Belize Times July 12, 2015

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SCAN HERE

12 JUL

The Belize Times THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

12 JULY 2015 | ISSUE NO: 4953

Castro Must Go!

Pg. 6

Edmund Castro feared being further exposed by brave whistleblower Alvarine Burgess

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

Anthony Sabal: “Here for the Long Haul!!”

Dangriga Town, July 8, 2015 Anthony Sabal will continue to represent the People’s United Party as its Standard Bearer for Dangriga, Sarawee and Hope Creek and to fight for the residents of the communities.

Pg. 3

UDP Buy Election!!

Up Again!

FUEL

Catholic Bishop Calls for Repeal of Petro-Caribe Loans Act

Pg. 7

PRICES increase

The slew of tax payers fueled government rides landed in Dangriga for the buy-election

Pg. 4

Pg. 7

Promising

6 survive near-fatal accident on

Phillip Goldson

Highway

Pg. 6

Journalist Murdered

Kareem Clarke

Pg. 3

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OPINION

OUT

Paul Rodriguez Disappointed with the Belize Council of Churches

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Dear Editor, I’m sick and tired of politics in Belize. Today if you want a job, you have to see your area representative who of course must be a member of the ruling party. Nowa-days you can have a degree and it means nothing. It’s not what you have in education, but who you know to get you the job or even worse if you are a strong supporter of the ruling party and show your strong ties, you will get the job even if you are dumb or can’t function effectively. At first the Ministry of the Public Service used to advertise positions that are vacant and an interview is held and the most suitable candidate is chosen. Now, any dumb fool sent by a minister can obtain jobs. I have seen unfairness across the board in almost all government ministries and department.

The public service is not what it used to be. It is now a bogus ministry run by politicians. CEO McNab and the Minister for Public Service are wasting their time holding workshops to improve the public service when nothing is being done to implement changes. If they don’t like you, if they can’t gossip with you or if you don’t show political ties connected to them, you are being transferred over and over maybe to frustrate you. Some public officers are untouchable and you know why. I have seen junior public officers in high level positions and on high pay scales.

There are junior public officers holding over as CEO or Minister’s Secretary when there are more senior officers competent enough to perform those duties. I have seen a new post created for the CEO’s Secretary at the ministry of natural resources. She is a junior officer but the girl has strong political

10 Jul

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Dear Editor, I have noted with dismay that Senator Father Noel Leslie was instructed by the Belize Council of Churches to vote in favour of the Petro Caribe Act and its Amendments. Don’t Churchmen know that on matters of public morality it is immoral to require that your representative sworn by oath to act without fear or favour vote in support of what he considers to be illegal and immoral measures.

The Petro Caribe Act and its Amendments support the illegal and dishonest use of public funds.

No honest citizen should support the use of public funds borrowed to improve the economic conditions of the whole society where there ties. I have seen the secretary for the minister of national security (who used to sell panades) rise to a very high pay scale, above senior officers with much more experience and years of service.

The ministry of the public service is not living what it is preaching. Don’t tell public officers that they can’t stay at a ministry for too long when you have secretaries right within your ministry from King Hatchet was a hammer. I don’t even think the minister’s secretary has worked in other ministries before. I don’t know if she would function properly if she is transferred. When we go to public service for a job, we are pushed around yet they find jobs for their sons and daughters and campaigners. Their kids get high positions too. The government of the day finds it hard to help poor fami-

WEATHER 11 Jul

12 Jul

13 Jul

2015

PUP Resolution on the Unjust Guatemalan Claim to Belize Dangriga, July 4, 2015 RECALLING WITH PRIDE that since the inception of the People’s United Party, WE have, as a Party. always rejected in its totality, the unjust and unfounded claim of Guatemala to the land, maritime areas and insular waters of Belize; BEARING IN MIND that Peoples’ United Party has worked tirelessly to internationalize the just cause for Belize’s rights to sovereignty, self-determination and territorial and maritime integrity to the United Nations, the OAS, CARICOM and other international Organizations and the world in the decades

OUT

Too Much Politics in the Public Service

LOCAL

12 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

is no transparency and accountability.

I regret that no meeting was held by the Council of Churches to discuss how our Senator should vote.

I think it is time for Bishop Dorick Wright to re-consider whether our membership on the Council of Churches is indeed contributing to the Kingdom of God in Belize or assisting the process of conforming the Church to the world instead of the reverse.

Maybe its time for the Catholic and Evangelical Churches to form their own Council, after all together they form the vast majority of Christians in Belize- over 70%.

Signed: Paul Rodriguez Belize Council of Churches Member lies pay for their CXC exams yet they find money to fund scholarships for their cronies.

I am just sick and tired of politics in Belize. It is destroying us and causing dumbbells to be employed as ministers’ secretaries, ministers’ aid or CEOs. I don’t know what the Public Service Commission or Security Services Commission is doing as junior officers are by passing senior officers for promotion. Ministers just bring in their people, allow them to act in the post then get the idiots established and then the robot Public Service Ministry sends them an official letter of employment. How sad!

This is politics in Belize; a big animal farm where all the animals are not equal.

Thanks for printing.

Signed, Ameah K.

14 Jul

since 1964 ASSERTING that it was the fortitude, vision and guidance of our Party, under the bold leadership of the Rt. Honorable George Price who carried our nation to its date with independent destiny on September 21, 1981 without any fear of the unjust. unfounded Guatemalan Claim and that we took our due place in the family of Independent Nations on that historic day; BEARING IN MIND that Peoples’ United Party has, up until 2014, been represented and has participated in all dialogue, discussions and negotiations in which the Government of Belize has dealt with the unjust unfounded Guatemalan Claim; CONCERNED by the indecent manner in which the Special Agreement signed with Guatemala has since been unilaterally amended without proper consultation with the People of Belize by the current United Democratic Party administration, and that the GOB who agreed to the amendment to provide that referenda in Belize and Guatemala do not have to be held on the same day in both Countries – only did so at the request and for the convenience of Guatemala; OUTRAGED by the ongoing persistent, provocative and aggressive acts against Belizean Citizens in Belize and in Guatemala, and against our natural resources, archaeological and world heritage sites and protected areas, including the depredation of our land and marine reserves, floContinued on page 6

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

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ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

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serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

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

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By TIMES NEWSPAPER LTD. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

15 Jul

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Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.50

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.00

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

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

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.14

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.19

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 31.31

12 JUL

2015

Promising Journalist Murdered Belize City, July 6, 2015 The cold-blooded and senseless shooting murder of 27 year old Kareem Clarke, a reporter for the Amandala newspaper, has left the Belizean community and in particular the media fraternity very shaken.

Almost daily, the media has reported on shootings and violent murders, mostly from Belize City where the murder rate is sky high. But on Monday, the victim was one of its own.

Clarke was gunned down while riding his bicycle along Vernon Street, near the corner with Lakeview Street, around 1:00am on Monday morning.

He was heading home after visiting a female friend in the area when he was stalked by a gunman and shot at. He received two shots in the head and three times on his body. He fell from his bicycle and onto the cold cement pavement.

A Police surveillance post that should have been active and manned 24/7, situated about 300 feet away on Vernon Street, was abandoned on the night of the shooting. Police authorities have not explained why this was so, when there have been several shootings and murders in the area over the past three weeks.

Authorities have no leads on Clarke’s murder. They have described it as a senseless murder, as they grapple to find a motive.

Clarke leaves behind his grieving family. His mother, Julia Clarke, spoke proudly of her only son. His sister, Mel-

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THE BELIZE TIMES

onie Young, vouched for him as a good and responsible citizen, and a hardworking young man.

“Kareem didn’t do anybody anything. He was an intelligent student. He graduated with honors at Edward P. Yorke and he was very liked at every one of his working establishment. He worked at Fultec, he worked at Ready Call and at Amandala. And he loved his job, because late at night he used to stay up writing his stories in peace and quiet. The hours that he was up at night, we used to say that my brother wouldn’t make it to go to work the next day”, Clarke’s sister recalled.

The murder of the promising journalist was particularly tough for his friends and colleagues at Krem Radio and Amandala newspaper, where he was employed since July 2013. Krem’s Marisol Amaya took to the airwaves that day to report the news in a traumatized state. A press release from the Amandala newspaper stated Clarke’s murder “has left a vacuum that will be very hard to fill”.

“Kareem proved himself as an up-and-coming writer, creatively and comprehensively covering several lead stories for the Amandala. His by-line has appeared on major stories on the Penner Passport Scandal and the troubles of the cañeros in northern Belize, in addition to the usual beats of crime and politics from across the length and breadth of Belize. He penned last week’s headline story, “The Greatest Love of All,” in which he reported on the heroic sacrifice made by Myra Carbajal to save her children from falling victims in a freak traffic accident in San Ignacio,” said the release.

Funeral services for Clarke will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at St. Joseph Church on St. Joseph Street in Belize City.

Anthony Sabal: “Here for the Long Haul!!”

Continued from page 1 “I’m in this for the long haul,” Sabal told the media houses outside the Holy Ghost RC School in Dangriga Town at the end of vote counting in Wednesday’s by-election.

Sabal, in three short weeks of campaigning, was able to re-ignite a fighting spirit for the PUP in the by-election, and despite the UDP entire national election machinery piling up in Dangriga, he held his ground and battled on with committed supporters and the Party’s support.

Sabal attracted 1,526 votes to the UDP’s candidate 2,164. The UDP were on a strange high going into the by-election. They were over confident and predicted nothing less than a 2 to 1 or even 3 to 1 victory.

Anthony Sabal is a total newcomer to politics but the tremendous support he has received already in the campaign trail and on the day of by-election is because of the tremendous respect the people of Dangriga have for him.

While on the campaign, supporters told Sabal that while the UDP have the money for a buy election, they do not have the man to win an election. They appealed that Sabal keeps moving forward despite the by-election results, and that real change will come whenever the General Elections are called.

Sabal expressed gratitude for the support shown to him by his campaigners and supports, and revealed that he looks forward to working towards the general elections. That one will be “man to man”, he declared.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

12 JUL

2015

UN Office & International Groups Defend Maya rights

Up Again!

P.M. Dean Barrow should apologize to Maya people, say international groups

PRICES increase

Belize City, July 7, 2015 The Barrow Administration’s disrespectful and oppressive treatment of the Maya people of Santa Cruz Village, Toledo District, has been heavily criticised by the international community, including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, issued a strong-worded statement on today, Tuesday, July 7th, 2015, urging “the Government of Belize to ensure respect for the rights of the country’s Maya people to non-discrimination and traditional property”.

Tauli-Corpuz has been monitoring the Government of Belize’s actions against the Maya people, following the June 20th incident in Santa Cruz involving Rupert Myles. She noted that the Maya of Santa Cruz holds customary rights to its village lands which the government must respect and protect, as affirmed by a 2007 decision of the Supreme Court of Belize. She added that “under international human rights standards, indigenous peoples have the right to use, develop and also to control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership”.

Tauli-Corpuz said that actions by Rupert Myles in the village were “in violation of Maya customary law” and expressed concern that the Government refused to assist the Maya villagers “to protect their property rights in the face of threats to those rights”.

While the UN special office called for greater respect, the groups Cultural Survival, Rainforest Foundation, and First Peoples Worldwide called for affirmative action in a Joint Statement, which started off with a demand for a public apology by the Prime Minister “his harmful words against the Maya people”.

The international groups also called on the Government to drop the charges placed on the twelve Maya Belizeans from Santa Cruz, including the Chairman and Maya leader Cristina Coc, who were arrested in a pre-dawn raid carried out by the Government’s special paramilitary forces, the Gang

Belize City, July 8, 2015 There Fuel prices are up again.

As is becoming common practice, the new fuel prices took effect without any form of warning to the commuting public. The Government shows little regard to Belizean public. Commuters found out the “normal way”, by surprise, when they went to fill up at the fuel stations.

The new price for a gallon of Premium gas in Belize City is $10.17, up from $10.01. Regular gasoline is now $9.70 per gallon, up from $9.39. Diesel is $7.50.

We must remind Belizeans that lowering fuel prices was a political promise of the Barrow Administration. The Prime Minister, who said he would reduce the cost of living no matter what, had pledged to not allow fuel prices to pass the $8.00 per gallon mark. He also promised many other things, which like reduced cost of fuel, never came to fruition.

Not having held the Prime Minister accountable has only shown the UDP politicians that Belizeans can be lied to and deceived and nothing comes out of it.

Cristina Coc arrested in PG

Cristina Coc

FUEL

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.

6 survive near-fatal accident on

Phillip Goldson

Highway

Uxebnka Archeological Site

Suppression Unit.

This arrest, said the groups, is a “gross violation of their rights”.

They further cited the disrespectful treatment that followed in the court, which the bail initially set at $8,000 each, but following their attorney’s complaint, increased to $10,000 by the Magistrate.

The groups added that the Government is failing to recognise “the Maya people’s right to defend their sacred sites” which is backed by

the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Furthermore, said the groups, “the Maya leaders have the right to maintain their own systems of justice”.

The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that the two declarations by the international bodies are the first among others, following the Maya Leaders launching of an international appeal for support.

The Barrow Administration is yet to respond to any of the declarations.

San Joaquin Village, Corozal District, July 6, 2015 The scene of Sunday night’s traffic accident on mile 82, in the outskirts of San Joaquin Village, was gruesome. The grey-coloured Geo Tracker sat on the road side, badly damaged. Several of the passengers were carted into an ambulance, with various degrees of injuries, but the good news was that there was no fatality.

37 year old Lilian Judith Flores, the driver, reported to the Police that she was driving in the direction of her home village, San Jose Village, when she lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle swerved to the right and slammed into a cement electricity post, then landed downhill.

Flores and her five passengers, 43 year old Amir Gonzalez, 40 year old Juan Carillo, 18 year old Edison Chuc, 33 year old Teresa Suarez and 27 year old Gallardo Campos all remained inside the vehicle injured. Gallardo and Campos, were in a critical state, and were taken to the Northern Regional Hospital, while the others were taken to the Corozal Community Hospital for treatment.

12 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

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EDITORIAL

A Corrupt Government

T

he man who promised good governance is presiding over the most abusive and corrupt administration.

The Lands Department under his Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega is “a hotbed of corruption”. Bribery and kickbacks in that Ministry have become the new normal. But the Prime Minister does not hold his deputy accountable. He sees nothing wrong in allowing the brother of the same Deputy to monopolize the exploitation of the rosewood in the Toledo forest. He sees nothing wrong when the nephew of the said Deputy is given a fat contract by Government to pave the road to San Antonio and is fully paid even though no work was done on that road.

The Airport Authority funds are looted to provide Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s Minister of State Castro with thousands of dollars for his personal and political use. But the Prime Minister sees nothing wrong. It is, in his words only ‘distasteful’.

What the other Minister of State Elvin Penner did at the Immigration Department selling Belizean nationality and passports to foreign criminals who never one day set foot in Belize was, in the eyes of the Prime Minister, not a crime because “factual guilt is not the same thing as legal guilt!”

Barrow has also now even defended Castro’s admitted visa hustling, which was exposed by whistleblower Alvarine Burgess.

You can try that one Mr. Prime Minister when you have on your black gown in Supreme Court. But this kind of disingenuous legal sophistry will not wash in the court of public opinion.

It is seen for what is it – crass deception!

The rage and suffering of the Belizean people is boiling over.

The poor sanitation workers in their desperation protest in front of the City Council. They are locked down and abused in the most inhumane way.

Belizeans will not easily forget the harsh punishment abuse and neglect that this callous Barrow government is inflicting on them. Prime Minister Barrow seems to think that his government can wage a campaign of confrontation and victimization, hate and spite, and let others do the dirty work. He pretends not to know what is going on. But as soon as matters reach crisis level, he throws whomsoever has to be thrown under the bus while he lavishes the victims of UDP oppression with bogus care and concern. The Ministers and other minions who are carrying out the government’s hate-filled misguided policies, can be the scoundrels; the country can go to hell. But Barrow will protect his “personal legacy”. And what is this Barrow legacy?

Has he in his seven years as Prime Minister been able to reduce the number of children growing up in poverty? The number has in fact increased to over 43%.

Has he been able to improve the running of hospitals and

schools? The disastrous state of the health system, misappropriation of over $300,000 at the Southern Regional Hospital, massive irregularities and improprieties at the Central regional Matron Roberts Clinic and the killing of 13 babies in one month at the KHMH Neo-natal Unit is enough to indicate the crisis in health care.

The IDB report on education is an indictment of this UDP government’s failed policies. The large number of young people not attending a high school and the vast cohort of graduates who cannot get a job is enough indication that our education and labour market system is messed up.

The escalation of crime and violence in Belize is telling evidence that the Government is impotent in addressing the root causes of this horror unfolding before our eyes.

The litany of failed policies and broken promises is mounting. When he was sounding off about what a great nationalist he is, Barrow promised that with nationalization, he will bring down the light and telephone bills. Today Belize has one of the slowest and most expensive telecommunication systems in the entire region. And last year light bills went up by 17%. This year the PUC brought them down by 7%. And we are supposed to be grateful!

In fact since taking office in 2008, Barrow has presided over an anemic and stagnant economy with little or no growth, weak private sector investment, constant rise in food prices, cost of living, growing poverty, hard time and joblessness.

The national debt over the past 6 years of the borrow-andspend policy has increased by $600 million to a staggering $2.8 billion, the highest it has ever been. The credit rating agency, Moody’s, has warned about the nation’s unsustainable debt.

They have also warned that the compensation for the takeover of B.T.L. and B.E.L. are burdens Still Barrow boasts of having “millions and millions in the coffers” to spend. The people of Cayo North East and Cayo North are still waiting for the massive infrastructure works that the Prime Minister promised them in his vain-glorious attempt to win them over. You see, Mr. Barrow believes he can buy love with the Venezuelan millions he has been raking in from the Petro-Caribe/Alba funds.

The Government has received over $300 million from Venezuela under the agreement. This is all borrowed money, loans that have to be paid back without an idea how it will be paid back. But Barrow is on a spending spree, buying cement and recklessly spending on infrastructure with no concern about tomorrow when the bills start coming in. What is worse, the productive sector of the economy is ailing. The unemployment situation is depressing. The economy is in a funk. And the society is falling apart.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Castro Must Go! July 7, 2015 Belizeans are in shock and anger at the news that Minister of State Edmund Castro withdrew his lawsuit in the Supreme Court on Friday the 3rd July, 2015 against Mrs. Alvarine Burgess who had accused him of using his Ministerial office for illegal and corrupt practices in the sale of visas to foreigners.

Minister Castro, in his lawsuit, told the Supreme Court Mrs. Burgess had said on public television that he: (i) Collected Four Hundred Thousand ($400,000.00) dollars worth of bribes in return for recommending visas for foreigners he had never met; (ii) Used his office in the corrupt practice of selling visas; (iii) Is a criminal and broke the law of Belize; and (iv) Is a corrupt Minister of State.

This, he told the Supreme Court, had seriously damaged his reputation and had caused him to suffer great embarrassment and distress.

But by failing to clear his name and his reputation and by withdrawing his law-suit in the Supreme Court, Minister Castro is effectively admitting the statements made by Mrs. Burgess are true and correct and therefore he is in breach of the Constitution of Belize and violated the Immigration Laws and the crim-

inal laws of Belize.

No serving Minister has ever admitted that he is a corrupt person. It was expected that on the withdrawal of his lawsuit, the Minister of State would have offered a public apology and tendered his resignation. Neither Minister Castro nor his Government has so far informed the public of the consequences of his withdrawal and admissions.

This failure of Minister Edmund Castro to salvage his battered reputation has placed him and his Prime Minister in a position where Minister Edmund Castro either tenders his resignation, or the Prime Minister dismisses him from his post in the Cabinet.

In the interest of decency, the integrity of the high public office he holds and the principles governing Ministerial office in our parliamentary democracy, Minister Castro must resign his office or be fired by the Prime Minister.

The People’s United Party, as the constitutional opposition of Belize, has the duty and responsibility to call on Minister of State Edmund Castro to tender his resignation forthwith, and if he does not resign, the Prime Minister of Belize has a duty to the people of Belize to remove Minister Edmund Castro from the Cabinet.

12 JUL

2015

PUP Resolution on the Unjust Guatemalan Claim to Belize

Continued from page 2 ra, fauna and marine life by citizens and authorities of Guatemala with inadequate, weak or no response from the United Democratic Party administration on behalf of Belize; and CONVINCED that for the territorial integrity and the security of Belize, the People’s United Party can no longer place its trust, permit or allow the current United Democratic Party administration to continue to manage the territorial differendum with Guatemala in the present reckless and autarchic manner;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE PEOPLE’S UNITED PARTY: (1) Will not support at this time, the holding of a Referendum in Belize in order to ask Belizeans if they support the taking of the matter of the unfounded Guatemalan Claim to Belize to the International Court of Justice; and (2) Will continue to work and internationalize the position of Belize to the unfounded and unjust Guatemalan claim to Belize and to ensure that we continue to safeguard all of the rights of Belize to all of its territory, insular and maritime areas.

MALHAT HOLDINGS LIMITED #65,278 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that MALHAT HOLDINGS LIMITED:

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 5th day of June, 2015; and c) Cititrust International Inc. whose address is 35 Barrack Road, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator of the Company.

Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent

12 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

UDP Buy Election!!

Dangriga Town, July 8, 2015 As warned by Melvin Hulse in his now very-famous Barrow-bashing recording, the UDP spent millions to buy the elections held in Dangriga on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. Melvin, who has now been

cast away from the UDP at the whim of one man despite him being elected in a convention by UDP supporters in Stann Creek West, predicted that the UDP would spend at least 2 million dollars in the Dangriga bye-election. From the looks of things on the ground, the UDP surpassed that amount easily.

Reports are that the UDP paid $200 and $300 for votes. To wear

Catholic Bishop Calls for Repeal of Petro-Caribe Loans Act

Belize City, July 6th 2015 Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s anti-transparency law, the Petrocaribe Loans Act, has attracted yet another strong voice of opposition: Catholic Bishop, Dorick Wright.

In a July 4th, 2015 release issued by Reverend Father Noel Leslie, he declared that “The Bishop of Belize and Belmopan, His Excellency Bishop Dorick Wright, joins me in calling for a repeal of the PetroCaribe Loans Act 2015 and its amendments and for a return to the adherence to the principles outlined in the Finance and Audit Reform Act 2005”.

The release further announces that the Roman Catholic Church in Belize believes that “the Act was devised to correct transgressions in the borrowing and spending of Public Funds.

The Church has a duty to denounce any legislation that violates the Rule of Law, the Spirit of Democracy and the Constitution of Belize”.

Father Leslie’s statement came days after he voted in support of an amendment to the controversial Petrocaribe Loans Act at a July 1st Senate Meeting. The vote provoked heavy criticism because when the legislation was first introduced at a Senate meeting held on March 30th 2015, he had voted against it.

But Father Leslie explained in the release that the vote on July 1st reflected the Council of Churches’ position and not his personal view.

He then made it clear where he and his Church stand.

“As the Senator nominated by the Council of Churches, I am obligated to vote in accordance with the majority decision of that body and which I represent in the Senate,” but, he added, “The Roman Catholic Church of Belize, which shepherds 40% of the Belizean population, respectfully holds a different position from the one I presented in the Senate on the 1st of July 2015”.

The Petrocaribe Loans Act was passed by the Barrow Administration to cover up the illegal borrowing and spending of almost $300 million dollars between September 2012 and August 2014.

This money grab was illegal since it was done without the approval of the National Assembly, as required by the Finance and Audit Act of 2005.

In defiance of transparency and accountability, the Prime Minister introduced Petrocaribe Loans Act which exempts the loan monies from the requirements of the Finance and Audit Act and gives the UDP Government the spend the money as it wishes.

The Catholic Church now joins the Opposition PUP, the Belize Chamber of Commerce, the National Trade Union Congress, the Belize National Teacher’s Union, the Christian Workers Union, the Vision Inspired by the People and many others who have called for the repeal of Barrow’s bad law. Prime Minister Barrow remains defiant, however, and continues to say that there is no way he will retract the law.

a red shirt got you a cool $100 or perhaps up to $200 if you caught the UDP bagmen at the right time. The UDP had been in Dangriga for several weeks, spending on late-night drinking binges and parties, luring the people into deceit.

On the day of the bye-election the Government vehicles rolled into town, fuelled with taxpayers’ money. Luxury vehicles with blue plates circled the town

07 7 non-stop. UDP Ministers had no shame, spending the people’s money for political purposes.

The UDP’s only strategy in elections is to buy voters. They can’t speak to sound plans and ideas to uplift the growing poverty population in our country.

And STILL, even with all that money and all that buying out, and all the might, the UDP could not muster any form of landslide win for the PUP who only campaigned for three weeks and introduced a new but formidable candidate just over a month ago. The UDP only got 34% of the total votes, despite all the money-throwing.

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12 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

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• Bi-lingual English – Spanish Interested persons should send a letter of application along with their Curriculum Vitae and letters of reference by Monday July 20th, 2015 to: Chief Operations Officer Speednet Communications Limited 2 ½ Miles Phillip Goldson Highway P.O. Box 1816 Belize City, Belize

• Prepare and submit monthly reports

• Configure promotions, services and other prepaid system changes • Any other task assigned from time to time REQUIRED KNOWLDEGE: • Administrator level on Linux and Windows operating systems • Linux bash scripting • Multipurpose scripting languages such as PHP and Python • Multipurpose programming languages such as C and C++ • Knowledge of relational databases and use of SQL query language • Familiar with services based on the TCP/IP stack • Network setup, configuration and troubleshooting QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors Degree in Information Technologies • Associates Degree in Information Technologies with 3 years experience in IT or related field.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE: • Excellent Analytical Skills • Possess good interpersonal and communication skills • Team player with ability to multi-task and efficiently meet deadlines.

• Ability to gather data, compile information and prepare reports.

Interested persons should send a letter of application along with their Curriculum Vitae and letters of reference by Monday July20th, 2015 to: Chief Operations Officer Speednet Communications Limited 2 ½ Miles Phillip Goldson Highway P.O. Box 1816 Belize City, Belize

12 12 JUL JUL

2015 2015

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

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10 SPORTS Bombers & Young Warriors

12 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

2015

clash in Smart Mundialito finals

Belize City, July 4, 2015 The undefeated Brown Bombers and the Young Warriors will clash in the 2015 SMART Mundialito football championship finals set for Sunday, July 12, at the MCC Garden.

The Brown Bombers entered the semifinals as the top seed, and won by the same score they had won over the No. 4 seeded Ladyville Jaguars, as they had in the regular season: 1-0; this time Eldon Byrd scored the winning goal late in the 2nd half, just before the long whistle.

In the other semifinal, the Young Warriors were stuck in the same jam as they had been in their regular season math with the Collet Strikers

0-0 after regulation and overtime.

So they had to go to penalties to decide a winner. In the penalty shoot-out, the Warriors beat Collet Strikers 5-4. Joshaun Flowers, Nelson Nunez, Jose Juan Garcia, Richard “Bigs” Williams and Anthony Usher converted their penalties for Young Warriors, but only Shamar Gillett, Mikey Palacio, Anthony Parham and Troy Gentle scored for Collet as their 2nd kicker missed the goal completely.

The Collet Strikers will be looking for payback when they play Ladyville Jaguars in the consolation 3rd place game before the championship final. Collet had lost to Ladyville 1-0 in the regular season.

Brown Bombers

Young Warriors

Kent Gabourel wins Weekend Warriors Cycling Time Trials Belize City, July 5, 2015 Team Benny’s Megabytes’ Kent “Bob” Gabourel won the Weekend Warriors Cycling Club individual time trials held from Mile 23 at the Rockville junction to Mile 32.5 on the George Price highway on Sunday, July 5, in preparation for their national road championships to be held on Sunday, July 12.

A Division 1st Kent Gabourel – Team Benny’s Megabytes (26:12) 2nd Robert Mariano – Team DigiCell 4G (26:26.04) 3rd Warren Coye – Team Santino’s (26:26.12) 4th George Abraham – Team BelCal (26:29) 5th Daniel Cano – Team Santino’s (26:50) 6th Preston Martinez – Team Benny’s Megabytes (27:09) 7th David Pollard – Team BCB/F.T. Williams (27:22) 8th Fitzgerald “Palas” Joseph – Team Lampaz (28:31) 9th Derrick Smith – Team BWS (29:03) 10th Kenny Gooding – Team BCB/F.T. Williams (29:24) B Division 1st Ray Cattouse – Team C-Ray (26:26.04) 2nd Isaiah willacey - Team BCB/F.T. Williams (26:19) 3rd Chris Coye – Team Sagitun (27:29) 4th Mark Reid – Team Santinos (28:39) 5th Mark lisbey - Team BCB/F.T. Williams (29:21) 6th Ian Abraham – Team SMART (29:24) 7th Antonio Escarpeta Team BCB/F.T. Williams (29:37)

8th Kaya Cattouse – Team C-ray (28:58) 9th Salvador Alvarado - Team BCB/F.T. Williams (33:39) C Division 1st Valentine Sosa – Truckers Posse (32:28) 2nd Eustace Ireland – Lampaz (32:34) 3rd Curtis Bradley Team BCB/F.T. Williams (32:57) 4th Lawrence Craig – Truckers Posse 5th Enrique Morales – Team Caribbean Tires (33:58) 6th Alejandro Morales – Team Caribbean Tires (34:26)

1st, Kent Gabourel

Rising Starz, Lucky Strikers & UB Jaguars win football matches San Ignacio, July 5, 2015 The UB Jaguars posted their 2nd win, blasting the Infinites 6-0. Iris Galdamez struck the Jaguars’ 1st goal in the 14th minute, and Iris added a 2nd goal in the 26th minute. Infinites’ goalie Cynthia Boteo had no chance with one of her own defenders deflectContinued on page 11

2nd, Robert Mariano

3rd, Warren Coye

4th, George Abraham

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THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

2015 2015

UB Jaguars, Sunrise & Easy Does It win in Belize Rural Softball Willows Bank Village, July 5, 2015 UB pitcher Karlene Williams led the Jaguars to a 16-9 mercy rule win over the Burrell Boom Orchid girls in 5 innings. Boom’s Arneek Baptist walked 4 batters and gave up 14 hits, while her diamond committed 2 errors. This allowed UB’s Kerilee Williams, Deanah Garbutt and Danalee Burns to score 3 runs apiece while Amber Wade and Shannon Pook scored 2 runs apiece and Denika Noralez, Sharkira Roches and Melissa Jones came home once.

Williams struck out 2 batters, walked 8, and gave up 6 hits; while the UB diamond committed 2 errors.

This allowed Boom’s Rebecca Nicholson, and Lynese Alvarez to score 2 runs apiece while Denise Gabourel, Giselle Gillett, Therese Baptist and

Sabrina Campos came home once.

Lords Bank Sunrise scorched Rancho Dolores’ Country Rose: 21-5 by mercy rule in 4 innings. Rancho’s Angie Tucker walked 5 batters and gave up 7 hits, while the diamond committed 8 errors. Sunrise Francine Moralez scored 4 runs while Chelsea Young and Devoney Reyes scored 3 runs apiece. Sunrise pitcher Stacey Smith, Ashanti Anderson, Kathleen Henry and Sasha Brown scored 2 runs apiece, while Alberta Bailey and Ormencia Pou came home once. Stacy struck out 4 batters and walked 5, allowing Rancho’s Francisca Claire, Vanessa Herrera, Lynn

Flowers Bank Easy Does It Smith, Shania Pook and Violet Belisle to come home once.

Flowers Bank Easy Does It walloped Willows Bank United 30-2 by mercy rule in 3 innings. Willows’ pitcher Erleen Cassasola walked 2 batters and gave up 19 hits, while the diamond committed 5 errors. Easy’s Dian Baldwin led the attack crossing the plate 5 times, while Renisha Rhaburn, Shanna Robinson, Sharra Robinson and Keesha Joseph scored 4 runs apiece, Elma Wade and Trecia Ferguson

scored 3 runs apiece. Marcia Anthony and Kelsey Robinson came home twice. Erleen Cassasola and Sheryl Ferguson scored Willows’ 2 runs.

Upcoming Games, Rancho Dolores, Sunday, July 12 UB Jaguars vs. Lords Bank Sunrise Boom Orchid Girls vs. Easy Does It Rancho Country Rose vs. Double Head Cabbage Willows Bank rests

Unitedville Rebels & Camalote Spokane lead women’s softball

Camalote’s Frances Coye scored 1 run

Camalote Village, July 5, 2015 The Unitedville Rebels won back to back matches in the Cayo Softball Association’s female competition at the Dembigh Fuller Stadium in Camalote Village on Sunday, while Camalote Spokane spanked the Belmopan Emeralds 9-7.

Lynn Perez scored the only run in the Unitedville Rebels’ 1-0 win against Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy, as the pitchers dueled.

Roaring Creek got 3 hits off Rebels’ pitcher Francine Salazar, who struck out 2 batters but gave up no runs.

Rising Starz, Lucky Strikers & UB Jaguars win football matches Continued from page 11 ed Rosaria Cal’s shot into the back of the net to give UB a 3-0 lead at the half.

In the 2nd half, Cindy Bush blasted in a 4th goal in the 53rd minute and Rosaria Cal headed in a 5th goal to put the finish on an assist from Daysi Montero in the 60th minute. Delmi Hernandez came off the UB bench to replace Bush, and she too scored the 6th goal in the 64th minute. After that it was a free for all as the rest of the UB squad: Alberta Garcia, Araceli Galdamez, Daysi Montero, Tracy Chi and Delmi Cornelio came up to take shots at goal. Cynthia Boteo must have felt that she was in a shooting gallery as she did her best to keep it to 6-0.

The Belmopan Lucky Strikers defeated the Bullet Tree girls 3-1.

Clarisa Salgado scored the 1st goal in the 12th minute, and Kimberly “Brazilian” Perez added a 2nd goal

in the 14th minute. Bullet Tree’s goalie Daisy Moya stopped Shadalee Ho’s penalty shot after the village captain Rutilia Useta took down Kim Perez in the 18-yard box to keep to 2-0 at the half.

Moya could not stop Elizabeth Turner’s shot in the 53rd minute, but the Strikers’ goalie Idania Ramirez was beaten by her own defender Maria Morales who deflected a Bullet Tree shot into the net for the village girls’ only consolation goal.

The undefeated Rising Starz won over the Real West Strikers 2-0, with Mirna Audinette scoring the 1st goal in the 8th minute.

Shayama Caliz put the game on ice with a 2nd goal in the 52nd minute.

Upcoming games for Sunday, July 12 Bullet Tree vs. Real West Strikers Infinites vs. Rising Starz UB Jaguars vs. Lucky Strikers

The Rebels also got 3 hits off Roaring Creek’s Leyandra Guy, who struck out 2 batters, while the Roaring Creek made only one error; enough for Lynn Perez to score: 1-0.

Aludy Arthurs led Camalote Spokane to a 9-8 win against the Belmopan Em-

eralds girls; as Nadine Coye, Kelsey Ramos and Emogene Coye scored 2 runs apiece for Camalote, and Frances Coye, Loren Henry and Rose Rowland scored one run apiece. For Belmopan, Audrey Coleman and

Arlene Wade scored 2 runs apiece; while Felicia Gillett, pitcher Dana King, Shani Wade and Nerecie Perez each scored once.

In game 3, Francine Salazar led the Rebels to an 11-6 win over the Esperanza Wolverines and their pitcher Nikita Perez.

Infotel & Central Bank win 4 each & Atlantic Bank & BWS win 2 each in Firms basketball Belize City, July 5, 2015 The Infotel and Central Bank posted their 4 win, while Atlantic bank and BWS Pressure enjoyed their 2nd wins in the Belize City Firms basketball competition at Bird’s Isle over the weekend.

In Game 1 on Saturday, Central Bank upset DigiCell 81-72. Jacob Leslie led the scoring with 25pts while Bennedict Terry and Mark Swift added 18pts. DigiCell’s Lupito Acosta led with 18pts, and Raheem Staine added 12pts.

In Game 2, Infotel upset the Belize Bank Bulldogs: 51-48. Keith Pollard top-scored with 13pts. Bulldogs’ Rupert Brown scored 14pts to lead his team.

In Game 3, Atlantic Bank upset Heritage Bank 37-32, as Jaheed Smith scored 12 pts and Justin Wade added 9pts. Heritage Bank’s Felix Martinez and Marvin Skeet both had top-scored for their team with 8pts apiece.

Friday’s Matches: BWS Pressure vs. Complex Generals 42-36 Top scorer: Lindbergh “Prince” Graham (11pts), Wilfred Richards (12pts) Central Health Region vs. Ready Call Center - 67-35 Top scorer: Steven Wade (17pts), Winston Reynolds (18pts)

Heritage’s Kevin Lorenzo

14

THE BELIZE TIMES

12 JUL

2015

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15

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

They pretend to care

By Micah J. Goodin Almost 1,000 Belizeans have been murdered since 2008. Belize has been officially recognized as the third most violent country in the world. A crime occurs in this country every 23 minutes. Within the borders of Belize exists Belize City’s south side, which is the most violent place to be. On the south side of Belize 2/3 of the fathers are absent. On the south side of Belize gang infestation is real. On the south side of Belize poverty is pitiless. The negative reviews and realities attributed to Belize City’s south side are unending and have developed somewhat into a monotone. Gun plays and gang wars have become the norm.

In 2008 a black man from a south side constituency was elected to become our Prime Minister. That wasn’t the norm. He was to have been the silver lining on the gray clouds always hovering over our south side communities. Things were to have been different.

His success at the polls created a feeling of hope for all black Belizeans in the early morning of February 8th when the results had settled in.

A black Prime Minister! Our saviour had arrived. Our children would die no more. Our women would be able to find work. Our men would be able to toil the land. This Prime Minister would fight for us and keep our interest at the center of his policies.

We were deceived! We were tricked! We were taken advantaged of!

A week or two ago PM Barrow was visibly angry that a black man had been tied up and apprehended in Santa Cruz, Toledo after violating Mayan customary practices.

Today this very same PM has been extremely silent, extremely nonchalant, and extremely unresponsive regarding the recent bloodbath of our young black men! I am not comfortable with a selective Prime Minister, an inconsistent Prime Minister a Prime Minister that is pretentious.

You see there are those in the ruling party that pretend to care about the struggles of the Creole black Belizean. They pretend to love us and pretend to understand us but they cannot. They have done nothing to address our poverty, our unemployment and our lack of access to education and health services. The only thing they have done is made our conditions worse.

There are those in the ruling United Democratic Party that only claim black brotherhood and black solidarity when there is an impending election. Consider the bye election in Dangriga. The only thing they have in common with us is a skin tone. You see they don’t live in our predominantly black south side communities anymore; they no longer ride the dollar vans driven by black men

nor do they sit at Dits to eat a plate of rice and beans. Our painful history has shown us that the house slave will always believe he is of greater stature than the field slave despite sharing the same skin. They have forgotten our struggles and they are no longer our friends.

They have done everything to frustrate our efforts. This administration has done all in its power to perpetuate and coerce us into dependence. They want us to beg. They want us to bow.

They want us to bleed. They want us to remain downtrodden.

We have seen how they’ve used their political powers to frustrate the efforts of the Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association (BGYEA) led by black men who understand the importance of land ownership. They don’t want Nigel to grow his own food and become independent. They want Nigel to go to their Wednesday clinics and beg.

We’ve seen their policing plans; from Operation 360 to Operation Jaguar to the Gang Suppression Unit only, and the only result has been abuse and assault on us. We have witnessed the overwhelming cases of police brutality with young black men often at the receiving end. We know that they want us to be afraid of them. They want us to fall in line even when their government is out of line!

This week, a black youth was murdered on south side Belize City.

The brethren was not an uneducated, unconscious criminal. Kareem Clarke was the exact opposite. He was a good youth; respectful, intelligent, humble and hardworking. He had a bright future in front of him. He believed that youths should be allowed to determine their destinies. I remember his eagerness and enthusiasm to write of the youth that wanted to challenge Minister Faber in Collet. It is unfortunate that he didn’t get to write that story because I withdrew my candidacy.

It is also unfortunate and painful that I am here today writing of his demise.

We live in a country where it is dangerous to be a young black man.

We are robbed of a fair chance, equal opportunities and often times our lives.

I am 22 years old and afraid of my skin colour and its implications. The only thing that has changed for us since 2008 is the quality of the streets we are murdered on. The murder rate over the past 7 years is like genocide!

I remind you once again that almost two weeks ago PM Barrow was bothered and mad after the Santa Cruz situation. Today this very same PM has been extremely silent, extremely nonchalant, and extremely unresponsive regarding the multiple slayings of young black men, including a role model who gave the very best of himself to his country and his family.

Rest in peace my brother Kareem, you will not be forgotten.

Respect.

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16

UDP Political Alchemy and Propaganda!

Dean Barrow: The Master of the Games Contributed Recently Belize’s airwaves have been bombarded by the United Democratic Party political propaganda “Transforming Belize”, “Believe in the transformation”, and “Petrocaribe Rolling”. Belizeans politicians and political parties have always utilized propaganda as a political strategy to win elections. Propaganda is not a novel strategy employed in the realm of politics – it is as old as politics.

However, propaganda is considered one of several pathologies of politics. In Carl J. Friedrich’s book, The Pathology of Politics (1972) the pathologies include corruption, secrecy, betrayal and violence.

Propaganda as defined by Friedrich is the behaviour, conduct or action of a propagandist – a person who hands out information to gain benefits, material or non-material advantages, for himself, or, more typically for the group he is acting for. The main objectives of propaganda include one of two things: to get people to vote for someone or to join his organisation (party) even if only for the vote or financially to support it.

Propaganda, as a pathology is inherent in the very premises of popular government, as Carl Friedrich indicated. On the one hand, it is intended, to be a government by the people, meaning that people act on their own volition and independent. On the other hand, a popular government employs and engages the party-oriented manipulator, the press and various mass communication techniques, to manipulate the minds and morals of the citizens, the common man.

Propaganda is considered to be the politicians’ alchemy. Alchemy is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language as “a seemingly magical power or process of trans-mutiny”. The Encarta Desk Encyclopedia describes alchemy as “a practice based on imposture and wizardry”.

Metaphorically, alchemy serves the purpose of transmutation or transformation of minds, political systems and even spiritual belief. People, especially

12 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

the poor, understand visual imagery.

The propagandist utilizes the medium of television, political banners, physical structures (monuments) and audio (sound-bite) or spliced audio on both television and radio.

Seemingly the United Democratic Party propaganda organ is of “Goebbels” proportion. Joseph Goebbels was Hitler’s propagandist.

The UDP’s political alchemy, Petrocaribe, has sedated the massed from realising that the Petrocaribe Fund have not impacted the poorer class and the marginalised as the late Comandante Hugo Chavez had envisioned.

The downtrodden are being suffocated by the mushrooming cloud of inequality and poverty yet they remain in a conscious coma, fully aware of the economic prejudice inflicted on them by this UDP government but they have become powerless to lift a finger to stop it. Their dreams and aspirations; to see the conditions of their lives becoming better transformed into tiny shards from the many UDP broken election promises. The political pixie dust has the citizenry transfixed on the physical transformation forcing them to disregard the realities that plague them.

Obviously, the techniques of Joseph Goebbels (Hitler’s propagandist) and the mind control techniques documented in Vance Packard (1957) “The Hidden Persuaders” or Wilson Bryan Key’s (1973) “subliminal seduction” are being employed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the UDP propaganda organ. The means (Petrocaribe Funds) have justified the end which is the removal from the citizenry’s memory the numerous transgressions of the UDP – land scandals, Rosewood scandal, “Pennergate”, “ C a s t r o - g a t e” and the violation of the Finance and Audit Reform Act (2005) and the latest squandering of the people’s money

by Patrick Faber in his electioneering gimmick; to frolic along the Corozal Bay and get inebriated.

The poor people of Collet were so dazzled that they failed to see that the money could

2015

For Sale Freehold property corner George and Dean Streets in the Albert/ Mesop Registration Section Block 45 Parcel 1643. Serious Offer, call Mrs. Nunez at 223-2940.

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www.cmssearch.bz have been spent in a purposeful manner within the Collet constituency. They forgot about the famous creole proverb: “One day belly full no fatten mawga dawg”.

This dictatorial government continues to foster the culture of corrupting the people’s mind with the Petrocaribe propaganda.

Corruption of the mind is the most serious disfunctionality of propaganda. This UDP propaganda must be defeated and the only solution is a massive counter pro-

paganda to re-awaken the citizenry into realising that the power remains in them. How long will you allow the political directorate to treat you unjustly? The answer is as long as you permit.

Belizeans, you have the power to end the injustice and the strength to achieve the equality and justice that should be afforded to you by this UDP government. Wake up Belize, Wake up poor people and rise and take your stand today! Let the Revolution begin…

12 JUL

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

an interview televised on Channel Five on September 7th of 2009, Education Minister Patrick Faber callously conceded that the firing was strictly political. Reporter Jose Sanchez put it to Faber that “Everyone knows that politics hire politics fire. Would you say it was a small misstep on your part to say openly that “my people need to eat too?”

To which Faber replied, “No, I befor it has long dominated our everylieve completely in being honest in day lives. In particular in certain secsituations, I am not going to lie to tions of our city, parents stay on edge nobody. I think that people underexpecting any minute to receive that stand and this is the thing…” dreadful call. “Madam, can you come But do people really underto the station, something terrible has stand? The UDP will not be in powhappened”. er forever, and what happens then?

Among those calling the talk If we accept it now, and believe it show on Monday morning was the to be okay now, then we can have wife of one of the more powerful no complaints if the game remains ministers of government. This minthe same once there is a change. ister maintains garrison-like control What the average person on the over his constituency which sits street needs to realize is that the smack dab in the middle of the belittle crumbs that we receive is leaguered Southside. This lady, his nothing compared to what these wife, oversees a sizable budget alloministers are pocketing. They feathcated for work with troubled youths er their nests and can withstand and implementation of programs detwo, three terms out of office; can signed to solve these very problems the rest of us? that we are facing. Whatever she is In May of this year, Mark King doing is obviously not working and is evicted some 60 families from the having more of an adverse effect. Yet, Gungulung area in order to make we keep throwing good money after “lands available for his ‘people in bad. This lady’s main point was that Lake-I’”. The thing is that these people believe that there is nothing wrong with what they are doing.

Still, whenever we are Whenever the United Democratic Party comes into faced with issues like office, they clean house from top to bottom. I mean, crime and national disasters, then it becomes evfrom the Governor General down to the lowliest erybody’s business and street warden or drain sweeper. Police Officers r e s p o n s i b i l i t y. . . . E E E N are demoted or denied promotion, teachers and YAH! Belize is too small to nurses are transferred and even judges become continuously be divided dispensable. and polarized among ourselves. We need a govwe all have to get involved; because Many will remember Hirian Good ernment for all the people and not it is everybody’s business. who shortly after the UDP took office, just in words on a billboard but in Well here’s the thing! In a press was fired from her job as a school action. Until we are asked to pay conference of a couple of months warden at Trinity Methodist School. only half as much in taxes and ago, the Prime Minister informed The school asked that she stay on only half toward payment of any the public that he would be releasand even the children professed their loan taken out on our behalf, then ing money for one of his “Cheer” love for Mrs. Good. It was to no avail. we must all demand a full share of programs; this one was for Mother’s Her husband, a former captain in the all goods and services. To whom Day. “However”, informed the Prime Belize Defense Force, took to the more is given, more should be exMinister, “UDP standard bearers and street in a protest and hungry strike pected from. Count us in or stand caretakers would be receiving twice which eventually cost him his life. In on the order of your own demise! as much as the Opposition’s representatives”, even though they are duly elected by their respective constituencies. More recently, Minister of Education Patrick Faber was heard bragging that he had loaded up 22 buses with his voters and other UDP supporters and spent $36,000 of Petro Caribe funds to go “bathe up in the sea” and to “eat tacos and pibil”. No PUP would have been allowed on any of those buses and Faber would be neither shy nor hesitant in admitting that. The thing is then, how the hell does it become everybody’s business when only half of us are benefitting from any goods and services provided by this government?

PUPs waste their time in applying for any jobs, scholarships or any sort of loan provided by this so-called National Bank. All programs funded by this government with our tax money and in particularly with this Petro

Reid To Whom Much Is Given

By G. Michael Reid Monday morning brought its usual dose of bad news but this time it was rougher than usual; in particular for my colleagues behind the zinc fence. One of their own, a young and upcoming journalist who contributed prolifically and reliably to their headline news stories was shot and killed in the early morning of that same day. Nuri, who is sitting in for Mose, was his usual composed self but cohost India Camile was visibly shaken and affected. It is never easy to lose someone who you see every day; and in particular when the news comes suddenly like that. A release from the Kremandala camp described Kareem Clarke as a “very promising and ambitious young journalist”.

When I saw the young man’s picture, I remembered seeing him from time to time, chasing a story or waiting to interview someone in front of Independence Hall where I work. He was a humble and soft spoken individual and someone who was apparently well liked by all who knew him and even by those who simply crossed paths with him. As a regular reader of the Amandala, I have no doubt read much of what Mr. Clarke has written. Being somewhat of a pedant, I am critical of bad writing but I do not remember finding many faults with young Kareem’s pieces.

He had a gift and he made the following of his train of thoughts and chronicle of facts effortless and easy.

He was young, gifted and black but unfortunately, in this day and age on Belize’s southside of the city, that can be lethal and is usually a prelude to an early and predictable demise. Oh for the good old days!

The Wake Up Belize (WUB) callin talk show on that Monday morning was abuzz with messages of condolences and expressions of anger and frustration; this too shall pass! Belizeans have become almost immune to the news of murder and mayhem

Caribe Loan money are off limits to supporters of the People’s United Party. In an open statement, Minister of State Mark King expressly stated that when he delivers goods and services, it is strictly “UDP first, Belizeans second and PUP last”. When confronted with the statement, the Prime Minister would only say that he “wish he had not said it”. “However”, continued the Pm, “let’s not be hypocritical”. In other words, it is what it is! The Prime Minister has made it plain, over and over again that “the spoils system is here to stay”.

Of course it is easy for cronies and apologists of the current administration to retort with the usual, “oh the other side does it too.” To a point, they are not entirely wrong though it does not make it right or reasonable.

Only a fool would argue that victimization does not also happen under the PUP but the difference is that it is not practiced so openly and as a policy. Whenever the United Democratic Party comes into office, they clean house from top to bottom. I mean, from the Governor General down to the lowliest street warden or drain sweeper. Police Officers are demoted or denied promotion, teachers and nurses are transferred and even judges become dispensable. If you’re not red, you might as well be dead.

17

18 VACANCY: Oceana Gift Shop located at 111 North Front Street has a vacancy for a Cashier. Serious inquiries call 660-3011.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that LESLIE MENDEZ is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Savannah Splash”, situated at San Antonio Road, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that CHRIS LARA is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Moho Choclate Company Limited”, situated at 1 ½ Miles Philip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that SHAJIRA DEL CID is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Sha’s Shop”, situated at #2664 Albert Hoy Avenue, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that CHRISTIAN EBANKS is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “C’viche Bar and Restaurant”, situated at 115 Freetown Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that RONG HE YAN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Ada Store”, situated at 3303 Partridge Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

THE BELIZE TIMES

12 JUL

2015

Lilly White’s Summer Camp Denied Petrocaribe Support Belize City, July 2, 2015 Well-known sports activist Edward Charles Rubio aka “Lilly White” says that all the hoopla over the Government’s “Summer of Sports” has been insignificant to his summer camp because despite his request for support he got none.

Rubio, who organises a summer camp at the BTL Park annually, said he had submitted his application for funding to the National Sports Council in May. He waited for a response but none came. Weeks later, on Friday June 26th, upon meeting a colleague who is organising a similar camp, he was asked if he wasn’t going to pick up his cheque at a special ceremony at the National Sports Council.

Rubio said that because he had submitted an application, he felt that perhaps he was a recipient who had not been contacted about the ceremony.

But when he reached the National Sports Council office, he was met with disdain.

Rubio said the Sports Council Director, Patrick Menzies, was “rude” to him when he inquired about support for his summer camp.

“They didn’t even have the decency to call me back and tell me that my application was not approved,” he argued.

Rubio said that when he asked Menzies why his summer programme didn’t make it on the special list, Menzies responded that “they” had “prob-

lems” with his application. But Menzies refused to discuss those “problems” and denied Rubio’s request for an official letter explaining the reasons.

According to Rubio, he is very disappointed also because he had met Prime Minister Dean Barrow on Barrack Road on June 20th and the Prime Minister promised that “I noh have to worry, Petrocaribe will give me a boost”. Instead, he says, he got the boot.

Rubio has organised a twomonth football camp for children ages 8 to 15 years old, from June 30th to August 30th at the BTL Park.

Last year, he had held a camp for 36 children from all over Belize City. He said that most of the businesses he depends on say they have been going through tough times and so sponsorship has been low.

However, he is committed to holding his camp and is seeking support. He can be contacted at phone number 667-9620.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

St. Matthew’s Government School graduates 27 students St. Matthews Village, July 1th 2015 Twenty-seven students marched proudly to collect their primary school certificates on Wednesday, June 24th at the St. Matthew’s Government School grounds, marking an end to their studies at the institution, and the beginning of a new chapter of higher studies.

Principal of the school, Michelle Murray, introduced the theme of this year’s graduation, “Service, Collaboration and Community Building: Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”, pointing out that she believes the message is critical to the institution’s success.

She added that if it were not for collaboration with partners and the community’s involvement, the school would not exist nor be able to produce promising students.

She committed to promoting this spirit.

The Valedictorian for Class of 2015 was Orlando Argueta. 13 year old Argueta, whose figure is overshadowed by his taller classmates, had big words of encouragement for his peers.

“It is good to work alone but it is better to work together.

Faith is mighty but action with faith is mightier. We can build our community by giving our service and collaboration but

together we can develop it to be better for everyone.

All of our dreams can come true if we pursue them together. Dream BIG my friends!” declared Orlando.

Orlando placed 1st in his

Saijah & Orlando, 2015 top students

Principal Michelle Murray addressing graduates and parents

For Sale

By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 16th day of August, 2010, between W & J HOME CONSTRUCTION LTD., of ½ Mile Iguana Creek Bridge, Spanish Lookout Road, Cayo District, Belize of the one part, W & J LANDSCAPING COMPANY LIMITED, of ½ Mile Iguana Creek Bridge, Spanish Lookout Road, Cayo District, Belize of the second part and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the third part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 25 of 2010 at Folios 1019 – 1054, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

class and in the Primary School Examination scoring for the school.

He also had advice for the parents in attendance, exhorting “we have come a long way because of your guidance and support. But please don’t fall asleep now because this is the time when we need you most. Parental guidance is very important at this point in our lives”.

Orlando will be pursuing his high school education at Belmopan Meth-

Brandon Peralta receives his Primary School certificate

odist School. He considers himself “a dreamer”, as he told his classmates that one day “you’ll see me, the space engineer on TV preparing to showcase my creation on Mars”, referring to building of spacecraft and technology.

2nd place finisher is Saijah McNab, while 3rd place is Megli Perez.

Perez was also recognised for getting the 2nd highest PSE score for the school.

For Sale

By Order of the

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

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under an Assignment and Transfer of Mortgage made the 11th day of December, 2013, registered as LTU-201302294 between ATLANTIC BANK LIMITED (the Assignor) SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., and NAJAT KENDRA ZUNIGA and DEAROLL DOUGALL, which said property was mortgaged by the said NAJAT KENDRA ZUNIGA and DEAROLL DOUGALL to the said ATLANTIC BANK LIMITED on the 12th day of November, 2012, and recorded at the General Registry in Deeds Book Volume 27 of 2012 at Folios 458 – 507, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

SCHEDULE

THE SCHEDULE

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Plot No. 2 containing 2.337 acres situate North of Belize River, Iguana Creek Area, Cayo District as shown on Plan of Subdivision Survey by Melchor Sanchez dated the 26th April, 2004 lodged at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Belmopan City, Cayo District in Register No. 14, Entry No. 8002 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and thereon.

DATED this 2nd day of July, 2015.

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

All that freehold interest in all that lot, piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 60 (395.376 S.M.) of lands situate South of the Western Highway, near Mile 8, Belize District and bounded and described as shown on Plan No. 62 of 2012 attached to Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 62 of 2012 TOGETHER with any and all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 2nd day of July, 2015.

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

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Rest In Peace Unionism

By the Voice of the Common Man The National Trade Union Congress of Belize was established in 1966 with the mantra “Workers in Solidarity”. The concept of unionism is based on the foundation of solidarity and the struggle for equality and justice.

Frederick Douglas said: if there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want oceans without the awful roar of its many waters.

This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, or it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without demand. It never did and it never will.

Sometime circa late 2007 and 2008, the United Democratic Party had the luxury of the various token leaders of unions engaging vigorously to topple the then People’s United Party Government. They took their fight to every crook and cranny of the Public Service departments.

The NTUCB took out a paid ad with fiery words – “Who is GOB protecting? Mek we get it straight. Let’s talk about what is ILLEGAL. It’s ILLEGAL for the Government to mismanage funds and then lie about it, accept false documents so as to approve loans to political cronies and a few first Belizeans, mislead the people after they have been robbed. Sell of Belizeans passports, cover up for the big fish and allow the small man to take the wrap”.

The Unions took their fight to the public square at the foot of the National Assembly in protest. They demanded Transparency, Accountability and better government. The Unionist and its members chanted “Reform, Resign or be Removed.” Eventually riots broke out in the streets of Belize with the senseless burning and looting of various business. Those events set the stage for a UDP victory when the general elections were called in 2008.

Today the Unions have lost their meaning of unionism. The spirit of solidarity is dead. Either they are afraid of this UDP Government or the leaders have been bought out with Petro Caribe money or Prime Minister Barrow have shoved them in the black coffin they had built for the PUP and their spirit of activism and their voice chanting “Resign Now and Free Belize” buried at one of the Union headquarters on Mercy Lane.

Never in the history of Unionism and people agitation for rights, justice and equality has the spirit been so week in Belize. History records 1894 riot as the first occurring in Belize. The 1894 riot resulted from the masses demanding higher wages. Women became involved pulling down fences, smashing plate glass and attacking the police station chanting “lick them boys”. Man, woman and children banded together on a common cause. In 1919 “the Ex-Servicemen’s Riot” was more explosive than the 1894 riot. The cause was better working conditions and the rise in cost of living. 1947 the General Workers Union (GWU) and some BEC workers staged a successful two-weeks strike.

History has also recorded the strikes of 1962 and 1963 initiated by the Northern Cane Workers Union (NCWU) for wage increases and access to land. Evan X Hyde, leader of the United Black Association for Development (UBAD) echoed loudly in October 29, 1969, the vital premise of activism when he said, “we are speaking

about taking power in this society and making vital changes so as to obtain true freedom, justice and equality.” On March 1981 the then Opposition UDP, the leaders of the Public Officers Union and Belize Action Movement (BAM) came together to oppose the Heads of Agreement which was the British attempt to resolve the Guatemalan dispute. “There were strikes, disturbances and riots, the demonstrators used violence to cause, schools and businesses places to close” (13 Chapters of Belize, Assad Shoman).

Police were brought in tear gas was used to control the violent situation. There was a call by the Governor for a State of Emergency resulting in a countrywide curfew. It was not until 2008 when a riotous occasion would erupt in Belize.

The United Democratic Party with Dean Barrow at the helm and his token leaders of the various Union groups lobbied the country to topple the PUP Government.

Dean Barrow promised the people a better government, a promise that has been transformed into a culture of corruption and greed and sights set on a third term in office.

Since 2008 the UDP Government have been shrouded in acts of transgression. The greatest transgression and injustice on the good people of Belize is the non-compliance of the social contract of Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance. These are the very transgressions that got Unions agitated against in 2008. Since 2012, the Minister of Finance and the UDP Government have mismanaged the Petrocaribe funds, violating the Finance and Audit Reform Act of 2005 and Barrow’s 2010 amendment to its which introduced fines and jail time, and then lie about it.

Who are the ones who have been providing special loans to political cronies, accepted false documents to sell out our sacred nationality to notorious foreigners in “Castrogate”, and had been hustling from poor people’s money at the Airport Authority scandal?

They have misled the people after robbing, dazzling them with parties in the Corozal Bay area, bribing them with pibil, tacos and getting them drunk on the Petrocaribe liquor. They have sold Belizean passports and covered up for the big fish and let the small man take the rap in the “Pennergate” scandal. The words of Barrow stands at his doorsteps: “The same knife weh stab goat stab sheep”.

Seemingly Barrow has also used the knife to kill Unionism in Belize. He has transformed the members into political perfunctionaries (robots). These so called Unionists have become dormant and docile, unaware of the interrelatedness of the issues that plague the Belizean society and the resulting effect on its core members.

The Union issues and that of the wider society are cut from the same cloth, a single fabric that covers our destiny. Be reminded that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly”.

Unionism was never about passivism but much to do with activism.

Let us see the rebirth of unionism with the “breathing the breath of life into a corrupt, sodden, degenerative society” which this UDP Government continues to foster.

Remember we shall not be removed and a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Solidarity now! Let’s join in unison and begin the chant, “Resign now and free Belize”. Let the revolution begin…

NOTICE Klartek Trade Limited (the Company”) Notice is hereby given that Klartek Trade Limited, a company incorporated under the Belize IBC Act (Chapter 270), commenced dissolution on June 25, 2015 And Mr. Renan Castillo of 9 Barrack Road, Belize City, Belize is the liquidator of the company, and any claims against the company should be forwarded to the liquidator by 30 days from commencement.

Summit Corporate Services Limited Registered Agent

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck-off the International Business Companies Register with effect from June 27th, 2015: KWANZANET ASIA Ltd. Zetland Corporate Services Belize Limited

OLMAX LIMITED #71,047 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that OLMAX Limited has been dissolved as at 4th July, 2015 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent VACANCY ST. GEORGE’S CAYE RESORT (GEM OF BELIZE) A Vacancy exists for the post of RESORT GENERAL MANAGER Applicants must possess:

 Ability to live on St. George’s Caye  Available 24 hours a day and holidays  Working knowledge of resort operations  Ability to manage conflict and solve problems  Strong leadership and management skills

All applicants should send resume, 2 letters of recommendation and police record to: Director, St. George’s Caye Resort P.O. Box 2030, Belize City

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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Modified mosquitoes begin blitz on dengue in Brazilian city 6 July 2015 by Andy Coghlan The insect assassins have been launched. Millions of genetically modified mosquitoes have descended on the Brazilian city of Piracicaba in the battle against dengue and a test in Florida is also in prospect.

The GM mosquitoes are all male, and when they mate with native females, they pass on a gene to offspring that causes the larvae to die before they mature.

The plan is to flood the area with GM mozzies to outnumber native males, gradually whittling down the numbers of dengue-transmitting mosquitoes.

The GM mosquitoes were designed by Oxitec of Abingdon, UK, and are bred en masse in a factory in Campinas, Brazil. The firm has a permit to commercialise and release the mozzies anywhere in Brazil.

Oxitec is also waiting for a permission from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test the mosquitoes on Key Haven in the Florida Keys.

Since April, 6 million GM mozzies have been released in the suburb of Piracicaba that is worst infested by Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that spreads the dengue fever virus.

“They’ve asked us to take on the neighbourhood that’s the worst to prove it works,” says Hadyn Parry, chief executive of Oxitec. “We hope that if it does, we can expand to a larger number of areas.”

Results up in lights The GM mosquitoes also carry a gene that makes the larvae they sire glow red under ultraviolet light, which allows scientists to see by eye how well the strategy is working.

By leaving pots of water, in which female mosquitoes lay eggs, at strategically important sites in the treatment zone, researchers can tell by counting the proportion of red larvae how well the treatment is working.

“It gives an instant readout of how successfully you’re driving down the native population,” says Parry.

So far, the pot-survey has revealed that half of the larvae in the area have been sired by the GM mosquitoes. “Reaching 50 per cent already means we’re on the same eradication curve as we’ve seen in earlier trials,” he says.

Switzerland trials postal deliveries by drone Swiss Post says widespread use of drones could take at least five years and focus would be delivering special items.

Male mosquitoes have been modified so any young they sire quickly die (Image: Oxitec)

A recent trial in a suburb of another Brazilian city, Juazeiro, showed that within six months the GM mosquitoes had reduced the native population by 95 per cent – below the theoretical level needed to transmit the disease.

“It showed that our method is more effective than any other at eradicating the mosquitoes that transmit disease,” says Parry. “With insecticides, nothing clears more than 50 per cent of the mosquitoes, whereas we got above 90 per cent.”

Whether the reduction of dengue-transmitting mosquitoes will actually lead to a drop in disease incidence is still to be seen.

“In theory, if you have fewer mosquitoes you have less transmission, but in reality, this is something we still need to investigate,” says Margareth Capurro of the University of Sao Paulo, and head of the Brazilian team that conducted the Brazilian-funded trial on behalf of Oxitec in Juazeiro.

“You can have lots of mosquitoes with only a few infected, or very few with all of them infected,” she says.

“If this happens, you suppress the population but don’t affect dengue transmission.”

Oxitec has plans to run a trial on an island to see if it can eliminate dengue using

this method.

Temporary measure Laith Yakob of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says the results are impressive but the effect may be temporary, just as it is with chemical spraying, because mosquitoes can move in from elsewhere and those remaining will multiply. So further modelling is needed to optimise the timing and location of releases to reduce and manage the burden of dengue.

“The level of control is phenomenal and although some wild mosquitoes remained, these were of such low numbers as to pose an all-but-eliminated threat of disease,” he says.

Oxitec is now hoping to win FDA approval for trials in Florida, as a preventative measure.

Parry says that the FDA has completed its review, and will soon publish it for a public consultation, before deciding whether to approve the trial.

Unlike in Brazil, where polls show high levels of public support for the technique, there has been considerable opposition in Florida.

This is not surprising, says Parry, because Brazil can see more than a million new cases of dengue a year, whereas Florida has hardly any.

8 Jul 2015 The Swiss postal service has started testing the use of drones to make deliveries, a move it says will help in emergencies and allow items to reach isolated areas.

Footage released by Swiss Post and its partners on Tuesday showed an unmanned drone, about the size of commercial devices used by hobbyists, in flight.

The company says it will be exploring the cost effectiveness of drone use, but does not expect widespread use until at least five years from now.

“The possible areas of application offered by drone technology are very diverse, ranging from delivery to peripheral areas to the express delivery of goods,” Swiss Post said in a statement, adding the technology could also be used in emergencies and for delivery of medicines.

“The use of drones in emergency situations is conceivable. This could, for example, involve bringing supplies to an area that has been cut off from the outside world following a storm.”

The drone, which was designed by the USbased company Matternet, boasts a light construction, a payload of up to 1 kilogram, and can fly 10km on a single charge.

Flight paths are modelled using GPS waypoints.

The company said it was “not realistic” that drones could replace conventional delivery methods.

“This is unthinkable in our already overloaded, small airspace when more than 500,000 postal parcels are currently delivered per day, and over a million per day during the Christmas season,” the statement read.

Regulatory obstacles Other limitations besides regulatory framework, would be the limited battery life current drone models offer, the company said.

In 2013, online retailer Amazon announced its intention to make deliveries by drone with “four to five years”, but the idea ran in to regulatory obstacles when the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published draft rules on drone use.

The FAA said drone use for commercial purposes would require special pilot certificates and the devices would not be allowed near crowded areas.

Activists have also expressed concern about the possible implications of drone use on privacy .

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THINK ABOUT IT A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS Oh! Far more men like him. With twelve such men Jesus changed the world.

With less than twenty, Fidel Castro came out of the hills of Cuba and overthrew the USA supported dictator Bautista.

History, both ancient and modern manifests many splendid examples of men and women standing up against the powerful, chancey systems of their times.

Belize has such men and women, Phillip Goldson, Antonio Soberanis, Will and Sharper, Gwendolyn Lizarraga, and the great George Price, among others.

But the times, at present, cry out for such men and women.

One such is the Reverend Dorick Wright, Bishop of the Ramon Catholic Diocese of Belize.

No religious leader in the history of Belize has ever stood up with such open and straight-forward bravery against governmental wrong doing in Belize. When the Minister of Education a few years ago introduced some weird “gender policy” it was Bishop Dorick Wright who marched in the streets of Belize to show how opposed the church was.

Now, in the face of the Prime Minister totally abusing his office to hijack Petro Caribe funds for his re-election, men and women of principle are required. The arrogance of passing a law to kick out the Finance & Audit Reform Act has not been sufficiently challenged. It took the National Trade Union Congress leaders months of confusion to see through the blatant trampling of public accountability which is the purpose of the law.

Little condemnation has taken place of the almost three hundred million dollars illegally withdrawn and spent by government from September 2012 to February 2015. A major media house like Love FM has gone out of its way to say as little as possible. This is an abdication of the duty of a media to be a facilitator for democracy and good governance.

Nowhere in the world is there any equivalent to what has been done by the current government. Not only was this incredible anti-democratic law passed in one Friday night, but the on-going abuse of Hugo Chavez’ vision of upliftment for poor people in Belize has been transformed into a grab-tub of party political frenzy.

A public statement denouncing this unholy Petro-Caribe law came thundering out of the Roman Catholic Church last Friday 3rd day of July in the year of our Lord 2015. Roman Catholics all across this country must feel renewed pride in their Bishop. Even as the Pope challenges world leaders to stick to principles and do the right thing so has Bishop Wright socked it to our Prime Minister for allowing his hunger for power to lead him astray.

Our Prime Minister has become hungry for power that it is no longer about the best interest of the nation and its people.

Bishop Dorick Wright’s stinging rebuke of the Prime Minister’s worthless law is not to be taken lightly. He must have prayed and asked for Divine guidance for many weeks. We are so proud of the Bishop. So very, very proud. That a religious

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THE BELIZE TIMES

leader with no interest in party politics should take such a strong public stand against a law that should have never even been thought of, much less passed in this country.

THE LADY IS A HERO Mrs. Alvarine Burgess made a complaint to the Ombudsman office around October last year. Predictably, nothing was done.

She then asked to go public with her information. That information was a bombshell against Minister Edmund Castro and his corrupt government.

The allegations were that Minister Castro had been using his office in Belmopan to get visas for Chinese who never set foot in the country. For each visa, the allegation was that Castro collected two thousand dollars.

Castro publicly said it was a lie. He sued Mrs. Burgess so a Judge in the Supreme Court could punish her and vindicate Minister Castro who has developed quite a reputation.

Last Friday, after all witnesses had testified in Court, Castro pulled a Houdini and wiggled out of his own lawsuit. He withdrew the case. Yes, his reputation was supposed to have been deeply damaged.

He was accused of being a low-down dirty criminal, selling visas to potential terrorists for all we know, for filthy lucre.

When it was his turn to testify in his defense, he ended up admitting he used his office to facilitate the visa hustle swirling around the Immigration Ministry.

How does a Minister of Government withdraw his only attempt in Court to clear his reputation and think that he can merrily continue to pretend that he will retain his office? Only if he had assurances from his Prime Minister that “no force on Earth will be able to cause him to resign”.

As for the brave lady who brought the skullduggery to the public attention, the UDP mouth-pieces and character assassins had a field day tearing her to pieces.

Last Friday, as Castro ate his vomit and rushed away from the Judge’s courtroom it was Mrs. Alvarine Burgess whose character was a shining beacon of truth and heroism.

Belize needs more Alvarine Burgess, and less Edmund Castro.

CHESTER WILLIAMS Chester Williams is a Senior Superintendent of Belize. He is now much more than that.

He rose from humble beginnings with a primary school certificate. He went through the ranks of the Police department to be the Head of the Crime Investigation Branch where he distinguished himself in capturing real bad guys and getting convictions.

In his spare time Mr. Williams attended evening classes and started racking up examination success, particularly in legal courses from overseas institutions of learning.

A change of government in 2008 unleashed a new level of victimization in Belize. Students had their scholarships arbitrarily taken away. Home owners were

driven out of their homes for struggling to keep up with their mortgages. Land-owners by the hundreds and the thousands had their leases cancelled and their titles put in cardboard boxes, or re-done in UDP cronies’ names. Jobs were taken away and promotions reversed. In the case of Chester Williams, high profile crime fighter, none other than the Prime Minister let it be known that he was marked for demotion and obscurity.

He was ordered to be removed from C.I.B. and go to a tiny room in a corner of Belmopan Station with one chair and one desk. His Commissioner, the able and affable Mr. Gerald Westby was bamboozled and suckered into tendering his resignation. Since then a series of hapless, hopeless UDP cronies were given the job of Police Commissioner. Today, after seven years of such pettiness, crime is at an all-time crisis level and the Prime Minister has the record of presiding over one thousand murders since taking up office.

Chester Williams fought his unjust demotion and succeeded in the Supreme Court of Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh.

Months after, Abdulai was told to leave his job or be forced out.

Chester Williams applied for a government scholarship to study law. The reply was he must be joking. He wasn’t, he borrowed money and went anyway.

Today, Chester Williams is a role model and a hero. He proudly holds a law degree from the University of the West Indies and will shortly be rewarded with the two years Certificate in higher legal training from the Norman Manley Law School.

Big respect is due to Mr. Chester Williams, his wife, his family, his friends and the lawyers who encouraged and supported his quest. He now follows his dream to one day be the Commissioner of Police and make Belize a tranquil haven of safety.

But danger lurks for Chester Williams.

On Monday 6 July, 2015 he held a press briefing to inform that Eastern division Belize City of the Police would no longer exist. The Police Commissioner had restructured the Command. It would now be Eastern division for Southside; Eastern division for Northside; Eastern division for the rural areas of the Belize District. Each under the responsibility of a top ranking cop.

Chester was put in charge of the southside of Belize City. This is a calculated set-up to destroy Chester Williams. The southside of Belize City is the crime capital and murder citadel of the country. It is by far the most neglected area of the country. It’s social fabric and social structure is in tatters. Economic activity is non-existent. No new basketball court or football field has been constructed for the past seven years.

Not a single new park or play-ground for the children. Ninety percent of its existing playgrounds are broken and abandoned. No new business has opened their doors. No new schools have been opened. No residents want to be out of their homes after dark. The scene is a dismal, dark and dreary one. A community swimming pool in the backyard of the Raccoon Street Police Station, financed by Baron Bliss funds has been sabotaged the very month the UDP became government.

The six area “representatives” should be arrested and denied bail for criminal neglect and robbery of the future of the young people living in those

2015 areas.

Southside is not the responsibility of Chester Williams or the Police Department solely. It needs a Cabinet Minister (none of the existing ones) specifically in charge of socio-economic revival. Crime is the result of economic and social conditions. Some of the desperately poor people will be tempted to steal and rob.

What other choices do they have? Weed selling, hustling, and burglary are the only options for many. Hand-outs and political bribery is no solution; it is part of the problem. Don’t just give a man a fish; teach and equip him how to go fishing.

We note the Police Commissioner was absent from Chester’s press briefing. The Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry was missing. The unproductive Police Minister was probably watching a football game on TV. Not one single elected area representative for the besieged people on southside was present at what should have been the unveiling of some hope against the blood-letting that keeps be-deviling the city.

The government has no interest in fighting crime or bettering the conditions of the poor, unfortunate residents of south-side, Belize City.

God help the children.

B.T.L. IN RED The national telephone company, B.T.L ,was stolen from its owners since 2009 by the government. The son of the Prime Minister is the prime minister of this multi-million money maker.

B.T.L is being used to sponsor semiUDP events.

But worst, B.T.L was white and purple. So were its building, billboards advertisements and t-shirts. But today, you guessed it, B.T.L is now red.

BBHMM Rihanna, the superstar singer from Barbados who has gone international and whose songs sell in the millions, has released her latest hit from her upcoming album.

One of the songs getting rave reviews is “B*^% Better Have My Money”. It’s about Rihanna’s accountant who caused her to lose over nine million dollars.

In the music video, which opens with the warning about its language, nudity and violence, Rihanna kidnaps and tortures the wife of the crooked accountant, the B*^% who better have her money. When that doesn’t get results Rihanna deals with the husband.

Blood and an ending with Rihanna with a suitcase of cash.

The video has been viewed 12 million times. Rihanna has 22 million followers on twitter.

Why can’t our do-nothing music Ambassador arrange a link-up for Tanya Carter and Rihanna, both Caribbean talents?

By the way Rihanna’s video is a ripoff of Tanya’s video, Crazy, where Tanya kidnaps a cheating boyfriend, burns up his ride and pulls off a chainsaw on him.

Rihanna’s song can be re-tooled to “Barrow Better Have Our Money” for all those millions he is wasting out of Petro Caribe while half our population suffering in poverty.

BBHOM.

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2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

A lousy Politician and 3 luxury Prados!

Belize Government’s recent actions show troubling disregard for Maya property rights, UN expert warns GENEVA (7 July 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, today urged the Government of Belize to ensure respect for the rights of the country’s Maya people to non-discrimination and traditional property.

“Under international human rights standards, indigenous peoples have the right to use, develop and also to control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership,” Ms. Tauli-Corpuz emphasized.

The independent expert’s call comes after the arrest of 12 Maya people and local leaders charged with unlawful imprisonment for their actions to remove a non-Maya individual, Rupert Myles, from their village lands. Mr. Myles was allegedly building a housing structure on ancient Maya ruins in the village of Santa Cruz, in violation of Maya customary law and apparently despite repeated requests for the removal of the structure.

“It appears as though the repeated requests to local police by Santa Cruz village leaders for assistance in removing the individual from the archaeological site within their village lands, went ignored,” the Special Rapporteur noted.

“I am concerned by the inaction of the Government of Belize to assist Maya villagers to protect their property rights in the face of threats to those rights.”

Santa Cruz is one of some 39 Maya villages within the Toledo District of Belize, whose rights to traditional lands have been affirmed by the legal system in Belize, including most recently in April 2015 by the Caribbean Court of Justice, the highest court of appeals in the Belize legal system.

“The Maya village of Santa Cruz holds customary rights to its village lands which the government must respect and protect, as affirmed by a 2007 decision of the Supreme Court of Belize,” Ms. Tauli-Corpuz noted.

The Special Rapporteur urged the Government to establish a dialogue with Maya leadership and discuss outstanding issues of concern regarding this case, as well as the broader land tenure situation of the Maya people, in

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a spirit of partnership and mutual respect. “The current situation of conflict and mistrust cannot be allowed to persist,” she added.

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Philippines), is a human rights activist working on indigenous peoples’ rights. Her work for more than three decades has been focused on movement building among indigenous peoples and also among women, and she has worked as an educator-trainer on human rights, development and indigenous peoples in various contexts. She is a member of the Kankana-ey, Igorot indigenous peoples in the Cordillera Region in the Philippines. As Special Rapporteur, she is independent from any government or organization and serves in his individual capacity.

CARTOON

Corozal Town, June 29, 2015 This is a tale of one lousy politician and his three Prados. The UDP politician who belongs to the red party has amassed unknown wealth during his time in office as the Corozal Bay area representative.

He now has a three-storey mansion home, forgetting some of the very poor who still live in shabby homes.

The politician, an electrician by career, has mismanaged the Health Ministry and every now and again crisis hits the important Ministry such as outbreaks of infections killing babies, poor maternal health care, rats occupying hospital kitchens and monies going missing or being fleeced under large-scale pharmaceutical hustling.

But it is his penchant for Prados that has caught our attention.

No less than three late-model Toyota Prado SUVs sit outside Pablo Marin’s home. An interesting story follows each one.

The red Prado is his favourite, we are told. This one he got in 2008 when he became the Minister of Health under the first term of the Dean Barrow administration. It was originally white

in colour, but after Pablo acquired the vehicle (reports are for a measly $3,000), he painted it red and his wife drove it for some years.

The white one is a 2014 Prado. It was the second vehicle purchased for him as Minister of Health with tons of taxpayers’ money, at a cost of almost $90,000 (going by local distributor’s estimates). We will see how long it takes before this one also becomes part of his personal property.

Then there is the surreptitious-looking grey one. This too is a $90,000 2014 Prado. Under our local laws, vehicles must bear license plates, but this one is driven around by the Minister and his common law partner even though it has no license plates. Also, one cannot tell if it has no plates because it is not legally registered in Belize.

When a vehicle does not have license plates, one would suspect that the owner is either defying the laws or the vehicle is stolen loot, possibly from Guatemala. Of course, Pablo can clear any suspicion by properly identifying his vehicle and following our transport regulations.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

12 JUL

2015