Belize Times October 6, 2013

SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

6 OCTOBER 2013 | ISSUE NO: 4865

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

Resign or be Recalled PUP says Penner MUST GO!

Opposition Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca defends Belize against the UDP’s skulduggery

Belize City, October 3, 2013 Opposition Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca has issued an ultimatum to discredited UDP Area Representative Elvin Penner: Resign or be Recalled.

On Wednesday October 2nd Hon. Fonseca wrote to Penner indicating that he had until 5:00pm on Monday October 7th, to do what is in “the best interest of the people of Cayo North East” and resign. Failing that, Hon. Fonseca warned, “the PUP along with the electors of that division will initiate your RECALL”.

Hon. Fonseca informed Penner that he has lost the trust and confidence of those he represents and so he has one last opportunity to “put the interest of the people ahead of the United Democratic Party”.

Penner is involved in the fraudulent issu-

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PUP Leader Hon. Francis addresses supporters at PUP 63 birthday celebration

Elvin Penner

LETTER TO PENNER 2 October 2013 Hon. Elvin Penner Member Cayo North East Belize

Dean Barrow refuses to call for a criminal investigation

Francis heralds “new chapter of the revolution” at PUP 63rd birthday Belize City, September 29, 2013 There was no standing room left at the historic Independence Hall as leaders and supporters of the People’s United Party (PUP) gathered to celebrate the party’s fulfilment of its 63rd year of service on Saturday September 28th.

Over the past six decades, the PUP has had a riveting history which rivals others in the region and the world. It’s Leader Emeritus Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, who passed away two years ago, was the last of the living Fathers of Independence

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Corruption Cover Up! Pg. 31

Hon. Elvin Penner, RESIGN OR BE RECALLED I write on behalf of the people of Belize, and in particular, the people of the Cayo North East Division to DEMAND your immediate resignation as the Member for Cayo North East Division in the House of Representatives of Belize.

I am authorized by the National Executive of the People’s United Party to advise you that if you fail to resign as the Member of Cayo North East by 5pm, Monday, October 7th, 2013, the People’s United Party along with the electors of that division, will initiate your RECALL as the Divisional Representative

Hulse presides over corruption at Immigration

THE PUP WILL SERVE THE PEOPLE

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OPINION OUT

OUT

Barrow has fallen

!

Dear Editor, Dean Barrow has fallen. Fallen from grace to grass with no moral authority over his people nor his cabinet. It was clear that when he stood up last Friday to speak, by the tone of his voice he wasn’t too happy.

He sounded guilty, knowing the Belizean people have seen that in the UDP Cabinet are a bunch of petty thieves, hustlers, thugs, gangsters and imbeciles. Barrow apologized for the actions of Minister Elvin Penner, but he fell short of allowing the Police to investigate and make arrests.

Barrow said one thing, but his actions say something else.

How can Barrow claim to be sorry for the act of treason, but yet he refuses to investigate a well-orchestrated plot that saw our patrimony disrespected when a Belizean passport ended in the hands of a criminal in jail.

Barrow’s refuses to commission an inquiry in the interest of the nation to find out who is responsible.

Barrow must come clean to the Belizean people and let the chips fall where they may.

Belizeans have had enough of this circus. Barrow must stop taking us for fools. With so much corruption stinking up the country, he must do the right thing and call the elections now!

Signed.

Larry Sutherland

LOCAL 4 Oct

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

I blame Hulse!

!

Dear Editor, The last time the Prime Minister checked with Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse about the passport goings on, Minister Hulse’s response was “all in order sir”. But little did the people know that Penner’s hands were at work.

What we the people want to know is how with all the so-called check and balance and security systems, a criminal sitting in jail in Taiwan can get a Belizean passport in one day, on one application attempt and have a high powered diplomatic team of Belizeans travel all the way across the pacific ocean and deliver it?

I know of many cases, when actual Belizeans are hassled back and forth just to get a renewed passport because there is one letter missing on their birth paper, or a signature missing. But here is a case where someone who was never in Belize, never qualified for a birth paper, nor residency, nor nationality got his and with the help of a Minister!

Clearly the problem is not with us Belizeans. And clearly the measures put in by non elected Godwin Hulse is too restrictive and harsh for us Belizeans, but too easy to circumvent for the UDP politicians. The problem lies in Cabinet, sir, where no amount of firewall will protect us against greed and corruption except you remove that every piece of legislation that state “the mister shall”.

Just ask Saldivar, Penner, Castro, Mark King, Herman Longsworth, Santi, Pablo, Gapi and Dean Barrow who have shown that greed has no bounds.

Name withheld Immigration Officer Grade II, Belmopan

weather 5 Oct

6 Oct

7 Oct

268 Mar Oct

2013

OUT

OUT

All Young People Deserve an EQUAL Opportunity

PENNER MUST GO!

!

Dear Editor, Please allow me space to discuss the concept of equal opportunity for all young people in Belize, as Executive Director of Teens Belize Organization.

Young people, as we all know, make up more than half of Belize’s growing population. They are the future of this nation. But the future is dim, very dim. If we take a closer look at the manner in which our young people are people “nurtured”, it doesn’t look promising for us. The system that is in place gives priority to the “more privileged few”, leaving the majority of youth, which are mostly poor, out there. The system locks them out. It shuts the door. The prize of fairness and equality is not practiced and will not be, until the system that “works” our economy is fixed. The LEADERS of today need to realize that if this is not fixed, BELIZE will become a “troublesome, fearful, and undemocratic “place. Injustice will reign supreme.

I believe that all young people in Belize deserve the right to an equal opportunity for their potential to be unleashed, and for it to be “nourished” for equitable growth, in order to become someone. It is time to move away from nepotism, and greed, and selfishness. It is time for our policies to be organized in a fashion that will aid in the positive construction of equal opportunities. I only hope the Government of the Day precedes with dignity to facilities this measure that will help Belize in the years to come.

All young people should have the opportunity to spotlight their God-given talent with a high degree of confidence that will enable them to fulfill their goal, and become a nation builder. Moreover, it is important for us, as young Belizeans, to know the chalContinued on page 14

!

Dear Editor: After listening to the interviews given by the PM and Minister Hulse I am convinced that they are protecting Penner in this whole passport fiasco.

The reporter from KREM RADIO is telling the PM that a fraud has been committed and he got arrogant to the fact. How can someone carry in a photo to the Passport Office and submit it for a Passport and it is accepted? Something doesn’t sound right. Also when you apply for a passport the officer takes your picture to put on the passport; none is brought in, so isn’t that a fraud, Mr. PM. I used to believe Minister Hulse was for fairness but after that interview with Jules Vasquez I have no faith and trust in him. He should resign and step down.

Mr. PM, please stop being chief investigator and attorney for Penner and let the proper authorities do their job. I don’t have any more trust in the PM and Minister Hulse unless they ask Penner to step down as an area representative.

Signed, Hakeem Bush SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus EDITOR

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By The Belize Times Press Ltd. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

27 Mar Oct 6 9Feb

Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

editortimes@yahoo.com

Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.50

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.01

Eastern Caribbean Euro (XCD):$ 1.36 (EUR) : $ 0.37

Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR (GBP): $ 0.31 (GTQ): $ 3.98 (CAD): $ 0.52

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.08

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.21

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 31.07

6 OCT

03 3

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Cayo North East gets ready for Recall “Penner Got To Go” Rally in San Ignacio on Sunday

Belize City, October 2, 2013 The people of the Cayo North East constituency are waiting patiently for the recall process of disgraced UDP Elvin Penner to get underway.

The PUP’s Orlando Habet, who lost the 2012 elections to Penner by a mere 17 votes and the returning officer’s refusal to carry out a recount, has canvassed the communities far and near, consulting with the people on what to do with the toxic UDP area representative.

The people have responded: REMOVE HIM! Habet and the PUP Cayo North East Committee have organized with flyers and petition documents, for petitioners to sign in support of the removal of Penner. Teams of volunteers have been set up who are ready to step out on to the field. They will invoke the limited powers they have under the Recall of Elected Representatives Act. Penner has remained in denial, despite the increasing outrage against his actions. He continues to claim that he will “serve his people”.

Through the recall mechanism, the people of Cayo North East will serve Penner the first

punishment for his involvement in the most recent of passport scandals.

30% of the electorate in the constituency need to sign a petition calling for a Recall.

Once the sufficient petitions are in, the Governor General would issue an order to the Chief Elections Officer for the referendum process to start. 65% of the voters of that referendum must then support the recall of the representative.

The Opposition PUP has called on Penner to do the right thing and resign by Monday, October 7. Should he refuse, the PUP will seek the recall with full force.

To prepare for this, a “Penner Got the Go” rally will be held this Sunday afternoon at the Falcon Field in San Ignacio starting at 2pm. The field is located inside the Cayo North East constituency.

Allegations that come out. Sensitize people to know what is going on – telling persons to pursue. 7 teams that are going to 7 villages.

Buses to transport community residents from all seven villages, Esperanza, Santa Familia, Billy White, Duck Run I, Duck Run II, Duck Run III and Los Tambos will be available.

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE B Y O R D E R O F T H E M O RT G A G E E H O LY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED, a Licensed Public Auctioneer will sell on site the following property at the time as listed.

At No. 2 16th Street, Barrio Pobre Area, San Ignacio Town, Cayo District on Thursday, 17th October 2013 at 11:00 am ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 533.3 square yards and being Lot No. 748 situate at San Ignacio Town, Cayo District (now Parcel 2700, Block 23, Cayo North Registration Section) and more particularly delineated on Plan No. 145 of 1987 attached to the Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 145 of 1987 dated 12th January 1988 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of ELSIE AUGUST and DANIEL ANTONIO AUGUST JR. (Jointly) DATED this 3rd day of October 2013 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

CitCo

Sweetheart

deals

Belize City, September 30, 2013 Can the Mayor of Belize City tell us that the Arguelles Company has not been handpicked for yet another CitCo multi-million dollar contract?

This time it’s the Commercial Center for a whopping $2.3 million.

It appears that under the present Mayor, only the same rich and wealthy people can eat and will eat. Memorial Park was done by the Arguelles. Battlefield Park was done by the Arguelles. Coney Drive – the Arguelles. Portions of North Front Street – the Arguelles. Belama Streets – the Arguelles. And now, the Commercial Center too??

How much more shall many other contractors stand by and watch as they get the crumbs but CitCo sweethearts get the plums.

This may be similar to what SIF did in Dangriga – choosing cronies to do jobs. This time it’s even worst.

CitCo pretends it is interested in a transparent bidding process, only to give the job to their sweetheart contractors. If you think it’s a lie, just ask the contractors. They are singing like canaries.

4 04

on the

PUP: Proud History – Exciting Future

By Francis W. Fonseca On Saturday, September 29, 2013 the great People’s United Party celebrated its 63rd year of existence.

Founded in 1950, the first 30 years of the PUP’s history is defined by the work and vision of our great leader, George Price.

The peaceful, constructive revolution was focused on the creation of the Belizean identity and nation.

Self-government followed

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

by Independence some 17 years later.

Said Musa was a part of the PUP team that achieved political Independence and from 1996 to 2008 as PUP leader, Musa’s focus was solidifying Belize’s place in the international community as a sovereign, independent nation, putting in place the foundation for a mod-

ern economy, aggressively expanding educational opportunities, and igniting a cultural reawakening.

In March of 2008, John Briceño assumed leadership of the Party at a very difficult and challenging time. Briceño worked tirelessly and at great personal sacrifice to

2013 start the process of rebuilding and restoring confidence in our great party.

His hard work and sacrifice undoubtedly reaped important dividends for our Party in the 2012 elections.

In 2013 we must build on the legacy of our former leaders and focus on a strong, united, effective PUP that will once again win elections and get back to work building Belize.

The next PUP Government will focus on three core areas: 1. G O V E R NANCE REFORM 2. ECONOMIC

REFORM 3. E D U C A TION REFORM We will fix once and for all the broken institutions of Governance and make them work for all Belizeans.

We will build a modern, creative, innovative economy with jobs and economic opportunities for all.

And we will take a comprehensive, progressive review of our education system and make it relevant to Belize’s development.

PUP: PROUD HISTORY!! EXCITING FUTURE!!

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

05 5

EDITORIAL PENNER: BARROW’S BABY

T

he Penner story is far from over.

The UDP will try to fight the inevitable death of Penner’s political life. The prize of government is too addictive for them.

Barrow has calculated that the skin of teeth that he won by in 2012 has disappeared.

In the last television interview, Barrow who pretends to be untouchable and above even himself was bleeding.

His head was tight and his options non-existent. It is was so clear that his exit plan is to defend those two seats despite what cost is paid from his already bankrupt moral authority.

But there are a few things we need to point out. The first is that Penner’s crash of humiliation and criminality was predictable. The PUP tried to ring that alarm bell, and to be fair, the people of Belize responded to the warnings. The UDP subverted the democratic process and so here we are with a decomposing and disgraced Penner.

See, Penner is Dean Barrow’s baby. Just as how Pablo Marin is a Barrow baby. So is the despised Gaspar Vega, Barrow’s baby. They are his creations. They are proof of the kinds of politicians that he chooses. Not too bright and not too full of integrity.

We remember Penner as the same politician who was irregularly “processing” nationality papers on the hood of his truck, in plain view of the cameras. Penner has long been in the circle of a suspicion as to his own nationality issues of whether he has a competing Canadian nationality himself.

With all that he barely slipped by only avoiding defeat by less than twenty votes.

Then comes self-righteous Godwin Hulse who has lost all credibility with the public. No wonder that the CEO in the Ministry of Immigration is none other than John Saldivar’s Sister. These are all with the consent of Barrow who is in charge.

The other big story is that we at BELIZE TIMES realized another trend. It is the fact that UDP has dirty money funding them. The campaign finance angle has been touched by no one.

First there were drug planes which landed in the

north and south and were connected to UDP financiers. Then there are all these SIF contract irregularities and their connections to UDP cronies. Then there are planes which fly in and out of our international airport with no one punished.

The passports sold just mean more dirty money for the UDP campaign. Let’s be honest, everyone knows that the UDP did not sell these passports one at a time. So the dirty money which was coming direct to the UDP was a whole lot more than just that hundred thousand. Let’s not forget that it was, according to the news, millions in embezzlement monies. So the UDP are being fueled by dirty money.

Barrow is trying to make a lot of noise about Penner’s termination, he has no choice. The mighty United States is forcing him to surrender Penner. So Barrow is playing to the fool when he beats his chest and says “I am punishing Penner”. A salary cut and a public slap on the wrist is nothing. He should be put on trial for aiding an international criminal, fraud and obstruction of justice.

Penner is, politically, the walking dead. The UDP will try to make smoke and mirrors. They know that his demise is inevitable whether by by-elections or the next early general elections.

The real story is the elephant called Castro. Why is Barrow not firing Castro? He is hoping all the attention is poured into Penner and that the international incident of Castro’s sexual scandal or crime is washed out.

Two UDP Minister criminals equal the fall of Barrow’s charade. That is the big story. Barrow will sacrifice a couple pieces on the checker board to distract.

This UDP government is rotting from the corruption and scandals that have always been a part of them.

This will get worse. More whistle blowers will send out the dirt on the government. The people that Barrow chose so that they would worship him have no substance and are incompetent and corrupt. We are watching the fruits of his choices as they rot and fall to the ground.

As they stink, let us cringe as there are many more to come. The UDP’s time is up.

6 06

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

Shame and Disgrace Belizeans were once again shocked and disappointed to hear of the incident which involved Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica and the Belizean Coast Guard, which took place on the afternoon of Independence Day. We have of course only the official reports to go by, but if these reports are fairly accurate what occurred is an awful shame and disgrace and a black eye on our Government and people. How could such an embarrassing incident have occurred?

I believe there is plenty of blame to go around, but I also believe that the main responsibility for this terrible lapse must go to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Protocol officers who work therein. I cannot however, let the Prime Minister off the hook. Prime Minister Skerrit was his guest and the guest of honor of the Government of Belize at this year’s Independence celebrations.

I met Prime Minister Skerrit in the year 2000 when we were Ministers of Government at a COHSOD (Caricom Council for Human and Social Development) Meeting in Guyana. We sat next to each other, and I was impressed with his youthfulness and insight. On September 19th this year, National Service Day, I again met PM Skerrit when he was leaving the set of Open Your Eye at Channel 5. He remembered me immediately, and we chatted for just a minute. I told him welcome to Belize, wished him a wonderful stay, and gave him a copy of the BELIZE TIMES. I could never have expected that before he left our country he would have suffered such humiliation due to an official administrative gaffe.

I am still hanging my head in shame.

When I called in to Vibes Radio last week, I wondered aloud to Albert and Marshall which embarrassing international incident is worse – the reported misbehavior of Hon.

Castro in Taiwan or the unbelievable slight suffered in San Pedro by PM Skerrit. I had to answer my own query by saying that the latter is surely worse. Hon. Skerrit is a Caricom Head of Government.

The red carpet ought to have been down for him at every single step of his visit.

If Prime Minister Barrow could not have made it to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve with his guest, then at the very least he should have insisted that a Minister of our Government accompany PM Skerrit.

His rank should have indicated to authorities that this would have been the proper thing to do.

I do not subscribe to the far-fetched conspiracy theories of the Amandala editorial, but I am inclined to agree that there may have been a racial twist to the incident with the Coast Guard. I ask myself: if the foreign dignitary had been white or “clear” skinned, would the incident have unfolded as it did? I also feel strongly that the Protocol folks slipped up big time. With the visit of a Prime Minister, why was the Coast Guard informed late of the need for security and an escort?

How could anyone blame PM Skerrit for cancelling his engagements for Independence evening and staying in his hotel room? He must have been mightily pissed off. Will he even want to return to Belize? Prime Minister Barrow is usually quite garrulous when it suits him or when he wishes to attack and berate anyone who opposes him. Why has he said nothing about this incident?

I surely hope he has called his fellow Prime Minister and has also sent his and his Government’s profuse apologies.

But it must be reiterated that we have all ended up with egg on our faces. The first thing that Dominicans will now say about Belize is that this is where their head of Government was unnecessarily humiliated. It is a crying shame and disgrace.

2013

Resign or be Recalled Continued from page 1 ance of Belizean nationality and passport to a South Korean national, Kim Won Hong, who was in jail in Taiwan for allegations of being the mastermind of a multi-million dollar embezzlement scam.

Penner was fired as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration on Thursday September 19th, but there has been no move to investigate or prosecute him for his criminal actions.

Penner signed Won Hong’s nationality certificate even though Won Hong has never set foot in Belize. This act is fraudulent and criminal. Penner and former UDP Mayor Alfonso “Ponchis “Cruz also signed Won Hong’s application documents for a Belizean passport.

Penner claimed he knew Won Hong for three years as a friend. This is also criminal as Penner, who approved the nationality certificate, should have known that Won Hong’s basis for a passport was invalid.

The disgraced former UDP Minister has said that he was hoodwinked, claiming that the photos on the nationality document and passport are not of the individual he had assisted. This illogical explanation has muddied the matter even more. He has not said who hoodwinked him.

If the person depicted on the fraudulent nationality certificate and passport is not the true Won Hong, then why hasn’t Penner’s friend, the real Won Hong, stepped out to defend and save

him? On the contrary, Penner has suffered losing his Cabinet portfolio and salary and will soon lose his political division.

Furthermore, he has become nothing but a UDP carcass emanating stench Taiwanese officials have confirmed that the person depicted in the Belizean documents is the same one who they had in prison [Won Hong has been deported to South Korea for prosecution]. If Penner’s berserk claim that the wrong Won Hong ended up with the nationality and passport has any validity, then it points to serious fraud within the Immigration Department: Nationality and Passport sections. It would mean that someone switched the photos from within the nationality and passport computer systems.

Penner, whose driver collected the passport once it was prepared, has not explained how come they didn’t notice that the picture of their Won Hong’s was not in the passport.

There are too many inconsistencies in Penner’s explanation. Penner did not go public with an explanation until he saw the documents depicted on the media. So what was it that made the Prime Minister fire him from Cabinet, and didn’t Penner recognize from then that he had been fooled.

The PUP has had enough of the UDP’s charade, which from the onset has made a mockery of our patrimony.

The PUP has begun to organize in Cayo North East with teams of volunteers who are ready to start the recall mechanism.

PUP NOTICE

Queen Square Constituency Committee The People’s United Party is accepting applications for members of the Queen Square Constituency Committee.

Application forms are available at the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City. Date of Election is October 16th, 2013 Application must be filled and returned to the Secretariat, addressed to the Secretary General by Friday October 4th, 2013.

PUP NOTICE

Belize Rural Central Standard Bearer Endorsement

The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Endorsement for the Belize Rural Central Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday October 6th, 2013.

6 OCT

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

6 OCT

2013

PUP 63 years of service

PUP Dangriga Executive Chairman, Bert Bernard, speaks out

PUP Marshalls members present a Tribute to the Flag Former PUP Leader Rt. Hon. Said Musa, Ms. Onetta & Party Leader

PIckstock’s “John John” ready to rumble for the PUP

Senator Bodden presents donation from supporters, to fuel the work of the Party

Marshalls member, Ms. Evadnie

Hon. Francis addressing National Party Council meeting

ODS member, Sam Waight

6 OCT

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

09 9

George Price Service to the People Award

“You have distinguished yourselves through service to our nation and service to our great Party. We thank you for your service and contribution” - PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca

10 LETTER TO PENNER Continued from page 1 for the Cayo North East Electoral Division in accordance with the RECALL OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ACT, No. 20 of 2010.

Our Party has carried out extensive consultations in every community in the Cayo North East Division over the past ten days and it is abundantly clear that you have lost the trust and confidence of those you represent and we therefore have a duty and an obligation to demand your resignation, and failing that, to pursue your Recall.

We trust that you will appreciate that it is in the best interest of the people of Cayo North East to have the earliest opportunity to elect a new Representative in fresh elections.

You have one last opportunity to put the interests of the people you represent ahead of that of the United Democratic Party.

The Belizean people, in particular the people of Cayo North East, await your response.

Respectfully, FRANCIS W. FONSECA LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION BELIZE

THE BELIZE TIMES

Convention for Party Units

The People’s United Party announces the convention dates for the party units as follows: United Women’s Group October 19th, 2013

Belize Youth Movement

2013

VACANCY POSITIONS-INSPIRATION CENTER The Inspiration Center is offering the following positions at the new Pediatric Rehabilitation Center at mile 1.5 on the George Price Highway, Belize City.

1. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Executive Director is responsible for day to day activities of the organization and is expected to provide excellent leadership, management, and initiative in guiding the organization in achieving its vision and mission following its current strategic plan. The Executive Director reports to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

Essential skills: Desirable skills:

Master’s Degree in Business Management or related field. Good understanding of budget planning and oversight.

Critical thinking and complex problem solving skills, broad knowledge and understanding of NGO management are essential. Strategic planning experience, and administration and leadership skills are essential.

A minimum of 3 years senior management experience. Previous NGO management experience a plus.

2. FINANCIAL OFFICER The Financial Officer reports directly to the Executive Director, and assists the Executive Director by preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, preparing for annual audits, writing grant funding proposals, and managing and recording all daily financial transactions. Duties include writing checks to insure timely payment of bills, managing on line banking, preparing payroll including Social Security benefits and deductions, and reconciling daily receipts for services rendered at The Inspiration Center. The Financial Officer also supervises the security guards and driver.

Essential skills: Desirable skills:

Associate Degree in Accounting or related field. Competent in Excel and QuickBooks.

Previous accounting experience. Previous experience with payroll and social security. Previous NGO experience in a supervisory role. Grant writing skills.

3. PHYSICAL THERAPIST: Physical therapists use a variety of treatments to help children build strength, improve movement, coordination, and balance skills needed to complete daily activities. They perform assessments, diagnostic tests, skilled procedures, and ongoing evaluation to diagnose the nature and extent of impairment, record and analyze identified deficits and delays and develop individualized plans of care tailored to each child’s needs. Interventions include modalities (heat, cold, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation), exercise, play therapy, early intervention strategies, and education. The Physical Therapist reports directly to the Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor degree in Physical Therapy and registered or eligible to register as a Physical Therapist with Ministry of Health.

Good oral and written skills. Competent in Microsoft Word. Previous experience working with children a plus.

4. RECEPTIONIST: The Receptionist is the first point of contact for all who come to the Inspiration Center for services. This person will greet clients, provide directions, perform intake and basic data information, and manage client schedules, phone calls. Duties such as copying, sorting, distributing memos and mail, and preparing mailings are also crucial to this job. Duties include maintaining and updating the agency database of all clients served. The Receptionist reports directly to the Administrative Assistant.

QUALIFICATIONS:

High School Diploma. Competence in Microsoft word. Good oral and written skills. Excellent interpersonal skills.

5.TWO SECURITY GUARDS The Security guard’s primary role is to secure the premises of the Inspiration Center by patrolling the property, monitoring surveillance equipment, inspecting buildings, equipment, vehicles, and entry access points. Reporting disturbances to the police and documenting suspicious incidents are also part of the position. Answering alarms, investigating disturbances, warning trespassers, and restraining persons who are trespassing are also job duties. The Security guard reports directly to the Financial Officer.

QUALIFICATIONS:

PUP NOTICE

6 OCT

High School Diploma. Ability to read and write. Ability to communicate with a wide variety of clients in a professional manner, displaying tact and diplomacy. Ability to work under minimal supervision and complete all rounds and associated work during the shift. Handles complaints, settles disputes, and resolves grievances and conflicts, by negotiating with others and when necessary, to apply appropriate physical restraint.

6. DRIVER- The Driver will be responsible for the agency van/bus/vehicle and must be willing to drive for a variety of reasons including but not limited to: employee pickup and drop off in Belize City, courier of employees for work related meetings, courier of mail and items that need to be sent/received out district, pickup and delivery of special needs children and disadvantaged children with their caregiver or family members. Occasional out district trips for pickup and delivery of special needs clients and their families will occur.

QUALIFICATIONS:

High School diploma. Valid license to drive a bus in Belize and safe driving record required. Skills for basic vehicle maintenance a plus.

7. THERAPY AIDE- The Therapy Aide works as an extension of the Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapists, with direct onsite supervision at the Inspiration Center. The Therapy Aide will receive comprehensive hands on as well as self directed learning on basic treatment aspects of Rehabilitation techniques, play therapy, early intervention from licensed therapists who either work or volunteer at the Center. The Therapy Aide will also be responsible with supervision by the Physical Therapist in the use, and cleaning of the Hydrotherapy tanks. The Therapy Aide will assist in keeping the department orderly, and clean, and this includes duties to prepare the departments for use each day.

QUALIFICATIONS:

High School diploma. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision after completing orientation and learning modules for work duties. Enjoys working with children with special needs.

October 26th, 2013

8. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (PART TIME)- Occupational therapists focus on helping people achieve independence in all areas of their lives. They help children with various special needs to improve their cognitive, physical, and motor skills and enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment. Occupational therapists evaluate children’s skills for playing, school performance, and daily activities and compare them with what is developmentally appropriate for that age group.

October 27th, 2013

QUALIFICATIONS:

Marshalls Service Corps Deadline for applications is October 11 for UWG and October 18 for BYM/Marshalls

9. SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPIST (PART TIME) - Speech and Language Therapists work closely with infants and children who have various levels of speech, language and communication and cognitive problems and those who have swallowing, drinking or eating difficulties.

Speech Therapist work involves assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of speech- related disorders. Speech Therapists asses a client’s need before developing individual treatment programs to enable each client to improve as much as possible.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Masters degree in Speech and Language Pathology. Licensed to practice Speech Therapy in Belize by MoH. Previous experience working with children with special needs a plus.

Please send the following items by deadline OCTOBER 25, 2013 1. Cover letter stating the position you are applying for 2. Resume or Curriculum Vitae 3. Two letters of reference

Liquor License

NOTICES

Notice is hereby given that HAIYAN ZHEN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Xin Hua Store”, situate at #3 Victoria Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy and licensed in Belize by MoH. Previous experience working with special needs children a plus.

By mail, courier or drop off to: CARE-Belize 25 Gabourel Lane Belize City, Belize Phone: 223 5986

Applicants who are short listed will be contacted for an interview.

OCT 66 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

2013

TOPMODEL 11

ENTERTAINMENT

NEWS

SUPA G Belize’s most prolific Punta rock artist and entertainer, Supa G, has released his 15th album titled “Una Noche Mas”.

The album is in Spanish in order to appeal Supa G’s Hispanic audience.

In announcing the release of the new album, Supa G, explained that not only is it an album in a different language, but the theme is also different, as it tells a love story.

“Una Noche Mas” that’s the title track for the album.

“Una Noche Mas” is a song about a love story - talks about one more night. I am asking the girl to give me just one more night, so we can try work out the relationship,” said Supa G.

Location: Moon Clusters

RELEASES NEW ALBUM

Maryam • • • •

Height: 5’ 8” Career Plan: Writer and Performance Artist Sign: Aquarius Favourite Food: Sere

• • •

TOP MODEL Clothing and Accessories provided by CATWALK FASHIONS

Likes: Musical Theater and Literature Lives in Belize City, Belize District Fav. Quote: “We are what we repeatedly do, thus excellence is not a choice but a habit.”

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

Cor. North Front Steet & Queen Street Belize City

Follow us on facebook

12 SPORTS

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

2013

Belize Bank Bulldogs advances to basketball quarterfinals Belize City, September 27, 2013 The Belize Bank Bulldogs defeated the Central Health Region staff 65-57 to lead the Belize District firms’ basketball playoffs.

Marcel Orosco led the Bulldogs with 19 points and 13 rebounds while Terique Gabb added 17 points, and Chris McGann scored 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Central Health’s Wilfred Richards scored 15 points, Steven Wade added 12 pts, and Lonnie Trapp had 10pts.

With the win, the Bulldogs joined the Belize City Council in advancing to the quarterfinals.

COURTS Belize also advanced by eliminating the Heritage Bank Heatz: 63-59.

COURTS’ Tyrone Armstrong hit 3 treys for 26 points while Keith Pollard added 18

points and 12 rebounds. The Heatz was leading the game up to the half time break.

COURTS Belize will challenge on Customs Department/M.O.E. when the quarterfinals begin on Thursday, October 3, while Telemedia take on the undefeated Ports Belize Ltd and the Belize Bank Bulldogs face a rematch with Atlantic Bank on Friday, October 4.

Other games: Telemedia vs. Ready Call – 77-51 Top scorers: Devon Lozano, 33 points; Otis Clother, 20 pts CitCo vs. P.U.C. Regulatahz – CitCo win by forfeited

Belize Bank Bulldogs

Chris McGann scored 13 pts

Ready Call’s Josiah Brown

BDF upsets Police FC 3-1 in Belikin Cup football

Deon McCaulay missed the penalty kick

No goals in Belmopan Bandits vs. FC Belize match Belize City, September 28, 2013 In Belize City at the MCC garden, fans came away disappointed from a nil-zip draw between the defending champs of last year’s closing season the Belmopan Bandits and FC Belize.

Man of the Match, FC Belize’s goalie Glenford Chimilio

stopped 2 penalty tries by the Bandits’ top striker Deon McCauley, and frustrated the best efforts of Elroy Kuylen, Dennis Serano, Jerome “Jaro” James and Deris “Columbia” Benavides, who all got off shots at goal.

Even with FC Belize down to 10 men after the referee sent off George Estrada with a red card; FC’s Mark Grant, Luis Arriola and Leon “Chow” Cadle, Mark “Kelo” Leslie and Shannon Flowers played like men possessed to shut down the Bandits’ attacks, even creating scoring opportunities

for Jarret Davis, Stephen Baeza, Avian “Chi-chis” Crawford and Kevin Lino, who were denied

by Belize premier goalkeeper Woodrow West.

Not even the introduction of Floyd Jones, David “Mikey” Madrid and Gilbert “Hoof” Swazo in the 2nd half could not spice up the Bandits’ game, it was still nil-zip at the long whistle.

City of Belmopan, September 28, 2013 The defending champs Police United fell 1-3 to the Belize Defence Force when the Belikin Cup Premier league of Belize kicked off at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan last Saturday night.

Andres Makin Jr. looked to give the Police a 1-0 lead in the 1st minute of play, but central referee Gerald Henry annulled the goal saying Stephen Martinez fouled BDF goalie William Johnson who was attempting to make the save.

Shane “Chucky” Flores then intercepted a pass between Police midfielders Amin August Jr. and Cristobal Gilharry and set table for John “Bull” King whose left foot shot embarrassed Police goalie Jamie Brooks to give B.D.F. a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute, B.D.F. Paul Nunez almost made it 2-0 a few minutes later, but Jamie Brooks denied him with a wonderful save. Police defender Bernard Linares helped out his keeper by clearing away a header from Stephen Martinez, but Brooks Continued on page 13

OCT 66 OCT

SPORTS 13

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

2013 2013

Belize Telemedia wins national women’s softball champs Belize City, September 29, 2013 Belize Telemedia won its 2nd national championship of the national women’s softball championships at the home of softball at the Roger’s Stadium in Belize City on Sunday, September 29.

Telemedia won 8-1 by mercy rule against Roaring Creek as winning pitcher Kenisha Sutherland struck out 3 batters. Roaring Creek’s pitcher Leyandra Guy walked 4 batters and gave up 7 hits, while Roaring Creek’s diamond made 14 errors. Cacho came home in the 1st inning, and Rhys and Christine Jacobs came home in the 5th inning.

Sutherland gave up 7 hits, the Telemedia diamond made 3 errors, but only Greta Davis scored for Roaring Creek in the 6th inning.

Telemedia’s Kaylie Macfadzean pinch-running for Ruth Lamb came home in the 6th inning, and she was followed by Sutherland,

Rhys, Cacho and Earlene Belisle for the 8-1 win.

The National Olympic and Commonwealth Games committee’s President Hilly Martinez, an ISF Hall of Famer, presented the championship, 2nd place Roaring Creek and 3rd Fresca Lady Rebels place team trophies to the winners and individual medals.

Other matches: Fresca Lady Rebels vs. Flowers Bank Easy Does It – 17-8 Winning Pitcher Lanisha Jones Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy vs. Camalote Blazers – 4-2 Winning pitcher Leyandra Guy Telemedia vs. Fresca Lady Rebels – 13-0 Winning pitcher Kenisha Sutherland Roaring Creek vs. Mel’s United of Double Head Cabbage –

BDF upsets Police FC 3-1 in Belikin Cup football Continued from page 12 failed to grab a pass to center from Ambrose Thomas. Stephen Martinez beat Brooks to the ball and blasted a shot through the melee of players in front of the goal to make it 2-0 in the 44th minute.

Police fortunes looked even blacker still when Evan Mariano got a second yellow card for a hand ball infraction and was ejected from the ball game with a red card. The Police finally got on the scoreboard when Danny Jimenez’s execution of a free kick found Harrison “Kafu” Roches, whose shot was denied by BDF goalie William Johnson.

Unfortunately Johnson did not hold on to the ball, Clifton West recovered the rebound and his right-away right foot shot narrowed the deficit to 2-1 in the 83rd minute.

Roches tried for the equalizer with a header to finish a pass from Jimenez only to be denied by Johnson. Leonard Valdez iced the BDF 3-1 win by embarrassing Jamie Brooks with a 3rd goal in injury time after the 90 minute of regulation.

11-4 Winning pitcher Leyandra Guy Fresca Lady Rebels vs. Camalote Blazers – 5-3 Winning pitcher Lanisha Jones Flowers Bank’s vs. Mel’s United – 23-10 Winning pitcher: Margaret Hendy Telemedia vs. Roaring Creek – 10-7 Winning pitcher Mary Flowers Fresca Lady Rebels vs. Flowers Bank Easy Does – 9-0 Winning Pitcher Lanisha Jones Roaring Creek vs. Fresca Lady Rebels – 5-1 Winning pitcher Leyandra Guy

San Ignacio United & Paradise Freedom Fighters draw 2-2 San Ignacio Town, September 29, 2013 San Ignacio United hosted the Paradise Freedom Fighters for a 2-2 draw at the Norman Broaster Stadium on Sunday. Franz Vernon scored the Paradise Freedom Fighters’ first goal in the 4th minute and added a 2nd goal in the 55th minute.

San Ignacio’s Leary Simon scored in the 65th minute and Roy Cano delivered the equalizer in injury time.

The tournament continues with the Belmopan bandits hosting San Ignacio United at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium on Saturday night while the B.D.F. host Verdes at the Carl Ramos in Dangriga, and Paradise Freedom Fighters host FC Belize at the Toledo Union Field in Punta Gorda Town on Sunday afternoon.

Nissan Arana & David Henderson win 3rd & 4th test races Burrell Boom, September 29, 2013 Depredadores’ Nissan Arana won the Belize Cycling Association’s 3rd test race – an individual time trial on Saturday, September 28, while Benny’s Megabytes’ David Henderson won the BCA’s 4th test race – a 72 mile ride on Sunday, September 29.

David Henderson out-sprinted Belize Telemedia’s Joel Borland of the team who had to settle for second, both clocking 3:12:15 Both races were held on an eight-mile circuit on the Burrell Boom bypass road linking the Philip Goldson and George Price Highways, starting and finishing at the CDs Gas Station; 20miles for the time trials and nine laps over course for the 72-mile race.

The BCA is holding the races to select a national team to represent Belize at the upcoming Caribbean cycling championships in Curacao from October 18-20.

David Henderson

Individual Time Trial results 1st - Nissan Arana – Team Depredadores of Chetumal, Quintana Roo 2nd - Byron Pope - Benny’s Megabytes 3rd - Joel Borland- Belize Telemedia 4th - Giovanni Lovell - Belize Telemedia 5th - Liam Stewart - Benny’s Megabytes 6th - Geon Hanson - Capital City Cycling Club 7th - Ruben Cano 8th - Erwin Middelton - Capital City Cycling Club 9th - David Henderson Jr. - Benny’s Megabytes 10th - Stephen Bissett 3rd test race results 3rd - Benny’s Megabytes’ Allen Castillo

Nissan Arana

4th - Benny’s Megabytes’ Byron Pope 5th - Belize Telemedia’s Jairo Campos 6th - Julio Cesar Dzul Alcocer – Team Depredadores 7th -Nissan Arana - Team Depredadores 8th - Manuel Ayala Balam - Team Depredadores 9th - Roger Troyer - Belikin Western Spirits 10th - Henry Moriera, Unattached 11th Robert Liam Stewart - Benny’s Megabytes 12th - Ron Mckenzie, Unattached 13th - Geon Hanson - Capital City Cycling Club 14th - Erwin Middleton - Capital City Cycling Club 15th - Eldon Simmons - M&M Engineering 16th - Barney Brown - Team Scotiabank 17th - Philton Butler

14

The Abuse of Power and the Assault on our Democracy

By Norris Hall “The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy” as a sub-title to a book, is very relevant, and succinctly so, to the rude and crude misconduct along with the dictatorial and arrogant attitude of a Prime Minister of Belize, and a government living too high above the stratosphere.

They are out of touch with the reality of the crumbling State they have created. But there is an even more fundamental problem - they simply do not know the difference between politics and governance.

The heading for this commentary has been borrowed from the sub-title of Noam Chomsky’s widely read book: “Failed States”. Chomsky is an internationally known linguist, philosopher, writer and a widely respected commentator on world affairs and international politics.

He bids us to listen closely to what our leaders tell us and to discern what they are leaving out.

In light of recent events, and the clever spin our Prime Minister has been doing, he would almost want to convince us that he is the “Second Coming”, were it not for the convoluted crap he spits out from his bully pulpit. The people of Belize are wising up.

They are beginning to discern that this man, who wants to be called Papa Barrow (seriously), is suffering from a bad case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).

POST–INDEPENDENT FAILED STATE There are also numerous parallels that could be discerned, or drawn, from Chomsky’s book, “Failed States” as they relate to a post-independent Belize, but more so by the bullying tactics and the quarrelsome and vulgar attitude of our tin pot dictator - a man with a delusion of being a significant player on the world stage.

Chomsky writes: “Among the hardest task anyone can undertake, and one of the most important, is to look honestly into the mirror. If we allow ourselves to do so, we should have little difficulty in finding the characteristics of ‘failed state’ right at home. That recognition

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

of reality should be deeply troubling to those who care about their countries and future generations.”

That would be sound advice if only our Prime Minister was not living in a fantasy land and in a House of Mirrors that are distorting his own reality and his illusions of grandeur. He continues to rely on elevated rhetoric void of any sincerity or moral clarity.

ATTACKS ON THE MEDIA Since he was plummeted to his long-life political ambition to RULE this country with a sense of misplaced entitlement because of his believed “Baymen inheritance”, he has done whatever has been possible to consolidate his tin-pot power.

He has managed to subtly dismantle the four pillars of the Belize Constitution making each almost toothless and impotent and subjected to his manipulations. He has also made whores of certain sections of the Forth Estate (the media) by enriching them and making them heavily reliant on government and quasi-government advertisement. For those who have refused to tow his government political line and have maintained their professional principles, he has tried to shut down or muzzle them amid international protest.

Government advertisement to them have been blocked or discontinued. Also, as was seen and heard recently in the Legislature, he attacks them viciously for persistently reporting, without fear or favour, on the rampant corruption in his administration, the most recent being a passport scandal involving his Junior Minister of Immigration and an even more recent involving sexual overtures made by his Minister of Transportation towards a Taiwanese official while he was a guest of that government.

With the number of international black eyes Belize has received under the Barrow Administration, it is now difficult to ascertain which one is real or which one is mascara. For the Prime Minister, they are all mascara.

There was indeed an attempt to make the multi-million dollar rosewood scandal appear to be that -mascara, until the media (unforgiven) pushed the right button for a “Rosewood Again” expose. The trip wires splattered this scandal all over the place resulting in official double-speak and mis-speak.

Yet neither the Prime Minister, nor anyone else in his Cabinet, has yet provided a full explanation as to where some money has gone other than into the Government Treasury. Straight up it now looks like blatant and unapologetic thievery. Rosewood Scandal II is brewing as we try to follow the money.

There is a lot of it unaccounted for. And in defiance of government’s controls, the illegal logging continues. Or is it that the bribes are so lucrative that it continues with those of authority having their eye wide shut?

MORAL CLARITY About six or seven years ago, the issue of moral clarity and the role of the then Leader of the Opposition and now Prime Minister of Belize, was questioned by the international press - more specifically, The Economist magazine. This publication questioned his role and responsibility as a political leader in defending the State (Belize) against drug lords as opposed to his very lucrative role in defending these drug lords against the State.

A lot should be discerned from this alone and what has followed later in a blatantly corrupt government. It is this type of duplicity which is tangled in front of we the people - the mesmerized masses - loosely used as three hundred and fifty thousand people can hardly be regarded as a mass.

But these are the people, we are the people, who continue to choose to be fooled by elevated rhetoric as a corrupt and greedy kleptocracy continues to take us, head on, towards being an established failed state in the modern day Caribbean and Central American regions, as this den of thieves continue to feed on our blood, our flesh and on our souls.

2013

OUT All Young People Deserve an EQUAL Opportunity Continued from page 2 lenges of what’s happening, and how we can overcome them. It is important for our parents to aid us, both spiritually, and physically too. If its education, there should be an equal opportunity.

If it’s mentoring, there should be an equal opportunity for all. If its skills training, there should be an equal opportunity. Whatever areas there are, our young people deserves an honest, and fair chance so they can shine. Seriously.

Since July 2006, the Teens Belize Organization, along with its corporate partners, has invested over $30,000 in the positive development of young people across the nation. We have many initiatives which instill the values of RESPECT, DISCIPLINE, & SELF-GROWTH and focus the high points of Education, Entrepuneurship, and Community Service. Currently, we operate four major programs including the Miss Top Celebrity Pageant, the Personality of the Month Program, the Graduation Recognition Program, and The Look Program. Our philosophy is that all young people in Belize deserve the right to an equal opportunity for their potential to be unleashed, and for it to be “nourished” for equitable growth, in order to become someone.

It doesn’t matter if you are from metropolitan Belize City, or from San Ignacio, or Crique Sarco Village in Toledo. It doesn’t matter if you are rich, middle class or poor. What matters is that young people should be recognized, and given help to progress themselves and prepare for the future.

We are championing this fight. A mighty fight.

Indeed, Indeed.

It is in this respect that the Teens Belize Organization is doing a fundraising drive to expand our efforts in promoting young people, and advocating for equal opportunities for them. I will be celebrating my 24th Birthday on November 4th this year. And since I am the Executive Director, I am doing a 24 cents Birthday Drive. I am asking the public for their support by pledging 24 cents to the Teens Belize Organization General Fund. Or, if they don’t have 24 cents, whatever they can afford: 1 cents, 5 cents, whatever. The donation drive has been warmly received by the Belizean & International Public since its commencement, and I’m hoping to reach our mark: $500,000 by November 4th. Since my launch of the drive, Mr Evan Cowo of Care Belize, have been really instrumental, and he was the very first person to donate $24! Thanks Mr Cowo, and I look forward to the support of the both the Belizean community, and the International Public. Help us as we strive to be “The Belizean Inspiration: Nothing More, Nothing Less!”

Donations can be deposited to ScotiaBank Account # 400822. Our committee members are also collecting donations: to see who’s nearest you, visit our website at www.teensbelize. com. You can also drop off your donation at Coleman’s Café in Toledo.

At Teens Belize Organization, we cannot do great things, but we do small things in a great way!

Yours in Youth Advocacy, Kenny Jacobs Executive Director/TV Host Teens Belize Organization/Developing Toledo TV Show www.teensbelize.com

6 OCT SCAN HERE

2013

15

The Belize Times THE BELIZE TIMES

Established 1957

6 OCTOBER 2013 | ISSUE NO: 4865

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

Renuncia o serás Destituido ¡PUP: Penner DEBERA IRSE! Ciudad de Belice, 03 de octubre 2013 Líder de Oposición Honorable Francis Fonseca ha emitido un ultimátum a desacreditado Representante UDP de Área Elvin Penner: A renunciar o ser destituido.

El miércoles 02 de octubre El Excmo. Fonseca escribió a Penner indicándole que tenía hasta las 5:00 pm del lunes 07 de octubre, para hacer lo que está en “el mejor interés del pueblo de la División Cayo Nordeste” de renunciar.

En su defecto, el Excmo. Fonseca advirtió, “el PUP, junto con los electores de esa división iniciará el proceso de destitucion”.

Excmo. Fonseca le informó a Penner que ha perdido la confianza de aquellos a los quien representa y por lo que tiene una última oportunidad de “poner el interés de la gente por delante del Partido Unido Democrático”.

Penner está implicado en la emisión fraudulenta de la nacionalidad de Belice y el pasaporte a un ciudadano de Corea del Sur, Kim Won Hong, que estaba en la cárcel en Taiwán por las acusaciones de ser el autor intelectual de un desfalco e estafa multimillonaria.

Penner fue despedido como el Ministro

Pg 16

¡Encubriendo la Corrupción!

2 Octubre 2013

Tonto está hablando, pero no tonto escucha Ciudad de Belice, 03 de octubre 2013 El Primer Ministro Dean Barrow, y el ministro de Inmigración Godwin Hulse, los dos personajes que están presidiendo sobre el mayor escándalo hasta la fecha en las oficinas de Pasaporte y Nacionalidad, han hecho todo lo posible teatral para proteger la imagen del UDP y tratar de no “Re-bajar” o “empeorar” las situación para el ex compañero de Gabinete, el confesó malhechor Elvin Penner.

Barrow, quien mismo ha admitido que Penner mal-actuó hizo que justifico su renuncia forzada del gabinete, está ahora pretendiendo que Penner es sólo culpable de un delito menor en el Departamento de Inmigración.

Ahora se ha hecho evidente que la única razón Barrow se movió rápidamente para eliminar Penner era para tratar de sofocar el tsunami de indignación pública que se acerca, no obstante.

CARTA PARA PENNER

Hulse, que se jactaba de que hay “absolutamente ninguna corrupción en su departamento de inmigración” Hace apenas un mes, se ha quedado avergonzado y expuesto por el incidente que aún se niega a aceptar lo obvio - que su nuevo sistema de seguridad ha sido violada en todo tipo de niveles, con la participación de Penner.

Lo siguiente es lo que Barrow y Hulse están tratando de ocultar: 1 . El 9 de septiembre 2013 un Certificado de Nacionalidad se preparó con todas las características oficiales a favor de un presunto criminal internacional, Kim Won Hong.

2 . No hay indicios quien fue los beliceños que avalaron para dicha solicitud de Won Hong, como lo exige la Ley de Nacionalidad.

3 . La foto que apareció en el certificado de nacionalidad es la de

Pg 16

Hon. Elvin Penner Miembro, Cayo Noreste Belize Hon. Elvin Penner, RENUNCIE o SEA DESTITUIDO Escribo en nombre del pueblo de Belice y, en particular, el pueblo de la División Cayo Noreste para exigir su inmediata renuncia como miembro de la División Cayo Noreste dentro la Cámara de Representantes de Belice.

Estoy autorizado por el Poder Ejecutivo Nacional de Partido Unido del Pueblo para informarle que si usted no renuncia como Miembro Representante de la División Cayo Noreste a más tardar, las 17:00, horas de Lunes, 07 de octubre 2013, el Partido Unido del Pueblo, junto con los electores de dicha división, iniciarán la petición para su destitución como Representante Divisional de la División Electoral Cayo Noreste de acuerdo con la Ley N º 20 de 2010 que dicta sobre La Destitución DE REPRE-

Pg 16

16

on the PUP: Historia Orgulloso - futuro emocionante Por: Francis W. Fonseca El Sábado, 29 de septiembre 2013 el gran Partido Unido del Pueblo celebró su 63o año de existencia.

Fundada en 1950, los primeros 30 años de historia de PUP se define por el trabajo y la visión de nuestro gran líder, George Price.

La Revolución pacífica y constructiva se centró en la creación de la identidad y la nación de Belice. Autogobierno seguida por la Independencia a unos 17 años más tarde.

Said Musa fue parte del

equipo PUP que logró la independencia política y de 1996 a 2008 como líder del PUP, el enfoque de Musa fue solidificando su lugar de Belice en la comunidad internacional como una nación independiente y soberana, estableciendo las bases para una economía moderna, agresiva ampliando las oportunidades educativas y encendiendo un nuevo despertar cultural.

En marzo de 2008,

Renuncia o serás Destituido ¡PUP: Penner DEBERA IRSE!

Continued from page 15 de Estado en el Ministerio de Inmigración el pasado jueves 19 de septiembre, pero no ha habido ningún intento de investigar o enjuiciarlo por sus acciones criminales.

Penner firmó el certificado de nacionalidad de Won Hong aunque nunca haya puesto un pie en Belice. Este acto es fraudulento y criminal. Penner y el ex alcalde Alfonso UDP “Ponchis” Cruz también firmó los documentos de solicitud de Won Hong para pasaporte beliceño. Penner afirmó que conocía Won Hong durante tres años, como un amigo. Esto también es criminal ya que Penner aprobó el certificado de nacionalidad sabiendo que no existía base para aprobación de una solicitud de pasaporte por parte de Hong.

El Desgraciado ex ministro UDP ha dicho que él fue engañado, alegando que las fotos en el documento de nacionalidad y pasaporte no son de la misma persona que él había asistido. Esta explicación ilógica ha enturbiado aún más el asunto. Él no ha dicho que lo engañaron.

Si la persona que aparece en el certificado de nacionalidad y pasaporte fraudulento no es el verdadero Won Hong, entonces ¿por qué no el amigo de Penner, el verdadero Hong Won, no ha salido a defenderlo y salvar lo? Por el contrario, Penner ha sufrido la pérdida de su portafolio de Gabinete y salario y pronto perderá su división política. Por otra parte, se ha convertido en más que un cadáver UDP hedor que emana.

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

Funcionarios taiwaneses han confirmado que la persona que aparece en los documentos de Belice es el mismo que tenían en la cárcel (Won Hong ha sido deportado a Corea del Sur para su enjuiciamiento). Si el reclamo loco de Penner que Won Hong terminó con la nacionalidad y el pasaporte tiene alguna validez, entonces apunta al fraude grave en el Departamento de Inmigración: secciones nacionalidad y pasaporte. Esto significaría que alguien cambió las fotos dentro de los sistemas informáticos de pasaporte y nacionalidad.

Penner, cuyo chófer recogió el pasaporte una vez que se había preparado, no ha explicado cómo es que no se dieron cuenta de que la imagen de su Won Hong no estaba en el pasaporte.

Hay demasiadas inconsistencias en la explicación de Penner. Penner no hiso pública una explicación hasta que vio los documentos que aparecen en los medios de comunicación.

Entonces, ¿qué fue lo que hizo el primer ministro despedirlo de Gabinete, y Penner no reconoció desde entonces de que había sido engañado?

El PUP ha tenido suficiente farsa del UDP, que desde el inicio ha sido una burla de nuestro patrimonio.

El PUP ha comenzado a organizarse en Cayo Noreste con equipos de voluntarios que están dispuestos a iniciar el mecanismo de destitución.

John Briceño asumió el liderazgo del partido en un momento muy difícil y desafiante. Briceño trabajó tenazmente y con gran sacrificio personal para iniciar el proceso de reconstrucción y restauración de la confianza en nuestro gran partido. Su arduo trabajo y sacrificio, indudablemente cosecharon importantes dividendos para nues-

CARTA PARA PENNER

FRANCIS W. FONSEDE

modern, creative, innovative economy with jobs and economic opportunities for all.

Vamos a fijar de una vez por todas las instituciones infringidas de Gobernanza y hacer que funcionen para todos los beliceños.

Vamos a construir una innovadora economía, moderna y creativa, con empleos y oportunidades económicas para todos.

Y vamos a llevar a cabo una revisión completa y progresiva de nuestro sistema educativo que sea relevante para el desarrollo de Belice. ¡PUP: HISTORIA ORGULLOSO! ¡Futuro prometedor!

Continued from page 15

Respetuosamente,

LÍDER OPOSICIÓN BELICE

tro partido en las elecciones de 2012.

En 2013 tenemos que construir sobre el legado de nuestros antiguos dirigentes y centrarse en un PUP eficaz, fuerte y unida que una vez más ganara elecciones y volver al trabajo de construcción de Belice.

El próximo Gobierno PUP se centrará en tres áreas principales: 1.

GOBIERNO REFORMA 2.

REFORMA ECONÓMICA 3. LA REFORMA EDUCATIVA We will fix once and for all the broken institutions of Governance and make them work for all Belizeans.

We will build a

¡Encubriendo la Corrupción!

Continued from page 15 SENTANTES ELEGIDOS. Nuestro Partido ha llevado a cabo amplias consultas en cada comunidad dentro la División Cayo Noreste durante los últimos diez días, y es muy claro que has perdido la confianza de los que representas y por lo tanto, tenemos el deber y la obligación de exigir tu renuncia, y en su defecto, seguiremos tu destitución.

Confiamos en que usted podrá apreciar que es en el mejor interés del pueblo de Cayo Noreste de darles la primera oportunidad de elegir a un nuevo representante en nuevas elecciones.

Tiene una última oportunidad de poner los intereses del pueblo que representas por delante de la del Partido Unido Democrático.

El pueblo de Belice, en particular los habitantes de Cayo Noreste, esperan tu respuesta.

CA

2013

LA

Won Hong, que recientemente estuvo en la cárcel en Taiwán.

4 . El certificado fue firmado y aprobado por el entonces Ministro de Estado en el Ministerio de Inmigración, Elvin Penner. Ahora afirma que dejó el documento sin fecha.

5 . No existe evidencia de que una toma de posesión se llevó a cabo para Won Hong, un requisito que es una norma para la nacionalidad.

6 . No existe evidencia de que Kim Won Hong estuvo o haya estado en Belice.

7 . Alguien le agrego fecha retroactiva al certificado de 22 de abril de 2013.

8 . El 3 de septiembre de 2013, una solicitud de pasaporte se ha introducido para Kim Won Hong.

9 . El formulario de solicitud C para pasaporte endorsado por una recomendación y aprobación de Penner. En ella, Penner aseguró que fue “ amigo” de Hong de “ por tres años.”

10 . Won Hong nunca se presentó en la oficina de pasaportes como lo requiere la ley. Por lo tanto, Won Hong quien solicita el pasaporte, nunca se presentó personalmente para tomarse una fotografía y confirmarse por un funcionario como es requerido, y demandada por regulaciones.

11 . La nacionalidad expedida de manera fraudulenta se utilizó para apoyar la legalidad de la solicitud de pasaporte.

12 . Un pasaporte fue preparado, a pesar de las tergiversaciones y las infracciones graves, y fue emitido a Kim Won Hong.

13 . Se consta que el chofer de Penner recibió el pasaporte de la Oficina de Pasaporte.

14 . Durante las dos últimas semanas, el informe salió a la superficie que el pasaporte se presentó en manos de Won Hong que estaba encarcelado en Taiwán.

15 . Apenas sólo unos días antes, una delegación que incluyó al Alcalde Darrell Bradley, Sub Alcalde Eric Chang y Edmundo Castro estuvo en Taiwan en un viaje turístico secreto.

16 . Un informe surgió que era Chang fue el quien entregó el pasaporte a Won Hong mientras este estaba en prisión.

17 . Los informes, dicen que cientos de miles de dólares fueron pagados por el pasaporte.

18 . El Ministro de Inmigración Godwin Hulse ha declarado que, además de las discrepancias conocidas, no hay evidencia de cualquier huella pulgar que debería haber sido introducido en el sistema, junto con la solicitud de pasaporte.

Con base en lo anterior, está claro que existe corrupción generalizada dentro de las oficinas de pasaportes nacionales y. También hay una clara evidencia de la participación de Elvin Penner en la violación de varias normas para proteger y preservar lo que es nuestro derecho prestigioso como beliceños genuinos. Las negaciones de Barrow y Hulse no hacen nada para corregir la negativa y enjuiciar a aquellos culpables por mala conducta con una bofetada en el rostro de todos los beliceñ

6 OCT

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

17

EDITORIAL Español PENNER: CREACIÓN DE BARROW

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a cuento de Penner aún falta por terminar.

El UDP tratara de luchar contra la muerte inevitable de la vida política de Penner. El premio del gobierno es un adictivo. Barrow ha calculado que el pequeño margen con que ganó las elecciones del 2012 ha desaparecido.

En la última entrevista televisiva, Barrow quien pretende ser intocable y por encima incluso de sí mismo estaba sangrando. Su cabeza era escaso y sus opciones inexistente. Está tan claro que su plan de salida es defender esos dos escaños a pesar de cualquier costo de su autoridad moral ya la quiebra.

Pero hay algunas cosas que debemos señalar. La primera es que la caída de la humillación y la criminalidad de Penner era previsible. El PUP trató de sonar la alarma, y para ser justos, el pueblo de Belice respondió a las advertencias. El UDP subvertido el proceso democrático y aquí estamos con un descompuesto y deshonrado Penner.

Penner es el bebé de Dean Barrow. Al igual que la forma en Pablo Marin es su bebé. Así es el despreciado Gaspar Vega, el bebé de Barrow. Ellos son sus creaciones y sólo sus creaciones. Ellos son la prueba de la clase de políticos que él elige. No es demasiado brillante y no demasiado lleno de integridad.

Recordamos a Penner como el mismo político que fue irregular “procesando” certificado de nacionalidad en el frente de su camioneta, a la vista de las cámaras.

Penner ha sido durante mucho tiempo en el círculo de la sospecha de si él tiene competiendo una nacionalidad canadiense.

Con todo lo que él apenas se deslizó sólo evitando la derrota electoral con menos de veinte votos.

Luego viene el auto justó Godwin Hulse que ha perdido toda credibilidad ante el público. No es de extrañar que el director general en el Ministerio de Inmigración no es otra que la hermana de John Saldivar. Estos son todos con el consentimiento de Barrow, que está a cargo.

La otra gran noticia es que nosotros en el BELIZE TIMES hemos dado cuenta de otra tendencia. Que el UDP tiene dinero sucio financiando sus campañas. El ángulo de finanzas de la campaña no ha sido tocado por nadie.

Primero fueron los narco-aviones que aterrizaron

en el norte y se conectan a los financistas UDP. Luego están todas estas irregularidades contractuales SIF y sus conexiones a compinches UDP. Luego están los aviones que vuelan dentro y fuera de nuestro aeropuerto internacional con nadie castigado.

Ahora los pasaportes vendidos es el dinero más sucio de la campaña UDP. Vamos a ser honestos, todo el mundo sabe que la UDP no vendía estos pasaportes solo uno a la vez. Así que el dinero sucio que proviene directamente al UDP fue mucho más que eso cientos de miles.

No olvidemos que fue de acuerdo a la noticia, millones de los fondos de malversación de fondos. Así que el UDP está siendo impulsado por el dinero sucio.

Barrow está tratando de hacer un montón de ruido sobre la terminación de Penner del Gabinete Ministros, no tiene otra opción. El poderoso Estados Unidos está obligando a Barrow a despedir a Penner. Así Barrow está jugando el necio cuando se golpea el pecho y dice: “Yo estoy castigando Penner”. Una reducción de salario y una bofetada pública en la muñeca no es nada. Él debe ser sometido a juicio por los crímenes internacionales, el fraude y obstrucción de la justicia.

Penner es, políticamente, un muerto viviente. El UDP tratará de hacer humo y espejos. Ellos saben que su muerte es inevitable ya sea por bi-elecciones o las próximas elecciones generales anticipadas.

La verdadera historia es el elefante llamado Castro. ¿Por qué Barrow no está despidiendo a Castro? Ésta esperanzado de que toda la atención que se vierte en Penner y que el incidente internacional del escándalo sexual de Castro desaparece con el viento.

Dos Ministros UDP criminales son iguales a la caída de la farsa de Barrow. Esa es la gran historia. Barrow sacrificará un par de piezas en el tablero de ajedrez para distraer.

El gobierno UDP se pudre en la corrupción y los escándalos que siempre han sido una parte de ellos.

Esto va a empeorar. Más denunciantes expondrán la suciedad dentro el gobierno. La gente que Barrow eligió para que lo adoraran tiene sustancia y son incompetentes y corruptos. Estamos viendo los frutos de sus opciones, ya que se pudren y caen al suelo.

A medida que apestan, vamos a rehilar ya que hay mucho más por venir. El tiempo del UDP este terminando.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

6 OCT

2013

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Scales of JUSTICE

by anthony sylvestre

Trying to fool the People!

You remember Xerxes, the narcissistic king in the movie 300? Who thought that he was an all knowing, all powerful, invincible “god-king”?

I think that Dean Barrow fancies himself to be a Xerxes, a god-king. Ah mean, which mortal leader acts the way he does and talks the way he does with such contempt and disregard for his people?

And this latest scandal with Penner (like all the others before, involving his Ministers) show very much (again) what he thinks of himself and what he thinks of the rest of us- that we are all fools and he can insult us because we don’t have the capacity to understand things.

Ah mean, when you analyze what he is trying to do with this cover-up with Penner and the Nationality and Immigration Departments, you realize he really thinks we are fools.

From the outset, clearly trying to distract Belizeans from the more serious crimes that have been committed, Barrow has said that this scandal with Penner and the South Korean fellow only relates to the attempt by the South Korean to get a passport. He has therefore tried to concentrate our attention solely on Kim Won Hong’s photograph and trying to get a Belizean passport while in jail and Penner obviously facilitating this process. Now, of course, that is bad enough, and there are some laws that would have been obviously broken in the process. But the thing is more serious than just a fraudulent passport application being processed by the immigration department. That is just the tip of the iceberg, to use that metaphor- and conveniently, of course, because icebergs, as you know, can topple even what may seem impenetrable, like the Titanic or a Xerxes.

It’s the cover-up of the nationality that is much more serious and sinister. For, as everyone knows, you cannot get

a Belizean passport unless you are a Belizean. There must be proof that the applicant is a Belizean. Therefore, the other issues relating to the passport application are secondary. The nationality certificate and how it was obtained is much more critical. It is this nationality certificate that is the springboard for all the ensuing scandal of passport photograph with the passport application of Kim Won Hong that Barrow would prefer we remain fixated on. How and why Kim Won Hong became a Belizean citizen is the crux of it all.

And this is when we begin to realize as Belizeans, the serious and sinister cover-up of this thing.

Firstly, the Constitution of Belize tells you that in order for you to acquire Belizean citizen, you must either be married to a Belizean, or you have lived in Belize for five straight years.

And, to ensure that we don’t end up as a country harbouring criminals and the like, even if you are married to a Belizean or have lived in this country for five straight years, you can still be denied a Belizean citizenship if for instance, you are not of good character, you have been convicted in another country and the sentence is 12 months or more (hmmm, but this sounds like Kim Won Hong) or you have been engaging in activities which are prejudicial to the safety of Belize and the maintenance of laws in Belize (in other words, terrorists are not welcomed).

And to properly check these things, when a person makes an application to acquire Belizean citizenship, the nationality section is supposed to comb through the application. And this is where we begin to see the scope of the sinister cover-up.

The application Kim Won Hong would have made, should be supported by two persons who must be intimately acquainted with him and have personal

knowledge of him and is able to, from their personal knowledge, vouch for the truth of Kim Won Hong’s statements made in his application.

Now, of course, we all want to know: who are these two persons? Penner has said that he knew Hong, so our guess is that Penner was one of these two character references, as it were.

But here’s the thing, it gets more bogus and sinister because the same Penner signed the nationality certificate as Minister. Of course, Penner was not the Minister, but only the Minister of State. But if our constitution means anything and should be followed, then Penner should never have signed that nationality certificate. Now with his nationality certificate, Kim Won Hong becomes a Belizean, and as such, is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Belizean, including a Belizean passport. So, this is why the nationality certificate is said to have been the springboard for everything.

And this is why Barrow and the Immigration Minister, Godwin Hulse want us to concentrate on the photograph and the passport aspect of this scandal and not focus on the nationality aspect of it. And when we keep concentrating on the passport aspect of the scandal, he will continue to play lawyer and start building a case to get Penner and all involved off the hook.

And he started on Wednesday in his interview with the media: “...[T]he persons who signs the passport picture as a recommender, there is nothing that says at the time you sign the passport picture the person must be in front of you.”

A compelling argument indeed. And then he continued further: “You are merely certifying that you know this person and you put for how long you have known this person. Penner tells me that he has met this man some years ago - that the man had in fact visited Belize.”

So, Barrow has begun building his case as to why a criminal case against Penner for making a false declaration in the passport application will not stand and will be a waste of time.

And which is why we therefore need to be focused on the root of the crime here- the nationality certificate.

For it is a crime under the Belizean Nationality Act for a person to make a statement which he knows is false, for the purposes

19 of the obtaining of a nationality certificate. The two persons who made the statements supporting Kim Won Hon’s application for Belizean nationality are obviously guilty of an offence under the Belizean Nationality Act. Penner says that he knew Kim Won Hong for three years, therefore he would have known Kim Won Hong has not lived in Belize for five straight years.

Penner, therefore, should not have signed that nationality certificate. He therefore is also guilty of grave breaches of the Belizean Nationality Act. There is no way Penner, Barrow or Hulse can explain themselves out of this one. Belizeans therefore need to steer the focus on this scandal to the nationality certificate. That is the graver and more sinister cover-up and crime here.

20 Stories of a

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Building the future in Orange Walk South

Total Recall I would have to say that I am grateful to Elvin Penner for exposing his administration in one aspect. But there are more players in this dis-honorable game and Penner is but a “small fish in a big pond”. I think that in all the scandals Penner did the most honorable thing and step down, unlike his other colleagues that had previous runins with the law. His case is very much different because Uncle Sam stepped in.

I remember as a youngster, there was a movie named New Jack City. I used to love this movie especially the part when the character “Nino Brown” got on the stand and gave some of the members of his crew a lesson when he said, “this sh*t bigger than Nino Brown,” meaning that he was just a pawn in a dirty game. I think that Penner needs to do the same before a UDP caucus. He also needs to let the people of Belize know the level of corruption that’s going on behind closed doors and in high places.

I’m not too familiar with the standing orders of the House of Representatives nor am I familiar with the constitution but for the past few days, I have been listening to people “outta road” say that if you can gather 60% of the votes in a constituency, then you could have any sitting member recalled, meaning removed.

If that is the case, I think we need to go for a TOTAL RECALL starting from Dean Barrow all the way down the ladder to Penner. I know at least three members of the “House” that need to be recalled immediately.

Mark King, for disrespecting the very laws that he swore to uphold.

Boots Martinez who is constantly building yellow structures all over the country, while the people of Port Loyola suffer every day. The ultimate disrespecting was begging Dean Barrow for a Ministry in which he knew he wasn’t going to be able to “handle”.

The ultimate recall needs to be Dean Barrow who always boasts of 32 years of being in Parliament but has nothing to show for it. He has done absolutely nothing to better the lives of the people of the area. He has shown total negligence and disregard for the people’s well-being.

He is not the only the Chief in command, or the boss of all bosses, but he is the one who swore to report, asses and if necessary discipline all those under his watch.

My fellow sufferahs, let’s recall Dean Barrow and the rest of his corrupt regime.

Hon. Jose Mai today delivered grants to 25 students of Guinea Grass Pentocostal Primary School

Hon. Jose Mai visiting the sick and elderly in San Felipe village

31 students of St. Michael’s Catholic Primary School received education grants today

Principal, Noe Lopez received the document indicating the 25 grants for the students of the Guinea Grass Pentecostal School

6 OCT

2013

Reid BUSTED!

By G. Michael Reid The latest scandal coming out of the Immigration department is big and will probably not be as easy to sweep under the rug as all the others before it have been. This one has international implications and while our Prime Minster has tried to wave it off and applied a mild slap on the wrist of the man most responsible, it will probably take a whole lot more than that. The facts as they present themselves are pretty straight-forward and if ever a man was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Elvin Penner has been!

On September 9th, Elvin Penner, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration, escorted a person of Asian descent to the Passport Office. Mr. Penner stayed until the person was photographed and processed and three hours later, had his driver pick up the passport. This is a process folks, that can take the “normal” person anywhere from several weeks to several years; even with all the proper documentation in place.

Mr. Penner prepared and signed the necessary documents, signed the picture and declared that the person that was with him was his friend and that he had known said person for three years. To fulfill the requirements for the witness of a Justice of the Peace, Penner turned to his good friend and political associated, Alfonso Cruz, former UDP mayor of San Ignacio. The problem is that the person who Penner and Cruz declared that they knew and who Penner certified to be the person with him at the time, one Won Hong Kim, was at the time incarcerated in a jail cell in Taiwan. He had been there since July 13th. The passport was signed for and issued a full two months after the Taiwanese took Kim into custody. There is no way on GOD’s good earth that Won Hong Kim could have been in Belize on that date.

Penner issued an explanation last week via an email to Channel Seven in which he claims to have

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been “duped”. The interesting thing is that in applying for a passport, and the reason why the individual had to accompany Penner to the Passport Office, is that pictures are no longer taken in a studio and carried to the Passport Office. The pictures must be taken there by a modern security camera which then immediately transposes the image onto the passport. According to Penner, “having seen the picture who is said to be Wonhong Kim on the news…it has become clear to me that the person for whom I signed the application for could never have been Mr. Wonhong Kim…” And you knew this man for

been a matter that involved other nations, it would never have seen the light of day. An interesting aspect of all this is the way the South Koreans will feel about Belize’s attempt to facilitate a fugitive’s attempt to elude their justice. Won Hong Kim was reportedly in jail awaiting extraditions to South Korea after being involved in the embezzlement of some 40 million dollars from a company in that country. The passport was supposed to prove that Won Hong was Belizean thereby preventing him from being sent back to South Korea. This is very serious.

Another country that is no doubt concerned is the United States. Terrorists have access to big money and if $120,000 can get you a passport that easily, how many other passports have been secured in that way? According to the news reports, it was the Honduran embassy in Taipei that got a hold of the document and began asking questions. No wonder Dean Barrow had to act! We are talking here about a truly international incident with no less than four

proper documentation or vetting.

Penner was also previously implicated in a passport that was issued in the name of a child who was dead for 26 years. Godwin Hulse himself stated in an interview just this week that “Minister Penner as an individual has always been personally involved in getting files and getting them signed and taking them to director for vetting etc. He’s been aggressive on this front.” Why then did Godwin Hulse, who is the substantive minister of that department, not put a stop to this? Is he also involved; and to what degree?

Elvin Penner is the area representative for the Cayo Northeast constituency and squeaked by this past election, winning by a slim margin of 17 votes. Had it not been for the hundreds of immigrants he was able to nationalize illegally, Elvin Penner would not even be around to embarrass us in such a fashion. Penner is a member of the Mennonite community who settled in Belize in the 1950’s. He is the first of his kind to enter Belizean politics and one has to believe that his entire community now stands ashamed of his actions.

The bottom line is that what Elvin Penner has done is illegal and it is criminal.

Elvin Penner, Alfonso Cruz and Eric Chang, the man who is supposed to have delivered the passport to Taiwan, should be arrested, charged and imprisoned.

This is a serious breach of our national security and a slap in the face to this country, which has opened its arms and welcomed Penner a Mennonite and Chang a Chinese to be involved in our internal affairs.

If this one is allowed to just “blow over” then we will know that Martin Howe was right when he told Will Kane in the movie “High Noon”: “People gotta talk themselves into law and order before they do anything about it. Maybe because down deep they don’t care, they just don’t care.” Maybe we need to talk some more before we start to care!

The problem is that the person who Penner and Cruz declared that they knew and who Penner certified to be the person with him at the time, one Won Hong Kim, was at the time incarcerated in a jail cell in Taiwan three years, you say? The Taiwanese government has confirmed that the picture on the passport is indeed the very Won Hong Kim who has been in their custody for the past two months. What Penner has to explain, is how and when did that picture get on that passport?

Despite the fact that the passport was applied for and issued on September 9th, the application form that was signed by Penner was dated April 22nd. The Prime Minister explained it this way, “Hon. Penner said that he signed the certificate without dating it - something that I often do...” Now hold everything!

Is the Prime Minister saying that he signs important documents without dating them? Folks, if I go to Courts to buy a microwave, I make sure that I know what date I am signing on.

What kind of tipsy turvy government is this man running?

Despite Mr. Barrow’s claim that he acted immediately upon receiving news of the transgression, most folks know that had this not

countries involved; Belize, Honduras, Taiwan and South Korea.

The Leader of the Opposition was one hundred percent correct when he suggested that the ultimate blame for all this should be placed right at the foot of the Prime Minister. He knew exactly what kind of monster he was creating. Many remember that leading up to the general elections of 2012, Elvin Penner was caught on camera in an unprecedented mass-nationalization of immigrants and there were confirmed reports that many of the nationalizations were being done without the

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6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

Truth or Consequences

By Dr. Angela Banner Joseph “Listen to me, my children! Be wise and have enough sense to follow the right path” - Proverbs 23: 15 This week’s life lesson came from my greatest teacher on earth, my mother. Ms. Banner is a stern woman who raised us on three words: truth or consequences. She would always say, “Girls, you either listen to the truth, or you will suffer the consequences.” Ms. Banner raised us fairly, but was a force to be reckoned with in our household. She did not play nor did she hold her tongue when she had something to say.

A few weeks ago, my sister and I were having a conversation via the telephone, and I asked what she remembered from her childhood. The first thing that came out of her mouth was those three simple words that scared us straight into adulthood. In fact, we shared how we have raised our children with those choice words. We laugh today about the childhood antics and mischief we would get into, and consequences we would experience for not listening to Ms. Banner.

We laughed extensively at how my sister would try my mother’s patience.

She was always in trouble in our household and was a repeat offender. Her interpretations of the truth were absolutely amazing. Here is an example of one of her mischiefs: Ms. Banner’s main household rule was to be in the house by 7 p.m., or before dusk, as she would say.

However, my sister would say, did she mean 7 p.m. or 7 a.m.? One day she did not come home until after 1 a.m. Mom did not know where she was and, oh, did my sister feel the wrath of Mom! I asked her why she did not come home sooner. She replied, “I was having fun.

And I knew I was getting a whipping, so I decided to stay and enjoy myself.”

In another instance, Ms. Banner told us that we had to stay home until she arrived home from work, but my sister could not wait for her to get home and decided to take her bicycle out to ride

with her friends. Ironically, when she left home, she did not realize that Mom was coming home early. Mom came home and said that she had seen a young girl riding a bicycle and believed that the person was my sister. She asked where my sister was, and I squirmed as I tried to cover for her, but Ms. Banner did not wait for my answer. She bolted to my sister’s room and then to where she stored her bicycle, and she realized that my sister was not home.

My sister arrived home about two hours later. She missed the 7 p.m. curfew and was now in trouble for disobeying Ms. Banner’s rules. Sis was limping.

She had fallen and badly injured her leg.

Her leg was bruised and bleeding, but that did not stop Ms. Banner from tearing her behind: a definite truth-or-consequences moment.

I was not perfect, either, for I received my share of Ms. Banner’s memorable moments. As I look back on my childhood, this is what I learned from those three simple words of “truth or consequences:” The law of truth or consequences said that whatever we say or do comes with either a positive or a negative effect on our lives.

Life is all about the choices we make. From childhood to adulthood, we are taught that we must listen to the truth or suffer the consequences of our actions. What I know for sure is there will be moments in our lives when many of us may not understand the meaning of those three words. We must be responsible for the decisions that we make in life. Remember, the consequences of your choices are your responsibilities and no one else’s.

Ms. Banner made sure that we understood the meaning, magnitude, and consequences that went with those three simple words. Those words guided our daily living by protecting, nurturing, and instilling great values. The words instilled values that showed us the importance of discipline and responsibility that comes with the choices we make. Ms. Banner wanted to teach us that responsible behavior has many types of good and bad consequences, which is why she always wanted us to tell the truth.

We would not have changed our childhood for anything, and would not change being raised on those three magical words. God sent us the best mother, and now as she ages, the roles have reversed. My sister and I tease her and never let her forget that she must listen to the truth, or suffer the consequences.

2013

PUP NOTICE

Cayo North East Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Cayo North East Electoral Division is scheduled for November 24, 2013.

Applications can be picked up from the Secretariat or Mr. Ursulo Guerra, Vice Chairman for Cayo North East Executive Committee.

Completed applications are to be submitted to Mr. Ursulo Guerra and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is October 24, 2013.

PUP NOTICE

Corozal North Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Corozal North Electoral Division is scheduled for November 24, 2013.

Applications can be picked up from the Secretariat or Mr. Gilberto Camal, Chairman for Corozal North Executive Committee.

Completed applications are to be submitted to Mr. Gilberto Camal and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is October 24, 2013.

PUP NOTICE

Belize Rural North Executive Committee The People’s United Party is accepting applications for members of the Belize Rural North Executive Committee.

Application forms are available at the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City. Date of Election is October 23rd, 2013 Application must be filled and returned to the Secretariat, addressed to the Secretary General by Friday October 18th, 2013.

PUP NOTICE

Belize Rural North Standard Bearer Convention

PUP NOTICE

The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Belize Rural North Electoral Division is scheduled for November 30, 2013.

The People’s United Party is accepting applications for members of the Dangriga Constituency Committee. The Election of the Committee will be held on October 20, 2013.

Applications can be picked up from the Secretariat or Mrs. Carol Williams, Chairlady for Belize Rural North Executive Committee.

Application forms are available through Dangriga PUP Committee Chairman Mr. Melvin Bernard or the PUP Secretariat located at Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications are to be submitted to Mrs. Carol Williams and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

The application must be filled and returned to the Secretariat, addressed to the Secretary General by Friday October 10, 2013.

Deadline for submission is October 30, 2013.

Dangriga Constituency Committee

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Home Economics

Economic Independence

By Richard Harrison The Hon. George C. Price et al set Belize on course to becoming politically independent in the 1950s’. The leaders of the country worked arduously to convince the people that this goal was achievable and worthwhile, and gathered around them the human and material resources that were required.

After achieving Self-Government in 1964, they implemented projects and programs that benefited the people in real ways….adult suffrage, land reform and redistribution, countrywide road networks, rural electrification and potable water, credit unions, policies and systems to support small, medium and large scale industrial development and investments. The people rallied in support of these actions and the POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE goal was achieved on September 21, 1981.

Since that achievement, no leader has set a new long-term goal for Belize….and the country has been wavering in the deep blue sea, shifting course every time the wind blows in a different direction.

The logical goal that Belize should set is to seek ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. It is my opinion that this goal has not been set, because of three reasons: (1) no leader has risen that has the vi-

sion and can articulate it in a way that makes the people feel fully identified with its goals (2) the principal interest of our leaders, since Independence, to increase their own personal wealth, power and influence, far exceeds their interest in the growth and prosperity of the Belizean people and country (3) the leaders we have had since Independence don’t know how such a goal would be achieved, and because of the previous point, will not gather around them the human and material resources required to plan for and achieve it.

The result is….manifesto promises that are grabbed out of a tub just before elections…..and impromptu projects that are cooked up around annual Budget Speech and Independence Day speech preparations, by the political whims of the leaders and grab-tub buddies around the hookah pipe (or in the curling smoke of Cohiba). None of these decisions come out of a process of consultation with the people, to find out what their ambitions are, and how they would want to achieve them.

Most of the time, these promises are made without any indication of how they would be financed... who and how many would benefit from them….and worse, who and how many would be hurt by them.

In 2010, the Budget Speech prom-

BY ORDER OF MORTGAGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under and by virtue of a Deed of Mortgage registered at the Land Titles Unit between KIRK GRIFFITHS of the one part and HRCU of the other part.

HRCU will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the Schedule below.

ALL offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing to Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited from whom full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained.

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 290, comprising 888.89 S q u a r e Yards situate in Ladyville Village, Belize District, being such land comprised in MINISTER’S FIAT GRANT No. 333 of 2011 dated 28th September 2011 and more particularly shown and delineated on a Plan of Survey No. 333 of 2011 dated 18th September 2011 by G. E. Gill, Licensed Land Surveyor, recorded at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Belmopan City, Cayo District in Register No. 23 Entry No. 6209 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of KIRK GRIFFITHS DATED this 25th day of September 2013 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

ised to lower the cost of living “no matter what”… and proceeded to lower import duties on a host of competing imported items to zero, reducing government revenue by over $30 million….a decision that brought a flood of imports into the small market space…. destroying many investments. Needless to say…..cost of living has skyrocketed since then….individuals and businesses continue to fold or default at unprecedented rates….and many more are hanging on a shoestring.

The only way to economic independence……is if we export more compared to what we import, until we can eventually generate a surplus of exports over imports…..whether it be by way of exportable goods….or by services.

A flood of costly infrastructure projects, financed by more debts….we are told….will bring the Belize economy out of depression....push down the unemployment rate….decrease the crime rate….and bring a host of other desirables. We have been there and done that....

No one explains however, how these infrastructure projects will affect our export and import numbers….and whether we can project an increase of exports relative to our imports, as a result of these projects to a predictable point where we can expect surplus for reinvestment in our growth, rather than using debts.

If our leaders would become serious about achieving economic independence they would develop the relevant long term ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE plans along with the people to make Belize more COMPETITIVE

23 and PRODUCTIVE, to make Belize a more balanced playing field for all investments and investors, to improve and update the laws of Belize so that true justice prevail, and be seen to prevail, for all citizens alike. They would seek out and recruit the human and materials resources required to achieve same. These are the things that would increase our values and self-esteem…. and sustainable high standards of living for ALL our people.

Depending on debt refinancing based on long-term burdening the children of Belize, beggar-thy-neighbor antics, concessionary politically-linked acrobatics such as with the Bolivarian Republic, and compromising economic-support mechanisms from the EU, Taiwan and others…..will not now…. or ever….put us on a path of economic independence.

Belize needs to produce more goods and services….and grow its exports relative to its imports. This can only happen if Belize improves its competitive and productivity profile.

How we will achieve the targets of our ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE plan is what Belizeans need to demand of Budget and Independence Day speeches. The process of preparing those speeches should begin at least 90 days before the day of their delivery and the draft contents shared widely via the press so that more people can weigh in on the benefits and risks of the projects and programs that are being considered and to ensure that they align with our LONG TERM economic independence plans and with our Constitution, upon which any such plan should be based.

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6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Recipe of the week

Conch Soup Ingredients: 4 lg conch steaks 3 medium cocos 2 tbsp cooking oil 2 tbsp flour 3 cups water 1 lg carrot diced 1 green plantain sliced 1 tsp thyme. Salt and pepper to taste 4 potatoes ( cut into quarters) 1 medium onion (sliced) 2 medium green bell peppers (sliced) 1 cup coconut milk

Francis heralds “new chapter of the revolution” at PUP 63rd birthday Continued from page 1 of the Caribbean region. It is evident, then, that the history of the PUP dovetails, crisscrosses and runs parallel to the extraordinary political advances of Belize’s nationhood. Price and the PUP guided Belize through those important stages.

Indeed, it is a formidable history but at Saturday’s event, which also saw the holding of the National Party Council meeting, the focus was much more about the future of the oldest and most relevant political movement in Belize.

The Party’s 6th leader since the movement formed on September 29 1950, Francis Fonseca, reflected on the Party’s proud history under former leaders John Smith, Leigh Richardson, George Price, Said Musa and John Briceño, but he emphasized that the Party must change and reform to make

Belize’s future an adequate one.

“We have to keep moving forward. Today in 2013 we have a new chapter in that revolution – the new revolution of the People’s United Party – it is about economic development, education reform and better governance. We need to make sure that the institutions are serving the needs of our people,” stated Hon. Francis.

The PUP leader held back no punches against the ruling UDP and the Barrow Administration whose policies, he said, were destroying Belize.

“We have to save Be-

lize from the arrogant, vindictive and corrupt Barrow Administration,” he declared.

He noted the many scandals and instances of corruption and nepotism under the UDP where only his close families and friends of the UDP have been benefitting from the Government. The UDP is stealing opportunities, he said, which could have gone to many young and educated Belizeans who have been left out by the Government.

The PUP will represent a vehicle of development and an opportunity for our young people to contribute through technology and various skills, he added, explaining that the answer to the high levels of poverty and inequality in education, is to give Belizeans a fair chance to

Directions Clean the conch steaks. Place conch on cutting board and pound with a mallet. In a large sauce pan, boil the conch for a minute or two. Discard the water. In a small frying pan, heat oil, add flour and stir until flour is brown, creating a roux. Add 3 cups of water, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Add salt, pepper, thyme, diced cocos, potatoes and plantains. As soon as soup comes to a boil, turn the heat down to medium, cover pot and let simmer. When vegetables become tender, add coconut milk and conch. Simmer for an additional 15 minutes.

contribute to and participate in the country’s development.

A number of important internal/party matters were dealt with at the NPC meeting. New members of the Order of Distinguished Services (ODS) were approved by the Party Council, an energized Marshalls Service Corps carried out a special military-style tribute to the Belizean Flag presentation, special recognition was given to 32 outstanding Belizeans who were given the George Price Service to People Award and the Deputy Party Leaders Hon. Mike Espat, Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Hon. Florencio Marin Jr. and Carolyn Trench Sandiford gave updates of activities.

Other speakers included former PUP Leader and former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Said Musa, Party Chairman Henry Charles, Senator Karen Bodden and other supporters who stood up to pledge their solid support for the Party on the road to forming the next Government.

6 OCT

Count the koalas and color!

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT Thursday, October 2, 2013 Asia was trending in the news week as several nations have turned their attention to meeting the demands of that market. With a population of more than 4.1 billion people, it makes up 60% of the world’s current human population. That’s an exceptionally large number of potential consumers. Asia also has the second largest nominal GDP of all continents, after Europe, but the largest when measured in purchasing power parity.

Now consider that as of 2011, the largest economies in Asia are China, Japan, India, South Korea and Indonesia.

Some countries are getting the message: Asia = untapped wealth.

This week Mexico was in the midst of “redesigning” trade ties with Asia. Mexico is Latin America’s largest exporter and exports to Asia accounted for 5% of its total export so far for 2013. In 2000, they made up just over 1% of the Mexican total. Their exports to China alone totaled $3.3 billion.

Australia is also paying attention. It served up a plan this week to feed Asia. As Al Jazeera reported, ‘Australia’s federal government has launched an ambitious plan this year, which aims to make the nation the food bowl of Asia. The National Food Plan allocates $AU28.5m ($26m) for research into Asian food markets and aims to increase the value of food exports by 45 percent in the next 12 years. This is as the demand, particularly from Asia’s expanding middle classes, is growing in the food production business.’

The United Nations reports that global food demand is expected to increase by 70 per-

Answers for last week’s puzzle SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTION #36/2013

6 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

cent by 2050. Almost half of this increased demand is expected to come from China.

Chinese shoppers, as reported by Reuters this week, are set to become world leaders online.

China’s e-commerce market has grown at an average rate of 71 percent from 2009 to 2012, versus 13 percent in America, and its total size is expected to reach $539.07 billion by 2015.

The e-commerce market of China is set to leap over US’ market this year, to become the world’s largest by total customer spending and online spending could account for half of all Chinese retail spending within a decade.

Is Belize missing the boat?

It seems to us at the BELIZE TIMES that we are not even at the starting line of this race.

While Mexico is focusing on expanding trade with us and we are receiving aid from Taiwan, the GOB is clueless.

Where are the initiatives to promote an increase in exports from Belize? Incredibly, Belize has no one, nor two but THREE Ministers dealing with the economy: Prime Minister Dean Barrow (Minister of Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development), Santino Castillo (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development), and Erwin Contreras (Minister of Trade, Investment, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection)…yet nothing!

As far as we can see there are next to non-existent. Exploitation is the name of the game.

The UDP, are content with allowing our precious resources to be carted off for less than they are worth and for our people to earn peanuts working for Norwegian Cruise Line.

It is time to wake up Belize.

2013

BRAIN

TEASER

SUDOKU PUZZLE #37/2013

See answers NEXT WEEK

Answers for last week’s puzzle

See answers NEXT WEEK

6 OCT

27

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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Selected By Chris Williams

Infertile woman gives birth after boost to ovaries 30 September 2013 by Linda Geddes A baby boy has been born following a new fertility treatment that awakens dormant eggs in women who have stopped menstruating.

The treatment could help women who have left child-bearing too late, or have been left infertile after treatment for cancer. But some have raised concerns that the technique has been rushed to the clinic before being properly tested.

Women are born with millions of immature eggs, or follicles, but only around 400 mature to the point where an egg is released into the fallopian tubes and could be fertilised. But some of these follicles remain, even after a woman has stopped menstruating.

Now researchers have found a way to wake these dormant follicles and produce eggs that are capable of being fertilised. The first test of this technique has resulted in a baby boy, born in December 2012 in Japan.

Chop and change Immature follicles are usually kept in a dormant state by the PTEN gene, which suppresses a signalling pathway involved in cell

The first of many?

(Image courtesy of Kazuhiro Kawamura)

growth. Aaron Hsueh at Stanford University Medical School in California and his colleagues had previously showed that immature mouse follicles could be stimulated to mature if pieces of ovary were incubated with a molecule that stimulates the signalling pathway that PTEN inhibits.

Hsueh’s team also discovered that the physical act of cutting up the ovaries disrupts a second signalling pathway, called the Hippo pathway, which normally suppresses the growth of many of the body’s other

organs as well.

When the cut up and incubated tissue was implanted back into the mice, eggs were released and fertilised, resulting in the birth of live pups.

Now the team has used a similar process to give women with premature menopause a shot at being mothers, using their own eggs.

Follicle growth Twenty-seven women who had been diagnosed with premature menopause volunteered to have their ovaries removed. Of these, only 13 had any residual follicles left. These women had their ovaries diced up and incubated with a PTEN inhibitor, before pieces were transplanted into their fallopian tubes.

Ultrasound was used to monitor follicle growth.

In all, eight of the women produced mature follicles, and were given drugs to trigger the release of an egg. Five of them produced mature eggs which were harvested and fertilised by IVF. So far, three

have had their embryos implanted, resulting in one birth and one on-going pregnancy. The third failed to implant.

Ultimately, Hsueh says the technique could be used to help women who have stopped menstruating, and may not be responding to conventional treatment. “This data shows that there are small follicles still sitting there after women have stopped menstruating. This is a way that you can get them to work.”

However, Evelyn Telfer, a fertility researcher at the University of Edinburgh, UK, says much more work is needed to ensure the technique is safe before it is routinely used in the clinic. “It’s an interesting first step, but we need to do many controlled studies – without implanting the embryos – to show that at each stage of the procedure these eggs are normal,” she says.

“People say it’s a baby at all costs, but if the baby is compromised in any way then that’s a problem.”

It’s also not clear whether the women would have produced mature follicles, and ultimately eggs, if their ovaries had been diced up and re-implanted without exposing them to a PTEN inhibitor.

Neural stem cells pulled from rat’s brain using magnet 2 October 2013 by Colin Barras It’s like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Researchers have reached inside the brain of a rat and pulled out neural stem cells – without harming the animal.

Since the technique uses nanoparticles already approved for use in humans, it is hoped that it could be used to extract neural stem cells (NSCs) from people to treat conditions like Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and multiple sclerosis.

Extracting NSCs from the person who needs them would avoid immune rejection – but they are dif-

ficult to remove safely. So Edman Tsang at the University of Oxford and his colleagues have developed a technique to safely fish out NSCs that originate in cavities in the brain called ventricles.

Tsang’s team coated magnetic nanoparticles with antibodies that bond tightly to a protein found on the surface of NSCs. They then injected the nanoparticles into the lateral ventricles of rats’ brains. Six hours later, after the nanoparticles had bonded to the NSCs, the researchers used a magnetic field around the rats’ heads to pull the stem cells together. They could then be sucked out of the brain with a syringe.

No ill effects

After freeing the stem cells from the nanoparticles, the team found they could grow them in a dish, suggesting they were undamaged by the process.

The rats, meanwhile, were back on their feet within hours of the surgery, showing no ill effects.

“Harmlessly extracting neural stem cells from the living mammalian brain is an advancement,” says Gianvito Martino, a neural stem cell researcher at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy. But he cautions that the extracted cells must be tested further before we can say for sure that Tsang’s team has achieved the feat. “To be sure that we are dealing with real NSC-derived neu-

rons electrophysiological testing is required,” he says.

There might also be problems applying the technique to people, says Martino. The evidence suggests that human NSCs are both less abundant and less active than rodent NSCs. This means there may be fewer around to extract from the human brain, and those that are extracted may be difficult to coax into growing.

Martino thinks there might be easier ways to generate NSCs – for instance, by turning skin cells into induced stem cells, and then encouraging them to become NSCs.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

What If For a couple of weeks now I have been looking at the topic of church and state. Should the two be disconnected?

Is the bible relevant today or is it outdated? I must ask you to keep in mind first of all that the word church is not necessarily what we understand it to be today the same way that the word love has taken on a different meaning.

Young girls, if a young man tells you he loves you it could simply be interpreted many times “I want to sleep with you!” and that is the end of it. If you are looking for a meaningful long-term relationship you will have to do some more serious homework and investigation into his heart than to take the words “I love you” at face value.

My question for you today is what happens if I separate the church from the state? That is the cry of many and I understand the rationale behind it as in too-many cases the behavior of the church gives credit to this thought!

Well there is an entity or a country that is bigger than the church and some churches are a capsule sent out from this entity. Its name is the Kingdom of God. It claims to own everything that has ever existed including humans, animals, even all liquids, and gases! This kingdom claims not just simply to own, but also to be the manufacturer of all that exists, and offers a manual to define how to relate to all these vital creations.

So what if? Let’s imagine together! How would these affect your life? What if neither the rich nor the poor would steal? What if humans would decide to stop killing each other? What if we would begin to love our neighbors and our children as ourselves, by not physically, verbally, or sexually harm them? What if youth would honor their mother and fathers, what if fathers would love their wives and not cheat on them, what if they would stick to one wife and care for their children not having them wander all over the streets? What would happen if the punishment for stealing was not imprisonment but rather paying back four times what you stole?

What would happen if we would not drink until were drunk, crashing into busses on the road and coming home to beat our wives and children? What would happen if in business we would learn how to turn over money to work for us and cause hundred fold increases?

All these and more are principles clearly and carefully outlined in the manual!

In fact I’ll put it another way by saying that the reason the world is where it is today is due to the manual being ignored.

See there are principles of diligence that people follow to have a job (which by the way is also outlined in the manual) but after collecting their pay what is it spent on? How is it spent? Do we waste it away in the casinos, prostitute houses, and bars, or do we think about how to invest it?

I will conclude with this statement that separating church and state might seem good in our eyes but we may well be ‘short sighted’ as when those two are separated, something else has to take the place of the church. If this something else happens to be the desire of man we are in some serious trouble as the heart of man is deceitfully wicked!

On closing I encourage you don’t only separate church and state but separate religion and state and on that same note do your best to keep Kingdom and state as strongly knit together as possible.

Until next week God Bless!

6 OCT

2013

Epilepsy

By Dr. John Sosa What is Epilepsy?

It is a tendency to have recurrent (repeated) seizures that can be caused by any injury or trauma, infection, ischemia or stroke, malformation, or tumor in the brain.

Some are caused by just the brain aging, by genetic inheritance, or at times the origin is unknown. It is defined by having two or more seizures without clear provocation.

Seizures are due to abnormal, irregular, brain cells (neuronal) discharges that are usually unpredictable. Seizures vary in severity.

The seizure event is usually short except for times when multiple seizures occur in series. This is called status epilepticus and is an emergency.

Up to 1.5% of any population will be epileptic, and the lifetime risk can be up to 3%. The diagnosis is clinical, that is, that the doctor with his experience and expertise determines if the patient really presents with a seizure.

Types of seizures There are multiple seizure types, many unknown to the general public and even some doctors, so it is important to always see a specialist when doubt arises.

The most known is described as a “fit”. These are generalized tonic clonic seizures that can damage the brain if too many are present. If these occur one after the next they can cause respiratory difficulties or even an arrest that can cause death.

The patient should ideally be taken to the hospital for adequate treatment. It is important never to introduce foreign objects such as spoons into the mouth as these can break teeth or be swallowed and cause major problems. The patient should be turned to one side so as to allow the secretions from the mouth to drain unobstructed. They should be placed so as to avoid injury to themselves or the caregiver.

Absence seizures usually begin between ages 5 and 10 and cause complete loss of awareness. The patient can stay “in space” for less than 30 seconds and the episodes start and finish abruptly. There may be eye jerking. There is no confusion after. These are easily treated. This type can cause school performance to suffer as the patient can have multiple seizures in a day and so not be paying enough attention in class.

With some seizures the person suddenly falls due to loss of tone and loses awareness. This can last 10-20 seconds and the person regains consciousness slowly and is confused afterwards. These are called atonic seizures.

Some seizures only affect a part of the body such as an arm or leg or half the face. Patients have jerky movements but do not lose awareness. These types usually mean that there exists a localized damage in the brain. These are known as partial seizures and patients should be carefully studied.

Febrile convulsions are seizures that occur between the age of 6 months and 5 years and are the most common seizures in this age group. They occur along with a fever and 30 % occur only once. Of those that re-occur, half of the patients will become epileptic and need medication. The cause is usually genetic.

Treatment The patient with seizures will be asked to do an electroencephalogram, and at times several, to determine the site of the brain problem. Patients will also have to undergo at least a brain cat scan, but if possible a brain MRI is the study desired.

Complete lab testing is also a must. Many patients will have a normal physical exam. It is also desirable that some sort of neuropsychological testing be done when indicated.

There are many medications to treat epilepsy and these are known as AEDs. AEDs are manages according to the seizure type, the efficacy of the drug, the dose and side effects and the cost. There are older medications such as dilantin or phenytoin, carbamazepine and phenobarbital, valproic acid and ethosuximide.

There are newer medications with fewer side effects such as topiramate, oxcarbazepine, levetiracetam, zonisamide and lamotrigine. The doctor will decide which medication best fits the patient according to clinical presentation, age, and type and frequency of seizures.

The goal of the treatment is to have no seizures presenting and to have no side effects.

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent one from having a seizure. A seizure can occur in any person at any given time so long a group of brain cells (neurons) discharge abnormally for a long enough period of time. There are medications and lifestyle changes one can implement to try and reach the goal of no seizure activity.

Persons with epilepsy will have to learn to sleep adequate hours, to abstain from alcohol and other illicit drug use, and to avoid stressors as much as possible.

6 OCT

2013

THINK ABOUT IT HOMOSEXUAL LAW IS HERE A Law legalizing homosexuality was introduced by the government at last Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives.

It is a slick and cagey move. It is ingenious and at the same time disingenuous.

If the law turns out to be what it appears to be, homosexuals throughout the Caribbean and commonwealth countries as well as homosexuals in Europe and U.S.A. should finance the UDP government.

Under the guise of pursing a law to protect children from sexual offenders, a section legalizing homosexuality has been sneaked in as one of dozens of amendments.

The proposed law read out in the National assembly on the 27th September, 2013 is: “An Act to amend the Criminal Code Chapter 101… to make promises to reform the law in relation to sexual offences against children, abduction, kidnapping, procurement, incest, the age of criminal liability and witness protection…”

Among the many varied provision is a repeat of the present section 46 of the criminal law and replacing it with this new Section 46 (1) Every person who penetrates another person’s mouth, anus, or vagina with his penis, without that person’s consent, or a reasonable belief that the other person consents, commits the offence of rape and is liable on conviction on abetment for a term that is not less than eight years but may extend to imprisonment for life.”

There is in Section 42 (2) which speaks about what is reasonable belief.

The present section 46 which the above will replace reads as follows: - “Every person who commits rape or marital rape shall on conviction on indictment be imprisoned for a term which shall not be less than eight years but which may extend to imprisonment for life” The proposed law read to all Area Representatives on Friday 28 September, 2013 uses the clear words – “Every person who penetrates another person’s mouth, anus or vagina….” It does not say every person who penetrates a child’s mouth, anus or vagina. Let that be clear.

The proposed law goes on to say “… without that person’s consent...”

This mean if the person consents to his/her mouth, anus or vagina being penetrated by a penis, then the law does not apply to them. Which is another way of saying it is not unlawful and it is not a crime to penetrate a person’s anus where he consent (agrees).

Brilliant!

Hog heaven for homosexuals and their local and international lobby which will finance a government that has added Belize to the homosexual agenda.

No doubt, Rev’d Papaloute. Canon Flowers, Pastor Crawford, et al were quietly consulted on this major move.

Congratulation are due to Hon Anthony “Boots” Martinez who introduced in the National Assembly this bold move on behalf of his Ministry and government.

“Boots” was frequently shown on a religious video tape promotion speaking out strongly against homosexuals and their unnatural acts which he says was against God and nature which created man and woman for each other.

The homosexuals are laughing at you

29

THE BELIZE TIMES

Honorable “Boots” you have been tricked to walk the UNIBAM walk.

Congratulations are especially due to Belize’s prominent homosexual Caleb Orozco, said to be related to the Prime Minister’s wife. His court challenge to the anti homosexual law in the Supreme Court showed the “levels” homosexual had reached in Belize.

Congratulations are in order for Prime Minister Barrow. In the midst of his government sinking under the weight of scandal after scandal and awesome incompetence, he has proven to be a man of his word.

You will recall that on 21 September 2013 at the Independence Day ceremonies he said his government will stand up for the rights of homosexuals under the constitution. Six days thereafter, his government introduced the bold and visionary Section 46 Our heartfelt sorrow to Bishop Dorick Wright, Pastor Luis wade, and Pastor Scott Stirm and their congregations. Don’t take it too hard. Console yourselves with the knowledge that we live in evil days and that the end is near.

AND OF SODOMY And what of the sodomy law?

Section 53 of the criminal code was challenged by a group of homosexuals in Belize with lots of help from their gay friends abroad.

Section 53 states “Every person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person or animal shall be liable to imprisonment for ten years” The court is now spared from making a decision on this issue as the new Section 46 makes sodomy lawful once it is with consent.

“All is well that ends well” and they can now all have a gay time.

ASSAD WAS HERE Assad Shoman, one of Belize’s towering intellectuals and the author of several important books was in town recently. The former attorney at law, Minister of Government and one of the lightening rods who helped George Price finally achieve independence for Belize was an Invited guest speaker at the Bliss Institute. This was apparently organized by the Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington as part of a public forum on Belize and the I.C.J./ Guatemala issue.

The organization of the event was very poor and poorly attended, although we understand radio and tv covered Assad’s presentation. We did not know of the forum and heard not the media coverage but the news was that Assad chided government for its immature treatment of the opposition on this national issue. He also expressed concern that the opposition had not yet signaled support for the I.C.J. process.

This author does not share Assad formidable arguments in favour of going to the International Court on Guatemala’s claim to a position of our country.

We believe that Belize Guatemala and Latin America must pressure Britain to compensate Guatemala for violating the Treaty back in the 1950s. Our land and seas are not for negotiation.

We support the Leader of the Opposition in being very careful and prudent on the I.C.J. issue and caution him to resist those around him who are indoctrinated by the

British.

SCANDAL STILL The scandal over the issue of citizenship and passport to an alleged Taiwanese fugitive is still the number one talk of the town.

It is clear the government has decided to cover up this matter. What else can they do? They cannot call in the police because of the political damage that will be added.

A crime has been committed but their ain’t going to be any criminal investigation.

The issue must now be moved center stage of the political process. The opposition must expose and condemn the obvious white wash internal investigation being conducted by the very Ministry of Immigration which is at fault. How could they have been so negligent to allow a mongoose to be in the chicken house. Sounds like aiding and abetting.

Let’s work the democratic process and have a quick recall and bye elections.

News Too Long The local television news at 6:30 P.M. is becoming too long.

To see about 25 minutes of news, viewers must sit through nearly one hour of commercials.

Unnecessary Teachers in Orange Walk Roman Catholic schools had to do without their end of month salaries because of insensitivity and bureaucracy.

Instead of getting paid on Friday 27 September their whole payroll was sent back from the government Treasury to the Ministry of Education.

Instead of the Ministry of Education resolving the issue they returned the whole payroll to the Catholic management.

Five days passed before the teachers started getting their pay.

This is ridiculous.

All that was needed was a quick deduction of those few teachers salary form the overall payroll so the vast majority of teachers could have been paid and then sort out the minor problems with the handful of teachers whose salary adjustments was the cause of delay.

Shucks, no one in the Education Ministry has any brains. No wonder the I.D.B. report found that Ministry so wanting.

Porn Pornography. Every night or rather every early morning around 2:00 a.m. on channel 41 or 42 on C.B.C. there is pornography.

Pornographic movies are shown. Naked men and naked women are shown in various sex acts.

There are not movies with a little love/ sex scenes. There are naked sex scenes with a little movie in between.

They can remove educational and informative journalism like Al Jazeera but America sub-culture of image with no redeeming purpose are beamed into our peoples minds.

No wonder rape is up, carnal knowledge is up.

Lisa Lisa Shoman was on target Wednesday at the Senate meeting.

She is calling for a Senate Select Committee to investigate the immigration scandal of the decade; and of course the whole issue of security of passport, citizenship how good are the procedures.

Irony or ironies, the “substantive” Min-

ister of Immigration has said to Channel 7 he does not think that is the way to go because it will take long. He referred to the Senate Select Committee hearings into Social Security Board.

Those hearings were held politically and the said same Minister who was a Senator at the time was appointed by then Prime Minister Musa to dig into any and everything at Social Security.

We watching a cover up straight up like that. Right in our face. But this time the arrogance and excesses of the government has touched a raw nerve in the long suffering people of Belize.

Mose Host of Krem Radio morning show has shown journalists a way to go. Reacting to the on going public outcry over the Penner/ passport scandal he publicly on his show called the Police to bring to their attention a possible crime that occurred.

The Police tried to give him the turn around Mose wouldn’t have it.

Is the Police there to serve the people or must wait for a Minister to give them permission to do their duty?

Haiti Do you remember Haiti? The Caribbean nation where they speak French. Which suffered a massive earthquake in 2010. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

After the earthquake the USA promised to help with 15,000 houses and a new port.

Only 2,000 houses have been built and no port.

Last week supporters of former democratically elected President Bertrand Aristide rioted in anger and dissatisfaction with their present government and the hard life they are enduring.

Aristide was ousted in a U.S. supported coup in 1991 and fled to South Africa. He visited Haiti recently.

Al Shabab Just days ago the armed group called Al Shabab attached an up scale shopping mall in the capital of Kenya causing deaths and mayhem.

They were seeking revenge against Kenya which sent troops to neighboring Somala to fight against Al Shabab.

Belize has been hugging up Israel which has agents in our country who are said to be assisting the government with spy equipment.

There is wide spread spying on Belizean telephone and email correspondence by government through BTL and special branch .

One of these days with Hezbollah coming and going through Belize there will be clashes between Palestinians agents and Israeli agents in these parts.

It’s just a matter of time.

Mean & Unchristian The news lasted weak reported on an elderly citizen in Hattieville who had his one hundred dollars a month pension taken by Social Security Board. They said his relatives should look after him.

Quietly dozens of elderly citizen are being deprived of their measly little hundred dollars by Social.

Can’t get much meaner and unchristian than that.

Social Security monies to the tune of FIFTY MILLION dollars were taken out by government and put in B.T.L. recently Isn’t this the same as taking from the poor and giving to the rich?

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Scapegoats Belize City, October 2, 2013 At a recent meeting of the Legislature, the Prime Minister, or Papa Barrow (as he told parliament he wants to be called), without class, or poise, or decorum, stood unashamedly and defended the innocence of his Junior Minister of Immigration, who days before he had fired following the most recent exposed passport sales scandal in which this member of the Cabinet, sold a Belizean passport to a South Korean fraudster for $214,000.

How could you do that Mr. Prime Minister as you make scapegoats of public officers in the passport office, while those in the Nationality Office have not been investigated? Do they have special connections? We all know that while the fired Minster signed the Nationality certificate, the Certificate had to be to have been prepared by someone who works in the Nationality office. This indeed warrants an investigation into who prepared that document and on what legal grounds he/ she prepared that document. The man that has been assigned to investigate this scandal in the man who heads the Ministry. This man, who has taken on several monikers, one by the government’s political Party’s own propaganda machinery that has nicked named him “Sweet Tooth” while he is more popularly known as “Sabe Lo Todo” (He who knows everything about everything).

The Minister of Labour, Immigration and National Emergency. That is so ironical that the Minister has been appointed to investigate his own Ministry. So what could we expect, especially when

Imported lumber used for Battlefield Park benches?

Belize City, September 30, 2013 Concerned Belizeans have reported to the BELIZE TIMES that the benches at the Battlefield Park were made from lumber imported from Alabama, United States.

Our sources say they witnessed when the lumber was unloaded onto the construction site with “Made in Alabama” tags on them.

If this proves to be true, the Belize City Council should be ashamed for disrespecting our skilled local carpenters and craftsmen who have been struggling to find jobs and make ends meet.

One shouldn’t be surprised, after all, the new design of the Park is totally foreign to our Belizean lifestyle and culture. It doesn’t even reflect our environmental heritage as all the trees were cut down and replaced with a pile of cement.

it is known that the Minister will want to protect the lady who heads the Nationality office?

The outcome of that “investigation” is predictable and it therefore a joke and a total charade and waste of time. Again Mr. Prime Minister, you are mocking us.

We want to know who received the money. Where is the money Mr. P. THE PM’S DOUBLE ROLE The Prime Minister continues to want to play a double role as the Head of Government and Defence Attorney for the members of his Cabinet. He had days earlier fired his Junior Minister for Immigration and was defending him in the Legislature. The discernment then, was that he was fired not for his crime but for the international embarrassment

he caused his boss.

While the story was carried by the media, the Prime Minister chooses to attack one messenger for leading with the exposure - Channel 5, as if this television station was the culprit.

Following the firing of the Junior Minister and the Prime Minister’s charade in the Legislature, one day after that, rather than issuing a mea culpa, the fired Minister circulated an e-mail to the media in which he said that he was “set up”. This alone means that he was involved in a criminal fraud. If he was set up he should be able to explain something about the financial transaction. Certainly he was not set up in his other criminal activities for breaking into the passport office and for padding his voters list with hundreds of immigrants to whom he gave or sold Belizean nationality to those not fulfilling any of the criteria for citizenship or residency in Belize. The Prime Minister knew, for these illegal activities were reported but ignored.

6 OCT

2013 THE POLICE HAS BECOME-A POLITICAL APPARATUS But if we must expect any action, based on the recently acquittal of another Minister on criminal assault charges, because the arresting officer suffered a case of amnesia, we can no longer have faith in our police department. They too are becoming a part of the problem - the problem of corruption and as the servants of their political masters.

Its credibility is being questioned based on recent developments and the lack of follow-ups by the Commissioner, one resulting in the very rare intervention by the Prime Minister for political mileage rather than on principle.

The Police Department has become an apparatus of a criminal enterprise better known as the Barrow Administration.

The people of Belize elected a government that they wanted but not a government they deserve.

6 OCT

2013

UDP’s $3m Corozal Bay convention Belize City, September 29, 2013 A lot of interesting information is being spilled from the recent SIF scandal. We now know what the UDP has been doing with the Social Investment Fund all along. We now know why only UDP cronies have been receiving contracts. And we now know how it is that in Orange Walk the Deputy Prime Minister’s nephew was paid for road works he never did.

But there is even more politically juicy info coming out. According to one of the aggrieved sub-contractors, the reason UDP operative Kenard Smart had turned to him for financing was that he was low on cash, especially after having spent a whopping $3 MILLION dollars in his candidacy as a UDP candidate in Corozal Bay. Imagine! $3 MILLION in a standard bearer convention! Where did Smart get so much money?

Even more shocking is if Smart spent three million, one must wonder how much money was spent by Pablo Marin to outfox him. Inquiring minds would like to know.

Flame of Independence unveiled in PG

Punta Gorda, September 26, 2013 This beautiful independence torch stands tall in Punta Gorda Town as a tribute to the life and work of our great Leader and Father of the Nation Rt. Hon. George Price. It was built by the PG Town Council and unveiled on September 19th, 2013 on National Service Day.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Corruption Cover Up! Da fool di talk, but da noh fool di listen Belize City, October 3, 2013 Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse, the two persons who are presiding over the biggest scandal to date at the Passport and Nationality offices, have done their utmost theatrics to protect the image of the UDP and to not “bring down” or make “matters worst” for former Cabinet colleague, confessed wrongdoer Elvin Penner.

Barrow, who has himself admitted that Penner did something so wrong that it warranted his forced resignation from Cabinet, is now pretending that Penner is only guilty of a small offense at the Immigration Department.

Now it has become obvious that the only reason Barrow moved swiftly to remove Penner was to attempt to quell the tsunami of public outrage which is approaching nonetheless.

Hulse who was boasting that there is “Absolutely no corruption in immigration” just a month ago, has been embarrassed and exposed by the incident yet he refuses to accept the obvious – that his new security system was breached at all sorts of levels with Penner’s involvement.

This is what Barrow and Hulse are trying to cover up: 1. On September 9th 2013 a Nationality Certificate was prepared with all official features for

alleged international criminal, Kim Won Hong.

2. There is no indication which Belizeans vouched for Won Hong, as required by the nationality act.

3. The photo which appeared on the Nationality Certificate is that of Won Hong who was recently in jail in Taiwan 4. The Certificate was signed and approved by then Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration Elvin Penner. He claims he left the document undated.

5. There is no evidence that a swearing in was held for Won Hong, which is a requirement of the nationality regulations.

6. There is no evidence that Kim Won Hong was or has ever been in Belize.

7. Someone backdated the Certificate to April 22, 2013.

8. On September 3rd 2013, a passport application was entered for Kim Won Hong.

9. The Form C passport application carried Penner’s recommendation and approval. In it, Penner claimed he was Won Hong’s “friend” for “three years”.

10. Won Hong did not present himself at the passport office as required by law. Therefore, Won Hon, who was applying for the passport, did not personally submit a photograph affirmed by a required official, as the regulations demand.

11. The fraudulently issued nationality was used to support the legality of the passport application.

12. A passport was prepared, despite the misrepresentations and serious infrac-

tions, and issued to Kim Won Hong.

13. Penner’s driver picked up the passport.

14. Last two weeks, the report surfaced that the passport turned up in Taiwan in the hands of jailed Won Hong.

15. Just a few days before, a delegation that included Mayor Darrel Bradley, Deputy Mayor Eric Chang and Edmond Castro travelled to Taiwan on a secret junket.

16. A report surfaced that it was Chang who delivered the passport to Won Hong while he was in prison.

17. Reportedly hundreds of thousands of dollars were paid for the passport.

18. Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse has declared that in addition to the known discrepancies, there is no evidence of any fingerprint that should have been entered in the system along with the passport application.

Based on the above, it is clear that there is rampant corruption inside the National and Passport Offices. There is also clear evidence of Elvin Penner’s involvement in the breach of several regulations to protect and preserve what is our prestigious entitlement as genuine Belizeans. Barrow’s and Hulse’s denial do not make anything right, and their refusal to charge those who are culpable for wrongdoing is a slap on the faces of all Belizeans.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

6 OCT

2013