Belize Times March 23, 2014

SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

23 MARCH 2014 | ISSUE NO: 4887

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

BTB’s Worst Kept Secret

Millions of Dollars in Deficit

Pg. 7

New Senators Bring Fire & Fury

Delroy Cuthkelvin

Alberto August

Fraudulent UDP Conventions! Pg. 6

Barrow’s

(L - R) Senator Lisa Shoman, Senator Elect Anthony Sylvestre Jr., Party Leader Francis Fonseca and Senator Elect Patrick Andrews

Pg. 3

Bogus Budget Pg. 8

CALL THE ELECTIONS NOW!!

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OPINION OUT

OUT Cry Baby Delroy!

Crimea: Lessons for Belize!

!

Dear Editor, As a voter in the Stann Creek West division, I now consider Delroy Cuthkelvin as no politician and as the UDP’s biggest cry baby!

Nobody was plotting against or standing in Delroy’s way. In

!

Dear Editor, The ongoing crisis in Ukraine presents strategic lessons for Belize which should guide our response to the “eastward drift” by Guatemala.

Ukraine has for the last couple of years been a covert battlefield for the so called West as they try to penetrate Russia’s sphere of influence. Under the guise of democracy the West supported, if not orchestrated, the overthrow of a democratically elected government solely because that government was, in their view, eastward leaning. It is safe to say that the West in their zeal to topple Yanukovych, severely miscalculated the likely Russian response.

Western leaders have been quick to draw similarities between Russia’s Crimean experiment and Germany’s invasion of Poland.

There are significant differences of course, but this is not the focus of my treatise.

The Crimean conundrum is rooted in the large Russophone population in Ukraine--about 17%.

Ukrainians of Russian decent never fully assimilated into the overall national body politic thus they remained oriented toward Russia.

When the West inspired the overthrow of the duly elected government of the Ukraine, Russia took immediate measures to maintain its sphere of influence. The pretext was that the “new” Ukraine was westward leaning and thus posed a serious threat to Ukrainians of Russian decent. Russia therefore had

LOCAL 21 Mar

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THE BELIZE TIMES

no choice but to intervene in Crimea in order to protect its people. The West disputes that such threats exist but what is done is done: strategic battle plans are now being drawn up on both sides of the Atlantic!

The first lesson for Belize must be that citizen protection has been and can always be used as a pretext for extraterritorial military action. The United States used this very pretext to invade both Grenada and Panama.

The second lesson is that when this pretext is used it takes a great deal of time for the international community to respond diplomatically and even longer for them to respond militarily, if at all. In any event history tells us that such response rarely returns the status quo ante bellum (that which existed before war).

I have been raising the alarm for many years about the eastward drift by Guatemala and the risks posed

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fact if you listened to Delroy’s radio ad just a few days before the convention, you would think that Delroy was the chosen candidate and that he was well financed and enjoyed the blessing of the party leadership. He even boasted to have a committee of 90 members, but on convention day only got 19 votes.

But Delroy seemed hard to believe his own propaganda and he did the smart thing when he bowed out and cried foul. He blamed UDP Chairman Alberto August, who I agree ain’t no saint and Melvin Hulse, who is a “tyaad old horse” as their own nasty mouth Joe Bradley would say.

My point is that this is Delroy’s second beating. First is the Albert Division against Morrison and now in Stann Creek West.

Judging by the 19 votes he got, it’s time for Delroy to shed some pounds and know his political limitations.

Sincerely, No cry baby supporter

thereby. Today Guatemalans make up 6.03% of the Belizean population, this is more than our entire Garifuna population (4.6%). If one examines the demographics at the district level the extent of the silent invasion is even more alarming. Guatemalans make up 7.75% of the population of the Stann Creek District, 10.42% of the Cayo District and a whopping 11.4% of the Toledo District. In addition to those captured by the 2010 census, there are hundreds more in the Chiquibul wreaking havoc on our natural resources and trampling our sovereignty is the process.

I will venture to say that many of the Guatemalans in Belize have not assimilated into our body politic.

They are still oriented toward Guatemala and no amount of “papeles” will change that (not when they continue to learn in school that “Belice es nuestro”).

To many Guatemalans they have simply moved from one department to another.

Perhaps this is the danger

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2625Mar Mar

that Section 29(3) of the Belize Constitution was designed to avoid.

Sadly ever since independence, the evil ones amongst us who lust for political power have repeatedly violated the Constitution by giving citizenship to Guatemalans in exchange for votes.

Soon the OAS in collusion with our very own Foreign Minister will attempt to force a referendum upon us.

Such a referendum will place Belize in a bind. If the Guatemalans are allowed to vote we risk a 6 point swing in favour of the ICJ giveaway. If we disallow them the right to vote, we may be accused by Guatemala of mistreating their people thus giving the oligarchs sufficient pretext to come in and “protect” their people à la Crimea.

I have said enough.

Faber punishes teachers for BNTU rally

PM supports salary deductions, claims teachers were being “utterly unreasonable”

Belize City, March 18, 2014 Patrick Faber never misses a beat to show Belizeans how petty, unreasonable and vindictive he is.

The hundreds of teachers who exercised their right and defended their cause by participating in last week Wednesday’s Belize National Teachers’ Union demonstration outside the National Assembly as the Prime Minister Dean Barrow read his lame budget have been punished by the Barrow Continued on page 8 SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

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

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte

Major Lloyd Jones

Printed and Published By The Belize Times Press Ltd. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

27 Mar Mar 6 26 Feb

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Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.50

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.01

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

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

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.04

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.22

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 31.14

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2014

New Senators Bring Fire & Fury Belize City, March 20, 2014 PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca said he expects fire and fury from his new appointments to the Senate, which were announced this afternoon at a press briefing at the Party Headquarters, Independence Hall.

Formidable Attorney Anthony Sylvestre Jr. and community activist/Belmopan Standard Bearer Patrick Andrews are the two new Senators, who will join the Lead Opposition Senator Hon. Lisa Shoman.

When addressing the media, Sylvestre said that it is a privilege to serve as a Senator for the PUP and that he will take the job were seriously. He criticized the Barrow Administration as being a “Government in an abyss” and one that has “lost the legal and moral authority to govern”.

He said the Senate has the legal authority to flush out corruption and wrongdoing, and he will dedicate his energy to ensuring greater accountability of the Government on behalf of the Belizean people.

Andrews agreed with his new Senate colleague, adding that the threat which the UDP Government poses to Belize’s democracy calls for individuals to rise up for the country.

Andrews said he will be particularly focused on doing more to advocate for new reform measures that will ensure transparency and accountability of the Government.

Senator Shoman welcomed the new Senators, saying she views them as “new shiny swords with which to cut through the rhetoric that comes out of the Senate”.

Senator Shoman pointed out that the work of the Senate is serious business and she looks forward to planning the way forward to ensure that the Belizean people have an even louder voice through the Opposition members.

PUP Leader Hon. Fonseca said he had indicated to the Party’s Executive that Senators will serve for two years, after which he will evaluate their work and consider new appointments. He indicated full confidence that the new Senators will bring energy to Party’s work in the Senate.

Hon. Fonseca thanked the outgoing Senators Hon. Karen Bodden and Collet Montejo, who will continue to work for the Party in other areas.

The new appointments have been submitted to the Governor General and a date for an official swearing in is pending.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

“

UDP Rots Away Belize City, March 20, 2014 Like a cancer spreading its deadly contamination, corruption is slowly rotting away Dean Barrow’s United Democratic Party.

The most recent bombshell to hit the UDP as a result of this cancer is the resignation of former Prime Minister and former UDP Leader Manuel Esquivel and his wife Kathy Esquivel from all of their posts held in the Barrow Administration.

Former PM Esquivel was appointed as a senior advisor to Prime Minister Dean Barrow in the Ministry of Finance. He was also a Government-appointed Director on the boards of Belize Telemedia Limited and Belize Sugar Industries. His wife was the Chairman of the National AIDS Commission.

The resignations followed the

sudden announcement that the Esquivel’s most political daughter, Laura Esquivel, was leaving the Belize Tourism Board as Director. She had been ousted by her own employees who said she lacked leadership.

The Esquivels have said that they believe Barrow should have stood up for their daughter.

It is expected that Barrow will push away any conversation over his Party’s fallout with its former Leader.

Barrow will simply say it’s an internal matter which the UDP will deal with, and will claim that his Government will proceed as normal. While Barrow may wish things remain normal, he knows this will not be the case.

The Esquivels resignations are in defense of their daughter, but also about a rejection of the levels of corruption taking root in the UDP. The UDP has been hijacked by a bunch of

Manuel Esquivel corrupt politicians and their lackeys running the party. The head of this rabid group hails from up north and he is slowly taking over Barrow’s UDP. The Esquivels have taken note and wants no more. Their message to Barrow: take heed and don’t to us for help!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

on the The 2014/15 Budget - Some Facts, Figures & Notes

By Francis W. Fonseca The Budget presented on March 7th, 2014 by the Prime Minister is a Budget disconnected and divorced from the Belizean reality being lived on a daily basis by families across our Country.

It is a Budget that offers no hope and no plan to grow the economy and create jobs for our people.

It is a Budget that celebrates poverty and dependence.

The Belizean reality in 2014 is thousands of lost jobs, businesses closed, homes auctioned or repossessed, loans defaulted on, children out of school, the sick dying because of unaffordable healthcare, families unable to keep the lights on and the stove burning and increasingly unable to put food on the table .

In 2013, GDP growth fell to 0.7%, the worst economic performance in more than 20 years for Belize. The production of all our major crops: Banana, Sugarcane,

and Citrus fell significantly.

Petroleum production continued its downward spiral falling by a whopping 23% in 2013.

At the same time, there were significant increases in the prices of food, healthcare and transportation.

Foreign Direct Investment in 2013 was at its lowest level in the past 6 years of a UDP Government.

Despite the restructuring of the “Superbond”, the public debt continues to grow and now stands at $2.161B. New loans in 2013 amounted to some $244M with Petrocaribe Funds accounting for $143M of that total.

For FY 2014/15 the following is projected: TOTAL EXPENDITURE: $1.013B- this represents a 6.2% increase over 2013 TOTAL REVENUE &

GRANTS: $956M-this represents a 4% increase over 2013.

OVERALL DEFICIT: $57M LOAN AMORTIZATION: $69M TOTAL FINANCING NEEDED: $126M It is projected that this financing gap will be met as follows: $48M in Loans from multilateral partners to finance CAP III projects $20M in budgetary support from Taiwan $59M in drawdowns from PetroCaribe financing The Belizean Economy is on life support getting emergency treatment from Taiwan and Venezuela.

The 2014/15 Budget offers no solutions to the serious economic challenges facing Belize.

With an increasing reliance on tax revenue, it further chokes the private sector out of the real economy.

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It offers no measures to improve productivity and competitiveness.

It offers no policy strategy for lower cost for the productive sector.

It offers no plan for expanding exports relative to imports.

The Budget boasts of Infrastructure spending. Well after 5 years of neglect it is spending what is long overdue. The problem is that the spending is inequitable and bogged down in by the hustling of a few UDP cronies. Hundreds of millions spent to protect UDP Belize City Southside political seats while our rural communities and district towns get crumbs!

The PM boasts about BOOST AND PANTRY. Life is haad and our people need help but don’t boast about pushing more people into poverty. Where are the jobs so our people can live with pride and dignity?

The salary adjustment for teachers and public officers is overdue and rightly deserved. This UDP government has disrespected and demonized our teachers and public officers. This is no salary increase, this is just allowing our teachers and public officers to catch up with inflation and they are still way behind.

The last real increase in Salary came from the PUP in the amount of 30% over three years from 2003 to 2005. 10% per year.

The 2014/15 Budget offers no change of course, no change of direction, no jobs plan, no investment strategy, no plan to reduce the cost of living, no tax reform, no sense of purpose or hope!!

YOU CAN TALK PRETTY MR. PRIME MINISTER BUT THE BELIZEAN PEOPLE REALITY UGLY BAD!!!!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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EDITORIAL Of Quicksand, Parasites and Puppets

D

ean Barrow once described his second term in office as quicksand. His first four years were the glory years: an extended honeymoon involving lobster dinners on Miami Beach, million dollar legacies for the first Mrs. Dean Barrow, plush jobs for the kids and the highest judicial appointment for his Brother, Denys. Yes, Barrow was able to get away with anything and everything.

Barrow’s second term in office however, has been nothing short of an utter disaster. With only a slim two seat majority, Barrow’s grip on power is now at the mercy of his lawless, his desperate, his conniving, his incompetent, and yes his corrupt UDP Ministers.

Only months after winning the 2012 general elections, Elvin Penner used the two seat slim majority as leverage to force Barrow into appointing him Minister of State with power to sign nationality certificates and passports.

According to the Laws of Belize, the power to sign Belizean nationality certificates is reserved exclusively for the substantive Minister, who in this case is Godwin Hulse. In essence then, Barrow bent over backwards to accommodate Penner so that Penner would not “cause problems” for his leadership. Barrow authorized and Hulse recognized.

Edmund Castro also capitalized on the two seat slim majority by using tax payer dollars to fund his political campaign, repair his bicycles and his buddy’s teeth, give his son a salary for doing nada and having lavish brams, all at our expense.

With Barrow’s government almost completely submerged in a quicksand of corruption and incompetence, one man, has been making the most of the embattled United Democratic Party. One parasite has been exerting his influence, his power, his money, OUR money, to hijack control of the UDP. Gaspar “Gapi” Vega, the Deputy Prime Minister, who sits at the helm of the most corrupt Ministry and whose brother has been bestowed with carte blanche to do as he pleases with our soon-to-be extinct rainforest, has been having a field day, stra-

tegically picking off old UDP hacks one by one.

Herman Longsworth, who supported Patrick Faber for Deputy Leader, was the first to “get the sense” when Vega handpicked Superman Philloughby to replace him as the UDP candidate in the Albert Division. Can you say dumb and dumberer?

Then there’s the Flippin Madafish, who likewise got the green light from Vega and his Chairman August, leaving Delroy Cuthkelvin crying foul after only getting 19 votes at the polls.

How about poor Hutchy, who got sidelined after years of “care-taking” to make way for Gapi’s golden girl Castillo, who was his right hand when the Ministry of Natural Resources earned the title as the most corrupt Ministry in Belmopan.

Denny “the Noh Mul Destroyer” Grijalva is Gapi’s choice, not just to tear down ancient Mayan temples, but also to run in the Orange Walk Central division.

As for the political hit put out on the Esquivel family, not a soul is shedding any tears for them after Laura was accused by her board managers of running the BTB’s finances into the ground. If anything, the removal of all three Esquivels from very lucrative board positions is now saving our country tens of thousands per month.

This parasite, who has been making millions in front of and behind the backs of the Belizean people, actually has the audacity to think that he could one day lead Belize. Like his leader Barrow, Vega is installing robots who cannot think for themselves and who have already sold their souls to the dirty devil.

All of these puppets are supporters of the continuing rosewood corruption. They are supporters of destroying ancient Mayan temples. They are supporters of stealing private land, giving it to cronies, then “selling” it back to government at an inflated price. By supporting Vega, they are all supporters of institutionalized corruption.

Unfortunately for them, Belizeans are not asleep.

Tomorrow’s noon is not for robots and puppets and parasites. It is for true leaders, with true hearts. It is for leaders with compassion, vision and knowledge of how to govern.

Tomorrow’s noon is for Belize. It is time for the PUP.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Fraudulent UDP Conventions!

Delroy Cuthkelvin confirms conventions are rigged, wants Chairman Alberto August sanctioned

Belize City, March 18, 2014 Someone in the UDP has finally found the courage to publicly confirm that the conventions held by the United Democratic Party to elect standard bearer candidates for the upcoming elections are fraudulent.

Delroy Cuthkelvin, who is a Chief Propagandist for the UDP and who was hired on a political contract to head the Belize Press Office, has exposed that the UDP conventions are entirely rigged. Cuthkelvin speaks from experience. He boycotted the Stann Creek West convention, held last weekend, as a result of heavy manipulation of the voters’ list by UDP

Chairman Alberto August to favor the recycled candidate, Melvin Hulse.

In a press release issued on Monday March 17th, Cuthkelvin said that they boycotted the convention because August had arbitrarily removed over 600 voters, when the candidates had only agreed to disallowing 200 from the total list. “…we made the decision to boycott the convention as we were convinced that to participate in it would be to validate a glaringly fraudulent and undemocratic process deliberately designed to disenfranchise legitimate voters of Stann Creek West and install the Chair-

man’s candidate of choice, Melvin Hulse,” stated the press release.

Cuthkelvin’s boycott hardly made an impact on the UDP. They proceeded with the convention on Sunday March 16th, with the two remaining candidates, Melvin Hulse and Alex Romero. Hulse defeated Romero and Cuthkelvin, whose name had remained on the ballot, got 19 votes.

Cuthkelvin is urging his Party to nullify Sunday’s convention and set a new date for a fair and transparent process. He is also asking the August be punished for “consistently high-handed and undemocratic actions”.

Hulse was the UDP’s last candidate in the general elections. He lost badly to the PUP’s victorious Rodwell Ferguson by almost 600 votes.

The UDP has been rocked by allegations of fraud in their internal election process. Similar serious allegations surfaced following their Dangriga and Orange Walk East conventions, which saw former candidates resigning from the party. In the case of Orange Walk East candidate David Constanza, he declared, “I did not go up against a candidate but

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against an institution. It is because of what I represent and because of the injustice and corruption that my supporters witnessed on Sunday that I would like to state publicly that I have resigned from the United Democratic Party”.

Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that MARVIN LAZARO RIVERA and GLENDA XIOMARA SARAVIA are applying for a Malt & Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Cheaptown Hardware”, situate at 9171 La Croix Boulevard, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

BTB’s Worst Kept Secret

Millions of Dollars in Deficit Belize City, March 20, 2014 As the Belize Tourism Board tries to recover from the hemorrhaging caused by the political drama and local and international embarrassment of having to oust its own leader, former BTB Director Laura Esquivel Frampton, as a result of what those on the inside called her “secretive, egotistical” style of leadership, it is also trying its best to conceal from the public a crushing financial dilemma which the flagship tourism institution finds itself in.

Well-placed sources in the Tourism Industry have informed the BELIZE TIMES that as the BTB enters its new financial year, it is staring at a huge non-projected financial deficit to the tune of millions of dollars.

The information reaching the BELIZE TIMES is that the deficit is the result of an overly-aggressive and poorly coordinated and monitored marketing campaign which has cost the BTB millions of dollars which was not part of its financial forecast.

This marketing campaign, which involved the contracting of an interna-

Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that ZHENG MING TAN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Celina’s Fast Food”, situate at 9 ½ Miles, Phillip Goldson Highway, Ladyville, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that NORMA CECILIA DIONICIO is applying for a Malt & Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Roxy’s Restaurant and Bar”, situate at #2209 San Martin Avenue, Belmopan City, Cayo District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

tional company, who sold them a new but very costly branding concept that involved rainbow colours and a new BTB logo that was similar to one already conceptualized and launched by Mexico’s tourism officials, was met with resistance by BTB executives. These level-headed, experienced tourism officials who tried to apply the brakes on this marketing campaign, felt that there was not only not enough bang in the buck, but not much sense either.

The strong reservations expressed eventually got overruled by Esquivel-Frampton who gave the ultimate approval to the marketing campaign.

The result, we are reliably told, is a tab to the tune of millions of dollars which was not forecasted in their expenditure. The marketing department, led by a relative new comer in the industry, had little explanation to give.

Sources say they pointed fingers to the Director.

It is this dilemma, for which the entire Board would have to answer, which led to the sudden coup that ejected Esquivel-Frampton from what was believed to be her safe and untouchable politically-appointed post at BTB. In an angry letter written to the Tourism Minister by seven senior managers, they indicated their concerns over Esquivel-Frampton’s financial management. “…she has disregarded our concerns, especially as it pertains to the finances of the institution,” they stated.

The senior managers include Kevin Gonzalez, Director, Destination Planning; Armeid Thompson, Director of Quality Assurance; Keisha Faber, Director of Administration; Javier Paredez, Director of Revenue Collection/ Registrar of Hotels; Alyssa Carnegie, Director of Marketing, Industry Relations; Valdemar Andrade, Director of Cruise and Regional Initiatives and Karen Pike, Director of Information Management.

They pointed out that they have been left in the dark about BTB’s true financial state. “…all calls made for further discussion or “deep diving” into the current financial position of the organization have been largely discounted,” the letter said.

Much stronger language was used by the senior managers as they recorded their concerns about Esquivel-Frampton’s preparation of the new budget. Aside from being secretive and manipulative, they said “she has failed to display requisite leadership, levels of honesty, transparency and integrity”, and that her decision to

disregard concerns from the management team is “not only callous but irresponsible”.

CRISIS OF LEADERSHIP Further issues mentioned by the managers in their letter exposed the profound crisis of leadership not only at the BTB, but in the entire tourism industry.

Aside from the chronic instability at BTB with the departure of a fourth Director in only six years, there is no leadership at the Ministry of Tourism.

In his usual response of “see no evil, hear no evil”, Tourism Minister Manuel Herredia attempted to cover up the stink at BTB by claiming that he had not received any letter and he

07 7 didn’t know about any troubles at BTB regarding Esquivel-Frampton’s leadership style.

Herredia could not give the letter any credence because the letter itself indicts his leadership as a complete failure.

The managers wrote in the letter that they had registered their concerns before Minister Herredia numerous times “over the past year”. Therefore, it is because Herredia disregarded their concerns and allowed Esquivel-Frampton’s dictatorial rule to continue that the senior managers felt they had to take the ultimate stand.

While the managers’ tone in the letter was diplomatic, their explicit ultimatum to the Minister indicating that “if decisive action is not taken at this time, it will lead to an even worse position at a worse time”, was a direct threat at him.

They were saying either Esquivel-Frampton goes or we will!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Barrow’s

Bogus Budget The PM’s Budget Speech is wickedly deceptive

By Norris Hall, 19 March 2014 The Prime Minister presented his Budget Speech to the Legislature a few weeks before the official fiscal year begins on 1st April. This was his seventh since he first came to office in 2008 and the third since he called snap elections in 2012 when his government was returned to office with a very slim majority.

These have become annual masquerades and puppet shows to bolster the fast diminishing credibility of a government which has now established itself as egregiously corrupt, self-serving and nepotistic-especially with a royal family of Barrows. The country now looks as if it is Belize, Barrow, Barrows & Associates, Inc. The Budget Speech is supposed to be a narrative by the Prime Minister to review the performance of the national economy, an accounting for his government’s performance and an overview of the government’s objectives and proposals on how the government proposes to spend tax-payers money, called revenue and expenditure, for the next twelve months.

But the Prime Minister’s budget presentation was far removed from the reality of the mumbo-jumbo and falsified figures prepared by the Ministry of Finance - most of which will be mismanaged, misappropriated and simply siphoned off. The budget is bogus.

NO CLEAR PATTERN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT In trying to understand the fundamental philosophy of the current government, its goals and objectives, we have gleaned on all seven of the Prime Minister’s budget speeches, along with his other pronouncements. Try as we could, no clear pattern emerged to even suggest a clearly defined economic development plan or any well-grounded strategies to attract investment, or that will address the ever increasing poverty level, crime and unemployment.

The government continues to experience shortfalls in its annual projection for revenues from taxes, oil revenue and royalties and the value of goods and services (GDP).

Because of the dismal state of the national economy, the Prime Minister has chosen not to address the gloomy picture that continues to emerge. The economy has flat lined. The productive sector has fallen short of projections mainly because of the government failure to address some serious issues affecting two of the country’s major industries - sugar and citrus. The only bright sparks in the economy are the tourism industry and farmed-shrimp export. Not so much because of the government, but despite the government’s ill-advised policies in pushing for mass cruise ship tourism in the pristine waters of Belize against the advice of the Inter-American Development Bank-IDB. To balance to government’s budget, the Prime Minister is depending heavily on panhandling to balance the budget and for the so-called Capital 3 expenditure. This is mainly from loans and grants from international banks and friendly countries, as Belize begin to enjoy a new profile as a beggar nation.

AID DRIES UP BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION But the traditional partners in devel-

opment such as the UK and the USA have been reducing their aid funding and are making in-kind contributions in a pragmatic way, such as for military assistance. One of the reasons is because of increasing corruption in the Barrow Administration.

The government, however, continues to receive controlled and closely monitored funding from the European Union. Its main lifelines continue to be Taiwan and the government of Venezuela which he continues to misappropriate with the Prime Minister’s bravado that he has lots of money to spend. It will be recalled, that when he was in the Opposition, Barrow bashed the Petro-Caribe agreement, which was negotiated by the Musa Administration. He was also highly critical of Chavez, the late President of Venezuela.

In avoiding the traditional report on the state of the economy since he came to office, the Prime Minister said that 2014 is a “year of miracles”. The next thing he will be telling us is that he will walk on water.

WE HAVE A SHORT ATTENTION SPAN SAYS THE PM At the start of his budget speech, the Prime Minister out of sympathy for his colleagues in the House and out of consideration for the “public attention span”, decided to avoid the gory details of an economy moving towards collapse.

The speech was basically an electioneering pat-on-the-back exercise far removed from our reality and designed to impress. However, it ended up confusing those with “a short attention span” which he implied be the ignorance of the electorate who he is convinced that he could continue to hoodwink.

Try this for size: THE PRIME MINISTER: “I consider it fundamental to place

Faber punishes teachers for BNTU rally PM supports salary deductions, claims teachers were being “utterly unreasonable” Continued from page 2 Government.

A massive and loud crowd of teachers gathered outside the national assembly from early Wednesday morning to call on the Barrow Administration to give the teachers a respectable salary adjustment and to deal with the scandals and corruption. Led by their militant national president Luke Palacio, the teachers have proven to have backbone, unlike other union leaders, and have taken their fight for respect seriously.

The BNTU is no poco tiempo organization.

The announcement that the BNTU was going to demonstrate in Belmopan was scoffed at by the Minister of Education Patrick Faber who threatened that if they did, he would ask for a list of those who take part and ensure that the Ministry deducts a day’s pay. This is how mean and petty Faber could get.

Well true to his word, the Ministry of Education has proceeded to dock the teachers’ salaries.

This move, which has further aggravated the BNTU membership,

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the facts and figures, which we are the principal constituents of any budget presentation, into their accompanying social and political setting. That requirement is especially compelling this time round because of a particular conjuncture of circumstance. I therefore hope to make the contextualization exercise resonant.”

There is no need for a translation.

For us at the grassroots this is elitist drama or a high court performance. It translates as elevated rhetoric, or as we know it at the base of the pyramid: horseshit.

The Prime Minister, who boasted of a projected 2 percent growth in GDP in his 2013 budget failed to revisit all the gloating promises then. He is again making some dramatic forecast that is not likely unless his government change its policies to induce growth and foreign investments.

THE COUNTRY NEEDS A TECTONIC SHIFT Unless there is a dramatic shift in policies and a kinder and gentler approach to local businesses and foreign investors, and a tectonic shift with the help of the electorate, Belize will continue down the road toward becoming another failed state ruled by a gentry of Barrow et al.

There is a strong correlation between population, economic growth and investment. It must be noted that Belize population growth rate declined from 3 percent in 2000 to less than 2 percent now. Given the grim state of the economy, unless there is a massive capital injection into the economy, it is not likely that Mr. Barrow will see the anticipated growth and all the wonderful predictions he is making from his rose-coloured crystal ball.

He continues to blow smoke up our…

had the full support of PM Barrow who said the BNTU and teachers were being “utterly unreasonable”. Barrow said the teachers should be satisfied with having had their rallies in January.

It seems the Prime Minister did not get the memo that the BNTU have designated the month of March as “March On” month, to indicate that they will stand up and fight if needed for the Government end its disrespect of teachers.

The decision to deduct teachers’ salaries for taking part in the BNTU rally is also rank hypocrisy on the Faber and the Prime Minister’s part. This because the Government openly encouraged the closure of schools a day before the BNTU rally, so female teachers could attend an event personally planned by the Prime Minister’s wife.

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Helping the Differently Abled

Handing over of the cheque from Hon. Dolores to Sharon Matola and the ribbon cutting for the completed new phase of the Accessible Walkways.

Belize District, March 15, 2014 On Thursday last, March 13, 2014, Area Representative for Belize Rural Central Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia attended a small but very special ceremony at the Belize Zoo. Zoo Director Sharon Matola and Zoo Officials hosted the opening and ribbon cutting for a section of the Accessible Walkway Project.

British High Commissioner H.E. Peter Hughes, Faculty Members and Students of the State University of New York (SUNY Cortland), Hon. Dolores, and key representatives of the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities (BAPDA) gathered to celebrate the achievement of another phase of the project. Mr. Hughes gave a con-

tribution on behalf of the British High Commission, SUNY Cortland students put in the sweat equity, and Hon. Dolores made a donation to the project’s completion.

In thanking all those who contributed, Sharon Matola stated how thrilled she was that soon the walkways for access for differently abled persons will be fully completed, so that the elderly, persons in wheelchairs, and all differently abled persons will be able to experience the unique charms of the Belize Zoo. In attendance were special guests Mr. Marshall Nunez, President of BAPDA, Ms. Kathleen Skeen, Ms. Eva Middleton and several other BAPDA mem-

bers. Speaking on behalf of BAPDA, Eva Middleton, shared with those gathered the difficult challenges faced by differently abled persons, and how often there is disrespect and indifference to their challenges.

Mr. Hughes in his remarks said how pleased the British High Commission was to contribute to the Accessible Walkways Project. And in her comments, Hon. Dolores thanked Sharon and all the Zoo staff for always including residents of Mahogany Heights and La Democracia, especially the children, in Zoo activities and celebrations.

Hon. Dolores added that she was delighted to contribute to allowing differently abled persons to have access to and experience the pleasures of the Zoo.

More contracts for Gapi Vega’s delinquent nephew Corozal District, March 17, 2014 The nephew of the NOT NORMAL Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega continues to benefit enormously from Government projects, even though he has yet to account for an abandoned public contract to repair a road in Orange Walk Town for which full payment had been made.

The BELIZE TIMES has confirmed that Imer Hernandez has been awarded a contract to build a multi-million dollar fence near the Belize border with Mexico.

The BELIZE TIMES has not seen any evidence of any tendering for the contract, before it was awarded to the privileged UDP family member. There is also no immediate need or clear purpose for the almost half-a-mile-long fence being built with public funds. But Hernandez’s company, which bears his name, is being paid millions to carry out the work. This time the money is just right, it seems.

Unconfirmed reports are

that the contract is for $4.6 million.

Despite facing tremendous public scandal for failing to fulfil the conditions of his contract to repair San Antonio Road in Orange Walk Town, Hernandez and his company have continued to benefit from lucrative contracts. And if getting Gov-

ernment contracts to build a million dollar fence, construct a market in Belmopan, and carry out a million dollar contract for streets in the Cayo District were not enough for Vega’s nephew, the Corozal Town Council has added the icing to the cake.

Hernandez was awarded an almost million dollar con-

tract to repair various streets in Corozal Town. These contracts were awarded by the UDP Corozal Town Council with no fair opportunities for other companies who are more trustworthy than the Deputy Prime Minister’s nephew.

In attempting to explain why the Town Council handpicked Hernandez for the job, Mayor Hilberto Campos said that Vega’s nephew is a “very good friend” of his.

Hernandez may be considered a “good friend” to the UDP Mayor, but to Belizeans especially residents

of San Antonio Road in Orange Walk, Hernandez is a good for nothing, delinquent contractor who was paid over $200,000 to repair their road in 2012, but who simply vanished and neglected his responsibility. Some say he should be charged for stealing public funds and imprisoned.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who claims to be anti-corrupt, defended Hernandez and his abandoned contract saying that on Government’s orders, Vega’s nephew was told to divert to another street, which is currently badly in need of repair.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

Shall We Rally???

Belizeans are surely aware that the women’s rally held by the National Women’s Commission and Ms. Kim Simplis Barrow took place on March 6th, two days before International Women’s Day. On March 5th, the People’s United Party’s fifth Women’s Agenda was launched in an impressive ceremony at Independence Hall. Our party has presented a Women’s Agenda, a set of specific manifesto commitments and pledges, in every election cycle since our first one was launched in 1998. We felt that it continues to be of importance to put together and to make public our pledges and our agenda for the unfinished business of

bringing Belizean women fully into the development of our country.

Likely American Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has this year made it clear once more that equality for women is the great unfinished business of the twenty-first century.

Likewise the head of the United Nations Agency for Women Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka called for big steps, not baby steps, to bring about equality for women. We need a “He for She” campaign, she said, so that men can be integral partners in the work for women’s equality. I agree wholeheartedly that: “Equality for Women is Progress for All!!”

Our 2014 Women’s Agen-

da under the theme “Charting Greater Pathways for Belizean Women as Nation Builders” addresses the unfinished business for women in Belize in tangible and practical ways, and it builds on the many accomplishments of the PUP as the only political party in the history of Belize that has truly acknowledged the critical role of women in national development. We have once again committed ourselves to work in six areas: Education and Skills Training; Health and Wellness; Socio-Cultural/Political; Economic Empowerment; Land, Housing and Property Rights; and Legal Issues.

I had been invited to participate in and to speak at the March 6th Women’s Rally, and I did seriously consider being a part of the event. However, on canvassing many party faithfuls and discussing the issue with various leaders, I felt that I did not see the real purpose in the event. It appeared to me and many others that this was mere showboating without substance, and an attempt to hype up women by having a large gathering, but very little follow-up.

Later, it was brought to my attention that there was a hefty budget, but that the only follow-up

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activities would be an exhibit showcasing women leaders in different spheres of Belizean life and a poster promoting women in leadership. A miniscule portion of the budget was proposed for these, while over $200,000.00 was allotted for logistics and transportation for a rally of a few hours.

The women bused in from the districts and brought in from the cayes would, I felt, go home to their same realities. And the question remains: what has the Dean Barrow Government done for the equality of women and our full integration into Belizean development??

It is obvious what my answer is. To put it mildly – precious little!! I had no problem with some members of the PUP attending the rally; we are not monolithic or dictatorial.

But my answer to the question “Shall We Rally??” was, as a matter of principle for me, a respectful yet emphatic NO. I would rather continue the hard work in my constituency and in our preparations to once more fulfill our manifesto pledges in the PUP Women’s Agenda 2014. Happy Women’s Month to all!!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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2014

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

TOPMODEL 13

ENTERTAINMENT

NEWS Vybz

Kartel

Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel has been convicted of murder. In a high-profile trial under heavy security, Kartel and three co-defendants were found guilty of killing an associate, Clive Lizard Williams, over a missing gun.

One defendant was cleared of wrongdoing.

On Thursday, Jamaican police in riot gear guarded streets outside, and parts of the capital Kingston were cordoned off in advance of the verdict to prevent any disruption by fans of the entertainer. However, shortly before the jury started to deliberate in the afternoon, about 200 people briefly broke through barricades at one intersection shouting “Free Kartel!”

Prosecutors alleged Williams was beaten to death at the reggae performer’s home in August 2011 after being lured there to answer for two missing illegal guns. His body has never been found.

Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, has been in jail for about three years since his arrest in connection with the case.

Location: Seashore Drive, Belize City

found guilty of murder

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Likes: Dancing and Football Lives in: Burrell Boom Fav. Quote: “What you give is what you get” Follow us on facebook

visit us at www.belizetimes.bz or Facebook/ Belize Times

14 SPORTS

23 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

2014

Gwen Liz girls win softball nationals

King’s College, March 15, 2014 The Gwen Lizarraga High School girls won the high school softball championships by shutting out the Southern Zone winners, Independence High School girls 2-0.

MVP pitcher Ashley Lucas struck out 7 batters to shut out the IHS girls while Roslyn Smith and Lucas scored off Camryn Linarez’s pitching for the 2-0 win.

3rd place went to the Belize Rural girls who won 7-4 over the Alvin Young girls. Leeyann Moody and Brentlee Garcia came home in the 1st inning, and Lorette Young came home in the 2nd for BRHS to lead 3-0 until Naomi Myers and Simpson came home in the bottom of the 2nd.

Soberanis struck out 3 batters, but the BRHS led 5-2 when Garcia and Kelsey Robinson came home in the top of the 3rd. BRHS’ pitcher Sabrina Campos struck out 2 batters and scored in the top of the 4th to lead 6-3. Myers, Christy McFadzean and Heather Reid came in to push the score to 7-3.

Crystal Water representative Jason Solis, joined King’s College principal Pedro Reyes in presenting team trophies and medals to the champs, 2nd and 3rd place winners, and MVP Gwen Liz’s star pitcher Ashley Lucas.

Gwen Liz girls are champs

Belize Rural girls

Nazarene defeats Independence in softball finals

Independence High girls

Mexican import takes SMART Belmopan Cycling Elite Classic

Nazarene boys are champs

Top 5 Elite Winners

Independence boys

Kings College, March 15, 2014 The Nazarene High School boys, who were undefeated in the entire high school softball competition, went on to become the champions when they shut out the Southern Zone champs, Independence High School boys: 3-0 in the finals.

Nazarene’s pitcher Jerome Carr struck out 4 batters to shut out the IHS boys, while Christian Hernandez, Bruce Hilton and Jerry Cassasola scored on IHS errors in the bottom of the 1st inning, for the 3-0 win.

The San Pedro High School boys won 11-2 over the Belmopan Comprehensive School by mercy rule as Lester

Alvarez struck out 9 batters to allow only BCS’ Noah Moro and Joseph Trapp to score in the top of the 1st.

The rest of the game was all for San Pedro; as Esdras Ramiras, Jovi Ico, Alex Roache, Damian Pollard and Kevin Corrado came home in the bottom of the 1st, Ramirez, Ico and Pollard came home in the bottom of the 2nd, and Ico, Roaches and Pollard came home in the bottom of the 4th.

Team trophies and medals were presented to the champs, 2nd and 3rd place winners, and Nazarene pitcher Jerome Carr won the Most Valuable Player Award.

Belize City, March 16, 2014 Team Benny’s Megabytes’ 20-yearold Mexican import Ignacio Prado won the annual SMART Belmopan Cycling Elite Classic, organized by the Cycling Federation of Belize on the George Price highway, and finishing in front the SMART headquarters on the Philip Goldson Highway on Sunday, March 16.

Prado won the $1,500 1st prize, a trophy and two nights at the Inn at Robert’s Grove when he rode in 1st in 4:34:09.

Other finishers 2nd - Herman “Hijo” Requena (SMART) - 4:34:57 - $1,000 and a round trip to San Pedro 3rd - Oscar Quiroz Jr. (Western Spirits) - 4:34:58 - $700 prize 4th - Robert Liam Stewart (Team Benny’s Megabytes) 4:35:17 - $350 5th - Brandon Cattouse (C-Ray Road Addiks) 4:36:32 - $200.

dia

Under -23 Winners 1st - Ignacio Prado 2nd - Oscar Quiroz Jr. 3rd - Giovanni Lovell - Team Teleme-

Elite 4/5 Winners 1st - Angel Tzib (Unattached) 2nd - Giovanni Lovell (Telemedia) 3rd - Kenroy “Smokes” Gladden (Unattached) Masters 35+ Winners 1st - Robert Liam Stewart (Benny’s Megabytes) 2nd - Scotty Weisse (Team Hincapie Lampierre, USA) 3rd - Quinton “the Baddest” Hamilton – Team SMART Masters 4/5 Winners 1st - Nehru Glharry (Team Santino’s “Ride to Glory”) 2nd - Isaiah Willacey (Team Digicell 4G) 3rd - Wilbert Jones (Unattached)

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THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

Shalini wins in solo fashion!!

SPORTS 15

Kaya takes 2nd in SMART Belmopan Female Classic a massage at Oltsil Spa. Other finishers 2nd Kaya Cattouse (Team SMART/C-Ray) - 3:21:24 - $500 prize 3rd Patricia Chavarria (Team BECOL) - 3:21:26 - $300 prize 4th Keirah Eiley – (Unattached) 5th Alicia Thompson – (Belize Bank Swoosh)

Tarique Flowers wins SMART Belmopan Junior Classic Belize City, March 16, 2014 Tarique Flowers, riding for Team Benny’s Megabytes, won the annual SMART Belmopan Junior Cycling Classic in 2:57:54 to win the $300 first prize, a trophy and two tires from Bruce Bike Shop.

Flowers won a SMART internet USB when he led the pack at Mile 9 on the George Price highway. He also won SMART internet at mile 25 when he took up the peloton at Mile 25 on the return.

Other finishers 2nd Delon Gentle – Team BECOL Uprising - 3:01:03 $200 prize 3rd Zamir Guerra – Team Cayo High Road – 3:01:08 $100 prize Youths 1st Dennis Arnold – unattached - 3:21:24 2nd Michael Grajalez – Team Mando’s Cycling 3rd Devin Azueta – Team Cayo High Road

Kaya Cattouse

Shalini Zabaneh

SMART No Limit sacks Belmopan Bandits elite basketball Belize City, February 22, 2014 SMART no Limit posted their 3rd win over the Belmopan Bandits (73-56) in the national elite basketball tournament which continued at Bird’s Isle on Friday night.

Greg “Chippy” Rudon hit 4 treys as he led SMART with 27 points. The Bandits had led 15-14 in the 1st quarter, Andrew Ortiz rammed home 3 monster dunks to add 12 points and tie the score 31-31 at the half.

No limit ran over the Bandits in the 3rd quarter as Elsworth Itza scored 10 points. Kyle Pascacio led the Bandits with 14 points.

Other game: Cayo Western Ballaz vs. Toledo Diplomats – 83-54 Top scorers: Richard Troyer, 14pts (Cayo); Daniel Valerio, 22 pts (Toledo)

Greg Rudon scored 27 points

Tyreek Muschamp scored Bombers’ 1st goal

Bombers U-15 & City Boys win football games

Belize City, March 16, 2014 Team Sagitun’s Shalini Zabaneh rode across the finish line in solo fashion to win the 60-mile annual SMART Belmopan Female Cycling Classic organized by the Cycling Federation of Belize on the George Price highway.

Shalini finished in a time of 3:19:54 to win the $750 1st prize, a trophy and

Belize City, March 15, 2014 The City Boys drilled the Collet Strikers 2-0, with goals by Orlando Velasquez and Sheldon Linarez when the 2014 Belize District Football Association continued at the MCC Grounds.

In the other under-17 match, the Brown Bombers drew 1-1 with the Rising Stars. Shawn Young scored for the Bombers, but Kamron Chacon equalized for the Stars.

In the Under 15 competition, the Brown Bombers schooled the Ladyville Rising Stars 3-1 with goals

by Tyreek “Pippin” Muschamp and 2 from Eldon Byrd in the 2nd half.

Ladyville’s Andres Velasquez had equalized 1-1 up to the half.

In Game 2, the Collet Strikers and the Hattieville United Youth Sporting Club drew nil-zip.

In the female competition, London Strikers bombed the Academy FC “A” team 2-0 with goals from Shanice Neal and Erica Milligan, but Academy FC has protested the result on the grounds that the Strikers used an over-age player.

Upcoming games (Saturday, March 2): Brown Bombers vs. Hattieville Youth United Rising Stars vs. Collet Strikers (U-15 Landon’s Strikers vs. Academy C’s “B” team City Boys U-17 vs. Stars u-17 Collet Strikers vs. Hattievile Youth United U-17

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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The Disrespecting of Manuel Esquivel Godfrey Smith

Flashpoint

March 20 2014 the title of “historical leader” of the The political inUDP. For at least two decades, Mr. sult is not that Sir Goldson led what Jules Vasquez aptly Manuel Esquivel, describes as a “resistance movement”. a two-time prime A party devoid of electoral viability minister of Belize could hardly have been described as and the United a political party. Examined in the illuDemocratic Party’s minating light of research, the mantle only statesman of “super patriot” draped around the - living or dead shoulders of Mr. Goldson is threadshould have dared bare, stitched together from the myth to summon a sitthat he, for decades, fearlessly and ting minister to a uncompromisingly fought against and meeting about his exposed Price’s hidden agenda of sellsacked daughter, ing out Belize to Guatemala. Price but rather that that took money from the Guatemalans to Manuel Esquivel and Manuel Herredia minister crassly fight the British and would have gladdisrespected the ly (and sensibly) entered into an ecosummons of the nomic union with Central America and elder statesman of the UDP. For those “raised” El Petén, but he never entertained any notion of ceding land nor in the political culture of the People’s United Party, sea to them. Assad Shoman has demonstrated that Price rejected it is impossible to comprehend this kind of conpressure from the British and the Americans to force him to make temptuous disregard for a person’s place in hissome kind of concession to Guatemala. There was therefore never tory. any bona fide threat or risk that Price or the PUP would have “sold If George Price, in retirement, had issued a out” Belize to Guatemala. “We noh waahn no Guatemala” was summons to a sitting PUP leader no less, it would nothing more than hysterical sloganism. never have been ignored. Price commanded, unMr. Goldson gets high marks for his contribution to the growth til his death, saint-like reverence because of his of the two-party system. He tenaciously held on for many long achievements, granite integrity and messianic years as the only elected opposition member in the Legislative appeal. The penalty for abjuring his importance Assembly of Belize when it would have been would come not from Price, easy to give up and leave as Leigh Richardson who was powerless in retiredid. Regrettably, in the autumn of his political ment, but in the form of public life, he became engulfed in the acrid smoke of opprobrium visited upon the the immigration hustle that descends upon all offender by his colleagues and ministers of immigration.

The Belize Tourism Board press release isthe PUP rank and file. sued on Wednesday March 12th 2014 announcWhile Mr. Esquivel does not enjoy the stature ing that Laura Esquivel-Frampton had resigned of Price either within his own party or nationally, he as Belize’s Director of Tourism for “personal was a principled leader of integrity whose conduct reasons” came a day too late. On Tuesday, as prime minister of Belize was above reproach. He March 11th 2014, a letter addressed to Minwas the first to demonstrate that the UDP could be ister Heredia signed by seven BTB managers, a credible and formidable alternative to the monoeviscerating Esquivel-Frampton, was circulatlithic PUP. To him goes the credit for ushering in ing over the internet. The seven expressed a the era of the UDP’s political viability. He should “vote of no confidence”, accused her of being therefore mean more than a disposable “has been “secretive and egotistical” and unable to disleader” to the UDP and indeed to Belize, a nation tinguish between leadership and manipulation. short on men of principle and integrity.

In the immediate aftermath of the rout, But let’s keep things in context. It’s not as if Sir Minister Heredia apparently proposed a meetManuel attempted to beckon the prime minister or ing with Esquivel-Frampton to arrive at a finaneven a deputy prime minister; it was just the miniscial settlement. Somewhere in all of that, the ter of tourism known by most as “Junior Heredia”.

Phillip Goldson Esquivels proposed meeting at the Esquivel Mr. Heredia is a well-liked, three-term reprefamily residence on Daly Street given the poisentative who, despite his humility and barefooted, soned atmosphere at the BTB. This was interpreted - at the level of grassroots charm will never be more than an overlooked footnote in Cabinet - as Mr. Esquivel not understanding that he was no longer the political history of Belize. This is the fate that will befall all the curprime minister of Belize. Mr. Esquivel and his wife, Kathy, promptrent ministers. They would do well to know that their power is fleeting; ly resigned their seats from government boards. they should govern with an eye to history and a sense of perspective.

The unpardonable political offence is the manner of EsquivMr. Esquivel led the UDP to its first general election victory in 1984 el-Frampton’s removal, not the removal itself and Prime Minister after decades of humiliating defeat by the PUP. His stewardship of the Barrow’s failure or refusal to handle the situation with the required government was marked by personal integrity, fiscal discipline that redelicacy and discretion in light of Mr. Esquivel’s historical weight stored the financial health of the economy and a clear-headed attempt and importance. Mr. Barrow’s handling of the situation is being into drum up foreign investment. He narrowly lost the general election terpreted as his characteristic, disdainful dismissal of anyone who of 1989 but bounced back to win the elections of 1993. Following the has no immediate utility to him. Mr. Esquivel might have outlived ignominious defeat of the UDP in 1998, in which Mr. Esquivel lost his his usefulness to the UDP, but not to history. seat, he eschewed the time-honored Caribbean tradition of clinging on To read other Flashpoint articles, visit www.flashpointbelize. to leadership and cleared the path for his successor. com Mr. Esquivel, arguably, has a better claim than Phillip Goldson to

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23 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES PUP NOTICE Lake Independence Standard Bearer Convention

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

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

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

Deadline for submission is Friday March 28, 2014.

PUP NOTICE

Municipal Elections – City of Belmopan The People’s United Party is inviting interested applicants for the upcoming City of Belmopan municipal elections to submit their applications. A Convention is slated for Sunday, June 29th, 2014.

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

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

Deadline for submission is Tuesday April 15, 2014.

2014

PUP NOTICE Corozal Bay Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Corozal Bay Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, 2014 from 8:00am to 5:00pm at St. Francis Xavier R.C. School.

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

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

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

Deadline for submission is Friday March 28, 2014.

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

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

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

Deadline for submission is Friday March 28, 2014.

PUP NOTICE

Orange Walk North Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Orange Walk North Division is scheduled for June 15, 2014.

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

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

Deadline for submission is Tuesday April 15, 2014.

23 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

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GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE MINISTRY OF WORKS & TRANSPORT NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT BRIDGE REHABILITATION (TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR) PROJECT DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MULLINS RIVER BRIDGE INVITATION FOR POST-QUALIFICATION OF CONTRACTORS The Government of Belize (GOBZ) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) towards the cost of the Design and Construction of the New Mullins River Bridge and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under contracts for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOBZ and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than GOBZ shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The Ministry of Works & Transport (MOWT) is the Executing Agency for the Project. A Project Coordinator from the Project Execution Unit (PEU), assisted by Project Engineers, will be responsible for the day-to-day management of project activities. Engineering consultants will be retained by MOWT to assist with the supervision and certification of the works.

MOWT (hereinafter referred to as “the Employer”) intends to post-qualify contractors/consultants for the following bridge works under this project: •

Design and Construction of the New Mullins River Bridge

Interest parties are hereby invited to submit proposals.

Consideration will be limited to firms or joint ventures of firms which are legally incorporated or otherwise organised in, and have their principal place of business in an eligible country or countries and are either: (a) more than 50% beneficially-owned by a citizen or citizens and/or a bona fide resident or residents of an eligible country or countries, or by a body corporate or bodies corporate meeting these requirements; or (b) owned or controlled by the government of an eligible country provided that it is legally and financially autonomous and operated under the commercial law of an eligible country.

Eligible countries are member countries of CDB. The requirements for post-qualification will include: (a) an average annual turnover (defined as billing for works in progress and completed) within the last three years of Bz$3.0 million for civil works; (b) demonstrable cash flow (including access to credit) of Bz$750,000; (c) experience in works of a similar nature and size, which includes driving of piles, for each of the last three years, and details of work under way or contractually committed; and clients who may be contacted for further information on those contracts; (d) qualifications and experience of Bridge Design Engineer and other key design team members, site management and technical personnel proposed for the Contract; (e) bridge design experience and works of a similar nature; (f) experience as prime contractor in the construction of at least two assignments of a nature and complexity comparable to the proposed project activity within the last 5 years (to comply with this requirement, works quoted should be at least 70 percent complete); (g) proposals for the timely acquisition (own, lease, hire, etc.) of the essential equipment listed in the Bidding Data; (h) demonstrate experience in the execution of design of bridge structures; (i) a structural/bridge engineer with ten years experience in works of or equivalent nature; and (j) A Project/Contract Manager with at least eight years experience, five of which have been spent in works of an equivalent nature and scope including not less than five years as a Project/Contract Manager.

This Contract comprises the supply of labour, materials, plant, equipment, survey instruments, soils testing equipment and any other necessary tools and machinery for the design, construction and completion of works of the above project. The Works shall include the supply, construction, installation and completion of the following: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Professionally qualified staff for execution of the Detailed Engineering Bridge Design; Execution of Topographic Survey; Execution of Hydraulic Study; Execution of Structural Design of Bridge; Preparation of Construction Drawings and as built Drawings; Preparation of Technical Specifications; Site Clearance; Bridge Construction; Clearing of Waterway; Piling of Foundation; Embankment Construction; Any other accommodation works as required in the Specification, or as required to complete the Contract to the satisfaction of the Engineer.

Bidding documents are available for a non-refundable fee of Bz$1,500.00 at the address below: PROJECT EXECUTION UNIT Ministry of Works & Transport Power Lane Belmopan BELIZE, C.A. Tel: +501-822-0562 Fax: +501-822-0563 Email: peumow@yahoo.com A pre-tender site visit will be held on Monday 7th April 2014.

Submissions of applications for post-qualification shall be in English and must be received in sealed envelopes, clearly marked “Application to Post-qualify for the Design and Construction of the New Mullins River Bridge”. Applications must be either delivered by hand or by registered mail to the address below not later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday 22nd April, 2014.

MOWT reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present post-qualification notice partially or in its entirety. MOWT will not be bound to assign any reason for not post-qualifying any applicant and will not defray costs incurred by applicants in the preparation and submission of the post-qualification documents.

Applicants will be advised in due course of the results of their proposal. Only contractors/consultants and joint ventures who post-qualified under this procedure will be invited to opening of financial offers.

Project Execution Unit Ministry of Works Power Lane Belmopan Cayo District BELIZE, C. A. Tel: 501-822-0562 Fax: 501-822-0563 Email: peumow@yahoo.com

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid Legal Drug Hustlers

By G. Michael Reid I hereby ask forgiveness of all those readers who tolerate my weekly rhetoric since I had need of a two week hiatus. My absence was necessary to attend to an urgent medical situation.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has wreaked havoc on my frame and has necessitated the replacement of several joints. Science has not yet found a way to halt the damage that RA does to joints nor have they found a way to help the joint to repair itself.

They have found a way to replace those joints that become severely damaged and I have since had the need to replace both hips and a knee.

Hopefully, this latest replacement will set me on relatively good footing for a fair period of time and allow me to once again move around and be productive. I must say a big thank you to Dr. Francis Smith and Dr. Roberts, who together, have been remarkable at stitching and patching up of my dilapidated frame.

Thanks to the nurses and other helpful staff members of the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital. Many thanks also to my family and friends who have been most helpful and supportive during my “downtime”.

I would have loved to have traveled abroad for this latest procedure but financial constraints left Karl Huesner

conventional medicine, Huesner was well versed in the use of herbal remedies and local plants.

He was very popular in early Belize and no one objected to the new hospital bearing his name.

The KHMH Act of 2000 incorporated the hospital as a statutory body and designated it as the country’s national referral point.

KHMH is administered by a Board of Governors but is run primarily on government funding.

The board of the KHMH, of course, is politically appointed and following the UDP’s 2008 victory at the polls, the old board was dismantled and a new one appointed. It was not long however, before major implications began coming forth. In June of 2009 the doctors of the KHMH made a demand for the resignation of then Board Chairman Dr. Ricardo Fabro and accused

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2014

pose numerous direct threats to the health and safety of the people of the country”. What is important to note is a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) that revealed that as much of 25% of medicines used in developing countries like Belize are counterfeit. This is alarming!

Memorial Hospital (KHMH) as In a March 2011 story carthe only option. I was deterried by the popular and credmined not to solicit anymore ible CBS 60 Minutes, noted handouts so I sold ‘stole and physician and journalist Dr. barrowed’ all that I could and Sanjay Gupta did a report on haggled with the doctors for companies in India that spea good deal. I have had succialized in manufacturing councess in a previous surgery at terfeit medicine and selling the KHMH and do not share them to countries like Belize. the fear of that institution that Dr. Gupta found that these some people do. Having been laboratories that were set up there before on several occain backroom apartments and sions and seeing what is hapbasements manufactured pening though, I believe gives many fake medicines such as me authority to assess and antibiotics, blood pressure and pain medications.

Dr. Gupta and his team discovered that the The procurement of drugs is a serious matter and fake drugs were manaccording to the Pharmacists Association of Belize ufactured under very (PAB), “Belize is plagued with a myriad of issues unsanitary conditions related to the quality of pharmaceuticals. and carried ingredients like highway paint, floor These issues pose numerous direct threats wax and chalk. The fake to the health and safety of the people of the companies even duplicountry”. cated the names, logos and packaging of genuine medicine. compare between what it was the hospital of wasting taxpayThe concern is that these and what it is today. ers’ money by paying exuberant fakes so closely resemble the KHMH is Belize’s flagship prices for substandard prodreal stuff that even experienced hospital providing care primaructs. A Commission of Inquiry and qualified persons have ily to those who cannot afford was launched but in the end, trouble distinguishing the real to visit the two private hospithings remained pretty much from the counterfeit. For the tals or to seek medical attenthe same. One aspect of the government of Belize to hire tion abroad. It does not have Inquiry that should have raised unqualified persons to provide a good reputation which is a more alarm than it did was tesoversight on drugs is dangerdisservice to the hard worktimony of Deputy Auditor Genous. We all know that for the ing doctors and nurses who eral Wayne Simon who on the sake of greed and an opportutoil there on a daily basis. The first day of the inquiry testified nity to hustle, politicians and KHMH which is a fairly new that, “The changes made by the their cronies will readily sachospital was built in 2005 to CEO Ministry of Health in most rifice the safety of the people replace the Old Belize City cases apparently resulted from for their personal enrichment.

Hospital which was on Eve a selection of cheaper alternaWe cannot take our eye off of Street in Belize City. That hostive brands. The tender committhis situation and must stand in pital originally was founded tees’ recommendations for the solidarity with the pharmacists way back in 1820 with an inimost part were not taken by the who are demanding that the tial purpose to provide mediCEO Ministry of Health. Instead best possible person be hired cal services for sick seafaring suppliers with cheaper generic for this very important job. men. The hospital converted brand were contracted...”

The very health of our nation to a general hospital in 1871 This brings us to the latest is at stake. This unscrupulous and has been serving the sick indiscretion from those quarters. nepotism and cronyism must of Belize ever since, albeit enThe recent appointment of a relbe stopped or we will all sufduring a series of conversions atively untrained and unskilled fer the consequences. Maybe over the years. When the new political crony to head the newif we insisted that our elected hospital was opened in 1995, ly created post of Drug Inspecofficials use the same facilithe name was changed to torate should be of major conties and the same drugs that honor the memory of Dr. Karl cern to not only pharmacists but we consume might help the Huesner who had rendered all Belizeans. The procurement situation. If Dean Barrow, Kim selfless service to Belizeans of drugs is a serious matter and Simplis and Michael Finnegan over previous decades. Dr. according to the Pharmacists had to use the same hospitals Huesner was famous throughAssociation of Belize (PAB), “Beand drugs as the rest of us, I out the Caribbean and Latin lize is plagued with a myriad of bet they would exercise better America for his expertise in issues related to the quality of care. This Animal Farm system tropical diseases. As well as pharmaceuticals. These issues of governance must stop!

23 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

Home Economics

The Government outside the Government

By Richard Harrison In the beginning there was one government….it taxed the people and provided services based on those taxes…. through its various line ministries.

Then…the public sector entrepreneurs started special-interest projects…with the guise of improved services through better management…with “cost-recovery” mechanisms, replicating all kinds of quasi-government statutory bodies out of these projects. Most with special “laws” that these bodies would write for themselves with their built-in authority/right to tax, but without the fiduciary responsibility to account for those “extra-budgetary” revenues. The line of authority still ended with the Minister under whose portfolio the statutory body fell, so the MINISTER ruled in the CENTRAL GOVERNMENT….and the NOT-SO-CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. He became a king with two fiefdoms.

So it was….that the politicians built… .a house for themselves and their favorites….outside of the house where the voting public has a direct say.

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is one of those houses. The Minister of Tourism is at the head of the line of authority….it has a Board of Directors that is appointed by the political directorate of the day, but which is mostly rubber-stamp…and it has its own law that gives it authority/ rights to collect taxes and license fees… with its own “tax-collectors”. Among them, the Hotel Tax….which is many millions of dollars in revenues each year. Every year, it hosts a gala event to present an Annu-

al Report, which mostly focuses on arrival statistics and some of the superficial activities undertaken during the year…its detailed “audited” financials are under lock and key…but in closing, there is a big party with enough free expensive wine and liquor to celebrate the “achievements”…. not of the BTB….but of the “industry”.

Of late, we have heard of ramblings and “resignations” from high offices…but no one in Belize, in their right mind, expects any investigation or corrective measures.

The government outside the government remains intact. The BTB is to do all what a Ministry of Tourism is to do….but we now have to pay for the BTB….and for a separate Ministry of Tourism. One has to wonder: what does the Ministry of Tourism do?

Since Independence, Belize politicians have created a plethora of these statutory bodies and public corporations…..BTL, BEL, BWSL, DFC, BSSB, PACT, BIL, NICH, Free Zone Management Authority, Export Processing Zones Board, BELTRAIDE, Coastal Zone Management Authority, Belize Agricultural Health Authority, Central Building Authority, Solid Waste Management Authority, Trade License Board, IMMARBE, Belize Intellectual Property (BELIPO), International Business Companies Registry, International Insurance Services Authority, KOLBE prison, Border Management Authority, Belize Port Authority, Belize Airports Authority, Belize Transport Authority, NEMO, NEAC, Belize Marketing and Development Corporation, Land Management Authority….and the list goes on….all of them with their own self-writ-

ten law which gives them authority/right to charge fees for their “services”…and to modify those fees if and when they see it fit. Most of them have a Board of Directors made up from political appointments and persons directly invested in the specific sector…with “management teams” that have become a part of the furniture by perfecting the 6:30 dance…they call it self-policing.

Together, this government outside of government collects and controls as much money as does the Central Government of Belize…..but this is not reflected in your Annual National Budget….nor is there any requirement for timely annual publication of their detailed audited financial reports.

With this parallel government operating and budgeted for….most of them still receiving substantial “subventions” from the public coffers as part of their “revenues”….one has to wonder what is left for the Central Government of Belize to do? But each line ministry still adds “increments” to their budgets each year.

As this top-heavy reality has grown out of proportion… so has the competitiveness and productivity of the Belize economy declined…raising the cost-ofdoing-business to astronomical levels… reducing the chances for turning an honest profit from an investment…and creating the enabling environment for corruption to systematically spread horizontally and vertically across the public and private sectors. Belize now boasts its status as one of the toughest places to do honest business in the world.

The construction of this second government… is the principal contributor to the touted growth of Belize’s SERVICES ECONOMY, which I dare say is false with an ever shrinking PRODUCTIVE SECTOR. Many of these “statutory bodies” need to be reviewed, with a major reduction in cost of providing those services by reducing the fees and including them in national budgets. Some of them can be kept, but

21 they must be required, like private corporations, to publish their detailed audited financial statements…their legal ability and methodology for modifying fees revamped…and their management structure, line-of-authority, performance appraisal and rewards and punishment made more transparent and accountable.

Services are built around production systems not production systems around services...and their cost-benefit to production systems should be enhancing not like a ball and chain.

We have banks, insurance companies, shipping and port services, utilities, transportation services, etc. because we have sugar, citrus, banana, marine, papaya and other production...not the other way around.

There are those “leaders” among us who think that Belize, with its low level of technology and innovation capacity and capability, can depend on sustainable growth of services businesses alone to provide a decent standard of living for its people… and thus they pander to those interests diametrically opposed to the fomentation and growth of the productive sector in Belize.

This is what has led us to casino onearm bandits…internet gambling…paper Trojans IBC’s and “Trusts” and “asset protection” gurus… “free zones”, “export processing zones”, and money laundering, drug peddling…MegaBingo, Fantasy 5, Lucky 3, Lottery, Boledo…an NGO representing foreign interests around every corner...more “real estate agents” than nurses and doctors...trading and flying the Belize flag on ships for convenience…persons trading and carrying the Belize passport, permanent residence and visas for convenience and human trafficking and the busiest streets lined with cover-up “front” businesses...fake, fake, fake robust and growing “SERVICES ECONOMY”.

Touch the ground Belize…take your head out of the clouds.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Celebrating Women...

Developing Leaders

By Angela Banner-Joseph As we celebrate women’s month, I must share the attributes I believe encourage and motivate all girls and women to become excellent leaders in their daily lives. Ladies, you must define your own success by breaking the rules of the games. Sisters worldwide have already shattered the proverbial glass ceiling, so I challenge you to be more assertive, and learn to promote yourselves and be ambitious.

The definition of leadership has many parts, which includes figuring out what needs to be done, having a vision to solve the problem and learning how to motivate people to achieve the vision. So, ladies what type of leader are you? Here are some character and personality traits of a good woman leader. Do you have any of these traits? The answer should be YES! I believe in you, so believe in yourselves, and go for it.

Leadership: It is important that you lead with integrity. Leadership is risky, dangerous, challenging, and inspiring as you influence people for the good to fulfill humanity’s highest potential.

Risk taker: You must be a strategic thinker who is willing to take a risk. So, you must learn to be fearless to become a risk taker.

Dr. Diane Boardley Suber, President of Saint Augustine College, North Carolina gave me great advice several years ago about being a risk taker. She contends that “the turtle is the sign of a risk taker. In order to progress you must be willing to stick out your head and put your tail on the line.” Dr. Suber maintains that advice has been her leadership mantra.

Vulnerability: Learn to be vulnerable, and find a balance in your everyday pursuit as you acquire new knowledge while exposing yourself to unknown truths.

Legend: Become a legend in your own time and in your private time educate yourself. Allow yourself to become a change agent.

Visionary: As a visionary, you must be able to reveal new directions. What do I mean? You must

have the courage to follow your vision, to believe in the invincible, to pursue and work for something that may be a possibility, while others may struggle and wring their hands in despair. As a leader in the 21st century, you will be encouraged to bring about radical change, which will require you to become courageous as you direct this change.

Power: Women are powerful as individuals and in numbers. We outnumber men on this planet, but yet we have limited power in major leadership roles. As we embrace a global community of many challenges, it’s especially important that we continue to push women at the forefront to create a platform for us to share ideas with both women and men to empower us in the decision making and implementation process of positive social change.

Decision Maker: We must ensure that women in our country have equal access to positions of decision making, and receive the necessary support to combine work and family so that we can see a higher number of women working in the economy. During the last decade, we have seen women’s participation in decision-making has been growing, albeit slowly. The international human rights conventions and global policy frameworks have noted that

the full participation of women in the decision-making process is necessary for the achievement of gender equality.

Strategic: Women we must plan for uncertain times. Being a decisive planner will enhance your leadership capabilities, and guide you through unprecedented changes. You must prepare to avoid risks that are common with inadequate leadership, now and in the future for changes that are yet to come.

Ladies, I have provided a short list of character and personality traits of a good woman leader. We need to support and encourage each other to propel each other into key leadership positions as you excel to the next level. We must continue to empower women to lead, because change occurs after you take action, and action oc-

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2014

curs when you are inspired to lead. You are the epiphany of hope for future women leaders as you revolutionize the spirit to empower women to find the courage, skills, and passion to envision Belize where both genders would be truly equal.

Women are slowly advancing into leadership positions in our country, but it is not enough.

We’re talking about very small and slow changes. It is crucial that we continue to advance women into positions that were previously dominated by men. I look forward to day when I see the first female Prime Minister of our country, as well as our fair share of leadership roles.

Dr. Angela Banner Joseph holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Change from the Fielding Graduate University

23 MAR

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

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

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23 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

Recipe of the week

Curried Red Snapper Ingredients 2 pounds red snapper fillets 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 scallions, chopped 2 tablespoons curry powder 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup olive oil 1 to 2 Scotch bonnet peppers, seeded and chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 cups coconut milk 1 cup water 2 tomatoes, roughly chopped 2 onions, sliced 1/4inch thick 10 cilantro sprigs

Preparation Cut the red snapper into small pieces and place in a bowl. Season with the salt, black pepper, scallion, and curry powder.

Allow the fish to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

When you are ready to proceed, heat the butter and oil in a large saute pan.

Add the fish and saute until it is lightly browned on both sides. Add the peppers, garlic, coconut milk, water, tomatoes, and onions.

Cover the fish and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat, cover the pan, and simmer until the fish is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes, adding more water if necessary.

Also, add a touch more curry, if necessary, for your taste. Finish with fresh cilantro leaves.

Serve with white rice and fried plantains.

23 MAR

2014

25

THE BELIZE TIMES

BRAIN SHARP!

CONNECT THE DOTS! Look who is sleeping…can you connect the dots?

Can you count by 2s and get to the end of the worm’s tail?

WORD SEARCH

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23 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

BRAIN

TEASER

SUDOKU PUZZLE #58/2014

Hon. Mai & Principal Rejon

Supporting

Sports in OW South Yo Creek Village, March 13, 2014 In support of young people’s involvement in positive activities, Area Representative Hon. Jose Mai co-sponsored football jerseys which were donated to Compassion School in Yo Creek Village.

The students of Compassion School are talented athletes and they hope to compete in upcoming sports tournaments.

In handing over the jerseys, Hon. Mai expressed his hope that the students reach their goals academically and athletically. He mentioned that he will continue to organize sporting events in Yo Creek and other communities to young people the kind of additional positive activities that will help them grow into productive citizens.

Principal Manuel Rejon thanked Hon. Mai for the continued help he has provided to Compassion School.

Answers for last week’s puzzle SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTION #57/2014

In Loving Memory of a Beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend

Bert Leslie Bowden April 27, 1968 – March 18, 2011

See answers NEXT WEEK

Lonely is the home without you, Life to us is not the same; All the world would be like heaven, If we could have you back again.

A light from our household gone, A voice we loved is still, A place is vacant in our home, That never can be filled.

Always remembered, Always loved!

Greatly missed by wife: Indira Daughters: Kimari and Kyli Family and Friends

Answers for last week’s puzzle

See answers NEXT WEEK

23 MAR

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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Missing Malaysian jet can be found, even in deep ocean 18 March 2014 by Paul Marks

With the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight in its second week, there are fears that any wreckage may be too deep to find if it has crashed in the Indian Ocean.

But if it’s there search teams will find it, says David Gallo of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. In 2011, he used three robot submarines to find Air France flight 447 beneath the Atlantic, 4 kilometres down.

“No depth is beyond our reach,” he told New Scientist.

“Without doubt, if the aircraft is in the oceans, given time we can, and will, find it – even in the deepest and most rugged terrain.”

But first the searchers have to know where to look (see map

laysia towards Kazakhstan, and south-west out over the Indian Ocean, which has an average depth of 3900 metres but with trenches twice that deep in places.

No radar ruse No country on the northerly track has yet reported The US Navy is one of many parties helping the search any civilian or mil(Image: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class itary radar contact Eric A. Pastor via The New York Times/Eyevine) with the Boeing 777 after it lost contact, nor has there been any sightbelow). Signals pinged from the jet ings of wreckage on land. However to a geostationary satellite have led residents of the island of Kuda Huto air and sea searches along two vadhoo in the Maldives have reported vast corridors: north-west from Maseeing a low-flying jet on the morning that flight MH370 went missing, according to a local news website.

One Malaysian newspaper claimed there has been no radar contact because the aircraft had dropped to an altitude of 1500 metres to evade radar. But that altitude is not low enough for this to work - as pointed out by aviation website Flightglobal.

In the southern Indian Ocean the Australian Maritime Safety Authority is flying search missions 3000 kilometres west of Perth, West Australia. It is using satellite intelligence from the

US National Transportation Safety Board, which has examined the data from the London-based global satellite operator Inmarsat and estimated where the aircraft may have come down after its 7 hours 31 minutes in the air.

It is also possible the NTSB may have images of the missing airliner from spy satellites run by the US National Reconnaissance Office – run jointly by the National Security Agency and the Pentagon.

“We don’t ever discuss our operations or assets up there in space for security reasons. But the Department of Defense is working in support of US Pacific Command efforts to find the missing aircraft,” says an NRO spokesperson.

If the plane came down in the sea, the potential depths at which wreckage may lie, in much deeper waters than the previous search in the South China Sea, has led to scepticism that the plane will ever be found.

But despite claims from investigators that the aircraft was most likely deliberately steered off course by persons unknown after disabling its radar transponder and ACARS technical datalink, informed observers still see accidents – such as catastrophic depressurisation or an extended fire that released toxic fumes – as more plausible causes of the jet’s bizarre unplanned journey.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Slow and Steady Wins

T

his past weekend was full of adventure, excitement and lots of water. Crowds surged and sighed to the rhythm of rough hewn paddles dipping into the dark green waters of the competition route. Shouts and exclamations grew louder and louder as the steady stream of colorful canoes nosed their way down the stream towards the finish line. A frenzy of encouragements poured out of the people lining the river witnessing the end of the three day race.

I couldn’t help but think, however, that though the people went crazy with anticipation the closer those boats drew to the end of the race, the true goal for some of those participants was not to be the crew that crossed the finish line first (although I’m sure most of them wanted to accomplish this). I saw in the determined set of the jaws and strong steady strokes of the paddlers that, even when a crew had already passed first, the race was not over. The goal changed from gaining the hype and acclaim of coming in first to an equally important challenge: finishing the race.

In life, a lot of pomp and circumstance goes to the people who start out strong with all the noise and excitement that a thrilling launch to a race will bring. They have lofty attitudes and are unspoiled to the rigors of the long journey.

These people are strong. They’re tough. They’ve got half of the gambling room abuzz. These are the people everyone will tell you to watch, to count on. These are the winners.

On the other side of the water wrestling match are the ‘nobodies’. Nobody has heard of them and nobody cares about them. They are silent, watchful, and patient. The crowd does not roar when they pass. The only people who bet on them are those that enjoy putting money on the underdog.

The gun goes off and the first group shoots out with frantic strokes, quickly putting distance between the other teams.

The second group goes surely but slowly. The leader calling out a steady cadence, “one, two, three, four” and they dip their paddles together.

The La Ruta Maya race is similar to the journey of life.

The strong currents pull everyone forward or backward, be they ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Though strength is a factor in reaching the finish line, the steadiness of the strokes push the boat farther than a hurried frenzy of paddle strokes do. In the end, those who continue on though their movements be slow and measured are the ones who finish the race. Isn’t it better for us to start slowly and finish than go off in a hurry and lose strength halfway to the goal? Paul stated in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.

All of us may not have the prowess to cross the finish line first, but the honor of crossing the finish line is just as important.

Until next week, God bless.

23 MAR

2014

Tremors

By Dr. John Sosa, Neurologist

Tremors are unintentional trembling or shaking movements in one or more parts of the body.

Most tremors occur in the hands.

You can also have arm, head, face, vocal cord, trunk, and leg tremors. Tremors are most common in middle-aged and older people, but anyone can have them.

Types of tremors: Physiologic (normal) tremor is most seen with different postures than with movement and minimally at rest. It can become more noticeable, especially in elderly people or in times of stress.

This is due to a raised level of adrenaline in the body. Certain medications such as asthma medications like salbutamol can cause a noticeable normal tremor. Tremors can be associated with basal ganglia disease of the brain or with peripheral neuropathy. Tremors are frequent in alcoholics.

Essential tremor occurs mostly with posture and movement.

It is a frequently recurring constant tremor. It has a genetic background and runs in families, and there is no known illness or drug causing the tremor. It is uncontrollable and increases with anxiety.

It commonly affects the arms and hands but can affect the head, jaw, tongue and feet. If and when an essential tremor becomes disabling the medical care should be sought.

The doctor will check for the type of tremor and severity. If a cause can be pinpointed then the cause should be treated if possible. Tests should be done to rule out a metabolic problem, a thyroid problem or other medical problems.

Causes: Many medications can cause tremors, so a history of medication use or alcohol dependence or withdrawal should be investigated. These medications include anti-psychotics, antidepressants, caffeine, steroids, lithium, levodopa (used to treat Parkinson’s), antiepileptics, and amiodarone.

It is always important to try and determine the cause of the tremor, because some types are associated with other underlying disorders such as a dystonia or Parkinson’s disease or a brain disorder such as a stroke in the cerebellum or brainstem. They can be associated with a peripheral neuropathy such as may occur in diabetics.

Treatment: There is no cure for most tremors. Treatment to relieve them depends on their cause. In many cases, medicines and sometimes surgical procedures can reduce or stop tremors and improve muscle control. Parkinson’s disease can be treated with medications and subsequent surgical procedures.

Treatment: There are different types of medications to treat an essential tremor including beta blockers (eg. propranolol) and benzodiazepines (eg. alprazolam). Use of alcohol also stops an essential tremor. It is of note therefore that some medications used to stop a tremor can also exacerbate or increase the intensity of the same.

The doctor and patient should be aware of this possibility.

Tremors are not life threatening. However, they can be embarrassing and make it hard to perform daily tasks. Therefore, if a person finds the tremor affecting daily activities it is then probably time to consult a professional.

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2014

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

NEWS

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Opposition mayor arrested in Venezuela Bin Laden son-inlaw unexpectedly testifies Teacher and Imam, Suleiman Abu Ghaith, says he made videos for al-Qaeda to counter US propaganda about Muslims.

Mayor of San Cristobal, city hardest hit by anti-government protests, arrested for “civil rebellion”.

20 Mar 2014 Ve n e z u e lan intelligence agents have arrested the opposition mayor of San Cristobal for “civil rebellion,” accusing him of stoking violence in the city hit harder than anywhere

by more than a month of unrest.

Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres, who also heads the national intelligence service Sebin, told state TV that Sebin agents detained Daniel Ceballos while acting on an order from a court in western Tachira

state.

“This is an act of justice for a mayor who not only failed to meet his obligations under the law, but also facilitated and supported all the irrational violence in this city,” he said.

“In the coming hours he will be presented before the corresponding tribunals to begin the judgment process.”

Australia spots objects ‘possibly’ from plane Prime Minister tells parliament airforce plane sent to ocean location of objects possibly related to Malaysia plane.

20 Mar 2014 Australia has sent an aircraft to investigate two objects spotted by satellite floating in the southern Indian Ocean that could be debris from a Malaysian jetliner missing with 239 people on board, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said.

No confirmed wreckage from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has been found since it vanished from air traffic control screens off Malaysia’s east coast early on March 8,

less than an hour after taking off.

“New and credible information has come to light in relation to the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean,” Abbott told the Australian parliament.

“The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has received information based on satellite imagery of objects possibly related to the search.”

“Following specialist analysis of this satellite im-

agery, two possible objects related to the search have been identified,” he said.

Abbott said he had already spoken with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak and cautioned that the objects had yet to be identified, according to Reuters news agency.

The task of locating these objects will be extremely difficult and it may turn out they are not related to the search for MH370,” Abbott said.

20 Mar 2014 Osama bin Laden’s son-inlaw, Suleiman Abu Ghaith, has unexpectedly testified at his trial on terrorism-related charges and denied that he had any role in al-Qaeda plots against the United States.

Abu Ghaith, 48, is one of the highest profile people with purported links to al-Qaeda to be tried in a US civilian court, Reuters news agency reported.

Prosecutors in federal court in New York have accused him of serving as a spokesman and recruiter for al-Qaeda and of knowing about planned attacks against Americans, accusations he denied on Wednesday.

Abu Ghaith’s decision to testify came a day after US District Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that jurors would not hear testimony from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the September 11 attacks.

Mohammed is being held at the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Abu Ghaith said on Wednesday that he met Mohammed while in Afghanistan but that they did not discuss any planned attacks.

Under questioning from his lawyer, Stanley Cohen, Abu Ghaith on Wednesday described meeting Osama bin Laden, a founder of al-Qaeda, in Afghanistan just hours after the hijacked plane attacks of September 11, 2001, which killed about 3,000 people.

Libya asks world to help it fight ‘terrorism’ Appeal comes after wave of bombings and assassinations, and clashes between government and militias.

20 Mar 2014 The Libyan government has called on the United Nations and international community to help fight what it called a war on terrorism as it struggles to stop the country sliding into widening chaos and instability.

The appeal came after a wave of bombings and assassinations in the eastern city of Benghazi and clashes between pro-government forces and a rebel militia controlling major oil ports in Sirte in central Libya.

The violence is part of turmoil in the North African country where the government in unable to control militias that helped overthrow Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but kept their weapons to grab oil wealth and power.

“Terrorist groups” had declared war on Benghazi, Sirte and other cities, the government said. A powerful car bomb targeting an army academy killed at least eight people in Benghazi on Monday.

“Libya’s interim government asks the international community and especially the United Nations to provide assistance to uproot terrorism,” the government said in a statement posted on its website late on Wednesday.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

What is Eric Chang hiding?

Belize City, March 17, 2014 Eric Chang continues to serve as a UDP Belize City Councillor even though a dark cloud of notorious mystery hangs over his head.

Chang has yet to come clean about his involvement in the Kim Won Hong nationality/passport scandal along with disgraced and corrupt former Minister of State Elvin Penner.

For unexplained reasons, Chang “disappeared” from Belize for several months right after September last year. This was exactly around the time during the Independence celebrations last year when the scandal broke out that UDP area representative and then Minister of State Elvin Penner had given a fraudulent Belize passport to a South Korean Kim Won Hong who was at the time in a Taiwan prison.

Chang’s name also surfaced as a major player.

The unconfirmed report was that Chang was the special courier who personally took the illegal passport to Taiwan to Kim and who “collected” for the favour.

With the serious allegation up in the air, Chang should have flown to Belize immediately to clear his name but he chose to stay away and leave all answers unanswered. He was reportedly in Taiwan, where Kim and the illegal Belizean passport also were, and no one knew how long he would be away.

Chang’s absence caused major

central government” stated the Mayor. He added that he believes Chang should make a public statement and come clean.

Aware of the political scandal that was surrounding the passport issue, the Council eventually decided to strip Chang of his Deputy Mayor’s status and Works portfolio. This is after he refused to return to Belize, and explain what he was running away from for almost three months.

Mayor Bradley may have given way to a new Deputy Mayor but the strategy to downplay the scandal has done little to clear the air and headaches for the Belize City Council. At the time, Chang was the second in command at City Hall, after Mayor Darrel Bradley. He was put in charge of Infrastructure Works. Mayor Darrel Bradley claimed that he attempted to call Chang several times, but not even he could reach him.

The absentee Deputy Mayor had also become toxic for the UDP-led City Council. In interviews, the Mayor was as suspicious as every other Belizean who was following the passport scandal. Bradley said he was aware of the “serious allegations” against Chang.

He said that his refusal to return to Belize had become “worrisome”. Chang’s possible involvement in the passport scandal was a “cloud around the council and around the

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Chang’s name. If Chang was the one who took the fraudulent Belize passport to Taiwan, he is as guilty as Elvin Penner is of criminal wrongdoing. He should be arrested, questioned and charged if necessary.

The Police should immediately request Interpol’s assistance in investigating Chang’s travelling dates and his alleged visit to the prison which housed Kim Won Hong.

Instead, Chang is going about as if he is Mr. Untouchable. He is back in the country, moving around clandestinely.

He is still collecting a salary from the Belize City Council and attending UDP political events. He was last seen at the UDP Belize Rural Central convention hiding in his dark-tinted SUV and at the UDP Fort George convention supporting his Council colleague Roger Espejo.

Chang’s behavior since the passport scandal in September is highly suspicious. Why is he hiding, what is he hiding?

A majority of Belizeans strongly believe that Chang is involved in the passport fiasco and believe that he should also face a criminal investigation.

Such an investigation apparently also fall in the “discretion” assumed by the political Commissioner of Police.

The Lord and his Minions

The Lord and the Prime Minister’s wife Kim Barrow The Lord and Erwin Contreras

Secret meeting with the Lord and UDP officials

Erwin Contreras and Ralph Huang

23 MAR

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

DEsgracIA!!

Chetumal media sniffs out criminal Elvin Penner

PUP Mourns passing of PG Deputy Mayor Simon Paulino March 11, 2014 The People’s United Party wishes to record our profound sadness at the passing of Simon “Pau” Paulino.

Mr. Paulino served as a PUP Deputy Mayor elected in March 2012 under the leadership of Punta Gorda Mayor Anthony Fuentes and PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca.

Mr. Paulino was a well-respected elder resident of Punta Gorda known for his profound connection with the people of the communities.

We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and the PUP PG family.

Belize City, March 20, 2014 The BELIZE TIMES reports to our concerned Belizeans that even the media in Chetumal has shown interest in the arrest of the disgraced UDP Cayo North East Area Representative Elvin Penner for his criminal wrongdoings.

Last week the BELIZE TIMES reported that even though the Supreme Court has ordered the Commissioner of Police to accelerate their investigation into Penner’s issuance of fraudulent Belizean nationality and passport to South Korean Kim Won Hong who was at a Taiwan prison at the time, Penner is roaming free and was even seen shopping and vacationing in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico last weekend.

Penner, the ComPol and the UDP continue to thumb their noses at the authority of the Supreme Court and the loud calls for action made by the Opposition, social partners and every right-thinking Belizean.

The Chetumal newspaper, Diario de Quintana Roo, picked up the report and also published it in their newspaper under the title “Belizean forger spotted on the Boulevard” (The Boulevard is a popular seaside section of Chetumal lined with well-known restaurants and clubs).

In the report, the Diario calls Penner a fugitive of the law and they ask why it is that the Commissioner did not seek the assistance of Mexican law officials to detain Penner.

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2014