Belize Times April 5, 2020- Country Lockdown

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

5 APRIL 2020 | ISSUE NO: 5192

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.biz | $1.00

COUNTRY LOCKDOWN Peyrefitte Puzzled-Country Confused Thursday, 02 April 2020 It is crystal clear from what we’ve seen so far that those making decisions in the Government of Belize are not the brightest bulbs in the tool-shed. After Minister of Confusion and Everything Mike Peyrefitte made another appearance on Ask the Experts Thursday afternoon, Belizeans were left, as usual, with more questions than answers. At a time when engines must be running on all cylinders, Peyrefitte and his boss, Dean Oliver, seem stuck in first gear.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Brad’s Gaming Company had gotten an extension of three months to operate during the State of Emergency. Not even twelve hours later, it was announced that Boledo/ Lottery would be suspended for the duration of the SOE. On Wednesday, it was announced that hardware

THE COVID-19 UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF PROGRAM

stores would remain open during the SOE. By Thursday, it was announced that hardware stores would need to be closed down.

The situation is much the same for essential workers. On Wednesday, the Government Press Office reached out to the media and to the general public to ask them to submit names for passes which would allow persons to be out during curfew hours, performing essential services. But even as companies prepared to submit names, the Minister of Confusion announced today that nobody would be allowed out during curfew hours and that companies would need to re-adjust their employees’ schedules so that nobody is out at that time.

One day after talking about passes,

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IN THE COVID-19 MAYHEM, TWO SHOOTINGS Pg. 2

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STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF BELIZE

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BE SAFE: Do NOT Leave Home Unnecessarily

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5 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

COUNTRY LOCKDOWN

Continued from page 1 Peyrefitte makes it clear that no passes will be handed out anytime soon.

The situation has gotten to the point that in any one week, the Prime Minister will say one thing, Dr. Manzanero will say another thing and Minister Mike Peyrefitte will say a completely different thing. Nobody seems to know what’s happening, and that confusion is being transmitted to those on the ground. One person says it is okay to exercise, while another says it is not okay to exercise and you will be hauled in by Police. On Wednesday stores like Mirab and Simon Quan were told that they could stay open, and by Thursday they were told that if they didn’t close down, they would be violating the law.

The Belize Times notes that all Belizeans are prepared to do whatever is necessary to avoid a real outbreak of COVID-19 in Belize. And those who are not, must be dealt with by the law. But the law must be clear. And it most certainly is not. As one Facebook user watching the latest episode of Ask the Experts stated – “it seems most of the times that these guys are making up these rules on the spot.”

We call on the Leader of the Opposition and all right-thinking members of the Oversight Committee to take over the reins during this crisis. Clearly the Prime Minister, long past his prime and oversupplied on pain medication is unable to make the tough decisions and chart a clear way forward. And even clearer is the fact that the Minister of Confusion may be a big, big fellow, but he’s not big on smarts – just a whole bunch of hot air and bluster. At a time like this, more than any other, the nation demands clear, coherent thinking and a clear plan to get through the weeks ahead. This bunch isn’t getting it done. Not by a long shot.

STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF BELIZE On the afternoon of March 30, Prime Minister Barrow declared that Belize will be on a State of Emergency as of midnight April 1st. The announcement of a 3rd case testing positive for COVID-19 triggered the new normal.

Additional impetus to the announcement of the SoE was that the afflicted is right in the center of Belize City reportedly very close to downtown but later this was unconfirmed.

The Prime Minister announced that the Health investigation revealed a verified claim from patient number 3 that he was isolated since he returned from the New York in the United States. Coincidentally he is also 38 years old like the Ambergris Caye patient number 1.

The Prime Ministers video presentation can be seen all over social media and it was nevertheless devoid of details. As he is wont to say, that is where most of the devils are…in the detais.

Here are some other important details from the video presentation and details on the 30 Day-State of Emergen-

cy.

1. Some Belizeans have not been taking social distancing seriously.

2. NATIONWIDE State of Emergency effective midnight this past April 1, to curtail any possible COVID-19 spread in Belize.

3. Curfew from 8pm to 5am every day(the AG has confirmed that in these first days practically everyone should be home as we have no outbreak as yet.)

4. People should stay at home ALL day UNLESS they need to get supplies or do other absolutely essential things 5. The two-day notice(Mon to Wed) was to enable people time to do whatever they need to do such as gathering food and other critical supplies.

6.

Banks will remain open(special hours) and cargo will continue to come into Belize as normal(with COVID-19 screening) 7. PM reaffirms that Belize’s food supply is secure and that health supplies are also well stocked 8. Disbursements start this week for Belizeans who will be receiving economic aid

2020

IN THE COVID-19 MAYHEM, TWO SHOOTINGS Belize seems to be immune to the idea of staying at home and be calm. In the past two days, there has been a shooting with a pellet gun and another with a ‘real’ gun. Both resulted in the death of young men.

The first occurred on Tuesday night of March 31 in Corozal where Rafael Sansores (20) and friends accidentally got the named shot on the chest. He was quickly taken to the Northern Regional Hospital but did not survive the pellet that most feel could never

be fatal.

The second occurred on Thursday morning in Ladyville. He has been identified as a Haitian national named Raymond Cherestal (57). Police were called to a residence at the end of Milpa Street at 6:30am where the body was lying face-up with what appeared to be a gunshot wound.

This one has lots more to investigate.

It is our hope as most Belizeans take heed that everyone’s lives are at stake at the moment. NO ONE is bigger than Belize and the world. Justice will prevail.

9. Food Assistance Program to be expanded to rural areas 10. Media-only Press Conference at the Leng Building was held to followup: • State of Emergency goes into effect THURSDAY at 12:00am • From 8pm - 5am, EVERYTHING will be closed, NO ONE can be on the streets • No loitering, wandering, assembling or moving at any public place or on any public roads • If you are found moving, police can stop and question you. If you lack a good justification (to be listed below), you can be arrested and charged • You can only move during the day (5am - 8pm) to purchase essential needs, to get medical attention, or if you are an essential worker (Security Guards, Agriculture or Factory Workers, for example) • Essential Workers who can work during curfew and daytime hours: Government workers, medical, public utilities, social workers, sanitation workers, productive sectors (agriculture and potable water), Statutory bodies, State-run bodies) • Businesses that can operate from 5am - 7pm: Public transportation, Fuel stations, bakeries and tortilla factories, milling factories, port operations, farm operations, restaurants (takeout only), meat shops, • Businesses that can operate from 8am - 7pm financial institutions, markets, wholesalers and retailers, hotels(not for clients), mechanic shops, hardware stores, pharmacies. If you are not one of those businesses, you CANNOT OPEN AT ALL DURING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY • All Ports of Entries remain

CLOSED • Any Belizean who enter Belize during this time will be placed at a Quarantine Center for the duration of their required quarantine (likely 14 days) One of the criticisms to all this is that the goal posts change every time there is a Ask the Experts session. The changes might be warranted but if one misses one second of one of the shows he/she could find themselves misinformed. The policemen out there might be equally uninformed.

At the present time, this is literally life and death being grappled with. People need to heed to the overall: STAY at HOME as much as possible.

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

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

Fay Castillo EDITOR

José Jiménez

LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By TIMES NEWSPAPER LTD. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

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5 APR

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

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EDITORIAL

“It’s the End of the World as we know it….”

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ere we are at the cusp of what we knew as our normal and the abyss of the unknown future and what it holds for us. Belizeans are resilient for sure and we will endure and rebuild from scratch if we must.

News from around the world confirms that this latest global pandemic has caused a shift in the core values of the world. Italians throwing their money on the streets in perhaps the ultimate display, to the world, that declares money and its pursuit futile in the fight against death and disease. We are all in this together. We live or perish as a society, because make no mistake about it, our actions and inactions have repercussions on the community where we live. The important issues for everyone now are food security, the availability of adequate shelter and healthcare, but not necessarily in that order.

It has been some time since we had written concerning the issues of food security. Not many things have changed, this new budget had allocated 2.22% of the national budget to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration. In their plans there is no allocation for strengthening Agriculture Trade and Food Safety, then again they did not allocate any monies last year either. As it pertains to Support to farmers (Disaster Risk Recovery) only $25,000 was spent last year, however that figure was doubled to $50,000 this year and is still woefully inadequate in light of the continued drought we face. Water Management and Climate Change merited just $80,000 this year after last year’s fiasco as it was believed $25,795 could have ameliorated the devastation lack of water caused to crops.

Finally, Support to Nutrition Security came onto their radar as budget increased to 96,000 this year from the pitiful $25,928 allocated last year.

It may surprise our readers to realize that the new approved budget for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development was assigned a paltry 0.14% of the entire budget. Housing Development and Construction is budgeted to spend just $66,415 this fiscal year up from $46,412 last year. Obviously there is no help there for the many homeless in Belize that have nowhere to go during this quarantine. These indeed are Belize’s forgotten brothers and sisters, this is the sector of our society most vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. Yet this government has promised the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation only 1.28% of the National Budget. It would seem that they will not put the money where their mouth is. It is easy to claim love for the masses while they budget no monies for the food pantry programs in Toledo and Stann Creek, even as the same program spends 3.5M in the city. There is no money allocated for the Good Samaritan Homeless Shelter, however there is an allocation for Mother’s Day appreciation in the amount of $20,000.

How prepared is NEMO to deal with this disaster? It seems that Hon. Castro is very quiet, and has good reason to be, considering he is a walking disaster. Last year he allocated just $10,500 to the National Fire Services. This year he gave them zilch! However he is consistent, he allocated nothing for buildings or repairs last year and this year he did the same. He has never in the last five years allocated for any fire hydrants. He slashed the budget for hurricane preparedness by about 32%.

The Ministry of Health uses 11.49% or almost 150M of the entire National Budget. However most of the budget is allocated to salaries and personal emoluments. Just over 18M are proposed for the procurement of medical supplies and $13,865 are to be used for lab supplies while test equipment doubled from last year to $35,592. With the buildings in the national healthcare system full of rodents, serpents and other wildlife creatures the maintenance for buildings allocation has been reduced to just $74,400 this fiscal year. In fact the ministry allocates close to 6M for primary care, 59.5M for hospital service and 1.2M for community based service. Just about half of the monies go to employment contracts and staff. The budget for operations is too heavy, presumably from the bloated payroll and contracts to keep all the cronies happy. There is no serious investment in buildings, supplies, or medication. Canada which has among the top three healthcare systems in the world spends 11.5% of their GDP on health. Belize spends about 5.6% and Cuba who is one of the leaders in health systems in this region allocates 11.7% of its GDP to healthcare.

Many things have come into focus, as perspectives have changed. The importance of food security and food production must now come to the forefront. Agriculture must be given the importance and accompanying resource allocation to permit diversification and increased crop production. Health must focus on primary health and the cultivation of a healthy population. We must invest in equipment, medication and buildings. Finally we must seriously address homelessness and poverty in Belize. The lip service many pay is not enough. The callous display seemingly to glorify poverty on television, makes a mockery of the real situation some people live in, because it is done from the comfort of the luxury they can afford. All must be done in the interest of Belize and her people. It is time to shut down the lotteries, the luxury department stores, these are not essential. We must all sacrifice for the glory and wellbeing of the Motherland! Long Live Belize!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

EDITORIAL

5 APR

2020

en Español

“Es El Fin del Mundo Como Lo Conocemos.”

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quí estamos en la cúspide de lo que sabíamos cómo normal y el abismo del futuro desconocido y lo que nos reserva. Sin duda, los beliceños son resistentes y soportaremos y reconstruiremos desde cero si es necesario. Las noticias de todo el mundo confirman que esta última pandemia mundial ha provocado un cambio en los valores fundamentales del mundo. Los italianos tirando su dinero en las calles en tal vez el último despliegue, al mundo, que declara al dinero y su búsqueda, inútiles en la lucha contra la muerte y la enfermedad. Estamos todos juntos en esto. Vivimos o perecemos como sociedad, y no nos equivoquemos al respecto, nuestras acciones e inacciones tienen repercusiones en la comunidad donde vivimos. Las cuestiones importantes para todos ahora son la seguridad alimentaria, la disponibilidad de una vivienda adecuada y atención sanitaria, pero no necesariamente en ese orden.

Ha pasado algún tiempo desde que escribimos sobre las cuestiones de la seguridad alimentaria. No han cambiado muchas cosas, este nuevo presupuesto había asignado el 2,22 % del presupuesto nacional al Ministerio de Alimentación, Agricultura, Pesca, Medio Ambiente, Desarrollo Sostenible e Inmigración. En sus planes no hay ninguna asignación para fortalecer el comercio agrícola y la seguridad alimentaria, pero entonces tampoco asignaron dinero el año pasado. En lo que respecta al apoyo a los agricultores (recuperación del riesgo de desastres) sólo se gastaron 25.000 dólares el año pasado, pero esa cifra se duplicó a 50.000 dólares este año y sigue siendo lamentablemente insuficiente a la luz de la sequía constante que enfrentamos. La gestión del agua y el cambio climático merecieron sólo $80,000 este año después del fiasco del año pasado, ya que se creía que $25,795 podrían haber mejorado la devastación por falta de agua causada a los cultivos. Finalmente, Apoyo para la Seguridad Nutricional llegó a su radar a medida que el presupuesto aumentó a 96.000 este año de los lastimosos 25.928 dólares asignados el año pasado.

Puede sorprender a nuestros lectores darse cuenta de que al nuevo presupuesto aprobado para el Ministerio de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano se le asignó un insignificante 0,14% de todo el presupuesto. Desarrollo y Construcción de Viviendas está presupuestada para gastar sólo $ 66.415 este año fiscal a partir de $ 46.412 el año pasado. Obviamente no hay ayuda allí para la gente sin hogar en Belice que no tienen a dónde ir durante esta cuarentena. Estos son los hermanos y hermanas olvidadas de Belice, este es el sector de nuestra sociedad más vulnerable a la propagación de COVID-19. Sin embargo, este gobierno ha prometido al Ministerio de Desarrollo Humano, Transformación Social y Alivio de la Pobreza sólo el 1,28% del presupuesto nacional. Parece que no pondrán el dinero donde está su boca. Es fácil reclamar amor por las masas mientras que no presupuestan dinero para los programas de despensa de alimentos en Toledo y Stann Creek, mientras el mismo programa gasta 3.5M en la ciudad. No se ha asignado dinero para el Albergue para Personas Sin Hogar del Buen Samaritano, pero se ha asignado una suma de 20.000 dólares para festejos del Día de la Madre. ¿Qué tan preparado esta NEMO para hacer frente a este desastre? Parece que el Honorable Castro es muy lento, y tiene buenas razones para estarlo, considerando que es un desastre andante. El año pasado asignó sólo 10.500 dólares a los Servicios Nacionales de Bomberos. ¡Este año no les dio nada de nada! Sin embargo, es consistente, no asignó nada para edificios ni reparaciones el año pasado y este año hizo lo mismo. En los últimos cinco años nunca ha asignado para hidrantes de incendios. Ha recortado el presupuesto para preparativos para huracanes en un 32%.

El Ministerio de Salud utiliza el 11,49% o casi 150M de todo el presupuesto nacional. Sin embargo, la mayor parte del presupuesto se destina a sueldos y emolumentos personales. Se proponen poco más de 18 millones para la adquisición de suministros médicos y 13.865 dólares para suministros de laboratorio, mientras que para equipo para pruebas se duplicó de 35.592 dólares el año pasado. Con los edificios en el sistema nacional de salud lleno de roedores, las serpientes y otras criaturas silvestres el mantenimiento para los edificios asignación se ha reducido a sólo $ 74.400 este año fiscal. De hecho, el ministerio asigna cerca de 6M para la atención primaria, 59,5M para el servicio hospitalario y 1,2M para el servicio comunitario. Casi la mitad del dinero se destina a contratos de empleo y personal. El presupuesto para las operaciones es demasiado pesado, presumiblemente de la nómina inflada y los contratos para mantener a todos los compinches felices. No hay ninguna inversión sería en edificios, suministros ni medicamentos. Canadá que cuenta entre los tres principales sistemas de salud del mundo, gasta el 11,5% de su PIB en salud. Belice gasta alrededor del 5,6% y Cuba, que es uno de los líderes en sistemas de salud en esta región, destina el 11,7% de su PIB a la salud.

Se han puesto de relieve muchas cosas, ya que las perspectivas han cambiado. La importancia de la seguridad alimentaria y la producción de alimentos deben pasar ahora a primer plano. Se debe dar a la agricultura la importancia y la asignación de los recursos que la acompañan para permitir la diversificación y el aumento de la producción agrícola. La salud debe centrarse en la salud primaria y en el cultivo de una población sana. Debemos invertir en equipo, medicamentos e instituciones sanitarias. Por último, debemos abordar seriamente el problema de la falta de vivienda y la pobreza en Belice. La retórica con la que muchos pagan no es suficiente. La demostración insensible aparentemente para glorificar la pobreza en la televisión hace una burla de la situación real en que algunas personas viven, porque se hace desde la comodidad del lujo que pueden permitirse. Todo debe hacerse en interés de Belice y de su pueblo. Es hora de cerrar las loterías, los grandes almacenes de lujo, estos no son esenciales. Todos debemos sacrificarnos por la gloria y el bienestar de la Patria. ¡Viva Belice!

5 APR

2020

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THE BELIZE TIMES

BELLY of the

BEAST

Give thanks The Belize Times gives thanks to the Almighty for sparing the nation so far. It is nothing short of miraculous that we have, at least up to now, escaped the ravages and mass deaths visited upon so many countries, even the mighty USA which continues to suffer from hundreds of deaths each day. We give thanks too to the Police Officers, BDF, Coast Guard, medical personnel and all others who are working on the front line doing everything in their power to halt the spread of the dreaded COVID-19. We hope and pray that God continues to watch over all of us. But remember that we need to do our part.

Stay home, practice good hygiene and minimize contact with others. That’s it – for your sake and for all our sakes.

Never forget While we’re toning down the politics while we work together to save our country from a health crisis nobody could have envisaged, we at the Belize Times feel it necessary to point out that all investigation into the death of four soldiers of the BDF seems to have been halted. Belizeans were and are far from satisfied with the rubbish we have been spoon fed, and while we MUST sit and wait for some return of normalcy, we demand the truth and justice for those who lost their lives in an unprecedented disaster in the BDF. Heads must roll, if not now…then when this COVID-19 mess is done with.

And in case you were wondering, we haven’t forgotten our crooked friends in the UDP – John Saldivar who seems to love being cozy with scum – sort of a birds of a feather scenario – and who is supposed to be the subject of an investigation into allegations of corruption and taking money for political favours. The people will sit and wait for now, but we WILL NOT FORGET. Oversupply We listened to Mr. Barrow keenly this week, and we’re almost sure we heard him say that when it comes to the war against COVID-19, the only problem he can see medical professionals facing is an oversupply of equipment. We’ve long known that the old man has gotten feeble and frail and is delusional more often than not, but that comment shocked us. Keep in mind that our health system has been on life support for years. Keep in mind that nurses were threatening to go on strike long before COVID-19 reared its ugly head. Hell, the other day somebody was on Facebook asking if anybody would donate large Coke plastic bottles so they could make face-protectors to use while treating persons believed to be infected. None of this is news to us.

We know all this. Belizeans have died because of the chronic neglect of our health system by the UDP. And now the old Barrow wants us to believe that we are fully prepared for a virus that is defeating wealthy, sophisticated, and developed countries. We hope – really hope that we don’t get the chance to see you regret those words, Mr. Barrow. We think you should just shut up and sit the hell down. Leave this thing to the experts. We’re grateful that the PUP leader, good guy that he is, put politics aside and jumped in to help. Better you let him deal with this one. Your days are long past.

WANTED It is only in Belize that a man wanted for crimes in the US, a man who occupies a prominent position on a list of WANTED fugitives, can proudly sit on the panel of a national talk-show pretending that he has any credibility – all because his brother is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and can give him protection from Uncle Sam…at least for the time being. A little bird told us that when the PUP gets into power, Uncle Sam will be back to pick up a package that flew the coop when he was being sought for medical fraud and racketeering in the US. Dr. Errol Elrington should perhaps be aware that only under the UDP has he been able to walk around a completely free man. But elections are coming soon, and then all kinds of things are going to change. Just wait for it.

Where’s the beef?

Here’s an interesting thing. Week after week since this COVID-19 thing started affecting Belize, the Prime Minister has talked about all this money that is available. Millions and millions and millions. Apparently, all sorts of people are lining up to give us all this money. According to Barrow, many millions are already in hand. Yet, curiously, nobody who is unemployed because of COVID-19 has been able to get one red cent. We heard the money was going to be available this week, and now we’re hearing next week.

Next week will make four weeks since the tourism industry crashed and left thousands of Belizeans without the means to survive. This thing is dead serious. No time for lies or games. People need help.

NOTICE Almar Group Limited IBC # 118,024 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, notice is hereby given that Almar Group Limited: a) Is in dissolution b) Commenced dissolution on the 27th day of March, 2020; and c) John Christopher Sherwen of Cotmans Ash Farmhouse, Cotmans Ash Lane, Kensing, Sevenoaks Kent, TN 15 6QR, U.K. is the Liquidator of the Company.

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent

NOTICE OPTIMA DEVELOPMENT LIMITED IBC #97,5994 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, notice is hereby given that OPTIMA DEVELOPMENT LIMITED has been dissolved as at 25th March, 2020 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent

NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC On December 15, 2019, the General Assembly of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge “Belize” of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Belize, Central America, overwhelmingly voted to remove the Respectful Symbolic Lodge Ambergris Caye Masonic Lodge No.5 of San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Belize and all its Present and Future Members as a “REGULAR” Lodge under its Jurisdiction. Therefore, as of the date specified they are an “IRREGULAR LODGE” and do not represent or belong to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge “BELIZE”.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

5 APR

2020

QUESTIONS TO THE MINISTERS

1. Where is the Minister of Transport? Should he not be invited to go on Love to explain to Belizeans what is happening with the nation’s Transportation System? Then again, maybe it’s best that he not show up, after all, it would only further expose his ignorance?

2.Will the Minister of Local Government please inform the people of the villages if any provisions are being put in place to assist Village Councils to manage the crisis in their villages?

3.Considering the financial crisis that the entire nation of Belize is facing, will the Prime Minister please inform the nation if he intends to reduce the government’s fuel tax?

4.Considering that the PM has taken a 100 percent reduction in salary, will he not insist that all CEO’s, Ambassadors and Heads of Department not take a 20 percent cut across the board including salaries, and allowances.

5.Stay Safe Belize, practice social distance and love one another.

Until Further Notice: Due to State of Emergency The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Queen’s Square Division is scheduled for Friday, April 3, 2020. This is subject to change as we monitor the developments associated with COVID 19.

CARTOON

5 APR

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES Party Leader National Address On COVID-19

Belizeans: as a nation we are facing the greatest crisis of our lifetime. The COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic poses a serious threat not only to our lives, but also to our livelihoods.

Because to date there is no vaccine or pill, no known cure, drastic measures had to be taken. These measures were necessary and based on advice from our experts. For now, what we know is that the best defense we have is if we all practice social distancing and we all practice good personal hygiene.

Yes some of the measures announced by the government are hard, they not only force us to stay at home and to keep away from people we love, they are keeping our children out of school and it is limiting our ability to go to the market, to go to church, to visit a sick relative and even to comfort our friends in times of grief.

It is not easy but as I said before, we must do all these things to protect each other, it’s ironic isn’t it, in essence we are doing all this out of love.

Now I know these are tough measures, not only on families, but also on businesses. Many businesses, especially small businesses are not earning any income. Some business owners have been forced to lay off workers and they now join the thousands in the tourism and services sector who are trying to figure out how they will meet their expenses. The farmers who toil the rich Belizean soil are also seriously affected by this dark economic reality.

For this reason, I have urged the Prime Minister to ensure that we provide unemployment relief as well as relief on utility payments. We are working with the banks to see how we can postpone loan payments, lower interest rates and implement other creative measures to help to ease the financial pain on employers but more importantly on employees. Let me assure you that as long as I remain a part of this team I will do everything possible to ensure that everyone who needs assistance for food will get that assistance, but for this to happen we will all need to be unselfish and care about each other.

Many Belizeans have been working tirelessly in this great national effort to protect Belize and Belizeans. In doing so, many have risked their personal health and well-being. Our nation is eternally thankful for the sacrifice and service to help to ensure our safety. I thank especially the healthcare workers, our nurses, our doctors, lab technicians, medical assistants and all other frontline workers. Let me assure you that we will ensure that you have the necessary equipment and support you need to perform your tasks.

I offer thanks to the security forces who strive to make us safe, the teachers who continue to teach our children in new and different ways, and to all who work quietly behind the scenes to alleviate suffering and minimize risk.

We are all indebted to you for your selfless service. I also thank the generous persons and organizations who have already stepped up to make donations so that we can have the necessary equipment and personnel to get through this catastrophe.

Finally I applaud and express our gratitude to the government and people of Cuba for always being there for us.

Belizeans, the days ahead will not be easy, but I remain optimistic because I know that it is always in difficult times that the resolve of the indomitable Belizean spirit comes to the fore. Working together we can save lives and put our economy back on track in the shortest possible time.

I believe that our mission is clear. Whilst our highest priority today is our collective health and safety, we must look to the future. We must design a bold and revolutionary recovery plan. We will need thousands of jobs, massive investments in health care facilities, equipment and personnel. Employing new technology to make distance learning a part of the new normal. And we must shift more resources to meet the basic human needs of our people.

We will recover, we will renew our national soul and spirt, Belize will rise again! Of this I am certain. A friend always tells me: God is good all the time.

I agree. This is why I encourage all our church leaders to use social media to continue to provide spiritual guidance.

For it is in this hope and with the guidance of our Creator that we must keep going, convinced that our best days are indeed ahead of us.

07 7 Compañeros Beliceños

La pandemia del COVID-19 o Coronavirus representa una amenaza seria no sólo para nuestras vidas, sino también para nuestra supervivencia.

Hasta la fecha no hay cura conocida, ninguna vacuna ni píldora que podamos tomar para hacer que desaparezca.

Estas medidas son necesarias y están basadas en los consejos de los expertos médicos. Por ahora, lo que sabemos es que la única defensa que tenemos es practicar el distanciamiento social y hacer algunos cambios dramáticos y practicar una buena higiene personal.

Sí, algunas de las medidas anunciadas por el gobierno son difíciles, no sólo nos obligan a quedarnos en casa y a mantenernos alejados de las personas que amamos, también debemos mantener a nuestros hijos fuera de la escuela y además, estamos limitados en nuestra capacidad de ir al mercado, ir a la iglesia, ir a visitar a un pariente enfermo e incluso ir a consolar a nuestros amigos en tiempos de dolor. No es fácil, pero como dije antes, debemos hacer todas estas cosas para protegernos unos a otros, es irónico, ¿no? En esencia estamos haciendo todo esto por amor.

Estoy consciente que se trata de medidas difíciles, no sólo para las familias, sino también para las empresas, especialmente nuestras pequeñas empresas que por ahora pueden no estar obteniendo ningún ingreso. Algunos dueños de pequeñas empresas ya han despedido a los trabajadores y ahora se unen a los miles del sector turístico que están tratando de ver cómo van a hacer frente a sus gastos. Los agricultores que trabajan la tierra también han sido seriamente afectados por esta obscura realidad económica.

Por esta razón, he trabajado con el Primer Ministro para pedir que se ayude a los desempleados, que así se les ayude a pagar los servicios públicos como la electricidad y el agua. Estamos trabajando con los bancos para ver cómo podemos posponer los pagos de préstamos, bajar las tasas de interés y hacer todo lo posible para ayudar a aliviar el dolor financiero no sólo a los patrones, sino también en los empleados.

Muchos beliceños han estado trabajando arduamente en este esfuerzo nacional para proteger Belice y a los beliceños. Y en este proceso muchos han arriesgado su salud y bienestar.

Nuestra nación esta eternamente agradecida por el sacrificio y servicio para asegurar nuestra seguridad. Agradezco especialmente a los médicos, enfermeras, técnicos de laboratorio, asistentes médicos y a todos los demás trabajadores de primera línea que están haciendo la preparación necesaria para que podamos estar listos.

Le doy las gracias a las fuerzas de seguridad que se esfuerzan para mantenernos seguros, los maestros que siguen educando a los niños con métodos nuevos y diferentes y a todos que laboran entre bastidores para aliviar el sufrimiento y minimizar el riesgo.

También me uno a dar las gracias a todas las personas y organizaciones generosas que ya han dado un paso adelante para hacer donaciones para que podamos tener el equipo y el personal necesarios para superar esta crisis lo mejor que podamos. Finalmente aplaudo y le doy gracias al pueblo de Cuba por su apoyo incondicional.

Beliceños, los días venideros no serán fáciles, pero sigo siendo optimista porque sé que siempre en estos tiempos difíciles la determinación del espíritu indómito beliceño se demuestra. Trabajando juntos podemos salvar vidas y poner nuestra economía de nuevo en marcha en el menor tiempo posible.

Estoy convencido que nuestra misión es clara.

Mientras nuestra mas alta prioridad hoy es la salud y seguridad colectiva, debemos de ver hacia el futuro. Debemos de diseñar un plan de recuperación que sea audaz y revolucionario.

Vamos a necesitar miles de empleos, inversiones masivas en instituciones de salud, equipamiento y personal. Usando tecnología para poder hacer del aprendizaje a distancia una nueva norma. Y debemos de asignar mas recursos para las necesidades básicas de nuestro pueblo. Nos vamos a reponer, vamos a renovar nuestro espirito y alma nacional….Belice vencerá! De esto estoy convencido.

Un amigo siempre me dice: Dios es bueno todo el tiempo. Estoy de acuerdo y es por eso que animo a todos nuestros líderes de las iglesias a usar las redes sociales para continuar proporcionando guía espiritual. Porque es con esta esperanza y con la guía de nuestro Creador que debemos seguir adelante, convencidos de que nuestros mejores días están por delante.

8 08 8 Beverly Williams Stealthiness

THE BELIZE TIMES

The representative of Belize Rural North who seconds as Minister of Immigration to the ex-leader of the United Democratic Party who postures as Prime Minister slivers almost under the radar getting involved in many a shady deal; Nonetheless, she is a great example of a normal deplorable UDP; a party that has exhausted its mandate years ago and is a rogue government.

Beverly Williams the 2nd Deputy Leader of said party and millionth in line to its leadership sits on the back bench and finds a way to desecrate even that. Backbenchers are deemed to be a thorn on the side of the front-benchers but not this Bev. She has felt solitaire back there. She has slouched. At the March 5, 2020 meeting she gnawed at gum squeezing out every bit of life from the inanimate rubber.

Why isn’t she beside Hugo Patt? She IS the second in the party? Patt was sworn in whilst Saldivar was thrown out to the be hung by anyone that wished and Beverly was kept in the back bench to chew. The UDP higher ups give her little or no respect; all they intended was to officially show Patrick that he is persona non grata in the UDP. The ‘lil’ shouting at the UDP headquarters is about as much as Patrick will get to leadership.

But I digress… Beverly Williams has been involved in a conundrum of issues which itemizing is best for those who browse the paper; their

eye will catch it. Each time she has to pirouette out of the situation which leaves her looking as guilty as John Saldivar. If you wish to search her infamy completely, remember that in March 2016 when she got immigration powers she wore the last name Castillo.

Here is the list of Williams own infamy and not so ministerial material: 1.

Williams vs Pickwoad Land Issue; even, involving Natural Resources 2.

Delegate Hernandez Fired over Vote 3. Case Of 21 Indian Students and their passport; court case 4. The Wallop Heard Around the World 5.

Inaction against Aldo Salazar as he dragged the immigration report 6.

In Ticket with John Saldivar(the poster boy) and Hugo Patt(newest land czar at the Hot Bevd of Corruption) 7. Lake I’s, Dianne Finnegan and her December Immigration partnership 8.

Group of 8, 1st Generation Belizeans and the Diaz Land Deal Number 8, is not publicized because the group of 8 wishes that it stays that way. But there are text messages, audio, videos, office stamped documents and witnesses galore. Beverly Williams at the other end of COVID-19 there will surface.

Only one person in the group is necessary to sink your Titanic.

Be Safe. Wash your hands.

Keep your distance.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICE: Notice is hereby given that Cynthia Aranda is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “CY’s Comfort Zone” located at Ramon’s Plaza, Ladyville Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

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2020

5 APR

2020

THE COVID-19 UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF PROGRAM

Belmopan. April 1, 2020. 3:35 p.m.

The co-chairs of the COVID-19 National Oversight Committee, the Rt Hon. Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, agreed on March 16, 2020, to establish the Economic Oversight Team (EOT) comprising Dr. Carla Barnett and Mr. Christopher Coye, to, among other things, oversee the establishment and operationalization of the Unemployment Relief Program.

The program will offer financial assistance to meet the needs of workers who, having been terminated or laid off, cannot earn all of their work income and are not eligible for another financial assistance program.

The program is guided by the need to ensure transparency and fairness in operations and proper accountability mechanisms.

Furthermore, the program is being developed under guidelines approved by the co-chairs, and with the support and collaboration of the Ministry of Finance, the Social Security Board, the Belize Tourism Board, Government’s Central Information Technology Office and the EOT, who have the following responsibilities: Ministry of Finance On behalf of the Government of Belize, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for providing the funds to the Program, which is being done through borrowing both locally through the Central Bank and internationally through relations with the International Financial Institutions (IFIs).

Social Security Board (SSB) As the paying agent, the SSB is responsible for making the payments to individuals, who are approved to receive unemployment relief, on behalf of the Government of Belize. The SSB is not the approver and will not be making payments from its own funds but from the funds provided by the Government of Belize.

Belize Tourism Board (BTB) The BTB will help to identify the persons who are employers and employees in the tourism industry so that they can be reached, verified for approval, and assisted as quickly as possible.

Central Information Technology Office (CITO) CITO is designing and implementing the e-Gov portal which will be the system used to manage the Unemployment Relief Program from application to approval to payments to the individual.

Economic Oversight Team (EOT) The EOT is overseeing the implementation of the Program, ensuring the collaboration among the agencies that are important to successful and quick implementation, and continuous oversight to prevent abuse by

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THE BELIZE TIMES

persons who are ineligible to receive payments from the Program.

Who can benefit from the COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Program?

The program offers financial relief to the following persons: 1. Employees and self-employed persons who have lost their jobs and income as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, particularly but not solely, the tourism sector will receive $150 every two weeks over a 12-week period.

2. Persons who would have been unemployed prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are now experiencing even more difficult circumstances, will receive $100 every two weeks over a 12-week period. These persons will also be referred to the Ministry of Human Development for consideration for further assistance through the social programs operated by that ministry.

Individuals who can benefit from the COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Program include: • Tour guides • Office Staff • Cleaners/Janitors/Room Attendants • Kitchen and Dining Room Staff • Bus/Van Drivers • Store clerks • Mechanics • Construction workers connected to tourism-related projects • Independent operators such as: o Freelance guides, o Vendors, o Hair braiders, o Entertainers o Fishermen o Taxi operators • Border point and free zone workers • Others which may be added Excluded Persons • Persons who are not Belizean nationals • Persons laid off in March 2020 by the Belize Tourism Board • Persons under 18 years of age • Persons receiving benefits from other government or social security programs How Long will the Relief payment be made and how?

• The temporary relief payments will be made every two weeks for a period of 12 weeks, unless the person becomes employed before the expiration of such period, at which time the payment would stop.

• Payment will be made by the Social Security Board, on behalf of the Government, di-

rectly into the bank account of the beneficiary or via a prepaid (or other pre-funded) card that can be topped up.

When does it start?

COVID19.bz • The application form will be online by April 3, 2020. A public announcement will be made once the form is available; • Once applications are received, the verification and approval process will immediately begin; • Verification is being automated so it should be a quick process; • Relief payments should commence in the week of April 6, 2020.

Steps for filing an application 1. Applicants will start by filling out the application form o You will be able to fill out the form online. o You will also be able to download a copy form to fill in by hand. o You will be able to pick up a hard copy at locations to be designated 2. All Applicants will be sent a notification by email or SMS that your application for financial assistance has been received. o If you ask for messages to be delivered by email, please make sure you input your email address correctly and check your spam folder if you do not see a reply in your inbox.

3. Once an application for Unemployment Relief is approved, payments will be made by direct deposit to your bank or credit union account or by a Top-Up Prepaid ATM Card.

Persons are strongly urged you to apply online as this method will result in the quickest response to your application. This is because your application will immediately enter the system for processing.

If, however, you do not have access to the internet, you can also apply by picking up a hard copy of the application form from the Labour Department or the Social Security Board offices in each district. As other locations are added, the public will be notified.

Kindly note that if you submit a hard copy of the application, the information will be entered manually into the processing system.

Furthermore, you will be asked to consent to your information being exchanged between ministries, agencies of the Government, your bank or credit union for verification and compliance purposes.

CALL

671-8385 or

EMAIL: belizetimesadvertisement@ yahoo.com

To place advertisement in the Belize Times Newspaper

10

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 APR

2020

PUBLIC ADVISORY Central Bank Announces Social Distancing Measures to Contain COVID-19 Belize City, 26 March 2020: Members of the public are hereby informed that the Central Bank of Belize will temporarily reduce physical access to the Central Bank compound, effective 26 March 2020. This measure will limit the number of persons within the main building to curb the spread of COVID-19.

TAKE NOTE: 

Persons exchanging damaged currency notes or delivering mail will be directed to a temporary structure located near the Bank’s entrance. A Central Bank employee will accept currency notes for processing. Mail should be deposited in the designated drop-box.



Persons applying for foreign exchange permits are asked to email scanned copies of their applications along with relevant documents to: 

currenttransactions@centralbank.org.bz or



capitaltransactions@centralbank.org.bz

Alternatively, application forms with contact information may be delivered to the Bank. There will be no in-person interviews. The Bank will notify applicants when these applications are processed. 

All other visitors to the Central Bank must adhere to the Bank’s COVID-19 screening measures before receiving permission to enter the premises. Otherwise, they may contact the Bank via telephone or email.

These measures will be in effect until further notice.

The Central Bank reiterates the messages from the Ministry of Health to limit social contact; avoid large crowds; and practice proper hand washing etiquette to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

To contact the Central Bank, please call 223-6194 or email communications@centralbank.org.bz.

-ENDS-

Issued by:The Governor Central Bank of Belize 1 Gabourel Lane Belize City, Belize T: +501.223-6194 E: inquiries@centralbank.org.bz W: www.centralbank.org.bz

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2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

11

One Vision…One People BILL OF RIGHTS The People’s United Party wants to share its vision with the Belizean people. It is rooted in a philosophy that goes back to the Father of our Nation the Right Hon. George Price. Mr. Price always believed ours was a work in progress; he led a revolution that is at its core peaceful, always constructive, progressive and uniquely Belizean.

These values remain true today and form a part of our PUP Creed. We are committed to the protection of our territorial sovereignty. We cannot, and will not risk even an inch of our beloved country, from the Rio Hondo to the Sarstoon. And we are committed to an accessible, fair and independent justice system and the rule of law in Belize.

The PUP will always seek to achieve social, economic and environmental justice. It is a commitment to the socio-economic improvement of all Belizeans. Our plan is to rid Belize of poverty. To the PUP, poverty is an ugly scar on our nation’s collective conscience, and no amount of cosmetic surgery can paste over the suffering of close to half of our people, most of them women and children, who live on less than ten dollars per day.

This is not only a task for governments. We all have a stake in this enterprise, but government must LEAD and bold leaders must show that they truly care. For us the task ahead is clear - to build a Belize that works for everyone, so that every Belizean should come to expect five things. This vision, this determination, has created what we call our BELIZEAN BILL OF RIGHTS. FIRST - Every Belizean should have access to a piece of land. With land we immediately create opportunities for upliftment and personal growth.

SECOND - Every Belizean should be able to own a decent home. The 17th Century Jurist and politician Edward Coke in speaking on human rights said: “A man’s home is his castle.” Every Belizean in 2017 should expect such an entitlement whether they live on Bocotora Street or on Seashore Drive.

THIRD - Every Belizean should be given the chance to go to school from pre-school to junior college. We have to make education free from pre-kinder to Junior College. If we will give our young people a chance at success, it must start with a good education.

FOURTH – Accessibility to quality basic health care is critical, which means every Belizean should be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program. If we can invest 42 million dollars in a basketball stadium, then we should be able to provide basic health services to all.

FIFTH and most important, the driving force behind it all is JOBS - good jobs that can lead to meaningful careers; jobs that will give Belizeans a chance for personal growth and prosperity and provide a hand up for those at the very bottom of the economic ladder.

If we do these things, if we create a fair and just society, if we build on these principles we will then be able to change people’s lives and together we will rid our shores of the scourge that is poverty.

12

Responding to the Budget 2020-2021 (Part 2) Contributed When we speak about the economy, we speak of placing as a national priority the rebuilding of the productive sector of Belize. A productive sector that has been left to flounder in the winds of uncertainty by this UDP government. This government has consistently thumped its chest about infrastructure. While we support targeted infrastructural development that is tied to a tangible economic outcome we disassociate ourselves from the Imer Hernandez infrastructure development model. And while we are mentioning the name of the UDP’s preferred contractor (if you are so generous to call him that), we want to remind him and his cohorts in the UDP government of the Odebrecht infrastructure scandal that engulfed many former politicians in Latin America and the results of the ensuing investigations. Please take heed!

The success or failure of the Belizean productive sector to a large extent determines the success of failure of Belize.

While tourism should occupy a prominent place in the Belizean economic tapestry, the current Covid-19 pandemic is a forceful reminder of the fragile nature of this industry. It also reinforces the reality that we must ensure that we have a vibrant productive not only as an important source of foreign exchange earnings, but also as a bastion of self-sufficiency through food security. We must appreciate and nurture our farmers and other participants in the productive sector. Unfortunately, all the productive sector has received from this government are words of consolation and promises. Since this government has come to power, we have seen an attrition of the country’s productive sector, and with this attrition has come a contraction in employment, yet we are slapped in the face with statistics that say only 10% of the workforce is unemployed. Well we who live in the real Belize know better.

Let’s look at the shrimp industry for example. At its heights it employed nearly 2,000 people directly. Today, we are looking at a little south of 300 people employed in this industry. What new jobs were created to engage these people who were displaced by the contraction in this industry?

The only mention made of this industry by the Prime Minister in his budget speech was that the industry continues to struggle with controlling the Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS). No mention of technical assistance, no mention of creating an investment fund to assist shrimp farmers to transition from the old large earthen pond technology to the small lined pond technology that has been tried and proven worldwide. Here we have an industry on life support, with limited to no access to financing and a government that has basically washed its hands. I know the PM will get up and say “we have created special provisions that allow the financial institutions to capitalize the interest charges for shrimp farmers, and extend the non-performing status of loans to shrimp farmers”.

But this is not enough! These provisions are merely a stay of execution, ultimately the farms still owe the financial institutions and will have to pay. To compound this fact, they are not generating the revenues necessary to reinvest in the lined pond technology necessary for the survival and success of the industry. It takes approximately $65,000 to build and line a half acre pond, this pond can deliver double the

5 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

annual production as a traditional 10 acre earthen pond at a reduced operational cost.

What the industry needs is a capital injection to implement the new technology and to fast track the recovery. And you know what the sad part is?

This capital can be raised easily if the UDP government had the confidence in the industry and the creativity to look beyond traditional financing methods. The UDP has consistently sucked up the excess liquidity from the banking system using treasury bills and notes. Currently the government has $920 million in treasury bills and notes, almost $1 billion. 35% of this or $322 million is held by the commercial banks, while the central bank holds 41% or $377 million and other subscribers have $220 million.

Instead of the GOB vacuuming the excess liquidity from the banking system to use as bridge financing to prop up the government…the PUP proposes that these very same treasury bills and note facilities be harnessed to create a productive sector revolving fund to offer capital to the shrimp industry and other industries such as citrus and sugar that urgently require significant financial inputs to get out of survival mode, and back to the foreign currency and employment generators they once were.

These industries while in the doldrums currently, have a productive capacity that are waiting to be unleashed. Unfortunately, they are being bound by a government devoid of ideas and even more importantly devoid of the will to maximize their potential.

Of course this productive sector fund is not only for our traditional industries.

We must depart from the daydream that our productive sector will magically develop itself. No my fellow Belizeans, it will take work, and a government committed to private sector driven economic growth that creates equitable wealth and gives all our citizens an opportunity to share in the bounty that the jewel has to offer. We will extend the proceeds of this fund to other areas of the productive sector such as; hemp, organic cacao, organic vanilla, cattle farming. Unlike those on the other side we are serious about developing the productive sector of Belize and moving it to the point where we control significant portions of the product value chain here in Belize, instead of continuing the mistake of exporting raw products as we have done continually since colonial times.

The Belizean public will recall the PM trumpeting the coming of this great hemp revolution to Belize in his Independence Day speech last year. Well here we are no closer to realizing that potential of a robust hemp cultivation and processing industry. Why? Lack of vision, lack capital, lack of commitment and most importantly, lack of leadership.

The hemp is already a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide, and is positioned for an even greater boom. We need to make the financing available not only for hemp cultivation, but for processing of hemp into products such as oils, fabric, food for human consumption, animal feeds and the hundreds of other applications this versatile crop can be used for. But it painfully obvious that this will never materialize under this UDP government. As I mentioned before, all the productive sector has gotten from the UDP is lip service, this is but one such example. It is time to stop the talk and to start to march of converting the Belizean potential to Belizean prosperity.

2020

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Companies listed below have been dissolved and duly struck off the IBC Register as follows: NAME OF COMPANY

VICCO INVEST & TRADE INC. PRIVANA FINANCIAL CORP. DIAMOND MARITIME CO., LTD. Nightstar Holdings, Inc.

Date of Dissolution

18th February, 2020 18th February, 2020 27th February, 2020 28th February, 2020

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Ltd.

NOTICE OF COMMENCED DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given SUNMOON HOLDING LTD. commenced dissolution on 6th February 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Notice is hereby given SANBORE CAY SHIPPING & TRADE (BELIZE) LTD. commenced dissolution on 24th February, 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Notice is hereby given DOCKER GROUP FINANCIAL CORP. commenced dissolution on 3rd March, 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Limited

NOTICE OF COMMENCED DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given VISTA FINANCE CORP. and SUMMER INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS INC. both commenced dissolution on 4th March, 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the companies.

Notice is hereby given ALISTON TRADING LTD. commenced dissolution on 5th March, 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Notice is hereby given LUMEX INTERNATIONAL CO. LIMITED commenced dissolution on 11th March, 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Limited

NOTICE OF COMMENCED DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given FRIMBEY BUSINESS INC. commenced dissolution on 13th March, 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Notice is hereby given EXPERTECH S.A. commenced dissolution on 16th March, 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Notice is hereby given NERAK HOLDINGS S.A. commenced dissolution on 17th March, 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Notice is hereby given ETERNAL FOUNTAIN, INC. commenced dissolution on 23rd March, 2020; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Limited

5 APR

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

working farmers who are at this moment in the field working so that even with the COVID-19 PanFIRST NOTICE demic every Belizean could still have food to eat.

Pursuant to Section 10 (3) of the Belize Mines and Minerals Act, Chapter 226, Substantive Laws of Belize, R While many ofVillage, us are Orange bunkered 2000 - 2003, Juan Martinez for Neuland Reinlaender Mennoniten Church of Shipyard Walk one where we depend more on our- was coming would you have called down in the safety of our homes C.A., has applied to the Honourable Minister of Natural Resources, through the Inspector of Mines, Min selves for our food. elections thefrom entire nation had to the with gallons Hand Sanitizers andChu Mining License to mine limestone andasmarl lands belonging Neuland Reinlaender Mennoniten Hon. Jose Mai, Representative for requested so many times? dozens of protective masks proin the Neuland area, Corozal District, Belize C.A. The area to be mined is bounded

by UTM co-ordinates: the Orange Walk South constituency, Jose Mai: tecting our family and loved ones, has been at the forefront of beating “We are grateful to the Health Easting these farmers are in the hot sun Northing at the government that we should workers on the front line working harvesting food for all to have.

1) 1996962 0370409 be planting and reaping more. to keep our people safe an alive!

God bless and keep our Beliz2) 1996915 0370677 In the budget debate of 2019, he But we also thank our hard ean farmers safe!!”

3) 1996061 0370369 famously admonished the gov4) 1996030 0370596 ernment that we need to loosen tourism’s grip on our economy. He The areas to be mined comprise approximately fifty-five (55) acres. went on to warn that a health crisis Pursuant to Section 10 (3) of the Belize Mines and Minerals Act, could topple Belize’s economy. BeChapter 226, Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000 – lize is hoping that at least we can SECOND NOTICE 2003, Juan Martinez for Nueland Reinlaender Mennoniten Church feed ourselves with the basics. But of Shipyard Village, Orange Walk District, Belize C.A., has applied to exporting, the fundamental force Pursuant to Section 10 (3) ofthe the Honourable Belize Mines Minister and Minerals Act, Chapter 226, Substantive Laws of Belize, R of Natural Resources, through the Inspecbehind robust 2000 economies, is not - 2003, Juan Martinez for Neuland Reinlaender Mennoniten Church of Shipyard Village, Orange tor of Mines, Mining Unit; for a Mining License to mine limestone Walk in Belize’s agricultural map at this C.A., has applied to the Honourable of Natural Resources, the Reinlaender Inspector of MenMines, Min and marlMinister from land belonging to thethrough Nueland point. All of Dean Barrow’s Mining Licensegrandito mine limestone and marl from lands belonging to the Neuland Reinlaender Mennoniten noniten Church and located in the Neuland area, Corozal District, Chu ose budget depended on Tourism in the Neuland area, Corozal District, Belize C.A. The area to be mined is bounded by UTM co-ordinates: Belize C.A. The area to be mined is bounded by UTM co-ordinates: dollars, directly or indirectly.

Barrow fumbled and didn’t reNorthing Easting cover from last year’s drought. He 1) 1996962 0370409 thought that he had one last bud2) 1996915 0370677 get in him. But COVID-19 had other 3) 1996061 0370369 plans. Ask, Dean this. If you, PM, 4) 1996030 0370596 would have known that coronavirus The area to be mined comprises approximately fifty-five The areas to be mined comprise approximately fifty-five (55) acres.

(55) acres.

AGRICULTURE IN BELIZE: WITH THE CORONAVIRUS LENS

THIRD NOTICE

As the days led towards the call for a state of emergency in Belize and now with a curfew, Belize was growing with anxiety. The huge doubt was on if the world will quit importing our food. There was a mad rush towards to the grocery stores. To be fair, that happened all over the world. People had only seen this in movies and never in the real. Sickness has killed many in a year but never as fast as with COVID-19; at least, we have never seen it.

In 2019, the climate around and in Belize dictated a drought season that is being felt economically in April 2020. Yes, now as the coronavirus looms over Belize it is adding to the already in-recession economy. Prime Minister Barrow claims that we have lost some 11 percent of our Gross Domestic Product but that sounds like wishful thinking. In the end, it will most likely be a greater trough than that. Already, our trade deficit is horribly slanted towards the imports. Maybe, the coronavirus will do something to shift the economy to

THIRD NOTICE

THIRD NOTICE

Pursuant to Section 10 (3) of the Belize Mines and Minerals Act, Chapter 226, Substantive Laws of Belize, R 2000 - 2003, Juan Martinez for Nueland Reinlaender Mennoniten Shipyard Village, Orange Pursuant to Section 10 (3) Church of the of Belize Mines and Min- Walk C.A., has applied to the Honourable Minister of Natural Resources, through the Inspector of Mines, Min erals Act, Chapter 226, Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Mining License to mine limestone and marl from lands belongingNOTICE to the Neuland Reinlaender Mennoniten Chu THIRD EditionBelize 2000C.A. – 2003, Juan for Shipyard Reinlaender in the Neuland area, Corozal District, The area to beMartinez mined is bounded

by UTM co-ordinates:

Mennoniten Church of Shipyard Village, Orange Walk District,

Pursuant to Section 10 (3) of the Belize andapplied Minerals Act,Honourable Chapter 226, Substantive Belize Mines C.A., has to the Minister of Natu- Law Northing Easting ral Resources, through the Inspector of Mines, Mining Unit; 2000 - 2003, Juan Martinez for Shipyard Reinlaender Church of Shipyard Village, O 1) Mennoniten 1996962 0370409 2) 1996915 0370677through for aMinister Mining License to mine limestone and marl land o C.A., has applied to the Honourable of Natural Resources, thefrom Inspector 3) 1996061 0370369 the Shipyard Reinlaender Mennoniten Mining License to mine limestonebelonging and marltofrom lands belonging to the ShipyardChurch Reinlaend 4)Shipyard 1996030area,0370596 and located in the Orange Walk District, Belize located in the Shipyard area, Orange Walk District, Belize C.A. The area to be mined is bounded b C.A. The area to be mined is bounded by UTM co-ordinates: The areas to be mined comprise approximately fifty-five (55) acres.

Northings 1.)1.) 1983089 1982841 1982870 1983870

Eastings 0324726 0324718 0325082 0325155

Northings 1983168 1983165 1983052 1983049

Eastings 0320875 0320952 0320874 0320944

2.)2.) 1983205 1983101 1983093 1983197

0324613 0324615 0324824 0324834

6.)

1982616 1982614 1982531 1982531

0321064 0321149 0321064 0321143

3.)3.) 1982749 1982653 1982738 1982665

0327022 0327013 0326966 0326665

7.)

1975524 1975510 1975431 1975424

0321455 0321761 0321455 0321753

4.)4.) 1984388 1984386 1984250 1984245

0325075 0325166 0325076 0325157

8.)

1975922 1975913 1975639 1975624

0321369 0321471 0321368 0321461

5.)

The areaforty-seven to be mined approximately forThe area to be mined comprises approximately (47)comprises acres. ty-seven (47) acres.

51 16

5 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES 2020

5 APR

5 APR

2020

2020

18 JAN

THE BELIZE TIMES 2015

TEAM 31 T E A M 31

BUILDING A BELIZE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE

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THE BELIZE TIMES

With the climate crisis and coronavirus bearing down on us, the age of disconnection is over

By Tim Hollo, TheGuardian We can no longer pretend that we’re separate from each other and from the natural world.

Everything is connected. It’s hard to imagine right now that, just weeks ago, the truism of ecological politics was treated as hippy nonsense by mainstream politics.

And, regardless of clear statements from scientists and strong advocacy by campaign groups, it looked like it would get away with it because, back then, we were still living in the age of disconnection when the environment and the economy could be seen as separate things, in competition with each other.

A pandemic, more than almost any other phenomenon, shows that all our lives are inextricably intertwined, for now and forever, whether we like it or not. It brings into sharp focus the impossibility of trying to keep economics, health, environment, education and social justice treated as separate questions with separate answers. It heightens awareness of our vital need, as social beings, to stay connected to each other as well as we possibly can while keeping our physical distance.

It shows how the “efficient”, on-demand world that capitalism has constructed is so incredibly fragile that a series of shocks can bring it to the point of collapse.

And with the rules of neoliberal economics being broken by governments the world over, it demonstrates that massive policy interventions, shifting the entire structure of the global economy, are possible.

With the complete focus right now on Covid-19, it takes an effort to cast our minds back to this summer’s bushfires. They were, of course, far larger and fiercer than ever before, over a season that started when we were barely out of winter. Where previously bushfires had affected a small number of people, this season the smoke blanketing Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, and the repeated evacuation of summer holiday spots, meant that most Australians were affected.

The true legacy of this summer could be a vital turning point in recognising that “the environment” isn’t something “over there”. The environment is the air we breathe and the water we drink; it’s the soil in which we grow our food; it’s the animals we identify with and the landscapes imprinted on our souls; the environment is us, all of us, together, integrally connected with everyone and everything else on this

beautiful blue marble floating in space.

Damage the environment and we damage ourselves. And not just some of us – all of us together. Continue to think in our compartmentalised, linear fashion, and we’ll keep missing what’s coming, be it weeks of smoke, runs on toilet paper, or deadly pandemics.

What started to become clear thanks to the fires was rammed home by Covid-19. We are only as healthy as the least healthy among us. Everything we do relies on extraordinary networks of activity by people we’ve never met, crisscrossing the globe.

And responding to a health crisis that was likely triggered in part by environmental destruction has world-changing impacts on the economy, on education, on social justice, on geopolitics.

The age of disconnection is over.

All this will, of course, be attacked as “green tape” and we have to be ready to actively defend it instead of changing the subject – and defend it on ecological grounds. Regulation is a vital part of the connective tissue which holds the body politic together.

Removing it sees us fall apart.

COVID-19 is, among other things, showing us the consequences of deregulating markets in health services, food supply and more.

The flip side of this systemic shift is to institute legal rights for the natural world. If BHP has legal rights, why shouldn’t the Great Barrier Reef? Rights of nature is an increasingly mature legal field, instituted from New Zealand to Bolivia, India to parts of the US. We can and should at least insert them as a normative principle in the goals of the EPBC. Over the past three months, a huge number of people made that conceptual leap. In recent weeks the crisis has become such that even mainstream politics finds it impossible to ignore.

At the same time, over this period numerous people decided to just get on with it, without waiting for government. In both bushfire response and the tremendous mutual aid response to Covid-19, millions of us are setting up local projects, or joining existing ones, that make life better, generate social cohesion, reduce our footprint, and cultivate an ethic of care – for ourselves, for each other, for the natural world we are part of.

All of a sudden, especially at a moment like this, change will come.

For the complete story go to theguardian.com.

5 APR

2020

5 APR

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

México declara la emergencia sanitaria y la suspensión de actividades hasta el 30 de abril

Por Elias Camaji, Elpais México declaró el lunes el estado de emergencia sanitaria por la Covid-19 y extendió la suspensión de actividades no esenciales en el sector público y privado hasta el próximo 30 de abril, 10 días más de lo previsto en días anteriores. Las medidas son de carácter imperativo, según fuentes oficiales, pero la forma en que se ha comunicado, apelando a la responsabilidad de los ciudadanos, como si fuese una sugerencia, ha generado mucha confusión. Las implicaciones y los pormenores del plan aún no están claros hasta que se publiquen en el Diario Oficial de la Federación, el boletín oficial del Gobierno, previsiblemente este martes por la mañana.

México registra ya 28 muertos y 1.094 casos confirmados de coronavirus, ocho decesos y 101 contagios más que el día anterior. Ante el aceleramiento de los contagios, el Gobierno ha decidido aplicar medidas más drásticas: ha restringido las reuniones de más de 50 asistentes y se exhorta a todas las personas en territorio mexicano a que se resguarden en sus casas ante la epidemia, con especial énfasis para la población mayor de 60 años, mujeres embarazadas y otros grupos de riesgo. Mientras que para las empresas las medidas se tornan obligatorias, para la movilidad de los ciudadanos es más flexible y de momento es “invitación enfática”, según fuentes oficiales.

La rueda de prensa en la que se han anunciado las medidas ha dejado como colofón un endurecimiento en el discurso gubernamental frente a la pandemia, pero también se han multiplicado las dudas sobre la puesta en marcha de estas medidas, más de un mes después del primer caso detectado y tres semanas después de que se “aceleró”, según lo dicho por las autoridades

sanitarias, la curva de contagio. No ha quedado claro aún quién estará afectado por las medidas; quién vigilará que se acaten; las sanciones para la población que no se ciña a los lineamientos ni las disposiciones que se tienen que coordinar con las autoridades estatales y municipales. Hasta el lunes, varios Gobiernos en los Estados del país habían decretado por su cuenta restricciones para escuelas, centros de reunión y negocios.

“Se declara la emergencia sanitaria por causas de fuerza mayor”, ha dicho el canciller, Marcelo Ebrard, tras leer un decreto en representación del presidente. Entre las siete nuevas medidas para reforzar el distanciamiento social se incluye también la postergación del censo poblacional, que arrancó el pasado 2 de marzo, y el regreso escalonado a las actividades.

El anuncio se ha producido tras una reunión del Consejo de Salubridad, un órgano colegiado que representa la máxima autoridad sanitaria y que depende directamente del Ejecutivo.

A la conferencia de prensa han acudido el secretario de Salud, Jorge Alcocer, y el portavoz gubernamental para la epidemia, Hugo López-Gatell.

También estuvo la titular de Gobernación (Interior), Olga Sánchez Cordero, así como Rafael Ojeda y Luis Crescencio Sandoval, jefes de la Marina y el Ejército, llamados a tener un papel protagónico en el plan de emergencia. Los representantes de las Fuerzas Armadas han adelantado un plan para reforzar la infraestructura sanitaria que depende del Ejército, así como apoyos para garantizar el abasto de comida de los sectores más vulnerables a la población y el resguardo de sitios estratégicos.

Los representantes de las Fuerzas Armadas han reconocido que aún necesitan de 10 días para alistar la infraestructura que depende de sus secretarías. No se han expuesto tampoco cifras claras sobre las adquisiciones de materiales y equi-

19

DOLLAR BREAD IN SAN PEDRO AND BELIZE CITY

Andre Perez, Standard Bearer for Belize Rural South, has again stepped up in a time of dire need.

He is founder and owner of the Casa Pan Dulce and is now offering a NEW pack bread for ONE 14oz Belize Dollar. It will be unsliced but it will make food a lot

po necesarias para afrontar la epidemia, aunque la Defensa ha anunciado un contrato para la compra de 1.330 ventiladores para unidades de terapia intensiva. El decreto ha girado instrucciones para más de una decena de secretarías de Estado, sin que eso suponga disposiciones concretas, más bien se trata de ejes temáticos de acciones que tienen que tomar bajo su competencia.

En la conferencia se ha dicho que las únicas actividades que se mantienen son las hospitalarias, las de seguridad, las de Justicia, y las labores legislativas. Ebrard ha afirmado que se contemplan sanciones administrativas e incluso que se finquen responsabilidades penales a quien no respete las medidas. También están previstas sanciones para empresas que no respeten las restricciones y los derechos laborales de sus empleados. “Vamos a tener un mes difícil, pero si no lo tenemos, quizá sea un año, es escoger lo que queremos hacer”, ha afirmado Ebrard.

“Estamos ya en una fase de ascenso, no debemos perder esta oportunidad de mitigar la transmisión”, ha dicho López-Gatell. El Gobierno espera que si la estrategia tiene éxito, su curva epidémica alcance su punto más alto a finales de mayo.

El escenario menos optimista es que si no se siguen las medidas de distanciamiento, los contagios lleguen al tope en abril. “Quédate en casa, quédate en casa, quédate en casa”, ha insistido el portavoz. “La declaración de emergencia no implica un estado de excepción”, ha recalcado López-Gatell.

more affordable in this time of need when unemployment is rampant and anxiety is at an all-time high.

Andre is the champion of the people during their time of need.

When Caye Caulker was left high and dry and without drinking water he was there to try to ease the pain. COVID-19 is a so much bigger monster so he and Belize City based La Popular have agreed to produce this Belizean staple for a dollar. One little inconvenience is that the bread would be unsliced and in a clear plastic bag.

They urge customers to practise social distancing, washing of hands and, in this time of State of Emergency, to buy their bread and quickly return home. These bakeries will be providing the service as much as ‘as per usual’ can be said.

El anuncio de esta noche marca un giro drástico en el discurso gubernamental para mitigar la propagación del virus. El presidente, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, ha adelantado que el próximo 5 de abril presentará una serie de medidas para reactivar la economía tras el colapso de los precios del petróleo y el valor del peso frente al dólar. Del plan se sabe que contempla un millón de créditos para las pequeñas empresas, tanto del sector informal como formal, aunque no se ha detallado el monto. Según lo adelantado por el mandatario, es posible que el programa también contemple nuevas medidas sanitarias.

México sigue siendo uno de los pocos países del continente, junto a Nicaragua, en el que no se han impuesto restricciones obligatorias de movilidad a la ciudadanía. López Obrador ha descartado que haya toques de queda o mayores atribuciones al Ejército, y su Gobierno ha optado por un enfoque gradual que pone en marcha acciones preventivas previendo que la etapa de contagios epidémicos llegue en los próximos días. La estrategia del país ha sido alabada por los representantes regionales e internacionales de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, aunque han instado a que se tomen medidas más estrictas cuando se agudice la propagación y a pesar de que cada día, los cuestionamientos de sectores críticos aumentan. Con el epicentro de la pandemia instalado en Estados Unidos desde el pasado fin de semana, la heterodoxia del Gobierno volverá a ser puesta a prueba. (elpias.com)

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5 APR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

PUP Standard Bearers

Appealing to their Constituents Excerpts of FB Posts

Hon. John Briceño Today our nation is facing a serious crisis. Like the rest of the world, Belizeans must be united in our efforts. In times of national crisis our response cannot be a PUP or UDP response. It cannot be us against them or our side against those on the other side.

To appropriately deal with the unset of the coronavirus in our country, everyone must now come together the way we do when one of our national teams take the field. It must be one effort for team Belize. For sure, we will only be able to negate the health, social as well as the economic impacts that this crisis will bring about if we work as one people.

We must also pay special attention and undertake measures for the care of the elderly and those who are especially vulnerable to serious effects from the virus. We are also supporting efforts to ensure that substantial resources are made available for quarantine purposes.

Within Belize, geographically we are also relatively sparsely populated.

In our approach to this virus, it is useful to take advantage of this reality. This means that we can get through this with less casualties if we take measures to self-quarantine and decentralize quarantine locations.

We must also do all possible to assure our front-line specialists and health care workers as well those who we depend on for all our public’s other health care need that their concerns are being addressed. (Budget reply excerpt) Hon. Rodwell Ferguson I am asking village councils to set up a system in your villages to assist those who might need help to apply online. The other option is to go to the nearest Social Security office and fill out an application form. The latter is discourage because lots of people will be at the social security office at the same time. The process will take longer because they will still have to apply online on your behalf.

For you to qualify you must meet the following criteria.

1. Provide your full name 2. You must be 18 years and older.

3. You must be a Belizean national.

4. Provide your full address.

5. Provide your date of birth.

6. Provide your social security number 7. Provide your banking or credit union information.

8. Details of employer 9. Last date of employment.

I want to thank the Zabaneh family especially the chairman of Stann Creek West P.U.P executive Emilio Zabaneh for the humanitarian assistance in time of crisis let’s pray to the almighty that we will all get through this alive. We are a resilant people. God is good all the time, we must remember him in good times and bad times.

Hon. Oscar Requena A sad reality our World faces today. Let’s do everything within our will and power to follow the guidelines from the Health authorities on how to prevent the spread of this disease. Whilst our economy is important to sustain life, I strongly believe lives are more important and you rebuild the economy. The risk of business as usual because of the economy is too high.

This is not a time to be out if it is not extremely important. Stay home and it will go a long way in helping to fight this disease.

I thank all our village leaders for their proactive role in helping to be be vigilant and in helping to maintain calm in our communities.

I also thank all our health personnel, our security forces and everyone involved in confronting this pandemic.

Together, with God’s help we will rise and overcome this crisis. Together we will make Belize and the world a better place.

Hon. Julius Espat 53.9% of Belize’s population live in our rural communities, yet I see absolutely no focus coming from the PM to address their needs during this crisis. These are our Belizean brothers and sisters that form the backbone

of our productive sector. The residents of the rural constituencies of this country demand to be treated fairly.

If the utilities really belong to us, then GoB should consider subsidizing the utility bills for poor residents both urban and rural until the virus passes.

Hon. Jose Mai For General Information and as explained by the experts for the benefit of all: Anyone placed under Self Isolation should remain in isolation for fourteen days!!!

Persons who are placed in self isolation by health authorities should not be in public before fourteen days.

Violating this, puts at risk the health and life of hundreds of persons!!

In these difficult times, let us do the right thing and God will help us!!

God be with all of us!!

Hon. Francis Fonseca Our Freetown family will do its part in this national effort. The people have the power. Let’s stay home. We also expect and demand that the Government do its part to provide relief for those who have lost their jobs, protect our health workers and all those on the frontline of this crisis, and provide support for the poor and most vulnerable among us. We cannot ask people to stay at home when they have no means other than the streets to put food on the table for their children. This is no time for political posturing and taking advantage of people’s vulnerabilities and fears for partisan advantage. We are in this together!

Hon. Kareem Musa’s open letter to GOB: “If dah fu we, mek it free!”

Dear Prime Minister and Ministers of Government, While we appreciate your Clorox and Tin Sausage in your highly insensitive political handbags (all paid for out of our tax dollars), please be reminded that this is not your normal Christmas time cheer or campaign season giveaway.

Why bring crumbs? WE, the Belizean people, are the owners of BEL, BTL and BWSL. WE are YOUR employers. And as your employers, we are not requesting or begging of you, but rather demanding that you immediately desist from charging utility bills during this time of crisis.

Get the drift? Wheel and come again!

Signed, Caribbean Shores and other ordinary people of Belize Hon. Florencio Marin I urge everyone to remain calm and follow the guidelines from the Government.

As well, to those who have recently travelled be it in-country or abroad, we humbly request you stay at home just as a precaution.

Only by staying at home, practicing social distancing, and following the authorities’ guidelines will we be able to get over this pandemic as quickly as possible.

Thank you.Pedimos a todos seguir las recomendaciones del departamento de salud. Por el bien de tu familia, amigos y de nuestro pais. Cuento contigo... Unidos vamos a sobresalir de esta pandemia.

Hon. Orlando Habet In these coming weeks and months in which we are affected by the threat/advent of the Corona virus COVID 19, I am of the opinion that as good citizens, we need to strongly support our local industries by purchasing our locally produced foods. At a time when the tourism Industry which represents 1/3 of our GDP is collapsing, our agriculture and food processing

Continued on page 21

Ed. Note: Readers please be mindful that these are excerpts. For the complete comment/releases/posts of our PUP leaders visit, like and follow their FB profiles and pages.

THE BELIZE TIMES 21 2020 BELIZE NETWORK OF Appealing to their Constituents Non-GOVERNMENTAL Excerpts of FB Posts ORGANIZATIONS 5 APR

PUP Standard Bearers

Continued from page 20

FULLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19 [25 March 2020] Like the rest of the nation, the non-governmental (NGO) community is fully committed to tangibly supporting the national response to COVID-19.

This support is already happening in multiple ways, for example: 1) The BNN is represented at the highest level of COVID-19 response efforts: a) Mr. Andre Carrillo from BERT Belize represents us on the National Oversight Committee, which is co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition; and b) Matron Ivorine Bulwer from HelpAge Belize represents us at the National Implementation Task Force.

2) Many NGOs are already contributing in various ways -- e.g., donating medical supplies (including gloves), cash donations, advising the general population to adhere to the notices from the authorities, etc.

3) Members of the Belize Tourism Industry Association and the Belize Hotel Association, as well as other NGOs, have proposed to offer accommodations as potential quarantine centers or as quarters for front-line healthcare providers.

4) BFLA NHI clinic staff are serving as front-line service providers, while BERT continues to provide emergency ambulance services.

Other NGOs -- such as HelpAge, BCVI and others too numerous to mention -- also serve vulnerable populations in various selfless ways.

5) Several NGOs are preparing to launch projects in tandem with the national response to COVID -19.

The NGO membership are not for-profit organizations.

Contrary to the opinion of some, NGOs are not rolling in millions. But the passionate dedication of our members has, and will continue to ensure, that donations (in cash or in-kind) continue to be contributed to Belize.

All our members have committed to supporting our fellow Belizeans during this crisis, especially in terms of food sovereignty and security. While the majority of our organizations are not disaster relief agents, requests for grant project amendments, with the goal of increasing community resiliency, are already in process.

We call on all civic leaders to exercise their civic responsibility and refrain from creating further panic, dissent and confusion. Everyone everywhere in the world is in the same boat. We can set ourselves apart by showing the world that we are responsible leaders and that we are being proactive in the management of our resources. By showing that we are helping ourselves, others will continue to help us.

sector remains strong despite the drought and high costs of production. … It is my recommendation that some of the monies assigned by government for assistance to the tourism and other ailing sectors of the economy due to the COVID 19 problem, be used by government to purchase food items from our productive sector for assistance to the vulnerable groups and the needy, and to be used to assist those who lost their jobs with some in-kind assistance instead of all cash.

This assures that some monies goes back to the productive sector.

My humble opinion and request.

Mayor Kevin Bernard I take this opportunity to advise all businesses and establishments in Orange Walk to put guidelines in place to enforce ‘social distancing.’ It is essential that there be limits on persons allowed in businesses, and that proper spacing of four feet or more be allowed between persons patronizing those businesses.

My friends, much larger economies than ours have been crippled

by COVID-19. I am sure many of you have seen the pictures of coffins lined up in Italy, carrying the bodies of those killed by the virus.

This can be avoided if we practice the protocols in place. Take every necessary precaution to protect yourselves and your families. As much as possible, stay at home. Continue to monitor the situation.

The Council has put measures in place and with the now officially confirmed case, will implement other measures that will require the limiting of certain services in town. Thus it is advised to do your part and let us all be safe. May God bless our people, and bless Belize.

Jorge ‘Milin’ Espat We remain hopeful that the pandemic will be over soon and that we will return to normal day to day business. Our campaign remains committed to assist in any way possible. Stay safe! Stay up to date with the latest information about the spread of COVID-19. Stay tuned to credible news outlets and help share official information only.

Oscar Mira Belmopan is a community that is a family. We have always looked out for one another and in this crisis, we need to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

I know we can do it. Let us look at the future with hope. The more we follow the rules, the quicker we will be able to get back to normal. Let us desist from listening and spreading rumors.

Let us avoid close contact, not only with people who are ill but everyone else as per the recommendation of social distancing.

All persons having Flu-like Symptoms are asked to stay home, self-isolate and to call the hotline that the Ministry of Health has established if you have any additional queries or if you need guidance in making decisions.

Let’s remain positive that we WILL defeat this disease, but to do that, we need everyone to listen only to the experts and to follow their instructions.

Andre Perez We are all in this together! One united front in the fight against COVID-19. Also, I would like to inform you to take advantage of the NEW 1 dollar bread offered by Casa Pan Dulce. This is being done especially for this this fight.

Alex Balona ¡Lo mejor que usted puede hacer es quedarse en casa si su salida es de menor importancia!

Do everything possible to protect yourself and prevent contact with the coronavirus!

Ramiro Ramirez Dear voters of Corozal Southwest, under the circumstance of what is going on with COVID-19, I hope you all are in good health.

We have to prevent COVID-19 from coming to our area. Please stay home and follow the guidelines. I pray to God that we are safe. God bless Belize.

22

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 APR

2020

5 APR

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

Cruise ships must wait out coronavirus pandemic at sea: Coast Guard

Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard has directed all cruise ships to remain at sea where they may be sequestered “indefinitely” during the coronavirus pandemic and be prepared to send any severely ill passengers to the countries where the vessels are registered.

For most of South Florida’s cruise ships, that means the Bahamas, where people are still recovering from last year’s hurricanes.

The rules, which apply to any vessel carrying more than 50 people, were issued in a March 29 safety bulletin signed

by Coast Guard Rear Admiral E.C. Jones, whose district includes Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Puerto Rico.

More than two dozen cruise ships are either lined up at Port Miami and Port Everglades or waiting offshore, the Miami Herald reported. Most have only crew aboard, but several still carry passengers and are steaming toward South Florida ports. Carnival notified the SEC Tuesday that it has more than

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6,000 passengers still at sea. ederal, state and local officials have been negotiating over whether two Holland America cruise ships that had been stranded off the coast of Panama with sick and dead passengers would be allowed to dock at Port Everglades this week. More than 300 American citizens are on the two ships.

The Zaandam, which set sail in early March on a South American cruise, is carrying sick passengers and crew, while passengers not showing symptoms were transferred to a sister ship, the Rotterdam, sent to the region to help. Both ships cleared the Panama Canal and are sailing toward Florida. Two of four deaths on the Zaandam have been blamed on COVID-19 and nine people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the company said.

‘HARD DAYS’ AHEAD IN CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AS TRUMP EXTENDS GUIDELINES The document requires all ships in U.S. waters to report their numbers of sick and dead on board each day or face civil penalties or criminal prosecution.

Cruise ships with sick passengers must consult with the Coast Guard, which may now recommend keeping the sick person on board the ship. The Coast Guard will decide if a transfer is absolutely necessary, but the cruise line would be responsible for arranging on-shore transportation and hospital beds.

23

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Days After a Funeral in a Georgia Town, Coronavirus ‘Hit Like a Bomb’

By Ellen Berry, msn.com It was an old-fashioned Southern funeral.

There was a repast table crammed with casseroles, Brunswick stew, fried chicken and key lime cake.

Andrew Jerome Mitchell, a retired janitor, was one of 10 siblings. They told stories, debated for the umpteenth time how he got the nickname Doorface.

People wiped tears away, and embraced, and blew their noses, and belted out hymns. They laughed, remembering. It was a big gathering, with upward of 200 mourners overflowing the memorial chapel, so people had to stand outside.

Dorothy Johnson has gone over the scene in her mind over the last month, asking herself who it was who brought the virus to her brother’s funeral.

“We don’t know who the person

was,” she said. “It would help me to know.”

During the weeks that followed, illnesses linked to the coronavirus have torn through her hometown, Albany, Ga., with about two dozen relatives falling ill, including six of her siblings.

Ms. Johnson herself was released from an isolation ward to the news that her daughter, Tonya, was in grave condition, her heart rate dropping.

Like the Biogen conference in Boston and a 40th birthday party in Westport, Conn., the funeral of Andrew Jerome Mitchell on Feb. 29 will be recorded as what epidemiologists call a “super-spreading event,” in which a small number of people propagate a huge number of infections.

This rural county in southwest Georgia, 40 miles from the nearest interstate, now has one of the most intense clusters of the coronavirus in the country.

Wealthy shelter from coronavirus in remote locations While the majority of the world’s population is biding time at home until the threat of the virus has passed, some wealthier people are seeking solace by buying out small hotels, renting homes in remote locales or fleeing to vacation homes with extended family members. - CNN But they also bring fears that they will spread the virus to regions with few hospitals to handle a surge in the sick. - The New York Times Some affluent Americans might abandon city life, urbanist Richard Florida said: Rich New Yorkers, for example, “are going back to the Hamptons, and older people who are scared of things like viruses are less likely to have that Fifth Avenue apartment.” - The Washington Post

5 APR

2020

New rapid coronavirus diagnostic test can provide results in as little as 5 minutes

By Eden David, ABCNews A new novel coronavirus test may make diagnosing COVID-19 as easy as the flu. The new pointof-care test, having just received an emergency-use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will be able to deliver results in as little as five minutes, according to the manufacturer.

This test from medical device company Abbott, which begins shipping April 1, may soon be available at your local urgent care clinic.

“This is going to be the fastest molecular point-of-care test to date,” said John Frels, Ph.D., Abbott’s vice president of research and development, in an interview with ABC News. “It generates a positive result in 5 minutes and negative results in 13 minutes.”

The ID NOW machine can test samples one at a time. A health care provider would use a swab to take a sample from a sick patient’s nose or throat and then mix the swab into a chemical solution that breaks open the virus and releases its genetic material. The

sample is then placed into the ID NOW instrument, which uses a special “isothermal technology” to replicate and amplify, if present in the sample, the small section of the virus’ genetic sequences in order to quickly detect whether a person is positive or negative for COVID-19, according to Frels.

Frels said that such a test will allow frontline health care workers to see a patient, quickly diagnose them and make immediate decisions regarding treatment and care, helping prevent further transmission of the virus to other people. “Diagnostics in general, stepping back from this, play into about 70% of therapeutic directional decisions. It’s difficult to know where to go unless you have a test result in front of you,” Frels said.

Although the test has the potential to address the country’s testing shortage, healthcare workers still need personal protective equipment to protect themselves when administering these tests.

This equipment, like masks, eye protection, and gowns, are still in short supply.

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El presidente Bukele admite que COVID-19 avanza más rápido de lo previsto en El Salvador SAN SALVADOR (Sputnik) — El presidente de El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, admitió que el coronavirus (causante de la enfermedad COVID-19) se propaga más rápido de lo previsto en esta nación centroamericana, donde habría más casos circulando y sin detectar.

“Los números parecerían no alarmar; pero si vemos la progresión matemática, es mucho más rápida de lo que previmos en un inicio y posiblemente ya hay casos circulando en nuestro país, que no hemos detectado aún”, comentó Bukele en su cuenta de Twitter.

Los números parecerían no alarmar. Pero si vemos la progresión matemática, es mucho más rápida de lo que previmos en un inicio y posiblemente ya hay casos circulando en nuestro

país, que no hemos detectado aún.

El mandatario ratificó el compromiso de su Gobierno con la búsqueda y aislamiento de los posibles nexos epidemi-

ológicos, aunque insistió en que la única forma de luchar con efectividad contra la pandemia es quedarse en casa.

Bukele ordenó el pasado 20 de marzo una cuarentena domiciliaria por 30 días, como parte de la restricción de movilidad incluida en el estado de excepción aprobado por el Legislativo el pasado 15 de marzo, sin los votos de la izquierda parlamentaria.

El Salvador registra 13 casos confirmados de coronavirus, entre ellos dos contagios en el país, en una familia del departamento de San Ana (oeste), que violó una cuarentena domiciliar y pudo haber infectado a otras personas de su entorno.

Florida autoriza el desembarco de los pasajeros enfermos del crucero Zaandam Los dos barcos de la compañía Holland America Line llegarán a Fort Lauderdale esta tarde. El Zaandam tiene 1.050 pasajeros, mientras que el Rotterdam tiene 1.450. Los pasajeros sospechosos de tener la Covid-19 serán trasladados a hospitales, informa Reuters.

América tiene un pie en la fase dos de la pandemia y otro en la fase tres. Estados Unidos, con más de 215.000 contagios, añade miles de casos cada día. El país ha superado este miércoles los 5.000 muertos y es el foco rojo mundial de la pandemia. El grupo de trabajo para contener

el virus ha calculado que entre 100.00 y 240.000 personas morirán en el país.

En Sudamérica, Brasil sigue

Un Día Ordinario en la Era de COVID-19 Por Ricardo Moguel Un silencio macabro invade la blanca casona vieja reminiscente de una época Inglesa colonial deprimente. Por sus polvorosos pasillos solitarios se escuchan los lamentos de una familia triste traicionada. No muy lejos en la Riviera del Rio Dzuilinicob, Rio Nuevo, en las escaleras líticas del crepúsculo al amanecer, se oye un coro de loras alzando sus plegarias a Itzamna o al que los quiera escuchar. La calle Lovers, bien concurrido antes pero solitaria en un viernes cualquier, se esfuerza a atraer a los peros callejeros para cobrar vida. De vez en cuando pasa un vehículo destartalado lentamente observando los ayeres felices que no fueron.

Las tienduchas, como centinelas solitarias, se rehúsan a saludar a los gatos cazadores que se burlan de sus fan-

tasmas. Con ventanas cerradas y corazones abiertos, se refuerza la soledad de un pueblo moribundo que quiere cobrar vida y vencer el Corona Virus quedándose en casa. El parque llora por un ayer perdido y por los árboles caídos. Los niños se burlaban del ayer mientras corrían gritando de alegría hoy van a clases virtuales sin tener que salir de su hogar. Los ambulantes ya no venden tacos masacrados a aquellas almas solitarias que prefieren no cocinar la mesa Maya. EL viento aula por un ayer que nunca regresara y por las esperanzas que se perdieron y el peligro que nos asecha. El Zoch, búho, ya no se escucha de noche como en nuestros ayeres. Su hogar fue la torre de la iglesia. Nuestros abuelos nos comentaban que eran espíritus buscando su camino. Ya nos abandonaron.

acaparando la atención del resto del continente por la velocidad y el peligro de protestas por lo que se aprobó una renta básica

Hoy es un nuevo día solitario en una casa diseñada para una familia y no un ser solitario que reposa en los ayeres. La sonrisa desapareció junto con el Zoch y los tunkules. Los guerreros águilas danzan en las escalinatas del templo mayor y los abuelitos lamentan la pérdida del mañana y la destrucción del ayer. El olor de las tortillas de maíz y frijoles refritos invade el entorno y solo se oye ecos de las canciones rancheras de ayer.

Los niños juegan en los jardines reforzando el futuro. La esperanza de la nación reposa en sus cerebros y nadie lo reconoce con hechos solo con palabras. Roberto barriendo las hojas del patio con una sonrisa que cubre el mundo se convertirá en ingeniero en computación. Isabel criando sus perritos pensando en el mañana quiere ser analista de estadística. Son descendientes de más de 4,000 años de presencia Maya en nuestra tierra madre llamada Belice ubicada en Centro América y la Península de Yucatán.

de 114 dólares para los más pobres. En Chile, Ecuador y República Dominicana, los contagios aumentan cada vez más rápido, el primero en la frontera de los 2.700 casos, el segundo en la de los 2.300 y el tercero en la de los 1.000, pero con una tasa de mortalidad en torno al 5%. Buena parte de los países de la región viven bajo algún tipo de cuarentena o toque de queda.

A nivel global más de 970.000 personas se han contagiado de la Covid-19 en todo el mundo. Se han registrado más de 49.000 muertes y la recuperación de más de 200.000 pacientes. (elpias.com)

Lo saben y no lo saben porque para ellos el mañana es más importante que el ayer. El ayer, como la ceiba. Le da raíces a la cultura y se convierte en bóveda de la tierra. La ceiba es nuestra escalera al cielo y a Xibalba, el inframundo.

El silencio es un arma poderosa.

Dice mucho sin decir nada. Hoy es un viernes cualquier como cualquier otro viernes en nuestro pueblo de Orange Walk. La única diferencia es que vivimos en un pueblo fantasma donde un pequeño virus nos encarcelo en nuestros hogares. El virus cambio al mundo sin un solo disparo.

La esperanza nunca muere.

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2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

Covid 19, an overview….

Ricardo Moguel Rosado We are living on the threshold of a national nightmare. On all sides of our borders COVID-19 has taken hold. Life as we know it is changing before our very eyes.

Gang warfare, as serious and deadly as it may be, does not compare to this life altering evolving pandemic. From our government leader, we hear Shakespearean proclamations rather than common sense language explanations our people can understand.

A pandemic is a global outbreak of disease. According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, this happens when a new virus emerges to infect people and can spread between people sustainably. Because it is new there is no pre-existing immunity so it spreads worldwide.

The disease has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

Covid-19 is caused by a Coronavirus which are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals including cattle, cat and bats. The emergence of COVID-19 in late December 2019 seems to have come from an animal reservoir where seafood and live animals were kept in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This means first cases were animal to human spread. This then went from person to person spread. Now there is ongoing Community Spread which means some people have been infected and it is not known how or where they became exposed. It is claimed that one person can infect 20 people or more. At the time of this article, 50,255 people have died globally from COVID-19 while more than 981,425 infections have been confirmed in at least 166 countries and territories, according to the World Health Organization. On March 11, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the WHO. COVID-19 can cause mild to severe illness; most severe illness occurs in older adults with risk increasing with age. There are cases everywhere including our neighbours. That should make us scared.

Belize began with a 14 day school hiatus, closure to avoid contact and practice social distancing.

We are quarantining ourselves by closing our borders and cruise ships no longer call on our docking berths. A state of emergency with

a partial curfew is now in effect for a full 30 days.

Older persons should take special precautions because they are the group at most risk to develop severe illness from this COVID-19.

We should always be vigilant, practice social distancing, some say 6 feet apart from other people, avoid crowds, don’t go out unless you have too. One needs to constantly be washing hands and avoid touching face.

Many will have to work from home. The question is, can our information highway handle a huge increase in internet traffic demand without punishing the consumer with higher prices? Will there be need to purchase additional capacity from international providers to our local distributors? Will the new economic order and changes in habits and work conditions submerge us into an economic meltdown? Are we equipped to test our population at risk? Will GST be eliminated temporary so our population can feed itself without undue hardship? Will Belize eventually have to give the middle class reprieve from water and electricity consumption?

They are the ones that work and move the economy forward.

In Belize all our population will be exposed to the virus. We have people of all ages living in one household. Large number of people will need medical care. Can our hospitals deal with the crisis this demand will impose on us or just wait till WHO responds in kind when we have the virus in our Belizean midst? There are no vaccines against this virus and no medications approved to treat it.

The work place will experience more absenteeism as people get contaminated. Who will help them with utility bills, food purchases, bank bills and cost of other necessities? Who shoulders the economic loss? Our health system becomes overloaded the same way our neighbors will be. Who helps us? Public transportation will be interrupted then who transports our labor force to their work destinations?

In Belize, both major political parties have joined hands to confront this worldwide emergency.

In the research world, there are ongoing investigations to learn more, to determine a treatment, and to produce a vaccine. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated to us as it becomes available.

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CRUISE LINES OUT FOR THE LONG HAUL Cruise lines announced that they would pause operations for 30 days earlier this month. However, as the COVID-I9 pandemic continues to evolve, the BTB has announced that many of the major cruise lines have pushed back their starting date to resume operations. The following updates have been provided thus far: • Carnival Cruise Line all cruises suspended until May 11, 2020.

• Norweigan Cruise Line – all cruises suspended until the second week of May 2020.

• MSC Cruises - suspension of cruises extended through to May 29, 2020.

• Royal Caribbean Cruises - suspension of sailings of their global fleet extended to May 12, 2020, with some exceptions.

• Disney Cruise Lines suspension of cruises extended through April 28, 2020.

• Holland America pause in operations extended for an additional 30 days.

• Cunard Line - pause in operations extended up to and including May 15, 2020.

• P&O - pause in operations extended up to and including May 15, 2020.

CALL

671-8385 or

EMAIL: belizetimesadvertisement@ yahoo.com

To place advertisement in the Belize Times Newspaper

I sit here thinking:

It is Your turn Entrepreneurs Batter’s up....Entrepreneuring Belizeans, 2020 has just doused you with a gargantuan and once in a millennia niche urgently begging to be filled.

Don’t just go online. Ignore what others are doing. Your raw entrepreneurship should feed off of innate innovation and the unfettered opportunity to cater to surrounding life which defines need and thus demand.

Belizean Entrepreneurs: Do not sit on and squash this opportunity.

As Belize goes on an official countrywide quarantine, state of emergency, and for many

a virtual lockdown, we need to accommodate to a novel and life-size reality. Osama’s 9-11 is dwarfed by this electron microscopic body which will be forever remembered by the same humanity that will conquer it. The entrepreneurs of the world and of my dear Belize will pulverize it whilst scattering its RNA into awaiting history.

Belizeans often claim to some uniqueness. This is the time to grab that as a spark mantra and build onto it and expose that we are indeed indomitable.

Word to the wise entrepreneurs, true novelty comes from

5 APR

2020 knowledge of your surroundings and the use of such knowledge as a substrate to give life to a product that will be relevant today to as many Belizeans as possible; and maybe relevant to our world.

Think in the bathroom, your backyard.

Remember.

Call a friend.

Make a group. Today many start-ups are the brainchild of idea groups.

The world is indeed connected. Today there is NO doubt about that. Human connection is alive and well. Let us show the coronavirus that the human desire to live is much more powerful than a Ribonucleic Acid strand.

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2020

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2020 United Democratic Party Commitments 2015 Manifesto

PART I (0 TO 15 OF 44 BROKEN PROMISES, UDP STYLE) # 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Broken Promise Develop the Commerce Bight Port to support productive sector growth Construct a new international airport in North Ambergris Caye Develop a special financing program through DFC & the National Bank for small businesses & small farmers

Outcome Talk, Talk, Talk Imaginary

The agriculture sector is reeling. CaneFarmers in the north were promised a measly 2Million last year and have yet to receive the few dollars each would get.

Develop & implement a National Transportation Master Plan Ask the Belizean beside you if they know what this is about. to address the need for efficient & cost effective movement of people & goods Stimulate economic development as a natural deterrent Imaginary, Not even artificial against incursions through the construction of a road along the western border Develop a modern mixed-use commercial zone at the Lake There is an overpriced Master Plan which cries of UDP over bloated Independence Boulevard junction – government offices, a contracts. This is the same Lake-I Boulevard/Faber’s Road that broke up national bus terminal, the National Bank, DFC, Police & Fire like a brownie.

Stations, a Community Resource Center & retail outlets Shorten the time for accurate & efficient land registration to Depends who you are of course be no more than 30 days The hot-bed of corruption is as corrupt as ever—this according to the present Minister Patt. The Past NR Ministers keep on visiting making sure that it remains sizzling vis-à-vis Vega, Hulse, Williams, Barnett, etc.

Construct a new road to Lamanai via Bermudan Landing & Maybe Planes land there Lemonal Pave the road to Caracol, with two points of origin from Nobody knew at this point that they would be saddled a loan of 180 Georgeville & Santa Elena million dollars sans Interest. Two-points of origin and ending up in Nowhere?? Contracts not approved by a contractor general nor house.

And Contracts to Imer? This has been sly all along.

Continue the paving of the North San Pedro Road to the Another of Heredia’s empty promises Basil Jones Airstrip Improve the quality of public bus transportation by giving The 200 or so buses used by the PUP in their immense demonstration incentives for better quality, energy efficient buses; review are still recycled buses after 12 years of inaction on the transportation the bus route system to meet peak & non-peak demand front. Substandard highway built by ONE crony matched by substannationwide; & enforce quality in public transport dard buses for Belizeans. Only foreigners can ride in new AC buses across the jewel.

Construct a new Belize City Civic Center as a premier sports Two families lost their loved ones after the overpriced Civic was deemed & entertainment facility to enhance the nationwide network complete and open to the hosting of events. They fell from the unsafe of sport centers currently being developed scaffolding. ONLY the UDP has access to this for their conventions.

Construct 35 new schools countrywide from pre-school to Ground breaking was done by former DPM during his drive to become High School leader of the UDP. Well we know where that got him, a loss to Saldivar Develop an institute for Science & Technology A building is planned in the dusk of the UDP. These might be like the Ministry of Health’s empty ‘clinic.’

Develop an institute for Enterprise & Innovation Incompetence reigned. There was no enterprise and much less innovation is this ghastly UDP.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

2 ½ Miles Phillip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize.

Telephone: 280-1000 Fax: 223-1919 Email: info@speednet-wireless.com

Notice to Customers: -- April 1st, 2020 --

Sma informs our valued customers that as an essential service we are Smart mandated to open all our showrooms countrywide despite the State of Emergency. We will be open for business Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Showrooms will not be opened on Saturdays.

These opening hours become effective on Thursday, April 2nd, until further notice.

Smart reminds customers of the following: 1.

Customers can call 1090 to 1093 for general customer service support from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day.

Customers requiring Broadband support can call 2800025 or 0-800-SUPPORT.

2.

Bill payment can also be done online and the purchase of credit can be done online or at one of our GimmeDalla agents countrywide.

Sma Smart thanks you for your loyalty and urges you to stay safe.

-- END --

For more information call 280-2000 or 1090 - 1093

www.smart-bz.com

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