Sunday, December 9, 2012
17
THE BELIZE TIMES
Julius Espat
and the PUP works for Cayo South Cayo District, December 3, 2012 Farmers of Armenia and Valley of Peace Villages are now able to access their farmlands and harvest their food for Belize thanks to tremendous assistance provided by their Area Representative Hon. Julius Espat. Hon. Espat, who is an elected Opposition-member of the House of Representative, was provided a measly budget of 25 cents per Cayo South resident by the Barrow Administration for 2012. Hon. Espat presented a budget made in consultation with his constituents that includes the repair, construction
Before
After
EU to donate S$10.4m to Belize-Guatemala ICJ referendums Belize City, December 3, 2012 International press reports indicate that the European Union will donate eight million euros in funding support to the holding of the October 6 2013 referendums in Belize and Guatemala, which will decide whether the Guatemalan claim should or should not be resolved before the International Court of Justice. The amount is equivalent to US$10,452,800. The funding will be held and dispersed by the Organisation of American States, according to the EU Ambassador in Guatemala, Her Excellency Stella Zervoudaki. The Governments of Belize and Guatemala have agreed that the best chance of resolving the age-old land claim is to take it to the ICJ. Guatemala claims 12.700
km2 of Belize’s territory, from the Sibun River to the Sarstoon River. Constitutionally for Belize, the decision lies with its citizens who decide the course of matters regarding the dispute with Guatemala through a referendum. Both countries have announced their budgets for the referendum, which totals US$50 million. Guatemala has reported that its education campaign will require US$14 million, and as much as US$32 million will be needed on the day of referendum. Belize has budgeted US$2 million for voter mobilization and registration, US$0.5 million for legal fees and research, and US$4.5 million for public education. The Government of Guatemala said it will rely on international donors to finance its public education campaign, while the Belize Government said it will be almost entirely reliant on international donors to meet its budget.
and maintenance of infrastructure such as schools, community centers, bridges, roads, and farm roads, but it was flatly rejected by a shallow-minded UDP Government. This did not deter Hon. Espat and he, together with residents and generous supporters, has forged ahead to show that the needs of the people are priority. The work carried out in Armenia and Valley of Peace village, which are considered the bread baskets of the country, are evidence of Hon. Espat’s commitment to his people. Over the past weeks, Hon. Espat worked to clear out farm
roads for farmers to access their farms. The farmers had requested assistance from the Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Works, but the pleas were ignored. The UDP Government is inept and vindictive. Because Cayo South believed in Julius Espat in the last general election, the UDP has vowed that the people will suffer. But that will not be easy for the UDP to achieve, not with a defender and fighter like Julius Espat who even when given a budget of 25 cents per resident, has been doing major work in his constituency.