Belize Times December 20, 2015

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

20 DECEMBER 2015 | ISSUE NO: 4974

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

Cordel, Francis & Johnny vie for PUP Leadership

Pg. 3

National Convention to be held on January 31st, 2016

Man Charged for Fatal Stabbing in Corozal

BEL

wants 11% rate increase

Pg. 6

Adan Meza

RICE Pg. 4

WAR!

Police Christmas Season’s Safety Tips

Pg. 23

Team Belize ranks 5th at Central American U-20 volleyball championships

Pg. 11

Pg. 9

TOP MODEL

MERRY CHRISTMAS BELIZE

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Thinking Out Loud Contributed Where oh where did Mr. Barrow’s Christmas Cheer go...?

Oh where oh where can it be?

As I write this it’s less than two weeks to Christmas and nobody’s heard anything about that wonderful thing called Christmas Cheer. Mr. Barrow says that things are a little dread with all sorts of payments due all over the place, so those few UDPs who usually benefit from this program can expect less this year.

But you know what – you’re getting nothing for Christmas, because Santa Barrow and the UDP have practically bankrupted the country.

If you didn’t know that the economy is in shambles, now you know.

The UDP spent so much money in the short term buying elections and giving hand outs that they didn’t look at the bigger picture. There was no medium-term or long-term plan.

It was all about politicking, all about glitter and no substance, all about ensuring Mr. Barrow’s success. But at what cost to the country?

The UDP literally paid millions and millions of dollars to select ‘family’ attorneys in costly litigation over BTL and BEL. And in the end Mr. Barrow still had to pay almost $200M for his stupid, wrongheaded decision to nationalize those companies. Of course, he doesn’t care because it’s not his money. He didn’t lose a cent, and in the process his brother, ex-wife and best friend got millions.

And you wait until that arbitration panel hands down its decision early next year. Taxpayers will need to pay out maybe another $200M, maybe more. Look for it.

You see what happened last week? One month after elections, BEL is already asking for an increase in prices of 11%. They say they made a mistake while calculating revenues and operating costs, which is just bogus.

Belize is in big trouble.

Our biggest industries are in trouble.

Petrocaribe is done.

Our major highways are breaking up.

We are more than $1B (WITH A B) in debt Our relationships with the international community are in trouble.

And you know the worst thing...

Mr. Barrow does not listen. And he

LOCAL 18 Dec

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THE BELIZE TIMES

has surrounded himself with people who treat him like he is a god.

And even as the economy crumbles, Belize has become the laughing stock of the region and the world – and not in a good way. We have become a country where anything goes, where a little money can buy you whatever you want – even a passport in your name or any name you choose.

There is a huge problem in Immigration. The reality is that it is easier for criminals who are fugitives from other countries to get Belizean documents than it is for REAL Belizeans to get documents. That is a fact. Won Hong Kim got his passport and nationality while he was inside a jail cell. He had never been in Belize. International fugitive David Schnitzer Nanes was apparently more Belizean than me and you. He even had a boat captain’s license and a voter’s ID to go with his passport and nationality papers.

You know the interesting part?

The same people in Immigration who facilitated Won Hong Kim’s documents facilitated Nanes’ documents.

Their signatures are all over the place.

Except they made it known that if anybody tries to touch them they’ll be quite willing to call the names of politicians involved in the scam as well.

And that was the end of that. And yet Godwin can get up and praise himself.

Imagine that. Immigration is as corrupt as it has ever been, maybe more, but Godwin is so blinded by his own brilliance he can’t see it.

I listened to the Senate meeting last week and I was embarrassed.

How could people who claim to be so intellectually superior be so plain dumb? Mr. Banker got up to say that what we call corruption, other countries might call a mistake, so there’s no need for an inquiry into corruption in Immigration. Talk about embarrassing.

People...pay attention because the rest of the world is paying attention. Belize is in trouble. It’s not the end of the world. The sky isn’t falling, but there are dark days ahead. This UDP government got caught up in winning elections and padding their own pockets and the pockets of cronies and never looked at bettering the lives of Belizeans.

The dolly-house will crumble. Just wait for it.

The best is yet to come. Or so they say.

WEATHER 19 Dec

20 Dec

21 Dec

More Questions than Answers Contributed There’s been no arrest in the shooting in Belmopan on election night...the one where a personal friend of Minister of National Security John Saldivar shot a weapon into the air in front of hundreds of witnesses including Police Officers.

Suddenly the Police can’t detain the guy or even question him because they somehow can’t get anybody to give a statement. That’s disappointing, but hardly surprising, since we know there are a different set of laws for different people depending on your level of political connection. The Police say they have written the shooter a letter scolding him though, and we are supposed to be happy with that.

Any normal Belizean who did the exact same would be locked down promptly. Hell, normal Belizeans are locked down on mere suspicion of doing wrongdoing.

But you know...this thing goes beyond the Ministers. We tend to blame Ministers for everything because they give the instructions. But what do we expect? As Ministers they are unapologetically political, unapologetically arrogant and so very many of them are blatantly corrupt. The problem is this, though, so many of our public officers in high positions are also corrupt...or spineless and have no moral strength, integrity or principle. And that is why Ministers are able to get away with so much.

The Police in Belmopan know that the Minister’s friend shot that gun and broke the law. That man should have been arrested immediately. Saldivar (who held no official capacity on election night) and his minions should have been put in check for obstructing justice IMMEDIATELY. Because that is the right thing to do! But those who are mandated to command in Belmopan showed a lack of spine and because of that the law was not upheld.

Yet the Police expect normal Belizeans to look up to them and respect them. I wish them all luck.

The Police Commissioner is a shadow of his former self. He allowed politicians to turn him into a sad joke, to ruin a long career. Nobody respects him now. He probably doesn’t even respect himself.

In the public service we see political cronies with no qualifications being pushed way past public officers who have many years of experience and qualifications. But nobody in the public service will dare to stand up on prin-

2622Mar Dec

2015

ciple and object. Why are my people so spineless? What happened to honour and integrity?

In Immigration we see so much corruption from top to bottom. Ministers and top officials have colluded in so much with rank and file officers that nobody can be touched. Immigration Officers who signed the infamous Won Hong Kim documents are still enjoying the power of their office because they threatened to talk if touched. SHAME! In every Ministry our people have become so compromised by their own activity or inactivity that they are rendered powerless. There is incestuous corruption that nobody dares to talk about anybody.

Where are the independent bodies which are to watchdog these government departments? The sad truth is that there aren’t any. All supposedly watchdog bodies are appointed by the Prime Minister and answerable to the Prime Minister.

End of Story!

Our Unions are done.They have been compromised to the point of total silence and stagnation. Most of the Unions could disappear overnight and nobody would notice. It’s the truth.

Three girls dead at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel...nothing will come of it.

Wanted international fugitive David Nanes Schnitzer skipped the country... nothing will come of it.

Who signed Nanes’ forged Belizean documents? GOB knows. They’re the same people who signed Won Hong Kim’s documents. But nothing will come of it.

There will be NO ARREST in the shooting on election night.

There will be no Senate Inquiry into the ongoing corruption at Immigration because the UDP has the majority in the Senate.

That’s life in the jewel. Or what’s left of it. The Best is Yet to Come...Or so they say.

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The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

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$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus EDITOR

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

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OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By TIMES NEWSPAPER LTD. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

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Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.50

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.00

Eastern Caribbean Euro (XCD):$ 1.35 (EUR) : $ 0.47

Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR (GBP): $ 0.34 (GTQ): $ 3.82 (CAD): $ 0.64

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.14

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INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 31.31

20 DEC

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

03 3

Cordel, Francis & Johnny vie for PUP Leadership National Convention to be held on January 31st, 2016

Belize City, December 17, 2015 Three well-known, highly-respected and formidable leaders will be contesting the convention for leadership of the People’s United Party on January 31st, 2016.

Former leader Hon. John Briceño, a six-time area representative for the Orange Walk Central constituency; Hon. Cordel Hyde, a four-time area representative for the Lake Independence constituency; and Hon. Francis Fonseca, the incumbent leader and four-time area representative for the Freetown Division, were nominated by various units of the Party by the close of the nomination on Tuesday, December 15th.

The leader will be elected through a democratic process which will see over 2,790 delegates gather and cast their votes. A venue for the convention had not been announced previously since the National Executive is of the view that it must be a location that is neutral to all parties, and the candidates were not known until this week.

On Thursday afternoon, the National Executive met and decided that the venue will be the city of Belmopan.

Other posts in the National Execu-

Hon. Cordel Hyde

Hon. Francis Fonseca

Hon. John Briceno

tive will also be up for election. Those posts are Deputy Leaders, National Communications Director and Chairman.

The Party’s constitution calls for four Deputy Leaders. The National Executive decided to maintain the idea of having Deputy Leaders based on regions; therefore, the national convention will see the election of Deputy Leaders for the North and South only, with the candidates being Hon. Florencio Marin Jr. and Hon. Jose Mai, and Hon. Mike Espat and Hon. Rodwell Ferguson. Hon.

Julius Espat will be endorsed as the Deputy for the West and Hon. Kareem Musa will be endorsed as the Deputy for the East, since they were the only candidates endorsed from those regions.

The candidates nominated for National Communication Director are Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Anthony Mahler and Emilio Zabaneh.

For Party Chairman, two candidates have been nominated being incumbent Chairman Henry C. Usher and two-time Toledo West area representative Hon. Oscar Requeña.

For the remaining positions, one candidate was nominated: Victor Espat (National Campaign Manager), Anthony Sylvestre Jr. (Legal Advisor) and Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes (Treasurer). They will be endorsed at the National Convention.

The convention/election process will be overseen by Secretary General Myrtle Palacio, who was appointed as the Returning Officer by the National Executive on Thursday.

The Party will be holding a National Party Council on January 9th to finalise the plans for the convention.

4 04

THE BELIZE TIMES

Rice War!

20 DEC

2015

How the UDP is destroying the local industry

Belize City, December 16, 2015 The future of Belize’s rice industry is bleak.

Yes, the same can be said about the citrus, fishing and sugar industries, which are facing tough challenges ahead, but the state of affairs with the common staple that can be found on almost every Belizean kitchen table daily is grimmer. The difference is that for several years, political agents in the Barrow Administration have been disrupting the agriculture industries for their own gain, and rice just seems to be the easier kill.

Today, a shipment of 75 tonnes of rice from Guyana in South America was imported by rich businessman Jitendra “Jack Charles” Chawla.

Chawla is no ordinary businessman. He is a known financier of the UDP, who uses his connections in Government whenever he needs to get what he wants. Most of the cases have been very controversial.

For example, in 2009 Chawla acquired 9 acres of land in a reserve (protected area) in the outskirts of

Belize City known as Krooman Lagoon.

Chawla, the ever wily businessman, always disguises his actions with some kind of “conscientious” agenda. In the case of the land grab, he claimed he would open a chips factory and create employment.

Chawla seems to enjoy tremendous backing of UDP agents in Government. He has seen opportunity where the Barrow Administration has failed to act.

Over the past 8 years, the agriculture sector has been abandoned by the UDP Government. Instead of the Ministry of Agriculture working closely with stakeholders to improve the industry and provide support to ensure its viability, the opposite has occurred.

Farmers have been left to struggle on their own despite the rising cost of production and the changing demands of the global market.

In the case of Toledo, the rice industry has near disappeared over the years. Small farmers have buckled under the weight of high operational costs. The major growers carry out mechanized farming. They are based in Shipyard in Cayo District and Blue

Jitendra “Jack Charles” Chawla Creek in the Orange Walk District.

The ability to carry out mechanized farming is no guarantee of viability however. In 2011, the Hill Bank Agricultural Company, one of the larger rice producers in Blue Creek, stopped producing the well known Uncle Johns rice. The company claimed that they were being undermined by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC) who was importing rice all the way from Uruguay and selling it at a cheaper price.

The Ministry of Agriculture continues to import rice to sell in the local market. Last year, the BMDC imported over three million pounds of Guyanese rice which cost them 52 cents per pound, but which they re-sold in the local market at 90 cents. Talk about rip off.

With high operational costs, absurd policy decisions by the Ministry of Agriculture and without Government support for stakeholders, there has been little room to adjust the price of rice from its current 90 cents per pound to favour consumers. This is where Chawla enters the picture. He claims that his imported rice can be sold on the market at 69 cents per pound.

The Government’s strange but ofContinued on page 8

20 DEC

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

5 05

EDITORIAL PUT CHRIST BACK IN CHRISTMAS

C

hristmas could not come any sooner to Belize. The disturbing reality that out country is facing looming crisis after crisis needed the message that Christmas brings.

The message of Christmas is always one of hope and love. It is a message of peace and a message of joy.

The Christmas story is a message of fascination and meaning. A child born out of wedlock to a young virgin.

The father had to be visited by an extra-terrestrial being to explain the great mystery. This child, the angel told Joseph, is no ordinary child. The Creator of the entire universe, with all things in it, is the father. There is a purpose for bringing the child into the world. The child will grow to be a man and will save us from our sinful selves.

That child, that very special and unique child was not born in a maternity ward in a hospital. He did not enter the world in the comfort of a home or on a bed. He was born in a barn. In a stable, a manger. A place of shelter for animals.

This was as God wanted it to be. This too is a message, as would be so any other matters surrounding the life and work of the child turned man.

Very little is known of the early years of this unique human being who was flesh and blood and yet divine.

This Jesus, this Christ.

We know he selected twelve persons to assist him in his task. Those twelve were men of humble means. One would doubt him. Another would betray him-sell him to his enemies.

We know how he was mocked and scorned. Beaten and bloodied. Rejected in favor of a criminal. They forced him to carry his own wooden cross to the place of skulls and death Golgotha. There, in the presence of his mother and a few of his followers, he was nailed to the cross. Bitter vinegar was pushed into his side as he hung dying.

Crucified between two thieves he said not a word as one mocked him and offered comfort to the other who showed faith in him.

With his dying breadth he called on his Heavenly Father to forgive his killers. And then died a slow painful, cruel death.

The story does not end there. It is a story that is still being told and retold. It is the story of love. Love so awesome, so enduring, so powerful and all consuming.

That this Jesus, this Christ, agreed to be tortured and

underfed to show the world the meaning of love. There is no greater love than this, that this man laid down his life for us.

Jesus is himself the message, his life, his teachings, his healings. It is two thousand years ago that he walked among us, listened and talked with us. Showed kindness and patience to us. Explained things to us. Things we should never forget. Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the Earth. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are you, when men shall revile up you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good work and glorify you Father which is in heaven”.

He said to us-”when you pray, say Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

Your will be done as in heaven so in Earth”.

He took all the sacred commandments and put them into a clear sentence. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as you love yourself ”.

As we bring the celebrations to mark the Birth of Jesus Christ we need to focus on his life and his teachings. This would help us to put Christ back into Christmas.

There is a need in Belize for less hate and more love. Less material things and more attention to the conditions of those among us who are less fortunate.

The bitterness brought about by the abuse of the government and the neglect of the people must not be allowed to despise us of our Christian duties to each other. That we should love one another as he has loved us. That we should show love in words and in deeds, especially in deeds. For faith without works is dead.

“Behold, a virgin shallow with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they should call his name Emmanuel, which means God is with us”.

And as the angels proclaimed it at his birth “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, goodwill towards men”.

From all of us at the BELIZE TIMES and on behalf of the People’s United Party have a blessed safe and enjoyable Christmas.

06 6

Man Charged for Fatal Stabbing in Corozal

Corozal District, December 16, 2015 Corozal Police have arrested and charged 29 year old Adan Meza for the murder of 22 year old Alberto Briceno.

Briceno, a resident of Paraiso Village in Corozal, was at a dance in the village of Paraiso on Saturday, December 12th, night when he was attacked and stabbed multiple times.

According to witnesses, Meza approached Briceno and stabbed him to the chest and abdomen.

Reports are that the assault could have been avoided, had Meza not misread Briceno’s physical interaction with Raul Meza, the accused’s younger brother. Witnesses say that Briceno had given Meza a friendly

BEL wants 11% rate increase Belize City, December 18, 2015 The Government of Belize’s Christmas gift to Belizeans is the announcement that their electricity bills could go up by 11% in a few weeks.

Belize Electricity Limited, which is Government-owned, has asked the regulatory body, the Public Utilities Commission, whose Chairman is appointed by the Government, to grant them an 11% raise.

BEL, who several months ago, was boasting of $30 million profits, and who in May of this year agreed to a 10% cut in its rates, is now claiming that they need to increase rates to sustain operations.

It appears that all the company’s chest-beating earlier this year was purely election gimmick and manipulation by the Government of Belize.

BEL claims that the rate increase will reflect the actual cost of power for the period 2012 to 2016. The company also claims that they underestimated the cost of power as a result of the lower rates from their main source of energy, Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE).

The PUC will be reviewing the request.

VACANCY A vacancy exists for a Cashier at Koyes Super Shop located outside the Belmopan Bus Terminal.

Contact 669-4212 for serious inquiries.

FOR RENT 1-bedroom Apartment located at 135 Samuel Haynes St., Belama Ph. 1 (cable included). For serious enquiries, call 634-5305.

20 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Belize Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center 3671 Blue Marlin Drive, Belize City, Belize, C.A Telephone: 223-4666; Fax: 223-4677; Email: drgabourel@gmail.com;

VACANCY Applications are invited for the posts of:

Adan Meza push, but when the accused saw this, he believed his brother was being aggressed.

Meza has been charged with murder.

- Oncologist - Hematologist - Endocrinologist Send written application with CV and references to: Belize Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center 3671 Blue Marlin Drive, Belize City, Belize

20 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

MY PERSPECTIVE

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

Election Observation

My thoughts recently turned to the process of observing elections.

Various Election Observation Missions from different world and regional organizations have observed election processes on being invited to do so by the country or countries involved. Most recently the Organization of American States sent an Observer Mission for our general elections in November, and the Commonwealth had a two-person observer team, among other missions, present in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for their December poll only a few days ago.

I learned a great deal from my participation in Election Observation Missions with the Commonwealth in two African countries in 2005 and 2008, first in Tanzania and later in Sierra Leone. I have to point out that Election Observation is just that.

Observer Missions and their members cannot involve themselves or

interfere in any way with the election processes. They may only meet with all stakeholders, visit with officials who conduct the polls, do their research, listen to concerns, complaints, etc. and generally be present at as many polling stations as possible during the elections. They then meet to compile observations and recommendations about the full experience before, during and after the holding of the election. In both African countries it was patently clear the huge advantage enjoyed by incumbents.

Noticeable is that Observer Groups seem prudently to be avoiding the pronouncement that elections in a particular country have been “free and fair.” For example, the Organization of American States (OAS) recent team to Belize for our last elections found that the elections were a “generally inclusive and clean electoral process.” I must hasten to say that this is of course based on what observers are able to see. They cannot see or know the entire context

within which elections are held, and therefore they may only pronounce on what they have been able to see and to gather in their brief stays in the country in question.

The OAS team in their report after observing our elections recommended “a comprehensive re-registration of voters and that there be established by the competent authorities a clear and feasible limit for electors to register as proxy voters.” They also in their report noted “a perception of limited differentiation between the state and governing party in terms of the use of resources during the campaign” (!!) What an understatement!! And how could the OAS team have known the extent to which the UDP perpetrated serious electoral fraud in illegally transferring hundreds, even thousands, of persons to addresses where they do not live, especially during the last transfer period this past summer? By way of personal comment, I only wish to say at this time - how can an election be free and fair when so many blatantly illegal transfers take place with the collusion of registration officers from the Election and Boundaries Department ?

After the elections in St. Vincent Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace railed up and said that the elections were not free and fair “even though Caricom and the OAS say yes.” His strong position is that the election observer teams come “too late to make any meaningful decision” and that he has communicated this concern to the Commonwealth observers. He continued, “When the work is going on and when people are being registered who should not be registered in particular constituencies they are not

07 7 here.” The Opposition is therefore insisting that there were too many irregularities to accept the results.

The two-person Commonwealth Team comprised Paulo Cuinica of the Mozambique Electoral Commission and our own Myrtle Palacio.

Their finding was that “Based on our observation and exchanges with a broad range of stakeholders...our preliminary conclusion is that the elections were generally peaceful and relatively well conducted. The shortfalls observed to date...are not significant enough to put in question the credibility of the outcome.” Likewise, the CARICOM team opined that the poll “results reflect the will of the people” and that they had “no major concerns.” This of course is poor comfort to Mr. Eustace, whose party alleged serious irregularities.

The Commonwealth team acknowledged “allegations of serious irregularities,” and called on “the Opposition political party which made the claims to file formal complaints.”

By definition the work that observer missions can do is limited. I believe that it is thus necessary for missions to clearly define their terms of reference and to make useful recommendations. The Commonwealth team, Mr. Cuinica and Ms. Palacio, made sure to submit a number of solid recommendations. In my view the most important of these is that in order “to deepen democracy an independent election management body should be established in order to increase voter confidence.” It is my perspective that we MUST do the same here in Belize.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2015 Christmas Message by Mayor Kevin Bernard & Orange Walk Town Council The months have flown past and here we are again, preparing to celebrate another Christmas. Then that too will be gone and a New Year of hope, opportunities and yes, challenges will be upon us. Where has the time gone? It seems that only yesterday we were all getting ready for 2015 and in the blink of an eye it passed us by.

But it didn’t pass by without impact. We are different. Our families are different. Our community is different. We welcomed new life to many of our homes, and many of us lost loved ones. As individuals perhaps we can boast of personal achievements – new relationships, new jobs or a promotion, goals set and reached. Or maybe we lost ground and for some reason did not accomplish what we set out to do.

In this past year alone we have seen two significant elections – municipal and general – which have shaken up things. For some of us the results are just what we hoped. For others maybe not!

But we are here. And we are a strong community of hard-working Belizeans who each play an important role in our nation. Despite our differences in outlook, beliefs, religion or affiliation we celebrate this Christmas together, and enter the New Year together. And for that I am thankful...as we all should be.

My friends I have much to be thankful for, particularly a happy, healthy family. I have ac-

Rice War!

Continued from 4 ficial position is that there should be no imported rice, but Chawla is defying this openly and too confidently.

Chawla has no permit to import Guyanese rice. But he claims that under the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) rules he cannot be denied permission to import a Caricom product.

Chawla has even hired lobbyists, including Sergio Garcia, who is Regional Trade Specialist and a former Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture to soothe the public anxiety over imported rice. Money can buy love, it seems.

Garcia has advised Chawla that even if he is denied a permit, all he needs to do is to pay a minimal fine, as stipulated by the Belize Agriculture and Health Authority Act, and his imported goods will be allowed entry.

Chawla is hell-bent on getting imported rice on the Belizean market. In a press release he sent out last week he claimed that all he wants to do is create a “check and balance on the price of rice in the local market”. Of course, he also admitted that he would re-consider his actions if he knew that he would not be making a profit.

Chawla is right. The market does not check and balance. But he is not who should be taking on the role. He is out of jurisdiction. This is not the role of the private sector. This is why Government’s regulatory bodies exist, but those units have been hi-jacked by greedy and incompetent UDP agents who simply want to exploit the market for their profit. They are willing to kill the goose that lays the golden egg to make an extra dollar. Under the Barrow Administration, the current rice war is a warning of uglier things to come.

cumulated new experiences which have made me stronger. There have been good and bad times, and I know I am not alone in that, but I have learned through it all to

count my blessings. That is my wish for you this Christmas, and hopefully it is a wish you can take into the New Year and beyond.

Recognize and appreciate your blessings this Christmas. It is so easy to get caught up in the negative, to lose faith and hope. We are here today because our saviour never lost faith in us and we continue to receive blessings in so many forms even when we do not see. I’ve never forgotten the story of a man who ranted and raved and cursed the fates because he could not find the shoes he wanted...until a man with no feet passed him by smiling. How simple a story, but so compelling and meaningful!

Look around you this Christmas and find joy in the big things and the

20 DEC

2015

little things. Find happiness in family and in life and health, in friends and in work. Sit down in the park and watch the smiles on the faces of the children as they play...and be happy. Go to Church and give thanks because there is so much for which to be thankful. If you have less than you expected this Christmas, remember there are those who are not as fortunate. If you lost a loved one, find some happiness in the memories and believe that they are at peace. And if you find yourself in a position where you have more than you need, my friends...find joy in giving. Because that is the meaning of Christmas!

I am blessed with all I have, all I love...and with a community of which I can be proud. I wish you all every peace this Christmas. I wish you a content heart and mind. And I wish you love.

Merry Christmas...and may every blessing be yours in 2016.

20 DEC

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

Belizean Beauty

Marquisha

• • • • • •

TOPMODEL 09

TOP MODEL Clothing and Accessories provided by

Career Plan: Nurse Sign: Scorpio Cor. North Front Steet & Queen Street CATWALK FASHIONS Favourite Food: Pasta, Pizza Belize City Likes: Dancing, basketball, travelling Photo by: Lives in: Belize City Fav. Quote: “Smile is a simple way of enjoying life.”

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10 SPORTS

THE BELIZE TIMES

Verdes & Police United clash in Premier League finals Belmopan, December 13, 2015 Verdes FC of Benque Viejo and Police United will clash in the Premier League of Belize football finals Game 1 of the finals kicks off at 4pm at Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio on Sunday, December 20.

Verdes FC is leading the League with 4pts, while Police are No.2 with 3pts from a 2-0 win against the Placencia Assassins at the FFB Stadium on Sunday.

Orlando “Leechy” Jimenez came off the Police bench in the 2nd half to head in 2 goals in the 73rd and 88th minutes for Police United’s 2-0 win over the Assassins. This allowed the Police to advance by a 3-2 aggregate score; despite their 2-1 loss to Placencia Assassins in Game

20 DEC

2015

Police’s Byron Chavez vs Dalton Eiley

Harrison Roches scored Police’s 1st goal vs Assassins

1 of the playoffs.

Verdes had a 2-0 win over the Belmopan Bandits, with 2 goals struck by Jarret Davis in Game 1 of the playoffs at the Norman Broaster Stadium on Sunday, December 6. They only

needed a 1-1 draw with the Bandits in Game 2 on Saturday night. Bandits’ Randy Padilla scored first in the 30th minute, but Verdes’ Deon Macaulay delivered the equalizer in the 73rd minute.

SCA girls are basketball champs Julian Cho Tech boys are basketball champs

SCA wins NSSSA basketball champs Corozal Town, December 12, 2015 The St. Catherine’s Academy girls defeated the San Pedro High School girls of La Isla Bonita 34-4 to win the Secondary School basketball championship, hosted by Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico at the Andres Campos Civic Center in Corozal Town over the weekend.

SCA was led in scoring

by Tricia Jefferies who had 10 points.

Delille Academy bombed the Sacred Heart College girls 46-15 for 3rd place on Saturday. They were led by Starite Requeña with 21 points. SHC’s Lucia Tesecum top-scored for her team with 9pts.

In Game 1 of the nationals, SCA blew away the Southern Zone champs, the Delille Academy girls, 52-20.

In Game 2, the Northern Zone champs, San Pedro High School girls, Isla Bonita won 26-8 against the Sacred Heart College girls.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners received team trophies and individual medals while the individual awards for Most Points and Most Rebounds went to SCA’s Indie Dixon, and the Most Steals and the MVP awards to Tricia Jefferies.

Toledo Julian Cho Tech boys

San Pedro High girls won 2nd place

Sacred Heart girls won 4th place

SPHS’ Sophia Guan vs SCA’s Indie Dixon

Corozal Town, December 12, 2015 The Julian Cho Technical High School boys trampled over the Northern Zone champs, the Muffles College boys O. Walk Muffles boys won 2nd place 59-44 to win the high school basketball national championship, at the Andres Campos Civic Center in Corozal Town over the weekend.

The Julian Cho boys were led by Arick Nicholas with 25 points while Muffles’ Cayo Sacred Heart boys won 3rd place Dwayne Avila topscored with 18pts.

For 3rd place, the Western Zone champs, the Sacred Heart College boys won 69-59 against Central Regional champions, Gwen Liz. SHC were led by Afrie Black and Kyron Molina with 14pts apiece.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners received team trophies and individual medals while the individual awards for Most Points, Most Rebounds, Most Blocks and MVP went to Arik Nicholas of Julian Cho, while MVP Arik Nicholas Most Steals went to Gwen Liz’s - Most Pts, Most ReDevontae Middleton. bounds, Most Blocks

20 DEC

2015

City Boys rule BDFA U-15 football Belize City, November 29, 2015 Undefeated City Boys posted their 5th win in the Belize District Football Association (BDFA) Under-15 tournament at the MCC garden on Sunday, where Face of Belize, Hattieville Riverside Boys and Ladyville Rising Stars also enjoyed wins.

The City Boys drilled the Collet Strikers 3-1 when they took the field with only 9 players. Denroy “Bobo” Lopez scored City Boys’ 1st goal, Kenny Linares score a 2nd goal and Jalen Babb a 3rd goal. Collet’s Wayne Ford scored a consolation goal before the half time break, and so it went to the final whistle.

The Ladyville Rising Stars won 2-1 against Carlston United, with Glensdale Nunez scoring 2 goals,

Managua, Nicaragua, December 13, 2015 Team Belize ranked 5th at the XVI Central American Under-20 female volleyball championships organized by AFECAVOL (Asociacion de Federaciones Centro Americanos de Voleibol) in Managua, Nicaragua last week.

On Sunday, December 13th Team Belize won 25-17, 24-21 25-23 against Nicaragua. They were led by Mya Musa hammering 12 hits at the net, while Kori Diego scored 7 spikes and 3 kill blocks for 10pts, she also had 4 digs. Kevanna Sebastian spiked 7 pts and 3 kill blocks for 10pts. Juel Lewis hammered 5 kills and served 2 aces, and Mia Miles scored 2pts.

Team Belize has also won 25-17, 25-21, 25-23 against Panama last week Monday. The team was led by Kori Diego who hit 12 spikes and 2 kill blocks to score 14pts. Kevanna Sebastian spiked 7 kills and 2 kill blocks for 9pts and Mya Musa hit 5pts, while team captain Juel Lewis scored 3pts.

Other matches: El Salvador vs. Belize - 2426, 21-25, 24-26 Honduras vs. Belize - 25-23, 25-17, 25-18 Costa Rica vs. Belize - 25-14, 25-20, 25-15 Guatemala vs Belize - 25-16, 25-22, 25-9

SPORTS 11

THE BELIZE TIMES

Akeem Sutherland attacks

while only Alex Estelle scored for Carlston.

Hattieville River Side Boys posted their 3rd win: 4-2 against the Ladyville Jaguars; with Mario Rivera and Jadon Macgregor scoring 2 goals apiece; while Ladyville’s Allen Anderson and Lyndon Flowers 1 goal apiece.

Face of Belize’s Mario Galindo and Jose Castellanos scored 2 goals apiece to post their 3rd win: 4-1 against Berger United; only Demetrius Usher scored for Berger.

Kenny Linarez scored City Boys’ 2nd goal

Athletes return from World bodybuilding competition Belize City, December 9, 2015 Three Belizean bodybuilding athletes returned from the 2015 IFBB World Amateurs Junior & Masters Championship held in El Salvador on Sunday, December 13th.

Veteran bodybuilder Clayton Greenidge placed 7th in the Master’s category for ages 40-49 up to 80 kilos. Belize’s Mr. Physique Aurel Lewis placed 5th place in Juniors Men’s Physique. And Oyinkro Akpobodor placed 9th in Junior under 23 yrs.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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2015

20 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES 2015 MEGA PUBLIC AUCTION SALE FOR ORANGE WALK DISTRICT

13

Licensed Auctioneer Noel J. Codd will sell the following properties at Noel J. Codd office located in Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District.

ON Monday 21st December 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

ALL THOSE (2) pieces or parcels of land together comprising 1116.932sm being BLOCK 4 PARCELS 313 & 314 ORANGE WALK REGISTRATION SECTION. The subject building is a 2 story ferro-concrete structure with a gross floor area of 3325sft of which includes 1307sft open space and 2018sft is living area. The ground floor hosts 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with kitchen/ dining and living room areas. Second floor is used as a family/entertainment room. Ricardo Villanueva.

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 4 Parcel 421 Orange Walk Town Registration Section, Orange Walk District and containing 711.11 square yards as shown on R.I.M Subject property is located in front of the B.S.I. football field.

Property belongs to Amory Jacobs

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 627.220sm being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 640 TRIAL FARM REGISTRATION SECTION. The Subject Lot hosts 2 structures.

Building #1 (main residence) is a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of 2154sft. The same is occupied as a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom residence with kitchen/dining ,living room & laundry room areas. House is fully tiled, secured, plastered and painted on both the inside & outside. Building #2 is a small one bedroom structure, tiled, plastered and painted with gross floor area of 272sft. Lot is fenced. Being the Freehold property of James Moreira

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, IN TRIAL FARM being Registration Section Trial Farm Block 4 Parcel 762, Orange Walk District, Belize. The property contains 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, living, kitchen, and dining area being the freehold property of Benjamin Torres.

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 284/1, TRIAL FARM REG. SECTION BLOCK 4, O/WALK. Property contains 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Living and kitchen area. Property for Lisandro Vargas

All that piece or parcel of land being lot No.72 situate at the corner of Evelyn & St. Peter Street,Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District. Being Block 4 Parcel 1618 Orange Walk TownRegistration Section, Orange Walk District and containing 479.3 square meters.

The subject building is a 2 storey concrete structure. Main level having 8 bedrooms, 1 part-bath,and living area.

2nd level 3 bedrooms,2 full bath, family room, laundry room, living, dining and kitchen. THE LOWER FLOOR IS USED AS DOCTOR’S OFFICE THE UPPER AS RESIDENCE. BUILDING IS IN VERY GOOD STATE being the Freehold property of Ricardo Fabro

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 1045.045square meters being Lot 648 situated in Trial Farm village, Orange Walk District. Property is vacant lot. Being the Fee Simple property of Melbourne Rodriguez

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 1040.4 s. m. being Block 4 Parcel 12 Trial Farm Reg Sec. Land with structure the freehold of Ismael Teck.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being block 4 Parcel 3871 Orange Walk Town Registration section. The subject building is 1,260 square feet containing 5 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, 2 livings rooms and 1 kitchen area being the Freehold property of Juan August.

ALL THAT piece or parcel being lot # 101, LUSIANA FARM WEST WHICH IS NOW PARCEL # 3939, ORANGE WALK TOWN REG SECT BLOCK 1, Located Corner Guanacaste Street, Louisana Farm West, Orange Walk Town. Holding 2 bedrooms one bath, living dinin and kitchen area. Property for Fernando & Emilia Ayuso.

ALL THAT piece or parcel being Block 4, Parcel 4148 Orange Walk Town Registration Section. The subject building is a one storey concrete structure with a gross floor area of 600sft. The same is occupied as a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom residence with kitchen/dining and living room areas being the Freehold property of Diego Mencias.

All that lot, piece or parcel of land being parcel 510/1. REGISTRATION SECTION: SAN JOSE/SAN PABLO BLOCK: 1 PARCEL: 510/1. The Building is a 2 bedroom bungalow house. Being the leasehold property of Edwin Patt

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, IN Orange Walk being Registration Section Ann Gabourel Block 4 Parcel 1814. The house contains 2 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, living, kitchen and dining area being the freehold property of Levy Blanco.

ALL that piece or parcel of land containing 2160.701 square meters. being Registration Section Indian Hill East Block 4 Parcel 523, Orange Walk District. The property currently hosts a one storey structure which is unoccupied. Being the Freehold property of Roberto Santos

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, being Registration: Ann Gabourel Block: 4 Parcel: 1247/1. The property contains IA 26’ X 24’, 2 BEDROOMs, BUNGALOW DWELLING HOUSE being the leasehold property of Felix Rejon

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2015

Continued from page 13

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 348.33sm being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 1473 ANN GABOUREL REGISTRATION SECTION. Located at #49 Yo Creek & San Joaquin St., Orange Walk Town. The Subject Building is a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of 1971sft, including open area. The same serves as a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom residence with kitchen/dining and living room areas.

House was originally constructed in 1998 and renovated in 2011. House is 50% tiled, plastered and painted. There is also a second structure within the lot that is currently used as a store room.

Property of Edison & Rosita Johnson.

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 4 Parcels 623,624,625 & 631 orange Walk Town 2054.41 square meters Orange Walk Town Registration Section.

Vacant Land. Being the freehold property of M.V. Imports Ltd

All that piece or parcel of land containing 522.5 Square Meters being Registration Section Orange Walk Town Block 4 Parcel 879, Orange Walk District, Belize. Land only being the freehold property of Pabel Torres ALL that piece or parcel of land being Block 4 Parcel 1946 Orange Walk Town measuring 1199.638 sq yds. being the Freehold property of Ricardo Fabro.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 464.454 s. m. being lot no. 3235 CABBAGE STREET, Orange Walk District, Belize. The house contains 2 bedrooms, living, kitchen and dining area.

The house has an outdoor facility being the Freehold parcel of Martin Jimenez.

ALL that piece or parcel of land being BLOCK 1 PARCEL 499 SAN ESTEVAN REGISTRATION SECTION in San Estevan Village, Orange Walk Town. Land measuring 461.9 S.M. Building:Concrete bungalow house with 3 bedrooms, full bath, living, Dining, Kitchen Area and laundry room. Being the Freehold property of Eudaldo & Macaria Patt.

ALL THAT Being Block 4 Parcel 3706, Orange Walk Town Registration section being Registration Section Orange Walk Town Block 4 Parcel 3706, Orange Walk District, Belize. 3 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, living, kitchen and dining area being the freehold property of Ester Vargas.

ALL THAT piece or parcel being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 1444 ORANGE WALK TOWN REGISTRATION SECTION, ORANGE WALK DISTRICT AND CONTAINING 522.563 SQUARE METERS. Subject property is located along Goff Street which is the last street before reaching the Dr. George Farm It is the third parcel on the eastern side of the street It ends at the People’s Stadium in a dead end.

Development consists of a 36.5 by 38.5 split level. curtilage is concrete. Main level, 2 bedrooms, 2 full bath, living, dining and kitchen area.Second level, 2 bedroos, 1 bath, and living area. One upper room needs to be completed.

Chury’s Store

Lease property being lot no. 309 Guinea Grass Village, Orange Walk District, containing 1200.467 sqyds Two storey concrete structure; 2400 sqft Main: 1 living, dining, kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 2 bath rooms,laundry room Second Level - 80% completed: 1 living room, dining, kitchen , full bath, 4 bed rooms being the Leashold property of Primitivo Chan

ALL THOSE THREE pieces or parcel of land containing 1,719.013 s.m. being Registration Section Indian Hill East Block 4 Parcel 514,515,516. Ishwar Mahbubani

ALL that piece or parcel Being Block 1 Parcels 485 & 486 San Estevan Village Lots Layout, Orange Walk and containing 1084.1 square meters (parcel 485) and 1018.6 square meters (parcel 486) respectively. Land only Property of Amelio Cansino.

Fee Simple Property BEING PARCELS 157 AND 158, DOUGLAS REG. SECTION BLOCK 1, ORANGE WALK. LOT 158 CONTAINS 1045.159 S.M. AND IS THE CORNER LOT ON ROADSIDE. LOT 157 CONTAINS 1040.57 SQ. METERS AND IS THE INSIDE LOT FOR WHICH THE STREET IS NOT YET OPENED. BOTH LOTS ARE PRESENTLY IN ITS NATURAL STATE. Property of Erica Cabral

All That or piece of parcel being Lot No. 475 situated in Trial Farm Village Extension, Orange District now declared as Trial Farm Block 4 Parcel 87/1. The Subject Lot hosts an incomplete concrete structure with an approximate floor area of 700sft. Leasehold for Jaime Cocom

ALL that piece or parcel Being Block 1 Parcels 228, 229, 230, 231 San Estevan Registration Section. Land measuring 657.1 sm, 710.8 sm, 641.7sm, & 729 sm respectively in San Estevan Village, Orange Walk. 39 x 39 feet Concrete bungalow structure: 3 bedrooms, 2 full bath, lkitchen, dining and living room.

There is also an open shed, which is used as an additional kitchen & washing area. Being the Freehold property of Wilber & Erica Vega.

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PEICE OF LAND, IN ORANGE WALK being Registration Section Ann Gabourel, Block 4, Parcel 2755 being the freehold property of Van Clarke.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Parcel 206/1 Block 1 Miller’s Bight Registration Section containing 36.7 acres being the leashold property of Apolonio Ramirez.

ALL That piece or parcel being Parcel 188 Block 1 San Jose/San Pablo Village.Containing a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of approximately 700sft. Holding 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living/kitchen area.Being the Freehold property of Otilio Cacerez & Macedonia Chi.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 20acres being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 65 DOUGLAS RURAL REGISTRATION SECTION. Located in San Jose/San Pablo Village being the Freehold property of Vicente Escalante.

ALL THAT piece or parcel being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 428/1 SAN JOSE/ SAN PABLO REGISTRATION SECTION containing 1646.7 square meters being the Leasehold property of Miguel Briceno.

20 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

15

MEGA AUCTION SALE FOR COROZAL DISTRICT IN FRONT OF SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD. Corozal Branch ON Tuesday 22nd December, 2015 At 10:00 a.m.

ALL that piece or parcel of land being Parcel 2157/1 Block 1 in Corozal North situate in Hall’s Layout, College Road, Corozal Town Land - 727.06 sqyds, Building 47.5ft x 32.5ft-split level concrete house, Main level holds 5 bedrooms, 2 full bath, 1 kitchen and living room. Second level 2 bedrooms and a storage area. There is also a 13ft x 15 ft single building in the yard being the leasehold property of Ezekiel Gilharry.

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 1 Parcel 282, situated at No. 96 5th Street North, Corozal Central, Corozal Town, Land measuring 669.91 SqYds, Building - Concrete bungalow structure containing 3 bedrooms, 2 full bath, kitchen, living room, dining room, and office being the Freehold property of Froylan & America Gilharry.

ALL that piece or parcel of land being Corozal Central Registration Section Block 1 Parcel 278, located at No. 8th Street North, Corozal Town, Corozal District. Land - 505.33 sq yds. Building - One single storey bungalow house with 1 bedroom, 1 bath, living, dining and kitchen area. The original house is 21 X 31 fully complete, with an extension that is considered 40% completed and measuring 17 X 31 being the freehold of Abimael & Monica Catch.

ALL that piece or parcel of land being PARCEL # 1077, BLOCK 1 COROZAL NORTH REGISTRATION SECTION.

Located on Narcist St. Alta Mira Area, Corozal Town. CONCRETE 2 -BEDROOM, BUNGALOW WELLING HOUSE WITH GAGLE STYLE ZINC ROOFING. MEASURES 20 FEET X 20 FEET PLUS AN ANNEX 9FEET X 5 FEET PART BATHROOM being the Freehold property Keith Nugent.

ALL that lot, parcel or piece of land, being Parcel No. 2163, Corozal North Registration Section, Block 1, Corozal.

Located in PORT SAUL AREA. Holding a bungalow concrete house with 2 bedroom, one bath, living/dining/ kitchen area. Land Measuring Approx 575.52 SQ YDS. Being the Freehold property of Roque & Maria Martinez.

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, BEING PARCEL # 31 Block 1, PARAISO/ SANTA RITA REGISTRATION SECTION. Building:2 ½ storey with 5,013 sq. ft. with Main:- 2,294 sq. ft 2 Bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, 1 part bath, with kitchen, dining and living room areas and laundry room. Second:- 2,077 sq. ft. 2 Bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, 1 part bath, with kitchen, dining and living room areas and laundry room. Third:-642 sq. ft. and is used as an additional living room space being the freehold of Ramesh Buxani Co Ltd

ALL that piece or parcel being Parcel 62 Block 1 COROZAL CENTRAL REG. SECTION. Located at No 3. 4th Ave Corozal Town. Building is FULLY CONCRETE, DWELLING COMPRISING OF A PARTIAL BASEMENT WHICH CREATES A TWO-STOREY. Measuring aprox. 1800 sq ft. Property of Albertico Gongora

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, BEING PARCEL # 1450/1 CONSEJO ROAD S.E REG SECTION BLOCK 1, COROZAL District being the Leasehold of Jose Cawich

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 675.348sm being BLOCK 1 PARCEL 1774 COROZAL NORTH REGISTRATION SECTION. Located in Paraiso Village, Corozal District. The Subject Building is a one storey ferroconcrete structure with a gross floor area of 1804sft, attached to the building are also 2 open area garage with a floor area of 942sft total. The same is occupied as a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom residence with kitchen/dining and living room areas.

House is fully tiled, and 75% secured with burglarbars. Fee Simple Property of Roberto Tun

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 1 Parcel 682 Libertad Village Registration Section, Corozal District Land: 10,811.87 s. y Building is a two storey concreted dwelling - Main level contain 3 bedrooms, 1 full bath, kitchen, dining, living and laundry room, Second level is incomplete. According to the owner it has been sub-divided into 4 large lots. There is also a thatch house on the property a open trench that may have been initial work for a swimming pool. Being the Freehold property of Herman Botes.

ALL that piece or parce being Block 3 Parcel 614 Sarteneja Registration Section, Corozal District. Vacant land measuring 1106.8 s.m. being the Freehold property of Juan Perez.

ALL that parcel Sarteneja Registration Section, Block 3, parcel No. 348/1 COROZAL. Structure is a mix concrete bunglow with addition at the top, holding 3 bedrooms, bath, living/dining/kitchen areas.

Property of Ariolo & Diana Samos

Fee Simple Property being PARCEL # 552, LIBERTAD VILLAGE REG. SECTION BLOCK # 1, Corozal District, Belize. THE PROPERTY IS A BIG AND LONG LOT containing 1799.63 S.. IT IS DEVELOPED WITH 2 HOUSES. THE 1ST HOUSE IS A TWO-STOREY WOODEN AND CONCRETE STRUCTURE WITH 5 BEDROOMS, 1 FULL BATH, KITCHEN, DINING AND LIVING. IT MEASURES ABOUT 2100 SQ. FEET. WHILE THE 2ND AT THE BACK IS WOODEN WITH A CONCRETE, BACK ADDITION WHICH GIVES IT SORT OF AN L - SHAPED and HAS ABOUT 1300 SQ. FEET. IT HAS 3 BEDROOMS LIVING DINING AND KITCHEN. PROPERTY OF EMILIO & MELVA SARMIENTO (EMILA & BALDOMINIO MONTEJO)

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 28,CAROLINA CALCUTTA REG. SECTION, BLOCK 1, COROZAL containing 907.43 SQUARE YARDS. THE PROPERTY IS IN KEN’S LAYOUT, AN EXPANSION OF XAIBE VILLAGE AND IS FIVE LOTS OFF THE MAIN ROAD. Building is a one storey concrete structure with 1 bath, living dining and kitchen area. Property is designed for more bedrooms but is not complete. Fee simple property of Valentin Nicholas

16 Continued from page 15 ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 57/1, BUENA VISTA REG. SECTION BLOCK 1, COROZAL. Containing Approximately 1310.6 S.Y. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS NEAR CENTRALLY LOCATED LOT IN THE VILLAGE AND TWO STREETS PARALLEL TO THE NORTHERN HIGHWAY. Holding a two storey concrete building: main level has 1 bed room, living and dining area. Second level has 3 bedrooms, living, dining and kitchen area. Leasehold property for Florencia Pott

ALL THAT piece or parcel being PARCEL 539/1,SANTA CLARA/ SAN ROMAN REG. SECTION, BLOCK 1, COROZAL being the leasehold property of George Moralez.

All that piece or parcel containing 1.17 Acres being lot 5 situate approx 10 1/2 Miles On the Belize Corozal Road.

Land Only being the freehold property of Noguera Sugarcane Derivatives

THE BELIZE TIMES 4 PARCELS OF LAND

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, BEING PARCEL # 131 PARAISO/ SANTA RITA REG SECTION, BLOCK 1, CORZAL being Registration Section Paraiso/Santa Rita Block 1 Parcel 131.

Property of Narciso Flores/ Floes & Sons

All that lot, piece or parcel of land being Block 1, parcels 302 Libertad Rural, Registration Section. Only being land is the fee simple property of Leonardo Folgarait

All that lot, piece or parcel of land being Block 1 Parcel 13 Libertad Rural Registration Section. Land only. Being the fee simple property of Leonardo Folgarait

ALL that lot, piece or parcel being Block 1 Parcel 93 Libertad Rural Reg Sec. Land only. Being the Fee simple property of Leonardo Folgarait

All that lot, piece or parcel of land being Block 1 Parcel 221 Libertad Rural Registration Section. Building is 1410 square feet.

Contains 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, a living, kitchen and family room. Being the fee simple property of Leonardo Folgarait

ALL that lot, piece or parcel of land being Block 1 Parcel 225 Libertad Rural Registration Section. Land with frame structure. Being the fee simple property of Leonardo Folgarait

All that piece or parcel containing 639.4 Square Meters, being Registration Section Grants Land Block 1 Parcel 322/1 Copper Bank, Corozal District. The property is appraised under the assumption of good marketable title in fee simple volume 28 of 2002. The property in review has a single family bungalow residence with a gross square footage of 980 sq ft at ground floor and 260 sq ft at first floor and land 639.4 S.M. being the freehold property of Sarah Cobb

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, IN SAN ANDRES/ RANCHITO being Registration Section San Andres/Ranchito Block 1 Parcel 792 Corozal District. The building contains 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living, and kitchen area being the Freehold of Jeorge Zetina

2015

Leonardo Folgarait Properties

All that lot, piece or parcel land being Block 1 Parcel 129 Paraiso/Santa Rita Registarion Section. Land with frame structure. Being the fee simple property of Leonardo Folgarait

ALL THAT pieces or parcels of land being 1 Parcel 120 containing 50.2 acres Parcel 97 containing 14.798 acres, Parcel 95 containing 62.79 acres and Parcel 86 containing 88.16 acres situated in Libertad Rural Registration Section cane land only being the Freehold properties of Armando Martinez and Ervin Rancharan.

20 DEC

All that lot, piece or parcel of land being Block 1, parcels 302 Libertad Rural, Registration Section. Only being land is the fee simple property of Leonardo Folgarait

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 2995 sm being Block1 Parcel 141 San Andres/Ranchito Registration Section.

The Subject Property houses 3 structures.

Building No.1 is 1,200sft. and is occupied as a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home complete with kitchen, dining & living room spaces.

Building No.2: concrete two storey structure of 1,920sft. Each floor is a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom space each with kitchen, dining & living room spaces. Building No. 3 is aq 1,200sft. structure with floor & walls in place only Freehold properties of Armando Martinez and Ervin Rancharan.

All that lot, piece or parcel of land being Block 1 Parcel 53 & 54 Corozal Central Registration Section. Building is 1615 square feet 2 storey building. Lot 53 houses a radio station and studio at the top and a television studio at the bottom. Lot 54 has an out toilet, concreted courtyard/dancehall with a portion of a kitchen/bar. Being the fee simple property of Leonardo Folgarait

NOEL J. CODD Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District Tel: Office: 677-5184 cell: 624-5184 Email:noelcodd@yahoo.com

@Noel Codd Auctioneer

20 DEC

2015

An Exercise in Futility

By G. Michael Reid “Hallelujah, this is a red letter day for the United Democratic Party and for the people of this country. When we pass these constitutional amendments, this constitutional amendment bill today, we would have made safe in a way unprecedented our democracy and the rule of openness and transparency. I have to say again Mr. Speaker when this thing is passed it will mark a C change in the constitutional arrangements of this country in the democratic arrangements of this country. We are voluntarily giving up control of the Senate, control of the upper house by the administration. That is the essence of real effective Senate reform. After this Bill becomes law, it is the Senate that will be empowered to take the administration to task and that empowered Senate will be controlled by the Opposition and the social partners. ~ Prime Minister Dean Barrow in August of 2008 In 1963, the British Honduras Constitution was established and what was then a Legislative Assembly gave way to our current National Assembly. With the change came the birth to our bicameral system where the legislative branch of government is divided into two houses; the Senate supposedly being the Upper House and the House of Representatives being the lower. This is obviously a misnomer because as it stands, the Senate is for all intents and purposes way below and effectively, toothless. The biggest joke is that in the United States, from whence we derived the labels, there is no de facto “upper” or “lower” Houses per se. The term is simply colloquial and refers to location in a two-story build-

THE BELIZE TIMES

17

pletely useless and totally impotent.

The Senate normally sits in session the week immediately following any House meeting and there, they discuss the measures sent up by the House for review and approval.

They then vote and approve whatever is passed in the so-called lower House. They are supposed to have the power to send bills back which don’t meet their approval but rarely ing that houses the two chambers; if ever, has anything been sent back one on the upper and the other on to the House. the lower flat.

The Senate of Belize is, for all The idea on which bicameralism intents and purposes useless, a failis based can be traced as far back ure and a total mockery of our deas ancient Greece and the Roman mocracy. It is a body that serves esEmpire but our system is based on sentially as “a depository of political institutions first used in Medieval Eupatronage to persons who aided the rope. This system was handed down winning political party”. Juliet Thimto our colonial masters who had their brel for example, served two terms own reasons for implementing such. in the Senate and rose maybe once In England, the two Houses were to to offer any input. She was appointrepresent the nobles in one and the ed based solely for her role on the commoners in the other; hence, the slanderous and libellous Wave radio House of Lords and the House of talk show. This flies directly in the Commons. When the British colonies face of what was in fact, the original were established in America, the cointent of any Senate. The idea was lonial assemblies likewise needed to to have the Senate be wealthier and be bicameral, in order to represent wiser. What is the qualification for both the interests of the motherland our Senators again? and those of the colonists. Once the The idea of a thirteenth Senator was not a bad idea and might have even given some purpose to our Senate. As the Prime MinisThe Senate of Belize is, for all intents and purposes useter later stated however, less, a failure and a total mockery of our democracy. It is “It’s a manifesto proma body that serves essentially as “a depository of ise that I gladly break. It political patronage to persons who aided the winis clear to me that I was perhaps overly idealisning political party”. JulietThimbrel for example, tic in introducing that served two terms in the Senate and rose maybe element of the reform once to offer any input. She was appointed based package. In any event I am satisfied that to do solely for her role on the slanderous and libellous that now would lead to Wave radio talk show. paralysis in government and that’s not going to US gained full Independence howhappen.” Why then do we need cures us, to some extent, against the ever, critics argued against maintaina Senate that simply gives sycomischief of hasty legislation, overing a bicameral system and the arguphants and supporters, a free sallegislation, or too much legislation.” ments rage perpetual. The original ary with no duties at the expense of Well, let us look at that from our reasoning is considered antediluvian the Belizean tax payer? Let us end viewpoint. If the Senate could not and debates have determined this this charade once and for, for after prevent the legislation to spend Petsystem obsolete. Our own bicameral all, if the people are adequately repro Caribe monies without approval system is simply a legacy of our coresented in a single-housed state or accountability, then what purpose lonial past and is designed to mirror legislature, then representation in a again does it serve? systems used in Britain and the Unitsecond house is duplicitous, dupliThe Senate had its usual after-the ed States. At least those two councative and unnecessary. Abolish the House meeting this past Wednesday tries can point to reasons why their Senate! and once again proved itself comsystems are in place, but the reason for ours remains hugely mysterious.

Bicameral legislatures were originally created to give separate voices to different social sectors but present reasons wax idiotic. A critic at a 1912 convention once observed, “If the two bodies agree, one is sufficient, and if they disagree, then both might as well be abolished. They tell us that one serves as a check on the other; but oftener than otherwise, the check is placed just where the people do not want it and where they would not have it if they had a single legislature.” Benjamin Franklin, also a proponent of a unicameral legislature, once likened a bicameral legislature to “putting one horse before a cart and another behind it, both pulling in opposite directions.

In 1937, citizens of the state of Nebraska voted to depart from the bicameral system of other U.S. states and have since had their own unicameral legislature (working just fine, by the way). During his term as Governor of the State of Minnesota, former wrestler turned politician Jesse Ventura proposed converting that state’s legislature to a single chamber system which he felt would solve many difficulties and impinge upon legislative corruption. In his book “Do I Stand Alone?” Ventura argues that bicameral legislatures were excessive and unnecessary, and discussed unicameralism as a reform that could address many legislative and budgetary problems. I for one believe that it is time for Belize to consider relieving itself of this archaic financial burden.

As of 2015, more than half of the world’s sovereign states have turned away from bicameral to the more commonsensical unicameral system.

These include the most populated country (People’s Republic of China) and the least populated one (Vatican City); both by the way, also at different ends of the religious spectrum.

In favour of the bicameral system, a delegate at an 1873 convention in Ohio once argued, “We have maintained the double-chamber system because we have found it se-

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LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that QIAO HONG LIU is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Hong Yuan Shop”, situated at 139 Cemetery Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that XIAO ZHI LI is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Yenidio Restaurant”, situated at 18 Central American Boulevard, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that ZHENG MING TAN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Celina’s Shop”, situated at 9 ½ Miles Philip Goldson Highway, Ladyville, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that WEIBIAO ZHAO is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Bo Bo Shop”, situated at 3724 Central American Boulevard, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that CANZHU XU is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Ladyville Boutique”, situated at Ladyville, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that ADAM OCKEY is applying for a Night Club Liquor License to be operated at “Anchor Hospitality”, situated at Newtown Barracks, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that JING XIAO TAN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “T Supermarket”, situated at #26 Lord’s Bank, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that RAJESH CHAWLA is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “R.C. Imports”, situated at West Collet Canal, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that KENNY LO is applying for renewal for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Benson Shop”, situated at #5 Mitchelle Estate, Ladyville, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that WENDY QUAN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Blue Island Supermarket”, situated at Caye Caulker Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that XIAOCONG ZHANG and CANZHU XU are applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Ming Happy Store”, situated at Lord’ Bank Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that JUN LIANG ZHENG is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Dragon Place Restaurant”, situated at Caye Caulker Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that FENGE CHEN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Quinglong Shop”, situated at 25 Lord’s Bank Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that YA WEI ZHENG is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “7 Day Convenience Store”, situated at Caye Caulker Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that XIN YU HUANG is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Los Lagos Shop”, situated at Los Lagos Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that WEIQUAN ZHENG is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “C.C.S. Shopping Mart”, situated at Caye Caulker Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that WEIQIN ZHU and JINCHU ZHAO are applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Julie’s Fast Food”, situated at Ladyville, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

20 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

Notice is hereby given that DONGSHENS ZHENG is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Sunrise Shopping Center”, situated at Caye Caulker Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

2015

Notice is hereby given that DONGSHENS ZHENG is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Caribbean Chinese Restaurant”, situated at Caye Caulker Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that RICHARD VELLOS is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Cevichela Restaurant”, situated at 15 Stadium Street, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that ROSA SIMMONS is applying for a Restaurant and Bar Liquor License to be operated at “Silver Fox”, situated at Maskall Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that NICOLASA CRUZ is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Nicolasa Shop”, situated at San Felipe Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that ALMA ALCOSER is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Orange Plaza”, situated at Tangerine Street, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that VIRGINIA VAUGHN is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Jeany’s Restaurant”, situated at Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that EARL NICHOLSON is applying for a Beer and Stout Liquor License to be operated at “Jacana Inn”, situated at Crooked Tree Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that EZEKIEL LOPEZ is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “La Nueva Nostalgia”, situated at 44 Sapodilla Street, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that DORA ESCALANTE is applying for a Public Special Liquor License to be operated at “Dora’s Cool Spot”, situated at San Antonio Road, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that BLANCA ESQUIVEL is applying for a Malt and Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Blanca’s Restaurant and Bar”, situated at Indian Church, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that MARIA ISELMA CODD is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Carmelita Supermarket”, situated at Carmelita Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that EMETERIA GONGORA is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “D 3 Sisters”, situated at San Jose Palmar Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that MARTHA LYDIA MENJIVAR is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “El Norteno Restaurant”, situated at Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that VERONICA QUETZAL is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Vero’s Grocery”, situated at Guinea Grass Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that Melbourne Rice is re-applying for a Moneylender’s License to be operated at Ymanie’s Pawnshop, situated at #18B Orange Street, Belize City, Belize.

20 DEC

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

The Board of Directors,

Committees, Management & Staff of

HRCU wish all Member-Owners and those of our Sister Credit Unions throughout Belize a

Happy, Blessed, and Safe Christmas & New Year “Save Regularly… Borrow wisely… and Repay Promptly and as Promised!!”

Join a Credit Union today!!

Holy Redeemer Credit Union Ltd. (HRCU) invites you to come visit or contact us at:

No. 1 Hydes Lane, Belize City, or at our Branch on Fadden Avenue, Independence, Stann Creek District E-mail: manager @hrcubelize.org Website: www.hrcubelize.org

Our office will be open for business from 7:30 AM to 12:00 Noon Christmas Eve, December 24TH, 2015

Please visit our 24-hour ATM and Depository Services in Belize City or Independence for all your financial needs!!

Remember that our ATM cards form part of “NetWorkOne” allowing for use at our sister credit unions and all Heritage Bank ATMs!!

20 DEC

2015

20 DEC

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2015

Transamerica Financial Services Inc. #25,845 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Transamerica Financial Services Inc.:

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 10th day of December, 2015; and c) Cititrust International Inc. whose address is 35 Barrack Road, Third Floor, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator of the Company d)

Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent

Northcliff Corporation #40,055 (“the Company”) Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Northcliff Corporation:

from The People’s United Party and the Belize Times For Sale

By Order of the 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 27th day of March, 2012, between MARY CARIDDI of Paslow Falls Area, Cayo District, Belize of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 6 of 2012 at Folios 1121 – 1172, 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 piece or parcel of land or lot situate along the Mopan River, Paslow Falls Area, Cayo District and being Block No. 9 (9.75 acres) of land the Lionel Balan sub-division survey of Grant No. 505 of 2007 comprising 20.86 acres of land and the Survey of a strip of National Lands comprising of 1.00 acre, situate along the Mopan River, Paslow Falls Area, Cayo District and more particularly delineated and described as shown on a plan dated 3rd September, 2007 on Entry No. 10732 Reg No. 17 and Final approval Granted by Ref No. LUA 91/07(28) recorded and registered at the Survey Department, Belmopan City attached to the said property TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 26th day of November, 2015.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

a) is in dissolution b) commenced dissolution on the 15th day of December, 2015; and c) Cititrust International Inc. whose address is 35 Barrack Road, Third Floor, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator of the Company Cititrust International Limited Registered Agent

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THINK ABOUT IT

NISA SANCHEZ We are all so very proud of Nisa Sanchez, the top student in the country based on her CXC performance.

Nisa is the daughter of humble parents who are immigrants from Honduras. Nisa achieved the extraordinary results of passing SIXTEEN subjects. Fifteen of those at grade one and one at grade two. This is awesome.

She is awesome. And she is only 16 years old.

Nisa told Plus TV that she prepared physically, mentally and spiritually. She says she and her family believe in Jehovah God and “I pray and read my Bible because it would always make me feel a whole lot better before and after doing my work”.

Nisa gets a full scholarship to pursue Sixth Form at St. John’s College where she will pursue Maths and Physics. She is planning on a career as a civil engineer but says her first love is the arts and one if her dreams is to open an art school.

Also achieving sixteen CXC passes is Nisa’s classmate Patrick Pinkard. Edwin Otero placed 3rd overall in Belize with fifteen CXC passes.

Edward P. Yorke College has done extremely well once again and has done proud to its teachers, students and their parents.

We can’t help but ask what is the situation at Gwen Lizarraga High School? Both Edward P. Yorke & Gwen Lizarraga started out as government schools named Junior Secondary 1 & 2.

We say once again congrats to Nisa Sanchez, her teachers and her parents.

TWO BILLION DOLLARS America, the world’s leading empire, especially in the area of war, has just hustled tiny Taiwan out of two billion US dollars. America has talked or induced Taiwan into buying warships, missiles, weapons and military vehicles for $2 billion.

Needless to say, the rising empire of the east is outraged. “China staunchly opposes America’s sale of arms to Taiwan”. And went on to state that China would impose sanctions on any companies involved in the sales.

China called on the US to cancel the sales.

That won’t happen. America and the UK as well as several other European countries make huge sums of monies from the sale of war materials.

This helps explain why America and Britain are always stirring up trouble and engaging in wars in other countries.

It’s all about money, baby.

PROSTITUTION RISING Prostitution in Belize is illegal. It is a crime.

It is also a criminal offense for anyone to financially benefit from the money of prostitution.

But prostitution is looming in Belize.

There is formal prostitution and informal prostitution.

Formal prostitution is going on at a growing number of bars where the number of Hispanic waitresses hanging around is the obvious giveaway. How can small bars have eight or ten young looking “imported” girls serving beers? Customers are always males who say they buy sex at these establishments.

The informal prostitution is looming in Belize City. This comes in the form of young creole girls wearing skimpy clothing and come from poor families.

It’s all so very obvious.

It’s probably all the result of poverty and desperation.

20 DEC

THE BELIZE TIMES

GAS PRICES WAY DOWN The price of petroleum on the international market has fallen to its lowest some two, three weeks ago. It is at $38 for a barrel.

Yet in Belize the Puma/government are pretending that nothing has happened. They keep on gouging out the pockets of Belizeans.

Selling us premium for almost ten dollars and regular for nine plus dollars.

No problem- the best is yet to come.

WHERE IS WILLIS? Lindsbert Willis was a Senior Crown Counsel at the office of the D.P.P. He was always prepared for his cases and was professional as a prosecutor, and conducted himself as a “Minister of Justice”,as the law governing prosecutor label their behavior.

We have not seen or heard of Senior Crown Counsel Willis and are concerned.

Linsbert has always been a cool, smooth dude and a gentleman.

BILL GATES BOOKS Bill Gates is the richest man in the world.

He and his wife Melinda are extraordinary humanitarians. They donate millions on a regular basis to many worthwhile causes, like ending the Ebola crises in Africa. Bill Gates is the brains behind Microsoft. He is worth $78 billion dollars.

Last week Bill Gates released a list of the ten best books he read for 2015. He has been sharing his favorite books for the past few years.

Here is a brief extract of a few of the books we selected from his 2015 list: THE ROAD TO CHARACTER written by David Brooks. This book examines the contrasting values that motivate all of us. There are profiles of various historical figures who were paragons of character. Gates says the book gave him a lot to think about. It is a though-provoking look at what it means to live life well.

THING EXPLAINER: COMPLICATED STUFF IN SIMPLE WORDS written by Randall Monroe. Various subjects are explained using only the 1000 most common words in the English language. This is great, because if you can’t explain something simply, you don’t really understand it. This is a wonderful guide for curious minds.

MINDSET: THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS by Carol S. Dweck. Through clever research studies and engaging writing, Dweck illuminates how our beliefs about our capabilities exert tremendous influence on how we learn and which paths we take in life. The value of this book extends beyond the world of education. It’s just as relevant for business people who want to cultivate talent and for parents who want to raise their kids to thrive on challenge.

THE VITAL QUESTION by Nick Lane.

This is an amazing inquiry into the origins of life. I loved it so much that I immediately bought all of Lane’s other books.

LADY SAW Lady Saw has seen the light. On Monday she announced that she was leaving singing and entertaining to take up the work of the Lord.

Lady Saw visited and performed in Belize at the City Centre back in the 1990s. She was the queen of dancehall music in the time of Patra, Shabba Ranks, Tiger and a host of very talented Jamaican artists.

Lady Saw, whose real name is Marion Hall is walking away from large sums of monies as she is still very much in demand to sing and perform.

“Do you remember....remember it was under the Sycamore tree, a boy want mi bow, an mi tell him fi flee...it was under the Sycamore tree, the sun stop shining for me”.

“An me gial whey go da mi church every week, so mi naw mek nuh boy tun mi inna freak”.....it was under the sycamore tree.

Some other Lady Saw songs-Backshot, Glory be to God, Bare as you Dare, 99 Ways, To Sir with Love, Stab out the Meat, Man is the Least.

ULOYD HENDERSON Winty J who is also known as the Mugger from his football days is trying to put a project together. He was a member of the original Messengers which had Uloyd Henderson as the lead vocalist.

Next time I’ll tell you more about Winty’s music project. Right now, wish to remember Uloyd, briefly as we know very little about him.

In the 1960s music changed in the USA and so it changed in Belize. There used to be the Pat Boone, Jim Reeves, Pegg Lee type music. There was also the Nat King Cole, Platters, Brook Benton type classics. Then the Motown sound came along- Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and so on. Then soul music ruled the world along with R&B-rhythm and blues. These were the days of James Brown and Otis Redding. They ruled.

Otis Redding’s soul music came along just when Belizeans started attending house parties and bigger dances at Independence Hall, Riverside Hall, Soulville and such like. It was hug-up music. Where you hug up you partner tight and danced slow, real slow.

Nothing like that had ever happened in Belize City. When soul music came out the lights went out. Those must have been the good ole days.

And then some talented musicians and singers came along. One such was Uloyd Henderson. Girls were crazy for Uloyd. Everyone swore he could sing like Otis Redding whose favorite songs were part of the Messenger’s repetitive “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember”, “I’ve Been Loving You”, “Pain in my Heart”, “These Arms of Mine”, “Try a Little Tenderness”,“Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”.

Wintry has a tape recording of Uloyd singing Otis and the original Messengers doing their thing. That tape needs to be digitally remastered and put on sale in tribute to the 1960s, Uloyd and the Messengers.

FEAR MONGERS & WAR MONGERS The politicians offering themselves to the Republican Party in the USA held a debate on CNN Tuesday night. These people gave the world an insight into their thinking, mainly on fighting terrorist.

America, whether run by the Democrats or the Republicans, has a deep love affair with war and domination of other nations. They are always looking for a war.

Where there is none, they start up one.

It is a sad day and a low point for the world that a presidential debate focuses on bombing another country which is another way of saying destruction, pain and death to innocent civilians. These things should be illegal under international law. The United Nations should be putting serious pressure on the handful of countries who are always pushing and promoting war.

War should be outlawed. That is what the almost two hundred countries in the United Nations should be promoting as their number one priority.

2015

All American news stations have American citizens living in fear of terrorists and radical Islamic jihadists and the favorite bogey right now is ISIS. ANOTHER SCANDAL SWEPT AWAY The fugitive David Nanes, wanted by our neighboring Country-Mexico is the subject of yet another scandal for the Prime Minister Barrow.

An attempt in the Senate by the opposition to hold an Inquiry was once again defeated by the six government Senators. This type of UDP party cover-up is all too frequent and all too typical of the Dean Barrow government.

What is especially sad is that the present Senate was recently appointed and has five new Senator. They have started out real bad. One of the important roles of the Senate is to look into matters of national importance. Having government Senators who are mere robots and rubber stamps is not healthy for good governance or for our fledgling democracy.

We feel ashamed to see how low party politics have made the new Senators sink to.

BELIZE TOO EXPENSIVE After all the talking, the bottom line is food and other stuff in Belize is too expensive.

Rice is too expensive. Fish is too expensive. Chicken is too expensive. Water and electricity are too expensive. Internet, text and telephone are too expensive. GST at 12.5 percent is way too expensive. Petrol is ridiculously expensive. Customs Duty is way, way too expensive. Belikin Beer is too expensive. Fruit juice is too expensive.

Millions upon millions of Belizean dollars go across to Chetumal where Belizeans continue to travel to get better prices than in their own country.

If Belize can get cheaper rice from Guyana so be it. We have to find a balance between helping our farmers while helping our people. Isn’t the purpose of Caricom to help bring down costs and making life more affordable to its member countries?

THE PROPHET The Prophet is a book of eighteen poems; beautiful, passion filled poems on such topics as friendship, children, love, marriage, work, death, self-knowledge, religion, and farewell.

It was written by a poet from Lebanon -Khalil Gibran. The poems are all time favorites of Sir Colville Young, Dr. Leroy Taeger, Glen Tillett, the late George Gabb, Yasser Musa, Evan X, Rowland Parks, Katherine Usher, E. Roy Cayetano and many other Belizeans.

Guess what, some years ago, the actor Richard Harris did a reading of the Prophet accompanied by angelic music.

This too has become a classic. It is available on CD and cassette. It is awesome, simply awesome.

It is a must have item. The book is about eight dollars on Amazon.com. But the CD is the icing on the cake. A real joy and mental uplifter while you drive in your vehicle or relax at home. For the young generation it is on youtube.

There is nothing like it, of course Ecclesiastes or the Song of Solomon in the Bible, and some choice passages from Shakespeare.

“Your children are not your children/ they are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself/they come through you but not from you/and though they are with you yet they belong not to you”

20 DEC

2015

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Police Christmas Season’s Safety Tips In Memoriam of

David Theodore Cleland, better known as “Theo”

Sunrise: October 15, 1936 Sunset: December 11, 2015 Hon. Francis Fonseca and the PUP Freetown Family express their deep condolences to the family of the late David Theodore Cleland. May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory.

1. If you have a vehicle, always try to park in well-lit area, especially in night times.

2. Immediately change all locks when house keys are lost or stolen.

3. Never leave your personal belongings un-attended, especially in crowed places like bus terminals, markets and shopping centers.

4. Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you especially if you are alone or in the dark.

5. Never carry large amount of monies in your wallet or shoulder bags when going shopping or to a party. It’s best to take only what you will need and secure it in a trouser pocket where possible.

6. When you are out for the evening, leave a light/radio on in a room with closed curtains. Always inform a trusted neighbour when you are out.

7. Do not leave your children at home without a trusted adult. Always leave a phone number or address where they can get contact with you.

8. If possible, don’t walk alone late at night hours, walk in groups whenever you can – there is always safety in numbers.

9. Do not leave notes outside your home announcing absence.

10. Do not expose openly, empty containers/packages of new items you bought in-front of your house, so not to attract the burglars interest.

11.

Report suspicious characters or

vehicle(s) in your neighbourhood/business, memorize or write down the vehicle license plate number and color. Learn to describe the unknown characters coming around your neighbourhood.

12. Know your limits. The more you drink, the more likely you are to have an accident; assign a designated driver who will ensure that everyone gets home safety.

13. Secrecy of cash movement is essential. Do not make cash deposits at banks a routine. Vary your timing and route to banks. Where possible change the courier of the deposits. Remember many persons may use the cell phone to commit criminal activities.

14. Ladies be careful if you are at a party. Always observe when your drinks are being mixed. When going home ensure that you are in the company of another friend and if escorted by a male ensure he is someone you know well and can trust. Prevent Sexual Abuse.

15. Do not leave large amount of cash in registers or cash draws or with gas attendants, remove at intervals during business hours and secure in a safe place.

16. Large sums of cash should not be publicly displayed i.e. gas attendants pulling out large sum of cash to give change.

Compiled by: Douglas Hyde, Coordinator, Community/Public Relations Unit, Eastern Police Division, Belize Police Department

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20 DEC

2015