Belize Times September 27, 2015 by Belize Times Press

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

27 SEPTEMBER 2015 | ISSUE NO: 4964

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

UNIONS AWAKEN! Pg. 3

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

PUP REMEMBERS THE FATHER OF THE NATION

Pg. 20

Pg. 12 & 13

IN San Narciso, COROZAL

PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca lays a wreath at the grave site of the Rt. Hon. George Price

10 things that derailed Barrow’s election plans Pg. 23 U.S. Sex Offender under Police investigation Pg. 2

RAT SCANDAL DRAWS INTERNATIONAL SHAME

Pg. 21

PABLO MARIN MUST RESIGN

0 22 Belize Chamber of Commerce calls for transparency

of the BTL “Settlement”

Thursday, September 17th, 2015 The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) stands by its position made six years ago that it was not necessary for the Government of Belize to expropriate BEL and BTL. Despite our reservations regarding nationalization, BCCI recognizes the efforts made by Fortis and the Government to arrive at a common agreement for the settlement of BEL. The ownership of BEL is no longer in question and the final cost of the settlement was made public to the Belizean People in clear and transparent language. The BCCI is most concerned at the method of Prime Ministerial Governance displayed with regard to the BTL settlement. The Prime Minister unilaterally negotiated and bound our country to make a $162.7 MM payment with the possibility of yet further payments due at the conclusion of the still outstanding Dunkeld arbitration case. The hasty move by the Government to announce the settlement of BTL has caused major confusion among Belizeans who are trying to comprehend how a settlement can be made official when the true and final financial cost of the said settlement is as yet unknown. The uncertainty of such action is far reaching and continues to leave us in the dark as to the quantum of Belize’s full national debt. The BCCI calls for full transparency of the financial cost associated with the BTL settlement agreement including the specific financial accounts that will be used to pay for the full and final BTL settlement. BCCI also reiterates that there is a need to strengthen the financial system and create more accountable governance, increase transparency, combat corruption, and place priority emphasis on measures aimed at improving our investment environment in order to accelerate economic growth for the benefit of all Belizeans. (Press Release)

LOCAL 25 Sep

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

An Alternative to the ICJ By Michael L. Gomez What is the single most important change Independence brought to a small nation like Belize? Under colonialism as British subjects, we were obligated to them. As Belizeans, we are now responsible for ourselves. This I.C.J. Proposal in its intent and purpose should be as important as the very soul of our independence because that is what is being questioned. Yes sir, Belize IS an independent nation and has been so for 34 years! This is no time for misinformation, half-truths, or deception. The smallest mistakes can and will change what the past 33 years have been known as. For those of you who say you were against the “Heads of Agreement” but yet you embrace the “Compromis”, you stand on double standards. So what concessions did Guatemala make for us in the Compromis? What concessions are we asking from them now? And do you realise that going to the ICJ means we are willing to give up something, if it comes to it? There is no difference with this and its predecessor in its intention “to remove us from our homes”. When will somebody who goes abroad as a representative of this nation stare, not return like a puppet, to parrot what has been said, what they were told, and what they are to say to us. Do any of you even know what we deserve? As an independent nation that

has been subjected again and again to this continuous rape of our national resources, invasion, incursions and relentless assaults on the local and international front. I think that instead of the ICJ we should go to a national referendum on the legitimacy of those of you who embrace this proposal, to decide whether you should continue to represent us Belizeans on the world stage. This is not a puppet show, let’s put that to a vote Belize. The two nations, I believe, want and deserve this matter to come to a head. The republic and her handlers want and deserve access to the Caribbean Sea. Our nation needs to be free of this matter once and for all. Both nations in its case before the ICJ can be proven to be right, but wrong in how she refuses to settle this matter now like children to be carried about with every doctrine of men with cunning craftiness where they wait to deceive. You may be told to sit down and listen, like a child. Belize, the young nation state, the mature thing to have done immediately after independence was to have engaged our neighbour in dialogue on how best to move forward with the development of our nations. What was simple and easy then, is complex and dangerous now. This is real Belize. Let’s look at the opposing view taken and maybe from these mistakes, men of distinction will now step into the fray. The republic claims territory she knows she will not get, and by denying

U.S. Sex Offender under Police investigation Belize City, September 23, 2015 42 year old Kenrick Bowman, a Belizean-American national convicted of sexual offences in the United States, is under Police custody and investigation following allegations that he lured young boys into his home. Bowman was detained on Wednesday night by Belize City Police. Neighbors allege that Bowman lured young boys to his home on Reid Street by promising to give

WEATHER 26 Sep

2015

27 Sep

28 Sep

them food including Ramen noodles in exchange. Poverty and hunger are rampant among many families in Southside Belize City. Neighbors say that dozens of young boys were known to “hang out” at his home. There are reports that at least one child has been interviewed by the Police, after allegations were made that he had been forced to perform oral sex for two packs of Ramen noodles. The Police did not proceed with a criminal investigation, however, because the child’s mother did not make an official complaint.

2629Mar Sep

the Independence of this state, only because of that claim. She can encourage her citizens in all these activities because of the advantage of her size, playing the bully. Belize turns to defiance. The mantra “we noh want no Guatemala” was good for politics for those days, but bad diplomacy as time has proven it to have been. The options that we have are best exercised in an equitable way: to offer to build a deep water port accessible to our neighbour for the development of our nations. Who can deny the need for such infrastructural development for this nation and our region? It is said, hindsight is 20/20. What did not happen 34 years ago because of dogma can happen now and maybe it’s best it did not happen then. If they feel they can take advantage of us now, what would they have done to us then? Repatriation must become our demand for 34 years of antagonism and it can only be in the U.S. currency which can range from one dollar U.S. per year to $1 billion U.S. per year for each and every one of those 31 years of raping of our resources, invasion, incursion and assaults after assault on the national and international front. I do not believe I need to say which of the two numbers we should demand, and that’s still not what we deserve. When it’s all said and done, this nation state will be here, ready, willing and able to live and work in peace for the development of our nation and the region. P.S. We still remember Danny Conorquie.

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

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27 SEP

2015

UNIONS AWAKEN!

“You have taken us for fools Mr PM and we are disgusted” – Belize Communication Workers Union statement Belize City, September 22, 2015 Late last week, a series of press releases issued by three powerful unions and a civil society partner, shook the ground beneath Prime Minister’s Dean Barrow weakening legs. The statements were issued by the Belize Communications Workers Union, the Belize Energy Workers Union, the Belize Christian Worker’s Union and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Collectively, these groups represent some of the most vocal sections of nongovernment. In the release, the four groups revealed their serious discontent with the Barrow Administration and increasing rancorous relationship with the Government. But it was the BCWU’s release that came like an 8.0 earthquake, shaking up the UDP Government and possibly forcing Prime Minister Barrow to defer his announcement of elections, reportedly already scheduled for Wednesday October 21, 2015. Barrow’s Independence Day speech was all about politicking – with sweets and treats here and there – but his plans were derailed. What the BCWU has exposed is that the Barrow Ad-

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THE BELIZE TIMES

ministration is on a deadly collision course with the Unions. After years of keeping silent, Union leaders are now stepping out speaking about

the disrespect showed to them by the Government. In the case of the Belize Energy Workers Union, the disrespect to their members/ the Belize Electricity Limited workers has come from the Government-appointed Board led by the Chairman who is the law-partner of Prime Minister Dean Barrow. In the case of the BCWU, the disrespect to their members/the workers at Belize Telemedia Limited, the disrespect has come from Anwar Barrow, the son of Prime Minister Dean Barrow who was appointed by the Government as Executive Chairman. According to the BCWU, the relationship is so bad between them and

CWU’s Audrey Matura-Shepherd

BEWU’s Marvin Mora

BTL’s boss, that the younger Barrow didn’t even have the decency to inform them that his “daddy” had finalised a deal with Lord Michael Ashcroft. A deal with will cost BTL nearly millions of dollars. The BCWU admitted in their release that they have done everything possible to “maintain a harmonious and healthy industrial relations climate with the UDP Government”, but now they realise that Prime Minister Barrow should not have been trusted. “…Barrow Administration has done worse by saddling all Belizeans, from the cradle to those on their way to their graves, with a whopping $162 million plus of Belizean sweat dollars to the national debt, a figure that represents more than 15% of the national debt, and that is not the final figure due to Ashcroft!!! This money will come from dividends due shareholders, Social Security contributions, and the hard earned dollars of BTL’s customers. All this was done in secrecy to make Mr Ashcroft happy and a bunch of lawyers millions of dollars richer while we the taxpayers of Belize and workers of BTL must now carry this increased debt burden with us every day. This is a slap in the face of all Belizeans!!!” stated the release. The Unions are now waking up and realising Barrow’s nationalisation of BTL was nothing but a show and a scheme to make more millions for his family and close UDP friends.

From the Belly of the Beast! “This economy has been run into shambles. It does not even exist. We live because Venezuela gives us handouts every month. That’s how we survive. Where is the creativity? Where is the ingenuity? Where is the talent? Where is the ability? Where are the goods that we should be producing? Where are the resources that we should be creating? Where are they? Is that what they talk about in the National Assembly…when they go to Cabinet? “We can’t run the country with idiots in the Cabinet. It’s not possible. It can’t be done. How are you going to put idiots in your Cabinet? That cannot happen. It is an insult. If people who have no idea of affairs are appointed to the most important positions of state…no training, no ability, no experience, no insight, no nothing…then what are they getting paid for? They are getting paid to do foolishness, to run the country into the ground”. - Hubert Elrington, brother of Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington Dickie Bradley Special Show, August 25, 2015

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Independence Day Address by

Francis W. Fonseca Leader of the Opposition People’s United Party

and Members of the Clergy Members of the National assembly His Worship the Mayor of Belmopan City Mr. Khalid Belisle Members of the Diplomatic Corp Our Public Officers and Members of our Security Forces Invited Guests, Friends

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 BELMOPAN, BELIZE The Governor General His Excellency Sir Colville Young and Lady Young Prime Minister Honorable Dean Barrow and Mrs. Barrow My Lord Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin and Mrs. Benjamin Our Most Reverend Bishops

My Fellow Belizeans, Today we celebrate our 34th anniversary of Independence. As always, we do so with a deep sense of national pride. And, as always, we recognize and acknowledge with deep gratitude the sacrifice and courage of the leaders of Belize’s Nationalist Movement who, over many years, worked tirelessly to free Belize from the oppressive chains of Colonialism. In these 34 years we have faced challenge and adversity as a nation and people but our spirit has remained strong and resilient. Belize has claimed its rightful place in the global community as a proud, sovereign nation deeply committed to

justice and equality for all peoples. Indeed there are important lessons to be drawn from the past 34 years but today, for me, the more important question is: what will we make of the next 34 years? What is our national vision for this next chapter of our young nation’s history? , and are we, each of us, prepared to work and sacrifice to achieve that vision and create the society we say we aspire to? How can we stand and work together to give focused and urgent attention to job creation; to fixing our ailing education system; to ensuring that all our people, whoever they are and wherever they live, have access to affordable quality healthcare; to fighting the scourge of crime and violence. Nation building is not about wishful thinking, it is about hard work, commitment and participation. Each of us as citizens of this, our beloved Belize, has a duty and obligation to be engaged in its growth and development. This, after all, is the central message of Independence-One Nation, One People united in purpose to build a stronger, better society in which hope and opportunity abound. This Spirit of Unity and Sense of Purpose was on full display for all the world to see just over a month ago on August 16th when a group of some 200 Belizeans under the banner of the Belize Territorial Volunteers gathered in Barranco, Toledo and jour-

27 SEP

2015 neyed to the southernmost boundary of Belize on the Sarstoon. This journey was a peaceful, powerful statement that Belize, all of Belize, from Rio Hondo to Sarstoon, from our Cayes and Atolls to our western border is ours to protect and defend. A clear, strong message of unity and determination in the face of the unfounded Guatemalan claim. I repeat today what I said on this occasion only last year, “ without the ability to quickly reach our borders, patrol our seas, and safeguard our natural resources, proclaiming our sovereignty and territorial integrity risks becoming nothing more than empty, clamorous rhetoric.” 34 years into Independence, our efforts to combat poverty and inequality demand and require an equal sense of purpose and unity. True development calls for profound qualitative change not only of the economy but also of the society. Central to this change is Governance Reform. Governance is the hallmark of a democratic, peaceful, just society and is fundamental to eradicating poverty and corruption, bringing about economic growth and social progress. It is concerned with the rules, regulations and procedures that apply to the decision making process. Decisions made in our governance systems and structures deContinued on page 16

27 SEP

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 05

EDITORIAL

Francis, the better leader

he mighty blue machine has started to become its real self again. From proud Rio Hondo to the Sarstoon; from Benque Viejo to Half Moon the people are coming home to the People’s United Party. The timing is auspicious, even portentous. The people of Belize are calling out for a new direction, new Government and new leadership. About eight years of Dean Barrow and his corrupt, incompetent government have brought the country to its knees. There will be no going forward under Barrow. There is no future under his Government. The shameful legacy being left behind is that of a tiny country buried under a mountain of dent with nothing of substance to show for the billions that have already been squandered. That legacy is underscored by the Petrocaribe loan law which trampled upon the Constitution and the Finance and Audit Act. These laws were/are in place to safeguard public monies, and to require governments to account to Belizeans in an open and transparent manner. Dean Barrow is a huge let down. He is the ultimate con artist, politically speaking. Ask the Unions, ask the public officers, ask the ordinary citizen in the streets. Ask the student what they think of him. Ask the thousands of innocent Belizeans who have been victimized out of jobs, scholarship and land. Barrow has left the country worse than he found it. There has been no reform of the judiciary. Instead, the learned judges are serving on short-term contracts, only to be renewed at the behest of the political don himself. No reform has taken place in the governance and the public service ministries and departments. Politics rules here. Just check the number of contract officers and the cronies serving in those capacities. The Ministry of Lands, as the Prime Minister has admitted, is a cesspool of corruption. The Immigration system is broken and corrupt, and can be twisted at the hands of corrupt officials such as Elvin Penner and Edmond Castro. Violent crime is now a way of life. Belize is known as a paradise for sex predators that come and go in and out of the country unchecked. Barrow has no vision as to where the nation should be going. He offers no leadership on the road to the future. He is just another hustling politician who waited around in his party for over thirty years to get his greedy hands

on the levers of power. Barrow is comfortable in the company of such like Mark Espat, a pariah and a traitor. One who collected millions as a sell out. Show me your company and I can tell you who you are. Dean Barrow is unquestionably the worst leader this country could ever have. It will be hard to duplicate his record. Speaking of record, the People’s United Party has a history of vision and achievements. The record of such achievements is too numerous to tabulate in this editorial. This past Monday all Belizeans proudly celebrated one of the PUP’s crowning achievements – political independence with all out territory intact. It is the PUP that gave Belize its greatest leader with vision, boldness and humility. We cannot downplay the significance of the greatness of George Price. A man whose lifestyle is mocked and scorned by the vain, glorious, self-serving Barrow. It is time for Dean Barrow to be gone. There is no comparison between Barrow and our Leader Francis Fonseca. No two persons could ever be so different. Where Barrow is arrogant and power hungry, Francis is a humble man. Where Barrow is all about himself, his bank book and enriching his family; Francis has always been about others and serving the needs of people. Where Barrow, after seven years is the highest office, has offered no leadership and no vision; Francis has been articulating new systems of governance, changing the laws to take away power from Ministers and most of all, he is displaying leadership with his ideas for prosperity and economic independence. We in the PUP are now focusing on commemorating sixty five years of the birth of our dynamic party. We can look at the old leadership of the UDP and the new leadership of the PUP. It is cheese to chalk. Barrow is full of mouth and bluster. Francis is serious and dedicated. The people of Belize want to put an end to Dean Barrow and all that he represents. We, with great pride and great humility can say, our leader stands ready, willing and able to offer Belizeans the type of Government that the country so badly needs. We say it is the Hon. Francis Fonseca who should be the next Prime Minister of Belize.

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27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

Joe & Fonso

turn rat experts

2015

NOTICE A Spiritualist, Herbalist and Healer, Professor Solomon Sankara is in Belize. He solves many problems using spiritual power as well as natural herbs. Speciality includes: - Relationship and marriage problems - Protection and ailment problems - Good luck and financial problems, etc. Tel: 662-5794

Belize City, September 23, 2015 It is most times comical to see how the two UDP mascots, Joe and Fonso, bend in all directions to defend the corruption and gross incompetence of their government ministers. This week, they spent a lot of time fuming on the Belizean public and denouncing “attacks” on their dear Pablo Marin for the scandalous rat attack at the Western Regional Hospital. Right on cue from lead UDP mascot, dutty mouth Michael Finnegan, Joe and Fonso claim that Pablo couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the rat. “I cyant see how dem blame di Minista,” bawled Joe. The Wave dirty duo spends their day coming up with ways to launch smear campaigns on Belizeans especially strong women like Audrey Matura Shepherd, Dolores Balderamos Garcia and Lisa Shoman. This week, they turned on the nurses at the Western Regional hospital. Joe came up with the ‘brilliant’ idea that the rat incident was the result of “internal operations”. “Da one a di nurses to blame”, claimed the new rat experts. Fonso claimed that the rat was too large to have squeezed into the incubator through any of the access points. He suggested that the hospital needs to say which nurse was on duty to find out who might have placed the rodent next to the baby. Joe, oftentimes the smarter of the two, agreed with Fonso. He added that the rat didn’t look healthy and was “mawga-looking” so it must have been looking for food. He suggested that he and Fonso get an incubator to inspect and take pictures to show that a rat wouldn’t be able to enter it. You wouldn’t be able to tell, from the kind of daily airhead discussions on Wave Radio that one of them is actually elected to run the affairs of a village and the other, is the biological father of the Belize City Mayor. Joe and Fonso ratify (no pun intended) Hubert Elrington’s accusation that the UDP’s are a bunch of idiots getting paid to do foolishness.

27 SEP

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

SCAPEGOAT The dictionary defines a scapegoat as a person or group that is made to bear the blame for others. According to the Old Testament, on the day of Atonement a priest would confess all the sins of the Israelites over the head of a goat and then drive it into the wilderness, symbolically bearing their sins away. Another definition is a person who is used to lay blame on for all that goes wrong, regardless of the contributions of others. Interestingly, in Spanish the term for scapegoat is “victimapropiciatoria.” To propitiate is to appease. There is a great short story in modern literature by Anatole France named “Putois.” In French putois means skunk, but in this short narrative Putois is a mythical person to whom the townspeople ascribe everything unexplainable or evil. The author in a humorous way is able to make sharp commentary on the human propensity to find a scapegoat

to explain away the experience of evil. For instance, in the story a confirmed spinster suddenly became pregnant. No one ever saw her with a man, yet she was definitely with child. Of course the people whispered that it was Putois who impregnated her. Putois was conveniently blamed for everything, with one intelligent character ironically informing the people that they must think twice before concluding that Putois did not exist, as this would have deprived them of an important article of faith. Over two years ago I wrote an entry for this column forcefully calling on Health Minister Pablo Marin to resign. Thirteen babies had died in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, and there was clear mismanagement and negligence, and the “buck” was supposed to have stopped at the Minister. In other countries, for less than this a Minister must resign, as he/she needs to take responsibility for the failures of the institution or en-

tire sector. His Prime Minister shockingly announced at that time that the Health Minister need not have responded at all, because he was successful at elections, where it mattered. This completely outrageous exoneration of the Health Minister allowed him to continue at the helm, and now there is even more incompetence being displayed by him on an almost daily basis. A lack of anti snake venom, women dying at regional hospitals after routine surgeries and treatment, no ambulances when they are desperately needed, no hospital beds, CEO’s clueless about dangerous bacterial outbreaks, severe medicine shortages, corruption in the procurement of supplies, understaffed and grossly inadequate health centers and facilities – these are only some of the terrible difficulties within our health system. And still we have a clearly incompetent leader at Ministry. Minister Pablo Marin was only too happy to SCAPEGOAT the administrator and manager at the Western Regional Hospital, as well as the Public Service. He is responsible !! Rats entering an incubator for newborns, snakes biting staffers, a young woman dying from a ruptured appendix, a family devastated at the loss of a young mother after what should have been straightforward C-section surgery and yet in the minister’s mythical world someone else is responsible. He has passed the buck right on to the personnel who administer these facilities and to the Public Service Commission, re-

fusing to accept the blame that must be laid. Like the three blind mice he sees no evil, hears no evil, speaks no evil, except of course to lay all the wrongs on subordinates and others. And by the way, his CEO, a smooth and perhaps not so hapless individual, obviously threw his own minister right under the bus. He knows that his minister is chatting pure foolishness. Contrary to what Marin said, the CEO acknowledged that changes will have to come at the hospital, realizing, of course, that top health officials simply cannot pass off the blame on others and thus scapegoat them. They have got to take responsibility and do better. I categorically reject Minister Pablo Marin’s cowardly and hopelessly lame attempt to scapegoat subordinate officials and others, and I think that all Belizeans should reject it too. He is patently incompetent in not even seeming to grasp the severity of the current serious crisis in our health sector. There is no Putois or mythical scapegoat on whom he can pile all the blame. And I cry SHAME on the Prime Minister for not having removed him long ago. The Prime Minister must bear ultimate responsibility. I therefore repeat what I wrote in May 2013. Pablo Marin you must resign !! Have some semblance of decency and get the heck out of there !! Babies, women, children and men are suffering and dying !! We must do better !! No SCAPEGOAT or VICTIMA PROPICIATORIA here !!

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27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

PUP leader calls for firing of Health Minister “Pablo Marin…is the face of incompetence at the Ministry of Health” – Hon. Francis Fonseca

2015 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:1) A Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 28th day of June, 2010, registered in Deeds Book Vol. 20 of 2010 at Folios 65 – 82, between FIRST CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED (the Assignor), Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., and EVAN TENCH, which said property was mortgaged by the said EVAN TENCH to the said FIRST CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED on the 25th day of September, 2002, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 32 of 2002 at Folios 969 – 988. THE SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 25 comprising of 464.393 square metres situate South of the Western Highway, near Mile 17 1/2 , Belize District, Belize bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 536 of 1999 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 536 of 1999 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. 2) A Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 28th day of June, 2010, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 20 of 2010 at Folios 43 – 64, between FIRST CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED (the Assignor) and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., and EVAN TENCH and MICHELLE ARETHA TENCH, which said property was mortgaged by the said EVAN TENCH and MICHELLE ARETHA TENCH to the said FIRST CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED on the 4th day of May, 2000, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 25 of 2000 at Folios 1112 – 1139. THE SCHEDULE

Hon. Francis Fonseca Belize City, September 22, 2015 Leader of the Opposition Hon. Francis Fonseca, has brought pressure on Prime Minister Dean Barrow to fire Corozal politician Pablo Marin as Minister of Health. Under Marin’s watch, the Ministry of Health has been dragged through all sorts of scandals throughout the entire term of the Barrow Administration. There have been scandals involving pharmaceutical hustling, missing equipment, infection outbreaks due to poor maintenance, and stealing of hundreds of thousands of dollars. There have also been tragedies including the death of 13 babies at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, about a dozen maternal deaths due to improper care at other hospitals, all causing pain for Belizean families. The most recent fiascos, the discovery of a rat biting a baby in an incubator and the sudden death of a mother shortly after giving birth, have hit new lows. “…we can no longer have somebody who is incompetent, like Pablo Marin, heading the Ministry of Health and a C.E.O. Peter Allen who seems to be completely out of touch. We have to deal with that issue, we have to hold the PM responsible, he is the one who put Pablo Marin there and it is clear to everybody within the Ministry of Health, within the Health sector, all the practitioners within the health sector, all of these people realize that this man has no clue in running the Ministry of Health,” urged the Opposition Leader during interviews with the media on Friday, September 19, 2015. Hon. Fonseca echoed the voices of a majority of Belizeans who have lost faith in the health care system as a result of incompetent leadership. The Opposition Leader’s demand, however, has been ignored by the Prime Minister even though his administration has suffered sev-

Pablo Marin, Minister of Health eral major public embarrassments as a result of Marin’s ineptitude. Barrow prefers to hide his head under the sand and pretend that everything is rosy. Barrow will do whatever it takes not to move Marin. At this juncture, at a time when he is preparing for elections, it would result in a major political embarrassment for him. The UDP leader always places his Party’s political objectives over the national interest. This is why even after 13 babies had been killed from an infection outbreak at the KHMH in May of 2013 Barrow defended Marin stating that the Minister didn’t need to give any apologies to anyone because he is competent where it mattered to him.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land situate at Burrell Boom, Belize District starting from a point on the Hattieville-Burrell Boom Road on a true bearing of 44̊ 28’ 40” for a distance of 190 feet bounded on the East by the Hattieville-Burrell Boom Road thence on a true bearing of 284̊ 00’ for a distance of 266 feet bounded on the North by Lot C thence on a true bearing South measuring 84 feet bounded West by Block No. 107 thence on a true bearing of 131̊ 00’ for a distance of 168 feet back to the starting point and bounded on the South by Lot A, which said piece or parcel of land is Numbered Lot B as shown on a sub-division Plan of Block No. 109 at Burrell Boom, and which said piece or parcel of land is a portion of 3 acres 0 rood 15 poles as shown on Plan Numbered 11 of 1962 dated 31st March, 1962 made by James A. Waight, Director granted to Amy Bertha Griffith TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. The said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the properties described in the schedules hereto. All offers to purchase the said properties must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. DATED this 24th day of September, 2015. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

27 SEP

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

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27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Belize to play CONCACAF Champions league rematch in October

Belmopan, September 22, 2015 Belize’s top striker Deon McCaulay added 2 more international goals to his tally; as he and Verdes FC of Benque Viejo stunned Panama’s champions, San Francisco FC from Balboa 2-1 in their first encounter of the CONCACAF Champions’ League at the FFB stadium in Belmopan on Tuesday night. McCaulay and Brazilian import Alcides Thomas led the Verdes’ attack, with the help of another Brazilian import Yoras Silva and Nahjib Guerra on the wings, while Mexican import Jesus “Chui” Patino and San Leobardo Mendez supported their attacks at midfield. The Panama squad had watched the Gallos Blancos steam-roller Verdes 8-0 at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro last Thursday, September 17. San Francisco FC came to town expecting to do likewise, as they had stomped the Queretaro squad 2-1 at the Maracana Stadium in Panama City on August 26. They already had 3pts from that win, and the game plan was to advance to the next round with 9pts, over Querataro who has no more games to play and only 7pts from 2 wins and a draw with Verdes in Belmopan. The Panamanians controlled the ball in the first minutes of the game and took a 1-0 lead when Daniel Moran scored in 12th minute. Verdes got into

FC Verdes Team

Deon McCaualay attempts a header the game when Yoras Silva centered the ball to Deon McCaulay for his right-away into the net in 18th minute to equalize 1-1. Verdes got the chance of a go-ahead goal when Panamanian defender Alberto Quezada took down Verdes’ Mexican import Jesus ‘Chui’ Patino in 36th minute right over the penalty spot. The ref ruled penalty, but Deon McCaulay’s shot hit the crossbar. Coach Gary Stempel brought in Eybir Bonaga for Daniel Moran and Francis Bethancourt; as the Panamanians tried to get back into the game in the 2nd half,

Heavyweight boxer featured in Cayo boxing event

Belize City, September 24, 2015 Fres Oquendo, heavyweight contender in the World Boxing Association (WBA), will be displaying his skill in a one-of-a-kind exhibition match to be held in San Ignacio Town on Friday night. Oquendo will take on Be-

lize’s Pablo “El Ruso” Gibran in over a dozen fights to be featured in a special fight night organised by the Cayo Lion’s led by Asad Frank Martinez. The fight will take place at the Victor Galvez Stadium. Tickets to the event are $30 general admission, $80 reserved and $300 special. Oquendo arrived in Belize on Wednesday to promote the event. He holds a record of 37 wins and 8 losses, with 24 knockouts. He will be fighting for the WBA “regular” heavyweight title in a re-match against a real Russian boxer, Ruslan Chagaev, on October 17 in Germany. The first match was won by Chagaev by close majority decision.

San Francisco FC

and later also brought on Ervin Zorrilla for striker Abdiel Aguilar. Their shots on goal won several corner kicks, but Verdes’ goalie Benito Moriera was on top of his game with save after save! Verdes’ Coach Walter Salazar also brought in Jarret Davis for Shamir Pacheco in the 64th minute. Then Yoras Silva drove the ball in on the right and got off a shot on the edge of the 18-yd box in 87th minute. Goalie Alex Rodriguez came out of goal to close the angle and blocked the shot with his legs. Silva got back the rebound and shot right through the legs of

Eric Vasquez, and the ball reached Deon Mccaulay, whose right-away right foot shot into the empty net gave Verdes the 2-1 win. Verdes brought in Richard “Cheety” Jimenez for Nahjib Guerra in the 89th minute. It’s not only Verdes’ first ever win in CONCACAF Champions League, it’s the first ever a Belizean team has made 4 pts in CONCACAF Champions league in Belize’s football history! Verdes now has a month to prepare for the rematch with San Francisco in Panama City on October 22.

Bros. Habet Team Table Tennis Round 2 Results Doubles Match: Joshua Gegg/Marin vs. Woods/Curtis Bradley

4-2

Racqueteers vs. Crushers - 3-0 Jaylen Nicholson’s vs. Samron Pott -

Bryton Codd vs. Terry Su – 4-0 Doubles Match: Amiri Hoare/Jaylen Nicholson vs. Luis Bardalez/Pott – 4-1

Jaylen Nicholson

Belize City, September 19, 2015 The 2nd round of the 7th annual Brothers Habet Table Tennis Team League continued at the Belize Elementary auditorium over the weekend with Racqueteers, Bismark and Phoenix winning in the 2nd Division; and Racqueteers, Smash Brothers and SJC Wildcats winning in the 3rd Division 2nd Division Results: Phoenix vs. Turds 2-0 Luis Marin vs. Raymond Woods

4-0

Bismark vs. Spin Kings - 2-0 Moses Babb vs. Charlton Roches –

Doubles Match: Babb/Toni Liu vs. Steve Flowers/ Roches – 4-0 3rd Division Results: Smash Brothers vs. Hot Shots - 3-0 Rohit Pagarani’s vs. Kevin Pelayo - 4-0 Harsh Khatwani vs. David Turton - 4-0 Doubles Match Eric Li/ Pagarani vs. Carlos Izaguirre/ Turton - 4-0

4-0

SJC WildCats vs. Aces – 3-1 Kevin Chen vs. Mihir Karnami – 4-0 Henrick Williams vs. Mihir Karnami –

Continued on page 11

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

SPORTS 11

Guinea Grass, Yo Creek & Chan Pine Ridge win in penalties Orange Walk Town, September 20, 2015 Guinea Grass, Yo Creek and the Chan Pine Ridge All Stars had to go to penalties to post wins in the 2nd Round of the Orange Walk Town Sports Committee’s 8-a-side women’s football competition at the Orange Walk Technical High School (O.W.T.H.S.) field on Sunday. The defending champs, the Chan Pine Ridge All Stars, outgunned the Orange Walk Strikers 1-0 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation period. Shamili Cal had scored for Chan Pine Ridge while the Strikers equalized 1-1. In penalties, only Chan Pine Ridge goalie Arelli Torres scored: 1-0. The Yo Creek Gladiators won 3-2 against the Atlantic Bank girls, after a nil-zip draw in regulation. In penalties, Miriam Villamil, Myra Miranda and Noemi Magana scored for Yo Creek, while only Aaliyah Leiva and Eloisa Moreno scored for Atlantic Bank. Guinea Grass the penalty shoot-

out 3-1 vs. the Carmelita Young Stars, after a nil-zip draw in regulation. Giselle Baeza, Marisela Patt and Noriely scored for Guinea Grass; and only Rhana Cocom scored for Carmelita. Games will continue at the OWTHS field on Sunday, September 27.

Guinea Grass

Chan Pine Ridge

Mercedes Choc defends Giselle Baeza

Orange Walk Town, September 19, 2015 In the Under-12 8-a-side football tournament, Belize, Young School and Vibes Alive teams posted wins. Blackwater conceded

Bros. Habet Team Table Tennis Round 2 Results Continued from page 10 Devesh Hukmani vs. Manuel Castellanos – 4-0 Doubles Match Williams/Chen vs. Darin Thadani/Devesh Hukmani – 4-0 Racqueteers vs. Thunders – 3-2 Daryl Palacio vs. Jayden Sutherland – 4-0 Desire Amagula vs. Sutherland – 4-0 Kareem Stewart vs. Irteza Artif – 4-2 Tarique Reyes vs. Artif – 4-0 Doubles Match Amagula/Palacio vs. Tarique Reyes/Kareem Stewart - 4-1 3rd Round Matches, Saturday, September 26: Division 3 - Smash Brothers vs. SJC WildCats Division 3 - Hot Shots vs. Youngstars Division 3 - Ace vs. Racqueteers Division 1 - Hurricane vs. Racqueteers Division 2 - Phoenix vs. Spin Kings Division 2 - Turds vs. Crushers

Bismark’s Moses Babb

Vibes Alive with another win

Panthers, Benque Power & Roaring Creek Special Effects win in Cayo basketball

Falcon Ballers

Belize, Young School & Vibes Alive win in O.W. U-12 football to the Belize team by forfeit. Meanwhile, Young School enjoyed a 3-1 win over Juventus in the second game of the afternoon. Calvin Reid struck the first goal for Young School, but Zidane Escalante soon equalized 1-1 for Juventus. Esmir Vasquez scored a second goal to give young School a 2-1 lead at intermission. After the break, Allen Castillo put the game on ice with a third goal for the 3-1 win. Vibes Alive enjoyed a 2-0 victory over the Centaur Minions in the third game of the afternoon. Carlos Canelo and Luis Sosa Jr led Vibes’ attacks, supported by Jose Ico, Keeshan Sheppard, and Dyene Smith at midfield. Sosa Jr. succeeded in blasting home the first winning goal past goalkeeper Justin Lopez to the left corner of the net, for a 1-0 lead at intermission. Kayden Cervantes and Aidan Leiva led the Centaur counterattacks, but could not get past the Vibes Alive defenders Allison Torres, Shamili Cal and Warner Ixcoy, and goalkeeper Shania Melendez who held them scoreless the entire game. Centaur introduced Dennis Martino and Gian Flores to refresh their offensive lineup, but Vibes Alive continued press their attacks and eventually Carlos Canelo delivered a second goal after intermission for the 2-0 victory.

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT NOTICE TO ELECTORS

R.P.R.R. 46

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE REGISTRATION RULES (CAP. 9)

2015 Registration Office Freetown Electoral Division 7134 Lumber Yard Crescent Belize City ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the FREETOWN ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

Registration Office Corozal Bay Electoral Division 1st Street North Corozal Town

Registration Office Orange Walk North Electoral Division 1A Santa Ana Street Orange Walk Town

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the COROZAL BAY ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the ORANGE WALK NORTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Rosalba Vasquez REGISTERING OFFICER Corozal Bay Electoral Division

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Eneida Vargas REGISTERING OFFICER Orange Walk North Electoral Division

Registration Office Corozal North Electoral Division 1st Street North Corozal Town

Registration Office Orange Walk Central Electoral Division 1A Santa Ana Street Orange Walk Town

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the COROZAL NORTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the ORANGE WALK CENTRAL ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015

Signed: Rosalba Vasquez REGISTERING OFFICER Corozal North Electoral Division

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Eneida Vargas REGISTERING OFFICER Orange Walk Central Electoral Division

Registration Office Corozal South East Electoral Division 1st Street North Corozal Town

Registration Office Orange Walk East Electoral Division 1A Santa Ana Street Orange Walk Town

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the COROZAL SOUTH EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the ORANGE WALK EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

Registration Office Corozal South West Electoral Division 27 Second Street North Corozal Town

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Eneida Vargas REGISTERING OFFICER Orange Walk East Electoral Division Registration Office Orange Walk South Electoral Division 1A Santa Ana Street Orange Walk Town

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the COROZAL SOUTH WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the ORANGE WALK SOUTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Rosalba Vasquez REGISTERING OFFICER Corozal South East Electoral Division

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015

Signed: Rosalba Vasquez REGISTERING OFFICER Corozal South West Electoral Division

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Eneida Vargas REGISTERING OFFICER Orange Walk South Electoral Division

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015

Signed: Carla Bennett AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Freetown Electoral Division Registration Office Caribbean Shores Electoral Division 7134 Lumber Yard Crescent Belize City ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CARIBBEAN SHORES ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015

Signed: Carla Bennett AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Caribbean Shores Electoral Division Registration Office Pickstock Electoral Division 7134 Lumber Yard Crescent Belize City ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the PICKSTOCK ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Carla Bennett AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Pickstock Electoral Division

Registration Office Fort George Electoral Division 7134 Lumber Yard Crescent Belize City ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the FORT GEORGE ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Carla Bennett AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Fort George Electoral Division Registration Office Belize Rural North Electoral Division Ramonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plaza Ladyville Village, Belize District ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the BELIZE RURAL NORTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Maria Vellos REGISTERING OFFICER Belize Rural North Electoral Division

27 SEP

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT NOTICE TO ELECTORS R.P.R.R. 46

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE REGISTRATION RULES (CAP. 9)

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Registration Office Belize Rural Central Electoral Division Ramon’s Plaza Ladyville Village, Belize District

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the BELIZE RURAL CENTRAL ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015. DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Maria Vellos REGISTERING OFFICER Belize Rural Central Electoral Division

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the BELIZE RURAL SOUTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015. DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Isabel Gentle AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Belize Rural South Electoral Division Registration Office Albert Electoral Division 130 Euphrates Ave. Belize City ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the ALBERT ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015. DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Soledad Alonzo REGISTERING OFFICER Albert Electoral Division Registration Office Queen’s Square Electoral Division 130 Euphrates Ave. Belize City ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the QUEEN’S SQUARE ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015. DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Soledad Alonzo REGISTERING OFFICER Queen’s Square Electoral Division

Registration Office Port Loyola Electoral Division 130 Euphrates Ave. Belize City

Registration Office Cayo North East Electoral Division 28 West St. San Ignacio Town

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the PORT LOYOLA ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO NORTH EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Soledad Alonzo REGISTERING OFFICER Port Loyola Electoral Division Registration Office Collet Electoral Division 70 Cemetery Rd. Belize City

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Brendalyn Staine AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo North East Electoral Division

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the COLLET ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO CENTRAL ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

Registration Office Belize Rural South Electoral Division 21 Pescador Drive San Pedro Town, Belize District

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015

Signed: Alma Middleton REGISTERING OFFICER Collet Electoral Division Registration Office Mesopotamia Electoral Division 70 Cemetery Rd. Belize City ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the MESOPOTAMIA ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015. DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Alma Middleton REGISTERING OFFICER Mesopotamia Electoral Division

Registration Office Lake Independence Electoral Division 70 Cemetery Rd. Belize City

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the LAKE INDEPENDENCE ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015. DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Alma Middleton REGISTERING OFFICER Lake Independence Electoral Division Registration Office Cayo North Electoral Division 28 West St. San Ignacio Town ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO NORTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015 . DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Brendalyn Staine AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo North Electoral Division

Registration Office Cayo Central Electoral Division 123 George Price Highway Santa Elena Town

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Briony Neal AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo Central Electoral Division Registration Office Cayo West Electoral Division Kennedy Street Benque Viejo Del Carmen ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Georgia Bell AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo West Electoral Division Registration Office Belmopan Electoral Division Constitution Dr. Belmopan City ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the BELMOPAN ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015

Signed: Paula Dawson REGISTERING OFFICER Belmopan Electoral Division

Registration Office Cayo South Electoral Division Constitution Dr. Belmopan City

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO SOUTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Paula Dawson REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo South Electoral Division

16 ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT NOTICE TO ELECTORS R.P.R.R. 46

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE REGISTRATION RULES (CAP. 9)

Registration Office Dangriga Electoral Division 19 Yemeri Road Dangriga Town

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the DANGRIGA ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015.

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

DATED this 25th day of September, 2015

Signed: Mildred Guzman REGISTERING OFFICER Dangriga Electoral Division Registration Office Stann Creek West Electoral Division 19 Yemeri Road Dangriga Town ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the STANN CREEK WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015. DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Mildred Guzman REGISTERING OFFICER Stann Creek West Electoral Division Registration Office Toledo East Electoral Division 41A Prince Street Punta Gorda Town ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the TOLEDO EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015. DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Sheridan Polonio REGISTERING OFFICER Toledo East Electoral Division Registration Office Toledo West Electoral Division 41A Prince Street Punta Gorda Town ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the TOLEDO WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2015, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A to the undersigned before the 1st day of November, 2015. DATED this 25th day of September, 2015 Signed: Sheridan Polonio REGISTERING OFFICER Toledo West Electoral Division

2015

Rolling Blackouts Are Here! Despite Petrocaribe Millions, Belize still not energy independent

Belize City, September 21, 2015 A great opportunity has been missed and it took an embarrassment of tremendous proportions to expose this. On Monday, September 21, 2015 as Belizeans celebrated Independence Day, the entire nation experienced a prolonged power outage. It occurred around midday and lasted for a few hours. During this time, all the celebration was put on hold. Belize Electricity Limited has explained that a vehicular accident in the Benque Viejo del Carmen area, which damaged a lamp post with high voltage lines was the cause of the unexpected outage. While BEL has explained the Independence Day blackout, the government-owned utility company has not figured out what caused a similar outage on the night of Independence Eve, which affected north-

ern Belize for a few minutes just before the Independence Day countdown was about to begin. We cannot say whether the outages are related to the dispute between BEL workers’ union, the Belize Energy Workers Union, and the Government over denied salary increases for employees. But considering the stalled negotiations between the parties and the workers’ admitted frustrations and charges of disrespect at the hands of the Government, the notion is not far-fetched. In a September 3rd letter to the Minister of Labour, Godwin Hulse, BEWU warned that the “Union membership is of the general opinion that the BEWU will have to take industrial action leading up to a general strike in order for our demands to be met by an inflexible, inconsiderate and disrespectful employer”. When asked whether this warning meant forcing

blackouts, Marvin Mora, BEWU’s general secretary who is also the President of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUCB), confessed that all options were on the table. Of course the Government wouldn’t find itself in this predicament had it used the millions it has collected through the Petrocaribe Loans agreement had it used the money in the manner it was intended in the first place. The Petrocaribe dream of the late comandante Hugo Chavez was that Caribbean nations such as Belize would use the resources to eliminate poverty and pursue energy independence through public investments in renewable and sustainable energy sources such as wind power and solar power. Instead, the Barrow Administration has turned Petrocaribe into a wasteful political piñata party.

Independence Day Address by

Francis W. Fonseca

Leader of the Opposition People’s United Party Continued from page 4 termine how the collective wealth and resources of the nation is managed and allocated and ultimately the quality of life of each and every Belizean. 34 years after Independence. 17 years of PUP. 17 years of UDP. Our responsibility and obligation is to work together in good faith to change, improve and strengthen the failing systems and structures we have in place to govern and develop Belize. On this Independence Day, let us embrace Governance Reform by: Committing to the appointment of the 13th Senator; to re-activating the Integrity Commission; and to restructuring the Public Accounts Committee. On this 21st Day of September let us resolve to renew our commitment as a nation and people to building a society based on equality, justice and opportunity. This must not only be our hope and dream. It must be the foundation of who we are as a people. Delivering his National Day Address on September 10th, 1962 the Father of Our Nation, then Premier George Price had this to say: “Full internal Self-Government and In-

dependence are neither easily achieved nor successfully maintained without great effort on our part. We must work harder, produce more and improve our skills more quickly and extensively.” 53 years later the simple clarity and relevance of this message rings loudly. Today we must work harder, produce more, and improve our skills, all with a sense of purpose and urgency. A few months later in a National Radio Address on December 11, 1962 George Price brilliantly and passionately captured the true essence of Independence: “The dignity of the individual as a human being cannot be fully realized unless he or she is the citizen of an Independent country, unless he or she can proudly point to their national flag among the flags of nations, sing the anthem of their country, and carry a passport issued by no other country but their own.” That, my fellow Belizeans, is the true spirit and meaning of Independence. Let us awaken that spirit in each of us. I wish you all a peaceful, safe and happy Independence Day!! ¡Feliz Día de Nuestra Independencia a todos en nuestro País! May God Bless each of you and our beloved Belize.

27 SEP

2015

Back to Reality! By G. Michael Reid I listened intently to the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech because I figured that I would base this week’s article on the content thereof. I was sure that there would be enough in there to warrant critique but alas, I was wrong. After listening to the entire speech, I was reminded of an old commercial done for the American fast food chain Wendy’s. Therein, a little old lady bought a hamburger and asked a question that has since become a catchphrase for anything lacking substance. That phrase aptly fit the moment for the only thing that came to mind was, “where’s the beef?” Not only was the speech lacking in substance, but this year’s presentation by the leader maximus was unwontedly civil and lacked the usual venomous responses to comments by the Leader of the Opposition. For his part, the Leader of the Opposition was mostly reflective and his remarks were confined primarily to the issues of governmental reforms, oversight and forward thinking. The Prime Minister is evidently at his best when provoked to quarreling and the progressive address by Mr. Fonseca seemed to have caught him off guard and threw him completely off his game. Many people were expecting an announcement of the date for general elections but there again, we were left disappointed in the end. The PM did confirm that this would be the “last Independence Day address” before those elections, but stopped

THE BELIZE TIMES

tween the days of the Tenth and the 21st and we party “like it’s 1981.” Sandwiched somewhere in between the two holidays is Carnival; which seems to have done to the Tenth and 21st, what Ruta Maya has done to Baron Bliss Day. Interestingly enough, Carnival was created to give more life to the Tenth short of giving us a date. It is still but those stalwarts of the loyal widely believed that elections and patriotic order of baymen will be held this year and even have stubbornly refused to as early as November. With the share their day with anyone. PUP now finally united and in I’ve always wondered if it full fighting spirit, one can be would not have been practical sure that the man might be havto have gotten Independence ing serious second thoughts. I on the Tenth and just make still think that it is high time that one massive celebration of it we eliminate this whole guessall. Could you imagine though, ing game and have a fixed date George Price trying to sell that for our general elections. idea to those staunch and loyal The Prime Minister had his subjects of the crown? usual red packet appeal to votWhile Belize claims to be ers which was this year presenta Christian nation, Carnival ed in the form of a write-off of actually has its origin deep in medical bills. According to the the pagan practices of ancient Prime Minister, bills owed to the Rome. Carnival was originally Karl Huesner Memorial Hospia pagan feast known as carrus tal (KHMH), which amounts to navalis (ship of fools). A “magnificently-decorated ship on wheels” or naIn fact, given the reputation garnered by the val wagon, was pulled to the temples in honKHMH (Kill Her, Murder Him), even people who or of Bacchus (Roman cannot afford it prefer the mire of debt to a god of wine). visit there. Could not that money have been As it stands, Carbetter used to provide the needed utensils, nival seems to have gotten even more of a beds, personnel and basic commodities to toehold as it was, for make this hospital more efficient? all intents and purposes, the only show in only place where such incompe- town this year. Tenth remains some nine million dollars will be tence is tolerated and seemingly small and partisan while the fully forgiven. Now while this even condoned. How long will rains forced cancellation of might seem liberality on the part the Independence Day parade. this madness go on? of our Prime Minister, there are Anyway, so, the September Wonder if it would have done a few questions that beg to be celebrations are behind us and the same to Carnival. Seems answered. First of all, how does now it is back to facing these we’re more ready to party than a facility that provides healthcare concerns of our everyday lives. to stand for the independence services primarily to the poorest Every September, Belizeans put of our country. Long live Beof the poor, get to be owed as aside all issues, in particular belize! much as nine million dollars by those same poor people? Should not this level of healthcare have been free in the first place? Where exactly will this money come from to foot this bill? Is it okay for one man to take money that is, in effect, the property of everyone and just arbitrarily put it to whatever use he pleases? Is this really okay with everyone? Belize has several private hospitals where well-to-do citizens are more than likely to visit when in need of healthcare. In fact, given the reputation garnered by the KHMH (Kill Her, Murder Him), even people who cannot afford it prefer the mire of debt to a visit there. Could not that money have been better used to provide the needed utensils, beds, personnel and basic commodities to make this hospital more efficient? And really, how much of a gift is it to write off a debt that for the most part, was uncollectable to start with. Once again, the people of Belize are being taken for fools. There is one hospital that can obviously use some help and that is the Western Regional in Belmopan. The video of the rat that entered an incubator and bit a newborn baby made international headlines this week and has become a total embarrassment for our entire nation. A better gift to the Belizean people would have been an announcement that Pablo Marin was being removed as minister of health and that Peter Allen was finally being fired. The incompetence of these two individuals is glaring and their dismissal would do wonders for the morale and confidence of our workers in the health system. Incident after incident, death after death and still nothing is done to fix what is obviously wrong with this system. Belize has to be the

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Reality Check! By Gilroy Usher, Sr. “Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for. It is a thing to be achieved.” William Jennings Bryan “Do you hear I and I. I wanna rule my destiny. Yeah I and I, I wanna rule my destiny.” Buju Banton Thirty-four years ago Father of the Nation George Price led Belize to independence on September 21, 1981. Google defines political independence as freedom from control by another government. From the start of the British settlement in 1638 up to a few months before independence, Belize was controlled by mother England, which exploited our land and its people mercilessly. Pre-independence Premier Price told the people that independence would mean more development for all Belizeans because for the first time we would fully control our destiny as a nation. “With independence we would have the power to use the many resources of the country for our advantage,” said Price.

With nationhood our people rightly looked forward to good paying jobs for every person whose is willing to work. Today with over 12% of the employable population facing unemployment, thousands of people can’t find jobs to provide the needs of their families. And getting a job with the government, which is the largest employer in the country, is becoming more and more dependent on political connections rather than qualification. More development with independence meant rapid growth of the economy and more taxes for government to address the needs of the people. The thought was that more factories and other businesses would open along our highways and use the nation’s resources to provide more goods and services that satisfy the various needs of the Jewel. Almost three and a half decades later a few of those businesses have materialized. Most of the large companies with the funds and knowledge to invest in the productive sector however have set aside nationalism and expanded their operation in the mer-

2015

chandising business which is highly profitable with low risk. As the Belizean flag was raised for the first time on Independence day, roots Belizeans saw themselves opening more grocery stores and other small businesses to uplift themselves and develop the country. The politicians killed those plans quickly after independence, when they allowed hundreds of Chinese to flood over cities, towns, and villages with grocery shops. Grocery shops by roots Belizeans are now history. The most vulnerable in the society saw independence as an opportunity to escape poverty. They saw a house lot and a proper two or three bedroom concrete low income government house as a great possibility. Since independence the merchant class and a number of ministers have become very wealthy, while the number of persons in poverty has more than doubled. Land and proper housing for the poor - that doesn’t figure in the plans of the government. Only the Ministers and their cronies enjoy such things from government resources. Independence should have ushered equal treatment for all before the law. But today, poor people are sent to prison for years for less than an ounce of weed or for stealing a simple roll of toi-

let paper , while politician Elvin Penner committed a huge crime with the illegal selling Belizean passports, but he wasn’t “bangled” or sent to prison. On September 21, 1981 we were filled with patriotism as a newly independent nation with all our territory. All 8,867 sq. miles of the Jewel would be preserved for Belizeans forever. About a decade later England withdrew her soldiers and defense guarantee for the nation. Now our B.D.F. soldiers, Coast Guard, and civilians must get permission from Guatemala to visit the Sarstoon Island and nearby areas. That entire area is part of our territory, and the Guatemalans treated it as such when British Harrier jets patrolled our land. Today in conjunction with Guatemala, our government makes every effort to discourage Belizeans from visiting that part of the country. There is now a strong feeling in Belize that the government has ceded the Sarstoon area to Guatemala in a secret agreement. Nationhood has brought many benefits to Belize. Nevertheless to be master of our own destiny, we must come to terms with some dreams and the reality with independence. Happy Independence Day.

For Sale By Order of the

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 54 and comprising 939.17 Sq. Yds. situate in Hummingbird Community Village, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 927 of 1999 TOGETHER with buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

THE SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land been Lot No. 157 comprising 977.04 square metres situate in Forest Home Village (Extension), in the Toledo District of Belize and bounded and described as shown coloured red on Plan No. 1025 of 2002 attached to Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 1025 of 2002 dated 9th December, 2002 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 9th day of September, 2015.

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

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2015 VACANCY A vacancy exists for a Domestic Worker. Female only. Call 6675720.

THE BELIZE TIMES

Independence Day Message by Orange Walk Town Mayor His Worship Kevin Bernard

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that LUIS CUELLO is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “L&R Liquors”, situated at 46 Euphrates Avenue, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that LUIS CUELLO is applying for a Publican General Liquor License to be operated at “L&R Liquors”, situated at 993 Mayflower Garden, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that NILDA VELASQUEZ is applying for a Night Club Liquor License to be operated at “Lion King Night Club”, situated at 32 King Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that LUIGGI VILLANUEVA is applying for a Night Club Liquor License to be operated at “Red House Bar”, situated at 46 Vernon Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that YUEDI KUANG & EDMUND KWAN are applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Moon Grocery”, situated at 1743 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that THOMAS JAY BAKER is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Lamanai Crossing”, situated at Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that SAN SHINE AUNG is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Favourite Restaurant and Grocery Shop”, situated at 1077 Mahogany Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that SAN SHINE AUNG is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Favourite Restaurant and Grocery Shop”, situated at 38 Central American Boulevard, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

September 21, 2015 September is an amazing time of the year in Belize. We celebrate our diversity, our oneness, our shared love and pride for this jewel. So many colors, so many hues, so much joy, so much of our vibrant, rich culture on display because this is OUR time. And this is OUR land. With ONE voice we shout our love for every inch of this 8,876 square feet of greatness, of sheer wonder. And there is nowhere I’d rather be than with you here today. With our flag waving proudly on this blessed day, I take the time to reflect on our Independence. Belize is 34, younger than many of us, and just as we measure our own lives by accomplishments, growth, progress, maturity and yes, failures, we must do the same with this precious land we love so dearly. 34 years after its birth, how far have we come as a nation? Has our development been stunted by political, economic and social ills? Have we realized our potential? Are we all that we can be in this moment in time? Are we masters of our own destiny? Are we a crucial part of the region and the world despite our size? Have we conquered poverty? Are our people safe, secure and happy? As a nation can we feed and sustain our people on what we grow and produce? Are we asserting our nationhood and sovereignty? Are we truly independent? So many questions, 34 years after the Union Jack was lowered

and our bold, bright, beautiful flag raised for the first time. I can’t answer all of them. None of us really can. But we can look around and reflect. And the reality is that we have come a long way, but we have so much further to go. Here in Orange Walk Town, for example, we are proud of what we have achieved. We just started the paving Guadalupe Street, and are implementing a comprehensive work program. But on the flip side of that, there is so much more we could achieve for our residents with the REAL support of Central Government. It is not a criticism. Today I won’t delve into partisan politics. But it is a realization that 34 years after Independence, we are still, perhaps, shackled by the ebb and flow of political tides. There is much to be proud of. There is a new road going through our town and a beautiful road through Yo Creek, San Lazaro... almost all the way to Blue Creek. But our farmers in those very areas are facing a dire threat from a serious drought. Our food security is threatened by the drought. We cannot blame man for the lack of rain. But could we have done, and can we do more to assist and protect our farmers who are the backbone of this country. We cannot help but see all the infrastructure work being done across the country. Streets and roads and many roundabouts... great big multimillion dollar roundabouts. But a young woman just died after a routine C-Section at the hospital in Belmopan....the same hospital which is infested with rats...the same hospital where a newborn baby was bitten by a rat inside an incubator. So how far have we really come in 34 years? We boast that Belize is being recognized across the world. Our own Ambassador Nestor Mendez was just elected to the Organization of American States....first time ever for a Belizean. But for the first time ever Belizeans are afraid to go into the Sarstoon...OUR Sarstoon. Guatemalans captured our people in our waters and took them to Livingston, endangering their lives. We appear to have lost much ground to Guatemala, and are in danger of losing more, 34 years after Independence. Like I said, there is much good and much bad, 34 years after In-

dependence. It is only through REAL reflection that we can determine if we have grown as a nation. If we can proudly say we are 34, and we have done so well. My friends, let us always stand together in love and honouring our nation. I ask this of you regardless of political affiliations or religion or beliefs. Let us identify the things that plague us and fight to overcome them. Let us join together to fight poverty. Let us stand together to keep our children in school. Let us work together to find a compromise to this political divisiveness, a way in which regardless of who we support, our PEOPLE and nation always come first. Let us pray to God for his continued blessings, and his continued guidance of our leaders. My friends. I wish us all a Happy Independence Day. Happy Birthday Belize. Que viva Belize. Long Live Belize.

In Memoriam of

Robert Lyons

Sunrise: November 29, 1960 Sunset: September 10, 2015 Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s gone. Those we love can never be more that a thought apart. For as long there is a memory, they’ll live on in our hearts.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

National Service Day 2015

In memory of the life and service of the Father of the Nation, Rt. Hon. George C. Price 1919 - 2011 Belize City, September 19, 2015 Friday, September 19th, 2015 was observed as National Service Day in Belize – a day which the People’s United Party has declared extraordinarily special, in memory of the life and service of the Father of the Nation, Rt. Hon. George C. Price. In the morning, the Party Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca, supporters and members of the Price family paid tribute to Mr. Price at a wreath laying ceremony at the site of his burial at the Lord Ridge Cemetery. The event was attended by primary school children who listened intently as the Price family remembered their loved one, followed by comments by PUP leaders who recognised Mr. Price’s selfless leadership and his undaunted commitment to Belize throughout his life. Following the wreath-laying, the Party, through its leaders and members, carried out various acts of service to commemorate the day.

This year in honour of Rt. Hon. George Price, PUP Deputy Leader and Belize Rural Central Area Representative Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia and residents of Gales Point Manatee carried out a general cleanup campaign in the village. Some twenty villagers gathered together and gave a facelift to the central area of Gales Point. Also on her visit Hon. Dolores gave a donation of exercise books to the Gales Point Government School. She also pledged her contribution of ink for the school’s photocopy machine and kept her promise when she turned up with the donation. The school finds it necessary to do a lot of photo copying so as to save, as the children do not have many textbooks. Photos show Principal Mr. Palacio, Teachers and Students receiving the donation. Photos show the efforts of Hon. Dolores and the cleanup crew! The photo shows Vice-Principal Ms. Samuels receiving the cheque at Hon. Dolores’ office

In Belize City, Caribbean Shores Standard Bearer Kareem Musa and the Team Kareem support group provided tremendous assistance to the Ephesus S.D.A Primary School located on Wilson Street. Firstly, Kareem donated eight standing fans to the schools, to alleviate the increasing heat endured by students inside their classrooms. The rising temperature becomes a distraction in the classroom, impeding concentration and learning. Kareem and his support team also helped to give the school security booth a much needed face lift.

The PUP Marshals Community Service Corp, a special arm of the PUP, also carried out tributes to the Father of the Nation. In Belize City, National President Stephen Latchman donated two fans to St. Mary’s Primary School on Angel Lane. In Orange Walk, the Marshalls unit represented by Mr. Armando Valdez J.P., ODS; Rick Castillo Antonio Novelo and Miguel Moguel joined the Orange Walk East Standard Bearer Josue Carballo to plant trees in honour of Rt. Hon George Price. In Cayo District, the PUP Marshalls coordinator joined Cayo North East Standard Bearer Orlando Habet to donated two fans to the St. Francis Xavier RC School in Esperanza. In San Pedro, the PUP Marshalls assisted in the coordination of a special mass followed by a clean-up of the downtown area and other streets leading to the dump site on the island. -------------------------------

In the West, PUP Standard Bearer Dr. Lesbia Guerra Cocom and the PUP Cayo West team demonstrated leadership when they carried out community work by uplifting and transforming an abandoned park in San Jose Succotz Village. Residents, young and old, turned out to assist with the painting, cutting of grass, refurbishing of the amenities and general sprucing up of the park.

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2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

National Service Day 2015

In memory of the life and service of the Father of the Nation, Rt. Hon. George C. Price 1919 - 2011 The youth arm of the PUP also engaged in community service for National Service Day. Members of the Belize Youth Movement from Belize City and the districts paid a special visit to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital paediatric ward to visit the children admitted for treatment. There, BYM President Alberto Vellos and other leaders shared special treats and gifts to cheer up the children.

The Orange Walk Town Council held a special mass in honor of the late Rt. Hon George Price and in the spirit of patriotism, awarded Belizeans and Orange Walk residents with the “Patriotic Servant Award” for their defense of Belize’s territorial integrity.

Other organisations and groups including schools also observed National Service Day. The BELIZE TIMES caught up with students from Maud Williams High School on Raccoon Street in Belize City as they carried out a clean-up of the neighbourhood. September 19th is a special day to remind us that a true patriot cares for his community. Belizeans are encouraged to give back positively throughout the year to continue the legacy of the Father of the Nation, Rt. Hon. George Price. Long live George Cadle Price! Long live Belize!

Rat scandal draws international shame Belize City, September 22, 2015 The shocking discovery of a large disease-ridden rat biting on a newborn baby while inside an incubator at the Western Regional Hospital has gone from a national scandal to international disgrace as news agencies from all over the world have focused their attention on the substandard state of Belize’s health system. Over the past week, no less than four major news outlets on television and print/internet have reported on the disturbing incident that occurred on Friday September 4th 2015 at the main referral hospital in western Belize. “Rat caught on camera inside incubator after biting premature baby fighting to stay alive”, read the news heading printed in The Irish Mirror newspaper. This story, which was also published on the web, has sparked major interest on social networks and was shared on Facebook by 1,938 users in just a matter of hours. The Daily Mail UK, which attracts millions of readers in the United Kingdom alone, also reported: “A parent’s worst nightmare: The horrifying moment a RAT is found in a hospital incubator - after it had already bitten a newborn baby”. One of their readers commented below the report “calls travel agent ~ ~ cancels trip to Belize”, expressing repulsion at the incident. Much closer to home, two major television networks gave coverage to the scandal. The popular Telemundo reported “Baby’s crying alerts presence of rat in incubator”. Meanwhile, the highlywatched mid-afternoon U.S.based news show, Univision’s Primer Impacto featured the entire video of the rat moving in the incubator as if playing “catch me if you can” with a frantic nurse wielding a

broom stick inside the baby unit. Univision’s news anchor’s jaw almost fell as she saw the large rat on the screen. Both Telemundo and Univision reported on the unbelievable episode of serious hospital neglect on September 21st – the day Belizeans celebrate its anniversary of Independence and nothing but pride should be beaming out. Instead, Belize’s reputation is sinking into disgrace thanks to the ineptitude of those in charge of the Ministry of Health, led by Pablo Marin, who has ignored the structural deficiencies of the hospital over the past seven years. This, despite knowing that there was a rat infestation at the hospital since April of this year. The Minister did not budge or showed care, as his attention has been focused on political projects everywhere else. The news coverage on this incident continues to spread. It may seem strange that the Irish Mirror, based in Ireland, has also reported on this but it becomes understandable when one realizes that Ministry of Health CEO, Peter Allen, is Irish-born. Both Allen and Marin, who have a reputation of serious neglect of their Ministry, have claimed that they are not to blame.

THINK ABOUT IT

BELIZE IS IN TROUBLE The 34TH anniversary of our independence has come and gone. We learnt no lessons. We shared no vision. We have no plans to move forward. We did not recount how we reached this destination following a long, hard journey to where we are. While there is much about our people and our country to be thankful for; there is much cause for concern concerning those things that are going wrong in our land. The Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech was just another mini budget presentation with the usual “I will spend millions on this and millions on that”. There is an absence of strategic thinking and a failure to tackle the real issues at the core of our national existence and our national well-being. For eight Septembers now we have been subjected to these Independence Day speeches while our country continues to worsen and our future becomes bleaker instead of beckoning. To be critical and blunt, the Prime Minister was helping us to hide our heads in the sand and coaxing us to deceive ourselves. It was also his poorest independence day address and his energy level was low. To be specific, take the case of the Sarstoon River and Sarstoon Island. Guatemala has taken control of a portion of our territory. The government has been told this in no uncertain terms. Guatemalan gunboats are controlling and patrolling our section of the Sarstoon River. There is not a single word on this. Instead we are distracted with words that we will build a forward base in a backward place. The plan had always been to build our base on the Sarstoon Island which is at the mouth of the river on our side of our territorial water. This is not going to happen. Using misleading language, the Prime Minister said he will build the base (on the mainland of southern Belize is far from Sarstoon Island). The Guats have won. We have been quietly chased out of all that long portion of the northern waters of the Sarstoon River. Easy as Sunday morning. Fearful of getting another strong, disturbing Diplomatic Note, the Prime Minister uses the Independence Day address to take yet another dig at the Territorial Volunteers. For God’s sake Sir, this is a mere handful of Belizeans whose interest is merely to visit the border markers and assist to remind us all of the importance of our national territory. They are not a band of the Che Guevara guerillas. Why are Guatemala and our Prime Minister so angry with these citizens? What’s going on here? Take the hospital situation, more accurately described as scandals. Almost five hundred thousand dollars was systematically embezzled from the Dangriga hospital. The same took place at the Central Regional Hospital. At KHMH there has been wanton corruption and waste. Expensive equipment ordered and paid for, and turns out to be useless. First a whistle-blower and then an Audit Report confirm all is rotten in the state of the Health Ministry. Thirteen babies die from neglect. Items are left in the wombs of mothers

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THE BELIZE TIMES

who give birth. Rats are rampant in the Belmopan hospital. A humble mother giving birth at P.G is left on the delivery table unattended. A man is crippled by botched surgery. He is attacked by a rapist in the Hospital Ward. Give us a break Prime Minister. How much more can we take? It is time for the Minister of Health and his weird CEO to go. Instead, we are told in the independence speech that the Prime Minister has found a way around the law to pay health workers who are not public officers, a salaries increase. For re-election purpose this is more important, far more important to the Prime Minister than the endemic maladministration of the hospitals. The workers are entitled to a salaries increase. Belizeans are entitled to better services at the hospitals. That is what we are forced to pay taxes for. One billion dollars’ worth of taxes is squeezed out like blood, sweat and tears from the private sector and the people of this country. We deserve better. As to the hopeless, incompetent Health Minister, the worst in the history of this country; he is so ignorant that he does not even know the Constitution says he is responsible for the Ministry of Health and all the departments under his Ministry. CNN and the world media are having a field day covering the rat in the incubator biting an innocent little baby. There are other grave and disturbing issues unattended and brushed under the proverbial rug of words. Half the population of Belize is living in poverty. Thirty-four years of independence and three hundred million dollars of extra monies from Petro Caribe and not a single project or program has reduced this growing national cancer. An army of thousands upon thousands of our young people are permanently deprived of a college, sixth form and University education. They have no future in this country. Their lives are being broken in ways that may not be mended. Every UDP politician is a Minister of Government. With all the financial perks and expenses that Ministerial office bestows. Vehicle, staff and more expenses. Who pays for these unnecessary wastes? Half these Ministers have nothing to do. All their Ministries can be amalgamated into eight or ten ministries with huge savings to the taxpayers and with better chances at efficient administration. These are but a few, a few of the many problems still staring us in our face after all the independence speech bombast that trumpets waste and a lack of vision. Going nowhere and wasting lives and millions of dollars in the process. Belize! Oh Belize you deserve better than this. DID YOU NOTICE Did you notice that neither NICH (National Institute for Culture and History) nor U.B. nor Galen, nor the Ministry of Education, nor the local University of the West Indies; sponsored a panel discussion on any relevant issue for the 34th Anniversary of our independence? FRANCIS Pope Francis is really kicking up a storm across the world. He is probably the most outspoken Pope in history. He

tackles many major modern issues, including rampant capitalism and climate change, and the need for the USA to stop its illegal blockade against Cuba. On Thursday this week the long running guerilla war in Colombia was ended with the two sides signing a peace agreement. Three days before, the Pope called on them to stop the war. This Pope is awesome. Guess what? He comes from the third world. Born in Argentina, home of Che Guevara. It shows how non-Europeans have better solutions to world problems than those who have always brought war, slavery, imperialism and domination upon the non-white peoples of God’s planet. Pope Francis also shows us, in the words of the poet Alfred Tennyson, more things are brought about through prayers than this world dreams of. We in Belize should know, we prayed for rain to help our farmers, and the Lord answered our prayers. Blessed be the name of the Lord. MICHAEL ASHCROFT Michael Ashcroft looms large in the politics and the economics of Belize. When he helps a political party, that party becomes the government. Both UDP and PUP became government because of him. He helped Dean Barrow become a millionaire. He helped Lois Young become a millionaire. He owned B.T.L and made it what it is. He owns the Belize Bank. He recently got the last laugh against Prime Minister Barrow over B.T.L. After years of calling him all kinds of names and wasting taxpayer’s dollars in dozens of unsuccessful court cases, our Prime Minister had to eat humble pie and beg Mr. Ashcroft to please agree to settle the B.T.L acquisition. That unlawful taking of B.T.L to spite Ashcroft cost Mr. Barrow to be told by the Court of Appeal that he had violated and broke the Constitution of Belize. We suspect someone from the Caribbean Court hinted to our Prime Minister that he would look terrible once their final judgment on the illegal takeover of B.T.L and B.E.L was handed down. The Caribbean Court of Justice had informed the Bar Association and the Chief Justice that they would be coming to Belize to hand down their historic judgment. There is more to be told but that’s for another time. Right now we want to tell you that Michael Ashcroft has resigned from the House of Lords in Britain. That house is part of the prestigious British Parliament which makes the laws in that former empire which once ruled the world. Michael Ashcroft’s resignation is big news in the British media. Equally big is the news that he has taken on the British Prime Minister, David Cameron. Cameron is taking a beating from Michael Ashcroft who has let loose a barrage of body blows, jabs and uppercuts. These come from a book written by Mr. Ashcroft and is being serialized in the British media. Prime Minister Cameron is trying to ignore the revelations in the book but the damage is mounting, forcing him this week to say it was like a dagger in his back. Michael Ashcroft helped make David Cameron Prime Minister of Brit-

2015 ain. Mr. Ashcroft was the mastermind behind taking over dozens of marginal constituencies and turning them into winning seats for the conservative to defeat the Labor party in the previous general elections. Mr. Ashcroft also pumped 8 million pounds, the equivalent of almost thirty million Belize dollars in Cameron’s party. Mr. Ashcroft was expected to be offered a high ranking Ministerial position. Prime Minister Cameron says he wanted to give Ashcroft such a job, most likely at the British Foreign Ministry but the then Deputy Prime Minister David Clegg was against it. Michael Ashcroft is not a man to be trifled with. The blood of Richard, the lion-hearted must be in his veins. He is named after Michael, who in the book of Revelation in the Bible, leads the armies of God and defeats Satan. Michael Ashcroft is not a man to be trifled with. Ask Mr. Barrow, the braggadocios and bloviating Prime Minister of Belize who had to deceive his nation, claiming he was off to Miami for medical treatment, but was secretly sneaking into a hotel to beg Mr. Ashcroft to please agree to accept millions of tax dollars as compensation for B.T.L. If Donald Trump had quarter of the brains of Michael Ashcroft he would be guaranteed the Presidency of the U.S.A. Lord Ashcroft, we repeat, is not an hombre to be trifled with. The British Prime Minister is now finding this out the hard way. That knife he felt at his back can yet be aimed at his political heart. We advise him to select a hotel away from London and sit down and work things out with Lord Ashcroft of Belize and Great Britain. The book is titled, “The Unauthorized Biography of David Cameron” written by Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott. HERE WE GO AGAIN-PART 2 “I will be spending 37 million dollars for Southside Belize City Infrastructure Project, Phase 2” Go and visit the wild, poverty ridden, crime infested, no jobs, no hope area in Minister Boots Martinez constituency and see for yourself how we waste millions of dollars so some forty or fifty persons to shovel cement for the streets. “If you re-elect me to a third term I will announce next September another Poverty Alleviation Project Part 3.” Hee! Hee! Hee! JOB VACANCIES Vacancies exist at the Belmopan Hospitals for Nurses, Ward Maids, Attendants, rat catchers and snake charmers. Only UDPs are to apply. Persons applying must have experience in dealing with rats, cockroaches and insects. Any skill in keeping rats away from young babies, pregnant mothers giving birth and elderly patients will be an asset. Application forms in the party colors are available at offices of UDP represent-a-thieves. Preference will be given to desperate poor people from the Belmopan and Belize City areas which are known to be rat infested. Applications must be accompanied by full length body photographs in tight clothing and hand delivered to the Chief Rodent, Corozal Bay Constituency office.

27 SEP

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

10 things that derailed Barrow’s election plans Belize City, September 22, 2015 Key sources within the UDP have indicated that Prime Minister Dean Barrow diverted from his plans to announce the date of elections in his Independence Day speech on Monday. Three weeks ago, during a special Cabinet/UDP caucus the area reps voted on a preferred date but were ultimately warned by their political boss that the decision is his to make and they should prepare for October. Interestingly, during that episode Corozal Bay’s Pablo Marin pleaded to his Party leader and colleagues that he felt totally ill-prepared. This is the same Marin who is currently the source of major political embarrassment for the UDP. Barrow apparently pulled out his crystal ball or tarot cards on Monday morning and saw a sign that made him uneasy about sticking to the script and calling elections in October. There is a lot of uneasiness in the UDP today, despite being in fullfledged campaign mode as a Government for the past seven years. Things are not going well for them. Here are ten reasons why Barrow’s election plans were derailed: 1. Worse health care system ever. The recent discovery of a rat biting a newborn inside a baby incubator at the Western Regional Hospital is indeed causing political headaches for the UDP Government, but this is only the start of the failings of a poorly managed health care system. Before the latest episode with the large vermin, there was the discovery of dozens of rats inside the hospital’s food storage area. Prior to this, cats were found inside the hospital morgue where there had been an embarrassing mix-up of a newborn’s body to a family preparing for burial. Patients also report a lack of equipment, which has forced patients to rush to other hospitals even in cases of emergency. The Western Regional hospital has been facing crisis after crisis, as has other hospitals such as the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and the Northern Regional Hospital, but Minister of Health Pablo Marin has paid attention mostly to his political projects. He has left the running of the Health Ministry to his CEO who has been a major disaster. 2. The return of the Lord. Prime Minister Barrow miscalculated the politically reactive nature of his kiss-and-make up episode with Lord Michael Ashcroft. The secret deals, enrichment schemes for his family, and reckless indebting of the nation have become the major focus of his decision to settle on a compensation agreement with Ashcroft, six long years after expropriating Belize Telemedia Limited. Barrow has kept secrets from the Belizean people, among them the many times he met with Aschroft in lofty United States hotels, while claiming to be travelling for medical reasons. 3. Unions awake from slumber. Having assumed power in 2008 riding a political wave caused by the Unions, Prime Minister Barrow has

done everything possible to create division and disarray among union leaders. This has been done by offering birthday cakes and special appointments to known UDPs in the Unions. In exchange, those Unionists have had to quell any form up uprising or anti-government sentiments. But over the past two years, there has been a slow purging of these UDP friends such as Dylan Reneau, Ray Davis, George Frazier and a few others, allowing independent thinking and leadership in the unions to flourish. Today, new faces with no connections to political parties are at the helm, ready to take on any administration. Last week, the BTL workers’ union, Belize Communications Workers Unions, sent out a press release saying: “You have taken us for fools Mr PM and we are disgusted”. It’s a sign of the times. The other Unions are also at odds with the Government. At BEL, which is owned and managed by the Government, the workers union Belize Energy Workers Union have threatened to go on national strike because the workers are denied a measly 8% salary increase. The workers say the Government-led Board approves increases for the salary of the executives at the company, but not the common employees. The Belize Christian Workers Union has accused the Government of abandoning the 60 plus employees, who will lose their jobs when the bank closes its doors in a few weeks. The Government, last week, gave its stamp of approval to the sale while ignoring workers’ issues that remain unsolved. At Social Security, workers continue to wait for appropriate salary adjustments. At the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, the workers had to form their own workers’ union to lobby for salary increases for their staff. The faculty and staff of the University have been told to join the waiting list if they are interested in a salary raise. 4. Junk economy. The winding up of the 3rd largest bank in Belize is an indicator of the economic times in Belize. There have also been closures of hundreds of small businesses, while Belizeans face a home mortgage crisis. The Government has failed to inject life into the economy. Foreign direct in-

vestment is limited. The unemployment level remains in double digits. Poverty is still on the rise. An economic analysis by Moody’s in June said the Government was facing “unsustainable debt”. Moody’s predicted that the Government would settle its takeover of two utility companies because of looming elections. But they warned, “… the recognition of liabilities from Belize’s nationalizations could push public debt to above 90% of GDP, rendering debt unsustainable”. 5. Government bruk. The Government has no funds. It lives off taxes to meet its recurrent budget. Oil is on the decline, so they cover whatever shortfall exists with loans. They beg to do projects. And whatever monies they get their hands on is pillaged by UDP cronies. Their latest bubby, Petrocaribe, which provided $300 million for spending to the PM as he pleases, is now an expensive option. Sources say many millions were put away in a special elections account. 6. Idiots in Cabinet. Hubert Elrington, the brother of UDP Minister Sedi Elrington hammered the Government a few weeks ago when he said on national television that the UDP Government was running the country to the grounds. These are his words: “This economy has been run into shambles. It does not even exist. We live because Venezuela gives us handouts every month. That’s how we survive. Where is the creativity? Where is the ingenuity? Where is the talent? Where is the ability? Where are the goods that we should be producing? Where are the resources that we should be creating? Where are they? Is that what they talk about in the National Assembly…when they go to Cabinet?” “We can’t run the country with idiots in the Cabinet. It’s not possible. It can’t be done. How are you going to put idiots in your Cabinet? That cannot happen. It is an insult. If people who have no idea of affairs are appointed to the most important positions of state…no training, no ability, no experience, no insight, no nothing…then what are they getting paid for? They are getting paid to do foolishness, to run the country into the ground” concluded Elrington. 7. Flippin Hulse resigned. Prime Minister Barrow degraded the political worth of his former Cabinet colleague Melvin “Flippin” Hulse after the former Stann Creek area representative was heard in a recording accusing Barrow of being selfish and arrogant. Here is what Hulse said: “The only, only thing important to Dean Barrow is for him going down in the history book as being the only person to serve three-terms back to back that is the only thing important. Nothing else is, not loyalty to friends or country or anything. He wants to be in the history book for being the only person who win three-time, back to back to back. He says it in every speech and every opportunity he gets; he said it again Sunday and he is beginning to sound more and more arrogant” Flippin eventually resigned from

the UDP and warned his former colleagues that he will continue to lash out on them and it was just a matter of time. 8. Cesspool of corruption. One of the things that bothered Hulse tremendously was how the Government was failing to meet the needs of the common people. “People can’t get their purchase price, can’t get their title. I have people who have paid for their title years ago; can’t get lease….” The Ministry of Lands is more popular for the cesspool of corruption it has become under the UDP Government. Even Prime Minister Barrow has admitted this about the Ministry run by his very own Deputy Leader Gaspar Vega. Last week, three days before the Prime Minister’s Independence Speech, Vega was before the court on a matter related to allegations that he is involved in the murder of well-known Orange Walk businessman and former Mayor, Ramon Cervantes Sr. 9. Visa Hustle. The names Edmond Castro and Elvin Penner come to mind. Corrupt Penner is still collecting tax payer’s money as salary since the UDP refused to get him out of the National Assembly. To the UDP, he is still Honorable Elvin Penner. Meanwhile Edmond Castro pulled a last-minute move in Court to avoid a major scolding for his involvement in what whistleblower Alvarine Burgess exposed as a Visa Hustle. She said she paid Castro $2,000 for every Belizean visa he facilitated for unknown Chinese individuals willing to pay big bucks to travel to Belize. Belizeans won’t forget these two scoundrels any time soon. 10. Nation in crisis. Things are generally bad in Belize. The Government is yet to provide assistance to farmers in the north who are facing tremendous economic losses due to months of severe drought. Cane farmers can’t turn to Government for help to get their crops ready because this UDP administration favours the rich and private owners of the sugar industry over the poor cañeros. Parents just survived a hellish back-to-school period when money is scarce but the educational needs are great. Citizen security is at its worst as criminal activity is rampant. Even national security and territorial integrity remains brittle. The Barrow Administration has given away Sarstoon area to the Guatemalans to control. The Guatemalan military patrols the area and allows Belize’s military passageway to the border at Cadenas. The same military blocks Belizeans from attempting to assert Belizean sovereignty over the area and the Government cannot even defend its citizens. The Barrow Administration through the Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington have bent backwards to accommodate Guatemala, at the risk of changing Belize’s course in history. A course which has seen past PUP Governments defending all of Belize against every act of aggression by Guatemala. Today, the UDP does the reverse and Belize has now lost Sarstoon.