Belize Times November 4, 2012 by Belize Times Press

Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

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SUNDAY November 4, 2012

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Issue No. 4820

“Wrong Direction” PUP Leader warns Barrow Administration

Solid Leadership! Francis is not glitz and glamour like Dean Barrow. He is not arrogant and cold like the UDP Prime Minister. The PUP has a leader who is humble, understanding and compassionate.

Page 5

Reid Between the Lines:

Hon. Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez, PUP Chairman Henry Usher, Party Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca, Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Hon. Florencio Marin Jr. & Hon. John Briceno at Tuesday’s press conference

Belize City, October 30, 2012 Fonseca, during a press conference Leader of the Opposition Peoheld at the Party’s Headquarters at ple’s United Party Hon. Francis Independence Hall on Tuesday afFonseca has warned the Barrow ternoon. Administration that their wrongUnemployment continues on headed policies have led the the rise, poverty remains a major country into a crisis. socio-economic dilemma, foreign “Every economic indicator investment has been trickling, the shows the country going in the major sectors of the economy are wrong direction,” stated Hon. Continuedstruggling on page 4 or crippled, the crime

Greg Ch’oc muzzled at oil drilling “consultation” Whose side is Public Officer Martin Alegria on?

Greg Ch’oc roughed up during EIA consultation last Thursday

level is at its highest, and the country is still facing a debt crisis. Hon. Fonseca indicated, while he appeared on the LOVE FM morning show earlier on Tuesday that he believed the UDP Government has failed Belize. A significant factor has been

Page 4

2012: the deadliest year yet

If Guatemala is so eager to settle the dispute, then there is no need for any court. Just drop the unfounded claim! For the most part, citizens on either side of the border, (and yes we have a border) are usually quite content to get along.

Page 13

PM takes cane farmers for cunu munu! The UDP Government did all it could to block the cane farmers chances’ of becoming owners of the Belize Sugar Industries.

Page 19

David Myvett

on the social media

The Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM), the Maya Leaders Alliance, the Toledo Alcaldes Association (TAA) and the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage opposed the holding of last week Thursday’s “EIA Consultaion”

Murder count for 2012 is 124

Page 6

From June to October there were 64 murders!

THE BELIZE TIMES

Bitter citrus war! BCJ, Cola, PUP, Banana growers & other groups reject attack on CGA

City of Belmopan, October 31, 2012 Like an old wound refusing to heal, the longstanding rivalry among stakeholders in the Citrus Industry has reared its ugly head again. But this time the stakes are much higher as a group of citrus growers are saying their association is under attack from the boys in Belmopan and they are calling for the removal of a senior Government official. On Tuesday, a majority of citrus growers took to the hot asphalt on the Hummingbird Highway to protest the

actions of Citrus Products of Belize Limited, owned by Banks Holdings. The citrus season opened last week, despite protest from members of the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) that they had not been consulted. The CGA was calling for a later opening date, at least after the prices of oranges were agreed on. The dispute got even bitterer when an email from the former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank turned special advisor to the Prime Minister Allan Slusher was

PUP decries GOB’s reaction to Schakron murder

October 25, 2012 The People’s United Party (PUP) expresses its sincere sympathy and extends its deepest condolences to Yolanda Rodriguez, the children, Daniel and Renee Marie and the family of the late Alfred Schakron who was brutally murdered in Belize City on October 24, 2012. The PUP stands in solidarity with the Schakron family and with all those Belizean families who grieve and mourn the untimely death of loved ones in circumstances of crime and violence in Belize. The PUP condemns the callous and insensitive press release issued by the Ministry of National Security on the 24th of October, 2012 wherein it stat-

ed that Mr. Schakron’s murder does “not necessarily reflect the overall mood in the streets of the City with respect to gang gun-related violence”. Such statements demonstrate utter disregard for loss of human life in Belize due to violent targeted attacks. This failed attempt by the Government of Belize to distance itself from such heinous crimes committed against our citizens only serves to aggravate an already appalling crime situation. Belizean citizens have a right to expect that the security forces and the legal system in Belize will not only protect their rights, but also help to end the violence against them. (Press Release)

leaked to the growers in which Slusher discussed a position taken by the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture Jose Alpuche for “the orderly and equitable dissolution of the CGA”.

APSSM elects new Executive Council October29, 2012 The Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM) held its Annual General Meeting in Belize City on Thursday, October 25, 2012. Attendance exceeded 65% of membership. Topics covered during the meeting included Government’s proposed 2012 Public Service Regulation, update on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (Partial Collective Agreement Between Public Service Union of Belize, Belize National Teachers’ Union, Association of Public Service Senior Managers And Government of Belize) and a proposed insurance scheme for members. Elections were held for a New Executive Council. The New Council will serve for 2 years and consists of the following persons. President – Jose M. Castellanos Vice President – Sharon Fraser Treasurer – Francisco Zúñiga Secretary – Michele Longsworth Counselors – Dr. Michael Pitts and Ivan Williams For the two year period (20122014) of newly-elected Council the registered office of the Association shall be the Office of the Policy Analyst, Ministry of Natural Resources & Agriculture, H.M Queen Elizabeth II Boulevard, Belmopan City. The Elected Executive thanks all members for their vote of confidence, commits to working together with the Belize National Teachers’ Union, the Public Service Union of Belize and Government of Belize in enhancing public service efficiency, productivity and addressing challenges facing public officers. (Press Release)

Sunday, November 4, 2012 The CGA has now called on Alpuche’s removal. Support for the CGA has come from many quarters. The protest was support by the Belize Coalition for Justice; the Coalition for Liberty Thru Action; Belize Can; the Toledo Beans, Rice and Corn Producers Association and other individuals. During a conference on Tuesday afternoon PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca expressed concern for the chaos in the industry. He said Government had demonstrably failed to “bring the parties to the table in an effort to resolve the ongoing stalemate”. Hon Fonseca also called for existing laws to be respected and condemned any attempt to dissolve the citrus growers association. Today, the Banana Growers announced that they stood in solidarity with citrus growers. “We call on the Hon. Prime Minister and his cabinet to immediately work closely with the CGA to concretely address the demands of the CGA. Demands that when met will benefit all growers on the citrus industry and all Belizeans. We fully condemn the work of Alan Slusher and Jose Alpuche for looking to find ways to dissolve the CGA and give away its assets. Our industries form the main economic pillars of this country and are the bread basket for most Belizeans. We also join the CGA in demanding the immediate removal of Mr. Jose Alpuche as CEO of the Ministry of Agriculture and a review of the services of Mr. Slusher. We need professionals who are seeking to develop out industries for the benefit of all stakeholders and not scheming to break up our associations for the special interests of a few,” stated the release. The CGA also expressed serious concerns about the direction the company is taking under Banks Holdings and have cited the loss of profits and products which are made in Belize as evidence of bad management.

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

EDITOR

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams Published By The Belize Times Press Ltd. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

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Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

“Boots” in the Mouth makes charade of Barrow’s pro-poor policy

October 30, 2012 For a while last week I thought I was hallucinating although I had not smoked a “tubumbu” (a large marijuana cigar). I was in fact, quite tranquilo. I had taken a cold shower before settling down to watch the local evening news on TV. What I saw and heard initially, made me begin to wonder if the wind had blown a whiff of “Mary Jane” (an aka for weed) through my window and had messed with my senses. I was worried! I was forced to watch a repeat of the news later that night (Wednesday) to convince myself that I was alright. Yes, I was. It was not me but the Minister that created some much unease about not only my sobriety, but about the confused state of our government that appears to have no clearly defined policy or development strategy on anything, not even on the hustle by a now-gone-to-greener- pastures, a Dr. Barnett’s Horizons something. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. All of it was lost in translation by our peacock of a Prime Minister. The Minister I am referring to is the Minister of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, the most honourable Anthony “Boots” Martinez. He was on the news that night addressing a conference on Ageing in the Twenty-First Century. The first embarrassment at this regional conference organized by the United National Family and Population Agency (UNFPA) was that the Minister had difficulty in reading a full sentence without having to stumble over a word or two. Granted, it was a poorly written speech, for which not even the Minister should have taken any credit. However, while it is still not clear whether or not he knew what he was talking about it was, officially, his address. What he did was to shine some daylight on the hypocrisy of the government’s so-called pro-poor policy, which, as we listened to “Boots’” diatribe, is a political gimmick not intended to address the alarming rise in poverty, nor the real needs of the poor and the indigent in our society. He said: “It is very difficult, when over half of our population is so young, to focus on older persons who make up six percent of the population”.That is revealing and outrageous. Worse the statistic is higher. The Minister admitted that neither the government, nor his Ministry have any money to help the truly poor. Is it an admission that the hams and turkeys given out prior to the last election was not what is was declared to be and that it was just political gimmickry? What makes it even more difficult, Mr. Boots, is that your government is contrib-

uting more to the increase in poverty, which is now at about 45 percent of the population, and therefore contributing to an increase in crime. The government appears to be playing ostrich on this and on all national development issues. It does not appear to have any policies to attract investment to provide employment opportunities. Both the young and the old alike, and the population on a whole, are in a dismal quagmire because of a lack of vision and a grasp of national developmental issues. The Government’s food subsidy programme, to cite but one example, is a dismal farce and certainly not healthy. A UNFPA survey in Belize points to the concerns of most of the elderly peo-

ple in Belize who complained that they are not getting much information or education about health issues. They complained about the failure of the government to provide certain safety nets such as the continuation of the Social Security non-contributory pension for women above a certain age, and the failure of the Barrow government to roll out the National Health Insurance Scheme started by the Musa administration. What Mr. Barrow did instead was to highjack more than $5 million, which was earmarked for the full implementation of the NHI to bolster his ego and to prop-up the hostile takeover of the national telephone company from an investor for no reason but political bullying and bravado. We are now paying the price, including millions of dollars paid out from the public trough to family lawyers and friends, while ministers greedily continue to fatten themselves

3 from this same trough and at our expense. This includes $6.00 to the government for every gallon of gasoline we buy or a sales tax on most of the food we eat. Mr. Martinez again put on display his lack of literary skills, and even his inability to think. More so his inability to think about making national policy decisions. He is one of more than a baker’s dozen in the Barrow Cabinet and in the Legislature who or either semi or totally illiterate. It is frightening that it is political representatives like him who are making national decisions on our behalf although they cannot even conceptualize a path from A to Z or to arrive, unhindered to the end of a sentence. We all have our talents, but for most in Mr. Barrow’s government, the ability to think is not one of them. The result is that in Mr. Martinez’s address at the conference on issues affecting elderly people, he was not even aware the he was contradicting, or even exposing the lack of any policy by the government on this issue. In fact what he did was to underscore the lie that has been labeled by the government as its pro-poor policy, unless it is designed to keep people poor and dependent.

THE BELIZE TIMES

“Wrong Direction” Continued from page 1 Government’s inability to reach out to stakeholders who have positive contributions to make. As an example, the PUP Leader cited the Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s insistence that he will not allow the Opposition PUP to participate in the critical Superbond re-negotiation in any way for fear that the PUP may claim the success. “The restructuring of the 2029 bond appears to be stalled and as increasingly become a secret state operation with little or no information available to the Belizean people. We are very concerned - this restructuring has very serious implications for the future growth and development of Belize. We are not hearing anything from our government. I know the Prime Minister went to meetings in Washington - he came back, gave some very brief comments on what took place. We understand, it is our information and we have to be getting this information from outside of Belize - It’s really disgraceful. We should

be getting this information from our own government instead we have to relying on people outside of Belize,” said Hon. Fonseca at the Press Conference. The PUP Government had negotiated for better payment terms for their external debt through a bond offering in 2007. This negotiation achieved stability for Belize’s external debt payments and even savings to Government revenues. But bad economic policies under the Barrow Administration weakened Belize’s economy and placed Government’s ability to pay its debts at risk. The PUP has offered recommendations on tackling crime, but the Barrow Administration has sought its own agenda. Paying gangs members and dismantling PUP-initiated programs such as forensics and information gathering and community policing have been practised by the ruling United Democratic Party. One area in which the Government has welcomed the Opposition’s involvement is the Belize-Guatemala negotiations. But this partnership is at risk.

Hon. Fonseca said that the Barrow Administration has continued to disrespect the PUP elected representatives by imposing “UDP caretakers” who are designated some authority illegally. This has occurred even in the PUP Leader’s own constituency where the constituents are forced to go to the defeated UDP candidate Lee Mark Chang for recommendation letters for land applications. “This continued disrespect must not continue. It is bad for democracy. I am warning now that if it does continue, it will jeopardise all areas of partnership with the Government,” urged the Opposition Leader, “We will not continue to allow them to undermine our elected representatives”. Hon. Fonseca said that Prime Minister Barrow’s model of leadership is not working for Belize. He said the Barrow Administration has shown no “real commitment to consultation”, but has been all about maintaining power while disadvantaging Belizeans. “Prime Minister Barrow has a formula that works for him, but that formula doesn’t apply to Belize anymore,” he said.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

San Pedro man shot in head after refusing to partake in robbery San Pedro, October 31 2012 San Pedro Police are reporting that around 11:30 pm on Tuesday October 30th, 24 year old Derrick Wellington Rivers of San Juan area in San Pedro ran into the police station where he was seen with two apparent gunshot injuries – one to the forehead and the other to the right arm. Initial investigations revealed that Rivers along with two other men from San Pedro were plotting to rob a business place, but when Rivers reportedly changed his mind he was reportedly shot by one of the two men whom he identified. He was taken to the San Pedro Poly Clinic and later transferred to the KHMH where he is listed in a stable condition. Police have detained the man alleged to have shot Rivers.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Solid Leadership!

ne year ago, the People’s United Party, the greatest political party in the history of Belize, was thrown into crisis with the resignation of the then Leader of the Opposition Hon. John Briceño for health and personal reasons. Briceño had gained majority support in a convention held following the resignation of former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Said Musa in 2008. At the time Briceño stepped aside, Francis Fonseca was not even a candidate for the post of Leader. In fact, it is the man who coveted the job so much that he would have done anything to get it was, Mark Espat, who eventually was handed the leadership on a platter. Our headline days before a deadline for candidate nominations read “Landslide” and there was near unanimous support for him. But it was not meant to be, and perhaps by divine intervention. Espat rejected the support and eventually openly exposed his conniving alliance with the UDP. Days after the PUP seemed to be in turmoil again. There was no leader. But in every crisis, opportunity rises and this was an opportunity to get on the right track. The man who emerged as leader was not an ordinary man, but a young, vibrant, no-nonsense and decent leader. Francis was the logical candidate. He was elected in the Freetown Division, a former Campaign Manager, Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s office, Education Minister and Attorney General. Upon being sworn in on October 29, 2011 Francis had no time to relax. He took over a Party that was fragmented after the 2008 defeat. There were bitter rivalries and the UDP had been stoking the division as part of their agenda to weaken the PUP. Francis first task was to heal the wounds of the Party and bridge the divide. This was the only way to get the Party moving and ready for an election, which the UDP had already decided to hold early in order to capitalise from the PUP’s problems. Francis worked hard. He continued from where the former Party Leader Hon. John Briceño had left and worked day and night. He travelled the country and mediated between factions. He welcomed those who have the best interest of the Party and supporters at heart and weeded out those who had their own agendas. All the work paid off and so on March 7th, Francis led the People’s United Party in his first political battle, where had it not been for the treachery of the former PUP Albert and Lake Independence candidates, the results would have been a clear victory for the PUP. When the votes were counted and the election results announced, the PUP seats went from six (some say only four) to fourteen with a UDP margin of two seats and a difference of some 60 votes. Today – one year later since that faithful October 29 day – the challenge for Francis is even greater as he prepares to defend the people of Belize against a government that is cruel and vindictive, but worse, crafty but totally incompetent. The cry against injustice from our people has never been this loud. Francis is not glitz and glamour like Dean Barrow. He is not arrogant and cold like the UDP Prime Minister. The PUP has a leader who is humble, understanding and compassionate. One year since he took on the great challenge of leading the PUP, he has proven to have what it takes. Now Belizeans must have faith in him as we face the challenges of the country. Francis has been anointed, but with the oil of hope.

THE BELIZE TIMES

Greg Ch’oc muzzled at oil drilling “consultation” Toledo District, October 29, 2012 We already know how disrespectful the Barrow Administration treats our Maya people. In 2009, the Prime Minister’s ex-wife attorney Lois Young-Barrow was paid big money to argue why the Maya in the Toledo District are not entitled to customary land rights. The UDP Government has been fronting for big money oil companies. Young-Barrow went as far as saying that the Mayas in Toledo are not the real indigenous people of Belize. Imagine that! The Court rejected the Government’s position and declared that the

2012: the deadliest year yet Belize City, Wednesday October 31st, 2012 The year 2012 is on the verge of becoming the deadliest year yet! Our unofficial numbers put the murder count at 124, and nine of them in the last 10 days. The latest homicide occurred this morning when a resident of Sandhill, David Myvett, was shot about 12 times on Electric Avenue in Belize City. Reports are that Myvett was working on the rehabilitation of a street when one of two men who rode up to the construction site pulled out a gun and began to fire. He was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but died from the gunshot injuries. Prior to Myvett’s killing, on Sunday October 28th 56 year old Manuel Cruz was viciously attacked and stabbed to death in Guinea Grass Village in the Orange Walk District. In 2011, there were 125 murders. In 2010, considered the year with most murders, there were 132 murders. In 2010, when the murder rate shot up to disturbing levels, November witnessed 13 murders. Violent crime in 2012 has followed 2010’s trend and, considering the lack of proper Government response, it is expected that November could also be a deadly month. If so, 2012 could see up to 150 murders if preventative steps are not taken. Since June 1st of this year, there have been 64 murders throughout the country. Belize City has seen half of those, with 32 murders. The Orange Walk and Corozal Districts have had 7 homicides each in the second half of the year. Official statistics put murder count at 118, but that does not include the state executions cases of Arthur Young, “Boco T” Kelly and others.

Maya do have customary rights and should therefore be consulted before anyone, even the Government, tries to do anything with the land. Of course, in Belize there is one man who has the face of brass to defy the Courts. Despite the ruling, Prime Minister Dean Barrow has declared that he supports and will allow oil drilling anywhere in Toledo, even in protected areas. This is the background to the latest chapter of war between the Maya people of Toledo and the UDP Government which seems to be protecting the interests of the oil company, U.S. Capital Energy Ltd. The oil company intends to carry out exploratory drilling for oil inside the Sarstoon-Temash National Park. Last Thursday, the Government and US Capital held an Environmental Impact Assessment consultation for

the public, even though groups including the Maya Leader’s Alliance (MLA), Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM), the Toledo Alcaldes Association (TAA) and the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage had called for more time to review the document. Despite the request, the “consultation” went ahead at 5pm on Thursday, October 25th, in the village of Sundaywood and from all indications it was really a staged event which muzzled participants and prohibited the freedom of speech. Reports and video footage received by the BELIZE TIMES shows that numerous public speakers were cut off in the middle of their contributions. This is after representatives of the oil company took hours to make

Regular fuel hiked twice in 2 weeks Belize City, October 29, 2012 Perhaps in an attempt to avoid the public backlash that comes from hiking commodity prices, the Government of Belize has adopted a new public information policy where it no longer warns of increases in the price of fuel. Announcing imminent fuel hikes was a normal practice for the Ministry of Commerce. It informed the public of a price rise, giving them an opportunity to prepare economically, or at least rush to the pumps to save some small change. Now it appears, the Government and fuel companies are cahoots to screw commuters. That’s why when the price of Regular fuel rose last week, and once more this week, commuters didn’t know until their pockets felt the pain at the

pump. This has been a trend for some years now. The pain couldn’t go unnoticed. Regular fuel price increased by 12 cents per gallon on Monday October 22nd and then again on Monday, October 28th by 11 cents per gallon, for a total increase

Sunday, November 4, 2012 their presentations. The crowd erupted in anger when Greg Ch’oc, who is the Executive Director of SATIIM, was interrupted by the Government’s Chief Environmental Officer, Martin Alegria. Video footage shows Alegria, a public officer who should be impartial, reaching for the microphone in an attempt to remove it from Ch’oc. Alegria’s action is disturbing. He sits on the National Environmental Appraisal Council (NEAC) as the Chairman. This is the body which will decide whether or not U.S. Capital can go ahead with its “exploratory drilling” inside the national park and other Maya village. Ch’oc was not the only one interrupted. Other speakers were also pulled away from the microphone. One of the elder Maya Leaders was abruptly stopped as he prayed in Maya language for his colleagues to make the right choices. Others were pulled outside the “consultation” hall by the Police when they refused to shut up. It appears anyone who opposed the exploratory drilling plans and wished to express their concerns was targeted for muzzling. A release issued by the the Maya Leaders’ Alliance (MLA) and the the Toledo Alcaldes Association (TAA) on Tuesday, October 30th, condemned the Government of Belize for “disrespecting” the Maya people. The MLA accused the oil company and the Government of demonstrating “blatant and utter disregard for the Maya leadership”. The release continued, “They view our people and leadership as if we are for sale and expendable”. The NEAC met today to consider U.S. Capital’s request, but up to news time the BELIZE TIMES had not confirmed whether it was approved. The Maya Leaders have pledged to continue the fight and say that the actions of the Government “will not stand unchallenged”.

of 23 cents in the last two weeks. The good news is that Premium fuel didn’t increase, but this is little comfort for Belize City commuters who still have to cough up $12.97 per gallon. In other districts, the cost of transportation is added to fuel prices, so it is much higher. Any further increase would be destabilizing. The Government should reconsider its policy of “don’t tell” even if it makes them look bad. That’s the essence of transparency: being totally transparent, not only when it is in your best interest. In this case, the commuters would be grateful.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Humor

in UDP Politics! The following matters were discussed in Cabinet To pass a directive for the Belize Defense Force to cease and desist the use of real bullets in case of an attack from trespassers. Sedi introduced the new rules of engagement are as follows: upon first contact with an intruder, the BDF must blow their whistle. If attacked, the BDF must evaluate the level of danger and decide whether to use any of the following depending on the level – sling shot (not so dangerous), Pocono boy sticks (some danger), rubber bullets (danger), or Taser guns (dangerous). ………………….. The CabSec realised that when he handed out information papers on the upcoming economic summit, in which the Prime Minister will be the keynote speaker, Saldivar scratched the titled “GOB-Chamber Economic Summit” and replaced it with “Blah-Blah-Blah Summit”. ………………….. The entire Cabinet burst into laughter when Faber shared the item on the news that the Minister of National Security was touring Police Stations across the country. Even Barrow couldn’t hold back his laughter, commenting “again?” ………………….. A proposal from the Prime Minister to have each Cabinet Minister to undergo a lie detector test when answering one question “Do you support Belize and not Guate-

mala?” has been opposed by four persons: Sedi, Montero, Penner and Contreras. When asked what was the reason for opposing Sedi jumped up to say, “I don’t trust the test, most times the results are ARTIFICIAL!” ………………….. In other related Cabinet news: Things are so bad that the people of Port Loyola are writing letters to Cabinet complaining that they can’t find Boots, the man who runs the poor man’s government. Cabinet members looked around and said the CabSec said, “Where the hell is Boots? Even we can’t find him”. ………………….. Herman Longsworth asked Mark King why he is placing ads on television if there are no elections until 2017. Faber said, “Maybe he is running for Party Leader too”…then Santi butted in saying, “…Dah Mark King…he think he is a true king.” ………………….. A motion was raised for the UDP to declare solidarity with the thousands without jobs and with no money, nor hope. When asked if they think it will work, the CabSec answered that if Gapi can get away with saying is better than normal Belizeans, then they can get away with anything. ………………….. Gapi and Faber have been engaged in a war of text messages over the Party Leadership of the UDP. Gapi to Faber: “Loser” Faber to Gapi: “Contrabandista” Gapi responds to Faber: “Loser” Faber replies: “Pirate” Gapi answers: “Stop cussing the kettle black”

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, November 4, 2012 Belize City primary school football competition

BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

St John Vianney outmatches St. Ignatius 4-0

Belize City, October 30, 2012 St. John Vianney RC School boys are still undefeated in the Belize City primary school football competition. Today, they defeated St Ignatius RC School 4-0. Kenroy Linarez scored the 1st goal for St. John Vianney and soon added a 2nd goal to lead 2-0 at the break. In the 2nd half, Orlando Velasquez picked up where Linarez left off and blasted in 2 more goals for the 4-0 win. Other matches: Salvation Army vs. Belize Elementary School boys – 4-1 Goal scorers: Marvin Martinez (2), Keron Patnett (2), Liam Chebat Salvation Army boys vs. Ebenezer Methodist School – 3-1 Goal scorers: Keron Patnett, Marvin Martinez (2), Kirk Broaster Unity Presbyterian School boys vs. Wesley Upper School – 2-0 Goal scorers: Reuben Leslie, July Martinez Queen Square Anglican School vs. Muslim Community School – 2-0 Goal scorers: Rayne Gentle, Tyrike Ciego Holy Redeemer RC vs. St. Mary’s Anglican School – Holy Redeemer win by forfeit

Wesley Upper boys control

Keron Patnett scored Salvation Army’s 1st goal

July Martinez on the offensive

Female competition: Belize Elementary School girls vs. Queen Square Anglican School – 3-0 Goal scorer – Chelsea Williams Holy Redeemer School vs. St. Martin De Porres School – 5-0 Goal scorers: Jennifer Estrada (2), Jada Myvette (2), Kelsey Rodriguez Muslim Community vs. Queen Square Anglican – 1-0 Goal scorer: Nicoly Shield

Central Secondary Schools Sports Association volleyball champs

SCA beats Pallotti, enters volleyball playoffs

Central Secondary Schools Sports Association volleyball champs

SJC boys also in volleyball finals

Belize City, October 30, 2012 The St John’s College boys could repeat as high schools’ volleyball champs, as they advanced to the 2012 finals when they beat Ladyville Technical High School boys in 4 sets in the semifinals at the Belize Elementary School auditorium on Tuesday evening, October 30. Ladyville started off well and managed to win the 1st set: 25-23, but SJC put up a tough defense and won all 3 others sets: 25-10, 25-23 and 25-10 SJC will take on either Sadie Vernon Technical High School or the Anglican Cathedral College boys. SCA team

Belize City, October 30, 2012 St. Catherine’s Academy girls, the defending volleyball champs, advanced to the 2012 volleyball finals by defeating the Pallotti High school girls in three sets in the playoffs at the Belize Elementary School auditorium on Tuesday evening, October 30.

Perry Diaz hits

SCA’ success came from the hardwork of teammates Sherika Burton, Leandra Betson and Nayala Tun who hammered kills at the net on balls set by Xiomara Quan and Krystal Bevans, while Kayla Burrowes received and kept the ball in play. SCA won the first set 25-8. In the second set, SCA introduced a fresh 6: Gianna

Brown, Alexandra Smith and Hanna Diskin, Zakiyah Brown, Karina Bernard and Karen Quan. They won the 2nd set 25-16. The starting six returned to the court for the 3rd set with Karina Bernard replacing Burrowes and they dominated the 3rd set 25-3! SCA has enjoyed an undefeated streak.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Belize District Women’s Football Competition

Hattieville Heats burns Caye Caulker girls 4-1 BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

Ladyville, October 28, 2012 The Hattieville Heats female team was too much for the Caye Caulker Island Stars to handle as they won the game 4-1 on Sunday, October 28. Goals were scored by Jersha Estrada and Deandra Coote with a hat trick. Island Stars’ Stephanie Duarte scored a consolation goal in the first half.

Julie McCord shoots

Other game: Caye Caulker Girlz vs. Ladyvile Jaguars - 1-0 Goal by Glenese Sampson

Jersha Estrada scored 4th goal

Smart Mundialito under-15 football competition

Unity Rangers gets 1st win in Smart Mundialito Belize City, October 27, 2012 The Unity Rangers posted their first win after 2 draws and 2 losses in the Smart Mundialito under-15 football competition, when they defeated the City Boys Juniors 1-0 on Saturday’s. Tarique Ciego scored the winning goal. The Rangers are now in a 4-way tie for 6th place with the Young Stars, Jane Usher and City Boys Jrs, who each have 5pts from a win, 2 draws and 2 losses.

Other matches: Hattieville United Youth Sports Club vs. Jane Usher Boulevard – 1-0 Goal scorer: Kenyon Lewis Brown Bombers vs. Third World – 1-0 Goal scorer: Sherwin Requena Young Stars vs. Ladyville Jaguars – 3-0 Default win Ladyville “Japan” vs. St. John Vianney – 0-0

Brothers Habet team table tennis tournament

Bismark & Tallawah lead 2nd division table tennis tourney Belize City, October 20, 2012 Team Bismark and Team Tallawah are leading the 2nd division of the 2012 Brothers Habet team table tennis tournament, as the competition continued at the Belize Elementary school auditorium on Saturday, October 27. Both teams have each 14 points from 7 wins. Team Tallawah won 5-1 over the SJC Snipers, when Robert Peyrefitte outplayed Damian Perdomo 3-0 and defeated Fabio Carballo 3-1. Gian Lisbey beat Leo Carballo 3-1 and Harim Ochaeta ran over Leo Carballo 3-1 and Damian Perdomo 3-0. Snipers’ Fabio Carballo had some success

with a 3-1 win over Gian Lisbey. Team Bismark got rid of the Turds 5-0 when the opened the day’s tournament matches, with Aaron Stock defeating Carlo Keith and Khalid Encalada: 3-0 each. Matthew Usher beat Encalada 3-0, while Moses Babb drowned Jarrid Thompson and Carlo Keith: 3-0. Other matches: Team Tallawah vs. SJC Strikers – 5-0 Team Tallawah vs. BDF Spin Kings – 5-2 Bismark vs. Racqueteers – 5-0 Bismark vs. Team Garage – 5-2 Team Garage vs. Team Phoenix – 5-0

Team Garage vs. SJC Young Warriors – 5-0 Team BDF Spin Kings vs. SJC Strikers – 5-0 Team SJC LightSpeed vs. SJC Young Warriors – 5-2 SJC Snipers vs. SJC LightSpeed – 5-2 SJC Snipers vs. Team Phoenix – 5-0 Team Phoenix vs. Team Turds – 5-2 SJC Snipers vs. SJC Young Warriors – 5-1 Racqueteers vs. SJC Strikers – 5-0 Team Ping Pang vs. Team Turds – 5-0

Bismark’s Asron Stock

Tallawah’s Gian Lisbey

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid Sedi-tion By G. Mike Reid The Guatemalan issue is once again up front and center stage and has pushed all other issues aside for the moment. Makes one wonder if this is not its true intent, since crime, cost of living, unemployment, poverty and corruption have all taken a back seat while we focus our attention on this age old schism. The Guatemalan Claim has for a long time been used as a political football; that is, it is pulled out, dusted off and kicked into play whenever the need arises. Considering the current state of our affairs, there has hardly been a more pressing need for a distraction than right about now. Not since Bethuel Webster’s Seventeen Proposals or the pre-Independence Heads of Agreement has this issue been so prominent in our news. The last time any sizable fuss was made was back in 1991, following the signing of the Maritimes Areas Act. With the majority of our population being young people under the age of thirty, the oldest of them would have been nine at that time. Not necessarily the age where one pays heed to such nubile matters The cry “Guatemala dih come” no longer invokes the wholesale trauma and panic that it once did, but there was a time! I remember as a child growing up in

Belize, just the mention of the name Guatemala was enough to have folks pulling out their Union Jacks and whole families relocating from any village that was anywhere near a border with Guatemala. This was once a very serious matter. In the years previous to Independence, the National Independence Party, predecessor to the current United Democratic Party, had the Guatemalan issue central to their whole existence. Every campaign leading up to every election centered on the supposition that George Price was trying to sell or give Belize to Guatemala and we had to save our country at any cost. History has vindicated Mr. Price and has proven it all a lie. In his recently published Authorized Biography, Godfrey Smith reveals that Mr. Price had no intention of giving, selling or ceding any of Belize’s territory to Guatemala or anyone else. In an address to the House of Commons in January of 1978, British Foreign Secretary David Owen informed his colleagues that “The Premier and the Government (of Belize) have constantly, consistently and rightly held their position on territorial integrity…” Mr. Price died in 2011 at the ripe old age of 92 and to that point, not a blade of grass, not a drop of water and not a Belizean blue mango had been ceded to Guatemalan. It seems that every time the UDP are in power, they do their best to revive this Guatemala issue and make as big a deal as possible of it. In June 2008, shortly after being crowned as Prime Minister, Dean Barrow asserted that the resolving of the dispute was his biggest goal. He has since then been trying to convince Belizeans that we should take our case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In December of 2008,

Sedi Elrington, on behalf of his government, signed a Special Agreement or Compromi, which set the framework for the issue to be decided by the ICJ. According to the agreement however, before any decision is made to go to the ICJ, the citizens of both Belize and Guatemala must vote in a referendum (to be held simultaneously) as to whether they agree that the matter should be heard before this court. Leading up to the Compromi, the people were told that it really doesn’t matter because it is not likely that Guatemalans will even vote in a referendum. Now we are being told by the Guatemalan foreign minister, that his country is ready, willing and eager to go to this referendum. Are we missing something here? Before I go any further, I must make it clear that the People’s United Party has not made a decision on whether they will encourage their members to vote yes, to vote no or to just vote their consciences. I, G. Michael Reid, have pretty much made up my mind. I have read and listened to much and have given this much thought. I have found very little that would convince me that I should vote yes to any arbitration. I do not believe that there is a need for any arbitration and that there is really even any dispute. Belize is Belize and Guatemala is Guatemala. If Guatemala is so eager to settle the dispute, then there is no need for any court. Just drop the unfounded claim! For the most part, citizens on either side of the border, (and yes we have a border) are usually quite content to get along. This problem exists primarily in the minds of bureaucrats and politicians. In the United Nations Security Council resolution 491, the council recommended unanimously that Belize should be admitted to the General Assembly with all its territory intact. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 35/20 of 11 November 1980 reaffirmed the inalienable right of the people of Belize to self-determination, independence and territorial integrity. Belize’s borders have been defined since 1859 in a treaty signed by both the UK and Guatemala. With the international community saying that we are, why should we go to court to determine whether or

13 not we are a sovereign nation? There are a few reasons why I would not feel comfortable with our destiny in the hands of the ICJ. Number one I do not trust Dean Barrow, number two I do not trust Guatemala and number three, I also have some doubts about the OAS. The Secretary General’s statements on the recent border incursions were not very reassuring and remember that for a very long time, the OAS was always on the side of Guatemala on this issue. Then there is the fact that whatever decision is handed down is final and cannot be appealed. Belizeans were able to turn back the Seventeen Proposals and the Heads of Agreement. Any decision by this court is binding for now and ever more; what if we lose? This whole claim, or differendum as it is now being called, should have really been settled a long time ago. On August 14 of 1991, Guatemalan President Jorge Serrano Elías actually acknowledged Belize and recognized the right of the Belizean people to self-determination. He was subsequently removed from government and his successor reneged on the commitment. Maybe what we should be going to court for, is to have them to honor that official declaration. Belize and Guatemala are now getting ready to embark on a very expensive educational campaign. One that will cost millions of dollars which neither country can afford, certainly not Belize. And what exactly will they teach us? That the Guatemala claim is unfounded? The history is right there for all to read or maybe we should have been teaching this in our schools all along; like Guatemala has been doing. Only their education has always been different; will this now change? Dean Barrow and Sedi Elrington are now planning to use the Belizean people’s tax dollars to pay a “compassionate fund” to the family of a Guatemalan who trespassed some seven miles into our territory and threatened our security forces with harm. By all means Mr. Barrow but before you do, let us first compensate the wife and family of Anastacio Guiterrez. Belize for Belizeans!

THE BELIZE TIMES

In my perspective…

but it will put us on the path to curing the epidemic that plagues this city. The gangs and young men guilty of so many senseless murders and devastation to innocent families have no respect for life. They should be treated just the same. Protests and rallies by a dis7. Properly equipping Police Offi- trict or town are fine. We need to cers and enforcing all laws show the government we are fed 8. Addressing the needs for up with their inability to protect us efficiency in the justice system”. but unless we have strong laws (Article from the Belize Times) that deal with these big problems, the thugs will march right on with The questions in my mind are their crimes. Stiff punishment like why are there so many guns in Be- long jail sentences and even the lize? Where are they coming from? death penalty will show we are seAnd why thugs and gang members rious and want this wave of crime are allowed to stock pile ammuni- to stop. Anything short of that will tions? not help the situation. I think once those questions are answered we can start to put in place policies and crack down on these weapons and the thugs who use them. Here are a few ideas I believe would help this situation and return this City to what it was just a few years back. 1. Enforce the law on illegal guns in the country of Belize. To obtain a firearm you would have to register with law enforcement and go through a background check. Only the military, police officers, security officers and some businesses would be allowed to have these weapons for their own security. 2. I have seen in other Countries an amnesty month, where all those who do not have a license for their guns or may have bought a gun illegally turn in their weapons at selected sites throughout the country. No questions or investigations would be done on anyone - just come and drop off your weapons. 3. After this amnesty period, anyone caught with an unlicensed weapon would serve a lengthy prison time. If you commit a crime using an unlicensed weapon and a death is caused by your action, punishment would be life in prison or the death penalty. 4. Appoint qualified judges so these murders cannot get off on technicalities and ineptness as has been the case lately. 5. Outlaw gangs and do what it takes to get these thugs that prey on our law abiding citizens. Discourage gang activity by threat of long term imprisonment if caught. I believe you have to fight fire with fire. These five suggestions will not end the wave of violence

Crime, a National Disaster!

By Rayford Young The violence and day light murders in Belize City has become a national dilemma and no one seems to have answers to this very big problem. Where are all the guns coming from and why can’t we stop them from entering the country? The Barrow administration seems incapable of coming up with a cohesive plan to curb this violence although one of the most important responsibilities of the government is to protect the public. To date there has been over one hundred murders with no end in sight. The crime wave is increasing in the districts which were, for the most part, safe places to be. Just recently in the Cayo district a young college student was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered. The town residents were not having any of it. “Hundreds took part in a protest rally scheduled for Thursday, October 11th, in the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. The action is in response to the spate of violent crime that has affected the western communities. The public rally will be reinforced by a total shutdown of the business community which has stated that it is in solidarity with the actions taken by the residents. The protest, the second for this week, is also in response to the Government’s inability to crack down on crime. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Dean Barrow was handed a letter by members of Cayo neighbourhood watch committees. The letter contained a list of eight demands which residents felt are necessary to curb crime. It includes: 1. Formulating a registry of sex offenders with a monitoring system 2. Enforcing the law by bringing back Capital Punishment 3. Replacing the Director of Public Prosecution 4. Properly equipping the Police Station in Santa Elena 5. Erecting a Forensic Laboratory 6. Prohibiting bail for sex offenders/criminals

Sunday, November 4, 2012

I cannot think of a bigger failure of this government than to not have a plan to halt the crime and violence all over this once peaceful country. The population is scared, people are afraid to be on the streets, go shopping or to the movies or a restaurant. This is like being in prison in your own country. This is unacceptable and despicable. The people have spoken and done what they can do. We now need the government to step up to the plate and deal with this problem. You were elected to protect the country and its people. Do your job. Rayford Young is a Belizean-American, who currently lives in Michigan, U.S.A. Send comments to rayfordyoung@comcast. net

Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Home Economics

The Great Belize Barrier Reef – What’s in a name? By Richard Harrison I grew up in a time when we used the World Atlas to learn geography. In the latter years of my high school education, it was changed to Atlas of Belize. Both those publications, which were important instruments of teaching/learning in Belize, thought us the value to Belize and the world that was inherent in our national and natural heritage… The Great Belize Barrier Reef. Couple days ago….I was made to understand that the name was officially changed to Meso-American Barrier Reef….that the name “The Great Belize Barrier Reef” no longer exists. Charles Darwin described it as “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies” in 1842. The Great Belize Barrier Reef is home to a large diversity of plants and animals, and is one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world: • 70 hard coral species • 36 soft coral species • 500 species of fish • hundreds of invertebrate species With 90% of the reef still needing to be researched, it is estimated that only 10% of all species have been discovered.[2] It is Belize’s top tourist destination popular for scuba diving and snorkeling and attracting almost half of its tourism visitors, and is vital to its fishing industry. [1] Now…..a name is of very important value….it is a primary tool in the economic struggle for recognition…geography students all over the world are taught the names of important places…and they remember these places and where they are located, by their names. Name recognition alone (eg. branding) is of very high value, especially if your economy depends to a large extent on tourism. A name such as “The Great Belize Barrier Reef”, over a lifetime, saves Belize many millions of dollars in marketing investments aimed at increasing recognition of Belize as a tourist destination. So….the value to Belize of such a name is unquestionably very high. It costs a very pretty pen-

ny to implement such a name change…..as geography books, encyclopedias, travel guides, maps, websites, address directories and all sorts of publications…. all over the world….has to be edited….to reflect such a change. It must cost the world billions of dollars to fully implement such a name change….of such an important World Natural Heritage….so vitally important to the socio-economic life of Belize. If Belize school children buy 40,000 copies of the Atlas of Belize alone, at $10 per copy, this would mean an investment of $400,000 per annum, or $4 million over ten years....just one publication!! So…this begs the questions: Did this really happen? If so, when did this happen? Who are the geniuses in Belize that agreed to such a change? What was their motive? Has Belize gained or lost from such a change? What are the implications for such name changes? Who in the world gains from such a name change? What was their motive? At what cost-benefit to those who gain? Was this name change sanctioned by the National Assembly of the Government of Belize? Did the process of name change go through a thorough cost-benefit analysis and did it have to meet some kind of minimum constitutional/legal standard? We seem to have developed a penchant for changing names. The most recent were the changes of Western Highway to George Price Highway, and the Northern Highway to Phillip Goldson highway. How do these name changes benefit Belize? At what cost to Belize, and the world? Imagine the costs of changing maps, travel guides, signs, addresses, etc. Would the namesakes approve of these changes? I think not. They were pragmatic nationalists that thought deeply about implications…before acting or reacting….they were not empty barrels that just make noise….they were nation builders! Names, symbols and rituals… are of very high value in the real world…a place that Belize seems to be moving further away from, with each passing day. After the Second World War,

for example…..the winners paid themselves war reparations by taking German products, technologies, names, brands and symbols. The Bayer Cross….an important symbol to the Bayer company of Germany, inventors of such important products as aspirin….was owned for decades after the war by a US company. The Bayer company, after many legal hurdles and billions of dollars of investments, regained control of the symbol that is the Bayer Cross in the late 1990’s. They know the value of their names and symbols. Belize needs to think more deeply about implications….before acting or reacting. Belize leaders, and our laws, should al-

15 low for more discussion of such issues that have wide ranging implications at home and abroad…. recognize the power of the pen…. and apply greater wisdom in the use of it. Belize leaders should be held more accountable for trading away those names and symbols of great national and international value. Belize would be doing a great service to its current and future citizens….if it were to take every action and investments required to preserve the name “The Great Belize Barrier Reef” as the official name to describe our greatest natural heritage. Richard Harrison is a local businessman and investor in the manufacturing and service industries. Send comments to harrisonbz@yahoo.com

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, November 4, 2012

…while Belizeans struggle & suffer This is how the UDPs roll…

Yellow Beans A couple days ago I was looking for somewhere to purchase food to eat. I have my usual vendor that I go to, but this particular day I felt too lazy to go all the way to that part of town. I ended up purchasing from a vendor who I didn’t really know. I ordered some food and enjoyed my yellow beans. Well in the middle of the night I was awoken by the strong desire to use the bathroom and found myself uncomfortable and in pain, searching out remedies to correct the situation! My short cut ended up being a long cut and I had long unnecessary times of pain and suffering! I later found out I got food poisoning! While suffering from my dilemma I had adequate time to think, and I couldn’t help but look at our country Belize through the same light. As I look around in the country I can see various individuals making a variety of decision that are in direct violation of the constitution of God. Somehow, because it seems right to us we go ahead and do it. Because it feels right to us we go ahead and enjoy it completely disregarding the consequences which are sure to follow! There are financial decisions, decisions of sovereignty, moral decision, and ethical decisions that we continue to make on a daily basis that will hamper us from going forward the way we should as a country. Actually in many cases, our country Belize suffers from loose bowels, especially in the area of finance! We seem to have a huge problem with holding in our finances and letting it give nutrients to our body, but rather we just pass it out in liquid form into the hands of others! You may ask the question, “how does this relate to religion?” Well first off, let me quickly say that I have an issue with religion as much as Jesus had back in the day while he was on earth. Religion actually pushes humans away from God rather than attracting them to him. It is so messed up that people many times are better off moving away as far from it as they can because often times it brings death! Religion says ‘we have the answer’ but when you examine the evidence you can clearly see you are better off without it! In relation to success in business, marriages and education there are many who do not have a religion that functions far above the levels of those who do! What is the problem with this? Well one big issue is the misinterpretation of the manual that God has given to us. Religion takes out a part of it that they like and turn it into a doctrine that becomes useless in many fronts over a period of time. To benefit from that Kingdom of God we must first understand that it is not a religious organization; it is not a gathering of a group of people who sing to God or who pray to God. It is not a group of people who are better than others. The Kingdom of God is a country. In the same manner that we can leave from Belize and go to the States and it is a completely different country than Belize with different laws, a different language, different customs etc. In that same way the Kingdom is a country and not a group of religious practices. In fact it tells us in the manual (Hebrews 13:3) that this earth we live on was made by the Kingdom of God. In other words the manufacturer of the earth is the Kingdom! In the same way we can see made in China on items made in that country, the same way somewhere on the earth is the markings made by The Kingdom of God. This is where the yellow beans syndrome becomes a problem as it is quite clear to everyone that the manufacturer of a product knows what’s best for that product and gives you some clear guidelines of do’s and don’ts for the best experience with its product! To see or understand the Kingdom of God in the true sense of what it really is we can then fathom the urgency, of listening to its dictates and laws. In (Prov 14:12) of the manual it tells us that there is a way that seems right to humans but the end of it is death. We may feel its right to give ourselves to gambling but at the end of that road is the death of our family relationships; we might lose our house, our cars etc. We might feel its ok to get as drunk as we want, completely disregarding the Kingdom’s warning and the end of this may lead to the death of our loved one or other peoples loved ones and the list goes on and on! What am I trying to say? Belize, be careful of what you are putting into your mouth or you may end up with the yellow beans syndrome! Until next week God bless!

Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s new Law Firm Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega’s 2012 Land Cruiser valued at $180,000

Ministry of Energy and Science CEO Colin Young’s 2011 Toyota Hilux – valued at $65,000

Minister of Gangs Mark King’s Ford 150 - valued at $74,500

Minister of Works Rene Montero’s 2012 Toyota Prado – valued at $96,000

Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

Selected By Chris Williams

Smoking drives women to an early grave 30 October 2012 by Andy Coghlan

Each cigarette a woman smokes pushes her closer to an early grave. Women who smoke heavily into middle age cut their lives short by around 10 years. But quitting early pays off; kick the habit before 40 and the risk of premature death drops by 90 per cent (The Lancet, doi.org/jng). Do it before you’re 30, and the risk is even lower at 97 per cent. The findings, from a study which followed 1.3 million British women for an average of 12 years each, mirror results from a study of male smokers from 2004. Men took up smoking en masse in the UK around 10 to 20 years earlier than women, encouraged by free cigarettes supplied to servicemen during the second world war. As a result, the effects on health in men who smoked have taken

Smoked out (Image: Peter Stackpole/Time & Life/Getty)

Golden solution to inexpensive test for HIV 28 October 2012 by Debora MacKenzie Gold usually means extravagance, but now it could be the key to making vital medical tests cheaper. People in poor countries often do not get timely treatment for cancer or infections, because diagnostic tests that can spot diseases early are too expensive. Now, a team at Imperial College London have figured out that gold could be the solution. One common type of diagnostic test is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It uses a tiny dish coated with antibodies that bind to a target molecule from a germ or tumour cell present in blood serum. A second lot of antibodies are then added that attach themselves to the bound targets. These antibodies carry an enzyme that can be made to change colour by adding a chemical. The colour change

Gold - the new litmus test (Image: Roberto De La Rica Quesada at Imperial College London)

is measured by machine to determine the presence and concentration of the germ or tumour cells. Unfortunately, the machines are expensive. Molly Stevens and her colleagues have done away with the need for machines by devising a “plasmonic

ELISA” – a test which gives results readable with the naked eye. What’s more, it is more sensitive than the best tests for HIV currently available. Clumps versus spheres The new test capitalises on the ability of hydrogen peroxide to react with dissolved gold ions, making them come out of solution and form metallic nanoparticles. How fast this reaction takes place, Stevens says, determines what kind of nanoparticles form. Less peroxide means they grow slowly, forming irregular clumps, while more peroxide favours the fast growth of spherical nanoparticles. Crucially, due to the way that the nanoparticles interact with light, via a cloud of surface electrons called a plasmon, irregular clumps turn the solution blue, while spheres turn it red. And the colour is intense: gold particles

two decades longer to show up in women. “Whether men or women, smokers who stop before middle age will on average gain about 10 years of life,” says Richard Peto of the University of Oxford, head of both studies. Meanwhile, the health benefits of legislation banning smoking at work, and in restaurants continue to accumulate. A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed that in one Minnesota county, heart attacks dropped by a third 18 months after the introduction of anti-smoking laws. Further, a review in Circulation of 45 studies covering 33 smoke-free laws around the world found that the number of people taken into hospital because of lung diseases dropped by almost a quarter and far fewer are being admitted after heart attacks and strokes since anti-smoking laws came into force.

were used to colour medieval stained glass. In the plasmonic ELISA, the second set of antibodies carries an enzyme called catalase, which breaks down hydrogen peroxide. Both sets of antibodies are exposed to blood serum, then the dish is rinsed and peroxide is added, followed by gold ions. If the target molecule is present, the second set of antibodies binds to it, allowing catalase to destroy peroxide. This in turn means the gold nanoparticles grow slowly, forming clumps that turn the dish visibly blue. If there is no protein, the antibodies do not bind and are rinsed out. Without the bound

catalase, peroxide remains abundant, producing a fast reaction that turns the dish red. This shows whether the protein is present, not how much there is – but that is enough for most diagnoses. Only a small number of target molecules are needed to turn the dish blue. Using antibodies that bind to a target molecule from HIV, or to one from prostate cancer, the team could detect attograms – billionths of a billionth of a gram – of the protein per millilitre of human serum. The test picked up HIV at levels too low to detect with DNA-based PCR tests – ironically, considered the gold standard of HIV testing.

THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT FRANCIS FONSECA SHOULD BE PM

Francis Fonseca should be the Prime Minister, now. If ever Belize is crying out for a new leader with new ideas and new solutions, now is the time. Never before in the history of this country has Belize been faced with a multitude of problems. Minor problems, medium-sized problems, big problems, humungous problems. None are receiving attention, none are being solved. Even as the multitude of problem are neglected, each day, each week, more problems pile up. Our society is under severe stress. It is stressed to breaking point. It is a wonder it has not snapped. The same can be said of the economy. It is visible, for all to see that it grinds slower and slower. It is only by the grace of the Almighty, and the few business and workers that it has not stopped. At the sectorial level, health, education, crime, poverty, unemployment etc. etc., you know the answer. Against this unfolding dismal picture is a government without money, without ideas, without solutions. As Belize teeters on the brink, this 1st day of November 2012 the future is bleak. It is clear now, that the Prime Minister deceived the nation in January and February this year. Gearing up for a premature general election one year before they were due, the PM told us how rosy the economy was. The financial future was fine and dandy. Fine and dandy indeed. What a bitter pill the people are now forced to swallow. No betterment will come. This is the landscape of our beloved country – rampant crime; rising, desperate poverty; endemic unemployment; high cost of living; hopelessness and a dismal future. Francis Fonseca offers a new chapter in this book of lamentations and suffering. Mr. Fonseca is not a man on an ego trip. He is not consumed with the idea of being the top dog. He is not seeking to amass millions for self and family. Nobody can accuse him of being selfish and self-centered. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caeser, Mark Antony is delivering his famous eulogy. That “Friends, Romans, countrymen lend me your ears,” famous oratory. Among the many good attributes of Caesar, Mark Antony points out the absence of burning ambition. Said he: “You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse:” Those who know Francis Fonseca know that throughout the many squabbles and fights for party leadership or high position in government he was the reluctant prince. This speaks volumes. Francis had to be cajoled, pleaded with, practically forced to consider coming to the rescue. But once resolved, look what he has done. Taken a party in tatters and in the

space of months injected hope and motivation to reach within 16 votes and 60 votes of becoming the government. Such is what he can do to move this country out of a deepening and widening morass. A government bankrupt of ideas is in need of replacement. The country needs leadership. Not a quarrelsome braggadocios, but a humble hardworking man who genuinely wishes to improve the lives of Belizeans. The Opposition Party must now live up to its historic and constitutional name; oppose this worthless government at every turn. The people of this country deserve a better life and a brighter future. What we are getting now is absolutely unacceptable. “In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility, But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger: Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favored rage,” - Henry V, by W. Shakespeare NO MORE CLINICS The late great George Price whose political motto was “Serve the People” had introduced an excellent way for politicians to stay in touch with the people, and help to serve them. It was called the Wednesday clinic. Every week on Wednesday, the political leaders in government would set aside this one day to go into their constituencies and sit in their humble constituency office and meet the people. It was an all day affair, taking notes, writing letters, making telephone calls, getting things done for the humble poeple. Government business was for other days. Being in office was for other days. Wednesday was for the people. There are many legitimate issues that require citizens in the various constituencies to seek help from their elected representatives. Poor as our people are, many are still too proud to beg for money. Only the desperate resort to such. But over the last year, the Wednesday clinic has been abandoned. Another bad sign for the people. EARTH-SIZED PLANET A new planet, about the size of our earth has been found. It is just on the outside of our solar system. Which is to say “light years” away. Which is to say millions and millions of miles. An, check this, it was discovered by amateur sky gazers . NEEDLECASE In the early morning of 26 October, there was this blessed sight. In the chill of the morning, hundreds of needlecase flying to and fro. There was a time the arrival of needlecase was another cause for laughter and joy and excitement. Children, mostly boys waited with

bated breath for the red ones of the green ones to pitch on the clothes line or fence or zinc top. It was a joy to catch a needlecase. It called for skill and timing. Hunger and worries and problems have replaced laughter and the simple joys of being a small part of nature. Who enjoys the twirping of the kiskadee? The tiny song of the hummingbird? The grumpy grumble of rainy day frog? NANCY MARIN “…and then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on…” Nancy Marin, Geovanni Brackett, Jihad, the students of UB, Galen and Sacred Heart College, and the mothers and parents of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, and the leaders of the Purple Movement are the newest heroes and sheroes. All respect t is due. WAS IT HEZBOLLAH? The broad daylight execution of Alfred Schakron on busy Coney Drive in Belize City was as sensational as the murders can get. Minutes of this murder occurred, its news spread like wildfire across the city. We have heard of all sorts of motives. From the usual suspects to a strange one. The usual suspects are the gang members hired for a hit, to a business deal gone sour, to the Mexican cartel, to a person chased out of Mega Bingo Commissions. But the eyes witness account has just really sunk in. Here are two pieces that’s causing the puzzle. Schakron was being pulled into a vehicle (a kidnap?) He was resisting and arguing in his native language to someone speaking the same language inside the vehicle. A Lebanese speaker? Second, after being shot, another vehicle immediately drives up and videos or takes pictures of the dying Schakron lying on the street. SYNOD The Anglican Diocese of Belize gathered in Belize City for their parliament of nationwide delegates made up of lay persons and religious leaders.

Sunday, November 4, 2012 Quite a number of important resolutions were discussed and approved. Margaret Gabb-Mckenzie proposed a resolution to bring back members. It was seconded by Carolyn Arnold and passed. Udeen Cooper proposed and Sue Harris seconded a resolution calling on the authorities responsible for law and order to instil confidence in Belizeans by introducing stronger measures to preserve law and oder. Josephine Flowers seconded by Edna Mae Castillo got a resolution for an Anglican censis and a weekly tithe as well as a “Witness Sunday”. Rev’d Lloyd Perriot and Ann McCoon got through a resolution against human trafficking. Margaret Gabb-Mckenzie and Indira Cambranes got through a resolution against the harmful and morally destructive practices surrounding pornography and for the control of DVSs, movies and cable channels promoting pornography. Canon LeRoy Flowers and Denise Mahler proposed and seconded a resolution supporting the position of the Church of Province of the West Indies which is not in favour of the death penalty. Rev’d Ilona Smiling and Rev’d Barbara McBride’s resolution was one of appreciation to the families for the contributions of Valerie Eiley, Lloyd Faber, Janet Jones, Normal Simplis and Rev’d Shirley Johnson. TRACTOR FOR HELICOPTER The Government of Belize is proud to inform Belizeans and those critics and complainers about its ineffective border patrol and protection that as a replacement for no longer being allowed by the British to use their helicopter for patrols and emergencies; a small green tractor has been purchased to “ferry troops and material in doing border patrols”. These will constitute artificial patrols since any fool knows that a tiny 12 foot tractor cannot go through the dense jungle along the UDP’s artificial border. It was an artificial press release as part of an artificial propaganda stunt. The Guatemalans had a good laugh.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

PUP Chairman says crime problem is an “economic problem” Belize City, October 30th, 2012 Chairman of the People’s United Party, Henry Usher, hammered away at the Barrow Administration’s inability to reduce the level of crime and violence in the country, at a press conference held by the Opposition PUP on Tuesday afternoon. Usher said that the rise in crime, especially violent crime, is not only evidence that the Government has been unable to restore law and order but also a reflection of the high level of social and economic breakdown in our communities caused by high unemployment and a lack of economic opportunities. “It is near impossible to find a Belizean family that has not been impacted by crime. The murder count is staggering,” stated Usher.

The BELIZE TIMES unofficial murder count is 124 up to October 30th. To put it into perspective, Usher explained that the high number of murder victims is equivalent to the total number of students attending an Upper Division primary school. “Think about it this way. In a primary school upper division—standards four, five and six—let’s say each standard has four classes of thirty students each. That’s one hundred and twenty students per standard. By Belize’s murder rate, we would have wiped out the entire upper division of a primary school. Frightening and disturbing statistics for what we call our peaceful haven of democracy,” cited Usher. The PUP chairman said that Government’s national security officials seem not to share the same level of alarm.

Bmpn Mayor

stonewalls concerned taxi drivers City of Belmopan, October 30, 2012 Belmopan Mayor Simeon Lopez appears to be dodging a group of taxi drivers who have concerns that a decision made by the Belmopan City Council could negatively affect their livelihoods. About 40 taxi operators who face displacement from operating in front of the bus terminal in Belmopan have sought an audience with Mayor Lopez. A meeting was scheduled for Saturday October 27th, but it didn’t take place because the Mayor didn’t show up. The taxi drivers are concerned that their livelihood is at risk. A World Bank-funded projected carried out rehabilitation of the area surrounding the bus terminal. The same area is used by tax-drivers as a key parking location. Prior to the project, the plan projected that space would be drastically reduced and would only accommodate 21 tax drivers, but now that the project is near completion the taxi drivers say there will be enough space for

Mayor Simeon Lopez

more taxi drivers. The taxi drivers say they are willing to pay a fair fee needed to use the parking location, because they find it necessary to continue working so they could meet their bills and put food on their tables. The offer to pay a reasonable fee for parking could be attractive for the cash-strapped Council, but first the Mayor needs to show his face.

“Yet we hear nothing from our Minister of National Security. All we see is a merry-go-round of Police Press Officers getting up and saying the same thing over and over and over: ‘police are investigating’. Perhaps the minister is too busy touring the country and opening and painting police stations to read any of the myriad reports that have come out from the government in regards to crime and root causes of crime,” remarked Usher. The Party Chairman cited contents of the 2010 Crooks Report, which highlighted areas of the Ministry of National Security and Police Department that are in need of urgent support or reform. The Report consists of 167 recommendations to improve the relevance and response of the security agencies.

PUP Chairman Henry C. Usher

PM takes cane farmers for cunu munu! GOB shares in BSI are FOR SALE

Belize City, October 27, 2012 Prime Minister Dean Barrow is taking the 6,000 cane farmers in northern Belize for cunu munu! The UDP Government did all it could to block the cane farmers chances’ of becoming owners of the Belize Sugar Industries. Proposals put forward by the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, which represents a majority of the cane farmers, were ignored. The BSCFA had attracted support from investors in Mexico yet the Government turned away the idea. The deal with new owners, American Sugar Refining which was endorsed and facilitated by the Barrow Administration and UDP lawyers, not only pushed the sugar factory workers out of ownership, but also obliterated the cane farmers’ hopes of having a vital stake in the affairs of the sugar factory. Now that the UDP has spited cane farmers, they are adding salt to fresh wounds, by announcing that if cane farmers want the Government’s shares in Belize Sugar Industries they will have to buy it. The Government owned 10% of shares in BSI, but with the introduction of ASR, the overall shares have been diluted, meaning cane farmers would have a miniscule stake in the factory. So small, that cane farmers wouldn’t even have a representative on the Board, where important

decisions are taken. During a meeting between the Prime Minister and BSCFA officials last week in Belize City, the BSCFA leaders were told that they could go fishing for other shares if they want a member on the Board. There was more bad news. The Prime Minister told the BSCFA that the Government has done an about turn regarding the $10 million is has collected back from BSI. In November 2010, the Government provided the money as bailout funds for BSI to be able to meet its start-of-crop financing. According to BSCFA’s Vice- Chairman, Alfredo Ortega, in May 2012 when the Government was discussing ASR’s buyout, they committed to providing a portion of the $10m for to fixing sugar roads. But last week, the Prime Minister said plans have changed. “He [Prime Minister Barrow] indicated that they had made that commitment before the Budget and now that they have done the Budget they have realised that they can’t use the money,” Ortega said in an interview with CTV-3 of Orange Walk. So what will happen to the badly deteriorated sugar roads? Ortega said the Prime Minister made another promise – this time to see where they could find money for the much needed repairs. The 2012-2013 crops season is slated to start at the end of November.

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, November 4, 2012