Sunday, November 27, 2011
SUNDAY November 27, 2011
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THE BELIZE TIMES
www.facebook/Belize Times
Issue No. 4773
OUTLOOK NEGATIVE S&P downgrades Belize’s ratings AGAIN
Dean Barrow has no answers to rescuing the economy
Belize City, November 22, 2011 Magga season normally comes to Belizeans in January after the high spending gear that Christmas gets everyone into comes to an end, but the bad news that Belize’s credit worthiness has been downgraded a few more notches means magga season is already here, right now, even way before December and the jolly season.
Having placed the economy on long-term depression, Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his administration have found it difficult to meet its debt obligations. Furthermore, he has increased Belize’s public sector debt following the expropriations of Belize Telemedia Limited and Belize Electricity Limited. With the weakening economy, Barrow has also
Continued on page 3
Barrow tek Private Sector fu cunnu munnu! Wednesday, November 23, 2011 The business sector must feel slighted this evening after attending a Government-sponsored event dubbed as an “economic forum” at Old Belize. It was headed by no less than the Prime Minister, but while the attendees sat for over three hours to listen to what was mostly, again, a list of promises, there were no real assurances about how the
Tension at Jalacte
border-crossing! By Carla Bradley On November 22nd 2011, what started out as normal day at the border between Belize and Guatemala in the Toledo District near the Palo Grande area soon became tense moments as military forces for both countries became involved in an altercation. According to information received, while conducting patrol along the border, Belize Defense Force Soldiers has to
Continued on page 4
Barrow Administration will improve Belize’s economic status, at least not for the private sector. Barrow ranted away about plans various government departments have to improve their revenue systems, but he could not offer any tangible solution or incentive to the private sector why they should “join hands” with government departments to conduct business.
Even on the issue of crime, Barrow sang the same old tune about his expensive gang-truce in Belize City. While he admitted that the programme is costing taxpayers a whopping $50,000 per week, Barrow could not point to any improvement in crime as it relates to the business community. Only two weeks ago an American businessman was attacked and murdered inside his home in the Cayo District. Just around that same time, there were reports of at least two more home invasions, another in the same Cayo District, where an elderly couple were held hostage inside their own homes. One only needs to take a look at the evening news to see how many armed robberies occur on a daily basis. The fact is that there are two major aspects affecting the business sector: a stifling economy with no immediate opportunity for growth and income-generation, and crime and violence. It goes further than that, PUP Leader Hon. Francis meets however. Everyone knows with cane farmers to discuss a way that this UDP regime has apforward for the sugar industry plied the brakes to a once vibrant economy while creating
FORWARD WITH FRANCIS
PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day in Dangriga, November 19
See page 4
See page 3
Continued on page 3
CATWALK
FASHION SHOW See page 16
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, November 27, 2011
From the ghetto streets
“Waking Up After the Nightmare”
If you REALLY care about the kids, support UNIBAM and revise our laws! Dear Editor, In the November 20, 2011 edition of The Amandala newspaper, editor Russell Vellos penned an article that represents the ultimate low point in the public discourse of the UNIBAM challenge to Section 53 of the Law of Belize. In his opinion column “This & That”,Vellos runs with the position of certain evangelical churches that homosexuals are really just latent child molesters who will prey on our children if Section 53 is proven to be unconstitutional. I won’t dissect Mr. Vellos’s article further, only to say that it was vile, slanderous, and completely irresponsible. His words, while not based on logic or fact, could result in serious physical and emotional harm to an already marginalized section of our society. No responsible media house should stand behind this form of “journalism” and both Vellos and Amandala should be ashamed. But let’s me move on to the red herring fallacy presented by Mr. Vellos, Belize Action, Council of Churches, Luis Wade Jr., Scott Stirm, etc. Repealing or revising Section 53 will not expose children to increased incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse, nor will it enable
the perpetrators of such crimes. Section 53 in its current form only deals with carnal knowledge “against the order of nature” and with animals. It does not say anything about children. Sex crimes against minors are addressed elsewhere in the Laws of Belize. Section 45 makes it a crime to commit an “indecent assault on any person whether male or female”. Section 47 makes it a crime to have sex with a girl under the age of 16. About the only thing I can concede to Belize Action et al is the fact that the current laws that are intended to protect children have a gender inequity that needs to be addressed. Given the lack of clarification that it is actually against the law to have sex with a male child, I can see how Section 53 could be used to charge a person who sexually assaults a male minor. But it is the wrong law for the wrong crime. Meanwhile, you are criminalizing the consensual private activities of a certain segment of society. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The established position of Belize Action is they are happy with the Laws of Belize in their current form. They don’t
PUP restructures National Executive Belize City, November 23, 2011 At a meeting of the National Executive of the People’s United Party held on Friday November 18th, 2011 at Independence Hall, the National Executive unanimously authorized Party Leader Francis Fonseca to review the Composition and Structure of the Current National Executive and to name a new National Executive. In following through on this authorization, the Party Leader was guided by the following criteria: 1. Were existing members of the NE in their current posts functioning and effective? 2. Had existing members of the NE publicly or privately expressed their willingness and desire to continue serving on the NE? 3. Was it necessary for all existing posts to remain as executive posts or could the work be accomplished in a nonexecutive capacity? Based on this criteria the New National Executive of the People’s United Party is as follows:1. Party Leader – Hon. Francis W. Fonseca 2. Past Party Leader – Hon. John Briceño 3. Past Party Leader – Rt. Hon. Said W. Musa 4. Deputy Party Leader – Michael Es-
pat
5. Deputy Party Leader – Carolyn Trench Sandiford 6. Deputy Party Leader – Hon. Florencio Marin Jr. 7. Chairman – Henry Usher 8. National Campaign Managers – Julius Espat and Jaime Briceno 9. Director of Communications – Hon. Lisa Shoman 10. Treasurer – Rodwell Ferguson Sr. 11. Legal Advisor – Anthony Sylvester Jr. 12. Eastern Caucus Chair – Anthony Mahler 13. Northern Caucus Chair – Valdemar Castillo 14. Southern Caucus Chair – Oscar Requena 15. Western Caucus Chair – Oscar Sabido 16. Chairman – Order of Distinguished Service – Belizario Carballo Sr. 17. President – Belize Youth Movement (To be elected) 18. President – United Women’s Group (To be elected) 19. Chairman – Marshalls Community Corp. – (To be elected) 20. Co- Chair – Policy and Reform Committee – Narda Garcia and Arthur Saldivar
Dear Editor, I know when we go to sleep, sometimes we dream about good things but night after night for four years the people of this country have twisted and turned in their bed for the last of Dean Barrow and his UDP Government. They have brought enough destruction to the people and the country of Belize, so it feel like we are in a nightmare, but in UDP reality we are living the nightmare. Mr. Barrow the people are waking up out of your poison dream you have us in from the time you got into office. Imagine the possibilities. What the hell is that Mr. Barrow? You have Belizeans imagining for something that is nonexistent. You can call yourself a dream seller
genie. Look how you have this country out of order, it shows lack of leadership with criminals running around and demanding anything they wish from your government. Everyone keep telling themselves that they made the biggest mistake by putting in the UDP. You don’t believe me, ask the poor people. Mr. Prime Minister, you need to wake up and get real, these things only happen on TV. Speaking of TV, you should rename the” Wave Radio Morning Show” to the “Wave Radio Morning Pappy Show” because that is what they are. Mr. Barrow, call elections now. Your report card has shown Fs that stand for FAILURE! Until next week, wake up Belizeans, wake up. Roberto Peyrefitte
want any changes made to our laws. They are quite content with a Section 47 that OMITS male children from protection from rape. They are quite happy with the ambiguously worded Section 53 that speaks only of “against the order of nature”, whatever that is, as the only form of protection for boys. Ambiguity in law is a very, very dangerous thing. The law must be black and white, not grey. Otherwise the law can be bent to suit various agendas. Simply revising Section 47 to say it is illegal to have sex with “any PERSON under the age of 16” would protect ALL children, male and female. It’s really that simple. Just as you don’t need the prohibition of all alcohol to combat
drunk driving, you don’t need to criminalize homosexuality to make sex crimes against children illegal. Trying to make a link between homosexuality and pedophilia is ridiculous, hateful, and nothing more than fear mongering. Should we blame the HETEROSEXUAL population at large for the epidemic of sex crimes committed by men against girls in Belize? Should we criminalize consensual heterosexual activity in order to protect our girls? Of course not. If Belize Action and company really care about our children, they should stop fighting UNIBAM and instead join forces to make sure the laws of Belize are equitable for all persons in Belize, male or female, girl or boy, gay or straight. Or is their fight not about the kids, and really just about hating the gays? Brent Toombs Belize City, Belize
21. Deputy National Campaign Manager – Ivan Ramos 22. Deputy National Campaign Manager – Servulo Baeza 23. Deputy National Campaign Manager – Adrian Madrid 24. Deputy National Campaign Manager – Javier Guiterrez 25. Deputy Communications Director – Collet Montejo 26. Deputy Communications Director – Dolores B. Garcia 27. Deputy Communications Director – Jose Mai 28. Secretary General – Rachel Montejo - The Posts of Sr. Deputy Leaders and Parliamentary liaison have been abolished. - The Post of liaison for Civil Society and Social Partners will be a Non-Executive post under the National Communications Committee. - The Post of Research and Development Coordinator will be a Non-Executive post under the Policy and Reform Committee. - The Post of National Strategic Development Manager will be a Non-Executive post under the National Campaign Committee. The Leader of the Opposition also proposes to name the following persons as Senators representing the People’s United Party: Hon. Lisa Shoman Mr. Oscar Requena Mr. Arthur Saldivar Contact Person: Henry Charles Usher, Chairman. Serve the People!
THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR
Alberto Vellos OFFICE MANAGER
Fay Castillo McKay PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR
Doreth Bevans
LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST
Chris Williams
MARKETING/ADVERTISING
Rafael Sosa
STAFF REPORTER
Carla Bradley TYPIST
Rachel Arana OFFICE ASSISTANT
Roberto Peyrefitte Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd.
#3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Tel: 671-8385 Email: belizetimesad@yahoo.com editortimes@yahoo.com
Sunday, November 27, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
OUTLOOK NEGATIVE Continued from page 1 had to rely a lot on borrowing. Every year, he announces millions in loans, much of which doesn’t come to fruition, but which indicates the Barrow Administration’s inability to sustain its
own development. This is what makes the announcement from Standard and Poor’s that it has revised Belize’s credit rating outlook from stable to negative, very troubling. In August, S&P downgraded Be-
lize’s currency credit ratings but kept its outlook as stable pending a review. The recent downgrade which affirmed Belize’s B-minus/C sovereign long-term foreign currency credit ratings, say S&P, is the result of “rising crime, public-sector wage pressures and budget constraints may reduce political incentives to pay debt service”. The credit rating agency also called out “Belize’s external imbalances, weak political institutions and large general government debt burden, which constrain the rating at the B-minus level”.
PUP Leader meets with Cane Farmers By Carla Bradley Today November 23, 2011, Opposition Leader, Hon. Francis Fonseca, and PUP Standard Bearers Deputy Party Leader Hon. Florencio Marin Jr., Ramiro Ramirez, Valdemar Castillo, and Deputy Party Leader Mike Espat met with cane farmers from Corozal and Orange Walk Districts. Also accompanying the delegation were distinguished members of the north, Hon. Florencio Marin Sr., Mr. Ramon Cervantes and PUP Corozal Town Mayoral Candidate, Mr. Anwar Charaf and host of other members. Cane farmers expressed their concerns about the dilemmas the sugar industry is currently facing under this UDP Administration. The concerns included the neglected state of sugar roads, which are in such deplorable conditions that they have caused damages to the trucks used to transport cane from the fields to the factory. The reopening of the Libertad factory in the Corozal district was also a suggestion by the cane farmers, as it would be more cost efficient for the farmers of the Corozal District. A comparison was made between the PUP and UDP administrations that under the PUP administration, cane farmers were given more and better financial assistance and flourished instead of suffer as they are under the UDP. Farmers also made mention that they believe that they should have majority shares in BSI and not some foreign bank. This was a position taken at two general meetings held by the farmers on June 12 and August 14 2011. The government had stated publicly in the
PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca listening to concerns of cane farmers first instance that between 30 and 40 US million dollars would be needed for the workers to gain majority shares in the Belize Sugar Industries. When the farmers sought financiers and came up with 42.5 US million dollars, the UDP government then changed their position saying that a reevaluation of the factory increased the cost to at least 60 million US dollars. The tragic and callous events of February 2009, when a cane farmer Atanascio Guttierez was shot and killed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s security forces in Orange Walk, was also remembered. Cane farmers questioned why a proper investigation has yet to be conducted, and why the police were even allowed to use live rounds on defenseless citizens. Hon. Francis Fonseca reassured the cane farmers that the People’s United Party will work with them, and help them to become majority owners
Barrow tek Private Sector fu cunnu munnu! Continued from page 1
opportunities only for themselves, their relatives, and their cronies since taking over office in 2008. It has been nothing but doom and gloom for people, both for foreign investors and local entrepreneurs alike. This government has strangled the very life out of this economy. Interest rates have skyrocketed for those who do qualify to get loans, while higher taxes crippling the poor and needy. Mr. Barrow seems to ignore the hundreds of businesses that have closed down because there simply has been no cash flow since 2008. He has overlooked the many who lost their jobs because their employers had to close their doors? Didn’t Mr. Barrow read the memo from the government’s own Sta-
tistical Unit 2010 survey that the unemployment rate has grown to over 23% of our country’s population? The Prime Minister had the face of brass to urge the private sector for a “joint enterprise”. This is after he ostracised them, cursed them, snubbed them and victimized them for almost four years. Doesn’t Mr. Barrow get the sense that the business community is now against him and his incompetent government, who are like an abusive husband, who goes home and trashes his wife and then turns around and wants her to surrender to him. It is difficult to see how Mr. Barrow can be so bold to think he can now court the same business community that his government has harmed all this while.
of BSI. Hon. Fonseca said it is fair for the farmers to come first and that they have chance to be a part of the decisions taken about their livelihood.
3 So far, there has been no official reaction from the Government of Belize on how they see the announcement impacting the economic conditions. PM Barrow has attempted to brush off the S&P downgrade, but no one falls for that trick anymore, especially members of the private sector who have been facing the brunt of the Barrow’s Administration’s inability to resuscitate the economy. Barrow has failed to rescue Belize’s dying economy under the UDP. His litany of promises has become an assault of lies and misleading hope, which Belizeans are tired of hearing. Just two years ago when he admitted to taking the economy in a downward spiral, he promised an “economic stimulus” of over US$100 courtesy the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank that would get the economy going. Two years later, Barrow has nothing to show. Barrow’s quick dismissal of S&P’s announcement is hypocritical. As Opposition Leader, he was the first to jump on anything credit rating agencies had to say about Belize when the PUP was in Government. Now, he knows better than they do. His immediate brush of the real hard times is also proof that he is living in denial, drowning in a false pretense that Belizeans are enjoying life the way he and some of his rich friends and cronies in Government are. Nothing noh go soh Mr. Barrow. From Albert Street to Jane Usher Boulevard, the cry is the same: life is haada out yah. Mr. Barrow wake up and smell the coffee, Belizeans are tired of having nothing. It’s the economy, stupid!
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, November 27, 2011
PUP leader celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day in Dangriga Dangriga Town, November 19, 2011 PUP Leader Francis Fonseca celebrated November 19, 2011, GARIFUNA SETTLEMENT DAY, in Dangriga. The PUP Leader accompanied by Freetown
Tension at Jalacte
border-crossing! Continued from page 1 act on the citing of Guatemalan plantations on Belize territory. The acts by the BDF were viewed as a breach of protocol, and turned into a dispute. Relations between Belizean and Guatemalan security forces, and Belizean security forces and Guatemalan campesinos have become very tense. Last week, Guatemalan Evelio Adelso Romero was arrested after security forces stumbled onto a logging and Xate harvesting worksite in the Chiquibul area. With the heightened tension, Monday’s actions by Belizean security forces came under fire. The Guatemalans said that the soldiers had to consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before interfering with the said crops. Guatemalans were bitter and as a result the border crossing was temporarily closed to Belizeans until the matter was resolved. We were unable to confirm whether the situation has been resolved.
Chairman Lt. Albert Vaughan, driver George Domingo and cameraman Henry Mortis left Belize City early Saturday morning and arrived in Dangriga at 7:30 to watch the re-enactment of the arrival of the Garifuna in Belize. Following this the leader joined community members in celebrating a beautiful and uplifting garifuna mass done by Father Larry Nicasio. At mass the leader was joined by PUP Dangriga Standard Bearer Ivan Ramos, Stann Creek West Standard Bearer Rodwell Ferguson, Toledo West Standard Bearer Oscar Requena, and Toledo East Standard Bearer Mike Espat. He was also welcomed to Dangriga and accompanied on his visit by Major Swazo, the PUP Mayoral candidate. Following mass the PUP leader attended the official National Garifuna Council ceremonies held at Alejo Beni Park where he delivered a brief message in his capacity as
Leader of the Opposition. After this Hon. Fonseca paid a brief courtesy visit on Bishop O. P. Martin at the Southern Regional Hospital and then had a lively engaging meeting with the Dangriga PUP Executive Committee and the town council team. The standard bearers, the committee and the town council candidates all expressed their full support for and confidence in the Party Leader and the work of the PUP. The Party Leader called on them all to get to work to ensure the south delivers a great victory for the Party in the upcoming elections and pledged his full support to their efforts. After the meeting the delegation were hosted at the Ramos residence and treated to a fantastic meal of hudut and fish sere.
See pages 14 & 15 for highlights
Sunday, November 27, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Disrespecting The Garifuna Vote! There is no excuse that Dean Barrow and his apologists can offer to justify the UDP Leader’s three year record of disrespecting the 19th November official ceremonies in his official capacity as Prime Minister of Belize. NONE! It was Barrow who told the nation three years ago that it was the first time he attended a 19th official ceremony celebration in Dangriga. Barrow’s absence this past 19th, some thirteen weeks from a possible general and town council elections, was either arrogance or miscalculated by the people handling him, or if placed under the microscope, is a problem deeper than what our Garifuna brothers and sisters are willing to own up to. To understand Barrow’s behavior towards 19th November we must examine his cultural psyche as a Royal Creole whose descendants and colonial masters treated the Garinagu in British Honduras in similar fashion. To them the Garinagu were not important, therefore their treatment was racist, dehumanizing and bordering on being criminal at times. Barrow’s treatment of the 19th, then, exposes a deep rooted disrespect within the UDP for the Garifuna people. Between 1979 and the latter part of 1981, Dr. Ted Aranda became Leader of the UDP and would later reveal that one of the reasons he had to leave the UDP was that from the beginning he was not given a fair chance to lead. Dr. Aranda’s contributions were sabotaged because he was seen as an outsider. He recognized that, but said that he was prepared to still give it a try. But what really caused him to leave the UDP was the exposure to a subtle but dangerous kind of discrimination towards his ethnicity. It was not the color of his skin that offended the UDP hierarchy but that he was a Garifuna. He had to leave. Other prominent Garifuna leaders word also feel the brunt of this hardline within the UDP. Cynthia Ellis later found out when she dared to be a UDP Deputy Leader. Within the walls of the UDP all you heard was: “How dare she” and “she should know her place”. Her bid was compromised from the beginning and she never stood a chance. Even Simeon Sampson, Human Rights Pioneer in Belize, who dared to be outside the Dangriga base, would also feel the brunt of UDP hand where they called him out and attempted to disparage him at public meetings. But it was Michael Finnegan, the UDP whip, who put a face to the mask when Rhenae Nuñez publicly stated and accused Finnegan of calling her the most dehumanizing and derogatory names. Rhenae may have her faults as any human being does, but that she is a Garifuna is a blessing, and she deserves the respect any of us asks for each other. There have never been any apologies from Finnegan nor anyone in the UDP for their bashing of the Garinagu. Unlike the UDP, the People’s United Party’s record, while not perfect, stands out as honest and respectful of our Garifuna brothers. It was George Price and the PUP that gave the 19th celebration its national prominence. And it was the PUP that gave us Hon. Sylvia Flores, the First Woman Minister and First Speaker of the House from Dangriga. It was also the PUP who appointed the late great Andy Palacio as Musical Ambassador, Roy Cayetano as CEO, Philip Zuniga as President of the Senate, Conrad Lewis as Clerk of National Assembly, supported Cassian Nunez as Mayor, Rudy McKoy and many others, recognizing, respecting and embracing the expert value of our Garifuna brothers and sisters as true partners in the diligent development of this land, this country, our Belize. Today Dangriga has had six years of a UDP Town Council and 3 ½ years of the UDP in Central Government, but Dangriga has nothing to show for it except a broken Bridge in the middle of Town that epitomizes the UDP’s failure. The town is bushy, the streets need fixing and the youth got no jobs, hanging out in Lakeland with nothing to do. The big question Dangriga is this: What will you do about it? Will you continue to be disrespected by Barrow and the UDP or are you going to call a spade a spade? It is time the Culture Capital sends a message to Barrow for disrespecting the Garifuna people. We are sick and tired of the disrespect. It must end here! It ends now! Come March 2013, tell the UDP ‘don’t come to Dangriga because we will be coming to Cayo with our strongest message ever’: “Stay outta Griga”. Griga, look at Barrow in the face and let him know: memegeiru bumitiwa, memegeiru wamutibu giñe…you don’t need us and we don’t need you either!
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, November 27, 2011
20 yr. old acquitted Of Attempted 5 years for illegal pen gun
Murder, Rape & Wounding
Belize City, Wed. Nov. 23, 2011 By Roy Davis In the Dangriga Supreme Court of Justice Troadio Gonzalez, a jury of 6 women and 3 men deliberated for about 2 hours on Thursday, November 17, before it found Tito Martinez, 20, not guilty of rape and attempted murder and wounding. The jury’s verdict was unanimous. Martinez was not represented by an attorney. Senior Crown Counsel Cecil Ramirez represented the prosecution. The incident had allegedly occurred on June 27, 2008 at Forest Home Village, located about 2 miles from Punta Gorda Town. The complainant, who was 21 at the time, testified that she and her common-law husband lived on a farm in Forest Home and Martinez used to come to the farm to do chores to her husband. She said that at the time of the incident her husband was not at home and Martinez invited her to go to the creek near to the farm. She testified that when they arrived at the creek Martinez stabbed her twice in the stomach and forced her to take off all her clothes, then he
Bizarre
bomb threat at city primary school BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 By Alton Humes Police investigations continue on a bizarre ‘bomb threat’ on a Southside city primary school. James Garbutt Seventh-Day Adventist School, a small primary institution on Albert Street West, became a target for a deranged person’s attentions. Around 10:10 a.m. on Monday, November 21st, the school’s warden, Ms. Rosita Polanco, received a call from an unidentified male person who used the cell number 662-2567, and was told that, ‘we wah throw a bomb da yo’ school fi blow up you and all your pickney.’ The threat was just enough for Ms. Polanco to spring into action. She first informed the acting school principal and police were called in around 10:20 a.m. to lock down the school and organize a search for any explosives. Although nothing was found, there is no word on how the students were affected, or why the call was made.
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raped her. She said Martinez then tried to drown her in the creek and he left her when she pretended to be dead. She testified that he got out of the creek and covered herself with Waha leaves and hid in the bushes until the following day when she was rescued by a man. Martinez gave a statement from the dock in which he alleged that he was having an affair with the woman. Martinez denied that he went to the farm on the day of the incident and he denied committing the offences he was charged with. While Martinez was on bail for the three offences, he was charged with dangerous harm for allegedly chopping the woman’s common-law husband with a machete. The trial is still pending for that charge.
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 23, 2011 By Roy Davis Linsford Baldwin, 20, a laborer of Ebony Street who was caught with a black pen gun, was sentenced to 5 years on Monday, November 21, in the #2 Magistrate’s Court after he pleaded guilty to kept firearm without a gun license. Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser gave Baldwin the minimum sentence. The maximum sentence is 10 years. The incident occurred around 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, November 20. The police reported that they were on mobile patrol on Princess Margaret Drive when they saw Baldwin in front of Ceasar’s Palace acting in a suspicious manner. The police said they stopped and they informed Baldwin that a
Linsford Baldwin
search will be conducted on him. The search resulted in the discovery of a black pen gun without any serial number tucked in the front waist of his pants. The firearm did not have any ammunition in it, so Baldwin was only charged with kept firearm without a gun license.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A pair of armed robberies in Dangriga BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 By Alton Humes Police are in need of your help to solve a pair of brazen armed robberies in the Dangriga area. The first incident occurred on Monday night, November 21st, when Miriam and Jose Deras, owner-operators of Exquisite Kitchen, located at the corner of Commerce St. and Ramos Road in the heart of the town, witnessed two young men (one armed with a black handgun) entering her establishment. But they didn’t want food; they just demanded money. And that’s exactly what they got …just over $100 and ‘change’ from the register, making good their escape. The other incident was the next day, November 22nd, around 8:00 p.m. when a male person accosted businessman Mr. Santos Ortiz, along with his wife and a few friends, in his own yard. Dressed in a black warm cap over his face, dark-colored pants and a blue and white long-sleeved shirt and armed with a sawed-off shotgun, he told Ortiz to ‘gimmie di money’. A scared Ortiz remained frozen in his seat, fearful of being killed, when a member of his group stood, and pushed the gun away from them. A struggle ensued, with the gunman ‘biting’ both Ortiz (on his left hand) and another friend (on the right forearm). The man, later identified as one Brandon Jones, a 21-year-old fisherman from Silk Grass Village, was subdued, handed over to Dangriga Police and will be charged soon. They also recovered a 16-gauge shotgun, with Serial # D846439, from a nearby area.
Carnal Knowledge case in Cayo BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 By Alton Humes Police in the Cayo District have their hands full with yet another case of carnal knowledge. A 14-year-old female student of Cotton Tree Village, along with her sister, only recently reported the series of bizarre carnal knowledge incidents (on Monday, November 21st, 2011), which date back to the start of the year. A ‘gentleman’ by the name of Enrique Escobar allegedly asked her if they could be ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’. She later said yes, but then on the same day (January 1st, to be exact), they ‘linked up’ on the street and, after asking her ‘permission’, he took her to his house to have sex. Nothing more happened until this past Sunday, November 20th, when Escobar allegedly again met up with the teen, only this time, he all but reportedly forced himself upon her in his own bedroom. Police are seeking Escobar and investigations continue.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Shop Lifter lied to Police about his identity BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 23, 2011 By Roy Davis It was not double but triple trouble for 36 year old Martin Ferguson, a laborer of 26 Raccoon Street Extension, when he stole 2 body wash for men from Williams Supermarket at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Vernon Street on Monday, November 21. Ferguson was detained by the security guards at the supermarket. He said that while he was being kept at the back of the supermarket, waiting for the police to come and take him to the police station, he got into an altercation with one of the security guards and he was beaten in his face and head. Ferguson was taken to Karl
Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was x-rayed and treated for his wounds. His head was heavily bandaged. The altercation took place on his birthday. Today he appeared in the #3 Magistrate’s Court and pleaded guilty to theft of the 2 body washes. Because it was believed that he had no previous conviction Magistrate Sherigne Rodriguez fined him $200 and gave him until December 30 to pay in default, 2 months imprisonment. After she fined him she told him he was free to leave and Ferguson left. But he only got as far as holding cell area. A police sergeant who is a prosecutor recalled that Ferguson was a defendant in his court on October 12 and that Ferguson, who gave Richard
Martin Ferguson
Ferguson as his name, had pleaded guilty to theft. As a result, Ferguson was detained and he is now faced with a charge of mischievous act.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Dangriga deserves better!
No vision by the UDP Town Council Dangriga Town, November 23, 2011 Just days leading up to the November 19th Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations, the UDP Town Council were in a haste to hoodwink Dangrigans and the visitors to the town. The Town Board knew very well that the streets were in the worst state of repair, so to appear that they were “fixing things” they camouflaged the state of the streets by dumping sand into the potholes and ditches that formed and have been causing severe concern to pedestrians and particularly motorist. One of the streets that got such a UDP treat was Ecumenical Drive. This street is a major thoroughfare, even
What a Dump! By Carla Bradley The infestation of garbage filled drums and streets have spread throughout the country, as City Councils and Town Councils across the country have neglected their responsibility of properly disposing garbage collected. In Belize City, the stifling stench welcomes you as vultures prey on rotted carcasses and decaying fishes as the garbage mounts week after week with no hope of disappearing. Streets are filled with bags of garbage, drains clogged with debris and some families cannot even open their doors, as the smell traps them inside their homes. In San Ignacio, the Dump site resembles a perfectly mowed lawn, as the garbage has been spread across and unto the Western Highway that takes you to Benque Viejo del Carmen. Residents have reported the matter over and over but to no avail, as the town council has neglected their duty. Garbage if not properly disposed, can cause the spread of diseases and have severe effects on
people who live nearby. Tourists travel daily past these dump sites, as they visit Mayan sites, Clarissa Falls, Jaguar Paw etc. This is not the most pleasant site or smell to encounter when visiting our country. People have been found sifting through the site in search of plastic bottles, glass bottles, or anything they believe can be salvaged for use. The City Councils and Town Councils must not neglect such an important responsibility as the residents of their town and city are in health danger and must remember that the collection and proper disposal of garbage falls under their duties as representatives of these towns and cities. This also creates bad publicity for these towns and
cities, as tourist come in contact with it and as a result get a bad perception not only of the country but also the residents. The San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town
more so because the Havana Bridge was demolished to provide jobs, not for Dangrigans but like the new school buildings Ecumenical Junior College and Gulisi Primary School, for imported labourers and contractors. Another street that got camouflage ‘fixing’ was Dr. Aranda Crescent. This is the same street that the Mayor Aaron Jake Gongora lives on! This is also the street that children traverse to go to Dellile High School. During the dry season the children get a daily serving of the main staple menu of dust, courtesy the UDP. In the wet season, like now, they get a menu of wet feet and splashes of water on their uniforms, again courtesy the UDP. Image, if the Mayor is not concerned about our children who we all know are our future; DO YOU THINK THAT HE WILL BE HAVE ANY RESPECT AND REGARD FOR THE REST OF US. Sand into huge pothole – a band aid solution under the UDP. Is that what they believe Dangriga deserves? The UDP vision is like planting seed on sandy ground.
Council has nothing to show for the past years, as nothing has been done to improve the twin towns. Roads are in deplorable conditions. The park has been under construction for several months depriving families of somewhere to take their children for recreational purposes. What Has Your Town Council or City Council done for your community?
Sunday, November 27, 2011
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Belize Rural High BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE
wins Silver at regional softball
Belize City, November 22, 2011 The Belize Rural High softball team returned home today to showers of congratulations after competing in the III Central American and Caribbean Scholar Games in Panama. The team won silver, after playing three games against Panama, Guatemala and Venezuela. Overall, the team scored a total of 39 runs and only gave up 21 runs. Belize defeated Guatemala 12-3, hammered Panama 11-7, but slipped with Venezuela who won 7-4. The Technical Commissioner for the Softball Competition in Panama was Jude Lizama, who became the first Belizean to be appointed a Technical Commissioner at any International Competition level.
Team Belize
Island Stars scorch Hattieville Heat 3-1 Ladyville, Sunday, November 20, 2011 The Caye Caulker Island Stars got on the good foot to making it all the way to the championship finals after they toasted Hattieville Heat 3-1 in Game 1 of the playoffs at the Ladyville football field on Sunday afternoon. Caye Caulker’s Angi Lima completely outfoxed the Hattieville defend-
The winning strategy:
Caye Caulker’s team captain Lillian Joseph and Stephanie Duarte led the offensive, with the help of Sofia Diego, Josefa Enriques, Angi Lima and Shehady Chan at midfield, and the Hattieville defenders Kelsey Pou, Felicia Gillett, Sylvanna Barrow and Janel Thompson were hard put to contain their attacks.
Island Stars team
ers with a long lob to the goal area, which bounced over the head of goalkeeper, Kadijah Marin, and into the goal for the Caye Caulker girls to take a 1-0 lead in the 1st half. In the 2nd half, Hattieville’s Kenya Brown and Candice Neal entered the
ball game and won a free kick, which Jersha Estrada bent over the wall of Caye Caulker defenders to beat goalie Maribel Dominguez and tied the game 1-1. Hattieville’s Iaisha Dyer substituted for Sylvanna Barrow, and Felicia Gillett
moved forward but the Caye Caulker girls remained on the attack as Angi Lima passed to Josepha Enriquez who centered to find Lillian Joseph for the second goal and the 2-1 lead. The Hattieville girls won 2 more free kicks, but Estrada sent both tries outside the sticks. Caye Caullker won a 3rd goal when Stephanie Duarte put the finish on a long lob forward from Lima. The Caye Caulker girls will be hunting for the 2nd win in Game 2 at the MCC Grounds on Sunday, November 27, to secure a berth in the finals.
Gwen Liz & SCA girls win in CSSSA basketball
Gwen Liz’s Ann Ma scored 10 points
Belize City, November 18, 2011 The Gwen Lizarraga High School, St. Catherine Academy and Wesley College girls all enjoyed big wins in the Central Secondary Schools Sports Association basketball competition at the Belize City Center last week. The Wesley College girls beat the Ladyville Technical High School girls 2916 on Monday, with Genae Samuels leading the Wesley girls with 13 points, while Gloria Garcia scored 6 points for Ladyville Tech. The St. Catherine’s Academy girls posted a 29-9 win over the Anglican Cathedral College girls last Wednesday evening. Kursha Pollard led the St. Catherine’s girls with 9 points. ACC’s Shantel Lisbey responded with 7 points, but Gilda Estrada tossed in another 6 points and Kafira Gill added 8 points for SCA to lead 23-9 at intermission.
SCA’s Gilda Etrada scored 6 points
Kafira Gill scored 2 more baskets in the 3rd quarter to finish with 12 points, while Chelsea Noralez tossed in a bucket. ACC’s Janelle Grinage scored a basket but the SCA girls were up 29-9 when the ACC girls abandoned the fray and SCA posted 29-9 win. In Gwen Liz’s 34-16 win
over the Wesley College last Friday, Deandra Coote led with 10 points. Genae Samuels scored two 3 pointers as she led the Wesley girls with 10 points, but the Wesley girls were only down 7-8 at the end of the first quarter. Gwen Liz continued their lead up to the third quarter, 22-12 and then 34-16 up to the final whistle.
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BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE
THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, November 27, 2011
E.P. Yorke & Sadie Vernon boys lead CSSSA basketball Belize City, November 18, 2011 The Edward P. Yorke High School, Sadie Vernon Technical High School and Wesley College boys each posted 2 wins in the Central Secondary Schools Sports Association basketball competition at the Belize City Center last week. Terrique Gabb sank three 3-pinters for a game high of 26 points as he led the E.P. Yorke High School boys to a 64-54 victory over Anglican Cathedral College on Friday night. Daniel Sanchez added 8points as E.P. Yorke led 22-10 in the first quarter. E.P. Yorke led 33-24 at intermission, and ended the game with a 64-54 win. Defending national champs, the Sadie Vernon Technical High School boys also enjoyed their 2nd win in a 105-63 Other games: blow-out of the Canaan Wesley College vs. Gwen Lizarraga – 45-48 Seventh day Adventist high Sadie Vernon vs. ACC - 81-64 School boys last Thursday.
ACC’s Keron Moss scored 11 points
Millennium Girls bomb Tornadoes 2-0 Ladyville, Sunday, November 20, 2011 The Millennium Girls of Belize City have ensured their spot in the championship finals when they bombed the Ladyville Tornadoes 2-0 in the playoffs at the Ladyville football field on Sunday evening. Tornadoes’ strikers Natasha Young and Julie McCord took the game to the Millennium half of the field, with the help of midfielders Marcelina Mai, Claudia Martinez, Shanelly Cruz and Gloria Garcia, but Millennium’s Adelma Broaster, Melony Tasher, Sarah Arzu and Latanya Gamboa held off their attacks. In the 2nd half, Kursha Pollard and Wendy Vernon substituted for Sharmaine Augustus and Christine Jacobs, and Sheryann Tracy drove the ball into the goal area, and beat Tornadoes’ goalie Imelda Alarcon to score the first winning goal. Shanna Lamb substituted for Dawn Bainton, while Antoinette Alvarez relieved Adelma Broaster, and Geanne Cayetano put the win on ice by adding a 2nd goal, and the Millennium girls went on to post the 2-0 victory.
EPY’s Tyler Mvett scored 7 points
Kara Kisling on the attack
The winning strategy:
Sheryann “Baby” Tracy and Christine Avila-Jacobs led the offensive with the help of midfielders Sharmaine Augustus, Kara Kisling, Geanne Cayetano and Kaya Cattouse. Upcoming game:
Millennium Girls vs. Tornadoes - GM 2, M.C.C. Grounds, Sunday, Nov. 27
Tornadoes’ Salumbu Munnings
Kursha Pollard controls the ball
Sunday, November 27, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE
PUP Corozal 5-a-side marathon a success! Corozal Town, November 20, 2011 A 5-a-Side football marathon was held on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the Valeriano Vasquez Park in Corozal Town. There were 10 teams participating and trophies for best goleador, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st prize were awarded. This first of its kind sporting event was organized by PUP Councillor Candidate, Primitivo Vasquez, supported by the neighbourhood. PUP Mayoral Candidate, Anwar Charaf and fellow Councillor Candidates were also present supporting the event and making presentations to the respective winning teams.
(L to R) Mayoral Candidate Anwar Charaf, Councillor Candidates Primitivo Vasquez, 3rd place winner Team San Victor representative, Ivan Castillo and Baldemar Pech Jr.
Succotz U13 – 5-a-side Tournament Results San Jose Succotz, 19th November, 2011 These are the results of the U13 5-a-side games played on Saturday November 19, 2011 morning at 9am. Game 1 All Stars vs. Nazarene Scorpions 3-0 Nazarene Scorpions = no show. 3 goals awarded to team All stars. Game 2 Manchester United vs. Real FC 6-1 Goal scorers: Ismael Vivas, 4; Edwin Chan, 1; Anthony Cus, 1; Alex Cocom, 1
Karatekas clash at Bird’s Isle on Dec. 4th Belize City, November 23, 2011 The Red Dragon dojo has organized a karate event dubbed “Karate`s Clash of The Titans 2011” to be held on Sunday, December 4th, at the Bird’s Isle. Competitions will be on Kata and Kumite for various age categories. On sale will also be nunchaukos, bokkens, karate documentaries, t-shirts and food and drinks. Registration for Kata or Kumite is $25, and Kata and Kumite is $35. Anyone can register at 666-5084 or tienshin_han@yahoo.co.uk.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
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Fashion Show Friday November 18, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
Changing the Way We Operate…. And the Next Revolution: One Belize-Prosperous, United and Free By Carolyn Trench-Sandiford – Deputy Leader People’s United Party - Belize
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s it happens sometimes with multi tasking, time caught up with me this week. So I decided to tweak a previous article I wrote, as I believe it is still relevant, particularly at this time. It is as Ms. C says, how we operate as a Party is how we will operate as a government. Whenever I hear a member of the People’s United Party say this, I cannot help but smile, perhaps because it is a tune I bellow every opportunity I get. Oh, and yes, I bellow, because I cannot sing. More seriously though, it is gratifying to hear the comment, because it is an indication that it is understood, that if we are to effect change, we are to be the change. It begins with us, and how we serve and connect with our people to fulfill our purpose as a party, will point to how we will serve and connect with the nation to fulfill our purpose as a government. Many times during my tenure as a Chairman, and now as a Deputy, I am challenged by individual, systematic and structural impediments, which to my mind, constrain the Party from harnessing its energy, and releasing its full potential in an era of limitless boundaries, and which also threaten to undermine the positive traditions established in the early years of the revolution. Three of these are noteworthy. The first is limited knowledge of the party by many of its members. That is, its purpose, how it operates and makes decision, roles and responsibilities, its history and record of challenges and successes. Knowledge of the party is critical to full participation in the operations and decision making of the Party, and for holding our leaders accountable and to the highest standards. The second is the financial sustainability of the Party to enable it to function in accordance with the requirements of its Constitution, whether in government or in opposition. The dependency on personal and donor funding, which may carry conditions, places the future of the Party at risk. The third and perhaps the most crucial, is the top down centralized decision making processes and governance structure of the party, which has implications to the first and the second. This structure concentrates power, repels individual and regional initiative, delays decision making and does not directly, or in
a meaningful way, address the specific needs of particular regions and constituencies. Neither does it encourage regeneration, sustained recruitment of new members and plan for succession. In addition, when combined with turf protection, resistance to change, and a culture of waiting for direction from the National Executive on most matters, including those which can be addressed locally, it does not bode well for fulfilling the purpose of the Party. Consequently, I wish to introduce some thoughts on the third, as a springboard for sustaining the dialogue on how best our party can continue to reform and change, to always be a dynamic, modern and forward thinking organization, positioned to be proactive and responsive to the needs of a changing membership, yet remaining true to its philosophical moorings. As a membership political organization, the party relies heavily on volunteerism, so committees which are elected or appointed by virtue of the constitution, are composed of volunteers. Many who serve are confined by time, resources and distances. In some cases, geography and lack of a communication medium limit their ability to function. However, absent also is a reason to volunteer. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to give this reason. For this to happen, we must configure our party to be able to relate to the goals and aspirations of our members and others, and in so doing, capture their imagination, so they will gravitate toward us. Yes, winning elections and fulfilling our purpose will require the revolution to be radical and progressive instead of peaceful and constructive. And yes, it cannot be same old, same old. But fundamental to this transformation, is for our people to have a sense of hope and of change to come, and a belief that our party is uniquely positioned to effect that change, such that they are inspired to be a part of us. One of the ways this can be achieved is by providing the opportunity for more meaningful engagement in the Party, and for them to be a stakeholder. This necessitates changing the way we operate as a Party to enable decentralized decision making to foster an environment conducive for releasing the creative dynamism of all our members of a constituency and region, attract those who have been previously excluded, and guarantee the constituency and the region a greater stake in plotting the road map and participating in the journey of the party. Thus, the National Executive ought to relinquish power to regional management teams comprised of a Deputy Party Leader(s), Chairman of the Regional Caucus, A Deputy Communications Director, a Deputy Campaign Manager and representatives of the youth and women and marshalls. The second step is for empowering regions. Regional teams ought to be
given full administrative, financial and decision making authority, guided by the policy direction and decisions of the National Executive, and the provisions of the Constitution of the party. Thus the success of forwarding the party’s agenda at the regional level will now be determined by the decisions taken by the members of the region, and the quality of their participation in implementing them. Finally, all registered financial members of the party in a region ought to have the right to elect their Party Leader and Chairman, and the Deputy Leader (s) for their region. The other posts can either be appointed by the Party Leader or elected by the regional caucus or at the national party council. Direct voting and decision making at
17 the regional level can deepen and broaden democracy further, enhance oversight and accountability, build synergy throughout the party and a sense of ownership, optimize resources and improve efficiency. Thus the party becomes more results oriented and target and people and principled driven. This can harmonize the goals and aspirations of membership, the provisions of the constitution and the direction of the Party Leader. I believe that changing the way our Party operates sends a message and a signal to the electorate that so will we change and reform government to do the same for the nation. For only if this occurs, will the revolution continue and be real and relevant again, ...and only so will we create ONE BELIZE-Prosperous, United and Free be created.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
Reid In men whom men condemn as ill I find so much of goodness still, In men whom men pronounce divine I find so much of sin and blot, I do not dare to draw a line Between the two, where God has not. ~ Joaquin Miller The Council of Churches has embarked on an aggressive campaign to stop homosexuals from taking over Belize. According to proponents of this fight, that is the intent of the gay community and if they succeed, Belize will go the way of Sodom and Gomorrah, and face a similar apocalyptic demise. Wow, this sin of homosexuality must really be a special brand of abomination! Before I proceed, let me first off make one thing perfectly clear. All opinions expressed herein are mine and solely mine. The People’s United Party has not taken an official stand on this issue and I am not speaking as a member of the PUP, which I proudly am. I am speaking as a citizen of Belize. For the record, neither has the United Democratic Party, if it has one, let known its position on this issue. Of course, who can blame any political party for not wanting to touch this one? If any one issue qualifies as “too hot to handle”, this is it; but why? Well, first off, universal suffrage guarantees every citizen a right to vote and in the ballot box, there is no discrimination. Whether we know it or not, whether we accept it or not or whether we like it or not, homosexuals are among us and more than likely, in shocking numbers. Not all homosexuals have limp wrists and effeminate characteristics; many lead seemingly normal lives and some are even married with children. Under the cover of darkness however, our normally straight Gerald morphs into a rather un-straight Geraldine and “bending down” becomes the order of the night. Oh, if night should turn to day… This is what is so very wrong about this whole debate. Many of the very ones who are screaming out the loudest against homosexuality have some very noisy skeletons rattling in their closets. It is interesting that the Church should be the one leading this charge since no other single organization has been so burdened with allegations pertaining to homosexuality. This most pious of institutions, has been a virtual “breeding ground” for not only homosexuality but more alarmingly for
pedophilia. Which is where I believe our main objections should be focused. This year alone in Belize, several pastors have been implicated in improper relations with children, particularly young boys. Internationally, the Catholic Church in particular, has had to grapple with uncountable sexual abuse scandals and lawsuits involving clergy members. Settlements from lawsuits have cost the church an estimated $2 billion. That’s just from the cases that make it to court. In many instances, complaints are simply ignored or culprits are transferred from one parish to the next. That two billion could have gone a long way in feeding some of the world’s hungry. One particular clergy, a Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy, admitted to sexually abusing young boys for the duration of his 22 years as headmaster of a boarding school for the deaf in Wisconsin; he was never defrocked or even referred for prosecution. How about first removing that log from thine own eye? It is not my intent to attempt to justify homosexuality by highlighting the faults of any, but exposed here is a blatant hypocrisy. Another clear cut case of hypocrisy is that many men, who so openly and vehemently oppose homosexuality, secretly fantasize about two women in the act. Same sex is same sex so why not be offended by that also? Were it the case that Belize was not besieged by record murders, serious home invasions, crippling corruption at all levels, domestic disputes (many that turn fatal) and a culture of pedophilia, I would say yes by all means, let us spend some time peering into bedrooms. The fact is that we have too many other serious problems to confront and can spare neither the time, energy nor the resources to mind other people’s business. This after all, is all that this boils down to, and nothing else. UNIBAM’s opponents have been spending big money in their attempt to block this challenge to Belize’s law. As it currently stands, the Criminal Code of Belize states that “Every person who has carnal knowledge against the order of nature with any person or animal shall be liable for imprisonment for ten years.” Executive President of UNIBAM Caleb Orozco has filed for judicial review of this law. Orozco is contending that this law violates his constitutional right to sexual freedom. He is requesting that the words “person or” be removed from the law. The question before the court then, is whether it is true or not that his constitutional rights are being violated; nothing more and nothing less. Not whether persons of same sex should get married or that anyone should be allowed to have sex with children or be allowed to engage in public displays of affection. This is not about anyone being allowed to rape anyone; man woman or child. That would be epochal stupidity and I would be up front and most vocal in objecting, if it should come to that. Again though, our problems are way too serious and serial for us to
Sunday, November 27, 2011
worry about what happens between consenting adults. We have a four year old that was raped and still no serious attempt is being made to find the perpetrator. From all reports, it is known who raped that child and guess what, he is not a homosexual. Is that why we are not concerned? Every night, thousands of children must retire to environments in which they are cruelly abused
or neglected. Where is the Church on this one? How about hiring some of these high priced lawyers to prosecute a few of these horrendous crimes that keep getting thrown out in our courts? How about using the pulpit to condemn with the same vigilance, the continuing abuse of our little ones? While poverty continues to balloon, extravagant sums are spent to ensure the continued discrimination against gays. I dare say, our priorities seem very much out of whack.
THE WORLD IS READING
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Sunday, November 27, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
The Road to Upliftment for All in Port Loyola
By Gilroy Usher Sr., PUP Standard Bearer for Port Loyola Education is very expensive throughout Belize even at the primary school level. To help parents ease the heavy burden of primary school fees in Port Loyola, at the beginning of the school year in September, I as the PUP Standard Bearer for the division distributed over $1,400 in school supplies to deserving families in the area. Later in the month, I sponsored prizes for a Checkers Tournament that was held at the Cor. Central American Boulevard and Freedom Street in the division. In making every effort to bring upliftment to Port Loyola, I also hired young people in a small jobs program to clear the drains on Jane Usher Boulevard. Those drains had been neglected and were the cause of terrible flooding in the area. Today at night the young people of Jane Usher Boulevard enjoy playing basketball and other sports at the basketball court in that area because the PUP Port Loyola team sponsored the floodlights for the court and pays the bill every month to keep the lights on. The floodlights also provide needed lighting for people who live in that section of the city. Prior to the installation of the lights, the area was very dark and risky to traverse at night. The PUP Port Loyola office is now located at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Trinity Street. This spacious office is centrally located in the division and is recognizable from afar as a blue and white flag is mounted in the front. This is evidence that the People’s United Party is on the rebound and coming to the rescue of Port Loyola and the other parts of the country. The new office was necessary as the residence of the Knox Arnold, Chairman PUP Port Loyola Committee, on Allan Pitts Crescent, had run out of space for hosting the many committee meetings in the division. I must commend Mr. Knox Arnold for his dedication. The PUP Port Loyola Committee is happy to report that at its first meeting at its new office over 40 persons from the division attended. The committee meetings are held every two weeks with the next meeting to be held this Sunday November 27th at 3:30 p.m. sharp. All residents are welcome to attend to hear the latest political developments in the area. In championing the cause of the people of Port Loyola, I also submit articles to the BELIZE TIMES every two
weeks in which I describe the challenges that confront the Belizean people, and call the morning call-in shows regularly to standup for the rights of the people. With the support of the people, the PUP Port Loyola Committee obtained a public address system that is used to take the PUP message of hope and upliftment directly into the homes of residents of the division. It is this public address system that the PUP Belize City Council slate used to address hundreds of residents of the area in their homes on Tuesday of this week in front of the PUP office after a very successful house to house campaign in the division earlier. All are invited to continue support-
ing the People’s United Party in every possible way so that together we can take back Port Loyola and the rest of
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Belize to offer each and every single Belizean the opportunity for a better life which they rightly deserve. **Editor’s Note: The article The Record Doesn’t Lie: Port Loyola is a Living Hell with Boots published in last week’s issue of the BELIZE TIMES for Sunday November 20th was written by Gilroy Usher, Jr.
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THE BELIZE TIMES
REALITY CHECK! Youths, the Present and Future of Belize
Chile is Ms. Camila Vallejo, a Geography major, who has stood up to the government’s proposal to privatize education in their country. While her approach may seem communist, the message of the youths standing up for what they believe in is more important. According to Callie Simon, By Carla Bradley We often call the youth “the Pathfinder’s Adolescent Sexual youth of tomorrow” or “our world’s and Reproductive Health Advisor, future” but what happens if the Nearly half the world’s population youth themselves are not there is under the age of 25—yet their or heard from? As a young voter needs are going unmet and their in this country we call home, I be- rights are going unfulfilled.” We the lieve in the involvement of youths young people of Belize must realin our democratic system as it will ize that the future is in our hands, only facilitate our leaders to think that we have to take major steps outside the box, and think about forward and become a part of not the youths and the children coming only the future but the present as well. The issues of crime, up in society poverty and unemploygiving them a ment will plague us for better chance years to come if we don’t of creating an enhanced fuWe are sick and take a stand against this and voice our opinions ture for the tired of having to and suggestions. citizens of our This current UDP govcountry. Young settle for the botpeople are rec- tom of the barrel, ernment has done nothing for the betterment ognized not it is time that we of our youths, and genonly as future leaders, but as are given prior- erations to come. Youths actors of soci- ity. Better educa- have a hard time finding a job to help sustain ety today, with a direct stake tional opportuni- not only themselves but in the develop- ties, LESS CRIME! their families, as more of us have become part ment process. LESS POVERTY! providers for our famiWe as youths MORE JOBS!” lies and more so if there need to realize are younger siblings. This that we have government in their 2008 to be a part of the decisions made today about manifesto promised 5000 plus jobs, in my opinion 5000 jobs have the resources of tomorrow. After touring various parts of been taken away, as businesses our beautiful nation, I have had the have closed their doors indefinitely pleasure to speak to many youths because of the economic crisis, from north to south and east to and the political nepotism in the job west, and all have pledged to stand areas. This means that if you do not up not only for our present and fu- know someone who knows someture but for the future of the youths one who knows a minister, your to come and the betterment of our chances of getting a job are slim country. We are sick and tired of to none. The Minister of Educahaving to settle for the bottom of tions boasts about his “wonders” the barrel, it is time that we are in the ministry, but has failed to regiven priority. Better educational alize that the reality on the streets opportunities, LESS CRIME! LESS speaks differently. As parents, ask yourself, what has the government POVERTY! MORE JOBS! The youths have been some- done for the students of this counwhat dormant in this game of poli- try? Has the cost of education gone tics, but some youths have dared down? Are jobs readily available for to become a part of it, in search of students after graduating seconda better future for the generations ary or tertiary levels? How many to come. One youth who has be- children do you see on the streets come an important role model and begging during school hours? spokesperson for the youths of Words are no match for the real picture on the streets of this country!
THE WORLD IS READING
THE BELIZE TIMES www.belizetimes.bz
Sunday, November 27, 2011
“Love, Life and ‘Di Gay Ting’” S-ROD SAYS: Well, well, well… look who decided his ‘manhood’ was so threatened that had to grow a pair and bash the gays. Well, Mr. Russell Vellos, you got off your volley… now, I get my turn to speak. I, S-Rod, can confidently say one thing about myself, and that is: I have no vitriol against anyone, anywhere in my body (or heart). So why is it that when this ‘war on gays’ comes up, we’re unable to agree that (at least) gays are not a subset of humanity, but rather an imperfect, but still important, part of humanity? Mr. Vellos, I have to fight bigots like you all the time… but not with mere words; it is, and will always be, about perception. Perception is the gift and the curse of humanity; it’s the reason we think the way we do. So if we ‘think’ that gay people are abhorrent, abnormal, and are destructive solely according to their lifestyle, then that means there is nothing in our thoughts that is willing to bend or listen to anything else. And that is sad. I mean, let’s be real here… what real arguments do these anti-gay ‘lobbyists’ have? Let’s take it step-by-step… there’s the ‘God argument’ (moral argument); the public argument and the ‘kids’ argument. First off, the ‘God argument’ – you know, Sodom and Gomorrah, Deuteronomy, so on and so forth. Now, I’m not a church-goer at the moment (and yeah, I’ll answer to the Almighty on that one), so I can safely say I’m not in the best position (no pun intended) to be positive about the organized Christian religion. The Bible is as polarizing as this current debate is, with no likely synthesis in sight. That being said, those who ‘stone we’ with such a ‘vitreous’ argument forget that, like so much in this world, using a tired moral-religious argument which is old and worn in the modern world is…. well, I think you get the point. The ‘public argument’ is much more complicated. There is (semi-legitimate) worry that gays will ‘expose’ their ‘unnatural’ PDA (Public-Personal Displays of Affection), thereby supposedly making it OK for gays to be seen doing such things without being judged for it. Or worse, that gays will be able to actually and openly speak of their sexual acts…in front of other people, as bluntly and as explicitly as they may dare. There’s a certain reporter (I won’t give the name here) who’s essentially made the case that gay men can basically turn off and on their ‘charms’ at will
and use them against the unsuspecting. Worrisome, but… if you’re way more afraid, worried and offended about gays and their choices than the other ‘breadand-butter’ issues of the day, well, that’s on you, not me. Finally, and it’s the most important argument of all, the ‘kids’ argument. It’s the very center of why certain facets of the media and “scare groups” believe (in an mostly unreasonable view) that the case to come in our courts is part of an international pro-gay lobby pushing ‘their’ agenda – to decriminalize sodomy against children, especially male children. Now, isn’t it sad when Mr. Russell Vellos, high-and-mighty chief of the Amandala, refuses to separate the sheep from the goats? There’s the consensual sex act between adults (relatable to both gays and lesbians) and there’s male-on-male pedophilia and inappropriate contact, such as what ex-Penn State assistant football coach, is currently accused of. HOW IN THE HECK COULD YOU BE SO BLIND?!!! Consensual sex (and PDA) is none of our business (even if it’s between gays); male-on-male pedophilia, which can lead to confused thoughts that a young male heterosexual may believe he’s gay and hence, will act on such thought, damn well oughta be our business!!!! But to sum up my main point…. No one can change another person’s thoughts (but what a superpower that would be), and as for Mr. Vellos, he could go and suck gas through a mask, turn cyanotic and die, and I would care less. It’s because of bigots like him (and a few members of my own family – I won’t name anyone here) that I can write this. I’m a straight man (though celibate at the moment), but I’m not against gays and having rights. After all, what really separates gays from the ‘straight’ folks? Their orientation and sexual choices do. Other than that, they’re us, and there should never be a gulf like that, period. Belizeans, don’t let the propaganda of these bastards fool you. They’re so damned threatened; let them stay threatened. If they’re not hurting anyone else but themselves (although that’s not possible), why can’t we live, and let live? Or even better, LOVE, AND LET LOVE?!! I say again, don’t be ‘threatened’ like Russell Vellos and other older, lockeddown Belizeans, insecure and braying like they’re you-know-what’s. Let’s talk about the real issue – protecting our children and youth from these bacterial predators – let that come forward, and nothing else. Let’s have a resounding NO to any decriminalizing sodomy and YES to the end and desisting of hatred of gays, lesbians, and other minority sexual groupings, in Belize and around the world. Tolerance and true respect is far better than outright, vitriolic IGNORANCE…. I Love You, Belize. S-Rod, over and out… [DISCLAIMER: The above views/ opinions are those of the writer, and do not reflect the opinions of the Editor and/or staff of the BELIZE TIMES newspaper.]
Sunday, November 27, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
In my perspective… What are you thankful for? The History and Origin of Thanksgiving Day
By Beverly Hernandez, About.com Guide Almost every culture in the world has held celebrations of thanks for a plentiful harvest. The American Thanksgiving holiday began as a feast of thanksgiving in the early days of the American colonies almost four hundred years ago. In 1620, a boat filled with more than one hundred people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in the New World. This religious group had begun to question the beliefs of the Church of England and they wanted to separate from it. The Pilgrims settled in what is now the state of Massachusetts. Their first winter in the New World was difficult. They had arrived too late to grow many crops, and without fresh food, half the colony died from disease. The following spring the Iroquois Indians taught them how to grow corn (maize), a new food for the colonists. They showed them other crops to grow in the unfamiliar soil and how to hunt and fish. In the autumn of 1621, bountiful crops of corn, barley, beans and pumpkins were harvested. The colonists had much to be thankful for, so a feast was planned. They invited the local Indian chief and 90 Indians. The Indians brought deer to roast with the turkeys and other wild game offered by the colonists. The colonists had learned how to cook cranberries and different kinds of corn and squash dishes from the Indians. To this first Thanksgiving, the Indians had even brought popcorn. In following years, many of the original colonists celebrated the autumn harvest with a feast of thanks. After the United States became an independent country, Congress recommended one yearly day of thanksgiving for the whole nation to celebrate. George Washington suggested the date November 26 as Thanksgiving Day. Then in 1863, at the end of a long and bloody civil war, Abraham Lincoln asked all Americans to set aside the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving*. About.com Guide ~~~~~~~~~~ I always look forward to Thanksgiving Day. It’s a wonderful time for friends and family to come together for laughter and fellowship - a time to watch some football, to eat turkey, stuffing and all the extra trimmings. But it’s also a time to look back and be thankful for life, good health and all the wonderful things life has to offer.
I wish the whole world would celebrate a day where we can look back and reflect on what we’ve accomplished over the past year. So with this in mind I was contemplating what my fellow Belizeans would be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day 2011. If I were in Belize, this is what I would be thankful for: 1. Thankful that I woke up this morning in my right mind. 2. Thankful for my health and no major health problems. 3. Thankful that Mrs. Kim Barrow was able to go to Miami and receive the medical treatment needed fight breast cancer – and prayers for a speedy recovery. I just hope that something will be done for the large number of Belizeans that don’t have the same resources to be able to receive specialized treatment abroad. 4. Thankful to be alive this morning and not gunned down by the criminals that roam our streets in Belize City, murdering innocent people for no reason. 5. Thankful my car is still running and that I didn’t lose my front end from the horrible potholes and the terrible roads we have to drive on each and every day in our Country. 6. Thankful that Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers decided to drop out of the race for the Caribbean Shores area. She was told to drop out and she did. She’s the best at taking orders. She would have brought all that experience and great accomplishments done for Belize City to the people of the Caribbean Shores. We are all so very grateful. 7. Thankful I have a job to go to every day and sympathize with my fellow Belizeans who are unable to find a job, and can’t feed and support their families. 8. Thankful the GSU did not murder anyone or throw a family out on the streets today. 9. Thankful we still have some freedom in Belize - the freedom to worship, the freedom of the press, the freedom to move freely. 10. Thankful for Chetumal, our neighbor and friends to the north where we can get away for a day or a weekend for some R & R or for medical attention; the delicious food they prepare and the goods and services they provide at a very reasonable price. Even though Belize does not officially recognize Thanksgiving Day the last Thursday in November, it still allows us a time to reflect and be thankful for the little things in life. Yes, things are hard in Belize right now, but we’ve got to believe things will get better. So let’s be thankful to be alive, for friends and family. Let’s be thankful for health, for the freedom to worship as we choose. There’s so much for which to be thankful! At least for today, let’s be positive, put aside the politics and hardships and just be…Thankful.
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Turn On The Lights Years ago, as a child I was sent out of the country to spend time with my grandmother. This was during vacation times and I found it to be a very interesting experience. The one thing I can remember quite vividly was the night times. I remember when anyone would begin to give trouble we would be threatened with a punishment of having to go outside in the dark. This might not mean much to you if you are not used to the suburbs but for children who would be told ghost stories every night while on vacation, it meant everything and therefore no one wanted to go outside. Today I would like to discuss with you an error that many religions make. As I speak let’s keep in mind that personally I have a problem with religions and Christianity just happens to be one of them. I believe there is the kingdom of God and then there is religion. To be clear I also believe that the only mediator between God and man is a man called Jesus (1Timothy 2:5). My problem with religion is the lack of light that it brings. Let’s assume you are in your house one night and the current goes, of course this is something we in Belize are all too familiar with. The children would gravitate towards any light. There is one instance where the opposite would happen and it is found in (John 3:19) where darkness is preferred so that we can do wickedness! A thief, for example, prefers darkness to conceal his identity or to hit you with the element of surprise, but for those who are seeking and looking for better, light is an attractive thing! The issue is that there is only one light (John 8:12). This creates a problem when we misrepresent or present the light in a way that turns others off since there is not another option. I remember in the past walking around with my head held high, so high that if raindrops fell they would fall right into my nostrils. I did this believing I was so holy, I felt that showing off my bible as I walked around made me one of the top religious people! Walking around telling others they would go to hell, and trying to force my lifestyle on others discriminating them due to their choice to live in darkness! I would literally stay away, change friends and reject family based on this senseless religious standard! For a couple of years now I have learnt that those of us living in sin know that we are doing so. As proof if a ‘Christian’ would do the same thing people are quick to say ‘hmm he da Christian and di behave so”. What am I trying to say? Well I am not saying that living in sin is acceptable. The end of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and there is no escaping that, but rather I am saying that the way we present the answer should not be in such an indecent form that it drives away those who are dying to have an Answer in life. It should not total already damage hearts, and it’s a thing of choice. Religion forces itself on you, if you are not in it, it will destroy, kill, and torment you. Religion makes it hard for you to enter the Kingdom of God, making you want nothing to do with it! On the other hand the Kingdom comes and presents itself to you (Luke 4:43) and invites you to become a part of the constitution of that Country it represents. This constitution is found in the ‘operating manual’ or the scriptures and most would know it as. To the religious I say let’s be careful of not offering religion to others as it is of little use! To the lost or searching, I invite you to become a citizen of another country. Yes it is possible to have dual citizenship. It is well worth your while! Don’t let religion turn you off; your life is too precious to trade based on in accurate translations of the kingdom of God! Until next week God bless!
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Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Christmas is just around the corner… it is less than thirty days away and as the days dwindle, so will our savings, salaries and Christmas bonuses. Our stress levels will increase, making one of the cheeriest seasons on the Christian calendar of events a time of worry and regret. Here are a few tips to help keep you on track this season: Make a list and check it twice: List everyone that you hope to buy for, then budget a reasonable amount that you can afford to spend on each person. Making a shopping list will also help you avoid impulse buying and keep track of your spending. If you had planned on spending $100 on your spouse, stick to it. Don’t decide at the last minute that you want to get them an Ipad. Stick to the plan! Do your research: If you have a gift in mind, shop around and compare prices. Keep your eye out for discounts and promotional offers. Be creative with your gift giving: Instead of giving someone a $100 gift, be creative and find a way to give them a nice $40 gift instead. Make them something handmade (like a themed gift basket or cookies), cook them dinner, offer baby-sitting services and so on. Try a new approach to buying presents: If there is an expensive item
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that you really want to give to someone, consider splitting the cost with a friend or relative. Leave the credit card at home and bring cash instead: Credit card debt can be very expensive if you can’t repay it in full immediately or within a few months. When you are spending the cash in your pocket, you will be much less likely to overspend than if you pay with a credit card. Don’t get caught out by credit: In the run up to Christmas, personal loans and in-store credit may look like attractive options, especially for larger purchases like PCs, electrical equipment or furniture, where stores may offer you 0% finance for a period of time. Before signing up to store credit or a personal loan, consider the full costs and not just the monthly repayment. Would the repayments still be affordable if your income dropped for any reason? Yes, Christmas is the season for giving but once we become ensnared in focusing on the commercial aspect of giving, our financial wisdom and prudence fly through the window. Remember, material gifts are nice but time spent, happy memories created and joy shared are the things that last a lifetime. This Christmas, be the wise spender.
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Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
THE BELIZE TIMES
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THINK ABOUT IT MICHAEL DESHIELD Michael Deshield has publicly announced he is retiring. He also said he has colorectal cancer which has spread to his liver and lungs. Michael is one of Belize’s best veterinarians. But more importantly he is one of the best human beings on the planet. He is affable, friendly, genuine, compassionate; loves animal and more so, loves his fellow human beings. Michael used to live on Albert Street near the Nazarene Church. His mom is Carrie Collins. His sister Yvonne died in a tragic car accident in New York. His other sister Sandra Collins was married to Norman Fairweather and Peggy was married to a Menzies. All migrated to USA. It was like yesterday Michael obtained his University degree from way down yonder – Australia and later a Master’s degree from Scotland, U.K. Put in a work as Belize’s Technical Director for Food Safety Services and is one of those who are against the genetically modified foods that are being foisted on third world countries. Michael is one of the real, wonderful human beings who have touched so many lives for the better. Cancer is such a dreaded agent of the grim-reaper. And Michael is a fighter. As our older folks taught us – everything is in God’s hands. We love you and admire you and wish you only the best. And may God’s mighty hands guide and strengthen you and Miriam and the family through the perilous journey. MERLENE MOODY The Chief Justice and the Judicial Services Commission have appointed Merlene Moody as a Senior Magistrate in the Judiciary. Merlene Moody is a Belizean. She is a trained and experienced attorney at law. She obtained her law degree with Honours from the University of the West Indies and did the further two years practical courses at the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica. Miss Moody has practiced her profession in the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and the Summary Jurisdiction Courts. She has experience as a Magistrate, worked as Senior Crown Counsel in the Solicitor General’s office under the great Ghandi and has obtained many a conviction as a prosecutor at the DPP’s office. A mature responsible and no nonsense person, Miss Moody brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new position. She was selected and worked as an adviser at the Caricom Secretariat in Guyana for the past two years. If Belize was a country like Jamaica or Barbados Miss Moody would have been contacted by a nationalist government to become Chief Magistrate or Pusine Judge but… Miss Moody has been posted in the Northern Districts and with responsibility for the Orange Walk and Corozal Jurisdiction districts. It is so refreshing to hear of a Belizean being appointed in the Judiciary. It is also proper for congratulations to be offered to Merlene Moody. WAR! WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? “War! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” “Say it again, you all.” “War, I despise. It means destruction of innocent lives.” Those are some of the words of a once Juber song. A song the younger generation would know nothing about. Nor care anything about. Be that as it may. War has an important purpose for evil men. Let’s start with the US and allies’ invasion of Iraq some ten years ago. Huge loss of Iraqi lives (estimated over 200,000) and the destruction of a whole nation that traces its roots and history back to the ancient city of Babylon. There are ongoing military operations by the US and its allies in Afghanistan for over
ten years now. Then recently, the NATO military intervention overthrowing the government and murdering Gaddafi in Libya. Why would the US, UK and other European (white) nations be so eager to kill and destroy? Because war is big money. Plays a big role in helping the white nations to stimulate their faltering economy. Building war ships and planes and bombs and bullets and feeding and supporting large armies is large millions. Plus the invaders are stealing oil and minerals from Iraq and Libya. They also force those countries to give white business companies the reconstruction and building contracts for the same roads, bridges and infrastructure that were bombed. Billions of dollars. War! What is it good for? Business and big monies. That’s what. MINISTRY OF JOBS Check this out. There is a Ministry of Lands. A huge bureaucracy. It costs the over-burdened taxpayers millions of dollars each year. And the hardest thing is for a citizen to get a piece of land. Why? Is land scarce? Absolutely not. Farmers can’t get land to plant on. Fishermen cannot get a little strip to put their fishing camp on. Young couples can’t get a tiny parcel fifty feet by seventy five feet to build a house on. There is a Ministry of Trade. What a joke and a waste of scarce money. There ain’t no new trade being opened up with any country for any new investment setting up in Belize and creating employment? There is a Ministry of Education. Costing over one hundred million dollars each year. You read right. Over one hundred million dollars. More than half the children in primary school will never get a college education. More than 90% of young people in college will never get a University education. The government owns the phone company for three years and yet Belize has one of the worst rates of internet access – in the world. Like phone calls and text, internet is way too expensive in Belize. Who is not utilizing the internet is not living in the modern world. And yet that is exactly what is happening here. The government libraries have not seem modern look for years and their internet access for library users is zilch. There is a Ministry of Health. Millions of dollars each year. Medicine is scarce and the quality of health care leaves much to be desired. Their only public service message is for us to wash our hands. Nothing on tobacco, alcohol, greasy chicken, AIDS, STD, - nothing, nothing, nothing. Belize can do without some government Ministries and with smaller of the existing ones. Belize needs a Ministry of Jobs – but given the history of bureaucracy and party politics, let’s just mourn and groan. SHARK FINS Belize is in the shark fin business. What this means is that there are persons who are catching our sharks and cutting off the fins for sale to Chinese consumers. Sharks should be fully protected. Only in movies are sharks behaving bad, attacking and eating people. Belize has a weak law protecting sharks. In fact the law allows for sharks to be captured and their fins cut off; during certain months. This is a great shame. SOLAR ENERGY One of Belize’s bright brains and a university trained engineer is John Mencias. He, Jeffrey Locke and have put in some work to come up with an energy policy for Belize. Don’t know if their findings are available to the public. Really interested to hear that they have to say on solar energy. Can’t understand why Belize is not converting to solar energy for homes. And why we are not exploring gasohol for vehicles. Can’t understand. 9% AND 7% Belize Bank has come up with a big promotion.
9 percent on the reducing balance for loans on any matter including education, appliances and house construction. At 9% on the reducing balance this is access to money many persons have been waiting for. You don’t have to be a current customer to get a loan. You can join up and apply at the same time. Some fifty odd persons each morning are queuing up at the Albert Street Branch to apply. That speaks for itself. There is a 7 percent loan available for motor vehicles to purchase. Banks are banks and they are in the money business. We do not support lending cheap money for luxury vehicles. Every dollar borrowed goes abroad to the manufacturers. It is worst, because these gas guzzling vehicles contribute to the country’s worsening economic crisis. Petrol is imported to service these gas guzzlers – more poverty for Belize. Let there be cheap money for small, fuel efficient vehicles. And doesn’t the government have any kind of leadership role to play in these matters? CHILDREN OF THE RICH The children of the rich are doing very little, next to nothing for their fellow Belizeans in such a way as to make Belize a better place. The parents who are rich have not done nearly enough to contribute to making the dread situation in Belize improve. There is sports, music, culture, feeding programmes, girl guides, scouts – so many areas that can keep the young away from the devil’s workshop. Look at the person in the mirror and ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country. THE DREADED AIDS DISEASE A United Nations figure reported on Monday shows 6.6 million people worldwide are living on Aids drugs. 34 million are living with HIV. Deaths have dropped from 2.2 million a year to 1.8 million. Aids first appeared in San Francisco and New York 30 years ago. Infection rates have been brought down mainly by behavior change – mostly the prac-
Sunday, November 27, 2011 tice of safe sex and nude circumcision. The UK statistic claim that nude circumcision reduces female to male infection by 60 percent. World Aids Day will be marked on 1st December world wide. IMMORAL & UNCHRISTIAN It is immoral and it is unchristian and unmuslim for this society to abandon the homeless and the elderly who crowd the side walk on New Road in front of the Queen Street Police Station. The leaders of Belize City should be ashamed of themselves. By leaders we refer to the Mayor and City Councilors, the Government Ministers, the Social leaders and NGO’s, the church leaders, the merchants and business people and the rich. How can you pass on the other side while fellow human beings are being like wild animals? You all should be very ASHAMED of yourselves. FALL SEVEN TIMES “Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight” – Japanese proverb. POUND YARD BRIDGE The top of Pound Yard Bridge is tear up and falling apart. It is the first time in history that the top of a bridge, in Belize City has been so completely neglected. It was taught in primary school by Aunt Cybil Reyes, that “A stitch in time saves nine”. Z and her city councilors obviously don’t know what that means. STIIL I RISE You may write me down in history With your bitter twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. You may shoot me with your words You may cut me with your eyes You may kill me with your hatefulness But still, like air, I’ll rise. PROVERBS The rich man wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty. The lips of the righteous feed many But fools die for want of wisdom. Proverbs 10: 15 & 21
Sunday, November 27, 2011
OW TONGUE COUNCIL STRIKES AGAIN UDP Nastiness STRIKES AGAIN!! OW UDP Mayoral candidate Ivan Leiva is caught AGAIN doing funny business with his man tongue
Lee Mark & UDP throwing Meat at the People of Freetown Belize City, November 23, 2011 From the time he was installed as the UDP Standard Bearer for the Freetown Constituency, Lee Mark Chang has been carrying out a series of shenanigans. As the BELIZE TIMES had reported in previous issues, Lee Mark has systematically carried out the illegal registration/transfer of voters in Freetown. In some cases, individuals from as far away in Southern Stann Creek were appearing on the Freetown Voters’ List. Now, in his latest act of desperation, the BELIZE TIMES has learned that Lee Mark and his campaign team are currently issuing “membership cards” to voters in Freetown. As we understand it, these “membership cards” qualify each recipient for “free food”. Now, this revelation comes as no surprise to us here at the BELIZE TIMES for we’ve known for a long time now that the “Chon Saan Chef” has been delivering fried chicken to voters. What we find extremely disturbing, however, is that a lot of the chicken being served by the chineyman is STALE. As a matter of fact, there are several reports of persons who’ve suffered food poisoning and have had to be admitted to the hospital. In 2011, this is the offensive manner in which Lee Mark and the UDP regard the people of Freetown and, indeed, the people of Belize. As if though our people are a pack of hungry dogs, Lee Mark and the UDP are throwing meat at us. In their trademark fashion, Lee Mark and the UDP continue to disrespect and dehumanize the good people of Freetown. Lee Mark Chang is obviously a very frantic man and a man who is shaking in his boots. This is perfectly understandable on the part of the Chang as he realizes that he doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance against his
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opponent, two-term PUP Freetown Area Representative, Hon. Francis Fonseca. Gripped by fear, Lee Mark, on the advice of his idiotic Campaign Manager, Kenworth Tillett, is concocting every conceivable “trick or treat”. Well, the voters of Freetown ask that we send you a cloud and clear message Lee Mark. That message reads: “You can give us chicken; you can give us candy. Rest assured, however, that come Election Day, we will give you something of our own and that is our REJECTION of you and the UDP”.
Humor in UDP Politics! The following matters were discussed in Cabinet this week: • To invite some foreigners to settle in the Chiquibul Area. Requirements: must be ganja planter, gone to prison and related to Black Bird. • In a memo sent to all members of Cabinet, they were asked to be seen less, to stay out of their division, break up with their sweet hearts, etc. When asked why Flipping blurted out “flippin CHRISTMAS di come”. • Faber suggested before Cabinet for a subcommittee to be set up to investigate if their Mayoral Candidate can have an official name change, as well as adjusting his family tree. When asked by Gapi why, Faber said “nasty mouth Joe Bradley”. ………………………. In other related Cabinet matters: Two UDP candidates were found wandering in the Chiquibul Area tattered and out of water. When found and asked why they were there, they replied that they were looking for the million dollars Barrow said someone was willing to pay to cross the floor. Perdomo has been taking a deck of cards to Cabinet meetings ever since he announced that he won’t run again. When asked what it’s for, he said, “well, since unno retire me, better I learn to play cards then. Take the joker card Barrow”. Information to us is that one Raul Rosado from the UDP camp in Corozal has been pretty distracted lately. Apparently, Rosado went to India to hire one of those politics gurus that practice strange things. She was slated to arrive in one of the “missing” Free Zone containers, but has not been seen or heard from since. Rosado is claiming she was last spotted with Castro in Rural North. Things are so bad under Barrow that everybody di punish, so bad that the other day I saw a rat and a cat fighting over a meal. So bad that the rat by Bottom Dollar is breaking in to steal the gallo cheese, so bad that more people have moved into the Battlefield Park Motel. In the race for candidacy in the Caribbean Shores somebody sent a note to Santi which read “Bring the band, but noh send the leeman”, which got Santi to send back a note “You may pick the woman, but she is the wrong one”.
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Sunday, November 27, 2011