VOICE OF THE COMMON MAN “BOLEDO” RETURNS TO BELIZEANS

By Hilly Bennett

Yesterday April 26, through a Government press release, it was announced that the Lotteries Committee has decided to revoke the exclusive license held by Brads Gaming Group Limited ( BGGL) to administer the National Lottery. Revelation has revealed that additional violations, to those reported prior, have been identified. One of the steps to terminating a contract is for breach. BGGL have been cited for material and substantial breaches of the conditions of the exclusive license and regulations of the Lotteries Act. Seemingly, Brads has capitulated, but wants to claim damages for the revocation of the contract. Dean Barrow, Attorney-at-law said Kim Chee, Managing Director for BGGL will not be seeking to have the license restored. However, Barrow indicated that Chee intends to claim damages for the termination of the contract.

The Boledo and Sunday Lottery, historically, has been conjoined to the hips of the Belizean masses, mostly the disadvantaged lot, hoping to collect at the end of the proverbial rainbow. The games were siphoned away from government's control, by the stroke of the Red Piper's pen, the John Crow UDP Government, and the Minister of Economic Development, into the clutches of private management.

The Belize Times broke the story on March of 2009 that Anwar, the Prince of Bel-Air, son of "Ah me King Dean" had joined forces with Brads and they were gifted the monopoly of the Boledo. An appointed six-man "kangaroo" Lotteries Tender Committee made the egregious recommendations and opened the political spigot of the UDPs. Many Belizeans considered the awarding of the contract to Brads and his thunderously ‘silent’ partner as the epitome of cronyism and corruption. The entitled political pimps, UDP Cabinet Ministers and gutter-snipers flaunted, cavorted with the donor of the UDP’s gravy train at #2 Farmer’s Market at the foothills of Belcan Bridge.

The People’s United Party held a virtual press conference on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 led by then Party Leader in opposition John Briceño accompanied by Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat and the PUP Legal Advisor, Eamon Courtenay. Shocking revelations were made regarding shady money transfers that were made to companies believed to be owned or connected to the financial interest of Anwar Barrow and the cloudy deposits of over $7,000,000 to a bank account. Curiously, the license to operate, dated June 26, 2020, was deemed to take effect on April 1, 2020. Hence, the commencement date was backdated. John Briceño vouched to investigate the Bradsledo contract upon taking over the office of Government.

Prior to the privatization of the Boledo and Sunday Lottery licenses generated some $107,975.00 and sale of books was $899,257.04. Thereafter, the contract committed to $2 million per year. In a farcical press release the UDP stated that the main objectives for the privatiza- tion were to increase efficiency in which the Lottery was administered and to work towards the elimination of unregulated and illegal sales of the Lottery. Contrarily, Brads ran the system roughshod with no transparency, accountability and violated many terms of the contract.

Now, just at the start of 2023 it was revealed that The Lotteries Committee through the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit signed by the Chairperson Narda Garcia issued notice to the Managing Director of Brads Faming Group Ltd Kim Lee of a myriad of violations tantamount

5 FEB 2023 to breach of the Government Lotteries Exclusive License 2020-2030. BGGL failed to remedy the alleged breaches, notwithstanding they were highlighted in Claim NO. 262 of 2022 - Brads Gaming Group Ltd v John Briceño & Anor. Consequently, the Lotteries Committee notified Brads of the intent to consider revocation of BGGL's license. BGGL must respond to the allegations on or before the 16th day of January 2023.

Belizeans across the Jewel have been clamoring for the re-nationalization of the Boledo and Sunday Lottery and placing it in the proper context. Boledo should serve the Belizean masses first and foremost and not the interest of the politically connected ‘Barrowcudas’ of the past. At the sitting of Parliament Cordel Hyde had urged Barrow to do the right thing and rescind the Brads contract. Seemingly, greedy maths or fool- ish maths misguided the imbeciles in the UDP. Information revealed that Brads and friends were raking in between 22 million and 30 million in profits per year. Considering the life of the contract those profits amounted to about 270 million dollars. Only a government of dunces(or closeted thieves) would forego that kind of money. This money could have gone to the masses hoping for a life-changing opportunity. The hopes and dreams are fast becoming a reality. This reality was guided by the decision of the Lotteries Committee to bring the contract to its end. Let the Boledo revenues be directed in the development of the people most in need.

The “Boledo” is back in the hands of the people of Belize, a mandate of PlanBelize.

The Belize Times

No more Brads Whappy or Brads Gabella. This time the People Wins.

Request For Expression Of Interest

The US Government-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has selected Belize as one of only two countries in the world for a five-year government to government grant to fund a program aimed at reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth.

The Government of Belize (GOB) through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment, have contracted a team of individual consultants to form a Compact Development Team in Belize that will work together with a U.S.-based MCC Team to conduct a diagnosis of the constraints to economic growth, prepare concept notes, develop project proposals, and plan for project implementation.

The Belize Compact Development Team will be led by a National Coordinator who will manage the team, engage key stakeholders across all sectors, and bear responsibility for the overall performance and work quality of the team. The Finance and Administration Director will be a member of BCDT and will work closely with the Program Coordinator and other members of the BCDT as well as the MCC team to lead the finance, informational technology, security and administrative unit and is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day management of the BCDT budget and ensuring the BCDT’s fiduciary integrity and financial health are based on the MCC’s Financial Guidelines.

Vacant Post

1. Financial Director

Remuneration: Competitive salary and benefits are offered, commensurate with academic level, work experience and other relevant strengths of the winning candidate. Kindly follow the below link for further details.

https://med.gov.bz/

Interested candidates are requested to submit ONE PDF File that shall include: a) Letter of Interest indicating the post being applied for; b) the curriculum vitae, c) copies of university degrees, and d) the names of 3 references.

Subsequently the top 3 applicants for the post will be interviewed.

Deadline for application is 12th May at 4:00pm. Application can be sent via email to: econdev@med.gov.bz or hand delivered to the address indicated below:

Chief Executive Officer

Ministry of Economic Development

Sir Edney Cain Building Ground Floor, Right Wing

Belmopan City, Belize C.A.

Any request for clarification should be sent via email no later than 8th May 2023. Responses will be provided within three days.