ROGRESSIVE P
The
The Newsletter that will change Belize
8867 Today! - 8867 Tomorrow! - 8867 Forever!
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
January 2017
Free
Say No to the ICJ by Patrick Rogers
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is not Belize's only option to the Belize territorial dispute with Guatemala. This dispute is not suited for judicial settlement! G u a t e m a l a ' s UNFOUNDED CLAIM is based on “SUCCESSION”. “Succession” states that all newly independent Colonies shall claim all the territories their Colonial Masters had before their Independence. Our claim is that of SELFD E T E R M I N AT I O N a p o s t colonial norm recognized by the 1859 Anglo Guatemalan treaty and the United Nations. The Compromis now is a bogus attempt between Guatemala and Belize on th December 8 , 2008 to settle a dispute between neighbours that are at PEACE. We are not at peace. Guatemala has not only v i o l a t e d o u r s o v e r e i g n t y, threatened our citizens and fisherfolk, belittled our Belize Defence Force, painted us as “child killers” internationally, closed off the Sarstoon from SATIIM, and other organizations monitoring illegal fishing and deforestation, declared the Sarstoon a “Guatemalan”
MILITARY ZONE and laid claim to more Belizean territorial waters to the South by issuing "sleight of hand" Guatemalan fishing regulations, meanwhile armed gunboats and soldiers are enforcing these dastardly acts. Had the BDF not been ordered to stand down in the face of Guatemalan provocations these encounters would have long escalated into military conflict which some elements of the BDF have shown they are prepared to confront, despite overwhelming odds. Under the Compromis the Belize Government has signed and ratified, Belizeans are being forced to abandon their long held belief that Guatemala's claim is UNFOUNDED and to erase from their minds any notion of “indisputable” WESTERN AND SOUTHERN BORDER LIMITS with Guatemala. The Compromis
which wasn’t approved by the people of Belize, only by its government, calls on the ICJ to determine any and all legal claims of Guatemala against Belize to LAND AND INSULAR T E R R I TO R I E S … … . . a n d t o determine the BOUNDARIES B E T W E E N T H E I R RESPECTIVE TERRITORIES AND AREAS. And the Referendum echoes the same song “Do you agree that any legal claim of Guatemala against Belize relating to LAND AND INSULAR T E R R I TO R I E S a n d t o a n y MARITIME AREAS pertaining to these territories should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for FINAL SETTLEMENT and that it d e t e r m i n e F I N A L LY t h e BOUNDARIES OF THE RESPECTIVE TERRITORIES AND AREAS of the Parties?” The Referendum effectively removes the need for the ICJ to determine the LEGALITY of the Guatemalan claim and acknowledges that GUATEMALA DOES HAVE A LEGAL CLAIM TO OUR COUNTRY. In effect, the ICJ is being tasked TO DRAW NEW BORDERS for us. (To be continued in next issue How Do We Get Out of the Compromis)
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The “Significant”13th Senator by Hipolito Bautista
The addition of the NonGovernment Organization (NGO) Senator to the National Assembly cannot be trivialized. Hon. Osmany Salas is the representative of the estimated 143 Belize NGOs and doubles as the powerful President of the B e l i z e To u r i s m I n d u s t r y Association, BTIA, the industry which has surpassed sugar as the nation's number one income earner and generator of foreign exchange. Note that the BTIA DOES NOT SUPPORT OFFSHORE DRILLING. In its January 13th issue, the weekly SAN PEDRO SUN quoted Senator Salas as saying that “his new position will add balance to the National A s s e m b l y, g i v e n t h a t h e represents both the tourism and business sectors of the country.” And, he also plans “to address issues that adversely impact the tourism industry as well as the livelihoods of all Belizeans who
Courtesy the San Pedro Sun
directly and indirectly benefit from tourism.” The Hon. Osmany Salas is himself articulate knowledgeable and most importantly has BACKATIVE. While he insists that his role is not “to frustrate Government”, he said he will be working closely with the other Senators, “in particular, the ones that come from civil society”. Referring to the Belize NGO community, he stated, “I am very proud of my colleagues and I commit to serve ….to ensure that ….we are part of improving good governance … and to improve the
lives of our people in this country.” He described the aims and objectives of the NGO Community as “contributing to sustainable human development in Belize.” Hon. Salas said his first order of business will be to organize the non-government organizations so that he can truly say that “We represent the entire NGO Community.” The Senator took opportunity to thank the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU), the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Belize Business Bureau (BBB) and others (including the WE THE P E O P L E R E F O R M MOVEMENT, one forerunner of the Belize Progressive Party) for prevailing upon the Government th of Belize to appoint a 13 Senator. Senator Salas is getting his terms of reference from the wider NGO community and will carry out his functions with the help of an ADVISORY COUNCIL.
Chairman’s Message
Paco Smith
Belizeans and true friends of Belize, As we commence 2017, let us recommit to become increasingly attuned to our socio-economic, geographic and political environment. A sober look at Belize's political milieu clearly reveals that a “Fifth Column” element exists within the government. Amid the intentional dysfunction which facilitates an environment ripe for corruption, undoubtedly, enemies of the state occupy some of the most highly regarded, elected posts in B e l m o p a n . Admittedly, 2017 has logged some changes which include: the signing of the UNCAC, the selection of the 13th Senator and the activation of the long-awaited, so-called “Integrity” Commission. Yet the reality is that the said changes were done begrudgingly by the Prime Minister, due primarily to the considerable pressure brought to bear by the BNTU, whom we salute. The announcement from the “Integrity” Commission that the body will not carry-out the expressed function of the Commission to hold elected individuals who have not complied with the Prevention of Corruption Act (POCA) accountable, circa 2008, is a bareface display of the powers that be, to continue its efforts to circumvent the law. This cheapens the effort and makes a
mockery of our nation’s governance. It's imperative we remain vigilant to ensure that substantive changes are achieved. I therefore challenge those who comprise the “Integrity” Commission not to give a pass to politicians who willfully break the law. Of the utmost significance, is the recent determination by our elected officials, due to demands by the Guatemalans, to lower the threshold of Belize’s Referendum Act. Simply put, that is inexcusable and is tantamount to treason! During this year, we shall call for the commencement and completion of the long overdue re-registration process, as well as a redistricting exercise. We demand the Integrity Commission conduct the business it was convened to do, under the law. Finally, Belizeans both at home and abroad, you are called on, to save our patrimony by voting a resounding “NO to the ICJ”. God bless one and all, as we build from strength to strength in 2017.
Leadership Our communities need leadership Real problems governments alone can’t fix We have to exercise our own politics Organizing activities for our community’s benefit Our parks and playgrounds need fi fix Certain things no require no rocket scientist In truth it only needs a strategist That can easily emerge from our midst What is the cost of a septic? I’m tired ah see mi neighbor throw out shit bucket The stench is starting to send me in panic The community youth can organize
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it I’m trying to be realistic A couple spades and a pick A plumber to teach us the trick Some PVC pipes, glue and bricks Some cement, shovel and hands to mix We can design and correct it Then build a soaker way for water to exit There are so many diseases and we can prevent it Our pro activity can prevent an epidemic The neighborhood we can canvas it Then make a needs list Then the business community we can solicit For some toilets and some bricks The toilets can be indoors or outdoors, take your pick The effort will be to the community’s benefit There is also many courts and football pitches That could use a face lift These things no need no rocket scientist In the 60s Emerson Guild and friends built the Burger football field pitch Their strategy was epic It’s in his words you need to hear it By: Abdulmajeed K Nunez
The Progressive
(Established 2016) Publisher: Belize Progressive Party
Editor: Hipolito Bautista Asst. Editor: Abdul Nunez Layout: Diafra Nunez Lithographer: Matias Ara Please address correspondence to: # 63 Vernon Street Belize City, Belize Tel: (501) 202-2448 (501) 615-4476
E-mail address belizeprogressiveparty@gmail. com
Website: www.belizeprogressiveparty.com
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Women’s Corner
by Abdulmajeed Nunez
Stretch Yuh Dalla! Traditionally, January to Valentine’s Day is considered ‘Maga Season’ in Belize so I thought of Granma Gwen who had twelve children and yet she could feed hers and the neighbors’ children whenever they came home and played with them. Her husband Oldman Henry only mi di mek one hundred dollars weekly back then. In this ‘maga season’ I decided to chat with Granny Gwen. She told me some of the traditions she used back then. Her first advice was to be thrifty, recognizing that brand names are just brand names mi friend. Some nicely used second-hands are good as new. Wait for the dollar sales. Don’t worry about keeping up with the trends. Live within your means; it is easier to say when you have monies coming in. Learn to prioritize because some things can wait. If you can’t take care of a three hundred dollar car bill as long as the car is still moving then you wait. There are usually no monies after Christmas and some people have loans. In order to make miracles with your pay check there are sacrifices that you will have to make. One way is to be creative with your leftovers; don’t throw them out and reprocess them. Find a way to store them. If you have stuffed potatoes you can turn those into potato soup. If you didn’t finish your rice and beans
turn that into soup. Never throw anything away. Eat your leftovers for lunch the next day. Be creative with what you have and don’t buy prepackaged if you can make it yourself. It will take more time, but if will cost half as much. She would make one new thing with the soup which would be bread bowls or dumplings, and it was a lot cheaper than buying them. All you are paying for is flour, water and a little yeast and sugar. Instead of going to expensive delis just dress up left over soup. She intimated none of her kids wore new clothes, adding that she hadn’t bought new clothes for a very long time.
One of her daughters is into name brands, looks for name brands at the pound store and finds them at times with the tags still on them, but she knows she doesn’t have to have them. Some other things to do is to find trusted people to car pool with especially since gas went up five percent over the weekend. Another good tradition is pooling resources to buy things such as syndicates, buying in bulk and sharing. Sam’s Club and Costco do well because they buy in bulk and they share. Another one of her advice is to do things the cheapest way possible. When starting your home garden use
Once a year she buys new shoes and underclothes; everything else she buys at the pound or used-clothes store. Another thing she does is, to wait for the dollar sales, like Pikaboo. Just before Easter she bought used clothing for one dollar apiece, and some of them still had US price tags on them, for as much 35 dollars. Some people think they need to have Air Jordan’s, but she said she doesn’t spend that type of money except on special occasions. Additionally, she said she taught her children to live without name brand. It’s an upbringing they have learnt.
house-hold containers i.e Clorox bottles and start seedlings in toilet paper rolls. This will help to supplement your income. Lastly, when it comes to utilities, you have to be efficient. Turn the fan and lights off if you’re not using them.
Liberating Women’s Group Meetings Every Saturday at the Belize Progressive Party Headquarters Starting at 1:00pm
Peace means “Piece” for Guatemala
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By Hipolito Bautiista Even the highly respected Belize diplomat, Dr. Assad Shoman, was unaware that Guatemala had amended its fishing regulations TEN YEARS AGO to include zones that extend some 100 square miles into southern Belizean waters. Dr. Shoman was Belize's chief negotiator in bilateral talks with Guatemala as “senior ambassador with ministerial rank.” This is the same Belize diplomat who has been vigorously pushing Belizeans to vote “yes” for the International Court of Justice, the ICJ, to adjudicate the outcome of the Belize Guatemala territorial dispute. He is among the “professionals” Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington describes as having the Guatemalan negotiations in hand and to whom Belizeans should put their faith in resolving the Guatemalan dispute presumably
to our advantage. “The 1859 Treaty (which declares the Sarstoon River, Belize's southern territorial boundary) is international law which cannot be altered by the ICJ. We cannot lose”, Mr Shoman loudly proclaimed as he sat beside Foreign Minister, Sedi Elrington at a gathering of students at the University of Belize in Belmopan convened to promote an UNALTERABLE “ICJ” decision on Belize's territorial boundaries, including sea. Not even the “professional” representative of the Peoples' United Party on the PUDP delegation to the Guatemalan talks knew of the constitutional Guatemalan move to annex 100 square miles of Belize's sea territory, even though Belize, through the Maritime Areas Act had already surrendered approximately 9 miles of sea. Guatemala now “effectively controls” those 9 miles with Belize's official sanction. Belizean authorities are reluctant to repeal the Act, although Dr. Shoman,
“the professional” strongly advised it. Add to that the recent “strongarming” of the Sarstoon, and we can see that we are being girded into accepting as “the new normal”, Guatemala's encroachments, notwithstanding Government’s promise of a favorable ICJ outcome for Belize. What action can we expect an indecisive GOB to take when Guatemalan fisher folk backed by military gunboats begin to fish punitively inside southern Belizean waters already demarcated constitutionally as theirs? While a hope-filled GOB trundles on, the BPP continues to caution: “a promise is a comfort for a fool”.
For the Good Governance of Belize * HUMILITY *HONOR *HONESTY
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PUDP
Joaquin MagaĂąa Sr.
Coloring Corner
Find the Toucan
http://masivy.com/images/coloring-pages-for-kids-toprint-out/coloring-pages-for-kids-to-print-out-8.gif
Our Educational System Revisited
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By Charles Leslie Jr. (Continued from previous issue)
In Belize, only 50% of students who took the Mathematics CSEC exam in 2011 passed with a satisfactory grade (grade level 3 or higher). 5. In Finland, all children, clever or not, are taught in the same classrooms. 6. Finland spends around 30%
less per student than the United States. In Belize, we spend approximately US$335.50 per preschool student. In Belize, we spend approximately US$802 per primary level student In Belize, we spend approximately US$1,453.50 per secondary level student. In Belize, we spend approximately US$2,093.50 per University of Belize student. In Belize, we spend approximately US $1,601.50 per junior college student. In Belize, we spend annually almost US $3,390.80 per Technical and Vocational Training (ITVETs) student. 7. In Finland 30% of children
receive extra help during their first nine years of school. 8. In Finland 66% of students
go to college. In Belize, tertiary level enrollment is only 18%.
A Teacher and his Students of Chaa Creek, Cayo In Belize, the overall tertiary graduation rate is a poor 15.4%.
and take 2 hours a week for “professional development.�
9. In Finland, the difference b e t w e e n t h e weakest and strongest student is the smallest in the World.
15. Finland has the same amount of teachers as New York City, but has far fewer students. - 600,000 students compared to 1.1 million in New York City.
10. In Finland, Science classes are limited to 16 students so that they may perform practical experiments in every class. 11. 93% of Finns graduate from
16. The school system is 100% state- funded. In Belize, schools, more often than not, have to beg for support, since the State does school funding only partially.
high school. In Belize, approximately 60% of secondary-school students complete high school.
17. All teachers in Finland must have a masters degree, which is fully subsidized by the State.
12. 43% percent of Finnish high-school students go to vocational schools.
In Belize, many teachers have to get political, family or debt support to further their education.
13. Elementary school students get 75 minutes of recess a day in Finland.
18. The national curriculum in
14. Teachers only spend 4 hours a day in the classroom,
Finland only provides broad guidelines. (To be continued in next issue)
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BPP Protests the Amendment of the Referendum Act
Another BPP Policy Explained Governance
Secretary) system.
Proportional Representation: The BPP supports Proportional Representation for General Elections, and encourages and supports qualified candidates, in particular women to contest elections.
Strengthen Trade Unions: The BPP will facilitate the strengthening of trade unions as partners in the democratic process, to combat political victimization, patronage and social injustice.
The BPP will amend the Constitution to give Belize an e l e c t e d m i x e d - m e m b e r, proportional representation Senate with half the members elected at mid-term.
Empowering Belizean Diaspora: The BPP will facilitate born Belizeans who reside abroad in the exercise of their birthright, to vote in general elections, subject to referendum.
Repeal “Crossing-The-Floor”: The BPP will repeal the undemocratic crossing-the-floor law. All elected members of the House of Representatives should be allowed to cast a vote in the best interest of the country first and, all elected officials should be able to do so without reprisal. Limiting Size of Cabinet: The BPP will amend the Constitution to limit the size of Cabinet to a maximum of 10 ministers and place a consecutive 2 term limit on the office of the Prime Minister. Choosing Cabinet From the Public: The BPP will amend the Constitution to allow the Prime Minister to choose his Cabinet from the public at large. Return of Permanent Secretaries: The BPP will restore the integrity of the Public Service by removingthe politically appointed C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer) positions and restoring the merit based P.S. (Permanent
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currently operate with impunity. In this regard, this shall ideally come under the jurisdiction of the intended Department of State, headed by the Governor General. CORRUPTION/CRIME/RULE OF LAW: We have a zero-tolerance for corruption. Where it exists, it shall be addressed forthwith and in an unbiased fashion. Enforce the law, across the board, and in instances where inequity exists concerning the penalty for an offence, correct it; Hence our mantra is to ensure that the Rule of Law prevails. Promote an environment to create a community and law enforcement based setting to reduce and discourage criminal activities.
Help us to create the change you want to see! Regulate Political Parties: The BPP will enact appropriate legislations to register and regulate political parties and campaign financing. Controlling Campaign Financing: The BPP’s position on political campaign financing is clear. In fact, we are the only political party that advocates for the need to develop strict legislation which governs this ever-so-important aspect of the political landscape. In fact, we are of the position that the corruption which plagues our nation, finds its genesis in the fact that political parties
to the BPP Development Fund Account #100272401 Atlantic Bank Belize City, Belize Central America
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Social Democracy Explained No Government can be perceived as being RESPONSIBLE TO THE ELECTORATE. In effect, No Government can be perceived as being RESPONSIBLE TO THE ELECTORATE if any of the first four cornerstone Principles are not present – all four must be present for the fifth Principle to be truly claimed. The fifth Principle stands in the middle to support.
Patrick Rogers (Continued from previous issue)
If Parties of Belize commit to RECALL and REFERENDUM reforms in our Constitutional Laws, they will begin to put the reigns of Government more in the hands of the people, not just the privileged few as is currently the case under this System. With the first four Principles established as cornerstones, Parties will be perceived as being RESPONSIBLE TO THE ELECTORATE. In effect,
ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT a people chooses (Capitalism, Communism, or Socialism). As long as they are perceived as being RESPONSIBLE TO THE E L E C T O R AT E . T h e y c a n enshrine Communist Principles and remain Democratic [as in Cuba with (Elected) President Fidel Castro]; or they can enshrine Capitalist Principles and remain Democratic [as in the USA and UK, the benefactors of the Capitalist Systems]; or they can enshrine Socialist Principles and remain Democratic as in Venezuela.
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In all those countries mentioned (Cuba, USA, UK, and Venezuela), the perception is that those Governments are RESPONSIBLE TO THE ELECTORATE. They can enshrine Socialist Principles and remain Democratic [as in Venezuela. The five (5) Principles are the foundation for a truly Democratic system; however, there exist other Principles, depending on the FORM OF GOVERNMENT chosen, that may be subscribed to, based on philosophy, theology, ideology, etc. Belize, are we still going to continue using our colonial masters Constitution as the Supreme Law of our Territory? Are we going to continue without even trying to Modify (Amend) it to make it truly Democratic? Freedom For All With Equal Rights And Justice.
Become an Advisor The Belize Progressive Party can only create policies and lobby for those policy changes if we get continuous feedback from the Belizean people at home and abroad. We do not pretend to know how to fix every single thing that is ailing Belize, thus we call on the technocrats for assistance. BTV donating to Barranco Village Council
Youth
Joshua Martinez Joshua Martinez is sixteen years old. He is originally from the Lake I community, Lacroix Avenue area to be specific. He has two younger siblings and he is determined to set a good example for them. Joshua attended Wesley Upper School Canaan High School and the Gateway Youth Center. His biggest supporters are his mother and stepfather. He is currently pursuing the carpentry program at the ITVET. His role model is his stepfather who is a carpenter. His stepfather has mentored him and encouraged him to get into the program he is now pursuing. Joshua hopes to have his own business in the very near future as he loves and enjoys construction projects and learning new skills. He is a big fan of the Belize football team.
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The Executive 2016-2017
Patrick Rogers (Political Leader)
Jennifer Arzu Williams (Dep. Chairperson)
Paco Smith (Chairperson)
Hipolito Bautista (Secretary General)
Pearlene Jones (Dep. Secretary General)
Charles Leslie Jr. (P.R. Director)
Elizabeth Dena (Treasurer)
Dennis Smith (Dep. Treasurer)
Melva Gabourel (Dep. P.R. Director)
Wil Maheia (Dep. Party Leader)