National Perspective October 16, 2011

Sunday, September 4th , 2011

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SWASO Charged with Murder - Read on pge 3

Who Will It Be ? ...PUP Search for Leader!

Edition 164 Vol.4 week 7

The true voice of the silent majority

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

(L) Mark Espat, PUP Interim Perty Leader (C) Arthur Saldivar, The Challenger (R) Said Musa Past PUP Party Leader, the Observer Thursday, October 13, 2011

BELIZE CITY – Three-time Albert constituency area representative Mark Espat is close to achieving what many believe to have been his ambition of the last 15 years when he was chosen Interim Leader of Belize’s oldest political party, the Peoples United Party at a meeting of its National Executive Committee last Friday.

Espat, formerly one of the party’s three senior deputy leaders, had often been accused of undermining both the leadership of previous immediate past party leader, Right Honourable Said Musa, as well as that of John Briceno, who suddenly announced his resignation from the top spot for health reasons.

That he is today, not only the interim leader, but the odds-on favourite to

become the next leader of the PUP, is remarkable considering that his relationship and role with and within the PUP has been marked more by controversy than political consanguinity.

Briceno had been under intense pressure ever since narrowly edging out Francis Fonseca (by 20 votes) in a contest for the leadership in April 2008. He had appeared to have consolidated his position when he was endorsed at a National Party Convention in October last year, but still his leadership abilities were under constant scrutiny and being brought into question. Despite the questions and the public dissension in the PUP, it was still a surprise to many when Briceno abruptly stepped down.

Rumors started to circulate late Thursday that he had informed his intimates of his decision and by Friday

morning those rumors were rife that he had done the same at his “Happy Tails” Leader of the Opposition of-

fice. Our reports are that Briceno had been experiencing facial and arm

Continues on page 8

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Barrow will ramrod the ‘9th Amendment’

...Resists referendum Petition!

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Page 2 The political landscape in Belize has changed dramatically over the last week, and the situation is still fluid within the old capital, Belize City, which has been buzzing with rumors and speculation. The resignation of John Briceno as Leader of the People’s United Party sent shock waves up and down the rank and file of the grand ole party. Some shocked for joy and some in despair.

John Briceno first took leadership in March 2008, when he defeated Francis Fonseca in a Special National Convention in Belmopan. The period leading up to the National Convention Mark Espat had also declared his candidacy for the leadership position but withdrew. John Briceno had also withdrawn his candidacy at the same time as Espat but changed his mind and re-announced his leadership bid one week before the convention. While the Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde were ominously absent from the convention floor that day in March, they sent their delegates with the instructions to support John Briceno.

John Briceno became the third Leader of the oldest political party in Belize and had a debt due to Mark and Cordel for their support. At that time Mark Espat was being prepared for an expulsion from the PUP for being disloyal, but immediately and still on the convention floor John Briceno first act as Leader was to pardon Mark Espat.

During John Briceno’s first term of being Leader of the PUP many claimed frustrated Mark Espat with inactivity of the party to the point that he Mark began a process of discrediting and undermining of the PUP leadership by doing various things.

Mark and Cordel began to operate as one. They would boycott par-

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

VACANCY- PUP LEADER! On October 1, 2011 at a National Party Council meeting of the PUP, a desperate John Briceno made a speech that was broadcast live to the public on Vibes Radio in which he cast aspersions on the PUP Government of 1998-2008 by claiming many people made millions under the PUP, which left many with the assumption that he was speaking of cronyism.This immediately became a political hot topic and amidst all the financial troubles that faced John Briceno and the PUP. Briceno decided it was too much of a burden for him to carry and resigned. liamentary meetings, issue press releases contrary to the PUP party positions, absent themselves from important conventions and party meetings, etc.

In October 2010, the National Convention of the PUP was held in Dangriga October 15th, and again Mark quietly tested the waters for a leadership challenge but kept out at the last moment.

John Briceno won the leadership of the PUP unchallenged. Days leading up to the 2010 National Convention, Mark and Cordel, through Bill Lindo, were negotiating for endorsed executive positions. They were unsuccessful. However, earlier this year

John Briceno was able to arrive at a compromise in which Mark and Cordel became Senior Deputy Party Leaders. This decision

by John Briceno upset the brain thrust of the PUP as they felt that Mark and Cordel did not earn the right to be given such a post without working. Many believed that they were the cause of many of the ills that the party was experiencing because of the disloyal and undermining behavior they displayed over the three-plus years the PUP is in opposition.

On October 1, 2011 at a National Party Council meeting of the PUP, a desperate John Briceno made a speech that was broadcast

live to the public on Vibes Radio in which he cast aspersions on the PUP Government of 1998-2008 by claiming many people made millions under the PUP, which left many with the assumption that he was speaking of cronyism.

This immediately became a political hot topic and amidst all the financial troubles that faced John Briceno and the PUP. Briceno decided it was too much of a burden for him to carry and resigned. IT must be mentioned that in his press release, he sighted health reasons for the decision.

Of course, it is hard to convince anyone that Briceno did not make a deal with Mark Espat, who has been unanimously accepted as the Interim Leader of the PUP.

The theory of a deal being made is made alive because the pro Briceno executives such as Narda Garcia, Anthony Mahler was ominously silent on the selection of Mark Espat to lead the PUP.

The days ahead will be interesting for Mark Espat because many of the issues that he could have avoided in the past he cannot do so now. He will need to state clearly his position on the Ninth Amendment, the economy, crime, etc. He will also need to convince the stalwarts of the PUP that he is a changed Mark Espat. That this new Mark Espat can be trusted by his words and deeds.

However, democracy is strong in Belize because coming on the heels of Espat anointment the standard-bearer for Belize Rural North, Arthur Saldiver, who has decided that he will mount a challenge and has made his bid to be the next PUP Leader.

We wish the People’s United Party well because a strong opposition is necessary for a strong democracy. OPEN YOUR EYES THE PEOPLE ARE AWAKE!!!

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 3

Barrow decrees that all cell phones in the land be registered or else AUDREY MATURA’S TAKE ON GMO CORN DESTROYED

Dear Editor,

SMART PR, Ian Courtney Wednesday, October 12, 2011 BELIZE CITY - Never mind that the government has failed to put a dent in the spate of violent crimes that has besieged Belize, they are going full speed ahead with another plan purportedly to fight crime, that is to register all cellular phones in Belize. This follows the infamous eavesdropping law that was passed last year.

The decree has met with some resistance but for the most part people are complying and so are the major telecommunications companies, SMART and the government controlled Belize Telemedia Limited.

And in typical fashion, blame the former administration - according to the Government of Belize, the law is nine years old and is just now being instituted. It begs the question why didn’t the former administration carry through with the law? Why does the Barrow administration see it fit to follow through with a plan from an administration that he Barrow has scurrilously criticized?

As there is no method to the Prime Minister’s madness and no spine in the backs of those who run the companies, registration of all cell phones commenced this week.

Both SMART and Telemedia say that people have been cooperative.

To register your phone all you need to do is present yourself to your provider with your phone (so that the electronic serial number of your phone can be recorded) and valid identification. Your identification will be photocopied says SMART’s PR Manager Ian Courtney. The process takes no more than five minutes, Courtney said.

“It takes nothing more than 5 minutes. My understanding is the regulation is being given a grace period of 6 months so that will take it to March 15th, 2012 will be the deadline and according to the Minister responsible we will be instructed to any numbers that have not been registered are to be turned off,” Courtney said.

There are prevailing concerns over the decree that none of the companies have been able to answer convincingly to customers. According to Ian Courtney, SMART has sought the advice of their attorneys on the matter and have gotten reassurance that cell phone registration is not a “necessar-

BTL PR, Anjali Vasquez ily strange or devious” since post paid phones are registered any, Courtney said. He reassured that customers’ personal data such as text messages will not be stored.

Looking at it from a liability to the company standpoint, Courtney said that if they are required to store data then they (SMART) will assess the cost to them where the legislation is concerned.

According to BTL, they will offer some level of security to customers in the event that their phone is lost or stolen. Anjali Vasquez, PR Manager at BTL said that “the benefit of registering your number is that it then belongs to you, if you lose your phone for instance or it’s stolen and you report it right away we can then hold that number for you and any credit that you might have had at the time of it being stolen and your reporting it, we can hold on to that credit for you.”

Customers however, will not get a lost or stolen phone replaced.

Neither company has answered questions regarding visitors to Belize who may temporarily use their service and have contracts with companies abroad which prohibit them from registering with any other company. SMART phones do not use SIM cards while BTL phones do.

Many people say that they are only complying to ensure they have use of their phones but view it as an invasion of their privacy.

Much as the ploy is being glossed over, it is just another in a series of the Dean Barrow regime’s drive to establish full control over the people.

Like lambs being led to the slaughter many obeyed the Prime Minister’s decree and registered their prepaid cell phones. According to SMART and BTL, there are 250 thousand prepaid phones in Belize.

An unregistered cell phone in the US is a customer’s privilege to enjoy service without the burden of having to receive a bill or signing a contract and to use his/her phone with a sense of anonymity.

Such phones are not registered.

One can walk into any store in the US and purchase a full kit, complete with SIM card and walk out with a phone that they can use. It is activated right there without the customer having to supply any information about identity. The decree by Barrow is bogus and one cannot help but feel that there are ulterior motives attached to it.

such lethal technology. I now call on the government to do their own internal investigation and clean up house to deal with the irresponsible players who brought us to the brink of a disaster. These matters require more than a slap on the wrist. While this is being done let us work to put in place the proper protocols that MUST b e followed for request of this nature and lets not divert form it… because our food security is beyond politics and must be guarded and treated with great sanctity.

While it has been reported that the corn was destroyed, sadly I was not in the presence of independent observers and the many trained people form whom I have learnt so much on facebook. Reports are however that some of these corn had already been planted by unsuspecting framer in Toledo. If this is so now the Government has the monumental task of tracking these down and equally destroying them. All of us need to remain vigilant. But at least there is now a start towards dealing with this tsunami.

Information is power and sharing such information is sharing the power – again respect to those who alerted us!

I am elated when there is good news and I think that the same way I can find time to write about the ills I could also find time to write about the good work of our people.

Let me first say thanks to all those people who were posting about GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) and educated so many of us about this vitally important issues that could have easily slipped under the radar. Thanks to all of them whom I have never met except on face book for all the research work posted, explanations given and web links provided so I can read and learn more about this issue. I was being helped to understand this critical issue that could have destroyed our already struggle agriculture sector. I was being prepared by them to write about this issue - and will still do so later – but I am so happy that a major disaster of tsunami or apocalyptic proportion was averted.

By the same token I want to thank our Government for listening to the experts and heeding their advice and advocacy. The Prime Minister needs to be commended for being firm on his resolve on this matter. For once I feel that Cabinet made the right decision in Audrey Matura-Shepherd not approving the introduction of Concerned Belizean

Nicholas Swaso charged for Murder

Nicholas Swaso

By Rhenae Nunez Tuesday, October 11, 2011 BELIZE CITY - Police have arrested and charged Nicholas Swaso, 24 for the murder of Mennonite businessman Wendellin Reimer, 35 which occurred on Friday, October 7th.

According to police investigation,three men reportedly pretending to be customers walked into Reimer’s business, Eagle One Hardware at mile four and a half on the Northern Highway last Friday afternoon. When one of the men pulled out a hand gun , Reimer purportedly dashed for safety but did not get too far when a bullet found its way

into his head. Reimer fell to his death at the scene. The men then fled on foot toward the Haulover Bridge. Police do not know whether they had a waiting getaway vehicle nearby.

Information to the National Perspective is that three were seen lurking in the area along the Northern Highway prior to the incident however no one has come forward and positively identified Swaso as one of the three men spotted.

Swaso was taken to court on Tuesday where he was charged for murder and then remanded to prison until November 11, 2011.

Swaso is not a stranger to law enforcement.He is a resident of Independence Village in Stann Creek District.

In March of 2006, Swaso, then twenty years old, was arrested and charged for shooting Chinese businessman Xue Ming Luoin the face during a robbery in Dangriga Town. We are unable to confirm whether the victim survived the incident. In that incident, Swaso was arrested after he was identified by an eyewitness.

Three persons have been detained shortly after Friday’s fatal shooting of Wendellin Reimer. Police are reviewing surveillance footage from the premises as part of their ongoing investigation.

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 4

By Nick Miroff, Updated: Tuesday, October 11, 4:30 AM BELIZE CITY, Belize — The sleepy port towns, mangrove swamps and jungle airstrips of poorly defended, tiny Belize are becoming prime gateways for drug trafficking as Mexico’s billionaire mafias carve out new smuggling routes through Central America.

Using light aircraft and ultra-fast boats, traffickers are moving more and more South American cocaine through Belize into Mexico, U.S. narcotics agents and Belizean officials say.

By landing their lucrative cargo in Belize, the traffickers avoid detection by beefed-up Mexican army and navy patrols, marking the latest advance by the Mexican cartels into Central America’s impoverished, weak states, through which as much as 90 percent of the cocaine that reaches the United States now passes, according to U.S. assessments.

Belize’s growing role as a smuggling corridor prompted the Obama administration to add it to the annual “black list” of countries considered major drug producers or transit routes for narcotics. The 22-state list, announced last month, now includes every nation in Cen-

Mexican drug cartels reach into tiny Belize

Belize: Drug-smuggling route to Mexico Illegal flights from Colombia and Venezuela are landing along farm roads and airstrips in northern Belize, where drug shipments can be easily ferried across the Rio Hondo and into Mexico.

traffickers alike. Its security forces are tiny and ill-equipped.

Since 2008, the Belizean government has received about $15 million in U.S. security assistance, including boats and other vehicles, communications gear and training programs, part of the nearly $2 billion in counter-narcotics aid that the United States has provided or pledged to Mexico and Central America.

But Belize remains a pushover for the powerful drug barons. The country does not have a radar system that can track unauthorized flights. Its military lacks helicopters, let alone other basic hardware.

Belizean police don’t even have the ability to intercept cellphone communications.

“They’re lucky if they’ve got gas to put in their cars to go out and do stuff,” said one senior U.S. law enforcement official working in the region, speaking on the condition of anonymity per security protocols.

Escalating gang violence Belize has been spared the kind of broader mayhem raging across Mexico, Honduras and in next-door Guatemala, where Mexican cartels have laid siege to large swaths of territory and carried out terrifying attacks.

Published & Edited by: OMAR SILVA Assistant Editor: Saida Xiomara Silva Registered Address: # 3 Piccini Site, Third Floor tral America, a sign that more and more territory is coming under the influence of the cartels.

U.S. officials estimate that about 10 metric tons of cocaine are smuggled along Belize’s Caribbean coast each year en route to American consumers, the world’s most voracious illicit drug users. Additional loads arrive on flights from Colombia and Venezuela, landing on Belize’s farm roads and highways, where the shipments can be quickly unpacked, broken down into smaller bundles and ferried across the Rio

Hondo into southern Mexico.

“We’re part of the funnel,” Police Minister Douglas Singh said in an interview here. “Mexico is above us, and Guatemala and Belize are part of the funnel you have to go through to get to Mexico. That’s making a lot of legitimate and illegitimate businessmen here prosper.

But it makes us very vulnerable.”

With just 320,000 people, this country the size of Massachusetts has a long coastline and a rugged geography that appeals to hammock-swinging tourists and drug

3 Mls Northern Hwy ( In front of SOL ), Belize City BELIZE, Central America Web Site: www.nationalperspectivebz.org

Email Addresss: nationalperspectiveeditor@gmail.com email: osilva_56@yahoo.com

Phone: 501- 635-3506

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 5

Rhett Fuller continues his Mexico and Belize celebrate 20 years of education and fight for freedom technical cooperation

Defence Attorney, Eamon Courtney: “We are now coming to the point where it’s either do or die”

By Rhenae Nunez Friday, October 7, 2011

of another, perhaps final round in court after his appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred BELIZE CITY - Forty year old Sedi Elrington was denied. businessman Rhett Fuller contin- The court revisit stops a two ues to cross his fingers while in- month ticking time clock. carcerated at the Hattieville CenContinues on page 15 tral Prison pending the outcome

Belmopan, Belize, 7 October 2011- Mexico and Belize celebrated 20 years of successful education and technical cooperation in an official ceremony held today in Belize City and attended by high government officials from both countries.

In the event, from the National School of Professional Technical Education of Mexico (CONALEP) its General Director, Wilfrido Perea-Curiel, and the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Education and Youth, David Leacock participated. Ambassador of Mexico to Belize, H.E. Mario Velazquez also attended the event.

During the ceremony, Mr. Perea and Mr. Leacock underlined the relevance of 20 years of successful education and technical cooperation that has contributed to the development of Belize and Mexico.

The cooperation has also benefited those Belizeans and Mexicans who have participated in different programs and whose lives where radically changed after completion of their studies.

Mexican Ambassador Mario Velazquez informed about what CONALEP means in Mexico and its importance to the bilateral relation with Belize. Ambassador Velazquez congratulated CONALEP and

the Ministry of Education and Youth for their achievements. He stressed the relevance of the CONALEP scholarship program that promotes the development of technical capacities of Belizean students and mentioned that 114 Belizeans are now working in a better situation, with the knowledge and expertise learnt in Mexico, while dozens of Mexicans who attended the Regional Language Centre (RLC) of the University of Belize, have improved their ability in English as a second language.

During the event held at the ITVET Belize City Complex, a commemorative plaque was unveiled.

The Mexican Delegation also held a technical meeting with the Ministry of Education Senior Management team and key stakeholders from the Employment Training and Educational Services (ETES), the Institute of Technical & Vocational Education and Training (ITVET), the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET), the Tertiary, Post-Secondary & Adult and Continuing Education Services (TPACES) and the Regional Language Centre of the UB.

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Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 6

Now that the inevitable has happened, with the resignation of former Leader John Briceno on Friday, perhaps the opposition People’s United Party can move on to doing the job of opposition. It is the Rubicon crossed with now a mountain to conquer.

The Municipal elections are around the corner and it is unclear whether the PUP has decided on their slates as yet. There are mixed signals whether anti-violence advocate Yolanda Galvez-Schackron is the PUP candidate.

There is a vibe that this could change now that there is a new leader at the helm. It is expected that there will be some culling within the PUP as there was when Briceno assumed leadership. Some, it is understood, have taken the initiative and walked away, hoping to be invited back.

Mark Espat - in spite of the hurdles he has to navigate, is for the most part seen as the galvanizer. The announcement of his ascension to leadership even as interim was perceived as the final installation. The atmosphere amongst the body politic of the PUP is one of hope that now they can unseat the UDP from office. But, there are things internal that Mark has to work out because there are those who will not forgive him for deeds past.

That perhaps may be Sisyphean because the interim leader and the one who has all but gotten the anointing of many party faithful may have to do a little skip and dance on key and current issues. The contentious ninth amendment is accredited as Mark’s brainchild. In fact since releasing a public statement supporting the capture of BTL, Espat and Cordel Hyde have stayed out of public view and kept quiet. It is now for Mark and the party that he now leads to decide where they stand on amendment nine and whether his mercurial behavior will continue to derail the PUP’s efforts at public unity on this issue.

PM Barrow has wasted no time in capitalizing on Mark Espat’s precarious position. Will the PUP look the other way from this one just so the party can win? Their position opposing the ninth amendment, however it has been tailored, has been registered during the so called public consultations.

It is not worth lamenting over time lost and opportunities missed under the dysfunctional leadership of John Briceno. Going forward, it is left to be seen what if any effect the conspicuous absence of former leader Said Musa and Chairman Henry Charles Usher from the party executive meeting will have on internal party relations.

Prior to John Briceno wresting a second term in office as party leader, Musa had made some gestures to Mark Espat in support of him for leader since it was evident by Francis Fonseca that he wished not to seek the office of leadership. Espat was a part of a team that went to see Briceno at his Happy Tails office to dissuade him from going ahead with the national convention. Briceno was adamant that he would go ahead even in the face of widespread calls from party faithful for him to step down and allow for a leadership contest. It

Neva mind the noise in the market…check u change! is all water under the bridge. Suffice it to say that Briceno had a successful convention in Dangriga last year when thousands turned out in support – it is also evident knowing the persnickety behavior of the Belizean electorate that none of the issues mentioned will matter to the electorate who I figure just want relief from the failed Dean Barrow administration.

Barrow has failed to deliver on transparency and good government, jobs, lowering of poverty and cost of liv-

served as the final push off the plank, even though Briceno averred that his departure was without animosity or duress rather, it was for health reasons. Well your guess is as good as anyone else’s.

A closer look at the positions held on the contentious nationalization/ expropriation of BTL issue begs certain questions. Were the positions a representation of the people’s will or were they formed based on certain interests? Briceno’s family which manages SMART telecommunica-

On the PUP side however, only the Said Musa faction can say whether they will work with Mark Espat and whether the truce brokered with Mark prior to the last national convention still holds. How much is riding on some level of cordiality between the Musa faction and Mark Espat/Cordel Hyde and Kremandala, is yet to be seen. It is sort of an awkward situation that the PUP finds itself in – it is more in Espat’s interest to broker some sort of cordiality with the Musa faction. As reviled as Said Musa may be, his political clout remains at an all-time high and calls for his return to the office of leadership of the PUP are unabated – it is the one thing that serves some trepidation by his opponents. ing and improvement of infrastructure. This little spat in the PUP is just about over now because this time it appears that the focus is on the unification of the party. While Barrow may be making much of what has transpired recently, the PUP is focused on what needs to be done to get him out of office and the first major step toward that has been done, that was the resignation of former leader John Briceno.

On the PUP side however, only the Said Musa faction can say whether they will work with Mark Espat and whether the truce brokered with Mark prior to the last national convention still holds. How much is riding on some level of cordiality between the Musa faction and Mark Espat/Cordel Hyde and Kremandala, is yet to be seen. It is sort of an awkward situation that the PUP finds itself in – it is more in Espat’s interest to broker some sort of cordiality with the Musa faction. As reviled as Said Musa may be, his political clout remains at an all-time high and calls for his return to the office of leadership of the PUP are unabated – it is the one thing that serves some trepidation by his opponents.

Musa is no political dunce – his stinging remarks to John Briceno

tions company sold about $8 million worth of shares to Lord Ashcroft’s interest. Mark Espat’s father-in-law’s organization, Kremandala was ordered to pay back a loan which his company got from Lord Ashcroft’s Belize Bank. The order came after Kremandala was sued thirteen years after having acquired the loan. From that, relations between anything Ashcroft and Kremandala soured.

An examination of Mark and Cordel’s position on BTL and the subse-

quent nationalization/expropriation debacle points to a more private agenda than it being a PUP agenda.

Same can be said of Briceno’s reticence on the issue or his half-hearted opposition to the Ninth Amendment.

Briceno seemed caught between his political convictions and that of his family’s interest.

Briceno pledges to continue to work in his constituency in Orange Walk.

Although he and Espat appeared cordial to each other last week, there is no love lost between the two as well.

Espat and Cordel Hyde have maintained a formidable alliance which has snubbed John Briceno and the PUP on numerous occasions by their absence from key events ranging from political campaigns to House meetings.

For sure the UDP will milk this one for all it’s got and PM Barrow wasted no time musing in the media over the recent event. In the scheme of what has always been the PUP, it is no big deal. If I am in the least bit intrigued it is over the length of time it took to unseat John Briceno. Friday’s event paradoxically has served as some level of reassurance to the leery supporters that the party will never take the pragmatic and prudent measures to reform and regain government.

Unlike the UDP, the PUP is not afraid of change – this one may have taken some time in occurring but it would have occurred at some point. Be things as they may be for now with the grand ole party it does not take away from the fact that crime is still rampant and high in Belize, cost of living is still high, and poverty is still high. Rather than pontificating on goings on in the PUP, the Prime Minister ought to ventilate his ideas on how his administration plans on urgently addressing these issues – that is what the people voted for.

For all intents and purpose Kremandala has captured the PUP – it is left to be seen how this all works out. It has been a game of high stakes. It is left to be seen if Mark Espat can deliver for the poor and disenfranchised who continue to suffer under the neglect of the UDP government. My only hope is that the men can set aside their agendas and concentrate on a return to the core values espoused by late Leader Emeritus, Rt. Honorable George Cadle Price – Heaven knows the people of Belize are starved for good government.

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Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 7

Barrow will ramrod the BDF High Power ARSENAL Missing COAST GUARD VESSEL STOLEN !!

‘9th Amendment’

...Resists referendum Petition! GOB Offers $30 Grand Reward!

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 “All of us have to respect the church and especially the Catholic Church but the Constitution our country is supreme.

And whenever anything that is done is in conflict with the constitution, then citizens have a right to go to court and to have this declared to be so. In my view that is what is happening here.” - Dean Barrow, March 31st, 2004.

BELIZE CITY – The non-governmental organization Friends of Belize today said that since September 12, it had gathered twenty one thousand signatures which had been presented to the Governor General. This is the first step in triggering the referendum process under ACT no 1 of 2008, the revised referendum law passed by the UDP. Friends of Belize had joined a significant proportion of the electorate which has called on the Government of Belize to hold a referendum on the controversial proposed Ninth Amendment.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow had at the announcement of the drive to gather the signatures said that it would not be cause for his administration to pause in its efforts to have the amendment passed at the earliest possible time, which would be October 21, 2011. He was quoted by Channel 7 News tonight as saying that “no way” a referendum will even be held because, “a referendum is to inform the legislative process and it is futile after the legislative is completed.”

Under the Referendum Act, the Governor General must now formally pass the petition signatures over to the Chief Elections Officer for the verification of the legitimacy of the signatures by that office within two months. The Governor General then has 30 days to set a date for the referendum.

Friends of Belize has contracted the accounting firm of Horwath Belize to audit the process. Their representative

Lisa Zayden said: “We have reviewed the integrity of the processes used by Friends of Belize to obtain the signatures submitted to the Governor General, and we are evaluating the effectiveness of those processes in design and execution, in order to attest to the validity of signatures included in the statistically generated sample.”

Lisa Shoman, the attorney representative for the Friends of Belize made it clear their perspective on the petition and the need for a referendum: “I think it’s a very good demonstration,” she said, “of what the people of Belize want. It’s a very concrete show.

As you know the law is very specific (and) there are technical requirements.

Your electors have to be identifiable not only by name, by registration number, by constituency, by date of birth and their signature and all of that has to be presented to the Governor General who then turns it over to the Chief Elections Officer who will check it and verify it.”

But the Prime Minister has already determined that, to quote Channel 7 News, “there is no requirement for a referendum before that amendment can be passed. According to the station, when asked Barrow retorted: “Why would we allow the Friends of Belize to impose a fetter upon the legislature?”

He was not asked the significance of the simple fact that 21,000 signatures represented the opinions of far more persons than the total of all who offered an opinion, in support or in opposition to the proposed amendment, at seven consultations conducted by the House Foreign Affairs and Constitution Committee. According to his party’s own paper, The/El Guardian in its last weekend’s edition: “So far, 643 Belizeans have come forward in support of the Belize Constitution (Ninth Amendment) Bill and 260 have come forward to oppose it.”

But every poll carried out independent of the government, particularly by media houses Channel 5 and AMANDALA, have showed that Belizeans are opposed to the Ninth Amendment in whole or to parts of it by an average of 7-3.

Clearly with the electorate and the Barrow administration at diametrically opposed views on the popularity of the amendment, a referendum should be a “given”.

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Belize security forces admitted to two black eyes this week when they were forced to admit that not only had a Coast Guard vessel, supposedly under guard at its mooring at their headquarters had been stolen, but a cache of heavy, high power weapons had also been “spirited” out of the Belize Defence Force armory at Price Barracks where it too was supposedly not only under lock and key, but under constant guard.

The Belize National Coast Guard appeared initially to deny reports that a 39ft confiscated Colombian boat equip with 2 200hp Yamaha engines used for quick response by the unit had been stolen from its mooring at their dock last Sunday night, but today Acting Coast Guard Commander Elton Bennett interrupted his leave to confirm that indeed, daring vessel thieves had done just that.

According to Commander Bennett two of the thieves swam to the boat around 11:30 last Sunday night, cast off its moorings and towed it out to sea. An alert guard fired 12 M-16 rounds in the dark at the thieves but they were able to tie up to a waiting boat and speed off.

Our reports are that the Coast Guard, the Police and the Port Authority put an armada of boats out to sea, with aerial reconnaissance from a chartered plane and a helicopter, and on Tuesday morning the stolen boat was located hidden in an inner lagoon on Southern Long Caye, 30 miles southeast of Belize City.

According to broadcast news its engines were intact and nothing had been stolen. Bennett told the media that two persons are detained but that they are still seeking “the mastermind behind the theft.”

If that brazen robbery was not bad

enough, today the Belize Defence Force confessed that 42 weapons had been stolen from its armory, and not only did they not have any leads, it was likely they were unaware for days of the theft.

Lieutenant Colonel Javier Castellanos, Deputy Commander of the BDF told a press conference that 22 unserviceable M-16 carbines, 2 unserviceable M4 carbines, and 11 working 9mm Beretta pistols and 7 working M4 carbines were deemed missing after their weekly inspection of their weapons depot.

Two of the armory’s rooms had been broken into, the hasps for the padlocks sawed off presumably by the thieves who had cut a hole in the perimeter fence and avoided the attention of the 24 hour guards who patrol the sector.

Although Castellanos claimed that “this weapon bulk store is used mostly to store unserviceable weapons, and in this case, weapons which are not issued to the regular units, which are about to be issued” Ministry of Defence CEO Allan Whylie admitted that the pistols were brand new.

The police investigating office, Inspector Hilberto Romero of the Crimminal Investigations Branch admitted that at this point in time they had no lead, and Whylie said that presumably as a result, the Government of Belize was offering a $30,000 reward for the return of the weapons, no questions asked.

Whylie also reported that they plan to upgrade the security and protection eauipemtn and procedures utilized and deployed at the site, but citizens could hardly be blamed for thinking that that is so much barn door closing after the horses had fled. How could the security apparatus have been so laxed?

American Sexual Predator Charged with Unnatural Crime

Wednesday: 12th October, 2011

Corozal Town: An American national identified as 35 year old Bryan Sears of Sarteneja Village was arraigned in the Corozal Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he was read charges related to three counts of Unnatural Crime.

Sears, a former school Councillor is accused of repeatedly sodomizing three brothers ages 13, 14, and 16 during the course of several months in that village. It is also understood that Sears had been pretending to be a benefactor by paying school tuition for all three while having one of the brothers was living in the house of this sexual predator.

The report was first made to the police

after the three brothers confided in the Village Community Nurse in front of a Justice of the Peace.

Thereafter a medical doctor examined and certified that all three teen had been sexually known. The mother was then alerted who the accompanied the three boys to the Corozal Police where a formal complaint was made.

Police say the mother of the three boys, a Guatemalan national is a single parent who seem unaware of what was happening regarding Sears and her three sons.

Sears was taken into custody last Saturday where he was formally charged.

In Court he was denied bail and remanded into custody until his next court date slated for October 17th 2011.

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 8

$75,000 stolen from Wesley – accountant suspected!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

BELIZE CITY – It is one of the largest cases of embezzlement ever reported. Belize Police say that Mrs. Brenda Armstrong, the long time Principal of Wesley College in Belize City, has reported that sometime between Friday, July 10th, 2011 and Thursday, September 1st, 2011, someone withdrew from the Wesley College Atlantic Bank account (#100169620) the sum of $65,226.00 without her authorization.

Armstrong further reported that a substantial amount was also withdrawn from the Wesley College First Caribbean account (#1450273) without her authori-

zation and suspects the Finance Officer of Wesley College, Aretha Zuniga Reyes to be responsible.

Police say that they are looking for Aretha Reyes of an Antelope Street Extension address in connection with this report but did not indicate at press time today if she was missing.

No details have been provided as to how Reyes allegedly effected the embezzlements and there is no explanation as to why the theft was only now being reported, nearly six weeks after school had reopened for the new school year.

It is to be assumed that the money was that which had been collected for registration and other fees during the summer break.

Burglar nets $11,700 in Belize City jewelry heist

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

BELIZE CITY – Police say two women living at the same address were victimized to the tune of $11,700 in jewelry by a craft “burglar”.

Vanessa Gomez, an accountant of Belize City, reported that between October 3rd, 2011 and October 11th, 2011 someone stole a green and red jewelry box containing a thick Palomar Picasso gold chain, valued at $3,000.00, a thick Palomar Picasso gold bracelet valued at $1,000.00, a thin Tennis gold bracelet with cubic Zirconias valued at $500.00, a diamond ring with a mini stone valued at $1,500.00, a gold chain with a brown topaz pendant valued at $500.00, a thin gold chain with a child figure pendant val-

ued at $800.00, a thick gold link chain with a cross medal valued at $200.00, which she had left in the care of her father James Keith, Sr., who resides at #7 Corner 14th St and D St, King’s Park Area, Belize City.

Similarly Yazmin Figueroa, a resident of the same address, reported that she too was deprived of her jewelry when someone snuck in last Tuesday night and stole 2 gold chains valued at $1,700.00, a tri color gold chain, valued at $200.00, a gold bracelet with diamond chips, valued at $300.00, a gold chain with Elephant design, valued at $1,000.00, a gold bracelet with Mickey Mouse on it, valued at $300.00, and a wedding band set (a diamond ring with another ring attached), valued $700.00.

2 politicians, entertainer among 5 Jamaicans wanted

by US Government

Thursday, October 1s, 2011

KINGSTON, JAMAICA – Extradition requests from the United States Government for five Jamaicans, among them three prominent faces, are expected to be delivered to local authorities today, according to a report published in yesterday Jamaica Gleaner newspaper.

The newspaper reports that “a highly placed US Government official has told the Observer” that “ … two of the wanted men are politicians, one is a veteran entertainer, while the others both conduct regular business at Kingston’s Port Bustamante.”

According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the extradition requestsa re related to the ongoing criminal matter involving reputed drug lord Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who is awaiting sentencing in a United States court, following his admission of guilt in relation to racketeering in the US and conspiracy to commit

assault in aid of racketeering.

Coke faces a maximum 23 years in prison when he returns to the United States Southern District Court of New York for sentencing on December 8.

He has since written to the presiding district judge, Robert P Patterson, begging for leniency.

US authorities regard Coke, 42, as the head of the US-based ‘Shower Posse’, which earned a reputation for brutally killing opponents during the bloody cocaine wars of the 1980s in the US. Coke waived his right to an extradition hearing and was sent to the US in June last year, following a month-long, islandwide search for him that began after a deadly battle between the security forces and gunmen loyal to him in his former West Kingston stronghold of Tivoli Gardens in May. A total of 76 people, including two policemen and a soldier, were killed in the three days of violence that rocked the country.

Who Will It Be? ...PUP search for Leader!

numbness, trouble hearing and signs of vertigo. It has reportedly been diagnosed as neurological and possibly may have been caused by stress.

Neither immediate past party leader Said Musa nor Chairman Henry Usher attended Friday’s meeting but Francis Fonseca, currently a senior deputy leader was present. Reports are that the vote to appoint Mark interim party leader was unanimous.

The meeting did not discuss the matters that had been on the agenda.

The PUP National Executive Committee met today ostensibly to discuss the agenda that was abandoned when Briceno made his bombshell announcement last Friday. At today’s meeting it was also expected that Espat would accept the rumoured resignations of co-campaign chairmen Eamon Courtenay and Jaime Briceno.

It was also uncertain at this time whether or not other Briceno loyalists Communications Director Nardia Garica and Treasurer Julius Espat would also resign. (Julius Espat was heard swearing loyalty to Mark on the Party’s radio morning show on Tuesday.)

This did not happen.

The meeting was also supposed to confirm the date for nominations for several vacant positions, including that of Party Leader, and set a date for a convention. Under the party’s constitution an election or convention can be called anytime after a minimum of thirty days have passed.

Today’s meeting, however, was reportedly brief. The National Executive Committee agreed that next Wednesday, October 19th, would be the deadline for nominations to the post of Party Leader. It further agreed that if there was only one nomination, that individual would be endorsed by the Central Party Council on November 5th.

If there were more than one candidate for the post, an election would instead be held on November 6th.

It was also expect that today’s meeting of the National Executive committee would have set a date for nominations to several other positions on the Executive as well, such as Mark’s former post of Senior Deputy Leader.

The terms of office of the executive committees of the Party’s three arms, the United Women’s Group, the Marshalls and the Belize Youth Movement, are all up next month and a decision must be undertaken as when nominations for those positions will close and when conventions will be held.

These decisions were not taken and adjourned until after the matter of the leadership is settled.

The Eastern Caucus had resolved at its meeting last night that the 2 Belize City mayoral candidate applicants and the 22 Belize City councilor candidate applicants should go a convention and the slate decided by a vote of delegates from the 10 Belize City constituencies. The National Executive Council reportedly has decided that that convention would be held on November 6th if there is no leadership election. If there is a leadership election then it would be adjourned to a later date.

The applicants were reportedly all interviewed by the Order of Distinguished Services yesterday, and some will definitely be disqualified for having not met the Party’s criteria or being in violation of the rules.

Those who do not accept the ODS’ judgment can appeal to the body, and if still rejected, can appeal to the Interim Party Leader.

At this point it would seem that there will NOT be an election for Party Leader. The Southern and Western Caucuses have already passed resolutions unanimously approving Mark Espat’s ascension to the leadership, and last night the Eastern Caucus did the same with one objection/abstention from Belize Rural North, putative challenger Arthur Saldivar’s constituency. Saldivar dubbed the serial caller is a well known prominent attorney that has been calling the Radio Talk Show Circuit for the better part of three years and has been salient on current issues affecting both the PUP as well as national issues. Espat reportedly has met with the leadership of the Northern Caucus and a statement of endorsement is expected from them over the weekend following their meeting.

Now Immediate Past Party Leader John Briceno is scheduled to attend that meeting of the Northern Caucus following a trip to seek medical attention in Mexico City, Mexico.

Belize Rural North standard bearer Arthur Saldivar had told the media on Tuesday that he intends to challenge for the position but so far at press time today he has been unable to secure any discernable expression of public support from any of the party’s units, arms or notables.

After accepting the nomination to serve as interim leader last Friday, Mark Espat moved swiftly to consolidate his position by meeting with members of the executive and other influential supporters. It would seem that by his 41st birthday on October 26th, 2011 he will either be or about to become the fifth leader of Belize’s oldest political party.

According to the US Government official, the politicians named in the extradition warrants are believed to have assisted Coke in the importation of various items from the United States, some of which may not have been brought in legally.

The Observer reports that it was told that US authorities got critical information on certain persons in Jamaica from Coke, although his

legal team has maintained consistently that the former fugitive did not squeal.

Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has announced that he was resigning his office and as leader of the ruling Jamaica Labor Party, in part because of questions in regards to his association with Coke, and his handling of Coke’s apprehension and extradition

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 9

Caribbean News

Dominican Republic annuls Spain’s Queen Sofia visiting aid projects in Haiti ethnic Haitians’s citizenship

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Dominican government has confiscated or annulled nearly 1,600 birth certificates belonging to residents of Haitian descent, a migrant advocacy group charged Tuesday.

A government official denied anyone had been wrongly denied a birth certificate.

Sonia Adames, director of Jesuit Refugee and Migrant Services, told reporters the group’s investigation found 72 percent of those affected are between 15 and 30 years old and have been unable to find a job, open a bank account or enroll in school as a result.

She said 48 percent also have been unable to register their children as Dominican citizens.

Last year, the government amended the Caribbean country’s constitution to deny citizenship to children born in the Dominican Republic to foreign parents.

Adames said government officials have been applying the change retroactively to people of Haitian descent who already held citizenship.

Migrants from neighboring Haiti and other residents descended from Haitians have long complained they receive unequal treatment in the Dominican Republic.

Several local and international nonprofit groups have filed complaints similar to Adames’ charges with the Interamerican Commission of Human Rights, which is still holding hearings on the matter.

Roberto Rosario, president of the government’s Central Electoral Commission, denied Adames’ charges about citizenship abuses.

He said the commission made its own investigation last month. He said that of 120 cases studied, only eight were found to involve the denial of a birth certificate copy requested by a resident, and he said that was because of fraud.

Rosario said a 2007 measure that he approved to reduce the use of fake documents has not led to unnecessary confiscations or annulments of birth certificates for people of Haitian descent.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The number of cholera cases seen in the Haitian capital has jumped about threefold in recent weeks, an official with a foreign aid group said Monday.

Pascale Zintzen, deputy head of mission for Doctors Without Borders, said the group’s four treatment centers in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area have handled as many as 850 cases in a single week lately. That compares with about 250 cases a week more than a month ago.

The rise is largely attributed to the second rainy season of the year, when showers and floods cause the waterborne disease to spread freely in the crowded and unsanitary capital, Zintzen said.

One cholera treatment center in the densely packed Port-au-Prince area of Martissaint has 90 beds for patients but is almost out of space, she said.

“We are not far from it,” Zintzen said by telephone. “We are worried about what we see at the moment.”

Despite the jump in cases, the weekly

number is still far below what foreign aid groups saw in the initial peak last November after the disease surfaced a year ago.

Health care workers for Doctors Without Borders treated as many 4,600 patients in one week at its treatment centers in the Port-au-Prince area and about half that number in late May, when the year’s first rainy season kicked in.

There had never been any documented cases of cholera in Haiti until a year ago, when a U.N. peacekeeping battalion from Nepal likely introduced the disease.

Cholera is caused by a bacteria that produces severe diarrhea and is contracted by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. The disease is relatively easy to treat if people can get help in time, but Haiti’s poverty sometimes makes it difficult to find immediate help.

The epidemic has killed more than 6,200 people and sickened nearly 440,000 others, according to Haitian health officials.

Haiti group sees jump in cholera cases in capital

Guyana president sets national vote for Nov. 28 GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana’s president has set Nov. 28 for national elections in the South American country.

President Bharrat Jagdeo’s office says that gives political parties six weeks to field candidate slates for the 65-seat parliament. Parliament was dissolved last month to make way for elections.

A seven-party opposition coa-

lition led by retired army commander David Granger is seeking to unseat Jagdeo’s People’s Progressive Party, which has been in power since 1992.

Jagdeo is leaving office because he has served the two-term maximum set by Guyana’s constitution.

The president’s office made the announcement Sunday.

www.nationalperspectivebz.org

Spain’s Queen Sofia receiving a bouquet of flowers from a Haitian Student

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — European royalty arrived in impoverished Haiti on Friday as Spain’s Queen Sofia came to check on aid efforts that seek to help the Caribbean nation rebuild after last year’s earthquake.

The queen plans to spend her twoday visit touring reconstruction projects that the Spanish government and her own foundation hope will improve housing, education, sanitation and health in Haiti, one of the world’s poorest countries.

When the queen arrived on a Spanish government jet, she stepped on to the tarmac where Haitian President Michel Martelly and first lady Sophia Martelly greeted her. Martelly and the queen chatted amicably before and after the National Palace band performed national anthems from both countries. Several dozen Haitian school girls waving Spain’s gold-and-red flag greeted the queen, including one who gave her a bouquet.

The queen smiled but didn’t speak to reporters before entering a complex for visiting diplomats.

“We talked about our families, her kids, my kids, the king, politics,” Martelly told The Associated Press after the 20-minute meeting. “It was a little opportunity for me to meet the queen, thank her, and do what I’m supposed to do: Portray a new Haiti, bring confidence in our partners, our friends — let them know that this is no longer a country that wants to beg for money.”

The queen’s arrival comes out of summer trip Martelly took to Spain, his first visit to Europe since he was inaugurated in May. The new president met with King Juan Carlos.

Martelly said he hopes the queen’s visit will serve as an example of how Haiti can forge new relations with countries that have long overlooked Haiti as a place to invest and explore as tourists.

Spain and Haiti have not traditionally had strong diplomatic ties but Spain is among the countries that have made the biggest pledges to Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake. Ac-

cording to the Office of U.N. Special Envoy, Spain has pledged $359.7 million for 2010 and 2011.

The queen showed her appreciation for Spaniards trying to help Haiti at one of the few modern hotels in the capital Friday night, shaking hands with nuns, peacekeepers with the U.N. mission and aid workers.

At a dinner later hosted by Martelly, she recalled in a brief statement how she visited Haiti two years ago, and said that “Haiti is a special country for me.”

“Now, and for all time, Mr. President, Haiti can count on Spain and all Spaniards,” the queen said in Haitian Creole as she read from a written script.

On Saturday, the queen will tour several projects financed by the Spanish government and her own charity, the Queen Sofia Foundation.

One of those sites is a water sanitation plant outside Port-au-Prince that removes waste collected from cholera treatment centers. A cholera epidemic has killed more than 6,200 people and sickened almost 440,000 others since it surfaced last year, according to Haitian health officials.

Many people who fall ill rely on the improvised health clinics to stay alive.

“It’s a key way for us to solve the cholera issue,” Martelly told the AP, referring to the Spanish sanitation project in an area north of Port-auPrince called Titanyen.

Then the queen plans to see a center at the Sisters of Charity in Cite Soleil, a seaside neighborhood that is considered one of the poorest and dangerous areas in Haiti.

The queen will follow that visit with a trip to Leogane, which saw thousands of homes destroyed because of its proximity to the quake’s epicenter. The Spanish Red Cross is helping build 1,500 transitional shelters in a housing project funded by the queen’s foundation.

After visiting Haiti, the queen travels to Miami to mark the opening of a Spanish cultural center.

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 10

Mexico, US shared details to foil ambassador plot

immigration official said later that it was at the airport in Mexico City. The official agreed to discuss the matter only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the case.

Arbabsiar was charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New York with conspiring to kill the Saudi diplomat, Adel Al-Jubeir.

U.S. authorities allege Arbabsiar was attempting to meet in Mexico with a U.S. informant posing as This undated image provided by the a Mexican drug carNueces County Sheriff’s Office shows tel associate. U.S. Manssor Arbabsiar. The Obama ad- authorities allege he ministration on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 hired the informant accused agents of the Iranian govern- for $1.5 million to ment of being involved in a plan to as- carry out the assassassinate the Saudi ambassador to the sination with a bomb United States. Secretary of State Hillary attack while Al-Jubeir Rodham Clinton said the thwarted plot dined at his favorite would further isolate Tehran. restaurant.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico Court documents say Arbabsiar and worked closely with U.S. authori- the informant had met in Mexico ties to help foil an alleged $1.5 mil- before Sept. 28, though authorities lion plot to kill the Saudi Arabian have not said where. They said he ambassador to Washington, a for- often traveled to Mexico on busieign ministry official said Tuesday. ness.

Mexico issued an immigration “From the outset, Mexico and the alert on Manssor Arbabsiar, 56, af- United States exchanged informater U.S. authorities told Mexican tion and acted together,” Ventura counterparts that Arbabsiar was the said, reading a statement on the opsubject of an arrest warrant for “se- eration. “The government of Mexrious crimes,” said Julian Ventura, ico reiterates its full commitment undersecretary for North America. to international cooperation to preVentura told reporters that the alert vent and combat terrorism and conprompted Mexican immigration of- demns any attempt by any individficials to turn Arbabsiar away when ual, group or international player to he tried to enter Mexico on Sept. commit actions of this nature from 28. Arbabsiar, a U.S. citizen who our national territory.” holds an Iranian passport, was ar- The undersecretary said the inforrested the next day when he arrived mation was shared through protoat New York’s Kennedy Interna- cols the two countries already had established, particularly on matters tional Airport.

Ventura did not say where Arbab- of regional security and justice. siar tried to enter Mexico, but an He did not answer any questions.

Mexico: Central America migration drops 70 percent

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s immigration chief says there has been a sharp drop in the number of Central Americans crossing Mexico to reach the U.S. Commissioner Salvador Beltran del Rio says the number of Central Americans crossing Mexico without documents has dropped from 433,000 in 2005 to 140,000 in 2010. He says the downward trend has continued in the first eight months of this year.

Beltran said in a videoconference Monday that Central Americans crossing Mexico face increased risks of extortion, kidnapping and violence because organized crime has moved into migrant trafficking.

In one of the worst attacks, 72 migrants were slaughtered in the border state of Tamaulipas in August 2010. Most were Central Americans.

www.nationalperspectivebz.org

10 more dead found in Mexican port of Veracruz

VERACRUZ, Mexico (AP) — Mexican officials say 10 more bodies have been found in what appears to be more bloodshed in the battle between rival cartels for control of drug trafficking in the port city of Veracruz.

The discoveries raise the number of deaths since Sept. 20 to at least 75 as the relatively new Jalisco New Generation gang claims to be attacking members of the Zetas cartel.

A statement Saturday from the Veracruz state prosecutor’s office says seven dead were found piled in a pickup truck late Friday.

Three more dead were found on roadsides in two other locations earlier in the day.

Police found 32 bodies left in three houses in Veracruz on Thursday. On Sept. 20, masked gunmen dumped the bodies of 35 slaying victims onto a busy avenue there.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador’s Supreme Court has refused to order the detention of five former military officers indicted in Spain for the 1989 slayings of six Jesuit priests during the Central American country’s 1980-1992 civil war.

The court had issued a similar ruling in August in the case of nine other former Salvadoran military officers in the same case.

Those nine later left the military barracks where they took refuge.

A Spanish judge issued an arrest warrant for the ex-soldiers through Interpol in May. A court spokesman said Friday the five men could not be detained because it has not received a formal extradition request from Spain.

Five of the priests slain were Spanish. The sixth was Salvadoran.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican marines say they seized more than 4 tons of marijuana, arrested 36 cartel members and killed 11 others during five days of raids through the violent border state of Tamaulipas.

Those arrested include the alleged head of the Gulf Cartel in the town of Miguel Aleman, who was captured after a gunfight in which 10 cartel members died.

The marijuana was found in two locations.

Marine spokesman Jose Luis Vergara said in a press conference in Matamoros that marines also seized 251 hand grenades and 35 grenade launchers.

The Gulf Cartel was once the dominant trafficking network in the area but is now in a war with the surging Zetas cartel for control.

Salvador court refuses to hold 5 more ex-soldiers

Marines kill 11, nab 36, find 4 tons of marijuana

For Sale by Owner Large track of Residential / Commercial Land, off George Price Boulevard in Belmopan. Price fix to sell by owners.

Page 11

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Libya forces say closing Fears of Mubarak allies as in on Gaddafi’s son Egypt prepares elections

SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan government forces said on Tuesday they believed they had one of Muammar Gaddafi’s sons cornered in the center of the deposed leader’s home town, but determined resistance was keeping them at bay.

After weeks of fighting, National Transitional Council (NTC) forces have taken most of Sirte and driven Gaddafi loyalists into a small area of the city, but international concern about civilians caught up in the fighting has mounted.

Capturing Sirte, which Gaddafi had turned into a showcase second capital, will consolidate the NTC’s control in Libya and allow it to focus on rebuilding the country, but international concern about civilians caught up in the fighting has mounted.

One NTC commander said Gaddafi fighters were defending their last two districts in Sirte tenaciously because Mo’tassim Gaddafi, his father’s national security adviser, was with them.

“There are a few (Gaddafi-held) pockets, mainly concentrated in the ‘Dollar’ neighborhood,” said Colonel Mohammed Ajhseer. “According to the information we have, this is where Mo’tassim is, with another group.”

As the fighting raged in the streets, terrified families were emerging from their houses and trying to leave.

NTC fighters surrounded their vehicles and searched them for weapons -- a mark of the deep mistrust in Sirte, where many people belong to Gaddafi’s tribe and opposed his overthrow.

“There are explosions all the time,” said one woman, who was in a white van with seven children. “There is no water. There is nothing,” she said, then started crying.

TRAPPED FAMILIES On the western outskirts of Sirte, a flatbed truck drove out carrying about 30 people, including children clutching dolls and blankets. It was raining, and they were wet and shivering.

One of them, Abdul Menem Ahmed, from Ondurman in Sudan, said he had

been working as an accountant in Libya for 14 years. “There is no food no water, no medicine,” he said.

NTC forces have captured Sirte’s most important landmarks, including the Ouagadougou conference hall, where Gaddafi once hosted lavish summit meetings, the hospital and the university.

Tuesday’s fighting focused on Omar al-Mokhtar street, a tree-lined thoroughfare in a well-heeled neighborhood.

A Reuters reporter said NTC fighters took cover in side streets out of sight of loyalist snipers hidden in buildings further up the road. They took turns to dart out, shouting “Allahu Akbar (God is great),” fire a few shots and rush back.

Typically for what is an amateur fighting force, the NTC effort was brave but chaotic. One thickly bearded man in a wheelchair was pushed into the main street by a comrade, fired his Kalashnikov rifle at Gaddafi loyalists, and was then pushed back to safety.

The Reuters reporter said she saw another fighter taken back into a side street bleeding heavily from a back wound after he had been firing a Soviet-designed “Dushka” heavy machinegun.

POLITICAL VACUUM Muammar Gaddafi himself is not in Sirte, according to NTC officials coordinating the hunt for him, but is instead believed to be far to the south in the Sahara desert.

Sirte, once a fishing village, has symbolic significance because Gaddafi used it as a prop in the personality cult he built during his 42 year rule. He built opulent villas, hotels and conference halls there to host Arab and African leaders.

A commander of NATO, whose warplanes patrol the skies over Sirte and sometimes bomb Gaddafi-held targets, said the former leader’s forces in the city were showing surprising resilience.

“We’re all surprised by the tenacity of

CAIRO (Reuters) - Candidates registering on Wednesday for Egypt’s first parliamentary elections since the overthrown of the autocratic Hosni Mubarak said they feared Mubarak loyalists would sneak their way onto the candidate lists.

Essam Said, registering as a candidate in Giza west of Cairo Wednesday, said veterans of Mubarak’s now disbanded National Democratic Party (NDP) would get themselves included on party lists because running as independents would make them easier to identify.

“The NDP people are hiding themselves inside the party lists,” he said, adding that he knew one former NDP legislator who planned to stand as a candidate for the liberal Wafd party.

Under election rules set after Mubarak’s overthrow, two thirds of the lower house will be elected via the party lists covering entire regions, the rest as individuals in smaller constituencies.

The rules are designed to stop old Mubarak loyalists, many of them wealthy notables with enduring local influence, returning to formal politics.

Elections during Mubarak’s time were marred by widespread ballot stuffing, vote buying and bullying to ensure sweeping wins for the NDP. The elections are seen as a crucial test of the ruling military’s commitment to end decades of autocratic rule in the Arab world’s most populous country.

Elections for parliament’s lower house are due to start on November 28. If they go smoothly, it could boost the standing of the army, under fire for its handling of simmering social unrest and suspected by many Egyptians of plotting to stay in power.

Any sign that the old, discredited elite that enriched itself during

Mubarak’s three-decade rule could return to dominate parliament may reignite the mass street protests that toppled the strongman leader in February.

“I ran in the previous elections but the treatment I received today is very different,” said Abdel Maguid Tawfiq as he registered his candidacy in Giza.

“Previously they didn’t respect our humanity but today the employees were helpful and the procedures went smoothly.”

Shafiq Ahmed, a bearded civil servant, said it was time to get involved in politics again.

“I ran in the elections when I saw that, after the removal of the previous regime, the chance is available for everyone to offer his services,” he said.

Ahmed said he would campaign for Islamic sharia law if he wins a seat representing Giza’s Boulaq El Dakroor constituency.

Applicants must file a request, prove they have never committed a crime and pay a fee. Successful applicants will be announced after one week.

The elections will test the appeal of the movement viewed as Egypt’s best-organized political force, the Muslim Brotherhood, which is seeking half the seats available.

The Brotherhood was seen as the main political threat to Mubarak but has been less willing than many secular liberal groups to challenge the authorities on the streets, insisting the country needs stability to revive its fortunes.

The liberal groups, fragmented and lacking a grassroots support base, may struggle to stamp their identity on the new assembly.

Only candidates seeking to run as independents registered on Monday, with the parties expected to submit lists of candidates later in the week.

the pro-Gaddafi forces. At this point, they might not see a way out,” General Ralph J. Jodice II was quoted as saying by the New York Times.

NATO military spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie said it was futile for Gaddafi’s followers to resist.

“It is clear that they cannot change or influence the outcome of this conflict,” he told a news conference.

“Basically they have opted to choose to inflict pain on the rest of the population in Libya. From that perspective it just does not make sense to see what these few remaining forces are doing,” he said.

With Libya’s new rulers focused on the bruising battles for Sirte and Bani Walid, another pro-Gaddafi town, a political vacuum has emerged. There is no formal government and the process of holding elections is on hold.

Armed anti-Gaddafi factions from dif-

ferent regions are vying for power, complicating the NTC’s task of asserting national control once the fighting is over.

Western oil firms are hoping to resume operations in Libya as stability returns, but the new government pledged a review of Gaddafi-era oil deals, which could leave some out in the cold.

Libya’s oil and finance minister Ali Tarhouni told a news conference a committee would be set up to probe the scale of corruption practiced by the previous government.

“The committee will scrutinize all contracts and projects to provide a view of the size of the corrupt dealing and all that emerges will be investigated and published,” Tarhouni said.

Analysts said a re-allocation of contracts could paralyze Libya’s oil sector and slow down a return to pre-conflict levels of oil exports.

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Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight

“God knows we are weary of politics. Is there another way? The connection with our lack of prosperity, illiteracy, intolerance, bigotry, beheadings and tribal politics is our politicians.” – Franklin Johnston, The Jamaica Observer, Friday, September 09, 2011

The question I would want most answered right now in regards to the sudden ascension of Mark Espat to the helm of the PUP, even as “Interim Leader”, is whether this will galvanize the PUP to greater unity of purpose, in this case winning the elections in the offing, or whether it will spur it to even greater factionalization.

The problem isn’t that I don’t have a crystal ball, but that there’s really no historical precedent to at least reference. Sure, way back when, in the late 1950’s I believe, the PUP went through John Smith and Leigh Richardson over the course of just 4 years or so, before settling in for George Price’s historic run as leader. In the case of Smith I believe he eventually emigrated while Richardson and Goldson split the party before the former worthy also emigrated.

These are different times obviously, over half a century later, and the record is too poor for anything more than general comparisons.

The fact that there will be a convention thirty days hence, and a challenger has emerged, means that the situation is far more fluid and dynamic than may have been previously assumed. The question that will be answered over the next few weeks is whether or not there will be an election.

Mark Espat has been mercurial, advancing and withdrawing his bid for leadership in spurts and seemingly at whim. Twice he has appeared poised to challenge for the leadership and both times he withdrew his candidacy or nomination. His first open effort came in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 defeat, and both he and Johnny Briceno withdrew from the race but at the eleventh hour Briceno reversed course and

edged out Francis Fonseca for the mantle.

At the time I had suggested to all three men that they worked it out among themselves and avoid the open warfare of an election I was certain would further dividing the party. The campaign at that point had turned hostile and nasty.

Johnny’s reply to me was sure, he had no problem sitting down with his opponents while Mark’s was a conditional yes. Francis, though, rejected the recommendation almost out of hand.

I met with Mark in early 2010 when it had become apparent to many party insiders that Johnny’s leadership had become dysfunctional. The meeting, the last I would have with Mark, was cordial and I left believing that Mark would make a bid for leadership.

My conclusion was that he had a good chance of succeeding.

Over the intervening months Mark sought to gather support but he was “ambushed” by Johnny in August 2010 when at a meeting of the Northern Caucus in Patchakan, Corozal, a resolution was passed endorsing his continuing leadership. The following day the party’s communications director issued a release in which she claimed that he had also been endorsed by fourteen other constituency chairpersons including Henry Charles Usher, the chairman of the Said Musa’s Fort George constituency, who had attended the meeting.

Despite the urging of a significant proportion of the Party’s membership and supporters Mark again withdrew his putative candidacy.

I recount this because once again Mark Espat’s bid for the leadership is being challenged and even though he has moved swiftly to reinforce support for his leadership, there are those who are betting he could once again be “scared” off.

My conclusion is that there is really no one else who has the wherewithal and credibility to successfully dethrone Mark in an election at this point, and such an election would further divide the party.

Arthur Saldivar’s bid will not be taken seriously by the party on a whole because he still lacks national recognition and credibility, and the schedule of thirty days is simply too short in which to mount the type of campaign needed for him to overtake the huge lead that Espat already enjoys.

To my eye the so-called “Old Guard” faction is currently too riven by personality conflicts and old beefs to agree on much of anything. And it is not only too divided at this point but the fabled Musa/Fonseca machinery

How to Treat a Swollen Lip

Lips are swollen – what an unsightly experience, right? Yes, our lips are one of the most noticeable features of the face so it’s a big pain to think that our lips are swelling.

However, what makes it a bigger pain is that it can give one an extreme discomfort since it can hinder our way of speaking, eating, and drinking. What causes swelling of the lip anyways? Apparently, lip swelling whether on the upper or lower lip can be due to reasons such as allergic reaction, misfitted braces or dentures or after dental work, trauma caused by tattoo or piercing, or any underlying medical conditions like angioedema. Oftentimes, busted lip occurs as a result of trauma or injury to the area especially in a toddler Swollen lip, like any other, is no fun! Therefore, don’t live with the tingling and painful sensation it brings. Instead, take note of some home remedies and other treatment options you can do to treat a swollen lip. Let’s see.

How to Cure Swollen Lip Apparently, treatment will vary depending on what causes the condition. To start off, if the condition is brought about by an allergic re-

action then antihistamines should be taken. Antibiotics are also otherwise required for blisters found on lips. Another way to get rid of swollen lip associated with dryness and blisters is through hydration.

Drinking plenty of fluids as well as fruit juice are surely beneficial in treating them.

As for other home remedies, the aloe vera gel which is applied on the affected area is proven effective since it contains properties helpful heal the issue. Ice cubes wrapped in a towel and applied on the area of affectation is also another option on how to treat swollen lip as well as provide relief on regarding pain. Turmeric powder has healing properties as well thus can be sued to solve the problem.

You diet can also aid in addressing the issue. With this, consume food rich in Vitamin C thus speeding up the recovery from the condition.

Finally, triggers and aggravating factors should be eliminated to fully prevent its occurrence. Having said this, ensure that you stay away from eating food that can trigger allergic reactions as well as external irritants like dust, mite, and dander.

Good luck!

www.nationalperspectivebz.org has been eroded and degraded. It would require a major overhaul and tons and tons of “grease” and that is a very expensive gamble.

Briceno was able to achieve the leadership and maintain it by triangulation. First he allied with the so-called Espat faction to defeat the so-called Musa faction, and then he allied with his former opponents to defeat his erstwhile allies.

There’s some discord, maybe even bad blood between Saldivar and some members of the Briceno faction and it does not seem likely that enough of the two factions can agree on Saldivar as a candidate and mount the type of effort that would be needed to deny Espat.

My sense is that the party’s faith-

ful wishes to get on with the business of campaigning and winning elections. They’re weary of the everlasting fighting and the concentration of effort and resources on the leadership question. Sure they’re also wary of Mark and Cordel and some are still embittered by what they regard as Kremandala’s betrayal, but I think overall they’ll embrace Mark since they believe his leadership offers the best chance of electoral success.

Nothing is written in stone, of course, but this is after all, the PUP still reeling from a string of devastating defeats going back 5 years to 2006. Yes, the PUP is devastated and desperate and as Benjamin Disraeli once said “Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.”

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 13

Page 14

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

I mpartialView By: Marshal Nunez

Hey Mark, at least kick the tires The untimely resignation of honorable John Briceno as leader of the Peoples United Party came as a shock to some but not a surprise to the entire nation of Belize. Mr. Briceno gave the reason for his resignation as related to illness. Of course the political opponents will have field day with that since recently, Mr. Briceno has been under constant heavy political assault.

I believe that Mr. Briceno is perhaps suffering from some illness and I believe his illness is political related stress. After all, Mr. Briceno is only human and to sustain the onslaught of attacks by the government on his character, on his integrity, on his family - it’s only so much that a man can endure. In fact, to sustain all of that without any stress related effect he would have had to have been supernatural.

On other occasions I have referred to Mr. Briceno as a resilient man but no level of resilience can survive the kind of attacks that Mr. Briceno was under.

And some of this is the kind of stuff that observers “forget” to mention, the intangible detriments that surrounded honorable John Briceno. Remember the old statement “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”? Mr. Briceno thought that he was surrounded by close friends for the over three and half years that he had been the leader of the PUP. The people that Mr. Briceno had around him were to assist his leadership and help him in every way to be the formidable leader that the party expected him to be. But I’m sure that when Johnny has time to reflect on his time as leader of the PUP,

he just might conclude that the people who caused him the greatest stress and the greatest harm were not those who he had perceived to be his enemies, but the ones he thought were his close friends and advisors.

As Bob Marley said in one of his popular reggae hits “Only your friends know your secret so only he can reveal it”. And “Some will eat and drink with you then behind them su- su pan yu”.

For quite some time Mr. Briceno had been saying that the party does not have enough money to operate. So my question then is to the treasurer of the PUP, if you were so loyal to your party leader, honourable John Briceno, why were you not able to find money to help the party? Do you think you might have contributed to whatever caused your party leader to be ill? Are you satisfied with your performance as the treasurer of your party? Whose responsibility you thought it was to find money for the party? My answer to all of that is you Mr. Treasurer.

And I also think that once the party leader resigned you should have done the honorable thing and resigned as well. But on Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 on your party’s radio station I heard you expressing how excited you are that Mark Espat has been appointed as the interim leader of the party. I was stunned because this is the same Mark Espat that you had some real negative things to say about. So is this new excitement for Mark Espat the equivalent to the loyalty you had for Johnny Briceno? Or are you one of those characters that cannot be trusted?

Some of your fellow standard bear-

ers are really concerned about the fact that you’re not able to locate funding to assist them but your close ally and campaign manager has access to resources and allowances although he is not even a candidate. Maybe before you jump ship you will need to explain how comes that is happening.

I am one of the PUPS who are energized by the fact that Mark Espat is currently the interim leader but just changing the leader of the party will not guarantee us any favorability with the people. There are some people, especially in Belize City, who believe that Mark Espat will bring greater leadership to the PUP. A tremendous responsibility has been placed on Mark because since the change, the base of the PUP believes that he automatically increased the party’s position to win the elections, and that is both the March 2012 municipal elections and the subsequent general elections.

Several factors have to be considered, however. One, is there enough time for Mark Espat to dedicate to the party for it to unite? We must all remember that Mark Espat as well as Cordel Hyde are looked upon as instigators, who boycott every good thing Briceno tried to do and were both absent from countless activities. Two, will Mark become the leader of the party? Is there any other field general who will seek the top post with the hope of leading the party to victory or will they just lay back, do nothing and wait? Three, will Mark be able to attract the necessary financial resources that the party needs in order for it to be successful in defeating the UDP who have a heavy war chest? While everybody will not like

Mark, I think many also believe that Mark is a brilliant politician and have shown one part of it as an exemplary leader in the Albert constituency.

Now Mr. Espat, imagine you are the new driver in a used automobile. Now your responsibility is to see how you will get this automobile to move at an accelerated pace and with greater efficiency. I am not sure I am qualified to give you advice but I will offer my advice anyhow. While you will not have enough time to overhaul the engine of this automobile it is of paramount importance that you service this vehicle properly. So there are some fundamental things that you might have to do. If the sparks plugs are not firing effectively, you will have to change the plugs. If the spark plugs wires are leaking you might have to change the plug wires. You will definitely need to change the oil.

Trust no one with your safety so it will be your responsibility to ensure that your brake cylinder is working well, that there are no leaks in your brake lines and that the brake pads are efficient. For additional safety you may want to change the tires on the vehicle. You may also want to flush out the injectors and straw out the radiator.

Once you have done all those fundamental things I personally believe that from the same old automobile you will get better acceleration, you will have greater efficiency and you will be operating safer.

Mr. Espat I know that you are able to do what is right.

I want to use this opportunity to thank Mr. Briceno for being the leader of the party for the past three and half years.

I also want to use this opportunity to congratulate you on being the interim party leader and wish you all the best.

I also want to pledge my commitment to work with you, however I can. And I want to call on the entire PUP to support you as the interim leader. And I remind them that the late Right Honorable George Price has always said that loyalty to the party is loyalty to the leader.

Just my impartial view.

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 15

Burning Issues WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP FOR THE PUP? By: Nuri Muhammad It is within the nature of political organizations to wrangle, debate, conflict and sometimes even fight, but in the end, to put up a united front to defeat their political enemy.

There is no mature and intellectually vibrant political party that has not gone through this process. This is the nature of the game of party politics, and in Belize, it’s been no different.

In the history of politics in Belize, the archives are filled with the intrigue of political in-fighting and the jockeying for power and influence among colleagues within political parties.

It was the powerful force of supporters of George Price and Nicholas Pollard, who confronted and defeated the supporters of Leigh Richardson and Phillip Goldson, at Riverside Hall, one night in 1956, which resulted in the ouster of Richardson and Goldson from the party and brought a dramatic change in the leadership in the PUP that year.

There was also political intrigue of the highest order within the ranks of the NIP/PDM/UC/UPD, as the mantle of leadership moved from Phillip Goldson to Dean Lindo, to Dr. Theodore Aranda, to Dr. Manuel Esquevel and currently to Dean Barrow. Every political party experiences its internal combustion, especially when the question of leadership and the party’s direction is at stake.

Going through this process can sometimes strengthen a party by clarifying and streamlining its party positions, reinvigorating its rank and file and producing new leaders to take on the challenges of the party.

However, while this wrangling, debate, or conflicts are best handled within ranks, where rivals “agree to disagree, without being disagreeable”, it is a quantum test of a party’s leadership to keep rivals who disagree around the same table. The trouble always begins when passions get out of control, and private family quarrels become public.

In the late seventies and early eighties the PUP experienced another internal wrangling over ideology.

A right wing faction of the party, led

by Luis Sylvester, Fred Hunter and Santiago Perdomo, sought to oust the left wing faction, led by Said Musa and Assad Shoman, from the party, on the grounds that they were communist who had infiltrated the party.

The left wing had formed a group called the Democratic Direction to lobby for their position while the right wing formed an alliance with an anti-communist organization in Guatemala.

There was widespread party wrangling during this period as the centrists of the party, George Price and Lindy Rogers, sought to contain the conflict and keep the right and left

Sometimes political differences between colleagues can run so deep that it becomes personal. Again, in the UDP, it was no secret that there was no love lost between Dean Barrow and Hubert Elrington, when both were ministers in the UDP Cabinet. The quarrel became public when Elrington referred to Barrow as, “all glitter, no substance”, and Barrow responded that he would “never sit in another Cabinet with Elrington”.

This shows how far wrangling between political colleagues can go, to the point where they become enemies. This internal wrangling within the UDP became so personal that it sapped the energy of that party and relegated them to the ranks of the Opposition for 10 years. wings of the party from running the party off course. Despite this, the infighting fractured the party’s unity and broke its momentum, and as a result, it lost the general elections in 1984.

It is clear that in-fighting erodes a party’s chances of winning elections.

When political parties become government, the conflicts and party rivalry are usually sublimated. Tensions and differences remain but are usually restrained because of the urgency of the demands of governing.

But they don’t disappear. If these internal tensions surface while the party is the government it can result in open warfare played out in the public

arena.

This was seen with the in-fighting that erupted in the UDP during the 84-89 administration which eventually led to the expelling of Derrick Aikman, Sam Rhaburn and Hubert Elrington, later to the formation of a new party , National Alliance for Belizean Rights (NABR), led by Mr. Phillip Goldson. Clearly, there were other factors that led to the creation of NABR, for example, the Maritime Areas Act, but it was more the underlying tensions caused by unresolved conflicts among personalities that led to the eventual breach in the party’s unity and gave energy to the NABR. The creation of NABR was a reac-

Rhett Fuller continues his fight for freedom

Defence Attorney, Eamon Courtney: “We are now coming to the point where it’s either do or die” Continue from page 5

“The decision that the Minister took on the 20th of September, under section 12 of the Extradition Act, that surrender has to happen within 2 months of the decision of the Privy Council which will expire I believe today (Friday) or tomorrow. I think it’s the 9th of October. So that decision has been suspended, and also a stay has been granted of the Minister’s decision.

A Minister cannot surrender Rhett and the 2 month period has been suspended. The time stops running and so we will have the hearing and the Minister doesn’t have to worry,” Fuller’s attorney, Eamon Courtney said.

Courtney went before the Supreme Court asking for judicial review of

the Minister’s decision. Prior to the application to the Minister, Fuller’s legal team secured an “anticipatory injunction” which would have afforded them extra time and opportunity to go before the court for a judicial review.

Council for the Attorney General advised that the government will oppose the permission for the judicial review. The Judicial review is set for sometime next month.

Courtney said that he has asked the judge to hear both sides (the Attorney General’s side and the Fuller’s side).

According to Courtney, the judge would hear the application for permission for judicial review and hear submissions on Fuller’s behalf on the substantive judicial review.

tion to in-party fighting within the UDP; it was never a mass party, but rather a political statement of discontent with the status-quo of the UDP. This was also seen in 2005 when the wrangling within the PUP became public with the G7. It was thought by some that maybe this was the beginning of a new party, as was the case in the history of NABR, but this was not to be. This was party wrangling that had become public and the wounds inflicted in that quarrel were so deep that, like the PUP in ‘84, and the UDP in ’98, the PUP again lost its momentum and eventually the general elections in 2008.

Sometimes political differences between colleagues can run so deep that it becomes personal. Again, in the UDP, it was no secret that there was no love lost between Dean Barrow and Hubert Elrington, when both were ministers in the UDP Cabinet.

The quarrel became public when Elrington referred to Barrow as, “all glitter, no substance”, and Barrow responded that he would “never sit in another Cabinet with Elrington”.

This shows how far wrangling between political colleagues can go, to the point where they become enemies. This internal wrangling within the UDP became so personal that it sapped the energy of that party and relegated them to the ranks of the Opposition for 10 years.

Is this the path the PUPs are currently heading?

As the PUP go through its current process of “rectification” it must keep the history of previous political wrangling as a clear reference point in their quarrels. Unity was never about “sameness”; it was always about finding common ground where divergent interests cooperate to achieve a common goal. If the PUP is about winning the next national election it needs to show that it can achieve the goal of common ground between the divergent forces that now characterize the current PUP. It has now been three years and eight months that the PUP has been the Opposition; the questions remain: will the PUP remain in Opposition for ten years because the gulf between factions of the party has become so entrenched? (Comments are welcomed at nuribze@gmail.com)

That way, if the judge grants permission for judicial review, he will have had evidence and submissions on the substantive hearings thereby avoiding a return to court, Courtney said.

Fuller is wanted in Dade County in Miami Florida for the March 1990 shooting death of American Larry Miller. Fuller’s attorney says that his client’s saga has reached do or die stage. Fuller, Courtney maintains, believes that he has been unjustly treated. Speaking with the media on Friday of last week, Courtney denied that the latest efforts to save Fuller from extradition were maneuverings to stall the inevitable. So far all of Fuller’s appeals to the courts in Belize and before the Privy Council have failed with the latest disappointment coming from the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday September 20th.

The judicial review has been scheduled for next month. If this last attempt at freedom fails, Fuller will be turned over to US authorities to face first degree murder charge.

Page 16

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

BTL’s bet on Blackberry - Bang or Bust?

- contributed – Wednesday, October 12, 2011 BELIZE CITY - At a time when loose cash is as elusive as well, cash, Belize Telemedia is investing heavily in jumping on the Smart Phone bandwagon in hopes of increasing market share as well as profit margins. While smart money and America’s largest telecoms are leaving the door wide open to consumer choice, BTL has signed on to Research in Motion, (RIM), the company that manufactures Blackberry.

First let’s look at what a smart phone is, i.e. any modern phone that can receive email, surf the web with a built-in browser, make phone calls, send texts, take pictures or video, and install useful applications. Apple’s iPhone, Windows Mobile (lots of different brands), Android G1.x, Palm Pre and older models, Blackberry, all of these phones can wirelessly synchronize your email, calendar and contacts. There’s no big difference in the functionality of the different phones when it comes to your email.

Now that we are on the same page let’s look at why get a smart phone, and if so, what are the pros and cons.

The average user in Belize buys a cell phone for the primary reason of sending and receiving calls. With the advent of text bundles and text messages costing as low as $.02 Belize per message, that ranks as the second most important thing to do with your cell phone.

So who are those smart phone users BTL is trying to attract to use its Blackberry service? Research showed that more than 50% of smart phone users in the US were between the ages 2045, and with the UK and Asia pushing similar stats, it’s a fair bet to say Belize is no different.

After Apple successfully launched the Apple iPhone 3G in July of 2008 the local telephone companies all started marketing the rollout and expansion of their networks to support 3G and now more recently 4G, thus truly harnessing the power of the smart phone.

What is 3G? According to Wikipedia 3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. Application services include wide-area wireless voice telephone, mobile Internet access, video calls and mobile TV, all in a mobile environment.

To meet these standards, a system is required to provide peak data rates of at least 200 kbit/s. The most common of these are CDMA based like the Smart Network from Speednet.

While the GSM EDGE standard (“2.9G”), that BTL uses, also fulfill the requirements and are approved as 3G

standards by ITU, but these are typically not branded 3G, and are based on completely different technologies.

With my old cell phone working just fine and economics playing a vital role in where and how you spend, why invest in a smart phone? Well, this all depends on who you are, what you want it for and what you are willing to sacrifice for one. For teens, it’s all about videos, music, messaging, and keeping it all centralized in one place. FACEBOOK! I dare to say that the #1 reason for teens acquiring a smart phone is based purely on its APPS (Applications for smart phones). Most tech guides will tell you to buy your smart phone based on its operating system as it directly affects how many and which apps you can install on it. Some apps manufacturers do multi-platform manufacturing to accommodate multiple smart phone handsets and operating systems, however, as the base encoding is different from manufacturer to manufacturer, this is often a very expensive venture for app manufacturers and is used only for the most critical of apps. The chart below shows the company, number of apps and market domination.

Looking at the top four manufacturers, Blackberry not only has the least amount of apps, it also has the least amount of downloads. Apple iOS and Google’s Android clearly dominating the app market, begs to question, why invest in a Blackberry, and at release costs of around $500 Belize per subsidized price, what is the real benefit?

Well if you are looking to surf the web at super high speeds the Blackberry browser fails miserably! Blackberry’s late to the market web browser appears to be kluged together compared to other brands. Most people complain it’s too slow and you have to disable photos to make it work. By comparison, iPhone’s Safari web browser is very fast, even with pictures.

Emails? Blackberry is the only service that requires all of its emails to go through a bank of servers on the East Coast of America before they get to you. There have been several outages over the last few days that have disrupted services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India and South America.

RBC analysts Mike Abramsky and Paul Treiber estimated that about half of BlackBerry’s 70 million subscribers outside North America could be affected.

Security? Is this the reason business owners get Blackberry over the competition? Absolutely not! In fact, you have to lower the security in Windows just to make Blackberry work. By default Windows has higher security, but the design of the Blackberry is so archaic you would have to allow the Blackberry account to have full send access to every email box. This means that if the Blackberry account gets hacked, the attacker can send email and SPAM out from every address in your contacts list.

At the end of the day my only suggestion to consumers will be don’t be like your telecommunications company who banked on “Black and Busted” because a marketing executive and some ads on TV told them it was a good idea seek the advice of a trusted independent professional. After all, it’s your $500 they will be asking you to shell up and its better to be safe than sorry. together compared to other brands.

Leadership Change in the People’s United Party Albert Area Representative and former Minister Mark Espat is the interim-leader of the People’s United Party. He was appointed to that position to guide the party until a new leader is chosen by November 1st. Espat became the interim-party leader with the sudden resignation of then Party Leader John Briceno on Friday October 7th for health reason.

Hon. John Briceno served the party as leader with distinction for the past 3 1/2 years following its defeat in the 2008 general elections. Briceno led the effort of rebuilding the party in every town, city, and village in all 31 constituencies across the length and breadth of the country. Thus at the time of his resignation the party has a full slate of 31 competent and reliable Standard Bearers for the next general election and more than 95% of its Mayoral candidates and councilors have been selected for the municipal elections that will be held next year in the month of March. With the support of the people Briceno therefore hands-over leadership of the People’s United Party after putting it in a much better position to win the upcoming municipal and general elections. For those and many other contributions as leader of the People’s United Party, we all say a big thank you to immediate past party Leader Hon. John Briceno.

The appointment of Mark Espat as interim-leader of the People United Party rest well with the vast majority of supporters of the party and independent voters countrywide. As Area Representative for Albert for the third consecutive term and two term Minister in the previous two term PUP administration ,Mark Espat has proven himself as a hardworking ,talented , reliable ,and dedicated person and a person of vision ,who listens to the people and believes in planning things properly . In the 21 days before the party select a new party leader, he will therefore continue the work of rebuilding the People’s United Party from where Johnny Briceno left off to further enhance it chances of being victorious at the polls in 2012 and 2013.

As interim-party leader Mark Espat has offered himself as the next leader Most people complain it’s too slow and you have to disable photos to make it work. By comparison, iPhone’s Safari web browser is very fast, even with pictures.

Emails? Blackberry is the only service that requires all of its emails to go through a bank of servers on the East Coast of America before they get to you.

There have been several outages over the last few days that have disrupted services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India and South America. RBC analysts Mike Abramsky and Paul Treiber estimated that about half of BlackBerry’s 70 million subscribers outside North America could be affected.

Security? Is this the reason business owners get Blackberry over the competition? Absolutely not! In fact, you have

of the People’s United Party, the party that lead Belize to independence with all its territory. With the many challenges such as escalating crime, huge unemployment, and lack of affordable housing for the people that confronts the nation under this incompetent and uncaring UDP administration, we are confident that Mark Espat is the best person to lead the People’s United Party to victory in the upcoming elections. The vast majority of Standard Bearers and supporters of the People’s United Party countrywide hold this view because Mark Espat has a record as a problem solver and a person who makes every effort to address the concerns of the people.

Nevertheless as a democratic party that respects freedom of speech and freedom of choice, other members of the party are welcomed to offer themselves as candidates to be the new party leader. Being good PUP’s ,who have the best interest of the country at heart , all we ask is that all persons who offer themselves as candidates to become the next leader of the People’s United Party fully support whoever emerges as the new leader of the party. That is vital for success at the polls, which is necessary for PUP to get the opportunity to use the resources of the country for the benefit of all Belizeans. And history has repeatedly shown that when the People’s United Party is united with maximum development for the people and country of Belize as its guiding principle ,it has always been victories at the polls in both municipal and general elections. to lower the security in Windows just to make Blackberry work. By default Windows has higher security, but the design of the Blackberry is so archaic you would have to allow the Blackberry account to have full send access to every email box. This means that if the Blackberry account gets hacked, the attacker can send email and SPAM out from every address in your contacts list.

At the end of the day my only suggestion to consumers will be don’t be like your telecommunications company who banked on “Black and Busted” because a marketing executive and some ads on TV told them it was a good idea - seek the advice of a trusted independent professional. After all, it’s your $500 they will be asking you to shell up and its better to be safe than sorry.

SESNECIL ROUQIL RO61FegSaPNOITACILPPA

Sunday, October 16th , 2011

Page 17

The Pan American Games in Mexico Muni munchies – Will a new broom sweep the PUP slate clean? will open on October 14th

Belmopan, Belize, 12 October 2010.- The Mexican Embassy invites the Belizean public to enjoy the Opening Ceremony of the 16th Pan American Games, Guadalajara 2011, Mexico, the most important sport event in the Americas and the Caribbean on Friday, October 14th 2011, at 7:00 pm (Belize time), which will be broadcasted in Belize.

The Belizean Delegation, which includes athletes such as Tricia Flores and Charnelle Enriquez, along with other 41 country delegations, will compete in the event.

Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games will include 36 different sports in 43 venues. The participation of 5,900 athletes, 2,000 delegates, 10,000 volunteers, 1.2 million spectators and 1,600 news reporters will make this event a unique one.

Belizeans are also invited to travel to Guadalajara to attend this spectacular 2 week event. Mexico has made great ​​ efforts to create the appropriate image for this PanAmerican city and the different co-host venues. It has built necessary sport infrastructure, made improvements in roads and advanced in services. It was necessary to build 23 stadiums equipped with the latest technology, renew three existing and borrow three private sports complexes.

In the service sector, Guadala-

jara, the capital city of the Mexican state of Jalisco, increased 30 percent its hotel infrastructure, growing from 16 thousand to 21 thousand hotel rooms, increasing the state’s capacity and allowing Jalisco to receive 500 thousand visitors.

The Pan American Games and Special Games Guadalajara 2011 will have global coverage through television and on the internet.

Jalisco is leader in Latina America and Mexico of the interactive media industry by hosting over 650 high-tech companies. It is also leader in semiconductor design, software development, multimedia systems and database management, generating more than 85,000 highly skilled jobs.

Jalisco is considered the most exemplifying state of Mexico. It has a wide variety of natural and urban landscapes such as beaches, agricultural lands and mountains.

It provides its visitors with memorable experiences by sharing its cultural histories and modern flare. Its capital, Guadalajara is the second largest and most modern city in Mexico.

For more details about the games, the venues and tourist information, visit the Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games web site: http://www.guadalajara2011.org. mx/eng/01_inicio/index.asp

TEMPORARY JUSTICE OF COURT OF APPEAL SWORN IN was sworn in as a temporary Justice of the Belize Court of Appeal today Professor Pollard is a well known luminary of the Caribbean. He was a judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice from 2005 to 2010.

After his retirement from the CCJ he took up appointment as Professor of Law at the University of Guyana. He has written widely on legal topics and has undertaken various lecturing assignment throughout the Caribbean region. His areas of expertise include general international law, law of treaties and inOctober 11, 2011 ternational economic law.

The sitting of the Court of There are 14 cases on the Appeal began today and is court calendar of which sevexpected to last until October en are civil and seven crimi28. Professor Duke Pollard nal.

APPLICATIONS FOR LIQUOR LICENSES

Notice is hereby given that Alfonsa Nunez is applying for a Restaurant LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at Yugadah Inn and Cafe , Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District under the INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSING ORDINANCE, Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Joel Garcia is applying for a PUBLICAN SPECIAL LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at JOE’s SPOT, Santa Rosa Village, Stann Creek District under the INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSING ORDINANCE, Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Peter Williams and Mitchell Sommerville is applying for a PUBLICAN SPECIAL LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at D-SPOT, DANGRIGA, Stann Creek District under the INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSING ORDINANCE, Revised Edition 1980.

Some of the persons vying to become councilor candidates for the PUP in the upcoming Belize City Council elections must have felt they’d been given a reprieve when they heard Party Leader John Briceno had called it quits, and in fact had been replaced by Mark Espat. I had reported last week that almost half of the 20 prospective candidates were being asked to step aside, and the party was choosing its candidates behind closed doors.

Word out this week is that 20 persons showed up at Independence Hall and handed in their applications for vetting by the now infamous ODS (Order of Distinguished Service) for vetting, and they will all shortly know who’s been accepted and who’s been disqualified.

The betting is that even if it has a new trainer the leopard can’t change its spots and the slate will emerge out of the ODS’ considerations of applications. Already scuttlebutt has it that those applicants who “forgot” to include a police record could consider their nascent political careers as a PUP candidate over, at least for this dance. It seems some were conveniently not apprised of this “qualification.”

My reports are that Karen Bodden has submitted her application for the mayoralty candidacy as has anti-violence crusader Yolanda Shakron. It will be tricky because there are a few people saying that Mrs. Bodden is favoured by new Interim Maximum Chief Mark Espat. I can’t even hazard a guess as to whether there is any merit to the allegation because I simply don’t know. What I do know is that I believe that former leader JB favoured Madam Shakron because Vaughan “The Agent” Gill told me so.

There are also unverified reports that there may be a third contender.

Anyways, we’ll see what we will see.

***** The UDP BZCitco campaign is supposed to kick off this weekend with the Mayor and councilor candidates taking to the streets.

Things have been calm within the apparatus and some people are being warned about loose lips, particularly to this columnist.

Well heck, I am flattered that anyone should think that anything written and published here could prove the difference in this campaign but plueeezzeee Louise – get real. I don’t report anything that can’t be fairly easily discerned and because it won’t be all negative maybe somebody should cut me a cheque and a break.

Anyways, for the moment all things seem curry in the UDP camp and optimism is building among the faithful. I still wonder what role Zenaida will play. Will she remain hidden like that certain relative in the attic or will she accord a role for herself, ala Sarah Palin and emerge?

Her presence would certainly enliven what threatens to be a relatively so far pedestrian affair. ***** Was Stephen Okeke’s one-man campaign against the new Marine Parade roundabout décor the kick off to his run for the mayoralty?

Although Okeke denies it, it certainly looks that way.

In truth Okeke has been campaigning via the morning talk shows for some time, but has not formally announced his candidacy. Already word of his intentions has gotten him banned from WAVE Radio’s “Fus Ting Da Mawnin” and if one is to judge by the reaction by a certain PUP northern mayoral candidate, it is only a matter of time before the PUP starts “talking about him.”

Okeke should welcome the attention since it gives his candidacy relevance. If only they would stop ignoring Ernesto Torres and Paco Smith – hmmm as soon as the PUP decides on their candidate this columnist is demanding a debate.

House meeting called to pass Ninth Amendment Thursday, October 13, 2011 BELIZE CITY – It was announced early today that a meeting of the House of Representatives have been called for next Friday, October 21st, to immediately pass the Belize Constitution (Ninth Amendment) Bill, just one just one day after the lapse of the 90-day waiting period between the introduction of the Bill and its subsequent 2nd and 3rd reading in the House of Representatives.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow is on record that he will not wait for the results of a referendum. He has not said publicly why the haste in passing the bill which will change a section of the constitution that

its opponents say will take away the fundamental right of property owners aggrieved by his administration’s acquisition of private property, to recourse to the courts.

A two months ago his former wife, now a highly paid government and considered by many to be the administration’s de facto Attorney General, retorted that the passage of the Ninth Amendment was a “done deal” in spite of an application on its constitutionality to the Caribbean Court of Justice, the nation’s highest court.

As of press time new PUP Leader of the Opposition Mark Espat has not indicated if his party will oppose the bill in the House.

www.nationalperspectivebz.org

Sunday,October 16th, 2011

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Team Belize eliminated from World Cup Brazil 2014 Deon Macaulay and Harrison “Kafu” Roches led Belize attacks against Grenada supported

by Danny and Orlando “Lichy” Jimenez and Harrison Tasher and Victor Morales at midfield. Dalton Eiley anchored the defense with the help of Elroy Smith, Elroy Kuylen, and Ian Gaynair. Belize tried to get an attack going, but their task was complicated by torrential rains the night before which had left the field swamped with water. Their flat lateral passes on the ground just were not working, as the ball went no where in the water.

By comparison, the Grenadians who had played 2 friendly matches against a Georgeville squad in mud and water after they arrived, were well prepared for the wet condition of the field, they worked the ball with a seris fo aerial passed that resulted in #10 Shane Rennie scoring the 1st goal in the 37th minute and #14 Marcus Julien added a 2nd goal in the 41st minute to lead 2-0 at the half time break.

Belize’s Ryan Simpson entered the ball game for Orlando Jimenez early in the 2nd half, but it was the Grenadians who extended their lead to 4-0 when #5 Lancaster Joseph scored in the 50th minute and #12 Clive Murray scored a 4th goal in the 80th minute.

The game was into injury time, when finally Ryan Simpson scored a consolation goal for Belize.

Orlando Jimenez did not travel

Guatemala City, October 11, 2011

goal area, and Guatemala’s #22 Mario Ignacio Lopez Campella Team Belize has been eliminated from qualifying to the world Cup got��������������������������������� a kick on it into the ent to reBrazil 2014 by 2 consecutive losses; 4-1 to Grenada at the FFB field in gain the lad 2-1 in the 65th minute.

Belmopan last Friday and 3-1 to Guatemala at the Mateo Lopez Olympic Shane moody Orio was hurt in the Stadium in Guatemala city on Tuesday night. aerial contact, and Woodrow West replaced him in goal. This was Belize’s 3rd and last change, but the humiliation was not over as again a defender gave up a penalty, when Everald Trapp fouled Nacho Lopez in the goal area. The referee sent off Trapp for the blatant foul, and this time Carlos Ruiz Lopez converted, sending the ball to his left, catching West going the wrong way as West dived to his left, and Guatemala now led 3-1 in the 80th minute.

Belize found itself down to nine men when Danny Jimenez was also carried off with an injury. with the team to Guatemala, and On Danny would return to the field Tuesday night, again Macauley and of play, but the score remained Roches led the attacks, supported by unaltered till the long whistle.

Ryan Simpson and Danny Jimenez Belize still has two remaining caulay who faced the Guatemalan on the wings and backed up by Vicmatches in this round against St tor Morales and Harrison Tasher at goalie Ricardo Jerez one on one. Vincent and the Grenadines, but midfield. Tasher goofed in holding Macaulay won with a left foot shot with only 3 pts so far from a 3-0 on to the jersey of #10 Carlos “Pes- to the right goal post to equalize the win over Grenada in Grenada, 2 cado” Ruis Gutierrez as he attacked score 1-1 in the 31st minute, and it more wins would see Belize exit in the goal area in the 8th minute of was still a 1-1 ball game at the half. this round with 9pts. Guatemala is play and the Mexican central referee Guatemala made 3 substitutions leading the group with 12 pts from ruled penalty. Guatemala’s #5 Carlos at the half, and the intensity of the 4 wins and is virtually assured to Gallardo converted for a 1-0 lead. Gautemalan attacks increased even advance to the next round, but still Belizean defender Dalton Eiley as the light drizzle at the start of the has 2 remaining matches against had to be carried off the field after game turned into a heavy down- Grenada. Grenada needs to win a hard contact with the Guatemalan pour. A cross to center by the Gua- both matches against Guatemala offense, and Everald Trapp entered temalans found Carlos Ruis in the and 2 more against St Vincent to the ball game. A quick counterat- air versus Belize’s goalie Shane supersede Guatemala in the group. tack by Belize’s Harrison Roches Orio. Ruiz was unable to head the forwarded the ball to Dion Ma- ball in, but he kept it alive in the

Team 313 & Strikers win in men’s softball Guatemala City, October 11, 2011 Team 313 outlasted the Oceana Pros 14-10, while the Strikers walloped the Dantos 8-1 by mercy rule, when the Belize City men’s softball playoffs got underway at the home of softball at the Roger’s Stadium on Sunday, October 9.

The Oceana Pros were leading for the first 5 ininngs as Shane wiliams came home in the 1st inning, and Williams, Carlyon flores and michale Middleton came hom in the 3rd to lead 4-1 when only Kevin Siroki scored for Team 313.

The Oceana Pros extended their lead to 7-1 when Williams, pitcher Herman burke and Ryan Smith came home in the 4th inning. Milton Flores scored a 2nd run Oceana Pros in the bottom of the 5th The game might have ended by for Team 313 in the top of the 5th. to lead 8-2, but Team 3113 would mercy rule in the 5th inning, but Glenford Flowers also scored for tie the score and lead 9-8 when Pat-

rick Rowland, Milton Flores, Michael Nolan, David Vasquez, Mushae Macdonald, Jamal Matute, and relief pitcher Jason Belisle came home in the top of the 6th inning.

Carlyon Flores tied the score for Oceana at 9-9, and when no runs scored in the 7th inning, the game went into a tie-breaker 8th inning, in which Rowland, Nolan Michael, Kareem Michael, and Macdonald scored 5 more runs to lead 14-9.

The ocean pros failed to tie the score as only Rodney lord scored in the bottom of the 8th, and Team 313 went on to post the 14-10 win.

Pitcher Brandon Bood led the Strikers to a 8-1 win over the Dantos in the other playoff game earlier in the afternoon.

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Hector Rangel, Mike Lewis, Shalini Zabaneh & Oscar quiros win 7th annual Orange Walk Bypass cycling criterium Orange Walk, October 10, 2011

the $100 2nd prize, while Halton Ritchie of the Horizon team took home the $75 third prize. Carlos Castellan de la Torres of the Depredadores team was fourth, and his teammate Omar Gomez Queme was fifth. Ronald Sutherland of the Santino’s team finished sixth, while Kenneth Butler of the M&M team took seventh place and Depredarores’ Manuel Ayala Balam was eighth. Collet Maheia of the Horizon team was ninth and Liam Stuart of the M&M team rounded out the top 100. All riders fourth to 10th position received a $25 prize and a medal, only 31 riders finished the race of the 36 who had started.

Team Cayo Uprising’s Oscar Quiros won the 40 mile junior race of four laps clocking 1:43:16 o win a $200 first prize and trophy. Juan Umana of the Cayo High Road team took the $150 second prize and Johnny Quintal Valencia of the Depredadores team won the $100 third prize.

Aiden Juan of Cayo High Road took fourth place, while Zahir Figueroa of Cayo Uprising was fifth and Kyle Gentle of the D&D team was sixth.

Steven Castaneda of Cayo Uprising was seventh, Geovanni Lovell of the Indeco team was eight and Zamir Guerra of Cayo High road was ninth; Christopher Sandoval of Cayo Uprising rounded out the top 10.

All riders, fourth to 10th position, received a $25 prize and a medal.

Mexican rider Hector Hugo Rangel of the Depredarores team from Chetumal, Quintana Roo won the elite category, while Mike Lewis riding independently won the Masters Category, Team Sagitun’s Shalini Zabaneh won the women’s category and Oscar Quiros of Team Cayo Uprising won the junior race when the Belize Cycling Association held the 7th annual Orange Walk bypass cycling criterium sponsored by Area representative Hon. Johnny Briceno on Monday, October 10.

Rangel clocked 2:18:12 over the 6 laps over the 10-mile circuit, breaking the record of 2:22:37 set by last year’s champ David Henderson Jr. to win the $400 1st prize and trophy. Team Depredarores’ Carlos Manuel Hernandez was right behind to win the $200 2nd prize, while his teammate Eduardo Lada Cocom clocked 2:19:48 edged out Team Western Spirits’ Jose Choto to win the $150 3rd prize.

Choto took home the $50.00 4th prize and a medal, while Team Indeco’s Geon Hanson of Belmopan clocked 2:20:02 to place 5th and Team D&D’s Kyne Gentle was 6th.

Team C-ray’s Ron Mckenzie was clocked 2;20:13 for 7th place with Team Western Spirit’s Geovanni Choto taking 8th place.

Mexico’s Team Depredadores’ Donizetti Vasquez Aburto clocked 2;20;23 for 9th place and Team Santinos’ Jairo Campos of Orange Walk was 10th. All cyclists from 4th������������������������ to�������������������� 10th positions received a $50 prize and a medal.

Fifty two riders began the race, and Team Benny’s Megabytes’ Panamanian import Christian McNish led at the end of the 1st lap, then Team M&M’s Orson Butler took over the pace at the start of the 3rd lap.

Team Indeco’s David Henderson Jr led at the start of the 4th lap, but Rangel and Hernandez broke away from the main peloton in

the rain on the 4th circuit and soon opened a minute gap from the peloton by the start of the 5th lap, and Manuel Hernandez was on the pace at the start of the 6th and final lap, the gap was now 2 minutes from the main peloton.

In the female race, Shalini Zabaneh clocked 1:15:35 over the 30-mile ride over 3 laps of the course, to claim the $150 1st prize and trophy, while Kira Eiley clocked 1:34:18 to win the $100 2nd prize and trophy.

Big Mike Lewis clocked 1:15:35 as he won the Masters category to win the $150 first prize. Team FT Williams’ Barney Brown won

Belize City’s undefeated Millennium girls posted their 7th win 3-1 over the Caye caulker island Stars to lead the Belize district female football competition in week 7 at the Hattieville field on Sunday, October 9.

Millennium’s Sheryann Tracy scored the 1st winning goal, but then the Mimllennium defenders goofed into conceding a penalty, and Caye Caulker’s Lillian Joseph converted to tie the ball game at 1-1. Sheryann Tracy soon drilled a 2nd goal past goalie Maribel Dominguez to lead 2-1 at the halfChristine Avila Jacobs scored a 3rd goal in the 2nd half for the 3-1 win.The Ladyville Orchids posted their 1st win: 1-0 over the Sand Hill Untouchables in the 2nd

game of the day. The Untouchables had taken the field with only 7 players, and Orchids’ veteran sweeper Helen Flowers shut down the Untouchables attacks with the help of Jacqueline Rivera, Noemi Savedra and Lilian Banegas.Loida Contreras and Shakira Clarke led the Orchids’ attacks with the help of midfielders Lenny Ayuso, Joselly Tillett, Kenia Villamil and Lilian Banegas but ti wasa nil-zip ball game at the half.

Loida Contreras scored the Orchids’ winning goal in the 2nd half.

The Hattieville Heat held the Ladyville Tornadoes to a 1-1 draw in the 3rd game of the evening. Ashlya Gordon and Deandra Coote led the Hattieville attacks with the help of Jersha Estrada, Lauren Stevens and Ebony White at midfield, and Gor-

tieville defenders goofed in giving up a penalty. The Tornadoies sent for Marcelina Mai to convert tie the ball game at 1-1.The Hattieville girls pressed their attacks as they sought the win, but Sherrie Gillett and Alma Alarcon held off their attacks while Natasha and Julie sought to score a second winning goal, but they made no impression on the Hattieville defenders Kenya Brown, Kelsey Pou, and Felicia Gillett who had locked up shop to secure the 1-1 draw at the long whistle. don drew first blood for H attieville. The competition continues in Caye Natasha Young and Michelle An- Caulker on Sunday, October 16, drews led the Tornadoes’ counterat- where Millennium will challenge tack, with the help of Mertell Bai- the heat, the orchids face a rematch ley and Julie McCord on the wings with the Tornadoes and the Island and midfielders Salambu Munnings Stars will do battle with the Unand Marcelina Mai, and the Hat- touchables.

Millennium Girls No.1 in Belize district women’s football Hattieville, October 9, 2011

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Sunday, October 16th , 2011