Belize Times June 5, 2022 - Administration of Justice

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The Belize Times THE BELIZE TIMES

5 JUN

2022

Established 1957

5 JUNE 2022 | ISSUE NO: 5303

The Truth Shall Make You Free

facebook/belizetimespress | $1.00

STRENGTHENING Administration of Justice Restructuring of the Upper Courts for Greater Efficiency

In early May 2022, as per planBelize, Cabinet gave its approval for major changes to be legislated on our justice system.

The recommendation was for the Attorney General to have a bill at the next sitting of the House of Representatives (now Friday June 3) to restructure the administration of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal with the introduction of the Senior Courts of Belize.

The Senior Courts Bill will seek to do these: 1. Amalgamate the Court of Appeal Act and the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, while introducing changes to the administration of those two courts.

2. It renames the Supreme Court to being the High Court since the Supreme Court is not our apex court. The Caribbean Court

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Digital Transformation on Track with Public Service

30K ATTENDED

AWESOME AGRIC 2022

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PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN Pg. 8

DEFEATING COVID

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UDP INTERFERES IN

VILLAGES SUPER ENDORSING PLANBELIZE

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GRADUATION Shyne Loses Ground & Mind

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VACCINATE BELIZE: IT SAVES LIVES; NOW AVAILABLE FOR 5YRS OLD & UP

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5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

Administration of Justice

Continued from page 1

of Justice is our apex court.

3. Consolidate the judicial leadership of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal by making the Chief Justice the legal and administrative leader of both courts.

4. The Chief Justice is be assisted by a President of the Court of Appeal and two Senior Judges for the High Court, one Senior Court Judge for the Criminal Division and one Se-

nior Court Judge for the Civil Division. This will allow for the Criminal Division to have a dedicated fulltime leader to improve the timely delivery of justice in that division, as well as having a full-time leader in the Civil Division to provide for the efficiency in the Civil Division.

5. In the High Court Civil Division, there are to be specialized divisions which is intended to lead to greater efficiency. There is to be

Cabinet Brief Belmopan. 2nd June 2022 The Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, met in regular session on 30th May 2022. ● ●

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Cabinet received a comprehensive briefing from NEMO and the Chief Met Officer on our state of readiness for the 2022 Hurricane Season.

Cabinet gave its recommendation for the introduction of a bill at the next sitting of the House of Representatives to amend the Belizean Nationality Act, Chapter 161 of the Laws of Belize to provide for the legal regime to implement Amnesty 2022.

Cabinet considered the rising cost of wheat and the overall increase in the cost of production of bread. Cabinet studied various measures designed to keep the cost of bread to consumers as low as possible while ensuring that bakers get a fair return on production as the price of a 16-ounce bread will continue to be controlled.

Cabinet approved a comprehensive National Investment Policy & Strategy to encourage and facilitate private investment in Belize in support of continuing stimulation of economic growth.

Cabinet considered and approved the adoption of the Belize National Child Labour Policy and Strategy 2022-2025. The policy sets goals to reduce the incidence of child labour in Belize with a goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2025. This new policy was drafted with broad consultation and in collaboration with UNICEF, the International Labour Organization, and other relevant national stakeholders.

Cabinet gave its approval for amendments to the statutory instrument regarding water taxi regulations to introduce provisions to improve the safety and efficiency of the water taxi industry.

Cabinet gave its full support for a Summer Internship Program to be managed through the Ministry of the Public Service for 130 students from fourth form and junior colleges. The internship program, which will place students in various government ministries, will be divided into two cohorts lasting for one month in July and August.

Cabinet was updated on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belize. As of 30th April 2022, 217,179 persons or 50.48 percent had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 212,010 or 49.28 percent had been fully vaccinated. Of the population ages 12 to 17 years, 26,695 have received two doses of the vaccines. To date, 49,063 booster shots have been issued.

Presently, there are 1,128 active cases with a positivity rate of 14.2 percent.

Finally, Cabinet advises all Belizeans to continue to adhere to COVID-19 prevention safety measures including wearing a face mask in public, maintaining physical distance where possible and washing hands regularly. Cabinet also encourages all those not yet vaccinated to do so. Vaccines save lives.

a Commercial Division (Contracts, Tort and Corporate matters), Constitutional and Public Law Division (Constitutional challenges, Judicial Review claims, and Case Stated matters), Family and Trust Law Division (Family, Trust and Probate), and such divisions as the Chief Justice may think necessary to add. Specialized courts lead to specialized judges who can swiftly deal with matters having become familiar and experts in particular areas of the law.

6. It introduces additional judicial offices, such as the office of a Master, who will be able to assist judges with pre-trial matters such as interlocutory applications (injunctions, stay of proceedings, specific disclosure), case management, pre-trial and status hearings. This will free up precious judicial time for judges to be able to dedicate their time to the substantive trial of cases, leading to matters moving more swiftly through the courts. Judicial Assistants will also be introduced to assist judges with research of legal issues. There is to also be the introduction of a Chief Registrar to assist the Chief Justice and to administer the Court of Appeal and supervise the Registrar, Deputy Registrars and

2022 Assistant Registrars.

7. It removes contentious fault grounds in divorce proceedings.

Currently, there are five grounds to petition the courts for a divorce: three marital fault grounds namely on the ground of adultery, cruelty, and desertion, and two no-fault ground, namely that the marriage has broken down irretrievably as evidenced by three years separation and, the other, is based on consent of the parties after they have been living separate and apart by one year.

8. The Senior Courts Bills, also, removes provisions which are discriminatory based on sex, so that husband and wives have equal footing on judicial remedies in divorce proceedings. It removes archaic and offensive language to modernize the language.

9. It establishes a Rules Committee, which is chaired by the Chief Justice, to promulgate rules for the efficient management of cases and rules of procedure.

10. It provides for video recordings to eventually replace type-written transcripts which are time consuming and costly to produce and which delay the appeal process and judgement delivery.

VILLAGES SUPER ENDORSING PLANBELIZE Monday, May 30, 2022 Nominations continued this past Sunday, May 29, 2022, in twenty-two (22) villages across the country. Of the 22 villages, the People’s United Party affiliated slates were uncontested in the villages of La Gracia and San Marcos in the Cayo District, Willows Bank and Freetown Sibun in the Belize District and San Pablo in the Toledo District.

Of the fourteen (14) villages that conducted elections yesterday, May 29, 2022, the PUP affiliated slates won seven (7) villages, the UDP affiliated slates won six (6) villages and one (1) village elected an

Independent slate.

The Party congratulates the PUP campaign machinery along with all Candidates who contested yesterday’s elections especially to the fifty (50) PUP Candidates who were victorious! Week Four/Round Four for both Nominations and Elections continue this coming Sunday, June 5, 2022, for another thirty-two (32) villages across the country. Fifteen (15) will be going to Nominations and seventeen (17) will be going to Elections.

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

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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

José Jiménez LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams OFFICE ASSISTANT

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

5 JUN

2022

THE BELIZE TIMES

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EDITORIAL

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WELL DONE!

here is exciting news coming from the Ministry of the Attorney General. The Senior Courts Bill, to be tabled tomorrow at the House of Representatives, seeks to restructure the Upper Courts for greater efficiency by making the Chief Justice the legal and administrative leader of both the renamed High Court and Court of Appeals. It also provides for the President of the Court of Appeals and two Senior Judges for the High Court to assist the Chief Justice. The Senior Court Judges will oversee the Criminal Division and the other the Civil Division. The Civil Division will be further divided into specialized divisions such as Commercial Division, Constitutional and Public Law Division, Judicial Review Claims and Case Stated Matters, Family and Trust Law Division and any other that the Chief Justice sees fit to add. The Bill also seeks to establish a Rules Committee, chaired by the Chief Justice, to pronounce rules for the efficient management of cases and rules of procedure. This Bill will also see the establishment of various judicial offices such as the office of a Master, that will assist judges with pre-trial matters such as injunctions, stay of proceedings, specific disclosures, and case management. Judicial Assistants will also be introduced, as well as Chief Registrar who will supervise the Registrar, Deputy Registrars, and Assistant Registrars.

The Senior Courts Bill does more than just rename the Supreme Court as the High Court and is just another of the many efforts under the steadfast leadership of Hon. Magali Marin-Young, our Attorney General, to ensure that the judicial system is streamlined and working at optimum capacity. Under her short tenure, we have seen the development of two virtual courtrooms for the Attorney General’s Ministry and the Crown Counsels to attend trial virtually. A law library was established in partnership with Belize Electricity Limited and. for which. important treatises and law books were acquired. There has also been the publication of the 2020 Revised Laws of Belize, the last published revised edition was in 2011. The ministry now also boasts a website which provides information on the services that the ministry provides as well as free access to the latest published laws. Human Resources have also been expanded in the Legislative Drafting Unit and there has also been a refocusing of legal aid to assist the representation of persons accused of indictable offences that cannot afford representation.

There have been four new Supreme Court judges acquired, especially to help clear the backlog of cases, through the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Two more are to be appointed by the end of 2022. There have also been four new magistrates appointed. The Family court has been relocated to the Charles Bartlett Hyde Building to be able to provide safer and better facilities for this court. The National Bank Building on Regent Street has also been acquired to house the Court of Appeals and other offices of the Supreme Court.

Perhaps most important to the resilience of our judicial system is the acquisition of the APEX software license that now facilitates the online filing of court documents for the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. This has made all the difference during the pandemic where safety is paramount and is also more cost-effective. The Spotlight initiative has also partnered with the Attorney General’s Ministry and acquired hardware to enable virtual court hearings and allow for the testimony of witnesses from the Kolbe Foundation, thus increasing safety and decreasing costs to taxpayers. Finally, efforts have been made to encourage the Judicial and Legal Service Commission to assert its independence and assume its roles and functions as constituted in the Belize Constitution.

The burning question is always, how will any of this affect Joe and Jane Belizean, who are just normal citizens? The Senior Courts Bill in a nutshell seeks to strengthen the management of the internal affairs of our courts’ system. This will reduce the inefficiency and increase the capacity and competence of our courts. They will be able to deal with these cases much quicker having honed their experience in that area of the law. Introducing additional judicial offices means that judges will be free to deal with the substantiative case matters instead of being bogged down in pre-trial matters, case management, and status hearings. This leads to greater efficiency and swifter outcomes. Other matters that will directly affect the Belizean public are the removal of contentious fault grounds for divorce proceedings. This will speed up matters for Belizeans seeking to terminate their marriage contracts with a minimum of fuss.

The Senior Courts Bill also seeks to modernize the language used and removes those provisions that are discriminatory based on sex and ensures wives have equal footing on judicial remedies in divorce proceedings. Finally, video recordings will eventually be used instead of type-written transcripts and will further reduce costs and delays especially for those seeking appeals and for judgement delivery. There is a great body of work that has already been accomplished. After a decade of neglect, our judicial systems are evolving to meet the needs of today. We know that these will bear increased confidence in our judicial system and, this in turn, spurs investment both national and international. This is just one more PlanBelize commitment achieved. Like Margret Thatcher famously said “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” Well done AG, well done!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

EDITORIAL

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5 JUN

2022

en Español

¡BIEN HECHO!

ay noticias emocionantes provenientes del Ministerio del Fiscal General. El proyecto de Ley de Tribunales Superiores, que se presentará mañana en la Cámara de Representantes, pretende reestructurar los Tribunales Superiores para lograr una mayor eficacia, convirtiendo al Presidente del Tribunal Supremo en el líder jurídico y administrativo tanto del renombrado Tribunal Superior como del Tribunal de Apelación. También prevé que el Presidente del Tribunal de Apelación y dos jueces superiores del Tribunal Superior asistan al Presidente del Tribunal Supremo. Un juez superior se encargará de la Sala de lo Penal y el otro de la Sala de lo Civil. La División Civil se dividirá a su vez en divisiones especializadas, como la División Comercial, la División de Derecho Constitucional y Público, la División de Reclamaciones de Revisión Judicial y de Asuntos de Caso, la División de Derecho de Familia y Fideicomiso y cualquier otra que el Presidente del Tribunal Supremo considere oportuno añadir. El proyecto de ley también pretende establecer un Comité de Reglas, presidido por el Presidente del Tribunal Supremo, para dictar normas para la gestión eficiente de los casos y reglas de procedimiento. Este proyecto de ley también prevé la creación de varias oficinas judiciales, como la oficina de un Director que asistirá a los jueces en los asuntos previos al juicio, como las medidas cautelares, la suspensión de los procedimientos, las revelaciones específicas y la gestión de los casos. También se introducirán asistentes judiciales, así como un secretario jefe que supervisará al secretario, a los secretarios adjuntos y a los secretarios auxiliares.

El Proyecto de Ley de Tribunales Superiores hace algo más que cambiar el nombre del Tribunal Supremo por el de Tribunal Superior y es uno más de los muchos esfuerzos realizados bajo el firme liderazgo de la Honorable Magali Marin-Young, nuestra Fiscal General, para garantizar que el sistema judicial se agilice y funcione a su máxima capacidad. Bajo su breve mandato, hemos visto el desarrollo de dos salas de audiencia virtuales para que el Ministerio de Justicia y los Consejos de la Corona puedan asistir a los juicios de forma virtual. Se ha creado una biblioteca jurídica en colaboración con Belize Electricity Limited, para la que se han adquirido importantes tratados y libros de derecho. También se han publicado las Leyes Revisadas de Belice de 2020, la última edición revisada publicada fue en 2011. El ministerio también cuenta ahora con un sitio web que ofrece información sobre los servicios que presta el ministerio, así como acceso gratuito a las últimas leyes publicadas. También se han ampliado los recursos humanos en la Unidad de Redacción Legislativa y se ha reorientado la asistencia jurídica para ayudar a la representación de las personas acusadas de delitos graves que no pueden permitirse una representación.

Se han contratado cuatro nuevos jueces del Tribunal Supremo, especialmente para ayudar a resolver los casos atrasados, gracias a la ayuda de la Secretaría de la Commonwealth. Se nombrarán otros dos antes de finales de 2022. También se han nombrado cuatro nuevos magistrados. El tribunal de familia se ha trasladado al edificio Charles Bartlett Hyde para poder ofrecer unas instalaciones más seguras y mejores para este tribunal. También se ha adquirido el edificio del National Bank en Regent Street para albergar el Tribunal de Apelación y otras oficinas del Tribunal Supremo.

Tal vez lo más importante para la resiliencia de nuestro sistema judicial sea la adquisición de la licencia del software APEX, que ahora facilita la presentación en línea de los documentos judiciales para el Tribunal de Apelación y el Tribunal Supremo. Esto ha marcado la diferencia durante la pandemia, donde la seguridad es primordial, y además es más rentable. La iniciativa Spotlight también se ha asociado con el Ministerio de Justicia y ha adquirido hardware para posibilitar las audiencias judiciales virtuales y permitir el testimonio de los testigos de la Fundación Kolbe, aumentando así la seguridad y disminuyendo los costes para los contribuyentes. Por último, se han realizado esfuerzos para animar a la Comisión de Servicios Judiciales y Jurídicos a que haga valer su independencia y asuma sus papeles y funciones tal y como están constituidos en la Constitución de Belice.

La pregunta candente es siempre, ¿cómo afectará todo esto a los Beliceños Joe y Jane que son ciudadanos normales? El Proyecto de Ley de Tribunales Superiores, en pocas palabras, pretende reforzar la gestión de los asuntos internos de nuestro sistema judicial. Esto reducirá la ineficacia y aumentará la capacidad y competencia de nuestros tribunales. Podrán ocuparse de estos casos mucho más rápidamente al haber perfeccionado su experiencia en ese ámbito del derecho. La introducción de oficinas judiciales adicionales significa que los jueces estarán libres para ocuparse de los asuntos sustantivos en lugar de estar atascados en asuntos previos al juicio, la gestión de casos y las audiencias de estado. Ello se traduce en una mayor eficacia y una mayor rapidez en los resultados. Otros asuntos que afectarán directamente a los ciudadanos de Belice son la eliminación de los motivos de falta contenciosa en los procedimientos de divorcio. Esto agilizará los asuntos para los beliceños que buscan terminar sus contratos matrimoniales con un mínimo de complicaciones.

El proyecto de ley de tribunales superiores también pretende modernizar el lenguaje utilizado y eliminar las disposiciones discriminatorias por razón de sexo, y garantiza a las esposas la igualdad de recursos judiciales en los procesos de divorcio. Por último, se utilizarán eventualmente grabaciones de vídeo en lugar de transcripciones mecanografiadas y se reducirán aun más los costes y los retrasos, especialmente para los que solicitan recursos y para la emisión de sentencias. Hay un gran trabajo que ya se ha realizado. Tras una década de abandono, nuestros sistemas judiciales están evolucionando para satisfacer las necesidades de hoy. Sabemos que esto supondrá un aumento de la confianza en nuestro sistema judicial y esto, a su vez, estimula la inversión tanto nacional como internacional. Éste es un compromiso más del PlanBelize que se ha cumplido. Como dijo Margaret Thatcher: “Si quieres que te digan algo, pregúntale a un hombre. Si quieres que se haga algo, pídeselo a una mujer”. ¡Bien hecho AG, bien hecho!

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

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30K ATTENDED

AWESOME AGRIC 2022 Prime Minister John Briceño: #PlanBelize is breathing fresh air into our economic sectors. Leading the way is our agriculture sector powered by our “farm to table” vision and strategy. We will feed our people... we will employ our people... and we will build a better Belize .

Agriculture contributes approximately $600 million annually to economic output, representing 80 percent of Belize’s domestic exports, and

directly employs 18 percent of the Belizean population.

Congratulations to Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai and his team at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and all our farmers, especially our farmers of the year 2022. #buildabetterbelize #agriculture #farmtotable The National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS), under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Secu-

Resumen de Sesión del Gabinete Belmopán, 2 de junio de 2022 El Gabinete, presidido por el Primer Ministro, Hon. Johnny Briceño, se reunió en sesión regular el 30 de mayo de 2022. ● •

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El Gabinete recibió detalles comprensivos por parte de NEMO y el Principal Oficial de Meteorología sobre nuestro estado de preparación para la temporada de Huracanes 2022.

El Gabinete dio su recomendación para que se introduzca un Proyecto de Ley en la próxima sesión de la Cámara de Representantes para enmendar el Acta de Nacionalidad Beliceño, capitulo 161 de las Leyes de Belice, para proveer el régimen legal para implementar la Amnistía 2022.

El Gabinete consideró el creciente costo del trigo y el creciente costo general para la producción de pan. El Gabinete estudió varias medidas diseñadas a mantener el costo del pan para los consumidores tan bajo como sea posible mientras que al mismo tiempo se asegura que los panaderos reciban una ganancia justa en su producción ya que el precio del pan de 16 onzas continuará siendo controlado.

El Gabinete aprobó una Política y Estrategia Nacional de Inversión comprensiva para animar y facilitar la inversión privada en Belice en apoyo del continuo estímulo al crecimiento económico.

El Gabinete consideró y aprobó la adopción de la Política Nacional Beliceña sobre el Trabajo Infantil 2022-2025. Esta nueva política fue elaborada en amplias consultas y en colaboración con UNICEF, la Organización Internacional de Trabajo, y otros interesados nacionales pertinentes.

El Gabinete aprobó enmiendas al instrumento legal teniendo que ver con reglamentos para los taxis marítimos para introducir provisiones para mejorar la seguridad y eficiencia de la industria de taxis marítimos.

El Gabinete aprobó un Programa de Práctica Profesional de Verano que será administrado por medio del Ministerio del Servicio Público para 130 estudiantes de cuarta forma y de colegios semi-superiores.

El programa de práctica (pasantía) el cual colocará a estudiantes en diferentes ministerios del gobierno, será dividido en dos grupos de edad, por la duración de un mes, en julio y en agosto.

Se le informó al Gabinete de los detalles mas recientes en cuanto al estado de la pandemia COVID-19 en Belice. Para el 30 de abril de 2022; 217,179 personas o sea el 50.48 por ciento habían recibido por lo menos una dosis de la vacuna y 212,010 o sea el 49.28 por ciento habían sido totalmente vacunadas. De las edades de población entre 12 y 17 años, 26,695 habían recibido dos dosis de las vacunas. Hasta hoy, 49,063 vacunas de refuerzo habían sido administradas. Hasta ahora, hay 1,128 casos activos con un índice de positividad del 14.2 por ciento.

Finalmente, el Gabinete aconseja a todos los Beliceños que continúen cumpliendo con las medidas de seguridad en cuanto al COVID-19 incluyendo utilizar su mascarilla al estar en público, mantener el distanciamiento físico en todo lo posible, y lavarse las manos regularmente. El Gabinete también anima a todos aquellos que todavía no se han vacunado, a que lo hagan. Las vacunas salvan vidas.

rity and Enterprise, was held on May 27, 28, and 29, 2022, under the theme “Innovations in technology: Driving a Climate Resilient and Competitive Agriculture and Food Sector”.

This year’s show welcomed over 29,137 visitors, regional delegates and guests. Despite the inclement weather in the last hours of the show on Sunday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise considers the event a huge success.

There were no major incidents reported in connection with the event.

The bull’s escape from the rodeo arena on Sunday was regrettable. The ministry is grateful that no one was seriously injured; the animal was quickly captured by the rodeo team and returned to its pen with no further issues.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise thanks all those who attended the show including the committee members who gave their time and energy to help plan and coordinate the event. The ministry also extends a special thanks to the sponsors and collaborating agencies such as the Belize Police Department, Belmopan City Council, Total Business Solutions Ltd, Beltraide, Development Finance Corporation, vendors, exhibitors, and service providers. Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, acknowledges the efforts of the staff of the ministry in contributing to this successful event.

The proposed dates for the National Agriculture and Trade Show 2023 are April 28, 29, and 30, 2023.

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5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

BY ORDER OF CHARGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL

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

2022

LET US RECALL

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

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

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 327.49 square yards being Parcel 513, Block 45 in the Lake Independence Registration Section TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of HENRY AUGUSTUS SAMUELS JR. DATED this 30th day of May 2022 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738 E-mail: foreclosures@hrcubelize.org

DENISE BARROW - Missing House meetings (ALL House Sittings in memory) - Absent from her job - Not Representing the people of Queen Square as she swore - Paid taxpayers’ dollars to ride a bike - Nephew Shyne is happy to count on her vote - Patt, Tracy and Faber silent on the issue - ALL UDPs support this Gapi move - Queen’s Square deserves better - Belize deserves respect

CARTOON

5 JUN

2022

Digital Transformation on Track with Public Service Training The biggest news this week was that public officers in the entire public service, as well as all municipal employees, were receiving formal training in digital technology to be able to function using the new digital network that the government is introducing across all its ministries and municipalities.

Bearing the theme ‘Towards a Digital Belize’, the four-year agenda seeks to build trust in government services by simplifying procedures, improving service delivery, and facilitating economic recovery through digitalization.

The four-week training comes as part of the new system that the Ministry of E-Governance has been leading the way since late last year, when Cabinet voted unanimously in favour of it.

Through IDB funding and training provided by the UNDP, you, the citizens at home, and everyone else abroad can access information or make applications for relevant documents, from any part of the country or the world, by following a few simple steps from your laptop. So essentially, a process that used to take sometimes several trips to an office, standing in a line for hours, and then waiting for a week for the process to complete, can now be done in a few minutes.

CEO in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics & E-Governance, Jose Urbina said this week that the system is designed to function from ministry to ministry, if the service you are seeking entails more than one ministry’s input: “What the digital transformation within government entails is that the citizen has made a renewal of their passport at Immigration, and Immigration has captured that information, that

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THE BELIZE TIMES

information would then be shared within ministries,” Urbina said. “We look at the processes, how do we interact, for example with the Treasury, or if we need to make a payment, let’s do online payment. How do we synchronize online payment with the Treasury with a Treasury receipt so that we as citizens don’t need to go to the Treasury, make a payment, come back to the Department and show it as proof of payment?”

Foreign investors and potential business owners who have to go through an entire ordeal in the past spanning months, they will now register and open a business and will also now enjoy the lightning-fast service.

“When we look at small businesses or even medium to large businesses that want to register, that also need to interact with the local building authority or the Central Building Authority, especially when you look at foreign investment also, you need to interact with Central Bank and DOE. These are the inter-operabilities that need to happen within governments so that we’re able to facilitate the process. For a foreign investor to come into our country, right now it takes almost a year to process. Once the process is working properly, we can cut it down to a week, or almost overnight,” the CEO indicated.

Spearheading the training for the UNDP is that organization’s Resident Representative, Ian King, who advised that the digital network would have to be protected to deter hackers from acts of terrorism against those types of situations.

PUBLIC AUCTION SALES: PROPERTIES Dangriga, Hope Creek & Independence Villages, Stann Creek District By order of the Mortgagees, Messrs. The Belize Bank Limited, Licensed Auctioneers Kevin A. Castillo & Christiana R. Castillo are selling ONLINE via belizepropertyauctions.com the below described properties. Sales currently running until 13th August 2022. These online public auction sales will expire bi-weekly on the dates and times listed on the website until a sale is determined within this period.

1. Parcel No. 355 Simeon Joseph Street, Dangriga, Stann Creek District:

REGISTRATION SECTION

BLOCK

PARCEL

Dangriga South

31

355

(Being a bungalow dwelling house [1,368 sq. ft.] containing 3 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + kitchen/dining/living rooms + laundry room + front & rear porch TOGETHER with lot [482.87 S.M.] situate on Simeon Joseph Street, Dangriga, Stann Creek District, the freehold property of Mr. Ian Rosado) 2. Lot Nos. 90 & 91 Hope Creek Village, Stann Creek District:

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot Nos. 90 & 91 situated in Hope Creek village, Stann Creek District containing 766.202 & 766.202 S.M. TOGETHER with all buildings and erections thereon. (Being a concrete bungalow dwelling house containing [1,472 sq. ft.] 3 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + living/dining/kitchen rooms TOGETHER with two lots [1,532 S.M.] situate in Hope Creek Village, Stann Creek District, the leasehold property of Ms. Myrna & Mr. Carlos Murillo) 3. Lot No. 33 Independence Village, Stann Creek District:

Third Cohort Completes Female Entrepreneurship Program City of Belmopan, May 31, 2022. The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration with financial support from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) through Taiwan ICDF, completed training for the Third Cohort of the “Female Entrepreneurship Program” (FEP).

The Third Cohort Program was conducted throughout March-April, with 12 women entrepreneurs from diverse sectors, including agro-processing, creative industries, health and wellness, and food and beverages, from the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts. The participants received training and advisory on innovation and entrepreneurship to develop and validate their business model. They also attended customized workshops on legal frameworks for gender equality, women’s human rights, personal and business goals and financial literacy, all geared toward improving and strengthening their leadership abilities and economic sustainability.

CENPROMYPE, the Regional Center that promotes MSME within Central America, assisted in designed the methodology to implement the FEP Program, which culminated with a graduation ceremony on June 2, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at The Deck, Tower Hill, Orange Walk. Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceno Ms. Amalia Mai, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador David Kuan- Chou Chien, Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Belize, present at the ceremony.

BELTRAIDE takes this opportunity to congratulate the women on completing their training and graduating from the Female Entrepreneurship Program.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 33 comprising of 1671.873 sq. metres (1999.56 sq. yards) situate in Independence Village, Stann Creek District bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 1283 of 2003 attached to Minister’s fiat Grant No. 1283 of 2003 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections thereon. (Being a two storey concrete dwelling house containing [1,304 sq. ft.] Ground floor - 2 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + living/dining/kitchen + porch; First Floor – 2 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + living/dining/kitchen + porch TOGETHER with lots [1671.873 S.M.] situate in Independence Village, Stann Creek District, the freehold property of Mr. Venerio Salam)

“FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & PHOTOGRAPHS PLEASE VISIT WEBSITE”

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

8 08 8 PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN DEFEATING COVID

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

Defeating Covid: PlanBelize is clear. The Belizean people led by the PUP will defeat Covid-19 and reverse the UDP’s criminal mismanagement of the onset of the coronavirus was once novel but now is still infecting our world population via increasingly contagious variants. Our children easily make up the majority of our population. It goes to logic that vaccinating our children protect all our population and allow greater freedom in the classrooms of the nation. Again, this is all thanks to our Vaccine diplomacy and in this case the Republic of Slovakia.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness is pleased to announce that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children, ages five to 11, have arrived in Belize.

The vaccines will be made available at schools and vaccination sites countrywide through collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Vaccinated children have a lower risk for infections, severe illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 as well as a lower chance of getting sick and spreading the virus to their homes and other children in school.

Protecting children is the collective responsibility of parents, the community and the government.

2022 FIRST NOTICE

Pursuant to Section 10 (3) of the Belize Mines and Minerals Act, Chapter 226, Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, Enrick Mendez of Frank’s Eddy Village, Cayo District, Belize, Belize C.A., has applied to the Honourable Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum & Mining, through the Inspector of Mines, Mining Unit; for a renewal of a Mining License No. 3 of 2018, to extract sand and gravel from an area of the Sibun River in the Frank’s Eddy area, Cayo District, Belize C.A., Belize District.

Eastings Northings 1) 330700 1902860 2) 330625 1902926 3) 330021 1902967 4) 329000 1904194 5) 329216 1905099 The areas to be mined comprise approximately five (5) acres.

Pfizer Pediatric Vaccines

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has received a procurement of over a hundred thousand doses of the Pfizer pediatric vaccines. The donation was made possible through a partnership between the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Republic of Slovakia. Altogether, exactly a hundred and twenty-four thousand doses were handed over to the Ministry of Health and Wellness today. Head of the EU Technical Support Office, Xavier Canton-Lamousses aid the EU has been there to help protect our people. Thanks again to the European Union and the Republic of Slovakia.

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S MINISTRY VACANCY NOTICE Suitably qualified applicants are invited to fill the position of:

SENIOR LITIGATOR Terms of Reference are attached Applicants for the position of Senior Litigator:

Ambassador Pitts Commencement Address in Taiwan

a) must be: i. qualified to practice as an attorney-at-law or as an advocate in a court in any other part of the Commonwealth having unlimited jurisdiction either in civil or criminal causes or matters; and ii. has been qualified for not less than five years so to practice in such a court. b) must be in good health. c) must be a person who conducts himself at all times, both in his professional and in his personal life, in a manner that will maintain public confidence in the standards of the legal profession.

Experience and training required:

05/28/22 - The National Ching Hsing University invited H.E. Ambassador Dr. Candice A. Pitts to be the commencement speaker of the university’s 2022 commencement activities.

In her graduation address, Ambassador Pitts indicated that she had delivered graduation speeches before, but that this was her first university address and her first in Taiwan, so she was particularly honored.

She congratulated all the graduands, and on behalf of the entire country of Belize, she extended special recognition to Yuri Leonardo Tzul, the Belizean student who was graduating.

Ambassador Pitts informed NCHU’s students that she was particularly proud and impressed by them for completing their studies during a time when unimaginable changes engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to assault the world.

Furthermore, Ambassador Pitts encouraged students to continue to persevere, much like the world leaders and local leaders they find admirable and who inserted their names in the list of great, resilient, and redoubtable people because they did not quit.

To conclude, Ambassador Pitts stated that while the challenges of their lives may be reminiscent of Sisyphus’s life—the Greek mythological character who was cursed to roll a boulder up a hill—these challenges must not defeat them. Unlike Sisyphus, who only managed to repeatedly and only roll his boulder to one point on the hill, students must persevere and roll their boulder over the hill.

They must persevere, because according to Ambassador, “your family, your community, your country, and the world are in need of your perseverance, your education, your training, and your God-given talents.”(Taiwan embassy release)

a) Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience as a practicing attorney-at-law in the area of civil litigation of complex legal matters specifically in public law (constitutional law and administrative law) and human rights law; b) Bachelor of Laws Degree from a recognized institution; and c) Legal Education Certificate or equivalent from a recognized institution.

Salary: BZD $84k per annum with allowances.

Interested persons may download an application package from the Attorney General’s Ministry Website – www.agm.gov.bz or submit in writing to: The Secretary, Judicial and Legal Services Commission Ground Floor, Sir. Edney Cain Building Thru’ the Office of the Solicitor General Attorney General’s Ministry Belmopan City, Cayo District Belize, Central America Telephone number: 822-2504 or 822-0519 email address: agsecretary@agm.gov.bz Deadline for receipt of applications: June 17, 2022 Applicants must submit proof of qualifications and two reference contacts along

5 JUN

2022

UDP Interferes in Graduation

Shyne Losing Ground & Mind High School graduations are one of the most memorable highlights of a child’s formal education and commencement into adulthood.

Schools are tasked with educating the young and are tasked by parents to make many decisions in the many years of education their sons and daughters. If a school decides to keep an ex-felon away then the school must be lauded. If the UDP wants an ex-felon as their leader let them…but let him stay away from schools. Today’s UDP and its corrupt media tentacles found a way to attempt to interfere in the education of our young. Vintage Barrow UDP, they found a way to attempt to corrupt a commencement exercise. By jove, the UDP has engrained onto itself the Barrow touch...Midas is to gold but UDP is to corrupting anything they fondle.

It is bad enough that in this Village Council Election time that the LOO and deplorables lie to the people hoping to catch some sleeping but that they interfere in a commencement exercise is unpardonable. The Julian Cho High School in Toledo smelled a con before it was able to grow roots. As the prospective graduates were given the opportunity to choose or elect a commencement speaker, Faber/Coc leftover UDPs were conniving. They wanted to pass Shyne as a credible leader. It did not work as the students have real loving guardians.

Commencement speakers at graduations are outstanding citizens of the community that could leave a lasting message on graduation day to students. The jury is out on the effectiveness of this. Nevertheless, schools opt to have the speech or not and the institutions will have varied ways of selecting the person most able to deliver such an address. This method is the prerogative of the school and definitely not an ex-con. No!!

At Julian Cho this year, there seems to have been a back and forth with a shortlist of five that somehow had the ex-con Moses Barrow or Shyne as a possible pick.

Apparently, less than 20 percent of the candidates to a Julian Cho diploma voted. Shyne was obviously NOT a good pick. This daddy-picked ambassador is a great example of who NOT to be.

The reason this is a story is because the UDP interfered in this pristine situation by complaining.

No one of value complains about not being selected by a school to do a commencement address. Generally, candidates only know if the invitation comes to them.

099

THE BELIZE TIMES

Which parent would want an excon talk to their children? I wouldn’t.

I would pull my child from the graduation ceremony if such would be the case.

Shyne should apologize to the school for complaining as the school can do as they please with the students’ education and best choice for their future. It is called educating the young.

This is a good opportunity for Shyne to show that he means well by resigning from Mesopotamia and get himself a job for the first time in his life. Take it LOO. Syne and the United Democratic Group(UDG) obviously have lost it.

One of the latest twists to the UDG’s lacklustre showing for the 2022 Village Council Elections is that Hugo Patt is holding on to Corozal North.

With a slim 5 to 4 lead Patt and San Pedro exile cannot believe the slippery slope UDP Corozal North is on.

Right under the nose of the incompetent caretaker, PlanBelize captured the hearts of Paraiso Village which for all intents is the barometer for Corozal North.

Patt’s infamous legacy at the moment is topped by being defended by Dean Barrow. Patt has never gotten it. Being in cahoots with Barrow is being a part of 13 years of repression of the resilient Belizean spirit. Tacoma Patt can be heard trying in the House. He attempts to sound Barrowish but no can do. Shyne always outcons 2.0 Patt.

What is poignant is that some remnants of the UDP seem to believe that if they partially confess UDP corruption that somehow exoneration showers on them. No!!

Mr. and Mrs. UDP any internal attack needs proof, and should be submitted at the Police Station. This should come along with a resignation which would give the past UDP credibility even if in jail. History would now show you as honourable enough to pay for your transgressions as the law calls for.

Village Council 2022 nevertheless is an exercise that shows the success of the government. In this year’s case, planBelize is sweeping UDP horror out and people can appreciate the change. Barrow going to some villages helps the thinking villagers to see the farce.

Finally, the UDP has won 18 villages...wow. They got 30 plus percent of the votes at the last major elections. Now they might get to 20 percent of villages. The UDG is still losing political ground and will continue in effect losing their mind. The UDP is now the UDG…they are not even a mass party anymore.

Government of Belize Basic Needs Trust Fund Tenth Project (BNTF10) Consultancy Services for the Design and Supervision of Construction Works for the Proposed Mabil Ha Water Supply Services Sub-project, Mabil Ha, Toledo District, Belize Request for Expressions of Interest The Government of Belize (GOBZ) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in an amount equivalent to US$5,031,000.00 towards implementing the BNTF10 Country Project and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOBZ and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than GOBZ shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF), the Executing Agency (EA), now wishes to procure consultancy services for the design and supervision of infrastructure works for the proposed Mabil Ha Water Supply System, Mabil Ha Village, Toledo District, Belize (Large Sub-project).

The objective of the consultancy is to provide technical support to the EA during the implementation of the BNTF10 Country Project. Consulting firms will be required to review existing designs and estimates (where available); advise on scope and adequacy of sub-project intervention; and provide detailed designs, summary estimates, and priced activity schedules. The work must consider thematic areas such as gender and environmental assessments, and shall seek to integrate disaster mitigation measures into designs. Consulting firms will also be required to provide technical inspection of construction works. The duration of the assignment is expected to be for a period of approximately twenty-four (24) months.

The BSIF now invites interested eligible consulting firms to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) indicating qualifications and experience required to provide these Consultancy Services.

Consultants shall be eligible to participate if: (a) in the case of the body corporate, it is legally incorporated or otherwise organized in an eligible country, has its principal place of business in an eligible country and is more than 50% beneficially owned by a citizen(s) and/or bona fide resident(s) of an eligible country(ies) or by a body(ies) corporate meeting these requirements; (b) in the case of unincorporated firms, the persons are citizens or bona fide residents of an eligible country; and (c) in all cases, the consultant has no arrangement and undertakes not to make any arrangements, whereby any substantial part of the net profits or other tangible benefits of the contract will accrue or be paid to a person not a citizen or bona fide resident of an eligible country.

Eligible countries are member countries of CDB. Consultants are advised to review the detailed eligibility criteria detailed in Section 4 and conflict of interest provisions in Section 5 of the Procurement Procedures for Projects Financed by CDB (January, 2021), as published on CDB’s website (caribank.org).

In the assessment of submissions, consideration will be given to consulting firms’ technical competence, qualifications and experience in relation to providing detailed design and construction supervision services for water supply projects, as well as local and regional experience, financial capability and existing commitments. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

All information must be submitted in English. Further information may be obtained from the first address below between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday (Belize Time), except on Public Holidays.

The Expression of Interest must be received electronically at the first (BSIF) and second (CDB) address below no later than 2:00 p.m. (Belize time) on Monday, June 20, 2022. The subject line of the email containing each submission shall be clearly marked “BNTF10 - Expressions of Interest – Consultancy Services for the Design and Supervision of Construction Works for the Proposed Mabil Ha Water Supply Services Sub-project, Mabil Ha Village, Toledo District, Belize Following the assessment of submissions, a short-list of not less than three (3) and not more than six (6) applicants will be provided with full terms of reference and invited to submit technical and financial proposals to undertake the assignment. Following the submission of proposals, a Consultant shall be selected by utilizing the Least Cost Selection (LCS) method. GOB reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety. It will not be bound to assign any reason for not short-listing any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.

Addresses: 1. Senior Procurement Officer Belize Social Investment Fund 3rd Floor #1902 Constitution Drive Belmopan BELIZE Tel. (501) 822-0239; Fax. (501) 822-0279 Email: submissions@sifbelize.org

2. Procurement Officer Caribbean Development Bank P.O. Box 408 Wildey St. Michael BARBADOS, W.I. Tel. (246) 431-1600; Fax. (246) 426-7269 Email: procurement@caribank.org cc: omar.bispat@caribank.org

10 2022 ATLANTIC BASIN HURRICANE SEASON TAKES OFF

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

Government of Belize Basic Needs Trust Fund Tenth Project (BNTF10) Consultancy Services for the Design and Supervision of Construction Works for the Proposed Mafredi Water Supply Services Sub-project, Mafredi Village, Toledo District, Belize Request for Expressions of Interest The Government of Belize (GOBZ) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in an amount equivalent to US$5,031,000.00 towards implementing the BNTF10 Country Project and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOBZ and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

No party other than GOBZ shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF), the Executing Agency (EA), now wishes to procure consultancy services for the design and supervision of infrastructure works for the proposed Mafredi Water Supply System, Mafredi Village, Toledo District, Belize (Large Sub-project).

Today, Wednesday, 1st June marks the official start of the 2022 hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin (North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico). The season runs from 1st June to 30th November each year. However, there are occasions when a tropical cyclone may form outside of this period.

The 2022 forecast is suggesting that tropical cyclone activity will be above normal in the Atlantic Basin. The prediction is for there to be fourteen to twenty-one named storms. Of those, six to ten are expected to become hurricanes and three to six are expected to become major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). An average season in the Atlantic Basin consists of fourteen named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The two main factors supporting an active 2022 Atlantic hurricane season are: (1) El Nino is not expected this year; therefore, this factor will not contribute to the suppression of tropical cyclone activity, while La Nina conditions could potentially allow for heightened tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin.

(2) Warmer than average sea surface temperatures are expected in the Atlantic Basin, which tends to favour hurricane development.

What Does this Mean for Belize? Seasonal predictions give us an indication of how active a particular hurricane season is expected to be, but they do not tell us when a particular hurricane will develop or where it will track once developed. One or more of the 14 to 21 named storms forecast to develop this season could hit the country, or none at all. Therefore, as a nation located in an area vulnerable to the hazards posed by tropical cyclones, we should be prepared each year no matter what the forecast is.

The team of experts at the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize in the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, will use all assets at its disposal to monitor and track developing systems and alert the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the general public in a timely manner should any system pose a threat to Belize.

In order to better serve the Belizean public with more precise, relevant and user-friendly information, starting on June 1, 2022, the Department will be launching a 24-hour forecast for the major municipalities across the country. The Department will also be issuing a more detailed and graphically enhanced once-weekly tropical weather outlook. This product will be updated more frequently if a system is posing a direct threat to the country. These new products will be available at the Department’s website at www.nms.gov.bz.

The NMS and NEMO take this opportunity to advise members of the general public to review their family emergency plans and to be prepared for any eventuality during the 2022 Hurricane Season. The public is also reminded that it is an offence to share false information. Only official information from the NMS and NEMO should be followed.

The objective of the consultancy is to provide technical support to the EA during the implementation of the BNTF10 Country Project. Consulting firms will be required to review existing designs and estimates (where available); advise on scope and adequacy of sub-project intervention; and provide detailed designs, summary estimates, and priced activity schedules. The work must consider thematic areas such as gender and environmental assessments, and shall seek to integrate disaster mitigation measures into designs. Consulting firms will also be required to provide technical inspection of construction works. The duration of the assignment is expected to be for a period of approximately twenty-four (24) months.

The BSIF now invites interested eligible consulting firms to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) indicating qualifications and experience required to provide these Consultancy Services.

Consultants shall be eligible to participate if: (a) in the case of the body corporate, it is legally incorporated or otherwise organized in an eligible country, has its principal place of business in an eligible country and is more than 50% beneficially owned by a citizen(s) and/or bona fide resident(s) of an eligible country(ies) or by a body(ies) corporate meeting these requirements; (b) in the case of unincorporated firms, the persons are citizens or bona fide residents of an eligible country; and (c) in all cases, the consultant has no arrangement and undertakes not to make any arrangements, whereby any substantial part of the net profits or other tangible benefits of the contract will accrue or be paid to a person not a citizen or bona fide resident of an eligible country.

Eligible countries are member countries of CDB. Consultants are advised to review the detailed eligibility criteria detailed in Section 4 and conflict of interest provisions in Section 5 of the Procurement Procedures for Projects Financed by CDB (January, 2021), as published on CDB’s website (caribank.org).

In the assessment of submissions, consideration will be given to consulting firms’ technical competence, qualifications and experience in relation to providing detailed design and construction supervision services for water supply projects, as well as local and regional experience, financial capability and existing commitments. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

All information must be submitted in English. Further information may be obtained from the first address below between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday (Belize Time), except on Public Holidays.

The Expression of Interest must be received electronically at the first (BSIF) and second (CDB) address below no later than 2:00 p.m. (Belize time) on Monday, June 20, 2022. The subject line of the email containing each submission shall be clearly marked “BNTF10 - Expressions of Interest – Consultancy Services for the Design and Supervision of Construction Works for the Proposed Mafredi Water Supply Services Sub-project, Mafredi Village, Toledo District, Belize Following the assessment of submissions, a short-list of not less than three (3) and not more than six (6) applicants will be provided with full terms of reference and invited to submit technical and financial proposals to undertake the assignment. Following the submission of proposals, a Consultant shall be selected by utilizing the Least Cost Selection (LCS) method. GOB reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety.

It will not be bound to assign any reason for not short-listing any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.

Addresses: 1. Senior Procurement Officer Belize Social Investment Fund 3rd Floor #1902 Constitution Drive Belmopan BELIZE Tel. (501) 822-0239; Fax. (501) 822-0279 Email: submissions@sifbelize.org

2. Procurement Officer Caribbean Development Bank P.O. Box 408 Wildey St. Michael BARBADOS, W.I. Tel. (246) 431-1600; Fax. (246) 426-7269 Email: procurement@caribank.org cc: omar.bispat@caribank.org

5 JUN

2022

11

THE BELIZE TIMES

VOICE OF THE COMMON MAN

“TOURISM IS THE JUGGERNAUT OF THE ECONOMY”

By Hilly Bennett Upon taking the helm of the Ministry of Tourism, Minister Anthony Mahler with the additional responsibilities for Diaspora Relations, has been on a vigorous campaign to make tourism the juggernaut of the Belizean economy thus continuing the vision he pursued while in the employ at the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) in early 2000s.

The one-of-a-kind music and food festival, the Belize International Music & Food Festival (BIMFF) is now a significant part of the campaign.

On Monday, May 23, 2022 Mahler flanked by Evan Tillett, Director of Tourism, Josue Carballo, Director of Industry Development and John Marsden of Mars Production presented the official media launch at the Belize Western Biltmore Plaza in the Toucan Hall Room on the Philip Goldson Highway to bring awareness to what is being touted as a mega event, a first-of-a-kind, the biggest and ‘baddest’ concert to be held in the Jewel-the BIMFF. The festival will feature different Belize and international music genres including Reggae, Afrobeats, Dancehall, Soca, Punta and Latin beats.

The head table was joined by an audience of tourism stakeholders, government officials and Belizean musicians. Additionally, the event included the signing of some fifteen Belizean artists unto contracts to perform at the festival. Amongst the fifteen were Supa G, TR Shine, Ernestine “Soca Queen” Carballo, Stig Da Artist, and King Rome that will take the musical platform with rising sensation Koffee, Patrice “Till a Ole and gray” Roberts, Demarco, Timaya, Barrington Levy, Ricardo Drue, Teddyson John, Farmer Nappy, Lil Natty and Thunda, Sonora Dinamita, (a Mexican Cumbia group), DJ International Stephen, and DJ Supa Twitch. The BIMFF will be held at the Saca Chispas Football Stadium in La Isla Bonita, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye on July 30-31. The mega event will be complemented by a local gastronomic explosion of an exquisite Belizean culinary cuisine indulging the visitors with a rich experience of the Belizean culture.

Importantly, Minister Mahler, at the launch, was emphatic that: “It is important for us as a country to support our musicians. This music festival will create a platform whereby we can build exposure for our local artists.

We are investing in our culture and creativity because we want to create a continuous platform for our artists to excel. We want our music and our Belize brand to be out there.”

This is obviously a paradigm shift from the defunct Music Ambassador Moshe Levi Ben David AKA “Shyne” who cared not about Belize’s Musical talent. During a media interview at the failed MCC musical launch in March 2011 Shyne LOO13 the megalomaniac clown said “I can’t be a local success or a local hero. I gotta be big on the charts like I once was… so this is the launch, me going back. I’m going to Paris, I’m going to Africa, I’m going to Germany, London, everywhere to promote Shyne...” As musical Ambassador, it was all about promoting himself and to hell with the local artists.

However, in a feeble attempt using the red hydra’s deceptive style to undermine the super gala, BIMFF, Shyne is questioning the funding and the remuneration for the local artists. Must LOO13 be reminded of the failed pre-release album concert for his post-prison compilation? It was promoter Ritchie Galvez who said that Shyne promised, but left not even a glimmer. A large crowd of Belizeans expecting to see big names artists like Wyclef, Ashanti, Nelly, Busta Rhymes, Little Kim, Rick Ross and even Rihanna, were conned outta their fifty dollar concert tickets. Nonetheless, Shyne was paid over fifty thousand Belize dollars. Thereafter, the con ‘fled’ to his “homeland” Israel leaving behind a huge debt at the Renaissance Towers. Evidently, Shyne Barrow has no moral authority to question the financials of BTB’s innovative musical venture and its objectives, especially now in the era of planBelize and the accountability that it requires.

The objectives are: *To create an immersive tourism experience through music and culture that will strengthen Belize’s image as a premier destination for visitors across the globe; *To use the festival as a platform for Belizean artists to showcase their talent, network with each other, and build relationships for international growth; *To increase domestic, regional and international tourism traffic during the industry’s historically slow season; *To support the goal of the creation of a state-of-the-art music studio that will serve as a hub for local artists and musicians.

The iterations for the Belize International Music & Food Festival indicated a vast return on investment. The event is likely to be another feather in Minister Mahler cap since surpassing the projected forecast set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of tourism returning in 2023. Initiatives like the BIMFF is just another push to the realized vision of Anthony Mahler and planBelize for tourism becoming the juggernaut of the Belizean economy.

Let’s do what is best for Belizean music!

NOTICE Anthony & CO., LTD. #115,976 (“the Company”)

Notice is hereby given that the Company named Anthony & CO., LTD. has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the 13th May, 2022.

CILTrust International Limited Registered Agent

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S MINISTRY VACANCY NOTICE Suitably qualified applicants are invited to fill the position of:

CROWN COUNSEL, LITIGATION UNIT, CIVIL DIVISION Terms of Reference are attached Applicants for the position of Crown Counsel: a) must be: i. qualified to practice as an attorney-at-law in a court in Belize or as an advocate in a court in any other part of the Commonwealth having unlimited jurisdiction either in civil or criminal causes or matters; and ii. has been qualified for not less than five years so to practice in such a court. b) must be in good health. c)must be a person who conducts himself at all times, both in his professional and in his personal life, in a manner that will maintain public confidence in the standards of the legal profession.

Experience and training required: a) Minimum of four (4) years’ experience as a practicing attorney-at-law in the area of civil litigation; b) Bachelor of Laws Degree from a recognized institution; and c) Legal Education Certificate or equivalent from a recognized institution.

Interested persons may download an application package from the Attorney General’s Ministry Website – www.agm.gov.bz or submit in writing to: The Secretary, Judicial and Legal Services Commission Ground Floor, Sir. Edney Cain Building Thru’ the Office of the Solicitor General Attorney General’s Ministry Belmopan City, Cayo District Belize, Central America Telephone number: 822-2504 or 822-0519 email address: agsecretary@agm.gov.bz Deadline for receipt of applications: June 17, 2022 Applicants must submit proof of qualifications and two reference contacts along with application.

Note: Only suitably qualified applicants will be acknowledged. Commission is not bound to make an appointment from among those persons who apply.

12

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

25 May 2022 - The Bowen & Bowen National Spelling Bee, held in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and supported by The Coca-Cola Company, will return in 2023 and promises to be as exciting as ever.

For over twenty years, the Bowen

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICE: Notice is hereby given that Geraldine Roca is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “P J’s Hideaway” located in Willow’s Bank Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that M & S Enterprise Ltd. is applying for a Malt & Cider Liquor License to be operated at “OMG Cafe” located at # 2 Regent Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Paula L. Montoya is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “A & L Grocry Store” located at # 37 Water Lane, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Daisybelle A. Foreman is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Mark & Sons Grocery” located at # 4135 Casuarina Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

2022

BOWEN & BOWEN NATIONAL SPELLING BEE TO RETURN IN 2023 A Belizean favourite makes a comeback

& Bowen National Spelling Bee has given students country-wide an equal opportunity to shine. This academic contest promotes education, builds self-confidence, and provides an opportunity for students to engage in healthy and fun competition.

The Bowen & Bowen National Spelling Bee was put on pause in 2020 to comply with government guidelines and help protect the health of everyone involved.

However, with schools returning to normalcy, the decision has been made to prepare for a 2023 return. Planning for next year’s Bowen & Bowen National Spelling Bee has already commenced. Everyone can look forward to a fun and dynamic contest, highlighting the best of Belize’s young spellers.

VACANCY

NOTICE Security Officer

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to fill the following post in the Security Department. In the Port’s continued effort to promote diversity both males/females,able/ differently abled are encouraged to apply for the available post.

Reports to: Chief Security & Safety Officer Summary of Responsibilities: Ensuring the safety and security of designated properties, assets, personnel, and visitors. Responsibilities include patrolling the premises, setting up security controls, monitoring property access, investigating suspicious behavior, and enforcing company policies.

Notice is hereby given that Victor R. Itza is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Hanna’s Cool Spot” located in Succotz Village, Cayo District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Primary Responsibilities: a. Patrol of Pier, Transit Sheds, Compounds, Office. Low Berth etc. as instructed b. Control of Entry and exit points of Facility c. Surveillance of cargo from ship to delivery d. Deposits to the banks e. You are to be verse with the Port of Belize Limited Surveillance System & Security Manual f. Any other duties of a related nature assigned from time to time.

Notice is hereby given that Jian Feng Zhou is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “23 Plus Shop” located in Roaring Creek Village, Cayo District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

18.2 of the ISPS – Code Port facility personnel having specific security duties should have knowledge and receive training in some or all of the following, as appropriate:

Notice is hereby given that Rosita E. Cruz is applying for a Malt & Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Krystal Paradise” located on Burns Street, Benque Viejo Del Carmen, Cayo District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

NEEDED: Cashier/Receptionist at Hotel Central Park located on Barrier Reef Drive, San Pedro Town. Call cell # 627-1833 for more information.

Cashier/Receptionist at Hotel Coastal Bay – 2 located on Pescador Drive, San Pedro Town. Call cell # 627-1833 for more information.

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knowledge of current security threats and patterns; recognition and detection of weapons, dangerous substances and devices; recognition of characteristics and behavioral patterns of persons who are likely to threaten security; techniques used to circumvent security measures; crowd management and control techniques; security-related communication; operations of security equipment and systems; testing, calibration and maintenance of security equipment and systems; inspection, control, and monitoring techniques, and methods of physical searches of persons, personal effects, baggage, cargo, and ship’s stores.

Job Qualifications/Requirement: • A High School diploma, with 3 years experience in Security Officer field.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

• Computer literate.

• Knowledge of Laws & regulations • Working Knowledge of public safety • Security operation & procedures Skills/Competencies: • Ability to work independently.

• Team oriented, ethical, and punctual (On Call) • Good communication skills • Strong reporting skills Compensation Package: Will be commensurate (in accordance with the Company's Salary Structure).

To apply: Provide updated resume, cover letter (addressed to Human Resource Manager), copy of valid social security card, valid police report, name and phone number of two(2) previous employers.

Email to: jobapplications@portofbelize.com Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, June 10th, 2022.

5 JUN

2022

13

THE BELIZE TIMES

BTB Inaugurates ATM Facilitation Center

The Teakettle ATM Facilitation Center was officially inaugurated. The Facilitation Center is located at Mile 55 on the George Price Highway near the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave entrance in Teakettle Village. The project is the result of efforts between the Belize Tourism Board and the Cayo South Office to improve the tourism infrastructure in proximity to the popular archaeological site.

Present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations; Hon. Julius Espat, Area Representative for Cayo South and Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing; Mr. Victor Espat, CEO in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing; BTB board member Mr. Carlos Santos, along with members of the community.

PM Meets with Network of NGOs

The Prime Minister John Briceño had a productive meeting today with a group of social partners from the Belize Network of NGOs. The meeting looked at environmental issues, issues for the elderly and Indigenous populations with an overarching theme of collaboration. It was acknowledged that advocacy doesn’t mean adversary and they made pledges for better working relations.

Present today was the newly elected board of BNN, including Dr. Elma Kay as President and the NGO Senator Janelle Chanona. #collaboration #network #environmental

www.centralbank.org.bz

PUBLIC NOTICE

Discontinuation of the Foreign Exchange Approval by the Ministry of Finance Belize City, 25 May 2022: The Central Bank of Belize (Central Bank) advises that effective, Monday, 13 June 2022, all requests that require the Central Bank’s approval for foreign exchange approval must be submitted via email.

The Ministry of Finance will no longer be an authorized agent to approve foreign exchange requests. Applications must be submitted to the Central Bank via email to currenttransactions@centralbank.org.bz Electronic forms are available for download at: https://www.centralbank.org.bz/financial-system/exchange-control-approvals These changes are expected to facilitate the application process and centralize applicants’ data. The Central Bank remains committed to its role in regulating foreign exchange in Belize and easing the application process.

- ENDS -

14

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 JUN

2022

Parliamentarians attend the CPA Academy Advanced Parliamentary Development Residency Programme in Sydney, Australia

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) is the primary distributor and the only licensed public provider of electricity in Belize. Our Mission is to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable energy solutions to enhance the quality of life and the productivity of enterprise and to support national development.

We are looking for a highly motivated, goal oriented, responsible and committed person to join our Company in the role of Transmission Engineer in the Transmission, Substation Operations & Maintenance Department of our Energy Supply & Transmission Division at our Magazine Road substation in Belize City.

Hon. Luis Alexander Balona and Senator, the Honourable Isabel Bennett, comprise the Belize parliamentary delegation attending the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Advanced Parliamentary Development Residency Programme from the·21st May - 27th May 2022, which is being held in the Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

The Residency Programme, organized and funded by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Headquarters Secretariat, is being delivered through the CPA Academy. The Course is an extensive five-day programme to examine how Members can be better performing legislators, representatives and scrutineers. Based on a mentoring and coaching approach, participants will be able to identify practical solutions to the challenges they face and hone their skills at a higher level through simulations, role-play, one-to-one discussions, group activities and exercises.

Over the five-day programme, our parliamentarians will have an opportunity to legislate, scrutinise and advocate/ educate around parliamentary topics such as: Characteristics of a Good Parliamentarian; the Legislative Process; Speech and Presentation; Outreach, Education and Advocacy; Media and Social Media; Scrutiny and Oversight in the Chamber, among many other topics.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is meeting the costs of travel and accommodation for the attendees. The delegation is scheduled to return to Belize on 28 th May 2022.

CALL

671-8385 or

EMAIL: belizetimesadvertisement@ yahoo.com

To place advertisement in the Belize Times Newspaper

Duties: • Support the Project Unit during the construction phase of infrastructure upgrade projects by providing engineering supervision and ensuring adherence to applicable codes, standards, and design specifications.

• Participate in design review process for new infrastructure projects, conduct detailed civil engineering review of completed design packages before the start of new projects.

• Monitor reliability performance of all transmission lines and recommend changes and system improvements where necessary.

• Assess structural integrity of existing transmission lines and schedule corrective maintenance or recommend design changes where deficiencies are identified.

• Conduct research into the latest Transmission Operations & Maintenance (O&M) technologies and implement pilot programs with the aim of improving reliability and operational efficiency.

• Assist with contract management including document preparation, tendering, bid evaluation, contracting, delivery of equipment and materials and execution of work schedules.

• Continuously review transmission line standards and maintenance procedures and propose changes or updates where necessary to improve efficiency, reliability, and safety.

• Lead efforts in the evaluation and determination of adequacy of all transmission tools and equipment required to execute construction & maintenance works and initiate recommendations for improvements.

• Support the Company’s safety and environmental initiatives and ensure compliance with national safety and environmental regulations applicable to area of responsibility.

Education and Experience: • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with five years’ experience in structural design and construction supervision; OR • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with five years’ experience in transmission line design and construction Requi Required Skills and Abilities: • Strong knowledge of engineering standards, codes, practices and procedures • Proficient in computer-aided design applications • Working knowledge of Microsoft Project and other Microsoft Office applications • Ability to supervise construction projects provide technical guidance to a team • Ability to identify, analyze and solve problems • Strong written and verbal comunication skills particularly technical communication skills for reports and specifications • Strong leadership, team management and interpersonal skills • Action and results oriented with excellent collaborative skills for pursuing shared goals • Ability to take initiative, exercise sound judgement while maintaining high work quality • Ability to meet deadlines in a fast paced and changing environment Salary: In accordance with Company’s salary structure Submit application letter along with resume, copy of degrees and certificates and three recent professional letters of recommendation via email to: Manager, Talent Acquisition & Development Email: career.opportunity@bel.com.bz In the email subject, please indicate the position: Application - Transmission Engineer Only electronic applications are being accepted at this time.

For more information or queries, call 227-0954 Ext. 2901 or 1415 Deadline: Friday, June 10, 2022

5 JUN

15

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2022

NB: USE ONLY TBT HE NSchedule XT TWO Format by District WEEKS>…EXCEPT IF WNomination E HAVE SPACE. Dates Included VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2022 BT SCHEDULE FORMAT by DISTRICT

COROZAL on June 5

VILLAGES

ELECTION VENUES

Cristo Rey San Narciso Buena Vista

**RC School **RC School *RC School

ALL Polls Open at 9 a.m.

CLOSE: No asterisk 1:00 p.m. * 3:00 p.m. | ** 5:00 p.m.

ORANGE WALK on June 5

Chan Pine Ridge*

Gov’t. School

BELIZE on June 5

Gales Point Freetown Sibun Burrell Boom St. Paul’s Bank Willows Bank Teakettle Ontario San Marcos Selena

Comm. Center Not Contested **St. Therese RC School Comm. Center Not Contested

CAYO on June 5

**St. Edmund Campion RC School *Ontario Christian School Not Contested Gov’t. School

STANN CREEK on June 5

Georgetown *

Richard Quinn RC School

TOLEDO on June 5

Cattle Landing Eldridgeville Forest Home Santa Ana Bladen (CC) Bella Vista Trio San Pablo

*St. Phillip RC School *Comm. Center *Comm. Center Comm. Center Fabian Cayetano RC School **Our Lady of Bella Vista RC School *Gov't School Not Contested

VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2022 BT SCHEDULE FORMAT by DISTRICT

ALL Nominations Open at 9:00 a.m. and close at midday

COROZAL on June 12 Nominations on Sunday June 5 St. Francis Xavier R.C School

VILLAGES

ELECTION VENUES

Libertad

**Methodist School

ALL Polls Open at 9 a.m.

CLOSE: No asterisk 1:00 p.m. * 3:00 p.m. | ** 5:00 p.m.

ORANGE WALK on June 12 Nominations on Sunday June 5 Louisiana Government School

Carmelita Indian Church Gov’t. School San Carlos

**Gov’t School Gov’t. School Gov’t. School Gov’t School

BELIZE on June 12 Nominations on Sunday June 5 Edward P. York High School

Maskall Bomba Corozalito St. Ann’s Mahogany Heights St. George’s Caye

*Comm. Center Comm. Center Compound (Tent) Comm. Center Comm. Center *St Agnes Anglican School (Upper) Open Lot (Tent)

CAYO on June 12

Nominations on Sunday June 5 Belmopan Comprehensive High School

Cotton Tree St. Matthews Franks Eddy More Tomorrow

**St. Joseph RC School *Gov’t. School *Gov’t. School Gov’t. School

Esperanza

**St. Francis Xavier RC School

San Antonio

**RC School

San Jose Succotz

**San Jose Succotz RC School

Nominations on Sunday June 5 Sacred Heart Primary RC School Nominations on Sunday June 5 Santa Elena Primary RC School

Nominations on Sunday June 5 Mount Carmel RC Primary School

STANN CREEK on June 12 All Village Council Elections Over in this District

TOLEDO on June 12 Nominations on Sunday June 5 Toledo Community College

San Jose Na Luum Ca Jacintoville Laguna San Felipe San Marcos Yemeri Grove San Pedro Columbia

VOTE FOR YOUR PUP TEAM

*RC School Gov’t. School Comm. Center Comm. Center *Comm. Center *Comm. Center Toledo Christian Academy **RC School

58 16

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES 2022

5 JUN

2022

5 JUN

2022

18 JAN

2015THE BELIZE TIMES

17

VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2022

VOTE FOR YOUR PUP TEAM

Delivering on PlanBelize

18

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2022 BT Schedule Format by District Nomination Dates Included

VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2022

VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2022

BT SCHEDULE FORMAT by DISTRICT

BT SCHEDULE FORMAT by DISTRICT(updated)

ALL Nominations Open at 9:00 a.m. and close at midday

COROZAL on June 19 All Village Council Elections Over in this

VILLAGES

ALL Polls Open at 9 a.m.

ELECTION VENUES CLOSE: No asterisk 1:00 p.m. * 3:00 p.m. | ** 5:00 p.m.

ORANGE WALK on June 19 Nominations on Sunday June 12 Louisiana Government School

Santa Martha San Lazaro Trinidad Yo Creek

*Gov’t. School **RC School *Gov’t. School **RC School

BELIZE on June 19

Nominations on Sunday June 12 Edward P. York High School

Lucky Strike Rockstone Pond Santana Hattieville Western Paradise

Gov’t. School Altun Ha Parking Lot (Tent) Comm. Center **Gov’t. School * Health Post Clinic

CAYO on June 19

Nominations on Sunday June 12 Belmopan Comprehensive High School

Armenia St. Margaret

**Gov’t School *St. Margaret Mary RC School

Nominations on Sunday June 12 Sacred Heart Primary RC School

Santa Familia

**RC School

Nominations on Sunday June 12 Santa Elena Primary RC School

Buena Vista

*Gov’t School

ALL Nominations Open at 9:00 a.m. and close at midday

COROZAL on June 26

All Village Council Elections Over in this District

VILLAGES

ALL Polls Open at 9 a.m.

ELECTION VENUES CLOSE: No asterisk 1:00 p.m. * 3:00 p.m. | ** 5:00 p.m.

ORANGE WALK on June 26 Nominations on Sunday June 19 Louisiana Government School

Tower Hill San Felipe August Pine Ridge Guinea Grass

Comm. Center **St. Michael RC School **RC School **RC School

BELIZE on June 26

Nominations on Sunday June 19 Edward P. York High School

Lord’s Bank Caye Caulker Bermudian Landing Flowers Bank Rancho Dolores Scotland Half Moon Ladyville

**Comm. Center **RC School Comm. Center Comm. Center Belize Rural Primary School Comm. Center **Our Lady of the Way RC School

CAYO on June 26

Nominations on Sunday June 19 Sacred Heart Primary RC School

Bullet Tree**

Immaculate Conception RC School

Cristo Rey El Progresso

**RC School *Community School

Nominations on Sunday June 19 Santa Elena Primary RC School

STANN CREEK on June 19

STANN CREEK on June 26

TOLEDO on June 19

TOLEDO on June 26

All Village Council Elections Over in this District

Nominations on Sunday June 12 Toledo Community College

Golden Stream Indian Creek Medina Bank San Miguel Silver Creek Big Falls San Antonio Crique Jute Mafredi Pueblo Viejo

*Gov’t. School *RC School Gov’t. School *RC School *RC School **RC School **San Luis Rey RC School Gov’t School Methodist School *San Francisco de Jeronimo RC

All Village Council Elections Over in this District

Nominations on Sunday June 19 Toledo Community College

Aguacate Blue Creek Mabilha San Benito Poite Santa Teresa Jordan Santa Cruz Santa Elena San Vicente Jalacte

VOTE FOR YOUR PUP TEAM

Delivering on PlanBelize

RC School RC School Gov’t. School RC School RC School Comm. Center *Comm. Center RC School RC School *RC School

5 JUN

2022

THE BELIZE TIMES

The world’s true cradle of chocolate

By Maggie Downs There are nearly a dozen artisan chocolate companies in Belize taking cacao from bean to bar, part of a robust movement to reclaim the small country’s rich chocolate heritage. The earthen road is a great sweep of brown that slices through the rural landscape of southern Belize. The surface is pitted and pock-marked, lumpy enough that it looks like a nutty chocolate bar. So, it’s only fitting that this path leads to Abelina Cho, known to many as the “Chocolate Queen”.

When we met, she was apron-clad in the kitchen, where she cooked with no recipes and presented the type of feast she makes whenever visitors come: shredded hearts of palm with turmeric root, tender sauteed greens, tomato salad, beans, coconut rice, spiced chicken, a heaping bowl of fried plantains. And of course, chocolate. On this day the Chocolate Queen prepared it in 14 different styles, including chocolate with cardamom, a chocolate liqueur and a hot ceremonial beverage.

Cho lives in San Felipe, a village of 330 households and five churches. It’s located within the Toledo district, Belize’s agricultural centre, where bountiful crops include bananas and corn.

Here, the soaring rainforest trees make leafy jungle canopies, the rivers run clear and thatched-roof houses of Maya families dot the hillsides. This is also the cradle of chocolate.

Cacao – the principal ingredient for chocolate – was both consumed and used as currency by ancient Maya royalty and political elites throughout the historical region of Mesoamerica, which included southern North America and most of Central America. But not all those areas were suitable for cultivating cacao.

Archaeological evidence points to Belize as the earliest hub of cacao cultivation, where Maya were drinking cacao beverages as far back as 600 BCE. Spouted ceramic vessels that look like ancient teapots, excavated intact at the archaeological site of Colha in Belize, still contain cacao residue. Cacao wood charcoal dating to the same period (600 BCE to 250 CE) has also been found at several sites throughout the region.

(Cacao usage can be traced back even further to the Olmecs of southern Mexico around 1500 BCE, but it’s unclear how that civilisation consumed it, and it’s the Maya who are credited with fermenting, drying and grinding the beans for consumption.)

Although cacao has been around in some form for millennia, for Cho and other small-batch producers, it’s also very much a part of the present – and a key to the future.

Cho, along with her husband, Juan, are the owners of Ixcacao, a smallbatch chocolate company that celebrates chocolate the way Maya have enjoyed it for ages. This chocolate is not milky or sugary sweet. It’s as dark as midnight. At first bite, the confection is solid, but it melts with a surprising

Image credit: Cannon Photography LLC/Alamy)

silkiness and fine texture. Then comes the wallop of flavour, bitter and rich like freshly brewed black coffee, with a lingering fruit-like aftertaste.

“Cacao is so important to our culture that it is our culture,” she said. “You cannot separate it.”

Though these rainforests are chocolate’s origin story, once cacao was brought to Europe in the 1500s, colonisation shifted the narrative to European chocolate manufacturers instead. Over time, the confection became more closely associated with countries like Belgium and Switzerland rather than the places that produced the beans.

But the Maya in Belize never stopped making chocolate, and the trees continued to bear fruit.

More recently, the lens has turned back toward Belize a couple times. USbased Hershey had a presence here from the 1980s to the early 1990s, then abandoned the project when the price of cacao dropped. In 1994, Green & Black’s (now owned by Mondelez International) created Maya Gold – organic, fair-trade chocolate bars with cacao sourced from the Toledo district – but manufactured in other countries.

Now, there are nearly a dozen artisan chocolate companies in Belize taking cacao from bean to bar, part of a robust movement to reclaim the small country’s rich chocolate heritage.

What’s notable about this effort is that the focus is squarely on Belizean growers, producers and makers, who are making exquisite chocolate using traditional methods, drawing upon a long Maya history. (They are Ixcacao, Cotton Tree Chocolate, AJAW Chocolate, Cheil Mayan Chocolate, Goss Chocolate, Belize Chocolate Company, Lamanai Chocolate, Dragon Chocolate, La Especial Chocolate, Moho Chocolate Company and Copal Tree.)

To bring high-quality cacao beyond Belize’s borders, two major suppliers, Maya Mountain Cacao and the Toledo Cacao Growers Association, work directly with hundreds of small farms to source premium, organic beans.

Their efforts have nearly doubled the amount of cacao exports within the past five years. Internationally, Maya Mountain Cacao has received acclaim for its innovative methods that cen-

tralise the post-harvest processing, streamlining production and increasing market access for growers. In this direct trade model, the farmers sell “wet” (unfermented) cacao seeds to Maya Mountain Cacao, then the cacao is fermented and dried in a central location, allowing for higher quality control, a consistent product and more revenue for the farmers.

All of this is to say: chocolate in Belize is having a moment. The annual Belize Chocolate Festival will soon return after a two-year hiatus. Many luxury resorts, like the Lodge at Chaa Creek, boast chocolate-themed facials, massages and body wraps on their spa menus. And a growing number of tour operators and cacao farms offer chocolate experiences for visitors.

Ixcacao was among the first to host such tours. When I visited, Juan, a fifth-generation farmer, walked eagerly around his plentiful acreage. Despite the crushing humidity, he moved with such energy that it looked like someone was pulling him forward with a hook.

On the farm, the cacao trees weren’t planted in neat rows or grouped together. No land was cleared. Instead, it was a mélange of trees and plants, tangles of vines, abundant ferns, blooming orchids. The bilimbi trees overflowed with green, thumb-shaped sour fruits. Spiky jackfruits grew to the size of basketballs.

Allspice bushes burst with shiny purple berries. The bird peppers were just starting to ripen, turning from green to orange to red in the unwavering sunshine.

Juan knows every plant. As he moved, he plucked leaves from bushes, crushed them and inhaled the scent. He ripped bark from the cinnamon tree and pointed to tiny cashew apples on another tree. “Chocolate will save the rainforest!” proclaimed the slogan on his T-shirt.

The Chos, like many Maya farmers, are proponents of sustainable agriculture and employ indigenous permaculture principles. Their land is such a model of biodiversity, university students from all over the world visit the farm to learn from them. At the cornerstone of their belief system

19 is that cacao trees, with their shallow roots, prevent erosion and enrich the soil for native fruit trees and other crops.

“When we talk about chocolate saving the rainforest, it’s not a gimmick,” Juan said. “These are the sustainable practices that keep our community strong.”

Everything that goes into Ixcacao chocolate, from cacao to vanilla to sugar, is sourced right here on site.

Around us, cacao pods dangled from low tree branches. Some had holes bored into the side. The smaller holes are left by woodpeckers or sapsuckers. Larger holes are from howler monkeys. Juan joked that’s how the ancient Maya discovered cacao.

“Imagine someone watching the monkeys eat these beans,” he said.

“They see the monkeys get happier, more energetic, so they want to eat those beans too!”

The cacao pod is shaped like a slender American football, and they’re hefty, about 500g each. Juan snapped one pod off the tree and cracked the firm husk on a rock.

Each pod produces about 35 to 50 cacao seeds, with slippery white pulp coating each one. That pulp is the fruit.

We each slipped an almond-shaped seed out of the pod and sucked on the pulp. It was not chocolatey. Rather, the taste was tropical, vaguely like mango and banana mashed together.

Juan bit his seed in half, then held it out. It was a mottled purple colour.

I chewed my own seed; it was soft in texture, bitter and nutty in flavour.

Again, not close to chocolate at this point.

Once the cacao is harvested, the fruit is fermented for six days. During that time, the sweet pulp becomes watery and slides away, leaving just the seeds behind. Those seeds are sun-dried for two weeks. They are then roasted, shelled and finally winnowed to remove the hard-shell pieces from the roasted beans.

For a long time, Cho ground the cacao by hand, rubbing a stone handle along a stone slab called a matate, like a horizontal mortar and pestle.

This is serious work; it takes about five hours to grind the roasted beans into a creamy paste.

“Growing up, she was Wonder Woman, taking care of me and my sister, grinding cacao for hours next to the stove where beans were roasting,” said Cho’s son, Henry. “It was hot and exhausting, and she did it all.”

Now Cho has a machine that does the work so she can tend to other aspects of the business. The matate, a wedding gift that has been passed down the family for generations, is still used to grind corn and spices – and to teach tourists the laborious and traditional process of making chocolate.

This is the tool that binds the Chocolate Queen with ancient Maya royals, but it’s also the reason Belize chocolate will have its day again.

“Every time we make chocolate drinks for breakfast, every time we greet a friend or visitor with chocolate, it connects us to our history and ties us to our culture,” Cho said. “We always have chocolate.” (bbc.com/travel/article/20220522)

20

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

GREATER PRODUCTION. A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL

The National Agriculture & Trade Show 2022 (AgricShow) got off to an excellent start at the official ceremony on Friday when Prime Minister John Briceño, with Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Jose Mai, and the Guest Speaker Dr. Luis A.R. de Bosque Director General of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research in Mexico outlined steps that are being taken to enable the country to produce more of what we consume and increase our exports to the region including Mexico, which has a population of over 130 million persons.

In an effort to increase bilateral trade between Belize and Mexico, our neighbour to the north has agreed to remove import taxes from a number of our products.

That decision will result in tremen-

dous increase in our exports to Mexico and the creation of lots of additional jobs for Belizeans.

Although the AgricShow was not held for two years due to Covid, this year’s event was a crowd pleaser despite off and on rain. The very good attendance especially on the last day, Sunday, can be attributed to better organization and scores of attractions throughout the showground.

Among those attractions were two booths by the Department of Youth Services, which is under the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Transport. One those booths featured a Petting Zoo by 4-H while the other featured human services programs to encourage our youths to become responsible and productive Belizeans.

Continued on page 21

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, RISK JOB SUMMARY The Administrative Assistant, Risk facilitates the efficient operation of the office of the Assistant General Manager/Chief Risk Officer by performing a diverse range of administrative and secretarial support activities to enhance the executive’s effectiveness. This role requires a proactive selfstarter who can work independently and anticipate customers’ needs. The Administrative Assistant, Risk also serves the Corporation in accordance with its Code of Conduct for employees. Duty Station is at the Corporation’s Headquarters Office in the City of Belmopan.

5.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

7.

1.

2.

An Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, Accounting or related field.

At least 3 years of experience in an administrative role supporting a Manager/Executive.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES 1.

Excellent communication skills – proficient in English Language (reading, verbal, business writing, proof-reading and editing) and strong inter-personal and public relations skills.

2. Ability to take and transcribe minutes of meetings quickly and accurately and effectively organize meetings/ events.

3. Strong organizational, time management and prioritization abilities. The incumbent will be required to juggle multiple and unexpected priorities as a normal part of the responsibilities.

4. Proficient in Microsoft Office Applications.

5. Demonstrate mature and professional presence including exceptional judgement and discretion regarding confidential and sensitive information.

6. Detail oriented with strong problem solving and analytical skills.

7. Ability to work with minimal supervision and being proactive.

8. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well with diverse leadership styles.

9. Knowledge of the Corporation’s purpose and objectives.

10. Able to maintain a high level of confidentiality and ethical behavior.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1.

2.

3.

4.

Provide full administrative support to the Chief Risk Officer (CRO).

Provide oversight for the organization of meetings, conferences, teleconferences and other events hosted by the CRO. Prepare agendas and schedules for meetings, records and distributes minutes directives or other records for meetings.

Compose and proof-read board papers, reports, letters, memoranda and other documents.

Conduct research and prepare periodic reports as required to monitor the goals and targets of the Strategic Development Plan and the Annual Work Plan.

VACANCY

Join our exciting team!

6.

8.

9.

Prepare Administrative Expense, Capital and Training Budgets for the Risk Management Unit and monitor and analyse the Unit’s budgetary performance.

Assist with the monitoring of operational risks as established by the CRO. Prepares report on the analysis of the financial impact on the Corporation when operational risks occur.

Review and analyze reported risks via the Report a Risk platform and via reports from the Risk Liaison Officers on a monthly basis and submit findings to CRO. Analysis of Risk Control Self- Assessment and support migration to risk-based audit.

ACT NOW 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Letter of Application Curriculum Vitae Copy of most recent qualification Three (3) Letters of Recommendation (no older than six months) – two of which must be professional references Copy of Social Security Card Police record (no older than six months) Submit application with reference Application for Vacancy: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, RISK to: Manager Human Resources and General Affairs Development Finance Corporation P. O. Box 40 | Belmopan | Belize, C.A. Applications may be submitted electronically by email to: vacancies@dfcbelize.org

DEADLINE: JUNE 13, 2022

5 JUN

21

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

Hon. Usher Has Successful Divisional Clinic

On Wednesday of this week, Hon. Gilroy Usher, Area Representative for Port Loyola, met individually with over 70 constituents who had a wide range of concerns. The consultations were held at the PUP Port Loyola office on #10 Gill St which is around the corner from Excelsior High School on Faber’s Rd. The clinic is held on a Wednesday at least once per month from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The dates for the upcoming clinics are posted on the Facebook page of both Gilroy Usher and the Port Loyola Constituency.

During clinic constituents, you can seek assistance on land, employment, education, housing, and street improvement among other things. Hon. Usher has pledged to conduct regular, well-publicized clinics when and if given the opportunity to serve as the Area Representative of the residents of Port Loyola.

GREATER PRODUCTION. A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL

Continued from page 20 Mr. Orlando Ek from Concepcion Village in the North, Mrs Norma Figueroa from La Gracia Village in the Cayo District, and Mr. Darwin Orellana, 19, from Maskall Village in the Belize District were chosen as Male Farmer of the Year, Female Farmer of the Year, and Junior Farmer of the Year, respectively.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT CREDIT DELIVERY

JOB SUMMARY

The Administrative Assistant, Credit Delivery provides high quality administrative support to the Credit Delivery Department and the Manager, Credit Delivery. He/she produces reports to facilitate the evaluation of the operational efficiency of the Credit Department, and compiles and prepares the Corporation’s Loan Activity Budget (Approvals & Disbursements). The Administrative Assistant, Credit Delivery also serves the Corporation in accordance with its Code of Conduct for employees. Duty Station is at the Corporation’s Headquarters Office in the City of Belmopan.

7.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

9.

1.

2.

3.

Minimum of an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration or related field.

An Advanced Level Certificate in Microsoft Excel.

At least three (3) years of verifiable successful experience supporting a Manager, preferably in a financial institution.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Superior communication skills – proficient in English Language (reading, verbal, business writing, proof-reading and editing) and strong inter-personal and public relations skills. Fluency in Spanish Language would be an asset.

Ability to take and transcribe minutes of meetings quickly and accurately and effectively organize meetings/ events.

Strong organizational, time management and prioritization abilities. The incumbent will be required to juggle multiple and unexpected priorities as a normal part of the responsibilities.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Applications.

Proven ability to produce reports in Microsoft Excel. The incumbent is required to be proficient in Advance Microsoft Excel.

Demonstrate a mature and professional approach and presence.

Knowledge of the Corporation’s purpose and objectives.

Able to maintain a high level of confidentiality and ethical behavior.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Provide administrative support to the employees of the Credit Delivery Department.

Provide full administrative support to the Manager, Credit Delivery.

Prepare monthly Budgetary Performance and Statistical reports on approvals, disbursements, and loan portfolio growth.

Prepare monthly loan reports on the availability of funds.

Prepare Monthly reports on the Status of Loan Enquiries and Applications.

Prepare monthly Administrative Expense Budgetary performance reports for the department.

VACANCY

Join our exciting team!

8.

Assist with the registration of loans in the Corporation’s loan management software.

Compile the Corporation’s (Annual and Revised) organizational budgets for loan approvals and disbursements activities.

Prepare the (Annual and Revised) Capital, Training and Administrative Expense budgets for the Credit Delivery Department as directed by the Manager.

ACT NOW 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Letter of Application Curriculum Vitae Copy of most recent qualification Three (3) Letters of Recommendation (no older than six months) – two of which must be professional references Copy of Social Security Card Police record (no older than six months) Submit application with reference Application for Vacancy: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, CREDIT DELIVERY to: Manager Human Resources and General Affairs Development Finance Corporation P. O. Box 40 | Belmopan | Belize, C.A. Applications may be submitted electronically by email to: vacancies@dfcbelize.org

DEADLINE: JUNE 13, 2022

22

THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT HRCU - BIGGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL Belize’s biggest and most successful Credit Union held their annual general meeting this past Saturday, 28th May, 2022.

Holy Redeemer Credit Union has over 61,000 members. Two thousand new members. Gross profits are 39 million dollars, with a net profit of 26 million dollars. The assets of the union stand at 25 million dollars. No other credit union comes close to these figures.

HRCU is a huge success story. No other financial institution in Belize can rival this home grown, fully Belizean pride and joy. Henry Charles Usher, government Minister for the burgeoning public service portfolio as well as Constitutional Reform, spoke with pride on Love FM recently on the achievements of HRCU, a name synonymous with the famous if not legendary, Miss Jane, his beloved grandmother.

Miss Jane, a legend in her own time, is correctly credited with molding and taking HRCU to its higher heights. Her down-to-earth, people friendly approach and always helpful character was legendary. Only the great George Price could have outdone garnering such love of the common people. Thousands of Belizeans owe their education, businesses and homes to Miss Jane and her love of helping those in need.

HRCU established their own housing project for its members.

The younger face-book generation are unaware that Miss Jane, during troubled times agreed to assist her famous brother and successfully represented voters as an elected member of the House of Representatives and outstanding Minister of Health. Young Henry Charles, now a Minister of government, has a huge legacy to live up to.

To the memory of Miss Jane Usher, the current leadership managers and staff of HRCU, congratulations and nuff respect.

TWO CREDIT UNIONS CRASHED There was a thriving Civil Service (Public Officers) Credit Union. There was also a Police Credit Union. Both crashed, collapsed and fell by the wayside.

“Quote the raven nevermore.”

Both credit unions were important to public officers and police officers.

We cannot for the life of us understand how a credit union for such important employees, fell to the ground.

Yes, they were clearly mismanaged, and yes, their members did not attend meetings, or received timely audit reports. But, no sensible person blame sheep for straying onto a highway. Their shepherds are at fault.

The Central Bank of Belize was given the legal responsibility as the oversight, regulator. They did a lousy job. No one was held responsible for seeing that the money reserves could protect members who had kept their savings at these two unions. The collapse happened during the incompetent administration of UDP. The membership of both unions are public employees. They receive their salaries on the middle and ending of each month. When they are approved a loan, they repay through deductions from their paysheet which goes straight to their credit unions.

For loans above the amounts in their savings, they are required to have a person sign as a guarantor of the loan and they are required to “put up” a land title, in case of default in repaying.

How could any regulator fail to protect a small Credit Union in our small country?

The late Maxwell Samuels political career overshadowed his achievements as a former dynamic Commissioner of Police. He was president of the Police Association (the legal equivalent of a worker’s union). He was instrumental in keeping the Police Credit Union functioning for police officers. He also kept the Police Fund flush as a way to help police with medical and other urgent assistance. All these are flat on their backs, a footnote to a better, bygone era.

Never to return…

When important institutions collapse, they are signs that things are going wrong in our country. Failure to heed signs of sickness leads cancers which has started to destroy our country. Belize is an unhealthy democracy.

The Integrity Commission, whistle blower legislation, Ombudsman office, Public Accounts Committee, Public Services Commission, House of Representatives Standing Committees, The Criminal Investigation Office, the musical chairs Judiciary, rigorous protection of constitutional and human rights; and other institutional support are all essential support system to a functioning democracy.

The collapse of not one but two credit unions highlight failure of management and oversight by, of all places the Central Bank. The warnings have not been heeded.

And by the way, commercial banks and glittering supermarket shelves are no solution to Belize’s problems. We need Credit Unions and co-operatives and farmer’s market.

5 JUN

2022

We need, like right now, co-operatives in backyard gardening Need it like right now.

19 FROM GHANA The nation of Ghana was a former British colony known as the Gold Coast because of its abundance of gold.

Kuame Nkrumah led Ghana to its independence in 1957.

“For almost 150 years, Ghana situated on the West Coast of the continent of Africa, was the center of the British slave trade.”

“Approximately 10 million enslaved people were transported in the transatlantic slave trade, at rates of up to one hundred thousand persons per year.”

“The remnants of the trade in Ghana are still visible today, in dozens of forts and castles built by Europeans between 1482 and 1786”. Quotes from Wikipedia.

Sometime last week, 19 Ghanaians arrived in Belize, They are being hosted

by Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio.

It must be the first time since slavery in Belize, 1720s to 1838, that as much as nineteen citizens of Ghana touched down in our country. We consider this small arrival to be of some significance.

First, a big welcome to our brothers and sisters from Ghana. We are honoured by your presence. May your visit be enjoyable and fruitful. Stay as long as you wish. Your people are our people. Your DNA is rich in our DNA. We creoles in Belize were brought as slaves from the coast of West Africa, including Ghana.

Many slaves held on to their native origins or were called by the names of the nation they were originally captured from. Congo Bill, Ashanti Will and Eboe Jack.

It is not likely that our nineteen visitors are investors or real estate agents.

Two appeared on Plus television with Fem and Soberanis, so it is possible there is some religious element. They are equally welcome as our brothers and sisters from the real motherland. We hope the various media find time for extended interviews, so we can learn about Ghana and its people.

We note that in Belize City there is a small but vibrant and enterprising contingent of Nigerians who have made our country their new home. The media has ignored them and their entrepreneur achievements. Thanks to them we have benefitted from the ‘dollar taxi’. Each year they celebrate Nigeria’s independence with gusto, music and dancing.

The arrival of 19 visiting Ghanaians is an event worthy of notice and a chance for a bit of history.

Respect goes out to Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio for this wonderful opportunity.

LOOK – NO TREES A few weeks ago, we wrote an observation.

Travelling on the Northern and Western Highways, we saw truck after huge truck, trucking massive logs, hopefully to local sawmills rather than export.

Whether for local use or for export, we expressed the view that no replacement trees were being planted. We wrote that, because for a long time we have been asking and the loggers tell us they just go into the forest, cut down trees and drag them out.

No one in authority ever checks for replanting of trees?

This morning, Thursday 2nd June, 2022. Ernesto Vasquez of Love FM was on a phone conversation with John Pinelo, Deputy Forest Officer of our country. In a candid statement Mr. Pinelo made the shocking admission:“We are running out of trees.”

“There is no replanting strategy” “We may have to place a moratorium in place” This is a crisis staring us in our faces.

We need to tackle it now.

Soon we will hear we are running out of animals.

Next, we will hear we are running out of fishes.

These are not problems with overnight or short terms solutions. We didn’t just arrive at this juncture. Certainly, 13 years of the previous government must lay some responsibility at their door, but that doesn’t help us now. “We are running out of trees.”

Perhaps the new government, although in office for one year and a half outing fires and grappling with crisis after crisis, can still issue instructions for all government departments to submit a review/inventory of what are the situations in each of their portfolio responsibilities. Government cannot be waking up from one crisis to another.

We recently saw photographs of Snake Caye. Years of doing nothing, literally nothing, had eroded that beautiful unique dot in the ocean to a few feet of sand. Shucks, look what Mr. Foreman did to protect his small island – Foreman’s Caye, 11 miles from Belize City. Several other private sector families have fought the wind and the waves and saved their island from erosion and exposed the past government as incompetent…they and their bureaucrats.

There are no more colonial masters to blame. This is our country. We must do better in managing our resources.

And, we have not gotten around to dealing with sixty percent poverty as yet.

5 JUN

23

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

PUBLIC AUCTION SALES: PROPERTIES

PUBLIC AUCTION SALES: PROPERTIES

San Ignacio Town, Cayo District; Big Falls/Golden Stream, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District; Belize City, BelizePunta DistrictGorda Town, Toledo District; Belize City, Belize District San Ignacio Town, Cayo District; Big Falls/Golden Stream,

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees Messrs. The Belize Bank Limited, Licensed Auctioneers Kevin A. Castillo and

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees Messrs.

The Belize Bank via Limited, Licensed Auctioneers the Kevin A. Castillo and Christiana R. Castillo are sellChristiana R. Castillo are selling ONLINE belizepropertyauctions.com following property.

Sales currently ing ONLINErunning via belizepropertyauctions.com following property.

Sales currently running until 31st Julytimes 2022listed with public until 31st July 2022 withthe public auction sales expiring bi-weekly on the dates and on theauction sales expiring bi-weekly on the dates and times listed on the website until the properties are sold. website until the properties are sold.

1. Parcel 313 & 314 Corner Maya TerraceCanul & Marcus Canul San Ignacio Town, Cayo District: 1. Parcel Nos. 313 &Nos. 314 Corner Maya Terrace & Marcus Streets, SanStreets, Ignacio Town, Cayo District:

REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCELS REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCEL San Ignacio 23 313 & 314 San Ignacio 313 & 314 (Being an elevated timber house [2,812 sq. ft.] containing23 Ground floor - bar & kitchen + grilling area + gym + swimming pool: [2,812 First floor 3 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + kitchen living/dining/kitchen withpool: Lot First [904.971 (Being an elevated timber house sq. ft.]- containing Ground floor - bar & + grilling area +TOGETHER gym + swimming floor - 3 bedrooms + 3 S.M.] situate at Parcel Nos. 313 & 314 Corner Maya Terrace & Marcus Canul Streets, San Ignacio Town, Cayo bathrooms + living/dining/kitchen TOGETHER with Lot [904.971 S.M.] situate at Parcel Nos. 313 & 314 Corner Maya Terrace & Marcus Canul Streets, San District, the freehold property of Mr. Alan Gobie) Ignacio Town, Cayo District, the freehold property of Mr. Alan Gobie) 2. Parcel No. 430/1 Big Falls/Golden Stream Area, Toledo District: 2. Parcel No. 430/1 Big Falls/Golden Stream Area, Toledo District:

5. Parcel No. 1081 Gabourel Lane, Belize City, Belize District:

REGISTRATION SECTION

BLOCK

PARCEL

REGISTRATION SECTION

BLOCK

PARCEL

Big Falls/Golden Stream

42

430/1

Fort George/Pickstock

45

1081

(Being a vacant lot [908.2 S.M.] situate in Big Falls Village, Toledo District, the leasehold (Being a 2 ½ storey concrete/timber dwelling house containing Ground Floor - 2 one bedREGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCEL property of Mr. Modesto Sanchez) room/bathroom apartment; First Floor – 3 bedrooms + mini office + 1 ½ bathrooms + conference room TOGETHER with fenced lot [ S.Y.) situate on GaBig Falls/Golden Stream 42 kitchen; Attic – small 430/1 3. Parcel No. 704 Main Street, Punta Gorda, Toledo District: bourel Lane, Belizethe City,leasehold the freeholdproperty property ofof Mrs. Sandra Mahler Miguel and Mr. Wil(Being a vacant lot [908.2 S.M.] situate in Big Falls Village, Toledo District, Mr. Modesto hem Miguel gurantor for Messrs. Bel-Caribe Communications Limited)

Sanchez)

6. Parcel No. 3171 Comet Street, Belama Phase 3, Belize City, Belize District:

REGISTRATION SECTION

BLOCK

PARCEL

Punta Gorda

42

704

(Being a 2-storey concrete commercial structure [13,510 sq. ft.] containing Ground floor bathroom + open space; First floor - 1 bathroom + gym + open space TOGETHER with Lot [714 S.M.] situate on Main Street, Punta Gorda, Toledo District, the freehold property of Messrs. MEL’S Mart) 4. Parcel No. 1533 Corner East Canal & Prince Streets, Belize City, Belize District:

REGISTRATION SECTION

BLOCK

PARCEL

Caribbean Shores/Belize

16

3171

(Being an L-shaped concrete bungalow dwelling house 21 ft. X 30 ft. + 14 ft. X 18 ft. (inclusive of 5 ft. X 14 ft. porch) containing 3 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + kitchen + dining area + living room + small laundry TOGETHER with lot [714 S.M.] situate on Comet Street, Belama Phase 3, the freehold property of Mr. Raymond Troy Garcia, deceased.)

“FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & PHOTOGRAPHS PLEASE VISIT WEBSITE” REGISTRATION SECTION

BLOCK

PARCEL

Albert/Mesop

45

1533

(Being a 2-storey concrete residential/commercial structure situate corner East Canal & Prince Streets, Belize City, Belize District, the freehold property of Mr. Jose Arturo Gallego, surety for BSA Global Shipping Limited)

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

24

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 JUN

2022

5 JUN

2022

THE BELIZE TIMES

25

GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK STRENGTHENING OF TAX ADMINISTRATION (BL-L1031) PROCUREMENT OFFICER DUTY STATION: Belize City, Belize PROJECT NUMBER: BL-L1031 1.

(c) (d) (e) (f)

BACKGROUND

1.1 The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Finance (MOF) is embarking towards the modernisation of the tax administration by merging the existing Income Tax Department (ITD) and the Department of General Sales Tax (DGST) into a single function-based tax administration, and procuring and implementing a new Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS).

1.2 In order to facilitate the process, the Tax Modernization Program was initiated and comprises of five main projects/components including: (a) Communication and Change Management; (b) Organization/ Human Resources (HR)/Infrastructure; (c) Business Processes Re-engineering; (d) Legislative Framework; and (e) Information Technology. These will be implemented in phases, with the existing core areas of the ITD and DGST operating as the new, consolidated functional organization, the Belize Tax Service (BTS).

5. a.

b.

1.3 To support this endeavour, the GoB has requested the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to fund a five-year project “Strengthening of Tax Administration” (BL-L1031). The main objective of the Project is to strengthen Belize’s tax administration aimed at increasing tax revenue collection, through the following specific objectives: (a) increasing the effectiveness of the Government to collect taxes, through improvement in the tax administration governance and; (b) increasing tax administration efficiency, through improvement in the operational processes and modernization of the technological infrastructure.

c.

1.4 A Program Management Office (PMO) supports the implementation of the Program along with the consolidation of the BTS. The MoF is the Executing Agency (EA) of BL-L1031. For this purpose, a Project Executing Unit (PEU) will be established in the PMO with concrete technical, administrative, financial, control and planning, monitoring and evaluation responsibilities for the IDB-funded initiative.

5.1

2.

3.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES

3.1

The main responsibilities of the Procurement Officer include, among others: (a) Review all documentation relating to the Project; and, be informed on the Program Operation Manual (POM), the Loan Contract, the Procurement Plan (PP), the Annual Operational Plan (AOP), the Project Execution Plan (PEP), and the initial Disbursement Projection Table. (b) Prepare and update the Annual Procurement Plans. (c) Participate in the preparation of the AOP and prepare and update the PEP in MS Project. (d) Prepare necessary bidding documents, prepare the Terms of References (ToRs) and review specifications prepared by Technical Staff, organize and execute all bid openings and evaluation processes, prepare evaluation reports and corresponding draft contracts. (e) In coordination with the Project Coordinator and Financial Officer, prepare the ToRs and bidding documents for the annual audits. (f) Ensure contracting of consultants, suppliers and contractors is in accordance with IDB procurement policies and GoB policies, laws and regulations. (g) Ensure that prospective contractors, suppliers and consultants are duly constituted and are ongoing concerns. (h) Issue contracts for signature by relevant parties. (i) Manage the validity of contracts during their execution. (j) Assist the Project Coordinator in the submission of monthly activities reports and prepare the quarterly procurement reports following a pre-approved Bank format. (k) Maintain an up-to-date registry of consultants hired and goods and services purchased under the Project. (l) Monitor executed contracts through contract completion, liaising with technical personnel of the MoF, PMO and PEU and the Financial Specialist of the PEU to ensure payments/disbursements are made according to contract. (m) Maintain appropriate files of procurement functions and provide information as needed by the Executing Agency and the Bank. (n) Participate in the update of the POM taking responsibility for the procurement section and ensuring its alignment with the procurement guidelines of the Bank. (o) Execute other tasks as required to enable transparent, efficient and timely implementation of procurement activities and program deliverables. (p) Liaise with GoB officials (MoF, PMO, PEU and other) on procurement matters aimed at ensuring and effective discharge of the Project’s procurement/contracting activities. (q) Publish procurement notices in the newspaper, IDB website, UNDB platform and the National Procurement Portal. (r) Publish the procurement plan in the IDB website, MOF website and the National Procurement Portal. (s) Prepare requisitions on a timely basis. (t) Provide the necessary training to Government officials. (u) Other duties assigned

4.

REPORTS/DELIVERABLES

4.1 The Procurement Officer will be responsible for preparing/updating the following reports which are considered recurrent deliverables or responsibilities: (a) Annual PPs. (b) Quarterly procurement reports.

Education: A Bachelor of Science Degree in Procurement, Management, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Auditing, Law, Public Administration or other related field.

• A specialized certification in procurement and supply chain management or contract management is considered a plus.

•

•

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

(g) (h) 6.

General Experience: Three (3) years minimum working since obtaining academic degree

Specific Experience: • At least three (3) years of relevant experience in procurement administration in the private or public sector, as part of overall project management.

• One (1) year experience working with international or national development agencies is considered an asset • One (1) year experience working in Microsoft Project is considered an asset

(c) (d) (e) (f)

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF WORK

2.1 The objective of the position is to lead the execution of the procurement activities of the PEU in accordance with the provisions of the Project and the Bank’s procurement rules and procedures and the MoF procurement guidelines, when applicable. In particular, the Procurement Officer is responsible for the overall and day to day activities for the procurement of goods, services and works of the Project subject to IDB policies and requirements and in accordance with the Project Operational Manual (POM).

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

(a) (b)

1.5 In this regard, a vacancy exists for the Procurement Officer for the PEU under a contractual arrangement with the MoF, and as part of the BL-L1031 initiative.

Updates to POM and PEP. Procurement documents (bids, ToRs, requests for proposals, invitations, etc.)

Minutes of procurement meetings.

Other.

Excellent computer skills using Microsoft Office, Knowledge of procurement policies and procedures of the IDB or similar organizations would be considered an asset.

Task orientated and able to prioritize projects, multitask and meet tight deadlines; Fluent in written and spoken English with the ability to express data in a concise and clear manner; Team player and possess strong self-motivation and initiative; Sound decision making skills and objectivity with the proven ability to act with confidentiality and discretion; Professional, honest and display strong business ethics and integrity; and Experience with the Government of Belize Procurement /administrative platforms will be of significant benefit.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

6.1 The Procurement Officer reports to the Project Coordinator of the PEU. He/she shall work in close coordination with the staff of the MOF and especially the members of the PMO, the BTSD. 7.

COMPENSATION

7.1 The Procurement Officer will be paid a monthly salary to be established during the contracting process.

7.2 Given the staff-like tasks and responsibilities of the PEU personnel, reports (deliverables) do not apply. Instead, performance assessment reports from the supervisor.

8.

APPLICATIONS

8.1

CRITERIA for SELECTION

Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the Inter-American Development Bank: Policies for the Selection and Contracting of Consultants financed by the Inter-American Development Bank GN-2350-15 section 5 – individual consultants and is open to all eligible candidates as defined in the IDB policies. The individual consultant will be selected based on their experience and competence relevant to the assignment and most appropriate qualifications and references in accordance with the Comparison of Qualifications method set out in the Consultant Policies.

8.2

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

Expression of Interest package should contain: (i) Cover letter briefly explaining interest, experience, and competence of the consultant (ii) Comprehensive resume (iii) Copy of degrees/certificates (iv) List of at least two references (v) Proof of nationality: copy of documentation of nationality Qualified Consultant should submit their application via e-mail to Michelle.Longsworth@bts.gov.bz marked STAP- Procurement Officer in the subject header, or submit hardcopy on or before Friday, June 10, 2022, by 3:00 p.m. to the following address: Director General Belize Tax Service Department Strengthening of Tax Administration Project Charles Bartlett Hyde Building Mahogany Street, Belize City Tel: 501-222-5114 For clarifications kindly contact: Project Coordinator Project Executing Unit Strengthening of Tax Administration Project Charles Bartlett Hyde Building Mahogany Street, Belize City Tel: 501-222-5114/E-mail: Gisel.Correa@mof.gov.bz

26

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS HELD ON 29TH MAY 2022 OFFICIAL RESULTS COROZAL DISTRICT Election Date

No. of Votes Village

Candidates Name

Concepcion

Position

Received

Remarks

# of Registered Electors 781

Chairpersons Chuck, Fredy Noel

Chairperson

24

Castillo, Adan Roberto

Chairperson

250

Election Date

Election Date

Elected

Member

229

Elected

15.73%

Ek, Felicita Feliciana

Member

232

Elected

15.93%

Herrera, Vilma Rosaura

Member

235

Elected

16.14%

Moh, Rosalva Rocsana

Member

238

Elected

16.35%

Pineda, Rosa

Member

232

Elected

15.93%

Tun, Alfonso

Member

231 No. of Votes

Elected

Received

2.06% 1.99%

Remarks

Total Votes

612

466

Date

249

Gomez, Ismael Mosias

Chairperson

217

Members Alfaro, Rigoberto Che, Marga Lorena Cob, Erwin Avidamir Cobb, Lucely Asely Ewan, Leidy Gicely Uc, Argelio

Member Member Member Member Member Member

238 233 235 237 239 225

Castillo, Rodolfo Antonio

Member

215

8.05%

Cawich, Romario Gerardo

Member

211

7.90%

Ewan, Celso

Member

210

7.86%

Flores, Vincent Joshua

Member

213

7.97%

Gutierrez, Jose Rodolfo

Member

205

7.67%

Milian, Oscar

Member

211 No. of Votes

7.90%

Candidates Name Chairpersons Santoya, Oswaldo Gerison Reyes, Jose Loise

Elected

46.57%

Received

Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected

Remarks

Election Date

Village

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes

1012

757

Polled

13

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Turnout Votes Polled Votes 74.80%

395 362

Elected

Casanova, Noely Emarie

Member

393

Elected

8.96%

Catzim, Rogelio Fermin

Member

390

Elected

8.89%

Gonzalez, Abder Yasir

Member

378

Elected

8.62%

Gonzalez, Erminio Abdias

Member

398

Elected

9.08%

Santoya, Eliomar Eliezer

Member

396

Elected

9.03%

Tunn, Marcos Florencio

Member

398

Elected

9.08%

Cobb, Carlos Gabriel

Member

335

7.64%

Mesh, Adinile

Member

339

7.73%

Mesh, Florencio Mauricio

Member

342

7.80%

Mesh, Issa Marcelino

Member

338

7.71%

Patt, Ednar Rafael

Member

341

7.78%

Torres, Vanessa Elodia

Member

337 No. of Votes

Position

Received

Remarks

Chairpersons Chairperson

81

Arguelles, Andy Alberto

Chairperson

196

# of Registered Electors 359

277

77.16%

0

29.24%

5

70.76% 1

Casanova, Joel Evaristo

Member

74

4.80%

Cobb, Perfecto Mario

Member

72

4.67%

Cobb, Rodrigo

Member

67

4.35%

Cobb, Rolando Alex

Member

72

4.67%

Flores, Lloyd

Member

78

5.06%

Gorosica, Rene

Member

78

5.06%

Cobb, Edney Nolasco

Member

185

Elected

12.01%

Cobb, Juan Ruperto

Member

184

Elected

11.94%

Cobb, Miguel Arcangel

Member

184

Elected

11.94%

Dzul, Solangel Celsi

Member

182

Elected

11.81%

Tzul, Imer Nelson

Member

184

Elected

11.94%

Tzul, Rafael Benito

Member

181 No. of Votes

Elected

Received

24

7.69% Total Votes % of Votes % of Voter Spoilt Rejected Turnout Votes Polled Polled Votes

Elected

Remarks

18

0

1541

Position

0

52.18% 47.82%

4385

Flores, Jovany

Candidates Name

0

8.91% 8.72% 8.79% 8.87% 8.94% 8.42%

Chairperson Chairperson

Candidates Name

5

2672

Position

0

53.43%

Members

29/05/2022

76.14%

Chairperson

Village

Copper Bank

Polled

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Polled Turnout Votes Votes

Rivera, Martin

Village

18

15.87%

# of Registered Electors

Members

Election

0

Castillo, Raul Omir

Chairpersons

18

1456

Position

0

91.24%

30 29

San Victor

29/05/2022

35.08%

Member Member

Candidates Name

Chunox

274

Mendez, Joan Francisco Moh, Salome Madelina

Village

29/05/2022

Polled

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Turnout Votes Polled Votes

8.76%

Members

29/05/2022

Total Votes

12

11.75% # of Registered Electors

Total Votes Polled

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Polled Turnout Votes Votes

Continued on page 27

5 JUN

27

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS HELD ON 29TH MAY 2022 OFFICIAL RESULTS

Continued from page 26

Patchakan Election Date

Tzul, Rangel Efrain

Village

Concepcion 29/05/2022

29/05/2022

Election Date Election

Date

Chairpersons Medina, Wilfrido Roger

Village

Village Sarteneja

San Victor

Chairperson

Candidates Name Members Cumul, Noemi Lorena Chairpersons Escalante, Adelita Consuelo Chuck, Fredy Noel Medina, Delsey Amairani Yam, Edgar Castillo, AdanCelestino Roberto Yam, Myrna Lucy Members Yam, Sandy Aurelia Mendez, Joan Francisco Bastarachea, Germain Elmer Moh, Salome Madelina Chan, Lorena Farita Castillo, Raul Omir Eck, Andy Ek, Felicita Feliciana Meza, Jazael Eugenio Herrera, Vilma Rosaura Ruiz, Indy Susemi Moh, Rocsana Yam,Rosalva Sharis Aisha Pineda, Rosa Tun, Alfonso

Candidates Name

Candidates Name Chairpersons Verde, Exequiel Ignacio Chairpersons Guerrero, Paulino Lucio

29/05/2022

Election Date

Village

Position Member Member Chairperson Member

No.366 of Votes Received 517 520 24 524

Chairperson 250 Member 523 Member 520 Member 523 Member 30 Member 357 Member 29 Member 348 Member 229 Member 341 Member 232 Member 361 Member 235 Member 347 Member 238 Member 353 Member No. of232 Votes Member 231 Position Received No. of Votes Position Received 291 Chairperson Chairperson

535

Members Rivera, Martin Alvarez, Bernaldo Alonzo Gomez, Ismael Mosias

Chairperson Member Chairperson

Members Murrillo, Melvan Felicito Alfaro, Rigoberto Quintanilla, Jaison Darian Che, Marga Lorena Verde, Beatry Crystel Cob, Erwin Avidamir Verde, Neftali Yadib Cobb, Lucely Asely Arceo,Leidy Edmundo Emelito Ewan, Gicely Cruz, Odair Jose Uc, Argelio

Member

249 310 217 328

Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member

318 238 342 233 309 235 309 237 478 239 514 225

Flores, Benito Johnny Castillo, Rodolfo Antonio Perez, Diogenes Cawich, RomarioRamon Gerardo

Member Member Member Member

474 215 515 211

Verde,Celso Clint Chandler Ewan, Verde,Vincent JemayelJoshua Evaristo Flores,

Member Member Member Member

Gutierrez, Jose Rodolfo Candidates Name

Member Position

Cruz, Elison Ezri

29/05/2022

COROZAL DISTRICT Chairperson 521 Elected

Xaibe

466 210 509 213 No. of Votes 205 Received

Remarks Elected Elected Elected

Chairperson

448

Tun, Fanny Iyori

Chairperson

349

84.40%

1

9 Total Votes 41.26% Spoilt Rejected # of % of Votes % of Voter Registered 5234 Turnout 1 Votes Polled Polled Votes Electors 9.88% 781 274 35.08% 0 9.94% 18 8.76% 10.01% 58.74%

91.24% 9.99%

Elected

1456

Elected

Elected Elected Elected Elected

9.94%

0

9.99% 2.06% 6.82% 1.99% 6.65% 15.73% 6.52% 15.93% 6.90% 16.14% 6.63% 16.35% 6.74%

12

18

Elected 15.93% Total Votes Spoilt Rejected # of % of Votes % of Voter Elected Registered 15.87% Remarks Turnout Votes Polled Polled Votes # of Electors Total Votes Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Remarks Registered 1215 826 Polled 67.98% Turnout 1 Votes Polled Votes Electors 22 35.23% 612 466 76.14% 0 Elected 64.77% 5 1 4872 Elected 53.43%

2672 Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Remarks

6.36% 46.57% 6.73%

0

6.53% 8.91% 7.02% 8.72% 6.34% 8.79% 6.34% 8.87% 9.81% 8.94% 10.55% 8.42%

9

13

9.73% 8.05% 10.57% 7.90% 9.56% 7.86%

Elected

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes

1023

797

Polled

Elected

10.45% 7.97%

Spoilt Rejected 7.67% % of Votes % of Voter Polled Turnout Votes Votes 77.91%

0

56.21% 43.79%

4626

Members

29/05/2022

887

Elected Elected

Chairpersons Noh, Luciano Priamo

1051

0

Che, Carla Leticia

Member

426

Elected

9.21%

Nicholson, Dilcia Odilia

Member

423

Elected

9.14%

Novelo, Antonio

Member

440

Elected

9.51%

Novelo, Gladis Amarides

Member

447

Elected

9.66%

Rancharan, Nayeli Naya

Member

450

Elected

9.73%

Reyes, Jose Alberto

Member

445

Elected

9.62%

Camal, Arhenis Gilberto

Member

337

7.28%

Camal Carmita Elvira

Member

335

7.24%

Cowo, Kevin Berry

Member

338

7.31%

Duran, Mateo Aaron

Member

321

6.94%

Reyes, Jacinta

Member

331

7.16%

Villamil, Gerardo Alberto

Member

333

7.20%

ORANGE WALK DISTRICT Election Date

Village

Candidates Name

San Luis

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Chairpersons

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes

198

157

Election Date

Village

Douglas

79.29%

Chi, Edilma Consuelo

Chairperson

62

Marin, Javier Romaldo

Chairperson

95

Chi, Adolfo

Member

62

6.67%

Chi, Christian Andre

Member

61

6.57%

Chi, Jairo Reynaldo

Member

61

6.57%

Chi, Juan Carlos

Member

63

6.78%

Marin, Edelmina

Member

63

6.78%

Marin, Erminehildo

Member

61

6.57%

Candelario, Camilo

Member

93

Elected

10.01%

Chi, Luis Benito Chi, Isaias Aldair

Member Member

92 93

Elected Elected

9.90% 10.01%

Chi, Marco Tulio Salomen

Member

94

Elected

10.12%

Marin, Loreny Graciela

Member

93

Elected

10.01%

Marin, Solanie Roxana

Member

93

Elected

Elected

Candidates Name

0

60.51%

929

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Chairpersons Mendez, Marcelo

Chairperson

209

Alamilla, Julie Yvette

Chairperson

105

0

39.49%

Members

29/05/2022

Polled

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Polled Turnout Votes Votes

Elected

0

3

10.01% # of Registered Electors

Total Votes

434

314

Polled

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Polled Turnout Votes Votes 72.35% 66.56%

1 12

33.44%

Continued on page 28

28

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS HELD ON 29TH MAY 2022 OFFICIAL RESULTS

Continued from page 27

Members Alamilla, Joshua Betico

Election Date

29/05/2022

Village

Concepcion

Member

Candidates Mendez, Lindcee Aileen Name

Position Member

Osorio, Gian Marco

Member

Uk, Emily DianeyChairpersons

Date

San Pablo Election Date

Village

San Victor

Elected

Castillo, Adan Roberto Cardenas Martinez, Delfina

Chairperson Member

110250

Member

100

Mendez,Joan Guadencio Mendez, Francisco

Member Member

107 30

Uk, Rudy NeriOmir Joaquin Castillo, Raul

Member Member

104229

Herrera, Vilma Rosaura

Candidates Name

Moh, Rosalva Rocsana Pineda, Rosa

Chairpersons

Tun, Alfonso Marin, Amir Aaron

Sabido, Francisco Haviel

Candidates Name Members

Date

Member

No. of Votes 235

Member

Received 238

Member

232

Position

Member Chairperson Chairperson Position

Received

Member

216

Member

210

Member

221

Rivera, Martin

Chairperson

Gomez, Medina,Ismael AnaceliMosias

Chairperson Member

Cawich, Romario Gerardo

Candidates Name

274

249

35.08%

11.07%

Elected

5.70%1.99%

5.59% 15.73%

Elected Elected

# of Elected Remarks Registered Elected Electors

Elected

Remarks

711

Total Votes Polled

5.53% 15.93%

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes16.14% % of Voter Polled 16.35% Turnout Votes Votes

69.06% 2 8 46.44%15.87% Total Votes53.56% Spoilt % of Votes % of Voter

# of Registered 2840 Polled Electors 612

7.54%

7.61%

466

Elected

9.19% 8.91%

Member Member

266235

Elected Elected

9.37% 8.79%

Member

Position

267215

No. of Votes

211

Elected Elected

7.08%46.57% 7.61%

20

8.87% 8.94% 9.15% 8.42%

9.05%

Elected

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes

2107

1272

Polled

9.40% 8.05%

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes 7.90% % of Voter Polled 7.86% Turnout Votes Votes

Member

213

Member Chairperson

676205

Chairperson

596

Caseres, Shajira

Member

657

Elected

8.78%

Gonzalez, Crecencio Junior

Member

654

Elected

8.74%

Herrera, Eric Nolberto

Member

658

Elected

8.80%

Mai, Alberto

Member

660

Elected

8.82%

Novelo, David Samuel Pech, Noel Junior

Member Member

657 634

Elected Elected

8.78% 8.47%

Escarraga, Karla Ivanir

Member

597

7.98%

Gonzales, Joanne German

Member

598

7.99%

Gonzalez, David Virgilio

Member

594

7.94%

Herrera, Emelin Lily

Member

597

7.98%

Pech, Ana Isabel

Member

600

8.02%

Trejo, Noelia Odalis

Member

575

7.69%

Gutierrez, Jose Rodolfo Cruz, Josue Rojelio

0

8.84% 8.72%

Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected

Remarks

5

53.43%

2672

Votes

0

7.78%

Elected Elected

Member Member

Rejected

Votes

76.14%

7.39%

Received 210

Flores, Vincent Joshua Chairpersons

2 Turnout

Polled

261238

237 257 239 260225

18

15.93%

491

Member Member

Member Member Member Member Member

0

5.75%2.06%

201217 216 251233

18

12

5.37%

Member

Member Member

0

5.91%91.24%

1456

Member

Ewan, Celso

Rodriguez, Edilberta

Elected

7.97% 60.37%

53.14% 7.67%

13

1 17

46.86%

7481

Members

29/05/2022

10.96%

11.12% 8.76%

Elected 228231 No. 263of VotesElected

Mai, Yanira Shaheidi Chairpersons

Sanker, Rodolfo Daisy Aurora Castillo, Antonio

San Jose

103232

214

Members Arcurio, Walter Dario Alfaro, Rigoberto Che, Marga Lorena Cawich, Miguel Angel Cob, Erwin Avidamir Marin, Carmen Norbelli Cobb, Lucely Asely Mendez, Elsner Elian Ewan, Leidy Gicely Munoz, Jamid Uc, Argelio

Village

Member Member

Total Votes11.12% Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Turnout Votes Polled Polled 11.07% Votes

106 29

Member

Orellana, Ariane Aylin

Election

Member Member

Cawich Jailine Elianny

Martinez, Victoria

29/05/2022

781

Elected

207 24

Martinez, Asalia Maribell

29/05/2022

Elected

206

Zapata, Angela Francisca Ek, Felicita Feliciana

Village

204

Remarks 206 Received Elected

Member

1 10.80%

# of Registered Electors

Member Chairperson

Tuyub, Adriana Edwarda Moh, Salome Madelina

1861

No. 207of VotesElected

Zapata,Fredy Hortencio Chuck, NoelNicasio

Members

29/05/2022

COROZAL DISTRICT Member 201 Elected

Cardenas, Leeana Feliciana

Eligio, Roland Wilson

Election

2022

1

34

BELIZE DISTRICT Election Date

Village

Gracie Rock

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Chairpersons

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes

156

95

Elected

Election Date

Village

Biscayne

60.90%

Chairperson

62

Clarke, Philip Benjamin

Chairperson

33

Chaneb, Victoria Luciana

Member

57

Elected

10.88%

Kerr, Leyon Jason

Member

62

Elected

11.83%

Rivera, Miriam Marlena

Member

60

Elected

11.45%

Robinson, Alexander Dexter Staine, Randy Usher, Lancelot Alexander Arnold, Audrey

Member Member Member Member

63 57 59 25

Elected Elected Elected

12.02% 10.88% 11.26% 4.77%

Brakeman, Samuel Anthony Carcamo, Ambrosine Anastasia

Member Member

25 31

4.77% 5.92%

Harris, Rodney Melvin

Member

29

5.53%

Hoare, Amalia Adinet Humes, Anthony Lindbergh

Member Member

31 25

5.92% 4.77%

Candidates Name

10

524

Position

No. of Votes Received

0

65.26% 34.74%

Remarks

Chairpersons

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes

286

169

Polled

Elected

0

9

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Polled Turnout Votes Votes 59.09%

Gillett, Alphius Austin

Chairperson

89

Gideon, Linford Emmanuel

Chairperson

80

Ford, Leticia Anna

Member

89

Elected

9.01%

Jex, Kenroy Derrick

Member

95

Elected

9.62%

Segura, Natasha Aralla

Member

90

Elected

9.11%

Seguro, Leopold Dale Vernon, Elise Gayonne M.

Member Member

90 82

Elected

9.11% 8.30%

0 6

52.66% 47.34%

988

Members

29/05/2022

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Polled Turnout Votes Votes

Pollard, Wayne Michael Members

29/05/2022

Polled

0

Continued on page 29

5 JUN

29

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS HELD ON 29TH MAY 2022 OFFICIAL RESULTS

Continued from page 28

Vernon, Sajeda Indrani Casimiro, Jeovanni Deon

Election Date

Village

Concepcion Election Date

Village

Crooked Tree 29/05/2022

29/05/2022 Election Date

Village

San Victor

Election Date

29/05/2022

29/05/2022

Election Date

Dawson, Toria Karina Murillo, Enrique James Name Candidates Reid, Albert Sherrman

Sanchez, Jeniene Jamay Chairpersons Wade, Daren Daron Chuck, Fredy Noel

Castillo, Adan Roberto Candidates Name Members Chairpersons Mendez, Joan Francisco Perriott, Steven A. Moh, Salome Madelina Gillett, Brandon Deon Castillo, Raul Omir Members Ek, Felicita Feliciana Bood, Marlon I. Herrera, Herrera,Vilma DanielRosaura Joseph Moh, Rosalva Rocsana Herrera, Kevin Emmanuel Pineda, Swasey,Rosa Jason James Wallace, Dana Dian Tun, Alfonso Westby, Joel Anthony Gillett, John Alex Jr. Candidates Name Perriott, Sean Ishante Tillett, Diandra Denise Chairpersons Tillett, George Liston Rivera, Wade, Martin Alden Albert Wade, Judith Gomez, IsmaelElaine Mosias

Village

Candidates Name Members Alfaro, Rigoberto Freetown Sibun Che, Marga Lorena Chairperson Cob, Avidamir Tun,Erwin Roberto Omar Cobb, Lucely AselyMembers Ewan, Gicely Caine,Leidy Michael Uc, Argelio Maria Catalina Crawford, Smith, Paul Raymond Castillo, Rodolfo Antonio Tun, Adali LoreidiGerardo Cawich, Romario Tun, Alicia Ewan, Celso Village Name Flores, Vincent Candidates Joshua

Date

Member

No.78of Votes 74 Received 76

Member Member Chairperson

72 82 24 No. of Votes Chairperson 250 Position Received

Member Chairperson Member Chairperson Member

30 27 29 156 229

Member Member Member Member

23232 21235

Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Position Member Member

Member Chairperson Member Member Chairperson Position

Member Member Member Chairperson Member Member Member Member Member

Elected

Elected Elected

155 249 153

Elected Elected Elected Remarks

Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected

Uncontested

Member

Uncontested

Elected

McFadzean, Josephine Patricia

Member

Uncontested

Elected

McFadzean, Steve Alfred

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Pook, Jerome Allen Alford Sutherland, Nikita Dianne

Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested

Elected Elected

San Marcos

Chairperson Maldonado, Francisco

Received

# of Registered

Elected Elected Elected Remarks

Total Votes 7.89% Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter 7.49% Turnout Votes Polled Polled Votes 7.69%

7.29% 35.08% 0 8.30% 18 8.76% Total Votes Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter 91.24% Polled Turnout Votes Polled Votes 1456 0 183 42.07% 0 2.06% 8 14.75% 1.99% 85.25% 15.73% 1076 0 15.93% 2.14% 18 16.14% 1.95%

16.35% 2.23% 15.93% 2.32% 2.23% 15.87% Total Votes 2.14% Spoilt 4 Rejected % of Votes % of Voter 14.41% Polled Turnout Votes Polled Votes 14.68% 14.41% 466 76.14% 0 14.41% 5 53.43% 14.22%

14.87% 46.57% Total Votes % of Votes % of Voter Spoilt Rejected 2672 Polled Turnout Votes 0 Votes Polled 8.91% 8.72% 8.79% 8.87% 8.94% 8.42%

13

8.05% 7.90% # of Registered

7.86% Total Votes % of Votes % of Voter Spoilt Rejected Polled 7.97% Turnout Votes Polled Votes 7.67%

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes % of Votes % of Voter Spoilt Rejected Polled Turnout Votes Polled Votes

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes % of Votes % of Voter Spoilt Rejected Polled Turnout Votes Polled Votes

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes % of Votes % of Voter Spoilt Rejected Polled Turnout Votes Polled Votes

# of Registered 72

Total Votes % of Votes % of Voter Spoilt Rejected Polled Turnout Votes Polled Votes 45 62.50% 0 0 64.44%

Elected Elected

CAYO DISTRICT

No. of Votes

612

4

274

# of Registered Electors

Elected

Member

Position

781

Elected Elected

McFadzean, Danika Diane

Candidates Name

# of Registered Electors

435

Elected 24238 Elected 25232 24231 Elected No.23of Votes 155 Elected Remarks Received 158 Elected 155 Elected

160 217 No. of Votes Received 238 233 235 Uncontested 237 239 Uncontested 225 Uncontested

8.40% 7.79%

# of Elected Registered Remarks Electors

Gabourel, Jahmaal Edmund

Village

Member Member Member Member Member Member Position Member

Remarks

Member Chairperson

Palacio, Natalie Ambrozene Members

Election

Member Member Position

Uncontested 215 Uncontested 211 Uncontested 210 No. of Votes 213 Received 205 Uncontested

Chairperson Willows Bank Gutierrez, Jose Rodolfo

29/05/2022

Member 83 Elected COROZAL DISTRICT Member 77

Remarks

Chairperson

Uncontested

Elected

Catalan, Eusebio

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Dubon, Salomon

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Maldonado, Arintown Jefferson

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Moralez, Juan Antonio

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Moralez, Melvin Omar

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Members

29/05/2022

Election Date

Village

Candidates Name

Selena

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Chairperson Morales, Ana Eloisa

Chairperson

Uncontested

Elected

Duarte, Elizabeth

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Duarte Ramirez, Rene Antonio

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Montepeque, Celestino

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Montepeque, Fernando

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Padilla, Julio Abel

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Tobar, Marcos Ezequiel

Member

Uncontested

Elected

Members

29/05/2022

Election Date

29/05/2022

Village

Candidates Name

YALBAC

Chairperson Ayala, Marva Elsie

Position

Chairperson

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Uncontested

Elected

TOLEDO DISTRICT Election Date

Village

Corazon Creek

Candidates Name Pop, Alvin

Chairpersons

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Chairperson

29

Elected

Continued on page 30

30

5 JUN

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

The Ransom

A review by Ricardo Moguel Rosado In 1804, Haiti became first free black republic. The US refused recognition for 60 years because it was afraid it would spark a slave revolt in slave-owning USA among the millions of dissatisfied USA slaves. France and the USA had an economic embargo on Haiti; The US embargo lasted until 1863. Haiti became the first and only black republic to pay the price of freedom in blood. Then, a second time, they had to pay in cash.

In 1825, French warships arrived in Haiti and an emissary of Charles X, under military threats of attack from France, demanded reparation from a people it had once enslaved. Haiti agreed to pay reparation to France for loss of property including loss of slaves to the previous French slave owners in Haiti.

If Haiti did not pay, France threatened to invade and reimpose slavery in Haiti. A staggering amount, $150 million francs, 30 times Haiti annual revenue was demanded to pay former slave owners. Haiti started making loans from French and US banks to pay for this. This led to an economic crisis that affects Haiti even to this day. Haiti became the only republic where the descendants of enslaved people had to pay reparations to the descendants of their former masters for generations, 122 years. The last payment to a US bank was paid in 1947.

France in control of Haiti’s treasury.

CIC, Credit Industriel et Commercial: This bank siphoned millions of francs from Haiti in fees and interest 40% of the loans were used to pay bank directors, commissions and other fees.

From its massive profits it contributed towards the construction of the Eiffel Tower.

The banks current owners just launched an investigation into the dealings with Haiti concerning the role the bank The American Military in Haiti, 1915. Getty Images played in this affair. They call the study the Ecosystem of The value of the loans in today’s equivaColonialism. lency was 20 billion US Dollars, with a B. In 1915 President Woodrow Wilson The last payment to France was made in started the US military occupation of Hai1888 and the rest was paid to City Bank ti. It lasted until 1934. In one skirmish of New York up to 1947. alone, over 2,000 Haitians were killed.

For 122 years, 1825 to 1947, HaiThe US government-controlled customs ti had to disburse what could have collected taxes and ran many Haitian amounted to 115 billion US dollars in government institutions. The City Bank of Economic growth for Haiti. This severely New York, predecessor of City Bank, was hampered the economic development a key banker in this venture. of the Island. 80% of Haiti’s wealth went From 1957 to 1986 Haiti was ruled to pay debts.

by US-backed dictators Papa Doc and France sold the Louisiana territory Baby Doc Duvalier. They stole millions to the USA for 80 million francs. Over from Haiti and ran the public debt into the next 7 decades, Haiti paid an equivmore than hundreds of millions of dolalent of 560 million US dollars in today’s lars. Haiti’s debt is about $1.3 billion US currency. In 1880, a French bank estabDollars. The Duvalier’s were responsible lished Haiti’s first national bank putting

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS HELD ON 29TH MAY 2022 OFFICIAL RESULTS

Continued from page 29

Cal, Roscendo

Chairperson

Members Election Date 29/05/2022

Village

Concepcion

Election Date

29/05/2022

29/05/2022 Election Date

Election Date

29/05/2022

Village

San Lucas Village

Forest Home

Acal, Apolinario Caal, Reinaldo Candidates Name Rash, Francisco Xol, Santiago Acal, Sabastain Chairpersons Cal, Leonardo Chuck, Fredy Noel Kal, Genaro Castillo, Adan Roberto Kal, Pedro Members Makin, Aluceio Mendez, Joan Francisco Candidates Name Moh, Salome Madelina Chairpersons Castillo, Raul Omir Bo, Isidorio Ek, Felicita Feliciana Salam, Alejandro Herrera, Vilma Rosaura Candidates Name Moh, Rosalva Rocsana Pineda, Rosa

Chairperson Tun, Alfonso Armstrong, Shanisha Angelita

29/05/2022

29/05/2022

Village

San Pablo

Member Member Position Member Member Member Member Chairperson Member Chairperson Member Member Member Position Member Member Chairperson Member Chairperson Member Position Member Member

229 5 232 18 No. of235 Votes 238 Received 232

Elected Elected Remarks Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected

Remarks Elected Elected Elected Elected Remarks Elected Elected

Member Member

Uncontested

Coleman, Charmini Renee Rivera, Martin Collins, Edward Gomez, Ismael Fitzgerald Mosias

Member Uncontested Chairperson 249 Member Uncontested Chairperson 217 Member Uncontested

Candidates MembersName

Bo, Victoriano

Members Young, Evan Alfaro, Rigoberto Candidates Name Che, Marga Lorena Cob, Erwin Avidamir Chairperson Cobb, Lucely Asely Ewan, Leidy Gicely Ishim, Juan Uc, Argelio Members Castillo, Rodolfo Antonio Bulum, Jose Cawich, Romario Gerardo

Bulum, Ewan,Oscar Celso Choc, Victor Flores, Vincent Joshua

Cucul, MariaJose Magdalena Gutierrez, Rodolfo Makin, Joaquin Xol, Rolando

Member Chairperson

No.23 of Votes 25 Received 25 27 29 1424 15 250 33 13 No. of 30 Votes Received 29

Borland, Clarinda Chairpersons Ramona

Village

San Victor

16

COROZAL DISTRICT

231 Elected Uncontested Elected No. of Votes Remarks Received Uncontested Elected

Ramclam, Shirma

Election Date

for 40 % of this debt. Haiti is still paying this debt. The infamous Tonton Macoute was responsible for over 10,000 Haitian lives.

Thirty years ago, Haiti imported no rice, today, it imports all its rice. Haiti was the prime example of huge profits made by the sugar plantations, but today, imports its sugar. The IMF, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank forced Haiti to open its market to the world. The US then dumped millions of tons of subsidized sugar and rice into Haiti undercutting local farmers and ruining Haitian agriculture. Today, Haiti is the third largest importer of US rice.

In 2002, US stopped hundreds of millions of US Dollars in loans that were destined for infrastructure.

In 2004, the US and France supported the coup against President Aristide.

He was talking about reparation.

Haiti was once the most prosperous and productive European colony in the world. The wealth was due to slave labor. Between 1697 and 1804, French colonists brought 800,000 slaves from West Africa into Haiti to work the vast sugar and coffee plantations. The mortality rate was high and for plantation owners it was cheaper to buy new slaves than provide adequate conditions for existing ones. Goods from Haiti amounted to 30% of French trade.

Haiti ‘Ransom’ Project: Reactions and Updates The New York Times’s publication of “The Ransom,” a report laying out history’s role in Haiti’s poverty. Published May 23, 2022 (Updated May 27, 2022)

Position

Elected

204

0 11.27% Spoilt Rejected # of % 12.25% of Votes % of Voter Registered Turnout Votes Polled Polled Votes 12.25% Electors 13.24% 781 274 35.08% 0 4 14.22% 6.86% 18 8.76% 7.35% 91.24% 16.18% 1456 0 6.37% # of Total Votes % of Votes 2.06%% of Voter Spoilt Rejected Registered Polled Polled Votes 1.99% Turnout Votes 36 23 63.89% 0 15.73% 21.74% 0 15.93% 78.26% 18 # of Votes % of Voter Spoilt Rejected Total Votes % of 16.14% 16.35% Turnout Votes Registered Polled Polled Votes 15.93% Total Votes

Total Votes

612

466

Elected

Member Member Position Member Member Member Member Chairperson Member

Uncontested 238 No. of Votes 233 Received 235 237 239 Uncontested 225

Elected Elected # of Remarks Elected Registered Elected Elected Elected Elected Elected

Member Member Member Member Member

215 Uncontested 211 Uncontested 210

Elected

Member Member Member Member Member

Member

15.87%

# of Registered Electors

Polled

Elected Elected Elected

Elected

Uncontested 213 Uncontested 205

Elected

Uncontested

Elected

Uncontested

Elected

Elected

35.56%

Spoilt Rejected % of Votes % of Voter Polled Turnout Votes Votes 76.14% 53.43%

0 5

46.57%

2672

0 8.91% Total Votes % of Votes % of Voter Spoilt Rejected 8.72% Polled Turnout Votes Polled Votes 8.79% 8.87% 8.94% 8.42% 13 8.05% 7.90% 7.86% 7.97% 7.67%

5 JUN

31

THE BELIZE TIMES

2022

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT VILLAGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS HELD ON 29TH MAY 2022 OFFICIAL RESULTS BELIZE DISTRICT Election Date

Village

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes Polled

% of % of Votes Voter Polled Turnout

Spoilt

Rejected

Votes

Votes

Spoilt Votes

Rejected Votes

Freetown Sibun

Chairperson Tun, Roberto Omar Members Caine, Michael Crawford, Maria Catalina Smith, Paul Raymond Tun, Adali Loreidi Tun, Alicia

29/05/2022

Election Date

Village

Willows Bank

29/05/2022

Election Date

Village

San Marcos

Candidates Name

Chairperson

Uncontested

Member Member Member Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested Uncontested

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Chairperson Palacio, Natalie Ambrozene Members

Chairperson

Uncontested

Gabourel, Jahmaal Edmund

Member

Uncontested

McFadzean, Danika Diane

Member

Uncontested

McFadzean, Josephine Patricia

Member

Uncontested

McFadzean, Steve Alfred

Member

Uncontested

Pook, Jerome Allen Alford Sutherland, Nikita Dianne

Member Member

Uncontested Uncontested

CAYO DISTRICT

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes Polled

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes

# of Registered Electors

Total Votes

# of Registered

# of Registered

% of % of Votes Voter Polled Turnout

% of % of Votes Voter Polled Turnout

Spoilt

Rejected

Votes

Votes

% of % of Votes Voter Polled Turnout

Spoilt

Rejected

Votes

Votes

% of % of Votes Voter Polled Turnout

Spoilt

Rejected

Votes

Votes

Total Votes Polled

% of Votes

% of Voter

Spoilt Votes

Rejected Votes

Total Votes Polled

% of Votes

% of Voter

Spoilt Votes

Rejected Votes

Polled

Chairperson Maldonado, Francisco

Chairperson

Uncontested

Catalan, Eusebio

Member

Uncontested

Dubon, Salomon

Member

Uncontested

Maldonado, Arintown Jefferson

Member

Uncontested

Moralez, Juan Antonio

Member

Uncontested

Moralez, Melvin Omar

Member

Uncontested

Members

29/05/2022

Election Date

Village

Selena

Candidates Name

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Polled

Chairperson Morales, Ana Eloisa

Chairperson

Uncontested

Duarte, Elizabeth

Member

Uncontested

Duarte Ramirez, Rene Antonio

Member

Uncontested

Montepeque, Celestino

Member

Uncontested

Montepeque, Fernando

Member

Uncontested

Padilla, Julio Abel

Member

Uncontested

Tobar, Marcos Ezequiel

Member

Members

29/05/2022

Election Date

29/05/2022

Village

Candidates Name

YALBAC

Chairperson

Position

Ayala, Marva Elsie

Uncontested No. of Votes Received

Chairperson

Remarks

Polled

Uncontested

TOLEDO DISTRICT Election Date

Village

Candidates Name

Forest Home

Chairperson Armstrong, Shanisha Angelita

Position

No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Chairperson

Uncontested

Bo, Victoriano

Member

Uncontested

Borland, Clarinda Ramona

Member

Uncontested

Coleman, Charmini Renee

Member

Uncontested

Collins, Edward Fitzgerald

Member

Uncontested

Ramclam, Shirma

Member

Uncontested

Young, Evan

Member

Members

29/05/2022

Election Date

Village

San Pablo

Candidates Name

Position

Uncontested No. of Votes Received

Remarks

Chairperson Ishim, Juan

Chairperson

Uncontested

Bulum, Jose

Member

Uncontested

Bulum, Oscar

Member

Uncontested

Choc, Victor

Member

Uncontested

Cucul, Maria Magdalena

Member

Uncontested

Makin, Joaquin

Member

Uncontested

Xol, Rolando

Member

Uncontested

Members

29/05/2022

32

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 JUN

2022