24
17 JUL
THE BELIZE TIMES
MY PERSPECTIVE By Dolores Balderamos Garcia
MS. YVONNE, LADY FEARLESS The name Yvonne McCalla Sobers is familiar to me. First of all, she is the mother of my old law school classmate Hilaire Sobers, who now lives in Washington D.C. I remember being extremely impressed by the strength and warmth of her personality when I met her in Jamaica many years ago while in law school. Next, Ms. Yvonne has worn and still wears many hats. She is perhaps best known for being one of Jamaica’s strongest, if not the strongest, advocate for human rights. She is also Chairperson of e-Learning Jamaica Limited, a company dedicated to encouraging young people to embrace new forms of technology so as to achieve a quality education. She is additionally an aquaponic farmer, having earlier been a history and mathematics teacher at Jamaica College. Her tiny stature belies the power of her presence and demeanor, as she takes on a multitude of causes, usually in defence of the rights of Jamaica’s most vulnerable persons. Recently, she took on then Education Minister Ronnie Thwaites, who supported the decision of many school principals to send home students who wore tight pants and short skirts or were otherwise “inappropriately dressed for school.” Said she: “For me, suspending children cannot be the answer for an educational institution. It’s like going to a hospital when you are sick and you are told you can’t come in because you are wearing shorts.” She suggested that teachers and guidance counsellors should spend time talking with students about the issues affecting them, and she hopes that her e-learning program can tackle the challenges of indiscipline, high dropout rates and low performance, especially among boys. She also recently lent her formidable voice and dynamism to the fight for the rights of the LGBT community, especially young men who actually live in drains and gullies after being rejected and put out by their families for being gay. I recommend that readers should Google her and watch with interest her discourse for “We Are Jamaicans,” a series of testimonials of support funded by the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition. Yvonne is genuinely passionate in her defence of gay rights and the
human dignity of every single individual. She looks like the kind of loving auntie that everyone would want to have, her white hair and the wealth of her knowledge and experience employed now as the fearless advocate she has become. Her most recent opinion essay is on the subject of ganja, or weed as we call it here at home. It is to be found in the Commentaries section of the Gleaner newspaper for May 29, 2016. The essay is titled “Ganja Regulation: Wheel and Come Again.” This is an essential read for all who are interested in the decriminalization/legalization of marijuana. Her thesis is that regulation of marijuana certainly has its place, but over-regulating will have the same effect as complete prohibition. Over-regulation will benefit big business, while most law abiding citizens and small farmers will be “too shackled to compete.” She has also had the insight to recognize that ganja regulation placates drug-control watchdogs, while alienating those who are most familiar with local realities. Ms. Yvonne also sets out cogently the pros and cons of marijuana use, and discusses the stringent, prohibitive requirements that ganja farmers in Jamaica will have to comply with when regulation comes in. Extremely tough regulation will bar small farmers from being able to compete. It is clear from her discussion that there will be a very high bar for meeting licensing criteria. She also reiterates what we all would recognize – that prohibition disproportionately affects poor, black males, and that there is a huge human cost to the failed war on drugs. Her recommendations are that when there is a review of laws and regulations it is essential that policymakers are guided by evidence and not by myths and fears. It is necessary, she submits, for Jamaican lawmakers to hold consultations, especially with small ganja farmers with a view to examining Jamaican realities and not outdated drug treaties. Whether you are in favor of legalization or not, I think it is important to read and consider Ms. Yvonne’s views. They are strong and progressive, since she is clearly thinking outside of the box where weed is concerned. And considering her forceful interventions on many pressing issues in Jamaica, I have to call her LADY FEARLESS. We would do well, I believe, to emulate her as we consider the raft of social, cultural and other problems facing Belize today.
2016 BY ORDER OF CHARGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL
HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of a Charge registered at the Land Registry between LUIS MENDEZ of the one part and HRCU of the other part. HRCU will at the expiration of three months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the Schedule below. ALL offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing to Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited from whom full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained.
SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 448.47 square yards being Parcel 94, Block 45 in the King’s Park Registration Section situate at No. 5636 Lizarraga Avenue, Belize City, Belize District, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of LUIS MENDEZ DATED this 28th day of June 2016 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738
VACANT POSITIONS POSITION: RADIOLOGIST Educational and other requirement: - Applicants must possess a Medical Degree with a specialty in Radiology - Willing to work flexible hours, Weekends and Holidays - Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the specialty - Excellent Public Relations Skills - Able to function effectively under pressure
POSITION: FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON Educational and other requirement: - Applicants must possess a Medical Degree with specialty in Plastic Surgery - Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the specialty. Deadline for Application is Friday, 29th July, 2016 Please submit applications to General Manager P.O. BOX 2403 Belize City, Belize