Belize Times January 17, 2016

SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

17 JANUARY 2016 | ISSUE NO: 4976

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

PREGNANT WOMAN & MOTHER

SHOT INSIDE HOME

Belize City, January 13, 2016 Now even pregnant woman are being shot in Belize.

18 year old Shenelle Roland, who is 6 month’s pregnant, survived a frightening violent assault of her home on the night of Monday, January 11th. Her mother, Stephanie Smith, had to be rushed for emergency care at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, for a gunshot wound to her stomach.

Roland said that she was at home on Dolphin Street with her mother and two children when gunmen entered the house and fired at them.

The attack on two women and two children was a cowardly one.

But the gunmen cared less.

One of the bullets grazed Roland’s tummy. Luckily, it did not harm the baby or complicate the pregnancy in any way. She has to visit the hospital daily for dressing,

to avoid any infection.

Her mother remains hospitalised, however. She has received surgery twice, to remove bullets that were lodged.

The family is terrified and perplexed as to why gunmen would target them.

“We don’t gang bang and we don’t sell drugs or anything. I just want to know why us. I don’t know my brother as a gang banger.

My bother lives by West and George Streets. I know “Shiney” and the others as our cousins. But I don’t know if it’s because of that they came after us. The Tush that got killed in Hattieville was my uncle and he was from ghost town. So I don’t know if it’s because of him,

Pg. 3

Remembering Rt. Hon George Price

BOOTS, FROM POOL TABLE DEALER TO FUEL STATION OWNER?

Pg. 2

Pg. 4

3 YEARS LATER…STILL NO ANSWERS TO EERIE SOUTHSIDE MASSACRES

Pg. 6

Leonard Myers

Keino Quallo

Albert Fuentes

Mayor Humphreys shuts down Dangriga vendors

Anthony Perez

Pg. 23

Long distance running legend Joseph Carr dies

Pg. 15

Pg. 9

TOP MODEL

0 22

17 JAN

THE BELIZE TIMES

Supreme Court scolds DOE over approval of Harvest Caye Project Belize City, January 14, 2016 On Wednesday, 13 January 2016, the Belize Supreme Court ruled on BTIA’s lawsuit against the Department of the Environment (DOE) and the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) following the DOE’s decision to approve the construction by Belize Island Holdings (BIHL) of a cruise port at Harvest Caye, just three miles south of Placencia Village.

The Hon. Justice Abel declared that there was a breach of Regulation 20 of the EIA Regulations concerning to the published notice in relation to the Addendum to the EIA. The court also ruled that the content of the published notice was deficient in various areas and, very significantly, that the decision of the NEAC to recommend the approval of the EIA was in breach of EIA Regulations, prior to considering the EIA for approval. In delivering the judgement, the Hon. Justice Abel also observed that the consultation process was somewhat short-circuited and that short cuts were taken, “which ought not to have happened, and one hopes this will not happen in a similar situation in the future”.

The Court determined that BTIA was “largely and significantly” successful against the DOE, NEAC and BIHL, and ruled that the Defendants should pay the cost of the Court pro-

ceedings in the sum of $50,000. The Court judgment means that the DOE and the NEAC must now do a better job at discharging their legal responsibilities to safeguard Belize’s natural resources and administer Belize’s environmental regulations fairly and responsibly.

“BTIA is not against large tourism development projects. It has always advocated that the Government of Belize must ensure that the EIA process is fully complied with, no matter who the developer is, and that meaningful public consultation is had in the interest of safeguarding Belize’s natural

and cultural resources. It is the integrity of these resources that makes us a premier tourism destination”, said President of BTIA, Osmany Salas.

The BTIA expresses its sincere gratitude to legal counsels Mr. Godfrey P. Smith and Mr. Andrew Marshalleck assisted by Ms. Leslie Mendez and Dr. Heide Weiskel from E-LAW for her support and technical expertise at the witness stand, and to ALL our members for believing in the substantial importance of this case that sets precedent for future projects to follow due process.

PUP NOTICE National Convention

2016

Remembering Rt. Hon George Price January 14, 2016 Friday, January 15th, 2016 marks the 97th birthday of the late Father of the Nation and great leader of the People’s United Party (PUP), the Rt. Hon. George Price.

In memory, honor and appreciation of the distinguished legacy of Mr. Price, Party Leader, Hon. Francis Fonseca and other members of the party will be laying a wreath at Mr. Price’s burial site in Lord Ridge Cemetery on Friday, January 15th, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

The occasion also presents an opportunity for us as a nation to reflect and to remember the many contributions and the selfless service and dedication to Belize which he embodied. These must continue to live on in each and every one of us if our country is to progress and advance.

The PUP reiterates its commitment to the Social Justice Agenda which continues to demonstrate a blueprint of the Party’s plans for Change and Reform in many fundamental sectors of government.

The PUP takes this opportunity to welcome the input and participation of all, as we move forward in restoring faith in our democracy and system of governance, and delivering economic justice for all Belizeans.

Happy Birthday Mr. Price! Long Live Belize! Qué Viva Belize!

SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

The People’s United Party will hold a National Convention on Sunday January 31, 2016 for the posts of:

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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

Party Leader 1 Deputy Leader - South 1 Deputy Leader – North Party Chairman National Communications Director

EDITOR

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

The National Convention will be held in the City of Belmopan from 9:00am – 3:00pm.

LOCAL 15 Jan

17 Jan

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By TIMES NEWSPAPER LTD.

WEATHER 16 Jan

OFFICE ASSISTANT

18 Jan

2619Mar Jan

Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

27 Mar Jan 620 Feb

Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

editortimes@yahoo.com

Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.50

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.00

Eastern Caribbean Euro (XCD):$ 1.35 (EUR) : $ 0.47

Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR (GBP): $ 0.34 (GTQ): $ 3.82 (CAD): $ 0.64

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.14

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.19

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 31.31

17 JAN

03 3

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

PUP National Party Council paves way for National Convention

Hon. Cordel Hyde January 10, 2016 PUP held its first NPC for 2016 at the Independence Hall, the home of the Party. Delegates from 31 constituencies, Parliamentarians, Members of the National Executive and members of Boards attended and participated in the vibrant discussions and decisions. Party Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca thanked all for their support to the Party during his leadership.

The 3 contestants for Party

Hon. Francis Fonseca

Hon. John Briceno

PREGNANT WOMAN & MOTHER SHOT INSIDE HOME Continued from page 1 they came to retaliate back,” asked Roland.

The relative Roland referred to is 41 year old Cleon “Tush” Smith, who was murdered in Hattieville on Sunday night.

On Wednesday, Police charged 18 year old Devon Tariq Lopez of Lakeview Street in Belize City with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of dangerous harm, and two counts of use of deadly means of harm for the shootings.

There has been a spike in violent crime around the country, and January has already claimed over twelve lives.

Leader signed a pledge of commitment as follows: 1. unconditional support and allegiance to the candidate elected Party Leader by the delegates at the January 31st Special National Convention.

2. committed to work for the achievement of the aims and objects of the peaceful constructive revolution and the principles and programmes of the PUP 3. reaffirm their belief in the political creed of the party

Belmopan Mayor threatens to leave 30 families homeless

WATCH LIVE on CCV CH9 CBC CH50/60 Southern Cable CH18 VIBES RADIO 90.5FM | 102.9FM

Call 650-8429

Text 600-1074

4 04 BOOTS, FROM POOL TABLE DEALER TO FUEL STATION OWNER?

Belize City, January 11, 2016 While many Belizeans have been struggling to cope with the hard economic times and poverty, the UDP Ministers have been busy hustling to make themselves and their families richer.

Belizeans have come to know of Castro the wealthy cane farmer and Boots the lucrative pool table dealer, but what about Boots the pool table dealer AND fuel station owner? Sounds strange?

Well, it seems too good to be true for the Southside Port Loyola area representative and Minister of Social Transformation and Human Development.

Over the 8 years he has been in office and in power, it seems the only transformation Boots has been interested in has been his own.

Before the November 4th 2015 elections, a large tract of land containing green forestry was cleared away by bulldozers along mile 43 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. The land, it was reported, would make way for a fuel station owned by a wealthy UDP politician.

Several days ago, a commuter travelling on the highway was shocked to learn who the wealthy politician apparently is.

No other than Port Loyola’s Boots Martinez. His newly-purchased whte 2015 Pickup Truck bought with tax-payers’ money was parked on the land, while he inspected the construction work taking place.

“From Roots to Fruits Gas Station” is a name being considered, we are told.

The BELIZE TIMES has constantly and defiantly peered into the lifestyles of rich UDP politicians. They make it hard for us not to when they shamelessly showoff their luxury cars, mansion homes, newly acquired real estate, and some, even the women their pockets can attract. Something is not right when before becoming elected a politician had to campaign on bicycle, but after a few years in office he owns countless cars, buildings and houses.

We at the TIMES must ask questions because the rightful authorities don’t. Politicians will care about their wealth, even if obtained through nefarious means, until check and balance institutions such as the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Integrity Commission and the Senate can function properly and autonomously. Until then, the real stories will not be about how many people they helped out of poverty, but instead the thousands who remained poor while they get rich From roots to fruits, but only for Boots, residents on Jane Usher area would say.

THE BELIZE TIMES

17 JAN

2016

MCC Garden messed up!

Belize City, January 12, 2016 The Belize District High School football tournament has been limited to one game per day as the MCC Garden still has no lights. Which begs the question: why was the existing lighting taken down before the new lights were ready to be installed?!?

That’s not the end of the absurdity at Belize City’s premier football facility. Concrete foundations for the new lighting towers have been cast into the ground at the 4 corners of the field, but

the work has stalled. No lights, lighting towers nor power cables are evident within the MCC compound, but mysteriously a long, deep ditch has been dug around the field, reportedly to receive the power cables for the lighting.

Fans are bemused as to what purpose this ditch serves; as it has created a pitfall into which several players have fallen and been hurt. The most recent was Wesley College’s Deandre Pitters had to retire from the field on Thursday; after he overran the edge of the field following an errant ball and fell into this ditch, bruising his ribs.

17 JAN

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 05

EDITORIAL

The Truth Shall Make Us Free “How to lie with Statistics”, this book by Darrell Huff would be a favorite of Prime Minister Dean Barrow. He is versed in all the chapters that deal with dishonesty, distortions and half-truths using figures and percentages.

Barrow’s speeches, whether on the occasion of New Year’s or Independence tainted with lies and abuse of information. His selective use of UDP-created data should be available to students to learn how the Prime Minister can twist the truth and distort the facts. Of the few examples given by Barrow, ALL show the UDP government as performing excellently. Put another way, all is well and the country is doing wonderfully. The truth is the society is unraveling, cost of living is high, crime is at crisis levels and the economy is grasping for oxygen.

What will not come out of the Prime Minister’s mouth was a comparison of matters of pressing national concern. The examples are many. Let us list a few.

Poverty. This word is a stranger to the Prime Minister’s thought process. It’s harsh and debilitating effects are of no concern to him. The reason? He has passed not one single piece of legislation on the issue. There is no policy that he can point to that tackles this problem.

His often repeated reference to his party giving away some groceries and a few dollars more is not a solution to reducing poverty. It is in fact an exploitation of the poor and creates dependency. He dared not compare the statistics of ten years ago to the current year. In 2004 poverty was around 23 percent. The shame on Mr. Barrow is that in 2016 poverty is around 50 percent and rising.

Crime. Mr. Barrow is the Crime Minister of the country. For his nearly 8 years in government he has presided over one thousand murders and manslaughter of Belizeans. It is not just his incompetence that has contributed to this sickening statistic, but his hubris and arrogance, that only he has the ability to formulate the needed strategies. We will hear no statistics on home invasions, robberies, armed hold-ups, tons of drugs coming through customs, gun violence, gang warfare and cold-bloodied executions. There will be no comparison of ten years ago and the present dismal failure of Belize’s most incompetent government leader.

Unemployment. Nothing erodes the soul of our people like poverty and unemployment. The lack of work deprives each Belizean of his and her dignity

as a human being. Corozal and Orange Walk have joined Stann Creek and Toledo as districts sinking in poverty and unemployment. Businesses are closing, not opening. The troubled and neglected southside of Belize City is rife with statistics, all of the kinds Mr. Barrow will never quote in his endless, meaningless speeches. Indeed, the Prime Minister and five of his fellow Ministers are the representatives of this area of over forty thousand Belizeans. You will never hear that unemployment on the southside among young people is in excess of 50 percent. You will never hear that all those bright, talented teenagers who graduate from college are sitting at home with nothing to do. Theirs is a world without a future. Unless they can reach the U.S.A, turn to crime or change the government. By turning to crime they can claim to belong to a gang and thus can get a “job” doing cement “work” on a street. It sounds cynical but not to the Prime Minister’s vision.

For years the streets and roads in the country have been deteriorating and breaking-up. A desperate Dean Barrow buffed up like Bozo has suddenly discovered a panacea to his problems. Petro Caribe money was used to concrete streets and provide “employment”. He has even latched on to the phrase “infrastructure miracle”.

This is supposed to cover up the long over-due repair and replacement of broken and neglected infrastructure using cheap steel and cheap cement from Guatemala.

And a handful of temporary jobs. At any given time.

On the three or four streets being concreted you can count some thirty odd workers-ten working and twenty supervising. In the world of work, production and cost effectiveness such is a form of miracle.

Another “infrastructure miracle” is the building of a 30 million dollars national stadium, a new 20 million dollars replacement City Center, a new multipurpose sports facility, a new bus terminal, roundabouts, a new bridge and a new four lane highway; all in Belize City to the turn of countless millions of borrowed monies. All in the midst of growing poverty and hopelessness.

The real miracle is the complete lack of accountability and transparency in this unfolding waste and misuse of funds. The growing number of millionaires in the circle of friends and cronies of the Prime Minister is truly a miracle in poor poverty-stricken Belize.

Give us real statistics Mr. Prime Minister, give us the truth!

06 6

3 years later…still no answers to eerie Southside massacres

Belize City, January 8th, 2016 The gruesome discovery of four men tortured and killed inside an apartment at the corner of Dean and George Streets seems to have faded from the memories of Police and national security authorities, but for family and close friends of the victims every year that passes without any closure is depressing.

On the morning of Tuesday January 8th 2013, the residents of Dean and Plues Streets in Mesopotamia and Queen Square constituencies in Belize City woke up to a nightmare. Any sense that the day would be normal was shattered by the discovery of four young men, who were well known in the neighbourhood and even the wider Belize City community, beaten, stabbed, and with their throats slit.

The men were Leonard “Ghost” Myers, Anthony Perez, Keino Quallo and Albert “Long John” Fuentes. They shared space, renting their own rooms at the apartment.

Quallo was known to us at the BELIZE TIMES. He carried out advocacy work in the community among young people. His killing was irreconcilable, as he was not a trouble maker.

Anthony Perez was no gang banger either. Every morning he would help his mother set up their food stall in Belize City. He kept to himself and out of trouble.

The other two men were known associates of the George Street gang, and appeared to have been the targets. But whoever broke into the apartment, like ghosts on the night of January 7th or wee hours of January 8th, did so mercilessly, with no intention of sparing any lives, even the innocent.

The case appears to have been abandoned by the Police Department. No one was ever arrested.

Following the discovery of the murdered men, word spread fast throughout the city that it was the work of the Police’s most notorious arm, the Gang Suppression Unit. As the Police removed the bodies from the scene, a crowd of angry and emotionally charged neighbors gathered threatening to break into a riot. There were several scuffles between the police and victims’ loved ones and friends. The Police then deployed its elite Belize Special Assignment Unit, which engaged the residents in a military-style fashion. Large and loaded automatic rifles were pointed at residents. Police officials carrying guns loaded and locked in their hands, screamed at and shoved away residents.

Live bullets were also fired into the crowds in an attempt to quell the rising anger. Once shots were fired, people took refuge in their homes while the Police and military officers increased their pres-

17 JAN

THE BELIZE TIMES

ence on the streets to prevent persons from gathering.

At the crime scene the Police found no clues, except that the murders were carried out with precision and extreme care. Reports that it could have been the drug cartel remain unconfirmed.

Despite the Police’s inability to solve the murders and the public’s distrust of the very same security officials, there was no move by the Barrow Administration to invite expert investigators from outside Belize to provide assistance. The murders continue to be a mystery.

2016

Leonard Myers

Keino Quallo

Albert Fuentes

Anthony Perez

17 JAN

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

The best of the worst is yet to come!

Contributed This UDP Government really does not give a damn about the small farmers in this country. They talk about food security but I think as long as Agriculture Minister Gaspar Vega’s fridges are stocked and Dean Barrow doesn’t have to scramble around for small change to buy basic groceries...all’s well in the world.

I have had to sit and watch the poor cane-farmers of Orange Walk begging for help. Many hours of backbreaking work in the fields every single day and this government will not listen. See they don’t know what it is to get up at 4:00am, ride miles to reach your cane-field and then spend hours preparing, burning, chopping, harvesting. They have no idea. When Gaspar Vega had the chance to stand with the farmers when ASR/ BSI was taking advantage of them, he stood instead with the rich boys of the giant company. That is the life he understands, never having to worry where money will come from to pay bills or send his children to school or even to feed them.

How long do we have to listen to the cries of the farmers before they reach the ears of Gaspar Vega at his mansion?

Every quarter our imports go up and our exports go down. Our trade imbalance widens. I’m not even sure Vega understands what that means.

We are bringing in vegetables from other countries, SUPPORTING FOREIGNERS, when we should be supporting OUR Continued on page 12

07 7

08 8

THE BELIZE TIMES

Will GOB continue to support FCD’s efforts in Chiquibul Forest?

Center: FCD’s Executive Director Rafael Manzanero flanked by Derrick Chan & Boris Arevalo Belize City, January 8, 2016 The efforts to safeguard the Chiquibul National Park from exploitation and harm at the hands of illegal Guatemalan incursions are resulting in success according to the Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD).

After two years of sustained efforts to curb what seemed to be open season on illegal hunting and farming

by Guatemalans, FCD is reporting a reduction in illegal activities inside the national park.

FCD’s Executive Director, Raphael Manzanero, explained to the media that their strategy of increasing the presence of rangers and boosting properly thought-out patrols throughout the national park have made the

difference. But FCD’s limited budget can only sustain the strategy for a few more months.

“We need to maintain the boots on the ground.

We have been able to put in the rangers for one year”, remarked Manzanero, beforing posing, “of course how do we sustain that effort?”

This is where the Gov-

ernment of Belize comes in.

GOB provided $120,000 to support FCD in the last budget cycle. The funds were used to hire five rangers, taking up the number of rangers protecting the Chiquibul to eighteen. Funding from a telethon initiative held in 2015 had also helped to hire two rangers.

Will GOB continue to support FCD’s efforts to keep the Chiquibul safe? This is the main question which

17 JAN

2016

FCD could not answer at a “status update” briefing for the media held on Wednesday December 23rd. Manzanero indicated to the BELIZE TIMES that Cabinet has yet to request an audience with his team. He added that FCD communicates with Government officials through the Ministry of Forestry, but without the involvement of Cabinet the kind of increased spending from the GovernContinued on page 23

17 JAN

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

Belizean Beauty

T ishana

• • • • • •

TOPMODEL 09

Career Plan: Medical Doctor Sign: Libra Favourite Food: Pasta Likes: Dancing Lives in: Belize City Fav. Quote: “Judge me when you are perfect.”

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

TOP MODEL Clothing and Accessories provided by CATWALK FASHIONS

Cor. North Front Steet & Queen Street Belize City

Photo by:

10 SPORTS

17 JAN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

1st Mixed - Gobie Challenge Foundation Manatee Lookout, January 10, 2016 The Belize Bank Bulldogs: Armin Lopez, Amado Lopez and Byron Cruz won Sunday’s Burrell Boom to Manatee Lookout canoe race organized by the Belize Canoe Association in preparation for the 18th annual Ruta Maya River Challenge in March.

The Belize Canoe Assocaition will be holding other races to help the paddlers prepare for Ruta Maya; the next race will be upstream from Haulover Bridge to Burrell Boom on Sunday, January 24, and there will also be the annual Boom to Riverside Tavern race.

Race results: 1st place/1st Male team - Belize Bank Bulldogs - 1:19:34 –$150 2nd place/2nd Male - N.I.C.H. (Felix Cruz, Efrain Cruz, Alex Cruz) 1:19:35 - $100 prize 3rd place/3rd Male - Guydis Canoe: Chris Guydis, Wilberto and Kenrick Daniels – 1:19:43 - $50 prize 4th place - Westrac Nitro (Oscar Cordon, Erwin Cruz, Daniel Cruz) 1:20.00 5th place - Koop Sheet Metal: Jerry Rhaburn, Jerry Cante, Hener Cruz - 1:21:47.

6th place/1st Intramural - Wat Eva Boyz (Sergio Lopez, Adrian Williams, Carlos Linarez) – $150 prize 7th/1st Pleasure Print Belize (Rudolph Gentle, Leroy Romero, Jose Crawford) - $150 prize 8th/6th Male - Belize Coast Guard “Ace” (Alfonso Lind, Daniel Gregorio, Revaun Ramirez) 9th/7th Male - “Fantastic Three” (Euken Arnold, Isanny Pook, Dominique Alvarez) 10th/1st Mixed - Challenge Gobie Foundation (Miguel Mangandid, Roxana Lemus, Jesus Linarez) 11th/2nd Mixed - Belize Coast Guardians: Leany Ruiz, Jeraldo Teck, James Alford - 1:28:44 - $100 prize 12th/1st Masters – Grumpy Ol’ Men: Jerry Wilkens, Stanley Bailey, Peter Martin - $150 prize 13th/1st Females - Belize Bank Bulldogs (Ana Cruz-Camp, Lily Cruz, Delilah Cabb) - $150 prize 14th/8th Male - “Easy Going” (Dennis and Ryan Gabourel, Travis Leal) 15th/2nd Masters - Team Watt A Ting (Johnny “Watt” Searle, Andres Cabb, Manuel August - $100 prize 16th/2nd Masters - Team “Master Paddlers” (Francis Codd, Bruce Bowen, Joe Segura) - $50 prize 17th/3rd Mixed - Team Butterfly (Avis Guydis, Mike Hayes, Martin Gideon) – $50 prize 18th - “Rain Di Come Breeze Di Blow” (Morgan Miles, Catherine Dorothy Miles, Mia Miles) - $100 prize

2nd Female - Rain di come Breeze di Blow

1st Male - Bze Bank bulldogs

1st Intramural - Wat Eva Boyz

1st Female - Bze Bank bulldogs

1st Pleasure - Print Belize

SJC bombs Maud Williams 4-1 in football opener Belize City, January 12, 2015 The St. Johns College boys enjoyed their 1st win of 2016 high school football season with a 4-1 win over the Maud Williams High School boys at the MCC Garden on Tuesday, January 12.

Lincoln Myvett scored first for Maud Williams, but Denroy “Bobo” Lopez soon equalized for SJC for a 1-1 draw at the half.

Carlos Guerra scored SJC’s 2nd

goal after the break, then Claishaun Lewis came off the bench to score a 3rd goal, and Lopez became the provider with a pass to Troy Guy who buried the ball in the back of the net for the 4-1 win.

The Wesley College boys had bombed the Gwen Lizarraga High School boys when the tournament kicked off on Thursday, January 7.

Devon Davis scored Wesley’s 1st goal in the 1st half, and after the break Sh-

SCA team

emar Thompson ran the legs off the Gwen Liz defense to score Wesley’s 2nd and 3rd goals.

The St. Catherine’s Academy girls won 1-0 over the Gwen Liz girls in the first female game last Friday, January 8, when Kelsey Rodriguez converted a penalty in the 1st half.

The Wesley College girls battled with the Ladyville Technical High School girls to a nil-zip draw on Monday, January 11.

Carlos Guerra scored SJC’s 2nd goal

17 JAN

2016

SPORTS 11

THE BELIZE TIMES

CYDP Peace Cup playoffs kicks off Delroy Flores scored TutBay’s 1st goal

Belize City, January 9, 2015 The Conscious Youth Development Programme (CYDP) Peace Cup football competition has reached semifinals, with the Uprising Strikers, Kelly Street FC, Tut Bay FC & Kraal

David Manu Macaulay shoots

Road FC winning through to the finals at the MCC Garden on Saturday.

Semifinals are scheduled for Sunday afternoon, January 17, after two U-15 football back matches in the morning.

GAME RESULTS Uprising Strikers vs. Survivors United - 6-1 Goals by Harold Thompson (3), Darrel Myvette, Brandon Myers, Naim “Nemo” Wilson, Sanja Pitts Kelly Street FC vs. Westlake United - 4-1 Goals by Steven “Bredds” Baizar (2), Francis Andrews, Tyrone “T-bone’ Muschamp, Shannon Flowers Tut Bay FC vs. Ebony Lake FC - 3-1 Goals by Delroy Flores, Kevin Alvarez, Tyrone Guy and Trayvon Martinez Kraal Road FC vs. Kings Park Strikers - 2-0 Goals by Keeron Young, Charlie Canton

Kelly Street team

Tut Bay FC team

Kraal Road team

U-15 FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS HEAT UP

Rising Stars’ header

Belize City, January 10, 2015 The battle for a place in the Belize District Football Association (BDFA); under-15 football playoffs has heated up as there is only one remaining spot; the Hattieville River Side boys became the 3rd team to qualify to the playoffs, by a nil-zip draw with Berger United at the MCC Garden on Sunday.

Berger United has one remaining back match, taking on the No. 2 seed SMART Brown Bombers on Sunday, January 17.

In Game 2, the Bombers made it harder for Face of Belize to make the cut to the playoffs, as the Bombers posted a 5-3 win over Face of Belize. Tyreek “Pippin” Muschamp scored 2 goals, and Eshaq King, Maynor Hernandez and Michael Deshield scored a goal apiece for Bombers. Face of Belize’s Ajani Vaughan scored 2 goals; and Sergio Andrade scored 1 goal.

The Ladyville Jaguars were also hunting for a playoff spot, posting a 2-1 win against the Ladyville Rising Stars. Jaguars’ Allen Anderson and Djon Canelo scored a goal apiece; while Camryn Lozano scored for the Rising Stars.

The Ladyville jaguars’ back match with Face of Belize on Sunday, January 17th will decide the 4th playoff spot.

Semifinals begin on Sunday, January 24.

Camryn Lozano scored Rising Stars’ 1st goal

12

The best of the worst is yet to come!

Continued from page 7 farmers. Those who work the soil in Belize are our foundation. Yet they have no access to subsidies from government, no access to preferential treatment, no access to incentives. They just have to sweat and bleed and struggle to make ends meet.

When the men in their business suits meet with the PM to talk about multi-million dollar business and all that fancy stuff, we hear about HUGE incentives, tax holidays, import duties waived, fuel duties waived. But when it comes to the thousands of farmers across the country who should be our first priorities, they are forgotten.

Just a couple months ago farmers here in the South of Orange Walk suffered millions in losses because of the drought. Gaspar Vega and the Ministry of Agriculture didn’t even know about it until they saw it on the news. Hundreds and hundreds of acres of corn and soybeans ruined because our small farmers cannot afford expensive irrigation equipment, and GOB DOES NOT HELP. Farmers lost their crops, and were in danger of losing their homes, and government did nothing.

Weeks after crops were destroyed Gaspar Vega was patting himself on the back and posing for the cameras because they decided to lower duties on irrigation equipment. That’s it...long after farmers had already lost everything.

Last week we saw carrots rotting in the fields, not because they weren’t good or because farmers didn’t put in the many hours of hard labour to harvest them properly...but because the Ministry of Agriculture issued permits for the importation of carrots. The market was flooded with imported carrots and our local farmers could not sell theirs. That is how this government operates. Remember when they brought in imported onions and all the local onions rotted in the fields. That is how this government operates.

We have to do better than this.

Our farmers are our backbone. A country that can feed its own people is a country that will develop and grow. We should be seeing our imports decrease and our exports increase. That is the sign of success, but under the UDP it is the opposite.

And nothing ever changes.

And Gaspar Vega...this rich man who does not feel for our farmers wants to be the next Prime Minister of this country.

If that is the best that is yet to come...then God help us.

THE BELIZE TIMES

17 JAN

2016

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES

Notice is hereby given that ELVIRA MEJIA LANZA is applying for a Malt and Cider Liquor License to be operated at “A&E’s Restaurant and Bar”, situated at Maskall Village, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that RAJESH CHAWLA is applying for a Publican General Liquor License to be operated at “R. C. Imports”, situated at Amara Avenue, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that JAMES YOUNG is applying for a Night Club Liquor License to be operated at “Lakers Cool Spot”, situated at 42 Lawrence Avenue, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that SACHIN PATHANIA is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “The Karma’s Vegetarian Restaurant”, situated at 2 1/2 Miles Philip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that MARIO CANO is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Premier Duty Free”, situated at Fort Street Tourist Village, North Front Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that JAIME BRICENO is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Shell One Stop”, situated at 50 Central American Boulevard, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that YOUNG BO TAN is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Rong Feng Shop”, situated at 186 Albert Hoy Avenue, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that ELIO REYES is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Duty Free Belize”, situated at 123 Santa Rita Road, Corozal Town, Corozal District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that SINDY VARGAS is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Tu Marinero”, situated at Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that TRICIA BRADLEY is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Mel’s Place”, situated at 318 Mahogany Heights, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that GEORGE NINGH is applying for a Malt and Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Siesta Inn”, situated at 3 1/2 Miles Philip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that MIN HUA FAN is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Bo Bo Shop”, situated at Central American Boulevard, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that LAUREN REARDON is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Lauren Duty Free”, situated at Philip Goldson International Airport Departure Area, Ladyville, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that SCOTTY ESQUIVEL is applying for a Restaurant and Bar Liquor License to be operated at “Scotty’s Tavern”, situated at 111 North Front Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that LAUREN REARDON is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Lauren Duty Free”, situated at Philip Goldson International Airport Arrival Area, Ladyville, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that ORLANDO MEDINA is applying for a Malt and Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Slim’s Bar & Grill”, situated at 24 Miles Philip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that ELIO REYES is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “IBN Belize”, situated at 123 Santa Rita Road, Corozal Town, Corozal District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that FIDEL GARCIA is applying for a Malt and Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Angie’s Mini Super”, situated at San Jose/San Pablo, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that AMADO OLIVERA is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Prime Goods”, situated at #33 San Lorenzo Housing Site, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that NIGEL MATURA is applying for a Malt and Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Pink Cool Spot”, situated at Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES

17 JAN

2016

13

THE BELIZE TIMES

BSI/ASR Crop Review - Week 5

(January 4, 2016 to January 10, 2016) Cane milled in Week 5: 49,616 tons Total cane milled since start of 2015/2016 crop: 204,836 tons Total cane milled in the same period in 2014/2015 crop: 253,837 tons Difference in this year’s crop: -49,001 tons Sugar produced in Week 5: 4,318 tons Total sugar produced since start of 2015/2016 crop: 17,648 tons Total sugar produced in the same period in 2014/2015 crop: 29,357 tons Grinding rate in Week 5 – 7,088 tons of cane per day Average grinding rate since start of 2015/2016 crop – 5,852 tons of cane per day Grinding rate in the same period of 2014/2015 crop – 7,252 tons of cane per day Sugar level in cane in Week 5 – 10.41 Average sugar level since start of 2015/2016 crop – 10.17 Sugar level in cane in same period of 2014/2015 crop – 12.83 Juice purity in Week 5 – 83.76% Average juice purity since start of 2015/2016 crop – 83.62% Juice purity in same period of 2014/2015 crop – 87.90% TC/TS in Week 5 – 11.49:1 Average TC/TS since start of 2015/2016 crop – 11.61:1 TC/TS for same period in 2014/2015 crop – 8.65:1 Sugar pol level in cane in Week 5 – 95.45% Average sugar pol level since start of 2015/2016 crop – 94.78% Sugar pol level in the same period in 2014/2015 crop – 95.17% Factory Time efficiency in Week 5 – 98.07% Factory efficiency since the start of 2015/2016 crop – 94.10% Factory efficiency in the same period in 2014/2015 crop – 97.08% BSI Comments: - Factory performance was good with 49,616 metric tons milled for the week - Mud level continues high with mud % in cane at 5.61 for the week, 5.31 to date, which is significantly higher than 3.64 to date last crop.

- Efforts to reduce mud level must include avoiding the use of push-pilers by piling cane to suit grab size and lifting cane bundles instead of pushing bundles before loading.

- Overall, efforts must continue to focus on delivering good quality cane; i.e fresh, mature and clean cane - BSI Factory will cease operations from 6:00am-4:00pm to carry out maintenance work on its Shredder on Tuesday, January 12th.

- Mud level continues high with mud % in cane at 5.61 for the week, 5.31 to date, which is significantly higher than 3.64 to date last crop.

Data compiled from Daily and Weekly Factory Reports prepared by BSI.

NOTICE

BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF BELIZE LICENSE AUCTIONEER NOEL J. CODD WILL SELL the following chattels on Saturday 23rd January, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Caye Caulker Village Park.

1- 2007 green club golf cart 1- 2009 green club golf cart 3 - 2010 green club golf carts TERM: STRICTLY CASH LICENSE AUCTIONEER: NOEL J. CODD

Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District Office: 677-5184 or Cell: 624-5184 Email: noelcoddauction@yahoo.com

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Companies listed below have been dissolved and duly struck off the IBC Register as follows: NAME OF COMPANY KALLIOPE FINANCIAL CORP. HARISA TRADING CORP. STELLA ASSET MANAGEMENT S.A. MIDA CONSULTING CORP. IBEX VENTURES LTD. LOV17 LTD. FIRST FINANCE CORP. OPTIMUM PROJECTS S.A. INTERPORT SECURITIES LTD. FOLLET PROPERTIES INC. HAMILTON FINANCE LTD. FOSTERVILLE SECURITIES LTD. AFTERTEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION PURPLE RAIN ENTERPRISES INC. KMART INTERNATIONAL S.A. DELEMARCO LTD. CHANSON CONTINENTAL S.A. FLIPROCK LIMITED ESCALON LIMITED MELCANO GRUPPE S.A. CONNORS GROUP S.A. ARDELIA PROPERTY HOLDING INC. SALAVIERNO GROUP LTD. GLOBAL INFRASRUCTURE & PROJECTS CONSULTANCY LIMITED

DOMALIAN ENTERPRISES LTD. WINARD ENTERPRISES LTD. FINICK REAL ESTATE INC. GELT INFINITUM CORP. SINA UNITED S.A. OFF-SHORE TRADING INVESTMENTS CO. S.A. ATOMIC OVERSEAS HOLDINGS LIMITED PURE SANDER ASSOCIATED S.A. ELITE HOLDING GROUP INC. ELOISE UNIVERSAL S.A. AMANEL INVEST S.A. VANGUARD TRADING CORP. MASKINE LIMITED CHARMELIO S.A. PISCO UNITED S.A. DALEVON INVESTMENT LTD. STRATHFIELD UNIVERSAL S.A. MEDIATEL SOLUTIONS INC. TECHNONET PRODUCTIONS S.A. BUSINESS TIME CORP. FULL MOON INVESTMENTS CORP. KROWTEN FINANCE LTD. EXCEL DEVELOPMENT LIMITED FINCASTLE TRADERS CORP. COSMOFIN HOLDINGS INC. TRINITATIS GROUP LTD.

Date of Dissolution 2-Dec-15 2-Dec-15 2-Dec-15 2-Dec-15 2-Dec-15 2-Dec-15 3-Dec-15 8-Dec-15 8-Dec-15 9-Dec-15 9-Dec-15 9-Dec-15 10-Dec-15 11-Dec-15 11-Dec-15 12-Dec-15 12-Dec-15 12-Dec-15 15-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 19-Dec-15 22-Dec-15 22-Dec-15 22-Dec-15 23-Dec-15 23-Dec-15 23-Dec-15 24-Dec-15 25-Dec-15 26-Dec-15 29-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 30-Dec-15 31-Dec-15

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Ltd.

14

THE BELIZE TIMES

THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

By Kimolyn Vernon, Member of TITANS Carnival Group Our trip to ‘Africa’ was simply a dream that became reality.

We were able to travel to a place many only knew by means of our history books and the television.

As many of us know, history taught us that the African continent is Homeland or our Motherland. Therefore, being able to touch its soil is considered an opportunity of a lifetime. We were selected to go on such a wonderful trip so that we could partake in of one of Africa’s biggest yearly festivals held for over the past 11 years, known as the Carnival Calabar held at Cross River State in Nigeria. The invite was extended to us to represent our beautiful Jewel in its expression of arts and music, specifically, Carnival.

Aside from all the initial excitement that filled us during the preparation for the trip, we were still faced with the reality that we were going to be leaving behind our family during the Christmas Holidays; nevertheless, we all managed to prepare ourselves and families just before our departure. We were also holding faith that the trip would still be possible, since on the day before departure, we experienced challenges in terms of hotel accommodations and other travel arrangements. Our prayers were answered however and we were ready to leave for our destination to represent our country abroad.

It took over 22 hours to fly from Belize to Nigeria. We departed Belize, stopped at Houston, US, and boarded an Air France flight to Paris, then to the Lagos Muhammad Airport in Lagos, Nigeria. After being cleared from the immigration, we were greeted as if we were government officials or diplomats. A group escorted the eight of us out of the airport building with heavy security to our transportation. We were immediately taken to the hotel in Lagos, Nigeria where we were greeted by our fellow Nigerian and Brazilian carnival participants who were there from the night before.

The moment we got settled in we were so ecstatic and proud to have been there that we did not hesitate to quickly show case our beautiful flag by waving it every chance we had in order to expose our country to others that were there too. Later on that night we went out to have dinner and we brought in the Christmas together with our new

DJ Richie Galvez and Kimolyn Vernon were part of the Belize delegation that attended the 2015 Carnival Calabar in Nigeria

tiful music being played on steel pans and cheering from the Nigerians. We swiftly took out our Belizean flags once again and proudly waved it to the beat of the instrument. They greeted us and welcomed us as if we were royalties. At Tinapa Hotel we met up with people from many different participating countries such as: Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Brazil, Italy, and Rwanda. They were very diverse and unique in culture. These countries tribes and culture were closely related with each other but each of these countries had something distinctive about them that set each of them

Belize delegation interviewed by local media

family. Heading back to the hotel, our escorts took us on a brief sightseeing tour and we got a glimpse of how beautiful Lagos, Nigeria is. The vision we had of Nigeria before reaching there was immediately dissipated after seeing how developed the country really was. They are so many skyscrapers, modern houses, vehicles and office buildings. It was truly an amazing experience for our first day in Nigeria.

On the 27th of December, we left for Lagos to the ancient city of Calabar where all the events were taking place at. During the 45 minutes flight to Calabar, the pilot faced some difficulties landing because of the humid weather. Accordingly, this happens regularly during the Christmas season for the air becomes thick with fog along with the dust from the Sahara desert. There was one instance when the plane was about to land and had to revert towards the air to reroute and try to land safely. Since we were not accustomed to such experiences we naturally panicked, but with prayers, we held on to faith and finally before we know it we landed safely.

As we landed we heard the beau-

apart. They admired us because even though it was only eight of us representing our country, all were of mixed cultures. We gave them a brief history of our wonderful country, to help them understand why we had such a beautiful mixture of cultures. We shared pictures of Belize and they instantly fell in love.

The day had finally arrived for us to display our costumes. The parade was approximately 7 to 8 miles long with 60 carnival groups. All groups were assigned to a float and each group did performances at three VIP locations. The popular music for most African groups is very similar to what we refer to as Punta Rock here at home. However, the dancing is highly

17 JAN

2016

intense. When we came out in our costumes, they were amazed with the designs. The Belizeans danced the universe away and represented our country to fullest. The Nigerians were overjoyed about our performance. The other groups were curious to know about the Belizean group as we were one of the top performers in the competition.

They applauded our dancing and costumes. After our performances, many approached to take pictures of our costumes. After the carnival, we went to the Nigerian Navy base to have dinner with the other invited countries. They have a tradition that whenever a woman enters a ballroom, she will be greeted with cheers and music. It’s a way of showing respect. It was a very joyous moment for us all for the rest of the night we just came together and all sang beautiful songs and ate together as a family.

On the 28th of December, the largest competition of the entire festival was held, this was where all the countries were given the opportunity to perform for the judges.

This was an amazing experience for us, as we had the opportunity of having front row seats in a huge stadium and watch all the other countries perform. After the competition, there was a live concert which was held with the local and international Nigerian celebrities who performed the night away for us.

The trip was wonderful, despite the initial challenges due to lack of timely communication. Nonetheless, the Nigerian officials took extremely good care of us and ensured that we had everything that was needed during our visit. It was the first year for Belize and it was the best opportunity to expose our beautiful country what is known as Africa’s Biggest Carnival Festival.

Even though we only had a team of eight we considered ourselves to be a very strong team because with all the challenges we faced, we made the best out of every situation and excelled at promoting and representing our country.

This journey has opened our eyes to appreciate the little things in life and also appreciate our diversity as a country. This adventure is one for the books as it is definitely an unforgettable one.

CALL 671-8385 or EMAIL:

belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

To place advertisement in the Belize Times Newspaper

17 JAN

2016

Long distance running legend Joseph Carr dies

Belize City, January 14, 2016 Belize Times Sports joins the Belize Amateur Athletic Association and the entire sports community in extending their condolences to the family of a Belizean athletic legend, the late Joseph Carr died of an epileptic attack on Saturday, January 9. Joe was on his way home from his employment as a security guard when he fell into a drainage ditch just a stone’s throw his home off Antelope Street in Belize City.

Joseph Carr’s most recent trophies were barely a week old as he had won the BAAA’s New Year’s 5K run on the Central American Boulevard, a race in which his daughter Ashonti also won 1st prize in the 15-19 Junior female category.

Carr had represented Belize at many international and regional athletics tournaments over the past 2 decades; and he was in training for this year’s New York City marathon.

Some 20 years ago, Joe had won the Chaa Creek Lodge’s Hike & Bike for the Rainforest in 1995 and the Road King 5K in 1994. He also starred at the 2009 Olympiad 5K, and he also won the 2015 Bob Lightburn Classic. His other kudos include 1st place finishes in the annual Olympic Day run in 2010, 2011 and 2nd in 2012. He’d also done well in the BDF Sports Day 5K last August 29.

Carr was also happy to offer training advice to younger athletes, including his 4 daughters: Ajahney, the twins Ashanti and Ashonti, and Aaliyah, all of whom will carry on Joe’s running legacy. Carr, 45, is survived by his wife Shelmadine, and he also leaves behind a 6-yearold son, Antoine.

THE BELIZE TIMES

15

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE!!

BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF BELIZE LICENSE AUCTIONEER NOEL J. CODD WILL SELL the following goods and chattels on Saturday 16th January, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at 2.5 mls. Valley of Peace Road, Cayo District.

5 wooden desks with office chairs 2 dell computers 2 Filling Cabinets 1 Paper Cutter 1 wooden Book Shelf 2 Wooden Stands 11 Plastic Chairs with 5 Plastic Folding tables 29 Wooden Bed with mattress 2 Back springs with mattress 8 Wooden tables and bench 1 Industrial Stove with large Tank 2 Sankey Industrial Freezers 1 78 Gallon Water Heater 2 Maytag Washing Machines 14 Blue & White tent with fittings with a.c. units 1 Kaeser Portable Compressors 10 40” Containers with Drilling hose, Recording Equipment, Crimp Machine, Hand Radios, Oil Filters , Bulbs, 3 HP Air Compressor, Garmin GPS, Levels, Survey Equipment Tripod, Trimble, Telescope, Power Card, Battery Charger and Adaptor etc.

1 1000 Gallon Rotoplast Tank 1 1000 Gallon Fuel Tank 2 Ground Hog Seismic Drill 2 Excel 600 Perforadora Drill 2 Tracked Morooka Vehicle 1 2012 White Toyota Hilux double cab Pickup Truck 1 2002 White Ford E-350 Van Ambulance 1 2014 Cool White Mazda BT-50 Pickup Truck 5 Buses (Blue Bird, International, Thomas Ford) 1 1987 Blue/ White Ford L9000 Truck 1 1992 Blue/ White Nissa UD Sistern Truck 1 1981 White Hino DM 1005 Tone Trucks 1 2007 White Toyota Hilux double cab Pickup 1 2001 Blue/ White Chevy Yukon SUV 1 2002 Blue/ White Chevy Dinali SUV 2 2001 White Mitsubishi Delica Van 1 2011 White Mahindra Pickup Truck 1 1989 Army Green Bedford Crane Truck 2 1997 White Mitsubishi Delica Vans 1 1975 White International Truck 1 1988 Yellow Trailer TERM: STRICTLY CASH LICENSE AUCTIONEER: NOEL J. CODD Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District Office: 677-5184 or Cell: 624-5184 Email: noelcoddauction@yahoo.com

16

17 JAN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

Conservative U.S. justices prepared to deliver blow to unions January 11, 2016 4:53 PM

By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday voiced support for a legal challenge that could erode organized labor’s clout by depriving public-employee unions of millions of dollars in fees that many state laws force non-union members to pay.

Justices John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy and Antonin Scalia indicated during an 80-minute oral argument that they could join the nine-member court’s two other conservatives to overturn a 1977 high court precedent allowing the fees, a vital source of funds for the unions.

Legal experts had thought Scalia might be sympathetic to the union position due to prior votes and statements on the subject, but his questions signaled support for the 10 non-union California public school teachers who challenged the fees.

U.S. conservatives have long sought to curb the influence of unions representing public employees like police, firefighters and teachers that often support the Democratic Party and liberal causes.

A ruling allowing non-union workers to stop paying “agency fees” equivalent to union dues, currently mandatory under laws in about half the 50 states including California, could strip public sector unions of millions of dollars, reducing their income and political power.

About 5 million public sector employees are subject to union contracts that include mandatory fee provisions, according to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which backs the non-union teachers.

Unions worry that a ruling throwing out the fees would give workers less incentive to join because they would get all the benefits of collective bargaining without having to pay for it.

Chief Justice Roberts and Kennedy appeared unsympathetic to the California Teachers Association’s argument that non-members would become “free-riders” if not required to pay the fees to fund collective bargaining activities.

“The union basically is making these teachers ‘compelled riders’ for issues on which they strongly disagree,” Kennedy said.

Roberts said the majority of the California teachers union’s members appeared to back collective bargaining, making the “free-riders” concern “really insignificant.”

The teachers who filed the lawsuit in 2013 are asking the justices to overturn the 1977 Abood v. Detroit Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that allowed these unions to

collect fees from workers who are not members as long as the money is not spent on political activities.

California teachers generally pay around $1,000 annually in union dues.

Non-members can opt out of paying for union political activities, which means they pay around $600 a year in mandatory fees covering collective bargaining.

Several justices hinted at the difficulties of separating out political issues in a way that would not infringe upon the free-speech rights under the U.S. Constitution of non-members who disagree with the union.

“The problem is that everything that is collectively bargained with the government is within the political sphere, almost by definition,” Scalia said.

‘RIGHT-TO-WORK’ STATES Roberts and Scalia seemed skeptical that unions would collapse without fees from non-union employees, in part because such fees are already banned in 25 states that have what is known as “right-to-work” laws. In those states, unions still represent workers but membership rates are lower.

Federal employee unions also cannot collect such fees.

Even when the union’s lawyer, David Frederick, sought to explain routine issues on which the union negotiates such as teacher lunch breaks, he faced hostile questions.

Kennedy said if the union believes it is doing a sound job negotiating over such daily concerns, “the union can convince people to join.”

The court’s liberals defended the current practice and said justices usually think twice before overturning longstanding precedents.

“You come here with a heavy burden,” Justice Elena Kagan told the teachers’ lawyer, Michael Carvin.

A ruling favoring the non-union teachers would be a blow to organized labor because unionized teachers and other civil servants in states without “right-to-work” laws comprise its main power base. Public sector workers are almost six times more likely to belong to a union than those in the private sector.

The dispute pits non-union teachers and the Christian Educators Association International against the California Teachers Association, an influential union with 325,000 members.

The conservative Center for Individual Rights sued on behalf of lead plaintiff Rebecca Friedrichs, an elementary school teacher in Anaheim, and the other teachers.

The union noted that California law requires it to represent all workers when negotiating with the state, regardless of whether they are members.

A ruling is due by the end of June.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Mayela Augustine of Orange Walk District is hereby applying for a Money Lenders License to operate Surplus Quick Service located at #13 Liberty Avenue Orange Walk Town.

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 HURL M. HAMILTON of the one part and HRCU of the other part.

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 348.26 square metres being Parcel 1609, Block 16 in the Vista Del Mar Registration Section situate on Red Snapper Avenue, Vista Del Mar, Belize District, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of HURL M. HAMILTON DATED this 14th day of January 2016 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

17 JAN

2016

Facing the music

By G. Michael Reid “Karl Marx said, “Religion is the opiate of the people.” I submit to you that, “Government largess is the opiate of the people.” ~ Dr. Richard Swier “There is no nonsense so errant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate governmental action.” ~Bertrand Russell 2015 is behind us and now, as a nation, we are faced with the prospect of probably the most challenging period in our existence. The current United Democratic Party (UDP) administration has had a remarkable run and in November of last year was elected to an unprecedented third term in office. The situation is that had all things been fair and equal, the UDP would have lost not only this previous General Election, but more so the one prior to that in 2012. Elections in Belize however, while usually peaceful, are anything but fair and in particular the way things are run under this administration. Another self-evident truth is that the UDP was not elected based on performance or even on promises but instead on government largesse.

In 2012, shortly after the UDP scraped by with a slim majority of two seats, there began a free flow of Petro Caribe funds. Notwithstanding that it is a loan and that it will have to be repaid, but still it presented an excellent opportunity for our country to dig itself out of a hole and make preparations for a sustainable future. Borrowing by both political parties had saddled the country with severely high interest debt and while Petro Caribe is also a debt, it was at a reasonable and very attractive rate of interest.

The sensible and responsible thing to have done would have been to use some of the money from the Petro Caribe program to buy back the existing debt which would have resulted in a more manageable plan and a less burdensome routine for servicing.

Petro Caribe monies could also have been used to create new industries or to invest in the re-establishment of others; for example a sewing factory.

That required insight and foresight

17

THE BELIZE TIMES

however and a more selfless style of governance; not something that we could have expected from this greedy, selfish and tyrannical bunch.

So, instead of a sensible and judicious management of the funds, government embarked upon a spending binge with two primary objectives in mind; maintaining power and securing for Dean Barrow a much coveted third term as Prime Minister. Now you get what you want, do you want more?

In a secretly taped conversation, former UDP insider Melvin Hulse revealed in detail the sinister plots and plans of his party and its leader, including the squandering of Petro Caribe money to buy out a couple of debt ridden PUP representatives. Money has a way of obscuring the truth and the story was downplayed and eventually swept under the rug. Although Hulse

indeed correct and commented that, “Yes that was in the report and as far as I know it is accurate. I’ve asked them to bring the copies of the Smart stream invoices, but I was told by my people that the numbers are real.” To their credit, Plus TV was the only television media house to tackle and critique the damning report. The ride was sweet and nobody wanted to rock the Petro Caribe boat!

Some people scoff at the suggestion that the UDP bought the General Elections but the evidence is overwhelming and in plain sight. In an interview given to Channel Five in October, just weeks before the citizens went to the polls, candidate for Orange Walk South Lupe Magaña-Dyck admitted to a reporter that “From the time I came in from my convention I have been working hardly. I managed to get funds from the honourable prime minister with the Petro Caribe money and I have actually worked in all my villages”. Was this really what Petro Caribe money was supposed to be used for?

The public themselves got into the act when in November of 2014, thousands flocked to Belmopan to give approval to the government for their wasteful spending. The Cheer programs, the tacos and pibil excursions

in over a decade and continues to spiral downward. In a press release, government admitted that it was as the result of a new tax which was needed to help government stabilize its revenues. The tax was described as “fiscal consolidation measure to strengthen public finances at the start of the new 2016 calendar year”. According to Fin Sec Joe Waight, “This was a compensatory measure to try to stabilize the accounts”.

On January 1st, the price of sugar shot through the roof going from 50 cents a pound to 75 cents a pound.

A visit to any shop or store will reveal that the increases are not confined to sugar or gas but even basic staples are being affected. And while the price of goods and imports are up, the few things that we export are going down. Crude Oil is nearing the bottom of the barrel, shrimp and other marine products are hard hit and banana exports have plummeted. Now we are told that even our banking system is in deep trouble. The Prime Minister revealed on Tuesday that “even the question of the credit card settlements is now in some jeopardy”. The banks in America on whom we rely heavily for money transfers and other financial transactions are now refusing to do business with our local banks. I imagine it is now clear to most why First Caribbean decided to be bailed out having seen the writing on the wall.

This past weekend, we got a glimpse of what we can expect in the very near future as far as the crime situation is concerned.

Now here however is the reality! When the sweet Petro tunes were playing and when the good times were rolling for some, it was confined to only UDP supporters. Those of us who were, and in some cases only suspected of being PUP’s were never invited to the fete. Now that the music has stopped and your seven years of plenty has concluded, you expect all of us to understand, to sacrifice and to band together in cleaning up your mess? Kriol have an old saying, (grabbing crotch) “eeen yah!!!” Some of us are used to hard times; let us see how the rest of you will handle it!

Wave radio alone received more than a half million dollars for this so-called advertising in one year alone. Independent and reliable inquiries revealed that the principal owner of Wave Radio was no other than Prime Minister Dean Barrow was willing and even eager to talk, he was practically ignored by a media who themselves were very much compromised and intoxicated by Petro Caribe funded advertising.

In February of 2015, a report recommending cost cutting measures was submitted to government and eventually leaked to the media by a concerned whistle-blower. It revealed some mind boggling figures spent by government on what was labelled as advertisement but was obviously little more than political patronage drawn down from the public purse. The report, which was done by a team of senior union representatives and public officers, advised the Prime Minister to cut back on the wasteful expenditure.

One section of the report revealed that Wave radio alone received more than a half million dollars for this so-called advertising in one year alone. Independent and reliable inquiries revealed that the principal owner of Wave Radio was no other than Prime Minister Dean Barrow himself. A man who has railed incessantly against and publicly decried the ownership of the PUP party assets by private individuals; “no watch me, watch yuself”.

While Wave radio did receive the lion’s share, other radio stations also received inordinate amounts for ridiculous and unnecessary advertisements. In a public interview, Financial Secretary Joe Waight confirmed that the figures released in the report were

and the regular handouts were enough to make sufficient people turn a blind eye to the malfeasance of Penner, the “distastefulness” of Castro, and the widespread corruption in just about every ministry of this government. Now, the chickens are coming home to roost.

This year’s Christmas cheer was anything but cheerful as instead of ham and turkeys, Belizeans received on Christmas Eve, a hike in gas prices.

This despite the fact that oil on the world market is the lowest it has been

18

THE BELIZE TIMES

17 JAN

2016

17 JAN

2016

19

THE BELIZE TIMES

Al Jazeera America to Shut Down by April

By JOHN KOBLINJAN. 13, 2016 New York Times The cable news channel Al Jazeera America, which debuted in 2013 to great fanfare when it promised to cover American news soberly and seriously, will be shutting down by the end of April. The move was announced at a companywide meeting on Wednesday.

In a memo to the staff, Al Jazeera America’s chief executive, Al Anstey, said the “decision by Al Jazeera America’s board is driven by the fact that our business model is simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges in the U.S. media marketplace.”

“I know the closure of AJAM will be a massive disappointment for everyone here who has worked tirelessly for our long-term future,” he continued, using the company acronym. “The decision that has been made is in no way because AJAM has done anything but a great job. Our commitment to great journalism is unrivaled.”

At the companywide meeting, Al Jazeera America staff members, some in tears, were told that the decision to shutter the network had not been unanimous.

Some of the channel’s leadership argued that the network provided an important service, and continued to win awards for its coverage. But in the end, the decision was an economic one. The channel, it was felt, had fallen victim to the lack of a business model beyond continuous support from Qatar, the energy-rich country that owns Al Jazeera.

Some staffers saw that as a tacit admission that falling oil prices were behind the closure, though a spokeswoman for the company denied that on Wednesday.

Beyond its oil wealth, Qatar is one of the world’s top exporters of liquefied natural gas, whose price has also tumbled.

Mr. Anstey said that once the cable news network shuts down

by April 30, Al Jazeera would expand its digital presence in the United States. The expansion “would bring new global content into America.”

Al Jazeera America went on the air in August 2013 after Al Jazeera bought Al Gore’s Current TV for $500 million. It promised to be thoughtful and smart, free of the shouting arguments that have defined cable news in the United States over the last decade. But meaningful viewership never came, with prime-time ratings sometimes struggling to exceed 30,000 viewers.

To make matters worse, turmoil hit the newsroom last year

Al Jazeera America debuted in August 2013 after it bought Al Gore’s Current TV for $500 million.

when staff members complained bitterly of a culture of fear. There was an exodus of top executives, along with a pair of lawsuits from former employees that included complaints about sexism and anti-Semitism at the news channel.

In May, Ehab Al Shihabi, the chief executive of Al Jazeera America, was replaced by Mr. Anstey. Morale improved, but ratings remained low.

The closure, which will cost hundreds of employees their jobs, highlights the difficulties of establishing a robust cable news presence in an increasingly crowded media marketplace, and one that faces ever more competition from the web — the ultimate 24-hour news medium.

Current TV, before being bought

by Al Jazeera, had struggled for years to find an audience, and to define its place in the news landscape.

Fusion, a cable news network and digital publication aimed at younger audiences, lost the backing of one of its corporate parent companies, Disney, in recent weeks, following reports that it, too, had struggled to find its footing with audiences.

Even established players like MSNBC have been forced to revamp in recent years.

Andrew Heyward, a former president of CBS News who is now an adviser to media companies, said in an interview that Al Jazeera America had faced an uphill battle from the beginning.

Cable news “is a very wellserved market, not to say saturated, and you have three powerful, wellestablished players,” he said, referring to Fox News, MSNBC and CNN. “Endemically, it’s not quite clear that the world was waiting for a new 24hour cable channel in the U.S., and cable operators certainly weren’t waiting for it,” he said, describing the limited distribution the channel received.

“They came kind of swaggering into the arena, saying we’re going to do higher-end stories and represent

people who are under-represented,” Mr. Heyward said, a proposition that played better on paper than in practice. And the network brought something of a British sensibility and judgment, he said, which did not translate as well to cable news as it might in other arenas.

“This is not ‘Downton Abbey,’ ” he said.

All these problems were exacerbated, he said, by the fact that

a brand associated with the Arab world was a tougher sell in the United States than it was in Europe.

And Al Jazeera America has not been free of controversy in recent months. In November, the news station’s general counsel, David W. Harleston, was suspended following a report in The New York Times that he did not appear to be licensed to practice law. Among the varied legal work Mr. Harleston had done for Al Jazeera America was his involvement in wrongful termination lawsuits brought by former employees. Legal experts have cautioned that Mr. Harleston’s lack of a law license could potentially leave the network vulnerable in those lawsuits, primarily over issues of confidentiality.

On Dec. 27, Al Jazeera America aired an hourlong documentary that linked some of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball and the National Football League to performance-enhancing drugs. The most prominent athlete mentioned was the Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who angrily denied the report, calling it “complete garbage” and “totally made up.”

The baseball players Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman have filed defamation suits against the network.

When told Wednesday of Al Jazeera America’s plans to shut down, Mr. Manning deadpanned, “I’m sure it’s going to be just devastating to all their viewers.”

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 October, 2011, between ARTON GARCIA of No. 3 Victoria Street, Belize City, Belize and TRISHA MOREIRA of No. 27 Cuello Avenue, Lords Bank, Ladyville Village, Belize District of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 23 of 2011 at Folios 643 – 678, 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. 124 containing 870.677 square metres situate in Lord’s Bank Village Extension, Belize District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 255 of 2005 attached to Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 255 of 2005 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 7th day of January, 2016.

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

20

17 JAN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

E

V

I

E

W

Google Maps’ new Driving Mode: No need to type a destination

An update in the pipeline for Google Maps predicts where you want to go and provides navigation information without your having to key in a destination.

By Liam Tung | January 13, 2016 Google is rolling out a feature in Google Maps on Android that automatically provides navigation information without the user having to type in a destination.

The new feature, called Driving Mode, should make Google Maps navigation features easier to use for drivers who know where they’re going, and thus don’t need Maps’ directions, but still want information about road blocks, traffic jams, and ETAs. To get this information currently requires the user to type in each destination manually, which can be a hassle when you’re on the move or on a tight schedule.

First spotted by Android Police, Driving Mode makes use of location history and previous web searches to form an educated guess about where the user is driving and give traffic updates and arrival times while you’re on the move.

The feature appears in Google Maps version 9.19.0 for Android, an early version that may eventually make its way to Google Play.

For now, Driving Mode is difficult to activate but if the user succeeds, it showcases the convenience of Google predicting a destination and offers an incentive to keep Maps active at all times when driving.

It probably won’t hurt Google Maps for Android Auto on the in-vehicle infotainment front, as competition heats up with Apple CarPlay.

Whether the feature will make its way to iOS remains to be seen and, given it’s a preview release, there are no guarantees whether and when it will make it to Android either -- that is, until

Google announces the feature.

Other features in the works for Maps on Android include the

return of the mute toggle to the foreground of the interface for turn-by-turn voice guidance. The

How builder bots are taking construction work out of human hands Innovative architects can now outsource tasks like masonry and site surveys to robots. Will the machine displace construction workers entirely?

mute option now sits between the Search and Compass icons.

The update also includes a new settings screen for the Timeline, a feature that presents places visited in the past.

The settings screen offers a new way to control what is seen and collected in Timeline, whereas previously the only choice was to delete location history.

There are also hints that Google may be working on integrating a new to-do list feature that would allow the user to upload a to-do list. As Android Police speculates, it could be Google’s answer to enabling multiple destinations.

13 January 2016 THEY named it THOR. In a dusty lot in Konz, Germany, an 18-tonne excavator kitted out with sensors and a computer slowly scoops a pile of dirt, hoists it into the air, and dumps it into the back of a nearby truck.

Scoop and dump. Scoop and dump.

It’s boring work – and that’s the point, says Daniel Schmidt, who heads up THOR, or the Terraforming Heavy Outdoor Robot project, at the University of Kaiserslautern.

“We’re trying to automate the tasks that excavators are doing,” says Schmidt.

“We want to be able to remove operators from tasks that are very cyclic, very monotonous, things like that.”

Schmidt isn’t the only one with an eye on getting bots onto building sites. The trend promises a boost in efficiency and architectural possibilities – but what might it mean for workers?

For THOR, at least, it will be a while before the robot starts working on real projects. In December, it successfully completed tests at Volvo’s test facility for construction equipment – moving piles of material on its own, and creating a trench and a slope.

Construction robots that utilise different materials are also being put through their paces. Flying bots from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) that can weave ropes together to make a bridge will be presented at the Rob Arch conference in Sydney, Australia, in March, as will others that work with concrete or sheet metal.

Some builder bots have already found their way into the real world.

17 JAN

2016

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

NEWS

21

Gaza faces harsh winter after Israel cuts gas supply Palestinians say Israel has drastically reduced natural gas into Gaza, worsening bitter cold weather conditions.

Palestinians say Israel has severely curtailed gas supplies to the occupied Gaza Strip this winter, fueling a major disruption to ordinary life for most families and exacerbating the harsh impact of the cold weather.

Tholfikar Sweirjo, a member of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s committee in Gaza, told Al Jazeera the amount of gas entering Gaza has been decreased by at least 50 percent since early December. ”People are suffering from the shortage ... especially because a lot of cars had been converted to use gas instead of petrol due to the high prices of petrol,” he said.

Sweirjo accused Israeli authorities of causing this gas shortage to intensify pressure on Gaza in a bid to push people against Hamas, the group that governs the strip.

His statement came a week after the International Middle East Media Center quoted Mohamed al-Abadaleh, a spokesman of an association of fuel and gas station owners in Gaza, as saying: “It is week four since the Israeli authorities severely decreased cooking gas supplies for the Gaza Strip.”

He also said the amount of gas allowed into the Palestinian territory is only 15 percent of what is needed normally.

Dozens of whales die in mass stranding on India beach At least 45 of 81 whales have died after stranding on a beach in the Indian southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The short-finned pilot whales washed ashore on the beach of Tiruchendur, a small port city in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district on Tuesday.

Deepak Bilgi, wildlife warden of the Gulf of Munnar Marine National Park, in charge of the stranded whales, said that the remaining whales were pushed back to the sea with a few returning back.

“The older ones that succumbed to injures returned but the younger ones responded well,” Bilgi said. ”Scientists investigating say it is disorientation. However we have sent one of the whales for autopsy”. ”This is the first time since 1973, when 120 whales were stranded, that such an incident has happened here,” Kumar told DPA news agency.

Protesters demand closure of Guantanamo on anniversary Rally outside White House comes day after Obama administration once again vowed to shut down detainee facility

Venezuela’s economic crisis worsens as oil prices fall Caracas - Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has said that the country’s economy is in a state of emergency as oil prices fall to just $33 a barrel, the lowest rate in more than a decade.

Venezuela needs oil prices to hit $111 a barrel just to break even.

As a result, inflation continues to rise in Caracas. A recent report leaked from within Venezuela’s Central Bank puts the country’s inflation rate at 270 percent, marking what economists now consider to be the worst crisis in the oil-rich country’s modern history.

“Venezuela is in the process of hyper inflation, huge fiscal deficit financed by money printing, lack of foreign reserves, and the only commodity of importance in this foreign trade, oil, falling at levels below over the last 11 years,” Orlando Ochoa, an economist, told Al Jazeera.

“It is the perfect storm.”

Demonstrators have gathered outside the White House in Washington DC, demanding the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detainee facility.

The protests, on the 14th anniversary of the opening of the prison in Cuba, come a day after the US administration once again vowed to shut down the controversial detention site before President Barack Obama’s term ends this year.

The group included a coalition of human rights activists, torture survivors and attorneys.

There are still 103 detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay. Since the prison opened in January 2002, nine prisoners have died there.

Protesters outside the White House wore orange jumpsuits and plastic shackles. Some of them deployed a large inflatable doll meant to represent former prisoner Shaker Aamer, the Saudi national who was suspected by US authorities of being associated with al-Qaeda but was never charged with any crime.

Mexico opens extradition proceedings against El Chapo Interpol agents inform drug kingpin Joaquin Guzman that he is wanted in the US, just days after he was recaptured Mexico’s government has notified recaptured drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman that he is wanted in the United States, formally beginning extradition proceedings against him.

The Attorney General’s Office said on Sunday in a statement that Guzman was told two arrest warrants from the US were being pro-

cessed.

The notification was completed by agents of the international police agency Interpol at the maximum-security prison where Guzman is being held.

The extradition bid marks a reversal from President Enrique Pena Nieto’s refusal to send Guzman across the border before his July escape from a maximumsecurity prison.

Mexico received the US extradition requests last year on a large number of charges, including drug trafficking and homicide. Guzman is wanted in six US states.

After judges rule on the extradition, the Mexican foreign ministry has to issue a decision. The timing of the extradition is unclear as Guzman can appeal against it.

22

THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT

DIRTY BASTARD A man posted on his Facebook page photos of him having sex with a female police officer. The five or six photos went viral in Belize City.

It’s the most wicked, worthless thing a man could do to a woman.

A few words posted with the photos says this is what you get when you f… with me. Presumably, the female broke up with him and this is his version of getting back at her.

Police says the Facebook “account” is false so they can’t charge the person for any offense of which there would be several.

The photos are explicit. Any man, who stoops so low as to publicize such photos of a female he once was in a relationship with, is not a man. He is a low-down dirty bastard.

If that female had elderly children, or brothers or good friends, we can see how persons become angry and react with vengeance.

Mein, that’s cold. That is sick.

FIFTEEN Last week a fire destroyed one of those infamous trailer houses the UDP had been selling in a previous government.

Fifteen persons, mostly children, called it home. While sleeping, they were awakened to the screams of fire, fire.

God be praised, no one lost their lives or were injured. Their home and most of their belongings went up in smoke.

It is becoming a frequent assurance for the TV media to show families burnt out of their homes or houses falling to the ground with occupants. It represents the sad neglect by the Ministry of Housing in its on-going failure to assist the poor and desperate who are living in unacceptable conditions. Same neglect applies to the Ministry of Poverty (Social Transformation).

The family of fifteen homeless because of a fire exposes the heartof-stone possessed by the Ministers who are also elected representatives in these poor areas. Having squandered millions of dollars buying votes and bribing electors, the poor are no better off for having supported these charlatans.

LOCAL TV DISAPPOINTING Sometime in 1981 or so, foreign cable television entered Belize.

The story of how Belize finally got cable is a soap-opera series in itself.

And perhaps we will try to describe

some of it someday.

There are several studies which say that shortly after American television enters a country; it is followed by an increase in crime, violence, drugs, materialism, loose morals nakedness and other manifestations of the decadence of the “Hollywood” mentality.

There were three major personalities who were sounding warnings of the damage of unregulated foreign TV: George Price, Bishop O.P. Martin and Said Musa.

The great George Price was completely against foreign TV penetrating the minds of Belizeans. In his hey-day Mr. Price even had a committee of citizens who vetted movies and cut out scenes considered to explicit for public viewing. He had a censorship board and many, many movies were designated “Strictly For Adults Only”.

When TV got inside our minds even the movie houses fell as victims. Palace on Albert Street, Majestic on Queen Street, Eden and Bel-Rio on North Front Street all closed down. Never to reopen.

Cable TV has gone on to become the dominant feature of our lives.

Marxists used to say religion is the opiate of the masses, meaning it was like a drug to keep the majority of people ignorant and about give a damn about their pitiful living conditions. Well the new religion is cable TV. It is the most powerful drug in town. And we are all addicted to it.

Deeply addicted. To make a long story short, there is good and bad in everything. There is some good in cable TV and there is some bad, mostly bad. Cable TV is silly and stupid and shallow. Mostly.

If you agree we are now living in the age of shallowness, you can make allowance for some of the things that are being shown. And here is one point that needs to be made. We are deeply, almost bitterly, disappointed with the owners/producers of our local television shows or lack thereof.

The major TV stations in Belize City and probably the whole country are Channel 5, Krem, Channel 7, and Love fm/TV. Channel 5 gets high marks for producing the most local shows. The seasonal series of Duets and talent shows are excellent. They have a daily show from Mondays to Fridays in the mornings which is boring but it is local. They had an informative Monday night special but that has died a sudden, unexplained death.

Love fm/TV does the news from Monday to Friday and has a morning show which has lost its ratings.

17 JAN

2016

HURRICANE ALEX forms in the Atlantic

CNN, January 14, 2016 It’s been nearly four decades since a winter storm in the Atlantic earned a name, and the National Hurricane Center went a step further Thursday, upgrading Alex to a hurricane.

At 1 p.m. ET Thursday, Hurricane Alex packed sustained 85-mph winds as it spun some 410 miles (about 660 kilometers) south of Portugal’s Azores islands, parts of which are under a hurricane warning.

Its strength is surprising since tropical storms thrive most over warm waters, something that’s unexpected in the North Atlantic in the middle of winter.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, but that doesn’t mean tropical systems don’t pop up at other times.

Alex is not just the first named storm of 2016, but it’s also the first named storm to form in the Atlan-

tic in January since 1978, the first January-born hurricane since 1938, and the fourth known storm to arrive in that month since records began in 1851.

On Thursday afternoon, the storm was moving north-northeast at a 20-mph clip. It should eventually turn north and pick up speed before going over the Azores on Friday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center, though residents there should start feeling tropical storm-force winds Thursday night.

The storm should dump 3 to 5 inches of rain on the islands, with 7 inches possible in isolated areas. That precipitation could spur mudslides and flash floods, while dangerous storm surges could produce flooding along the coast.

There’s no expectation Alex will directly strike the United States or Europe. Instead, it will likely head north toward Greenland. (CNN’s Steve Almasy and Monica Garrett contributed to this report.)

17 JAN

2016

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that MARCIN B. GALAS is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Belizean Balloon Rides”, situated at 4 Marine Parade, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that MENG CHENG LI is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “UFO Kenny’s Shop”, situated at 37 Fairweather Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that TYRONE VALDES is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Coco Cart”, situated at 8 Fort Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicated Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

23

THE BELIZE TIMES

Mayor Humphreys shuts down Dangriga vendors Dangriga Town, January 14, 2016 A group of vendors in Dangriga Town are up in arms and are strongly considering taking Mayor Francis Humphreys and the Dangriga Town Council to Court after the UDP-elected Council forced them out of a location where they have been carrying out business for over four years.

According to the Town Council, the vendors can no longer operate small vending stalls in an area on North Stann Creek Riverside Street.

The Town Council has de-

Will GOB continue to support FCD’s efforts in Chiquibul Forest?

Continued from page 8 ment that helped FCD is likely not to occur.

Key to the Government’s decision to increase spending were first the murder of tourist police officer Danny Conorquie at the Caracol at the hands of armed Guatemalan bandits, and second, that Prime Minister Dean Barrow was already weighing the possibility of holding early elections in late 2015.

The Conorquie shooting murder, caused by the cash-strapped Ministry of National Security’s decision not to increase security presence at Caracol, threatened to become politically explosive.

With the Government’s back against the wall, funding was approved.

Now, without any form of political pressure, and further financial constraints, it will be interesting to see if the Government will continue to support the efforts to protect the Chiquibul.

FCD’s efforts do not exclusively rely on the political and financial support of the Government, however. Manzanero shared that the group has been exploring ideas to create sustainable sources of funding. One idea is to develop a kind of unique ecopark within the Chiquibul which could attract tourists. Talks are ongoing with Chukka Tours to further the idea.

Manzanero said FCD’s continued success will rely on national support, however.

He cited the four areas of concern as improving road access for patrols, bi-national efforts to ensure environmental protection, securing long term finances including ensuring adequate support from Central Government, and implementation of a management structure.

Nuri Cocom

clared the space as a “No Vending Zone”, and has even taken court action against three vendors who insisted on utilising the area.

But the vendors say the Mayor and Council have abused their authority and acted wrongfully.

The vendors point out that the land they are doing business on is privately owned. They have a busi-

ness arrangement with the owner, who was granted a trade license by the Town Council.

The vendors recalled that when they learnt that the Council had a problem with them, they met with Mayor Humphreys and he promised to build stalls for them elsewhere. They agreed to move, on the condition that the new stalls are adequately built. But months have passed since the meeting and there are no new stalls.

One of the vendors, Nuri Cocom, said that the vendors are prepared to defy the Council’s threats and will be returning to the location to continue their business which they depend on to feed their families. She recalled that the matter of the use of the land had already been before the Court, and they were told that they are doing nothing illegal or wrong. In fact, the Council was collecting peddlers’ fees weekly for several months, before turning on them.

Northcliff Corporation # 40,055 (“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 Northcliff Corporation has been dissolved as at 13th January, 2016 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

CITITRUST INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Registered Agent

24

THE BELIZE TIMES

17 JAN

2016