21 AUG
17
THE BELIZE TIMES
2016
MY PERSPECTIVE By Dolores Balderamos Garcia
A CRITICAL RULING In the early 2000’s I was the chief advocate, cook, and bottlewasher in Maria Roches’ legal challenge of the Roman Catholic School System’s decision to terminate her employment as a teacher in Toledo because she had become pregnant out of wedlock. I was Ambassador/Special Envoy for Children, Women and HIV/AIDS at the time, and together with many tireless advocates in the National Women’s Commission and other agencies, I advised Ms. Roches and obtained legal representation for her so that she could bring the landmark case of Maria Roches v. Clement Wade to the Supreme Court of Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh. I remember many of the occurrences then as if they were yesterday. And I chuckled later when one or two Labour union leaders tried to take all the credit for Ms. Roches’ successful challenge. Senior Counsel Magali Marin Young took on the case, and Women’s Commission members and other feminists and supporters provided backative and support. I can recall very clearly sitting in the packed courtroom for the hearing of the case. By then, now Prime Minister Dean Barrow had joined with Ms. Magali as attorneys for Ms. Roches. My most vivid recollection is that when Senior Counsel Phillip Zuniga tried to invoke the policy of the Catholic school management as to the immorality involved, CJ Conteh, abruptly stopped him and made it clear that the court was not a court of morality or religion. It was a court of law, he said, in making sure not to entertain the argument that Ms. Roches had knowingly violated Church teachings and the Catholic Management’s rules on morality. Of course she could not knowingly have violated the rules and morality alone. She did not become pregnant by herself. And CJ Conteh ensured that in his ruling in 2004 he said that a male teacher could not have suffered the same penalty, since the result of his immorality could not become crystal clear as he could not become pregnant. The Bishops and many other persons were not happy, but so many of us who advocated for Ms. Roches felt a sense of satisfaction
that we had done the right thing to help her defend her constitutional and human rights. CJ Conteh’s ruling was indeed an important vindication of women’s right to be treated equally before the law. In Wednesday’s ruling in the Caleb Orozco case, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin stated importantly in his ruling that “the court stands aloof of adjudicating on any moral issue” and that the court does not “act on the prevailing majority view.” I believe that the Chief Justice took the correct position, because despite our own religious or moral convictions, the Constitution of Belize must be interpreted and upheld for all persons, who are equal and have equal rights before the law. I also think that last week’s ruling is of critical importance for the continuing response to HIV and AIDS. The picture is not looking good in Belize and throughout the Caribbean. HIV is once more on the rise, and Dr. Edward Greene, United Nations Special Envoy on HIV in the Caribbean, has decried the complacency that has set in. Dr. Cesar Nunez, UNAIDS Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, has said that the ruling of the Supreme Court in the Orozco case comes at a critical juncture in the HIV response. He reminded everyone that discriminatory and punitive laws hamper the ability of vulnerable groups to access HIV and STI prevention and treatment as well as other social services by reinforcing discriminatory attitudes. The ruling helps to remove a key stumbling block to men who have sex with men accessing vital testing and treatment services, he said. I am heartened that National AIDS Commission Chairperson Laura Longsworth has taken this point in welcoming the ruling, and that she has also acknowledged that much more needs to be done to encourage the enabling environment for a more effective fight against HIV/AIDS. I want to look forward to vigorous responses now from all government and nongovernment agencies and from the wider community. There is a long way to go in order to conquer HIV and AIDS.
For Sale By Order of the Mortgagee Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 30th day of August, 2006, registered in Deeds Book Vol. 32 of 2006 at Folios 495 – 512, between Atlantic Bank Limited (the Assignor), Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. (the Assignee), and FELIX ELIAS GALEANA JR. (the Mortgagor) and THERESE BOL (the Surety), which said property was mortgaged by the said THERESE BOL (the Surety), and FELIX ELIAS GALEANA JR. (the Borrower) to the said Atlantic Bank Limited on the 6th day of August, 2003 and recorded in Deeds Book Volume 29 of 2003 at Folios 563 – 602 will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. THE SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 246 situate in Silk Grass Village Extension, Stann Creek District, and bounded as follows: On the Northeast for 22.857 metres by Lot No. 247; On the Southeast for 30.475 metres by a street; On the Southeast for 4.310 metres by a truncation; On the Southwest for 14.809 metres by a Street; and on the Northwest for 33.523 metres by Lot No. 245, containing 761.590 square metres as shown on Plan No. 2004 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 9th day of August, 2016. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.
For Sale By Order of the Mortgagee Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 3rd day of October, 2012 between CHRISTOPHER TILLETT (hereinafter called “the Mortgagor”) of Burrell Boom Village, Belize District, of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LIMITED (hereinafter called “the Mortgagee”) of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 22 of 2012 at Folios 1605 – 1126, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto. All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE All that lot, piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 90 on Poinsettia Road, Ladyville Village, Belize District, Belize TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon. DATED this 9th day of August, 2016. MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorneys-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.