Belize Times May 4, 2014

4 MAY

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Waffles Mayor Belize City, April 28, 2014 Belize City Mayor Darrel Bradley confirmed on Monday that he is on a farewell tour as he prepares to demit office at City Hall.

The Mayor has been his usual self, feisty, difficult and very quarrelsome, over the past few days as he argues with himself whether or not he will run for Mayor in the upcoming municipal elections slated for March next year.

Bradley appeared absolutely confused when he went on the Krem WUB Morning Show on Monday morning. He complained that “people” have been throwing “curved balls” at him, referring to media reporters’ questions about the upcoming elections. He told host Most Hyde that he likes to “clown around” when he faces the media. Hyde disagreed and told Bradley that his responses have been “diva-ish”.

In response to his “clowning” of the media, Channel 5 News said the Mayor has been a “perpetual waffle” for being such a huge flip flopper. Channel 7, in turn, clowned him saying that Bradley had “turned indecision into an art”.

The Mayor just cannot seem to

make up his mind whether he is brave enough to enter the political race or not. One minute he will run in Caribbean Shores, the other minute he is being lured to a mighty slaughter in Freetown, or the other minute he might try a second shot for Mayor. On Monday, while on Krem TV/ Radio, Bradley was on a “different timing”. He said he might not run any at all. Talk about flip flopping.

Bradley missed the UDP’s March 28th deadline to apply to run for municipal office. This after publicly committing at a UDP press conference that he would run for a second term.

Bradley tried to play tough and shake it off while on the Krem morning show. He said that he rejected his Party’s protocol because “I am not about rules and deadlines”.

But one man who hasn’t found Bradley’s clowning too funny is his political boss.

Barrow wasn’t on an entertaining mood when he addressed Bradley’s snubbing of his party’s rules and failure to apply by the closing date, saying that no mat-

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Water rates

increased by 6.9% ter how good or important Bradley thinks he is, I “I will yield to no man in my admiration for his accomplishments”.

“The deadline has passed and there will be no reopening of the deadline…that’s out of the question,” added Barrow.

Barrow said that the only way Bradley may end up being a candidate is if those who have applied to run for Mayoral office for the UDP end up backing off. These include first time Councillor Bernard Q. Pitts Jr. and Deon Leslie, a 3-time Councillor who is recovering from cancer treatment.

So what does the future hold for the waffles, diva-ish Mayor?

Who really cares, right??

Belize City, April 30, 2014 Your next water bill will be much higher thanks to an increase in water rates announced by the Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday, April 29th.

The PUC said it approved a 6.9% increase in water rates that became effective on April 1st.

Belize Water Services, which is a Government-owned company, had requested a 16% increased when it applied to the PUC for its annual tariff review.

6 06 Murders in San Pedro, Punta Gorda THE BELIZE TIMES

Dennis Palacio Belize City, April 29, 2014 While the Police Department continues its investigations into a spate of murders that occurred in Belize City and northern Belize over the past weeks, there are two more that took place over the weekend.

The killing of 43 year old Dennis Palacio has left residents of San Pedro shocked, as their once peaceful community has become more prone to violent

activity. Palacio, who is better known as “Chingy”, was ambushed just before midnight on Saturday April 26th by a bloodthirsty gunman.

Palacio was hanging out on the Seaweed Street in the San Juan area of the island when he was approached by an unidentified person who shot him. Palacio tried to escape his attacker by running into a yard, but he was caught by the armed man, who fatally shot him three more time on the back.

Residents were terrified at the sound of gunshots in the middle of the night. Sirens blared shortly after, with Police appearing at the crime scene to find Palacio’s body in a pool of blood.

Palacio’s friends say they believe the attack was a cold blooded execution.

The same area of the island was the scene of a shootout last Thursday, with a barrage of shots fired, apparently aimlessly, but which frightened residents out of the area.

According to reports, a group of 6 men dressed in full black, with their faces covered with bandanas, and carrying guns, surfaced out of the mangrove area and fired at a group of men sitting on golf carts on Caniste Street. Luckily no one was injured. The gunmen fled the scene by boarding a boat.

Police say they do not have any suspects in any of the two incidents.

In Punta Gorda, 24 year old David Branson has been detained by Police in an investigation into the murder of his step father, 69 year old Norman Benguche Jr. It is alleged that on Sunday morning, Benguche was attacked by Branson.

The senior citizen received three stab wounds in his back. Benguche was rushed to the hospital but died while undergoing treatment.

4 MAY

2014 Chamber of Commerce elects new Executive Council Belize City, April 25, 2014 On April 24th, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza. At the AGM, an election was held to elect a new Executive Council for the Chamber.

The persons elected to serve on this new Council from 2014-2016 are Mr. Arturo Vasquez, President; Ms. Kay Menzies, Past President; Mr. Allen Reimer, V.P. Industry; Mr. Reynaldo Magana, V.P. Services; Mr. Marcello Blake, V.P. Commerce; Mr. Claudette El Ters, Treasurer; and Mrs. Ashanti Arthurs Martin, Secretary. Elected Councilors are Mr. Daniel Gutierez, Manager of Marketing, Logistics and Corporate Communications at Belize Natural Energy; Mr. Nikita Usher, Chief Administration Manager and Group Sales Marketing Manager at Citrus Products Belize Limited; Mrs. Karen Ysaguirre-Lewis, Director of Retail Banking at Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.; Ms. Linda Thornton, Owner of Cardelli Farms – Belize Shrimp Growers Association; and Ms. Sue Courtenay, Executive Director of Belize Coalition of Service Providers.

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From

cents 75 to $472.5

million

HRCU Celebrates 70 Years Belize City, April 28, 2014 The Holy Redeemer Credit Union (HRCU) Annual General Meeting (AGM) has become almost a cultural event, a highlight of the April calendar for member-owners of all ages. Every year thousands pack the SJC Gym in West Landivar to listen to reports on the financial affairs of the “poor people’s bank,” to approve dividends and rebates, to meet and talk to the staff, and to appoint the directors and committee members, who continue to steer the vital financial institution in a positive direction.

This past Saturday, April 26th it was no different, as it was standing-room only for HRCU’s 70th AGM. Neither the heat nor the post-Easter fatigue could keep away Belizeans from all walks of life who came excited to hear about how their wealth had grown. For as Miss Jane reminded them in her report, “Together, HRCU member-owners are all multi-millionaires.”

Just before the 3pm start-time, when Miss Jane arrived, the crowd rose to its feet to welcome her. And she certainly did not disappoint, as she made her way down the rows greeting member-owners and inviting them to come visit her at the HRCU office at No. 1 Hydes Lane, Belize City, where, remarkably at age 97, she can still be found at her desk every single working day.

After the approval of last year’s minutes, the Board of Director’s Report was

bate on the interest they paid during the year. In other words 20¢ of every $1 of interest paid was being returned.

This announcement and the declaration of 5% dividends was greeted and approved resoundingly by loud cheers.

In all, HRCU returned to member-owners $20.9 million profit in the form of dividends and loan interest rebates.

The good news was not finished for member-owners, as it was also announced

by Board Member, Mr. Fred Smith, that the HRCU Board Ms. Jane with a young HRCU member of Directors had approved increases in the Loan Protection delivered once again by Mr. Karl H. Men- and Life Savings benefits to $100,000.00 zies, who has been HRCU’s President and $25,000.00 respectively at absosince 1998. He recalled HRCU’s humble lutely no cost. The insurable coverage beginning. It started on May 15th 1944, for loans was extended from age 75 to in the midst of a downturn in the world age 80, and as had been approved the economy because of World War II when year before coverage was extended for 3 young ladies were convinced by the Par- loans with terms of 25 years, up from 20. ish Priest of Holy Redeemer, Fr. Henri Sut- Mr. Smith explained that many Belizean ti, to save 25 cents each, and thus plant- retirees above the age of 75 were still ing the seeds of what would become servicing loans hence the reason for inthe biggest credit union in the country. creasing the coverage to octogenarians.

Among the first members was Jane Ush- Also 98% of member-owners’ loans fall er, account holder #31. Membership is to- within the $100,000.00 limit and are thus day at 49,854 with total assets of $472.5 now fully insured without costing them a million. Yes, HRCU has grown from less single penny. No other financial institution comes anywhere close to matching than $1 to almost half a billion.

Mr. Menzies was candid when he these benefits. said that despite the good numbers it The figures presented was a challenging year for HRCU. The by the Chairperson of the Belizean economy has still not recovered Credit Committee, Ms. Marand has left many member-owners in ion Marsden, were notewora precarious position. It was always the thy. During the year HRCU practice of credit unions to work with disbursed 23,318 loans their members experiencing “haadtimes”, totaling $98,029,246.19. allowing them to keep their interest pay- That is an average of 448 ments current and applying to their loan loans disbursed per week. principal what they could reasonably af- This proves that despite the ford. However, the Central Bank issued a directive in 2013 requiring credit unions to insist from their borrowers that they stick to the loan amortization schedule when repaying their loans. Those that didn’t had to be classified as non-performing and provisioning requirements had to be made from the Reserves.

However, the HRCU staff worked diligently with member-owners to get as many of them back on their loan payment schedules, and the President was proud to inform that the faithful borrowers would be rewarded with a 20% re-

ruthless and often predatory practices of the private banks to get borrowers to switch to them, HRCU continues to be the cheapest source of obtaining loans with the best interest rate in the country. The numbers speak for themselves.

Employing the “economy of words” mantra of her late brother, the Right Hon. George Price, Miss Jane was short, sweet and to the point. She thanked God for watching over HRCU and congratulated all member-owners for another successful year. Miss Jane encouraged borrowers to repay promptly while continuing to save. Miss Jane ended on a high note saying, “Despite the fact that HRCU continued to struggle through tough economic times, we were able to increase our surpluses over the previous year and for the third year in a row lower our expenses... We can once more rev up our engines and allow for HRCU’s ship of state to proceed full speed ahead with the hope of bringing a brighter future for all member-owners.”

The future is bright for the member-owners of HRCU, who have learned the power of coming together. As Mr. Menzies reminded all on Saturday credit unions are all about people helping people to help themselves financially.

HRCU welcomes all Belizeans to join a credit union today.

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driguez has been shunt aside and last week, was put out of the BDF and sent home to die. Where is the compassion?

Before leaving, Barrow spoke on a number of other issues including the Elvin Penner fiasco. The Supreme Court recently granted a Writ of Mandamus ordering the Commissioner of Police to do his job and investigate Penner. According to Barrow, his government is bags and expensive Versace dresses. appealing that order declaring that I imagine that she feels the need to “it was a decision which went too match her husband’s Armani/ Rolex far.” The audacity and contempt of manners. Recently, PM Barrow asked this man! Mr. Barrow went further in the House of Representatives what to declare that his government has his Rolex watches had to do with our moved on suggesting that we the country’s economy. Well Mr. Barrow, people ought to do so also. The if you and Kim were king and queen problem is that Penner has not of Kuwait or Saudi Arabia it would be moved on and is still collecting tens no problem but with so many of our of thousands of dollars of taxpaypeople living in dire poverty, it has evers’ money each month. If allowed erything to do with our economy! The to serve out this term, Penner will Barrows must remember that they be eligible for a handsome pension are not royalty as they like to think but for the rest of his life. Who says servants of the people. It is time for crime doesn’t pay? them to come off that high horse and Barrow then went on explain live reflective of the conditions of this his government’s decision to ignore another court ruling and “waive” the expiThe problem is that Penner has not moved ration date for US Capital.

US Capital is an oil compaon and is still collecting tens of thousands of ny infringing on the rights dollars of taxpayers’ money each month. If of the indigenous people allowed to serve out this term, Penner in Southern Belize. The Supreme Court recentwill be eligible for a handsome pension ly handed down an order for the rest of his life. Who says crime compelling the company to consult with the Mayas doesn’t pay? before proceeding with any exploration or drilling. Dean Barrow has said however, that “drill folks!

For Barrow and Kim Simplis, 20 nation. they will” and no puny court orthousand US dollars might be an insigOne of the questions that Mr. der is going to foil his plans. Dean nificant sum but to many Belizeans, it Barrow was asked before he left was Barrow has shown total contempt would be a difference between life and about the very expensive spread that for the courts of this land and at death. For Corporal Norman Rodriguez his wife commissioned from Harper some point, Belizeans will have to it would mean medical attention that Magazine. The cost of the spread is question if we are indeed a nation could keep him alive. Rodriguez, a said to be in the neighborhood of $55 ruled by laws or a nation ruled by a veteran of the Belize Defense Force thousand US dollars. Insiders have tyrant. Are we a democracy or an has been begging for assistance to revealed that Laura Esquivel refused autocracy? It is a question too critiacquire treatment for his illness. He to go along with the Belize Tourism cal and essential for us to continue cannot travel to Miami or Savannah Board (BTB) funding that huge cost to ignore! or Houston Texas or even Merida. Roand as a result, was pushed out of

Reid Baiting Belize

By G. Michael Reid Belizeans were informed on Monday that the Prime Minister was once again departing the country on personal leave. I swear this man spends more time abroad than he does in Belize. As is his custom, he met with members of the media and answered a few questions on Friday just before leaving. Those who follow his pattern knew that this was coming and expected that he would be gone by Monday.

According to the notice sent from Belmopan, he “departed the country today, 28th April, 2014, to Houston, Texas on personal leave to accompany his wife, Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow, for a medical checkup”. Mr. Barrow has milked his wife’s illness for every drop of publicity, sympathy and political mileage that he can get. Whenever he needs a vacation or to get away from a hot button issue, the man grabs poor Kim and jumps on a plane. (Understanding that this is a figure of speech since “poor” is a far cry from anything Kim). Just last year, Kim Simplis was reportedly on verge of death with a weak heart and stage-three cancer. She had half the women in Belize shaving their heads in solidarity and preparing black dresses for funeral. Now, miraculously, just a few short months later, she is prancing and frolicking on the beach being chased by high priced photographers. Some are beginning to wonder if we haven’t really been duped.

Kim Simplis likes to be considered the Michelle Obama of Belize and lives a high life of luxury at the expense of the Belizean people. The difference is Kim, America can afford Michelle Obama’s lifestyle, Belize can’t afford yours.

While forty percent of our people live in poverty, and many just one paycheck ahead of homelessness, Simplis travels the world sporting her high-priced Hermes hand-

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her post as Director of Tourism. Shortly after, both of Laura Esquivel’s parents resigned from their numerous boards and appointments in government. Sir Manuel Esquivel is a two-time Prime Minister and is the man responsible for leading the UDP out of obscurity.

Knowing the two senior Esquivel’s, it is obvious that they felt that their daughter was doing the right thing in opposing the lavish spending of the Board’s money. It is difficult to believe that both Sir Manuel and Cathy Esquivel would have stood in solidarity if they thought that Laura was in the wrong. Barrow had no qualms about accepting both resignations and in his famous words, “has moved on”.Unfortunately, the media let the story slide right under the radar and this bold stand of defiance against corruption went as a wasted sacrifice.

When Barrow was asked about the total cost for the show of vanity in Harper Magazine he replied, “I am not sure. I think I may have heard 50 thousand or 30 thousand, I am not sure.” We’re speaking US dollars here

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4 MAY

THE BELIZE TIMES Crestfield Ltd. # 59,369 (“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102(8) of the International Business Companies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that Crestfield Ltd. has been dissolved as at 29th April, 2014 and has been struck off the Register of International Business

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BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

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Insulin-making cells created

by Dolly-cloning method 28 April 2014 by Helen Thomson The dream of generating a bank of stem cells to treat injury and illness is a step closer. Embryonic stem cells have been custom-made from adult cells without manipulating the cell’s genes, a process that could trigger cancer.

Using a similar cloning technique to the one that created Dolly the sheep, two teams have independently shown that it is possible to turn an adult cell into an embryonic stem cell, which can then become any cell in the body.

One team used the technique, called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), to transform skin cells from a woman with diabetes into insulin-producing beta cells that could replace those destroyed by the disease. The approach has the potential to replace many other types of tissue including heart cells, neurons and cartilage. This could spur on treatments for Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and liver disease, and repair damaged bones.

“Cell replacement therapies could dramatically change treatments and even cure debilitating diseases and injuries,” says Susan Solomon, co-founder of the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF), where one of the studies was carried out.

To achieve the feat, the teams – one led by Young Gie Chung at the CHA University in Seoul, South Korea, and the other by Dieter Egli at the NYSCF – first removed the nucleus of a donated human egg and replaced it with the nucleus from an adult skin cell. Caffeine was added to stop the cell dividing too quickly, buying time for the genes in the egg’s new nucleus to revert to an embryonic state. Electrical pulses and chemicals fooled the cell into thinking it was

Warnings issued for Microsoft Internet Explorer flaw Apr 28, 2014 Are you using Internet Explorer? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is recommending switching to another Web browser until Microsoft fixes a serious flaw that could allow attackers to gain control over users’ computers.

Microsoft reportedly is working on a patch, but users of Windows XP may be out of luck (unless they pay, perhaps) because the company stopped supporting the operating system this month.

The flaw has already been exploited by hackers, according to security software maker FireEye. In the advisory it issued over the weekend, Microsoft said that among other things, the vulnerability could allow hackers to gain control of companies’ networks.

Internet Explorer versions 6 to 11 comprise 55 percent of the browser market, according to NetMarketShare, a research firm cited

by Reuters.

Stem cells in the making

fertilised, prompting it to divide and multiply.

The result was a bundle of 60 to 200 cells – the first time an adult cell has been used to make a cloned human embryo. In the centre of the bundle were embryonic stem cells that can differentiate into any cell in the body given the right environment.

No extra genes required In 2013, a similar procedure was used to convert cells from a fetus and a baby into embryonic stem cells. A fetus’s cells are already essentially embryonic but the baby’s cells needed to be rewound. Since the incidence of stem cell-treatable disease increases with age, researchers needed to figure out how to rewind adult cells, says Robert Lanza at Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, Massachusetts, co-author of the study led by the South Korean group (Cell Stem Cell, doi.org/sh2). “So we used cells from a middle-aged man and a 75-year-old man.”

The approach offers an alternative to another method used to dial back the clock on adult cells. Induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells are adult cells that have been coaxed into behaving like embryonic cells by adding four extra genes. There was a lot of excitement when IPS cells were first created in 2006, but since then serious problems have emerged, involving incomplete reprogramming of the cells and the worry that the extra genes might trigger cancer. “We’ve overcome a lot of these problems,” says Lanza, “but SCNT might turn

out to be the only way to fully reprogram cells.”

To prove the potential of the technique, Egli’s group went one step further. They took skin cells from a woman with type 1 diabetes and turned them into stem cells.

These were then made into beta cells that could theoretically replace those lost to the disease (Nature, doi.org/sjn).

However, this personalised approach is unlikely to be the way forward. If the treatment was tailor-made for each patient, an embryo would have to be discarded every time. As well as the ethical objections this would raise, the procedure would be time-consuming, costly and would be limited by the small number of eggs donated. It’s also unnecessary, says Lanza.

Stem cell bank Donor cells are sometimes rejected because of our body’s human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. This produces proteins that are recognised by immune cells. If the proteins aren’t recognised, rejection occurs. Luckily, most people share one of a handful of HLA systems.

That means you should only need to create stem cells specific to each HLA system, rather than each individual, says Lanza. Personalised stem cells would only be needed for people with uncommon HLA proteins.

Banks of stem cells could be created from just a handful of eggs.

To make the process even more efficient, the embryonic-like stem cells could be transformed into the final product in advance so heart cells or neurons, say, could be picked “off the shelf” as needed, says Lanza.

Ian Wilmut of the University of Edinburgh, UK, who created Dolly the sheep, describes the new work as very encouraging. He says that SCNT stem cells should now be compared with IPS cells to see which is the closest match to true embryonic stem cells created from fertilised embryos. “By contrasting these two approaches we may be able to optimise both procedures and produce the best possible cells for use in research and therapy,” he says.

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By Dr. Francis Smith, Orthopedics

Popes John Paul II and John XXIII declared saints 10:30AM BST 27 Apr 2014 Around a million Catholic faithful from around the world poured into St Peter’s Square on Sunday to see Pope Francis canonise not only Pope John Paul II but also Pope John XXIII, an Italian pontiff who reigned in the 1960s.

At the beginning of the canonisation ceremony, Pope Francis greeted and embraced Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, his predecessor, who has looked increasingly tired and frail since his resignation last year.

It is the first time in the history of the Catholic Church that two living Popes have presided over the canonisation of two of their predecessors.

“We declare and define as saints the blessed John XXIII and John Paul II,” Francis said in a Latin prayer from an altar in front of St Peter’s Basilica.

John, who was born in Italy in 1881 and reigned from 1958 to 1963, is best remembered for convening the Council and promoting “aggiornamento” (updating) to open the Church to modern times.

He died after the first of the Council’s four sessions and did not witness its far-reaching changes including the end of Latin at Mass, use of modern music and challenges to Vatican authority - that appealed to reformers but alienated those more at home with the traditional ways.

Polish-born John Paul, pope from 1978 to 2005, upheld many Council reforms, but shifted the emphasis towards a more centralised Church, with clearer condemnations of wayward theologians and sexual freedom and a more assertive expression of Catholic identity in a strongly secularised world.

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Fibromyalgia

If you are among those who complain of pain all over the body and tiredness despite long hours of sleep, you may be suffering from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. Both illnesses are serious chronic illnesses with their own diagnostic criteria. Fibromyalgia is not exactly chronic fatigue syndrome but many patients have symptoms which meet the diagnostic criteria for both.

Fibromyalgia affects mostly women and some men, and presents with multiple bone and joint pains, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, tiredness and fatigue, bad memory and bad moods.

Fibromyalgia may begin after a major surgery, accident, serious infection or any illness or condition causing prolonged or intense psychological stress. Sometimes, there is no history of the aforementioned causes.

Symptoms: Persons with fibromyalgia complain of a constant nagging discomfort or dull ache in muscles, bones and joints on both sides of the body and above and below the waist (torso, pelvis, upper and lower limbs). There are specific areas of the body which hurt when pressure is applied and these are called tender points.

There are 18 tender points which should fit the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. These tender points include the back of the head, between the shoulder blades, the top of the shoulders, the front sides of the neck, the upper chest, the outer elbows, top part of the hips, sides of hips and inner aspect of the knees. Physicians may diagnose fibromyalgia if there are 11 or more, of 18 tender points, if the pain has been present for at least three months, and if other illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid disease and peripheral vascular disease have been ruled out. Additionally, people with fibromyalgia suffer from tiredness and fatigue even after sleeping for long hours, and may present with other conditions like headaches, restless leg syndrome, anxiety, depression, endometriosis.

Cause: Doctors don’t know exactly what causes fibromyalgia but believe that genetics may be a contributing factor, as well as other triggering events such as physical trauma(accidents) or emotional trauma and infectious disease. It is also believed that people with fibromyalgia may have a lower threshold for pain.

Risk factors: Risk factors for fibromyalgia include sex(mostly affect women), hormonal fluctuations such as post-menopausal syndrome, infections, genetics or family history, sedentary lifestyle, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus, fatigue, anxiety, depression, changes in the weather, lack of sleep, prolonged periods of traumatic or emotional stress.

Treatment: Treatment for fibromyalgia involves medication, encouraging healthy lifestyle and regular exercise, psychological counselling and alternative medicine.

Medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen(Alleve), and tramadol can help to relieve pain and stiffness. Amitriptyline or fluoxetine may improve sleep. Cymbalta may ease pain and fatigue. Neurontin or Lyrica may also reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia.

People suffering from post-traumatic syndrome or emotional stress may benefit from a consultation with a psychologist.

Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating healthy food are most important in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Alternative medicine such as acupuncture, massage therapy , yoga and tai chi also help some people with fibromyalgia.

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