Belize Times November 15, 2009

sunday, November 15, 2009

The

The Belize Times

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Belize Times The Truth Shall Make You Free

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2009

Issue No. 4668

$1.00 www.belizetimes.bz

Murder for Hire?

Popular Businessman’s Brutal Murder Shocks the Nation As we go to press tonight, Belizeans across the country are in shock after the brutal murder of a well known 38 year old businessman, Jason Coombs. At around 5:00pm yesterday, in broad daylight, a tinted vehicle entered the compound of Pre-Con at the corner of Ceasar Ridge Road and Central American Boulevard.

According to eyewitnesses, whoever was in that vehicle drove right up to the owner of the company, exchanged a few words with him, and then shot him dead.

The vehicle then left the compound in no great hurry, according to reports.

They left 38 year old businessman Jason Coombs sprawled lifeless on the ground.

This was as cold-blooded a hit as our

country has experienced in recent times.

The Police have ruled out robbery, and are investigating the murder as a contract killing.

Crime and violence have been on everybody’s mind and in everybody’s conversations in recent months. Never before has Belize been hit with such an unrelenting barrage of murders, assaults, robberies, home invasions and vicious crime. The latest murder of the popular businessman has taken the conversation to another level. Today the online social club Facebook was lit up with comments of sadness, frustration, anger, anguish and condolences from Belizeans both at home and abroad who had heard the

news. There were calls for the return of the death penalty, calls on the Police Department and the Government to do something before Belize is taken over completely by criminals. There were vows from friends of Coombs to find out who had killed him, there were words of comfort to the family he left behind. Behind it all, there was a sense of frustration at the violence which has left Belizeans afraid to come out of their homes.

One Facebook blogger posted – ‘The shock is reverberating far and wide, and I hope that Belizeans have not become so desensitized to the constant barrage of violence as to (Continued on page 35)

Anwar’s Accommodation Agreement?

Is the PM’s Son a Silent Partner?

The decision by the Government of Belize to put the Boledo and Sunday Lottery into private management was leaked following last week’s Cabinet meeting, but it was not until Monday, November 9th, that the nation was officially informed via a release from the Ministry of Economic Development that this was indeed the case.

As far back as early March, the Belize Times broke the story that the son of Prime Minister Dean Barrow,

Anwar, had joined forces with Brads and that they had already been given confirmation that the monopoly on Boledo would be gifted to them. There has been no denial of this report, and the Times calls on the Prime Minister to publicly confirm or deny these allegations.

In an interview with LOVE FM this week the Auditor General Edmund Zuniga defended the process and the choice as above board and fair, saying

that they had “looked at the fact that at the end of the ten year period government would earn more from the profit sharing and the taxation and so on that will come out of Brads that they would have out of the other company.”

He revealed that there had been bids by two other companies, Print Belize Limited and Tropical Gaming Company, the operators of the Lotto in Belize the past decade or so.

(Continued on page 35)

OW BNTU Rejects Faber’s Commission In the early sixteenth century Queen Isabella instituted the law of the encomienda. Its purpose was to protect the Indigenous Americans and to provide them with their needs. The wealthy encomenderos however treated the Indigenous with great cruelty and tyranny. Sometimes laws are instituted with the best of intentions, however it is in the practice of this law that the reality differs from its intended purpose.

Today we are seeing that the proposed amendments to the draft Education Rules seek to improve the educational system of Belize. This is a very good step taken by the Ministry of Education. However, many teachers in the Orange District have a solid foundation on which to base their fears

. . . r e h et g o T e m Co

as it relates to the commission. The DEC has been selected in Orange Walk District and it cannot be said that there was total transparency in that selection.

As a matter of fact, the majority of the members who compose the DEC are persons who would favor the government of the day. According to the draft rules, the DEC will be choosing the parents that will comprise the members of the teaching services commission. Here is a question – what guarantee is there that the DEC will select parents who are neutral and not in favor of the government of the day? The answer- NONE. Composition of the Commission: (1) Of the 12 Commission members proposed, eleven will have voting power ( the Chief Education

officer has a vote although ex-officio) government affiliated (2) The only voting members that can be affiliated to the government are the chairman ( who has no extraordinary voting rights), and the Chief Education Officer -government affiliated and according to section third schedule section 4 subsection 5 the chairman will have a casting vote (in this matter the Ministry had previously agreed to remove the casting vote from the chairman on Friday September 11, 2009 on consultation with the Union yet on the document sent to Cabinet it is still there) (3) Of the other nine (9) voting members, the composition is as such: 3 parents (absolutely no government (Continued on page 35)

It's Time For The PUP!

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The Belize Times

HOW A RECESSION WREAKS HAVOC ON THE POOR During a recession, most people learn to live without material extravagances. Many with average incomes try to simplify their lives by trying to focus on those things most important to them: home, friends and family. For the poor who have few material possessions, this is even more significant.

For everyone, a recession provokes fear and diminished expectations. The cultural consequences are rarely uplifting and lead to both financial and emotional problems, which most of the time come from a loss of jobs or not being able to keep up with the rising cost of living; in short, having to do more with less.

By now thousands of Belizeans are living the nightmare of this recession. Currently unemployment has to be well above 12 percent.

Today many more Belizeans have to “ketch and kill” and depend on the disposable income of others to survive. People like the peanut vendors, the part time caterers, bartenders, waitresses, gardeners and those in the informal economy and so on; they are the ones who first suffer the effects of an economic downturn.

Considering that in 2007 unemployment stood at an already high 8 percent, then the struggle to get the Belizean economy back on track and to get Belizeans working again will be even more daunting a challenge. If the UDP promise to create 5000 new jobs was made without prior consideration of the current reality, then the Prime Minster and his government will have to create much more than 5,000 new jobs just to get the nation back to where it was when they inherited the mantle of government in February 2008. For those who are waiting to benefit from the 5000 new jobs, the possibilities are now even further from their reach.

The last time Belize suffered a recession was in 2003. Then the PUP Administration took measures to soften the blow and within a short space of time recovery began to occur. This is important, for when a recession drags on indefinitely its effects become more than just one of dollars and cents.

In a time of recession people despair. Studies conducted in the US and in Europe as well as in Latin America show that in a recession more people become depressed. There are many reasons for this depression, including a sense of hopelessness. More people have to borrow money from friends and relatives who may themselves be struggling, and many run the risk of losing everything - most importantly, their homes.

At some point during a recession, unemployment spreads out into other sectors of society. As a result more Belizeans risk becoming poor. Already a third of the population is considered poor, so this will have a tremendous effect on personal growth as well as on Belize’s ability to develop. Also, with Government already reporting a fall in tax revenue, the demand on the country’s social services will become overloaded. If in the last financial year’s budget government averaged around $3 per single mother, imagine what is currently available for not only mothers who are single but mothers who must now rely on the system for support due to spouses who cannot find employment.

All this is occurring at a time when tax revenues are plunging, making it more difficult for Government to meet the demand for public safety, emergency services, urban and rural upkeep and the like.

And who is the first to be affected when all these things occur?

The poor and those on the margins, especially women and children.

They are the first to be affected and the ones who are hit the hardest.

Already at the bottom of the pyramid, so to speak, poor families have less support systems in place to help them weather the storm. There is no savings account from which to draw down some money to hold over, no property to mortgage or to sell. The few personal trinkets fetch far less at the local pawn shops because of excess supply and the local lenders have less patience with customers who cannot meet their payments.

Everyone suffers through a recession - the rich lose capital, the middle/working class risk losing their homes and jobs and may even end up poor. The recovery for them is overwhelming, but none suffer as hard as the poor. For them the issue is more than just losing something of value - for them it is survival.

Responsible governments therefore must quickly institute measures to protect the weakest. The trouble with this UDP Administration is that they not only lack the capacity to institute measures to help, they lack the competence to develop any kind of cohesive plan to get the nation, especially the poorest among us, out of this crisis.

sunday, November 15, 2009

Out Spoken

Waak Eena fi Shee Shooz

Haven House is one of the primary organizations in Belize working to bring an end to violence against women in our dearly beloved Belize. It is not an easy issue to deal with when we consider that we live in a society, which to a large extent still believes that women are men’s property to do with as they will. But this attitude, this outlook, and the subsequent actions must stop if we are to have a better society for all of us to live in.

While activities are carried out throughout the year to address the issue of violence against women, there is a special time each year when organizations around the world carry out a campaign to bring greater public awareness and action on the need to end violence against women. Known now as 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, this campaign takes place from the 25th November (International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women) to the 10th December (International Human Rights Day). The different organizations in Belize host different activities to contribute to this cause.

The 16 Days campaign this year is being held under the theme, Commit • Act • Demand: We CAN End Violence Against Women!

The “We” however does not mean women; it means all of us - women and men, boys and girls, you and me - working together to make it happen! So, this year Haven House is calling on the boys and men in Belize to commit and act so that we can end violence against women.

Haven House is organising Waak Eena Fi Shee Shooz (Walk In Her Shoes) for men only on Saturday, 28th November 2009 in the heart of Belize City.

We invite you, the Men in Belize, whether you are young or old, to show your commitment to the cause by wearing a pair of ladies shoes (preferably high heel, but any size heel will do as long as the shoes are distinctly female) on Saturday, 28th November and joining the walk from Battlefield Park to Constitution Park. Wearing the pair of ladies shoes is a symbolic demonstration of your ability to put yourself in her shoe when she is being beaten up, and your recognition that ending the violence is not just a woman’s issue.

The walk is also intended to raise some money for a Fund we have established to assist/support women who are victims of violence.

Each participating man is asked to make a minimum donation of $10.00 to this fund. Of course you can donate more by raising contributions from family, friends, co-workers and employers. On the morning of the 28th November, you will hand in your donation before the walk gets underway. The Waak Eena Fi Shee Shooz begins promptly at 10:00 on the Supreme Court side of Battlefield Park and will end at Constitution Park. More information will be provided about the route.

THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR

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Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd. #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Tel: 224-5757 Editor: 671-8385

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sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

If Da Noh Soh…

The fight for Director…

With Tracy Panton forced to bid a not so fond farewell to the BTB, the

heads out to greener or at least nongovernmental pastures. In addition, word is that regional pressure about the appointment of Denys Barrow as justice of the Appeals Court has been mounting. Apparently, the PM has been pressured to find a new post for his favourite bro…and the GG post is it! Amazing you may say! But keep in mind that we’ve been right 99.9% of the time…If Da Noh Soh! Heated seats…Pablo?

fight is on for who will be the next Director. There are a couple names being mentioned so far, including Lloyd Enriquez. But the frontrunners, as we understand it, will make this an extremely interesting time at the BTB and will serve to show who’s the boss!

See, we all know that the barefooted man from San Pedro doesn’t really run things in tourism. That’s done by his CEO, Mike Singh. And this is where it gets downright interesting. We understand that the Minister of Tourism’s daughter wants the post of Director, and wants it real bad. But not so fast, says Mike.

He has given the nod to his best buddy Sergio Torres and all but promised him the post. So the war is on. Remember… you saw it here first…If Da Noh Soh! Bye bye John…

Oh glory, the UDP has apparently decided to do away with its very own very favourite John Avery from the

Here I was thinking that nothing more could surprise me when it comes to Pablo Marin, but damn, he done did it again. Remember that brand new 2010

Landcruiser that Pablo just received, thanks to the PM’s generousity and taxpayer dollars? Well, we just found out that when Pablo was looking through the list of options available on this spanking new vehicle, he specifically insisted on heated seats. Can you believe that?

Heated seats in a tropical country…jeez!

So with the push of a button, Pablo’s posterior is massaged by gusts of warm air. God help us. Guess that option will come in handy when it snows in Corozal…If Da Noh Soh!

that one.) Well - no surprise to anyone the loan isn’t performing and the higher ups are getting very angry. Not only that, but the SSB had apparently moved all their money to Scotiabank when the UDP got into power. Now, the SSB is apparently moving that money so they can purchase shares in BTL. Anyway, the long and short of it is that things aren’t looking very good for Pat Andrews right now. See what associating with the UDPs does for you…If Da Noh Soh!

of this man is another thing. Then there is the fact that Castro isn’t paying for these ads, WE ARE. We’re in recession, stupid. Didn’t you get the memo? Every time Castro wants to be the cock of the

Black Jesus…

walk and comes up with these stupid ads, we pay thousands of dollars, at a time when we just can’t afford it. The bill to GOB for the last set of political ads was $40,000 – about the same that GOB is now boasting that they will allocate to sporting facilities. Are these guys so stupid that they cannot realize the priorities in our young nation, or are they so vain that they just don’t give a damn about the priorities?...If Da Noh Soh!

God should have sent a lightning bolt straight out of the sky and onto the head of Barbie-dread Clear the Land Castro. See, that gentleman is currently airing an ad proclaiming the glory of his achievements (insert laughter here) and at the end of the ad, there is a special effect which makes it seem that Castro is walking on water. The disrespect of the Church is one thing. The arrogance

Hypocrite of the Week

Remember Yasmin?

Ayyy all di shush deh kill me.

Remember Yasmin Andrews, the writer in the Guardian who was sent to London

PUC. Apparently John the man has a very serious alcohol and substance abuse problem which is bringing him down – or at least that’s what they tell us. Some in the UDP are railing up that they provided him with a fancy ride and thousands of frequent flier miles, and the ungrateful fellow was not willing to tow the line. Who’d have thunk it? Anyway, the UDP has installed Robert Tillett, the brother of Patrick and Ambrose, who seems willing to lie down and roll over when the whip is cracked, so we’ll just have to see what happens…If Da Noh Soh! DB to GG? Oh hell no! Say it ain’t so! Word reaching this very curious and insatiable columnist is that there are big things about to go down in the GovernorGeneral’s Office. See, it seems that the GG has been putting his foot down on certain outrageous acts by the GOB and the GOB is saying that it’s time he

in a diplomatic posting but was recalled amid reports of scandal. She’s the one we told you about who was going about bragging that nobody could move her from the post because she had been placed there by the PM as a reward for her services. Well that didn’t help her in the end, and she was kicked to the door. But apparently she wasn’t kicked that far down the road. This columnist has learned that Yasmin Andrews is still in London, the recipient of a fully paid scholarship. Damn, it’s good to be a UDP crony…If Da Noh Soh! Pat to be recalled…

Every now and then we get a little gem of valuable information, and say what you will but we’re not bashful in saying that you saw it here first. Anyway, word is that Manager of Scotiabank Pat Andrews will soon be moved from that distinguished position. Apparently Andrews, the very good friend of our own PM, is the subject of an investigation because of some very bad decisions he has made in banking – decisions like giving the UDP City Council a big loan on the Commercial Center (remember

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When the selection panel checked its records, we realized that the gentleman who will grace this issue as our hypocrite par excellence has actually earned the honour once before – and while it was in a different scenario, the reason was absolutely the same.

See, this intellectual gentleman loves to pontificate for hours on end on the talk-shows, and claims that he is a champion of right, a white knight for the oppressed, a scholar with a sword raised to defend the poor, etc, etc, etc.

Senator Godwin Hulse is the man of the week – the man who opines for countless minutes, but falls far short when the time comes to make to make any mark other than verbal.

We first ran into the duplicitous nature of Godwin Hulse when he was associated with the so-called Association of Concerned Belizeans (ACB).

He was a vocal and highly active figure pre-elections, when it seemed that a sneeze from the then Prime Minister would send the good gentleman into contortions and explosions of pseudo-intellectual prose. Oh

boy, were we impressed. That is, until elections had passed and the UDP started to show its true colours. As Belizeans suffered, we all waited with bated breath for the good gentleman to rally forth on his white stallion, lance in hand. To this day, we’re not sure if the white stallion went lame or the lance was in the shop for repairs, but Hulse was nowhere to be found.

Then, we ran into the good gentleman right around the time when Dean Barrow hijacked Belize Telemedia Limited and transformed it practically overnight into the Barrow Telemedia Limited. Senator Hulse did everything but lick the Prime Minister’s ear in supporting the bill to take over BTL, but at the same time expressed his concern over the way it was done. Talk about covering all the bases.

And now, we have come across the paragon of virtue (all in his own mind of course) playing a major role in giving Boledo to the newly formed Brads Gaming Company Limited. Does the Senator not realize that the son of the Prime Minister is a major player in this new company? Does the Senator not realize that it reeks to high heaven that the weekend hangout, drinking and gambling spot of UDP Ministers has been given the nod in taking over the very, very lucrative Boledo.

Oh, Senator Godwin, please enthrall us with lengthy prose in explanation of your choice to give away Boledo to the chosen few who are intricately entwined with the UDP cream. Enquiring minds want to know! Until then, and very likely even then, you will remain our pick for Hypocrite of the Week. You deserve it.

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The Belize Times

From the Desk of the Party Leader

How the Prime Minister can help cure our health system On June 9th I wrote an article for the Belize Times calling for the removal of Pablo Marin as Minister of Health. I felt this was necessary; there was a constant cry from Belizeans countrywide to see drastic changes in the Ministry of Health.

Belizeans were concerned about a number of issues; first was the issue of babies dying at our hospitals; then the scandal at KHMH, which included millions of taxpayer dollars wasted on pharmaceutical supplies; next the constant complaints about poor services and the chronic shortage of medicines.

In addition, nepotism was rampant; for example the Minister appointed his family members and friends to a number of key positions in the ministry, many of whom lacked the competence to complete their assigned tasks.

This all reached a boiling point when more and more babies were dying because of alleged negligence. On the news we heard health officials complain about the shortage of trained personnel in our hospitals and clinics, even when the National Health Insurance (NHI) was providing money to hire the appropriate staff and that the funds from NHI were being used elsewhere.

At KHMH, doctors and nurses were on the brink of walking off their jobs in protest against the Chairman of the Board; Dr. Fabro was being paid $3,500.00 to attend one meeting per month. The chairman was openly accused of directly interfering with the day-to-day management of the hospital.

All this, including allegations of special purchasing contracts in the supply of medicine to KHMH led to major embarrassment for the Barrow administration that ran and was elected on an anti-corruption platform.

Eventually Mr. Barrow decided that Dr. Fabro needed to take a leave of absence as Chairman of the KHMH and then he gave in to public pressure and agreed to appoint a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the purchasing practices at KHMH. Of course, no mention was made about the alleged corruption in the awarding of contracts in the ministry. No mention was made about the minister’s incompetence.

There was no real plan to address the problems in the ministry or at KHMH. On July 13th the Prime Minister appointed the Commission of Inquiry, which is to be made up of Justice Adolph Lucas, retired Auditor Mr. Orvin Nicholas and Ms. Julia Castillo, a career nurse.

It has been four months since that appointment, and Belizeans are still waiting for this inquiry to commence. In the meantime our health care system is still in chaos and little if any improvement has taken place.

Every month we hear the cries of grief as more Belizeans are dying due to alleged negligence in our hospitals. Just since last week two babies have died in questionable circumstances. Alexander Russell Faber, born to Rudy Faber and Judith Moody, died when medical personnel couldn’t seem to diagnose his problem correctly.

A few days later first time mother, Christina Garcia, was rushed to the hospital in labor pains. Despite hours of crying out in pain, she was ignored; by the time she got the necessary medical attention, it was too late. Her baby died one hour after being born.

With 8 known cases of babies dying in our health system due to perceived negligence and no manner of inquiry into these deaths, it is only right that someone be held accountable, not only to these grieving parents, but to the Belizean people on a whole.

Pablo Marin, the minister responsible for health, is not being held accountable for all that is going wrong in the Ministry of Health; in fact it appears that he continues to be rewarded.

Last year it was announced that the Government of Belize loaned Pablo Marin $60,000.00 interest free. Apparently, this loan was for him to buy a vehicle to do his Ministerial work, yet he continued to use the Government issued Land Cruiser.

A few weeks ago, Minister Marin received a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser valued at about $160,000.00! The previous vehicle assigned to him he bought for chump change. So now the Minister owns the vehicle once assigned to him and he now has access to a brand new $160,000 Land Cruiser, compliments of the Ministry of Finance.

Politicians are often criticized for the perception that once elected, they surround themselves with people who constantly shower them with praise and hide the truth from them. If the Prime Minister is being shielded from the truth about his health minister; if he continues to ignore the serious concerns of the Belizean people over the problems with our health system, he could very well see the wrath of the people turned on him. Indeed the Prime Minister may soon find himself with no other choice but to fire Minister Pablo Marin!

sunday, November 15, 2009

sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

UDP Politics as usual Gone way too far…

My only question is how long Belizeans will continue to tolerate the crap happening in City Hall. Hell, the news coming out of that building this week is like some low-budget ghetto soap opera. It went something like this – Councilor Roger Espejo is calling Councilor Wayne Usher a crook, accusing him of hustling off materials. Usher got pissed and went after Espejo. They both cuss up each other and then Usher went and got three thugs to come discipline Espejo. Another Councilor had to get between them and break up the melee. All this went on during a meeting at City Hall, by the way. Look, the mess at City Hall has gone on long enough. It’s way past time to get this sorry bunch the hell out. Just check out where we are now – the Mayor has been charged criminally for financial misappropriation. She has been accused of putting her hands in the public cookie jar by her own party in an official release. Another Councilor, Leila Peyrefitte, has been accused of funny dealings when she was in charge of revenue. Another Councilor, Phillip Willoughby, has been accused of accepting ‘gifts’ from the sanitation companies. Now Wayne Usher has been accused of hustling and there was a public brawl at City Hall. In all this, there has been no work done for Belizeans because the Council is broke, absolutely broke. The only procedure in City Hall which has been adhered to with all discipline is that the Councilors all receive their hefty stipends like clockwork and the Mayor receives her big check.

Belizeans deserve more than a defunct, non-performing, incompetent and corrupt UDP City Council. It’s time to make a move…

Dodobird of the week…

If the economy wasn’t such a serious matter, I would have dissolved into a fit of giggles at the appearance

by Central Bank Governor Glenford Ysaguirre. Really, Mr. Prime Minister, I know you wanted to give a job to a faithful UDP crony, but couldn’t you find one with at least an iota of economic knowledge. It scares the hell out of me to realize that this man is one of the persons who will be tasked with steering us out of these turbulent economic seas. Seems to me like Mr. Ysaguirre couldn’t find his way out of a brightly lit 10’ X 10’ room with a doorway outlined in neon lights. You get my meaning.

So there’s this gentleman, the jefe of the Central Bank, explaining to us that he doesn’t quite know where to go from here, cause he can’t go into the bank and tell them to lower interest rates. Well, I got news for you, Mr. Governor, YOU CAN. The economy is in recession, buddy, and you can do that. I know how scary it must be to have a lot of authority and little economic knowledge, but you gotta do what you gotta do, Mr. Governor. By the end of his interview, the UDP plan for this recession was clear – just wait and see what happens… the US seems to be coming out of the recession, so eventually we should too!

More bloodshed…

A few days ago a gunman brazenly fired shots into a car owned by the Minister of Works Boots Martinez, and yesterday evening a young businessman was killed in what seems like a cold-blooded hit. The level of desperation on the streets is growing. The murders are becoming more brutal, more brazen, ‘more cold.’ It’s not just the youths on the streets killing each other anymore… the web of bloodshed is widening.

The Minister of National Security through the Police Department is still trying to sell us dreams, to tell us that we are imagining things. Maybe he should try telling that

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to the family left behind by Jason Coombs. Out here on the streets it’s no joke. People are dying left, right and center…families are being destroyed. The Police can’t protect us, the justice system is in shambles, our politicians are caught up in their own things and don’t give a damn about us. I’m not seeing any light at the end of this tunnel.

The blood of the children…

Just a day after a newborn baby died at the KHMH and the family grieved, another baby died at the San Ignacio Hospital. Too many of our children are dying in our health system. What is even worse is that these deaths could have been avoided.

What is even worse than that is that nobody seems to give a damn. The Minister of Health obviously couldn’t be bothered. He hasn’t made even one public expression of condolence to any grieving family or a public statement of intent to investigate any of the deaths. The Prime Minister has had absolutely nothing to say about any of the tragic and unnecessary deaths in our health system due to negligence and lack of basic medical supplies. It’s almost like the Minister of Health and his Prime Minister believe that if they don’t talk about it, it doesn’t exist…seriously! The blood of those innocent children is on the hands of Pablo Marin and Dean Barrow.

Something needs to be done now before more of our children die.

Commissions of Inquiry…

It’s been nine months and 10 days since the death of cane-farmer Atanacio Felix Gutierrez on the BSI compound.

Gutierrez was shot in the head by a law enforcement officer while they were protesting at the factory. He left behind a wife and six children. His widow issued a plea to the Prime Minister to launch an investigation into the murder of her husband. She issued a plea for assistance with the raising of her six children. She issued a plea for justice.

The Prime Minister did not bother to respond. He did not bother to order any investigation launched and that has been the end of that.

It’s been three months and 12 days since the Commission of Inquiry into the corruption at the KHMH was launched. To date, not one word has been heard from the Commission and the best indication is that the Inquiry hasn’t even started yet. This is a serious disservice to Belizeans who deserve answers from the people they placed in positions of authority. It is a serious disrespect of Belizeans.

No means no…

Patrick Faber and John Saldivar presided over the consultations on the Seventh Amendment Bill in Belmopan on Wednesday night. All around the country, Belizeans have been saying NO to the dual citizenship amendment. All across the country Belizeans have been saying that if an individual wants to represent them in the National Assembly, he must have allegiance to only one nation, Belize.

But Patrick is still playing cute. See, Vibes Radio has been covering all the consultations with the exception of two. So, with the exception of those two, Belizeans all over the country have been able to hear the Opposition to the amendment.

So there’s Patrick on national television claiming that at those two consultations which weren’t covered by Vibes, the support for the amendment was very vocal. What the hell! So anyway, we decided to see for ourselves so we headed off to Belmopan to the consultation.

Yup, just as we guessed, Patrick LIED. Belmopan came out en masse against the amendment. But when you think about it, Patrick was willing to push through the Teaching Services Commission despite massive opposition, so don’t be surprised if the seventh amendment bill is pushed through as well.

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The Belize Times

The

Whip

sunday, November 15, 2009

The Westerhaven honey pot

GUBERNATOR

The gubernator of the central bank, he so full of rank, look like his mind gone blank, maybe he just making a prank, says he don’t know what do, everything has gone doo-doo, can’t tell the scotia and them to lower the interest rate, says it as all about fate, truth of the matter is of him we lose the faith, because everything he do, is the economy stagnate. Man, he just can’t make things equate, the hurt of the people he can’t placate.

Why doesn’t someone just kick him through the gate? He is totally out-of-date, if he can’t force the bankers the interest to abate, if he can’t the bankers berate, he is no more than an under-rate and the central bank is castrate, just another building graceful and ornate…\ This dim-witted gubernator is a light-weight, the whip and all those losing their estate for dunce of the year hereby nominate..

THE BOSS

The boss, the peel-head says things will get better, that we must wait. Man things so bad, peel-head he can’t even walk straight, him lose his gait.. must be all the “things” for pain he takes having him permanent sedate…. Man things bad just like back in ninety-eight…ayayay why don’t you just vacate?

You got the face a brass. You got no class, you make your family from the coffers of the nation their wealth amass. Even your little lass you have now the judges di harass. She works for the government but also collect for private representation that is so crass… You got the ma doing likewise, lardy, you control all the dice, are you not ashamed when others you chastise? All this nepotism shall be your demise..

You gave our Boledo to your lad, the second one that also bad, under great disguise. But people already get wise.

Boledo vendors will lose their job, it is al taken over by the mob. The people of the Belize have been rob. Man you could gob. You are nothing more than a snob.

PIKNI DI DEAD

How so much pikni could dead when the government is red? The pregnant ladies to go to government hospital they dread. This thing gone widespread. All over Belize dem dead it is said.Last week in Cayo one more pikni gone. Never got the chance to see one dawn. Government treats us like we are awn. This time from them no excuse, no apology. They don’t give a damn.

Minister of health turn milkman, with so much pikni dying milk will be abundant, but then it is totally redundant…

Hear he goes around with a pump, begging for milk, even that he want to bilk… but then it is just natural, he belongs to the reds and that ilk….

LADIES OF CITY COUNCIL

They still di quarrel, all since the pork come out from the barrel. Lookya, everybody taking, it is a big shaking, but of course some more than others, and that is what some of them bothers.

So when the one who many moons ago 5 ambulances disappeared from the scene, he know what I mean, now reappeared, doing his magic act for loads of gravel to become like fume, Fantasia the Mirror was to get at least the li perfume, at least he presume… but he wrongly assume that his fellow councillor would keep his word, and then came hence the war of swords where they all brought in their hordes.. so far there has been no accord…

Birds of a feather will continue to flock together, and the only solution is to put these ladies on a tether…

The desperate cravenness that is so characteristic of this Dean Barrow administration was on full public view this week in the Supreme Court of Belize in the US$18,000,000 claim by the Government of Belize against the owners of the unfortunate Westerhaven cargo ship.

The ship ran aground on Belize’s reef in January of this year, and almost immediately the claims for damages skyrocketed into the multi-millions. The context, of course, is that while this was probably the umpteenth incident of a vessel mistakenly docking on our natural treasure, Belize has only just woken up to the fact that there may be money to be had from those unwary enough to lose focus and trust our long outdated maps, lack of electronic or other modern navigational aids and spotty marine information.

History abounds with entire coastal and island communities that made a living from wrecks, and heck, Belize’s history is similarly replete with those ghoulish stories.

It was a shipwreck, in fact, that gave rise to the Bermuda culture we know today. English settlement took off there only after the 1609 wreck of the Virginia-bound Sea Venture. In the centuries that followed, shipwrecks played a major role in the economy of the fledgling colony, and even today many of those wrecks continue to support the Bermudian economy since they are quite accessible to recreational divers who spend money to visit them.

There are many stories that detail the secret history of shipwrecks in our former colonial motherland and the predatory scavengers who lived off the spoils. According to some even today, Britain's coastline remains a dangerous place. An island soaked by four separate seas, with shifting sand banks to the east, veiled reefs to the west, powerful currents above, and the world's busiest shipping channel below, the country's offshore waters are strewn with shipwrecks.

For villagers scratching out an existence along Britain's shores, those wrecks have been more than simply an act of God; in many cases, they have been the difference between living well and just getting by. Some plunderers were held to be so skilled that they could strip a ship from stem to stern before the Coast Guard had even left port, some were rumored to lure ships onto the rocks with false lights, and some simply waited for winter gales to do their work.

All over Britain stories abound of ships and shipwreck victims, from shoreline orgies so Dionysian that few participants survived the morning to humble homes fitted with silver candelabra, to coastlines rigged like stage sets to villages where everyone owns identical tennis shoes.

But I digress. Our fathers the Baymen were pirates, privateers, marauders and sinkers and scavengers of ships. Surely the owners of the Westerhaven must wonder whose den they have so unwarily ventured into.

The claim before Chief Justice Dr. Abdulai Conteh being presented by the mother and daughter attorney team of Lois Young Barrow and Deanne Barrow is a black-eye for Belize. It is historic yes, but a black eye nevertheless. It smacks of greed and one of its consequential economic effects will be to drive up the cost of shipping, making life much harder for ordinary Belizeans.

If they are successful, they will both emerge far, far richer for it but Belize and Belizeans will all be much, much poorer.

A more responsible and caring administration would have chosen the path of forceful but quiet negotiations rather than parade so hypocritically for all the world to see, so large and naked a claim for compensatory damages when the respondents had already accepted liability.

The truth is that the reef the Westerhaven encountered is an unmarked protrusion into the shipping lanes, and is no stellar example of nature’s finest.

Shippers must now be asking themselves (a) wasn’t this an accident and (b) doesn’t the Government of Belize bear some responsibility?

Why risk my ships sailing there when the Government of Belize refuses to negotiate in a manner that is conducive to protecting our mutual interests but instead seems hell-bent on extracting the maximum coin even to the detriment of all involved?

Is it because malice is so inculcated in the Barrow administration that they do not understand that there are accidents and coincidences?

Wasn’t it only a few short months ago that Belize’s Barrier Reef lost its acclaimed “World Heritage Site” status for uncaring stewardship of a supposedly precious resource? Wasn’t it just a few short months ago that a foreign government owned oil exploration company was given carte blanche to drill at will anywhere on our reef ?

Why haven’t we even bothered to fine the offenders whose dredging must have caused injury to the reef that far exceeds that from the luckless Westerhaven grounding?

It is likely that with this very naked and public display of avarice all must hesitate before sailing to Belize. Sure the reef attracts all manner and species of animals, and its fang-tooth corals have been death of many a fine ship. But yes it seems that pirates still lurk here, behind false maps and tricky currents, waiting to pounce on the unwary and unlucky.

We the benighted are being afflicted by a few besotted with their love of money. Open your eyes Belize … how much money does Lois Young Barrow need to satisfy her greed?

sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

7

A POLICY RESPONSE TO BELIZE’S RECESSION Over the period 2002 to 2006 Belize’s economic growth rate averaged 5.5% per annum. This was directly attributed to an expansionary fiscal and monetary policy coupled with significant government spending. Real economic output came to a slowdown in 2007 to 1.2% due to severe losses attributed to hurricane Dean. By 2008 GDP growth was 3.6% which was good in light of the global economic slowdown; albeit it was accompanied in the last quarter with inflation of 9.6%, the highest levels in the last decade.

For the first two quarters of 2009 GDP growth has been negative. The economy contracted by 2% in the first quarter and 1.3% in the second quarter.

This situation is therefore identified as a recession – when real GDP falls for two consecutive quarters. Belize as a small and open economy is not immune to the exogenous shocks of the global economy. Therefore, it was rather foolhardy for one to have expected that the global financial crisis would not have had an effect on our economy.

In anticipation of the global slowdown government ought to have created an appropriate policy response mechanism to ensure sustained demand. However, aggregate demand is rather sluggish and an increase is a necessary condition to increase real output.

An appropriate policy response ought to have a two-prong approach to meaningfully address key areas, namely: consumer spending, investments,

government spending and Belize’s trade balance - the last being the most important. Due to the openness of the economy Belize’s trade policy is key to the medium term recovery efforts.

Current position indicates that the US economy has grown by some 3.5% up to third quarter in 2009. As Belize’s largest trading partner it is expected that as that economy progresses on a path of recovery demand for our exports will likewise increase. As this occurs supplyside constraints must be minimized at all cost. This thus, requires less political intervention in the regulatory framework for some of the major export industries i.e. sugar and citrus.

The immediate and long-term implication of the current crisis requires that some key areas be explored to address trade policy formulation to direct trade patterns for goods, trade in services and foreign direct investments.

These must all be addressed within the ambit of a sustainable approach to our development that takes into account mitigating the effects of climate change.

In this light therefore, it is imperative that government examine the implications of the new multilateral framework under negotiations for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as the goal of the impending conference on the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The outcome of this gathering in Copenhagen in December would have serious implications for

Belize’s long term development, as her vulnerability to climatic conditions is most evident. Belize must be able to poise itself to access the required financial and technological resources needed to develop and trade environmental goods and services.

Belize’s trade strategy must create the opportunity for advancement in productive development, by creating new areas of comparative advantage, which are supported by continuous innovation and foreign direct investment. Such an internationalization strategy must focus on the creation of a supporting environment to attract global value chains.

This can be undertaken in key areas such as tourism, with the establishment of flag ship properties. Government must take an active role in supporting the productive sector to take advantage of the market access into CARICOM and Central America. The resent ratification by the Guatemalan Congress of the Partial Scope Agreement is a step in the right direction; although, the products to benefit under that agreement may require some revision.

The underlying key to achieving any successes in the medium term recovery efforts is the creation of a strong public-private partnership, where investors’ confidence is supported by meaningful Government interventions and not Government protection. Also, a required imperative is low cost financing to the productive sectors. Liquidity management through monetary policy

implementation is a key role the Central Bank of Belize has to play in ensuring that the high levels of liquidity currently being experienced in the financial sector translates into lower lending rates.

Market based instruments for liquidity management is highly recommended, so as to reduce the interest rate spread between deposits and lending rates.

The Central Bank is task with ensuring that the banking sector functions at the required levels of efficiency in their operations. The Central Bank does not dictate interest rates, but it does have at its disposal the tools required to manage prices (interest rates). The current fixed rate of 3.25% per annum on Government Treasury Bills does not auger well for the development of active trading in Government securities, therefore it does not benefit the market or consumers. Our Central Bank needs to act with some heighten interest in the execution of their mandated responsibility.

This short synopsis of a policy response is not the panacea to Belize’s current economic outlook, however strong macroeconomic policy can only be formulated and implemented if Government has the institutional capacity and commitment to fiscal discipline, good governance and respect for the rule of law.

Gwyneth Sydney Nah 11th November 2009 Comments are welcomed at GwynethNah@gmail.com

8

The Belize Times

sunday, November 15, 2009

hard hitting

Crime is Down, says Crime Minister…

Criminals Just Didn’t Get the Memo!

By: Mike Rudon Jr. As we go to press, it is with the news that a 39 year old businessman was brutally shot to death in broad daylight on his compound in plain view of employees. A tinted ride rolled in, a few shots were heard, the tinted ride rolled out, and a body lay sprawled in the dirt.

A short byline at the end of the news reads that Jason Coombs was a father of one and was expecting another child.

He didn’t live to tell his child that he loved him just one more time. He didn’t live to hug his child one more time. He will never know the name of his new child, or who that child will become.

Jason Coombs is dead, a body lying in the dirt…end of his story.

Just this week, there is at least

one businessman who closed his doors on a street just off Cemetery Road – a man who decided that he doesn’t want the street near his business to become more than just the name of a street. Just last week, a shopkeeper in the ‘peaceful’ community of Burrell Boom was the victim of a home violent invasion. Not so many weeks ago, that same shopkeeper was almost killed as he was jacked while closing his shop. For context, there have been at least six burglaries in Burrell

Boom in the past two weeks.

Yet, the authorities are insisting to us that crime is down. They are telling us that this perception of crime on the rise is just that – a figment of our imagination. They are telling us that all is okay…crime is down… whooppeee and hurray – we can all feel safe again, thanks to the UDP and its Police Department.

Maybe the Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo should pay a visit to the husband and wife in

Freetown Sibun who were the victims of a home invasion just a few weeks ago. Maybe Carlos Perdomo should try telling the 62 year old gentleman that watching his wife being raped while he was bound helpless was just an illusion, a perception. Carlos Perdomo should try telling that gentleman – no worries – crime is down – we’re living in a good country – UDP country.

As I write this, I’m sure you can tell that I’m furious but it’s more like anguish, really. I find that I want to wish bad, really bad on some people because I don’t think they realize what we’re going through out here. Maybe if they were the down and dirty victims of these vicious crimes they would understand. I don’t know. What do you think?

I am scared for my wife. I am scared for my children. I am scared for my parents and my siblings. My father just told me today that somebody got into his yard and stole something from him. He wasn’t scared, because he has made sure that he keeps protected. But I was scared…really scared. I go to bed each night praying for the safety of my family – cause if somebody hurts my family then it’s a whole different story.

I would like our ministers to think what it would be like if somebody would break into their homes and terrorize their families. Would it make them all get the sense that things are bad - really, really, bad? Would that be enough to make our ministers realize that it’s time to do something… anything…a little more than just lip service maybe. It’s like that old scenario of being against the death penalty until a travesty is visited upon someone you know and love – suddenly you can wish nothing but a slow and painful death for the perpetrator.

The image of Jason Coombs’ lifeless body sprawled on the ground is etched into my mind. So too are the many images of the grief ravaged faces of mothers whose sons have been taken away by violence. Who feels it knows it, Mr. Minister…who feels it knows it!

So please, please don’t be giving us any more bulls@#t about crime being down and about the heightened violence on the streets being just a perception. It’s all too real for us out here. Maybe you need to get yourself a little dose of our reality.

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sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

9

Food for Thought The UDP Abandoned the North…

Once more it seems that the ruling United Democratic Party’s area representatives cannot do right by the people. And it is not as if they would have lost major political mileage by doing so. On the contrary they could have gained immensely by just paying attention to their constituents’ troubles.

Even that is too much to ask with this bunch.

The latest case in point is that of Honorable Marcel Cardona, Hon. Mark Pech, and the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Gaspar Vega of the Orange Walk District, and Hon. Nemencio Acosta, Hon. Pablo Marin, and Hon. Gabriel Martinez of the Corozal District who all represent a large number of people whose livelihoods are heavily dependent on the sugar industry’s fortunes.

Yet not one to date has publicly ripped into the Belize Sugar Industries Limited for delaying the third bonus payment to sugar cane farmers without a valid reason for the second year in a row despite the fact that sugar prices have increased sharply on the world market recently. On top of that BSI last week admitted without apologies to using the higher than expected earnings of its sugar exports to the European Union on factory expenditure.

Never mind that cane farmers desperately need their bonus monies to make payments to their creditors particularly financial institutions because each day past their loans’ due dates accrues very high interest payments and greatly increases the likelihood that their loans’ collaterals may be foreclosed.

And that they need the financing to get ready for this year’s crop season.

Besides it is not as if though the cane farmers made a lot of money in last year’s season. Some did not even break even. And that is not factoring in the huge losses suffered by the industry on account of the February strike. A vast majority of them suffered huge financial losses in the cultivation process because the cost of inputs such as fertilizers was too high and because they had to find the money to pay their laborers or risk having their cane remain in the fields.

To make matters worse cane farmers also suffered losses in the delivery process. Aside from the high cost of fuel the unnecessary time delay between harvesting and delivery to the mill hurt the cane farmers’ pockets because it affected the cane’s sucrose content.

Cane farmers have been told at every turn to increase the yield of their cane but it is difficult to say if they did this year because the time waiting in the delivery line worsened the cane quality.

But poor cane quality results in fewer tons of refined sugar for export that ultimately results in smaller export earnings.

Now factor in the sky rocketing cost of living and we have worried men and women who are finding it difficult to make ends meet on a daily basis. As a result many of the promising minds of the north have had to relinquish the hope of an education to join their parents in the fields to lower overhead expenses or find employment to put food on their families’ tables and to cover household expenditures. We may never know if these dropouts could have been the experts desperately needed to overhaul the fading industry.

This is truly unacceptable.

As it is today the very survival of small cane farmers is in jeopardy without more government fertilizer and fuel subsidies

or direct government investment in the overhauling of the industry. And do not forget that the industry will face its greatest challenge soon on account of

the 36 percent reduction in the export price of sugar previously guaranteed by the EU. It is clear that only those cane farmers who can increase their cane’s yield and reduce their production costs will survive.

But the abovementioned area representatives’ abandoning of their constituents at a time when their support was most needed did not come as a surprise. Now that they have settled into a lavish lifestyle courtesy of the public trough and have become plumper, they have forgotten from whence they came. A word to the wise though those heavily tinted late model Sports Utility Vehicles and gated residences may keep the riff raff at bay for now but time marches on and you will soon find yourselves at their doors in search of votes. It is funny how life is really.

2 ½ Miles Northern Highway, Belize City, Belize.

Telephone: 280-1000 Fax: 223-1919, Email:info@speednet-wireless.com

________________________________________________________________

PUBLIC NOTICE

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The expansion in these areas will benefit the residents of these communities as well as commuters travelling to these destinations. Smart remains steadfast in its commitment to improve its service and will continue its program of expansion to ensure better coverage and voice quality to its customers both in rural as well as urban areas.

As we complete this phase of our network improvement we will be able to in the near future offer our customers even more cutting edge services.

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10

The Belize Times

sunday, November 15, 2009

Food for Thought Barrow’s Government the Most Transparent Ever…

When Dean Barrow spoke to the nation in the months leading up to the general elections of February 2008, he promised transparency in government. When Dean Barrow and his government were carried to victory on the shoulders of a majority of Belize’s electorate, he swore that his UDP would govern with transparency. In the months following general elections and as recently as this week, Dean Barrow has still gone on record to trumpet and laud his transparency and the transparency of his government. And you know what the funny thing is – Dean Barrow is absolutely right. He has been completely transparent in his dealings with the people. He has been completely transparent in what he has allowed his ministers to do. He has been completely transparent in his dealings with his family members.

Dean Barrow never lied when he said that he would be transparent. We, the Belizean people, just didn’t want to see what was being flaunted right in front of our faces. We weren’t ready to accept what was being paraded in plain view. But now…it’s a whole different ballgame, you can believe that. Now, less than two years into this UDP term, and Belizeans can now see right through this bogus, arrogant, incompetent and yes, completely transparent UDP administration.

Let’s take the last case first.

GOB just announced that the newly formed Brads Gaming Company will be getting the contract for Boledo. For almost a year, the Belize Times and Vibes Radio have been announcing that Brads will be getting the contract for Boledo. Week in and week out the Opposition media disseminated that information. So after a couple months, it should have been no news to anybody that Brads would be in charge of Boledo. Now it’s official. Barrow and his government didn’t and don’t care that everybody knows that ‘Brads’ is known as the informal Cabinet Room where UDP ministers congregate on weekends to gamble and drink. Everybody knows that Brads is a financial backer of the UDP. So kudos to Barrow. so to speak! He was completely and brazenly transparent in giving Brads the contract for Boledo.

When Dean Barrow wanted to reward his faithful ex-wife for her services, he was completely transparent. He made her the Chair of the Social Security Board, where she is paid handsomely for attending a meeting a month. He made her the non-resident High Commissioner to the UN, he gave her one of Belize’s highest awards, he made her act as Attorney-General, he paid her millions to represent GOB in Court and he put her on the Board of the new BTL (Barrow Telemedia Limited).

Our Prime Minister never once hid anything about his dealings with Lois from the Belizean people – he just did what he had to do.

When the Prime Minister took over BTL he immediately and without a care in the world appointed his son and ex-wife to the Board of Directors of the Company. He went so far as to place his son in a position to

direct the day to day activities of the company. The leader of this nation took his 27 year old Moet-guzzling loan shark with a license son and placed him at the helm of a company worth hundreds of millions. He made no apologies for his move.

When the Prime Minister of this nation decided to appoint his brother as a judge on the Court of Appeals, it was no secret. For months before that topic was the hot issue on the streets. Despite cries of nepotism

and conflict and the blurring of the lines between the executive and the judiciary, Barrow couldn’t have cared less – he just forged ahead with his plans, to hell with the rest.

And the list of Barrow’s transparent acts and the transparent acts carried out by his government could fill a fivesubject notebook.

The reality is that Barrow and his UDP have never bothered to hide the things that they do. What they have done is forget the words that

should be attached at the hip to transparency – words like integrity and accountability and honesty and service and humility. Without these, the UDP’s transparency is just a slap in the face.

But Belizeans have started to get the sense. In the months following elections, Barrow and the UDP got a free pass, but it was not stamped ‘in perpetuity.’ The people have now seen right through Barrow’s transparency and the reality of these times of plenty for the UDP ‘special’ and times of famine for the rest of us has bred a sense of desperation, frustration and intolerance which do not bode well for Barrow and the UDP. If Barrow dares to look into the transparent sheet of glass beyond which lies the sure future of the UDP, he is not a contented man tonight.

sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

The Warriors of the PUP

11

Address by: Hon. John Briceno - United Women’s Group Meeting - Saturday, October 31, 2009

It is always an honour to be among the women of the People’s United Party.

Indeed when you are with the members of the United Women’s Group you are with some of the most formidable women of Belize.

Whenever I travel around our beautiful country or talk to Belizeans about our Party and its history I am always reminded of the role of those awesome women who worked tirelessly for the development of the PUP, for our independence and for the development of Belize.

When I speak about the PUP I tell them about those women in the 1960’s who were like an army of soldiers around George Price. I tell of a movement of women, more than a thousand of them, from north to south, east to west, carrying out the message of the Peaceful, Constructive Belizean Revolution, building schools, organizing marchers, and carrying the blue and white banner with pride.

So whenever the women of the People’s United Party gather together in one place there is history, there is power and therein resides the soul of this great political movement we know and love: the People’s United Party.

My friends, I know that some of you gathered here today are wondering - what is going on with our Party? You hear stories of division, you hear of talk of assets and the like.

For the more senior members of our Party all this is discomforting.

The PUP we all know is a disciplined movement, always moving forward and in so doing moving Belize forward. Today, I believe you deserve answers and you need the assurance of your Party Leader that everything is going to be all right.

So let me assure you that everything IS going to be all right.

Everything is going to be all right because the things that unite us as PUPs are much stronger than those that divide us.

All of us love the PUP and what our Party stands for. We are all proud to say we stand for Belize, which means we want to see every Belizean child go to school and have a good home with parents who love them.

We stand for safe communities and neighourhoods where our children can play without the fear of bullets flying all over the place.

We stand for justice, for peace and for the protection of our environment so that we can always have places like Croc-land for the enjoyment of Belizeans.

Our political creed calls for social justice, it asks of us to do our part to build Belize, it demands of us that we care for one another and that we protect and preserve our nation.

When it comes to these things we have no quarrel, about where the Party needs to go there is no quarrel, because all of us know that we exist because we love Belize and we want to see this nation be a place where everyone lives in peace and harmony. We want to see an economy where everyone has a chance to live a life of dignity. WE WANT TO FIGHT POVERTY not one another.

So please understand that to be a PUP is to believe that together and with the guidance of the Creator we can do anything. Together we will always be the best option for the Belizean People.

And because we are united in our understanding of our vision, the rest is as they say “small stuff.” It is all right for us to differ on the smaller things, but rest assured, where the future of this country and the success of this Party are concerned, we are bound together by more than a half a century of great warriors. Warriors like Madam Liz, and like Signa York, like Jane Usher and some of our modern day leaders like Sylvia Flores and Netty Johnson.

We must be inspired by these people and fight for Belize.

Today we live in a country with too much going wrong too quickly.

In the streets of our towns and cities we live in fear for our lives, our streets are been over-run by way too much violence. On the job we have to work too hard for too little while at the same time we get less value for our hard earned dollar.

Over the past 18 months we have gone from a growing nation to one that is in a recession and while the price of every food item has gone up in Belize, the government continues to sit back, incapable of fixing a single problem.

How many more of our innocent babies have to die before Barrow and the UDP will do something about the health system in Belize?

How many more Belizeans have to die in a hospital system from diseases that can be handled if only our government would seriously address the crisis in our health system?

How many more traffic accidents have to occur on our highways before Barrow and the UDP will do something about fixing our highways?

How many more small businesses have to close down before Barrow and the UDP will address the problems of inflation, low cost financing and deal with rising unemployment in Belize?

And how many more of our young boys have to die before Barrow and the UDP does something about the many guns in our streets, or the violence and hate that is developing in these communities?

Belizeans deserve better than this!

They deserve a government that can provide solutions to their problems. With all our difficulties the PUP managed to grow the Belizean economy by 8 percent in our 10 years in office. We built schools, we built classrooms, we extended water and electricity to 90 villages; we spent $400 million on roads, a billion on education, 100s of millions of dollars on health care. We provided jobs and we kept the lights on.

Today all of this seems so long ago because we live in a country where we are not even at a standstill - we are now going backwards.

From San Pedro to San Narciso, people are struggling to make ends meet; our young graduates are fleeing in search of jobs abroad. Our young women are leaving university only to find there are no jobs for them.

We can do better than this, our people deserve better than this.

For these reasons we in the People’s United Party must get to work.

We must spread the word that we can do better; we must let the people know that the People’s United Party is a party that works for everyone.

The women of the PUP have always served as the catalyst of our progressive revolution. There is no PUP without a United Women’s Group.

There is no equity or equality without the United Women’s Group.

You must never stop reminding us that we are a better party when our women are heard.

Insist that women are always at the table and that they must be a part of the decision making. You have earned that right.

Just over ten years ago the Party produced a Women’s Agenda. In so doing we made a promise to honor the contribution of our women by making sure that there is always a balance between men and women in the leadership of our Party. As your leader I intend to honour that promise.

We must use all the talents and the skills available to make our Party victorious again. We must also use all our talents to form the kind of government that the Belizean people can trust again and one that is progressive, always moving Belize forward.

So let the word go forth from Croc-land to the four corners of Belize that the women of the People’s United Party are coming.

Let them know that our women have had enough and will fight for Belize.

Let them know that the women of the PUP will rescue our nation from a UDP administration that is reckless, vindictive, malicious and simply too incompetent to govern.

Tell Barrow to get out of the way and let us get back to fixing, building and growing this nation.

Tell Barrow the women of the PUP di come!

Long live the United Women’s Group!

Long live the People’s United Party!

Long live Belize!

12

The Belize Times

Contract killing in Port

Belize City, Thursday, November 12, 2009 38 year old Jason Coombs was shot and killed a couple minutes to 5 yesterday evening at his construction equipment and supply business Pre-Con, at the corner of Caesar Ridge Road and Central American Boulevard.

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According to an employee a tinted black car drove into the yard but he paid it no attention because he assumed they had come in to do business. Shortly after, however, he heard the sound of several gun shots and saw the vehicle speeding off.

Coombs who had just finished operating a loader was apparently shot multiple times to the head and chest and died.

A police report indicate that the car was found abandoned on Malcolm Street in the Port Loyola area with what are believed to be stolen license plates.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Kevin Sutherland arrested Belize City, Thursday, November 12, 2009 Kevin Sutherland appeared in court yesterday evening to answer to charges of aggravated assault and damage to property.

Sutherland pleaded not guilty to the charges and was denied bail and remanded to the Hattieville Central Prison until a court appearance on December 28th.

It is alleged that last Thursday Kevin Sutherland shot at a 2009 Nissan Altima belonging to Minister and Port Loyola area representative Anthony “Boots” Martinez. Minister Martinez was

not in or around the vehicle at the time which was driven at the time

by Michael Sutherland.

Kevin Sutherland is charged with damaging the vehicle’s rear windshield valued at $4,800 and the trunk to the tune of $450.

UB fires two: still no explanation

Belize City, Thursday, November 12, 2009 Media reports last night confirmed that the Board of Trustees of the University of Belize had ordered the terminations of the Financial Director Harry Lui and Human Resources Director Yuri Monsanto, as had been reported by Vibes News two weeks ago.

Our reports are that Lui is being scapegoated by the Board who are alleging that it was his mis-reporting on the University’s financial status that led to upheavals last month over a decision to raise tuition fees and freeze wages.

Monsanto is being accused of conspiring against the Board and leaking information in regards to salaries and other remuneration.

Our efforts to reach either for comment have so far proved futile.

The University has said that both posts will be advertised in the next few days.

13 year old Trial Farm student knocked down Belize City, Thursday, November 12, 2009 Luceli Ellis, a 13 year old student of Bishop Martin High School, was knocked down Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk Tuesday afternoon. The incident happened around four in the afternoon when the teen who was riding her bicycle towards home was knocked down by a cane truck. The girl’s grandmother said that after injuring her granddaughter the truck driver tried to run away but was detained by villagers. The truck was heading to Corozal when witnesses say the driver steered off the road and bumped the girl. Ellis was being treated at the Northern Regional Hospital and later transferred to the KHMH. She sustained mostly injuries to her face.

Police have detained the driver of the truck pending charges.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

Caneros receive final payment but no celebration

Belize City, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Reports from Orange Walk are that the response to caneros finally collecting their third and final payment today for the 2008-2009 crop has been very muted.

Unlike previous years there have been no lines at the bank and most businesses have not seen the boost they expected from the disbursement of what is described as a record payment with Orange Walk cane farmers receiving $11.54 while Corozal cane farmers received $11.14.

Last Friday just when farmers were expecting to receive their third and final payment for the 2008/2009 crop, BSI announced it would not be able to meet that obligation. After

the Association got official word that BSI wouldn’t be paying cane farmers, they called an emergency meeting with the Committee of Management to discuss a plan of action. That meeting ended late in the afternoon, and the BSCFA wrote to the Managing Director of BSI Joey Montalvo, demanding that BSI make payment by Wednesday, November 11th, or pay almost $16,000 in interest payments on loans by cane farmers.

Yesterday CTV 3 in Orange Walk announced that BSI would meet the promised ten million dollars plus in bonus payments today.

BSCFA’s Chairman of the Orange Walk Branch Fred Ortega had confirmed yesterday that the caneros would receive their payments today.

The approximately 10 million dollars is shared between 6 thousand cane farmers in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts and was expected to be a much needed shot in the arm of the local economies of those districts.

But so far today there has been little indication as to the impact of the money on the local economies of the north.

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Regional US Training to be Hosted in Belize Elizabeth Pridgeon The Belize Times can exclusively reveal that the US Military Training Program Tradewinds has confirmed the location of its 2010 operation, and representatives from across the region will be invited to participate in the event to be hosted

by Belize in April of next year.

Tradewinds is an annual exercise to strengthen the capabilities and cooperation of nations throughout the Caribbean and Central America, sponsored by the US Southern Command.

Tradewinds has a successful history of over 25 years of training to increase the capacity of regional nations to respond to illegal migration, terrorist networks, narcotics trafficking and natural disasters. It also improves relations between various Defence Ministries, and increases the professionalism of military forces throughout the region.

Tradewinds operations are traditionally directed by the American Marine Corps. Over recent weeks, various Marine Corps contingents have visited Belize in order to finalise arrangements

for next April’s event.

And whilst the military-oriented operations and defence force based exercises will be conducted at Price Barracks alongside the BDF forces in Ladyville, official representatives and delegates from at least 17 regional countries will also be visiting Belize to observe the achievements of the Tradewinds operation. Organising representatives from the Marine Corps suggest that social visits for these official delegates will perhaps include a trip to Old Belize or Altun Ha, among other things, during their short stay in Belize City.

This is the second time that Belize has been chosen as the prime location to host the event, the last time occurring in 2007 (it is allegedly only due to continued political unrest in Honduras that Belize has the opportunity to rehost within such a short space of time). It can only be hoped that our government will welcome the opportunity to be a part of a regional initiative such as Tradewinds, and will hospitably oblige with any requirements presented by this prestigious military operation.

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The Belize Times

sunday, November 15, 2009

COURT NEWS Alleged Cell Phone Robber Remanded To Prison BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 11, 2009

Brandon Gentle, 19, a.k.a.

“Chucky”, a resident of #71Taylor’s Alley, who allegedly stole a cell phone from a 14 year old boy, was charged with robbery when he appeared in the #2 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, November 9.

Gentle was also charged with assaulting a Police Officer and escape. He pled not guilty to the charges. Senior Magistrate Dorothy Flowers offered him bail of $4,000 and adjourned his case until

Scott further reported that at around 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, he was riding a motorcycle on Orange Street with another Police Officer when he saw the suspect. Scott December 9. But Gentle was unable said he detained Gentle and when he to meet bail so he was remanded to asked the other Police Officer to get prison.

The robbery occurred at around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 11, 2009 28. Police Constable Cannon Obispo, 21, a construction Jamille Scott reported worker of Teakettle, a.k.a. “Ghetto that he was on Cemetery Road when Village”, who allegedly burglarized a house in Freetown Sibun and sexually he saw a robbery in assaulted a 62 year old Canadian progress at the corner woman, was charged with rape and of Cemetery Road and Euphrates aggravated burglary when he appeared Avenue. Scott said when he went to yesterday in the #6 Magistrate’s Court. intervene the suspect ran through Magistrate Sharon Fraser explained Taylor’s Alley and escaped. to Obispo that she would not take a

the keys for the handcuffs so he could handcuff Gentle, the suspect pushed him to the ground and ran through Taylor’s Alley.

Scott said he pursued Gentle and caught him near a house on Baghdad Street.

Four Charged In Connection With Aggravated Burglary and Rape plea from him because the charges are connected and rape is an indictable offence. She also explained to Obispo that the Court could not offer him bail because of the nature of the offences.

She remanded him into custody until December 23.

Before he was escorted from the Courtroom Obispo told Magistrate Fraser that he was burned on several areas of his body by the Police. He said the Police poured hot water on

PEOPLE’S UNITED PARTY SPECIAL CONVENTION TO ELECT MINIMUM SIX MEMBERS OF THE BELMOPAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dear Residents of Belmopan, The Peoples United Party (PUP) is the greatest political Party that has ever existed in Belize. It is the Party that brought us political independence, and once in government has proven to perform beyond expectations, resulting in continuous economic growth (6-8% per annum) and social justice, where all Belizeans benefi t, regardless of race, color, sex, creed, or political affi liation. Prior to the 2008 General Elections, there was unprecedented growth in infrastructure (roads, schools, and bridges). Investments in agriculture, health and education doubled, and private investment confi dence was at an all time high.

Since the 2008 General Elections, Belizeans overall have felt frustration, fear, and disappointment on the empty United Democratic Party (UDP) promises. Victimization seems to be an acceptable practice in this cruel UDP government. This is evidenced by the infamous remarks by the Prime Minister and UDP Party Leader when he commented on victimized poor Belizeans as “collateral damage”. By the mere suspicion that individuals are sympathetic to the PUP, people overall have been losing their land, their houses, their jobs, their privacy, their dignity. Because of the mismanagement of the economy, by incapable “professionals”, Belize is now experiencing negative economic growth. Investor confi dence is eroding, crime and corruption are rampant, more and more children are unable to attend school, and the poor are getting poorer.

The above is clear evidence that the UDP is unable to govern. Many promises were made, such as employment growth, affordable housing, access to quality health care, affordable education, etc. etc.

Where are all those promises now? Our people are crying, asking “Mr. Barrow, why are you doing this to us?”

Belmopan saw tremendous growth during the PUP government. The University of Belize was established, which attracted and enhanced small businesses; new projects were secured, beautifi cation of the city was an example for the entire country, and RECONDEV and City Council worked hand in hand to provide basic infrastructure and land for all. Since the UDP City Council was elected, development has been stagnant. The question is “where are all the millions of dollars collected in taxes?” Obviously, salaries for the Mayor and staff eat up much of those taxes. We see deteriorating conditions of our streets, drainage, parks and playgrounds. The City Council and RECONDEV are constantly fi ghting as to who should control RECONDEV’s resources. It is well known that such resources are used by the two UDP Area Representatives Witz and Saldivar for their political activities. The Area Representative John Saldivar has forgotten, ignored and victimized his constituents, and blatantly practices nepotism with his family and friends. “Where, oh where is “the man of the people?””

Residents of Belmopan: It is time for us to take back our Garden City. We call upon all, PUP and others, to join us as we prepare in our struggle to regain City Council and the Belmopan Constituency. Let us give back to our people what they truly deserve: a life of dignity and prosperity, where all are equal, where all are treated with respect, where all are given an opportunity for a better life for themselves and their children. Together we can, together we will!!!!! We call upon you to come out on Sunday, 29th November, 2009, at the Belmopan Civic Center, for a special convention to elect a minimum of six members of the PUP Executive Committee, Belmopan Constituency, starting at 2:00 PM. Come and elect a Committee of hard working, responsible and committed individuals who will lead us into victory.

9th November 2009

his penis, his chest, his head and in his ear. He said that before he was brought to Court he was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The incident occurred on October 12. According to the allegation, Obispo armed with a firearm entered the house of Canadian national Harold Reeves and raped Reeves’ wife in his presence. Obispo also allegedly stole money and items amounting to $32,780 in value. Among the items was Reeves’ 1999 Chevy Blazer.

The police have recovered two of the stolen items - a laptop computer and a 32 inch flat screen television.

Consequently, Tan Jing Xiao, 22, a Chinese shopkeeper of Cotton Tree, was charged yesterday with handling stolen goods for the laptop. Xiao pled not guilty to the charge when he appeared in the #3 Magistrate’s Court.

He was released on bail of $2,000 and his case was adjourned until December 1. On that date he is to appear in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court where the case will be tried.

Two others, Richard Bishop, 62 and his common-law wife, Genevieve Enriquez, 31, were charged with handling stolen goods for the flat screen television. They too appeared in the #3 Magistrate’s Court and pled not guilty to the charge. They were both released on bail of $1,000 and their case was adjourned until December 21 when they are to appear in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court for trial.

sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

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COURT NEWS 22 Year Old Gunman Sentenced To 4 Years BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 11, 2009

Shane Edwards, 22, charged with keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license was found guilty of both charges at the conclusion of his trial in the #1 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, November 9.

Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie sentenced him to 2 years for each count with the stipulation that the sentences are to run consecutively. Shane Edwards Before he was sentenced to 4 years, Edwards was serving a sentence of 6 months for non-payment of fines for a conviction of handling stolen goods.

The incident occurred on March 11, 2009. The Police were on mobile patrol on Cleghorn Street when they

saw Edwards riding a bicycle. When Edwards saw the Police vehicle he threw an object on the ground.

When the Police retrieved the object they discovered that it was a .357 Magnum pistol with 4 rounds of .38 calibre ammunition in it. The firearm and ammunition were shown to Edwards, who was detained by Police, and they were labeled as exhibits. Edwards testified and denied that he committed the offence.

Before he was sentenced Edwards asked for leniency. He said he has a 3 month old child and although he went to prison at the age of 16 and spent 3 years he had never committed offences for firearm and ammunition before.

Conorquie Convicted Twice for Theft within 7 Days BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 11, 2009

Frank Conorquie, 50, a bartender who was convicted of theft last Monday, was found guilty of a second theft when his trial finished o n M o n d a y, November 9 in the #6 Magistrate’s Court. Magistrate S h a r o n Fr a s e r fined Conorquie $1,500 and ordered him to pay $350 in compensation to Helen Cuellar, 51, the owner of the Razr Motorola cell phone that C o n o r q u i e Frank Conorquie stole. She gave Conorquie until December 15 to pay the fine. If he defaults on payment he will serve 18 months. Conorquie must pay the compensation by November 16. If he defaults on payment it will result in distress and imprisonment for 6 weeks in the first instance.

Before his second conviction for theft, Conorquie was imprisoned

when he could not get anybody to sign a bond that would ensure that the fine of $1,000 he was given last Monday would be paid. Last Monday Chief Magistrate M a r g a r e t M c Ke n z i e w h o imposed the fine also ordered him to pay $5,000 in compensation to Ms. Bailey, owner of the lap top computer he stole.

At Conorquie’s trial for the second theft the only witness for the prosecution was Ms. Cuellar. She testified that she gave Conorquie her cell phone to unlock sometime in October last year. She said she got the phone for her birthday present and it was brand new. She testified that Conorquie did not return her phone and he did not give her any explanation as to what became of it. Conorquie did not say anything in his defense. He chose to remain silent.

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The Belize Times

Sunday, November 15, 2009

sunday, November 15, 2009

The

The Belize Times

Belize Times l o ñ a p s E n E

DOMINGO NOVIEMBRE 15, 2009

Issue No. 4660

$1.00

www.belizetimes.bz

The Truth Shall Make You Free

El Gobierno de Barrow El Más Trasparente Que Haya Existido

Cuando Dean Barrow habló a la nación meses antes de las elecciones generales de febrero 2008, él prometió transparencia en gobierno. Cuando Dean Barrow y su gobierno fueron llevados a cuestas en victoria por una mayoría del electorado beliceño, él juró que su UDP, gobernaría con transparencia. Meses después de las elecciones generales y tan recientes como esta semana, Dean Barrow siempre ha hecho público anunciando y alabando la transparencia de su gobierno y el suyo.

Y lo más chistoso – Dean Barrow está en lo cierto. El ha estado completamente transparente en su trato con la gente. El ha estado completamente transparente en lo que le ha permitido hacer a sus ministros.

El ha estado completamente transparente con sus tratos con los miembros de su fa-

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Under the UDP Lois Young Barrow has made millions milia. Dean Barrow no mintió al decir que caras. No estábamos listos a aceptar lo sería transparente. Nosotros los beliceños, que nos prometían a la vista clara. Pero sólo no quisimos ver lo que estaba siendo ahora…toda esta claro, eso es muy cierto. alardeado directamente delante de nuestras Ahora, en menos de dos años de gobierno

PARTIDO UNIDO DEL PUEBLO (PUP) CONVENCION ESPECIAL PARA ELEGIR MINIMO SIES (6) MIEMBROS DEL COMITE EJECUTIVO, BELMOPAN Residentes de Belmopan, El Partido Unido del Pueblo (PUP) es el Partido más grande en la historia de Belice. Es el Partido que peleo y obtuvo nuestra independencia política. Una vez en el gobierno, ha demostrado que puede gobernar de una manera efectiva, más de lo que se espera, resultando en crecimiento económico (del 6-8% anual), brindando justicia social, adonde todos los Beliceños se benefi cian, no importa la raza, color, sexo, afi liación política o religiosa. Antes de las elecciones generales del 2008, hubo un crecimiento nunca antes visto en cuestión de infraestructura (carreteras, escuelas, puentes). Las inversiones públicas en salud, educación, y agricultura fue mas que el doble, y había una confi anza altísima del sector privado.

Desde las elecciones del 2008, todos los Belicenos han sentido temor, frustración, y decepción en las promesas rotas del Partido Unido Democrático (UDP). La victimizacion es un hecho en este gobierno cruel. Esto se manifi esta en los comentarios del presente Primer Ministro y Líder del UDP cuando se refi rió la los pobres Belicenos que han perdido sus trabajos “daños colaterales”, como decir “Que se Jodan, no son UDP”. Si solo sospechan que las personas son afi nes al PUP, la gente en general han perdido sus terrenos, sus trabajos, sus hogares, su privacidad, y su dignidad. Por el mal manejo de la economía por “expertos” incapaces, Belice ahora esta viviendo un crecimiento económico NEGATIVO. La confi anza del sector privado esta perdido, el crimen es incontrolable, la corrupción esta en todo el gobierno, mas y mas niños no pueden atender clases, y los pobres están quedando mas pobres.

Es obvio que el UDP no puede gobernar este país. Muchas promesas se hicieron que ahora no se cumplen, tales como mas empleo, viviendas, acceso a un servicio de salud de calidad, educación para todos, etc, etc. Adonde están esas promesas ahora? Nuestro pueblo implora “Sr. Barrow, porque nos haces esto?”

La ciudad de Belmopan vio un crecimiento signifi cativo durante la administración PUP. La Universidad de Belice se estableció, dando oportunidad a negocios pequeños de servicio a los estudiantes; nuevos proyectos se establecieron; la belleza de nuestra ciudad fue un ejemplo para todo el país, y tanto RECONDEV y el Concilio trabajaban mano a mano para el desarrollo de nuestra ciudad. Desde que se eligió un Concilio UDP, el desarrollo en Belmopan se ha estagnado. La gente se pregunta “Adonde están los millones que se recaudan en impuestos? Obviamente la mayoría se gasta en salarios para el Alcalde y su gente. Las condiciones de las calles, parques y drenajes están pésimos, lo peor en muchos años. El Concilio y RECONDEV viven peleando por los recursos de RECONDEV. Todo mundo sabe que los dos Representantes de Área, Witz y Saldivar usan los recursos de RECONDEV para sus juegos políticos. John Saldivar ha abandonado su gente, los discrimina, los ignora, y solamente favorece a su familia y amigos íntimos. “Adonde entonces esta el Hombre del Pueblo?”

Residentes de Belmopan: Necesitamos retomar nuestra Ciudad del Jardín. Llamamos a todos los partidarios y amigos del PUP que se unan a nosotros en nuestra lucha para retomar el Concilio y el Distrito Electoral de Belmopan.

Necesitamos devolver a nuestra gente lo que se merecen: una vida de dignidad y respeto, adonde todos son iguales, adonde todos se merecen las oportunidades para prosperar, para una mejor vida para sus familias. Juntos lo podemos lograr, juntos lo lograremos!!!!!!!. Le invitamos entonces a que acuda al Civic Center de Belmopan el domingo, 29 de noviembre, comenzando a las dos de la tarde, para elegir un mínimo de seis (6) miembros del Comité Ejecutivo del PUP, Belmopan. Venga y vote para una Comitiva de personas trabajadoras, responsables y comprometidas que nos llevaran a la victoria.

9 de noviembre del 2009

UDP, los beliceños podemos desenmascarar a este falso, arrogante e incompetente y de verdad, completamente transparente gobierno UDP Tomemos el último caso primero. El gobierno de Belice acaba de anunciar que el recién formado Brads Gaming Company conseguirá el contrato para el Boledo. Por casi un año, el Belize Times y Vibes Radio habían estado anunciando que Brads conseguiría este contrato. Semana tras semana los medios de comunicación de la oposición habían divulgado esta información. Así que después de algunos meses, no era noticias nuevas de que Brads se haría cargo del Boledo. Ahora es oficial. Barrow y su gobierno no le importa ni le importará que todo mundo sabe que ‘Brads’ se conoce como Cuarto Informal del Gabinete en donde los ministros UDP se reúnen en los fines de semana para jugar y tomarse unas copas.

Todos sabemos que Brads es el promotor financiero del UDP. Así que “kudos” a Barrow. ¡Mejor dicho! El está completa y descaradamente transparente dándole el contrato del Boledo a Brads.

Cuando Dean Barrow quiso gratificar a su fiel ex esposa por sus servicios, él estaba completamente transparente. El la nombró presidenta del Consejo del Social Security, donde se le paga una fuerte suma para asistir a una reunión por mes. El la nombró la Alta Comisionada no-residente a la UNO, le otorgó la condecoración más alta de Belice, él la hizo actuar como Ministro de Justicia, él le pagó millones para representar al gobierno de Belice en las cortes, y también ella es miembro del Consejo del nuevo BTL (Barrow Telemedia Limited). Nuestro primer ministro nunca ha escondido cosa alguna de sus tratos con Lois a los beliceños – el simplemente hizo lo que quería hacer.

Cuando el Primer Ministro tomó el BTL, él inmediatamente y sin un cuidado en el mundo nombró a su hijo y ex esposa al Consejo de Directores de la Compañía.

El hasta ubicó a su hijo en un puesto en donde él dirige las actividades cotidianas de la compañía. El líder de esta nación tomó a su hijo de 27 años, usurero con licencia y tomador, y lo puso al mando de una compañía valorada en millones de dólares. El nunca pidió disculpas por este acto.

Cuando el Primer Ministro de esta nación decidió nombrar a su hermano como juez de la Corte de Apelaciones, no era un secreto. Meses antes esto era un tema candente en las calles. A pesar de las protestas de nepotismo y conflicto de interés y la borrosa división entre el ejecutivo y la judicial, a Barrow poco le importó - él siguió con sus planes, y al diablo con todos.

Y la lista de actos transparentes llevados a cabo por Barrow y su gobierno puede llenar un cuaderno enorme. La realidad es que Barrow y su UDP nunca se han preocupado de esconder las cosas que hacen. Lo que han hecho es olvidar las palabras atadas a transparencia- palabras como integridad, y contabilidad y honestidad y servicio y humildad. Sin éstas, la transparencia del UDP es solamente una bofetada.

Pero los beliceños han despertado.

Los meses después de elecciones, Barrow y el UDP tenían campo libre, pero no estaba sellado por vida. La gente se ha desengañado de la transparencia de Barrow y la realidad de los tiempos de abundancia para los “especiales” del UDP y de la escasez para el resto de nosotros ha creado un sentido de desesperación, frustración e intolerancia que no es propicia para Barrow y el UDP. Si Barrow se atreve a mirar dentro del vidrio transparente en donde yace el futuro seguro del UDP, él no es un hombre feliz esta noche.

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The Belize Times

Belize Times ol

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CÓMO UNA RECESIÓN HACE ESTRAGOS EN LOS POBRES Durante una recesión, la mayoría de la gente aprende a vivir sin extravagancias material. Muchas personas con ingresos medios tratan desimplificar sus vidas al tratar de centrarse en las cosas más importantes para ellos: casa, amigos y familiares. Para los pobres quetienen pocas posesiones materiales, esto es aún más significativo.

Para todos, una recesión provoca miedo y bajas expectativas. Las consecuencias culturales rara vez se elevan y dan lugar a problemas tanto económicos como emocionales, las cuales en la mayoría de las veces provienen de la pérdida de empleo o por no poder mantenerse al día con el creciente costo de la vida, en resumen, tienen que ver más con menos.

En la actualidad miles de beliceños viven la pesadilla de esta recesión. En la actualidad el desempleo esta muy por encima del 12 por ciento. Hoy en día son muchos más los beliceños que tienen que “atrapar y matar” y dependen de los desperdicios de los otros para sobrevivir. Gente como los vendedores de maní, camareros, camareras, jardineros, los pertenecientes a la economía informal y así sucesivamente, son los que primero sufren los efectos de una recesión económica.

Teniendo en cuenta que en el 2007 el desempleo se situó en un 8 por ciento ya elevado, entonces esto significa que la lucha para lograr que la economía de Belice este en camino y conseguir mantener a los beliceños trabajando será aun más un reto de enormes proporciones. La promesa del UDP de crear 5000 nuevos puestos de trabajo se hizo sin un examen previo de la realidad actual, y luego el Primer Ministro y su gobierno tendrán que crear más de 5.000 nuevos puestos de trabajo sólo para que el país vuelva a donde estaba cuando heredó el mandato de gobierno en febrero de el 2008. Para aquellos que esperan beneficiarse de los 5.000 nuevos puestos de trabajo, las posibilidades están ahora incluso más lejanas de su alcance.

La última vez que Belice sufrió una recesión fue en el 2003. Luego, la Administración PUP tomó medidas para suavizar el golpe y en un corto espacio de tiempo la recuperación comenzó a ocurrir. Esto es importante, porque cuando la recesión se prolonga indefinidamente sus efectos se hacen más que un asunto de dólares y centavos.

En un momento de recesión la gente se desespera. Los estudios realizados en los EE.UU. y en Europa como en América Latina muestran que más personas se deprimen en una recesión. Hay muchas razones para esta depresión, incluyendo un sentido de desesperanza. Más personas tienen que pedir dinero prestado a amigos y familiares que pueden incluso también estar luchando, y muchos corren el riesgo de perderlo todo – e incluso lo más importante, sus hogares.

En algún momento durante una recesión, el desempleo se extiende a otros sectores de la sociedad. Como resultado, más beliceños corren el riesgo de convertirse en pobres. Ya un tercio de la población es considerada pobre, así que esto tendrá un enorme efecto en el crecimiento personal, así como en la capacidad de Belice para desarrollarse. Además, con el Gobierno informando de una caída en los ingresos fiscales, la demanda de servicios sociales del país se convertirá en una carga pesada. Si en el presupuesto del gobierno del año pasado, se presupuesto un promedio de alrededor de 3 dólares por madre soltera, imagínense lo que está disponible actualmente, no sólo para las madres solteras, pero para las madres que ahora tienen que confiar en el sistema de apoyo debido a que sus cónyuges no pueden encontrar empleo.

Todo esto se produce en un momento en que los ingresos fiscales se están desplomando, lo que hace más difícil para el Gobierno atender la demanda de seguridad pública, servicios de emergencia, en zonas urbanas y rurales, mantenimiento y servicios similares. ¿Y quién es el primero en verse afectado cuando todas estas osas ocurren? Los pobres y los marginados, especialmente las mujeres y los niños. Ellos son los primeros afectados y los que son los más afectados. Ya en la parte inferior de la pirámide, por así decirlo, las familias pobres tienen menos sistemas de apoyo existentes, para ayudarles a pasar la tormenta. No hay ninguna cuenta de ahorros de la que puedan extraer un poco de dinero para mantenerse, ninguna propiedad para hipotecar o vender. Algunas pocas baratijas personales representan mucho menos en las casas de empeño locales, debido a un exceso de oferta, los prestamistas locales tienen menos paciencia con los clientes que no pueden cumplir con sus pagos.

Todo el mundo sufre una recesión - los ricos pierden capital, la clase media/ trabajadora sufre el riesgo de perder sus hogares y sus puestos de trabajo e incluso puede terminar en la pobreza.

La recuperación para ellos es abrumadora, pero no sufren tanto como los pobres. Para ellos, la cuestión es mucho más que perder algo de valor - para ellos es la supervivencia.

El gobierno es responsable por lo tanto debe rápidamente establecer medidas para proteger a los más débiles. El problema de esta administración de el UDP es que no sólo carecen de la capacidad de establecer medidas de ayuda, también carecen de la competencia para desarrollar cualquier tipo de plan coherente para conseguir que la nación, y especialmente los más pobres entre nosotros, puedan salir de esta crisis.

sunday, November 15, 2009

Out Spoken

¿Adónde está el Ministerio de Salud?

Senor Director, Por favor publique mi carta para que los beliceños puedan entender la grave situación enfrentando a nuestras madres primerizas de este país. Es en verdad un asunto que se ha aireado por los medios de comunicación pero como primera vez madre embarazada yo creo que es importante que la gente de este país entienda como de crítico es este asunto para todos.

Recientemente ha habido mucho más casos de bebés que han nacido en hospitales públicos alrededor del país, del norte al sur, incluyendo nuestro hospital de remisión, el KHMH, quienes bien estaban muertos cuando nacieron o poco después de haber nacido. En todos estos casos y otros, es evidente de que hubo negligencia flagrante en la administración de dar luz a bebés en las instituciones respectivas. Adicionalmente, en muchos de estos casos siempre estamos esperando que una investigación comience, mucho menos que termine y de que sabes de que nadie se ha hecho responsable. No ha habido explicación creíble por el ministerio de salud. Es inaceptable de que no hayan podido ofrecer respuestas algunas al porque nuestras madres embarazadas salen de los hospitales públicos con bebés en ataúdes en vez de cunas. Nuestras mamás salen con lágrimas y frustración en vez de risas y alegría que es lo que el nacimiento de un niño debe traer. ¿Qué dice esto acerca de nuestro sistema de salud y para nuestro país? Uno no tiene que ser una persona en el terreno de medicina para entender que algo está terriblemente malo en nuestro sistema de salud. Este año solamente hemos oído de siete de estos casos que se ha traído adelante por medio de los medios de comunicación. Pero al escuchar los programas de entrevistas estos pasados días, da la impresión de que muchos de estos casos también se van desapercibidos y desconocidos al público.

Como una mujer primera vez embarazada, estoy temerosa de ir a cualquier hospital público en Belice para dar a luz a mi bebé.

Este sentimiento fue expresado muy bien por Ms. Glendy Chi en Corozal después de la pérdida de su primogénito en el hospital de Corozal. En su entrevista ella aconsejó a las mamás embarazadas de no ir a los hospitales públicos para dar a luz. Hasta última hora, hablando con otras mujeres en las clínicas prenatales, la que yo ahora atiendo, esto siempre es el tema de discusión…” solo checa (chequea) en la clínica cada mes pero trata de ir a un hospital privado para dar a luz.” Pero, ¿cuántas de nosotras realmente podemos permitirnos a hacer eso? Quizá esos que tienen la suerte y el lujo del NHI donde solamente pagas un (co-payment) y luego puedes ir a un hospital privado. ¿Pero qué pasa con nosotras en otras partes del país donde no tenemos NHI? De todas las medidas de mortalidades de infancia, la mortalidad perinatal es la que tiene el impacto más alto que cualquier país porque se relaciona directamente al nivel y cualidad de la atención prenatal que se da en las clínicas, durante partos y en los hospitales en aspectos neonatales.

Siempre estoy esperando para aquellas supuestas organizaciones que deben estar aconsejando sobre los derechos de mujeres y niños que digan algo o hagan preguntas. ¿Adónde está National Women’s Commission (NWC), National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC), WIN Belize, NOPCA, Human rights?

Atentamente Idelma Lopez

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

19

El Bejuco Ministro Lechero

Los bebes siguen muriendo, se los repito este ministerio se está pudriendo. Es el ministro que sigue jodiendo...

Esta vez en San Ignacio, te lo dijimos : ese hospital esta rancio, llévales equipo nuevo no seas reacio.

Que ironía mientras los bebes fallecen de su banco de leche el ministro se enorgullece Con tanta mortandad infantil habrá leche abundante, pero entonces el ejercicio será redundante, ay ministro si en vez de andar buscando leche con tu bombita pudieras meterte en la cabecita, que darle recursos al hospital es lo que se necesita…

El pueblo exige mejor servicio, exige más medicamentos, solo escuchamos lamentos. Si no hay plata ?Como fue que te compraste un nuevo vehículo, vil rata?

Si lo que quieres es divertirte con lechita, mejor cómprate una cabrita…

Las Nenas Del Concilio de Belize

El timador de fantasía al más largo de sus colegas se enfrento, a aquel mero maromero que las ambulancias del KHMH se desfalco…

Estas nenas están tranzando, pues la Moya lo mejor del pastelito los dejo deseando. Ahora las migajas están peleando, a sus hombres llamaron para defenderse, ¡ay, cuchi! que par de mequetrefes… Como dijo Lelo, estas nenas parecen chuchos en celo…

For Sale

22FT ANGLER FAMILY FISHING BOAT

Gobernador

Cuando el Gobernador del banco central asegura no saber qué hacer, ¡Hay problema!... Cuando dice que el caos económico no se puede resolver ¡Hay problema! … Cuando también dice que no puede darle orden a los bancos que bajen las tasas de intereses, ¡Hey, aquí sí que hay problema! ¿Quieres decir que la defunción de la economía es tu única función? ¿Que no hay ni fisgo, ni intuición? ¡Que semejante cabron! ¿O será un caso de simple lambiscón?

Esto es a la patria una gran traición...

Estamos en quiebra y este gobernador con corazón de piedra, nos abandona a manos de esta crisis económica que nos acecha como una hiedra… ¿De dónde sacamos a este pedazo de hombre, que de banquero no merece ni el nombre? ¿De qué nos sirve un banquero y un banco central sin cojones? …Son solamente un par de mojones…

COSAS DEL JEFE PELON

Absorbido en su afán de consolidar su nepotismo, nos está llevando al abismo, pagos millonarios a su primera dama y ahora para hacer el ajuste, a la primera hija por representar legalmente al gobierno, lo que diga la gente le importa un cuerno Ha privatizado nuestro Boledo, eso esta jodido. Hasta la Fina en el benque se quedara sin chamba. Después de 40 años de andar vendiendo lotería en Melchor, ¡qué caramba!

El chino Brad’s se queda con el cuete, y al hijo del jefe pelón alcahuete también le toco su filete, si, aquel que funge como socio silencioso, hasta que se empede y suelte la lengua el gran soso…que papi y mamita también tienen metido la manita…

El Senador Hulse el gran mojigato, como siempre se vendió barato. Sanciono la empresa, y a brad’s hasta lo besa, a saber de cuánto fue la remesa, de esa que se pasa bajo la mesa... Ya no tendrá necesidad de vender arroz, ¡qué cosa más atroz El gran Shyne regreso a casa acongojado, pues con todo y su lana regreso como vil mojado, y bien deportado. La oveja negra de la familia el se creía, a los Barrow había desprestigiado según se decía, pero ya se ha dado cuenta que su pequeña balacera en nada se compara con las actividades de su familia matancera…

En la casa de Lucas se refugio, allí con el enemigo del tío se escondió, él solito ya descubrió, las fichitas de familia que dios le dio, órdenes estrictas al guardaespaldas ya le impartió, que en el penthouse no los quiere, ya que por eso hasta su nombre se cambio..

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20

The Belize Times

sunday, November 15, 2009

Imagina las Posibilidades? … s o m e b a s i s a r o h a

?

MÁS

Nepotismo

MÁS

Crimen

MÁS

Deuda

MÁS

Injusticia

MÁS

Desempleo

MÁS

Regulación

MÁS

Pobreza

MÁS

Problemas en los Hospitales

MÁS

Hambre

MÁS

Manipulación Constitucional

MÁS

Impuestos

MÁS

Derroche de Gasto Público

MÁS

Despidos

MÁS

Corrupción

s a i c a r G

Señor Barrow

Nos Vemos en el

2013

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

21

22

The Belize Times

NATION BUILDERS

sunday, November 15, 2009

MS. BRUNELDA ALVARADO

Elizabeth Pridgeon “Some men are born to greatness; some achieve g r e a t n e s s ; a n d s o m e h ave greatness thrust upon them” (William Shakespeare).

An appreciation of this quote depends upon one’s definition of greatness, which is often associated with worldwide fame, fortune and reputation. Yet skimming through various dictionaries, I found many other definitions beside, which seemed accurate descriptions of this week’s Nation Builder, Ms. Brunelda Alvarado. She is superior in quality, noble in character, a distinguished member of society and has made outstanding contributions to her local community throughout the course of her life. Greatness of spirit and soul doesn’t require fame and fortune to accompany it (and indeed may be jeopardized by it), and for this reason there are numerous nation builders, like Ms. Brunelda, who are being discovered somewhat ‘off the beaten track’ (metaphorically, and in this case, geographically too, as I had to bump down the Old Northern Highway to find her!).

Born to a Costa Rican father

and a Mexican mother, Ms. Brunelda was certainly not born to financial greatness or social stature as she grew up on her family’s farm between the villages of Boston and Lucky Strike.

Despite her humble beginnings, Ms. Brunelda has become, in her own way, a role-model, an outstanding contributor to Belizean society, and an influential activist and community leader within her own social setting.

And yet she is one of the most

modest ladies imaginable, still living a humble life and apparently seeking no more than is sufficient to sustain herself and her family.

Ms. Brunelda was born the 7th child of 15, and as one of the oldest girls, she took her responsibility as caretaker very seriously while growing up. She admits that she often went hungry in order to be able to feed her younger siblings, and she lived with few material possessions of her own, mainly surviving with poorly-fitting hand-me-downs from her older siblings. Throughout this hardship, Ms. Brunelda learnt an appreciation of how the natural environment can provide, and today her 15-acre lot is full to bursting with animals, poultry, turtles, and abundant fruit trees, all of which she tends with care and dedication, harvesting only sufficient to feed herself and her family, and the occasional visitor.

Ms. Brunelda is a fine example of someone who maintains a sustainable livelihood, barely affecting the natural habitat in which she lives, which is increasingly important in today’s environmentally destructive society.

However, the real reason behind Ms. Brunelda having been nominated as a nation builder is that she has given numerous people hope when all others had given up on them.

Following a stint in the States, where Ms. Brunelda involved herself in charitable work, she returned to her home in the Belize District and accompanied church groups on visits to Hattieville Prison. Once a month for many years (first with the Nazarene Church and then with the Methodist Church), Ms. Brunelda travelled to the prison in the hope of helping inmates find a solution to their predicaments and seek a better future for themselves. Ms. Brunelda focused on convicted youths in particular, who she wholeheartedly encouraged to put their faith in God. She would read verses from

the Bible to anyone wishing to listen; she would sing songs, pray with them for salvation, and offer them the opportunity to merely converse with someone from ‘outside’, which is one of the most sought-after privileges for all prisoners. The fact that so many of the people she was helping were mere teenagers, who should still be in school instead of out on the streets committing petty thefts, assault and – in some cases – even murder, was enough incentive to encourage Ms. Brunelda to continue her monthly visits. She also recognized the hope she could give inmates just by succumbing to their demands and giving them a shilling or a dollar, which is something few people understand (unless they have been a prisoner themselves at one time or another). Aside from working throughout the various Tango subdivisions within jail, her work also extended into the women’s quarters, where she strove to help female inmates create for themselves a better, more Christian future.

Patience is a huge requirement for charitable work such as this, and Ms. Brunelda encourages hasty people to remember that ‘the Lord didn’t build the world in a day’, showing the faith that has inspired her to continue helping people all these years, with no obvious personal gain or motive.

Ms. Brunelda believes she was chosen as ‘special’ out of all of her family: she has always been driven to achieve the best she possibly can, and to help as many people along her way as she encounters. She currently cares for her terminally ill brother, and just last year adopted an orphan boy who needs considerable extra support (both educationally and emotionally). Yet this life-changing challenge doesn’t seem to faze Ms. Brunelda in the slightest, and she even talks about organizing a visa for the boy to be able to study in the States in future years. And even in times of adversity, such as throughout her turbulent marriage, and in the aftermath of the tragic death of her teenage daughter, Ms. Brunelda never ceased to have faith in God, and always knew that she is here for a reason, and that reason is to help other people.

Ms. Brunelda may not be someone who has made Belize famous, nor someone who has trekked the four corners of the country campaigning for social justice and national harmony, but the contributions Ms. Brunelda has made to Belize and its people over the years are just as praise-worthy and it is for her work with the spiritually and socially ‘lost’ in Hattieville Prison that, this week, the Belize Times ‘Nation Builder of Belize’ is Ms Brunelda Alvarado.

sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

23

VOICES Village

from the

HATTIEVILLE

Elizabeth Pridgeon Although one of the more recent villages of Belize, Hattieville has certainly seen a transformation over its short life since the village’s inception in 1961 following the devastating hurricane and subsequent storm surge that all but flattened Belize City.

Hattieville was initially conceived as a short-term refugee camp in the aftermath of Hurricane Hattie which wrought fatalities and injuries across the city. The location of appropriately named ‘Hattieville’ was chosen due to its strategic location just 14 miles from Belize City, but slightly inland in order to protect its residents from the harshest consequences of future hurricanes and tsunamis.

However, even though the hurricane hit on October 31st and the Hattieville camp was intended to be an immediate refuge for victims of the natural disaster, it wasn’t until December of that year that families were able to properly move into Hattieville Barracks.

Thousands of former city residents, made homeless and destitute during the hurricane, were offered accommodation in the camp, divided into alphabetically listed barracks, A-D on the northern side of the road, and J-M on the southern side, alongside the Red Cross Hospital which was established to provide much needed medical care and attention to the vulnerable arrivals.

Elderly residents of Hattieville remember that, prior to Hattie, the area was entirely uninhabited, and was made up of thick bushland with a mere narrow road leading through the vicinity. Once the bushland was cleared and the camp boundaries constructed, long wooden buildings were erected to house the new arrivals. Residents were divided into familial groups, and rooms in each structure were provided for each group, separated from their neighbours simply by roll-up canvas partitions. In the early days, a gentleman on the outskirts of the camp was responsible for providing food for the residents, although relatively quickly a communal fire-heart was created which was long enough to accommodate several women cooking for their families at any one time.

A group of North American Mennonites also resided in the area, and helped with the distribution of rations and schooling for the children.

Christmas of that year (and several years to come) was made bearable because of these Mennonites, who donated present parcels to the children of Hattieville.

Although Hattieville had been designed as an emergency short-term solution to the destruction of Belize City, the barrack-style camp remained inhabited (unbelievably) for almost a decade, before most people were able to acquire their own parcel of land and construct their houses, or were able to rebuild from the wreckage of Belize City and return to their former neighbourhoods. During these years of habitation, Hattieville grew to provide just about every service required by its residents, and in the mid1960s Hattievile was considered by many as the place to party! However, by the 1970s, as people dispersed and returned to their City homes, Hattieville began to lose some of its former glory and became a quiet commuter village, servicing the City with an oversized village labour force.

Today, it seems many of the long-standing residents of Hattieville wish for a return of the ‘good old days’, when construction jobs were in full supply and Hattieville was a lively village.

Now, villagers see that despite the UDP pre-election campaign promising new employment opportunities (including a fruit processing plant in the village), the reality is a little more bleak. There are very few local job opportunities for Hattieville residents, and even the companies located there (such as BWEL) are allegedly more likely to employ outsiders than village residents. It is a similar story with the Hattieville High School, which was promised as an incentive to encourage more primary school graduates to continue their education, but the reality is that high school students are still forced to commute to Belize City or elsewhere in order to acquire their tuition.

However, such problems have not discouraged people moving to Hattieville in more recent years, as crime spirals out of control in Belize City. This new influx is largely housed within the new housing

site further along the Western Highway (right up until about Mile 17), which is compared to other affluent outer suburbs of Belize City. ‘Old Hattieville’, however, remains somewhat run-down and poorly serviced, but it is this area (closest to the Boom roundabout) which truly maintains the essence of the village.

Both areas, however, have suffered a serious lack of refuse removal services for over a year, and only households with private vehicles are able to collect their rubbish and dump it outside the village boundaries (which is gradually encroaching on village land, and making the entrance roads to Hattieville appear dishevelled and uncared for). Several villages put this down to the neglect of the current UDP administration, and most residents are left to dispose of their garbage within makeshift holes in their own back yards. This pollution, it is thought, is affecting ground water supplies, and villagers are vocal in their complaints of this, since over the decades the Hattieville creek has deteriorated from providing an ample supply of fish (such as tuba, crawna, mus-mus and base snook) to containing negligible quantities of anything. Residents are also complaining of decreasing yields from fruit trees throughout the village, which used to provide plentiful crops such as golden plum and mango, and which now only provide on a very basic subsistence level. Iguanas are one of the few species which continue to be plentiful during the breeding months of June to August, and it is no surprise that many villages are forced to illegally catch and sell iguana on the road side to supplement their dwindling incomes.

Another source of revenue has

Hattieville is a tranquil haven compared to the chaos, confusion and crime in Belize City, but any village so close to the urban hubbub is unlikely to remain immune to concurrent urban problems without a unified and widereaching program involving all sectors of village residents. And as economic strain is increasing throughout Belize, Hattieville continues to suffer poor employment rates and an increasing perception of destitution. Villagers are increasingly feeling desperate for governmental support (such as last month, when a spokesperson for the village called a radio morning show to claim that if dirt trucks would simply be provided for the villager’s use, the community would rally together to organise a refuse disposal service using the trucks provided). And while the village’s council used to receive support from the former government, the UDP has provided no such assistance to the village council since taking over the government last year (could it still be holding a grudge for a PUP chairlady being voted in place of her UDP counterpart?).

Hattieville has proved itself as a vibrant village, able to survive even the most enduring hardships. But, despite the first impressions of a progressive village, with excellent community services (including a relatively recently opened Chinese-owned supermarket), it must not be forgotten that original Hattieville residents are united in one factor: they experienced the very worst effects of Hurricane Hattie almost 50 years ago.

They were the Belize City residents who were so catastrophically affected by the hurricane that they daringly embraced an

been discovered in the sale of herbs and natural remedies, although the sale of marijuana continues to be the most widespread ‘herb’ sold throughout the village. And although Hattieville has a reputation for its weed-smokers, there are only rare cases of serious problems with harder drugs, such as crack and cocaine.

Fortunately, the small scale of the drugusing population ensures that crime remains at a low rate, and people in the older areas of the village still claim to feel secure to sleep with their doors open and their possessions unsecured at night.

entirely new way of rural life, and worked together to transform Hattieville from a refugee camp into a viable village. These people are certainly not afraid of change and hard work, and they certainly cannot be labelled as demanding; all they ask is that the government help the village with its most basic services to ensure that community life continues progressing forwards, instead of slipping backwards.

Which is, after all, surely the essence of development for any community, in any country, that any decent government should be willing to provide.

24

The Belize Times

DONA’S STYLE

Elizabeth Pridgeon Whether it is the latest style of perm, or a new look with highlights, the treat of a pedicure or an eyebrow waxing, Ms Dona Novelo at Dona’s Style in Orange Walk is the lady to help you achieve the image you’re looking for.

Ms Dona began beauty treatments fifteen years ago, when she began as an apprentice to her hairdressing cousin. Realising

her passion for the profession, shortly afterwards she enrolled in a beauty treatment course in Chetumal, commuting to the Mexican side ever y weekend for over six months in order to improve her qualifications. A few years later, when her cousin closed her salon, Ms Dona decided to continue offering quality beauty treatments from her own home on Cinderella Street, so without delay

she converted the front room of her house into a salon, and ever since she has welcomed customers there.

Dona’s Style opens from 8.30am until mid-day, and re-opens from 1.30pm until 6pm. She offers bookings for those travelling from afar (of whom there are many that she considers regular customers) or customers can pop in and hope that the queue is not too long. Yet as Ms Dona becomes better and better reputed as one of the best hairdressers in town, demand for her services continues to grow.

A range of services are offered,

sunday, November 15, 2009

including hair cuts, styling, perms, highlights, tints, waxing, manicures and pedicures, and if a specific service is not offered, Ms Dona will do her utmost to accommodate her customer’s wishes.

Her favourite times of the year are during graduation season in the summer, and Christmas, when she rarely has a minute without one or another of her customers requiring her talent. And with prices from $6 for a cut, $25 for a perm, and $15 for a pedicure, there is little wonder that Dona’s Style is one of the favourite places for hair and beauty treatments in Orange Walk.

VAMPS CHILL AND GRILL

Elizabeth Pridgeon In celebration of Belizean Independence Day on 21st September 2008, an exciting new style of dining opened in Corozal: Vamps Chill and Grill, located on 2nd Street North. And despite slight changes to management over recent months, Vamps continues to provide the same ‘celebratory’ feel and standard of service to its clientele.

Ms. Elva, the manager, ensures that all customers are served by well-trained, friendly staff, and the famous Sunday night karaoke is set to return to the agenda over the coming weeks. In the meantime,

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE at www.belizetimes.bz ~ POST YOUR COMMENTS ~ VOTE ON ARTICLES ~ VIEW OUR PHOTO GALLERY With 2 million hits per We over are the most visited newspaper in Belize month we arewebsite the most visited

the complimentary juke-box selection, via plasma screen TV, keeps customers entertained with their favourite music. There are also plans to introduce a special event every two weeks featuring local performers and other forms of entertainment.

The menu at Vamps incorporates a bit of everything, catering to every taste, including Belizean favourites such as rice and beans, nachos and tostadas, and also international dishes such as steak, pork chops and fish fillet. Cold beers are sold, alongside a good selection of soft drinks and fresh juices.

Vamps prides itself on being family-friendly, and welcomes people with children to dine at lunch time and later on, with opening hours between 10am and 2pm and again between 6pm and 10pm during the week, and from 10am right through until 11pm on weekends.

Vamps Chill and Grill lives up to its title, with a relaxing atmosphere and an enjoyable ambience for all who pass through its doors, making it an excellent choice for diners in Corozal.

25

The Belize Times

sunday, November 15, 2009

Imagine the Possibilities?

. . . w o n k e w w no

MORE

Nepotism

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Hungry Belizeans

MORE

Debt

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Crime

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Unemployment MORE Firing

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Poor Belizeans MORE Hospital Problems

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Taxes

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regulation MORE

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Wasteful Spending

Corruption Constitution Tampering MORE

s k n a h T

Mr. Dean...

See you in

2013

sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

26

Belize #1 Sports Page

San Pedro Dolphins drills BDF 1-0 in BPFL football The San Pedro Dolphins won their berth in the Belize Premier Football

League playoffs with 10 pts after they stopped the Belize Defense Force 1-0 in Week 11 of the competition at the M.C.C. grounds last Saturday, November 7. Jacinto Pinelo and Hilberto Caliz led the Dolphins’ attack, with the help

of wingers Daniel Caliz and Moses Omoniyi and midfi elders Jairo Sandoval, Francisco Mejia and Orlando Pinelo, penetrating the BDF backfi eld to pressure BDF defenders Kareem Haylock, Khalil Velasquez, Michael Martinez and Nelson Lara and forcing BDF goalie Woodrow West to come up with many saves.

BDF forwards Evan Mariano, Moses Pop, Oliver Wiltshire and Harold Nunez endeavored to put the BDF on the scoreboard, backed up by midfi elders Gilbert “Hoof” Swazo and Isidro Lara, but Dolphins’ sweeper Kent Gabourel was taking care of business. Defenders Melvin Jones and Jason “Tiger” Sutherland helped their goalie Alden Augustine keep the BDF attacks at bay.

Hummingbird Elementary girls & St. John Vianney boys win Belize district volleyball champs The Hummingbird Elementary School girls and the St. John Vianney RC School boys won the Belize district volleyball championships organized by the National Sports Council at the Belize City Center on Wednesday, November 4,

and go on to represent the Belize District in the national primary schools volleyball championships to be held at the Belize City Center on Friday, November 13.

In Game 1, the Hummingbird Elementary School girls: Nandi Woods, Sade Gallego, Erin Gongora, Zakiya Young, Maria Martinez, Kayla Burrowes, Eileen Tam and Hanna Diskin won over the Belize rural No.2 seed, the Pancotto Primary School girls of Sand Hill 25-8 and 25-14 to advance to the fi nals In Game 3, the Belize rural champs, the Burrell Boom Methodist girls: Rebecca Nicholson, Salome Campus, Leila Hernandez, Miekah Mohamed Ali and Devonie Reyes won over the Belize Elementary School girls 25-3 and 25-15 to advance to the fi nals.

In Game 5, Belize Elementary’s Nayala Tun, Suki Tan, Georgia Bartley, Vivian Alamina, and Kelsey and Alexis Musa won the consolation match for

third place over the Pancotto Primary girls: 18-25, 25-13 and 15-12.

In Game 7, the girls’ championship fi nal, the Hummingbird Elementary girls won the Burrell Boom Methodist girls, 25-16 and 25-23.

In Game 2, the Belize City champs the St. John Vianney RC school boys: Raheem Richardson, Kelvin Hendy, Christopher Williams, George Hernandez, Ryan Young and Randy Franklin took out the Our Lady of the Way RC school boys of Ladyville 25-12 and 25-22 to advance to the fi nals.

In Game 4, the Belize City No.

2 seed Hummingbird Elementary boys: Andrew Vasquez, Richard Katwani, Alan Li, Zane Wilson and Michek Musa advanced to the fi nals by winning over the Belize rural champs, the Hattieville Government School boys 25-16 and 2515.

In Game 6, the Hattieville Government School boys won the consolation game for 3rd place over the Our Lady of the Way boys: 25-21, 12-25 and 15-12.

In Game 8, the boys’ championship fi nal, the St. John Vianney RC School boys won over the Hummingbird Elementary School boys 22-25, 25-19 and Team No Mercy sought to clinch a berth

Dolphins’ technical director Hugo Pineda introduced Elderson Chavez to replace Omoniyi in his offensive lineup, but it was still a nil-zip ball-game at the half time break. The BDF also brought in ‘fresh horses’ in the 2nd half, with rookie John King Jr. and Brazilian import Marcos Souto replacing Pop and Nunez. King nearly got the better of Augustine with a shot from the edge for the 18-yd box, but Augustine dived to clear the challenge.

Hilberto Caliz fi nally put the Dolphins on the scoreboards in the 74th minute and coach Pineda sent in Steven Arnold to relieve Daniel Caliz in an effort to get a 2nd insurance goal. The BDF almost tied the game in injury time, when Kareem Haylock picked up a rebound after Augustine had defl ected a cannonball shot on goal. Haylock’s shot almost tore a hole in the back of the net, but the referee ruled it offside to preserve the Dolphins’ 1-0 win at the long whistle.

Hankook Verdes of San Ignacio now leads the BPFL with 18pts, picking up another easy 3pts when Wagiya forfeited their scheduled game for lack of police security at the Carl Ramos Stadium on Sunday. The playoffs begin with Verdes hosting FC Belize at the Norman Broaster Stadium on Sunday, November 15. The BDF has chosen the Carl Ramos Stadium as their home fi eld for their fi rst playoff encounter with the Dolphins on Wednesday, November 18.

Team No Mercy wins 2, Racqueteers & Team Rivero win 1 each in team table tennis

in the Belize table tennis team competition with 2 wins while Racqueteers clinched their place in the playoffs with their 6th win; Team Rivero posted their 4th win to exit the competition with 4 wins, 4 losses at the Belize Elementary School auditorium on Saturday, November 7, 2009, at the Belize Elementary Auditorium with 4 team matches played.

Team No Mercy led by team captain Daniel Habet, Landy Habet, Jamil Bedran and Steven Usher Sr. won over Team Usher-Matus: Petie UsherMatus, Francis Usher and Henry Usher 5 – 3 and posted their 4th win when

they also dispatched Team ACE: Nelito Ayuso, Jorge Espat and Fareed Ahmad 5-4. They now need to win their next 2 matches to secure a playoff berth.

Team Racqueteers led by team captain Tux Vasquez and Peter Wang and Amir Vasquez triumphed over Team Rivero-Penta 5 – 4, in their fi rst match.

Team Rivero-Penta, led by team captain Ernesto Rivero along with Sheran Murillo, Michael Rivero and Cuthbert Bailey rebounded to win over Team Ush-

er-Matus 5-3.

Only one more week of regular round robin competition remains with 4 team matches left to be played. Four teams have fi nished the fi rst Round Robin with a total of 8 team matches; of these only Team ACE and Team Racqueteers

have qualifi ed to the next round with 6 wins to their record. Team Suga City & Team Jones fi nished with 5 wins and 3 losses each and now await the outcome of the fi nal games to determine who advances to the Final 4.

The fi rst Round Robin fi nishes on Saturday November 14, with Team Usher-Matus taking on the Racqueteers and Team Jabiru challenging Team No Mercy, who will face off in their 2nd match against the winless Team Sukhnandan, while Team UsherMatus will seek a win over Team Jabiru.

TEAM STANDINGS WIN LOST Team Rivero Penta 4 4 Team Ace 6 2 Team Usher-Matus 1 5 Team Racqueteers 6 1 Team No Mercy 4 2 Team Sugar City 5 3 Team Jones 5 3 Team Jabiru 1 5 Team Sukhnandan 0 7

sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

27

Belize #1 Sports Page

SCA girls wins back to back NSSSA volleyball champs

The St. Catherine Academy girls remained undefeated as they won their 2nd back to back National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) volleyball championship, hosted by Gwen Lizarraga High School at the Belize City Center over the weekend.

In Game 1 Friday afternoon, the Northern division champs, the Orange Walk Technical High School girls won 3-2 in the best of 5 sets over the Western division champs, the Sacred Heart College girls. Sacred Heart’s Jhonique Anderson and Kimberly O’brien led the attack, scoring points on plays set by Anijay Quiroz. Kadisha Usher and Eulalie Penner received and volleyed the ball in play while Jasmine Armstrong served to win

the 1st set 25-20. Orange Walk’s Amanda Duran, Cindy Hendricks and Kierah Mclaughlin led the sugar city counterattack, scoring points on plays set by Kimberly Williams to win the 2nd set 25-23. Ginellie Santos and Marla Zavala received and kept the ball in play and recovered to also win the 3rd set: 25-22. The Sacred Heart girls tied the score 2-2 when they won the 4th set: 25-18, before the sugar city girls clinched their place in the final by a 15-13 win in the 5th set.

In Game 2, the Central division champs and defending national champs, the SCA girls took out the Southern division champs, the Ecumenical College girls. Emma Hoare and Annalisa Habet led the S.C.A. girls, spiking on

plays set by Ashli Habet to win the first 2 sets 25-17 and 25-16. Ecumenical’s Rebecca Rath and Jacky Sabal got some in during the 3rd set with the help of Leanna Aranda and Clara Sabal to win the 3rd set 25-23. Ecumenical’s Janae Francisco and Idalia Cortez supported their efforts in an attempt to take the series to a 5th set before the S.C.A. girls took it away 25-19.

In Game 3 on Saturday morning, the Ecumenical girls won the consolation game for 3rd place over the Sacred Heart girls in 4 sets, even though the Sacred Heart girls won the 2nd set.

In Game 4 of the championship final, the SCA girls made short work of the Orange Walk Technical High School girls. Krystal Bevans, Kaitlyn

Woods and Briany Staine backed up the Habet girls and MVP Emma Hoare to win the first set 25-15. Shanice Skeen and setter Mariceli Novelo relieved Bevans and Staine as the SCA girls continued to dominate in the 2nd set: 25-22. Orange Walk’s Analiz Perez and Gissellie Quinonez entered the game, but SCA’s Michelle Quan, Johnesha Mariano and Emily Evans kept the SCA offensive going to win the 3rd set: 25-18.

The champions, and 2nd and 3rd place winners received team trophies and individual medals, while the Most Valuable Player award went to S.C.A.’s captain Emma Hoare, who also won a one-year scholarship. The SCA girls go on to represent Belize again at next year’s CODICADER Games in Nicaragua.

T.C.C. boys win 2009 NSSSA volleyball champs

The Toledo Community College boys won the National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) volleyball championship, hosted by Gwen Lizarraga High School at the Belize City Center over the weekend.

In Game 1 Friday afternoon, the Northern division champs, the Orange Walk Technical High School girls won 3-2 in the best of 5 sets over the Western division champs, the Our Lady of Guadalupe High School boys from Belmopan. Orange Walk’s Victor Pacheco, David Logan and Nisani Bermudez Vaughan led the attack, spiking on balls set by Jose Carballo and Elvis Reynoso to win the 1st set 25-13. Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Raul Roches, Denmark Casey and Haddis

Coleman responded with kills on plays set by Joshua Borland and Gabriel Lewis to win the 2nd set 25-22. Orange Walk’s Stephen Duran backed up Logan and Pacheco’s plays as they won the 3rd and 4th sets: 25-23 and 25-22 to advance to the final.

In game 2 the Southern Division champs, TCC boys secured their berth in the finals by blowing away the Central division champs, the Ladyville Technical High School boys in 3 sets. TCC’s Arnie Augustine, Jaryl Mariano and Jaleel and Ivan Lino spiked points on balls set by Keegan Ack and Amir Pacquil, to win the 1st set 25-11. Ladyville’s Jael Ottley, Trevor Muschamp and Roman Debride tried vainly to get a counterattack going on plays set by Jose Tobar, but

TCC’s Francis Budna and Pacquil spiked home more points to win the 2nd set 25-17.

Ladyville’s Matthew Leal, Elton Metzken and Patrick Swasey attacked at the net, but were frustrated by Augustine, Lino’s and Mariano’s blocking as the T.C.C. boys took the 3rd set and match: 25-20.

In Game 3 on Saturday morning, the Ladyville Tech boys won the consolation game for third place over the Our Lady of Guadalupe boys in 4 sets. After the Our Lady of Guadalupe boys won the 1st set 25-18, the Ladyville boys took it away 25-21, 25-16 and 25-18.

In the championship final, the T.C.C. boys completely dominated the Orange Walk Tech boys in 3 sets: 25-15, 25-19 and 25-23.

The champions and 2nd and 3rd place winners received team trophies and individual medals, while the Most Valuable Player award went to TCC’s libero Keegan Ack, who also won a one-year scholarship. The TCC boys go on to represent Belize at next year’s CODICADER Games in Nicaragua.

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The Belize Times

sunday, November 15, 2009

Belize #1 Sports Page

Gwen Liz girls lead CSSSA basketball 3-0

The undefeated 3-peat national champs Gwendolyn Lizarraga High School girls lead the Central Secondary Schools Sports Association basketball competition with 3 wins, while the Wesley College girls posted their 2nd win 30-26 over the Pallotti High School girls at the Belize City Center on Tuesday night Anna Pinto led the Wesley College girls hitting 2 long treys to score 11pts, while Zelyse Tucker scored 9pts and Devonay Herrera and Kelsey Roches added 4pts each. Victoria Zelaya also hit a long trey as she led the Pallotti girls with 19 pts, while Shenelle Lord added 5pts and Leann Garbutt scored one bucket.

Last Friday the Gwen Liz girls blew out the Anglican Cathedral College girls 45-11. Glenda Torres led the Gwen Liz girls with 18pts, while Sheryn Nunez added 14pts, and Candice Neal and Dendra Coote each chipped in 5pts. ACC’s Shaniqua Felix, Kaylie Bailey

and Shanene Reid each scored 3pts.

The St. Catherine Academy girls posted their first win 21-9 over the Nazarene High School girls last Tuesday. SCA’s Kursha Pollard led with 14pts, while Nazarene’s Terrylee Hamilton scored 5pts.

Sadie Vernon boys lead CSSSA basketball 4-0

Defending national champs Sadie Vernon Technical High School boys lead the Central Secondary Schools Sports Association basketball competition with 4 wins, running over the Wesley College boys 99-42 at the Belize City Center on Tuesday night, while the Ladyville Technical High School and Nazarene High School boys each posted their 2nd win on Monday.

Kachief Thomas led the Sadie Vernon boys with 26pts, Lindon Bowen scored 18 pts, Aaron Cooper added 14pts, and Peter Mckoy was good for 12pts. Raheem Gaynair chipped in 10pts and Linsey Lopez

delivered 8pts. Vince Young hit 2 treys as he led the Wesley boys with 16pts, while Brian Lopez followed with a trey to add 5pts and Rahyme Sacasa chipped in another 5pts.

The Sadie Vernon boys also stopped the St. John’s College boys 63-50 for their 3rd win last Wednesday. Kachief Thomas led with 25 pts, Landon Reneau scored 12 pts and Aaron Cooper added 10 pts. Raheem Staine led the SJC boys with 14pts; Kendis William added 10 pts and Brandon Castillo had 9 pts.

The Ladyville Technical High School boys posted their 2nd win

54-49 over the boys of Edward P. Yorke High School on Monday. Russell Staine led Ladyville with 16 pts and Fitzgerald Alvarez added 14pts. E.P. Yorke’s Terique Gabb led with 22pts and Trevor Mcfoy chipped in 10pts.

The Ladyville boys had also enjoyed their first victory 62-56 over last Tuesday.

Oswin Humes led with 16 pts, Fitzgerald Alvarez added 15pts and Jael Ottley hit a long trey to add 14pts. Nazarene’s Alejandro Baptist topscored the game with 24pts, Kadeem Courtenay added 19pts and Alberto Cuellar chipped in 8pts.

The Nazarene High School boys did better on Tuesday by picking up their 2nd win, handing the upto-then undefeated Gwen Lizar raga High School boys their first loss 77 – 75.

Alejandro Baptist top-scored in the game with 31pts while Ryan Flowers added 12pts.

Matthew Young led the Gwen Liz counterattack with 24pts and Sherwin Garcia scored 22pts.

The Tubal Institute boys posted their 2nd win last Wednesday 60-56 over the ACC boys. Dennis Brown led the Tubal boys with

17, while Darren Longsworth added 16 pts. ACC’s Justin Usher responded with 16 pts, and Dennis Andrews added 10pts The Excelsior Junior High School boys enjoyed their 1st win 61 – 53 over the winless Wesley College boys last Thursday. Kurtis Lamb drained in 2 long treys led with 30pts while

Emerson Faber scored 14pts; Lloyd Leslie added 8pts and Delroy Faber – 4pts. Wesley’s Vince Young scored 18pts and Rahyme Sacasa added 11pts and Brian Lopez - 8pts.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

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The Belize Times

Sober

Reflections The Barrow-cuda Feeding Frenzy

By: Mike Rudon Jr. While the name of ‘Belize’s royal elite’ lends itself most spectacularly to the voracious and opportunistic predators of the seas, the feeding frenzy taking place at the public trough reminds me more of sharks driven to mindless gluttony by the bloody chum being thrown into the water. Substitute cash and power for the chum, and the thing is there’s really no difference between ravenous sharks and the Barrow-cudas who are presently gorging themselves on all they can get.

Seriously, it’s sickening.

Our economy is in a damned recession here. Our people are starving. Our streets are littered with the homeless.

Each week in the newspapers people are losing the roofs over their heads.

Children are going to bed hungry. Businesses are closing down. People are losing their jobs each and every week. What part of this dismal equation does Dean Barrow and his family not understand?

There they are, gorging on the little that is left in the public trough. Hell! That really pisses me off.

Like take the Westerhaven case, for example. In case you don’t remember, in January a cargo ship damaged a portion of Belize’s reef when it ran aground in bad weather. It turns out that Government wants to get its greedy little hands on $36 million in damages. That’s right, 36 huge ones. Fine, we can live with that – whatever. But then we take a closer look and realize that GOB’s attorney in the Westerhaven case is none other than Deanne Barrow. Her name is no coincidence. She is the daughter of Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his first wife/ second lady Lois. Then we look a little closer, and realize that the lawyer’s take on this case is usually a standard 10%, which means that the Barrow Princess will be holding onto a very cushy $3.6 million plum, thanks to daddy Dean.

What the hell? Aren’t there any other lawyers in the country who can represent the Government in anything? Did a memo go out which says that only the Prime Minister’s ex-wife and daughter can handle cases for government? Sure seems like it. It took the ex-wife of the Prime Minister just a little over a year to grab hold of $1.3 million taxpayer dollars. Who knows how much more she has gotten a hold of now? In addition, the much favoured ex-wife of the PM is the chair of the SSB, on the Board of Directors of BTL and allegedly the non-resident High Commissioner to the United Kingdom – all paid positions and all thanks to her apparently much enamoured ex-beau.

Just to draw a quick parallel here for context (and there are so many) just so you know why I’m so pissed off whenever I reflect on sober occasions, I happened to get a quick look at the latest Cabinet briefing released just yesterday.

Apparently the UDP Cabinet has de-

cided to allocate the princely sum of $40,000 to our youth of Belize. That $40,000 will be split up to ‘upgrade’ twenty (20) sporting facilities. You wanna do the math? Okay then. Let me.

That works out to the gargantuan sum of $2,000 per sporting facility. See, that’s all our youth are worth to the UDP - at a time when rampant and violent crime among our youth are turning our once paradise into a hellhole; at a time when it is an acknowledged fact that healthy sports and recreation would provide a viable alternative to a life of crime. See what I mean? If it were up to me I would have told the PM to take his $40,000 and shove it where the sun don’t shine.

You want to hear what I would have done if it were all up to me? No? I’ll tell you anyway. If I were the bald headed ruler of Belize, I would have told my ex-wife that she better handle all these damn cases at a minimum price, cause the country is broke. I would have told my daughter that her mom and dad are already millionaires, so it’s all right if she deals with the Westerhaven case on a pro bono basis. If I were the bald headed ruler of this fiefdom, I certainly would not have put my son on the Board of Directors of BTL and certainly would not have given him a hefty piece of the Boledo pie (more on this soon.) I would most definitely not have made my brother a judge on the Court of Appeals, because this sends the wrong signal to the international community.

Before I go, would you like another example for context? No? Well I’ll give you one anyway. Last week the Minister of Health was given a brand new Toyota Landcruiser which cost a little over $160,000. He had been driving a 2004 Toyota Landcruiser but decided that just wasn’t cutting it, so he needed the 2010 version. Oh, by the way, the 2004 Landcruiser now has on private plates and is parked in that very Minister’s yard, but anyway!

We’re in recession, stupid. Dean Barrow and his greedy family are getting rich and fat while we starve. This week I saw a homeless man lying on a piece of cardboard on a sidewalk under the pouring rain with all his possessions in a plastic bag clutched in his arms. He had on a UDP shirt which read…Change is Coming. You get the sense?

sunday, November 15, 2009

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

Strictly Personal

Trodding through this Armageddon

by glenntillett@yahoo.com Perhaps it is my fanciful imagination but with each passing day it seems the wheels of our economy grind just a little slower. Each week brings news of another business closing under the threat of foreclosure or bankruptcy, and certainly each weekend some newspaper editions are replete with a fresh batch of housing foreclosures.

It is heartbreaking for me at least, to read the names of the soon-to-be ex-property owners because it seems I am seeing more and more some familiar names. In some cases the properties are places people have called home for decades. Why is it, I wonder, why can’t we recognize that this is a crisis and we need collective action to alleviate the suffering?

There is little research and therefore little by way of analysis being done on this issue. At first, a couple years ago, the fallout from the bankruptcy of the Development Finance Corporation was that the real estate market was being flooded with properties, mostly land it seems to me, and second homes that had been bought as an investment during the boom years when money, namely financing was very available.

A lot of the properties back then were in the new housing projects, or so it seems, and most were being done by the DFC. These days it seems to me that most of the auctions are by the commercial banks, I’m even seeing auctions by the credit unions, and like I said some of them are for properties I know people have lived on and in for decades.

By the same token it is also fairly obvious that new home construction is way, way down. In fact it would seem that construction overall is way, way down. What will happen if these two trends continue? Imagine they’re two lines on the same graph, what happens when the sinking new construction line intersects the rising foreclosure line? Are we there yet?

Would that mean we’re in a recession?

Or a depression?

I don’t want to hear that the Government, the political executive

can’t do anything. We elected them to lead, they cannot abdicate their responsibility even if they think that there isn’t anything they can do.

Maybe it is just me but it seems to me the number of auctions of all kinds are increasing. It’s ok, if you are so partisan that you wish to dispute this, go ahead. I can’t prove it ‘cause I haven’t been counting and I don’t have the time or the energy to go back and count, and no one else seems to want to do it either.

The signs of sufferation are all around us. I could hardly bear to watch a family being evicted from their former home this week. They had to take refuge in a smaller much more dilapidated dwelling with broken plumbing and no electricity, at least for a few days. They went from property owners to tenants in what seems in a blink. One day they were in their own yard, complete with backyard, front yard, driveway and enough rooms so they could sleep separately. In less than twenty four hours this family of six was trying to bunk together in two small bedrooms, hunkering down from the elements and hoping it wouldn’t rain because they have two windows that can’t close.

What happens when one out of every five able bodied person can’t find work? You can see the trend as you drive through the villages that line our highways. There are lot more young men hanging out on verandahs these days. It’s easy to holler that they could go plant but plant what, weed? Sure you can plant enough to feed yourself and your family but what are you going to do for clothes, transportation, school fees, light, telephone, toilet paper, medicine, and so on? Somebody is going to set up some place where you can go barter?

According to Mr. Barrow we have money in the bank called our foreign reserves, though he didn’t say why or what they’re reserved for. Are they being held in case of a crisis or some catastrophe?

Belize is in the midst of a worsening economic crisis. The four horsemen of the apocalypse are stalking the land. I am not being apocalyptic when I say that these are the end of days because I sense that we are seeing the end of an era, a time in our lives when those of us who survive will be able to look back and understand that our lives are being irrevocably changed.

We are passing through a storm Belize, and none of us know where the other side is. I write these things because I think that it is important that we know that we who are not Barrow and/or UDP are suffering alike. We need to stand together as we face this Armageddon.

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The Belize Times

S

PON DI GULLY Killing yuh baby and then hiding ah…

By anthony sylvestre It’s definitely one of the craziest things I have heard in years.

Sometime in August, 2004, a mother and a father were arguing. The father hit his 19 month old child against a wall and the child stopped moving. The mother assisted the father in then wrapping the dead child’s body in a floral cloth thereafter placing the body inside a white bucket and buried the child. The mother and the father told no one and kept the grisly secret to themselves. When questioned about the child’s whereabouts, the parents first told family members that the child died of diarrhea. The mother, however, after persistent inquiries from family members, told the truth. This was four years later. The naturally outraged family member informed the Police. The parents were arrested and charged for hiding the fact of the child’s death. The parents pled guilty to the charge in the Supreme Court and each was fined $2,500.00.

This is as crazy as the news this week that the government is giving the boledo monopoly to its hangout buddy Brads and then justifying this obvious act of nepotism with the hogwash that the move will net the government an additional $1 million each year. But I will speak of Bradsledo at another time.

A talk show host the other day, commenting on this barbaric act by the parents of the dead child, said that a police officer explained that the parents could not be charged for something more serious like murder or manslaughter because the police lacked forensic evidence to prove cause of death. Now wait, let’s examine this for a second. So what forensic evidence did the police have to prove that the skeletal remains found were that of the child? They didn’t have any, but relied on the statement of the father that he had buried his child there in the yard some years earlier. Couldn’t the prosecution further have used the statement or evidence of the father that he hit the child against a wall, and then with the assistance of the mother buried the child, as evidence to prove murder or manslaughter?

Now I remember one of the first things told to us in my first year of law school was that “the essence of the law is common sense”. Maybe it is just me, but all the principles of common sense have been thrown out the door with this warped reason given by the police why the parents of the child were charged with merely hiding the dead child’s body.

D E

As readers will no doubt know, murder is committed when someone intentionally causes the death of another; and manslaughter is when you cause harm to someone, without any lawful reason, and that harm causes the person’s death.

So, let’s see if the parents could then be charged with either murder or manslaughter.

I agree off the bat that it would have been impossible for the prosecution to prove that the parents intentionally killed the child. The facts do not bear that out.

But what is clear however, is the fact that the father hit the child’s head against the wall for no reason. This in law is an unlawful harm.

Now it might be said that we do not know if the child died from head injuries.

True, but, surely, if that didn’t caused the child’s death, the burying of the child did.

The child definitely couldn’t survive that.

The last time I checked, it is unlawful for you to bury someone who is alive. So, if the child was alive when he was buried, an unlawful act would still have been committed. And there is this legal principle too called a continuing act which could have assisted the prosecution in a case of manslaughter against the father and mother. It is clear that the hitting of the child and the burying of the child is a continuing act. The mother’s complicity in the matter would catch her under legal principles of joint enterprise as well; that is, of course, if she in fact did assist the father in burying the body. And the thing is, there is judicial precedent that the parents could have been charged with manslaughter. One which comes to mind is the case of a foster parent who threatened his foster child with severe punishment.

The little boy, aged three, became fearful of his foster father and ran away and fell downstairs, dislocating his neck and eventually dying. The foster father was charged with manslaughter and convicted.

And beside, when you look at the crime of concealment of death, it is an offence which deals with a situation where a child may have died at birth and the parents bury the child and do not inform anyone. That is the reason the crime only carries a maximum penalty of 2 years.

Compare this with the offence of abortion, which carries a maximum penalty of 12 years. I think it would defy commonsense for our legislators to be harsh on mothers who abort their child, but go easy on parents who kill their children a year or two after birth. That just doesn’t make sense.

Someone therefore dropped the ball with this case. How can we be angry and outraged when our young babies die at our national hospitals but we are not equally vocal when parents kill their young? NOPCA (the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse) and NCFC (National Committed for Families and Children) a word please! It is craziness as I said. Craziness!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

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THE PATRIOT

Bradsledo

Even for the niche population of the local gaming community and the muffled grunts from the wilderness of religious extremists who rebuke the very notion of luck as a reproach to the moral constants of divine order, the privatization of the Boledo/lottery is of very little consequence.

But it is. It really is. See this is a story of campaign financing and the publicly flaunted cavorting with the donor. The reality is that the fundamental critique of campaign finance in Belize is that donations come with a quid pro quo and extract very high returns.

Unlike more developed democracies where the private sector business interests and capitalist vampires are monitored by the smoke of statutory policing, Belize lies bare as a free market for the transmittable diseases of economic tourists. True independents have failed to secure legislation to buffer and regulate campaign contributions from firms, individuals, multi-million dollar economic pimps and salivating friendly nations, in order to prevent the corruption of politicians by organized interests.

To the extent that large contributions are given to secure a political quid pro quo from current and potential office holders, the integrity of our system of representative democracy is undermined.

The true scope of such pernicious practices can never be reliably ascertained in Belize, but the public is intermittently entertained by deeply disturbing examples like the Prime Minister’s monologue of his self-justified double crossing of the one time friend of a business man who once paid the red Piper for the pleasure of his tunes. This demonstrates that the problem is not an illusory one.

So here we are. Abracadabra….

Brads Gaming Company Ltd wins the tender for privatization of the Belize Government Lotteries. Surprised? Really now, who in Belize was? The UDP gravy train is simply stopping off at the same places that it put in gas before 2008.

It is fair to say that the short list of notable UDP finance moguls are the San Cas Business Group, Lee Mark Chang’s Moneybag and its Asian connections, Lord Michael Ascroft, Brads and the Vega Group of Companies.

With the major campaign financier in that lineup publicly stripped and shooed away, Barrow was forced to draw for creative ways to feed the wolf pack who are clearly not hunters.

Now on the utility of tenders,

we all know that the process for tenders of Public Contracts are as virtuous as the earnings of entry level customs officers and as impartial as the Ethics Committee of the UDP. Apart from the expected insider trading of the tending process, a deal must have been brokered to pacify the other UDP names which were floating around in the barrel. But very few political veterans will deny that the party itself has not written into the contract its kickback for the political war chest. Wonder what that guaranteed percentage rate of return is?

There was, to be fair, no attempt at the cover up. The political motives and blood trail are glaring.

Apart from Brads being the UDP illegal gambling headquarters, the name sake Brads Gaming Company Ltd, is a startup company with a silent shareholder. O Anwar, where art thou?

Chucking St. Hulse’s name in the Tender selection panel is no consolation as we continue to learn the post-elections Godwin.

More troubling is that even Marleni’s Chiwawa knows that the Contractor General, who is yet to be named anywhere in the Press Release, will play Ray Charles with this one.

The maths just does not add up. According to Government’s accounting of lotteries revenue, they receive near one million dollars per annum, and in 2001 the Lotteries Committee estimated that owing to illegal practices there was approximately two million dollars per annum in just losses.

Now, big school maths would say that your guaranteed floor of return would begin at three million per annum. How much is the total minting for the Bradsledo?

A ten year contract? What about not making contracts beyond your tenure of government?

Even the timing of the launch is politically strategic in light of the bi-annual review by an expert to make adjustments. The UDP will need substantial campaign finance in about that, two years, as the Municipal Elections are scheduled for that year, and 2012 is guaranteed to be a pivotal stretch for the UDP for any hopes of a back to back, in 2013.

See, a national recession and global economic downturn would barely be in recovery by that time, the PUP will be fully revving on all cylinders and no more hand outs from the Lord; as such Barrow needs to cram his war chest and biologically engineer his next golden goose.

In the meantime, the depressing fact is that your ounces in that pound of tax flesh which will be spoon fed to this UDP crony is a nurturing of the continuing incompetence and erosion of the country infrastructure and corruption index slippage.

Now, every time you buy a hundred piece of ought four, you are funding the mounting garbage at your gate. Each time you snuggle up around your radio at ten minutes past nine, you are supporting the unchecked surge of improperly investigated home invasions.

When you send your eight year old to the Chiney to buy your contract number, you are by syndicate, guar-

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anteeing that the craters he has to hopscotch through will continue to make the taxi fares and the taxi men complaints harsher.

No one can in respectable sobriety suggest or advocate for the exorcism of gaming in Belize; you would have a better chance of enjoying an intellectual exchange with the Minister of Health. And in actuality no one benefits from the “Scapegoat of Administrations Past” propaganda or the Independent self righteous ego stroking of “I told u so” politics, but for the record, we, the unwashed masses, no fool. This is state secured campaign financing…

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The Belize Times

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

35

Popular Businessman’s Brutal Murder Shocks the Nation (Continued from page 1)

become completely paralyzed by what is happening in such a small and interconnected society. None of us are immune and we must become our brother's keepers.’

The Leader of the PUP posted – ‘We in the People's United Party are saddened by the untimely death of Jason Coombs, a father, son, lover and hard working businessman. His contribution to Belize was greatly appreciated. We join with friends and family to mourn

his passing. As a community we must all come together to deal with the crime and violence in our society. We can and must do better if we are to honour Jason's contribution.’

And while the murder of this young businessman was shocking, the violence has continued unchecked. Last night, gunmen also robbed a restaurant on Mahogany Street. This afternoon, an ar med gunman jacked Beltaco on Hyde’s Lane, and this evening,

the Marketing Board was robbed.

Belize’s streets have become a nightmare for our business owners. Under this incompetent UDP administration, it is no longer wise to even attempt to open any sort of business, or to make an investment in any business. In the nearby community of Burrell Boom, a business establishment is closing down, after owner was beaten nearly to death in a jacking and his home was invaded - two separate incidents which

demonstrate that owning a business in Belize under this administration and in this current era of unchecked violence is a life threatening proposition.

The Belize Times joins the rest of the nation in expressing our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones left behind by the untimely death of Jason Coombs. It is our wish that justice will be dealt out swiftly and harshly to those responsible for this tragedy.

Anwar’s Accommodation Agreement?

(Continued from page 1)

He did not reveal exactly what had been proposed by any of the tenders.

It has been re por ted that an appointed six-man Lotteries Tender Committee chaired by Zuniga and which included Senator Godwin Hulse, Lita Perez from the Ministry of Finance, Dwayne Samuels and Paul DeeHan from the Lotteries Committee and Alfred Slather, of the Gaming Control Board oversaw the process and considered the proposals before making the recommendation.

There is still no public understanding of what exactly is being proposed and what its implementation will mean for the many people who make a living from sales of tickers, particularly in the rural areas of the country.

According to the official release the government is hoping to increase the revenue take from the games from just under a million dollars per year, to a guaranteed two million dollars annually under the new management through operating fees, profit sharing arrangements and business tax and the privatization is expected to come into effect on April first, 2010.

The release also said that the games will transition to an electronic system of lottery ticket sales over the period of a year after the private administration begins The new administrators and GOB are also supposed to undertake several public education campaigns to make all interested parties aware of the changes and

the details of private administration.

The entire process and the decision have raised several questions. For example, if the bids were evaluated on the basis of the companies’ human expertise and technological capacity to manage the lotteries program, then clearly the company that has been operating an electronic lottery for more than a decade in Belize should have had an edge over a company that has never operated or managed any form of lottery.

Tr o p i c a l G a m i n g C o m p a n y ’s international partners also operate a similar two-digit lottery in neighbouring Honduras as well.

But for many Belizeans awarding the contract to Brads smacks of cronyism since

many members of the upper hierarchy of the Barrow Administration, including several members of Cabinet and even the prime minister himself, hang out weekly in front of Brads Farmers Market store.

It has also been reported that Brads has been a key campaign funds contributor to the UDP, and to several candidates.

And it rankles that the amount of money Government has been able to collect from the games have decreased drastically over the past two years, and it is obvious that this is because the majority Chinese sellers are not buying and using the books printed by the government of Belize, whose sales form the majority of the revenue GOB derives from the game.

the members of the committee – this is set on the discretion of the Prime Minister which means that the remuneration which they receive could be any amount which the Prime Minister considers adequate.

Third schedule section 2 subsection 6 for the commission and Fourth schedule section 2 subsection 6 for the tribunal.

Moreover, there is a section in the document that states that if teachers are proven to have a communicable disease, they will not be granted a license to teach.

Part VIII section 28 subsection 2 b (ii).

This clearly infringes upon the rights of teachers as individuals especially when it comes to tests that need to be taken like HIV and other diseases.

While we the Orange Walk branch of the BNTU are aware that it is not up to us to accept or reject the commission, we are entitled to analyze the document that may become law and will affect our livelihood. We are also able to express our views and the reasons why we reject the commission. If it passes into law, let it be on the records that the Orange Walk Branch opposed it for the reasons outlined above. We the Orange Walk Branch have analyzed this document and we encourage all teachers throughout the country of Belize to read this information and compare it with the draft presented to Cabinet.

For now, we are content that we live

in a country where freedom of speech is still available. If the law is implemented for the new school year and we find instances of political victimization or injustices, we will stand up against it. If any law infringes upon the constitutional rights of any Belizean, that law is null and void.

Let it also be known that we do not want to have any power struggle with the Ministry of Education. We simply want to state our stance and justify it.

As Belizeans, we are only exercising our rights and our information is based on the facts and on the reality we are living.

Solidarity forever!

OW BNTU Rejects Faber’s Commission

(Continued from page 1) affiliation) - no guarantees 1 church (absolutely no government affiliation) 3 government aided managements (absolutely no government affiliation) 1 Union 1 ITVET management (could be stretched very distantly to be government affiliation) – government affiliated T he number of g over nment affiliated members can easily be six out of the 11. That the government can have over 50 per cent of the votes is very likely. With the power of the commission to go into any school in the country whether government or government-aided to transfer, discipline and appoint the teachers, the fear of political victimization is quite real since it stems from this reality which we are presently living in the Orange Walk District. In addition, teachers’ greatest fear is the fact that the commission will have the power to terminate. This means that a teacher who is terminated will lose their entire career as a teacher since they will not be able to teach anywhere in the country and will lose all gratuity and pension benefits.

In an appeal to the tribunal, nowhere in the document sent to Cabinet does it state that the teachers can be represented by their union at the tribunal. If after exhausting the mechanisms of the Act the teacher can resort to the court of law it is very good, however the document states clearly that the decision of the tribunal is final. Fourth schedule section 4 subsection 4. It does not state that the teacher can appeal to the court of law. This inalienable constitutional right must not be taken away from the teachers. In addition, in order for a tribunal to be totally objective and just, it needs to be totally independent like the judiciary. With 80 per cent of its members appointed by the Prime Minister, this tribunal is not independent and therefore it does not guarantee social justice. (Part VI section 20, subsection 1 (C, D, E, F) On the matter of remuneration to

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10

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The Belize Times

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years of a PUP Government

$1 Billion in education 1500 New Classrooms 4 New Junior Colleges UB Campuses $400 Million on Roads and Infrastructure 90 Villages with running water & electricity

2

years of Barrow & the UDP = RECESSION

Life No Haad Out Ya, Life Haada Out Ya

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Belize Times

39 Insert C

insert D 40

The Belize Times

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For Every $1 million paid to Lois Young Barrow, 133 Belizean workers could be paid $30 per day for an entire year.

Who's Having the

sunday, November 15, 2009

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The Belize Times

FOR THE BARROW FAMILY… THESE ARE THE BEST OF TIMES

IRL

G COVER

1.3 MIL

LION

FOR BELIZEANS.......THESE ARE THE WORST OF TIMES

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The Belize Times

Sunday, November 15, 2009

UB Fast Tracks Quality Assurance Press Release

T he University of Belize is conducting the formal evaluation of seven of its academic programs. This week, external revision is occurring of UB?s Associate and Bachelor degree Primary Education programs. In this connection, three programs are this week and next week undergoing scrutiny

by External Evaluation Teams from CSUCA universities, the University Council of Jamaica, and from nonUB based Belizean professionals.

(CSUCA is a consortium of Central American universities: Consejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano).

It is being spearheaded by Dr. Christopher Clarke of the University Council of Jamaica, Dr. Raul Ruiz of the National University of Nicaragua at Managua and by Dr. Ella Jean Gillett of the Ministry of Education.

Next week, from November 16 ? 18, UB?s Bachelor Degree in Tourism Manag ement underg oes

similar evaluation. It will be conducted

by Dr. Humberto Alvarez of the National University of Panama, by Dr. Carlos Morera of the National University of Costa Rica and by Mr. Jim Scott, General Manager of the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City. UB?s Provost, Dr. Angel Cal, expresses his thanks to UB?s partners in Jamaica, Central America and Belize for working with UB in evaluating the quality of its programs.

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From Belize, and Extra Sweet Reprint from the New York Times - Dining and Wine 11/10/09

Laughing Bird shrimp are unlike many farmed shrimp, and that is a g ood thing. They are raised in the Caribbean, in inland ponds on the coast of Belize. They swim in filtered sea water, are fed a vegetarian diet, are not treated with additives or sulfites and are sold fresh and hand-peeled. The farm, the only one in Belize, has been given positive marks by the World Wildlife Fund.

Aficionados of the small, sweet shrimp in restaurant kitchens include Larry Forgione at the Monkey Bar, whose tropical shrimp salad, below,

sparkles with mango, cucumber, jicama, pineapple, ginger, mint, cilantro and a splash of rum.

Laughing Bird shrimp are $12.99 a pound at freshdirect.com, $13.95 a pound at Lobster Place at Chelsea Market and in Greenwich Village.

Volks Wagon Jetta 2001, Call 600-4476 for more information

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The Belize Times

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Liberty Children's Home Fundraiser - 5-K Run-Walk Press Release

Sunday 22 November 2009 10 AM, Central Park San Pedro Ambergris Caye Registration/Donation - $30 Bz. Sponsored by Captain Morgan's Resort Event - Walk/Run to raise badly needed money for the ongoing operations of Liberty Children's Home in Ladyville.

The event will start at 10 AM with complimentary muffins and juice breakfast in San Pedro's Central Park.

At 11 am the participants will make their way up the beach to Captain Morgan's Retreat where they will enjoy a fun-filled beach party with Live music! Great prizes and drawings! $5 Beer and affordable

home-cooked Barbeque.

If you can't run or walk, please sponsor somebody who can - and please DO join the party.

100% of registration fees will go to Liberty Children's Home.

The person who raises the most money for Liberty will receive a gift certificate for dinner and an overnight stay at Captain Morgan's.

For more information and to register contact: Stacey Bove at Captain Morgan's Phone - 226-2207 We all know that times are hard for everybody - but when you're a little kid you have to depend on others - LET'S BE THERE FOR THE KIDS.