Belize Times February 23, 2014

SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

23 FEBRUARY 2014 | ISSUE NO: 4883

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

The elusive Lord Neil Gibson Ralph Huang

Noh Mul destroyers Gaspar Vega and Denny Grijalva

From the bottom of the barrel!

Erwin Contreras

Belize City, February 20, 2014 Having barely survived the monstrosities that are the scandals of Elvin Penner and Edmond Castro, the UDP seems hell bent to make corruption, fraud and criminal behavior, even involving international goons, the hallmarks of their last term ever in office.

Just as the hopes of Belizeans increase for the People’s United Party to keep a failing system in check to ensure that the known UDP wrongdoers face the full weight of the law, there is more news that the UDP continues to abuse our country at the operation of vicious international charlatans such as Kim Won Hong.

Pg. 2

City Gang

Warfare

Escalates

No Escape for Penner!

PUP asks Supreme Court to order a Pg. 3 Criminal Investigation

Pg. 3

25 yr. old murdered in retaliation for Tuesday night shooting

Pg. 9

Belize’s reef health fair, GOB scoreS poor

PM’s band aid solution to citrus crisis

Pg. 20

CALL THE ELECTIONS NOW!!

Pg. 6

2 02

23 FEB

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

From the bottom of the barrel!

Continued from page 1 The BELIZE TIMES has been investigating the sudden rise of shady characters who have become Standard Bearers for the ruling United Democratic Party, and the result is frightening.

We begin with “Ralph Huang”, a native of Taiwan, who supposedly “won” a so-called UDP convention last weekend in the Cayo South Division. Huang’s “victory” surprised most because he is a total political unknown.

Huang came to the political fore only several weeks ago when he began going to the communities offering paper “goodies” to villagers.

Huang’s official entrance has been celebrated by the UDP with open palms, but information surrounding this mysterious character is very disturbing. Evidence has surfaced that Huang is backed by an ever shadier character only known as “Lord Neil Gibson”.

For several years Gibson has been running a major scam using Belize’s name. He claims that his major company LNBG LLC is investing in large projects in areas of health, renewable energy, science and agriculture in the country. He backs those claims with video presentations, available on several of his suspicious websites and YouTube, which he reportedly presented to senior officials of the Barrow Administration including Erwin Contreras, Minister of Trade, Investment and Consumer Protection of “Her Majesty’s Government of Belize” and no other than Ralph Huang, who is referred to as the Deputy Minister of Trade, Investment and Consumer Protection of “Her Majesty’s Government of Belize”.

One of the companies, Handels Securities, was blacklisted by this same Barrow Administration through a February 13th Central Bank Notice which declared that the company is not licensed to provide banking or financial business in or within Belize. The notice warned persons who had information on the company’s activities in Belize to report it to authorities.

But Minister Erwin Contreras tried to override the Bank’s authority and distributed official letters through his Ministry to back Handels Securities/Mr. Neil B. Gibson as being licensed until 2014. According to Contreras the Central Bank had erred in blacklisting Handels Securities. “We fully support Handels Securities Ltd. in their vision and efforts to help build the country of Belize and other nations,” he wrote in a March 24th 2013 letter.

Huang’s convention win has elated “Lord

LOCAL 21 Feb

The Lord meets secretly with UDP officials including Erwin Contreras, Salvador Fernandez and Edmund Castro

The Lord and PM Barrow’s wife at a special event

Business and political partners Contreras and Huang

Gibson”. With a twisted sense of humor, Huang was referred to as the “Golden Child” in one of the elusive investor’s YouTube video which has now been suddenly removed from the web.

More disturbingly is that the “Lord’s” announcement via the video that Huang now awaits his appointment as a Minister on the UDP Cabinet.

Minister of what??

“Lord Gibson’s” involvement with officials of the Barrow Administration is highly suspicious. Photos have surfaced with meetings between him and various UDP officials including the Prime Minister’s wife Kim Simpliss-Barrow, Minister Edmond Castro, Minister Erwin Contreras, and former Area Representative Salvador Fernandez.

The other shady character who has become a UDP standard bearer is no other than Denny Grijalva, of Noh Mul destruction fame.

In May of last year, equipment belonging to Grijalva’s company, De Mars Stone Company, bulldozed an ancient Maya Ruin located in the outskirts of the Corozal District.

It was later revealed that Grijalva’s company had been excavating the site for days to extract material for road fill in the constituency of the Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega. De Mars had contravened the laws in multiple ways: bulldozing a heritage site and failing to apply for a proper excavation license. Only after public pressure pressed the authorities did the Police file charges against Gri-

23 Feb

SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

The Truth Shall Make You Free

ISSUE NO: 4840

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

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

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By The Belize Times Press Ltd.

weather 22 Feb

jalva. Since then, the criminal case against Grijalva has languished in Court, clearly due to political pressure from the UDP. This weekend however, Grijalva was endorsed by Deputy Leader Gaspar Vega as their standard bearer for Orange Walk Central. Grijalva however is no stranger to politics, having lost two elections already; including a convention in Orange Walk East and then the 2012 general elections in Orange Walk Central.

UDP Leader Dean Barrow seems to be pulling out candidates from the very bottom of the barrel as his Government and Party’s credibility are at an all-time low. The likes of Papa Mena whose name came up in the Chinese/Visa scandal, Edmond Castro, Pablo Marin, Gaspar Vega, Elodio Aragon, Boots Martinez, Eden Martinez et al is proof that, as the saying goes, the UDP noh have no change fu change.

In the upcoming weeks, the BELIZE TIMES will continue to expose the shenanigans of the UDP and in particular those candidates hiding dead bodies in their cabinets. The truth shall always make us free.

24 Feb

2625Mar Feb

Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

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Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.50

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.01

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

Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR (GBP): $ 0.30 (GTQ): $ 3.94 (CAD): $ 0.56

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.04

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.22

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 31.14

23 FEB

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

No Escape for Penner!

PUP asks Supreme Court to order a Criminal Investigation Belize City, February 19, 2014 The People’s United Party has turned to the Supreme Court in order for UDP area representative Elvin Penner to face justice for his criminal act of illegally facilitated nationality and passport documents to an international criminal, South Korean fugitive Kim Won Hong, last year.

The move by the PUP has come about because the Barrow Administration has protected and defended Penner, and has frustrated and intimidated every possible chance of a proper investigation by various authorities, instead of defending our laws.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the UDP hold a razor thin majority in the House of Representatives that would be much closer to collapsing if Penner

goes to trial and is found guilty, as would be expected in the face of the mountain of evidence of wrongdoing.

Despite the evidence that exists, Barrow has declared publicly that he sees no criminal wrongdoing and has defended Penner’s political longevity to save his own. His declaration seems to have scared away the Police Department and the Financial Intelligence Unit.

Last week, aware that the statute bar for a criminal prosecution in Penner’s case ends in March, the PUP called on the Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie to act with urgency. On behalf of the Opposition former Solicitor General Edwin Flowers wrote Whylie a detailed let-

ter presenting reasons why Penner should be criminally investigated.

Flowers warned that if Whylie refused to act within 7 days, a legal motion would be filed in Court on behalf of the Opposition, to request for a Writ of Mandamus which would essentially force the ComPol to act.

With the UDP Government frustrating all efforts to bring about justice, on Wednesday February 19th PUP legal advisor Anthony Sylvestre Jr. submitted the legal motion before the Supreme Court. The Court will now review the application and will provide a date to decide on its merit.

In September last year, Penner and the UDP were wrapped up in the biggest immigration scandal when it was exposed that the UDP Cayo North East representative had provided Belizean nationality and a passport to a South Korean national, the notorious Won Hong Kim, who was at the time in a prison in Taiwan.

Penner had signed the nationality document awarding the international fugitive Belizean citizenship. He also personally ensured that a passport was processed for the same person.

Our nationality laws stipulates that a person who applies for nationality must reside in the country for no less than 5 years and must provide a series of information, including the

03 3

results of a police report search and an HIV test. Kim Won Hong was not in Belize to fulfill any of the requirements because at the time the nationality and passports were processed, he was sitting in a jail cell in Taiwan. Yet, he obtained the documents signed by Penner and attempted to use it to frustrate an extradition process to South Korea.

The Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lin Vidal has also questioned why no investigation has commenced on Penner, considering the evidence that exists.

4 04

THE BELIZE TIMES

on the NO SENSE OF PURPOSE

OR DIRECTION

By Francis W. Fonseca The UDP Government of Dean Barrow is a Government without purpose or direction.

It is a Government without a Plan. A government that lives from day to day reeling from crisis to crisis.

No wonder then, that Belize is in a crisis.

Ask yourself the following questions: 1. What is this UDP Governments Economic Development Agenda?

2. Does the UDP Government have a Governance Reform Agenda?

3. What is the UDP’s JOB

PLAN? 4. What is the UDP SOCIAL AGENDA beyond furthering dependency thru handouts?

5. What is the UDP’s National Security Plan not only to fight crime but also to preserve our territorial integrity?

6. Where are our Education, Health and Housing Sectors going?

7. What is our Natural Resources Agenda?

I could go on and on but you get the point. This is a UDP Government that is headed nowhere and quick-

ly.

Take the recent standoffs in the Sugar and Citrus industries. The PUP have long called on the Government to become more engaged in bringing the parties in these industries to the table and craft a responsible solution but Barrow and the UDP waited in each case for the matter to become a national crisis before responding.

This is simply irresponsible and exposes the incompetence of the

23 FEB

2014 UDP government.

The reality is that Mr. Barrow only responds to political pressure and only when it affects his political interests. The UDP politicians in the north were taking heat from the caneros so finally Barrow acted. Now in the south with an upcoming UDP Convention in SC West, Barrow found himself cornered politically and once again was forced to act.

In each case he acted, not in the national interest, but in his own Party’s political interest.

This is no way to govern Belize. Moving from crisis to crisis, NO PLAN, NO URGENCY, NO PURPOSE, NO DIRECTION. THAT IS BELIZE IN 2014 UNDER DEAN BARROW AND THE UDP!!

The PUP has a Plan: ECONOMIC REFORM, GOVERNANCE REFORM and EDUCATION REFORM. ALL GROUNDED IN A SOCIAL JUSTICE AGENDA!!!

IT IS TIME FOR THE UDP TO GO!!

THE PUP IS READY, ABLE AND WILLING TO SERVE BELIZE!!!

23 FEB

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

05 5

EDITORIAL RISING SUN “Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them.” Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe Belize is in shambles.

To the average Belizean, the past six years have been unstable, uncomfortable and uncertain. This is the not only the socio-political reality but even more torturing, it is our economic reality.

At the BELIZE TIMES we have watched expectant faces fold time and hearts sink with heaviness after each scandal and the pious press conference that follows.

Deep down, even in 2008, we all knew that we were getting “puss inna bag” but there was a cut off point for the voting public and they spoke with that voice of God. Yet no political analyst was startled when Barrow recently admitted publicly that his Party is guaranteed to lose in the next general elections. Let’s not forget that Barrow, the maximum leader of the forty thieves, has been consistent in his pronouncements in this regard. Way back in 2008 Barrow told the media, without shame that it would not be so much that the UDP would win the elections of that year but that the PUP would lose it.

Belizeans wanted a short change of scenery and possibly were curious to see if, even by a long shot, Barrow could govern and govern with the eloquence with which he campaigned.

But there is nothing smooth in 2014: nothing romantic about Barrow and his legion of doom.

The nationwide commendations to the PUP are not without the good old political elbow grease of its new young and visionary leadership nor can the UDP be deprived of applause for “their own fast paced undoing”.

The PUP had fallen not to its knees but to its back. It had faced very many of the problems that the country is facing now. Yet it reliably pulled itself up by the britches, brought itself from its backs to its knees. It dusted off, and found political repentance and cleansing.

The intellectual and philosophical opening of this editorial is important because the reality of Belize as you read this paper is not accidental.

Yes, the UDP is a monumental failure. This is a historical fact and an enduring truth. They are the classic proof that opportunity can only be exploited by the incompetent and corrupt, it cannot be nurtured for communal good.

The encouraging indicators are that the collective public is worn out and the Belizean people, who are forgiving and tolerant to mediocrity and political failure almost to a fault, have reached their full.

Yet the real story is the fireworks coming from PUP in the last five months, who surely have shifted to second gear. Not only has the organs of the Party been sharp and vigilant but they are moving with military precision.

We point to the Party Leader’s launch of the social justice agenda, the tenacity of the Senators, BELIZE TIMES cornering of Castro’s hustling, the successful mobilization of the Penner petitions, the PUP legal team’s proposed amendments to the unpopular gun laws and the internationalization of Public Accounts Committee.

Many people will require that we look at the recent application to the Supreme Court for an order that Penner be charged as the continued steam rolling of the Party.

For us at BELIZE TIMES that is not the bright spot. This is only the reflection of the bigger truth. That truth is that there is a huge contrast of the political parties.

What is that contrast? The PUP’s Francis Fonseca has been diligently able to attract and activate new, competent talent and blended it quietly with the proven and tested agents of the Party.

They say people talk about events but great minds speak of ideas so the big statement of commendation has to be that the leadership of the Party has seen the activation of promising talent who are blossoming at the right time.

The Leader of the Opposition has loaded his arsenal with good solid forces to be reckoned with. Clearly the emergence of Anthony Sylvestre Jr., Kareem Musa, Henry Charles Usher and Jason Patrick Andrews amongst others is a telling sign.

This is particularly so when contrasted with the lurking zombies of the UDP such as Edmund Castro, Elvin Penner, Beverly Castillo, Papa Mena, Elodio Aragon Jr. and Pablo Marin.

At BELIZE TIMES we have watched institutionalized opportunists and band wagonists creep timidly out of their holes, to piggy back on the long struggles of our people since 2008. Our people have found their own community activist and “ganas”. Now, a new generation of PUP leaders are getting ready for the battle for a better Belize.

So the story is not about the failures of this UDP, charging Penner, sentencing Castro for indecency, expelling Patrick, BTLing Barrow, artificially flavoring Sedi, bulldozing Denny, normalizing Vega or “landing” Bev Castillo and Aragon. As long as the UDP is in office there is much more of that to come, they know they are in count down time.

It is about the new look at the PUP, and the work that they have been doing while the UDP was busy destroying our country.

While things are falling apart, let us join good men and women as they stand for the sunlight, which is soon to come.

6 06

THE BELIZE TIMES

23 FEB

2014

PM’s band aid solution to citrus crisis

By Norris Hall The Prime Minister’s announcement at a press conference yesterday that his government will bail out the Citrus Growers Association from their bad debts with two local banks prompted knee-jerk reactions, some from unexpected quarters.

It made a good political gambit for the PM but it will be short lived.

The CGA still owes the Social Security Board. The move will simply exacerbate that debt. Another debt owed by the CGA to the European Investment Bank becomes due next year. The Prime Minister’s move will only delay the spread of the cancer, putting a band aid on the CGA’s inability to manage. Until some of the old antagonists in the industry dies, their problems will never go awaylike Ireland, it is like the past happening over and over again.

Here are a few reminders for the CGA: The same man, who will be appointed to sit on the newly consti-

tuted Board of Directors of CPBL and representing the SSB, was planning a move for a hostile takeover of your 51 percent shares in CPBL. It is the same man, who, as the Police Minister, sent Police Officers to block three newly appointed members of the CGA from attending their first Board meeting of CPBL. It is the same man whose company, Seaboard Marine, enjoys the exclusive shipping contract for CPBL. It is also the current Chief Executive Officer, who is now a CGA pariah, who was asked to find a strategic investor when the CGA was desperate for an investment partner after they acquired shares of the predecessor (with the EIB loan) to CPBL after the Commonwealth Development Corporation withdrew its investment.

The Prime Minister, when he was in Opposition, described

Banks of Barbados as a paper company. Now that Banks wants to sell their shares, because of the persistent hostile investment environment, there are no takers. They have made an initial real value offer of $25 million. Then reduced the offer to $20 million. Recent reports are that they are now prepared to take $18.5 million.

Yet no takers.

The CGA needs Banks as it is not likely that they will attract any other strategic investor who will be interested because of the politics and the politics of industrial tribalism.

The Prime Minister, should know this. That is why his government is not supporting the CGA’s overtures to buy Banks’ shares.

If the PM is really serious about the survival of the citrus industry, it is imperative that he streamlines the Citrus In-

dustry Act, giving legal recognition, in accordance with the Belize Constitution, to Citrus Mutual, an association of the big citrus growers and make his peace with Banks.

Meanwhile, he needs also to use some of SSB money for its real purpose and roll out the National Health Insurance Scheme nationally.

23 FEB

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

BLUE MACHINE

07 7

Gears up in the NORTH - UNITY & PURPOSE

PUP Leader meets with PUP Northern Caucus PUP Francis Fonseca greeted by community leader David Gonzales

On Sunday February 16th 2014, the Hon. Francis Fonseca attended an important meeting of the Northern Caucus in Orange Walk Town.

After the two-hour meeting, the Party Leader visited two villages in the Orange Walk South Constituency. In Guinea Grass, the village council headed by Chairman Jose Hernandez welcomed the Party Leader and the Hon. Jose Mai and the delegation. The chairman and his team pledged to continue working with the Hon Jose Mai and the PUP. The Party Leader and his delegation then travelled to Indian Church, where a small gathering of people from neighboring communities gave him a warm welcome. The Party Leader was awarded with two gifts from the beautiful people of Indian Church. A short consultation ensued.

Hon. Francis assured the community residents that when the PUP restores leadership of the country, the issues affecting the northern districts will be treated as a priority unlike what is occurring under the UDP. He asked supporters to continue the work with the PUP and their Area Representative to ensure victory whenever the elections are called.

Hon. Ramiro Ramirez addressing the Indian Church community residents

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THE BELIZE TIMES

23 FEB

2014

The full PUP Social Justice Agenda is available at www.pup.org.bz

23 FEB

2014

09 9

THE BELIZE TIMES

City Gang Warfare Escalates 25 yr. old murdered in retaliation for Tuesday night shooting

Belize City, February 20, 2014 3 days after celebrating his birthday, 25 year old Tarique “Paulie” Cadle, was gunned down on George Street on Wednesday morning.

Cadle, who is a resident of Supal Street, went to visit a friend when a gunman chased him through the yard, cornered him near the back fence and opened fire at him.

Cadle is the nephew of Jason “Soup” Williams, who was arrested by the Police for a shooting that occurred on Tuesday night on George Street. In that incident, Kariq Tzul, of West Street

address was shot twice in the left leg and 27 year old Andrew Tate of George Street, was shot in both arms, the left side of his abdomen, his stomach, right upper leg, and left upper leg. Tzul is in a stable condition while Tate is receiving treatment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, in a critical condition.

It is believed that Tuesday night’s shooting and Cadle’s senseless killing is the resurgence of gang warfare between the two rival turfs: Supal Street and George Street.

Both turfs are situated in the Prime Minister’s constituency.

Vacancy: Female to carry out domestic work at a house in Belize City. Call 661-2624.

Serious Inquiries Only.

Andrea Floripes Arana

Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills -where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip -He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Family of the late Andrea Floripes Arana wishes to THANK ALL those who assisted in our time of bereavement.

Special THANKS to: Doctors, Nurses and Staff at the KHMH Belize National Coast Guard Belize Defence Force Punta Gorda Town Council St. Peter Claver Parish St. Peter Claver Choir Wesley College St. John’s College Toledo Community College All those who called, sent a wreath, said a prayer or assisted in any way.

THANK YOU!!!!

NOTICE WHY NOT CELEBRATE LTD # 82,503 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102(4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that WHY NOT CELEBRATE LTD:

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 17th day of February, 2014; and c) Mr. Jose Rafael Garcia Vindas whose address is Centro Empresarial Via Lindora, 4to, Piso Radial Sta Ana. San Antonio de Belen, Costa Rica is the Liquidator of the Company Glenn D. Godfrey & Company LLP Registered Agent

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23 FEB

THE BELIZE TIMES

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

FOCUS ON LADYVILLE This week I would like to focus on Ladyville and to acknowledge many businesses in the area which have added to the amenities enjoyed by residents of this sprawling suburban and rural community.

Many times it feels like there are several Ladyvilles because there are such widely diverse smaller zones and residential areas. For example the Ladyville/ Lord’s Bank area has a section that is called Hollywood. Another “barrio” is called Spanish Town.

Yesterday Pepe and I gave a ride home to Ms. Marion Wallen, who worked for many years with the late Audrey Courtenay. Ms.

Marion joked that she lives in the “poor people” Hollywood, since apart from some attention to one or two streets in the area, there are still many bad streets and lanes, making access for residents very difficult.

There are the businesses and services at the International Airport, the Coca Cola/Belikin Factories, SriLuck Plastics, Gentrac, the Vista del Mar Marina, Medina’s Construction, Rodla Construction, Easy Does It Auto Shop, Bella Vista Development, Bacab Eco Park, the Data Processing site at Mile 13, Qespro Pest Elimination Service, M&M Engineering, Belize Optical Supply, Belize Western Ener-

For Sale

By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 26th day of July, 1999, registered in the Land Charges Register Vol. 2 at Folio 79, between THE BELIZE BANK LIMITED (the Assignor) Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., and OMAR AYUSO, which said property was mortgaged by the said OMAR AYUSO to the said BELIZE BANK LIMITED on the 28th day of August, 1996 and recorded in the Land Charges Register Vol. 24 at Folio 43, will at the expiration of three months from the date hereof sell the property described in the schedule.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

SCHEDULE REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCEL Orange Walk Town 4 4384

DATED this 11th day of February, 2014.

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

2014

gy, Mood FM Radio Station, and St. Christopher Clinic and Pharmacy. I am sure this list is not exhaustive.

There are also internet cafes, bakeries, barber shops, meat shops, gas stations, a pizza shop, beauty salons, tire repair shops, auto rental businesses, banks, a furniture making shop, panades shops, vegetable marts, the ubiquitous smaller Chinese shops, and fast food places, not to mention the supermarkets that attract the business of the thousands of residents. I have already said that all the businesses springing up have outpaced the ability of the municipal authority to provide reasonable services and to have a tax base capable of funding all the many needs. But businesses have pressed forward.

I cannot mention each and every local business, but I pause to especially acknowledge Delmart Hardware Store and Perez Hardware Store, both on Perez Road. Both establishments provide for the community where building materials are concerned, and both of them don’t hesitate to donate to the community when approached for assistance for worthy causes.

In terms of eateries and watering holes Manatee Lookout and the Oar House in Vista del Mar for example, have provided relaxing atmospheres for their patrons, and they are well recommended, even for those who are passing through and not necessarily permanent residents of the

area.

I would like to mention two new businesses in the Ladyville area that have recently opened and that are providing some much needed jobs. First, there is Big Mama’s Kitchen, which is located just off Scissorstail Avenue in Mitchell Estate. It provides a fresh and clean atmosphere and a family style restaurant that is modern and attractive. I am happy that Andrea and Kevin Enriquez have invested in this business, along with their apartments and laundromat, and I hope they do very well.

Secondly, there is the just opened NANS Sports Grill, the family business of Nick Martin and Ashanti (Arthurs) Martin. It is located just off Old Well Road going into Lord’s Bank at Mile 11 ½. Ashanti and Nick have clearly put their joint heart and soul into this endeavor, and they have succeeded in creating a classy location for everyone to enjoy. The jerk pork and chicken with festival delight customers, and I will certainly be going back for more. Best wishes for their success also.

I certainly hope that Ladyville can continue to attract these kinds of positive establishments and that residents and patrons in general will keep on supporting them. They are a definite asset to the community.

STATUTORY NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE ESTATE of BERTRAM ALEXANDER VANSEN Deceased of Belize City, Belize District, Belize Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 36 of the Administration of Estates Act, Chapter 197 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, that all creditors having any claims or demands upon or against the Estate of BERTRAM ALEXANDER VANSEN, deceased, late of Belize City, Belize District, Belize who died on the 10th day of June, 2012, and in whose estate Grant of Administration has been granted to MARGARITA MAGANA, should lodge such claims or demands with the said MELISSA BALDERAMOS MAHLER c/o MUSA & BALDERAMOS, Attorneys-at-Law of No. 91 North Front Street, Belize City, on or before the expiration of three months from the first publication hereof AND NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that at the expiration of the said three months the said MELISSA BALDERAMOS MAHLER shall proceed to distribute the assets of the said BERTRAM ALEXANDER VANSEN, deceased amongst the beneficiaries entitled thereto, having regard only to claims and demands of which they shall then have had notice.

DATED this 7th day of February, 2014.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS

Attorneys at Law for MELISSA BALDERAMOS MAHLER Administratix in the Estate of Bertram Alexander Vansen

23 FEB

11

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014 NOTICE

Liquor License NOTICES

Notice is hereby given that the companies have been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Registry with effect from the dates indicated:

Prayer To The Holy Spirit

Notice is hereby given that PRASHANT MEHTA AND RAKESH MURJANI are applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Lin Chi Store”, situate at 16 A Cemetery Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Companies

Dissoluted Dates

STRONG WILLPOWER TECHNOLOGY INC.

2012/08/04

ACE HONEST ENTERPRISE INC.

2012/08/15

Horse Power Plus Co., Ltd.

2012/08/20

Beeyesee Enterprise Corp.

2012/08/20

CHEER BEAUTY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.

2012/08/20

ITEK INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.

2012/08/20

AMAZING ZONE INVESTMENT CO., LTD.

2012/08/25

HIGH SEA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

2012/09/23

GOLDEN GATE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.

2012/09/27

OCEAN STATE CO., LTD.

2012/09/28

FAME GROUP DEVELOPMENT LIMITED

2012/10/13

GOODWILL CAPITAL INVESTMENT LIMITED

2012/10/13

MASTER ASCENT WORLDWIDE CO., LTD.

2012/10/13

MASTERLINK CAPITAL ASSET HOLDINGS LIMITED

2012/10/13

UTMOST EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION LIMITED

2012/10/13

Macd88 Co., Ltd.

2012/10/14

HIGH HITCH INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.

2012/10/14

PREMIER WORLD HOLDING INC.

2012/10/18

Abel Metal Services Pty Ltd.

2012/10/19

OLIVE ZONE INTERNATIONAL CORP.

2012/10/19

RCES LTD.

2012/10/20

BCS AIRPORT SYSTEMS PTY. LTD.

2012/11/09

CLEAR SPRING INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.

2012/11/21

WEALTHY TOP INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.

2012/11/23

POWERFUL ENERGY INTERNATIONAL INC.

2012/11/30

LIGHTEN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

2012/11/30

OMNISCIENCE INT’L INC.

2012/12/17

MILLENNIUM CENTURY INC.

2012/12/22

VOYAGE GLOBAL CO., LTD.

2012/12/22

HORNG TONG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.

2013/01/13

Excel Team International Limited

2013/01/20

FINE SINCERE ENTERPRISE CORP.

2013/01/20

FUJIN FUXIN SPECIAL STEEL CORPORATION

2013/02/22

TALENT JOINT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

2013/02/23

Adam Tech Asia, Ltd.

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O Holy Spirit, you who are the fountainhead of all knowledge, who illuminate the pathway which enables me to reach my goal. You who share your divine gift permitting me to forgive and forget past insults and injustices, and who are always at my side within reaching distance. I desire in this short supplication to thank you for all that you have done for me; and to assure you once more that I never want to be separated from you under any circumstances, no matter what the incentive. I want to be with you, I along with, my loved ones, cradled in your unending love. Thank you for your never failing kindness towards me and those I call my own.

(Prayer to be offered for three consecutive days, faith in the Holy Spirit will cause Him to respond to your request no matter how difficult the problem might be. Publish prayer as soon as request has been granted.)

F.H.U.

Notice is hereby given that KEITH WALLACE are applying for a Bar & Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Red, Gold & Green Bar”, situate at Rock Stone Pond, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that DAVID GEGG is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Smokey Mermaid”, situate at Tower Hill, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

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12

THE BELIZE TIMES

A Public Fool or a Pig Using Lipstick?

By Norris Hall, 5th February 2014 A recent editorial in a national newspaper that has a mutually cozy business relationship with the Prime Minister and his government, took an unusual, but not unprecedented step, to rebuke the PM for “making a public fool of himself”.

This chiding of the PM by one of his fair weather friends, is certainly an indication of the shifting political winds against this most unpopular government. But it is not news. If it is news, it is stale news. It is certainly not an epiphany. Cynics, and there is a growing number of those, even snicker that that newspaper’s editorial is a political, publicity, or business stunt. That assertion may have some credibility based on the experiences of readers and pundits.

Reading between the lines, the paper has virtually implied that not only has the Prime Minister become a pig with lipstick but more like a pig using lipstick to cosmetically cover up all the evils of his corrupt administration. It would be easier for him to use white lime to help him with the white wash. But even that will only serve to temporarily keep away the maggots and the flies swarming in a government that is rotten to the core.

The Prime Minister is fully aware that his power and strongman control is unravelling, and so is his very dangerous political ambitions. He and his government are currently suspended in thin air by a spider’s slippery thread.

AND NOW REVELATION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING As the cesspool of corruption gets deeper, there continue to be more revelations. The most recent allegation being that a senior GOB official has been involved in human trafficking. There appears to be supporting documentary evidence.

In other corruption news, which is the only real news about this government, there are mumblings in the sugar belt. The government has failed to adequately repair the feeder roads to the cane fields and cane farmers are now asking where that money is as some of the funds allocated by the EU for this specific purpose were obviously diverted by this government.

They say that this is obvious from the poor quality of repairs to the sugar roads.

We can suppose that the Prime Minister will quite adequately provide an answer for that. He should be able to tell us that some of that EU money was, to use official parlance, misappropriated.

Actually, the entire lexicon in officialdom is being re-written by our Prime Minister, who has before, tried to re-write the Belize Constitution.

Let’s take for instance his redefinition of “corruption” which is inconsistent with the international definition.

PRIME MINISTER OR DEFENCE ATTORNEY? He has also invoked fables about folk heroes like Ali Baba (not Robinhood), in not admitting his incompetence in dealing with the ugly and massive passport scandal for which no one has been made culpable, except for the scapegoating of the few low level public servants.

The Prime Minister is now too busy lawyering in defence of the mounting and unabated “corruption” in his government as he tries to rewrite the Oxford concise dictionary.

His government has refused to sign the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention and has placed GOB at odds with the UN’s definition. But in many instances, some thieves still go to church.

The alleged defrauding of two foreign investors, with impunity back in 2012, by two members of his family of attorneys would not be regarded as corruption by the PM’s standards. But it could have been, perhaps, the facilitation of some clever legal maneuverings with the help of hand-picked judges who do not enjoy security of tenure. Maybe…just maybe!

Now fast forward to the recent use of public funds by the Minister of State in charge of Transportation from the Belize Airport Authority for his personal use and that of his family and friends. The Prime Minister has acknowledged that much but argued strongly in a debate in the House of Representatives, that this was NOT a case of corruption by his Minister. He declared that it was” distasteful”, “not something that I would have done” (“You know me!”) and fired the Board of the BAA for their indiscretion and bad judgment in facilitating the Minister. The Minister is home free in this unusual game of Monopoly.

MOVING AND SHARING THE CORRUPTION JUST TO BE FAIR Subsequently he has removed responsibility for the BAA from the portfolio of the guilty Ministry of Transportation, where it actually belongs, to the Ministry of Tourism which has responsibility for the Belize Tourist Board. It will be recalled that the BTA was being used by the Minister of Tourism in the same fashion that the BAA was being used by the Minster of Transportation. In fact two whistle blowers, one now a minister, was removed from the Board by the then and now Minister of Tourism, and with the support of the Prime Minister, for exposing the

corruption at the BTA. For the Minister of Tourism he can always claim ignorance as he is at the lower end of the IQ Scale, if on it at all. Corruption would then be defined as having a low IQ. IS THE PM AFRAID OF A MUTINY? The Prime Minister has a deck of cards that he keeps re-shuffling.

Actually he has two: The Cabinet, which he cannot afford to re-shuffle and CANNOT touch for fear of a mutiny, and his deck of party loyalists who are malleable.

It will be recalled that the CEO of the Social Security Board was forced to resign in 2012 after she was playing fast and fancy with SSB funds. On her resignation she was awarded her full retirement benefits and more. The Prime Minister then appointed her (“not me” he would assure us fools) as Port Commissioner under the current Minister of Transportation. Could this be another of those “not corrupt” scenarios? Maybe we should expect that the steam whistle will be blowing from the waterfront soon.

Another case where the Prime Minister has tried to use lipstick as a cosmetic gimmick is in the recent appointment of a Chairperson to a non-existent Integrity Commission. This is not only about lipstick or optics, it is a terrible distortion.

The Prime Minister disbanded the Integrity Commission a long time ago when he fired the Chairperson who he had earlier appointed from his own political kin.

But this man had more principles than the PM had bargained for. He dared to take his job seriously and attempted to apply his Terms of Reference of the IC to investigate certain Ministers in the first Barrow Administration. He was terminated and with him the Integrity Commission.

THE INTEGRITY COMMISSION IS A JOKE Attempts to reconstitute the Integrity Commission at this time are pure and simple, political lip-sticking. It is a farce for reasons more than one: The new Chairperson, though a very charming and personable woman, is tainted by her close and personal association with the Prime Minister. Reportedly, it was at his persuasion that she returned home from the USA to enter electoral politics. She performed miserably by losing terribly. But she got an “E” for effort and was subsequently appointed as the Director of the Financial

23 FEB

2014 Intelligence Unit. For her role there, she received mixed reviews. Faced with the nasty passport scandal, it is believed, if her assertions are true, that she launched an investigation as it related to the involvement of the former Deputy Minister of Immigration, turned poster boy for the scandal, as it may have involved serious money laundering. Then suddenly she resigned from that post earlier this year, saying that she decided to begin her own law practice.

We suspect that her investigation was leading where neither she nor her boss wanted it to go. Earlier she was called to the Bar with the endorsement of her friend the Prime Minister. There are some cynics in the Bar Association about the method applied by her friend to make her a member of the Bar. Yet kudos!

However, her shingle was not given sufficient time to dry when she was appointed to Chair the Integrity Commission. The IC, if and when it is reconstituted, is a joke. It is made up of five appointees by the government and two by the Opposition. Like the Public Accounts Committee under its current setup, it will never be made to function with any integrity. It is worse than lipstick. It is b.s.! It is comic relief for democracy.

THE LADY’S GOT A JOB TO BE OR NOT TO BE? The first test for the new Chairperson of the IC, is that armed with what she knows or does not know, about the FIU investigation into the passport scandal, is that she is in a unique position to launch her investigation for the same reason she did at the FIU. It is also quite an opportunity to launch her appointment with some INTEGRITY. She would be applauded if she does.

But why does the Prime Minister, if he has any good intentions, keep drawing from the same tattered deck of card? There are many Belizeans who have the stature and integrity and who would be up to the job. Two that come to mind are women of the cloth, women of the clergy. There are others that come to mind. But, who would want to wallow with this motley crew and be identified with this nasty mess called the Barrow Administration?

With rampant corruption plaguing his government, the Prime Minister has decreed that all government employees must take an oath of secrecy. This flies in the face of HIS commitment to freedom of information, transparency and press freedom which he has already attempted to stifle.

STOP BEING A PIG, APPOINT THE THIRTEENTH SENATOR But there is one more card that the Prime Minister could draw without having to look like a pig with lipstick, or by making a public fool of himself: Appoint the thirteenth Senator!

23 FEB FEB 23

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

2014

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Likes: Spend time with friends, dance, play sports, karaoke and meet new people Lives in: Pomona Village, Stann Creek District Fav. Quote: “Never let anyone define the meaning of your life; define it yourself”

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23 FEB

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

2014

Angel Tzib

wins Valentine’s Classic Belize City, February 16, 2014 Angel Tzib, riding unattached stunned the big names in the cycling fraternity like Giovanni Lovell, 2013 Cross country champion Darnell Barrow and National road champion Byron Pope by winning the 19th annual Digicel Valentine’s Day Cycling Classic held by the Cycling Federation of Belize in uncontested style.

Tzib clocked 3:55:49 as he coasted to the finish line at Leslie’s Imports concluding his 89mile ride to the Hector Silva airstrip and back on the George Price Highway on Sunday, February 16.

Elites 2nd Giovanni Lovell - Team Telemedia 3rd Darnell Barrow – Team SMART 4th Byron Pope - Team Benny’s Megabytes 5th Ron Vasquez – Team Western Spirits 6th Patrick Bennett – Team SMART 7th Raniel Sanchez – Team Bel-Cal 8th Mark Staine – Team Benny’s Megabytes 9th Jairo Campos – Team Predators 10th Gregory Lovell – Team Telemedia Under -23 1st Giovanni Lovell - Team Telemedia 2nd Deezan Spence

3rd Brandon Morgan Team Benny’s Megabytes Masters 35+ 1st Raniel Sanchez – Team Bel-Cal 2nd Quinton “the Baddest” Hamilton – Team SMART 3rd Jose Choto– Team Cayo High Road Masters 4/5 1st Steven Bisset – Team CDS Gas 2nd Santino “Chief” Castillo – Team Ride to Glory 3rd George Abraham Sr. Females 1st Keirah Eiley – Unattached - 2:36:56 2nd Shalini Zabaneh – Team Sagitun - 2:37:56 3rd Kaya Cattouse – Team SMART/C-Ray 2:39:06 4th Alicia Thompson Belize Bank Swoosh Juniors 1st Delon Gentle – Team BECOL Uprising 2nd Delawn Abraham Team Benny’s Megabytes 3rd Zahir Figueroa – Team BECOL Uprising Youths 1st Devin Azueta – Team Cayo High Road 2nd Michael Grajalez – Team Mando’s 3rd Dennis Arnold - Unattached

Delille Academy girls

win national football championship Dangriga, February 15, 2014 The Delille Academy girls won the high school football championships after a penalty shootout against the Orange Walk Technical High School girls.

The Delille girls stopped the Orange Walk girls 3-2 in a penalty shootout when regulation time and overtime ended in a 1-1 draw.

MVP Shayama Caliz had scored for the Delille, but Orange Walk’s

Nazarene’s Elma Wade

Top 3 Youths

Top 3 Masters

Norielly Terry equalized on a penalty conversion.

In penalties, Shayama Caliz, Naomi Gamboa and Orel Gillett scored for Delille, while only Baeza and Terry scored for Orange Walk.

3rd place went to St. Ignatius girls who won 2-1 against the Gwen Liz girls; with 2 goals by Jenelle Smith, while only Vivica Young scored a free kick for Gwen Liz. Delille Academy’s principal presented the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th place team trophies to the winners, while FFB President Ruperto Vicente handed over the Most Valuable Player award to Shayama Caliz.

The Delille girls will represent Belize at the upcoming Central American Junior Scholastic Games (CODICADER) in Guatemala in September.

Top 3 Females

Escuela

Mexico boys win national football championship

23 23 FEB FEB

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

2014 2014

SPORTS 15

SCA girls maul Pallotti 24-9 SCA team

SCA’s Jacqueline Alas

Escuela

Mexico boys

Jeddah Sacasa scored 4 runs

Belize City, February 17, 2014 The St. Catherine’s Academy girls won 24-9 over the Pallotti high school girls when the high school softball competition continued at the Rogers Stadium on Monday, February 17.

The Pallotti girls led 7-0 when Marlette Martinez, Vivianne Gongora, Jinel Flowers, Deja Young, pitcher Andrea Avaloy, Courtney Lightfoot and Thelma Young scored in the top of the 1st inning, but the SCA girls soon roared back to take over the lead 9-7 when Jeddah Sacasa, Kendisha Armstrong, Kendiece Armstrong, Shellidah Moguel, Celine Barrow, Jada Jones, Cori Mckenzie and

Gwen Liz & SJC boys win softball games

win national football championship Dangriga, February 15, 2014 The Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico boys from San Roman, Corozal, defeated the Independence High School for the 2014 high school football championships held at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga over the weekend.

The Escuela boys ran rings around the Independence boys with Edgar Itza scoring a penalty and Luis Witz scoring 2 more goals to lead 3-0 before Wilber Rivas scored for Independence; but MVP Camilo Sanchez scored Escuela’s 4th goal for the 4-1 win.

3rd place went to the Mopan Tech boys who won 2-1 against Wesley, with 2 goals by Wilber Reyes; while only before Keeron Young scores a consolation goal for Wesley.

The Most Valuable Player award to Camilo Sanchez.

The Escuela Mexico boys will represent Belize at the upcoming Central American Junior Scholastic Games (CODICADER) in Guatemala in September.

pitcher Jacqueline Alas scored in the first inning.

The SCA girls extended their lead to 11-7 when Jons and Mckenzie scored in the bottom of the 2nd, but the Pallotti girls recovered when Martinez and Karel Jones scored in the top of the third.

The SCA girls posted a mercy rule win in the bottom of the 3rd inning when they scored 13 runs, with Sacasa, Armstrong, Moguel and Barrow each crossing the plate twice.

Other match: ACC girls vs. Pallotti girls - 24-2

Dangriga Warriors upset Belmopan Bandits 57-56

Gwen Liz boys Belize City, February 17, 2014 The St. John’s College and Gwen Lizarraga High School boys each enjoyed wins when the high school softball competition continued at the Rogers Stadium last week.

The SJC boys had outlasted the Wesley college boys 12-10 last Tuesday. SJC led 8-0 when Zydane Thompson, Brandon Teichroeb, Kristopher Majarrez, Jorge Espat, Dorian Meighan, Allen Audinette, Giancarlo Sanchez and Bruno Bradley scored in the 1st inning, Thompson rounding the bases twice.

The Wesley boys trailed 5-8 when pitcher Keeron Young,

James Morris, Deron Tillett, Andre Shaw and Andrew Green scored in the bottom of the second, but they took over the lead 10-8 when Young, Morris, Shaw and Green scored again along with Lyndon Armstrong in the 3rd inning.

The SJC boys regained the lead 12-10 when Majarrez, Espat, Meighan and Audinett scored in the 4th inning, and only Wesley’s Shereif Thompson scored in the 5th inning.

The Gwen Liz boys got an easy bye to their first win: 7-0, when the Excelsior High School boys were a no show for their game last Thursday,

Belmopan’s Chris Rodriguez scored 9pts

16

THE BELIZE TIMES (vii)

23 16 FEB

2014

Penner admitted after the fact that the person for whom he signed the application for was not Won Hong Kim.

For reasons which follow, we are of the view that this email amounts to a confession statement which is admissible in a court of law by virtue of the Electronic Evidence Act and which can be used against the maker, Elvin Penner, at a criminal trial.

7th February, 2014 Mr. Allen Whylie Commissioner of Police Belmopan City Belize Dear Commissioner, Re: Investigation & Prosecution of Hon. Elvin Penner As you will know, for some time now, the nation’s eyes have been rivetted on the ongoing police investigation into the issuance of Belizean Nationality Certificate No. 28577/13 dated the 22nd April, 2013 to South Korean Won Hong Kim, and the issuance of Belize Passport P 0246777 issued to the said Won Hong Kim on the 9t11 day of September, 2013.

We have been instructed by the Leader of Opposition, Honourable Francis Fonseca to write to you on this matter of national importance. This measure is taken having regard to the fact that five months have passed and the investigation continues. This poses grave concern to our client, who has a constitutional responsibility to, among other things, ensure that the rule of law is upheld in this country. In this regard, we commend to you the pronouncements of the Privy Council in a case from Trinidad & Tobago, that: “The rule of law requires that, subject to any immunity or exemption provided by law, the criminal law of the land should apply to all alike. A person is not to be singled out for adverse treatment because he or she holds a high and dignified office of state, but nor can the holding of such an office excuse conduct which would lead to the prosecution of one not holding such an office. The maintenance of public confidence in the administration of justice requires that it be, and be seen to be, even-handed.”

Sharma v Brown (DPP), Virgil (Asst. Commissioner of Police) & Paul (Commissioner of Police) {2006} UKPC 57.

It is our considered view, which we detail hereunder, that there is more than prima facie evidence which presently exists and for which criminal charges at this stage, ought to be brought against Hon Elvin Penner for commission of an offence under the Passport Act. Because the offence under the Passports Act is a summary offence, it is important that the necessary steps be taken to initiate criminal proceedings before the expiry of the six months limitation period in March, 2014.

The Background Government Press Release As you will know as well, on the Thursday the 19th day of September, 2013, no less than the Office of the Prime Minister of Belize, by way of press release, announced that Hon. Elvin Penner was being forced to resign as a Minister of State in the current Administration as a result of Penner’s failure to “discharge his responsibilities with either the due judgment and balance, or the scrupulous regard for appearances, which the Prime Minister demands of all his Ministers.”

In the same press release, the Office of the Prime Minister informed that an investigation was to be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the issuance of a Belize passport to a South Korean national: for ease of reference kindly find press release enclosed.

Penner’s email to the media Hon. Elvin Penner, for his part, on the 27th day of September, 2013 sent an email to all media outlet.

We have been able to obtain a copy of the said email sent to the news director of channel 5 and enclose a copy herein for ease of reference.

In the said email, Hon. Penner sought to explain his role in the issuance of the passport to the South Korean national for which he was fired from Cabinet. Penner explained, in relevant parts, that: “What I do know is that a [sic) Asian person whom I have known through business trips, even before I entered politics, came to me for a signature so he could get his passport. He also mention that he needed it urgently since he was about to go on a trip and was more than willing to pay the regular one day service fee. The picture on the nationality document he presented to me, the Korean passport that he had with him and the passport size pictures that I also signed did not raise any suspicion since they were all of the same person, the person I knew as Mr. Kim. Wanting to help a business person I made sure that everything was in order on the application form and personally went with him to the passport office to see to it that he would get proper attention and would get his passport the same day.

Now having seen the picture who is said to be Wonhong Kim on the news, who has been detained in Taiwan for some time now, it has become clear to me that the person for whom I signed the application for could never have been Mr. Wonhong Kim.” The statement reveals several important facts: (i) That an Asian friend of Penner came to him wanting a passport recommendation [legally referred to as Form 3-B Declaration of Recommender for Belize Passport Application]; (ii) Penner accompanied this Asian friend to the Nationality and Immigration Department to assist him in getting the passport the same day; (iii) Penner states that he made sure everything was in order on the application form; (iv) The name of the applicant on the form was Won Hong Kim; (v) Penner signed the passport recommendation declaration form on the 3rd September, 2013 verifying that he knew the applicant for three years: see Form 3-B enclosed as well; (vi) Won Hong Kim was not the person who accompanied Penner at the Immigration & Nationality Department.

Prime Minister’s statement in the House Then at a House of Representatives Meeting on the same Friday the 27th September, 2013, the Prime Minister stated: “With respect to the Nationality Section of the department the situation is completely different.

It is the Minister who signs the nationality certificate. He doesn’t issue the passport but he signs the nationality certificate. In this case the nationality certificate that was involved in the whole chain of events that saw this South Korean national obtains the Belize passport. That nationality certificate was signed by Hon. Penner. Therefore, how are you going to look at the officers in the Nationality Section. They didn’t do anything except to provide the file in the normal course when the Minister calls for the file. They didn’t have to sign the nationality certificate. That is the reason why there is no focus on the Nationality Section in a way that can see the suspension of any of the officers there. In other words, who has had to fall on their sword with respect to nationality is the Minister of State and this administration will not in fact preside over a process where public officers are made to take the fall for the actions of politicians.”

“The distinction as I said with respect to the Passport Section is that absent anything that the Minister had to do. There were requirements that they needed to follow and it appears from the investigation so far that those requirement weren’t completely followed.”

“Hon. Penner signed this nationality certificate on the 9th of September. That certificate was dated 22nd of April. Hon. Penner said that he signed the certificate without dating it- something that I often do and so the question of who backed dated that certificate remains very much in issue.”

“There can be no question in my mind of charging the Minister or the ex-Minister in any criminal way because on the face of it all appeared to be in order with respect to the nationality certificate, absent this issue of the date. Whether you believe him or not that he didn’t put in the date of April 22nd you will never be able to establish that in fact he didn’t.”

“The thing is that what you can’t prove is very much in issue. What was eminently provable and what was obvious was enough for me to do what the duties of my office and what my commitment to the people of this country required me to do which is to get rid of Hon. Penner. I did so with a heavy heart. He is a colleague and there is no doubt that his actions have brought shame to this administration and he is paying the price. “ “What we would not do is try to cover over the actions of any minister.” ‘’Mr. Speaker, I will again apologize to the people of this country because one of my ministers has let down his colleagues, has let down the Cabinet and has let down the country.” [Extract taken from Channel 7 news of September 27th, 2013].

While the Prime Minister flatly rules out the possibility of criminal charges against Penner, he revealed that Penner signed the nationality certificate for Won Hong Kim on the 9th September, 2013, but the certificate was backed dated to the 22nd April, 2013. And it was this same nationality certificate that was used as the basis for the passport application of the person (purportedly impersonating Won Hong Kim) who accompanied Penner to the Immigration and Nationality Department.

Thus, if Penner, by his own admission, had checked to see all the documents were in order, he would have noted that the nationality certificate he signed on the 9th September, 2013 was back-dated (by someone with obvious criminal intent).

Interview given by Minister of Immigration to Jules Vasquez Then on the 2nd day of October, 2013, the Minister of Immigration, Senator Godwin Hulse gave an in depth interview with channel 7’s Jules Vasquez (a copy of which is enclosed) in which he revealed, most fundamentally, that Won Hong Kim never set foot in Belize.

The Law Having considered the above, we now consider whether any offences would have been committed under the Belize Nationality Act or the Passports Act. Commission of offence under the Belize Nationality Act? By section 22 of the Belize Nationality Act, it is an offence for “Any person who, for the purpose of procuring anything to be done or not to be done under this Act, makes any statement which he knows to be false in a material particular commits an offence and shall, on conviction after summary trial before a magistrate, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months.”

It is a condition precedent, as required by section 10 of the Belize Nationality Act, that a person (amongst other things) must have been ordinarily resident in Belize for a period of five years immediately before applying for Belize Nationality. But Minister of Immigration Hulse confirmed that Won Hong Kim never set foot in Belize. Accordingly, section 22 would have been contravened in respect of the issuance of Belizean Nationality Certificate No. 28577/13 dated the 22nd April, 2013 to South Korean Won Hong Kim. Admittedly, there will be difficulty in pursuing criminal charges against any person in respect of the commission of this offence since (it is understood), no Belize Nationality Application file and supporting documents can be found at the Nationality & Immigration Department.

Commission of offence under the Passports Act? Section 3(1)(h) of the Passports Act states that: “(1) Every person who, in respect of every passport(h) without having actual knowledge of the applicant for a passport, makes any declaration verifying the declaration of such applicant, or Continued on page 17

16 23 FEB

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014 Continued from page 16

vouching the fitness of such applicant to receive a passport or makes any such declaration merely on information obtained from the applicant or from any other person,” commits an offence under the Act.” By section 4:

“Every person who commits an offence against this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for any term not exceeding one year, or to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or to both such fine and term of imprisonment.”

Thus, an offence under the Passports Act is also a summary conviction offence for which charges must be laid within six months from the when the matter of the complaint arose; that is, at the latest, 19th September, 2013 when the Prime Minister fired Penner.

Is there any evidence to support any charges?

The Electronic Evidence Act, Cap 95:01 of the Laws of Belize, R.E. 2003, which came into force on the 31st January, 2003, by section 3, states that “Nothing in the rules of evidence shall apply to deny the admissibility of an electronic record in evidence on the sole ground that it is an electronic record.”

Thus, as is made clear, electronic records are admissible in evidence in court proceedings, including criminal proceedings: see definition of “legal proceedings” in section 2 of the Act which refers to civil as well as criminal proceedings in a court.

Critically, an electronic record is “data that is recorded or stored on any medium in or by a computer system or other similar device and that can be read or perceived by a person or a computer system or other similar device and includes a display, print our or other output of that data.”

For present purposes therefore, an email is an electronic record that is admissible evidence in a court of law.

This is of considerable importance because the email sent by Penner to the various media outlet is admissible evidence in court proceedings. And more importantly, it is evidence provided by Penner against himself with respect to his role in the issuance of the passport of Won Hong Kim. For reasons which follow, the evidence provided in the email amounts to a confession which can be used in a trial of Penner.

As you will know, a confession is a statement (written or oral) which is wholly or partly adverse to the person who made it: para 15-341, Archbold 2001. A confession can be made to a person in authority such as a police or to someone who is not in authority. If the statement is given to a person in authority, then section 90 of the Evidence Act would apply. As Penner’s email to media is not to persons in authority, there will be no need to establish that the email was sent freely and voluntarily and was not induced to make it as a result of any promise of favour or advantage or by use of fear, threat or pressure All must be proved is that it was in fact Penner who sent the email.

In this regard, this email has been published by both channel 7 and channel 5 since September, 2013 and there have been repeated reference to same on both channel 7 and channel 5, and never has Penner reportedly denied the authenticity of the email’s and its source. This is evidence in accordance with section 5 of the Electronic Evidence Act to prove the email’s authenticity.

For these reasons, we are of the opinion that Penner’s email is admissible confession at a trial.

Based on Penner’s confession, he has committed an offence under section 3(1)(h) of the Passports Act. As discussed above, Penner’s email is admissible evidence in criminal proceedings and has the effect of a confession. Allied with Penner’s confession evidence, there will need to be formal evidence from Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse, or the Director of Immigration or other relevant Immigration official (by virtue of their office) that Won Hong Kim has never set foot in Belize and other pertinent information necessary for the laying of charges against Honourable Elvin Penner for reasons already enumerated.

Therefore, in our considered view, it seems prudent that: (i) A statement be recorded from the recipients of the email from Penner, such as the news director of channel 5 or channel 7. (ii) Statements be recorded from the Hon. Prime Minister, Minister of Immigration or Director of Immigration and Nationality with respect their first hand knowledge of the issuance of the passport to Kim by virtue of their offices as well as information provided to them by the Taiwanese authorities with respect to Won Hong Kim. What will be done if no action is taken?

We are instructed to advise that if no actions are taken by the Police Department within seven days hereof, we are to initiate judicial review proceedings against the Commissioner of Police, (similar to that initiated in Claim No. 698 of 2006- Egbert Gordon Sr. v Commissioner of Police) for a writ of mandamus directing the Commissioner to take relevant statements and lay charges against Hon. Elvin Penner.

We are cognizant that the remedy of mandamus is an exceptional one and a court is slow to grant such, but the circumstances set out above are indeed exceptional themselves and require the exceptional intervening hand of the court.

Yours faithfully,

cc: Mrs. Cherlyn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecutions

ARREST PENNER NOW!!

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23 FEB

THE BELIZE TIMES PUP NOTICE Queen Square Standard Bearer Convention

The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Queen Square Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday May 18, 2014.

Application are available from the Constituency Committee Chairperson or the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications must be filled and returned to the Chairperson and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is Tuesday March 18, 2014.

PUP NOTICE Albert Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Albert Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday May 25, 2014.

Application are available from the Constituency Committee Chairperson or the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications must be filled and returned to the Chairperson and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is Tuesday March 18, 2014.

PUP NOTICE Caribbean Shores Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Caribbean Shores Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday, June 1, 2014.

Application are available from the Constituency Committee Chairperson or the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications must be filled and returned to the Chairperson and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is Friday March 28, 2014.

PUP NOTICE Lake Independence Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Lake Independence Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday, June 8, 2014.

Application are available from the Constituency Committee Chairperson or the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications must be filled and returned to the Chairperson and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is Friday March 28, 2014.

2014 PUP NOTICE

Corozal Bay Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Corozal Bay Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, 2014 from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

PUP NOTICE Joint Endorsement Standard Bearers Convention for Orange Walk Central, Orange Walk East & Orange Walk South The People’s United Party announces a Joint Endorsement Standard Bearers Convention for Orange Walk Central, Orange Walk East & Orange Walk South constituencies on Sunday, March 8, 2014.

PUP NOTICE Mesopotamia Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Mesopotamia Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday May 18, 2014.

Application are available from the Constituency Committee Chairperson or the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications must be filled and returned to the Chairperson and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is Thursday March 18, 2014.

PUP NOTICE Collet Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Collet Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday May 4, 2014.

Application are available from the Constituency Committee Chairperson or the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications must be filled and returned to the Chairperson and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is Tuesday March 4, 2014.

23 FEB

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

19

PUP Marshalls Unit Moving Forward!!

Belize City, February 11, 2014 The work of rebuilding the PUP Marshalls Unit goes on with renewed vigour and efforts.

This weekend, the Marshalls President Stephen Latchman will hold a meeting with his Dangriga Executive to plan the way forward.

On Saturday February 8th and 9th Marshalls President Stephen Latchman met with Marshalls members of the Orange Walk district. A new executive body was appointed prior to the meeting and sworn in.

The members of the new executive are President Joel Mollinedo, Vice President Enrique Castillo, Secretary Berta Ortega, Assistant Secretary Antonio Novelo, and Treasurer Mario Gongora.

At a later meeting in Belize City on Wednesday February 13th the President called on the Marshalls members to get more involved in the political process of the Party with special appeal made for assis-

tance in voter registration.

As we continue to work our agenda: Change and the Way Forward in 2014, we invite friends, members and supporters of our great Party to join our ranks.

You can contact us through our executive members and coordinators as follows: Eastern Caucus: Olga Gordon Tel.607 5440, Fabriana Scott Tel. 600 5062, Randolph Cadle Tel. 621 3534, Penny Leslie

Marshalleck

rises from humble beginnings to a leader in his field

Jan. 23, 2014

by Diana Lazzell (Reprinted from INScope, Indiana University School of Medicine) From humble beginnings in Central America, Francis Marshalleck, M.D., has risen to become the director of pediatric interventional radiology at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health -- as well as the only fellowship-trained pediatric interventional radiologist in Indiana.

A native of Belize, Dr. Marshalleck, assistant professor of clinical radiology at the IU School of Medicine, attributes his work ethic to his mother, a seamstress.

“You do it until the job is done -give your best effort with what you

have,” said Dr. Marshalleck, whose early struggles were rewarded with scholarships.

“I see myself as blessed.”

A graduate of the Regis University in Denver and the University of the West Indies, Dr. Marshalleck returned to Belize for two years after medical school in Jamaica to work as an emergency room physician, a requirement of his scholarship. He wasn’t able to return to practice in the United States, however, until the radiology fellowship director at the University of Texas at Houston -- whose father spent time as a missionary in Belize -recognized his talent and enthusiasm amidst harsh circumstances, selecting him to join the program.

After a transitional year in pediatrics at University of Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital, Dr. Marshalleck completed the residency in Houston, followed by interventional radiologist fellowships in adult and pediatric subspecialties in Indiana and Toronto, respectively.

Two years ago, he attained U.S. citizenship.

Tel. 631 8980, and Nigel Belisle Tel. 664 5254; Western caucus, Thomas Ramirez, Tel. 661 0611/600 5840, Martha Tesecum Tel. 663 3083, Carmen Requena Tel. 651 2462, Matthew Coye tel. 664 2208 and Luis Valdez tel. 624 2424. Southern Caucus Bert Bernard Tel. 620 8923 and Lionel Acosta tel. 669 0366, and Carol Williams tel.636 2871, or National President Stephen Latchman at tel. 667 4043.

Professionally, Dr. Marshalleck has seen the number of pediatric interventional radiology, or “IR,” procedures increase from several per week to 40 cases per week at Riley over the past 10 years. One of the country’s few specialists in this area, he said previous lack of interest in pediatric IR was likely due to “lack of comfort working on very small patients, and using small devices.”

“I had to overcome obstacles from hospitals and doctors; they didn’t realize what were my skill sets,” said Dr. Marshalleck, whose career at the hospital began “literally in a closet.” “I had to start from scratch, but it’s really exploded.”

Today, he directs a fullfledged pediatric interventional radiology department at Riley, including a physician’s assistant, four technologists, several nurses, a scheduler, a patient service assistant and an anesthesia team. Soon, the department is expanding to two suites in the new Simon Family Tower at Riley.

Riley also has the only comprehensive vascular anomalies clinic in Indiana in which interventional radiology plays an integral role along with other specialties, such as dermatology and surgery, to provide the highest level of care. Dr. Marshalleck is most excited about vascular therapies, including sclerotherapy and embolization of vascular anomalies. Recently,

As the work continues countrywide, the PUP Marshalls Unit urges persons to join the group at this very exciting time. Please continue to support all our educational meetings and all fundraising events. Our next fundraising event in Belize City is on March 7th 2014 as a turkey dinner, and a one-day trip to Chetumal on Saturday April 12th 2013.

Together in Unity, we will continue to serve our people and Belize.

he performed a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, or “TIPS,” procedure on a twoyear-old patient, creating new connections between blood vessels in the liver.

The smallest patients bring him the most joy in his work, he added, pointing out the “Super Doc” t-shirt made for him by a young patient proudly displayed in his office.

“You try to make [the patients] comfortable,” he said.

“The families are very appreciative; they keep in touch with you.”

In addition to his clinical work serving patients, Dr. Marshalleck feels strongly about giving back to the profession, serving on a committee that writes standards for pediatric IR procedures through the Society of Pediatric Interventional Radiology. He is also the co-editor of the first book on pediatric IR, “A Handbook in Pediatric Radiology,” to be published by Springer in 2014.

In addition, Dr. Marshalleck credits several mentors at the IU School of Medicine for helping him develop as a physician: Matthew Johnson, M.D.; Himanshu Shah, M.D.; Thomas Casciani, M.D.; and David Agarwal, M.D. When not working, Dr. Marshalleck -- the father of three children, ages 8, 12 and 15, who coaches his son’s basketball team, as well as soccer -- values family above all else.

“When I go home, its family time,” he said. “I make the weekends count.”

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Belize’s reef health fair, GOB’s score: poor Belize City, February 13, 2014 The government of Belize has once again found to be lagging in implementing internationally recognized best practices in the management of nations’s fisheries resources.

It’s been almost 5 years since Douglas N. Rader PhD and Kate Bonzon of the Environmenal Defense Fund visited Belize in March 2009 to propose a system of fish catch share as the only way forward for sustainable fisheries in Belize, but the UDP administration of Prime Minister Dean Barrow has again be found dragging its feet in implementing the necessary legislation to make it work.

Belize scored fair: 3.1 out of a possible score of 5, in its performance to keep the Belize Barrier Reef healthy, according to an Eco-report presented by the Dr. Melanie Mcfield of the Healthy Reefs Initiative (HRI) and Roberto Pott of Belizean NGO, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, at the Radisson Fort George Hotel on Wednesday, February 12.

HRI monitors Belize’s reefs as part of the Meso-American reef, in collaboration with the other countries: Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, and published a similar report back in 2011.

Since then all the other 3 countries have improved their scores, only Belize has not improved over 2011.

The report evaluates 7 parameters: the performance of Marine Protected areas in terms of good management and enforcement; Eco-system based fisheries management, Coastal zone management; Sanitation and Sewage treatment; Research, Education and Awareness; Sustainability in the Private Sector; and Global Issues.

Presently there are only 3 commercial species for which there are closed season and in which the harvesting is regulated by a quota: lobster, the Queen conch and the Nassau Grouper.

Recent spurts in the harvesting of sea cucumber have indicated he need to have a quota and a closed season for that also. But to have a healthy reef, really ALL commercial species should be regulated in the amount harvested.

What the EDF had proposed back in 2009 was for fishermen in different parts of the country to be assigned a T.U.R.F, a Territo-

23 FEB

2014 rial Use Rights for Fishing. This meant the fishermen would in effect have ownership and exclusive right to the exploitation of the fisheries in a given area, and as such they would take a proprietary interest in sustainably managing the fisheries resources in their designated area, for them to continue to have a n income from fishing for generations to come. They would be responsible for assessing the sustainable level of harvesting of commercial species in their area, so they would not over-fish and deplete their fisheries stock in to extinction.

This also means limiting the number of fishermen, not everyone in these coastal fishing communities may become fishermen in the future, and it is important to provide alternative livelihoods for these stranded seamen. The community has already successfully made this transition with many fishermen diverting to become tour guides, recognizing that living fish in the water are worth far more than on the table GOB’s delay in implementing a pilot project has meant that, here five years on, this world recognized system for sustainable fisheries management has still not been rolled out for the entire country. On Wednesday, Beverly Wade of the fisheries Department said that government is only now rolling out a managed access initiative over the next 3 years; to make it their own they had to rename the fish catch share system: “managed access”.

As with the deplorable state of the sugar roads that delayed this year’s sugar crop by 2 months, the Barrow administration keeps getting overtaken by history.

23 FEB

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid Bitter times in Citrus Industry

By G. Michael Reid It was a hell of a time in Pomona Valley when Stamp whap Sharp wid electric wiah!

Suppose missa Sharp wudda pull ih gun, Stamp wudda run til ih tumble down!!

Did you hear the story about the incident in Pomona Valley?

Did you hear the truth and nothing but the truth? ~ Dell Smart The saga of Stamp and Sharp is immortalized in song and gave notoriety to Stann Creek’s Pomona Valley. The story is always told in bits and pieces and is as about complex and confusing as today’s Pomona problems. The problem today is citrus which has been undergoing some seemingly insurmountable problems and challenges. If you listen to the news and if you listen to Anthony Chanona, a panacea has been discovered and an elixir has been delivered. Nothing could be further from the truth!

In a Press Conference on Monday, Prime Minster Dean Barrow announced that he would be once again be dipping into public money to bail out private interest.

Social Security has been a cash cow and monies there from have been used for everything except what it was initially intended for; Fifty million to Belize Telemedia (BTL), fifteen million to Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) ten million to the cane industry, etc., etc.

Yet, poor hard working Belizeans who are the prime contributors to this fund must go begging to the public when in need of medical attention. As I write, Norman Rodriguez, a corporal of the Belize Defense Force (BDF), who is suffering with a brain tumor cannot receive assistance to receive medical attention. Something is terribly wrong with this picture.

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had this to say. “The larger grower who probably has more funds to do all the chemical spraying and the chemical for the fertilizing and folio spraying, the maintenance of the trees will end up surviving a bit longer. Small farmers … (who) can even barely afford to fertilize will have weaker trees and like human beings the weaker you are the more susceptible to the disease The Amandala puts the figure the quicker the decline and the at 24.1 million dollars that governfaster they will be out the picture. ment is preparing to pump into this I would say that it is a very serious floundering citrus industry. Accordconcern for all growers but espeing to the PM and SSB chairman cially small growers who perhaps Doug Singh, the investment is a don’t have the equipments, the sure thing and will yield wonderful funds, the where it all to fight off or returns. Before we address that, delay, I guess the inevitable as far let us ask a very important quesas they are concern (sic).” tion; how did the citrus industry The citrus industry is divided find itself in this position? Citrus and at any given time, there are sevGrowers have been delivering fruits eral fights going on. Money might consistently every year, the factory be the least of industry’s problem has been processing and the marand the dumping of tens of milket has been available. In the last lions of the people’s money into couple of years, value has been this industry at this time does not look like a good idea. The fight with foreign Social Security has been a cash cow and monies there investor Bank’s Holdings from have been used for everything except what it was is not even their biggest problem, citrus greening is! initially intended for; Fifty million to Belize Telemedia While some growers are (BTL), fifteen million to Belize Electricity Limited ecstatic about the prospect (BEL) ten million to the cane industry, etc., etc. of receiving money from Yet, poor hard working Belizeans who are the government, they will soon come to grips with the old prime contributors to this fund must go begging truism, “money can’t buy to the public when in need of medical attention. happiness”!

Some growers were hoping to convince Mr. Barrow to According to Mike Eire, a plant added as citrus waste is no longer give them the money to buy out pathologist and bacterial expert who discarded but is converted into anithe interest held by Bank’s Holdrecently visited Belize, “Citrus Canmal feed. The same question could ings. They are convinced that they ker is like a cold but Citrus Greening probably be asked about the sugar are the problem. It might take them is cancer”. Citrus Canker is another industry, which last year had to be a minute to realize that not only did disease that affects citrus but while sold cheaply to ASR, a conglomerthat not happen but the situation not as bad as citrus greening, entire ate of the same Tate and Lyle from has gotten worse. By government orchards have been destroyed in an whence it came. Would not SSB acquiring 10% of CGA shares in exattempt to control it. We have been funds be better used to provide change for the money, it moves that spared the cold but the cancer has afbetter pensions and medical assisgroup from majority shareholder to flicted us. There is no cure for HLB and tance for the workers who must minority level. Bank’s with 48% of as quiet as it’s kept, it is rapidly ravagcontribute, “upon the pain” of the shares is now majority holder ing the citrus orchards down south. being jailed? Maybe it is time that and if the problem was bad before, The continued spread of the disease, we insist that politicians go to the it is about to get worse. Run Missa authorities say, could very well be the people for approval first before Stamp, Sharp Barrow has pulled his death knell for the citrus industry. being so free with Social Security gun. This is the truth and nothing In an interview given a few years money. Could it not be said that but the truth! back, citrus grower Brian Bowman this is consistently throwing good money after bad?

Maybe a little history would be in order. The citrus industry began way back in 1913 when three pioneers decided to risk investment and imported some grapefruit trees from Florida. At first it was strictly grapefruit but eventually the demand for oranges forced farmers to diversify.

Before that, Belize was strictly a banana town. Belize was famous for its exotic and delicious Gros Michel bananas but today, those bananas are all but extinct. The Gros Michel was described as a “creamier, tastier, larger and less fragile variety” than the Cavendish banana which is grown and sold today. There was a reason for the switch and that reason bridges the conversation that we are having right now about citrus. It also justifies the doubts about the quality of our investment in that industry.

The banana industry thrived in southern Belize from about the mid 1800’s until the mid 1920’s. Somewhere around that time, the incurable Panama disease was detected and shortly thereafter, the banana industry collapsed completely. It was not until fifty years later in 1975 that the banana industry was able to consider itself recovered. This happened only after a new strain of bananas was introduced. The reason why this history is so important to the conversation we are having is because as we speak, the citrus industry is currently dealing with its own Panama disease. This one is called Huang Long Bing (HLB) or citrus greening and might be the main reason why this “sure thing” investment with our Social Security money might not be such a sure thing.

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23 FEB

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

The Plan to Complete Global Sanitation by 2015

By Dr. Angela Banner Joseph “How long will it take for countries of the poor to have adequate access to clean water?” It has been 13 years since the United Nations Millennium Declaration wrote this statement, and to date, many governments that signed up have noted the members in their communities are “still living and dying in their own feces for want of somewhere clean and safe to go to the toilet”.

There is a global plan to reduce by half the number of people without access to sanitation by 2015. For many countries, this will definitely happen. How does Belize compare with other developing countries and what can we do to make the necessary changes to make sure our country is in compliance with this mandate?

Globally, over 2.5 billion people live without adequate sanitation.

Over 900 million people live without adequate access to clean water, which means people are exposed to the transmission of germs from feces by flies, fingers, and other sources, which can result in a public health crisis. I read that, “Sanitation is the basic environmental condition that affects the well-being of people. The conditions included a clean and safe water supply; efficient and safe animal, human, and industrial waste disposal; clean and safe air; protection of food from biological and chemical contaminants; and adequate housing in clean and safe surroundings”.

Dr. Jamie Bartram, University of North Carolina, contended, “Sanitation is not a clearly-defined sector.

Rather, sanitation touches everything and everyone, indiscriminately spreading infections that cause illness and death and hindering development, especially in the world’s poorest communities.”

Without proper sanitation, we will not improve nor reach the goal set by the United Nations in our country. Annually, many lives are lost to improper sanitary conditions. Having adequate sanitation affects everyone in our community. Having proper sanitation is a basic human right.

Professor Vivienne Nathason, British Medical Association, asserted, “Without safe sanitation and water, sustainable agriculture cannot be developed, and extreme poverty, hunger, and under-nutri-

tion will continue. Women and girls will not achieve equality while they spend parts of every day walking long distances to draw water and return it to their homes, and are forced to give up their education due to lack of sanitation facilities in schools.”

Nathason further asserted, “Most significantly, the millions of premature deaths in infants will continue until safe sanitation and water is readily available and excreta is removed from the living environment.

These are avoidable deaths; we have known their cause and the means to reduce them for generations. What is required are the resources and the political will to prioritize sanitation and water. Unless we reduce neo-natal, infant, and child mortality, women will continue to bear more children than is good for their health, or the health of the child, as they expect to lose a number of offspring in infancy. Vicious cycles of disease and poverty can be readily broken with the right commitment and investment.”

Diarrhea disease is caused by poor sanitation due to unsafe and unclean water. Repeated diarrhea affects the development of children and can be associated with childhood malnutrition. It is reported that child malnutrition is caused by the lack of sanitation due to repeated ingestion of fecal bacteria by young children. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure universal agreement and approval to provide clean water in all communities.

The lack of proper sanitation conditions can infect our communities with the transmission of viruses such as polio, hepatitis A and E, cholera, and parasite eggs.

Having adequate, clean drinking water is the clearest sign that working sanitation exists, which is a critical factor for good health. Without access to clean water, our progress toward the 2015 goal will be limited. Let’s make a difference by reducing diseases through access to safe sanitation and water. Failure to ensure efficient sanitation and clean water means failure to provide a basic human right. Clean drinking water and efficient, sanitary disposal of waste are essential for living an acceptable life, and lack of these basic needs can hinder sustainable development in poor communities. The key issue here is that each community needs to work with government officials to determine the most sensible and cost-effective short- and long-term sanitation and water plans and then act accordingly.

Information for this article was obtained from WHO in cooperation with UNICEF, WSSCC, and Water Aid. Dr. Angela Banner Joseph holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Change from the Fielding Graduate University

For Sale

By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 2nd day of September, 2008 between BERTRAND FAUX of 11 Miles Northern Highway of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in Deeds Book Vol. 34 of 2008 at Folios 125-192, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

SCHEDULE All that piece of parcel of land situated along the new Northern Highway in the Belize District of Belize and containing 1.084 acres and being more particularly delineated and described as shown on Plan No. 103 of 2001 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 103 of 2001 and lodged at the office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys in the City of Belmopan in the Cayo District of Belize TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 17th day of February, 2014.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

23 FEB

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

Home Economics The mixed economy philosophy – What does it mean?

By Richard Harrison The Father of the Nation, Hon. George C. Price, always preached that Belize should implement a “MIXED ECONOMY”…..but how many understand what he meant?

The National Constitution, our supreme law, prescribes that the people of Belize “respect the principles of social justice and therefore believe that the operation of the economic system must result in the material resources of the community being so distributed as to sub serve the common good, that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all, that labour should not be exploited or forced by economic necessity to operate in inhumane conditions but that there should be opportunity for advancement on the basis of recognition of merit, ability and integrity, that equal protection should be given to children regardless of their social status, and that a just system should be ensured to provide for education and health on the basis of equality”.

It also prescribes, among other things, that we should “recognise that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and upon the rule of law; require policies of state which protect and safeguard the unity, freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Belize; which eliminate economic and social privilege and disparity among the citizens of Belize whether by race, ethnicity, colour, creed, disability or sex; which ensures gender equality; which protect the rights and opinions of the individual to life, liberty, basic education, basic health, the right to vote in elections, the right to work and the pursuit of happiness; which protect the identity of one individual, dignity and social and cultural values of Belizeans, including Belize’s indigenous peoples; which preserve the right of the individual to the ownership of private property and the right to operate private businesses; which prohibit the exploitation of man by man or by the state; which ensure a just system of social security and welfare; which protect the environment; which promote international peace, security and co-operation among nations, the establishment of a just and equitable international economic and social order in the world with respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings among nations”.

“There is not one single definition for a mixed economy, but the definitions always involve a degree of private economic freedom mixed with a degree of government regulation of markets. The relative strength or weakness of each component in the national economy can vary greatly between countries. Economies ranging from the United States to Cuba have been termed mixed economies. The term is also used to describe the economies of countries which are referred to as welfare

states, such as the Nordic countries.

Governments in mixed economies often provide environmental protection, maintenance of employment standards, a standardized welfare system, and maintenance of competition.

As an economic ideal, mixed economies are supported by people of various political persuasions, typically centre-left and centre-right, such as social democrats or Christian democrats. Supporters view mixed economies as a compromise between state socialism and free-market capitalism that is superior in net effect to either of those.” ~ Wikipedia The mixed economy of Mr. Price gave us the citrus, sugar and banana industries, the credit unions, the churchstate partnership for education, social security, countrywide roads and utilities, land reform as the primary and immediate equalizer/distributor of wealth, and many other small production industries from flour, milk, honey and processed meats to rum, beer, tobacco, corrugated metal roofing, nails and brake pads.

It did not give us mass tourism, casinos, offshore gambling nor such “service” industries, yet it did give us commercial banks and insurance companies to provide essential services under a highly regulated framework.

Some have argued that Belize has pursued an extreme neo-liberalism…. perhaps since 1984….but certainly after 1998….and that this philosophy drives the economic thinking of both major political parties that have controlled government since then. There is even talk of a PUDP….suggesting that the PUP and UDP-led governments are one and the same in terms of economic philosophy.

“Neoliberalism is a political philosophy whose advocates support economic liberalizations, free trade and open markets, privatization, deregulation, and enhancing the role of the private sector in modern society.

Neoliberalism was an economic philosophy that emerged among European liberal scholars in the 1930s attempting to trace a so-called ‘Third’ or ‘Middle Way’ between the conflicting philosophies of classical liberalism and collectivist central planning. The impetus for this development arose from a desire to avoid repeating the economic failures of the early 1930s which conventional wisdom of the time tended to blame on unfettered capitalism. In the decades that followed, neoliberal theory tended to be at variance with the more laissez-faire doctrine of classical liberalism and promoted instead a market economy under the guidance and rules of a strong state, a model which came to be known as the social market economy.

In the 1960s, usage of the term “neoliberal” heavily declined. When the term was reintroduced in the 1980s in connection with Augusto Pinochet’s regime in Chile, the usage of the term had shifted. It had not only become a term with negative connotations employed

principally by critics of market reform, but it also had shifted in meaning from a moderate form of liberalism to a more radical and laissez-faire capitalist set of ideas. Scholars now tended to associate it with the theories of economists Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman. Once the new meaning of neoliberalism was established as a common usage among Spanish-speaking scholars, it diffused directly into the English-language study of political economy.

The term “neoliberal” is now used mainly by those who are critical of legislative initiatives that push for free trade, deregulation, enhanced privatization, and an overall reduction in government control of the economy” ~ Wikipedia An analysis of our government’s positions regarding important paradigms can help us to understand who we truly are.

Since we cannot analyze all paradigms in this short space, let us take a look at two important sectors: Utilities and Retail Sector UTILITIES Telecommunications, water and power utilities were first established, owned and operated by the Government of Belize as public enterprises. They were later pushed a little further away from government via statutory bodies with independent Boards that provided oversight. In the 1980’s, a wave of privatization started, which resulted in all three utilities ending up in majority private hands, with rules limiting shares by any one individual/entity to 25%. These rules were later adjusted to remove this limitation, so that one person/ entity could own ALL of a utility company.

Not only that, but such persons were now allowed to operate all different forms of companies and trusts, such that ONE person could create a convolution of ownership rights and responsibilities….such that rights far over exceeded responsibilities.

More recently, the government has (or is in the process of) reacquired all three, having full control….with compensation for ownership still pending.

Thus, Belize’s approach to utilities can be said to have swung from mixed economy, to neo-liberal extremism, to communist-style appropriation….highly volatile swings that increase the perceived risks associated with all kinds of investments in Belize.

The government does not need to own these enterprises. One does not need to own 100% shares to have a very influential say in what happens in a company.

Depending on the structure of the shares, one can control a company with 35%, or less, of shares. A government does not have to have any shares to control a company….because it controls the laws that control the company. So, if it really wanted to….it could exercise influence over any company within its jurisdiction, by writing the laws that govern such a company… and then strictly enforcing those laws…including, but not limited to, the accounting practices that determine declared profits and taxes due.

RETAIL SECTOR The retail sector in Belize has always been privately owned….even if some areas are highly regulated, such as insurance, banking, fuel distributors, bus transport.

The government decided to make “trade licenses” accrue to local governments in the district cities and towns, most of which are cash strapped….so the more trade licenses they sell, the more revenues they collect. At the same time, the government

23 started selling citizenship, permanent residency status, visas and work permits; a program which shifted from over-the-counter to under-the-counter and which has resulted in many different peoples coming to Belize, initially under the pretext of investing in new industries and creating jobs for our people but the seed fell far from the tree. Now we have a proliferation of retail establishments at scales that have forced traditional Belizean-owned retail outlets to close down. We do not have ONE new industry to show. Unemployment among Belizeans that have been here for over 20 years is over 20%, and their children are on the fringes of society, but a small number of passport, permanent residency and visa traders don’t have to work for another day in their lives. They drive around like they are the smartest and cutest little things after “Dora the Explorer”.

Thus, for this sector, Belize can be said to have moved from mixed economy, to neo-liberal extremism….and heading further that way. However, this has nothing to do with neo-liberal philosophy….it has to do with greed that started in the mind of the “internationalists” become “opportunists” because this proliferation is directly linked to the lucrative human trafficking “service” industry trade.

Belize needs to consider bringing some order to the retail sector through regulatory oversight because pressure in the grocery retail sector is forcing movement to food service, hardware, bakery, beauty and cosmetics, bars, casino and motels…. get the drift? To do this, it has to clean up its immigration laws, policies and practices to bring these operations out of the dark underground caverns and allow immigration to take place in a highly regulated market, above-the-counter.

One can go on to analyze the various sectors that make up the Belize economy and what you will find is that from sector to sector, there are different tendencies towards neo-liberalism…towards communism…and everything in between…. depending on which sector you are observing. What can be observed is that the sectors have been developed along the lines of special interests, with the same “opinion” leadership staying in place for very long periods….and the driving philosophy of that special interest is what drives the sector.

Belize needs, as a nation….to consider the Father of the Nation’s advice regarding our economic pursuits….to follow the prescription of our National Constitution….with a view to moving all our economic planning, structures, laws, policies and institutions towards the guiding principles of an economic philosophy relevant to our times.

Neither unbridled neo-liberal capitalism nor communism/socialism have proven to be better than the mixed economy for small states such as Belize. With this guiding philosophy in place there will be greater stability and predictability of our thoughts, decisions and actions….lower perception of risks…and higher economic returns, better social outcomes, more momentum, with all of us moving in the same direction.

Armed with such unity of purpose... nothing…no one…will be able to stop us from becoming the “bread basket of the Caribbean”, from being the “the bridge between Central America and the Caribbean”, from becoming the “little Switzerland of the Americas”....from achieving our aspirations as a nation.

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Recipe of the week

Coffee Cake Ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 6 tablespoons white sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup shortening 1/2 cup milk 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan.

In a large bowl mix together

the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender to the size of small peas.

In a separate small bowl, beat the egg well, then stir in the milk and vanilla. Add the eggmilk mixture to the flour mixture all at once. Stir carefully until just blended.

Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Drizzle top with melted butter.

In a small bowl mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.

Sprinkle on top of cake. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

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Celebrating Black History Month

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African American Inventors

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (1912 2002) was the first African American to be appointed as a General in the U.S. Air Force. He led the Tuskegee Airmen flight squadron and stood up to the military establishment in advancing the cause of African American soldiers.

Fast Fact: He was the son of the U. S. Army’s first black general, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., and was the first black cadet to graduate from West Point in the 20th century. He was also one of the first black pilots in the military.

MAZE FUN!

William Hastie Jr. (19041976) had one of the most distinguished careers as an African American political pioneer. As a politician, civil rights activist, an educator and a jurist, he fought against racism. In 1946 he was nominated by President Harry S. Truman to serve as the Governor of the Virgin Islands and he became the first African American Governor of any United States territory.

Roger Arliner Young (889 1964) was an American scientist of zoology, biology, and marine biology. She was the first African American woman to receive a doctorate degree in zoology.

Marie Maynard Daly Clark (1921-2003) was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry. She was a champion for diversity and worked to increase the representation of minorities in science. Dr. Clark was made a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was named one of the Top 50 Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology by the National Technical Association in 1999.

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BRAIN

TEASER

SUDOKU PUZZLE #53/2014

See answers NEXT WEEK

Answers for last week’s puzzle SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTION #53/2014

Answers for last week’s puzzle

See answers NEXT WEEK

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BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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Incoming ‘Moby Dick’ asteroid goes missing near Earth 12 February 2014 by Helen Thomson A whale of an asteroid has gone missing. The 270-metre space rock known as 2000 EM26 was slated to skim past Earth early on 18 February, coming within 3.4 million kilometres of our planet. But when a robotic telescope service trained its eye on the predicted position, the asteroid was nowhere to be found.

Astronomers coordinating the telescope service, called Slooh, have nicknamed the elusive asteroid Moby Dick after the fictional white whale, and have issued a call to amateur sky-watchers to help hunt it down.

It is not uncommon for asteroids to go missing and it is unlikely that Moby Dick now poses a danger to Earthlings. But its apparent disappearance highlights just how poor Earth is at asteroid surveillance.

So what has happened to asteroid 2000 EM26? The most likely scenario is that it is on a very different path from its expected trajectory, and the telescope wasn’t looking in the right place, says Slooh CEO Michael Paolucci. Generally, astronomers try to predict an asteroid’s trajectory by looking at how light reflects off its surface. This tells them what it is probably made of, how it is spinning and where it might go next.

Spinning whale Asteroid 2000 EM26 was discovered 14 years ago and has not

First commercial moon delivery could be sports drink

been seen since, so astronomers have limited information about it. Not knowing enough about how the asteroid rotates makes it hard to know how other forces, like radiation pressure from sunlight, might nudge the rock onto a different trajectory.

Generally, it is not unusual to be uncertain about any asteroid’s future whereabouts, says Paolucci. Even before Moby Dick failed to show, the telescope’s operators were deliberating with a partner in Dubai about exactly where to look. “It’s a major chore figuring out how to reacquire asteroids,” says Paolucci. “It’s almost like discovering them all over again.”

Sometimes asteroids are simply too dark in colour to see easily, making them difficult to find again with visible-light telescopes like Slooh.

This might explain how a big asteroid like Moby Dick can remain elusive

even as it makes its closest approach to Earth.”One possibility here is that the asteroid is right where we think it is.

It might just be really faint,” says Amy Mainzer of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Although telescopes that look at other wavelengths of light might be able to see it, they haven’t looked yet.

Despite such difficulties tracking even relatively close space rocks, some astronomers argue that we are well enough prepared for the threat of meteorites, considering the low probability of a serious impact. Exact figures for the likelihood are hard to come by, but meteors 20 metres or so in diameter – the size of the one that hit in Chelyabinsk, Russia almost exactly a year ago – hit the planet only once or twice a century, and most fall over the ocean or unpopulated areas. Larger ones are even less likely to hit.

19 February 2014 by Jacob Aron Expect astronomical shipping charges. A can of the Japanese sports drink Pocari Sweat could next year become the first commercial delivery to the moon.

Astrobotic of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, says it will deliver the drink on behalf of Singapore-based firm Astroscale. Astrobotic is one of many teams vying for the Google Lunar X Prize, which promises $20 million to the first commercial moon lander.

Other competitors are seeking sponsorship and commercial payload deals, but Astrobotic has the earliest planned launch date, in October 2015. “There have been a number of offers and potential deals mooted, but it is the first commercial deal that’s been publicly announced,” says Greg Sadlier of London Economics, which recently valued the moon delivery market at $2.6 billion over the next 25 years.

Astrobotic lists shipping fees starting from $2 million per kilogram on its website. If the mission goes ahead, it will be Pocari Sweat’s second space trip, after featuring in an advert filmed on the International Space Station in 2001.

Blind mice see the light after simple drug therapy 19 February 2014 by Colin Barras If it’s beyond repair, you find something else to do its job. This could soon apply to rods and cones, the light-sensitive cells in our eyes that can wither with age, causing blindness. A drug has been found that coaxes neighbours of ailing cells to do their work for them.

In 2012, Richard Kramer at the University of California, Berkeley, discovered that injecting a certain chemical into the eyes of blind mice made normally light-insensitive ganglion cells respond to light. These

cells ferry optical signals from the rods and cones to the brain, so the mice regained some ability to see light.

But it only worked with ultraviolet light. Now, Kramer’s team has found a different drug that does the same with visible light. Just 6 hours after they were injected, blind mice could learn to respond to light in the same way as sighted mice – although Kramer says he doesn’t know whether they regained vision or just light sensitivity.

Selective effect When the researchers studied the drug’s impact on retinal cells in more detail, they realised it had had no effect on

healthy cells. “That’s what’s particularly remarkable and hopeful about this,” says Kramer. “It’s possible that if you put this drug in a partially damaged eye it would restore vision to the damaged regions and leave the healthy areas unaffected – although we haven’t done the experiments to test that.”

Gene therapy and stem cell treatments are also being explored as ways to restore sight, but a drug would be simpler and any side effects should be reversible, says Kramer.

Last year, Robin Ali of University College London transplanted light-sensing cells made from embryonic stem cells into the eyes of blind mice. He says Kramer’s study

is interesting, and may eventually be relevant for some people with age-related macular degeneration, the condition that results from withered rods and cones. However, he points out that it is not yet clear whether the drug restores any useful vision.

“The light responses that are generated could be very noisy and not useful – or even disturbing,” he says. “Or perhaps the brain could learn to interpret the new information. But this needs to be demonstrated.”

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THE BELIZE TIMES

The Empty Faucet

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his past Sunday, at a local Kingdom of God embassy, an ambassador relayed a thought-provoking story. An American missionary was attacked in the Amazon by a group of one of the native warrior tribes. Five indigenous people who happened by stepped in to save the man. As a token of his appreciation, the missionary took them out to dinner at a hotel in the nearest city. The group went up to the man’s hotel room to talk and he told them that they could have anything they could carry and that he would pay for it. The people led him into the bathroom and pointed.

“We want that they said.” The missionary was astounded for the people wanted the bathtub faucet! When he tried to explain why that would be impossible they insisted, “We have no running water at the touch of a button at home.

This is what we want”.

What the tribe people did not understand was that the faucet had no power on its own. They mistakenly felt that the running water came from the faucet. They did not know the power came from the pipes connected to the faucet.

These pipes were behind the walls and unseen to the human eye, yet the faucet would be a useless object without this ‘invisible’ source. It is the same with human beings.

People who call themselves ‘Christians’ may have the shiniest exteriors, their faucets may even be made of gold; true value, however, lies not in the tool used to bring forth the water, but in the actual water. If the beautiful gold faucet is inlaid with precious stones and cannot conduct water from the pipes, it is a very beautiful piece of trash. Now, I am in no way calling people trash, but those who perform all the right rituals and actions without being connected to the Source are simply blowing hot air.

No human being is useless and some can even argue that one does not have to be connected to the Source to be a ‘good’ person. I admit, when it comes to loving others and service to the poor, some who do not even call themselves believers have traditional ‘Christians’ beat. So why is it important to be connected to the Source? See, being connected to the Source doesn’t amount to a bunch of long prayers, crazy screaming during praise and worship, or heartfelt Amens when the preacher hits a sweet spot.

When one is connected to the Source, one is obedient to the Source. Being obedient to the Source of all power immediately equals success.

The Source of All Power (even running water) is also the Creator of the world, the Manufacturer. As intelligent as we humans are, when it comes to experimentation, we fail a thousand and one times before we succeed. The easiest way to bypass all the hassle is to read the manual provided by the manufacturer. It only makes sense that the person who created the product would know best how the consumer could utilize the product to its fullest potential.

In the same way, The Manufacturer knows exactly how to guide everyone towards their purpose without the bumps and bruises that figuring it out on our own by trial-and-error will provide.

I encourage you to not just be a pretty or handsome faucet, but to get connected to the Source.

Until next week, God bless.

By Dr. John Sosa, Neurologist

23 FEB

2014

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autistic disorder, sometimes called autism or classical ASD, is the most severe form of ASD. The other conditions along the spectrum include a milder form known as Asperger syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.

It occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and affects every age group. Experts estimate that 1 out of 88 children aged 8 will have an ASD. Every child on the autism spectrum has unique abilities, symptoms, and challenges. Every individual on the autism spectrum has problems to some degree with social skills, empathy, communication, and flexible behavior.

Diagnosis: The hallmark feature of ASD is impaired social interaction. Basic social interaction can be difficult for children with autism spectrum disorders. Symptoms can include: unusual or inappropriate body language, gestures, and facial expressions (e.g. avoiding eye contact or using facial expressions that don’t match what he or she is saying), lack of interest in other people or in sharing interests or achievements (e.g. showing you a drawing, pointing to a bird), unlikely to approach others or to pursue social interaction; comes across as aloof and detached; prefers to be alone. They can have difficulty understanding other people’s feelings, reactions, and nonverbal cues, be resistant to being touched, and have difficulty or fail to make friends with children the same age.

Problems with speech and language comprehension are a telltale sign of the autism spectrum disorders. Symptoms may include: delay in learning how to speak (after the age of 2) or not talking at all, speaking in an abnormal tone of voice, or with an odd rhythm or pitch, repeating words or phrases over and over without communicative intent, have trouble starting a conversation or keeping it going, have difficulty communicating needs or desires, not understanding simple statements or questions, and taking what is said too literally, missing humor, irony, and sarcasm.

Children with autism spectrum disorders are often restricted, rigid, and even obsessive in their behaviors, activities, and interests. Symptoms may include: repetitive body movements (hand flapping, rocking, spinning); moving constantly, have obsessive attachment to unusual objects (rubber bands, keys, light switches), being preoccupied with a specific topic of interest, often involving numbers or symbols (maps, license plates, sports statistics), have a strong need for sameness, order, and routines (e.g. lines up toys, follows a rigid schedule), get upset by change in their routine or environment, be clumsy, have abnormal posture, or odd ways of moving, and be fascinated by spinning objects, moving pieces, or parts of toys (e.g. spinning the wheels on a race car, instead of playing with the whole car).

ASD varies widely in severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when it is masked by more debilitating handicaps.

Treatment: There is no cure for ASDs. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that meet the specific needs of individual children.

Most health care professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better. Treatment includes educational/behavioral interventions, medications for treatment of specific autism-related symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder and other physical and speech therapies.

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2014

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Beirut, Lebanon - The Lebanese have long been known for their resilience their ability to pick up the pieces and carry on with their lives after yet another traumatic event.

This sentiment rings true for Marwan Akil, a coffee shop owner in Lebanon’s capital. Akil was making coffee for a group of customers on February 4 when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a passenger van in Beirut’s

southern suburbs.

The blast, which took place during the evening rush hour in the Choueifat district, happened just 20 metres from his coffee shop.

“I heard a big noise and suddenly it became so misty,” Akil told Al Jazeera News.

“I didn’t know what it was.

I just heard women screaming and saw so much smoke.

There was no body of the suicide bomber - his parts were spread out everywhere

across the road and his head actually became detached and hit the fifth floor of an apartment close by.”

Although the blast happened in a Druze neighbourhood, it was adjacent to a heavily Shia Muslim area, from which Hezbollah, Lebanon’s most powerful armed group, draws its base of support. It appeared to be the latest in a string of attacks in the nation’s capital, which has, along with the rest of the country, become drawn into the Syrian civil war next door and polarised along sectarian lines.

Nevertheless, Akil has continued to make coffee at his shop every day since the blast. But customers are far and few between.

“No one comes here anymore for coffee because they are afraid. This is not ethical, it is not right.

We just want this all to stop. No matter what religion you are, it is not ethical.

I wish the Syrian war wouldn’t spill over into Lebanon.”

Lopez supporters rally outside Caracas court

Lopez was arrested on charges of homicide and inciting violence [AFP]

Venezuela’s opposition leader due to appear in court in capital city, as protests continue, killing a fifth person.

Hundreds of supporters of jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez have rallied outside a Caracas court where he was due to attend a hearing of charges blaming him for a deadly episode of violence.

Heavy security surrounded the Palace of Justice on Wednesday, blocking streets leading to the building, as the slogan-chanting crowd outside grew ahead of the expected arrival of the Harvard-educated economist, who spent the night in jail.

A fifth death from the country’s political unrest was reported the same day - a 22-year old student demonstrator shot in the head head during Tuesday’s protest in the city of Valencia.

Lopez’s dramatic surrender to national guard troops at a protest rally on Tuesday was the culmination of two weeks of tension-filled protests in the oilrich country against the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro, the successor of the late Hugo Chavez, is under fire over rampant crime rates, runaway inflation, high unemployment and other economic problems.

Maduro ordered Lopez’s arrest after three people were killed in street clashes last week, blaming him for the violence.

Lopez, also in white and draped in a Venezuelan flag, suddenly emerged in the crowd, climbing a statue of Cuban independence hero Jose Marti. After

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US banks free to accept legal marijuana money

Beirut on the brink Sectarian violence worsens in Lebanon’s resilient capital.

NEWS

delivering a brief message to his cheering supporters, he surrendered to the National Guard.

“I present myself before an unjust justice, before a corrupt justice,” said Lopez.

“If my incarceration serves to wake up a people... (it) will have been worth it.”He calmly walked under escort to a National Guard vehicle as his supporters pressed in around the vehicle, blocking its path.

“We are expressing the frustration we feel. The country is in chaos, there are no supplies in the hospitals, we are sick of the insecurity. I want a Venezuela of progress,” said Satle Oviedo, a 27-year-old hospital worker.

Government guidance intended to increase availability of banking services, such as savings accounts, to marijuana shops.

The Obama administration has sought to lessen the fear of prosecution for banks doing business with licensed marijuana companies, further encouraging US states such as Colorado and Washington that are experimenting with legalising the drug.

The Justice and Treasury departments outlined the policy in writing to federal prosecutors and financial institutions nationwide, the Reuters news agency reported.

The guidance stopped short of promising immunity for banks, but made clear that criminal prosecution for money laundering and other crimes was unlikely if they met a series of conditions, officials said.

Currently, processing money from marijuana sales puts federally insured banks at risk of drug racketeering charges, and they therefore refuse to open accounts for marijuana-related businesses, the AP news agency reported.

North Korean arms ship sails back to Cuba The ship’s journey, which started in April, was intercepted after containers of weapons were found hidden on board.

A North Korean ship, caught in July while trying to move undeclared Cuban weapons through the Panama Canal, left on Saturday to Cuba, the Foreign Ministry said.

The Chong Chon Gang freighter departed from the Panamanian port of Colon with a crew of 32 on its way back to Cuba, the ministry said in a statement.

The ship got the green light last week to leave Panama after Pyongyang paid a fine of nearly $700,000.

Back in July, en route from Cuba, the ship was stopped on suspicion of carrying drugs as it tried to enter the canal, the busy waterway linking the Caribbean and Pacific.

A search by Panamanian authorities uncovered 25 containers of Cuban military hardware, including two Soviet-era MiG-21 aircraft, air defence systems, missiles and command and control vehicles.

The containers were concealed under more than 200,000 sacks of sugar.

Both Havana and Pyongyang said the weapons were obsolete Cuban arms being shipped to North Korea for refurbishment under a legitimate contract and due to be returned to Cuba.

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PUP Chairman meets with Cayo West leaders

Party Chairman Henry Usher, Arenal Chairman Mirto Naj and Don Sanchez Benque Viejo Town – 18th February 2014 Party Chairman, Henry Usher, made a working visit to the Cayo West Constituency on Sunday 16th February 2014. His first stop was a tour of Arenal Village and a courtesy call on the Chairman of the village, Mr. Mirto Naj. Villagers came from all over to voice their concerns about the neglect of Erwin Contreras and the UDP who have completely abandoned the village. Chief among the cries was a lack of proper medical attention. The PUP built a health clinic in Arenal, but since the UDP took office in 2008 the clinic has become a shell. No nurse, no medical supplies. It has not opened its doors in the last 5 years.

The closest health outpost is

Benque Viejo, so even the most minor medical attention requires an arduous journey along one of the many terrible roads throughout Belize.

To make matters worse, there is no ambulance for anything serious, the only one in the area is currently impounded in Melchor. The official story is that it is receiving repairs, as if Belize has no capable mechanics.

The real story behind it, residents say is an underhanded business deal gone bad. And of course in usual UDP style, the people suffer. No ambulance and an irregular and often non-existent bus run have cut off villagers from the rest of Belize.

But that’s where Chairman Naj has come in. He has answered the call of his villagers at all hours of the day and night, transporting them in his private vehicle sometimes all the way to San Ignacio Town

and back. Proudly flying his PUP flag at his house, Mirto Naj has become a symbol for the Party that has restored hope in the people.

The Party Chairman’s last stop on his working tour was a meeting with the PUP stalwarts in Succotz Village, who as usual are ready for challenge of winning the general election. Succotz, historically, is a village filled with revolutionary fer-

31 vor and heightened political passions. Sunday’s meeting with Henry Usher was a productive one as the committee wants to get their standard bearer in place soon and hit the campaign trail in full force. The Chairman informed them that the Western Caucus would be meeting shortly and setting the date for the convention.

PUP NOTICE Belize Rural South Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Belize Rural South Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday, June 22, 2014.

Application are available from the Constituency Committee Chairperson or the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications must be filled and returned to the Chairperson and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is Thursday March 28, 2014.

CARTOON

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