Belize Times October 2, 2016

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

2 OCTOBER 2016 | ISSUE NO: 5013

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

UNION BUSTING! MOE MOVES TO INTIMIDATE TEACHERS Wednesday, 28 September 2016 Education officials led by Minister Patrick Faber during a three-hour meeting at the ITVET compound in Belize City with general managers, secondary school principals and board chairs of secondary schools presented their plan to keep classes open despite industrial action announced by the Belize National Teachers’ Union for Monday October 3rd. The intention of the Ministry is to sign - by Sunday October 2nd - a Statutory Instrument (SI) that will see temporary replacement teachers hold over in the classrooms starting as early as Wednesday October 5th.

According to Minister Patrick Faber, those “temporary” teachers will include “teachers who have not really entered the teaching profession yet but are in the teacher education institutions and they want to do an internship…so they don’t have a license yet; they don’t meet the requirements yet but this allows them to go into the classrooms to teach.

It also covers these volunteer groups

coming from church groups who come into the country and who want to operate in our schools on a voluntary basis or to impart some kind of special knowledge to the children.”

Interestingly, even those teachers who were dismissed this past summer because they lacked the required training and certification can be hired as temporary replacement teachers. Retired teachers and even parents of good repute in the community will also be tapped, according to Faber.

Faber and the Government of Belize have insisted that with the 3 percent salary adjustment not on the negotiation table with the BNTU, there is no “properly constituted labour dispute.”

Asked if the Government’s actions could be classified as strike breaking Faber responded, “ah, no! And you will know that the obligation, the mandate to me as Minister of Education and to my Ministry, the Ministry of Education, [is] that we must ensure that there is the delivery of education services in this country. You could term it whatever you want…but that is my job!”

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SUSPECTED CASES OF

ZIKA Six pregnant women infected

Pg. 3

Pg. 2

WE DEMAND GOOD GOVERNANCE Pg. 2

The Dangerous Life of McAfee Pg. 23

WE SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS!

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2 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

WE DEMAND GOOD GOVERNANCE

EDUCATION OFFICIALS SIC POLICE ON MEDIA

Wednesday, 28 September 2016 This morning, as media personnel waited outside the meeting room at the ITVET in Belize City to conduct interviews, officials from the Ministry of Education ordered the Police to remove them from the area. Amandala’s Micah Goodin and Krem’s News Director Marisol Amaya were harassed by Police who told Goodin, incredibly, that he was loitering.

Goodin and Amaya refused to move, informing the officers that they were just doing their job. That’s when reinforcements from the Eastern Division Northside Strike Team were called in and the media opted to leave.

It is important to note that Police Officers do not, or at least should not take instructions from private citizens, even if they are officials in the Ministry of Education.

This move is reminiscent of the last House sitting when Police Officers manhandled the media under the instructions of House Speaker Michael Peyrefitte. It has become apparent that Police Officers are now considered the personal errand boys of the political directorate.

PUP CONDEMNS GOB ATTACKS ON BNTU September 26th, 2016 Following a recent meeting between the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and Prime Minister Dean Barrow, the BNTU has categorically rejected many of the promises presented by the Prime Minister. With the negotiations at an impasse, the Union has served notice on government that it intends to pursue industrial action. The People’s United Party affirms its support for the BNTU and for our teachers, and condemns the unreasonable and vicious attacks on the Union and its members by this UDP Government.

The Opposition PUP has led the charge against corruption by this UDP administration which appears completely out of control. Our supporters took to the streets of Belize City by the thousands to call for an end to the rampant abuse of power, corruption and mismanagement of public finances by this UDP administration. We have championed the call for the Integrity Commission, for a proper, Constitutional Senate Select Committee to investigate the findings of the Auditor-General. We have called for government to immediately sign onto the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and have long pushed for the strengthening of the Public Accounts Committee.

And so we must support the stance of our teachers. What they are fighting for is what any right-thinking individual or entity should support – good governance, accountability, transparency and an end to the rampant corruption that has thwarted the development of our country. As a responsible Opposition we must stand behind the teachers as they agitate to take government to task for its abuses.

We also ask all parents to stand strong behind the BNTU. It is important that our children learn to stand up for what is right and just. The government’s accusation that the teachers are holding our children to ransom is baseless and a sign of desperation by an administration that has failed to govern in the best interest of the Belizean people. This administration has squandered hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars while indebting our people to the tune of billions, and now our country is in the grips of a recession. Under this UDP administration too few have become obscenely wealthywhile too many have become poorer.

Finally, we call on the membership of the PSU, the APSSM, the umbrella NTUCB and the social partners to join in the fight for our country. The changes we make today will result in good governance now and under any administration in the future.

WEATHER

LOCAL 29 Sep

30 Sep

1 Oct

2 Oct

2016

3 Oct

Wednesday, 28 September 2016 “If a Minister is found breaking the law he/she will be subjected to the legal process and will face the consequences like any other person, including jail time. The rule of law means nothing, if the laws do not apply equally to all.” – PUP Policy, 2016 On the occasion of the 66th Birthday of the People’s United Party, and in a political and social climate overwhelmed by corruption and abuse by our leaders, on Thursday the PUP will launch the first policy paper of its new administration entitled Good Governance – A Shared Responsibility. The statement of commitment by the Party could not have come at a more pertinent time, as the BNTU and other organizations prepare for industrial action against an unyielding government which refuses to act against the documented corruption within its ranks.

According to PUP Leader John Briceño, “If we are to improve governance in Belize it must be done not just in what we say, but also in what we do…We will have good governance if we respect and believe fervently in the Rule of Law, Accountability, and Transparency…”

The People’s United Party is serious about doing things right, having spent the last three terms in the political doldrums largely because of a public perception that things went wrong. After watching the government become the most corrupt in our political history and seeing the negative impact on our economy, on our people and country, the PUP resolved to look at concrete, yet wide-sweeping and overarching change which would effectively return power to the people and limit the seemingly unlimited power of government.

Among the most pressing tenets of good governance in its policy, the PUP speaks of an empowered legislature, the immediate appointment of the 13th Senator and the Integrity Commission.

Much focus is also placed on “putting politics and ministerial power in their proper place,” including the removal of discretionary powers for

Ministers and immediate sanction for Ministers and government officials who act outside the scope of morality or the law.

The paper also touches on accountability and transparency in government procurement, strengthening checks and balances, election reform including re-registration and redistricting and an effective Public Accounts Committee.

As it has advocated for even now, the PUP has also committed to immediately sign on to UNCAC and to reform the Public Service – bringing back Permanent Secretaries and removing politically appointed CEOs. “After all the lessons learnt from recent and past experience, the PUP is convinced that the elimination of corruption is a precondition for the transformation of our national development processes.

The policy paper of the PUP on good governance is more than a policy paper, more than rhetoric. This is no imagining the possibilities or waiting for a best that will never come. This is about getting things right because we owe it to our people,” says Briceño.

The paper will be launched at the Belize Biltmore Plaza to an audience including the social partners and the diplomatic corps.

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The Belize Times

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14 APR 2013

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ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

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2 OCT

ZIKA 2016

SPREADS TO ALL DISTRICTS EXCEPT COROZAL

Six pregnant women infected

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 In May 2016, Belize confirmed its first Zika case– the victim, a Belize City woman.

Four months later, the virus has spread to every district except Corozal.

Because the Ministry of Health has identified priority groups as children under 5, the elderly and pregnant women, out of 581 suspected cases from both public and private medical institutions only 305 samples have been sent for testing. Of the 177 results received 46 are positive for Zika, among them, 6 pregnant women.

These latest figures were presented today at a press conference by experts from the Ministry of Health. The Belize District leads infections with 262 suspected cases and 21 confirmed infections. Cayo follows with 125 suspected cases, 13 of them positive. However, Toledo with 7 positive cases has the highest rate of infection with 2 confirmed Zika cases per 10,000 people.

Five of the pregnant women with Zika come from Cayo while the other is a Belize City resident. Three already gave birth, and according to Dr. Natalia Largaespada-Beer, technical advisor of the Maternal and Child Health Unit, the newborns so far “haven’t shown any consequences of the Zika virus

infection. But the recommendation currently is to follow up these infants up to three years.” The concern is for the possible development of microcephaly which can be caused by Zika. Two microcephaly cases were recorded last year and this year there are three non-Zika related cases in children under 1 and a half years. Prior to Zika being confirmed in Belize, there were - on average - one or two microcephaly cases annually.

There is presently no treatment or vaccine for Zika so the advice for all pregnant women is increased ultrasounds to 2 or 3.

And since the virus is spread by an Aedes specie mosquito and sexually, the recommendation is for the use of condoms as well. As to the male/female breakdown of infections, Nurse Lorna Perez, surveillance officer at the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry, in pointing out no major difference affirmed “the mosquito bites equally.”

Of note is that most countries with Zika have recorded spikes in Guillain Barré syndrome which causes an attack of the nervous system leading to progressive paralysis. According to neurologist Dr. John Sosa of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, the hospital normally records 5 to 7 cases of the syndrome yearly and so far

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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there has been no change.

Any person who contracts Zika, notwithstanding age, can present complications other than microcephaly or Guillain Barré. Those can include eye infections, hearing problems, and other brain problems.

The Ministry began putting together its Zika preparedness and response plan in February 2016. Ultra-low Volume (ULV) insecticide spraying has been increased from 80 drums of Malathion last year to 89 so far this year using 18 vehicles countrywide.

Kim Bautista, Chief of Operations at the Ministry’s Vector Control Unit, estimates the cost of vector control since 2015 at $3.6 million with $2 million in grants received from international sources. The Ministry has also distributed repellents and bed nets and calls on the public to do its part to prevent transmission.

Meanwhile, it was also disclosed during the press conference that 88 percent of all the samples suspected for Zika, dengue or chikungunya are returning negative.

So, is something else circulating? The Ministry says they want to start testing those negative samples to find out. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services noted that there is a new viral disease in circulation in South America and now in the island of Hispaniola – mayaro fever - and it is spread by the same mosquito which carries the Dengue, Chikungunya and the Zika virus.

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Pursuant to Section 102(4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Hanover Pharma Limited: A) Is in dissolution B) Commenced dissolution on the 20th day of September, 2016 and C) CIL Trust International Inc. whose address is No. 35 Barrack Road, Third Floor, Belize City, Belize, Central America is the Liquidator of the Company.

CIL Trust International Limited Registered Agent

4 04

THE BELIZE TIMES

Questions to Ministers

Could the Member for Queen Square and Prime Minister provide information on all the new foreigners who have been hired at BTL to replace Belizeans? Could he further say how much these foreigners are being paid?

Could the Member for Queen Square and Prime Minister say how it feels to be distrusted by the Belizean public, and could he explain how it feels to know that this UDP administration under his watch will be regarded as the most corrupt in Belize’s political history?

Could the Member for Collet and Minister of Education say why he has been left out of all negotiations with the BNTU? Could he say if because of his distasteful actions lately the Prime Minister has put him on a time-out or is it that the PM knows the Union will not respect him?

Could the unelected Minister of Police provide a status report on the so-called, alleged investigation into the withholding of evidence by Police in the Pakeman traffic case, and also the matter of the tampering with the blood sample of the victim?

Could the unelected Minister of Police say why he refuses to step aside in the matter of the Senate Inquiry into corruption at his other Ministry, and also why he refuses to step down as the Minister of Police though it is a clear conflict of interest?

Could the Member for Belize Rural North and Minister of NEMO say whether he is in the same boat as his CEO where his US Visa is concerned?

Could the Member for Belmopan and Minister of Defence say why he has not travelled to the US recently, and could he further state whether he has flexed yet, since he promised to do so but it is a little hard to tell if he has?

2 OCT

2016

IF DAH NOH SOH!

Crazy s*#t…

Since I’ve pretty much been around and been used and misused and abused, I felt kinda stupid not knowing what scat sex is. Hell, all these lil village girls in that absolutely amazing Gringo documentary seemed to be scat sex-perts. So I turned to my spiritual and social advisor, Google and typed it in. Not to be disappointed, my friend Google had videos and I had to go frigging look. Dammit. I am now traumatized for life. I could have lived out the rest of my days without seeing that s#*t, like literally. And since I’m on this subject, I’m never going to lie in a hammock again, hole or no hole. Hell, I may never have sex again. That’s how traumatized I am.

You’re a sick man, John McAfee.

No they didn’t…

So Nanette Burstein, a film director, comes to Belize for a couple weeks and solves two murders. That damned woman needs to be made the Commissioner of Police. Hell, let’s make her the Minister of Police. She got one man to go on camera and explain how he picked up three guys to go beat up this other guy. Then she got this other guy to explain how they tortured the victim…who died by the way. But Nanette’s an over-achiever, so she hopped onto a plane and solved another murder, just like that. She got another guy to explain how he deposited money into the killer’s account and how he picked up the killer after the deed was done. She even got the killer on camera for good measure. So here’s the thing though. Nanette solved the murders, but the Belize Police haven’t gotten around to picking up these people yet. Don’t worry, they probably will, but I hear the ComPol is waiting for Showtime to send him a copy of the documentary.

New York New York…

The Guatemalan…sorry Belizean Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington (easy to get confused) was very uncomfortable reading his address at the United Nations this week. Oh he read off that paper, but I’d bet my left testicle he didn’t write what he read. There is no way in hell Sedi would come down so hard on his friends Carlos Raul and Jimmy – just no way. Here how I figure it went down. The PM is in deep doodoo. He’s standing at the edge of a deep precipice. If Sedi goes to the UN and makes nice with Guatemala as he always does, it would be a nail in the coffin. So Dean Oliver puts pen to paper and the rest is history. Only thing is that I hear that Sedi has been frantic since Carlos Raul isn’t returning his calls. Oh well, no doubt they’ll make up once Sedi explains that he had to say what he said and it doesn’t mean anything really, since Guatemala still owns the Sarstoon and Sarstoon Island.

Run Sedi Run… Before his sheepish appearance at the UN, Sedi decided that he wanted to go visit Belizeans in the diaspora. Big mistake!The man was raked over the coals by the Belizean-Americans who wanted to know what the hell is up with the corrupt UDP, which Ministers were hanging out with William Danny Mason and who is going to do the investigation into Pastor Lue’s murder. It’s interesting because the UDP has always enjoyed some measure of support from the Belizeans in the diaspora, but all that’s a thing of the past. Interesting times we’re living in…

Who is George Orellana?

Why is a Guatemalan national on the Board for NICH? As I understand it, NICH stands for National Institute of Culture and History…as in Belizean culture and history. Did something change and nobody told me? This is the crap which really gets to me.

These guys come into the country with questionable pasts and loads of money. Suddenly you see them wining and dining Ministers, posing for selfies, holding hands and all that good stuff then BAM, suddenly these guys are big time. This guy Orellana was actually the subject of a Police investigation a couple years ago, to the point that GSU stormed an apartment where he used to live on the Philip Goldson Highway looking for him. He’s allegedly been caught with guns on him. So shady Guatemalan guy, right! Then there he is on those ubiquitous photos with Erwin and El Odio, who just happens to be Minister responsible for NICH. And then without further ado, El Odio makes this wealthy Guatemalan a member of the Board of Directors of NICH. That crap has got to stop. Damn schupid people, I swear!

Something screwy…

So since Dean Oliver loves to say that BTL belongs to us, maybe he could explain why the First Son is bringing in people from all over the world like the company is a frigging United Nations and replacing Belizeans who have worked there for many years and have experience. That’s my company boy, so daddy says, so don’t you be firing Belizeans and hiring foreigners for big bucks. What’s wrong with you? There’s something screwy going on at that company. Check out the Guatemalans who have been seen driving around doing work for BTL. You mean there are no Belizeans who can do that crap…only Guatemalans? Where the hell is the damned BTL union which is supposed to stand up for its workers?

2 OCT

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 05

EDITORIAL

Tin-pot Dictator

tin-pot dictator (plural tin-pot dictators) An autocratic ruler with little political credibility, but with self-delusions of grandeur…

It is with no regret that we announce the death of all trust and faith in Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his UDP administration. Mr. Barrow asked us to imagine the possibilities in 2008, and while we as a people do not lack imagination, nothing could have prepared us for what we face today – a government devoid of integrity, morality or decency, and a people devoid of hope under this UDP. Mr. Barrow’s video statement released on Sunday is telling. He seemed more like a petulant child than the leader of the nation, sulking because the representatives of the BNTU would not give him a lollipop and coddle him or give in to his tantrums. At times during the nine minute statement, he seemed unable to comprehend that nobody wanted to eat his rotten carrot, and nobody was afraid of his little stick. The Prime Minister does not understand that the shine has worn off and he has been revealed as nothing more than a pathetic tin-pot dictator.

The nation needs a purge. It has become sick. We have become Mother Nature’s best kept dirty secret. Just ask John McAfee or William Danny Mason or David Nanes Schnitzer or Wonhong Kim, if you can find him. We have become an easy option for the corrupt, a corruption resort and a playground for the corrupt. Why? Because our people in power are so eminently corruptible!

We have gotten to this point – where an employee of the Government, the Auditor-General is forced to chronicle hundreds of pages of filthy corruption – because Mr. Barrow sacrificed his two-sided machete to the god of power. We have gotten to this point where our birthright is more accessible to foreigners who have never touched our shores than it is to born Belizeans because government Ministers recognized that corruption paid – and Mr. Barrow, kneeling before the god of power, ignored it.

The nation is riddled with corruption…from the Lands Department to the Police Department and just about everything in between.

And how Belizeans have suffered! Mr. Barrow squandered hundreds of millions of dollars in Petrocaribe monies, gifted from Guatemala. Almost four hundred million dollars, specially allocated to alleviate poverty…and Mr. Barrow used it all, not for the poor, but for the power.

He wasted all that money on politicking and aesthetics, while the poor remained poor, and the so-called middle

class, hanging on by the tips of their fingers, got poorer.

Mr. Barrow got his third term, but at what cost to us?

Even as he spent and spent and spent, Mr. Barrow borrowed and borrowed and borrowed. He refused to listen to words of caution from the Opposition, words like unsustainable debt. He didn’t listen because he thinks he knows everything and is the most brilliant. Now the economy is in a recession and the only immediate options available to him are retrenchment and higher taxes.

It is just too much. The tipping point has been reached.

And while Mr. Barrow is solely to blame for what has been done to the nation, and the movement today is because of him…it is not about him. It is about good government, and GOOD GOVERNANCE. The People’s United Party is in support of the teachers of this country because it is the right thing to do for country and people, not as a matter of political expediency. The push for good governance and structures which will limit politicians’ ability to abuse and misuse our systems for personal gain is a good thing. The Integrity Commission is a good thing, a necessary thing. In the shorter term, a Senate Inquiry into the Auditor-General’s reports is the right thing. A restructured and strengthened Public Accounts Committee is an essential thing, critical to transparency and accountability.

It is past time for the political status quo to be discarded, for the boat to not only be rocked but capsized. This has gone too long and too far.

We call on all the social partners to join in this good thing, this necessary thing. If you cannot see the corruption which has infiltrated every sector and facet of our society like an insidious plague, then you must be wilfully and deliberately blind. If you do not want to see corruption struck down and struck out, and good governance restored to the people, then you must be benefitting in some way from it. If you do not join the move to hold government accountable – not to overthrow the government but to demand that our leaders realize that the power of the people is greater than the people in power, then we can only hope that history will absolve you for that inaction.

A decade or so ago Mr. Barrow called for a “sustained campaign of civil disobedience.” Oh how he must wish that he were still the charismatic bully of those days, rather than the tin-pot dictator whose chickens have now come home to roost.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

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2 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

BARROW UNDER PRESSURE… BUT STILL WON’T LISTEN! Monday, September 26, 2016 The Barrow Government and their agents are currently trying their very best to discredit the teachers who are not backing down on their stance against corruption in public life. The Belize National Teachers Union will once again stage a nationwide strike, staying out of the classroom and effectively shutting down schools. It could very well turn out to be an extended action which starts on Monday, October 3. It will likely continue until the Union is sure that the Prime Minister and his Cabinet gets the message. The teachers will not tolerate corruption, or superficial cosmetic changes from Barrow.

They mean that they want change, and in this current climate of distrust, they’ll certainly want it in black and white, with a concrete timeline and witnesses for god measure.

The BNTU’s Council of Management wrote to the Prime Minister last Friday, September, 23, one day after they met with him for 4 hours to discuss their 8 demands. To summarize it, their letter indicates to Barrow that his current stance on the concerns they raised is not strong enough, and that he must demonstrate that he wants to improve his Government.

Barrow has moved once again on the issue of the Senate Select Committee. He is willing to once again limit his party’s influence on the investigation into the Immigration Audits. He was first pushing to have 3 UDP Senators on that committee which will examine the findings of the audit reports, but with the Teachers and the Opposition not backing down, he has said that he is prepared to accept only 2 UDP members now. Of course, the teachers want that there be no majority influence from any of the political parties. That means 1 Senator from the Opposition, and 1 from the ruling party. So, the teachers have rejected the Prime Minister’s counter proposal as “not favourable”.

They’re also sticking to their call for Godwin Hulse to be removed as

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Perhaps trying to dial it back, or maybe just trying to muddy the waters, the Prime Minister has now written to the Joint Unions Negotiating Team trying to get another meeting

Luke Palacio, BNTU President

the Minister of Police. Of course, Barrow is not prepared to remove “Minister Fix It” who has been the chief fireman called in to put out fires within his Government. The BNTU says that his counter-offer is “too vague.”

The BNTU is also demanding an international investigation into the William Mason murder/corruption scandal, and they say that the Prime Minister’s position on this is an “unreasonable suggestion.”

Teacher are demanding a working Integrity Commission; a Public Accounts Committee which is properly constituted and functional; and for Belize to immediately sign on to the United Nations Convention against Corruption. On these 3 demands, the teachers make it clear that the Government needs to make a stronger commitment.

They also want him to expedite the appointment of the 13th Senator, a UDP manifesto promise since 2008 on which Barrow later backtracked.

On other matters directly related to the teachers’ concerns, the BNTU is also not impressed with the Prime Minister’s composition. So, at the very end of their letter they have written to the Government saying that they intend to take all necessary actions to the furtherance of their cause. The Prime Minister responded by publicly trying to embarrass them in a video statement, referring to them as inflexible, unreasonable, and trying to hold the parents and students of the nation at ransom.

The Barrow Government has also been spending tens of thousands of dollars on advertising to strategically attack the credibility of the BNTU leaders. It is something that the teachers are seeing for themselves, and instead of trying to bridge the gap between the Government and the union, the UDP Government is probably shooting itself in the foot by aggravating these hardworking educators. The San Ig-

nacio Branch of the BNTU is already calling for the strike to be extended and with no specific end point announced, so as to keep up the pressure against the Prime Minister. The BNTU has sought an audience with their sister unions for support, and have also been reaching out to the

on the 3% salary adjustment. That’s to follow up on their conversation in which he has already told them in person that the Government cannot afford it at this time. It is expected that the Prime Minister will probably try to use that opportunity to cool things off and disarm the Unions.

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Date of Dissolution 2-Aug-16 3-Aug-16 3-Aug-16 3-Aug-16 4-Aug-16 4-Aug-16 5-Aug-16 5-Aug-16 5-Aug-16 6-Aug-16 9-Aug-16 10-Aug-16 12-Aug-16 12-Aug-16 13-Aug-16 13-Aug-16 16-Aug-16 16-Aug-16 16-Aug-16 16-Aug-16 16-Aug-16 17-Aug-16 18-Aug-16 18-Aug-16 18-Aug-16 18-Aug-16 18-Aug-16 19-Aug-16 24-Aug-16 24-Aug-16 25-Aug-16 25-Aug-16 25-Aug-16 26-Aug-16 26-Aug-16 27-Aug-16 27-Aug-16 27-Aug-16 30-Aug-16

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Ltd.

2 OCT

2016

07 7

THE BELIZE TIMES

Parlance & Politicking…Promises vs. Delivery!

Contributed Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow has addressed the nation for 9 consecutive years, every September 21st since being elected to office in 2008. The highlight of the traditional pomp and circumstance featuring the hues of red, white and blue, is the expected juxtaposed statement of the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister’s state of the nation address. But just 10 months into his third term in office, and under the weight of sobering public pressure from calls for good governance and the burden of increasing economic hardships, this year, instead of his characteristic and skilful embellishments, Barrow was forced into moderated pronouncements.

From the onset he referenced challenges for the nation. His Independence Day gift, a gesture started in 2013 was conspicuously missing.

Instead in 2016, he had to admit that Belize is in recession.

But he still spoke of high points and among them were the vaunted public works, “that driver of jobs and growth.” Indeed, there is no taking away from the fact that since 2012 there have been infrastructure projects fuelled principally by the pumped up Petrocaribe purse. Listening to Barrow’s Independence Day speeches year in and year out, without the benefit of comparison on paper, one would easily be awed every time. But the truth is that several of the infrastructure projects highlighted are not new. In some cases, mentions have been repeated several years, for the past 4 Independence Day speeches.

Take for instance the pronouncement in 2013: “another new bridge will link the mile eight surrounds of suburban Belize City to Lords Bank behind Gentrac, close to the International airport.” Then in 2016 comes: “funding has now been secured for the new link road to span the Belize River starting from behind Gentrac and coming out at Mile 8 on the George Price Highway. OPEC/OFID, who will provide the money, has also agreed, as a result of Hurricane Earl, an additional few million dollars, on top of the tranches that had already been slated for later in the year, to help with new

home construction and landfill for Southside Belize.”

That note takes us back to the 2015 Independence Day speech: “The community outreach of the police, especially on Southside Belize City, will combine with a second surge in hope and improved living and job conditions that the commencement now of Southside Poverty Alleviation Project Phase 2 represents. Under the programme, a total of 37 million dollars is being spent on the Southside Constituencies. The money funds improved streets and drains; land reclamation and landfill; construction of new homes and home improvement; education, training and social development.” This raises questions which remain unanswered: how much has been spent as part of the OPEC-funded Southside Poverty Alleviation Project (SPAP)? What has been the breakdown of spending?

Notably, on September 2, 2015, the Ministry of Works signed 7 contracts totalling almost $1.5 million during the second phase of the SPAP for the construction of between 100 and 200 houses for first time home owners in Port Loyola and Lake Independence.

Interestingly, on July 20th this year, even more money was pumped into the SPAP. As part of its annual grant under the Belize-Taiwan Bilateral Cooperation Program, Taiwan awarded Belize $10 million. According to a government press release, the funds were to be used to cover a part of the expenditure on key infrastructure projects, including the Belize City Southside Poverty Alleviation Project Phase II, the extension of the Southern Highway from Golden Stream to Jalacte near the Guatemalan Border in the Toledo District, and for the Santa Elena/San Ignacio Downtown Bypass Road Project.

Meanwhile, speaking of the expected paved highway to Caracol the Prime Minister said in 2015: “Finally, and this really will constitute a new jewel in the tourism crown, we are going to do a paved highway to Caracol, with two points of origin from Georgeville and Santa Elena.

We are funding locally, and have already signed the contract for, road rehabilitation from Cristo Rey to San Antonio and thereafter to the junction with the Georgeville road. Then the OPEC and Kuwaiti Funds, which are already doing the rehabilitation of the Hummingbird Highway, will partner together to take us the 40 plus miles from the junction to Mountain Pine Ridge and then to Caracol.” This year he reported: “And OPEC/OFID will do a new Baking Pot Bridge and access roads as well as the Caracol Road.”

Of course that area reminds us of the dangers represented by armed Guatemalan trespassers and in 2013,

PM Barrow in his Independence Day speech promised to start immediate construction of three new border monitoring outposts, a promise that has yet to be fulfilled, like many others.

In 2016 he takes credit for the new Guanacaste Belmopan Roundabout without mention that the project was adopted by Belize Natural Energy. He proudly announced “The larger, countrywide infrastructure canvas also displays a medley of good

things. Those of you coming to Belmopan this morning from Belize City or from the San Ignacio, would have been impressed by the new Guanacaste Roundabout at the junction of the Hummingbird and the George Price Highway; and you should see it at night when it is splendidly lit up, gorgeously displaying its first world quality and serving as emblem and beacon for our non-stop transformation.”

NOTICE Polart Ltd. No. 86, 371 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102(4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Polart Ltd.: A) Is in dissolution B) Commenced dissolution on the 14th day of September, 2016 and C) Jan Maarten Bogaerts whose address is 2302-3 Pacific Plaza, 410 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong is the Liquidator of the Company.

CIL Trust International Limited Registered Agent

NOTICE “Notice is hereby given that the company named “HARBOUR FINANCE LIMITED” has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the 21st day of September, 2016.”

ALEMAN, CORDERO, GALINDO & LEE TRUST (BELIZE) LIMITED

NOTICE “Notice is hereby given that the below companies have been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the below dates: SONERIS ENTERPRISES LIMITED - September 15th, 2016 DN FABRICS LTD. - September 17th, 2016 SENSY HOLDINGS LIMITED - September 17th, 2016 GABRIL INVESTMENTS LTD. - September 17th, 2016

ALEMAN, CORDERO, GALINDO & LEE TRUST (BELIZE) LIMITED

08 8

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Worst is Yet to Come By: Eduardo Santos With much fanfare and little substance the UDP launched its election campaign with the slogan, “The best is yet to come!” while at the same time it spent on extravagance (remember the tacos party in Corozal courtesy of the present Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber?) with no long term benefits to the country.

A little over 10 months into their third term, our once vibrant economy has come to a screeching halt! During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Barrow had to finally admit that the country is facing a recession and GOB may need to increase taxes.

According to the latest IMF Report which was released on Monday, the economic forecast for Belize’s economy is no rosy picture and that entity has urged GOB to increase the General Sales Tax (GST). The IMF said addressing these issues “will be important moving forward.” It noted that GDP growth slowed to 1% in 2015 and

SENIOR CITIZEN HOMELESS AFTER FIRE

Libertad Village, Corozal District, September 28, 2016 A 70 year old senior citizen has been left without a home after a fire destroyed her house in Libertad Village. Sometime around 7:00pm on Tuesday night, a three bedroom bungalow house belonging to 70 year old Virginia Guy went up in flames.

Guy told the BELIZE TIMES that she was visiting a neighbour when she got news that her home was on fire. She got very concerned because her son was at home sleeping. When she arrived at the scene, it was too late. The house was engulfed in flames – from the ground to the zinc roof. Fire trucks arrived but could do very little to save the house.

The cause of the fire has not been fully established yet. While the Police have classified the incident as an act of arson and have detained one of Guy’s sons for questioning, the mother told us she does not believe him responsible.

She explained that her son had lit a cigarette to smoke and fell asleep. The cigarette fell on the sofa and the caught on fire, she claimed. She said she won’t blame him because “only God knows what he is doing”.

The house has been the senior citizen’s home for over 20 years ago. She said her late husband built it for her family. The house was not insured, according to the family.

turned to negative 1.5% in the first half of 2016 due to falling oil production and reduced output in primary commodity sectors. According to the IMF, inflation was also up in early 2016 with higher food prices and the hike GOB put on fuel tax.

“The shocks in the export sector have widened the current account deficit to 9.8% of GDP in 2015. Further decline in exports in the first half of 2016, combined with settling liabilities related to the two nationalized companies, reduced international reserves to 4.4 months of imports in late August 2016,” the IMF reported.

Previously, the ex-Central Bank Governor Glen Ysaguirre had warned of the country’s international reserves being near depleted in a leaked letter written to the Financial Secretary in July. Belize needs to have at least US $300 million (3 months of merchandise imports) to

meet the international benchmark for exchange rate sustainability. Currently Belize’s reserves stand at about little more than US $400 million.

“In the absence of a radical change in policies, rigid current fiscal spending, particularly the public sector wage bill, would fuel high fiscal deficits and add to the already high debt burden.

Financing constraints would reduce public investment. The current account deficit would slowly improve due to a gradual recovery in major commodity exports, but would remain high, indicating a weak external position. This deficit, combined with remaining payments for nationalized companies and increased debt service, would reduce international reserves to uncomfortable levels,” the IMF warned.

How did we land in this predicament? Without sugar-coating the truth, we were not practicing sound financial

2 OCT

2016 policies. Although the government was time and time again warned by the economic technocrats it employs, it continued its march of folly, spending extravagantly and covering the corrupt practices of its elected ministers. The estimate for the legal fees that have already been collected by the Barrow families who represented the government in different lawsuits is allegedly $40 million! That could have paid for the 330 contract workers (political stooges) and also honour the PSU/BNTU increment commitment which combined would have cost the government $27 million.

DPM Patrick could have bought another vehicle and thrown another tacos party! There are a lot of things the government could have done differently but because Barrow is suffering from Cognitive Dissonance (don’t confuse him with the facts) we are in for a long hard ride until 2020.

Prepare yourself because the worst is yet to come.

MAY 28 OCT 12 JUN 19 JUN

2016 2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

GOB Reneges on its Own Accommodation Agreement

9 SPORTS 09

NOTICE I, Richard Ruben Castillo, of Caye Caulker, Belize District hereby declare that the registration certificate for my vessel (Richard’s Adventures) bearing Registration # 0W-0068 was lost during Hurricane Earl on August 2nd, 2016.

NOTICE Wednesday, 28 September 2016 The Government of Belize and the Ashcroft Group of companies have until tomorrow, Thursday, to iron out on their own a compromise over differences of interpretation in the Barrow Accommodation Agreement signed in September, 2015. If they do not, the Caribbean Court of Justice will hand down a decision which is very likely to be a costly one for Government.

The issue arose over the mishandling by GOB of the Barrow Accommodation Agreement with the Ashcroft Alliance. So now, they - and by extension, the Belizean public - are being sued once again at the Caribbean Court of Justice, all because they are refusing to honour the terms of the commitment Mr. Barrow made.

This is a fight that started when Prime Minister Barrow took away the company from the former owners. They claimed public purpose, and delayed as much as they could, racking up hundreds of millions in interest costs before suddenly and mysteriously the Barrow Accommodation Agreement was born. In that secret meeting with Ashcroft, the Prime Minister agreed to pay an unknown (at the time) sum to be determined by the CCJ – 50% within ten business days and the balance in a year.

There were 3 main terms to the agreement. The first is that the Alliance expected 50% payment of the entire settlement, in US Dollars, to be paid 10 days after it was finalized. The second is that the parties agreed that the tribunal from the Permanent Court of Arbitration would assess the value of the company. Those arbitrators, with their expertise, would separate the book value of the shares from the value that the Accommodation Agreement add-

ed on. The third term was that the portion of the value due to the Accommodation Agreement would go into the Hayward Charitable Belize Trust. That was the main propaganda that the Barrow Government’s agents were trying to sell to the Belizean people as to why the more than half a billion dollar settlement was something that everybody could live with. Their spin was that 60% of the Settlement would be paid in Belizean dollars, and that amount would go to the Belizean people while only 40% would go to the Alliance.

But it didn’t work out how Government planned. There was no special carve out made by the attorneys to ensure that what was agreed for the benefit of the Belizean people was actually what ended up in the document.

So, the Government chose to ignore their written agreement, and instead of paying the Alliance 50% in US currency, the Prime Minister paid the majority of that $150M due, in Belize currency.

Because the Prime Minister and his Government did not live up to their commitment, the Ashcroft Alliance took them back to court before the CCJ. Denys Barrow tried his best to convince the judges that notwithstanding the badly worded document the Government should get a bail out to ensure that the Belizean people get their 60%.

The CCJ did not appear convinced because the wording of the document is that Lord Ashcroft should get his 50% in US dollars. The Government will likely lose this battle and have to scramble for US to pay the Ashcroft Group, all because the attorneys did not read the fine print.

When asked about the screw-up by the Denys Barrow said, “It’s entirely human...”

Notice is hereby given that the company named “BLINDALYS CORP.” has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the 28th day of September, 2016.

ICAZA BELIZE TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED

NOTICE OF COMMENCED DISSOLUTION JESSALYN PROPERTIES S.A. (“the Company”) Notice is hereby given that JESSALYN PROPERTIES S.A. commenced dissolution on 23rd September, 2016; and Moore Stephens Magaña LLP whose registered office is at 3 1/2 Miles Philip SW Goldson Highway, New Horizon Building, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator of the Company.

Morgan and Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Limited

NOTICE “Notice is hereby given that the company named “Beach Holdings Limited” has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the 17th day of September, 2016.”

Belize Corporate Services Limited

10 SPORTS

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

21 82 MAY AUG OCT

2016

Team Belize Wins Gold at 19th CODICADER Games

Tegucigalpa, September 24, 2016 Belizean athletes won 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal at the 19th CODICADER Students Games at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) in Tegucigalpa last week from Thursday to Saturday September 22-24.

Female triple jump Ashanti Carr won Gold at 11.86 meters Female long jump Ashanti Carr won Silver at 5.40 meters (Personal record - 5:44m) Female 4 x 100 meter relay Belize – silver: Ashanti and Ashonti Carr, Hillary Gladden and Faith Morris.

Female 200 meters Faith Morris - bronze in 27.06 seconds.

Judo: Randori - 90- kg class 3rd place: Alec Betancourt - bronze Other performances: Female 100 meters 5th – Faith Morris - 12.63 seconds 8th - Hillary Gladden - 13.08 seconds Female 800 meters 5th Ashonti Carr Female shot put (4kg) 9th Melanie Palacio - 8.54 meters Male triple jump 5th Elvis Martinez - 12.96 meters Male 800 meters 5th Jonathan Perera - 2:06.5 minutes.

Male 100 meters 7th Haleem Palacio - 11.53 seconds

Jonathan Perera ran 5th in 800m

Ashanti Carr wins Gold in 3x jump

Faith Morris win bronze in 200m

Belmopan Bandits are No. 1 in PLB Football Belmopan, September 26, 2016 Belmopan Bandits are No.1 in the Premier League of Belize with back to back wins in Week 6 and 7 of the opening season. The Bandits posted their 4th win: 4-1 vs. Wagiya at the Isidoro Beaton

Ian Gaynair scored 2 goals vs Wagiya

Stadium on Tuesday, Sept.20. Ian Gaynair scored the 1st goal in the 42nd minute, and Brazilian import Aloisio Teixeira scored the 2nd goal in the 48th minute and the 3rd goal in the 66th minute. Ian Gaynair scored the 4th goal in the 91st minute. Wagiya’s Evan Mariano scored in the 92nd minute.

On Independence eve at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium, Verdes FC and the Placencia Assassins drew 1-1, with Verdes’ Darrel Myvette scoring in the 6th minute, and Placencia’s Ashton Torres equalized in the 90th minute.

At the Toledo Union field on Saturday, the Bandits posted a 5th win: 4-1 vs. the Paradise Freedom Fighters; when Aloisio Teixeira scored in the 14th minute and Jairo Rochez added a 2nd goal in the 59th minute and a 3rd goal in the 84th minute.

Humberto Requena scored the 4th goal in the 86th minute. Paradise’s only consolation goal came when Lisbey Castillo scored a penalty in the 78th minute.

At the MCC Garden on Sunday, undefeated FC Belize posted their 4th win when they arrested Police United: 2-1 with goals from Russel Cassanova in the 4th minute and Hector Martinez in the 75th minute.

Police’s only consolation goal came from Carlton “Fubu” Thomas in the 37th minute.

At the Michael Ashcroft Stadium on Saturday, the Belize Defence Force drilled Placencia Assassins 3-0 with goals by Michael Myvette in the 8th and 13th minutes, and from Paul Nunez in the 27th minute.

At the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio on Sunday, Verdes FC posted

their 3rd win: 3-1 vs. Orange Walk United with Jarret Davis scoring in the 49th and 90th minutes, while Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton scored in the 22nd minute. Sugar City’s Alexis Hernandez scored in the 91st minute.

SCA Volleyball Girls Win 3 at XIX CODICADER Games

Mya Musa serves

Humberto Requena scored Bandits 4th goal vs Paradise Freedom Fighters

Tegucigalpa, September 25, 2016 St Catherine Academy volleyball girls are 3 - 1 and one win away from a medal, after winning 3 games in 4 outings at the 19th CODICADER Students’ Games at the Jose S. Ancona H. Sports Complex in Tegucigalpa from Friday to Monday, September 22-25.

On Monday morning the SCA girls dominated Panama: 3-0. Kori Diego Continued on page 11

09 SPORTS 11 Team Belize is 2-1 at FIVB Qualifiers

82 MAY 31 JUL 12 JUN 14 19 AUG OCT JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016 2016

Belize City, September 26, 2016 Team Belize pulled off an impressive 3-1 win over powerhouse Panama for their 2nd win in their 3rd outing at the AFECAVOL World Championship qualification tournament; which the Belize Volleyball association (BVA) is hosting at the St. Catherine Academy auditorium in Belize City from Saturday, September 24 thru Friday, September 31. The top 2 teams will qualify to the NORCECA Americas tournament which qualifies the top 5 to the World Championships in Italy and Bulgaria.

Bryton Codd led Belize’s attack on Panama with 23pts to win the 1st set: 25-21, Belize started off leading 5-0 in the 2nd set and with team captain Karym Coleman scoring 13pts, they took the 2nd set: 25-12. Some

SCA Volleyball Girls Win 3 at XIX CODICADER Games Continued from page 10 and Mya Musa led the attack with the help of Annika Brown, Aya Safa and Amber Marin, spiking home points on balls set by Alyanah Musa and libero Kiara Smith. Zazie Mckenzie, Kaylene Flowers, Alexis Burn and Aliyah Alvarez came off the bench to help win the 3 sets: 25-17, 25-18, 25-15.

On Sunday evening they had also overpowered the hosts, Honduras: 2516, 25-18, and 25-19.

On Saturday, the SCA girls picked up their 1st win: 25-16, 25-18 and 25-19.

On Friday, the SCA girls had lost 0-3 to Guatemala, who took all 3 sets: 25-15, 25-19 and 25-11.

The National Secondary Schools Association volleyball champions – the Toledo Community College boys, have not done so well in the male competition, losing 0-3 to Panama on Monday.

On Sunday, they lost to Honduras, who dominated 25-8, 25-11 and 25-14.

On Saturday, Nicaragua won over TCC: 25-17, 25-15 and 25-17; and on Friday night, TCC also lost to Guatemala, who won 25-13, 25-10 and 25-12.

The Belize teams rest on Tuesday and take on Costa Rica on Wednesday and El Salvador on Thursday.

Belize men celebrate 3-1 win vs Panama

Yserri Palacio and Karym Coleman block Panama attack

loss of concentration cost them the 3rd set, which Panama won 25-20.

But the Belize defense refused to allow Panama to get back into the game and closed it off in the 4th set: 25-17. Belize also benefited from 38 unforced errors by Panama.

After the game team captain Karym Coleman commented that “We left yesterday’s loss to Guatemala behind us, moving forward focused on winning today. Panama was hungry for a win, but we were hungrier, and so we fought strongly. Our team still has

its weaknesses, like when we lost our concentration which cost us the third set Team Belize’s Cuban coach Delio Arruebuena said: “We got the win we needed, even though Panama controlled the action in the first set with strength and stability. We played very unstable, but during the technical break I had a word with the guys and told them they had to make the effort to attack harder, and it worked. Belize needs more consistency and discipline, because the players are easily distracted and lose concentration when they see familiar faces among the fans, which causes them to make costly errors.”

Team Belize had opened with a 5-set duel to win over El Salvador on Saturday night. Karym Coleman led with 28 kills at the net, and Keith Castillo added 17pts as they won 2513, 18-25, 27-25, 18-25 and 16-14.

On Sunday Team Belize lost to Guatemala which won 25-15, 25-18, 25-20.

Belize plays Nicaragua on Tuesday, the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, and after resting Thursday, they play Honduras on Friday, Sept.31. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 9:30pm, Sept. 31 after the final game.

Belmopan Compre Football Girls & Nicaragua draw 4-4 at CODICADER Games Tegucigalpa, September 26, 2016 Belize’s National Secondary Schools Association (NSSSA) football champions- the Belmopan Comprehensive girls tied 4-4 with Nicaragua in their 1st game at the 19th CODICADER Students Games at the Jose S. Ancona H. Sports Complex in Tegucigalpa last Thursday.

Jayda Brown scored a hat trick to give Compre a 3-1 lead over Nicaragua at the half. The “nicas” came back strong in the 2nd half, scoring 3 goals to take a 4-3 lead, until Vaylene Lambert scored Compre’s 4th goal for the 4-4 draw.

SCA volleyball girls win 3 games

Belmopan Compre girls draw 4-4 with Nicaragua On Friday, El Salvador won 8-1 over Compre, with Jayda Brown scoring Compre’s only consolation goal. For El Salvador, Erika Zuniga scored 5 goals, Hielana Morales added 2 goals, and Maggi Segovia scored 1 goal.

On Saturday, Compre lost to Guatemala: 0-7, as Nahomi Villeda scored a hat trick; while Yuritza Mayen, Suria Portabella, Hilary Hernandez Arias and Evelin Godoy scored a goal apiece.

On Sunday, Compre lost 1-6 to Panama, with Jayda Brown scoring Compre’s only consolation goal. For Panama, Erika Hernandez scored 2 goals, Yeisy Fuentes, Frankeca Osorio, and Lineth Cedeno scored a goal apiece,

while Maria Guevara converted a penalty.

This year’s NSSSA football champions, the Julian Cho High School boys are representing in the male tournament, but suffered 2 losses in their first 2 outings: 0-2 to Honduras on Friday, and 0-3 to El Salvador on Saturday. The team rested on Sunday. The squad includes many players whom the Football Federation of Belize has selected to train for the national U-17 team which will contest the FIFA World Cup U-17 qualifiers in Costa Rica in November. These include strikers Jeffton Apolonio and Richard Hines, midfielders Gabriel Ramos Jr. and Zerrick Cabral, and defender Kendale Nunez.

14

THE BELIZE TIMES

People’s United Party

2 OCT

2016

Celebrates 66th Anniversary Premier George Price, addressing crowd at a political meeting, March 1965.

the BELIZE TIMES PRESS

Celebrates 60Years

2 OCT

2016

THE BELIZE TIMES

A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING…!

By: Dr. Kent Novelo Though brilliantly articulate, I am not certain that the PM was able to stir any glimmer of hope in the Belizean populace with his 2016 Independence Day Address. He was forced to acknowledge our grim economic reality - a real situation suffered and lived on a daily basis by the ordinary struggling Belizean.

“But it is also a recession for which I must say at once, we will absolutely recover,” said the PM as if by his sheer willpower Belize will pull out of this situation.

“Citrus prices are robust and ticking up and the ONLY (my highlight) challenge now is financing for increased production.” That is akin to me saying that the ONLY reason that I am not a lawyer is because I didn’t study law! “The banana industry was indeed badly hit by the hurricane, but THOSE hardy farmers in the south are doing all they can to accelerate the recovery.” Take note of the PM’s choice of the third person pronoun “those.” He didn’t say “we” thus effectively telling the farmers: “you deh pan u own.”

And as for the superbond…well, the PM claimed that he would fix it before he left office, simply because he would! That pretty much summarized his speech which was devoid of any practical solution and full of wishful thinking.

More substantially however, I need to revisit the PM’s explanation for our economic plight. “We are experiencing a recession caused by the vagaries of the commodities cycle (?), agricultural sector disease, the drying up of our petroleum resources and the crash in global prices.” The PM either selectively avoided or simply forgot to mention what is presently on the front burner of the nation’s concerns and I submit…a principal cause of our situation. Let me add corruption to that equation!

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) puts it this way: “Corruption is one of the main obstacles to sustainable economic, political and social developments.” Simply put,

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corruption stifles economic growth and perpetuates poverty. The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) has set up measures aimed at “preventing corruption, including domestic and foreign bribery, embezzlement, TRADING IN INFLUENCE (read nepotism and cronyism), and money laundering.” UNCAC further points out that “corruption is the biggest impediment as it perpetuates ineffective operating systems instead

of competitive production of goods and services.”

This is the very same convention that the PM has gone to great lengths in trying to convince us that the myriad of hurdles we would need to overcome and the unbearable economic cost it would entail make the idea almost impractical. I absolutely disagree!

Corruption is most costly and an honest endeavour at eradicating it

15

by being a signatory to the UNCAC is an investment, albeit a national and not a personal one.

However, in all fairness, in the recent past, the PM did say that he would be signing on to the UNCAC. I believe he said that would happen sometime before the end of the year 2016 but, as with his election mantra, I won’t cross my fingers nor hold my breath waiting for the best to come.

Call for Proposals Consultancy: 2017-2021 NPAS Strategic Plan, 2017-2021 PACT Strategic Plan, and, 2017 PACT Institutional Assessment The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) is a national Trust and its general function is to contribute to the sustainable management and development of Belize’s natural and cultural assets for the benefit of Belizeans and the global community, both now and for future generations. PACT is governed by a Board of Directors with a mission to facilitate the development of a Five-Year Strategic Plan for the National Protected Areas System (NPAS) and to also facilitate the development of a Five Year Strategic Plan for PACT. Therefore, PACT is inviting proposals from a qualified consulting firm/team to develop the Five-Year Strategic Plan for the NPAS for the period 2017-2021, to develop the fourth PACT Strategic Plan for the period 2017-2021, and to conduct an Institutional Assessment of PACT. Objective:

The overall objective of the PACT contracting with a consultancy is to develop three integrated deliverables: A. The 2017-2021 NPAS Strategic Plan, that must fully consider, integrate and build upon: i. The National Protected Areas System Act (2015); ii. The National Protected Areas System Plan (2015); iii. The Rationalization Exercise of Belize’s PAs (2013); iv. The PACT legislation (1996, 2003, 2015); and, v. All other relevant documents.

B. The 2017-2021 PACT Strategic Plan, that must fully consider, integrate and build upon: i.

The NPAS (2017-2021) Strategic Plan; ii.

The 2011-2016 PACT Strategic Plan; iii.

The 2010 PACT Institutional Assessment Report; iv.

The PACT legislation (1996, 2003, 2015); and, v.

PACT’s 2016 Willingness to Contribute to Conservation Study.

C. The 2017 PACT build upon: i. ii. iii. iv. v.

Institutional Assessment Report, that must fully consider, integrate and The NPAS (2017-2021) Strategic Plan; The PACT (2017-2021) Updates Strategic Plan; The 2010 PACT Institutional Assessment Report and performance management scorecard; The PACT legislation (1996, 2003, 2015); PACT’s 2016 Willingness to Contribute to Conservation Study.

Qualifications required for the Consultancy The consultancy team/firm bidding on this project must have demonstrated excellence and experience in strategic planning or other similar institutional assessments, institutional monitoring (tracking) and performance evaluation, project management, adaptive planning/management, stakeholder engagement, group facilitation and meeting management, technical writing, and active listening.

16

2 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

THE SLAM-DUNK PRAYER THAT LANDED IN HEAVEN By: Norris Hall It came from center court and with a play never seen nor heard in such a public arena. It came from a man of the clothand without incense and holy water.

Bishop Christopher Glancy of the Roman Catholic Diocese was invited by the National Celebrations Committee -an official sideshow- to deliver the prayer at the official ceremonies marking the 35th anniversary of Belize’s independence.

And pray he did!

TEACH ME TO PRAY As a leading clergyman his prayer may have been inspired by the gospel of Luke. In the scriptures the disciples asked their Lord to teach them how to pray.

But it would appear that the Lord did not set aside any special and polite prayer for officialdom. The Bishop’s prayer was a breakaway from the normal “Father God” platitudes and entreaties for blessings and guidance for the leaders of the nation. Nor was it what was expected within the lofty circles of “protocol.”

REPENTANCE AND REDEMPTION The prayer was one for repentance - even for redemption by those who have sinned against the people as they worship their own graven image reflecting in a mirror. But it was intended for a mature audience. This included leaders in government - politicians with their wives and/or concubines, too taken up with their finery and in their annual sex dances for attention, displaying their plumes and reminiscent of the dance of the booby birds.

THE ABUSE OF POWER This was until certain “unrighteous” words like “abuse of power” and “cheating” began to resonate among them at this annual congregation of the cartel - the political cartel and their hangers-on. Bishop Glancy prayed how his Lord had taught him to - about those who have been elected to serve but who have “abused their sovereign power to steal from the poor and powerless and have fixed the scales and used the system to their personal advantage, cheating the nation of its limited resources for the gains of a few” instead of for the common good.

CREATING DIVISION He hammered home, through his prayer, the old applied political trick by the current government of divide and rule with its creation of division, pitting churches against each other and workers against workers and ethnic groups against each other.

The Bishop also spoke - well officially prayed - for those who have cheated the system to repay and for our political leaders to discontinue “their abuse of power on the most vulnerable.”

The former may well be the panacea for the nation’s debt crisis that the Prime Minister has resolved to fix despite the mounting national debt. The so-called superbond has become the mothership for all excuses for corruption and reckless spending.

A SLAM-DUNK WITH A SWISH In basketball parlance, the Bishop’s prayer may have been regarded as a slam-dunk. It looped all the way into heaven and on its return struck the basket with a swish. It caused bulging eyes and bobbing bald heads (no disrespect to the Prime Minister intended). But the media may have blinked with the swish, for nary a word has been reported on the classic way, in which we the people have been taught by the Bishop how to really pray.

A CREDO FOR THE “MORALITY COMMISSION” Hopefully the Bishop’s prayer could become the credo for the Prime Minister’s newly minted “Morality Commission” under the Chairmanship of his deputy and Minister of Education.

But this young man -this boy - must first learn not to imbibe or behave unseemly during the annual street Carnival or for that matter, anywhere in public. Do we have to rate his behaviour PG? Or X?

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE **Second Publication**

BY ORDER OF THE MORTGAGEE HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED, a Licensed Public Auctioneer will sell the following property at the place and time as listed.

At the Parking Lot across the street from the office of Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited, No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City on Tuesday October 11, 2016 at 10:00a.m.

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 DATED this 27th day of September 2016 All sales are strictly cash and deemed final. For more information contact: HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738 Email: hrcu@btl.net

2 OCT

17

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

MY PERSPECTIVE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

WHOSE MORALITY??

I have not written about Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Patrick Faber since he assumed that high office earlier this year. But there is no way we can let him off the hook. It is a veritable crying shame that such an individual holds the second most important executive position in the government. He just can’t behave himself!! It looks too as if most of the misbehaviour comes when he is in his cups with Devil Juice. I have to think that getting him to behave is as difficult as putting the proverbial genie back in the bottle from which it emerged once it was uncorked. Where is the accountability for this latest incident of his government-issued SUV ending up in the Caribbean Sea just off Marine Parade? I grew up in that vicinity, and back then we certainly did not see any fancy rides submerged near Memorial Park or the old Belize City Hospital.

I just have to pause to give kudos to Mose Hyde and company, who hilariously and cleverly lampooned the vehicle submersion incident on their comedy show “Bad Ting Mek Laugh.” I was holding my belly with laughter and mirth. But seriously, when you think about it, this is no laughing matter. It appears that this was a case of jealousy and spite, while Faber was putting the ‘nightcaps’ on a day of drunkenness and excess. If some person or persons connected to him did this, why have they not been held accountable? Is it because ministers, and by extension those around them, are untouchable? This foolishness of ministerial impunity has to stop.

I say what many have said before me – it is a sick joke for Hon. Faber to be named head of a soon to be constituted Morality Commission. Cannot those church leaders with whom the Prime Minister recently met see that they are being played by Dean Barrow like an accordion? I believe that I must have a modicum of respect for these men of the cloth, and that their intentions are good, but surely they have to realize that the Prime Minister is only mollifying and appeasing them. I think that these wilfully myopic church leaders are simply going along with Dean Barrow because they felt important when he sat with them at length. Naturally

they must perceive that the PM is not really governing. Instead he is merely surviving by meeting after long meeting in his attempts to propitiate everyone who would challenge him for all the mismanagement and corruption. We can see now too, that it was premature for the PM and his newly appointed Attorney General to have announced no appeal whatsoever of the recent ruling on Section 53 of the Criminal Code. He has been doing the Walk-Back dance for weeks now, and it seems set to continue, as he is getting quite a dose of Teachers Fum Fum!!

So what is it with this morality business? Norris Hall has been his usual perceptive and incisive self in writing that these church leaders have been cozying up to the PM when all he is doing is placing a pacifier in their mouth, the way an adult would seek to stop the baby from fussing. I add that it is a slap in the face to all right-thinking Belizeans that Hon. Faber would be asked to chair this proposed body. How can we forget his boasting at a UDP event about the squandering of Petrocaribe loan money, money that could have been used for the public good? He even laughed and said that if some of his people looked tipsy, it is because they were having a fine time imbibing beer and other liquor and gorging on pibil and tacos. What kind of morality is that?

I know that my morality would consider it a waste of time to be sitting and pontificating upon people’s private behaviour and presuming to tell persons who to love, when there are myriad ills plaguing our society because of the reckless stewardship over scarce resources that has occurred under this Barrow administration. To me, morality starts with doing the right thing by all Belizeans, especially youths, the poor, the elderly, and women and children who are vulnerable. Morality is about those things that really matter – liberty, dignity, decency and upliftment not intolerance of diversity and/or sitting in judgement of those who don’t adhere to our own notions of acceptability.

This is my perspective. So, I say in closing this brief jotting – Whose Morality??

For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee 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 of Assignment & Transfer of Mortgage made the 15th day of May, 2013, registered as LTU-201300866, between Belize Bank Limited (the Assignor), Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. (the Assignee), and RANDOLPH JOSEPH WILLIAMS (the Mortgagor), which said property was mortgaged by the said RANDOLPH JOSEPH WILLIAMS (the Mortgagor), to the said Belize Bank Limited on the 29th day of June, 2010 and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 22 of 2010 at Folios 217 – 244, 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. THE SCHEDULE All that freehold interest in all that lot, piece or parcel of land situated in Forest Home Village, Toledo District being rectangular in shape and more particularly bounded and described as follows:- On the North by Lot No. 168; On the South by Lot No. 170 On the East by the El Dorado Road; and On the West by Lot No. 159 being the Lot numbered 169 containing 756.557 S.M. as shown on plan annexed to Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 715 of 2008 surveyed by L.S. Tingling and shown on Plan No. 2035 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 13th day of September, 2016.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee 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 of Mortgage made the 30th day of June, 2014 between RAYMOND GARCIA (hereinafter called “the Mortgagor”) of #45 Lord’s Bank Village, Belize District, Belize, of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LIMITED (hereinafter called “the Mortgagee”) of the other part, and registered in the Land Titles Unit as LTU-201401151, 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 and parcel of land being Lot No. 45 (931.39 S.Y.) situate South of the Lord’s Bank Road, B.D.F. Housing Site, Belize District, and bounded and described as shown on Plan No. 324 of 2013 Entry No. 856 Reg. #2 A.E. TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 14th day of September, 2016.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

18

THE BELIZE TIMES

Independence Day Address By: Hon. John Briceño Leader of the Opposition

Thirty-five years ago today the Father of our Nation the Rt. Hon. George Price said and I quote: “Belize is a people with all the attributes of nationhood having one flag, one government, one constitution. Our mind imbues the democratic process.

Our hand works the mixed economy.

Our heart beats with social justice and our soul cherishes treasures of the spirit.”

Today is a day to reflect and remember those audacious words for they capture the very essence of our identity. They define us as a people who desire to live free, and who work to build a fair, just and better nation. And we will continue to do so.

Thirty-five years into this Belizean experiment, we stand here in awe of those who embarked on this important work. We must recognize and appreciate all who participated in the struggle that led to that historic 21st September 1981 and all who continued the work that has brought us to this 21st September 2016.

We take great pride in the knowledge that our Independence was not won on a battlefield with guns and bombs, but on a battlefield of ideas and aspirations, through determination and hard work.

We are the inheritors of a legacy built on the conviction that together we can and must serve our people and country, with humility, integrity and honour.

Let us remember that the work of nation building is never over and that it requires an unceasing commitment to defend those values articulated in the words of the preamble to our Constitution which recognizes

that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and upon the rule of law.

Today too many of our people have become unhinged from those noble principles that define us as Belizeans.

The Belizean heart that beats with social justice has all but stopped, fatigued by the greed and selfishness that has taken root and given rise to ever increasing poverty in our nation. In a time of so much it is not right that so many Belizeans have so little. Think of what we are doing to our future, squandering it because so many of our talented youth are being left out of school and left behind.

The unfairness of rampant cronyism and cynicism which has crept into every aspect of our lives robs our young people of their dreams, it forces them to subscribe not to the principle that knowledge is valuable, but to the notion that the only value needed to succeed comes from who you know.

Thirty-five years after independence, too many of our children go to bed hungry and too many of our elderly beg in the streets.

Where is the fairness in that?

And where is the respect for the rule of law when so many of our young men and, yes, even women, die senseless deaths in our streets? Today a second generation of young Belizeans will be entombed in their fathers’ graves in this endless cycle of violent death.

Thirty-five years later, too many of our elders are too poor to have dignified golden years; instead they must keep their tired backs to the plough. We have rewarded their contribution and sacrifice with suffering. There is no justice in any of this; only social decay and we cannot store anything of value in a broken spirit.

No Independence Day treat can paper over that. No sweet sounding words can compensate for that.

I know some of you may question whether this is the occasion for such plain speech. Others may go further to question whether I, or the Party I represent, possess the moral authority to speak of such things on such a day.

I reply with an emphatic “yes”.

Was it not our National Hero Phillip Goldson who said that the time to save your country is before

you lose it? Are we not a nation currently at risk and in the midst of an economic, social and moral recession? Is this not the appropriate time for some sober reflection? True, it can be said that during the last PUP administration all was not right, but neither were we all wrong. Yes, we all share blame for those things that have gone so wrong. No one is innocent or immune; none of us is without sin.

But we cannot fix what is wrong unless together we recognize the causes and do the right thing. We must fix it.

To show our commitment to good governance on Monday Parliamentarians of the People’s United Party presented our declaration of assets to the National Assembly.

We look forward to the day when we can do so to a fully constituted Integrity Commission and we welcome the news that the Government will sign the UN Convention against Corruption. Yes, more needs to be done, but it is a start.

We who chose to offer ourselves as political and civic leaders must never forget that our work should not be about personal gain, but about service to others, particularly the poor and disadvantaged.

The sense of arrogance and entitlement we see in too many of our leaders creates a hurdle to our social and economic development. It hinders progress and destroys our people’s confidence in our democratic and political process and leads to further erosion of our national development.

If we are to be honest, then we must recognize that too much of the greed and selfish behavior we see being displayed by those in high office is hindering our development and we must take the necessary actions to put a stop to it.

But all is not lost, for we know that when we face adversity as a united people we prevail. We know that just as we overcame the obstacles that hindered our independence movement in the 60s and 70s we will overcome the challenges of our time. No, we cannot allow our spirit to sink because so much has gone wrong. We have never feared the future, for we are a people who live in hope and in the conviction that God willing, there are brighter days ahead.

And Belizeans like the auditor general give us hope, our teachers give us hope, our children in the farthest corners of our nation gives us hope.

Throughout history we have seen that change comes from the bottom-up. This is why we uphold our democratic principles and believe that it is only through the ballot that we hold those who govern accountable for their actions. Beliz-

2 OCT

2016 eans expect and demand that their leaders always seek to do what is right, and when we do not, the people remind us in whose hands the real power lies. “la patria, según el político y escritor cubano Jose Martí, es dicha, dolor y no feudo ni capellanía de nadie.” Nosotros todos somos dueños y señores de esta tierra y de este pueblo y debemos todos aceptar la responsabilidad de lo que aquí sucede. Estamos enfrentando una crisis profunda que no nos permite desarrollar y nos hunde cada día más.

Compatriotas, Belice es una nación que ha sido bendecida con abundantes recursos naturales, con una diversidad cultural inigualable, con una población joven y enérgica, con la experiencia de nuestros mayores y con la fortaleza única de nuestras mujeres; todo esto nos da las herramientas necesarias para salir de la profunda crisis en que ahora nos encontramos y que no nos permiten desarrollar.

Este pueblo necesita un gobierno que tenga el bienestar de todo beliceño no solo de algunos como objetivo final. Juntos tenemos que hacer el esfuerzo para salvar la patria del abismo. ¡Juntos debemos de trabajar para asegurar que nuestro pueblo salga adelante.

If we are to live up to the expectations of those who worked so hard for our independence, we must see it as our sacred duty to defend and protect our nation from those domestic threats that impede our progress as well as those threats that may come from an increasingly hostile neighbour.

We must remain sovereign and strong and together as one in defense of our territorial integrity.

We must remain forever clear in our minds and actions that we will never, ever, surrender one square centimeter of what is rightfully Belizean territory.

Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow Belizeans, we face the future much like those who less than two generations ago faced it, confident that together we can realize the aspirations set down in our constitution. Today we are confident that together we can build a Belize that works for everyone. And can proudly proclaim that we fulfilled Mr. Price’s vision of a Belize where our hands work towards the promise of prosperity; our hearts beat fervently with social justice and where our soul cherishes freedom, equality, and those treasures of the spirit.

To our visitors here with us today, thank you for sharing this moment with us. And to every Belizean at home and abroad we say: Long Live Belize! Que Viva Belice!

Happy Independence Day.

2 OCT

19

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

THINKING OUT LOUD BY: KEVIN BERNARD

The teachers of this country have been abandoned by the other unions whose leaders seem unconcerned about the corruption which is tearing apart this country and cheating our poorest Belizeans of the benefits which should be theirs. The PSU and APSSM don’t seem to give a damn – they’ve decided to sit this one out. The utility unions are more concerned with Section 53, apparently, than in getting rid of corruption. Likewise the Church seems to have backed out of the equation after the PM agreed to appeal Section 53, and the Chamber seems content to do its negotiations behind closed doors with the PM, so I’m not sure what’s happening there.

I want to take this opportunity to say how proud I am of the thousands of teachers who stood up in Belmopan last week, and are still standing strong even though GOB has pulled out all the stops to attack and intimidate them. The BNTU has been accused of being all about the raise, but now the entire nation can see that our teachers are serious about fighting for structures to keep this government, and any subsequent government in check.

My friends in the BNTU – the other unions may have abandoned you in the fight for whatever reason, but trust me when I say that you are not alone. Many thousands of Belizeans stand behind you and are prepared to support you in whatever decision you make.

Please do not be deterred by the personal attacks and by the government using everything within its power to break you apart. Last week I watched the Minister of Education and the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Education pull out all the stops to keep teachers from demonstrating, without success.

Following a meeting with the Prime Minister on Thursday, the BNTU has made it clear that Mr. Barrow is not serious about doing what is necessary to address corruption in his own government.

The Prime Minister has refused to remove Godwin Hulse from the Senate process and as Minister of Police even though any ‘blindeye Jamesy’ can see it is a glaring

conflict of interest. Hulse was the Minister of Immigration during this time of stinking corruption, and his name came up in the Audit Report multiple times. Now he is the Minister of Police, in charge of any investigation into the corruption. But Mr. Barrow says that’s perfectly okay. Imagine that.

Mr. Barrow has refused to change the composition of the Senate Inquiry. PM Barrow has said that the government must have the majority on the Committee charged with the inquiry into corruption in government. How is that acceptable? Probably only in Mr. Barrow’s world…so the unions have refused to bend or bow, instead standing strong!

The Prime Minister has done what he does so well – divide and conquer. He issued a long-winded release on Sunday in which he appears to be shocked that the BNTU is standing up to him. From the words he uses and the misinformation in his address, it is obvious that he is trying to rent space in the heads of teachers so that they do not support the executive. Then he goes on to try to create division between the different unions and the social partners to make it seem that the BNTU is acting unreasonably and everybody else is completely happy with his administration.

My friends…don’t allow the PM to get into your heads. Stand strong for the cause, a cause echoed by the Opposition PUP and all right thinking Belizeans who want to see better for the country. Corruption in any form hinders the development of the country and hinders the growth of our people. The rampant corruption we have seen under this UDP administration, allowed to run unchecked by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, is causing untold damage to our people and pushing us further into poverty while devastating our economy.

I am proud particularly of the Orange Walk Branch of the BNTU which has been at the forefront of the struggle with government. I say again that you are not alone.

The cause is just and the time to save our country is NOW. SOLIDARITY FOREVER!

SOLIDARITY! By: Eduardo Santos The right of peaceful protest is a crucial part of any democratic society. Protesters can look to a number of different rights as set out in the human rights act: the right to peaceful assembly; the right to freedom of expression; the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; and the right to privacy. We are at a crossroads within our society with some of our present government ministers and supporters being caught participating in some dubious actions that are not being properly addressed by the Prime Minister as the leader of the government.

The present impasse between the UDP government and the Belize National Teacher’s Union is about much more than the long delayed increment that should have been paid since April 2016. As a responsible union whose members are tasked with preparing our future leaders, it is only fitting that they are fighting against what we perceive as the social injustice we all face. Whenever corruption occurs, the cost is always being borne not by the government but rather by the entire population as it is only through the collection of taxes that the government can function.

With all the other unions somewhat beaten into submission, the BNTU is fighting for the welfare of Belize on its own. While the Public Service Union (PSU) does have a greater membership, there is a threat to job security as with every major salary adjustment it would always be followed with the retrenchment of government workers so as to decrease the wage bill. We saw this in 1995 when the UDP government callously terminated 800 public servants just before the Christmas break. Not even the Grinch could have been that mean!

In 2005 there was a cut back on workers to the tune of 100 public service officer through staff containment and staff in transition policies.

The teachers are an extension of the family. While the parents are to provide food, shelter

and security for their children, it is the teachers who do the majority of work molding the students into productive citizens. With that in mind it would be hypocritical to be teaching our children to do the right things when our social leaders are doing the total opposite. We are living in an advanced technological age where information is being disseminated at a rapid speed and in a format where everyone can easily grasp the urgency of the situation. Gone are the days where the only way people could be informed about social issues is through the government radio station and even that was heavily censored. All we need to do is to go online and in a matter of minutes we can get the three sides to any story.

So why is the Belize National Teachers Union being vilified by the government and their followers?

Because they had the audacity to take the high road and demand reform to some of the practices and to appoint a proper commission to thoroughly investigate the Auditor General’s Special Report concerning the actions within the Immigration Department. The government is adamant that it will not pursue this action because this commission would be the government’s death knell. In the end, history will reveal that the actions of the BNTU had naught to do with politics but with a concerned union’s attempt to hold government to its word of good governance. Our country is one large extended family and our teachers are just expanding their role so that each and every individual is held responsible for their actions. If a student does not take his studies seriously he may drop out of school and become detrimental to society. If a government becomes corrupt it needs to be reined in at all costs before its actions cause our entire country to collapse under the ineptitude and mismanagement and abuse. The teachers of Belize have now expanded their classes outside the norm and we all should stand in solidity with them for a society without a just government will sooner or later become a dictatorship.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2 OCT

2016

EDITORIAL en Espanol Dictador de Pacotilla Un gobernante autocrático con poca credibilidad política, pero con delirios de grandeza....

Es sin pesar que anunciamos la muerte de toda la confianza y la fe en el Primer Ministro Dean Barrow y su administración UDP. El Señor Dean Barrow nos pidió que imagináramos las posibilidades en 2008, y mientras que nosotros como pueblo no carecemos de imaginación, nada podría habernos preparado para lo que hoy en día enfrentamos – un gobierno carente de integridad, moralidad o decencia y un pueblo carente de alguna esperanza bajo este UDP. El comunicado por video transmitido domingo por el Señor Barrow es contundente. Parecía más un niño petulante que líder de la nación, enfurruñado porque los representantes de la BNTU no le dan un chupetín y no lo miman ni le ponen atención a sus rabietas. Algunas veces durante la declaración de nueve minutos, parecía incapaz de comprender que nadie quería comer sus zanahorias podridas, y nadie le tenía miedo a su garrote.

El Primer Ministro no entiende que el brillo se le ha desgastado y él ha sido expuesto como nada más que un patético Dictador de Pacotilla.

La nación necesita su purgante. Se ha enfermado. Nos hemos convertido en el secreto sucio mejor guardado de la madre naturaleza. Pregúntele a John McAfee o William Danny Mason o David Nanes Schnitzer o Wonhong Kim, si es que lo puedes encontrar. Nos hemos convertido en una opción fácil para los corruptos, un centro de corrupción y un parque infantil para los corruptos. ¿Por qué? ¡Porque nuestra gente en el poder es tan eminentemente corruptible!

Hemos llegado a este punto, donde un empleado del gobierno, la Contralora General se ve obligada a documentar cientos de páginas de la asquerosa corrupción, porque el Señor Barrow sacrificó su machete de doble filo al Dios del Poder. Hemos llegado a este punto donde le es más accesible el derecho de nacimiento a los extranjeros que nunca han tocado nuestras costas que a beliceños natos porque los ministros de gobierno ahora reconocen que la corrupción paga – y el Señor Barrow, de rodillas ante el Dios del Poder, lo ignoro. La nación está plagada de corrupción... desde el Departamento de tierras hasta el Departamento de Policía y todo lo entremedio. ¡Y cómo han sufrido los Beliceños! El Señor Barrow derrochó cientos de millones de dólares de fondos del Petrocaribe, donados de Venezuela. Casi 400 millones de dólares, especialmente destinados a aliviar la pobreza... y el Señor Barrow lo uso todo, no para los pobres, sino para mantenerse en el poder. Gasto todo ese dinero en política y estética, mientras que los pobres permanecier-

on pobres, y la llamada clase media, apenas aferrándose en tan mal situación económica se volvieron más pobres.

El Sr. Barrow consiguió su tercer mandato ¿pero cuál fue el costo a pueblo?

Aun cuando gasto y gasto y gasto, el Señor Barrow presto y presto y presto. Se negó a escuchar advertencias de la Oposición, palabras como una deuda insostenible. Él no escucho porque cree que lo sabe todo y que es el más inteligente de todos. Ahora la economía está en recesión y las únicas opciones inmediatas a su disposición son destituciones y más impuestos.

Es demasiado. Se ha llegado al punto de inflexión. Y mientras el Señor Barrow es exclusivamente culpable de lo que se le ha hecho a la nación, y el movimiento hoy es gracias a él... no es sobre él. Se trata del buen gobierno y buena gobernabilidad.

El Partido Unido del Pueblo apoya a los profesores de este país porque es lo que se debe hacer por el país y por el pueblo, no como un asunto de conveniencia política. Es bueno el impulso a la buena gobernabilidad y las estructuras que limitan la capacidad de los políticos al abuso y mal uso de nuestros sistemas para beneficio personal. La Comisión de Integridad es algo bueno, algo necesario. En el corto plazo, una investigación del Senado sobre los informes del Auditor General es lo correcto. Un Comité de Cuentas Públicas reestructurado y fortalecido es algo esencial, fundamental para la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas.

Ya es hora que se descarte el status quo para que el barco no sólo se agite pero que vuelque. Esto se ha prolongado y se ha ido demasiado lejos.

Hacemos un llamado a todos los interlocutores sociales a unirse en lo bueno, en lo necesario. Si usted no puede ver la corrupción que se ha infiltrado en cada sector y cada faceta de nuestra sociedad como una plaga insidiosa, entonces usted debe estar ciego voluntariamente y deliberadamente. Si no desea ver suprimida y erradicada la corrupción y buen gobierno restablecido a la gente, entonces usted debe estar beneficiando de alguna manera de él. Si no se une al movimiento para responsabilizar al gobierno – no para derrocar al gobierno sino a exigir que nuestros líderes se den cuenta que el poder del pueblo es mayor que el de la gente en el poder, entonces ojala que la historia le absuelva de esa pasividad.

Hace más o menos una década el Señor Barrow exigió “una sostenida campaña de desobediencia civil”. Ah! cómo debe el desear seguir siendo el matón carismático de aquellos días, en lugar del Dictador de Pacotilla cuyos llamados se han vuelto en contra de él. ¡PODER AL PUEBLO!

2 OCT

2016

THINK ABOUT IT

OUR TEACHERS It has come to this.

Dean “whiff of corruption” Barrow is attacking the President and Executive of the Teachers Union. He is not as crude as Patrick Faber who publicly insulted the teachers and called their President a PUP…then threatened any and all teachers with a salary deduction if they dared to march in last Monday protest.

Mr. Barrow’s threat was insidious and a tragedy. He mentioned in his video message how all the social partners and most of the other Unions had compromised and agreed with his various proposals all but the BNTU. It is an obvious attempt to isolate the BNTU and prepare public opinion for the attack which will be coming.

That attack will feature an application for an ex-parte injunction in the Supreme Court to prevent any protest or industrial action this coming Monday or any other day for that matter.

The BNTU needs to quickly sit with their attorneys and discuss their limited legal options.

One way to frustrate any attempt to use the Court to get an injunction is for the BNTU to formally inform the Education Ministry that their eight point agenda is now nine points. This means including the three percent salary increase where the government is violating a written contract to pay teachers. This will make the Monday protest a legal and valid industrial action which will prevent the Supreme Court from issuing an injunction.

Everyone involved needs to read the Supreme Court decision in Claim 85 of 2005 when the Belize National Teachers Union took the Attorney General and Chief Education Officer to Court on the very same issues that are coming up again, this time under the politician turned Prime Minister who promised that even the whiff of corruption would be decapitated.

That was then when he hungered and lusted for power. He pretended to be sincere and genuflected to the will of the Teachers Union, Public Service Unions, Utilities, BTL and other unions.

Now, in power since 2008, how the man has changed. What a change. Every single commitment, so seriously and publicly given, has been broken and dashed into the garbage bag.

Accountability, gone! Transparency, gone! Reacquiring public assets such as the airport and border

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THE BELIZE TIMES

management, gone!

End waste, gone. End the rental of private buildings, gone. (Millions of dollars are transferred to private individuals, including the Prime Minister’s brother). Reduce the hiring of contract officers from the ranks of political cronies, gone. There are currently over three hundred contract employees costing fourteen million dollars each year. Multiply fourteen million by 8 ½ years and see the massive waste and abuse of precious taxpayers’ monies taking place. One hundred and twenty million dollars! This is criminal.

Huge tax concessions to the foreign owned Sugar Factory, the Norwegian Cruise and the many crony businesses…

Huge reduction in the gambling tax given to Princess Casino which it is alleged was represented by the Prime Minister’s law firm….

A massive increase in the number of Ministers and Ministries in order to reward every UDP politician...

Millions of dollars in additional offices, staff, vehicles, travel allowances and operating expenses!

The promised reduction in the cost of living has been turned upside down. Life was never this hard.

G.S.T is at 12 ½ percent. Instead of going down it will be going up.

Petrol, at a historic low from $150.00 to $40.00 dollars a barrel is now $9.00 and $10.00 a gallon for suffering Belizeans.

Instead of what should be a low bus fare given the horrible buses and discomfort to commuters, prices are going up.

Crime, murders, poverty, unemployment are all at historic levels after eight years of Dean Oliver Barrow.

The number of young people not in schools is more than those who are…a handful at Sixth Forms and even less at University. What is to become of us if the only futures we have are uneducated and sit idly, watching soap operas and fake reality TV? This is the lives of our people that you are condemning to an empty future Mr. Prime Minister. How could you do this to us?

And, then there is corruption, an ugly, dirty word for an ugly dirty practice…a practice that has become fine-tuned under the Barrow administration. Gangsters are carrying the title of honourable.

The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly has been busted and made defunct. After eight years we have gone from grace to grass. Nothing so exemplifies an ineffective Parliament than

an ineffective, inoperative regulatory body set up to oversee the use, misuse and abuse of public funds.

It is no coincidence that this important committee has been sabotaged

by Barrow.

The Integrity Commission has suffered the very same fate, deliberately undermined.

Belize is one of the few countries in the world making excuses in 2016 for why it cannot sign, much less implement the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention.

Oh Barrow, Barrow how did you come to this?

How? If you are in charge of the thirty thieves, does that make you Ali Baba Barrow?

And teachers, the nation’s hope for its future. You made a contract to pay them their needed salary

increase. How could you just spend it on your re-election and then blame hurricane? Did you not set the teacher’s monies one side, not to be touched? You are worthless to spend it on your reelection.

Any efforts by the Prime Minister to attack the Teachers Union leaders should not only be exposed, but strongly condemned by every other Union in Belize, so too by other social partners.

Let there be no mistake, a principle and country’s future are at stake. Belize deserves better than what is happening - much, much better.

“Arise ye sons and daughters of the nation’s clans, put on your armour, it’s time to clear corruption from the land.”

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Companies listed below have been dissolved and duly struck off the IBC Register as follows: NAME OF COMPANY PETUS PORTFOLIO INC. MESARI ASSOCIATED S.A. DUNKELD INTERNATIONAL LTD. KURLAND INVESTMENT LTD. HANDLEY DEVELOPMENT CORP. STROOD ENTERPRISES CORP. CHISWICK MANAGEMENT INC. PROVESTA HOLDING S.A. BECHAN HOLDINGS LIMITED LAREDO SHIPPING LTD. OLDTOWN PROPERTY S.A. LUXURY TIME LTD. CASTILHO PARTNERS INC. MAPLETREE INVESTMENTS LTD. PRAIRIE CONSULTANCE CORP. LAZUR SHIPPING LTD. INNSBROOK CONSULTING INC. DOCKERY ENTERPRISES LTD. FLOYD FINANCIAL INC. BRYNE INVESTMENT LTD. ESINA COMPANY INC. EYOT LTD. FOXVILLAGE LTD. GIORGIALDI LTD. GOLDENFIELD LTD. GREENFOREST LTD. IMPRESSIONIST LTD NATIONWIDE LTD. ONION LTD. REDHILL MANAGEMENT LTD. SILENT HILL LTD. SMIPAR LTD. WILYWIND LTD. CONRAN HOLDING LIMITED PARADIGM INVESTMENTS LIMITED PHOBOS INTERNATIONAL INC. CUMBERWELL UNIVERSAL S.A. MONGROVE FINANCE CORP. LYNDOCH BUSINESS CORP. ZERUSIL MANAGEMENT S.A. COALTON DEVELOPMENT CORP. BRANDON FASHION CORPORATION PLATO CONSULTORS E SERVICOS LDA S.A. NEVELLMOON COMPANY INC. WAKE UNIVERSAL S.A. UNEC S.A. DALMATA MANAGEMENTS INC. MULTILINK DEVELOPMENTS S.A. THE TRIDIMENSIONAL CORPORATION HONG AN SHIPPING CO., LTD.

Date of Dissolution 1-Jul-16 1-Jul-16 1-Jul-16 1-Jul-16 2-Jul-16 2-Jul-16 2-Jul-16 5-Jul-16 7-Jul-16 8-Jul-16 8-Jul-16 9-Jul-16 9-Jul-16 12-Jul-16 12-Jul-16 13-Jul-16 16-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-06 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 21-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 23-Jul-16 26-Jul-16 26-Jul-16 28-Jul-16 28-Jul-16 28-Jul-16 29-Jul-16 29-Jul-16 29-Jul-16 29-Jul-16

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Ltd.

22

THE BELIZE TIMES

THE WONDERER AND 66 FOOT RESERVES

2 OCT

2016

Many Belizeans and the new Belizeans, thanks to those 55,000 sold passports who own land in Belize have always wondered about the famous or infamous 66’ reserve. In order to understand I decided to wander around and google for a while. I thought it best to showcase 2 articles. The one by the Government of Belize which is published annually and an article written by one of the most respected lawyers in Belize, Eamon Courtenay. His article does a great job describing the water side laws of Belize. Belizeans please read and understand the history of this 66’ reserve and it’s consequences.

The irony in H is that the bank took away the first property closer to the highway and sold it to a new concern. The new owner thought he owned the entire property, just to find out that he did not have access to the sea since the sea reclaimed property was another title. The worst irony is that the seafront property became an island as he has no access to mainland. When the GOB placed the notice this year on their webpage some comments were “Hope they apply the rule even-handedly” “Come to Maya Beach and see construction taking place on the 66’ reserve” “Unless you are a cruise line, right?”. Yes amigo, Belmopan makes them special like Good Brandy, VSOP. Very Special, Old & Pale.

The photographs (A, B, C, D & E) shows you where lots are practically in the 66 feet reserve. The abuse of the 66’ occurs especially along the coastline, both mainland and islands, especially in Ambergris Caye and Placencia etc. The use of the 66’ reserve is becoming rampant and especially the 66’ reserve is becoming property. I can undertsand the use of this 66 feet for some non-permanent use but to use it permanent and have title for it, Whoa! Is some money exchange happening in Belmopan or is it that they just don’t give a damn. Can Belmopan please explain whats happening? I can recall wandering along the coast of North Ambergris and the white Belizeans actually have the 66 feet completely fenced.

You have to walk inside the sea to continue. There is another case on one of the islands where a boat broke down and they managed to approach a pier in crown land and they were chased away by the resort owners. White of course. They don’t understand our laws, don’t care, or they were given special priviledges by Belmopan.

Look at photo F in the Ladyville zone and you will see a red dotted line showing the normal coastline. How the hell was a permit acquired to reclaim so much seabed out into the sea? Now look at photo G & H. Photo G shows you when there was nothing or normal coastline with some erosion and H shows you how land was acquired by reclaiming the sea. This is ridiculous. If you lost some land due to erosion I can understand receiving a permit to reclaim some sea parallel to your property but to reclaim sea and then give you a new and additional title is nonsense.

The Wonderer makes a call to the UDP GOB, especially to the new Minister of Lands, a learned Sister who should understand the laws better than some of us. Please straighten this thing up. Tighten the reigns of the unscrupulous officers who were once good officers but started hustling due to the previous leaderships. All of Belmopan must start tightening up on the hotbed of corruption…….for God’s sake and for the sake of the jewel!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! QUE VIVA BELIZE! ONE BELIZE! THE WONDERER – thewondererbz@gmail.com

2 OCT

23

THE BELIZE TIMES

2016

Mother Nature’s Best Kept (Dirty) Secret

The Dangerous Life of McAfee Wednesday, 28 September 2016 As we go to press, there is no indication that the Belize Police Department has moved to round up persons who appeared on a recent Showtime documentary entitled Gringo – The Dangerous Life of John McAfee. Incredibly, a Showtime film crew was able to travel to Belize for a few weeks and solve not one, but two murders. Not only that, but they got confessions on camera, as well as detailed descriptions of how both murders occurred.

One man, McAfee’s driver, describes quite casually how he was given instructions to round up thugs to beat down a man from Carmelita who had offended McAfee, and how he went about it. Another man, his face disguised, described how the victim, David Middleton, was cruelly tortured before being dumped in a street in Carmelita. Middleton died from that beating, described on camera.

Another man, McAfee’s care-

taker, described how he deposited money from McAfee into the account of an alleged hired killer, hours before US National Greg Faull was shot to death in his home on San Pedro. The caretaker also described how just after the shooting he picked up the killer near Faull’s home and took him to McAfee’s home on the island.

The documentary described the sordid sex life of McAfee, but more than that it described a scenario

tary, “no crime in Belize has ever been solved using forensic evidence.”

One thing is certain. The image of Belize was not helped by that documentary. The country has been tainted with the stink of Immigration corruption to the extent that foreign countries doubt the veracity of our nationality documents.

Player in the highest levels of the Cabinet and Police Department are seen as up for hire or seduction, brought to the fore during the recent William Danny Mason scandal. And now an exposé on the gringo, John McAfee, an all too real depiction, has revealed that Belize is Mother Nature’s Best Kept Dirty Secret.

NOTICE SMP LIMITED No. 54,898

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICE Notice is hereby given that Yancy Rubio is applying for a Malt & Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Sara’s Fast Food”, situated at # 2664 Albert Hoy Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT PURSUANT TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT – S.I. 110 OF 2002, THAT LUIGI VIDAL OF CHUNOX VILLAGE HAS APPLIED TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (PUC) FOR AN INTERNET NETWORKS INDIVIDUAL LICENSE IN THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE. WE ALSO WANT TO ADVISE YOU THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BELIZE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 2002, SI 110 OF 2002 THAT LUIGI VIDAL OF CHUNOX VILLAGE HAS APPLIED TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION FOR THE FREQUENCY SPECTRUM AUTHORIZATION TO OPERATE &/OR PROVIDE (INTERNET SERVICE) THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE. LOCATION: Chunox Village

with which Belizeans have become very familiar. The ex-antivirus guru was able to come to Belize and with the judicious application of money in the right or wrong places, was able to live as he wished. Eyewitnesses relate how McAfee assembled his own heavily armed militia in Carmelita and in San Pedro, without interference from the Police.

Belize was portrayed in the gritty documentary as a seedy haven for the perverse, with seemingly anything and everything available for a price. And perhaps all too real was the portrayal of a law enforcement system which does not work.

As one senior investigator for the BPD pointed out in the documen-

FREQUENCY (MHZ): 5 GHz

(“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102(4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that SMP Limited: A) Is in dissolution B) Commenced dissolution on the 26th day of September, 2016 and C) Mr. Theodoulos Montis whose address is 2, Michael Karaoli Street, Engomi 2404, Nicosia, Cyprus is the Liquidator of the Company.

CIL Trust International Limited Registered Agent

NOTICE

24

THE BELIZE TIMES

2 OCT

2016