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The Belize Times
Established 1957
3 NOVEMBER 2013 | ISSUE NO: 4869
The Truth Shall Make You Free
www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00
PM, Penner, Castro on di run!!
Edmund Castro
PUP Leader pledges Free Education up to High School
Elvin Penner
Belize City, October 31, 2013 When the scandal-ridden Prime Minister Dean Barrow gets up to speak at Friday’s House meeting, he will put on a sad face and inform the nation that he will be taking another trip to the United States. The Prime Minister will hold his back and proclaim
UDP wants Castro Gone Pg. 3
With the blessing of Dean Barrow Dwight Tillett launches campaign in Belize Rural North
that his health condition (back problems) has worsened at that his medical doctors have recommended urgent treatment which may see him away for up to four months. This is not the first time that the Prime Minister will be
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Taxpayers pay Elvin Penner’s medical treatment? Pg. 20
Pg. 2
Hon. Francis presents the Party’s progressive Reform Agenda in Education
PUP UNITS GET READY! Pg. 7
Penner’s luxury Hummer parked outside hospital
CALL THE ELECTIONS NOW!!
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3 NOV
THE BELIZE TIMES
OPINION OUT Ambassador
… if
!
Dear Pastor Wade,
On your show on Monday, you made a statement concerning the new U.S. Ambassador’s assignment: he will focus on the rule of law. Does this mean he is coming to us as a judge to tell us where our Judiciary is lacking? Well, we already know that. So does America. So is America going to raise its level of application of the Monroe Doctrine to force us to line up behind America in implementing the Homosexual Agenda? Is he going to be uncle or friend? The British used to say: we have no permanent friends- only permanent interests. The mood in Belize seems to be the same, with a bit of a twist which says: we like you America, but we will make our own way. If necessary, we will make new friends across the oceans; if you try to punish us for not blindly obeying you. The NEW BELIZE, if it becomes its true self, will continue along the ascent to the highest level of civilized living, as described in the Preamble of the Belize Constitution. It is constructed on Natural Law Principles, which scintillate with the real truths of human nature. The help that Belize needs is encouragement to our leaders to live according to the best moral principles that accord to the Preamble. We appreciate sincere help, not bribery to act against our own Constitution. Signed: Paul Rodriguez
LOCAL 1 Nov
PUP Leader pledges Free Education up to High School …re-introduces “One Laptop Per Child” initiative
OUT
Welcome Mr.
Why is the PM hiding from the media?
!
Dear Editor, I write to express total displeasure with the decision of the Prime Minister not to meet the press at the Philip Goldson International Airport on Friday October 25, after he was away for 9 days, a full week and 2 days. When the PM left the country the Immigration Scandal was boiling, and in the United States he admitted to the foreign press that another hot bed of corruption in his government is at the lands Department that is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega. Secondly, after the PM left the country he also became aware that a whistleblower came forward and said that she paid one of his ministers, specifically “Clear the Land”, $400,000.00 to facilitate the illegal sale of Belizean Visas over the last 6 months. Today there is no doubt that the corruption scandal with this government is far worse than when the PM left this country. The Prime Minister’s decision not to meet the press on his return to the nation on Friday is troubling. That decision supports the claim by many people including several members of the press that he, the Prime Minister, is still trying to cover this worsening corruption scandal that has engulfed his government. Sincerely yours, Gilroy Usher, Sr.
Belize City, October 31, 2013 People’s United Party (PUP) Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca introduced two key components of the PUP’s reform in education agenda when he addressed a packed hall of supporters at the convention for party units on Sunday, October 27, 2013. Hon. Francis said that the PUP deems education as “critically important to the future of the country”, therefore, one of the steps the next PUP Government will take to make education more impactful is making “education free all the way up to high school”. The low access to education continues to be an obstacle to the country’s development. A recent Inter-American Development Bank report found that the gap between those who have access and those who don’t has widened over the recent years. The IDB report found that while 95 percent of the primary school-aged children were attending school in 1999, the numbers have rolled back in 2009. At the high school level, more than half of Belize’s secondary school-aged children remain out of school, 56 percent in 2009, with the rural communities being most affected, according to the study. The cost of living, from the price of basic food to amount paid for school fees and books, has skyrocketed in Belize. Access to education therefore is hindered by the high cost. With Belize’s poverty levels increasing, it becomes very clear that many families cannot afford to send their children to school. The pledge by the PUP Leader to make education universal up to high school no matter one’s economic status is radical and revolutionary. It is the kind of bold step which leaders such as Fidel Castro and Errol Barrow took when they were confronted by serious degradation in their countries and a need for real solutions. But access to education is not the only barrier which the Party Leader says must come down. There are issues regarding the current education system’s relevancy in
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the fast-developing world and 21st century and the resistance to incorporate technology in classrooms. Hon. Francis, who was a progressive Education Minister under the former PUP Administration, says the integration of technology is key to getting Belize on par with the rest of the world. He said the PUP will re-introduce the “One Laptop Per Child” programme, where each student will be provided with a laptop computer which contains all the learning content needed including an e-library, educational software and reference material. “This is no idle promise,” said Hon. Francis, “we have looked at the figures, we know how much it will cost. This is an investment we should make in the young people of this country”. The One Laptop Per Child will make our education a 21st century education. It will also eliminate the yearly heavy burden faced by parents of having to purchase books. The PUP is committed to the upliftment of our people through education and the development of the country through its skilled people. The above is only two components of the PUP’s Reform Agenda in Education, with more to be unveiled soon.
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The Belize Times
Established 1957
14 APR 2013
|
ISSUE NO: 4840
The Truth Shall Make You Free
www.belizetimes.bz
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$1.00
serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper. Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus EDITOR
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3 NOV
2013
THE BELIZE TIMES
PM, Penner, Castro on di run!! Continued from page 1 leaving the country on autopilot and in the hands of his corrupt Cabinet ministers. He normally uses his wife’s medical condition as the excuse, but now it is his health. The truth is that Prime Minister Barrow is under so much stress as a result of the growing scandals and evidence of corruption in his administration that he is running away from all of it. The Dean Barrow who is normally impenetrable, composed and in charge, is now weakened, ailing, and losing control fast. This has made him desperate and erratic. This is why last week Friday, upon his return to the country, he dodged the media by authorizing his vehicle to pick him up next to the airplane on the tarmac. No usual VIP entry. Barrow sees the end of his days coming. The weight of scandal and corruption involving one Minister after the other has weakened him. He has no way to defend their actions, and admitting any level of wrongdoing means indicting his representatives and putting the razor thin-majority he holds in the House at risk. Politics and power is what really matters to Dean Barrow. But Barrow is not the only UDP on the run. Elvin Penner who has gone under the radar ever since the criminal allegations against him were exposed. Penner has also left the country several times, but his country of choice is Guatemala. Edmond Castro, who was out of the country recently, also dodged the media upon his return to the over the weekend. Castro exited the passenger airplane and sneaked away across the tarmac to hide in an unauthorized zone where he instructed one of the Government vehicles to pick him up, while another was sent to get his luggage. Castro is facing even more serious allegations, with a whistleblower alleging that she and Castro facilitated over 200 visa applications for Chinese nationals. Castro, the whistleblower has alleged, collected $2,000 per visa. She detailed the well-established visa procuring system which Castro reportedly operated through his office, directing his secretary to process applications and his driver to pick up and deliver visas. Castro has no jurisdiction over any immigration matter whatsoever. He is a junior Minister in the Ministry of Transport. The whistleblower has taken her allegations and evidence to the Ombudsman’s office and the United States Embassy. The Ombudsman’s office has the responsibility of investigating corruption in public office when presented with sufficient evidence. The United States Embassy is keenly following the entire debacle facing the Barrow Administration. The U.S. concern is the security concerns which the corrupt sale of passports and visas in Belize. The facilitation of the documents for known criminals and terrorists has raised many red flags. They are reporting back to Homeland Security. The developments in the UDP Passport/Visa Scandal have caused a massive headache for the UDP. Ministers are now coming to the fore admitting that they
have been involved with visa processing. John Saldivar did some. Manuel Herredia did one, or maybe two. Who is next? The central question the UDP must answer is how many nationality certificates, visas and passports were issued over the past six years? What was the quota distributed by the UDP Ministers? But with Barrow, Penner and now Castro hiding from the public light and constantly on the run, the answers will be slow in coming. The Belizean people are now relying on brave public officers to step out and speak out to expose the UDP’s wrongdoing. Only the truth shall make us free.
03 3
UDP wants Castro Gone Maskall Village, Belize District, October 31, 2013 Dwight Tillett has been selected by UDP party leader to tackle Edmund Castro, the latest pariah in the government visa sandal. The Prime Minister had fired Castro from the Cabinet when a Belizean/American woman presented to the P.M. evidence of a land/cash hustle in which thousands of dollars had been scammed and buyers got no land. The Prime Minister, during the 2008 to 2012 government, had thereafter hand-picked Elston Wade to defrock Castro. But Castro had amassed wealth and Wade was unsuccessful. With Castro once again dogged
by impropriety and scandal, the UDP has moved once more against him. Educator, Dwight Tillett, has been selected by the UDP to clear the land of Castro. Tillett, who is a naïve bureaucrat, will need the full support of the UDP machinery and money to dethrone Castro, a man seemingly without scruples and whose political pockets are bulging. Tillett is whistle clean, has an excellent background and if it was character and honesty that won elections he would be an easy winner. But in UDP politics, the good guys end up last and the people end up with the Castro types. Remember what Pontius Pilot was telling the rent-a-crowd about Jesus and Barabbas? Jesus lost and went to the cross and Barabbas was let out to continue selling visas.
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3 NOV
THE BELIZE TIMES
on the Public Accounts Committee
- Stop the games!
By Francis W. Fonseca The People’s United Party has put forward a serious, meaningful proposal to reform and restructure the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives. That proposal provides for an equitable sharing of oversight authority among the Gov-
ernment, Opposition, and the Social Partners (Unions/ C h u r ch e s / B u s i ness). The UDP Prime Minister and his Cabinet have no interest in such a proposal. The executive wishes to dictate to the legislature what the
agenda of the Opposition-Chaired PAC can and should be. They claim to be protecting the principle of “majority rule”. The PAC, now and in its proposed restructured state, will
2013 not affect the G o v e r n m e n t ’s ability to “rule” or govern in any way. The UDP is happy with the status quo, a non-functioning PAC. The Opposition and the Social Partners must stand united in pursuing an effective, functioning PAC. The UDP’s latest proposal for a larger PAC which includes the Social Partners but main-
tains Government control is meaningless and will not change the current state of paralysis that has overtaken the PAC. A PAC with equal representation from Government, Opposition, and the Social Partners is the only acceptable, working formula moving forward. Anything else is “just playing games”.
3 NOV
THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
05 5
EDITORIAL
50 Shades of Corruption
T
he Dean Barrow Government is corrupt. Dean Barrow’s legacy is corruption. This he cannot escape and has publicly admitted. In a weird, UDP twilight zone, no less than four UDP ministers have also publicly agreed that the UDP is corrupt. They have admitted that the rotting stench of corruption is real. Lisel Alamilla was the first. Under a burning tantrum she pointed right into the Deputy Party Leader’s face and screamed corruption in her very own UDP ministry. Dean Barrow then had to admit under international pressure and undeniable proof that his beloved and spoilt Elvin Penner was incurably corrupt. Then someone let Sedi out of his cell, and he blurted out that there are UDP Ministers higher up than Penner who are far more corrupt. The corroborating and confirmation of the corruption of Barrow’s Administration was again sadistically squeezed out of Barrow himself, in a “town meeting” in the City of Angels. There, Barrow fully accepted that his UDP Government has a “hotbed of corruption”. It is one big orgy of corruption. So ecstatic was his Party that the UDP could finally come out the closet to affirm their corruption that Gapi Vega agreed with his boss about the corruption in the UDP. See, UDP pre-2008 propaganda was that they were above corruption or any flatulence reminiscent of corruption. It worked once. But then the whitened sepulchers began to betray the cover up of the stench. Now what is clear is the legacy of Dean Barrow. His legacy is one of corruption. Dean Barrow’s legacy is confirmed to be corruption. Amazing. Imagine that possibility. In fact, face this reality. Barrow’s legacy is the 13 dead babies at KHMH. Barrow’s legacy is the four George street residents whose throats were cut. Barrow’s UDP legacy is the government bribes for gang members. Barrow’s legacy is the record murder rate in Belize’s history. Under Barrow’s government every gang boss was assassinated. Why do you think he uses such heavy security? Why? Mr. Price walked alone every morning. He knew what his legacy would be. Said Musa still moves around without bodyguards. His legacy does not require protection. Andre Trapp, Raymond “Killa” Gentle, Arthur Young, Giovani “Nose” Lauriano and Pinky Tillett. All wiped out. No answers. This is all under Dean Barrow’s UDP administration. He is in charge. This is his legacy and he will have to live and die with that legacy. Barrow’s legacy is victimization and intimidation. Businesses shutting down. The government using GST and the tax department to attack and shackle the voices of dissent. Barrow’s legacy is the rejection of three referendums. Barrow’s legacy is the dismantling of the Judiciary, Chief Justice and all.
Barrow’s legacy is his fight with God’s church in the school and UNIBAM matter. His legacy is his forked tongue. His legacy is all these questionable legislations. Yes, Barrow’s legacy is nepotism. Barrow’s legacy is the artificial border. Barrow’s legacy is the disrespect of the Mayans. Under Barrow his legacy is to question the struggle of the Mayan people. His government said they are not even indigenous Belizeans. His legacy is the disgusting commercializing of the Garifuna sacred reenactment site, the Dugu ceremony disrespect without a word from Barrow or the UDP so the Garinagu community stood up for themselves and it was fixed. The Dangriga market and SIF corruption is Dean Barrow’s legacy. Barrow’s legacy culturally is the imposition of his dishonest and criminal son as Musical and cultural ambassador. Barrow’s legacy is the bulldozing of Noh Mul. When people in history ask what happened under Barrow? His legacy will be scandal and corruption. The legacy of this UDP Barrow administration is Ministers impregnating under aged girls, “inappropriate advances” to the staff of dignitaries, disgusting, degrading and abusive words to women. His legacy is the GSU. Barrow’s legacy is one of ramen noodles. Barrow’s legacy is about disappointment, betrayal, failure and corruption. Manuel Esquivel’s legacy was coldness and retrenchment. Dean Barrow has brilliantly outdone him. Barrow cannot speak of a single housing drive for the people. Not a single opening of land for the poor. No reform. Not a single thing other than programs which show that they believe that the people of Belize should be treated like idiots, “sprang heads” and “gangbangers”. Barrow’s legacy is a legacy without soul. Without belief. Without God. Self righteousness? Yes. Millions and millions and millions of that, but God? Nope. We at BELIZE TIMES are not too keen on Halloween but those monsters in the UDP administration that have terrorized and oppressed our people have now exposed their evil corrupt ways. The House meeting on Friday is scary. It is scary to think that Dean Barrow will hand over the keys of Belize, directly or indirectly, for four months to the man in charge of the hotbed of corruption, Gapi Vega. Barrow is doing this to continue his legacy of corruption. He has accepted the legacy of corruption as his fate, as his reality. Barrow’s legacy is death, intimidation, victimization and corruption. To borrow from the Apostle according to Matthew 23:27: Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, pretenders, who are like whitewashed tombstones, which from the outside appear lovely, but from within are full of the bones of the dead, everything unclean and all corruption!
6 06
THE BELIZE TIMES
A Call For Good Governance October 24, 2013 The Orange Walk Town Council expresses its utter discontent with the manner in which the passport and immigration scandal has been handled by government. There has been absolutely no transparency in the so-called investigation into corruption which is not only the government’s business, but is everybody’s business. We find it ludicrous that the government speaks of total corruption within the Immigration Department, admits that former Minister of State Elvin Penner is in the center of it, and still refuses to allow him to be the subject of a criminal investigation. Penner continues to enjoy the financial perks of his privileged position as an area representative, and still has the use of a government vehicle paid for and maintained by the people of Belize. We hold that an independent investigation should have been sanctioned from the very day that the corruption was uncovered. The Prime Minister has indicated publicly that an immigration scandal involving his ministers would cause the UDP administration to fall. Yet the investigation is being conducted by three UDP appointees – Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse,
C.E.O. in the Ministry of Immigration Candelaria Saldivar (sister of UDP Minister John Saldivar) and Director of Immigration Maria Marin. It is impossible to envision any scenario in which any of these three persons would present any evidence which would threaten the UDP administration. We have only the word of the Prime Minister that the investigation is being conducted properly. We have only the word of the Minister of Immigration that no stone will be unturned. But that is not enough. The people of Belize demand much more than that! This is much more than a political issue. As one journalist told Prime Minister Dean Barrow recently – “We’re talking about passports, PM, not a water bill.” We fear that it is too late for an impartial investigation into the scandal, since for more than a month all evidence has been in the hands of a UDP appointed team. As Belizeans, we urge all our brothers and sisters to stand up for transparency, to stand for good governance. This transcends political lines. We must demand what is right. We must demand good governance, not only for today but for the future of our nation. (Press Release)
3 NOV
2013
3 NOV
07 7
THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
BYM, UWG & MARSHALLS CONVENTION
Marshalls President Stephen Latchman, PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca, UWG President Yolanda Schakron & BYM President Alberto Vellos
INDEPENDENCE HALL - OCT. 27, 2013
PUP Leader awards Certificate to Ms. Olga for her volunteer work through the Marshalls Service Corps on National Service Day
Dr. Francis Smith
PUP Chairman Henry Usher
United Womens Group National Executive members
Hon. Francis delivering his powerful message Darrell Carter
Marshalls National Executive members
Secretary General Myrtle Palacio presides over the convention process
Belize Youth Movement National Executive members
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3 NOV
THE BELIZE TIMES
WOMAN IN THE HOUSE By Dolores Balderamos Garcia
MORE HUSTLING It came to the attention of our PUP Belize Rural Central Committee last week that a request or quotation had been submitted to the Ministry of Works for roadworks and upgrades to be done in the Hollywood area of Lord’s Bank. The request/quotation had apparently come from a particular Ministry. Now, we must recall that precious little - almost nothing - is being done to alleviate the serious street, road and drainage problems faced by people throughout Belize Rural Central, whether you are in Ladyville, Hattieville, Mahogany Heights or the other villages. Yes, Government all of a sudden found money for a few upgrades when they wanted to politicize the village council elections and do some “cover benjie” road works at that time. For example, in Western Paradise shortly before the village council elections there, all kinds of material and hard core were found to put down on the streets on the West Lake side. Of course nothing at all was done for Sunset Park and Western Pines. Well, back to this recent request. The quote is for approximately $24,000 to upgrade streets in the Hollywood area. For those who may not know, the Hollywood Area is the community in which the Minister of Education, Hon. Patrick Faber, lives. The Hollywood area is quite big, with many streets that are real mudholes, and there is a pressing need for better streets and drains. The material, ‘hard core’ and ‘all in,’ that has been requested is sufficient for the upgrade of only 750 feet of road, not even 15% of a mile. How much of Hollywood will be able to get attention
from this quantity of material? The quotations for transportation, fuel and labour all seem inflated. And you can very safely bet that whoever gets to do the work will in some way be connected to that Ministry or its operatives. I would put my head on the block that the small portion of roads that will be upgraded in the Hollywood area will most certainly include the street that the Hon. Minister lives on!! You might say that this kind preference and hustle pales in comparison with the massive and rampant corruption in the Lands Department, the Immigration Department and others. However we must expose it for what it is – the callous use of Governmental position to benefit oneself. I call this MORE HUSTLING. The people of Belize Rural Central need for major attention to be given to roads, streets and drainage in the constituency. The upgrading of 750 feet of roadway in the Hollywood area because a Government Minister lives there is not correct. The priority and most-trafficked areas of the constituency should receive the attention, and Ministry of Works personnel should be able to do their work without fear or favour and without political interference in order to benefit one politician who is not a normal Belizean. But then isn’t this what the UDP Government is all about – benefitting themselves, hustling, and lining their own pockets and those of their relatives, cronies and friends – at the expense of course of the people who need help the most? Enough of this UDP hustling, man. This crowd have to go!!
2013
For Sale By Order of the
Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed Mortgage made the 3rd day of December, 2007, registered in Deeds Book Vol. 45 of 2007 at Folios 275-304, between Belize Mortgage Company 2002-1 (the Assignor), Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., and Virginia Diane Palma and Mark Steven Palma, and under a Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 16th day of September, 2005, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 28 of 2005 at Folios 1005 – 1080, between Development Finance Corporation (the Assignor) and Belize Mortgage Company 2002-1, which said property was mortgaged by the said Virginia Diane Palma and Mark Palma to the said Development Finance Corporation on the 2nd day of February, 2003, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 7 of 2003 at Folios 421 – 470; and the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.
SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 497 situate on the Southern side of the Western Highway near Mile 8 Belize District and bounded as follows: On the North for 12.190 Meters by a street; On the South for 15.237 Meters by a portion of Lot No. 495; On the East for 30.474 Meters by Lot No. 498; On the West for 27.442 Meters by a Street and on the Northwest for 4.308 meters by a Daylight Cut; containing 459.888 square meters of land as shown on Plan No. 2160 at the office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 22nd day of October, 2013. MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.
3 NOV
2013
THE BELIZE TIMES
09 9 Trick or treat UDP style
Democratic Nationalism… and the New Revolution By Carolyn Trench-Sandiford-Deputy Party Leader The people of Belize believe in democracy. The Constitution of Belize states this. However, democracy requires public officials to firstly be accountable, responsible and answerable to the people in the disposal of their duties. Yet among other atrocities, 13 babies have died at the KHMH, Noh Mul, our cultural heritage, was desecrated, our forest raped through illegal harvesting condoned through enterprise partnerships between government and the people who committed the illegal act, our education system is failing our children miserably year after year, our young are dying by the gun and our children abused, the PM says the lands department is a hot bed of corruption, and no one has been held responsible, accountable or answerable. Secondly, for them to be effective in carrying out of their duties, to be impartial and just in the provision of services to the people. Yet, the Prime Minister said publicly it is time for UDP to eat, and besides further institutionalizing corruption and overseeing the politicization of the award of contracts, the employment of public officers, and the allocation and distribution of the nation’s wealth to a select few, he is now allocating millions and millions of dollars to one constituency to preserve the party in government at the detriment of the other thirty; Thirdly, for them to share information with the people to enable the unearthing of abuses of power; Yet, the UDP government refuses an independent inquiry into the passport and visa scandal and to numerous requests from civil society on the award of contracts;
Fourthly, for public officials to ensure equal protection and punishment under the law; Yet, the BDF and police protects the interest of the ministers of government, the rich and select few, while trampling on the rights of the poor and vulnerable. Fifthly, for them to promote strong electoral and parliamentary processes, political parties and civil society; Yet, the Prime Minister subverts the independence of the judiciary, politicizes the election processes, disregards the voice of the opposition, 49% of the people, and imposes draconian penalties on civil society. Finally, for them to facilitate human rights; Yet, the UDP government intimidates the media, disrespects indigenous peoples and their right to preserve their culture and traditions, and deprive 43% of families of the right to live in dignity, forcing them to struggle each day to provide for shelter, food, basic health care and education to their children. The people of Belize want the option to play some part in the institutions of national life. The Constitution of Belize says so. This requires that a vision for Belize be crafted, that the resources for achieving that vision be determined, that Belizeans be a part of crafting that vision, and a role be defined for each of them in making that vision a reality. Yet this government is operating like a ship without a rudder or a compass, with no sense of direction, purpose or vision. How can Belizeans find a role and unleash their full potential? The people of Belize want national unity. So says our Constitution of Belize. Yet, the UDP practices confrontational and adversarial government, divides the people by advocating for policies and legislation which deepens the gap between the haves and have not, polarizes us along political, religious, ethnic, sexual and other lines, instead of building national accord in identifying and ad-
dressing issues and concerns that plague us and restricts our journey in building a nation. The people of Belize require that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Belize be safeguarded and protected. This is embodied in the preamble of our Constitution of Belize. But the government continues to sell our soul and indebt us to international organizations to meet their insatiable appetite for the bling bling lifestyle, re-colonizing us and making us dependent to the point where our legislation is now written in New York, London and Washington, and we meekly domesticate them in our parliament. They continue to ignore the blatant encroachment into our territory by illegal settlers, immigration, exploitation and rape of the forests, mineral, animals and marine life, claim we have no border and act like it is ghost planes landing on the highways at nights. And most heinously, they have Kmarted and prostituted our national identity and sold it to terrorists and criminals, making us suspects in the regional and international arena and offers no policies or programmes to foster nationalism and loyalty to country above self. If social justice is the heart and soul of the new revolution, then democratic nationalism must be its life blood. Only so will the new revolution be able to protect, defend and preserve the nation state of Belize and the Belizean identity, for if there is no nation state, there is no us, and if there are no us, there is no Belize. Regain the confidence of the Belizean people in our party and our democratic processes; Eradicate poverty and bring about social progress; And forge national unity and create a Belize that all of us can be proud to leave for our children; In so doing, the new revolution will be relevant and meaningful, and bring about true change and reform, so that all Belizeans, not a select few, can enjoy a high quality of life in a just and safe society. It may require sacrifice, but so must it be.
The UDP promised to govern with transparency, accountability and good governance. Trick or treat? Dean Barrow promised to deal with every whiff of corruption. Trick or treat? UDP politicians Mark “Casino” King, Dean “Shooter” Samuels, Denny “Nuh Mol” Grijalva, Zenaida ”Underdepositor” Moya, “Hit and run” Philloughby , “Public bathroom” Yellowman and Elvin “Passport” Penner, will face justice. Trick or treat? Dean Barrow defends Penner. Then asks him to resign, kicks him out the UDP. Barrow said Penner is guilty but no criminal charges. Trick or treat? Dean Barrow said he is an enemy of Michael Ashcroft. Barrow admits that the UDP campaign money came from Ashcroft. Trick or treat? Godwin Hulse pretended to be the patron saint of integrity. He is in charge of the most corrupt UDP Ministry and immigration scandal. Trick or treat? The Financial Intelligence Unit is independent but Barrow is her boss. The PM funds the Department through his ministry. Marylyn Williams is director. She was a member of the UDP executive recently. She ran for the UDP in the Albert division. She was made a lawyer in Belize under Dean Barrow under a lot of controversy. She is a UDP. But Barrow says she is independent. Trick or treat? Taiwanese diplomat says Castro made inappropriate sexual advances towards her. Castro says she is not telling the truth. We should believe Castro? A lady goes public to say she and Castro were part of the Penner Visa hustle. She gives a statement to the United States Embassy. Castro says it is not true. We should believe Castro? Trick or treat? Dean Barrow asks that corruption “for God’s sake” be stopped. He says he is against corruption but Barrow leaves, of all people, Gasper Vega in charge of Belize. Trick or treat? Barrow Government says that the Mayans are not Belizeans. They have rights over communal lands but that right is only to pick up firewood, and gather fruits, no rights to anything else. Trick or treat? Darrel Bradley does 100 cement streets. Not a single drain. To fix the 100 streets he neglects the other 600. Trick or treat? Sedi is supposed to be Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. But Sedi takes side of Guatemala. He does not support clearing of the Belize Border. He says the border is artificial. Trick or treat? UDP said they would be different and they would improve your life. Yet since in Government, the UDP has the highest murder rate in Belize’s history. They took away NHI. They kill 13 babies. Only gang members get jobs. Trick or treat? Mark Espat and others, were PUP. Steps down a month before the elections on independent grounds. UDP win elections. Same people become Ambassadors for UDP. Makes a million from “negotiations”. PUP and Belize were not betrayed? That was a fair election? Trick or treat? Rodwell Williams made millions of dollars along with Dean Barrow. Rodwell Williams was almost killed. God gave him a second chance. He is a millionaire. He should be doing good. He should be redeeming his soul. Yet he is fighting a family of poor people over a piece of land the size of a coffin. Trick or treat? Boots sells pool tables. He gets a quarter of a million dollars from pool tables. He has five big houses. All of them yellow and white. This is all normal. Nothing is wrong. Trick or treat? Finnegan is the Minister of Housing. The houses in Mesopotamia are the worst in the country. Not a single house built by the ministry of housing in over five years. Trick or treat? There is scandal in the Immigration Department. The Department will investigate itself. Penner commits a crime. The UDP will ignore the DPP and decide what will happen to Penner by themselves. The Public Accounts Committee needs to do work. The UDP agreed that they did nothing and Finnegan says the committees do not work. But the UDP hijack the PAC and investigate themselves. Trick or treat? Penner is fired for one passport we know about. Castro admits to at least 5 visas. There is written evidence of him doing at least 200 from one agent. No investigation about Castro. No penalty. Trick or treat?
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CITRUS:
A SLOW DEATH October 30th 2013 By Norris Hall There is an ominous cloud looming low over the citrus valley of Pomona, the birthplace and headquarters of the citrus industry in Belize. The once emerald green citrus orchards on the rolling hillsides of the valley are disappearing. The old Mandarins in the industry have mostly died while a few others, seeing their shadows grey before they vanish, continue to desperately grasp at their fading influence by persistently putting the industry in disarray. The citrus industry of Belize is now dying a slow death as it reflects on the glory days of its pre-deceased Trout Hall canned fruits and juices and the citrus company’s top notch football team, the Queen’s Park Rangers, in their royal blue and gold uniforms. BEATEN DOWN BY WARFARE Beaten down by years of tribal warfare, litigations, a loss of investor confidence and political interference as well as perceived corruption by this government, the industry is again beginning to keel over, and apparently, waiting to just give up the ghost. The Prime Minister, in his first taste of power a few years, ago told a very gullible Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) that he will never abandon them; that he will not oversee the demise of the CGA. Now, with his government’s inaction in amending key legislation to streamline the industry, and in frustrating the creation of an environment that is more conducive for investments, he holds the hammer that will drive the final nail into the coffin of a once vibrant industry. The CGA no longer seems assured by the Prime Minister’s commitment to them. But they are also suffering from the ricochets of their own infighting. The industry is now low on oxygen and energy. A major investor in the industry, Banks of Barbados, has again told the CGA that they are prepared to sell their 49 percent shares to the CGA, or to any other takers. The asking price is US$25 million. Oh yes, the Prime Minister did promise to support the CGA in its bid to secure the shareholdings of Banks. However, like his promise not to oversee the demise of the CGA, his failed com-
mitments to the industry now have the undertakers on standby. Exacerbating the frustration, especially of the CGA, is that while the Prime Minister had promised to watch their back, his then Minister of the Police and now Chairman of the investment arm of the Belize Social Security Board had other long term plans of his own. When the CGA elected new representatives to serve on the Board of Directors of Citrus Products of Belize (CPBL), of which they own 51 percent of the shares, a very strange thing happened. Armed members of the Special Unit of the Police were dispatched to prevent these newly elected CGA members on the Board of Directors of CPBL from attending their first Board of Directors meeting. FROM POLICE MINISTER TO SHIPPING MAGNATE After that, even stranger things have happened. The Minister of the Police (now former), now enjoys a lucrative contract with CPBL. The company he is connected to, Seaboard Marin, has the exclusive contract to transport from Pomona and the Big Creek Port all of CPBL’s products and to ship them to overseas destinations. At about the same time, according to our source, but quite likely by another coincidence, 800 pounds of pound solids (juice in simple terms) vanished from the factory in what one auditor described as “a disappearing phenomenon”. Furthermore, the CGA is also being screwed over royally by the Barrow Administration, or perhaps by a friend of the Administration. He is the same former Police Minister turned shipping “magnate”. He is now the Chairman of the Belize Social Security Investment Fund. Among one of the CGA’s major debts, is a loan from the SSB for $17 million. It has been struggling to meet that debt as it is also indebted to the European Investment Bank (EIB) to the tune of roughly US$10 million with first payment due in 2014 or early 2015. It is now perceived by the CGA, which is supposed to have their backs covered by the Prime Minister, that there is an intention by the SSB for a hostile takeover of its 51 percent majority shares in CPBL in a debt for equity swap. This would cause a major disruption of the CGA. It appears that while some members of the SSB do not share this view, those at the top are push-
ing ahead with this objective. This is perceived by some as having a smell of corruption, and if not, then a clear conflict of interest by the SSBIF Chairman. PAINS FOR BOTH CGA AND CPBL There are also more pains for both the CGA and the CBPL. Citrus growers have not yet received their final payments of almost $3 million for the last crop from CPBL. Citrus production has fallen. The processors (CPBL) are operating at half capacity. Growers are walking away from their Association. They are abandoning or bulldozing their orchards. The attrition rate in the number of acres of citrus under cultivation drops by five to ten percent each year. Some of this has been as a result of the devastating effect of “greening” a bacterial disease that has wiped out hundreds of acres of citrus. The CGA has been unable to supply farmers with new plants. Banks of Barbados with its 49 percent shares in CPBL, is fed up with this government and the persistent in-fighting of the CGA. They want to sell their shares. The CGA has made lots of noises about buying the shares of Banks. Now it appears that they have “friends” in high corrupt places who want to see them gone from the control of CPBL. They have been persistently antagonistic towards their major investment partner. Banks have now taken their bluff by offering to sell their shares. At this writing, news has just broken that while Banks has been asking for $US 25 million for their 49 percent of shares in the company, they have reduced their offer to the CGA to US 21.5 million.
The Prime Minister, it appears, has abandoned the CGA. He may or may not know of a planned hostile takeover of CGA shares in CPBL. Of course he will say he doesn’t! “How on God’s earth would I have known?” He also appears to have become indifferent (or has been procrastinating) over his commitment to streamline the Citrus Industry Act for the smoother and more equitable operation of the industry. With all this, CPBL has been unable to sell its products on the futures market given the erratic state of the industry and the loss of investor confidence in this government. COMMERCIAL BANKS CAGEY The commercial banks are no longer comfortable with the uncertainty looming over the citrus industry. Herein lies the crux of why citrus growers have not received their final payment for the last crop. CPBL no longer has access to the level of financing from its bankers because of the persistent and on-going controversy between the major shareholders, the CGA and its investment partner, Banks of Barbados, as well as the other factors mentioned earlier. The final payment, which was due in September, has therefore not been made because of CPBL’s cash flow problems. All the produce is not sold during the crop year. One company official Continued on page 24
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UDP Passport/Visa Scandal…
the Saga Continues
October 23rd, 2013 Admitted testimony from a witness who said she supplied visas for Chinese Nationals was made public through one of Belize’s trustful news networks claiming that no other than the Minister of State, Edmund “Predator” Castro, is part of an Illegal racket of selling passport visas. Attorneys have said this is “Legal evidence”. The whistleblower mentioned that she was approached by a close associate of Elvin Penner who asked if she wanted to be a part of a more lucrative scheme of selling passports and visas. The person said that it was because of Penner’s greedy ways that he had to find another corrupt Minister that was not as greedy. Edmund Castro seemed to fit the profile, and when approached by the whistleblower he allegedly bought in but put a price tag to the service. The whistleblower said Castro indicated that he would charge two thousand dollars for each visa provided. She also stated that this scheme must have already been going on because when she took the application to his office, his secretary was given instructions to prepare the letters and recommendations off the computer, suggesting there was already a system in place. Paying Minister Castro was priority, claimed the whisteblower. The small players involved would be paid after the application process was completed. At a particular occasion when twelve thousand dollars was offered for six passport visas, reportedly Castro suggested that he should be getting an additional thousand dollars. The individual also reported that a total of about 200 illegal visas were facilitated amounting to about 400 thousand dollars paid within six months. This illegal racket may have been happening for a longer period of time with other people involved in this illegal scheme. Chinese nationals received their visas in two days. Meanwhile, Belizeans have to wait 2 weeks or even longer for a passport, All Belizeans should go to the Immigration building and demand free passport it is our right. What is depressing about this UDP scheme is that the Chinese involved are mostly low-income workers who are promised opportunities of making a good living in Belize but when they enter our country, illegal or not, they are exploited. Who are these Chinese middlemen that encourage this human trafficking process? There are names being mentioned of persons with castles as restaurants. We call on the right-thinking Chinese Belizeans to speak out and help their people. This UDP Government must be held responsible. Why, my Belizean brothers and sisters, are we afraid to come out and demand better Governance? Let us close down Belize and gather by the hundreds
of thousands in Belmopan. We have to make this change. It is our right to change a Government when it becomes necessary. 9 Days in LA
Edmund Castro
Elvin Penner
Godwin Hulse
Los Angeles, California, a state that’s known for 5-star restaurants and hotels was visited by wanna-be celebrity couple, Dean Barrow and Continued on page 20
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TOPMODEL 13
ENTERTAINMENT
NEWS
Melonie Gillett inspires
with new video Belizean songstress Melonie Gillett has become an ambassador of hope for persons living with cancer or affected by someone living with cancer. Melonie released a new music video called “Be Her Breath” in which she pays tribute to all persons battling cancer. Melonie knows what it’s like to lose a close family member to the disease and she dedicated the song to her aunt, Verna Gardiner Ewing, who died from stage four lung cancer in 2011. In her description of the video posted on her Facebook page, Melonie discusses the idea behind the advocacy. “The purpose of the video is to echo the importance of advocacy and to create more awareness for cancer. I also hope to raise funds which will be donated to the Cancer Society (through the already established Verna Gardiner-Ewing fund), as well as, individual cancer victims that require immediate medical funds,” she explained. An online discussion forum [beherbreath.blogspot. com] has also been opened for persons to share their personal journey and experience with the hope that it will raise awareness and help others understand and cope.
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Height: 5’ 3” Career Plan: Modeling Sign: Cancer Favourite Food: Pizza
• • •
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14 SPORTS
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THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE
2013
Mr. Belize & Ms. Body Figure this Friday Belize City, October 30, 2013 The Bliss Center for the Performing Arts will be the venue for the 2013 Belize Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships featuring the Mr. Belize and Ms. Body Figure competitions. The event will feature Men’s Bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Figure and Bikini Fitness. Over 18 competitors have signed up for the event, including defending champs Mr. Belize Rigo Vellos and Ms. Body Figure Gina Lovell. Both veteran and upcoming bodybuilding athletes will be competing for the top prize. The event starts at 7:00pm on Friday November 1st.
Images of 2012 competition
Byron Pope qualifies
Ladyville Jaguars win 3-2 over Third World Second from Left, Jerdon Anderson, Second from Right, Jorge Olivarez at Bacalar Regatta MX.
…Brown Bombers still leads 2013 SMART Mundialito
San Pedro Jr. Sailing Club wins Regatta in Bacalar
Bacalar, Quintana Roo, October 25, 2013 Two optimist Sailors, Jerdon Anderson and Jorge Olivarez from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, captured 1st and 3rd place respectively in the Regatta “Laguna de 7 Colores” hosted by Associacion de Veleristas president, Miguel Ángel Pani in Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico. This was the first time that optimist sailors from Belize have attended a regatta outside Belize. Anderson and Olivarez were 2 of 25 Optimist sailors racing and after 6 grueling races over 2 days. The two young sailors that are known for their hardworking attitude, showed their skill and the level of performance. Bringing home these wins made the San Pedro Junior Sailing Club (SPJSC,) San Pedranos and Belize proud. Commodore Graham Verralls, Vice Commmodore Jeff Bella, SPJSC Coach David Verralls and SPJSC Chairperson
Tammy Peterson expressed their gratitude to the hosts from Mexico, Delia Rojas, Daniele Gracis and Gustavo Ambriz, welcomed the invitation and appreciated their warm hospitality. Peterson commented, “We are very happy with the positive forward movement of the SPJSC. We are grateful for the invitation and thrilled with the accomplishments of the two sailors. We look forward to the opportunity to return the hospitality shown to our sailors when we host the first ever Western Caribbean regatta on Ambergris Caye in August 2014. We also thank Janet Martinez, SPJSC Secretary, for taking the time to chaperone these young men at this event.” It should be noted that Kevin Velasquez, also of SPJSC took first place in the Corozal Bay Regatta hosted by the Corozal Bay Sailing club October 12 and 13th, 2013.
Akeem Sutherland scored 2nd goal
Tyrel Estrada scored 2 goals
Belize City, October 26, 2013 The Ladyville Jaguars posted their 1st win of the 2013 SMART Mundialito football tournament against Third World. Ladyville Jaguars won 3-2 on 2 strikes by Lyndon Flowers and a 3rd goal from Allen Anderson. Jaylen Myers and Christian Busch scored for Third World. Meanwhile, Brown Bombers continues to lead the competition with 4 wins. Bombers won 3-2 over Collet Strikers. Tyreek “Pippin” Muschamp scored Bombers’ 1st goal, but Tyrell Estrada equalized for Collet before the half time. In the 2nd half, Muschamp scored again to lead 2-1 until Estrada equalized again 2-2. Sherwin Requeña scored the Bombers’ 3rd winning goal. The Hattieville United Youth Sporting Club also posted a win last Saturday. The Hattieville United Youth Sports Club schooled an undermanned Belize Elementary School squad 6-1. BES’ Jonah Chebat drew first blood when he drilled a free kick right through the legs of Hattieville’s goalie Alvin Guerra as BES led 1-0. It was all Hattieville after that as Continued on page 15
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SJC snatches 1st win in volleyball regional finals Belize City, October 28, 2013 The undefeated St. John’s College boys won game 1 of the high school Belize District volleyball championship finals at the Bird’s Isle on Monday, October 28th. The SJC boys won in 3 sets against the Ladyville Technical High School boys. Andrew Vasquez, Jared Marin and Devaughn Davis scored on plays set by Mishek Musa, with Nayeem Mckay and Richard Khatwani receiving and serving to win the 1st set: 25-15. Ladyville’s Sarkis Flowers and Brian Martinez counterattacked with Tevin Bernardez setting plays and Ashley Henry, Kenrick Daniels and Dedron Baptist receiving
Ladyville Jaguars win 3-2 over Third World
Jonah Chebat scored BES’ 1st goal
Continued from page 14 Lian Young equalized 1-1, then Mario Rivera converted a penalty and then added a 3rd goal. Michael Palacio added a 4th goal for Hattieville to lead 4-1 at the half. In the 2nd half, Michael Palacio completed his hat trick with 2 more goals for the 6-1 win. Other matches: Survivors vs. Young Stars - 1-0 Goal by Shaquelle Matute Ladyville Rising Stars vs. City Boys Juniors – 2-2 draw Goals by Kenroy Linares, Hakeem Smith (2), Akeem Sutherland
and serving. Emory Bood came off the Ladyville bench to help, but SJC’s Anthony Marin and Dorian Meighan took the court to help SJC win the 2nd set 25-10. Ladyville’s coach Williams pulled out all the stops, introducing Maxie Morey, Charles August and Michael Daniels for the 3rd set, but Pablo Espat came off the SJC bench to help the SJC boys dominate the final set 25-10. In the South, the Georgetown Technical High School boys won the Southern championship at the Ecumenical College court in a tournament hosted by the Agriculture
SJC boys team
and Natural Resource Institute, ANRI on Saturday, October 26. In the North, the San Pedro High School boys won the regional championship over the Orange Walk Technical High School boys. This year’s national volleyball championship will take place at the Birds Isle next Friday and Saturday, November 8-9.
SJC’s Vasquez & Mckay block LTHS’ Brian Martinez
SCA girls win volleyball finals game 1 Belize City, October 11, 2013 The defending national female volleyball champs, the St. Catherine’s Academy girls, defeated the Belize High School girls in Game 1 of the high school’s volleyball championship regional finals at the Bird’s Isle on Monday, October 28. The undefeated SCA cruised past the BHS girls in 3 sets, with Xiomara Quan setting the ball for Sherika Burton, Leandra Betson and Gianna Brown to hammer kills at the net, while Karina Bernard and Nayala Tun received and served to win the 1st set 25-12. BHS’ Mia Miles, Lian Herrera and Shania Williams counterattacked furiously, scoring points on plays set by Chelsea Williams with Nour Safa and Ashonti Carr receiving and serving, but SCA’s Alexis Burn took the court to help
the SCA girls win the 2nd set: 2512. Mya Musa, Karen Quand and Juel Lewis came off the SCA bench in the 3rd set to help SCA dominate 25-7. Game 2 of the series comes up on Wednesday. The BHS girls won through to the finals by 3 successive wins last week. They had to go to 3 sets to win over the Nazarene High School girls last Wednesday: 25-18, 22-25, and 15-10 and they dominated the Nazarene girls in their 2nd encounter last Thursday: 25-12, 25-15. The SCA girls had also entered the finals with back to back wins last week: 25-7, 25-14 over the Wesley College girls last Wednesday and 25-14, 25-10 over the Ladyville Tech girls last Tuesday. This year’s Belize District champs will take on the Northern and Southern
SCA’s Xiomara Quan with a serve
BHS girls won 3 games
regional champs at Birds Isle next Friday and Saturday, November 8-9. The Stann Creek Ecumenical College girls won the Southern championship at the Ecumenical College court in a tour-
nament hosted by the Agriculture and Natural Resource Institute, ANRI on Saturday, October 26. The San Pedro High School girls won the northern regional championship over Muffles High School.
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Keeping Belize Poor Belize City, October 24, 2013 The World Bank’s 2014 World Development report says that, on a per capita basis, Belize is among the poorest countries in the Caribbean. Per capita income refers draws a very rough average of how much each person in a country makes basically by dividing the population by
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the GDP. Of the 14 CARIBBEAN countries for which information was gathered, Belize was the third lowest, with a per capita income of $4,180.00 US dollars. Only Guyana and the US Virgin Islands were lower. Bahamas at $21,280 and Puerto Rico were the highest.
STATUTORY NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE ESTATE of FREDERICK WESTON Deceased of #3 Mortuary Lane, Belize City
NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 36 of the Administration of Estates Act, Chapter 197 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, that all creditors having any claims or demands upon or against the Estate of FREDERICK WESTON, deceased, late of #3 Mortuary Lane, Belize City, Belize, who died on the 23rd day of January, 2013, without leaving a Will, in whose estate Letters of Administration has been granted to JULIA WESTON OF #3 Mortuary Lane, Belize City, Belize, should lodge such claims or demands upon the said JULIA WESTON c/o MUSA & BALDERAMOS, Attorneysat-Law of No. 91 North Front Street, Belize City, on or before the expiration of three months from the first publication hereof AND NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that at the expiration of the said three months the said Administratrix shall proceed to distribute the assets of the said FREDERICK WESTON, deceased, amongst the parties entitled thereto, having regard to all the claims and demands of which particulars are lodged and the Administratrix shall not be liable for the assets of the deceased or any part thereof so distributed to any person or persons whose claims or demands she shall not then have had notice. DATED this 25th day of October, 2013.
View of restored Jane Usher Boulevard
MUSA & BALDERAMOS Attorneys-at-Law for JULIA WESTON Administratix in the Estate of Frederick Weston
PUP Restores Jane Usher Boulevard basketball court Belize City, October 23, 2013 On Wednesday October 16, residents of the Jane Usher Boulevard Area in the Port Loyola Division began benefiting from much needed lighting of the basketball court in the area. The lights were repaired by the PUP Port Loyola Committee at a cost of approximately $500. For the last ten months the young people had to cease all recreational activity on the court after dusk and residents to the north of it experienced great difficulty reaching their homes because without light on the court and no streets lights in the area, due to the total neglect of the division by the Area Representative Anthony “Boots” Martinez, the entire area was very dark as of 6:00p.m. Given the terrible crime situation in the country, especially in the old capital, that darkness also made many people feel unsafe to travel in the surrounding area at night. To keep the lights on at the basketball court in the Jane Usher Boulevard area, the PUP Port Loyola committee is also committed to paying the monthly
light bill of at least $150 as long as possible. The residents of the area can help to meet that cost by supporting fundraising activities of the committee in any possible way. When the lights were turned on Wednesday night after being out of service or many months, the children in the surrounding area shouted with joy, and the adults expressed sincere thanks to the PUP Port Loyola Committee for addressing the need for light at the court and the surrounding area. As a further show of appreciation for the restoration of the lights, both the children and the adults pledged to do everything possible to take care of the facilities. The PUP Port Loyola Committee has planned a community day and friendly basketball tournament for players 16 years and older in the division for Sunday October 27, 2013. Prizes for the event are 1st place $200, 2nd place $100, and 3rd place is $50. Teams interested in participating in the event should contact Larry Wright or Mr. Bedir.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
)
IN THE FAMILY COURT
)
THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ) COUNTY OF GREENVILLE
)
Lorraine Leigh Goslar Urbina,
)
Plaintiff, ) 2013-DR-231026 -vs.- ) Anael Adalberto Urbina Alvarado, ) Date filed: March 7, 2013 Defendant. ) Time filed: 2:12 pm ______________________________) TO THE DEFENDANT ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint herein, a copy of which is attached and herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to this Complaint upon the subscriber, at 304 Pettigru Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service. If you fail to answer the Complaint within the thirty- day period, the Plaintiff (s) will apply to the Court for the relief demanded therein and judgment by default will be rendered against you. David J. Rutledge Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 10664 Greenville, SC 29603 (864) - 467-0999 Greenville, SC
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Taxpayers pay Elvin Penner’s medical treatment? Belize City, October 31, 2013 Corrupt UDP representative Elvin Penner was back in the hospital for treatment this week. The disgraced politician was admitted at the private facility, Medical Associates on St. Thomas Street in Belize City, where he is getting first class treatment – something most Belizeans cannot afford or have access to under the United Democratic Party Government. The BELIZE TIMES understands that Penner’s ballooning medical bills
UDP Passport/ Visa Scandal… the Saga Continues Continued from page 11 Kim Simplis. They came to town, asking Belizeans living in the United States for money in the name of Belizean children. Dean Barrow has stated that they inherited a serious debt when they got into power but yet we see his Ministers spending money left, right and centre with no consent of the Belizean People. Dean Barrow will leave us in much more debt while we will suffer in much more poverty. If Belizeans are not eating now, imagine not eating again. Wake up Belize, Hon. Francis Fonseca has been saying for months that with National unity we can overcome these challenges. Immigrants are given nationality and are facilitated with a better life in our own country but we natives of this land can’t eat, work, get a piece of land, own a home, send our kids to school, have internet access and most importantly water. All because the UDP want votes and money. This country is being driven on auto pilot. Ask Mr. Torres, he knows about traffic, all that the UDP Ministers care about is making themselves richer. Ninety five new paved streets and 20 million dollars later Belizeans are still under water and no draining system. It is clear that the UDP can’t even change a light bulb. Ask Pablo Marin. 13 babies have died and Pablo Marin is still in office. He can’t even talk Spanish much less read a Stop sign. Godwin Hulse should not give Belizeans a hard time to get a passport in this time of technology. But that was the best idea he could come up with. Godwin and the Commissioner of Police must be living in the same cave. Even Osama Bin Laden had access to technology and was sending YouTube videos from the caves. Why can’t our ComPol keep up? We have asked the U.S. State Department to come for the UDP, extract them just like they did Manuel Noriega and send “Boots” Martinez to Syria. He is the type of Boots that can be placed on Syrian ground. Boots you better no change your name to slippers now! Change must be made now my Belizean brothers and Sisters.
are paid for by the Belizean people, the hard-working man and woman who pays taxes to the Government. Penner, we understand, benefits from medical insurance provided and paid for by the Government as an elected UDP representative. This is in addition to the salary, perks and other UDP created ways for official hustling. The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that Penner’s medical bills at the private hospital, where he has been admitted twice over the past month, is in the tens of thousands already. There is more about Penner that Belizeans will not be happy about. Despite the evidence of wrongdoing that has piled up against Penner, he
has refused to resign. The former Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration acted illegally and flagrantly when he facilitated the provision of Belizean nationality and passport to Kim Won Hong, an international criminal who was at the time of the application sitting in a prison in Taiwan. Penner’s signatures have also appeared in numerous immigration documents which have been exposed as illegal and fraudulent. Despite his criminal actions and serious wrongdoing against the country, Penner continues to roam about as a UDP member of the House of Representatives. The UDP have been unable to get rid of his stench, and actually embraced it at one Continued on page 21
3 NOV
2013 In Loving Memory of
Louise Lovenia Humes
Sunrise: March 1st 1945 Sunset: November 2nd 2012 One year later sadly missed by daughter Sherolyn Viamill and all the family.
3 NOV
2013
THE BELIZE TIMES
Reid Enough Is Enough By G. Michael Reid The current state of affairs in Belize is appalling as the corruption in government seems to be going from terrible to atrocious. Instead of a little breeze blowing this away, there seems a tsunami, washing up and bringing more dirt to light every day. Even the best of liars are running away from the truth and to their credit, the media remain in hot pursuit. The Prime Minister has called a House Meeting for this Friday and the country is holding its collective breath. Will there be new angles or do we finally get to see bangles being put on Penner and maybe Castro? Many are hoping that the Prime Minister will finally and fully confront the wrong that is happening in his government. If he sticks to character however, you can be sure that we will be disappointed. We will then more likely hear more comparisons with what the PUP did some twenty or more years ago. Whatever they did, the PUP has paid a price. If the Prime Minister thinks that putting Penner out of Cabinet (where he never was in the first place) is punishment enough for what he did, then certainly he must think that the people of Belize putting the entire PUP party out of government should certainly be punishment enough for anything that they did. The UDP came into office on a “zero tolerance for corruption” and a hundred percent “transparency and accountability” platform. So far, what we have seen instead is a hundred percent tolerance for corruption and zero transparency and accountability. Seems these idiots have been reading the script/manifesto upside down. Corruption has grown progressively worse and is now practically endemic in our society. When those involved are sheltered and protected, it makes the situation
voters in order to prevent them from signing the recall petition. In what amounted to a shameless bribe, he promised the people of Cayo Northeast that they would see “unprecedented spending” if they would help him to maintain his slim majority. Maybe the House meeting is to inform the teachers that they will finally get their cost of living adjustment. After all, we now know that there are “millions and millions and millions” in the coffers. Maybe since he doesn’t have to spend all that money to keep Penner in House, the UB students might finally get a break. Maybe the many communities across the country could get some proper drainage to alleviate some of the needless flooding. How about taking off the “one dollar gasoline tax” that was supposed to come off five years ago when the price went above seven dollars per gallon. If this promise is like all the other promises that Dean Barrow has made, then the people of Cayo have a long wait coming.
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stop lying! Corruption seems to be an inherent property in the DNA of the United Democratic Party. With Mr. Barrow serving as chief defender, everyone seems to think that they can do what they want to and get away with it. Grijalva mowed down Noh Muh, Gapi opened up the forest to his brother and the entire land registry to his family, Mark King assaulted a Police Officer and walked worse. From the first day that the free without even a hearing, Castro current passport scandal broke, the ripped off an ex-pat, embarrassed Prime Minister made it clear to all the country with his sexual assaults that Elvin Penner was not going to and is now exposed as a big part of be arrested or even investigated for the visa hustling. any wrongdoing. Playing judge, jury We wait now to hear the litigaand Director of Public Prosecution, tor present the case for the accused the PM stated that he saw no “leand present defense on their behalf. gal guilt” in what Penner did. In his As per usual, we expect that said words, there was only “factual guilt”. litigator will become judge and jury Setting aside the “legal” or “factual” and declare all charges dropped. It is aspect of all this, the operative word a drama that plays out at every sitthen would have to be simply “guilt”. ting of the House. The defense attorIn the court of public opinion, where ney then turns prosecutor and puts politicians are more effectively tried, the entire other side of the House the verdict is in and both Penner and on trial. He then adjourns the hearings and everyone goes back to their hustle as Prime Minister made it clear to all that usual. Elvin Penner was not going to be arI believe though that the real jury, the people of rested or even investigated for any Belize, have grown weary wrongdoing. Playing judge, jury of this same old tired chaand Director of Public Prosecution, rade. We are tired of hearing about all that the PUP the PM stated that he saw no “lehave done in the past and about all that the UDP are gal guilt” in what Penner did going to do in the future. We need to spend some time addressing the matters of the present. What are we going to Word is that Mr. Barrow might be Castro have been found guilty as sin! do about bringing an end to all this getting ready to tell the country that What the Prime Minister should corruption? What are we going to do he will be going away for an extended tell the people of Belize this Friday is about this degradation of morals and time in order to have surgery. It has that he will remove himself from the values among our elected officials? been long known that the Prime Minprocess and allow justice to take its We are sick and tired of the lies and ister suffers from chronic back pains. course. Many believe however, that the thieving and the abuse of power! Could it be that Barrow’s back works that is not possible since the hydra If you do not put a stop to it Mr. Barlike Pinocchio’s nose; the more he lies head of this beast involves more than row, then we will have to put a stop the worse it hurts? Maybe instead of even just the two names that have to you! Long live Belize! going to the doctor, he should just been called. Mr. Barrow has made it clear that he will do everything possible to keep his corrupt government in office. If he would not allow one to go, which would still leave him with a majority, he certainly will not give up the others who are no doubt as guilty. The Prime Minister missed a golden opportunity to go down in history as a true champion against corruption. Had he at the very outset, upon seeing the compelling evidence against Penner, allowed the Police and the courts their due diligence, he would have come away smelling like a rose. The UDP could have then gone on to easily win a bi-election in Cayo Northeast, having assured the people that they were serious about fighting and stamping out corruption. Instead, the Prime Minister stood firm in his defense of Penner and instead of allowing an objective and impartial investigation, he insisted that his boy, Godwin Hulse, investigate himself. He and his power team then proceeded to Penner’s constituency and proceeded to threaten and intimidate
22 Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that DUSTIN BOWEN is applying for a Night Club Liquor License to be operated at “Riverside Tavern”, situate at #2 Mapp Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that RAMON ERNESTO VILLANUEVA is applying for a Publican General Liquor License to be operated at “Rene Store”, situate at #75 Cemetery Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that NAVIDAD GARCIA is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Garcia’s Mini Shop”, situate at Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that DONG PAN LI is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Ahorra Mas Supermarket”, situate at Queen Victoria Avenue, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that LOURDES ZALDIVAR is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Tan’s Pizza”, situate at #47 Castillo’s Alley, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.
THE BELIZE TIMES
Taxpayers pay Elvin Penner’s medical treatment? Continued from page 20 point. Penner has been stubborn, refusing to do the right thing. The Prime Minister has allowed him to keep his usual salary and perks and even his Ministerial vehicle. The Prime Minister has stood in the way of a criminal investigation, by acting as judge and jury, and compromising the independent arms such as the Police and Director of Public Prosecution by stating publicly that he sees nothing criminal in what Penner did. When Penner came to town this week, he showed total disrespect for Belizeans when he drove around the city in a 2012 H2 Hummer. Can Penner afford to live this lifestyle with only his Minister’s salary? Or is it some other kind of unknown business that has made him a rich man. Reports to the BELIZE TIMES is that Penner actually owns two of these kinds of super luxury vehicles. While Penner resists facing the music, the people of Cayo North East
Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that SANDRA TEICHROEB is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “Sandra’s Shop”, situate at Ladyville, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition Notice is hereby given that WEN YAN XIAO AND LIU FENG SU is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Heng Weng Shop”, situate at #39 King Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition
were disrespected even more when the Prime Minister hurriedly visited the division for the first time ever and suggested that the UDP would buy them out with promises of millions and millions being spent in the constituency.
3 NOV
2013 NOTICE KEPHAWN’S PAWN SHOP hereby gives notice that they have applied to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for a renewal certificate to be granted under the Moneylenders Act to authorise him to carry on business as a Moneylender in 2014 under the name of KEPHAWN’S PAWN SHOP Booth 11 Commercial Center, Belize City, Belize
3 NOV
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THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
Home Economics Education & Scholarship
The Government of Belize invites qualified and professional applicants to apply for the post of Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Ministry Belize. Main responsibilities include:
By Richard Harrison I do not believe that there should be universal free education, forcing all kids to be pushed through the same corral and the state to fund all through the same system from kinder to university. However, I do believe that a child.... any and every child....who achieves an average grade above 90 during high school, should be awarded a FULL SCHOLARSHIP to pursue a course of study of their choice at university level. Yes...the bar should be set high... our kids (and their parents) can be high performers...we must help them to set high ambition for themselves... and as per OUR Constitution “that there should be opportunity for advancement on the basis of recognition of merit, ability and integrity”. You cannot plug a square with a circular plug. Each child according to their calling...with their special set of skills... aptitudes... gifts... interests… attitudes... disposition... etc. In Belize....the driving philosophy since Independence has been universal access using the lowest common denominator (LCD) standards. Let’s push everybody through one corral. “No child left behind”, is a theme that everyone will recognize. We invested over $60 million in ITVET’s for the academically slow, with state of the art facilities and equipment... but the little geniuses among us have little or no laboratory to develop their talents. We lower the standards of tests, so that more can get a passing grade... both for teacher training... and for student training. This is like saying “Let us all be equal....at a low level”. Just as we need a Stella Maris, ITVETS, etc. we also need a special school for the little geniuses among us, with state of the art labs and the finest teachers and working environment. A special school for those that don’t like or can’t adapt to academics, but have talent for the arts and special schools for re-calibrating persons with special challenges that can benefit from rehabilitation to normal life (eg. persons imprisoned for misdemeanor offenses,
marriage and parenting development, single parents, alcohol and drug challenged persons, etc.). This is what we should be saying, “We are not equal.... but of equal value”. In many areas of social challenges, there should be at least ONE special “school” in Belize where persons can go for help to get past their challenges. In cases that reach the courts, offenders should be committed to “school” rather than to “prison”. These special schools should be built to suit their special purpose with the appropriate personnel, facilities and development tools. Education should not stop when we leave school. In short, I believe our education system should be designed to be able to address our social and economic challenges and this is not one-size-fitsall. Also, our genius kids need special attention. We should stop incarcerating people whose needs are actually developmental, where a small investment in re-calibration “education” could turn their real lives completely around. Of course education has to take on a completely new meaning....and the why, what, how, where and when of education would need to be answered. While am at this....allow me to express my point of view that the compulsory study of African & Mayan History in high school is fine, it’s ok, but it should be limited to first form. Second form should do Belize & Caribbean History, third and fourth form should do World History. I believe that compulsory study of African & Mayan History for the four years of high school is swinging the pendulum to its other extreme when where it needs to be is in the good median balance. While it is good to know where you come from... it is also good to know where you are going. Not because I was born in the ghetto... I have to remain there. Richard Harrison is a local businessman and investor in the manufacturing and service industries. Mr. Harrison holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from Lancaster University, United Kingdom. Send comments to harrisonbz@yahoo.com
a. Manage the Administration of the Attorney General’s Ministry in Belize; b. Facilitate the implementation of Cabinet decisions relating to the business of the Attorney General’s Ministry; c. Assist with the supervisory management of the Civil Litigation Department, Legislative Drafting and Law Revision Department and the International Affairs Department of the Attorney General’s Ministry and the Legal Aid Centre; d. Prepare legal opinions for the Attorney General, Cabinet and the Governor General of Belize, on inter alia, matters of administrative law and constitutional law; e. Provide general advice and legal opinions to Ministries, government departments and semi- autonomous bodies; f. Provide legal opinions to the Belize Police Department, the Constitutional Commissions and the Belize Advisory Council in accordance with the Public Service Commission Regulations and the Belize Advisory Council Rules; g. Prepare, vet and draft various legal documents ( leases, agreements, licences, memoranda of understanding) etc; h. Assume the conduct of litigation on behalf of the Government of Belize in all Courts; i. To report to and be accountable to the Attorney General Requirements: (a) Bachelor of Laws Degree (b) Legal Education Certificate (c) At least (10) years Post qualification experience (d) Sound knowledge of Constitutional and Administrative law (e) Specialization in any civil or legal international field would be an advantage; (f) Detailed knowledge of court and practical knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules (g) Ability to adapt and work extended hours. Persons interesting in applying for the post of Solicitor General can send their applications, along with curriculum vitae on or before the 30th November 2013, to: The Cabinet Secretary Office of the Prime Minister Edney Cain Building Belmopan, Belize Central America
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3 NOV
THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
Recipe of the week
Fish Serre Ingredients 2 lbs. white fish 4 green plantains 3 cups water 3 cups coconut milk 2 tbsps. coconut oil 2 ozs. fat from pork 1 medium sized onion 3 cloves garlic 1 habanero pepper salt to taste
Directions • Brown fish slightly in coconut oil. • Dice fat from pork and fry on low heat; add onion and garlic, brown slightly. • In a bowl grate plantains, mix with a little coconut milk and salt and form into small dumplings. • In a large pot, bring coconut milk and water to boil, add oil from fried diced pork fat, onion and garlic along with the habanero pepper. • Add fish and then drop in plantain dumplings one at a time. • Cook until thickened. • Serve with hot white rice.
CITRUS:
A SLOW DEATH Continued from page 10 described it as a “mismatch” between the receiving of the crop and the delivery of the final products by the processors and when they receive payments. In happier days CPBL was making the final payments to growers from an overdraft facility with their bankers. Usually growers received 65 percent of their payment upon delivery of their crops (First Payment). CPBL receives its payments from its customers based on firm delivery schedules and firm sales contracts. In other words, CPBL, in good faith, paid growers even before their products were paid for by using their overdraft facility. Another very gloomy picture is that CBPL is now only operating at half (50 percent) of its production capacity. There has been a major reduction in the number of acreage in citrus. This has resulted in a serious decline in deliveries. Grapefruit production is down from 1.7 million boxes (80 pounds) in the 2005/06 crop year to 678 thousand boxes for 2012/13. By next year production will reduce even more to a projected 645 thousand boxes, despite a major increase in the world demand. For the same periods, orange production has fallen from 6.2 million
boxes (90 pounds) in 2005/06 to a little over 4 million boxes in the last crop year 2012/13. The forecast is not good. REASONS FOR INDUSTRY WOES The CGA’s acrimonious relationship with Banks has undoubtedly contributed to woes within the industry and its heavy debt burden will get worse when the EIB loan payments become due. Remittances from membership of the Association have fallen. It is just about meeting the salaries and wages of its staff. The Prime Minister recently publicly announced that his government is “rolling in money”. But that should not be for long. He has an election that he will have to buy and he owes the investors of Belize Electricity Ltd. and Belize Telecommunications Ltd. when he high-jacked these companies by using his then super majority to fiddle with the Constitution. STOP DISSING CITRUS MUTUAL He has also apparently, reneged on a commitment to citrus growers that he would have introduced a Bill for a new Cit-
rus Industry Act that would be consistent with the Belize Constitution for recognition of a group of serious citrus businessmen/farmers known as Citrus Mutual. The industry now needs Citrus Mutual more than ever but they have been dissed by the PM. In fact he has done absolutely nothing to assist in streamlining the legal instruments for the smoother operation of the industry. It is imperative that legislative issues be urgently addressed to create a new enabling environment and to stimulate new life and growth in the industry. If positive steps are not taken, or serious attention given to the rapid decline in production, then Mr. Barrow will not only have overseen the demise of the CGA but the death of a once vibrant citrus industry. No one is addressing the issue of rapidly falling production. The processors (CPBL) no longer have the throughput to make its operations viable. Banks, a major investor in the industry now finds itself in a Catch 22 situation. It has offered to drop the price of its shares to get out of
Belize. There is no decisive leadership within the industry to tackle the issues within the industry and between Banks and the CGA. The Prime Minister, about two years ago, made a lame effort to send one of his advisors to determine some of the major problems facing the industry but ignored his advice. THE BELL WILL TOLL The economic impact of the collapse of this industry will be horrendous. The impact of such a collapse will affect the entire country. Citrus makes a significant contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) or the value of goods and services of the nation. It is also the country’s second largest earner of foreign exchange. Given this reality, the Prime Minister would not only have reneged on his commitment not to oversee the demise of an already failed Citrus Growers Association, he would have delivered the death knell to a once and up to six years ago a very vibrant industry. There will be no reason for having to tell for whom the bell tolls.
3 NOV
THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
In two weeks it will be World Kindness Day (November 13)! We are going to work on being kind to others and ourselves. For the next two weeks do something nice to make your parents happy. Also, how can you be kind to yourself? Well, the next time you think badly about yourself, think of all the good things about you! We know you’ll find lots of good stuff.
COLOR ME!
CONNECT THE DOTS!
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3 NOV
THE BELIZE TIMES BY ORDER OF CHARGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL
HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of a Charge registered at the Land Registry between Nicholas Olmedo (Chargor) and Cynthia Olmedo (Borrower) and the said Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited.
2013
BRAIN
TEASER
SUDOKU PUZZLE #41/2013
HRCU will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the Schedule below. ALL offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing to HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED from whom full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained.
SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 4.999 acres being Block 20, Parcel 3163 Belmopan Registration Section situate in Rivera Area, Belmopan West, Cayo District, the freehold property of NICHOLAS OLMEDO, surety for CYNTHIA OLMEDO
See answers NEXT WEEK
DATED the 31st day of October 2013 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738
Liquor License NOTICE Notice is hereby given that THI THI THAR BAN AND SAN SHINE HUNG is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Favorite Restaurant and Grocery Shop”, situate at #1077 Mahogany Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.
Answers for last week’s puzzle SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTION #40/2013
Notice is hereby given that THI THI THAR BAN AND SAN SHINE HUNG is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Favorite Restaurant and Grocery Shop”, situate at #38 Central American Boulevard, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.
Answers for last week’s puzzle
See answers NEXT WEEK
3 NOV
27
THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY
SCIENCE & TECH R
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Selected By Chris Williams
Get round internet censors using a friend’s connection People living under repressive regimes will soon be able to access the web using the internet connection of friends in censorship-free countries 30 October 2013 by Hal Hodson FOR people living under repressive regimes censorship is an everyday reality, and browsing the internet freely is impossible without some serious technical knowhow. This week Google threw its weight behind an idea that lets people circumvent censorship by using the internet connection of a friend in a non-censored country. A collaboration between the University of Washington in Seattle and non-profit firm Brave New Software, uProxy lets users share their internet connection with friends on social networks through a browser extension. When both parties have the uProxy extension installed, one can forge an encrypted link through the other person’s browser and out onto the internet via their social network connection. As well as giving people access to censored content, it could allow people in the UK to watch the US version of Netflix via a US friend’s connection, for example, or those in the US to log in to the BBC iPlayer to catch the latest ep-
isode of Sherlock. So far it has only been tested in a closed trial for selected users, but its developers promise to open up the code to curious security researchers. This will also ease fears that any back door may have been left open for authorities such as the US National Security Agency to access and spy on users’ browsing habits. Censors can’t stop uProxy simply by blocking social networking websites either because, instead of the standard web, it accesses the contact lists via background, hard-to-block online processes. UProxy was funded by Google’s charitable arm, Google Ideas, and the firm is also helping in its development. And it isn’t the only anti-censorship tool that uses
Who’s watching? (Image: Carlos Barria/Reuters)
our friends to get online. Lantern – another Brave New Software project – also relies on your social network to find a trusted computer to connect to the wider internet. Unlike uProxy, it can use friends of friends, widening the pool of potential proxies. Like anonymising software Tor, it is funded by the US Department of State. Adam Fisk, CEO of Brave New Software, says there are advantages to using a person’s social network in this way. For one, censors will have trouble finding and blocking the IP addresses of all your peers. With Lantern and uProxy, the more people that use the service, the harder it is to censor, as more and more trusted
proxies become available. “We’re capitalising on the emergence of social networks,” says Raymond Chang, a graduate student at the University of Washington who is working on uProxy. Many anonymising tools still require a high degree of computer literacy to use, although there are some apps that allow people to make encrypted calls and send emails. Google makes its money through easy-to-use web applications, so it’s reasonable to expect that uProxy will exhibit some of the same characteristics. Lantern may also be easy to use, as the plan is to build Gmail encryption right into the system, with all the complicated key exchanges hidden from the user. Dan Staples of the Open Technology Institute in Washington DC says letting users place trust in people they know for access to the internet is unique. “No matter what, I have to place my trust in someone when I use digital technology,” says Staples. “I think the uProxy and Lantern projects are taking a positive approach.”
Firefox plug-in reveals who is tracking your surfing 23 October 2013 by Paul Marks Do you know who’s tracking your movements online? A plug-in for the Firefox web browser called Lightbeam creates an at-a-glance visualisation showing which third parties want to grab your data. Every time you access a website, numerous companies – website analytics firms, online advertisers or social media buttons – upload cookies to your computer to log which sites you visit and what you do once you are there. Lightbeam is designed to show
users exactly what is going on behind the scenes. When you log on to a site, it records every website that your computer is connecting with – often more than just the one you intended to visit. It then creates visualisations, ranging from a list to a clock-like design, displaying the information. “Many people don’t understand all of the ways the web works – or all of the pieces of the web or interactions that aren’t immediately visible,” says Alex Fowler, global privacy and public policy leader at Mozilla, the firm that makes Firefox. “Lightbeam helps us educate users, by
shining a light on what we couldn’t otherwise see.” Bigger picture The team behind Lightbeam is asking users to contribute their data so that a bigger picture of the relationship between websites and the third parties that operate behind the scenes can be built. “We believe that everyone should have the tools to make their own decisions about their online privacy and who collects data on them,” says Fowler. Lightbeam was unveiled at MozFest, the annual Mozilla conference, in Lon-
don over the weekend. “Tools like these are vital for users to see how their information is being reshared and reused,” says Jim Killock, executive director of the London-based Open Rights Group, which campaigns on data privacy and internet censorship issues. “While they don’t fully solve the privacy problem, they are a huge step forward as people are able to visualise what is actually happening, rather than relying on misleading messages from advertisers,” says Killock.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Halloween in the Kingdom
T
rick or treat? As mentioned in last week’s article, at the end of October we celebrate a huge event called Halloween. It’s a ‘living’ event in the sense that it continues to evolve. Various characters are celebrated ranging from devil worshipers, witches, killers, and even demons! The children dress up in various costumes while carrying around the plastic version of weapons that are used to commit gruesome murders in the movies such as “Jason” and “Freddy”. Well in their little hearts they are quite innocent and their focus is on the receiving of treats. Oh how they love sweets and the excitement of looking forward to what they will pickup for treats. Sadly the theme of Halloween is ‘death’ and whenever we celebrate it we are celebrating death! My question today is directed to everyone but especially to those who refer to themselves as believers while celebrating Halloween. Will Halloween be celebrated in heaven? Will we be walking around with axes and knives, dressed up in witches clothing and going from saint to saint looking for treats? Will we be celebrating ghosts and the dead or half dead? How will God encourage the rehashing and parading of individuals whose heart is full of murder and tearing and destruction of the humans whom He sees as the apple of His eye? Can you imaging the angels in costumes spinning and dancing around celebrating the culture of those other angels who turned on God and were kicked out of heaven? Let’s not fool ourselves. We chase after all the wrong things as humans and even the religious persons do not have their priorities in order. We can purchase costumes and send our children house to house for Halloween but we say they are tired on Sunday and can’t go to church, because they have too much homework! We would never accompany them to a neighbor’s house to spread the news of the goodness of Jesus but we send them alone, dressed up in darkness to ‘trick or treat’ in the night! Let me clarify for you right now that there will be no Halloween celebration in heaven. If you want to do that you need to enjoy it now and the rest is between you and God. The big problem with doing it now is that the kingdom of God does not suddenly “begin to exist” when you die. It exists now and existed even before the creation of the universe. Therefore celebrating it now still shows a level of defiance to the kingdom of God. So if you are a part of Kingdom, or would like to be, what should be your stand in relation to Halloween? I’ll leave that one for you to answer as I have personally made my own decision in this regard! Until next week, God bless!
By Dr. John Sosa
3 NOV
2013
Guillain Barre Syndrome
Guillaian Barre Syndrome is a rare but serious autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is the portion of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord. It affects 1-2/10000 persons yearly. It is non seasonal and affects all ages and both sexes. It is usually caused, in the majority of cases, by an acute infectious process. The most frequent germ is campylobacter jejuni- a common cause of gastroenteritis. Autoimmune means the patient’s immune system goes berserk and attacks good tissue, which in this case are nerve cells which communicate with muscles. In Guillain Barre, the body confuses the covering of the nerves with the covering around the virus or bacteria. This causes the nerve transmission to be affected, like faulty electrical wiring, and so the nerves do not work properly, and as a result the parts of the body where these nerves innervate also are affected. The individual with Guillain-Barre syndrome will initially experience a tingly and numbing sensation in the limbs, as well as weakness in the same areas. These sensations usually start in the toes and legs and progress upwards. If these sensations spread, which they often do, the entire body may be affected and eventually become paralyzed. Symptoms: The first symptoms usually start in the feet and hands and may eventually make their way further up along the limbs. There is more commonly symmetrical weakness in the lower limbs initially, which rapidly progress in an ascending fashion. Instability or unsteadiness with patients often complaining of “rubbery legs”, dysesthesias or numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, which gets progressively worse, stinging pain and weakness or tingling sensations in legs that spread to upper body. Symptoms may also include: digestive system problems such as oropharyngeal dysphagia with drooling, or difficulty swallowing and/or maintaining an open airway. There may be difficulty with eye movement and speech along with facial weakness. Alterations in the autonomic nervous system (automatic involuntary actions) may cause slow heart rate or low blood pressure. Temporary paralysis of the legs, arms and face can occur. The most urgent problem to resolve is respiratory problems and some patients may require ventilatory assistance. Severe pain in lower back often presents. Pain is a common symptom. Pain is usually a deep aching one, located in the weakened muscles. Sensory loss is less common. If present, it usually takes the form of position sense (proprioception). Complete loss of deep tendon reflexes (areflexia) occurs. Any loss of pain or temperature sensation is generally very mild. There is rarely loss of bladder control (5%). Diagnosis: Most people are diagnosed when they visit their doctor and are found with progressive ascending weakness and arreflexia or lack of reflexes. Complete blood tests should be done. A lumbar puncture can be performed which shows increase in spinal fluid protein. Nerve conduction studies show focal slowing and conduction block. Treatment: Treatment is supportive, especially taking care of respiratory effort. Immunoglobulins can be used, and are the usual IV treatment in Belize. Plasma exchange can also be done. However, both treatments are very expensive and patients are carefully chosen. Immunoglobulins do have a lesser complication rate and there is less need for mechanical ventilation. Around 3% of patients die, but residual deficits persist in 35%, with 10% having severe disabilities. Guillain Barre can be properly treated in Belize.
3 NOV
2013
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THE BELIZE TIMES
As BIG as you think you are...
Building on Kut Avenue
Building in Belama Ph. 1
Building on Western Avenue
Building on Euphrates Avenue
Building on Fabers Road
Building on Fabers Road Boots Martinez
Building on C.A. Boulevard
you’re living in a small world
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THINK ABOUT IT JUST BEFORE GOD DESTROYS Before God destroyed the wicked city of Sodom and Gomorrah, his three angels had a discussion with Abraham. Abraham learnt the angels were on their way to totally destroy the wicked city. He asked the Lord if there were fifty righteous citizens in Sodom and Gomorrah, would the Lord spare the city and the Lord said he would. Abraham asked if there were not fifty but forty-five, would the Lord still spare the city and the Lord said he would. Abraham pressed, if there were only forty righteous citizens would the Lord destroy the whole city and Lord said if there were forty he would not destroy it. Not for THIRTY, not even if TWENTY were there. And Abraham said, let not the Lord be angry but allow me to speak just one more time; if TEN righteous are living in the city would the Lord still destroy it. And the Lord God Almighty said “I will not destroy it for Ten’s sake”. You all know what happened to the wicked city. How not even TEN righteous was there. How only Lot, his wife and two virgin daughters were allowed to escape utter destruction. Lot’s wife turned around to see the awesome destruction and for disobedience to God, she turned into a pillar of salt. The full story is to be found in Genesis Chapter 18 and 19. Is there at least ten righteous in the Cabinet of Belize? CHURCH PEOPLE Church people are saying that what is happening to the Prime Minister is because he doesn’t believe in God. It is not coincidence that so many bad things are happening to him. They say that first his government was introducing a so-called health manual in which children in schools were being taught very wrong things about the anus as a reproductive organ. Then there was a gender policy in which the teachings of the Bible were ignored in favour of sinful ideas of transforming gender policy. Many church followers by the thousands across the country marched in protest. But the Prime Minister told them no force on earth can stop him from, shoving it down their throats. The Roman Catholic Bishop personally condemned the Prime Minister saying he was hard-headed. During his Independence Day address, the Prime Minister told the nation that the churches can oversee morality buy he will do what he wishes to protect homosexuality. Weeks after, a so-called law to protect children including section, No 46, which legalized homosexual acts using the most gross and vulgar terms was introduced by the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. The Prime Minister is seen as abusing his power. He is strong-arming the Public Accounts Committee, ignoring the widespread corruption and abuse that is taking place and even enriching his own family. Church goers are very disappointed with the Prime Minister. WHISTLE-BLOWERS An important factor in a democracy
3 NOV
THE BELIZE TIMES
as a means of check and balance, is the whistle-blower. This is a person who raises alarm or sounds the warning when something is going wrong in a government office or in important private companies. For example, the butane sellers were stealing the customers in Belize for years by selling less butane than they were charging for. The government has a department called the Bureau of Standards which proved completely and totally inept in protecting consumers. It was Lascelle Arnold, a businessman from Belmopan who sounded the alarm. Belizeans are eating cancer causing foods. They are eating and drinking expired products. They are routinely overcharged for inferior items. They are overtaxed and underpaid and given sub standard service. They are paying too much for petrol and the list goes on. Inside government departments, Ministries and the corridors of power, much wrongdoing is going on. Wrongdoing, illegal hustling and corruption cannot take place in isolation. In many instances others who are not involved are either a part of it or they see what is going on. The mystery is why are there not enough men and women of conscience and honesty who come forward to expose these things. One explanation is fear. Fear of losing their jobs. Fear of being attached by the party in government and fear of making enemies. And there is no faith in the institution like the Police, the DPP, the Ombudsman the Senior Public Officers and the Ministers (who are most times involved). One of the reform proposals from the Opposition should be the introduction o f a Whistle-blower law which would protect good men and women and deter the bad ones. 400 VOTERS MISSING In the political exercise in Cayo North East concerning the recall process of getting voters to sign the petition, campaigners report that almost 400 persons on the voters list cannot be found. If this information is true, it required a full investigation. 400 voters cannot just disappear into thin air. Their neighbours would be able to account for some of them living next door and moving elsewhere. This is a very serious matter. If true, it suggests the strong possibility that Guatemalans living in Guatemala could have been given citizenship and voters identification to vote in the 2012 elections but they did not live in Cayo. Such would be a real subversion of our democratic system. Of course we do expect the Election and Boundaries office to conduct and review or investigation whatsoever. PENNER AND GODWIN DID IT The post of Director and Immigration is a public officer position. As such the Constitution of Belize provides adequate protection and insulation for such a post to be able to function within the laws and a shield from Ministerial and political interference. A career public officer with University
training was the Director of Immigration up to last year 2012. Penner and Godwin Hulse got rid of her. In violation of public service regulations she was transferred out of the department at the instigation of Penner and Hulse. Did the Chairman of the Public Service Commission collaborated with Penner and Hulse to undermine the integrity of the public service in this matter? The former Chairman of the Public Service, Mr. Rodney Neal, an outstanding career public officer who reached the highest level of Permanent Secretary/C.E.O was replaced and UDP Patrick Bernard was installed as Chairman. This is how the government, through worthless Ministers, find ways to get around those public officers who refuse to allow wrongdoing in their departments. The former Director of Immigration was known to be very concerned and uncomfortable with what started to happen when Penner, the signer, who started handling citizenships and passport documents.
2013 and a bit too Hollywood, but hopefully the calendar maintains its high standards and good taste. For those wishing to find fault, do so with Showtime and HBO and the pornography that blows into our peoples brain’s every night. NOT A SINGLE ONE Is there not a single man or woman from immigration department who can come forward and tell this nation what was going on in that cesspool – that hotbed of visa hustling and fraudulent passports and citizenship document. Does no one remembers the four Russian mafia who got back-dated citizenship papers and passport? Or the high ranking gangster from Honduras and Panama who in less than a week received citizenship and passports backdated by eleven months? Can the Director of Public Prosecutions not offer immunity to any immigration officer or citizen who has information and willing to give a statement?
THINK ABOUT THIS PREGNANT LADY PUT IN PRISON “For I was hungry and ye gave me no food. I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink.” “I was a stranger and you didn’t help me. I was naked and you didn’t cloth me. I was sick and was in prison and you visited me not.” “They answered, Lord when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or sick, or in prison and did not look after you?” “And he replied, verily I say unto you; inasmuch as you did not do it for the least of these; you did not do it for me.” “And you shall go into everlasting punishment.” Matthew, Chapter 25 verses 42 to 46. GAY LAW WILL PASS The law that legalizes homosexuality is likely to be approved by the House of Representatives. Maybe as early as this Friday. The proposed law is tucked inside the multiple amendments to the Criminal Code and is at Section 46. With the nation’s attendance distracted by the massive Penner passport scandal and the Ministerial hustling on visas, no time is available for the efficacy of pushing through this incredible change. Those promoting the law have been lying to the churches and have been succeeding in confusing church leaders. THE BELIKIN GIRLS The Annual Belikin calendar has been launched. Belikin has made a video commercial promoting the launching and the calendar. The video is fantastic, artistic and of a high quality. All the girls/models are in bikinis. They are sexy and attractive and beautiful. As they should be, Belikin girls are of international standards. Several look a bit on the skinny side. They are mostly mestizos as that is the dominant ethnic group. The one black model is awesome, obviously from the line of Cleopatra and Nefertiti. There is a creole in the line up and she be great too. Some of the angles and poses in the video is a little too much for some folks
One of the many unjust laws passed by the Barrow administration is the brutal one that forces all Magistrates to deny bail to certain accused persons. Such persons who are innocent until a trial can prove otherwise must nevertheless spend NINETY days minimum in jail BEFORE a trial occurs. A further law order the Supreme Court judges not to consider any application for bail before 14 days. It is cruel and inhumane. Many innocent citizens, whether they are minors, elderly, sick, dying or pregnant must go to jail, even if it is a whole family accused of one bullet. The law was intended for bad men and gun-men who have no license for gun and ammunition. It should not be applied arbitrarily as is now happening. Any law that purposely punish innocent citizens is an unjust law. As we write, once again another pregnant mother is sleeping in that dungeon although only a kangaroo court would ever find her guilty of having a few rusty bullets. The P.U.P. must amend these evil laws when it becomes the new government. PRINTERS HAVE IT The Printers in Belmopan have the updated Constitution of Belize for about $20.00 dollars. NEITHER SPECIAL ENVOY OR … Neither the so-called special Envoy for women or children, or the Women’s Commission on WIN or other Women’s Group have said anything about putting pregnant women in jail before a trial. Pregnant women are no threat to our society for the silly little crimes of which they are accused. Look at poor Natalie Coleman. Her man ran from the house when the Police arrived, and she, an innocent visitor who doesn’t live with him was taken to court and sent to jail – for 5 years for two bullets. Not a word from special envoy and the hoity-toity woman.
3 NOV
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THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
Police terrorize senior citizen & 6 children inside home
CARTOON
Belize City, October 29, 2013 “Deh cudda mi kill any ah wi last night,” a terrified 57 year old Carlton “Gideon” Cox told the BELIZE TIMES, referring to himself and five children who were at home on Monday night when a group of armed persons surrounded the premises. “Gideon”, as he is more familiarly known, said that about 9:30pm on Monday night, when he and his children were already in bed, he heard a loud bang on his back door. When he asked who it was, a voice responded, “dah di Police, open up!” When Gideon looked outside, he saw the faint image of a person standing with a gun aimed at the house. He became startled and was reluctant to give entry, but when he heard a gunshot followed by another order, he got dressed and decided to open the front door. Just as he was opening the door, he heard a loud crash as a piece of board was rammed through his glass louvre window. As soon as he opened the door, the armed men rushed inside, pinning him to the wall and taking the children out of their rooms. They searched the rooms and when they finished, they turned to him and asked for his name. They then asked if “Roque” lived there and when one of the children said “Roque” lived at another house nearby, they scurried out in the direction of the other house. Gideon said none of the men explained what had just happened. No apology. No indication of who would repair the damaged window. He said he was shocked by the incident and so relieved that they left, that he didn’t want to call their
attention to the damage because he didn’t want them to return. The children were terrified. They could not go back to sleep that night. In the morning, one of the children found a bullet hole through the door and found a 9mm Lugar brand expended shell nearby. Under Belize’s laws, the Police are required to present a Court-issued search warrant before entering anyone’s premises for the purpose of carrying out a search. The Police can only search without a warrant if it clearly declares the purpose of the search as a search for guns and drugs. Gideon said the Police said nothing nor presented a warrant. A p p a r e n t l y, the Police were in search of someone else who
PUP Protests in Belmopan!
Belize City, October 31, 2013 The Opposition People’s United Party is saying enough is enough to the corrupt and incompetent UDP Government. The PUP has called Belizeans to gather at the steps of the National Assembly in Belmopan on Friday, November 1st, 2013 for a public demonstration against the Barrow Administration which has been rocked by many serious scandals including illegal logging and cheap sale of Rosewood, Land Hustling, Dying babies at public hospitals, Money missing at Southern Regional, Bribery and extortion at SIF, Passport and now Visa hustling. The UDP has lost the confidence of the Belizean people. Belizeans must record their dissatisfaction and disenchantment and must call on the UDP to call the elections now! Carlton “Gideon”
BUTANE PRICE GONE UP
Picture shows expended shell found at the residence
lived in the area. That person is someone of interest in the recent murder of 61 year old truck driver George Blanco which occurred near the Sandhill junction on Friday October 25th.
Despite the high cost of living the UDP Government continues to make life harder for Belizeans
You Don’t Haffi Dread to Sell Visa
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THE BELIZE TIMES
3 NOV
2013