Sunday, May 13, 2012
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THE BELIZE TIMES
SCAN HERE
SUNDAY May 13, 2012
www.facebook/Belize Times
Issue No. 4795
BEL rates increase of imposing extra charges that could hurt the pockets of Belizeans, and that is just what is happening now. The Government-owned Belize Electricity Limited company has gotten the Public Utilities Commission to approve new increases for some of the
services, many of which will come down like a ton of bricks on our shoulders. BEL submitted a list of fees and charges that they asked the PUC to consider. These included new deposits that will involve fees for different categories of customers, increases for reconnection, new in-
Yet another UDP embarrassment! MoH truck stolen from Gov’t compound
See page 13
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Footage showed thief entering Ministry of Health compound and driving out with Government vehicle
BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 It appears that on a daily basis the nation must suffer some embarrassment at the hands of the UDP Government. The latest is the barefaced, well-executed theft of a Toyota Hilux pickup truck from inside what should have been a well-
14 yr. old charged with attempted murder Belize City, May 9, 2012 This morning at the Belize City Family Court, a 14 year old minor was charged for a slew of offences including attempted murder. The minor is accused of arming himself with a gun and shooting three people plus shooting at two others last week Friday. A total of eleven charges were placed on the teenager, including 5 counts of attempted murder, 3 counts of use of deadly means of harm, and 3 counts of dangerous harm. He could not be granted bail because of the laws and the stiffer penalties related to gun charges. The incident reportedly occurred on Bocotora Street, right
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guarded Government compound. The incident was caught on video surveillance and it showed second by second play of a man with his face covered with a rag and dressed in dark militarystyle fatigues, walking onto the Ministry of Health compound on St. Joseph St. The man should not have gotten past
the entrance gate but the suspicious disappearance of the security guard left the entire compound at criminal’s disposal. With no one guarding the security booth, the man scaled the fence and once on the compound, broke the gate’s lock to slide it open.
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Unfit to lead? PM Barrow suffers medical condition
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Belize City, May 7 2012 Prime Minister Dean Barrow suffers from Vertigo, a medical condition that incapacitates a person by causing an illusion of movement or spinning. This was revealed by no other than the
Foul play!
Boco-T’s autopsy reveals brutality
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04 Cold & Heartless Elvin Penner 17 WHAT IS MARK KING HIDING?
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BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 By Alton Humes It was the autopsy that almost never happened, something that seemed being denied to the already grieving family of Kevin ‘Boco-T’ Kelly, aged 38 years. The well-known Belize City figure from
creased fines for tampering of meters, increased fees if BEL employees disconnect your supply at the light pole rather than at your meter, among others. These were given the green light for increases, for instances, the reconnection fee for the standard residential service will now be increased by 50%, from $10 to $15. BEL requested fees for a number of other services, which included a new service fee for industrial customers, a new classification of “Industrial 3” for communities like Spanish Lookout, the introduction of new service fee charge for meter changes, as well as for inspec-
TOP MODEL
Belize City, May 9, 2012 When he campaigned for a second term in office leading into the March 7th elections, Prime Minister Dean Barrow promised that he would not increase electricity rates for consumers. But he never promised not to find other ways
Tour operators worried over fee hikes Kevin “Boco T” Kelly
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Toledo teacher scolds Prime Minister
Under UDP, workers have No Rights! Dear Editor, Kudos to the BEL workers and Belize Energy Workers Union for standing up and speaking out against the unfair labor practices at the Belize Electricity Limited. Brothers and sisters of BEL, stand firm. In the meantime what has happened to the other Union leaders? Where is their balls and spine? Why are they not standing up against the many injustices currently being handed down to thousands of Belizean workers namely Nurses, Teacher s, Doctors, Police officers, BDF soldiers and other workers, by this malicious and incompetent UDP government? By its very nature, Unions are designed to champion and protect all workers’ rights. Unions should be free to demonstrate its dissatisfaction against any government, regardless of political persuasion. Under the PUP, workers were allowed to protest, picket, and demand. In most cases their demands were met. Under Barrow and the UDP, Unions are muzzled and shut down. Important sections of Collective Bargaining Rights such as the right to organize protest are compromised and taken away by Barrow. Union leaders are also compromised and bought over. The call now goes out to all the
brave workers. Rid your Unions of leaders who are not defending your interest. Stand up not on talk shows, like the wimpy Frazer and Reneau did on TV, but come out and show your support for one another. Join the BEL Workers, the Teachers, and BTL Workers. Don’t continue to be muzzled by this anti-labor government who continues to show disrespect to all who don’t dance to its tune or sing to its music. Let us rid ourselves of this tyranny and despots. If Belize is to be the Land of the FREE, as our Anthem proclaims, we must fight to keep its freedom and beauty. Belizean workers, it is noble to demand better working conditions for all and not just for a chosen few, as is being currently practiced. While we all continue to sit in silence we are being screwed over to greater poverty and suffering. Rights are sacred and many have been lost under the Barrow regime. Let us unite, in purpose and in cause and say to Mr. Barrow, Sir, stop supporting crime and the criminals, leave our Judicial System, leave our Trade Unions to function. Let freedom of expression prevail. Workers of Belize, wake up from your slumber the time is now. Stand up for your rights. Signed, The Advocate
THE PEOPLE’S UNITED PARTY Wishes all mothers a Happy, Safe and Loving Mother’s Day
Dear Editor, We are poor teachers of Toledo. We work hard to educate the young minds. We are asking for a pay raise but can’t get our PM to give us all a small increase in order to cover our high cost of living here in the Toledo District. Now he has more consideration for criminals. It seems that in the PM’s world crime pays, rather than hard working people. Our borders are overwhelming with illegal activities why not have these gangsters patrol our boarders since they are so good with killing one
another. Let them earn their money like any other ordinary Belizean. PM, teach a man to fish, don’t give him the fish or eventually he will bite the hand that gave him the fish. PM, think like an educated person. We as tax payers are working hard and for you to use our money to pay criminals is not right. What examples are we showing our young generation? We have students that listen to the news and are saying: miss we don’t need no more school, we just need to kill some people and we will get paid by the PM not to do more. PM open your eyes, this is what you are portraying to our new generation. Signed, Very concerned educator/Toledo resident
Proper vehicle regulation could have prevented theft of Government vehicle Dear Editor, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or get mad when I saw Tuesday night’s news on Channel 7 about a criminal who stole a Government vehicle with ease. The episode, while funny as hell, is a total embarrassment for the UDP which can’t seem to get anything right when they are in Government. I have oftentimes shared with my friends that the UDP is a better Opposition, and the PUP is a better Government. History and incidents like the one on Tuesday prove why I am right. What angers me the most about the stealing of the Government vehicle is that it could have been avoided. Yes, the security guards hired to secure the compound are to blame. The Ministry of Health also have some responsibility. But, I believe, the Prime Minister’s office is most responsible. If the Prime Minister had enforced the rules prohibiting the use of Government vehicles by public officers and Ministers’ friends and associates after normal working hours, there is no way the criminal would have gotten far away without someone noticing something was wrong. Instead this rule is ignored and one can see blueplated vehicles burning the midnight oil at times, at the expense of tax payers. It’s such a shame that our small country is responsible for so much waste. With even more auster-
ity measures knocking on our doors, it’s high time the Government does something about the abuse of its vehicle and fuel bill. What we also need is some stiff penalties for anyone, including Ministers and their family and friends who break the rule. Imagine, if this rule were enforced, that criminal would have had a hard time taking the Government for fools. Singed. Hubert Perez
THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR
Alberto Vellos OFFICE MANAGER
Fay Castillo McKay PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR
Doreth Bevans LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST
Chris Williams STAFF REPORTER
Alton Humes TYPIST
Rachel Arana OFFICE ASSISTANT
Roberto Peyrefitte Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd. #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Tel: 671-8385 Email: belizetimesad@yahoo.com editortimes@yahoo.com
Sunday, May 13, 2012
UDP crony Vernon Cuthkelvin untouchable??
Vernon Cuthkelvin
Belize City May 8, 2012 It appears the UDP’s known operative, Vernon Cuthkelvin, will not face legal battle over six containers he imported in February under the guise that the contents were fertilizers, but which turned out to be precursor chemicals in the manufacture of methylamphetamine (cystal meth). Cuthkelvin has been allowed to roam free. The containers with suspicious chemicals brought into Belize in his name are sitting at the Belize Customs compound under guard, the investigation is stalled, but the political bosses appear to not want it to go further. The Customs seemed to have a clear cut case that could have resulted in gain-
Yet another UDP embarrassment! Continued from page 1
Like he owned the place or had done the exercise a million times, the thief strolled under a shed, pulled out a key from his pants pocket, entered a parked Hilux pickup, turned the engine on and drove away. He even had enough time to pull out a bag of tools and close the gate behind him, before heading back on St. Joseph with stolen Governmentproperty. The robbery has left the Ministry of Health desperate for answers. What is a definite fact is that the two security guards, hired by the Ministry of Health from JB’s security, were not where they were supposed to be in order to prevent such nonsense from happening. This begs the question whether the Ministry evaluates its own security, and for how long have they been operating with such lax security. The vehicle stolen is very important to the Ministry. It is in Vector Control Unit, particularly when it comes to battling Dengue. With the rainy season right upon us, the Ministry will be underresourced to carry out proper fumigation of hotspots. The Minister of Health Pablo Marin has said nothing about this latest embarrassment under his watch. There has been no indication if anyone will be held responsible and what measures will be taken to ensure it doesn’t occur. Meanwhile, the Police are investigating the burglary. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the stolen truck can contact the nearest Police Station, or the Ministry of Health at 2232722, 223-2723 or 601-8652, or you can give anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers Belize at 0-800-922-TIPS.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
ing much needed revenue for the Department. Cuthkelvin could only be charged for making a false declaration. Belize has been slow to write up laws against the importing of precursor chemicals, even though cases are becoming prevalent. But the fine alone for Cuthkelvin’s containers would have fielded in much revenue. By law the serious felony carries a hefty fine calculated by taking the estimated market value of the item involved in the infraction, plus the cost of freight multiplied by three. The almost 3,000 sacks of methylamine hydrochloride, valued at about $492,000, could
produce some 400 metric tonnes of crystal meth which is valued at about $10 billion in the U.S. market. This would have brought the total fine against Cuthkelvin to a possible over $2.3m. That’s as much as appears to be overlooked by UDP bosses to save face. We are yet to see how this one turns one, mindful that the US Drug Enforcement Agency was also involved in the investigations, and are keeping a close eye on how it all plays out. Are the UDP bosses brazen enough to spare their well-known crony, or will they keep out and allow the law to take its course? We won’t hold our breaths.
BEL rates increase Continued from page 1
tion of new and existing service. The PUC’s nod for the increases did not include all the requests submitted by BEL, but we maintain that the ones that were approved will create more hardships among electricity consumers in an already burdened economy. Increasing the reconnection fee by 50% will compound the burden. Because of the economic hardships, many Belizeans can’t meet their bills on time. Many are disconnected because payments are done past the due date, which means that with this increase Belizeans will have to pay more. The crippling increases are not to be confused with the already burdensome GST tax that many BEL customers are already paying each month. So while Barrow promised not to raise electricity rates this time around, his government is making sure that they get back the equivalent to an increase by implementing new and increased fees and fines to customers.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
What is Mark King hiding? Belize City, May 9, 2012 The UDP Ministers are learning lessons the hard way. The lesson is that nothing they do in the dark will stay in the dark forever. Mark King is just learning this lesson, though he refuses to accept it. King is one of the UDP politicians who benefitted from new Mark King’s newly-purchased Ford rides at the expense of tax payers. F150 at auto shop for repair When King became a Minister, he got a 2012 F150 truck valued at $74,000. King still hasn’t explained his fellow Colleagues purchased from why his luxury truck which was bought the official dealer. But King has time to from a local importer/vendor ended up explain. What he needs to come clean costing more than two others bought with NOW is why his recently-bought truck was at an auto shop in Belama with multiple damages to the body? The truck should still be in mint condition. King purchased it just under two months ago, but is he that careless that the Government truck has already been damaged? The BELIZE TIMES understands that King appeared at the home of the auto shop in the wee hours of the morning. Flustered and Continued from page 1 frantic, King asked that repairs be carPrime Minister’s office last week in response to reports that the Prime Minister had become ill. It was also a sort of clarification that turned into an amplification of a report in last week’s BELIZE TIMES that a senior minister collapsed during Cabinet “three weeks ago”. The office of the PM confirmed that Barrow had suffered an attack “three weeks ago”. The release also confirmed the report that the attack interrupted the Cabinet meeting by “half hour”, and corroborated the BELIZE TIMES’ report that a doctor from the Ministry of Health was called in to treat and examine the PM. The BELIZE TIMES had reported that this was done in an attempt to keep the entire episode secret from the public. Yet, according to the release from the office of the PM, Barrow has “a clean bill of health”. But how could that be, when in the same release they admit that he suffers random “occasions” of attacks that can last up to 30 minutes (as occurred three weeks ago)? Vertigo is not just your regular type of dizziness illness. It’s much, much serious. According to www.emedicinehealth. com, Vertigo is the feeling that you or your environment is moving or spinning. It says the condition differs from dizziness in that vertigo describes an illusion of movement. www.wikipedia.com goes further. It says Vertigo is associated with nausea and vomiting, and it causes difficulties standing or walking. It also can cause blurred vision, difficulty speaking, a lowered level of consciousness, and hearing loss. All these symptoms could become permanent. Just how serious is the Prime Minister’s condition is not known. And this is where the nation must be seriously concerned. The Office of the Prime Minister’s release comes three weeks after the PM suffered the attack in Cabinet. It is clear that the incident would have remained a secret, if it were not for the BELIZE TIMES report. This was very wrong. Belizeans deserve to know as much as possible about the head of Government, especially when it comes to his/her health. After all, it is taxpayers’ who pay his/her salary, and he is no longer in private practice. Only a megalomaniac would attempt to dispel medical advice or obvious signs that he is ill. Of course, megalomania is another serious state the Prime Minister has been diagnosed with.
Unfit to lead?
ried out immediately and even paid up to $1,000 in cash. King explained that a dump truck caused the damages, but that is very suspect. The truck had dents on the side and rear. Its bumper had been removed. The damages seem more from reckless driving that from an accident with a dump truck.
Sunday, May 13, 2012 Very suspicious is that King removed the license plates from the truck to conceal that it was a Government vehicle. Why would he do this if he wasn’t hiding something? Come clean Mark King! The Belizean people deserve the transparency and accountability you promised them before elections.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Faith and Circumstance Last Friday May 4th the Prime Minister’s office went into damage control mode when they scrambled to issue a release attempting to dispel a report in the BELIZE TIMES that took on its own form on the social media that Prime Minister Dean Barrow had collapsed in Cabinet. The press release initially said that no such thing had happened and then went on to admit that three weeks ago a Cabinet meeting was indeed interrupted for about half an hour because the Prime Minister had suffered an attack of Vertigo. An attack of Vertigo is not like getting a dizzy spell. Ask anyone who has the condition, its rough stuff. The Prime Minister required immediate attention from a doctor who was called in to examine him. Vertigo is not the only medical condition ailing the Prime Minister. He also suffers from a back problem which prevents him from standing up for too long, and makes the travel to and fro Belmopan very uncomfortable. We are told the PM depends on the support of a back brace to withstand presentations at House meetings. It still doesn’t hide the pain and discomfort shown by his gestures and facial expressions. While we do not wish the Prime Minister ill, this latest Vertigo incident in Cabinet exposes a looming crisis within the UDP camp. We already know that Barrow’s Cabinet is competencechallenged. In fact, Barrow confirmed this to the nation when he went outside his elected stock to bring “competence” through new ministers/senators, including naming an ex-PUP as an Ambassador. But what the Vertigo attack reveals is that as much as Barrow may think he is infallible, he isn’t. Like you and I, he suffers from sickness and could any day fall medically incapable to hold the rein of Government. The big question, in that case, is who would step in? For all intents and purposes, Barrow’s successor would be Deputy Prime Minister Gapi Vega. We know this possibility concerns certain key UDPs and quietly, the ruling party is engaged in a fight for leadership. Barrow has his pick and it isn’t Vega, even though he is Deputy Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister. Vega’s Cabinet demotion following the March 7th election proved Barrow is shuffling cards to place his man ahead. Like Vega, John Saldivar also got a raw deal. This then brings us to Patrick Faber, who the UDP insiders say is Barrow’s favorite. While we can say that he has impressed many by surviving, the question is whether he can command the respect of the other members of the UDP who may not believe he is competent for the job. Time will tell what happens. Knowing that everything falls on his shoulders does not make Barrow happy. These are not the 90s. This is twenty years later. Belize has changed. The issues are more complex, and the demands are greater. Barrow is not happy this time around. The two months in office feels like two harsh years. It is causing Vertigo attacks. The Prime Minister is so stressed out the trips to Miami may be just as much for him, as they are for his wife. The gun violence, murders and high level crime and economic crisis have many Belizeans praying for better for Belize. Do you believe in faith or circumstance, or both? We are of the opinion that this was Barrow’s last run. Whether he admits it or not, sooner or later he will need to find a replacement so he could exit.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Armed duo terrify Columbia Village residents Toledo District, May 9, 2012 Punta Gorda Police have arrested one man accused of brutalising residents of Columbia Village. Kennrick Lopez was identified as one of two men who pistol-whipped two residents of the village. The other person is Isidro Lara. According to Silvanus Makin, around 7:30 on Saturday M ay 5th, he went to buy at a shop in the village when he was approached by Lopez and Lara. Makin said Lara held both of his hands, while Kennrick placed a handgun in his mouth, before slapping him several times. Both men eventually let go of Makin and he left without fur-
ther injury. Half hour later, the duo found another target. Ismael Cardinez he was near a shop when he was approached by Lopez and Isidro. Lopez, who seems to be aggressor, pointed a small handgun to Cardinez’ chest and said “a wah bust somebody”. Cardinez was terrified and immediately left the area. Both victims of the alleged assaults went to the cops to report the incidents. Police charged Lopez with two counts of Aggravated Assault, and are on the lookout for Lara.
Foul play!
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Majestic Alley in Belize City died in the most bizarre set of circumstances possible – and all while in Police custody out at San Pedro Town on Thursday, April 26th, 2012. The Police, backed up by Town physician Dr. Javier Zuniga, are insistent that Boco T suffered some sort of head and neck injuries after running away from Police custody and allegedly falling off a fence just past a construction site. Two weeks or so to that day, the official results are in – and it’s blown the Police’s version of this already sordid affair to utter smithereens. Dr. Mario Estradabran conducted the autopsy yesterday, Tuesday, May 8th around 1:00 p.m. and found that Kelly died as a result of “Hypervolemic shock due to internal
bleeding, due to multiple abdominal trauma, due to blunt instrument type”. All those words are merely a fancier manner of saying that ‘Boco-T’ was essentially the victim of fatal blows. The news isn’t good, and the family is considering suing the Belize Police Department for wrongful death. According to his common-law wife, Lorna Wade, the Police in San Pedro had plenty to hide in this matter, and that is essentially why the post-mortem took so long to perform. His brother Lincoln Kelly went even further, telling the media, “The autopsy is saying that he got hyper-volume shock and abdominal trauma, so how can you fall on your neck and the autopsy is saying that… We believe, and before we were hearing rumors from
Sunday, May 13, 2012
14 yr. old charged with attempted murder Continued from page 1
outside a small game shop. 25 year old Glenford Young, 22 year old Kyle Domingo and 34 year old Lloyd Bowen were outside the game shop when a gunman rode past on a bicycle and fired shots at them. Young was shot to the groin area and the leg, Domingo suffered an injury to the foot, while Bowen was injured to the left arm. Two other persons, Terrilee Middleton and Avery Rowland, were in the area and escaped unharmed. The 14 year old will be allowed to
people who live in San Pedro who knows us tells us that police detain my brother, and shock him up, and throw water on him, and kill him. The autopsy just proves that to me now.” When we spoke to Boco T’s mother today, she said burn-like marks were all over the lifeless body, indicating that he was possibly tortured with tasers at the hands of the Police. Unfortunately the autopsy doesn’t say who may have caused the injuries on Boco T, but the family is convinced the Police can answer that question. The Ministry of National Security has announced that a criminal and internal investigation be conducted and that “with immediate effect, all officers who were involved when the incident occurred be placed on immediate interdiction pending the outcome of the investigation”. Kevin ‘Boco T’ Kelly will be laid to rest this Thursday, May 10th, at 2pm at St. Mary’s Church on Angel Lane.
make a plea when he returns to Court on June 15. The BELIZE TIMES understands the shooting was over a “beef”. The 14 year old was the victim of a shooting on Holy Saturday, when he was shot on his foot.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
Humor
in UDP Politics! The following matters were discussed in Cabinet. - At the start of Cabinet, the PM scolded everyone because information of the collapse in Cabinet was leaked to the BELIZE TIMES. New rules were introduced including tapping members’ cell phones and checking their emails. Just then one member from Belize City said, “dah good ting I gat wah Smart phone”. - A report from the Committee renegotiating the Superbond was tabled with a note that things weren’t going so well in the negotiations. When asked by Cabinet what their backup plan was, a suggestion from Finnegan was that half a container of Fertilizer should do the job. - The Minister of Labor was asked why there was no Labour Day Address by the Minister this year, when every year the Minister gives a statement over TV, radio and newspaper. The Minister was quick to respond that “Reneau” did that for him this time. “We’re on the same page…no salaries for Belizeans workers,” he added. - Marin was asked to explain how a Ministry of Health vehicle could be stolen from Government property. He responded that he believes the truck was simply borrowed, and it will be returned soon.
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- Sedi was asked his opinion on why Guatemala is all of a sudden so eager to go to the ICJ. His response was…”don’t believe that…that’s artificial too”. - Cabinet members asked the PM if they could give them warning before he suffers Vertigo again. When the PM said he prefers not to and asked why, Montero said he could use the 30 minutes delay doing better things. - Finnegan asked if Effexor would work help to keep the PM’s head from spinning. Just then Faber blurted…”either that or just get Vega out of the room”. ……………… In other related news: The Minister responsible for Culture was asked why he fired the Lighthouse watchman. His response was that if the Mayor of Belize City can fire a man for selling Johnny Cakes then he can fire a watchman for making coconut oil. …………… Santi has written a letter to Mayor Darrel Bradley opposing the plan to license bicycles. In the letter, Santi explains that he has too many bicycles that would cost him too much to license. In exchange Santi offers some red bull since the Mayor and Councillors look like they really need it. ……………… When Mark Espat called Barrow to tell him the bad news about the bond – they said Barrow held his facetried to get up and drop down which cause the Cabinet Secretary to say he just couldn’t stand the pressure.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Justice Herbert Lord to decide fate of accused murderer, Jamie Dawson He is being tried for same case for the 3rd time
BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 9, 2012 By Roy Davis Justice Herbert Lord yesterday reserved his judgment in the case of Jamie Dawson whose attorney Anthony Sylvestre, has made submissions to the court that it would be an abuse of process to try Dawson a third time for the murder of Maurice Neal, who was shot and killed at Bismark Club on December 7, 2002. Sylvestre submitted that at Daw-
son’s first trial in February, 2004, he was convicted on manslaughter and the conviction was quashed the following year by Belize Court of Appeal and a retrial was ordered. He further submitted that the jury was hung and was unable to reach a verdict at the second trial in 2006. Sylvestre contended that there has been an unreasonable and in ordinate delay since the order of the trial in 2006 and the fixed date of January 17, 2012.
He said the delay was caused by the slow production of the transcript of the second trial which was not provided until November 2011. Sylvestre also submitted that the only evidence against Dawson is a statement of the witness, now deceased, Nichalee Lewis. Sylvestre added that Dawson will not be able to cross examine Lewis to test the veracity, accuracy, impartiality and the credibility of the statement.
Corozal resident charged with theft in Belize City By Roy Davis BELIZE CITY, WED. MAY 9, 2012 James Lock, 44, a laborer of 46 Third Street, Corozal Town, who it is alleged stole a green hand bag and a pink school bag, was charged with theft when he appeared yesterday in the #1 Magistrate’s Court. Lock pleaded not guilty to the charge. Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith offered him a bail of $1,000 and adjourned his case until June 8. But Lock was unable to meet bail so he was remanded into custody. The incident occurred around 11 a.m.
on Sunday, May 6. The complainant, Kaila Celeste Samayoa Portillo, 19, a student residing in Peten, Guatemala reported to the police that she was at the bus terminal, located on West Canal Street in Belize City, waiting for a bus to take her to San Ignacio, when she decided to go to the restroom. She said when she returned she discovered that both bags were missing. The handbag, she said, contained her Guatemalan passport and her Black Berry cellular phone that has a value of $400. She said the school bag contained assorted clothing that included pants,
21 yr. old remanded, despite complainant’s request to withdrawn charge BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 9, 2012 By Roy Davis Sherman Rodney, 21, a laborer of Doris Brooks Street who allegedly stole a gold chain and a Samsung Touch Screen cellular phone from a woman, was charged with robbery when he appeared in the #1 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 7. Rodney pleaded not guilty to the charge but the Chief Magistrate, Ann Marie Smith, misunderstood him and she thought he had pleaded guilty. So she had the prosecution read the facts of the case. It was when she asked Rodney if he had anything to say and Rodney said he was not guilty she realized the mistake. She entered a plea of not guilty and transferred the case to the # Magistrate’s Court. Also, Rodney indicated to her that the complainant wanted to have the charge withdrawn but apparently she did not hear him. The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that robbery has be-
come prevalent and that the defendant knows the complainant and the defendant might interfere with the complainant if granted bail. Chief Magistrate Smith upheld the objection and she remanded Rodney into custody until June 13. She told the complainant, Rhoda Bell, to make sure that she must return to court on that date. The incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 3. Bell, who resides at 55 Dean Street, reported to the police that while she was walking on Dolphin Street, a man rode up to her on a bicycle and ripped her gold chain from her neck. She said the man then searched her and he took away her cellular phone. The man then rode away, she said. Bell said she wants no further court action because she has found out that she and Rodney are related, but Rodney had already been remanded to prison. She must now wait for the next court date to enter her request of discharge.
shirts, blouses and shoes. She said the value of the clothes and shoes amounted to $1,000. Fortunately for Portillo, a police mobile patrol passed by the bus terminal shortly after the theft and she reported
Jamie Dawson Crown Counsel Christophe Rodriguez, who represented the prosecution, submitted that the application should not be granted because the delay is not the fault of the prosecution and the delay does not mean that the defendant will be prejudiced in conducting his defense.
it to the police. The police mobile patrol went to an area on Reggae Street where Lock was spotted walking with two bags that fitted the description of the bags that were stolen from Portillo. As a result, the police apprehended Lock, detained him and charged him. The stolen bags with the items inside were recovered. In Court, Lock said a guy came up to him and asked him if he wanted to buy the bags. Lock claimed that while he was in custody he was beaten by the police.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
GSU McAfee-raid results in global black-eye for Belize BELIZE CITY, Monday, May 7th, 2012 The Belize Tourist Board spends millions of tax dollars every year to market our country as a peaceful, loving, fun and relaxing place to visit. But in one fell swoop, all that positive marketing can go up in smoke – all it takes is one negative report to hit the internet, or much worse, go viral. And like a virus, the heavy-handed raid carried out by the Barrow Administration’s notorious Gang Suppression Unit on the home and property of anti-virus guru, and multi-millionaire American-citizen John McAfee, has spread across the world– sending off terrible signals about Belize. The gang of GSU and Belize Defense Force officers that rained down on McAfee’s property in Tower Hill, Orange Walk at dawn
on Monday, April 30th said they were looking for drugs and guns. They handcuffed McAfee, shot at his dogs, and showed him documents they said was a warrant to conduct the search. After searching his property, the officers found ten weapons including seven 12-gauge pump action shotguns (one with a scope), one 12-gauge single action shotgun, a Taurus 9-mm pistol and a 9-mm pistol. Five air rifles with scopes, resembling sniper rifles that use 6.26mm ammo were also found. McAfee said that apart from two weapons, which are licensed to him, the rest are licensed to his security company, Belize Ecological Society. Along with McAfee were six other persons: his 17 year old girlfriend; one of
his worker’s common-law wife Princesa Ericson and security guards: Emerson Michael, Emerson Dominguez, Austin Allen, and Tyron Morales. McAfee said that because of the high crime in Belize he has had to take steps to secure his property and life. At first the Police claimed McAfee didn’t have a license for one of the weapons and they charged him with being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, but the charge was dropped after McAfee produced a license. This is despite the Belmopan Police Headquarters having no record for such a license. The Police are also investigating whether McAfee was operating an illegal antibiotic laboratory on the property. McAfee claims the lab was closed in 2009 when his chief researcher returned to the United States. Samples were taken and are being analyzed by forensic analysts. After the search, McAfee was taken
9 to the Queen Street Police Station in Belize City and released at 2:00am on Tuesday, following phone calls made to the United States Embassy. This kind of barbaric assault has become the trademark style of the Barrow Administration’s GSU. Enough harm is already done by criminals roaming the streets, for law-abiding citizens to have to contend with the lawless behavior of Police officials. Belize’s image is feeling the worst of the impact. Since last Wednesday, when news of the raid went public, scores of reports have appeared on the internet. Reports have appeared on the Huffington Post, Washington Post, PCWorld.com, PCMagazine.com, Newsday.com, Businessweek. com, Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)… and many more. Most sensational are McAfee’s hearty snaps at the GSU and the Government for abusing his rights, along with his claim that the raid was merely payback from an angry United Democratic Party (UDP) politician who he refused funding for the March 7th election campaign.
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Two families homeless after destructive fire
The remains of Soberanis’ home which was destroyed by fire
BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 By Alton Humes The acrid smell of smoke that wafted over the East Collet Canal area is the most direct reminder (even if the burned wood plied like ruins and the scattered ash on the sidewalks doesn’t convince you enough) that the greatest, most prized possession a poor homeowner/ landlord ever owned is now a memory to remain forgotten. By now, the news of the fire which occurred yesterday morning, Monday, May 7th, is now fully disseminated – homeowner Winston Soberanis, and the young woman he lent his hand to, Adra Arnold, as well as her family, including a husband and 3 young children, are now permanently out of house and home. Arnold was highly insistent in her interviews with the media that she only left the youngest child asleep at the lower section of the home and went to her mother’s house nearby to borrow an iron, and by the time she came back, she was told the entire two-story home, already a centuries-old relic, was in flames. The fire, although this hasn’t been confirmed officially by the Fire Department, is suspected to have been caused by the children left in the house. Fire officials say the fire was started with matches. At the scene of the fire yesterday, the BELIZE TIMES spoke to an utterly downhearted Soberanis. While it was quite obvious that he didn’t want to talk about the fire, he did tell us that while he is strategizing how to move forward, he’s currently sojourning with a neighbor on the other side of East Collet Canal. He said the fire caused over BZC$50,000 in damage to the home and its contents. But for everything else going forward, he told us resolutely, “[Ah] di lef’ evrything inna God’s hands.”
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Placencia stuns Police 2-1 BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE
Premier League football Game 2 this Sunday, loser goes home Independence, Saturday, May 5, 2012 The Placencia Assassins have put the Police United Football Club in a do or die situation where the Police team will need a 2-goal margin to win the 2012 Premier League of Belize football championship. Placencia Assassins stunned the Police team 2-1 in Game 1 of the championship finals at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence last Saturday night. Police United FC had not lost to Placencia during the regular competition, but the Placencia defenders Dalton Eiley, Brent Whyte, Jason Kelly and Scott Casey held off the Police attacks and held them scoreless for most of the game.
Luis and Ashley Torres led the Placencia attacks with the help of Dellon Torres, Elias Donaire and Ernie Whyte at midfield. Luis Torres embarrassed Police’s goalie, Japhet Young, with the 1st goal for the Placencia squad in the 35th minute of play. Ashley Torres drilled home a second goal in the 43rd minute to make it 2-0. The Police squad tried to get back in the game but the Placencia defence held them scoreless up to the half time break. The Placencia defence locked up shop and shut out the police in the second half until the 84th minute, when Evan Mariano sneaked past the defense and booted the ball past Placencia’s goalie Elias Pelayo for the Police only goal.
Lady Jaguars
conquer SQ Dragons Belize City, Sunday, May 6, 2012 The national defending female champs Lady Jaguars and their arch rivals, the Moen Stars, each posted big wins in the Belize District Volleyball Association’s women’s competition, while the Jaguars men and the Rebels also enjoyed wins in the men’s competition at the Belize Elementary School auditorium over the weekend. On Saturday night, the Lady Jaguars schooled the SQ Stars in 3 sets, taking the first set 25-11; with Shantell Arnold, Tichele Solis, Alina Scott and Sherylee Thurton leading the offensive, hammering kills at the net on plays set by Tanesha Encalada and libero Tisha Solis. Jaguars’ Melissa Williams replaced Alina Scott in the 2nd set while the SQ Stars counterattacked with Sherika Burton, Shane Casimiro, Jahshema Saunders and Krystal Bevans spiking home points on balls set by Xiomara
Quan and Leandra Betson. The Jaguars’ veteran hitter and blocker Babsy Cadle was having an off night, but the Jaguars still won the 2nd set: 25-18. Jaguars’ coach Allan Sharp introduced Alina Scott, Antoinette Alvarez and Kimberly Spence into the game, while SQ Stars’ Judith Hoare and Karina Bernard replaced Briany Staine and Leandra Betson but the Jaguars still won the 3rd set: 25-13.
Other games: Moen Stars vs. Warriors – 25-2, 25-7, 25-5 Rebels men vs. SQ Dragons – 26-24, 25-20, 25-19 Scorpions vs. Jaguars – 25-23, 25-14, 25-19, 25-23, 15-11
Lady Rebels squeeze past Orchid Blazers in 7th inning Belize City, May 6, 2012 The Mirage Lady Rebels toughed it out against the Orchid Blazers 5-4 as the 2012 Belize City women’s softball competition continued at the Roger’s Stadium over the weekend. Blazers’ Ashley Lucas and Jolene Davis came home in the top of the 1st inning, while their pitcher Nicole Arnold gave up no runs in the first 2 innings, and Lucas and Davis came home again in the top of the 3rd inning to lead 4-0.
Sherilee Gomez put the Lady Rebels on the scoreboard with their first run in the bottom of the 3rd and Ashanti Anderson came home in the bottom of the 4th. The Rebels still trailed 3-4 after Sharette Vernon came home in the bottom of the 5th, but the Rebels pitcher Lanesha Jones gave up no more runs as she struck out 10 batters. The Blazers might have shut out the Rebels 4-3 in the 7th inning, but with 2 outs, 3rd base Georgia Williams missed her chance to get the
3rd out when she failed to tag Mertell Bailey as she ran to 3rd base, because she took too long to catch the ball. Bailey reached 3rd base safe and scored the tying run 4-4, while Lisa Jones scored the winning run.
Other games: Belize Telemedia vs. Orchid Blazers – 12-6 Orchid Blazers vs. Hurricanes – 20-2
Rebels’ Lanesha Jones pitches
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THE BELIZE TIMES
BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE
Junior Orchids upset defending champs Avengers
Shantell Longsworth made 2 runs
Belize City, May 4, 2012 The Orchids Junior Blazers upset the defending champs Digicell Avengers 18-10 in the Belize City under-19 girls’ softball competition at the Roger’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Roslyn Smith and Agnes Lucas gave the Junior Blazers a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning, and the Avengers were down 1-2 when only Licia Mcfadzean came home in the bottom of the 1st. The Blazers soon led 5-1 when Roslyn Smith, Georgia Williams and Akeshia Lucas came home in the top of the 2nd inning, but the Avengers led 6-5 after Licia Mcfadzean, Astrid Jones, Sherelene Humphreys, Kaylen Fuller and Claricia Clarke came home in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Katricia Panting, pitcher Ashley Lucas and Sh-
Salvation Army girls on winning softball streak Belize City, May 4, 2012 The Salvation Army School girls posted back to back wins in the Belize City primary school softball competition at the Roger’s Stadium on Friday, May 4. Salvation Army School defeated Calvary Temple girls 6-3 last Friday, led by winning pitcher Shanell Rowland as they scored 6 runs off the pitching of Calvary Temple’s Emily Gutierrez. The Salvation Army girls had also posted their first win 17-2 over the Wesley upper school girls when the competition began last Monday, April 30. The entire Salvation Army diamond scored off Misty Williams’ pitching in the 1st inning, and they scored 8 more runs in the second inning, while only Misty Williams and Betty Jean Obrien scored for Wesley.
Other games: Buttonwood Bay Nazarene girls vs. Holy Redeemer girls – 11-2 Winning pitcher D’andra McFadzean St. Martin de Porres boys vs. St. John’s Anglican boys – 16-0 Winning pitcher Derrick Menzies Salvation Army boys vs. Wesley Upper boys – 11-8 Winning pitcher Gareth Francis Buttonwood Bay Nazarene boys vs. Holy Redeemer boys – 8-5 Winning pitcher Brian Pavon Calvary Temple boys vs. Salvation Army boys – 12-6 St. Martin de Porres girls vs. Unity Presbyterian School girls – 18-7
Belize City, May 8, 2012 The 10 and Under and 12 and Under Tennis Tournament was held Saturday April 28th, 2012 at the Belize Pickwick Club Tennis Courts under the auspices of the Belize Tennis Association and its coaching committee. There were 21 participants: 14 for the 12’s and 7 for the 10’s. The round robin format allowed the kids to play a whole lot of tennis, and it was noticeable that with each match played the kids improved. In the 10’s category played on 3/4 court, the first semi-finals was played between Nabil Musa and Gavin Riveroll
antell Longsworth regained the lead 8-5 in the top of the 3rd inning. The Avengers would tie the ball game 8-8 when Humphreys and Fuller came home in the bottom of the 3rd, but neither the Avengers’ pitcher Crystal Hernandez nor relief pitcher Arneek Baptist could hold off the Blazers’ hitters who soon led 15-8 when Agnes Lucas, Kim Lockwood, Panting, Ashley Lucas, Shantell Longsworrth, and substitutes Devonie Reyes and Jahna Trapp came home in the top of the 4th inning. Astrid Jones and Sherlene Humphreys scored 2 more runs for the Avengers in the bottom of the 4th, but they were down 10-15 when the Blazers extended their lead to 18-10 when Lockwood, Panting and Reyes scored three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. The game was called by mercy rule when pitcher Ashley Lucas, who had stuck out 8 batters, gave up no more runs in the bottom of the 5th.
CSKC Invitational Youth Karate Camp 2012
Salvation Army’s Gareth Francis pitches
TENNIS NEWS: Junior tournament held
Adrian Marshalleck & Gavin Riveroll
Sunday, May 13, 2012
and the second semi- finals was played between Adrian Marshalleck and Max Mcfield from BES. Gavin and Adrian made it to the finals after demonstrating amazing consistency. The tightly matched finals between Adrian and Gavin had parents on the edge of their seats. In the end, Adrian Marshalleck won over Gavin Riveroll and they both proudly received their medals. In the 12’s category played on the full court, it was Harsh Khatwani against Jodi Pott in the first semifinals and Claude Burrell against Samron Pott in the second semi-finals. Both semi- finals were also very close, and could have been
Cayo District, May 8, 2012 The Cayo Shotokan Karate Club is inviting all members of the Belize Karate Federation and their families to participate in their Annual Invitational Youth Karate Camp, which will be held in San Ignacio Town on the 18th to 20th May 2012. The activity will be family fun packed! Karatekas will be roasting hot dogs and marsh mellows at Friday night’s camp fire, while Saturday will be compact with early morning Physical Training, special karate trainings, afternoon swimming at pool and one self-defence class for parent and guardian participants. Saturday will climax with a big screen video of the 2012 National Junior Karate Championship, a National karate-oke and karate-punta contest with winners receiving cash prizes! For further information contact 605-3040, 678-1158 or 804-CSKC!
anyone’s game! In the end, Harsh and Samron emerged as the finalists. The finals saw great shots made by both kids. In the end, Samron Pott emerged as the winner to claim the 1st place medal and Harsh proudly received his 2nd place medal. It is notable that of the 21 kids who participated, 17 were from Hummingbird Elementary School. Keep on playing kids, and look out for the next tournament in June before school breaks for the summer!!
This Week’s Sunday, May 13, 2012
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BELIZETIMES SUNDAY MAY 13, 2012 THE BELIZE TIMES see full color at www.belizetimes.bz or Facebook/ Belize Times
TOP MODEL Make-Up
tips
By Tania Tanesha (E-mail: mua.tania@ gmail.com, Cell: (501) 604-0736) Believe it or not, there are women who are not makeup fans. No, there’s nothing wrong with them and there is an explanation – they have sensitive skin. Sometimes a new makeup product can cause unwanted skin reaction which could turn one off from all makeup. If you have experienced this, these tips are for you. I’ll tell you why you can still use makeup and how to shop for the right products. What is sensitive skin? Sensitive skin is basically when the outer skin is thin and has a fine texture and blood vessels are very close to the surface. The skin is so sensitive it reacts to heat and cold very rapidly. Some detergents, cosmetics and alcohol (used on the skin) can cause irritation, leaving the skin red and blotchy. Skin reaction can portray the same symptoms as other skin conditions such as Rosacea and Eczema. But the only way to be certain of skin conditions is to see your dermatologist and get a diagnosis. How to avoid skin reaction? #1 Rule: Know your makeup If you’re using makeup that irritates your skin, make a list of all the ingredients in the makeup. Most make-up have common ingredients and keeping a tab on these ingredients can help to pin-point which one is causing the irritation. Lookout for fragrance, dye, and preservatives –they normally are the culprits. #2 Rule: Detection is the key You can detect allergic reactions to certain products. Do this by conducting a patch test. Rub the product you want to use on your arm and cover with a bandage. Leave on for 24 hours or overnight. Remove the bandage and check for any redness, patches, dryness and irritation. If you see any of these signs, it could mean that you have an allergic reaction. #3 Rule: Shop wisely 1: Keyword: Hypo-allergenic, which basically, means the product contains ingredients less likely to cause an allergic reaction. 2: Look for fragrance-free products. Fragrance can be a bit misleading because your makeup can still contain fragrance even if it doesn’t smell good. 3: Minerals are your friends: Mineral makeup has pure and inorganic pigments that exist in nature. These are finely milled and purified. I adore mineral makeup simply because it allows your skin to breathe; it stays on all day, has a natural look and feel; and it contains anti-inflammatory ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Mineral makeup has no oils, and no fragrance. This makeup is far purer and safer on skin. Ladies with sensitive skin, rejoice! You can always wear beautiful makeup without sacrificing your skin. The key is shopping wisely for the right products. Always read labels carefully to avoid irritants such as fragrance and parabens and love your skin to put your best face forward.
Nikki • Career Plan: Psycho-Analyst or Choreographer • Sign: Aries • Favourite Food: Italian • Likes: Modeling, reading, drawing, listening to music • Lives in Belize City • Fav. Quote: “Embrace your awesomeness, be a good leader and not a bad follower”
CATWALK FASHIONS What’s Hip...What’s Hot...What’s Now! Phone: 203-2936 / 620-7481 #148 Cor. Queen & North Front Streets Belize City, Belize
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
Cayo Health fair
benefits 2,000 residents Cayo District, May 9, 2012 A health fair organised by the People’s United Party Western Caucus with the support of a medical team from Ketterling Medical Arts College in Ohio USA offered a muchneeded opportunity for some 2,000 residents of the Cayo District. The health fair provided medical services for residents who say access to healthcare has become difficult in Belize. The event was rotated throughout the Cayo District, with the medical team making stops in Cayo
North, Cayo Central, Cayo South and even Caye Caulker in the Belize District. The crowd in Cayo South was the largest, with over 600 persons attending the health fair. Medical advice on how to deal with stress, depression and pursuing healthy lifestyles was given. Also, the team focused on women health issues, dental health care, eye screening, cat scans, and blood pressure testing. Basic medicine was distributed along with hearing aids and reading glasses those in need.
The lead organiser was Senator Collet Montejo, the PUP’s standard bearer in Cayo Central. Working along with Hon. Julius Espat of Cayo South, Hon. Joseph Mahmud of Cayo North and Orlando Habet of
15 Cayo North East, locations were selected and information was spread that anyone, no matter their political affiliation, could benefit from the health services.
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Cayo senior citizen gets her pressure checked by medical official
Keeping healthy is a priority for PUP Cayo South Area Representative, Hon. Julius Espat
Senator Collet Montejo, Alma Delia Frutos & Hon. Espat
Children get a quick lesson on basic live saving tips
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
Cold & Heartless Elvin Penner Leaves Santa Familia schoolchildren without electricity and water Belize City, May 8, 2012 UDP representative Elvin Penner had to try all sort of election gimmicks to ‘win’ the March 7th elections in Cayo Northeast. Penner even had to hustle votes. He was caught and even admitted on national television to paying for the naturalisation of Guatemalans and Central American nationals so he could register voters. Penner was very desperate, and with reason, as he ended up ‘winning’ with a slim margin of 14 votes. For four years, he abandoned the people of North East and he knew voters were fed up. Case in point has been Penner’s cold and heartless treatment of Santa Familia residents. Santa Familia is the largest village in Cayo Northeast. It is close to urban San Ignacio and very close to a large river. Yet, the village has a huge water problem. The residents do not have access to potable water. Water is rationed, and becomes available only at night, after 6pm until early the next morning. Yet, when the reservoir pumps water, residents say it comes out brown and dirty. Even though the nation’s water company is Government-owned, the village has no proper water distribution, which prevents many residents
Elvin Penner from accessing water. Elvin Penner has been the area representative for Cayo Northeast for four and half years now. He knew Santa Familia had a water problem in 2008, and he knows they continue with the same problem four years after. It’s a shame Penner has done nothing to fix the problem. Penner is so heartless, not even the village’s school has gotten adequate assistance. That’s right. Penner’s neglect has 350 primary school students going to school without proper water access. In the 21st century this should be a gross human rights violation.
The school obtained two vats which are filled up with water. Recently, the school has had problems getting water regularly. This means students have spent days with no water. The bathroom cannot be properly cleaned at times which makes school conditions unsanitary. You would think Penner would care, right? Wrong! He has turned a blind eye towards the problem. In fact, he only shows up around election time. Prior to the March 7th elections, Penner made his grand appearance. He got Belize Electricity Limited to put up electrical poles for the school, but that’s as far as it got. Since the elections, Penner has not showed up, and the electrical poles are still standing there. No connection, no electricity for the school. At least the village has PUP Standard Bearer Orlando Habet. He cares, and has been lobbying almost everywhere possible to get help. Of course, because of the UDP’s political victimization, his requests to Government Ministries have been ignored. Santa Familia deserves much better. Someone should start a petition, let Penner be the first of the lazy and cold UDP politicians to be taught a lesson. It’s time for a recall in Cayo Northeast.
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Maxboro under siege Belize City, May 8, 2012 The community of Maxboro in the Belize District has called on the Ministry of National Security to put in place adequate security for its residents. The appeal comes at the heels of a spate of burglaries which has taken the community by siege. During the Tuesday morning show on Vibes Radio, a female caller who identified herself as a resident explained that “there have been a lot of break-ins over the past few weeks”. The resident said the break-ins have become a serious concern for them because it is difficult to leave home, knowing one’s personal belongings are unsafe. The home invasions occur during the day after residents leave for work. Most of them travel to Belize City where they are employed. Luckily, no one has been hurt by the criminals who carry out the atrocity. The community does not have a police station and not even a police booth. The nearest Police security is the Sandhill Police Station, located about a mile away, but that station lacks the proper number of vehicles which is used to respond to a number of communities in the area. The residents have attempted to make contact with their elected representative, Edmond Castro, but he has not been seen around since the March 7th elections.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Godfrey Smith’s Biography of George Price, among region’s top literature Belize City, May 9, 2012 Although not selected for the 2012 One Caribbean Media (OCM) Bocas top prize, Godfrey P. Smith’s biography of the Father of the Nation and Premier, Rt. Hon. George Price, has received high acclamations and recognition as one of the region’s best literary works. Smith was bested for the top prize by regionally-recognised and seasoned author, Trinidadian Earl Lovelace, with his fiction novel “Just a Movie”. Smith’s “George Price: A Life Revealed” was named the winner of the nonfiction category. Bocas Lit Festival founder Maria Salandy-Brown remarked at the award event on April 29th that Smith was a “first-timer” going up against one of Trinidad’s “most esteemed” local authors. “I think that to be able to be accomplished and excellent with the
internationally acknowledged masters of the craft must boost the confidence of emerging writers,” commented Salandy-Brown. The competition judges described Smith’s “George Price: A Life Revealed” as a deft exploration of George Price’s “eccentric genius and political acumen”. While attending the Lit Fest, Smith also participated in panel discussions on the region’s political history.
Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation offers scholarships Belize City, May 8, 2012 The Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation is inviting applications for the following scholarships for the 2012 – 2013 school year: 1. High School Scholarships tenable at any recognized high school in the country of Belize. These scholarships cover the cost of Tuition, Other Fees and Books for a maximum of four years. 2. University Scholarships: (a) Associates degree scholarships tenable at Galen University. These scholarships cover the cost of tuition only for the duration of the
program. (b) Certificate program or short course scholarships tenable at the University of the West Indies Open Campus, Belize. These scholarships cover the cost of Tuition only for the duration of the program or course. Application Forms are available at Bruce Bike Shop at No. 1834 corner Chancellor Street and Blue Marlin Boulevard, West Landivar, Belize City. For more information call 2235674/600-6665. Completed applications forms must be returned at Bruce Bike Shop on or before 15th. June 2012.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
Of this and that… Baby Facebook Facebook is the “in” thing. Everyone has a facebook page. There are over 800 million active users in the world. That is a lot. The Americans just found out that 20 million pickney are on facebook. Facebook does have a minimum age. A user has to be 13yrs old. Yet, more than one third of the users are kids younger than 13yrs. This is a bad recipe. There are no laws about the internet in Belize. The Ministry of Health or Social Development is doing absolutely nothing to protect our children on the internet. This is unacceptable. Lova Boy Guilty Daniel Cacho is Lova Boy. He is the third best punta rock artist in Belize. He is high energy. He looks like rap star Lil Wayne. Talks like Press Cadogan. He sings like Supa G. Talented. Lova Boy is charismatic. Life gave him lemons but he is a lemonade superstar. Cacho shared that he felt guilty coming off the plane. The murders are too much. He told us he could not ignore the shots. Things are out of control. Shots were literally fired next to the stage while he was performing. The Punta Prince has to be warned. The problem is the red devils in Government. Lova Boy felt guilty. He brought a new music video with Dean Barrow’s wife. Healthy males are dying. They are not dying of cancer. They are fatalities of incompetence. Lova Boy should scold the government. He knows jail. He knows bad life. He knows gangs. He knows pain. He knows what it is like to be failed. Lova Boy is an artist. An artist is a prophet. This corrupt government is the enemy of the prophet. Other artists have led the way. Supa G kill off the rapists and child molesters. Ras Indio has stared down the government. He has a song. The title of the song is “politician dem a fraud.” Yes, Lova Boy, your feeling of guilt is justified. We want to see more from you. Cover Up The government is hiding the truth from us. All around the city gun shots are ringing. The Gang truce has gone belly up. Gun men are out in the streets reaping souls. There are legions of failed assassinations and shoot outs. The incidents are not being reported in the news. Citizens hear the shots. We see the parade of GSU trucks and ATVs. There have been several incidents of unreported shootings. The public is in danger. They do not know the truth. They will walk right into a bad situation. This will be because the government is ashamed. They are dishonest. They are more concerned with statistics than truth. Belizeans demand to know the truth. The full truth and nothing but the truth or so help you, God.
Government murders Pinky Belizeans are not fools. Shelton Tillett was the largest street figure in Belize. His alias “Pinky” was as misleading as the notorious American gangster “Baby face Nelson.” He was the boss of bosses. He was untouchable. Top of the food chain. Pinky was Belize’s Teflon Don. Only two things were as big as Pinky. Arthur Young and the Government. Pinky’s death was a “hit”. The last “hit” this brazen was Andre Trapp. His contract killing was outside of the courthouse. Down town. High noon. The murder of Pinky was too facey. It was too organized. It was ordered. The gangs will figure this one out. Life and Labour “You have been told that life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what is said by the weary. And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge, And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge, And all knowledge is vain save when there is work, And all work is empty save when there is love, And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.” The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Hit List Look at the gang bosses who have been executed while the UDP control the police and Government. It is beginning to add up. There is nothing to smile about. Pickney time is over. This does not end well. Kraal Road boss, “Killa” Gentle murdered on a CYDP project for the Government. Southside Gangster’s boss, Andre Trapp, executed in front of the Government’s court. He was executed in full view of Police officers. Brick City boss, “Nose” Lauriano, was trailed and slaughtered, Police style. His mother knew that it was the government that did it. She told them that to their face. Boss of George Street Gang, Pinky Tillett was the victim of an obvious contract killing. Boss of Taylor’s Alley, is killed by the Police while handcuffed. He is killed by the Government before he could point fingers. This is no coincidence. Will the public believe after the new George Street boss “Shiny” Tillett is erased in the same way? Or when Ghost Town boss, Roger Anthony, is surgically murdered too? The government should stop these assassinations. They should strengthen the justice system. They should let justice work. You cannot fight criminals with crime. It is unrighteous. Maybe the public is ok with a Government execution squad. Burning the Evidence The body of Arthur Young was cremated. This is weird. It is not normal for poor people to cremate our loved ones. Creoles always say that Christmas and funerals bring their own money. Gangsters are normally buried. Not cremated. That is just the way it is. Arthur Young’s death was sus-
pect. His body is a crime scene. His body is all the evidence against his killer. A genuine forensic examination would have exposed the lies being told. Burning his body is to destroy the only link to the truth. The Government killed Arthur Young. The government pays the doctor that does post mortems. Burning the body is evidence of the level of desperation. The slaying of Young is creepy. It reminds us of the Lee Harvey Oswald murder in the US. Oswald was the sniper who assassinated JFK on November 22, 1963. He was then killed under suspicious circumstances. Check the history. The truth is to remain hidden at any cost. Trick me twice Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn has some senior stats. He has been warning Belize. The gold in south Belize is not oil. It is fresh water. He is right. There will be a global water crisis. It is a gloomy thing. By 2030 half of world’s population will not have enough fresh water. The UN’s World Water Assessment Program forecast said this. Water is priceless. There will be water world wars. Water is already scarce. Wars are already brewing over thirst. Israel and Palestine have serious hiccups over water consumption. Water is the problem between Lebanon and Jordan. Turkey quarrels with Syria and Iraq over the use of water from the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. Belize is the Saudi Arabia of fresh water. Belize was tricked by the sugar addiction. Belize was tricked by the tourism whore. Belize cannot be tricked by the oil high. Chiquibull is a gold mine. Water is the new oil. Listen to Pulu. Get at least one thing right. Getting away with Murder There was a big press conference. It was to publicly explain the gang violence. It was to lie about the gang truce. The media let us down. There is a minister of gang truce. Mark King is responsible. Yet, not one question was asked of him. King has to take fault. He cannot hide behind John Saldivar’s frock tail. He cannot hide in the vault of Commissioner Henderson’s “intelligence”. This is the person that is supposed to have the answers. He is
19 being paid for this. Not a word from him. The media did a bad thing. Guess who’s talking… Everyone except Cordel talks for Cordel. At one point in time Evan spoke for Cordel. Then KREM spoke for Cordel. Then Whylie spoke for Cordel at meetings. Then Mark spoke for Cordel. Recently, the UDP cabinet was speaking for Cordel. Then Sedi spoke for Cordel. The latest Cordel ventriloquist is Bill Lindo. This must be a joke. He took time out from his UDP job to talk for Cordel. He spoke for Cordel in the Reporter. Belize has no idea what Cordel’s voice sounds like. It has been years since Belizeans have heard Cordel. Cordel should speak for himself. Can he? Blackouts The power outages are unbearable now. Every other day there is a power surge or a blackout. It is blowing out appliances. Hundreds of poor people are put through serious expense. BEL is not helping. Light bills went down by a “pilinki” three cents. Then the Government blows out our TV for four hundred dollars. We own BEL, they say. We want to see the benefits. BEL is putting us in danger. Darkness and crime are friends. The blackouts are the worst thing ever during this murder season. Gun men will use it to do their deeds. Oh my Godwin Godwin Hulse borrows Emperor Barrow’s new clothes. This dude is full of it. The world knows he is a big fanatical UDP. That secret is done. Come on. Please stop pretending, Godwin. Minister Godwin was on Love FM. He was asked about the appointment of the controversial Judge Awich. The lawyers association said he is bad news. They said he should be fired. Relying on that recommendation Dean Barrow promotes the guy. What say Godwin? Godwin says he has no concern about substance. If the procedure was followed Dean could appoint a hickatee. That was the dumbest answer yet. As a Minister you are a policy maker. You are there to check for substance. Not to rubber stamp your pay check. Not to play “yes sah massa”. Godwin is a primate example of the proverb, the higher monkey climb…
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Newlyformed “Right To Bear Arms” group says PM should apologize to McAfee
Peter Carter BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 9, 2012 By Roy Davis Peter Carter, the president of a new lobby group named the “National Belizean Right To Bear Arms Group”, is calling on the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, to publicly apologize to American national John McAfee for what he says was a gross injustice done to him around when members of the police’s Gang Suppression Unit and the Belize Defense Force raided his home in Orange Walk on Monday, April 30. Carter said that PM Barrow should not only apologize but should also financially compensate McAfee for his losses. “How can Prime Minister Barrow so callously destroy investor confidence in Belize by putting McAfee through such an ordeal”, commented Carter. Carter suggested that instead of assisting the Government (McAfee donated a boat to the Coast Guard), the American investor should use the money to help poor and needy families in Belize. “The money would serve a much better purpose”, said Carter. Carter pointed out that Belize’s economy, which is already in shambles, would suffer a further breakdown if McAfee decides to let potential investors know the treatment he was subjected to in a country he has invested in and has chosen to make his home. The GSU and BDF members extensively searched McAfee’s compound which houses his Belize Ecological Foundation Limited. They were unable to find anything incriminating. The National Belizean Right to Bear Arms Group is a registered company that has about 20 members. The group has a direct interest on the McAfee ordeal, since MCAfee was being persecuted for having ten firearms and a large quantity of ammunition. Carter held that persons in Belize should have a right to protect oneself and their property, especially when crime is so rampant in Belize. Carter explained that the group is a lobby group that will look at the interests of Belizeans. He said there are many issues regarding firearm holding that need attention. Persons wishing to find out more about the group can reach Carter at 630-0383.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
What if We Went to the I.C.J.? Godfrey Smith
Flashpoint
What if We Went to the I.C.J.? After a long history of failed negotiations, it is generally agreed that it is unlikely that the Belize-Guatemala differendum will be resolved any time soon through further negotiations. So what should we do next? What is likely to be done next will undoubtedly run into strong head winds in terms of local opposition for no other issue in Belize ignites as much visceral reaction, passion and nationalism. As the option of going to the ICJ slowly gathers momentum, the question must be asked: is this the best option we have? At least four options spring readily to mind. First, there is the option of doing nothing; that is, launching no new negotiations. Second, continue to launch fresh negotiations. Third, seek alternative means of pressuring Guatemala to abandon its claim or reach a negotiated settlement. Fourth, go to the ICJ or seek some other form of arbitration. Occupation by stealth The option of doing nothing or indefinitely putting further negotiations in the deep freeze, at first blush, has a certain attractiveness. It would save considerable time, huge amounts of money and valuable human energy. Since the Guatemalans haven’t really been serious about the negotiations, shouldn’t Belize just ignore the Guatemalan claim and shouldn’t Belizeans simply go about their daily business without feeling any obligation to further negotiate with Guatemala? The drawback to this “ignore the Guats” approach is that in the absence of a final settlement there is unlikely to be a physical clearing of the boundary lines. In the absence of a clear boundary area there is the real and present risk of occupation by stealth. With no available lands on their side and with the border area being unpatrollable, Guatemalan campesinos are inexorably drawn over the Belize border in search of land, the xate plant, leading to illegal settlements – creeping occupation or occupation by stealth. The attractiveness of this option is skin deep. The Belize –Guatemala differendum is a zero-sum negotiation. Guatemala claims at least half of Belizean territory. Belize will not yield any land or sea to Guatemala. Neither side will budge from its position. While Guatemala’s case is clearly untenable, it wants to save face at home. But there is little or no room for compromise. To a very large extent, this is the reason why negotiations to date have failed. Launching further negotiations in the absence of a cultural shift on the ground in Guatemala will mean more zero-sum negotiations that are non-starters. Prevailing negotiation eclectics Belize has tried through the mechanism of the “group of friends” – a group of willing, influential countries spanning the globe – to pressure Guatemala into being reasonable. The truth is that only a handful of countries and the UN Security Council have the wherewithal to pressure Guatemala into abandoning its claim or reaching a negotiated solution. The prevailing culture in negotiation eclectics is more toward compromise and away from zero-sum solutions. Just look at any of the numerous ongoing disputed areas being handled by the UN or other referees, or indeed the approach being used in resolving disputes among warring factions to form a government. Any single country, small group of countries or international organizations called in as an arbiter of sorts would be guided by the principle of compromise. Likelihood, not certitude That leaves the option of going to the ICJ. The strongest arguments in favour of going to the ICJ include the following. Four highly regarded international lawyers, including a former president of the ICJ, have professionally reached the conclusion that Belize has a very strong case. This is perhaps the governing consideration. If asked whether Belize should go to the ICJ,
the man on the street is likely to retort: “will we win or will we lose?” There is the likelihood, though not certitude, that a decision of the ICJ in favor of Belize would lead to the final settlement of the differendum. This in turn would lead to the clearing of the border area, reducing and then eliminating illegal incursions and settlements into Belize. Finally the settlement would strengthen Central American unity. In the race late last year between Guatemala and Venezuela for the non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Belize was unable to support Guatemala and, as a consequence of CARICOM unity, many Caricom votes were withheld from Guatemala. Issues of this are bound to engender bitterness which a settlement of the dispute would eventually help to erase. Empty judgment? Arguments against going to the ICJ would include the fact that it is bound to cost several million dollars and there is no guarantee of a favorable result. If the prevailing culture in international relations is toward compromise, won’t this filter down to the courts? In any event, even if the decision were to go in favor of Belize, there is no guarantee that the decision would be binding. Unlike a domestic court that has a machinery for the enforcement of is decisions, no such machinery exists at the international level. There is therefore no certainty that binding decisions of the ICJ will be complied with. In 1986, Nicaragua filed a case at the ICJ against the US which responded by contesting the competence of the ICJ to hear the case. When the Court decided to hear the case on the merits, the US refused to participate and withdrew its consent to the compulsory jurisdiction of the courts. An unenforceable decision of the ICJ in favor of Belize will therefore not necessarily lead to border clearing and an end to illegal incursions or settlements in Belize. Clearly the issue of the cost of going to the ICJ is a red herring. Money already spent on fruitless negotiations far surpasses what would be spent on going to the ICJ. But, in any event, a decision from the ICJ in favor of Belize would be historic and indeed priceless. The issue of the unenforceability of the decision is less easily dismissed. A favorable decision of the ICJ would lay naked Guatemala. It would considerably weaken any of Guatemala’s remaining appeals to ex aequo et bono. It would give some backbone to the dithering of the international community to pressure Guatemala into honorable behaviour befitting a member of the world community of nations. In short, a favorable ICJ decision would create the environment to systematically embarrass, pressure and harass Guatemala into compliance. Can we really win? But could we really win the case? If the Belize-Guatemala case went to the ICJ, Belize would argue that its title to territory is based on the 1859 and 1931 treaties, customary international law and the right to self-determination. Essentially, Belize would argue that the 1859 and 1931 treaties clearly established the boundaries of Belize. The Libya/Chad case before the ICJ established that a boundary once established is not dependent for its continuing force upon the maintenance in being of the treaty from which it is derived. Belize would further argue that its title flows from the presence on the ground of Britain and Belize continuously for 175 years. This is founded on historical consolidation and acquisitive prescription. It does not depend upon conquest. It stems from the fact of long-standing and continuous British and Belizean governmental presence and activity. The case between Eritrea/Yemen is judicial precedent for this line of argument. Thirdly, Belize would argue that its right to the territory of Belize is confirmed by the principle of self-determination which is a well-established norm of modern international law. In the East Timor case, the Court found the assertion of the people’s right to self-determination as it evolved from the UN Charter and practice to be irreproachable and affirmed that the principle of self-determination of people has been recognized by the United Nations Charter and in the jurisprudence of the Court. When the time comes, and it may be sooner rather than later, Belizeans should support taking the dispute to the ICJ as it represents the best opportunity for a definitive settlement of the dispute. This article was reproduced from www.flashpointbelize.com. It was published on Thursday, April 26, 2007.
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Tour operators worried over tourist park fee hikes BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 By Alton Humes The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) has announced increased visitors’ fees for both Belizean and tourist visitors to some of the most recognized Maya ruins in Belize, such as Altun Ha in the Belize District. The price hikes were delayed when they were first announced in November 2010, which then led to a testy back-and-forth with the Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize (FECTAB) and other stakeholders linked with the tourism sector. Although NICH has said that they need the revenue, tourism stakeholders are still saying the increase could hurt the industry. One notable tour operator working for the popular Cavetubing.bz operation, Yoni Rosado, told the BELIZE TIMES via phone today that the whole idea of an increase in the middle of a neverceasing recession is ‘ridiculous’. He pointed out that increases rates are always unwelcome news for tourists. Rosado also said local stakeholders are very concerned about the conditions of the parks and the access roads which make their job infinitely harder, and that one wonders why an attempt has not been made to repair the conditions with the fees already collected. But will FECTAB, on whose executive board Rosado sits as a treasurer, stage any sort of mass-action as they did in 2011 when they forced NICH to delay the fee hikes? This was where Rosado turned to conspiracy theories, when he essentially told the BELIZE TIMES that FECTAB wouldn’t raise any trouble about the increase, for fear that the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) would make trouble for him, his family as well as the other workers and their families. FECTAB, said Rosado, would want to ‘work with the Government’ despite this latest lack of tact because, as he put it to us, ‘There’s nowhere to run [from this]...” The BELIZE TIMES could not, despite numerous attempts today, reach FECTAB president Tom Greenwood, for comment on this matter.
Visit Us Online at: www.belizetimes.bz
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Coca Cola @ 50: inspiring Happiness
By Katie Usher For almost fifty years, Belizeans have been enjoying panades, ducunu or rice and beans with Coca Cola and making the internationally successful beverage, a Belizean staple. To commemorate this golden achievement, Bowen and Bowen Limited teamed up with artist Gilvano Swasey to actualize the Open Happiness competition. This competition invited the participation of professional and student artists from each of the six districts to create their version of a Coca Cola moment. The art competition, also a traveling exhibit, commenced its tour of the country at the House of Culture (Government House) in Belize City on May 8, 2012. Another element of the competition is an auction in support of Lifeline Foundation, which supports children. Thirty professional artists were invited of which twenty seven participated in addition to the invitation of thirty schools, of which twenty three participated. Each participating artist or school was given a canvas and a stipend to purchase art supplies. A total of 50 submissions were entered from which a panel of judges, comprised of a photographer, a sculptor, a graphic designer and a representative from Bowen and Bowen Limited, selected a first, second and third place winner from the two categories. It was definitely a challenge for the panel to select only three pieces from the twenty seven artists, as the competition received entries from Pen Cayetano, Lita Krohn, Carolyn
Carr, Eduardo “Papo” Alamilla, Deborah Usher, Rachael Heusner, Terryl Godoy (Man at Work), Manuel “Daza” Gonzalez, Lola Delgado, Briheda Haylock, Kelvin Baizar and Daniel Cano, to name a few. Viewing all 27 pieces together was a sight, as these Coca Cola displays were unique to the artists’ flavors. The task was not easier for the panel in the second category, as all the participating schools brought their ‘A’ game to the competition. The youth, humour, and vivid chromatic displays offered by the entries from Corozal Community College, Pallotti High School, Sacred Heart College, Orange Walk Technical High School, Delille Academy, Toledo Community College, and the other 17 entries, were truly spectacular. The interest, enthusiasm and appreciation for art which the students of the twenty three participating schools showed must be commended and their teachers and principals recognized for fostering and nurturing the talent of the young Belizean. Still, winners had to be chosen, and for the professional artist category Carolyn Carr placed 3rd, Eduardo “Papo” Allamilla placed 2nd and Terryl “Man at Work” Godoy placed 1st. Mount Carmel High School, with an entry from Jose Martinez, placed 3rd, Muffles College, with and entry from Jareny Rivera placed 2nd, while Maud Williams High School, with and entry from Michael Martinez, Gaynel Vernon, Marlon Ack, Kiara Vargas, and Ruel Riverol, took the 1st place. All these pieces showed the artists’ representation of a Coca Cola mo-
Teryl Godoy and his 1st place artwork
Bowen & Bowen CEO Micheal H.M Bowen declares the exhibit open
Students viewing special Coca Cola art displays ment and these, along with the other forty four paintings are currently on display at the Government House until
May 25. You can swing by to see for yourself how each artist expresses Open Happiness.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Get more free printable activities for kids of all ages at www.printables4kids.com.
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BREAKFAST FAMILY HEART MAMA MOMMY UNIQUE
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Sunday, May 13, 2012
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Mother’s Day Maze
Can you help the little girl take the present to her mother?
Copyright © www.ActivityVillage.co.uk - Keeping Kids Busy
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THE BELIZE TIMES
The Myth of Church Education and Crime I remember one day as a young boy falling on my bed bursting out in tears. You would not believe what my problem was! See I just found out that the young girl that I loved with all my heart was going out with one of my best friends. Our friendship slowed down for some time as fate caused us to go in opposite directions and we lost contact. My issue was that although I felt this way about her I would never, based on the principles I was taught and the way I think, try to get in between them. I found myself wailing on the bed as if I was sick with intense pain. When they finally broke up I remember receiving a loving warning from my friend. He said ‘buddy I just hope she doesn’t do the same thing to you that she did to me!’ I was so in love that his statement was given a direct line from one ear to the next disappearing into thin air. Well to cut a long story short everything he told me, which of course I ignored, eventually came to pass and I found myself sitting in the same boat that he sat, licking my wounds. Regardless of all the well intended information he gave to me there was a heart condition better known as “IN LOVE”, that I was suffering from and this condition makes one not only blind, but sometimes even destructive to self and others! I want to tie back in to my story a little later but this topic brings up a myth that we all seem to buy into because it sounds politically correct! You hear all over our nation a belief springing up time and time again that poverty causes crime and that education would reduce crime. IF this was true the wealthy would never commit crimes nor would the well-educated! Stealing would be limited to the poor probably for the raw sake of survival and not necessarily for luxurious living! In the scripture (2Timothy 3:1, 13) it tells us that in the last days evil men will get worse and worse, and thereby I do find it difficult to see our world having complete order, peace, and harmony, based on this reality! Whether by intention or innocence, looking to education as a solution for crime will quickly bring us to a ‘dead end’ as it somehow subtly ignores the need for the most important ingredient in the lives of humans, and that is Godliness! Crime comes from a condition of the heart and not the lack of information or knowledge. If I have a thief for example, and I educate him on the repairing of vehicles he then becomes a car thief, or if I teach him to be an auditor, or treasurer he now becomes a money thief and the list goes on and on. Our challenge then is not necessarily to educate citizens but rather to answer the question how do we work on their heart condition! In the story earlier, my heart condition was that I was ‘in love’! My friend educated me that this girl might do to me the same thing she did to him, but all I heard was what I wanted to hear and that was the intelligence that they had broken up. The education or information then that I received was used to my advantage of getting the girl for myself! Yes education would solve crime but not the type of education we are thinking about. In (Proverbs 22:6) we are instructed on how to deal with the crime situation from the root and that is to train up that child in the way he should go. The crimes we are seeing now and the young faces of criminals, forces us to ask the question have we been training our children or are we depending on the television set, teachers, and the child’s own initiative? While formal education equips us for the world of work and business, it falls short terribly in the area of ‘moral’ and ‘crime free’ nation building! I believe the only education capable of solving our crime issues is the education of Godliness! I urge you as we continue to look for solutions to curve these devastating realities, to let us begin looking into the right places as the answer is not far away and resides within the tender but powerful pages of the Manual for Life or ‘the bible’ as it more popularly known! Until next week. God bless!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
THINK ABOUT IT BEST MOON EVER Ancient peoples must have been awed by the sheer majesty of the sight. Especially as it changes colour from a pinkish crimson, to yellow and a little later to white. The once a year closeness of the moon to the earth is awesome. Scientists say the moon appears 14% bigger and about 30 percent brighter when it made its annual pass so close to the Earth on Saturday 5 May 2012. It was about 15,300 miles closer to Earth. The Moon is about 238,000 miles from the Earth. God’s great Sun is about 92 million miles away. The brightness of this special moon not only lit up the sky but lit up the waters in front of Belize City – so that it glistened. Beautiful. GOING TO COURT Belizeans are being asked to agree to going to Court with Guatemala for the Court to decide how to settle Guatemala’s claim to our country. Belizeans are being told that they will be required to vote in a National Referendum next October 2013. The referendum will be on Sunday to facilitate Guatemala which prefers to hold its elections on Sunday. In Belize, Sundays are a day of prayers, worship and church attendance as well as outings to recreation spots or rest at home. The UDP Government is committed to following the British, Guatemalans and Americans in having the claim settled by the International Court. There is no doubt our government will be campaigning to have its supporters vote yes in the referendum and that there will be the usual bribery and other corrupt practices to influence the outcome of the referendum. We should all remember the shameless behavior of government bringing up its supporters and gang members to bleat out “yes, we support the 9th Amendment (to the Constitution)”. The official position of the Opposition has not yet been made public but they will be under pressure from the British to tow-the line. It is highly likely that the Court will award Guatemala portions of Belize land and sea. That has always been the position of the USA, Britain and Guatemala. Guatemala is asking the Court for the whole of Stann Creek and Toledo. They are prepared to accept Toledo and a big chunk of sea and some islands. Is there not a single man or woman with some of the blood of George Price and Phillip Goldson?? George Price said “Not even a square centimeter of land or sea is to be given up to Guatemala”. Phillip Goldson said “The time to fight four our country is before we lose it”. VOTE OF RAGE The people of Greece voted in their general elections over the weekend. They now have no government. In their anger they have voted out the government and given power to many
parties. Under their system of proportional representation, several parties are trying to join forces to form a coalition government. The voting was all about austerity measures which their previous government said was necessary as an economic solution. Austerity is another word for hard times. FRANCE GOES SOCIALIST In Presidential elections on Sunday, Francois Hollande was elected by the French people to lead their country in a new direction. The main issue in the election was austerity. The people said no to more hard times. Hollande becomes the second Socialist in decades to win a Presidential election. In Europe the governments are usually right wing and conservatives. Hollande has said “my true adversary in this battle has no name, no face, no party … it is the world of finance.” He has already stated he is pulling French soldiers out of Afghanistan war in six months’ time. BOCO-T, ANOTHER LIE Remember the last lie? Arthur Young, wanted for murder is cornered in a building in Ladyville. He is badly beaten by Police, handcuffed and thrown in the back of a pickup with more than four police therein – heavily armed. They are seen stomping and kicking him. He is screaming. He never reaches the Police Station. His body ends up in the morgue. At a press conference the Police Minister reads from a statement that Arthur Young was trying to get hold of a police gun and was shot. Yeah! Yeah! Now comes another incredible report from San Pedro, Belize. Boco –T is being escorted to the Station. He escapes. He falls trying to go over a fence. Police recapture him. At the station he is said to be fainting. He is later dead. Official Police report. He apparently broke his neck when he fell over the fence. Yeah! Yeah! Official autopsy: Death from internal bleeding. This is the same as death from internal beating. DON’T CUT ME The poor people who are being used and abused in the so called Poverty Alleviation Programme suspected that after the elections they would be thrown one side. They just didn’t believe it would happen so soon. Twenty-five poor people given jobs at City Council to bribe them to vote in the elections were sent home one week after the elections. Now several hundred attached to the Poverty Alleviation programme have been told that their pay is being cut. Straight up like that. Instead of the dignity of going to work six productive days they are being told only to work “for three or four days”. It is a gimmick to justify reducing
their already small wages. Not a single big shot UDP has had a pay cut or asked to go home. Remember how the government Ministers were paying for aliens to get citizenship papers? Remember how all 31 UDP politicians were given three million dollars to share up among themselves for the general elections. But now that they got elected they don’t need poor people anymore. VERTIGO Whether it be Vertigo or any other ailment. Whenever the Prime Minister is ill, and it disrupts his official work schedule the country has a right to know. It is with disrespect that the government three weeks after the fact tells the nation that yes, the Prime Minister could not start Cabinet on time. The rumor mill was in full swing. All kinds of talk about the Prime Minister. One respectable person even mouthed that God di lash Barrow for his evil deeds. Such is the inevitable results of covering up. Our take is that when the Prime Minister is ill, the deputy Prime Minister is the lawful person to run the country. Which brings up this other matter. It is now two months since the general elections. The nation is running without a lawfully approved budget. There has not been a single meeting of the new Parliament and to top it off a huge decision on a referendum with Guatemala is signed by the Foreign Minister, WITHOUT the permission or even a debate in the National Assembly. MOTHER DEAR “Your brows are slightly furrowed, Mother Dear, A sliv’ry tinge has crept into your hair; But still you’re dear and wond’rous fair to me. I pledge my love – and in eternity Will glow a warm and constant shining hue To mark the heavenly path that leads to you. God’s blessing on your earthly sojourn here; Can I forget you? Never, Mother Dear! By Belizean Poet, Hugh F. Fuller
25 THE GOOD SAMARITAN Jesus told this parable. It is found only in Luke Chapter 10 verse 29 to 33. A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was attacked and robbed. They took everything and beat him, leaving him half dead on the roadside. After a while a Priest passed and saw the man. The Priest looked at him and passed on the other side. A Levite later passed. Saw the man and walked on the other side. Then came a Samaritan. When he saw the man, he had compassion for him. And he went and attended to him. He treated his wounds and put him on his donkey and took him to an inn. At the inn he paid money and told the inn keeper if more was used he would pay the extra on his way back. And Jesus asked the question, now which of these three persons was neighborly unto the man? And Jesus answered “He that showed mercy on him. Then go and do thou likewise.” In Belize there are those who are paid to look after the poor, the elderly and the mentally disturbed. Those who are paid are the Ministers of government, the public officials and the NGOs. The Ministers see the poor, elderly and mental people, but the Ministers drive pass quickly. The non-government organizations who get money also see the poor, elderly and mentally disturbed, but are too busy hurrying to a conference at the Fort George Hotel. At the conference the Minister gave the keynote speech. The public officials chaired the workshop. Someone mentioned the parable of the Good Samaritan but an NGO raised a point of order, that the issue of the poor, the elderly and mentally was not specified on the agenda. The point of order was debated at length and upheld, so the issue was not discussed or addressed. A Priest blamed the gathering and ate the lavish food along with the participants. On his way from the Fort George conference he passed the poor, the elderly and the mentally but he didn’t stop as he was hurrying to attend a funeral. And that same Jesus had said “leave the dead to bury the dead” Matthew 8:22.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
THE BELIZE TIMES
By Right or Might!
Oceana takes GOB to Court over referendum
Over 18,000 petitioners are being disenfranchised by the stiff-necked Barrow Administration BELIZE CITY,Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 By Alton Humes Oceana in Belize could be facing off in the Supreme Court against the stiffnecked Barrow administration’s contin-
ued denial against the original volume of petitions to hold a national referendum on offshore oil drilling and drilling in protected natural areas. When Oceana in Belize and the Be-
lize Collation to Save Our Natural Heritage joined forces to collect roughly 20,000 signatures for a petition intended to trigger a national referendum before the double General and Municipal Elections that were held this year, they played their cards fairand-square. Of course, GOB decided to not play fair, and thereby triggered their unlikely yet monumental ‘fall-back plan’. Oceana along with interested parties, Thomas Henry (Tom) Greenwood and Audrey Bradley, have applied to the Supreme Court to challenge the disqualification of over 8,000 from the 16,000 presented to the Governor General Sir Dr. Colville Young, as required by the referendum act. But well before this action, there was much going on. This included letters between Oceana Vice-President Audrey Matura-Shepherd and the Governor General as well as Charles Gibson, the former CEO in the Ministry of Public Service and
GOB can’t sustain Poverty Alleviation scheme Belize City, May 8, 2012 The Barrow Administration has unofficially announced that it cannot continue to sustain their Poverty Alleviation scheme and other programs under its “pro-poor” policy. The Poverty Alleviation scheme is the first to be trimmed. Through this scheme, the UDP hires over 600 persons who earn low income salaries. The program has no defined social purpose and merely gives persons a small income and temporary employment. GOB started the program
since 2010 and despite criticisms that the program lacked depth and was bleeding Government funds, pressed by political needs it continued through to the elections. But now the elections are over and the UDP politicians don’t need voters, so they can take the risk of cutting down the program. Another scheme that is getting the axe, even if just partially, is the gang truce. The UDP has over 200 persons, acknowledged members of 13 gangs throughout Belize City, on the Government’s payroll.
GAPI’S
NEW RIDE
While teachers, police officers, nurses and public officers cant get a pay raise, Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega can used tax payers money to purchase his third ministerial vehicle, a $184,896 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser.
This program is the Barrow Administration’s most controversial yet. Through negotiations with gang leaders and now gang ambassadors, gang members are offered a portion of jobs in exchange for a weekly salary. The Barrow Administration says this is the most effective way of reducing gang violence and the shootings that have plagued Belize City, yet both the number of shootings and gang-related murders are on the rise. The BELIZE TIMES understand that the Barrow Administration’s financial troubles extend beyond those two programs. The National Health Insurance Scheme which has been at a standstill since 2008, will continue on freeze and even worst, will see a cut to its meagre budget. The NHI, introduced under the former PUP administration, was geared to provide health care to poor and low income families. It was rolled out initially in a pilot phase in Southside Belize City. The result was tremendous. Health care became accessible to many who could not access services because of affordability factors. The program was beginning to roll out in Southern Belize when the UDP administration came to office and applied the brakes. Now its viability is on the line. Reports are other programs in health, education, youth, sports and culture will see cuts. The 2012-2013 Budget, which should reflect the financial status and outlook of the Government, has not been presented.
27 Elections and Boundaries turned Minister, demanding a formal explanation on the rejected signatures. When the slew of letters yielded responses that were not up to any sort of respectful standard, Oceana and their allies rolled up their sleeves, and prepared for the litigation they would now have to face. The key now, says Mrs. Matura-Shepherd, is directly challenging the flawed and politically-motivated amendment by the Barrow Administration to the Referendum Act, Chapter 10 (amended several years ago), which hasn’t been done quite like this. By going after (in paraphrase) the ‘right’ to ‘enable the general public to call a referendum on any issue of national importance’, and then to have it slammed down due to outright political interference and intransigence; well, that’s a powerful motivator enough, and why this lawsuit is a make-orbreak event for all parties. Make no mistake about it, whatever happens will mark the Barrow Administration in every way possible, and will also potentially up-end the continued political dominance of the State over its citizens. A date for the hearing of the application has not been set, but the BELIZE TIMES will continue to follow and report on this matter.
Police say he stabbed her to death Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Today Independence Police arrested and charged Manuel Peck, 79, with murder for allegedly stabbing his 81 year old common-law wife, Maria Chen to death. The two were reportedly at home in San Pablo Village, Toledo, sometime after six last Friday May 4th evening when the Police believe that a dispute broke out between them. When they responded to calls made by villagers who heard Chen’s screams, Police found Peck lying inside a hammock in the house and Chen’s body on a bed. She was in a pool of blood lying face up, and had suffered a vicious stab wound to her throat, severing her windpipe. Peck had a broken arm and a small cut wound to his chin. But in his report to police, Peck had an entirely different story. The Guatemalan farmer told investigators that he and his common-law wife went to lie down. He said that he was in a hammock and that he heard Chen exclaim that “someone is killing us”. Peck said just then he felt an excruciating pain to his face and realized that someone had hit him. He continued that he couldn’t see because the house was dark. Police, however, have a different theory of how things went. They say that she was cut to her throat with a blunt object and during their search of the house, discovered a piece of stick with blood stains at one end. They also say that based on their investigations and after interviewing several persons in the area, they have enough evidence to charge Manuel Peck with Chen’s murder.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, May 13, 2012