Belize Times September 27, 2020- Faber's Hypocrisy by Belize Times Press

The Belize Times

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

APP

27 SEPTEMBER 2020 | ISSUE NO: 5217

2020

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

FABER’S

www.belizetimes.biz | $1.00

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, HON. JOHN BRICEÑO

AN ADDRESS OF HOPE

HYPOCRISY -

UDP CORRUPTION

INDEPENDENCE DAY

“The open government that I envisioned means that secret deals and large sell offs can no longer be tolerated and it means that true partnerships between labour enterprise, government and civil society has to be forged and maintained, that, ladies and gentlemen I can assure is what a continued UDP administration will aim for.” Patrick Faber in his Independence Day remarks as September Celebrations Chair

“For nearly thirteen years Belizeans have witnessed unprecedented corruption, cronyism, nepotism and mismanagement of the economy and our precious resources. A small group of well-connected UDPs have plundered the Treasury, stolen the people’s lands, and prostituted Belizean nationality. The record of this UDP administration is one of betrayal, scandal and mismanagement. But we already know this and what we must do to correct these wrongs. We must vote.” - excerpt from the Address)

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Said Musa Tribute

GEORGE PRICE MEMORIAL EVERYBODY FI WIN!

planBelize

CALL ELECTIONS NOW!! Pg. 2 TODOS GANAMOS!

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FABER’S

HYPOCRISY -

UDP CORRUPTION

Continued from page 1 The traditional Independence Day ceremonies in Belmopan was marred not by Covid protocols but by UDP incompetence, stubbornness, powerplays and gross hyprocrisy. As Independence Day Chair one would expect a message of September and the Land of the Free. But no, Patrick Faber again tries to tell voters that he is not corrupt like the rest of the UDP. With PM Barrow and wife sitting right up front the drama of words like secret deal and selloffs is akin to a G1 move ala Sedi. Patrick Faber basically was begging to be placed as Prime Minister for at least 72 hours or at least as the UDP leader. But no, the Prime Minister and the UDP do not want anything with Faber. The UDP chose Faber because it was do that or a UDP implosion since mid-Summer. At least Faber gives them a front for the people. What secret deal Patrick Faber? Spell it out. Then the people of Belize might think of you less of a hypocrite. Show us the real invoice for the tablets which according to you cost 450BZ dollars online so you paid a middle man here in Belize 450Bz dollars for one with a price tag of exactly 7million total. That is the dumbest of deals. If you see it for 450 online then you should be able to slice off millions. Is the slice of millions for your election? If the answer is yes, then you are a gross hypocrite and really are the champion of corruption and incompetence that the convention made you to be. If the answer is no, then show us the invoice and gain some points? Patrick Faber should stop haggling at podiums for Barrow to yield him power. He should be concerned with being able to win in the neglected constituency first. People in Collet have not eaten since the PetroSummer of 2015 where they were promised much more to come. Patrick Faber’s act in attempting to disavow Dean Barrow and the UDP is not convincing anyone. Even the people of Collet cannot be fooled again. They have eaten Faber’s pibil and it tasted as corrupt as advertised. One Mother’s Day 2015 in Corozal does not a lifetime make. The question is “Is my life better after the Corozal Bay PetroCaribe bacchanal? As he found himself vying for leadership elect status in a convention Patrick Faber found it convenient to dis the UDP enough to call attention and maybe votes but not enough to get him kicked out of the Cabinet. The technique is stale as it has been used recently by Sedi. Did Faber ever get a teacher’s license? He probably doesn’t qualify for one. Does he have enough millions saved for a normal life after the UDP massacre? Faber you GOT to GO!!

CALL ELECTIONS NOW!! The Belizean world of sanity placed laser focus on the Prime Minister’s Independence Day expected verbiage—a collection of generally archaic words intended to confuse listeners and mask false promises. Belizean social media viewed with the expectation for the long-awaited Prime Ministerial exclusive date for a Belize General Elections and freedom from 13 years of terror. But no, it was not to be. PM Barrow dragged himself to the lectern and basically said that he is tired of these Independence Day speeches since he has done twenty of them. He had already delivered his retirement address in September 2019 so he had nothing to say. Barrow was reeling from a tandem of attacks at that very lectern and ceremony by his UDP leader elect and by the leader of the Opposition. Faber was hypocritical as he now puts forward that he would like to have a government that works for all, has no secret deals, and is beyond scandals. His very words were: “The open gov-

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

ernment that I envisioned means that secret deals and large sell offs can no longer be tolerated and it means that true partnerships between labour enterprise, government and civil society has to be forged and maintained, that, ladies and gentlemen I can assure is what a continued UDP administration will aim for.” The Leader of the Opposition Briceño unloaded with a combination punch that the Prime Minister admitted he would not answer. The Party Leader alluded to the PUP’s plan to carry Belize as far away from the incompetence and recession imposed by the United Democratic Party goons. In the face of a dying economy, rampant corruption, zero answers for Belizean tribulations, no leadership, no mandate, and mass resignations, the Prime Minster holds on to power spitefully. This Friday September 25 he will have another chance to save a smidgen of his legacy. As it stands, the UDP will be bludgeoned at the polls and will be lucky to get any seat. CALL ELECTIONS TODAY, PM!!!

2020

GEORGE PRICE MEMORIAL 19th September at Lord’s Ridge Cemetery The temporary normal imposed on us by Covid-19 has not altered the immense legacy built by the Father of Belize. His passing in 2011 has become an ever-growing milestone of Belizean history. Every September 19 we in the People’s United Party, specifically, and Belizeans everywhere focus on his endearing life. George Price’s legacy indeed grows with each passing year as we appreciate and add value to the Independence of our Country. History has a way of evaluating leaders. It is clear that George Cadle Price’s vision and work for Belize astounds and motivates Belizeans and anyone who was fortunate to experience his life first hand or vicariously. His life can now be read about or heard in the countless stories of how Belize came to become a nation from the birth of the People’s United Party 70 years ago, to the achievement of Universal Adult Suffrage, Self-Government, Change of Name from British Honduras to Belize, Our Flag, Our National Anthem and Belize’s Independence from Great Britain. George Price’s final eval-

uation cannot be contained in human eminence. Of course, George Price will never claim to have done anything singlehandedly. There were many great women and men beside and around him as he reached for the heavens. But George Price was unmistakably the smooth revving engine to moved Belize from colonialism to what we have today…Sovereignty and a place to call home. The Party Chairman Henry Charles Usher made a call out to Belizeans to celebrate his life today during National Service Day and to do an act of service in their own community. The call was done especially in the light that Covid protocols prevent any large scale activity as was becoming the norm for September 19 in Belize. “George Price is the greatest Prime Minister this country has ever had. Let us live the Spirit of the Father of the Nation, the Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price” -John Briceño.

DRUG PLANES LANDING AGAIN!! September 21, 2020 A suspected drug plane landed near Santa Martha Village, Orange Walk District on the morning of the 39th Anniversary of our Independence. The Gulfstream G2 jet landed on a makeshift airstrip sometime around 1 a.m., in an area popularly known as London Area. COMPOL Chester Williams said that a number of police were deployed after they received information of a tracking that had left South America and was heading into our region. He said Police monitored the track throughout the night and sometime around 1 a.m., Monday, police received information that the plane landed somewhere in the north, but we could not have ascertained the exact location right away. Five men were initially detained after they were found in the area. On Wednesday, September 23, 2020, one of the six men identified as a licensed auctioneer, Noel Codd, who is the owner of the 262 acre farm where the plane allegedly landed, was arraigned on a charge of possession of prohibited ammunition. It is alleged that police found a 7.62 bullet on Codd’s farm. Codd’s attorney who is Senior Council Richard “Dickie” Bradley told the media “It’s a chance, they di chance Noel Codd. The police have been doing their investigations and they suddenly found one round they claimed of ammunition the caliber which falls under the firearms act as a prohibited ammunition. That is the charge two and a half days later. It’s just a charge to hold on to him, to sweat him. They have written statements that persons who were dressed in military camouflage with large guns who put all of them under manners and waited until something happened with the plane down the road.” He was granted bail of five thousand dollars and one surety and is to return to court on October 27, 2020. While the other four persons have

been released a second person identified as Mennonite Isaac Petka was still detained but up to our print time was still not charged. According to Police a backhoe and other items belonging to Petka was found in the area. It appears Police were playing a game with Petka after he was taken from Orange Walk jurisdiction to Corozal and later returned. We were told that Petka was taken there and told if he made statement against Codd, he would be released. On LoveFM’s newscast dated September 22, 2020, “Love News understands that one of the persons arrested is closely connected with UDP politicians from the Orange Walk District.”

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

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$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper. Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus OFFICE MANAGER

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27 SEP

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

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EDITORIAL “Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.”- Karl Marx (1818-1883)

t is often the case that people prefer to deal with the devil they know instead of the devil they don’t. The statement of the UDP Party Leader and Minister of Education was damning to the present government and its leader Rt. Hon. Dean O. Barrow. It was an honest and eye opening account of how the UDP has operated these last thirteen years. There were barbs and not so gentle jabs about “old style of closed government…and the special interest of the connected few.” This close to an election, the political ambit certainly heats up, but this particular style of political cannibalism must be the new vision that will characterize the leadership style Patrick Faber plans to usher in. There have certainly been many special interest groups that have profited grotesquely and many UDP cronies have been obscenely enriched under the Barrow leadership. Faber has made clear that those people will no longer be able to pillage the public coffers. What does that mean for the UDP elite who has been accustomed to getting large tracks of land, or choice pieces of property at rock bottom prices? What does it mean for the entitled family members and those not normal Belizeans who have gotten illegally acquired crown property and were later compensated by government? What does the New Devil envision for those that have become accustomed to receiving advance payments for contracts, or those that have abused their posts by charging personal items on corporate cards? Those special UDP must be quaking in their shoes. But, perhaps all is not lost for those well connected, after all this New Devil learnt his tricks from the Old Devil. This may just be a consequence of pre-election bluster. It was not long ago that Patrick was spending the Petro Caribe on delicious Corozal made pibil tacos. This New Devil for all his new found indignation, does not remember how he sat idly by with his mentor as the hot bed of corruption made a permanent home at the Ministry of Lands. It seems that the stench of corruption permeated every corner and crevice of the UDP government. The Devils were unable to detect “even a whiff of corruption” so accustomed they had become to the scent. There were only futile and feeble lamentations of “fu God sakes stop it,” that did nothing to stem the flow of vile and despicable deeds. In fact the fabled two sided machete turned magically into a pen that signed away the millions of the Petro Caribe funds unconstitutionally. In the last thirteen years, not once has Patrick Faber voiced concern that the offices of the Auditor General or the Contractor General have been ill equipped and under staffed. The moment has come when we bid goodbye to PM Barrow. His disastrous political career is in its final hours. We had thought it would be left to us to give him a fitting farewell but that his comeuppance was delivered by the New Leader of the UDP seems far more appropriate. The PM had hoped to leave a legacy and to forever be immortalized in Belizean history. He has achieved his purpose. The reign of chaos, poverty, strife and violence of the last thirteen years will be remembered as some of the darkest in our annals. No doubt we have not heard the last of the PM, he will indubitably seek to have the last word not realizing he has both said and done quite enough!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

EDITORIAL

27 SEP

2020

en Español

“Las últimas palabras son para los tontos que no han dicho lo suficiente.” - Karl Marx (1818-1883)

menudo ocurre que las personas prefieren tratar con el diablo que conocen en lugar del diablo que no conocen. La declaración del líder del partido UDP y ministro de Educación fue condenatoria para el actual gobierno y su líder el Muy Honorable Dean O. Barrow. Fue un relato honesto y revelador de cómo el UDP ha operado estos últimos trece años. Hubo puyas y golpes no tan suaves sobre “el viejo estilo de gobierno cerrado... y el interés especial de unos pocos conectados”. Tan cerca de una elección, el ámbito político ciertamente se calienta, pero este estilo particular de canibalismo político debe ser la nueva visión que caracterizará el estilo de liderazgo que Patrick Faber planea introducir. Ciertamente, ha habido muchos grupos de intereses especiales que se han beneficiado grotescamente y muchos compinches del UDP se han enriquecido obscenamente bajo el liderazgo de Barrow. Faber ha dejado claro que esa gente ya no podrá saquear las arcas públicas. ¿Qué significa eso para la élite de la UDP que se ha acostumbrado a obtener grandes extensiones de tierra, o propiedades selectas a precios bajísimos? ¿Qué significa para los miembros de las familias privilegiadas y los beliceños no normales que han obtenido propiedad de la corona ilegalmente y luego fueron compensados por el gobierno? ¿Qué prevé el Nuevo Diablo para aquellos que se han acostumbrado a recibir pagos por adelantado por contratos, o aquellos que han abusado de sus cargos políticos al cobrar artículos personales en tarjetas corporativas? Esos UDP especiales deben estar temblando en sus zapatos. Pero quizás no todo está perdido para aquellos que están bien conectados, después de todo, este Nuevo Diablo aprendió sus trucos del Viejo Diablo. Esto puede ser solo una consecuencia de las bravuconadas preelectorales. No fue hace mucho que Patrick gastaba el Petro Caribe en deliciosos tacos de pibiles hechos en Corozal. Este Nuevo Diablo, a pesar de su indignación recién encontrada, no recuerda cómo se sentó de brazos cruzados con su mentor mientras el lecho caliente de la corrupción se convertía en un hogar permanente en el Ministerio de Tierras. Parece que el hedor de la corrupción impregno todos los rincones y grietas al gobierno del UDP. Los demonios fueron incapaces de detectar “ni siquiera un tufillo de corrupción”, tan acostumbrados que se habían vuelto al olor. Solo hubo lamentaciones inútiles y débiles de “por el amor de Dios, basta” que no hicieron nada para detener el flujo de actos viles y despreciables. De hecho, el legendario machete de dos filos se convirtió mágicamente en un bolígrafo con el que se firmó de manera inconstitucional cediendo los millones de fondos de Petro Caribe. En los últimos trece años, Patrick Faber no ha expresado ni una sola vez su preocupación por el hecho de que las oficinas del Auditor General, y la del Contratista General están mal equipadas y con poco personal. Ha llegado el momento en el que nos despedimos de PM Barrow. Su desastrosa carrera política está en sus últimas horas. Habíamos pensado que nos quedaría a nosotros el darle una despedida apropiada, pero que su merecido castigo fuera pronunciado por el Nuevo Líder del UDP parece mucho más apropiado. El primer ministro esperaba dejar un legado y ser inmortalizado para siempre en la historia de Belice. Ha logrado su propósito. El reinado del caos, la pobreza, los conflictos y la violencia de los últimos doce años serán recordadas como uno de los más oscuros de nuestros anales. Sin duda, no hemos escuchado lo último del primer ministro, indudablemente buscará tener la última palabra sin darse cuenta de que ha dicho y hecho lo suficiente.

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2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

BELLY of the

BEAST

BTL Bulls#*t Absolutely nothing has come out of the situation at BTL where UDP crony Net Vasquez used the company’s credit card to spend over $400K on extracurricular activities of the Victoria’s Secret variety. This is an absolute disgrace. Last week we went easy on the old man because frankly we were green with envy that at 89 he still has thongs and crotchless panties on his mind – but that aside, it is ridiculous that when it comes to the UDP, the laws don’t apply. Dean Barrow has facilitated this crap time and time again. Penner broke the law, but nothing happened. Castro broke the law on multiple occasions, and nothing happened. Vega broke the law on many occasions and nothing happened. And the list goes on and on. There will be no investigation of Net Vasquez, and this one will be swept under the rug like so much else. It is one thing to envy Net, and we imagine that from the amount of blue pills he must be almost, if not totally true blue. But corruption is corruption and Net belongs in jail. BTL belongs to the people of Belize – or so they say. So how is it that only the UDPs benefit from the company that has become nothing but an almost dead cash cow? Integrity my A#*! It’s interesting that Mr. Barrow hangs out with so many shady people, yet he professes to be clean as the purest snow. We listened as he continued to praise Net Vasquez even against the backdrop of misappropriation of monies. Integrity he said. How is it that Barrow can boast about a man who, even though he is a millionaire and could certainly afford it, thought it was okay to use the people’s money instead? How is it that Barrow could talk about Net’s integrity, when Net used his position at BTL to take away ads from other media houses and give his own station, Channel 7, a two year payment for ads IN ADVANCE? What the hell kind of integrity is that? This thing is falling apart very quickly though, and Barrow will be outed soon enough. He may have acted like a scalded cat

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in heat when asked about huge checks paid by Brads to his son Anwar. But we hear that something big is coming out very, very soon, and Grampa Barrow is going to have himself a full-blown coronary. Wait for it. Five fevers Grampa Barrow and the UDP had three fits and five fevers when they got that WhatsApp message in the Oversight Committee chat group from Dr. Marvin Manzanero. They thought the diminutive, timid little fellow who had been pushed around by politicians before would bow down to a command that he provide the names of COVID-19 infected persons to Big Mike Peyrefitte, the Minister of National Security and the UDP’s rabid bulldog. There was no rationale to this damned SI demanding that. What it was, is a bully tactic from the government that is a bully and a Minister of National Security that is a bully. The thing is, this time they pushed the little doctor too far, because to give in to their request would mean that he had to break his oath of confidentiality as a doctor, something that would never have worked. We’re not sure what dark hole the UDP got that bit of legislation from, but we are told that when Manza resigned, the UDP realized that this was too bitter a jagged pill to swallow, and so Peyrefitte was given a sedative and Manza was ‘persuaded’ to stay on. What form that persuasion took is anybody’s guess. This whole circus is looking to crumble, from one end to the other. Tabletas We are reliably informed at the Belize Times that when cousin Patsy Faber realized that the game was up, and he’s been caught trying to hike up the cost of the tablets the UDP have been promising to deliver to students – he explained that he didn’t mean to say tablets – he meant tabletas. Seriously, we’d stop clowning this fool if he would grow the hell up and stop acting like a petulant boy in a man’s (sort of) body. At the last House meeting, Faber showed that he’s the same old UDP. Imagine trying to tell Belizeans that tablets which cost a little over $200 actually cost close to $500. Imagine trying to tell Belizeans that we will have to pay $7M for tablets which will cost less than $3M. Really, it is time for all the UDP to just go. These guys obviously have petty and not so petty hustling in their DNA, and are looking for one last hustle before they are kicked out of office. Call it Grampa Dean. Call it.

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QUESTIONS TO THE MINISTERS

1. Is the Attorney General unaware of ethical implications of forcing a doctor to disclose the medical history or reports of patients? 2. How can a Minister of Health sign a Statutory Instrument that authorizes the Director of Health Services to disclose patient information to the police? 3. Will Minister of State Tracy Taegar-Panton please inform the nation who is Good Lee Ltd.? Will Taegar-Panton also say if she will reveal the names of the shareholders of Good Lee Ltd. and will she also say if this company is somehow connected to any member of Cabinet? 4. Will the Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security please provide an alibi for his whereabouts at 2:00 a.m. on Monday, 21st September 2020? 5. Prime Minister, Stop the madness! Call elections now!

2020

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 MELONIE T. STAINE 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 311.04 square metres being Parcel 594, Block 45 in the Queens Square West Registration Section TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of MELONIE T. STAINE DATED this 7th day of September 2020 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738 E-mail: foreclosures@hrcubelize.org

CARTOON

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2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Independence Day Address

Hon. John Briceño

PUP Party Leader and Leader of the Opposition Belmopan, Monday 21st September 2020 Thank you, Mistress of Ceremonies. Good morning. What a difference a year makes. Last year we were here for a packed event, now we speak to a virtual audience. I also recall bidding a fond farewell to our Prime Minister and thanking him for his service to the nation. Once again I am happy to recognize his many years of public service to our nation and say on behalf of everyone, thank you. Your Excellency Sir Colville Young, our Governor General, Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow and Mrs. Barrow, Your Honour Acting Chief Justice Michelle Arana, Hon. Patrick Faber, Chairman of the September Celebrations Committee, Your Worship the Mayor of Belmopan Mr. Khalid Belisle and Mrs. Belisle, Rev. Elswith Clare of Belmopan Methodist Church, And to all who are able to join us on television and through social media. It is truly an honour to greet you as the leader of the People’s United Party on this Independence Day when we celebrate who we are and how much we have achieved over the past 39 years. And yet, as we celebrate, we do so in the midst of one of the greatest challenges of our generation. As we get ready to start our 40th year as an independent nation, we do so in an atmosphere of uncertainty, fully aware that just as our 39th showed our obvious fragility, forty must demonstrate our resolve to never cower nor yield, not bend nor buckle, but instead to show our grit to fight and soldier on in these troubled times. There is no doubt that the coronavirus has hit us hard. Not just us, we have seen and felt the entire world experience seismic changes. But it was not just the virus that has brought our nation to the preverbal cliff’s edge, we were already there. For nearly thirteen years Belizeans have witnessed unprecedented corruption, cronyism, nepotism and mismanagement of the economy and our precious resources. A small group of well-connected UDPs have plundered the Treasury, stolen the people’s lands, and prostituted Belizean nationality. The record of this UDP administration is one of betrayal, scandal and mismanagement. But we already know this and what we must do to correct these wrongs. We must vote. Another thing we must do is face the coronavirus pandemic determined, not to allow fear or the uncertainty of this time to overcome us. Most importantly, we cannot allow it to change who we

are as a people. We are formidable Belizean men and women who will endure the pandemic of 2020, just as our ancestors endured the pandemic of 1918. We will endure this and all the hardships of our time as they endured the hardships of their time. And like our great grandparents, we will bounce back because of our indomitable spirit which will not be broken. Already we see this in our health care workers who choose hope rather than fear as they head to work each day despite the risk of working in a health system that was already weak and inadequate. We see it in the contact tracers who toil each day to find and test potential carriers. We see it in our sanitation workers who face exposure daily in their commitment to public health. We see it in our security forces who go out each shift to maintain the peace. We see our indomitable spirit in our teachers who are adapting and finding new ways to teach our children. They are not the only ones however, our business community as well as our civic and community leaders are also exploring new ways to create opportunities in this new normal. And we see our resolve in the everyday kindness of the Belizean people who, with even less to share, still show how much they care. This is the true spirit of Belizean nationalism and patriotism manifested in each of us who deep down inside desire to be a people who believe that no matter the trials or tribulations we are our best selves in our acts of love. This is why so many of you gave food hampers to the needy, bought a few extra masks for your friends or relatives and why you keep reminding each other to “stay safe.” We are people helping people and communities helping communities to keep each other safe by practicing the measures that will keep the coronavirus from spreading out of control. I sincerely believe that we all want to get past this moment for we know that we have a nation to build. Our children and young people need real quality education – free – from preschool to junior college. Young families need a place of their own to call home. Our farmers need to get back to growing again from the farm to the table with love. Our productive sector needs to be reinvigorated and revitalized so that our Belizean brand can be shipped abroad for the world to see, taste and experience. Our people are ready to go to work in new and exciting jobs in agriculture, technology and our young entrepreneurs are ready to make dreams into reality. In our communities, we need to get back to working together to keep everyone safe, where our police officers are respected again and where the uniform of the police reflects a desire to serve their communities instead of one that symbolizes a declaration of war. All our people from every corner of our jewel need to enjoy the security of an adequate and affordable national health insurance. And we need to elect an honest, accountable and competent government. El año dos mil veinte ha sido un año muy difícil y muy complejo. Nos llegó con muchos retos empezando con la pandemia que expuso lo débil y lo vulnerable, que por doce años, hemos estado como pueblo. Como dice el dicho: hoy nos llovió sobre mojado. Esta fragilidad económica y social nos hace impotentes ante tantos desafíos y nos tiene agobiados. La pandemia se unió a los retos ya presentes que hace años nos tienen cansados…el crimen, la corrupción, la inseguridad personal y la incompetencia. Todos estos son síntomas de un gobierno fallido. Esta administración nos ha fallado y nos ha traicionado al no cumplir con las promesas que tanto nos hicieron. En unas semanas vamos a las urnas y mantengo la confianza que este pueblo no será golpeado otra vez. Este pueblo tiene la necesidad de darle la confianza al equipo que si tiene un plan de recuperación y que cumplirá. Como pueblo valiente y fuerte, y con una capacidad de recuperación increíble…el pueblo beliceño una vez más saldrá adelante. ! De eso estoy seguro! My fellow Belizeans, in the weeks ahead we will go to the polls to decide how we will get through these troubling times. This is our appointment with history. We get to decide if we want to live in a country where we will say no to corruption and cronyism, no to lawlessness and crippling poverty. No to mismanagement and incompetence. We must decide if we want a fairer more prosperous nation where everybody wins or if we want more of the same. The work ahead will not be easy. Our challenges will be great, but each generation must keep working to build the nation we deserve to live in. A good nation. Each of us must sign up, and with the guidance of our Creator we will build a Belize that works for everyone. We believe this is possible just as we believe Everybody fi win! To Belizeans at home and abroad we say Long Live Belize, ¡Que Viva Belice! Happy Independence Day! ###

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Said Musa Tribute The night of September 20, 2020 was chosen by the People’s United Party as apropos to honor the Right Honourable Said Musa and pay tribute to his life accomplishments within the PUP. His retirement within the times of Covid determined that this tribute would be a virtual one with the Universe of the Internet as the audience. Being virtual did not lessen the heart that was placed in this endeavour. Undoubtedly there are number of ways to pay tribute to a man who has meant so much to many Belizean, to many PUP, to his constituency and to Belize. Each version of a tribute would be both tear-jerking and exhilarating. None would be exhaustive of all his accomplishments. The PUP gave it a shot and it was a massive success and a grand presentation. Standard Bearers paid homage: (excerpts) Dolores Balderamos Garcia(Belize Rural Central) - “We will not talk about him like ih dead. He is every much alive and kicking…Said stood by the the Rt. Hon. George Price in our quest for an independent country.” Hon. Oscar Requena(Toledo West) – “That is why we have all thise communities connected via a network of roads.” Hon. Rodwell Ferguson(Stann Creek West) – “He walked some of the villages with me. I was very, very impressed by his movement and his character. By the way he introduced himself to the people.” Dr. Louis Zabaneh(Dangriga) - He would be able to sit down with the regular person, have lunch with them, converse with them. As people approached our table he chatted with them. He is a unique Belizean. Hon. Landy Habet(Cayo Northeast) – “I went to his house seeking assistance. There were three or four Ketchi women from down south. When I came out it was like 8:15. He waited until he saw the last person.” Michel Chebat(Cayo North) – “His father was once the Mayor of San Ignacio. He was a man of compassion and integrity. A man who truly loves this country.” Kareem Musa (Caribbean Shores) – “He has influenced my life in many ways. From a very young boy, he took me to football games. He is an avid sports man. He will have a lot of down time to enjoy retirement and to enjoy sports. I want him to know that his legacy lives in each and every one of us.” Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes(Orange Walk North) – I remember when my father would take me to meeting and Said would be talking. People in the crowd would shout ‘Fire.’ He is clairvoyant, avant-garde and visionary” Hon. Jose Mai(Orange Walk South) – We want to wish the Hin. Said Musa the best in the future. He changed the lives of the people around him. We will miss him a lot. He is a great partliamentarian and friendly.”

Hon. Julius Espat(Cayo South) – People fail to realize that NHI is his dream. It is a good dream. We will make sure that his dream is carried out.” Hon. Francis Fonseca(Orange Walk South) – “He mentored me into becoming a politician. I will always be grateful to him.” Cordel Hyde(Deputy Party Leader, Lake Independence) – “He has a tenacious character and intellect. He has lots of stamina.” Oscar Arnold(Collet) – “I want to thank him for the more than three decades of service to his party and country. I am personally thankful for his support when I decided to take up politics.” Gilroy Usher(Port Loyola) – “I went to ask him to assist us. He left his office right way to come to our apartment in Majestic Alley to see the situation and rendered assistance to us.” Allan Pollard(Queen’s Square) – “He has the love of the people. That is what makes him a champion. He is a genuine. He is always willing for a good conversation.” Mike Espat(Toledo East) – “I say farewell to him. He is a good leader and people’s person. He actually followed the motto of the PUP….to serve the people of this country.” Florencio Marin(Corozal Southeast) – “We are thankful for him leadership, strength and guidance. We are grateful for the way he led this country.” Candice Pitt(Mesopotamia) – “He is truly an inspiration. What I remember most is a conversation in his office. He welcomed me.” Kevin Bernard(Orange Walk East) – “I wish him a great retirement from politics. We will continue to honor the legacy of the Rt. Hon. Said Musa. Paul Thompson (Albert) – “He was on a mission to make a difference in this country and to lead this country. What we have learned from politics has been from Said.” Rt. Hon. Said Musa: “I want to tell you that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Secondly, I recall a famous saying by the English Author Chaucer…the root of all evil is greed. Third and most important is what our Leader George Price thought us, Serve the People. Party leader Thank You. “ Party Leader John Briceño: “George Price was your mentor. You came to love people even outside of Belize City. I know that the Father of the Nation is looking at us and smiling with the smile we know he has. You have dedicated the best years of life to this nation. You have been a transformative Minister of Education. With Education we touch the lives of every child. You ensured that there scholarships for as many students

OUT

Buenas Días a Todos, Siempre leo el Belize Times cada lunes cuando lo encuentro. Busco especialmente las secciones en español pero si leo el inglés. También prefiero las noticias que dan esperanza a los obreros agricultores. Por supuesto todos los obreros de Belice necesitan un empuje real. Yo vengo de gente que trabaja para su pan de cada día. Amo a Dios y ojala que nunca yo ni mis hijos tengan que ser pordioseros. Soy agricultor o sea milpero. En mi vida hasta ya preste tierras para un año para que pueda cosechar algo para que tenga que de comer. Muchos creen que soy cañero. Sinceramente, hoy cualquiera que solo es cañero se muere de hambre o de deudas. No se puede. Hay que sembrar otras cosas. Ahí está lo difícil. Este gobierno y sus encargados solo piensan en impuestos. Solo piensan en enriquecerse. Prefieren darle el contrato de importación de lo que sea a su familia y amigos y no ayudarnos en la compra de semillas, fertilizantes, mata bichos, y cierta maquinaria. Todo lo hacen bien caro. Como ya dije, los agricultores y cañeros somos trabajadores y no esperamos regalos. Gracias, Cañero del Norte as possible. Even the museum of Belize comes from you. You played a key roles in Independence. You were out there internationally to getting support for our Independence and self-determination. The same people that are mismanaging this country now are the same ones that were against Independence. You PM, you were a rebel and a maverick. You got George Price’s attention. You never let the party, nor country down. I have learnt from you. Once you do the right thing, they may criticize you but history will absolve you.” Said Musa, “There were times when I stumbled and got knocked to the ground but I always got right back up and kept moving forward.”

27 SEP

2020 OUTSPOKEN NEW VOTER: Message to PM and his leadership legacy; what did you teach our young people in the past ten years: 1) Don’t change the game- change the rules (you’ll always win) 2) Women are pawns, you continue to use the team of women around you but never commend their leadership. 3) When the going gets tough- make sure you have a scape goat. (You never took ownership of any problem, and you allowed the reign of thugs to thrive.)

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that Jose Santos is applying for a Renewal of a Malt Liquor License to be operated at “Suly’s Restaurant” located at # 8 Farmer’s Market, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that Amie Lovina Copo for a Renewal of a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “The Mojito House” located at # 2 La Democracia Street, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that Juan R. Gongora is applying for a Renewal of a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “D’Flag Store” located at # 115 Belize Road, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980. Notice is hereby given that Mohammad Chowdhurry/Hamayuh Mia are applying for a Renewal of a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Dhaka Mini Mart” located in Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

NEEDED: Iglesia Mi Redentor Vive in Yo Creek Village is looking for a Missionary Pastor to fill the post for a period of 2 years. Interested applicants can call 670-9135 to arrange interview.

27 SEP

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

Are Quotas for Women in Politics a Good Idea?

By Senator Elizabeth Bennett I am extremely happy to report that the Caribbean Women and Leadership Belize National Chapter formation meeting was held on Tuesday 22nd September as scheduled via zoom. We had in attendance 29 women strong who are supporting both political parties - UDP and PUP, and other institutions in Belize. Of course this number of attendees is nowhere close to what we should have had given the large number of women who are actively involved directly or indirectly in politics in Belize. But even with only 29 interested women in the virtual meeting, Belize was still congratulated for our high attendance in comparison to other Caribbean states. So, to my mind, the 29 strong interested women therefore speak to our desire to understand the political process better and it also expresses the desire to empower ourselves and other women. This regional organization promises to provide high level transformational training to fully prepare women to enter politics or get best at politics in an effort to obtain gender equality in government. This is an initiative that I prayed about and so I am extremely happy for those who had the vision to give the mentorship, support and training of women like myself who are passionately interested in true and honest service to our nation. A few follow up meetings are scheduled in an effort to review guiding documents related to the regulation of the chapter. So well in advance of

male-dominated political system. -It is in fact the political parties that control the nominations, not primarily the voters who decide who gets elected. -Introducing quotas may cause conflicts, but only temporarily. CONS -Quotas are against the principle of equal opportunity for all, since women are given preference. -Quotas are undemocratic, be-

099 cause voters should be able to decide who is elected. -Quotas imply that politicians are elected because of their gender, not because of their qualifications and that more qualified candidates are pushed aside. -Many women do not want to get elected just because they are women. -Introducing quotas creates significant conflicts within the party organization.

the birth of CIWiL in Belize, I knew for certain, that I had to do what I had to do - the hard work in preparation for my political career. And as the many discourse continues on different topics related to women in politics - quotas - being one of the main one, I have become even more politically astute as I knew that I needed to position VACANCY myself in preparation for Senior Mechanic – Heavy and Light Duty what is to come. This We hereby invite application from qualified persons to fill the post as Senior Mechanic – Heavy discipline began with in and Light Dutyin the Mechanical/Electrical Department in the Port of Belize Limited. depth review of different Duties & Responsibilities: online political journals • Receive and process all work orders in relation to all lifting and non-lifting port and and women magazines marine equipment such as but not limited to light motor vehicles, towheads, trailers, as well as the study of dump trucks, cranes, drag lines and container stackers. laws in Belize. This is • Plan and execute major repairs of equipment within the scope of mechanical, electrical, fundamental for survival electronic and hydraulic components. when launching into the • Develop daily and weekly schedules for mechanics and allocation of personnel, tools, world of politics whethspares, parts and equipment to fulfill work orders. er as a male or female. • Ensure a standards-based approach to all repair works undertaken at the workshop such Here are some interestas predictive, preventative and corrective maintenance. ing pros and cons on • Ensure the timely repair of equipment lodged at the workshop. whether the quotas for • Receive, process and signing of job cards and completion of work orders upon successful women in politics is a repairs. good idea or not. • Provide hands on technical support and supervision for mechanics. Ultimately you de• Provide hands on technical support and/or recommendations for management. cide as a woman wheth• Dispatch, assist & supervise work to all workshop employees. er you have prepared • Ensure health &safety compliance in the workshop. yourself enough and • Ensure compliance with lean housekeeping. have the family and • Ensure the general husbandry and cleanliness of the workshop area. mentorship support to • Ensure that all relevant maintenance procedures relating to the PBL’s equipment are join the ranks of those carried out in accordance with best standards and recorded to reflect the activities who dare to serve one’s taken at the workshop. country. The full arti• Familiarize, implement and adhere to PBL’s Procurement Procedures and Policies. cle can be read here • Provide support to the other senior mechanics and department heads as directed by the http://www.theatlantic. manager. c o m / i n t e r n a t i o n a l / a rQualifications and Experience: chive/2012/01/are-quo• Vocational Certification in the Mechanical field, Associate Degree would be an asset. t as-for-women-in-poliMinimum three (3) years experience working as a Mechanic. Must possess a valid tics-a-good-idea/251237/ driver’s license. PROS • Basic Knowledge to scan Electronic Engines, and Engine repairs, tune up and rebuilds. -Quotas for women • Basic knowledge on Propane Fuel System. do not discriminate, but • Basic knowledge of electric equipment. compensate for actu• Knowledge of predictive maintenance systems (CMMS System would be an asset). al barriers that prevent • Knowledge of Microsoft office and use of computers. women from their “fair Competencies: share” of the political • Punctual seats. • Ability to work independently -Quotas imply that • Ethical there are several women • Team Oriented together in a committee • Good communication skills or assembly, thus miniObjectives: mizing the stress often • Maximize availability of equipment and man-hours. experienced by the to• Maximize reliability of equipment ken women. • Optimize cost of ownership. -Women have the • Implements and Maintains company KPI’s right as citizens to equal Salary: representation. Will be competitive and in accordance with the companies salary structure. -Women’s experiencInterested individuals are asked to submit their application packages and include the es are needed in political following documents: life. 1. Application letter with Curriculum Vitae -Election is about 2. Copy of Certificates & Diplomas representation, not edu3. Two (2) recent reference letters cational qualifications. 4. Copy of recent Police Record -Women are just 5. Copy of a valid Social Security Card as qualified as men, Applications should be sent by email to jobapplications@portofbelize.com but women’s qualifications are downgradClosing date for receipt of application is Friday, October 09th, 2020. ed and minimized in a

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

PUBLIC AUCTION SALES: PROPERTIES

Cotton Tree Village, Cristo Rey Village, Santa Elena Town, Cayo District

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs. BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs. The Belize Bank Limited, Licensed Auctioneers Kevin A. Castillo & Christiana R. Castillo will sell the following properties on Tuesday 6th October 2020 at the locations and times below listed: A. COTTON TREE VILLAGE, CAYO DISTRICT: 1. In the Belize Bank Limited Parking Lot, Constitution Drive, Belmopan, Cayo District at 10:00 am:

All that piece or Parcel of Land being Lot No. 136 containing 981.140 square meters (1173.43 square yards) as shown on Plan No. 1862 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys in Belmopan, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. (Being a concrete bungalow dwelling house (27 ft. X 31 ft.) [3 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + living/dining/kitchen + laundry & front porch] and lot [981.140 S.M.] situate within Cotton Tree Village, Cayo District, the leasehold property of Ms. Edda Jones (Deceased) B. CRISTO REY VILLAGE, CAYO DISTRICT: 2. On Site at Lot No. 54 Cristo Rey Village, Cayo District at 12:00 noon:

All that piece or Parcel of Land being Lot No. 54 comprising of 650.571 square meters situated in Cristo Rey Village Cayo District and bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 427 of 2013 attached to Ministersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fiat (Grant) No. 427 of 2013 dated the 1st day of October 2013, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. (Being a vacant lot [650.571 S.M.] situate in Cristo Rey Village, Cayo District, the freehold property of Mr. Orvin Juarez) C. SANTA ELENA, CAYO DISTRICT: 3. On Site at Parcel No. 1853 San Diego Street, Hillview Area, Santa Elena, Cayo District at 1:30 pm:

REGISTRATION SECTION Santa Elena/Cayo

BLOCK 23

PARCEL 1853

(Being a vacant lot [822.37 S.Y.] situate on San Diego Street, Hillview Area, Santa Elena, Cayo District, the freehold property of Mr. Rosendo Juarez)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION www.belizebank.com (foreclosure listing) TERMS: STRICTLY CASH KEVIN A. CASTILLO TELEPHONE 223-4488 E-mail: belizeauctionsales@gmail.com Facebook: Belize Auctions

27 SEP

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

Women’s Agenda

Agenda de la Mujer 2020

FAMILY

LA FAMILIA

STRONG FAMILIES FOR PRODUCTIVE, PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL COMMUNITIES

SEVEN POINT

AGENDA

1. Secure women’s access and affordability to proper healthcare services throughout their life cycle (girls, adolescents, child bearing, and older women) - Ensure that quality health care is accessible to all Belizeans and that it provides appropriate health programs geared towards the life course of women - Implement maternal and child healthcare programs nationwide for better management of birthing to prevent maternal and infant mortality. - Incorporate health promotion and lifestyle changes across all government sectors for the prevention of non communicable diseases - Strengthen and promote sexual and reproductive health in all stages of women and girl development to decrease teenage pregnancy, unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections including HIV and cancer - Eradicate the stigma surrounding mental health by promoting educational programs and mental health professionals 2. Empower women through creation of economic opportunities a) Foster entrepreneurship Ð Develop entrepreneurial curriculum from upper primary through high school Ð Provide ongoing skills and capacity building programs through the existing training centers and institutions in the districts Ð Create a credit window within existing government lending institutions (low interest and limited collateral) Ð Facilitate market access where necessary or applicable Ð Actively encourage saving schemes through financial institutions (credit unions or banks) b) Create employment opportunities Ð Improve labour rights (increase minimum wage, equal pay for work of equal value) Ð Foster accessible and affordable child care facilities (day care and after school care Ð Promote investments in industries that will facilitate employment opportunities especially in rural communities Ð Promote occupational health Ð Energize cottage industry 3. Increase women’s access to and ownership of affordable land and housing - Ensure that land and housing opportunities are made accessible and affordable to women - Prioritize access to affordable land and housing for single mothers - Ensure at least 50% of all land and housing made available go to women - Provide fiscal incentives to businesses and financial institutions which

Familias fuertes para comunidades productivas, prósperas y pacíficas

AGENDA

DE SIETE PUNTOS

1. Asegurar el acceso y la asequibilidad de las mujeres a las servicios de salud a lo largo del ciclo de vida(niñas, adolescentes, maternidad, vejez) - Asegurar de que la atención de salud de calidad sea accesible a todo Beliceño y que proporciona programas de salud adecuadas y orientadas a la vida de las mujeres - Implementar programas de salud materno-infantil en todo el país para mejor manejo de los partos para prevenir la mortalidad materna e infantil. - Incorporar la promoción de la salud y los cambios en el estilo de vida en todos los sectores del gobierno para la prevención de enfermedades transmisibles - Fortalecer y promover la salud sexual y reproductiva en todas las etapas del desarrollo de las mujeres y las niñas para disminuir los embarazos adolescentes, los embarazos no deseados e infecciones de transmisión sexual, incluyendo el VIH y cáncer - Erradicar el estigma que rodea a la salud mental mediante la promoción de programas educativos y profesionales de salud mental 2. Empoderar a las mujeres mediante la creación de oportunidades a) Fomentar el espíritu empresarial - Elaborar un programa de estudios empresariales desde los niveles superiores de la primaria hasta la secundaria - Proporcionar una formación continua y programas para la creación de capacidad a través de los centros de entrenamiento existentes y otras instituciones en los distritos - Crear una ventana de crédito dentro instituciones de préstamo del gobierno ya existentes (de bajo interés y colateral limitado) - Facilitar el acceso al mercado cuando sea necesario o aplicable - Fomentar activamente los planes de ahorro mediante instituciones financieras (cooperativas de crédito o bancos) b) Crear oportunidades de empleo - Mejorar los derechos laborales (aumentar el salario mínimo, igual salario por un trabajo de igual valor) - Fomentar instalaciones accesibles y asequibles para el cuidado de los niños (cuidados de guardería y para horas después de la escuela) - Promover las inversiones en industrias que facilitan las oportunidades de empleo, especialmente en comunidades rurales - Promover la salud ocupacional - Energizar la industria artesanal 3. Aumentar el acceso de las mujeres a la tierra y la vivienda asequibles y a su propiedad - Asegurar que las oportunidades de tierra y vivienda sean accesibles y asequibles a las mujeres

Continued on page 14

THE BELIZE TIMES

contribute to the construction and financing of affordable housing for women. 4. Achieve gender equality and equity and end discrimination against women and girls - Upgrade the National Women’s Commission to serve as an independent advisory body for Monitoring and Evaluation of actions to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls - Develop and/or strengthen legislation to address equality for women in employment, including equal pay. - Support the increased participation of women and girls in education, arts, sports, STEM, leadership and employment 5. Promote Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) a) Promote STEM through Educational Partnerships - Promote the development of engineering programs at University of Belize - Negotiate with donors for scholarship in the fields of STEM - Ensure that at least 50% of these scholarships are granted to women b) Build a Workforce for the Future - Incorporate basic STEM concepts in the Primary Education Curriculum in order to improve computational thinking, and to be come digitally literate. c) Advocate for Women in STEM through a Women in STEM Ambassador - this person will work on a national level to advocate for gender equity in STEM, raise awareness of gender imbalance issues, pursue the case for change and build visibility for women in STEM 6. Guarantee the equitable participation of women in leadership and governance - Enforce a quota of at least 30% women as Board Chairpersons, Chief Executive Officers, and other leadership roles in the public sector - Conduct awareness and capacity building campaigns of men and women in governance on the role and significance of women in governance - Support capacity building initiatives for women in politics 7. Strengthen and expand measures to ensure the safety and security of women and girls - Hold a zero tolerance position on violence against women - Financially support the operation of emergency shelters and transitional homes for women and their children - Implement the domestic violence and sexual violence laws and protocols for the protection of women and children - Provide free counseling and legal aid service for survivors of violence - Provide free self-defense instructions for girls in all primary and secondary schools and for women - Enforce mandatory counseling for perpetrators of domestic violence and violence against women

equality + equity

3 4FAMILY 5 6 7

27 SEP

2020

- Dar prioridad al acceso a tierras y viviendas asequibles para las madres solteras - Asegurarse de que al menos el 50% de todas las tierras y viviendas disponibles vayan a manos de mujeres - Proporcionar incentivos fiscales a las empresas e instituciones financieras que contribuyan a la construcción y financiación de viviendas asequibles para mujeres. 4. Lograr la igualdad y la equidad entre los géneros y poner fin a la discriminación contra las mujeres y las niñas - Reformar la Comisión Nacional de la Mujer para que sirva como un organismo asesor independiente de vigilancia y evaluación de las medidas para poner fin a todas las formas de discriminación contra las mujeres y las niñas - Desarrollar y/o fortalecer la legislación para abordar la igualdad de la mujer en empleo, incluida la igualdad de remuneración. - Apoyar el aumento de la participación de las mujeres y las niñas en la educación y las artes,deportes, STEM, liderazgo y empleo 5. Promover a las Mujeres en Ciencia, Tecnología, Ingeniería y Matemáticas (Programa STEM) - Promover el programa STEM a través de asociaciones educativas - Promover el desarrollo de programas de ingeniería en la Universidad de Belice - Negociar con países amigos y universidades para becas en los campos de STEM - Asegurar que al menos el 50% de estas becas se concedan a mujeres Construir una fuerza laboral para el futuro - Incorporar conceptos básicos de STEM en el Currículo de Educación Primaria con el fin de mejorar el pensamiento computacional, y para ser alfabetizado digitalmente. Promover la participación de la mujer en programas STEM a través de una Embajadora de Mujeres en STEM - esta persona trabajará a nivel nacional para abogar por la equidad de género en STEM, sensibilizar sobre cuestiones de desequilibrio de género, perseguir el caso del cambio y aumentar la visibilidad de las mujeres en STEM 6. Garantizar la participación equitativa de la mujer en el liderazgo y la gobernanza - Aplicar una cuota de al menos el 30% de mujeres como presidentas de Juntas, Jefas Ejecutivas Oficiales y otras funciones directivas en el sector público - Llevar a cabo campañas de sensibilización y de capacitación de hombres y mujeres en gobierno sobre el papel y la importancia de la mujer en la gobernanza - Apoyar las iniciativas de fomento de la capacidad de la mujer en la política 7. Fortalecer y ampliar las medidas para garantizar la seguridad de las mujeres y niñas - Mantener una posición de tolerancia cero sobre la violencia contra las mujeres - Apoyar financieramente el funcionamiento de los refugios de emergencia y los hogares de transición para las mujeres y sus hijos - Aplicar las leyes y protocolos sobre la violencia doméstica y sexual para la protección de las mujeres y los niños - Proporcionar un servicio gratuito de asistencia psicológica y ayuda legal para los supervivientes de la violencia - Proporcionar instrucciones gratuitas de autodefensa a las niñas en todas las escuelas primarias y secundarias y para las mujeres - Hacer cumplir el asesoramiento psicológico obligatorio para los autores de la violencia doméstica y violencia contra las mujeres

Increase women’s access to and ownership of affordable land and housing

Nurturing and developing strong families for productive, prosperous and peaceful communities. -

Ensure that land and housing opportunities are made accessible and affordable to women Prioritize access to affordable land and housing for single mothers Ensure at least 50% of all land and housing made available go to women Provide fiscal incentives to businesses and financial institutions which contribute to the construction and financing of affordable housing for women.

Achieve gender equality and equity and end discrimination against women and girls

Upgrade the National Women’s Commission to serve as an independent advisory body for Monitoring and Evaluation of actions to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls Develop and/or strengthen legislation to address equality for women in employment, including equal pay. Support the increased participation of women and girls in education, arts, sports, STEM, leadership and employment

Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics The family is onePromote of the oldest and the most indispensable institutions of any civa) Promote STEM through Educational Partnerships Promote the reasons. development of engineering programs are at University of Belize ilization and for very good When families threatened and weak, the - Negotiate with donors for scholarship in the fields of STEM children are neglected, their education is compromised, and society will suffer the - Ensure that at least 50% of these scholarships are granted to women b) Build a Workforce for the Future consequences for generations to come. -Incorporate basic STEM concepts in the Primary Education Curriculum in order to improve computational thinking, and to become digitally literate. c) Advocate for Women in STEM through a Women in STEM Ambassador

- this person will values, work on a national level to advocate gender in STEM,araise Children need virtues, good knowledge and for skills toequity secure prosperous awareness of gender imbalance issues, pursue the case for change and build visibility future, and if the present generation does not have them, it is because their parfor women in STEM ents did not provide them, which means that neither will the next generation have Guarantee the equitable participation of women in leadership and governance them. Any lack of virtues, skills in our youth is a tragedy for - Enforcevalues, a quota knowledge, of at least 30% and women as Board Chairpersons, Chief Officers, and otherthat leadership roles in the public sector our society and leadsExecutive to a vicious cycle deserves urgent attention.

Conduct awareness and capacity building campaigns of men and women in governance on the role and significance of women in governance Support capacity building initiatives for tied womento in politics dysfunctional families are inextricably most of the socio-economic

In Belize, problems we faceStrengthen today and in our communities, such as poverty, unemployment, drug expand measures to ensure the safety and security of women and girls addiction, delinquency, violence against women, and homicides. -

Hold a zero tolerance position on violence against women Financially support the operation of emergency shelters and transitional homes for women and childrenas the bedrock of our communities, That is why the PUP perceives thetheir family - Implement the domestic violence and sexual violence laws and protocols for and we are deeply committed to families in our vision for a better Belize. “As the the protection of women and children - Provide counselingis, andfor legalthe aid service violence The family is Family goes, so goes thefree Nation” PUP,for nosurvivors mereofslogan. - Provide free self-defense instructions for girls in all primary and secondary so strategic to our development that all our national policies and strategies will not schools and for women - Enforce mandatory perpetrators of domestic violence andavenue to succeed if we do not nurture and counseling developforstrong families as the main violence against women

achieve productive, prosperous and peaceful communities in Belize. The well-being of the family unit is central to the development and wellness of the community and, indeed, the nation. Whether the family is the traditional nuclear family or the

igualdad + equidad

3 LA 4 FAMILIA 5 6 Fomentando y desarrollando familias fuertes para comunidades productivas, prósperas y pacíficas

Aumentar el acceso de las mujeres a la tierra y la vivienda asequibles y a su propiedad - Asegurar que las oportunidades de tierra y vivienda sean accesibles y asequibles a las mujeres

Lograr la igualdad y la equidad entre los géneros y poner fin a la discriminación contra las mujeres y las niñas - Reformar la Comisión Nacional de la Mujer para que sirva como un organismo asesor independiente de vigilancia y evaluación de las medidas para poner fin a todas las formas de discriminación contra las mujeres y las niñas - Desarrollar y/o fortalecer la legislación para abordar la igualdad de la mujer en empleo, incluida la igualdad de remuneración. - Apoyar el aumento de la participación de las mujeres y las niñas en la educación y las artes, deportes, STEM, liderazgo y empleo

La familia es una de las instituciones más antiguas y más indispensables de cualPromover a las Mujeres en Ciencia, Tecnología, Ingeniería y Matemáticas (Programa STEM) quier civilización- y por muy buenas Cuando las familias están amenazaPromover el programa STEM a razones. través de asociaciones educativas - Promover el desarrollo de programas de ingeniería en la Universidad de Belice das y débiles, los niñosconson descuidados, supara educación está decomprometida, y la - Negociar países amigos y universidades becas en los campos STEM Asegurar que al menos el 50% de estas se concedan a mujeres sociedad sufrirá -las consecuencias para lasbecas generaciones venideras. Construir una fuerza laboral para el futuro -Incorporar conceptos básicos de STEM en el Currículo de Educación Primaria con el fin de mejorar el pensamiento computacional, y para ser alfabetizado digitalmente. Promover la participación de la mujer en programas STEM a través de una Embajadora de Mujeres en STEM - esta persona trabajará a nivel nacional para abogar por la equidad de género en STEM, sensibilizar sobre cuestiones de desequilibrio de género, perseguir el caso del cambio y aumentar la visibilidad de las mujeres en STEM

Los niños necesitan buenos valores, conocimientos y habilidades para asegurar un futuro próspero, y si la presente generación no los tiene, es porque los padres no las proporcionaron, lo que significa que también la próxima generación tampoco los tendrá. Eso es un tragedia para nuestra sociedad y un círculo vicioso que Garantizar la participación equitativa de la mujer en el liderazgo y la gobernanza merece una atención urgente. - Aplicar una cuota de al menos el 30% de mujeres como presidentas de Juntas, Jefas Ejecutivas Oficiales y otras funciones directivas en el sector público - Llevar a cabo campañas de sensibilización y de capacitación de hombres y mujeres en gobierno sobre el papel y la importancia de la mujer en la gobernanza - Apoyar las iniciativas de fomento de la capacidad de la mujer en la política

En Belice, las familias disfuncionales son la principal fuente de la mayoría de los problemas socioeconómicos que enfrentamos hoy en día en nuestras comunidades, como la pobreza, el desempleo, la drogadicción, la delincuencia, la violencia contra mujeres y homicidios. Fortalecer y ampliar las medidas para garantizar la seguridad de las mujeres y niñas

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- Mantener una posición de tolerancia cero sobre la violencia contra las mujeres - Apoyar financieramente el funcionamiento de los refugios de emergencia y los hogares de

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THE BELIZE TIMES

increasingly more common extended family or the single parent family, the impact remains the same. The PUP is convinced that the family in the wider community and in the experience of our culture are all inextricably linked, so our actions and programs need to reflect the confluence of these social realities. We must ensure strong families for the sustainable development of our communities and for a vibrant cultural landscape. With these justifications in mind, we present this policy statement on the family, keeping in mind at all times gender parity, special attention to differently-abled citizens and a deep focus on the psycho-social health and well-being of all Belizeans. This policy will complement and strengthen the foundations of the PUP’s peoplecentered strategy.

Policy Goals and Objectives

FAMILY

A PUP led government will strengthen the family as a vehicle for improving the delivery, effectiveness and efficiency of social services offered to Belizeans across the country. This policy will enable the participation of families in their communiPolicy Goals and Objectives ty to promote their own nurturing and development through self-help measures founded upon the sense of purpose, responsibility, and communality of their members in order to address their own problems. A PUP led government will strengthen the family as a vehicle for improving the delivery,objectives effectivenessof and efficiency of are social offered to Belizeans across The specific this policy asservices follows: the country. This policy will enable the participation of families in their community to 1. Buildpromote familytheir unity, commitment and resilience – Promoting the virtues, values own nurturing and development through self-help measures founded andupon attitudes of of family life responsibility, can enableand parents to build strong families, realize the sense purpose, communality of their members in order to address own problems. their visions andtheir dreams, and manage stress well. They can function when

they are faced with challenges, adversity, and trauma. Parents can manage andThe bounce back. specific objectives of this policy are as follows: 2. Provide social connections – Positive relationships provide emotional, 1. Build family unity, commitment and resilience – Promoting the virtues, informational, spiritual support forofparents. haveparents friends values and attitudes family lifeParents can enable toand buildsupporters. strong realizeoftheir visions and and child dreams, and manage stress well. 3. Increasefamilies, knowledge parenting development – Understanding child They canand function when they are faced withsupport challenges, adversity, and development parenting strategies that physical, cognitive, lancan manage and bounce back. guage,trauma. social, Parents and emotional development helps parents. Parents know how children grow and 2. Provide sociallearn. connections – Positive relationships provide emotional, 4. Solve problems in the familysupport - Access concrete support and timely informational, spiritual for to parents. Parents have friends and services supporters. that can address the family’s problems, whether they are social, financial and/ or emotional, is essential to help minimize stress caused by challenges and Increase knowledge of parenting development – allow3.the family to move forward. Parents and knowchild where to turn for help. Understanding child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development helps parents. Parents know how children grow and learn.

4. Solve problems in the family - Access to concrete support and timely services that can address the family’s problems, whether they are social, financial and/or emotional, is essential to help minimize stress caused by challenges and allow the family to move forward. Parents know where to turn for help.

Proposed Policy Actions

This PUP-led Government will work to ensure that families and communities are prepared for a changing and technologically driven environment. This will be done by taking into consideration the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted work to ensure that families and communities are prepared for a in 2015This byPUP-led all UNGovernment member will states that “share changing and technologically driven environment. This will be done by taking into consideration a blueprint for peace and prosperity people and now the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)of adopted in 2015 by the all UNplanet memberfor states that and “sharein the peace and prosperity of peopleour and the planet for now and in the future”. A PUP of its future”.a blueprint A PUP for Government will position citizens and family at the center position our citizens and family at the center of its vision, strategy and action. vision, Government strategy will and action. This PUP-led Government will the following specific actions to deliver on its to family This PUP-led Government willimplement implement the following specific actions deliver strengthening policy: on its family strengthening policy: 1) One Ministry of government will be charged with the mandate to coor1) One Ministry of government will be charged with the mandate to coordinate, implement and dinate, and monitor this policy, withweaknesses, an empirical monitorimplement this policy, beginning with an empirical analysisbeginning of the strengths, opportunities and strengths, threats (SWOTweaknesses, analysis) of families across our nation,and takingthreats into account analysis of the opportunities (SWOT the diversity of cultures, communities and development potential. This analysis will be analysis) of families across our nation, taking into account the diversity complemented by: of cultures, communities and development potential. This analysis will be ● the thorough review of present policies that impact Families and Community Development complemented by: ● the review of current legislation and regulations that positively and negatively affect the ● lives theofthorough review of present policies that impact Families and Comfamilies ● the development of more modern and concrete strategies that will aid family development munity Development in all communities ● ● the theassurance reviewthat ofallcurrent legislation that positively and strategies encompass the and use ofregulations technology for the delivery of services. negatively affect the lives of families ● the development of more modern and concrete strategies that will aid family development in all communities 2) The National Committee for Families and Children will be revitalized and empowered to guidance andthat direction to the Government regarding modernization and ● provide the assurance all strategies encompass thethe use of technology for upgrading of the social services offered to families. The Committee’s responsibilities will the delivery of services. include, but not be limited to, the following: ● Devise a strategy (framework) will drive enhancement, and and 2) The National Committee for that Families andtheChildren will effectiveness be revitalized modernization of human services delivered by a PUP government; empowered to provide guidance and direction to the Government regard● Implement a monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) program to determine the ing the modernization and upgrading of the social effectiveness and efficiency of the services offered to the public;services offered to fam● Recommend ways and means to improve the delivery of the services that be will ensure ilies. The Committee’s responsibilities will include, but not limitedthe to, the effective and sustainable participation of families and communities in their own nurturing following: and development, in order to achieve poverty reduction and self- reliance based on the available resources. ● sustainable Devise aexploitation strategyof(framework) that will drive the enhancement, effectiveness and modernization of human services delivered by a PUP government; 3) The Ministry responsible for the family will invest in and support programs and projects in following areas. ● theImplement a monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) program to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the services offered to the public; ● Recommend ways and means to improve the delivery of the services that will ensure the effective and sustainable participation of families and communities in their own nurturing and development, in order to achieve poverty reduction and self- reliance based on the sustainable exploitation of available resources. 3) The Ministry responsible for the family will invest in and support programs and projects in the following areas.

Es por eso por lo que el PUP percibe a la familia como la base de nuestras comunidades, y estamos profundamente comprometidos con las familias en nuestra visión de un mejor Belice, “Como va la familia, así va la nación”, para el PUP no es mera consigna. La familia es tan estratégica para nuestro desarrollo que todos nuestras políticas y estrategias no tendrán éxito si no fomentamos y desarrollamos familias fuertes como la principal avenida para lograr comunidades productivas, prósperas y pacíficas en Belice. El bienestar de la unidad familiar es fundamental para el desarrollo y el bienestar de la comunidad y, de hecho, de la nación. Si la familia es la familia nuclear tradicional o la cada vez más común familia extendida o la familia monoparental, el impacto sigue siendo el lo mismo. En este sentido, el PUP está convencido de que la familia en la comunidad en general y la experiencia de nuestra cultura están todas inextricablemente ligadas, de modo que nuestra las acciones y programas necesitan reflejar la confluencia de estas realidades sociales. Debemos asegurarnos de familias fuertes para el desarrollo sostenible de nuestras comunidades y un paisaje cultural y vibrante. Con estas justificaciones en mente, presentamos este declaración de política sobre la familia, teniendo en cuenta en todo momento paridad de género, atención especial a ciudadanos con capacidades diferentes y un profundo enfoque en la la salud psicosocial y el bienestar de todos los beliceños. Esta política complementará y fortalecerá los fundamentos de la estrategia centrada en la gente de la PUP.

COMUNIDAD

FAMILIA LALAFAMILIA Metas y Objetivos de Política

Metas y Objetivos de Política

gobiernopor liderado por fortalecerá el PUP fortalecerá la familia como Un gobierno Un liderado el PUP la familia como ununvehículo para vehículo para mejorar la la prestación, la eficacia y la eficiencia de los mejorar la la servicios prestación, la eficacia y la eficiencia de los servicios sociales que sociales que se ofrecen a los beliceños en todo el país. Esta se ofrecen a política los beliceños todo el país. política permitirá la participermitirá laen participación de las Esta familias en su comunidad promover su propio cuidado para y desarrollo a través medidas pación de laspara familias en su comunidad promover sudepropio cuidado y dede autoayuda fundadas un sentido de propósito,en responsabilidad sarrollo a través de medidas de en autoayuda fundadas un sentido de propósiy comunidad de sus miembros con el fin de abordar sus propios to, responsabilidad y comunidad de sus miembros con el fin de abordar sus problemas. propios problemas.

objetivos específicos de esta son política los siguientes: Los objetivosLos específicos de esta política losson siguientes: Fomentarel la compromiso unidad, el compromiso y la resiliencia la familia:-- promover las 1. Fomentar la1. unidad, y la resiliencia de de la familia: promovery las los valores y las actitudes la vidapermitir familiar a los padres virtudes, los valores lasvirtudes, actitudes de la vida familiar de puede puede permitirhacer a los realidad padres construir familiasy fuertes, construir familias fuertes, sus visiones sueños hacer y manejar bien el realidad sus visiones y sueños y manejar bien el estrés, pueden estrés, pueden funcionar cuando se enfrentan a retos, adversidad y trauma - Los funcionar cuando se enfrentan a retos, adversidad y trauma - Los padres pueden arreglárselas bien y recuperarse. padres pueden arreglárselas bien y recuperarse. 2. Proporcionar conexiones sociales - las relaciones positivas proporcionan apoyo 2. Proporcionar conexiones sociales - las relaciones positivas emocional, informativo y espiritual a los padres - Losypadres tienen proporcionan apoyo emocional, informativo espiritual a losamigos y simpatizantes. padres - Los padres tienen amigos y simpatizantes. 3. Aumentar el conocimiento de la crianza y el desarrollo infantilcomprender el 3. Aumentar el conocimiento de la crianza y el desarrollo infantildesarrollo infantil y las estrategias crianza de los niños que apoyan comprender el desarrollo de infantil y las estrategias de crianza de los el desarrollo físico, cognitivo, lingüístico, y emocional ayuda a los padres niños que apoyan el social desarrollo físico, cognitivo, lingüístico, social y - Los padres emocional ayuda a los los padres - Los padres saben cómo crecen y saben cómo crecen y aprenden niños. aprenden los niños. 4. Resolver los problemas de la familia - el acceso a apoyo concreto y a servicios 4. Resolver los problemas de la familia el acceso apoyo oportunos pueden abordar los problemas de la -familia, ya asean sociales, financoncreto y aes servicios oportunos puedenaabordar los problemas cieros y/o emocionales, esencial para ayudar minimizar el estrés causado por la familia, ya la sean sociales, emocionales, es los desafíos ydepermitir que familia sigafinancieros adelantey/o - Los padres saben a dónde esencial para ayudar a minimizar el estrés causado por los acudir en busca de ayuda. desafíos y permitir que la familia siga adelante - Los padres saben a dónde acudir en busca de ayuda.

Medidas de la política propuesta Este gobierno dirigido por el PUP trabajará para asegurar de que las familias y las comunidades estén preparadas para los cambios de nuestro entorno cambiante e impulsado por la tecnología. Esto se hará teniendo en cuenta los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) adoptados por todos los estados miembros de la ONU en 2015 que “comparten un plan de paz y la prosperidad de la gente y del planeta ahora y en el futuro”. Un gobierno PUP posicionará a nuestros ciudadanos y la familia en el centro de su visión, estrategia y acción. En consecuencia, este gobierno liderado por PUP implementará las siguientes acciones específicas para cumplir con su política de fortalecimiento de la familia: 1) Un ministerio del gobierno se encargará de coordinar, implementar y supervisar esta política que comenzará con un análisis empírico de las fortalezas, oportunidades debilidades, y amenazas (análisis FODA) de familias de toda nuestra nación, teniendo en cuenta la diversidad de culturas, comunidades y potenciales de desarrollo. Este análisis se complementará con: - Examen exhaustivo de las políticas actuales que afectan a las familias y al desarrollo de la comunidad - Examen de la legislación y los reglamentos vigentes que afectan positiva y negativamente a la vida de las familias - Desarrollo de estrategias más modernas y concretas que ayuden al desarrollo de la familia en todas las comunidades - Asegurar de que todas las estrategias abarquen el uso de la tecnología para la prestación de servicios 2) Se creará un comité nacional para la familia que pueda proporcionar orientación/dirección al Gobierno en relación con la modernización y la mejora de los servicios sociales ofrecidos a las familias y la ciudadanía. Las responsabilidades del

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Economic development: Economic development:

Create training programs to encourage non-traditional careers Invest in skills training and entrepreneurship Promote cultural commerce Encourage small business collaborations Depoliticize the Boost, Pantry and other promising public programs designed to assist poor households subject to specific conditions Create an enabling environment for the promotion of art, sports and cultural activities Develop industries to use culture and sports as tools for advancement Focus on families in rural communities by creating empowerment/special development zones to better target specialized assistance and strengthen the capacities of families and communities Establish gender-balanced and culturally diverse, well-trained development units to assist in these endeavors.

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2020

Comité incluyen, pero no necesariamente se limitan a lo siguiente: - Elaborar una estrategia que impulse la mejora, la eficacia y la modernización de servicios humanos prestados por un gobierno PUP; - Implementar un programa de monitoreo, evaluación y aprendizaje (MEA) para determinar la efectividad y la eficiencia de los servicios ofrecidos al público; - Recomendar formas y medios de mejorar la prestación de servicios para asegurar la eficacia y la sostenibilidad de la participación de la familia y la comunidad en su propio crecimiento y desarrollo para lograr la reducción de la pobreza y la autosuficiencia basadas en la explotación sostenible de los recursos disponibles, en última instancia, promoviendo familias más fuertes.

● Create training programs to encourage non-traditional careers ● Invest in skills training and entrepreneurship ● ● Promote cultural commerce ● 3) El Ministerio responsable de la familia invertirá y apoyará programas y proyec● Encourage small business collaborations ● tos en las siguientes áreas. ● Depoliticize the Boost, Pantry and other promising public programs ● designed to assist poor households subject to specific conditions Social Development: ● Create an enabling environment for the promotion of art, sports and ● Promote organization of and access to cultural events, sports, and healthy activities ● Create training programs toschools encourage ● Organize Big Sister/Big Brother or similar mentoring programs across and organizations non-traditional careers cultural activities ● Provide training and counseling services, for example, in the form of parenting programs or male mentorship ● Develop usesafeculture sports as tools ● Establish support groups spaces for and Wellness/ Self Care groups, includingfor AA, advanceGamblers ● industries Invest intoand/or skills training and entrepreneurship Anonymous, Survivors of Domestic Violence, etc. ment ● Educate the community to cultural inspire support and acceptance of persons with special needs and diverse ● Promote commerce abilities Desarrollo económico: ● Focus on in and rural communities creating ● Invest long term support solutions for caring for persons with special needs and empowerment/ diverse abilities ● infamilies Encourage small businessbycollaborations 〈 Crear programas de formación para fomentar las carreras no tradicionales ● Encourage social groups such as baby play groups, sports and health (walking groups), community watch, 〈 Invertir en la capacitación y el espíritu empresarial special development zones to better target specialized assistance and Dominoes or Bingo game groups, etc. ● Crear programas de formación para fomentar las carreras no tradicionales el comercio cultural ● the Depoliticize the Boost, Pantry andDepartment other promising public〈〈 Promover programs designed to assist poor households ● Promote safe neighborhoods by supporting these initiatives through the Police and other strengthen capacities of families and communities Fomentar la colaboración de las pequeñas empresas relevant government departments. ● Invertir〈en la capacitación y el espíritu empresarial Despolitizar el Boost, Pantry y otros programas públicos prometedores diseñados para ayudar a los hogares subject to specific conditions pobresel concomercio sujeción a condiciones específicas ● Establish gender-balanced and culturally diverse, well-trained devel● Promover cultural 〈 Crear un entorno propicio para la promoción de las actividades artísticas, deportivas y culturales y desarrollar Environmental development: ● Create an enabling environment for the promotion of art, sports and cultural activities industrias para usar herramientas culturales y pequeñas deportivas para el avance. ● Fomentar la colaboración de las empresas opment● units to assist in these endeavors. 〈 Centrarse también en las familias de las comunidades rurales creando zonas de empoderamiento/desarrollo Promote the creation and maintenance of clean, attractive spaces; enforce fines or penalties for littering

Economic development:

COMUNIDAD Desarrollo económico:

● Despolitizar el orientar Boost, Pantry yespecializada otros programas públicos diseñaespecial para mejor la asistencia y fortalecer las capacidades de lasprometedores familias y las comunidades. ● Develop industries to use culture and sports as tools for advancement Y establecer unidades de desarrollo equilibradas en cuanto al género y culturalmente diversas y bien capacitadas dos parapara ayudar losesfuerzos. hogares pobres con sujeción a condiciones específicas ayudar enaestos Social Development: ● Focus on families in rural communities by creating● Crear empowerment/special zones to better un entorno propicio paradevelopment la promoción de las actividades artísticas, deDesarrollo Social: ● Promote organization of and access to cultural events, sports, and 〈 la organización y el acceso a eventos culturales, deportes, target specialized assistance and strengthen the capacities families communities portivas of y Promover culturales y and desarrollar industrias paraactividades usar saludables. herramientas culturales y healthy activities 〈 Organizar programas de tutoría de hermana mayor/gran hermano o similares en escuelas y Good Governance: para el avance. organizaciones. ● Big Establish gender-balanced and culturally diverse, deportivas well-trained development units to assist in these 〈 Proporcionan servicios de capacitación y asesoramiento, por ejemplo, en forma de programas de crianza de los ● Organize Brother ● Promote andSister/Big strengthen community leaders or similar mentoring programs across ● Centrarse en las familias de las comunidades rurales creando zonas de hijos otambién tutoría masculina. ● Provide opportunities and training for youth leaders endeavors. 〈 Establecer grupos de apoyo y/o espacios seguros para grupos de Bienestar/Autocuidado, incluyendo schools● and organizations Encourage democratic participation, advocacy, and self-reliance. empoderamiento/desarrollo especial para orientar mejor la asistencia especializa● Encourage sustainable recycling efforts across schools and businesses ● Provide tax breaks or other economic incentives to businesses engaged in environmentally friendly practices, e.g. using solar energy or actively recycling ● Work along with the various municipal bodies and the Ministry of Local Government to promote and keep child friendly municipalities.

AA, Jugadores Anónimos, Supervivientes de Violencia Doméstica, etc.

〈 Educar alas la comunidad para inspirarde el apoyo la aceptación personas con necesidades especiales y ● Provide training and counseling services, for example, in the form of da y fortalecer capacidades las yfamilias y de laslas comunidades. habilidades diversas Partners 〈 Invertir en apoyo y soluciones a largo plazo paraequilibradas el cuidado de personas con cuanto necesidades especiales Y establecer unidades de desarrollo en al género y culturalparenting programs or male mentorship y diversas capacidades The Ministry responsible for families will seek partnerships and develop collaboration with the Council of 〈 Fomentar los grupos sociales grupos de juego para bebés, deportes y salud (grupos de caminatas), mente diversas y bien capacitadas para ayudar en estos esfuerzos. Churches, faith-based organizations, educational safe institutions, NGOs, and for community based organizations ● Establish support groups and/or spaces Wellness/ SelfatCare vigilancia de la comunidad, dominó o bingo, etc. the district level to ensure that every village and community is engaged in the execution of the Government 〈 Promover los barrios seguros apoyando estas iniciativas a través del Departamento de la Policía y otros ● onPromote organization of and accessoftoDomestic culturalVievents, sports, andgubernamentales healthypertinentes activities groups, including AA, Gamblers Anonymous, Survivors policy the family. departamentos olence, etc. ● Organize Big Sister/Big Brother or similar mentoring programs across schools and organizations Desarrollo del medioambiente: Desarrollo 〈 Promover la creación y el mantenimiento de espacios limpiosSocial: y atractivos; hacer cumplir las multas o ● Educate● the community to inspire support and acceptance of persanciones por tirar basura Provide training and counseling services, for example,● in the〈form of parenting programs male mentorship Promover la organización y el acceso a eventosor culturales, deportes, actividades Fomentar los esfuerzos de reciclaje sostenible en las escuelas y empresas sons with special needs and diverse abilities 〈 Proporcionar exenciones fiscales u otros incentivos económicos a las empresas que se dedican a ● Establish support groups and/or safe spaces for saludables. Wellness/ Self Care groups, including AA, prácticas respetuosas con el medioambiente, por ejemplo, el uso de la energía solar o el reciclajeGamblers activo ● Invest in long term support and solutions published by the People’s United Party for caring for persons with 〈 Trabajar en conjunto con diversos organismos municipales y el Ministerio de Gobierno Local parao promover y ● Organizar programas delostutoría de hermana mayor/gran hermano similares en Belize, Central America of Domestic Violence, etc. mantener municipalidades amigas de los niños Anonymous, Survivors special needs and diverse abilities escuelas y organizaciones. September 2020 Buen gobierno: ● social Educate thesuch community inspire support and acceptance ofservicios persons with special needs and diverse ● Proporcionan de capacitación y asesoramiento, por ejemplo, en forma ● Encourage groups as baby playtogroups, sports and health 〈 Promover y fortalecer a los líderes comunitarios 〈 Brindar de oportunidades y capacitación ahijos los líderes juveniles de programas crianza de los o tutoría masculina. abilities (walking groups), community watch, Dominoes or Bingo game groups, 〈 Fomentar la participación democrática, la promoción y la autosuficiencia ● Establecer grupos de apoyo y/o espacios seguros para grupos de Bienestar/ etc. ● Invest in long term support and solutions for caring for persons with Elspecial needs and diverse abilities Asociados: Ministerio responsable de las familias buscará alianzas y desarrollará Autocuidado, incluyendo colaboración con el Consejo de Iglesias, organizaciones religiosas, instituciones educativas, ● Promote safe neighborhoods by supporting these initiatives through ● Encourage social groups such as baby play groups, AA, sports and healthcomunitarias (walking community watch, Jugadores Anónimos, Supervivientes Doméstica, etc. este ONGs y organizaciones a nivel de groups), distritode paraViolencia asegurar de que cada aldea y comunidad comprometida en la ejecución de la política del Gobierno sobre la familia. the Police Department and relevant departments. ● Educar a la comunidad para inspirar el apoyo y la aceptación de las personas con Dominoes orother Bingo gamegovernment groups, etc.

Social Development:

necesidades especiales y habilidades diversas

● Promote safe neighborhoods by supporting these ● initiatives through the aPolice Department and other con Invertir en apoyo y soluciones largo plazo para el cuidado de personas Environmental necesidades especiales y diversas capacidades relevant governmentdevelopment: departments.

● Fomentar los grupos sociales - grupos de juego para bebés, deportes y salud ● Promote the creation and maintenance of clean, attractive spaces; (grupos de caminatas), vigilancia de la comunidad, dominó o bingo, etc. enforce fines or penalties for littering ● Promover los barrios seguros apoyando estas iniciativas a través del Departapublished by the People’s United Party ● Encourage sustainable recycling efforts across schools and busiBelize, Central America gubernamentales pertinentes Desarmento de la Policía y otros departamentos September 2020 nesses rollo del medioambiente: creation and maintenance of clean, ● Provide●taxPromote breaks orthe other economic incentives to businesses en-attractive spaces; enforce fines or penalties for littering gaged in environmentally practices, e.g. using solar across energy schools or ● Encourage friendly sustainable recycling efforts and businesses Desarrollo del medioambiente: actively recycling ● Provide tax breaks or other economic incentives● Promover to businesses engaged in environmentally friendly hacer la creación y el mantenimiento de espacios limpios y atractivos; ● Work alongpractices, with the various municipal bodies and the Ministry of e.g. using solar energy or actively recyclingcumplir las multas o sanciones por tirar basura Local Government to promote and keep child friendly municipalities. ● Fomentar los esfuerzos de reciclaje sostenible en las escuelas y empresas

Environmental development:

● Work along with the various municipal bodies and the Ministry of Local Government to promote and keep ● Proporcionar exenciones fiscales u otros incentivos económicos a las empresas child friendly municipalities. que se dedican a prácticas respetuosas con el medioambiente, por ejemplo, el uso

Good Governance:

● Promote and strengthen community leaders ● Provide opportunities and training for youth leaders ● Encourage democraticand participation, advocacy, and self-reliance. ● Promote strengthen community leaders

de la energía solar o el reciclaje activo ● Trabajar en conjunto con los diversos organismos municipales y el Ministerio de Gobierno Local para promover y mantener municipalidades amigas de los niños

● Provide opportunities and training for youth leaders Buen gobierno: ● Encourage democratic participation, advocacy, and self-reliance. ● Promover y fortalecer a los líderes comunitarios Partners

● Brindar oportunidades y capacitación a los líderes juveniles The Ministry responsible for families will seek partnerships and develop ● Fomentar la participación democrática, la promoción y la autosuficiencia collaboration with the Council of Churches, faith-based organizations, educational institutions, NGOs, and community based organizations Asociados: at the district level to ensure that every village and community is enEl Ministerio responsable de las familias buscaráwith alianzas desarrollaráofcolaboThe Ministry they Council gaged in the execution of theresponsible Government for families will seek partnerships and develop collaboration ración con el Consejo de Iglesias, organizaciones religiosas, instituciones educapolicy on the Churches, family. faith-based organizations, educational institutions, and community organizations at de tivas, ONGs NGOs, y organizaciones comunitarias based a nivel de distrito para asegurar

Partners

que cada aldea y comunidad en la ejecución de la política del the district level to ensure that every village and community is engaged in este the comprometida execution of the Government Gobierno sobre la familia policy on the family.

published by the People’s United Party Belize, Central America September 2020

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

PlanBelize Family and Women Agenda Virtual Rollout PARTY LEADER JOHN BRICEÑO’S REMARKS September 19, 2020

Tonight, we laid out for you our plan to meaningfully engage and empower Belizean Women and to put families at the Center of our National Development. The Family has always been the most important institution in civilization and in all families, it is the woman who has been the anchor of families, which begins from conception. The family is one of the oldest and the most indispensable institutions of any civilization and for very good reasons. When families are threatened and weakened then children are neglected, their education is compromised, and society will suffer the consequences for generations to come. Children need virtues, good values, knowledge and skills to secure a prosperous future, and if the present generation does not have them, it is because we, as parents, did not provide it to them. In the vicious cycle that is too a part of life, this means that neither will the next generation have them. Any lack of virtues, values, knowledge, and skills in our youth is a tragedy for our society and leads to yet another generation that will require urgent attention. In Belize, dysfunctional families are inextricably tied to most of the socio-economic problems we face today. At the root of these problems, which are quite often community based, are issues such as poverty, un-

employment, drug addiction, delinquency, violence against women, and homicides. That is why the PUP perceives the family as the bedrock of our communities for only they can fix these ills. We are deeply committed to families in our vision for a better Belize. “As the Family goes, so goes the Nation” is, for the PUP, no mere slogan. The family is so strategic to our development that all our national policies and strategies will not succeed if we do not nurture and develop strong families as the main avenue to achieve productive, prosperous and peaceful communities in Belize. The well-being of the family unit is central to the development and wellness of the community and, indeed, the nation. Whether the family is the traditional nuclear family or the increasingly more common extended family or the single parent family, the impact remains the same. And that indispensable link to families is the role of women in our society. It is not asking too much of any government to ensure that the rights of women and girls be upheld. And to ensure that we respect the fundamental rights and freedoms provided to our women and which are enshrined in our Constitution, the next PUP government not only should but is duty bound to en-

sure that Belizean women and girls have access to the National Health Insurance. Belizean women can look forward to a government that will work hard to empower them through greater economic activities. We will increase women’s access to land and housing. Yes, we have many educated women who are working just as hard as men and earning less, and this must stop. Just as, we must end the bias against women when it comes to getting access to farm loans and to owning their own home. For these reasons we will promote women in science and technology, engineering and mathematics so that Belizean women can too be a part of the creation of good, new jobs. If there was ever a point that was made clear to me tonight it is how passionately the women of our party feel about the lack of participation in leadership in our society. Finally, we must protect and keep our women safe. My administration will adopt a zero-tolerance position on violence against women. We will provide the funding necessary to provide emergency shelters and transitional homes for women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. We must and will strengthen the laws and protocols to protect women and girls against abuse and violence. And we will put the necessary counseling support in place so that we can look after the emotional needs of women and families who are affected by violence. We have to fix this and so tonight I am fully committed to doing everything possible to reaching the commitment to a minimum of 30 percent participation of women in leadership across the board. I am sure we are all convinced that women are the backbone of the family

and that families in the experience of our culture are all inextricably linked. Our actions and programs then must reflect the confluence of these social realities. We must ensure strong families for the sustainable development of our communities and for a vibrant cultural landscape. La familia sigue siendo la institución de mayor importancia en el desarrollo de nuestras comunidades y por ende nuestra nación. No importa que la estructura lleve una unidad familiar, lo más importante es el apoyo que el gobierno… por obligación le debe ofrecer… para que los integrantes puedan florecer en ciudadanos saludables y productivos aportando al progreso de su país. Al centro de todo avance social y económico está la familia como una estructura fundamental y en nuestro contexto casi siempre liderado por una mujer. Más y más vemos la unidad familiar evolucionar en una unidad matriarcal. Es por eso que como líderes estamos conscientes que empoderar a la mujer es empoderar a la familia y por ende a la comunidad. Es el compromiso del Partido Unido del Pueblo hacer valer nuestra agenda familiar y de la mujer porque con estas proposiciones todos ganamos! With these justifications in mind, we ask all of you to go to planbelize.bz and study our policy statement on the family and our Women’s Agenda. Study the documents, read and send us your ideas on how we can work together to build stronger Belizean Families for this too is a part of our work to Build a Belize that works for Everyone where Everybody fi win! God Bless and from all us in here in studio, thank you. Remember to practice physical distancing, wash your hands regularly and wear your mask in public. Stay safe and goodnight.

1. Educación gratuita desde el preescolar hasta resultados de aprendizaje claramente mejorados.. 18 JAN junior college 27 SEP 27 SEP 27 SEP El próximo gobierno del PUP formará un College equipo deThe next PUP government will form a team of creative El próximo gobierno del PUP formará un equipo de The next PUP government will form a team of creative Junior pensadores creativos audaces, apasionados, inteligentes ythinkers who are bold, passionate, smart and2. Educación pensadorespreescolar creativos audaces, apasionados, inteligentes y universal thinkers who are bold, passionate, smart and progresistas para reformar y avanzar nuestra Agenda de progresistas para reformar y avanzar nuestra Agenda de 2. Universal Pre-School progressive to reform and advance our Education Policy progressiveEducation to reform and advance our Education Policy Política Educativa. Este equipo vendrá de los sectores público Política Educativa. Este equipo vendrá deylos sectores público 3. Establecer un instituto docente de aprendizaje Agenda. This team will come from the public and private Agenda. This team will come from the public and private y privado, así como los interlocutores sociales. y privado, así como los interlocutores sociales. 3. Establish A Teacher Learning sectors as well as our social sector partners. sectors asand well as our social sector partners. 4. Maestros al 100% capacitados Con más de 100.000 estudiantes inscritos en nuestro sistema Con más de 100.000 estudiantes inscritos en nuestro sistema ordenador (laptop)tenemos de 4 al With over 100,000 students enrolled in our education educativo desde el preescolar hasta laInstitute universidad, tenemosWith over 100,000 students enrolled in our education5. Programa educativo de desde el preescolar portátil hasta la universidad, system from pre-school to university, we have a unique una oportunidad única para dar forma al futuro, cambiar elsystem from pre-school to university, we have a unique una oportunidad única para dar forma al futuro, cambiar el 4thfuturo, construir el futuro. 4. 100% Trained Teachers futuro, construir el futuro. opportunity to shape the future, change the future, build opportunity to shape the future, change the future, build the future. the future. 6. Fondo de préstamos para la educación superior de 5. 4 to 4th Laptop Computer Program ¡NO DEBEMOS PERDER ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! ¡NO DEBEMOS PERDER ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! ¡NO DEBEMOS DESPERDICIAR ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! ¡NO DEBEMOS ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! WE MUST NOT LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY! WE MUST NOT LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY! 5 millones de DESPERDICIAR dólares 6. Fair Access $5m High Education Fund WE MUST NOT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY! WE MUST NOT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY! ¡DEBEMOS HACER QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA ¡DEBEMOS HACER QUE LA la EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA 7. Fondo de subsidio para educación rural de 3 BELICE! BELICE! 7. Equal Opportunity $3m Rural Education WE MUST MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE! WE MUST MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE! ¡EL PUP HARÁ QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE! ¡EL PUP HARÁ QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE! millones de dólares para la igualdad Belmopan onde Independence Hill THE PUP WILL MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE! THE PUP WILL MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE! Grant Fund oportunidades September 21st 9th Anniversary of the Passing of the Father 8. National Healthy Start Feeding 8. Programa nacional de alimentación para un of the Nation George Cadle Price Program comienzo saludable 9. Free Textbook/e-Book Program 9. Expansión del programa de libros de texto/elibrosgratuitos a la escuela secundaria Expansion To High School 10. Expansión del programa de historia Africana y 10. Expansion of African and Mayan Maya published by the People’s United Party published by the People’s United Party History Program August 2020 August 2020 19th September at Lord’s Ridge Cemetery 11. Educación BELIZE, Central America BELIZE, Central America cívica en todos los niveles

60 16

improved learning outcomes. 1. mejorados.. Free Education fromstudent Pre-School to resultados de aprendizaje claramente

improved student learning outcomes.

THE BELIZE TIMES 2020

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES 2015

2020

39TH

SEPTEMBER 2020

INDEPENDENCE CEREMONY

Independence Week Memories

Virtual Rollout of EVERYBODY PLANBELIZE FAMILY

TODOS TODOS BLU GANAMOS! BLU GANAMOS! WREATH-LAYING AND WOMEN AGENDA FI WIN! FI WIN! on National Service Day CEREMONY EVERYBODY

11. Civics Education At AllBearers: Levels Party Leader Hon. John Briceño Standard

The goal of a PUP government in education is to efficiently allocate the necessary resources with appropriate incentive mechanisms to align and streamline the roles and objectives of all key stakeholders- students, teachers, parents, management, communities and government- with a view to not only Oscar but Mira also enhance Allan Pollard deliver quality education overall student learning using measurable results not only in increased enrolment but more importantly in clear, improved student learning outcomes.

El objetivo de un gobierno del PUP en materia de educación es asignar eficientemente los recursos necesarios con mecanismos de incentivos, adecuados para alinear y racionalizar las funciones y objetivos de todas las partes claves interesadas -estudiantes, maestros, padres, administradores, comunidades y gobierno- con miras, no sólo para impartir una educación de calidad, sino también a Kareem Musa mejorar el aprendizaje general de los estudiantes utilizando resultados mensurables no sólo en el aumento de la matriculación, sino lo que es más importante, en unos resultados de aprendizaje claramente mejorados..

The next United Women’s Group President Erica JangPUP government will form a team of creative

El próximo gobierno del PUP formará un equipo de pensadores creativos audaces, apasionados, inteligentes y progresistas para reformar y avanzar nuestra Agenda de Política Educativa. Este equipo vendrá de los sectores público y privado, así como los interlocutores sociales.

thinkers who are bold, passionate, smart and progressive to reform and advance our Education Policy Agenda. This team will come from the public and private sectors as well as our social partners. Andresector Perez with Daughters With over 100,000 students enrolled in our education Guests: system from pre-school to university, we have a unique opportunity to shape the future, change the future, build the future. WE MUST NOT LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY! WE MUST NOT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY! WE MUST MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE! THE PUP WILL MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE!

Con más de 100.000 estudiantes inscritos en nuestro sistema educativo desde el preescolar hasta la universidad, tenemos una oportunidad única para dar forma al futuro, cambiar el futuro, construir el futuro. ¡NO DEBEMOS PERDER ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! ¡NO DEBEMOS DESPERDICIAR ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! ¡DEBEMOS HACER QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE! ¡EL PUP HARÁ QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE!

TODOS BLU FI WIN! GANAMOS! EVERYBODY

EVERYBODY FI WIN!

planBelize

published by the People’s United Party August 2020

TODOS GANAMOS! BELIZE, Central America

THE BELIZE TIMES

27 SEP

2020

SIX STEPS TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE ACCOUNTABLE First, we will ensure an Independent Public Accounts Committee. One that is strengthened so that substantive ministers cannot be members of the PAC. As well, all House Committee meetings, including PAC meetings will be open to the public and streamed live. Second, the Integrity Commission must do its job effectively. To do so it should no longer be controlled by the Party in Government. Likewise, we will put in place a mechanism to ensure the financial independence of the Integrity Commission with a budget to be approved by the National Assembly. They need the tools and personnel to get the job done! Third, the recent cases of misappropriation of government funds is a clear indication that we need a strong and independent office of the Auditor General. • The next PUP Government will ensure that the Auditor General’s Office has unrestricted access to information and with full powers of investigation, including subpoena powers to ensure that requests for information and documentation are complied with expeditiously. • The Auditor General’s office will be permitted to submit their budget directly to the National Assembly for approval. • Most important, we will ensure that the Auditor General is allowed to present reports directly to the National Assembly and not only to the Prime Minister. Fourth, the PUP will not only implement UNCAC, but we will also enact Campaign Finance Legislation. • In the first 100 days, the new PUP government will direct the Office of the Attorney General to draft Campaign Finance legislation which will be subject to national consultations and review before a final bill is tabled and passed into law. Fifth we must make the National Assembly function as the centerpiece of our government, complete with all requisite checks and balances. • That means that the next PUP Government will ensure a minimum of one House Sitting per month. And sixth now that Senator Aldo Salazar has finally released the findings of the Senate Select Committee on the hustle at the Department of Immigration. • We demand follow up action including criminal investigation and prosecution as deemed necessary.

27 SEP

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

VOICE OF THE COMMON MAN

NATIONALIZATION IN BARROW’S INTEREST

”Corruption is a violation of trust by those who to whom responsibilities and power have been delegated” -- Julia Kwang. The most flagrant injustice inflicted by the United Democratic Party on Belizeans was the deceiving promise that the utility companies, especially, Belize Telecommunication Limited, was being nationalized in their interest. The unfolding Net Vasquez saga is a big piece of the political puzzle and holds the truth behind the “hostile takeover” of BTL. Cronyism, nepotism, middlemanism and parasitism have become rampant within the industry. Consequently, the public interest has been undermined and the telecommunications entity is on life support. Although, the political propaganda has associated the People’s United Party with the privatization of the telecommunications industry its history will show that it was the United Democratic Party under the leadership of then Prime Minister, Manuel Esquivel that BTL as a body corporate was privatized. When the Belize Telecommunications Authority, a project reality of the People’s United Party, was privatized by the Esquivel Government it was a profitable corporate entity. Complaint was laid by the parliamentary leader Florencio Marin regarding Esquivel 1987/88 budget speech to the nation of Belize which was tainted with the illusory brush of

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

success in respect of the state of affairs at the time. Regarding the sale of the BTA, the Honorable Florencio Marin asked: “If the Belize Telecommunications Authority is such a profitable service, why sell it?” When the telecommunications industry was nationalized in 2009 onwards, it was dubbed as a hostile takeover, the trampling on the rule of law, and upending the Constitution, and utilizing the power of Belize security forces thereafter. It was followed by avalanche of law suits and a quagmire of costly litigation, all at the expense of the Belizean taxpayers, the common man and woman and to the great fortune of friends and family litigating for the government. On August 25, 2009, Melvin Hulse, as Minister responsible for telecommunications(a Utility), issued the 2009 Acquisition Order considering that control over telecommunications should be acquired for public purpose. The rationale were stabilisation and improvement of the telecommunications industry and the provision of reliable telecommunications services to the public at affordable prices in a harmonious and non-contentious environment. However, legal submissions reflected that the reasoning proffered by the government fell on its face because the 2009 BTL was stable,

2020

was being improved, was reliable and affordable and in a harmonious environment. Furthermore, there were stable ownership and management, steady growth, significant network investments, and expanded service. Additionally, this BTL was a good corporate citizen contributing to education and sports. Clearly, the purpose of the Acquisition Act and Order was to target one man, Lord Ashcroft, as revealed by PM Barrow’s utterance “this is the people of Belize against the Ashcroft interest...” The thwarting of the rule of law was deemed unconstitutional in certain respects with Section 17 of the Constitution. Once again echoing the Latin maxim nemo turpitudinem suam allegans auditor, nobody shall derive right from his own wrongful behaviour. This caveat was issued in the ruling against the Dean Barrow Government for the illegal takeover of the Companies Registry and IMARBE. Aside from targeting Ashcroft it is evident that the hostile takeover of BTL, the fakery of a nationalization was solely for Barrow’s interest. In a paper written circa July 2009, Roberto Chang of Rutgers University and Constantino Hevia and Norman Loayza of the World Bank wrote that nationalization is more likely to occur when there is festering inequality in a country or when low human capital exists (measured by adult literacy), undiversified productive structure, and faulty public institutions. Nationalization is considered a trade-off for efficiency. Such was the case with the acquisition of telecommunications industry, the Prince of Bel-Air took

lead of the company that PM Barrow characterized as important to national development and his signature achievement. Notwithstanding the individual lacked both expertise in communication technology and managerial capability to be at the helm of a company of this magnitude. The “eyes and ears” of King Dean is responsible for some major blunders within the company. The investing in Blackberry technology resulted in a huge loss to BTL. Anwar Barrow, the Prince of Bel-Air, was given a hefty severance send-off. Now Barrow is faced with Net Vasquez, the “Lion in winter”, and the unfolding sleaze bag. Vazquez will quite possibly get a golden parachute on his parting. His actions are a clear indication that things have gone awry at BTL. The question is who else and for how long and to what extent has the gouging of the entity cost Belizeans. The need for a forensic audit to identify the culprits in the mess of the BTL is urgently necessary! These miscreants must not be allowed to strap on like barnacles leeching on the people’s interest. Mehmet Murat ildan suggested that “only the honorable people resist the injustices! The rest - the honorless - are afraid of even their shadows!” The currency of trust given by the people to the United Democratic Party continues to be violated by the honorless Barrow administration. Only a change can restore the confidence of the electorate. This change will be people-centered and people-focused. Such change is to PUP Government under the Leadership of Honorable John Briceño building a Belize that works for everyone!!

BILLION Dean Barrow Spending $1.4 NO TEETH

illegal and unconstitutional, says Chief Justice

Integrity Commission

Public Accounts Committee

Auditor General Contractor General

For the last 12 years ignored, underfunded, and immobilised by this UDP Government

EVIDENCE

and FACTS

BRICEÑO & ESPAT vs BARROW (LANDMARK CASE)

Violations of the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act Violations of the Contractor General Act

- $100 million spent in 2012/2013 was unconstitutional. SPENDING BILLS from 2008 – 2018 passed by the Barrow Government all unconstitutional - injunction to restrain the Minister of Finance and the Financial Secretary from spending monies without prior parliamentary approval.

27 SEP

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT

DEAN BARROW NAME STINK OUT YA It is a shame. A low down dirty shame. What was revealed at Friday’s meeting of the House of Representatives has brought shame on our country. It has also brought shame on Dean Barrow, personally and on his responsibility as Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance. Cordel Hyde had first exposed the blatant fact that something is seriously wrong regarding how Dean Barrow had taken away the management of Boledo and Lottery from the public service and given it to a UDP crony named Brads ten years ago. Brads, a Chinese shop owner, where Dean Barrow and a handful of his to-be Ministers hang out at the entrance to Belcan Bridge, was enriched with an inexplicable award of a TEN years multi-million dollars contract. It was always the rumor that Brad’s silent, secret partner in this sordid affair was none other than the Prime Minister’s son, Anwar Barrow. The puppet and flunky who facilitated this unbelievable rip-off of taxpayer’s monies turned out to be none other than Hulse. Dean Barrow manipulated this dude, whom he appointed chairman of a select, hand-picked group which recommended the stealing of the boledo/lottery from the government and its high jacking by Brads and the Prince. Brads and the Prince were then given a massive TEN YEARS contract without any reporting to the House of Representatives and without any input from the professionals in the government. No Auditor General, no Accountant General, no government Economist or Finance Officer. It is not even clear if there was a tender procedure that is required by law. Godwin Hulse was later appointed by Barrow to be a Minister of government. Now comes July 2020, the TEN years contract is up. There is no reporting to the House of Representatives. We should say House of Representathieves, but let’s fight the temptation. There is no reports of the accounts. No revenues, no expenditures. No taxes paid. No nothing. The TEN years contract is extended by ANOTHER TEN YEARS. TWENTY (20) YEARS of naked rip-off of a government asset given over to the son of Dean Barrow, based on the information/allegations revealed at last Wednesday’s House meeting. At that meeting the Leader of the Opposition, Johnny Briceno, and Chairman of the crippled Public Accounts Committee, Julius Espat, exposed the shameless theft that has occurred with public funds. Their allegations are that large quantities of monies were being transferred from Brads boledo company to several individual companies owned by Anwar Barrow. Instead of providing answers, as he is required by law to do, the Prime Minister who is the Finance Minister told a big lie in the House. He attempted to get a most compliant Speaker Laura Longsworth to shut up the opposition members of Parliament by saying the Boledo renewal contract had already been debated, and should not be allowed to be the subject of any more questions and statements. For the first time in all his years, Dean Barrow who has been labeled in the Editorial pages of the Amandala as a Prime Minister who cuddles corruption, looked guilty and crooked. Even Love FM who cuddles the crooked UDP, stated in their newscast that the boledo contract extension was not debated. Thus calling Barrow a liar. It was a sad day for Dean Barrow, this is how his three terms in office is ending. Not on a high note of integrity and proper stewardship. Instead wallowing in the allegations and multiple ugly, dirty mud of speculation, allegations and questions of crooked behavior and outright corruption. Pssst! Dean Barrow your name stink out ya.

dal.

There is no investigation into the Minister John Saldivar/Lev Dermen money transfer scan-

There is no investigation into the theft of taxpayer’s monies taken out of the sports stadium funds and placed into the personal account of Minister Herman Longsworth. There is no INVESTIGATION of any wrong doing by anyone in the UDP government. CRAZY LAW Doctor Manzanero in his official capacity as the Director of Health Services has been singled out by a crazy piece of law which specifically targets him. The law would make Dr. Manazero a criminal if he declines or refuses to violate his oath of privacy to patients and give the Minister of Police “the names and addresses of every person that has tested positive for covid-19”. He is also to give the Minister of Police “the name and address of every person placed in self isolation; and “the name and place of quarantine of every person placed in mandatory quarantine”. This law was passed on 22nd September, 2020 in an office in Belmopan and it takes effect immediately on the 22nd September as Statutory Instrument number 134 of 2020, which it claims was printed and published in a Gazette on the 22nd September, 2020. We hope Dr. Manzanero resigns. We hope the Medical Association roundly condemns this unlawful attack on the constitutional right to privacy. And we hope government changes in five weeks’ time when Dr. Manzanero would be reinstated and this unnecessary law is thrown away. Imagine the possibilities. police can come to your house in their military uniforms, drag out your wife or daughter out of her bed, rough her up, hand-cuff her and take her to police station late at night, “acting upon an information received”. Crazy. Will there be a statutory instrument against Brads and Anwar for all those millions in their accounts? LAPTOP BRIBERY Laptop used to mean laptop dancing in which a woman scantily dressed would dance on a man’s lap. Prelude to whoreism and prostitution… As technology progressed laptop also now means a small computer device. In Belize, one month from general elections, laptop is still whoreism and prostitution of a political kind with stealing public monies and bribery of gullible voters in the process. Is that what you into Patricia? Who is dancing on whose lap, for 7.6? Imagine the government of Belize can’t buy laptops on their own with all the highly trained public officers. A Minister has to get himself into questionable dealings with a private businessman just to place an order for laptops. No wonder the people of Belize are suspicious and have a poor view of these UDP Ministers. UDP WILL LOSE BAD The no good Ministers and their wannabe colleagues coming with their bribes will get it good. They will lose bad in the coming general election. Everywhere you turn the talk of the country is its time for them to go. R.I.P. JIHAD.

THERE IS NO INVESTIGATION There is no investigation into the missing Sales Tax millions at BTL. There is no investigation into any abuse of credit cards at BTL.

Murphy McLaren was an outspoken Belizean patriot and activist. He stood up for what he believed in. Belize needs more people like Jihad Murphy. He left this world suddenly last week our condolences to his family and many friends.

BREAKING CRIMINAL LAW

$1.4 BILLION $100 million spent in 2012/2013 was unconstitutional. This was spent in the run up to the 2012 General Elections. Today, eight years later, we still don’t know who got this money, how much they got, and whether the monies were misappropriated. $100 million dead and gone.

THE BELIZE TIMES

The Belize Cattle Industry Effect of COVID 19 and Government’s Insistence In Strangling This Significant Portion Of The Livestock Sector

By Hon. Orlando Habet, PUP Standard Bearer for Cayo Northeast September 21, 2020 The Cattle industry in Belize is a major subsector of the Livestock sector, a significant contributor to the Agriculture industry and a growing and substantial participant in personal GDP of some 4500 plus registered cattle producers and livestock employees. The Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA) estimates the cattle population at around 180,000 heads. In terms of Economic development, Livestock development plays a significant role in economic growth and poverty reduction, provides insurance and ready cash to rural poor as household capital reserve. Growth in demand for agri-food products represents a potential increase of income for livestock producers, Livestock is a major source of Regional Trade, basically with Guatemala (where this informal market accounted for export In 2017 of 16,750 animals 19,798 animals with a potential 25-30 Million dollars), in 2018, and scaled the 20,000 mark in 2019 with an estimated wholesale value of more than 30M dollars. This represents an increase of 18% and 20% in exports respectively, over 2017. Cattle export sales are for the past 4-5 years, about 3 times more than we consume. It was estimated that 2020 would bring about an even greater increase in production and sales amounting to a projected income of close to 40M dollars. According to the BLPA 2019 AGM report, there were 4,558 total registered cattle farmers with 436 new registrations for that year. These figures include an increase in participation from female farmers now amounting to 209 registered female cattle producers. But Government’s decision to stifle the livestock trade will stop this growth and negatively affect the industry. Since the advent of Covid-19 in early March and commensurate with the dry season, the government of Belize saw it fit to stop the trade in cattle. GOB didn’t used the threat of Covid-19 as the excuse. They claimed they stopped the trade because Guatemala would no longer allow the ‘informal’ trade which Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow and Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Godwin Hulse

insist on terming, “illegal” trade. Yet, two months after GOB’s termination of the trade, some farmers defied the rules because they had to find a way out for their cattle. Some producers found another route and exported for 15 consecutive days without the Guatemalan authorities ever stopping the cattle going through their country even for one day. This is absolute evidence that it is the GOB that has placed the yoke on the Belize cattle industry, it was never Guatemala. And, as I told the PM in the national assembly, if they made such call to the Guatemalan authorities then that was an official call and they could expect nothing less than an official response. However, Guatemala’s 15 million population consumes plenty of meat, a commodity in which they are domestically deficient. Thus, the reason why Guatemala will allow the ‘informal” trade to satisfy their consumer demand. No one can argue that eventually we will need to establish a formal trade arrangement so that livestock and other commodities can be traded via the official border points. We have negotiated a ‘partial scope agreement’ since 2006 which has not taken effect because our government has been sleeping at the driver’s wheel and had relegated agriculture to the bottom of the economic ladder. Covid-19 has now come to expose our weaknesses and has inspired upon inept leaders to take unconscionable decisions that affect the very livelihood of its own people. Formal Trade is a medium to long term solution. While we wait for these formal arrangements, producers need a short term/immediate solution to the current situation. The number of cow calf operations coupled with other ranches having the entire cycle of cattle production will be producing calves which will likely become a serious problem because producers have weaners, yearlings and in some cases fattening stock for market weight on the same farms that are now overstressed and overpopulated because of the lack of sales. Two major things have happened, one is overstocking. Producers feel that cattle will start dying soon with the advent of the cooler season and the slowing down of pasture production. This will be followed shortly by the next dry season, in which cattle will face low water availability and poor to low pasture availability resulting in massive losses due to death.

It is likely that stock will have to be disposed of without earning a single dollar which will amount to massive losses for producers. The second problem is the free falling of prices due to over-supply and because premium prices for cattle under 500 lbs. will no longer be available when the stock has grown, and prices are diminished for stock over 500 lbs. It was the Belize Chamber of commerce release on April 24, 2020 that stated, “Farmers discarding livestock without earning a single dollar for the Belizean economy during one of the deepest recessions this country has ever faced is impractical and imprudent. Therefore, while our principled call for the formalization of this process remains intact, we must grant greater weight to livelihoods in a time like this, with measurable controls to ensure safety of our people and that the relevant taxes are indeed paid into the Government of Belize.” The GOB has issued press releases on two sales which the private sector negotiated with both Guatemala and with Mexico. The first official sale to Guatemala in 2020 was for 27 heads of cattle. While the Ministry of Food and Agriculture boasted on this accomplishment, they did not tell the public that this type of export is not viable to the producers as after 15 months of fattening period and paying all expenses, the producers made an average $98.50 profit per animal. That amounts to about 6.50 per animal per month. They also did not tell the public that after boasting on the sales of 241 head of cattle to Mexico, some three weeks ago, that the producers have still not been paid. While some point to problems with Central bank regarding the payments, the truth is that the monies have not been received by the exporters. There is now talk that perhaps in a couple of weeks there will be another sale of another 250 animals to Mexico. This is what maybe one large producer in shipyard can sell per month. What happens then to the remaining producers over the entire country? The concerns of the industry must be considered. How will producers countrywide benefit from only one export per month? How and when will medium and small producers have an opportunity to sell their cattle? How will small and medium producers satisfy the quarantine requirements required for the export mar-

27 SEP

2020 ket, and how will their cattle be transported to the point of export? So, we see the dilemma of the cattle producers while the GOB refuses to address an immediate solution but looks only at the medium- and long-term solutions. The BCCI statement on their webpage release stated, “Consequently, the BCCI calls on your good office [of the Prime Minister] to intervene into this matter with the objective of allowing business to continue. This unnecessary loss cannot be countenanced at such economically depressed circumstances. Loss on this trade will also impact tax revenues, as our farmers do pay their domestic taxes to the Government of Belize.” Some misconceptions: Minister Hulse on his August 27 interview stated after addressing the SIB’s report on decrease in cattle production and clarifying that it was not production that was down but rather sales, that Antigua and Grenada want to buy meat from one of our processors but signal our informal trade as a potential risk for animal disease. Firstly, if their interest is in meat then the concern for meat would be Food safety while animal diseases is a concern for live animals. Tuberculosis would fit within both food safety and animal diseases. Secondly, these countries and all the countries in CARICOM put together do not purchase our cattle nor meats and will never have the population potential of our neighboring countries to purchase our livestock, meat, and meat products. Additionally, CARICOM insists on a matter of protectionism and excuse from buying our products on a 25 year old story of a delegation sent to Belize, and of which one of those delegates, a Jamaican by origin, who I know personally, reports that he witnessed cattle crossing at one of the border crossings between Belize and Guatemala. In a recent letter dated September 17, 2020, the acting managing Director of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) wrote to the General Manager of the Belize Livestock Producers Association citing that due to recent irregularities in the issuing of movement permits that the BAHA having national oversight over the Animal Identification System (AIS) will now vet all movement permits before issuance. That after the BAHA official vets and approves the movement permit, it will then endorse and seal. And, that this is to eliminate the possibility of jeopardizing the Belize AIS, a component of the Animal Traceability System. Is BAHA stepping over its bounds? Who owns the AIS? How will BAHA handle the logistics of supervision, vetting and endorsement of the movement permits? Isn’t BAHA there to facilitate things through its regulatory authority rather than policing? And more importantly, when will BAHA and the GOB realize that there will be no animal identification system nor traceability system when the Cattle Industry is destroyed. Conclusion: Other countries are making visionary steps towards the transformation of agriculture and raising farmers’ income, and they do this by the government removing fears from private investors. They remove all excessive regulatory interference. Also, by intervention from the Government to support farmers through the current crisis, they can emerge with their farming industry intact and preserve their country’s essential food security. Yet, in Belize the government has taken the aggressive and counterproductive approach of obstructing economic activity and jeopardizing an entire industry.

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

PUP Standard Bearers

to their Constituents Excerpts of FB Posts and other

Volume!! Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Belize Rural Central Once again Big Thanks to the business community being FAST Construction Co. Ltd. !! They have committed to assist Ms. Dolores and the BRC community with road upgrades !! Today the brand new grader is in Spanish Town and Aracari Street !! They have said also they will assist us not only in Ladyville and Lord’s Bank. The photo shows the spanking new grader, Chairman Bernardo and Ms. Dolores. Gracias to FAST Construction and big up the grader man!!!! Andre Perez, Belize Rural South Our “On this Day our Independence Day, I call on all our Belizean sisters and brothers: never lose hope! Long Live Belize!!!” #WeDeserveBetter #VICTORYWITHANDRE #merecemosmejor Hon. Jose Mai, Orange Walk South La Esperanza de un Futuro Mejor Happy Birthday Belize! May God bless our bountiful Natural Resources and protect our people from this Pandemic and from any other Natural Disaster!!! Happy Independence Day to All!!! Hon. Mike Espat, Toledo East Overcoming Adversity, Creating Opportunity, Belizeans: Unite for Prosperity As we come together to celebrate one more year of Independence we want to Thank God the almighty for keeping us safe! Tonight was meant to celebrate to receive the 21st with joy and celebration but this year is different nontheless we must be grateful that God has keep us safe through out the year. We know its not the best year but God is good with Belize All the time! We will get back! Happy Independence Belize! Greetings from Hon. Mike Espat September 19, Service Day is Mike Espats Birthday: (Message from team) As you mark your years of existence on Earth today, I join others in wishing you a very happy birthday. May you have many more years and sound health to stay with us and continue to lead! You are the best leader anyone could ask for. I am very proud of you and your achievements. You have been a role model and an example of selfless giving to this generation, and we are proud to hold you as someone worthy of emulation. Hon. Oscar Requena, Toledo West Some people talk the talk but we walk the walk on the grounds with our people. Indian Creek is ready. Warm welcome and lots of support from the people. The message is clear Oscar Requena will deliver. The PUP will deliver. Don’t be left behind we welcome you. ## Plan Belize## Oscar Requena for Toledo West. Election Day, we will vote Oscar…##Plan Belize## Hon. Francis Fonseca, Freetown Today is National Service Day. It marks the anniversary of the passing of the Rt. Hon. George Price who died on September 19, 2011. Each year since 2012 our PUP FREETOWN COMMITTEE has engaged in community service on this day to honour the great legacy of service to our nation left behind by our Father of the Nation and National Hero. For us in Freetown we are particularly proud of the fact that among his many great achievements, George Price was also the longest serving Freetown Area Representative. We love you Mr Price and we will never forget the many important lessons you taught us about humility, service, kindness and compassion. We do our best each day to honour you by the work we do. The work continues...... Louis Zabaneh, Dangriga LEADERSHIP FOR THE PEOPLE.

Just a while ago I distributed the water tanks that was generously given to us by Dr. ZAB. to be shared out to those who need in the village./// Worth the While to Know!! The citrus industry crumbled under the UDP and they just let it go down from almost 8 million boxes during the PUP peak days in 2005/2006 to like 2 million boxes now. I remember the good old days at the Citrus Company. Make no mistake at the Polls whenever they call elections. Time to send this UDP crowd on a break. Have no fear my people. Belizeans are we together or should I add some more

Oscar Mira, Belmopan This election day, vote to restore honour and integrity to Belmopan. Major Oscar Mira (Ret’d) is an accomplished, exemplary soldier with over twenty years of experience in various national security roles within the Government of Belize, representing the country both at home and abroad. After a lifetime of honourable service, he is uniquely qualified to lead and serve the people of Belmopan. Oscar Mira is the man for Belmopan. #OscarMiraforBelmopan #aBetterBelmopan #ProsperityandSecurityforAll David J. Castillo, Corozal North Bajo un nuevo Gobierno PUP, el candidato DAVID CASTILLO se compremete a crear mas oportunidades de empleo para su gente de Corozal Norte y Corozal!gobierno. Ya es tiempo para un cambio! Ya es tiempo para sacar el UDP! Ya es tiempo de votar para el PUP! #daveforcorozalnorth #planbelize #changeiscomming Hon. Florencio Marin Jr., Corozal Southeast Para que demorar más lo inevitable.... Primer Ministro llame las elecciones generales 2020 ahora. La gente está listo para el cambio. Hacia la Victoria... Todo Corozal está listo... No más falsas promesas Lo mejor está por venir o imagínese las posibilidades. Lo que prometieron nunca cumplieron - Porque voy a votar por ti,,, si te olvidaste de mi.PUP ALL THE WAY #nacimosparaganar #trueblue #Nacidoparaganar #pupalltheway David ‘Dido’ Vega, Corozal Bay Pictured with Mayor Vellos, David Castillo and Florencio Marin, Jr. Independence Day for Corozal’s Bay Standard Bearer: “In listening to the Prime Minister’s 21st of September speech, he talked about rolling out the pantry program ‘2.0’. The reality in Corozal is that some of the most needy have not received the Covid-19 relief fund nor the pantry program 1.0. “ Better must be done for our people! Have Hope! Change is coming! ¡El trabajo continúa! #Dido #ThePeoplesCandidate Hon. Rodwell Ferguson, Stann Creek West People what I am seeing now is desperate people want to get elected after 13 years of mis-management and outright pillage of our resources. They want to hold on to power at any cost. They went to the House and pass a last minute budget and in one month they will spend 27 million of our money that all of us will have to repay. They think they own this country and we are the stooges and can’t do better. This remind of the days of Hitler when his generals pluck off all the wings of a chicken and throw some corn at his feet and the chicken still rush to eat it. This is how they classify Belizeans but we are bigger than that. This take me back to 2008 when we were the government and we took a resounding defeat. The Belizeans are not to be taken lightly. All of a sudden there is the bonanza. It’s your tax dollars. It just cannot be business as usual. I will not be able to meet all that is request of me if I could I would because I know what the populace are going through. Take what they give you and vote them out for a better Belize. Hon. Kareem Musa, Caribbean Shores Happy National Service Day, Belize! #TeamYouth #TimetoRise #BeLikePrice Ed. Note: Please be mindful that these are excerpts. For other pictures, comment, releases, and posts of our PUP leaders visit, LIKE and FOLLOW their FB profiles and pages. Also be a fan of the Whip Show at 7:15 on Vibes FBLive, Cable, and Radio.

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

PUP Councils on the Move

Corozal Town Council: “MOVING COROZAL TOWN FORWARD!!” Signage Despite difficult and challenging times, your Corozal Town Council has been diligently working to replace and erect new signs for the safety of our citizens. We urge citizens to take care of these public signs, as they are placed for the benefit and safety of all. Moving forward to restoring our beautiful town one project at a time. LET THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE PREVAIL!!! The #WaterParkforCorozalTown petition is garnering hundreds of signatures from Belizeans at home and abroad who want to see JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT for Corozal Town. We are sharing some of their comments below!! The Water Park initiative is fully eco-friendly and has a number of BENEFITS for our community including: 1. 20 JOBs at the first instance 2. Boosting Economic Activity in Corozal Town 3. Increasing Tourism visits and revenue for Corozal Town businesses including hotels, restaurant and small vendors 4. Improving the Rainbow beach

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the date indicated: MGC INVESTMENTS CORP. – 2nd September, 2020 GCC Corporate Consultants Group Limited Registered Agent

area, including renovating the bathroom with adequate sewage management amenities 5. Increased property value for immediate neighbourhood 6. Enhancing Environmental Protection for Corozal Bay SIGN THE PETITION HERE....SUPPORT JOBS & DEVELOPMENT FOR COROZAL TOWN https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/water-park-for-corozal-town. html?fbclid=IwAR1TLpmDjAc51l5BIuNApd_k0FRVa56CVW1erYTaMeZA6cyBqu6U4tOiZ14

Orange Walk Town Council: “The Work Continues.”

Dwayne Avila Cummings Basketball court Yesterday Deputy Mayor Ian Cal, Councilor Haresh and Ms. Pascascio joined the Cummings family in the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated basketball court now named Dwayne Avila Cummings Basketball court. This was done in his memory since this was the

2020

place this young man use to spend his days with many other sports lovers. The Park at the San Lorenzo Housing Site benefits all the children in that community even those who come to visit. We thank the Sports Council, Running Rebels and all those who contributed in making this project come to reality.

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the date indicated: GUIDE BEST LTD. – 9th September, 2020 GenPro Consulting (Belize) Limited Registered Agent

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the below company has been dissolved and struck off the International Business Companies Register with effect from the date indicated: GAFELTANO HOLDINGS LIMITED – 11th September, 2020

Icaza Belize Trust Corporation Limited Registered Agent

Belize City Council, Always ‘Bout the People Flag Monument round-a-bout on Rehabilitation While the Belize City Council continues to face socio-economic challenges, we, nevertheless, recognize the importance of continuing to rejuvenate our city. The Council has been working near the Flag Monument round-a-

bout on Freetown Road to rehabilitate, strengthen and repaint the guard rails, sidewalks and medians on Freetown Rd, Princess Margaret Drive and along the Northern Highway. Apart from beautifying the area, this project will also increase visibility and optimize traffic safety for drivers and pedestrians.//

NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT OF DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given to all interested parties that the company UNIMAK HOLDINGS LIMITED. (“the Company”) incorporated under the IBC Act of Belize commenced dissolution on the 09th day of September, 2020;

and Artemis Enterprises Ltd. of Withfield Tower Third Floor 4792, Coney Drive, P.O. Box 1777, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator of the Company, and any claims against the company should be forwarded to the Liquidator within 30 days from commencement.

Icaza Belize Trust Corporation Limited Registered Agent

27 SEP

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT

NOTICE TO ELECTORS 2020

R.P.R.R. 46

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE REGISTRATION RULES (CHAPTER 9) Registration Office Corozal Bay Electoral Division First Street North Corozal Town NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the COROZAL BAY ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

COROZAL SOUTH EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

Signed: Fatima Gordon REGISTERING OFFICER Corozal South East Electoral Division Registration Office Corozal South West Electoral Division First Street North Corozal Town

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Fatima Gordon REGISTERING OFFICER Corozal Bay Electoral Division Registration Office Corozal North Electoral Division First Street North Corozal Town NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the COROZAL NORTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Fatima Gordon REGISTERING OFFICER Corozal North Electoral Division Registration Office Corozal South East Electoral Division First Street North Corozal Town NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020

NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the COROZAL SOUTH WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Fatima Gordon REGISTERING OFFICER Corozal South West Electoral Division

Registration Office Orange Walk South Electoral Division 1A Santa Ana St Orange Walk Town NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the ORANGE WALK SOUTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020. Continued on page 27

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT

NOTICE TO ELECTORS 2020

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

Continued from page 26

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Paula Dawson REGISTERING OFFICER Orange Walk South Electoral Division Registration Office ange Walk East Electoral Division 1A Santa Ana St Orange Walk Town

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the ORANGE WALK CENTRAL ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

Signed: Eneida Vargas REGISTERING OFFICER Orange Walk Central Electoral Division

NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the ORANGE WALK EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Paula Dawson REGISTERING OFFICER Orange Walk East Electoral Division Registration Office Orange Walk North Electoral Division 83 Otro Benque Road Orange Walk Town

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020

Registration Office Belize Rural North Electoral Division Airport Plaza Ladyville Village NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the BELIZE RURAL NORTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Jerrylyn Bruce REGISTERING OFFICER Belize Rural North Electoral Division

NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the ORANGE WALK NORTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

Registration Office Belize Rural Central Electoral Division Airport Plaza Ladyville Village NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the BELIZE RURAL CENTRAL ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Eneida Vargas REGISTERING OFFICER Orange Walk North Electoral Division

Registration Office Orange Walk Central Electoral Division 83 Otro Benque RoadOrange Walk Town

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Continued on page 28

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT

NOTICE TO ELECTORS 2020

Continued from page 27

NOTICE TO ELECTORS Signed: Jerrylyn Bruce REGISTERING OFFICER Belize Rural Central Electoral Division Registration Office Belize Rural South Electoral Division 21 Pescador Dr. San Pedro Town NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the BELIZE RURAL SOUTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020. DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Briony Neal AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Belize Rural South Electoral Division Registration Office Freetown Electoral Division 7134 Lumber Yard Crescent Belize City NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the FREETOWN ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020. DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Dennis Leslie AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Freetown Electoral Division Registration Office Caribbean Shores Electoral Division 7134 Lumber Yard Crescent Belize City

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CARIBBEAN SHORES ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020. DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Dennis Leslie AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Caribbean Shores Electoral Division Registration Office Pickstock Electoral Division 7134 Lumber Yard Crescent Belize City NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the PICKSTOCK ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Dennis Leslie AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Pickstock Electoral Division Registration Office Fort George Electoral Division 7134 Lumber Yard Crescent Belize City NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the FORT GEORGE ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020. DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Continued on page 30

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2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT

NOTICE TO ELECTORS 2020

Continued from page 29

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

Signed: Dennis Leslie AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Fort George Electoral Division

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the PORT LOYOLA ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before Registration Office the 1st day of November, 2020. Albert Electoral Division 130 Euphrates Ave. DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Belize City Signed: Gisele Almendarez NOTICE TO ELECTORS AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Port Loyola Electoral Division ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the AL BERT ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person Registration Office entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are noCollet Electoral Division tified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth 70 Cemetery Road Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of NovemBelize City ber, 2020. NOTICE TO ELECTORS DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the Signed: Gisele Almendarez COLLET ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have obAG. REGISTERING OFFICER jection to the retention in that register of the name of any othAlbert Electoral Division er person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the Registration Office 1st day of November, 2020. Queen’s Square Electoral Division 130 Euphrates Ave. DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Belize City Signed: Rosalba Vasquez NOTICE TO ELECTORS REGISTERING OFFICER Collet Electoral Division ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the QUEEN’S SQUARE ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, Registration Office 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A Mesopotamia Electoral Division of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day 70 Cemetery Road of November, 2020. Belize City

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 NOTICE TO ELECTORS Signed: Gisele Almendarez ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the AG. REGISTERING OFFICER MESOPOTAMIA ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may Queen’s Square Electoral Division have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Registration Office Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before Port Loyola Electoral Division the 1st day of November, 2020. 130 Euphrates Ave. Belize City DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Continued on page 30

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT

NOTICE TO ELECTORS 2020

Continued from page 29

Signed: Rosalba Vasquez REGISTERING OFFICER Mesopotamia Electoral Division Registration Office Lake Independence Electoral Division 70 Cemetery Road Belize City NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the LAKE INDEPENDENCE ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020. DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Rosalba Vasquez REGISTERING OFFICER Lake Independence Electoral Division

notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Sheridan Polonio REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo North East Electoral Division

Registration Office Cayo Central Electoral Division 123 George Price Highway Santa Elena Town NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO CENTRAL ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

Registration Office Cayo North Electoral Division 28 West St. San Ignacio Town

Signed: Sherelee Cabral REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo Central Electoral Division Registration Office Cayo West Electoral Division Cor. Liberty & Kennedy St. Benque Viejo Del Carmen Town

NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO NORTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020 . DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Sheridan Polonio REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo North Electoral Division

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020

NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September 2020

Signed: Georgia Bell Registration Office AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo North East Electoral Division Cayo West Electoral Division 28 West St. San Ignacio Town Registration Office NOTICE TO ELECTORS Belmopan Electoral Division Constitution Dr. ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO Belmopan City NORTH EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are Continued on page 31

27 SEP

THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT

NOTICE TO ELECTORS 2020

Continued from page 30

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the BELMOPAN ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the STANN CREEK WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Breeyan Lewis AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Belmopan Electoral Division Registration Office Cayo South Electoral Division Constitution Dr. Belmopan City NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the CAYO SOUTH ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020. DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Breeyan Lewis AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo South Electoral Division Registration Office Dangriga Electoral Division 19 Yemeri Road Dangriga Town

Signed: Brendalyn Staine REGISTERING OFFICER Stann Creek West Electoral Division Registration Office Toledo East Electoral Division 41A Prince Street Punta Gorda Town NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the TOLEDO EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Mildred Guzman REGISTERING OFFICER Toledo East Electoral Division Registration Office Toledo West Electoral Division 41A Prince Street Punta Gorda Town

NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the DANGRIGA ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020

NOTICE TO ELECTORS ALL PERSONS who are registered as electors in the TOLEDO WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION, and who may have objection to the retention in that register of the name of any other person entered therein prior to the 30th day of September, 2020, are notified that they must state their objection in Form 14A of the Fifth Schedule to the registering officer before the 1st day of November, 2020.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Brendalyn Staine REGISTERING OFFICER Dangriga Electoral Division Registration Office Stann Creek West Electoral Division 19 Yemeri Road Dangriga Town

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2020 Signed: Mildred Guzman REGISTERING OFFICER Toledo West Electoral Division

THE BELIZE TIMES

27 SEP

2020