Belize Times August 19, 2012

Sunday, August 19, 2012

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THE BELIZE TIMES

SCAN HERE

Dean’s Default!

SUNDAY August 19, 2012

www.facebook/Belize Times

Issue No. 4809

Belize’s economy in serious danger

PM Dean Barrow

“Standard & Poor’s lowered its sovereign-credit rating on Belize further into junk territory, after the country’s government said it won’t make its coming coupon payment on its bonds due 2029,” stated S&P’s release.

Other credit rating agencies are expected to react similarly, as more bad news follows.

The Barrow Administration has not been fully open about the reason it is unwilling to meet the next Superbond payment. It had included the payment as part of its debt expenditure in the 2012-2013 Budget and had committed to meeting it, but it is now saying that it “cannot afford [it]”. Bondholders have reacted very sceptically and cynically. They

TOP MODEL

More Guatemalans busted stealing Belize’s gold BELIZE CITY, Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

By Alton Humes It seems, now more than ever before, that unless the Belize-Guatemala differendum is permanently and completely settled by both parties, illegal entrants from what is officially a hostile, maleficent neighbor whose citizens cross our borders hand-over-fist without internal penalty and/or reprimand will continue to hold sway and renContinued on page 6

Murder Count almost at 100 BELIZE CITY, August 15th, 2012 With the economy in shambles, Belizeans don’t need any more bad news. But the Barrow Administration’s patent incompetence in dealing with every aspect of the nation’s affairs is causing a shower of bad news for Belizeans. One of them is their inability to reduce the level of murders and violent crime.

Last year, the crime rate was the highest. Now the Barrow Administration is one its way to breaking that

See page 12

suspect that the Barrow Administration is simply holding out in an attempt to force them to sit and agree to re-negotiate the Superbond, something that they have opposed ever since the Prime Minister first announced that his administration would enter discussions to re-adjust the payment terms.

But the real danger for Belizeans is ahead. If the Barrow Administration does not make the Superbond payment by the end of the 30-day grace period, on SepContinued on page 4

See page 11

Belize City, August 15, 2012 By announcing a default of its debt obligations, the Barrow Administration has strapped an albatross around the necks of Belizeans and is sentencing the country to many more years of economic depression.

Tuesday’s announcement by the UDP Government that it won’t pay the August 20th Superbond coupon sent shockwaves across the world as Belize is now being seen, as Prime Minister Dean Barrow himself forewarned as Opposition Leader in December 2006, a HARD PAY nation.

Hours after the announcement, Standard and Poors credit rating agency reacted negatively.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

US warns of increased crime wave Belize City, August 13, 2012 The Obama Administration has warned the Barrow Government that crime and violence related to drug trafficking could escalate even more if steps are not taken to strengthen Belize’s security environment.

See page 13

06 Chantae Guy makes waves at Miss World 11

Honouring Rt. Hon. George Price’s memory

PUP leaders on working visit in US

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THE BELIZE TIMES

GOB Defaults on Bond Coupon Payment 14 August, 2012 The People’s United Party notes with grave concern the decision of the UDP Government to announce that Belize will not be making the August 20, 2012 Coupon payment due on the 2029 Bond.

The Leader of the Opposition was neither consulted on or informed of this very critical decision which has very serious implications for Belize’s economy and development.

During the Budget debate for 2012/13 the Nation was led to believe that the government had budgeted for this payment and would be honoring the August 20, 2012 payment.

We call on the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to immediately address and inform the Nation on the specific reasons for the decision and the consequences and implications expected to follow.

It remains our hope that the Bond Restructuring exercise currently underway is successful.

Our party will continue to monitor this process very closely. (PRESS RELEASE)

NOTICE TO READERS AND ADVERTISERS In an effort to improve the quality of the Belize Times the management has taken the decision to cease printing of the newspaper temporarily.

The Belize Times will publish online at www.belizetimes.bz until further notice.

Advertisers are advised to contact us at email:

belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

to find out more information.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for the support.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

National Service Day 14 August, 2012 At a recently convened meeting of the National Executive of the People’s United Party (PUP), the Executive reviewed, discussed and unanimously agreed to support the initiative of the George Price Center for Peace and Development to commemorate the life, work, dedication and service of the late Rt. Hon. George Price by declaring the 19th of September as “National Service Day”.

As proposed by the Center, leaders and members of the PUP will pay tribute to the legacy of the Father of the Nation by carrying out community service projects and delivering his message of making a positive change through hard work and service to the people of Belize, in keeping with the PUP motto “Serve the People”.

In addition to setting aside a day of national service, the PUP has also resolved to press the government to declare the 15th of January a national holiday to mark the birth of a true Belizean patriot, a leader who loved his country unconditionally and above all things, the man who led our nation to independence and dedicated his entire life to the betterment of all Belizeans. (PRESS RELEASE)

16 yr. old Kirk Hemmans is latest murder victim

Kirk Hemmans BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

By Alton Humes Kirk Hemmans, a 16-year-old resident of Benbow Street, is the latest youth to be brutally murdered in the harsh, merciless streets of Belize City.

It happened at around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, August 15th just as he was going to buying food from a Chinese shop on Fairweather Street.

He was riding his bicycle onto Kut Avenue and minding his own business, when a gunman also on bicycle accosted him from behind and fired a single fatal shot at him, hitting him to his right upper back, after which he later escaped into the dark night onto Kut Avenue, then onto Kraal Road.

The adjectives and the adverbs that have consistently described so many other vicious murders merely pale here, and in the streets of a City already besieged, only one word floats to mind in this case – “senseless”. And it is that exact sentiment that one of his neighbors, food vendor Gayla O’Brien, conveyed to the media in an off-camera interview. One of

many within the neighborhood who saw Kirk as ‘helpful’, she elaborated even further, citing his invaluable help as a delivery man for her food business, as well as being a presence who brought positive light into her life through his singing and dancing. But unfortunately Kirk seemed unable to shake the need to hang out on Supal Street, a neighborhood in the middle of an all-out gang war between rivals.

That may have been the reason he was targeted and executed on Monday night.

With no suspects detained at this time, the investigation into the murder of Kirk Hemmans continues.

THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams STAFF REPORTER

Alton Humes Published By The Belize Times Ltd. #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

editortimes@yahoo.com

Sunday, August 19, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Superbond Scare

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“The proposal was worse than investors expected” – Boris Segura, Nomura Securities Belize City, August 13, 2012 Although the Barrow Administration’s Superbond team, led by UDP Ambassador Mark Espat, has kept the Belizean public in the dark over the renegotiation of Belize’s debt obligations, their performance can be measured by the heap of reaction that erupted last week following the Government’s announcement of re-negotiation terms.

Much can be derived when key financial advisors and bondholders are reacting and describing the Espat-terms as “a threat” (Citigroup analysts), “worst than Greece” (J

Mediratta, Chairman of the ad-hoc committee of holders), “worse than investors expected” (Boris Segura, Nomura Securities), “horror” (Sujata Rao, Global Investing, Reuters), and “worse than most people expected” (Dr. Carl Ross, Oppenheimer).

The negative reaction is over Government’s suggestion that bondholders have three options. These consist of (1.) extending the bond to 2062 at a flat 2% coupon rate with a 15 year grace period, (2.) a principal payment of 45% and extending the bond to 2042 with varying interest rates but no grace period, and

The BELIZE TIMES

sets the record straight Belize City, August 15, 2012 There are many fond memories we at the BELIZE TIMES have of Doreth Bevans, Rachel Kisling and Fay Castillo as part of the family. And so it was, as the Party Leader stated in his press release earlier this week, a most difficult and troubling decision that there would have to be a downsizing at the newspaper, and Doreth, Rachel, Fay and others would no longer be with us.

For any business, it is never an easy task to have to release longstanding members of staff, not at Christmas time or during “maaga” season, which as we now know, has been extended under this UDP government to a year-round cycle.

Businesses all over the country, like the BELIZE TIMES, are now being faced with making difficult and painful decisions to let go hardworking and dedicated employees due to the turbulent economic times brought on by the reckless and incompetent decisions of Dean Barrow and the UDP government.

We wish the record to reflect that shortly after the general elections of 2008, due to uncertainty of the future of the BELIZE TIMES and the transition into new leadership, these members of staff were paid all their benefits and entitlements in accordance with the Labour Law. Thereafter, the employees continued working under new management for an additional five years, and on Friday, the 10th of August, 2012, they were once again paid their full benefits and entitlements in accordance with the law for that period of employment.

The following are the total sums received by the said employees for their respective years of service: (i) Doreth Bevans - $25,597.60 (ii) Rachel Kisling - $10,869.10 (iii) Fay Castillo - $11,836.22 Of course, as would be expected with the downsizing from any political organ, the opposition media (including Hezbollah X) and disgruntled members of PUP past, are pouncing on the misfortune, vulnerability and

emotions of Doreth, Rachel and Fay in order to try and gain political capital.

As for Hezbollah X, perhaps this would be an opportune time for the self-righteous crew to declare to the Belizean public exactly how much they have been receiving in advertisements from BTL since Dean Barrow hi-jacked the company “for the Belizean people”. It would be nice to know Hezbollah X, really nice to know.

They are more concerned with seeing the destruction of the PUP, as they berate and denounce the PUP on a daily and weekly basis, but say nothing about this vindictive, chancey, and corrupt Barrow government.

Where were they when Patrick Faber fired Hirian Good so that “his people could eat”. They say nothing about the unending murders and genocide of black youths on the southside.

They say nothing about Barrow’s reckless governance which has the country on the brink of plunging into a failed state.

Sure we can go on and on about how the cancer that is Hallmark and Hezbollah X are reveling in the loss of jobs for these employees, just so that they can get in a jab at the former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Said Musa.

Try as you may to detract from the fact that you, Hezbollah X and you, Jules Vasquez, are living high off the BTL through while the rest of Belize sits scared at the thought of imminent devaluation because of the reckless decisions of your Prime Minister to strong-arm private companies and incur further debts that we cannot pay, just so that you could live the life.

Thanks to your Prime Minister, the rest of Belize must now go on to live in the real world, where dodging bullets and losing your job is a daily occurrence.

To our loyal and faithful supporters, we commit to you that we will not lose sight of the real issues confronting us as a nation. Today we may only be an online newspaper, but with your continued support, the BELIZE TIMES will be back on the streets, stronger and better than ever.

(3.) a 45% principal payment reduction with a five year grace period at 3.5% interest until 2042.

In all three, bondholders would face losses. Two options propose that bondholders take up to a 45% cut in principal payments.

“Belize’s so-called superbond has not proved to be a super investment proposition,” wrote Sujata Rao in the Global Investing report of Reuters News. “The country has set out proposals on how it might restructure the bond…and the ideas have been greeted with horror by investors”.

“These investors see neither the need nor the urgency for the scope of NPV haircut being offered by Belize, and Belize is likely to become a financial outcast in the region as a result,” viewed Dr. Carl Ross, in his Oppenheimer report.

The Espat tactics have created a

Superbond scare. Financial analyst Stuart Culverhouse, who is the head of research at bondholder Exotix, predicts that the bond, now trading at 30 cents could see a drastic reduction in value overtime, all the way to the low-20s.

The terms to restructure the US$543.8 million Superbond must be agreed to by 75% of bondholders in order for Government to proceed. But all indications are that there is more opposition and apprehension over the proposed terms than support.

Bondholders are now watching August 20th, which is the date for Belize’s next Superbond coupon payment. The Barrow Administration budgeted the payment but it is not known whether they will choose not to pay as a result of the deadlock with bondholders. If so, it could exercise a 30-day grace period to make the payment, or choose to announce a default on its debt.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

11-year-old shooting victim’s family living in fear BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

By Alton Humes The senseless and ruthless shooting of 11-year-old soon-to-be Standard 6 student Carline Pinto and her 18-year-old brother Tyrone this past Saturday, August 11th, 2012 at their home at #32-A Benbow Street has been the pointedly cold reminder of the collective national failure in permanently desisting the gang shootings and murders within the streets.

The family was ‘visited’ by the infamous Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) some hours earlier, between 2:30 and 3:00 a.m.

The GSU, according to them, were seeking someone known to them as ‘Kenton’, whom they were deeply convinced either lived there or at least knew the house, but Arlene Banner, the mother of the two victims, insisted to the GSU that no such person lived there. She even invited the crew of officers to search the home, which they did, if only to turn up nothing. They left shortly afterward, and Mrs. Banner tried to return to sleep only a few hours later to have someone fire a barrage of bullets from somewhere in the back of the yard to the street beyond it. Carline, who was sleeping next to her siblings at the time, was grievously injured as she was hit by shots to her stomach, shoulder, buttocks and right foot. Tyrone was hit on his leg.

Carline and Tyrone were rushed to the hospital, where Carline remains admitted under close watch. The BELIZE TIMES spoke to Mrs. Banner, as well as two of Carline’s male relatives. According

Dean’s

Default!

Continued from page 1

tember 19th, it will officially be in default, which could set off a string of negative financial effects that could further sink Belize’s ailing economy.

One of those consequences is that the already low investment level will tumble further because of poor investor confidence. This will worsen the already high unemployment level, and push more Belizeans into poverty and crime. Another is that Belize’s credit rating would fall deep into junk territory, affecting not only the Government’s ability to access credit, but the private sector’s also. Overall, the economy will be in serious danger with a Government that has been incapable and incompetent in producing economic growth.

Since taking office, Prime Minister Barrow has strategically opted to blame the Superbond for his Government’s troubles. This is a deliberate sour grapes cry to mask the Barrow Administration’s abject failure to bring about any sort of economic progress. Instead foreign investment has reduced drastically, poverty has increased, jobs scarcity is on the rise, and the cost of living has remained at an all-time high.

Ironically, as noted at the start of the article, Barrow himself foamed at the mouth in disdain at the thought of Belize defaulting on its loan obligations back in 2006. To do so, Barrow said then, “We will be known as an economically failed state. We will be known as a hard pay, can’t pay vagabond nation”.

We wonder what Barrow has to say now.

to them, Carline is ‘doing much better’ having survived a fairly grueling amount of surgery, but there is no confirmed date as to when she may be coming home. As far as they’re concerned, their home, which has multiple bullet holes through the wooden walls, not only pierced through their lives, but also their comfort. Admittedly, the family told us it was until much later that they looked to find how many bullet holes were left behind (the BELIZE TIMES counted at least 8 to 9 outside and another near-dozen inside, including the kitchen), nor where they came from.

While that the Police has stepped up its “presence” in the area with mobile patrols that pass every 15 minutes to ½ an hour, realizing that there may be nothing to stop the violence, everyone is still barely managing to hold.

“Ih no wah change…” remarked Tyrone on Monday.

11 year old Carline was lying on the lower bunk “That feeling is so inde-

bed when a hail of bullets pierced the nearby wall

Sunday, August 19, 2012 scribable because your heart is pounding, and the threat that you feel from all those gunshots was unexpected, especially for somewhere like a house filled with [people like] us who do not harass anyone…..”

His mother was on the same wavelength, telling the media, when asked about fears over security, that “….hell yes, I am. My kids and I, every time I come home, we try to sit down and talk about it; what will happen; what we will do; what will be the outcome if my daughter makes it; how she will react to it.

Even me as the mother, got that fear, to be honest. I am asking the Lord to help me through it so that I can cope...”

For this family, the latest in an indeterminable line who have been affected by the street violence, what they are in most need of is something only they can come under together – strength to make it through this near-tragedy, as well as the much-needed and much welcomed public prayers and help to guide young Carline Pinto to recovery, which is why the family is asking the general public, particularly those who have O-positive blood, to generously donate at the local Blood Bank (in her name, of course) a total of 10 pints to facilitate that recovery.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Turning Adversity into Opportunity The decision of the People’s United Party Leader to take a critical look at the BELIZE TIMES was a much-needed one. Suspending the newspaper’s traditional and fundamental role of having a presence on the streets and communities and having to let go key personnel was a tough consequence of the sober assessment.

It was not an easy decision. The persons affected have been essential to the newspaper, have been loyal to their work and are part of the PUP family. They have been with us through the good times and the bad times and to them we will always be grateful.

The BELIZE TIMES is much more than a newspaper. It is the living political organ of the People’s United Party. Whether the PUP is down or out, whether PUP officials are out campaigning or not, the BELIZE TIMES has remained present – week in and week out. While the Party’s radio station is expanding gradually to reach new areas across the country, the BELIZE TIMES has been there since the 1950s thanks to the Rt. Hon. George Price. It is the printed face of the Party, the official source of information about the Party, and proudly defends Belizeans with the Party’s philosophy of social justice as its shield.

The BELIZE TIMES is also more a political media than it is a business media. Its real purpose is to inform and defend the truth, rather than to make money. We leave that to the others who hide behind fences, play sides and make closed-door deals to ensure their financial longevity in the name of “media work”. We don’t have that luxury. We don’t live off sensationalism simply to make a buck, and we don’t pretend to be partial yet write with sustained and targeted malice. We tell Belizeans the truth about who we are, so they know what to expect.

The problem with the BELIZE TIMES; however, started long before last week Friday. It started way back when it got lost in a culture where the best business management principles were not being applied. Because its primary objective is not to make money, the newspaper continued operating at a loss and becoming an increasing liability to the Party. That was a huge mistake and what happened Friday was the tragic result.

Adding to the financial pain is the horrible economy. Dozens of businesses have closed their doors over the past four years. While we maintained the doors open, the advertising sector has been slowly crumbling. We do not rely on advertising to make a profit, but at the very least to offset expenses and remain afloat. In times of a financial crunch, advertising usually is not a priority. Businesses have been pinching their monies and become choosey with whom they advertise.

Over the last four years, the Government has focused the bulk of its advertising money on one newspaper. Favors have had to be returned, we guess.

The good news is that the BELIZE TIMES is not closing down. Last week’s edition went online, and thanks to technology, internet users can read the newspaper in virtual newsprint format. This week’s edition will also be available online only, and we expect a few more editions to follow the same manner, until we work out internal issues and prepare to once more roll out the print version.

While we wish the difficult phase was avoided, we won’t be beset by it. We recognise that we have an opportunity to get things rights, and by God’s might and your support we will.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca on situation at the BELIZE TIMES August 13, 2012 Upon assuming leadership of the People’s United Party in October 2011, I immediately recognized and appreciated that The Belize Times Press Ltd was not financially viable in its existing structure and operations, and represented a growing financial liability on the PUP. The intervening election campaign prevented me from taking the actions necessary to protect the Party’s assets and financial stability.

Following the March elections I directed the Party Chairman to carry out a full review and assessment of the operations of The Belize Times Press Ltd. That review made it absolutely clear that the existing structure, operations and business model were outdated, wasteful and unsustainable.

The state of Belize’s economy added to the challenges faced and like so many businesses in Belize today, The Belize Times Press ltd has been operating at a loss for the past few years and is no longer able to sustain those losses.

Some ten days ago I made the difficult but unavoidable decision to release 5 members of the Belize Times staff and family.

This has been the most difficult decision I have had to make as PUP leader and given the challenges faced over the past few months that should be a telling admission of the sincere appreciation and respect I and our Party have for these employees.

I subsequently advised the Party Chairman and Board of Directors of The Belize Times Press Ltd of my decision and requested that they act on that decision. That action came on Friday, August 10, 2012.

I regret greatly that this decision and action became necessary and offer my personal apologies, as I did in person to each of them on Friday, to these employees if they feel in anyway unfairly treated.

I have been advised that all employees affected by the decision have received benefits and entitlements due to them in accordance with labor law.

I take full responsibility for this decision. Our Party and I owe these employees and friends a great responsibility, but as Party Leader I owe an even greater responsibility to the members of our Party who as shareholders in the PUP are demanding that the financial affairs of our Party be administered with a greater sense of responsibility, accountability, and efficiency.

The Belize Times Newspaper is available online at www.belizetimes.bz until further notice.

People’s United Party Secretariat Serve the People! #3 Queen Street, Belize City Telephone: 674-9958 Facsimile: 223-3476 Email: pupsecretariat@yahoo.com

Sunday, August 19, 2012

PUP to honour memory of Rt. Hon. George Price Belize City, August 14th, 2012 The memory of the Father of the Nation and Leader Emeritus of the People’s United Party, the late Rt. Hon. George Price, will be honoured and will be embodied in the good deeds of Belizeans.

The PUP’s National Executive met last week Monday and declared the day of his passing, September 19, as a day of service. According to a release from the PUP Secretariat, the decision was taken to support the George Price Center for Peace and Development’s on-going initiative to commemorate the life, work, dedication and service of the late Rt. Hon. Price. “…the Executive reviewed, discussed and unanimously agreed to support by declaring the 19th of September as National Service Day,” stated the release.

On that day, the PUP will pay tribute to the legacy of the Father of the Nation by carrying out community service projects and delivering his message of making a positive change through hard work and service to the people of Belize, in keeping with the PUP motto “Serve the People”.

The PUP will also lobby for the day of Rt. Hon. Price’s birth, January 15th, to be declared a National Holiday. The decision will be up to the Government, but the PUP release underscored its importance “to mark the birth of a true Belizean patriot, a leader who loved his country unconditionally and above all things, the man who led our nation to independence and dedicated his entire life to the betterment of all Belizeans”.

More Guatemalans busted stealing Belize’s gold Continued from page 1 der our authorities further impotent in curbing their illicit activities.

The arrest of another group of Guatemalans this past weekend, who were caught red-handed illegally in our territory and mining for our gold, seems to give credence to the above.

Police, involved in a Special Joint Forces operation with the Belize Defense Force and rangers from the Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) that occurred on Friday, August 10th, 2012, arrested 45-year-old Chrisanto Augustin Choc, and his partner/relative, 19-year-old Santiago (both unemployed being from El Naranjon Dolores, Petén, Guatemala), for the offences of “Illegal Entry” and “Illegal Mining”.

The pair were busted along with other Guatemalan citizens around the Ceibo Chico creek in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve/Park. While the illegal entry charge certainly cuts like it ought to at anyone who doesn’t stand for the degradation of Belizean sovereignty, it’s the charge of illegal mining that hurts the most. We’ve heard time and again courtesy of our ever-present National Anthem that we’ve been ‘blessed’ with ‘wealth untold’.

So the question is: why do Guatemalans illegally come over and take our wealth untold as if it were for themselves and their own interests? Unfortunately, it’s the fight to prevent such a calamity from rising that continues to stymie the Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD), who issued a press release that once again not only highlights what they have to deal with but the utter frustration that

has rendered their captures ineffective, as some of the detainees have been known to attempt escape. Or, as expressed by FCD’s Executive Director, Mr. Rafael Manzanero, “The stealth action of Guatemalans is impressive as it demonstrates their determination to elude the Joint Forces and their ability to work in pitch darkness without any fear”.

So, what does the FCD want the Government of Belize to do to combat and prevent further incursions, as well as physical contamination of the rivers? Well, the FCD has been recommending the following: 1) A High-level working group comprised of The Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convene an urgent forum where immediate strategic steps are taken to take control of the situation; 2) Synchronize efforts with all the regulatory agencies including the Forest Department, Department of Immigration, and the Mining Unit in order to be more swift and effective in prosecuting the gold panners and 3) Incorporation of the Department of the Environment into this matter so as to assess and penalize individuals for the destruction, contamination and garbage dumps left in the headwaters of Belize.

But as has become the legacy of the Barrow administration over the past five years, the all-too-apparent impotency of the Ministers of National Security and Foreign Affairs seem to belie the question of what, if anything at all, will be done to cease this further degradation from continuing.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Humor

in UDP Politics!

The following matters were discussed in Cabinet: To take away the perks and stipend from the Negotiating Bonds team as they have nothing so far to show for the many trips, overnight stays at fancy hotels, long distance phone calls, taxi fares, etc. When asked under what heading he should put it, CabSec was told “Super Bond Wacky Team Pt. II” ………………………..

To consider as national security proposal to send the GSU into Chiquibul Area to stop the incursion of Guatemalans. But before the proposal could have finished being read, the Minister was asked why not just send Rambo? “Who’s that”, asked the Minister. The answer was, “the man Vidal!” ………………………..

Shortly after announcing that the Government would not pay its external debt, the Prime Minister received an email from Saldivar. It was titled “New Team Leader?” and it read, “I forgive you for trusting Judas, but now that he was failed, I am ready to be the new team leader”. Barrow laughed and instead of clicking on “Reply”, he clicked on “Forward” and sent the email to Hallmark20k@udpfools.org and zincfence@udpfools.org In other related News An argument broke out in Cabinet about who was the better looking Prime Minister. “Oh that’s easy,” said the CabSec, “It’s George Price hands down”. He was then asked, “So who was the ugliest?” He took a while before he said, “Well, Esquivel have the nose, but Barrow got the bald head.” ………………………..

The committee for decriminalisation of marijuana has extended the deadline for arguments for and against, but in the meantime the Chairman has received no less than a hundred different kinds of ganja all under the title of “smoke weed Dougie”. ………………………..

NEMO was asked why it shut the whole country down for a storm that didn’t come and was forecasted not to come. The response was “We me need wah halliday!” ………………………..

When the US accusations against three Belizean businessmen were read out in Cabinet, it was reported that two members of Cabinet were found dodging under the table. Later that evening, the Deputy confessed to Santi that he thought his name was also on the list. ………………………..

The Mayor of Belize City has launched an investigation into the robbery of James Swan Jr. from out of his grave. The report came back that things are so bad, so hard that “man out yah di thief even the dead”.

ComPol Henderson tries to get nephew’s girlfriend out of jail San Pedro, August 14, 2012 Fresh off defeating the members of the Police Association in a heated hand-strength-like battle, the Commissioner of Police David Henderson is back in hot water for reportedly trying to get his nephew’s girlfriend out of jail after the young woman was detained for allegedly assaulting a Police Officer.

19 year old Silvia Teul was arrested by San Pedro Police in the wee hours of Saturday morning after she allegedly attacked Woman Police Constable Lisa Castillo inside the Police Station. Teul reportedly arrived to find out about the detention of one of her friends who had been involved in a nightclub brawl earlier that night. Police say Teul seemed intoxicated so they asked her to leave the station and return when she turned sober.

Instead of being nice, Teul allegedly fired back saucy curse words.

Cursing a police officer is a criminal offense, so the female cop was about to detain Teul, but she fought back. It is reported that the officer suffered multiple scratches around her neck and on her face, as she was being choked.

Teul was eventually restrained and charged for assaulting a police officer, using indecent words, common assault and resisting lawful arrest. A Senior Justice of the Peace was brought in and decided wisely to remand Teul until the next court day on Monday to avoid another all-out brawl if she were released but that is when some mighty interference reportedly occurred.

The BELIZE TIMES understands that no other than the Commissioner of Police David Henderson called the San Pedro Officer in Charge, Viannie Robinson, ordering that Teul be released. It is not known what reason Henderson gave, but thankfully Robinson held her ground and refused. The BE-

Silvia Teul

LIZE TIMES understands that Henderson then decided to call the Police Station with the same order, but the officers informed the facey ComPol that they only follow instructions from Robinson.

We understand that Henderson was personally interested in this case because Teul is his nephew’s girlfriend. But it doesn’t end there. The BELIZE TIMES has learned that this week, a Police Committee of Professional Standard was activated in San Pedro to “investigate” the Officer in Charge who disobeyed the ComPol’s instructions. Instead of investigating the abuse of authority, the Police are turning on a good cop.

This episode is another example of the barefaced abuse that is occurring at the Police Department. Only a few months ago, the Officer in Charge in Cayo, Alvan Gentle, was removed by the Police command for reportedly being too strict and following the law. Gentle, who was supported by the community, was transferred and crime in that twin municipality has soared since.

When a news media contacted Henderson for comment, he refused to explain and ended up cutting the call abruptly.

Visit Us Online at: www.belizetimes.bz

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Chessman charged for Murder for 3rd time Belize City, Wednesday August 15, 2012

By Roy Davis John Chessman, 22, who has beaten two murder raps, was charged with the murder of E-Buy Supermarket owner, Pei Xan Tan, 32, a.k.a. “Kenny”, when he appeared in the #2 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, August 13.

Another person, Dilon Clarke, was charged jointly with him. They were

also charged with robbery.

Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser did not take a plea from them because the offences will be tried on indictment. They were remanded into custody until September 20.

The incident occurred around 5pm on Thursday, August 9.

Footage from a security camera in the store showed that two persons entered the E-Buy Supermarket, located

on Crab Catcher Street, in Ladyville, and pretended that they were customers. One of them waited until Tan came from behind the counter then he took out a pistol and put it to Tan’s head.

He then ordered Tan to go back behind the counter and lay on the ground.

When Tan complied, the second man went to the cash register and filled his pocket with an undetermined amount of money.

The gunman then shot Tan once to the left side of his head. Tan died while he was being transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

The Police reported that they recovered one expended 9 millimetre shell from the scene.

reportedly busted by Corozal Police with what is suspected to be a stash of cannabis. The Police say that on Thursday, August 9th, 2012, at about 12:30 p.m. they conducted a search of Bajay’s home on 7th Avenue in the heart of Corozal Town.

When Police arrived, Bajay was instantaneously cooperative with them and, according to the authorities, almost immediately handed over a smaller Ziploc bag that contained the suspected cannabis. Police, utterly unimpressed with the

gesture, then decided to physically search Bajay’s home with him present. And that’s when they found a much larger bag Ziploc bag that also contained suspected cannabis.

Bajay was arrested and taken down to the Corozal Police Station, where both bags were weighed at 3.1 grams and 61 grams, respectively. Bajay has been charged with 1 count each of ‘Possession of Controlled Drugs’ and ‘Drug Trafficking’, with arraignment soon to follow.

John Chessman

Dilon Clarke

Shooting victim now accused of Drug Trafficking and this time he is on the other end of the story. The 38-year-old was

James Swan Jr. BELIZE CITY, Tuesday, August 14th, 2012 (Updated)

By Alton Humes Ajay Bajay, an Indian Belizean from Corozal Town in the Corozal District, had the unfortunate temerity to be associated with James Swan, Jr. when they were both shot by a ruthless gunman some weeks ago.

Bajay survived the hail of bullets which injured Swan fatally. But now the survivor is back on the news,

This Week’s

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BELIZETIMES SUNDAY AUGUST 19, 2012 THE BELIZE TIMES see full color at www.belizetimes.bz or Facebook/ Belize Times

Sunday, August 19, 2012

TOP MODEL Make-Up

tips How to Clean your Eyelashes?

Suggested by Tania Tanesha (Email: mua.tania@gmail.com, Cell: (501) 604-0736) Long and curly eyelashes are every woman’s dream. Though they grow at the edge of the eye, they add to the beauty of the eye. Long eyelashes are considered a sign of femininity in many cultures. Dirt and dust particles stick not only to your face and eyebrows but they also stick on to the hair of the lashes. Though very delicate, they are meant to protect the eye from debris, dust mites, pollutants etc. Hence it is important to take proper care of them. You can follow the tips below to keep your eyelashes clean and healthy.

TIPS • Clean your hands before touching your face or eye area. Wash your hands with a antibacterial hand wash.

• Flush your face properly with warm water.

• Use a few drops of baby oil around your lashes and wipe it with cotton.

• If you have put make up, remove it gently with cleansing milk.

• Do not use a soap to clean your lashes • Use Vaseline to moisturize the eyelashes • Do not pluck or wax the lashes • Get a good eyelid scrub.

Scrub the skin around the eyelid area gently and exfoliate the dead tissues.

This process can be done if you have dry eyes. Daily routine of cleaning your eyelids improves the condition.

• Apply a quality make up or mascara on your eye lashes otherwise they might get thinner and more brittle.

• Groom your lashes. Brush them every day with a clean brush.

Exfoliate the dead skin. If you don’t get a lash brush, use a mascara brush.

Adwoa • Career Plan: Entrepreneur • Sign: Cancer • Favourite Food: Fish & Shrimp • Likes: Dancing, singing & traveling • Lives in Belize City • Fav. Quote: “Never give up on your dreams”

CATWALK FASHIONS What’s Hip...What’s Hot...What’s Now! Phone: 203-2936 / 620-7481 #148 Cor. Queen & North Front Streets Belize City, Belize

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, August 19, 2012

British Millionaire & female companions fined for Immigration Offences Belize City, Wednesday, August 15, 2012

By Roy Davis Three tourists, two of them British nationals and the third a French woman, were taken to Court and charged with disembarking from their luxury yacht, Maxine, without the consent of Immigration officials.

They are British millionaire Brian Peter Stein, 69, and his two female companions, Lisa Christelle Chotard, 32, a citizen of France, and Platina Yeek-Hwa Tong, 32, a citizen of the United Kingdom.

They pleaded guilty to the charge when they were arraigned yesterday in the #6 Magistrate’s Court. Magistrate Adolph Lucas fined each of them $1,000 and ordered them to pay the fines forthwith, in default 10 months imprisonment. They paid the fines and they were told that they can stay in Be-

Brian Peter Stein

Lisa Christelle Chotard

Platina Yeek-Hwa Tong

lize because the Immigration Department is not requesting their removal from Belize.

The trio explained that they came to Belize City on Sunday, August 11, and the yacht, Maxine, which has a captain and a crew of 2, moored at the Radisson dock. They said they checked with the Harbour master and they were told that an immigration of-

ficer would come in the next 20 minutes.

They said they waited for over 4 hours and when the immigration officer did not come they left their passports, went ashore and left for a planned trip to the zoo. Upon their return to Maxine, they were met by an immigration officer who informed them that they had committed an immigration offence.

They said that it was due to a lack of proper communication and that they have travelled to over 100 countries and it is the first time that they committed an offence of any kind.

Stein said that he is a businessman who is the owner of restaurants and other businesses in London and when he bought Maxine the cost was $10,000,000 US currency.

The failed UDP Caretaker

Toledo West, August 13, 2012 The general election is five months behind us and the former Toledo West UDP area representative still cannot believe that he was voted out. Despite the thousands of dollars he spent, the electorate in Toledo West did not give in. He now claims and proclaims to be the “UDP caretaker” for the Toledo West constituency.

The failed and feeble UDP caretaker is mute, weak and most of all lackadaisical. After the election, it took weeks for him and his dodo birds to ease running around telling the people not to worry because he is still the man in charge.

Shortly after losing the Toledo West seat, Juan Coy began fighting for the post of senator. He boasted to his supporters that he will be sworn in as a senator. An all-out campaign was launched to gain recognition from the Prime Minister and he even went as far as launching a petition for the position. Lo and behold, the PM gave him a slap on the face and a kick in the butt. The PM may have realized that the UDP pro-contrabandista is of no use to the party but just waste of time and money. He failed to convince Mr. Barrow for the desired post.

He is now claiming to be the ‘caretaker’ for Toledo West. He has been heard boasting that all funds and developments are channelled through him. He claims that he masterminds the road upgrades and all projects occurring in the villages. But the Toledo West electorate remembers him for his failure while in government. Belizeans know that Coy is the weakest of all politicians in Belizean history. Even the UDP party chairman and Minister of Education admitted this at the budget debate on July 12. “That is why he is where he is today,” uttered in disdain.

In the Coy camp, the few loyalists are concerned about his failures. The concerns are: 1) failed as area representative 2) failed at the election 3) failed to be appointed senator 4) failing as a caretaker. Mr. Coy has failed in all aspects. From 2008 – 2012, his report card was totally red. He forgot the wise saying: It does not take a boy to do a man’s job.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Chantae Guy makes waves at Miss World Belize City, August 14, 2012 When the 62nd Miss World pageant is held on Saturday, August 18, 2012, Chantae Guy will attempt to make history as the first to win for Belize.

Chantae has been on an impressive roll as the pageant nears. She has been turning heads and catching the attention of the world. Chantae was selected, among 40 contestants, to take part in a Top Model fashion show this past week as one of the top ten finalists. This is the first time Belize has ever placed in the top 10 in any event at the Miss World Pageant. The winner will be announced during the 2012 Miss World on Saturday.

Chantae has also gotten good reviews by photographers and pageant critics. She is up for the People’s Choice Award, and Belizeans can support by voting online at www.pageantology.net. Supporters are warned to look through the site carefully when going to vote. As a result of an error, Chantae’s name was not included along with the other contestants. By the time the pageant organisers realised the mistake, they had to place Chantae on a column of her own below the others.

The pageant is being held in Olga, Mongolia and includes contestants representing 115 countries.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Southern PUP leaders on working visit in US Belize City, August 15, 2012 On March 7th, the entire Southern Belize kicked the United Democratic Party to the curb after four years of neglect and incompetence. That bold move by a majority of the residents in Southern Belize has attracted hatred from the UDP Government, who has vouched to teach them “a cold lesson”.

That means the UDP plan to cut resources meant for the South and leave the residents in despair for the rest of their term.

Fortunately, the people elected a team of visionary leaders who not only understand the challenge ahead of them as representatives of the people, but also at a time when the nation is under a vindictive

Murder Count almost at 100

Continued from page 1

terrible record this year. The streets of Belize have been “hot and bloody”. Between January and early June, there were unofficially 76 murders, including those of noted gangsters Sheldon ‘Pinky’ Tillett and Arthur Young, the latter believed to be a state-approved execution.

But since June up until today, August 15th, there have been 19 murders thus far in that period. That brings the total to 95!!!

Most of the murders have been related to gang activity, and despite the vociferously wasted efforts of most of the Government entities (RESTORE Belize and the Conscious Youth Development Program [CYDP] amongst them), there has been minimal to no progress made in any inroads to stamp out crime and restore even a minimal peace in Belize.

To the Government, the “gang truce” is working even though more bodies are being counted at the morgue.

These are the facts, cold and bare as they are, and no amount of political bickering can erase this monstrous failure.

The BELIZE TIMES hereby presents to our reading public the murder statistics from June 2012 to the present.

Hon. Rodwell Ferguson Stann Creek West

hon. oscar requeña toledo west

regime.

PUP Leaders Hon. Mike Espat, Hon. Oscar Requeña, Hon. Rodwell Ferguson, Hon. Ivan Ramos and Mayor of Punta Gorda are on a serious working visit in Houston, Texas. Over the next few days, the PUP Leaders will be meeting with Government and business leaders in an attempt to attract support for development for Southern Belize. Mayor Fuentes will also seek to establish sister city relations with Houston.

The area representatives are expected back in Belize on Tuesday, August 21st, but Mayor Fuentes will move on to Los Angeles where he will meet with Belizean-American living in the area.

Southern Belize has a lot of potential for development, and the PUP leaders are committed to finding a way to make it happen, because residents deserve better opportunities. They are not sitting back and waiting on the UDP to feel sorry for them.

THE WORLD IS READING

hon. mike espat toledo east

Date of Death June 1st, 2012 June 1st, 2012 June 4th, 2012 June 6th, 2012 June 8th, 2012 June 8th, 2012 June 9th, 2012 June 11th, 2012 June 12th, 2012 June 13th, 2012 June 14th, 2012 June 15th, 2012 June 18th, 2012 June 22nd, 2012 June 24th, 2012 July 4th, 2012 July 4th, 2012 July 7th, 2012 July 7th, 2012 July 8th, 2012 (ca.)

July 11th, 2012 July 11th, 2012 July 12th, 2012 July 19th, 2012 July 26th, 2012 July 27th, 2012 July 29th, 2012 July 29th, 2012 July 30th, 2012 July 30th, 2012 August 1st, 2012 August 4th, 2012 (ca.)

August 5th, 2012 August 9th, 2012 August 13th, 2012 August 15th, 2012

Mayor Anthony Fuentes Punta Gorda Town

Name Rudy Cruz Steve Williams Jose Sho Jasmine Lowe Daniel Alamilla Charlie Espat Dwight Panton Kenroy Humes Keith Lewis Sunil Punjabi Javier Ack Joseph Myers Dr. Ivan Garcia Edmund Panton Myrick Gladden Clari C. Fredersdorf Shari Fredersdorf Kendale Flowers Alexander Mazariegos David Martinez Robert Hernandez Kendrick Vacarro Susanna Romero Raheem Smith Victor Lima Stephen Flowers Wayne Madrill Michael Valerio Kendis Pike Oshon Clive Medwood Tevin Ferguson Ricardo Blanco James Swan, Jr. Pei-xian Tian Kirk Hemmans Fernando Quib

THE BELIZE TIMES www.belizetimes.bz

Gender/Age at Death

Death Type

Place of Death

M, 35 years M, 51 years M, 54 years F, 13 years M, 17 years M, 18 years M, 38 years M, 23 years M, 24 years M, 44 years M, 27 years M, 21 years M, 46 years M, 36 years M, 19 years F, 35 years F, 18 years M, 18, years M, 22 years M, 52 years M, 38 years M, 50 years F, 25 years M, 18 years M, 34 years M, 24 years M, 42 years M, 47 years M, 18 years M, 23 years M, 19 years M, 35 years M, age N/A M, 32 years M, 16 years M, 33 years

Stabbing Shot Chopping Unknown Shot Shot Shot Shot Shot Stabbed Stabbed Shot Strangled Shot Shot Shot Shot Shot (by Police) Shot (by Police) Unknown Shot Shot Unknown Stabbed Shot (by intruder) Shot Shot Beaten Shot Shot Shot (by assailant) Beaten / Strangled Shot Shot Shot Shot

Belize City Belize City Punta Gorda San Ignacio Orange Walk Orange Walk Belize City Belize City Belize City Orange Walk Orange Walk Belize City Belize City Belize City Belize City Corozal Corozal San Pedro San Pedro Cayo District Corozal Corozal Toledo Dist.

Belize City Belize District Belize City Belize City Punta Gorda Belize City Belize City Belize City Orange Walk Corozal Belize District Belize City Orange Walk

Sunday, August 19, 2012

US warns of

increased

crime wave

Continued from page 1 The 2012 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), released on March 7 by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, provides an evaluation of Belize’s efforts to tackle crime, corruption and drug trafficking. While the report noted increments as a result of support provided by the United States, it was highly critical of the Government’s lack of political will and inability to put necessary measures into place.

“Without action and redress, Belize’s security environment will continue to deteriorate. Reports indicate that drug trafficking and drug-related violence rose in Belize, and that those figures will continue on an upward trend,” stated the US report.

In 2011, Belize was added to the US list of Major Illicit Drug Transit/Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries. The label meant Belize was used as a channel for drugs and was considered a drug producer. The 2012 report indicated that crack cocaine is the second most-used drug in Belize. The most-used is marijuana.

The report noted that the Belize Coast Guard and Anti-Drug Units’ efforts to properly patrol Belize’s coastal waters, which are used regularly by drug traffickers, were hindered by “corruption and deficiencies in intelligence gathering and analysis, the judicial sector, and political will”.

It also noted the numerous bilateral initiatives which were meant to boost Belize’s security capacity. These include the development of a protocol for the destruction of methamphetamine precursor chemicals and the penalisation of the trafficking of phenylacetic acid (PAA); assisting to map out a national drug information system; support for the Coast Guard to participate in the Multilateral Maritime Counterdrug Summit.

Because this was the 2011 report, it did not include the case involving UDP crony Vernon Cuthkelvin and his six supposed fertilizer containers which turned out to be chemicals involved in the manufacturing of crystal meth. Cuthkelvin, a known UDP associate, was never arrested or charged and is allowed to continue importing “fertilizers”.

The report cited concerns about Belize’s poor prosecution rate. “There were no successful prosecutions related to large seizures of illicit drugs in 2011… Many police prosecutors still lacked strong investigative and prosecutorial training, and a scarcity of staff and resources did not allow the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to manage each case efficiently”.

Meanwhile the report pointed out additional concerns about continuous corruption.

“Combined with a lack of resources and weak law enforcement institutions, Belize’s ineffective judicial system and inadequate compensation for civil service employees and public safety officials allowed illegal activities to continue at various levels within the government,” stated the report.

The report indicated that Belize does not have laws that specifically address narcotics-related corruption, and also continues to be the only Central America country that has not signed onto the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Corozal man wanted in vicious machete attack BELIZE CITY, Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

By Alton Humes Police in Corozal have their hands full in seeking a suspect who viciously and mercilessly attacked a man for next to no reason, and in no less than in front of two younger people, one of whom was his son.

The incident occurred this past Saturday August 11th, 2012 at 8:30 p.m. and involved 34-year-old Ocias Cobarruvias, a mechanic from the village of San Roman in the Corozal District.

Cobarruvias was with his young son,

Kimberley Searle awarded Ariel Rosado Scholarship Belize City, August 14, 2012 Last month the Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation awarded High School Scholarships to eight (8) needy and deserving Belizean Primary School students.

Those scholarships cover the cost of School Fees and Books for up to 4 years at any Belizean High School of the recipient’s choice and have a value of up to Six Thousand Dollars each for the full four years. The Foundation also provided funding for the establishment of a Sailing Club at St. Luke’s Methodist School in Belize City and provided partial funding to the Third World Summer Camp held at the St. Martin De Porres Field during the Summer holidays.

On Monday August 13th, the Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation wrapped up its awards for the 2012-2013 Academic Year by announcing the award of the Ariel Rosado-Galen University Scholarship to Ms. Kimberly Searle of Belize City.

Ms. Searle completed her Associate’s Degree at St. John’s Junior College and began taking courses towards a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. Ms. Searle expects to complete her Bachelors Degree in Accounting at Galen University within two years and then sit the Certified Public Accountant Examinations. The Accounting Program at Galen University is especially geared towards preparation for the CPA Examinations. The scholarship covers tuition and fees only and has a value of about $30,000.

Visit Us Online at: www.belizetimes.bz

8-year-old Joscias, and another person, Herson Garcia. The trio was walking from an unknown location back to Cobarruvias’ home on an unknown, unnamed street when they were accosted on bicycle by one Julio Vega.

It is reported that Vega unsheathed a machete attached to his bike, and proceeded to lash the older man to his back, left rib cage and stomach, and then to the head, which left a deep cut wound to his forehead.

It is not known what the motive was behind the attack, as that is something. He remains at large, and is being sought by Corozal Police at this time.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

S&P Cuts Belize’s Rating August 14, 2012, 6:54 p.m. ET

By Nathalie Tadena Standard & Poor’s lowered its sovereign-credit rating on Belize further into junk territory, after the country’s government said it won’t make its coming coupon payment on its bonds due 2029.

S&P downgraded the Central American country’s rating to double-C from triple-C-minus. The outlook is negative, reflecting prospects the firm could lower the ratings to selective default if Belize’s government misses its payment as announced or if it proposes a debt exchange to investors.

Earlier Tuesday, Belize’s government said it won’t pay the $23 million semiannual coupon due Aug. 20 on its $546.8 million bonds due 2029.

If the government fails to pay the bondholders within 30 days of Aug. 20, it will default on its debt. However, the government is expected to renegotiate the structuring of bonds in the future. Bondholders and the Belize government have been negotiating since the country said it found its monthly dues too high.

S&P noted Belize has a per capita gross domestic product of about $4,500 and had net general government debt of 68% of GDP at the end of 2011. The firm expects Belize to fund its gap through the exceptional financing of default, import compression and a drawdown of reserves.

The rating cut is the latest in a series of downgrades this year from S&P and Moody’s Investors Service, as both rating firms cited concerns about the possibility of another debt restructuring there. In June, Moody’s downgraded Belize’s sovereign debt rating to Ca, pushing it deeper into highly speculative territory.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

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PAGE

“Precious Moments” exhibit opens at the Image Factory

BELIZE CITY, Monday, August 13th, 2012

By Alton Humes There aren’t many times in our short, brutally painful lives where we can truly be at ease, enjoying brief moments of pleasure and respite. Indeed, in a world now terribly awry in every sense of the word, we need those ‘precious moments’ more than ever before.

And notable Belizean artist Rachel Heusner knows exactly how we feel, and is unveiling her latest art exhibit, entitled ‘Precious Moments’, this week at the Image Factory on North Front Street.

The 43-year-old has been a student of the arts for just about a quarter – 25 years - of her life-span, and has quite a reputation in the Belizean art scene – she’s a madrina, or custodial godmother of it, if you will. Her watercolor painting style has been entrancing audiences in Belize and throughout the world ever since she first exhibited professionally at the tender age of 18 years.

And it is chiefly through that medium (although she also did a collage and a few ‘coffee’ paintings because, as she told the BE-

LIZE TIMES as she sat down with us for an interview today, ‘it’s very warm and it stains [well]….’) that this latest exhibit comes to life. The 25 pieces that comprise this collection are chiefly inspired by, in her own words to us, “little snippets of life that are precious… things that make you smile….

Moments captured at only a glance….”

And none of the paintings (although they certainly never lacked for merit) best captures the title and spirit of this exhibit more than “Craboo Season”, a painting inspired by a photograph she took on Cem-

etery Road after returning here from her now-home of Tobago. The painting made far more sense after its completion because ‘you don’t get that kind of fruit’ in that far-flung West Indian nation-state, which should make any other Belizean, here or abroad more grateful for where they are, what they have, and forge even further. Incidentally, we are in a blooming ‘Craboo’ season in Belize.

Mrs. Heusner also spoke to us of her other projects she’s working on, including a collection solely of her ‘coffee pieces’ that she worked on for years, as well as a coffee-table book of coffee-based recipes.

So here’s a friendly tip from this reporter – take what time you have, hustle over to the Image Factory and seek a peek at these “Precious Moments” – they’ll remind you, if nothing else, why you can always be proud to love Belize.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, August 19, 2012

We are the Caribbean!

Can you find and circle the countries below that brought home medals for the Caribbean?

The Olympic Games 2012 came to end last week Sunday but the performances of the athletes will be written down in sports history.

A man running with metal “legs”, a human “flying squirrel”, mermaids and mermen along with supermen and superwomen. It was amazing and we were part of that along with our other Caribbean brothers and sisters!

Kaina Martinez, Edderyms Sanchez and Kenneth Medwood gave their best and did our country proud!

Test your Olympics 2012 smarts and have some fun with us!

League of Super Athletes Using the clues below and the possible answers in the box try and solve our crossword puzzle.

Down (1) South Africa (2) Javelin (4) Lightening (6) Swimming (9) Cuba

Answers: Across (3) Squirrel (5) Hurdles (7) Jamaica (8) Grenada (9) Coast Guard

Coast Guard Lightening Jamaica South Africa Swimming Javelin Squirrel Cuba Grenada Hurdles

Across 3. Gabrielle Douglas the first African American female to win a gold medal in gymnastics at the Olympics is known as the flying ..................

5. Kenneth Medwood jumped his way over several of these ............ to make it into the semi-finals of his field.

7. She is called “pocket rocket” in her home country. Where is Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from?

8. Nineteen year old Kirani James suprised the world and his fellow countrymen in ................

9. Being a runner is her passion, but do you know with which body/organisation Kaina Martinez works?

Down 1. Oscar Pistorius (Blade Runner) the man with the metal legs is from which country?

2. Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago brought home the Caribbean’s first Olympic gold medal in the ...........event.

4. It’s a bird, it’s plane, it’s superman, nope it’s .............. Bolt.

6. Michael Phelps has the most medals in the history of our modern Olympics. What is his sport?

9. Our wildcard Judo athlete Eddermys Sanchez is originally from which country?

D Q W M N Z P E T I B R E G K P K M F J

O F T B R U V U Z G X N R F B H M L N L

M C R C W I M U P H F Y U D R A Q K Q C

I N I P I T Q S P T M K V V B E B A F B

N T N R G M F V V D F M Y K P S H V A C

I Y I C O I W Q M I T Q N Y J P T U Z E

C J D P G T V G A S I F C I O F M P K H

A G A O S W R R P W Q W M H J I X F X J

N N D M H A N E C W O M F I B I B K F Q

R M D B A L M N U D E P C V E W V Y R O

E X P E G I E A F P N R D H V K M S M V

P I A H W N C D H N U T A Y P F J K V D

U U G D O I P A I A G L Y V F Q C O H H

B L G T Y P Y Y G X B L H X Z G G T J P

L Z O L W R J E T M F U U F Q N O U Q N

BAHAMAS CUBA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GRENADA JAMAICA PUERTO RICO TRINIDAD

I N F X T C C M T I Q D C P R I J U R U

C K P H Z I T Q T E Y H T V R I A P T N

X M V O V V Z H I S I X V N Z N G A A Q

G M I I B P A M U H L X K X A X P Z Z N

V J V F Q S F G Y N S T G E V Y G G D P

Sunday, August 19, 2012

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THE BELIZE TIMES

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

E

V

I

E

W

Selected By Chris Williams

NASA: Five new photos of Mars from Curiosity rover

By Chenda Ngak

(CBS News) NASA released five new photos of Mars Tuesday, taken from the Curiosity rover.

Some of the stunning color photos show exactly where the Curiosity landed on Mars in the northern region of the planet.

NASA: Curiosity “brain transplant” successful The color-enhanced photos were

This color-enhanced photo shows the terrain of Mars in the Gale Crater, near where the Curiosity rover landed. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona) taken with the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)

on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, showing new details of Mars’ terrain like never before.

New photos of Mars were released following a press conference to report the status of the Curiosity, just over a week after landing on the red planet on Aug. 5.

The space agency reported that a four-day software update replaced software that was installed on the Curiosity before its flight from Earth to Mars. The original software gave the rover the navigational capabilities it needed for the journey to Mars, but not enough to carry out scientific work NASA has planned for Curiosity.

Ashwin Vasavada, senior scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said the Curiosity will also be taking its first full 24-hour weather readings this week. Mars enthusiast can also expect to see more panorama images of Mount Sharp in the coming days.

Arctic sea ice heads for record low 17:24 14 August 2012 by Michael Marshall

Going, going… Next month could see Arctic sea ice shrink to its smallest extent yet, beating the previous record, set in 2007. Any such record will be driven by unusual weather, but is also a result of underlying warming.

Arctic sea ice retreats in summer, reaching a minimum in September, but in recent years this summer melt has become more extreme. If the decline continues, Arctic summers could be ice-free by the 2030s.

Data from the National Snow & Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, show that the extent of Arctic ice is smaller than it was at this time in 2007 – a finding corroborated by the Danish Meteorological Institute’s Centre for Ocean and Ice in Copenhagen.

Cloud factor

“It wouldn’t surprise me if we had a [record] minimum this year,” says Seymour Laxon of University College London. He has unpublished results from satellite data on the volume of Arctic ice. They suggest that, beneath the annual oscillation between summer and winter ice volume, the Arctic has lost up to 900 cubic kilometres of ice each year since 2004.

The 2007 low was made worse by below average cloud cover; more of the sun’s heat reached the ice. Further study will probably conclude that unusual conditions added to this year’s low too, but climate change is also at work. A new analysis suggests that at least 70 per cent of the ice lost between 1979 and 2010 was caused by our greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite improvements in climate models, the sea ice is still melting faster than the models predict

Arctic summers are looking increasingly bare (Image: F. Lukasseck/Radius Images/Corbis)

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, August 19, 2012

T&T’s showers its Olympic gold medalist with gifts

Was God Wrong: Why Trust Adam?

A few weeks ago I was enjoying a movie where some guys got together to rob a bank. They basically pulled this huge bank safe through the streets using two sports cars. The police followed in hot pursuit and finally caught up with the safe. They took away the safe and were finally at ease knowing that they had retrieved the stolen wealth, only to find out that the safe was empty!

It was a decoy safe of the same size, color and shape that was sent out to draw attention from the real one containing the hefty sum of cash, and it did its work flawlessly. The real safe was swapped while passing through a tunnel and placed inside the back of a truck!

When I think of the various attempts made by mankind to fix the problems we are faced with on a daily basis, I think of this movie. We have so many NGOs and events geared towards women and children but what will we find when we open up their “safes”? Are we chasing after the right safe?

Many people today blame Eve for causing problems by eating the fruit, which was mentioned in the Manual at Genesis 3, but I have some problems with that. Eve was an empty safe. Don’t get me wrong. She was full of value and made in the image of God, but in relation to what I’m about to explain she was an empty safe.

I began reading this book written by a Belizean, Stanley Saunders, which was launched a couple weeks ago and in the beginning it explained why God trusted Adam. The condensed answer was because he made Adam in his Image. Adam was the expression of God on earth! Adam was made to look like God, to think like Him, and even to act like Him. He literally put the whole human race in Adam, similarly to Him putting a whole orchard in an orange seed.

Adam was the “safe” that was loaded with the human race, so what God did was open the safe (Adam) and take out Eve, forming her into a companion, an incubator or reproducer, and a ‘help meet’ for Adam! So if you were able to see from God’s perspective, and you looked inside Adam you would see a world of people in waiting, while if you looked inside Eve you would see an empty safe capable of turning these people into functioning humans and entering them into the world as we know it.

This is the reason why I blame Adam for the condition the world is in now. Eve eating the apple was ok, not good but ok, while the minute Adam ate we were immediately all in trouble.

We all became slaves as we were in him, and whoever you obey you become slaves to (Romans 6:16). If he had not eaten the apple God would have been able to put Adam back to sleep and perform the second ever done medical operation on earth to take out a second Eve! But instead, when Adam ate he corrupted everyone that was in him and tied God hands.

So where do we go from here you may ask? Well the first thing God did was to prepare a second “Adam” (Himself released or expressed on earth) and gave him the name Jesus!

This is the first and most important step in repairing the damage that the First Adam caused to creation. Without this rather than seeing the image of God in man’s behavior, we see the image of the one the first Adam obeyed and of whom we became slaves to. That is why crime and murders prevail because we are seeing the image of Satan rather than the image of God in humans!

My encouragement is this: as we continue to seek ways to make society better let’s find a way to reach the Adams that exist in the world today, as once things are in order, the Adams will naturally do their duty and take care of the Eves and the little (Adams and Eves)!!

Jamaica Observer, Tuesday, August 14, 2012 PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinidad and Tobago, basking in the glory of its first Olympic gold medal in 36 years, showered its latest sporting hero with a number of gifts including a TT$2.5 million (One TT $ = US$0.16 cents) home in a high end residential area that once housed former officials of the failed West Indian Federation.

Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar, addressing thousands of nationals who gathered at the Piarco International Airport to welcome home 19-year-old Kershorn Walcott, who pulled off a stunning upset by winning the men’s javelin throw on the penultimate day of the London Olympics on Saturday, said the gifts were for “bringing pride and recognition to the nation of Trinidad & Tobago”.

In addition to the luxury home, Walcott, whose gold medal emulates the feat of Hasley Crawford when he won the 100 metres at the Canadian Olympics in 1976, will also be given 20,000 square feet in his home village of Toco, south of here.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said that a housing project called The Keshorn Walcott Housing Development will be also be established in the area providing housing and employment to residents of Toco.

“A Caribbean Airlines aircraft will be commissioned to bear the proud name of Keshorn Walcott. The Light-

house a, historical site, will now be known as the Keshorn Walcott Lighthouse standing as a beacon to guide us all towards what it takes to get to our dreams,” she said, adding that the Olympian would also receive one million dollars “to be invested as he so desires”.

She said Walcott, the youngest-ever gold medal winner of the javelin in Olympic history will also be awarded a scholarship to the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) “to further his studies in his chosen field, while his coach Lopez will be placed in charge of an elite throws programme at UTT where all future talent including Keshorn can be developed in field events.

In an emotional brief response, Walcott said “I went out there and did my best”, praising God, his coach, manager and everyone for his success.

The prime minister said that gifts for the other Olympians that include Lalonde Gordon, who won bronze in the 400 metres and the men’s 4x100 relay team that was given the bronze medal after Canada had been disqualified, would be announced later.

Sports Minister Anil Roberts said Trinidad & Tobago fielded its largestever contingent to an Olympic Games producing the best returns in the nation’s history.

Yesterday was a public holiday to celebrate the achievement of local Olympians who won four medals at the London Olympics that ended on Sunday.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

THE BELIZE TIMES

Saldivar’s abuse of GOB vehicle turns costly for taxpayers Belize City, August 14, 2012 Despite calls for the Government to reduce the waste and end the abuse of public resources, nothing seems to matter to the UDP. That’s why day and night, Government vehicles with Ministers, and at times their families and friends, are seen being driven all over, wasting fuel, even at odd hours of the day.

But for one Minister, the decision to take his Government-designated vehicle and park in nearby a casino late at night will cost taxpayers.

John Saldivar, the Minister of National Security, was a victim of robbery when the Toyota Prado owned by GOB was left outside Princess Hotel and Casino. The thief or thieves broke the right passenger window and cleared out every piece of valuable they could find including a purse containing the Minister and his wife’s passports, Social Security and Voter’s ID card and $150.

Saldivar has not explained

what his vehicle was doing outside the Casino at 10:15 at night. Is this Saldivar’s idea of official business?

If our very own Minister of National Security can be reckless with public property which has ended up costing the people of Belize, what can’t we expect from the others?

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Toledo man shot dead in Orange Walk

Belize City, August 15, 2012 The seemingly unstoppable crime wave moved from Corozal Town to Belize City and then Orange Walk Town this week, as a man from Toledo was ambushed and killed in that town early Wednesday morning.

Police authorities believe 33 year old Fernando Quib was ambushed, robbed and then shot dead as he waited inside his delivery truck around 3am on Wednesday.

Quib, who travelled to Orange Walk to deliver and collect goods, was stranded after his truck experienced mechanical problems. He took the truck to a

mechanic but it could not be fixed right away. He decided to spend the night in Orange Walk, so he parked the truck in front of the mechanic shop and spent the night inside the truck.

But it appears criminals were watching his every move and as he rested in the wee hours of the morning, they struck mercilessly. Quib was shot and killed. His belongings were then stolen.

When Police arrived at the scene around 5am, they found his body inside the truck. The vehicle’s windows had been shattered and a bullet hole was seen through the window and the driver’s seat.

Police are investigating the latest murder and do not have any suspects.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, August 19, 2012