Belize Times September 21, 2014 by Belize Times Press

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

21 SEPTEMBER 2014 | ISSUE NO: 4913

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

Bold Leadership!

PUP serious about Change & Reform Belize City, September 17, 2014 Today, Hon. Francis Fonseca demonstrated that under his leadership it will not be business as usual for the People’s United Party. At a meeting held this afternoon at Independence Hall, PUP Headquarters, the National Executive supported the Party Leader’s decision to remove Arthur Saldivar as the Standard Bearer for Belize Rural North division. It was a difficult but decisive and necessary move. No Party would deliberately remove an elected candidate, but in the circumstances that Saldivar finds himself, it was prudent to act. Saldivar has come under heavy public scrutiny over multiple allegations of wrongdo-

PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca and Chairman Henry C. Usher at media briefing following Wednesday’s National Executive meeting

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8 SHOT, 3 DEAD IN ONE DAY Belize City, September 18, 2014 Violent crime erupted in the poverty-filled Belize City on Wednesday with four separate shooting incidents that resulted in eight people being injured and three killed. It started around 2:00 in the afternoon, at the corner of Dean Street and Euphrates Avenue, next to the St. Ignatius Primary School and near the St. Ignatius Church. A group of men were in a yard John Avilez

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UDP sells underwater lots

Pegs marking subdivided lots sold away by the UDP were discovered by concern residents

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IMF says economic future is “worse” than predicted Cyril Mcfoy

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OPINION OUT

OUT

The National Colonial Museum????

Dear Belizeans, The proposed National Colonial Museum by the government is mentally sick. It is a retrograde, racist and disturbing development. I urge the President of NICH, the directors of ISCR, and Archaeology to take a public stand against such a wasteful and disrespectful regal minded program. I suggest that some of that $14 million be spent on renovating the historic Liberty Hall on Barrack Road and convert it to a modern Museum of African heritage with a component for technology so that youths can engage in productive acts of creativity. And instead of blowing away all the money in Belize City, I propose that a Museum of Natural History and Botanical Garden be built in Belmopan near the University and George Price Center so that citizens, students and tourists too can experience the scientific knowledge about this land. Also I suggest investments be made in grassroots recording studios and have the youths involved in the “robust community, oral history program.” Finally I call on the opposition to reject this project for its rank disrespect to our resistance heritage. Yasser Musa artist

LOCAL 19 Aug

21 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

Silvaana Udz supports use of Garifuna language in public spaces

To: Editor Belize Times Newspaper

Please allow me to publicly express support to the use of Garifuna and other local languages in public spaces. Above all, right now, kwik, fast and hurry—APOLOGIZE! Yes, you, First Caribbean Bank … you who have, admittedly, sponsored numbers of Kriol, Garifuna, and other local cultural functions in the 17 or so territories you operate in. But that just does not matter anymore. Why did you allow this linguistic hurricane to bubble and boil from what, perhaps up until your reaction you could have handled with far more sensitivity, humility, and, well, just good manners, man! You see, me, Silvaana Maree Udz (nee Woods), avid radio, newspaper, and local TV news viewer, can only critically respond to media reports, as I was not in Ms. Martinez’s shoes when you—First Caribbean Bank—were threading upon her dignity as a human being and when you were mashing up her right—her inalienable, fundamental, constitutional right—to use her language in public spaces. At the very, very least, publicly apologize to Ms. Martinez, to the Garifuna community, and to ALL Belizeans. Whether or not you feel culpable, or whether or not you feel protected by your own self-acclaimed inadequately-defined language policy, the reality is you have, whether advertently or

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not, hurt us. Not just “us” as your Belizean clients, but “us” as your Caribbean folk. In January 2011, the Charter of Caribbean Language Rights was ratified at a historic meeting in Jamaica that culminated several months of pre-work by regional subcommittee members. The 2011 Charter on Caribbean Language Rights established this fundamental right to use one’s local and territorial languages in any public space as critical to the furtherance of democratic societies. It was signed unto on January 14, 2011 by three Belizean educators: Sir Colville Young, Belize’s foremost linguist; Dr. Rosalind Bradley, the then Literacy director at the Ministry of Education’s Literacy Unit, and by Dr. Silvaana Udz of the National Kriol Council. The Charter is promoted through the International Center for Caribbean Language Rights headquartered at UWI, MONA campus. The Charter draws on several UNESCO position statements in its call to have governments of the region create the enabling environment for establishing translation and other such mechanisms in organizations, companies, and forums that deal with health and hospitals, economic and financial transactions, political representation and discussion in the national assembly, and in cultural, educational, and other similar life processes. For more, go directly to:<http://sta.uwi.edu/fhe/ dmll/documents/CARIBBEANLANGUAGECharter.pdf> So, this is my visceral reaction to the “rokshan” First Caribbean Bank has been causing in the minds and hearts of all Belizeans. Yes, the incident that sparked the ever simmering bubbling and boiling kettle of language and racial discrimination in Belize (“Who me? Racist? Luk ya, I have Black friends.”) Right. Like window dressing. Belize’s two traditional Black groups, Garifuna and Kriol, have been locked in an intimate dance of self discovery over the decades, and, check this: if out of the total disrespect and arrogance displayed by First Caribbean Bank in its response to what has emerged as clear-cut language discrimination against at least one employee (ok, allow me to be judge and jury here: I trust that Sandra Miranda, Roy Cayetano, Myrtle and all mi other Garifuna brethren and sistren already don check out di human rights violation information). And di irony of it all … if I never know better, I would think that with

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2014 a name like First Caribbean, such a bank would embrace all things Caribbean. But, they are based in Barbados ... so what else could one expect? (Ok, forgive that barb, my Bajan brethren and sistren … but , really, “dehn noh kaal unu “Little England” fu notn!” The Dickie B. TV show of Monday Sept. 15, 2014, amplified some of the details of the incident regarding language discrimination, vis-àvis Garifuna use by an employee at a First Caribbean Bank in Belize. “Disrespect and arrogance … This is a socio-political issue” said Mr. Swaso, who is also the current mayor of Dangriga. “This is a national issue,” he reiterated. I certainly agree. Garifuna language da fu aal a wi; and eevn if we noh talk it, we dance to it, sing to it, love and laugh to it and sway eena St. Martin de Porres Church to the “Our Father” in Garifuna as we hold hands with our Garifuna brothers and sisters. And, on the same show, Sandra Miranda of the National Garifuna Council, spoke of the rational approach being taken to deal with this critically important issue to our national identify. Each cultural spoke makes up the Belizean wheel of life. As Miranda noted, “action points are developing … no divide and conquer.” She spoke of a coalition of Belizeans (count me in!) as “we won’t win the battle individually.” And Miranda clearly is not governed only by her rational mind on this issue; she also worked with the late, great patriot, Hon. Philip Goldson, so we know her heart is engaged too. I feel so strongly about this issue because it impacts ALL of us in Continued on page 26

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

The Truth Shall Make You Free

ISSUE NO: 4840

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

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Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By TIMES NEWSPAPER LTD. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

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21 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

TARGET: THE BAR By Norris Hall September, 16th 2014 Belize’s Prime Minister is now poised to deliver yet another body-blow to the ribcage of the country’s democracy .This move is yet another indication that he is chipping away at freedoms which are guaranteed by the Constitution of Belize. The PM is in a hurry to take advantage of his dwindling power base in the Legislature to introduce a Bill that could dismantle one of his powerful adversaries, the Belize Bar Association-an independent group of professional Attorneys spanning the national political spectrum. It is likely that he will be able to slide this Bill through the Legislature with his slim majority and with the full support of his voiceless minions who cow-tow to him in his over-sized Cabinet. With no back-benchers, he doesn’t have to worry about anyone reining them in. The Prime Minister has the full support of his Attorney General and Foreign Minister who carries an inexplicable heavy chip like a log on his shoulder and a serious grudge against the Bar Association for calling him out for his Foreign Affairs bloopers and for his incompetence as Attorney General. The Bar Association has been very vocal about the PM’s subtle moves in slowly eroding the Constitution of Belize and for not adhering to the fundamental principles that have been enshrined therein. This includes his not-so subtle moves of tampering with the Judiciary. This is no longer an independent pillar of the Belize Constitution. The Prime Minister continues to interfere

Marvin Sedacey

Police Office dies in collision Punta Gorda Town, September 17, 2014 29 year old Constable Marvin died in a traffic collision between miles 3 and 4 on the Southern Highway, just outside of Forest Home Village. Around 7:30 this morning, Sedacey was driving his brown-in-colour Ford Escort car when it slammed into a Freight truck which was incoming from the opposite direction. Sedacey, who is a resident of Cattle Landing, died instantly, as the impact crushed the entire front of the vehicle. Sedacey was the only passenger in the vehicle. He had reportedly left from a wake that morning before.

in every branch of the government. There is no separation of powers. Recently the Bar Association took serious issue when the PM circumvented the function of the Public Services Commission, a toothless body in any case, and elevated a Judge, who has shown serious shortcomings, to the Court of Appeals. This Judge, only days before, had made a ruling from the bench of the Supreme Court, in favour of the government. This same Judge has also been criticized by the Bar and the Caribbean Court of Justice, for his flagrant display of incompetence and his long delays in handing down his judgements, sometimes for years, while accused persons languish in prison. The Bar has taken-up this issue and other discrepancies and display of incompetence by this Judge with the PM and the AG before he was elevated.

There are now two out of three Judges on the Court of Appeals, who have been handpicked by the Prime Minister. Picture a snowball in Hell. A case against the government has less of a chance. The AG in his role as Foreign Minister also has a number of diplomatic bloopers under his belt. He has been criticized by the President of the Bar Association, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, and collectively by the Bar Association, for his blunders in this arena, including the delicate issue of the border problem with Guatemala. The government has

03 3 not yet told us that Guatemala has reneged on its commitment for a referendum by the two countries, Belize and Guatemala, on whether or not this matter should be taken to in International Court of Justice. This has prompted an Opposition representative to describe Guatemala as “a serial killer of agreements”. Recently Belize’s Foreign Minister launched an undiplomatic tirade against the United States government accusing them, of among other things “international high-handedness” in an up close and personal diatribe in defence of his youngest brother, who is a fugitive from justice. He is wanted in the United States to answer allegations of medical fraud for which he has not yet been charged. In moving to dismantle the powerful Bar Association, the Prime Minister is signaling that he objects to dissenting voices from within and without his Administration. Opposition political parties could be next.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

on the THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE:

HAPPY 33rd BELIZE!!

By Francis W. Fonseca Artist and Historian Yasser Musa recently shared a publication entitled: “The Road to Independence” which was published at the time of Belize’s Independence in 1981. I have read it before but reading it again was inspiring and enlightening. It reminds us of the courageous, bold and uncertain path Belize took to Independence

guided by our great leader and Father of the Nation George Price. But as George Price always reminded us, we must never forget that it was the great People’s United Party and its members and supporters who served as the vehicle to take us on the road to Independence. The PUP provided the support structure

for Mr. Price to carry out his life’s work. It was the philosophy and core values of the PUP grounded in social justice which served as the foundation for Belize’s Independence movement. It was the PUP’s commitment to national development, unity and respect for all cultures that forged the birth of our new nation in

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2014 1981. George Price was a humble, compassionate and thoughtful leader who was deeply committed to equity and justice for all Belizeans. We must always be proud of our great leader and our great Party. The PUP has a proud and glorious history and legacy of creating the nation-state of Belize. The PUP is on the rise again. We will build on that proud legacy of the past and chart a new course on the road to a more prosperous and just nation. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!! FELIZ DIA DE NUESTRA INDEPENDENCIA A TODOS EN NUESTRO PAIZ!

The People’s United Party greets all Belizeans on the 33rd Anniversary of Belize’s Independence

21 SEP

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

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EDITORIAL Francis and the New Belizean Revolution!

he Hon. Francis Fonseca has worked close with the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foremost icon, George Price, long enough for many of the great leaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s traits to have been transferred. Dedication to serve the Belizean people with humility is among them. You will never hear him beating his chest or boasting of accomplishments. Yet he is the one that took over the leadership of the P.U.P. from those tumultuous times of infighting and undermining and led the party to an amazing come-back from 4 seats to 14 seats in an incredible display during the 2012 general elections which was a P.U.P. victory were it not for the worst kind of political treachery. With typical low-key fanfare, he re-committed the P.U.P. to its core value of social justice at a time when poverty has reached scandalous proportions of near fifty percent and unemployment is a social and economic scourge. The U.D.P. has brought the proud people of Belize to a diet of nutritionless Ramen noodles and a life of begging, with handouts as the order of the day. The private sector is flat on its back struggling to survive and the economy is gasping for breath. A sick and aging Prime Minister has been swallowed by his own outsized ego and is embarked on sacrificing the good of the country for a third term in office. We live in the worst of times. Worse than that, there is no future in sight and there is no hope available to the nation. Unless there is a change of Government and a new vision to take our people upward and our country forward. It was inspiring to hear him say recently that targeted to go, come a change of Government, will be the power of Ministers. Ministerial authority will be diluted and Ministerial discretion will be severely constrained. This is practically a revolution in how Government in Belize will be administered. It will open up the clustered offices of mismanagement, Ministerial abuses and make accountability and transparency more manifest. This is a bold and far reaching insight in how to bring about meaningful change in a Government structure that has gone array. Indeed, Hon. Francis Fonseca has let it be known that he is considering removing the sole authority of any Prime Minister to appoint the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. There would be a vetting process by the Judicial Commission and a short listing with recommendations from the Advisory Council to the Leaders of both parties or the National Assembly, for approval. Having seen the havoc and degrading of the Judiciary under the current Prime Minister, any improvements and reform to the appointment process must be welcomed. Not only must the Judiciary be independent, it must be seen by citizens to be independent. Speaking of reform, the policy commitment of the Party Leader is for experienced Union Leaders and former C.E.O.s to steer a working Commission which will oversee a modern and progressive public service equipped for a new challenge of a new Belize.

The Social Security Board, which collects from employers and employees, will see an overall increase in all benefits to all contributors to the scheme, and a restoration of the non-contributory benefits to unfortunate senior citizens struggling with help from no one. Hon. Francis has also committed to expanding the National Health Insurance (NHI) to every nook and cranny of the country. This is a progressive step forward and it dove- tails with the commitment to social justice for all Belizeans. It is important to remind a younger generation, disillusioned by six debilitating years of this current mediocre and stagnant government, whose signal achievement is self-enrichment from tax-payers money; that it was the P.U.P. that fought for independence, introduced an outstanding human rights Constitution, and protected our sovereignty and territorial integrity. The PUP had the vision to build Belmopan, introduced Social Security benefits for workers and brought about the University of Belize, among many other major achievements. Agriculture is to take its pride of place as the foundation and backbone of the country, and the PUP Government will restore the sector by working with and directly helping and supporting the hardworking farmers who have been abused, neglected and cast aside for the rich by the UDP Government. Francis is already on record that education at all levels will be free for our young people, as the single most important engine for the development of the country. Release the talents and capabilities of our young people as he puts it. He has admitted time and time again, that he is the product of education. The man holds University Degrees in Economics and in Law. His father was an outstanding educator. No one can be more committed than Francis to full- throttle education and skills training for our people. This is an absolute revolutionary undertaking and needs to be trumpeted across the length and breadth of Belize. But here is the biggie. This young man has been thinking and talking of a new vision for our people. Having been around George Price all those years and having lived to see Mr. Price bring about political independence, Francis Fonseca is forging a vision for economic independence. Belizeans deserve a better life. Belizeans can achieve a higher living standard. Thousands of Belizeans can defeat poverty and be gainfully employed. This is what our people want. This is what our people deserve. The very idea of charting a viable strategy to achieve economic independence should be the battle cry of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s United Party. And who better to lead that charge and inspire our people that better will come. As we pay tribute to the passing of our great leader George Price this Friday 19th September and celebrate his fulfilled dream of political independence on 21st September, let us resolve in his name and with his Party that with our leader and the support of the people we now commence the journey to economic independence for all Belizeans and for our beloved Belize. Que Viva George Price! Que Viva Francis Fonseca! Que Viva Belize!

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21 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

IMF says economic future is “worse” than predicted

Unemployment on “upward trend” Belize City, September 15, 2014 The International Monetary Fund has sounded a loud alarm on Belize’s economic future. Following the conclusion of the Article IV consultation with Belize, the IMF has said that the medium-term outlook for economic growth for Belize is “is worse than envisaged” and that real gross domestic product (GDP) growth would be weaker than anticipated in the near term. The IMF’s warning comes just weeks after Prime Minister Dean Barrow was beating his chest, proclaiming that his Government is steering the country out of rough waters. The first financial quarter of the year (January to March) had seen the economy shrivel, with Gross Domestic Product at 0.4%. The second quarter (April to June) saw improved conditions, according to the Government, as GDP was reportedly 8.7%. But economic analysts have questioned the veracity of purported economic growth, indicating that it might reflect Government’s infusion of funds into one small sector of the economy. The latter argument supports IMF’s most recent analysis of Belize’s economy. It noted that the main sectors of the economy: oil production, sugarcane and citrus are

weaker. The IMF pointed out that the unemployment rate, now at 14.2 is on an upward trend. The IMF continued to express concerns over the banking system, noting that while the banks continue with millions in capital funds and declining non-performing loans (NPLs), the risk exposure to the NPL remained high at 16.7% of total loans at end of March 2014. The IMF also warned that low primary surpluses together with the assumed recognition of debt related to nationalizations (over $600m owed for the Belize Telemedia and Belize Electricity Limited takeovers) will increase the public debt-to-GDP ratio. This fact is ignored by the Prime Minister. It said also that expansionary fiscal policies, including large wage increases, would fuel higher domestic consumption and upward pressures on the external current account deficit. International reserves could decline substantially over the medium term, especially if compensation for the nationalized companies adds to external outflows. The IMF said that the economy will remain in rough waters. “Real GDP growth would be weaker than expected in the near term but hover around 2.5 per cent over the medium term”.

Fortunato Noble

Press Office Vehicle Crashed Belize City, September 10, 2014 The UDP have tried their best to hide an incident in which a Government Press Office vehicle ended up being crashed into a lamppost at the entrance of the George Price highway. UDP cronies have been abusing resources, with no intervention from their Government superiors and little exposure from the so called “independent” media houses. Alcohol and careless driving seems to have been the reasons why this latest incident occurred. Information to the BELIZE TIMES is that UDP crony, Fortunato Noble, was

behind the wheels. Noble used the vehicle as if it were his personal ride. According to reports, Noble had been out late that night and when entering the city he veered into the lamppost. In quick fashion other UDP cronies arrived to clean up the mess before the Police showed up. We are told they quickly removed the license plate from the vehicle and got Noble away from the scene. The vehicle accident was also not reported by the Police. Luckily at the scene were Belizeans who are tired of the UDP’s abuses and they snapped photos of the crash.

21 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

PUP CAYO WEST

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Youth Revolution Rally Hundreds of young people turned out to support Cayo West youth rally, in support of Dr. Lesbia Guerra Cocom

Said underscores the need for better education

Members of the PUP town council slate and Dra. Lesbia Guerra-Cocom

Deputy Leader Hon. Julius Espat speaks about Change & Reform in the PUP

Belize Youth Movement leaders & Cayo West youth leaders commit to making young people a priority for the PUP

PUP Deputy Leader Cayo South Area Rep. Hon. Julius Espat, Collet Standard Bearer-designate Micah Goodin, Cayo North East Standard Bearer Orlando Habet, Western Caucus Campaign Manager Victor Espat, Cayo West Standard Bearer Dr. Lesbia Guerra Cocom, Western Caucus Chairman Rafael Guerra Jr. & Western Caucus Communications Director Vaughan Gill

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THE BELIZE TIMES

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

GENDER VIOLENCE AND IMPUNITY Everybody and their brother knows by now that Education Minister and Member for Collet Hon. Patrick Faber has been involved in another incident of violence towards women. It was a pretty shocking report that began to surface last weekend. I learned about it after church, since word had begun to make the rounds of what had allegedly occurred at the Lord’s Bank home of Faber at a birthday party for a girlfriend of his who works in the Ministry of Education. I call the incident one of gender or gender-based violence. I believe that the term domestic violence sometimes does not capture the true nature of this pernicious and con-

tinuing problem in all societies. Nowadays we are hearing of the most horrendous incidents of violence against women in countries like Afganistan and Syria. Even the emerging Islamic State terrorists are said to kidnap and rape women and girls and use them as objects to be traded. Boko Haram rebels in Nigeria have kidnapped hundreds of girl children, with late and little response from national authorities and the international community. Anita Zetina explained gender violence very incisively years ago. She said that the man who has been out late and drinking does not beat up the person on street on his way home to take out his possible frustrations, but he may not hesitate to take out

the same frustrations on his wife or woman once he is behind the closed doors of his house, because the demonstration and execution of his violence is gender based. It is against his intimate and many times weaker partner that the hand or fist starts to fly. Gender violence is a crime and is NOT a private matter. When you put this together with the impunity that the Barrow government Ministers seemingly enjoy because their boss will not discipline them and Police are afraid, it has in Faber’s case become a deadly mixture. In earlier Woman in the House pieces I have written about the conduct of persons in high office, and I have lamented the fact that the Prime Minister has refused to act to signal unequivocally that bad behavior will not be tolerated. Instead he has cosseted and shielded his ill behaved Cabinet members in the hope that people’s memories will be short. Police Press officer Martinez has made a fool of himself in saying that the report by Ms. Polanco does not exist because it was withdrawn. To address this briefly, a person makes a REPORT to the Police AND lodges a COMPLAINT saying that he or she would like Police and court action. If the complaint is later withdrawn that does NOT mean that the report was withdrawn and thus does not exist. It is still there, and the Police are mandated to in-

21 SEP

2014 vestigate and charge. It is too obvious in Faber’s case that the Police are not acting because it is a Minister who is involved. And what would we expect Ms. Polanco to do, thinking as she must have that she wanted a job to return to on Monday morning, since she works in Faber’s Ministry. I repeat – this is pernicious to the highest degree, and we must condemn it in the strongest terms. The Special Envoy for Women put out a release that said all the right things related to gender violence, but that is not enough. Her husband, the Prime Minister, must act to discipline Faber and to show that this wicked misbehavior will not be condoned. The Police too must do their jobs without fear or favor. Most of all, Faber must butt out of influencing the Police not to investigate. In his press interview he tried, as we would say, “to bad it out,” but we as Belizeans have to stand together in making it plain that gender based violence and misconduct are completely unacceptable. Faber should resign and also seek professional intervention if he cannot control himself in terms of alcohol consumption and violent conduct towards women.

21 SEP

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

Bold Leadership!

PUP serious about Change & Reform Continued from page 1

ing. These allegations involve Saldivar and clients he has represented or persons involved in legal matters with him. The public, tired of the blatant and multiple acts of cover up of corrupt act after corrupt act under the current UDP Government, is holding the Opposition PUP to higher standards. The PUP Leader heard the concerns of people and on August 27th, with the support of the National Executive, he commissioned a team led by Party Chairman, Henry C. Usher, to investigate the allegations and present their findings at a meeting on September 17th. The investigation committee travelled and met with various parties, including Saldivar and the PUP Belize Rural North Ex-

ecutive Committee and compiled its report. Today, following a discussion of the report’s findings and the circumstances surrounding the allegations against Saldivar and the far-reaching implications on the Party’s real commitment to change and reform, the National Executive concluded that the removal is the best decision. The PUP will now revisit the process of identifying a suitable standard bearer for Belize Rural North. Chairman Henry Usher has been tasked with the responsibility of getting the PUP moving forward in the division which is considered by many a PUP stronghold. While the PUP has made bold moves to demonstrate that it is serious about changing the paradigm of politics as we know it today, the UDP is hell bent on shoving a

pitiful, embattled, scandal-ridden and hustling politician, Edmond Castro, on the good people of Belize Rural North. Since 2010, Castro has been embroiled in major scandals. He was kicked out of Cabinet that year after an American woman showed Prime Minister Dean Barrow that she had paid tens of thousands of dollars to Castro for lands he never provided. Castro sneaked his way back into politics and became the UDP’s standard bearer despite the scandal. He won the 2012 elections and was appointed a Minister of State, but continued to fall into disgrace. Last year, upon an official visit to Taiwan, Castro was accused of sexual assault by his official Taiwanese chaperone. Taiwan officials launched an official complaint to Belize’s Ministry of

09 9 Foreign Affairs, but the incident was played down to save Castro’s skin. But Castro cannot stay out of hot water, and this year the BELIZE TIMES broke the case of Castro’s barefaced hustling of Government monies at the Belize Airport Authority. The BELIZE TIMES published copies of cheques that showed that Castro had been collecting monies for his personal and political business. Castro, in a shameless attempt to defend himself, claimed that he was a “poor man” who turned to public’s finances for help. While Prime Minister Barrow removed the portfolio of the Airport Authority, Castro continues as a Minister of State and is still involved in Government business. There is a real difference between the PUP under Hon. Francis Fonseca and the UDP under Dean Barrow. Belizeans will be the ones to judge which one just talks the talk and which one has proven to walk the walk. Francis has shown bold leadership for Belize.

UDP sells underwater lots

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, September 15, 2014 San Pedro residents are disgusted at the UDP Administration’s latest desperate political gimmick of selling out land submerged under sea water for votes. The BELIZE TIMES has confirmed that through the office of the Area Representative the UDP Government has been collecting $500 for each parcel of land which has been sold to prospective landowners. The major problem is that unbeknown to the buyers, the lands are below sea water, in an area known as “Los Bajos” located four miles north of the island. This latest scandal was exposed this week by concerned residents who spotted subdivision pegs and called out the media’s attention. Now that is has been exposed, the scandal threatens to sink the UDP’s plans. 40 acres have been proposed for this strange underwater subdivision. Pegs can be found along the mangrove area, marking where the plots of land have been carved out. One plot was even seen already fenced. Environmentalists up in arms T0he Government has now come under heavy fire from marine conservationists who have revealed that the area being used for the subdivision was designated as a protected area. This designation has been sitting before Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his Cabinet Ministers for the past three years. Now we can understand why there has been a delay, or perhaps intentional blocking. Elito Arceo, the former President of the ACCSP, explained that the protected area would fall under the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Arceo’s organisation had also applied for “PACT grants” to assist in co-managing the area, but the application was denied. Of course, these grants would have come through the Ministry of Environment, which has shown signs of strong environmental insensitivity. More opposition Local fisherfolk were shocked at the revelation of the UDP Government’s land sale. The fisherfolk favor the area for sports fishing. Fisherman, Omar Arceo, said the Government plans would kill the natural habitat. He explained that the area is a hatchery for all types of fish. Whose grand idea? Following the spark of outrage that followed the media coverage of the underwater lots, no one has owned up this imprudent plan. San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero distanced himself, although he hardly knows what’s happening on the island anyway.

The fact that the lands have been subdivided points that the Ministry of Natural Resources is involved. The substantiated reports that monies have been paid to the Area Representative’s office indicates that Manuel Herredia is fully aware of what’s taking place. That the environmental group’s attempts to protect the area from this same type of reckless development have been ignored is also proof that the Ministry of Environment has something to do with it.

21 SEP

2014

Pic. courtesy San Pedro Sun

THE BELIZE TIMES

21 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014 For Sale By Order of the

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 29th day of November, 2004, registered in Deeds Book Vol. 37 of 2004 at Folios 95 – 112, between Belize Mortgage Company 2002-1(the Assignor), Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., and Rodolfo Manuel Gutierres and under a Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 16th day of April, 2002, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 14 of 2002 at Folios 819 – 916 , between The Development Finance Corporation (the Assignor) and Belize Mortgage Company 2002-1, which said property was mortgaged by the said Rodolfo Manuel Gutierres to the said Development Finance Corporation on the 2nd day of April, 2001, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 14 of 2001 at Folios 203 – 246, will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 259 situate in the Sandhill Village Extension, Belize District and bounded as follows:- On the North for 27.428 Metres by a Street; On the South for 30.476 Metres by Lot No. 292; On the East for 31.393 Metres by Lot No. 260; On the West for 28.345 Metres by A Street, On the Northwest for 4.311 Metres by a Daylight Cut containing 952.087 Square Metres as shown on Entry 4844, Reg. 21 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings, erections and developments standing and being thereon. DATED this 16th day of September, 2014. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

VACANCY FOR

LEGAL SECRETARY/PARALEGAL Qualifications and Experience: • • •

Secretarial experience with Paralegal Certificate Applicants with over five years relevant experience will also be considered Computer literate

Salary:

Negotiable and dependent on experience and qualifications

Interested candidates must be a highly motivated team player with initiative, flexibility and excellent communication skills. Must have the ability to organize their workload with particular attention to detail. Should be able to operate in a busy environment and meet deadlines.

Closing Date: September 30, 2014 Please send your resume and the names of at least two (2) sources of reference to the below:

Manager P. O. Box 1074, Belize City, BELIZE or managerlaw2014@gmail.com

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

Belize City 2014

2014 by: Don Sandoval (Rockwire Visuals)

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2014 2014

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

09 TOPMODEL 13

ENTERTAINMENT

NEWS CELEBRATE BELIZEAN ARTISTS!!

Denise Castillo

It is a common cry during our most nationalistic month: why do we import foreign artists and support events featuring foreign artists over local artists? The organisers of the annual Sound Fest have moved past the normal whining and have been doing something about it, every year. The Association for Belizean Artists First led by Tony Wright is presenting their 13th version of the Belize Sound Fest. The Fest is the premiere show that consistently and proudly celebrates Belize and Belizean artists. There is a reason this is so. Wright explained that the month of Independence celebration should be about Belize and nothing else. In 2002, in response to a challenge that he organises an event for Belizean artists, he got the first Sound Fest off the ground. It has now become a part of the September celebrations recipe, along with Belizean-style Carnival. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music fest will feature some common names: T.R. Shine and Ernestine Carballo; some epic names such as the Might Youth Connection Band and Super Furia; and some majestic ones such as the Garifuna Collective and Michael Wagner. The Association will also award artists of the year: reggae/rnb songstress Denise Castillo, Kenny Gladden and Francisco Alcoser of Super Furia. The event will be held at the Rogerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stadium starting at 9:00PM on Friday, September 19th, 2014. The Association will be raffling a brand new bicycle. While the Sound Fest organisers have been able to attract support for the event annually, it pales in comparison to the support and endorsement which other events featuring foreign artists have received. This year even the Belize Tourist Board has signed on to a concert featuring a soca artist from Trinidad as the main attraction, while they have shunned the Sound Fest.

Belizean beauty

Olivia

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14 SPORTS

21 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

2014

BDF wins Interoffice volleyball champs Belize City, September 12, 2014 The Belize Defense Force won the 2014 Belize District Volleyball Association’s interoffice championship with back to back wins against Digicel 4G in the finals at the Belize Elementary School auditorium over the weekend. In Game 1 Thursday night, Victor Hernandez, Juan Marin and Rasheed Pollard led the Digicel offensive, scoring points at the net on plays set by Emily Turner and Shanti Roches; while Amir Arnold and libero Eli Obando dug up saves and helped on receptions to win the 1st set 25-22. Otis Clother and Jael Clother

came off the bench for the 2nd set, but the BDF’s Ernest Broaster, Francis Usher, Oliver Longsworth and Pierce Coleman led a counterattack on plays set by Bobby Dee Usher to win the next 2 sets: 25-16 and 15-10. In Game 2 on Friday night, the BDF won the 1st set of the second final: 25-20 on Friday night. Marin, Pollard and Hernandez rallied a Digicel comeback to win the 2nd set: 2521, as they tried to take the series to a Game 3. It was not to be; the BDF took the 3rd set: 15-11 for the championship. BVA President Allan Sharp presented the champions and sub-champions with team trophies and individual trophies.

BDF team

Robert Mariano wins Weekend Warriors’ A Cotton Tree race Belize City, September 14, 2014 Digicel 4G’s Robert Mariano won the A division, Ernest Olivera won the B division and Stationery House’s Ingmar Perera won the C division when Weekend Warriors’ cycling club held the last in the second series of flats races for 2014, from Cotton Tree to Leslie’s Imports in Belize City on Sunday. Here are other results: A Division 1st Robert Mariano – Digicel 4G - 2:00:00 2nd Mark Gentle – BCB/F.T. Williams team 3rd Kent “Bob” Gabourel – Benny’s Megabytes 4th James Frampton – Team Santino’s 5th Shelton Graham – Santino’s 6th Vallan Symns – Benny’s Megabytes 7th Jack Sutherland – Digicel 4G 8th Warren Coye – Taem Santino’s 9th Eric Burns – Scotiabank 10th Stephen Bissett – Team BNE B Division 1st Ernest Olivera – B.C.B./F.T. Williams - 2:13:00 2nd Santino “Chief” Castillo – Team Santino’s 3rd Ryan Willoughby - Stationery House/Medina’s Jewelry 4th Ray Cattouse - Stationery House/Medina’s Jewelry 5th Matthew Hughes – Team Big Blade 6th Sheldon Arnold – Team Big Blade 7th Jim Scott– Team Santino’s 8th Isaiah Willacey - Digicel 4G 9th Clarence Tesecum - B.C.B./F.T. Williams 10th Francis Cassasola –– Team Santino’s 11th Salvador Alvarado – B.C.B./F.T. Williams 12th Mark Lisbey – B.C.B./F.T. Williams 13th Eustace Ireland – Team Santino’s C Division (30 miles from La Democracia) 1st Ingmar Perera - Stationery House/Medina’s Jewelry - 1:42:01 2nd Glenn Sheppard – Team Big Blade 3rd Manuel Esquiliano - Truckers Posse 4th Sheffield Eck - Truckers Posse 5th Wayne Arnold 6th Denys Barrow –Team Lampaz - 1:42:10 7th Dennis Mckoy - Truckers Posse 8th Curtis Bradley – 9th Valentine Sosa - Truckers’ Posse

Kaya Cattouse

Keyon Robateau

Kent Gabourel

Oscar Quiros, Kaya Cattouse, Keyon Robateau & Kent Gabourel win annual CFB criterium

Robert Mariano

Oscar Quiros

Top 3 Masters

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2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

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2014

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

For Sale By Order of the

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 152 containing 827.78 square yards situate South of the Western Highway, near Mile 17, Hattieville Village Extension, Belize District, and bounded and described as shown by Plan attached to Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 846 of 2005 TOGETHER with all buildings, erections and developments standing and being thereon.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 2 and comprising 835.844 Square Metres situate in the New Pomona Village Site, near Mile 11, Stann Creek Valley Road, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 10 of 2004 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 10 of 2004 TOGETHER with buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 16th day of September, 2014.

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

For Sale By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 16th day of February, 2005 between MARCUS NUNEZ of Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District, Belize, of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 7 of 2005 at Folios 125 – 192, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 142A comprising 800 square yards situate in Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District and more particularly shown on a plan of survey of lots laid out in Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District by Government Surveyor W. P. Christie dated July 12th 1965 registered at the Lands and Survey Department, Belmopan in Tracing No. 6 of Hopkins Village TOGETHER with all buildings, and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 16th day of September, 2014. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

21 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

The Citizen Kim - Elvin Penner Immigration Corruption Saga (Part II) Extracted from the Auditor General’s Preliminary Report dated March 19, 2014

Subject: The Fabrication of Wonhong Kim Passport Number P0246777 (Continued from Sunday, September 7, 2014 edition) We did examination of the Belize Passport Issuance System (BPIS) processing of passport number P0246777 issued in the name of Won Hong Kim (Kin) and we confirmed the users and approvers of Won Hong Kim (Kin) passport number P0246777 and we also noted that two BPIS user roles were assigned to Erwin Robinson as shown in Table below Table F USR_FNAME Erwin Erwin Sharon Mark Mark Erwin

USR_LNAME Robinson Robinson Flowers Tench Tench Robinson

APP_STEP Created Data Entry Completed Approval Print Print Confirm QA Pass

The BPIS history of procedures for Wonhong Kim’s Application Since the steps to the Belize Machine Readable Passport Application and Issuance System (BMRPAIS) (section I to VIII) define the various BPIS

Elvin Penner

UPDATED_DT 2013-09-09 10:51:40.750 2013-09-09 12:53:46.950 2013-09-09 13:01:01.940 2013-09-09 13:04:44.657 2013-09-09 13:06:34.093 2013-09-09 13:33:39.097

roles as distinct and separate roles, we were unable to establish who gave access to Erwin Robinson to perform the roles of Data Entry Operator and Quality Control Operator at the same time, which is a violation of the passport application and approval process. While some roles are nonBPIS user roles, e.g. counter Clerk and Counter Supervisor. We noted Mark Tench served as Print Operator and delivery officer while Omar Phillips was the Counter clerk and Counter Supervisor. The BPIS also showed the status of Won Hong Kim’s passport P0246777 was still at “QA passed”.This was the case for numerous passports for which applications or persons authorized had signed for on the application forms as having received the passports, yet the system still had them at QA passed or QA override. It was noted that three officers involved in the processing of this passport were suspended however the print officer, Immigration Officer, Mark Tench, who also confirmed the printing of the passport and whose role it also was to verify the data on the system (BMRPAIS 1-3), was not suspended. We could not ascertain why Officer Mark Tench was not suspended along with the other three officers who performed procedurals roles in the approval to issuing stages of Wonhong Kim’s (Kin) application and passport. Unauthorized payment by Wonhong Kim (Kin) of expedited passport fees We observed from other passport applications examined, that the Director of Immigration and Nationality would approve the expediting of passports on application forms with her signature, date and the words “okay to expedite” but in Wonhong Kim (Kin) case, there was no indication

on the application that the Director approved the expedite service. Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00) was paid vide receipt 987400 dated 9th September 2013, which was for 24 hours service. Photograph and other biometric irregularities for Wonhong Kim (Kin) We examined the BPIS and it appeared that a picture of the applicant’s photograph was taken by the Data Capture Operator (Data Entry Operator) and not a live facial image of the applicant Wonhong Kim (Kin). The picture of the BPIS appeared to be a replica of the applicant’s passport picture in his Republic of Korea Passport M38368121 issued 23rd December 2008 which was attached to the photocopied application. No fingerprints were captured; the system had “unable to finger print while the signature of Wonhong Kim (Kin) in the system did not match that on his application form. It is unlikely that the applicant submitted the application form in person, based on the evidence found in the BPIS and the fact that he is incarcerated. The application appeared to have been written by the same individual who filled in the required declaration of recommender forms 3A and 3B. Authorization letter We found an undated authorization letter attached to the application firm, allegedly signed by Wonhong Kim, which authorized Jose Cante to pick up his passport. The signature of Jose Cante appeared on the form as the recipient of Passport number P0246777 but no date [received] was written on the form. Attached was also a copy of Jose Alberto Cante’s passport number P0108300 issued June 15, 2009. The issue date of Won Hong Kim’s passport P0246777 recorded on the photocopied passport application form as September 9, 2013.

• Nationality Certificate 28577/13 – Wonhong Kim A photocopy of Wonhong Kim’s (Kin) Nationality Certificate number 28577/13 dated 22nd April 2013 and signed by Minister Elvin Penner was attached to the photocopied application which is required for Citizens by Registration. • Verification of nationality fee We carried out a search of the receipts issued for the period January 2013 to September 2013 and found no trace that Wonhong Kim paid nationality fee of Belize three hundred dollars ($300.00) as required by all citizens by registration. • Verification of individual to manifest at Philip Goldson International Airport We made a visit to Philip Goldson Airport and scrutinized the manifest held by the Immigration and Nationality of all individuals who enter and leave the country by air and there was no record found that Wonhong Kim entered the country of Belize. This led us to believe that in addition to Minister Penner back dating Wonhong Kim’s nationality certificate, Wonhong Kim did not hold a permanent resident status and was therefore not qualified for Belizean national that he was granted. Scrutiny of the Nationality certificate register revealed that the nationality certificate number assigned to Wonhong Kim was blank in the Register. A check of the Number Book/Register showed that certificate 28577/13 was issued to Wonhong Kim but was dated 2nd September 2013. We also noted that the series signed and issued in April 2013, begun with 28306 with the serial numbering being consecutive up to September 2013 when it reached 28574 on 2nd September 2013 and continued to 28588.3 for said date. As with the previous individuals above we attempted to get the Nationality acceptance register as well as the Permanent Residence register however, none was forthcoming as we explained above. Up to the time of writing this report we have not received said registers. (…to be continued next week)

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THE BELIZE TIMES

21 SEP

2014

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2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid Belize’s Independence

- 33 years after By G. Michael Reid As Belize prepares to celebrate its Independence, a little reflection and retrospection might be in order. This Sunday September 21st, we celebrate as a nation, the 33rd anniversary of this momentous milestone. There were many who believed, and probably some who still do, that Belize was not ready for Independence in 1981. Many were the predictions and forebodings of dark days and doom as a result of the bold step into self determination. The visionary statesman who we acknowledge as the Father of our Nation was not deterred however, and 33 years later Belize is still standing. Quite a few left because they were sure that we would not make it, but Guatemala has not invaded, the sky has not fallen and we remain free with all territories sovereign and intact. For many of us older heads, 1981 seems but a few short years ago. For the majority of Belizeans (census figures suggest that a majority of the population is under 30 years of age), Belize has always been independent. For those of us who can recall early Belize, the development and expansion has truly been amazing. The buildings have changed from wood to concrete, technology has us connected around the clock and aggressive tourism marketing has bared our secrets to the world. If Mother Nature still has well-kept secrets, certainly Belize would no longer be counted among them. Since Independence Belize has changed governments six times with our two main political parties sharing terms of office. The UDP is currently midway through their fourth term, having joined the PUP in winning consequence terms of office. Despite blaming the PUP for everything that has gone wrong in Belize, the figures now show that since Independence, the UDP has

progress, spiritually we are practically brain-dead. Morality is out the window, adherence to rules is rare and respect for authority was left behind with colonialism. Our per capita murder-rate is among the highest in the world, corruption is more the rule than the exception and love of country is low and seem to last only for as long as the celebrations of September. We are ruled by despots been as many years in office as the whose main ambition is to enrich PUP. Obviously they have to share themselves and their families in the blame for the things that they while the people’s business goes continue to complain has not gone untended. right for Belize. This September, we have All things being equal, we can seen the usual influx of friends readily look back at Belize’s progand family from the abroad. Of ress and regressions and figure out course, the number is not nearwhich party has been productive and ly what it used to be, given that which has been mainly talk. After many are now firmly entrenched seven years of consecutive governin the U.S. system and many have ing, many are beginning to realize young children who must return that the UDP makes a much more to school. The topic of Diaspora efficient opposition than it does a is once again on the front burner government. While in Opposition, and I do believe it is time for us to the UDP seemed able to manipureach out to those who have left late the media, infiltrate the Unions and time for them to think more in terms of ways to help us. I am still strongly opposed to any with duo-citThe hard cold fact is that looking back, we can see izenship being allowed to where the visionaries of the PUPs have pushed us run for office but there are forward progressively while the more conservamany other ways in which those who still love Belize tive and pessimistic UDPs have retarded our can help. There is more growth. The PUPs have taken charge and takthat Belize can do to enen chances, bucked the odds and withstood tice those who have gone the criticism while the UDPs have continually away to come back and lend their expertise and looked backwards, pointed fingers and comexperiences. Instead of plained. sharing out public land to only family and friends of and NGO’s and were quite effective the party in office, our Lands Deus forward progressively while the at holding the PUP to task. The PUP partment could make land availmore conservative and pessimistic apparently makes a less effective able to those who wish to repatriUDPs have retarded our growth. opposition since they have not been ate. We all love Belize and we are The PUPs have taken charge and able to stir the people to “civil unduty-bound to help her grow. taken chances, bucked the odds rest” despite unprecedented corrupYes Belize, we are indepenand withstood the criticism while tion and the vast number of things dent and we have come a long the UDPs have continually looked having gone wrong. In government, way, physically. We all have backwards, pointed fingers and the PUP seems more masterful and phones but we do very little comcomplained. We attained Indepenefficient in stimulating the economunicating. We have better roads dence in spite of the skepticisms my, creating jobs and putting bread but we all seem headed to noof those very ones who are now on people’s tables. Under the UDP, where and getting there pretty busy reaping the benefits and despite tremendous spending, unfast. You might say that we are feathering their proverbial nests. employment figures are staggerheaded to hell in a wheel-Barrow! Now, while in a secular sense, ing and the poverty rate has more Happy Independence Belize! Belize has evidence to show much than doubled. There are those of course, who enjoy lavish lifestyles but most are close to or related to government officials. Something is just not right. For those Belizeans who remember pre-Independence Belize, the transformation from colony to nationhood has involved much more than just a change in name and flag color. We have come from one lane dirt roads to an intricate system of decent roadways crisscrossing our nation. We can point to the Boom Cutoff, the Hummingbird and Southern Highways, a by-pass in Orange Walk, the Belize River Valley Road and the Placencia Road as just some of the areas in which improvement has been marked and notably apparent. Many villages have received light, water and basic commodities that were at one time, mainly the objects of dreams and political promises. Much of this progress occurred under the PUP and many Belizeans will readily admit that they enjoy a much better quality of life under the People’s United Party. Yes, there have been challenges under both parties but somehow, the PUP’s seem more adept at jumping into the trenches and digging out of holes. The UDP is better at casting blame, creating timely distractions and making false promises. One party is of substance while the other is of pure glitter. It does not take a Rhodes Scholar to figure out which is which. The hard cold fact is that looking back, we can see where the visionaries of the PUPs have pushed

THE BELIZE TIMES

Home Economics Public Transportation for a More Competitive Economy By Richard Harrison There is a small city in the USA named Portage, Michigan….at the entrance is a big sign that boasts “Portage….City of Economic Excellence”. This is a high-ambition declaration by the leaders of that city. One of the beliefs held by the leaders is that the citizens should be able to move with ease and comfort, at the least possible cost. Movement, after all, is one of the basic characteristics/need of living creatures. Their public transportation system is very efficient and reliable, and includes modern air-conditioned buses that charge the citizens US$0.10 to go anywhere in the city. The pump price of fuel is around US$3.40 per gallon. In Belize, the pump price of fuel is around US$6.00 per gallon for premium fuel…..with around 45% of this cost going to government in the form of taxes. Without these taxes, the price of premium fuel would be around US$3.75 per gallon and diesel around US$3.60. Belize bus transport cost is US$0.05 per mile on average, serviced mostly by obsolete Blue Bird used and rebuilt school buses imported from US scrap yards….and which are very inconsistent, dilapidated and routinely break down on the highways, leaving passengers stranded. This is about the same price per mile charged in Mexico for the A-class service on very reliable and modern Pullman buses with air-conditioning, toilets, tv and terminal services. Thus Belizeans are paying the same price, for less than half the service. In a small town in Belize with taxi service of radius of 2 miles, the fare is US$2.50….the same as a taxi service in Mexico with a radius of 4 miles. Water-taxi service for one hour in Belize costs US$15.00…. while in Mexico, the cost is about half that amount. Domestic air travel to the more popular destinations is minimum US$45.00 for 20 minutes flight, again more than double the price in Mexico. The relatively high cost of public transportation in Belize has several causes: 1. The high pump price of

fuel, due in large part to high taxation on imported fuel 2. Inefficient, aged equipment that consume more fuel, oil and maintenance of wear and tear 3. Poor infrastructure, such as bad roads and air-strips that take a higher toll on the equipment 4. Higher cost of acquiring tires, spare parts and maintenance and repair services 5. Higher cost of financing and insurance 6. Higher cost-of-doing-business, including high Business Tax, license fees, terminal fees, landing and parking-station fees, among others. A dilapidated bus in Belize gets on average 13 miles per gallon of diesel, at the current average cost of US$5.30 per gallon…..thus it costs them US$0.41 in fuel per mile. In Mexico, the Pullman buses get average of 18 miles per gallon of diesel, at current average cost of US$3.40 per gallon….thus it costs them US$0.19 in fuel per mile. Thus the fuel cost of public transportation in Belize is double what it is in Mexico. This is the same scenario for cost of transportation of goods in Belize….which is one of the principal causes of inefficiency in the general economy….rendering it uncompetitive. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Belize public policy makers need to view public transportation as an integral part of its development agenda…which allows its citizens to move in search of their necessities at least cost, greatest comfort, least time and most reliable. 2. Remove all taxes, except a 10% General Sales Tax, on fuel….so that the price of fuel is lowered to around US$3.50 per gallon. This would cut the cost of fuel per mile by around US$0.20, which could be used in part to privately finance more modern equipment and terminal services, and in part to lower fares, so that increasing numbers of people moving each day increases throughput, adding to efficiency. 3. Implement a 10% GST charge on all public transportation receipts….in line with shift-

ing from taxing on inputs, to taxing on outputs. 4. Reduce the Business Tax from 1.75% on turnover over BZ$75,000, to 1% on turnover over BZ$100,000….in line with shifting away from income taxes and towards consumption taxes. 5. Provide development financing for the acquisition of more modern public transportation equipment, at a rate of 7-9% per annum over 10 years…..and over 30 years for investments in terminal services infrastructure. This will also reduce cost of oils, maintenance and repairs and downtime costs….while increasing comfort and reliability. 6. Provide for different grades of A, B and C class public transport options, with varying fares for each type of service, all with minimum standards of safety and environmental impact 7. Provide for improved management of the public transportation system using Operations Research methods to segment and schedule routes and units, which has the potential to significantly reduce the carrying costs with less units, without reducing capacity and capabili-

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2014 ty of the system….reducing the overall cost of operating the system, which should translate into tangible benefits for the public. 8. Provide for more consolidation of taxi services, with higher standards of equipment, conductor screening and supervised operations….and more efficient options, such as Bajaj motorcycle and golf-cart taxis…. an avenue for more self-employment for women and youth. 9. Reduce landing and parking-station fees for bus terminals, airports and seaports, with a view to attracting international carriers (especially air and cruise) to use Belize for overnight stops and refueling station...which could significantly reduce the cost of traveling to Belize during off-peak hours, making the cost of Belize vacations much more competitive.

Richard Harrison is a local businessman and investor in the manufacturing and service industries. Mr. Harrison holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from Lancaster University, United Kingdom. Send comments to harrisonbz@yahoo.com

21 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

BY ORDER OF CHARGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of a Charge registered at the Land Registry between Kenrick Jones (Deceased) Surety for Nessie Jones and the said Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited. HRCU will at the expiration of three 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 comprising 508.9 square yards being Parcel 63, Block 16 in the Caribbean Shores/Belize Registration Section situate at No. 5865 Corner Seashore Drive and Broaster Avenue, Belize City, Belize District, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of KENRICK JONES (Deceased) Surety for NESSIE JONES DATED the 11th day of September 2014 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

VACANCY NOW HIRING!!

20 WAITRESSES NEEDED!! For more information call between 10:00am and 12:00 (Noon) Call 601-9625

SISPRO LIMITED A Vacancy exists for the post of INFORMATICS MANAGER Applicants must possess administration, configuration and installation of ImageStream Routers, ImageStream Access Points, Mesh networks with the ImageStream platform, Firewall SAM-110, SAM-210-510, and Telecontroller Model T-200 and T-400 ImageStream. Knowledge of routing protocols OSPF, RIP and BPG, and Layer 2 technologies, such as ARP, VLANS, Routing, MAC Address, and Global Control Panel analysis tool. All applicants should send resume, 2 letters of recommendation and police record to: Director of Sispro Limited P.O. Box 2030, Belize City

THE BELIZE TIMES

21 SEP

2014

21 SEP

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

Event: Independence celebration month Date: September 2014 [BEGIN] The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Road Safety Project encourages everyone in Belize to let us form a Belizean team to ease the pain of travelling in the month of September this year by getting to your destination safe and sound - meaning, no cuts, no bruises, no crashes or collisions and no hassles of any sort. Note that September 2012 they were 7 deaths on our road, in September 2013 only 3 and September 2014 has just begun and we need to aim for zero (0). Can we make it? We sure can and it is all our responsibility to try our best to work together. When one make a mistake, let us help them to get back on track. Here are just some of the many tips that you can keep in mind when you travel this September whether you decide to take the road, the bicycle path, the footpath. 1. Before you go on any trip, safety begins at home, right before you leave. Get plenty of rest as this will definitely affect your entire travel. The lack of rest is almost certain to make any traveler sleepy and irritable, which may cause a lot of trouble especially when you’re the designated driver. 2. Let someone know of your complete travel plans in case of emergency or delays. Awareness of weather and road conditions prior to traveling can also save you a great deal of time and energy. 3. Inspect or have a professional inspect your means of transportation before your scheduled travel a.) Inspect or have a professional mechanic inspect your car at least two days before your scheduled travel. It is very important to check the brakes, tires, seatbelts, wiper fluid, gasoline, lights, battery and wipers. You need to give enough time for the car’s check-up so that if something needs to be repaired you still have enough time to get it done. If there’s something wrong with the car and you rush fixing it, you may end up with car trouble on the road after all. b.) Inspect or have a professional person inspect your motorcycle at least one day before your scheduled travel. It is very important to check the brakes, tires, spokes, gasoline, lights, battery and ensure your helmets are DOT approved. You need to give enough time for the motorcycle’s check-up so that if something needs to be repaired you still have enough time to get it done. If there’s something wrong with the motorcycle and you rush fixing it, you may end up with motorcycle trouble on the road after all. c.) Inspect or have a professional person inspect your bicycle at least one day before your scheduled travel. It is very important to check the brakes, tires, spokes, reflectors, lights and tire pump. You need to give enough time for the bicycles’ check-up so that if something needs to be repaired you still have enough time to get it done. If there’s something wrong with the bicycle and you rush fixing it, you may end up with bicycle trouble on the road after all. 4. Pack ahead of time and not the night before. Make a list of the things you need to bring and be sure to include a safety kit for ‘just-in-case’ situations. Pack warm blankets, ample drinking water, flares, flashlights (with fresh batteries) and first-aid medicines (especially when you’re traveling with your children). These items may not sound necessary upfront but you never know - it is always better to play it on the safe side in case the need arises. 5. If you’re traveling with your children, be sure to use a restraint system that is appropriate for your child’s height and weight. Make it a point to read the manufacturer’s usage guidelines to ensure that you’re doing it right. Also, it would be wise to keep your kids in the back seat of your vehicle buckled up properly (no matter how short your trip may be). If you are in an opened back pickup or a truck, try your best not to put children in the pan of the moving vehicle. 6. Take time to clear all mud/brambles from the hood, roof, windows and lights of your vehicle and bring with you a good supply of windshield washer fluid. Also, ensure that your tires are properly inflated. An extra tire and a complete set of car tools in the trunk can go a long way in case of flat tires. 7. Do not drink and drive. Over the years, road traffic crashes and collisions related incidents during the holidays keep rising. It is as simple as this: Safety is in your hands! Wouldn’t you want to arrive alive amigo/amiga? If you want to drink, designate a driver who is sober. 8. If you are following behind trucks, do not drive in their blind spot, do not tailgate and only pass on the left. No matter how slow the vehicle is in front of you, be patient, check the clock, it will only take you seconds and the most would probably be three minutes. Ensure that it is clear to pass before you do so. No use in rushing if you only end up in an accident. Be courteous when driving. Being a considerate driver means realizing we all share the roads. Allow others to merge lanes or pull out of a car park. 9. If you are signaled to stop by any vehicle (except if it is a CLEARLY marked government vehicle), acknowledge the signal and signal to the driver to follow you to a safe location (crowded or well-lighted). Follow speed limit and don’t get out of your vehicle unless you have arrived in a place you feel is safe. At any rate, if you still feel unsure and you have your cell phone, call 911. 10. Travel, as much as possible, during the day. If you have access to a cellular phone, take it with you. Keep emergency and travel-related numbers handy for easy access in case of need but pull off the road if you need to make a call. 11. Take breaks every 2-3 hours (or less). If you’re traveling alone or with family, make sure you make periodic stops along the way to stay alert and stretch. September is Belize independence celebration and it means busy roads and distractions. Taking a break from driving every so often will help you manage your stress and that of your passengers. 12. Give way to ambulances, fire engines, police vehicles and highway patrol vehicles. If you’re traveling and see ambulances, fire engines, police vehicles and highway patrol vehicles, make sure you give them the right away and a free way by signaling with your indicator to alert other drivers behind you and pulling off the road.

Patience, Patience, Patience. Traveling during the month of September can be challenging but if you learn to keep your cool, you will get to your destination with a smile. A thirty minutes delay can be avoided, if your departure is an early one.

26 OUT Continued from page 2 terms of our local language use. Yes, we need global languages like English and Spanish, but there is no need to stamp out our lovely, functional, beautifully expressive local languages in so doing. Of particular note: the Garifuna language is one of the critically important pieces of the Belizean multilingual fabric that defines us as a nation and is also an acclaimed part of UNESCO World Heritage designations. It is with pleasure that, on behalf of the language arm of the National Kriol Council, the Belize Kriol Project, I also take this opportunity to again publicly thank and acknowledge the National Garifuna Council and the late Mr. Augustine Flores for the very valuable advice and support the Garifuna Council gave to the start up of the National Kriol Council in the early 1990s. Moreover, Belizean icon the late Andy Palacio and so many other Garifuna musicians, teachers, artists, clergy and others, through their continuous promotion of Garifuna culture and valiant efforts to preserve, use, and teach the Garifuna language, provided the National Kriol Council and its early stalwarts like Leela Vernon, Bro. David, the late Dr. Ruby Marith (Perriot), and the late Philip Goldson, with solid guidance on positive, effective ways to encourage all Belizeans to love their home languages even as they equally engage in learning the much-needed global languages today of English and Spanish. Additionally, the sharing of expertise and Kriol literacy materials with the Kriol–speaking communities along Nicaragua’s Atlantic Coast was as a direct result of the contact established between Andy Palacio and Roy Cayetano of the Garifuna Council and local Kriol Council members, a regional relationship that has strengthened the continued development with the Kriol dictionary and other publications. Language is an integral part of a culture and when the language ceases to be or its use is threatened, the existence of the culture is in jeopardy. I close by quoting from the press release sent out by the National Kriol Council last week: “The National Kriol Council of Belize … extends solidarity to its Garifuna brothers and sisters to endure the process of taking any means necessary to ensure the Garifuna language or any other language in Belize is never restricted from use. The use of one’s first language—the language of one’s home and community—is a language right, as indelible a right as the right to life, education, freedom of speech, religion, and all the other fundamental rights embraced in our Constitution.” Sincerely, Silvaana Udz Lover of Local Languages sudz142@gmail.com

THE BELIZE TIMES VACANCY: Need one (1) Grocery Shop vendor, who speaks Spanish. Apply in person at Pound Yard market Booth 14.

VACANCY: Vacancies exist for Cashiers at Atlanta Tours & Deli located inside the Brown Sugar Market. Interested persons should call 653-2172 or 203-1015.

BABY SITTER NEEDED A babysitter is needed. Must be honest and responsible, and have the ability to speak Spanish. Call Keila Sawers at 636-6406.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Residential lots for political gain the Belmopan case

By Senator Patrick Jason Andrews The City of Belmopan was designed at inception to benefit from a Master Plan. Prior to the year 2000, this responsibility of stewardship and planning was resident in the Reconstruction and Development Corporation or RECONDEV and thereafter since 2000, to both RECONDEV and the Belmopan City Council. The RECONDEV ACT, Chapter 193, Revised Edition 2000 is designed to oversee the legal operational affairs of RECONDEV as the custodian of all the land in Belmopan. Consequential to the 2012 general elections campaign, RECONDEV allocated five hundred acres of land as residential lots in East Belmopan, near Maya Mopan, and required the selected lessees to deposit $1,200 per lot for Administration Fees. These lots were allocated without an official Lease document, pending due processing by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Amazingly there was no infrastructure put in place, meaning no streets, no drains, no water, and no electricity. The $1,200 paid by the lessees was supposed to be for this same needed infrastructure according to the RECONDEV and the Area Representative. Today, 2.5 years later, there is still no infrastructure, frustrating and unduly denying the hopes of the lessees to build their homes, most of them poor, hardworking and struggling Belizeans. The lessees were assured that the necessary infrastructure works would be carried out by the Belmopan City Council utilizing the deposits made by them. Nothing of the sort has happened to date. It is obvious that this project was designed by the Area Representative to curry political favour with the Belmopan electorate leading up to the municipal elections in 2012. He, by the way, was and is not empowered in any form or fashion to act on matters relating to RECONDEV. Chapter 193 of the Laws of Belize is specific and deliberate in its discharge that such responsibility is assigned to the Minister of Finance. Not the Area Representative. As the 2015 Municipal elections approach, RECONDEV has now identified an additional 1,500 lots in East Belmopan for distribution. Again, RECONDEV is requiring lessees to deposit the sum of $1,200 per lot. This being the case, should not the Belmopan City Council have the necessary resources, or part thereof to provide the infrastructure required for residents to have access to

build and to occupy their homes? These lawmakers become lawbreakers and punish poor people with unrealistic charges, exploiting their dire need for residential land for political gain. Where is the social justice of fair land distribution?? When His Lordship the Mayor of Belmopan was approached on this matter, he claimed that he was not aware of such an arrangement, that he was not consulted on the role of the Belmopan City Council, and that the Council did not collect nor have funds to provide infrastructure or to maintain these newly established residential areas. This is rather unfortunate and difficult to accept. First, the Mayor of Belmopan sits on the RECONDEV Board of Directors, and one would expect that he would be knowledgeable and in agreement with any decision taken, especially of this nature and magnitude. That he is not knowledgeable, or professes not to be, speaks volumes of the problem of non cooperation between the political factions of the UDP Mayor and the UDP Area Representative that has been a plague to the suffering residents of Belmopan ever since they came into office. Section 13, subsections 1-3 of the RECONDEV Act requires the Minister of Finance to consult with the Local Authority, in this instance the Belmopan City Council in decisions relating to the allocation of municipal spaces. The law states in crystal clear language that the Minister of Finance, under said Section 13 of the Act must first authorize the RECONDEV, by an Order to proceed with an expansion project; second, that the RECONDEV submit such expansion plans to the Central Building Authority or the Land Utilization Authority (LUA) for approval to proceed. The LUA subdivision guidelines specifically require that before a subdivision can be approved the developer (in this case RECONDEV) must do a topographical survey for drainage and street design purposes. The current massive expansion of Belmopan by the Area representative to now include an additional 1,500 new house lots has not followed any of these procedures as prescribed by the ACT and is thus an illegal subdivision. To add insult to injury, the proposed sub-division area lies squarely in the Belmopan flood plain where residents are now affected whenever heavy rainfall occurs. How then can the RECONDEV act with

such impunity? Clearly they are dancing to the tune of a higher master whose apparent power ambitions and mania for control makes him totally insensitive to the many inconveniences and tribulations the poor residents of Belmopan have had to endure. This greed for power and resulting conflicts has clearly been counterproductive for the people of Belmopan, and for the development of our national capital. It creates false expectations for the people that soon they will have a piece of land where to construct their homes. It potentially places on future Councils the burden to provide and meet the people’s expectations in terms of infrastructure development. It is a fact that the Belmopan City Council, in spite of an estimated $5 million in annual revenue, is finding it difficult to meet its financial obligations. It is also a known fact that the Area Representative for Belmopan wields great influence over the RECONDEV Board on these issues. Is it a coincidence therefore that these lots are being provided, like the previous distribution, just before the Municipal Elections? It is not difficult therefore to conclude that RECONContinued on page 29

27 LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that HAI SHENG YE is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Campus Shop”, situate at 67Cemetery Lane, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that YOU QIU CHEN is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Wong Gok Restaurant”, situate at 11 6th Street, King’s park Area, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that HUA YUAN ZHOU & JIAN HONG BU is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “K&K Fast Food & Restaurant” located 124 New Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that Zenghui Yan is applying for a Malt & Cider Liquor License to be operated at “CY Shop”, situate at 3rd Street, King’s Park Area, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

28 THERE WAS NO BATTLE THE BELIZE TIMES

There was no battle of St. George’s Caye in September, 1798. Neither was there a battle at St. George’s Caye. It is stupid, in 2014, for the school children and the country to be told there was a battle and that the Baymen fought and won a major battle. It is equally stupid to be saying that if it were not for the victory at St. George’s Caye, Belize would not exist. It is a fact that 32 Spanish ships carrying sailors and over 2,500 soldiers came to Belize in the area of St. George’s Caye. It is a fact the Governor of Jamaica sent a small ship, the Marlin and about 200 soldiers from the West India Regent. It is a fact that a number of the Baymen used their small boats to go out to “defend” St. George’s Caye. It is a fact that black persons were in the boats of the Baymen. It is not a fact that slaves fought, neither is it true they fought with puck-u-nuh boy sticks. Please remember that there was slavery in Belize up to 1834. In 1798, there were some free black people and there were some free coloured people. The Baymen used these to row the boats. The Archives of Belize has the written reports of Captain Moss who headed the boats that went out to St. George’s Caye. There is also the written report of Superintendent Thomas Barrow. Anyone who reads these reports can figure out what happened. There was no battle. From these reports we learn many interesting things. Always bear in mind that history is the version of events by those who have a particular bias. The history we are using is his-story, i.e. the history of our slave masters and the British. It is a different type of history from that of historians who subsequently research a matter using various reliable sources. For example we are told by historians that in 1783 there was the Treaty of Versailles. It ended war between the British and Spain. It gave the British right to cut logwood between the Hondo River and the Belize River. In the convention of London1786, Spain gave written permission for logwood to be cut as far as Sibun River. These permissions were always that the cutting of logwood recognized that the area belonged to Spain AND there were to be no permanent fortifictries. Spanish Commissioners regularly and officially visited Belize to show compliance. These documents are in Spain and in Britain and historians verify them. The matter of no permanent fortifictries is important. It is the reason Spain, through its officials in Mexico kept visiting Belize and specifically St. George’s Caye, because the Baymen were building permanent fortifictries, that is why the Spaniards came and destroyed it every time. That is a historical fact. The Archives Department in Belmopan has the long list of documents and correspondence and reports of the arrival of Spaniards from Mexico who burned and destroyed buildings on St. George’s Caye. Please remember St. Geroge’s Caye was like the capital at the time. There is a map with markings of St. George’s Caye dated 1764. It is shows all the buildings and structures on the Caye. It shows the markings of residences and gives the names of the owners. It shows the famous turtle corrals and it shows the quarters for the slaves who served the Baymen on the Caye. It is a historic fact that the Spaniards always chased the Baymen off St. George’s Caye. On some occasions the whole settlement, including Baymen and slaves would hide up the river or go to the Mosquito Shores. The records show that the Spaniards chased off the Baymen in 1724, 1733, 1744, 1751 and 1779. One particularly rough experience was 15th September, 1779. Nineteen Spanish ships appeared in front of St. George’s Caye.

They captured 141 white people and 250 slaves and took them to Bacalar. The population of the settlement in 1779 was 500 whites and 3,000 slaves. On 9th August, 1798 orders were carried out and the houses and structures on St. George’s Caye were burned, water vats and barrels that could be emptied and moved were brought back to the mainland. This was done so the Spaniards would not try to remain on the Caye, which at the time was like the capital of the settlement. On 10th September, the record written by Captain Moss and Superintendent Barrow was that smaller boats left the Spanish ships and rowed to St. George’s Caye. Presumably they checked and found no one there and the place abandoned and destroyed so they rowed back to the ships and the ships started sailing away. It is a fact that Superintendent Barrow and hundreds of soldiers stayed by Haulover Creek.They were sent for by Captain Moss in the afternoon. By the time they reached the Caye area the Spanish ships had already sailed away to join their main fleet in the area of Long Caye and Caye Chapel. The so-called battle was from around 1:00 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon and within two hours the few Spanish ships were leaving the area. No doubt the Baymen fired canons but Captain Moss himself reported that NO ONE WAS KILLED. Neither was any boat or ship sunk. A report of what transpired on the 10th September was sent by Superintendent Barrow to his boss, the Governor of Jamaica. Remember that Barrow was never sent out at the Caye during the so-called battle. He and Captain Moss were “bigging” up themselves, claiming to have conducted a major victory against Spain. In modern language this is what is called bull-----. Another bull----- was that slaves fought against the Spanish battleships with puck-uno boy sticks. There is nothing anywhere in the records of this. And certainly the slave masters, i.e. the Baymen, were not so stupid

as to give guns to the slaves and put them on boats so they could sail away to freedom or join the Spaniards. The record shows that on 29th January, 1798, the Governor of Jamaica informed Superintendent Barrow that he was sending officers of the 6th West Indian (black) Regiment to Belize. The Governor wrote that he expects the settlement to provide 171 privates from the well behaved slaves who will be paid similar to the British soldiers and be liberated when peace was achieved with Spain. There is no record any such thing actually happened. In fact after 10th September slavery continued in Belize. The Governor went on to suggest that if that was not achievable then Belize was to pay 15 pounds 15 shillings to all free men of colour and free negroes who enlist. If the settlement still failed to get sufficient free men, then the Governor suggested money may be paid to slave owners for each slave used. On 23rd February, 1798, it was reported that the Settlement was going to use 171 negroes but the Baymen were saying they agree to sell their slaves to the Government if they get acceptable terms. Put another way, faced with war the Baymen were looking to hustle. All this while the Baymen still have their slaves in the jungle cutting mahogany logs. One hundred years of this bogus battle, a most interesting thing happened. An editorial appeared in the Colonial Guardian newspaper (note there is a neo-colonial newspaper presently in Belize named the Guardian). This editorial said the battle of St. George’s Caye should be celebrated by the inhabitants of British Honduras with pomp and circumstances as the greatest and most glorious event which secured for the Baymen and their decendants civil and religious liberty and good government. On 6th April, 1898, a public meeting was held at a building called Riverside Hall to consider the centenary of the battle. The meeting was addressed by Henry Charles

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2014 Usher J.P., Dr. Charles R. Eyles, R.H. Logan, Sydney Woods and Carl Metzgen. The meeting passed resolutions that the 10th September be a public holiday; the battle be celebrated each year and a committee of 40 be formed to promote the celebration of the battle. Another important matter worth considering is the statements that the Baymen defeated the Spaniards on 10th September, 1798 because the Spaniards never again tried to dislodge them after that date. The reason for this is that in that the British and Spain were at war. The war ended and a peace treaty was signed and called the Treaty of Amians 1802. The British conducted a census in October, 1790 which shows an interesting population. There were 261 white persons in the Settlement. There were 371 “free people of colour”.There were 2,024 slaves. Of the 261 whites, 41 were children, 40 were women and 174 were men. Of the coloured people who were not slaves, 120 were men, 132 were women and 119 were children. Of the 2,024 slaves, 1,091 were men, 515 were women and 418 were children. Creoles in Belize came from white men having children with black women. Black men could not have sex with the few white women in the Settlement. And this would not remain not up to slavery being ended in 1838, but well beyond that. The record kept by the British and copies are in the Archives Department in Belmopan show rebellions in the Settlement in 1765, 1768, 1773 and 1820. Please note that the 1820 rebellion was 22 years after the so-called battle of St. George’s Caye. This rebellion started from 24th April to 22 May. A reward was offered for the capture of “the Captain and Leaders of these rebels”. Their names: WILL and SHARPER. Not a statue or building is named after these two heroes who fought for freedom. In 1862 the Settlement was officially made a Colony of the British. In 1871 we were made a Crown Colony with a Legislature Assembly and a Lieutenant Governor. It was not until 1950 that Belizeans got tired of British controlling their lives and a political party with George Price, Phillip Goldson, Leigh Richardson, John Smith and others was

Continued on page 29

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Residential lots for political gain the Belmopan case Continued from page 27 DEV and its land allocation authority are being used for political purposes. Such should never be the case. The people of Belmopan should not be deceived. They should not be led to believe that the Area Representative is genuinely concerned by providing residential lots, when in reality no one knows the right location of these lots, in an area where there are no amenities, which will take years to receive proper infrastructure before home construction and occupation can occur. Another area of concern is the arbitrary distribution/sale of “buffer/reserve” lands in Belmopan to selected supporters of the ruling UDP Party, namely the land reserved for the hospital extension, close to the US Embassy, the land at the junction of Forest Drive and Constitution Drive, and so on, and as our market vendors have exposed, the flagrant and un-

THERE WAS NO BATTLE Continued from page 28 formed to fight freedom. Belize gained Self-Government in 1964 and because of the Guatemalan threat to invade and forcibly “recover their land” independence was not achieved until 21st September, 1981. The records show that the United Democratic Party refused to take part in the discussions on drafting an Independence Constitution for Belize. They also asked the British Government to delay Independence for at least ten years. The record also shows that in 2012 the U.D.P. Government without notifying Belizeans or getting approval signed an Agreement with Guatemala called a Compromi. This document binds our country to holding a referendum on whether or not the people wish to take the legal claim of Guatemala to the International Court of Justice. Prime Minister Barrow personally told Belizeans that his Government would not push for a yes or no position. Months thereafter he was doing the exact opposite. Including getting his U.D.P. party to agree to vote yes in the referendum. In the next few months the British Government and Guatemala will be coming back with another attempt to get us to hold a referendum. There is one other important matter that is on the records. It is a quotation from the U.K. newspaper of 26th January, 1978: “The Premier of Belize, said in London last night that at one point in the secret negotiations with Guatemala, the Americans, apparently with British support, were seriously preparing a protection plan for the Colony which would cede nearly one quarter of it to the military dictatorship of President Laugerud. It would have exceeded 2,000 square miles. “The thinking in Whitehall (British) and Washington is that there will be no solution which does not involve Belize ceding some token amount of land” - Financial Times 26th January 1978. This is what George Price and the people of Belize were fighting against in the real battle for an independent Belize. Guatemala is convinced that Prime Minister Barrow is going along with the plan in the Compromi. They are right. May god bless Belize and guide her people to change the U.D.P. Government before we lose part of the Toledo District. A happy and safe Independence to all!

caring decision to sell the site originally selected to accommodate a proper rural vendors market. These are violations that may very well require legal action in our courts to put a stop to this madness. The Board of Directors of RECONDEV is the custodian of all land in Belmopan. They need to be reminded that they must consult with the local authority. They cannot simply acquiesce to the political manipulations of the Area Representative. The RECONDEV Board needs to understand the gravity of this lack of planning for Belmopan’s expansion which should not be over ridden by short term political expediency. This UDP Government boasts that they were elected on a platform of transparency and accountability. Section 19, subsection 2 of the Act determines that the accounts of the RECONDEV shall

be audited by the Auditor General at the end of each financial year, and that such reports shall be laid by the Minister of Finance before the House of Representatives. For the sake of good record keeping, can the Minister of Finance please formally ascertain when was the last time such a report was submitted? While I have explained at length the Belmopan situation, I consider it absolutely necessary at this point to draw the people’s attention to the incessant, inappropriate acts of land acquisition, irregular revocation of leases, and political distribution of lands in a situation where recommendations for a coherent national land policy have been deliberately ignored. I urge this UDP Administration to put a stop to these practices of poor land management, which are occurring all over our country. Now in the public domain are situations such as Cotton Tree Village where the role of the Village Council in allocating village lands has been deliberately ignored, as well as in Silk Grass, San Marcos, Xaibe, and Ranchito, where legal leases are being ignored and re-

29 voked. People are really suffering and are becoming more and more frustrated by the tremendous failure of the Lands Ministry to be efficient and fair in discharging its responsibilities. Please be genuinely considerate of our peoples’ needs with the sense of responsibility that is the true measure of representation, not to deceive, and certainly not to exploit our people’s needs for political gain. The future of our beloved Belize is best preserved in the pursuit of the rule of law. Short term political expediency has no place in the task of nation building. As we celebrate our 33 years of Independence, we must be reminded that this ‘haven of democracy’ is best preserved when we uphold the rule of law; not through the recitation of catchy but empty themes. Long live a Belize where industrious hands and intelligent minds work together to uphold the constitution and the laws of our beloved country...we must do what is right for our country and not what is expedient for a political party. Happy Independence Day Belize!!!

THE BELIZE TIMES

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8 SHOT, 3 DEAD IN ONE DAY Continued from page 2 socialising and playing dominoes when an unknown individual approached them and began firing shots. The men scrambled and tried to escape the deadly assault, but 56 year old Cyril McFoy Robinson was not able to. He sustained a shot to the head. 45 year old Sean Cherrington was also shot on his leg. Witnesses say the gunman targeted McFoy. He was the only one sitting down and the gunman pointed the gun to his head before firing a shot. But other reports indicate that McFoy may not have been the intended target. He is father to Brandon Tillett, a known associate of George Street gang, who was among the men but managed to escape the attack. There was peace in the city following that shooting but only for a few hours. About 7:20pm, shots rang out on Caesar Ridge Road. 25 year old Clifford Simeon Flores was shot on his abdomen and lower back. He was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, but died while undergoing treatment. At the scene, Police found five 9mm shells. Witnesses say Flores was standing on the street side when an SUV approached and a male person exited, firing shots at him. Authorities were busy searching for Flores’ attackers when, less than an hour later, another shooting occurred. This time, 26 year old Joseph Roland was standing on Central American Boulevard and Antelope Street Extension purchasing food at a popular fast-food stand when a lone man walked up and fired a shot at him. Roland was shot to his head, but survived. He is in a critical condition. Less than an hour after, there was another shooting. This one occurred in the north side of Belize City, on Angel Lane. Four men, 28 year old Nigel Ferguson, 30 year old Mark Alamilla, 28 year old William Savery and 26 year old John Avilez were socialising under a vegetable shed next to Avilez’s home when a vehicle drove from the direction of North Front Street and stopped. A male individual stepped out and began shooting at them. The gunman chased behind Avilez and continued shooting at him. Avilez was shot twice to his chest and one time on his right arm. Ferguson was shot on his face, while Alamilla was shot on his left leg and Savery was shot on his buttocks. All men were rushed to the KHMH but Avilez died while undergoing emergency treatment. Savery is in a critical condition. Police have found nine 9mm shells in the area. Police have not detained any suspects for these shootings. They also have not indicated if the shootings are connected. Prime Minister Dean Barrow held a press conference today in a poor attempt to bring calm in a city that is clearly under siege from criminal elements. The Prime Minister said everything he has said before. No new measures will be coming from his administration.

THE BELIZE TIMES

Hon. Jose Mai carries out major public works in OW South Orange Walk District, September 15, 2014 Even in Opposition the People’s United Party is showing that it can get serious work done. Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai is a good example of this as he has been carrying out major public works in various communities in his Orang Walk South constituency. With the help of concerned residents, Hon Mai was able to open about 500 feet of drains in San Lazaro Village. This is to alleviate flooding that affects the homes of several residents. Hon. Jose Mai contracted the services of Carlos Padilla to excavate new and clear existed canals to reduce the effects of heavy flooding. Also in San Lazaro, a 3-mile road was opened and shaped using a bulldozer. This road leads to farm lands in the south eastern part of the village directly east towards the Rio Hondo. Some 50 persons doing mixed farming will benefit from the new road. About 3,000 tons of sugar cane that will be ready for harvesting will now have easier access out of the area for transport to the mill. A grader was used to level the road and leave ready to fill with white marl. On behalf of the farm-

ers from the area, Hon. Mai has written to the Minister of Works, Rene Montero, requesting assistance from the Ministry to complete the works on the new road, but they are awaiting a response. The works has now moved to Guinea Grass, which has an independent village council. The residents’ choice to Bulldozer opens 3 mile road that will allow reject Dean Baraccess to farm land in San Lazaro Village row and the UDP has been costly, as the UDP is now punishing them by ignoring the deteriorating conditions of the village streets. But working together, Hon. Mai and the Village Council have found a way to overcome those challenges. The Council procured from ASR/ BSI some amounts of white marl and a grader to carry out upgrading on some of the streets in Guinea Grass. More than 30 loads were dumped on streets in the village. Mayor Kevin Bernard and the Orange Walk Town Council also assistHon. Mai assisted to open new drains ed with some of its mathat will alleviate flooding in San Lazaro chinery.

CARTOON

THE BELIZE TIMES

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