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The Belize Times
Sunday, September 26, 2010
COLA Writes PM Barrow
It is what it is Belizeans are still wondering how the two leaders of Belize’s largest political organizations could have such radically disparate view of the same nation as expressed in the speeches by Leader of the Opposition John Briceno and Prime Minister Dean Barrow. For the Prime Minister Belize is a nation that’s measured by the numbers given to him by the technocrats and bean counters a t t h e S t a t i s t i c a l I n s t i t u t e o f B e l i z e, a n d by h i s c o t e r i e o f bureaucrats, cronies, well-to do friends and relatives. Indeed for some of the latter, these are the best of times. For the Leader of the Opposition Belize is a nation that’s measured by the hardship and sacrifice he has seen daily as he travels the length and breadth of Belize, from the hill top villages at the end of muddy unmaintained roads hidden in the rainforests of south western Toledo, to the abandoned stores of the Corozal Freezone. Whose view of Belize is real? Is it that of the man who sits almost ever y day with people who are clinging hard to a fading hope of a job, a scholarship, a break? Whose reality is blood on the streets, fear in your hear ts, and the unquenchable hurt of being marginalized in your own countr y? Whose reality is that others’ lives are now a just statistic, an arithmetical measurement of some many pounds, and so many dollars? Who sits with the women behind paper-thin walls that offer scant protection to the elements of nature, and none to the elemental nature of man? W ho is protected from the people by a security unit of ar med men with hard eyes and heavy weapons, and factotums and secretaries with imperious airs and palpable attitudes of entitlements? Are you shackled by an economic recession whose untrammeled effect is being felt in in ever y settlement, village, town and city in our Jewel? Did you or someone you know lose their job? Is it not tr ue that too many of our children are out of school and our youth have little hope? Are there rampant crime and violence, hatred and fear, stalking our beloved land, causing us to live as prisoners in our own homes? Isn’t it that ever y day there is news of more tragedy - 97 Belizeans have been murdered already this year, with the g rim certainty of yet more to come? Aren’t we being killed in our homes, killed in the streets; aren’t mothers, fathers, and families weeping over the bodies of loved ones while our prisons overflow? Have there even been so many failed investig ations and prosecutions or so little justice for Belizean families? Have there ever been a time when so many Belizeans been so poor? Throughout the health system, things seem to be coming undone, babies dying due to a lack of doctors in hospitals, children dying from dengue, doctors and nurses threatening to g o on strike, the deliver y of NHI ser vices being reduced instead of enhanced. Do you know of families sur viving on noodles, and that steak is beyond the reach of most? And as for the numbers, don’t we know by now that the first quar ter of the financial is when the economy shows g rowth, and later the numbers fall so that by the end of the year 2 percent may ver y well be minus two. What about the tourism numbers, if last year tourism fell by 12 percent and this year there is less than 12 percent, then aren’t the numbers still down? Are the citr us far mers and the association not in conflict? These are the facts and they cannot be disputed. So in the end, It is what it is, your reality is the life you live. Dean Bar row and the UDP do not live our reality. He told us so on Independence Day.
Dear Hon. Dean Barrow: This letter is in regard to the present oil sharing agreemnt between the Government of Belize and the Belize Natural Energy (BNE), which is presently responsible for extracting oil in the Spanish Lookout Area. Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) is very much concerned about the inequity in the sharing agreement since we believe that BNE has long made their investment and an equitable amount in profit. COLA beleives that our country is not benefiting from the oil as we should. We are very much aware of the contract which was awarded to BNE and are in no way asking you to dishonor that contract. However, we would like to bring your attention to the INCOME AND BUSINESS TAX( AMENDMENT ) ACT, August 29th, 2008, SECTION 125, which speaks specifically about the THRESHOLD PRICE set in section 122 and it states that the threshold price specific to section 122 which was set at US $90.00 per barrel for existing oil fields.and US $100.00 for new oil fields. It clearly states tat the threshold price shall be reviewed ANNUALLY by the Government in consultation with representatives of the petroleum industry with a view to determine whether any adjustments are needed to take into account of any material changes in the prevailing circumstances. This August 2010 will complete two years a review of the threshold price. Since your administration took office two years ago, we have not seen any evidence that there has been any annual reviewing of the threshold price and if there were such happenings these were not made public. We have been made to understand that the threshold price was set at US $90.00per barrel. COLA believes that setting the threshold price at US $90.00 was not in the best interest of our nation Belize. COLA is calling on your administration to modify the threshold price be lowered to US$40.00 per barrel. This new threshold will allow us to start benefiting more from our national heritage. We are also aware of external factors that you mentioned with regards to United States Congresssmen advising your administration not to tamper with te existing tax structure. COLA would like to remind you that we elected our leaders to to serve our people and to do what is in our best interest for the development of our nation and our human resources. History is clear to show those who have served their country and its people's best interest will always have the support of its people. However it has also shown that those who neglect to create opportunities and adhere to the people's wishes are eventually put aside by the people. We beleive that when we start making the equitable revenue from our oil, Belize can provide better access to education, better health are, better infrastructure, better housing and social assistance to those in need without waiting for a donor nation. With this, we will also seee a substantial decrease in crime, poverty and ignorance. We would also like for your administration to review the SURCHARGE system in place, which is a progressive one that will almost never reach its potential. According to the Income and Business Tax (Amendment)Act 2008, “Rate of Petroleum Surcharge Table on page 13, the Surcharge of 50% would only come in effect if the price of crude oil was to reach over US $190.00 per barrel. According to the Petroleum Surcharge Table we are presently not obtaining any revenue since the will only start at 15% after oil reaches US$105.00 per barrel. We at COLA would like your administration to adjust the Surcharge system as to match the proposed Threshold price of US$50.00 per barrel. Hence the surcharge of 50% would take effect when oil is US $50 or above.. In closing, we at COLA only want to see the Imagined Possibilities come to reality. We at COLA and the People of Belize only want to see the change Belizeans can benefit from. We look forward to your administration's revision and modification of the Threshold Price and Surcharge making it more beneficial to our country, Belize. We can work together in doing the right thing to make our nation the most progressive and developed in the region. COLA would like to thank you in advance for your understanding. Sincerely, Moses Sulph President COLA
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