Sunday, December 25, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
5
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Christmas is here Belize and while most Belizeans don’t have much to celebrate or the money for ham, turkey, marley, or the usual Christmas trimmings, we focus on the most important gift of Christmas which is the gift of Christ to the world. We celebrate this gift by giving and sharing with the people who matter the most – our loved ones, our friends, our families as the joy of Christmas is always measured by the lighted faces of one who has been touched upon receiving a gift. As we celebrate the season we at the BELIZE TIMES also focus on our most important gift of all which is you, that’s right, it’s you that got us going week after week, finding stories, digging, probing, searching, researching, picking up pieces here and there. It is you our reader that motivates us to put out the best newspaper we can with headlines such as “Fronting for Foreigners All Along”, “NO Raise NO Relief”, “Flippin Hulse Must Go”, “GSU’s Vidal: Child Abuser”, “Black Friday”, “Crisis at the Border”, “Que Viva George Price, Que Viva”, “Moya Resigns”, “Forward with Francis” and “Hook or Crook”. From the sensational headlines to From the Ghetto Streets, Hard Hitting, The Next revolution, Reality Check, Reid Between The Lines, In My Perspective, Amazing Grace, Mariposa, and Think About It, it is because of you who look forward to the truth every week that we’ve kept going. On behalf of the People’s United Party, the Editorial Board, the Editor and Staff of the BELIZE TIMES and all those who in one way or the other help to make the paper a weekly reality, please accept our sincere gratitude. For those who contribute your time, your talent, your energies may this holiday be filled with peace, Joy and Love from all of us at the BELIZE TIMES. It’s time to grab the broom, the grayta, the mouth organ, and bruk down the old fashion way. Put the berries wine on the table, draw the cork, Belize it’s Christmas. Happy Holidays.
PUP Leader’s Christmas Message to Party Members & Supporters December 20, 2011 Dear Members, Supporters and Friends of our great PUP, The year 2011 has been a difficult and challenging one for Belize, our people, our communities, our families and for many of us personally. Across our country our people are going through very difficult times. Many have lost their jobs, their homes, their land, their scholarships, and regrettably many have lost hope. It was another year of deadly violence, senseless murders and terrifying home invasions. In the face of growing economic stagnation and violent crime, the UDP Government offered no plan, no vision, no solutions. This year was also a year of personal loss for our PUP family and our Nation as we lay to rest our great Leader Emeritus and Father of the Nation Rt. Hon George Price who went home to his Lord and Savior on September 19, 2011. Our Nation will never forget his great life of service and our Party must forever be guided by his example, principles, and philosophy. On October 29, 2011 I was given the honor and privilege to become the Leader of our great party. It is a great responsibility but one which I am fully committed to carrying out with a sense of duty and service. Our Party owes former leader Hon. John Briceño a debt of gratitude for the tremendous work that he has done since March of 2008 to rebuild and re-energize our Party. I am grateful for his continued support and advice. We have had to make tough decisions about the Party’s Executive, organs, and units but I wish to assure you that all decisions were made in good faith, always keeping in mind the best interest of the Party and our role and responsibility in Belize’s development. Next year will be an election year and all of us will be called upon to do more, work harder, sacrifice more and contribute more to the work of our party. The work ahead will not be easy but let us all remain focused on our ultimate objective which is to win the municipal and general elections so that the PUP can get back to the work of developing Belize and helping our people to enjoy a better quality of life. People across the country are frustrated, disappointed, and even angry with the UDP but that does not mean they are prepared to embrace and support the PUP. We have to prove to them that we are worthy of their support, of their trust and confidence, of their votes. We must present to them our plans and vision for Belize, and we must go to them in their homes, their communities, their villages, towns and cities and hear their concerns. We must prove to them that we want to win, can win and will win! We have to show the great PUP fighting spirit and invite them to join us in this fight for our country. We belong to a great Party with a great history and record of service and achievement. Let us be proud of our Party and stand shoulder to shoulder in the weeks and months ahead. Our people are depending on us. We will not let them down! We will not let George Price down! May God bless you and your families throughout the Christmas season and 2012! Sincerely, FRANCIS FONSECA