Belize Times July 7 2013

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

07 JULY 2013

| ISSUE NO: 4852

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

Economy Shrinks

Haada times ahead

Belize City, July 3, 2013 The latest figures released by the Statistical Institute of Belize indicate that the economy took a deep nose-dive between January and April this year, despite the Barrow Administration’s false propaganda that Belize is on a strong growth path.

Numbers and facts don’t lie

Pg. 4

“Child sex tourism… an emerging trend in Belize” Belize ranked Tier 2 in 2013 Human Trafficking Report

Belize City, July 2, 2013 Belize has made no significant improvements in the fight against Human Trafficking, according to the recently released 2013 US State Department’s Human Trafficking Report.

Pg. 17

Barrow caught with pants down Taxpayers paid for his UK trip & secret meetings with Ashcroft Alliance

Pg. 7

GO

TEAM BELIZE! National Football Team leaves for Gold Cup

Molly Hude

THE BAG

Pg. 3

C

THAT STARTED A WAR

Foreign students killed in collision Pg. 31

Angela Bugeja

2 02

OPINION

OUT

OUT

OUT

Recall Mark King!

Lackadaisical NEMO again!

!

Dear Editor, The “news” that Mark King had walked free from the charges should have been no surprise to anyone. We are living under an Administration that interferes and subverts justice rather than uphold the law.

But King is just a drop in the bucket of everything going wrong in the UDP Government. From nepotism, to gang payment, rampant corruption, uncontrollable crime and violence, a depressed economy, failing health system, and hopelessness.

In a sense, the UDP have condoned Mark King’s dastardly actions of assaulting a police officer. The video footage of the attack shows the Gang Minister in an outrageous fit at the customs point in Corozal. The UDP is okay with that kind of behavior. It fits them. Remember when UDP Belize City Councillor Dean Samuels was charged for pistol whipping a BTL employee outside a club owned by the nephew of Sedi Elrington? Similarly, the victim withdrew the charge.

In King’s case, the stakes are higher. If King was charged and prosecuted like normal folks, his seat in Lake Independence would be put into question.

The UDP can’t afford to take that risk.

Things are already back to normal for King. We understand has been throwing parties ever since the case against him collapsed. His regular Ministerial salary has resumed and he is back in Cabinet.

But we predict, that as sure as the sun shines, Mark King will mess up again. He just can’t help himself. When that time comes, we must move quickly to recall him. If Barrow won’t do it, the people must.

Wake up Belizeans.

Signed, Ashton Humes

LOCAL 5 Jul

07 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

Let’s Hold the Government Accountable

!

My fellow Belizeans, I was disheartened to return home to Belize to see how much forest has been destroyed since my last visit only two years ago. I have personally witnessed illegal logging along the edge of Punta Gorda town.

There is a moratorium on chainsaw permits, yet since I arrived I have seen many Guatemalans openly carrying chainsaws into privately held lands. Government policies currently in place promote deforestation by encouraging “development” instead of providing incentives to save the forest.

We cannot say that we are “nature’s best kept secret” if we don’t take care of our nature. Actions speak louder than words. While we have many good policies on paper, Forestry has few resources to enforce them.

When we cut the trees, we cause flooding, erosion, and standing water pools. Stagnant waters provide a place for mosquitos to breed, which increases diseases like malaria and dengue fever. In addition, the pollution of our rivers caused by erosion takes away a place for us to bathe and places for our children to play. We are not an ignorant people. We can, and should, do better. We owe it to future generations to keep our country beautiful, economically viable, and healthy.

Beyond enforcing current conservation laws, we must readjust our policies to give farmers incentives to keep jungles intact. Cattle farming should be limited, especial-

!

Dear Editor, Wasn’t it was exactly eleven months ago (July 24, 2012) that an article appeared in a local Belizean Newspaper condemning the actions of NEMO Toledo in soliciting help and aid to flood victims of Aguacate and Santa Teresa Villages? This is why it was no surprise that NEMO was branded lackadaisical because it fitted the description. It is lackadaisical NEMO Toledo again.

This year is no difference. When flood victims in Toledo waited for a response from NEMO –Toledo but to no avail. Despite calling for aid to evacuate flood victims in Jordan Village, the organization did not lift a finger to help. The officials pretended not to know what is happening even when heavy torrential rains batter the Toledo District.

It was really a disappointing scenario knowing that an organization that is known to be saviour from natural disasters was a no show. The NEMO Toledo chairman needs to wake up and put on the gear that fits him or else . . . leave the office and RESIGN. We know that NEMO TOLEDO will pretend to go in and do a haphazard assessment with no results.

That is their routine and policy.

After learning about the disaster on the radio the chairman of NEMO Toledo went sluggishly to the disaster zone.

What was alarming to see was his arrival with two long empty hands. He commenced railing up and lashing tongues because people in the area made calls to the media for aid. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME! He should have congratulated the people for alerting him, if he was sleeping.

We will wait and see the outcome of the NEMO Toledo assessment.

Lackadaisical NEMO Toledo can do better with an industrious leader who truly cares.

Signed.

Juan Chuc

weather 6 Jul

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2013 ly in lowland areas that are already impacted by farming practices upstream. We must promote farming in a way where shade trees are kept and crops are a polyculture; having trees will keep the soil from washing away, while having multiple types of crops in one area helps keep the soil healthy and fertile. Our focus on short-term profit will cost us everything – sooner, rather than later. Can you really put a price on nature, our children’s birthright? What will you do when there is nothing left?

Signed: Raymundo Castellanos, a native Belizean

Illegal loggers loading a truck with fresh lumber on the edge of Punta Gorda town. Photo by Jennifer Souther

The removal of trees causes pools of standing water to form, providing mosquitos with a place to breed so they may easier give Malaria and Dengue Fever to Belizeans. Photo by Sylvia Vitazkova

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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 The Belize Times Press Ltd. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

editortimes@yahoo.com

Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.4952

Barbados Eastern Caribbean (BBD): $ 0.9925 (XCD):$ 1.3408

Euro (EUR) : $ 0.3831

Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR CHINESE YUAN Trinidadian (TTD) INDIAN RUPEE (GBP): $ 0.3283 (GTQ): $ 3.8943 (CAD): $ 0.5203 (CNY): $ 3.0335 : $ 3.1863 (INR): $ 29.849

07 JUL

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Bag that started a War Belize City, July 3, 2013 “The Birkin bag is a handbag made by Hermes, handmade in leather and named after actress and singer Jane Birkin. The bag is a symbol of wealth due to its high price and elusiveness to the public.

Its price ranges from US$9000.00 to US$150,000.00. Costs escalate according to the type of materials. The bags are distributed to Hermes boutiques on unpredictable schedules and in limited quantities, creating scarcity and, intended or unintended, exclusivity.” (Wikipedia) On June 24th, 2013, freelance reporter Patrick Jones posted, on his public facebook page, a seemingly innocent photograph of the first family on their extravagant trip to London. This family portrait resulted in a string of fiery comments from outraged Belizeans. The subject of their fury: a handbag, possibly a Birkin brand, belonging to “First Lady” Kim Simpliss Barrow.

At 11:52 p.m. on the 24th of June, 2013, NotNice Taffy posted: “That bag is about $15,000.00 - $20,000.00 US Dollars” This post was followed shortly by Lizeth Thesweetestgirl Gillett who commented: “Hellloooooo people wake up her bag cost $40k us OMG u can feed a village”.

These two comments triggered a defensive and ill-fated attack by the likes of Alberto August, the Chairman of the UDP, who tried to downplay the handbag and defend the Barrows by posting: “@Lizeth. A 40k bag???? How much more ridiculous can an individual get. Please do seek to insult the intelligence of the Belizean people.”

Well, with access to information on the worldwide web, the BELIZE TIMES has discovered that it can get as “ridiculous” as BZ$300,000.00 for 1 Birkin Bag. Now who is insulting the Belizean people Mr. Chairman? This alleged Hermes Birkin Bag could feed the entire district of Toledo. It could buy a pack of noodles for every single Belizean, which is all most Belizeans can afford in these hard times.

UDP supporters on the Facebook thread went on to compare Barrow and his family to Obama and the first family of the United States.

As was so rightly pointed out by another com-

UDP Minister accused of carnal knowledge Belize City, July 2, 2013 Only weeks after UDP Minister Mark King’s criminal trial for assaulting a police officer was suspiciously fumbled by the Police, authorities have another serious case involving a UDP Minister who is accused of carnal knowledge.

The BELIZE TIMES has received credible but unconfirmed reports that a 15 year old from the Cayo District has become pregnant after having sexual relations with a certain UDP Minister, who shall remain nameless for the time being.

The UDP Minister in question is no stranger to criminal activity. This Minister is braggadocios, and loves to flaunt his power and authority over normal Belizeans.

The BELIZE TIMES calls on the Police Department, who we understand is under pressure from their political bosses to keep it under the rug, to do a proper investigation and file charges. In the mean time we will continue our investigation, which once completed,

menter who responded, while Obama enjoys these lavish events, he can also be found greeting people and offering his support in some of the most poverty stricken areas of the United States.

Can we say the same of Dean Barrow? Does he realize that his wife’s purse could have provided meals and an education to every single child in his constituency? Barrow’s Queen Square is the most violent gang-ridden area in the country. He refuses to step foot in his own division and instead chooses to send in Sista B to wade through the thick mud of hopelessness and despair that he has created over the last 30 years.

So, Birkin or not? Is that REALLY the question?

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THE BELIZE TIMES

on the

From Africa to Belize: the Power of Youth

By FRANCIS W. FONSECA US President Barack Obama visited South Africa this past weekend as a part of a tour of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr. Obama met with the family of ailing former SA President Nelson Mandela and paid a special visit, along with his family, to Robben Island where Mr. Mandela had been unlawfully imprisoned for some 18 years.

Mr. Obama thought it important for his young daughters to see and better appreciate the evils of apartheid and the great courage and determination of Madiba.

But, as Mr. Obama himself said, perhaps his most important stop was at the University of Cape Town where the US President had an opportunity to speak directly to the young people of South Africa.

His message of hope, opportunity, growth and development

was directed to the youth of Africa. He appealed to them to make their voices matter. “Your ideals, your willingness to act on those ideals, your choices can make a difference.”

“You get to decide where the future lies. Think about it…over 60% of Africans are under 35 years.

So demographics mean young people are going to be determining the fate of this continent …”

Here in Belize, the demographics foretell a similar future and compel a similar message of hope, opportunity and growth to our increasingly young population.

Delivering this message to a mostly cynical, disengaged youth is challenging to say the

least. They see in front of them a dark, uncertain path.

The education system is failing them. Our health sector is in crisis. Crime and violence has become the norm.

The economy lacks creativity and innovation and youth unemployment continues to rise. Arts and culture are on the decline. And our political, economic, social and spiritual leaders, for the most part, appear to be out of touch with the pulse of our Belizean youth. They see themselves living in a Belize where there is NO SENSE OF PURPOSE OR DIRECTION. Despite this hopelessness this new generation will likely be better educated, skilled and

07 JUL

2013 equipped to lead Belize’s development than any previous.

We must remind them of this great responsibility and challenge them to become more engaged and committed to Belize’s future growth and development. Their ease and comfort with technology will allow them to participate more effectively and efficiently in the global economy. We must afford them the opportunity to unleash their creative energies and spirits. WE MUST LISTEN TO AND LEARN FROM OUR YOUNG BELIZEANS. On his visit to the University of Cape Town, Obama reminded the young students of the words of Robert F. Kennedy, who in 1966 had delivered a historic address at the very same University: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Young Belize….these are words to live by.

Let us rise up and strike back at the injustice and oppression of this UDP Government.

Over the next few months, the PUP will develop and implement a targeted Youth Development Agenda and Strategy. We will engage with young Belizeans throughout the country. We will listen to and learn from them and together we will begin the work of shaping a future of hope, opportunity, growth and development. Young Belizeans deserve and demand no less.

07 JUL

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

05 5

EDITORIAL

When Numbers Fail “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics” –Mark Twain The economy of Belize has taken several gut punches recently. Some have been bellow the belt while others have been fatal to the consolation of businesses trying to keep their doors open and their families fed.

It is important to realize that when we talk economy, it is not a remote concept. In fact, the concept of the “economy” is something the common Belizean is well familiar with. The economy is simply: the management of the resources of a community or country with a view to its productivity. It is just a fancy way to measure or monitor the prosperity or earning of a country.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or Gross domestic Income (GDI) is a term used in economics. It is one of the ways to measure national income and output for our country’s economy. The scientific definition, for the completeness, is “the total market value of all final goods and services produced within the country in a given period of time, usually a calendar year.”

Why is this important? Well, the GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country’s standard of living.

It was last year that Barrow took the “Twainian” concept of lies and statistics to a new low when trying to predict economic growth for 2013.

Barrow had recklessly said that there would be projected growth of 2 - 2.5% hoping that the average Belizean would either not know what that meant or were too busy to check his lie in his estimate.

At BELIZE TIMES we had consulted with the Hon. Francis Fonseca, who was diligently and soberly combing through the numbers at the time. In a very responsible and disappointed tone, Hon. Fonseca, a qualified Economist, went on the record questioning the credibility of the 2.5% projection. He had seen through the improbability of such a projection at this current time under the UDP. His analysis was professional, honest and unshackled by the need to ponder to political propaganda.

The official release from the Statistical Institute of Belize again proved the Leader of the Opposition right. The unquestionable fact is that Barrow was wrong and Hon. Fonseca was right.

The official market analysis for the first three months of 2013 is that the Belizean economy had not only failed to grow, as projected

by Barrow, but instead had contracted in the first quarter of 2013. It registered .5% negative growth.

Hindsight is 20/20. The clarity of the real position of our economic plight has come to light. Remember in 2012 despite what you were feeling at the supermarkets, gas stations, tacos stands, taxi stands, fisherman stalls and bus stations, Barrow was saying that you were living well because he said that there was very strong growth of 6.5%.

Caught off guard at the airport by the media, Barrow was exposed and stuttered his way into pretending to be shocked. We say pretend, because if he was not pretending, then he is more disconnected from the reality of the average Belizean at Queen Square market or the young housewife walking down Queen Victoria Boulevard.

Economics is a real word to us Belizeans. It means that we can pay our bills or it means that we will have to look our children in the eyes and deny them an ice cream cone or a new bike.

So the fancy formulas and numbers, which are just carelessly thrown out there by Barrow, have proven to be inaccurate and are particularly insulting to the average Belizean. This proof from the Statistical Institute of Belize should bring home the point that we Belizeans are living better.

No matter how many times or ways Barrow tries to save political face

to say Belizeans are better off, we know it is a lie.

A reliable source advised the BELIZE TIMES that there is reason that the UDP will never be able to bring the economy of Belize into prosperity. He gave us an Adam Smith’s (1776) definition of GDP. GDP as a subset of economics is not only a proxy measurement of the standard of living of our country, it is also “an inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations,” in particular as: “a branch of the science of a legislator… with the twofold objective of providing… a plentiful revenue or subsistence for the people ... and to supply the citizenry with a revenue for the public services”.

The UDP are clueless, incompetent and disconnected from the reality of our people. No one expects them to understand economics or GDP. They cannot understand less complex things, like “artificial”, “ignorant”, “Noh Mul”, “dead babies”, or “normal persons”.

But we Belizeans are tired of the propaganda with numbers.

Whether they are statistics of crime, or unemployment or the stats of how much villages in Corozal love the incompetent, Pablo Marin.

Last Wednesday, the statistics were floated that unemployment was down. Yes down, from 14.4% to 12.1% for the month of April, 2013. Do you believe that? For contrast we note that the US Bureau of Labour statistics marks a 7.2% for the same period.

In Belize it means that according to the stats, around 3,000 more people were somehow employed for that month. Is this true? The best marker is your gut feeling. Not the lies of statistics. Things just don’t happen by themselves. What brilliant Government policy have you seen that could account for an increase in employment? How can it be said that employment is up but independent international indicators say that the national economy has dipped. Forget all the long sleeve, big words, percentages and fancy talk. Is your standard of living any better?

Sad news is that under this Government it will never be. A contraction of .5% when you are dealing with a billion dollar economy is a lot of money. The poor and middle class will have to choose whether to tolerate the “fantasia” and lies of statistics or whether they will tell Barrow, the Emperor, that he is butt naked.

Think about it. How can Pablo Marin, Mark King, Finnegan, Gapi Vega, Montero, Herman Longsworth and Boots Martinez make good economic policies for this country? These men can barely chew gum and stand on two feet at the same time. Yet those men make up the Cabinet.

Belizeans are feeling the truth of their failure.

As we dissect a negative 0.5% plummet of Belize’s GDP we realize that the Government is clueless. Alfred Marshall, in his 1890 textbook called Principles of Economics, gives us a clue as to why this UDP will always fail to make Belize’s economy better.

He wrote: “Economics is a study of man in the ordinary business of life. It enquires how he gets his income and how he uses it. Thus, it is on the one side, the study of wealth and on the other and more important side, a part of the study of man.”

There it is. The UDP is not interested in the study of Belizeans.

They are interested in ballot papers, village council elections and getting their families rich. People are not important, just what they can take from us.

It is with clarity of the meaning of these numbers and concepts that we at BELIZE TIMES say: “it’s the economy, stupid”.

Cairo and Rio de Janeiro should be a warning to the UDP. Fix it or roll.

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07 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

As BIG as you think you are...

Building on Kut Avenue

Building in Belama Ph. 1

Building on Western Avenue

Building on Euphrates Avenue

Building on Fabers Road

Building on Fabers Road Boots Martinez

Building on C.A. Boulevard

you’re living in a small world

07 JUL

07 7

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Barrow caught with pants down Taxpayers paid for his UK trip & secret meetings with Ashcroft Alliance Belize City, July 4, 2013 For the past ten days, Prime Minister Dean Barrow has been living the lifestyle of the rich and the famous, playing prince and princess dress up, attending galas, rubbing with the British elite and relaxing in lofty hotels.

He wasn’t on personal vacation, as much as it sounds like it. He was actually on an extended and expensive junket paid for, as he brazenly put it on Wednesday afternoon, by the “people of Belize”.

At a time when Belizeans are struggling to cope with the rising cost of food, bills and now school fees,

the thought of taxpayers’ monies being used for the Prime Minister and his family’s spontaneous trip to his motherland which cost tens of thousands of dollars is outrageous.

But to make matters worse, the Prime Minister also admitted that during the UK visit he met secretly with functionaries of the “devil” himself…the “Ashcroft Alliance”. This is the same man with whom Barrow waged holy war against in 2009, costing Belize millions of dollars.

The PM was cagey with the topic because even though he knows we know that he met with Ashcroft, he still danced around the issue.

“Well, I may have taken the opportunity to

discuss where things are with the various court cases and the various bits of litigation,” said the Prime Minister with what sounded almost like a British accent.

Barrow seemed very confused. Why was there a need to “discuss where things are” (in other words, give an update) with court cases between GOB and the Ashcroft Alliance? Has the PM forgotten that he and Ashcroft are in opposing sides, and that as far we know, the Government isn’t engaged in any out of court arbitration with Ashcroft’s lawyers? These meetings, which are held without consulting the people of Belize first, seem highly suspicious and out of the ordinary.

But we understand

Prime Minister Dean Barrow continues to meet with the Ashcroft Alliance secretly the Prime Minister’s confusion. For 20 years plus, he got filthy rich by serving the wishes and requests of Lord

Ashcroft through his law firm, Barrow and Williams. We can see why then, our Armani Prime Minister cannot help himself.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Economy Shrinks Haada times ahead

Continued from page 1

and SIB’s conservative figures indicate that there was negative economic growth for the first quarter of the year. The economy contracted by 0.5%.

The contraction in the economy was due mostly to losses in production in the agriculture sector, a downturn in oil exports, struggling foreign investment, massive decline in business, and generally a slower economy.

Tougher times ahead The NEGATIVE GROWTH for the first quarter of 2013 is troubling news, particularly since this period (January, February, March, April) is usually the strongest in terms of economic performance because of the Tourism season opening and the collection of tax revenues by the Government of Belize. It is when

the Government sees a boost in revenues.

In 2009, when the 1st quarter had seen a -1.2% contraction, the overall economy also regressed. What this means is that the people of Belize must brace for tougher times under the cold Barrow Administration.

Following the shrinking of the economy in 2009, the Barrow Administration introduced a series of tax measures including a 25% increase on GST to fill the financial gap in their budget.

With little signs of the economy improving, and a UDP Cabinet that is lackluster and bankrupt of vision and ideas, the UDP will press the people harder with more taxation to make up for the looming financial shortfalls.

Running out of time

The Barrow Administration has apparently become afflicted with a crude oil revenue addiction that had temporarily eased the Government’s financial itch.

Economic data shows that since 2006 (UDP took office in February 2008) the Government has earned $381.4 million.

But with declining oil production and no new oil discoveries, the Government seems to be running out of time before it runs the proverbial ship unto the reef.

International financial agencies, such as Moody’s Investors Services, have warned investors that the Barrow Administration could be falling into debt default very soon.

Teacher’s salary A not-so-faded backdrop of the latest economic report are

07 JUL

2013 the Prime Minister’s promises that the teachers and public officers will get their salary adjustments. First, he strategically conjoined their request with his Government’s addiction, claiming that if oil is struck a portion of its revenues (Government’s portion at least) would be used to give them a pay raise. That hasn’t happened. Second, he launched a political gimmick called a “National Bank”, promising that it would offer cheap loans to teachers and public officers. That hasn’t happened either. Now the Prime Minister has moved the goal post and is saying that a portion of the revenues derived from the takeover of the International Business Companies (IBCs) registry would go to the teachers. We are still waiting.

At some point the teachers and public officers will hopefully recongnise that the Prime Minister is simply taking them for “cunu munu”. His promises are empty and are simply to buy time as he fishes around for more money for his Government to meet its budgetary needs.

07 JUL

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

Damning PAHO Report!

Findings expose extreme sloppiness at KHMH, e.g. mold on ceilings, insufficient hand sanitizers Belize City, July 2, 2013 The recent PAHO report on the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital fell lamentably short of positively identifying the source of infection that killed 8 babies at the hospital in May, but the assessment is rife with examples of negligence and sloppy work, which is believed to have led to the infection outbreak and eventual loss of lives.

The negligence is shocking, embarrassing for a public hospital and shameful for Health authorities. Cited in the report was a total breakdown in the chain of monitoring and implementation of guidelines in the areas of infection prevention and control, to a lack of supplies for basic sterilization such as hand sanitizers and proper maintenance of hospital units.

The report “revealed several deficiencies on the supportive environment, policies and procedures in place, and the current practices for infection prevention and control”, but that was just nice language. The deficiencies in the “supportive environment, policies and procedures” alluded to were the Infection Prevention and Control Program’s failure to prevent infection outbreaks at the hospital.

The Quality Assurance Coordinator oversees the Infection Prevention and Control Program at the KHMH. The program, however, lacks direction and is managed by an Infection Control Committee (ICC) which deals with “surveillance, product review, policies and procedures and administration of the program”.

Despite this responsibility, the PAHO report found that there was no “active surveillance” for infections at the hospital. The damning facts, according to the report, are that the ICC kept inadequate records of healthcare acquired infections (HAI) and on cases of virus infections important to the hospital due to their special resistance patterns or in relation to HAIs derived from community outbreaks.

The ICC which deals with microbiology has no microbiologist nor at the very least an epidemiologist.

There is an Infection Control Unit with minimal staff including a physician and two nurses.

The PAHO report also cited the terrible maintenance of the hospital, including overcrowding of spaces, cleaning areas used for storage, an electrical room where empty boxes are kept creating a fire hazard, air ducts with mold and dangerous contaminants and cracked benches that could contain contaminations.

In one instance the PAHO experts said that repairs were being done to a section of the ceiling next to a unit that

housed critical patients, but there was no physical barrier or protection against the contamination from dust, bacteria and fungus spores.

But it is the substandard and negligent sterilization of equipment at the hospital that Continued on page 29

This is one of the rooms in the baby unit at the KHMH. The PAHO report says it compromises the health of patients.

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NEWS

THE BELIZE TIMES

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE - Time to take stock The village council elections of 2013 are now history. I want to reflect on the experience and the results and make some observations that are necessary before going forward.

I represent the nine communities of Belize Rural Central at the national level, and our committee decided not to contest the polls in five of these communities, but to allow the process to go through without a blue team per se. These were Mahogany Heights, Gracie Rock, Freetown Sibun, Lord’s Bank and La Democracia. Only in La Democracia did we offer small logistical support to one of the slates.

We did decide to put forward PUP slates in Gales Point, Western Paradise, Hattieville and Ladyville. We won in Gales Point, were successful with the Chairperson candidate in Western Paradise, and lost in both Hattieville and Ladyville. As the losing pitcher in the latter two communities, to use a softball analogy, I must of course take stock. My committee and I have to make careful reviews and we have to assess our strategies and campaign methods and readiness, even with over three and a half years to go before national elections are again due.

We cannot be sore losers, and I am determined to get back to the drawing board and continue working in earnest in these very difficult times for the PUP to show that there is massive difference between us and the party in power in very many ways. But first the PUP need to seriously take stock of where we are as a party and how we can be effective in preparing to form the next government.

The experience in Ladyville was instructive. The UDP went all out as if contesting national elections. They intimidated voters, they bought votes hand over fist, and they did everything in their power using their considerable resources of tax payer’s money to steal the election. They succeeded.

Although our team led by Froyla Tzalam, a competent, strong and resilient woman, had campaigned for months and our machinery worked well, we were

no match for the huge bribery and the fraudulent manipulation of the system. Ladyville is the largest community in the entire country which is not a town. It should not even be a village. There are no fewer than three thousand two hundred voters on the list for Ladyville itself.

When you allow persons who claim to live in the area but are not on the voter’s list to participate in electing the village council you are actually blowing the poll wide open for fraud and trickery.

The UDP took full advantage. A senator JP and others were signing hand over fist certifying that persons lived in Ladyville when in fact they did not. Many Chinese and other people who had never been seen in Ladyville before actually were allowed to vote.

One Lee Mark Chang voted in Ladyville on June 16, 2013.

The UDP can laugh and say now that ugly win betta dan pretty lose, but their fraud, vote buying, intimidation and manipulation have dealt body blows to the true exercise of democracy at the local level. They need to take stock. Is this the Belize they are taking us towards - country of supplicants willing to sell their voting franchise for fifty or a hundred dollars and a country in which the elections and boundaries machinery can be so influenced and corrupted?

Finally, the Elections and Boundaries Commission and Department need to take stock.

There were various public officers who conducted themselves with honesty, fairness and professionalism. But there were many others who were obviously biased and clearly compromised. Otherwise how could such a level of fraud have been allowed to occur in a seven hour poll to choose a council to run the affairs of Ladyville until 2016? Political control of the Elections and Boundaries Department is a creeping cancer that cannot be left to take hold and to spread.

For our entire country, for political parties, citizens, civil society, proverbial stakeholders, election and boundaries officials, public officers, everybody – it is time to take stock!!

07 JUL

2013

07 JUL

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

Bakatown Little League Football Team geared up!

Belize City, July 1, 2013 On Sunday 31st June 2013, the PUP Pickstock Constituency Chairman, Mr. Rick Castillo and PUP Pickstock Standard Bearer, Dr. Francis Smith made a contribution of football shoes to 18 young football players of the Bakatown Little League Football Team.

Cashing in on Lionfish!

Living threat to our young fisheries

Oceana VP Audrey Matura Shepherd presents prize Belize City, July 1, 2013 “Lionfish are a voracious predator of juvenile fish and thus a threat to our fisheries. So, Oceana in Belize had no problem teaming up with the Placencia Producers Cooperative Society and the Southern Environmental Association (SEA) for the Lionfish Tournament,” stated Oceana Vice President for Belize Mrs. Audrey Matura-Shepherd.

Matura-Shepherd was speaking of last Friday’s Lionfish Tournament which was a prelude to the annual Placencia Lobsterfest held over the weekend.

Three teams took park in the Lionfish Tournament, landing 599 of the invasive predator totaling 321 pounds.

First prize of $1,500 for the most lionfish (250) went to Turtle Inn. Splash Dive Shop landed the biggest lionfish weighting 744 grams (1.64 pounds) to win the $800 2nd prize as well as the smallest one weighing just 10g (0.35 oz) to win the $500 3rd prize. The Placencia Coop fielded the third team and had to settle for consolations prizes of Blue Venture T-shirts.

Each team comprised five members, who dived up to 60 feet inside the protected areas of the southern barrier reef off the Placencia Peninsula, including Gladden Split and the Silk Caye Marine Reserve.

Blue Venture, SEA & TIDE undertook a lionfish population density survey before and after the Tournament to deContinued on page 24

Pickstock’s Dr. Francis Smith (R), Team Manager Pico Miller (L) and Bakatown footballers

11 Dr. Smith and Chairman, Mr. Rick Castillo congratulated the team manager, Mr. Randolph “Pico” Miller for his dedication, passion and commitment to the sport. Mr. Miller’s objective is to have the young people of the Bakatown area participate regularly in sports and to channel youthful vigor away from mischief and crime. Additionally, they learn and acquire discipline, cooperation, team-work, good sportsmanship and develop friendships.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Makoabi R

x:

Relationships, Love Tips & Advice…

07 JUL

2013

Mexicans threaten to boycott Sunday’s elections if old bridge doesn’t re-open

Why hasn’t he proposed?

Ok, so last week we looked at the reasons why the relationship has not gone to that “higher level”, as expected after several years of dating. We gave possible reasons from the perspective of women, so in this week’s column we’ll look at possible reasons he hasn’t got down on his knees as yet.

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Reason 1 – No Money Noh Deh! In this economy, everyone is struggling to pay the bills and survive. It wouldn’t be a surprise then, if not being able to afford an engagement ring is the reason. Imagine if you’re a girl who wants a big rock on your finger, you’re making it even more difficult. It’s not easy to throw down a few thousand dollars on a ring without taking a huge hit on the bank account.

Reason 2 – His career Just like focusing on a relationship, men tend to put the same amount of effort into their career. Unless he has a solid spot in the workplace and has made a name for himself, he may be less inclined to propose to you. Men like having all of their ducks in a row before asking the question. It’s called ambition.

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Reason 3 – Will you change?

We all love the feelings that come with a new relationship.

Some guys fear getting bored, and knowing that he’ll have to deal with you for decades to come may create feelings of boredom and monotony. Then there are horror stories about how women change once they get married. The horror stories are many and the idea of you changing into someone completely different is a scary thought. Sometimes this is enough to make him second guess a proposal.

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Reason 4 – He doesn’t believe in marriage Divorce has a lasting toll on everyone who is affected by it.

Seeing a marriage fail at any age can definitely leave a bad memory in the back of anyone’s mind. If your man’s parents divorced, the idea of marriage altogether may worry him and it can easily bring back old memories. The past can easily hold him back from popping the question.

Reason 5 – He doesn’t see the need Even though this one may hurt you a bit, some guys are content with having a girlfriend, and they don’t have any desire for anything more. When you’ve been dating for years, your man is probably quite comfortable and he doesn’t want to change a thing. If this is the case, you may want to reconsider your relationship, especially if marriage is something you want.

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Reason 6 – Keep it simple After any proposal a wedding is sure to follow, and while us women love the thought of a wedding, many men do not. For some guys, a wedding can be a complete turn off as the thought of you turning into a bridezilla is enough for him to hold off on the proposal. Let’s face it, weddings are really for the bride.

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Reason 7 – He’s still shy?

Ok, he should no longer be shy. But maybe he just doesn’t know how to ask and unfortunately there is not manual on those things. In a guy’s mind, the proposal has to be special, unique, and one that is bound to make you cry. Some guys are completely clueless on how to propose to his girl without seeming overly obvious or cliché. Give him time to plan a proposal that’ll wow you.

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Belize City, July 1, 2013 About 200 residents of Subteniente Lopez, Mexico’s community bordering the Corozal border, held a protest near Mexico’s new border facility to show their displeasure with the closure of the old bridge on Monday June 24 2013.

The protestors held banners with messages such as “We are a ghost town…we do not exist to our authorities” and marched from the old border facility leading to the old Subteniente Lopez I Bridge to the new Subteniente Lopez II Bridge, calling on the authorities to listen to their concerns. The protest forced the border officials to close the facility for over an hour for security reasons.

They pointed out that ever since the bridge was closed to traffic entering Mexico, on May 15th, business in the community has deteriorated.

They said that at least eight businesses have closed down as a result of the decline in business.

In mid-May, after many months of delay, the new Mexican border facility and Subteniente Lopez II Bridge was opened by Mexican President Felipe Calderon about 500 yards

west of the old Subteniente Lopez bridge. A new road was also constructed, with a diversion entrance about three hundred yards from the Belize immigration/custom’s facility. Belizeans no longer entered Chetumal through Subteniente Lopez. The old bridge has is only open to traffic accessing the Commercial Free Zone in Belize.

Business owners of Subteniente Lopez said that they have 500 petition signatures calling for the re-opening of the bridge, and while it has been forwarded to Government officials, the response has not been adequate.

Business-owners and affected residents have raised the stakes in their lobby by stating that if their request is not met by Sunday July 7th, they will boycott the municipal elections to be held that same day.

Up to this past weekend, Mexican immigration officials operating the new facility office had not been informed what the decision is. They remain on the alert, however, for it may mean relocating their office or, bracing for more protests and border closures.

07 JUL JUL 07

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

2013

TOPMODEL 13

ENTERTAINMENT

NEWS

Positive

Vibz

New Single: “The Country Di Bawl” Positive Vibz is one of the few Belizean artists who keeps things real. His new track “The Country Di Bawl” is evidence of that.

“Only who feels it knows it”, Positive Vibz starts off his song, in which he talks about the suffering of Belizean young people and families in Belize.

“Mi tyaad a di dead and bawl…”

“If da noh di higher heads, then tell me dah who then star…”

Positive Vibz, whose debut single “Living a di devil” plunged him into a world of music as a form of expression. Since then he has tested the Punta music genre.

Positive Vibz has also released a video for the new single which was produced

by Hydro Media. The video is available on you tube.

Location: Marine Parade Pier

keeps it real

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visit us at www.belizetimes.bz or Facebook/ Belize Times

Follow us on facebook

14 SPORTS

Belize heads to Gold Cup! Game vs. USA on 9th, Costa Rica on 13th & Cuba on 16th

Belize City, June 29, 2013 The Belize National Football Team will leave Belize at 11:00 am on Friday, July 5th enroute to Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Belize will be facing the world cup-tested United States national team on Tuesday July 9th at 9:00pm local time. Belize will then be playing their UNCAF rivals Costa Rica on July 13th and Cuba on July 16th.

The Belize team, named the Jaguars, is making history with their participation in the 2013 Gold Cup. Belize has never qualified to this level of football, but the 5th placing in the UNCAF held in Costa Rica in January

07 JUL

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES

made it possible.

The team coach is Ian Mork.

The captain is 29 year old Dalton Eiley, of the Placencia Assassins football club. The other 22 players in the team are goalkeepers Shane Orio, Woodrow Wilson West and Frank Lopez; Defense Elroy Smith, Ian Gaynair, Dalton Eiley, Everal Trapp, Tyrone Pandy, Kahlil Velasquez; Midfield Trevor Lennan, Elroy Kuylen, David Trapp, Harrison Tasher, Devon Makin, Andres Makin Jr., Luis Torres; Forwards Harrison Róchez, Deon McCaulay, Daniel Jiménez, Evan Mariano, Ashley Torres, Lennox Castillo, and Michael Salazar.

The BELIZE TIMES wishes our golden boys much success.

2013

Tuff e’Nuff – 1 Game Away from Win!

Tyrone Edwards scored 6pts and made 6 rebounds

Belize City, June 28, 2013 Undefeated Tuff e’Nuff enjoyed their 11th consecutive win as they ran over Oceana No Limits 100-88 in Game 2 of the interoffice basketball championship finals at Bird’s Isle on Friday night, June 28. Could be trophy night for Tuff e’Nuff if they win the 3rd game in a best of five series.

Tuff e’Nuff led 26-18 in the 1st quarter and 52-35 at the half. Ashton Edwards led his team with 23 points, while Densmore Edwards had 11 points, 3 rebounds.

Greg “Chippy” Rudon and Jacob “Snake” Leslie led Oceana with 30pts each, but there was no sign of Kurt “Chengo” Burgess, Benedict Terry nor Kaschief Thomas.

Tuff e’Nuff was up 75-52 at the end of the 3rd quarter and led up the final buzzer.

Tuff e’Nuff needs only one more win Friday night, July 5 to clinch the championship, as they also won Game 1 of the finals 9075 the week before 90-75.

Brilliant takes on Excellence in cricket finals

Excellence defeated Berlan Burrell Boom Village, June 29, 2013 Four times national champs, Brilliant of Crooked Tree, will host Defending champions Double Head Cabbage Excellence in

Game 1 of the championship finals in Crooked Tree on Saturday, July 6.

Brilliant won through to the 2013 SMART Harrison Parks national cricket championship finals

when they bowled out Lord’s Bank Sunrise 179-102 in Game 3 of the semifinals in Burrell Boom on Saturday, June 29.

Jermaine Smith led Brilliant, batting 2 sixes and 4 fours to score 54 runs. Wicketkeeper Shane Westby and Stephen Flowers each batted 31 runs. Arturo “Madhouse” Wade hit 4 fours to score 23 runs. Varron Westby batted 7 runs, and Brilliant’s captain Lawrence Banner managed 2 runs. Brilliant had scored 179 runs by the time their last wicket fell. The Sunrise bowlers Dwayne Hendy and Justin Sanchez took 3 wickets each while Warren Anthony took 2 wickets, and Mykelt Anthony and Edison Parks each took 1 wicket.

In Sunrise’ turn at bat, Brilliant’s Landis “Ciego” Wade took 4 wickets while Lawrence Banner and Rodwell Conorquie took 3 wickets each.

Dwayne Hendy led Sunrise hitting 2 sixes and a four to score 21

runs. Edison Parks hit 4 fours to score 19 runs, and Alburn Rivero batted 15 runs. Jani Chilu score 12 runs Lionel “Wapio” Robinson managed 10 runs Michael Sobers - 9 runs. Sunrise was all out for 102 runs.

Excellence’s Keenan Flowers led Excellence with 24 runs and took 2 wickets. Excellence scored 135 runs by the time their last wicket fell.

Excellence’s Marlon “Camala” Nicholas took 5 wickets and Kenny Broaster took 3 wickets to limit the Berlan batsmen to only 95 runs.

Berlan’s captain Conway Young batted 1 six and a four to score 28 runs. Justin Revers batted 2 fours to scoreg 20 runs while Sherman Smith hit a four to score 11 runs. Herbert Banner also hit a four to score 10 runs.

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2013

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

SPORTS 15

Wolverines, Rebels & Camalote United win in Cayo softball

Roaring Creek, June 30, 2013 The Ontario Rebels polished off the Capital City Emeralds of Belmopan 14-4 when they clashed in the Women’s Softball Competition at the Elston Galvez softball field in Roaring Creek Village on Sunday.

Ontario got 9 hits off Dana Mae King’s pitching. She walked 4 batters and the Emeralds made three errors. Tricia Coye, Lynn Perez, Gayle Arthurs and Isha Gardiner came home in the 1st inning, and only Emeralds’ Paulette Flowers and Felicia Garbutt came home.

The Rebels led 11-2 when Coye, Perez, Arthurs, Gardiner, Loren Henry, Vanessa Pe-

rez and Lizette Gongora came home in the 2nd inning. No runs were scored in the 3rd inning, but Ontario led 14-2 when pitcher Jean Gabourel and Perez scored in the 4th inning.

Only Emeralds’ Darlene Clarke and Audrey Coleman came home in the 4th.

The Esperanza Wolverines schooled the Las Flores Shooting Stars 14-0 by mercy rule. Esperanza got 7 hits of Jacqueline Alas’ pitching, she also walked the first 4 batters. Shamera Wade, Indira Spain, Pat Spain and Melinda Blancaneaux came home in the 1st inning; and Sandra Gentle came home in the 2nd inning.

Blancaneux, Felicia Perez,

Shanicka Anderson hits

Denise Gordon, Gentler and Ann Soberanis came home in the 3rd inning; and Blancaneux, Perez and Gordon, and Josephine Caretella came

home in the 4th to seal the 14-0 win.

In Game 3, Camalote’s Francine Salazar shut out Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy 2-0.

Upcoming games (Mae

Gordon Sports Field, Belmopan, Sunday, July 7) Ontario Rebels vs. Camalote United Capital City Emeralds vs. Esperanza Wolverines

Telemedia slips past Lady Rebels 6-5

Jaguars wins over Ladyville 17-4

Lydia Cacho scores

in game 1 of softball finals Belize City, July, 2013 Barbara “Babsy” Cadle was the heroine of the hour after she walloped a homer in the 6th inning to give Belize Telemedia a 6-5 win over the Mirage Lady Rebels in Game 1 of the Belize City women’s softball championship finals at the Roger’s Stadium on Monday night, July 1.

Telemedia pitcher Mary flowers struck out only 1 batter and Telemedia led 2-0 when Lydia Cacho and Norecia Frazer came home in the 1st inning. Sharette Jones scored the Rebels’ 1st run in the 2nd inning but Kenisha Sutherland extend-

ed the lead to 3-1 when she came home in the bottom of the 2nd.

Rebels’ Karina Cacho came home in the 4th, but Cadle also scored to lead 4-2. The Rebels took over the lead 5-4when Sharette Jones, Ashanti Anderson and Carla Robinson came home in the top of the 6th inning, but Frazer homered to tie the score 5-5 in the bottom of the inning, and Cadle’s homer proved to be the winning run.

Game 2 of the series is set for Wednesday evening, weather permitting, and a third game on Friday.

Belize rural softball competition continues Lord’s Bank, June 30, 2013 The UB Jaguars, Mel’s United of Double Head Cabbage, Arrows Reloaded of Bermudian Landing and Easy Does It of Flower’s Bank all enjoyed victories when the Belize Rural women’s softball competition continued in Lord’s Bank on Sunday, June 30.

The UB Jaguars hammered the Ladyville Rising Stars 17-4 by mercy rule. UB led 15-2 in the 2nd inning when Deannah Garbutt, Kaylin Fuller, Sherrie McFadzean, Danalee burns, Georgia Young and Yvette McFadzean all came home twice, while Monica Tablada, Monique Tablada, and Karlee Lewis came home once. Only Ladyville’s Ashley Thompson and Atherla Bailey came home in the 2nd and Evadney Williams in the

3rd.

UB led 17-3 when Monica Tablada and Karlee Lewis came home in the 3rd and only Ladyville’s Atherla Bailey came home in the 4th.

In Game 2, Mel’s United crushed Buttercup Uprising 11- 4.

In Game 3, the St. Paul’s ladies were a no show and Arrows Reloaded of Bermudian Landing got an easy 7-0 win.

In Game 4, Easy Does It outshone Lord’s Bank Sunrise 14-4.

This weekend, it’s Arrows Reloaded vs Village Gyals of Rancho Dolores, Easy Does It vs. Mel’s United, Lord’s Bank Sunrise vs. Buttercup Uprising and the Ladyville Rising Stars vs. St. Paul’s when the competition continues in Bermudian Landing on Sunday, July 7.

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07 JUL

2013

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07 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES 2013 “Child sex tourism… an emerging trend in Belize” Belize ranked Tier 2 in 2013 Human Trafficking Report Continued from page 1 Belize has been ranked at Tier 2, which means that the Government of Belize does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Belize has ranked at Tier 2 since 2011.

The report describes Belize as a “source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor”.

The report says that the forms of

human trafficking vary in Belize, including coerced prostitution of children often occurring through parents in exchange for school fees, money, and gifts; child sex tourism, which the report says is “an emerging trend”; sex trafficking; and forced labor of Belizean and foreign women and girls, primarily from Central America, in bars, nightclubs, and brothels throughout the country.

Another increasing case, said the 2013 report, is forced labor among the South Asian and Chinese businesses such as restaurants and shops. There was at least one case of a Belizean trafficking victim identified in previous years in the United States.

The US Department is urging the Government to step up its efforts to investigate and prosecution of forced labor and sex trafficking offenders, including officials Cover of 2013 Human Trafficking complicit in traffickReport ing.

BY ORDER OF MORTGAGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL

VACANCY Belize City, Belize June 17th 2013 VICE PRESIDENT FOR BELIZE The largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation, protecting marine ecosystems and endangered species is currently recruiting Belizean applicants to apply for the post of Vice President for Belize.

Since establishing a national presence in 2009, OCEANA has achieved important victories, including helping to make Belize the first country in the world to completely ban bottom trawling as well as landmark legal decisions in the effort to protect Belize’s reef and marine resources from offshore oil drilling.

But we’ve only just begun. OCEANA is fully committed to helping Belizeans protect our reef and marine heritage for future generations. To join our dedicated, brave and passionate Belizean team, candidates are invited to emailing a cover letter and resume to resumes@oceana.org Continue the legacy. Lead the movement. Apply Today.

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 Mortgagee under and by virtue of a Deed of Mortgage registered at the Land Titles Unit between MINERVA CANUL FLORES of the one part and HRCU of the other part.

HRCU will at the expiration of two 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 or lot of land situate at Guadalupe street in the Village of Sarteneja, Corozal District, Belize, being Lot No. 151B comprising 490.373 square metres as shown and described on a Plan drawn by Licensed Surveyor L.S. Tingling dated the 12th day of June 2000 and being lodged and recorded at the Lands & Surveys Department in Belmopan in Register No. 15 Entry No. 5129 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of MINERVA CANUL FLORES DATED this 10th day of June 2013 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Babies’ death at KHMH handled by spin doctors Nobody is culpable as CEO blames media

Health Minister Pablo Marin Belize City, July 3, 2013 IT’s now seven weeks, three press (spin) conferences, a scathing report by the Pan American Health Organization on the death of thirteen babies at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) and nobody has been called to account.

When news of the tragic deaths of the thirteen infants, which was caused by the deadly bacteria Enterobacter Cloacae, first broke on local television, the CEO at the state-owned KHMH called a hasty press conference. Even before the entire tragedy of incompetence was blown wide open, he almost admitted his culpability by saying that he only became aware of these deaths when he saw the report in the nightly

newscast. This statement he later retracted, blaming the media (according to him, they all got it wrong) for misquoting him.

When the news just broke, the KHMH CEO blamed one of the parents of one of the dead children who went to the media.

He admitted that the media report “actually prompted the investigation because up until that point we were not aware that the situation was developing. It really became apparent when the babies died in significant number in a short period of time”.

That is not what we overheard.

Staff have been saying that he knew about this situation and did nothing.

They said that he is aloft and takes no interest in the day to day operations of the hospital. This has been borne out by the PAHO report.

Actually, the Chief Executive Officer

in the Ministry of Health, who believes he can spin the media dizzy, came to the rescue of his colleague by saying, “I think he felt he’s been misreported.

But perhaps he actually misspoke”.

The Ministry of Health had initially distanced itself from the deaths of the infants at the KHMH until it became a full blown national scandal. It mushroomed even more when the media recalled the earlier deaths of about five babies at the Northern Regional Stateowned hospital. This was a situation that was swiftly swept under the rug.

But as the mushroom cloud grew, the Prime Minister and master spin doctor called another “spin conference” in an attempt to cover everybody’s behind. At that press conference, the Minister of Health sat muted. We subsequently asked about this, the Prime Minister obviously ignored the severity of the death of the thirteen infants, ignoring questions about the competence of his Minister of Health, describ-

07 JUL

2013 ing him as a political asset for winning village council elections.

Under pressure, the Health Minister subsequently made a statement after a scathing PAHO report ripped into the mismanagement of the hospital for ignoring even rudimentary sanitation protocols.

Forced to face this damning report head on, the KHMH and the Ministry of Health called a press conference to address the findings.

Obviously embarrassed by the PAHO findings of mismanagement, the CEO of the KHMH “volunteered to become a member of the infection control committee at the hospital because of the importance that I give to this area of work”. This is an example of his officious idiosyncrasy.

This man could not have effectively managed the hospital. Now he wants to screw around with what caused the babies’ deaths in the first place.

He borrowed a snippet from the PAHO report, a classical document for its verbage, in trying to write the story of a disaster to make it read like a Stephen King novel.

“This type of thing happens in hospitals all over the world”, said the KHMH’s CEO. What he did not say is that when they happen people are usually fired. He should volunteer to resign.

The same applies for the Minister of Health, who had become suddenly animated after having a transmission problem with his brain. At the press conference to reveal and discuss the scathing PAHO report on the miserable and continuous life-threatening environment at the KHMH, the Minister of Health was still mentally far removed from the reality of the situation. Almost looking and sounding robotic he said: “I have an excellent team of professionals-both national and international-who have been investigating this outbreak for the last month. My absolute priority is to the safety of our children…I have felt it important to be a part of this team.”

When, where and how?

The Prime Minister said that at the time the scandal was brewing, his Health Minister was giving absolute priority to winning Village Council elections.

We know that for sure he cannot multi-task.

This is the second major scandal of the KHMH is less than two years. The first was the major drug racket. Now it is the death of thirteen infants, not including the five at the Northern Regional Hospital. We understand there is another in the making over the procurement of drugs by senior officials in the Ministry of Health.

Before this one sees sunlight, the Minister of Health, should take his sombrero and ride off into the sunset.

07 JUL

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

Hon. Jose Mai provides education support to OW South top students Orange Walk District, July 2, 2013 Hon. Jose Mai was invited to deliver Primary School Certificates to graduates of Guinea Grass Roman Catholic School on Thursday June 27th 2013. The Hon Jose Mai also awarded Education Grants to three of the students who received the highest marks on the PSE in that particular primary school. The students are: Elena Flores, Miguel Cal and Kareem Uck. The Hon Jose Mai was also given an award for his continuous support to Guinea Grass Roman Catholic School.

At the Pentecostal School’s Graduation Exercise held on Thursday, June 20th 2013, the Hon Jose Mai was invited to deliver the awards to parents and teachers for their support to the school. At the ceremony, the Hon Jose Mai pledged a full Tuition Scholarship to Miss Victoria Yat. Miss Yat is one of the students who received the highest marks on the PSE in that school. The Hon Jose Mai wishes the graduates of Guinea Grass success in their endeavors.

Suspected Guatemalan military plane invades Belize’s airspace Belize City, July 4, 2013 Up to press time, there has been no word from Civil Aviation authorities regarding an unidentified and unauthorized airplane which invaded Belize’s airspace on Saturday June 29 2013.

Confirmed reports are that the plane few directly over the Phillip Goldson International Airport while commercial airlines were preparing to land, in contravention with international commercial flight and airspace rules.

The plane, though unidentified, has been described as a military-type plane which could have been from either Mexico or Guatemala.

The BELIZE TIMES has confirmed from sources close to the Civil Aviation authority that no clearance was given for any aircraft of such type.

This is the second confirmed report of unauthorized planes flying through Belize’s airspace.

On the night of Thursday March 22nd 2103, an Aero Commander 500 with was flown out of Belize without proper authorization. A day later, it was intercepted by Venezuelan military and after searching the plane, found inside were four plastic containers of aviation fuel sufficient for 8 hours of flight, one case of aviation oil, a pump and a hose. Reports are that authorities found traces of cocaine.

They detained the passengers, identified as Canadian national, 51 year old David William Zawaski and Colombian national, 31 year old Jorge Bustamante.

There has still been no comment from Belizean authorities on this incident.

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2013

07 JUL

2013

Reid Trick Babies

By G. Michael Reid Sweet Jones had once told him an amazing philosophy stating “a pimp has gotta know his (workers), but not let them know him, he’s gotta be god all the way.” ~ Robert Beck (August 4, 1918 – April 28, 1992), also known as Iceberg Slim.

Pimping, for all intents and purposes, is a dead art. During my time on the streets of America however, it was on prominent display. The pimps were flamboyant, charismatic and full of flair.

They dressed in the most expensive clothes and drove the fanciest of cars. Great big Cadillac’s with gangster whitewalls and tv antennas in the back; “Diamond in the back, sunroof top, diggin’ the scene with a gangsta lean, oooh woo, woo….” (from the song “Be Thankful” by William DeVaughan).

In the game, there were different types of pimps. The new and less respected pimps were the “popcorn pimps” or “wannabe’s” while the more seasoned and experienced pimps were themselves separated into two classes. A pimp who used violence and intimidation to control his prostitutes was a “Jonas pimp”, while one who used psychology and “real game” was considered a “finesse pimp”.

There were times however, when even a finesse pimp had to resort to “Jonas” methods to keep his “workers” in line.

Most pimps had several “workers” in his “stable”, patrolling the “stroll” at any given time. He had one special lady who was his “bottom girl”, a deputy if you will.

The pimp is the “daddy” and in return for protection, the “workers” would earn the money and bring it all to him. With prostitution being illegal, the pimp was also expect-

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THE BELIZE TIMES

ed to provide bail for his “workers” if they were ever arrested. As he saw fit and when he saw fit and to whom he saw fit, he would return to them, oftentimes a pittance of what they gave to him. They were trained to be extremely grateful for whatever they go.

Once under a pimp’s control, a “worker” was expected to work long hours and bring in enough money to afford her pimp a very lavish lifestyle. Pimps were proud and often roamed the street surrounded by his “workers”. Pimps often used brutal methods to keep his “workers” in line but it seemed that the

in Chicago; controlling as many as four hundred “workers” during his pimping tenure. What is interesting to note is that according to Iceberg Slim, pimping had very little to do with sex. According to Slim, “a pimp doesn’t get paid for sex; he gets his pay for always having the right thing to say to his “workers”.’ “Pimping”, according to Slim, “isn’t a sex game, it’s a mind game”. It is believed that because of Iceberg Slims dissecting and exposing of the tricks of the trade, pimping lost its lure as women got wise and society became less tolerant.

Pimping was for the most part, the abuse of women by aggressive and slick talking men. There are quite a few similarities between pimping and the everyday abuse of women.

While pimping is now considered passé, the abuse of women continues unabated. There have been thousands of studies done, that have tried to understand why women stay in abusive relationships. At the end of the day, it is obvious that some men have the ability to es-

of men (ministers) who we give all our money to do as they please.

They dress in the most expense clothes, wear expense jewelry and drive the latest model cars. Do you see where I am going yet?

Every Wednesday, these ministers hold a clinic where they dole out little amounts of this money from that which we give them, to certain select members of their stable. If there were ever men who fit the profile of pimps it would be our Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister and our honorable Minister of Works. These men are “finesse pimps” in the true sense of the word. Can’t you just see these guys with a pimp cane and a long feather in their caps. Our Minister of Education would more fit the profile of a “Jonas pimp”, abusing and lashing out regularly at teachers and any others within his stable... er…I mean, ministry.

Then there are wannabe “popcorn pimps” like King, Castro and Longsworth; but they are learning!

Every so often when we complain and consider getting out of line, our Prime Pimp calls a pimp conference….. oops, I mean Press Conference. He then puts us back in line with his slick rhetoric and fancy speech.

Remember now, pimping is about “always having the right things to say”.

At some point, these elected officials will have to stop treating us like “workers” in their stables and start understanding their roles. They will have to come down to earth and stop living the lavish lifestyles of pimps. We the people will have to wise up and become less tolerant of this abuse. We will have to understand that the days of pimping are over and that we can do better.

We need to start demanding better accountability and more transparency for our money. It is time that we free ourselves from the control of these pimps!

Our Minister of Education would more fit the profile of a “Jonas pimp”, abusing and lashing out regularly at teachers and any others within his stable harsher the punishment, the more he was loved and adored by these “workers”. (note that “worker” is substituted for the real term in order that we can more appreciate the parallel.)

Sometime in the early seventies, a reformed pimp calling himself Iceberg Slim wrote a few books that basically sounded the death knell for this rather ignoble profession. Iceberg Slim had learned from the best and was at one time considered to be one of the top pimps

tablish a psychological control over some women keeping them dependent and too fearful to leave.

Let us now, draw another parallel. Consider this from the description of a pimp: “they were fashionable, smooth- talking, dripping with gold and diamonds, and they drove fancy cars.” Now consider our modern day politicians. There seem more than a few similarities between the game of pimping and the game of politics as it is played in Belize. Consider this, we have a group

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07 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Call Out for Help European Union

By Dr. Angela Banner Joseph “Envy and jealousy will kill a stupid fool” —Job 5:2l Young people, envy and jealousy can lead you to prison or death. I had an opportunity to participate in a pilot program in the early 90s through the State University of New York (SUNY) Community Outreach Program and the Austin McCormick Alternative High School College Awareness Program at Riker’s Island: a jail. The goal of the program at Riker’s Island was to help the many inmates who had obtained their General Equivalency Diploma (high school diploma) achieve further academic excellence by encouraging and supporting their ambitions, scheduling on-campus visits, and speaking in support of their application for general admission into college.

During my tenure at “The Island,” I made visits to the high school to talk with the inmates about the beauty of attending a SUNY institution upon release from prison. SUNY has 64 campuses in the state of New York.

During my visits, I witnessed the daily experiences of many young people who lived in the prison when I talked with them. Although the conversations were never easy, in fact, I found the conversations educational and enlightening.

I learned about the plight of the inner-city youths and what led them to prison. I learned that many were there because of envy and jealousy of their peers. The young inmates wanted what others had and what they couldn’t get, such as designer sneakers, apparel, drugs, a family. They wanted everything quickly and in real time. How foolish were they to think that materialistic items would show up at their doorsteps with the snap of a finger? Today’s young people have an “I-want-it-now” mentality, which is not reality.

Jealousy occurs when you have self-doubt about yourself

and when you fear that you may lose something. Envy, on the other hand, is wanting what someone else has instead of your own possessions. There is a difference between need and want, and there will always be people who have more—or less—than you do. That is just how life is: we are born not knowing the economic background of our family.

Some people believe that jealousy is poisonous. What I know for sure is that nothing in life is free or easy. Everything in life costs us time or money, including the ultimate price you pay when you are handed a prison sentence.

“Envy asks one leading question: What about me? Why does he or she have beauty, talent, wealth, power, the world’s love, and other gifts, or at any rate, a larger share of them than I have? Why not me?” —Joseph Epstein Envy is considered a deadly sin. People will never admit that they are envious or jealous of another person. It is human nature to deny that you feel neither of the two. Look at how people react when someone else has something they want. The green-eyed monster comes out. Take, for example, how wars are started; why people hate. It’s because countries and people are envious of what others have. Harold G. Coffin contended, “Envy is the art of counting your fellow’s blessings instead of your own.”

In life, we will all experience jealousy and envy. However, it is how we react to such situations that matters. What do you do?

How do you respond? Jodi Picoult noted, “Envy, after all, comes from wanting something that isn’t yours. But grief comes from losing something you’ve already had.” Envy is worse than insecurity, because how often we have wished that we had the attributes that someone else has. In fact, the sky is the limit concerning the number of qualities you can envy in a person you have admired.

Young people, take the time to understand yourself and allow yourself to live within your means.

Michelle Parsons warned, “Don’t compare yourself to others …

That’s a battle you can never win.”

Do not hate anyone for their personal property or relationships.

You have a choice to leave envy and jealousy at the door, or greet it at the front door of a prison.

Dr. Angela Banner Joseph holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Change from the Fielding Graduate University.

Expression of Interest Diversification of Community Based Tourism Products and Services Under the “Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites” Project Introduction The Government of Belize has received counterpart funding from the European Union via the Belize Rural Development Program II (BRDP II) to finance a project entitled “Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites:” Co-financing for the project is being provided by the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Tourism and Culture represented by the Belize Tourism Board and the National Institute of Culture and History. The project is being implemented by the Belize Tourism Board and the National Institute of Culture and History through a Project Execution Unit housed at the Belize Tourism Board offices. The objectives of the project are: • To improve economic opportunities in rural communities and contribute to the reduction of poverty; • To enhance the tourism experience through improvements in tourism infrastructure and services at selected sites.

The project intends to achieve three main sets of results: • Results One: Improve the monitoring systems at archaeological sites; • Results Two: Improve health and safety provisions and infrastructure at archaeological sites; • Results Three: Enhance the diversification of community based tourism products and services offered at archaeological sites in Belize.

The Project targets communities adjacent to the following nine archaeological sites: 1. Xunantunich 2. Barton Creek 3. Actun Tunichil Muknal 4. Nohoch Che’en 5. Altun Ha 6. Lamanai 7. Nim Li Punit 8. Lubaantun 9. Blue Creek Scope of Work The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Belize Tourism Board and the National Institute of Culture and History now intends to apply a part of the proceeds of the project funds to address Result 3 of the Project “Diversification of Community Based Tourism Products and Services”.

This action will fund activities for capacity development and training for local artisans from communities adjacent to the nine archaeological sites listed above.

Activities to be achieved via this consultancy include: (1) Rapid assessment of products being sold at or near the sites; (2) Development of a product development model for local artisans; (3) Establishment of a proper product certification system, including a brand scheme.

(4) Providing technical assistance to build the capacity of local artisans in business development, as well as integration into local and possibly international value chains.

Qualifications Interested parties should possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in tourism enterprise development, tourism/marketing management or cultural business development. A graduate degree is preferable. Experience in working with rural artisans and conducting training in cultural tourism product development in Belize or the Caribbean would be a distinct asset.

Expression of Interest Interested parties (individuals or firms) are asked to submit a letter expressing their interest, experience, and qualifications to undertake the project. Shortlisted parties will then be sent a complete Terms of Reference (TOR) and asked to submit a technical and financial proposal.

Only parties originating from European Union (EU) Member States and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries are eligible to apply.

Please address Expression of Interest to: Patrick Tillett Finance Officer Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites Post Office Box 325 56 Regent Street Belize City, Belize Central America

or Email: patrick.tillett@brdpIItourism.bz Expressions of Interest must be received by July 30th 2013.

07 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Home Economics

The high cost of foreclosure

By Richard Harrison All businesses....as with persons....will meet a rough spot or two during their normal life cycle.

How society is set up to allow businesses and persons to get over these rough spots....speaks to the morals and values of the society.

A society that respects the rights of its people to be free....will always seek to reduce the risk of reaching these rough spots (exposure)....and then to reduce the severity and duration of these rough spots (hazard).

A society that recognizes that growth and prosperity comes from entrepreneurial, productive and creative activity....attempting to develop and market new products and services...will always seek to reduce the risk of entrepreneurs chances of failure....and to increase the chances of them getting back up if and when they fall.

There are many causes of the fall of entrepreneurs: 1. Government can randomly change rules of the game that make a business model or formula redundant; e.g. it is special rules that create offshore financial services or offshore ship registry business opportunities...and changes in those rules can make or break this kind of business. It is the same for any type of business.

2. A new technology may arrive that makes a business dependent on an old technology redundant....e.g. movie theatres with the arrival of television, CD sales with the arrival of YouTube and other electronic forms of selling and delivering music, etc.

3. Alternative products/services (or distribution channel of such) may appear with better features and benefits than those existing on the market....e.g. electronic delivery of news and literature certainly reduces the demand of newspapers, text books and novels, etc.

4. Management inability to transition a business after it has grown to a certain scale....e.g. loss of control when a business gets too big for the managers capacity and capability, lack of new ideas to refresh the business products and services and give it renewed life periodically and maintain their vibrancy in the competitive marketplace.

5. Extravagance and waste of resources generated by the entrepreneurial activity, on consumerism and unaffordable, unrealistic lifestyles....e.g. frequent foreign shopping gauntlets, mansions, harems, yachts, etc.

These are just to mention a few, not to dwell too long on the point.

All businesses and persons in a society that value freedom....should be allowed some wiggle room to

get out when they are stuck....this is called a “safety net”....which encourages people to take risks and to be entrepreneurial, knowing full well that in any risk taking, there is a probability of running into rough spots... and of failure. A mature and intelligent society recognizes that it is this risk taking that drives growth and prosperity in the long run. Businesses and persons who “fail” will have to make changes to what they are doing...and how they are doing it....and realistically, this takes some time.

Change is not an easy process...for any business or person....regardless of the CAUSE of the need for that change.

There are different ways how a society can react to failure of its entrepreneurial class (including persons who risk to build their own dream homes and invest in first class education and/or health for their children).

It can choose to foreclose on those persons who run into rough spots in their risk taking....or it can choose to re-finance their obligations within their new means, after running into a rough spot. The ease...or difficulty....with which these options are made achievable....depends on the morals and values of the society.

Belize is a tough society generally....but especially on entrepreneurs....it is very unforgiving when it comes to the challenges of businesses and persons who take risky ventures.

Belize keeps holding on to outdated, unfair and unproductive laws that were written centuries ago by colonial mentality, patronizing authors.

The countries from whom we adopted our laws more than half-a-century ago, have since updated and modernized their own laws, taking into consideration this “safety net” principle that encourages risk taking and entrepreneurship. In the UK and USA today....foreclosure is still on the table....however, that is only a last-resort option, after all attempts over a very long period of time (certainly more than 18 months) to obtain refinancing. They have done everything to make refinancing possible, especially for a business or person that can show they have the potential to recalibrate to suit their new realities, after running into a rough patch.

This is very visible to the country of Belize....which came very close to “foreclosure”....since there is no foreclosure on countries, they call it “default”....but it is the same thing in real terms. Belize Government went around the developed world with palms open....begging for a RE-FINANCING.....asking for “hair-cut”, or reduction in principal....lower interest rates....longer terms. The developed world responded, within their own

set of MORALS and VALUES.....and they assisted Belize.

SO Belize Government, society and persons know first-hand....the morals and values that allowed it to achieve this “victory”. We will do well to adopt some of this UNDERSTANDING, WISDOM and COMPASSION.... by adopting the updated and modern morals and values of the developed world, as it relates to “safety net” for risk takers. It should update its laws....that make it harder to foreclose....and easier to refinance.

HAIRCUT...LOWER RATES...LONGER TERMS. These words have very real meaning to the government, society and persons of Belize.....we need to exercise the same compassion on our own....as the world has had on our government....not once...but twice....over a period of seven years.

Belize keeps holding on to outdated, unfair and unproductive attitudes....which demonizes profit seeking...and characterizes profit seekers as greedy and self-serving. They do not see....appreciate....nor value the 16 hour days that they put in to build what they have. They are ready to condemn you to live in the street, literally, if and when you fall. They will sell your roof from over your head.

This is especially true of the senior government officials and those in the small financial circles....99% of who have never owned nor operated their own business, nor have the ambition of doing so.

Globalization of trade and the world financial crisis...and our reaction (or lack thereof) to these...have taken a heavy toll on Belize’s risk takers. When this is synergized with corruption, the toll is overbearing on most. This is why, even with the discovery of oil in 2005, our effective poverty rate is above 40% and real unemployment is above 20%.....with safety, security and quality of life taking a bludgeoning.

Even our monopoly companies and those exporting under preferential arrangements are struggling to keep operational. Belizean-owned retail distribution is now only a memory, as influx of Chinese and Hindu merchants have displaced most, if not all....even in the smallest villages. Not even a 10% increase in tourism and agriculture commodities can compensate for the decline in other areas of the economy....both driven by external consumption, and not reflective of domestic disposable incomes and consumption/investment....this is why the annual unemployment, poverty and crime rates just keep getting worse....no matter that a measure of employment in the month of April 2013 (peak tourism and agricultural production month) shows a seasonal decline in unemployment of a measly 2%...according to the Statistical Institute of Belize.

Since 2008, the reckless foreclosure of many thousands of businesses and persons, have flooded the market with properties for cents on the dollar....so much so that these days, the insatiable appetite of the vultures is at belly-full capacity.... and they are now only buying if the foreclosed property is sold to them at

23 $0.25 on the dollar, or less.

BUT....natural law is applied without fear or favor....my neighbor cannot devalue my property...without devaluing his own by the same amount.

ALL OF US IN BELIZE ARE BEING DEVALUED BECAUSE OF THIS LOW LEVEL OF MORALS AND VALUES. This butchering of property values....by the artificially created FLOOD of foreclosures....is in itself an obstacle to refinancing...because refinancing is dependent to a large extent on collateral property values....so every tough situation is just made worse.

In the USA....if a bank decides to foreclose on a business or person... and decides to do so at a value below the Forced Sale Value (FSV...the value established by a licensed valuer for a distressed property)....then that discount is a decision of the bank...and they must accept the loss for that discount...and write off the entire liability amount. In Belize....the banks can foreclose on your mortgaged property....sell it at values far below the FSV....and still come after your other properties if their discounted price do not liquidate the total liability amount, plus all their unjust add-ons.

Another PRACTICE which is counter-productive in Belize....and which is “tolerated” by the unjust laws....is the practice of financial institutions to demand PERSONAL GUARANTEES. This is so retro!!.... what is the purpose of LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES (LLC)....if the owners are in almost ALL occasions REQUIRED/FORCED to sign personal guarantees???? This is just another means of nailing entrepreneurs to the cross before they even have a chance to prove that their entrepreneurial investment risk is profitable.....it removes the “safety net” that LLC brought to encourage more risk taking, entrepreneurial activity, investment and jobs creation.

Much of this large-scale foreclosures could have been avoided....if a more progressive philosophy....if a higher moral value of personal freedom and responsibility....prevailed among our economic and financial managers… and our legislative community.

BUT....every sword cuts both ways.....the same sword that devalues the rights and responsibilities of others to their personal freedom..... is the same sword that reduces your own rights and responsibilities to your own personal freedom. No one can have their cake, and eat it. This is natural law....many times a reality and truth which is not reflected in man-made laws....especially those created, ignoring balance, to favor a special-interest minority in society.

This is why the symbol of justice, since time immemorial, is a balancing scale....and not a sword.

This is why the reasonable apply reason....while it still exists.

Richard Harrison is a local businessman and investor in the manufacturing and service industries. Mr. Harrison holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from Lancaster University, United Kingdom. Send comments to harrisonbz@yahoo.com

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07 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Recipe of the week

TUNA FLIPPERS School is out and summer vacation is in full swing. Why not introduce your bored teens or kids to a new hobby? Turn them into little chefs for the summer with some fun recipes!

This recipe is suitable for little cooks between the ages of 12-15.

tro

INGREDIENTS: 2 large carrots 1 Tbsp. water 3 tsp. chopped fresh parsley/cilan-

Juice and zest of lime 2 egg whites, lightly beaten 1 clove garlic minced 1/4 tsp. pepper 2 (6-oz) cans water packed tuna, drained 1 1/2 Tbsps. olive oil DIRECTIONS: • Adult: Lay each carrot on the cutting board and cut into chunks and

put to steam until soft.

Once ready remove and place in a mixing bowl • Kid: Use a fork to mash the carrots completely.

• Adult: Wash the parsley/cilantro. Shake off the water. Snip the parsley/cilantro into little pieces and add it to the carrots.

• Adult: Rub the whole lime over a small-hole grater, grating off the outer skin.

• Adult: When you’re done, the lime should be mostly white. Put the zest to the bowl with the carrots and parsley.

MARRIAGES Shaobin Wu, 41, to Xinying Rong, 40, both of Belize City Oscar Javier Gonzalez Monroy, 35, to Natasha Aracelli Hernandez, 26, both of Belize City Aaron Sydney Zuniga, 42, to Linnett Laura Augustine, 36, both of Belize City Russell Wayne Young, 54, to Elena Ann Bradley, 54, both of Belize City Jorge Carlos Barrera, 19, to Maritza Lizet Jiron, 20, both of Caye Caulker, Belize District Jason Alfred Garbutt, 35, to Melonie Margaret Garbutt, 34, both of Monkey River, Toledo District Robert Moreira, 48, to Evelyn Cornejo, 39, both of Steadfast, Stann Creek District Hector Alexander Majano, 20, to Nora Elizabeth Gonzalez, 20, both of Mango Creek, Stann Creek District Zane Douglas Garbutt, 29, to Marisela Natalie Saravia, 23, both of Monkey River, Toledo District Channing Charles Coleman, 21, to Irma Cal, 37, both of Mango Creek, Stann Creek District Edward Anthony Lopez, 26, to Marcelina Cho, 25, both of Placencia, Stann Creek District Zane Androy Burgess, 21, to Ilsi Yohanna Castellanos, 19, both of Mango Creek, Stann Creek District

German Bonilla, 42, to Luisa Elizabeth Lopez, 34, both of Independence, Stann Creek District Wilfred Emmanuel Hamilton, Jr., 40, to Flora Mary Valentine, 42, both of Georgetown, Stann Creek District Santos Aparicio Alegria, 52, to Silvia Roxana Ramirez, 40, both of Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District Eldon Elroy Garbutt, 27, to Arline Ayanty Bogle, 30, both of Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District Arden Rupert Jones, 22, to Zelda Mae Enriquez, 24, both of Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District Raynell Polonio, 24, to Katarina Marion Rotz, 20, both of Yemeri Grove, Toledo District Nuani Emeni Cayetano, 26, to Josephine Marie Baltazar, 23, both of Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District Erick Alfonso Casanova, 19, to Yaniri Yadeli Gonzalez, 18, both of Chunox, Corozal District Juan Caal, 32, to Faustina Bah, 30, both of Big Falls, Toledo District Jorge Francisco Tzi Ac, 31, to Martha Julia Tox Pop, 28, both of San Felipe, Toledo District Florencio Cal, 25, to Francelia Nolberta Salam, 24, both of Red Bank, Stann Creek District Orlando Choco, 35, to Lydia Ack, 21, both of Big Falls, Toledo

Cut the lime in half.

• Kid: Use a citrus juicer to get all the juice out. Add that to the bowl, too.

• Together: Crack the eggs and separate the whites from the yolks. Add egg whites, garlic, pepper and tuna to the bowl. Mix it up.

• Kid: Divide the mixture into 8 mounds. Shape each one into a round patty. Put on a large plate.

• Adult: Heat the oil over me-

District Brian John Popper, 21, to Kristy Jamilla Cruz, 18, both of orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District Davis Michael Andrew Clark, 27, of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada, to Valerie Diane Mapplebeck, 23, of Aylesford, Nova Scotia, Canada Efrian Tox, 23, to Olivia Caal, 22, both of San Felipe, Toledo District John Choc, 31, to Ofelia Cal, 28, both of Belmopan Juan Cho, 24, to Rosa Ofelia Xol, 20, both of Jalacte, Toledo District Rodrigo Cal, 27, of Placencia, Stann Creek District, to Rosemary Agnes Salam, 30, of Hopkins, Stann Creek District Samuel Tzul,19, of San Felipe, Toledo District, to Benefilia Amoria Cho, 20, of San Antonio, Toledo District Anselmo Chiac, 23, to Maria Cucul, 22, both of Big Falls, Toledo District Jose Jaime Valladares, 42, to Yulma Griselda Perez Lopez, 32, both of Benque Viejo del Carmen, Toledo District Salvador Bac, 22, of Indian Creek, Toledo District, to Letty Ical, 19, of San Roman, Stann Creek District Damian Alex Frazer, 25, to Sandra Teul, 31, both of Burrell Boom, Belize District Jorge Chan, 25, of Patchakan, Corozal District, to Maria Rosalia Lino, 20, of Concepcion, Corozal District Jian Bin Wu, 30, to Qiao Hong Li, 26, both of Corozal Town, Corozal District Da Quan Li, 27, to Jin Ci Su, 22, both of Corozal Town, Corozal District

dium heat in the skillet. Carefully put the patties in the hot skillet so they aren’t touching each other.

They may not all fit in at once.

Just do them in batches if you need to. Let them cook for 4-5 minutes until they’re lightly browned. Use a spatula to flip the patties. Continue cooking until they’re browned on the other side, about 3-4 minutes.

• Together: Put the finished patties on a plate. Time to eat!

Cashing in on Lionfish!

BIRTHS Born to Calvin Mervin Vasquez and Lucia Vasquez nee Rivero, a boy, Austin Calvin Born to Edwardo Chub and Marita Stephanie Chub nee Savala, a girl, Zeannie Layla Born to Edgar Giovanny Esquivel and Yamileth D.T. Esquivel nee Herrera, a boy, Maxwell Giovanni Born to Ian Michael Pollard and Angelita Estrellita Pollard nee Leal, a girl, Kathia Renae Born to Michael Gregory Brakeman and Anna Mae Brakeman nee Zabrowski, a boy, Harvey Michael Born to Marcel Guadalupe Alfaro and Stacy K. Alfaro nee Flowers, a girl, Kirsten Abby

DEATHS William Thomas Staines, Sr., 88 Edmond Lloyd Panton, 36 Dalton Oliver Cayetano, 24 Frederico Nicholas, 84 Jose Daniel Hernandez, 53 Philip Lemar Wilson, 68 Theresa Gail Beard, 54 Delone Saturn Simon Vernon, 31 Herminia Lambey, 87

Continued from page 11 termine if it’s effective in reducing lionfish numbers.

Lionfish are not native to Belize and thus have no natural predators. Oceana, SEA, the Placencia Coop and Blue Venture all encourage the removal of lionfish, which are safe to eat, its flavor comparing well to both snapper and grouper.

Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that MARTHA BARRIOS is applying for a Malt & Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Mi Casa Cool Spot”, situate at San Martin Street, Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk Town under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that JOSE CHAU is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Eighty Eight Shopping Center Limited”, situate at 55 Neals Pen Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Di Lun Zheng is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Green

07 JUL

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

25

CONNECT THE DOTS Guess who is eating honey? It’s Pooh Bear! Connect the dots from 1-35!

BRAINTASTIC COLOURING Put on your thinking caps and start multiplying! It’s the only way to colour this picture correctly.

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07 JUL

THE BELIZE TIMES

PUBLIC service

announcements

2013

BRAIN

TEASER

SUDOKU PUZZLE #24/2013

Ariel Rosado Foundation Provides 26 Scholarships July 3, 2013 The Board of Directors of the Ariel Rosado Foundation announces that it has approved funding for a total of 26 scholarships for academic Year 2013 – 2014. These include: 1. The extension of One Year membership in the Belize Sailing Association for 5 Primary School students from St. Luke’s Methodist School and the addition of One Year Membership in the Belize Sailing Association for 5 Primary School Students from St. John’s Primary School.

2.

The extension of 9 High School Scholarships and the addition of 4 new High School Scholarships 3. The extension of 1 Galen University Academic Scholarship and the addition of 1 new Galen University Academic Scholarship and 1 new Galen University Athlet-

ic Scholarship Recipients of these awards hail from Belize City, Belize River Valley, Esperanza Village and Libertad Village. These awards will be presented at a public ceremony to be held at the Lion’s Den on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City on Wednesday 10th July 2013 starting at 10:00 am. At that ceremony 10 dedicated Secondary School scholarships will be inaugurated and Sponsors and Supporters of the Foundation will be recognized for the support they have extended to needy and deserving Belizean youths.

The Ariel Rosado Foundation takes this opportunity to congratulate the original 10 scholars who in spite of their financial challenges successfully completed their first year of study and to especially applaud those scholars who passed in the top 10% of their respective classes.

See answers NEXT WEEK

Coalition Unveils New Logo To commemorate its 3rd year anniversary, the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage unveiled its new logo on Wednesday July 3rd.

The new logo is designed by John Ical and represents the Coalition’s work in addressing oil exploration in both Belize’s offshore and onshore, including in protected areas. This is represented by the oil drop and the colours green and blue.

The design also shows that Coalition’s work protects the natural environment and secures the livelihoods and heritage of Belizeans depicted by the images of the family and fisherman. The two halves of the drop forming one represents the coming togeth-

Answers for last week’s puzzle SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTION #23/2013

er of members from various sectors, with onshore and offshore mandates, joining in the fight toward one common goal- a properly planned oil industry outside of our offshore and protected areas.

Mr. Ical’s logo design was chosen through a logo competition out of almost 30 submissions. As the logo competition winner, he will receive BZE$300 and public awareness products from the Coalition.

Answers for last week’s puzzle

See answers NEXT WEEK

07 JUL

27

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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V

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Selected By Chris Williams

Bone-marrow transplants ‘cure’ men with HIV 03 July 2013 by Andy Coghlan Two men known only as the “Boston patients” have both stopped taking their anti-HIV medications following transplants of bone-marrow stem cells that appear to have banished the virus from their bodies.

They are the latest in a series of people with HIV who appear to be practically rid of the virus – although researchers warn it is too soon to declare them cured. Earlier this year, reports emerged of an infant and a group of 14 adults who all experienced functional HIV cures, meaning that although their bodies still had traces of the virus, it was no longer active.

So far, these functional cures have all been attributed to very early treatment with antiretroviral drugs, before the virus could take hold. The Boston patients, in contrast, are free of the virus thanks to a combination of a bone marrow transplant plus continuing antiretroviral drugs to stop newly donated immune cells from being infected.

Tim Henrich of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, who led an investigation into the men’s condition, says that

the men remain virus-free between three and four years after their transplants, even though they gave up taking antiretrovirals 15 and 7 weeks ago respectively. He presented the latest results today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the annual meeting of the International AIDS Society.

Cure not confirmed “While these results are exciting, they do not yet indicate that the men have been cured,” says Henrich.

“Long-term follow-up of at least one year will be required to understand the full impact of a bone-marrow transplant on HIV persistence.”

Both of the Boston men were already HIV-positive when they were diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. They both had standard chemotherapy to kill their native blood cells before undergoing a bone-marrow transplant from a donor to repopulate their blood. Until recently, both men also continued to take anti-HIV drugs in an effort to prevent any residual virus from infecting their “new” immune systems.

“Since coming off antiretroviral therapy this spring, the men continue to have no detectable HIV DNA or

RNA in their blood,” says Henrich.

There is one previous case of an HIV-positive individual being “cured” following a bone marrow transplant – the “Berlin patient”,Timothy Ray Brown. But he owed his good fortune to the fact that his new bone marrow came from a donor whose blood cells had a mutated version of a protein called CCR5. HIV exploits the normal version of this protein to enter cells, but cannot do the same with the mutated protein. So when the donated cells repopulated Brown’s blood, they were all by default resistant to HIV. The Boston patients, by contrast, received bone marrow from donors without this mutation.

Henrich hopes to find out how the resulting blood cells remained uninfected despite this. He suspects that continued antiretroviral drug treatment was crucial.

Possible return “Our patients remained on antiretroviral therapy throughout transplantation, and donor cells appear to be protected from infections during engraftment and replacement of host cells,” he says. “But it’s possible the virus could return in both

of our patients in the coming weeks, months or even years.”

“The result is very encouraging, but we need longer-term follow-up,” says Françoise Barré-Sinoussi of the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France, who shared the 2008 Nobel prize in medicine for co-discovering HIV, and who was not involved in the Boston study.

“We need to understand better why these patients have undetectable virus,” she says. “All the mechanisms need to be clarified, and then we can expect to develop another strategy for other patients that might not involve a transplant.”

At the same symposium, Sharon Lewin of the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and her colleagues revealed that a drug called entinostat has potential in the quest for an HIV cure. At present, all HIV-positive people must take antiretroviral drugs for life because the virus can hide in the body and re-emerge if treatment is halted. Entinostat, an anti-cancer drug, is the latest of a family of drugs that could lead to a full cure by reviving dormant virus and flushing it out into the bloodstream, where it can be killed by standard antiretroviral drugs.

Windows aims to open up 3D printing to the masses 28 June 2013 by Paul Marks Microsoft will make support for 3D printers available in the next update to its Windows 8 operating system. The firm has struck deals with a raft of major 3D-printer makers – including Makerbot, 3D Systems, Formlabs, Dassault and Stratasys – under which they will develop automatically-loading driver software that will ease 3D printer set-up at home.

“We want this to be so simple that anyone can set up their own table-top factory,” says Shanen Boettcher in a company blog post announcing the move.

“Making a 3D object on your PC will be as easy as writing a document in Word and sending it to print.”

Windows variants – XP, 7, Vista and 8 – collectively hold 91 per cent of the desktop operating system market. Microsoft estimates that some 70 per cent of 3D printing is already performed on machines running Windows.

The firm hopes its move will enable designs created in 3D-drawing applications to be seamlessly submitted as 3D print jobs, because the driver software will understand 3D file formats as easily as it now does regular 2D-printing formats. In addi-

tion, users will be able to print miniature 3D sculptures of themselves – or their cats, of course – from 3D imagery captured by Microsoft’s depth-sensing camera, Kinect.

Star Trek it ain’t But that vision could be a way off yet, says Daniel Johns, who is currently 3D printing parts of Bloodhound SSC, a car which is being built to break the world land speed record in 2015.

“A Windows plugin will help, but it is not going to make a great difference any time soon – we’re not talking Star Trek replicators here,” says Johns. “Affordable domestic

3D printers, and the materials you can use in them, will continue to limit what people can do.”

Unlike expensive industrial 3D printers that can fuse metal powders, models designed for home use are mostly confined to building objects out of melted plastic.

“To do something fundamentally useful, like download and print a part for your washing machine, the 3D printing materials available to home users need to mature further,” says Johns.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

07 JUL

2013

Super Freak

Preventing Gum Disease

Have you ever heard the phrase “You can’t put God in a box”? It’s a commonplace saying and a commonplace mistake. But if you look in the Bible, you’ll find instances where God not only used the young or the prophets to further his kingdom. He also used some freaks.

The definition of freak is unusual or strange, and as I’m going to explain, it’s not necessarily a negative thing. For example, take my man, John, Jesus’ cousin.

He had it made. He came from the lineage of Aaron, which meant the family business was the church. He was the immediate candidate for priestly duties, so he went to the best schools. He studied theology and psychology and other –ologys. John had a life of easy living in the temple waiting for him. But if he followed that status quo, he wouldn’t be much of a freak now would he?

Nope. John escaped from that life to become a dweller of the desert. He dressed in camel clothes and ate honey and locusts. Clearly, John liked to walk on the wild side. Can you imagine how he must have looked to the people who’d known him? I can picture his family getting frustrated with him, trying to understand why he couldn’t be conformed to the life arranged for him. I can see his former schoolmates snickering at him, laughing at the way he dressed and behaved. To the regular guy, John’s shift in careers made no sense.

John traded the best pieces of meat that priests were entitled to receive for insects and wild honey.

He traded the comfortable silken linen of the religious for the scratchy material of camel cloth. He traded the beautiful and grand temple for the hot and dusty desert.

But he didn’t complain about the discomfort or protest his lot in life. God had called him to a bigger purpose: to prepare the way of the Lord. His purpose was like a fire in his belly, that couldn’t be ignored.

In a way, I’m jealous of John and that recklessness and abandon that caused him to give up everything for the cause. I’m not saying that to reach the lost we should dress in weird clothes and start starving ourselves. That would scare people away rather than interest them. I’m talking about John’s fire. His resolve remained absolute even as he did a complete about face in his life, going from riches to rags. He must have been laughed at. He must have drawn a crowd of spectators who were looking for a show. People must have called him ‘crazy’ and ‘delusional’. Yet he was steadfast in his conviction.

Maybe that’s what this world needs. Some more freaks, rebels and weirdos to stand up for what’s right.

To bridge the gap between corruption and the people.

To speak up when everyone would rather remain silent.

Here’s to the world changers.

Until next week, God bless.

Gingivitis, also generally called gum disease or periodontal disease, begins with bacterial growth in your mouth and may end -- if not properly treated -- with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth.

What causes it?

Plaque is the primary cause of gum disease. However, other factors can contribute to periodontal disease. These include: • Hormonal changes, such as those occurring during pregnancy, puberty, menopause, and monthly menstruation, make gums more sensitive, which makes it easier for gingivitis to develop.

• Illnesses may affect the condition of your gums.

This includes diseases such as cancer or HIV that interfere with the immune system. Because diabetes affects the body’s ability to use blood sugar, patients with this disease are at higher risk of developing infections, including periodontal disease and cavities.

• Medications can affect oral health, because some lessen the flow of saliva, which has a protective effect on teeth and gums. Some drugs can cause abnormal growth of gum tissue.

• Bad habits such as smoking make it harder for gum tissue to repair itself.

• Poor oral hygiene habits such as not brushing and flossing on a daily basis, make it easier for gingivitis to develop.

• Family history of dental disease can be a contributing factor for the development of gingivitis.

What Are the Symptoms?

• Gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing • Red, swollen, or tender gums • Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth • Receding gums • Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums • Loose or shifting teeth • Changes in the way teeth fit together upon biting down, or in the fit of partial dentures.

How Is Gum Disease Treated?

Treatment depend on the stage of disease, how you may have responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health.

Options range from nonsurgical therapies that control bacterial growth to surgery to restore supportive tissues.

How to prevent it?

Gum disease can be reversed in nearly all cases when proper plaque control is practiced. Proper plaque control consists of professional cleanings at least twice a year and daily brushing and flossing. Brushing eliminates plaque from the surfaces of the teeth that can be reached; flossing removes food particles and plaque from in between the teeth and under the gum line. Antibacterial mouth rinses can reduce bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease, according to the American Dental Association.

Other health and lifestyle changes that will decrease the risk, severity, and speed of gum disease development include: Stop smoking. Reduce stress. Maintain a well-balanced diet.

Avoid clenching and grinding your teeth.

07 JUL

29

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Ministry of Health fails to equip Central Medical Lab Lack of supplies forced use of deficient “home-made methods” to identify bacteria Belize City, July 3, 2013 The Pan American Health Organisation has blasted the Barrow Administration for failing to provide adequate supplies to the Central Medical Laboratory through its recent assessment of the Karl Heusner Memorial hospital and support systems.

According to the PAHO report since February 2013 the Lab has been out of supplies to carry out proper analysis of bacteria in blood samples. Without the proper utensils, the Lab has had to use “home-made manual methods”, which PAHO said, “lacked quality control measures” and “limited the susceptibility reports to a few antibiotics”.

The PAHO report explained that Lab’s capabilities and effectiveness have been compro-

mised. They pointed out that the improvised methods were unreliable and was what caused the inconsistent results on the identification of microorganisms on patients, even during the infection outbreak at the KHMH which killed 8 babies in the month of May. “The laboratory capabilities and assurance as a resource to aid in the diagnostic of clinical infections and to assist in an ep-

Damning PAHO Report!

Findings expose extreme sloppiness at KHMH, e.g. mold on ceilings, insufficient hand sanitizers Continued from page 9 raised eyebrows.

The report cited that materials to be sterilized are washed with no use of magnifying glasses to check on the presence of organic matter. Also, improper disinfectants were used such as Acetic Acid 1% and Acriflavin 0,4% solutions.

The PAHO experts said that they found respiratory masks kept in a container in an area that was next to basins where washing of materials is done, exposing the masks to contaminations.

They also pointed out the most likely cause of the babies’ infection as contamination via an intravenous device or medication. In the same report, they accused the hospital of dangerous practices with syringes among patients.

The report indicated that despite a 2011 recommendation against the use of syringes which are prepared and stored for several days and used among multiple patients, the KHMH continued the practice.

“This practice was already seen in the assessment done in August 2011, and was observed as a high

risk practice. The only change observed since the first report was in shortening the expiry date from 7 days to 48 hours. Being a high risk practice for patients (contamination) and for personnel (needle puncture) it should be eliminated,” stated the report.

Despite the glaring evidence of negligence at the hospital, as pointed out in the report, the Minister of Health Pablo Marin and KHMH CEO Dr. Francis Gary Longsworth have refused to claim responsibility and take appropriate action.

Both have shielded behind the report’s obscurity in identifying the source of the infection. This inability to identify the source through further testing, derives from the fact that the original samples from the cases were discarded because of constrained space at the Central Medical Laboratory where they had been stored. The hospital does not have an adequate Microbiology Laboratory to conduct its own testing.

idemiological investigation are precarious and are compromising patient care,” charged the report.

The PAHO report has tasked the Government to “improve the capacity of laboratory staff” and to “develop and implement quality control procedures for media cultures and bio-chemicals used for identification and susceptibility testing, and provide con-

tinuous supplies for automated methods for the identification and/or confirmation of pathogens found in CSF and Blood specimens”.

This critical neglect of the Health Sector is not new to the UDP. The people of Belize are still waiting for a proper Forensics Laboratory to help in health science and crime fighting which Prime Minister Dean Barrow had promised when they were in Opposition, five years ago.

On October 17, 2007, then Opposition Leader Barrow made all sorts of promises to be elected into office. One of those promises was to “set up, within the first six months of taking office, a DNA unit at the National Forensics Lab”. It’s been five years since, and the people of Belize are still waiting.

UDP=MARK ESPAT= KREMANDALA Mark Espat is bought and paid for by Dean Barrow and the UDP. Mark Espat and Dean Barrow share a common objective: to destroy the PUP. Mark Espat is a UDP. Mark Espat is the son-in-law of Kremandala Chairman Evan X Hyde.

Mark Espat’s money and UDP political influence now dominate Kremandala’s purpose and direction.

Evan X Hyde’s “Hezbollah” now control Kremandala. Oh, how Hezbollah must be laughing.

Kremandala is compromised by the almost $100,000 per month in Advertising Dollars it receives from the UDP Dean Barrow Administration and the Barrow controlled public utilities. It’s all about the $$$$$$.

Mark Espat is collecting millions from Dean Barrow and these millions are being shared with Kremandala and select UDP candidates as Espat seeks to win favor within his new Party.

What an unholy Hezbollah alliance!!

DEAN BARROW=UDP=MARK ESPAT= KREMANDALA

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THE BELIZE TIMES

07 JUL

2013

EDITORIAL Spanish Cuando los numerous fallan “Hay tres clases de mentiras: las mentiras, las malditas mentiras y estadísticas” - Mark Twain La economía de Belice ha tomado varios golpes viscerales recientemente.

Algunos han estado debajo del cinturón, mientras que otros han sido fatales como consuelo para empresas que tratan de mantener sus puertas abiertas y sus familias alimentadas.

Es importante tomar en cuenta que cuando hablamos de economía, no sea un concepto remoto. De hecho, el concepto de la “economía” es algo con que el Beliceño común está bien familiarizado. La economía es simple: la gestión de los recursos de una comunidad o país, con la mira sobre su productividad. Es sólo una forma elegante para medir o monitorear la prosperidad o la obtención de ingresos de un país.

Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) o el Ingreso Interno Bruto (GDI) es un término utilizado en economía. Es una de las formas de medir el ingreso nacional y la producción para la economía de nuestro país. La definición científica, de la integridad, es “el valor total de mercado de todos los bienes y servicios finales producidos dentro del país en un período determinado de tiempo, generalmente un año calendario.” ¿Por qué es importante esto? Bueno, el PIB per cápita a menudo se considera un indicador de la calidad de vida de un país.

Fue el año pasado que Barrow tomó el concepto “Twainian” de las mentiras y las estadísticas a un nuevo bajo cuando trato de predecir el crecimiento económico para el año 2013. Barrow imprudentemente pronostico un crecimiento proyectado de 2 – 2.5% esperando de que el beliceño común no tuviera conocimiento o estuvieran demasiado ocupados para saber lo que significaba para comprobar su mentira en su estimación.

Este semanario ‘BELIZE TIMES’ consulto con el Hon. Francis Fonseca, que diligentemente y de manera ponderada se encontraba cautelosamente analizando los números en el momento. De manera muy responsable pero de un tono decepcionado, el Hon. Fonseca, un Economista capacitado, registro su duda cuestionando la credibilidad del pronóstico hecha de una proyección del 2.5%. Había visto más allá atreves de la improbabilidad de tal proyección en este momento bajo la administración UDP. Su análisis fue profesional, honesto y sin grilletes por la necesidad de reflexionar sobre la propaganda política.

El boletín oficial emitido por el Instituto de Estadística de Belice comprobó y le dio la razón, según sus cifras, al Líder de la Oposición. El hecho indiscutible es que Barrow estaba equivocado y Fonseca tenía razón.

El análisis de mercado oficial de los tres primeros meses del año 2013 demostró que la economía del país no sólo fracaso al no crecer, según se proyectó por Barrow, sino que había contraído en el primer trimestre de 2013. Se registró un crecimiento negativo de 0,5%.

La retrospección es 20/20. La claridad de la posición real de nuestra situación económica ha salido a la luz. Recuerda que en 2012 a pesar de lo que se estaba sufriendo en los supermercados, gasolineras, puestos de tacos, paradas de taxis, puestos de pescadores y estaciones de autobuses, Barrow estaba insinuando que usted estaba viviendo bien, porque constato que había un fuerte crecimiento del 6,5%.

Caught off guard at the airport by the media, Barrow was exposed and stuttered his way into pretending to be shocked. We say pretend, because if he was not pretending, then he is more disconnected from the reality of the average Belizean at Queen Square market or the young housewife walking down Queen Victoria Boulevard.

Cogido por sorpresa a su arribo en el aeropuerto por los medios de comunicación, Barrow fue expuesto y tartamudeó pretendiendo estar sorprendido.

Decimos fingir, porque si él no estaba fingiendo, entonces está más desconectado con la realidad del Beliceño común en el mercado ‘Queen Square’ y con la ama de casa joven caminando por el Bulevar de la Reina Victoria.

Economía es una palabra real para nosotros los beliceños. Esto significa que podemos pagar nuestras cuentas o, significa que vamos a tener que mirar a nuestros hijos a los ojos y negarles un helado o una bicicleta nueva.

Así que las fórmulas y los números de fantasía, que se arrojan descuidadamente a la sociedad por Barrow, han demostrado ser inexactas y son particularmente insultantes para el beliceño común. Esta prueba del Instituto de

Estadística de Belice debe traer a casa el punto que nosotros los beliceños están viviendo mejor. No importa cuántas veces o formas Barrow trata de salvar la cara política para decir beliceños están mejor, sabemos que solo es una mentira.

Una fuente confiable informó al BELIZE TIMES que hay razón por cual el UDP nunca será capaz de promover la economía de Belice hacia la prosperidad. Él nos dio una definición Adam Smith (1776) del PIB. PIB como un subconjunto de la economía no es sólo una medida representativa del nivel de vida de nuestro país, sino que también es “una investigación sobre la naturaleza y causas de la riqueza de las naciones”, en particular como: “una rama de la ciencia de la un legislador... con el doble objetivo de ofrecer... un ingreso abundante o de subsistencia de la gente... y para proveer a la ciudadanía con unos ingresos por los servicios públicos”.

El UDP no tiene ni idea, incompetente y desconectado de la realidad de nuestro pueblo. Nadie espera que ellos entiendan la economía o el PIB. Ellos no pueden entender las cosas menos complejas, como “artificial”, “ignorante”, “Noh Mul”, “bebés muertos”, o “personas normales”.

Pero nosotros, los beliceños estamos cansados d ​​ e la propaganda de cifras y números. Ya bien se trate de las estadísticas de la delincuencia, o del desempleo o las estadísticas de la cantidad de Aldeas de Corozal quiénes aman al incompetente, Pablo Marín.

El miércoles pasado, las estadísticas fueron flotadas para que refleje que el desempleo había disminuido. Sí, abajo, del 14.4% al 12.1% para el mes de abril de 2013. ¿Cree usted eso? Al contrario, observamos que la Oficina de Estadísticas del Trabajo de EE.UU. mostro un 7.2% en el mismo período.

De acuerdo a las estadísticas emitidas, significa que en Belice, alrededor de 3000 personas más lograron de alguna manera empleo para ese mes. ¿Es esto cierto? El mejor indicador es su instinto. No las mentiras de las estadísticas.

Las cosas no ocurren por sí mismas. ¿Qué política gubernamental brillante has visto que podría ser responsable de un aumento en el empleo? ¿Cómo se puede decir que el empleo incremento mientras que los indicadores internacionales independientes dicen que la economía nacional ha bajado. Olvídate de las mangas largas, las palabras grandes, porcentajes y habladuría de fantasía. El nivel de vida está mejor?

Lo triste es que bajo este Gobierno nunca lo será. Una contracción de 0,5% cuando se trata de una economía de mil millones de dólares es mucho dinero.

Los pobres y la clase media tendrán que elegir si tolera la “fantasía” y la mentira de las estadísticas o si se le dirá Barrow, el emperador, que está desnudo hasta el trasero.

Think about it. How can Pablo Marin, Mark King, Finnegan, Gapi Vega, Montero, Herman Longsworth and Boots Martinez make good economic policies for this country? These men can barely chew gum and stand on two feet at the same time. Yet those men make up the Cabinet.

Piénsalo bien. ¿Cómo puede Pablo Marin, Mark King, Finnegan, Gapi Vega, Montero, Herman Longsworth y Boots Martinez proporcionar buenas políticas de economía a este país? Estos hombres apenas pueden masticar chicle y pararse en dos pies al mismo tiempo. Sin embargo, los hombres conforman el Gabinete de Gobierno.

Beliceños están sintiendo la verdad de su fracaso.

Al disecar un negativo 0,5% la caída del PIB de Belice nos damos cuenta de que el Gobierno no tiene ni pista. Alfred Marshall, en su libro de texto de 1890 llamado Principios de Economía, nos da una pista del porqué este UDP siempre fracasara en su intento de hacer que la economía de Belice mejore. Él escribió: «La economía es el estudio del hombre en los asuntos ordinarios de la vida. Se le pregunta de dónde saca sus ingresos y cómo se utiliza. Por lo tanto, es, por un lado «, el estudio de la riqueza y en el otro lado y más importante, una parte del estudio del hombre.

Ahí está. El UDP no está interesado en el estudio de los beliceños. Ellos están interesados ​​en las papeletas de votación, las elecciones municipales y lograr hacer que sus familias se enriquezcan. La gente no es importante, sólo de lo que nos puede quitar.

Es con claridad el significado de estos números y los conceptos que en ocasiones nosotros en BELICE decimos: “es la economía, estúpido”.

Cairo y Río de Janeiro deben ser una advertencia a la UDP. Mejoren o rueden.

07 JUL

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

Yo Creek’s Sinbad crowned champions of football tournament Orange Walk, July 4, 2013 On Saturday June 29 2013, the Hon Jose Mai and the Chairman of the Yo Creek Village Council issued trophies to the Champions of the Yo Creek six a side football tournament.

The newly crowned Champions, Sinbad, received a four feet tall trophy along with a 500 dollars cash prize.

Second place was Juventus who also received a three feet tall trophy.

Third place was Six Stars who also received a beautiful trophy.

The Hon Jose Mai congratulated the champions and the organizers of the tournament!

Unemployment stats misleading Belize City, July 3, 2013 It’s hard to completely trust an institution which once fumbled something as basic as population size in its most recent national census, so it’s no wonder that many people are skeptical about the recently revealed unemployment data.

The Statistical Institute of Belize’s April 2013 Labor Force Survey reported in June that there has been a 2% reduction in the Unemployment rate. We’re not sure if the SIB is aware, but that statistic actually means that over 3,000 persons of the 21,370 who could not find jobs last year have been able to find one around April.

When you put it that way, you have to ask, NEW JOBS? Where?

Hard times continue across the country, especially outside the traditional economic hub, Belize City. Yet, the SIB survey claims that the unemployment rate fell in every district except Belize and Stann Creek.

There are also elements of deception in the survey. In the month of April the tourism season kicks off, which means around 3,000 persons get a part time job. This is the same time SIB conducted its survey. Is it any coincidence?

Why not conduct the survey in August – a full month after the new crop of graduates have had a decent chance to find employment. That would be a more accurate picture of the employment rate, since youth joblessness is a major issue. GOB would then be

better able to tell if their job policies were working.

SIB has said that the full report of its survey will be revealed in two months. So, in September we’ll know the joblessness rate in April. Are we’re supposed to be satisfied with that too.

31

Foreign students killed in collision Cayo District, July 4, 2013 Three foreign students and a Belizean taxi driver were killed in a traffic collision at mile 60 on the Western highway on Tuesday morning.

The wet conditions of the road may have caused the small taxi Toyota Corolla driven by 64 year old Eliseo Chan to run off his lane an into an incoming West Line bus travelling to San Ignacio.

The small car got buried underneath the bus, with the passengers trapped inside.

3 foreign students, 24 year old Molly Hude, 24 year old Angela Bugeja, and 25 year old Ioanna Thomopoulou had hired Chan to take them to the international airport where they planned to board a flight and return to their homes for summer.

The students were in Belize participating in a scientific project called the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance Project with the Institute of Archaeology.

Two of the students and the driver died on the spot.

The only surviving student was quickly transported to

the Belmopan hospital but she died while under treatment.

The Police have questioned the driver and passengers in their investigation into the collision.

The bus driver, Ian Valerio, believes that because the taxi driver was speeding and lost control of the vehicle, it was difficult for him to avoid running into the bus.

“I was coming down the hill by the Orange Gallery, like 15 miles an hour and when I approached the bridge I saw a white car banged around the curve coming down too and when he banged down the curve he banged way into the lane where I was coming on the bridge so when he banged into that lane he swerved back into his lane. When he swerved back into his lane, I don’t know what threw him back across into my lane and that is how he came right into the front of the bus,” said Valerio.

Several bus passengers, including a pregnant woman, complained of minor injuries following the collision.

CARTOON

32

THE BELIZE TIMES

07 JUL

2013