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THE BELIZE TIMES
Broken Promises 3 Years of UDP Lies One of the most popular criticisms that politicians and political parties get is that “they are all the same”. For many, Belize’s two main political parties have been around longer than they have, so it is easy to forget the origins, philosophies and policies that separate the parties. But one only has to reflect on the last three years to realize and experience the differences between the PUP and the UDP. In 2008 Dean Barrow promised Belizeans a better way of life. Instead life has never been this hard. The report card is dismal. The economy is failing. The cost of living is at an all time high, and now even the cost of dying has skyrocketed. Wages are down and unemployment has reached to crisis levels. Three years into his term Dean Barrow’s legacy is complete failure. Let’s look at what he said back in 2008. It has been nothing but broken promises and lies. In a statement at the inaugural ceremonies of the National Assembly on 14 March 2008 he declared: “We will lower GST. We will reduce the cost of living. We will bring down the price of fuel. We will distribute land to the poor. We will expand free education. We will create jobs”. ………..(All Lies) “We will do this, while stamping out ministerial corruption and creating an administration properly policed by the Contractor General, the Auditor General, the Ombudsman, and the Upper House”. ………… (Lies again) “Pledge to provide openness, honesty and transparency in the operation of the administration”...……….(Lies, Lies and more lies). Recently PUP Leader, Hon. John Briceno visited various districts and looked at a list of promises (21 pledges they called them) made to the people of Belize by the UDP: No corruption ………………………………….. Lie Bring down the cost of utilities ………………… Lie Create 5000 new jobs …………………………. Lie No victimization ………………………………. Lie New text book program ………………………. Lie $300 for every high school student…………… Lie Belizeans will get shares in the oil company ….. Lie Bring down the cost of living ………………........Lie Apart from the list of lies above, the UDP have showed arrogance and disregard for the people of Belize in many ways. They lie to the people repeatedly, spin stories to try to cover up their incompetence, disregard the repeated requests of the people and social partners to engage in meaningful dialog in regard to oil, offshore drilling and drilling in protected areas as seen nightly in the news reports, and in general snub the efforts of experts to get proper policies in place for environmental compliance. It is a cruel joke that the Prime Minister claims to have saved the sugar industry, the tourism industry, the citrus industry and others. The fact is that due to the incompetence of his ministers of government, those industries have collapsed and Belizeans have and will continue to pay the price. The last 3 years have shown what greed and abuse can do to a country. Barrow is rich. His family is rich. His cronies are living lives of luxury, while the majority of Belizeans are poor and suffering. With such blatant abuse of power, it is surprising that Belize is not headed in the direction of countries like Egypt, rocked by protests in the street. Unlike the UDP who advocated for civil unrest, the PUP has chosen to be a responsible opposition. Yes, there is so much to oppose, and the PUP is doing that, but the path of violence has not been used. Experience the difference, Belizeans and realize that the PUP is ready – not to destroy, but to rebuild, to lead and to offer real solutions. The process to select standard bearers is well on the way and the people are ready. The UDP reign of terror is almost over. Hope is on the way.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
PUP says Barrow
Administration should revoke Oil Exploration Licence Tuesday, 31st January 2010 The People’s United Party joins other concerned Belizeans in strongly condemning the Government’s granting of a petroleum license to special interests. This decision by the Barrow Administration to grant a petroleum exploration license in secret to the Prime Minister’s nephew is grossly hypocritical, cynical and was done without the legally required competitive bidding process. The People’s United Party particularly objects to the Government’s decision to grant this largest onshore concession in a nationally protected area without consultation at a time when the entire question of petroleum exploration – both onshore and offshore – is under scrutiny. It is also concerned at the cynicism of a decision to grant a license to a recently formed company without petroleum expertise in an area that geologists have repeatedly claimed to be not suitable for oil exploration. The People’s United Party calls on the Prime Minister to immediately revoke this license in light of its obvious nepotism in relation to his nephew, Kimano Barrow and further express concern for the non-competitive basis on which it was awarded, and the absence of full disclosure of the terms and conditions included in the license. The PUP also calls on the Prime Minister to make public the conditions under which this license was negotiated and approved in order to make good on his personal commitment to full accountability, and to honour his sacred pledge “to provide openness, honesty and transparency in the operations of his administration.”
Looking at the jewel through the eyes of internet reviews and blogs By C.P. Mathers It saddens me to research our country on the internet and have so many negative comments and reviews pop up. I remember when Belize wasn’t known, it was just a little undiscovered paradise on earth, with only a few outside visitors knowing what true beauty we had to offer. Tourism is a major part of economy, employing a vast number of our fellow Belizeans and feeding many families throughout the country. Belize was known for its safe streets, friendly people, beautiful places to visit and great food. Three of these still exist except safety! A key part of attracting more people to our little heaven on earth. The year 2010 will be known, hands down, as the most gruesome year in our nation’s history, with 130 murders and other heinous crimes. What is happening with our country? We are letting it flush its way down the drain! I remember the days my father told me stories of how wonderful and safe Belize was. It is understood that in this day and age our population is greater and the demand for jobs is way higher than it was back in the 1940s but is it still a reason to push our country to where it is now? If the demand for jobs is higher, why
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THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR
Alberto Vellos OFFICE MANAGER
Fay Castillo McKay PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR
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Roberto Peyrefitte Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd. #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Tel: 671-8385 Email: belizetimesad@yahoo.com editortimes@yahoo.com
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Suicide suspected in death of Minister Elvin Penner’s brother Investigators found syringe next to body
Cayo District, February 1st, 2011 29 year old Irvin Penner, who is the younger brother of Government Minister Elvin Penner, was to celebrate
his first wedding anniversary in April 2011, but it is believed a series of events led him to take his own life over the weekend.
Dog attacks toddler Wednesday, February 2, 2011 A baby girl is receiving medical treatment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after a dog viciously attacked her and bit her on the head. The incident took place at the family’s home in the Jerusalem area of Collet, which is located in a swampy area accessible only by London bridges on Antelope Street Extension. The information is sketchy as we go to press because her parents had gone with her to the hospital and no one was at the house to furnish any kind of information. Hence, we could not establish how the little girl, identi-
fied to us as Lupita Padilla, got under the house where the dog was, but the pet was tied and neighbours who heard her mother screaming for help, dashed through the overgrown swamp to pull the child away just in time. They had to use a machete to chop the animal on the head before he let the child go. An ambulance could not enter the yard because of the condition of the terrain so the neighbours had to carry Padilla over the makeshift walkway out to the waiting vehicle before it could take her for treatment. She suffered at least two bite punctures, one to the head and another to her throat.
On Saturday morning, Penner’s body was discovered at a farm near Camalote Village. Beside the body, investigators say they found a syringe and a dark substance on his inner left elbow. Penner’s vehicle was also in the area. Penner was a resident of Belmopan City. He had gotten married in April last year. Penner lived with bi-polar disease,
which is a disorder that affects one’s mood at an irregular pace. Penner was under medication, so it is not clear whether that was factor in the tragedy.
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Sunday, February 6, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Sunday, February 6, 2011
Rod says: February 2, 2011 at 7:10 am This will not end here it will go up again until the people of belize finally get fed up of the corruption going on in belize and march on this no good gov. they are upping the price of fuel only to keep their families and friends living like fat hogs of the backs of the poor belizeans who cant even buy food anymore because of the corruption going on in this gov. well revolt is in the air we no a take it no more enough is enough out with barrow out with this corrupt gov. Belizeans 1 said: Friday, January 28, 2011, 14:58 Barrow’s nephew Kimano will make millions with the oil drilling. That’s why the PM is now in favour. Barrow doesn’t care for Belize only his family and cronies. This man is greedy and evil! Hardworking Belizean says: February 2, 2011 at 9:25 am Ridiculous, most definitely! No wonder we are seen as the gateway for all the drug lords and terrorists around the world when even the security of our beloved nation is hanging from a thread because of the incompetence of our PM & the Nat’l Security Min.!!!! We are already on the watch and we continue to do nonsense! “Fool the talk but dah no fool di listen!”…are we as Belizeans gonna continue swallowing everything being shoved down our throats?!!! Josie says: January 29, 2011 at 7:28 am See what I mean, the Prime Minister and his family is raping the county. This guy has no knowledge of oil drilling and environmental impacts which can be involved. Because he is public utilities chairman does not make him qualified, he got that position because of his relationship to the Prime Minister. WE NEED EARLY ELECTIONS IN BELIZE OR START WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN EGYPT Rod says: January 29, 2011 at 9:26 am Another case of blatant corruption all the barrow family getting all the consessions in belize they are all eating steak while the rest of the belizeans fight over the bone and in some cases the shadow of the bone ,wake up belizeans you think the pup was bad well think again this gov. is way worse this pm is doing it openly appointing and giving every job every position every consession to his family and friends while the poor belizeans are struggling and being killed raped and mamed on the streets well wake up belizeans wake up smell the napom its coming from the pm office. Shy says: January 29, 2011 at 11:44 pm The most disgusting part is that we the Belizean people are not even asked if we agree to people drilling here or not. We have no say in any dam thing. This needs to change people need fi stand up for there rights. In big matters like this the Belizean people should be consulted!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
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THE BELIZE TIMES
You Are What You Think, Part 2 The country of Belize is a very unique one! There are so few people yet such vast resources. Reminds me of this saying, “You don’t miss the water until the well runs dry”! In the country of Taiwan there are millions of people; so many that all the land has been used up and the only way to build is on top of an existing structure. There was one young man living in Taiwan who told me that to park your car, you would have to buy a space which would cost you somewhere around eighty thousand Belize dollars. On the contrary, in Belize, we have land to throw away and therefore we do not see it as a limited resource that will eventually run out. Look at the math, eighty thousand gets you a parking space in one county, while eight thousand gets you acres in another! No wonder Belize is like gold to everyone except its native inhabitants! It is very easy to do business in Belize. But our schools teach us to work for someone else many times rather than encouraging and training us to have our own business! Because many of us living here do not see the opportunities to make a very prosperous life in the country, it takes citizens of other countries to migrate here and take advantage of the various business opportunities. It is easy to do business in Belize because we compete in only small, popular and obvious areas while leaving many other business opportunities open. We do not try to specialize in anything…ok maybe we do specialize in working for someone else! I am trying hard in my own personal life to change this attitude. Before I get too carried away lets look at that topic at hand for today. Last week I promised for us to look at each servant from the scripture “Matthew 25” in greater detail. I begin with the servant who received only one talent. He had the attitude of the mentally poor. Remember, we are looking at the difference in thinking between the poor, the rich, and the middle class. We are coming from the biblical truth that these conditions are not based on what you have or don’t have, but rather usually a direct result of how you think! Last week we discovered that the poor servant was firstly afraid; secondly, slothful; and thirdly, wicked. He misused the money planting it in the ground rather than investing it. Translating this to our modern reality of 2011 this is how we, the poor, think! The poor will hang out around those who are going no where and have no plans or aims in life. They love habits that are counterproductive. For example if you are into gambling you are taking on a very deadly habit! People have lost their homes, jobs, families, and more importantly their peace of mind, hoping to make a quick buck and not going through the more important process of planning, working and learning how to both spend and save! It is not how much money you win. It is rather your values, standards and foundational principles, which determine your success in life. As we see with the servant, the poor never thought of how a possession could generate finance. This guy had money in his hand but preferred to bury it than to simply put it in the bank allowing it to gain interest! The poor does not save but are big spenders with very little sense of priority! They will invest in a three hundred dollar tennis shoe but there is no food on the table, buy a twenty seven inch Plasma television, while there is a large hole on the side of their plywood house. The poor buys things without a specific, well-thought out purpose. They prefer to beg and borrow, sometimes even to steal, rather than to practice diligence and investment in personal upgrading. The poor is satisfied with ‘what is’, therefore lacking vision and foresight, while being more comfortable laboring for those who are considered “rich”! As with the servant, the poor is normally characterized as slothful, meaning late and lazy, barely able to do the minimum task that is assigned to them. They are complacent preferring to do enjoyable things that are gratifying but fatally drain their resources and potential for success. Sitting and watching soaps, or playing X box 360 all day, hanging out on the street corner, claiming a ‘block’, ‘set’ or ‘street’ while not owning a piece of land may seem to be fun, but can become very counter productive! As you can see, there is not much good to say about the mentality of the poor. This mentality can be achieved without effort, and attained by simply not pushing yourself and doing that which comes easily! Finally this servant knew what his boss wanted yet knowing this, made no effort to work at accomplishing what was required. The mind of the poor lacks effort and toiling. Even if they hear what is good and what works, because of the necessary effort needed to accomplish success, they prefer to remain in their current realities even if that results in discipline from the employer. Let this mind not be in you! The way to get out of this prison of poverty is to not do all these things which are characteristic of the poor. Of course poverty is thrust upon some but you by God’s formula, grace and guidance shall overcome poverty if you obey his commandments. So toss the mentality of poverty as far as the east is from the west! I invite you to join me next week as I look at into the mind of the middle class drawing out both the good and the bad in it! Until then God bless!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
Strictly Personal Barrow is bogus
By glenntillett@yahoo.com “Please, for the sake of continued order in this country, call it off by four this afternoon and let us meet first thing tomorrow morning. If that appeal falls on deaf ears, I say again the security forces of this country will do what they have to do.” – Hon. Dean Barrow, February 2nd, 2009 I am hoping that this won’t become an annual column, that is that at some point the spirit of compassion will manifest to Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow, the way the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future visited Scrooge, and with the same result. Today is the 2nd anniversary of the slaying of cane farmer Anastacio Felix Guitterez, and I feel a bit better that Opposition Leader Hon. John Briceno led a delegation of party officials that included past prime minister Right Honourable Said Musa, and Corozal Southeast area repre-
The honourable Dean Barrow has yet to offer any public expression of regret or condolences for this senseless tragedy. I do not expect Mr. Barrow to ever accept even a smidgen of responsibility even though he cannot deny that government has a duty to its citizens – all of them.” sentative Hon. Florencio Marin, Jr., to his home village of San Victor, to express our condolences and sympathies to his widow and six children, and to offer them some needed assistance. Mrs. Benita Guitterez is struggling to take care of her 6 children.
Her 15 year old son had to drop out of high school because they simply can’t afford to pay their way. Her youngest child was only 3 when her father was killed so she will in effect grow up with only vague memories of him. She has not gotten anything at all from the Government of Belize. I personally thank Johnny, Said, Flo and the delegation for making the pilgrimage to San Victor, and for their expressions of condolences, of sympathies, of shared grief and for the assistance. I continue to feel appalled by the callousness with which we have all treated this matter, all of us. The Prime Minister of all of Belize, the honourable Dean Barrow has yet to offer any public expression of regret or condolences for this senseless tragedy. I do not expect Mr. Barrow to ever accept even a smidgen of responsibility even though he cannot deny that government has a duty to its citizens – all of them. I believe that this incident was the start of our descent into these anarchical times, when our society seems to be bordering on chaos. It exposed a sharp and deep fissuring, an open wound that has not healed. It was a seismic shock and the fault line from the big money interests whose fixation is on profits at the expense of the livelihood of the smaller man flat-lined Anastasio Guitterez and collapsed his family’s future. Mr. Barrow would like to consign him to the rubble of history but the hurt to our society is a living, painful thing that simply will not go away. We remain a house divided. Ours is a division that has not healed. It is one of the reasons we appear to be drowning in our own blood. Our leader has to respect the sanctity of human life if we as a society are to collectively respect the sanctity of human life. On that day Anastacio Guitterez believed that he was fighting for his life and he was right. He did nothing that warranted him being shot to death. The lack of compassion, of a proper investigation, of even a public inquiry into the circumstances of his slaying by Belize’s security forces signaled that the Barrow administration cares little for human life, and so an unimaginable tragedy has been magnified in a record death toll. You are our leader Dean Barrow, to point us back along the path of righteousness and justice you must change direction. Barrow is bogus.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Reid By G. Mike Reid In one of those rare years when Belize sees no election of any kind, the political landscape is still quite abuzz with activity. Both political parties are busy putting in place standard bearers to contest the upcoming 2013 general elections and the games are being played at a high level. Interestingly enough, while both political parties are having conventions almost weekly, the media attention seems far more focused on the People’s United Party. With allegations of serious election fraud being put forth by members of the UDP themselves up north, the media chose instead to focus
it was once believed that as many as 35 percent of all voters were loyal to the blue, 35 to the red and the remaining 30 percent undecided, current data suggest that those numbers have changed drastically. Recent polls and surveys suggest that as many as sixty percent of voters can now be considered “swing” while each party splits the remaining 40 percent among themselves” on petty technicalities within a relatively insignificant PUP convention. Last week’s Amandala headlines forsook all current concerns and paid meticulous attention, including a blaring headline, to an endorsement in Belize Rural North. Channel Seven did an extensive interview with a would-be candidate from the same convention that chose to withdraw his submission at the elev-
enth hour. With the incumbent Castro publicly-disgraced and back-benched by his government, that division appears a practically safe seat for the PUP. It is only one of thirty one however, and an early inning in a rather long game. Why then the extensive media interest? In his editorial of last Tuesday, Evan Hyde went to great pains to paint the UDP’s process as democratic and the PUP’s as autocratic; nothing could be further from the truth. The situation in Belize Rural North has been blown fully out of proportion and warrants a little analysis and retrospection. Being somewhat privy to what transpired, I would think that I might be able to offer a little insight. Most folks who follow politics and pay attention to the connecting propaganda effectuated via spin, counter-spin and insinuations will look past the hype and understand what is happening. Channel Seven is owned and operated by the UDP and Hyde has made it clear, that he will not criticize the Dean Barrow Government. He has also informed us that he makes special “arrangements” with these politicians. The UDP have a formidable propaganda team in Hyde, Jules Vasquez and a less effective Delroy Cutkelvin. They quite often have the PUP back on their heels, defensive and doing damage control. In this regard, Mr. Hyde is correct in suggesting that “the pattern is opposite of the way it usually is”. The PUP’s were once the masters and certainly the much better at propaganda. What the UDP Goebbels have been trying to do is to convince the electorate that the PUP process is high handed and undemocratic. By putting out one side of the picture, the average reader or viewer might understandably believe this to be the case. Again, it is far away from the truth. In the instance of Jerome Wade and the Belize Rural North situation, every democratic guideline was followed. The constitution of the PUP clearly calls for closed conventions to be decided by “financial members”; those being known party supporters or card carrying members. A list is prepared and approved by the local executive committee of any respective area and presented to prospective candidates. In an interview, Jerome Wade told Jules Vasquez that his objection was to that particular list since it had only 962 persons out of five thousand voters registered in the area. Well, let us look at that. It is generally accepted by political pundits that the numbers of avid party supporters have dwindled over the years. Whereas it was once believed that as many as 35 percent of all voters were loyal to the blue, 35 to the red and the remaining 30 percent undecided, current data suggest that those numbers have changed drastically. Recent polls and surveys suggest that as many as sixty percent of voters can now be considered “swing” while each party splits
the remaining 40 percent among themselves. There are those who suggest that the staunch and dyed in the wool fanatics might be even less than twenty percent in this day and age but let us use those figures for argument sake. 962 then would represent a full 19.5 percent of the registered voters and well within the scope of accepted parameters. What the spinmeisters are not pointing out is that in the case of Belize Rural North, both Jerome Wade and Arthur Saldivar had agreed to a convention and had in fact, signed a contract outlining the terms and conditions. For Hyde, then, to suggest in referring to this situation, that “Decisions are being made at the top and around private tables” is simply not true and deliberately misleading. Evan Hyde was also unfair in comparing a few endorsements by the PUP with a few rigged conventions by the UDP. In each of the four UDP conventions that Hyde refers to, the ruling party threw tremendous resources behind whichever candidate they preferred and the one which in every instance, subsequently won. It is also and again, very early in a long race and we shall yet see who will contest the likes of Patrick Faber, Michael Finnegan, John Saldivar or Gapi Vega. Meanwhile, the PUP has no less than twenty constituencies that will be contested in upcoming conventions. The PUP must be careful that they do not fall into a trap of trying to please the media. The so-called mainstream, independent media has proven to be anything but. Any party has to ensure
27 that they have the best possible candidates in place. Not only in order to win the election but in order to ably govern once they win and assume office. It certainly would not be in the best interest of anyone to have a repeat of the current situation where we have one arrogant dictator-like leader and a team of incompetent yes-men. In a follow-up press release on the issue, the PUP promised a few amendments to its constitution in order to “facilitate the ‘broad tent’ approach for more openness and transparency, and greater participation and engagement of the electorate and the local constituency committee in deciding the candidates to represent the Party in the next general elections”. The PUP must be careful not to bend too far backwards in their attempt to please mischief makers. The UDPs would like nothing better than to see weak candidates contesting the election and will do everything to influence such a happening. When it comes to general governance and the people’s business, we deserve and demand much scrutiny. Internal party politics however, should not take precedence over national issues and there exist no paucity of such to occupy the media’s time. It is a disservice to the people and the integrity of the profession when media houses allow themselves to be used in such a shameful manner. Leave that to the party organs or desist from the hypocritical claim of being objective and for the people. May GOD bless Belize. Send comments to gmikereid@hotmail.com.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
No hay pension para el Jurista Barrow, declara el Gobierno de Sta. Lucia Continua de pagina 30
días, una declaración fue lanzada por la administración de Stephenson King en Santa Lucía, en la que se enfrentó a la decisión de Justicia Barrow, declarando que si hay alguien a demandar, desde luego, no es su administración ya que el jurista beliceño no era un empleado del Gobierno. El Gobierno de St. Lucia señaló en la declaración (que se reimprimió en página 33) que el “jurista Barrow no era un empleado del Gobierno…, sino más bien de la judicial y la Comisión de servicios jurídicos de la OECO”. Por otra parte, el Gobierno de St. Lucia también reveló que basado en asesoramiento jurídico, siempre por la Judicial y Legal Services Commission, creen que el jurista Barrow de se le debe pension alguna porque no había servido su tiempo completo y requiere de un juez en el Tribunal de apelación de la OECO. “La JLSC es de la opinión de que la justicia Barrow no tenía derecho a recibir una
pensión porque él dimitio antes de cumplir los criterios mínimos para la concesión de una pensión,” dijo la declaración. La conclusión fue apoyada por una sentencia del Tribunal de OECO de tres de los jueces de apelación que se sentó para considera la solicitud de Justice Barrow para el pago de pensiones en septiembre del 2010. “El Gobierno consideró prudente abordar al Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal para su opinión consultiva. El Tribunal de apelación de la OECO comparten la misma opinión como la del OECO Judicial y Legal Services Commission. Sus señoríos opinan que Justice Denys Barrow no calificó para prestaciones de pensión porque él no cumplío con los requisitos de punto de referencia bajo la Ley de pensiones de Santa Lucía y Rates of Pension Judges Act, No: 12 de 1989. Cabe señalar que el jurista Denys Barrow tenía el beneficio de representación legal durante la sesión en cuestión,” reveló la declaración.
El UDP convierte a la comunidad de Harmonyville en chaos Continua de pagina 30
dispuestos a dejarlas. Dicen que Ramon Witz del UDP, que es el representante de la zona de Cayo Sur, fue el que les dijo que ellos podian ocupar las tierras. El problema es que muchos de ellos han marcado decenas de hectáreas tierras para sí mismos. La tierra, unos 1.300 acres, se convirtió en el tema de investigación y recuperación desde hace un año cuando BGYEA descubrió que su dueño original había abandonado las tierras que fue adquirida y llamada Capital Garden. El propietario original tenía diseñado como plan una plaza comercial para el área, pero que nunca se materializó. Años de abandono de los impuestos de propiedad dio lugar a la reclamación del Gobierno de la zona en lugar de esas deudas pendientes. Pero ahora el Gobierno, después de haber hecho dinero de la tierra, tiene la intención de revenderla a los beliceños que necesitan tierras para construir o para convertirla en una pequeña agricultura o empresa de jardinería. Pero en medio de las travesuras de algunos políticos UDP, mientras que BGYEA dice que el Ministerio de recursos naturales les ha dado el visto bueno para realizar estudios en el área, por el contrario, los precaristas decir que obtuvieron el “si” del Honorable Ramon Witz para permanecer allí. Lo que ha sucedido es que la encuesta ha empu-
jado a algunos de las plantaciones agrícolas que han establecido los precaristas y ahora piden indemnización por las pérdidas que han sufrido como resultado. Junto con que, habrá más pérdidas cuando, en virtud del nuevo programa de BGYEA, una zona de amortiguación que requerirá 200-pies desde la carretera, requerirá que todos los que ya han construido sus casas desmantelarlas y reubicarse. La mayoría de los precaristas es reacia a ceder a ese decreto, ya que han estado residiendo en la zona durante casi 10 años en algunos casos. Incluso han llamado su porción de tierras de los 1.300 acres “Valle Nuevo”. Cuando Petillo y su grupo visitaron “Valle Nuevo” invitaron a los precaristas para asistir a su reunión el domingo, muchos de ellos no fueron, pero en su lugar enviaron a algunos de entre su grupo a escuchar a Petillo y luego informarse de lo que se está diciendo. Todo el plan para unir a ocupantes ilegales con los recién llegado parece ser difuminado en términos de posibilidad, porque mientras que BGYEA está en marcha, en el reverso los precaristas se está instando a mantenerse en las tierras. Parece que las reñidas llevándose a cabo en manos del Gobierno es de nunca acabar. ¿Si ninguna de las partes puede mostrar un espíritu de fraternidad, a continuación, quién sabe qué pasará al lugar llamado “Harmonyville”?
Barrow se inclina a la presión Continua de pagina 30
ha tenido un resultado instantáneo, el logro es mínimo en comparación con su pliego de peticiones. Una de ellas es una llamada al primer ministro a retractarse de su apoyo abierto a perforación en Sarstoon-Temash National Park en Toledo, esta protesta se hizo eco de todos los miembros de la coalición de Belice. Otro llamado de atención concierne a la renuencia del Gobierno para suspender todas las licencias de exploración de petrolera costa afuera, así como los de las zonas
protegidas. La renuencia del primer ministro a ceder a las demandas puede que tenga que ver con revelaciones que tiene intereses personales en la industria petrolera [vease la historia de “The web we weave” en la página 4]. Su sobrino, Kimano Barrow, posee 50% en la empresa Paradise Energy, una empresa que la administración de Barrow concedió la licencia para explorar los 1,274,443 acres que se extienden a través de los Maya Mountains el pasado año en el mes de Octubre.
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Sunday, February 6, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
St. Lucia Government Clarifies the Denys Barrow Legal Issue The Government of Saint Lucia is aware of the recent news item regarding legal action by Justice Denys Barrow former Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. Government desires to inform the public of the history and facts related to the case in question. It should be noted that. Justice Denys Barrow submitted a claim for pension benefits sometime in 2010 after his resignation from the post as judge within the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. Justice Barrow’s submission was made three (3) years after sitting on the bench of the Court of Appeal. It should be noted that Justice Barrow was not an employee of the Government of Saint Lucia but rather the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) of the OECS. Saint Lucia serves as a jurisdiction only for the purpose of assessing pension due to judges. The criteria for such assessments are based on the Pensions Act of Saint Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Rates of Pension) Judges Act, No: 12 of 1989. The Government of Saint Lucia mindful of the facts above requested opinions from the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC). The JLSC was of the opinion that Justice Barrow was not entitled to pension as he had resigned before fulfilling the minimum criteria for the grant of a pension. In light of the varying opinions on the question of Justice Barrow’s pension, the Government thought it prudent to approach the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal for its advisory opinion. The Court of Appeal’s advisory opinion was sought to achieve clarification both on the question of Justice
Barrow’s pension specifically and to clarify the law on pension for judges sitting on the courts in Saint Lucia and the OECS generally. The Court of Appeal met in Antigua from September 20th to 22nd, 2010 at which time they considered the matter of Justice Barrow’s submission for pension benefits. This sitting was presided over by three (3) English legal luminaries in the persons of Justice of Appeal (ag) The Rt Hon Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury Justice of Appeal (ag) The Rt Hon Sir Martin Moore-Bick and Justice of Appeal (ag) and The Honourable Edward Bannister. The OECS Court of Appeal shared the same opinion as the OECS Judicial and Legal Services Commission. Their Lordships opined that Justice Denys Barrow did not qualify for pension benefits as he did not meet the benchmark requirements under the Pensions Act of Saint Lucia and Rates of Pension Judges Act, No: 12 of 1989. It should be noted that Justice Denys Barrow had the benefit of legal representation during the sitting in question. Justice Barrow subsequently wrote to the Government of Saint Lucia seeking the payment of gratuity. Mr. Barrow’s request was not directed to his employer, which is the Judicial and Legal Services Commission. The Government of Saint Lucia is therefore guided by the opinion of the OECS Supreme Court on this matter. However, the Government wishes to reiterate its position that it is not our intention to withhold any benefits due to Justice Denys Barrow. The Government stands prepared to pay any benefits it is required to pay in accordance with the law.
Mexican photography exhibition opens
Belmopan, 1ST February 2011 The photography exhibition “Mexico: Black & White, Images of Yucatan (1906-1923)” will open on February 2nd, 2011, at the Institute of Mexico in Belize City. The collection includes 29 photographs of Yucatan from 1906 to 1923. Along with the photography exhibition, the film “La Historia en la Mirada: Film records of the Mexican Revolution” will also be presented. This is a documentary feature film produced by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) as part of the 100th Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. The 78 minutes long film was released worldwide on November 18th, 2010, in colleges, schools and institutes, in various Mexican states and in the United States. The film includes material that
has been preserved in the vaults of UNAM’s film library and was digitalized for restoration and editing with the support from the Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History. In addition to rescuing the images for their historical value, the main objective of this film is to share with the public in general, but especially young people, one of the most important periods in the history of Mexico: the years ranging from the end of the regime of Porfirio Diaz to the 1916-1917 Constitutional Congress sessions. The opening ceremony will be held on Wednesday, February 2nd, at 6:30 pm, at the Institute of Mexico in Belize. Entrance will be free and open to the general public. The exhibition will remain open until February 24th, 2011, Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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Looking at the jewel through the eyes of internet reviews and blogs Continued from page 2 not create more jobs? Even if it’s small jobs, people will still be grateful for the help. Our youth need to be better educated, and we can even achieve this through community service, teaching trades and showing them that there are other ways to help themselves. Criminal activity has increased drastically in the past years as the times got harder, and especially last year! We keep waiting for the minister of National Security to come up with remedies, but we too as a country must come together and also help. I remember in 2008 when this government’s slogan was “imagine
the possibilities”. May I ask now what possibilities they were? If the possibilities are what we are experiencing now then I certainly think we could have done without these possibilities! Why not fulfill what was in your imagination back then PM Barrow? Why do we have to keep on Imagining your little dreams? Why can’t we see them actually being fullfilled and helping the nation grow and not crumble? If back then it was Imagining what is it going to be in the next elections? Is it going to be like Alice in Wonderland, where in your head there is a little land of your wildest dreams, where you and your band wagon of hooligans are the only ones benefiting? Unfortunately, this is the reality of our country!
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, February 6, 2011