Sunday, September 16, 2012
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THE BELIZE TIMES
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SUNDAY September 16, 2012
Issue No. 4813
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Corruption & Terrorism Terror suspect obtains birth certificate, Belizean passport & driver’s license in 2 days
Belize City, September 12, 2012 Belize risks being plunged into terror watch in the eyes of the international community following the arrest of an alleged terror suspect who was caught using a Belizean passport. So far, investigations have revealed that Rafic Mohammad Labboun Allaboun obtained the passport just 14 days ago, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Preliminary investigations into Allaboun’s activities in Belize have revealed a web of corruption that persists
Rafic Mohammad Labboun Allaboun
They stole or killed my baby!! Woman was pregnant with twins, but hospital only delivered one child
in Belize and is encouraged by a lack of political will to implement reforms. Allaboun was not only able to obtain a first-time Belizean passport in less than 24 hours, but he also obtained a valid birth certificate and driver’s license in 72 hours. Normal Belizeans wait 3 days to a week, or sometimes forever, to get their passports. Birth certificates take no less than 24 hours and sometimes weeks to process. But not for Allaboun. On August 29th 2012 he went to the Vital Statistics Unit where he applied for Continued on page 4
Hezbollah Terror Cell in Belize? Belize City, Tuesday September 11, 2012 Tuesday of this week marked the 11th year since the 9/11 terror attacks against the United States of America that killed thousands at the World Trade Center in 2001. While US residents spent the day in reflection, their security officials were in the middle of an investigation involving George Abdalah Elders a known terror suspect who was caught using a Belizean name and a fake Belizean passport in a small Mexican town in Merida on Saturday September, September 8th. Mexican immigration and Police officials along with the US Homeland Security and FBI
Yasser Safa
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
See page 7
UDP’s secret
agreement with Princess Petroleum Corozal District, September 11, 2012 A Corozal mother is enduring a nightmare as she suspects that medical personnel at the Orange Walk Northern Regional Hospital either “stole or killed” her new born child. 33 year old Michelle Gonzalez is dead
See page 3
Hidden amendment to oil contract extended dangers to Blue Hole and natural heritage sites Belize City, September 12, 2012 The UDP’s legacy on the protection of the country’s environment has been marked by two historic events among others: the near de-classification of Belize’s barrier reef as a UNESCO World Heritage
See page 4
ub students FORCE FABER TO LISTEN
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scenes of carnival 2012
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LIES, LAW and losers
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Toledo Leaders say
The PUP representatives said they believe the industry needed to be regulated properly, but it didn’t require invasive action. They added that with the existing moratorium in place, even crafts-persons who rely on scrap material are denied access ment, 21 new water systems were to it. built. Since 2008, when the UDP re“We are asking the governturned to office, not a single commu- ment to start providing some kind nity has been assisted with a more of salvaged license so at least reliable and safer water source. some can make a living,” Hon. EsThe representatives pointed out pat said. that under the UDP, development reHon. Requeña remarked that the mains limited to what benefits special Barrow Administration has turned a UDPs. For example, over the past five blind eye to the needs of the poor years, Government resources were Maya in his constituency. He even used to develop a special area in To- joked at the UDP Government’s atledo known as “the Garden of Eden”. tempt to appoint a non-Maya perSuddenly, the private farm of a UDP son as the “Minister of Indigenous politician obtained electricity and ma- Peoples”. jor upgrades. “They don’t talk to us, but No development means no em- they pretend to represent the ployment. While Toledo residents, Maya,” said Hon. Requeña especially in the Maya communiHe added that he was shocked ties, have ordinarily relied on tradi- when the UDP announced that it tional work like logging and fishing, had a Ministry of Indigenous Peoeven those opportunities are being ples, when just a few months pristripped away. or, their lead private attorney, Lois Hon. Espat and Hon. Requeña Young-Barrow was paid handsomereiterated their dissatisfaction in the ly to argue that the Maya of Toledo manner the Barrow Administration were not Indigenous People in Behas handled the rosewood and fish- lize. ing industries in south. The GovernHon. Requeña said they know ment has imposed a moratorium the Government only wanted to use which has halted all rosewood ex- the title of “Indigenous People” to traction and export. While the inten- attract funding, but the real indigtion is understood, it is causing more enous people represented by the harm than good as it has led to job- Maya Leaders Alliance protested lessness. and stopped them in their tracks.
opportunities are being wasted
Hon. Espat and Hon. Requeña on Vibes Radio Morning Show
Belize City, September 11, 2012 Toledo remains the district with the highest poverty levels with 50.5% of its population considered poor, according to the 2010 statistics, but that doesn’t have to be the case, say Toledo East and West leaders Hon. Mike Espat and Hon. Oscar Requeña. The PUP elected area representatives believe there are many opportunities for development and economic progress, which are going to waste because of poor decision making. The PUP leaders of the south were guests on the Vibes Radio morning show on Wednesday, September 5, and were very outspoken about what is and what is not taking
place in southern Belize. Both Hon. Espat and Hon. Requeña said that development in Toledo is at a standstill. There are no major projects led by the Government of Belize. There are no large employment initiatives and no skills or community development projects. It is as if the south has been cast aside, to survive on its own. As an example, the representatives cited that over the last five years not a single water project has been started in the entire district. In 1998 when the UDP Government left office, 2 water systems existed in the Toledo District. Over the ten years the followed, under the PUP Govern-
September 19th is National Service Day September 12, 2012 The People’s United Party (PUP) will support the initiative of the George Price Center for Peace and Development to commemorate the life, work, dedication and service of the late Rt. Hon. George Price by declaring
the 19th of September as “National Service Day”. As proposed by the Center, leaders and members of the PUP will pay tribute to the legacy of the Father of the Nation by carrying out community service projects and delivering his message of
making a positive change through hard work and service to the people of Belize, in keeping with the PUP motto “Serve the People”. In addition to setting aside a day of national service, the PUP has also resolved to press the government to declare the 15th of
NOTICE TO READERS AND ADVERTISERS In an effort to improve the quality of the Belize Times the management has taken the decision to cease printing of the newspaper temporarily. The Belize Times will publish online at www.belizetimes.bz until further notice. Advertisers are advised to contact us at email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com to find out more information. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for the support.
January a national holiday to mark the birth of a true Belizean patriot, a leader who loved his country unconditionally and above all things, the man who led our nation to independence and dedicated his entire life to the betterment of all Belizeans. (PRESS RELEASE)
THE BELIZE TIMES serving Belize since 1956 as the longest continous newspaper. Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus
EDITOR
Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST
Chris Williams Published By The Belize Times Press Ltd. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com
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Sunday, September 16, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Lies, Law and Losers
Belize City, September 11, 2012 Darrel Bradley made the news on August 27, 2012 when Channel 7 confronted the fidgety lawyer turned mayor in a news item entitled “Is Mayor Bradley Double Dipping? This is the beginning of the story. Darrell Bradley is the sanctimonious mayor of crime ridden Belize City. Truth is that Belize City residents have very low expectations of Mayors after suffering through two terms of Zenaida Moya. Let us just say Bradley couldn’t possibly do worse than the “Under-depositor”. So in its proper context, the concrete streets are not a monument to immaculate conception; after all, two
things remain true. First, he is the son of Joe Bradley and, secondly, he is a UDP. All of Belize knows that nothing good comes from those combinations. In fact, those concrete streets are stained easier by the splashes of blood from the mounting bodies of young citizens slaughtered in the war zone of Belize City. We have heard about cement streets, increased taxes, camera-ready 100-day plans and municipal bonds. Yet we hear nothing about “lives” except to say “go to
They stole or killed my baby!! Continued from page 1 sure she was pregnant with twins. Ultrasounds conducted at two private hospitals; one in Clinica Campestre in Chetumal and the other at the Northern Medical Plaza in Orange Walk Town, showed positive results for two babies preparing for birth. Even a visit at the Northern Regional Hospital on August 20th confirmed that twins were on the way. But on Tuesday September 4th, when Gonzalez went under the scissors at the Northern Regional Hospital, only one child was delivered. She claims something very wrong occurred and she is begging for answers. Gonzalez said she was 39 weeks pregnant when she was admitted at the Corozal Communinty Hospital on September 3rd. While there, she was examined and the doctor said only one of the babies could be born normal, the other would require delivery via Csection. Because of this complication, she was told that they would transfer her to the Northern Regional Hospital where better care would be available. She arrived at the NRH and the next morning Gonzalez went into labour. She told CTV-3 News in Orange Walk that she was stunned when the doctor only showed her one child. “At the time of delivery I feel when they cut me. I ask them why I feel still and they told me that dah because they are opening the surgery. After that when they did the next one I feel plain when they push him down and when they pulled the baby he cried. All that they said
when they were finished is that I had one big baby. After the surgery they all disappeared. I saw no doctor, no one told me if I had a boy or girl. They just left me there with the person that was to take me over to the next room. No doctor came back to tell me what the procedure was and why I only had one baby,” said the distraught mother. Gonzalez said the ordeal has been difficult to withstand. She said she has asked the hospital or answers, but all they have told her was that the ultrasound lied about her having twins. She said she doesn’t believe them because she felt the various movements in her womb and it is not her first pregnancy. “I don’t know what they did to the baby if they killed him or they stole him. All I want is my baby back. Days after, they said the doctor would come and see me but he did not show up; he hides every day,” she explained. Gonzalez also said the hospital has advised her to see a psychiatrist. A press release issued by the Ministry of Health today acknowledges that an investigation has been launched into the incident. The release indicates that on September 3rd, the Corozal Community Hospital did diagnose the mother with twin pregnancy, but explains that on the day of delivery she gave birth to “a single male fetus”. The release states that ultrasounds are not reliable tests. It states that the older the gestation age is, the higher the probability of errors in the results is.
your beds” or “You all can die on your own, I will abandon this swamp when a hurricane comes.” Darrel Bradley lied to the country of Belize. In that news item he was asked a few simple questions. First was: “Don’t you agree that Mayor is a full time job and therefore you should not be doing jobs on the side?” Brad-
ley dodged that question completely. The second hot seat question was “ Young man don’t you agree that as a senior elected official perhaps you shouldn’t be in court any at all.” To this Bradley gave a convoluted answer. The Mayor separated his moonlighting “work” in two. In relation to old work that he had before getting the job as Mayor, he said: “I have attorneys who have taken most of the litigation work that I was involved in prior to being elected, but some of these matters drag on and the matters which are ongoing - I am still involved in.” Ok, that is interesting but the second category of “work” is what he called “new work”. Jules Vasquez asked him plainly “Are you taking on new work?” Continued on page 11
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Corruption & Terrorism Continued from page 1 a birth certificate in the name of Wilhelm Dick. Checks have shown that Dick was a real person. He was born on February 1976, but died two months in April 1976. Only someone who works inside the VSU would have been aware of this information, signalling inside collusion. The certificate was provided the following day, August 30th. With a newly printed birth certificate, Allaboun used his new Belizean identity to apply for a Belizean passport. His application was reportedly signed by Justice of the Peace Julianna Arana and was taken to the Passport Office in Belize City. Coincidentally, Arana’s house burnt down in a suspected arson over the weekend as she attended a funeral outside of Belize City. Information suggests that upon inspecting the first time application, the junior officer at the passport office refused the application since it required a physical identification. But the applicant decided to override the officer and went to a senior immigration office. Shortly after, the passport application was accepted and Allaboun collected his new Belize/ CARICOM passport. Next Allaboun wanted a driver’s license, and investigations show, he applied for it in the City of Belmopan on August 31st 2012. A copy of the issued driver’s license card now obtained by Police shows that the number series doesn’t even correspond with the current number series. The investigations are just starting, but already they paint a very messy picture. The Police have been unable to obtain the actual application forms for Allabboun’s birth certificate and passport. Those have disappeared from the Vital Statistics Unit and the Passport Office in Belize City. So, how could such an individual so easily obtain valid Belizean documents? Who are the insiders in the VSU and Passport Office? These are the questions that investigators are seeking answers to. Interestingly, none of the Ministers of Immigration, who normally have all the answers and love the media limelight, are showing their faces to answer questions. Barrow Administration officials are apparently hiding from the tough questions, when this is a matter of serious national security. Elvin Penner, who is the Minister designated to Immigration, was caught as recent March of this year, personally paying for nationality documents and passports for new residents. Did Allaboun recognise how loose the immigration policies are and decided to make his move? And where is Carlos Perdomo, the former Immigration Minister, under whose watch planes landed at the international airport at nights loaded with illegal Chinese migrants who had Belizean Visa documents. Police claimed that the Visa was provided illegally by inside Passport employees, but none
were ever convicted of the crimes. The Prime Minister did remove Perdomo, however, replacing him with Mr. Goody-too-shoes Godwin Hulse who has allowed having someone such as Elvin Penner take charge of Belize’s passport and visa Departments.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
UDP’s secret agreement with Princess Petroleum Continued from page 1 Site and the Prime Minister’s strongheaded decision to allow oil companies to explore and drill for oil even as it risked destroying Belize’s environment. A third event has now surfaced, which demonstrates the UDP Government’s total callousness. Oceana in Belize’s persistence has exposed that the Barrow Administration had a secret agreement with Princess Petroleum, the oil company with an exploration concession over Belize’s Blue Hole and other heritage sites, on September 15th 2009. The agreement between the Minister of Natural Resources Gaspar Vega and Princess Petroleum allowed the oil company to keep its exploration area intact. This was disclosed today when the Government revealed documents related to its agreement with Princess Petroleum as part of the legal challenge raised by Oceana. Oceana’s Vice President Audrey Matura-Shepherd has pointed out
that the secret agreement could be illegal since the Petroluem Act requires oil companies to relinquish up to 25% of their explorations blocks at the end of the contract term. But Princess Petroleum was given special consideration when Vega replaced the 25% requirement with 0% and it has been allowed to keep all its exploration areas, which includes the Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef and portions of the Barrier Reef and Turneffe Atoll. Shepherd said that Oceana hoped that by now Princess would have disengaged the areas that include the heritage sites, but were surprised when it hadn’t happened. When Oceana requested information by enacting the Freedom of Information Act, the existence of a secret agreement was withheld. But because the Court orders disclosure of ALL information and documents, the UDP Government could not withhold the information. Of interest is that the Prime Minister’s law partner and close friend, Rodwell Williams, is a director of Princess Petroleum.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Celebrations in these haad times There is something important missing in this year’s celebrations. For the past four years, things have been getting tougher, but nothing like this year. Money to spend is as scarce as ideas to grow the economy under the UDP Administration. In the old capital, the 10th celebrations that just passed are really red celebrations where the diehard NIPs and UDP Baymen sympathizers came out to remember their legacy. To them the “Battle” of St. George’s Caye is one of the proudest moments in history. They say it is when the British and the slaves fought should to shoulder, as near “equals”, to “defeat” the Spaniards who attempted to conquer this part of Central America. But they can’t tell you about any gun-firing, any real battle, and how slaves were treated with greater respect after they defended their slave masters, the status quo of colonial rule over Spanish conquest on September 10th 1798. This year’s tenth festivities weren’t well-attended. It had a crowd but it was mostly the usual. Many Belizeans are not biting the “Battle” of St. George’s Caye bait. Many Belizeans opted to stay home and not risk walking the violent streets, or put themselves as targets for the Police. Many Belizeans are just not in celebration mode. The reason for this is that the people are broke. With the cost of living so high and wages not going anywhere, people are finding it hard to join the celebrations. Then there are those who like the 200-plus who were recently fired from the Southside Poverty alleviation programme, have no income to depend on. 600 more know they are also on the chopping block, so now they are guarding their money, aware that UDP gauntlet is ready to cut them off any time. And so you get “haada times” celebrations. The Belize City Council organised an expensive all-day affair at the MCC which was heavily subsidised with city tax revenues. In Belmopan, the 10th parade was so short that many residents complained that they missed it in a matter of minutes. The City parade was ordinary, even though money was spent on large music systems and floats. Much glitter, very little substance. Where tax-payers’ money could not be used, BTL chipped in. This “nationalised” telecommunications company has served like a political piñata for the Barrow Government with a certain selected few enjoying the sweets. The costumers have been left waiting for promises of cheaper rates, internet and VOIP to materialise. Belizeans must ask themselves whether the telephone company has benefitted them since it was nationalised. What is prominent about this year’s celebrations is that many Belizeans are under stress. Those who are jobless. Those who are losing their businesses and homes. Those who can’t pay their bills because their salaries just don’t cut it and are paying too many loans. Those who hustled to pay school tuition, books and uniforms but don’t know how they will continue meeting school fees monthly. This is how Belizeans are living through these September celebrations. Does it seem that the UDP Government get this reality? The UDP will bring their loud music, floats and pretty speeches, but that doesn’t change anything for a majority of Belizeans. The irony of it all is that the UDP Ministers and their cronies all got lots of money to spend. They drive around their fancy SUVs and drink their expensive drinks. It is truly like we’re living in the 1798 era, when the colonial masters (UDPs) expected the slaves (Belizeans) to fight their fight and pretend that after sweat and blood is spilled, things will continue just the way things are. No wonder the UDP get so fanatic over September 10th.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, September 16, 2012
CAN YOU AFFORD TO LIVE
UNDER BARROW/UDP’S ECONOMIC POLICIES???
Butane
Gasoline
Chicken
Cost of Living
Poverty
Unemployment
The HIghest in over a decade
The HIghest in over a decade
33% 23%
Sunday, September 16, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
Humor
in UDP Politics! The following matters were discussed in this week’s Cabinet: Giving a national medal to Mark King for firing a man in a coma, the 21st medal of merit to Barrow for firing over 200 workers through his Minister Mark King and the Mark King medal to Mark King for trying to rehire the same people he had just fired. …………………………… Sedi was asked by his peers how it felt to be blowing the trombone in the tenth march. “Well, to tell you the truth it felt good, but many a times it’s felt like hot air”. Just then Perdomo asked, “do you mean artificial?” …………………………… The team negotiating the Superbond is up in arms over who is doing the work and who is making the money off the work. “Life’s not fair,” one was overheard saying, “we do the work, we do the maths and Hallmark collects all the perks”. …………………………… Saldivar was asked to be team leader for the rescue of the dying City Bonds. Saldivar sucked his teeth and said he refuses to do the janitor’s duty. “I can’t do magic…why don’t you send Cuthkelvin. Maybe the Bonds need fertilizer,” he said. …………………………… Just before the meeting ended, everyone stared at Penner to see if he had anything to say about the terror suspect and the Belizean passport. Penner lowered his head and stammered…. “I…don’t know what to say. He looks Mennonite to me.” In other related news: The CabSec gave the story that the Ministry of National Security sent the BDF into the jungle to find out if any gangs were in the jungle. They came back and said they found none. The Police were also sent and they came back and found no gangs in the jungle. The Ministry sent in the GSU who brought back a Guatemalan xatero who swore he was a member of a gang. …………………………… Mark King was asked how he had the heart to fire a man when he was in a coma. He responded that it is the best since he won’t know exactly what knocked him off his feet. …………………………… A special mention was made of the Mayor of Belize City who said that city residents should be in bed by 4am and Gapi for being the hardest worker in Belize. The wording on the medal read: Who the hell you think you are and He who works hard for his money.
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Hezbollah Terror Cell in Belize? Continued from page 1
agents were investigating the presence of Rafic Mohammad Labboun Allaboun, a US national of Arab origin who was the accused leader of a small terror cell in California. When arrested, Allaboun claimed to be a Belizean national named, Wilhelm Dick. He even had a Belizean passport. US agents knew his history and they detained him immediately. This was followed by a raid at a house located on Street 41-B in the colony Francisco de Montejo. Also detained were two other men, also of Arab-origin. They are George Abdalah Elders and the notorious Justin Yasser Safa who both presented valid Belizean passports and travel immigration documents to Mexican authorities. Allaboun was deported to the U.S., while Elders and Safa have been released, but are reportedly afraid of persecution for their involvement with Allaboun and reported ties with the terrorist group, Hezbollah. Some reports accuse Safa of being related to Wafik Safa, who is Hezbollah’s top security chief. But in an interview with News 5 on Tuesday, Safa claimed that he had only met Allaboun five days before the arrest. Safa, who temporarily resides in Merida, claims Allaboun had been referred to him by someone in Belize. He did not say what kind of activities they were engaged in prior to the arrest. Safa also claimed to have had no knowledge that Allaboun had a Belizean passport. He said he only knows that Allaboun said he needed to travel to the free zone to meet a cousin. But Safa has a checkered history himself, having already run into problems with the law in Belize and other countries. In Belize, Safa was accused of cheque fraud and selling stolen SUVs from as far back as 2005. He was later arrested in Mexico on a human trafficking charge but was released and handed to Belizean authorities on a prisoner exchange program. In 2007, he was reportedly busted in Panama with 3 kilos of cocaine but ended up being released.
Safa, who is also known in Belize as Yasser Sammir, is reportedly related to Tayser Saad, the owner of a restaurant Habibis in Merida. Saad claims police abuse when his premises were raided. Saad said during the search, $45,000 which he had inside his home went missing. No much is known from the other individual, George Abdalah Elders, other than he operates a mechanic shop on Coney Drive in Belize City. As for Allaboun, a lot is known about the 44 year old since court records are available online. Also known as Rafic Al-Labboun, Rafic Hajj, Hajj Rafik or Hajj Rafiq, he was the Imam of the Islamic center for the Shia Association of the Bay Area (SABA) in San Jose, California. During this time, he reportedly used invalid credit cards and cheques to defraud seven U.S. banks. In 2002, he and his wife left the U.S. suddenly, reportedly returning to Lebanon. While in Lebanon, Allaboun was closely watched. He lived with his mother in Haret Hreik before moving to Bir Hassan, where he opened a three-storey supermarket. In 2006, he returned to the U.S. and started trading with a company, Costco. In December 30 2008, he was detained and charged for suspected credit card fraud. Investigators say he may have been engaged in fund-raising activities for Hezbollah’s terrorist group’s activities. In 2010, Allaboun’s trial ended with the Judge Ronald M. Whyte sentencing him to 27 months imprisonment, followed by three years conditional freedom. He was also ordered to pay $102,000 to pay back those that had fallen victim to fraud. Allaboun left the U.S. after his prison time and had gone under the radar, until this past weekend when he was caught in Merida.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, September 16, 2012
UB students flex, Patrick Faber forced to listen Belize City, September 12, 2012 The University of Belize students have learnt a hard lesson. They trusted that the Minister of Education had their best interest at heart. After several weeks of the new school year, they found out they were dead wrong. The students have been forced
UB students gather outside the Faculty of Education & Arts in Belize City ments be made within 7 days, or they would shut down the school. The students were in solidarity. They held banners which asked “Where is our money doing for us?” Maybe the Minister of Education didn’t think the students were serious, but at the eleventh hour, some work started. On Wednesday, dirt was poured onto the campus and a roller was seen levelling the ground to get rid of the huge potholes. This has meant victory for the students, but it’s just the start. to attend classes under substandard conditions. The grass was left to overgrow. The campus grounds deteriorated with huge potholes and puddles which flooded during rains. Classrooms are unsecure as windows have missing louvers. In addition, mosquitos infested the classrooms at night making it impossible to focus on lessons. The Belize City Education campus students endured this for several weeks, hoping the University administration or Minister of Education would take note of the urgent needs. But it didn’t happen. The students decided to protest. On Thursday, September 6th, they boycotted classes and protested outside the campus grounds, demanding that the school gets attention. The students said they must have a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and demanded that improve-
After the students protest, some works began at the UB campus They must now be vigilant that the improvements are a continuous process and are not put off or neglected by the Minister of Education. Students must also demand the best learning conditions, not just what the Minister wants them to settle with. There is also a larger battle. The
Education Minister Patrick Faber has announced that whether students like it or not, school fees will increase in January. With the cost of living so high, can students afford such an increase? Students must prepare to fight this increase. It will only make the 4% access to tertiary education even more dismal.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
Remembering Father of the Nation Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price
January 15, 1919 - September 19, 2011
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Carnival 2012 Scenes from
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Lies, Law and Losers
Carnival and the Kingdom The September Celebrations have begun. We kicked it off with one of the biggest and most expensive events. I remember having an enormous workshop in a school I used to teach where a group of individuals would come in and begin the process of building their floats. They liked my workshop because it was huge and could facilitate designs of gigantic measure while keeping them secret from the other competitors. Because humans had to carry these floats, they were made light with inexpensive material such as aluminum! I have heard of floats costing in advance of fifty thousand dollars. For weeks and weeks children and adults would practice their moves in hope to win a prize and to be the best floats out there! Well my question today is: what does carnival and the kingdom of God have in common? How are they similar? You would be surprised that there are many things they both share even though there are as many differences. We all are aware of the differences or conflicts between the two, so let’s get those out the way first. Many times the music used in these events push values that are sexual, provocative, sensual and downright rude, not to mention obscene. The dancing and gyrating that we take our kids out to see does not fail in carrying out the essence and fullness of what the words of the song suggest. Parents take their kids out to watch mainly because of the beautiful colors and the experience of joy and excitement in the air but have to suffer the side effects of the sensual behavior carried out within the streets! And finally many of the Carnival bands would depict and display other Gods and Goddesses such as sun and fishes. One year there was even a red devil that scared my little three year old for years afterwards! This is in complete contrast with the values and rules of The Kingdom of God, but ironically this is where the carnival actually shares so many things in common with God’s Kingdom. I do not believe that God approves of what is done in carnival but, it could be one of the closest examples of how worship and honor should be displayed in the kingdom of God. First we have to keep in mind that I am not speaking about church or religion, but rather the Kingdom of God. This is not a democratic system, or a voting system but a royal one. Future leaders are not voted into power but maintain rule by blood and by being chosen! Those living in a kingdom are required to do things that would be a big joke in a democracy. For example a King requires for everyone He owns to praise and worship Him and to dance before Him declaring His goodness. If He is passing you must kneel or fall on your face, you must sing songs to Him and honor Him with all your might. You must give your taxes to Him, give of your time, give Him the best you have, you must regularly celebrate Him both small and great! Even though this concept is foreign in a democracy and even ridiculed; in the kingdom of Carnival, the King of the Flesh requires no less and its subjects willingly and passionately obliges without question or restraint. This passion is where the kingdom of God citizens have a lot to learn. Kingdom of flesh citizens has demonstrated that rain or shine the soca jam would continue and there would have to be a hurricane to stop it! They willingly give of their finances, are creative in their marketing to gain sponsorship, sacrifice their time, and energies before and after the carnival in order to perfect their worship to the King of the Flesh. They fully give their bodies in honor of their King gyrating and wearing the least clothes possible which is what he demands. They also build images to the other gods of their kingdom, and thereafter they flood the streets with music of joy and excitement, dancing with all their might, lifting their hands to the music and the words that it spews forth, all in honor of their King – the King of the Flesh – the King of Carnival. The passion and commitment demonstrated by these citizens of the flesh make even the ‘Christians’ rush out with their young, impressionable children to watch the display of the flesh distracted by the colors, and the beauty of the hours of investment. The Kingdom of God citizens indeed have a lot to learn from the citizens of the flesh as to how a god deserves to be worshipped. These energies, commitment and passion are what the one and only true God deserves! Until next week God Bless!
Continued from page 3 To this Bradley emphatically said, “I do take on new work that is non-litigious, not involving court.” So, to put it simply Bradley told us he basically only goes to court for one or two old matters. According to him, in all his “new work” he is but a solicitor. A solicitor is a paper pusher, no court. This is not true. The Supreme Court Calendar of Cases shown below exposes that lie. This official proof is signed by the Registrar General of the Supreme Court, Velda Flowers. On Friday 7th September, 2012, Darrel Bradley was listed as the litigating attorney in “Bail Petition” reference Derrick Romero. He argued before “Hon. Justice Gonzalez”. BELIZE TIMES has learnt that Bradley showed up and litigated the Petition. Bradley cannot lie his way out of this one because both Marcel Cardona and Arthur Saldivar were at the Court during his litigation. His bail petition was “new work”. “New work” that required him to go to court and argue. The kind of “new work” that he said he did not do. What was the offence Romero was charged with? Carnal knowledge of a little girl? Possession of a deadly firearm? Or was it drug trafficking that Bradley went to defend? Why did you lie to us, Darrel? Who cares about a few lies here and there? Little white lies? Why take it on, so long as we keep those concrete trucks filling the craters that are Belize City streets, right? But if these lies are so small, why tell them in the first place? Our prognosis is that it goes down hill from here for Bradley. After starting so high and mighty the only place to go is down. This is only the first set in what is sure to be many more as his political levitation is exposed as an all too common illusion. The let down and disappointment will be meteoric. The real point is that the “dou-
ble dipping” seems to be affecting his work. Remember on August 27, 2012 he said “I try to ensure that the maximum focus is the City’s business and being at City Hall, but I do court work.” He was not trying hard enough because on September 11, four days after prancing around and litigating in court during work hours, a press release was sent out from the Legacy Fund. They were the group who had been hired by Bradley as the council’s financial advisor for the huge municipal bond. They said it best when in that press release when they announced “the end of its service provider role with the Belize City Council with respect to the $20 million Belize City infrastructural bond project”… “As of 27 August 2012, Legacy has been disengaged from the project, due to an impasse with the Council over terms and conditions on moving forward with the municipal bond offering.” Rather than solving that problem for which he is being paid $55,000.00, his mind was on his preparations for a court room litigation in a bail petition. In fact on August 27, the very same day, he was being “outed” by his UDP colleague, Jules Vasquez, about abandoning his post and not doing his full time job, he had failed to deal with a $20 million dollar problem. Why did Bradley not tell us that fact then? This is big news and sad news for the residents of this volatile city. The final insult is that in the September 11, 2012 news item where Bradley was found to have messed up the progress of his super bond, Channel 7 tried to reach Bradley but he was “unavailable” and could not even return a text message. We, at BELIZE TIMES, wonder if he was too busy doing new litigation work on the side at the Court.
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Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
Of this and that… BMD EPIDEMIC This is a bad time to have a baby mama. Belize has had three fiery baby mama dramas. There is an outbreak. Baby mama drama or clinically called “BMD”. For Lyndon Morrison the cause of death was asphyxia due to BMD. Then poor Kevin Burgess got a double dose. His house was set ablaze. The accelerant was BMD. Fire Chief said so. He lost a daughter too. A little angel. She succumbed to a complication of BMD. This is sad. Armin Arana is a swell guy. Honest human being. Easy going. He was not immune from BMD. His house took on the fire of a woman scorned. Yes, it could be Hezbollah, too. But it smells like BMD more. The firemen are afraid to declare it as a case of BMD. But we all know it is. HFLE SCANDAL Patrick Faber got Pastor fum fum. The problem is Patrick is more than hard ears. There is a nasty man manual out there. It is called the Health and Family Life Education curriculum manual. The short name is the HFLE Manual. Patrick Faber has been pushing and promoting this ungodly manual. He has been defending it all out. Patrick has been forcing this buggerism bible on our ten year old children. He approved the manual. He refused to remove this wickedness. Plus TV stirred up the ants nest. The church bruk up the dolly house. They attacked the Sodom and Gomorrah recruitment guide. Patrick did not budge. Plus TV started to talk about exposing the puppet masters. They started to threaten to expose the people behind the “homosexual agenda”. Patrick moved immediately. Church wins. 100 DEMERITS FOR TEACHERS The BNTU needs lashing.
This HFLE manual is bad news. It has been in the classroom for three years. Silence. We have never heard from the teachers. Silence. The manual has been withdrawn. BNTU is still silent. Loud silence. Remember, they were busy. They spoke about weed. But they pleaded the fifth on funny man business. Shame. We love you, teachers. But for their silence BNTU gets an F minus minus. THE OLDEST PROFESSION They say prostitution is the oldest profession. Spreading that is sexy but it is not true. The oldest profession is teaching. This is true. Check Genesis. God was the first teacher. He taught the two humans the name of every animal. Every plant. He told the two naked humans “no eat” the passion fruit. God tried to protect us. Teachers are protectors. They protect us from ignorance. They protect us from failure. The BNTU should have protected us from this funny man agenda. They did not. Tenk God fi di choch. DEATH OF ILLEGAL CABLE Illegal cable is a South side reality. It is called “Ghetto cable”. It is easy to understand. Forty-five bucks for cable. Divide that by five pickney. Plus one hundred and fifty dollars a week pay checks. Multiply that by drinking habits, gambling addictions and boledo. No one has money for cable. Cable TV is a luxury. Poor people have expensive habits. There is cable TV in every house in Belize City. Especially the plywood ones. Seriously, you are sure to find two things in all our houses. You will find Ramen noodles and Cable TV. Some wicked person came up with an idea to cut out illegal cable. They are calling it DiBo. It is a version of the name brand TiVo. It uses a fancy digital box. You
will need this to get cable in the future. Future means “directly”. This box will cost up to five hundred dollars. It is called DiBo. This is short for Digital Boss. It makes you control TV. Record Shows. It will come with a heap of features. Lot of them we do not need. Just like we do not need a lot of these channels. What will cruffy do with 250 channels? This is a trap. DiBo is too much. DiBo is bad news. No more climbing lamp-posts in the middle of the night. This is bad news for the poor. Central Cable Vision is doing a thing. They will deliver a blow to piracy. Cost of living is going up again. “Freeniss dun”. DEFAULT: MUNICIPAL SUPERBOND A super bond is a bad thing. No wait. It is a good thing. Or just a thing? This is confusing. Darell Bradley must have a crush on Mark Espat. The UDP are doing a $20 million dollar super bond. This is just for CitCo. The bond was being floated on an ambitious craft. The course through the reef was plotted by that Ervin Perez guy or his company. They jumped ship. So what this mean? Speak up child. Does this mean we get no more cement street? Does this mean you are hard pay? Did you default on your coupon payments to Perez? What is it? Talk up, child. This bond thing done fail. It did not even start yet. Done fail. JAMBOREE BELLY UP Julian Murrillo is a success story. He is the owner of Jamborees. Jamborees was Belize’s McDonalds. Julian has become a victim. The UDP economy has devoured him like a Big Mac. He is not completely blameless, though. He made wrong decisions too. His bad decision was not in believing that Belize deserved a first class facility. It was not in giving us the best. It was not for going all out. No. His mistake was what he did not do. He did not link up. He did not link up with Pratts Fry Chicken. If Belize had a stock market, Pratts would
13 trade high up. They can bubble some wings. Their location sucks. Their building is a dump. They are the opposite of Jamborees. Julian should have called Pratts. It would have been a marriage made in Willows Bank heaven. It ain’t too late Julian. Go buy some credit. You can even wait till double up. Call Pratts. Sky scrapper people call it a “business merger”. Down here we say “link up”. AUDREY IN THEIR ‘SHUT’ Bloody Audrey. I thought Dean Barrow killed her off. But as Carter’s Upholstery would say, “Not so!”. No provoke Audrey. She hard fi dead. Especially when shi di eat ile money. Princess Ile Company get caught with clothe round their ankle. That clothe mi business round their waste. Audrey please remind them who all have their hand greasy in dat e deh Princess Company. But this is foolishniss. Come on. How can you have an oil concession over the Blue Hole? Stop the parades. Plug out the Abel March. Could you have an oil concession over the Grand Canyon? How about over Ayers Rock in Australia? Better yet, try get an oil concession over Niagara Falls. Only Belize tolerates this simpleniss. REMIXING PRICE The PUP builders await the sunrise, They seek new strength. Building is a task for giantsLittle people tried and turned away. The giant builders must save the land and stay the creeping forests and halt the fleeing waters… Failure past, present growth and future greatness. (Refixed from “BELIZEANS: UNITE TO BUILD OUR NATION” a poem by George C. Price. THE REAL SEPTEMBER CELEBRATIONS THEME “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverbs 14:34
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Home Economics
Fuel prices cut in half – what would happen? By Richard Harrison If the Government of Belize would change its policy of taxation on fuels….and remove all taxes on it….charging only 10% GST at the pump….the pump price would be cut in half. Instead of premium being BZ$13.07 per gallon…..it would be about BZ$6.50 per gallon....more in line with the pump price in Mexico. What would happen? Using the example of Bowen & Bowen/Coca Cola…..I estimate they consume approximately $19,000 per day of fuels….which amounts to approximately $4.65 million per year. If their fuel bill is cut in half….they will have an extra $2.3 million/year to invest in expansion of their business….. if they had that extra cash flow, they could invest another $15 million today, and pay for it over the next 10 years. If that money is co-invested with strategic partners such as Grupo Corona of Mexico to make Corona beer in Belize for export to CARICOM, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Venezuela, where Belize can export duty-free…. and Guinness Stout for export to Mexico….and CPBL for making Minute Maid (a Coca Cola brand) products for export….new investments of over BZ$50 million could be realized over the next five years….creating over 2000 new jobs….and after three years, earning over BZ$50 million per year from exports of Beer and Stout, using already-developed powerful brands. Through these partnerships, Bowen & Bowen would have developed the distribution linkages
to take their own brands to export markets in a substantial way. They would be export oriented to larger markets, no longer clinging to this rather small domestic market, demanding year after year of domestic market protection through tariff and non-tariff measures….for which consumers pay an estimated BZ$30 million per year via high excise taxes/import duties/retail prices…. they also sacrifice from having a limited choice of beers. The government would be giving up fuel tax revenues of approximately $2.4 million dollars per year on sales of fuel to Bowen & Bowen. Overall, GOB would be giving up around $100 million in fuel tax revenues, if only GST of 10% is charged on fuels…no other taxes. Cutting fuel prices in half….. would allow most commodity production cost to fall significantly, such that farmers could make more profit, even by selling their commodities at reduced prices. The government could thus charge GST across the board (no exemption nor exceptions) at a rate of 10%, including basic commodities like corn, rice, beans, eggs, fresh meats, sugar, milk, cooking oils, ramen, etc.....without causing an increase in the retail prices for most commodities….the prices to consumers would likely be lowered….making cost of living sustainably lower. Government would see increases in GST revenues and Business Tax revenues of over $500 million per year after three years of adjustment….because
currently, over 66% of what is consumed is either exempted or excepted from GST….plus $100 million remaining in consumers and domestic investors hands will ripple through the economy, causing a major boost in consumption and investments…. which will boost the Business Tax, as well as the GST intake. This would also balance the playing field among domestic competitive forces….since there are some businesses that enjoy Export Processing Zone (EPZ) benefits of purchasing duty-free fuel and importing raw materials without pay any taxes, and still compete on the domestic market with others who pay the full pump-price of fuels and duties on their raw materials…even though some of these EPZ beneficiaries don’t export a penny. This is gross anti-competitive policy. A halving of the pump price of fuel….would reduce the production cost of corn by about BZ$0.06 per pound….which would allow us to export corn and corn products competitively…. lower the cost of animal feed production….decrease the price of eggs, chicken, shrimp and pork. Belize’s production of corn would quickly reach 180 million pounds, leaving an extra $9 million in corn farmer’s hands each year. This lower cost in all these areas could be used to lower consumer prices….to boost farming inputs to improve yield and quality….and/ or be used for profitable investments of up to $75 million today in production of soybean meal and oils, corn flour, corn starch, corn oil, corn syrup, dog food, canned chicken sausage, chicken-based hot dogs, luncheon meat, hams, corned beef, etc….. which could create another 2000 new jobs. Cutting the pump price of fuel in half….even if a GST of 10% is charged on bus fares (proposing 1% Business Tax across the board on all businesses)….given the informed assumption that buses consume approximately $16 million in fuels each year…. bus owners will have approxi-
Sunday, September 16, 2012
mately $8 million in their hands each year that was not there before…..they could thus invest $60 million immediately in their businesses, financed over the next ten years…..to upgrade their buses….which will lower their cost of operations, increase passenger comfort and service, and perhaps even lower transportation costs. This would definitely be the case for transport to San Pedro and Caye Caulker, because their investments in upgrades would be minimal….and most of their cost reductions could go directly into lowering passenger fees. Transportation to other cayes could be made more affordable, so that many more cayes could become viable for tourism development….stimulating major investments in other islands. I could go on and on….but I think the concept is clear. It’s better to tax at the end of the economy…..than to tax at the beginning on fuels…..lower cost of production and services ripple through the economy….before it reaches the point where government taxes…..consumers benefit from lower prices and can consume much more…..producers, being more competitive can be more successful in exportation and with taking larger domestic market-share when competing with imported products, earning more revenues for the country and/or saving on foreign exchange needs….government takes in more revenues by charging lower rates of taxes on a wider range of economic activity, at the end of the productionconsumption cycle. Richard Harrison is a local businessman and investor in the manufacturing and service industries. Send comments to harrisonbz@yahoo.com
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Sunday, September 16, 2012
Reid Oil in the coil By G. Michael Reid The topic of oil is once again prominent in our everyday discourse as hopes grow high for new oil strikes by new oil companies. There were two big stories in the news this past week about this precious and coveted Black Gold. First, there is the story of a huge oil rig that has landed; so big it will take sixty containers to haul it to its destination. That destination is northern Belize, more specifically, the Blue Creek area. Apparently, though hitherto unbeknownst to Belizeans, seismic testing has already been done and drilling of up to eight thousand feet down is about to commence. Blue Creek is a rich agricultural area inhabited mostly by Mennonite families. Should oil be discovered in Blue Creek, it would be very interesting that both oil strikes in Belize would have been on land occupied by Mennonites. Comprising a mere 3 % of the population and arriving in Belize as recent as 1958, the Mennonites seem to have been lucky enough to pick the exact areas where the oil lies to settle. Coincidence…? The major concern for Belize should be the damage to arable land and adverse effect on the environment and health of our people that will result from testing, drilling and especially from the extracting of oil. One need only check with the people of
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Ecuador and Nigeria about what has happened to their respective lands. In Ecuador, thirty thousand residents had to file a lawsuit against Texaco/Chevron which they fought for twenty years before the case was finally settled. The charge was that the oil company deliberately dumped over 18 billion gallons of toxic wastewater and spilled some 17 million gallons of crude oil into the rivers and onto the floor of their precious rainforest. The Ecuadoreans were able to prove that apart from damage to the environment, the pollution from the oil business had caused a wave of mouth, stomach and uterine cancer that caused thousands of deaths, birth defects and spontaneous miscarriages. In February of 2011, a court found the oil company guilty and ordered them to pay 18 billion in compensation. Despite declaring profits in excess of 21 billion for 2011 alone, Chevron has refused to pay or to even apologize to the people of Ecuador. In Nigeria, the situation is even more disastrous and distressing. The Shell oil company, which recorded even higher profits of 31 billion dollars for 2011, continues to rape that country and create hardship for the millions of Africans who depend on the environment for their livelihood. It is estimated that more than 1.5 million tons of oil has spilled into the Niger Delta ecosystem over the years. Many spills take place in sensitive habitats for birds, fish and other wildlife, leading to further loss of biodiversity and, in turn, increased hardship on local communities. The spills pollute local water sources upon which people depend for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing and fishing. Nigeria
The next big oil story last week was about the arrival of a tanker full of fuel from Venezuela. We are told of course, that this will make no difference in the price of gasoline at the pump but will only add to our national debt. It is forecasted that gasoline will go even higher than the existing thirteen dollars per gallon at the pump.”
has what has been described as “one of the world’s most severely petroleum-impacted ecosystems.” The saddest part about the whole Nigeria situation is that while it continues to be one of the world’s largest oil producers, creating enormous wealth for Shell and a few corrupt politicians, over 70% of Nigeria’s people live in abject poverty. Is this really what we have to look forward to Belize? Belize is at the moment facing huge financial difficulties and the Prime Minister has made it clear that our only saving grace will be the discovery of more oil. Mr. Barrow has long stated that nothing will stop the search for oil and in referring to oil companies has said, that “drill they will”. Public protest has so far been able to delay drilling offshore but as things get more precarious, you can bet that oil companies will soon have their way wherever they want. The next big oil story last week was about the arrival of a tanker full of fuel from Venezuela. We are told of course, that this will make no difference in the price of gasoline at the pump but will only add to our national debt. It is forecasted that gasoline will go even higher than the existing thirteen dollars per gallon at the pump. According to the PetroCaribe agreement, the government will pay anywhere from 40 to 60 percent of the fuel cost and owe the rest to be paid over a number of years. The savings however, cannot go toward lowering gas prices but goes to the government for supposedly poverty alleviation projects. We know what usually happens to money that goes into hands of this government! Of course, we have seen this certain jankunu dance before. In No-
vember of 2005, a similar tanker carrying 15,000 barrels of fuel had been sent from Venezuela but had to sit in the harbor for over a week because government had nowhere to store the oil. At the time Esso owned all the storage facilities but now we are told that Esso has sold out to Puma who seems more flexible in dealing with Venezuela. Yet, oil companies play rough and it is left to be seen just how this one will play out. And by the way, whatever happened to that oil refinery that Mr. Barrow was gonna build “in no more than the time that it will take to do it”? Do people still believe anything that this man says? The thing is that regardless of how many ship loads of fuel arrive from Venezuela or anywhere else, Belizeans will still have to pay through their nose for gas. And even if our giant new oil rig finds oil in Blue Creek, it will be years, if ever, that Belizeans will see any benefit. You can be sure that we will see the detriments rather immediately. Maybe we can learn from a letter written by a youth organization in Nigeria that reads: “Our rivers, rivulets and creeks are all covered with crude oil. We no longer breathe the natural oxygen, rather we inhale lethal and ghastly gases. Our water can no longer be drunk unless one wants to test the effect of crude oil on the body. We no longer use vegetables, they are all polluted.” Oil means money, lots of it but it also poses huge environmental problems. Most of the money also goes to the foreign oil barons and corrupt local politicians. Our current leaders have already shown their propensity for greed, corruption and blatant disregard of the rights and well being of our people. Let us think hard on this one Belize before we find ourselves in a very deep hole covered in goo.
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Sunday, September 16, 2012
BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY
SCIENCE & TECH R
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Selected By Chris Williams
Cannabis anti-convulsant shakes up epilepsy treatment 12 September 2012 by Douglas Heaven The versatile cannabis plant may have a new use: it could be used to control epileptic seizures with fewer side effects than currently prescribed anticonvulsants. Ben Whalley at the University of Reading, UK, and colleagues worked with GW Pharmaceuticals in Wiltshire, UK, to investigate the anti-convulsant properties of cannabidivarin (CBDV), a little-studied chemical found in cannabis and some other plants. There is “big, historical, anecdotal evidence” that cannabinoids can be used to control human seizures, says Whalley, but the “side-effect baggage” means there have been relatively few studies of its pharmaceutical effect on this condition. The team investigated the effectiveness of CBDV – one of around 100 non-psychoactive cannabinoids found in cannabis – as an anti-convulsant. They induced seizures in live rats and mice that had been given the drug. These animals experienced less severe
Weeding out a solution (Image: WestEnd61/Rex Features) seizures and lower mortality compared with animals given a placebo. The drug also had fewer side effects and was bet-
ter tolerated than three of the most widely prescribed anticonvulsants. Epileptic seizures affect about
one per cent of the population. Left uncontrolled, they can lead to depression, cognitive decline and death. If you control the seizures, says Whalley, “the chances of death drop away completely”. The decision about whether to test the drug in humans will be made next year. “This is a very positive result,” says Ley Sander, an epilepsy specialist at University College London, UK, who was not involved in the study. “We need new drugs,” he says. “For 20-30 per cent of people with epilepsy, nothing seems to work.” But he urges caution. “The animals in the study are made epileptic,” he says, which is not how epilepsy is acquired in humans. He adds that what you see in animal models doesn’t always translate directly into humans. “Most compounds showing promise in preclinical studies never reach market,” warns Mark Richardson of the Epilepsy Research Group at King’s College London. “But I agree that these results justify progressing further down the drug development pipeline.”
Muscles that do nothing can keep you warm and thin 09 September 2012 by Andy Coghlan
Muscles that burn energy without contracting have yielded new clues about how the body retains a constant temperature – and they may provide new targets for combating obesity. Traditionally, the body’s main thermostat was thought to be brown fat. It raids the body’s white fat stores in cold conditions to burn energy and keep the body warm. Muscles also play a role in keeping the body warm by contracting and triggering the shiver response – but this is only a short-term fix because prolonged shivering damages muscles. Now it seems that muscles have another way to turn up the heat. “Our findings demonstrate for the first time that muscle, which accounts for 40 per cent of body weight
in humans, can generate heat independent of shivering,” says Muthu Periasamy of Ohio State University in Columbus. Surviving the chill Through experiments on mice that had their usual thermostat – brown fat – surgically removed, Periasamy and his colleagues proved that a protein called sarcolipin helps muscle cells keep the body warm by burning energy, almost like an idling motor car, even if the muscles do not contract. All of the mice had their brown fat removed, but some of them had been genetically engineered to lack sarcolipin too. These rodents could not survive when held at 4 °C, and died of hypothermia within 10 hours.
By contrast, mice that could make sarcolipin were able to survive the chilly temperatures and maintained their core body temperature – despite having no brown fat. Periasamy also showed that an inability to make sarcolipin made mice 33 per cent heavier than normal when fed a highfat diet. This suggests that idling muscles might also help combat obesity by burning off excess energy. The search is now on for drugs that perform the same role, triggering idling muscles to burn off excess fat. “The most interesting finding is that mice unable to make sarcolipin are more susceptible to obesity,” says Andy Whittle of the University of Cambridge,
who is testing spicy dietary treatments to ramp up the fat-burning activity of brown fat. “The research demonstrates that muscle is an important compo-
nent even in mice, which have comparatively more brown fat than humans. In humans, burning fat in muscle is likely to be even more important for proper energy balance.”
Sunday, September 16, 2012
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THE BELIZE TIMES
CELEBRATING OUR JEWEL Celebrating Our Jewel Kriolized Kriolized Canand you findthe and circle the Kriol Can you find circle Kriol words and theirwords Englishand twins (translations)? their English twins (translations)?
C Y N O O H R H N D B B S V A
N W Q N J P O E E Z R P U Y G
Z F V K N O X L H Z H C O A T
N X N K N S F R I G H T E N D
F Y B I P F L T L K H P T Y Y
A L A M A R D A H T E A H A N
N T A R O R Z V E R O M G T T
S X D I J G D A U R O A I S T
X I X H N N S O H C I A R A M
A X E B N E T C V T R R T P E
D V S C A P A R Q F K J A X X
W M A X G O I R C W G Y R F D
Z Y K L Q P W R T W K G S N L
N H X S N A W P U T A H S Z E
P H A I O D I B F U Z T L A X
CAP CHROAT DAAB DAUB DRAIN DRAMA EASE EEZ FRAI FRAITN FRIGHTEN FRY JRAAMA JRAYN KYAP LAI LIKE OAPN OPEN
RAFFLE RAFL RAICHOS RIGHTEOUS STAIN STAYN THROAT TOAR TOUR
CAP CHROAT DAAB DAUB DRAIN DRAMA EASE Using the clues EEZ in the box can you fill in the words to complete the sentences from The Right Hon. George C.FRAI Price’s tribute dedicated to our ancestors, our Belizean patriots? FRAITN FRIGHTEN FRY JRAAMA Beauty JRAYN Save KYAP LAI Giants LIKE Sunrise OAPN OPEN Worked RAFFLE Builders RAFL RAICHOS RIGHTEOUS Across STAIN STAYN 1. Building is a task for... THROAT 4. Belizean builders: see the living...
Belizeans: Unite to Build Our Nation
5. ...why do you stand looking out to sea? 6. We have...all night and...all day Down 2. The giant builders must ...the land 3. The builders await the ...
Across 1. Building is a task for... 4. Belizean builders: see the living... 5. ...why do you stand looking out to s
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THE BELIZE TIMES
THINK ABOUT IT SMALLEST 10th September Says the song, “It was the tenth day of September…when history was made, Oh Belize our home sweet home…” Another history was made. Another smallest tenth of September parade. The Loyal and Patriotic Order of the Baymen were out in full force, but it wasn’t enough. The tenth parade was pilinki. That poke-uno-boy story just isn’t washing it anymore. With 51 Baymen voting not to stay in the settlement; and 65 voting to stay and ask the British to send ships and soldiers to do the fighting, the socalled “battle” is becoming a difficult sell with the younger educated Belizeans. Which Garifuna wants to sing and praise “our fathers the Baymen”? Which Hispanic Belizean is so confused as to claim his or her ancestors in 1798 won “the glorious turkey fight”? And what of the heroic Mayans? And the East Indians who were not even here at the time? And check this for smooth propaganda; the slaves must have been the biggest idiots to be fighting for their slave masters. Nowhere in history have slaves been such total idiots if we were to swallow the Baymen’s misinformation. Which slave masters will give slaves muskets and weapons? And for those current, all of a sudden historians who have not read the documents; don’t be saying the Baymen must have defeated the Spaniards (2000 soldiers, 500 sailors and 32 ships) because the Spaniards never came to Belize after 1798. Yeah, they never came back but it was because war turned to peace between Britain and Spain and a treaty was signed. And in 1802, the British agreed in writing to the terms of the Spaniards, regarding logwood cutting in Belize. Hey! Baby, want a real Belizean event to celebrate? One that is authentic and substantive? Independence Day, all the way. THE KING He was the king. No other athlete in his field in his time could beat him, or outride him, or out sprint him. They had to wait for him to have a bad day or to pray for luck or hope he didn’t compete. Kenrick Halliday was the undisputed champion of the road races and the track races. He was cross-country champion not once, not twice but thrice, yes three times and once again to make it FOUR times champion. He was cross-country champion when the road to Cayo was not fully paved. When Mount Hope was a real mount and the most experienced and hardened competitors had to get off their bikes and walk up that steep hill. For the record, Kenrick Alexander Halliday became cross-country champion in 1974 (he was second place in 1973). In 1975, he was again the king of the road. Then, despite an accident at the start of the race, he still captured fourth place in 1976. To prove his abilities he returned in 1977 and again was the champion. Not only did he do it again in 1978, but also broke the twenty year old record of non-stop pedaling from Belize City to San Ignacio, in style.
And all this while you should have seen the young lion on the track at the National Stadium. He came out on top in the thriller, “Devil takes the Hindsmost”, and the “Cat and Mouse”, and in the ten laps and fifteen laps. Kenrick was the strongest of the strong, the fittest of the fit. He was the Champion’s Champion. He was born a cross-country champion and he never let Jah down. It is fitting and uplifting to hear that the National Honors Committee will confer on Kenrick the Meritorious Service Award. It is hoped that such an award is accompanied with a fat cheque. If gang members and murderers can get government money, surely the king is a deserving citizen for the cheddar. Some mention is to be made of Sidney Sikaffy who personally and financially supported the young man, who’s Samson like qualities rode with such ferocity that in the 1971 race he broke his bicycle. TORTURE IN ORANGE WALK Want to hear a disturbing story? A sickening, unbelizean story? Read on. Three young men are in jail for about four weeks now. If the system has its way and 99.9% of the time it does, they will be in jail for a long time. Two are charged for murder and one for abetting the murder. All three live in Trial Farm Village. A man was found in a cane field almost two miles from the village. His pants were off and he was strangled with his brief. If your mischievous mind is thinking homosexual situation, such would be reasonable. But homosexuals in a fit of passion or anger usually stab-up their victims multiple times. Usually. In this case no stabbing, no chopping, no lashing, no blunt instrument, but strangulation with a brief. A fitting case for Sherlock Holmes and his dear friend Watson. And homosexuals don’t gather in threes and strangle their gay victims. Even vampires who go straight for the jugular don’t usually act other than alone. Usually, except of course the Biblical tale of the citizens of infamous Sodom and Gomorrah. Trial Farm would really have to be consumed by depravity to think that Sodomites are out in twos and threes taking off brief and underwear apparel. Now back to the facts. The victim was drinking alcohol in the company of two or three persons around 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. The accused young men and their companions were drinking in the public park across the street from the victim. In going to the shop to replenish their thirst, the victim hurled insults with expletives at one youth. A physical confrontation occurred, and this the police believe is a motive for the crime. The victim was found briefless two days later in a cane field. A person, who may or may not have been present, told the police he saw the young men putting the victim in a taxi. He then followed them and saw them carry out the strangulation. He did not report this strange tale until two days when the victim was found. The police investigates. The investigation consists primar-
ily of the most common procedure. Torture. The young men later tell their families similar events, though they were beaten separately. They said they were handcuffed behind their backs, pushed to the floor then had kickings and beatings to their bodies. One recalled one of the C.I.Bs taking a thick belt and repeatedly whapping him in the head and chest. They say a black plastic bag was pulled over their heads and tightened so they had trouble breathing, gasping for air or fainted briefly. During the extended beatings two C.I.B. police kept insisting on hearing the young men confess to the crime and explain how and why they did it. The horrible nightmare ended when the pain and the threats of death caused the youths to beg for mercy and cried like babies. One had to be hospitalized and had surgery. The police got their statements. The accused men have sworn to Almighty God and his son Jesus (both of whom did not introduce any divine intervention against the torturers) that they were innocent. One thing the young men remembered, their hellish nightmare at the hands of the Orange Walk C.I.B was not brief. Their families are planning to travel to Belize City to see some new agency, which deals with abuse from police. The families have been informed that if it is the Unprofessional Sub-Standard Board or Committee, they should not waste their time. Neither this entity or its predecessors or the Ombudsman, or the Ombudswoman, or even the Ombudschild have been anything other than meek or mild. And completely ineffective against wrong doers and injustice. The government doesn’t give a damn and that’s the way the country is being mismanaged and why anger and resentment are on the rise. REVEREND VS. PASTOR Reverend Goff has been involved in the September Celebrations activities. The reverend may even have been the recipient of a colonial title, Member/Officer of the British Empire, recommended by a “nationalist” Prime Minister. A title, which belongs in the dustbin of history, a relic offered to neo-colonialists. Reverend may even have marched along those remnants of the colonists who never wanted the British to be sent packing from our shores. Halfway across our beloved country, while the reverend and his traditional church colleagues are sucked into the annual September diversions, a young
Sunday, September 16, 2012 pastor was doing real battle. Pastor Luis Wade was wading in, wading deep into enemy territory. He was bobbing canons and ammunitions at the Minister of Education. The Pastor’s daily attacks had gathered momentum. A sea of Christians and outraged citizens was his army. The calls were some days fast and furious. The Education Minister, a chatty, mouthy fellow was deafening by his silence. Neither he nor his staff could muster the will to fight. They were on the losing side. They had sanctioned a teaching Manual, replete with medical and scientific errors for use in the primary schools. The minister personally knew of the matter for months, Pastor Wade had personally made sure of it. The Christian followers of Pastor Wade and his Plus TV started blaming the minister and rightly so. The Minister and his hapless government, bedeviled by four serious scandals this week will buckle or be exposed as part of the agenda of the Sodomites. The reverend, unlike Pastor Wade, could not have mounted such a sustained attack. The churches in Belize need to check themselves. SCANDAL AND MORE SCANDALS “The funny teaching manual” released by the Minister of Education is only one of four or five scandals that are marring the September month. The government has helped to give Belize another black eye when it was revealed that an alleged terrorist got all documents including a fake passport from the government in the blink of an eye last month. The Ministry of Health is lying when it says two ultrasound machines are giving wrong information, both in Belize and in Mexico. A pregnant mother confirmed she was with twins. She has other children and says she knows when she is carrying only one child and when there are two distinct heartbeats from different places inside her. She was put under anesthesia and given a C-section operation. When she regained consciousness, only one baby was handed to her. The Central Statistical Unit has released very disturbing data on poverty, unemployment, uneducation and a host of terrible troubles Belize is in. This is the worst our country has ever gone to. Cayo, a bread-basket for the nation and a productive district has fallen into rut with Belize City, Corozal, Toledo, Dangriga and Orange Walk. Rampant poverty and lack of employment, with no solution in sight. The future looks bleak.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
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THE BELIZE TIMES
“Because I am a UDP” Belize City, September 12, 2012 Having gotten a taste of brutal bus owners’ aggression that consisted of early morning roadblocks and tire-burning just last year, it is surprising to see Transport officials stoking controversy over practices of favouritism in issuing bus runs. It is even more surprising that the same individuals are involved. On one side it is the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative operators who claim they are being disadvantaged and are losing runs. On the other it is the known UDP supporter Sergio Chuc, who owns the Westline bus company, and who is being given the runs.
Sergio Chuc
There is a change in the dynamics; however. Chuc is no longer fighting to enter the industry. With the moves he
pulled last year that caused the uproar among other bus operators, he is now a major contender. This time, Chuc is attempting to extend his coverage. But like a parasite that knows no bounds, Chuc seems to want too much. He was never meant to be a contender in the industry in the first place. But with his party in power and his friends in high positions it appears that the stars were aligned for him. He took advantage of the opportunity. The scuttle is over specific bus runs which were held by BBOC and are now granted to Westline. Thanks to a television interview, we all know how Chuc was able to get
the runs transferred to him. When asked whether he thinks he is getting preferential treatment because the UDP is in power, and he is a UDP, Chuc couldn’t disagree much. “My party is in, I am not denying that and I have no reason to deny that and apologize on that. I am a part of the central executive of the party and I think the transport department made a logical decision, it’s not because I am a UDP or maybe it is,” said Chuc. Quite a mouthful said. Under the UDP, opportunities are no longer given to Belizeans deserving of it. The only condition seems to be petty and political.
Gregorio “Papas” Garcia holds Fun Day in Corozal Bay! Corozal Town, September 11, 2012 Classes for primary school students had commenced just a couple weeks and many kids in Corozal Town lacked the financing to get prepared to attend. Various families, especially the large ones, were struggling to find the finances to buy school bags, school books, and miscellaneous school supplies and monies to even pay for a haircut. To assist, Gregorio Papas Garcia and the PUP Corozal Bay Executive Committee organized a pre-classes preparation fun day for these vulnerable kids. On Saturday, September 8, 2012 they hosted 400 children and youth of Corozal Town offering some basic school supplies PUP Corozal Bay Standard Bearer Gregori “Papas” Garcia assisted with school bags for children
“Papas” & barbers teamed up to give free haircuts to children
Children participate in sack race
along with having Barbers and Hair dressers available to prepare them to begin the school year. Approximately 250 young boys and girls were treated to a haircut or hair braid at no cost. Others were given school bags and other basic school supplies. Games and sports were also organized to host the children while they waited for their turn to be groomed. A friendly clown was also present with balloons to entertain the younger kids and refreshments were also supplied to all present. Gregorio Papas Garcia and the PUP Corozal Bay Executive would like to extend their heartfelt thank you to all who assisted to make this day possible including the Barbers and hair braiders who selflessly gave back to the kids in their community. Thanks also goes to all those that helped in one way or the other. Thank you all for a successful back to school fun day!
Hairbraiders fixing up hairstyles
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, September 16, 2012