Belize Times November 24, 2013

SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

24 NOVEMBER 2013 | ISSUE NO: 4872

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

Crop Season Delayed GOB Neglects Sugar Roads!

Pg. 9

PUP leaders meet with cane farmers Pg. 9

SalDIvar bashes cane farmers

“I can’t afford $5 per day” Mother of 4 says they have no food to eat, sleeping on cold floor Page 31

PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca and other party officials met with leaders of the BSCFA in Orange Walk on Wednesday.

Says they will “kill” the industry over “garbage”

CALL THE ELECTIONS NOW!!

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OPINION OUT

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Dear Editor, Currently, I am a part time student at the University of Belize pursuing my degree on Business Administration. As I embark on my last semester I feel very excited about graduating and having more time to spend with my family and at work.

Today, I write to bring across strongly an issue to our Government, non-Government institutions and the private sector regarding the unequal employment opportunities for recent graduates. Gratefully to God, I have a full time job however; many of my friends that will be graduating are now wondering what will be their next step. Unfortunately, the majority will not be able to further their studies due to financial constraints but It will soon be time for them to venture into the work force and face the challenges of unequal employment opportunities. I have friends who graduated years ago and who are still job-hunting. Additionally, there are graduates who luckily got jobs but the jobs had nothing to do with their areas of studies. They found employment out of the need for income to pay off their student loans.

In light of the above, we can agree that employers are not giving qualified citizens an equal employment opportunity. Belizeans who have worked arduously and invested time and money in education have not been able to secure a job, instead, only those that have the proverbial strings to pull with our politicians get jobs.

The saying, “who you know and not what you know” is a reality in our beloved country. Many of us undergraduates are getting prepared with all the knowledge and the right foundation, Continued on page 22

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Ladyville/Lord’s Bank should be declared a Town

BWS: A promise un-kept is bad business!

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Dear Editor, The residents of Ladyville/Lord’s Bank should seriously consider becoming Belize’s next town!

According to the Statistical Institute of Belize (2010 census), Ladyville has 5,458 residents whilst Lord’s Bank has 3,140. Combined, the greater Ladyville area has a population of 8,598. Should the residents decide to become a town it would make Ladyville/Lord’s Bank Belize’s sixth largest town.

Larger than Punta Gorda (5,205) and Benque Viejo (5,824) and almost as large as Dangriga (9,096) and Corozal (9,901).

I do not think that it is unfair to say that the residents of Ladyville/Lord’s Bank have been under served in terms of government services. The area has no hospital, no fire service and inadequate Police presence. Other critical government services such as lands, treasury, vehicle/drivers licensing, vital statistics, etc are also not available and residents have to go to Belize City in order to access those services.

Perhaps the most visible deficiency is in the area of infrastructure. The streets are in deplorable condition, drains are virtually none existent and street lighting leaves much to be desired. And the Village Councils? Well let’s just leave that one alone.

Strangely, whenever I raise this subject in discussions the overwhelming response is NO! Not because the idea is a bad one but because in the view of many people township would mean “taxes” and Belizeans don’t seem to like paying taxes. Our distorted view of taxation, no doubt, is as a result of decades of governmental abuse of our tax dollars. Essentially, there is deep mistrust of elected officials and justifiably so!

Continued on page 22

Street in front of Chan Pine Ridge Evangelical Church during a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 17, 2013.

Street very close to UDP Chairman’s house.

“Sometimes people don’t understand the promises they’re making when they make them.”

- John Green, The Fault in Our Stars Monday, November 18th, 2013

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Dear Editor: I write as a concerned resident of Chan Pine Ridge Village in Orange Walk District to register my concern regarding the several impassable streets that are currently creating very unnecessary burdens to the villagers particularly children who attend school from Monday to Friday and hence have to meticulously decipher (more than they do in their Math lessons) which pothole is less deep whenever heading to their classes.

The deplorable condition of these streets in my village comes about not only as a consequence of the recent torrential rains that flooded most of the villages up North, but also as a result of perhaps the deliberate ill-supervision of BWS, whose project of water expansion at my village completed Continued on page 22

weather 23 Nov

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OUT

OUT

Where is the Equal Employment Opportunity?

LOCAL

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OUT Northern public transportation needs fixing!

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Dear Editor, I write as a student and as a regular commuter to bring attention to a serious issue regarding the public transportation that needs to be addressed. For the past four years I have been travelling from Belize City to Orange Walk Town and vice-versa. From my experience, I can express my distress on being dependent on the last bus to reach home. There is no public transportation going north between the hours of 6:30 p.m. to 7:30p.m., thus, forcing me to wait for the last 7:30 p.m. bus which is normally always overcrowded.

Over-crowdedness is one of the major concerns for the daily commuters. From Monday to Friday commuters are faced with over-crowded buses, especially in the morning hours and at night.

The drivers are careless since they allow the bus to surpass passenger’s capacity, which contributes to the real issue of the transportation problem. There is no mechanism in place to monitor routes Continued on page 22 SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus EDITOR

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By The Belize Times Press Ltd. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

27 Mar Nov 6 27 Feb

Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

editortimes@yahoo.com

Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.50

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.00

Eastern Caribbean Euro (XCD):$ 1.35 (EUR) : $ 0.37

Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR (GBP): $ 0.31 (GTQ): $ 3.95 (CAD): $ 0.52

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.04

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.21

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 31.28

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2013

SalDIvar bashes cane farmers Says they will “kill” the industry over “garbage”

Belize City, November 21, 2013 Like a paid spokesperson for the U.S. company, American Sugar Refining Inc., the UDP’s John Saldivar, who at times acts like he’s the prime minister, bashed the cane farmers for lobbying to get financial benefits from the valuable sugar cane waste material known as bagasse, on Thursday.

Saldivar, who seemed to be full of steam during the UDP’s “Wus Ting Da Mawning” show, blew his lid off by trivializing the issue and claiming that cane farmers want to “kill the industry over the garbage of the industry”.

Saldivar said that he believes the cane farmers’ agenda is “unreal” and outrageous. He chose to defend ASR over the cane farmers.

“You need to be fair to the investors,” he said, “mek di

man mek back ih $150m then you could get to it”.

According to Saldivar, the economic plight of cane farmers is not sufficient enough to sympathize with them.

He also accused the Belize Cane Farmers Association leadership of stealing.

“Unuh just get $20 million from fairtrade, we unuh do with it? Unuh allow unuh leaders fi thief the money,” he stated.

Saldivar is one of the dodo-bird UDP Cabinet Ministers who supported ASR’s takeover of BSI over the cane farmers who had proposed a buyout plan. After excluding the cañeros, Saldivar and the UDP Cabinet went on to give ASR a sweetheart accommodation agreement, offering numerous incentives including tax exemptions and control of foreign exchange.

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US official confirms

investigation into visa scandal Belize City, November 20, 2013 A United States Embassy official has confirmed that they are conducting their own special investigation into the very serious allegations of visa and passport corruption involving UDP Ministers.

In answering questions about the US’s interests into the UDP’s visa and passport scandals, Margaret Hawthorne, the United States Embassy Charge D’ Affairs, remarked that the Embassy is “following this matter very closely”.

The media has been hungry for an official statement from the U.S. Embassy on the matter, particularly since last week Monday when sensational whistleblower Alvarine Burgess went fully public, for the first time, with charges against UDP Minister Edmund Castro.

Burgess has revealed on several television interviews that she helped to facilitate the processing of visas for hundreds of Chinese nationals with Castro, through his office in Belmopan. She alleges that Castro collected $2,000 for himself per visa.

Burgess also dropped a bomb while appearing as a special guest on the Dickie Bradley Special show on Channel 5 when she disclosed that during an interrogation conducted at the U.S. Embassy, special agents presented her with an audio recording of a conversation

which included herself, Castro and a third party.

Burgess said she was interrogated for over three hours by U.S. Embassy officials.

Hawthorne confirmed that Burgess was indeed present at the Embassy but said she would not comment on what was discussed.

The official was also not willing to comment on the existence of the recording which Burgess said she was presented, nor was she willing to comment on the US’s investigations.

Hawthorne responded categorically that the “US Embassy has not recorded anyone, including any government officials in connection with this matter”.

Hawthorne’s careful response did not deny the existence of the recording. It simply said the US Embassy has not done any recording in connection with the matter of the scandals.

The choice words are very important. The U.S. operates numerous secret intelligence operations all over the world. It would not be abnormal if any of these clandestine operations was responsible for the recording. When pressed further about that, Hawthorne said, “I can’t comment on any intelligence activity that the United States may or may not engage in. So I really can’t address that question”.

Hawthorne pointed out in her carefully picked comments, the United States is highly concerned about any allegation of visa or passport fraud.

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on the PUP Leader’s address at 36th Garifuna Settlement Day ceremony

By Francis W. Fonseca Dangriga Town, November 21, 2013 Good morning Dangriga!

It is a great pleasure and honor for me to once again be here with you as we celebrate the 36th Garifuna Settlement Day. I am proud, on behalf of the People’s United Party, to join with our Dangriga representatives, Hon. Ivan Ramos and Dangriga Mayor Gilbert Swazo to pay tribute to and honor the legacy of the Garifuna culture and people. Hon. Ivan Ramos is

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the grandson of the great Tomas Vincent Ramos.

He has served as a distinguished educator for many years and now proudly represents the good people of Dangriga in the National Assembly. Mayor Swaso is a distinguished retired military officer who now courageously fights for the people of Dangriga Town.

Indeed the contributions of the Garifuna people to Belize’s growth and development have been many.

Today my own personal thoughts are of their family

and friends – the honorable D.L. McKoy, Mr. Eugene Hernandez, Mr. Austin Flores, Mr. Frankie Cas, Mr. Ted Palacio, Bishop O. P. Martin.

Garifuna Settlement Day was given to us by a great Belizean leader and civil right activist, Tomas Vincent Ramos, in 1941. It was recognized as a public holiday here in the south two years later in 1943, and finally declared a national holiday by the People’s United Party in 1977.

2013

We are proud to celebrate Garifuna Settlement Day but celebrating is not enough. Our Garifuna communities need development, our Garifuna brothers and sisters need jobs and opportunities for their families.

This year’s theme for Garifuna Settlement Day offers us hope despite the many difficult challenges our communities face and our Garifuna brothers and sisters in particular continue to face. It states: “AWANSE WAMÁ LIDAN ABAN LAU LAREINI BUNGIU LUMA HABAYARAHAN ÁHARI.” In English it is translated to mean: “Let us progress in unity with God’s goodness and the protection of our ancestor”.

My friends as our country faces so many challenges, let us hold hands and give thanks to the ancestors for the courage to hope. Happy Garifuna Settlement Day 2013. God bless the Garifuna people. God bless Belize.

Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI)

PRESS RELEASE BSCFA NO SHOW AT MEETING As is generally well known, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) and Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) have been in discussions concerning amendments to the existing cane purchase agreement. Substantial progress has been made in the negotiations and an amended Agreement is close to conclusion with the exception of the issue concerning BSCFA’s request for an additional payment for bagasse.

BSI requested and it had been agreed that a meeting to move forward with these negotiations would be held on the 19th of November 2013 (yesterday). The meeting had been scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City. Three Corporate Executives from ASR Group (ASR) adjusted their schedules and flew into Belize specifically for the meeting. It was a national holiday, but representatives from BSI also made plans to attend. They all (BSI and ASR representatives), together with a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, went to the Radisson from before 2:00 p.m. and waited until well past 4:00 p.m., but the BSCFA representatives neither showed nor called. This is most unfortunate for Belize, the cane farmers and BSI, as an opportunity was squandered to find a way forward on this issue of national importance.

At this time, the mill stands ready to start the crop on the 25th of November 2013, though it is appreciated that there are difficulties with roads and fields caused by the excessive rain and this start date may need to be delayed. No one’s interest (including that of the country, the farmers, or BSI) would be served by unnecessarily delaying the crop.

20th November 2013.

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EDITORIAL

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Deliverance

or many Belizeans, March 2012 was the date set for our deliverance: a sort of parole date, where our prison sentence had been miraculously reduced from five years to four.

After four painstaking years of captivity and oppression, of our rights being trampled on, of a visionless dictatorship that should have never been, we were thankful that Dean had called an early election.

What we could not foresee however, was the outright manipulation of our democratic process by Elvin Penner giving away our nationality in return for votes, the Corozal Bay electoral office opened nights to facilitate the registration of new voters for Pablo Marin, the blatant vote buying and piñata politics using taxpayer dollars to give out hams, turkeys and liquor to bribe voters into another five year prison sentence.

Barrow’s 2008 plan was simple: take over the utility companies and use the money to benefit his cronies and win/steal more elections.

In 2011, Dean Barrow knew that he was running out of time. He was well aware that he did not and could not deliver on a single one of his manifesto promises. He was on the brink of being exposed as a fraud, a leader who never intended to solve our nation’s problems.

Today in 2013, many Belizeans live in constant regret over the 2012 elections. Barrow’s acquisition of the utilities has only served to place us deeper and deeper into debt - $600 million to be exact.

His ex-wife and brother have “earned” enough legal fees to feed our entire country for a year. But, they won’t. Instead, they’ll continue living like the Kardashians, shopping on Rodeo Drive, hunting for the TMZ cameras and hoping to one day make it among the Hollywood elite.

On the municipal level, it’s more of the same $hit.

Darrell Bradley, who was once championed for coming up with the extraordinary idea of borrowing $20 million dollars to fix our streets, is now falling from

grace.

Instead of being responsible and fixing one street at a time, Bradley’s “master plan” was to fix all the streets all at once, in hopes that it would somehow propel him into running a successful campaign in Caribbean Shores. It was a selfish decision that has backfired. Now the streets of Belize City are in the most deplorable condition ever. Freetown Road is the only functional city street, when it’s not under water that is.

Like his Prime Minister, Bradley too was visionless not to realize the need for proper drainage. What that annoying robotic voice should be saying in those UDP ads is “50 – that’s the number of pools that Darrell Bradley has constructed in just one year”. A hilarious video has just gone viral featuring Hitler, of all people, complaining about Bradley’s potholed streets. It’s that bad!

From 2008 to 2012 we all knew that Barrow was incompetent. Just take a walk in his division – no upliftment for 30 solid years.

What about Boots? Did we really expect him to govern or build mega yellow complexes for himself?

And what about Finnegan? Did we really think he would build quality low-income houses for needy families or hang outside of Brad’s and disrespect young girls as they passed by? Yes, we all knew they were incompetent.

In 2013, we now have concrete proof that every single jack one of them is corrupt. Dean Barrow apparently knew it all along. He looks them each week in their eyes and begs them “For God’s Sake Stop It”.

The sad part is the only reason he wants them to stop it is because it would bring down his government.

Barrow does not care about Belize. He never did.

In 2017, the UDP will try to buy/steal the next election. It won’t happen. We will not be cheated out of our date with destiny. Belizeans are sick and tired of Barrow’s red kool aid. We need to be rescued by a competent leader. We need to be relieved of the daily stress that Barrow has placed us under. We need deliverance.

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A New Revolution…

Fulfilling the Promise of the Peaceful Constructive Belizean Revolution

By C. Trench-Sandiford Deputy Party Leader A promissory note is a legal instrument in which one party promises in writing to pay a determinate sum of money to another party, either at a fixed or determinable future time or on demand of the other party.

A promissory note between the people of Belize, and the government of Belize, came into effect on September 21st, 1981, with the independence of Belize.

It was a means to fulfill the promise of the peaceful constructive Belizean revolution of a better life and a just share of the nation’s wealth.

The Constitution of Belize is a legal instrument. It records in words the promises made and the means to fulfill them.

It establishes the nation state of Belize, sets out the rules as to how we are governed, and delineates the physical boundaries to which these rules apply. It is the Supreme Law of the nation state of Belize.

In it resides the power of the people to elect their government and to authorize them to make decisions on their behalf, in the allocation and distribution of the nation’s wealth, the protection and defense of Belize and the Belizean identity, rights, and way of life, the upholding of the integrity of its institutions, and for their safety and security.

In exercising this power, the people of Belize requires that their shared values and principles underpin the decisions of the government as enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution, that is, values and beliefs that are rooted in social justice and democratic nationalism.

Therefore, the Constitution of Belize is also a moral and social contract. It has immeasurable value.

And both guaranteed the promise of the revolution.

In participating in the process of electing governments, the people of Belize fulfill their responsibility of the promissory note.

In accepting the power as conferred by virtue of the act of the people of Belize, the government promises to make good on the promissory note.

The state of Belize in 2013 of unprecedented poverty, crime and violence, institutionalized corruption, the ongoing erosion of territorial integrity and sovereignty, the blatant violation of human rights and the political, social and economic victimization and discrimination, the unequal and unjust application of rule of law is prima facie evidence that the government of Belize has defaulted on the promissory note.

In 2013, the people of Belize are demanding the payment of the promissory note.

But time is of essence, and the state of Belize 2013 and its obvious trajectory requires a sense of urgency to collect on it.

Evolution is not an option.

This calls for a revolution, but a by new revolution, that is aligned to their dreams, needs and aspirations, and that is still anchored in the two philosophies of social justice and democratic nationalism.

The people of Belize are also in a position to demand their just share of the nation’s wealth, for the wealth is no longer untold, it is known, and can be valued. It can be converted to payment of the note.

The PUP, as the architects of the peaceful constructive Belizean revolution, has a legal and moral obligation to the people of Belize, and in memory of the chief architect of the revolution, the Rt. Hon. George Price, to calibrate the new road map in consensus with them, and also to lead it.

The people of Belize expect nothing less.

Our Party Leader, the Hon. Francis Fonseca has taken his queue from the people of Belize.

He has signaled the transition to the new revolution, by stating loud and clear, that the policies and actions of our party and the new revolution shall stand on three critical pillars, which are aimed at change and reform for meaningful and lasting solutions by: Revolutionizing Governance, not only for increased participation and representation of the people, for improved structures and systems of government for greater accountability, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness by public officials in the carrying out their duties and responsibilities, and for equal application of the rule of law, but also for equity in the distribution of nation’s wealth;

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Revolutionizing the Economy, for competitiveness and innovation, not only to create wealth, but to redistribute wealth through responsible and sustainable environmental, human, natural resource and fiscal and asset management and stewardship; and Revolutionizing Education for building a 21st Century Belize, uniquely positioned to capitalize on global, regional and local opportunities relevant to the development needs and aspirations of the nation state of Belize and the Belizean people.

In so doing, as a party and a government, along with the people of Belize, we will protect, defend and preserve the nation state of Belize and the Belizean identity, for if there is no nation state, there is no us, and if there are no us, there is no Belize.

Regain their confidence in our party and our democratic processes; Eradicate poverty and bring about social progress; And forge national unity and create a Belize that all of us can be proud to leave for our children; This will make good on the promissory note of September 21st, 1981 and the promise of the peaceful constructive Belizean revolution, so that all Belizeans, not a select few, can enjoy a high quality of life in a just and safe society.

It may require hard decisions, but so be it.

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2013

Crop Season Delayed

PUP leaders meet with cane farmers

Orange Walk Town, November 20, 2013 Today, November 20, 2013 the Leader of the Opposition, Hon Francis Fonseca accompanied by Hon. John Briceño, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Hon. Marco Tulio Mendez and Hon. Ramiro Ramirez met with leaders of the Cane Farmers Association in Orange Walk Town.

The Cane Farmers requested the meeting with the Opposition to explain the current stale mate in the negotiation for revenue sharing for bagasse with BSI/BELCOGEN. The meeting lasted for two and a half hours.

GOB Neglects Sugar Roads!

Belize City, November 21, 2013 The standoff between the Belize Sugar Industries and the 6,000 cane farmers represented by the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) over a shared revenue agreement for the use of bagasse continues with no solution in sight.

But it is not the serious impasse that has placed the start of the sugar crop in danger. It is the UDP Government’s total neglect of the sugar roads throughout the northern district that has placed the critical November 25th opening date at risk.

With all the heavy rain, the roads have deteriorated and have become

For Sale

By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage dated the 19th June, 2006 made between Elvis Cabral (Borrower) of the one part and The Small Farmers and Business Bank Limited of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in Deeds Book Vol. 22 of 2006 at Folios 427 to 448, which said Mortgage was assigned to Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. by a Deed of Assignment of Mortgage made the 30th day of May, 2008, Elvis Cabral of Independence Village, Stann Creek District, Belize of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in Deeds Book Vol. 19 of 2008 at Folios 1401 - 1418, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land situated in Independence Village, Stann Creek District, being Lot No. 151 containing 1100.5387 Square Metres bounded described as shown on Plan No. 328 of 2006 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 15th day of November, 2013.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

impassable. Government officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, which falls under the responsibility of the Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega, whose constituency is in northern Belize, have stood aside with their arms folded as the conditions of the infrastructure worsens.

His deputy, Hugo Patt, prefers to travel to Chetumal on weekends than stay and solve problems. Patt, whose record as the Chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board is a miserable one, has done nothing to represent the interests of farmers in their fight.

One example of the neglect is the road to the villages of San Estevan, Little Belize, Progresso, Copper Bank and Sarteneja Vil-

lage which was turned into a river by the heavy showers. For several years, an internationally funded project to repair the road was neglected by the UDP Government despite the urgent need for it. Today, the road is in worse conditions.

The terrible state of the roads not only means that access to cane fields are not possible, but also that the quality of the sugar cane delivered to the mill could be affected because of the mud and debris. This could also cause strains on the factory and lead to mechanical failures.

The BSCFA’s calls to GOB to repair sugar roads have all gone unheard of.

For Sale

By Order of the Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 22nd day of June, 2010 ALBERTO SHAL of Big Falls Village, Toledo District, Belize of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in Deeds Book Vol. 19 of 2010 at Folios 1381 - 1448, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece and parcel of land being Lot No. 24 (1302.51 SM or 1557.81 SY) situate in the Big Falls Village, Toledo District, Belize and bounded described as shown on Plan No. 524 of 2000 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 15th day of November, 2013.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

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Honourable

Francis Fonseca IN DANGRIGA

November 19, 2013

PUP Leader Hon. Francis, Dr. Roy Cayetano & Mayor Gilbert Swaso visit the Gulisi Museum

Hon. Francis welcomed to Dangriga

PUP Leader & officials meet with National Garifuna Council

Hon. Ivan Ramos inspects BDF officers

The religious ceremony to open the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations

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THE BELIZE TIMES

A Candyman Government

Barrow’s misguided politics trumps development

By Norris Hall BELIZE’s development is stagnating because the short term political considerations of the Barrow Administration trumps any meaningful long term planning for advancement and economic growth.

While it is the role of the Ministry of Economic development to guide this agenda, it has failed because this government does not have a meaningful developmental strategy, if any. It has also not effectively pursued the scarce resources that are available for funding development projects from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). There is an “administrative deficiency” that also compels funding partners to incorporate proper management consultancies to third party agencies to monitor and regulate the proper control of the limited funding from the IFIs such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, the European Union and other development partners.

The free-wheeling policy and generosity of the Taiwanese government must also be reviewed. There is now time to look this gift horse in the mouth in the absence of any clear cut development strategy by the Barrow Administration.

The entire relationship with the government of Taiwan now has to be seriously reviewed. Their unguided laissez faire generosity, despite their good intentions, cannot go unchecked. Its generosity is becoming suspect. It is also important that Belize considers the establishment of diplomatic and trade relations with mainland China. This country is now the new global economic powerhouse.

The Prime Minister has been playing footloose and fancy with millions of dollars from a Venezuelan Fund without any clearly defined objective for using this money effectively for development. He has been hollering, irresponsibly from his bully pulpit that his government is rolling in cash. It is money that he clearly intends to misuse in a reckless political agenda and in his attempt to entrench himself politically. A case in point is a misguided spending of public funds, which is actually Venezuelan money, to retain his razor thin majority, following the fall from grace of a member of his Cabinet in a mushrooming and never ending passport scandal. This has virtually paralyzed his government.

PETRO CARIBE Belize has an agreement with Venezuela in which it buys gasoline and other petroleum products. Under the agreement, the Belize government pays the government of Venezuela 60 percent, or sixty cents on every one dollar of fuel it buys. The remaining 40 percent, or forty cents on every dollar, it will pay for over a period of twenty to thirty years on a firm repayment schedule. The first agreement between the Chavez government of Venezuela and the Belize government was brokered in June 2006. It was basically intended to increase Belize’s level

of energy security and for development programmes to help the poor. Under this Petro Caribe agreement with Belize and other Caribbean States, the deferred 40 percent payment was to be used in the war against poverty and to create an enabling environment and infrastructure to boost investment and development.

This agreement was renewed when the Barrow Administration came to office. At the present consumption rate of imported Venezuelan fuels, the Barrow government has accumulated more than $50 million. This could increase as consumption in Belize rises. It is important to note that it is not free money. It will have to be repaid. The assumption, as is outlined in the agreement is that with the money, the Belize government will invest in the social infrastructure and in the productive sector. It is expected that in doing so, and in time, the government would be able to meet its debt obligations to Venezuela.

The Barrow Administration is spending this money, through a quasi-government corporation, Belize Infrastructure Ltd. (BIL). However, the government’s development plans for using some of this money is already misguided. There are also inadequate control mechanisms to monitor and regulate spending of this money through BIL and by a government already fraught with corruption and scandals.

SKEWED EMPHASIS ON BELIZE CITY It is already perceived that the first projects that will be undertaken are in Belize City. It includes more for the completion of the Marion Jones Stadium for which the Taiwanese government has already poured millions of dollars. The Mexican government is also pouring money into this never ending project. It has had numerous cost over-runs. A new street, Chetumal Street, and a bridge across Hector Creek to link the Southside and North side of Belize City from the George Price (Western) Highway on the Southside to the Philip Goldson (Northern) Highway is also in the works.

Some of the money will also be used to build a new Belize City sports and recreational centre.

The Minister of Sports has said that the Marion Jones Complex which is being built with public funds will be a “like a private club” with membership fees for those wishing to use the facility. This is irregular as it is not a private sector enterprise.

The bigger scenario however, is that the government’s development agenda is politically skewed towards Belize City.

According to an Economist, whose specialization are in transportation and developmental economics, it would appear that instead of addressing the development needs in the productive areas of Belize, the public funding allocations are assigned “with the weight of political clout or influence” instead of a developmental matrix that places emphasis on socio-economic factors such as rural poverty, local industries, unemployment,

growing illiteracy and hence the need for urgently enhancing a failed education policy of this government. This was recorded in a recent Inter-American Development Bank report on the collapse of the education system in Belize.

WRONG PRECEDENTS These and other developments that the government has given priority should not have taken precedents over other serious developmental needs in the productive sectors including the agro industries and rural development programmes.

This means that the government is being both ineffective and shortsighted in using limited financing for urban development at the expense of the productive sector. This is critical to maximize the country’s development needs. There is, therefore, an inequity in spending in Belize City at the expense of the rest of the country which is the productive sector and the most important contributor to the national economy.

For instance, the Barrow Administration is overseeing the slow death of the Citrus industry. It has not been addressing this issue in an objective way. It has

failed in its commitment to streamline the law to facilitate a more conducive environment for citrus to survive. There is also an urgent need for the government to focus on the sugar industry in the north of the country. After much delay and forewarnings to cane farmers, the sugar industry will lose its preferential quota in the European Union by 2017. Will the government be prepared to further assist cane farmers as they make the transition? Will the government spend money from the Venezuela Fund on improving the sugar roads in the north and the rest of the much need infrastructure that will help local farmers to survive in a highly competitive global market?

As it is a storm in brewing in the cane fields as cane farmers, now that the honeymoon with the new owners of BSI is over, are again being shafted by not getting a share of the profits from a cogen plant which sells bagasse generated electricity to the nation grid through the now state-owned electricity company.

The first time Barrow shafted them was when GOB frustrated their purchase of BSI in favour of an American corporation.

Continued on page 18

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

24 NOV

2013

falls to Guatemala 3-2 Belmopan, November 19, 2013 The Belize U-16 national team played a spirited game against Guatemala’s national team but couldn’t score enough goals for the win in the UNCAF under-16 football tournament hosted by the Football Federation of

other from an offensive play.

But by the time Belize scored its 2nd goal, Guatemala had scored their 3rd, and our national team just couldn’t get the needed final goal.

Belize still has two games left, versus two of the tournament’s top con-

the nightcap. Jose Melendez scored in the very 1st minute of play to lead 1-0 up to the half. In the 2nd half Carlos Menendez came off the Salvador bench to score with a header to finish a corner kick in the 21st minute of the 2nd half. The Jaguars got their chances, winning several corner kicks, but they had played defensively for much

Belize at the FFB football Institute Stadium in Belmopan.

Guatemala had Belize down 2-0 after the first half, and while they felt that Belize would roll over and give up, that wasn’t the case. Belize’s midfield converted two goals, one from a corner kick and the

of the 1st half. Brandon Cante changed the momentum of the game when he came on in the 2nd half, but they filed to impress the scoreboard.

In this tournament, there will be no semifinals or finals, it’s a round-robin competition where every team plays all the others once, team rankings are based on points earned.

tenders: Honduras and Costa Rica.

Belize won their first match over Nicaragua 2-1, in their debut on Monday night. The Jaguars were awarded 2 penalties, which Rogi Solorzano converted to lead 2-0, but Nicaragua scored a consolation goal.

The team suffered their first loss 2-0 to El Salvador in

FC Belize bombs Belmopan Bandits 3-2 Belmopan, November 16, 2013 FC Belize bombed the Belmopan Bandits 3-2 at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan on Saturday night.

The Bandits gave up an auto-goal when Floyd Jones tried to head the ball to his goalie Woodrow West, but instead beat West and put it in the net in the 4th minute of play, prompting Bandits’ coach Edmund Pandy to speedily replace Jones with Tyrone Pandy.

Jarret Davis made it 2-zip in the 17th minute when his execution of a corner kick escaped West.

Bandits’ top striker Deon Macaulay and Jerome “Jaro” James counterattacked furiously with the help of midfielders Elroy Kuylen, David Trapp, Gilbert “Hoof” Swazo and Denmark Casey. The visitors’ defense held them off until the 24th

minute when the Bandits won a free kick, and Macaulay worked his magic, bending it like Beckham over an improperly positioned wall of defenders, but FC Belize took a 2-1 lead into the half time break.

The Bandits goofed in, giving up a penalty, and Jarret Davis converted to lead 3-1 in the 50th minute. MaCaulay narrowed the deficit with a 2nd goal for the Bandits in the 78th minute, but the Bandits

failed to equalize before the final whistle.

A lone strike by PG’s top striker Franz Vernon gave the Paradise Freedom Fighters a 1-0 win against San Ignacio United at the Toledo Union field on Sunday afternoon.

The BDF held the Police United to a nil-zip draw at the Carl Ramos Stadium in the culture capital of Dangriga on the eve of Garifuna Settlement Day, November 18.

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SPORTS 15

City Boys Jrs, Hattieville United & Collet Strikers win in

SMART Mundialito Belize City, November 16, 2013 The City Boys Jrs, Collet Strikers, Hattieville United and Brown Bombers all posted wins in the Week 7 of the 2013 SMART Mundialito football tournament at the MCC Garden in on Saturday.

In Game 1, City Boys Juniors moved to No. 2 rank in the league with 12 points with a 4th win (by default), over Young Stars.

In Game 2, Collet Strikers won 2-1 over the Ladyville Jaguars. Wayne Ford scored the Strikers’ 1st goal, but Joshua Martells equalized for the Jaguars before the half time break.

In the 2nd half, Tyrell Estrada scored Collet’s 2nd goal for the 2-1 win.

In Game 3, the Hattieville United ran over Third World 3-0.

Jairo Donis scored the 1st win-

ning goal to lead 1-0 at the half.

In the 2nd half, Edil Lemus added a 2nd goal and Jadon McGregor scored a 3rd goal for the 3-0 win.

In Game 4, two strikes by Sherwin Requeña, 1 goal in the 1st half and 1 goal in the 2nd half, were enough to give the Brown Bombers their 6th win: 2-1 over Ladyville Rising Stars.

Kenroy Allen scored a consolation goal for the Rising Stars.

Upcoming matches (Saturday, November 23): Ladyville Jaguars vs Hattieville United Brown Bombers vs Survivors Third World vs City Boys Jrs Belize Elementary vs Young Stars Rising Stars vs Collet Strikers

Wesley girls defeat SCA in basketball game Belize City, November 18, 2013 The Wesley College girls posted their 2nd win against the SCA in the high school basketball competition on Tuesday, November 12.

Breanne Meighan led Welsey with 9 points, Shanice Humes added 7 points, Danika Sanchez added 1 bucket and Kay’ejah Usher scored from the charity stripe.

SCA’s Indie Dixon scored 5 points, while Halle Spence added 3 pints, and Jada Jones scored a bucket.

The Sadie Vernon High School boys upset the Wesley College boys 567-59 on Monday, November 18. Clency Lopez led Sadie Vernon’s scoring with 30

Hattieville team

points, while Jamal Augustine added 18 points.

Jaron Palacio led the Wesley boys with 26 points.

Other games: Ladyville Tech vs. Excelsior High boys - 47-34 Top scorers: Khalil Noralez, 17pts; Crawford, 15pts; Adolphus Pavon, 15pts Excelsior High vs. Nazarene High – 67-48 Top scorers: Justo Marin, Michael Bowen, 14pts; Elton August, 14pts Gwen Liz boys vs. Ladyville Tech - 59-34

Customs wins Firms Basketball Champs Belize City, October 18, 2013 The Customs & Excise Department are the 2013 Belize District firms’ basketball champions after defeating Ports Belize Ltd 70-66 on Friday night.

Customs’ MVP, Winston “Air Jun” Pratt, led the scoring with 33 points and 14 rebounds while Marvin Skeet added 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Ports’ Earl “Bolo” Johnson topscored for their team with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Winston Pratt won the MVP awards for both the regular season and playoffs. Atlantic Bank’s Ervin “Poty” Orosco won the awards for Most Steals and Most Assists, Heritage Bank Heatz’ Kurt “Chengo Burgess won the Most Rebounds Award.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

24 NOV

2013

Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI)

PRESS RELEASE The Claim for Payment for Bagasse BSI believes that it is in the interests of the parties and stakeholders that communications on this issue be conducted between the parties rather than by back and forth through the media. The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association (BSCFA) has however taken to the airwaves to seek to paint BSI as unfair or that its own cause is morally right and therefore BSI makes this statement to briefly bring certain points to the attention of the public.

As BSI has stated to the BSCFA in a recent letter – the Company buys sugar cane from the farmers and the farmers sell the cane to BSI. The cane purchased and delivered to the sugar mill includes: sugar, water, fiber (bagasse), mud, etc. The cane becomes BSI’s property, responsibility and risk. This is confirmed by the long standing historical position that BSI alone (i) undertook and financed the cost of the storage and disposal of bagasse, (ii) was responsible for and had to manage the environmental challenges of the storage and disposal of bagasse, (iii) faced and dealt with the risk of claims and liability for the storage and disposal of bagasse both in respect of possible statutory liability and regulation and private claims. For the 30 years prior to 2010 BSI dealt with the bagasse and its disposal at substantial cost, amounting to approximately BZ$20 million without any contribution from the BSCFA. As requested, BSI has submitted details of this expenditure to the BSCFA. Further, BSI conceived the idea of the building of a power generation plant as a means to dispose of the bagasse. Accordingly, the Company created a subsidiary company (Belcogen) and designed, planned, financed (through equity and loans), built, commissioned, managed and operated the co-generation plant that would supply the sugar mill with all its steam and electricity requirements and supply electricity to Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). This Project started as far back as 2001 and the commercial sale of electricity commenced on 31 December 2009. The capital investment to realize the Belcogen project amounted to BZ$130 million and represents one of the largest private sector investments to date in the history of Belize. No contributions from the BSCFA were made or offered with respect to this significant investment. The financial commitments were undertaken, the projections were made, and the sale price for the electricity was negotiated with BEL in the context that there was neither any contribution nor participation by the BSCFA. It is not reasonable or just for the BSCFA to expect a return where it has made no investment. Nevertheless, the disposal of the bagasse through the co-generation plant benefits the overall sugar processing operations and therefore all sugar cane farmers. The investment in the Belcogen plant is evidence of BSI’s commitment to taking the lead in securing the long-term viability of the sugar industry in Belize and has served as a catalyst for industry development, which should provide confidence to farmers of a future in cane farming.

ASR Group is keenly interested in and committed to a strong sugar industry in Belize, but the way to accomplish this is not by taking a return from one stakeholder’s investment and giving it to another stakeholder. It is by finding ways to increase the overall return for all stakeholders. This requires investment. To this end ASR Group has invested heavily in BSI, including in the cogeneration plant, to improve the efficiency of the mill and expand its capacity. These actions benefit not only the mill but also the cane growers. The BSCFA could do the same by investing in its farms to increase their productivity.

Besides its Mill and Power Plant investments, ASR Group intends to contribute to provide extension services and technical and infrastructure support to the industry, which will benefit cane farmers directly. The sugar cane extension services and technical support would be provided through the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) and the infrastructure assistance would be in the form of in-kind direct programs, aimed specifically at improving the sugar roads and drainage infrastructure.

ASR Group has also devoted significant resources towards obtaining funding to support further investment in the sugar industry of Belize, which if obtained would benefit all stakeholders.

Commercial relationships and operations are governed by law and there is no legal obligation on the part of the Company (or Belcogen) to share in any way the proceeds of the sale of electricity to BEL. BSI and ASR hope that all stakeholders will move forward in a constructive manner to realize the true potential of the sugar industry in Belize and, to this end, BSI has sent a letter to the BSCFA suggesting a date for a meeting to advance discussions on a new agreement and to discuss the implementation of the extension services and technical support to be provided as outlined above. Discussions with the BSCFA to date on a new agreement have resulted in tentative agreement on substantial matters. A new agreement can therefore be finalized (with such changes as are mutually agreed) and signed separate from the bagasse issue.

11 November 2013

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Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that HEIDY D. ANDRADE is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Admiral’s Place”, situate at Municipal Airstrip, Ladyville, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that RAMON GONGORA is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Puma Ramon’s Service Station”, situate at 2 Miles Philip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that ALFONSO RAMIREZ is applying for a Night Club Liquor License to be operated at “Ambassador’s Lounge”, situate at #69 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that SOLAYRA CHEN AND ZHONG XIAN CHEN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “A & K Shop”, situate at #27 Dunn Street, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that NAVIDAD GARCIA is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “Garcia’s Mini Shop”, situate at Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

------------------------------Notice is hereby given that JING BIAO TAN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Milly’s Shop”, situate at San Estevan Village, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

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2013

A Candyman Government Continued from page 11 If a deal is not worked out by next week, cane farmers have said there will be no cane crop for the soon-to-begin delivery of cane to BSI. The government finds itself in a very uncomfortable position between too very hard rocks.

DEVELOPMENT THAT CROSSES POLITICAL LINES “Belize needs a long term infrastructural development plan that crosses political party lines. And that will incorporate civil society, the private sector and other social development partners” says the economic advisor, we spoke to for this story.

He noted that such a long term plan would guide easier access to available funding from the International Financial Institutions. He said that such funds require a counterpart component and on very soft terms.

This means easy payments on these loans. But unlike funds from Taiwan, the IFIs loans and grants are designed to ensure equitability and transparency in planned development funding.

At this point the government is seriously handicapped.

Haphazard development, such as the ill-advised Norwegian Cruise Line project for a massive cruise ship facil-

ity in an eco-sensitive marine environment in Belize’s southern water, is for instance, indicative of a government that has no long term development plan for Belize. It is a government that is reactive to the country’s developmental needs based on political expediency rather than being proactive on well-developed objectives consistent with both national and local demands.

Experts continue to say that the NCL project is ill advised. But the Barrow Administration does not seem to have neither the capacity nor the political will for long term planning.

Currently, despite the funds available under the Petro Caribe agreement with Venezuela, the economic outlook will continue to be bleak given this government’s penchant for political expediency rather than for the national economic growth.

There is evidently, no blueprint for long term development. Without this the Belize government will be faced with a number of other debt crises even before its debt to Venezuela becomes due. But this alone is cause for worry, given the shifting sands of the radical policies of Venezuela’s new President Madura. The Barrow Administration should take no comfort in that.

24 NOV

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Scales of JUSTICE

by anthony sylvestre

Bogus!

Senator Lisa Shoman is right!

The President of the Senate had no right fi do weh ih do last Wednesday inna the Senate. He was plainly wrong, outta order and bogus. Just like Godwin Hulse (sorry! since he is a stickler for titles, I should say Dr., the Honourable Senator Godwin Hulse). And of course, unless you have been living under a rock, everybody and their dog and cat knows of the shenanigans that transpired in the Senate last week.

Senator Shoman (as is required by the Senate rules) had forewarned that when the Senate next convened she would move a motion to have that body initiate and conduct a public inquiry into the alleged corruption in the Immigration and Nationality Departments by persons in Government. Senator Shoman, of course, is a diplomat so she did not call the names of these persons. We know who these “big fishes” swimming in the sea of corruption in the Immigration and Nationality departments, dirtying and damaging Belize’s name and reputation in the process are.

So then, contrary to the government’s protestations, the move to get the Senate to initiate an inquiry into the infamous immigration, passport and visa scandal was not idleness or a waste of time. It was serious business; necessary action as any sane and patriotic Belizean will tell you. And the necessity for such an inquiry (so that the people could see for themselves the goings-on in both departments) has become more compelling in light of the Prime Minister and Godwin’s Hulse’s jokey stance on the issue. It will be recalled, for instance, that in the last House meeting (before he left for his surgery in the U.S.) Barrow downplayed the reports of Castro’s involvement in a visa hustle by saying that both he and Godwin Hulse had personally gone through the files at the immigration department and found no evidence of wrong doing. That of course is a sick joke on the Belizean people, for, this is a classic case of conflict of interest. How can Barrow and Godwin Hulse personally investigate the matter when they have a vested interest in the outcome of the investigation?

It wasn’t surprising then that when Senator Shoman raised the motion in the Senate last Wednesday, she had the support of not only her PUP Senators, but also the Senators representing the church, union and business community.

For as said before, it is something any sane and patriotic Belizean would call for. The only ones who did not support

the motion, were the Government Senators who were clearly hell bent on obstructing the initiation of a Senate hearing.

Which now brings us to the actions of the President and Godwin Hulse in the Senate last Wednesday.

As presently constituted, the Senate has twelve members- six government Senators and six non-government Senators, being three Opposition Senators and one each for the church, union and business community respectively. (It should actually be 13 senators, as an amendment was made to the Constitution of Belize in 2008 to provide for this, but Prime Minister Dean Barrow has said that this will “never happen”, even though he and 24 other of his UDP representatives voted for this constitutional amendment back in 2008- but that is a different matter for a different day.)

So anyway, the six non-government Senators voted in favour of the motion for a public hearing of the immigration scandal whilst the six government Senators voted against, leading to a 6-6 stalemate. Why would the government not want a public hearing into this immigration matter is anyone’s guess? By having a senate hearing, the public would get the opportunity to see a witness such as Ms. Burgess, the lady who disclosed the

bombshell about Castro on the Dickie Bradley Show on Monday, testify live and in person. She could tell it all and more and wouldn’t have to worry about the threat of a lawsuit since in such hearings witnesses cannot be sued.

Consequently, the public is left with only one conclusion as to why the government railroaded the opposition, church, union and business community’s attempts to have a senate hearing: the government is trying to hide something. Which therefore calls into question Godwin Hulse’s integrity. Firstly, the motion the Senators were deciding, concerned Godwin’s Ministry. How could he sit and debate and then vote down the motion which concerns the affairs of his Ministry is easily one of the most unparliamentary acts in the Senate of the 21st century. For, as said before, this is the classic case of conflict of interest and the demeaning of his office and himself. For Godwin should have, as the lawyers say, recused himself; or do, as the man down the street say, “refuse ihself”. Secondly, Godwin is the king of spearheading, initiating, and conducting Senate inquiries into government mismanagement and corruption. That is what the post 2005 civil disobedience generation of young Belizeans best know him as. So why would he then obstruct the instituting of a senate hearing into the biggest scandal that has rocked the twoterm Dean Barrow administration?

Either way, Godwin looked bogus sitting there in the Senate last Wednesday and voting against the motion to have a senate hearing into the obvious corruption that has occurred in the immigration and nationality departments under his watch.

The President of the Senate compounded the bogusness of Godwin and his other UDP Senators when he jumped into the fray and casted as well as vote against the motion. But as Senator Shoman had tried to explain to him, he has no such casting vote (that is, tie breaker vote).

Indeed, section 61(3) of the Constitution makes clear that the Presi-

19 dent shall not have a tie breaker vote when the Senate is deciding matters referred to in section 61A(2)(d) of the Constitution.

Section 61A (2)(d) of the Constitution we realize , meanwhile, speaks to the matter of the Senate deciding whether to “institute and conduct inquiries and investigations on any matter of public interest or importance, including inquiries into mismanagement or corruption by persons in central government or public statutory bodies”.

Interestingly, this section 61(3) provision was inserted in the constitution by the PUP in 2005 to prevent the same thing that the President did on Wednesday; that is, a government appointed President of the Senate using a voting power to obstruct the process of a senate hearing into government corruption. When Godwin Hulse, as a Business Senator called for and spearheaded a senate investigation inquiring in social security board affairs, he was the beneficiary of this 2005 PUP constitutional amendment. The then government PUP-appointed President did not and could not obstruct the social security inquiry by voting in those hearings.

It was without a question that what the Senators were doing on Wednesday was deciding whether they should initiate an inquiry into the immigration scandal. Clearly then, the President had no business in that decision as section 61(3) clearly states.

But, it was also clear: he was going to help kill the motion “nuh matter what.”

What Godwin Hulse, the UDP Senators and the President of the Senate did last Wednesday in blocking the instituting of a senate hearing gives further credence to the popular belief in the streets that “deh man di try hide something and di cova fi one anada.” It exposes all of them, as well, as being bogus. No doubt, for sure, when the 2014 edition of Pictionary is released, you will see the pictures of all their faces beside the word BOGUS.

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2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid UDP skeletons in the closet

By G. Michael Reid It is shameful and very disrespectful that Cayo Northeast representative Elvin Penner could do what he did and still continue to collect over a hundred thousand dollars of the people’s money every year. In any other country, he would have had to resign, be put in jail or worse. In Belize, we continue to call him “honorable”.

I am pretty sure there are some who have already grown tired and weary of hearing about Penner but we cannot allow this to just go quietly into the night.

I am sorry, but if this is the last column left doing it, I will continue to speak on this and hope that at some point, something will be done. Despite the best of efforts though, Pennergate seems slowly fading off the radar. Castrogate however, is starting to bleep louder.

In an interview on the Dickie Bradley show last week, Belize’s most famous whistle-blower Alverine Burgess put her face to the name and went on record to insist that she gave Edmund Castro thousands of dollars to secure visas for Chinese nationals. The Prime Minister himself admitted that he had been made aware of the hustling in a press conference where he uttered his now famous, “for GOD’s sake stop it” remark. With this new evidence, it will be interesting to see what the Prime Minister does.

Unfortunately, instead of focusing on the wrong that has been done by Castro, the focus seems now more on the wrong that was done by the US in secretly recording the transactions.

Miss Burgess revealed in her interview with Bradley that an agent of the US embassy had played back a recording of her and Minister Castro negotiating a deal. It seems that not only does

21

tends no further than its borders and while they make sure to find out everything, they rarely let on what they know except to their own Defense Department. The reason of course is that while it might not be “criminally illegal” it is “factually illegal” to wiretap any government without its consent.

While the UDP, unbeknownst to many, recently passed a law Burgess have evidence but the enabling themselves to listen in folks at the US embassy have it all to the conversations of any of us on tape. They are in a predicament in the general public, you can be however. sure that they would not be happy If the US embassy was to adwith anyone listening to them. It mit that they have a recording of would be dangerously revealing. the exchange between Burgess I would not be entirely upset and Castro, that would be damning about NSA listening to our poland compelling evidence and Dean iticians but I believe that there Barrow would have to act. If howshould be a quid pro quo. You ever, the embassy was to make can listen in the event that there such an admission then it would might be something dangerous to prove that they are indeed eavesyour security happening but, you dropping on foreign governments. must let us know if there is any The US has recently come under a danger to us afoot. Technologilot of criticism and scrutiny for docally advanced countries like the ing just that in Germany and France United States could very well help underdeveloped countries like Belize hold their elected officials in check.

While the UDP, unbeknownst to many, recentEven if they just leak it ly passed a law enabling themselves to listen to the press, let us know in to the conversations of any of us in the gen- when you find something wrong. eral public, you can be sure that they This United Democratic Party government would not be happy with anyone listenhas so much to hide that ing to them. It would be dangerously you can be sure they are hoping and praying that revealing. they hurry up and find and shut up Snowden.

Snowden is currentin particular. ly hiding out in Russia and has do. Their high-level intelligence The news that German Chanbeen releasing information bit by never sleeps and it would surprise cellor Angela Merkel’s cell phone bit. We can’t wait until he gets no one to know that they have was being tapped by the Nationto the part about Belize. Meanrecordings of every illegal transal Security Agency (NSA) made while, more than a few backaction ever carried out by this big news and was received with sides are going “cinco, seis”. government.

Everyone knows “great indignation” in that counLong live Belize! however, that the US’ concern extry. Allegations of spying by the US also caused a huge diplomatic uproar in France this past week.

Their newspapers reporting that NSA had tapped millions of phones in that country and that it had also been monitoring the electronic communications of French diplomats. Both the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel and the French daily Le Monde have been running regular stories about the leaks being released by former NSA contractor Eric Snowden. Snowden, an American computer specialist and former CIA employee and NSA contractor has disclosed up to 200,000 classified documents to the press. The information coming from the documents divulged by Snowden have been labeled, “the worse security leak” in US history and is considered much worse than Wiki Leaks. According to reports, the documents of Wiki Leak were classified no higher than “secret” while the documents that Snowden is now releasing are either “Top Secret” or “Special Intelligence.

Many will remember back in 2010 when Julian Assange shook up the world by releasing hundreds of thousands of US secret documents later called Wiki Leaks.

Within those “Leaks” were many documents involving Belize. The most famous one was a US Embassy communication that said of the Dean Barrow government that “despite their broad claims of success, the Embassy “has yet to see a significant difference between the current U.D.P. government and the previous P.U.P. Administration”. The communication went on to state that , “We often witness more of the same cronyism, public complaints of corruption at many levels of government and ineffective public service entities, including hospitals police and schools.” Those comments are as true today as they were back in 2010. We can only wait and wonder what will be released about Belize in these latest classified documents.

No one doubts that the United States knows more about what is going on in our country than we

22 Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that JULIO ESTALLO AND ANGELES SUAREZ is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “De Barcelona Beach Ltd”, situate at #2 Dolphin Drive, Buttonwood Bay Boulevard, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that HEIDY D. ANDRADE is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Admiral’s Bay”, situate at 5865 Seashore Drive, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

OUT Where is the Equal Employment Opportunity?

Continued from page 2 investing in education when those who have little or no qualification at all but the right political connections get the jobs. The years of investment and studies are not being acknowledged and rewarded appropriately, specifically on the Belizean job-market. Graduates have the knowledge to contribute to the development of our country and if granted the opportunities of employment all parties will benefit- specifically our graduates and our country.

We need to stop taking the snobbish behavior of our politicians who only make promises for equal employment opportunities and instead offer opportunities only to their close political affiliates or lackeys.

There is a need to stand up for our rights and show our politicians that they work for us and not the other way around. I am hereby openly, publicly and humbly requesting that the government employment recruitment strategy be changed and that the qualified graduates be granted that opportunity to enter the Belizean job-market. The time for change is now in order to move Belize forward successfully. My time for change commences here and I will face it with the Lord at my side and with the knowledge that has been imparted to me I will definitely take all the necessary steps needed to contribute to that strategic change of promoting equal employment opportunities to all qualified Belizeans and not to the lucky political lackeys.

A Concerned UB Student

THE BELIZE TIMES

OUT Ladyville/Lord’s Bank should be declared a Town Continued from page 2 My humble advice to my fellow Belizeans is that we are not going to solve this problem by not paying taxes, we can only solve it by active participation in our own governance.

OUT BWS: A promise un-kept is bad business!

Continued from page 2 three months ago but they failed subsequently to honour their word and promise to scrape and fill the streets back to the excellent condition that it initially was before they started their massive excavation all over the village for the underground laying of pipes and other material.

The streets are indeed in a very disgraceful and certainly embarassing state aggaravated even more so by the mere fact that more than 90% of Chan Pine Ridge’s families have connected to the water system and have already met their first BWS water bills notwithstanding having to endure the many inconveniences of the seriously disfigured streets in the village. Access to the school, churches, shops, community clinic, and bus stops have been significantly disrupted and to some extent even obstructed.

I humbly call on BWSm as a taxpayer and as an educator, to please honour their word of rehabilitating our streets forthwith for the good of all.

Villagers have approached the Village Council, but, like their incompetent UDP government, they have no idea on how to tackle the problem or even on how to approach BWS and put pressure on keeping their promise. This Village Council is indeed like a headless chicken chracterized by persons who have no idea on how to carry out their responsibilities as Councillors and as Chairman.

Our village’s streets are now in disarray; our families have connected to your water system; you get to now keep the profits. I have a very simple question for you BWS: “Is this fair business?”

Sincerely, Germán Tzul Teacher

I shall tell you more on the economic side of this vision shortly but for now my initial ideas on the governance issues are as follows: • The Town would be led by a five person council (a Mayor and four Councilors).

• Members of the Council would all be fulltime employees of the people of Ladyville/ Lord’s Bank.

• Members of the Council would need to hold a minimum of an associate’s degree.

• The Mayor would not be able to serve for more than three consecutive terms.

• Members of the Council would draw a salary to be commensurate with their qualifications and experience (so if a member has an associate’s degree he receives a particular salary but if he has a bachelor’s degree his salary increases).

• All meetings of the Council would be held in public with the agenda posted publicly at least a week in advance.

• Council meetings would have to be held at least once a month and on a Saturday so that residents can attend if they so desire.

• Residents would be able to place motions before the Council for consideration upon the presentation of a petition with the signatures of at least 5% of registered voters (205).

• All votes of the Council would be by division so that the residents can track the voting pattern of each member of the Council.

• Decisions of the Council would be public record and would be available to the residents in hard or soft copies.

• The Council would have to prepare an annual budget and work plan for approval of the residents every year.

• Residents would be able to reject the budget if the Council failed to meet the work plan for the preceding year.

• The accounts of the Council would have to be audited by an independent auditor and made public no later than 3 months after the end of each financial year.

• All candidates for the Council would have to declare their assets in accordance with the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act, and any failure to so would be automatic grounds for recall.

• Residents would be able to recall any elected official at anytime upon presentation of a petition signed by 20% of the registered voters (822). The turnout for recall elections would be a simple majority of registered voters (2056). If the recall fails the elected official may not be recalled again for the remainder

24 NOV

2013

OUT Northern public transportation needs fixing!

Continued from page 2 which could lead to a decrease in overcrowding and standees on buses. Over-crowded buses are unsafe for commuters.

This problem commences from before the bus leaves the Belize City terminal. Passengers are faced with no alternative than to rush into buses in order to get seats. The last bus leaves the terminal with standees and yet makes a stop at Pallotti bus stop for passengers waiting to get home. A majority of passengers waiting at the Pallotti bus stop and Ladyville junction only need to reach Sandhill, Gardenia and Biscayne, but because there is no bus they are forced to wait on the last bus.

Yes, we know everyone wants to reach home, but this problem needs to be addressed because many lives are been put at risk. What if there is an accident? Imagine what would happen. Therefore, I make my appeal to the Government, Transport Department and all stakeholders involved to take action in this matter and enforced the laws to alleviate the problem.

They should add a 7:00 p.m. bus destined north or the alternative in making available a bus to cater for the passengers going to Biscayne in order to to reduce the number of passengers waiting for the 7:30 p.m. bus. This would improve the safety of passengers and increase the efficiency of the public transportation.

Regards, Student, UB Public Administration

of that particular term.

Whether one agrees with the idea of township or not the fact remains that the needs of the residents of Ladyville/Lord’s Bank are going unfulfilled. The present system of governance is simply not working for us and we must find a new path. In that vein I would welcome the views of the residents of the mighty Ladyville/ Lord’s Bank.

Major Lloyd Jones (Ret’d) ladyville.lordsbank@gmail.com P.S. Thanks to the good and decent public servants at the Statistical Institute of Belize and the Elections and Boundaries Department (Ladyville branch) for providing the relevant data with such speed and courtesy.

24 NOV

23

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Home Economics How to reverse Belize’s growing trade deficit with Mexico

By Richard Harrison In 2004, after in-depth research and analysis, I wrote a paper suggesting that Belize could reverse its fortunes vis-à-vis Mexico, and the growing trade deficit... in a significant way... if it focused on developing four categories of existing products for the Mexican market.

These are sugar, rum, shrimps and exotic wooden furniture/utensils.

I was asked at the time, “what are you smoking Mr. Harrison?” The skeptics commented that Mexico is one of the largest exporters of sugar and shrimps... so why would they want to import such from Belize?

Belize still does not understand the nature of world trade. One of the US major exports to Europe and Japan is automobiles... and what do you think is included in the major exports of Europe and Japan to the US? You guessed it right... automobiles. They have found ways to differentiate their products.....so that they export autos with different brand images, features and benefits to each other.

SHRIMPS It turned out that Mexican shrimp imports from Belize, since then, is what allowed the farmed shrimp industry in Belize to survive the years when exports to the US and Europe were almost non-existent. The Mexicans were sending trucks all the way to Belize shrimp farms to pick up products. The volume they were taking was mere for the relatively small markets of Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, the south east region. The market from Mexico City to the north is much larger and much wealthier. There are parts of northern Mexico that are as wealthy as regions in the United States. The Mexican state owns majority shares in a company called Ocean Gardens. This is the vehicle that the Mexicans used to corner around 20% of the US market for shrimps by exercising great power in distribution in key regional markets in the US. Mexico exports medium and jumbo shrimps and also imports large amounts of small-medium shrimps from the US South-East growers, among others. So there is a two-way trade. Mexico is willing to help Belize in many strategic partnerships but Belize seems to not have the capacity nor capability to want nor to negotiate those partnerships. There is still a lot of skepticism and cynicism in Belize for doing business with Mexico and Mexicans...a hang-over from times before the Mexican peso crash in the early 1990’s. Mexico has advanced a lot since then, especially in the area of international trade...and is

now one of the 10 largest markets in the world.

SUGAR On paper, to a surface researcher, Mexico appears to be one of the largest exporters of sugar in the world. The retail price of sugar to Mexican consumers is much higher than most places in the world and brown sugar is more expensive than white sugar. It is called “MAS CABADO” sugar... and more valued for its nutrients and less-processed/more-natural state. What is not immediately apparent is that Mexico has a program called PITEX. It’s the vehicle that Mexico uses to sell its own sugar at “export” prices to the production companies in Mexico that use sugar in its processing. Mexico understands that for these processing companies to be competitive in export markets, they have to obtain their inputs at international market prices, much lower than what they get from the Mexican consumer. So....its APPEARS on paper that the Mexicans “export” a lot of sugar...but what indeed happens, is that Mexico imports ship loads of sugar from Cuba, Colombia and other places...to satisfy its domestic demand.

During a time when Mexican sugar was near collapse in the 1980’s, the Coca Cola company in Mexico started buying up much of the sugar production capacity in the country, since sugar is one of their principal ingredients. They have used this control over sugar resources to their competitive advantage...however, there are many users of sugar who prefer to work outside of this near-monopoly environment. Indeed, there was serious interest among big Mexican players who were interested in BSI and/or purchasing from them.

RUM Mexico, with all its 100 million population and 23 million international tourists, does not have a major rum brand of its own. Appleton, from Jamaica, is the largest rum brand in Mexico. Belize can take up significant market share in Mexico, with its own brands....and in strategic relations with Appleton. At this stage, it seems, that is does not have the capacity nor capability to undertake such an ambition.

This effort can be phased... by first focusing the near markets of the Mexican south-east... where the “campechana” and “mojito” is very popular rum-based drinks and where focus on Cancun City could be the spring board, worth an in-

vestment of US$5 million in a concentrated and sustained campaign over 5 years to position our brands at the level of Appleton.

Of course, these moves are not for the faint of heart.

WOODEN FURNITURE/ UTENSILS Mexico, apart from the rich jungles of Chiapas and Tabasco in the south-west is pretty much a barren country. Most of the local furniture is made of pine and/ or compressed hard boards. Just SEARS and LIVERPOOL purchase thousands of container loads of wooden furniture and utensils from outside of Mexico. There are other upscale establishments like Palacio de Hierro. They order many container loads of one single item, at a time. Since Belize’s capacity is small… mostly due to domestic capacity for supply of timber, its focus should be in exotic items for the Mexicans with high disposable incomes using mahogany, cedar, teak, rose wood, zericote, jobillo, granadillo, etc. Belize needs to create policies that allow for the orderly import of timber from Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua....in combination with undertaking/ facilitating major investments in

reforestation of these valuable species.

AS AN ASIDE - BEEF? I have not....and would not.... recommend a major focus on beef exports to Mexico. Mostly because the large demand would force Belize to become barren just like Mexico has become... and we need our tourism industry to continue growing... which is not based on having barren topography and loss of surface water that would result from converting large surface area of forests into pasture. In addition, the beef would be exported as live animals, and it is my informed opinion... that Belize needs to advance more in processing, and less in raw materials production. Of course, a scientifically conducted cost-benefit analysis could convince me otherwise. I have not seen any to this date... although I know there is a lot being invested in pushing this agenda.

Richard Harrison is a local businessman and investor in the manufacturing and service industries. Mr. Harrison holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from Lancaster University, United Kingdom. Send comments to harrisonbz@yahoo.com

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BELIZE A.D. 2012 (DIVORCE) Action No. 167 RACHELLE REBECCA ESTEPHAN CODIANNE

BETWEEN

PETITIONER

and

PATRICK CLARENCE CODIANNE

RESPONDENT

TO: PATRICK CLARENCE CODIANNE TAKE NOTICE that a Petition for dissolution of marriage dated the 13th day of September, 2012 endorsed with a notice to you to appear and answer the charges therein has been filed in the Supreme Court of Belize by RACHELLE REBECCA ESTEPHAN CODIANNE and that you are required within fourteen days of the second publication hereof to enter an appearance at the Supreme Court in Belize City, Belize, should you think fit to do so and thereafter to make answer to the charges in the said Petition AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that in default of your so doing the COURT will proceed to hear the said charges proved and pronounced judgment, your absence notwithstanding.

24

24 NOV

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

Recipe of the week

Bundiga Ingredients • 10 Green bananas • 2 Whole Snappers (or Sliced Fish)(seasoned) • 1 Can Coconut Milk • 2 tbsp. Consome • ¼ tsp. Black Pepper • 4 cloves garlic minced • 1 small onion chopped • 1 sm. sweet pepper • 2 thyme leaves • Salt to taste Directions • Wash, peel and grate Green Bananas.

• Season bananas with 1 tbsp consome, black pepper, and season all.

• In a pot add coconut milk, fill empty can with water two times and add to pot. Place pot on medium heat.

• Add salt, onion, garlic and 1 tbsp. consome. Stir occasionally.

• While boiling coconut milk, slow drop pot spoonfuls of the banana mixture into pot.

• Let boil for 15 minutes, add seasoned fish.

• Boil on medium heat for a few more minutes allowing the fish to cook.

• Serve alone, with Cassava Bread or with Grace Coconut White Rice.

Dangriga

Caribs

Ramos

Good Morning

2. Buiti Binafi Good Evening

Belize

Garifuna

3. Buiti Rabaweyu

Chatoyer

1. Abusuraguni

Roatan

Down 1. This chief of the Caribs was killed by the British in 1795 in the Final British Carib War. Joseph _____________.

3. In 1797 the British, who won the almost 100 yr long battle against the Black Caribs, deport 5,080 Black Caribs from St. Vincent to _______________, Honduras.

4. In the 1600s a slave ship with captive Africans is wrecked off the coast of St. Vincent. The Africans seek refuge and intermarry with the _______________.

6. In 1922 visionary leader Thomas Vincent ___________ established the Carib Development and Sick Aid Society.

gabana (bed) garada (book/paper) gulieru (spoon) ligilisi (church) sabadu (shoe) salu (salt) simisi (shirt) tasu (cup)

Across 2. In 1977 _________________ Settlement Day is declared a public and bank holiday throughout Belize.

5. “The Drums of My Father Monument” announce your arrival to this town, which was a settlement for the newly arrived Black Caribs.

7. In 1802 the Black Caribs begin to leave Roatan and move up the coast of ___________________.

Can you use the clues to solve the crossword puzzle?

The Garinagu of Belize: Roots firmly planted... amarieda (marry) bagasu (cow) dabula (table) fadiri (priest) faluma (coconut) fanidira (flag) gabaiu (horse) ANSWERS:

2013

Abusuraguni/Greetings; Buiti Binafi/ Good Morning; Buiti Rabaweyu/Good Evening; Ida Biángi?/How are you?; Magadietina/I am well; Halíon badibu?/ Where are you going?; Ka biri?/ What is your name?; Halía bagabawa?/ Where do you live?

24 NOV

THE BELIZE TIMES

25

GARIFUNA WORDS MIX AND MATCH

Can you find and circle the Garifuna words below?

Can you match the Garifuna phrases to their English phrases? Draw a line from the Garifuna phrases to the English phrases.

How are you?

4. Ida Biángi? Greetings

5. Magadietina Where do you live?

6. Halíon badibu?

What is your name?

7. Ka biri?

I am well

8. Halía bagabawa?

Where are you going?

26 PUP NOTICE

PUP NOTICE

Port Loyola Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Port Loyola Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday, January 19, 2014.

Application are available from the Committee Chairman Mr. Norman Usher or the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications must be filled and returned to Mr. Norman Usher and the Secretary General. The non-refundable fee is to be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application package.

Deadline for submission is December 18 2013.

PUP NOTICE

Stann Creek West Executive Committee Convention The People’s United Party is accepting applications for members of the Stann Creek West Executive Committee.

Application forms are available at the PUP Secretariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City. Date of Election is November 30, 2013.

24 NOV

THE BELIZE TIMES

Stann Creek West Standard Bearer Endorsement Convention

2013

BRAIN

TEASER

SUDOKU PUZZLE #44/2013

The People’s United Party announces the Endorsement Convention for Stann Creek West Standard Bearer to be held on Saturday, November 30th at the Malacate Beach in Independence Village.

PUP NOTICE Corozal North Standard Bearer Convention The People’s United Party Standard Bearer Convention for the Corozal North Electoral Division is scheduled for Sunday, November 24, 2013 in Xaibe Village.

See answers NEXT WEEK

Liquor License NOTICE Notice is hereby given that JIAN QIANG LI is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “Panda Restaurant”, situate at Caye Caulker Village, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that CARLTON WADE is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Kites Place”, situate at Hattieville, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that GAIL ESTELLA EDWARDS is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “G M F Place”, situate at #97 Corner George/Basra Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that YOU QIU CHEN is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Wong Gok Restaurant”, situate at 11 6th Street, King’s Park Area, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Answers for last week’s puzzle SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTION #43/2013

Answers for last week’s puzzle

See answers NEXT WEEK

24 NOV

27

THE BELIZE TIMES

2013

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

E

V

I

E

W

Selected By Chris Williams

Pregnant mother’s stress affects baby’s gut and brain 15 November 2013 by Jessica Griggs, San Diego Pregnant women may pass on the effects of stress to their fetus by way of bacterial changes in their vagina, suggests a study in mice. It may affect how well their baby’s brain is equipped to deal with stress in adulthood.

The bacteria in our body outnumber our own cells by about 10 to 1, with most of them found in our gut. Over the last few years, it has become clear that the bacterial ecosystem in our body – our microbiome – is essential for developing and maintaining a healthy immune system.

Our gut bugs also help to prevent germs from invading our bodies, and help to absorb nutrients from food.

A baby gets its first major dose of bacteria in life as it passes through its mother’s birth canal.

En route, the baby ingests the mother’s vaginal microbes, which begin to colonise the newborn’s gut.

Chris Howerton, then at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and his colleagues wanted to know if this initial population of bacteria is important in shaping a baby’s neurological development, and whether that population is influenced by stress during pregnancy.

Stressful pregnancy The first step was to figure out what features of the mother’s vaginal microbiome might be altered by stress, and then see if any of those changes were transmitted to the offspring’s gut.

To do this, the team exposed 10 pregnant mice to a different psychologically stressful experience, such as exposing them to fox odour, keeping their cages lit at night, or temporarily restraining them every day for what would be the equivalent of the first trimes-

things – the team was able to infer which genes were affected by the stress-induced changes in each mother’s microbiome.

They found that the expression of 20 genes was affected by the decrease in Lactobacillus, including genes related to the production of new neurons and the growth of synaptic connections in the brain.

These genetic outcomes in the brain are probably a result of a different suite of nutrients and metabolites circulating in the “stressed” A bad day at the office could have long-lasting pup’s blood, thanks to the effects (Image: Terry Vine/Getty) altered gut flora they inherited. Indeed, when the team analysed the blood of the pups of the ter of their pregnancy. Another stressed mothers, they found that 10 pregnant mice were housed there were fewer molecules present normally during the same time. necessary for the formation of essenThe team took samples of tial neurotransmitters – chemicals that their vaginal bacteria throughout transmit signals to the brain. Furtherthe pregnancy and again just more, there were lower levels of a after the mice had given birth. molecule thought to protect the brain These samples were genetically from harmful oxidative stress. sequenced to see what types of “These changes are significant bacteria were present. and are likely to be important for The microbiomes of the determining how the brain initially destressed mice were remarkvelops and how it will respond in the ably different to those of the future to things like stress or changes unstressed mice after they had in the environment,” says Tracy Bale, each given birth. There were more Howerton’s supervisor during the types of bacteria present, and the research and director of the University proportion of one common gut of Pennsylvania lab. bacteria, Lactobacillus, was signifiAs well as changing the nutricantly reduced. ents available, the microbiome could Like mother, like pup also affect the brain via the immune To see whether these changsystem or by innervating the nerves es had been passed on to the in the gut that connect to it. “These pups, a few days after birth the three mechanisms aren’t mutually pups’ nascent gut bacteria was exclusive. It’s likely that they all play a removed from their colon and serole,” says Howerton. quenced. Sure enough, the same Human angle bacterial patterns were seen in If the same effects are seen in the pups of stressed mothers. humans, there may be a straightforBy analysing tissue from the ward solution. “We can easily manippups’ hypothalamus – a brain ulate the bacteria we have inside of area involved in hormone control, us,” says Howerton. For example, if a behaviour and sleep, among other

certain cocktail of bacteria is found to be beneficial to the newborns of stressed mothers, we could give it to them right after birth, he suggests. This approach could also benefit babies born via C-section, who do not pass through their mother’s birth canal, or those born to mothers whose gut bacteria has been disrupted as a result of antibiotic use during pregnancy.

Bale is now investigating the link between bacteria and brain development in pregnant women who have been through several traumatic experiences to analyse the effects on their babies’ gut bacteria. She also intends to follow their children’s behaviour as they grow up.

Resource rationale “This is a remarkable trans-disciplinary study in how it bridged multiple organ systems to illuminate a complex question,” says Catherine Hagan from the University of Missouri in Columbia. She says that more work needs to be done to show a causal link. “Mice are not tiny people – people are not big mice – more data is needed to understand how stress in mothers affects brain development in children,” she says. “That said, mice and people have enough in common that this study provides a rationale for allocating resources to address such a concern.”

“At the end of the day, most of what makes you ‘you’, and what drives your quality of life, comes down to the brain,” says Bale. “It’s this very important, vulnerable tissue that is susceptible to many perturbations. If the microbiome is proven to be one of these driving forces, then it’s essential we know just how factors in our environment can change it and can reprogram the brain.”

28

THE BELIZE TIMES

Should We Confess to a Father?

A couple thousand years ago just a short while after the earth was created, an altercation occurred between two brothers. They were both offering sacrifices up to God and it happened that one of the brothers, whose sacrifice was not accepted, became jealous and angry at the other.

To my amazement God himself came down to speak with him but to no avail. What amazed me even more was that God left without setting up a structure in place to save the life of the person who had actually offered him the correct sacrifice! As we all know the story Abel was killed by his brother Cain.

As I look at this story in the manual some interesting things popup. Here is God himself, the most wise, all knowing, most powerful person in the universe, reasoning with a human about some trouble he is about to get himself into. There’s a little saying that goes “the operation was successful but the patient died”. Here, God was successful at warning Cain of the condition of his heart but Cain did not heed the warning but went on and did what would have satisfied his personal desires!

In the new covenant God made with us, most know it as the ‘new testament’, we will find James 5:16 where he tells us to confess our faults to each other then we pray.

Look at Cain, God spoke to him and nothing changed, but what do you think would have happened if he had gone to his mom informing her of how he was feeling toward his brother, and what he was feeling inside his heart to do?

She could have spoken to Adam and Abel and they could have prevented some serious problems by intervening through not only prayer but also the setting up of physical structures to protect both their sons! From this story we see clearly that although God spoke to Cain directly he had no change of heart.

Many times people hide behind the cover of confessing to God while still living in darkness! God says “not” to confess it to man first then him. Now in certain churches a person (human) is burdened with the task of listening to your confessions but in the context of this scripture it is seen a little different by not being limited to one person with a title. The scripture says to confess your faults one to another suggesting that it is not only a one-way confession and not necessarily with only one person.

The bottom line and the core of the whole thing is actually the condition of a person’s heart. If you know you are about to do something you shouldn’t do that will have dire effect on others or yourself, take the time out to confess it to someone who you trust and who you know will not encourage you in doing wickedness, but help you again to find the right path!

So to answer the question posted as this week’s topic, yes you should confess to God but keep in mind that the sequence he has outlined for us is to first confess it to a fellow man before we can receive healing and that our prayer can do great work!

Until next week God bless!

24 NOV

2013

Understanding ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder)

By Dr. Victor Rosado

ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is more common than we realize.

It is however seldom diagnosed appropriately and in a timely manner. ADHD is a non-discriminatory disorder affecting people of every age, gender, IQ, religious and socio economic background.

Since there is no blood confirmation test for these conditions, the diagnosis is often scoffed at by both parents and sometimes medical practitioners. It is equated to poor parenting, far too often in our society.

But ADHD is one of the most common neuro behavioral disorders of childhood, and often symptoms persist into adulthood.

How do you identify ADHD? Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, may act without thinking about what the result will be, or in some cases, and may be overly active.

Many children have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. Additional tell-tale signs for children with ADHD are that they: • Often have other behavioral disorders • May have problems making or keeping friends • May show risky behavior that can lead to injury • May have problems succeeding in school.

What to do if you are concerned?

If you have concerns about ADHD, the first step is to get an accurate diagnosis. There is no single test to diagnose ADHD, and many other disorders, like anxiety, depression, and certain learning disabilities can have similar symptoms.

That is why seeking professional help from your pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist and special-ed teachers is so important. Here in Belize, the National Resource Centre for Inclusive Education (NARCIE) is an excellent place to get the testing process started.

There are many treatment options available, both with medication and with behavior therapy. The earlier the diagnosis is made, more can be achieved with your child.

My advice, seek professional help if you have a doubt in this case.

24 NOV

2013

THE BELIZE TIMES

29

EDITORIAL Español

P

Liberación

ara muchos Beliceños, Marzo de 2012 fue la fecha fijada para nuestra liberación: una especie de fecha de libertad condicional, donde nuestra condena se redujo milagrosamente de cinco años para cuatro.

Después de cuatro arduos años de cautiverio y la opresión, de nuestros derechos pisoteados, de una dictadura sin visión que nunca debió ser, estábamos agradecidos que Dean había llamado a elecciones anticipadas.

Lo que no podíamos prever sin embargo, fue la manipulación directa de nuestro proceso democrático por Elvin Penner regalando nuestra nacionalidad a cambio de votos, la oficina electoral Corozal Bay abrió noches para facilitar la inscripción de nuevos votantes para Pablo Marin, la descarada compra de votos y política tipo piñata utilizando dinero de los contribuyentes para la gratuita distribución de jamones, pavos y licor con fin de sobornar a votantes hacia otra penitencia de cinco años.

El plan de Barrow en 2008 era simple: tomar control de las empresas de Utilidades al servicio público y utilizar el dinero para beneficiar a sus amigos y ganar / robar a todo costo más elecciones.

En el 2011, Dean Barrow reconoció que se le estaba agotando el tiempo. Ha está muy consciente de que no podrá cumplir ni con una sola de sus promesas entablado en su manifiesto. Estaba a punto de ser expuesto como un fraude, un líder que nunca tuvo la intención de resolver los problemas de nuestra nación.

Hoy, en el 2013, muchos Beliceños ahora tenemos que vivir en constante lamento a resultado de las elecciones del 2012. La adquisición de los servicios de utilidades público de Barrow sólo ha servido para refundirnos más y más en una deuda - $ 600 millones para ser exactos.

Su ex esposa y su hermano se han “beneficiado” de suficientes honorarios legales para alimentar todo nuestro país durante un año. Aunque, no lo harán.

En vez de hacer lo correcto, prefieren seguir viviendo como el Kardashians, haciendo sus compras en tiendas de Rodeo Drive, en busca de las cámaras de TMZ, y con la esperanza de que algún día logren ser aceptados entre la élite de Hollywood.

En el nivel municipal, que es más de la misma mierda. Darrell Bradley, quien una vez fue defensor por promover la extraordinaria idea de prestar 20 millones

de dólares para arreglar nuestras calles, ahora está cayendo en desgracia.

En lugar de ser responsable y reconstruir una calle a la vez, el “plan maestro” de Bradley era fijar todas las calles de una sola vez, con la esperanza de que de alguna manera le impulsaría a realizar una campaña exitosa en el distrito electoral de Caribbean Shores.

Fue una decisión egoísta que ha fracasado. Ahora las calles de la ciudad de Belice se encuentran en la condición más deplorable nunca. Freetown Road es la única calle de la ciudad funcional, cuando no está bajo el agua.

Al igual que su Primer Ministro, Bradley también carece de visión no dándose cuenta de la necesidad de un drenaje adecuado. Lo que esa aburrida voz robótica debería estar diciendo en esos anuncios UDP es que “50 - que es el número de piscinas que Darrell Bradley ha construido en sólo un año”. Un video hilarante acaba de ir viral con Hitler, de toda la gente, quejándose de calles llenas de baches de Bradley. ¡No es tan malo!

De 2008 a 2012, todos sabíamos que Barrow era incompetente. Basta con echar un paseo en su división ‘Queen Square’ - ningún tipo de elevación durante 30 años seguidos. ¿Qué pasa con las Boots? ¿Realmente esperamos que gobierne o construya el mega-complejos amarillas por sí mismo? Y ¿qué pasa con Finnegan? ¿Realmente pensamos que iba a construir vivienda de calidad y de bajo interés social para las familias necesitadas o seguir patrullando fuera de Brads y faltando respeto a las jovencitas que pasaban por allí? Sí, todos ya sabíamos que eran incompetentes.

En el 2013, ahora tenemos pruebas concretas de que todos y cada uno de ellos son corruptos. Dean Barrow, aparentemente siempre lo supo. Él los ve cada semana a los ojos y les pide “por amor de Dios Paren lo”. La parte triste es que la única razón por la que quiere que se detengan es porque provocaría una decaída en su gobierno. Barrow no se preocupó por Belice. Nunca lo hizo.

En 2017, Dean Barrow tratará de comprar / robar a todo costo las próximas elecciones. No lo vamos a permitir. No seremos engañados fuera de nuestra cita con el destino. Beliceños están hartos y cansados de la miseria rojo de Barrow. Tenemos que ser rescatados por un líder competente. Tenemos que ser liberado de la tensión diaria que Barrow nos ha puesto. Necesitamos liberación.

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THINK ABOUT IT AMERICA IS LISTENING The brave lady who came forward with shocking allegations of misconduct and hustling in the ongoing immigration and visa scandal, revealed another shocking information.

She said at the Belmopan Embassy of the United States two agents grilled and interrogated her for three hours. The agents wanted to know the names of everyone she dealt with, when, where, what exactly was being said and done.

The lady had tried to dodge some questions until the agents clicked on a computer and confronted her with her own voice. The agents played what was a recording of her and Minister Castro carrying on a telephone conversation about visas.

Gotcha!

The agents showed the lady books and books of photographs of person they claimed got visas and passed through Belize. They wanted to know if she has seen any of them or had handled any passports for them. It should be clear that for the Americans, the Ministerial hustling on visas and passports have grave security concerns. Terrorists can find their way into the U.S.A. via the dirty doings through Belize Immigration Department.

Terrorist networks abroad can obtain Belizean passports and citizenship without anyone having to come to Belize for such documents.

So can big drug dealers and money launderers.

In George Orwell’s disturbing futurist book “1984” the government – called “Big Brother” – was always watching every move by every citizen. Given rise to the phrase: “Big Brother is watching you”.

What Prime Minister Barrow, Deputy Prime Minister Vega, Police Minister Saldivar and the likes of Penner, Castro, and the others overlooked is – America is listening to you.

Who will be the first to have their US visa revoked?

A SCANDAL THAT WON’T DIE In an extraordinary act of public service and bravery, a lady from Stann Creek took to Channel 5’s Dickie Bradley show and explained in detail how she was reportedly involved in the widespread sale of visas in collaboration with Minister Castro.

The allegations are sensational as well as sad.

Minister Castro was kicked out of Cabinet in the first Barrow government for wrongdoing. That wrongdoing concerned a Mrs Grant (among others) in Los Angeles who paid Minister Castro over fifty-five thousand dollars for a piece of government land she could get for four thousand, but did not know it at the time.

She lost her money and got no land.

She made five visits to Belize and Minister Castro showed her different lots each time she came and demanded to get what she paid for.

Fed up, she went to Prime Minister Barrow with her bank transfer of funds to Castro, his emails to her and other irrefutable evidence. The Prime Minister, to head off the scandal, told the nation Castro behaved unethically and had to be evicted from Cabinet. The Prime Minister promised the lady she would get a land.

At the time the Prime Minister had a big majority of U.D.P. Ministers and Area Representatives so he could afford to get rid of Castro from Cabinet.

Now he heads a faltering government of only two seats different from the opposition. This is no longer about ethics, impropriety, hustling, corruption or even about Castro. This is about a sanctimonious Prime Minister desperately trying to save his government.

This is raw, dirty unadulterated party politics.

Even the Prime Minister’s personal law firm is involved. They are suing on behalf of Castro, the former pariah, who was kicked out of Cabinet. A man who travelled to Taiwan and got enmeshed in a dirty, low down allegation of behaving improperly towards a Taiwanese female.

In part two, coming to a TV near you is a staunch UDP who got the goods on Elvin Penner and more illegal passport/citizenship documents.

FELICIA CHEN The sad news came out that Felicia Chen was charged for the murder of three of her children by drowning them at Belizean beach.

A fourth child escaped being drowned.

The mother tried to drown herself but rescuers reached her in time.

Any mother who goes through the pain and the ecstasy of the miracle of giving birth, not once, not even twice, would have to be crazy after killing her wonderful young children.

Felicia Chen may have been a jilted lover. She may have felt the slings and arrows of loving a worthless man who neglected her and their children.

She certainly lived a poor and desperate life.

She must have lost her mind that morning when she took her young children to the water and drowned them. In other countries her mental state is called temporary insanity.

This columnist disagrees with the decision to charge Felicia Chen for murder.

We disagree with the decision to use her young child as a main witness in a court trial against her mother.

He will be psychologically scared for

the rest of his life for living through that nightmare. He does not need a guilt trip of helping to convict his own mommy in a world gone mad at that moment.

Belizeans do not kill their young children. Our mothers live with the pain and the shame of men using and abusing them. They survive by any means necessary; including having to exchange their bodies for men to help feed their children. It is the reality for some… a story, told and retold of our mothers’ extraordinary love for their children.

Unwed mothers and single mothers struggling day in day out to provide for their children in Belize is a story of almost Biblical proportions.

It is difficult to comprehend that Felicia Chen intentionally and deliberately made a conscious decision to murder her young children. Her story in all its aspects is a reminder and an indictment of the women’s group and networks across this country.

Now that Felicia Chen is being dragged into court on murder charges where she won’t even have a jury of her peers, but a single judge (who is certainly not her peer), the silence of deafening.

THE UNIONS There is truth in the saying: a workers union is only as strong as its members.

But strength also comes from the correct leadership.

Leaders of the National Trade Unions Congress need to examine their situation. For ten years the public officers, police officers, soldiers, teachers and nurses of this country have been denied a salaries increase.

For ten years, as the cost of living moved upwards relentlessly, they have not agitated strongly for a cost of living adjustment.

Ten years is a long time.

The UDP government came to power in 2008 on the backs of the unions which expressed its frustration and disappointment over governance issues of the previous administration.

No reforms or changes were undertaken. Nor did the unions pressure the then new government for structural reforms.

Today the government system is back where it started. The new Ministers have learnt how to use their offices for private and family enrichment and boy are they enriching themselves.

A sin against public officers and the public service is the politicians’ employment of their supporters as Chief Executive Officers. Persons who have no experience with the vast and intricate public service and its laws regulations and rules.

A classic example is the C.E.O. for the Health Ministry. He knows nothing of the government machinery. Hundreds of thousands of tax dollars have been stolen from the various branches of the Minis-

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try and he has not a clue.

In the good old days of the public service, the CEOs and Heads of Government Departments would blow the whistle on what is going on.

Their loyalty was to their reputation, their families and their pension and the sense of pride that they stood for some principles.

We have watched the public service steadily decline. Political hacks have become the top dogs.

A minister who was quickly removed as Minister of Immigration in 2012 has his sister as the C.E.O. of the said Minister where Penner is signing sacred citizenship documents and the current Minister has not a clue of how hustling is taking place over an otherwise simple process of obtaining a visa. We are tempted to say how naïve can you be, there are large numbers of persons who are paying huge dollars to get a visa (not to mention passports) for Belize.

Belize is only two rivers away from the U.S.A. And why are persons whipping out large sums of lands which technically they can apply through a simple process.

Against this background, the large number of decent citizens who work and toil in the public service deserve their salary increase.

Not a little bit next year. Another little bit the year after. They and their families deserve every dollar now.

They deserve a housing program and proper medical coverage as part of slaving all their years for their country.

It breathes corruption to work for a pittance and watch politicians and their fellows fly by night, Allen come lately who are hustling and enriching themselves.

Union leaders better start behaving like real leaders and demand the salary increases for their members.

You been talking and negotiating for far too long.

The government got money – millions upon millions upon millions of it.

ANOTHER POLICE UNIT Police commissioner Whylie has authorized the formation of another Police unit M.I.T. – Mobile Interdiction Team. They have been making effective moves in the Cayo and Benque area.

So far their stops and searches and arrest for drugs have all taken place without a single complaint of unprofessional behaviour or planting of evidence or beating or brutality.

That is quite an achievement.

If only they can keep up this otherwise, unheard of behavior Next thing you know citizens are cooperating and working closely with MIT against the bad guys.

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PUP NOTICE Toledo East Standard Bearer Endorsement Convention The People’s United Party announces the Endorsement Convention for Toledo East Standard Bearer to be held on Saturday, December 14th 2013.

PUP NOTICE Corozal South East Standard Bearer Endorsement Convention The People’s United Party announces the Endorsement Convention for Corozal South East Standard Bearer to be held on Sunday, December 15th 2013.

PUP NOTICE Dangriga Standard Bearer Endorsement Convention The People’s United Party announces the Endorsement Convention for Dangriga Standard Bearer to be held on Sunday, December 8th 2013.

PUP NOTICE Fort George Standard Bearer Endorsement Convention The People’s United Party announces the Endorsement Convention for Fort George Standard Bearer to be held on Wednesday, December 4th 2013.

Liquor License NOTICES Notice is hereby given that JAIME BRICEÑO is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “One Stop Convenience Store and Service Station”, situate at #29 Belize Corozal Road Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

“I can’t afford $5 per day” Mother of 4 says they have no food to eat, sleeping on cold floor Belize City, November 20, 2013 33 year old Juanita Paulino and her four children are among the 15% of the population who are considered “indigent”, meaning they can’t afford $5.50 a day.

There were over 50,000 Belizeans who fell in the indigent poverty levels back in 2010, according to a population census.

“My house is on sale, I have no electricity, I have no water and my kids are sleeping on the cold floor,” she explained to the BELIZE TIMES. Paulino, a single mother, has been enduring wretched days for several years, but it’s getting worse and worse.

“I have had to sell everything at home so my kids could eat. All I have left at home are clothes and a few picture frames,” she said.

But soon even the frames may have to come down. Paulino, who received a loan through Development Finance Corporation to build her home, never benefitted from the Barrow Administration’s write off program even though she was servicing her loan for six years. She says she was excluded despite explaining her difficult situation. Her property is now on sale by one of the local banks. She said she prays every night for a miracle to occur.

In 2006, Paulino lost her job as a secretary at the Belize City Council when the UDP’s Zenaida Moya took office. She said she didn’t expect it.

“The change that everyone wanted turned out to be a bad change,” she commented.

Seven years later, Paulino has not recovered. She has applied to dozens of job places, but there has been no

Notice is hereby given that XUE HONG TAN is applying for a Shop Liquor License to be operated at “Tasty’s Groceries”, situate at #40 Mahogany Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that NATALIE RHABURN is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Firangi Paani Indian Restaurant and Bar”, situate at 2.5 Miles Philip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

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positive response. Her brief stint as a sales marketer at one of the call centers was cut short after she experienced an anxiety attack. Her last job as a sales clerk at a store inside the tourist village was interrupted when the store owner said business was bad and they had to put her job on hold. She hasn’t heard back from them.

Paulino said she could no longer afford to pay $12.00 for a police record, $7.00 for passport-sized pictures and printing cost, especially when it bears no positive results. The little money she gathers goes to her priority: feeding her children.

The three teenagers (aged 18, 16, and 13) and 7 year old boy are promising students. But their economic situation is a huge obstacle to their productive future. When food or transportation money from Hattieville to Belize City isn’t not available, they miss classes.

“I can barely afford the pantry. $12 isn’t easy to get,” added Paulino.

Paulino said that last week she received a divine message which told her to take her story to the streets. She bought a blister board paper and wrote “Need a Job, Will Work for Money or Food”. She travelled to Belize City and has been standing in the downtown area with the sign up high in her hands.

“I am hoping someone notices my message and can provide some help. I don’t want free money. I am computer literate, can do pastry and cake decorating. I want to work decently for my pay,” she cried.

After her first week, there has been some attention to her plight. She said one male person saw the sign and

decided to do the same for himself by the following day. Also, while standing across from the Commercial Center, some of her old work colleagues were shocked to see her doing what she did and expressed disbelief and sympathy for her situation.

Anyone willing to assist Paulino can contact her at phone number 664-4997.

NOTICE I, GILROY LLEWELYN USHER JR. hereby give notice that I have applied to the Belmopan Magistrate Court sitting at 11 o’clock on the 20th day of November, 2013 at Belmopan City for a certificate to be granted to me under the Money Lenders Act, Chapter 260 to authorize me to carry on business as a money lender in the name of FIRST STOP ‘’Speedy Money’’ at Capital Garden Plaza on Constitution Drive in Belmopan City.

NOTICE I, GILROY LLEWELYN USHER JR. hereby give notice that I have applied to the Belize City Magistrate Court sitting at 11 o’clock on the 20th day of November, 2013 at Belmopan City for a certificate to be granted to me under the Money Lenders Act, Chapter 260 to authorize me to carry on business as a money lender in the name of FIRST STOP ‘’Speedy Money’’ at #63 Cemetery Road, Belize City.

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