Belize Times March 4, 2018

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

4 MARCH 2018 | ISSUE NO: 5086

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

CRASH IMMINENT WARNS GOB’S TOP FINANCE GURU

Joseph Waight

Thursday, March 1, 2018 Neither Prime Minister Dean Barrow nor his sidekick Patrick Faber have been available for comment following a bombshell revelation by the nation’s top finance man, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight. In a message sent to CEOs of all Ministries of Government, Waight warns of dire economic times – “We are being OVERWHELMED with requests for reallocations and de-reservations of “savings” identified in various accounts. These are ILLUSIONS as the reality is that there is NO MONEY in the bank. As it is we will likely have to issue MORE T

-Notes to meet the early end of year PAYDAY next month.”

Waight continues to advise that “Our DEBT is already at 100% of GDP and RISING. If we continue on this path we will certainly CRASH. I am appealing to all to instruct your finance officers to just STOP TROLLING through their books to find unspent funds.The money is SIMPLY NOT THERE.” On Sunday, the Ministry of Finance through its Press Office sent out a lame release claiming that this is not the case and all is well with government and its finances, but everybody knows that is just a half-hearted spin to counteract the damage done by the Financial Secretary confirm-

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FAKE

COPS

CONTRACTOR CRACKS AND FINGERS BOOTS

CHARGED WITH MURDER

Thursday, 01 March 2018 8 lawmen, 7 from the Belize Defense Force, and 1 from the Police Department, have been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. They are accused of conducting an unsanctioned and unlawful raid at the home of an Orange Walk man and beating him to death inside his home.

ing that the GOVERNMENT IS BROKE. Waight’s proclamation at this particular time is no doubt in response to multiple and credible reports that the UDP is attempting to use monies from the Ministry of Education (and no doubt other Ministries) to provide goodies for votes. In the past two weeks UDP campaigner have been visiting homes in various parts of the country promising that in return for support they will pay school fees. With only days left to elections, the UDP is hauling out all the stops and want to hand out goodies, but Waight is telling them they can’t

Those officers are 29 year-old Constable Lennart Cajun, a Special Patrol Unit officer residing in Orange Walk Town; 28 year-old Mateo Bolon, a resident of Jalacte Village, Toledo; 31 year-old Patrick Villagran Sr., a resident of Ladyville; 26 year-old Patrick Diego, a resident of Pomona Village, 33 year-old Elvis Cobb, a resident of San Victor Village; 26 year-old Edmar Petillo, a resident of Carmelita Village, 21 year-old Bladimir Escarraga, a resident of San Jose Village, and 23 year-old Francis Sho, a resident of Belmopan.

All 8 officers, are attacked to the Belize Special Assignment Group (BSAG).

This unit is only of the most highly trained law enforcement outfits in Belize that specialize in high risk or the most dangerous operations. Unfortunately, the allegation for which they are now charge is that they reportedly barged to the home of 46 year-old Ariel Salazar and brutalized him. Those injuries he suffered claimed his life.

Police say that at around 10:40

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Kirk Lamb

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MARCH 7 MATTERS - VOTE PUP - ALWAYS BOUT DI PEOPLE

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THE BELIZE TIMES

COPS

CHARGED WITH MURDER

Continued from page 1

a.m., on Thursday, February 22, they visited Salazar’s home at the corner of San Antonio Road and Staines Alley in Orange Walk Town. There, they found Salazar suffering from severe injuries to the abdomen and chest. He told police that at around 3:30 a.m., men in military uniformed barged into his home conducted a raid, and they started to interrogating him about some cellular phone that he supposedly have. Once didn’t get any kind of real results in locating this phone they attacked him and his guests.

He was taken for medical treatment at the Northern Regional Hospital, but his injuries claimed his life, at around 11 a.m. that same day.

After the deadly attack, Noe Sanchez, one of Salazar’s friends who was with him when the beatdown occurred, spoke with the press, describing in detail, an attack that sounds more like a home invasion than an actual law enforcement operation.

He said that he, Salazar, Oscar Payes, and a female friend were all at Salazar’s home socializing when they heard a knock on the door. Seconds later, someone broke it open, and immediately, these men in military uniforms barged in. Majority of them were wearing masks over their faces, and according to Sanchez, these men ordered them at gunpoint to lie facedown on the ground.

Once they complied, that’s when the men started to demand answers from them for the questions they had. The law enforcement team were apparently trying to recover a cellular phone from Salazar that they suspected he had on him.

He couldn’t comply and that’s when the beating, against all the males

took place. Police investigators later learned that a woman, who hasn’t been identified to the press, told them that Salazar had this cellular phone.

He suffered the most serious injures.

A post mortem has revealed that Salazar died from blunt force trauma, kidney, and liver rupture. Doctors told the family that his ribs had been broken, and that caused his internal organs to be punctured.

Assistant Police Commissioner Chester Williams, the officer commanding the Professional Standards Branch told the press that after his investigations, the BSAG team had no lawful authority to have conducted this raid.

Williams said, “They surely acted criminally not only out of order. They acted criminally, and if it is that the investigation reveals that they are really the ones who did it then they will be dealt with criminally like any other person.”

A few days later, all 8 lawmen were arrested and charged with Salazar’s murder, and attempted murder which they allegedly committed against Oscar Payes. They were arraigned in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on Monday, February 26, and they were remanded to the Belize Central Prison. They will be brought back to court on April 18.

There is one big issue that the police will have to address is the identification evidence that will be needed to prove that these men inflicted the injuries on Salazar which took his life.

That will be difficult since the culprits were wearing masks.

Salazar’s sister, Manuelita, told the press that she wants convictions for her brother’s death, and an arraignment is not enough for her family.

Manuelita Salazar said, “Right now I can’t say anything, because you could never tell what will happen… I want justice for what they did to my brother and I wish they would go to jail for life, because this is not fair.”

CRASH

FAKE CONTRACTOR CRACKS AND FINGERS BOOTS Thursday, 01 March 2018 Long-time employee of Minister Anthony “Boots” Martinez who had a fallout with the Port Loyola area representative is now revealing inside details of a scheme so warped it involved the re-routing and siphoning of hundreds of thousands of dollars of government funds.

Those funds were intended to go to the construction of houses under the Southside Poverty Alleviation Project funded through OPEC. Instead, the allegation is that the money was going back into the hands of Minister Boots. In essence, Lamb’s credit union account was being used as a clearing account. His gripe after being fired is that he was being used and never got anything out of it.

Lamb explained that another Boots employee would take him and four or five others who were NOT contractors to collect the money from the financial institutions. Lamb said “they are employees just like me. Workers just like me. If we were contractors we’d have our tools or maybe our truck and we’d be building houses.”

Lamb’s credit union record shows that for one year and four months, funds ranging between $8,000 and $10,000 were being deposited sometimes three to four times per month and being withdrawn almost immediately or, at most, within two weeks.

The former employee claims that when he signed a document in front of Boots and the Works CEO, Errol Gentle, in 2015, he thought he was signing to get a piece of land. He added that he allowed the use of his account in the fashion it was used because otherwise he would have been fired.

Another contractor who got contracts to build some of the houses under the project, says he would see Lamb around but only as a “run man.” Other contractors have revealed off the record

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Mike Rudon

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do it out of government monies.

It is no secret that Government has had to rely on monies borrowed surreptitiously from Taiwan to meet payroll in the past. It is also known that when a Government cannot meet payroll, that is one sign of imminent collapse. It will be interesting to see how long GOB can juggle these balls before one, or all of them fall.

Of course, Barrow and Faber only have to hold out until after elections and to the end of the financial year, when they can reveal that Belizeans will have to pay MORE TAXES to pay for the government’s mismanagement and corruption. Wait for it.

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that there is an arrangement where they, the contractors, get a salary and Boots ends up with the larger amount of money.

Money we are told by reliable sources he used to gamble at Princess in the thousands.

All that aside, works CEO Errol Gentle has said that in 2015, Lamb was paid $27,500 for one house and $30,500 per house for three other houses (although that is not the extent of all the work Lamb was assigned). Boots however has said that the construction of the houses cost $17,000 initially and climbed to $23,000 later. Those inconsistencies aside, there are other questions raised by the figures presented at the time that these contracts were signed on September 3, 2015. The Ministry of Works had reported that 22 contractors (15 from Port Loyola and 7 from Lake Independence) signed contracts to construct between 100 and 200 houses with $1,495,000. $600,000 would go to Lake-I houses while $895,000 was budgeted for Port.

If that amount for Port is divided by the 15 contractors, the figure per contractor is only $59,000 so how did Lamb get around $200,000 in just 1 year and four months when in 2015 he got $119,000 for four houses?

Separately, another contractor (a real one) has said: look at the material used to build those houses. The indication is that the houses that were built definitely do not cost what the officials are saying they cost. In fact, many of the houses are already starting to come apart having been built only three years ago. Indeed, the Southside Poverty Alleviation project needs to be audited and government officials need to stop cheating citizens out of what they deserve.

14 APR 2013

IMMINENT

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2018

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4 MAR

2018

EXPOSED

Thursday, 01 March 2018 There is this age adage old that the streets talk. Try as you may to conceal and hide the truth, the word always gets around and what is in the dark always comes to light. How fitting then, that Belize city streets, in the most literal sense, have spoken, and like the protruding steel in many of this city’s rotting streets, this government is left EXPOSED. The United Democratic Party (UDP) loves to beat its chest and point to the “hundreds” of streets and roads it paved and concreted but the test of quality, just a couple years removed from the completion of many of these projects, is evident and is an apt summary for the entire tenure of these UDP goons. They presented pretty new streets and roads and fancied themselves infrastructural gurus, but like everything else this party has done, the truth was hidden beneath the surface, patiently waiting to be exposed.

There is no doubt that many of these obviously bloated contracts were awarded to the usual political fat cats while the bare minimum was spent on quality materials. Predictably, as a result of such blatant corrup-

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THE BELIZE TIMES

tion, the quality of streets, much like the moral values of the UDP government, which once campaigned on a platform against corruption; has quickly eroded, leaving only cold hard steel and truth to remain.

Now that elections are a week away, the Belize City Council and Ministry of Works are carrying out all kinds of road repairs on areas that had been neglected for years. Take for instance the stretch of street at the junction of Amara Avenue and Allenby Street in the Mesopotamia area. The streets had become so degraded that motorists in the area had avoided driving over the portion was exposed steel altogether in fear of damaging their tires and vehicles. It had remained an eye soar for years and the City Council nor the area representative, Michael Finnegan; nor the Ministry of Works could be bother to request its repair until a single week before the upcoming municipal elections.

The UDP believes the Belizean public are a bunch of fools easily distracted and easily bribed. But even as the UDP rushes to do patch jobs all over the city and country, the bottom is falling out beneath them. There are tons of streets around the city dete-

riorating with steel becoming exposed.

There is another such portion on Vernon street just after the bridge near the fish market. Perhaps the best example of the UDP’s handy work, however, is the stretch of road between miles 5 and 6 on the George Price highway. RJB Construction, the company owned by disgraced former Deputy Mayor and Minister of Thieving Lands, Gaspar Vega’s nephew, Imer Hernandez; was given the contract to repair and maintain that stretch. The problem, however, is that RJB did an extraordinarily horrible job, even worse than its effort on the Lake-I Boulevard, which has become nearly impassable for small vehicles.

After RJB finished that stretch of road on the George Price highway, it was full of holes and heartaches after the first real rain came to test it. They repaired it and did the same crappy job and was washed away yet again with the second strong rain that arrived.

And now, they are at work on that same stretch once more because third time most likely is the charm. Except, the fellows are anything but charming, or intelligent, or decent, or honest, or skilled, or talented, or like-able or basically anything positive.

But more than anything or anyone else, the single person left more exposed by all this, is the bald head of the snake himself, Dean Oliver Barrow.

There is not a human soul in Belize that believes he is innocent and is oblivious to the putrid stench of corruption which

he has surrounded himself with. He has been right there in the mud with the pigs every step of the way. And now as the streets tell the unbearable truth about his administration, there is news of economic crisis, impending fuel shortages, rising cost of living and uncontrollable police and state abuse. Barrow should be attributed the most guilt, because he is the one that campaigned as a knight in shining armour, proclaiming to be the poor people saviour. Instead, Barrow has enriched his own family of lawyers at the expense of the Belizean people; us, the poor, struggling people of this country. The Barrow’s never need to worry about money another day in their lives, while the rest of us need to scratch and claw for crumbs.

The vulnerable people of southside Belize city are in more dire situations than ever before while the streets literally crumble around them. The UDP has failed miserably and Barrow, as the leader of that effort, is a complete and total failure. Under his watch, Belize has suffered blow after blow, internationally, financially and in just about every way imaginable. Belizeans, vote your conscience on March 7! Let the UDP know that they have failed and let them know that you see them as they are: completely and totally EXPOSED for the frauds that they really are.

MARCH 7 MATTERS...

ALWAYS BOUT DI PEOPLE

VOTE PUP

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4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

New Budget Will Bring New Taxes Barrow Dodges the Question Thursday, March 1, 2018 It seems like yesterday that Prime Minister Dean Barrow adroitly dodged the media when they asked about new taxes in the 2017/2018 Budget. Despite Joe Waight saying days before that there would definitely be taxes, Barrow weaved and danced his way through an explanation, assuring Belizeans that there would be no taxation which would further cripple the already overburdened poor or the productive sector – or some hogwash like that – and then he belted us with taxes which did the exact opposite of what he promised, telling us that with those new taxes, everything would be okay.

And now it has been confirmed to us by the highest sources in the Ministry of Finance that things are not okay. In fact, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight has told those in power around him that if they continue on this path ‘WE WILL CERTAINLY CRASH.’ Currently, according to Waight, Government will not be able to meet payroll in March unless they print more money, and the Belize Times has been reliably informed that this is not the first time. In the past, we are told, Government has had to turn to Taiwan for help.

The country is tapped out, thanks to the incompetence, mismanagement and corruption of the UDP. In the past years we have run through hundreds of millions in Petrocaribe money, hun-

CARTOON

dreds of millions in oil money, hundreds of millions in loans and this Barrow/Faber administration still cannot balance the budget. All that money is gone, and there have been no noticeable improvements to the social component of the country, no noticeable

improvements to health and no noticeable improvements to education.

So where will Mr. Barrow go find money? He won’t go to his greedy, corrupt Ministers and he certainly will not go to the greedy, corrupt cronies who have become millionaires in a hurry. No, Mr. Barrow will come back to the hard-working people of Belize, as he always does. And things will get harder, and they have every year since 2008. Will it be higher fuel taxes? Higher GST? When asked by the media recently, the Prime Minister said that he preferred not to say, but the nation will get the bad news on March 9, 2018.

4 MAR

2018

THE BELIZE TIMES

EDITORIAL

I

IT’S THAT TIME

n a matter of days, residents of all our municipalities will be asked to go to the polls to vote for the teams or persons they feel can best represent them in their cities and towns. In every municipality but one – Orange Walk - the people have been represented by United Democratic Party teams. In that northern town, Mayor Kevin Bernard has since 2012 led stellar PUP teams and has cemented his place as the best Mayor in the country, bar none.

This is an historic election, and critically important. Since 2008 the UDP, led by Dean Barrow, has been in Central Government, elected on an anti-corruption mandate. At the time, they asked Belizeans to ‘Imagine the Possibilities’ of a UDP, Barrow-led administration in power. Our small country, then, was to have been a utopia of good-governance, transparency, accountability and integrity, one driven by the people because Mr. Barrow promised that there would be the total inclusivity by all social partners.

Absolutely none of that has happened. Ten years after those lofty promises, and after being told that the best was yet to come, our country and people are in real despair – socially, politically and economically. Nothing that was promised came to pass. Our poverty rate today is higher than it was a decade ago, although there are certainly more millionaires today, thanks to the corruption of our leaders in Cabinet. As we go into Municipal Elections, crime is out of control and our Police policy-makers seem totally clueless and too busy in bed with our politicians to really launch any serious fight on crime.

Our economy is in shambles, to the point that the Financial Secretary has stated in no uncertain terms that if the government continues on this path it will crash. We have reeled from scandal after scandal – corruption on top of corruption. We now face an uncertain future of likely higher taxes. And there are no positive possibilities to imagine under a Barrow administration.

But still, the Barrow/Faber led UDP will do whatever it takes to remain in office – they will beg, borrow, steal, bribe, threaten, intimidate, pay school fees, hand out goodies – whatever it takes. They will manipulate entities which play a role in the outcome of elections directly or indirectly – from the elections and Boundaries Department to the Police Department. They will patch streets which haven’t been touched for years. They will paint basketball courts which haven’t had rims or bleachers since they were elected. They will tell you, as Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber has, that if you do not vote for them you have nothing to get – that they will ignore you and withhold opportunities from you.

This U.D.P. Government is as close to diabolically undemocratic rule as our small nation has every experienced. We are in very serious trouble. The UDP is desperate to remain in power because they have tasted the sweets for so long, and they are loathe to let go.

In just a matter of days you, the normal Belizean, will have undreamed of power. For years, you have been treated like you don’t matter. For years you have had no say in how you are governed. For years you have had to just watch as decisions are made which cost you and your children and their children hundreds of millions of dollars. For years, you have seen certain people very close to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet become extraordinarily wealthy while your paycheck seems to shrink every single day. For years, you have prayed that none of your children would get sick because you cannot afford quality health care for them and you are just one sickness away from poverty.

For years, you have struggled to send your children to school while the children of wealthy UDP Ministers are granted scholarships. For years, you have had to depend on assistance from a Minister to survive because there are no real jobs available and they prefer to keep you dependent on them. For years, you have grieved over the blood flowing on the streets with no reprieve. For years, you have waited for Andre Vega, son of Gaspar Vega, to repay the $400,000 that was illegally appropriated from taxpayer monies, and you now know that will not happen. For years you have waited for justice, and now you realize that justice in Belize has become deaf, dumb, blind and easily manipulated.

But this is your time. This is the time for you to tell the UDP that you are not happy with the corruption, and with the selective enrichment. This is the time for you to tell the UDP that you demand good governance, something you have never gotten from them. This is the time for you to let the UDP know that you gave them a chance, and that they failed you miserably.

This is your time. Do the right thing for you and for the country. This is a critical election. Vote early and send a message that Change Has Come.

05 5 en Español

ES ESE MOMENTO

E

n cuestión de días, se pedirá a los residentes de todos nuestros municipios que vayan a las urnas a votar por los equipos o personas que sientan que mejor los puedan representar en sus ciudades y pueblos. En todos los municipios, pero uno -Orange Walk- la gente ha sido representada por los equipos del partido demócrata Unido. En esa ciudad del norte, el alcalde Kevin Bernard ha encabezado desde 2012 equipos del PUP estelares y ha cementado su lugar como el mejor alcalde en el país, sin ninguna excepción.

Esta es una elección histórica, y críticamente importante. Desde 2008 el UDP, encabezado por Dean Barrow, ha estado en el gobierno central, elegido en un mandato contra la corrupción. En ese momento, le pidieron a los beliceños que “imaginaran las posibilidades” de una administración UDP, encabezada por Barrow en el poder.

Nuestro pequeño país, entonces, tenía que haber sido una utopía de buena gobernanza, transparencia, responsabilidad e integridad, una impulsada por el pueblo porque el señor Barrow prometió que habría la inclusión total de todos los interlocutores sociales Absolutamente nada de eso ha sucedido. Diez años después de esas nobles promesas, y después de que se les dijera que lo mejor estaba para venir, nuestro país y la gente están en verdadera desesperación – social, política y económicamente. Nada del prometido llegó a pasar. Nuestra tasa de pobreza hoy en día es más alto que hace una década, aunque sin duda hay más millonarios hoy en día, gracias a la corrupción de nuestros líderes en el gabinete. A medida que entramos en las elecciones municipales, el crimen está fuera de control y nuestros policías responsables de la formulación de directrices generales parecen totalmente despistados y muy ocupados en cama con nuestros políticos para lanzar cualquier lucha realmente seria contra el crimen. Nuestra economía está en ruinas, hasta el punto que el Secretario de finanzas ha declarado claramente si el gobierno continúa en este camino se irá a pique. Nos hemos tambaleado con escándalo tras escándalo – corrupción encima de la corrupción. Ahora nos enfrentamos a un futuro incierto con la probabilidad de impuestos más altos. Y no hay posibilidades positivas de imaginar bajo una administración Barrow.

Pero aun así, el UDP de Barrow/Faber harán todo lo necesario para permanecer en el cargo – ellos suplicarán, prestarán, robarán, sobornarán, amenazarán, intimidarán, pagarán las cuotas escolares, repartirán las golosinas-todo lo necesario. Manipularán a las entidades que desempeñan un papel en el resultado de las elecciones, directa o indirectamente, desde el Departamento de elecciones y límites hasta el Departamento de policía. Van a parchear calles que no han sido tocadas durante años. Van a pintar canchas de baloncesto que no han tenido aros y canastas ni tribunas desde que fueron elegidos. Ellos le dirán, como ha dicho el Vice primer Ministro Patrick Faber, que si usted no vota por ellos no tiene nada para conseguir – que ellos le ignorarán y le negaran oportunidades.

Este gobierno U.D.P. es lo más cercano a un régimen diabólico y antidemocrático que nuestra pequeña nación jamás ha experimentado. Estamos en serios problemas.

El UDP está desesperado para permanecer en el poder porque han probado los dulces durante tanto tiempo, y son reacios a dejar En sólo unos días tú, el Beliceño normal, tendrás inimaginable poder. Durante años, te han tratado como si no importaras. Durante años no has tenido ninguna opinión en cómo te gobiernan. Durante años has tenido que ver como se toman las decisiones que te cuestan a ti y a tus hijos y a sus hijos cientos de millones de dólares. Durante años, has visto a ciertas personas muy cercanas al primer ministro y su gabinete que se han vuelto extraordinariamente ricos mientras tu sueldo parece reducirse cada día. Durante años, has orado para que ninguno de tus hijos se enferme porque no puedes pagar la atención de salud de calidad para ellos y estás a sólo una enfermedad lejos de la pobreza. Durante años, has luchado para enviar a tus hijos a la escuela, mientras que a los hijos de los ministros ricos del UDP se les conceden becas. Durante años, has tenido que depender de la ayuda de un ministro para sobrevivir porque no trabajos de verdad disponibles y prefieren mantenerte dependiente de ellos. Durante años, te has afligido por la sangre que fluye en las calles sin ningún alivio. Durante años, has esperado que Andre Vega, hijo de Gaspar Vega, pague los $400.000 que fueron ilegalmente apropiados del dinero de los contribuyentes, y ahora te das cuenta de que la justicia en Belice se ha vuelto sorda, tonta, ciega y fácilmente manipulada.

Pero éste es tu momento. Éste es el momento para el que usted le diga al UDP que usted no está contento con la corrupción, y con el enriquecimiento selectivo. Éste es el momento para el que usted le diga al UDP que usted exige un buen gobierno, algo que nunca ha obtenido de ellos. Éste es el momento para el que usted lo haga conocer al UDP que usted les dio una oportunidad, y que le fallaron miserablemente. Éste es tu momento. Haz lo correcto para ti y para el país. Ésta es una elección crítica. Vote temprano y envíe un mensaje que el cambio ha llegado.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

ON THE

MOVE

Change is Here

This Corozal team is ready to lead and ready to win.

We commit to our residents that we will bring back good governance and accountability and transparency.

We will serve the people after March 7, 2018.

4 MAR

2018

Huge threat to the shortage of fuel in Belize • The ship Syrtos, coming from Venezuela, refuses to land more than three million liters in the Central American country • The company demands the payment of the fuel before the disembarkation and accuses the government of being “broken” • The government of Belize denies the fact, assuring that the disembarkation has been complicated by manoeuvres Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico: February 26, 2008 Venezuelan mercantile authorities have accused the government of Belize of literally being “bankrupt”, since it is confirmed that the Ship Tanker Syrtos has been anchored for several days now since its arrival last week at Belizean ports.

The Tanker contains more than three million litres of fuel that could not be discharged because its owners demands prior payment before

delivery of the fuel and have assured that the only answers they have been receiving is that the government of Belize does not have the resources to comply.

In contrast, the Government of Belize through its Press Office and the Belize Consulate in Quintana Roo, denied that the government of Belize is unable to pay the outstanding debt, but instead claimed that the delay in the timely delivery and replenishing of the fuel to the service stations across Belize is due to problems of disembarkation of the Ship Tanker coupled with problems that they attributed to Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

In addition to the exclusive information issued to ‘Contracorriente’, in the official notice, the Ministry of Finance of Belize announced that they are establishing negotiations with other countries to import diesel and other fuels to Belize to cover the demand of local service stations across the country; reassuring that the reserve of diesel will be normalized, at the latest, by the middle of the week; and also waiting for the Venezuelan Tanker to depart Belize in the following days.

It should be noted that the Syrtos vessel still has in its tanks one million 872 thousand 705 liters of diesel and one million 135 thousand

623 liters of airplane gas; and although the government of Belize insists on noting that there is no such inability to pay, it is important to note the Belize is a signatory and a member country to the agreement known as Petrocaribe, which basically consists in obtaining fuel from Venezuela with facilities and preferential fuel prices.

However, some of the 18 countries that make up the mechanism have reported that in reality there are no preferential prices, the only benefit to Petro Caribe is that when ordering fuel shipments, member countries pay half of its actual cost and can finance the balance of payment for up to 25 years, which has worsened the Venezuelan finances, but also increased the debts of the member countries, which are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Granada, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia and

Suriname.

Finally, the Belizean government has not communicated whether it will break the agreement with Venezuela for the purchase of fuels, nor has it revealed the real amount of the debt that has plunged itself into through the agreement, according to Venezuelan sources, it is the inability of payments of member countries that causes setbacks and also generates shortages of fuel.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that Errol Thompson is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “J.T. Waffle House” located at # 17 Old Farmer’s Market, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Jose Escalante is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Puma Road Runner” located on Belize Road, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

4 MAR

UDP Election Resources Coming In?

Thursday, March 1, 2018 While there will be no answers coming out of any official sources, observers are looking very pointedly at two planes which have been discovered within hours of each other – one in the Hillbank area of the Orange Walk District and the other in Santa Cruz in the Corozal District.

On Monday morning, the burned remains of a twin prop plane were found in

an area between Hillbank and Indian Church. As usual, Police got to the party after the band had already packed up and left, so there is precious little information that can be provided. What is certain is that the plane carried enough cargo to make burning a very expensive aircraft not a problem.

Even as that news was being reported, Police found the remains of another aircraft, allegedly a similar type, in Santa Cruz in the Corozal District.

Again, the band had packed up and left so there is nothing that can be revealed at this time except again, speculation about the value of the cargo.

There are two important things to note here – in recent years, under a UDP administration, not one drug plane has been intercepted with cargo intact. In every single instance, authorities have reported to the scenes long after landing and discharge. In every single instance, there have been no arrests and no updates on any investigation – cargo, pilot, passengers have all just vanished in the wind. And secondly, how much of a coincidence is it that just days before elections not one but two planes carrying an unidentified cargo have landed in the north of the country?

Senior Police sources have told us that it can be no coincidence that the Police always show up late. Those sources also say that there is involvement which goes all the way up the political ladder. That would certainly come as no big surprise.

UDP’s Puppet Shows His Hand Again Thursday, March 1, 2018 Police officers have confirmed to the Belize Times that they received no instructions from their commanding officer, Superintendent Richard Rosado, to disperse the illegal UDP gathering at the Santa Elena sign on Friday.

Instead, they were allegedly told to say that the UDP had gotten permission to hold an activity right there on the actual roundabout – a completely ridiculous assertion.

As PUP supporters prepared for the arrival of Party Leader John Briceño on Friday to launch the PUP twin towns manifesto, it seems that UDP Minister Rene Montero had a fullscale anxiety attack. The man known most for being a pig-thief before he became a millionaire off politics hurriedly called Omar Figueroa to join his campaigners and public workers at the Santa Elena sign. Since the PUP had an activity planned and the PUP office is in fact on the George Price Highway, the UDP supporters had no business near the activity. When the Police were called, they told party officials that they cannot stop the UDP

07 7 GOB IN NO HURRY TO RECOVER MISAPPROPRIATED MONIES

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

from being there. The man himself, Officer in Charge of San Ignacio Richard Rosado, UDP Chairman Alberto August, Minister’s aid Nelson Rivas and Montero’s son Robert Montero stood there together with the UDP supporters in a ridiculous attempt to intimidate and threaten PUP supporters. The Police then informed PUP supporters that the UDP campaigners must remain near the sign since they are also having an activity.

The PUP, led by PUP leader John Briceño, continued their activities as planned and the walk-through town passed in front of the UDP crowd, at which point most of the UDP supporters joined in escorting the PUP leader and the municipal team led by Marconi Matus. While it is evident that the UDP has become desperate and desperate times call for desperate measures, the silver lining of this incident is that since they have been neglected by their own leaders, we conclude that the crowd brought in by Montero and August were anxious to welcome the next Prime Minister of Belize.

Thursday, March 1, 2018 Eighteen months ago, the news broke that Gaspar Vega, while Minister of Natural Resources, had found an underhanded way to give his son Andre Vega and UDP insider Sharon Pitts almost ONE MILLION taxpayer dollars.

Today, we are no closer to recovering any of that money, and it has become patently clear that the Government has absolutely no interest in the vigorous pursuit of that money which was misappropriated from public coffers.

Where the Pitts $400,000 is concerned, Government has now stated that it is entering into mediation, which has to be the most ridiculous thing ever. According to Solicitor-General Nigel Hawke, they are going to try and find an ‘amicable’ solution to the matter. There is abundant evidence to show that the money was taken from public coffers under dubious circumstances, and it is taxpayer monies.

Amicable means that whenever that mediation rolls around, GOB can agree to accept a pittance instead of the $400,000 stolen from Belizeans.

Where the Andre Vega matter is concerned, the news is no better. That issue is still at the stage of case management, and even the Solicitor-General admitted that there hasn’t been much progress in that regard.

This is a matter simply of the UDP privileged being handled with velvet gloves and being coddled in the system. Any normal Belizean who misappropriated $5 would have been arrested and charged. Any normal Belizean who received $5 of monies which were misappropriated would have

been arrested and charged for Handling Stolen Goods.

The way the misappropriation played out, in any law-abiding country, would have landed at least one of those persons in jail – especially after it was revealed that millions had been handed out to select persons as ‘compensation’ under Vega’s time at the Ministry. And to make it worse, it was also revealed that Vega had found a way to gift himself and family members with thousands of acres of choice property through a blatant land manipulation and transfer scam. Under the leadership of Gaspar Vega, the Ministry of Natural Resources was called a Hotbed of Corruption for good reason.

But as has been the case for years, there are laws for normal Belizeans and laws for UDP cronies.

VACANCY: Newly formed company with offices in Belize City is seeking two (2) employees in the capacity of Directors. Persons must be trained and possess verifiable past work experiences in the following: Programming Languages: (1) Java, (2) C++ (3) PHP Fluent in Ukrainian & Russian Salary is based on experience.

Applicants must have 2 verifiable references, resume, copies of certificates and authorized to work in Belize, a Belizean resident or citizen.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews.

Deadline for applications is March 9th, 2018.

NOTICE ABA GROUP, INC. # 23, 127 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that ABA GROUP, INC. has been dissolved as at 21st February, 2018 and has been struck off the Register of International Business Companies.

CILTRUST INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Registered Agent

8 08

4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

Punta Gorda Town Council

MAYOR

CARLOS GALVEZ

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

ARNOLD WILLIAMS

RAIMUNDO NORALES

COUNCILLOR

LUANA HINES

COUNCILLOR

MOSES CAL

MALCOLM GALVEZ

COUNCILLOR

ROBERTO VIAREZ

7 VOTE MA RC H

COUNCILLOR

2018

"Putting the People First"

16 2018 4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

09 9 2017

26 NOV

10 SPORTS

THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES

HUMMINGBIRD GIRLS WIN 2ND NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Orange Walk Town, February 23, 2018 The Hummingbird Elementary girls won the National Primary Schools Volleyball Championships hosted by the National Sports Council at the Orange Walk Multipurpose Complex in Orange Walk Town on Friday, February 23.

Champs Hummingbird girls

Hummingbird - Daniella Palomo Diaz serves

2nd place Toledo Christian Academy girls

BES Boys Win 2018 National Volleyball Championship Orange Walk Town, February 23, 2018 The Belize Elementary School boys won the National Primary Schools Volleyball Championships hosted by the National Sports Council at the Orange Walk Multipurpose Complex in Orange Walk Town on Friday, February 23.

In Game 1, the Cayo district champions – the San Marcos RC boys won 27-25, 25-12 against the Corozal champions, the Church of Christ School boys. In National champs BES boys

BES’ Jontay Tun volleys the ball

Game 2, the Belize Elementary boys won 25-14, 25-10 against the Orange Walk champions, the San Francisco RC boys. In Game 3, the Corozal boys won 25-14, 21-25, 15-9 against the Stann Creek district champions, the Silk Grass Methodist School boys.

In Game 4, the Toledo district champions, the Punta Gorda Methodist School boys won 25-7, 25-22 against the Orange Walk boys. In Game 5, the Cayo boys won 25-10, 25-15 against

2nd place, San Marcos RC boys

21 29 AUG JAN 4 MAR

2016 2017 2018

In Game 1, the Cayo District champions – the Our Lady of Guadalupe RC girls of Belmopan won 25-23, 25-18 against the Corozal champions, the Church of Christ School girls. In Game 2, the Hummingbird girls won 25-6, 25-8 against the Orange Walk champions, the Chan Pine Ridge girls.

In Game 3, the Corozal Church of Christ girls won 16-25, 25-19, 15-5 against the Stann Creek district champions, the Light of the Valley girls. In Game 4, the Toledo Christian Academy girls won 25-14, 25-10 against the Chan Pine Ridge girls. In Game 5, the Stann Creek girls won 25-19, 25-13 against the Belmopan girls.

In Game 6, the Hummingbird girls won 25-9, 25-13 against the TCA girls.

Semi-finals In Game 7, the TCA girls won 25-18, 25-9 against Stann Creek girls. In Game 8, the Hummingbird girls won 25-18, 25-8 against the Belmopan girls.

Consolation Match for 3rd place In Game 9, the Our Lady of Guadalupe RC girls of Belmopan won 25-17, 25-21 against the Light of the Valley girls.

Championship Finals In Game 10, the Hummingbird girls won 25-18, 25-8 against the Toledo girls.

Most Valuable Player (for the 2nd year in a row) – Jayda Smith of Hummingbird Elementary

the Stann Creek boys. In Game 6, the Belize Elementary boys won 2518, 25-16 against the Toledo boys.

Semi-finals In Game 7, the Cayo – San Marcos RC boys won 25-18, 25-10 against P.G. Methodist boys.

In Game 8, the Belize Elementary boys won 25-18, 25-8 against Corozal boys.

Consolation Match for 3rd place In Game 9, the Church of Christ Corozal boys won 25-22, 28-26 against the Toledo boys.

Championship Finals In Game 10, the Belize Elementary boys won 25-21, 17-25, 15-10 against the Cayo boys.

Most Valuable Player – Malcolm Murillo of Belize Elementary.

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11 SPORTS 11

THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES THE BELIZE

Balderamos & Hoare Win Sprite Beach Volleyball Championship Belize City, February 24, 2018 Kelsey Balderamos and Emma Hoare won the Sprite Beach Volleyball championship: 21-16 vs. 2nd place winners Shantell Arnold and Nelissa Ramirez at the Buttonwood Bay Park last Saturday.

The tournament featured 10 teams – 20 athletes playing a round robin in 2 groups of 5 teams each; each team playing the other 4 teams in the group.

In Game 1, Arnold/ Ramirez won 21-14 over Ayanah Godfrey & Allyana Musa.

In Game 2, Balderamos/Hoare won 21-12 vs. Karen Quan & Kevanna Sebastian.

In Game 3, Shynelle Glenn & Sherika Burton won 21-10 vs Mya Musa & Ayah Safa. In Game 4, Kori Diego & Kiara Smith won 21-14 vs. Marci Mejia & Iman Safa. In Game 5, Arnold/ Ramirez won 21-12 over Musa/Safa. In Game 6, Balderamos/Hoare won 21-14 vs Diego/Smith. In Game 7, Godfrey/Musa won 21-12 vs. Gareth Bruce & Fatima Ramirez. In Game 8, Karina Bernard & Jahshema Saunders won 21-9 vs. Quan/ Sebastian.

In Game 9, Bruce/Ramirez won 2115 vs. Musa/Safa. In Game 10, Diego/ Smith won 21-14 vs. Bernard/Saunders.

In Game 11, Arnold/ Ramirez/ won 21-9 vs. Glenn/Burton. In Game 12, Balderamos/Hoare won 21-13 vs. Mejia/Safa. In Game 13, Glenn/Burton won 21-14 vs.

Bruce/Ramirez. In Game 14, Bernard/ Saunders won 21-14 vs. Mejia/Safa. In Game 15, Godfrey/Musa won 21-15 vs.

Musa/Safa. In Game 16, Diego/Smith won 21-10 vs. Quan/Sebastian. In Game 17, Glenn/Burton won 21-13 vs. Godfrey/

Beach volleyball champs, Emma Hoare and Kelsey Balderamos, win $300 1st prize

Ayah Safa and Mya Musa receive the ball

Iman Safa and Marci Mejia hits Musa. In Game 18, Mejia/Safa won 23-21 vs Quan/Sebastian. In Game 19, Arnold/ Ramirez won 21-13 vs. Bruce/Ramirez. In Game 20, Balderamos/Hoare won 21-10 vs.

Bernard/Saunders.

The 1st and 2nd place teams from each group at the end of the round robin advanced to the semi-finals, and the 2 winners of the semi-finals qualified to the championship finals. In the Semi-finals, Balderamos/Hoare won 21-19 vs. Diego/ Smith 21-9, and Arnold/Ramirez won 21-19 vs. Glenn/Burton. Balderamos/Hoare won the $300 1st prize, while Arnold/Ramirez claimed the $200 2nd prize.

Ladyville Tech Girls & Gwen Liz Boys Win CSSSA Football Championship

Belize City, February 23, 2018 The Ladyville Technical High School football girls and Wesley College boys will represent the Central Zone at the upcoming National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) football tournament to be held at the Victor Sanchez Union Field on Friday and Saturday, March 2-3. Both Ladyville girls and Wesley boys won the Central Secondary Schools Sports Association (CSSSA) football championships at the Marion Jones Stadium on Monday, February 26.

In Game 1 last Friday, the Ladyville girls scored a 3-0 upset over the 2-time defending champs - St. Catherine Academy girls, who up to then had an 8-0 record. Jensy Fuentes scored the 1st goal on a penalty and Latisha Anthony added 2 more. In Game 2, Ladyville held

the SCA girls to a nil-zip draw to the championship by a 3-0 aggregate score.

In Game 1 of the Finals last Friday, the Gwen Lizarraga High School boys won 2-1 against the Wesley College boys with Keyron “Benny” Patnett scoring 2 goals for Gwen Liz, while Bernard Bailey

got the sole tally for Wesley. In Game 2, Lawin Brown scored the 1st goal for Gwen Liz in the 1st half. In the 2nd half, Jonathan Perera scored 2 goals for Wesley, tying the aggregate scored at 3-3, sending the game into overtime.

Lamar “Bongo” Sutherland scored a penalty when the Gwen

Liz defense committed a hand ball infraction for the 4-3 win on aggregate.

National Sports Council Executive Director Ian Jones presented 1st and 2nd place trophies to the champions and 2nd place winners Individual awards: Best Defense – Renisha Martinez – SCA Best midfield – Wareyni Gillett – SCA Best Forward – Jensy Fuentes - LTHS Most Goals – Mary Davis - LTHS Most Valuable Player – Mary Davis – LTHS Best Goalkeeper – Kemar “Pooh” James - Wesley Boys’ Best Defense – Jadon “Cheetes” Macgregor Most Goals – Keyron “Benny” Patnett – Gwen Liz Most Valuable Player – Kemar James – Wesley.

12

THE BELIZE TIMES

ON THE

MOVE

Change is Here

As we come down to the wire, it is clear that the people of Corozal Town will choose new leaders to represent them in Town Hall. That is the message our team has been getting since we started talking to our people in their homes, businesses, on the streets and wherever we meet them.

It is time to get rid of neglect and abuse. It is time to get rid of corruption. It is time to get rid of the U.D.P. On March 7 2018, vote for change. VOTE for Rigo Vellos and the Corozal PUP 7.

4 MAR

2018

4 MAR

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

MY PERSPECTIVE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

CLIMATE CHANGE, BELIZE AND GENDER Here is a nice trivia question: Which is the only country in the world that is situated in all four hemispheres – North, South, East and West?? The answer is Kiribati (pronounced Kiribass). And why do I bring up Kiribati?

My answer is climate change. Kiribati is a collection of some 33 atolls and coral islands in the Central Pacific Ocean. It straddles the International Date Line, is a Commonwealth country and has a population of about 110,000 people. The capital, South Tarawa, is a number of islets connected by a series of causeways. And guess what – the highest point on the entire country is about five feet above sea level. In less than 100 years Kiribati could cease to exist as sea levels rise inexorably. So, we can get the picture from the use of this perhaps somewhat extreme example.

But global warming, called euphemistically climate change, is real, it is here and it is affecting Belize. I cannot in all my memory recall a wetter February than what we have experienced this year. It just won’t stop raining to have the dry season start, it seems. And the Belize River has serious flood waters in it in late February. Talk about climate change!

We will need to be ever so prepared this year for the hurricane season.

Last year, one of the worst for the Caribbean due to the many extreme climate events, saw two devastating Hurricanes – Irma and Maria, and they were no joke. Barbuda, Dominica, Tortola, and Puerto Rico, only to name some Caribbean territories, are still reeling from those two monsters.

Yet here we are facing down another impending hurricane season from June to November. I believe, sadly, that it is not if, but when, Belize will be hit by such a monster storm. We dodged Hurricane Mitch in 1998, but several hurricanes since then have taken their toll and their ride through our country. And we remain very vulnerable.

This leads me to consider Belize’s preparedness for storms, terrible weather, and sea level rise from the gender perspective. I was reading a news story from Jamaica. I saw some familiar names, and the article made me think about our own situation in Belize. The news item from the Gleaner of February 22nd was titled: “Earth Today – Addressing Gender Realities Vital to Climate Readiness.”

The article reported that the Jamaican Government’s move to ensure the participation of women and girls in climate change planning has been

endorsed by key Jamaican women from industry and academia. These women leaders are emphasizing that taking stock of gender realities is integral to successful resilience-building for everyone in Jamaica. Jamaica has been suffering lately from severe flooding in many areas, and the island is much more mountainous than Belize.

Eleanor Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Environmental Solutions Ltd., has noted that climate policies and actions must be gender responsive and that it is important to understand that women and men have differentiated roles. She also exhorted that climate change is happening now, it isn’t a future event, so we must consider how our sensitization programs will be shaped. We must look at how changing climate impacts health, agriculture, water supply and disasters, and how women and men are affected.

Dr. Leith Dunn, whom I have met several times, heads the Institute of Gender and Sustainable Development Studies at UWI. Says she: “Mainstreaming gender in climate change is vitally important. We need to disaggregate data by sex, age, education, social and economic background, disabilities, health status, and residence in urban or rural areas, so that disaster planners can develop a profile of who is most vulnerable.” I would bet that it is women who will be found to be most vulnerable when studies are done both in Jamaica and here in Belize.

And finally, Judith Wedderburn, our good colleague in the gender struggle who is undertaking the Jamaican study, has reminded us that “there is no second-guessing the need to ensure the gender responsiveness of climate policies and actions. The gendered realities of women and men MUST be taken into account. We CANNOT do climate change analysis separate from gender analysis.” I wholeheartedly agree with Judith, who has been to Belize to encourage us in our women’s programs. We in Belize have a great opportunity to take a positive page from what Jamaica is doing. So, to reiterate, we need to prepare, but it must be done smartly and with gender roles and vulnerabilities in mind. As we strive to protect all our people, let’s get it right in taking all our Belizean gender realities and situations into full consideration.

NOTICE For Sale

By Order of the Mortgagee Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 29th day of October, 2009, between FIRSTCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED (“the Assignor”), SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LIMITED (“the Assignee”) and SANTIAGO PADILLA of 8470 Gordon Street, St. Martin’s, Lake Independence Area, Belize City, Belize District, Belize (hereinafter called “the Borrower”) recorded at Deeds Book Volume 27 of 2009 at Folios 547 – 564, which said property was mortgaged by SANTIAGO PADILLA to the said FIRSTCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (BARBADOS) LIMITED, recorded at Deeds Book Volume 41 of 2008 at Folios 1411-1488, the said SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LIMITED will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT lot piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 33 situate in the Boom Pine Ridge Area on the Boom Hattieville Road, Belize District, as shown on a plan of subdivision prepared by Kenneth A. Gillett, Licensed Land Surveyor and registered at the Lands and Surveys Department in Belmopan, Cayo District, in Register No. 16 Entry No. 3435 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 12th day of February, 2018 MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

VACANCY

FOR Driver/Office Messsenger Qualifications and Experience: • Minimum qualification of a High School certificate • Possession of a Police Record • Minimum 1 year experience in a similar job • Possession of a valid drivers license (Standard vehicle license would be an asset) • Quick learner Basic Skills And Requirements • Must be able to handle a motorcycle.

• Must be organized, reliable and punctual.

• Have a mature working attitude.

Salary:

Negotiable and dependent on experience and qualifications

Interested candidates must be a highly motivated team player with initiative, flexibility and excellent communication skills. Must have the ability to organize their workload with particular attention to detail. Should be able to operate in a busy environment and meet deadlines.

Closing Date: March 15, 2018 Please send your resume and the names of at least two (2) sources of reference to the below:

Manager P. O. Box 80 Belize City, BELIZE or Email: managerlaw2014@gmail.com

14

4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

Final Advice for Municipal Elections

Cleaning House

This week I was going to write about Oj Elrington – not because he’s very important, or important at all, but because he is a consummate jackass, and his arrogance and sense of entitlement based on his closeness to the party in power have become the UDP mindset. These bubby-suckers, to protect the source of their sustenance, have become obnoxious little privileged pricks, and as is the case with Oj and many others, it obviously has nothing to do with intelligence or accomplishments. It is all about political connections and a careful puckering of the lips.

Then I realized that Oj and others like him don’t matter. They are seasonal.

And every season comes to a close. I can live with that. So, I decided to write about cleaning house, which is what I hope and pray the electorate will do to the UDP on March 7th. I mean, honestly, if the electorate are happy with the UDP right now after all the shit that has gone down, and are happy to vote for them, then hell, what can I say that’ll make a difference. I can get away with writing this because I don’t speak for the PUP, but really if voters are okay with the crime and corruption and the outright thiefing and the mismanagement and the abuse and victimization, then there’s no hope for the PUP. And if the voters are happy with shitty healthcare and little access to good affordable education and an economy that’s crashing and the high cost of living, then so be it. And if those many voters who live in real poverty, with no electricity or running water and a pigtail bucket for a toilet, whose kids have to hustle on the street to make enough to eat are happy enough with the UDP to vote them in again, then maybe the PUP should just pack up shop. I’m being completely real.

But back to cleaning house. It’s been an unusually emotional time for me these past weeks so I tend to ramble even more than normal. I’ve been following the news since late last week when members of the elite BDF’s BSAG and an Orange Walk cop beat up some guys, one so badly that he died. I’d want to say that I can’t even get my head around something like that happening. But it is

all too easy, in this current climate, to get my head around something like that happening.

We’re now hearing that a business owner arrested by Police on the strength of a committal warrant – get this, he owed $80 – tried to escape Police while being transported and sustained fatal injuries as he jumped out the Police pickup. My lerd. This man whom everybody reports was a jovial fellow, looking forward to a visit from his significant other, building a house, tried to jump out of a moving Police pickup to escape. He wasn’t being taken in for murder. He was being taken in for owing the Court $80. Now if that doesn’t warrant a WTF I don’t know what does. Ain’t nobody believes that Police didn’t kill that guy.

It seems that injury and death at the hands of those who should protect us has become the rule, and not the exception. What is also certainly the rule, and not the exception, is that there is no justice for the victims of these instances, and only protection of the perpetrators. That is why when Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams acted swiftly to investigate the murder in Orange Walk, resulting in the charging of 8 law enforcement officers for murder, we must give props.

It is like a breath of fresh air. Granted, charges levied are not the same as conviction and being a skeptic at heart I don’t think any of these men will ever be convicted of murder, just as I don’t think Michelle Brown will ever be convicted of the murder of Fareed Ahmad.

But it is what it is.

These things that we see happening all too frequently within our institutions like the Police Department are the result of mismanagement and corruption which have tainted every level of office from Cabinet room down. The Police Department, for example, will never be able to clean up anything, so to speak, because its own house is a pigsty.

Next Wednesday is election day.

I’ve been a pessimist for a long time now where elections are concerned.

I’ve seen where other factors like election day handouts have played a far too great role in the results of elections, and we’re not even getting into the intimidation/numbers juggling/elections and boundaries factors. But I hope, and pray, that on March 7th, the people do decide to send a message to the UDP. If they don’t, well then it is what it is. Time to pack up shop and go home.

By Gilroy Usher, Sr. Municipal elections will be held in our two cities and towns across the country in less than a week. It is therefore hoped that some recent developments will help to persuade the majority of voters across this nation to vote for change and betterment on March 7.

On Wednesday the Opposition launched its Belize City manifesto which focuses on people instead of on large, expensive buildings and roundabouts which do little to better the lives of ordinary Belizeans. In addressing the need for recreational facilities on the southside, the Opposition has pledged to build a beautiful first-class park for the residents of the area. To wipe out corruption at City Hall, this new Council will ensure that the tender process is used for the issuance of large contracts. The present Council issued $40 million worth of contracts for concrete streets without the use of a single tender. Those contracts were mostly sweetheart deals for UDP relatives, friends and cronies. This is the reason why most of those streets are falling apart in less than a year. A new PUP Council will create scores of jobs by promoting small businesses which are the bedrock of any economy. One of the ways the new Council will do those things is by waiving the trade license fee for new business. This tax is a killer for new investment because it ranges from a hundred to over a thousand dollars and it must be paid in full before an enterprise earns its first dollar. Those and other programs of the Opposition will make Belize City and other municipalities better communities for all our people.

After twelve years at City Hall, the UDP is no longer fit to govern Belize City. They have become arrogant with power for so long. They

act as if the residents of the city are fools and have no right to question their actions. This is why the city owes millions of dollars but has a terrible record in providing proper service to the people.

This administration has really disrespected the intelligence of city residents by giving out $1 phones, rum and sand to win their support in polling on March 7. The same can be said of their promise of scholarships and $75.00 to wear red shirts for an event.

Firstly, it is the responsibility of the government to assist people in filling swamp lots throughout the year and not only a week before an election as is the case now. Secondly, the promise of scholarships and $75.00 to wear a red shirt on a particular day are never kept for most of those persons afterwards. We must also remember that it is our money that they have stolen in bloated contracts like the $8 million for a mile of Faber’s Rd that is being spent for those election giveaways.

Be aware of the facts! If we vote red on March 7 we will be saying these things to Belmopan- We don’t care about massive corruption that is reported on the news almost every night. We don’t care about paying the highest taxes in the history of Belize City. We don’t care about steady jobs to care for our families.

We don’t care about house lots and proper housing. We don’t care about better streets and roads and we don’t care about losing our loved ones to endless street murders.

We all care about those things for we all deserve better lives and better communities. To achieve those just objectives we must advise everyone who wears the red shirts to take their money, rum, $1 phone, and other freebies and vote for change on March 7. Vote them out.

4 MAR

15

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

THINKING OUT LOUD BY: KEVIN BERNARD

My friends, as I write this we are only days away from a critical election, and as we get closer to March 7, 2018, we are reminded of why there needs to be a fresh breeze sweeping across this country. Late last week it was confirmed to us by no other than the Financial Secretary Joe Waight that the country is broke. It is something we all knew. But Waight brought the situation into focus by stating that if the government does not change its path, we will certainly crash. My friends, none of us want that crash to happen. But the government has been on this very same path for far too long, and it is bound to happen if our citizens allow it to happen.

We have seen our industries struggle and fail. In the north, close to home, we saw the thriving papaya industry shrivel up and die. We have seen our cane-farmers struggle, and we know rougher times are ahead. We have seen carelessness and neglect by our Ministry of Agriculture result in millions in losses to our farmers. And the situation does not seem to be getting any better.

And very recently, we were reminded about crime and absolute lawlessness when a resident of our community was beaten to death by seven BDF soldiers and a Police Officer. While I’m hopeful that justice will be served since those men have been arrested for the crime, we have to wonder how we got to this point. Just from listening to the news, it is easy to see that we are losing the war on crime. And I’m not even talking about the two or three drug planes that have landed this week in the north. Imagine that all these planes land in our country and we always, always arrive on the scene long after they have been deserted and their cargoes offloaded and transported to wherever they go.

Something is very wrong with that picture.

And there are many examples we can give to show how bad things have gotten under the UDP. Believe me, we have heard it all as we’ve talked to our people in this run up to municipal elections. We hear their disenchantment and

disappointment with government.

Sadly, too often we talk to people who have lost hope, and we must reassure them that change is coming. Too often, also, we have spoken to those who have lost all faith in government and in those departments and entities who should be there to serve us. It is really sad.

In Orange Walk Town, as we approach March 7th, we do so with a sense of pride and achievement.

We set out to serve the people of this community, without fear or favour and with no assistance from Central Government, and we have done so. It wasn’t easy. We have had our challenges and we continue to have our challenges. But we have carried out our mandate honourably and with integrity, hardwork and a constant commitment to the residents of this community who have supported us. We have a concrete plan which will take us through another term, with a focus not only on infrastructure but on other critical issues in our community. I know that you, our residents, have seen what we can do, and know that when we make a commitment our word is our bond. I am very proud of the Council, proud of all our staff who have worked together to serve our people. The bond we have forged with our community cannot be broken.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who believed in us. I know we have not let you down, and I also know we could not have done any of what we did without your constant support. We ask you simply to continue supporting us as we commit to continuing the work in our community. This is an important election. It is not only about electing leaders in municipal office whom you feel will represent you well, but it is about sending a message to the UDP who have forgotten that they were elected to serve us, and not to serve only themselves. If we do not send a message to them now, then we are telling them all that the corruption is okay, and that it is okay to continue doing as they have been doing. I have trust in our people. On March 7th, 2018, change is coming.

Forging Partnerships. Impacting Lives

BELIZE – WAKE UP Today signals the start of Women’s Month and Child Stimulation Month. The first day of this month should have been one of inspiring messages and positive imagery of our commitment to improve the lives of our women and young children.

Today we should all be outraged, enraged and mad as hell. The news broke on the 1st day of March 2018 of the horific RAPE of a 17 MONTH OLD baby girl. This heinous crime occurred in rural Belize District. What kind of a deranged, sick person does this to a baby? Did other persons in the household or who knows the perpetrator know of this horrific behavior of this person? Is this first time? Has he done this to other young girls?

At the time of writing this article, the news broke on social media that this sweet baby girl died. DEAD. Belize, wake up.

What is going on in our society? What will each of us do to prevent people like this from doing this again. It is political season, all our leaders must denounce, condemn and demand justice for this baby girl. This is bad, this is tragic and this is sickening. This should not be the Belize we accept.

The news also broke about a separate incident that greetd us on this 1st day of Child Stimulation Month. This time it is a 1 YEAR OLD who got SHOT in the foot during another shooting spree in Belize City last night. It is being reported that the father took several bullets and died and the child, an innocent bystander, got shot.

This should not be the Belize we accept. Wake up Belize.

All of this comes after last week’s news of the young David Morrison, 12 YEARS OLD, who was SHOT and KILLED. He too was an innocent bystander. A pre-teen with so much potential and smart by all accounts was

robbed of his life for just standing in an area where gunmen had a target. This should not be the Belize we accept. Seriously, what is happening to social fabric of our society?

All this is happenning in the political season with Municipal Elections upon us on March 7th.

As horrific, sick and heinous these acts against our babies and our youth are, women and girls also continue to be victims of disrespect and abuse every day. Women in Politics have experienced much of it in this political cycle. For too long, women in politics have been subjected to ridicule, verbal, emotional, mental and financial abuse. The United Women’s Group Group continue to demand that “we can disagree with each other in our poltical discourse but we should never abuse the human rights of each other when we disagree. We must show respect for all persons and the UWG condemns the most recent insulting remarks and acts against our LGBT women that was shared by some on social media”. Basic human dignity for all persons begins with each of us respecting one another. All of us have to do more and do better for one another.

March 8th is International Women’s Day and the United Nation’s theme for this year is Press For Progress. Women are the mothers of our children.

We all have to do our part to demand more, to demand better and to demand justice. If we know somehting, say something. If we see something, say something.

Belize, this broken down society riddle with such reprehensible atrocities against our children and abuse against our women and girls is not normal.

This cannot be accepted as normal. This should not be the Belize we accept.

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

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

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THE BELIZE TIMES

ON THE

MOVE

Your Orange Walk Town Council has paved almost 60 streets with limited resources and upgraded some of the worst streets including the cementing of some major intersections because our residents demand and deserve the best.

Your PUP Town Council will: • Pave 75 more streets • Develop a functional comprehensive drainage plan.

• Build a new cemetery • Replace the old town clock with a digitalized display screen.

Under a new PUP Government your Town Council will:

• Build a New Market.

• Further expand and enhance the Fort Cairns Market Plaza.

• Construct a futsal playing field at Independence Plaza • Build a New Town Council administrative center • Aquire new equipment to carry out infrastructure works in the Municipality.

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2018

4 MAR

2018

ON THE

MOVE

Ready to Win

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THE BELIZE TIMES

The people of Punta Gorda Town are tired of the neglect and the abuse, tired of the broken streets, the poverty, the lack of jobs and the lack of meaningful opportunities. Your PUP 7 team led by Carlos ‘Obeah’ Galvez will place the power where it belongs, with the people. On March 7th, 2018, let your voices be heard. Change is Here.

Butane to go UP by $10 After Elections Thursday, March 1, 2018 The Belize Times has been reliably informed that GOB has signed off on a $10 increase in the price of butane right after elections.

That is reportedly the agreement reached between representatives from government and wholesalers Gas Tomza, BWEL and Zeta Gas, to become effective after March 7th, 2018.

Readers will recall that in January the price of a 100-pound cylinder of butane went up a whopping $7, and in a meeting at that time junior Minister of Trade Tracy Taegar Panton agreed to a $14 hike, but begged wholesalers to hold off until after elections. Wholesalers had allegedly refused unless government put it in writing, something they refused to do at the time.

Those wholesalers, we are told threatened a national strike, telling government

that they would not bring in bowsers of butane until GOB acceded to the request.

It appears that government has indeed folded, which will certainly mean increased hardship for Belizeans who are already barely able to make it. The last butane price increase in January put a hurting on small food vendors especially, and another $10 increase may just put them out of business. But this Barrow/Faber administration does not care.

They are willing to do whatever is necessary to win, and let the people take the brunt of it after.

NOTICE

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 JUANITA E. HOY (Chargor) and JOSEPH HOY (Borrower) of the one part and HRCU of the other part.

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

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

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 829.09 square yards being Parcel 1050, Block 45 in the King’s Park Registration Section situate at No. 6 ‘A’ Street, Belize City, Belize District, Belize TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of JUANITA E. HOY DATED this 28th day of February 2018 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738 Email: foreclosures@hrcubelize.org

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ESPAÑOL

THE THEBELIZE BELIZETIMES TIMES

AMENAZA ENORME ESCASEZ DE COMBUSTIBLE A BELICE

Embarcación Cisterna Syrtos en las costas de Belice

Chetumal Quintana Roo, FEBRERO 26TH, 2018 FRONTERA SUR • El buque Syrtos, procedente de Venezuela, se niega a desembarcar más de tres millones de litros en el país centroamericano • La empresa exige el pago del combustible antes del desembarco y acusa al gobierno de estar “quebrado” • El gobierno de Belice

niega el hecho, asegurando que el desembarco se ha complicado por maniobras Chetumal, 26 de febrero. Autoridades mercantiles de Venezuela acusaron al gobierno de Belice de estar literalmente “quebrado”, pues desde hace varios días arribó a puertos beliceños el buque Syrtos, con más de tres millones de litros de combustible que no ha podido ser descargado porque sus dueños exigen el previo pago

del mismo y aseguran que como toda respuesta han recibido que el gobierno no cuenta con recursos para ello.

En contraparte, la Oficina de Prensa del gobierno de Belice y el Consulado de ese país en Quintana Roo, aseguraron que no existe adeudo alguno o incapacidad de pago, sino que el retraso en la entrega de las estaciones de servicio en Belice se deben a problemas de desembarco del mismo, y problemas que pueden ser atribuidos a Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

Además de la información exclusiva entregada a Contracorriente, en el comunicado, el Ministerio de Finanzas de Belice anunció que están estableciendo negociaciones con otros países para importar a ese país diesel y otros combustibles para cubrir la demanda de las estaciones de servicios; asegurando que la reserva de diesel se normalizará, a más tardar, a mediados de la semana; esperando también que la embarcación venezolana parta de Belice en los siguientes días.

Cabe señalar que la embarcación Syrtos tiene aún en sus tanques un

EE.UU. EVITA CRITICAR LA POSIBLE PERPETUACIÓN DE XI JINPING EN EL PODER CHINO

La Casa Blanca evitó este lunes criticar la posibilidad de que el presidente de China, Xi Jinping, se perpetúe en el poder gracias a la eliminación en la Constitución china del límite de dos mandatos consecutivos, una propuesta que los legisladores de ese país votarán en marzo.

Por AFP / Washington 26 de Febrero de 2018 “Esa es una decisión que debe tomar China, para decidir lo que es mejor para su país”, dijo la portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, en su conferencia de prensa diaria.

“El presidente (estadounidense, Donald Trump) ha hablado sobre límites a los mandatos en una serie de cargos durante la campaña (electoral estadounidense de 2016), y es algo que apoya aquí en Estados Unidos. Pero esa decisión debe tomarla China”, agregó.

El Partido Comunista Chino (PCCh) propuso este domingo que se elimine de la Constitución china la frase en la que se afirma que el presidente y el vicepresidente “no servirán más de dos mandatos consecutivos”, por lo que Xi podría ser elegido por tercera vez en el próximo Congreso, en el 2022.

La reforma constitucional no se presentará a los legisladores para que la voten hasta el próximo mes de marzo, cuando tendrá lugar la sesión anual de la Asamblea Popular Nacional (Legislativo).

Esa medida se debe en parte a

El presidente chino Xi Jinping en la casa de huéspedes del estado de Diaoyutai en Beijing, China. la ausencia de una figura relativamente joven que pudiera aparecer como relevo a medio plazo, y consolidaría aún más si cabe a Xi, quien en 2016 fue declarado figura “núcleo” del PCCh y que en el congreso del pasado octubre logró de forma incontestable un segundo mandato de cinco años.

En Estados Unidos, una enmienda constitucional limita a dos mandatos -un total de ocho años- el tiempo máximo que un presidente puede permanecer en el poder.

Durante la campaña electoral de 2016, Trump quiso ir más allá y pro-

metió que, de ser elegido, impulsaría una enmienda constitucional para imponer límites de mandato también a los miembros del Congreso, con un máximo de seis años para los legisladores de la Cámara Baja y de doce años para los senadores.

No obstante, esa promesa se encuentra estancada, debido en parte a la fuerte oposición del líder republicano en el Senado, Mitch McConnell, que se ha negado a sacar el tema a debate en esa cámara.

Arriesgada apuesta de China por un “emperador Xi” reelegible de por

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2018 2018 millón 872 mil 705 litros de diesel y un millón 135 mil 623 litros de gas avión; y aunque el gobierno de Belice insiste en señalar que no hay incapacidad de pago, es importante recordar que pertenece al acuerdo denominado Petrocaribe, que consiste básicamente en la obtención con facilidades y precios preferenciales combustible procedente de Venezuela.

Sin embargo, algunos de los 18 países que integran el mecanismo han denunciado que en realidad no existen precios preferenciales, lo único que ocurre es que al encargar los embarques de combustible, los países pagan la mitad del mismo y pueden financiar el resto hasta a 25 años, lo que ha empeorado las finanzas venezolanas, pero también los adeudos de los países miembros, que son: Antigua y Barbuda, Bahamas, Belice, Cuba, Dominica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Granada, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, República Dominicana, Haití, Jamaica, San Cristóbal y Nieves, San Vicente y las Granadinas, Santa Lucía y Surinam.

Por último, el gobierno de Belice no ha comunicado si romperá el acuerdo con Venezuela para la adquisición de combustibles, ni ha revelado el monto real del adeudo que lo ha sumido, según las fuentes venezolanas, en incapacidad de pago, lo que generará desabasto también en el futuro. vida El Partido Comunista Chino (PCC) ha abierto la puerta a la permanencia de por vida de Xi Jinping como presidente, una apuesta arriesgada que abandona el modelo de sucesión que garantiza la estabilidad de ese país desde hace 30 años.

Xi acapara el poder y ha apartado a sus principales rivales desde su llegada a la jefatura del Estado en 2013.

El PCC llama a saltarse la norma constitucional que limita los mandatos presidenciales.

“El límite de dos mandatos se decidió para garantizar una cierta estabilidad. Si (Xi) sigue más allá de los 10 años, la élite política y los ciudadanos chinos estarán mucho más pendientes” de lo que haga, estima Simone van Nieuwenhuizen, sinóloga radicada en Sídney.

El proyecto de reforma constitucional anunciado el domingo pone en entredicho la noción de “gobernanza colectiva” impuesta por el exdirigente Deng Xiaoping en los años 1980, para evitar que un líder se perpetúe en el poder como ocurrió con el fundador del régimen Mao Zedong.

Los dos predecesores de Xi Jinping -Hu Jintao (2003-2013) y Jiang Zemin (1993-2003)- ejercieron dos mandatos de cinco años y en ambos casos la transición se produjo sin sobresaltos en la segunda economía mundial.

‘Un declive catastrófico’ Pero Xi, de 64 años, es más autoritario: reforzó la represión de la sociedad civil, lanzó una vasta campaña anticorrupción, hizo incluir en los estatutos del partido su “pensamiento” del socialismo y lanzó un cuasi culto de la personalidad.

De mantenerse en el poder más allá de 2023, podría concluir su pro-

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THE THEBELIZE BELIZETIMES TIMES 2015 ESPAÑOL POPULISMO, CORRUPCIÓN Y OTROS TRES TEMAS QUE DEFINIRÁN EL AÑO POLÍTICO EN AMÉRICA LATINA

2018

No hace mucho, los analistas predecían una nueva era para América Latina. Eran comienzos del siglo XXI y la política de la región iniciaba un nuevo capítulo.

Por BBC Mundo 27 de Febrero de 2018 Para muchos, era un cambio estimulante, una nueva era socialista en una región conocida desde hace mucho tiempo por sus abismales desigualdades.

Los protagonistas de esta nueva fase eran (el ya fallecido) Hugo Chávez en Venezuela y Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva en Brasil.

Pero en casi toda América Latina, desde Bolivia hasta Ecuador y Argentina, la izquierda ganaba. ¿Felices para siempre?

Casi dos décadas después, Lula, que una vez fue el político más popular de Brasil, ha sido condenado a 12 años de prisión por delitos relacionados con el escándalo Lava Jato, la mayor investigación sobre corrupción en la historia del país.

El sucesor de Hugo Chávez, Nicolás Maduro, ha hundido a Venezuela. La gente está pasando hambre y más de cuatro de cada cinco personas en un país con grandes reservas de petróleo viven en la pobreza.

Cuando Mauricio Macri ganó las elecciones presidenciales en Argentina en el 2015, terminó ocho años de gobierno peronista bajo la dirección de Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

El año pasado, el candidato de centro derecha Sebastián Piñera ganó las elecciones de Chile.

Y en Costa Rica a principios de este mes, un predicador evangélico ganó la primera ronda de las elecciones presidenciales y actualmente mantiene la ventaja antes de una segunda ronda en abril.

El cambio está en marcha.

Maratón electoral Este año se celebrarán seis elecciones presidenciales en la región.

Dos tercios de los más de 600 millones de habitantes de la región votarán por un nuevo líder y los elegidos podrían cambiar profundamente la apariencia y los actos de América Latina.

Entonces, ¿estamos viendo un cambio de izquierda a derecha? No es tan simple.

“Creo que es muy difícil identificar una tendencia clara”, dice Oliver Stuenkel, profesor de Relaciones Internacionales de la Fundación Getúlio Vargas en Sao Paulo.

“Básicamente, toda la situación política en la mayoría de los países fluye con la tendencia de que los partidos establecidos no puedan conservar el poder y de que entrarán nuevos partidos”.

Sin embargo, hay varias cosas que unifican la región.

Economía Hace poco más de una década, América Latina estaba experimentando un boom de las materias primas.

Eso significaba que países como Venezuela, con sus vastas reservas de petróleo, y Brasil, con sus productos básicos como soya, azúcar, café y jugo de naranja, podían permitirse apoyar sus generosos programas sociales.

La región creció en promedio alrededor del 6% entre 2003 y 2008, ayudando a sacar a millones de personas de la pobreza.

La de ahora es una era diferente. El crecimiento económico se ha ralentizado.

“Entre 70 y 80 millones de personas pasaron de la pobreza a la clase media”, dice Daniel Zovatto, Director para América Latina y el Caribe del Instituto para la Democracia y la Asistencia

ExLíderes de la izquierda de Venezuela, Brasil, Uruguay y Argentina fueron una vez una fuerza unida Electoral.

“Pero es una clase media muy precaria que corre el riesgo de volver a la pobreza”.

Con la insatisfacción en aumento, las lealtades políticas están cambiando.

Corrupción La corrupción es la palabra predominante en la política latinoamericana.

Según Transparencia Internacional, más de la mitad de las personas en la región sienten que a su gobierno le va mal en la lucha contra la corrupción.

Más de 90 millones de personas dijeron que pagaron un soborno en 2015. La corrupción no es nueva, pero la actitud de las personas hacia ella está cambiando.

La investigación sobre el caso de corrupción “Lava Jato”en Brasil es en parte culpable de eso.

No solo ha implicado a los políticos y líderes empresariales más importantes del país, sino que sus tentáculos se han extendido por toda la región, desde Perú y Panamá hasta Venezuela.

Entonces, ¿qué es diferente ahora?

Daniel Zovatto lo compara con la reciente controversia sobre la violencia sexual.

“El acoso sexual tampoco es nuevo, pero mire el impacto ahora”, dice. “Hay un cambio en la cultura, un cambio en los valores”, dice, y agrega que con el aumento en la clase media, no es tan aceptable como lo era antes.

Redes sociales La forma en que las personas viven la política en la región también está cambiando.

Los latinoamericanos son algunos de los mayores usuarios de las redes sociales.

Brasil tiene el tercer mayor número de usuarios de Facebook en el mundo.

“Las redes sociales están complicando las cosas”, dice Oliver Stuenkel.

“Mucha gente está cada vez más aislada de otros debates de la corriente principal. Ahora hay un diálogo menos productivo debido a la polarización extrema, lo cual es bastante preocupante porque hace más difícil establecer compromisos”.

Eso es así especialmente en lugares como Brasil, donde Lula todavía tiene millones de seguidores a pesar de los cargos de corrupción en su contra.

Pero del otro lado hay un movimiento anti-Lula en crecimiento y grupos de derecha cada vez más poderosos gritan por el hundimiento de la izquierda.

La política está polarizada y eso se repite en toda la región.

Pero no tanto como en Colombia, donde el presidente Juan Manuel Santos negoció un acuerdo de paz con las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc) en 2016 después de más de 50 años de conflicto. El acuerdo dividió a los

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en toda la región.

Según encuestas realizadas por Latinobarómetro, solo el 53% de las personas en 2017 pensaba que la democracia era la mejor forma de gobernar. Es el quinto año consecutivo en que ha caído.

Los brasileños son los menos felices con la democracia en toda la región. Solo el 13% se declara satisfecho con ella. ¿Qué hace que la gente piense que estas elecciones cambiarán eso? Oliver Stuenkel opina que la insatisfacción dará lugar a candidatos más extremos.

“En muchos países tienes candidatos autoritarios que dicen que la dificultad de la democracia es que lleva mucho tiempo tomar una decisión, que es necesario concentrar el poder”, dice, dando los ejemplos de Bolivia, Venezuela y partes de Centroamérica.

Mauricio Fronzaglia, profesor de ciencias políticas en la Universidad de Mackenzie, está de acuerdo.

“La democracia no cumple lo que alguna vez prometió”, dice.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso piensa que el problema es más matizado. “Tenemos democracia, estamos siguiendo leyes, siguiendo la Constitución. Lo que falta es legitimidad”.

Y eso no se puede resolver en una elección.

colombianos.

Pero más allá de la división sobre el proceso de paz, hay una cosa que une a los colombianos y eso es el enojo por la corrupción.

Después de que el presidente Santos tuvo que disculparse por los fondos ilegales que se canalizaron a su campaña, la gente quiere un cambio y ese será un gran foco de las elecciones presidenciales del país en mayo.

Populismo La gente quiere un nuevo liderazgo.

“Hay una crisis de democracia representativa Cont’do de pagina 20 en todo el mundo. Hay que grama para China: un país desarrollado, con influestar mucho más atento a encia mundial, una sociedad próspera y un ejército las diferentes formas en que poderoso. existe la realidad”, dice el El parlamento chino, completamente sometido expresidente brasileño Feral PCC, se reunirá en sesión anual a partir del 5 de nando Henrique Cardoso. marzo. Se espera que conceda a Xi Jinping un segun“No se puede unir a do mandato de cinco años y apruebe la abolición del todo el mundo con una límite de los diez años. etiqueta. Tenemos que “El límite del número de mandatos permitió inprofundizar más para stitucionalizar la transición en la cúspide del poder. entender qué está pasando Y evitar que el PCC entre en reinados tiránicos o en realmente”. un declive catastrófico”, estima Jonathan Sullivan, En Brasil, Jair Bolsoninvestigador de la universidad de Nottingham en aro, un político de extrema Inglaterra. “Quitar el límite podría crear un riesgo derecha, está detrás de para la estabilidad a largo plazo”.

Lula, que quizás ni siquiera Sam Crane, experto en historia china de Wilsea capaz de presentarse a liams College, en Estados Unidos, no espera evenlas elecciones debido a sus tuales reformas económicas o políticas. antecedentes penales.

“Supongo que su prioridad será continuar con El estilo populista de la represión de la sociedad civil, en la línea de su Bolsonaro, un nacionalista orientación política desde 2012”. que quiere mayor particiWinnie censurado pación de los militares en “Uno de los riesgos (para Xi Jinping) sería tomar el Gobierno, ha recibido un malas decisiones y estar rodeado de aduladores que gran apoyo de personas que no se atrevan a contradecirle”, estima Susan Shirk, sienten que el país necesita experta en Chinaen la universidad de California en un liderazgo fuerte.

San Diego.

La segunda economía En Twitter, el activista Joshua Wong, rostro más grande de la región, de las protestas estudiantiles durante las maniMéxico, tiene un candidafestaciones prodemocracia de Hong Kong en 2014, to populista propio, pero declaró irónicamente el advenimiento de “la era del Andrés Manuel López emperador Xi”.

Obrador no podría ser más En la red social china Weibo las reacciones diferente. eran mitigadas. Algunos internautas lo elogiaban y Mientras que Bolsonaro decían “asistir a un hecho histórico”. Otros eran más ha sido apodado el Trump críticos: “Ahora tengo realmente la impresión de de Brasil, López Obrador vivir en Corea del Norte”, juzgaba un usuario de la desprecia al presidente de plataforma. los Estados Unidos y quiere La censura se apresuró a suprimir los comentarireprimir el crimen y la coros negativos y bloqueó las imágenes del osito Winnie rupción. the Pooh, el personaje de dibujos animados con el Sin embargo, ambos que a veces se compara a Xi debido a su silueta. hombres muestran claraLa concentración de poderes en manos del mente el deseo de un nuevo presidente podría también chocar con una oposición tipo de política en la región y interna en el partido, sometido ya a una intensa camun rechazo a la élite política. paña anticorrupción que provocó la caída de más de Democracia un millón de directivos.

Existe una fuerte des“El riesgo para él sería una especie de rebelión confianza en las instituciones de la élite política”, advierte Shirk.

EE.UU. EVITA CRITICAR LA POSIBLE PERPETUACIÓN DE XI JINPING EN EL PODER CHINO

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THE BELIZE TIMES

ON THE

MOVE

We are READY!

We thanks to Party Leader, Hon. John Briceño, our support teams in Cayo Central, Cayo North and Cayo Northeast for your hard work and dedication. Thank you to our campaigners, supporters and everyone that attended our manifesto launch and who have supported us throughout this campaign! We are UNITED! We are STRONG! We are Ready to LEAD and Ready to WIN! On March 7, 2018 GO BLUE!!!!!!

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THE BELIZE TIMES 2015

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THE BELIZE TIMES

EDITORIAL

2018

en Español

¿PUEDES SENTIRLO?

E

l UDP ha enviado a la amargada ex senadora Juliet Thimbriel al sur para rescatar a Punta Gorda Town que ha mostrado todas las indicaciones de ir azul. A principios de esta semana, Thimbriel fue acusada de tratar de sobornar a una candidata del partido progresista de Belice (BPP), ofreciendo dinero para la matrícula de la escuela a cambio de que ella renunciara a su candidatura y ofreciendo un respaldo público de los candidatos del UDP. No funcionó, la candidata BPP se fue público, y Thimbriel se vio obligado a negarlo todo.

Thimbriel es conocida por muchas cosas, incluyendo su ascenso curioso y Meteórico a la riqueza extrema lograda con el UDP, pero no es conocida por su integridad ni su honestidad, por lo que su negación no vale la pena ni el aire rancio en el que fue expulsado Esta semana también, se reveló que el UDP ha estado ofreciendo paquetes de “asistencia” a cambio de la declaración de apoyo de los votantes en el sur. En esos paquetes de “asistencia” hay una botella de agua roja, un teléfono desechable patrocinado por BTL- (ninguna tarjeta SIM incluida), una pequeña lata de leche en polvo y una botella de ron. Eso es lo que el UDP cree que puede influir en las mentes de los votantes en el sur, y convencerlos que el UDP los ama.

El día de la nominación, mientras el UDP se jactaba de su fuerza en la ciudad, uno de esos votantes de la ciudad, con su camisa roja brillante en el medio de la Asamblea, fue cogida en la cámara mientras explicaba que ella estaba allí solamente porque no había otra manera en que ella podría conseguir una ocasión de hablarle al representante del área, Patrick Faber.

Esa votante se quejó amargamente de que se vio forzada a hacerlo, y que los UDPs muy ricos permanecieron encerrados en sus oficinas elegantes mientras que los beliceños pobres sufren. En su camisa UDP de color rojo brillante.

Esa fue una revelación increíble en un momento crítico por un votante y residente de la ciudad de Belice que no tenía miedo de registrar sus quejas públicamente, incluso cuando llevaba una camisa roja y en medio de una multitud UDP. Es increíble porque en la ciudad de Belice y en todo el país, el UDP hace campaña en una plataforma de transformación, y de mejorar vidas. Pero nada de eso ha sido evidente, a menos que cuente el puñado de Ministros UDP y compinches y amigos y familiares cuyas vidas han sido transformadas y mejoradas.

Otra mujer fue atrapada en la cámara declarando que ella querría contratar a un pistolero para entrar en la cámara de representantes, y yo dejaré ese pensamiento en eso. Se refirió al primer ministro Dean Barrow como un idiota. Se refirió a Anthony ‘ Boots ‘ Martínez como un idiota. Y habló de cómo ha sufrido como Belice. Y cómo sus hijos han sufrido. Y sus amigos han sufrido, bajo el UDP. Su sentimiento no es sorprendente. Esa mujer es la esposa de Anthony ‘ Boots ‘ Martínez, y ella es también un candidato UDP en la planilla electoral del Concejo Municipal de Belice.

Patrick Faber, el representante del área de Collet, que también es el Ministro de educación, fue cuestionado esta semana después de las revelaciones de que el UDP ha malversado unos $2.13 millones para pagar las matriculas escolares de personas seleccionadas para incentivarlos a votar UDP. Faber, por supuesto, lo negó, pero los beliceños se han apresurado a ir a las redes sociales para acusarlo de mentir porque saben que es verdad, y saben que el UDP lo está haciendo. La negación de Faber era casi cómica, Porque ni siquiera pudo reunir las habilidades de actuación para parecer creíble. Pero lo que no es cómico es el uso de dinero de los contribuyentes para la ganancia política.

Con todo lo dicho, el UDP no ha estado ganando terreno. Han estado luchando en todos los rincones de esta nación. Eso es porque los beliceños están hartos. Y no importa lo que dice el UDP, los beliceños pueden ver, claramente, cómo sólo unos pocos se han beneficiado mientras la mayoría ha seguido sufriendo. Los beliceños también pueden ver, claramente que durante mucho tiempo el UDP los ha tratado con absoluta falta de respeto y negligencia. Pueden ver, claramente que el UDP cree que está bien descuidarlos durante años y luego ofrecer comprarlos con una botella de ron y unos pocos dólares.

Los beliceños pueden mirar a alguien como la amarga Julieta Thimbriel, que les está ofreciendo una botella de ron y una lata de leche en polvo para su apoyo, y saben que mientras ella los intimidan, ella no tenía nada antes de la política y ahora es una millonaria que puede viajar por el mundo. Hay una brecha muy, muy amplia entre los UDP muy, muy ricos y privilegiados, y las masas.

La gente ve, y están cansados. Están cansados de ser reprimidos, cansados de ser tratados como si no importaran, y pueden ser comprados por un breve momento para los eventos políticos y el día de las elecciones y luego olvidados.

Hay un cambio que viene, no sólo en la gobernanza sino en cómo la gente exigirá ser gobernada. Eso sólo puede ser una buena cosa para la gente y para el país. El 7 de marzo, ven a ser parte activa de ese cambio. Envía un mensaje al UDP.

4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

23

REAL Good Governance Reform!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

Scotiabank Closes Two Branches‌ More Bad News for Belize

Monday, February 26, 2018 On February 19th 2018, Scotiabank announced that it is closing its branches in Spanish Lookout and in Placencia. While the press release was vague on specific details, the significance of this move Scotiabank is one of the major banks in Belize. Closing down two of its branches, one in a very productive part of our society (the commercial and industrial trade center of Spanish Lookout) and one in what is dubbed as a growing tourism destination (Placencia). If one looks at the Belize Tourism Board statistics published online on its website it only has statistical information up to 2016. It is pathetically unacceptable that in 2018 tourism statistics are outdated.

But based on 2016, it reveals that Placencia, while boasting the country destination with the 3rd largest amount of rooms, has one of the lowest hotel occupancy rates (29%).

This is a tourism destination in which millions of investments have been made and millions spent in development yet such dismal hotel occupancy rates do not reflect this. And by Scotiabank closing down, it appears neither is Scotia feeling it.

Scotiabank closing down these branches in areas that are viewed to be of increased commercial trade is yet another indicator that all is not well in Belize economically. This comes as no surprise to any Belizean who has been feeling the crunch for the past several years. Businesses across the country have been downsizing and operating on shoe-string budgets because things are extremely hard. It was just a matter of time that the banks start to do same.

It first started with First Caribbean International Bank in 2016.

Under the Barrow/Faber administration, 2 major commercial banks have been significantly impacted both by robberies and downsizing and in one instance a complete closure.

The fact is that the Barrow/Faber administration has increased the national debt of this country to unprecedented levels and will continue to increase it due to the hubris, arrogance and nepotism which have become their modes of operation.

This situation has resulted in loss in investment and in confidence to borrow from the banks. Banks have a high level of liquidity because Belizeans are borrowing and are being very cautious in their spending.

With Scotia closing these branches, it also begs the question how many employees will now be out of a job and adding to the increased level of unemployment.

Lives have not improved under the Barrow/Faber administration and with Scotia’s recent decision, the business environment is getting even more difficult to contend with.

Scotiabank Placencia

Scotiabank Spanish Lookout

PUBLIC AUCTION SALES: PROPERTIES PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTIES Belize City, District; Camalote Village, Cayo District: Belize Belize City, Belize District; Camalote Village, Cayo District:

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs. The Belize Bank Limited, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin BYA.ORDER of the Messrs. Theproperties Belize Bank Limited, Licensed Auctioneer will sell Castillo willMortgagees, sell the following on Tuesday 13th March Kevin 2017 A. at Castillo the locations the following properties on Tuesday 13th March 2017 at the locations and times below listed: and times below listed:

1.

A. BELIZE DISTRICT: At No. 170 Beltex Avenue, Belama 1, Belize City at 1:30 pm: 1.82 Acres a portion of Novelo's Bus Park, situate near the round-a-bout (Chetumal Street-Lake Independence Boulevard and George Price Highway), Belize City, Belize District:

REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCEL Port Loyolaville 45 17 (Being a portion of Novelo's Bus Park containing two (2) small concrete buildings and a steel framed shed [40 ft. X 80 ft.] on 1.82 acres of filled/fenced property situate near the round-a-bout (Chetumal Street-Lake Independence Boulevard) and George Price Highway, Belize City, Belize District, the freehold property of Mr. Antonio Novelo) B. Cayo District: 2.

On Site Parcel No. 3248 George Price Highway, Camalote Village, Cayo District at 4:00 pm:

REGISTRATION SECTION Society Hall

BLOCK 24

PARCEL 3248

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION www.belizebank.com (foreclosure listing)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - www.belizebank.com (foreclosure listing) TERMS: STRICTLYCASH CASH TERMS: STRICTLY KEVIN A. CASTILLO KEVIN A. CASTILLO TELEPHONE 223-4488 TELEPHONE: 223 4488 E-mail: kevinacas@yahoo.com Facebook: Belize Auctions Email: kevinacas@yahoo.com Face Book: Belize Auctions

4 MAR

2018

THE BELIZE TIMES

25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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THE BELIZE TIMES

4 MAR

2018

THINK ABOUT IT… These are the most powerful ministers in the United Democratic Party.

Yet their constituencies are the poorest, most neglected and disadvantaged in the entire country.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME?

4 MAR

2018

THE BELIZE TIMES

27

Terms of Reference UNICEF Belize Consultant on Adolescent Health and Nutrition Nature of Assignment: UNICEF Consultant on Adolescent Health and Nutrition Location: Belize City, Belize Duration: 11 months Start Date: April 2018 End Date: March 2019 Reporting to: Representative Introduction About UNICEF: UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children’s rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.

UNICEF believes that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress. We work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action.

Background of Assignment In Belize, the adolescent population (aged 10-19) account for 20% of the total population (84,000). UNICEF advocates for and supports programme efforts that address the needs and best interests of children from birth through to adolescence. Adolescents are particularly underserved by health programs in Belize. UNICEF has released a new organizational strategy 2018 – 2022, that identifies the 10 to 19 year old age group, or “second decade of life”, as a priority and calls for redoubled effort to improve the health, protection and development of this important demographic.

Critical adolescent health issues in Belize include adolescent pregnancy, mental health support, preventing violence and injury including sexual and gun violence and road traffic accidents, preventing cervical cancer through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, preventing iron deficiency anemia, HIV, obesity and other non-communicable diseases.

Investing in adolescent health has a significant immediate and long-lasting impact on their health, and that of future generations. UNICEF Belize is therefore committed to advocating for adolescents’ right to health; enhancing government policies to improve adolescent health; strengthening local implementation evidence and delivery of adolescent services and programs; and empowering adolescents through opportunities for meaningful participation and innovation.

Justification: An estimated 11% of adolescent girls aged 15 – 19 years have had a live birth. Teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school, live in poor housing conditions, and be unemployed or in low-paid employment. Children of teenage mothers are more likely to live in poverty, become involved in crime, and abuse drugs and alcohol. The recent MICS showed that teenage boys are more likely to be out of school than teenage girls in Belize (include data here). Adolescent boys in Belize are also more lilkely to be involved in gang violence or violent activity resulting in conflict with the law. UNICEF therefore promotes programmes for better parenting, quality of education, literacy and retention in schools, education on sexual and reproductive health care, violence prevention and improved access to services for all adolescents in Belize.

In conjunction with WHO and partners, UNICEF globally has supported the development of the global Accelerated Action for Health of Adolescents (AAHA) framework. This framework encourages countries to adopt holistic health policies for adolescents to achieve good sexual and reproductive health outcomes, prevent injuries and violence, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), drug and substance abuse and promote physical activities and healthy lifestyles. Through its current country programme, UNICEF Belize is supporting the Government of Belize to develop and implement a national strategy for adolescent health. A consultant is being sought to work with the UNICEF Belize team to support this multi-sectoral process and related programme priorities.

Purpose of Assignment: UNICEF Country Programme Document (CPD) for Belize, which covers the period 2017-2021, includes the office’s contribution to promoting gender-responsive adolescent health, as well as the support to adolescents through programmes for education, lifelong learning, governance and social inclusion, maternal and child health interventions. A major priority of the CPD is the prevention of violence among adolescents, particularly armed violence, violent discipline and gender-based violence.

The consultant sought for this assignment will lead technical support on behalf of UNICEF towards the development of the national adolescent health strategy, the national norms and standards for adolescent health services, evidence generation to guide implementation of adolescent health programme in Belize, and innovative communication and engagement with adolescents to support this broad work on adolescent health to address the major threats to adolescent health in Belize (adolescent pregnancy, mental health, violence and injury including sexual and gun violence and road traffic accidents, cervical cancer, iron deficiency anemia, HIV, obesity and other non-communicable diseases).

Scope of work (Work assignment) 1.

Strategy Development: a. Work in close collaboration with the Adolescent Health Technical Steering Committee to develop the National Adolescent Health Strategy for Belize. b. Work with MOH and PAHO to coordinate and complete a costing exercise for a minimum package of services for adolescent health based on the One Health tool.

2. Development and testing of norms and standards for adolescent health: a. Work with the Ministry of Health to complete the development of national norms and standards on adolescent health. b. Provide technical support to and document local lessons from the online field test for Global Adolescents Care Standards 3. Operational Research: a. Work with the Ministry of Health and M&E Specialist to develop proposal and support implementation and analysis of study findings to determine the content and evaluate the effectiveness of routine adolescent health check-ups in Belize. b. Develop a proposal for and oversee implementation of an implementation study with the Ministry of Health and M&E Specialist to explore the effectiveness of telemedicine to ensure access for vulnerable adolescents to specialized mental health support services. Findings from this study will inform development of national guidelines for delivery of specialized care in resource-limited settings.

4. Service scale-up: a. Work with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF ECD and Education Officer and PAHO/WHO to implement the recommendation of the MORES assessment on nutrition. b. Work with the Ministry of Health, the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist and the Probitas Foundation to oversee implementation of the lab and diagnostics strengthening project in Stann Creek, Toledo and Corozal districts.

5. Communication and engagement with adolescents: a. Work with the UNICEF Communication Officer to develop creative communication materials on adolescent health to strengthen country office program advocacy for public awareness and establishing partnerships/alliances. b. Work with the national U-Report Consultant on interactive data gathering from adolescents as well as the dissemination of communication assets on adolescent health.

6. Other potential assignments in relation to health and nutrition priorities jointly defined with the supervisor (including heath aspects in relation to the prevention of violence).

Desired background and experience Education: An Advanced University Degree in public health/nutrition, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, socio-medical, health education, epidemiology or other health related science is required.

Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public health/nutrition planning and management and/or in relevant areas of maternal and neonatal health care, adolescent health and development, health emergency/humanitarian preparedness, Relevant experience in health/nutrition program/project development and management in any UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish or a local language is an asset Additional Assets: Knowledge of below: • Maternal, Neonatal and Child Nutrition and Health • Adolescent Health • Nutrition and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention • Public Health and Nutrition • Educational Interventions in Health and Nutrition Care • Environmental Health and Nutrition • Knowledge of global and regional health and nutrition issues, specifically relating to children and adolescents, and the current trends, methods and approaches Skills required: • Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to transfer knowledge and skills; • Fluency in written and spoken English; • Prior working experience with UNICEF is an asset.

Terms of Consultancy • • • • • •

The Consultant will be based at the UNICEF Office in Belize City The consultant will be required to travel in Belize The consultant will be supervised by UNICEF Belize.

The contract duration is 11 months with a tentative start date of April 2018 The Consultant is expected to work a 40-hour week The consultant is required to provide written weekly updates detailed monthly progress reports on the scope of work outlined in these Terms of Reference.

Application Individuals are invited to submit applications at this vacancy link Application attachments: 1. Letter of expression of interest 2. Financial proposal with detailed budget including travel and other expenses.

Deadline for submitting applications is 18 March 2018!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

4 MAR

2018

The Face of FAILURE!

4 MAR

2018

THE BELIZE TIMES

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2018

4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

MARCH 7 MATTERS! th

Dear Voter,

is election is an important election. It’s about whether we will continue to watch a small handful of people get really rich while the vast majority of our people remain really poor.

It’s a chance for us to stand up and send a strong message to the government, that enough is enough!

Elections are about choices. Our PUP Team 11 is full of decent, dedicated men and women. We have bankers and teachers, retired public officers and businesspersons, roots people and young persons. ese are a people I have known for a long time and these are people I believe in. ese are people you can be sure will put you the people first. is is a very rich country. We should be living better as a people.

Everyone should have a piece of land.

Everyone should own a decent home.

Everyone should be able to work and send their children to school.

March 7th is the beginning of e Rebirth, the beginning of the restoration of our people to their Ma rightful place.

What we need in Belize is not more hate and division.

What we need in Belize is not more arrogance and pettiness.

What we need in Belize is more love. e PUP is the only party of love. When the Peoples’ United Party wins, the people of Belize win. You win!

On March 7th vote for change. e time is now! Da the people time! Da the people turn now!

Sincerely,

Cordel Hyde

Always ‘bout the people!

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4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

The Winning Team PUP 11 - READY TO LEAD

MAYOR

BERNARD WAGNER

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

ALBERT VAUGHAN

AISHA GENTLE

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

ALLAN

POLLARD JR

MICAH GOODIN

JAVIER

CASTELLANOS

OSCAR ARNOLD

MICHAEL NORALES

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

Dr. CANDICE PITTS

COUNCILLOR

DELTRUDE HYLTON

COUNCILLOR

RYAN ELIJIO

Ready to Win in Belize City!

4 MAR

2018

33

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Winning Team PUP 7 - READY TO LEAD

MAYOR

TANYA SANTOS

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

CESAR ROSS

HOPE AMADI

COUNCILLOR

ROCIO QUIROZ

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

JB WADE

BRIAN MIRA

COUNCILLOR

SANIE CAL

Ready to Win in Belmopan City!

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4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

The Winning Team PUP 7 - READY TO LEAD

MAYOR

DERRICK VELASQUEZ

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

FRANK PALACIO

DEBBIE JONES

COUNCILLOR

CYNTHIA RAMOS

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

VENANCIA CABALLERO

LIBERATO TEUL

COUNCILLOR

ERICA JANG

Surname

Other Names

Address

Office Sought

Ready to Win in Dangriga!

Colour

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4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

The Winning Team PUP 7 - READY TO LEAD

MAYOR

RIGO VELLOS

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

HILBERTO CLARKE

DILAN

CASSANOVA

COUNCILLOR

TONI JIMENEZ

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

SHAMIR ALPUCHE

OTONIEL RIVEROLL

COUNCILLOR

RODOLFO NARVAEZ Surname

Other Names

Address

Office Sought

Ready to Win in Corozal!

Colour

4 MAR

37

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

The Winning Team PUP 7 - READY TO LEAD

MAYOR

KEVIN BERNARD

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

FERNANDO SANCHEZ

JOSUE

CARBALLO

COUNCILLOR

ROZEL ARANA

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

HARESH VASWANI

IAN CAL

COUNCILLOR

LADRICK SHEPPARD Surname

Other Names

Address

Office Sought

Colour

Ready to Win in Orange Walk!

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4 MAR

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

The Winning Team PUP 7 - READY TO LEAD

MAYOR

ANDRE PEREZ

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

IAN POU

MARINA KAY

COUNCILLOR

DIANELI ARANDA

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

UNDINA GRANIEL

RUBEN NAVIDAD

COUNCILLOR

JOHNNIA DUARTE

Surname

Other Names

Address

Office Sought

Colour

Ready to Win in San Pedro!

4 MAR

39

THE BELIZE TIMES

2018

The Winning Team PUP 7 - READY TO LEAD

MAYOR

CRISTIAN

CASTELLANOS

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

EDGAR GUERRA

CIRIACO MOH

COUNCILLOR

ALEXANDRIA

PINELO

COUNCILLOR

COUNCILLOR

PIO VACHA

LUIS AVILA

COUNCILLOR

VICTOR MENDEZ

Surname

Other Names

Address

Office Sought

Colour

Ready to Win in Benque Viejo!

40

THE BELIZE TIMES

4 MAR

2018