Belize Times January 22, 2012

Sunday, January 22, 2012

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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SUNDAY January 22, 2012

Issue No. 4780

No Watchdog at CitCo Belize City, January 18, 2012 Hundreds of thousands of Belize City residents’ tax dollars are once more exposed to the wasteful spending, greed and abuse that the UDP Belize City Council is notorious for since they took office in 2006.

The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that since late 2011, the Council has been operating without its assigned watchdog, Financial Controller Patrick Tillett, because he was mysteriously placed on leave.

Tillett was assigned to the Council in March 2009, on the same day the UDP Belize City Council was sworn into office for a second term, with the authority of the Minister of Local Government and the Minister of Finance. His role as controller was singularly to rein in the Mayor who had been wreaking financial havoc. In the words of the Prime Minister, Tillett was

Senseless stabbing in Ladyville Disgraced UDP Mayor Zenaida Moya is running the affairs of the city without a watchdog

Tillett had exposed serious financial mismanagement at City Hall under the UDP Council

to stem “any tide of red ink” that the UDP Council had become accustomed to creating since 2006 when they took office.

That much he did and even blew

the whistle against the Mayor, when four months later he discovered serious financial regularities at the Council. According to Tillett’s investigations,

Continued on page 4

GOB’s mass citizenship,

rapid registration under fire!

Belize City, January 18, 2012 The Opposition People’s United Party has raised serious red flags over what has turned into an unprecedented rush to give citizenship and rapid voting rights to immigrants.

The citizenship is being processed in almost lightening-speed fashion by the Immigration and Nationality Department in collusion with political operatives of the ruling United Democratic Party,

Continued on page 6

UDP agents were processing citizenship documents at the Immigration Department in Belmopan until 11:15pm on Wednesday night. Othon Castillo threatened the photographer, in fear of being exposed.

Fuel Prices Increase Again!

See page 17

Elvis Cowo was killed in a mysterious but deadly attack Belize City, January 17, 2012 A family residing in the Japan area of Ladyville is mourning the murder of their loved one, 29 year old Elvis Cowo who from all indications lost his life in a senseless attack on Monday night.

Reports are that Cowo was inside his home until his boss arrived and called for him. He went out in response, but there is where he stumbled into his armed attackers.

It is not clear what caused an altercation between Cowo and a group of men on bicycles, but the family says the men warned Cowo to get off the street. When he ignored

Continued on page 4

UDP caught meddling with Voter’s List UDP Councillor Candidate Severo Guerrero Jr. caught red-handed tampering with voter’s list inside the Elections & Boundaries office in San Pedro

San Pedro, January 18, 2012 There are already sufficient reasons to believe that the UDP Government is doing all it can to steal the upcoming elections. With three of its most senior political operatives sitting in the Elections and

Continued on page 6

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012

A Flippin Disgrace in Ladyville PUP Leader calls for removal of UDP activists in Elections and Boundaries Commission January 16, 2012 The Honourable Dean Barrow Prime Minister of Belize Belmopan Dear Prime Minister, I register my grave concern as Leader of the Opposition, with respect to the integrity of the current composition of the Elections and Boundaries Commission. The matter is urgent because of impending elections in Belize.

Since the Commission is constitutionally charged with the responsibility for the direction and supervision of the registration of voters and the conduct of elections, its Chairman, must be a Belizean of the highest probity. The People’s United Party believes that the integrity of the Commission is directly called into question as a consequence of the continuous public display of partisanship by Alberto August, the Chairman. I remind you that in carrying out its mandate, the Commission must be transparent, accountable and free from the direction and control of any authority or partisan consideration.

By the Chairman’s flagrant partisan display of activism even at the very steps of the National Assembly Building, the quality and integrity of our democracy is seriously challenged.

In addition, it has become evident that the presence and participation of the United Democratic Party’s Secre-

tary General, Phillipa Griffith Bailey and the former UDP Leader and current political activist Dean Lindo as members of the Commission, is in direct contravention of the mandate for an independent Commission.

I call for the immediate resignation or the prompt removal of the Chairman of the Commission, as well as Mrs. Bailey and Mr. Lindo, and their replacement with persons without partisan consideration or affiliations. I therefore anticipate consultation on the urgent matter.

The necessity to act expeditiously is underscored by the fact that municipal elections are due on March 7, 2012 and general elections, by your public declarations, will be held this year.

Sincerely, Francis Fonseca Leader of the Opposition

Some animals are more equal than others under UDP Council

Dear Editor, Please, please publish this letter in your next edition. Under this Government, one would find venting as a useful method of regaining composure.

It would be funny if it weren’t serious but what my eyes beheld on Monday was no laughing matter. There I was watching the evening news, as I religiously do, when lo and behold, I stumbled upon a news item on Channel 5 about a fire in Ladyville. Now, a fire is as ordinary an occurrence as there is but the fire reported on the newscast was anything but “ordinary”.

Early into the news report, I sat relaxed in my chair as the Safety Officer for the National Fire Service informed the news reporter of the fire which had occurred the previous day. As is customary, the Safety Officer started off by stating the approximate time that the report of the fire was registered.

Now, when the Safety Officer spoke of the time the Ladyville Fire Station had received word of the fire, I naturally assumed, as I’m sure every other viewer did, that I would’ve seen a team of firefighters on the scene. Well, did I almost fall out of my chair when on my television screen I saw a lone firefighter tackling the blaze. Seeing how terribly tied the firefighter’s hands were, a brave little child and a “Good Samaritan” came to his assistance, the former carrying the water hose for him while the latter helped to straightened out the coiled up hose. As they did this, the firefighter ran back to the fire truck to turn on the water. Like I said earlier, it would be funny if it weren’t serious.

Last I checked Ladyville is the largest village in the country of Be-

lize with an estimated population of some 1,000 persons. For crying out loud, even my 3 year-old son could tell the moron named Melvin Hulse, the Minister responsible for the National Fire Service, that deploying ONE firefighter to serve a large population is the height of stupidity. Now, either the Area Representative for Ladyville, the man called “Hutchie”, is as flippin foolish as his Cabinet colleague or, like Hulse and the UDP, couldn’t care less about the people of Ladyville or both.

I recall seeing and listening to “Mr. Madafish” just a few days before as he spoke at the passing out ceremony of the newest cadre of firefighters. As usual, the idiotic Minister spewed a lot of flippin bull. To think of it, he named Ladyville as one of the places that would receive additional fire trucks and firefighters – what a flippin joke!

The fire that occurred in Ladyville is truly a sad story and the moral of that story is that our National Fire Service is being ultimately led by a deranged lunatic. But “Mr. Madafish” is certainly not alone because ever since February 2008, our country has been led by a so-called Cabinet that is more an asylum. And the flippin Minister is proof positive that the crazy people are running the asylum.

What happened in Ladyville is a flippin disgrace and the honorable thing for the flippin Minister and his UDP Government to do, before RESIGNING, is to fully compensate the fire victims for the losses they suffered. After all, aren’t they, as they proclaim, “Always for the People”?

Signed, Seeking justice

THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR

Alberto Vellos

Dear Sir:

OFFICE MANAGER

The Party is nothing but the vanguard of the people, the active organ of the people, working at all times in the service of the people.”

I humbly ask that you please print this letter in your regarded newspaper.

Here we have yet another case of the UDP Government and their Belize City Council in way over their heads, with no way out. A story first reported on television suggests that instead of dealing with streets that would be ‘beneficial’ to fix (i.e. convince the voters they’re not complete dolts incapable of simply giving City resident basic goods and services), these nincompoops show their true ‘freaky’ colors.

How, you ask? Well, they (in the face of Roger ‘El Suavecito the 2nd’ Espejo, and Hon. Anthony ‘Boots’ ‘Loud n’ Crazy’ Martinez) decided that instead of paving Castle Street, described vividly in the news as among the worst streets in the City in terms of driving and vehicular passage, they would instead pave…Seashore Drive, an area of affluent (and well-connected) taxpayers, and no less than the

neighborhood where the Prime Minister himself and his family members live.

To make matters worse, both El Suavecito II and the Minister Loudmouth have the cojones to suggest that the area is a ‘thoroughfare’ that houses traffic from off the Northern Highway?!! Have y’all gone completely nuts, sipping on some red Fanta we don’t know about?!! Even if that was true, the people deserve to have the streets that were in need done first, with more affluent streets being done thereafter (even though Seashore Drive actually will cost more than most of the Southside-based streets).

Ladies and gentlemen, certain polls suggest that the UDP may narrowly win the Municipal or General Elections. But these bastards ought to be really worried about that 32%, and I’m one of them. Let’s vote for a responsible, honest and hard-working government.

Sincerely, The Young Citizen

Fay Castillo McKay PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR

Doreth Bevans

LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

MARKETING/ADVERTISING

Rafael Sosa

STAFF REPORTER

Alton Humes TYPIST

Rachel Arana OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd.

#3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Tel: 671-8385 Email: belizetimesad@yahoo.com editortimes@yahoo.com

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Senseless stabbing in Ladyville Continued from page 1

them, and walked towards his boss’ vehicle, they retaliated by attacking him and stabbing him.

The family was alerted by Cowo’s boss who ran into the house to say that the young man was being brutally attacked by two men. By the time the family reacted, the men had already ended their assault and hurriedly rode off.

Cowo was left on the ground, bleeding profusely. He died before he could be taken to the hospital for treatment.

The family believes the attackers were just idly looking to cause trouble, since a lot of young people in their community have very little positive things to engage in.

Police have so far detained a 21 year old for questioning, but no one has been charged yet.

No Watchdog at CitCo Continued from page 1 the Mayor couldn’t account for over a quarter of a million dollars. Tillett said that between January and March, $274,667.46 was used without a proper record of what it was used for. That amount was broken down as follows: $52,493.59 in January, $86,534.61 in February and a whopping $101,948.81 in March.

The Mayor claimed the money could not be accounted for because it had been under-deposited. She was later arrested and charged, but the case fell apart and she was later freed.

With all the scandals and deeplyentrenched suspicions of financial waste, abuse and wrongdoing at City Hall, removing the watchdog seems counterproductive, especially with this UDP bunch. There was no announcement of Tillett’s placement on leave, and no indication if the leave precedes his termination. Since he was placed by the Prime Minister, only the PM can tell, but he is out of the country.

Perhaps the UDP wants to save itself some embarrassment, as it nears the 2012 municipal elections, for Tillett’s installation meant it had regressed the Council’s autonomy. The UDP had promised to increase the Council’s autonomy, but it has done exactly the opposite, placing a tight leash over the Council and its affairs.

The UDP has made the Council so dependent on Central Government that it has been unable to pave a single street without the Ministry of Works’ funding. This is terrible evidence of mismanagement, as the Council which collects up to $17m annually, cannot find resources for even its most basic responsibilities throughout the city.

The UDP Council has less than seven weeks left in office. Until then, who is watching the cheese at the Council?

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Was it Insider Trading?

Belize City, January 17, 2012 Questions regarding the suspected insider trading at Social Security which may have led to employees of SSB benefitting from Government’s mortgage write-off programme are mounting, while answers are not forthcoming.

While SSB’s Chief Executive Officer Merlene Bailey-Martinez and Internal Auditor Denise Mahler continue on suspension, for still unofficial reasons, a private external auditor, Pannell Kerr Foster, has begun its investigations into SSB. Their aim will be to assess whether the CEO or any SSB employee wilfully attempted to benefit from the initiative, after gaining knowledge of the initiative.

Despite the ongoing investigation, on Friday January 13th the Barrow Administration introduced and passed the $17m loan writeoff motion. The list of 781 approved

Bailey-Martinez is still under suspension for alleged insidertrading names was made available to all members of the House of Representatives and a copy obtained by the BELIZE TIMES reveals information that will raise more eyebrows.

First of all, CEO Bailey Martinez appears on the list – even the one ap-

Lois Young-Barrow must explain why SSB has been used by PM Barrow like a political piñata

proved by the House of Representatives and later the Senate – despite the investigations. The document shows that Bailey-Martinez had obtained an $80,000 loan which was disbursed on August 24 2011. This was six days Continued on page 26

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Not Hollywood, but Barrowood To some extent Dean Barrow cannot help himself for the theatrics at each and every House Meeting. He is a seasoned politician with the scars to show. More importantly, Barrow sees himself as some “Master of the Games” and now that the elections are almost here, he has had to step up his game by a notch by directing what is his ‘Barrowood’ movie, with himself starring as an Al Capone Prime Minister who robs the tax payers to finance his political campaign.

At the House, Opposition Leader Francis Fonseca has had to make the best of the PUP’s 6 seats. While he gets one shot at debating the UDP, Barrow gets first, second and third readings. And, with a House Speaker too deep in the UDP family to play it by the rules, the Al Capone Prime Minister gets to speak whenever he wants. The parting shot, in other words, will always be Barrow’s last words and he makes every effort to glitter, to pontificate, to call names and persecute. The problem, then, is how does the PUP get past this disadvantage or more importantly get past wily Dean Oliver Hollywood and his minions.

The PUP Leader’s address of the mortgage write-off programme in last Friday’s in the House of meeting was on point, highlighting that it was the PUP who made it possible for Belizeans to get their homes in the first place.

In the words of the Opposition, the PUP did all the heavy-lifting work, while the UDP cherry-picks on their efforts.

Hon. Fonseca questioned Barrow’s motives in trying to do in one day (especially just days before the elections) what should have been done four years ago, when the UDP took office. The important question asked was how is it that of the over 700 loans, 60% of them were non-performing. The answer lies in the UDP’s failure to stimulate the economy and their refusal to increase salaries while the cost of living increased. This is a terrible indictment on the Barrow Administration. In many ways, Barrow’s election gimmicks are proof that he has failed as Prime Minister but is now trying to trick the people of Belize.

But to Barrow, there is reason to celebrate. This rich millionaire attorney who ‘made it’ by protecting special interests, including Michael Ashcroft, now feels he has remade himself into some Robin Hood. Some have become infatuated with his pseudo character, but to many, including us, his efforts are always secretly cloaked with some hidden agenda to benefit the interests of a select few. We see this amongst the UDP family, friends and lawyers who have gathered around the public’s trough as the Prime Minister has made it available for the taking.

Just look at the money collected by ex-wife Lois Young-Barrow, who gets preference to defend the Government in cases that should be taken up by the attorney General and Solicitor General. Now she is joined by brother, Denys Barrow. Look at who got to sit as Board Chairman of Belize Electricity Limited, none other than law partner Rodwell Williams. Who got to sit as Chairperson at Social Security Board, but ex-wife Lois Young-Barrow. She also sits on the Board of Belize Telemedia Limited.

But what has Barrow done for you? Where is your 7 million tax write off? Where is the promised reduction in the price of basic goods? Where if your employment, or salary increase? Has your life improved under the UDP? Said Musa must have burst Barrow’s piñata by explaining to the people that when Barrow gives in one hand, he grabs away more with the other, pointing to NHI roll out that was taken away, payments to the senior citizens through the non-contributory pension scheme that taken away, the 32 million rebate owed to us by BEL that taken away, the lowered water rates that he jacked up, the 25% increase in GST, the increases on fuel prices, and the payment to gang members instead of more scholarships.

Barrow wants Belizeans to forget the four years of pain and suffering, to forget the stress of being jobless, the pain mothers and loved ones have felt for over 400 murders, the mess at KHMH, the monthly mounting bills, his failure to grow the economy and his failure to understand that no one man can run this country. Now he is singing and dancing for your vote but where is the plan to change things around? Barrow has never presented a credible economic plan in four years of being in office.

Enough of the pretending and theatrics. It only reminds us that not all that glitters is gold. The drama behind Barrowood is not for Belize. The time for change is now. The People’s United Party is committed to change and change we must. Come election time, change is coming – PUP change to serve the people must come.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

GOB’s mass citizenship,

rapid registration under fire!

Continued from page 1

while immediately after, the new Belizeans are ushered to the Elections offices for processing of their voter identification cards.

There are no official estimates of how many persons have been given citizenship since the process started two weeks ago, but unofficial numbers put it at nearing 2,000.

The processing of citizenship, during weekends, and literally even late at night, is being carried out according to the Director of Immigration Ruth Meighan at the order of her political boss, the Prime Minister. But the process has come under scrutiny. Members of the Opposition PUP today said it was illegal and an outright abuse of the system.

Former PUP Leader and Orange Walk Central Area Representative Hon. John Briceño pointed out that in the past eleven days, there were 543 new registrations in the Orange Walk

UDP Area Representative Elvin Penner’s Government vehicle parked outside Immigration office in Belmopan around 11:00pm Wednesday District. The majority, 190, were done in his constituency.

Hon. Briceño pointed out that the political manipulation of the system is so obvious that the persons filling out their naturalisation papers gathered outside the business location of Jaime Burns, one of the UDP operatives in Orange Walk. Along with the UDP candidate in Orange Walk Central, the

persons fill out their forms and the citizenship is processed.

Hon. Briceño said many who got their citizenship told him they were offered bribes by the UDP, to register and vote UDP. Additionally, many did not have to submit the required documents such as a blood test and police record.

“This is an issue of illegal wide-

UDP caught meddling with Voter’s List

Continued from page 1

PUP Mayoral Candidate Karen Bodden continues to inspire city residents to believe that better is possible.

At the UWI Debate held on Tuesday, Bodden proved she has the understanding, vision and capacity to rescue Belize from the grips of UDP disaster

UDPs paying fee for “new” citizenship Belize City, Wednesday, January 19, 2012 The blatant political naturalization and registration exercise that is currently taking place, misusing public funds to pay public officers overtime and buy their lunch as they work round the clock processing “new” Belizeans at the hands of this dictatorship has Continued on page 26

Elvin Penner

Boundaries Commission, including former UDP Candidate Alberto August as Chairman, no wonder rampant abuse of the system is going on.

There are reports that Elections offices have been opening late hours of the night, even past 11:00pm, to facilitate new registration of persons. Moreover, the mass voter registrations of immigrants who are obtaining citizenship are also worrying. This is totally unprecedented.

Now, there is more grave evidence of collusion between Election officials and UDP Government agents that undermines the integrity of the elections system. A photo obtained by the BELIZE TIMES shows a UDP town council candidate inside the Elections Office in San Pedro, meddling with what looks like the voters list! Yes, the plot to steal the elections may very well be that blatant.

Elections and Boundaries officials are the only ones allowed to have access to the database. This is so because accessing the database means accessing the list of voters. If in the wrong hands it means voters’ names could be added, deleted of transferred from one area to another. This is why a photo showing UDP Candidate Severo Guerrero Jr. tampering with the Elections & Boundaries computer is very alarming, and must be explained by officials of the San Pedro Elections and Boundaries Department.

Why is UDP Councilor candidate Severo Guerrero Jr. at the helm of the Voters’ Database with notebook and pen in hand? How is it that the authorized person to handle the files allowed access to them to a Councilor candidate? Will she keep her job or will legal charges be laid upon both alleged culprits?

San Pedro Voters must also ask themselves: is this the kind of candidate you want in your Council? Is this the kind of candidate that you will vote for and allow to run your town? If he gets there by underhanded means, imagine what he’ll be capable of when in power.

Sunday, January 22, 2012 spread citizenship. We are calling on the NGO community to join us in calling the Prime Minister to desist these acts,” said Hon. Briceño.

The rapid voter registration has also backfired on the UDP in Orange Walk. On numerous cases, Elections officials have discovered that persons used false addresses which is improper and provides grounds for disqualification. Hon. Briceño said that while the Prime Minister has publicly endorsed fraudulent registration, he won’t stand for it.

The questionable citizenship and voter registration is also taking part in all other parts of the country. In the Belize Rural Central constituency, the UDP’s candidate Michael Hutchinson was busy over the weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Lines of immigrants gathered in front of his political office near Marage Road to process their documents.

The irregularity in this case was even more blatant as an immigration officer was assisting the processing at the office of the political candidate.

“Immigration officers are being coerced,” remarked Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, PUP Belize Rural Central Standard Bearer.

Balderamos-Garcia added that while the applicants got their police record swiftly [a process that lasts weeks for some Belizeans, and which requires a thorough background check for immigrants], they paid for their blood test but were not required to actually take the test. They only obtained a receipt of payment which they used as part of the requirements.

“What we are seeing is mass naturalisation, coercing public officers, abusing the process in private homes, all in a blatant effort by the UDP to pad the voter’s list and hijack the elections. This is absolutely unprecedented and cannot be accepted,” stated Balderamos-Garcia.

The disputed mass citizenship also took place in the Corozal and Cayo Districts. Corozal South East representative Hon. Florencio Marin said 170 new registrations were entered into his area. As the elected representative, he issued a letter asking for permission to scrutinise the new voters, but the Elections office denied him that right and said they were too busy preparing for the upcoming municipal elections.

“Why are they subverting the democratic process?” asked Hon. Marin.

The PUP’s Cayo West standard bearer Oscar Sabido said the act of giving citizenship is not being disputed instead what is being called into question is the flawed process.

“It must be done within the parameters of the law,” he said.

Answering the criticism that the PUP had done the same prior to the 2008 elections, Hon. Briceño submitted that while the PUP did process new citizenship, it did so in a coordinated manner throughout its term and it did so in a public setting where even the media was invited. The UDP has not even allowed the media at any of their adhoc swearing in ceremonies.

Balderamos Garcia added that the PUP has accepted that using citizenship to gain political mileage is wrong and it will propose as part of its reform agenda a cut-off period the process. This should complement the already announced plan to fix the date of election and reduce the term to four years.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Confessed Shoplifter admits to burglary in Court BELIZE CITY, Wed. Jan. 18, 2012

By Roy Davis Last week Steve Codd, 45, a laborer of 126 Partridge Street, pleaded guilty to theft for shoplifting at Save-U Supermarket. He was fined $2,000.

On Monday, January 16 Codd was back in court charged this time with burglary.

Codd wanted to plead guilty to the charge but #5 Court Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart did not accept his guilty plea because he said he was pleading guilty because the police were harassing him. Consequently, she entered an equivocal plea of not guilty.

She offered Codd a bail of $4,000 and adjourned his case until February

Housewife charged for Burglary and Damage to Property BELIZE CITY, Wed. Jan. 18, 2012

By Roy Davis Glenda Neal, 58, a house wife of Fresh Water Pond, Burrell Boom, was charged with burglary and Damage to Property when she appeared in the #3 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, January 16.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Sherigne Rodriguez offered her a bail of $600 which she met.

Her case was adjourned until March 20.

The incident occurred on Sunday, January 15 at Fresh Pond.

Delmont Black, the step-son of John Wade, 47, the owner of the house that was burglarized, reported to the police that he was at home alone when he heard a knock on the front door.

Black said he went and opened the door but he did not see anyone.

Black told police that when he looked by the window he saw Neal removing some broken glass from the window.

Glenda Neal Neal then pushed her hand through the window, and Black said when Neal saw him, she withdrew her hand from the window and she told him not to tell anyone.

The damage to property was for 4 glass louvers and one screen window.

The glass louvers have a value of $25 each. The screen window is valued at $50.

Belize City Council bike stolen!!!

BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, January 11th, 2011

By Alton Humes In a week that has already seen the Belize City Council and the leadership of current Mayor Zenaida Moya severely questioned, they will certainly not need this report on their hands.

Belize City Police are currently investigating a report made by a male Senior Supervisor of the Council that a motorbike used for the business of CitCo and entrusted to his care, was stolen from in

front of his residence somewhere in the heart of Belize City and sometime between the hours of 10:45 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 8th, 2012.

The motorbike in question, a Cryton® Yamaha brand® motorcycle with the License Plate #: MC1650, is valued at BZC$3,000.00.

It’s not much of a report, and all it really does is raise questions where there are already questions. Investigations continue at this time, and Police are currently looking for suspects.

21. Codd was unable to meet bail so he was remanded into custody at Belize Central prison.

The burglary occurred on January 13 at McKoy Fast food, located on Central American Boulevard.

Brandon McKoy, the owner of the fast food shop, reported to the police that his business place was burglarized and the items that were stolen

Steve Codd included a Sharp brand stereo with 2 speakers and a white blender.

The items amounted to $650 in value. They were not recovered.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

The UDP tore down a resident’s fence with little regard for respect

Cruel & Chancey UDP Council tears down family’s fence – refuses to compensate Belize City, January 17, 2012 Less than two months before this wasteful and impotent City Council’s term of office comes to a close, it will go down in the books with one other title – that of “chancey”. Just last week as the Ministry of Works was doing last minute electioneering work on choice Belize City streets for the City Council in a bid to win votes, it tore down a fence of one of the families on Apple Star Street, off Coney Drive.

While the family does not dispute that the fence was constructed years ago and perhaps stood slightly beyond the perimeter of the other fences, it is the manner in which it was handled that has angered them.

Councilor Roger Espejo, who approved the fence’s destruction, claimed that the fence stood nine to ten feet out on the street. When the structure was demolished, and a drain dug, it exposed the family’s yard. The way in which it was done was demoralising and insensitive. A notice was given, sort of matter-of-factly, and then the next morning a bulldozer came and rammed it down, crushing not only the concrete and chain link enclosure, but also the security that it provided for the family over the years.

The family feels insulted by the action because Espejo was on the air-

waves right after the incident with totally false statements. He has said that the Council will replace the fence. That is yet to happen.

The family is concerned too that other fences which are beyond the boundary were not touched. Why was only one family’s fence torn down? Did Espejo turn a blind eye to the others for a particular reason?

As to the street fixing, while residents are relieved that they will have smooth pavement to drive on, they know its temporary because the street is merely being resurfaced and not properly constructed. Also, they are aware that it is all because of the coming elections, and they refuse to be hoodwinked by Espejo or the non-performing UDP City Council.

With a Mayor who is always traveling out of the country, a Deputy who doesn’t know anything more than to give a good shave and trim, a sanitation duo who continue to insult the men and women who clean up the streets by threatening their jobs and cancelling sanitation contracts, a non-existent Councilor for parks and playgrounds, and zero accomplishment for the Councilor responsible for streets and infrastructure, who would want to put back another set like them?

Their time at City Hall is just about over.

Man Fined $850 for Handling Stolen Goods BELIZE CITY, Wed. Jan. 18, 2012

By Roy Davis Glenford Vernon, 22, an unemployed of 29 Cran Street charged with burglary and handling stolen goods, pleaded guilty to both charges when he appeared in the #5 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, January 16.

The charge of burglary was withdrawn by the prosecution because he pled guilty to handling stolen goods.

When asked by Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart if he had anything to say before she passed sentence, Vernon said that he has no previous conviction.

Magistrate Stuart took that into consideration and she imposed a fine instead of a custodial sentence. She fined Vernon $850 and gave him until February 16 to pay. If he defaults on payment he will serve 9 months.

The burglary occurred between 11 p.m. and 12:40 p.m. on Thursday January 12.

The complainant, Frank Muhammedali, 51, a Tour guide of 4 Antelope Street, reported to the police that his house

Glenford Vernon was burglarized and several items were stolen. The stolen items included one DVD player, Zenith brand; 10 bars of Irish Spring soap, 15 Amorall, 1 quart brake fluid, one pack of Hanes boxers and one green kit bag. The items amounted to $617 in value.

The police reported that shortly after the burglary they recovered some items from Vernon.

Muhammedali was shown the items when he went to Queen Street Police Station and he identified them as his property.

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BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Westlake blasts Rural All Stars 2-1 in football cup

Belize City, Sunday, January 15, 2012 Westlake upset the Belize Rural All Stars 2-1 at the MCC Garden on Sunday.

Devon and Andres Makin spearheaded the Westlake offensive with the help of midfielders Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton, Jarret Davis, Lorenzo “Lencho” Diaz and Michael “Soup” Hernandez.

Torrential rains Saturday night had turned the garden into a slippery swamp. All Stars’ goalie Elias Hercules found out that much to his embarrassment when Devon Makin slipped in the first goal of the ball game.

Minutes later Hercules was tested again and could not handle the missile from Andres Makin which gave Westlake a 2-0 lead.

Westlake’s defenders did their best, but could not stop All Stars’ Jerome Madrill from drilling a shot past goalie Stanley Jordan to reduce the lead to 2-1 at the half.

Goleadores: Devon Makin (Westlake) Andres Makin (Westlake) Stephen Baiza (All Stars)

FC Belize

ties 2-2 against Kraal Road

Belize City, Sunday, January 15, 2012 In the other match of the Belize Bank Christmas Football Cup continued, the FC Belize drew 2-1 with the 2010 Superleague champs Kraal Road City Boys in the nightcap.

FC Belize Jerome “Jaro” James and Wayne Moody led FC Belize’s at-

In the 2nd half, Westlake’s technical director Tyrone “Tbone” Muschamp had introduced Albert “Ally” Thurton to relieve Caceres and Travis Eiley for Devon Makin. The All Stars’ Marvin Jones and Delroy Jones replaced Kevin Pelayo and Thedran Reid, but before long Muschamp himself entered the ball game for Jarret Davis, and Stephen Baiza replaced Michael “Soup” Hernandez to secure the 2-1 win at the long whistle.

tacks, testing goalie Byron Linares with 4 shots on goal. But Linares could not come up with a save when Jerome James blasted in a shot to finish a cross to center. But the central referee overturned the first goal by annulling it as off-side, and it was till a nil-zip ball game at the half.

James returned and finally drew first blood for FC Belize early in the 2nd half. But the lead only lasted a while as FC Belize’s goalie Elroy Rowley found the ball too slippery to hold when Delroy “Thinman” Andrews blasted the ball to tie the score 1-1.

FC Belize technical director Anthony “Willie Beau Bernard introduced Clinton “Pin” Jorgenson and Jerome Archer for Moody and Jael Ottley in the 2nd half. Jorgenson soon forced Linares to come up with a save, and Linares continued to live dangerously as David Ramos’ cannonball shot on the rebound crashed into the crossbar. Jerome James choked in his attempt to finish the play, but Thomas Castro made no such mistake as he booted a rebound Continued on page 11

BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Kitkat Babba shop wins softball matches

Belize City, Friday, January 13, 2012 The Kitkat Babba Shop softballers posted back to back wins in the Belize City interoffice softball competition which continued at the home of softball at the Rogers Stadium last Wednesday and Friday nights.

The Kitkat hitters outlasted Belize Telemedia 15-14 on Wednesday. Kevin Siroki, Leonard Linares, Bryan Grant and Joseph Other match: Alvarez gave Kitkat a 4-0 lead when they Ministry of Education vs. came home in the 1st inning, and Kitkat Police 11-3 extended the lead to 7-0 when Siroki, Linares and Belisle came home in the second inning.

But the Telemedia hitters soon tied the score when pitcher Bernard Pitts, Kimni Williams, Francis usher, Lupito Acosta, Omar Gordon, Ryan Rivero and Tamara Ramsey all came home in the top of the 3rd inning, only to see Kitkat regain the lead 9-7 when Siroki and Bryan Grant came home in the bottom of the 3rd.

Joseph Alvarez made it 10-7 when he scored in the 4th inning, but Telemedia recovered slightly to trail 9-10 when Grodion and Ramsey came home again in the top of the 5th inning. Linares, Belisle and Grant extended the Kitkat lead to 13-9 in the bottom of the 6th, but Telemedia forced the game into an 8th inning tie-breaker when Pitts, Williams, Acosta and Omar Alpuche came home to tie the score 13-13.

The Telemedia hitters finally took the lead 14-13 when Ramsey scored in the top of the 8th, but Kitkat secured the win when Belisle and Grant came home in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Kitkat posted another 14-7 win by mercy rule over their sister squad Babbashop Kitkat, leading 5-0 when Caryl Meighan, Woodye, Linares, Grant and Tommy Shaw came home in the 1st inning and they extended their lead to 8-0 when Meighan, Linares and Shaw rounded the bases again in the 2nd inning.

They led 9-0 after Grant scored again in the 4th.

Babba shop finally got on the scoreboard when Jason Jenkins scored their first run in the 4th inning, and Mark Ramsey, Adelita Gillett, Jenkins, Gilbert Gillett, Sherston O’brien and Luigi Saldivar scored 6 more runs in the 5th inning, but they were still down 7-9, when Meighan, Woodye, Linares, Grant and Joseph Alvarez scored 5 more runs in the 5th for the 14-7 win.

Congrats Sagitun Starz!!

The Sagitun Sagitun Starz is the Champion of the Independence Village Council 6 a side tournament. Iris Centeno is the MVP and Kelsy Polanco was awarded for Most Goals Scored

FC Belize ties 2-2 against Kraal Road Continued from page 10 into the net to lead 2-1.

The top goleador of the first round of World Cup Brazil 2014 qualifiers, Dion Macauley finally equalized the scored for Kraal Road 2-2, and the struggle continued as the rain began to fall until the final whistle sounded to a 2-2 draw.

Goleadores: Jerome “Jarro” James (FC Belize) Delroy “Thinman” Andrews (Kraal Road) Thomas Castro (FC Belize) Dion Macauley (Kraal Road)

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012

New Chief Justice opens legal year of Supreme Court Guyanese-born top judicial authority seeks and pledges reforms, solutions BELIZE CITY, Monday, January 16th, 2012

By Alton Humes With the usual pomp and circumstance befitting the ‘new start’ of a legal calendar year, His Lordship the Chief Justice of Belize Honorable Kenneth Benjamin presided over the opening of the legal year A.D. 2012.

After a lengthy but well-placed church service at the Wesley Methodist Church and a procession to the Supreme Court on Regent Street, His Lordship, a new appointment to the bench from Guyana (and replacing Sierra Leone-born Dr. Abdulai Conteh, who retired after his tenure on the Court), was the first to inspect the Police Guard of Honor, and after all the flourishes were complete, retired to his chambers for the formal opening.

His Lordship’s speech to the assembled attorneys, Magistrates, diplomats and senior government officials and in the presence of the media was not tenuous, but rather hopefully somber in its goals. He spoke of a ‘changing of the guard’ that came after his appointment (when he replaced Honorable Justice Samuel Awich, who served

Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin inspects officers during Monday’s ceremony

as Acting Chief Justice after Hon. Dr. Conteh), and thanked the Honorable Justice for facilitating a ‘smooth transition’ of power.

But that was the only spot of good news in a sea of less-than-positive news from the highest court in our land. The Chief Justice mentioned the ‘constraining influence’ the government’s allotted finances (about 1.08% of the total budget) have had on the overall meting of justice in Belize. And while there have been new appointments to the staff

(particularly in the Court’s Registry) as well as training for magistrates in Jamaica and the United Kingdom, conditions in the Northern courts were deemed ‘untenable’, and the overall volume of backlogged cases accrued by Magistrates and Justices alike continued to be roundly put to task. “It is not an option [by the legal community] to proceed as if it’s business as usual…” he uttered forcefully.

As for matters pertaining to judicial exercise, His Lordship advocated for the

possibility of recruiting students from the University of Belize to, after being trained in mediating civil cases, as well as a re-constituted Rules Review Committee to look after Magistrate and Justice’s conducts and case management, a Bench-Bar Committee that will be activated to improve, note and work on concerns between the attorneys (civil and government) and the Bench, while still citing continuous judicial education as a necessity to improve the current system.

After the Chief Justice spoke, the President of Bar Association of Belize, Mrs. Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Marshalleck, spoke briefly before the court and addressed the ‘challenging’ times she and her colleagues faced last year, noting a system which is “not broken… [but] under stress” and in need of serious and sincere reforms going forward.

“2012 must be about quality,” she noted, and called upon her brothers and sisters in the legal profession to ‘capitalize on the groundwork’ laid down in 2011. After another brief speech by the Attorney General of Belize, Hon. Bernard Q. Pitts, a modest reception followed at the Supreme Court.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

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THE BELIZE TIMES

“We will never forget you, Father of the Nation” Tribute to George Price by PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca Holy Redeemer Parish, January 15th, 2012 “His Lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Mathew chapter 25 verse 23.

We gather this Sunday morning, January 15th, 2012 at Holy Redeemer Parish, the spiritual home of George Price.

We meet on what would have been Mr. Price’s 93rd Birthday to honor his memory and legacy in prayer and worship.

The father of our Nation, our great leader, was called home to enter into the joy of the Lord on September 19th, 2011. After a long life of service and sacrifice to his nation and people, the Lord saw that he had grown weary, that this good and faithful servant had completed his work in this life.

A grateful nation mourned with heavy hearts. We understood our loss, but could we ever come to accept it.

After all, his guiding hand had led us from colonial post to sovereign independent nation. His strength, wisdom and humility led us from oppression and exploitation to a National Belizean identity.

He held our nation’s hand as we learned to walk and talk.

He lifted our nation on his shoulders as we learned to think and work.

He cradled our nation in his chest as we learned to care and love.

And he embraced us in his gentle yet powerful arms as we learned to Believe in Belize.

We will never forget you, Father of the Nation.

You are in our hearts, in our thoughts, and in our actions.

We must continue your work of Nation building.

We remain true soldiers in the peaceful, constructive, Belizean revolution.

Like you, we must be guided by the psalmist and call out to our God: “Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; on you I wait all the days.”

We are comforted in our faith that you stand watch over us in the heavens.

There is much work to be done.

We will not fail you!

We will seek to honor your life and work with our lives and works.

We will seek to love and serve Belize as you loved and served Belize.

We are not worthy to walk in your path, but we seek God’s guidance and blessing on our journey.

May you, Father of the Nation, find eternal rest and peace with your Lord and Saviour.

Happy Birthday George Price!

PUP officials visit Rt. Hon. George Price’s grave-site on January 15, 2012

PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca (right) & PUP Belize Rural Central Standard Bearer Dolores Balderamos-Garcia (left) lay wreath at gravesite of Rt. Hon. George Price

PUP Standard Bearers & Belize City Council candidates join PUP Leader Hon. Francis to pay their respect to the Father of the Nation

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Dangriga PUP 7 READY!!!

PUP Launches Dangriga

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Tale of two small countries Obvious reason for vast economic disparity between Cayman and Belize

By Richard W. Rahn - The Washington Times SANPEDRO, Belize Cayman is rich, and Belize is poor.

Why? Both are small Caribbean countries with the same climate and roughly the same mixed racial heritage, and both were English-speaking British colonies. Belize (the former British Honduras) received its independence in 1981, while Cayman is still not fully independent but is self-governing at the local level, with its own currency, laws and regulations.

Belize should be richer: It has a larger population than Cayman (345,000 as contrasted with Cayman’s 54,000). Belize has a much larger and more varied land area with many more natural resources, including gas and oil, and some rich agricultural land that Cayman lacks. Both have nice beaches, but Belize has the second-largest barrier reef in the world after Australia and also has Mayan ruins. Yet Cayman, with fewer points of interests, has done more to attract tourists.

Back in the early 1970s, Cayman was as poor on a per capita basis as is Belize today. Both countries had ambitions to be tourist and financial centers. Cayman succeeded and has about six times the real per capita income of Belize. What did Cayman do right and Belize do wrong?

Perhaps most important is that Cayman had and maintained a competent and honest judicial system, which gave foreign investors confidence that their property would be protected.

Cayman also has a very low crime rate. Tourists and other visitors walk around freely day or night in Cayman without fear. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many parts of Belize, where crime is often a problem.

In addition, many judges in Belize are poorly trained, incompetent and, in some cases, corrupt. These issues cause foreign investors to consider higher-risk factors for projects in Belize as contrasted with Cayman.

Belize has a more investor-friendly tax system than the United States, but Cayman has no corporate or individual income taxes on noncitizens and citizens alike - advantage Cayman. The problem for Belize is that it is competing with the likes of Cayman, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands, but not the United States. Also, the regulatory environment in Cayman is largely free of corruption, which is not true in Belize.

The latest Index of Economic Freedom ranks Belize as the 77th most economically free country in the world (out of 179). If Cayman were large enough to be ranked, it almost certainly would be in the top 10. There is a very high correlation between economic freedom and per capita income. Any country can decide to become more free. Belize ranks a miserable 93 out of 183 countries ranked by the World Bank’s DoingBusiness project.

It is obvious why Cayman is rich and Belize is poor, and it comes down to one word: governance. If Belize would clean up its courts, fully protect property rights and adopt the

best economic practices of its competitors, it could quickly become rich.

For instance, it takes an average of 44 days to get all of the required permits to open a new business. In some

countries, such as Estonia, Singapore and even the Commonwealth of Virginia in the U.S., the required paperwork to open a business can be done online. Thus, days have been reduced

Sunday, January 22, 2012

to just a few hours.

There is no reason any country has to remain poor. Countries are not poor because of climate, lack of natural resources or race. Countries as locationally varied as Singapore, Mauritius, Korea, Chile, Estonia and Cayman have become relatively rich over the past few decades. Those countries that are still relatively poor are poor because they have not put in place the necessary institutions, political structures and policies.

The United States and a number of other wealthy nations are becoming less free and thus, not surprisingly, are growing more slowly.

Belize could become rich and the U.S. and Cayman could become poor.

It all depends on whether the political entities elect wise and courageous leaders.

Richard W. Rahn is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

15,000lbs of Belize’s Sugar busted in Guatemala Why are there no ‘checks-and-balances’ with Belizean sugar?

BELIZE CITY, Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

By Alton Humes We’ve been dealing with the ultimate insult to our national patrimony…a huge, unexplained domestic shortage of our sweetest export item: sugar. Sure, it may not sound like that big of a deal, but it is, and has been so for quite some time.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

village-town of San Benito).

But even if the sugar is somehow returned to Belizean officials, why is sugar being smuggled out of Belize, even after the highest possible intervention – a Cabinet subcommittee?

There are no explanations at this time, and the gang of dolts in the management of BSI, represented by

The deal was made even much worse, with evidence that while locally sugar gets scarce, it’s abundant across the border with Guatemala, even if through contraband.

A Guatemalan man was caught with Belizean white sugar, in Guatemala no less, and by their own Civil Police Service. 22-year-old Sarceño Victor Manuel Osorio was driving a truck

Fuel Prices Increase Again!

Last increase was January 1st

Belize City, January 18, 2012 If Belizeans were expecting relief from the high cost of living in the New Year, ‘nuttin noh go soh’. With the cost of fuel already high, for Belizeans, the news that the prices were going up once again felt like pushing a knife deeper into an already painful wound.

At midnight on Tuesday, January 17th, prices jolted past $11.00.

Premium gasoline went up by 32 cents, and now costs $11.22 a gallon. Regular gas jumped by 27 cents, and now costs $10.82. Diesel fuel saw the largest increase, as it went up by 45 cents and now stands at $10.49.

The increase in prices is the second in about two weeks. The last increase in prices was January 1st.

Guatemalan officials confiscate Belizeanproduced sugar found in Guatemala

which contained in its pan just about 140 sacks of smuggled white sugar from Belize, each sack weighing 112 pounds (roughly 15,680 pounds in total) this past Saturday, January 14th. Making matters worse, young Osorio had no ‘export policy’ papers to prove his activity was legitimate, nor an invoice that vouches from where he got the stuff, thereby leading to it being called contraband.

Osorio was arrested and later taken to court in Guatemala. Based on the initial investigations that were conducted, the Guatemalan authorities strongly guessed (if the info on the sacks wasn’t enough) that it came from Belize, and more specifically, San Ignacio in the Cayo District, with the intention to distribute/sell to families in both Belize (via Santa Elena) and Guatemala (via the

their Marketing Manager Damien Goff, will only speak of how ‘commendable’ the arrest was, the sugar’s market value (roughly BZC$6,200, but potentially profitable up to BZC$3,000 if sold in Guatemala), and their wanting to take this ‘seriously’.

Fine and good, but what about the fact that since the shortage (which led to the policy change requiring industrial consumers who receive sugar to report to and be audited by the Sugar Industry Control Board, not fully foolproof as a check-and-balance method) there’s been no estimate of how much sugar from those said “consumers” may well have been illegally contrabanded to Guatemala and elsewhere?

It seems that there are much more questions than answers, and the BELIZE TIMES pledges to keep following this story.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Z-7 Saga

…and all the UDP City Hall backstabbing Belize City, January 17, 2012 Never before in the history of any Belize City Council has there been so much infighting, backstabbing, stealing and under-the-table dealing as under the UDP Belize City Council. How Belizeans have been able to stomach the nasty, public fights remains a mystery, but there could be no better feeling than knowing it all comes to an end soon, on March 7, 2012.

One of those episodes worth revisiting, for the level of political ‘upstartness’ and more so for its still unexplainable ending, was when the rise of one of the least liked Councillors was treated like blasphemy by seven of the most influential Councillors.

Councillor Phillip Willoughby has had more than his fair share of controversy.

Aside from losing public support for always ‘nosey-ing’ into others’ businesses and for his bungled record as Councillor in charge of markets or sanitation, Willoughby apparently made serious enemies within his political circle. That much was obvious when his rise to Deputy Mayor was challenged, criticised and even cursed by seven of his Councillors.

Willoughby was selected during a meeting of six Councillors (including himself) and the Mayor on February 16 2010, but soon after, the four Councillors who did not attend the meeting initiated a vicious campaign against the Mayor, liking her to a dictator.

“All the conflicts that have come about have come about because of non-adherence to the law. It has come about because of the council finding out about agreements being made, contracts being signed, and recommendations being made of the Liquor License Board and the Trade License Board without the input and knowledge of the council. These have been systematic actions of the Mayor... all the conflicts have resulted out of some sort of activity that took place outside of the knowledge of the council which is outside of the letter of the law,” said Councillor Laura Esquivel-Frampton.

Flanked by Councillors Roger Espejo, Dion Leslie, Eric Chang, Andrew Faber (deceased), Kevin Singh and Leila Peyrefitte, Esquivel-Frampton went on the explain that the Mayor had been managing the Council like her private fiefdom and was making “unilateral decisions and by intimidation of staff members as well as some councillors”.

But what none of the UDP Councillors explained was why they chose to remain serving in such a tyrannical Council, and under the leadership of a tyrant. In fact, those same Councillors had already

Dion Leslie

Zenaida Moya

Phillip Willoughby Roger Espejo

Laura Esquivel

Leila Peyrefitte

Kevin Singh

for $707,000 and not even take this council for us to vote on if and how we will pay it. Also he went ahead and it is noted in here that we will pay the sum of $1.9 million. Now this hasn’t even come to council for us to decide upon and for we to agree. This didn’t come to council,” fired off Mayor Moya.

Our checks show that Leslie never proved the allegation wrong. Neither did Moya pursue to have him expelled for his actions. The UDP did quite a lot of backstabbing during their time, but they also covered each other’s backs from wrong doing, keeping things secret from the public to avoid more embarrassment.

The name-calling and accusations slinging fizzled, and so did the responsibilities and work of the Council as the City slipped deeper into garbage and abject disarray.

The UDP City Council era will be known as the worst period for Belize City. Long before economic recession hit the country, Belize City has fallen

served a term under Moya (2006-2009) and offered their candidacy once more under her leadership in 2009. Believe it or not, a majority of those very same Councillors are offering themselves once more.

We don’t have to call them hypocrites. Mayor Moya did. She blasted Esquivel-Frampton calling her an absentee Councillor who missed 19 of the 29 Council meetings held up to that period and even exposed former Deputy Mayor Dion Leslie and his involvement in funny business.

Moya accused Leslie of making deals with an unknown company without the Council’s approval.

“I have a letter here for October 8th 2009 whereby with a particular company, with just a stroke of a pen, the then acting Mayor Dion Leslie, signed off just like that, without even taking it to council, to make payment

THE WORLD IS READING

THE BELIZE TIMES www.belizetimes.bz

Eric Chang

Dean Samuels

into depression thanks to UDP mismanagement and incompetence. It is a long stretch from the “gold standard” UDP Leader and Prime Minister said they would be. But what can we expect when even his leadership of the country leaves much to be desired.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Driving the Next Revolution

One Belize-Prosperous, United and Free

By Carolyn Trench-Sandiford – Deputy Leader People’s United Party - Belize

A revolution is a journey that we embrace and embark on. It is not a destination and therefore has no end. To undertake that journey, one must travel along a path, and the vehicle in which we are to travel, must be so designed and constructed for the purpose of carrying the revolution along that path.

However, that path may or may not have been travelled before, and the terrain or space upon or through which the vehicle must traverse, may be smooth and uncluttered, or bumpy and punctuated with obstacles, and may appear insurmountable and daunting. It may also exist or must be conceptualized and constructed.

Consequently, equally important to the revolution is the driver of that vehicle, as the journey requires plotting a road map, and recalibrations along the way, which may lead to lengthening or collapsing the time, reassessing and reevaluating the achievements and the vehicle, and at times the relevance of the revolution, and learning lessons from the journey itself.

While the party is the vehicle of the revolution, the National Executive is akin to the driver, but it is the Party Leader that holds the wheels as the vehicle travels along the journey. The Party Chairman is obligated to hold the compass that anchors the journey in the philosophical and ideological moorings of the party, so that the vision, policies and direction of the Party Leader are in harmony with the Party’s mandate as enshrined in our constitution.

In 2012, Belize is confronted with unprecedented challenges. This demands that the Party equip and position itself to rescue the Belizean economy and the 43% Belizeans that are in poverty, the 24 % that are unemployed, the 30000 children that are out of school, but perhaps more importantly, to restore our territorial integrity, national sovereignty and to forge our unique Belizean identity.

The Party also a duty to give each Belizean the opportunity to unleash their full potential, to unlock the wealth untold, to harmonize national development goals and aspirations with that of local communities and individuals, to eliminate political corruption and to provide for succession planning and the long term interest of both the country and the party.

I therefore forward a new profile for the driver of the vehicle of the revolution, the National Executive. It is one that is truly inclusive and national in scope, but facilitates decision making at the local level; one that provides for perpetuating the principles and values upon which our party is founded, but gives the Party Leader the window for visionary and results oriented leadership; and one that incorporates sustainability, regeneration and flexibility to respond to traditional, contemporary and emerging issues and concerns.

[1] Party Leader The Party Leader shall be elected by all active members of the party through regional caucus primaries. The delegates of the caucuses shall be the voice of the membership at the National Convention to affirm their decision.

[2] Party Chairman Procedure of the Party Leader shall similarly apply to the Party Chairman.

[3] Regional Deputy Party Leaders There shall be Four Regional Deputy Party Leaders elected by the members of their respective caucuses and who shall be responsible for leading regional management teams to execute the decisions of the National Executive at the regional level.

[4] Regional Deputy Party Chairpersons There shall be Four Regional Deputy Party Chairmen elected by the members of their respective caucuses and who shall be responsible for coordinating the day to day operations of the party at the regional level.

[5] Posts to be appointed by the Party Leader: A National Communications and Advocacy Director A National Policy Director A National Campaign and Mobilization Director A National Finance and Fundraising Director The Party Leader shall appoint persons to these four posts, and such appointments shall be subject only to a negative resolution of the National Convention.

[6] National Education, Reform and Recruitment Director The National Education, Reform and Recruitment Director shall be appointed by the Party Chairman after consultation with the Party Leader, and such appointment shall be subject only to a negative resolution at the National Convention.

[7] Chairman – Honours, Awards and Discipline Committee A Chairman of the Honours, Awards and Discipline Committee shall be elected by the members of the Committee who are representatives of the regional caucuses. This Committee shall comprise the Order of the Distinguished Services and the Marshalls Community Service Corps and any oth-

er Order that may be approved by the National Convention.

[8] President - Youths for Belize Movement A President of the Youths for Belize Movement shall be elected by the youth members designated by the youth groups of the regional caucuses.

[9] President – Women for Belize Movement A President of the Women for Belize Movement shall be elected by the women members designated by the women’s group of the regional caucuses.

[10] Legal Advisor A Legal Advisor shall be nominated by the Party Chairman after consultation with the Party Leader, and such appointment shall be subject only to a negative resolution of the National Convention.

[11] Treasurer A Treasurer shall be nominated by the Party Chairman after consultation with the Honours, Awards and Discipline Committee, and such appointment shall be subject only to a negative

19 resolution of the National Convention.

[12] Former Party Leaders It may very well be that this change may be considered as challenging the ideas and concepts expounded by the architects of the first revolution. But I believe they themselves understood that as times and circumstances change, innovativeness, boldness, courage and vision is required, for only so can the revolution continue.

A National Executive of 2012 must be driven by a sense of urgency and a purpose, anchored by a belief and a determination that we exist to serve the people. It must inspire trust and confidence, and perform so that the people can derive hope and pride in our party and Belizean identity.

Along the journey, we want the people of Belize, like Buju Banton in his classic song, to say, ‘Driva..don’t stop at all’. Only so will the vehicle reach the milestones of the Next Revolution, and only so will we create One Belize-Prosperous, United and Free.

For comments email: ctrenchsandiford@yahoo.com

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid pretty well for themselves but have totally ignored the people’s business.

Now with absolutely no record to run on and after four years of oppression, pain and sorrow, our fat cats are running around dishing out goodies to the electorate. Will it work? Will Belizeans really fall for this chicanery? Will ‘a little turkey here and a little ham there’ erase the four years of misery and neglect that we have suffered under this crowd? Seems that even the UDP or many years now, we have have their doubts as they are busy putbeen hearing of how intelli- ting in place another insurance policy. gent the Belizean voters have Their standard bearers from across the become. We no longer fall for country have been busy rounding up the okey doke and politicians any immigrant without proper status cannot just pull the wool over our eyes and granting them citizenship in order like they used to. Well if there ever to make them eligible to vote. was a test of how true this is it will be If one listens to the morning call-in these upcoming elections. show on any given day, it will be obThe United Democratic Party was vious that this one is not going over swept into office on a wave of prom- well with the Belizean people. Given ises and high hopes. With a super ma- the fact that the majority of those jority of 25 to 6 they had the opportuni- being naturalized are Guatemalans ty to make some meaningful changes is sounding a loud alarm among our and reforms. The UDP people. What the UDP also inherited an econis doing is illegal and omy that was in pretty unconstitutional and good shape, a booming should be challenge in tourism industry, a newly What the UDP a court of law. We are established oil industry, ourselves to is doing is il- exposing not to mention a supera very dangerous situlegal and un- ation all around. These bond that gave them several years of leverage constitutional people are not being from debt repayment. To properly vetted for hear them tell it, it has and should be criminal background or been the reason for their challenge in for health risk. Many every failure. Those who might be ex Guatemaa court of law. lan military personnel really know, know better.

This government We are expos- that still carry a torch has held up the super their country’s ing ourselves for bond as some albatross cause. What we have to a very around its neck when in here is an invasion by reality, it gave them much immigration and we dangerous wiggle room and time to are making it as easy situation all create ways of dealing as possible for them. with the debt on a longer around. These Then there is the term. Had the UDP been sham write-off for more frugal and efficient, people are not social security loans, they could have had Bemost of which were being proplize in a much better poto beerly vetted for non-performing sition to deal with the gin with. The Prime current economic crisis criminal back- Minister tells us that facing the world. Instead ground or for these people will have of looking out for the more money to put health risk. country’s interest howinto the economy. If ever, they got busy lining the loans were not beMany might their pockets and looking ing paid to start with, be ex Guate- what money will be out for personal interest.

Super ministers like Patput where?

Obvimalan milirick Faber, Boots Martiously, the few loans tary personnel that were performing nez, Michael Finnegan that still carry belonged mostly to and John Saldivar have all grown filthy rich with people that could very a torch for money that could have well afford to be paymuch better gone to their country’s ing these mortgages; improving education, case in point, the very cause.” fixing streets, improvwell off Merlene Baiing housing conditions, ley-Martinez, CEO of developing sports and the very Social Securiyes, paying off our debt. Instead, they ty Board. Word is that upon learning have accumulated more, much more. of the plan to write off mortgages for BTL and BEL is yet to be paid off and under fifty thousand, Martinez went the cost will be astronomical. Instead, to a bank, secured a loan for twenty those hypocritical parasites have done thousand which she paid down on

F

her sixty-nine thousand loan which was just enough to bring it under the fifty thousand dollars ceiling. She also advised many of her senior staff to do the same and thereby making them eligible for the scheme. If this is not criminal then it is blatantly unethical. These high salaried individuals can well afford to pay their mortgages.

Another of the Prime Minister’s plums was an announcement that he and PUC had decided to lower electricity rates by a few pennies per kilowatt. Again, this is little more than a cheap election gimmick. How many remember how low gasoline prices went just before the last Municipal Elections. Do we also remember how quickly it shot back up just short-

Sunday, January 22, 2012

ly after the UDP secured their victory?

Folks, let us not allow ourselves to be continually duped by these unscrupulous and uncaring politicians.

Will we forever settle for four years of incompetence and non-performance and then just be suckered by three months of handouts and cosmetic camouflage “cover benjamins”.

Belizeans, these politicians can discredit and disrespect our intelligence and continue to try and play us for fools. We have the opportunity on Election Day to prove them wrong however, and show them who the real suckers are in this game. Fool us once, its shame on them but fool us every time, well…shame, shame, shame on all rest of us. Wake up Belize, it is getting late!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

SOBER Reflections SOBER By: Mike Rudon Jr.

Apathy or Ambush?

I

haven’t put pen to paper or finger to keyboard, as the case may be, for many months and for many reasons. Uninvited and unsolicited, I decided to do so now, after many months, for many reasons. I thought about prefacing my re-entry by waxing philosophical, or by spouting poetry or hey, at least by quoting a famous philosopher or two. But yeah…I’m back! So, moving on…

I’ve been sitting relatively silent on the sidelines watching and listening to my old pal Dean Oliver feed Belizeans an unsavoury mix of road apples and chocolate covered bullshit. I’ve been concerned, to say the least, because we all seem to be lapping up everything on the plate set before us and snuffling up the crumbs. I mean, I understand that we’re a laidback people traditionally slow to respond, but I never figured us for a people who would bend over for Dean Oliver’s political shaft sans Vaseline, grimace through the pain and then bend over again gamely saying – oh thank you Sir, can I have another, please?

There’s an age old philosophy that we men claim as our own but which in fact our women perfected long before us. It’s all about doing things in broad daylight and in the public eye – right out front and in your face. Like taking the sweetheart for a spin down Albert Street and waving gaily at all passersby!

I…ahm, I mean a friend of mine does this regularly and gets away with it. Seriously, nobody takes a second look. And those that take a second look dismiss it, figuring nobody would be that brazen. Seriously it works. For a time I wondered if that was the case with all of us… if maybe Dean was raping and pillaging us so brazenly and boldly that even while feeling the pain we just

couldn’t believe what was happening to us so didn’t accept it.

I mean, seriously, Dean Oliver’s transgressions are as long, sordid and impressive as my love life. Just recently the fellow took millions of our tax dollars to buy hams for UDP supporters to try and ensure their votes in upcoming elections. He took OUR money and gave it ONLY to UDP representatives to hand out to their people. Are you understanding the words you are reading? He took my money to give to the UDP. He took your money to give to the UDP. You didn’t have a choice in the matter. No PUP supporter got a cent. No PUP elected representative got a cent to hand out. By my way of thinking Dean Oliver should have been arrested and charged for stealing the people’s money because that is what he did. There was a murmur of discord and Dean Oliver got up and said – yup, that is just what I did. I took your taxpayer dollars and gave it to my UDP representatives to buy a ham for THEIR people.

And we all quieted down and said…oh, okay!

Then how about these hundreds of hurry-up naturalizations! I got nothing against the hard working immigrants who have made Belize their home and now are being offered citizenship. I do have something against the way it is being done. The UDP is taking hundreds of immigrants and is using its power in government to push them through a process unethically and in many cases illegally. It is not being done out of love for the immigrants, or recognition of the work many of them have done in our country. For the UDP it is solely about buying votes no matter what…and threatening those ‘new’ Belizeans with a reversal of their fortune if they do not vote RED. This isn’t being done under cover of night. It isn’t being done behind closed doors. The UDP is busing in these immigrants by the hundreds in broad daylight.

The UDP is using its power to force public officers at the Immigration Department to bend to their whims. It is a travesty and some people should go to jail. But because it is being done so brazenly, so boldly without apology or even explanation, we all look on quietly…oh okay!

But then I saw the results of a poll conducted by a convicted brief-

thief turned UDP campaign manager turned pollster. I realized that maybe I’ve been underestimating and misunderstanding the Belizean people. You see, there is apathy, and then there is ambush.

Maybe my people have just been lying in wait, patient and prepared like the 300 Spartans (one of my favourite movies by the way) before jumping out from behind the cliffs and beating the UDP to political death…gruesome imagery, isn’t it.

The fact is that many, many Belizeans are fed up of Dean Oliver and the UDP. As it is now, the

21 bald head does not lie easily on its pillow at night. According to the poll, conducted by a rabid UDP supporter, I might add, more than half of Belizeans are dissatisfied with the UDP. That’s a damning condemnation of Dean O’s leadership after his ascension to glory just 4 short years ago.

Apathy or ambush! Only time will tell, but my money is riding on the Belizean people…I am betting everything I have and everything I am on the conviction that whenever Dean Oliver calls elections – WHENEVER – the people will have something for him. Trust me!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Make-Up

tips

Write to us at: editortimes@yahoo.com

Makeup

application is easy and just takes time and practice. Identifying your best and not-so-good features of your face is the ideal knowledge needed in successful makeup application.

Makeup’s purpose is to enhance, conceal or correct. But sometimes we do need assistance in finding our most beautiful features and highlighting them. Let’s start off with a beautiful, flawless foundation routine with just four easy steps:

1:

Start by using a gel primer or even a facial moisturizer, and apply to a clean face. Primers provide a smooth surface on which to apply makeup, and it can also help to keep your makeup in place, which is especially important during humid summer months or long days at the office.

2:

Next, Conceal: Concealers do exactly what they are made to do: conceal! Apply concealer using a wedge sponge or your clean fingertips on the areas of the face that needs to be evened out such as dark, under-eye circles; acne scars, blemishes, even that shadow moustache just above the upper lip. Blend well.

3:

Now, apply your favorite foundation with a foundation brush or a cosmetic sponge, starting from the middle of your face outward towards your hairline. Make sure to blend evenly.

4:

Finally, set your foundation by using a powder and a powder brush or puff and apply evenly, all over your face. Setting your foundation helps it to last throughout the day. This also absorbs excess oil, reduces shine and prevents the foundation from creasing.

Following these four easy steps is the key to flawless looking skin with your foundation. Reduce touch-up time and get the most from your foundation. Always put your best face forward.

The Road to Success

By Lucia Moguel

S

ince I have been working arduously, I do not have much time for the outside world. It was on Thursday that I realized that I have not been missing out on anything and that I should be grateful for not being able to see anything.

I embarked on a hasty expedition to Chetumal this past Thursday to run a few errands and I must state that the trip through Belize’s highway had various discouraging views. I was appalled to see students walking on the side of the highway, if we can call that a highway, where vehicles are travelling at high velocities. The lives of these children are endangered even though no causalities have occurred of recent. At first sight, they seem to carelessly roam the sides of the road without any fear as if they were prancing through a flower meadow. The truth is that there are no sidewalks for students to walk on safely. Thus, we cannot classify them are careless. We desperately need sidewalks for people to walk on in order to avoid fatalities; not only do we need them on highways but also in our Towns and Villages where people run equal risks of perishing in a car accident.

I still recall the adrenaline rushing through my veins as I drove past the students. It almost seems as if it is possible for the car to caress one of these children’s limbs.

Furthermore, the craters on the streets are in desperate need of repair. It is quite a hassle to be evading potholes every time we travel even if it is from your house to the local supermarket.

I am uncertain if I was lucky or disgraced to observe certain repairs being done to the streets here in Orange Walk Town. Certain people deliberately believe that covering a hole with a little gravel is enough to diminish the natural course of erosion.

The best solution would be to demolish these streets and to reconstruct. We are spending our hard earned money on taxes for others to use it to cover holes which will return to their original state in just a few weeks. Why don’t they put our money to good use? If they are going to spend millions covering holes why doesn’t the government add a bit more to properly pave the streets?

Once we have obtained properly paved streets complemented by instrumental sidewalks, the following step is to remove street vendors. Slowly but surely, these vendors have plagued our streets, sidewalks and parks. It is already difficult to find a usable sidewalk, now imagine walking down the lane, on the sidewalk of course, and you encounter one of these individuals with all his/her items on display right on top of the sidewalk. You have to get off the sidewalk, dodge a car and then get right back on the sidewalk. A proper locale should be built for vendors to display their items for sale.

Who knows; maybe one day we will experience the freedom to walk and transit around Town without having to go through a jungle. (Email comments to luciamoguel@gmail.com)

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

PAGE ‘The Belize Show’ touches down at the Image Factory BELIZE CITY, Monday, January 16th, 2012

By Alton Humes The Image Factory was the place to be for art lovers and enthusiasts of all things cultural this past Friday, January 13th, when artist Hubert Neal Jr. (with the assistance of co-curator Gilvano Swasey) launched his art exhibit ‘the belize show’ at the central North Front Street locale.

Even if you’re not an art lover, you’d still be able to appreciate some of the unusual and brilliant ways this Belizean-born, internationally trained artist-master works, using pop culture and modern history in a kaleidoscope of imagery guaranteed to astound most (but we repeat again, you’d have to appreciate it first).

Well before the formal opening of the event, I sought an opportunity to ‘pick the mind’ of this young, creative force, and see essentially what makes him tick artistically. Even from the age of 2 years old, he knew when and where he wanted to go as an artist and ‘maker’, despite being as young as he was (and not fully able to voice his creative needs), he never let his youth get in his way creatively.

And the exhibit – comprising 20 ‘stand-alone’ pieces, 38 collected photos (taken in Jamaica and elsewhere, shown in a ‘PowerPoint’-styled presentation, and a ‘bad-assed’ mural taking the viewer back to the artist’s beginnings – shows his growth.

Whether it was the ‘portrait’ of the Muppets ‘monsters’ with a meme of lyrics from the Kanye West single ‘Monster’ overhead, or a portrait of the late great Michael Joseph Jackson with the lyrics from his other single “All of the Lights”, or even the stunning portraits of world leaders ranging from Haile Selassie I to Fidel Castro, it all spoke to this reporter, and certainly to the many guests who attended the opening.

In all, the event could simply be summed up in this sentiment by the artist himself: “If people look at my work, and are able to change their thinking, then it’s a success…” If I could glean a small recommendation from that, then it would be to get yourselves over to the Image Factory (without excuse, delay or monetary constraints) and simply marvel at this stunning art collection. The exhibit ends in a month or so, so don’t be left out.

Exhibit curator Gilvano Swasey gives art enthusiasts a brief tour

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THE BELIZE TIMES BELIZETIMES EXCLUSIVE

Living with

AUTISM Contributed by Yadira Williams

Immune Protein Linked to Abnormal Brain Development; May Provide Clues to Schizophrenia and Autism ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2010) — UCLA scientists have discovered that exposing fetal neurons to higher than normal levels of a common immune protein leads to abnormal brain development in mice.

Published Oct. 14 in the online Journal of Neuroimmunology, the finding may provide new insights into factors contributing to human neurological disorders like schizophrenia and autism.

The researchers studied a protein called major histocompatibility complex, or MHC. The protein plays a dual role in the body: It helps the immune system to identify infected cells, and it enables neurons to make the right connections with each other in the brain.

“When neurons sense infection or damage to the brain, they produce more MHC,” said Daniel Kaufman, professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “We wanted to explore whether higher levels of MHC affect how the brain develops.”

Kaufman and his colleagues studied the development of mice whose neurons were genetically engineered to produce more MHC than normal.

Focusing on two key regions of the brain, the researchers looked at neurons that process vision and neurons involved in learning and memory. Next, the team compared these cells with their counterparts in normal mice.

What the scientists saw confirmed their hunch.

Chris Williams Jr. is one of so many children born with autism in Belize.

There is little or no support from the government for Special Needs children in this country.

“The mice whose neurons produced extra MHC showed subtle changes in the connections between those neurons and other neurons in both brain regions,” Kaufman said.

The UCLA finding could be of relevance in unraveling the origins of schizophrenia and autism, he noted.

“Infections in pregnant women have been associated with slightly higher risks for schizophrenia and autism in their children,” he said. “Subtle changes in brain development due to excess MHC may explain this relationship.”

Kaufman noted that female mice that contract infections during pregnancy also often give birth to offspring with behavioral abnormalities similar to autism and schizophrenia.

“We suspect that infection stimulates the mother’s immune system to produce molecules that act like distress signals -- they circulate through her blood and then enter the developing brain of the fetus,” he said. “There, they alert neurons to make more MHC, which our study shows can lead to altered neuronal circuitry.”

“This finding gives us greater insight into the role that MHC plays in the nervous system and may enhance our understanding of the factors that can contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders like autism and schizophrenia,” Kaufman said.

The study was supported by funding from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Oceana puts fishing trawler to better use BELIZE CITY, Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

By Alton Humes By now, we’ve all heard of Oceana in Belize, and their ceaseless campaign to prevent and stop further threats to the marine patrimony of Belize, whatever it takes, and at any and all costs.

That level of dedication was in undeniable evidence today, as Oceana in Belize (OiB) handed over formal control of a fishing trawler to the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI).

For the contract price of BZC$1.00, the vessel, the “Northern One”, was handed over to the CZMAI via the signing of documents in quadruplicate format and facilitated with the help of Young’s Law Firm.

The former shrimping vessel (measured 21.94-by-6.70-by-3.04 yards and built in 1983 by a shipyard in the U.S. state of Alabama) was owned by the Northern Fisherman’s Co-operative branch, and operated out of the port of Big Creek in the South of the country. But through a complex series of negotiations, the Co-operative agreed to cede control to Oceana in Belize, who then in turn facilitated negotiations for proposals as to how the vessel would be re-used.

The Director of the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, Mr. Vincent Gillett (flanked by his CEO and ‘name-

Was it Insider Trading?

Continued from page 4

before the Prime Minister’s cut-off date for the initiative.

Was Bailey-Martinez aware of the initiative? And did she attempt to use her inside knowledge to benefit from the write-off.

Mahler, SSB’s Internal Auditor, is not on the list, making the reason for her suspension very obscure.

A further perusal shows that several persons on the list are employees or ex-employees of SSB. Were any of them tipped off about the initiative? If yes, by whom?

Another interesting aspect are the almost dozens of recent loans obtained. Almost 30 of the loans were obtained between 2009 and 2011.

A major point of contention is that several beneficiaries on the list have class A loans, which are those considered to be payable and performing. Some persons are considered in the middle class bracket, but are benefitting from the loan writeoff.

Meanwhile, SSB continues to reduce the number of senior citizens who benefit from the noncontributory pension scheme. Up to date, 1,570 persons of age have been struck off the list for pensions on the basis that they cannot be sustained.

Northern 1 will go from marine exploiter to marine explorer

Oceana in Belize President, Audrey Matura Shepherd (second in row, L-R) flanked by Director of the CZMAI, Mr. Vincent Gillett and CEO Colin Gillett

sake’ Mr. Colin Gillett), said that owning such a vessel was “something [the organization has] long dreamed about” and that the vessel would be

useful as a research tool for both students currently studying marine biology and those younger students who are interested in studying marine biol-

ogy.

In the meantime, the “Northern One” will be re-fitted and upgraded to meet the required conditions for a research vessel, and its sister ship ‘Northern Two’ is currently being sought to be taken over by the Conscious Youth Development Programme (CYDP), although negotiations between Oceana in Belize and the Government are ongoing at present, and it is currently unknown what the organization will use the vessel for.

Unlawful Carnal Knowledge

case in the South

BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, January 11th, 2011

By Alton Humes Yet another reported case of carnal knowledge has surfaced in the southern part of our country.

A 14-year old female, in the presence of her mother, reported to Police in the Stann Creek area that last week Thursday, January 5th, 2012, she was over at a friend’s home, and was ‘in the company’ of an 18-year-old male student, presumably from a nearby high school or college and the brother of her friend. However, when she went with him to his bedroom,

she was almost immediately forced into having both regular and anal sexual intercourse with him against her will.

Police have not currently released the name of the male suspect in custody,

Molested Child Now Victim of Delayed Justice BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

By Alton Humes It was, barring the over 120 senseless murders reported last year, the

UDPs paying fee for “new” citizenship Continued from page 6

reached new levels in this country.

Never in the history of independent Belize, or before, has anything been so shamefully obvious than under this UDP regime.

Everyone knows that election time brings with it its own naturalisation and voter registration processes, but the allegations that have been spreading like wildfire since the process started a few weeks ago is nothing like in the past.

We keep hearing about the late-night processing of paper work under the excuse of a “backlog” and the weekend rush at certain UDP area representative’s offices. This past Sunday alone, at Michael Hutchinson’s behest, in Ladyville, hundreds of immigrants lined up in the heavy downpour to get their nationality papers. That is nothing new under the UDP. It is happening all over, in the smallest of corners -- this bunch simply rounding up immigrants like cattle going off to slaughter. It happened two weeks ago in Orange Walk Central, Orange Walk East and Corozal South East

but he has been charged with 1 count each of ‘Unlawful Carnal Knowledge’ and ‘Unnatural Crime’.

Investigations into this matter continue at this time.

as well, when political interference caused the voters’ lists in these areas to see an almost automatic lengthy addendum.

But perhaps the most shocking and shameful of all these actions, using the personnel at the Immigration Department to shift into overmode at times to deal with the vast numbers of applicants, urged of course by the UDP standard bearers and area representatives, is the admittance of one such standard bearer publicly that he is footing half of the naturalization fees for 1,000 of the persons who will vote in his area. Elvin Penner, without shame, admitted to television reporters today, after he was seen actively assisting the immigrants, that he is paying $150 for each of those persons to become Belizeans. Penner even admitted that he is currently in a debt of $15,000 as a result of the election gimmick, and that he has no clue how he will cover the expense.

most sensational reported crime. The vicious, heartless molestation of a 4-year-old female preschooler in September of 2011 sent grief straight to the heart of a family, and made shockwaves throughout the nation.

But there is a spot of ‘good news’ (and there’s serious sarcasm in that phrase), and it concerns the fact one Hector Usher could likely be charged this week for suspectedly carrying out heinous, uncouth act, albeit not with ‘Carnal Knowledge’, but rather with ‘Aggravated Assault’.

But why the latter charge, you ask? Well, it boils down to yet another case of Police investigators bungling stuff up and being unable to get their facts down-pat. According to media reports, there are several facts that came to light during the investigation: first, the toddler wasn’t molested via intercourse, but rather, was ‘fondled’ or ‘touched’ her inappropriately; second, reportedly no sexually transmitted infection (STI) was found when she was examined by a doctor; and finally, and most insidious of all, the overly-hyped DNA test to determine whether sexual contact was made was not even necessary.

So, what happened? Who bungled this case, and why were the above facts not made public to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Cheryl-Lynn Vidal and her officers? To make matters much worse, the Office of the DPP only received the file on Monday of this week, and was able to find evidence given by the child that led to Mr. Usher being named the prime suspect.

There is no mistake, the above facts don’t in any way change what happened on that faithful September day, but now this news has been utterly compounded into and constitutes a gross delay and miscarriage of justice on the Police’s part, with the grief now multiplying infinitely for this family, and it may well get worse.

The BELIZE TIMES pledges to keep following this story.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Barrow goes M.I.A., disgraced Perdomo acts as PM Belize City, January 18, 2011 This is scary. For the next five days Belize’s maximum leader of government will BY DEFAULT be a failed Minister of Government whose disgraceful record of protecting Belize’s national security caused national embarrassment and forced his replacement as candidate in the upcoming elections.

Belizeans cannot sleep well at night knowing Carlos Perdomo is presently the acting Prime Minister of Belize. Perdomo has been the worst Minister of National Security Belize ever.

Under his watch, the nation’s security came under constant attack and the scandals over allegations of visa and passport sales were abound. Planes carrying drugs and trafficking humans landed on our national highways and our airport late at night. Suspect individuals carrying legit visas entered and passed through our country, with little security checks. In fact, even after Perdomo’s National Security portfolio was stripped, and he was given Defense and Immigration – the blunders continued. It was under his watch that the Belize Defense Force compound was breached and the highest security officers’ armoury was broken into. The result was that dozens of high-powered weapons were stolen. It is also under his watch that Belize’s borders are under constant attack, with absolutely no intervention from Government. Is this how the Barrow Administration rewards incompetence and shame?

While having the disgraced Minister as the maximum decision-maker is frightening, the reason behind it is worrying. The actual PM is on another 5-day hiatus. Actually, since November last year, Prime Minister Dean Barrow has been exiting the country every three weeks. Barrow left the country on Saturday once more to accompany his wife who is receiving chemotherapy as part of her breast cancer treatment in Miami.

Since coming to office, Barrow has been flown out of the country constantly. Our checks between 2009 and

Despite his disgraceful and shameful record as Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo gets to be Acting PM

2011 show he was away in February 2009, April 2009, June 2009, August 2009, November 2009, April 2010, June 2010, July 2010, August 2010, October 2010, January 2011, August 2011, September 2011 and October 2011, just to name a few instances.

Prime Minister Barrow’s approach to governance over the last four years has been about ‘que sera, sera’… ‘whatever will be, will be’. This is why the economy is now in shambles, the infrastructure all over the country has crumbled, crime has become deep-rooted and poverty has increased. Belizeans are not better off today – four years after under the UDP. Now, even after having abandoned the nation in times of great need, Barrow says he will continue to be Missing In Action. At his most recent press conference he announced that he will be leaving for a full week every month, to travel with his wife as she undergoes chemotherapy. It sounded a bit as if Barrow was calling it a quits, but we didn’t quite hear him say he was giving up his salary and perks. How can Barrow expect to run the country for three weeks every month? How will he deal with the severity of poverty eradication, crime fighting, job creation when he will be away a great deal of the time, when his administration has failed tremendously after four years? Can someone please explain this?

Lone firefighter versus big fire in Ladyville BELIZE CITY, Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

By Alton Humes On Sunday, 15th January, just around 2:25 p.m., a house owned by Carmelita Simplis and occupied by one Ms. Stella Reyes and her family (who were not at home at the time) and located at #76 Dove Street, was utterly destroyed by fire. The 20 ft.-by-20 ft. wooden structure was burned to ash and cinder, contents and all.

But not before a male firefighter (not identified by name at this time), the only one in the village, arrived in the community fire truck, and made

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THE BELIZE TIMES

a valiant attempt to battle the blaze.

He needed help from the villagers and passers-by who turned on the water, and helped to direct the fire hose, but he was merely one professional, against an inferno. The fire was eventually extinguished.

All the above begs the question: Since there was a passing-out ceremony less than a week ago, why haven’t the ‘newbies’ been posted as of recent?

The blaze was likely caused by electrical wiring ‘shorting out’ and then catching on fire, but that must be investigated by the Belize National Fire Service. Police and Fire Service investigations continue at this present time.

Humor in UDP Politics!

The following matters were discussed in Cabinet: Barrow was asked to explain his pro-poor schemes in one word. Members said they didn’t understand the long explanation about how it went from 17 million to 6 then to a paper swap. Barrow couldn’t believe it after he had spent 2 hours of explanation. Barrow was about to rail up, when Sedi intervened and said “I’ll help you Prime Minister…artificial”.

Cabinet asked for a second take on the Mayan calendar stone found hidden inside the Prime Minister’s room. They argued they could interpret the findings which spelled that the end of UDP is in 2012. When the result was tabled in an envelope it was passed around for someone to open–it read “End of UDP, end of Rosewood”. …………………………………….

In other related news Finnegan was reported to comment on the blackout last week in the House by asking Penner: is this how you expect to pay for cheaper rates? This caused Penner, who is a bit slow, to ask you mean by rolling black outs? …………………………………….

Melvin Hulse was reported to have been seeing a physiatrist for a strong buzz inside his head. When ask to describe the sound, he said it was a constant urge to say the word Flipping. …………………………………….

The Cabinet has agreed to start an initiative to locate Mayor Moya by giving a reward that she will give back her over paid salary. Some people have said they sighted the Mayor in Mexico, Australia, the UK but most embarrassing the majority reports have her over at the Housing Department explaining how under depositing really works. …………………………………….

As acting Prime Minister Perdomo had the office secretary call Santino and ask that he call back. But every time Santi called, he called him “Don P what’s up?”

After five calls on speaker phone Santi told his staff, “Perdomo wants me to call him Prime Minister but I won’t”. When asked why, Santi reported that it was Perdomo who got Cabinet to call him Suavecito! …………………………………….

It was reported to Cabinet that when SSB’s Merlene heard Lois accusing her of insider trading, she burst out laughing, saying how dare she when she was pillow talking all along. Even Barrow could not help but to burst into laughter on that one.

NOTICE Members of the PUP Northern Caucus and Marshalls Corps Northern Caucus are invited to a special meeting to be held on Sunday, January 22, 2012, at 2pm at the PUP Corozal Bay Executive Office on College Road

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, January 22, 2012