Belize Times July 3, 2011

Sunday, July 3, 2011

SUNDAY July 3, 2011

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Issue No. 4752

www.facebook/Belize Times

Dictator Dean …defies Court Appeal Judges

PM Dean Barrow is abusing his power & authority

Belize City, June 29, 2011 The Barrow Administration is under heavy fire at home and abroad, accused of displaying ultimate disrespect for the fundamentals of our democracy – the Judiciary and the rule of law. Imitating characteristics of a dictator, Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow ordered and gripped the forced re-taking of a telecommunications company despite a Court ruling which declared Government’s 2009 acquisition as illegal and unconstitutional.

On Friday June 24th, the Court of Appeal, which was asked to review a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Barrow Administration’s August 2009 acquisition of Belize Telemedia Limited, declared the

Blue is on!

Government’s action as unconstitutional and the acquisition as null and void.

“It is hereby declared that the Acquisition Act and Orders are inconsistent with the Constitution and are unlawful, null and void,” is what Justice Morrison declared in his substantive statement.

In another portion of the 149-page ruling, Morrison shatters the central force behind the Barrow Administration’s takeover, when he declared, “contrary to what the judge [Justice Oswell Legall, Supreme Court] found, the evidence does not support the view that the compulsory acquisitions were duly carried out for the stated public purpose.” This position was supported by the two other Judges Justice Boyd Carey and Justice Brian Alleyne.

Continued on page 4

10,000 PUP supporters say John Briceño for OW Central, John Briceño for PUP Leader!!

Ex-UDP Leader

Dean Lindo

sues Edmund Castro

Belize City, June 29, 2011 Edmund Castro, the only UDP politician to get kicked out of Cabinet for corruption charges, is facing some serious heat and it is once more over money probContinued on page 8

PUP Leader addressing 10,000 supporters at Sunday’s convention

See page 7

Elrington says Barrow “should go to jail” See page 35

18 yr. old charged for murder of Steven Perez, 18

Alleged Junie Balls killer gunned down

See page 10

Francis

consults with Belama Residents See page 31

Edward Lord

See page 4

See page 15

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Sugar Crop closes, targeted quantity not met, but quality surpassed From the ghetto streets

Come 2013, Yo Gawn Dean Orange Walk Town, June 25th, 2011

By Carmelita Perez The highly tense and controversial 2010/2011 sugar crop season came to a close on Friday June 24th at 6:00pm.

The estimated 1.5 million tons of cane was not delivered to the factory, but the quality of cane saw significant improvement. Final figures show that the average Ton of Cane per Tons of Sugar (TCTS) was excellent meaning that for the entire crop, quality cane was delivered to the factory.

But while the TCTS showed great improvement there is still more that needs to be done, according to Belize Sugar Industries’ Factory Manager John Gillett.

“While we know that farmers deliver within a certain time frame, if you go in some of the villages you will some trucks being parked from the night before, there is no need for that, that cane could be delivered even fresher. I believe that the average kill to mill this year is around thirty six hours, if that could be further improved to around twenty four hours the amount of sugar available in the cane would even be more.

From our side we did have our problems and we must say that we could have contributed a little more towards the improvement of quality likewise because we had shared problems at times and we will not run away from that but overall the factory performed well and in terms of programs sent out by the quality improvement. We will certainly be looking at reducing the amount of days that we take for the crop, this year when we look at it we just took 169 days that has been the lowest we have even operated in recent time, so we are looking to improve and reducing the crop”, said Gillett.

Final figures show that the factory received and milled a total of 843,745 tons of cane producing 99,214 tons of sugar and 28,643 tons of final molasses. Compared to last year, figures also show that mud levels receded by half this year as it went from 8.58% to 4.60%. While last year a total of 100,841 tons of mud was received by the factory this year the actual mud processed was 38,837 tons.

The 2011/2012 crop season is set to commence the last week of November or the first week in the month of December.

Dear Editor, Kindly publish my letter to the people of Belize. More of Barrow’s hard times are coming.

It is just another one of those days, when we imagine things will get better then a big stop sign with Dean Barrow’s head says “NEVER.” He is like a disease that won’t go away. Dean Barrow and the rest of his fools are living the time of their lives while the poor Belizeans are living the hardest time of their lives.

Belizeans I know we’re going through hard times and hell, but don’t worry. Only time will tell on these U.D.P. hustlers. It has been three years and a half and no solution but pollution that lead to corruption. The way Dean Barrow is acting right now is as if he is above the law, untouchable.

It looks like this Prime Minister watches too much television.

Therefore, you see Belizeans where Dean Barrow get his crap from and then he tries to bring that to the people of Belize. Nevertheless, we have news for you Mr. Prime Minister, comes 2013 “yo gawn Dean.”

The people of Belize are go-

ing to have you imagining the possibilities when they kick you and the rest of your dodo birds out of office.

We cannot go on like this no more.

Mr. Barrow, get real or get going.

Enough is enough, who do you think you are, God? I don’t think so.

See the difference Belizeans, when a person is hungry for more power, or like Dean Barrow that has no control over himself, he does nothing for anybody. Barrow is just being Barrow, a two timing snake, acting like he cares for the poor people of this country when he doesn’t and that’s a fact coming from the ghetto street.

I almost forgot, I was driving on the Northern Highway when I notice the circus was still in town and they still have up the “HELP WANTED” sign. Maybe someone needs to send over the number 1-800-CLOWNS to the Wave radio and let them know where they belong before the circus leaves town.

Respect and Jah Bless every time.

Roberto Peyfrefitte

THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR

Alberto Vellos

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

Belize City, June 29, 2011 Most Belize City Residents will pass this junction and not really consider the extent of the UDP stupidity in the speed bump. Of all of the dumb ideas of Zenaida and the UDP/Barrow Government, this ranks up there. At the intersection of Youth for the Future Drive and Vernon Street, the City Council, Traffic Department and Ministry of Works have wasted tax payer dollars to install a mountainous sleeping policeman/speed bump.

Nothing is wrong with strategically placing speed bumps. But we at BELIZE TIMES want to know who is the idiot who puts a speed bump right at the same place as a STOP SIGN. STEWPID!!!!!

We understand why Barrow’s success rate in Constitutional Amendments and Legislations is 0 for 4 and counting. This is the dunciest Government EVER! Just in case it missed these do-dos:

The stop sign makes the speed bump redundant.

We at BELIZE TIMES do not want to call this Government retarded but they are tempting us.

The UDP Government must have been advised by the four simpletons who have been secretly advising Barrow for the past three years: Yellowman, “DJ Dalla” aka Ms. Mayor, Philloughby or Easy Glen. Please, while you can still save face, Zenaida/Barrow. Move that embarrassment before this article hits the street and Belizeans confirm your bird brains.

Stop tolerating the logic of Joe Bradley. What you should have done was to fix the shameful street conditions just feet away in front of the “foot hills of the BelChina Bridge” near to the latrine studios or “studio #2”.

Father, forgive this government for they know not what they do!

OFFICE MANAGER

Fay Castillo McKay PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR

Doreth Bevans

LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

MARKETING/ADVERTISING

Rafael Sosa

STAFF REPORTER

Carla Bradley TYPIST

Rachel Arana OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd.

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

Sunday, July 3, 2011

PARTY PAGE

PUP

31

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THE BELIZE TIMES

F

OPERATION REBUILDING

HON. FRANCIS FONSECA FREETOWN

HON. mark espat albert

GREGORIO “PAPAS” GARCIA COROZAL BAY

CAROLYN TRENCH-SANDIFORD COLLET

RAMIRO RAMIREZ COROZAL SOUTH WEST

Valdemar castillo Corozal North

mike espat toledo east

oscar requeña toledo west

joseph mahmud cayo north

gilroy usher sr. port loyola

phillip palacio mesopotamia

JULIUS ESPAT CAYO SOUTH

anthony sylvestre jr . queen square

ARTHUR SALDIVAR BELIZE RURAL NORTH

anthony mahler caribbean shores

dr. francis smith pickstock

patty arceo belize rural south

dr. amin hegar belmopan

collet montejo cayo central

oscar sabido cayo west

dr. MARCO tulio mendez orange walk east

abelardo mai orange walk south

orlando habet cayo north east

HON. FLORENCIO MARIN JR. COROZAL SOUTH EAST

dolores balderamos garcia belize rural central

jorge briceno orange walk north

HON. JOHN BRICENO ORANGE WALK CENTRAL

HON. cordel hyde lake independence

RT. HON SAID MUSA FORT GEORGE

Rodwell Ferguson Stann Creek West

IVAN RAMOS Dangriga

TEAM BELIZE

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Dictator Dean Continued from page 1 The Court of Appeal is the highest Court and final Appellate Court in Belize. The decision immediately set pace for the previous majority shareholders of BTL to regain ownership of the company, and they did. Former BTL Chairman Dean Boyce and former board director Phillip Zuniga made their way to the BTL compound to meet with the staff.

The Government-appointed Chairman Nestor Vasquez left the building upon hearing the Court’s ruling, because as he said, “it was the right thing to do”.

Following the announcement of the ruling Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow, who initially recognised that the Courts are far more powerful than he is, pledged that he would respect the Court’s decision and the rule of law.

“This is our system, this is how it works, everybody has a right to go to Court and all of us including the Government must respect decisions of the Court. Now the judgment was for immediate effect but the order has not yet been shared and so I suppose technically we could have said ‘no, we stop you from taking over back until you share the order’, but I didn’t think that we should play it that way. I thought that in order to signal to the population at large our absolute respect for the decision of the Court that we should allow them to, as it were, move on that decision immediately. I didn’t see that there was anything useful to be gained from keeping them at bay. That might have turned ugly, that might have turned nasty, we might have had to use the police and I didn’t think that we would gain anything by that,” stated the Prime Minister during a phone interview on national television.

But a few hours after appearing humbled, the Prime Minister had a changed his, turning rabid and disrespectful. On his orders, an army of Police, Belize Defense Force soldiers and K9 dogs marched to and surrounded BTL’s headquarters on St. Thomas Street, closing its gate and only letting in Government representatives into the compound. What exactly was the purpose of the Police takeover while Government agents searched for files inside the building is anyone’s guess?

There are rampant allegations of UDP cronies hustling while Government was in charge of BTL’s treasure chest. It is also public knowledge that through BTL Barrow’s close friends and family such as his ex-wife and son benefitted immensely. It would come to no one’s surprise that all possible proof of hustling and reckless spending has been destroyed by now.

Barrow has defended his re-taking with a technical matter; that a declaratory order explicitly instructing the Government to vacate what the Court said was taken illegally in the first place, was never issued. But lawyers including Hubert Elrington, a former attorney general and the brother of Barrow’s foreign minister, say that the Government is acting very out of line, and is even displaying a serious contempt of the Court, because the judgment itself indicates Government’s ownership was null and void from the very beginning.

Using the state police, the Barrow Administration has constantly intimidated everything and everyone possible in Belize. This recent incident is the clearest evidence that Barrow believes he answers to no one and is above the law – he is now a Dictator.

While claiming that the BTL takeover is a nationalist move to benefit Belizeans, Barrow has nothing to show that under his management BTL became more Belizean-friendly. The much-anticipated Voice-Over Internet was never offered, and rates were never lowered.

Now that his administration has been shot down by the Court of Appeal, Barrow will do what he knows best. On Monday he will use the House of Representatives in another attempt to abuse the power given to him by the people of Belize, and force another piece of legislation to re-take Belize Telemedia Limited.

Alleged Junie Balls killer gunned down Belize City, June 29, 2011 He was one of the most notorious men roaming the old capital, but on Wednesday evening 23 year old Edward Lord was gunned down in plain view of the public and not too far from the Police substation on Mahogany Street.

Lord was standing on the street side in front of Brick City Barber Shop when a vehicle, described as being brown in colour, drove past and gunmen alighted and fired away. Witnesses heard multiple shots, more than 20 of which several caught Lord, causing fatal injuries.

Witnesses say the weapon used

Sunday, July 3, 2011 sounded like a machine gun.

Lord was declared dead at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

He was one of the most notorious figures. In 2005, Lord was accused of the murder of Sherwin Requeña, but charges were dropped. In 2007, he was accused of killing former gang leader George “Junie Balls” McKenzie as he stood close to his home turf. Lord was charged, but the case fell through when the witnessed failed to testify against him.

In October 2010, gun men attempted to take Lord’s life as he socialised with friends in a yard on Moya Street. He was shot on the side of the face, and he survived.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Ashcroft’s Best Friend In 2008, after having been Leader of the Opposition for ten years, Dean Barrow’s net assets were valued at some $3.3 million. It is no secret that during a substantial period of those ten years, Mr. Barrow was Lord Michael Aschroft’s legal point man. In return for his committed legal services, Mr. Barrow was well compensated. For a man of great financial largesse, Lord Ashcroft could have afforded to pay in the millions.

If today Mr. Barrow is as feverishly opposed to Lord Ashcroft as he claims to be, then he should stand on some morale ground, renounce and give back every cent he has gained from his past and even current relationship with Lord Ashcroft.

We are not convinced Mr. Barrow and the British billionaire are arch enemies as he and others would want us to believe. You see, nothing that Mr. Barrow has done since taking office has turned out detrimental to Lord Ashcroft. Taking over Belize Telemedia was a risky, but lucrative venture for Mr. Barrow and Lord Ashcroft. Mr. Barrow has enriched his family with Board appointments, and financial opportunities such as hiring his ex-wife as legal advisor and paying her millions of dollars. Similarly, Lord Ashcroft, who profited millions from his ownership of BTL, was even assured more millions in the form of compensation when the Prime Minister took away the telecommunications company.

Since August 2009, BTL has been tied up in all sorts of litigation. This has maintained a steady stream of payments to Lois Young-Barrow’s bank account, while Ashcroft has won a steady stream of Court costs and compensation in damages.

Forcing security personnel on BTL’s compound last week Friday was another high-risk move by the Prime Minister. Again, it will only prolong the litigation which does not benefit a single Belizean.

We at the BELIZE TIMES do not rely on revenues from BTL ads (we had not received one since August 25 2009, anyway), so we can call it as it is, unlike others in the media. We at the BELIZE TIMES can see the nakedness of Mr. Barrow’s lies, unlike those who have been recklessly trumpeting support for his campaign.

There is something absurdly wrong for true nationalists to believe Mr. Barrow is one. Barrow and the UDP are as capitalist as anyone could be. For now he’s a good politician, but when it’s all over Mr. Barrow will return to his old stomping grounds, his new fancy, milliondollar law firm paradoxically named “Equity House”, where big corporations and oil companies have birthed.

Mr. Barrow, a true nationalist would protect people’s interests first always. So why are there 73 murders and counting? Why is 43% of the population poor, while 16% are very poor, and 13% are on the brink of becoming poor? Why can’t our people find jobs? Why can’t our people feed their families? Why is education not free? Why is health care inaccessible? Why, Mr. Nationalist, why? Unless and until you can answer those questions, to us, you shall remain Mr. Ashcroft’s best friend.

44 DAYS TO BARROW’S CRUEL PREVENTATIVE DETENTION

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Corozal PUP at Work!!

Corozal, June 29, 2011 With the crisis in the Sugar Cane Industry and the wastage of the UDP Government, the cañeros and economy of Belize have been suffering. All the UDP has done is to murder cañeros without apology and pity. The people of Belize and the North have not forgotten that.

But the People’s United Party has not been waiting for the incompetence of Dean Barrow and Gapi Vega to get worse.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2011, as a heated swell of Belizean workers congregated outside of the Libertad Sugar Cane Factory in Corozal, the crowd of laborers chanted for, not the Government, but for the PUP representatives of the Corozal District.

A group of hard working Belizean laborers, ranging from welders to heavy machinery operators, flooded the factory gates.

They called for the fantastic Corozal Four representatives and their chants were answered. By the strike of twelve, a squad of PUP officials from the north including standard bearer Ramiro Ramirez marched to the rescue.

Ramirez supported by the united group of the PUP northern caucus with the weight of none other than the power house, Hon. Florencio Marin Jr, and the savvy veteran, Valdemar Castillo were called by the crowd and showed up.

The group with the tactical eye of attorneys, Kevin Arthurs and Arthur Saldivar, began negotiations with the representatives of the new owners of the abandoned factory.

Much to the pleasure of the near two hundred men, women and children who were locked outside the gates, the focused PUP group made their way inside and held talks for more than two hours.

Finally they arose with the solution of collecting a list of sixty three (63) skilled laborers from the area, from as far as Concepcion. Additionally, they received commitments from the Company that during the course of the eight month rebuilding process they would hire in excess of fifty Belizeans from the surrounding areas.

The PUP negotiators were very keen on making it clear that they lobbied for all locals not just supporters of the Party. They reiterated consistently the fact that the spiteful UDP government would be so cold as to victimize the company and kill the opportunity for all the villagers just to spite them.

After the upbeat and amicable talks, it was settled by the PUP

PUP Reps, Hon. Florencio, Valdemar and Ramiro take a stand for Corozal workers

Representatives and the Company that there would be a large hiring of locals on Monday, July 4, 2011.

The only thing that could spoil this happy ending is if the Government were to intrude and slap the bread

out of the workers’ mouth.

As the appeased crowd dispersed, they cheered for the team of PUP Representatives. One laborer form Calcutta confidently encouraged the unit: “yo se que ellos nos

ayudarían. Podemos depender en ellos. Sabemos que cuando el PUP este en gobierno, nuesta trabajo sera asegurado.” That is translated into: “we know that you would have Continued on page 34

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Blue is on!

Orange Walk Town, June 27, 2011

By Carmelita Perez On Sunday June 26th the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk Town reverberated with cheers and chants as the blue machine went into overdrive for the endorsement convention of the Leader of the People’s United Party and Orange Walk Central Area Representative, Honorable John Briceño.

The wave of blue came on foot, in buses and private vehicles ready to endorse the man who would lead the Party back to Belmopan. The drum beats were heard from afar as it led a sea of blue and white flags waved proudly in the air and a parade of supporters heading towards the Stadium.

At the People’s Stadium thousands of party supporters were waiting for the arrival of the ship’s captain. The love and support for the party leader was overwhelming.

The official ceremony then began with the official swearing in as Hon. Briceño as the Standard Bearer for Orange Walk Central. Team Belize was then complete. All standard bearers pledged to support the Leader of the Party and committed to join him in the battle against the UDP. “John Briceño es considerado como un faro de esperanza para el pueblo de Orange Walk, para nosotros sus colegas y para todo el país de Belice. Él es el hombre que nos llevara a la victoria, un hombre de honor, un hombre que es humilde, sencillo, directo, inteligente y la verdadera definición de un líder,” remarked Julius Espat, PUP Cayo South Standard Bearer.

“As a young leader, I am not only energized to lead Corozaleños to victory but also to be a part of this team, a team of thinkers, a team of innovators. This is the team to be of “Team Belize”. And under the leadership of John Briceño, who has the patience, knowledge and experience to take us forward,” vouched Gregorio ‘Papas’ Garcia Jr., PUP Corozal Bay Standard Bearer.

“It is time that we stand up, team 31 and all of you here today. Stand up for a better Belize, stand up for the PUP, stand up for the people for Belize,” said Anthony Mahler, PUP Caribbean Shores Standard Bearer.

“The people in this country are saying that the Dean Barrow government are the real squatters. They are the real squatters, they are in Belmopan and they have no place there, so come 2013 and all of us and thousands more Belizeans will go to the polls and in the right way we will say to them “Get out” and we will invite our new Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño to Belmopan,” exclaimed Collet Montejo, PUP Cayo Central Standard Bearer.

“We have a government right now that seems to be thinking with a colonial mentality, with a 19th century mentality. We now live in the twenty-first century. We have a leader who understands and who is working with the continuous modernization of this country, whilst we have a Prime Minister who somehow can’t seem to get it, everything for him is a fight, everything for him is to see how he

can victimize and take away,” stated Hon. Florencio Marin Jr., PUP Corozal South East Standard Bearer.

“We have put again together a team, a team with tremendous skills, tremendous track record, tremendous experience and that team is going to be led by the Hon. John Briceño and we will have a Peoples’ United Party government. But more importantly we have a leader, a leader who brings quality that we need at this time, qualities of humility, qualities of compassion because he know the plight of the people because he has been there,” vouched Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, PUP Collet Standard Bearer.

“Let me tell you why John Briceño will beat Dean Barrow, why he will lead us to victory in the next election and why Dean Barrow will fall in defeat. Dean Barrow likes to talk, he is a pretty talk-

er, he talks prettier than all of us but he doesn’t work harder than John Briceño and that is why Johnny will beat him.

Johnny works harder than Dean Barrow.” said Hon. Francis Fonseca, PUP Freetown Standard Bearer.

“We have a Prime Minister who is a nasty bully, you see how he tried to treat me in the House, call me all kinds of things. He thinks he can fight me, he think he could intimidate me but like I tell him “No watch me, Watch yourself!” You going down Barrow, you are going down.

He is a lying nepotistic dictator, that’s what he is and the people have had enough, the people want PUP under John Briceño, the want John Briceño to be the next Prime Minister of Belize,” exclaimed Rt. Hon. Said Musa- P.U.P Fort George Standard Bearer.

When it was time for the man who is leading the charge to address the massive crowd, Orange Walk Central Area Representative John Briceño sent a message that was strong and crystal clear - the P.U.P is back, the Blue is on!

“Let the word go forth from this

7 place that the blue is on. Let the foundation of this Peoples’ Stadium rock.

Let the entire nation know from north to south from east to west that the PUP is ready to rescue Belize again. We have heard the cries of the Belizean people, they are saying to us ‘we tired of having nothing, we are tired of the lie, we are tired of the broken promises and we are tired of the UDP’. We have seen and heard enough of Dean Barrow, no more false promises, no more imagining, no more pain and sorrow, enough basta.

“We have to put Belize back to work again, because we can believe again, believe in the Peoples’ United Party. We dah blue, we dah blue, Que viva el Partido Unido del Pueblo,” remarked John Briceño- Orange Walk Central Area Representative.

With its 31 standard bearers in place, the PUP now embarks on its selection of slates which will contest municipal elections next year.

See Centerfold for scenes of convention

8

Ex-UDP Leader

Dean Lindo

sues Edmund Castro Continued from page 1

lems.

Castro, who seems to have a habit for having his hand out for easy ‘handouts’, is accused of refusing to pay back $2,500 which he borrowed from former UDP leader Dean Lindo, who is the Prime Minister’s uncle. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a UDP showdown – UDP vs. UDP!!

The BELIZE TIMES is reliably informed that in 2009 Castro asked Lindo for a small loan of $2,500. Uncle Lindo felt sorry for Castro and agreed to give him the money, as a loan, and with the explicit condition, just in case the politician didn’t understand, that he pays back. On Christmas Eve December 24th 2009 Lindo reached out to Castro and asked for his money, but there was no positive reply. Five months later, on May 15th 2010, Lindo approached Castro once more but Castro did not pay.

Five months after that, on October 20th, Lindo reminded Castro of the loan, but the hard pay politician still gave up not a single cent. 13 days later, on November 2nd, Castro avoided another demand for repayment of the loan.

Recognising that Castro was obviously playing hard ball, Lindo made two more tries, on November 24th, and then again, on March 10th of this year, but had no luck in getting back his money.

Tired of the attempts to get back what was rightfully his with no success, Lindo turned to the last resort, filing a civil claim against the elected but totally disconnected UDP Belize Rural North area representative. Castro’s biggest mistake was forgetting that Lindo is a Senior Counsel.

Castro will now have to appear before the Magistrate’s Court to answer to his hard pay tendencies. Taking money from someone and not giving it back is STEALING! It is a total shame that a sitting member of the House can behave in such manner. Already blemished by the accusation that he took thousands of dollars from an American woman for land he never provided, and subsequently booted out of Cabinet, Castro is turning out to be a very crooked politician.

But most shameful is that despite these allegations, Castro has not been given a seat in the far corner of the House next to Cardona, whose only sin was to expose corruption in the UDP. So, the man who exposes corruption gets the guillotine, while the man against whom the PM saw evidence of corruption gets a slap on the wrist. That is the UDP way.

The UDP is the party that promotes corruption. Despite the serious offenses, Castro remains a UDP area rep and will get another try as the UDP have allowed him to run as a candidate in the Belize Rural North convention this Sunday. Let it be known, that when Castro wins on Sunday, the UDP will become the OFFICIAL party of CORRUPTION!

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Tropical Storm Arlene slams into Mexico Belize City, June 29, 2011 The first storm for Atlantic’s 2011 was Tropical Storm Arlene which made landfall early Thursday on Mexico’s central Gulf Coast near Cabo Rojo with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.

Early Thursday, the storm was centered about 35 miles north of Tuxpan, Mexico, and moving west near 9 mph.

Authorities in the Mexican states of Veracruz, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi prepared for possible flooding as rain began falling along the coast Wednesday. Officials warned residents about impending winds and rain.

Forecasters said the storm was expected to be 435 miles wide and drench parts of central Mexico by Saturday, affecting areas as far away as the Pacific coast.

Arlene was expected to weaken later Thursday and dissipate on Friday.

With Arlene’s early appearance, the 2011 hurricane season’s start is very similar to 2010, when Tropical Storm Alex formed in late June and went on to hit northeast Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane.

2010 was an above-average hurricane season.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

9

THE BELIZE TIMES

More bloodshed! Three murders in the city, one in Cayo Wednesday, June 29, 2011 Just when the mourning and grieving wanes for families of the last set of murder victims, four more are gripped with the same plague - more violence and death. Since last Friday, there have been four murders; three alone in Belize City and another in Unitedville, Cayo.

The violence never ended. It never even subsides. It just simply gets worse, and continues to with no response from the Government.

On Monday, a resident of Unitedville stumbled upon the body of Anthony Trapp, 63, in bushes off the dirt road. He was last seen alive at a bar on Saturday night. Trapp’s neighbours and relatives became concerned for him when he didn’t show up to eat for two days. Sometime after midday after a search party had been activatJessem Gladden ed, Trapp’s body was discovered. His head had been bashed in and a bloodAs for James Lemoth, 17, the youth stained rock was discovered a short had been waiting for a job in electrifiContinued on page 34 distance away.

James Lemoth

Anthony Trapp

Marin sentenced to 24 years for Kidnapping & Robbery BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 29, 2011

By Roy Davis Solomon Marin Jr., 27, a resident of Dangriga charged with robbery and kidnapping, was sentenced to 10 years for each count today in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court after he was found guilty of the charges.

Justice Troadio Gonzalez, who imposed the sentences, stipulated that they should run concurrently. Therefore, Marin will only serve 10 years.

Marin was also charged with taking a conveyance without authority and he was found guilty of that charge.

A second defendant, Oliver Rodriguez, 23, was acquitted of the charges after Justice Gonzalez upheld a no case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

A third person was implicated in the incident but he was never arrested.

The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on August 26, 2006 in Belmo-

pan. The complainant, Leon Castillo, 25, testified that when he went to the ATM at First Caribbean Bank, he was kidnapped by two men, one of them armed with a sawed-off shotgun.

Castillo said the men drove him in his vehicle to a place just outside of Belmopan then they stole his money and jewelry.

Castillo testified that a third man entered the vehicle and they drove him to feeder road off the Hummingbird

Highway.

Castillo said the shotgun was put to his head but he was not shot and he was tied to a tree and left there. Marin and Rodriguez gave statements from the dock in which they denied they committed the offences.

Marin was represented by attorney Ellis Arnold. Rodriguez was not represented by any attorney. Senior Crown Counsel Cecil Ramirez represented the prosecution.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Trio remanded for Sawed-Off Shotgun BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 29, 2011

By Roy Davis Three persons were charged with keeping a prohibited firearm when the police found a sawed-off shotgun in the back seat of a Ford Escort vehicle on Thursday night, June 23.

They are Glenford Vernon, 21; Carlton Pakeman, 22; and Lindon Hinds, 18.

They were arraigned when they appeared in the #2 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, June 27. They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser explained to them that the court could not offer them bail because of the nature of the offence. She remanded them into custody until July 29.

Three police reported that shortly

Glenford Vernon & Lindon Hinds

Student charged for $14,400 Burglary

Carlton Pakeman

after Jessim Gladden, 39, was shot, they intercepted a Ford Escort vehicle at the corner of Wood Street and Cemetery Road which fitted the description given to them of the vehicle that was used in the shooting.

According to the police, when they searched the Ford Escort they found a sawed-off shotgun, caliber and serial number unknown, on the back seat. So far the three have not been charged in connection with the shooting of Gladden.

18 yr. old charged for murder of Steven Perez, 18

Ruben Price

Bernard Johnson

BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 29, 2011

By Roy Davis Bernard Johnson, 18, a student of St. John’s College Extension, became an inmate of Belize Central Prison yesterday when he was unable to meet a bail of $6,000 offered to him by #5 Court Magistrate Albert Hoare after he was arraigned on a charge of burglary.

Johnson, who resides at 44 corner of South and Plues Street is accused of breaking into Femina’s Warehouse between 10 a.m. on Saturday June 24 and 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 25.

Delip Budhrani, 36, the owner of the warehouse, which is located at the East Canal Street, reported to the police that the items that were stolen included 400 standing fans, valued at $12,000; $2,000 worth of assorted clothing, one office chair, valued at $200; and one small wooden table, valued at $200. The total value of the items was $14,400. None of the stolen items have been recovered.

BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 29, 2011 Ruben Price, 18, a resident of 79 Cemetery Road who is a student of St. John’s College Extension, was charged with the murder of Steven Alexander Perez, 18, when he appeared today in the #2 Magistrate’s Court.

No plea was taken because the offence is indictable and Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser remanded price into custody until July 27.

Perez was shot around 9:20 p.m. on Sunday, June 26. According to reports, Perez was socializing with friends at a house on Dolphin Street when he and a female friend went tom a Chinese shop nearby to buy.

While Perez was outside of the shop when his assailant rode up on a bicycle and fired several shots. He was shot in his chest, the left side of his abdomen and on his wrist.

Perez, reports say, ran into the yard where he was socializing and the gunman followed him there and fired some more shots. He was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the following day, Monday, June 27.

Some friends of Perez say they believe that it was a case of mistaken identity because Perez was not a trouble maker.



Sunday, July 3, 2011

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011 City Boys’ Jason Young in control of the ball

BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

Paradise Freedom Fighters takeover

Superleague top spot Placencia Village, June 25, 2011 The Paradise Freedom Fighters have taken over the lead of the Belize Bank Superleague standings with 7 points in week 4 of the playoffs after holding the Placencia Assassins to a 2-2 draw at the Placencia Village field on Saturday night.

Ralph Flores scored the Freedom Fighters’ 1st goal in the 20th minute, but Placencia’s Wilmer Garcia delivered the equalizer in the 23rd minute for a 1-1 draw at the half time break.

The Assassins’ attacks forced the visitors to give up a penalty in the 65th

minute, and Placencia team captain Dalton Eiley converted for a 2-1 lead.

PG’s Tarrel Flores salvaged a 2-2 draw when he scored the equalizer in injury time.

Orange Walk United burned a dull and dreary Raymond Gentle City Boys 5-1 at the People’s Stadium also on Saturday night, June 25, and now both teams have 6 points.

Orange Walk United awaits the Placencia Assassins at the People’s Stadium on Sunday, while the City Boys will host the Freedom Fighters at the MCC on Sunday.

Lady Rebels swat Orchid Blazers 5-2 Belize City, June 27, 2011 Defending Belize City softball champs, Mirage Lady Rebels crushed the Orchid Blazers when the Belize City women’s softball competition continued at the home of softball at the Roger’s Stadium on Monday.

Arneek Baptist scored the Rebels’ 1st run when she came home in the 1st inning, and Sherette Jones scored a 2nd run in the 2nd inning. Agnes Lucas scored the Orchid Blazers’ 1st run in the 3rd inning, but the Rebels led 3-1 when Sherlene Humphreys scored in the 4th inning.

Fiona Fivero scored Orchid ladies’ 2nd run in the 5th, but the Rebels went on to win 5-3 when Lisa Jones and Sharette Vernon scored in the 5th inning.

BTL’s Lydia Cacho

BTL vs. Mirage Lady Rebels

BTL

5

Mirage Lady Reb.

BTL

0

Hurricanes

Lady Rebels team

San Ignacio Town, Sunday June 26, 2011 The following are the results of the 1st Senior Karate Championship Tournament, provided by the Belize Karate Federation.

Male Open Kumite 1. Argazavad Sankey, MAAB 2. Gary Pech, MAAB 3. Kerwin Brown, MAAB

Female Novice Kata 1. Audrey Curling, CSKC San Ignacio 2. Sharon Pastor, CSKC San Ignacio 3. Ines Cano, CSKC Belmopan

Male Masters (+40years) Kumite 1. Herman Pastor Jr., CSKC San Ignacio 2. David Diego, CSKC Belmopan Team Results Sensei Herman Pastor, CSKC San

Ignacio – 22 Points Sensei Leon Guild, MAAB – 8 points Sensei David Diego, CSKC

Belmopan – 6 points Sensei Rito Fernandez, KSKD – 4 points

Male Novice Kata 1. Fidel Cuellar, CSKC San Ignacio 2. Kerwin Brown, MAAB 3. Everaldo Pinelo, KSKD Female Advanced Kata 1. Asha Pastor, CSKC San Ignacio 2. Nerici Pastor, CSKC San Ignacio 3. Anne Link, CSKC Belmopan

BTL vs. Hurricanes

13

Wilmer Garcia scored Placencia’s 1st goal

Karate Tournament Results

Other games:

13

City Boys’ Deon McCauley charges

Lanisha Jones pitches

Female Open Kumite 1. Myra Pinelo, KSKD 2. Asha Pastor, CSKC San Ignacio 3. Nerici Pastor, CSKC San Ignacio

Male Masters (+40 years) Kata 1. Herman Pastor Jr., CSKC San Ignacio 2. David Diego, CSKC Belmopan

Visit Us Online at: www.belizetimes.bz

Sunday, July 3, 2011

13

THE BELIZE TIMES

Strikers win back to back in men’s softball

BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

championship

Belize City, June 26, 2011 The Strikers posted back to back wins in the Belize City men’s softball tournament over the weekend.

The Strikers hammered the Police 12-2 on Sunday afternoon. Strikers led 1-0 when Troy Williams came home in the 1st inning, and the Strikers’ lead grew to 8-0 when Ryan Roches, Dion Richards, Steve Williams, Bryan Grant, Floyd Flowers Jr., Steve Moody and Jose Itza came home in the 2nd inning.

Reginald Flowers and Tommy Shaw scored two runs for the Police in the bottom of the 3rd, but the game was called by the application of the mercy rule in the 4th inning, when Dion Richards, Steve “Muerte” Williams, Bryan Grant and pitcher Keith Madrill rounded the bases for a 12-2 win.

Strikers won back to back

Other games: Strikers vs. Team 313

14 Strikers

5

Team 313

Oceana Pros vs. Police

13

Oceana Pros

5

Police

Oceana’s Shaquille Moody

Oceana’s Pierce Coleman

Strikers’ Troy Williams

Ayuso, Riveros & Ochaeta win 2011 national table tennis tournament

Belize City, June 26, 2011 Nelito Ayuso won the A Division, Mike Rivero the B division, Ernesto Rivero the C division, and Harim Ochaeta the Under-15 Cadet division, when the Belize Table Tennis Association held its annual national ranking tournament at the Belize Elementary School Auditorium on Sunday.

Following the playing of the Belize National Anthem

by Carlos Cui and his trio, the action started at about 9:30 on a total of 11 tables used for the first Round Robin section of the tournament.

On hand as an invited guest and participant was

Nelito Ayuso

Joseph Sukhnandan

Harim Ochaeta

the US Ambassador, Mr. Vinai Thummalapally, who gave a few words at the opening ceremony. He is a table tennis fan, and hopefully we shall see more of the ambassador in the tournaments to come.

With some 50 or so players competing for the 4 different divisions of Continued on page 14

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Other games: Bowen & Bowen vs. War Paint Design

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Bowen & Bowen

46

War Paint

BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

BWS vs. Telemedia

CYDP beats BTL & Belize Bank Belize City, June 24, 2011 The Conscious Youth Development Programme had back to back wins when the 2011 interoffice competition continued at the Belize City Center on Monday, June 27.

CYDP disconnected Belize Telemedia 67-41 in Game 9 on Monday. Marcel Orosco led CYDP with 12 points, 8 rebounds and Eral Johnson had 21 points. Ervin Orosco, Ed Baptist and Leon “Bigs” Williams chipped in 6 points each. Jamal Kelly led Telemedia with 16 points, 3 rebounds and Lupito Acosta hit a long trey as he added 8 pts.

In Game 3 on Sunday June 26, CYDP also deposited a 71-59 win on the Belize Bank.

50 BWS

47

Telemedia

Guardian vs. Mirab

71

Guardian

49 Mirab

Ports of Belize Ltd. vs. Police

57

Ports of Belize

51 Police

KREM Radio/Hard Rock vs.

Youth for the Future

65 KREM

Linden Galvez scored 5pts & made 11rebs

Optimist Program officially launched Sunday 26th June 2011 Shortly after 9am the waters of Buttonwood Bay, rippled by a light wind from the east north east, cheerfully reflected the sunrays breaking through the high cloud cover. In this cool and pleasant atmosphere in the presence of Governor General Sir Colville Young and BzSA Chairman Charles B Hyde the oral rendition of the National Anthem began the Official Ceremony to launch the Optimist Program.

The short ceremony paid tribute to the donors of the twenty six dinghies including the International Optimist Dinghy Association who donated four boats under the “six for five” scheme.

BzSA qualification certificates were issued to several members who had successfully completed BzSA Sailing Standard Awards and Instructor training. Board member Johnny Valdes delivered the keynote address and Sir Colville accepted a BzSA headdress in our appreciation of Government’s support for the Optimist Project. The Consejo Yacht Club was recognized as the first sailing club to join the BzSA. The ceremony ended with sailing demon-

stration by the Optimist and rides in a Sea Scout Bosun.

The Batch One consists of 26 race certified boats constructed by Far East Boats in Shanghai China, an authorized manufacturer of the Optimist Dinghy. The 26 Optimist will be used to promote the sport of sailing in Belize, providing “meaningful activity” for our youth and put Belize in its rightful place on the world map of sailing.

In related news: Optimist Summer Camp. Tuesday 5th July to Saturday 27th August. The Summer Camp expects to bring 60 participants (9 to 14 years old boys and girls) to BzSA Competent Dinghy Level ending with the first Optimist Regatta on Sunday 28th August.

Battle Regatta Sunday. 11th September 2011. The venue is the historic waters off St George’s Caye. Races will be staged with the Traditional classes, Optimist and other “one design” classes. Interest has been expressed by regional sailing associations for participation. For more information, contact: belizesailingassociation@gmail. com

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Youth for the Fu.

Special Olympics team beats Indonesia 2-1, ties with Chile 2-2 Athens, Greece - Special Olympics World Summer Games Special report by Andy Aspinall, Head Coach The warm up went well before facing Indonesia, but before the team walked on they looked very nervous.

By contrast the competition looked relaxed and confident. The game started well and we took control but made some silly mistakes and our basics skills were not their normal crisp standard.

Tense nerves were having a big effect on our team.

Against the run of play and after 5 minutes disaster struck. Indonesia hit a shot that deflected off Jerrilee Valentine and hit the back of the net. We found ourselves one nil down again. The team then really showed their metal and this was just the tonic they needed to shake out the nerves. They worked hard on defence and Indonesia hardly managed to get into our half. Although we continued the pressure and were shooting good shots from every angle nothing was going in.

I thought Coach Raymond Sanchez and Charles Guttierez where going to blow a blood vessel as they were shouting loudly.

Still one nil down with 5 minutes left to play, our luck changed.

Jerrilee crossed the ball from the side-line well inside our half. The ball found Ernest Lambey on the opposite side of the pitch. He controlled it on his chest dropped it to his thigh and hit

Ayuso, Riveros & Ochaeta win 2011

national table tennis tournament Continued from page 13 the tournament, each division started competing in their respective category. The Round Robin competition saw the top two from each group advance to the final DOUBLE ELIMINATION round to determine the overall winners of each division.

On hand to present the awards was Mr. Marlon Kuylen, representing the sponsors RF&G Insurance who delivered medals to all the winners, and also commented on the continued sponsorship of the event in 2012 and beyond. Here are the results:

A DIVISION 1st place – Nelito Ayuso 2nd place – Tux Vasquez 3rd place – Carlos Cui 4th place – Ernesto Rivero B DIVISION 1st place – Ernesto Rivero 2nd place – Nicholas Martin 3rd place – Gabriel Guerrero 4th place – Hollis Parham C DIVISION 1st place – Mike Rivero 2nd place – Harold Young 3rd place – Marion Usher 4th place – Clifton Williams 15 UNDER/CADET DIVISION 1st place – Harim Ochaeta 2nd place – Ashar Arthurs 3rd place – Matthew Usher 4th place – Orville Leal

the ball on the volley giving the Indonesian keeper no chance.

A legendary show of somersaults followed… our growing number of fans has come to expect a tumbling show.

But one-all was not good enough to stamp our mark on the group we needed a win to lead the group.

At half time I told the team if they continued the pressure a goal would come.

Touch the flag, think of Belize and give it all you have for your country. Team Belize continued the pressure and again Indonesia did not manage to get the ball out of their half. No matter how many shots we took we just could not score.

3 seconds from the end, Ernest Lambey struck the ball towards the near post onto the waiting head of Sidney Rhaburn who headed home the winner as the final whistle blew. 2 – 1. We had done it, Sidney had scored the “match winner” we had managed to come from behind, overcome our initial nerves and win the match.

Team Belize played Chile on Wednesday and ended with the game tied 2.-2.

On Thursday, Belize will play Singapore.

15

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LovaBOY

Visit www.Facebook/ Lova Boy

Buju

sentenced to 10 years

Dancehall reggae artist Buju Banton, embroiled in a longstanding drug case which ended in mistrial in 2010, was sentenced to serve 10 years.

Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, will serve his time at the FCI prison facility in Miami where the singer first incurred his cocaine charges in 2009.

The Grammy-award winning and internationally known reggae star was convicted this past February of conspiracy charges relating to organizing a drug deal in a warehouse monitored by police officials. After the 2010 mistrial, federal prosecutors pressed the case based on video evidence which showed Banton sampling the illegal wares and discussing price details regarding the heavy amounts of cocaine being transferred.

Sizzla

releases 65th album

This is the Sizzla’s 65th album…yes, you read right…65th!!!! “The Scriptures” was produced by John John Records and consists of songs delivering messages containing spirituality and positive vibes.

He told The Jamaica Star, “This album took over a year to complete because we wanted perfection, and trust me the entire world can appreciate this one.”

Raquel • • • • • •

Graduate of Orange Walk Technical High School Sign: Pisces Favourite Food: Cheviche Likes: Travelling, Shopping, Listening to Music, Reading Lives in Belize City Fav. Quote: “What goes around comes around”

Photo: Ernie Alpuche

BELIZETIMES SUNDAY JULY 3, 2011 THE BELIZE TIMES see full color at www.belizetimes.bz or Facebook/ Belize Times

Sunday, July 3, 2011

16

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Together, let’s make it happen!

Address by PUP Senior Deputy Leader Hon. Mark Espat, at Joint PUP Convention, Sunday June 19, 2011

It is with excitement that I accept your nomination as PUP Standard Bearer for the Albert Constituency. I thank you for the confidence and pride you give us.

The Albert Committees, on whose shoulders I stand, worked without pause to transform our division. We gave a constituency something important and Belize, something precious: we built many and durable houses; we established new and innovative industries; we erected school buildings and offered scholarships; we encouraged sports and the arts – behold the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts and the House of Culture and Yabra Sporting Complex we awarded hundreds of house lots, of home improvement grants, of tax incentives and loans for small businesses Most important – our Committee and the PUP government offered jobs and job training with hundreds of our constituents put to work, earning liveable wages to care for their families. We made things happen for the people!

For ten years we showed Belizeans that public service is still an honorable ideal.

Our opponents invited us to imagine the possibilities. The UDP won the Belize City Council elections in 2006.

They took power in Belmopan in 2008.

Then, they took control of all municipal government in 2009. Then they said they won the majority of the village council elections last year. After these victories, we will judge them on only one score – that is their record…what have they delivered?

We say to the UDP: you have had your chance. If you cannot offer a hand and help lift people up, then it is time for you to go. Why is it time for the UDP to go? They have failed. What was a PUP boom turned to a UDP bust.

They have failed - In just three years of UDP misrule, our communi-

ties have slid backwards.

They have failed - Walk along Southern Foreshore or East Canal and see the derelict buildings and the overgrown lots; talk to the residents along Wagner’s Lane or Conch Shell Bay and taste their despondency; They have failed - Engage the shop owners on Albert Street or Vernon Street and hear of the business meltdown; chat with the students or recent graduates and learn of their gloom.

They have failed.

And the chorus of despair grows louder with each passing day: the chorus “that this UDP government lacks direction, lacks compassion, lacks competence. “ They have failed.

And this same UDP-provoked depression that grips the constituency I represent is choking all four corners of our country.

The UDP government is clueless, helpless, and listless.

It is so right to change and so wrong to drift without direction, as Belize drifts.

It is right to build a fair and just society. It is wrong to deny our people hope, dignity and freedom.

It is right that we come and work together. It is wrong that we return to the past.

It is wrong - that while the economy and investments shrivel, crime and lawlessness swells.

It is wrong - that almost half of our citizens are cursed by poverty.

It is wrong - that one in four can’t find a job to feed their family.

It is wrong - that PSE performance stands at historic lows.

It is wrong - that even as 80 cents of income from every of petroleum dollar vanishes, the UDP wants to drill for oil along our barrier reef and inside our national parks.

It is wrong - that instead of spreading freedom, they sow fear, threatening to change the laws so that citizens can

be arrested without charge for 51 days, so that trials can be conducted without a jury.

Instead of jobs, or houses, or lots, or roads and bridges, or schools, what is thrown to us by Prime Minister Barrow is a flood of words – words, more words and bigger words. If only this self-styled Caesar cared for his people as much as he cares for his words!

The people cannot eat your words Mr. Prime Minister. Words can’t feed children, words don’t pay bills. Serve words on a plate or in a wheel barrow and Caesar’s words still do nothing for us.

To reverse the country’s decline will require more than words, from PM Barrow and more importantly from the PUP. 60 years ago, when the colonial occupiers devalued the British Honduras dollar, a national resistance birthed the PUP. The Party was muscular. Members met, mapped, they marched and they made things happen.

15 years later, with Belizean workers at the vanguard of a patriotic PUP movement, Belize achieved self-government; and another 15 years brought Independence.

Alas the golden dreams and ambitions of Independence have turned to a brass and bitter reality. Belize does not have to be like this. Belize can be better than this, Belize is richer than this.

Now is the time to raise the resistance once more, to summon ourselves to the task of national renewal and development – not for the few but for the many, the masses, for the children and grandchildren of those whose courage and militancy built the foundation of the PUP 61 years ago.

The next election must be about the people, for the people, for you!

So listen to me carefully, my friends, because this is serious business, this matter of winning elections.

Our Party has won many great battles, and the greatest of these have come when the Party’s policies and actions are aligned with the well-being of the people, the common people, the struggling people, those who need our voice and our helping hands – the workers, cement block layers, the cleaners, the taxi operators, the waiters and waitresses, the farmers, the fisher folks, the messengers, the nurses. They are the soul of the PUP. The PUP has succeeded when these words ring true: “I am a member of the PUP because I believe in the principles of social, economic and environmental justice...that the material resources of the country serve the common good… that policies of the state must eliminate economic and social privilege and dis-

parity among the citizens of Belize.”

Only when we share these fundamental beliefs do we deserve to win, will we win.

I seek not mere victory for our Party but rejuvenation, justice and change for our nation.

Belize does not have to be a land of economic disappointment and violence, of blocked roads, of enterprises stifled, of broken families, of rampant drug trafficking and abuse but a nation of enlightenment and prosperity.

A nation of full employment, lower and fairer taxes, mandatory education, vocational training or national service; nation offering efficient healthcare, one where a just share of our petroleum wealth goes back to the people, one of far less personal insecurity.

Ever mindful, then, of the grand legacy of our Party, let us gather our strengths anew, and in unity, lay out a progressive vision for rescuing our country and fight the UDP in every village, city and town. We will take them on with every issue. We will take them on in the streets and on the air waves. And we will win. And we will win because we are the party built on a platform of ideas and ideals.

Friends, supporters – Our Party can roll back the limits of what’s possible in Belize, arouse a great hope in ourselves, and ignite that entrepreneurial spirit in the business community, cognizant always that rewards come to the bold and the big-thinking.

George Price lived the principles and values of the PUP. George Price did not say that only the rich could vote.

George Price believed that every child deserved an education, not just the children of the wealthy.

George Price did not hesitate to redistribute land to the poor and the needy.

George Price believed in gender equality.

George Price did not say it was too hard to end colonial rule.

George Price did not believe that access to healthcare should depend on income.

George Price did not say it was too difficult to achieve Independence.

Belizeans answered George Price’s call and rose to the challenge of constructing a young, vibrant god fearing nation.

I know what politics can do for people. I am ready to serve. For when we elect PUP Standard Bearers, Belize is better off.

Only the PUP can make it happen. Only you can make it happen.

Together, let’s make it happen!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

SSB treachery Exposed!

By Concerned Citizen Sources inside Social Security Board say there is no Happy Birthday for SSB workers this year.

When asked why, they’ve replied “well you see Mr. Freckle, since Bailey-Martinez came to SSB there has been nothing but chaos and disunity, everybody do deh own thing, no togetherness like before. All departments and districts get deh own budget fi decorate and buy pastry fi di customas. Early this year we spend latta money fi put wah team together fi mek this anniversary and birthday be bigga and betta. We even gone dah the Cayes and Hopkins and adda places pan SSB expense fi find the right place fu have wah big celebration fi wi 30th anniversary.

Well, staff gone “sick out” and the selfish and vindictive Bailey-Martinez get bex with union and staff and seh nothing fi we and when nothing fi we nothing fi unu the public to. The planning committee mi disappointed, and again, po’ people money gone down the drain.”

Every year before BaileyMartinez went to SSB the CEO or Chairman addressed the nation and gave an update on the current financial position, investments and future organizational goals. Since 2008…”NADA”.

What is Bailey-Martinez afraid of? Is she afraid to show that this is the worst SSB has been since it began and under her watch?

Let me begin to enlighten you all of some of the issues surrounding ‘your money’ that Barrow left Bailey-Martinez in charge of.

Last year when Bailey-Martinez thought that she could please staff after playing them like yoyo with their Union agreement, SSB spent approximately $50,000 of your money for an all-day “Open Bar” event at Banister Caye and another $150,000 of your money again for a flopped “New Year’s Bash” at the Biltmore Plaza. $6.5 million dollars more of your money has been spent to bring in a group from “Guatemala” called “Techtura” who after spending 10 months or more in Belize to install a program called “Reqlogic” are once again in Belize to repair, adjust or alter the non-functional program and again (at additional costs to us the Belizean people).

This program, as I understand it, has replaced a system that has been working well for over a decade.

“If something noh bruk, no fix it man!”

Both internal and external customers are at a disadvantage because they now have to wait for “Reqlogic” to function and when it

functions, cheques are only printed on special days and now customers have to wait twice as long for their payments thanks to the $6.5 million dollar program. Even after the supposedly go-live on the 2nd of January 2011 the program is still not responding and whenever staff complains, Techtura gets abusive by insulting the staffs intelligence and ability to perform. The staff is getting frustrated with the system and staff have been heard publicly lashing Bailey-Martinez and her “system of Req”. A finance staff says they are tired of the abuse by Techtura and added that “nothing Bailey du mek sense”.

Now who the hell is Techtura?

Are they connected to someone in the government? Or are they connected to someone who knows someone in the government? Is Bailey-Martinez benefitting somehow? It’s your money, our money, and I will leave that with you all to dig deeper to see how SSB arrived at Techtura. Belize should be saying Happy Birthday to Techtura, after all they are taking away all our money.

Is this feasibility? Is this prudent investment?

The special interview ended with some staff union and nonunion who are extremely annoyed that Bailey-Martinez hired a new worker (best friend and unionist of the past) ‘Mileage Burke’, who earns thousands per month only in allowances, and a hefty salary package for driving to and from Belize City daily for collections (that hardly comes in) due to outstanding mortgage arrears. Again there is no value for money. I will choose not to touch the huge loans to friends like the Mena group of company’s $14.9 million, or the shrimp farm’s $1.5 million at this time.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. Is it correct for SSB to collect $60 million annually in revenues while its expenditures (Administra-

tive costs) exceed that figure by $16 million? This is the person Barrow has in charge of our retirement savings, our money! This is the same Martinez who is disenfranchising us as workers by taking away our right to benefits in the case of an accident, and is placing our lives at peril by removing workers’ insurance if we are not driving in an authorized motor vehicle by our employer. Workers are not covered on public transport,

17

which most of them use.

This is the same Bailey-Martinez who uses our social security savings to fill her tank with gasoline to travel to and from Belize City daily.

Yet she refuses to give her staff their salary increase that has been pending since 2007 even before her time.

She knows the economic times we are in, but maybe because she too has a hefty package she fails to realize the economic hardship we now face. SSB’s funds are not secure and staff morale is at its lowest, yes, at an all-time low.

Mr. PM when we hire a contractor to build a house for us, we don’t just leave the contractor on his own.

We monitor the daily performance of the contractor and perhaps even evaluate that contractor mid-way through the construction. In some organizations bosses evaluate their employees to get a desired outcome.

Appointing Bailey-Martinez as SSB’s CEO was no guarantee for success; this would occur only after continuous monitoring and continuous evaluation of her performance.

This is the tool that would indicate whether she’s on or off-track. Don’t wait until 2013. Stay tuned for more in the next issue.

18

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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20

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Congrats to the great team of Anglican Diocesan Pre School

By Mrs. Anne Palacio - parent This ever progressive school saw another successful year in these trying days. As mentioned in the valedictory address, The Lord is Good Indeed and His Mercies are Everlasting. This just shows that in the light of all the chaos, our schools are still operating and our children are still learning new strategies and techniques to improve themselves. It is said that a child’s cognitive skills are developed from the age of conception to the age of 7 and this is one of the many reasons why early childhood education is important.

One such school is Anglican Diocesan Pre School, which is situated on the compound of St. Mary’s Anglican Primary School in Belize City. At the head of this energetic and productive school is Mrs. Joy Ross. Since the inception of this

new preschool in 2006, the director along with her great team of teachers have brought these very young children from a sheltered home to being the most outspoken, creative and sociable children. The role of a teacher is very challenging and

requires many responsibilities. However, at this year’s closing exercise held on Saturday, June 25, 2011, the staff from this institution made it look so easy. Bishop

Philip Wright, who was the guest speaker, applauded the school leavers for being so well behaved and their presentations.

As a parent and educator, I commend this school and its faculty for a job well done. I would like to emphasize the fact that our children can be productive citizens of this country, if nurtured and guided properly. Our children are great imitators. Let us as parents become positive role models as we continue to educate our children. Congratulations to the school leavers of Anglican Diocesan Pre School, Mrs. Joy Ross and her staff and all the supportive parents of these bright and future leaders of Belize.

UWI kicks off Sport

Certificate Course in Belize Belize City, June 29, 2011 The University of the West Indies (UWI), Open Campus Belize, has started a certificate course in Educational Planning and Sport (Principles and Practices of Coaching). The 8- week course is the first of its kind to be offered in Belize and offers training in coach preparation, athlete preparation and sport science. It is being delivered with the assistance of the Community Council for Youth and Sport (CCYSB) and the Belize Confederation for Youth and Sport (BELCYS).

The course offers training in coach preparation, athlete preparation and sport science and topics being taught range from educational program planning, teaching and management, to physiology, anatomy and biomechanics.

Students studying on the course are being supported by BTL, who is supporting the initiative by providing full and partial scholarships through its Community Sports Development Program. The building blocks were laid last year with assistance from UNICEF, which supported CCYSB research, curriculum design and program implementation. The certificate course represents the second stage of the

CCYSB’s long-term strategy for community sports development in Belize and is part of BELCYS’ plan to train and capacitate coaches to work with elite athletes across its member federations and associations Frank Martínez, an internationally renounced strength and conditioning coach and an instructor on the course is convinced about why the course is necessary.

“It’s not a matter of I used to kick a football so now I’m a coach.”

“The problem with sports in Belize is greater than just the system of athletes itself. It’s the lack of competency in the ranks so this is an essential pillar in having sport move forward.”

“It’s not that the athletes don’t exist. It’s that there isn’t a system that supports the athletes, the coaches, the infrastructure, a system that fosters development.”

The course combines the teaching of education and sport theories with the practical application of these theories both during the course and following it. During the course, students receive assistance in preparing a community sport programing. Following the course, students are aided by a mentor and must work to de-

liver programming in gyms, schools and community spaces, a condition of their scholarships. Some students have already begun by working on summer camp programs in their communities.

Ken Vásquez, Belize’s leading physiotherapist and the manager at Body 2000 GYM in Belize City, is also an instructor. He emphasizes the importance of the practical application of the material during and following the course.

The course is open to all high

school graduates who meet the UWI’s entrance requirements and is delivered online with weekend face-toface practical sessions in Belize City.

It is hoped that as the numbers of trained sport specialist holding university certificates increases that there will be support for physical education and sport in our schools and communities and necessary sport and recreation infrastructure.

Students interested in enrolling in the next session are asked to contact UWI (Open Campus Belize) at 2230484 or 223-5320 for information.

The CCYSB thanks Dr. Sharmayne Saunders at UWI and the BTL Community Sports Development Program, along with Ms. Sherlene Neal Tablada and Ms. Marisa Mathews at UNICEF.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

21

THE BELIZE TIMES

A MARCH FOR PROGRESS -The Evolution of Belize High School

BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

By Alton Humes When you imagine a high school, do you imagine one where excellence is not just a word, but a standard? Do you imagine a high school where less teachers and more learning is the norm of the day? Is there a school where the student can not only benefit from a fine education, but can be the kind of leader we, as a young nation, desperately need?

Well, this reporter didn’t have to imagine anymore, as I visited the Belize High School campus at the UWI Open compound on Princess Margaret Drive today, where I had a frank conversation with veteran educator and Principal of BHS, Ms. Leticia Eck. I spoke with the 18-year veteran educator, whose steep and knowledgeable background teaching at St. Catherine’s Academy and Nazarene High School in Belize City, has prepared her for the “grind” of running this up-andcoming institution. And to think, Ms. Eck noted she was only considering the Vice Principal-ship, but all things considered, being Principal has gone well for her. Even slightly fatigued and slowed in speech (from all that “grindin’”), the fervor Ms. Eck has when speaking about her institution is unmistakable.

Founded on September 1st, 2010 with the support of parents from the Belize Elementary School (BES), the school co-opted the mission and values generally associated with the wellknown primary institution as well as fostering special values linked to its coat of arms design, primarily: emphasis on (but not adherence to) spirituality, excellence in & support of the arts, living and maintaining a “green” lifestyle, and most important of all, continuing and improving on the excellence started at Belize Elementary (where a majority of the school’s 43 students came from).

The school colors of blue & yellow (also used for the uniforms) are also unilaterally linked with the institution. Even with only ten teach-

Belize High School

ers (5 full-time, 5 part-time) on staff, the 43 students (split into only 21st Forms and a 2nd Form) never lack for attention, and it doesn’t hurt that the school (thanks to its “partnership” with the UWI Open Campus) has access to the kind of technology guaranteed to make you cry – touchscreen SMARTboards and Wi-Fi Internet connections so that all students can be “linked in” to their own education.

The school’s motto is: “Learners today, leaders tomorrow”; and that’s definitely appropriate, because the students who attend this young institution access learning a wealth of subjects in 70-minute sessions divided into 2 class days, ranging from Math to World History and World Geography, with slight breaks and a lunch period.

Above all, as Ms. Eck herself put it, BHS is truly committed to “a different type of education”, one that fosters an “international” world-view of the college-bound manner, and not one “bogged down” in the regional “CSECCXC” manner.

But then the “questions” of whether or not Belize High School fosters a sort of “elitism” commonly disdained by the “grassroots” elements, and whether or not BHS could be considered a “charter school” came up, and Ms. Eck let this reporter and the whole world know: Call us what you like, but we’re gonna do our thing our way. Citing that the school is privately funded, she insists that the school is solely dedicated to making certain that the students receive the best education possible, and that even the middleclass and working class family can afford the $250 tuition through scholar-

ships the school currently offer.

But BHS is about much more than just schoolwork. Ms. Eck proudly boasts of the small, but impressive accomplishments the school has notched up, for instance, an impressive 2ndplace finish in a triathlon meet, 2ndplace in a Youth for the Future-sponsored Billboard competition as well as a host of clubs (Scuba Diving, Horseback Riding, etc.) and outreach programs to other schools. But the biggest one of all, she notes, is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Arlie Petters Institute and BHS, which would give access to specialized math and science training for both students and teachers.

Principal Leticia Eck

The biggest hope for any secondary institution would just be to keep growing, and that’s what Ms. Eck wants for herself, her teachers and students. With a potential expansion to the BES campus in the pipelines, and a future expansion to the outskirts of the city to come, what is certain is that this proud, young institution will not only continue its work, but join with all of those who desire a progressive march to a better, more productive world – in Belize and beyond.

22

THE BELIZE TIMES

Pvt. Clifford Cadle (left), Belizean Defence Force, and Spc. Robert Page, 716th Engineer Company, secures a ridge cap to the roof of a three room school under construction at Upper Poteau, Haiti

Belizeans provide

humanitarian aid to Haiti Belize City, June 28, 2011 Belizean engineers teamed up with US soldiers in Haiti to help build two medical clinics, a school, and one latrine facility as part of Task Force Bon Voizen, meaning “Good Neighbor.�

On January 12th 2010 afternoon, the worst earthquake in 200 years struck Haiti. The 7.0 in magnitude quake shook the ground, crumbling buildings, and causing total devastation. 316 thousand people died, 300 thousand were injured and over a mil-

lion made homeless.

Many agencies and groups have since offered assistance, and one such was the Task Force Bon Voizen. As part of the team, Belize Defense Soldiers were deployed to the poverty-stricken nation to assist in the restoration.

Task Force Bon Voizen, New Horizons Haiti 2011, is a U.S. Southern Command sponsored, U.S. Army South conducted, joint foreign military interaction/humanitarian exercise under the command of the Louisiana National Guard.

Spc. Michael Ranucci (left), and Spc. Mark Williams, 716th Engineer Company, prepare ceiling tiles for installation at a medical clinic construction site, Bardon Marchon

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

REALITY CHECK! Three strikes and you are OUT Barrow!!!

By Carla Bradley

I

n the past month, the Barrow administration has been under severe pressure as our nation has been crumbling before our eyes.

A country that took many years to build has now lost so much in a little over three years under this cruel government and sadly the loss is greater than our eyes can see.

In just under three years the UDP has managed to make foreign investors run away, tourist avoid us and crime and poverty sky rocket.

Belize Electricity Limited and Belize Telecommunications Limited are two major companies and both have been stripped away by this government supposedly to give

back to Belizeans, but the question is, are they really doing it for our best interest or for their own pockets?

In 2009 BTL was stolen from a man who Belizeans have come to hate, and some would say with much reason but there are always two sides to a story. It is true that Ashcroft has had a hold of one of our biggest utilities and other business but we must also see that he has also pushed Belize into the 21 century. So while some media houses and the government keep trying to target “the infamous white man” they must also highlight what he has done. I agree with Belizeans holding a firm hand on our utilities but to a certain limit and still allowing the foreign investment and prosperity.

The Court ruled in favor of Mr. Dean Boyce and Ashcroft and even before the ruling PM Barrow had said that he would appeal if the judgment was against the government, which in my opinion clearly

meant he knew he was going to lose because he knew he was wrong.

In many interviews since the takeover of BTL,FFB and BEL, Barrow has maintained that he acted in accordance with our country’s laws but guess what the first one has already been ticked off as the Court felt that the government acted in an unconstitutional manner.

Now hopefully FFB will get back the credit, for which many people worked hard for, people like Mr. Delhart Courtenay J.P, Sir George Brown (retired Chief Justice of Belize), Mr. Hubert Bradley and Mr. Daniel Edmund. Who do PM Barrow and John Saldivar think they are? In my opinion, “dem ketch feelings quick.” John Saldivar hated the fact that he wasn’t invited to the inauguration of the football stadium in Belmopan, and so made the issue a personal revenge. We need to put the politics aside and see that the country is going to be affected and also and most importantly, our talented football players who have worked so hard and trained endlessly will go nowhere.

Belize Electricity Limited, another company that PM Barrow sees as his next personal gold mine filled with benefits for him, his family and cronies, has been taken away

23 and his excuse again, giving it back to Belize.

Belizeans we need to realize how important foreign investment is for our country to develop. Barrow is only in it for himself, don’t we see this? Look at his new law firm building. Look at the many oil firm Barrow & Williams represents, including Princess petroleum, which has the second largest oil concession in Belize. And we should not forget that he too has represented the very man he is now attacking.

Can you imagine if Ashcroft were to pull out The Belize Bank?

How many people would be affected, how many local businesses would be affected? The draconian laws that he will pass next will affect each and every one of us, and then what will you say? It’s for the betterment of Belize?

To lock someone up just because he/ she has different views than this government or someone who is trying to bring the truth out? We are educated people and Barrow must see this! Fool dih talk but dah noh fool dih listen PM Barrow.

Sit and think people. Look beyond politics and see Barrow and his government for who they truly are, DICTATORS!! This is our country, our home, our people, protect it and fight for it!

Mylegacyb4mypeople says: June 28, 2011 at 6:29pm

Seems like murder is really becoming a way of life in Belize even so that the people are accepting it, no pressure on the government, no protest just acceptance as a way of life. Belize has really gone to the dogs with no change in sight, get ready Belize there got to be a cleansing of the land in the works at this point only divine intervention will bring about a change. Remember My Legacy B4 My People.”

LMFAO says: June 27, 2011 at 11:55 am

for 2 years they had BTL, and did they allow VOIP, did they lower rates and increased internet speeds, NO, NO. and NO. all pensioners should demand that the 50 million of SSB funds be replaced immediately.”

karla says: June 25, 2011 at 2:53pm

Is it probably me and my imagination or we the belizean people were taken for a ride as usual..

This grudge of arrogance that barrow has displaced cost us the taxpayers money and here is the DETAIL.. Who was paid millions of dollars to defend the unconstitutional takeover… Lois Young and barrow??? again, everything is back to normal, it cost us the taxpapers millions in legal defence and court time to satisfy a grudge that at the same time makes barrow ex wife rich and it is ALWAYS sold to us that nationalization is for us the people. Now we the people own telemedia and we REALLY believe its for us…lets wake up, it was never meant to be for us but for govermeent friends and cronies and on top they take our belizean social security moneey to do all these business and when it goes wrong we pay.

When you hear nationalization for belizeans.. lets be careful and more smart.”

Posts are from www.belizetimes.bz, Belize Times Facebook Account and www.channel5belize.com

24

THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid To give the devil his due, the publisher of the Amandala might very well be the single most effect propagandist since Joseph Goebbels who almost singlehandedly turned a peaceful German nation into the most ruthless warmongers on the planet.

In 2004/2005, Mr. Hyde’s rhetoric and untruths brought Belize to the brink of a civil war, while at the same time paving the way for Mr. Barrow’s ascension to power. While Hyde has made pseudo inclinations at criticizing Dean Barrow, it must be obvious to even the most naïve that this affiliation is he theatrics surrounding the BTL far too mutually lucrative for either to sevdrama grew more sensational this past er. Lest we forget, these two are cousins, week when the two figurants took to the neighbors and the closest of confidants. floor for another twirling tango. Actually, Hyde and Barrow have embarked on there are those who believe that what has a campaign to convince Belizeans that to been going on with Dean Barrow and Mi- oppose Mr. Barrow’s tyranny is to be unpachael Ashcroft is little more than a “pissing triotic. Michael Ashcroft is a foreigner and contest” between two very rich men with a white man while Dean Barrow is black; giant egos. The Belizean people are in the at least in skin color. For Hyde, that is middle being told it is rain and will wind enough! Forget the rule of law, forget right up the only losers in the end. or wrong, forget morality and ethics; white On Friday past, Belizeans got the man bad, black man good! news that the highest There are also some court of the land had who are convinced that decreed that the Authe seeming rift between gust 2009 expropriation Dean Barrow and Miof Belize Telemedia chael Ashcroft is simply There are also Limited (BTL) by the ostentatious. In the end, Dean Barrow governsome who are both will win. Michael ment was unconstituwill be duly convinced that Ashcroft tional. In a lengthy but compensated and the comprehensive ruling, the seeming rift Barrow family will come the Court of Appeals away with more money between Dean handed down a decithan they can spend. sion which declared Barrow and Mi- Mr. Barrow admitted on the transaction “null that Ashcroft chael Ashcroft is television and void” and gave would have to be comback control of BTL to simply ostenta- pensated, not only for the Michael Ashcroft but also for the illetious. In the end, BTL group. The ruling was gal and unconstitutional specific and made it both will win. expropriation of his quite clear that the recompany. That seems of Michael Ashacquisition was to take little concern to Mr. Bareffect immediately. As a croft will be duly row. In fact, Mr. Barrow result, Ashcroft’s reprewent as far as to promise compensated sentatives Dean Boyce anyone who had any leand attorney Godfrey and the Barrow gal trouble with BTL as a Smith proceeded to the of backing his play, family will come result company headquarters full indemnity. Not from and reset shop. away with more his personal money but In a televised inthe taxpayer’s purse. money than they fromThe terview immediately whole BTL defollowing the ruling, can spend. bacle could not have come Prime Minister Dean at a worse time for Mr. BarBarrow seemed quite row who, less than a week the magnanimous one, pledging to “re- before, had grabbed yet another financial gispect the rule of law.” That interview was ant in the collar. The forceful acquisition of broadcast on the 6:30 PM newscast but be- BEL is setting the stage for even more intense fore the news could be repeated at ten, Mr. litigations in court but of course, for Mr. BarBarrow had had a change of heart. In the row, his family of attorneys, that might not dead of night, Mr. Barrow called out his se- be such a bad thing. For the people of Belize curity forces and laid siege to the Telemedia however, and for a country that relies heavily Headquarters and by the time Smith and upon foreign investments to create jobs and Boyce could react, the shredding machines stimulate its economy, the recent events are were already running full steam and could devastating. We might not feel the effects imalmost be heard from the street. mediately but make no mistake; Mr. Barrow’s In a lengthy speech to the nation, Mr. sowing will yield us a bitter harvest.

Barrow once again presented himself as Whether Mr. Barrow’s row with Michael this paragon of patriotism and at the same Ashcroft is real or not, you can be sure that time painting Michael Ashcroft as the arch the ones paying and feeling the pinch in the villain of everything Belizean. Michael long run will be the Belizean people. It all Ashcroft has been the object of an intense brings to mind an old African proverb: “The and prolonged propaganda campaign and serpent hisses where sweet birds sing. And many believe that Mr. Barrow’s primary the grass suffers with bitterness, regardless of reason for strong-arming BTL was to gain whether elephants fight, or make love.” Send favor with those behind the Zinc Fence. comments to gmikereid@hotmail.com.

T

Sunday, July 3, 2011

In my perspective…

Tinted Windows or Jobs?

By Rayford Young rayfordyoung@comcast.net

I was amused to read that a

new statutory instrument which bans heavily tinted windows on automobiles will likely force certain Ministers of Government to act transparently, as they will be required to remove the dark tint which hides questionable deeds that occur inside their Government-vehicles.

Some of the Government officials are Patrick Faber, Nemencio Acosta, Juan Coy, Melvin Hulse, Mark Pech and even UDP senators who have been driving around inside heavily tinted vehicles. Ironically, it is Hulse who has signed into law the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tinted Windows) Regulations 2011 which took effect on June 1st, 2011.

Well I think our Ministers should be exempt from this law.

These are hard working people and they deserve privacy in their huge gas guzzling vehicles.

Just imagine all the constituents that would come up to the ministers if they knew he was behind his tinted window vehicle.

They would be asking questions about jobs and the rise in crime and all the money that has allegedly been stolen. Who wants to answer those questions when we have more important things to do like making laws on tinted windows?

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to drive from Detroit, Michigan to Kansas City in Missouri for a graduation ceremony. A twelve hour drive. It was a fun drive and the scenery was just great. The roads were smooth and paved all the way.

Someone several decades ago had the vision to put in place the infrastructure this Country needed to make the US an economical power house for all these decades. You can drive just about anywhere in this Country and you would be amazed at the infrastructure in place and to

recognize that back then they did not have the equipment or machinery we have today. Yet, it took hard work and ingenuity to accomplish this and we are blessed for those sacrifices many made so long ago.

As the war-torn nations of Europe faced famine and economic crisis in the wake of World War II, the United States proposed to rebuild the continent in the interest of political stability and a healthy world economy. On June 5, 1947, in a commencement address at Harvard University, Secretary of State George C. Marshall first called for American assistance in restoring the economic infrastructure of Europe. Western Europe responded favorably, and the Truman administration proposed legislation. The resulting Economic Cooperation Act of 1948 restored European agricultural and industrial productivity.

Credited with preventing famine and political chaos, the plan later earned General Marshall a Nobel Peace Prize. -Wikipedia This is what Belize needs - a long-term infrastructure improvement plan. Our roads and bridges are crumbling and no patching will accomplish what needs to be done.

A Marshall Plan, so to speak, or something like it is what I believe we need in Belize – a long term bold plan that will put a lot of people to work rebuilding our infrastructure.

This is the best way to stimulate the Belize economy and put thousands of people to work in a very short time. Roads, bridges, modern court rooms, post offices and police stations, etc. In Corozal Town where I grew up we still have the same post office and police station, old dilapidated buildings, no residential hi-speed connections available. In this day and age this is unacceptable. We can do better.

So while time is spent on legislation like tinted windows, these are the ideas and programs I believe our administration and legislators should be spending time on.

Tinted windows will not bring one job to Belizeans. We need a new vision and commitment to our beloved Country. Let’s stop the bickering and the back stabbing. We had enough of that and have nothing to show for it. Let’s get serious and put in place serious programs to get our Country on the right track again.

We need a bold new plan. Jobs, jobs legislators, not tinted windows.

Rayford Young is a BelizeanAmerican, who currently lives in Michigan, USA.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Next Revolution…

One Belize

And the New Economic Order-Part I

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

Background: I want to start this article by saying thanks to the many persons who have been commenting via email and verbalizing their thoughts about the proposed ‘New Political Order’ for the Next Revolution to create ONE Belize, Prosperous, United and Free, which I presented over the past two weeks.

Please know I am appreciative that you read it and are embracing it.

To recap, the proposed ‘New Political Order’ spoke about the Power of Knowledge of the Constitution of Belize, Leadership for all Belizeans, Effective and True Representation and the Separation of Powers, Solidifying Our Sovereignty and Forging Our Belizean Identity, Shifting and Sharing Some of the Power From Belmopan to the Cities, Towns, Villages, Communities and Civil Society, Anchoring Governance in Development Planning and Attacking Corruption.

This week I present the New Economic Order Part I. THE NEW ECONOMIC ORDER-PART I PREAMBLE: The purpose of the New Political Order is twofold: to create a governance structure and a decision making framework that harmonizes national and local development goals and aspirations and gives us a real stake in our country, and secondly, to fertilize the seeds of sovereignty and nationalism planted in 1950, through knowledge that empowers us, builds self confidence and motivates us to make sacrifices on behalf of our country, and to expend effort in coalescing around issues that threaten our survival. This latter part will be later fortified with the New Social and Environmental Order.

This positions decision makers at all levels of governance to have

a say in how we utilize the national wealth to meet the aspirations of the people as enshrined in the Constitution, in the national interest to facilitate economic domestic security, independence and sustainability, while at the same time, enabling constituencies and communities to have some autonomy in deciding how best to use their resources to address their unique local circumstances, needs and way of life.

The New Economic Order will complement the New Political Order. It will redefine how we envisage wealth.

Knowing Our Wealth: If we are to receive a just share of the wealth of this nation we must first know what it is.

1.

The wealth of our country lies in the land, and therefore should encompass what is under it, on it and over it, or collectively, the resources.

This includes the people, the minerals, the flora and fauna, any development, the air and the waters. It also includes cash accounts.

2.

To know the extent of our wealth calls for a stocktaking of the country’s existing and potential resources to quantify what it is that we collectively own, so the nation knows what it is that we have, what is it that can be harnessed now and in the future, and what is the potential capacity and value that will translate into the wealth of which we are entitled to a just share.

3. For example, how much acreages of national lands are there, developed and undeveloped. In the case of developed land, it should include the buildings, vehicles, equipment, furniture etc.

In the case of undeveloped land, air and water, it should state what is its potential use [eg. oil exploration, forestry for land, communications for air etc.] and value.

4. In regard to people, the Housing and Population Census 2010 provides the latest data and this will be addressed in the New Social Order.

Rethinking the National Bud-

get Debate The National Budget is simply a financial statement of the national accounts and thus, one component of the National Wealth.

1.

If the wealth is to be distributed in an equitable and just manner, then it is the wealth that is to be presented and debated, not the financial statements.

2.

The national debate should be broadened to discuss and give an account of the stewardship of the wealth, not reporting on the national accounts.

3.

The national debate should be the platform to report and discuss the success of national programmes originating in the aspirations of the people as enshrined in the Constitution, and in policies debated and approved by parliament, and projects linked to constituencies and municipalities based on these policies and programmes, statistical data and identified needs and targets established in constituency development plans.

4.

Thus, the debate should, for

25 example, in discussing land, indicate in summary what were the acreages which were owned by the people at the start of the reporting period, how much has been leased or sold on behalf of the people, how much remained as national lands at the end of the reporting period, how did this meet, did not meet or exceed needs and targets projected for the given period, and the corresponding cost to ensure value for work done.

5.

This approach should be applied to municipal debates of the wealth of cities, town and villages.

6.

This will enhance accountability and transparency in the distribution of resources and shift governance from the administration of resources to the management of resources to address existing and emerging challenges and to meet development targets at all levels of governance.

Next Week - the New Economic Order Part II For comments email carolyntrench@gmail.com

26

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Taking us for a ride…again

By Alberto Vellos You can tell when an election is around the corner. The evening news becomes flooded with campaign propaganda, the party in office chronicles its “successes”, and all sorts of grandiose projects and promises are given life or are completed around this time. Well, with the crucial municipal elections nine months away, the government is sure pulling all sorts of tricks from its hat.

Most recent, I hear the moribund Ministry of Youth pretending to be making an impact on the lives of young people. It’s of keen interest, because I hear them trumpeting an issue most dear to me – that of a national youth policy. You see, since 2007 I’ve been seriously advocating for a meaningful structure of development for young people. By most simple logic, I’ve argued that if we can have a “policy” that protects and preserves animals and trees, then heck, why don’t we have for our most important resource – our young people?

And so it is, that after being in office for three years that the current ministry of youth is charging ahead to prepare a “draft national youth policy”. Hooray! But wait… a draft national youth policy? I remember taking part in national consultations for exactly that… in 2005. Youth groups from Belize City were invited to the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall, and once there we participated in interactive discussions and then given colourful blister boards to write down our ideas. I also remember attending a meeting at Youth For the Future in 2006, to consider and discuss a document titled “DRAFT NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY”. We perused the document and forwarded recommendations to the hired local consultant, Dr. Isabel Tun. The final document was a remarkable piece of work, and part of the inspiration to later lead an event in which the former

Prime Minister adopted the policy, expanding its goal, and pledging the kind of political will needed to make it happen.

Unfortunately the winds of change never gave us the chance to follow through, but those who took over had an enviable opportunity, like the dashing athlete in the last leg of a relay race, to bring the win for young people, but they stumled and failed. Instead, the policy document was shelved and left to gather dust. It appears because it was a deed of the former administration, it was worthless. Did it ever cross their minds that thousands of dollars were spent to formulate the document, or that the ideas, dreams and aspirations of hundreds of young people across the country are captured in it, and more importantly, that it spelled out how to better care for young people?

So when I hear them now, “planning” for a draft national youth policy, I know it’s a LIE! One already exists. I still have a copy. And when I hear them talking about improving “things” for young people, I also know it’s a LIE, for where have they been all these years. In 3 years, there have been almost 400 murders (mostly with young men as victims, more than 70 so far in 2011) and where are they? Today as unemployment among youth stands at the highest levels ever, where is their policy to reverse that trend?

When sports in our country is a disaster, where is their vision? When our young artists are full of talent, but are stifled by a lack of support, where is their help? When all three budgets have overlooked young people completely, where was their conviction, where was their representation?

We have lost so much more by not taking care of our youth than what we think we gained by putting off or diverging critical investment in key areas of youth development.

It is time for the neglect to come to an end. I decided not to attend any of their so-called “consultations”, not because I wasn’t invited, but because I refuse to be taken for a ride again.

Alberto Vellos is the Editor of the Belize Times. He is a former Commonwealth Regional Youth Caucus Representative of Belize.

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www.belizeandiaries.com

RULES FOR BEING

HUMAN – Rules #9 & 10

I

n the last few weeks I have been presenting to you the ten rules for being human, excerpts from a book entitled the same and written

by Cherie Carter Scott. We are on the final two rules this week and I’m hoping that somehow I have at least given you food for thought. I chose to summarize this particular book because I have personally applied most of these rules in my life and have found that indeed it makes one a better person. It gives you the understanding to cope with situations that occur in your life; it gives you tolerance and patience to deal with the people around you and it gives you wisdom when you are faced with a dilemma. Perhaps you already have these traits and so these rules are nothing new to you but if you are one of those persons who need guidance as you go through this life, then I would strongly recommend you get your hands on a copy of this book particularly if you are open to new ideas and concepts and if you have a strong desire to make your life more fulfilling.

Just to recap the rules we have gone through - (1) You Will Receive a Body (2) You will be presented with lessons (3) There are no mistakes, only lessons. (4) Lessons are repeated until they are learned. (5) Learning does not end (6) ‘There’ is no better than ‘here’ (7) Others are only mirrors of you (8) What you make of your life is up to you.

Rule #9: ALL YOUR ANSWERS LIE INSIDE YOU – I amazed myself a few years ago when I finally learned how to tap into my inner being and stop dismissing the inner voice and instincts. In truth, the answers to all your questions lie inside you; some choose to disregard them while others tend to follow their gut instincts whenever they are faced with certain situations. All this lesson teaches you is to look, listen and trust yourself.

You will find that there is no outer source of wisdom that can give you the answers to your innermost questions. Deep inside, you already know all you need to know and this comes from a spiritual DNA that we all possess taking us right back to the beginning where it was written that wisdom is an innate trait and if honed

and nurtured can teach us a lot in this life.

Don’t take this to mean that we have to be Cleo to figure out things but simple situations like planning a trip and at the last minute you don’t feel like going – that’s your inner voice talking to you....this inner voice guides you along the way from the simplest dilemma in deciding whether to indulge in something extravagant to relationships and marriage. Under this rule you will learn the lessons of listening, trust and inspiration.

Rule #10: YOU WILL FORGET ALL OF THIS AT BIRTH – Under this rule which I still haven’t fully grasped, Scott says that we are all born with these capabilities, our early experiences lead us into a physical world away from our spiritual selves so that we become doubtful, cynical and lacking belief and confidence – then ultimately learn from our experiences.

It is important that we understand that these ten rules are not commandments! They are universal truths that apply to us all. When you lose your way, call upon them and have faith in the strength of your spirit. Our time on earth is brief and as time passes, things change; we will have options and choices to make in order to achieve our goals and dreams. But if you plan on incorporating these rules into your daily lives always keep in mind that personal evolution will only happen depending on how readily you embrace your lessons and integrate them into your life. The only consequence of resisting lessons is that they will keep repeating themselves until you learn them; once you have learned a lesson you will always be tested. To summarize this book as we close off these ten rules, always bear the following in mind, (a) remind yourself that you are here to learn lessons (b) be present with your process and pay attention to what you are experiencing (c) be diligent with actions which enable you to get the lessons presented to you (d) ask for answers and you shall receive them (e) listen with an open heart (f) explore all options (g) see your judgement as a mirror (h) view each crisis as an opportunity (i) trust yourself (j) believe in yourself.

As you go about trying to incorporate these rules in your life, remember the words of the Swiss psychiatrist and influential thinker, Carl Gustav Jung, ‘there is no coming into consciousness without pain’.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Write to us at: editortimes@yahoo.com

Perilous Unison

A

By Lucia Moguel

t a very young age children are taught to be patriotic and proud of their respective countries by learning to sing their National Anthem. They spend a minimum of 12 years of compulsory singing, which most children do not see as a hassle; they have been trained to do such an act. They have been singing the same stanzas over a decade in tune with the same sonata unaware of the assumed. I must clarify that it is not wrong to sing the same piece to the same symphony, many countries have done this for centuries and they stand bold and proud to this day. After all, this is what gives a people their identity; this is what makes them what they are as a part of a nation. However, the same simple question that roams in my mind every time I hear the children sing is one which passes with such disregard in front of the myriad crowds; do our children truly understand the meaning of the national anthem? Do we even understand its content?

It would be a great accomplishment if we took time out to read and understand the content of the national anthem; the next step most obviously, would be to analyze it. The day I stopped and listened to the lyrics of the national anthem I found out a series of discrepancies. At no point did it state any idea promoting unity among the people of Belize. Perhaps you might not agree with me and say “but it says LAND OF THE FREE”, indeed it states such phrase but which freedom do we have? Every day we face oppression, not only on behalf of the government, which happens to be a major tyrant, but also on behalf of the crime levels which have been escalating over the past few years. Every day we are faced with poverty, death, theft, corruption and destruction. Is this the kind of freedom that we want? Is this the land that we want our children to flourish in?

As mentioned previously, at no point have I heard a single utterance promoting unity. Instead, I believe that the national anthem is designed and directed to only a very limited percentage of the total population of this nation. Belize’s history comprises of numerous events which should be acknowledged; we must remember that there are centuries before the coming of the Baymen clan. Slavery is not the only history that Belize knows and lived. Slavery played an important role in the molding of the culture, but it is just a portion of its total past. The national anthem makes reference to only part of history and it is precisely because Belize’s boundaries are from proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon, we cannot exclude the rest of this country’s history. If we start separating histories then we begin to exclude people. A country’s strength lies in the unity of its people. A country’s progress lies in the unity of its people.

Belize is encompassed by a multicultural society which gives the nation its identity and exceptional values. Instead of putting labels on each other, we should all stand and say “I am a proud Belizean”. But this is a concept that we must teach and instill in our children from very young ages. Children are thought to discriminate in our classrooms every day; I have heard them being taught to separate people into ethnicities as early as in Infant 1. What are you? They ask. Are you a Mestizo, (term which has been outdated in the civilized world), a Maya, a Garifuna, a Creole, a Hindu (the proper term would be East Indian), a Chinese, between others.

All these people were born in Belize; we should stop labeling people and start saying I am Belizean.

Moreover, the sons of the Baymen’s clan are very few. The creole people descend from the slaves that these gentlemen brought. I would be ashamed to say that I descended from a Baymen since all they ever caused was disaster; they exploited our jungles in order to fulfill their personal interests and satisfied their egos with the blood, sweat and tears of the oppressed. The proud Belizean slaves had 3 major rebellions against this clan and these fears forced the Baymen to outlaw the gombay drums, the soul of the Belizean African culture. It is not pride but rather a dishonor.

A national anthem is written in order to pay homage to a country; it is a sacred icon just like the flag. People should learn to pay respect to their flag. A flag represents your nation, why should we see it being worn by girls in commercials promoting alcoholic beverages? Furthermore, people should stand at attention and remain silent whenever the national anthem is being sung; it is a solemn event which should be taken seriously and with great pride. These are the symbols that are meant to bring people together so that they can become one, so that they can become a great nation with a proud people. Arise ye sons and daughters of (Belize) the Belizean clan.

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SUMMER TIME!

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

That ice-cream looks good!

Can you help the little boy get to the ice-cream cone?

What are you doing during the summer?

I asked my parents to go to art classes, so my Mom promised to check out NICH’s classes for me.

Even if you aren’t doing classes or going to a summer camp try learning something new!

I’ll even help you, so make sure you read Mariposa’s Kids’ Corner this summer!

I hope you enjoy this week’s summer fun page!

Colour Me!

NIVEKMORFEYAGATEPUOYEVOLI*

www.ActivityVillage.co.uk

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Know Your Boss For the past couple of years, the country of Belize seems to be on a roller coaster ride in the area of business. When the world or at least part of the world suffers from economic depression, we have found oil, and our government capitalized on the tourism industry! Whether we are receiving the full benefit of these motions may vary from individual to individual but one thing that cannot be disputed is the reality of this nation with wealth untold! This is so much so that it seems everyone wants a piece of us and we are just too willing to give it away!

As we listen closely to the news in between the evil reports of teenagers killing or being killed, we continue on our frightening ride as we hear of companies forcefully moving in and out of the hands of varying owners. One company seems at the present time to have multiple owners who believe that they own it completely.

As I think about this company, my heart travels towards the employees, who may be asking themselves “who do we listen to?” Apart from this particular situation, most employees know who their boss is, but do not know their boss! If you don’t know your boss ‘which is understanding’ you cannot walk in wisdom which is the application of that knowledge and understanding.

Before I continue, let me make an important but maybe not widely accepted scriptural observation. There are only two types of relationships in the world. First is the brotherly relation which includes relationships such as friends, comrades, and acquaintances, while more vitally the second type of relationship is that which is made up of leaders and followers. All over our operating manual, or bible for those who have not yet upgraded its name, are examples of this type of relationship as this is what runs the world and keeps it in order. Let me give you a few examples of this nature of relationship; teacher-student, police-private citizen, traffic officerdriver, judge-lawyer, employer-employee, athlete-referee, husband and wife. Yes I included that last one, according to the operating manual the husband is the head of the home. I find it quite funny as I listened to one of the latest released video with some women bouncing all over the stage, trumping the question and answer, “Who rules the world?...girls!” This may be true but I can say that as long as this remains true the world will malfunction because the Manufacturer in His manual advises otherwise!

Here are some examples from the instruction booklet addressing this direct issue of authority relationships: Collosians 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Collosians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Collosians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Collosians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Collosians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: Bosses your responsibility is to love your employees, look out for them, give them the equipment they need to do the job, try to be there for them when they go through a hard time, show that you care and not only desire to use them just to get your business done.

Employees you are to respect your boss. Find out how he thinks, what he likes, dislikes, expects and then execute this to the best of your ability! Don’t be mistaken as a big part of respect is obedience. If your boss tells you to do something that is ethically, or legally wrong you have all right and freedom to disobey him but outside of this, saying ‘no’ or refusing to carry out a task given, is simply rebellion and that relationship will not last very long!

My first point then is that your first responsibility to your boss is to respect or honor. You do not need to know the person to do this. Don’t be like the lady who scolded her boss and had me wondering who the “real” boss was. If you have an issue against him or her that is not a license to be rude but rather you should seek an audience. If that proves fruitless then there are only two things you can do.

My second point is that you should know your boss. Learn how the person thinks, what they prefer, what is important or ‘not’ important to them, what they expect of you, how they like things to be etc. See because the world is so full of rebellion and selfishness everyone wants to do what they want and what makes them feel good, not understanding this would cause their working experience to have the same effect as a plane crashing down to the ground!

My third point is that after you have developed respect for your boss and learn how they prefer things to be, you then need to choose actions that apply this achieved understanding. Take heed, understanding without wisdom is useless since wisdom is really the application of understanding. You may know and understand how to lose weight for example, but if you do not apply the exercises you will be ‘fat’ with knowledge!

I will leave you with the two commandments for the place of work: Bosses, love your employees, care for them, equip them, make their experience at your establishment an enjoyable one. Employees honor your boss’, listen to their instruction, address them with respect, make them ‘look good’ and this will translate into salary increase, acceptance increase, and a good enjoyable employed life!

Until next week God bless!!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, July 3, 2011

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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Selected By Chris Williams

Trials kick off for

long-range ‘super’ Wi-Fi 28 June 2011 Paul Marks, senior technology correspondent There may be a gap in the market, the old adage goes, but is there a market in the gap? That’s what Microsoft, BT, Samsung, Nokia and the BBC hope to find out in Cambridge, UK, over the next few weeks as they jointly test a wireless technology that’s designed to exploit some of the most promising gaps on the planet: the unused “white spaces” between UHF digital TV frequencies.

They hope to show that these

frequencies can be used to boost the range of wireless connections - offering a souped-up version of Wi-Fi that will keep laptops, smartphones and iPads online many hundreds of metres from our homes. The idea is that you switch on a white space router and it logs on to a database of the unused TV frequencies in your area. It then assigns your router a long-range UHF frequency you can use for a given time. It sounds easy but there could be problems.

Technically, slotting a signal into a given waveband is not easy un-

Shrimp’s natural 3D

glasses inspire new material

This colourful shrimp sports not only good looks, but a natural pair of 3D glasses. It is one of only a few animals that can process circularly polarised light, the special light used to create 3D movies. Now Pennsylvania State University researcher Akhlesh Lakhtakia and his colleagues at National Taipei University of

Technology in Taiwan have mimicked the peacock mantis shrimp’s design.

Copying the multilayered structure of the shrimp’s lens, Lakhtakia and his team developed a material that could one day be used to filter a broader spectrum of light than the optical devices inside today’s DVD players.

less expensive filter circuits ensure transmissions stay strictly within assigned slots. If they don’t, our supposedly pristine digital TV pictures could suffer interference. Yet expensive electronics will jack up white space device prices. Such are the issues the Cambridge TV White Space Consortium - which also includes white space pioneers Neul, Cambridge Consultants, Spectrum Bridge and TTP - will contend with in their trials which kick off tomorrow.

There may be a further problem

brewing for this tech, however: over the last few months a quiet patent landgrab has taken place. For instance Sony, Nokia and Microsoft have filed for US patents on seemingly basic white space functions such as interference suppression, spectrum reservation and frequency assignment respectively. Hopefully the players in this field will pool their patents - as they did for MPEG-2 video - but if they don’t we may well see a handful of tech majors cornering the white space router market.

Google+: Facebook for people who don’t like Facebook 29 June 2011 Jacob Aron, technology reporter Wondering why the usually pristinewhite Google homepage is now sporting a black bar across the top? It’s all part of the search giant’s new social networking initiative, Google+, which aims to keep us using Google products by prising our eyes away from the likes of Facebook and Twitter.

Google+ is invite-only at the moment so you can’t try it out for yourself, but the company has released a number of videos explaining what’s on offer. The service has everything you’d expect from a social networking site, like the ability to chat or share photos, and the interface is actually very Facebook-like.

Where Google+ differs is philosophy: while Facebook wants you to share everything with everyone, Google+ recognises that the labels we put on our social relationships are often more complicated than a simple “friend”. Its solution is “Circles”, which lets you place people into distinct groups and only share items with them, keeping your drinking buddies separate

from your co-workers and hopefully avoiding sending drunken photos around the office.

Segmenting your network isn’t a new idea, as Facebook lets you do the same thing with its group privacy settings, but Google’s approach seems more userfriendly, a natural metaphor for the social circles we move in every day. Google has also learned from the failure of its previous social networking effort by requiring users to build their own circle of friends, rather than automatically generating them as it did with Google Buzz. But really, Google+ is essentially Facebook for people who don’t like Facebook - a sentiment nicely summed up by webcomic xkcd.

And what about that black bar? It’s there to make Google+ ubiquitous across all Google sites, constantly alerting you to your friends’ updates. Find it hard to tear yourself away from Facebook? Heavy Google users will find Google+ even worse, with a constant stream of interruptions in your email, calendar and documents - exactly what Google wants, of course.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Hon. Francis Fonseca consults with Belama Residents Belize City, June 29, 2011 The Light Assembly Church of God, located in Belama Phase II, was the venue for a lively community meeting for some two hundred residents of Belama Phase I, II, III & IV hosted by their beloved Area Representative, the Hon. Francis Fonseca earlier tonight.

At the very onset, the Hon. Francis Fonseca stated, “This is not a political event but a community event. I’m hosting this evening’s event as your Area Representative”. The Hon. Francis further shared with his constituents that the community meeting came about as a result of the collective sentiment shared by the residents for everyone to come together as a community and discuss issues and concerns pertinent to them.

The Area Representative then proceeded to outline and discuss those pertinent issues, namely the closure of the Freetown Education & Opportunity Center, the closure of the Belama Health Center, the highly controversial “Chetumal Street Bridge” project, the Belama Phase IV Land Development Project, the ongoing closure of the Belama Police Substation and the deteriorating state of the infrastructure in Belama.

In addressing the issue of the Freetown Education & Opportunity Center, the Area Representative reminded the residents of Belama that under the PUP, the Freetown Education & Opportunity Center was opened in 2003 and remained operational until 2008 when Patrick Faber and the vindictive UDP closed its doors to the young people of Belama. The Center provided a meaningful and constructive outlet for the young people of Belama. It offered computer/Internet, books and learning resources, music classes, job preparedness training, and recreational activities. Hon. Francis indicated he has taken the issue before Patrick Faber, but it has fallen on deaf ears.

In speaking about the Belama Health Center, the Area Representative explained that the establishment of the health center was part of the PUP’s roll out of the National Health Insurance (NHI) on the Belize City’s Northside. Like the Freetown Education & Opportunity & Center, the Belama Health Center suffered a similar fate at the hands of the UDP with its abrupt closure in 2008. Prior to then, the health

Continua en pagina Mr. Santos shares his concern 31

Continua en pagina 31

Hon. Francis holds a frank & open discussion with Belama residents

center was staffed by a full-time doctor and nurse.

On the matter of the Belama Phase IV Land Development Project, the Area Representative proudly reminded those in attendance that under the PUP, some two hundred titled lots were distributed to first-time landowners. Immediately upon assuming office, the Area Representative shared that the UDP took away those lots from their “rightful owners” and divided them up among the gluttonous UDP Area Representatives, five lots per Area Representative. Hon. Francis informed the residents, many who have fallen victim to the UDP’s “quitar” policy, that the Port Loyola Area Representative and Minister of Works, Boots Martinez, has constructed two houses on two of the five lots he received from the land grab. As a true defender of his constituents and the people of Belize, Hon. Francis emphatically declared to the UDP, “You’ve taken away those lots at your own risk. The PUP will get back each and every one of those lots and return them to their rightful owners”.

In addressing the current state of the constituency’s infrastructure, the Area Representative spoke about the deplorable condition in which the streets and drains in Belama and the entire Freetown Constituency can be found courtesy the incompetent UDP City Council.

Speaking candidly, the Area Representative stated, “It hurts me to say that Belize City is a dirty, depressing city because my family and I reside here; however, it’s the sad reality today”.

Lastly, the Area Representative addressed the two issues that arguably continue to evoke strong sentiments among the residents of Belama, i.e the ongoing closure of the Belama Police Substation and the proposed “Chetumal Street Bridge”.

On the ongoing closure of the Belama Substation, the Area Repre-

sentative explained to the residents that in 2008, the substation was being manned by a complement of three (3) police officers who were resourced with a pickup truck, motorcycle and bicycles. Today, under the ineptitude and neglect of Doug Singh and the UDP, the Belama Police Substation remains closed.

As a matter of fact, the substation which is located across the venue of tonight’s meeting has remained for almost a week now.

In addressing the highly contro-

versial “Chetumal Street Bridge”, the Area Representative shared with the residents of Belama that he had written a letter to the Prime Minister in which he unequivocally expressed and recorded their strong opposition to the construction of a bridge interconnecting Faber’s Road and Chetumal Street. He further shared that the Prime Minister responded and characterized the concerns of the residents as being “unfounded”.

The Area Representative informed the residents that the estimated cost of the project is $5.5m and that as he suggested to both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Works, that $5.5m should be spent on the aforementioned issues as the “Chetumal Continued on page 32

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Hon. Francis Fonseca consults with Belama Residents

Mr. Yama suggests residents conduct a petition drive to oppose Chetumal St. bridge project

Continued from page 31 Street Bridge” is NOT a priority issue for the residents of Belama.

When the floor was opened for questions, one of the first persons to speak was Ms. Rachel Montejo, a resident of the community since 1991.

Clearly opposed to the construction of the “Chetumal Street Bridge”, Ms. Montejo expressed her discontent with the fact that the Government did not consult with the residents of Belama and suggested that those present at the community meeting be polled to determine their position on the said project. Mr. Martin Yama, a former police officer and longstanding resident of Belama then suggested that a petition be generated and signed by the residents and presented to the Government. It was abundantly clear that the residents’ opposition to the construction of the bridge is unanimous and resolute.

Mr. Albert Vaughan, another longstanding resident of Belama commented on the continued neglect by the UDP Government towards those residents of Freetown whose homes had suffered damages in the aftermath of Hurricane Richard in October of 2010. Clearly upset with the Minister of Police’s decision to keep the Belama Police Substation closed, the pastor of the Light Assembly of God Church shared that as a direct consequence of the ongoing closure, his church has been repeatedly burglarized.

Listening attentively to the concerns of the residents, the Area Representative assured everyone that he will continue to actively address their issues and concerns with both Local and Central Governments. In speaking of tonight’s meeting, the Area Representative stated, “I intend to make this community meeting part of an ongoing process aimed at bringing us together as a community and sharing the issues and concerns that are important to you, the good people of Freetown”.

Before thanking the residents

for the consultation meeting, the Area Representative spoke briefly about two other issues dominating the national headlines, namely the recent expropriation of BEL and the current BTL saga.

Pointedly, the Area Representative declared, “As a nation, we’re headed in the wrong direction and I cannot and will not sugarcoat that. We are headed down the path of destruction”.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Infamous Coy cashes in victory over the prodigal Senator San Antonio Village, June 27, 2011

By Poyanam After months of tearing each other, the Senator was soundly defeated by the wily and wellfunded Area Representative at the Toledo West UDP convention held in San Antonio Village on Sunday June 26, 2011. The convention saw both candidates greeting each other viciously with anger and hatred. The Toledo West UDP Convention was one of the most irritating, illfated, full of lies after lies political event for the ruling party. It was true Juan Coy-style, mixed with empty promises left, right and center.

The Senator, aka the prodigal daughter, went in full force but at the end of the day, the people told her we want Coy’s silver. The soft spoken prodigal daughter was given the UDP’s royal bukut as she was left all alone to face the incumbent, who was backed by parliamentarians from Belize City, Orange Walk and Belmopan who came to support junior boy. It hurt her so much she has asked her supporters not to vote for the UDP at the next General Elec-

tion. She has even described Sunday’s results as a grave indictment on the party since it was the last chance for the UDP to have a female candidate on their slate.

The not so honorable Area Representative on the other hand promised empty promises.

Two of his golden promises were a University of Belize to be built in Santa Elena (Toledo) and paving the portion between Silver Creek junction to the San Pedro Columbia junction San Antonio Road.

People found this to be a sick joke. Juan Coy is still imagining the possibilities. Even the Infant Division students from San Luis Rey School in San Antonio were saying, if the man has not yet lifted a grain of sand to build roads and streets, it will be one of Jesus’ miracles to see the golden promises completed before General Elections.

The people laughed out loud when he addressed the gathering with his usual 89 seconds, after the convention. Mr. Coy will get a dose of his own medicine whenever Dean Oliver Barrow calls the General Election.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT BIGGEST WHORE HOUSE BUN DOWN Belize’s biggest brothel burned to the ground. Thirty-five ladies of the night are temporarily out of a place to do their waitress work. The term waitress is the used as a cover.

Rose Garden is the official name of the brothel and entertainment spot, on the Northern Road some 3 to 4 miles from Belize City. Sex was sold for eightyfive dollars.

It is situated right on the road side within plain view of all and sundry. In an interview after the fire the owner said that 70% of its customers were women.

He must have been referring to the entertainment, semi-nude dancing and wanton drinking into the wee hours of the morning which occurs at the Rose Garden. He couldn’t have been referring to the clientele who patronize the garden.

Belize has some 134 known whore houses, but Rose Garden was the Hilton Hotel of them all.

This will be a dull and dreary weekend for Rose Garden’s customers. They will feel like fish out of water. As we go to press it is uncertain how the waitresses will be able to ply their trade.

UNIBAMER TRAVELS WITH GOVERNMENT A UNIBAMER member and head activist was part of a government led delegation to the United Nations in New York. The delegation was headed by the wife of the Prime Minister, and included one Orosco, UNIBAM champion, who had a law suit against the government seeking the change the criminal law which carries a mandatory jail term for anyone engaging in sodomy.

Plus TV which reported on the matter interviewed the Prime Minister and suggested that his response is one of wavering and double standards.

The member of UNIBAM according to the Prime Minister was part of the delegation which had something to do with HIV/AIDS. It was in that capacity that the UNIBAMER formed part of the delegation as he represented the local AIDS Commission.

The Prime Minister told Pastor Wade on Plus TV that neither he nor his government knew the UNIBAMER activist would be on the delegation. Then he said he personally knew, because his wife had told him.

Plus TV, Pastor Wade and his associates and church have taken a strong stand against the activities of UNIBAM. They have been calling on their church members to follow the Bible and oppose and condemn what the call the gay agenda which is being brought into Belize by outside forces.

EAT OUT THE LION FISH It took a foreign lady who is neither a fisherman nor a seafarer to come up with the most logical solution to the Lion fish threat. The Lion fish has become a serious threat to our reef, fishes and our marine future. This fish is an effective predator that is eating out our fishing stock at an alarming rate. As

a result it also endangers our made in heaven, magnificent reef.

The lady, who is doing a doctoral thesis on the said say Lion fish, has said that one of the best solutions is to start eating the fish which is increasing in population at an alarming rate. Where three years ago there were only a few Lion fishes, research shows that today Lion fishes populate every corner of our reef.

Eat the Lion fish. Its meat is tender and delicious. It’s a fish like any other fish. If we can eat Tilapia we can eat anything – except Katto (Cat fish).

Let’s start to eat the Lion fish.

NO SOLUTION, NO VISION The Government of Belize has about three and a half years in office and has neither suggested nor implemented a single solution to the housing/mortgage crisis gripping middle class, working class Belizeans.

Some weeks there are double page advertisements from lending institutions which are selling the homes of Belizean families by the dozens. Hundreds of families are being evicted because they are unable to pay their mortgage.

One of the financial institutions that is evicting families and selling their homes is none other than Social Security Board. Rather than refinancing or finding ways to reduce the high interest on the loans, the cold hearted government and disappointed Board members simply evict and sell.

It is written that where there is no vision the people perish. Each week families perish because the government has presided over a galloping cost of living, a failure to increase wages, failure to pump finances and stimulate the economy. Interest rates at Social Security Board are in the vicinity of the Shylock set who administers the local banks – 15% and over. Social Security Board should be charging 4 or 5 percent.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Channel 5 morning show “Open Your Eyes” on Wednesday featured attorneys Hubert Elrington and Arthur Saldivar. They were speaking on the recent BTL fiasco in which the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled that the government’s takeover of BTL was in violation of the Constitution.

It was an informative and educational discussion. As a contrast the Ramos show on Krem featured a nonattorney who spoke at length on legal and constitutional matters.

During the Channel 5 interview, Hubert Elrington a former UDP Attorney General and Minister of Housing and Works raised a very important issue. This issue is a serious embarrassment to the Prime Minister and his government. But it was also an arrow directed to the chest of Bernard Quinton Augustus Pitts, Attorney General of Belize.

On Friday evening around 4 o’clock the three Judges in the Court of Appeal handed down their seminal judgment 149 pages long. BTL had been acquired unlawfully and unconstitutionally. It

was a body blow to the Prime Minister and his minion ministers in government.

The government’s attorney, Lois Young Barrow, exiting the Court of Appeals made the incredible statement to the media that over the past six months she had become neutral in relation to the government’s legal arguments over the controversial takeover of BTL. By the six-thirty evening news the Prime Minister had conceded and said the Court of Appeals decision would stand and he would satisfied that he had won a victory in getting rid of an accommodation agreement that favored BTL. But what Hubert Elrington said raises another important issue. Under the Constitution Lois Young, Mr. Ghandi, nor Prime Minister Barrow are the legal advisers of the government. The legal adviser is the Attorney General.

Elrington told his audience that the Attorney General is handsomely paid to be the adviser to the government. And that from Friday until this Wednesday not a single word had been uttered by the Attorney General on this huge legal issue which has now ballooned out to an issue of the Prime Minister disrespecting and defying the Court of Appeal.

Elrington was scornful at the Prime Minister’s explanation that his takeover of BTL was a nationalist issue.

Elrington seems to be saying that the Prime Minister had taken over BTL for his own purposes and that Belizeans had no say and got no benefits from the takeover.

NATIONALISM Speaking of nationalism, ism and schism look at this. Another foreigner comes in this week to be the Solicitor General. The outgoing Solicitor General, a foreigner, will remain on the tax payers’ payroll while doing work in Florida from whence he was recruited.

Belizeans are being by-passed in favor of a foreigner who will come and be the new Commissioner of Police.

Belizean lawyers, qualified and experienced, have been by-passed in favor of a foreigner from St. Lucia who has already been appointed as the new Chief Magistrate. This foreigner was attacked and shot several times and is recovering so will be unable to take up her posting until the end of August. Another foreigner has been appointed as Senior Magistrate of Belize.

Another foreigner has already been appointed the new Chief Justice of Belize even though Belizean Judge Adolph Lucas is capable of being the head of our Judiciary and there are many other Belizean lawyers with the experience to fill the post.

A foreigner has been made the Director of Public Prostitution without the post being advertised and without reference to the many experienced and qualified Belizeans.

Another foreigner has been given the post of Legal Adviser to the Prosecution Branch even though there are many qualified and experienced lawyers.

This brand of nationalism is a bitter faith for Belizeans dreaming of upward mobility and promotions in the land of their birth.

33 Hubert Elrington did not point out that when he and other UDP Ministers resigned in support of Phillip Goldson, one of the true heroes and icons of nationalism, it was Dean Barrow who was against Phillip Goldson and solidly in favor of the British and American plan to give large geography of our southern seas to Guatemala. Goldson was defeated and Guatemala got most of our southern seas. It was called “The Maritime Areas Act”. Goldson resigned in disgust and formed another political party - The National Alliance for Belizean Rights.

Goldson never returned to the UDP. He went to his grave bitter and disappointed over what Barrow, Esquivel and the UDP had done in supporting Guatemala and depriving Belize of its southern seas which we will NEVER get back FROM HAIRY WORM TO BUTTERFLY Have you ever seen a hairy worm?

It is a green worm with many feet and it can be seen eating leaves all day long.

After a while this worm sticks itself on a branch and starts to weave a kind of threading around its body. It completely covers its body in a kind of cocoon.

After a while the cocoon starts to open, it falls away. When you look closely there is no hairy worm inside. You see thin pretty wings starting to unfold. The wings flap slow and gently. Oh my gosh, it’s a plane, it’s a bird, its superman – no it is a butterfly.

From hairy worm to butterfly – it’s a miracle. In words of the Arab freedom fighters Allahu Akbar – God is Great.

JOHN LONGSWORTH Spotted in Belmopan, one night last week, sitting with friends at Buca Shell Service Station was none other than the one and only John Longsworth.

John Longsworth gave the best years of his life to the Public Service of Belize. During his illustrious career, which spanned a period from the Colonial government through the transition to Belizean government, he was a District Officer, Finance Officer and he reached the highest point in a Public Officers career, that of Permanent Secretary which today is Chief Executive Officer.

He served under several Ministers, in both UDP and PUP administrations.

John Longsworth is the son of Togo Longsworth and so is the nephew of several colorful and talented Longsworths of an era that was part of the best times and the good old days.

Most of the Longsworths of that time had an outstanding talent. They were thinkers and talkers. By talkers we mean they had the gift of the gab. John Longsworth is probably the deepest thinker and the most articulate of his name sakes.

The person who ran into John Longsworth on a cool and breezy night last week informed us that Mr. Longsworth was in good health and good spirits and was using the magic of his words to entertain his friends. There was even a story from the Maya culture about the size of the umbilical cord when it is cut and what the length represents.

Best of health and best wishes John Longsworth. Man like you have nuff history to tell. The University of Belize needs to check in with you.

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Sunday, July 3, 2011

PUP demands GOB to respect Rule of Law & Judiciary

the pressing issues of poverty, unemployment, the escalating crime and violence plaguing the nation The PUP calls on the GovernThe PUP also calls on the gov- and the serious loss of investor 28 June 2011 The People’s United Party ex- ment of Belize and the previous ernment to address with urgency confidence in Belize. presses grave concern at the cur- majority owners to move expedirent standoff at the nation’s flag- tiously, within the rule of law and ship telecom provider, Belize the country’s Constitution to reTelemedia Ltd. (BTL). This im- solve this long simmering dispute, passe has been triggered by the 24 for the benefit of BTL customers, June 2011 Court of Appeal judg- employees, prospective investors ment which found the UDP Gov- and for the stability of the nation’s ernment’s 2009 nationalization of investment climate.

BTL to have been unconstitutionProtector Insurance Company for his Continued from page 9 al. cation to come through for him. registration the following day, but he In the paramount national inHe had graduated two years never got a chance to see that come terest of Belize, the PUP urges both ago from the Ladyville Tubal through. On Sunday night, he was the Government and the previous Technical. On Saturday night heading home to Fuller’s Alley off Gibmajority owners of BTL to arrive he arrived home from a party nut Street when he was gunned down at a reasonable settlement to this and was hanging out with fam- – the victim of mistaken identity, by crippling dispute and the endless ily members on the steps of his all accounts. Perez had stopped at a series of lawsuits and countersuits home at #30 Benbow Street be- friend’s house on Dolphin Street on his with the utmost urgency. fore he left after midnight to see way home and that was where a gunThe spill-off of this on-going if the nearby Chinese Shop was man, who lurked across the street, deContinued from page 6 conflict has caused serious damstill open. His family retired to cided to open fire. Perez never stood helped us, unu got fi we back. We age to the reputation of Belize bed and did not know that when a chance. He was hit six times, yelling know that when PUP get in we with prospective and existing forLemoth left home, he wouldn’t for help as he stumbled in the yard. will get work!” eign investors. The affair has also return. In fact, they didn’t learn Prior to the youths’ murders, on We at BELIZE TIMES, reccast a cloud of uncertainty and until the following morning Friday night, Jessim Gladden, 39, ognize that it is the entire three instability over the nation’s telewhen they got up that Lemoth the brother of Darren Banks, passed thousand eight hundred and com services and over the status had been killed in an alley not away from bullet wounds he suffered eighty eight square miles of terof close to 500 proud employees of far from their home. The neigh- the previous night on Flamboyant ritory occupied by Belizeans that BTL. The Government’s flip-flop, bors heard the shot but never Street. Gladden, a resident of Oleare suffering but we are proud to to first surrender and then retake ventured out to see what it was. ander Street, had left home to go to say that we as a Party under the the company using military force Less than 24 hours later, on his regular hang-out spot and he was leadership of John Briceño, we in the wake of the Court’s ruling Sunday night, Steven Perez, 18, among a group sitting down when are not a “government in waithas also brought into question had been excited that he was the gunman pounced on him. While ing” we are “the next governonce again its commitment to the about to enter the second year police believe his killing was the result ment at work now”. rule of law and its respect for the of sixth form at St. John’s Ju- of an “old beef ” his family questions God Bless Belize. God Bless Judiciary. nior College. He had saved up whether it had to do with Banks’ dethe PUP and our struggle to free The Opposition PUP reiterates money as a messenger at Home tention behind bars. our people! its commitment, boldly enshrined in its Party Constitution, to an economic framework that derives the maximum benefits for the Belizean people from Belize’s bountiful resources, while fostering and protecting responsible private investment. We also believe that Belizeans deserve the opportunity to become shareholders in our utility companies, allowing for dividends to be re-invested in our economy. Of course, strategic foreign stakeholders can also contribute capital, best practices and updated technologies to these vital enterprises.

More bloodshed!

Three murders in the city, one in Cayo

Corozal PUP at Work!!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Elrington says Barrow “should go to jail” Belize City, June 29, 2011 In an explosive interview on Channel 5’s Open Your Eyes morning show, former Attorney General and UDP Minister Hubert Elrington said that Prime Minister Dean Barrow should face jail time for showing utter contempt of Court.

Elrington, who appeared as a guest along with PUP Belize Rural North Standard Bearer Arthur Saldivar, accused the Prime Minister of disrespecting the law when he took possession of Belize Telemedia Limited by force, even though the Court of Appeal found that GOB’s acquisition in 2009 was unconstitutional.

“The Court has said to the Government of Belize in the clearest terms, you are on your neighbor’s property.

What did the Government do? Right away they started to come through the fence, they came through the gate, they ran through the back door; right away they left their neighbor’s property.

Then they had second-thoughts, they said ‘no, we will go back and we will stay on our neighbor’s property and we are going to order’ – this is where it gets criminal in my view – ‘we are going to order the Commissioner of Police and we are going to order the Commandant of the BDF to enforce our rights as trespassers”, said Elrington.

The now attorney in private practice, who is the author of the Barrow’s

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famous “All glitter and no substance” description, said the Barrow was way over his head with his actions.

“Once they arrive at what the Court of Appeal decision means, they are duty bound to obey it because it is of constitutional important. Nothing is more important in our country.

Nothing can be more important. It’s like the death sentence of the country, not the death sentence of a person.

This raises the spectrum of the death sentence of our country because either we are a country that will govern ourselves by the rule of law or we are going to try and brush aside the rule of law and have disrespect for the law,” he stated.

In response to PM Barrow’s explanation that GOB could remain in control of BTL until a declaratory order was issued by the Court, Elrington said Barrow was “talking nonsense”.

Elrington also aimed and fired at the current Attorney General, Bernard Q. Pitts, who he said appeared to be a man sleeping on the job. Elrington said it is the job of the Attorney General to give Government advice, but his silence indicates he is, inexplicably, still considering the issue. “We don’t ask him to do us a favour, we pay him good money to give us good legal advice,” remarked Elrington.

Humor in UDP Politics!

At this week’s Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister was feeling sad and gloomy over the BTL affair “What will be my legacy?”, he asked, “What will they say about me when I am gone?”, which caused Sedi to lean over to B.Q. and say softly “he had me as his best attorney”. ……………………….

When the ruling of the Court of Appeal came out last week, the Prime Minister’s sidekick Mose confessed that when he heard it, he went straight to a Chiney shop and had to take three strong shots of rum and coke cause Barrow had led him to believe that giving back BTL could never happen. ……………………….

Joe Bradley, the mouth piece for UDP Wave Radio, was his usual self calling this one this and that one that in his usual nasty and derogative way. One caller said to him remember you have a son who is running for office, at which Joe Bradley (as if he could not help himself) replied, “you mean Darrelitas?” ……………………….

Thing are so bad under Barrow that the black bird and pigeons are fighting for food at the Battle Field Park. Things are so bad that the common one cents has disappeared from the streets. So bad that the government had to send and confiscate Cardona’s vehicle. ……………………….

John Saldivar and Bertie Chimillo have got themselves into a real pissing match. Now if anybody knows Bertie he is shrewd, cunning and good at what he does. On the other hand, John Saldivar loves a fist and fight, he loves to quarrel and believes his winning edge is in the Book he is reading, “Think like a man. Fight like a woman,” given to him by Jack Warner, FIFA’s past vice president.

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Sunday, July 3, 2011

Sunday, July 3, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Manuel Herredia puts foreigners over locals

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eans. That created chaos as Belizeans realised their jobs and livelihoods was at risk and they had to fight back.

Foot and mouth disease seems to be an epidemic in the UDP, just We’ve already seen some of that was prepared to giveaway exclusivhappening, when it was exposed ity of cruise ship boat tendering to as incompetence is. The best advice that Herredia’s Ministry of Tourism foreign interests over local Beliz- is that they shut up and resign.

Hon. Manuel Heredia

San Pedro, June 24, 2011 Has anyone realised that whenever UDP Belize Rural South politician Manuel Herredia opens his mouth, he ends up shoving his bare foot down his throat? Check his record: he’s uttered racist views about keeping Belize City Creoles away from San Pedro to reduce the crime rate, he has blamed UDP corruption on public officers, specifically Police Officers; and now he’s done it again.

During an interview with a radio news reporter earlier in the week, in which he presented his team for next year’s municipal elections, Herredia indicated that priority for him, the UDP and his team are foreigners and not locals. Here’s what he said: “the days when the destiny of our community was controlled by local San Pedranos are long gone. Over 65% of our voters’ listed today are not originally from San Pedro, and those 65% we have to make sure that we take care for them and we have to nurture them”.

Herredia has unabashedly proclaimed loyalty and servitude to foreigners over locals. What Herredia really wanted to say is that those foreigners who have bought him over with their campaign funding will get all his attention and help.

Like Dean Barrow’s 2008 proclamation that he will “Quitar” lands…

Herredia’s 2011 announcement of his loyalty to non-locals is a serious threat.

San Pedranos must open their eyes and recognise the real meaning of Herredia’s statement. San Pedranos run the small businesses on the island, San Pedranos run taxis, take care of the local construction and own most of the small home properties. To satisfy his foreign masters Herredia would easily do away for all the benefits for any local San Pedrano, likely meaning taxing away small business, taking away land from locals and giving them to foreigners, and ensuring business benefits non-locals.

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JOHN BRICEñO for Orange Walk Central Sunday June 26, 2011 - People’s Stadium, Orange Walk

HON. JOHN BRICENO PUP LEADER & ORANGE WALK CENTRAL

Rodwell Ferguson Stann Creek West

anthony mahler caribbean shores

anthony sylvestre jr . queen square

dr. amin hegar belmopan

oscar sabido cayo west

phillip palacio mesopotamia

ARTHUR SALDIVAR BELIZE RURAL NORTH

joseph mahmud cayo north

IVAN RAMOS Dangriga

Valdemar castillo Corozal North

abelardo mai orange walk south

gilroy usher sr. port loyola

jorge briceno orange walk north

RT. HON SAID MUSA FORT GEORGE

dolores balderamos garcia belize rural central

orlando habet cayo north east

CAROLYN TRENCH-SANDIFORD COLLET

mike espat toledo east

HON. FRANCIS FONSECA FREETOWN

dr. francis smith pickstock

RAMIRO RAMIREZ COROZAL SOUTH WEST

JULIUS ESPAT CAYO SOUTH

oscar requeña toledo west

GREGORIO “PAPAS” GARCIA COROZAL BAY

patty arceo belize rural south

collet montejo cayo central

HON. FLORENCIO MARIN JR. COROZAL SOUTH EAST

Over 10,000 PUP supporters attended the Orange Walk Central Convention

dr. MARCO tulio mendez orange walk east

PUP Leader greets young PUP supporter

Julius & supporter