Belize Times April 1 2018- Mayor Wagner Refuses To Pay Outrageous Bar Bills

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

1 APRIL 2018 | ISSUE NO: 5090

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

CITCO AUDIT REVEALS

FLEECING BY JOE BRADLEY Mayor Wagner Refuses to Pay Outrageous Bar Bills

Pg. 2

BARROW DELIVERS ROTTEN EASTER EGG

Former Minister Threatens to Reveal UDP’s Dirty Secrets

Pg. 2

Pg. 3

Prominent Businessman Beaten to Death Mario Guerrero

Pg. 2

WANTED

Street Feud Claims Another Victim Pg. 4

2 02

1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

CITCO AUDIT REVEALS FLEECING

BY JOE BRADLEY

Tuesday, 27 March 2018 The Belize Times has received copies of documents which show that Joe Bradley, father of former Mayor Darrell Bradley who was employed at the Council, ran up thousands of dollars in bar tabs to purchase food and liquor at a local Chinese restaurant just across from the Council on North Front Street. Those chits were signed by Bradley, although it is unclear what authority he had to do so. Spaced out over less than a month, those bills add up to $6,361 and we are reliably informed that Mayor Bernard Wagner has refused to pay.

The bills are for the month of February before elections, most of them for well over $400. In some instances Bradley signed for over $700 in one wild night.

Sources at the restaurant claim that Bradley hosted some crazy parties which included him buying many rounds of Smirnoff, Guinness, beer and other beverages for assorted persons in his company. It is not clear who gave Joe the authority to run up bar bills on behalf of the Council, and it was not brought to the attention of the Mayor until this week when he was asked to pay it.

In an interview this afternoon, Mayor Wagner told the Belize Times that he will not pay it because there is no documentation which shows that Joe Bradley had any authority to sign for alcohol and food on behalf of the Council. It is believed that the owners of the restaurant and bar will be hunting down Joe Bradley in an effort to get him to pay.

Belizeans are eagerly awaiting the results of an audit being conducted into the affairs of the Council.

We have been reliably informed that there are many discrepancies which have already popped up, including huge loans granted to persons who have made no attempt to pay back those monies.

BARROW DELIVERS ROTTEN EASTER EGG Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Prime Minister Dean Barrow could not even wait until the end of the financial year before handing out Easter Cheer that nobody wanted. While the cost of fuel is already prohibitively high, forcing many consumers to park their vehicles, Mr. Barrow decided that it was time to take pump prices even higher. At midnight Monday, pump prices of Super, Regular, Diesel and even Kerosene went up.

According to the Bureau of Standards in the Ministry of Fi-

United States

Prominent Businessman Beaten to Death Tuesday, 27 March 2018 Police have this evening issued a WANTED poster for Allen Russel Felix, 40, in connection with the brutal murder of Mario Guerrero. While Police have not officially released any other posters, the family of Guerrero has added pictures of Ann Bradley and Brian Richardson and are asking the public’s assistance in locating these persons in connection with the murder. At news time we are told that a female is in custody, but her identity has not been released.

Mario Guerrero Sr., 64, a Belizean businessman who was well-known for his company Guerrero’s Charters, was found dead at his home in the Sunset Park Community. The gentleman was killed by assailants who beat him to death with one of his own bar stools on his property.

Police say that at about 9:30 p.m. they visited his home which is located at #1234 Sunset Park. That’s around mile 8 on the George Price Highway.

When they arrived, they found his battered body under a tent in his yard. The officers observed multiple serious head injuries and right beside him, they

nance, the price of Premium Gasoline is now $11.39, up from $11.24 – an increase of 15 cents per gallon. The cost of Regular Fuel is now $10.61, up from $10.18 – an increase of 43 cents per gallon. The cost of Diesel fuel is now $10.13, up from $9.88 – an increase of 25 cents and the cost of Kerosene is now $6.55, up from $6.31 – an increase of 24 cents.

Prior to elections, the Barrow/Faber administration played smoke and mirror games with fuel prices, lowering the pump price of one a few cents and raising another, but never all at once.

Since elections are done, the UDP has dispensed with games and is giving Belizeans the bukut all at once. While in many regions of the world fuel prices are less than BZD$5, we continue to be punished by the highest fuel prices in the region and rank in the highest fuel prices in the world.

When fuel prices go up, it affects the cost of all goods and services across the board. For many months consumers have

on page 31 ExchangeContinued rate (USD): $ 0.50 of One Belize Dollar

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2018

Eastern Caribbean Euro (XCD):$ 1.35 (EUR) : $ 0.46

found a broken stool which they believe was used to savagely beat him to death.

Reports are that there is video surveillance which captures Guerrero socializing with a group of people at the Princess Ramada Hotel.

Readers may know that he operates his family-owned business from the Hotel’s pier. He reportedly took two of these men to his house in Sunset Park, and the objective was allegedly for him to go and get more money to go back out and socialize some more.

That never happened because he never survived that trip home. Persons close to the family have told the press that Guerrero’s home video surveillance system captures in horrifying detail just what his assailants did to him. These men allegedly grabbed one of the bar stools

been crying out about the outrageous cost of fuel, but those cries have been ignored. Now that Mr. Barrow was forced to backtrack in his plan to tax farmers, he has decided to make up those revenues through higher taxes on fuel. And while normal Belizeans are crippled by the fuel tax which sees the Barrow/Faber administration raking in almost half of what is paid per gallon for fuel, Ministers and their cronies can fill their gas-guzzling SUVs for free at the pumps – free for them because WE PAY. It is way past time for Belizeans to stand up and unite against the corruption and mismanagement which has resulted in all of us being taxed out of this world. The Government is broke while UDP Ministers have gotten wealthy beyond their wildest dreams and UDP cronies have become instant millionaires. It is time to get these scoundrels out of office. The people have suffered long enough.

The Belize Times has been reliably informed that the price for butane will go up by as much as $10 within the next few days.

Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR (GBP): $ 0.35 (GTQ): $ 3.85 (CAD): $ 0.67

in his yard and then proceeded to beat him to death with the piece of furniture. He was reportedly struck over the head multiple times until those injuries caused him to collapse and bleed out and die in the yard.

The home surveillance system also reportedly captured the men while trying to make off with his vehicle. Fortunately, it appears that they were having far too much difficulty to get it started, and so they left one foot. Reliable sources indicate that the killers took Guerrero’s bunch of keys and allegedly threw away his cellular phone.

On Monday afternoon, March 26, family members and friends went searching the bushes around his house to try to find it. Up until midday, Monday the family still couldn’t find it, even though the number was still ringing. Police say that they are looking for 2 men who they want to question about Mario Guerrero Senior’s murder.

His family owned company, Guerrero’s Charters, specializes in transportation by boat for leisure or tour trips. The company continues to enjoy commercial success.

The Belize Times

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14 APR 2013

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ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

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1 APR

2018

THE BELIZE TIMES

Former Minister Threatens to Reveal UDP’s Dirty Secrets Tuesday, 27 March 2018 “I could tell you how all of them (the UDP) get their riches.

You would be surprised.” Mark King, former UDP Minister.

The U.D.P. has gone conspicuously silent following direct threats by former UDP Minister Mark King late last week. In an explosive Facebook post, King stated that if the Party tries to stop him from running in Port Loyola as he intends to do, he will spill the beans and tell all. That threat seems to have had the effect of a cold bucket of water in the face.

Since that post, he has been left alone by the UDP and has allegedly been telling people close to him that he has been secretly endorsed by top leaders in the Party to run in that division.

King entitled his post last week (and we edit to preserve our sanity – “Patrick Faber – Dividing the UDP – Your hate and anger continue to shine – with the unions against you, the loss of Belize City under your command, the crime with you being the Southside leader and DPM. I don’t need to tell you Sir…a long war all the way to the election you don’t want with me. Mark my words, it’s going to get real nasty.”

It appears that King singled out

CARTOON

Faber because he claimed Faber has tried to stop him from running on three separate occasions, and also went public to say that he (King) cannot run. According to the former UDP Minister who has been MIA since Cordel Hyde beat him like a drum in Lake Independence, he has all the goods on Faber – “Line Item #1 on my agenda – WOMAN BEATING – who made the phone call why the Women’s Department didn’t have the Police investigate? How the woman was dragged and beaten?”

In various other posts, King made references to secret recordings which he was prepared to release, incriminating members of the UDP in shady dealings. He pulled no

punches in stating - “Any UDP try to stop me from running…I got the goods so high on all of you…if I’m going down the whole party going with me.” In a separate thread, King posted – “I could tell you how all of them get their riches. You would be surprised.”

King has long been known in the UDP for clandestine recordings of conversations, something which put him at odds with Prime Minister Dean Barrow and other UDP Ministers during his time in Cabinet. To hear now that he has more recordings, and is prepared to release them, is something

03 3 which is surely resulting in some sleepless nights in the UDP camp.

Here at the Belize Times, we fully support King as the UDP candidate for Port Loyola, and even as next leader of the UDP. And like all Belizeans, we’d like first dibs on those recordings and any evidence he has on his colleagues in the UDP. As for Patrick Faber, who sees his dreams fading before his eyes – he seems to have pulled a disappearing act after King brought up his woman-beating ways on Facebook. We’ll have much more on this developing story.

4 04

1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

Street Feud Claims Another Victim

Tuesday, 27 March 2018 Justin Orellana, 28, a resident of Lord’s Bank was killed inside his home over the weekend. Orellana is the nephew of the late Bernadine Louriano, and it appears that the street feud between families in Belize City may be connected to why he was killed.

Police say that on the morning of Sunday, March 25, they received a report of a body being found in Lord’s Bank Village. They responded and found Orellana’s body partially covered with a blanket. He had a machete in his right hand and the officers observed what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the left hand and the chest. It is believed that Orellana’s killers somehow managed to get into his house and they attacked him in his sleep. He most likely had no time to defend himself which is why the machete ended up in his hand Neighbours reported that they

heard the sound of gunshots before daybreak on Sunday, but because it was dark out nobody went outside to check. A young man reportedly spotted Orellana’s door open and he alerted Orellana’s family members from Lord’s Bank that something didn’t quite appear right. When they went to check for themselves, they found him dead on his bed. The Police were called in and the area became a crime scene.

Nobody knows for sure why he was murdered, but his friends tell the press that it’s certainly not because he personally had any enemies. They told the press that he is a security guard for one of the BTL compounds in Ladyville, and that he is the type of person who goes straight from work to home.

They say he doesn’t socialize much and keeps mostly to himself in his house.

His aunt, Bernadine Louriano, was shot and killed inside her house

on Aloe Vera Street, in Belize’s City’s Lake Independence. Though there is no confirmation of this, persons living in the area strongly suspect that she was shot to death because her son’s enemies were trying to send a message to him, and to cause the family grief.

Her son Alejandro Louriano, 19 - who’s also Justin Orellana’s cousin - has been arrested and charged for the double murder of Theresita Flowers and Delcia Blanco which happened last week. It was believed that these two innocent women were killed in retaliation for Bernadine’s murder. The criminal charges against Alejandro Louriano sort of legitimizes the claim.

Friends of Justin Orellana told the press that police questioned him as a person of interest for this double murder as well, which surprised them. They say based on his work schedule, he couldn’t have had any involvement in the murder. So, these are two possible motives police may pursue to solve his street slaying.

Apart from that familial blood feud, which he reportedly tried to avoid, Justin Orellana had his own struggles. Starting from the age of 17, he went to jail on remand for

2018 murder, after police accused him of stabbing and killing his stepfather. He spent 5 years on remand awaiting trial, and he was acquitted of murder, and granted bail. 2 years later, he was re-tried on the lesser charge of manslaughter, and he also beat that one as well.

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Interested couples may send queries to Whatsapp + (501) 6042219 stating interest and a contact email.

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PUP NOTICE THE People’s United Party hereby announces it’s conventions to elect Standard Bearers in the following Constituencies: Corozal South East - April 27, 2018 Corozal North - April 28, 2018 Cayo South - April 29, 2018 Orange Walk North - May 5, 2018 Closing date for application is Friday April 6, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.

For further information please contact the PUP Secretariat at 677-9168.

PUP NOTICE THE People’s United Party hereby announces it’s conventions to elect Standard Bearers in the following Constituencies: Corozal South West - April 20, 2018 Stann Creek West - April 21, 2018 Toledo East - April 22, 2018 Toledo West - April 22,. 2018 Closing date for application is Tuesday April 3, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.

For further information please contact the PUP Secretariat at 677-9168.

PUP Leader Hon. John Briceño, and the entire PUP Family wish all Belizeans a safe and blessed

Easter Holiday

1 APR

05 5

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

EDITORIAL

F

POISON

or a long time now – so long that observers can readily be excused for thinking it is normal and traditional – the House of Representatives has lost all vestige of honour usually attributed to it. That Chamber should be the forum where ‘honourable’ representatives of all constituencies discuss, soberly and seriously, the business of the people. It is, in fact, the only forum where the concerns of constituents can be ventilated openly and publicly, with an assurance that it will be heard by those with the power to bring about positive change. In this instance, it is the forum where the Budget - that absolutely critical financial structure which will determine every facet of development in the country in the next fiscal year - should be debated vigorously, but respectfully and constructively, by both sides.

But that doesn’t actually happen. Instead, the House has become the forum where government representatives have been allowed to shed any skin of civility.

They are allowed to use Parliamentary privilege to lie openly and often, hurl the pettiest of insults and taunts and viciously slander persons on the other side of the gallery and persons not even present. There is no attempt at constructive dialogue.

There is no respect shown. While the Speaker is very quick to use Standing Orders to restrict Opposition members, she shows no such tendency when the thugs on the government side degenerate into infantile hooligans and bullies.

While that has become the modus operandi for matters within the House, last week’s Budget debate was particularly vile. The members of the government side visited new depths of nasty. They were angry and hostile and confrontational and bitter and vicious. They had no interest in the people’s business, no care about the Budget. They were there to spew hatred and bile. And spew they did, for hours and hours. It was a bizarre scene.

It is easy, though, to understand what ails these hateful individuals and creates these wells of bitter gall in their stomachs. Belizeans saw it a couple weeks ago when UDP Minister Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, behaving like a crack addict in need of a fix, blasted the people of Port Loyola for turning their backs on him. See, in recent Municipal Elections Boots lost Port, and he can’t deal. So he has decided that he will punish the people for daring to vote for the PUP. This is the calibre of persons that are representing Belizeans.

In the House last week, Deputy Prime Minister and Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber had a complete mental breakdown. He was uncontrollable and inconsolable. He wept and he wailed. He spent hours attacking the PUP and Lake Independence Area Representative Cordel Hyde. It wasn’t hard to imagine him waking out of a restless sleep screaming Cordel’s name. He lost it. And it is understandable, really. Faber is an arrogant little twit. He boasted on multiple occasions that Collet would easily bring in the UDP in Belize City. He did so in the most public of forums. Buoyed by his own sense of self-importance, he chose to go into Lake Independence because he felt that he could erode the PUP’s dominance in that area. He not only failed miserably in that undertaking, but also lost ground in Collet. And if that weren’t bad enough, his abject failure has now resurrected his nemesis John Saldivar. Saldivar enjoys the support of a majority of Cabinet, while Faber does not. So Faber is on the edge, and it showed during the Budget ‘debate.’ It was pathetic.

When the Prime Minister held his post Municipal election press conference, the level of his arrogance was incredible – to the extent that many persons thought it was a façade to hide his frustration over losing so much ground to the PUP. But that attitude has been taken up by those in the UDP employ who troll social media, just as it has been adopted by the Ministers and officials of the Party. It is as if they don’t get it. They don’t understand.

What happened in the last Municipal elections was a rejection of what the UDP stands for. The people have gotten tired of the arrogance and the careless neglect.

The people have gotten tired of seeing just a few persons get rich while so many are poor. The people are tired of the corruption and greed. The people are tired of the senseless crime and violence and killing. The people are tired of the abuse and victimization. They wanted a change. They demanded a change.

But instead of the U.D.P. heeding that call for change, they have become even more arrogant and uncaring, turning on the people for what they see as betrayal instead of realizing that they have betrayed the people. There is no bright side in this scenario for the UDP which is imploding. With Mr. Barrow already having one foot out the door, and no real leader in sight, there are dark days ahead for this Party which has done Belizeans such wrong. They have been poison to all but a few, and that poison will ultimately spell their demise.

en Español

VENENO

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esde hace mucho – tanto tiempo que los observadores pueden ser fácilmente perdonados para creer que es normal y tradicional –la Cámara de Representantes ha perdido todo vestigio de honor que usualmente se le atribuye. Esa Cámara debería ser el foro en el que los representantes “honorables” de todos los distritos electorales discutan, sobria y seriamente, los asuntos del pueblo. Es, de hecho, el único foro donde las preocupaciones de los electores pueden ser ventiladas, abierta y públicamente, con la certeza de que serán oídas por aquellos que tienen el poder para lograr cambios positivos. En este caso, es el foro donde el presupuesto-esa estructura financiera absolutamente crítica que determinará cada faceta del desarrollo en el país en el próximo año fiscal-debe ser debatido vigorosamente, pero respetuosa y constructiva, por ambas partes.

Pero eso no sucede realmente. En su lugar, el Parlamento se ha convertido en el foro donde se ha permitido a los representantes desechar todo aspecto civil. Se les permite utilizar el privilegio parlamentario para mentir abiertamente y a menudo, lanzar insultos mezquinos y burlas y calumniar a personas en el otro lado de la galería y personas que ni siquiera son presentes. No hay ninguna intención de diálogo constructivo. No se muestra ningún respeto. Si bien la presidenta es muy rápida para utilizar los reglamentos de la cámara para limitar a miembros de la oposición, no muestra esa tendencia cuando los abusadores del lado del gobierno se degeneran a maleantes y gamberros infantiles.

Si bien esto se ha convertido en el modus operandi de los asuntos dentro de la Cámara, el debate presupuestario de la semana pasada fue particularmente vil. Los miembros de la parte gubernamental visitaron nuevas profundidades de repugnancia. Estaban enojados y hostiles y polémicos y amargos y viciosos. No tenían interés en los asuntos del pueblo, no se preocupaban por el presupuesto. Estaban allí para vomitar el odio y bilis. Y vomitaron, durante horas y horas. Fue una escena extraña.

Es fácil, sin embargo, entender lo que aflige a estos individuos odiosos y crea estos pozos de hiel amarga en sus estómagos. Los Beliceños lo vieron hace un par de semanas cuando el Ministro UDP Anthony ‘ Boots ‘ Martínez, comportándose como un adicto de crack con la necesidad de una dosis, criticó a la gente de Port Loyola para darle la espalda. Verás, en las últimas elecciones municipales, Boots perdió Port, y no puede lidiar con eso. Así que él ha decidido que va a castigar a la gente para atreverse a votar por el PUP. Éste es el calibre de las personas que están representando los Beliceños.

En la cámara la semana pasada, el Vice Primer Ministro y representante del área de Collet Patrick Faber tuvo una crisis mental completa. Estuvo incontrolable e inconsolable. Lloró y se lamentó. Pasó horas atacando al PUP y al representante del área de Lake Independence Cordel Hyde. No fue difícil imaginarlo despertar de un sueño inquieto gritando el nombre de Cordel. La perdió. Y es comprensible, en realidad. Faber es un pequeño imbécil arrogante. Se jactó en múltiples ocasiones que Collet fácilmente le daría el gane al UDP en la ciudad de Belice. Lo hizo en el más público de los foros. Impulsado por su propio sentido de la auto-importancia, optó ir a Lake Independence, ya que sentía poder erosionar el dominio del PUP en esa zona. No sólo fracasó miserablemente en ese esfuerzo, sino que también perdió terreno en Collet. Y si eso no fuera suficiente, su estrepitoso fracaso ahora ha resucitado a su enemigo John Saldivar. Saldivar goza del apoyo de la mayoría del gabinete, mientras que Faber no. Así que Faber está en el borde, y lo demostró durante el debate presupuestario. Fue patético.

Cuando el Primer Ministro celebró su Conferencia de Prensa después de las elecciones municipales, el nivel de su arrogancia fue increíble - en la medida en la que mucha gente pensó que era una fachada para ocultar su frustración de perder tanto terreno al PUP. Pero esa actitud ha sido tomada por quienes el UDP emplea para surcar los medios sociales, tal como han sido adoptados por los ministros y funcionarios del partido. Es como si no lo comprenden. No entienden.

Lo que sucedió en las últimas elecciones municipales fue un rechazo de lo que representa el UDP. La gente se ha cansado de la arrogancia y el descuido negligente. La gente se ha cansado de ver que sólo unas cuantas personas se enriquecen, mientras que muchos son pobres. La gente está cansada de la corrupción y la codicia. La gente está cansada del crimen sin sentido, de la violencia y del asesinato. La gente está cansada del abuso y la victimización. Querían un cambio.

Exigieron un cambio.

Pero en lugar de que los UDP presten atención a ese llamado al cambio, se han vuelto aun más arrogantes e indiferentes, volviéndose contra el pueblo en lo que ven como una traición en lugar de darse cuenta de que han traicionado a la gente. No hay lado positivo en este escenario para el UDP que está en implosión. Barrow ya tiene un pie fuera de la puerta, y no hay ningún verdadero líder a la vista, hay días oscuros por delante para este partido que le ha hecho mal a los Beliceños. Han sido veneno para todos excepto unos pocos, y ese veneno en definitiva será su deceso.

6 06

Cable Operators Reject Barrow’s Tax on Data Tuesday, 27 March 2018 In a letter dated March 22, 2018, the Belize Cable Television Operators Association (BCTOA) has rejected the tax on data announced in the Prime Minister’s Budget for fiscal year 2018/19. According to the BCTOA, the application of GST on this technology will “affect the most underprivileged in our society, the most remote residents and businesses in our country, the young entrepreneurs needing to communicate with the international market, students’ research and studies, farmers in remote areas connectivity and family communications.”

In his Budget presentation the Prime Minister announced the application of GST on data, and while many Belizeans may have thought that would affect only those purchasing data packages, the reality is far different. Because technology now relies heavily on the use of data, many other essential services will be affected, with the result that consumers will have to pay much more to access these services.

In its release, the BCTOA explains that “this increase of IT to the people of Belize would adversely affect our country’s and business development by effectively increasing the cost of communication; the cost of online banking; the cost of accessing online degrees; the cost of online training and access to seminars; the cost of research; the cost

1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

of telecommunicating and ultimately the cost of doing business, placing Belize at a disadvantage to other regional developing countries.”

The Association closes off its release by telling the Prime Minister that while the cable providers have made great strides in providing affordable internet to customers, the application of GST on data will completely wipe out all benefit to consumers.

With that said, the Association asks the PM to reconsider, urgently, the proposed increase.

Originally the Prime Minister had also planned to remove GST exemptions on farmers, which would have driven up the cost of production for a sector which has already taken crippling hits. Barrow was forced to backtrack after an immediately outcry not only from various farmer associations but also from the Chamber of Commerce and the Opposition. It is clear from the Budget that the government is broke and the Prime Minister is scrambling to generate revenues any way he can, without considering the impact to Belizeans who already pay excessive taxes.

We note that while he backtracked on the imposition of tax on farmers, the Prime Minister was quick to raise the cost of fuel across the board to generate immediate revenues, particularly as Belizeans get set to travel over the Easter holidays.

2018

NOTICE For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 28th day of June, 2001, between GARY ANDREW GABOUREL of # 8 Vernon Street, Belize (hereinafter called “the Borrower”) of the one part and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LIMITED (hereinafter called “the Mortgagee”) of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 27 at Folio 88, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT lot, piece or parcel of land situated on the South Bank of the Belize River, being a portion of Lot No. 1804 and shown on the composite Map of the said Lot No. 1804 by G.V. Bautista, Licensed Surveyor, and dated the 8th of October, 1991 whereon it is designated “Louis Gabourel” and bounded as follows: On the North by Lot No. 32, On the East by Lot No. 18, on the South

by Vernon Street and on the West by Lot No. 13, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 1st day of March, 2018 MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

1 APR

2018

THE BELIZE TIMES

PUP Files Petition – UDP Stole San Pedro Elections Tuesday, 27 March 2018 The People’s United Party Town Council Slate for San Pedro has filed an election petition in the Supreme Court challenging the March 7 Municipal elections in that town.

The Party believes that free and fair elections were not held in that municipality and so they are hoping to get the results reviewed by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin.

The Petitioners include Abner Andre Perez, Dianeli Aranda, Johnnia Duarte Rivero, Urbina “Dina” Graniel, Marina Kay, Ruben Navidad, and Ian Pou, who are all from the PUP 7 in San Pedro.

The respondents include all the members of UDP 7, namely, the incumbent Mayor Daniel “Danny” Guerrero, Hector “Tito” Alamilla, Flora Ancona, Ruben “Rux” Gonzalez, Gary Kristopher Grief, Severo “Severito” Guerrero, and Gabriel “Gaby” Nunez.

The 8th respondent is Catherine Cumberbatch, who was the returning officer for the elections in San Pedro, and the Attorney General has been made an interested party.

The petition, which is dated March 22, 2018, clearly lays out the grounds which the PUP 7 hope the Court will accept as reasonable

grounds to challenge the outcome of the election.

From the returning officer’s count, Mayor Guerrero got 2,667 votes, while the councillor candidates Hector Alamilla got 2,818 votes. Flora Ancona got 2,904 votes. Ruben Gonzalez also got 2,904 votes. Gary Grief got 2,890 votes. Severo Guerrero got 2,789 votes, and Gabriel Nunez got 2,809 votes.

The petition outlines a list of discrepancies which they take issue with in the way the elections were conducted with. Here at the Times, we intend to explore a few of them.

The petition says that at polling

station #37, there were 675 ballots that should have been reconciled, but March 7, the returning officer and the presiding officer could only account for 400 of those votes. The difference of 275 unaccounted for ballots could have affected the outcome.

The petitioners complain also that, from their perspective, there is a serious irregularity in the total amount of votes.

They say that there is a discrepancy of 688 votes, which could certainly have affected the outcome.

They also dispute the number of spoilt bal-

lots as compared to the total ballots, and that from their perspective, the difference of over 500 ballots, is unexplainable, and is sufficient to have affected the outcome of the elections.

For these and several other discrepancies clearly outlined in the documents filed in the Court, the petitioners are asking the Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin, to determine that the UDP 7 were not duly elected or returned. They also want the election to be declared void, or that the PUP 7 to be declared the winner of the elections.

No date has been announced as yet for the hearing of this election petition.

07 7 Lost Boat Registration Certificate: Notice is hereby given that Clint Villanueva, of Placencia Village, Stann Creek District, owner of a fiberglass skiff namely “Tricia” bearing registration number SC-0196 is declaring the lost of his boat registration certificate.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that Daniela Heredia is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “Taqueria La Yucateca” located on San Lorenzo Road, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Jovany Flores is applying for a Restaurant & Bar Liquor License to be operated at “El Pescador” located in Copper Bank Village , Corozal District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

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1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

Most Rev Lawrence S. Nicasio – Bishop of Belize City & Belmopan

EASTER MESSAGE 2018

The Lord be with you! It is right to give God thanks and praise!

The above lines are two of my favourite lines on my spiritual journey.

The first one reminds me of God’s omnipresence to me, to us, and the other points to my need, our need to acknowledge God’s kindness and generosity to me, to us.

To take a line from the book, “Pope Francis and our Call to Joy”, says,” Often it seems that God does not exist: all around us we see persistent injustice, evil, indifference and cruelty.”(p.73) How can I ever forget the cruelty baby Alyssa suffered and the pain and suffering that 4 year old boy endured from gunshot wounds

to the head? With all the religion and spirituality lessons we hear daily, I still wonder whose voice and whose instructions we are following in this life.

It surely would not be God’s voice and God’s instructions, because the God I know and follow and live for is a God of life and not a God of death.

“But it is also true that in the midst of darkness something new always spring to life and sooner or later produces fruit.”(p.73) “However dark things are, good always re-emerge and spreads.”(p. 73) In this life, there is no reward given for doing evil, or for a life lived in darkness. To rescue us, the human race from eternal death, Jesus chose the ultimate sacrifice and died on the cross. It was from the midst of the darkness of his passion and death that something new sprang to life- his resurrection; his victory over death. It was this victory over death that gave the human race new life and the great hope of a like resurrection. Let me repeat it: However dark things are, goodness always re-emerges and spread.”

How true it is! It is not about the hot cross-bun we eat. It is not about the Easter clothes we wear. It is not

about the chocolate Easter bunny we eat. It is all about the man, Jesus, who has risen from the dead; He, whose resurrection has given us the reason to live lives full of hope.

The line we are all familiar with reminds us that there is no Easter joy, no resurrection without the cross. There is no Easter without a Good Friday. Jesus’

resurrection is the reason for the season!

You, my friends, who have made the journey of Lent can rejoice in the newness of life that comes to you who freely rid yourselves of the darkness and stagnation of a life lived in ones comfort zone. “Such is the power of the resurrection!” (p.73) As people of Easter; people of the resurrection, we give witness to life lived in goodness by what we say and do. Join hands with me in a joint commitment to live daily the spirit of Easter wherever we catholic Christians live and meet.

God is not dead! He is risen! He is alive and lives in us! Alleluia!

PUP NOTICE On Monday 19th March 2018 the National Executive of the People’s United Party agreed to open the window for selection of Standard Bearers for the next General Election on 16th April 2018. Application forms will be sent to the Caucus Chairpersons and will also be available at the Office of the Secretariat, Independence Hall, Belize City.

1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

HA

RD

TI M SI ES CK NE SS FI N AN CI DI AL ST RE SS

2018

DIT E R C ON UNI

The Board of Directors Management & Staff of

HRCU

The Board of Directors Management & Staff of

HRCU Happy, Blessed, and Safe wish its member-owners and all Belizeans a wish its member-owners and all Belizeans a

Happy, Blessed, and Safe Easter Season 2018 Easter 2017 OurSeason 74th AGM

will beOur held on Saturday, 73rd AGM 28,on2018 at willApril be held Saturday, SCA Multipurpose Mercy April 29th, 2017 at Center SCA Multipurpose at 2:00 pm Mercy sharp!Center at 2:00 pm sharp!

HRCU will open regular hours on HRCU will close at 1:00 PM Holy Thursday! on Holy Thursday!

(March 29, 2018(April - the13, last working day of our 2017) financial year!!)

Our ATM’s in Belize City and Independence Our ATM’s in 24 Belize City remain open hours.

Youand canIndependence also access remain 24 hours.

You can also access youropen accounts via ATM’s on Network One!

your accounts via ATM’s on Network One!

09 9

10 SPORTS

21 29 AUG JAN 1 APR

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES

2016 2017 2018

E.P. Yorke Girls Win 2nd NSSSA Softball Championship Orange Walk Town, March 24, 2018 The Edward P. Yorke High School girls won their 2nd back-to-back National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) softball championship in the tournament hosted by the New Hope High School at the Peoples’ Stadium over the weekend.

In Game 1 Friday afternoon, Jasany Westby struck out 2 batters and walked one, as she led the E.P. Yorke girls to a 12-2 win against the Western zone champs, the Belmopan Baptist High School girls. Westby struck out 2 batters, walked one and gave up 2 hits allowing Lucy Valencia and Leonie Aldana to come home.

Belmopan’s Leonie Aldana gave up 4 hits, struck out 3 batters and walked 7, allowing 12 runs to score.

In Game 2 Friday evening, the Northern zone champs - San Pedro High School girls were the “comeback kids”; as they outlasted the Southern zone champs, the Independence High School girls: 31-30. The IHS girls were leading 20-5 in the 3rd inning, as SPHS pitcher Sueny Vasquez gave up 11 hits, walked 19 batters and struck out 5. Then the SPHS girls scored 18 runs in the bottom of the 3rd to take over the lead: 23-20; as IHS pitcher Davesha Cardinez gave up 7 hits, walked 20 batters and struck out 10. The IHS

girls regained the lead: 30-26 in the top of the 5th inning, but the SPHS girls scored 6 more runs for the 31-30 win.

In Game 3, the consolation game for 3rd place on Saturday morning, the IHS girls hammered the Belmopan girls 14-4 by mercy rule in 3 innings. Belmopan pitcher Leonie Aldana gave up 8 hits, struck out 4 batters and walked 2, allowing 14 runs to score.

In Game 4 the championship final, the E.P. Yorke girls walloped the SPHS girls 25-2 by mercy rule in 3 innings, as Jasany Westby pitched a 3-inning no-hitter, striking out 8 batters and walking 5. SPHS pitcher Sueny Vasquez got relief help from Blanca Velasquez and Nayeli Longsworth, who collectively gave up 13 hits, walked 9 batters and struck out 3. The SPHS diamond made 8 errors, allowing 25 runs to score.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners received team trophies and individual medals from a SOL Belize Ltd corporate representative and IHS principal Omar Longsworth in the closing ceremonies.

Individual awards: Best Batting average – Hannah Usher (E.P. Yorke)– 0.750 Most Runs Batted in (RBIs) – Shana Bood (E.P. Yorke) – 8

Champs 2x EP Yorke girls

2nd Place San Pedro High girls

3rd Place Independence High girls Most Home Runs - Shana Bood (E.P. Yorke) – 1 Most Stolen Bases - SPHS Aaliyah Pilgrim.

Most Strikeouts – SPHS Sueny

Vasquez 19 Most Wins – Jasany Westby (E.P. Yorke) Most Valuable Player award Shana Bood (E.P. Yorke)

San Pedro Boys Win 3rd NSSSA Softball Championship Orange Walk Town, March 24, 2018 The San Pedro High School boys won their 3rd back-to-back-toback National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) softball championship in the tournament hosted by New Hope High School at the People’s Stadium over the weekend.

In Game 1 Friday afternoon, winning pitcher Arvid Cal gave up 4 hits, struck out 5 batters and walked 7, to lead the Central zone champs – the E.P. Yorke boys to a 25-5 win by mercy rule in 3 innings against the Western zone champs, the Belmopan Comprehensive boys. Compre’s Jaheim Neal gave up 24 hits as Damion Tillett hit 2 homers, and Cal, Jonathan Louriano, Kristian Tillett and Jaron Pakeman hit a homer apiece as the runs poured in.

In Game 2, in Friday’s nightcap, the SPHS boys dominated the Southern zone champs, the Independence High School boys: 11-1 in three innings by mercy rule; as winning pitcher Christian Orellano gave up only 1 hit, struck out 6 batters

and walked 2. The IHS boys left 2 runners on base, and only Ronnell Thomas scored. IHS’ pitcher Vince Garbutt gave up 5 hits, struck out 6 batters and walked 6.

In Game 3 the consolation game for 3rd place on Saturday morning, winning pitcher Vince Garbutt pitched a 5-2 no hitter, striking out 11 batters; while Compre pitcher Jaheem Neal gave up 8 hits, struck out 5 batters and walked 3, allowing 5 runs to score.

In Game 4 the championship final Saturday evening, the SPHS boys recovered from a 3-5 deficit to win 12-8 against in the E.P. Yorke boys. MVP pitcher Christian Orellano gave up 8 hits and struck out 10 batters, while the SPHS diamond made 6 errors, allowing E.P. Yorke boys to score 5 runs and lead 5-3.

E.P. Yorke’s Arvid Cal gave up 7 hits and struck out 6 batters, allowing the SPHS boys to take over the lead: 12-5 in the 5th inning, and the E.P. Yorke boys could not dig themselves out of the hole.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners received team trophies

Champs 3x - San Pedro High boys

3rd Place - Independence High boys and individual medals from a SOL Belize Ltd corporate representative and IHS principal Omar Longsworth in the closing ceremonies.

Individual awards: Best Batting average –– Jonathan Louriano – 1.000.

Most Runs Batted in (RBIs) – SPHS Christian Trejo – 7.

Most Stolen Bases - IHS’ Ron-

nell Thomas Most Home Runs award – a tie: Arvid Cal and Damion Tillett - 2 each.

Most Strikeouts – SPHS Christian Orellano – 16.

Most Wins - SPHS Christian Orellano Most Valuable Player award - SPHS Christian Orellano

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11 SPORTS 11

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

2016 2017 2018

Belize Jaguars Drill Grenada’s Spice Boyz: 4-2

Belmopan, March 22, 2018 Belize “A” men’s football team, the Jaguars, won 4-2 against Grenada’s “Spice Boyz” in a practice friendly at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan last Thursday night.

At first it seemed it might be a replay of Belize’s 0-4 loss to Grenada in the World Cup qualifiers at the FFB Stadium a few years ago, as Ricky Modeste blasted in the Spice Boyz’ 1st goal past goalkeeper Woodrow West in the 3rd minute.

Michael Salazar delighted the Belize fans by equalizing in the 8th minute and Jarret Davis scored a 2nd goal in the 22nd minute to lead 2-1. Delroy Smith

Jaguars 4th goal, Elroy Smith scored penalty

scored from a set piece in the 38th minute to led 3-1 at the half.

Kairo Mitchell scored the Spice Boyz’ 2nd goal in the 52nd minute: 3-2. Then the Spice Boyz goofed into giving up a penalty, and Elroy Smith converted for the 4-2 win.

Belize Jaguars win 4-2 Grenada Spice Boyz

Jaguars 2nd goal, Jarret Davis Jaguars 1st goal, Michael Salazar

The friendly match was a practice for the upcoming CONCACAF Nation’s League, in which the Belize will host the

Bahamas in September, then play an away game against Montserrat in October. Belize hosts Puerto Rico in November and the Jaguars take on Guyana next March 2019.

FFB’s vice president Marlon Kuylen said the FFB has acquired a bus in which the Jaguars can travel to games, and Belize would be playing more practice friendlies in the coming months as this tournament is important, and the number of practice friendlies can help improve Belize’s FIFA ranking. They will also help prepare the team for the next round of World Cup qualifiers.

TEAM MD’S JADINE RILEY WINS 29TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Belize City, March 25, 2018 Team MD Endurance’s 43-year-old rider Jadine Riley of the USA won the 29th annual Women’s Female Cross Country Cycling Classic, which the Cycling Federation of Belize held on the George Price Highway from San Ignacio to BTL Park in Belize City on Sunday.

1st Jadine Riley - Team MD Endurance - 3:49:53 - $3,000 prize & trophy.

2nd Kaya Cattouse – Team C-Ray 3:52:27 - $1,500 prize & trophy.

3rd Alicia Thompson – Team Belize Bank Swoosh - 3:57:41 - $750 prize & trophy.

4th Hannah Caproon - Team Amy D Foundation - $150 prize and medal.

5th Gina Kavesh - Team MD Endurance - $75 prize and medal.

6th Lori Harkey - Team Moose Pharmacy 7th Kaylynn Gillett – Team Belize Bank Swoosh - 4:29:34 – 1st Youth $300 gift certificate, 8th Taralee Ordonez – Team Kulture Megabytes – 2nd Youth - $200 prize.

9th Gabrielle Lovell (unattached) 10th Miguelina Clarke - Team Yucatan.

11th Kelly Clarke - Team Amy D Foundation 12th Paulita Chavarria Team Chavarria Cycling - 4:32:25 – 3rd Youth - $100 prize

Champ Jadine Riley of USA Top 5 Elites

Top 3 youths

2nd, Kaya Cattouse

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1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

13

18 JAN

1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES 2015

2018

A BELIZE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE Hon. John Briceño – PUP Leader Budget Debate – March 22, 2018

Hon. Cordel Hyde Budget Debate

Hon. Kareem Musa Budget Debate

Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai Budget Debate

A PUP government will make skills training a national priority and will ensure that our youth and adults are trained in skills in sectors with potential for growth and productivity. We need to work with our young adults to help them find gainful employment. We need to re-train our work force. We believe we have the plans that can attract international grant funding for this. Once we get our people working again we can provide the needed credit for a proper low-cost housing program, one that will allow for affordable housing for the middle class and subsidized housing for the poor. This is where meaningful partnership with the private sector comes in. A housing boom means more demand for carpenters, masons, gardeners, plumbers, draftsmen and women. The result of all this means more skilled Belizeans working and contributing to the development of our nation.

We need to build a safer and more caring Belize. The crime and violence that have swept our nation are our own kind of urban terrorism. It is destroying our families, tearing apart peaceful communities and wrecking our futures. Too many unnecessary deaths, too much tragedy, too much destruction. We have spoken over and over about this and as recently as two days ago we laid out some plans on a way forward.

Once again, we stand ready to work with the government in a meaningful way to bring about an end to the violence.

If there is one message that the Belizean people have sent loud and clear to those of us who offer ourselves for political office, it is the message that they are sick and tired of corruption. They are tired of watching the development of this nation get pushed aside while greedy and selfish politicians enrich themselves at the expense of the people, especially the poor. This UDP administration came in to office ten years ago on a platform of zero tolerance on corruption and is going out as the most corrupt ever. This is why I said earlier that they have become the very thing they once scorned and mocked in the public square.

This People’s United Party, which I am privileged to lead, is committed to a new type of governance - one which is set out in our true-blue philosophy that promises to eliminate corruption through full compliance with the laws of this nation. Our promise to the Belizean people is that we will change no law to suit our interests; that we will put no one above the laws of this nation and that we will honour and respect the rule of law.

We will work to modernize the public sector so that our civil service can be restored to its once respectable place in our nation’s development. We will rein in the unbridled power of ministers while at the same time work to empower their leadership and managerial skills to exercise their public roles and responsibilities in an accountable and transparent manner, commensurate with the vision and priorities of the Government. And to show my serious commitment to this I will work with both sides of the House to pass legislation to put in place an anti-corruption agency that will be independent, having subpoena powers to investigate anyone, past and present who has in some way taken advantage of government assets or resources.

We will remove control of the public accounts committee from the party in government. We will audit the ministries and departments in compliance with the law. We are committed to removing control of the integrity commission from Government’s control. We are committed to strengthening the office of the auditor general. We will work to bring about greater empowerment of our social partners so that they can become the true watchdog of good governance.

We will not be bullied by anyone in defense of our independence and full territorial integrity. We desire to live in peace with all our neighbours but let me say again, there can be no compromise in our resolve that we will never surrender one square centimetre of what we know to be rightfully Belizean territory

The political parties have to come together on this one and regain the moral authority. The youth see our behaviour as political parties as no different from the gangs. I asked one youth the other day why he was shot. He said the youths in his neighbourhood who shot him told him he was buying weed from the rival gang. Isn’t that the same way the political parties act? If the ruling party hears you have any affiliation with the opposition they will fire you or if you’re a business they will send GST after you. They will come after you and leave you for dead. That’s what the feuding gangs see and they imitate that. We have no moral authority to lead them, to tell them they need to hold it down. Cause that’s how we behave.

We don’t realize it but what we do as leaders, especially in government, is what the youths see and they try to imitate. They take their cue from us. We teach the people by example.

The 15 people who have died on the Southside since the year begun, they are not UDP or PUP. They are Belizeans. The 45 Belizeans who have died on the Southside since July of last year, they are not UDP or PUP. They are Belizeans first!

We honour their memories best, and the memories of all the many hundreds of Belizeans who have been killed by gun violence over the last two plus decades, by coming together as Belizeans in a bipartisan way. We have to hold hands as elected people and try to come to the best possible solution to deal with this most vexing of problems that sees no political colour and now sees no gender or age; that’s taking lives almost every other day. Nothing can be more important than saving the lives of our people.

It’s time for us to bring the mothers and grandmothers and fathers of the gang members and prospective members together. All the mediation won’t work for long if we don’t have the parents and families giving positive reinforcement for peace. Have the parents, the mothers, interact with each other, engage with each other, to try and settle together the little skirmishes between their sons that oftentimes escalate to murder. Lots of times these kids are cousins and don’t even know it. Because the mothers are not really engaging together. And have them help to hold their sons accountable. We cannot continue to look the other way as parents while our children are acquiring stuff we know they didn’t get legally.

At the same time, Madam Speaker, the government will have to ensure that the opportunities are available. If we bring the parents together, then we will get to know which of the parents are not prepared to be parents and need guidance and parenting classes and which need economic support to ensure that their children can go to school and stay in school. Every year 2000 primary and high school students drop out of school because their parents can’t afford to pay. Where do you think these kids end up? That’s why the bandaid solutions can’t work. That’s why the problem does not go away. It only gets bigger and bigger.

And we also will find out which of the parents need the pantry or rather a real legit pantry program. We don’t talk about it enough but a real problem in the streets is hunger.

Real hunger. Many people are not eating right each day. It’s no joke. It’s a humanitarian crisis fu real. We get the parents together and we will be able to determine which families have a food crisis.

And we will then know the people who really need jobs. Permanent jobs. Not temporary jobs. As I’ve said, we can’t continue to wait for some investor to come to our shores and open a business that will create a thousand jobs. We need to seek to do it ourselves.

A lot of these people are really talented and with a little jump start can start their own business. Their own food business. Their own yard cutting business or hair cutting business.

The problem is big but it is small. This is a small country and this is a rich country. There is no reason why our people have to be living like this and why we can’t solve these problems. The annual budget of the government is $1.2 billion for crying out loud.

Your government has politicized every aspect of Belizean livelihood. If you want a job with the government, if you want a scholarship, if you want a piece of land you must get a letter from your UDP area representative. If you want Boost or Pantry you must declare your loyalty to these UDP masters.

When these programs were first introduced I thought that it was much needed transition programs, a sort of temporary stop for those of our brothers and sisters that could not afford to put bread on the table. Little did I know that this worthless UDP government was designing a dependency tool aimed at keeping the people poor.

There was never any plan in place to transition our people to providing them with education and jobs and access to land and housing so that they could lead independent lives. All they wanted to do was to keep the people dependent on them. So now more than ever our people need boost and pantry because this government has been deliberately depriving Belizeans of the right to lead economically independent lives.

UDP Mis-Education Ten years ago, we proposed a radical idea, to use ONE LAPTOP per CHILD at the upper Primary and Secondary to connect to the digital world. That idea envisioned the teacher as the lead learner who would promote and harness a growth mindset in their students. This model meant more freedom for teachers, where they would empower students to think critically and innovatively.

When teachers, and students feel comfortable in exploring new ideas and can even fail—without fear of reprimand— and learn from such mistakes that is a formula for a better future. We need to unshackle the education system from this top-heavy management style of punishment and pressure on teachers and students to one of liberation and collaboration.

This is the responsibility of the STATE today, to partner with teachers and students. Students must not just be consumers of information, but creators of information.

If there is one great thing we can teach our students about history is that at every turn the people in Belize resisted oppression by the state. In 2016 our Belizean TEACHERS taught us a great lesson that to be change agents is to be patriotic and nationalistic and yesterday they were outside again demonstrating what a better future should be. To them I say big respect and thank you for always standing up for Belize.

Recent developments clearly signal that this government’s intention was to advance one step further to destabilizing the key role that the agriculture sector plays in growing the national economy. Clearly the decision to remove tax exemptions on agriculture field activities was done without measuring the serious negative impacts that this would have on large and small farmers. The failure to consult with the respective sub sectors tells the story that their exclusion was calculated and deliberate and anticipated the hue and cry which has since been raised by the Belize Agro Producers Sector, representing, citrus, banana, livestock, grain growers, and by the three associations representing our cane farmers and the Chamber of Commerce.

The PM’s actions seemed clear. This is not a temporary measure, but one of desperation as the government scrambles to dig itself out of the self-inflicted, self-induced mess it has created because of idiotic decisions and consistently poor financial management of our national budget and revenues. But while this is so those who profit handsomely are the Ministers, their families, friends and cronies and of course the famous attorneys and law firms of the PM’s family.

No country lead by a wise PM and government would ever think of imposing a burdensome regressive tax such as this on its agricultural sector, especially when that sector is struggling to survive.

Even the great United States of America subsidizes its farmers, recognizing their importance for food security and employment.

If we cannot subsidize… it may be understood …. But not to subsidize and to increase tax is a bullet to the heart of every Belizean farmer and his family!!!

We vigorously protested and lodged our strong objection to the ill-considered tax revenue that was to be implemented by the government. Higher production costs mean higher costs to the consumer. It impacts on our competitiveness- it renders us uncompetitive. This is Marketing 101, and I am appalled that those in the government who know better have allowed this travesty to be imposed on the already pressured Belizean people.

It makes me wonder - what is the position of the Ministers of Government who represent rural communities and who sit around the Cabinet table when these policies are discussed?

I have listened to the attempt to explain that this is but a temporary measure and that it will go away once the economic situation improves. temporary for this UDP government is 10 years and counting because for ten long years the economy has not improved; on the contrary it has deteriorated.

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1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

NOTICE

BY ORDER OF CHARGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL

Everywhere is War

I saw the most incredible video yesterday. Actually there were a few videos showing a confrontation between the GSU (Gang Suppression Unit) and men and women from the Mayflower Street area of Belize City, the territory of the Ghost Town Crips, I am told. Now I’ve seen quite a few videos of altercations with Police and persons from assorted areas in the city. So I shouldn’t be exactly shocked. But this is perhaps the first time I saw persons aggress the Police to the point that I have no doubt if those officers hadn’t retreated they would have been mobbed, and almost certainly killed. It was raw and violent.

Strangely – or perhaps not so strangely – the women involved in and on the periphery of the altercation seemed even more bloodthirsty and aggressive than the men.

A friend of mine tells me it reminded her of a scene out of one of those zombie movies where a few people are being attacked by creatures who want to eat their brains. Could be she just has an overactive imagination as artists usually do, but I can see the parallel. Maybe these particular ‘monsters’ weren’t hellbent on eating brains, but they sure as hell were going to bash some brains in or blow some brains out if they had the chance. Notice I put the ‘monsters’ in quotes – I don’t subscribe to the commentary I’ve seen which labels these particular residents as some form of sub-human species. But that is another discussion for another time. I just didn’t want to be accused of being racist or a bigot or some such thing.

What we saw on Sunday in the Mayflower Street area wasn’t created overnight. It’s been a long time coming.

As to the many and varied responses to what occurred…I’m reminded of an old bumper sticker which reads – opinions are like assholes…everybody has one.

Well, so do I, and here it is, like it or not.

At various times and in various circumstances, I have seen the Police behave like untrained, uneducated, uncivilized thugs. I’ve seen it and I’ve experienced it. Now, if I have experienced it in my very sheltered life where the most crim-

inal thing I’ve done is to try to dance on a pole in some brothel or the other while drunk, then I can only imagine how those in what have now been termed ‘Emergency Areas’ feel. I take no joy in saying it, but there are many times I’ve thought that some of these Policemen doing these things need to feel some pain – straight talk.

In the incident on Sunday the GSU, I believe, are to be commended. Coming under attack as they did, if they had indeed shot a few people arguments could have been made that it was justified. Instead they withdrew, firing what I believe were rubber bullets or warning shots in the air, since no casualties have been reported. I do not believe they were afraid, as has been suggested. I do not believe fear played any part in that scenario yesterday. A big gun which can spray big bullets at a phenomenal rate is a great equalizer. The GSU had big guns. They could have chosen to do things very differently, under threat. But they didn’t.

And they deserve to be commended for that. Trust me, I never thought I would be commending the GSU for anything. But I gotta say it how I feel it.

I think that as a people we have to know what we want and stop behaving like we knock wih head. When bullets are spraying and the blood of innocent women and children flow in the streets of the big, bad city, we beg and plead and demand an end to the bloodshed. We cry out for peace on our streets. We pray for an end to the violent crime which has made us prisoners in our homes. So…ehm – do we think that a frigging leprechaun like the one on a Lucky Charms box will come wave his little wand and there will be peace on earth? Really…people?

Like I said…I don’t subscribe to bigoted classifications. I don’t subscribe to categorizing people by area they live. But here it is in a nutshell – if you break the law, then you pay the price. If you are firing unlicensed weapons in the air at a time when gun violence is at an all-time high, then don’t play lily-white virgin when the Police come knocking down your door. If you do criminal things, then you should be treated like a criminal. If you are part of the scourge that is terrorizing our city, then you should be treated as such.

So there it is. This is how I feel. The Police have been wrong many times.

In this case I don’t feel they were. We can’t call for the eradication of violent crimes then jump in defence of violent criminals. That’s my two cents.

HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of a Charge registered at the Land Registry between AUDREY JANE SINGH and DAVID SINGH (Jointly) of the one part and HRCU of the other part.

HRCU will at the expiration of three months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the Schedule below.

ALL offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing to Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited from whom full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained.

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 555.55 square yards being Parcel 2155, Block 1 in the Corozal North Registration Section TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of AUDREY JANE SINGH and DAVID SINGH DATED this 28th day of March 2018 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738 Email: foreclosures@hrcubelize.org

MEGA PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTY Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Castillo will sell the following property ON SITE [Parcel 1296 San Andres Street, Orange Walk Town] on MEGA PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTY Tuesday 3rd April 2018 atDistrict 10:00 am: Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Castillo will sell the following property ON SITE [Parcel 1296 San Andres Street, Orange Walk Town] on Tuesday 3rd April 2018 at 10:00 am: Parcel 1296 San Andres Street, Orange Walk Town:

REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCEL Orange Walk Town 4 1296 Being a two storey building [1,360 sq. ft.] 3 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + living/dining/kitchen and lot situate on San Andres Street, Orange Walk Town, the freehold property of Ms. Gloria Mai.) TERMS: STRICTLY CASH TERMS: STRICTLY CASH KEVIN A. CASTILLO

KEVIN A. 223-4488 CASTILLO TELEPHONE E-mail: kevinacas@yahoo.com TELEPHONE: 223 4488 Facebook: Belize Auctions

Email: kevinacas@yahoo.com Face Book: Belize Auctions

1 APR

15

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

THINKING OUT LOUD BY: KEVIN BERNARD

These are difficult times for all of us, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Last week, as I usually do, I paid close attention to the Budget debate. I commend my colleagues on the Opposition side. They took the time to dissect the Prime Minister’s financial plan for 2018/2019. They pointed out in detail the areas that were lacking and highlighted discrepancies. They represented their constituents to the fullest by bringing out their concerns and letting the nation know that the Budget is flawed in that it does nothing to improve the lives of our people. That, my friends, is what is supposed to happen in the House. It is supposed to be a debate over issues. Politics should be about issues.

The government side, as it always does, paid absolutely no attention to the Budget. They were not there to debate finances and allocations and revenues and issues. They were there to argue and heckle and insult and attack – pure pettiness and personalities.

Like many Belizeans, I was left disappointed and dismayed at what has become of the House of Representatives. Imagine that schools take students on trips to visit this so-called honourable House, but what happened inside there last week was the farthest thing from honourable.

I am not surprised, actually. The Prime Minister leads by example. And the example he sets in the House is a terrible one.

His arrogance rules the day. He cares nothing about real issues or about serving Belizeans in an honourable fashion. Former UDP Minister Mark King was right when he uttered those now infamous words – UDP First…Belizeans Second. That has become the UDP mantra.

You know what many Belizeans have been left with following that Budget debate? Just the news bytes of the insults and name-calling. Most times that is what the media picks up on and that is what we see. Be honest – how many of us actually have any sort of clue what is in the Budget? How many of us know what the allocation to education will be? How many of us know what the allocation to health will be? How many of

us understand that in a matter of days we will have to pay more taxes? In fact, the cost of fuel, including Kerosene and Diesel, have already shot up. But most of us are in the dark where the Budget is concerned because our leaders go to the House to fight instead of to represent us.

Most of us have probably seen or heard about the bizarre incident over the weekend where Police and residents from the Mayflower Street area faced off.

That incident would have resulted in real bloodshed and mass casualties. We know that crime is out of control. We know that many times the criminals have more guns and deadlier guns than the Police. We see the murder rate rising and rising. But there was little discussion of any constructive solution to crime in the House because our leaders were busy attacking their colleagues on the Opposition side. What is in the Budget for our Police? What is in the Budget to try to bring the people in what the Prime Minister is calling Emergency Areas out of poverty? What kind of social programs are in the Budget to rescue our youth before they are seduced into a life of crime?

As politicians, we have to do things differently. I keep saying the same thing because it is what I believe, and it is my hope that someday things will change. As leaders, we need to respect each other regardless of political affiliation or beliefs. When our leaders behave like common thugs in the House of Representatives, the people see it. Our youth growing up see it. That is the example being set. We need to understand that if we expect the next generation to do the right things, then we have to show them the right things. We can’t do the wrong things and expect those who follow us to do differently. I have already indicated my intention to serve my people in the House of Representatives, and I can promise you that I will do all in my power to return some sort of integrity to the discourse in that forum. Our people demand far better from us.

Despite the many challenges that face us, I hope that you can enjoy a peaceful, blessed and safe Easter holiday in the company of friends and family.

Forging Partnerships. Impacting Lives

OUR HOUSE NEEDS A MAKEOVER Last week was the annual debate on the national budget for Belize for the fiscal year 2018/2019. To be fair, Belizeans across Belize and those living outside of Belize have come to accept such debates in the House to be a circus and a contest of machismo. This time, however, it was much worse. It was shameful, disgusting and disrespectful to Belizeans and especially to our women.

There was little to no debate on whether the government met its budgeted targets for the previous year, the reasons for its shortfalls and its reasons for its suggested targets for this new fiscal year. It is not the witticism or the clever remarks that were thrown agaisnt each other that was appalling. Instead, the House of Representatives descended into a House of Shame and took a sharp turn on the first day after the disastrous outburst of the Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, who is aspiring to be the leader of his party.

It is clear that the loss of the Belize City Municipal Elections have affected Faber significantly since he did promise his party he would have delivered the win. He failed miserably and his rants in the House that had nothing really to do about the budget demonstrated this. His immature, irresponsible behaviour in the House set the stage for similar to occur over the next two days of the debate. The result was a disgraceful, shameful and disrespectul political discourse.

As the month of March, Women’s Month, draws to an end, it was particularly egregious that as the Minister of Education, Patrick Faber did not support the teachers of the Belize National Teachers Union who were marching in solidarity, protesting crime against women and children and sending out a call for urgent action to be taken to stem this tide of violence. His outbursts also set the stage for other unacceptable outburts that were not relevant at all to the budget debate.

Minister Michael Finnegan, in his usual misogynistic style, also disrespected Hon. Laura Longsworth, Speaker of the House. No one in the house corrected him. No one.

The various allegations of domestic violence also took the forefront in the house. It naturally begged the question for so many that if this is common knowledge then how is it that our society still has these men

representing communities and areas in Belize and being allowed to sit in the House.

The budget debate was also particularly frustrating to listen to because it was frustrating to hear this contest of men where they prefer to look at which side is more corrupt instead of looking at stamping out the corruption. This is particularly important since this month of women has been marred by some of the most vile, vicous attacks against women and children and murder and mayhem on the streets.

It has been a difficult time for Beilzeans and the behavior on display did nothing for Belizeans to inspire confidence and hope that things will be different.

The budget debate did not do anything for the Belize conversation on what needs to be and how do we get there. However, now more than ever the debate in the House showcased very clearly the need for more women to be represented in the House of Representatives, the highest level of governance and leadership in this country.

It is time that women across this country who want to see a change to heed the call for more representation. Had there been more women in the House, the discourse on the Budget would have been different.

The recognition of teachers standing up for women and children would have been more pronounced. The Speaker of the House would be more respected. The Budget debate would have been more rounded, balanced and informative.

Crime in Belize is out of control.

Women have a role to play in addressing this because just as women are the foot soliders of political parties, they are also foot soldiers in our society. It is time for women to not only be supporters and soldiers of any movement. It is time for women to lead. The voices of our women are needed in the House and around the decision making table.

The United Women’s Group continues to support the strength and courage of the BNTU, its woman President and all women who courageously and bravely stand up and have their voices heard. Change can be effected with more women taking the lead.

Let’s be the change we want to see. Connect.

Join the movement by contacting belizeuwg@gmail.com or call 677-9168. Your voice matters in helping to create the next Women’s Agenda of the PUP.

16

1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

MY PERSPECTIVE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

EFFLUXION OF TIME !?!?!?

Already well known for his highfalutin, pompous, complicated and flowery language, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow has once more outdone himself!! Last Sunday at his press conference (yet another) after the deadly weekend of killings, he reached into his arsenal of big words and pulled out the term “effluxion of time.”

On a serious note, I must say that I usually cannot stomach listening to all the Prime Ministerial press briefings and conferences. I would normally catch the important parts online. After Jazz Time last Sunday, I felt differently. I thought to myself, surely the PM will be serious, magnanimous, and absolutely focussed on the crime crisis at hand. I therefore listened very keenly to what he had to say starting around 4 pm. Extremely sad to say, I heard NOTHING that is of any comfort to me.

But back to this “effluxion of time” phrase that the PM hauled out of his vocabulary kit bag.

The PM must be mixing up law and politics!! Effluxion of time is surely not a phrase that is used in normal parlance. But, as we all know, the PM does not WANT to use normal parlance. He deliberately uses the flowery, ornate terms to dazzle and baffle and obfuscate. I went to my trusty Black’s Law Dictionary, where of course I found the phrase. It is a phrase used in law.

Let me set out here the entire entry: “When this phrase is used in leases, conveyances, and other like deeds, or in agreements expressed in simple writing, it indicates the conclusion or expiration of an agreed term of years specified in the deed or writing, such conclusion or expiration arising in the natural course of events, in contradistinction to the determination of the term by the acts of the parties or by some unexpected or unusual incident or other sudden event.” (!!)

This phrase is just not used by ordinary people in everyday conversation. However, the PM thought he could get away yet again with high-flown language. This John Saldivar return to the helm of the Ministry of the Police is no joke at all. What the PM was in effect doing was saying to the Belizean people, whom he is clearly taking for fools,

that because enough time has passed, Belizeans should have by now have forgotten about the serious concerns about the said minister. He believes our memories are extremely short, and that therefore Saldivar is in the clear. I don’t need to repeat here all the reasons that scream to all right-thinking Belizeans why that minister should NOT be back at Police and more powerful once again. But I will remind us of the use of high-powered sea crafts, donated for specific reasons to the Coast Guard, to transport the Belmopan Bandits just as though these boats belonged personally to Saldivar. Shame, I say again.

It stinks highly that Saldivar is again in charge of ALL security forces. A friend of mine said to me on Friday last that he can just picture Saldivar demanding of the Prime Minister that he regain the Police ministry because he “came up” in Belmopan two weeks ago at the municipal elections. And, as is his wont, the PM puts party politics above all else. Never mind that there is blood flowing in Belize City and the rest of the country because of the worst crime wave and gun violence spree in memory. History will never absolve Barrow for playing politics while our children, women and men are dying.

I say RUBBISH to the PM’s belief that effluxion of time allows Saldivar to hop, skip and jump back into the power that he once more wields. We must not forget.

We must be like elephants. We must be like Elena Smith and the teachers, God bless them all. How can we be happy when it’s all this Prime Ministerial politics ad nauseum, and not the real leadership, policies and programs to not only fight crime and violence, but also to find the social and economic solutions so desperately needed. Effluxion of time indeed!! I feel sure that I am joined by many in condemning the political non-response by the Prime Minister to this crisis that requires less partisanship and power plays, and more inclusiveness and the cooperation of all the good brains and hearts that we can muster at this time.

2018

NOTICE For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 26th day of May 2009, between EARL LINCOLN ARTHURS JR. # 42 Nurse Findley Crescent, Belize City, Belize District, Belize (hereinafter called “the Borrower”) of the one part and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LIMITED (hereinafter called “the Mortgagee”) of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 12 of 2009 at Folios 1313-1378, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land at 10 Miles on the Belize-Coastal Road being portion of Governor’s Fiat (Grant) No. 18 of 1995 dated 10 May, 1955 which said lot numbered 19 and being more particularly delineated and described on a Plan of Survey made by H.D. Flowers, Licensed Land Surveyor dated 30th October, 1997 and recorded at the Ministry of Natural Resources in Belmopan in Register No. 2 Entry No. 4081 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections and developments standing and being thereon.

DATED this 22nd day of March, 2016.

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

NOTICE For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Assignment and Transfer of mortgage made the 14th day of May 2008, registered in Deeds Book Vol. 18 of 2008 at Folios 255-270, between THE BELIZE BANK LIMITED (“the Assignor”) of the first part, SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LIMITED (“the Assingnee”), of the second part and PETER WILLIAMS of Jacintoville, Toledo District, Belize (hereinafter called “the Mortgagor”) of the third part, which said property was mortgaged by the said PETER WILLIAMS to the said BELIZE BANK LIMITED on the 30th October, 1991 and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 23 of 1991 at Folios 559-588, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being 0.64 acre situate along the San Antonio-Punta Gorda Road, Jacintoville, Toledo District bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 35 of 1991 attached to Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 35 of 1991 dated 4th February, 1991, and entered in the Crown Lands Book (Grants) at the General Registry, Belize City, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 22nd day of March, 2018.

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

17 Estudio advierte del deterioro de la democracia en Latinoamérica

1 APR

2018

18 JAN

THE THEBELIZE BELIZETIMES TIMES 2015

La regresión autoritaria en Nicaragua, el endurecimiento de la autocracia en Venezuela y la inestabilidad en Brasil son los casos que ilustran de forma ejemplar los crecientes peligros para las democracias en América Latina, advierte el Índice de Transformación (BTI) presentado hoy por la Fundación Bertelsmann.

Es estudio BTI catalogó la existencia de 58 autocracias y 71 democracias

Por EFE 22 de Marzo de 2018 El informe que analiza la calidad de la democracia, la economía de mercado y la gobernanza en 129 países en desarrollo y emergentes, constata que Nicaragua forma, junto con Bangladesh, Líbano, Mozambique y Uganda, el grupo de cinco países

entre los 13 “perdedores” del índice que viven una regresión a la autocracia.

El punto culminante de esta regresión tuvo lugar cuatro meses antes de las elecciones de 2016 con la destitución decretada por el Tribunal Supremo del líder del principal partido de la oposición y candidato a la

POR QUÉ LA PRÓXIMA RECESIÓN ECONÓMICA MUNDIAL PUEDE SER PEOR QUE LA DE 2008 El tiempo ha pasado pero sus efectos todavía se dejan sentir.

La globalización financiera ha aumentado la velocidad de contagio económico.

Por BBC Mundo 22 de Marzo de 2018 Hace una década empezó la gran recesión económica que partió con las hipotecas basura en Estados Unidos y terminó con un contagio masivo al resto del mundo, provocando estrepitosas caídas en las bolsas, cierre de empresas, desahucios, desempleo y una ola de rescates bancarios.

El trago fue amargo y la recuperación

lenta.

Pero en la actualidad Wall Street está marcando máximos históricos. El índice bursátil Dow Jones subió 25,2% el año pasado y el Nasdaq acumuló un alza de 28,3%.

En medio de la fiesta, en febrero durante varios días la bolsa de Nueva York registró pérdidas que llegaron al 12%

Cont’do pagina 18

presidencia, lo que hizo que por primera vez desde 1990 se celebrase unas elecciones sin candidato alternativo y Daniel Ortega pudiera así permanecer en el cargo.

Destaca también en el período de estudio, que abarca entre el 1 de febrero de 2015 y el 31 de enero de 2017, el agravamiento de la situación política en Venezuela, “país inmerso en una dinámica de radicalización en la primavera de 2017” y donde “se ha agravado de forma dramática la situación de los derechos humanos”.

Según el informe, la situación en Venezuela representa incluso “una declaración de quiebra del ‘socialismo del siglo XXI’”, con un país que “apenas se preocupó de procurar alternativas a la dependencia del petróleo” y donde la pobreza ha vuelto a impactar con fuerza “después de dos décadas de un derrochador populismo rentista”.

La victoria aplastante de la oposición en los comicios parlamentarios de 2015, agrega el documento, ha conducido a que el régimen de Nicolás Maduro mantenga su curso con aún más dureza.

En tanto, en Brasil, ejemplo del “descalabro de una futura superpotencia”, se percibe “claramente” una pérdida de la calidad de la democracia, relacionada según el informe con la “dudosa destitución” de Dilma Rousseff, “iniciado por políticos corruptos”, que en mayo de 2016 llevaron a Michel Temer al poder.

Pic Biline: El BTI advierte que lo más preocupante es que las democracias existentes han recortado los derechos civiles de las personas.

En tanto, en Brasil, ejemplo del “descalabro de una futura superpotencia”, se percibe “claramente” una pérdida de la calidad de la democracia, relacionada según el informe con la “dudosa destitución” de Dilma Rousseff, “iniciado por políticos corruptos”, que en mayo de 2016 llevaron a Michel Temer al poder.

Al mismo tiempo, el informe alude al Latinobarómetro 2016, según el cual el 55 % de la población de Brasil no rechazaría un régimen autoritario, siempre

ESPAÑOL

que dé solución a los problemas económicos.

Esta tendencia a la “desconsolidación de la democracia” en Brasil no es un caso aislado y se observa en toda la región, donde la aprobación de la democracia por parte de la ciudadanía ha disminuido visiblemente desde el informe de 2010, constata el BTI. Entre las autocracias de línea dura figuran Venezuela y Cuba, con 3.80 y 3.58 puntos de 10, respectivamente, mientras que Nicaragua se sitúa con 4.92 en la categoría de autocracias moderadas.

Ecuador (5.90), Honduras (5.80) y Guatemala (5.05) forman parte de las democracias altamente deficientes, mientras Brasil encabeza con 7.65 puntos el grupo de democracias deficientes en América Latina, que incluye también a El Salvador y Panamá (7.30, respectivamente), Bolivia (7.20), República Dominicana (6.95), Colombia (6.75), Perú (6.60), Paraguay (6.45) y México (6.10).

Uruguay encabeza con 9.95 puntos el grupo de democracias en consolidación, en el que figuran también Chile (9.20), Costa Rica (9.05) y Argentina (8).

La totalidad de la región se muestra debilitada en cada una de las tres dimensiones analizadas, aunque se sigue manteniendo en segundo lugar, por detrás de Europa Centro-Oriental y Sur-Oriental-.

En términos generales, la polarización y la represión están aumentando en todo el mundo, constata el BTI. Actualmente 3 mil 300 millones de personas viven en un régimen autocrático, frente a los 4 mil 200 que lo hacen en un sistema democrático, cifra sin precedentes desde que se iniciaron los estudios en 2004.

El BTI cataloga 58 autocracias y 71 democracias, pero lo preocupante, sin embargo no es el ligero aumento de las autocracias -tres más-, sino el número creciente de democracias que han recortado los derechos civiles y donde el Estado de derecho se ha erosionado, denuncia el informe.

“Los dirigentes políticos de todo el mundo deben resistir la tentación de pretender la estabilidad mediante el desmantelamiento de la democracia. El BTI refleja claramente que los sistemas antidemocráticos no son en modo alguno más estables y eficientes que las democracias”, manifestó Aart de Geus, presidente de la Fundación Bertelsmann.

18

ESPAÑOL

11APR APR

THE THEBELIZE BELIZETIMES TIMES

2018 2018

BID RECLAMA POLÍTICAS QUE ALIENTEN EL CRECIMIENTO REGIONAL

Las políticas que apunten al crecimiento son indispensables en América Latina y el Caribe, cuya economía se expandirá menos que el resto del mundo, señaló este domingo el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), al cierre de su asamblea anual en Mendoza (oeste argentino).

Por AFP / Buenos Aires 25 de Marzo de 2018 “Los países de América Latina y el Caribe requieren una ambiciosa agenda de crecimiento para superar las significativas brechas de inversión y productividad”, se indicó en el documento distribuido en la ciudad mendocina, a unos 1.000 Km al oeste de Buenos Aires.

En un adelanto del informe, difundido el viernes, se había indicado que la región crecerá entre el 2018 y el 2020, pero menos que el resto de la economía mundial debido al déficit en la cantidad y calidad de las inversiones.

“Son necesarias políticas que ayuden a cerrar la brecha de inversión y productividad”, se afirmó en la declaración final.

En su análisis macroeconómico, el BID proyecta que el Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) de la región crezca 2.6 por ciento en promedio entre el 2018 y el 2020, en línea con su índice histórico de 2.4 por ciento en promedio entre 1960 y el 2017.

Pero ese indicador está aún por debajo de la tasa de crecimiento que se espera para Asia (+6.5 por ciento) y Europa (+3.7 por ciento).

Riesgos con tasas de interés Sin embargo, el BID indicó que “mientras que la economía mundial enfrenta potenciales riesgos de mayores tasas de interés y una corrección a los precios mundiales de los activos, la perspectiva general de la región es positiva”.

Luis Alberto Moreno, presidente del BID comparece ante la prensa en Mendoza,Argentina.

“El índice de crecimiento esperado es de 1.9 por ciento este año. Sin embargo, esto se encuentra muy por debajo del índice mundial previsto en 3.9 por ciento y América Latina y el Caribe seguirá a la zaga a menos que se promulguen sustanciales cambios de política en el frente económico”, reafirmó.

Los gobernadores de la institución sesionaron desde el sábado cuando el presidente de Argentina, Mauricio Macri, dijo a delegados de 49 países que “no hay un crecimiento económico sin desarrollo y el BID ocupa un lugar

fundamental”.

El informe de la entidad multilateral, titulado “La Hora del Crecimiento”, subrayó que “los factores que impulsaban el crecimiento anteriormente, como tendencias demográficas positivas, el aumento de los precios de materias primas y los estímulos fiscales disponibles, se han visto revertidos o restringidos”.

POR QUÉ LA PRÓXIMA RECESIÓN El BID, fundado ECONÓMICA MUNDIAL PUEDE SER en 1959, es una de las PEOR QUE LA DE 2008 principales fuentes Cont’do de pagina 17 empresa o a un banco pueden detonar de financiamiento una severa inestabilidad y hasta el en solo dos semanas, un para el desarrollo en fenómeno que los analistas colapso de toda una economía”, dice la región.

Ductor. atribuyeron a una “correcDécadas de “Este fenómeno se conoce como ción” del mercado. déficit riesgo sistémico y es una gran amenaza No se apagaron las

CÓMO TRUMP NORMALIZA LO INACEPTABLE DESDE LA CASA BLANCA Por EFE / Washington 25 de Marzo de 2018 Tras más de un año al frente de la Casa Blanca, Trump ha protagonizado múltiples actos inéditos en esa posición como decir que hay gente “buena” entre los neonazis, alardear de haber discutido con otro líder internacional sin tener “ni idea” de lo que hablaba, llamar “hijo de p...” a un comunicador o calificar -supuestamente- de “agujeros de mierda” a determinados países.

Pero este tipo de comportamientos tiene su explicación en la Ventana de Overton, un concepto de Ciencia Política que explica que para que un líder pueda implementar sus políticas sin ser castigado electoralmente, éstas deben estar dentro del marco de lo que el público está dispuesto a aceptar.

De este modo, si un político quiere establecer unas medidas sobre un tema que se encuentran fuera de esa ventana de lo tolerable, primero tendrá que situarse en una posición más extrema para arrastrar al público hacia ese sector y poder hacer aceptable lo antes inaceptable.

Según esta premisa, por ejemplo, cuando Donald Trumphabla de los países “agujeros de mierda” o traza lazos entre inmigración y crimen, eso le vale como paso previo para que el público no rechace sus medidas migratorias.

Una de las formas más gráficas

de percibir el desplazamiento de esta ventana hacia posiciones más extremas puede verse en la televisión estadounidense, donde algunos debates entre progresistas y conservadores han pasado a ser entre conservadores y conservadores pro Trump.

Entre los factores que influyen en esta aceptación de lo inaceptable se encuentran la desinformación, las apelaciones a las emociones, los errores y la lógica, según destaca el Centro Mackinac, cuyo difunto vicepresidente Joseph Overton desarrolló esta teoría.

“Trump es un maestro empujando hacia los límites en una gran cantidad de políticas públicas y aspectos de preocupación pública entre republicanos y conservadores”, explicó Brian Harrison, experto en Ciencias Políticas estadounidenses de la Universidad de Northwestern, en Illinois.

El doctor citó a la opinión de los conservadores sobre el líder ruso, Vladimir Putin, como uno de los ejemplos más claros donde se percibe cómo Trump ha modificado los márgenes de aceptación, en este caso hablando en términos positivos sobre el presidente.

De este modo, según una serie de sondeos YouGov recogida por el medio Vox, el porcentaje

“América Latina lleva muchas décadas acumulando un déficit de crecimiento”, dijo Santiago Levy, vicepresidente de Sectores y Conocimiento del BID. Levy afirmó que “la estabilidad macroeconómica es un buen punto de partida para lograr que la economía avance. Pero para crecer más vigorosamente, necesitamos invertir más y más productivamente, y atacar los cuellos de botella que limitan el crecimiento”.

“América Latina y el Caribe decididamente necesitan más inversiones, especialmente en infraestructura. La tasa de inversión promedio del período comprendido entre 1990 y el 2017 fue 17 por ciento del PIB, por debajo del 26 por ciento correspondiente a Asia Emergente”, específicó.

El informe consignó que “en México y Perú, por ejemplo, el 95 por ciento de las empresas tiene menos de cinco empleados. En los Estados Unidos, esa cifra es del 40 por ciento”.

“En México, las firmas parecen dejar de crecer tras 10 años y las empresas productivas son tan propensas a abandonar el mercado como aquellas que son improductivas”, se puntualizó.

Los países “deberían revisar sus políticas impositivas y laborales para garantizar la competitividad que otorga un campo de juego equilibrado en el que puedan prosperar empresas más productivas”, afirmó Eduardo Cavallo, un economista líder del BID y coautor del informe.

de republicanos que tenían una visión favorable o muy favorable sobre el jefe del Kremlin pasó del 8 por ciento en diciembre del 2014 a ser del 37 por ciento justo después de las elecciones presidenciales del 2016.

Según Harrison, esta práctica es “relativamente común” entre presidentes para cambiar la opinión entre los partidarios de su formación, “pero quizá no en el mismo grado en el que Trump la está utilizando”.

También lo cree así Steven Schier, profesor de Ciencias Políticas en la Carleton College de Minesota, quien enfatizó que otros mandatarios ejercen esta vía, pero “nunca de la forma en la que Trump lo hace”.

“Normalmente los presidentes lo hacen de una forma más gradual y medida, como es el caso de (Barack) Obama, pero Trump es temerario, abrupto y a veces vulgar a la hora de hacerlo”, aseguró el académico, quien cree que nadie además del propio Trump tiene el poder de guiar estratégicamente su retórica.

luces, pero esta corrección hizo que muchos se preguntaran cuándo llegará la próxima recesión global y cuáles son los síntomas que podrían anticiparla.

En ese contexto, el término “sincronía”, entendido como la interconexión entre las economías del planeta, se oye cada vez más.

“Cada vez que se ha producido una crisis, hemos visto períodos de sincronía de los ciclos económicos”, le explica a BBC Mundo el economista Lorenzo Ductor, investigador de la Universidad Middlesex de Londres, en Reino Unido.

Utilizando un sofisticado sistema de mediciones, Ductor y Danilo Leiva-León (investigador del Banco Central Español), detectaron que existe un aumento significativo y gradual en la sincronización de los ciclos económicos.

“Ya hemos experimentado el principal riesgo de una estructura financiera unificada con la crisis de 2008. Hoy las grandes empresas, los bancos y las instituciones financieras están altamente interconectados y los shocksque afectan a una

a la estabilidad de la economía mundial”, agrega.

“Sincronización extrema” Es justamente la sincronía de los ciclos económicos la onda expansiva que aumenta el riesgo de contagio de la recesión de un país a los demás.

“La economía se ha vuelto más global en la propagación macroeconómica de la volatilidad, Por lo tanto, la próxima recesión global podría afectar a una mayor cantidad de países”, comenta Ductor.

“Yo creo que podría ser peor que la crisis de 2008 en el corto plazo, porque habría más factores para propagar la recesión de un país a otro. Pero también tengo la impresión que gracias a ciertas medidas que se tomaron en 2014, como la capitalización de los bancos, tardaríamos menos años en recuperarnos”.

“Pienso que la recuperación de una recesión global será más rápida y, por lo tanto, menos severa”, señala el experto.

En la medida en que las economías están más interconectadas por la integración financiera, la mayor apertura comercial y las políticas fiscales (como la deuda de los países), el riesgo de contagio de una recesión aumenta.

“Observamos diariamente que hay una sincronización extrema; lo que ocurre un día en EE.UU. se propaga inmediatamente al resto de los mercados”, dice Ductor.

“Lo difícil es diseñar políticas óptimas que amplifiquen los efectos positivos de la apertura comercial y, al mismo tiempo, prevengan los efectos negativos de mercados altamente interrelacionados”, concluye.

1 APR

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

Bishop Wright’s

Easter Message, 2018

John 20:16-17 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’

She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” The joy, peace and hope contained in the Easter event cannot be fully appreciated without first

taking serious note of what happened in the week leading to that glorious day.

The Passion of our Lord, culminating in his crucifixion, is what helps to make his resurrection from the dead to be such a powerful reality. Jesus’ passion consisted of his own inner struggle to conform his will to that of the Father; betrayal and denial by his closest friends; ingratitude from the very masses he once healed and fed; a sinister collaboration between parties who were once sworn enemies now willing to be ‘friends’; the physical agony of the cross itself; and, ultimately, a sense of abandonment by God himself. From within and without, Jesus suffered in a manner few of us could tolerate without absolutely falling apart from the get-go.

So, for a moment, just imagine the depths of despair to which those who chose to follow him must have reached. Their world was utterly turned up-side-down.

Like him, they too were having struggles within and without questioning their decision to leave all and follow him; and now having to live with the consequences of that decision, which could very well be a similar fate to his.

Then comes the resurrection morning and the experience of that day set in motion a sequence of events that would ultimately change the world for ever. Cowardly individuals would become brave to the point of sacrificing their lives for the Lord; barriers of language, culture, ethnicity, race, and social standing would be diminished and even erased in some instances. No small wonder then that the Church has looked back at the cross of Jesus and saw there an act that qualifies to be what satisfied the penalty for the sins of the whole world.

There is a saying we repeat often. It says: “no crown without a cross”. This is so true of life. The message of Easter is one that

does not shy away from this fact but instead embraces it fully - elevating suffering to a new level and giving it meaning and purpose.

Through the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, we must now have a new attitude toward our own suffering as we look for its redemptive value.

For those of us going through difficulties at the present, there is a word of encouragement for us not to lose heart but to press on forward. The many families struggling to make ends meet; the confusing world many of our youth live in on a daily basis; those who suffer from the effects of crime and violence; the many things that vex our world near and far, are all mysteriously wrapped up in the Passion of our Lord as we see him journey to the cross.

Our ‘week of passion’ and our ‘Good Friday’ [a reference to the struggles of this life] can also have its ‘Easter Morn’ when what once looked hopeless and disastrous has been turned into what now signals new life, new possibilities and a new hope. May the joy, peace, love and hope that is Easter reign in your hearts and lives now and always. May God’s richest blessings be yours.

In Christ, Bishop Philip Wright

VACANCY

FOR PARALEGAL/LEGAL SECRETARY Qualifications and Experience: · · · ·

Legal Secretary with at least two years experience in legal work.

Over five year’s relevant experience will be an asset.

Experience in Intellectual Property (IP) would be an asset Computer literate, Proficiency in MS Office software and the ability to learn and acquire expertise in new software and applications required

· Knowledge of Spanish would be an asset

Duties:

· Assists attorneys in all litigation functions including those ranging from routine to complex nature; · Prepares and files documents with courts; · Researches and analyzes statutes, judicial decisions and legal codes for attorneys’ use; · Interacts with various Government departments for documents and information · Indexes and file court documents and depositions for record keeping purposes; · Monitors and tracks attorneys caseloads to ensure effective case management · Enters data and cases into electronic database systems for case management purposes; · Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal with the ability to work with all levels of management and employees · Ability to handle issues with a high degree of confidentiality and accuracy

Salary: Negotiable and dependent on experience and qualifications.

Interested candidates must be a highly motivated team player with initiative, flexibility and excellent communication skills. Must have the ability to organize workload with particular attention to detail.

Should be able to operate in a busy environmental and meet deadline.

Closing Date: April 5, 2018 Please send your resume and the names of at least two sources of reference to: Manager P. O. Box 80 Belize City, BELIZE Or Email: managerlaw2014@gmail.com

Opening Hours: Thursday March 29, 2018 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Closed: Friday March 30, 2018 & Monday April 2, 2018 Reopens: Tuesday April 3, 2018 Regular Hours 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Management and Staff of Home Protector Insurance Company Limited Wishes all our valuable customers A Happy and Safe Easter!

20

THE BELIZE TIMES

Victimization in the West Monday, 26 March 2018 Early this morning, employees from the San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Council including the father of Mayor Earl Trapp descended on a well-known business establishment in Santa Elena Town. The Town Council’s employees informed that they were there to carry out an ‘inspection’ of the premises. In an obvious effort to victimize the proprietors, they took pictures of the business. According to reports, on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, Alberto Kevin Palma (son of the owner of the establishment) had a vehicle parked in the front of his home when Town Council employees were chopping along the area and stones flung onto the windshield caused it to be cracked up.

The owner of the car immediately contacted the Town Council in an effort to have them take responsibility for the incident.

However, Town Administrator Karen Fernandez informed that the Council will be investigating the incident and asked them to provide an estimate for the damages. The family told the Belize Times that when the estimate was handed in to the Council, UDP operative and mouthpiece Deyanie Hyde hurled insults at Palma in front of many employees inside the building. After being provided with the estimate, the Town Administrator was adamant that the Council will not be taking any responsibility for the incident and if anyone should be responsible it would be the workers of the council.

The family run business is owned by well-known community activists. They believe that the Town Council has refused to pay for the damages and is now seeking to victimize them because of their political preferences. Palma says that it is only fair for the Council to compensate them for the damages done to the vehicle: “We want them to pay for the damages on the vehicle. Their guys were chopping and the stones cracked up the

Earl Trapp windshield. The Police were called and they took photos of the grass and dirt on the vehicle. It seems as if the Town Council wants to continue to give us the runaround. First a Councillor called and said that it would have been dealt with. But the Town Administrator said that the guys told her that they were far from the vehicle. They are trying to say that it is not them. Now, they are sending people here to come inspect and inspect for what? Everything here is paid up to date. I am a law-abiding citizen that contributes to this community.”

The family says that they are highly disappointed in Mayor Earl Trapp, who has always said that he will treat everyone fairly despite political preferences.

It seems that Trapp has been too long in collusion with all the rotten potatoes, that he too has become just another one of them.

He pretends to be different but is really just mocking the people of the Twin Towns who trusted in his leadership. What different can we expect though? He is a UDP, he belongs to the party of evil victimization, exploitation and suppressing of our people and businesses.

It is widely believed that governments both local and central are empowered to lead the path for entrepreneurs and businesses to grow so that they in turn can provide jobs to the residents. The fact is though that the present administration is hell- bent on taking out their frustration of failure on any and everyone who stands up for their rights. Their legacy and success remain in the amount of money in their personal ‘coffers’ that they have plundered from the public purse.

There have been no efforts by the Mayor or his council to compensate the family as yet.

1 APR

2018

Double Disaster for Belize

By Gilroy Usher Sr. Following the steep upsurge in murders last week, thousands of Belizeans are displeased with the reappointment of John Saldivar as Minister of Police despite the Danny Mason saga. Our people are also displeased that a foreign company, Apex, was given a sweetheart deal of over $800,000 yearly to manage the newly built Civic Center in Belize City.

Because the Prime Minister said the optics were bad, and it was a blatant conflict of interest, Saldivar was removed as Minister of Police after his best friend, business partner and conman Danny Mason was charged in November 2016 for masterminding the beheading of Pastor Lewellyn Lucas. Shortly after Mason was imprisoned on the charge of murder, a number of persons came forward including a Mennonite businessman and informed the Police that they were the victims of kidnapping and extortion orchestrated by the conman. Mason was able to engage in those outrageous activities, prior to the beheading of Pastor Lucas because he was untouchable by the law when Saldivar served as Minister of Police. That is probably why the Minister’s name is always brought up in any discussion about Mason’s activities in the country.

It is therefore a major conflict of interest to return Saldivar as the boss of those law enforcement officers who will have to give testimony in Court against his best friend and business partner.

Furthermore, during Saldivar’s first year as Minister of Police, the country experienced one of its worst periods in crime with a record high 145 murders. Saldivar is therefore certainly not the best person to lead the fight to end the deadly and unceasing gun violence in the country, particularly in Belize City.

On Saturday night, March 24, within sight of the overpriced Civic Center, fans including myself enjoyed exciting semi-pro basketball at the Belize Elementary School (BES) auditorium despite the limitations of the facility. There is insufficient seating, overcrowding at a little makeshift bar, poor visibility of the scoreboard, inadequate barrier with the use of a long

rope to keep the fans off the court and lack of opportunity to purchase food once inside the venue. This is the reality with semi-pro basketball in the Jewel.

Why do we have to suffer these inconveniences to have a semi-pro basketball tournament in Belize City, the commercial capital of our country? Three months after the Civic was declared open, our basketball players and fans still can’t access the facility.

The administration has literally sold out the Civic Center with a management contract that is a sweetheart deal for its cronies at home and abroad.

We, the Belizean people, will have to repay every penny of the huge loan for the Civic, but each year we will only be allowed a mere 1,000 hours or 1 1/2 months of free time in the facility. Beyond that 1,000 hours, which cannot be during primetime, we will have to “pay through our noses” to enjoy any event at the sporting venue which G.O.B. claims is for the Belizean people. To break even, the Civic has to earn at least $18,000.00 weekly. That’s a tall order for our country with a small population and competing venues for events. It is therefore clear that due to the high price that will be charged to enter the stadium for any activity, most of the year ordinary Belizeans will only be able to stare at the fancy sporting venue and imagine the fun within its walls.

The return of John Saldivar as Minister of Police and the control of the Civic by cronies of the government at home and abroad are without a doubt a double disaster for this country.

A happy, safe and blessed Easter to all Belizeans and visitors to our land.

1 APR

2018

THE BELIZE TIMES

21

NORTHERN FISHERMEN CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD. Telephone: 224-4488, 224-4460 Fax: 501-223-0978 49 North Front Street P.O. Box 647 Belize City, Belize C.A.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

John 11:25-26

The Management and Staff of Northern Fishermen wish all Belizeans a

Happy and Blessed Easter!

22

THE BELIZE TIMES

1 APR

2018

DID GOVERNMENT REALLY ANALYZE HOW TAXES ON FARMERS COULD HURT BELIZEANS’ POCKETS? “I have always said there is only one thing that can bring our nation down: our dependence on foreign countries for food and energy. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy”.

–John Salazar– Agriculture is a vital sector of our society capable of reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth. Government must provide affordable finance to enable farmers to acquire the necessary infrastructure to promote agricultural production. In order to increase sustained production, the Ministry of Agriculture has the great mission to provide financial and technical assistance to farmers countrywide.

The new tax measures proposed for Belizean farmers, before GOB backtracked, were very disappointing specifically the proposal to remove GST exemptions for broad categories of land clearing, crop dusting, aerial spraying of crops, spraying using tractors and farm equipment on the ground, harvesting of crops and hauling. This would have a very serious and negative impact on agricultural production, which has already struggled in recent years.

These measures would result in increased cost of production for farmers, and would make it difficult for farmers to remain competitive in international markets. This measure would have been a step backwards since most farmers don’t own their own equipment/machineries and rely on larger producers to provide these services for them. It also should be noted that most of our small farmers are not registered with GST and are ineligible to claim refunds because they do not fall into the bracket for registration.

Since these measures would increase the rate of inflation and the cost of living, the farmers would undoubtedly have to pass on the cost to the consumer just to turn a meager profit. The farmers asked the Government to work with them in finding solutions and considering other incentives to promote the development of the productive sector - fortunately a solution was found, at least temporarily.

The new tax policies proposed in the 2018/2019 budget were a major blow to farmers

countrywide by introducing crippling taxes. Farmers producing food items such as rice, corn and beans for the local market, soybeans and sorghum for animal feed, and cattle farmers would all be subjected to this 12.5% increase. Export crops such as citrus, banana, papaya and sugarcane could also be affected by this tax and would not be able to qualify for exports exemption.

Farmers in Belize already have to deal with extremely high fuel taxes, high rates of duties for imported materials, high labor and credit cost and a difficult local environmental policy. Furthermore, this new proposed tax was proposed at a time when farmers are trying to recover from crop losses during 2 years of bad weather.

Most countries in the

world exempt their farmers from harmful taxes in an attempt to keep food prices low and affordable to the “normal people”. First world countries go further by subsidizing farmers, particularly those who produce basic food crops and important agricultural exports.

Instead of promoting better and sustainable practices in agriculture, fostering social and economic development, our Government tried to punish our farmers with more taxes.

It is unacceptable, it is unfair; it is an injustice to the farmers and to the Belizean people in general.

Over the past few years, the agricultural sector in Belize has experienced a series of setbacks, particularly in the citrus, papaya and banana industries.

At times when the entire world in taking measures to increase productiv-

ity in agriculture, we take measures to kill it.

It is what it is!!! But agricultural productivity has again stagnated after the Green Revolution. Agricultural yields are now languishing around the world.

Improving of agricultural productivity requires more than just focusing on high yields, but also a combination of machines, chemicals, labor and other inputs. The absence of financial incentives by government programs is detrimental for agricultural productivity. By assisting farmers, government will prevent soil erosion, land and water pollution and land degradation.

According to the World Bank website, increased land use to increase productivity will not be a feasible option for farmers, as this will bring on negative environmental and social costs, such as deforestation and loss of biodiversity. To produce more without using more land, farmers can intensify the productive capacity of their existing land assisted by adequate government programs and strategies.

While the technology may exist to increase agricultural productivity, farmers have to keep updated about agricultural developments by seeking training through their local agricultural extension programs. Government-sponsored extension services provide information on crop and livestock management practices and reduce the lag time between the development of new technologies and their adoption. Farmers must be directly assisted by local government about their specific production problems.

It’s government’s responsibility to increase agricultural productivity and farmers’ revenues in an environmentally sustainable manner. The successful growth of agriculture is only achievable by stimulating rural sector, providing support and incentives, while emphasizing diversification of economic activities to increase and stabilize rural incomes.

It is Government’s primary responsibility to develop the necessary training programs that contribute to higher value of crop production. It’s demonstrated that education increases farmers’ incomes.

PUP Party Leader Hon. John Briceño clearly stated that: “This is a stupid idea that the Prime Minister came with when he is trying to tax the farmers.” We must add that any person that takes such actions is clearly not capable and does not have the intelligence and innovation necessary to move our country forward.

The reality is that Belizeans would pay more for our vegetables and farm food. Fortunately for us Government backtracked from this idea and rejected the proposed taxes after many of complaints from opposition, Chamber of Commerce and other institutions.

You can reach your own conclusions.

God bless Belize.

Dr. Pedro Villegas.

1 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

23

REAL Good Governance Reform!

Changing the Status Quo For the People’s United Party to restore the people’s confidence in any government after three terms of an abusive, corrupt and incompetent UDP, it must be serious about good governance reform. The Barrow administration has been the worst in history, allowing no REAL oversight and giving UDP Ministers powers which led to gross irregularities and abuses of process and people. The new People’s United Party government will do things differently. We will give power back to the people of the country who will elect us to represent them.

We WILL: PUT POLITICS AND MINISTERIAL POWER IN THEIR PROPER PLACES: We will immediately strengthen the Integrity Commission, providing the necessary funds for its Secretariat to fulfil its important legal, auditing and investigative roles free from any undue political influence.

Monitor the conduct and performance of Government Ministers and all elected officials in public life to ensure their “honourable” exercise of duties and responsibilities, and to prevent any behavior that can bring disrepute and shame to our nation, to our government and/or to our Party. Such embarrassing behavior will lead to their immediate expulsion from the Cabinet.

If a Minister is found breaking the law he/she will be subjected to the legal process and will face the consequences like any other person, including jail time. The rule of law means nothing if the laws do not apply equally to all.

We will limit the subjective authority of Ministers by removing the discretionary powers and reducing the need for letters from Ministers for everything. Presently, letters from Ministers are needed for recruitment to the Police and the Belize Defense Force, a hitherto unheard of thing. Public officers will be made to do their job, without fear or favour, and punishment will be swift for incompetence and/or corruption.

WE WILL: STRENGTHEN CHECKS AND BALANCES: We will reconstitute the Public Accounts Committee for the effective participation of the Social Partners in the Senate so as to ensure its proper role in overseeing the sound and prudent management of public revenues and expenditures approved in the Budget.

We will strengthen the capacities, allocate the appropriate resources and ensure the autonomy of the offices of the Auditor General, the Contractor General, the Ombudsman, and the Integrity Commission to better fulfil their technical mandates and provide the appropriate support to the oversight responsibilities of the Public Accounts Committee and other oversight committees.

WE WILL ENABLE: An EMPOWERED LEGISLATURE: The PUP will improve legislative governance by providing greater oversight by the National Assembly with respect to the work of the House Committees. We WILL establish Standing Senate Committees that will have the authority to conduct inquiries into any and all matters with a view to advancing the cause of nation-building.

WE WILL RESTORE: EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT PUBLIC SERVICE: We will take immediate steps to restore the autonomy of the Public Service (establish clear boundaries between the political directorate and the public service) and Public Service Commission to re-establish integrity and impartiality in the recruiting, training, evaluating and disciplining processes, and

We will introduce the necessary legislation with appropriate measures to protect whistle blowers and witnesses involved in corruption cases and to increase the penalties for acts of corruption and public authority abuses.

The PUP will revert to having Permanent Secretaries (Senior Career Public Officers) as the accounting officers of the specific Ministry/ Ministries.

WE WILL CREATE A: SEPARATION OF POWERS: All Judges and Magistrates of the Court will be employed with security of tenure. The PUP will establish sound systems and good practices for recruitment of all officers of the Court and will hold them responsible for the efficient administration of justice and to ensure the separation of powers of the state as clearly stipulated in the Constitution: Cease and desist from the public badgering and coercing of the judiciary by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet The Director of Public Prosecution will also be given security of tenure and the Department of Public Prosecution will be given the necessary resources to ensure that it complements the work of the Police to increase the rate of successful prosecution, particularly in murder cases WE WILL DELIVER: ELECTION REFORM: Within the first year of office we will present legislation to regulate campaign spending. We will also propose and enact legislation to limit campaigning up to the day before elections.

On Election Day all campaigning, paraphernalia, advertising etc. will not be allowed as it is done in other Caribbean countries.

We will insist, by any means necessary, that the UDP Government comply with the rule of law and conduct nationwide re-registration in 2017. The recent findings of 700 pages of unadulterated corruption in the Immigration Department lay bare for all to see the untold numbers of foreigners who received Belizean nationality by fraudulent means with the consequence being that these new fraudsters can and do vote in municipal and general elections, deciding for Belizeans who should be their government.

Implement a fixed date for general elections similar to that of municipal elections Implement a transparent redistricting exercise, free from any appearance of political manipulation, with the goal being a fair representation of the public Introduce campaign financing legislation Introduce an independent Elections & Boundaries Commission that shall be free from political interference with a Chairman who is appointed in a similar fashion as the DPP and Auditor-General, so he or she can be autonomous and free from the perception of governmental control.

I, John Briceño, as head of the next Government along with my Cabinet and together with the National Legislature, pledge to lead this transformation, motivated by the will of the people. In this noble path, we are guided by the philosophy of our Founding Father, the Right Hon. George Price, whose dynamic concept of a Peaceful, Constructive Revolution empowers us to confidently chart this way forward to a better future for all Belizeans.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

1 APR

2018