after the November 4th elections, the Belize Sugar Industry officials informed cane farmers that the expected payments for farmers derived from sugar revenues will fall in the upcoming crop season to $41.56 per ton, some $28.89 less than last year’s $70.45 per ton. The news is devastating to cane farmers. Many depend on sugar revenue, provided in two separate payments, to meet loan payments with banks. The first payment occurs in December, at the start of the new crop and just in time for the

Christmas season. The cane farmers’ first reaction was request that Government increases the price of sugar locally. They called for an increase of 25 cents, which experts say will result, at best, in an additional $4.60 per ton. The question is, however, whether the sugar price hike will really alleviate the losses felt by cane farmers, since only 10% of the total sugar produced is sold on the local market. BSI estimates that in the new crop, it will mill 1,225,000 tons of cane and produce 129,000 tons of sugar. 10% or 12,900 will be distributed for local consumption. For cane farmers, this would mean $4.60 per ton, which approximates to a total of $59,340 from local sugar sales. That amount, when divided evenly among the 6,000 cane farmers in the industry, dwindles to $9.89 more per cane farmer. Cane farmers should brace for tough times ahead, however. The cane season, set to start on December 7th, depends largely on effective planting and cutting practices, good weather conditions and the efficiency of cane delivery and milling by the factory. For several years, challenges have been experienced. EU sugar prices are expected to fall even lower in 2017, when they preferential market for ACP countries comes to a close.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Will Senate Block Corruption Probe? A motion for an Inquiry into Immigration Corruption goes before the Senate next Wednesday

Belize City, December 03, 2015 At a Senate meeting to be held next week Wednesday, December 9th, a motion will be tabled for an inquiry into glaring mismanagement and corruption in the Ministries of Immigration and Nationality, and National Security. The motion will be introduced at the request of Opposition Senators Lisa Shoman, Anthony Sylvestre Jr. and Patrick Andrews, and it will be debated and voted on. The sloppy prosecution by Police authorities of wanted international fugitive David Nanes Schnitzer, two weeks ago, which led to his eventual escape has raised eyebrows and re-opened a can of corrupt worms. Nanes, a man wanted in neighboring Mexico for a multi-million dollar fraud scheme was hiding in Belize under the cover of “David Banes”. He had acquired Belizean documentation including nationality, passport, social security card, driver’s license, and even a voter’s I.D. under the false name. The nationality certificate for the fake “David Banes” is dated November 2012 and has been traced to the days of Elvin Penner, the corrupt Minister who sold away Belizean nationality to Won Hong Kim, an international criminal who was locked up in a prison in Taiwan. Penner has never been detained by Police for a real criminal investigation or made to answer for his transgressions in Court. The state, meaning the UDP Government and their functionaries in the Immigration Department, Police Department, Director of Public Prosecution office and Auditor General’s Department, have all played a role in covering up corruption. But clearly, Won Hong Kim was not the first nor last to benefit from the UDP’s illegal sale of national and passport. Two years later, there is the David Banes case, and the suspicion that there is much more that should not go unchecked. Prime Minister Dean Barrow might have alluded to this on October 15 2013, when he explained that the UDP had expelled Penner because “More evidence has surfaced of the involvement of Elvin Penner in other instances of what to us is impropriety. The material presented to Cabinet was and is enough for us to feel that Elvin Penner was involved in additional instances of what I will term irregularities”. Barrow refused to discuss what was the “more evidence” he referred to that had compelled them to politically distance themselves from Penner. Lead Senator for Government Business Godwin Hulse is expected to recuse himself from the Senate deliberation as he is also the substantive Minister of Immigration which is the focus of the investigation. Should Hulse remain in the Senate to participate in the discussion and voting, he will be acting in severe conflict and against legal principles of natural justice which mandate a man not to be a judge in his own cause.

The Opposition Senators want the Senate to investigate corruption at the Ministry of Immigration. It is expected that the Business, Church and Union Senators will support the motion in the name of good governance. Belizeans must carefully monitor the reaction and response of the five remaining UDP Senators. Two of them, Francine Burns and Aldo Salazar, have legal train-

ing and should object to Hulse’s participation in the deliberations. The third, Carla Barnett, is a self-proclaimed good governance guardian who must prove that she really believes the things she writes. So far, her recent entry into politics as a UDP candidate at a time when the UDP Government was blatantly using taxpayer’s money for election campaigning, however, proved that she could look the other

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2015 way. The other two are spineless UDP lackeys. Should the Senate approve the motion next Wednesday, it will give the Senate the power to carry out a thorough investigation, with the authority to call on Government employees such as Ministers of Government, the Chief Executive Officers in the Ministry of Immigration and Nationality, and National Security, or the Auditor General to report on the findings of their investigations. Of note is that the Auditor General has not made public the full report of her Department’s investigation of the Ministry of Immigration and Nationality, following the Penner scandal in September 2013.

6 DEC

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 05

EDITORIAL

THE ROAD TO RUINATION

hree teenagers were burnt to death at the girls section of the Youth Hostel on Saturday 28 November 2012. This latest outrage follows a long line of disturbing, despicable failures on the part of the UDP government, stretching back to 2008 and travelling through to Saturday. The newly re-elected UDP has started off badly. Very badly. The Prime Minister is frail and sickly and is concentrating on not only enriching his family members but trying to get his sister to hold on to the Queen Square constituency for a few years until youngest son Anwar rakes in more millions of dollars before trying to take over from his father. Oldest son, Shyne, presumably plotting to hold a proper diplomatic passport as a member of Belize’s House of Representative is expecting his father to help him take over in the Mesopotamia division. He told the media he is getting training from his father. The late Harry Courtney would have said “what an este!” The Prime Minister’s rapidly failing health is being pounced upon by his Deputy Prime Minister Gapi Vega, the Education Minister Patrick Faber and the Police Minister John Saldivar. With the Prime Minister doing no government work, and the Ministers all forming alliances for power, the country is running itself. There is no government, just a bunch of power hungry politicians just back in government and grabbing all they can get. We would not be surprised to hear that Guatemala troops are in southern Belize. Nor are we surprised that the Prime Minister’s niece applied for and was given bail for Nanes wanted and requested by Mexico, and our security Police allowed him to leave the country. In a feigned act of pretending to be concerned the Prime Minister told the media widespread corruption by public officials, from Ministers of government right down the chain were involved in the whole Nanes affair. Excuse us if we find this silly as well as cynical. The government is blaming the government. And who is in charge of this widespread, deep seated corrupt “Ministers all the way down”. This is not the first or second time the Prime Minister has sought to deflect criticism from his failure by shunting or trying to confuse the issue. Deputy Prime Minister Gapi Vega, we are informed, recently held a meeting with his northern caucus of UDP Ministers and standard bearers. He has just awakened to the Prime Minister’s plan depriving him of leading the party when the Prime Minister leave in three years’ time or is forced to leave the earlier due to his worsening health condition. Gapi is supported by the Cayo politicians and four from Belize City and three from Belize District.

Gapi seems to be satisfied that the Prime Minister was hoping Dr. Carla Barnett would win a seat and eventually be maneuvered into leadership. Only this could explain why so many millions of dollars were spent in their campaign in Freetown. In other circumstances, UDP party shenanigans, and power play is of little concern. Not this time. The party is barely in office four weeks and they have not yet taken hold of the reigns of the government. The change of Minister at the Lands Ministry is a serious matter. Those who have hustled from the nation’s resources at lands are already grumbling that nothing will happen under Minister Hulse except for meetings, reports, workshops while applications pile up. There are presently hundreds of “election” lands which owners who paid graft are pressing to receive title. They are appealing to their northern boss but he will not belittle himself to ask Hulse to do him any favours. It is against these back drops that on Saturday afternoon three teenagers at Youth Hostel were burnt in broad daylight when the wooden room they were imprisoned in was engulfed in flames. Every protocol at the Youth Hostel was violated. The Minister responsible for Youth Hostel is yet to offer a public apology to this nation for this gross negligence under his watch. It needs reinforcing to say this was no freak accident. This was negligence of a fatal kind. The less unfortunate young people with delinquency issues are placed at the Youth Hostel in order to be under supervision and under protection, by the state and its agencies. They should never be in harm’s way or exposed to danger, or be allowed to be a danger to themselves or others. What happened on Saturday is unforgiveable. We fully expect that the Ministers will sacrifice a few low level employees and then pretend they have rectified the problems. They will have done no such thing. The on-going mismanagement and incompetence starts at the top of the government. It flows and trickles its way down through the chain of cronies into the ranks of public officers. It is corroding and eating away at the ability of Belize as a young nation to properly administer the public services on which so much important aspect of our lives depends. Electing public officials is not for them to be dividing the spoils and enriching self and kind. It is a huge responsibility on which rests good governance and competent delivery of services. It is clear, based on the imperial evidence offered from the first and second term of the UDP government, that this third term will be an unmitigated disaster. Ruination is not that far away.

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6 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

Caribbean’s brightest young minds chat with PUP Leader

2015

PUP Freetown UWG Yard Sale

YARD SALE #1 PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca

Belize City, December 2, 2015 Historic Independence Hall on Queen Street hosted a special visit by the Caribbean’s brightest young minds on Wednesday afternoon. As part of the 2015 annual governance meetings of Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) taking place in Belize this week, an extraordinary delegation consisting of the region’s top performers in the CXC/CSEC and CAPE exams is being hosted to a special visit of the country. The delegation has held meetings with key leaders including the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader. On Wednesday afternoon, it was the delegation’s turn to meet the People’s United Party’s young Party Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca. Hon. Francis welcomed the young students to Independence Hall, sharing a brief history of the PUP. Each student introduced himself or herself, sharing in return their remarkable achievements in their respective exams. The seventeen students are from Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Among them is Cecil Cox, a student of Queen’s College in Guyana, who is the CSEC regional top awardee to receive a CAPE regional top award, and Brandon Judnarine who not only made history for his country, Antigua and Barbuda, by being the first student to perform among the best in the region, but also for excelling as the Most Outstanding Candidate Overall in the May/ June CSEC examinations with passes in 22 CSEC subjects. The students also had the opportunity to chat with the Party Leader, and they led an interest-

ing discussion inquiring about his travels to Caribbean countries, his views on how to improve the level of women participation in politics and his vision for Belize. Also participating in the meeting were Deputy Leader Florencio Marin, Deputy Leader Mike Espat, Deputy Leader Julius Espat, Hon. Rodwell Ferguson, and Hon. Oscar Requeña. The delegation of students will get a chance to visit some of Belize’s world famous attractions, such as the Xunantunich archaeological site.

DATE: Saturday December 5, 2015 TIME: 8:30 am to 1:00 pm PLACE: Cor Sixth and F Streets, King’s Park YARD SALE #2 DATE: TIME: PLACE:

Saturday December 12, 2015 8:30 am to 1:00 pm Park in Belama

COME SHOP EARLY! GREAT DEALS ON A WIDE SELECTION OF ITEMS: TOYS, CLOTHES AND HOUSE HOLD ITEMS! Organized by the Freetown Constituency - UWG

6 DEC

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

BHS Students get first-hand experience in global leadership Washington DC, U.S, December 1st, 2015 The Organization of American States (OAS) promotes and supports efforts by universities, schools and public or private institutions for the organization of Model OAS General Assembly (MOAS).The MOAS Program for high school students of the Hemisphere functions within the Office of the Assistant Secretary General (OASG) Ambassador Nestor Mendez of the OAS. The MOAS 2015 held in Washington DC this week is the largest conference in recent years. All 34 OAS member countries are represented by 17 United States High Schools plus 8 International Country schools from Belize, Costa Rica, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Puerto Rico. This is Belize High School first representation at the MOAS but definitely not the last. Principal Jamie Lee Usher is extremely pleased with her students’ performance and commitment. Having been assigned to represent the island nation of Barbados in October, preparation began fast and furious, with our delegates meeting weekly to prepare their position papers and research article rebuttals. The delegates are charged

Belize High School Principal, Jamie Lee Usher, and students attending the Model OAS General Assembly in Washington D.C. with the responsibility to represent Barbados’ interests, policies and perspectives on the topics of the agenda. A total of 12 seniors from Belize High School have been working hard to debate, negotiate and have resolutions related to hemispheric issues: Ms. Yashika Issrani and Mr. Tyler Eck represent Barbados on the General Committee: Migration in the Americas and Protection of human rights in business

Mr. Rolando Santos and Mr. Louis Sroka sit on the First Committee: Juridical and Political Affairs. Mr. Ankit Chandwani and Mr. Anthony Navarrete sit on Second Committee: Hemispheric Security. Miss Jasmine Betancourt and Miss Wendy Huiling Huang sit on the Third Committee: Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI). Miss Shania Williams and Miss Dipti Karnani sit on the Special Committee:

07 7 Children and Youth. Mr. Romeo Caruso and Mr. Amit Nandwani sit on the GET Committee: this committee works closely with the General Committee in producing declarations. Romeo Caruso has also been elected as Chair of this committee, an honor, as a first time participant. The delegation is chaperoned by BHS Academic Advisor Ms. Michelle Arnold and by Principal Jamie Lee Usher. At the opening ceremonies, coordinator of the MOAS Program Ms. Nelly Robinson and Ms. Jeymar Biachis, MOAS consultant, welcomed the over 400 participants and 50 faculty advisors to the 34th Model OAS General Assembly. Also Present in the Hall of the Americas at the OAS Headquarters, were Belizeans: Mr. Mike Bejos, Ms. Kendal Belisle and Ambassador to the OAS, Ambassador Pat Andrews. Ms. Belisle had the honor of delivering the welcome address the entire assembly on behalf of Ambassador Mendez. Ms. Belisle and Ambassador Andrews met with the delegation and even took time for a couple pictures. The MOAS is an invaluable handson experience that encourages students to develop leadership and communication skills, as well as negotiation techniques, through the practice of diplomacy. Principal Usher confirms her school’s annual participation in the MOAS activities as BHS continues to raise the bar of education and educational opportunities offered to high school students.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

SJC presents modern African and Maya History program!

Yasser Musa had a fruitful meeting to discuss the African and Maya history program with 20 principals of the Toledo District

Presentation at SJC

Belize City, November 26, 2015 On Wednesday November 25th 2015, the St. John’s College made history when it presented a comprehensive History program to the administration of the high school and to the Belizean public. In June 2013 St. John’s College High School took a bold new step forward by announcing the implementation of the teaching of African and Maya History at the 1st form level and a renewed focus on Belizean History for the 2nd Form level. Over the past two and half years this new program has been piloted and rolled out utilizing the tools of technology - free ereaders, an e-library, e-resources and an online web portal for study guides, slide shows, videos, maps, articles and notices. The final product was unveiled by Head of the History Department Yasser Musa and History Teacher, Delmer Tzib, and handed over to high school Principal, Yolanda Gongora. The African and Maya History program focuses in the first semester on the origins of Humanity in Africa, the development of Agriculture and technology, West and East African Empires and Great Zimbabwe. In semester two the program focused on human migration into the Americas, early to late Maya Civilization to the moment of European contact in the 15th century. The revised History program at the 2nd form level gives alternate perspectives of the indigenous and African populations in the Americas from the time of European contact to Post-Independent Belize. It focuses on the adverse effects of conquest, slavery, post-slavery, the Caste War, early 20th century British Honduras, rise of the worker, the nationalist movement, social and racial consciousness and the road to Independence. Special emphasis is placed on the origins and history of the Guatemala claim and the modern realities of the debate today. The high school considered the presentation of the program as a progress report on the important role that the teaching of history plays at the 128th year old institution. According to Tzib, it’s availability on electronic media is a key component since students are moving past papers and books and looking to technology for education. “If you look at education, primarily today we need to adapt to the generation that we have and the generation that we have is not primarily looking at printed text and that sort of thing. They are looking at technology and we are trying to adapt technology into the programme so that they enjoy it. It is not simply about dates and memorising dates and that sort of thing, it is more about them

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2015 internalising themes and understanding ideas of how society functions and how they can change society as well. So when we look at creating books, we decided that electronic books would be quite feasible to be used in terms of our school,” said Tzib. There has been a rising interest in African and Maya History program in other schools, despite fading support from the Ministry of Education. On Thursday, November 26th, Musa travelled to Punta Gorda where he presented the African and Maya History program to 20 principals of the Toledo District. “It was a special moment for me because the encounter was engaging, exciting and full of hope. I am grateful for their openness and look forward to working with them to ensure that we make the teaching of history, our history, a foundation of our education system,” Musa remarked.

6 DEC

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

Belizean Beauty

Shary

• • • • • •

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TOP MODEL

Career Plan: Entrepreneur Clothing and Accessories Sign: Leo provided by Cor. North Front Steet & Queen Street Favourite Food: Pizza CATWALK FASHIONS Belize City Likes: Painting Photo by: Lives in: Belize City Fav. Quote: “She had always liked this image of herself as too much trouble, as different, and sometimes thought ...that kept her safe.”

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10 SPORTS

THE BELIZE TIMES

City Boys lead U-15 football

TyreeK Muschamp scored Bombers’ 1st goal

Belize City, November 29, 2015 City Boys bombed Face of Belize 4-0 at the MCC Garden on Sunday to hold the top spot in Week 4 of the Belize District Football Association’s (BDFA) Under-15 football competition. City Boys’ Jalen Babb and Akeem Sutherland scored a goal each, while Kenroy Linares scored the 2nd and 4th goals. City Boys goalie Shawn Bilharry kept his slate clean by stopping a penalty kick by Ajani Vaughn. Other matches: Ladyville Jaguars vs. Berger United 4-0 Goals by D’jon Canelo, Lyndon Flowers, Ryan Chiac (2) Brown Bombers vs. Carlston United – 1-0 Goal by Tyreek “Pippin” Muschamp Hattieville River Side Boys vs. Collet Strikers - 3-0 Goals by Jadon Macgregor (2), Mario Rivera

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2015

Hattieville’s River Side Boys Collet goalie Tyrell Estrada vs Mario Rivera

Djon Canelo scored Ladyville Jaguars 1st Goal

Maud Williams & SCA advance Gwen Liz boys, No.1 into basketball playoffs to basketball finals Belize City, December 1, 2015 Maud Williams High School girls and the undefeated St. Catherine Academy will clash in the Central Division secondary school basketball finals. Maud Williams and St. Catherine’s Academy won their semifinals matches at Bird’s Isle on Tuesday night. Maud Williams eliminated the Anglican Cathedral College girls: 38 – 32 with Arika Shephard scoring 14pts while Ashley Bailey a4dded 13pts. ACC’s Zaria Jenkins scored 20pts and Shantia Palacio added 8pts. Meanwhile, the SCA girls blew out the Wesley College girls: 33 – 13, led by Indie Dixon with 12pts.

Maud Williams team

Gwen Liz team

Maud Williams’ Latifah Ferguson

Ashley Bailey scored 13pts

Belize City, November 30, 2015 The Gwen Lizarraga High School boys are No.1 with a 6-1 record, entering the Central Division high school basketball playoffs to begin at Bird’s Isle on Wednesday, December 2. The Gwen Liz boys posted their 6th win, 60-58 over the St. Johns College boys on Monday night. Keyvon Evans led Gwen Liz with 24pts. Jahson Phillips led SJC with 21pts and Brian Sutherland added 13pts. The Gwen Liz boys defeated Anglican Cathedral College 53-49 last Wednesday. Sadie Vernon Technical High School boys are the only ones who upset Gwen Liz boys 69-62 on Saturday afternoon. They were led by Keyvon Evans with 27pts. The ACC boys upset SJC 64-62 on Friday night, led by Holdane Swazo with 25pts. SJC posted their 4th win 72-60 against Naza-

SJC’s Kenton Young scored 8pts rene High School on Wednesday. Llewellyn Gentle led the team with 13pts. Ladyville Technical High posted their 2nd win 64-63 against Nazarene High on Thursday. They were led by Raheem Henry with 18pts. The Wesley College boys posted their 6th win: 66-60 over Sadie Vernon on Thursday; led by Tevaun Lennan with 16pts.

6 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Top 5 A Div. road race

DigiCell 4G’s Ian Whittaker wins Weekend Warriors’ Boom race

Top 5 B Div. road race Belize City, November 29, 2015 Team DigiCell 4G’s Ian Whittaker won the Weekend Warriors Cycling Club’s Burrell Boom race in the A Division, while Team F.T. Williams’ Isaiah Willacey won the B Division, and Team Caribbean Tires’ Alejandro Moralez won the C division race, 30 miles to the finish line at Leslie’s Imports on Sunday.

A Division 1st Ian Whittaker – Team DigiCell 4G 1:25.20 2nd Dean Belisle – Team Bel-Cal 3rd Robert Mariano – Team DigiCell 4G 4th Fiztgerald “Palas” Joseph – Team Lampaz 5th Dave Yearwood - Team Lampaz 6th Kirk Sutherland – Team DigiCell 4G 7th Jack Sutherland – Team DigiCell 4G 8th Isaiah Willacey – Team F.T. Williams – 1st B Div. 9th Salvador Alvarado – Team F.T. Williams – 2nd B Div. 10th Mark Reid – Team Santino’s – 3rd B div. C Division

1st Alejandro Moralez – Team Caribbean Tires - 1:39:42 2nd Lawrence Craig - Truckers Posse 3rd Eustace Ireland - Kulture Megabytes 3rd Chris Berry - Team BNE 5th Alfonso Moralez – Team Caribbean Tires 6th Steve Gill – Team SMART Individual Time Trials – 11.5 miles on Burrell boom bypass A Division 1st Daniel Cano – Team Santino’s - 27:40 2nd Fitzgerald Joseph – Team Lampaz – 28:37 3rd Stephen Bissett – Team Lampaz - 29:28. 4th Dave Yearwood – Team Lampaz 29:375th John Burns – Team DigiCell 4G - 30:01. B Division 1st Isaiah Willacey – Team F.T. Williams 28:21 2nd Dean Boyce – Team F.T.Williams - 30:53 3rd Mark Reid - Team Santino’s - 30:58 4th Mike Phillips – Team Lampas - 31:54 5th Ian Abraham – Team SMART - 32:08. C Division 1st Chris Berry - Truckers’ Posse -33:04 2nd Steve Gill – Team SMART - 34:12 3rd Lawrence Craig - Truckers’ Posse - 34:53 4th Eustace Ireland – Team Lampaz - 35:03 5th Alfonso Moralez – Team Caribbean Tires - 35:35.

Belize City, November 29, 2015 Four-time Mr. Belize, Rigo Vellos, won 1st place in the Mr. Maya Bodybuilding Competition held in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico, on Saturday November 28, defeating other Mexican bodybuilding athletes. In October, Vellos won the Mr. Belize title for the fourth year in a row.

SPORTS 11

Mr. Belize Rigo Vellos leaves his mark in Mexico

San Ignacio, November 28, 2015 The Benque Western Queens blew out Belmopan Shock to win the 2015 Cayo women’s female basketball championship with back-to-back wins, when the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Basketball Association held the championship finals sponsored by BECOL at the Falcon Field court over the weekend. Trophies will be presented when the finals conclude on Saturday night, December 5.

Benque Western Queens win Cayo basketball champs

MicRoe Light & Peace win 1st BECOL U-23 basketball final Panthers’ Daniel Nolberto scored 21pts

Top 5 C Div. road race

Sacred Heart College takes on Christian Ambassadors in U-19 basketball finals

Panthers win Cayo basketball senior finals Game 1

6 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

For Sale By Order of the

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece and parcel of land described as Lot No. 30 and delineated in Entry No. 12159 Reg 28 recorded at the Lands and Survey Department and comprising 603.940 Square Meters in Hopeville, near Cattle Landing Village, Toledo District, Belize TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece and parcel of land situate in Hattieville Village, Mile 17 on the Western Highway, Belize District, Belize and being Lot No. 100 comprising 833.33 Square Yards bounded and described as shown and comprised in Fiat Grant No. 565 of 2011 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 11th day of November, 2015.

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

For Sale By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 28th day of November, 2007, between NATALIE HULSE of #6 Buena Vista Street, San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 15 of 2011 at Folios 1327 – 1392, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT freehold piece and parcel of land situate along the North side of Bullet Tree Falls Road, Kay Works Agricultural Area, Cayo District and numbered Lot No. 22 containing 510.425 square metres of land being a subdivision of Block No. 47 bounded and described as shown on Entry No. 10480, Register 20 dated 26th June 2007 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 11th day of November, 2015. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

For Sale By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Transfer of Mortgage made the 8th day of May, 2009, registered in Deeds Book Volume 11 of 2009 at Folios 733 -752, between BELIZE MORTGAGE COMPANY 2002-1 (the Assignor) SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., and PHILIP BENJAMIN CLARKE, and by a Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 15th day of September, 2005 recorded in Deeds Book Volume 28 of 2005 at Folios 1005 - 1080, between D.F.C. (the Assignor) and the said BELIZE MORTGAGE COMPANY 2002-1, which said property was mortgaged by the said PHILIP BENJAMIN CLARKE to the said D.F.C. on the 11th day of February, 2003, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in Deeds Book Vol. 6 of 2003 at Folios 1441 – 1482, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. THE SCHEDULE ALL THAT lot piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 77 in the subdivision known as Los Lagos, situate in the Mile 13 area, Northern Highway, Ladyville, Belize District, as surveyed by Kenneth A. Gillett, licensed surveyor and recorded at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Belmopan at Register 16 Entry 4460 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 17th day of November, 2015. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

6 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015 Sorux Group Limited #129,034 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Sorux Group Limited:

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 24th day of November, 2015; and c) Cititrust International Limited whose address is 35 Barrack Road, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator of the Company Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent QUIKTRAK NETWORKS LIMITED #58,508 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that QUIKTRAK NETWORKS LIMITED:

d) is in dissolution e) commenced dissolution on the 30th day of November, 2015; and f) David Pankov whose address is Profsoyuznaya Street, Bldg. 55, Apt. 51, Moscow, Russia is the Liquidator of the Company Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent HONORIOUS INVESTMENTS LIMITED #55,195 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that HONORIOUS INVESTMENTS LIMITED:

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 1st day of December, 2015; and c) Kyriakos Kyriakou whose address is Kalliopis 11, Flat 103, Lakatamia, 2304 Nicosia, Cyprus is the Liquidator of the Company Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent

VIDAGIO PROPERTY LIMITED #109,843 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that VIDAGIO PROPERTY LIMITED has been in dissolved as at 28th November, 2015 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies. Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent

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

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 501.740 square metres being Parcel 3108, Block 20 in the Belmopan Registration Section situate at No. 19 Tapir Street, Belmopan, Cayo District, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of STEPHEN WATTERS and GLORIA WATTERS (Jointly) DATED the 24th day of November 2015 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

14 The only Defeat is never to try anything else is a setback THE BELIZE TIMES

By Senator Lisa M. Shoman Nothing beats a trial but a failure. How many times was this drummed into my head as a child? Countless and you must have felt the same urge to roll your eyes as I did, each time this cliché was said to you. But the message did sink in. What you probably were not told, is that the only defeat is in never trying at all - and that everything else is only a setback. The Senate in Belize is widely

viewed as a rubber-stamp - a toothless, largely ceremonial creature, whose function is not evident in our democracy except as some mythical check and balance - especially since the 13th Senator has never been released into law by the Prime Minister (who was its progenitor) thereby guaranteeing a majority for the Senators appointed by the PM. What needs to be understood is that Section 61 A which sets out the “Powers and functions” of the Senate under the Constitution Section 61A (1) states that “the Senate shall have the powers and shall exercise the functions set out in the Subsection (2).” The use of the word “SHALL” makes those powers and the performance of the functions MANDATORY - not discretionary. In other words, the Senate CANNOT pick and choose if it wishes to “exercise the functions” listed - it MUST do so. It has a legal obligation to do so. These are serious and weighty powers and functions and the Senate cannot simply abdicate its responsibil-

ity to act. Senators cannot just ignore the constitutional mandate entrusted to the Senate. They must perform the functions assigned to the Senate. They have a legal obligation to do so. Therefore, the Senate must act in order to approve (or not) the appointment of Public Officials such as the Contractor General, Ombudsman, and members of the Elections and Boundaries Commission or the Integrity Commission. Likewise, the Senate- if there is a matter of public interest or importance, including an inquiry into mismanagement or corruption by persons in Central Government, particularly when both the PM and Minister of Immigration have expressed those concerns SHALL ACT in order to INSTITUTE AND CONDUCT AN ENQUIRY AND INVESTIGATION INTO THE SAME. Anything less, is a dereliction of duty. Anything amounting to a refusal is an abdication of responsibility of the functions of the Senate. Each Senator has sworn an individu-

6 DEC

2015 al oath to uphold the Constitution, and to carry out his or her responsibilities under the Constitution, the best of his or her ability, without fear or favor. I have been asked why bother presenting a motion to the Senate for an inquiry and investigation if I already ‘know’ that the motion will be defeated. This simple answer is because it is my duty, and because I am determined to give each and every Senator a full and fair opportunity to demonstrate to all Jewelizeans (including the cynical ones) that they will also comply with their duty pursuant to Section 61A of the Constitution of Belize. After all, it is their responsibility to do so. In Belize, far too often, we give up without even trying, on the basis that something is futile. We sometimes believe ourselves defeated without even trying. Rosa Parks set out deliberately to sit on that bus knowing that she would be removed, indeed knowing that her removal was inevitable, and that it would be a personal setback, but not a defeat. I am determined to do my duty. I am determined try as long as there is an opportunity, and I will not see a setback as a defeat.

6 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

LESSONS FROM THE EAST, Part II

By Micah J. Goodin In the last sixty plus years of its existence the Government and people of Taiwan have pursued pragmatic policies that have encouraged positive economic growth. In the 1950s the Republic of China was in a pursuit of stability and selfsufficiency. Top priority at the time was given to economic stabilization and food production. This resulted in an effective land reform program that encouraged food production and stabilized food prices. A decade later after much success in agriculture the Taiwanese shifted its focus to promoting labor- intensive and export- oriented industries to take advantage of low- cost labor and to penetrate markets beyond its shores. At one point in time Taiwan was referred to as the Bicycle Kingdom of the world, for its production and export of bicycles. This shift was complemented by the introduction of foreign exchange administration and taxation. Therefore, improving investor climate. In the 70s the rapid export of the previous decade had stimulated a strong domestic demand for machinery, equipment and materials. During this period Taiwan’s industrial technology was more advanced and ripe for higher level or basic and heavy industry development. The government carried out Ten Major Development Projects

that improved railway, airport, port and electricity. Taiwan had effectively reduced its reliance on the foreign supply of intermediate products through the strategy of substitution. In the early 80s their economy began to reap the benefits of its trade policies. The government adopted economic liberalization and internationalization to guide its development. Taiwan used its resources to develop capital and technology intensive industries such as electronics, information and machinery. During the 90s rising wages forced labor intensive industries to move offshore. Taiwan was compelled to upgrade or transform its manufacturing industries from toys and umbrellas to IT products. Since the 90s, technology

For Sale By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 27th day of March, 2012, between MARY CARIDDI of Paslow Falls Area, Cayo District, Belize of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 6 of 2012 at Folios 1121 – 1172, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land or lot situate along the Mopan River, Paslow Falls Area, Cayo District and being Block No. 9 (9.75 acres) of land the Lionel Balan sub-division survey of Grant No. 505 of 2007 comprising 20.86 acres of land and the Survey of a strip of National Lands comprising of 1.00 acre, situate along the Mopan River, Paslow Falls Area, Cayo District and more particularly delineated and described as shown on a plan dated 3rd September, 2007 on Entry No. 10732 Reg No. 17 and Final approval Granted by Ref No. LUA 91/07(28) recorded and registered at the Survey Department, Belmopan City attached to the said property TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 26th day of November, 2015. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

has become an indispensable entity for Taiwan, globally dominating the production of computers, tablets and televisions among other items. Following the new millennium Taiwan began to promote a knowledge based and sustainable economy. It also linked to the international trade system via its membership in the World Trade Organization in 2002. For the period 2012- 2013 Taiwan focused on industrial remodeling and global linkage. The government grasped the opportunities of an era of change and strengthening the nuts and bolts of Taiwan’s economy by launching the Golden Decade National Vision Plan. This plan focused on innovation, openness and structural adjustments. Taiwan has signed on to various

trade agreement including the promotion of Free Economic Pilot Zones (FEPZs) which is to ease restrictions of goods, personnel, money, information and knowledge, to create a competitive environment. My recent trip to Taiwan sparked an interest for global politics, global economics and global relations. It compelled me to think about the future development of my Belize. Whether one day we would be able to stand on the world stage and fiercely compete with the entire world and dominate the markets that be. The Republic of China has focused on the creativity of its people. It is the commitment of this country to the development of its people that has yielded economic progress. For example every year there is what is called the Taiwan Excellence Awards which are awarded to innovators. There are numerous programs and funding designed to fuel and encourage creativity. According to the World Trade Organization, Taiwan was the 17th largest exporter and 18th largest importer of merchandise in 2012. Data for the following year reveals that Belize was the 170th largest exporter in the world. Therefore, there were at least 169 countries exporting far more than we could imagine. Continued on page 19

OPENWEB LIMITED #81,208 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that OPENWEB LIMITED:

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 27th day of November, 2015; and c) Photis Photiou whose address is 6 Kolokotroni Street, 1st Floor, Nicosia 1101, Cyprus is the Liquidator of the Company Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent Tretco Limited # 62,718 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Tretco Limited:

6 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

– Terms of Reference --Long Term Agreement (LTA) (LTA) UNICEFUNICEF BelizeBelize -Terms of Reference Long Term Agreement

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

PRINT SERVICES PRINT SERVICES

PRODUCTION SERVICES VIDEOVIDEO PRODUCTION SERVICES

1. Background and context UNICEF Belize wishes to enter into a non-exclusive Long Term Agreement (LTA) with a company for the provision of print services. Each year, the UNICEF Belize office produces and prints multiple products, including documents, posters, agendas, invitations, brochures, leaflets, fact sheets, publications etc. many of which are required on short term notice. The office is therefore looking to establish a roster of print service providers. 2. Justification As projects are recurrent and often similar in nature, a Long Term Agreement and a roster of service providers would save the UNICEF Belize office considerable amounts of time related to advertisement and selection. It would also support staff members not familiar with print quality needs in selection, as each of the LTA holders would have its specified expertise defined by the office. 3. Purpose and Objective Professional print services will be performed at the desired quality level, in a timely fashion, with defined cost limits, with simplified administrative processing and reduced transaction costs. 4. Methodology and technical approach The service provider will use technical expertise and state of the art hardware to provide print services, delivering high quality products according to UNICEF needs on short notice: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Printing of letter-sized documents in black and white and colour, on different types of paper Printing of brochures, leaflets, invitations, agendas and other products Printing of several paged publications Printing of large sized products such as posters, vinyl banners & roll-ups Printing of other items such as t-shirts, bags, folders, pens etc.

5. Activities and Tasks Printing of digital files in agreed upon quality, size and quantity. 6. Deliverables and Timeframe The time needed per deliverable will be negotiated at the beginning of each project. Delivery will be made either by provider or picked up by UNICEF if in Belize City. 7. Management Supervision will be determined on project basis. 8. Type of Contract and Remuneration The contract is a two year Long Term Agreement (LTA) valid for two years based on satisfactory performance. Remuneration will be determined on project basis and each separate project will specify a price based on the established and agreed upon rates and deliverables. Payment will only be made for work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF. Please note that UNICEF does not cover travel costs or offer office space. 9. Qualifications

Please Note that this is a shorter version of the Terms of References- for the full Terms of References, please see the link on UNICEF Belize Facebook page: www.facebook.com/UNICEFBelize 1. Background and context Each year, the UNICEF Belize office produces multiple video products, including animated, documentary and Public Service Announcement material, many of which are required on short term notice. The office is therefore looking to establish a two-year Long Term Agreement (LTA) with available companies to create a roster of video production service providers. Video narratives play a very important in UNICEF’s communication. As communication increasingly develops in real time through digital channels, UNICEF needs companies ready to support video production within short timeframes as well as companies with professional experience in developing and executing longer term strategies and approaches to videos that will work to raise the brand’s voice and image. UNICEF also needs to harness the best video production companies to support the development of narratives during critical and urgent scenarios. 4. Methodology and technical approach The applying companies should have proven successes with both public and private sector and should have a team assembled that covers the necessary areas of video production in order to work quickly and mobilize efforts, including: cinematography, pre-production, post production, creative ideas, animation and motion graphics, and sound design. The service provider will use above expertise and state of the art software and hardware to provide video services and produce high quality video products according to UNICEF needs, including: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Public service announcement or behaviour change video production Video documentation of events and video production (filming during event + summary video) Documentary video production Animated video production Other video production as requested

9. Experience required Professional video production company with a strong portfolio, with experience in:

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Directing videos or commercials Projects featuring children. Developing short form video clips and/or documentary style videos. Campaigns targeting a social media demographic. Utilizing the latest hardware and software for video production On time product delivery under tight deadlines. Working with non-profits, NGOs or international organisations. Working experience with UNICEF is an added advantage.

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



Familiarity with UNICEF brand guidelines, quality standards and ethical regulations is an added advantage.

Access to high-end professional printing equipment and capacity to process requests at short notice. 10. Application: Closing date for submitting applications is 16th December 2015. Late applications will not be considered and regret letters will only be sent to short-listed applicants.

Depending on the particular needs for the production, listed are team members and expertise requested (depending on production): 

Kindly submit two working samples of highest print quality items for the following items: 1. Double sided full colour print on medium glossy hard paper of the following document: (click) https://www.dropbox.com/s/he5rp4j6gbuwwmg/UNICEF%20Belize%20Fast%20Facts%20DEC15.pdf 2. One-sided full colour high quality print of 17x24” poster – any content Also submit a detailed financial proposal for the specific items that the company can provide, specifying the detailed cost per item and bulk discounts within ranges, for example 1-50, 50-200 etc. 1. Printing of letter-sized documents - In black and white - In colour - On standard paper - On glossy paper - On hard, matte paper etc. - Single sided / double sided 2. Printing of tri-fold brochures, simple one-sided leaflets, event invitations, event agendas and other products specified in a price list 3. Printing of several paged publications in full colour 4. Printing of large sized products - Poster (17x24” and other sizes) - Vinyl banner - Roll-up banner - Other as needed 5. Printing of other items - Simple document folders with logo printed in full colour - Pens with printed logo - String bags & canvas bags with printed logo and/or text - T-Shirts with printed logo and/or text in full colour - Small note pads with printed logo and/or text Please also share, if applicable, a catalog of print services and items offered, along with a detailed price list per item with bulk discounts. ALL submissions to be sent by email to belize@unicef.org, attention: Operations Assistant; subject – LTA Print Services. Working samples to be delivered physically at: UNICEF Belize office, Coney Drive Gordon House 3rd Floor, Belize City. Closing date for submitting applications is 14th December 2015.

   

    

Developing high quality awareness raising videos for online audiences. Pre-Production Support: Understands communication needs and develops creative video concepts that cover these needs. Also can support with location planning, scene set up, and casting. Videographer: Cameramen with the most up to date skills and equipment. Director: Oversees all elements of the creation of the video, from beginning to the end. Works on the ground to ensure the production goes right. Production Crew Member: Video shoot coordinator who has proven experience in coordinating live filming. Must have experience with cameras or microphones while on set. Post Producer: Has a strong acumen for editing, motion graphics, and sound design to ensure a video is developed more fully once footage is delivered. Developing high quality awareness raising animations for online audiences Animator: Understands illustration programs and is familiar with mapping out storyboards to ensure an idea is communicated. Can also execute drawings to generate animations. Motion Graphics: Works to get images in animations moving in 3D formats and fashions. Must have experience with most up to date programs for computer graphic programs. Copywriter: Helps develop the storytelling aspect of an animation. Creative Director: Helps generate the initial idea that animation team can bring to life. Sound Designer: Works with animators to ensure that animation can have audio cues that sync with the visual story being told. Must have experience with cutting edge sound programs.

10. Application: Closing date for submitting applications is 14th December 2015. Late applications will not be considered and regret letters will only be sent to short-listed applicants. Kindly submit a technical proposal (specifying equipment and team at disposal), links to at least 3 relevant working samples and detailed financial proposal for each of the following, specifying the detailed cost per service, and a final price for a one (1) minute video for each category: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Video documentation of events and video production (including filming during the event) Documentary video production Public service announcement or behaviour change video production Animated video production Any other services offered

ALL submissions to be sent by email to belize@unicef.org, attention: Operations Assistant; subject – LTA Video Production Services. Please see full ToRs before applying: www.facebook.com/UNICEFBelize

6 DEC

2015

Sparing the rod By G. Michael Reid Like a thief in the night, president elect of Guatemala Jimmy Morales slipped into Belize last Friday night under the cover of darkness and obscurity. Ironically enough, Morales’ campaign slogan was “Ni corrupto, ni ladrón” (Neither corrupt nor a thief). We promise not to tell! It was previously rumoured that the new president of Guatemala would bypass Belize on his tour of Central American nations. According to the Prime Minister, the reason why they told us that was because they weren’t sure if he was coming. They didn’t want to say anything just in case he didn’t show up. Really! Why? Is it that he did not want to disappoint us or is it that he himself did not want to be disappointed? Another possibility is that they wanted to sneak him in and out with no one being the wiser. This man is famous for clandestine meetings; remember the Ashcroft deals. As usually happens in Belize however, someone invariably let the puss out the bag and five selfdeclared activists painted placards and went out to make Morales feel unwelcome. They were quickly and roughly tackled by Police and no one is sure if Morales was even aware of their presence. I do not believe that this was a case where any protest would have been better than none; if there was to be a protest, it should have been publicized. Radio stations usually allow such announcements and a simple phone call to Krem and Love would have sufficed. One can only hope that Morales did not leave believing that what was out there represented the full extent of our discontent? That would be sad indeed! Jimmy Morales is the comedian turned politician who was able to get himself elected in Guatemala following the abrupt downfall of former President Otto Pérez Molina.

THE BELIZE TIMES

There are quite a few things that must be taken into consideration when examining this case. First of all, there was a gross dereliction of duty by those in charge. Tears are not enough; heads must roll. Given the fact that the young people housed at that facility are all known trouble makers, the number of guards to inmates is woefully inadequate. For a population of 51, there are all of four guards Perez Molina was forced to vacate and from all reports, there were his seat following the La Linea two on duty at the time. Folks, in scandal. Following the release of the tourism industry there is strict a report exposing widespread correquirement for one guide to every ruption in government, hundreds of eight persons and these are supthousands of Guatemalans took to posedly normal law-abiding individthe streets and demanded that Peruals. Here we have known trouble ez Molina step down. After months makers and the supervision is one of demonstrations and civil unrest, to twenty-five? You’re right, maybe Pérez Molina was stripped of proseit’s just me! cutorial immunity and the end came A very important aspect here quickly thereafter. In September, he also, is the role of parents in the was arrested and charged and went rearing of their children. I have straight from palace to cellblock. long been lobbying for a parentJustice was neither delayed nor deing class for, in particular, first time nied. mothers. Yes, fathers definitely Many believe that Belize could need to remain involved but given do well with its own version of the the reality of the times, mothers International Commission against are usually left burdened with the Impunity (CICIG) which brought responsibility. (Did anyone notice justice to Guatemala. The CICIG that no fathers were interviewed about this incident?) Life comes with no manual but there are Twice before had fires been deliberately set many mothers, quite a there one of the girls were even reportedly few single, who have known to be a firebug. Yet, they were successfully raised “norlocked up in a room and one of them was mal” children. Their experience and expertise allowed to keep a lighter. The room was should be sought out and utilized. then properly secured, complete with a Parents also need to faulty lock that had been known to give understand the responsibilities that come with trouble to open before. having children. They cannot spoil them and then is an anti-corruption agency which throw them upon the state and Hostel on Saturday was obviously was established in that country in wash their hands of the problems. a tragedy waiting to happen. Twice 2007 and which worked effectively They must remain engaged in their before had fires been deliberately to expose corruption, violence and development. We have much work set there one of the girls were even organised crime within public into do and we must approach these reportedly known to be a firebug. stitutions, political parties and the problems from every possible anYet, they were locked up in a room civil society. The CICIG was jointly gle. If we do not pay more attention and one of them was allowed to proposed by the United Nations to the plight of our young, there will keep a lighter. The room was then and the government of Guatemala be perpetual hell to pay. We did not properly secured, complete with a with an aim to strengthening public start the fire but we must do what faulty lock that had been known to institutions and fighting the culture we can to extinguish it. Pray that give trouble to open before. Is it of impunity. Apparently they are a we can find a way! making any sense yet? whole lot more serious about fighting corruption than we are. Activists in Salvador and Honduras, buoyed by the CICIG’s recent success in Guatemala are now calling for similar initiatives to help tackle corruption, crime and impunity in those countries. Given the endemic corruption in our House, it is high time that we join our voices to this chorus crying out for help. The problem is that here in Belize we cannot even get our government to sign onto the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Belize is the only Central American country that has not signed onto UNAC and one of only a few in the entire world that has not done so. What are we afraid of? For the entire three terms of this current government, Belize has operated without an Integrity Commission, has no functioning oversight committee and boasts of a politically appointed Auditor General. Our government refuses to give data to Transparency International and if they did, no one doubts that we would be close to topping the list. In June of this year, Belize was blacklisted by the European Union (EU) and accused of being a tax haven for multinational companies. Just last week, the United States Treasury Department named Belize as one of several destinations where business associates of the Islamic terrorist group ISIS are laundering money through the use of shell companies. Has the best come yet? By Saturday afternoon, Morales’ brief visit to Belize was all but forgotten as news broke of the terrible tragedy that claimed the lives of three young teenage girls. The news hit social media like the very wildfire which consumed the wooden building in which the girls were being kept and it prompted a quick and tearful press conference. Some very disturbing details were released. What happened at the Youth

THE BELIZE TIMES

Terms ofofReference - UNICEF Terms Reference - UNICEF Belize Belize Communication & Communication for Development Cross-Cutting Support

Communication & Communication for Development Cross-Cutting Support Please Note that this is a shorter version of the Terms of References- for the full Terms of References, please see the link on UNICEF Belize Facebook page: www.facebook.com/UNICEFBelize 1. Background

Communicating the impact of UNICEF’s policies, programmes and partnerships for children is what shapes public perception of the organization, hence the level of support it gets. It is vital therefore to clearly articulate UNICEF’s relevance and advantages compared to those of other child-focused organizations, so that our value added is understood by the general public and key decision makers. In Belize, UNICEF is a strong partner in the promotion of children’s rights, Early Childhood Development, Education and Child protection, among other themes. The role of the individual communication contractor is to further strengthen the impact and visibility of UNICEFs programmes by developing and implementing (C4D) behaviour change, advocacy and communication strategies targeting decision makers, communities in target districts and international audiences.

3. Duties

The communication contractor assists in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the Belize CO advocacy and communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives in the country, enhance the organization’s credibility and brand nationally and contributing to the fundraising initiatives by communicating about UNICEF Belize interventions internationally and with key donors.

4. Overall Duties and tasks:

Ensure that the production of communication products and materials is timely executed and followed up to support country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities and to support resource mobilization as set out in the work plan. Effective and timely professional assistance and support are provided in developing, drafting and maintaining contact information, materials and relationships with journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. – in the country, to communicate the story of UNICEF's cooperation to a wider audience. 

Maintain and update media relations contact list/database. Ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media.



Assist in developing and maintaining close collaboration with mass media, as well as with groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of advocacy and communication objectives.



Draft and edit articles, press releases, human interest stories advocacy/information materials in all media formats, as appropriate.

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Prepare background communication and promotional materials for briefing and visits of media and other special interest groups. Assist in the planning, logistic and administrative arrangements.

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Assist in collaborating with the media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate.



Manage the office website and Social Media channels – Facebook, Youtube, Twitter -

and

other

Terms of Reference - UNICEF Belize Terms of Reference - UNICEF Belize

Communication & Communication forDevelopment Development Cross-Cutting Strategies Communication & Communication for Cross-Cutting Strategies share appropriate information when applicable keeping the channels active and attractive to users, keeping the public updated on the activities of the office as well as other issues related to children in Belize through engaging photo and video stories. 

Write stories for internal UNICEF network (ICON) to share important activities, lessons learned and success stories with UNICEF colleagues globally.



Monitor and evaluate the appropriate and timely dissemination of advocacy and communication materials to target audiences, and participate in the evaluation of their impact.

6. Qualifications, experience 1. Education Advanced University degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Communication for Development or a related field. 2. Qualifications - At least five years progressively responsible relevant work experience in communications or media relations field. Knowledge of international media, good understanding of development issues, world affairs and current events. Broad-based knowledge and experience with both print and digital media. - Familiarity with Communication for Development and behaviour change communication is a distinct advantage - Fluency in English required, knowledge of Spanish is considered an advantage. - Background/familiarity with Emergency situations an added advantage 3. Competencies of Successful Candidate - Highest-level communication skills, including engaging & informative formal public speaking. - Excellent writing skills - Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment. - Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals. - Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments. - Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives. - Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities. - Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise. - Seeks and proposes opportunities for advancing UNICEF's mission 4. How to apply Closing date for submitting applications is 14th December, 2015. Late applications will not be considered and regret letters will only be sent to short-listed applicants. ALL submissions to be sent by email to belize@unicef.org, subject – UNICEF Belize Communication / C4D contractor To apply, please submit: 1. Cover letter 2. CV 3. P11 (updated and signed) 4. Writing Sample 5. Financial Proposal clearly showing monthly charges Please visit our website http://www.unicef.org/videoaudio/PDFs/P11.doc to access the Personal History (P11) Form.

Please see full ToRs before applying: www.facebook.com/UNICEFBelize

6 DEC

2015

6 DEC

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

A Belizean Tragedy

The best is yet to come?

Shadisha Arnold

By Hilairé Bennett The patient dies while the physician sleeps; The orphan pines while the oppressor feeds; Justice is feasting while the widow weeps; Advice is sporting while infection breeds: Thou grant’st no time for charitable deeds: Wrath, envy, treason, rape, and murder’s rages, Thy heinous hours wait on them as their pages “‘Dear lord of that dear jewel I have lost What legacy shall I bequeath to thee? – Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece

Upon the Government of Belize’s signing on to the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Belize Government became tasked with the responsibility of ensuring “that children, and especially young women receive the opportunities that will ensure their overall well-being…” – Dolores Balderamos Garcia, 1993 Shadisha Arnold, 16; Anna Carlos, 16; and Elizabeth McKoy, 14, lost whatever future opportunities that would have availed them in the securing of their well-being in the tragic fire that took their lives on Saturday, November 28th. These girls were padlocked in a disciplinary holding cell subsequent to their escape from the Youth Hostel at Gracie Rock Village at mile 21 ½ on the George Price Highway. According to Starla Bradley, Director of the Community Rehabilitation Department, several protocols were breached. The girls were not properly screened when

Anna Carlos

they were returned by the policing authorities and the door of the holding cell was padlocked with the teen girls inside. Judith Alpuche, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Human Development, has indicated that an investigation into this tragic situation has been ordered with Margaret Nicholas, Director of the National Committee for Families and Children, leading the charge and UNICEF supervising so that “clarity” could be reached. Clearly, the rights that were to be afforded to the three vibrant teens under the dictates of the CRC were violated when protocols were not followed. Obviously, if protocols exist there must have been a written policy regarding a Standard of Care owed to these children housed at the facility. There is also the question of whether a duty of care was realised and whether there were any policy reasons for denying that duty. This tragic event calls for greater discussion of urgent re-evaluation of existing policies and methods in the management of these supposedly wayward youths. Qualification of personnel

Elizabeth Mckoy

must be considered and the institution must be geared to rehabilitation rather than a purely disciplinary program (as seems to be the case) so as to re-integrate these young people into society with prospects of a better future. As Dolores Balderamos Garcia warned in 1993, “we cannot continue to allow our young women to fall short of their own ideas and therefore become trapped in the cycle of poverty”. Many of the youths with delinquent behaviour are being raised in an impoverished environment – both economically and morally. Medical experts have suggested that the brains of children may degenerate between birth and three years because of a lack of sufficient nutrition brought about by poverty making them prone to violent tendencies. However, many children who are nourished physically and emotionally albeit raised in socio-economically poor families grow up to be educated, responsible persons. But it is from within the morally developed environs that these delinquent youths are moulded. It is the criminogenic neighbourhoods where the negative forces far outnumber those forces that create decent, law abiding citizens. These become the habitats of the inner-city children who grow up surrounded by adults and older youths who are themselves delinquent, whom will undoubtedly influence the character of these children negatively. These “hoods” are pernicious to the moral growth and development of children. The absence of people who teach morality by their own everyday example and who insist that children follow their example contributes to moral poverty. Therefore, it is necessary for institutions like the youth hostel to implement with urgency policies with an objective to character formation and moral education being part of the rehabilitating process of the youths, especially precious girls like Shadisha, Anna and Elizabeth. Character formation and moral education should be re-instituted and insisted upon in our school curriculum. More importantly is the recognition of the Government and constituency representatives that the political posturing, propaganda and rhetoric is

19 not needed as the election is over. Tackling the social ills, poverty, inequality, crime and violence and joblessness is the country’s priority. These are some of the root causes that resulted in the death of Shadisha, Anna and Elizabeth, who quite possibly could have been part of the “pool from which the next generation of leaders will emerge”. It is with much hope that this article written in all humility will result in the reassessment of the Youth Hostel and other institutions by the Ministry of Human Development and the rest of related-Government agencies to avoid a tragic re-occurrence of November, 28th 2015. I shed my grief for these girls with my Pen!! Rest in peace.

LESSONS FROM THE EAST, Part II

Continued from page 15 Education continues to be an area of priority for the Taiwanese as this is where a stable foundation for global competitiveness will be produced. The proportion of Taiwan’s population receiving higher education continues to rise steadily as education remains accessible and of a high quality. The health of the Taiwanese people is also an area of priority as their government has rolled out a National Health Insurance program twenty years ago to reduce the burden of healthcare for the poor. Remember that the health of a nation is the wealth of nation. Taiwan’s unemployment rate stands at a meager 3.73%. Minimum wage in Taiwan has raised in the 5 consecutive years. In Belize unemployment hovers around 15%. In 65 years Taiwan has shifted from an agro based economy to service industry economy that has reaped massive wealth. Belize, its close friend and ally has not matured much. We are still largely dependent on an agro economy. Unlike Belize, the technocrats and policy makers of Taiwan’s economic office have always been prudent, organized and precise. Our ministry of economic development in Belize has only succeeded in further developing the pockets of the minority while the majority fade into poverty. Taiwan represents just one of the many nations that have risen itself from the ashes. Taiwan did not become Taiwan overnight. They faced their struggles and hardships but they never surrendered. One day Belize will stop surrendering and depending on the charity of larger nations. One day we will acquire the vision to make the most of the resources God has blessed us with. We must invest and awaken our greatest resource, our people.

THE BELIZE TIMES

6 DEC

2015

6 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015 For Sale By Order of the

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Transfer of Mortgage made the 8th day of May, 2009, between Belize Mortgage Company 2002-1 (the Assignor) SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., and VICTOR E. USHER, which said property was mortgaged by the said VICTOR E. USHER to the said ATLANTIC BANK LIMITED on the 6th day of April, 2006, and recorded at the Land Charges Register Volume 31 at Folio No. 81, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. THE SCHEDULE Transfer Certificate of Title dated 22nd day of July, 1991 registered in the Land Titles Register Volume 23 Folio No. 126 - ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 54.6 acres more or less situate east of Manatee Lagoon being the parcel numbered 1 on a subdivision by H.D. Flowers, Land Surveyor dated 6th November, 1973 and recorded at the General Registry in Belize City in Surveyor’s Plans Book 6 at Folio 246 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 12th day of November, 2015. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

For Sale By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 8th day of February, 2007 between CLARICE J. VALENTINE of Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District, (hereinafter called “the Borrower”) of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LIMITED, hereinafter called “the Bank”) of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 6 of 2007 at Folios 1289 – 1316, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 768 comprising of 696.537 square metres situate on the West side of the Hopkins/Sittee River Road, Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 1330 of 2006 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 1330 of 2006 TOGETHER with all buildings, erections and developments standing and being thereon. DATED this 12th day of November, 2015. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

THINK ABOUT IT

THREE GIRLS BURNT TO DEATH Three weeks after “The Best is Yet to Come” election slogan, the UDP’s gross mismanagement kicked the country in its stomach. Three young girls burnt to death at the Youth Hostel, at mile 21 on the George Price Highway. The same old, tired, incompetent government which has been mismanaging the nation from 2008 was re-elected on 4 November for bribing and manipulating the voter’s list in the most blatant abuse of public monies. There were scandals after scandals and no efforts to improve public administration. As the crucial inferno engulfed the two sixteen year olds and a 14 year old, helpless villagers could not break into the building to save them from a hellish death, on Saturday afternoon 28 November. The girls were being punished by being locked up in a punishment room which was padlocked from the outside. Imagine that. And then no one was around in the event of any emergency. So when the fire started it just burnt itself out without anyone being able or available to open the door from outside. These things are part of a growing sub-culture in today’s public service. The complaints of public officers are that political interference is now endemic. It is hard to employ good people or enforce work rules and ethics because the Ministers employ their cronies who are outside the reach of the rules. Administrators are afraid to discipline political employees. All across the public service the professional management and the rules and regulations are being pushed aside. When last had anyone seen advertisements for government employment requirement standards and qualifications? The members of staff at the Ministry of Lands are all recruited from Orange Walk to rush land applications based on party politics through the system. Ministers and their henchmen get land papers for choice parcels of lands while the public are given the run around. And so it is in most government departments. In the case of Customs Department, hustling and corruption are at an all-time high. Relatively junior customs official routinely own five and six concrete homes valuing in excess of quarter million dollars each. The Corozal Free Zone is a smugglers paradise. Just a few months ago an elderly female “inmate” at the mental institution in Belmopan was raped. Thirteen babies die, one after the other, after the other in the course of one month and no one is responsible. The most incompetent UDP Minister, if that is possible among a bunch of senior incompetents had nothing to say or do. He and his grossly incompetent CEO are both back in government. The Minister is once again Minister of Health and rats. For the next few years this country will experience weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Pain and suffering is heading this way. “Many more will have to suffer, many more will have to die. Don’t ask me why”. Bob Marley-Natural Mystic song.

6 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT CAME HERE The new President of Guatemala was in Belize City on Saturday. In another of that disrespectful attitude to the people of Belize the government said nothing of the visit until the last minute. Especially as it was on a Saturday afternoon when most people are at home watching foreign TV. Five brave Belizeans decided there is no way the Guatemalan President elect could put foot on Belizean soil and they would not be able to protest. This tiny, ineffective and harmless protest was met with outrageous response by the government. The unprofessional GSU was instructed to deal with the protestors, none of whom are advocates of violence or have ever demonstrated violently in their many public protests. Yet video recordings show two of the protestors being treated unnecessarily rough by the GSU who were brandishing U.S.-issued machine guns. Belize’s bravest woman, Ya-Ya Marin Coleman, attempted to lie down on the street in front of the on-coming vehicle carrying the Guatemalan President elect. Video which went viral shows her being dragged like a dog across Coney Drive. It is clear that the GSU has no training in how to deal with peaceful, lawful protests. Their behavior was heavy-handed and outrageous. Thug behavior. If we had a real government, the President’s visit would have been announced well in advance and dozens of peaceful protestors could have gathered and it would have been a healthy and important part of our democracy. Imagine every weekend over twenty-thousand protestors gathered publicly against the former President Molina of Guatemala and Guatemala’s notorious military and Police conducted themselves professionally. But in Belize five protestors were treated abysmally by the government’s goon squad. The five brave protestors were Wil Maheia who came all the way from Punta Gorda, Ya-Ya Marin, Rosalie Staines, Patrick Rogers and the one and only Geovannie Brackett. Oh! For more men and women like these. BLACK LIVES MATTER Chicago fired its police chief this week. He was fired after a judge ordered him to release the Police video of a 17 year old teenager being shot 16 times in 15 seconds by a white Police Officer. This shooting happened in August 2014. When the video was released last week and shown across America, black Americans immediately started protesting and calling for resignations. The Police Officer is now charged for murder. The ongoing, epidemic like shooting of black people by white Police has now led to a movement called Black Lives Matter. HOW MUCH MORE BOMBING? The poor, unfortunate people of Syria. How much bombing can they endure? The French are bombing them. The British are

bombing. The Americans are bombing. The Russians are bombing. Some unclear coalition of Australians, Canadians and Middle-Eastern countries are bombing. WE HAVE LOST SARSTOON On a very serious note. The President elect of Guatemala was on a short visit to Belize this Saturday 28 November 2015. He and the Prime Minister of Belize sat down and spoke. Nowhere has this nation been told if the Prime Minister raised the issue of Sarstoon River and Sarstoon Island. The Guatemala government had written to the Prime Minister a few months ago confirming and re-affirming their position regarding our southern border. Guatemala made it as clear as daylight that they are taking over full sovereignty of the WHOLE Sarstoon River which includes the Sarstoon Island. Half of the Sarstoon River was always part of the border with Guatemala. That half is our territory. The other half is Guatemalan territory. The whole Sarstoon Island is in our half of the river. As such it is part of our national territory. This is how it was from 1859 up to 2015. We have sat back and allowed Guatemala to exercise and enforce Guatemala’s sovereignty and law in the whole of the Sarstoon River. They tell us in writing that out of courtesy they allow the BDF to use the Sarstoon River to reach the tiny little outpost at Cadenas. They say in writing that the Prime Minister is misleading us by pretending that when the BDF use the Sarstoon River it is because the BDF is exercising Belizean sovereignty. They write that such is not true. They allow the BDF to use the Sarstoon River and they ESCORT the BDF to and from Cadenas on Tuesdays and any other days the BDF have to use the Sarstoon River. This is a very serious matter. The Prime Minister has failed this nation by not raising this issue with the new President. This is a monumental failure. VENEZUELA ELECTIONS On 6 December the people of Venezuela will go to the polls to vote for a new National Assembly. 29 opposition groups have formed a coalition in an effort to bring down the government of President Nicholas Maduro who took over from the popular Hugo Chavez who remained in office for 16 years to his death. Venezuela has the 3rd or 4th largest reserve of oil, yet its economy is under severe stress. There are widespread shortages of items from toilet paper to milk, crime is rampant and inflation is high. The opposition parties in Venezuela have about one third of the parliamentary seats at present. The government has accused the United States of meddling in their affairs. DISCONTENT The Deputy Prime Minister is being asked to remove himself from his office at the Ministry of Natural Resources. Part of the confusion is that he was also the Minister of Lands. The Prime Minister demoted the Deputy and appointed Senator Hulse as Minister of Lands.

2015 Deputy Gapi has told his northern politician caucus he is not moving from his office. He is right. He has been humiliated enough with the taking away of the Lands Ministry but he is still the Deputy Prime Minister of the government. No one can tell him to move out of his office for a junior person. Also, there are secret meetings between the five UDP Ministers from Orange Walk and Corozal as they are unhappy with the government. We will watch and listen if the north is man enough. Gapi need some of Johnny Briceño blood. CAN SHYNE RUN? The arrogance of the UDP reached a new level when the Prime Minister and one of his Ministers announced the future of their constituencies. Days after the general election of 4 November the re-elected Dean Barrow let it be known he is expecting his sister to take over his Queen Square constituency. Likewise Michael Finnegan whose sister had a child with Dean Barrow, allowed the word to be out that Jamal Shyne Barrow would take over the Mesop constituency. Shyne himself made the announcement. Apparently the UDP voters and the constituency belong to the two politicians to give away to family members. Boy oh boy. One of the disqualifications which bars anyone from being elected to the National Assembly is contained in Section 58 of the Belize Constitution. A person is disqualified if they are serving a sentence of imprisonment of more than twelve months in any commonwealth country. Two key words are commonwealth country and serving a sentence. Shyne was convicted in the USA and jailed there for nine years. The USA is not a commonwealth country. Secondly, it seems the person has to be serving the jail sentence at the time he is elected. Shyne can run in general elections in Belize. The question is, can he win after his father is gone? CAN BARROW WALK? Video of the Prime Minister coming out of his vehicle to attend a meeting with the newly elected President of Guatemala showed our Prime Minister looking frail and barely walking. Television captured the Prime Minister at Dangriga on 19 November showing his skin to have slightly dark color than his usual well-lotioned complexion. The Prime Minister’s voice is starting to crackle. Our Prime Minister is clearly not in good physical condition. WAR IS HELL Last month was the 203 anniversary of the retreat of Napoleon’s army from Russia. Fifty thousand French soldiers were killed crossing the Berezina River in Russia. There were half a million soldiers who invaded Russia under Napoleon in June 1812. By December 2012 only ten thousand soldiers were still alive.

6 DEC

Drug plane torched after “drop off” FOR SALE ONE HP Printer Color Laser Jet (CP1215) for $120. Serious inquiries contact 620-1804.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that MARIA GONZALEZ is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “Zee’s Grocery Shop”, situated at 4252 Croton Lane, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that BHAGWAN ISSRANI is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “Leena Shopping Center”, situated at Flea Market, Tourist Village, Front Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that CHONGWU TAN is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Bian Wen Diner”, situated at 34 East Canal, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that EDWARD MUSA JR. is applying for a renewal of a Publican General Liquor License to be operated at “James Brodie & Co.”, situated at 1 ½ Miles Phillip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that EDWARD MUSA SR. is applying for a renewal of a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “James Brodie & Co.”, situated at Albert Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that CURTIS MUSA is applying for a renewal of a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “James Brodie & Co.”, situated at 2 ½ Miles Phillip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Spanish Lookout, Cayo District, December 2, 2015 The charred remains of a suspected drug plane was all local authorities found when they responded to reports that a plane was flying low over Spanish Lookout in the wee hours of Friday morning . Residents who live nearby say they heard the plane land and a vehicle drive to the area. Shortly after, they saw fire. When Police and civil aviation officials ar-

WAKE UP CALL!!

BYM calls on authorities to give youth issues meaningful attention December 1, 2015 The members of the Belize Youth Movement (BYM) place on record their deep sorrow and concern following the tragedy at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel on Saturday, November 24, 2015. The scale of the injustices committed against 16 year old Anna Carlos, 14 year old Elizabeth Mckoy and 16 year old Shadisha Arnold, as well as others who continue at the institution, will hopefully be exposed soon and served full and proper justice. It has taken the devastating death of three teenagers for our society to begin to realise that the social issues affecting our young people are at a boiling point. The urgency, depth and complexity of these issues will require greater examination for there to proper understanding. Failure to give the issues adequate attention will result in further tragedies and crises. The reality is that the environment at the youth hostel, consisting of young people dealing with development challenges, is a microcosm. Young people everywhere in our country are under stress, facing dwindling support and

opportunities and poor guidance in a country where there are sufficient resources to properly care for each and every Belizean. The situation for our young people is so dire and the issues so pervasive, that the at-risk youth population is not confined to the youth hostel or the Wagner Youth Facility, but can also be found at our homes and schools, putting many others at greater risk. If authorities want to know the extent of the challenges, we suggest that they closely monitor the behaviour and attitudes of young people in neighbourhoods and within schools and note how parents and teachers are struggling to cope. These environments are ticking time-bombs. So how did we get here? We call out and condemn this Government for constantly ignoring the need to provide meaningful attention to our young people whether through the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports or Human Development. The Belize National Youth Policy, the comprehensive youth development plan launched under the auspices of Former Ministers of Youth Pat-

rived at the scene, they found pieces of the Cessna 172 aircraft sitting on a private road in the community. The plane was devastated by fire, and authorities believe this was intentional. The aircraft is suspected to have carried out a “drop off” of drugs. Unlike recent cases, where the occupants left behind a small aircraft and a helicopter intact, the passenger or passengers did not feel so generous towards the Government. Police are investigating whether the numbers on the aircraft’s tail, YV-3241, can help them locate the origin. rick Faber and Herman Longsworth since February 27, 2013, has been left on a shelf to gather dust. Additionally, important research such as the Gayle Report (2010), which linked eroding social and economic conditions in homes and communities to the prevalence of gang violence and highlighted the need for adequate responses, the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (2010) Report, which provided evidence of the many economic benefits of youth investment, and the Behind the Prison Gates Report (2014) which critically examined the handling of young people at the Kolbe Correctional Facility; have gone ignored, at the expense of a better society. We recognise that the Government is only one key factor in arriving at a solution. But we insist that the Government’s actions or omission to act can either nurture an environment that is conducive to a community working towards progress or preparing to implode. We are experiencing the latter. Once more, we appeal to the Ministers of Youth Hon. Patrick Faber and Hon. Elodio Aragon to take their roles seriously and give life to the National Youth Policy, commencing with the formation of the autonomous Belize National Youth Council. Stop treating young people as nonpriorities.

Mrs. Myrtle Palacio to join Observer Mission in St. Vincent & the Grenadines elections Belize City, December 3, 2015 PUP Secretary General, Mrs. Myrtle Palacio, will join an Observer Mission tasked by the Commonwealth to observe Parliamentary elections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines set for Wednesday, December 9th 2015. Mrs. Palacio is a former Elections and Boundaries Commission Chief Elections Officer in Belize with a depth of knowledge in the electoral system and processes. As part of the Commonwealth Observer team, she will be monitoring the elections campaign and election day in the Caribbean country.

Several other electoral missions, including the OAS, have given notification of their participation. When Vincentians go to the polls, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves will be hoping they re-elect him to serve a historic fourth consecutive term in office. His United Labour Party (ULP) won eight of the 15 seats in the last general elections, with the other seven going to the Arnhim Eustace-led New Democratic Party (NDP). Political pundits say this election will be another close one but are giving the edge to Gonsalves’ ULP.

THE BELIZE TIMES

6 DEC

2015