Belize Times July 3, 2016 by Belize Times Press

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

3 JULY 2016 | ISSUE NO: 5000

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

BARROW’S BULL COSTS BELIZE OVER HALF BILLION DOLLARS!! Belize City, June 29, 2016 Just over a month ago, the BELIZE TIMES sounded the alarm that the dark cloud of BTL’s compensation value and legal battles fomented by Barrow Administration’s 2009 takeover of telecoms company, Belize Telemedia Limited, was preparing to shower down more pain and suffering on an already financially-limp Belize. The matter of the BTL’s compensation value has been before the Permanent

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PUP’S VILLAGE COUNCIL WINS HAS UDP TREMBLING

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Photo by Jorge Aldana

Heart of San Pedro Town Goes Up in Flames

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National Deputy Leader Hon. Cordel Hyde addressing the people of Selena and congratulating the newly elected council.

Bondholders Beware! $200,000 missing from CitCo Sinking Fund?? Pg. 3

Pawpa Mena Disgraces Belize! Pg. 6

RYAN BARNETT REMANDED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING HIS FRIEND

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398 DAYS SINCE BARROW LOST THE SARSTOON

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OPINION OUT

Dear Editor, I personally invite Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley and Port Loyola Area Representative “Boots” Martinez to visit Faber’s Road for about 500 yards beside the Muslim School and in front of the Police sub-station to see for themselves the terrible condition of those two areas on that main street from two months after the 2015 general election. Those two sections of Faber’s Road are in such a horrible condition with large potholes filled with water that people feel like they will be flung out of their vehicles as they drive through the area. The terrible condition of those two sections of Faber’s Rd. is also costing motorists heavily due to wear and tear on their vehicles. It’s time for the Mayor of Belize City and the Area Rep for Port Loyola to at least concrete those two areas of Faber’s Road and provide proper drains. If we remain silent about this issue, the many persons, who have to use Faber’s Road daily, will suffer for years with its terrible condition until a month or two before the next general election in 2020. Signed, Gilroy Usher Sr.

30 Jun

OUT

The suffering in using Faber’s Road

LOCAL

3 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

Open Invitation to Minister Elodio Aragon Jr.

Dear Editor, Way too many of us cannot afford to send our children to school. Something has to be done about this situation. I never thought I would ever have to resort to begging to send my children to school. Desperation, however, has no pride. The cost of books, uniforms, footwear and registration is no joking matter. It is expensive. When will Barrow realize that for too many of us trying to make ends meet and keeping up with our bills and the cost of living is like trying to fill a basket with water; it is mission impossible? I am literally walking around the city asking kindhearted people to donate anything they can in an effort to come up with the money necessary to send my kids to school. I was travelling on the James bus recently and saw children at the speed bumps with placards up begging for money to be able to go back to school. What are we becoming as a society? We are being reduced to mere beg-

Dear Sir, Please afford us the undersigned newly elected Village Council Chairman and Councillors of Chan Pine Ridge Village some valuable space in your prestigious newspaper to formally and publicly invite the Area representative for Orange Walk East, Hon. Elodio Aragon Jr., to collectively work with us in the development of our young village as per his mandate as an Area Representative and Government Minister so dictates. Our landslide victory this past Sunday speaks volumes of the change that our villagers were clamouring for and it is hence high time that party-politics not be given the priority that it is traditionally afforded whenever teams and slates of the Opposition surge victorious in these rural political races. Our commitment to our people will remain resilient and unbendable always having in mind that not only will we toil the soil to accomplish ALL our manifesto promises but to go the extra mile in cementing a closer bond with our elderly, the poor and our youth. The support of Hon. Aragon will certainly be welcomed in these areas; after all, the people of Chan Pine Ridge are deserving of a few dollars of the over $6,000.00 monthly subvention that Hon. Aragon gets for the upliftment of Orange Walk East which includes Chan Pine Ridge Village. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those persons who trusted us with their votes this past Sunday. We will not disappoint you! May God continue to bless you and

WEATHER 1 Jul

How do you sleep at night, Mr. Minister?

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2016 gars. My heart is saddened by what I am seeing and more so for those poor parents, some of whom I have spoken to, who have just given up all hope of coming up with the money necessary to send their children to school and have had to look these children in the eye and tell them they will not be going on to high school or going back to school. Mr. Editor this is a serious social crisis. It is an affair of the heart. Where and to whom do we turn for help? We on Southside Belize City and I am certain others across the country are taking a serious licking and quickly losing hope. Too many of us find ourselves living in inhuman conditions. I know I do not speak for myself only when I say we are just not making it. I have a full time job and it is not happening for me. Imagine those who are what we call ‘ketch and killing’ and worse yet those who are not working. How do they survive? I appeal to Patrick Faber, the Education Minister, and Boots Martinez to get serious about the plight of so many of us Belizeans. How do these guys sleep at night knowing that so many children in Belize literally go to bed hungry coupled with so many who are out of school because of financial hardships at home. Come on Mr. Barrow, where is your heart? Where is your humanity? Where is your purported love for your people? It is simple compassion that we need in this country now. It has to be about the people especially the majority poor. Have a heart UDP government. Have a heart. Signed: Concerned Citizen

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may our efforts as your new Village Council be very rewarding and enviable ones that will develop, beautify and empower our beautiful Chan Pine Ridge. Respectfully, Cornelio Torres, Chairman (signed) Feliciano Torres (Vice-Chairman) (signed) German Tzul (Councillor) (signed) Jaime Carillo (Councillor) (signed) Melissa Torres (Secretary) (signed) Pedro Torres (Treasurer) (signed)

264 Mar Jul

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper. Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus EDITOR

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

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

27 Mar Jul 65Feb

Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

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Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.50

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.00

Eastern Caribbean Euro (XCD):$ 1.35 (EUR) : $ 0.46

Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR (GBP): $ 0.35 (GTQ): $ 3.85 (CAD): $ 0.67

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.28

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.27

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 33.71

3 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

HIDING

UNEMPLOYMENT Belize City, June 29, 2016 Since taking over Government in 2008, this Dean Barrow led administration has become masters of manipulating and fudging important statistical data on the country. In fact there are many instances when the Government has failed to release information on the performance of key sectors of the Belizean economy. One such indicator that would give the Barrow administration serious cause for concern is the unemployment rate. It has been almost one year (September 2015) since the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) has released any employment information. According to the SIB, in 2015 the national unemployment rate for Belize stood at 10.2 percent. Now we know that for young people and women, the unemployment rate is closer to 40 percent. With the struggles that most of the important industries are experiencing, a deeper analysis of labor slack will show that about 25 percent of available resources were unemployed, underemployed, or even discouraged from looking for a job. This estimate does not take into consideration the movement of labour across borders since many migrant workers have left the country as a result of the struggles the banana and citrus industries are currently experiencing. The BELIZE TIMES and the People’s United Party are even more concerned about the large number of young people who have just graduated from high school and tertiary level institutions, and many of whom will be unable to find meaningful work. In a short time, many of these

Bondholders Beware! $200,000 missing from CitCo Sinking Fund??

Belize City, June 29, 2016 It seems that the financial management, or rather mismanagement, of the Belize City Council is meant to be a state secret and the reason for this is now becoming clear. In the dark and secret anything goes. The BELIZE TIMES is investigating reports that an investigation was recently launched on the Belize City Council’s finances after an internal audit discovered that $200,000 could not be accounted for from its Sinking Fund held at the Central Bank. Sources inside the Council have indicated to the BELIZE TIMES that the case of missing funds sent off loud alarm bells at City Hall, and the news travelled quickly to bondholders who are paid from the Sinking Fund. It has caused a scare. Can someone from the Council explain to the public how $200,000 can go missing from its funds?? young people will be relegated to the group that is discouraged from looking for a job. Like many of us already know, the Belizean economy is in serious trouble and this UDP government has been incompetent and unable to put in place the programs, policies and legislations to ease the pain the Belizean people are feeling.

WATCH LIVE on CCV CH9 CBC CH50/60 Southern Cable CH18 Call 650-8429

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03 3 RYAN BARNETT REMANDED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING HIS FRIEND Belize City, Monday, June 27, 2016 A Belize City man was remanded to prison this morning after he was read a charge of murder in the Magistrate’s Court. The victim died in the early hours of Saturday morning, a few hours after he was shot on Friday night. Ryan Barnett, 30, appeared before Magistrate Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser who read the murder charge to him. He did not have to enter a plea because his case will eventually be transferred to the Supreme Court, after a preliminary inquiry. Barnett was remanded to prison until his next court appearance on August 16. Barnett was charged with the murder of Anthony Gillett, 38. Gillett was seen along with Barnett in a yard on West Canal, where the deceased man usually frequent on weekends. Police report that Gillett was in a sofa getting ready to smoke a marijuana joint when a single gunshot rang out. Gillett was shot once to the bottom of the chin and the bullet exited through the top of his head. He was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he pronounced dead at 1:24 a.m. on Saturday, June 25. Gillett’s friend Barnett, a resident of George Street, was arrested and charged with his murder. Police did not provide a motive for the murder. Gillett was employed as a porter at the Phillip Goldson International Airport where he was employed for about two decades. He was a father of six children.

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BARROW’S BULL COSTS BELIZE OVER HALF BILLION DOLLARS!! Continued from page 1 Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands for seven years and this week, the final ruling was issued by the threemember arbitration panel. The result is head-throbbing, mind-aching news. The Barrow Administration must pay a total of BZE$453,474,257.34 for the forced takeover of majority shares held by Lord Ashcroft-related companies in BTL. That total is broken down in two main segments: award of total BTL share value at $255,592,219.47 and INTEREST charged at 8.34% per annum compound quarterly, with a total of $193,382,037.87. The remaining amount of $4.5m is for legal fees and court costs. The news is not positive in any way for Belize. For a country that doesn’t have enough money for a new school, hospital or bridge, how will it cough up that amount to pay off interests related to Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s former legal client, Lord Ashcroft? Today, the spin master himself, Prime Minister Barrow, in an attempt to do major damage control one day after the hefty ruling was released, held a press conference and spouted big numbers and six-digit figures with suspicious ease, claiming that the “benefits” of his costly stubbornness, and unnecessarily long-drawn out delay to pay up outweighed the actual cost of his actions. “Government has no regrets,” trumpeted PM Barrow while puffing out his chest. Next to him sat the Financial Secretary Joseph Waight who promised that he could dress up like Houdini and work his “magic” with Belize’s finances to ensure that the Government’s liabilities for BTL ordered to be paid by

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THE BELIZE TIMES

the Arbitration Panel to the Ashcroft groups were fully covered. But manipulating the financial system in a weakened economy is a very limited option. This is why the Prime Minister has turned to the Social Security Board, where worker’s social security payments are secured, for $55 million in exchange for Government’s shares in BTL and Belize Electricity Limited. This deal, proposed a week before the arbitration ruling was unveiled and approved by the Social Security Investment Committee, is meant to provide the cash-strapped Government with some financial oxygen. The Opposition has raised alarm over the abuse of SSB funds by the Barrow Administration, and has opposed the move. Belize’s economy has remained tattered in pieces after seven eight years of the Barrow Administration. The arbitration award for BTL’s takeover could very well be the final blow to our economy. Yet, the Prime Minister put on a smile and spoke glowingly of the results of his BTL misadventure and the arbitration ruling. We wonder if his good mood had anything to do with the fact that the hefty pay-offs for his ex-wife and brother for their legal representation of the Government in the legal matters with BTL have been “worthy”. Of course, all at the expense of taxpayers. Belizeans, wake up! This whopping $453 million plus another $97 million to be paid by BTL is a scandal of colossal proportions. It is the naked looting of our country for the benefit of the rich and well-off. It is Barrow’s Half Billion dollars bukut for the Belizean people.

2016 Artemis Business Limited #152,885 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Artemis Business Limited:

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 24th day of June, 2016; and c) CILTrust International Inc. whose address is 35 Barrack Road, Third Floor, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator of the Company.

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent Nemza Limited #132,247 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Nemza Limited.:

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent Lirrel Limited #132,248 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Lirrel Limited:

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent Dexter Group Limited #152,886 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Dexter Group Limited:

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent

3 JUL

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

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EDITORIAL

Over Half a Billion Dollars to One Man Compliments of Dean Barrow and the Shamefully Incompetent UDP

he arbitration award is finally out. This is the decision that determines how much the Government has to pay to the Ashcroft group of companies and trusts. This is the final most critical piece of the settlement between Dean Barrow and this UDP government and Lord Michael Ashcroft. Now we finally know, when all is said and done, Dean Barrow signed a blank cheque to Ashcroft for acquiring BTL. This cheque by virtue of the arbitration award and the settlement agreement turned out to be for $453 million dollars and counting. When we add the $97 million dollars that Dean Barrow and this UDP Government also paid Ashcroft in September of last year for settling the BCB claim with Ashcroft, we end up that Dean Barrow has signed up and committed each and everyone of us to pay to one man – Lord Ashcroft – the harrowing and unprecedented sum of $550 million dollars – over half a billion dollars – for a company that is not even worth one-fifth of that sum. There is nothing, nowhere in the history of this country that compares to this. Now we know why he hurriedly called the elections last year – to hide this unholy truth from the people before elections. Rather than face the people with the truth and suffer the consequences, Dean Barrow and the incompetent UDP were so obsessed with and desperate

to hold onto power that they calculatedly disguised the monumental disaster the Prime Minister personally engineered, fooling the people into thinking that with the no small sum of $160 million dollars, Ashcroft was behind us. A victory for Dean Barrow and the UDP and, as he deceitfully professed, a victory for the people of Belize. Now we know that this was no victory for the people of Belize. This was a massacre – a half billion dollar assault on the economy and people of Belize. Dean Barrow has written a cheque that we the people of Belize now have to cash – more than $1,500.00 from every man woman and child to go to one man – Lord Ashcroft – compliments of Dean Barrow. Speculation is already running wild that this was planned all along between Dean Barrow and Lord Ashcroft – a devious plan to maximize the spoils for Lord Ashcroft at the behest of his loyal servant and attorney, Dean Barrow. There is much speculation on what share would he have in those spoils? We however would prefer not to believe that our Prime Minister was such an imposter, a fraud to the Belizean people. We would prefer to believe that this was vile hubris and incompetence on the part of the Prime Minister and the UDP. Whichever it is, however, whatever he is – he has costed all of us more than half a billion dollars – money that we don’t have and can’t afford to pay.

Political Piracy Exacerbates Public Debt By Hilaire Bennett, The Voice of the Common Man Belize’s public debt stands at $3 billion. Public debt was first issued in Belize in 1863 under the colonial administration. The fund was primarily earmarked to make much needed improvements to then “Belize Town”. An important venture that was taken on with public financing was the building of a full scale railway, the whole length of the valley to the nearest sea port. The infrastructural development became necessary in the transporting of bananas that was purchased by United Fruit Company (UFCO) in the early 1900s. Public debt at that time remained at a very modest level. Today, the issuance of public debt has become reckless under the UDP with reckless spending and insatiable borrowing. Jacques Attali wrote that “the

history of public debt is the very history of national power: how it has been won and how it has been lost. Dreams and impatience have always driven man in power to draw on the resources of others – be it slaves, the inhabitants of occupied lands, or their children yet to be born – in order to carry out their schemes, to consolidate power, to grow their own fortunes”. To consolidate power the UDP administration has vigorously engaged in deceitful propaganda and political campaign ads. They have and continue to draw on the people’s purse in their election buyouts. Most of the politicians on the red side have amassed their fortunes off the backs of the poor Belizeans. Boots Martinez rode into office on a bicycle and now commands a sparkling, late-model SUV. John Saldivar sits atop the hill in his grand mansion being attended to by his personal chambermaid. These politicians are not afraid to espouse their accoutrements

of their elitist stature whilst throwing the crumbs to the disregarded sector of society – the poor. In respect to the governance of the Jewel, the United Democratic Party government (three times) has failed in applying political pragmatism and instituting sound fiscal and economic policies that would engender growth. This spendthrift government has spiraled Belize into an era mirroring that of the early 1930s, the depression years. During that time, Belize’s timber industry was hit as international investors held onto their finances. Jobs were lost, the country’s economy was crushed, the result of severe financial jolt. However, the crushing blow in the 1930s depression was dealt by the global forces whilst the 2016 situation is the result of the Minister of Finance Dean Barrow’s lack of “sound financial stewardship.” In one of my articles entitled “The Budget – Much Ado About Nothing”, I

discussed the government’s need to parse unwise debt from intelligent debt. Unwise debt can be described as dead debt such as inflated administrative costs that is allotted to running the country. Case in point is the huge allocations budgeted to the various ambassadorial offices. Oftentimes, these costs go toward appeasing party supporters who sit in luxurious offices with assigned penthouses and fat salaries at the Belizean taxpayer’s expenses. Also, the outrageous cycle of buying high-end government vehicles manipulated by government officials for their personal pleasure. The bloated wage bill must be considered seriously as the public service has become top heavy with political appointees that are not qualified and who fail to deliver the service necessary for the improvContinued on page 21

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Santa Cruz 13 Finally Freed! Government continues to disrespect Maya rights Punta Gorda Town, Toledo, Monday, June 27, 2016 After hauling a group of Belizeans from Santa Cruz Village in Toledo District, including Maya Leader Cristina Coc, to Court for a number of adjournments during the past year, the persecution case led by the state was discontinued this morning when Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith read a letter from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). But while the criminal charges that the state brought against them is over, and no further criminal charge can come out of the incident, the condition which led to the state bringing the charges still persists in Santa Cruz Village. Rupert Myles, a Belizean of Creole descent, who resides in Santa Cruz Village and who, without permission, built his house on sacred Mayan lands is at the center of the controversy that erupted in Santa Cruz one year ago. At the heart of the issue that erupted in Santa Cruz is the question of the Mayas use of their ancestral lands according to the customary rights that were affirmed by Belize’s highest court, the Caribbean Court of Justice. If the Barrow Government had respected the CCJ’s ruling, there would have been no early morning police raid in Santa Cruz one year ago. The Alcalde of Santa Cruz ordered Myles to be arrested, after he allegedly issued threats against villagers. Myles was arrested and pictures of him in chains fueled a response from the government. One day after Prime Minister Barrow made remarks about the situation in Santa Cruz involving Myles, heavily armed Gang Suppression Unit (GUS) policemen along with officers from other police units, descended on Santa Cruz in an early morning show of force. The Government’s early morning operation against the Mayas of that village resulted in the arrest of 13 persons, including Christina Coc. They were all charged with attempted kidnapping, common assault and aggravated assault against Rupert Myles. The government’s early morning police operation against the villagers of Santa Cruz created a national spectacle, when the 13 accused Mayas were marched off to the Punta Gorda Magistrate’s court, some had to be loaned shirts, because they did not have enough time to dress themselves, before they were hauled off to court by the police. The DPP’s letter striking out the case from against the Santa Cruz Mayas said, “It would not be in the interest of justice to continue the case”. So what was the case against the Santa Cruz Mayas based on then? Was it politically directed by the UDP

Government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow which has shown serious disrespect to the Mayas of the Toledo District? If the government had enough evidence to successfully prosecute the Mayas of Santa Cruz, then why did they drop the case? Strange occurrence! But because the issue of Myles still occupying lands in Santa Cruz that the Mayas deemed to be sacred lands, they filed a civil claim against the government. One of the reliefs that they are seeking is the removal of Myles from the lands he now occupies, they will also seek to get, through the Supreme Court, an expert to evaluate the damages that Myles has done to Uxbenka, the site where he ill-advisedly built his structure. The first hearing of the Mayas case against the government is set for July 18.

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2016

Pawpa Mena Disgraces Belize!

Belize City, June 27, 2016 In the face of Guatemala’s threats to our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, it has become very important for Belizeans to know the facts and history of our country. This is why when UDP Minister Frank Pawpa Mena announced in a recent official televised address for Public Service Day that Belize was 3,367 square miles “in length and breadth”, we had to scratch our heads and wonder if the entire Cabinet was compromised to Guatemala. Belizeans are all fully convinced that Sedi, who sees an artificial border along the west and recognises no border along the maritime areas in south, is a true friend of Guatemala. Sedi recently indicated that Guatemala’s claim is over all of Belize, but Pawpa’s statements that Belize is only 3,367 square miles makes one wonder if the UDP Cabinet has given away more than half of the country. For him, the question would be which half since he represents the constituency of Dangriga which is part of the southern region claimed by Guatemala. For the record Minister Mena, Belize is 8867.2 square miles and not a centimetre less. Shame on you and your UDP Government which has lost Belize territory which has never occurred in Belize’s history.

07 7 PUP’s Village Council Wins has UDP Trembling 3 JUL

2016

Belize City, June 27, 2016 The People’s United Party has performed so spectacularly in this year’s Village Council elections, now entering its fifth weekend of contests that the outgoing United Democratic Party is shaking in their boots. The PUP has maintained wins in key strongholds such as San Andres, Ranchito and San Joaquin Villages in the Corozal District; Rockstone Pond and Corozalito in the Belize District; Valley of Peace as well as Duckrun 1 thru 3 in the Cayo District; Pomona and Seine Bight in the Stann Creek District, and 22 of the 38 villages in the Toledo District. But what is most remarkable for the PUP’s rise are the major wins in communities which the UDP once considered their stumping ground. These are, to name a few, San Antonio Village in the Corozal District; Trial Farm, Chan Pine Ridge, August Pine Ridge and Yo Creek in the Orange Walk District; Sandhill in the Belize District; La Gracia, Selena and Bullet Tree Village in Cayo District; and Alta Vista and Steadfast in the Stann Creek District. Several of the wins are key indicators that the UDP’s likeability has sunk to the lowest points recently due to their neglect and abandonment of the communities. For example, Trial Farm Village is former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega’s most-prized community. On Tuesday morning his minions on the UDP northern channel were heard screaming treason at the voters and reminding them who gave them jobs and who helps them with school fees. This shameful attempt to intimidate voters for speaking their minds thru their votes should be condemned by all. The people have awoken in Orange Walk North, and the writing on Vega’s demise is on the wall. The wins in Bullet Tree Village, a community the UDP has claimed as theirs for the past 12 years, in the Cayo North area and Selena and La Gracia Villages in Cayo Central are clear signs that the UDP is no longer an option for the people. The PUP’s full-slate victory in Sandhill is also noteworthy. We remind our readers that Sandhill residents nearly put a flogging on publicly-shamed UDP Edmond Castro when he made an unwelcomed appearance at a PUP rally last year. PUP Leader Hon. John Briceno is himself a major reason why PUPs are returning home. Hon. Briceño has maintained ground presence ever since he was elected as the Leader in January. Hon. Briceño has visited a number of these villages and has taken the time to talk to the residents and share ideas on how progress is achievable. He is a leader who believes in people, and in return, as the village council elections results are demonstrating, the people believe in him.

THE BELIZE TIMES

National Deputy Leader Hon. Cordel Hyde addressing the people of Selena and congratulating the newly elected council.

Party Leader and Corozal South East Area Rep., Hon. Florencio Jr. in village councils campaign

PUP Leader Hon. John Briceno congratulates newly elected chairman for Bullet Tree Village, Tai Wu for the historic victory.

PUP Leader Hon. John Briceno and PUP Standard Bearer Monchie Cervantes meeting residents on the campaign trail in Orange Walk North

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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2016

Heart of San Pedro Town Goes Up in Flames San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Wednesday, June 29, 2016 Eleven buildings on a prime area of San Pedro Town, Pescador Drive, were totally destroyed, most of them buildings with businesses on the downstairs flat and homes above in the largest blaze ever to hit Ambergris Caye. A total of eighty-eight persons were affected, all of them now homeless and most of them losing all their possessions to the raging fire. The fire got started sometime around midnight on Sunday. How did the blaze start is a question for arson investigators, and they’re not ruling out foul play. The Fire Department personnel has also been taking heat because only one of the two trucks assigned to the island was operational and could not pump sufficient water to stop the fire from spreading. Victims of the fire told the BELIZE TIMES that were it not for the assistance of residents who formed a bucket brigade, the damage would have been significantly more widespread. Many of those victims are still in shock. They were woken up at midnight to see their homes burn down before their eyes. One person who lost everything said that “there was

an abandoned home at the back of my residence and that was burning. When I woke up and looked through the window I saw it was burning and

it crossed over to my building and the whole structure went down”. The Police Department was also a primary component of the opera-

tion that Sunday night. According to Deputy Commander of San Pedro, ASP Henry Jemmott, “We managed Continued on page 31

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2016 2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

BTIA-CAYO CHALLENGES BTB Tourism Stakeholders say proposed hotel regulations are unreasonable

San Ignacio, Cayo District Monday June 27, 2016 Approximately 45 accommodation owners in the Cayo District met on Thursday June 23, 2016 at the Welcome Center in San Ignacio, Cayo to discuss new Minimum Standards for Accommodations proposed by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB). The Cayo Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), a trade organization for local tourist market stakeholders, sponsored the event. A broad cross section of stakeholders, including many from off-grid jungle lodges, attended the meeting. The large turnout was attributed to the widespread opposition to the BTB’s proposed legislative changes to existing laws governing the industry. Changes that members unanimously feel would have an adverse ripple effect throughout the industry. Judy duPlooy, President of the BTIACayo Chapter stated, “No one is opposed to regulations pertaining to health, safety and emergency measures. However, the new proposed Minimum Standards which total 532 items (for the hotel category) far exceed reasonable requirements for an extremely diverse marketplace. Furthermore, many of the items on the checklist are not relevant criteria for renewing or obtaining a license”. “BTB has not yet looked at the cost of implementing the proposed Minimum Standards, the implication for competitiveness of the sector and more broadly the economy of Belize,” commented Dr. Ydahlia Metzgen, a BTIA-Cayo Board member. She went on to say, “The impact of the current proposed Minimum Standards not only will be felt by the hotel owners but also by their employees, tour operators and all businesses touched by the tourism industry, the #1 employer in Belize. The broader consequences of the standards should be examined”. Steve Reichert, Owner/Operator of Benque Resort and Spa said, “Many of BTB’s proposed Minimum Standards do not deal with safety or health, but instead are a BTB wish list. No other country that I have seen has such a stringent list of requirements and directives that favor huge hotels”. Miriam Khalil-Martinez, owner/operator of Martz Farm Tree Houses & Cabanas said, “There are so many contradictions to the proposed rules. Our guests come to our remote location to see stars and fireflies, not lighted parking areas. Many jungle lodges have limited cell phone reception so why have a rule requiring a phone in every room? Our guests are staying in a tree house. They don’t expect hot water or blackout curtains”. The BTIA-Cayo Chapter sent out a survey to members to evaluate the potential impact of BTB’s proposals. The survey seeks information on operations, staffing, existing compliance, and costs for meeting compliance. The survey also included possible opposition actions. Results of the survey will be presented at the upcoming National BTIA meeting as

9 SPORTS 09 well as shared with members. It was suggested that the results of the survey be used to frame an alternative set of updated standards to present to BTB prior to the final approval of their proposed Minimum Standards. The deadline for public comments to BTB’s proposed Minimum Standards for Accommodations is believed to be by the end of July, with final proposal slated for approval by the BTB Board of Directors in August. The new Minimum Standards would then pass to legislators for a vote to become law before year’s end. All accommodation owners are encouraged to get engaged in the process immediately and not ignore BTB’s proposal that could have a negative impact on the health of the entire tourist industry. The stakes are too great not to be heard. Please contact your local chapter of BTIA or BHA and let your concerns be known. Join BTIA now and enjoy a 50% reduction in membership fees.

THE BELIZE TIMES

Burglars caught by Police “cleaning out” home claim they were set up Belize City, Friday, June 24, 2016 Three men found inside a house carrying out a burglary were remanded to prison today for their own safety, according to Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser, after upholding the court prosecutor’s objection to bail. The men are Jaime Williams, an eighteen-year-old who resides at #1080 Tibruce Street; Elden Flowers, an eighteen-year-old resident of #10 Croton Lane, and Elect Mckoy, a twenty-five-year-old of #6756 Raccoon Street Extension. They were all charged with one count of burglary with intent to steal. The three accused pleaded not guilty to the charge, and McKoy, who appeared to be the spokesperson for the others, told the court that they were on their way to work when police apprehended them and took them to a house located at #8028 Franklyn Street. Mckoy told the court that once the police got them to the house, people who were at the house whom they believe are the relatives of the homeowner began to disrespect them. They were stoned and their pictures were taken. One individual told them that as soon as police frees them, they will be “dealt with”. Mckoy

Elden Flowers

also told the court that the police allowed the media to video them while they were inside the pan of the police pickup truck. On Wednesday, June 22, sometime after 9:00 a.m., police were alerted by a concerned neighbor who saw the men enter the house belonging to Cheryl Slusher, 44. The lock on the front gate which secured the house had been pried open. When a team of police officer led by Sergeant Bradford Berry arrived at Slusher’s house, the men were caught inside, allegedly helping themselves to several items. The quick police response, however, prevented the men from making off with any of Slusher’s properties. Slusher was at work at the time of the incident. She said in media interviews that it was the second day in a row that burglars targeted her home. The day prior, the gate’s

Elect Mckoy

Jaime Williams

3 JUL

2016 lock had been messed with and a small pitbull dog had been stolen. “It seems like they are watching. Every time you go to work cause I left minutes to seven, go to work and come back after six. So they have enough time to come into your house and do what they want. I went in, the door is completely destroyed, the TVs off the walls. Two TVs already taken down and the police came in time so the third TV on a slant, almost to come down. The machete is on my son’s bed in the house. The rooms, the drawers ransacked. One of them, it seems like he likes expensive things, the Michael Kors watch on his hand and the earring in his pants. It seems like they don’t care and they don’t respect anyone. They don’t respect anyone. They will turn innocent people into criminals. I work hard for what I have. I di work for twenty-five years; dah noh like everything just fall from the sky. I had to earn whatever I want in life,” she remarked. The court prosecutor objected to bail, telling the court that if the men are granted bail, they might interfere with prosecution witnesses, and that police has a strong case against them. The prosecutor also stressed on the prevalence of the offense of burglary in Belize City. Magistrate Fraser agreed with the prosecutor and decided to remand the accused men to prison until their next court date on August 10.

3 JUL

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

6 Mexican and 2 Belizeans fined $25,800 for $8,600 worth of contraband hammocks Belize City, Monday, June 27, 2016 The Customs Department dragged 7 persons, including 5 Mexican and two Belizeans from San Jose Village, Orange Walk District, to court for uncustomed goods, in respect of 215 hammocks that were found in their possession last Thursday, June 23, at a customs checkpoint at Mile 17 near Maxboro, on the Phillip Goldson Highway. The accused persons appeared before Magistrate Deborah Rogers in her Court #3. Those charged in court were Mexican nationals David Tapea Dominguez, 43; Arturo Moralez Matias, 21; Nicholas Ventura Ruiz, 23: Javier Nephtali Jacanipo; Silvano Ventura Ruiz, 22; and two Belizeans from San Jose Village, Oswaldo Mejia, a vendor and Joan Mejia, 28. They were read a single charge of recklessly carrying uncustomed goods for having in their possession materials for which no duty receipt was presented. The 215 hammocks

15 yr. old remanded for brazen shooting downtown Belize City, Monday, June 20, 2015 Last Friday morning, June 17, sometime as pedestrian walked busily on Queen Street shortly before 8:30, in front of the police station became a virtual war zone, as citizens who were heading to work and school ran for cover, when a shootout endued between a police officer and a gunman, who had gone to the area to carry out an apparent gang hit on an affiliate of the George Street Gang. The shooter turned out to be a 15-year-old minor, whose wild shooting injured four persons, including a police officer who had opened fire on him right outside the gate of the police station. That police officer, Corporal Alrick Arnold was shot in the chest and had to be rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted in a critical condition. Another man was also shot to the chest and had to be admitted to the hospital. The target of the shooter, Brandon “BT” Tillett escaped unhurt. Tillett, who is on Supreme Court bail had gone to sign in at the police station. Late this afternoon, police escorted the teenaged shooter who brazenly opened fire during the busy morning rush hour on Queen Street, to the Belize Family Court where several charges were read to him. Police charged the teenager with four counts of attempted murder Continued on page 21

are valued at $8,600. The Mexican national Dominguez took the rap for the hammocks and pleaded guilty. The others who had pleaded not guilty had the

charge withdrawn from them. Dominguez was fined $25,800, which is three times the value of the hammocks. Magistrate Rogers ordered him to pay the fine forth-

11 with, or face two year in prison. He was unable to pay his fine by end of the court working hours, so he was held into custody by the Immigration Department until the payment was made. If he didn’t pay by tomorrow, he would be sent to the Belize Central Prison, where he will begin to serve the 2 year-sentence. A Mexican minor, who was along with the men, was released after the men were arraigned early today in the Orange Walk Magistrate Court for an immigration offense relating to the illegal documents they had in their possession. They were fined $1,500. The other 6 saw the charges withdrawn and they were free to go. Customs Department also applied for an order to the court for forfeiting the hammocks and the van in which they were found.

12 SPORTS

83MAY JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

2016

Belize boxers dominate

international

fights

MEX Luis Salcedo floored BZE Mohamed Harmouch

Mike “Mad Dog” Soberanis

San Ignacio, June 25, 2016 Belizean boxers won 4 of the 6 fights on an international boxing meet organized by the Cayo Boxing Association at the Sacred Heart College auditorium on Saturday night. In Fight 1, 19 year old Belizean Rony Aldana, 108lbs, won by judges’ decision against 17 year old Mexican Robert “El Cristalito” Canul Solis, 112lbs. In Fight 2, 29 year old Belizean Max “Pain” Williams, 142.5lbs, toyed with 29 year old Mexican Eric “El Temerario” Arguelles, 136.8lbs, for 4 rounds

to win a unanimous judges’ decision: 39-37. In Fight 3, 38 year old veteran Michael “Mad Dog” Soberanis, 151lbs, outboxed 24 year old Mexican Bernard “El Verdugo” Lopez Fonseca, 153 lbs, to win a split judges’ decision. In Fight 4, 31 year Belizean Mohamed Harmouch, 169lbs, from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, was game until he walked right into a straight right to the head from Mexican Luis Antonio Salzedo that floored him. Harmouch stood up ready for more, and soon hit the canvas a 2nd

SMART Mundialito enters playoffs Belize City, June 25, 2016 Ladyville Rising Stars scraped into the 4th spot of the playoffs by winning 1-0 over the Collet Strikers at the M.C.C. Grounds in Belize City on Saturday, June 25. Levi Davis score the winning goal for the Stars. The Young Warriors won 3-0 win against Heights FC, with goals by Kaylen McFoy, Anthony Usher and Jeffery Young. Defending champs City Boys humbled the No. 2 seed, Hattieville Riverside Boys: 2-1 with Arkel Moguel scoring the 1st goal in the 1st half, and Ken Galvez adding a 2nd goal in the 2nd half to lead 2-0. Ruben Darius scored Hattieville’s consolation goal with an assist from Jaheed “Rice” Baptist, after a corner kick by Enoch Rhaburn. The Riverside boys will meet the No.2 seed Brown Bombers in the playoffs. The Brown Bombers won over Face of Belize 3-0; with 2 goals by Eldon “Tuncy” Byrd and 1 goal from Jonathan Casimiro. The Ladyville Jaguars eliminated Carlston FC from the playoffs by a 1-0 win, with star striker D’jon “Didi” Canelo dancing the ball past 3 defenders and the goalie to score the winning goal.

HON Jose Duran win vs NIC Freddy Oporto

time! Referee Florentino Lopez Cruz stopped the fight in the 1st round in 2:23 minutes. Salzedo won by a Technical Knock Out. In Fight 5, 24 year old Honduran Jose “El Conejo” Fernando Duran, 132lbs, got in more punches to the body and landed some on the head of his taller 22 year old Nicaraguan opponent Freddy Oporto, 132lbs, in 6 rounds to win by judges’ decision. In Fight 6, 25 year old, Belizean Eduardo Esquivel, 139lbs, fought 6 rounds to win by unanimous judges’ decision over 20 year old, Honduran Eric “El Lobo” Samuel Herrera, 133lbs.

Atlantic Bank outmatches Belize Bank 68-66 in Firms Basketball Belize City, June 25, 2016 The Belize District Basketball Association (BDBA) Firms competition continued last week. Atlantic Bank came from behind to post their 3rd win, a nail-biting 68-66 over Heritage Bank. Herman Ramos hit 5 treys to lead Atlantic Bank with 19pts, while Ervin “Poty” Orosco added 16pts, 12 rebounds and veteran Cassian Flowers put up 14pts, 4 rebounds. Marshall Nunez Jr scored 6pts and Ron Nicholson – 7pts. Heritage’s Kurt “Chengo” Burgess had 24pts, 23 rebounds, while Felix Martinez hit 2 treys to add 16pts, and Devon Defour tossed in 6pts. Other games: Bowen & Bowen vs. Mayan Man Warriors - 7968 Top scorer: Kadeem Olivera, 31pts; Winston “Air Jun” Pratt, 24pts BTL vs. Central Health - 81-75 Top scorers: Jason Vasquez, 25pts; Neil Nicholson, 21pts

Warriors Russel Humes 7 scored pts.

833MAY JUL 12 JUN 19 JUL JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016 2016

Belize Bank leads Firms Basketball Belize City, June 24, 2016 Defending champs Belize Bank Bulldogs posted their 3rd win in 5 outings, clobbering Bowen & Bowen 79-69. The Bulldogs were led by Marcel Orosco with 21pts, while Rupert Brown added 16pts and Roscoe Rhys scored 15pts. The Bulldogs were coming off their 2nd loss, against the BCC Dragons who defeated them 73-78 in overtime on Thursday. Dragons’ Cordell Gonzalez and Andrew Vasquez scored 16pts apiece while Sydney “Bucket” Bradley drained in 2 treys for 14pts; and Akeem Watters jammed home 2 dunks to add 12pts and 12 rebounds. Clayton Ogaldez had 7pts and Benedict Terry – 5pts.

09 11 SPORTS 13

Belize District Football Association’s 1st Division

Lake I Bombers stomp Fort George United 7-0

Belize City, June 26, 2016 In Week 7 of the 1st Division competition at the MCC Garden, the Lake I Bombers stomped Fort George United 7-0. Whitfield Fisher scored a trick with goals in the 22nd and 37th minutes, and he added the 7th goal just before the long whistle. Fort George’s Kyle Humes beat his own keeper with a deflection into the net, and Delroy Flores, Keon Miguel and Floyd Jones scored a goal apiece. The Stars Academy schooled Elite FC: 4-1 with Steven “Bredds” Baizar scoring a hat trick with goals in the 32nd, 51st and 58th minutes while Shemar “Minnie” Thompson scored in the 72nd minute. Sean mas had scored first for Elite FC in the 3rd minute. The Ladyville Jaguars overpowered West Lake 2-1. Kevin Young scored Jaguars’ 1st goal in the 5th minute and Jael Ottley recovered the rebound off a shot from Sean Young that Westlake’s goalie Michael Martinez had stopped to drill the ball into the empty net. Ladyville led 2-0 at the half. West Lake changed goalies, and Leon Jones got a consolation goal in the 2nd half.

Stars Academy win 4-1

Michael Martinez stops Sean Young shot

Congrats Steven Baizar on hat trick

Cayo Football Association’s 1st Division

Universal Hardware & Real Warriors defeat rivals Bulldogs’ Chris McGann box out

Dragons’ Andrew Vasquez scored 16 pts

San Ignacio, June 25, 2016 Universal Hardware, Real Warriors, Duck Run II, Revolution FC and Billy White all posted big wins in the Cayo Football Association’s 1st Division tournament at the Norman Broaster Stadium over the weekend.

Match results: Revolution FC vs. Ramstein FC – 2-1 Goals by Allan Quinonez, Elston Agustin (Rev), Luis Pinto Franco (Ram) Billy White vs. Synergy - 3-0 Goals by Elder Del La Cruz, Alexander Bol Figueroa (2) Real Warriors vs. Hillview FC - 4-2 Goals by David Trapp (Real) (2), Tremain Gentle (Real) (2), Kenroy Pinelo (Hview), Tony Gonzalez (Hview) Universal Hardware vs. Lower Dover - 7- 0 Goals by Danilo Martinez, Cervelio Godoy (2), Irbin Sandoval, Emmerson Orellana (2), Felix Miranda Duck Run II vs. West Road Quintas - 4-2 Goals by Rosny Martinez (DR), Mario Sanchez (DR), Carlos Garcia (RQ), Cyril Simmons (RQ),

Real Warriors 4-2 Hillview FC

Universal hardware 7-0 Lower Dover Marconi Obando (DR), Raul Leonardo (DR) Upcoming Schedule: Duck Run II vs. Olympus, Friday West Road Quintas vs Ramstein FC, Friday

Heartz vs. Olympus, Saturday Real Warriors vs. Peniarol, Saturday Ramstein vs. Hillview FC, Sunday Lower Dover vs. West Road Quintas, Sunday

THE BELIZE TIMES

3 JUL

2016

3 JUL

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

The San Pedro Fire Victims need you!!

START TODAY BY DONATING: • Canned Foods • Baby Formula/Wipes/Diapers • Clothing • Footwear • Blankets Drop off items at: PUP Secretariat #3 Queen Street Belize City Tel: 677-9168

YOUR DONATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

34 16

THE BELIZE TIMES

3 JUL

2016

3 JUL

2016

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS PUP Leader meets supporters during nationwide campaign for PUP Village Councils Alta Vista Village and Valley Community, STANN CREEK

Steadfast Village, STANN CREEK

18 JAN

THE BELIZE TIMES 2015

Arenal Village, CAYO

San Pablo Village, ORANGE WALK

Trial Farm Village, ORANGE WALK Succotz Village, CAYO

Copper Bank Village, COROZAL

Selena Village, CAYO

3 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 26 JUNE 2016 OFFICIAL RESULTS ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 26 JUNE 2016 OFFICIAL RESULTS 26/06/2016

Edibijes Beto Mesh

Member

Uncontested

Fernando Margarito Tun

Member

Uncontested

COROZAL DISTRICT

COROZAL DISTRICT Election Date

Village

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

San Narciso Elvis Emair Correa

Chairperson

603

Humberto Juarez

Chairperson

451

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Election

Polled

Votes

Date

1068

Elected

Village

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Buena Vista

Date

Village

Carlos Cunil Jr.

Chairperson

116

Rosbi E. Divas

Chairperson

Solangel R. Pech

Member

114

Elected

Member

571

Elected

Felipe L. Quetzal

Member

Elected

Mariano Campos

Member

589

Elected

Cinthia Y. Chan

Member

Elected

Rogelio Sebastian Vega

Member

578

Elected

Tomas U. Lino

Member

Elected

Abner Armando Canul

Member

588

Elected

Alfredo Rosalez

Member

106

Elected

Member

101

Elected

Leydi Dayana Patt

Yolanda A. Valencio

Member

595

Elected

Amelio Chable

Member

Maritza R. Ewan

Member

Krizia Y. Cowo

Member

Kinier Tun

Member

26/06/2016

Pablo Concepcion Gonzalez

Member

578

Melisa Itsel Zetina

Member

450

Luis Mark Barlona

Member

443

Luis Chan

Mainor M. Cortez

Member

442

Gaudencio Pott

Member

Xiomara Marlen Patt

Member

442

Adalia Amairamy Cob Maribel Pech

Member

433

Member

434

Position

No. of Votes Received

Elected

Election Date

Village

Remarks

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

213

Tirso Duran

Chairperson

101

Date

Village

26/06/2016

Member

132

Rogel Tzul

Member

136

Edney Cobb

Member

130

Irbin L. Cobb

Member

129

Member

128

Reginaldo Osorio

Member

204

Elected

Hilario R. Teck

Member

141

Elected

Marcial Lino Jr.

Member

212

Elected

Lloyd Flores

Member

143

Elected

Davis Valdez

Member

203

Elected

Samuel Manzanilla

Member

143

Elected

Salvador Alamilla

Member

106

Rene Gorosica

Member

142

Elected

Herodita Sedacey

Member

105

Perfecto Cobb

Member

142

Elected

Wilber Pasos

Member

106

Amir N. Ake

Member

142

Elected

Hilmar Ken

Member

118

Norma Soliz

Member

101

Roque Sedacey

Member

Received

Omar Tun

Chairperson

299

Israel Manzanilla

Chairperson

245

Election Date

Remarks

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

565

Elected

Member

280

Elected

Jacinto Castillo

Member

302

Elected

Jairo Monterroso

Member

303

Elected

Julio Rodriguez

Member

300

Elected

Rafael Tun

Member

305

Elected

Francisco Tun

Member

303

Elected

Clement Barrera

Member

250

Serafin Castillo

Member

243

Elisa Chan

Member

237

Marcos Vasquez Candidates Name Daisy Mireya Velasquez

Village Chan Pine Ridge

242 No. of Votes 240 Received

Remarks

COROZAL DISTRICT

Rojer Escalante Candidates Name Christian Armand Loza

Chairperson Position Chairperson

No. of 38Votes Received 61

26/06/2016

Chairperson Member

Christian Armand Loza Shamir Ricardo Rivero

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

101 Remarks Elected

Chairperson Member

61 42

Jose Agustin Garrido

Member

Maria Alicia Christian JoseRivero Garrido

Member

41 38

Richard Julio Zambito Shamir Ricardo Rivero

Member

36 42

Prudencio Rivero Jr. Jose Agustin Garrido

Member

43 42

Alicia MariaElidya Alicia Torres Rivero

Member

61 41

Elected

Bryan Mauricio Herrera Richard Julio Zambito

Member

58 36

Elected

Darvin Torres Prudencio Rivero Jr.

Member

57 43

Elected

Johnny Geovanni Arana Alicia Elidya Torres

Member

57 61

Elected

Ronnie Rigel Arana Bryan Mauricio Herrera

Member

61 58

Elected

Alexandra Arana Darvin Torres

Member

58 57

Elected

Johnny Geovanni Arana

Member

Elected

Ronnie Rigel Arana

Member

Elected

Alexandra Arana

Member

Elected

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes

Total Votes

Spoilt

Polled

Votes

Candidates Jose Loise Reyes Name

Chunox

Carlos Gabriel Cobb

Position Chairperson

No. of Votes

Rejected 2 Votes

Election Date

Remarks Uncontested

Received Uncontested

Chairperson Member

Uncontested

Rene Ramon Tun

Member

Uncontested

Adinile Mesh Cobb Carlos Gabriel

Member

Uncontested

Edibijes Beto Mesh Marcio Gilbani Gonzalez

Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested

Fernando Margarito Tun Rene Ramon Tun

Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested

COROZAL Member DISTRICT

No. of Votes

Village

Farm

Received

Remarks

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

273

Cornelio Antonio Torres

Chairperson

143

Celio Celsito Cawich

Chairperson

124

Feliciano Torres

Member

145

Elected

German Donicio Tzul

Member

145

Elected

Pedro Josue Torres

Member

147

Elected

Elsie Melissa Lopez

Member

141

Elected

Terence Junior Chan

Member

143

Elected

Jaime Rosendo Carillo

Member

136

Elected

Martha Alejandra Grijalba

Member

115

Rafael Jorge Torres

Member

114

Jake Torres

Member

109

Maria Jesusita Padron

Member

Ricardo Torres

Member

123

Member

117

Elected

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Carlos Antonio Carlos

Chairperson

561

Maria R. Cocom

Chairperson

576

Carlos R. Coyock

Member

518

Sandra E. Delgado

Member

570

Elected

Lizett M. Martinez

Member

572

Elected

Zaim A. Cawich

Member

571

Elected

Tamara Bartley

Member

574

Elected

Alberto R. Larios

Member

568

Elected

Jantley Gercelli Grajalez

Member

586

Elected

Ronald E. Mendoza

Member

567

Ernesto O. Nas

Member

562

Leopoldo F. Coyock

Member

563

Mario E. Barrera

Member

559

Walter A. Sosa

Member

550

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

1222

Elected 6823

26/06/2016

ORANGE WALK DISTRICT

Village

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

August Pine

Polled

Votes

Ridge

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Angelica Castellanos

Chairperson

376

Rafael Ramos

Chairperson

421

Remarks

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

812

Elected 4697

Laurelie Chan

Member

362

Erica Eustaquia Tuz

Member

375

26/06/2016

Continued on page 19

Uncontested

Remarks

No. of Votes

Trial

Date

Member

Jose Loise ReyesGonzalez Marcio Gilbani

ORANGE WALK DISTRICT

596

Received

Position

Elected

Remarks

Candidates Name

Ricky Milton Sosa

COROZAL DISTRICT

Village

101 596

Rojer Escalante Christian Jose Garrido

Votes

1539

COROZAL Member DISTRICT 239

Member Position Member

Rejected

Votes

ORANGE WALK DISTRICT

Elsner Manzanilla

Adinile Mesh Election

Miguel Cobb

Edwin V. Tzul

Date

26/06/2016

136

Elected

Chunox

26/06/2016

Member

203

Date

Election

Elder R. Olivera

Member

No. of Votes

Spoilt

Polled

Elected

Feliciana Sedacey

Election

Village

143

Elected

26/06/2016

COROZAL DISTRICT Election

139

Chairperson

211

Consejo

26/06/2016

Chairperson

Alberto G. Teck

Member

Consejo Election

Ruben Ramiro Cobb

Miguel Lopez

Position

Total Votes

288

Elected

Jesus Vasquez Village

Remarks

189

3262

Election

Received

Member

Paraiso

26/06/2016

No. of Votes

Philip Lamb

Village

1650

Elected

COROZAL DISTRICT Election

Position

Copper Bank

1866

26/06/2016

Candidates Name

328

Chairperson

COROZAL DISTRICT

Progresso Josue Ken

Votes

Elected

Veronica Diamantina Ortega

Candidates Name

Rejected

Votes

1115

COROZAL DISTRICT Election

Spoilt

Polled 209

6162

26/06/2016

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

3 JUL

26/06/2016

Continued from page 18

Date

Norma Gordon

Member

Ryan Stephens

Member

201

Elected

376

Beverly Hyde

Member

200

Elected

Raul Tillett

Member

382

Gerald Flowers

Member

197

Erubiel de la Cruz Ku

Member

407

Elected

Ronaldo Alvarez

Member

198

Cindy Lizeth Ku

Member

405

Elected

Slyvaria Cus

Member

198

Marivel Balam

Member

405

Elected

Helvin Gonzalez

Member

200

Edmir Godwin Soliz

Member

406

Elected

Miguel Angel Briceno

Member

401

Elected

Election

Dariel Isair Torres

Member

399

Elected

Date

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Marconi Leal

Chairperson

278

Damian Garbutt

Chairperson

132

Elected

CAYO DISTRICT

Total Votes

Spoilt

Polled

Votes

423

Village Saint Matthews

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Egbert Anthony Vernon

Chairperson

Votes

Patricia Valdez

Chairperson

Denise Cedeno

Chairperson

114

Elected

Juan Martinez

Member

137

Elected

Gabriel Guzman

Member

149

Elected

Brenda Calderon

Member

150

Elected

Hubert Goff

Member

145

Elected

Rejected

26/06/2016

258

Elected

Lisa Gideon

Member

254

Elected

Gwenneth Flowers

Member

144

Elected

Mervin Mckoy

Member

253

Elected

Hector Arreaza

Member

147

Elected

Darlene Vaccaro

Member

252

Elected

Linda Valdez

Member

110

David McCulloch

Member

241

Elected

Veronica Tillett

Member

112

Marilyn Young

Member

256

Elected

Rudi Ibanez

Member

115

Olivia Baradalez

Member

130

Ruth Flores

Member

109

Ladimar Villa

Member

162

Hector Monterrosa

Member

Blanca Ramos

Member

Andrew Ozaeta

Member

130

Andrew Bethran

Member

122

Election

Murrin Leslie

Member

130

Date

Kristal Drysdale

Member

118

Franks Eddy

Received

Remarks

Terry Gordon

Chairperson

258

Sherlett Martinez

Chairperson

240

Member

Village

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

530

Samuel Lawson

Member

238

Member

237

Ronald Engleton

Member

232

Stannis Thomas

Member

226

Alonzo Pineda

Member

237

Elected

32 26/06/2016

Elected

Beverly Jones

Member

248

Elected

Delsie Martinez

Member

244

Elected

Gilroy Middleton

Member

248

Elected

Dion Gibson

Member

244

Elected

Phillip Diaz

Member

231

Sharlene Sankey

Member

242

Candidates Name

Position

Date Election Date 26/06/2016

Received

Orlando Sanchez

Chairperson

225

Yneido Salas

Chairperson

102

Remarks

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

342

Elected

Village More Tomorrow Village More Tomorrow

26/06/2016

Hilario D. Guerra

Member

206

Elected

David Pat

Member

221

Elected

Lucio Ruiz

Member

222

Elected

Election

Jessica Pleytez

Member

213

Elected

Date

Armando Romero

Member

218

Elected

Alexander Abraham Ramos

Member

213

Elected

Efrain Martinez

Member

104

Alex Ali Naj

Member

108

Sonia Azucely Ruiz

Member

109

Oscar Rene Sanchez

Member

108

Elmer Junior Cunil

Member

103

William Omar Salas

Member

105

Candidates Name

Position

Jorge Mario Ramos

No. of Votes Received

Chairperson

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

Election 26/06/2016 Date

Remarks

Member

Uncontested

Amir Jesus Teck

Member

Uncontested

Noel M. Uck

Member

Uncontested

Luis H. Uk

Member

Uncontested

Oscar J. Carrio

Member

Uncontested

Amilcar A. Uck

Member

Uncontested

Remarks

Cotton Tree Oscar Otero

Chairperson

222

Denzel Baizer

Chairperson

188

Ruben Hernandez

Chairperson

106

Jorge Alvarado

Member

195

Nery Salguero

Member

199

Kimberly Jones

Member

194

Brisieda Chan

Member

200

Rigoberto Veron

Member

173

Raul Zuleta

Member

199

Rosa Blancaneauex

Member

Evelyn Campos

Chairperson

Vilma Segura

Member

Tito Estrada

Member

Reina Corado Jose Guevara Oscar Guerra

Member Member Member

Misael Lopez Jeremiyas Polanco Jose Dominguez Benjamin Franco

Member Member Member Member

41 77 51 72 100

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

144

2 3

Elected

Martin Franco Jose Guevara

Member Member

71 85 72 77

Julie Seguro Misael Lopez

Member Member

28 72

Elected

Eldon Seguro Jose Dominguez

25 71

Elected

Esteban Cho Martin Franco

Member Member Member Member

15 72

Elected

Maria Esther Salvaterria Julie Seguro

Member Member

12 28

Esteban Cho Candidates Name Maria Esther Salvaterria

Village

Elected Elected

Member Position Member

No. of15Votes Received 12

Remarks

Michael Herbert Myvett Candidates Name Jose Ernesto Giron Johnny Cash Sutherland Michael Herbert Myvett

Chairperson Position

No. of Votes Received

Uncontested Remarks

Member

Uncontested

Member Chairperson

Uncontested

Ana Lucila Bautista

Member

Uncontested

Manuel De Jesus Barrera Jose Ernesto Giron

Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested

Alfonso Cash Sutherland Johnny Sutherland

Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested

Tracey Yvonne Myvett Ana Lucila Bautista

Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested

Manuel De Jesus Barrera

Member

Uncontested

Alfonso Sutherland

Member

Uncontested

Tracey Yvonne Myvett

Member

Uncontested

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

CAYO DISTRICT Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

CAYO DISTRICT Hugo Leonel Lima Candidates Name

Chairperson Position

No. of Votes Received

Uncontested Remarks

Member

Uncontested

Member Chairperson Member Member Member Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested

Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested

Mardoqueo A.Moralez Quintanilla Juan Antonio

Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested

Francisco Maldonado

Candidates Name

Selena Village

CAYO DISTRICT 25 Member

Gregorio William A.Lima Lopez

Village

CAYO DISTRICT

San Marcos Village

Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected

26/06/2016

Election

William A. Lopez Hugo Leonel Lima Gregorio Lima Juan Antonio Moralez Mardoqueo A. Quintanilla Francisco Julio CruzMaldonado

Date

Member CAYO DISTRICT

No. of Votes Position Received CAYO DISTRICT No. of Votes

Uncontested

Remarks

Candidates Name Carlos Jose Zuniga

Position Chairperson

Ana Eloisa Carlos JoseMorales Zuniga Flerida Carolina Medrano

Member Chairperson Member

Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested

Fernando Montepeque Ana Eloisa Morales Pablo Jacinto Lopez Flerida Carolina Medrano Marcos Tobar Fernando Montepeque Greidy Zuniga Pablo Jacinto Lopez

Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested

Marcos Tobar

Member

Uncontested

Greidy Zuniga

Member

Uncontested

Received

Remarks Uncontested

Selena 26/06/2016

26/06/2016

CAYO DISTRICT Received

Chairperson

26/06/2016

Date

Uncontested

No. of Votes

Chairperson

Alfredo Reyes

San Marcos Julio Cruz

Julio E. Perez

Position

Rudy Escobar

San Marcos

Election

Candidates Name

Eldon Seguro Election

Elected

No. of Votes

722

26/06/2016

224

Sylvestre Escobar

Votes

296

CAYO DISTRICT

Franks Eddy

No. of Votes

Rejected

Votes

Member

Position

Spoilt

Polled

Arthur Rosales

Candidates Name

Total Votes

1530

Elected

Calla Creek

Village

Member

380

CAYO DISTRICT

Date

Gustavo Caliz

Member

1939

Election

Member

Arenal

26/06/2016

Member

Daidy Avoche

Sergio A. Tillett

CAYO DISTRICT

Date

Rosa Blancaneauex

Elected

Betuel Eliezer Magana

Carolee Swift

Village

199

2873

Election

Member

Village

26/06/2016

Raul Zuleta

Elected

Member

Lord's Bank

Date

173

Member

BELIZE DISTRICT

Village

200

Member

Jessica Barrera

26/06/2016

Election

Member

Rigoberto Veron

Gregorio Smith

Village

26/06/2016

Brisieda Chan

Elected

380

2322

Date

194

Member

Sandhill

Election

199

Member

Melvin Raul Balam

BELIZE DISTRICT Election

Member

Kimberly Jones

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016 26/06/2016

Nery Salguero

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

552

Elected 36 2944

26/06/2016

Daidy Avoche

Member

Gustavo Caliz

Member

Norma Gordon

Member

Jessica Barrera

Member

Gregorio Smith

Member

Elected Elected Elected

Continued on page 20

26/06/2016

Carmelita Sho

Member

Elected

Flora Hernandez

Member

Elected

THE BELIZE TIMES

Continued from page 19

Juan Sanchez

Member

Elected

Selvano Cowo

Member

Elected Elected

Consuela Bol

Member

Eunarda Caliz

Member

Cristino Lopez

Member

Carlos Reyes

Member

Pio Cowo

Member

Gregorio Cho

Member

STANN CREEK DISTRICT Election Date

Village

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Election

Polled

Votes

Date

Jose Chan

Chairperson

Elcedia Awe

Chairperson

Marlon Trujillo

Member

Elected

Sandra Montes

Member

Elected

Ronnie Zetina

Member

Elected

Village Valley Community

129 Elected

12 663

Byron Sanchez

Member

Elected

Jose L. Chan Jr.

Member

Elected

Alburn Roches

Member

Elected

Estevan Salas

Member

Carlos Zetina

Member

Julia Ramirez

Member

Albert Cowo

Member

Orpha Zetina

26/06/2016

Date

Hummingbird Village

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Election Date

Remarks

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

117 Chairperson

Bernardo Paquiul

Chairperson

Village

26/06/2016

Elected 660

26/06/2016

Date Election Date

Member

Enrique Barrera

Member

Jose Turcios Rudy Chen Eugenio Gonzalez Yolanda Orellana Marcus Coc Eugenio Gonzalez Lucio Tut Marcus Coc Adriano Bol Lucio Tut Juan Garcia Adriano Bol Alberto Sanchez Juan Garcia Juan Coc Alberto Sanchez

26/06/2016

Election

Florentino Chen

Juan Coc Village

Candidates Name

Steadfast Village

Candidates Name

Steadfast

26/06/2016 26/06/2016

Javier Ramirez

Member 45 Member 47 Member 46 Member 64 Member 47 Member 64 Member 64 Member 63 Member 64 Member 64 Member 63 Member 64 Member 64 Member 64 Member 64 STANN CREEK DISTRICT Member 64 No. of Votes Position CREEK DISTRICT STANN Received No. of Votes Position Received Chairperson 67

Election 5

Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Remarks Remarks Elected

Careena Robinson Javier Ramirez

Chairperson Chairperson

53 67

Elected

Careena Robinson Rigoberto Requena

Chairperson Member

53 64

Elected

Leonardo Ack Rigoberto Requena Isidora Larios Leonardo Ack Francisco Cho Isidora Larios Yolanda Requena Francisco Cho Jeffery Sosa Yolanda Requena Veronica Cacho Jeffery Sosa Danielle Pineda Veronica Cacho Rushawn Mayen Danielle Pineda Colin Faux Rushawn Mayen Sharie Pineda Colin Faux Obaldo Requena Sharie Pineda

Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member

73 64 65 73 62 65 66 62 81 66 52 81 42 52 57 42 49 57 40 49 49 40

Obaldo Requena

Member

Date Election Date

Village

Candidates Name

Mullins River Village

Candidates Name

Mullins River

26/06/2016

Edward Flowers Lismour L. Flowers Sr. Edward Flowers

No. of Votes Position STANN CREEK DISTRICT Received No. of Votes Position Received Chairperson 26

Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected

Date

Village

Received

Remarks

Chairperson

Uncontested

Floridalma Gutierrez

Member

Uncontested

Mark Jacobs

Member

Uncontested

Hugo Rene Torres

Member

Uncontested

Wilberto Andres Daniels

Member

Uncontested

Minta Ritchie

Member

Uncontested

Tania Iris Banner

Member

Uncontested

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Jose Rash

Chairperson

Jose Coc

Chairperson

Alejandro Sho

Member

Uncontested

Ricardo Pec

Member

Uncontested

Edgar Cuc

Member

Uncontested

Nicolas Sho

Member

Uncontested

Genaro Sho

Member

Uncontested

Balbino Sho

Member

Uncontested

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Paula Williams

26/06/2016

Chairperson

Uncontested

Melice Elaine Jacobs

Member

Uncontested

David Santilli

Member

Uncontested

Consuela Lira

Member

Uncontested

Suzette jacobs

Member

Uncontested

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Ray Jacobs

Member

Uncontested

Polled Total Votes 121 Polled

Votes Spoilt

Votes Rejected

Adrian Noralez

Member

Uncontested

Votes

121

700

Date

700

Village

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Bella Vista Marcelino Rodriguez

Chairperson

124

Jose Flores

Chairperson

147

Juan Carlos Martinez

Chairperson

494

Oneida Hernandez

Chairperson

361

Miguel Vasquez

Member

115

Julio Caceres Jr.

Member

126

Carlos Ferrera

Member

131

Apolinario Che

Member

132

Titus Caal

Member

123

Michael Teul

Member

126

Eunicer Ramirez

Member

141

Jose Requena

Member

Remarks Remarks Elected

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled Total Votes 47 Polled

Votes Spoilt

Votes Rejected

Votes

245

26/06/2016

124

Glenn Turcios

Member

121

Marlon Valle

Member

134

Lorenzo Logan

Member

131

German Caceres

Member

124

Jonathan Rodriguez

Member

474

Elected

Philip Guy Sr.

Member

457

Elected

Juan Chirinos

Member

470

Elected

Sandra Flowers

Member

Elected

Sergio Dorado

Member

489

Elected

Barbara Y. Bernard

Member

Elected

Edwin Gomez

Member

468

Elected

Breni E. Rufino

Member

Elected

Zulma Ortega

Member

469

Elected

Brian G. Pandy

Member

Elected

Gloria Gonzales

Member

317

Elected

Juan Mendoza

Member

318

Alex Arias

Member

322

Ernest O. Flowers

Member

Harold L. Flowers

Member

James G. Moreira

Member

Yosselin Franco

Member

324

Ginelli S. McField

Member

Juliana Garcia

Member

319

Bibiana E. Bol

Member

Camelio Mas

Member

314

Christal A. Flowers

Member

Remarks

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

100 Chrispino Sho

Chairperson

Member

Elected 539

Roberto Paquiul Filomena Cho

Member

Elected

Carmelita Sho

Member

Elected

Flora Hernandez

Member

Elected

Juan Sanchez

Member

Elected

Selvano Cowo

Member

Elected

Consuela Bol

Member

Elected

Eunarda Caliz

Member

Cristino Lopez

Member

Carlos Reyes

Member

Pio Cowo

Member

Gregorio Cho

STANN CREEK DISTRICT

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

Total Votes

Spoilt

Rejected

Polled

Votes

1179

53 6318

Hector De La Cruz

Total Votes

Elected

Member

Received

Votes

TOLEDO DISTRICT Election

Keith F. Flowers

No. of Votes

Rejected

Votes

Punta Negra

Elected

Position

Spoilt

Polled

Elected

14 26

Candidates Name

Total Votes

Elected

Middlesex

26/06/2016

Village

STANN CREEK DISTRICT Date

No. of Votes

Chairperson Chairperson

Brandon L. Flowers Election

Ramon Mendez

Position

TOLEDO DISTRICT

STANN CREEK DISTRICT Election

Candidates Name

Bladen

Hummingbird Baudilio Arevalo

TOLEDO DISTRICT

STANN CREEK DISTRICT Election

2016

STANN CREEK DISTRICT

Alta Vista

26/06/2016

3 JUL

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

Theus Strikers win Father’s Day Volleyball in Port!

Sun. 19/6/16 In Gilroy Usher, Sr. volleyball tournament in Port Loyola for Father’s Day Theus’ Strikers took 1st place while Laru’s Bombers came in 2nd. 3rd place was captured by Tench Rangers. A total of six teams participated in the event. Regular volleyball matches organised by Gilroy Usher, Sr. resume at the Jane Usher Basketball Court on Saturday June 25, 2016, and Saturday July 2, 2016 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Political Piracy Exacerbates Public Debt Continued from page 5 ing of the public service. Intelligent debt is purposeful debt which finances forward-looking investment. The prime example is the first issuance of public debt in 1863 which financed the building of the railway in the South. Aside from public infrastructure areas that are considered as intelligent debt is the investment in transport, health care, education and the national security of the country. Curiously, in the Rt. Honorable Dean Barrow’s second term in office he called for fiscal discipline and expenditure restraint. Alarmingly, he made cuts in healthcare, education and national security, the very areas that lead to growth and development. Quite possibly this was to allow the allocation of more monies to areas of wasteful spending. “Roll it, Roll It” became the trumpet call as the UDP wallowed in the $325 million in PetroCaribe Loan Funds. This Poco Time government satisfied their insatiable appetite, with the wanton pillaging of the poor people’s money. We should be mindful that the PetroCaribe Loan monies were earmarked specifically to alleviate the conditions of the poorer class of Belizean society. Importantly, it is those policies and practices that help narrow the financial divide between the haves and the haves-not that are not only ethically desirable but makes sound economic sense. Helping the poor can translate into the necessary human capital needed to grow the economy. This disregarded sector of society could become the linchpin in paying off the national debt. The UDP’s failure to apply prudent

management of the country’s finances have plunged the country in the direct path of an economic firestorm. Belize’s public debt has ballooned to a catastrophic level. However, instead of admitting to the economic crisis created under Dean Barrow’s leadership the political piracy continues with the attempt to squeeze their self-saving booty out of Social Security Board, which safeguards the hardworking sweat and tears of the poor people of Belize. Heartless, worthless good fu nothing UDP. Mr. Barrow, there are eight textbook options that are available when an economic spiral begins: (1) higher taxes, (2) less spending, (3) more growth, (4) more lenient interest rates, (5) worst inflation, (6) war, (7) external aid, or, (8) default. There is evidence that all eight have been used in the past, but only one of them is “both plausible and desirable today: growth. A growing economy permits the absorption of debt and restores sustainable public finances”. However, prior to any implementation of the above the noble act of admitting to the errors committed should be engaged. The admittance to this manmade economic crisis would be the first step toward finding a meaningful solution. Thereafter, is the recognition of the role as Belize’s only three-time Prime Minister “where a few swim in riches and the majority drowns in poverty, pollution and violence.” The conscience then becomes clear and the ability to chart “a course toward compassion, democracy and social justice for all” becomes a reality. The time to save Belize is now! Say No to the ICJ!

15 yr. old remanded for brazen shooting downtown

Continued from page 11 in respect of the four persons who suffered gunshot injuries during the shooting. He was also charged with four counts of use of deadly means of harm and two counts of dangerous harm and two counts of harm, all together a total of 12 offences, all of which will be heard on indictment. Elroy Saldano, 46, suffered a gunshot wound to the left chest area and had to be hospitalized. Saldano reportedly was walking out of the police station along with Brandon Tillett who was the target the gunman was waiting patiently on. The young gunman waited so patiently that he ended up making a purchase of tacos from a vendor at the corner of Queen Street

and New Road, before he took out his .9mm Glock pistol and began firing at his target. Apart for Corporal Arnold and Saldano who were shot in their chests, two women also received minor gunshot injuries and were treated and released at the KHMH. They are Kean Smith, who was shot in the elbow and Graciela Castillo who was shot on the calf. The teenager was also charged for possession of unlicensed firearm and unlicensed ammunition The minor was remanded to the Wagner Youth Facility, located on the compound of the Belize Central Prison. He will be brought back to court on August 23.

3 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

History Untold By Hector Silva, Former PUP Minister One of the many stories not yet told about the movement of Independence. Why? Because those around us today were not there then. I was fortunate to be there actively, in the inner circles of the PUP. If there are any questions, refer them to me. From the inception of the PUP, the Colonial Office made many attempts to destroy the PUP, by attacking the true maximum Leader. In 1952, they intimidated the first leader Mr. John Smith who even-

tually resigned, the same year. In 1956, they lured the second leader, Mr.Leigh Richardson and the Assistant Secretary, Mr Phillip Goldson, who were expelled at a PUP convention, held at the Riverside Hall in 1956. Then followed other minor defections. In view that the PUP was unstoppable, winning all elections by wide margins, the Colonial Office saw the opportunity to give the PUP final blow, by destroying George C. Price. In 1957, the Colonial Office invited a Belizean Delegation to come to London for Economic Discussions. Attending the talks were: George Price, Albert Cattouse, Denbigh Jefferies, Henry Bowman, the Colonial Financial Secretary and of Course the Colonial Governor Colin Thornley. They travelled on Board the Luxury Ship HMS Queen Mary, which took five days to cross the Atlantic. BOUT NUMBER ONE. On their arrival in London (which was publicly known ), the Guatemalan Ambassador, Don Jorge Garcia Granados, who knew George Price from the time when Mr. Turton and he, as his secretary, visited Guatemala to negotiate for Chicle contracts in Peten, invited the Belize delegation for a luncheon at their Hotel in London. All agreed to attend. At the luncheon, Ambassador Granados told the delegation of a secret proposal that Guatemala had made to the British, in regards to the future of British Honduras. The Proposals included such items. (1) Guatemala to be in charge of Belize’s defence. (2) Guatemala to share a common currency with Belize. (3) Guatemala to guarantee Finances for its Belize’s economic development. (4) Guatemala to enjoy free passage through Belize The Colonial Office had not informed Belize of these secret negotiations with Guatemala. Upon hearing of the meeting with the Guatemalan Ambassador and upon being told of the contents of their discussions, by two Belize “whistle blowers”, the Colonial office, in a rage that they were caught in SECRET negotiations with Guatemala, abruptly cancelled the London Talks and sent the Belize delegation back home to British Honduras on board the same Queen Mary Ship. But Nadia Cattouse, Mr. Cattouse daughter, who worked with Dutch Shell Co. in London, bought two airplane tickets for them on the same plane as the Governor. The plot was to destroy Mr. Price and the PUP. The idea was, that the Colonial Governor was going to blast Mr. Price on their controlled radio station (the only one in those days) with the words “selling Belize lock stock and barrel”. Well, Mr Price and Mr. Cattouse arrived at the same time as the Colonial Governor, - but to the cheers of hundreds of us who went to meet them at the airport and paraded with them on all the streets of Belize City. And that night we had a massive public meeting attended by thousands of welcoming supporters and friends. Keep this in your possession, for you will not get this from anyone else, my participant colleagues are all with St. Peter. I have all this documented for posterity.

2016 InformFuture Ltd. #79,988 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that InformFuture Ltd.:

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 27th day of June, 2016; and c) Mrs. Charlotte Dorothy van Heerden whose address is Meadow Star Place, Ou Wapad, Melody Ext. 22, Hartbeespoort, 0216, South Africa is the Liquidator of the Company.

PMC Group (Belize) Ltd. Registered Agent Verala Management Ltd. #55,151 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Verala Management Ltd.:

PMC Group (Belize) Ltd. Registered Agent

LEKERT LTD. #30,348 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that LEKERT LTD.:

PMC Group (Belize) Ltd. Registered Agent GARTEX INVEST LIMITED #147,547 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that GARTEX INVEST LIMITED:

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 27th day of June, 2016; and c) CILTrust International Inc. whose address is 35 Barrack Road, Third Floor, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator of the Company.

PMC Group (Belize) Ltd. Registered Agent

3 JUL

2016

See them fighting for power… but they know not the hour!

By the Nationalist By now everybody knows that the country is in a mess and we’re going downhill. Trust me even the UDPs know even if they won’t admit it. Only the very select in the UDP have gotten so rich off politics that the price of fuel and basic necessities don’t matter to them. The rest of them are just like me and you – they feel the pinch and they know it’s going to get a lot worse. While the country is going to hell because of the mismanagement of this Barrow administration, the UDP has also started the long process of falling to pieces. The truth is that when Mr. Barrow announced that he would have to step down at the end of this term that was the beginning of the end. Look at what happened leading up to the UDP Convention between Patrick Faber and John Saldivar. The fight got so nasty and personal that the UDP won’t

THE BELIZE TIMES

recover from it for a long, long time. Big grown Ministers in Cabinet still aren’t speaking to each other. John won’t do anything to support or help Patrick because the message the UDPs sent to him at Convention still hasn’t sunk in. I hear even his own Mayor in Belmopan never voted for him. And Patrick knows that John is just waiting for the opportunity to sink him so he certainly won’t do anything to help John. Patrick also knows that the majority of Ministers in Cabinet supported John even if their people didn’t, so he won’t do anything to make them stronger. And now there are new players on the scene. I’m talking about Gaspar Vega, who’s actually a new old player. Vega got into a sulk because the Prime Minister took the Ministry of Lands away from him. He thought he was so important that Barrow would fold and give him back that powerful portfolio. That didn’t happen. But suddenly now Vega is out in the cold. Nobody in the UDP looks up to him because

he has nothing to offer. He can’t get them and their families and friends deals on prime pieces of land sold for little or nothing. He can’t approve land leases and titles just so they can get votes when elections come around. He’s a virtual nobody in the UDP. So now players in Orange Walk who are close to him have already begun to spread word that Vega is coming back. He’s not going back for Deputy Leader. He’s been there and done that. His people say that in a couple years when Dean Barrow steps down Vega will mount a challenge to become leader of the United Democratic Party. He feels that he can do it because he already beat Patrick once before. Plus he has millions and millions at his disposal, since his family reaped tremendous benefit when he was Minister of Natural Resources and Deputy Prime Minister. There’s only one obstacle in the way – a relative newcomer who thinks that he will be the new powerhouse in Orange Walk. Elodio Ara-

gon Jr. has fooled himself into thinking that he will be the next Minister of Lands and will use that position to take control of the UDP in the north. His own people have started sending out that message – a little difficult since Aragon is nothing but a junior minister with a very limited portfolio. But his people say that Patrick has already put in a request for Godwin to be ousted. This thing is going to get nastier and nastier. And it’s funny. Even as they fight each other for power, the people are preparing a “chendazo” for them. For the UDP, the hour of reckoning is approaching.

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3 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

MY PERSPECTIVE By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

THREE STRIKES – YOU’RE OUT!! In baseball and softball, this is the main rule: three strikes and you’re out!! I believe that this third Dean Barrow administration has struck out, and is therefore not fit to continue governing Belize. In a tongue in cheek way, I say that I do not agree with Dickie Bradley on most things, but on the matter of the terrible failure of the Barrow administration on the paramount issue of Guatemala I am in fully ad idem with him. What horrendous missteps and total incompetence on their part. In this column, as in “Woman in the House” before it, I have expended too many words on Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington. I really hate to waste even more. The problem is that Sedi has a boss, and his boss’s name is Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow. It is Barrow’s abject failure and complete letting down of the Belizean people that must be our focus. So, the first strike against Barrow and his minions is their abominable failure on the issue of the Chiquibul, the Sarstoon and our relations with our unfriendly neighbor Guatemala. When will they call a spade - a spade? Effectively we have lost control over our portion of our southernmost river and boundary between the two nations. And it did not happen just overnight. It is repeated diplomatic faux pas, otherwise called blunders. Yes, I agree with Dickie that there should as a matter of urgency be the proposal of a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly. Belizeans are tired of the lies, the mistakes, the cover-ups and the utter lack of basic competence in dealing with our wily and manipulative, not to mention aggressive and belligerent neighbor. I asked months ago in this very column – how are we going to extricate ourselves from this pickle we find ourselves in due to UDP ineptitude? The second strike against the Barrow administration is their failure where the Belizean economy is concerned. Party Leader Hon. Johnny Briceno has characterized it succinctly and very well. They are acting like crack addicts, trying by all means to get their hands on some cash. Of course we all know where all the cash went.

They have indeed mismanaged the economy, and things are dread and getting “dreader.” I do not have to go into great detail as everybody can feel it. “Haada Times Deh Yah” stated our Belize Times headline two weeks ago! This is another pickle that we are in, with Barrow making it abundantly clear that he is not equal to the challenges at hand. This severe headache for all Belizeans is Barrow administration inflicted. And the very hurtful part is that UDP ministers and cronies continue to ride around in their air conditioned SUVs, leaving the engines running. The other day I entered the Scotiabank on the Philip Goldson highway. On exiting, I noticed a huge white Ford pickup. The engine was running, but no one was inside. Then I realized that I had caught a glimpse of Boots Martinez inside the bank. Indeed, Belizeans, this is where our hard earned dollars are going, with no end in sight in this recession and impending further gloom. Strike three would have to be the Barrow administration failure concerning the social fabric of our country. Crime is out of control. Look at the incredible shootout on Queen Street, where my office is located, two Fridays ago. Criminal youngsters have no respect for life and limb of anyone. Next, we are seeing the frightening state-within-a-state actions of the Special Branch against the extended Ahmad family of Hattieville. Talk about elements in our society being entirely out of control! This is happening on Barrow’s watch; he has to bear responsibility. And of course we cannot forget the failures in our education system, the incompetence of the minister of Health, continuing corruption in various departments, and serious difficulties in the justice system. I could go on, and who feels it knows it. Strike one – total failure on the existential and paramount issue of the Guatemala claim; strike two – a big fat zero on Belize’s economy; and strike three – the crumbling social fabric of our nation while Barrow and his ministers fiddle and conduct themselves like drug addicts. Three strikes and you’re OUT, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow. It is time for you to go!!!

2016 BY ORDER OF CHARGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL

HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of a Charge registered at the Land Registry between LUIS MENDEZ of the one part and HRCU of the other part. HRCU will at the expiration of three months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the Schedule below. ALL offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing to Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited from whom full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained.

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 448.47 square yards being Parcel 94, Block 45 in the King’s Park Registration Section situate at No. 5636 Lizarraga Avenue, Belize City, Belize District, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of LUIS MENDEZ DATED this 28th day of June 2016 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Companies listed below have been dissolved and duly struck off the IBC Register as follows: NAME OF COMPANY ORVIL BUSINESS LIMITED ACUSERV GROUP INC. FLUORESCENT HOLDINGS LTD. BLACKSTONE PARTICIPATION S.A. SIE Medical Ltd. ROSETA INVEST & TRADE LTD. FULVIEW GROUP INC. COROZAL SHIPPING & TRADING COMPANY LIMITED GREENHOUSE LTD. MC LEAN DEVELOPMENT S.A. BURONGA BUSINESS LTD. SUTTON FINANCE LTD. DIONDIS UNITED S.A. NELA FINANCIAL LTD. HOMILTON SECURITIES LTD. PROFITVIEW ADVISORS S.A. GERLATS MANAGEMENT INC. LAVINGER SECURITIES LTD. BIRLAR SECURITIES LTD. DRAKE TRADING CORP. JAZTOWER CORPORATION GOZZILLA CORP. ROMILEY TRADING CORP. MARFIL CORPORATION DINSEL TRADING LTD. Sys LTD. SEPTENT GROUP INC. CARESS INDUSTRIES S.A. HAPFIELD OVERSEAS TRADING LIMITED

Date of Dissolution 3-May-16 4-May-16 4-May-16 4-May-16 4-May-16 5-May-16 7-May-16 7-May-16 7-May-16 10-May-16 10-May-16 12-May-16 14-May-16 18-May-16 20-May-16 20-May-16 20-May-16 20-May-16 20-May-16 25-May-16 25-May-16 25-May-16 25-May-16 25-May-16 28-May-16 28-May-16 28-May-16 28-May-16 28-May-16

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Ltd.

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2016

Lessons from Brexit By G. Michael Reid “We have our own dream and our own task. We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked but not combined. We are interested and associated but not absorbed. If Britain must choose between Europe and the open sea, she must always choose the open sea.” ~ Winston Churchill “It is not the European Union that is the problem here, it is the Conservative Government. Do we allow xenophobes to take over or do we instead occupy that political and intellectual territory of the idea that you can solve things together? You’d better build those alliances working with people rather than isolating yourselves from them.”~ Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn Depending on who you speak to, last Thursday’s referendum in the United Kingdom (UK) was either the best thing since slice bread or the worse thing since the American Revolution; for the British that is! Fulfilling a manifesto promise made in 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron last week launched a referendum that most people outside of the UK and many within felt could go only one way. It didn’t, and the results sent shock waves reverberating in financial markets around the globe. By Friday morning, stock markets around the world were plunging sharply and the British pound had fallen to its lowest level in history. Despite the initial shock however, many experts are predicting that the UK will rebound, recover and hold its own. It will be left to be seen. The referendum that has been described as a “seismic event” saw more than 30 million people casting votes. 72 percent of the UK’s 45 million registered voters turned up at the polls, surpassing the last general elections’ turnout of 66 percent. There was apparently high interest.

THE BELIZE TIMES

Interestingly enough, despite rabid campaigning and intense fervour in the UK, Belizeans were paying very little attention to Brexit and most were unaware that this was happening. Our local news stations carried absolutely nothing about the event and it went under the radar of even the Saturday morning market gossip. The thing is that while there was a time when we got regular BBC reports, recently, our view of the world comes through the lens of CNN or Fox news. We are fully abreast of every move that Donald Trump makes but “news of the world” is no longer a part of our daily intake. That I believe is unfortunate.

us hope that the “leave” victory is not a harbinger of things to come in the US where Trump is campaigning on some of the very issues involved here. The most interesting thing about the UK referendum, apart from the large number of voters who expressed regret after learning the results, was the large degree of ignorance to what the EU actually was or what it was about. A report from Google revealed that following the fact, many British were searching to find out what the European Union was. An opinion poll conducted in the wake of the decision found that over a million voters dubbed “Bregretters” actually wished that they had voted the other way. One voter actually tweeted on social media that, “Urm, I think I kind of regret my vote. I had no real reason to pick what I did!” A subsequent petition calling for a second referendum was circulated and garnered over 3 million signatures. Of course, it is difficult to determine how many of those had actually voted “remain” to

in recent years. The UK referendum “divided generations, pitted nations of the UK against each other and split social classes”. Older people, traditional English and rich and middle class tended to vote “remain” while the young, urban dwellers and the under-educated were more inclined to “leave”. Many young people in the UK are lamenting that their future has been decided upon by the older generation who will likely not be around to suffer the consequences. Analysts are pointing out however, that the young have only themselves to blame. Exit polls reveal that only 36 percent of voters between the ages of 18 and 24 years turned out to vote in last week’s referendum while 78 percent of those over 65 did. For an issue that was so important to the future, this is intriguing if not deplorable. This of course, brings up to the relevance of UK’s recent referendum to Belize. It would seem that very likely; we will soon be heading to the polls for a referendum of our own. Dean Barrow and Sedi Elrington can jump high or jump low, but no decision in the ICJ can be made without first getting approval from the people. The time to educate ourselves on this issue is not after the votes are tabulated but now. We obviously cannot depend on those in authority to educate us so we will have to do our own research and factfindings. It will also be important for people to come out and vote, in particular the young who like in the UK, will be most affected by whatever decision is made. We cannot vote, like many in the UK did, basing our decision on lies, emotions or phobias. We must educate ourselves, read, and ask questions in order to make a determination based on sound logic and information. Wake up Belize and let us learn from the experiences of other. May GOD bless Belize!

Dean Barrow and Sedi Elrington can jump high or jump low, but no decision in the ICJ can be made without first getting approval from the people. The time to educate ourselves on this issue is not after the votes are tabulated but now. The referendum, dubbed Brexit (a portmanteau combining Britain with exit) was held to determine whether or not the United Kingdom should remain a part of the European Union (EU). The UK had joined the EU back in 1973 but from very early in the arrangement, there had been dissenters and opponents to the idea. Just two years after joining what was back then known as the European Economic Community (EEC) or simply the “Common Market”the UK held its first ever referendum as the result of a similar campaign promise. As did Cameron, the Labour Party had promised their electorate that should they win the election, they would let them decide “through the ballot box” whether to remain with the EEC or not. At that time, the “Remains” outvoted the “Leaves” by a considerable margin with 67% voting to remain a part of the union. While we in Belize might not have been paying keen attention, the leaders in the US were. In a visit to the UK as a part of the Queens 90th birthday celebration, President Obama basically threatened that if the UK voted to leave the EU that it would push them to the “back of the queue”where trade with the US was concerned. Trump on the other hand, in an interview with Piers Morgan in May remarked that if he was British, he would “vote to leave the EU” and defined the union as “very bureaucratic and very difficult”. Let

begin with and how likely it would be to achieve such a redux. Another interesting statistic coming out of the referendum is the breakdown of who actually voted and why. The key issues seemed to be immigration, the economy and the high cost of membership in the EU. High on the list were concerns of the high number of immigrants entering the UK from other European countries; considered by some nationalism and by others, xenophobia. EU citizens can freely travel between member states and immigration to the UK has risen dramatically

THE BELIZE TIMES

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2016

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

THE WONDERER AND GUATE”MALA” – THE PROBLEM – PART 1 Guate”mala”, our neighbour west and south is a large, far more populated country than we are. Their population today is about 16.7 million compared to our 350 thousand, or about 48 times larger than ours. Their surface area is 108,889 Km2, ours is 22,966 km2 or they have 4.7 times our area. Their average is 153 persons per square kilometer. Ours is around 15.2 persons per square kilometer. They are 4.7 times larger than us but have a density 10 times larger. Now having the statistics do you wonder if this is part of our problem? They are overcrowded, don’t have land for expanding so they are now looking across our border. The OAS and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are permitting these people to farm on the socalled “adjacency zone” and also anywhere they want. These people have systematically crossed our borders and even across the mountain divide. Guate”mala” is a very poor country with some 40% indigenous people that are very poor. The wealthy and the military own most of the nation’s fertile soils. The poor, if they own anything, it is mostly barren soils. Look at the satellite images and you will notice that their entire forest is all gone near our border to the west and south. They have no where to go, the poor people are marginalized and now moving to Belize. OAS and UDP no care! According to Friends of Conservation and Development (FCD) there has seen an upsurge of illegal clearings inside the Chiquibul Forest, and that they have observed 17 new clearings and several thatch-roof dwellings illegally erected inside Belize. The NGO is now calling for “the activation of patrols and operations to suppress the advance of the milperos. They are wandering into our country and the OAS is doing “NADA”. UDP is doing “NADA” FCD report also claims that up to October 2015, some 39 square kilometers have been deforested. This does not include all the cutlines, all over the place for access to our nation. FCD notes that “Deforestation, as a consequence of agricultural encroachments in the Caracol Archaeological Reserve and Chiquibul National Park, remains one of the main threats to the ecological and cultural integrity of the forest”. Belizean authorities established the Ceibo Chico Conservation Post in 2012

to halt illegal activities in the area, Manzanero said. The number of Guatemalans illegally panning for gold was estimated at about 200 in 2011-2012, he added. The fact that they continue to come to Belize, means that they are coming for something: “They are actually getting gold, no doubt about it!” Manzanero said. I passed wondering and decided to do some wandering around our border and into our forests. I asked questions and finally came up with the list of damages being done to our NATION OF BELIZE. Not UDP nation and certainly not for Guate”mala”. Problems

detected: 1. Illegal timber activities up to 30 miles inside Belizean territory, across the mountain

divide. 2. Illegal Xate extraction up to across the mountain divide. 3. Poaching and Illegal

extraction of Scarlet Macaw chicks and eggs. 4. Illegal extraction of other wildlife. 5. Illegal hunting. 6. Illegal gold panning and use of mercury during this process, probably affecting our water source. 7. Looting of archaeological sites and cave systems. 8. Illegal debushing for illegal slash and burn farming activities. 9. Construction/clearing of hundreds of miles of picados or walklines in the reserves. 10. Frequent incursions by armed Guatemalan civilians and military. 11. Contamination from garbage which includes plastic, cans and even fecal contaminants is severe. 12. All the above causing major disturbance and environmental and chemical impacts within the reserves and their watersheds. All the above is causing major border conflicts which the Guatemalan government turn their backs to. Our own government seem to really believe that the border is really artificial and non existent. Peace and Harmony seem to be deteriorating between the Belize and Guatemalan populations and both governments seem to be in harmony in doing nothing. Next week in part 2 “the border solution”, I will give my perspective as to how to solve our western border problem. Have belizeans ever wondered what the OAS is doing? What really is their function? They seem to be “Cozy” with the Guatemalans. They want to investigate everything “socalled bad” that Belize does, but never wants to investigate or talk about the badness Guate”mala” is doing to us. Did you see on TV when the OAS bigman hug the Guatemalan Foreign Minister? Like you hugging you breda and telling him “don’t’ worry a deh pan u side”. Did you see how the man hug fu we one “cold and short hug”, no grinning, no laughing? Like he telling our Foreign minister “stop fussing, Belize da fu Guatemala”. I wonder when will Belizeans smell the coffee and fight for our rights? I wonder when the Belmopan big man will have big ba..s and say enough is enough and fire “Crazy Glue”, sorry I mean “Stupid Glue”, and perhaps tell these wealthy and military chapines to back off. Send comments to the thewondererbz@gmail.com

THE BELIZE TIMES

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2016

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2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

EDITORIAL en Espanol Más de la Mitad de 1 Billón de dólares a una sola persona

Cortesía de Dean Barrow y el UDP Vergonzosamente Incompetente Finalmente se dio a conocer el dictamen arbitral. Esta es la decisión que determina cuánto el gobierno tiene que pagar al grupo de empresas y fideicomisos de Ashcroft. Esta es la pieza final y la más crítica de la liquidación entre Dean Barrow y este gobierno UDP y el señor Michael Ashcroft. Con todo dicho y hecho, ahora sabemos que Dean Barrow le habría firmado un cheque en blanco a Ashcroft para la adquisición de BTL. Este cheque en virtud del dictamen arbitral y el acuerdo resulto ser de 453 millones de dólares y seguimos contando. Cuando le añadimos los 97 millones de dólares que este gobierno UDP y Dean Barrow también le pagaron a Ashcroft en septiembre del año pasado para resolver el caso BCB, terminamos con que Dean Barrow ha firmado y nos ha comprometido a cada uno de nosotros a pagarle a una sola persona – al señor Ashcroft – la angustiosa y sin precedente suma de 550 millones de dólares – más de la mitad de 1 billón de dólares - para una empresa que no vale ni la quinta parte de esa suma. No hay nada, en la historia de este país, que se compara con esto. Ahora sabemos por qué tan apresuradamente llamó las elecciones el año pasado – para ocultarle a la gente está despreciable verdad antes de las elecciones. En lugar de enfrentar al pueblo con la verdad y sufrir las consecuencias, Dean Barrow y el incompetente UDP, estaban tan obsesionados con y desesperados por mantenerse en el

poder, que premeditadamente disfrazaron el monumental desastre que el Primer Ministro personalmente dirigió, engañando a la gente a pensar que con la pequeña suma de $ 160 millones de dólares, Ashcroft estaba de acuerdo. Profeso una victoria para Dean Barrow y el UDP y que sería igualmente una victoria para el pueblo de Belice. Ahora sabemos que no se trataba de ninguna victoria para el pueblo de Belice. Esto fue una masacre – un asalto de medio billón de dólares a la economía y al pueblo de Belice. Dean Barrow firmo un cheque que ahora el pueblo de Belice tenemos que cobrar – más de $1.500,00 de cada hombre, mujer y niño para pagarle a una sola persona – el señor Ashcroft – cortesía de Dean Barrow. Ya se especula libremente por todos lados que todo esto fue planeado entre Dean Barrow y el Señor Ashcroft – un siniestro plan para maximizar el saqueo para el Señor Ashcroft a coacciones de su fiel sirviente y abogado, Dean Barrow. ¿Hay mucha especulación sobre qué parte de los despojos le tocara a Dean Barrow? Nosotros sin embargo preferimos no creer que nuestro Primer Ministro es un vil impostor, un fraude al pueblo Beliceño. Preferimos creer que se trata de vil arrogancia e incompetencia por parte del Primer Ministro y el UDP. Sea cual sea es, sin embargo, lo que es – nos ha costado a todos más de la mitad de 1 billón de dólares, dinero que no tenemos y que no podemos pagar.

THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT CHILD MURDERER A child, 15 years of age, waited in front of the Queen Street Police Station two Fridays ago. It was the usual busy Friday morning after 8:00 a.m. Police say the child was well dressed and stood on the side-walk directly in front of the entrance to the station. A well-known gang leader from the Prime Minister’s George Street Constituency of Queen Square had gone to the Police Station to sign-in as part of his bail condition. When the gang-leader emerged, the young man pulled a gun and started shooting. Corporal Arnold, who was in the vicinity, pulled his Police weapon and tried to stop the young shooter. The Corporal was shot in the chest and belly. The young shooter was captured. This is the most brazen act of criminality in Belize. It tops the assassination of Andre Trapp just outside the Magistrate’s Court, when he was gunned down in cold-blood a few years ago as he was leaving the court. Since that brazen murder there has been no change in the security arrangements at the Courts. Anyone, defendants, witnesses, lawyers, magistrates, judges, court staff can be easily killed around the courts, in the parking lot, inside the courts. There is no security protection by the government. Everyone is at the mercy of murderers. But it is the age of last Friday’s would be murderer that should shock the conscience of this country. It seems we have become so numb with all the killings and government incompetence and wrong doing that we have given up on ourselves. The shocking incident of a 15 year old child being a hitman, actually a hitboy, has been met with stony, cynical silence by the Ministers of Government. The Minister of Security, the Minister of Human Development and the Minister of Education have not bothered to open their hypocritical mouths. For the Ministers, it’s just another day in the dysfunctional life of the country for which they have contributed so much to its ruination. They and their Prime Minister who are the real murderers of our dreams, hopes and future. At 15 years old, that child should have been in school. He deserves an education. He has a right to a better future than a wasted life of a crime. 15 years and marked for death. Do the Ministers care about all the other 15 year old children whose future in Belize is bleak and hopeless? The answer is obvious. With all the millions of dollars squandered to bribe voters the country is now flat broke. Petrol is almost ten dollars a gallon and food keeps becoming more expensive. There is no money, there is no plan, there is no concern. Something got to give. OUTRAGE We join with those of the many citizens, and the Amandala newspaper over the outrage meted out to the Ahmad family. We are at a loss to understand how public officers and civil servants can

continue to violate the sacred Constitution and laws of Belize which they are sworn to uphold? We are equally amazed at the continuous violations of the human rights of Belizeans which again are protected by our nation’s highest law without any reprimand from the higher authorities. These Constitutionally guaranteed rights include the right to privacy, the right to be treated equally under the law, the right to property, the right not to be arbitrarily searched or detained of falsely arrested and held in detention. There are numerous other rights. There are rogue police officers in any department in any democratic country. When they over-step their bounds it is the duty of the Police Commissioner and the Minister and CEO to see that they are disciplined and no such thing ever happens again. Unfortunately, in Belize we see Police abuse and violations of citizens occur time and time again. The perpetrators are never disciplined. What Belizeans are unaware of is that the Special Branch is the Belize’s spy apparatus and are supposed to be protecting Belize from internal and external threats through intelligence gathering. Instead, they are becoming another GSU. Somebody high up in government has authorized them to have their own special strike squad, going around harassing and violating citizens. The situation is dread. The budget for 2016 for Special Branch according to page 157 of the Draft Estimates of the government is $12million dollars. $7 million is for salaries; $2 million for allowances; $89 thousand dollars is for arms and ammunition; $200 thousand is for vehicle parts; $857 thousand dollars is for fuel. And dozens of thousands for a variety of recurrent expenses. At Monday’s “Waste of Time” press conference, in the presence of the Police Commissioner, the Head of Special Branch said the police can detain any person for up to 48 hours, and since the Ahmad family members were held for only 12 hours no law was broken. This is absolutely not true. We call upon the Attorney General to clarify the Constitution of Belize so that the Police can desist from violating the law and violating the guaranteed fundamental rights of Belizeans. There is obviously or deviously a gross misunderstanding of our highest law, our Constitution. Section 5 subsection (3) states “Any person who is arrested or detained … (b ) upon reasonable suspicion, SHALL be brought before a COURT WITHOUT UNDUE DELAY, and in any case not later than forty-eight hours after such arrest or detention”. There is nothing about detaining for up to 48 hours, It is about being taken to court. Buffoons. The ComPol and Head of Special Branch and all Police officers need to check Section 5 subsection (6) on page eight of the Constitution-“Any person who in unlawfully arrested or detained by any other person SHALL be ENTITLED to COMPENSATION thereof from that other person or from any other person or authority on whose behalf that other person was acting”.

We call upon the Supreme Court Judge who will hear the lawsuit against Special Branch and the Compol to whap them with the biggest money judgement ever awarded for the gross and outrageous treatment of each and every member of the Ahmad family. DEBATE ON GUATEMALA On Thursday night 23 June, 2016 there was a packed audience at the Bliss Institute to hear an informative debate on whether Belize should go to the I.C.J. It was probably the first of its kind, in terms of presenting both sides to this important issue. The UDP government signed a Treaty with Guatemala in 2008 to take Guatemala’s claim to the International Court of Justice. Belizeans were never informed of this important decision until the Treaty was signed. The Treaty requires the citizens of Belize and Guatemala to hold simultaneous referendums of whether to go to the court or not. The referendum was to be held October 2013. But Guatemala was able to change the date. Thursday’s debate was sponsored and organized by the Social Security Board which proved itself superior to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, none of which have bothered to sponsor discussions on both sides of the issue. We found it quite a surprise when Dickie Bradley introduced the issue of a Supplemental Treaty signed in 1863 by Britain and Guatemala in which the British agreed to pay Guatemala £50,000 to satisfy their obligation for the building of the road as stated in the 1859 Boundary Treaty. Why have Belizeans not been hearing of these important historical facts before? And don’t Dickie’s views make sense, that the British and Guatemala have a quarrel over the 1859 Treaty but that can in no way require a new independent Belize to give up part of its territory as compensation for somebody else wrong. The University of Belize, the University of West Indies branch in Belize and Galen University should take shame for their failure to promote balanced discussion on the Guatemala issue. BEL PROFIT The Belize Electricity company has announced its goodness of profits of 29 million dollars. Congratulations are in order. The government will take 70 percent of the profits and waste it out. We wish to say two things. First, it is time for BEL to embark on a Solar Power project. This can start in all villages so we can get off the old diesel engine system. The second observation is the need to further reduce the cost of electricity; poor consumers and struggling businesses are taking a licking in this shrinking economy. We also find it obscene to be cutting out electricity to consumers for such small monthly costs like twenty odd and thirty odd dollars. PANAMA & BELIZE CANALS In the 1960s and 1970s the joke question used to be asked, “What is the difference between the Panama Canal and the Belize City Canal?” The answer was one carry ship, the other carry shit.

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2016 Among the many lasting indignities of living as British subjects under the colonial rule of Britain, no sewerage system was ever constructed in Belize City. Thousands of citizens were forced to use slop buckets which were emptied into the canals. Citizens with a little money built septic tanks. It was the Canadian government which gave money for Belize City to build its present sewerage system. Despite more than three hundred and twenty-five million dollars made available to Belize by Venezuela, our present government has squandered and looted every dollar without expanding the sewerage system and removing the human indignity of poor Belizeans who are still, in 2016, using slop buckets. On Sunday 26 June 2016, Panama Canal opened improved facilities to accommodate larger ships passing through its canal. The World has been going forward but Belize is still trapped under a neocolonial set of politicians who are looking out for themselves and their coins. CHURCH SHOULD APOLOGIZE “I think that the Church not only should apologize… to a gay person whom it offended but it must also apologize to the poor as well, to the women who have been exploited, to children who have been exploited by being forced to work. It must apologize for having blessed so many weapons.” “We Christians have to apologize for so many things, not just for the (treatment of gay people), but we must ask for forgiveness, not just apologize; forgiveness. Lord it is a word we forget so often.” Spoken on Sunday 26 June 2016 by Pope Francis. ANOTHER SCANDAL “Fire, fire and we have no water”. Another fire in San Pedro, and again we hear the familiar complaint, there was no water. For eight years we have been hearing the same story. Whenever there is a fire, the fire engines arrive on time, but they don’t have water. Eighty-eight persons are homeless following the weekend fire in San Pedro. The fire engine had only three hundred gallons of water. What a sick joke for the country’s tourist capital. One drum of water is fifty-five gallons. The fire engine had only six drums of water to tackle an inferno. The Area Representative who is Minister of Tourism has millions of dollars at his disposable for election campaign, three times in the past eight years, but half of one million could not be found for an effective fire engine. Everywhere we look we see the neglect, incompetence and cold-heartedness of these politicians as our people suffer in every way. Last week a rat bit a worker at the Stann Creek regional hospital. It’s not the first or second time at the nation’s hospital that rats have exposed how slack the administration of Belize has become. As to fighting violent crime, our number one scourge, the government has long since given up on formulating an effective strategy. Eight years with hundreds upon hundreds dead, and not even a word is said. No wonder Guatemala just up and take Sarstoon River, easy as Sunday morning.

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2016 Vacancy A vacancy for Cashier exists at Yasin Store on Cemetery Road, Belize City. Call 6513435 for information.

Vacancy A vacancy for Cashier exists at East Canal Grocery & Laundry on East Collet Canal, Belize City. Call 669-4212 for information.

Vacancy A vacancy for Cashier exists at BD Laundromat & Grocery Store located at 39 Mahogany Street, Belize City. Call 623-8190 for information.

LOST CERTIFICATE I Juan Luis Cruz hereby apply for the replacement of a lost Vessel Registration Certificate from the Belize Port Authority being for vessel named “Yuritza”, bearing Registration # CZL-0042, and Certificate No. BPA –A26309.

LOST BOAT 1 Fiber Glass Boat (skiff), white and blue in colour. MV RHIO Registration # BZ-1852.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that FIDELINA GILHARRY is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “My Ice Cream”, situated at Parcel 643, West Collet Canal, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that YU QIANG HUANG is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Wong Shop”, situated at 18 ¼ Miles, Phillip Goldson Highway, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that YUE LING HUANG WONG is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Highway Store”, situated at 271 Bella Vista, Ladyville, Phillip Goldson Highway under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

THE BELIZE TIMES

Missing BDF Soldier Murdered & Dumped At Sea Punta Gorda Town, June 29, 2016 On Sunday a post-mortem examination was conducted on a badly decomposed body which had washed up along the sea shore in Punta Gorda Town. The Caucasian male person was identified as Orlando Rash, 27, a resident of San Felipe Village in the Toledo District. The examination confirmed cause of death as blunt force traumatic injury to the face, and it is believed that the body had been immersed at sea for a week. While the body was found without hands, investigators believed that predators at sea were responsible. Rash, a BDF Officer, had been reported missing by his wife on Friday, June 24th. She told Police that she last saw him earlier in the week at the Punta Gorda Town Central Park. The body was discovered by a resident of Punta Gorda who saw vultures flying low on the beachside and went to investigate. That is when she made the grisly discovery of the nude body and immediately called the Police. Police say that they currently have no leads in the murder and are asking residents of town who may have seen Rash at the Central Park last week to visit the station with any information that may assist in determining who murdered the BDF soldier. The BDF has issued no official release on the death of Orlando Rash.

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from June 18th, 2016. FRENCH MILL CORPORATE LTD. ALEMAN, CORDERO, GALINDO & LEE TRUST (BELIZE) LIMITED Registered Agent

31 *IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH* Cold Pressed HEMP SEED OIL 750 ml -BUY NOW - Brodie’s downtown, Reimer’s Belmopan, Spanish Lookout, Super Buy San Pedro- retail outlets and all other inquiries 670-0611

Heart of San Pedro Town Goes Up in Flames Continued from page 8 to stop a lot of looting last night during the course of the fire and we worked side by side with the fire department because they are a very small number. So along with the public, the Police Officers also worked as firefighters as well. By 1:30am we managed to get out our officers who had worked the day shift so we had a maximum of about twenty officers on the ground. So that made us cover the entire area from Pescador to the Barrier Reef Drive”. Perhaps the biggest story is the relief effort, though, with many organizations and individuals working together to secure and provide clothing, food and shelter to the 88 persons affected. Running parallel with that effort is a massive cleanup operation taking place to clear the debris from the area and to restore some degree of normalcy to the area. Though it will be a long time before that area of Pescador Drive looks anything like normal.

THE BELIZE TIMES

3 JUL

2016