Belize Times July 24, 2016

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

24 JULY 2016 | ISSUE NO: 5003

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

BELMOPAN BANDITS Pastor Llewelyn Lucas Belize City, July 2016 Everything that can go wrong continues to go wrong under the worst Prime Minister this country has had.

Of the previous three Prime Ministers, Dean Barrow is in a class by himself. Corruption has become endemic in the sheer inability to manage the nation manifests itself in an

Pg. 3

John Saldivar

Who is Accused Murderer Mastermind William Mason?

PUP LEADER CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF JOHN SALDIVAR AS MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY

Pg. 4

BARROW’S WORTHLESS DEAL WITH ASHCROFT Pg. 16

Dean Barrow

Anwar Barrow

Denys Barrow

Con man under investigation for murder

William Mason, GSU boss Mark Flowers, Public Officer and Manager of Belmopan Bandits, Jesus Castillo

Pg. 6

GSU BOSS MARK FLOWERS ACCUSED OF CARNAL KNOWLEDGE Pg. 4

419 DAYS SINCE BARROW LOST THE SARSTOON

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Belize City, July 12, 2016 Belize continues to be one of the murder capitals in the world with high murder and violent crime rates.

The number of murders in the country has increased in the first half of the year when compared to last year. This is according to the Police Department who released their statistics on crime last week.

Tragically, the total number of murders from January to June 2016 is already at a whopping 74. Last year, for the same period, the total was 73.

This total is one too many lives lost in our small, developing country.

With a population of just 330,000 our society seems spiralling down into murderous chaos, with high crime and contagious social decay.

Of course, this is the result of neglect from the Barrow administration. Despite the millions poured into white elephant projects which see UDP fat cats signing million dollar contracts, the crumbs trickling down to our ordinary people are not enough. Poverty has been increasing, pushing many young people out of school. With too few opportunities for a second chance to get it right, they then turn to a life of crime.

Distressing about the Police’s statistics is that the nation’s justice system continues to deteriorate.

The figures show that while there were 36 arrests for the 73 murders that occurred from January to June 2015, there were only 24 arrests for 74 murders for the same period this year. This is a terrible state of affairs, and a sad reality for our Police Department who struggle with limited resources in their crimes investigation. A forensics building built under

Crisis en Corozal Norte!

!

Saludos a la linda gente de Corozal Norte Mi Nombre es David Jesús Castillo, represento la Constituencia de Corozal Norte bajo el Partido Unido del Pueblo.

Este mensaje es para hacer saber mi coraje sobre la situación actual de la empacadora y compañía de papaya. Este coraje no se extiende a su administración empresaria sino a nuestros líderes gubernamentales que fueron incapaces de buscar solución a este gran mal.

En la temporada anterior previo a las elecciones generales del 4 de noviembre 2015 el Hon. Hugo Patt fue Ministro de Estado en el Ministerio de Recursos Naturales y Agricultura. Ahora presente Ministro de Gobierno Local, Empleo y Desarrollo Rural. A este honorable señor, líder y representante del área de Corozal Norte bajo este presente Gobierno UDP. ¿Te digo, adonde estabas y que hiciste para auxiliar la compañía de la papaya? ¿Cómo representaste a los ciudadanos de Corozal Norte que depende del trabajo en esta industria? Tuviste responsabilidad de agricultura bajo tu mano, y ahora la del desarrollo rural y empleo. Que planes tienes para esos cientos de empleados que ya no tienen donde ganar su pan de cada día. La gente no quiere una dependencia del gobierno y menos de su ministro Sr. Patt. La gente quiere una seguridad de empleo con cual mantener a su familia no unos 3 días sino los 365 días del año.

Señoras y Señores, el mal está hecho nuestro bello país rico de recursos naturales con el cual trabajar y con potencial agrícola se ve enfrentado a una gran crisis. ¡No recibe el apoyo debido del gobierno¡ ¡Se ve la importancia que el sector agrícola recibe! Se vio con la sequia de maíz, se vio con la industria cañera, se vio con la industria

21 Jul

de papaya y una vez más se verá cuando la bella gente no pueda pagar su préstamo bancario, mandar a sus hijos en la escuela, componer su techo que pasa agua, vestir a sus hijos o curarlos cuando estén enfermos.

Como establecí antes, y ahora re afirmo, mi compromiso esta en Corozal Norte. Y ese compromiso es “Servir al Pueblo”. Yo soy David Jesús Castillo y represento a Corozal Norte orgullosamente del Partido Unido del Pueblo.

Firma, David Jesús Castillo Corozal Norte PUP

WEATHER 22 Jul

23 Jul

24 Jul

2016

Kent Brooks Jr. Dies 11 Days after Shooting

MURDER CAPITAL

OUT

LOCAL

24 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Kent Brooks Jr., 18, was shot on June 29th as he hung out with his friend Kieran Morrison in front of Morrison’s home on LaCroix Boulevard, behind the Charles Bartlett Hyde Complex Building. Morrison was hit multiple times and died shortly after before he could be rushed to the hospital. Brooks was hit to the lower back and rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Eleven days after, he passed away at the KHMH Sunday.

Brooks’ family had been optimistic that he would pull through even though doctors only gave him a 20% chance of survival. The bullet which penetrated his lower back damaged several of his organs and he underwent several surgeries in an attempt to save his life.

Police have made no arrests in the shooting which has now led to two murders. It is believed to have been sparked by a rivalry between gangs in that neighborhood – PIV and Backalands. Following that incident Police moved quickly to meet with members from both gangs to keep the peace, and at the same time increased presence in the area, along with checkpoints.

The investigation has been ham-

the former PUP Administration has not received the support under the Barrow Administration. The Forensic Unit has only served to give a political crony the top job and salary.

Titles such as “Murder Capital” and “3rd Most Dangerous Country in the World” (given to Belize by the United Nations Global Study on Homicide) will continue to hang over Belize like a dark cloud, as a result of the Barrow Administration’s failure to tackle crime at its root.

Last year, when crime stats for the first half of the year was at 73, it was under a politically-sensitive environment in which the Prime Minister was contemplating early elections. This meant short-term jobs were easy to find. Now that the elections are done, those jobs are nowhere to be seen. This is one of the reasons the streets have become even very volatile.

2625Mar Jul

pered, as so many recently have been, by witnesses refusing to give statements. ACP Chester Williams told the media that “we basically have an idea who is the trigger man behind those two murders, but the difficulty always is getting people to give statements as it relates to what they may have seen in respect of these incidents.”

As for the family of the fallen youth, his father Kent Brooks Sr. has stated that he just wants the youth in the area to put down the guns and stop the violence.

The BELIZE TIMES extends sincere condolences to the family of Kent Brooks Jr. His father, Kent Brooks Sr. was a longtime member of our family here at the newspaper.

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

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serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

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

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24 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

BELMOPAN BANDITS

Continued from page 1 ongoing series of the most disturbing events ever witnessed in Belize.

The news over the weekend has shocked Belizeans at home and abroad to their bones. Persons driving around with the head of a public known Pastor Llewelyn Lucas.

Never in the history of Belize has such an atrocity been committed before.

Pastor Lu as he is popularly known had his head chopped off and placed in a sack in a five-gallon bucket. His body is suspected of being burnt on a farm.

The alleged perpetrators are sitting at a bar casually relaxing, while the decapitated head is inside their vehicle, outside the bar.

The persons accused of this atrocity were taken into custody around 8:30 p.m Friday on Friday 15th July. Yet it was not until late Monday evening that they were taken from the Belmopan Police Station to the Belmopan Magistrate Court to be arraigned. That arraignment did not happen as the paper-work was botched-up by the Police. The arraignment had to be done the following day in Belize City, where the crime did not take place and the Magistrate had no authority to preside. That is the least of all the gross errors to come to light.

It is now clear that the alleged ring-leader, one William Mason, who is not really named William Mason was a big-shot with the UDP government.

The UDP ministers were falling all over

themselves to serve this individual. It has come to light that Mason was appointed to the City Emergency Management Office (CEMO). He was given a false Belizean birth certificate showing he was born in Crooked Tree Village, when no such thing happened.

Mason became an instructor for the Belize City Council. He became a facilitator for the government and a financier to several government Ministers, including Minister John Saldivar, Minister of National Security. Saldivar was forced to acknowledge, publicly at a press conference that he did receive monies from Mason for his football team, named Bandits. The Minister refused to tell the nation how much monies were received.

Mason was introduced by another Minister to the Mennonite Community as the man they must deal with to solve the corn export problem. This led to Mason collecting three hundred dollars which he was accused of pocketing and not doing the job. The Police at the Belmopan Police Headquarters was informed of this “extortion”. In addition, the Police had further received complaint that Mason had kidnapped a husband and wife from the Mennonite Community kept them imprisoned at his farm and only released them after the payment of one hundred and forty thousand dollars in “ransom” money.

At a weird press conference on Monday the Police raised more questions than answers.

At their press conference, attended

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by a sheepish looking Minister of government Hon John Saldivar, the Acting Commissioner of Police Russell Blackett, gave an incredible explanation to a question.

Pastor Luis Wade of Plus T.V. asked him about the allegation that Mason had kidnapped a Mennonite couple for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Blackett said his officers were unable to enter Mason’s residence and compound in Belmopan because it was risky to do so.

The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that when Mason and the other accused murderers who are charged with him kidnapped Llewellyn Lucas on Friday there were two other pastors in the vehicle with Lucas. They were all handcuffed and masked and taken against their will from Mason’s Belmopan Mansion to his farm on mile 13 on the George Price Highway.

They were released later that evening with the strong warning that they and their family would be killed if they made any reports to the Police.

On their release one of the persons made a report to the Police. This is how the Police were forced to seek Mr. Mason. They found him and his cohorts lounging at a public bar as if they were waiting for someone. Mason refused to be searched or allow the Police to search his vehicle. When the Police finally broke into his vehicle this is how they found Pastor Lucas’ head.

They were to later the following day locate the body on Mr. Mason’s farm.

Since Saturday 16th July, 2016 Facebook and other social media have gone into high gear over this bizarre incident.

Additional information has since emerged as serious accusations are being levied against the Prime Minister and his Min-

3 03 isters. This sensational and gruesome murder has now ballooned into a full scale scandal regarding another cesspool of corruption involving U.D.P. Ministers. Ministers are falling over themselves denying any shady association with Mason and of receiving large amounts of illegal monies as special gifts and campaign donations.

The scandal has already caused major damage to the Government of Dean Barrow. And the Leader of the Opposition Hon. John Briceno has called on the Prime Minister to appoint an independent investigator from abroad into this mother of all scandals.

It will be remembered that Prime Minister Barrow had defied the nation’s outcry and refused to allow investigations into the criminal actions of former Minister and Elvin Penner.

The Prime Minister has a duty to come clean to the people of Belize who are angry and fed up with the scandal and corruption and want those who are guilty to be punished.

4 04

THE BELIZE TIMES

PUP LEADER CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF JOHN SALDIVAR AS MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY Belize City, July 19 2016 The People’s United Party is appalled and seriously concerned regarding the information surrounding alleged criminal, conman and heavily politically-connected William Mason. The gruesome discovery of the head of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas in the possession of the said William Mason and three others has exposed major weaknesses in several critical government departments and an incestuous relationship between Mr. Mason, Minister of National Security John Saldivar, other Ministers of Government, UDP politicians, and several members of the Belize Police Department.

The PUP is calling for the removal of Minister of National Security John Saldivar who admitted to having a business relationship with Mason, and also for a thorough investigation as to how this foreign-born individual with a shady past could have obtained a Belizean birth certificate, and multiple gun licenses, and why an investigation was never initiated when two Mennonite persons were allegedly kidnapped and extorted hundreds of thousand dollars by Mason two months ago. If the Police had investigated and arrested Mr. Mason then, Pastor Lucas would probably have been alive today.

Furthermore, the PUP is recommending that an international investigator be hired posthaste to investigate Pastor Lue’s horrific death, since this case may require the Police to question and possibly investigate sitting Cabinet Ministers for context, something they have proven unable to do in the not so distant past, ala the Penner Passport Scandal and the Edmond Castro visa scandal.

The Belizean People lack confidence in the Government to ensure that a proper and impartial investigation is conducted when senior members of their government may be implicated.

The PUP is also concerned regarding reports that William Mason has been given special privileges as a result of his connections with high-ranking Ministers in Government. In fact, the Belizean people deserve an explanation as to how this alleged criminal could have been hired by the City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO) to conduct training on their behalf.

The PUP will continue to monitor these disturbing events closely, and calls on all Belizeans to do the same.

GSU BOSS MARK FLOWERS ACCUSED OF CARNAL KNOWLEDGE Belize City, July 20, 2016 Head of the Gang Suppression Unit, Mark Flowers, is currently under investigation after the Domestic Violence Unit of the Police Department received a report that he sexually assaulted an underage girl, said to be 14. The report was made by the child’s mother who told Police that it happened earlier this year.

Acting Commissioner of Police Russell Blackett today confirmed those reports, claiming that they are dealing with the matter expeditiously but comprehensively.

“I was called by the Commander of the North, Sr. Supt. Grinage and he told me certain things on the same topic. I told him to launch the investigation and presently by sometime today I should get the result of that investigation to review the reports and to see what has been said,” Blackett told the media.

He also confirmed that if that report is true, Flowers will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law - “We want to make sure that it is not malice and that whatever it contains and once it’s true then we take the legal actions. Nobody is above the law, not even myself”.

As head of the controversial GSU Flowers is known as an unapologetic political operative and has gone on record in support of the United Democratic Party. He is currently on vacation leave so was unavailable for comment. The question and concern is whether Flowers’ political connections will interfere in the investigations.

24 JUL

2016

HARD KNOCKS

The Perfect Storm We told you it was coming. We warned you. The UDP is a ticking time bomb about to implode in a million tiny pieces. I swear…just too many egos, too few brains, very little competence and a freaking heaping helping of corruption. It’s a recipe for disaster. So said so done. Check what’s going on with this head-case William Mason.

You watch what’s going to happen with that. It ain’t going to be nothing nice. You see whose names are going to be called when that canary starts singing its evil heart out. But it’s more than that. This is some scary stuff. Stuff we’re not used to. You just watch.

The Bandits John Saldivar is going to go down because of this Mason thing. Mark my words. There’s a whole lot he’s not saying. Just check out his shifty eyes. I hear that this guy contributed $50Gs to the Belmopan Bandits. Now tek sense outta nonsense. This is a con man, a shifty fellow who has scammed people all over the world. But he just decides to give $50,000 to a football team just cause he likes sports?

Nah man hell no. The thing is, what did he get in return from Minister Bandit himself? Don’t think it was just a Bandits T-shirt, hat and a hug. Nope, this fellow got something from the man who is one of the most powerful Ministers in the UDP in charge of the whole Police force. You can bet your last Bandit on that, and trust me on this – the truth will come out, and in the plump minister’s case, it won’t set him free, it will bring him to his knees.

Oh Damn DPM And then check this one out. On the night of his swearing in Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber just decides you know what, I’ll go take a couple drinks with this fellow I only met once.

There’s much more to that story. Think is this – the new DPM loves his devil juice, and when he gets that devil juice in him he does the craziest damn things like punch women in the face. He’s been known to break up stuff and even throw cement blocks at windshields. So here I am, this guy Mason with no morals, and I’m all about blackmailing people and running scams, and oh yeah, I have all these cameras at my house recording everything, and here I have this Minister who likes to do all this wild stuff when he drinks.

It’s like the perfect setup. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when the Police go through all those surveillance tapes but just wait for it…it’ll all come out. I know the DPM is having some sleepless nights right about now. It’s going to get worse.

Anonymous Belize Ain’t that just the craziest thing, this video that names all these UDP Ministers and their affiliates as part of a massive ring of corruption? Names like John Saldivar of course, and Gaspar Vega and Erwin Contreras and even Frank Mena. Interesting stuff – remember that tape recording where Melvin Hulse was saying that ‘Papa’ Mena into some bad stuff? Don’t be so quick to dismiss the allegations in that video. Just to throw something out there. ‘Papa’ Mena was also one of William Mason’s close friends. In fact, Mason even contributed financially to his campaign. Why? What’s the deal there?

Some people are sweating bullets right now. Some high up people who know that their secrets are about to come out. Hell the video even names John Saldivar’s minions (except Dougie can’t be a minion cause he’s too damn large) but even Russell Hyde is in there. It’s a curious thing cause Russell Hyde always used to be telling people that he had protection in very high places. Dorothy you’re not in Kansas anymore.

Bogus Barrow You know what’s maybe the most interesting thing? Why doesn’t the Prime Minister deal with all this crap happening with his ministers? Think about it. His DPM hanging out and drinking with a known con man who was already accused of a violent kidnapping. His Minister of National Security accepting money from Mason and hanging out at his house. High-ranking Police Officers taking selfies with this guy as his home. Something is definitely wrong with that whole picture, but Mr. Barrow says that we are just blowing things out of proportion. Why, Mr. Barrow? Is there something we don’t know? Did you ever go hang out at the home of William Mason? Inquiring minds want to know.

24 JUL

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 05

EDITORIAL

P

Big Trouble!

rime Minister Dean Barrow was singing off a familiar song sheet today when he went on the airwaves to answer questions about possible relations between members of his Cabinet and conman/ international criminal “William Mason/Raj Oulett/Danny Mason”, whose extent of shady and criminal behaviour in Belize we are only learning about as the days go by. This is the same song sheet from which Barrow crowed when the Penner scandal broke in September 2014, followed by the visa scandal involving Cabinet members getting rich facilitating unethical “Government services”. “For God sake’s stop it”, Barrow said then and today, in a sorrowful tone, he hoped his Ministers were not too involved with the frightening character.

Barrow admitted that the debacle is yet another political embarrassment for his administration. We believe his was a calculated understatement.

The Prime Minister might best brace himself for much more that will be coming out in the William Mason/UDP affairs saga. John Saldivar was the first to confess that a healthy business relationship existed with “Mason”, followed by Patrick Faber who said he had drinks and a victory party at the man’s house. We were surprised at Godwin Hulse’s response because the Senator should know better than to think that the truth can be hidden under a bushel. From photos circulated on social media, we know the Gang Suppression Unit is highly compromised as their Commander has also been to Mason’s home. From the Prime Minister, we learnt that Frank Papa Mena was involved with “Mason” and accepted financial contributions. So, who is next? What about you Erwin? Gapi, why are you so silent? Might there be any Elringtons involved?

It is unclear when exactly Mason arrived and established himself in Belize as a financial source or handyman for senior Government officials but it is clear that he was treated like a gold mine. The conman with a history of dirty deeds in other countries became known in Belize as William Mason. Over the years, he acquired many properties, business and social relations in high places, even a birth certificate and gun license under false pretences.

The stories of Mason’s dirty deeds in Belize are being compiled in a long list. Authorities are not being fully forthcoming about what they know, and only recently admitted that Mason masterminded the extortion of a Mennonite businessman and his wife. The Police say Mason has been hard to catch, but we are not fools. One

month ago, Mason was starring in a City Council press conference with his counterpart Phillip Willoughby as he introduced his company, Belize Medical Technology, and the tremendous services it offers to the people of Belize in case of disaster or emergency. Had the Police wanted to detain Mason for extortion, they could have easily done so.

While the entire UDP Cabinet is under scrutiny, it is the Big Deal from Belmopan who is most in trouble and he knows this. At a press conference on Monday John Saldivar failed to distance himself from Mason, after admitting that the businessman had donated to his football club. The journalists were very sceptical and even tried to make connections using Pastor Llewelyn Lucas’ most recent Facebook posts in which he named John Saldivar as the source of serious personal family troubles he was experiencing. Saldivar was shaky and visibly discomforted. Some say the look on his face looked guilty even.

The Opposition Leader’s Hon. John Briceno call for Saldivar to be removed as the Minister of National Security (Police) is on target. How can Saldivar, already connected to Mason, lead the organisation investigating the murder? This is like having a fat rat minding the cheese.

Hon. Briceno also reminded the public that this is not the first time that Government departments in charge of passports and birth certificates come under investigation. He reminded of scandals in the past such as Rafic Mohammad Labboun Allaboun who got his Belize birth certificate and passport under the name Wilhelm Dyck, a dead Mennonite. Allaboun even got a driver’s license in the City of Belmopan on August 31st 2012. A copy of the issued driver’s license card now obtained by Police shows that the number series doesn’t even correspond with the current number series.

Then there is the 2014 Won Hong Kim case in which UDP Politician Elvin Penner sold out Belizean national and passport to the international criminal.

There is also the 2015 case with David Nanes Shitnzer who was caught with a fraudulent passport, fake social security card, false drivers’ licenses and even fake nationality papers.

Corruption is deeply rooted in the UDP Administration. There has been no special machete to cut it off from its head when it has appeared. All we’ve gotten are excuses and cover ups from the Prime Minister and his Cabinet Ministers. Only time will tell whether a pastor’s beheading courtesy a political-connected conman is the last straw for Belizeans.

06 6

THE BELIZE TIMES

Who is Accused Murder

24 JUL

2016

Mastermind William Mason?

Belize City, July 20, 2016 The man accused, along with four others, of the grisly murder of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas, is allegedly a con artist and extortionist who has perpetrated schemes and milked persons out of money in the US, Canada, Africa, Guyana and now Belize.

While he was known as William Mason in Belize, he has also been known by names such as William Ferguson, Danny Ouellett, Ted Ouellett, Raj Ouellett and Ramesh Ouellett.

William Mason and GSU The BELIZE TIMES has been able to conboss Mark Flowers firm that Mason was also a very close affiliate of Minister of National Security John Saldivar, who admitted in a press conference on Monday that he has been to Mason’s hilltop home on various occasions. According to Saldivar, “In terms of my direct involvement with him at some point last year he had made some contributions to my football club the Bandits, but that is the extent of it. I have not heard from or seen Mr. Mason since September last year. We do not at this William Mason time have any friendship”.

Interestingly, in June 2015, at the same time he was a very close affiliate of Saldivar, Mason was able to obtain a fraudulent VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT birth certificate claiming that he was Belizean, born to his mother “Sharon Tillett” in Crooked Tree. In July 2015 he also obtained a Police Record in which The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) invites he is acknowledged as a native Belizean. It is beapplicants for the functions of National Consultant in the area of Information Systems/Media & lieved he used that record to obtain licenses for Communications. two weapons found on him – a 9mm pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun.

On an internet consumer protection blog, MaDuty station: Belize City son, or Raj Ouellet is identified as a scam artist who conned many persons out of many thousands of Qualifications: Essential: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology/ dollars in Toronto, Canada. He is also listed as CEO Communications or related fields from a recognized University. of a company in Guyana called 7 Oceanz which we are reliably informed was another scam and never Experience: Essential: 3 years of national working experience in Information materialized.

Technology, mass media communication and/or reporting, journalism.

In Belize, details emerging from the Police investigation show that Mason was an extortionist and Skills: Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy and tact to effectively communicate con specialist and names of prominent Belizeans are being named as persons who lost money to Mason. with senior level officials, multiple stakeholders and professionals from But he also has a history of violence. diverse cultural and professional backgrounds; resourcefulness, initiative, Canadian Lloyd Friesen and his wife, residents leadership qualities and skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive of Cayo, have told Police that they were kidnapped issues; oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral at gunpoint almost two months ago and taken to presentations, and technical documents; Demonstrated ability to Mason’s Outback Ranch near La Democracia. They effectively use a computer and utilize software such as Windows, had allegedly lost $300,000 to Mason for a partnerMicrosoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint Outlook, and ship which never materialized and were demandActive Directory. Thorough knowledge of Windows operating systems, ing back the money. Instead of giving back money, Internet Information Services, Web Services. Knowledge of Collaboration Mason launched a terrifying assault. Police sources say that Friesen and his wife begged for their lives technologies (Web, Video, Audio), Telephony systems, particularly VoIP and were released after arrangements were made base, HTML, Photoshop, Joomla blog and other web-based software for them to pay further sums of money to Mason programs weekly.

The Police knew that and never acted on it, Languages: Very good knowledge of English and working knowledge of Spanish which suggests that Mason had a protection net around him. A picture has surfaced which shows Letter of application, two current letters of recommendation and Deadline: Mason with head of the Gang Suppression Unit completed Personal History form (available at www.paho.org/blz Mark Flowers hugging up at Mason’s Intelco Heights Employment Opportunities) should be sent to P.O. Box 1834, Belize City hilltop home in Belmopan.

The BELIZE TIMES has confirmed that other no later than August 3, 2016 UDP Ministers visited Mason’s home, including Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber and Minister of An interview will be held for this position and only candidates under serious consideration will be State Frank Mena. Mena has reportedly confirmed contacted. that Mason financed some of his political work.

It is a tangled web of corruption, with Mason at PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form the center. It is believed that many more details will of tobacco. surface as the investigation proceeds.

24 JUL

2016

07 7

THE BELIZE TIMES

Questions to Ministers!

Who are the UDP Ministers who have visited the home of William Mason, aka Danny Mason, aka Rajesh Oullet?

What was the GSU boss Mark Flowers doing at William Mason’s house when the Police informed the media that it was difficult to reach Mason’s property to carry out an arrest?

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from July 15th, 2016.

NIKI ASSETS LTD.

Will the Ministry of Immigration carry out a thorough investigation to find out who was behind processing a false birth certificate for William Mason?

Does former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega know William Mason and did he have anything to do with Mason’s corn importation scams?

Belize Corporate Services Limited

Registered Agent

Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from July 14th, 2016.

CENTURY EXPORT TRADING LIMITED

ALEMAN, CORDERO, GALINDO & LEE TRUST (BELIZE) LIMITED

Who will be held responsible for the processing of Mason’s gun license, when not all the criteria was met for the license to be approved?

Registered Agent

Will the leader of Government business in the Senate demand a Senate inquiry into the newest immigration/ Police/Ministerial/UDP scandal centered on conman and now criminal suspect William Mason?

Notice is hereby given that the below companies have been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the July 14th, 2016.

MARKAN INVESTMENT LTD. FRESCO INTERNATIONAL LTD.

ICAZA BELIZE TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED

Regsitered Agent

08 8

THE BELIZE TIMES

GOB’s Costly Mispriorities

By Kevin Bernard, Mayor of Orange Walk Town My heart felt good when I looked at the proud faces of all these young Belizean athletes ready to go represent our country against athletes from all across the region. But my heart felt bad when I realized that our government and our Ministry of Sports could not finance one of the most important regional sporting events to be hosted in Belize.

My heart felt good for my country when I realized that we would be hosting this prestigious event in which hundreds of people would be coming here, to our little jewel. But my heart felt bad when I think that we had to shuffle them all over the country because we have no proper sporting facilities anywhere in this country. I felt ashamed that we had to host the opening at the Marion

Jones, which should have been a premier sporting facility but after years and years and millions and millions is still nowhere near adequate.

I’ve been keeping out of this half a billion dollar disaster for the most part. The PUP is attacking what is the worst deal and travesty in Belize’s history. And you know what? I think the people of Belize are slowly realizing that they were hoodwinked and bamboozled and tricked by a man who is a master of games. And when the chips start falling and people really get the sense, then Mr. Barrow will definitely get the sense. So I’ll leave the half a billion alone.

But I will say this. The government could not find $300,000 to host one of the most publicized and prestigious events in the region for the youths.

Think about that. The Sports Council had to beg all around and if certain

private organizations hadn’t helped, our children, our athletes, would probably have had to participate barefoot. Think about that in relation to the half a billion for BTL – one company owned by government and run by the PM’s son. Half a billion!

In Orange Walk we struggle every week to find the money to fix streets to benefit our people. It’s tough, since we get no help from the government. I look at all the graduates who have come out and there are no jobs, unless they want to go take their Associate’s Degrees and go sweep the roundabouts.

Government has no answer for that.

Teachers and public officers won’t be getting the raise they were promised by the Prime Minister just a few months ago. They may be getting 1%. Or they may be getting NOTHING. Because Government has NO money. Fuel is going up again. Regular Fuel will cost more than $10.00 a gallon very soon. Diesel will cost almost $10.00 a gallon. Because GOB is broke. They squandered Petrocaribe and now have nothing left to squander. But the Prime Minister is proud that WE will pay half a billion dollars for BTL. Forget the half a billion for a com-

The BCCI’s Perspective on the BTL Arbitration Award Tuesday 12th July, 2016 The Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), having reviewed the details of the BTL arbitration award, maintains the position it has held since 2009 that any nationalization should be an act of last resort since it undermines investor confidence.

Further we reiterate our view that the BTL accommodation agreement was an egregious document and that no government should make such a commitment ever again.

While the decision to negotiate the settlement of the acquisition of Belize Telemedia Ltd. is applauded, the BCCI cannot support the manner in which the negotiations were conducted.

A decision of such magnitude that affects all Belizeans should have had the benefit of consultation with the people of Belize. The BCCI also regrets that it took the government seven years to decide to negotiate. The extensive delay in settlement has cost this country in excess of BZ$150,000,000 in interest at a time when it can least afford to take on any further debt.

The most critical and sobering question now on the table is how to keep our country afloat while servicing our massive

24 JUL

2016 pany that is falling way behind in telecommunications. Imagine. Smart is a newcomer and already is way ahead of BTL. Smart has offered the fastest 4G LTE network for months now and BTL is still only offering its fake 4G which is more like 2.5Gs. That’s the truth. You go on social media and EVERYBODY is complaining about BTL’s service. EVERYBODY. Calls are crappy. Data is crappy. You know how many people – top level managers – have walked away from BTL because of its new policies and practices? A lot. Profits continue to fall. BTL is a dinosaur. That’s the truth. But now it’s a half a billion dollar dinosaur. And the Prime Minister’s son has made big bucks for mismanaging the company.

So that’s what’s on my mind these days. As a country we are doing so badly. As a people we need so much. Our youths are desperate and frustrated and angry. But Mr. Barrow and his family members and friends are all rich and laughing all the way to the bank.

The best came. Just not for us.

IN MEMORIAM In memory of a loving Husband, Father and Grandfather HAROLD A. MORTIS SR.

and growing national debt, and at the same time create economic growth for the benefit of Belize’s population.

To that end, there will be no improvement to the economy unless the government commits to the following: • No new taxes and no further tax increases. The issue of tax and duty evasion must be addressed with the utmost seriousness, and evaders must be dealt with to the fullest extent the law provides. Belize cannot afford the current scenario where a relatively small amount of businesses pay while a growing number escape the net. A level playing field is essential for progress.

• Increased efficiency and accountability in government. Inefficiencies in government place an undue burden on taxpayers. Structural effi-

ciencies can be obtained through strategic changes in energy management, asset management, service standardization, and merit-based personnel management, among other methods.

• Enabling Business. Measures and policy adjustments to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, business development and investment should be applied with urgency and with the goal of creating sustainable economic growth.

The threat to our economic viability is serious, and requires strong political will on the part of our leaders along with the energy and commitment of our citizens to turn the situation around. The Chamber makes itself available to assist and be an agent of positive change in any such effort.

We hold our tears when we speak your name But the aches in our hearts remain the same.

No one knows the sorrow we share When the family meets, and you are not there.

You fell asleep without saying goodbye.

But memories of you will never die In heaven there is rest, no worry, no pain.

We will meet again, though your smile is gone forever, and your hand we cannot touch.

Still we have so many memories of the one we love so much We know for sure that your spirit is with us all the time And we communicate in silence.

So continue to rest with our Lord Until that special day when we are together again.

Life will never be the same without you.

Sadly missed by children, grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

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2016 2016

HIGH COURT DRAMA FOR BEHEADING/ MURDER SUSPECTS Belize City, Tuesday, July 19, 2016 The murder of Dangriga pastor Llewellyn Lucas, 47, has sent shockwaves throughout Belize, and has sent a number of UDP politicians scrambling to disassociate themselves from the primary suspect, who is their own flimflam man, Williams Mason, a Guyanese native, whose Belmopan mansion and farm on the George Price Highway were frequently visited by senior UDP leaders.

Yesterday, Monday, the police attempted to have Manson and four others who were along with him when police found the decapitated head of Lucas in his pickup truck on Friday, charged in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court.

Those charges were not read, however. In fact, the Magistrate ordered the accused men to be released after their attorney Herbert Panton submitted that the prosecutor had failed to give the men their disclosure, which is in keeping with the new guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court that recently came into effect.

Police rearrested the men and arrangements were made for them to be arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court late Monday evening.

That arraignment did not take place and the men were shuttled away and were returned to the court on Tuesday morning.

But before the arraignment could take place in the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith, the Court was treated to the theatrics of attorney Panton, who characterized the charges that the state had laid on the accused men as “forum shopping.” Panton urged the Chief Magistrate to stand down the arraignment for two weeks, until the prosecutor could get all its ducks in one line.

The prosecution, however, had a surprise for Panton in the person of the Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, a trained attorney, who made counter submissions to the court.

ACP Williams, in a calm manner, explained to the court that the Police have evidence that the 5 accused men were found with the head of Pastor Luca in a vehicle and that the police have enough evidence to charge them for the offences for which they were accessed.

Williams was more than prepared for Panton. He cited a case law precedent and had copies to circulate to the Chief Magistrate and to Panton, who argued that the case law cited by Williams was not relevant to the pres-

9 SPORTS 09

THE BELIZE TIMES

VACANCY INTERNAL AUDITOR PACT is an environmental trust fund promoting the sustainable management and development of Belize’s natural resources and protected areas. It is a statutory authority managed by a Board of Directors with the mission of supporting the involvement of large and small organizations in the implementation of environmental conservation projects and programs through a strategic and transparent grant process.

Position Description: The Internal Auditor is primarily responsible for providing independent and objective assurance in order to add value and improve operations within PACT by bringing a systematic and disciplined approach to the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. The Internal Auditor shall gather information that can be analyzed and converted into valuable insights into how PACT can function more efficiently. In this regard, the Internal Auditor will also be required to conduct field visits to marine and terrestrial protected areas.

Professional and Skill Requirements: At least a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or equivalent.

At least two to four years’ work experience with a focus on financial risk and regulatory requirements. Exposure to operations management will be an asset.

(Equivalent combination of education with work experience will be considered).

Excellent knowledge of banking/financial business operations and risk-based auditing attained through 2 to 4 years of financial experience through Accounting/Auditing or related industry.

Skill Requirements           

Ability to manipulate large amounts of data and to compile detailed reports; Proven knowledge of auditing standards and procedures, laws, rules and regulations; High attention to detail and excellent analytical skills; Advanced computer skills in MS Office, accounting software and databases; Proven record of exercising sound independent judgment; Excellent problem solving skills; Strong skills in negotiating, relationship building, problem solving, and timely problem escalation; Excellent time management and organizational skills; Excellent written and oral communications skills; Proven track record of being reliable and confidential; and Ability to work under pressure and meet required deadlines.

Remuneration: Package commensurate with attractive salary. * Terms of Reference are available upon request.

ent situation.

Chief Magistrate Smith allowed Panton to continue to rant and rave until he sat down and she declared: “I am the Chief Magistrate of Belize and I will proceed with the arraignment.”

The 5 accused men stood up and she began to read the charges. Police charged the 46 year old William Mason AKA Ted Ouellet, 20 year old Ernest Castillo, 29 year old Keron Fernandez, 30 year old Terence Fernandez, and Ashton Venegas with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

The conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping occurred at Mason’s Belmopan house, and the murder and conspiracy to commit murder occurred at Mason’s farm, located between Miles 30 and 31 on the George Price Highway.

The four men charged along with Mason were along with him on Friday, July 15, when police found them at a club in the Industrial Site area of Belmopan. Police conducted a search on Mason and recovered two firearms, several rounds of ammunition.

In court ACP Williams said that police found what appeared to be the burnt remains of human flesh at Mason’s farm and that specimen from that has been sent to a lab outside of Belize for analysis.

Mason, a Guyanese-born, reportedly had obtained a birth certificate, which stated that he was born in Crooked Tree Village, Belize District.

Mason had also applied for a gun license, but his nationality information was not on the application.

The court has agreed on September 7, as the next court appearance date for the accused men, while case management is set for October 6. No date has been set for the preliminary inquiry as yet.

Applications with résumé listing two referees’ name and contact information; recommendation letters are to be provided upon request. Applications should be submitted no later than Monday, 1 August, 2016 to:

Executive Director Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) #3 Mango Street /P.O. Box 443 Belmopan, Cayo Re: Internal Auditor Vacancy

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Companies listed below have been dissolved and duly struck off the IBC Register as follows: NAME OF COMPANY KURIL FISHERY CORPORATION SAGITTARIA LTD. FENIX DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED HEESELWOOD ASSOCIATED S.A. GIAAN MARKETING LTD. OPOTIKI MARKETING LTD. ARAL INVESTMENTS LTD. BAT INVESTMENT LTD. TRENDEL CORPORATE LTD. NADEWORTH FINANCE LTD. B&B CORPORATION SERVICES LTD. ANGIE CONSULTING INC. GILMERS INTERNATIONAL INC. MOLTOR OVERSEAS LTD. VERVEKS INVEST LIMITED CARBON PROPERTIES S.A. BLUE COAST DECORATION LTD. BLAUVELT CORPORATION EUROZONA ASSETS INC. MONAR DEVELOPMENTS S.A. KALLU Limited ELVISA FINANCE INC. TEXAS PROJECTS S.A. CANWOOD ENTERPRISES LIMITED CLADWICK PROPERTY S.A. DINOZO COMPANY S.A. AWRIO PORTFOLIO INC. KORERAS CORP. RUFINA HOLDING S.A.

Date of Dissolution 2-Jun-16 2-Jun-16 2-Jun-16 3-Jun-16 3-Jun-16 3-Jun-16 8-Jun-16 9-Jun-16 10-Jun-16 10-Jun-16 11-Jun-16 16-Jun-16 16-Jun-16 16-Jun-16 17-Jun-16 17-Jun-16 17-Jun-16 18-Jun-16 18-Jun-16 18-Jun-16 22-Jun-16 24-Jun-16 24-Jun-16 24-Jun-16 24-Jun-16 24-Jun-16 24-Jun-16 24-Jun-16 29-Jun-16

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Ltd.

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San Pedro resident facing attempted murder charge Belize City, Friday, July 15, 2016 A construction worker and resident of San Pedro was remanded to prison this morning,

COP AND CONSTRUCTION WORKER CHARGED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF NEIGHBOR

ser. No plea was required from him because the charges that San Pedro Police brought against him are indictable and will be sent to the Supreme Court after a preliminary inquiry is held.

The charges that the Police brought against Carter are in relation to a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, July 13, when Dwayne Hyde, 30, was shot.

Carter was also charged with one count of aggravated assault on Kimberly Humes, who is Carter’s common-law wife.

On Wednesday, July 13, around 12:30 a.m., Dwayne Hyde, a resident of the island was shot on his abdomen allegedly by one of three men who had followed him to his house in the Escalante Division of the D.F.C. Area.

Luis Carter after charges of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm were read to him when he appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court.

Luis Carter was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fra-

2016 According to a report given to Police by Humes, she was at home when she heard a knock at their front door and when she opened the door; Hyde told her that his life was under threat.

Hyde was pursued by one of three men who entered his yard.

A struggle ensued and Hyde was shot once to the abdomen. During the struggle, Hyde was stabbed three times to the neck, mouth and abdomen.

Hyde’s attacker was later identified as Luis Carter, who was treated at the San Pedro Poly Clinic under heavy police guard, before he was transported to Court today.

In Court, no plea was taken from Hyde since the Senior Magistrate explained to him that due to the nature of the alleged offenses she could not grant him bail at this time, however, he can apply to the Supreme Court for bail with the assistance of an attorney.

Luis Carter was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until August 31, 2016.

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE PC Wallace Meighan

**Second Publication**

Belize City, Monday, July 18, 2016 Around 9:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 14, gunshots rang out in the area of the Lake Independence basketball court, located just behind the complex building (the Charles Bartlett Hyde building) from where a resident was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital suffering from a gunshot injury to the stomach.

The shooting victim, Nigel Castillo, 29, told police that he was shot by one of his neighbors who happened to be a police officer. Following their investigation, Police charged one of their own for the shooting, and recovered two guns, one of which is a police-issued weapon that was issued to the mother of the policeman, who is also employed at the Belize Police Department.

Today, charged 19 year old Constable Wallace Meighan and 21 year old Travaun Chee with the attempted murder of Castillo. PC Meighan, a resident of Mahogany Street Extension and Chee, a construction worker were both additionally charged with use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm.

The two appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser, who arraigned them on the charges, and explained to them that her court cannot offer them bail. Fraser advised the two accused that they can apply for bail at the Supreme Court. She remanded them to the Belize Central Prison until they are due back in court on September 7.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told the media that the police are of the view that the incident was not gang related. Williams noted that the shooting was the result of a petty feud between CasContinued on page 11

BY ORDER OF THE CHARGEE HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED, a Licensed Public Auctioneer will sell on site the following property at the time as listed.

At No. 159 Red Snapper Avenue, Vista Del Mar, Ladyville, Belize District on Monday 15th August 2016 at 1:30p.m.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 348.26 square metres being Parcel 1609, Block 16 in the Vista Del Mar Registration Section situate at No. 159 Red Snapper Avenue, Vista Del Mar, Ladyville, Belize District, TOGETHER with a cement bungalow house, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living room, dining room, recent extension for kitchen and wash room the freehold property of HURL M. HAMILTON.

DATED this 20th day of July 2016

All sales are strictly cash and deemed final. For more information contact: HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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RONLEE PETILLO, WHO HAS BEATEN TWO MURDER RAPS, REMANDED ON NEW MURDER CHARGE

Belize City, Monday, July 18, 2016 A Belize City man who has already beaten two murder cases, the last one as recently as one month ago, is back behind bars and accused of yet another murder.

Ronleee Petillo, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, where Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser read a charge of murder to him in connection with the shooting death of Roger William Banner, which occurred in Belize City on the night of July 9.

When Magistrate Fraser told him that as soon as he comes out, he is right back in prison, Petillo replied, “da so the Police dem work mommy.” He added, “I guess I just saal.”

Fraser advised that he needs to find a river and go and bathe off the saltiness.

“You know that you are charged for murder and you can’t get bail”, Fraser told the accused man, who hanged his head down.

Fraser remanded him to the Belize Central Prison, the place where he has already spent about a decade of his 28 years of life. He will return to Court on September 7.

Banner was shot and killed as he sat on a bridge on East Canal.

He was shot multiple times. Police believe that his murder was not gang related but had to do with his involvement in the selling of drugs.

COP AND CONSTRUCTION WORKER CHARGED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF NEIGHBOR Continued from page 10 tillo and two men who were arrested almost immediately after the shooting became known to police.

Castillo, in an interview with a television reporter the following day after he was released from the hospital, said that he and another man were having a conversation and the two guys came up and wanted to join in their conversation and because they told them that they didn’t want to hear anything, they turned on him.

The two accused, who are also Castillo’s neighbors, told him that they were going for their guns and he decided that he would walk home.

By the time the two men returned with their guns, Castillo was already in his yard. Castillo said that they ran across the other yard and just shot him in the presence of several onlookers.

Castillo has been incapacitated by the gunshot and must now use a walking stick. He said that the doctor who is attending to him told him that he will not be able to work for a while.

Ronleee Petillo

Petillo’s most recent murder accusation was for the murder of Miguel Rivera, a market vendor who was gunned down on Collet Canal.

The case against him and Matthew Smith fell apart when the main prosecution developed amnesia on the witness stand. The witness, who is a Mestizo man, told the court that at night “all black men look alike”.

The witness could not identify the accused as the men guilty of the crime, although he had identified them at a police identification parade.

Attorneys for Petillo and Smith

entered a no case to answer submission and Justice Adolph Lucas, who heard the case without a jury, upheld the submissions and acquitted the two accused murderers of the murder charge.

Petillo’s first murder charge was for the murder of Dennis Gladden.

Gladden was shot and killed in January 2006. Petillo was eighteen years old then. He was acquitted of that murder charge and served time for other offences, including attempted murder. Petillo has been linked

by Police to the notorious George Street Gang.

12 SPORTS

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

Eduardo José Mayo Poot repeats as Mr. Spartan 2016 Corozal Town, July 16, 2016 The 3rd Annual Spartan Fitness Club (SFC) Bodybuilding Classic held at the Andres Campos Civic Center in Corozal Town on Sunday, July 16, 2015 was another successful presentation of bodybuilding and fitness in Belize.

(L-R) Lalo Mayo, Rigo Vellos and Meffi de la Rosa

BTL & Belize Bank Bulldogs win softball games Belize City, July 15, 2016 Telemedia and Belize Bank Bulldogs both posted 2 wins in the 2016 Belize City female women’s softball competition at the Roger’s Stadium last Tuesday to Friday evening, July 12-15.

On Tuesday, July 12, the Bulldogs outlasted the Beacon girls 9-8 in a tie-breaker 9th inning last Tuesday, July 12.

On Wednesday, BTL shut down the Bulldogs 2-0 as Mary Flowers struck out 5 batters and the Bulldogs left 5 runners on base. BTL got 6 hits off Ashley Lucas’ pitching and Earline Belisle and Mary Flowers scored for BTL’s 2-0 win.

On Thursday July 14, the Bulldogs outlasted BTL 10-9.

On Friday July 15, Telemedia hammered Beacon 12-6.

Mary Flowers pitches

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BTL WINS 2 IN BDBA FIRMS BASKETBALL Belize City, July 16, 2016 Telemedia posted 2 back to back wins in the Belize District Basketball Association (BDBA) Firms competition, while Belize Water Services posted their 3rd win at Birds Isle on Saturday.

On Saturday, Telemedia posted their 4th win against the winless Civil Aviation Drones 99-78. Dave Apolonio led with 23pts.

On Thursday evening, Telemedia had badgered the defending champs Belize Bank Bulldogs 91-82.

Jason Vasquez top scored with 26pts. Bulldogs’ Marcel Orosco scored 28pts.

Other games: BWS vs. Heritage Bank - 80-69 Top scorers: Jamir Enriquez (BWS), Kevlin Rhoden (HB) - 21pts

BTL’s Otis Clother scored 10pts

Mayan Man Warriors leads Firms basketball with 7 wins Belize City, July 15, 2016 The Mayan Man Warriors posted their 7th win to lead the Belize District Basketball Association (BDBA) Firms competition at Birds Isle over the weekend.

The Mayan Man Warriors won 88-68 over the up-to-then undefeated Atlantic Bank. Sheldon Williams and Russel Humes topscored with 13pts apiece while Atlantic Bank’s Cassian Flowers scored 18pts.

Other matches: Central Health vs. Bowen & Bowen - 98-75 Top scorer: Travis Bernardez (CH), 25pts; Kadeem Olivera (B&B) 23pts Belize Bank Bulldogs vs. Atlantic Bank - 77-66 Top scorers: Rupert Brown/Roscoe Rhys, 17pts; Herman Ramos/ Jermaine Tillett, 19pts BCC Dragons vs. Infotel – 80-74 Top scorer: Andrew Vasquez (D), 21pts; Elvis Olivera (I), 38pts

Clarencia Jones made 3 runs

Earlene Belisle hits 1 run

Marshall Nunez Jr scored 9pts

B&B’s Kadeem Olivera dunks 23pts

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Belize prepares for FIFA U-17 World Cup Belize City, July 16, 2016 San Pedro FC, Brown Bombers and the Hattieville Riverside boys posted big wins on Saturday in the Belize District Football Association’s McLean Insurance Brokers Under-17 football competition being held to select a team for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. San Pedro FC schooled Carlston FC 3-0 with goals by Arnold Flowers in the 15th minute, Dixon Paguada in the 18th minute and Jhoan Alvarez in the 21st minute.

The Brown Bombers mauled Ladyville Jaguars 7-3 with Tyreek “Pippin” Muschamp scoring the 1st goal, while Christian Gladden, Sergio Andrade and Jovaun Ramos scored a goal apiece to lead 4-2 at the half. Ladyville’s Allen Anderson scored a hat trick with 2 goals in the 1st half and a 3rd goal after the break. In the 2nd half, Tyreek Muschamp added 3 more

Eiley FC & Lake I Bombers clash in finals

Brown Bombers team goals for the 7-3 win.

The Hattieville Riverside Boys won 2-1 against the Collet Strikers, with Egbert Myers scoring in the 1st half and Mario Rivera adding a 2nd goal after the break to lead 2-0. Jomel David came off the bench to score a consolation goal in the 2nd half for Collet.

Belize City, July 17, 2016 The Lake I Bombers and Eiley FC will clash in the Belize District Football Association’s First Division championship finals.

Eiley FC eliminated FC Elite 3-2 in what has become a controversial playoff match-up over the weekend. Marlon Gutierrez had given FC Elite a 2-0 lead with goals in the 22nd and 50th minutes. Orlando Velasquez scored one for Eiley FC when he scored a penalty in the 55th minute and Kareem Flowers’ execution of a corner kick found Dalton Caytano, who headed in a 2nd goal in the 60th minute.

Orlando Velasquez delivered the coup de grace with a world class goal to the far post that Elite FC’s keeper Carlos Castro could not get a glove on.

FC Elite’s Manager, Benito Juarez, has written to BDFA’s President William Moguel, to protest the officiating of the game. Juarez has objected to “Chubby” Reid as referee to their upcoming game.

Lake I bombed the Stars Academy in penalty shootout Eiley FC team that went into sudden death and resulted 5-4. The Stars scored first in 11th minute when Clayton Fitzgibbons headed the ball into the net from a corner kick. Lake I’s Floyd Jones equalized 1-1 in the 19th minute with a penalty was called for handling the ball.

The game went into overtime when regulation ended in Lake I Bombers team a 1-1 draw and Shemar “Mini” Thompson scored for Stars in the 95th minute, but Delroy Flores equalized 2-2 for Lake I when he headed the ball into the net on a corner kick from Francis Arana in the 100th minute. Both teams scored their goals in penalties, pushing the game into sudden death, with Jermaine “Itchy” Foster and Francis Arana scoring for Lake I, and only Randy Franklin scoring Eite FC’s Shawn Roches wins header for the Stars.

Upcoming Games: Hattieville Riverside Boys vs. Ladyville Jaguars, Thur. July 21 Warriors FC vs San Pedro, Sat. July 23

Ladyville’s Allen Anderson scored 3 goals

Orange Walk U-15 Mundialito

Belize crushes Argentina 5-0

Orange Walk Town, July 17, 2016 Croatia, Colombia and Belize enjoyed big wins in Week 4 of the Orange Walk U-15 Mundialito, which the New Horizon Sporting Club organized at the Louisiana field in Orange Walk Town on Sunday.

Colombia of Palmar won 2-1 over Germany of Orange Walk Central, when Jaheim Augustine scored 2 goals for Colombia. Jaheim has 5 goals in the tournament and is tied with Holland’s Angel Ico as the top goleadores.

Freddy Lopez scored a consolation goal for Germany.

In Game 2, Mexico of San Estevan drew 2-2 with Croatia of Black Water, Trial Farm. Alexis Chan and Joan Bull scored for Mexico, and Franklin Perez and Adriel Aldana equalized for Croatia.

In Game 3, Holland of Guinea Grass handed Portugal of Trinidad their 3rd loss: 1-0 when Desiderio Perez scored the winning goal.

In Game 4, Belize of Louisiana area of Orange Walk Town dumped Argentina of Yo Creek 5-0 with Axel Alamilla scoring 2 goals. He has 4 goals in the tournament. Michael Cruz added 2 more goals and Joel Briceno added a 5th goal: 5-0.

Upcoming Matches, Sunday, July 24: Mexico of San Estevan vs. Spain of Progresso Germany of Orange Walk Central vs. Holland of Guinea Grass Croatia of Black Water, Trial Farm vs. Argentina of Yo Creek Portugal of Trinidad vs. Belize of Louisiana Area

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STATISTICS YOU SHOULD KNOW

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THE STORY BEHIND

BARROW’S WORTHLESS

DEAL WITH

ASHCROFT In 2009, Dean Barrow and the UDP took BTL under the illusion of “nationalisation”. Barrow and the UDP refused to pay the owners knowing well that it would lead to many years of expensive legal battles.

Still, Barrow chose to create a legal mess that lasted for almost 7 years, like an ugly sore. Now the Belizean People, not Barrow, not the UDP, have to pay $550M for BTL. BTL is only worth a little over $100M but Barrow agreed to pay Lord Ashcroft $550m for it. Sounds like “Puss Inna Bag”, right?

Check this out now! Dean Barrow and the UDP could have settled this problem from day 1 and saved Belize lots of money. But because of Mr. Barrow’s 7 Years of EGO and ARROGANCE, WE have to pay $224M in interest ALONE. That’s a QUARTER BILLION IN INTEREST! BTL has made less profit ever since Anwar Barrow and the UDP took over. Customers complain endlessly about the services being the worst it has ever been.

But Belizeans MUST still pay 5 times what BTL is really worth - all because of Barrow’s arrogance and the incompetence of the UDP. When all is said and done – the only ones benefitting are the Barrows!

- Only Anwar – Millions in salaries and perks - UDP cronies – Millions in salaries and perks - Denys Barrow – Millions in legal fees at $1,000 an hour - And of course, Dean Barrow – his law firm still represents ASHCROFT Barrow and the UDP think we are fools. They are blaming the PUP. Well, the PUP never told Barrow to take BTL. The PUP never told him to drag it through the Court for almost 7 years. It was Barrow’s own arrogance.

He wanted to be MASTER OF GAMES. Barrow is to Blame.

Now Barrow is bringing up the Accommodation Agreement. If the agreement was so wrong, why he never challenged it in Court? Barrow likes to bring up “secret agreement”. But he never mentions that in September 2015, he made his own SECRET deal with Ashcroft. Did Patrick Faber know? Did John Saldivar know? Did the rest of Cabinet know? Belizeans found out about the secret deal with Ashcroft LONG AFTER it was done.

At a secret meeting in Miami, Barrow gave up HALF A BILLION to Ashcroft easily. Barrow agreed to an upfront payment of US$25M while final amount was decided. He agreed to pay all interests and expenses involved in the 7 years of legal battles.

A smiling Barrow calls the whole fiasco “a win” claiming that Government will get 60% of the value of the Millions we will pay. He says he can use it for Government projects. But he is lying. That money is controlled by Ashcroft and no one else.

The BTL fiasco is a $550M RED elephant…one BIG LOSS at a time our country is experiencing tough financial conditions.

The money could have been used to help almost 50,000 students from primary school to University. It could have funded National Health Insurance for 18 years for every Belizean. It could have provided meaningful jobs for over 60,000 jobless. It could have built 18,000 classrooms or paved 550 miles of road or built 15,000 bungalow homes for Belizeans.

Barrow wants to trick the Belizean people. But the truth is, Barrow and Ashcroft are friends and Barrow’s law firm has represented the LORD for over 20 years!!!

Who are the Real Victors in the sick GAME? The answer is easy: the Barrows and Lord Ashcroft.

24 JUL

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

17

LA HISTORIA DETRÁS DEL

ACUERDO SINIESTRO DE BARROW CON

ASHCROFT Dean Barrow y el UDP decidieron que querían arrebatar BTL en 2009 En agosto de 2009, a la fuerza se adueñaron de BTL Luego Barrow y el UDP se negaron a pagarles a los propietarios de BTL Luego prorrogaron el caso durante casi 7 años Ahora los Beliceños, no Barrow, no el UDP, tenemos que pagar $550M por BTL Dean Barrow y el UDP podrían haber negociado en cualquier momento con los propietarios de BTL Pero debido al EGO y ARROGANCIA del Sr. Barrow ahora tenemos que pagar $224M solamente en intereses Cuarto billón de dólares en intereses La realidad es que BTL vale sólo un poco más de $100M Barrow y el UDP está pagando $550m. Les dieron gato por liebre Los beneficios han decaído desde que Anwar Barrow y el UDP asumió la gestión de la empresa Los servicios son de lo peor que se ha visto reciéntenme Los beliceños deberán pagar 5 veces lo que vale BTL Todo por la arrogancia de Barrow y la incompetencia del UDP ¿Cuándo todo se ha dicho y hecho – quien se BENEFICIÓ?

Sólo Anwar – millones de dólares en salarios y beneficios Sus compinches UDP – millones de dólares en salarios y beneficios Dennys Barrow – millones de dólares en honorarios legales Dean Barrow – su firma de Abogados aun representa a ASHCROFT Barrow culpa al PUP El PUP nunca le dijo que arrebatara BTL El PUP nunca le dijo que arrastre su juego enfermizo durante casi 7 años Fue la arrogancia de Dean Barrow. Quiso ser rey de la montaña.

Barrow es el culpable Barrow habla sobre el Pagare que se firmó con Ashcroft Pero si era tan malo y tan diabólico ¿Por qué no lo siguió peleando en la corte?

El gobierno de Belice nunca disputó la validez del acuerdo/pagare – en casi 7 años. ¿POR QUÉ?

EL PUC, Godwin Hulse y la ACB comenzaron el proceso de desafiando el Pagare/Acuerdo pero después abandonaron el caso. ¿POR QUÉ?

Barrow le gusta hablar del acuerdo secreto Pero en septiembre de 2015 él tuvo su reunión secreta con el Señor Ashcroft Luego Barrow hizo su propio acuerdo secreto reuniéndose con Ashcroft ¿Sera que Patrick Faber sabia de esta acuerdo secreto? ¿Sera que John Saldívar sabía?

El pueblo beliceño supo de este hasta después de que el acuerdo se había firmado ¿Qué pasó en Miami? Barrow concedió todo Concedió todo lo del préstamo del BCB y pagó US$ 50M En medio del arbitraje Barrow retiró todos los argumentos del gobierno incondicionalmente Cuando la decisión de la CCJ era inminente, él accedió a retirar el recurso legal Acordó y cedió a la demanda de Ashcroft de pagar por adelantado y pago US$ 25 M por las acciones inmediatamente mientras se esperaba el valor final de los árbitros Retiró la cuestión sobre el pagare y acordó pagar el valor atribuible al pagare/acuerdo al fideicomiso Hayward que no es controlado por el gobierno Acordó pagar todos los intereses y gastos de todas las reclamaciones…

TODO… ¿POR QUE? Barrow dice que obtuvo un acuerdo buenísimo Porque el gobierno ahora controla 60% de la recompensa Dice que puede utilizar la recompensa para proyectos de gobierno.

Pero él miente Ese dinero se le pagara a ASHCROFT. ASHCROFT controla ese dinero. El gobierno no tiene ni vos ni voto sobre ese dinero. NADA DE CONTROL. Para pagar la deuda EGO de Barrow Barrow ahora tiene el Banco Central imprimiendo dinero Hundiendo al país en una crisis económica más profunda…que ya ha comenzado Ha comenzado el asalto hacia el Seguro Social y continuará a menos que se le detenga.

Con $550M que ha pagado por este elefante rojo El gobierno podría haber educado a 45,833 estudiantes hasta la Universidad Implementado y mantenido el Seguro Nacional de Salud por 18 años para todo Beliceño Generar trabajos significativos y proporcionárselos a 61.111 personas Construir 18.333 aulas escolares Pavimentar 550 millas de camino Construir 14.000 casas de cemento para Beliceños Monto todo un número para engañar al pueblo Beliceño. ¡¡¡Pero a decir verdad, Barrow y Ashcroft son amigos y el bufete de Barrow ha representado las compañías del Señor Ashcroft por más de 20 años!!! ¿Quiénes son los verdaderos ganadores en este juego enfermizo?

La respuesta es fácil: los Barrows y el Señor Ashcroft.

18

24 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

As BIG as you think you are...

2016

House #2 rented to a Judge, paid for by GOB

House #1

House #5

House #3

Juliet Thimbriel, UDP Senator

House #4

House #7, now under construction

House #8 2012 Infinity valued at $120K

House #6 - recently renovated

...and now...House #9?

you’re living in a SMALL world

24 JUL

2016

19

THE BELIZE TIMES

As BIG as you think you are...

Building on Kut Avenue

Building in Belama Ph. 1

Building on Western Avenue

Building on Euphrates Avenue

Building on Fabers Road

Building on Fabers Road Boots Martinez

Building on C.A. Boulevard

you’re living in a SMALL world

20

THE BELIZE TIMES

SPECIAL REPORT: CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES ENTANGLED

BY U.S. FINANCIAL CRACKDOWN

By Yeganeh Torbati, Reuters July 12, 2016 BELIZE CITY, Belize (Reuters) Burdened by chronic back pain, Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow avoids traveling abroad, his colleagues say.

But in January, he flew to Washington and visited one government agency after another on a singular mission: reconnecting his country to the U.S. financial system.

A U.S.-educated lawyer, Barrow made his case before agencies with chief oversight of American banks, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the U.S. Treasury’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

His Belizean delegation described how their country had been shunned over the last year by large, reputable American banks, a trend that threatens its tiny economy.

As banks scrub their books of potentially risky businesses amid a tightening regulatory noose, major U.S. financial institutions have ended relationships with regional banks across the Caribbean in the last four years, Caribbean officials and bank executives say.

This so-called “de-risking” or “de-banking,” in which banks pull out of certain lines of business and even parts of the world, has intensified. Enhanced scrutiny on financial fraud and new regulations to stem money laundering and terror finance are all at play.

Yet the de-risking movement has triggered a collision of interests: As banks tighten controls, small, poor countries most dependent on trade say they’re being unfairly cut off from global finance, a case made by Barrow.

“The regulators all agreed that absent a solution, our economies, our societies would go belly up,” he recounted in a speech in February. But in the end, his group left Washington with little more than “tea and sympathy.”

Just two banks in Belize maintain “correspondent banking relationships” with U.S. banks, Atlantic Bank and Scotiabank, each of which have international affiliations. Such bilateral links allow banks to finance trade, settle credit card payments and clear the U.S. dollar-denominated transactions that underpin global commerce.

De-risking threatens the fragile economy of Belize, a country the size of New Jersey with a population of 375,000, a 40 percent poverty rate and an economy based on farming and tourism. Businesses now must set aside weeks to make routine payments to suppliers abroad that used to take moments. Desperate to pass muster with American banks, Belizean banks have dropped customers carrying potential risks, including cash remittance services used by many people working abroad.

Every day, Belizeans struggle to surmount trade barriers.

In south Belize City on a June

weekday, Yvonne Williams visited a Western Union agent, tucked inside a Chineseowned grocery, with her two granddaughters. The nursing assistant lives near Boston and is building a home in Belize for her retirement.

It is becoming harder to send money to Belize, Williams said. She tried to send $700 from the United States to Belize about three months ago for construction on her home, but the transaction was delayed, and she couldn’t pay her workers.

She believes the size of the transfer attracted attention.

“The last couple times I tried to send, Western Union said they couldn’t send it,” said Williams, 63. “They had to wait a couple days … and it affected my work here.”

Santander Group, a Guatemalan company with a major investment in Belize, has had trouble bringing cash in and out of the country and closing financing from international banks for its sugar mill, which employs around 700, said director Edgar Hernandez.

“Ten banks have been willing to lend us money, but not us in Belize,” Hernandez said. “We are exporting everything that we produce, so every time you have commercial activity and you don’t necessarily have the proper network banking-wise to channel those funds, that creates transactional costs.”

What’s happening in the Caribbean is part of a larger saga, in which tighter banking controls are prompting the world’s top financial institutions to avoid not just known terrorist groups but also cash remittance services, charities, foreign embassies, and other classes of customers, many of whom have no role in criminal activity. That conflict threatens global goals of providing financial access to the world’s poor.

“The devastation that this can cause to the economies in the islands is horrific,” said John Beale, the Barbados ambassador to the United States. “How does a hotel carry out their business in terms of credit cards? How do they get compensated?”

Caribbean countries are vulnerable because they depend on foreign trade to survive. Belize’s currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar, and the United States is its most important trading partner.

It is too soon to trace broad economic impact to lost banking ties. In 2015, for instance, Belize received $82.4 million in remittances, compared to $78 million the previous year, according to the central bank.

Yet evidence exists de-risking is driving business to a hidden world of cash transactions that will make it harder for regulators and law enforcement to track money flows.

One Belize businessman, who declined to be named, said in order to pay a loan in Belize, he must travel to another Caribbean country to withdraw U.S. dollars and carry the cash back to Belize. “I do that every month,” he said. “I can’t send a wire from my bank to my loan account in Belize.”

Regulators say the requirements prevent fraud. Banks must make their own decisions about their customers based on risk, they say, and the United States does not advocate broad de-risking.

Daniel Glaser, the Treasury’s assistant secretary for terrorist financing, said the agency is working with Caribbean countries to better understand the challenges to correspondent banking, improve their banking supervision and clarify regulators’ expectations. “We recognize how vital access to the U.S. financial system is for developing countries like those in the Caribbean region,” Glaser said in a statement.

CRISIS SPARKS CRACKDOWN The 2008 financial crisis shone a harsh light on banking misdeeds and stoked public anger at Wall Street, whose loose housing loans helped spark an economic collapse. It also provided an incentive for regulators to attack financial fraud.

Abuses were eye-opening. In 2012, HSBC agreed to pay nearly $2 billion in fines to U.S. authorities for allowing itself to be used by cartels to launder drug money flowing out of Mexico, among other lapses, and acknowledged it had failed to conduct basic due diligence.

One case in particular casts a long shadow today: a nearly $9 billion penalty levied on BNP Paribas in 2014 to resolve accusations it violated U.S. sanctions against Sudan, Cuba and Iran.

Banks reacted by ramping up compliance departments and poring through their books for any business that might invite extra scrutiny.

“There is a sense that for a period of time now, it’s been open season on the banks,” said Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute. “Nobody wants to be the next HSBC or BNP Paribas. You’re not going to take a risk.”

The Caribbean appears to be the worst-hit of all regions by the new scrutiny, a World Bank survey found last year.

Caribbean states – with their small populations and economies – offer miniscule profits for banks and are seen as hubs for offshore banking, susceptible to money laundering, tax evasion and the narcotics trade flowing from South America.

Most banks simply do not see it as worth their while to do business against these risks, experts say.

“We were told by one large bank that if your bank does not have about $2 billion in assets, it is not feasible for us to do business with you,” said Glenford Ysaguirre, Belize’s central bank governor. Barrow declined an interview request.

Belize’s entire financial system has assets of less than $3 billion, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Banks have good reason to be wary in the Caribbean, some say. Several Caribbean countries including Belize are on the State Department’s 2016 list of countries that present a “primary concern” for money laundering. And the release of the Panama Papers, documents leaked from a Panamanian law firm this year with in-

24 JUL

2016 formation on 214,000 offshore companies, has renewed regulatory focus on the region. More than 100 offshore companies registered in Belize were named in the documents.

“Let’s be honest, everybody knows what the purpose of an offshore bank was. It’s for you to hide your money somewhere else,” said Arturo Vasquez, chief executive of the Port of Belize and former president of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Uncle Sam wants Belize to make a big arrest, and we have not been able to do that.”

The Belize government “continues to encourage offshore financial activities that are vulnerable to money laundering and terrorist financing,” the State Department concluded. In 2011, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, a regional body focused on money laundering and terrorist finance, noted Belize had few convictions for money laundering and no enforceable requirements for banks to verify customers’ legal status.

By 2015, the task force said Belize had made significant progress in addressing the problems in its anti-money laundering regulations, citing “evidence of Belize’s commitment to deal with the deficiencies.”

Caribbean officials contend concerns over fraud are hypocritical. U.S. states including Delaware, Wyoming and Nevada are hotbeds for the formation of anonymous shell companies, which have legitimate purposes but also enable corporate secrecy.

U.S. officials say banking rules meant to target money laundering and terrorist finance do not mandate the wholesale abandonment of classes of customers. Risks should be managed rather than avoided, they say.

“The United States has never advocated a standard of perfection,” Adam Szubin, Treasury’s acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, told bankers in November.

BELIZE BANK: A CASE STUDY For Belize Bank, the country’s largest commercial bank by assets, disaster arrived November 20, 2014, in the form of a two-page letter, the contents of which were described to Reuters.

Bank of America was ending its 35-year relationship.

“We were so shocked that immediately we called the central bank, immediately we spoke to the prime minister,” said Filippo Alario, Belize Bank’s chief risk officer. “We’ve never seen this happen anywhere.”

Ysaguirre and Barrow visited Bank of America’s executives in Miami shortly afterward.

Bank of America officials cited a “complex matrix of factors” in deciding whether to maintain a relationship, and said there was nothing Belize Bank could do, Ysaguirre recounted. “They were saying that they are compelled to do what they are doing because of the pressure from their regulators,” he said.

Bank of America declined to comment.

The bank originally gave Belize Bank until January 2015 before the account would be closed, but agreed to an extension until the end of April.

Shortly after, Bank of America dropped two other Belizean banks.

Continued on page 21

24 JUL

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

SPECIAL REPORT: CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES ENTANGLED BY U.S. FINANCIAL CRACKDOWN Continued from page 20 Bank of America gave little detail for its decision, Alario said, leaving Belize Bank scrambling to figure out what it had done wrong. “We asked them, ‘Is there anything that you have seen that caused you concern?’ And they said no,” he recounted.

The shutdowns were just one corner of a larger trend across the Caribbean.

A bank in Antigua and Barbuda lost its relationship with Bank of America around March of this year, said Ronald Sanders, the country’s ambassador to the United States. He declined to name the bank because it is trying to find another banking relationship.

Citibank ended its relationship with Belize’s central bank in June, although the central bank still has correspondent relationships with other U.S. banks, Ysaguirre said. Citibank declined to comment.

Five financial institutions in the Bahamas, representing some 19 percent of the country’s banking system’s assets, have recently lost one or more correspondent banking relationships, an IMF report in June said.

Disruptions can be temporary.

Across five Caribbean countries, at least 16 banks had lost all or some of their correspondent banking relationships as of this May, the IMF said.

In February, the Moody’s rating service predicted that 80 percent of Belize’s banking system was likely to lose correspondent and credit card settlement services by mid-year. Businesses are feeling the impact.

Belize Electric Company Limited, a Canadian-owned company and Belize Bank customer, hasn’t been able to make a large payment to vendors abroad since February, said Chief Executive Officer Lynn Young. “Quite a few of our suppliers are kinda freaking out,” Young said. The company is exploring options with Scotiabank.

Brett Feinstein, managing director of Benny’s, a Belizean construction supplies retailer, said he has been forced to turn away new lines of revenue. One customer wanted Benny’s to import a $150,000 excavator, but he declined. “If I divert the U.S. dollars to that business, it might affect my day-to-day, bread-and-butter business,” he said.

With no clarity about why Bank of America dropped it, Belize Bank began its own de-risking campaign – closing accounts for remittance services catering to people with little access to traditional banks.

Migrants use the services to send earnings home, and cash transfers help keep families out of poverty.

In Jamaica, remittances as a percentage of gross domestic product were 16.9 percent in 2015, the World Bank

said. The figure was 7.7 percent in the Dominican Republic and 4.8 percent in Belize.

Caribbean states are both recipients and sources of remittances – Central American immigrants working in Belize, for instance, send earnings back home.

“It is really detrimental to the bottom-of-the-pyramid crowd,” said Dilip Ratha, a World Bank economist. “Remittances were one simple form of financial transaction that often brought them to the periphery of the financial system.”

LOBBY PUSH Caribbean officials and executives are redoubling their efforts in Washington to encourage regulators to be clearer with U.S. banks about their expectations, while trying to make themselves more attractive to banks.

There has been talk of Caribbean states banding together to establish a commercial bank in the United States to serve their diasporas and provide correspondent services to banks in the region.

Caribbean officials have raised the de-risking issue during forums in Washington and the Caribbean region, pressing everyone from President Barack Obama on down. U.S. officials have expressed sympathy for Belize’s plight, yet little action has followed.

For affected countries and the United States, new risks exist.

Belize Bank has cleared some U.S. dollar transactions and maintained a toehold in the United States by using a bank in Turkey, and previously used a Chinese bank, Alario said. The use of intermediate accounts to access the United States, or “nesting,” can make transactions less transparent.

“We don’t have a U.S. correspondent bank. We nest,” Alario said at a derisking panel in Belize City in June. “It’s not ideal but that’s all we have to do to continue.”

In February, Moody’s warned that Belize could face “significant disruptions” to tourism, trade and foreign investment after losing its banking links.

About 60 percent of tourist spending in Belize involves credit card transactions settled by correspondent banks.

Historically, the Caribbean has cooperated closely with the United States, interdicting drug flows and hosting U.S. naval and air stations. Yet now some transactions that used to occur in U.S. dollars are being conducted in euros and Chinese yuan.

“What I don’t understand is why the United States at the government level, diplomatic level, at the political level would not see the harm that this is doing to its relationship with countries that are on its doorstep,” said Ambassador Sanders, of Antigua and Barbuda.

(Editing by Ronnie Greene)

21

Education & Nationhood, let’s get back on track

By Hilairé A. Bennett Voice of the common man Amidst the recent Guatemalan fiasco there has been much criticism regarding the lack therefor within the education curriculum the teaching that would foster national cohesion and nation-hood.

Political rhetoric continues regarding the need to form the educational system so that education for national development could be fully realized. A Belizeanization of education in respect of the Jewel.

However, the conversation and criticism concerning the deficiencies in the educational system is nothing new within the process of decolonization the focus has always been in the structuring of the education in Belize towards national development.

In 1977 J. Alexander Bennett was called on as a consultant for a UNESCO planning mission and a seven year development plan for a 1964-1970. The plan was drafted locally and referred to the UNESCO team for critique. J Alexander Bennett’s contribution was titled Goals, Priorities and Decolonization in 1977.

In the journal of Belizean Affairs volume 5 no. 2 October 2005 in the article similarly titled to his contribution in 1977, Bennett revisited the impact of the decolonization process to correct the short comings in the above mentioned article of 1977. The author had placed emphasis on the features of colonial education in Belize without addressing the actual process of decolonization.

Bennett wrote that “when colonization is referred to in the political or in the economic cause one immediately thinks of a territory controlled from a distance by a metropolitan country and an administrative system which reflects such controls. In a similar manner colonial education can be looked at as an educational system controlled, directed and influenced by what the colonizing society considers appropriate for the colony.” The result was the influence of the church state system within the structures of the educational system in Belize.

On September 21, 1981 the political process of decolonization was realized. The task began with the sitting of the residual effects of colonialism still existing within the Belizean education system. In 1977 J Alexander Bennett wrote that “the task of decolonization in Belize has been to break away from a life of educational dependency and to proceed in directions which are relevant to our societal needs which are relevant to our societal needs and which are consistent with our national aspirations for a free, united, sovereign and independent Belize”.

An important aspect of the decolonization process was the attainment of full internal self-government. The political directorate become immensely engaged in the decision making in the development of Belize. The UNESCO report became the basis for education in Belize from 1964 to 1970. Two of the many objectives that stood out were: • The improving of quality educations at all levels; • Orienting the system of education to meet the needs of the country’s development.

There were also policy goals that focused on the Belizeanization of education.

They included: • Inspiring the children to cultivate the will and the capacity to fight for the country’s freedom, dignity and independence; • Developing national consciousness and social responsibility; • Integrating the world of study with the world of work through strengthening technical, vocational and agricultural education.

These goals were not applied but had they been considered it certainly would have contributed to the “cultivation of patriotism and national consciousness” necessary in today’s political climate. The focus was on objectives such as: • The improvement and expansion primary education with regard to quality; • Improving the quality of teacher training; • The restructuring of the administration and management of the educational system; • Further development of pre-school programmes with appropriate involvement of the community amongst others.

In my opinion had there been some sort of incorporation of the objectives adopted and the goals intended to bring national consciousness the result today would be an internal cohesion amongst the citizen wrapped in the strong fabric of the nation hood in boundaries of the land of the free.

I agree with J. Alexander Bennett that the problem is that “most of us would like to see change while we cling to the ways we know best and the tools we have the most skill in using. Some would like to see a complete revolution in our education system, but a radical revolution may mean radical reform in the entire society. Of course there are those who wittingly or unwittingly prefer as few changes as possible”.

Independence was “just the beginning”.The socio-economic and traditional deterrence still exist which tend to resist real reform from the Massa mentality. Educational authorities continue to encourage renovations within the existing structures and continue to retain its traditional would base on the church-state system. In reality fragments of colonialism still linger obstructing the necessary reform in the educational system and other reforms required for true development.

The truth is that there is a need for quality teachers to teach to the curriculum.

Most importantly is that the country needs real leaders to take the lead. If they don’t then only they can be blamed for the mess affecting the Jewel not only in the educational system but the entire manner of governance. Let the chant of reform, resign or be removed be recalled!!

22

THE BELIZE TIMES

24 JUL

2016

24 JUL

23

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

NOTICE

For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee

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 Assignment and Transfer of Mortgage made the 31st day of December, 2012, recorded as LTU201300069, between First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited (the Assignor) Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. (the Assignee), and Javier Molina and Orissa Samantha Molina (The Mortgagors), which said property was mortgaged by the said Javier Molina and Orissa Samantha Molina to the said First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited on the 22nd day of March, 2005 and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 10 of 2005 at Folios 233 – 312 will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. THE SCHEDULE All that lot, piece or parcel being Lot No. 775 situate at Tropical Park, Western Highway, Belize District and being bounded on the North by Lot No. 776; On the South by Lot Nos. 774 & 773; On the East by a 46 Feet Wide Road; and On the West by Lot No. 284 and being more particularly bounded and described as follows:- Commencing at a concrete post at the north-west corner of Lot No. 776 and thence due west for a distance of 60 Feet to a concrete post and thence due South for a distance of 130 Feet to a concrete post and thence due East for a distance of 60 Feet to a concrete post and thence due North for a distance of 130 Feet back to the point of commencement and which said lot, piece or parcel of land is more particularly shown and delineated on a survey plan drawn by H. C. Fairweather, Certified Land Surveyor dated 4 July, 1961 and recorded in SPB No. 4 at Folio No. 198 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 20th day of July, 2016.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City

Notice is hereby given that the company named “SUPREME MEGA CO., LTD.” has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the 15th day of July, 2016.

GENPRO CONSULTING (BELIZE) LIMITED

Registered Agent

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the company named “RIVIERAL INVESTMENTS LTD.” has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the 14th day of July, 2016.

ICAZA BELIZE TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED Registered Agent

Attorneys-at-Law for

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

VACANCY

For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee 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 7th day of April, 1995 between DANIEL MEJIA (hereinafter called “the Borrower”) of Hattieville Village, Belize District, of the one part, and The Bank of Nova Scotia (hereinafter called “the Bank) of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 8 of 1995 at Folios 1277 – 1300, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

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

Job Title

Fleet/Depot Supervisor

Location

Belize City

Reports To

Operations Supervisor

Subordinates

0

Purpose

To assist the Operations Supervisor in the management of the company’s targets and resources for depot operations, transportation, stock movement and customer service in accordance with Group standards

Job Description

-

Assist with the preparation and implementation of relevant annual capital, operational budgets and plans for Sol Belize

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Manage plant, equipment, and Road Transport activities to optimise reliability, cost and meet Industry, Company and legislated safety standards

-

Deputize for Operations Supervisor when necessary and required

-

Carryout out periodic inspection of depot, and ensure that all pertinent issues are addressed in a timely basis

-

Assist with lubes inventory management including the coordination of customs clearance and delivery to the lubricants warehouse

-

Ensure daily and monthly reconciliation of packaged products and materials are performed, and record and investigate all variances

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Manage the lubricants warehouse contract to ensure contractor’s compliance with agreed service levels

-

Support delivery of SOL Customer Value Proposition by ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of products

-

Manage all road transport contracts and develop productive working relations with transporters, contractors, and customers

-

Plan and execute programs to improve Road Transport safety including the “Drivers League” safety performance program

-

Maintain and ensure the integrity of the fuel delivery process including keeping of records relating to drivers daily work sheets, trips and investigation of any disputes

SCHEDULE ALL THAT LEASEHOLD INTEREST IN ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 138 situate in Hattieville Village, Belize District and bounded as follows:- On the Northeast for 80.00 feet by a Street; On the Southeast for 155.98 feet by Lot No. 137; On the Southwest for 81.34 feet by Lot 129 and Portion of Lot 128 an on the Northwest for 170.68 by Lots Nos. 139 and 140; containing 1451.8 Square Yards as shown on Plan No. 1192 at the office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

Job Candidate Requirements

Other Competency Requirements

DATED this 20th day of July, 2016.

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

Other Information

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Coordinate transporter meetings and training programs as required

-

Assist with the implementation and compliance with the company’s HSE Management System.

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Implement recommendations or remedial action plans in Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) audits as related to Sol depot, Transport and Retail cases

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Assist with the execution and recording of emergency exercises and drills at Sol Belize facility as required

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Participate in the investigation of all road transport incidents and timely completion of investigation report.

-

Engineering Degree

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Candidates with Associate degree in an engineering field must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in related area of study

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Supervisory experience and skills will be an asset

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Must have a valid driver’s license

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Must be computer literate with proficiency in MS Outlook applications - Word, Power Point and Excel

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Excellent interpersonal skills and team work abilities

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Able to self-plan, take initiative, and deliver timely results

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Have a positive attitude and a strong work ethic

Sol Belize Limited provides a very attractive remuneration and benefits package

Application form can be downloaded from Sol website. This form along with CV should be submitted via email to: careers@ solpetroleum.com and copied to: alicia.gonzalez@solpetroleum.com Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Deadline for applications: 25 July, 2016

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24 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

MY PERSPECTIVE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

TIME WARP SEDI I had told myself that I have written quite a lot about Hon. Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington and that I will try to avoid expending more ink on him. But, you know, I just cannot help it. I feel impelled once more to comment on our esteemed Foreign Minister, and clearly it once again cannot be in a good light. He makes himself a lightening rod for further and further criticism. And with each new set of utterances from him we are left shaking our heads in disbelief and disappointment, incredulous as we must be. His boss, the Prime Minister, has obviously thumbed his nose at all Belizeans in forcing us to accept that Minister Elrington will remain as Minister for Guatemalan affairs (as well as all affairs foreign).

Another ‘whop’ came earlier this week when Sedi, as he is affectionately known, was asked by members of the media to respond to reports that a group of Guatemalans, perhaps seven of them, had taken to embarking in a boat on the Sarstoon River in order to assert their country’s claim to sovereignty over the river and to more of our territory. His once more incredible reply was that “This is nothing new,” that Guatemala has been claiming all of Belize for decades upon decades. What you mean “This is nothing new,” Sedi? I, for one, have not before seen Guatemalans traversing the Sarstoon River, flags flapping in the wind, life jackets safely secured around their chests, and speaking for the cameras about their cause if it is one. Is this development the Guatemalan version of territorial volunteers? I have no problem with Guatemalans being on the Sarstoon if they are on their side and respect us. But if they circled Sarstoon Island they were indeed in Belizean waters. As to respecting us, we know that in the current climate and with Guatemala’s unlawful and aggressive stance that is hardly likely.

But Sedi goes on in the interview. He does a completely illogical segue into his own seemingly favorite topic, that is, that he was an anti-establishment young rebel in the 1960’s when things

were hot in Belize with anti-Guatemala sentiment and activism. I have witnessed him speak so many times about this that I am entirely convinced that he is stuck in a TIME WARP where his own reality is concerned. What is nothing new is really Sedi’s repeated nostalgia trips.

Even at a Bar Association seminar earlier this year on the Belize-Guatemala issue, he did not leave out that he was arrested way back when, and how he has not ceased fighting for Belize. He then waxes eloquent and cloaks himself in a mantle of nationalism. I view this as egotism and solipsism either at its finest or at its most disgusting. I believe that most Belizeans have already decided which!!

It does not stop there. Listen to him: “Unlike most Belizeans or a lot of Belizeans, I don’t have any interest in living in the United States. I don’t have any green card. I don’t want any green card. The only place I have a stake in is here; here is where I was born, here is where I will die.” How insulting to all of us!!

He sets himself apart and wraps his cloak of pseudo-nationalism ever more tightly around himself. And he ends by protesting that he is doing everything in his power to ensure that Belize is safe and secure, when he is the one who has continued to make blunders in dealing with Guatemala. Of course we all want peace, Sedi, but not at the cost of losing any of our waters or land.

The unkindest cut of all is when he boasts that “you’ve got to admit that we have been doing a good job.” Really?!!! No, Sedi, I am not with your time warp reality. I do not agree that you’re doing a good job, and furthermore self-praise is no recommendation.

The 1968 young revolutionary and anti-Guatemala activist, as he fancies himself, has morphed into a solipsistic, self-aggrandizing appeaser and empty talker, all the while clinging to his time warp reality. For good measure he throws in his usual disrespect and insults to the Belizean media and people.

I don’t want to go and live in the States either, Sedi, but stop throwing foolishness in our faces. The Belizean people are not buying your bag of hogwash. Maybe it is better to keep quiet!! As Jamaicans would say – Action!! Not a bag a mouth!!

2016

For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee 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 25th day of May, 2011, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 12 of 2011 at Folios 353 – 378, between ATLANTIC BANK LIMITED (the Assignor) Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. (the Assignee), and ALBERT LEE CASANOVA aka ALBERT LEE CASSANOVA, which said property was mortgaged by the said ALBERT LEE CASANOVA aka ALBERT LEE CASSANOVA to the said ATLANTIC BANK LIMITED on the 21st day of February, 2002 and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 5 of 2011 at Folios 115 – 162 will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. THE SCHEDULE All that piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 187 situate in the B.D.F Housing Site Lord’s Bank Village, Belize District, Belize containing 870.677 Square Meters bounded and described as shown on the plan attached to Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 551 of 2010 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 6th day of July, 2016.

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

For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee 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 & Transfer of Mortgage made the 5th day of February, 2014, and recorded as Instrument LTU-201400226, between THE BELIZE BANK LTD. (the Assignor) Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. (the Assignee), and ESTEVAN MES, which said property was mortgaged by the said ESTEVAN MES to the said BELIZE BANK LTD., on the 13th day of July, 2010 and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 22 of 2010 at Folios 849 – 874 will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. THE SCHEDULE ALL THAT freehold interest in all that piece or parcel of land being 147.228 acres of land situate in the San Marcos Agricultural Area, Toledo District, and bounded and described as shown on Plan No. 717 of 2006 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 6th day of July, 2016.

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

24 JUL

2016

Killing Fields

By G. Michael Reid Moral breakdown is a phenomenon in which a major degradation or complete loss of moral values takes place within a particular society. The abruptness of such kind of degradation may vary depending on the situation and the events that take place within the given society over a certain time. ~ Anon The spread of evil is the symptom of a vacuum. Whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles. _ AYN RAND, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal Belizeans are still reeling from the news of a man’s head being neatly cut off and found in a plastic bucket. What made the news more shocking is the fact that the decapitated person was a well known individual. Llewellyn Lucas was originally from Dangriga but grew up in Belmopan. He returned to his roots in the south long enough to present himself for political office in a constituency in that area. He contested the 2015 General Elections on a ticket for the newly formed Belize Progressive Party (BPP) but unfortunately, he did not meet with much success. On November 6th, after all the votes had been tallied, he posted these comments on his facebook page: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the five people in Toledo East who voted for me. I know the rest of the constituent don’t want me but that’s OK. They have the right to want whoever they want. As a man of GOD I have learnt to LOVE even my enemies muchless folks who don’t want me. My Dad didn’t want me, my ex-wife don’t want me, a lot of people don’t like or want me but JESUS CHRIST do and that’s all that matters to me!!!”

Llewellyn Lucas was eccentric and a nonconformist. In fact, some people considered him “a half bubble off plumb” but from all reports, Llewellyn Lucas was harmless. I did not know Pastor Lue personally but a few years ago we became “friends”

THE BELIZE TIMES connected”. In fact, the connection even goes more directly to the Minister of National Security himself who admitted at a recent press conference that said accused was a partner in a sporting venture.

The man accused of masterminding this harrowing monstrosity remains a mystery with new and disturbing information surfacing every day. While he was known in Belize as William Mason, documents obtained place him as a native of Guyana whose real name is Rajesh Oullet. Just a cursory search of the internet reveals much about our William Mason and very little of which is complimentary.

Mason or Teddy or Rajesh or Ramesh or Danny or Raj Oullet, (just a few of his many aliases) evidently has made a lot of money conning unsuspecting victims. Was it any surprise then that he would eventually wind up in Belize where our greed for money provides a lock for just about any door? Could not have John Saldivar or Patrick Faber or Mark Flowers asked a few questions or done some due diligence before giving this man the key to our secu-

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assimilated back into our society.

Sorry folks, I wish I had better news for you.

What we see developing in this case so far is already disturbing. Mason’s lawyer is the husband of a sitting Minister of government and a close associate of the very Minister of National Security who was doing business with William Mason. The stage is already being set with technicalities being racked up to provide on facebook. He was prolific in his the perfect losing case in court. I postings and more often than not, I know, I know…you would prefer me was left scratching my head and wonto be more hopeful and optimistic dering, “WTF”. Pastor Lue was selfbut rarely hath such hope triumphed ordained and ran his own church. He over experience. appeared staunchly homophobic and Still, there remains many queswas quite out-spoken on the matter. tions that need to be asked and anStill, with all his faults, some loved swered. How did Mason acquire him as was evident by the outpouring such prime properties in such a of emotional comments following the short space of time? How did he gruesome discovery of his body-less enter Belize with all that money? (Is head. Evidently though not everyone it any wonder that our banks are beloved Pastor Lue and someone even ing de-risked?) How did Mason achated him enough to want him dead quire a Belizean birth certificate and and wanted proof that he was dead. several gun licenses? How many Belizeans have become accusmore murders and kidnappings was tomed to murders; we get them onethis man involved in? Thank GOD a-day like vitamins; sometimes more! for brave journalists who relentlessly probed those at the last press conferMost troubling was the close ties that the alleged culprit had ence and even brought with no less than five sitting ministers of government who out many details that we would never have known. were all known to be close confidants of his.They visLike the fact that this ited his house, attended his parties and even posed same Mason was responfor “selfies”. A recently released photograph shows sible for recent kidnapMason posing at his mansion with no less than the pings and “alleged kidnaphead of our Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) as well as pings” in particular of one Mennonite family who with a very close aid to our Deputy Prime Minister. was forced to flee to CanThat, Mister Minister of National Security, is what is ada. We now learn that meant by “well connected”. two other pastors were kidnapped along with LuWhat happened last Friday however, rity? cas but were spared his cruel fate. was not ordinary even by our stanIn any other country in the world, The concern is that while the target dards. It was even described by one someone would have already been was this time pastors, it might next media house as the “crime of the cenmade to resign. Fortunately for him, time be journalists. We have seen tury”.

William Mason might have picked many countries go down this road Shortly after the news broke on the perfect country to ploy his wicked and once ventured, there is no turnFriday, pictures began circulating on deeds. Belizeans will be concerned, ing back. facebook. The head was apparently talk about this for a few days and then We cannot allow ourselves to cleaned up and looked lifelike with move on to the next big story. Mason be made afraid however, because eyes wide open. The head was seen and his accomplices will sit in jail for the legacy which we are now forgbeing held by two gloved hands seema few months, be released one at a ing is the one that we will leave for ingly careful that every detail was captime and eventually when we have our children. Do we stand by our tured by the camera. Why? Was this gotten over the shock and forgotten political convictions or do we “save simply mischief, dereliction of duty or as we always do, he will quietly slip our country before we lose it?” Quo was this image supposed to go viral? out the back door or worse, become Vadis Belize!

Who all were really supposed to see this picture? Are you scared yet?

What this recent murder represents is a quantum leap in criminality for our nation and poses concerns about the very moral fiber of our society. What kind of sick monsters can cut off a man’s head, feed his body to pigs, drive around with the head in a truck and just casually stop at a bar to have some drinks?

Most troubling was the close ties that the alleged culprit had with no less than five sitting ministers of government who were all known to be close confidants of his. They visited his house, attended his parties and even posed for “selfies”. A recently released photograph shows Mason posing at his mansion with no less than the head of our Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) as well as with a very close aid to our Deputy Prime Minister. That, Mister Minister of National Security, is what is meant by “well

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24 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Wonderer and Belizean Garbage

I had the opportunity to wander around the sanitary landfill around mile 23, George Price Highway some months ago. So I decided to investigate the history of landfills in Belize.

In 1999 an EIA was submitted for a landfill to be developed around Mile 27 but because the head of the Zoo was not comfortable with the closeness to her pets, she lobbied hard and tough with the government and finally the GOB decided to relocate the site.

The Canadian company found another site west of Mile 22 on the same Highway. Another EIA was submitted in 2001 and it took some 14 years to finally complete a sanitary landfill (see photographs) plus transfer stations at San Ignacio, Belize City, Ambergris Caye and Burrel Boom. The waste is first separated at the transfer stations and what is not usable is transported to the landfill. I must say that I was impressed with what I saw. A clean operation!

But, Belmopan is still dumping garbage and burning. No diferent is Dangriga and Punta Gorda, Corozal and Orange Walk. Belizeans have still not accepted the importance of placing the garbage where it belongs. We are “nasty”, we dump our garbage behind all our villages. Find a village backroad and follow it and you will be appalled by what you see.

We have garbage floating in our rivers, our lagoons, our sea and especially our highways. When we are driving or walking, we throw our gabage outside on the roads and streets. Training should begin at home, at schools, what is happening to our youth? What is happening to the Solid Waste Authority, Department of Environment, Public Health, the Town Boards, Central Government! And how about the NGO’s, BTIA, etc.

Where are they, do they exist?

If we Belizeans cannot remove garbage from our surroundings and put it in the right place, how can we stop placing garbage in Belmopan to run our nation. We must all unite to make sure garbage and other things are handled properly and it is only us Belizeans that can do so or do you expect the neighbours from the west to do it for us. Look at the photographs. This is Belize. This is us! We boast touristically that we “Are the Best Kept Secret”.

Yes we know to hide things, even a human head inside a

2016

bucket, and we will get away…. we always do!

Have you all ever wondered that maybe, just maybe, we should ban the importation of used tires, appliances and even used crash vehicles? Used tires are big business for some but bad business for all who buy them. Most of them last a short period and who buys them are endangering themselves and loved ones riding with them.

GOB must find a way to import only new tires so the low income people can afford them.

Also, the new tire should not be older than 3 years since fabrication. Did you know that a new tire can expire also? Any new tire older than 5 years can easily explode just like a used one. The used tires disposed as garbage enter the mile 23 landfill by the several hundred daily and are causing problems.

So they smartly line the walls of the landfill with them but they are running out of space. Imported used tires reach the dump site quicker. Have you ever seen a USA embassy vehicle buying freshly imported USA used tires?

No, they not crazy!

Used appliances usually only last a short period and they are heavy consumers in energy.

We talking about refrigerators, stoves, blenders, washing machines, pumps, dryers, etc… they reach the waste stream so quick it’s no joke.

GOB please stop this importation, it’s no good for Belizeans.

The last photo below is a photo of the cell designed and built specifically for toxic/hazardous waste such as hospital and medical waste, expired pesticides/herbicides, by-products of industrial processes, incinerator waste, etc. that can harm the environment and people. Well, todate after 2 years none have arrived. It seems we don’t produce these things. I wonder if DOE and especially Public Health are doing their job. I sometimes pass by mile 3 and see an incinerator working releasing terrible black smoke, perhaps ‘burning” the medical wastes of Belize. Any incinerator with such black smoke is only burning and heavily contaminating our surroundings.

I understand sanitary landfills are being planned for the north and south! Hope they are completed “pronto”. I’ll be wandering around. Our nation have lots of problems and sometimes we blame governments…as if they are the only ones to blame. We Belizeans are mostly to blame. We tolerate too much. We must carefully select politicians that are worthwhile, politicians that really have their heart for the general populace, politicians that really believe in transparency, politicians that do not help their family only and place them in high positions, politicians that do not love Guatemala, politicans that want to develop this nation….for us and not only for them. We must all wonder and wander around and select better people next time. The Wonderer! Send comments to thewondererbz@ gmail.com.

7 FEB 24 JUL

2016 2016

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

NEWS

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Malaysia 1MDB investigation: US seeks to seize $1bn in assets The US Justice Department is looking to seize more than $1bn (£761m) in assets as part of its investigation into Malaysia’s state fund 1MDB Lawsuits filed in Los Angeles by the Justice Department allege there was “an international conspiracy to launder funds misappropriated” from 1MDB. The fund was set up in 2009 to turn Kuala Lumpur into a financial hub.

But, the lawsuits say, billions of dollars were instead fraudulently diverted from 1MDB. It says “multiple individuals, including public officials and their associates” were responsible for diverting money between 2009 and 2013.

The stolen funds were used “to fund the co-conspirators’ lavish lifestyles, including purchases of artwork and jewelry, the acquisition of luxury real estate, the payment of gambling expenses, and the hiring of musicians and celebrities to attend parties,” the court papers say, Reuters reports.

The lawsuits do not name Prime Minister Najib Razak, who established the fund when he came into office.

But, Riza Aziz, his step-son and the producer of Leonardo DiCaprio film The Wolf of Wall Street, is named as a “relevant individual”, report media outlets who have seen the court papers.

Byron Lima: Killer of Guatemala bishop dies in jail riot The authorities in Guatemala say an army officer convicted of killing an outspoken Catholic bishop has died in a prison riot Byron Lima had been serving a 20-year sentence for the murder in 1998 of Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi, an opponent of the then military regime.

His lawyer said he had been shot by a rival gang within the jail.

The former army captain is reported to have been one of the most powerful inmates in Guatemala’s prison system.

He was convicted in 2001 and sentenced to 30 years in jail, but his term was later reduced to 20 years.

His lawyer said he had reports from prison inmates that Lima had recently forbidden a rival gang from selling drugs in the prison where he was serving his sentence.

Lima was convicted along with his father, an army colonel, and a third soldier of the murder of Bishop Gerardi.

The cleric, who was the head of the Guatemalan Catholic Church’s division on human rights, was killed two days after publishing a report in which he blamed the Guatemalan army for most of the human rights abuses committed during the country’s 36-year armed conflict.

Top HSBC manager charged in forex probe Two HSBC executives have been charged in the US for allegedly conspiring to rig international currency markets

India protests continue after cow protectors assault Dalits in Gujarat Protests are continuing in the Indian state of Gujarat over last week’s beating up of four low-caste Dalit men by cow protection vigilantes The parliament too was in uproar with opposition MPs shouting slogans accusing PM Narendra Modi’s government of failing to protect the Dalits.

The four Dalit men were assaulted while trying to skin a dead cow.

Many Hindus consider cows sacred and the slaughter of the animal is banned in many Indian states.

Last year, a Muslim man was lynched by a violent mob that attacked his house over allegations that his family had been storing and consuming beef at home.

There have several other attacks across India where Muslim men have been accused of eating or smuggling beef.

A video of the four Dalit men, believed to be tannery workers, being stripped and beaten with sticks allegedly by the members of a Hindu hardline group last week in Gujarat’s Una town has gone viral and sparked massive protests by Dalit groups.

WhatsApp in Brazil back in action after suspension

The third suspension in two years lasted for a few hours, affecting some 100 million users.

But Supreme Court judge Ricardo Lewandowski later lifted the nationwide blockage, calling it disproportionate.

WhatsApp said they did not have access to the details requested.

“The suspension of service apparently violates the fundamental

Mark Johnson, HSBC’s global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, and Stuart Scott, former head of HSBC’s forex trading for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will appear in a New York court.

The two traders are accused by the US government of using inside information to profit from a $3.5bn currency deal.

HSBC has so far declined to comment.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) accuses the traders of “front-running”. That means they are accused of using confidential information from a client purchase of British pounds to profit themselves.

“The charges and arrest announced today reflect our steadfast commitment to hold accountable corporate executives and licensed professionals who use their positions to fraudulently enrich themselves,” said the US Attorney Robert Capers.

US prosecutors cited emails and conversations from Bloomberg chats that indicated the two men plotted to see how high they could raise the the dollar to pound exchange rate before the clients would ‘squeal’.

About 40% of the world’s currency dealing is estimated to go through trading rooms in London.

The WhatsApp messaging service in Brazil is operating again after it was temporarily suspended for failing to hand over information requested in a criminal investigation

precept of freedom of expression and communication,” the Supreme Court said in its ruling.

Mr Lewandowski pointed out that the lower court judge’s decision seemed “not very reasonable and not very proportional”.

WhatsApp - owned by social media giant Facebook since February 2015 - gradually resumed normal service after the court’s ruling, correspondents say.

Earlier in the day, lower court Judge Daniela Barbosa ordered

the suspension of WhatsApp, accusing its parent company Facebook of failing “to provide information that will be critical to the success of an investigation and later to bolster the criminal case”.

It is not clear which investigation she is referring to, but she said the firm had been repeatedly asked to provide messages to police investigators in the city of Caxias, north of Rio.

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24 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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Menopause reversal restores periods and produces fertile eggs Women who have already passed through the menopause may be able to have children following a blood treatment usually used to heal wounds

By Jessica Hamzelou MENOPAUSE need not be the end of fertility. A team claims to have found a way to rejuvenate post-menopausal ovaries, enabling them to release fertile eggs, New Scientist can reveal.

The team says its technique has restarted periods in menopausal women, including one who had not menstruated in five years. If the results hold up to wider scrutiny, the technique may boost declining fertility in older women, allow women with early menopause to get pregnant, and help stave off the detrimental health effects of menopause.

“It offers a window of hope that menopausal women will be able to get pregnant using their own genetic material,” says Konstantinos Sfakianoudis, a gynaecologist at the Greek fertility clinic Genesis Athens.

“It is potentially quite exciting,” says Roger Sturmey at Hull York Medical School in the UK. “But it also opens up ethical questions over what the upper age limit of mothers should be.”

Women are thought to be born with all their eggs. Between puberty and the menopause, this number steadily dwindles, with fertility thought to peak in the early 20s. Around the age of 50, which is when menopause normally occurs, the ovaries stop releasing eggs – but most women are already largely infertile by this point, as ovulation becomes more infrequent in the run-up. The menopause comes all-too-soon for many women, says Sfakianoudis.

The age of motherhood is creeping up, and more women are having children in their 40s than ever before.

But as more women delay pregnancy, many find themselves struggling to get pregnant. Women who hope to conceive later in life are increasingly turning to IVF and egg freezing, but neither are a reliable back-up option (see “The pregnancy pause“).

The menopause also comes early – before the age of 40 – for around 1 per cent of women, either because of a medical condition or certain cancer treatments, for example.

“It offers hope that menopausal women will be able to get pregnant using their own genetic material“ To turn back the fertility clock for women who have experienced early

menopause, Sfakianoudis and his colleagues have turned to a blood treatment that is used to help wounds heal faster.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made by centrifuging a sample of a person’s blood to isolate growth factors – molecules that trigger the growth of tissue and blood vessels. It is widely used to speed the repair of damaged bones and muscles, although its effectiveness is unclear. The treatment may work by stimulating tissue regeneration.

Sfakianoudis’s team has found that PRP also seems to rejuvenate older ovaries, and presented some of their results at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting in Helsinki, Finland, this month. When they injected PRP into the ovaries of menopausal women, they say it restarted their menstrual cycles, and enabled them to collect and fertilise the eggs that were released.

“I had a patient whose menopause had established five years ago, at the age of 40,” says Sfakianoudis. Six months after the team injected PRP into her ovaries, she experienced her first period since menopause.

Sfakianoudis’s team has since been able to collect three eggs from this woman. The researchers say they have successfully

fertilised two using her husband’s sperm. These embryos are now on ice – the team is waiting until there are at least three before implanting some in her uterus.

The team isn’t sure how this technique works, but it may be that the PRP stimulates stem cells.

Some research suggests a small number of stem cells continue making new eggs throughout a woman’s life, but we don’t know much about these yet. It’s possible that growth factors encourage such stem cells to regenerate tissue and produce ovulation hormones.

“It’s biologically plausible,” says Sturmey.

Fertilised eggs Sfakianoudis’s team says it has given PRP in this way to around 30 women between the ages of 46 and 49, all of whom want to have children. The researchers say they have managed to isolate and fertilise eggs from most of them.

“It seems to work in about two-thirds of cases,” says Sfakianoudis. “We see changes in biochemical patterns, a restoration of menses, and egg recruitment and fertilisation.” His team has yet to implant any embryos in postmenopausal women, but hopes to do so in the coming months.

PRP has already been helpful for pregnancy in another group of women, says Sfakianoudis. Around 10 per cent of women who seek fertility treatment at his clinic have

a uterus that embryos find difficult to attach to – whether due to cysts, scarring from miscarriages or having a thin uterine lining. “They are the most difficult to treat,” says Sfakianoudis.

But after injecting PRP into the uteruses of six women who had had multiple miscarriages and failed IVF attempts, three became pregnant through IVF. “They are now in their second trimester,” says Sfakianoudis.

Fertility aside, the technique could also be desirable for women who aren’t trying to conceive. The hormonal changes that trigger menopause can also make the heart, skin and bones more vulnerable to ageing and disease, while hot flushes can be very unpleasant.

Many women are reluctant to take hormone replacement therapy to reduce these because of its link with breast cancer. Rejuvenating the ovaries with PRP could provide an alternative way to boost the supply of youthful hormones, delaying menopause symptoms.

However, Sfakianoudis’s team hasn’t yet published any of its findings. “We need larger studies before we can know for sure how effective the treatment is,” says Sfakianoudis.

Some have raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of the procedure, saying the team should have tested the approach in animals first. “This experiment would not have been allowed to take place in the UK,” says Sturmey. “The researchers need to do some more work to make sure that the resulting eggs are OK,” says Adam Balen at the British Fertility Society.

To know if the technique really does improve fertility, the team will also need to carry out randomised trials, in which a control group isn’t given PRP. Virginia Bolton, an embryologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London, is also sceptical. “It is dangerous to get excited about something before you have sufficient evidence it works,” she says. New techniques often find their way into the fertility clinic without strong evidence, thanks to huge demand from people who are often willing to spend their life savings to have a child, she says.

If the technique does hold up under further investigation, it could raise ethical questions over the upper age limits of pregnancy – and whether there should be any. “I lay awake last night turning this over in my mind,” says Sturmey. “Where would the line be drawn?”

Health issues like gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and miscarriage are all more common in older women. “It would require a big debate,” says Sturmey.

24 JUL

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

The SARSTOON Belize Guatemala

UNDER PUP The SARSTOON Belize Guatemala

UNDER UDP

THE TIME TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY IS NOW!

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24 JUL

2016

24 JUL

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THE BELIZE TIMES

VACANCY

Vacancies exist for the following post at Gwen Lizarraga High School for the upcoming school year 2016-2017:

- 1 – Accounting Teacher Temporary (3 Months) - 1 – English Teacher Full-Time - 1 – Social Studies Teacher Full-Time - 1 – English & Literature Teacher Temporary (3 Months) - 1-Chemistry & Integrated Science Teacher Temporary (1 Year) - 1-Woodwork Teacher Temporary (3 Months)

Applicants must have a first degree in the subject area to be taught and experience in teaching third and fourth form at C.X.C. Level, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and be willing to work with students.

Salary will be in accordance with Government’s pay scale, which is based on qualifications. Application should be submitted in writing along with a resume, copies of certificates, transcript, letters of recommendation and teacher’s license.

Application must be addressed to the Principal and delivered to the office by Friday July 29th, 2016.

VACANCY

A Vacancy exists for the following post at Gwen Lizarraga High School for the upcoming school year 2016-2017: 1 Bursar Applicants must have an Associate Degree in Business. Duties include but not limited to the following:

- Vote Control i.e. entry of payment vouchers, paysheets, Social Security vouchers and statement, bursaries for students; prepare monthly returns for M.O.E. etc.

- Keep stock up to date, inventories of stock, order items for school use - Reconcile statements for Belize Bank Deposit Account; prepare cheques - Collect fees and other monies from students and issue receipts for same - Make deposits and Paying into treasury - Ensure that cash books are sent to the proper authority at the designated times - Reconcile Income Tax - Balance TD4 forms for staff to file income tax returns - Keep Principal and Vice-Principals fully informed about matters pertinent to the school - Perform any related duties or assignments from time to time

Salary will be paid on an hourly rate. Application should be submitted in writing along with a resume, copies of certificates, transcript and letters of recommendation. Application must be addressed to the Principal and delivered to the office by Friday July 29th, 2016.

VACANCIES

Vacancies exist for the following post at Gwen Lizarraga High School for the upcoming school year 20162017:

- 1 – Social Studies Teacher Full-Time - 1 – Integrated Science Teacher Part-Time

Applicants must have a first degree in the subject area to be taught and experience in teaching third and fourth form at C.X.C. Level, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and be willing to work with students.

Salary will be paid on an hourly rate. Application should be submitted in writing along with a resume, copies of certificates, transcript, letters of recommendation and teacher’s license. Application must be addressed to the Principal and delivered to the office by Friday July 29th, 2016.

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the 20th day of July 2016:

BOUVERET HOLDINGS CORP.

ICAZA BELIZE TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED Registered Agent

32

THE BELIZE TIMES

24 JUL

2016