Belize Times June 26, 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

SUNDAY June 26, 2011

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THE BELIZE TIMES

www.facebook/Belize Times

Issue No. 4751

Private Sector condemns Barrow

Concerns abound about shrinking foreign investment, crises, debt saddling & power-crazed GOB Belize City, June 22, 2011 Private sector representatives, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Belize Business Bureau, have come out swinging against the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dean Barrow’s decision to forcibly acquire yet another privately-owned utility company, citing grave concerns for the negative economic impacts that are likely to follow. On Monday June 20th, the Prime Minister Continued on page 4

Belize’s

credit

rating at risk!

Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s takeover of yet another utility company has attracted bitter criticism

PUP Leader pledges to revolutionise Education

PUP Leader Hon. John Briceño explaining his Leap Forward idea to the young audience

Belize City, June 22, 2011 It is no coincidence that one of the PUP’s central mantras has always been that the key to poverty eradication is through education.

A sound and relevant

Two murdered in home invasions Tuesday, June 21, 2011 The weekend was not a quiet one in the old capital, as yet there were two more shootings to report, both brazen attacks on two men who

Continued on page 6

Romel Palacio, Sr.

Delbert “Sniper” Hinds

Belize City, June 22, 2011 Six days after international credit rating agency, Standard & Poor’s, announced that Belize was placed 9th in its ranking of ten countries likely to default on its debt, the agency has issued a stern warning that the country’s credit ratings faces downgrading as a result of Government’s forced acquisition of the electricity Continued on page 6

education will afford any Belizean a viable opportunity to become employed, or to start a business.

Education empowers the mind, Continued on Insert 2

DOLORES

FOR BELIZE RURAL CENTRAL

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

See page 11

See page 15

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011

From the ghetto streets

“The Take Over, Family First, Belizeans Last”

San Estevan Road neglected Dear Editor, Please allow me a space in your newspaper to express the concern of my fellow villagers and of those who are concerned but cannot express it due to some reason or the other.

Today I want the reader to know of the neglect on our main road. I am speaking on behalf of all those villagers and day to day commuters of the San Estevan-Progresso Road. For years and years, blue and red, have promised upgrade to our road, yet there is no reason to cheer! We are still travelling in a horrible road, which not only causes discomfort to us tax-payers but also causes economic stress. We have to change tires more often due to the condition of the road. It is unbelievable that we as tax-payers are not getting what we pay for! The reason for not investing on our road might be that Government Officials never use this road, yet they want our vote. We cannot vote for any representative that will not comply with our expectations.

I speak today on behalf of sugar cane farmers, bus owners, papaya haulers, the Mennonite community, regular commuters and all who this neglected road affects. I plead on the Government to make a move and fix our road to a state where

we don’t have to see potholes here, there and everywhere. We want a transit-able road, not a stone-age highway. We have been granted with millions of dollars for this road upgrade yet we haven’t seen any upgrade. Are you waiting for election time to come? Let me tell you politicians, we no longer want to hear that you will pave it for us. We want it done before election time. Knowing politicians they will come and tell us lies again but we are prepared to stop them. We want our road fixed today. So please hear our cries and fix our road. Now! Signed: J. Mendez Editor’s Note: The letter was somewhat revised a little. It is important to remind the northern constituents that in February 2008, the Barrow Administration deviated $8.9 million which had been allotted for the paving of the San Estevan-Progresso Road, to pave downtown Belize City. Due to the Belize City Council’s incompetence and financial mis-management, and the Government’s lack of care for the people of the north, the San Estevan-to Progresso Road continues under dilapidation.

Barrow is a threat to Belize Belize City, June 21, 2011 The following is the Official Position of the People’s United Party on the Government’s takeover of Belize Electricity Limited.

• The Prime Minister stated that the country faced a crisis; we agree that any responsible government must act in the face of a crisis.

• We are also aware that Fortis/ BEL is quite capable of presenting its case before the Belizean people – this is not our role.

• With the Company now a fully owned Belizean Company, we must now be concerned with ensuring that the interests of the Belizean people are protected and as such would like to know: 1. Will this acquisition of BEL result in cheaper electricity rates? The UDP in their 21 pledges promised Belizeans cheaper utility rates.

2. Will shares be available for Belizeans to buy and at an affordable rate?

3. Will the workers of BEL be protected from political victimization?

4. Will this takeover result in a boost of the Belizean economy resulting in the creation of more jobs? -- Unemployment is at 24% 5. How will the acquisition of BEL improve the quality of the lives of the Belizean people?

6. Will the government owed BEL manage national emergencies in a manner that will guarantee Belizeans that in the event of a hurricane and the loss of power they will restore power to affected

areas ASAP? 7. Will BELCOGEN be paid in time for them not to default on their payments?

• The PUP is seriously concerned over the confrontational manner in which the Prime Minister and this UDP Government has handled this and other situations.

As in the case of the bus crisis, BTL, the issue with the people who were removed from their homes on Chetumal Street and the Football situation, it seems the posture of Government is to fight instead of negotiate.

With respect to BEL, a deadline to come up with a solution (20 days) was given and then the Prime Minister acted before the expiration of this deadline.

• The Prime Minister brought this important issue to the National Assembly, with minimum notice and in so doing did not allow adequate time for consultation and this is yet another indication of the complete lack of commitment to change and reform.

• The PUP must state that like the rest of Belizeans, we have no confidence in this UDP administration’s ability to manage the affairs of the nation. We are seriously concerned about the investor climate in Belize and feel that the posture of the Barrow Administration towards both local and foreign investors is a real threat to the development of the nation.

Dear Editor, Kindly save a space for me once more to publish this letter. Belizeans are still imagining the possibilities, when will it end? Belizeans weren’t feeling this kind of hard time until hell broke loose. From the day Dean Barrow and his worthless so-called government got into office the country was never going to be the same again and the Belizeans are seeing that right now.

It seems like these people don’t have the slightest idea on how to govern a country but the only type of govern this government knows is to rob the country of all its wealth, take over of any company and destroy the economy. Power is what Dean Barrow wants, and power is what he is going to get, electrical power that is, that is all the power he needs. Maybe

A Public Rebuke of Mr. Luis Lue Dear Editor, It is with disdain that we noted that Mr. Luis Lue has accepted an appointment to serve as a government Director on the newly constituted Board of Directors of Belize Electricity Ltd. following a hostile takeover of the company by the Barrow Administration.

In doing so Mr. Lue has displayed shamelessly his spinelessness and double standards (not for the first time) in accepting this appointment.

Mr. Lue was the former government’s point-man and head of the privatization and investment committee who strongly recommended and selected Fortis Inc. as a reputable company and should be invited, as it was, to become the strategic investor for the modernization of BEL and for building the Chalillo dam despite opposition to the project by Mr. Dean Barrow and foreign environmental right wing groups.

Attorneys for Fortis Inc. should take note and call Mr. Lue as a hostile witness in any future court proceedings against the Government.

Mr. Lue’s action is a betrayal to many of his former colleagues at BEL, including his very dear friend, who up to now has chosen not to serve two masters.

It is certainly not the first time that he has betrayed confidences and it will not be the last.

(Name withheld)

if he gets a little shock, he will gain some sense. The way Dean Barrow is acting right now is just like a spoiled child. Everything he sees he wants. What can I say? No home training but what can we expect, that is the UDP way – the highway or no way. That’s how it’s been and that’s how it’s going to remain as long as he is in office.

Here we go again, another take over, this time the electrical company. Just another form of U.D.P. hustling. I know and Belizeans know that this is just another friend and family benefit program just like what happened to B.T.L. and that is a fact coming from the ghetto streets.

Everything this Prime Minister does, his family always benefits no matter what but the poor Belizeans have to struggle and survive if they want to stay alive. I know Belizeans are sorry that they went down the wrong road, Barrow’s hard time road of no return.

If this Prime Minister is doing a good job, which those clowns on Wave are claiming, then why “dog the eat wi suppa?” Maybe someone needs to tell them to stop clowning around because the circus is in town. Dean Barrow, Belizeans are saying enough is enough. No more imagining. Get real or else we will. Remember Belizeans at the end of the day, we have the power to vote, like what Sedi Elrington would say, this artificial U.D.P. government out of office. Don’t worry Dean yo gawn, yo gawn come 2013. Respect to my ghetto people. Guidance Belizeans and keep your head up.

Thanks, Roberto Peyrefitte

THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR

Alberto Vellos OFFICE MANAGER

Fay Castillo McKay PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR

Doreth Bevans

LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

MARKETING/ADVERTISING

Rafael Sosa

STAFF REPORTER

Carla Bradley TYPIST

Rachel Arana OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd.

#3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Tel: 671-8385 Email: belizetimesad@yahoo.com editortimes@yahoo.com

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Orange Walk Central home of the Party Leader Hon. John Briceno invites you to our endorsement

CONVENTION

TOGETHER

PUP

meet TEAM BELIZE

our 31candidates for the upcoming General Elections Sunday 26 June 2011 at 1:00pm People’s Stadium, Orange Walk Town

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Private Sector condemns Barrow

Continued on page 1 introduced and passed legislation in the House of Representatives which expropriated Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) from owners Fortis Inc., a Canada-based company which held a majority 70% of shareholdings.

The Prime Minister claimed he had to take over BEL to “save” the nation from the utility company’s insolvency, but the Chamber responded yesterday, saying that Barrow’s abuse of power could “severely undermine investor confidence and destroy the economy”.

The Chamber opposes the takeover. Its press release says, “the Chamber does not believe that it was necessary for the Government to forcibly expropriate BEL”. They cite that the Government could have opted for “less invasive methods” through BEL’s shareholding, instead of a forced acquisition which will “only saddle the nation with additional hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, and millions in legal fees and litigation costs”. The Bureau also indicate alarm that an increase in public debt will place the nation’s finances from “unsustainable” to “unstable”, making the economic climate ever more grave for the productive sector.

The Prime Minister has indicated that he is prepared to argue the value of BEL before the Courts, and is already disputing figures as high as $300 million claimed by the former owners. Belize will have to follow with compensation, in addition to taking over BEL’s existing debts. Having already taken over Belize Telemedia Limited in 2009, which had a reported value of $300 million and for which the owners have yet to be compensated, the BEL acquisition would push Belize’s debt past $1.8 billion.

The private sector groups also expressed concern that the Barrow Administration’s second forced acquisition in its single-term in office would erode investor confidence in Belize. The Chamber said the Government’s rules of engagement where “conditions under which business is carried out are subject to change at GOB’s whims” are not conducive for investment. By abusing its power and use its authority to expropriate as a means of settling disputes, GOB is directly undermining local and foreign investments, claimed the release.

The Government’s manner of pushing through the legislation was also heavily criticised by the Chamber of Commerce. The private sector lashed out at the Prime Minister’s deceitfulness, claiming he promised a 20-day period of discussion, but “in haste in shroud of secrecy, he convenes a Special Sitting of the House and the Senate and once again abuses the norms of our parliamentary democracy and legislative process to expropriate the company in one day”.

The Government has attempted to gain support, locally, by touting its actions as one of nationalism. While it has gained the sympathy of certain quarters

of the media, the Chamber said they would not fooled…not this time. “This notion that we are not patriotic if we do not support GOB’s actions is insulting and arrogant,” stated their press release.

For its part, the Business Bureau has called for the revival of the National Economic Council, a private sector/ public sector body initiated by the former PUP Government for economic discussion, but disregarded by the Barrow Administration. The Bureau said the Council served as a useful platform to find solutions in the past, and would be needed to “stop the hemorrhaging [of] both private and public sector”.

Today the Government responded to the Chamber’s release, claim-

ing their concerns are “patent nonsense”, “politically inspired” and “rants”. Furthermore, the Government launched a personal attack on a Chamber executive, by claiming that they are the deceitful ones who never officially disclosed that their President, Kay Menzies, “was a Board Member of BEL appointed by Fortis to serve Fortis’s interests”.

BEL’s former owners have blamed the Government-appointed Public Utilities Commission for the company’s financial woes, accusing them of conspiring to bring the company to its knees through arm-bending regulatory practices.

Last week BEL’s Chief Executive Officer Lynn Young met with members of the private sector in which he related the challenges BEL had to face, and also announced his reasons for walking off the job. He said he refused to become a pawn of the Government’s vindictive intentions against Fortis Inc., and he would not stand for the political victimization, which the Barrow Administration is known for.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Police seek Orlando Sanchez, for brutal attack on OW Woman

Orlando Sanchez

Orange Walk, June 20, 2011

By Carmelita Perez Orange Walk Police are seeking Orlando Sanchez for questioning,

Continued on page 30

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Like BTL, BEL Was Hijacked, Not Nationalized The vindictive and confrontational politics of the UDP government became up close and personal with yet another hostile takeover of a private utility company, this time Belize Electricity Limited. As was stated in the PUP’s official position of the takeover, “As in the case of the bus crisis, BTL … and the football situation, it seems the posture of Government is to fight instead of negotiate.” With an arrogance that knows no limit, Prime Minister Dean Barrow gloats of how he brought this company to its knees, instead of seeking a more productive long term solution to the crisis by working with the shareholders of BEL. The failure of BEL, no doubt, is due to this government’s failure to have a cohesive policy for development. Dean Barrow has not provided any vision for an energy policy for this country. He was opposed to the development of alternative sources of energy but provided no alternative solutions to meet the growing national demand for electricity. Now his only recourse is the crude and hostile takeovers of successful private investments and doom them to failure through irrational expropriation masked as ‘nationalization’.

What happened to BEL on Monday and BTL two years ago are not examples of nationalization. It is Barrow in his role as middleman dictator strong-arming private property from one entity, only to sell to another entity, just out of spite and malice. It will not result in cheaper electricity rates. It will not result in more Belizean ownership of the electricity provider. And it will not be a boost to the Belizean economy, which is on life support. Of course the transaction will reap a fat bounty for those involved – the lawyers, the brokers and of course the corrupt and greedy UDP politicians and cronies and their bottomless pockets.

The People’s United Party is the only true nationalist Party. It is the Party that led the way to a Belizean identity, to Independence, and to ownership of our natural resources being placed in the hands of Belizeans. It was under the Father of the Nation, the Right Honourable George Price, that Tate and Lyle was nationalized, and the lands to plant sugarcane were conveyed to the rightful owners, the farmers who worked and harvested the fields.

Dean Barrow said publicly that his Party has always been philosophically opposed to privatization, yet it was the UDP that began the privatization process in Belize in their 1984 to 1989 term of government. The UDP privatized telecommunications, selling shares to British Telecom. The UDP privatized electricity production and distribution, selling shares to Dominion Energy in 1993. But the Prime Minister has gotten away with rewriting history and misleading Belizeans, because he has a friendly media who has bought in to his bogus nationalization scheme. Without a doubt the advertizing dollars from BEL will be flowing in one particular direction.

While on the surface the expropriation of BEL may appear to be a populist move there are far reaching national and international implications. We have just started what has been predicted as a very active hurricane season. Can this government-owned BEL guarantee Belizeans that if a major hurricane hits, it can restore power to affected areas ASAP? The money that the government will have to pay out for the hijacking of BEL and BTL could have instead been used to improve the country’s crumbling streets, roads and bridges, for the rolling out of National Health Insurance, which the nation so badly needs, implementing a national housing programme for the poor, salvage the collapsing educational institutions and the failing education system and create jobs for the thousands of unemployed Belizeans.

In a stinging release the Belize Chamber of Commerce accurately outlined the negative impact this move will have on investor confidence. It stated, “It is difficult to convince any potential investor, whether local or foreign, to invest hard-earned cash in a business if, as the recent acquisition demonstrates, the conditions under which business is carried out are subject to change at GOB’s whim. The Chamber is very concerned that expropriation as a means of settling disputes with the GOB is becoming a practice, and this will directly undermine and deter both local and foreign investments at a time when they are most needed to create jobs, earn much needed foreign exchange and pay our ever growing national debt.” Already the Standard and Poors investment rating firm has downgraded Belize and said we are ninth out of tenth of countries not likely to honor its debts.

The Chamber closed off by saying, “The BCCI is fully aware that its position might run counter to public opinion, but our view is based on what we believe to be in the best long-term interests of Belize and not the courting of an electorate. This notion that we are not patriotic if we do not support GOB’s actions is insulting and arrogant. We urge all political parties’ propaganda organs to resist from stirring anti private sector, xenophobic and racist sentiments. This tactic has been used in many countries for very short-term domestic gains, but all those countries are now avoided as unreliable pariah states.”

It is becoming more and more difficult to comprehend the irrational behavior of Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his UDP government. Indeed there appears to be no rhyme or reason in the government’s actions. But really, there is no separation of the two. Barrow is the Party; he makes the decisions. He entertains no dissention. He has become a power-drunk dictator. He and his herd of goats in Cabinet have become foolhardy megalomaniacs. All that has been achieved during our 30 years of Independence are being trampled upon. The Constitution of our country is being shredded, freedom of expression and human dignity are under threat, attempts have been made to muzzle the media and intimidate the judiciary and investors are being frustrated. We have no confidence in this UDP administration’s ability to manage the affairs of the nation, as we move backwards towards becoming a ‘post colonial backwater’.

51 DAYS TO BARROW’S CRUEL PREVENTATIVE DETENTION

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Two murdered in home invasions Continued from page 1 were inside the supposed safe walls of homes.

The first shooting claimed the life of Delbert “Sniper” Hinds, 32, a resident of corner Owen Morrison and Iguana Street Extension in the Collet area of Belize City. He had left home to go see a female friend at the corner of Kraal Road and Supal Street and was reportedly drinking when he was killed. Reports are that Hinds had been there for a while drinking and that he and the female friend were on the verandah moments before he was killed.

She reportedly left him momentarily to go inside and that was when his killer pounced on him. Hinds was hit in the left side off his back, left side of his upper abdomen and right upper arm and died instantly. Police recovered a number of expended shells from the scene, but did not retreive a weapon.

Hinds’ relatives admit that he had been involved in gang activity and was also a common face in the police book for armed robberies. They also strongly suspect that it was someone whom

Belize’s

credit

rating at risk!

Continued from page 1 company, Belize Electricity Limited.

In a release issued on Tuesday, S&P said that it may cut Belize’s credit rating as a result of BEL’s takeover, citing that the nation’s debt is already at a perilous state.

“The final details of the acquisition and its impact on the government’s debt burden and fiscal flexibility are uncertain. However, based on the information currently available, we believe that there is significant likelihood that we could lower the ratings to ‘B-minus’ upon the conclusion of this transaction,” S&P said.

Belize’s credit rating stands at B with S&P. This is five notches below investment grade. Anything lower, could send negative signals to foreign investors about the already deteriorated economic climate in the country.

Meanwhile, Moody’s, which is another international credit rating agency, has Belize’s credit rating at B3, and could possibly also issue a warning of a possible downgrade.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who is attending a regional meeting in Guatemalan, has admitted that the BTL takeover could negatively impact foreign investor confidence in Belize.

he knew well who killed him.

Police have detained three persons for the murder of Delbert Hinds. Like him, his brother, Levan Hinds, was gunned down coincidentally in the same area 12 years ago.

The second fatal shooting occurred on Sunday morning in a much more bizarre and brazen manner when a family sat around at home going about their regular Sunday morning chores.

Romel Palacio, Sr, 53, was lying down in his bed when trouble literally went knocking at his door just after 11 that morning. The ex-military soldier was not feeling well and was just in the process of going to use the bathroom when two armed strangers entered the house and ordered his wife, Tyoris Palacio, to keep still.

According to Mrs. Palacio, when she realised that it was a home invasion in progress, she hollered for her husband, who was met at the bathroom door by one of the two gunmen. A small struggle ensued but the gunman shot Palacio six times - twice in the head. Palacio was rushed to the hospital where he was in a critical condition.

He was placed on a ventilator as he fought for his life. He died on Wednesday morning.

Mrs. Palacio said that normally the family kept the grill door locked but that morning her grandson had just stepped inside after one of his friends went to a nearby shop to buy. Within a couple of minutes, the duo had committed their deed and left. Police intercepted one of the suspects on JR Street in the same area with a gun in hand. Another suspect remains at large.

The motive in this case is theoretically simple: the killers were sent to kill Romel Palacio, Jr, 34, who, named like his father, had witnessed the murder in 2006 of Mitchum Heredia on T Street and had been a key witness in that murder trial. The two who were found guilty, brothers: Emory and Maurice Felix, had appealed and that case is now before the courts again. Palacio’s family believes that the killers were after Romel Jr, and that his father ended up with the bullets when he walked into the gunmen.

Romel Jr was not at home at the time.

Today police charged two persons with murder of Romel Palacio: Ashton Anderson, 28, and Christopher Sosa, 18, a student of Maud Williams High School. They also face two additional charges: dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm, and, along with a third person, a 17 year old student of Gwen Lizzaraga High, they will also have to answer to keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun licence. The trio are now guests at the Kolbe Prison until August 17th.

Visit Us Online at: www.belizetimes.bz

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Drug plane lands in OW?

Orange Walk, June 20, 2011

By Carmelita Perez News spread like wildfire on Sunday morning that a mysterious plane had landed in the Orange

Walk District somewhere in the Guinea Grass Area. Residents of the village claim they heard a plane flying in the area around 11:00 Saturday night. The

Continued on page 30

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

FROM THE DESK OF THE

PARTY LEADER

Blue Is On This Sunday the 31 Candidates of the People’s United Party will gather together for the first time at a rally in my home town, Orange Walk.

The occasion will provide those gathered with an opportunity to hear from many of our Party’s Standard Bearers.

While the occasion will be one of celebration, the celebration will be sobered by the fact that our country is faced with a number of serious problems.

As I write this column, I am compelled to move from the usual issues and instead address my thoughts to the 30 other men and women in the Party who have emerged as candidates.

I want to remind all of you that the task before us is not one to be taken lightly. Remember you swore an oath to become a soldier of a revolution that goes back some 60 years. This is a call to service, to hard work and to a principle of social justice.

Over the past three years, all of us have struggled to rebuild our Party. We accepted that the crushing defeat of the past elections was because our Party was broken. First supporters told us that we had come loose from our moorings; next the critics reminded us that we were not what we proclaimed to, the Party of social justice and then UDP boasted that they had become better than us at Party discipline and organization. In fact, I can recall many a UDP supporter saying that it would take decades for the PUP to come back.

Indeed none of us were bothered by the pronouncement that politically we were on life-support.

What we did however, was to admit where we had gone wrong, we sought the forgiveness of the people and looked internally to fix what was broken.

We made our Act of Contrition and through our actions we reformed our party. We opened up as we promised, including more people in the decision making of the Party. We looked for new talent and we put many a crack in the glass ceiling that kept our women from the top positions in the Party’s Executive.

Over the past three months,

we were elected or selected for an important task, to once again set Belize free. Our task is as tried and tested as our Party’s 61 year history: “TO SERVE THE PEOPLE”.

As the Captain of this team I will insist that our work be guided by genuine compassion for the poor. We must work tirelessly to create oppor-

tunities so that we can lift people out of poverty, provide relevant and affordable education for ALL our children and young people and we have to put Belizeans back to work NOW. So we will work long and hard at restoring confidence in the Belizean economy. Jobs must come back to Belize so that fathers and mothers will have a chance to work and provide for their children. And we will bring civility back to our communities and cities.

Our work, our mission, must be to ensure that we develop this nation and that we restore pride in who we are, to foster a Belizean Spirit of pride.

The job ahead for Team Belize will not be glamorous, it will be tough, we have real problems that will require meaningful solutions

7 and every one of us will be required to do more than our fair share.

As sobering as this task may seem, I want all of you to know that I am optimistic about the future, after all our Party is the greatest political party in the nation. We have always done the work by building upon a revolution that is peaceful, constructive and progressive. We have faced challenges before and on each of those occasions we have prevailed.

So be proud to be a part of the Blue Team, be amazed at what we have accomplished together in these three years, but most importantly, know that much work lies ahead.

Know also that together we will overcome any challenge, after all, WE DA BLUE! In Solidarity John Briceño

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011

PUP MASSIVE JOINT CONVENTION ALBERT

LAKE I

Mark Espat CORDEL HYDE

FORT GEORGE

SAID MUSA

QUEEN SQUARE

MESOPOTAMIA

ANTHONY SYLVESTRE PHILLIP PALACIO

PUP Standard Bearers attending Joint Convention at St. Mary’s Hall, Fort George Division, in Belize City, on Saturday June 18, 2011

Phillip Palacio

Rt. Hon. Said Musa

Hon. Cordel Hyde

Chairman Henry Usher Dr. Francis Smith

Anthony Mahler

Anthony Sylvestre Jr.

Gilroy Usher Sr.

Hon. Mark Espat

Carolyn Trench-Sandiford

Party Leader Hon. John Briceño

There was standing room only inside St. Mary’s Hall as the PUP introduced its five remaining Belize City Standard Bearers

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Girl sentenced to 1 year for stabbing BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 22, 2011

By Roy Davis A 17 year old girl, who was convicted of dangerous harm on May 31, was sentenced to 1 year imprisonment today by Justice Herbert Lord.

Before he decided on the sentence, Justice Lord heard pleas for mitigation from the girl’s father, the victim Teresita Vivas, Community rehabilitation Officer Carnellie Fritz and the girl herself.

Her father, a taxi driver, said he is trying to relocate her to another neighborhood.

Vivas asked that the Court impose some form of punishment other than a custodial sentence and she suggested community service.

Fritz said the girl has shown remorse and plans are being made for her to enter into an education institution.

Fritz also said that Vivas and the girl have established communication with each other and the girl has entered into a rehabilitation program at prison.

The girl, with tears in her eyes, said she was sorry for what she did and she wants to continue her education and she is willing to do community service.

She also said she has learned from her mistake.

Crown Counsel Kayla Grant, who

Teresita Vivas

represented the prosecution, said that the Crown is not opposed to the most minimum sentence because the convict was only 14 when she committed the offence and she has had no previous conviction.

Justice Lord said the maximum sentence for dangerous harm is 20 years and his hand are tied, so he cannot give a suspended sentence or community service.

The girl was not represented by any attorney.

The incident occurred around 7:10 p.m. on May 29, 2008. Vivas was walking on Church Street when she was attacked by the girl who stabbed her three times in her back, one in her neck and twice in her forearm.

The doctor who examined the girl classified her injury as dangerous harm.

Coroner’s Inquest vindicates Sgt. Paulino Reyes in shooting of Cpl. Gavin Sanchez

BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 22, 2011

By Roy Davis A jury of 3 women and 2 men deliberated for about 30 minutes today at a Coroner’s Inquest into the death of Corporal Gavin Sanchez, 30, before it found that Sergeant Paulino Reyes was defending himself when he shot and killed Sanchez on March 18, 2010 at the police barracks in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye.

The inquest was held in the #4 court of Magistrate Roberto Ordonez.

Eighteen witnesses testified at the inquest.

Among them were Sanchez’s wife, Tara, and Dr. Mario Estradabran, the pathologist who performed the post-mortem examination on Sanchez.

Dr. Estradabran testified that Sanchez

Sergeant Paulino Reyes

was shot 8 times. He said the injury that caused Sanchez death was a gunshot to his head.

According to reports, Sanchez was acting disorderly and he was being detained when the incident occurred.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011

23 yr. old charged with Attempted

Murder

BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 22, 2011

By Roy Davis Renford Tillett, 23, a resident of 1019 Tibruce Street, was charged with attempted murder when he appeared yesterday in the #2 Magistrate’s Court.

Tillett was also charged with grievous harm and use of deadly means of harm.

Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser explained to him that she will not take a plea because the offences are indictable. She also explained to him that the Court cannot offer him bail because of the nature of the offences. She remanded him into custody until July 28.

The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on June 3. The complainant, Theodore Swazo, 21, reported to

Renford Tillett

the police that he was on Partridge Street socializing with friends when he got into an altercation with Tillett.

Swazo said Tillett took out a knife and stabbed him. Swazo was admitted to ward at Karl Hesuner Memorial Hospital where he was reported to be in critical condition.

Ready Call employee accused of Beach Cruiser robbery

BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 22, 2011

By Roy Davis Damien August, 25, who is an employee of Belize Ready Call Center who allegedly stole a beach cruiser bicycle at gun point, was charged with robbery when he appeared yesterday in the #7 Magistrate’s Court.

August pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He asked magistrate Aretha Ford if she could offer him bail because his common-law wife has a baby who is 9 months old.

Magistrate Ford explained to him that the court cannot offer him bail because of the offence was allegedly committed with a firearm. She remanded him into custody until July 21.

The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. on Monday, June 20.

Notice We are moving to serve you better.

From July 1st, 2011

Monica’s pawnshop Damien August

The complainant, Mario Chan, 21, a sales clerk, reported to the police that he was riding his beach cruiser bicycle coming from the Western Highway and going into Central American Boulevard when he was approached

by August who pointed a pistol at him and forced him to stop.

Chan said August then stole his bicycle which has a value of $250.

Will be located Cor. C.A. Blvd and Banak St. Services Included: 1) Pawning of gold Jewelry

3) Pawning of Vehicles (While owners continue to enjoy use)

2) Pawning of Cell phones

4) Payday Loans

You Can Depend on

Monica’s pawnshop Tel: 207-0970

Sunday, June 26, 2011

11

THE BELIZE TIMES

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia for

Belize Rural Central Candidates Linsford Castillo, Edgar Young, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia & Alburn Rivero are committed to the PUP philosophy of “Serve the People”

New PUP Belize Rural Central Standard Bearer Dolores Balderamos-Garcia takes oath to pursue prosperity for her constituents

PUP Secretary General Rachel Montejo carries out counting of votes at Sunday’s convention PUP Collet Standard Bearer CarolynTrench-Sandiford & Queen Square Standard Bearer Anthony Sylvestre Jr.

Dolores & supporter celebrate Sunday’s victory

Over 2,000 voters casted their support for the PUP

Belize Rural Central celebrates Dolores’ victory

12

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011

How they won: Mount Carmel RC vs. San Pedro AC RC #1 BELIZE'S

3

Mount Carmel

1

SPORTS PAGE

San Pedro

Goals by Darvin Doering (2), Anner Pacheco, Thomas Ack

Trial Farm Gov’t School vs. San Juan Bosco School

1

Trial Farm

0

San Juan

Goal by Abner Marroquin

Mount Carmel RC vs. Our Lady of Guadalupe

3

Mount Carmel

0

Our Lady

Goals by Gregory Sender (3)

Trial Farm Gov’t vs. St. Peter Claver

2

Trial Farm

1

St. Peter

Goals by Ramon Dominguez, Deadron Baptist, Matthew Ricketts

San Pedro AC RC vs. Our Lady of Guadalupe

2

San Pedro

0

Our Lady

Goals by Ismael Figueroa, Desmond Garbutt

St. Peter Claver vs. San Juan Bosco School

2

St. Peter

1

San Juan

Goals by Adrian Vernon, Jaren Lambey, Osmani Sanchez

Mount Carmel vs. St. Peter Claver

2

Mount Carmel

0

St. Peter

Goals by Darvin Doering (2)

Trial Farm vs. San Pedro AC RC

4

Trial Farm

2

San Pedro

Goals by Abner Marroquin, Irvin Silva, Jason Sutherland, Deadron Baptist, Gabriel Nunez, Desmond Garbutt

Mount Carmel boys are football champs Belize City, June 17, 2011 The Mount Carmel RC School boys are the 2011 national primary school football champions.

The boys from Benque Viejo del Carmen defended their title in the all-day high school finals tournament held at the MCC grounds last Friday, June 17. They faced off against the Trial Farm boys and won 5-4 in a penalty shootout after regulation time ended with the game tied 1-1.

Ramon Dominguez scored Orange Walk’s first goal in the 1st half, but Darvin Doering equalized in the 2nd half. All 5 kickers for Mount Carmel: Nigel Castellanos, Neri Ponce, Gregory Sender, Anner Pacheco and Darvin Doering converted their penalties, while for Trial Farm it was Abner Marroquin, Irvin Silva, Jason Sutherland and Deadron Baptist with 1 goal each.

Darvin Doering won the Most Valuable player award for the 2nd year in a row.

Mount Carmel are repeat champs

Trial Farm placed 2nd

How they advanced:

Silver Creek girls are football

champions Belize City, June 17, 2011 Silver Creek RC School girls from the Toledo district are the national Primary School football champions, after winning the all-day tournament at the MCC Garden on Friday, June 17.

The Silver Creek girls defeated the Maskall girls 2-0 when Petrona Cal scored 2 goals in the 2nd half.

Petrona Cal was awarded the MVP Award during the award ceremonies.

2

3

Our Lady

1

2

Santa Elena

Goals by Hadassah Castro, Linda Campos, Renie Petillo, Lenny Jones, Sheriece Williams

Chan Pine Ridge Government School vs.

Sacred Heart RC

1

Chan Pine

0

Sacred Heart

Goal by Milca Torres

Santa Elena School vs. Our Lady of Guadalupe

2

Santa Elena

1

Our Lady

Goals by Deyana Villanueva, Sheriece Williams, Esmeralda Zetina

Silver Creek RC vs. Chan Pine Ridge

4

Silver Creek

1

Chan Pine Ridge

Goals by Bernadita Yatz, Hilaria Choj, Susana Pop, Petrona Cal, Cristina Cartagena

Our Lady of Lourdes RC vs. Our Lady of Guadalupe RC

2

San Pedro AC RC vs. Toledo

San Pedro

Our Lady of Lourdes RC vs. Santa Elena School

Our Lady

1

Our Lady

Goals by Renie Petillo, Leyandra Henry, Esmeralda Zetina

Toledo

Silver Creek RC vs. Stann Creek

Goals by Gabriel Nunez, Desmond Garbutt, Jaren Lambey

4

Silver Creek

0

Stann Creek

Goals by Blanca Tiul (2), Petrona Cal, Darlene Yatz

Our Lady of Lourdes RC vs. Chan Pine Ridge

3

Toledo girls are champs

Our Lady

0

Chan Pine Ridge

Hadassah Castro, Kayla Reneau, Leyandra Henry, Deizy Torres

Silver Creek girls vs. Santa Elena

2

Silver Creek

1

Santa Elena

Goals by Darlene Yatz, Petrona Cal, Silver Creek, Deyana Villanueva

Chan Pine Ridge Gov’t School vs. Santa Elena

MVP Petrona Cal about to tackle

Maskall girls came in 2nd

1

Chan Pine

0

Santa Elena

Goal by Cristina Cartagena

Sunday, June 26, 2011

13

THE BELIZE TIMES

San Pedro Tigersharks

win Digicell’s senior basketball championship The series: Belize City, June 17, 2011 The San Pedro Tigersharks won the Belize Telemedia “Digicel Ballin for Life” senior basketball championship at the Belize City Center on Friday night, June 17.

The Tigersharks won Game 3 on Friday 96-84 against the University of Belize, with the scoring led by Alex Carcamo who had 33 points, 19 rebounds as Tigersharks led 21-20 in the 1st quarter. UB’s Winston Pratt had 24 points, 6 rebounds and Farron Louriano added 14 points, 10 rebounds.

Gene Myvette won the Most Valuable Player Award as well as Top Scorer and Best Defensive player awards. Kevin Siroki got Most Assists, and Leroy Louriano got Most Steals.

Maxboro Mavericks’ Dwayne Davis won the award for Most Rebounds.

Kremandala Rebels win Digicell U-20 basketball Belize City, June 17, 2011 The Kremandala Rebels beat Smart in the Belize Telemedia “Digicel Ballin for Life” under-20 basketball championship at the Belize City Center on Wednesday night, June 15.

In Game 1 of the finals, Kremandala had won 85-65 on Monday. In Game 2 on Wednesday, Kremandala won 99-87. Smart’s Raheem Staine scored 25 points, while Krem’s Kachief Thomas hit 7 long treys for a monster 32 points.

Thomas received Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer and Best Defensive player awards of the U-20 competition at an award ceremony after the finals. Smart’s Marshall Nunez won the award for Most Assist while his teammate Raheem Staine won the award for Most Steals. Matthew Young of Thunder got the Most Rebounds Award.

BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

GAME 1: Tigersharks vs. UB

85

Tigersharks

74 UB

GAME 2: UB vs. Tigersharks

98 UB

88

Tigersharks are champs

Tigersharks

Shalini Zabaneh & Liam Stuart win road championships

Belize City, June 19, 2011 Team Sagitun’s Shalini Zabaneh and M&M engineering’s Liam Stuart won the Women’s and Master’s categories of the 19th Annual Belize Cycling Association’s National Road Championship on Sunday, June 19.

Shalini beat many of the men when she clocked 3:43:49 on her 74.2 ride from St. Margaret’s Village on the Hummingbird Highway. She had also clocked 30:21 to win the individual 12-mile time trials on the Burrell Boom bypass road on Sunday, June 12.

Team Benny’s Megabytes Patricia Chavarria clocked 3:50:51 as she won 2nd among the women, while placing 2nd in the time trials in 34:47. Jane Usher, riding unattached, clocked 4:11:01 for her 3rd place finish.

Shalini, Patricia & Jane

Other finishers: Smooth Sailing’s Kirah Eiley, 4th, 4:30:19 Team INDECO’s Jamaila Requena, 3rd M&M Engineering Liam Stuart, 1st Over-40 Masters

Shalini rides across the finish line

City Boys defeat OW United 4-0

Ian Gaynair defends Chris Hendricks

Belize City, June 19, 2011 The Raymond Gentle City Boys and the Paradise Freedom Fighters posted wins when they played their games in the Belize Bank Superleague football playoffs.

The City Boys ran over the Orange Walk United 4-0 at the

MCC Grounds on Sunday.

Deon McCauley and Tyrone “T-bone” Muschamp led the City Boys’ offensive with the help of Jason Young and Leon “Lem’ Jones on the wings, supported by David “Dav” McCauley and Ryan Simp-

2nd Place

Mike Lewis - Over-40 Masters

3rd Place

Wilbert Jones - Over-40 Masters

4th Place

M&M Engineering, Kenneth Butler

5th Place

M&M Engineering, Windell Williams

6th Place

Team Typhoon Luigi Urbina

7th Place

Benny’s Megabytes George Abraham Sr.

8th Place

M&M Engineering, Preston Martinez

9th Place

Benny’s Megabytes John Newport

son at midfield. McCauley demonstrated his brilliance that has caught the eye of international coaches, when he scored City Continued on page 14

14

THE BELIZE TIMES

Upcoming games:

BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

O.W. United vs. City Boys, People’s Stadium, Saturday night

Placencia Assassins vs. Freedom Fighters, Placencia, Saturday night

Other games: Freedom Fighters vs. Placencia Assassins

Mark Grant tackled by Lorenzo Diaz

1 0

Freedom

Placencia

Sunday, June 26, 2011

City Boys defeat OW United 4-0 Continued from page 13 boys’ first winning goal after some 22 minutes of action.

Tyrone Muschamp embarrassed goalkeeper Charlie Slusher with a second goal nine minutes later to lead 2-0 at intermission. In the second half, Orange Walk’s technical director Jorge Nunes refreshed his attack line with Orin “Sonny” Wade Jr. relieving Dean Flowers and Andrew Allen replacing Marlon Miranda, while City boys’ Brian Marti-

nez took over from Leon Jones, but Tyrone Muschamp kept alive a play

by McCauley, and Ryan Simpson connected with the finish to give City boys a 3-0 lead some 27 minutes into the second half.

Jack Dawson replaced Simpson soon after, while Nunes introduced Gabriel Perez for Diaz , but it was Deon McCauley who caught up to a forward pass from Muschamp and scored the 4th goal some 11 minutes before the long whistle.

Lady Jaguars, San Cas & Scorpions win volleyball champs The Belize Volleyball Association presented the trophies in an awards ceremony following two all-star games at the Belize City Center last Saturday evening, June 18.

Barbara Cadle, Shantell Arnold, Tisha and Tichelle Solis led the Lady Jaguars attacks hammering kills on plays set by Sherylee Thurton and Tanesha Encalada to win Game 2 of the finals in 3 sets last Thursday, June 16.

The interoffice championship was also a 2-game series. Alyson Revers, Crystal Anderson, Marconi Leal and Patrick Bennett led the San Cas’ attacks on plays set by Raul Arnold and Sherylee ThurtonFemale Competition Awards: Young. Scotiabank’s Arthur Neal, Oscar Arnold, Michael Hernandez and Brian Williams made a Rookie of the Year Sharika Burton real fight of it on plays set by Sharmaine Augustine and Cricel Castillo, but San Cas dominated Most Valuable Player/ Best Server/Best Receiver Sherylee Thurton 25-21 and 25 15.

The Scorpions clinched the men’s championship in Game 2 last Thursday, June 16 in 4 Barbara Cadle Best Attacker sets. Jermaine Audinett, Ian Galvez, Arvid ArEsther Middleton Best Defense nold and Anthony Wagner hammered home kills on plays set by Oscar Arnold and Jamal Tanesha Encalada Best Setter Galvez to win the first 2 sets: 25-18 and 25-19.

The Home Protector Rebels were not about to go quietly, and Tariq Campbell, Victor Hernandez, Interoffice Awards: Juan Marin and Jared Thompson spiked home points on plays set by Khalid Encalada and Elton Most Valuable Player/ Anderson to win the third set 25-17, before the Sherylee Thurton Best Server Scorpions took it away in the 4th set 25-19.

In the awards ceremony that followed David Ian Lennon Best Attacker Vasquez as representative for the competition’s Oscar Arnold Best Defense corporate sponsor, Bowen & Bowen Ltd. presented the team trophies and individual awards.

Emily Audinett Best Setter

Belize City, June 18, 2011 Defending national female volleyball champs, Lady Jaguars, won the Belize City female volleyball championship finals, while San Cas Seven Seas won the interoffice championship and the Scorpions upset the defending national champs, the Home Protector Rebels, to win the men’s championship.

Best Receiver

Landy Salazar

Most Valuable Player/ Best Server

Jermaine Audinett Oscar Arnold

Best Blocker

Arvid Arnold

Best Attacker

Tarike “Soup” Campbell

Best Defense

Robbie Gongora

Best receiver

Larry Bennett

Sunday, June 19th, 2011

By Ladrick “Mad Bull” Shepard Horse racing was held at the Peter August Memorial Stadium in Santa Elena. It was a successful event with jockeys and horses from all over the country congregating to take part in eight races.

And award for Jockey of the Day was presented to Anthony Barkley. Here are the results of the races.

2 furlongs, Time 30 sec 1st Melody - Anthony Barkley 2nd Cock-eye - A Carrillo 3rd Greg - Carlos Rodriguez 3 furlongs, Time 41 sec 1st Amor Amor - Manuel Roches 2nd Sangre - David Smalls 3rd Rolling Stone - Earl Budd 2 furlongs, Time 38.6 sec 1st Success – David Smalls 2nd Riskey – A. Carrillo 3rd Tataña – Alessandro Rodrigues 3 furlongs Time 43 sec 1st I am Blessed – Anthony Barkley 2nd Whilly - Manuel Rodriguez 3rd Selasi – Carlos Rodriguez

4 furlongs, Time 53.5sec 1st Lady V – Anthony Barkley 2nd Pick U Spot – Earl Budd 3rd Poco Tiempo – Alessandro Rodriguez

Denver Lino

Best Setter

Horse Racing at the Peter August Memorial Stadium, Cayo

3 furlongs, Time 41 sec 1st Sexy Chocolate – Anthony Barkley 2nd Mar’s Girl – Carlos Rodriguez 3rd Trick or Treat – A. Carrillo

Men’s Award: Rookie of the Year

Scorpions are champs

5 furlongs, Time 109.4 sec 1st Quadrito Jr. – Carlos Rodriguez 2nd Twinkle Twinkle – Alessandro Rodriguez

Lady Jaguars are champs

5 ½ furlongs, Time 1.19 sec 1st Kiss dem & Leave dem – Erick Martinez 2nd Eclipse – Carlos Rodriguez 3rd Lady Caviar – Anthony Barkley

15

This Week’s

TOP MODEL

CATWALK FASHIONS

E-NEWS

RASINDIO

Visit www.Facebook/ Ras Indio

Sizzla says

lyrics not aimed at Kartel & Beenie

Reggae superstar, Sizzla Kalonji has publicly stated that two of his recent singles were not disses aimed two of Dancehall’s biggest names, Vybz Kartel and Beenie Man. The singles, “Big 50 Calibah” & “Diss Rasta” were released last month; containing strong lyrics condemning skin bleaching & talking about the title of “King of Dancehall.” Both songs were considered by many as lyrical shots fired at Dancehall artistes, Vybz Kartel & Beenie Man respectively. However, Sizzla has said neither track was aimed a one particular person; rather they were anthems to warn people that popularity should not be used as an excuse to lead people astray. “Not because you are of great popularity and fame doesn’t mean that you should disrespect your elders and our culture, and those who laid the foundation for us,” Sizzla intimated.

‘Mavado’

charged with assault

Esmeli

Jamaican dancehall entertainer David Brooks, better known as ‘Mavado’, was yesterday last week with assault following an incident at a nightclub in New Kingston, Jamaica.

• • • •

Graduate of Pallotti Sign: Virgo Favourite Foods: Thai, Indian & Belizean Likes: Modeling, Travelling, Shopping, Exercising, Spending Quality Time with Family & Friends • Lives in Belize City • Fav. Quote: Mistakes are the Stepping Stones to Success

Photo: Ernie Alpuche

BELIZETIMES SUNDAY JUNE 26, 2011 THE BELIZE TIMES see full color at www.belizetimes.bz or Facebook/ Belize Times

Sunday, June 26, 2011

16

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011

PEOPLE’S UNITED PARTY

POSITION PAPER ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION A. INTRODUCTION: On 13th May, 2011 the Prime Minister, Hon. Dean Barrow, introduced in the House by way of first reading, the following Legislation which he described as being “anti-crime initiatives”.: 1. CRIME CONTROL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011.

2. BELIZE CONSTITUTION (EIGHT AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011 3. INDICTABLE PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011 4. JURIES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011 5. SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011.

The People’s United Party recognizes and appreciates that our nation, Belize, is faced with a crisis of crime and violence which deserves and demands our collective attention, commitment, and sense of responsibility.

Our position on the proposed crime legislation is grounded in this understanding and in our duty to Belizeans and our Nation to ensure the protection and preservation of their fundamental rights and freedoms.

It is a fundamental responsibility of a Government to ensure the safety and personal security of its citizens but repression cannot and should not be justified on a false promise of security.

It is the intention of the People’s United Party to participate fully and actively in the hearings and public consultations of the Constitution and Foreign Affairs House Committee of the House of Representatives, and to engage our own members in a dialogue and discussion on these Bills.

We intend to take a robust stand in the National Assembly, House and Senate in the debates which will be held on these laws B. REVIEW OF BILLS: 1. Crime Control and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill, 2011 At the first meeting of the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives (PUP Representatives present were. Hon. John Briceno and Hon. Francis Fonseca) held on Monday June 6, 2011 the Chairman (Hon. Patrick Faber) announced that Cabinet had taken a decision to withdraw this Bill from further consideration at this time.

2. Belize Constitution (Eight Amendment) Bill, 2011 This Bill proposes to amend Sections 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Belize Constitution. Each section of the proposed bill is examined in turn. a. SECTION 5 -PREVENTIVE DETENTION Section 5 of the Constitution safeguards the right of all Belizean Citizens to personal liberty.

Preventive Detention is the locking up of a citizen, resident or any other person in Belize, legally or illegally for the time being, for an indefinite period. Under the proposed amendment it will be for a period of up to 52 days in the first instance; 21 days and a further 30 days on an ex-parte application to Supreme Court.

Under the proposed amendment, nothing prevents any detainees from being detained for more than one consecutive 21 day period.

Such preventive detention may be done without informing the detainee of the reasons for such detention and without laying any formal charges against that person.

During that period of detention, the detainee will be denied all of those personal liberty rights customarily associated with being detained - or even on remand - such as access to a lawyer, access to family members especially in the case of minors, access to a phone call, access to medical treatment and care, access to a Justice of the Peace and access to the Supreme Court (habeas corpus).

The PUP cannot and will not support this proposed amendment to the Constitution of Belize which will allow for the detention of any Belizean citizen or person being within Belize, including minors and children, for a period of up to 52 days (or more since there is no prohibition against repeated detention) on the basis of mere suspicion, not even “reasonable” suspicion., This provision seeks to deny long standing fundamental rights and freedoms to citizens and non-nationals alike. These freedoms and rights are the basis of any vibrant democracy which is committed to the rule of law. Our Constitution’s very preamble states that Belize is a nation which recognizes that men and institutions remain free when such freedom is founded on the rule of law. Article 1 states that Belize “shall be a sovereign democratic State”. b. SECTION 6 -ANONYMOUS AND FEARFUL WITNESSES Section 6 of the Constitution provides for equal protection of the law to all Belizeans. The proposed amendment to clause 3 of s.6 states that it shall not be a contravention of the right of an accused person to know the identity of a witness who has given a statement in evidence against him or her.

This amendment therefore allows for a law to be enacted to provide for anonymity of witnesses in criminal trials, as well as admission of witness statements into evidence in place of oral evidence; and testimony of witnesses by video link and other means in order to secure the safety of the witness.

The PUP is painfully aware that intimidation and, in some tragic cases, the wanton murder of witnesses in criminal trials has become far too commonplace in Belize. Such homicide as intimidation and strikes at the heart of our system of justice and shall not be tolerated.

The fundamental, long-standing common law and natural justice right enshrined in our Constitution, of every accused person to know his or her accuser, to face that accuser, and to challenge the veracity of that accuser thru cross-examination, should not be so readily sacrificed even on the altar of crisis, much less in a spirit of desperation.

The very preamble of our supreme law states that “the People of Belize affirm that the Nation of Belize shall be founded on principles which acknowledge the supremacy of God and faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Any derogation from those human rights and fundamental freedoms is by necessity fraught with peril for the citizen and non-national alike.

What makes this amendment particularly egregious is that the enabling provision which will be written into our Constitution will allow the passage of laws which not only provides for the anonymity of witnesses to protect the safety of the witnesses or another person; but also “to prevent any damage to property”. Threats of Damage to property should never outweigh the right of an accused to know who the accuser is.

Likewise, the provision that will allow for laws to be passed which provides for the admission of witness statements into evidence where a witness is unwilling to give or to continue to give oral evidence through fear of death or bodily injury to him or to a member of his family, “or damage to his property” is equally problematic.

The right of an accused to test the veracity of a witness by cross-examination should not be based on a fear of damage to property, and should only give way in carefully prescribed circumstances with all adequate safeguards to preserve fairness, in the case of fear of death or bodily injury to a witness or his/her family.

Continued on next page

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

17

c. SECTION 7 - DEATH PENALTY Section 7 of the Constitution provides for protection from inhuman treatment. The proposed amendment seeks to put beyond any challenge the imposition of a mandatory death sentence or the execution of such a sentence as being “inhuman or degrading punishment”.

The proposed amendment is written in an attempt to evade a particular ruling of the Courts and is not being placed in the Constitution in pursuance of any empirical evidence that it is either necessary or desirable. This proposed amendment will only serve to projects a false sense of security and hope in the face of a sobering, dismal and unacceptable 7% conviction rate and the equally unacceptable rate of Nolle Prosequi cases by the Office of the DPP. It is not the system to impose capital punishment that is broken; it is the liability of those who are tasked with the implementation of the system that is in question. d. SECTION 8 - FORCED LABOUR Section 8 of the Constitution protects our citizens from slavery and forced labor. The proposed amendment to clause 5 of s.8 of the Constitution provides that any community service required of a person of or above the age of 16 years shall not be deemed to be “forced labor”.

The PUP does not support a Constitutional Amendment broadening the definition of “forced labor”. In recognition of the serious challenges faced by our security forces and the justice system in dealing with youth offenders, we support a review and strengthening of the Penal System Reform (Alternative Sentences) Act No. 41 of 2001 to provide for more effective and stringent Community Service Orders. e. SECTION 6 (10) (b) -TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY While the Constitution of Belize does not specifically provide for trial by jury, it is well established that the right of a man or woman to be tried by a jury of his or her peers (in cases of serious crimes) is a longstanding, valued and cherished right.

The proposed amendment to s.6 (10) (b) of the Constitution provides for trial without a jury in certain criminal cases to forestall any argument that jury trial is an essential ingredient of a “fair trial” guaranteed by the Constitution.

The PUP firmly believes that the right to a trial by jury is the cornerstone of any fair trial, and a hallmark of our democracy which is founded upon the rule of law. In many jurisdictions where this has been passed, it is not an amendment of the Constitution only applies to cases dealing with terrorist acts and is of limited application to the Citizen. Consequently, we do not support the proposed amendment, which is sufficiently permissive along with the proposed amendments to the Indictable Procedure Act and the Juries Act, to allow for all criminal cases in the Supreme Court to be tried without a jury.

Further, Belizeans and non-nationals in Belize will not be allowed to appeal the decision of a judge to try a case without a jury and where a person is acquitted by a judge, the prosecution has a right of appeal against that acquittal.

3. THE INDICTABLE PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011 As discussed above, provides for trial without a jury in certain criminal cases in the Supreme Court.

The PUP does not support an amendment to the law providing for “mandatory” trial without a jury particularly one, as pointed out above, grounded in a Constitutional Amendment.

In the new proposed 65 B, the prosecution may apply to the judge for the trial to be conducted without a jury on any one or more of those grounds which are set out in subsection (2) which include “(d) that the complexity of the trial or the length of the trial (or both) is likely to make the trial so burdensome to the jury that the interests of justice require that the trial should be conducted without a jury”.

This last is clearly intended as an omnibus provision to catch any and all cases – and offers only vague guidelines as to “complexity” and “length” and offers too much room for subjectivity as to what would be “burdensome” to any given jury; and as what do “the interests of justice” require.

Even worse is the provision to be enacted as Section 65B (6) - “(6) No appeal shall lie against the order of the judge granting or refusing the application for the trial to be conducted without a jury”. This would effectively oust the jurisdiction of any appellate court of Belize to review the exercise of the Trial Judge’s discretion and forestall any inquiry as to whether that discretion was properly exercised.”

We can support reviewing the Indictable Procedure Act with a view to strengthening that Act and providing for particular cases in which there is a discretion given to State via an application to a Judge of the Supreme Court, , but only if that discretion may be appealed, to order a trial without a jury.

4. THE JURIES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011 This Bill complements the Indictable Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2011 and makes consequential amendments to the Juries Act to provide for trial without a jury in certain criminal cases.

5. THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2011This Bill provides that an appeal against the decision of a magistrate shall NOT operate as an automatic stay of execution of the Magistrate’s decision as presently provided for under s.112 of the Act, subject to certain exceptions.

This section of the Act is being abused and unfortunately, some Magistrates are taking an unduly long time to give reasons for their decisions.

The Bill provides that a stay of execution of a decision is not automatic but has to be applied for and states further that the Magistrate must give the reasons for his or her decision within 7 days.

The Bill does not affect the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail pending appeal.

The PUP does support this amendment.

C THE WAY FORWARD: The PUP is committed to a meaningful and serious collaboration with the Government and all Belizeans on all issues of crime, violence and human security.

In this spirit, we have over the last three years offered meaningful proposals to the relevant authorities which we believe can assist in the fight against crime and violence. Overall strategic action in combating crime and violence requires a properly resourced, properly trained and motivated Police Department that commands respect and respects the fundamental rights and freedoms of our Belizean Citizens.

We have called on the Government to: 1. Develop and share with all stakeholders its National Plan to win the war on crime, drugs, gangs, and violence.

2. Recognize the established link between the conditions of growing poverty and lessening opportunities on the one hand, and surging crime and violence on the other, and as such propose a comprehensive National Plan for generating economic growth, restoring confidence of the business community, securing increased private and public sector investment, meeting job creation targets and implementing measurable social interventions.

3. Seek immediate technical assistance to address the new threat of urban terrorism by way of grenade attacks.

4. Significantly increase the annual Police recruit Intake.

5. Significantly increase the number of police officers on patrol in Belize City.

6. Re-open and Re-activate all the Police Booths and Sub-Stations that have been closed over the past three years.

7. Re-activate and adequately resource the Community Policing and Neighborhood Watch Programs.

8. Adequately resource and train the investigative branch of the Belize Police Department including the Forensic Unit.

9. Adequately staff and resource the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Prosecution Branch of the Police department.

10. Act on the findings of the Crooks Report.

“Serve the People”

18

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011

BACCHANAL BACKLASH!!!

All not well with upcoming Carnival celebrations….

By: Alton Humes BELIZE CITY, Tuesday, June 14, 2011 The Carnival Road March… just the mere mention of this event as part of the long-running September Celebrations, and excitement is all but bound to follow. But lately, under the “evil spell” of a tanking, and now barely “alive” economy combined with the hardships of life, the Carnival Road March is under threat as it seeks to regain its glory.

Recent news that the majority of carnival bands would not participate in the upcoming Road March in early September because of NICH / ICA’s (National Institute of Culture and History / Institute of Creative Arts) and its “underling”, the Belize Carnival Association’s unwillingness to loan subventions to the “less endowed” carnival bands threatened to send the equivalent of a Haiti-styled shockwave throughout the nation, and further break the hearts of an already destitute nation.

But there has come word that the Road March will indeed move forward, amidst a proposal that has all but pitied the “less endowed” with the “fully endowed”. Speaking over the phone yesterday afternoon with “militant” Carnival enthusiast and founder of Jump Street Posse Carnival Band, Ms. Marina

KING & QUEEN – Juniors 1st: $3,000 (increased to) $4,000 2nd: $2,000 (increased to) $3,000 3rd: $1,000 (increased to) $2,000 KING & QUEEN – Seniors 1st: $4,000 (increased to) $5,000 2nd: $2,000 (increased to) $3,000 3rd: $2,000 (increased to) $2,500 ROAD MARCH – Juniors 1st: $5,000 (increased to) $7,000 2nd: 3,000 (increased to) $4,000 3rd: $2,000 (increased to) $3,000 ROAD MARCH – Seniors: 1st: $7,000 (increased to) $10,000 2nd: $4,000 (increased to) $5,000 3rd: $3,000 (increased to) $4,000

Welcome, there definitely was the sense that somebody, somewhere, “got fooled again”. According to her, 9 of 11 carnival bands, amongst them Jam Jam Mas, the newbie Soca Warriors, Mother Nature’s Creation, Sunshine Masqueraders and Southside Masqueraders, had agreed to a proposal set out at a meeting called on Friday, June 10th.

The proposal called for an increase in prize monies across the board for the King & Queen Competition (a prelude to the “main event” that is the Road

March) as well as the Road March itself, but at the cost of losing any subvention that may have been offered to the bands. The following is the breakdown of the prizes (new prizes in boldface): Of all those Carnival Bands, only Ms. Marina’s Jump Street Posse and Ms. Dorla Vaughan’s Black Pearl Band remain, in Ms. Marina’s own words, “neutral” on this proposal, citing that they felt the subvention were altogether important in helping to make costumes, and otherwise give a hand to the revelers who support and aid these bands.

But, as befitting her manner of being a Carnival “rebel”, Ms. Marina, while certainly feeling betrayed (although she has not explicitly stated this) by her fellow Carnival associates, vows to seek support elsewhere and will participate in the Road March this September.

We tried to reach her “ally” on this matter, Ms. Dorla Vaughan of Black Pearl Carnival Band, as well as the President of the Belize Carnival Association, Mr. Patrick Thompson, for any comments they may have, but we’ve been unsuccessful.

Christina says: June 22, 2011 at 11:01am

It is somewhat an unnerving approach the government took in taking over BEL. The Prime Minister is like a chicken without head at the moment. I just hope Barrow truly keep his word and retain all of BEL’s worker. If it is not so, soon you will see jobs given to all individuals who are not even trained or have the capacity to do the work. Please don’t let us go that direction, because we will be bound to failure.”

Business Man says: June 21, 2011 at 10:31 am

This GOB now has to pay 400,000,000 to BTL and another 400,000,000 to BEL. Both of these companies don’t generate any foreign exchange, and with this government’s track record in the production sector, (i.e. bananas, sugar, citrus, fisheries) Belizeans need to brace themselves for reeeeel hard times.”

subKonshus says: June 17, 2011 at 10:59am

The fundamental problem in Belize is that the policies taken by the present government do not support or encourage manufacturing of goods with a view to keep our dollars at home. They believe solely in importation. So much so, that all of their campaign financing come from supporters who are major importers. The best way to bounce back during any recession is to manufacture your own goods so as to keep your dollars circulating in your economy.

It does not take a financial analyst to figure that out. Where is the brains amongst the Barrow Administration. John Saldivar is probably sitting on it!”

Posts are from www.belizetimes.bz, Belize Times Facebook Account and www.channel5belize.com

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Reid The Dean Barrow administration has entangled itself in yet another predicament which presents probable serious repercussions for the people of Belize in the future.

On Monday, the Prime Minister called a special sitting of the House and announced to Belizeans that he was expropriating the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). The move came as no surprise since Mr. Barrow had been hinting for a couple of weeks as to his ultimate intention. In fact, if we are to believe BEL’s CEO Lynn Young, this has been this government’s plan since taking office in 2008. It certainly was PUC Chairman John Avery’s dream, who according to Young, has been constantly threatening to “bring BEL to its knees”. Before becoming Editor of the UDP’s El Guardian newspaper and later Chairman of PUC, John Avery was employed by the very same BEL with whom he has now locked horns. BEL apparently drew first blood when they fired Avery about a decade ago but if we are to judge from Monday’s occurrences, the score now stands at BEL 1 and John Avery 1.

In a lengthy address at Monday’s House Meeting, the Prime Minister attempted to explain to the Belizean people why what he was doing was necessary and why it was in their best interest. If it sounds familiar it is because it was the exact same line used in justifying a similar hostile takeover of Belize Telemedia Limited in August of 2009.

As we go to press, the verdict is ready to be delivered as to what will eventually happen in that case. There is a fifty-fifty chance that Mr. Barrow will have to hand back BTL and all assets to Michael Ashcroft. What a calamity that would be.

Mr. Barrow’s expropriation of Belize Electricity Limited has reopened an age old argument about privatization. Many nationalists have long been opposed to this concept but have also long since lost their argument on this issue. It is a proven fact that companies, in particular utility companies, perform much more efficiently and reliably under private management than in the hands of governments. Amongst other things, it has been proven that privatization makes for better efficiency, higher productivity, improved product quality and customer service, and reduction of waste. The possibility of political victimization and cronyism also does much to dampen the morale of employees in companies controlled by government.

The whole process of privatization began under the UDP in 1987 when BTL was sold for the first time to a private investor.

For Mr. Barrow to now get up and assert that his party has always been against privatiza-

tion is an outright lie and is deliberately misleading. Mr. Barrow is playing the Belizean people by pretending to be this “white hero in shining armor” fighting for our every cause. Fact is that many of the problems that we face today, and that we see Mr. Barrow galloping to address, are as a direct result of this government’s vindictiveness, arrogance and incompetence.

The Belizean people will see absolutely no benefit as a result of this latest “nationalization”. We need only look back to BTL to realize that all the promises and hopes and expectations were little more than empty words and window dressing by our Prime Minister. Have we gotten lower rates? Did we get Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)?

Have we seen an end to or even less litigation? Were the taxes from our phone bills removed or were they even reduced? The answer to each question is a resounding, categorical NO! Belizeans continue to be fooled by the concept of public ownership. What good does it do for the government to own a utility as opposed to a private investor if the cost to the public is higher and if the service is subpar? Regardless of who owns BTL or BEL or BWSL, we the consumers must still bear astronomical costs for phone, light and water service. With government at the helm, look for insolent and incompetent cronies to run amuck, lowering productivity and driving up costs. If a large and experienced conglomerate company like Fortis was having trouble staying in the black, how will a group of incompetent, inexperienced dodo birds turn things around to show a profit?

Of course, PUC will find no difficulty, as was the case with BWSL, in granting BEL a rate increase so look for light bills to skyrocket a lot sooner than later. As we write, Mr. Barrow is in Guatemala groveling to the President of Mexico to raise the ceiling of credit from ten million to twenty. Exactly what BEL had been asking government to do! Of course, the consumer will again be the loser here but who cares, after all we own the company; or do we?

At the end of the day, Fortis will get along a hell of a lot easier without Belize than Belize will without Fortis. BEL represents a mere two percent of Fortis holdings while the government can ill afford to get locked into yet another lengthy legal battle with another financial giant. The only ones who will benefit here, as was the case with BTL, are the highpriced lawyers and the selected cronies who will be rewarded with choice positions and prime salaries.

Mr. Barrow was once again glib and unctuous in his presentation advising us to “screw our courage to the sticking place.” The line, from Shakespeare’s Macbeth is appropriate. It comes from a scene where Macbeth’s wife is encouraging him to throw caution to the wind and proceed with his assassination of King Duncan. Duncan is portrayed as a generous but firm ruler whose murder eventually signals the onset of chaos in the kingdom.

Yes, Macbeth might indeed be a fitting play from which to extract apropos remarks.

Here’s another that might very well fit perfectly our modern day Lady Macbeth: an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

www.belizeandiaries.com

RULES FOR BEING

HUMAN – Rules #7 & 8

W

e’re winding down the ten rules for being human as was presented in a book, entitled the same by Cherie Scott Carter. It is a book written with the belief that wisdom is an innate trait and that if these rules are followed then a more fulfilling life can be had. This week we are covering rules seven and eight.

According to the author, there are no mistakes in life, only lessons that are repeated.

Rule #7: OTHERS ARE ONLY MIRRORS OF YOU – in this chapter you will learn that you can’t love or dislike something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself. At first read I couldn’t understand what this meant or rather I should say I did not believe it was true yet whenever I cast judgment on someone I always make a quick self assessment to see if I secretly possess any of those qualities or traits that I am criticising. I still haven’t mastered this rule but it is a work in progress for me.

She continues in her book stating that your reactions to others say more about you than they do about others. “We are usually drawn to those who are most like us and tend to dislike those who display those aspects of ourselves that we dislike. We view others through the grid of our past experiences, feelings and thoughts. Usually we convince ourselves that our perceptions of them are objective and disconnected to any of our own issues.”

Under this rule of being human, you are urged to approach your life as if other people were mirroring back to you important information. According to Carter, once you accept this then every encounter you have with individuals poses an opportunity to explore and assess the relationship you have with yourself and to learn.

The challenge of rule seven is to assess all decisions, judgments and projections you make onto others and begin to view them as clues to how you can heal yourself and become whole. Under this rule

you will learn the lessons of tolerance, clarity, healing and support.

Rule #8: WHAT YOU MAKE OF YOUR LIFE IS UP TO YOU – at times as we go through life we often question who is really in control of our lives...is it a supreme being? Or are we the sculptors of our own destiny? It is easy to fall into the belief that we have no control of the things that happen around us but what we need to keep in mind whenever we fall into this gloomy thought is that we have all the tools and resources we need and we do with them is up to us. Each one of us has our own reality to deal with and we are the creators of this reality.

Many people are heard using excuses that they can’t live the life they want either because they are not strong enough or they lack the resources. In reality what these people are doing is looking past the fundamental truth that it is not our external resources that determine our success or failure but rather our belief in ourselves and our willingness to create a life in accordance with our highest aspirations and goals.

Carter, in his chapter states, “... when you fully recognize your challenges, your gifts and your individual reality and you accept the life path they represent, the world provides whatever you need to succeed. You in turn, will discover how you can make your greatest contribution to the world. When you claim authorship of your life story, the world responds and genius ignites.”

The challenge to this rule is for you to create and own your own reality. At the first moment when you are able to do this it will be an awakening of sorts and will lead to the demise of your unconscious life. When you start to live your life fully aware that what you make of your life is up to you then you will be able to design it according to your choice and desire. While attempting to embrace and master this rule you will encounter the lessons of responsibility, release, courage, power and adventure. These lessons will provide you with the key tools you need in order to take command of your life.

As you go about trying to incorporate these rules in your life, always bear in mind, the words of the Swiss psychiatrist and influential thinker, Carl Gustav Jung, ‘there is no coming into consciousness without pain’.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Next Revolution…

One Belize

And the New Political Order-Part II

By Carolyn Trench-Sandiford – Deputy Leader People’s United Party - Belize

Background: Last week the Preamble of the Next Revolution was introduced, making reference to the purpose of the first revolution, which was to create a New Belize and bring about a better quality of life and a just share of the national wealth for all Belizeans.

I made mention that despite many achievements and the continued discovery of immeasurable wealth, the state of our nation 30 years after is a testament that the purpose of the first revolution remains unfulfilled.

I also cited that if the purpose of the first revolution is to be fulfilled, a fundamental transformation of mind and systems is a must, and this calls for another Revolution, to create One Belize, Prosperous, United and Free, and a New Political, Economic, Social and Environmental Order indigenous to the revolution and Belize.

Part I of my proposed ‘New Political Order’ was presented last week and spoke about the Power of Knowledge of the Constitution of Belize, Leadership for all Belizeans, and Effective and True Representation and Separation of Powers.

This week I present the New Political Order-Part II. THE NEW POLITICAL ORDER-PART II Solidifying Our Sovereignty, Protecting Our Homeland and Forging Our Belizean Identity If a nation is to be sovereign and truly independent, it must think, speak and move as one, and have confidence in its abilities to govern and protect itself. Only so can it face the world together.

1. Executive Authority of Belize shall be vested in the people of Belize represented by the Prime Minister and Executive Branch of Government and not Her Majesty.

2. The fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Belize shall be balanced with an obligation of Individual Responsibility to their coun-

try for their lifetime or from “womb to tomb’’ through mandatory military or volunteer service.

3. All educational material on Belize shall be rewritten to use language that unite, rather than divide us, and ignite our passion and sense of nationalism. For example, Belize shall no longer be referred to as our country, but rather our Homeland, Belize shall no longer be divided into six districts, but comprises six districts, and the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition becomes the Leader of the Majority Party not forming the government.

4. Our National Heroes shall become the anchor of our nation and the process of selecting them shall include the people of Belize, and their lives shall become a part of our psychic, and their images shall replace that of the Queen on our money.

5. There shall be uniformity in how we respond to our Belizean National Anthem and represent Belize nationally and internationally.

In the case of the former, Belizeans shall place their right hand over their hearts at the playing or singing of the National Anthem. In the case of the latter, only ‘BELIZE’ shall be used, the colours shall be white, red and blue and English the National Language.

6. Immigration shall be both a component of our Defense strategy and a means to maintain a balanced cultural and ethnic diversity.

Shifting and Sharing Some of the Power-From Belmopan to the Cities, Towns, Villages, Communities and Civil Society 1. The term ‘Central Government’ shall be replaced with ‘National Government’ and there shall be a clear definition of roles and responsibilities of national government versus municipal, village and community government, with the former responsible for policy direction and the execution of national programmes.

2. Municipal and village [de-

pending on size] governments shall be empowered to have full development, administrative and financial decision making authority, but shall be guided by the policy decisions and direction of the national government.

Thus they will have more control over what happens in their communities, and the success of forwarding the revolution at the municipal and village levels will be determined by the decisions they make, and the quality of their participation in implementing them.

3. Civil Society will be engaged as strategic partners in governance and be empowered to perform functions that they are skilled in, but guided by the decisions and direction of national government.

Anchoring Governance in Development Planning 1. Development planning that is both qualitative and quantitative, comprehensive and holistic, that is, integrates the social, economic, cultural and physical dimensions of development, shall form the basis of decision

21 making at the national, municipal, village and community levels of government.

2. There shall be a national human settlement hierarchy that defines what constitutes a city, town, village or community and the level of service that should be provided at each level to guide development planning, defense and internal migration.

Attacking Corruption 1. All political parties shall be registered and required to submit annual audited reports for participation in general and municipal elections.

2. The Integrity Commission shall be broadened to be the Integrity and Ethics Commission and empowered and staffed to investigate and prosecute any complaints on unethical and criminal behavior of public officials and there shall be severe penalties including imprisonment, forfeiture of assets and fines of persons convicted of contravening the act.

Next Week - the New Economic Order.

For comments email carolyntrench@gmail.com

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Write to us at: editortimes@yahoo.com

Enjoying the beautiful view…

O

By Lucia Moguel

n June 11, 2011 I assisted in a barbeque sale that our local parish held in order to aid the Madres de la Luz in their studies. We made our appearance in the Central Park or Queen Elizabeth Park or whichever name you want to give the park that is situated in front of the Town Hall in Orange Walk Town. We endured harsh weather such as the blistering heat and the rampant tempest. But not all was disastrous; we had a great sale along with happy customers.

In addition, the experience was unique and the view was even better.

I had never noticed the conditions in which the park stood nor the treacherous environment surrounding it until this fine summer Saturday. I noticed dilapidated benches, collapsed children’s playgrounds, a myriad of street vendors, many bars surrounding the park and a broken useless fountain. I must mention that these are just a few elements from the countless defects that the poor park has been left to bear and suffer over the past years. I strongly recommend someone to change the colors that the park has today.

From my personal observation, I noticed that the park is divided into two peculiar sections. On one side, close to the bars, inhabit the courtesans and the inebriates and on the other side the citizens of the town peacefully rest, far away from the dangers of the musical jungle. The stall selling barbeque beside us brought along with them their equipment to play music and I was appalled to witness the performance a couple made. Both of these well known boozers began to dance in front of the speaker in the middle of plain day when children are present the same way people would dance in the middle of the night in an indoor nightclub.

Apart from the disturbing view are the many street entrepreneurs that have placed themselves on a corner of the park in order to carry out their trade. They have become a plague and it is practically impossible to squeeze through these people to reach your desired destination and see through all those used clothing.

Speaking about commercial establishments which are not quite established, I believe that having so many bars close to a family site such as a park is malicious. It is not beneficial for the public to have their families out on a Sunday when all the fine gentlemen are lying on the floor after having so much to drink. These people are attracted to the bars surrounding the park just like bees returning to their beehive after a long day’s work in the flower fields.

Such an environment is not healthy for children to play in and for family values to be promoted. Alcohol and sex are not the professions we want our children to learn. Restrictions should be placed.

Perhaps if the park was in optimum conditions, the surrounding environment would not be much of a problem. However, for our disgrace, the appearance of the park is not the best. I have seen tourists taking pictures of people sleeping in the park due to an excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. That day I saw a ruin, like if that park has been there for centuries and during dusk, a faint glare can be seen attempting to illuminate the park. During the day, there was rainfall and the park became flooded; especially where the children’s slide is.

This park lies in the middle of the town, in front of the town hall. I believe that having such a park damages the image of the town. We must beseech whoever is in power to improve the conditions in which the park finds itself today. This will most definitely improve the image that we have in the eyes of our people and the world.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

WORLD OCEANS DAY

Help the Sea Turtle find its way to the ocean!

Colour Me!

World Oceans Day was celebrated on Wednesday, June 8, and I felt like having a little fun under the sea this week to kick off the summer holiday! Come join me!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

A Time to Graduate A graduation marks the beginning of a new phase in your life which is a very exciting time for most students in Belize. For some sadly, it is not as joyful! I remember hearing parents in two different newscasts voicing their displeasure that their child was unable to graduate for some reason or the other!

In one case the student was unable to pay while in the other the student was being accused of conduct that prevented access to graduation! Although hearing these stories moved my heart it spells out one thing - ‘graduating is not automatic!’ It is a result of choices that a student has made. The choice to be diligent, to study, to pay attention in class, to be respectful, and to do your homework, are all part of a healthy learning experience.

Oh, by the way, adults please don’t feel that you are immunized from this.

For you, graduation may be a new position in your workplace or a new responsibility!

Now when you think about it, a graduation is like a marriage. It begins with a joyous time (Graduation Ceremonies) and the rest you have to live out.

You have to now apply the things you learnt before reaching to this new level of responsibility!

In the manual, 2 Timothy 2:15 says we should study to show ourselves approved. The word study comes from a Greek word (spoo-dad- zo) and really means to make effort and to be diligent! The word approved or Greek (do-keemos) means acceptable or approved. If I would word this scripture in another way it would say ‘be diligent, make every effort in your studies and class assignments that you may be accepted or approved to receive the Graduation Certificate which was waiting for you before you even took your first test!’

So “How should we study?” See there are two main ways -first is to memorize, which comes by constant repetition. This is used in subjects such as spelling, social studies, music, etc. The only difficulty in this type of study is the number and size of material you may need to commit to memory.

The second type of studying relies on the first but is little more complex and is the one I love. I call it reasoning or comprehension! It relies first on your ability to memorize formulas or words and then takes it to another level where you have to apply these formulae to solve problems. This type is found in comprehension, problem solving, in math, and is extended to vocational trades and even criminal scientology!

You may give your Math or English teacher problems because you ‘don’t like the subject’, but the truth is that by neglecting these subjects you are missing out on a critical leg of life, and will end up hopping around on one leg rather than enjoying the horse power of running on both! The second type of studying/effort/discipline requires first memorization, then taken to a next level requires understanding, and finally requires wisdom. If you do not understand the formula you will have a hard time trying to solve the problem!

Proverbs 4:7 says “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Wisdom is simply application of what knowledge and understanding you have. A doctor who smokes or whose body is overweight for example, does not have wisdom. Keeping this in mind then, it is critical that you understand what your teacher is teaching and then apply it. You will be surprised that this trains a certain set of muscles in your brain that you will be using later on in life.

Finally I would like to look at one more type of understanding which the Bible talks about - “Understanding People” a very important lesson that is too often overlooked in school is the training of human resource. Your study at a school is really training for life. Each person you meet in school represents someone you will later meet in life! Yes this even includes girlfriend and boyfriend, but that’s not my topic right now. For example, your teacher represents some authority whether it is a police, a judge, a boss etc. Each teacher is a different person and expects little differences in behavior from you. One might allow you to get away with certain thing another may not! Your prefix may represent a traffic officer!

Your fellow class mates are of varying types. Don’t get upset if no one else wants to help you to sweep, if you end up doing most of the group work yourself, rather seek to find out what is the best way to deal with this situation! I tell you that there are people with all these attitudes that you will meet in your life as an adult. Don’t get too cranky if they steal from you; try to find out what you can do differently next time to try to avoid this.

In ending, I hope that this has encouraged you to keep studying hard as graduation only prepares you for a job. You are hired based on the skills you have attained but fired based on your attitude and not understanding how to relate to your boss!!

Until next week keep on studying whether in school or working a job!

Congratulations to all Belizeans, preschool or university, UB or Harvard who are celebrating their hard work and graduating this year.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

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THE BELIZE TIMES

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

E

V

I

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W

Selected By Chris Williams

Universe’s highest electric current found 21 June 2011 A COSMIC jet 2 billion light years away is carrying the highest electric current ever seen: 1018 amps, equivalent to a trillion bolts of lightning.

Philipp Kronberg of the University of Toronto in Canada and colleagues measured the alignment of radio waves around a galaxy called 3C303, which has a giant jet of matter shooting from its core. They

saw a sudden change in the waves’ alignment coinciding with the jet. “This is an unambiguous signature of a current,” says Kronberg.

The team thinks magnetic fields from a colossal black hole at the galaxy’s core are generating the current, which is powerful enough to light up the jet and drive it through interstellar gases out to a distance of about 150,000 light years

City living affects your brain, researchers find The part of the brain that senses danger becomes overactive in city-dwellers when they are under stress Alok Jha, science correspondent guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 22 June 2011

The brains of people living in cities operate differently from those in rural areas, according to a brain-scanning study.

Scientists found that two regions, involved in the regulation of emotion and anxiety, become overactive in city-dwellers when they are stressed and argue that the differences could account for the increased rates of mental health problems seen in urban areas.

Previous research has shown that people living in cities have a 21% increased risk of anxiety disorders and a 39% increased risk of mood disorders. In addition, the incidence of schizophrenia is twice as high in those born and brought up in cities.

In the new study, Professor Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg of the University of Heidelberg in Germany scanned the brains of more than 50 healthy volunteers, who lived in a range of locations from rural areas to large cities, while they were engaged in difficult mental arithmetic tasks. The experiments were designed to

make the groups of volunteers feel anxious about their performance.

The results, published in Nature, showed that the amygdala of participants who currently live in cities was over-active during stressful situations. “We know what the amygdala does; it’s the dangersensor of the brain and is therefore linked to anxiety and depression,” said MeyerLindenberg.

Another region called the cingulate cortex was overactive in participants who were born in cities. “We know [the cingulate cortex] is important for controlling emotion and dealing with environmental

adversity.”

This excess activity could be at the root of the observed mental health problems, said Me y e r- L i n d e nb e r g .

“We speculate that stress might cause these abnormalities in the first place – that speculation lies outside what we can show in our study, it is primarily based on the fact that this specific brain area is very sensitive to developmental stress. If you stress an animal, you will find even structural abnormalities in that area and those may be enduring and make an animal anxious.

What we’re proposing is that stress causes these things and stress is where they are expressed and then lead to an increased risk of mental illness.”

By 2050, almost 70% of people are predicted to be living in urban areas. On average, city dwellers are “wealthier and receive improved sanitation, nutrition, contraception and healthcare”, wrote the researchers in Nature. But urban living

is also associated with “increased risk for chronic disorders, a more demanding and stressful social environment and greater social disparities. The biological components of this complex landscape of risk and protective factors remain largely uncharacterised.”

In an accompanying commentary in Nature, Dr Daniel Kennedy and Prof Ralph Adolphs, both at the California Institute of Technology, said that there are wide variations in a people’s preferences for, and ability to cope with, city life.

“Some thrive in New York city; others would happily swap it for a desert island.

Psychologists have found that a substantial factor accounting for this variability is the perceived degree of control that people have over their daily lives. Social threat, lack of control and subordination are all likely candidates for mediating the stressful effects of city life, and probably account for much of the individual differences.”

Working out what factors in a city cause the stress in the first place is the next step in trying to understand the mental health effects of urban areas. Meyer-Lindenberg said that social fragmentation, noise or over-crowding might all be factors. “There’s prior evidence that if someone invades your personal space, comes too close to you, it’s exactly that amygdala-cingulate circuit that gets [switched on] so it could be something as simple as density.”

He said the research could be used, in future, to inform city design.

“What we can do is try and make cities better places to live in from the view of mental health. Up to now, there really isn’t a lot of evidence-base to tell a city planner what would be good, what would be bad.”

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THE BELIZE TIMES

en Español

Como BTL, BEL fue secuestrado, no nacionalizado

La política vengativa y confrontativa del gobierno del UDP de nuevo hizo de las suyas con una nueva adquisición hostil de una empresa de servicios privados, esta vez Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) por sus siglas en Ingles. Tal como indicó el PUP respecto al tema de la toma de BEL, “como en el caso de la crisis de autobuses, BTL... y la situación del fútbol, parece que la postura del Gobierno es pelear en lugar de negociar.” Con una arrogancia que no conoce límites, el primer ministro Dean Barrow se jacta de la forma en que llevó a esta empresa a sus rodillas, en lugar de buscar una solución a largo plazo más productiva a la crisis mediante el trabajo con los accionistas de BEL. El fracaso de BEL, sin duda, se debe al fracaso de este gobierno en su incompetencia por no tener una política coherente para el desarrollo. Dean Barrow no ha proporcionado una visión para una política energética para este país. Él se opuso al desarrollo de fuentes alternativas de energía, pero siempre hay soluciones alternativas para satisfacer la creciente demanda nacional de electricidad. Ahora, su único recurso es la cruda y hostil adquisiciones hostiles de exitosas inversiones privadas y las condena al fracaso a través de la expropiación irracional disfrazada de “nacionalización”. ¿Qué pasó con BEL el pasado lunes y a BTL hace dos años no son ejemplos de nacionalización? Se trata de Barrow en su papel de dictador al apoderarse de una propiedad privada de una entidad, para venderla a otra entidad, sólo por rencor y malicia. No va a resultar en tarifas de electricidad más baratas. No va a resultar en una mayor apropiación de Belicenos de la compañía eléctrica. Y no va a ser un impulso a la economía del país, que ya se encuentra en “terapia intensiva”. Por supuesto, dicha transacción cosechará un buen botín para los involucrados - los abogados, los corredores y, por supuesto, los políticos corruptos y codiciosos del UDP, sus compinches y sus bolsillos sin fondo.

El Partido Unido del Pueblo es el único Partido nacionalista de verdad.

Es el Partido que abrió el camino a una identidad para beliceños, hacia la Independencia, y la propiedad de nuestros recursos naturales que se colocaron en las manos de los beliceños. Fue bajo el Padre de la Patria, el muy Honorable George Price, que Tate and Lyle fue nacionalizado, y las tierras de caña de azúcar planta fueron llevados a sus legítimos dueños, los campesinos que trabajaban y cosechan los campos.

Dean Barrow, dijo públicamente que su partido siempre ha estado filosóficamente opuesto a la privatización, sin embargo, fue el UDP que inició el proceso de privatización de Belice en su periodo de gobierno de1984 a 1989.

El UDP privatizo las telecomunicaciones, vendiendo las acciones a British Telecom. El UDP privatizo la producción y distribución de electricidad, vendiendo las acciones a Dominion Energy en 1993. Pero el Primer Ministro se ha salido con la suya engañando a los beliceños porque tiene un medio a su favor que ha comprado su plan de nacionalización falsa. Sin duda que los dólares publicitarios de BEL fluirá en una dirección particular.

Mientras que en la superficie la expropiación de BEL puede parecer un movimiento populista, hay implicaciones de largo alcance nacional e internacional. Acabamos de empezar lo que se ha pronosticado como una temporada de huracanes muy activa. ¿Puede esta compañía estatal de BEL asegurarle a los beliceños que si un huracán azotara, se puede restaurar la energía a las zonas afectadas lo antes posible? El dinero que el gobierno pagara por el secuestro de BEL y BTL puede y pudo haberse utilizado para mejorar las desmoronadas calles, carreteras y puentes del país, ese dinero se puede utilizar para el despliegue del Seguro Nacional de Salud y aplacar las necesidades que el país tanto necesita, utilizarlo en la aplicación de un programa nacional de vivienda para los pobres, para la recuperación de las instituciones educativas y salvar el colapso del sistema de educación y crear empleos para los miles de beliceños desempleados.

En un comunicado de la Cámara de Comercio de Belice se indica con precisión el impacto negativo que esta medida tendrá en la confianza de los

Sunday, June 26, 2011

inversores. Afirmó: “Es difícil convencer a un inversor potencial, tanto nacionales como extranjeros, para invertir dinero duramente ganado en una empresa, como la reciente adquisición demuestra, si las condiciones en que las empresas se llevan a cabo están sujetas a cambios al antojo del GOB . La Cámara está muy preocupado de que la expropiación como medio de solución a las controversias con el gobierno de Belice se está convirtiendo en una práctica, y esto directamente debilitara y desalentara las inversiones, tanto locales como extranjeros en un momento en que más se necesitan para crear empleos, obtener divisas extranjeras muy necesarias y pagar nuestra deuda nacional creciente”.

Ya la empresa de inversión de calificación Standard & Poors ha degradado a Belice y dijo que se encuentra en el número nueve de diez de los países que no es probable que honren sus deudas.

La Cámara cerró diciendo: “El BCCI ( por sus siglas en Ingles) está plenamente consciente de que su posición podría ir en contra de la opinión pública, pero nuestro punto de vista se basa en lo que creemos que es en el mejor de los intereses a largo plazo de Belice y no el cortejo de un electorado . Esta noción de que no son patriotas, los que no apoyamos las acciones del Gobierno de Belice es insultante y arrogante. Instamos a todos los órganos de los partidos políticos para resistir a la propaganda de agitación anti sector privado, los sentimientos xenófobos y racistas. Esta táctica ha sido utilizada en muchos países por muy corto plazo para las ganancias domésticas, pero todos estos países los califican ahora como estados paria poco fiable”.

Cada vez es más y más difícil de comprender el comportamiento irracional del primer ministro Dean Barrow y su gobierno del UDP. De hecho, parece que no hay orden ni racionalismo en las acciones del gobierno. Pero en realidad, no hay separación de los dos. Barrow es el Partido, el que toma las decisiones. Él no entretiene disensión. Se ha convertido en un dictador ebrio de poder. Él y su rebaño de cabras en el gabinete se han convertido en megalómanos temerarios. Todo lo que se ha logrado en estos 30 años de la Independencia ha sido pisoteado. La Constitución de nuestro país está siendo destrozado, la libertad de expresión y la dignidad humana están en peligro, se han hecho intentos de amordazar a los medios de comunicación e intimidar a los jueces y los inversores se sienten frustrados. No tenemos ninguna confianza en la capacidad de esta administración UDP para manejar los asuntos de la nación, a medida que avanzamos hacia atrás para convertirnos en un “remanso post-colonial”.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Assad Shoman presents

new edition of 13 Chapters Belize City, June 20th, 2011 Former Government Minister/diplomat, Assad Shoman, has served the Belizean populace with a revised serving of his renowned publication, 13 Chapters of a History of Belize.

At a book launching held on Monday, June 20 morning at the Image Factory, Shoman unveiled the book “13: a history of Belize in 13 chapters” and discussed what makes the revised version a must read for scholars, students, history fans and Belizeans in general.

Before Shoman spoke about his new edition, Dr. Carla Barnett, who assisted in Shoman’s research work, provided an overview of the book’s contents. Dr. Barnett indicated that apart from sharpening up the writing in the new book, Shoman presents more recent analyses which forms part of the previous research. It presents discussion on Politics and Governance in the “New Belize”.

The revised book allows Shoman to delve into new areas that could not be explored prior to the first publication in 1994.

Belize has developed rapidly since, and Shoman is able to provide critical assessment of the development, maintaining his focus on the socio-economic trends.

Able to look specifically at the eras of “economic boom”, Dr. Barnett said, Shoman provides a deep analysis of the way the economic system worked, and why it was fundamentally flawed.

Dr. Barnett pointed out that while the revised edition “builds on the 1st [edition] very well. It’s going to create more friends and more enemies”.

Shoman indicated that while Belize

has developed, conditions for the people have worsened. He indicated that instead of 33% poverty which existed in 2002, there is 43% in 2011. “While there are more buildings, more infrastructures and per capita income is at over $6,000, the country has gotten richer while people got poorer.”

Shoman said it is imperative for Belizeans to understand what “Imperialism” is, and to recognise the role it plays in society.

He said his book makes an attempt at opening eyes, by providing facts and giving readers the tools to find answers.

He said he wished more young Belizeans would pick up and study 13 Chapters, since most of the older heads are already “corrupted”.

13: a history of Belize in 13 chapters was printed and published by the Angelus Press Limited. Limited copies were available at the launching, but we understand bulk copies will be available next month.

Anyone interested in copies could contact Loretta Tillett at the Angelus Press.

Myrtle Palacio launches 2 new publications at Image Factory By: Alton Humes BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, June 22, 2011 On the heels of legendary activistturned politician and scholar Assad Shoman’s historic re-launch of his immortal 13 Chapters of a History of Belize (now retroactively titled 13: A History of Belize in 13 Chapters), there was quietly rabid anticipation for Myrtle Palacio’s launch of two new scholarly publications, which occurred today inside the Image Factory on North Front Street.

A strong group of supporters, political and socio-cultural figures convened Continued on page 30

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT JOHNNY BRICEÑO The Leader of the People’s United Party must feel a new wind beneath his wings.

Johnny Briceño has succeeded in presenting to the people of Belize a dynamic and impressive team of standard bearers.

Ready, willing and capable of serving the Belizean people.

There is youth, there is experience, there is university trained, there is university of the people. There are professionals, technicians, successful businessmen, successful politicians, outstanding area representatives and biggest slap of all in Dean Barrow’s face – 3 dynamic women candidates.

The Big Blue Machine is coming together. Whenever the People’s United Party is fully united the UDP can never win an election.

The UDP have been making all the mistakes the blue can wish for. They are power hungry, arrogant. Chancey. Worthless. Malicious. Vicious. The list goes on.

They are dishonest and disingenuous. They have brought not a single investment to the country. They have created not a single job.

They have broken the government sending the budget into deep deficit. They are ruining the economy. Bankrupting the country.

They have brought pain and misery and suffering to the people. Living in Belize is a daily struggle for survival.

The UDP have no vision. They have “words full of sound and fury signifying nothing”.

They have no respect for the rights of Belizeans. Draconian laws and the strangling of citizens rights have become their trademark.

Each week the government is embroiled in a quarrel with some institution, organization, business or individual.

There is no country in the world where press conferences solve problems. It is leadership, hard work, teamwork, cooperation between the public and private sectors, consultation and inclusion between government, business and the people, respect by government for the people it is sworn to and paid to serve. These are abysmally lacking from the UDP government. These are forth coming from Johnny Briceño and the new PUP he had forged through patience, team work and hard work.

The Blue Machine has started to roll.

This Sunday, the Party Leader, a humble, hard working, successful businessman will pledge his allegiance to his colleagues and PUP supporters and they in turn will give him their support and their commitment.

The road ahead is long and hard. But the journey has now begun.

The party of the great George Price, the party that fought for voting rights for all Belizeans. The party of the farmers and the fishermen. The party of the housewives and laborers. The party of the rich man, poor man. The party of opportunity. The party of hope and the party of love. The party of SelfGovernment and Independence. The party of land reform, health reform, education reform, political reform, social reform - is on the move.

The party that fought the British colonial masters, brought self- government, independence and a Constitution that protects everyone. The party of housing, land distribution, scholarships, jobs and national pride. This is the party the majority of Belizeans have always supported.

The Blue Machine has started to roll.

There is now hope once again. Liberation is at hand. This Sunday, Johnny Briceño’s convention marks the beginning of the end of one man’s rule and dictatorship and

hard times.

NEW RULES It is written that a square peg does not fit in a round hole. There is much truth in that analogy.

The Constitution of Belize, often called the supreme law of the land, is also the manual by which the country is operated.

Of the eleven chapters in the Constitution, the public service and public officers gets a whole chapter.

The chapter starts with the Public Services Commission. 18 members are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, and that advice can only be given after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.

Section 105 subsection 1.3 the constitution states “The commission shall, in the discharge of its functions under this Constitution not be subject to the direction and control of any other person or authority.”

Commission members are like judges.

They are to be fair and impartial, above influence from the powerful and wealthy and from the Prime Minister, his Ministers and politicians.

Increasingly, indications are that the Public Services Commission is letting the country down. As a consequence, public officers no longer feel safe, fear for their jobs and promotions and protection from politicians is now the “New Rules”.

Public Officers have long since borne the brunt of our political climate and the vagaries of change of governments and political masters. It has become worse. The disgraceful treatment of the Senior Magistrate and interference with other Magistrates represent the New Rule. So too, the arbitrary and unlawful transfers and removal of several Heads of Government Departments, scattering them outside their years of experience, expertise and training – square pegs pushed into round holes by the arrogant politicians in Belmopan.

Now comes word that the Clerk of Court from Orange Walk is being banished by some politician who has become upset with one of her family members. To facilitate this interference and a second dabbling in San Pedro court, the native of Orange Walk whose job is not transferrable has been ordered to go work in Dangriga. The innocent Court Clerk from Dangriga is to leave her home town, children and husband and start working in Orange Walk.

The Clerk in San Pedro is to catch a boat and reach Corozal. The Clerk of Courts in Corozal is to take a bus to Belize City and water taxi his way to San Pedro. All this with total disregard for their children, their lives, their families and friends. Worse, it is unlawful. Even worst, the whole purpose of the Public Services Commission is to ensure insulation from the whims and fancies of political interference.

We say such transfers are unlawful because the appointment letters state that these persons are appointed Clerk to the specific courts they work. They are not Immigration, Customs or Police officers whose jobs allow them to be transferred from time to time.

When the court Clerk in San Ignacio was unceremoniously put out of her office for a party hack, not a voice was raised for her, nowhere in this land of the free by the Carib Sea for her and her family. Political victimization is not only in direct violation of Section 3 of the Constitution, it is a form of wickedness visited upon innocent citizens and public officers who need their jobs to live and raise their families.

All these Court Clerks are to get up and move themselves, disrupt their lives and be torn from their families by the 30th of June

in order to start working on the 1st of July – this very year. They are Non-transferrable, yet they are transferred.

How cold, how uncaring, how immoral and how chancey.

No doubt the Public Services Commission will rubber stamp the political inferences and give clothing to such naked and vicious aggression against helpless public officers. It is the Judicial Section of the Public Services Commission which allowed government to secretly appoint a new Chief Magistrate long before the bogus advertisement for a vacancy was belated published as a cover up. Lord, deliver us.

THE KING OF THE JUNGLE There is something about lions. Tigers too. And us humans.

There is a circus in town. Well! There is always a circus in Belize, where the clowns dominate the shows.

But we talking a real circus with real animals. It is in Pallotti High School compound, at the mouth of the Northern Road in Belize City. When I pass by, I can see a lion in a cage. I slow down sometimes and watch. Two times I stopped by the fence and watch. It is awesome to watch the lion.

Yesterday when I passed I again watched the lion. My mind remembered. As a young man I was sent to Jamaica to study. I visited their zoo. I saw a tiger in a small cage. The tiger never once looked at me. It walked around and around the small cage. Around and around. Around and around and around and around. I know that tiger was unhappy.

Any fool could tell he was sad. He walked around and around the tiny cage. With his head down. Anguished.

I remember now what I was thinking then. I remember there were tears. I remember that I believed that tiger well knew he was in a cage. He kept walking around and around. He must have been hoping to escape. I know that he was thinking that he belonged in the jungle. Somebody done him wrong.

When I read how the famous Siegfried and Roy’s tiger show in Las Vegas was permanently cancelled when Roxy’s tiger bit him in his neck on stage, I felt good. The more these animals bite their trainers and tormentors the less animals will be caged.

From the side walk by Pallotti fence I watched a majestic, magnificent lion standing up in his small cage. He started walking around and around. I walked away.

This is what we humans do to the king of the jungle? Who are the animals now?

THE COASTAL ROAD From Belize City to Dangriga is one hundred miles minimum. It is fifty miles to Belmopan and another fifty to Dangriga. From Punta Gorda to Belize City is long, long. So is travelling from Corozal to Dangriga and Corozal to Punta Gorda, and vice versa.

The more the distance the more the

29 amount of petrol used.

There is a road. It starts at mile 30 on the Western Highway and it goes for 39 miles, then it connects with the Hummingbird Highway just six miles from Dangriga.

This road, called the Coastal Road, shaves off twenty miles if one travels on paved road to Belmopan to reach Dangriga.

It shaves off another forty-five miles from not using most of the Hummingbird from Belmopan to Dangriga. That is sixty-four miles one way. One hundred and twenty eight miles for a return journey from Belize City to Dangriga or vice versa using the Coastal Road.

The Coastal Road is gravel and stone, small parts are clay. It is very passable. It is a rough journey. But it saves quite a lot of petrol, which means saving quite a lot of money.

At twelve dollars a gallon you do the math.

The British and Guatemalans are finally getting the road they always wanted. The one from Punta Gorda to the Guatemala border.

Some twenty odd, or is it forty odd million dollars are being spent right now to pave that road.

Why can’t the Coastal Road be widened and paved? Millions of dollars would be saved every year in foreign exchange to buy petrol for the longer routes using the paved roads.

There is also a huge savings to the economy in time lost and in wear and tear on vehicles. Also a paved Coastal Road facilitates the increase in goods and services.

In the first UDP administration then Minister of Works, Hubert Elrington, almost single handedly pursued his vision that there will be a short cut between Belize City and its southern districts. To his everlasting credit he opened up the way.

JIMMY CARTER Last week Jimmy Carter stated publicly that decent housing must be seen as a human right. He said it was a duty of government and all who can help, to provide safe and decent places for the unfortunate to live.

For years Mr. Carter and his wife have volunteered their time personally building houses for the needy through his own foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

For those who are among the thousands of Belizeans who don’t even know who is Jimmy Carter, he is a former President of the U.S.A. He was the most decent and humanitarian of all the modern Presidents. If Barack Obama had quarter the heart of Jimmy Carter, the USA would not be killing people in Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq and wasted billions of much needed dollars.

It was President Carter who supported Belize at the United Nations so we Belizeans could achieve our independence with all our country intact. Previous US Presidents supported Guatemala.

Jimmy Carter should have a Library, or a highway or statute in this country as a token of our deep appreciation.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Myrtle Palacio launches 2 new publications at Image Factory Continued from page 27

to witness the release of two books: Electoral Politics in Belize: The Naked Truth and ADuguRahani: A Walk through Garifuna Spiritualism. Palacio (full name: Iris Myrtle), Garifuna by birth & heritage and a scholar and public official by duty, was quietly but humbly ecstatic at the release of her work, the product of at least two to three decades of painstaking research.

The MC & the Image Factory’s curator, Yasser Musa, welcomed the gathering, and fellow Garifuna and Anglican priest Canon Jerris Valentine led in solemn prayer in Garifuna. Then UB lecturer and co-founder of the Belize Kriol Project and National Kriol Council, Sylvana Udz, opened up with a welcoming speech in her indomitable style, “bigged up” and praised Ms. Palacio’s dedication to her research and passion for the subjects she tackled in the books.

The next presentation was led by current Fort George Area Representative and former 2-term Prime Minister of Belize, the Rt. Hon Said Musa. Musa noted to the gathering that he spoke solely as “a student of politics” who admired the work Palacio put during her tenure as head of the Election & Boundaries Commission. He also noted that the 1988 decision by a then-UDP led government to change the law and foster the

Police seek Orlando Sanchez, for brutal attack on OW Woman Continued from page 4

in connection to the vicious assault of a Yo Creek village resident, 52 year old Maria Elena Baeza.

On Sunday morning Orange Walk Police found Baeza lying face down on a feeder road just off the Yo Creek Road. She had chop wounds on her head, face and back.

According to Baeza’s brother, he had gone to her house earlier on Sunday, but when he called out for her name there was no answer. He found that strange because her pickup truck was parked outside and there was a bicycle on the pan. After not getting a response, Baeza’s brother left the house thinking no one was at home.

But that was not the case. While admitted at the hospital, Baeza has told her family that she was at home when she heard her brother calling out her name but at the same very moment she was being held by an individual who had a knife to her throat and was threatening to take away her life. From there she reports she was taken to the road, where she was beaten, chopped and left for dead.

It is suspected that Baeza named Sanchez as the attacker, which has made him a wanted man.

The Baeza family has also launched their own measures and have been circulating a picture of Sanchez, asking that anyone with information of his whereabouts call the nearest police station.

Sanchez is believed to be in hiding along the nearby communities in Mexico.

shift to a “government-run” Commission instead of an autonomous body created dysfunction in the electoral system.

The woman of the hour came forth, and in a lengthy, but well-rounded speech, gave thanks to those who were involved in the collation of both books, including Ms. Lisa Navarette of the Angelus Press Ltd., the publisher of the books.

She also decried the usage of the spiritual songs in popular Punta & Paranda music, saying that those songs are not only the collective intellectual property of the Garifuna, but those artists actually take away the “sacrosanct” meaning of the Dugu ceremony. She also took to task the political trends that she expounds on in the book, particularly the fact that political parties are not “supervised” in their activities, especially when it comes to their “in-house” conventions.

The books are on sale at the Image Factory for $40.00 a piece, and will be available at select stores in Belize City, and later countrywide.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Drug plane lands in OW? Continued from page 6

next morning an abandoned aircraft was found by a few miles off the Guinea Grass Road in an area known as Goat Hill where the Belize Sugar Industries Limited has cane fields.

Members of the Belize Defense Force were dispatched to guard the plane as Police carried out their investigations.

The aircraft was a Piper P.A. Twin Engine. Apart from a serial number, the letters XB-XDF marked on the tail and a Mexican flag imprinted on both sides of the plane, unconfirmed reports are that documents of the plane showed it was registered to Joel Romero Suarez, believed to be a Mexican. Documents also indicated that the pilot’s name was Julio Ismael Salazar.

Maps were found inside the aircraft, and while no sign of drugs was identified, Police did find three 40

caliber rounds hidden inside the pilot’s seat.

The plane’s rear wheel and tail showed signs of damaged, and it is believed, that is the reason the plane could not make it back in the air. It is suspected that due to the bad condition of the road, the pilot lost control of the aircraft as he veered the plane on the middle of the road. M The plane’s fuel tank was found open. In an area about 2 miles away, Police found six 20 gallons of aviation fuel and a number of food items including empty cans of chicken sausage.

Based on the imprinted Mexican flags, it is highly suspected that aircraft was indeed a drug vessel and that instead of making a drop the plane was here to pick up a drug cargo.

Local authorities have contacted their Mexican Counterparts to launch an intensive investigation.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

GOB rushes through Draconian Bills, despite mass rejection Wednesday, June 22, 2011 In as much haste as it could exercise, the UDP Government, on Monday, rushed through three amendments to legislations that citizens of this country will be negatively affected by for as long as these laws remain in force. The Bills have to do with the UDP’s anti-crime proposals they introduced in May in its typically sweeping decisions to appear to address the crime scourge.

The laws are the Juries Amendment Bill; the Indictable Procedure Act; and the Supreme Court of Judicature Bill. In a blanket-type approach, what the Juries and Indictable Procedures Bills do is puts an accused one step closer to conviction in the absence now of a jury to deliberate the person’s guilt or innocence. The third law, in essence will, when it takes effect, eliminate the provisions in law that make an automatic stay of execution on a Magistrate’s decision useless on appeal. These changes in the law puts even law-abiding citizens at great risk, if for whatever reason they find themselves before the courts accused for something he genuinely knows nothing of. The blanket way in which the law were hurriedly enacted without proper consultations can only come back to burn this vindictive, callous UDP regime.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

The Opposition People’s United Party boycotted both the House and the Senate proceedings, saying later by press release that they were not adequately notified of the eleventh-hour assemblies. In fact, the PUP contends that even the media were informed of the special meetings before the Party Leader, John Briceno, and the rest of the PUP parliamentarians.

Further to that, the House papers, which contains the agenda and matters to be dealt with were delivered at the end of the week, last Friday night. And lastly, the PUP release states: “While rumors circulated that the Government would introduce legislation at the House meeting to nationalize Belize Electricity Limited, no such Bill was included in the papers sent to members of the Opposition.”

Those papers were attached as an addendum. Needless to repeat that the law to nationalize BEL was also done with great haste.

In his usual pretentious way, Doug Singh as Leader of Government Business, and who is also the Minister of Police, pointed to those who are free roaming the streets because the law, as it stood, granted a stay on the Magistrate’s decision once a person was found guilty of a firearm offense. Hardly anyone could hold back a yawn at his presentation.

Humor in UDP Politics!

Since his convention last Sunday, Melvin Hulse has been complaining that he has not been able to sleep. Every time he tries to sleep, when he closes his eyes he see the ghost of Denzil Jenkins. Since Monday he has had his vehicle, his office and his house fumigated with Fever grass, and Pissabed flowers with a shirt worn by Jenkins, but with all that Flippin still can’t sleep. ……………………..

Amidst all the UDP madness, the good news last week (well for this one for Belizeans) was that Carnival will happen. So happy was the Minister of Police that when he heard the news he drove straight to Ooh La La and bought himself a red tights and a pink top and a whole set of outfit for the police marching band. One for him, and one for Darrel Bradley too. ……………………..

The law firm of Barrow and Williams has a state of the art law office complex on Albert Street. They say when you approach the door it gives you the temperature inside and outside. It gets even better, the water cooler ask you how would you like your water hot or cold? And the elevator asks you which floor to go. In the rooms, there are mirrors that ask “who is the most fearful of them all?” ……………………..

At the last cabinet meeting, Cabinet erupt into a big laughter when they heard that the Mayor of Belize City wanted them to get up and run, until one of them send a text to the mayor which read “Get up and run away, Mayor”. ……………………..

Things are so bad under Barrow that the limes got no juice. Things so bad that the casa in a card game is making no money, so bad that Unit Trust Belize Management Fund is closing down not because we don’t TRUST dem, but in Belize they have run out of money.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

PARTY PAGE

PUP

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THE BELIZE TIMES

INSERT 1

OPERATION REBUILDING

HON. FRANCIS FONSECA FREETOWN

HON. mark espat albert

GREGORIO “PAPAS” GARCIA COROZAL BAY

CAROLYN TRENCH-SANDIFORD COLLET

RAMIRO RAMIREZ COROZAL SOUTH WEST

Valdemar castillo Corozal North

mike espat toledo east

oscar requeña toledo west

joseph mahmud cayo north

gilroy usher sr. port loyola

phillip palacio mesopotamia

JULIUS ESPAT CAYO SOUTH

anthony sylvestre jr . queen square

ARTHUR SALDIVAR BELIZE RURAL NORTH

anthony mahler caribbean shores

dr. francis smith pickstock

patty arceo belize rural south

dr. amin hegar belmopan

collet montejo cayo central

oscar sabido cayo west

dr. MARCO tulio mendez orange walk east

abelardo mai orange walk south

orlando habet cayo north east

HON. FLORENCIO MARIN JR. COROZAL SOUTH EAST

dolores balderamos garcia belize rural central

jorge briceno orange walk north

HON. JOHN BRICENO ORANGE WALK CENTRAL

HON. cordel hyde lake independence

RT. HON SAID MUSA FORT GEORGE

Rodwell Ferguson Stann Creek West

IVAN RAMOS Dangriga

TEAM BELIZE

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INSERT 2

THE BELIZE TIMES

PUP Leader pledges to revolutionise Education

Continued from page 1

and enables a person to achieve their goals.

It is the People’s United Party who transformed education that placed it adequately in a modern Belize, galvanizing institutions to form a reputable University, increasing the Education Ministry’s budget exponentially, providing scholarships to train Belizeans at home and abroad, expanding access to schools and making it more affordable through a free textbook programme in primary schools. Many gains were made, but sadly they are being slowly disrupted by the UDP Government who has no vision.

The next PUP Government will have to re-prioritize Education, and do even much more, and PUP Leader Hon. John Briceno is more than ready for the task. During a modest meeting held with the future generation, Party Leader Hon. John Briceno pledged to make Education a key priority, and to focus on making it a meaningful component of a productive Belize.

Hon. Briceno met with a group of young Belizeans at the Image Factory in Belize City to launch the Leap Forward Initiative, an idea that advocates for technology to become an integral component of education to allow Belize not only catch up to the 21st Century, but even surpass it.

During his talk with the youth, Hon. Briceno noted that the current education system has failed us. He pointed out the following statistics: • In the 2010-2011 school year 16% of our primary school aged children were not in school.

• 6 out of every 10 young Belizeans who will leave Standard 6 will not make it to a high school.

• Out of the total number of high school graduates, only 4% will go on to a Sixth Form or to some form of tertiary level.

• 5,000 Belizeans will graduate from high school, sixth form, or from some university, but where are the jobs?

Hon. Briceno indicated that one of the fundamental problems is that the education system is becoming ir-

relevant in our fast-paced world. He indicated that while technology has become ever-popular and a common aspect of the 21st Century, whether it is utilised for entertainment, business or simply information-sharing, Belize is yet to catch up.

The PUP Leader then introduced the Leap Forward initiative. “…the way we will leap forward is by embracing digital technology in our school system. The way we will leap forward is to realize that the use of technology in our classrooms is not a question of why or should we, I believe we must. Technology is the spring board we must use to leap forward,” remarked Hon. Briceno.

Through the initiative, the PUP will introduce technology into every classroom. Hon. Briceno said the PUP will access affordable computer gadgets such as a notepads/tablets, which are similar to today’s I-Pad, to replace the heavy school bags. The powerful tools can hold more information than a thousand books, and can be used for interactive learning through music and video.

Moreover, it has access to internet which will assist in research. Hon. Briceno said the gadgets will be so affordable it will be less expensive than having to bear the annual back-breaking book list. Reducing the cost of books, will allow parents be able to send their children to school.

Although the idea seems daunting, the PUP leader said it was not impossible. With less than 50 high schools, and less than 15 Junior Colleges and 1 University, introducing this idea will be achievable, stated Hon. Briceno.

The Leap Forward Initiative will make education far more relevant and affordable that it has ever been. Hon. Briceno acknowledged that to achieve this, teachers will have to undergo training and students will have to be prepared, but he said it is a must.

The youth attending the special event endorsed the idea, and encouraged the Party Leader not to be deterred from the vision. They noted that if implemented, the idea would take Belize’s education system to an advanced state that will be appealing and exciting to young Belizeans, and will place them closer to become key stakeholders in the nation’s development.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Dreams are dead, because of Saldivar’s obsession Belize City, June 22, 2011 got suspended and cannot play the game With some 3.5 billion fans worldwide, on Belmopan. Damn, that really broke Soccer/Football remains the most popular me down. I don’t know what will happen sport in the world today. From the villages after this. These guys are taking bread in South Africa to the favelas in Brazil, out of our mouths. I really don’t know young boys and girls can be seen kicking what will happen after this”. ball from the break of dawn until late into The FFB’s suspension by FIFA is a the night. direct consequence of Sports Minister, Here in Belize, football has always John Saldivar’s personal vendetta with been popular among our young people. FFB President, Dr. Bertie Chimilio. ImAcross the country, young children and mediately upon becoming the Minister adolescents from all shades and colors of Sports, Saldivar launched his “Seek could be seen running up and down the & Destroy” campaign against Chimilio. football pitch. Whether it’s competitive This truth was confirmed during a TV or purely recreational, football has cul- news interview given by Team Captain tivated camaraderie among our young and goalkeeper, Shane Orio. In that interpeople. More significant, football has pro- view, Orio informed the nation of Belize, vided a “way out” for a lot of our young “They’re asking us right now or they want people from their socio-economic cir- us to sacrifice two to three generation cumstances. As a case in point, several of of footballers in Belize just to get to one our Belizean football players are currently man. I can say it over the media and with on contract playing for Central American all due respect to the Minister, he told me football clubs, instead of becoming mur- plainly that he is after Chimilio. I looked der victims. him in his face and asked him if he was The recent news that the interna- willing to sacrifice thirty players and tional governing body of football, FIFA, their families just for the sake of getting suspended the Football Federation of Be- after one person and his answer was yes”. lize (FFB) is tragic news for Belize’s footThanks to the pompous and myopic ball community and, indeed, the entire Minister of Sports, football in Belize has nation. The dreadful news couldn’t have been put on pause and could possibly come at any worse a time than when our face a permanent ban from FIFA. The boys were preparing to host the National saddest part of this entire debacle is that Football Team of Montserrat in the return our talented and committed players have match of a home and away series as part of FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier. In the first match played in Trinidad and Tobago, the Belizean boys had beaten the Montserratians 5-2. As if this weren’t reason enough for us to celebrate as a nation, our hearts pumped with extreme pride and joy as we learned that Belizean striker, Deon McCauley, had become the first Belizean football player to score a hat trick in an international football match, as young Deon scored three of Belize’s five goals.

The collective mood of our boys upon departing Montserrat was euphoric but their stay on cloud nine would be short-lived. Rather than returning home to the cheers of proud and grateful fans, our boys were greeted by the heartbreaking news of FIFA’s suspension of the FFB. As team member and defensive player, Vallan Symms shared, “I came home just now walking off the plane and I feel good about coming home with a victory, a big one like that 5-2.

And as we reached here at the airport, we heard that Belize

Dolores says “Thank You” to Belize Rural Central Monday June 20th, 2011 The Office of Dolores Balderamos Garcia wishes to thank all friends and supporters of the People’s United Party who participated or assisted in any way at the convention to select a Standard Bearer for the Belize Rural Central division held on Sunday June 19th 2011. All candidates and their teams displayed strong commitment to the democratic process, and loyalty to the People’s United Party, who gained our love, respect and admiration.

We are not only shocked but also deeply hurt and saddened by the terrible and tragic accident involving campaigners and supporters, especially since these very same campaigners displayed ardent support for the candidates.

We offer our prayers for the family, other relatives and friends of Leonard Harrison Gillett, whose life was lost, and offer them our deepest condolences, and to all those affected by this tragic event. We hope that in these difficult times we can find solace in the strength that we gain from our creator as well as from each other. We also pray for those still in the hospital and wish all a speedy recovery.

We keep you in our prayers and may God bless you all.

Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Family, and Campaign Team

become collateral damage in an ongoing war between a pair of egomaniacs. Our players are the proverbial green grass that is being trampled while the elephants in Belmopan continue to fight.

Whenever our boys put on the Belize jersey and run onto the football pitch as they did in Montserrat, they do so with the greatest sense of pride and patriotism.

While it is the wish of the coaching staff and every single player to score victory for Belize, this really is secondary to their individual and collective desire to represent their country and fellow countrymen with the highest degree of honor. This is why, in both triumph and defeat, our boys are able to hold their heads high.

John Saldivar’s victory is Belize’s loss.

It’s the players’ loss, the fans’ loss and every young aspiring Belizean footballer’s loss.

Whether we are fans of football or not, we, as Belizeans, should all join our players in decrying the fate that has befallen the sport of football at the hands of John Saldivar and the UDP. It is interesting to note that neither Erwin Contreras, a legendary football player and former owner of the Verdes Football Club nor his colleague Anthony “Boots” Martinez, owner of the City Boys United Super League Football Team have said anything about FFB’s suspension.

Our boys returned from Montserrat on Friday, June 17, 2011 eager to perform

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More importantly, however, our boys wanted to play the game which they’ve all loved from the time they were infants – football. John Saldivar and the UDP, however, decided that they would deny the wishes of both players and fans. How could any government, in good conscience, act in such a selfish and uncaring way? The answer is simple: The UDP possesses no conscience, no heart. It’s been proven that it is the UDP’s hallmark to destroy any and everything.

Since taking office in 2008, John Saldivar and the UDP have destroyed everything that is Belizean, our culture, our economy, our education system and the list goes on. Now, the destruction of the dreams and aspirations of our Belizean footballers have been added to that harrowing list. Team Captain and goalkeeper said it best when he stated, “I think it’s unfair that the people we elected to provide opportunities for us, for our dreams are now the same people that took away our dream today, our aspiration. Minister Saldivar is behind his desk in Belmopan smiling right now because his target is Dr. Chimilio. But at the end of the day he did not affect Dr. Chimilio because Dr. Chimilio is still a part of FIFA. He affected us, the Belizean players - grassroot Belizeans”.

The fate of Belizean football now hangs in the balance and it’s all because of the obsession of one man – John Saldivar. We, at the BELIZE TIMES, call on the Prime Minister of Belize to REMOVE the bigheaded minister IMMEDIATELY.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, June 26, 2011