Belize Times June 3, 2018- Tracy & Godwin In Tow

3 JUN

SCAN HERE

2018

The Belize Times

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

3 JUNE 2018 | ISSUE NO: 5099

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

SANTANDER

THE SUGAR DADDY TRACY & GODWIN IN TOW Thursday, May 31, 2018 Where were Minister of Agriculture Godwin Hulse and Minister of Economic Investment Tracy Taegar-Panton when Guatemalan-owned Santander Sugar ‘sneaked’ 1.7 million pounds of sugar into the local market in what seems to be a blatant attempt to undersell and undermine farmers in the north of the country? Did they know? Did they grant permission? Is there some deal happening under the table, since it seems extremely unlikely that Santander just decided to push one million dollars-worth of sugar into the local market, against the law, and nobody noticed? These are some of the questions making the rounds since the three cane farmers associations operating in the north blew the whistle on Santander.

The company has said that it will comply with a cease

Pg. 2

SAN PEDRO BRACES FOR POSSIBLE NEW ELECTION Pg. 3

GUARDIAN’S EDITOR TO STAND TRIAL FOR KILLING CYCLIST Pg. 2

Council & Community…

A Partnership that Works Pg. 8

ANTHONY VELASQUEZ ARRAIGNED FOR LATEST CITY MURDER Anthony Velasquez

Pg. 3

Enrique Garrido

2 02

3 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

SANTANDER

THE SUGAR DADDY

Continued from page 1 and desist order recently issued by the Government of Belize after it was publicly brought to their attention, though it insists that it should be able to sell its sugar on the Belize market. The company claimed in a sheepish statement this evening that its actions were the result of an “oversight” – although it did not get the waiver it had requested to produce white sugar before the Government ordered it to stop selling on the market.

The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association (PSCPA) and Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association (CSCPA) wrote Minister of Agriculture Hon. Godwin Hulse on Thursday, May 24, protesting Santander’s forced entry into the market, in violation of its Export Processing Zone status (EPZ) license for the production of molasses and raw sugar. The sugar cane farmers sounded the alarm last week that Santander was blatantly undermining the livelihoods of 5,000 cane farmers and 25,000 indirect beneficiaries by selling its white plantation sugar to stores on the very turf of the cane farmers – specifically in the districts of Orange Walk and Corozal.

Furthermore, Santander was underselling Belize Sugar Industries, with which the northern cane farmers have had a longstanding revenue sharing partnership, with prices below the controlled prices in effect since January 2016.

It is noteworthy that Santander does not only produce sugar in Belize. In fact, it has a much more established sugar production operation next door in Guatemala, and questions arise as to whether it may not actually be intending to flood the local market with Guatemalan sugar as well. There are no indications that the sugar supplied to the market has been subjected to quality tests by Belizean authorities, especially since plantation white is a recent addition for the company.

The Santander Group has had a controversial history in Belize, and very early in its operations, a sister holding company of Santander Sugar, Green Tropics, faced environmental sanctions for cutting a drainage channel through the jaguar corridor. Then more recently, there was the push back against a decision by the Belize Social Security Board to lend the company $12 million but Santander recanted.

The company is said to be owned by investors in Spain, with connections in Europe and Guatemala. The Group was established back in 2008, and the farm and the mill were established in 2012.

However, the company did not produce its first milled sugar until 2016, when it began to export to the foreign market.

As an Export Processing Zone company,

United States

it does not have permission to sell its sugar in Belize.

Originally, the transnational company expressed the intent to sell to Europe, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.

The cane farmers say that the Belize Bureau of Standards has confirmed through its investigations that Santander was only authorized to sell its sugar in the export market, not in the domestic market.

The Associations reminded Hulse that “in several meetings with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, including yourself as minister, we had been given the assurance that the production of sugar by Santander was solely for the export market and not for the local market.”

They called on Minister Hulse to answer several questions, such as whether the operations of Santander fall under the Sugar Industry Act, No. 27 of 2001 or some other law; and whether Santander was given a license to sell sugar in Belize and if so, who approved this license?

In its statement released this evening, Santander blamed the abolishment of sugar quotas in October 2017 for the fall in prices and added that finding alternative buyers in unfamiliar markets had been a daunting task. It notes, though, that the CARICOM market looks promising but claimed “the old product of raw sugar destined for Euro Based refineries” had to be replaced with products that could be marketed in the CARICOM. The company claimed that it did not realize that it needed an additional waiver for the local markets and apologized.

It indicates that it still wants a waiver to sell in Belize, while also pushing into the CARICOM market. It argues that the local sugar market should be shared by all Belize based sugar companies in a fair and equitable fashion.

On Tuesday, May 29, 2018, the Government issued a press release saying that Santander, awarded EPZ status in 2014, had on 11 January, 2018 expressed interest to value-add its product to take full advantage of opportunities that may exist in the CARICOM market. It later began to produce plantation white sugar, without approval.

The final application remains pending and will be submitted for the review and consideration of the EPZ Committee once all the application requirements are met, the Government release said.

Santander executives told Ministry officials at a meeting on May 28, 2018 that they had sold 750 metric tons in the local market.

Jose Abelardo Mai, the Orange Walk South Area Representative for the Opposition People’s United Party, said that, “[Santander has] a competitive advantage because they have EPZ status and it is unfair for the farmer in the north…” Mai urged the Government and Santander to “follow the law.”

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

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.00

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

2018

GUARDIAN’S EDITOR TO STAND TRIAL FOR KILLING CYCLIST Thursday, 31 May 2018 On Christmas Eve, 2016, the UDP’s foul-mouthed mouthpiece Alfonso Noble, editor of the Party’s weekly rag, spent 80 hours in jail after he killed a man at Mile 4 on the George Price Highway. Noble was allegedly under the influence of alcohol when he smashed into Gilbert Myers, a Hattieville resident who was on the side of the road heading home on his bicycle with groceries for his family.

Noble was arrested and locked down for 80 hours because although he refused to provide Police with a specimen so his blood alcohol content could be test, he was believed to be intoxicated.

Noble was publicly scorned after his excuse for not giving blood following the incident was that he was a Jehovah’s Witness and they were not allowed to give blood. After being quickly outed on that ludicrous claim, Noble recanted his statement.

Readers will recall that in late 2017 Noble’s insurance company, RF&G, made a payment to the wife of Myers, which settled a civil suit that had been brought against him.

At the time, Noble and his attorney, Herbert Panton, were allegedly heard saying that that would be the end of that, and the criminal matter would be discontinued. But the DPP’s Office did not share his optimism, and on Monday Noble, charged with manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention, and failing to provide specimen to Police for testing, appeared in Court for the Preliminary Inquiry into the matter.

After the prosecution presented all its evidence against him, Magistrate Aretha Ford found that the sketch plan of the scene of the fatal accident indicated that Myers was riding on the shoulder of the road, and not on the road itself. She also decided that the evidence suggested that speeding was involved.

With that evidence, she ruled that Noble will stand trial for the death of Myers in the October session of the Supreme Court.

Gilbert Myers

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

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$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

Mike Rudon

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

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Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR CHINESE YUAN (GBP): $ 0.35 (GTQ): $ 3.85 (CNY): $ 3.28 (CAD): $ 0.67

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.27

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 33.71

3 JUN

2018

THE BELIZE TIMES

SAN PEDRO ANTHONY VELASQUEZ ARRAIGNED FOR LATEST CITY MURDER BRACES FOR POSSIBLE NEW ELECTION Thursday, 31 May 2018 Today, San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero and his UDP team are very uneasy. In two weeks, they could very well be out of office if Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin rules that the results of March 7, 2018 in that municipality are invalid, and a new election is ordered. On Monday, the Chief Justice heard submissions from attorneys representing the People’s United Party San Pedro slate, the government of Belize and the elections and Boundaries Office, and has promised to deliver a judgment in two weeks.

The results of that election have been in question since the night of municipal elections when representatives of the People’s United Party called the attention of the officials on hand to multiple discrepancies. Returning Officer Catherine Cumberbatch refused a recount, but shortly after the PUP slate, led by Andre Perez, took legal action by applying for the election to be declared null and void based on the irregularities noted.

The nation was shocked when on the stand, not only Returning Officer Cumberbatch but also Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai admitted to flagrant breaches of the elections rules and laws. After delivering his submissions to Chief Justice Benjamin on Monday, Attorney Eamon Courtenay SC explained that “We highlighted for the Chief Justice what we regard as a number of major irregularities, violations of the law. The first is, of course, the fact that the ballots and the papers related to it were unsealed, first by Miss Cumberbatch, because as you know, she changed the numbers on all of these papers, and then secondly by the Chief Elections Officer. We believe that the law is very clear.

Regulation 84 and Regulation 89 prohibits and proscribes anyone from tampering with ballots and/ or election papers after the counting is completed. And these were gross violations. Beyond that, the Chief Elections Officer was very clear that she and Mr. Zuniga counted the ballots when Miss Cumberbatch handed them over to her, and that nobody from the People’s United Party was present.

That is an absolute flagrant violation of the law, and what it does is that it undermines the integrity of the electoral process.”

The PUP is hoping that the Chief Justice will accept that those violations are significant, substantial and enough to void the election. If so, there are dark days ahead for the UDP, particularly in San Pedro where they have not a chance in hell of being re-elected if elections are called.

Thursday, 31 May 2018 On Tuesday night at around 8:00pm, a lone gunman got into the home of Erbin Enrique Garrido, 30, located in the CET Site area off Holy Emmanuel Street. Garrido was shot once to the left side of his chest as he relaxed in his living room. He tried to run into his bathroom for safety but made it only to the door before collapsing. When Police arrived on the scene shortly after, they found his lying faceup in a pool of blood, dead.

Where murders are concerned, there is often no good news to report,

but within a matter of hours Police claimed that they had caught the man they believed responsible – Anthony Velasquez. On Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Chester Williams reported that “we have since obtained statements from witnesses who have given their accounts of what took place and we also have in custody the main suspect who is one Anthony Velasquez. Anthony Velasquez is expected to be charged by the end of day today for the murder.

From our investigation it is a case

03 3 where these 2 gentlemen had a previous misunderstanding and it is alleged that just 7 days ago Mr. Garrido had inflicted stab wounds to Mr. Velasquez.

Mr. Velasquez nonetheless did not report that matter to the police. I guess he might have intended to take his own action, and that manifested itself last night and so since then we have been on the case of where we want to be in terms of the evidence against Mr. Velasquez and he should be charged by the end of the day today.”

Police confirmed today at their weekly briefing that Velasquez had indeed been charged and arraigned for the murder of Garrido.

4 04

THE BELIZE TIMES

3 JUN

2018

Popular Tortilla Mill Set Ablaze in Santa Elena ucts and soft corn tortilla quickly set him aside from his competitors. Tacos vendors, restaurants, businesses and the public now depend on Rony’s for their soft, tasty tortillas.

Because of the good publicity and increasing sales, Rony’s has also stepped up their game by now having motorcycles along the Twin Towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. The increased business may not have pleased everybody, since at

Thursday, 31 May 2018 Early Wednesday morning, May 30, 2018, San Ignacio Police on mobile patrol noticed a fire on the steps of Rony’s Tortilla Mill on the George Price Highway in Santa Elena Town. Rony’s Tortilla Mill is originally from Orange Walk.

The business only opened a new branch in Santa Elena Town about two months ago. Their products quickly became a hit. His new prod-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Belmopan, Cayo District, May 30th, 2018] Santander Sugar Ltd regrets the actions that led to the cease and desist letter issued by CEO of Ministry of Investment, Trade and Commerce, on May 18th 2018 and hereby apologizes for this regrettable situation on behalf of our entire company including more than 1,000 employees, many growers and associated businesses.

Recent developments in the Euro Zone relating to the abolishment of sugar quotas in October 2017 have negatively impacted the price of sugar received

by Belize based sugar companies.

Belizean based sugar companies are now faced with the daunting task of selling into unfamiliar markets since the once lucrative Euro Zone sugar market has collapsed.

Santander Sugar Ltd. investigated other sugar markets and concluded that the CARICOM market in its entirety could be the saviour of the Belize sugar industry. For Belize sugar companies to compete in this market a restructuring of factories had to take place, and the old product of raw sugar destined for Euro Based refineries, had to be replaced with products that could be marketed in the CARICOM. A considerable investment was made to restructure the Santander Sugar Factory to produce, edible brown and white sugar. This is an investment in Belize for the Belize sugar industry to survive. An amendment to the EPZ was filed in February and whilst waiting for acceptance, Santander began to explore market opportunities within CARICOM. We failed to realize that we needed an additional waiver for the local markets and apologize for this oversight.

Unfortunately, and with regret, Santander Sugar Ltd. appointed a sole agent within Belize with the purpose to explore the local markets to determine if the new products produced could capture markets based on colour and quality alone. A limited quantity of 204 MT of white sugar and 12.5 MT of brown sugar was sent to the distributor to test these markets as a market survey. The feedback we received from recipients was very favourable and we now have a better appreciation of what will sell in the CARICOM markets.

This marketing survey regrettably was conducted prior to the approval of the new EPZ that had been submitted. Santander Sugar Ltd. will comply with all local authorities and recall all the sugar that has been distributed thus far.

Santander Sugar Ltd reaffirms its commitment to uphold all Belize laws and procedures and regrets this incident where we simply got ahead of ourselves, to gain market knowledge.

Santander Sugar Ltd asks that the amendments to the submitted EPZ be reviewed at the earliest convenience and a waiver be granted so that we can continue our marketing efforts within Belize and the CARICOM. Santander Sugar Ltd, our employees and our growers believe that, the local sugar market should be shared by all Belize based sugar companies in a fair and equitable fashion. ### For questions and details, please contact: Ms. Beverly Burke Compliance, Gov’t Affairs & Public Relations Manager The Santander Group Ph: +501.600.1020 Email: bburke@santandersugar.com

years throughout Belize and this is around 1:00 Wednesday morning, frightening because this is the first two men with covers on their factime someone tried to do this.” es rode up on bicycles and threw According to Romero, the ata kerosene bottle with a cord tempted arson may have stemmed and set the steps of the building from a competitors grievance - “We ablaze. The surveillance cameras have no enemies in all our years of outside the building captured the business.

The customers love our culprits setting the fire. However, tortillas and we appreciate their police have not yet detained any business.

It is obvious that this is suspects. some angry competitor that does Proprietor Rony Romero told notto like that we to have come here.as a the Belize Times that he sugar com-was sent the distributor test these markets But we will keep working and keep feedback we received from recipients was very favourable mends the Police because they better appreciation of what will sell in the CARICOM mar providing quality products. ” Romero noticed the fire and moved quickly asserted that the incident has made to extinguish it. Romero explained This marketing survey regrettably was conducted prior to him staff become more vigilant how the incident occurred -new “The EPZ that hadand been submitted.

Santander Sugar Ltd. and install more security culprits threw kerosene under localthe authorities and recall all the sugar thatmeasures has been distr to protect his investment. He hopes house and on the steps. They lit Santander Sugar its commitment to uphold that Ltd the reaffirms public can assist Police in the fire and a while after, Police procedures and regrets this incident where we simply got a identifying the people responsible that were on patrol saw the fire. gain market knowledge. for the vile act. Despite, the threat, They stopped and they put out the Romero thatamendments Rony’s tortiSugar Ltd insisted asks that the to the fire. So, I commend them forSantander movreviewed at the earliest convenience and a waiver be gra llas will continue to build their name ing fast to do that. Also one person continue ourand marketing efforts and withinstrive Belizeto andmainthe CAR reputation was asleep inside the building. We tain their good quality and tortillas. have been doing business Santander for 15 Sugar Ltd, our employees our growers be sugar market should be shared by all Belize based sugar and equitable fashion. ###

For questions and details, please contact: Ms. Beverly Burke Compliance, Gov’t Affairs & Public Relations Mana The Santander Group Ph: +501.600.1020 Email: bburke@santandersugar.com

3 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

05 5

EDITORIAL

JUSTICE DENIED

A

bout a week ago, Police issued a WANTED poster for a young man, Jordan Burns. They believed the teenager had walked up to another man, Carlton Moreira, and had killed him so he could take away his Boledo winnings. In speedy fashion Burns was caught and charged for the murder. And then, while he was in the custody of Police at the heavily trafficked main Police precinct on Queen Street, Burns simply ran through the gate and that was the last Police have seen of him. He got away from the Police at the Queen Street Police Station.

A person charged for a brutal, vicious, senseless murder.

One must wonder, sometimes, how it is that a young man can walk up to another young man on a crowded street in broad daylight and shoot him in the head before running down any convenient side street without an apparent care in the world. We hear these stories all the time now. The latest thing, apart from the incessant bloodshed due to bullets, is for men to run up into business establishments and with or without violence rid the proprietors of large sums of money before making their escape. When these criminals do these things, it seems they couldn’t care less if there will be surveillance footage of them.

Over the past years, we have gotten an indication of why criminals feel that they can do what they will. It is astounding how many murderers – and they are murderers by action if not by conviction – have walked smiling down the steps of the Supreme Court, free on some technicality or the other, or free by virtue of that distasteful Nolle Pros. There have been quite a few in just the past weeks – men on remand for years who walk free because the witnesses can’t be found, or have been killed, or change their stories and suddenly can’t remember faces. One heartbreaker, just this week, is news that two men who raped a 14 year old child walked free because of some screwup by the prosecutor. The victim had relocated to the US and while she had agreed to give testimony via video-chat the timing wasn’t arranged properly, or something of that sort.

The men walked – vicious predators who took advantage of a 14 year old child.

Why did it take 7 years for this matter to be heard? Why does it take four, and five and six years for murder cases to reach trial? These days the Police can’t seem to find wanted criminals in plain sight, and we expect them to find witnesses who have been off the grid five years. And by the time these cases roll around, they roll out of the Courtroom with all haste. And justice is denied to the victims…day after day after day.

But it is not only the prosecution aspect of the justice system that is failing the country. There are cases which fall apart long before they even reach Court. There is no public celebration when the Police boast at a press conference that they have solved a murder in record time. Belizeans know that the said murderer will walk at some point in time. It would be hilarious if it were not such a tragedy and travesty.

Imagine that in Belize today there is no properly equipped, state of the art forensic lab and DNA-testing facility, even though the Prime Minister has been promising it for a decade now. When the Police need to identify a victim through DNA, it is better to call it off and move on, because if the test does make it abroad, the results will be six months to a year in coming back. Who can forget the case of Pamela Lino, murdered and found burned in her vehicle on the road in May 2017? Police detained somebody for that crime, but because they needed to send away DNA to determine if it were even Lino’s remains, the person was released.

The results came back early this year, but that has been the end of that – nobody charged for murder and a victim denied justice.

Currently the country is in the midst of a record-setting killing spree, with 82 murders reported as the year reaches its mid-point. But the government has done nothing real to not only fight crime but to prosecute criminals and ensure justice for the perpetrators and for their victims. Whenever there is a spurt of violent crime, an operation with a fancy acronym is launched, and that is that. There has been no move to ensure that our justice system serves the nation well. And until that is done, criminals will continue to act with impunity.

6 06

THE BELIZE TIMES

19 Illegal Immigrants Busted in Bullet Tree Village

Thursday, 31 May 2018 San Ignacio Police are investigating the smuggling of nineteen illegal immigrants into Belize through the Benque Viejo, Belize-Guatemala Western border.

Cops were on weekend mobile patrol on Sunday night when they noticed a white Ford van on the Calla Creek road heading towards Bullet Tree Village.

Police intercepted the white van and found a total of 19 persons - twelve adults and seven children. After investigating and requesting documents, Police noted that the 19 people had entered Belize illegally. The driver of the van was identified as Belizean tour guide Richard McDougal.

Among the 19 people inside the van were Salvadorans and Hondurans.

On Tuesday, May 30, 2018, McDougal and the 12 adult occupants appeared at the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court. McDougal was charged for aiding in the commission of an offence and pled guilty to 19 counts. He was charged $1000 for each undocumented person inside the van, a total of $19,095.

McDougal paid $3000 and has been allowed to pay the balance of $16,000 on August 31, 2018. The 12 undocumented persons were also fined $1000 each for entering Belize illegally. Since they did not meet the fine, they were remanded to the Belize Central Prison. The embassies of El Salvador and Honduras have been contacted and have taken the seven children to their social services.

The Belize Police press office informed on Tuesday that the matter had been handed over to Belizean immigration officials.

The final destinations of the undocumented immigrants were Houston and New York in the United States of America. Just last month, the San Ignacio Police had intercepted a white van and detained 75 suspected illegal immigrants in San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns. Inside the van, Police found 21 undocumented Hondurans. The driver at that time was a Belizean from Ladyville Village.

On May 13, 2018, the Government of Belize announced plans to develop a new migration policy. The latest data indicates that emigrants as a percentage of the Belizean population stand at 15 percent, with the United States as the primary destination, while immigrants represent 15.3 percent of the total population in the country, mainly coming from Central America. Yearly, Belizean authorities crack down on undocumented Central Americans travelling through Belize with the United States as their final destinations.

However, the specific numbers of those that successfully make it through and into Mexico remains undetermined.

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3 JUN

2018

TOMZA, ZETA GAS, AND DAGAS PROPANE COMPANIES

Under Investigation for Price Hike Fixing Scam

Thursday, 31 May 2018 Guatemalan Authorities from the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) and the Directorate of Consumer Protection Services (Diaco) have taken legal action against three Propane Import Companies, namely TOMZA, ZETA GAS and DAGAS and fifteen (15) propane outlets to respond to charges of alleged illegal continuous price fixing hike rip-off.

The Minister of Energy and Mines, Luis Chang, and DIACO’s Alejandro Pereira, both confirmed that they filed 10 charges at the Office of the Prosecutor because of concerted price fixing. (Similar prices that lead to monopoly).

The first accusations started following investigations regarding the constant increases in the prices of gasoline and diesel that became evident in recent weeks.

After the corresponding study, the Directorate of Consumer Protection Services (DIACO) presented a damning report which led to accusations on May 21 where criminal proceedings were initiated before the Public Prosecutor (MP) against the PUMA GROUP, UNO GUATEMALA, UNO PETROL and CHEVRON and eight other Gas Station Dealers also for Illegal Price gouging.

During their summons to the Congress of the Republic, Authorities from the Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed administrative violations PUMA, UNO, UNO Petrol and CHEVRON and the eight Gas Station Dealers. At the same time, they warned the merchants and distributors of fuels that any exploitation, speculation and breach of the consumer protection law will be dealt with via extreme penal consequences including other economic sanctions

which will be imposed on those found to have violated the law.

The MEM has sent out an analysis of the behaviour patterns of the prices of oil and petroleum products in the international and national markets. According to the report, the price of oil continued its upward trend and remained in four of the five sessions of the previous weeks above US $71 per barrel. In the week of May 14 to 18, 2018, the increase was US$0.71 per barrel compared to the previous week, trading at the last day of the week at US$71.28 per barrel.

The factors that continue to affect the price of oil are the continued fall of oil inventories in the United States, and its withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran and the strong global demand for oil.

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3 JUN

2018

07 7

THE BELIZE TIMES

Girl Power!

4 Belizean Students Star at Mount Carmel High

ON THE

MOVE

Getting the Work Done

Your Belize City Council has continued to deliver on its promises to residents of the city, forced for years to deal with streets which were totally neglected. Recently remedial works were conducted on Dunn, Hopkins, Landivar, St. James, Maskall, Raccoon, Sea Gull and Amarillo Streets....the Council is very serious about our commitment to you!

Thursday, 31 May 2018 Mount Carmel High School is preparing for their 2018 Commencement exercises. This year, the school is boasting of having four Belizean female students with top scores taking the top spots in their 2018 Graduation ceremony.

The intelligent young women who continually strive for greatness and whose commitment to excellence will lead them to additional successes are Melissa Puc, Jia Xiao Zhen, Milenie Archilas and Ceidy Rodriguez.

Melissa Puc is a 16 year old student from San Jose Succotz village. Puc told the Belize Times that she has grown academically and spiritually at the institution: “I am very humbled to say that I am here today thanks to the sacrifice of my parents, loved ones and myself. I will soon be starting a new chapter in my educational journey. I have always wanted to inspire other youth and let them know that all is possible if you just believe and work hard for it, because all our dreams can come true once we pursue them.”

Puc is the Valedictorian of the 2018 Graduating class. She strongly believes that the honour belongs to all her teachers and her family that contributed to her development as a student. Puc’s goal is to pursue her dream of earning a degree in nursing and health management.

Another female student with top scores, Ceidy Rodriguez is this year’s joint Salutatorian. Rodriguez told us that with God and her family, she was able to keep her goals in sight. Rodriguez says that despite some difficulties and challenges along the way, she came to realize that nothing should distract anyone from achieving their goals.

Rodriguez recognizes the effort and hard work of her parents, Alma Palma and Rudolph Rodriguez. She

also explained that her achievements could not have been possible without her dedicated teachers and her Mount Carmel family.

Rodriguez is also striving for a degree in Nursing, “It is my hope to that with God’s help I will continue to excel in my studies.”

Science major Jia Xiao Zhen who also speaks Mandarin, is inspired by the dedication at Mount Carmel High School. Zhen is a joint salutatorian and expressed her joy in her achievements. Zhen also shared with us that her parents were not fortunate enough to obtain a High school diploma, therefore it was her ultimate goal to successfully complete her High School, “I am here today because of my parents, my beloved friends and teachers and all those who have helped me along the way.” Zhen plans to travel to Canada to earn a Biomedical Science degree.

Seventeen-year old Milenie Archilas will deliver the Vote of Thanks for the 2018 Commencement exercise. Archilas described her time at Mount Carmel High School as a sharing of great comradeship. Archilas says that she feels honoured and blessed for her achievements “I feel humbled and blessed to be among such distinguished people such as Jia, Melissa and Nigel, my closest confidants since first form.” Archilas also expressed her sincerest gratitude to her family. Archilas plans to attend John Paul II Junior College to study Liberal Arts.

Mount Carmel High school is proud of these brilliant female students who excelled in their academic studies at the institutions. Mount Carmel congratulates the students, their families and the entire Mount Carmel family. Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2018!

8 08

THE BELIZE TIMES

ON THE

MOVE

Council & Community…

A Partnership that Works

Wesley College Junior College students, engaging in their community service, joined the Belize City Council in painting the historic old Belize City Swing Bridge recently. Big thanks to Deputy Mayor Oscar Arnold and Councillor Micah Goodin who joined the students painting....thanks to Dean Gillette who made it possible for the students to partake through community effort...thanks to staff of the City Council who facilitated the work day…thanks to the Traffic Department for ensuring an organized flow of traffic for the safety of our Works employees and WJC Students and thanks to Mayor Wagner who encourages student participation and thanks to the students who enjoyed their community contribution to their city! When the community comes together for the good of the city, the sky’s the limit.

3 JUN

2018

8 JUN MAY 31 26 JUL FEB 24 NOV 14 319 AUG JUN

2016 2017 2018 2016

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

TEAM SANTINO’S JOSE CHOTO

Wins International Masters Cycling Tour

Belize City, May 27, 2018 Team Santino’s Jose Choto won the International Masters Tour organized by the Santino’s cycling team and officiated by Weekend Warriors Cycling Club on the George Price and Hummingbird Highways finishing at the Old Belize Cucumber Beach on the George Price Highway over the weekend.

Over 40 riders competed in 3 Stages, with Stage 1 Saturday morning, Stage 2 from the Sand Hill junction with the Old Northern Highway to Altun Ha and back to the Burrell Boom junction via the Philip Goldson Highway, then through the bypass to the Hattieville roundabout, finishing at Old Belize on Saturday afternoon. Stage 3 was a 66 mile ride from Belmopan to Armenia and back to Belmopan, then on to finish at Old Belize.

Final Classification: 1st Jose Choto – Team Santino 6:31:02 2nd Liam Stewart – Team Santino - 6:32:30 3rd Juan Yapur (MEX) – Team Yapurland - 6:32:32

Top 10 winners

Dwayne Wade wins Stage 3

SMART Hurricanes Spank Defenders 70-41 in NEBL Finals Game 1 Belize City, May 25, 2018 The SMART Hurricanes proved their boast – Who’s your Daddy, when they spanked the DigiCell Defenders: 70-41 in the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) championship Finals Game 1 at the Civic Center last Friday night.

SMART Hurricanes Glency Lopez hit 4 treys for 18pts, Brian White posted 11pts, 10 rebounds, and Devin Daly added 9pts. Akeem Watters put up 7pts, Shaquille Crawford scored 6pts, and Keith Acosta and Tyson Reynolds threw in 4pts apiece. Eyan Rene and Raheem Thurton had 3pts apiece, and Kurt “Chengo” Burgess and Ray Cruz tossed in a bucket apiece.

Defenders’ Jacob Leslie scored 9pts, Lincey Lopez added 8pts, and Nigel Jones – 7pts. Francis Arana put up 4pts, and Darwin “Puppy” Leslie and Mateo Gutierrez scored 3pts apiece.

Game 2 comes up on Friday, June 1.

9 11 SPORTS 09 4th Jose Juan Cuellar - Team Santino - 6:34:54.

5th Fitzgerald “Palas” – Team Lampaz - 6:35:05.

6th Alexander Velasquez Flores – Team Chanitos Cozumel - 6:36:36 7th Julio Tzul - Team Depredadores - 6:38:06.

8th Dwayne Wade – Team Belize Boyz - 6:39:48 9th Daniel Cano – Team Santino’s 6:39:51 10th Hector Tzuleta – Team Valvoline -Jacob 6:40:24.

Leslie scored 11th16pts Pastor Ceno - 6:40:41 12th Juan Medina – Team Chetumal - 6:40:44 13th Sherman Thomas - Team Santino’s - 6:40:59.

14th Rutherford Cunningham – Team SMART - 6:40:59 15th Windell Williams – Team SMART Zoom - 6:41:02 16th Roque Matus - Team M&M Engineering - 6:45:08 17th George Abraham – Team BelCal - 6:50:52.

18th Orson Butler – Team Bel-Cal 6:50:56.

19th Ryan Willoughby – Team Valvoline - 6:51:27 20th Isaiah Willacey – Team Santino’s - 6:51:27.

Glency Lopez scored 18pts

Eyan Rene scores layup

Devin Daley scored 9pts

10 SPORTS

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES

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2016 2017 2018

Brown Bombers, Rising Stars, Carlston FC and City Boys Win in SMART U-13 Mundialito Belize City, May 26, 2018 The City Boys, Ladyville Rising Stars, Carlston FC, Hattieville Riverside Boys, Reality Youths and Brown Bombers all posted big wins in Week 3 of the 2018 SMART Under-13 Mundialito football competition at the MCC Garden last Saturday.

In Game 1, the undefeated City Boys went 3-0 in their win-loss record as they stormed over the Warriors FC: 2-0 with goals by Tom Moguel and Calvin Thurton. In Game 2, Carlston FC scored their 2nd win: 1-0 against Sampson Academy, with a goal struck

by Denver Bevans.

In Game 3, the Ladyville Rising Stars also posted their 2nd win: 2-0 against the Mahogany Heights FC, with goals by Steven Rivera and Marvin Card. In Game 4, Hattieville Riverside Boys won 1-0 against Collet Strikers, with a goal by Tayshawn Ferguson 6 minutes before the long whistle. In Game 5, Reality Youths made it real: 3-0 against Corinthians FC, with goals

by Jahren Rivers, Cameron Perriott and a penalty by Scorian Stuart.

In Game 6, the Brown Bombers posted their 1st win: 3-0 against the Ladyville Jaguars, with Keyden Shay scoring a hat trick!

The tournament continues on Saturday, June 1.

Hattieville’s Tayshawn Ferguson wins header vs Collet keeper

Brown Bombers win 3-0 vs Ladyville Jaguars

Scorian Stuart scored Reality Youths’ 3rd goal Reality Youths win 3-0 vs Corinthians

FC Elite Takes on Kelly St. FC in FFB Inter-district Semi-finals Belize City, May 27, 2018 The CYDP sub-champs FC Elite will do battle once again against the CYDP champs - Kelly Street FC, when the FFB Inter-district First Division Champions League semi-finals kick off at the MCC Garden on Sunday, June 3.

FC Elite eliminated the Belmopan champs Valley United by a 3-2 aggregate after they drew 1-1 at the MCC Garden on Sunday.

Jason Sanchez scored first for Valley United in the 2nd minute and Tyrique “Hammer” Ciego equalized 1-1 for FC Elite from the penalty spot in the 20th minute. FC Elite’s 2-1 win the week before saw them through to the next round.

Valley United, Randy Dueck saves

Valley United’s, Wilberto Maldonado attacks vs Orlando Velasquez

Naim Wilson vs Valley United’s, Henry Nino

At the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio on Sunday, Kelly Street FC eliminated Peñarol: 6-3, with Francisco “Peely” Briceño scoring Kelly St’s 1st goal in the 2nd minute, and Steven “Bredds” Baizar scored 4 more goals. Kelly St also benefited from an autogoal by the Peñarol defense. Peñarol’s 3 goals came from Joel Guzman, Roy Cano and Seannon Defour.

At the Carl Ramos Stadium on Sunday, Carl Seravia scored the B&B Landsharks’ winning goal in the 66th minute for their 1-0 win against Tribal FC. At the Louisiana Government School field in Orange Walk Town, Progresso crushed Trinidad FC: 3-0 with 2 goals by Walter Robles in the 36th and 46th minutes, and by Gabriel Perez in the 71st minute.

The semi-finals kick off at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga on Sunday, June 3, where the B&B Landsharks will host Progresso FC, while the 2 city squads: Kelly Street and FC Elite meet at the MCC.

3 JUN

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

MY PERSPECTIVE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

NO TO INSTITUTIONAL COMPLICITY I reviewed with much interest an opinion piece published by Al Jazeera two weeks ago. It is written by a woman named Sisonke Msimang. She is a South African writer and political commentator who focuses on gender and democracy. Titled “It’s Time for the Head of UNAIDS to Resign,” it immediately captured my interest. You see, I know the head of UNAIDS personally. His name is Michel Sidibe, and he succeeded earlier head of this United Nations agency Peter Piot.

Mr. Sidibe is a highly respected official who has really put his money where his mouth is in the ongoing struggle against HIV and AIDS. He is avuncular and gentle, and he has led the fight with tenacity and a huge heart. He hails from Mali. I met Mr. Sidibe several times at meetings in the Caribbean when I headed our AIDS Commission, and I can say without hesitation what a nice and impressive individual he is.

Ms. Msimang makes a poignant and sad report that Mr. Sidibe is guilty of upholding and covering up for the sexual assault of several women by his deputy director Brazilian Luiz Loures.

I know Dr. Loures as well. He struck me as rough and tough in my brief interactions with him, but I couldn’t have known then what a bully and sexual harasser he was. Ms. Msimang’s thesis in her article is that in addition to perpetrators, it is leaders who must also be held accountable, and the United Nations like so many other institutions is full of old, powerful men who take up for and cover up for one another. This HAS to change, she says.

The reports against Dr. Loures by at least two women took unacceptably long to be settled, and many accused Mr. Sidibe and the agency on a whole of being biased in favour of the perpetrator. In fact, Mr. Sidibe, in speaking to his staff, accused those who raised concerns about Dr. Loures as lacking in ethics (!!) Ms. Msimang and many others have been greatly saddened and feel betrayed because for so long they have trusted Mr. Sidibe’s judgement entirely. She says that it’s one thing for a Brazilian doctor who has dedicated his life to protecting human rights and saving lives to be accused. However, it is quite another when a champion for human rights and respected leader is seen publicly as covering up and supporting the actions of his subordinate.

We say in Belize that the upholder is as bad as the wrongdoer. It is

high time, Ms. Msimang opines, to punish the enablers of abuse, since the culture of impunity surrounding harassment and violence needs to change, and bigger heads must be held responsible. Also the culture of silence by myriad women is changing, with the “Me Too” movement having gained fast momentum, and this momentum of women’s voices in all kinds of institutions is changing the game. Famous and powerful men like Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and now even Morgan Freeman are discovering that impunity is ending.

Ms. Msimang worked with Dr. Loures, and she reports that the environment was very toxic. Loures was patronising and arrogant, and he intimidated and demeaned employees who crossed him in any way. On the other hand, his boss, Mr. Sidibe is “paternal without being paternalistic.” However, Mr. Sidibe rewarded those loyal to him, and he betrayed many persons’ expectations that he would do the right thing where Loures was concerned. He facilitated a smooth exit for Loures in spite of strong evidence that Loures certainly did not deserve respect and kid gloves treatment. Sidibe had principled options, but he chose to go with the “old boys club” of covering up, and thus proved himself in Ms. Msimang’s view to be a “dinosaur.” Ms. Msimang concludes that the United Nations must change quickly. Men like Loures have to face the consequences of their misbehaviour, and men like Mr. Sidibe also must pay the price for institutional complicity.

Women should come forward in Belize too. Here, there are various reports of sexual assault and harassment by men in high places in politics, education and the corporate world, and these men should bear the consequences of their nasty conduct. Even more, those who enable and cover up for male wrongdoing should not get away due to institutional complicity and the culture of silence.

The Me Too movement is as relevant in our own context as it is internationally. I am very sorry about the tawdry situation enabled by Mr. Sidibe. Let not our own respected male leaders bring themselves down by upholding wrongdoing of this terrible sort.

Absolutely NO to any form of institutional complicity and cover-ups.

For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 1st day of August, 2005, between HARRY SABAL House No. 17 Central Farm, Cayo District, Belize (hereinafter called “the Borrower”) of the one part and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LIMITED (hereinafter called “the Mortgagee”) of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 23 of 2005 at Folios 585-614, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Block No. 533 comprising 5.00 acres situate in the Carib Reserve Area, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan NO. 321 OF 1994 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No.321 of 1994 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 18th day of May, 2018.

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

VACANCY

FOR LEGAL SECRETARY Qualifications and Experience: • • • •

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

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

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

in new software and applications required

• Knowledge of Spanish would be an asset

Duties:

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

management and employees

• Ability to handle issues with a high degree of confidentiality and accuracy

Salary: Negotiable and dependent on experience and qualifications.

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

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

Closing Date: June 1, 2018 Please send your resume and the names of at least two sources of reference to: Manager P. O. Box 80 Belize City, BELIZE Or Email: managerlaw2014@gmail.com

56 12 2018 3 JUN

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3 JUN

2018

3 JUN

2018

18 JAN

THE BELIZE TIMES 2015

True Blue in Corozal Bay

On Sunday May 27, 2018 the People’s United Party held a convention to elect a Standard Bearer for the Corozal Bay Division. The convention was held at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic School in Corozal Town. Five candidates contested the convention which saw polls opening at 8 a.m. and closing at 5 p.m.

At the end of the voting process, 2042 people had cast their votes. The official results were announced by Party Chairman, Mr. Henry Usher at exactly 7:00 p.m.

Mr. David ‘Dido” Vega was victorious and has been sworn in as the Party’s Standard Bearer in the Bay. The Party Leader Hon. John Briceño and the entire PUP family thank candidates Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Freddy Alex Ewens, Shamir Alpuche and Edwardo ‘Dado’ Torres, along with their many supporters, for participating in the democratic process. We are one PUP family, and Corozal Bay will go blue whenever elections are called.

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Exploiters of Gangs

By Gilroy Usher Sr. “What I have been trying to bring to people is that social violence is a bi-product of social ills.”- Dr. Herbert Gayle - Well-known Jamaican anthropologist Gang violence continues to be a major problem in Belize.

The vast majority of the murders and other street crimes are gang related. Less than six months into 2018, the murder count is already at 80. With this trend, the number of homicides for 2018 will easily surpass the 142 murders reported in 2017.

Several politicians view gangs as a valuable asset at election time. They rely on gangs to deliver certain neighbourhoods for them in exchange for special favors. Such politicians only care about winning elections. They only pay lip service to ending the gang problem. Doing so would be to their disadvantage.

Some persons in the community who are interested in a political career jump on the bandwagon to curb gang activities and use their positions to promote themselves as saviors of marginalized youths. Behind the scenes, however, some of those same persons engage in activities that offer certain persons protection for unlawful actions, and expose members of rival gangs to recognition and bodily harm. These persons never threaten to leave their positions if programs to address the root causes of the gang problem are not implemented over a specific period of time.

Drug dealers and gunrunners like gangs. They provide a secure market for their products even if it means eliminating rivals in the trade. Gangs also provides a safe passage for the movement of drugs and illegal guns from one point to another.

These persons who often have some politicians in their pockets have no interest in a Belize without gangs. For such merchants of death the more gangs the better it is for their trade.

A number of persons in the community refuse to work. They are comfortable with gangs who provide them with funds for rent, education, utilities and other expenses in exchange for their loyalty. Such persons cherish the free life and encourage their children and neighborhood youths to be part of gangs.

These types of parents want stronger gangs in their communities instead of an end to such organizations.

The hustle from facilitating the transportation of drugs into Belize is great. That is one of the reasons why some law enforcement officers are on the payroll of these criminal units. That also explains why planes drop drugs in the sea and land on our highways with their illicit cargo al-

3 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

NOTICE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BELIZE A.D. 2017 (DIVORCE) ACTION NO.: 321 of 2017

BETWEEN

(MARTANITA MAZA LIMA MELENDEZ ( ( AND ( (JAMES ALBERT MELENDEZ

PETITIONER

RESPONDENT

TO: YESSY PEREZ

San Pedro Town

Belize District Belize

TAKE NOTICE that the Petition for dissolution of marriage dated 1st day of December, 2017, endorsed with a notice to you to appear and answer the charges therein has been filed in the Supreme Court of Belize, by MARTANITA MAZA LIMA MELENDEZ of Iguana Garden’s Apartments, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize and that you are required within fourteen (14) days of the second publication hereof to enter an appearance at the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court in Belize City, Belize should you think fit so to do and thereafter to make answer to the charges in the said Petition and FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that in default of your so doing the Court will proceed to hear the said charges proved and pronounce judgement your absence notwithstanding.

This Petition is filed and this Notice to appear is by M.H.CHEBAT & Co. of # 53 Barrack Road, Belize City, Belize, Attorneys-at-Law for the Petitioner, MARTANITA MAZA LIMA MELENDEZ. DATED this 16th day of May 2018 REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT Note: Any person entering an appearance must at the same time furnish an address for service within two miles of the Supreme Court.

NOTICE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BELIZE A.D. 2017 (DIVORCE) ACTION NO.: 347 of 2017

BETWEEN

most every week, but 99% of the time the traffickers and gangs involved in the movement of the illegal cargoes to safe locations are never caught. Due to their personal gain some law enforcement officials will never give up facilitating the drug trade regardless of the scores of murders and other social problems such action causes in the country.

In 2010 Dr. Herbert Gayle did a Comprehensive Crime Report on Belize. The report clearly stated that poverty is the root cause of the gang problem in the nation. It also stated that to address the problem of crime especially gang violence, the government needs to give the youths hope for a better life by addressing their need for jobs, land, housing, education and other basic things for upliftment in the community.

Today the country’s crime strategy consists of two main things - 1) denial that the crime problem is related to the lack of opportunities for marginalized communities contrary to Dr. Gayle’s report and 2) rounding up suspects and brutalizing them until they confess to crimes. History shows use of those tactics only make the crime problem worse.

Dr. Gayle’s report is gathering dust in an office in Belmopan. His recommendations have been ignored because they do not advance the interest of certain politicians and other persons who use the crime problem for their selfish gains.

TO:

(NELLY CLAUDETTE SALAZAR REYES ( ( AND ( (JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY REYES

PETITIONER

RESPONDENT

JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY REYES Teck Street San Ignacio Cayo District Belize

TAKE NOTICE that the Petition for dissolution of marriage dated 1st day of December, 2017, endorsed with a notice to you to appear and answer the charges therein has been filed in the Supreme Court of Belize, by NELLY CLAUDETTE SALAZAR REYES of # 1 Dalia Street, San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Belize, and that you are required within fourteen (14) days of the second publication hereof to enter an appearance at the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court in Belize City, Belize should you think fit so to do and thereafter to make answer to the charges in the said Petition and FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that in default of your so doing the Court will proceed to hear the said charges proved and pronounce judgement your absence notwithstanding.

This Petition is filed and this Notice to appear is by M.H.CHEBAT & Co. of # 53 Barrack Road, Belize City, Belize, Attorneys-at-Law for the Petitioner, NELLY CLAUDETTE SALAZAR REYES. DATED this 16th day of May 2018 REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT Note: Any person entering an appearance must at the same time furnish an address for service within two miles of the Supreme Court.

3 JUN

2018

THE BELIZE TIMES

15

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.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

3 JUN

2018

WHAT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS STAND FOR? “Global sustainability is now the only avenue to future inclusive progress that can deliver the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement”. –Johan Rockstrom– The recent volcano in Hawaii, earthquakes and hurricanes in America and the extreme drought in Africa are enough evidence that climate change has proven to be an unpleasant reality. A reality that Europe, the United States and China have abducted with great haste. The recent World-Wide Fund (WWF) 2017 report it is clear that there is a vast necessity to drive sustainability projects.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are an amazing feat in and of themselves: they were adopted by 193 governments, civil society and the private sector during the General Assembly of the United Nations held in New York in September 2015 and form a refreshed universal set of goals, targets and indicators that United Nations member states are expected to use to frame their agendas and policies over the next 12 years.

There are 17 goals, with 169 targets amongst them, and signatories aim to accomplish them by 2030. To really understand SDGs you should ask yourself these questions: - Do you know the Projects that address the sustainable development of Belize?

- Do you know where they are being executed and what their goals are?

- Do you recognize the challenges Belize faces to accomplish SDGs by 2030?

Sustainable Development Goals describe “the world we want”, since, as Ban Ki-Moon, former United Nations Secretary General, poignantly said it, “we don’t have a Plan B because there is no Planet B.” They include the goals of no poverty, zero hunger, better health care systems, quality education for all, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, actions to address climate change, reduced inequalities, etc.

Sounds like a bureaucrat’s dream come true? No, it is too easy to dismiss the SDGs in this way.

Just for a moment, imagine the whole world effectively coming together and agreeing on a blueprint of the world by 2030, and, furthermore, agreeing on the objectives that need to be accomplished, and committing to make that world happen, essentially creating “the world’s to do list.” When do you recall something like that last happen-

ing in our fractured world?

But, that is exactly what transpired. The SDGs though will take a staggering amount of money per year until 2030 by most estimates, with about U$1 billion anticipated to come from the relatively strained public purse and the remainder, U$ 5-6 billion, to come from the private sector. These are daunting numbers for sure, especially with the current economic recession in Belize.

Yet, the SDGs have so far been doing what we hoped they would be doing. They have given us a global and aspirational narrative, concrete goals and specific targets, an important platform and a common language for public and private sectors, Non-Governmental Organizations and civil society to come together and talk about what needs to be done to solve the most pressing challenges in our country.

The SDGs have also galvanized many companies and entire industry sectors to come together and figure out how they can contribute to achieving the SDGs by 2030. The “why” of supporting and contributing to the SDGs is by now a foregone conclusion: the private sector needs to be part of the solution to this country’s most pressing challenges, because this is the world

that we all live and work in, the world that needs to keep sustaining all of us in our lifetime and our children’s and grandchildren’s lifetimes.

The “how” to contribute to the SDGs and especially how to properly measure those contributions is much more of a debate.

The UN PRI, a United Nations agency that currently has 1,750 signatories representing approximately $70 trillion of assets under management, about a third of the total global stock of institutional capital, is doing great work on the “how” and the measurements piece. While in the past the UN PRI was focused on ESG socialization and frameworks, it is now shifting its focus from a process-based approach on ESG to outcomes-based approach on SDGs. It has teamed up with the Global Reporting Initiative and the UN Global Compact to produce practical reporting standards. The Government of Belize may consider lending a hand to this effort and helping to figure out how private capital can assist on the SDGs in a way that is relevant to investors and that, amongst other things, helps the investors make more informed investment decisions to support sustainable development.

The emerging markets private capital industry needs to go farther and faster on the SDGs. It cannot remain behind the curve relative to other industry sectors. So, by all means, go and shape the investment frontier. We are not inspiring innovation and impact and commit unambiguously as an industry to the SDGs as your north star and be an integral part of the world’s solutions. This coming years is your opportunity to provide collective leadership.

As Ban Ki-Moon stated: “Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all.

It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance”. Nevertheless, the concept of sustainable development is now well known, even amongst those who have not accepted it, and it is recognized, debated and followed by an increasing number of businesses and governments worldwide is needed.

You can reach your own conclusions. God bless Belize.

Dr. Pedro Villegas.

Follow us at: www.cubel.org and www.facebook.com/cubelconsultancy

3 JUN

2018

17

THE BELIZE TIMES

THINKING OUT LOUD BY: KEVIN BERNARD

Nasty People

I generally take this column as my own little space to say whatever the hell I want about whatever the hell I want. Sometimes I write about my addiction to alcohol. I also write about depression from time to time, when I’m not too depressed to write about it. Sometimes I write about God, with whom I’ve established a relationship.

It’s funny because people haven’t gotten quite used to me being on close terms with God just yet. I haven’t written about my addiction to chocolate.

I’m not ready to come clean about that so it will be my dark, dirty secret a while longer.

I write to voice my frustration about all sorts of things. I have so many pet peeves that it’s like a zoo in my head.

I don’t like men who put their hands on women to hurt them. So in this column I’ve featured Patrick Faber a lot.

He beats women. And while a lot of the idiots in his Party think that’s okay and feel good about massaging his testicles, figuratively I hope…I don’t. He’s scum in my book. I’ve written about the Prime Minister, a man whom I respected once upon a time but who has fallen far short. I’ve written about the Cabinet Cartel a lot. What a bunch of greedy, incompetent, uncaring, corrupt and arrogant buffoons they are. My lerd.

But this week – this week, as I sip the first of the two cups of coffee I allow myself each day, I want to write about assholes. It won’t be the first time I’ve written about assholes, but these are very ‘special’ assholes. I may take heat for this column, but I checked with the Editor of the paper and he seemed okay with it. He himself can be an asshole, so who knows if he’ll back me when the heat comes down.

Earlier this week, I was mentioned on Facebook, in a post by Brian Arzu.

It’s a fake profile, but I’ve since found out who the person is. He is a PUP supporter, but he works in government so tries to protect his identity. Anyway he seems to be a Patrick Andrews supporter. Patrick Andrews, a real ‘special’ case himself, wanted to run in

Belmopan but his application was rejected. You may remember this ‘gentleman.’ He was a Senator for a time who led people to believe that he brought all the morality of God with him. He proclaimed, at every turn – For God, Family and Country.

Remember that? Anyway he gave up on God, family and country – did some bad stuff and rolled out. Then he came back and wants to jump in the race again.

Patrick Andrews, in my book, is scum. What is it about these Patricks? I don’t give a damn about his womanizing, to tell the truth. Been there, done that. I don’t give a damn about his personal life. I don’t care that he is an asshole. That is neither here nor there. We’re human and I’d invite Patrick to my men’s meeting to sit down and talk it all out. We all have issues.

But see, this guy is crazy. And he’s wrong on so many levels inside his own head. He is a nasty man, and allows his people, to use the term loosely, to utilize social media to attack and bully those who do not believe that he is the best thing since sliced bread.

But I digress. Patrick allowed his woman, or instructed his woman, or instigated his woman to come after me on Facebook. Those who know me know that I am impervious to personal attacks. They don’t move me. But I have a weak spot. I don’t do family. You may have noticed that even in my rage right now, because I am very angry, I have not gone into Patrick’s personal life. And I can. But I don’t do family. I don’t bring innocent people into politics. I have not gone into the personal life of this woman who thought it okay to accuse me of unspeakable frigging acts on Facebook, subjecting my children to scrutiny. I don’t do that.

And I could.

I don’t do bullies. I’m not good at much, but I am a father who loves my children and I won’t allow this unnecessary attack to go just like that. You can take that to the bank. I just needed to get that out because it’s been consuming me for a day. I don’t wrestle in mud if I can help it, but if I’m pulled in I will more than hold my own, and like it too. And in the words of my long-time friend and spiritual guide Forrest Gump, that’s all I’m gonna say about that.

Convention Day in Orange Walk East will be June 10th – just over a week from today, and I have no doubt it will be a hard fought one. I have been on the ground working hard to let the people of the East know that I am worthy of their support and worthy of their confidence. Many of them already know this, since I am on my third term as Mayor of Orange Walk Town and my record at the Council stands for anyone to see. My colleague and friend also wants to represent the people of the East, and that is his right. He has also been on the ground working.

I watched with concern the Convention in Corozal Bay over the past weekend. Things happened that I don’t think should ever happen at a gathering of family, and we must never forget that the PUP is a family. I have said it before – I believe that any and every capable, qualified, passionate PUP supporter who wants to put his or her name in the ring as a candidate should be given the opportunity to run. At a Convention, the people will then decide who they feel will represent their interests better. I don’t expect to see outright hostility and pettiness and personal attacks taking place within the PUP family.

I was very disappointed.

We must never forget that the enemy of the people, and the enemy of the PUP, is the United Democratic Party. We MUST, in the spirit of family, conduct ourselves in a way that ensures that after a Convention, we are able to come together and work together to get the UDP out of office. Families may have their internal squabbles, but will always stand together and unite against an enemy. The UDP is the enemy.

It is okay to be passionate. It is okay to fight hard to represent the people. But we can never get to the point where we see our brothers and sisters in the PUP as the enemy, and we are willing to step on them in our quest for power. That is not

right.

I have noticed also a situation in Belmopan where persons have been attacking the leadership of the PUP – and not only the leadership, but other persons they believe to be affiliated with the leadership. The attacks from the camp of Patrick Andrews, in particular, have been vicious and personal and downright nasty. It is always okay to disagree with the decisions made by the leadership of the Party. We are all human beings. It is okay to believe that things can be done differently.

It is okay to voice those opinions to the leadership of the PUP and it is the right of every single supporter of this party to choose who they will or will not support.

But there is no excuse at all for what I see happening in Belmopan. It appears to me that there are persons who are willing to break up the Party completely just because they do not get what they want. I have seen the vilest and most personal and slanderous attacks on Facebook by persons who say they are True Blue PUP. How can you say that you are True Blue and then proceed, very publicly, to criticize and condemn in very derogatory terms the leadership of the Party you say you support?

Two things – I believe that those persons, particularly Patrick Andrews and the people around him, are not PUP and should be banned from the Party immediately. As the Father of the Nation stated clearly, no one man is bigger than the Party. If you are willing to destroy the Party to get your own way and to further your own ends, then you are not PUP and you need to be removed.

Secondly, I can promise the people of Orange Walk that the Convention in Orange Walk East will be hotly contested. My opponent and I both want to serve the people and we are both passionate about it. But when the convention is over, we will come together to serve the people.

That is the PUP way.

18

ESPAÑOL

THE THEBELIZE BELIZETIMES TIMES

DENUNCIAN A EMPRESAS DE PROPANO POR CONCERTACIÓN DE PRECIOS

La Diaco presentó 10 denuncias en la Fiscalía contra empresas por posible concertación de precios, al tiempo que los combustibles tuvieron un nuevo aumento, de entre 48 y 50 centavos de quetzal por galón.

Autoridades del Ministerio de Energía y Minas (MEM) y de la Dirección y Atención al Consumidor (Diaco) acudieron a una cita en la bancada Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE), por el alza en precios de los combustibles y para responder sobre las acciones que tomarán contra empresas de gas propano por posible concertación de precios.

Alejandro Pereira, de la Diaco, informó que el pasado viernes plantearon 10 denuncias en el Ministerio Público contra empresas que comercializan gas propano, por una posible concertación de precios (precios similares que conducen al monopolio).

En ese sentido, el ministro de Energía y Minas, Luis Chang, dijo que abrieron expedientes a tres empresas importadoras de gas: Tomsa, Zeta Gas y Dagas, además de 15 expendios de gas propano.

Las primeras denuncias Derivado de las alzas en los precios de la gasolina y diésel en las últimas semanas, y después del

estudio correspondiente, la Diaco presentó el 21 de mayo pasado una denuncia penal ante el Ministerio Público (MP) contra ocho representantes de gasolineras y expendedores de combustible.

Durante una citación en el Congreso de la República, las autoridades del MEM confirmaron denuncias administrativas contra cuatro representantes de las distribuidoras Uno Guatemala, Uno Petrol, Puma y Chevron, por denuncias que realizaron los diputados de la bancada Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE) por posible “concertación de precios”.

La Diaco hizo un llamado a los guatemaltecos a que denuncien cualquier abuso y presenten su queja contra expendios de combustibles que incumplan la ley de protección al consumidor.

A la vez, advirtió a los comercios y expendios de combustibles, que el aprovechamiento, la especulación y el incumplimiento de la ley de protección al consumidor, tiene consecuen-

cias penales y sanciones económicas, mismas que impondrá a quienes se compruebe incumplieron con la ley.

Tendencia continuará al alza El MEM envió un análisis del comportamiento de los precios del petróleo y productos petroleros en el mercado internacional y nacional.

Le podría interesar: Así accionaron legalmente contra gasolineras e importadores de combustibles Según el informe, el precio del petróleo continuó con su tendencia alcista y se mantuvo en cuatro de las cinco sesiones de la semana anterior por arriba de los US$71 por barril.

En la semana del 14 al 18 de mayo del 2018, el incremento fue de US$0.71 por barrilcon relación a la semana anterior, cotizándose al último día de la semana en US$71.28 por barril.

Los factores que siguen afectando el precio del petróleo son la continua caída de los inventarios de petróleo en Estados Unidos, y

Caso Industria Militar, Capturan a coronel Carlos Mejía Girón, señalado por corrupción Mejía estaba como agregado militar en Brasil, según confirmó la Fiscalía Especial contra la Impunidad, y fue aprehendido en el Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora durante su arribo al país.

Prensa Libre: Guatemala 29 de Mayo de 2018 Autoridades informaron que los hechos que se le imputarían al militar son peculado, asociación ilícita y cohecho pasivo.

Según la investigación, varios militares conformaron en el país un “grupo criminal” que sustrajo Q23 millones 402 mil 238 por medio de un “esquema de intermediación” en el pago de comisiones por la venta de artículos principalmente a instituciones públicas, entre ellas la Policía y seguridad presidencial.

Además, la fiscalía y la Comisión Internacional contra la Impunidad (Cicig) han destacado que los exdirectivos de la Industria Militar se habrían repartido otros Q919 mil 330.83 por comisiones pagadas por empresas privadas.

Mejía Girón estaba involucrado en el caso, pero no había podido ser detenido porque se encontraba en Brasil como agregado militar del gobierno guatemalteco.

A principios de mayo, las

Una de las casas allanadas a principios de mayo por el caso Industria Militar

autoridades efectuaron varios allanamientos en la capital por este caso.

En esos operativos fueron capturados José Alfredo Cotzojay Chajón y Jorge Arturo Vega Chávez, extitulares de la estatal Industria Militar; Byron Manuel Santos Galindo, exjefe financiero de la entidad, y Rolando Enrique Hernández González, quien fungió como represente de ventas de la fábrica dedicada a la confección de artículos para uso militar como vestuario y calzado, entre otros objetos.

Operaciones dudosas Durante las pesquisas, el Ministerio Público dio a conocer cómo funcionaba la estructura dentro de la institución militar.

• Se creó la figura de “representante de ventas” (para Hernández González),incumpliendo con el principio de sujeción a la ley, duplicando funciones innecesarias por existir puestos que ya realizaban las funciones pactadas para el representante de ventas.

En este caso en la Industria Mili-

33JUN JUN

2018 2018 su retirada del acuerdo nuclear con Irán y la fuerte demanda global de petróleo.

Usuarios afectados Un recorrido de Prensa Libre por varios expendios de combustible evidenció la preocupación de los consumidores por el alza de los precios en gasolinas y diésel. Óscar Álvarez manifestó que este lunes gastó Q100 más de lo que usualmente destinaba para la compra de combustible, extremo que afecta directamente a su presupuesto. Álvarez aseguró que no puede dejar de utilizar su vehículo porque es el medio utilizado para su trabajo, y tampoco puede aumentar los costos a sus clientes porque dejarían de solicitar sus servicios.

Para David Son, el precio internacional del barril de petróleo no refleja el aumento “desmedido” de los precios en Guatemala.

En el caso de Selvin Itzep, vendedor de huevos, señaló que el precio de los combustibles afecta su negocio y afirmó que no puede aumentar el precio de sus productos, por lo que deberá minimizar sus gastos.

Marcos Recinos comentó que los precios se están disparando “más arriba de lo normal”, y aunque reconoció que los precios a escala internacional han aumentado, en el país el alza es “aún mayor”.

tar ya existía el puesto de jefe de Sección de Ventas por Mayor.

• El MP revecló que as comisiones pagadas entre el 5% y 25% al representante de ventas (Hernández González) fueron excesivas e inoperantes, las cuales fueron pactadas de manera antojadiza, sin ningún sustento técnico ni jurídico.

• La red no acreditó que el representante de ventas tenía las capacidades, conocimientos y experiencia en el ramo comercial.

• Se evidenció que en varios contratos no se prestaron los servicios del representante de ventas; sin embargo, le fueron pagadas comisiones por ventas que no realizó.

• La estructura recibió más dinero como pago de comisiones del que realmente le correspondía, de acuerdo al porcentaje establecido en los contratos.

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2018

18 JAN

THE THEBELIZE BELIZETIMES TIMES 2015

ESPAÑOL

19

Fuertes inundaciones en Maryland dejan un desaparecido y cuantiosos daños Una tormenta de gran intensidad provocó fuertes inundaciones en Ellicott City (Maryland, EE.UU.) que dejaron un desaparecido y cuantiosos daños materiales, según informaron este lunes las autoridades locales.

Por EFE / Washington 28 de Mayo de 2018 Un hombre, identificado como Eddison Hermond, desapareció alrededor de las 00.30 hora local (4.30 GMT) cuando participaba en las tareas de rescate en esa ciudad de 66 mil habitantes, indicó Allan Kittleman, ejecutivo del condado de Howard, donde se encuentra Ellicott City.

Además, las autoridades señalaron que por lo menos se han registrado 30 rescates en hogares, negocios y vehículos desde que la tormenta empezara el domingo por la tarde y se prolongase durante la madrugada del lunes.

Dada la magnitud de la tormenta y las inundaciones, el gobernador de Maryland, el republicano Larry Hogan, declaró el estado de emergencia en ese condado para que pueda recibir rápidamente la asistencia económica y de personal necesaria.

“Dicen que esta es una inundación que pasa una vez cada 1 mil años y que a nosotros nos ha tocado dos en dos años”, dijo Hogan a los medios locales.

El gobernador se refirió a la tormenta que devastó Ellicott City en julio del 2016, que se saldó con dos muertos y con destrozos importantes en esa ciudad, especialmente en el casco antiguo.

Hasta ahora, se desconoce la cantidad estimada de los daños causados

Un grupo de rescatistas examina los daños en la ciudad de Ellicott City, Maryland,EEUU. por la tormenta de las últimas horas, aunque las imágenes muestran numerosos coches y edificios dañados.

Alberto avanza lentamente hacia la costa de Florida La tormenta subtropical Alberto avanza lentamente sobre el Golfo de México hacia el extremo noroccidental de la Florida con vientos máximos sostenidos de 65 millas por hora (100 km/h), informó el Centro Nacional de Huracanes (NHC, en inglés).

Alberto, que se formó el pasado viernes, cerca de la península de Yucatán, México, se encuentra a unas 100 millas o 165 kilómetros al sur-sureste de la costa floridana del Golfo de México.

EL NHC indicó en el último boletín publicado hasta ahora que se prevé que la velocidad de traslación, que actualmente es de 6 millas por hora (9 km/h), se acelere durante los próximos días.

Por qué es tan inusual la tormenta Alberto, la primera de 2018 (…y ni siquiera ha empezado la temporada de huracanes) Por BBC Mundo / EE. UU. 29 de Mayo de 2018 La primera tormenta de la temporada de huracanes de 2018 llegó antes de tiempo. Se formó el viernes pasado, se le dio el nombre de Alberto y, desde entonces, generó lluvias intensas, fuertes vientos e inundaciones severas en zonas de México, Cuba y EE. UU. Tres estados de este último país declararon situación de emergencia ante la inminente llegada del sistema meteorológico que tocó tierra finalmente este lunes.

Antes, las precipitaciones y marejadas provocaron fuertes inundaciones en el occidente y centro de Cuba, donde unas cinco mil personas fueron evacuadas, según reportes de medios oficiales.

En México, se dieron también lluvias intensas, principalmente en Chiapas, Yucatán y Quintana Roo, uno de los principales destinos turísticos del país.

En EE. UU., el gobernador de Florida, Rick Scott, declaró la emergencia para los 67 condados de su estado, mientras las autoridades de Misisipi autorizaron el despliegue de la Guardia Nacional para hacer frente a los impactos del fenómeno atmosférico.

En Alabama, la gobernadora Kay Ivey emitió también el estado de emergencia para 40 condados y activó un centro de operación de situaciones de desastre y equipos de evacuación.

Mientras, otros estados cercanos a estos se encuentran en alerta ante la inminencia de las precipitaciones.

“Lluvias intensas conllevarán un riesgo significativo de inundaciones repentinas en Florida, gran parte de Alabama y el oeste de Georgia en la noche (de este lunes),y se extenderán hacia el norte de Georgia, las Carolinas occidentales y Tennessee el martes”,

indica el pronóstico del Centro Nacional de Huracanes (CNH).

Desde que tomó nombre el pasado viernes, los expertos han llamado la atención sobre lo “inusual” de la formación de Alberto.

Pero ¿por qué creen que es poco habitual este sistema meteorológico? Aquí te explicamos dos factores que hacen tan inusual a Alberto.

Alberto es prematuro.

Uno de los elementos que más llamó la atención de Alberto fue su formación “fuera de época”, ya que se organizó justo una semana antes del 1 de junio, cuando oficialmente da inicio la temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico.

Diversos estudios y estadísticas mostraron que es entre esa fecha y el 30 de noviembre cuando se dan las condiciones climatológicas en la región

En la trayectoria pronosticada, el centro de Alberto cruzará la costa norte del Golfo esta tarde o a primeras horas de la noche.

Una vez que toque tierra se espera que el sistema continúe moviéndose hacia el norte hacia el valle de Tennessee el martes y sobre el valle de Ohio y la región de Great Lakes el miércoles y jueves, y que a la vez vaya debilitándose hasta el punto que puede que hoy mismo o el martes se convierta en depresión tropical.

No se esperan cambios de importancia en la velocidad de los vientos antes de que Alberto alcance la costa norte del Golfo.

Están en vigor una vigilancia de marejada ciclónica esta en efecto desde la desembocadura del río Suwannee hasta Navarre (ambas en Florida) y un aviso de tormenta tropical desde el río Suwannee hasta la frontera entre Mississippi y Alabama.

Se espera que Alberto produzca lluvias hasta el martes en el centro de Cuba, donde podrían ocurrir “inundaciones repentinas y deslizamientos de tierra”.

También derramará lluvias sobre la península de Florida y los Cayos, parte de Alabama y el oeste de Georgia, el Valle de Tennessee y áreas de las Carolinas.

Además, algunos tornados breves son posibles hoy desde el norte de Florida hacia el centro y sur de Georgia, el sur de Carolina del Sur y sureste de Alabama. norte de ese océano que favorecen la formación de estas tormentas.

Generalmente, en los cinco primeros meses del año, las temperaturas del mar son aún muy frías para permitir el desarrollo de estos sistemas.

Según el meteorólogo Philip Klotzbach, de la Universidad Estatal de Colorado, desde 1950 solo se han reportado 14 tormentas en el Atlántico en el mes de mayo, 6 de ellas después de 2007.

2.Una tormenta subtropical Para las personas habituadas a las tormentas y ciclones en América Latina y Estados Unidos, la denominación dada a Alberto tras su formación fue también algo extraña: los expertos informaron que se trataba de una tormenta “subtropical”.

Este tipo de fenómeno atmosférico es un sistema de baja presión que se forma en las regiones tropicales o subtropicales (en cualquier latitud desde el ecuador hasta los 50° N) y que mantiene simultáneamente características de tormentas tropicales y tormentas de latitudes medias (o extratropicales).

Alberto se formó en los 19.3° de latitud Norte.

De acuerdo con el CNH, estos sistemas suelen tener un radio de vientos máximos y lluvias mayor que el de las tormentas “tropicales”, de ahí que haya afectado simultáneamente zonas de Cuba, México y Estados Unidos.

Una de sus características más llamativas es que sus vientos máximos sostenidos no suelen exceder los 119 kilómetros por hora, aunque en su paso por aguas cálidas esto puede cambiar y llegar a convertirse en tormentas y ciclones tropicales.

20

3 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

Political Change Requires Unity By: Omar Silva It has become necessary to unite and to focus our efforts on a process aimed at fighting corruption and impunity which has left its mark on our Belize over the last decade.

One of the most significant areas in which that needs to be confronted is the usual bad political practices and decisions to continue accepting the secret dishonest financing that prevails due to its importance in the traditional corruption mechanism.

There are already accusations against the politicians of the UDP in government who could face legal challenges in the future. This includes dozens of its party stalwarts who have taken advantage of the protection and the power they have generated due to their positions in government, and who have abused those positions to commit crimes such as influence peddling and illicit enrichment.

As a result, the political scenario

is now much more refined.

Politics has always been significantly a coveted goal for those accustomed to promoting illegal and corrupt practices. The absence of illicit financing will discourage both those who traditionally give it to them in exchange for perverse benefits, and those who receive them taking advantage of their status as public officials.

The political system still has a long way to go to be promising in future elections. There is much effort that is necessary in this regard: students, professionals, peasants, workers and residents, among others, should meet more frequently and prepare for potential political participation. There is a need for this type of awareness group to emerge and consolidate throughout the country to give a precise interpretation of the national reality and to open the doors to national unity.

Contrary to what the tradition-

2018

al ‘partycracy’ propped up by the plutocracy has been repeating, with respect to the fact that in Belize there are no leaders - as a neutralization strategy of opposition - a large number of Belizeans with innate qualities of leadership are willing to assume their civic responsibility in the upcoming re-registration campaign and organize in order to participate in the upcoming elections.

The majority of Belizeans agree that the current political system has collapsed. We are now cognizant that politics matters a lot, because the future of a municipality or the country in general depends on our choice to participate in a change. We must be aware that only organization and social participation can solve the severe socio-economic crisis we are ex-

periencing, through the rise of new political actors, with political imagination, bold vision and intellectual sobriety.

The cry for change is loud.

The road is increasingly clear.

This implies not only the emergence of a new political structure but leadership in government. It also implies the commitment of the social bases to work hard to win positions of public command and to modify the current structure of our social, political and economic base, which in addition to being obsolete has been at the service of a corrupt party in government. People, organization, unity and participation are now the social pillars for this transcendental change that is already announced throughout our country.

NOTICE RETAIL SPACE REQUIRED Retail space required between 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. Kindly contact 610-0518 with serious inquiries.

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3 JUN

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21

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

Please Help Dear Editor

To: Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Jose Manuel Heredia,

I am writing to you on behalf of the residents, citizens and land owners that live on the south side of Caye Caulker in the communities also know as South Point and Eden Isle.

For the past 20 years we have never had a permanent road built by the GOB that would cross or go around the airstrip.

Instead we have had 2 homemade roads, one for the west side (Eden Isle) and 1 for the east side (South Point) that went around the airstrip. Although these trails worked for the residents and guests living/ staying on the South Side they were and still are illegal as they cross through private property.

The current situation is that the BAA is repairing and upgrading the airstrip. In their plans they call for a fence around the airstrip all the way to the water’s edge on the west side. By doing so they would block our only access to Eden

Isle. On May 22, 2018 the BAA and Caye Caulker Village Council stated they were also closing off the trail/road we currently use to gain access into South Point leaving only a small walking trail along the eastern shore (using the law of Queen’s Land).

We are contacting you for your help in finding a permanent solution in which a proper road would be built. By not having access to the main village, this would put all of the residents and tourists in the South Side without emergency services (Police and Fire) and medical services. Also buying food/water or conducting daily business such as getting the children to school would become a daunting task, much less bringing in materials for home repairs or water when our cisterns run low. In addition to not having a permanent road, this part of the island will never have proper utilities available to them.

The South Side currently has a network of roads inside the communities that the residents repair and maintain without help or financial aid from the Caye Caulker Village Council or the Government of Belize. We are just asking for 1 government road to be built so we do not become separated from the main village of Caye Caulker by the airstrip.

We thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to your help and working with you on this urgent matter.

Best Regards, The Residents of South Side Caye Caulker, Belize Contact Email: jonpine75@ gmail.com

NOTICE CNX RISK ANALYSIS LTD. # 168, 753 (“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 CNX RISK ANALYSIS LTD. has been dissolved as at 24th May, 2018 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent

NOTICE FIRST POINT TRADE LTD. # 168, 751 (“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 FIRST POINT TRADE LTD. has been dissolved as at 24th May, 2018 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent

NOTICE Sea View Enterprises Corporation # 163,155 (“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 Sea View Enterprises Corporation: a) Is in dissolution b) Commenced dissolution on the 23rd day of May 2018; and c) MARIA GLORIA MARINA whose address is Mayor Irusta No. 02900, Bella Vista, 1661, Argentina is the Liquidator of the Company.

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent

NOTICE Ironside Group Ltd. # 89, 419 (“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 Ironside Group Ltd. : a) Is in dissolution b) Commenced dissolution on the 24th day of May 2018; and c) Ho Wai Yee whose address is 7/F, Kin on Commecial Building, 49-51 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong is the Liquidator of the Company.

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent

22

THE BELIZE TIMES

3 JUN

2018

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTIES & ASSETS CARIBBEAN INVESTORS LIMITED Mile 44 George Price Highway, Belmopan, Cayo District

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTIES & ASSETS CARIBBEAN INVESTORS LIMITED PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTIES & ASSETS CARIBBEAN INVESTORS LIMITED 44 George Price Highway, Belmopan, District

BY ORDER of the Receiver,Mile Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Castillo willCayo sell the following properties and assets

at the compound of Messrs. Caribbean Investors Limited, Mile 44 George Price Highway, Cayo District on Mile 44 George Price Highway, Belmopan, Cayo District Saturday 9thof June 2018 at 10:00 am: BY ORDER the Receiver, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Castillo will sell the following properties and assets

BY ORDER of the Receiver, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Castillo will sell the following properties and assets at the compound of at of Messrs.acres Caribbean Limited, Mile 44 George Price 1. the compound 50 Acres + 11.250 Mile 44Investors George Price Highway, Belmopan, CayoHighway, District: Cayo District on Messrs. Caribbean Investors th Limited, Mile 44 George Price Highway, Cayo District on Saturday 9th June 2018 at 10:00 am: Saturday 9 June 2018 at 10:00 am: 1.

50 Acres + 11.250 acres Mile 44 George Price Highway, Belmopan, Cayo District:

REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCELS Belmopan 20 5336 & 5424 (Being 50 Acres of prime development property together with adjoining 11.250 acres with frontage on the REGISTRATION PARCELS George Price Highway, being the access SECTION road as well as compoundBLOCK of Messrs. Caribbean Investors Limited Belmopan 20 5336 &properties 5424 situate near Mile 44 George Price Highway, Belmopan, Cayo District, the freehold of Messrs.

(Being 50 Acres of prime development property together with adjoining 11.250 acres with frontage on the Caribbean Investors Limited.

George Price Highway, being thePine access roadRoad, as well as compound of Messrs.

Caribbean Investors Limited 2.

44.107 acres Mountain Ridge South of Georgeville Village, Cayo District: situate near Mile 44 George Price Highway, Belmopan, Cayo District, the freehold properties of Messrs.

Caribbean Investors Limited.

2.

44.107 acres Mountain Pine Ridge Road, South of Georgeville Village, Cayo District:

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land situate South of Georgeville Village, Cayo District containing 44.107 acres bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 42 of 2003 helb by Minister's Fiat Grant No. 42 of 2003 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. (Being 44.107 acres of land situate ALL piece or Pine parcel of land situate South of Georgeville Village, Cayo District 44.107 acres besideTHAT the Mountain Ridge Road, South of Georgeville Village, Cayo District and containing used by Messrs. bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 42 of 2003 helb by Minister's Fiat Grant No. 42 of 2003 Caribbean Investors Limited to supply limestone materials, the freehold property of Messrs. Caribbean Investors TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. (Being 44.107 acres of land situate Limited). beside the Mountain Pine Ridge Road, South of Georgeville Village, Cayo District and used by Messrs.

3. Granite/Marble Factory Caribbean Investors Limited to supply limestone materials, the freehold property of Messrs. Caribbean Investors Limited).

3. Granite/Marble Factory

4. Culvert/Foundation Piles/Electric Poles Factory

5. Ready Mix Concrete Plant

And sale of a Variety of Tools, fittings, supplies, small motors, parts etc.

TERMS: STRICTLY CASH: TERMS: STRICTLY CASH Kevin A. Castillo Telephone: 223-4488 Email: kevinacas@yahoo.com Facebook: Belize Auctions

KEVIN A. CASTILLO TELEPHONE: 223 4488 Email: kevinacas@yahoo.com Face Book: Belize Auctions

3 JUN

23

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTIES Pooks Hill Road & Roaring Creek River;Camalote; Northeast of San Jose Succotz, Cayo District PUBLIC AUCTION PROPERTIES

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs.

The Belize SALE: Bank Limited, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Pooks Hill Road & Roaring Creek River;Camalote; Northeast of San Jose Parking Succotz, Cayo District Castillo will sell the following properties at the Belize Bank Limited’s Lot, Constitution Drive, Belmopan, Cayo District on Monday 4th June 2018 at 10:00 am:

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs. The Belize Bank Limited, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Castillo will sell

Prayer To The Holy Spirit O Holy Spirit, You who are the Fountainhead of all knowledge, Who Illuminate the path way which enables me to reach my goal. You Who shares your Divine gift permitting me to forgive and forget past insults and injustices, and Who are always at my side within reaching distance. I desire in this short supplication to thank You for all that You have done for me; and to assure You once more that I never want to be separated from You under any circumstances, no matter what the incentive. I want to be with You, I along with my loved ones, cradled in Your unending love. Thank You for your never-failing kindness towards me and those I call my own.

(Prayer to be offered for three consecutive days: Faith in The Holy Spirit will cause Him to respond to your request no matter how difficult the problem might be.

Publish prayer as soon as request has been Granted .)

Thank You Holy Spirit.

W.A.Y.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that Wen Kang Chen is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Dragon Restaurant” located at # 9 Neal’s Penn Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

the following properties at the Belize Bank Limited's Parking Lot, Constitution Drive, Belmopan, Cayo District on Monday 4th June 2018 at 10:00 am: 1.

230.45 Acres of Land along Pook's Hill Road and Roaring Creek River, Teakettle Area, Cayo District:

REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCEL Society Hall 16 2685 (Being 230.45 acres of land situate along the Pook’s Hill Road and beside Roaring Creek River in the general vicinity of the ATM Cave, approximately 7 Kilometers South of Teakettle Village, Cayo District, the freehold property of Messrs. Indeco Enterprises Limited) 2.

Parcel No. 2535 Roaring Creek Village, Cayo District:

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 869.767 square meters (1,040.24 square yards) as shown on the land register of Parcel No. 2535 and the Registry Index Map (RIM) of the Society Hall Registration Section lodged at the office of the Registrar of Lands in Belmopan TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. (Being Parcel No. 2535 containing 869.767 S.M. of vacant land situate in Roaring Creek Village, Cayo District, the freehold property of Ms. Angela Carita Pelayo) 3. Parcel No. 3248 George Price Highway, Camalote Village, Cayo District:

REGISTRATION SECTION Society Hall

4.

BLOCK 24

PARCEL 3248

(Being a vacant highway frontage lot [535.163 square meters (640.05 square yards)] situate beside the George Price Highway in the Village of Camalote, Cayo District, the freehold property of Mr. Armando Coleman) 11.98 Acres of Land, Northeast of San Jose Succotz, Cayo District:

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 11.98 acres of land situated Northeast of San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo District, Belize bounded and described on Plan No. 164 of 2001 at Entry Plan NO. 5609 Reg. 17, and attached to Minister's Fiat (Grant) No. 164 of 2001 dated 19th day of March 2001 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. (Being 11.98 acres of vacant land situate Northeast of San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo District, the freehold property of Mr. Rafael Gregory Reyes and Ms. Jesusita Salazar) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - www.belizebank.com (foreclosure- listing) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TERMS: STRICTLY CASH www.belizebank.com (foreclosure listing) KEVIN A. CASTILLO TELEPHONE: 223-4488 Email: kevinacas@yahoo.com

TERMS: STRICTLY CASH KEVIN A. CASTILLO TELEPHONE: 223 4488 Email: kevinacas@yahoo.com Face Book: Belize Auctions

24

THE BELIZE TIMES

3 JUN

2018

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTY North Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize District PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTY North Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize District

BY ORDER of the Proprietors, Messrs. Light House Reef Resort Limited, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Castillo will sell the following property [16.10 acres of land, North Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize District] at No. 170 Beltex Avenue, Belama Phase 1, Belize City on Wednesday 13th June 2018 at 1:30 pm:

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 16.10 acres of land situate at North Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize District TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. (Being Five (5) reinforced concrete bungalow Resort Cabanas [350 sq. ft. dwelling floor area] and [132.50 sq. ft. verandah] + a concrete bungalow Seaside Restaurant & Bar [1,300 sq. ft.] + a two storey concrete Staff Quarters [1,477.51 sq. ft.] and verandah [445.50 sq. ft.] + a concrete bungalow type Generator and Power Supply House [435 sq. ft.] and 16.10 acres of land on North Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize District, the freehold property of Messrs.

Lighthouse Reef Resort Limited) TERMS: STRICTLY CASH KEVIN A. CASTILLO TELEPHONE 223-4488 E-mail: kevinacas@yahoo.com KEVIN A.Belize CASTILLO Face Book: Auctions

TERMS: STRICTLY CASH TELEPHONE: 223 4488 Email: kevinacas@yahoo.com Face Book: Belize Auctions