Belize Times October 12, 2014

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The Belize Times

12 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

Established 1957

12 OCTOBER 2014 | ISSUE NO: 4916

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

Tyrants and Traitors!!

Barrow allows affront to Belize’s sovereignty

Wilfred Elrington

Dean Barrow Belize City, 7 October 2014

By Norris Hall A Guatemalan construction company has been awarded a contract by an American government agency to build a Forward Operating Base (FOB) on Hunting Caye, one of Belize’s southern-most islands in the Sapodilla Range of islands.

These islands are claimed by Guatemala as it continues to assert its claim to Belize.

The Base is well under construction.

“We are not a beggar nation”

The Government of Belize made no public pronouncement of this unacceptable arrangement. The Prime Minister was recently caught flat-footed in parliament when the Leader of the Opposition challenged this wrong-headed move by the government describing it as a “national security risk”.

In his reply the Prime Minister said that

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Cor. Queen Street and New Road, Belize City

Opposition Leader would have said “NO” to U.S. gift Belize City, October 7, 2014 Opposition Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca has stated boldly that he would have opposed and rejected any offer by the United States Government for the construction of a military base to be done by a Guatemalan company.

While appearing on the Open Your Eyes morning show on Mon-

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UDP Master Plan FAILURE!!

PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca

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OPINION

OUT

OUT

UDP cannot be trusted with Guatemalan issue

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Dear Editor, Prime Minister Dean Barrow is presiding over the dangerous subversion of Belize’s sovereignty, with his Government’s glaring display of impotence and vacillation in defense of Belize’s interests against neighboring Guatemala.

In the face of two most recent threats to our integrity as a nation, that of the killing of Special Constable Danny Conorquie on Belizean soil and the building of a military base by a Guatemalan company on territory claimed by Guatemala as theirs, the Barrow Administration has presented a toothless and feckless foreign policy stance.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow has claimed that he was clueless about the engagement of the Guatemalan company. Minister of National Security, John Saldivar, has admitted that he was aware of it, but it was not important enough to report it to the Prime Minister, the National Security Council or Cabinet of Belize.

Foreign Minister, Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington who called our border “artificial”, who signed a secret agreement with Guatemala and who has had a checkered history of bending backwards or sideways to Guatemala, stood before the UN General Assembly and said not a word about the continuous attacks on our sovereignty.

The result of the Barrow Administration’s weak defense policies has resulted in the continuous illegal exploitation and damage to the natural environment of important protected areas such as the Chiquibul National Reserve, the neglect of our military officers who are ill-equipped and left to carry out patrols under extreme conditions of the jungles, and the shifting of influence to Belize’s policies to Guatemala.

Belizeans would be smart not to trust this Government.

Signed.

W. Ferguson

LOCAL 10 Oct

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THE BELIZE TIMES

In support of political reform October 4, 2014

The Belize Times #3 Queen Street Belize City Belize

!

Dear Editor: I wish to provide a minor perspective on the amount of command that should be granted to any government in power, or to be more specific the prime minister.

Based on our constitution, the party which gets the majority of seats in the House of Representatives will be the government. Therefore our government is not chosen by who gets the most overall votes but by which party secures 16 of the 31 constituency seats.

This type of election is referred to as “first past the post system” (FPTP). It is the second most widely used voting system in the world.

In crude terms, it is used in places that are, or once were, British colonies. Now due to the demographics of our country, this system has worked well. Furthermore, our election procedure is referred to as representative democracy. This is because the people elect the best candidate to oversee their constituency. Thus, everybody bears equal rights of a single vote however their equal participation in the decision making process of the country is not ensured.

Here in Belize, the Governor General appoints the Prime Minister by selecting a member of the House of Representatives who is the leader of the political party which commands the support of the majority of members in the house. However, our system of

WEATHER 11 Oct

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government is designed in such a way that the Prime Minister is granted an excessive amount of power.

For instance, the prime minister has the freedom to call the general elections at whichever date he pleases. Yet, much worse than that, the Prime Minister has the power to create and informally pass the laws which he desires. This was pretty much evident in the 9th Amendment where the government actually revised the Constitution which is the supreme law of Belize! Disappointingly we have high commissioners and actual ministers of government getting away with such colossal crimes while other Belizeans are getting locked up for petty offences.

All of these issues and ongoing corruption causes a backward flow and a regression of our economy. Our beloved Belize can never flourish under these wretched circumstances since there have been many cases where government inequality is very well existent and to a certain degree rampant.

Therefore, it is apparent that the solution for our country is for it to undergo political reform. In essence, this means improving the laws and constitution in accordance with the needs of the country instead of political interest. One reform which should transpire is to reduce and have certain restrictions on the amount of power that the prime minister is granted. For instance, the number of ministers that the government can appoint should be limited by our constitution. One reform which was debated in our recent past was the push towards an elected Senate. This motion was approved by the political reform commission and then voted for. The main objective of the elected Senate was to take away any dictatorial powers from the prime minister. However up to this day, we still have an appointed Senate. Presently, the Prime Minister appoints six members to the Senate. If it remains so, one effective recommendation would be that the amount of members the prime minister can appoint should be reduced. This would directly result in a much more transparent Senate as it acts as a check and balance of the House of Representatives.

With major political reform, we can truly fulfil our constitution which states that Belize “shall be a sovereign democratic state of Central America in the Caribbean region”.

This means that our country would be characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges. Therefore, with this change in the political machin-

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ery, the class struggle will no longer be a matter of anguish for the people.

As said by Alan Paton, “To give up the task of reforming a society is to give up one’s responsibility as a free man”.

Swamy Babani UB Student

OUT Preparing for the worst

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Dear Editor, Since this Chikungunya virus surfaced in the Caribbean, our Ministry of Health seems to be mute.

It’s only a matter of time before it reaches Belize. We have students studying in the Caribbean and not to mention the traffic between meetings which government officials usually attend. Our closest and best sister nation Jamaica had started a pre Chikungunya cleanup and education for when the virus reaches Jamaica. It’s only time before it comes here, the Ministry need to start an education and clean-up process. Then there’s Ebola which somehow is linked to some African States. I hope when people from that region visit Belize we have a sort of screening process.

Hakeem Bush SCAN HERE

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

The Truth Shall Make You Free

ISSUE NO: 4840

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

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

Alberto Vellos LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed and Published By TIMES NEWSPAPER LTD. Tel: 671-8385 #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize

27 Mar Oct 615 Feb

Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

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Exchange rate of One Belize Dollar

United States (USD): $ 0.50

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.00

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

Sterling Pound Guatemala Quetzal CANADIAN DOLLAR (GBP): $ 0.29 (GTQ): $ 3.91 (CAD): $ 0.54

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.08

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.17

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 31.14

12 OCT

2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

UDP Master Plan FAILURE!!

Belize City, October 8th, 2014 School children and daily shoppers were forced to wade through murky and unsanitary waters on Wednesday afternoon as Belize City became inundated following rain shower.

The UDP Belize City Council’s 20 million dollars infrastructure project, guided by Mayor Darrel Bradley’s Master Plan, has been a total failure.

Mayor Bradley admitted that the millions he borrowed in the city name to pour cement on some streets made no arrangements for drains or a proper drainage system. This has resulted in the city becoming even more vulnerable to flood.

Today’s episode of disaster has become a common occurrence now.

Streets become impassable. Knee deep water turns streets into canals.

City residents forced to bear with terrible and unhealthy conditions. Just a terrible and sad state of affairs.

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from page 1

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THE BELIZE TIMES

on the

DANNY CONORQUIE

By Francis W. Fonseca I did not know young Special Constable Danny Conorquie but his death has touched me greatly. I join with the Belizean people in expressing, on my own behalf and on behalf of the People’s United Party, our profound sadness at this tragic loss of life and extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues.

The brazen daylight killing of Danny, while on duty for his country at Caracol, by Guatemalan intruders brings to light the ongoing incursions and daily breaches of Belize’s national security that are taking place.

His execution in front of

Tourists is also an attack on our vital tourism industry.

Each and every day Guatemalan nationals are illegally entering our country, farming our land, extracting our xate and hardwoods, mining our gold, and stealing our artefacts and animals.

This has become the “new normal” and Belize must be prepared to meet this new reality strategically and boldly.

We must strengthen our National Security Infrastructure, urgently engage with frontline stakeholders who work in the affected areas and understand this issue best, and display a strong,

united Foreign Policy stature which demands that Guatemala take greater responsibility for its citizens and border.

Threats by Guatemalan citizens against our security forces must be taken seriously, fully and properly documented, and addressed at the highest levels with relevant Guatemalan authorities.

We seek no confrontation with Guatemala.

We want peace and development. That has always been Belize’s position. But we must not and will not be intimidated.

We demand that Gua-

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temalan authorities treat the murder of Danny as if it were one of their own, and do everything possible within their borders to find these cowardly killers.

We expect our leaders to act with a sense of urgency and purpose to address the failures and weaknesses of our national security structure which allowed strong warnings of a clear and present danger to go unheeded at all levels.

We expect our resources to be re-prioritized to ensure the strength and effectiveness of our BDF and Coast Guard in the execution of their primary obligation to protect and preserve the territorial integrity of Belize.

We expect our Government to constructively engage Guatemala on this issue to ensure that any future confrontation or crisis is averted.

We expect and demand that the political games end and our Government get serious about governing.

We owe no less to Special Constable Danny Conorquie.

We are united in this fight for our country! Long live Belize!

WATCH LIVE on CCV CH18 VIBES RADIO 90.5FM | 102.9FM

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2014

THE BELIZE TIMES

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EDITORIAL Guatemalan Incursion

The incompetence of Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his Ministerial cronies has reached such a level that the very security of the nation has been put in jeopardy.

Events of the past week, coming as they did in the wake of the murder of Special Constable Danny Conorquie, all told, are just too much for Belizeans to bear.

The response of the Prime Minister and his Minister of Security has not only added insult to the injuries but has brought Belizeans to a new state of anger against the government.

It was gross incompetence and negligence that caused a serious security failure when the BDF did not provide escort protection to Special Constable Conorquie and a group of foreign tourists visiting Caracol. That negligence is costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cancelled tourist visits but more so, has cost Danny Conorquie his promising and precious life.

To make matters worse the government refused to undertake a sweep of the Chiquibul Forest Reserve through which bandits and illegal loggers are unlawfully operating, primarily from across the Guatemalan border.

Days after the death of Danny Conorque some fifty odd Guatemalans armed with machetes crossed into Belizean territory and threatened the small group of Belize Defense Force soldiers. Included in the threat was that they would burn down any observation post the soldiers were hoping to build.

This is unheard of. At no time in the history of Belize had this number of Guatemalans dared to enter our national territory with weapons, confront our soldiers who were armed and in uniform and issue should open threat.

In Belize’s history, a Guatemalan once entered our territory, dragged down the British flag at one of the district stations and was promptly arrested and jailed.

Then last week came the shocker. The Prime Minister and his government were exposed when a story with photographs and reports from those who went there. At Hunting Caye, in the southern most section of Belizean territorial sea, a Guatemalan company employing only Guatemalan workers was well underway in constructing a military base for the Belize Coast Guard and Belize Defense Force.

Nothing has so raised the ire, the strongest of condemnation against government and calls for resignation than this latest unbelievable activity.

The huge concrete structure as shown in television reports is like a sore thumb on the pristine, picturesque paradise of Hunting Caye. Denials that such a structure was under construction would never work. So the Prime Minister resorted to his usual deceptive dodge. He denied

knowing it was a Guatemalan company doing the construction. Tsk! Tsk! Fools may be talking, but Belizeans who have been keenly observing and listening are no fools. Only the most idiotic UDP fanatics would swallow such a huge lie.

The Minister of National Security, unable to resort to that sore script, given the amount of documents and consultation he has had on the matter was forced to admit that he knew it was a Guatemalan Company building a military base for Belize. Like his deceitful Prime Minister, he too tried to vaguely create the impression that because the USA was paying for the costs, it would not be good to decline the offer to build the base.

This is utter nonsense and an ingenious attempt to dodge responsibility. The incompetent Minister even uttered the words we should not look a gift horse in the mouth. Meaning go ahead and rape me because you are giving me a small gift.

This is the same Minister who was sent a copy of a memorandum in January this year regarding the lax security arrangements his Ministry had been causing at Caracol. In effect it was a warning of exactly what happened with the murder of Danny Conorquie. What a negligent Minister this country is paying to get nothing accomplished. Unable to respond to the many media queries, the dishonorable Minister could only blurt out that the memo matter is being looked into.

From the Prime Minister there is no grand standing, no press conference and no accountability. He is probably too busy counting the millions of Petro Caribe dollars being hidden from the Auditor General in the Central Bank.

The Leader of the Opposition has quite rightly condemned in the strongest of language the national and regional shame brought on the nation by such unheard of sloppiness.

This military base fiasco at Hunting Caye comes on the heels of an organised renewal of Guatemala’s claim to half of the territory of Belize.

Any cursory view of the stewardship of the Prime Minister leads to the undeniable conclusion. This man cannot be so incompetent, so negligent, so uncaring of the grave harm been inflicted on the nation’s well-being, and its very survival.

There has to be more than meets the eye. In other lands he would be branded a quisling. No, he would be branded harsher than that. His actions are those of a traitor.

After all he did go to bed with such in order to win the last election.

Traitor.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE

er freedom and independence, he exhorted the boys, and he continued that it was from around an old mahogany table at 1114 Pickstock Street that the fight for political independence had its inception. Later on, from a little room in an unpainted building in Belmopan a few young patriots sparked the process to gain international support for Belize’s Independence.

The crux of his message was that the struggle for freedom and real independence with equality and equal opportunity for all is still very much alive. We have a long way to go, when only one person out of thirty-one elected representatives is a woman, he gave by way of example, calling this an “extreme absurdity.”

Newly minted grandmother Hillary Clinton, all-but-declared American Presidential candidate, has recently touched on this similar theme in her many public addresses, most recently in South Florida.

Her granddaughter, she said, has as much potential as a boy born in the same hospital on the same day. It is essential, she continued, to close the gap in leadership positions between men and women.

“All girls must grow up in a world of full participation and shared prosperity.” And: “Women face double standards in politics and business, and governments need to work to enact policies that break down

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

BIG UP YASSER!!

I consider Yasser Musa a great friend and mentor. He has never failed to offer his advice and his assistance in various political as well as non-political endeavors. His artistic and political instincts, I find, are invariably spot on, and he has emerged not only as a highly respected teacher, but also as an artistic and social conscience for our country in many respects.

It would be foolhardy of me to attempt to give a brief history of his art works and involvement, but etched in my memory is one display at the old Bliss Institute (before there was an artistic/display space at the Image Factory) many years ago in which he mounted an art piece or installation which portrayed a very old model television mon-

itor. From it spewed literally a stream of garbage, which he ingeniously held together with some netting. It was not at all difficult to get the picture of what his message was!

Two weeks ago Yasser gave a mini speech to the boys of Saint John’s College (High School). He titled it “From a Little Room in an Unpainted Building.” Instead of glorifying Belize’s colonial past, Yasser spoke of and called the names of resistance leaders of our history, those who struggled mightily against colonial oppression and domination: Joseph Chatoyer, Nachankan, Samuel Haynes, Marcus Canul, Antonio Soberanis, Phillip Goldson, Leigh Richardson....to name a few. Our resistance heritage as a country is what should drive all of us to continue the struggle for great-

Security Guard stabbed during armed robbery in San Pedro During the attack, however, some of the money fell out of bag and instead of residents defending Assi against the robbers reports are that they helped themselves to some of the cash.

Owner of Milo’s Center, Milo Paz, has appealed on those residents who took the cash to return it as the money would have gone toward his company’s bills.

Assi also received a second

stab wound to the right side of his chest and was taken to the Dr Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Poly Clinic II for medical treatment. He is undergoing treatment and in a stable condition.

Cleofosio Assi

Police detained one of the robbers

Pic Courtesy Ambergris Today

San Pedro, October 7th, 2014 Security guard 28 year old Cleofosio Assi was attacked in broad daylight by a duo of knife-wielding men as he delivered a large sum of money to the local branch of the Belize Bank.

On Tuesday October 7th around 1:30pm Assi, who is employed at Milo’s Center, was walking to the bank with a back-pack containing $130,000 when at the corner of Barrier Reef Drive and Caribeña Street he was approached by two men who pulled knives at him and demanded the money. Assi resisted and the men stabbed him on his shoulder as they wrestled away the back-pack from him and ran away.

The security guard attempted to follow them, yelling out for help although he was injured. Fortunately, a group of concerned residents came to Assi’s aid and also were able to capture the two assailants.

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barriers to equal opportunity.”

Finally she said, “Not including women holds back entire economies and countries. No country can truly thrive by denying the contributions of half of its people.”

There is no need to preach at all, once you put what Yasser has said together with the themes of Hillary Clinton – Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality. I therefore say: Big Up Yasser!!

His is a fearless voice, and he is a champion for artists and iconoclasts. He is a visionary thinker and artist himself.

He envisions a Belize where all girls and boys as well as all women and men can participate and contribute equally to Belize’s development.

We have to take his point that we are not there yet. It feels lonely in the House surrounded as I am by thirty men.

We must, like Yasser, remind ourselves that it takes the efforts of everyone to not falter and to “resist, fight and struggle” until we can bring about the kind of Belize that we can all feel very proud of. There is only to add that Yasser has my pledge to do all that is in my power to bring about that happy day. Can I invite us all to do the same?

12 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

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TEAM VEGA wins PUP Corozal Town Council Convention

David “Dido” Vega and PUP Town Council candidates sworn in by Party Chairman Henry C. Usher following Sunday’s high energy convention

David “Dido” Vega addressing PUP supporters

PUP Mayoral Candidate David “Dido” Vega and Councillor Candidates Enrique Vargas, Zeni Perdomo, Orlando Iglesias, Yvette Sanker-Riverol, Mia Dee Rancharan & Esteban Pasos

David “Dido” Vega and Ruben Cruz

The counting of the 1900 votes cast on convention day

Hundreds of PUP supporters remained at the venue of the convention to hear the results and demonstrate that they are ready for change in Corozal

PUP Standard Bearer Gregorio “Papas” Garcia said the PUP will deliver victory in Corozal Bay

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

9 TOPMODEL 09

ENTERTAINMENT

NEWS

MELONIE

GILLETT

Belizean artist, Melonie Gillett, is one of the top artists in the industry and it looks like her success only continues to grow after dropping her top-rated album “Dreamer” in 2012. A few singles later, Melonie has now released her newest club hit music video for “Pandemonium – All over the world” and it’s receiving a lot of buzz.

The video definitely makes you feel like you’re in a pandemonium-type dance floor with colorful and fun party scenes. Melonie also incorporated her love for the outdoors with mystic mud-covered dancing at various scenes in the Burrell Boom area and San Ignacio.

The track, produced by Kendoyll Simpson, was released in January of this year. It was then remixed by well-known Jamaican producer Salim Stines and re-released on September 10th, 2014.

Pandemonium is already a favourite on Belizean music video shows.

When asked whether any new projects are on the horizon, Melonie responded that she has a new album on the line up: “I am constantly working on projects with the Brand Melonie Gillett and through the production company Metamorph Creatives. I’m currently searching for unique beats for my 3rd Studio Album and look forward to releasing it in 2015”.

Location: Celebrity Restaurant

CAUSES PANDEMONIUM

Belizean beauty

Jenelli

TOP MODEL Clothing and Accessories provided by CATWALK FASHIONS

visit us at www.belizetimes.bz or Facebook/ Belize Times

Cor. North Front Steet & Queen Street Belize City

10 SPORTS Sugar City Girls

12 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES TIMES THE BELIZE

2014

bomb Millennium 3-1

SMART’s Shandy Vernon controls the ball

Ladyville, October 4, 2014 The Sugar City Girls drilled SMART Millennium of Belize City 3-1 in the Football Federation of Belize President’s Cup national women’s football tournament held at the Ladyville field on Saturday afternoon.

Vanessa Mai scored Sugar City’s 1st goal in the 17th minute and with the help of Cianni Castaneda and Yanira Chan, team captain Karen Garcia added a 2nd goal in the 20th minute.

The visitors looked

Sugar City team

for more in the 2nd half and Vanessa Mai responded with a 3rd goal in the 65th minute, much to the embarrassment of the SMART goalie Ermine Ferguson.

Millennium pulled one back in the 71st minute on an indirect kick which with Melony Bryant booted into the back of the net.

The tournament continues this weekend as the Toledo Girls host the Triple B’s of Belmopan, and DFC Gentle Touch will host SMART Millennium at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio on Sunday.

Other games: Toledo vs. Dangriga Pumas – Toledo wins by default

BECOL Uprising’s Angel Tzib wins national team test race Belize City, October 5, 2014 Team BECOL Uprising’s Angel Tzib outraced the entire national squad whom the Cycling Federation of Belize has selected to represent Belize at the upcoming Caribbean Elite Cycling Championships in Puerto Rico from October 10 to 11. This was the 3rd test race of a series to groom the national team.

Elite category (48 miles-35 laps) 1st Angel Tzib – BECOL Uprising 2:06:42 2nd Darnell Barrow – Team SMART 3rd Henry Moreira – Team SMART 4th Byron Pope - Benny’s Megabytes 5th Joel Borland - Belize Telemedia 6th Jose Choto - C-Ray Road Addikz 7th Tarique Cano - Western Spirits 8th Liam Stewart - Benny’s Megabytes 9th Erwin Middleton - Benny’s Megabytes 10th Marlon Castillo- Belize Telemedia 11th Gregory Lovell- Belize Telemedia 12th Giovanni Lovell- Belize Telemedia Female Category (15 laps-33km) 1st Kaya Cattouse - Team SMART C-ray 2nd Alicia Thompson – Team Belize Bank Swoosh 3rd Patricia Chavarria - Team BECOL Juniors (15 laps - 33km) 1st Darien Anderson – Team SMART Juniors - 1:02:21 2nd Kaydine Pinello - BECOL-Chavarria - 1:03:34 3rd Shawn Codd 4th Stephen Cabral The national selection includes Marlon Castillo, Darnell Barrow, Joel Borland, Giovanni Lovell, and Geovanni Choto of C-Ray Road Addikz, with alternates: Brandon Cattouse of C-Ray Road Addikz, Gregory Lovell and Oscar Quiroz of Western Spirits, and 3 females: Kaya Cattouse, Patricia Chavarria and Alicia Thompson.

Angel Tzib

Darien Anderson

Kaya Cattouse

Benny’s Megabytes’ Kent Gabourel wins Weekend Warriors circuit race Kent Gabourel

Belize City, October 5, 2014 Team Bennys Megabytes’ Kent “Bob” Gabourel Jr won the A Division of the Weekend Warriors’ “flats” race from Leslie’s Imports to the DataPro junction on the Philip Goldson Highway and back to Belize City on Sunday morning, while BCB/FT Williams’ Salvador Alvarado won the B division, and Ingmar Perera won the C Division.

A Division 1st Kent Gabourel – Benny’s Megabytes - 2:16:50

2nd Shelton Graham – Team Santino’s 3rd Daniel Cano – Team Digicel 4G 4th Warren Coye – Team Santino’s - 2:22:23 5th Colin Maheia – British Caribbean Bank /F.T. Williams 6th John Burns – Team Digicel 4G 7th Wilbert Jones – Benny’s Megabytes 8th Isaiah Willacey – Team Digicel 4G 9th Robert Mariano – Team Digicel 4G Continued on page 11

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THE BELIZE THE BELIZE TIMESTIMES

Brothers Habet team table tennis continues Belize City, October 5, 2014 The Hurricanes won in the first division; Sugar City, Phoenix, Racqueteers and Crushers won in the second division, while Thunder posted consecutive victories in third division of the Brothers Habet team table tennis competition organized by the Belize Table Tennis Association at the Belize Elementary School auditorium in Belize City on Saturday, October 5.

Hurricanes mauled the Racqueteers 5-3 with Carlos Cui taking out Moses Babb and Ernesto Rivero each 3-0, and spanking Arturo “Tux” Vasquez 3-1, while Sen Sen whopped both Babb and Rivero 3-2. Vasquez clipped Sen Sen 3-1, and blanked Hector Lopez 3-0. Rivero edged out Hector Lopez 3-1.

Team Phoenix was edged out by Penholders, 5-4. Joshua Gegg took out Petie Matus 3-1 and blanking

Matthew Usher 3-0.

Francis Gegg was edged out by Petie Matus and Jorge Espat, 3-2; while Luis Marin clipped Petie 3-0. Penholders’ Jorge Espat blanked Luis Marin 3-0 and out-handled Joshua, 3-1. Matthew Usher upset Francis Gegg 3-2 and blanked Marin 3-0.

The Crushers spanked the Spin Kings 5-1 with John Del Cid blanking Steve Flowers 3-0 and edging out Charlton Roches 3-1. Jaylen Nicholson handled Flowers and Clifton Williams 3-1 each, while Samron Pott rolled over Charlton Roches 3-1. Spin Kings’ Williams edged Pott 3-1.

The Racqueteers shut out the Turds 5-0, with Asyel Lopez blanking Raymond Woods 3-0 and taking out Jarrid Thompson 3-1. Zachary Garbutt blanked Khalid Encalada and Woods 3-0 each; and Bryton Codd handled Thompson 3-0.

Team Sugar City milled Tres Leches

Benny’s Megabytes’ Kent Gabourel wins Weekend Warriors circuit race Continued from page 10 10th Mark Gentle – BCB/FT Williams 11th James Frampton – Team Santino’s 12th Jack Sutherland – Team Digicel 4G 13th Barney Brown – Team Scotiabank 14th George Abraham Sr – Santino’s B Division 1st Salvador Alvarado - B.C.B./F.T. Williams 2:03:40 2nd Santino “Chief” Castillo – Team Santino’s 3rd Mike Philips - Team Santino’s 4th Ernest “Bird” Olivera 5th Sean Duncan - Team SMART 6th Jim Scott - Team Santino’s 7th Eduardo Villanueva 8th Nelson Zyden - Stationery House/Medina’s Jewelry 9th Alicia Thompson - Benny’s Megabytes 10th Chris Coye - Stationery House 11th Manuel Esquiliano - Truckers’ Posse 12th Eustace Ireland - Team Santino’s 13th Ian Abraham - Team SMART 14th Mark Lisbey - B.C.B./F.T. Williams 15th Nehru Gilharry - Team Santino’s 16th Kaya Cattouse - Team SMART C-ray 17th Elvis Perez 18th Ray Cattouse - Stationery House/Medina’s Jewelry 19th Steve Gill – Team SMART C Division 1st Ingmar Perera - Stationery House/Medina’s Jewelry - 2:17:10 2nd Camille Solis - Team Lampaz 3rd Glen Sheppard - Team Big Blade 4th Sheffield Eck - Stationery House/Medina’s Jewelry 5th Wayne Arnold - B.C.B./F.T.Williams 6th Enrique Moralez – Team C-ray 7th Valentine Sosa - Truckers Posse 8th Denys Barrow – Team Lampaz 9th Sheldon Arnold - Big Blade 10th Curtis Bradley - B.C.B./F.T.Williams 11th Lawrence Craig - Truckers Posse

Hurricanes’ Hector Lopez

5-2; as Mandy Gomez blanked Damian Perdomo and Gian Lisbey each 3-0 and edged out Mishek Musa 3-2. Fabio Carballo also handled Perdomo 3-2; while Leo Carballo blanked Perdomo 3-0. Tres Leches’ Gian Lisbey edged past Leo Carballo 3-2 and Musa edged past Fabio Carballo 3-2.

In the 3rd division, Team Thunder

Belize Bank Bulldogs win national female softball championship

Belize Bank Bulldogs Belize City, October 5, 2014 The Belize Bank Bulldogs won the Belize Softball Federation’s 24th national female championship at the home of softball at the Roger’s Stadium in Belize City over the weekend.

The Bulldogs won 7-3 against Roaring Creek as MVP pitcher Ashley Lucas gave up only 4 hits. Leyandra Guy gave up 12 hits, and Nicole Arnold scored 2 runs, while Sharette Vernon, Jolene Davis, Greta Davis, Lisa Jones and Ashley Lucas scored a run apiece. For Roaring Creek, Shadalee Ho scored 2 runs and Karlee Bradley scored once.

The champs, 2nd and 3rd place winners received individual medals and team trophies from the Federation’s Mrs. Brenda Armstrong; and Lords Bank coach Edison Parks presented the individual awards to Esperanza’s shortstop Indira Spain for Most Stolen bases. Roaring Creek’s Shadalee Ho received Most RBIs (20); Bulldogs’ Lisa Jones Best Batting Average(0.638). Leyandra Guy - Most Strikeouts and Most Games won (3). Ashley Lucas was voted for Most Valuable Player award and also tied for Most Games Won (3).

How they won: Beacon girls vs. Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy - 7-6 Bulldogs vs. Esperanza Wolverines - 11-1 Burrell Boom Orchid vs. Carmelita Caribbean Queens - 12-10 Beacon vs. Lords Bank Sunrise - 15-2 Bulldogs vs. Orchid Girls - 9-2 Esperanza Wolverines vs. Carmelita Caribbean Queens - 5-1 Roaring Creek vs. Orchid Girls - 17-5 Esperanza vs. Lords Bank Sunrise - 8-3 Bulldogs vs. Beacon - 5-2 Roaring Creek vs. Esperanza - 12-2 Roaring Creek vs. Beacon - 2-1

wiped out the Racqueteers 5-1 in the morning, and also handled the Young Warriors 5-1 in the afternoon. Thunder’s Denzel Young clipped Alexis Tun 3-1 and took out Eric Li 3-2. Taye Parkinson edged David Portillo 3-2 and handled Li 3-1. Rohit Pagarani dealt the same with David Portillo 3-1. Racqueteers Alexis Tun spanked Pagarani 3-1.

Pagarani blanked Young Warriors’ Irteza Alif 3-0 and took out Christopher Gongora 3-1.

Parkinson spanked Gongora 3-1 and blanked Harsh Katwani 3-0.

Denzel Young edged out Irteza Alif 3-2. Warriors’ Harsh Katwani edged out Young: 3-2.

In the morning, the Brodies Killerspin had also blanked the Young Warriors 5-0 as Terry Su blanked Katwani 3-0 while Cody Rivero blanked Gongora 3-0 and edged Alif 3-1. Luis Bardalez blanked Katwani and Gongora 3-0 each.

The Wildcats mauled the Peppers 5-2 with Amiri Hoare blanking Daryl Palacio and Eric Liu 3-0 each, and Sergio Glori handling both Kevin Pelayo and Palacio 3-1 each and blanking Liu 3-0. Peppers’ Kevin Pelayo and Daryl Palacio both blanked Mario Galindo 3-0.

Boxing Federation to hold seminar October 7, 2014 The Belize Boxing Federation will be having a seminar for all Boxers, Coaches, Trainers, Judges, Referees and all persons who are involved in Boxing or intend to become involved. This will be held at the ITVET Belize City on October 25th starting at 10am.

This seminar will give necessary information to clarify the Role of the Federation in Governing Boxing in Belize, the procedures in order to be active in boxing. Interested persons can contact the President of the Belize Boxing Federation Moses Sulph at 667-4151.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

2014

Louis Bevans and Gill Streets

in need of proper maintenance

The disastrous conditions of Louis Bevans St., even after a UDP contractor was paid thousands of dollars to upgrade it

By Gilroy Usher, Sr. Most of the streets on Southside of the Belize City are in a terrible condition. Louis Bevans and Gill Streets however share the dubious distinction of being two of the streets in the most deplorable and shameful state despite a National Budget of $1 Billion.

Louis Bevans Street is in this totally unacceptable state especially near its junction with Freedom St. for more than a year. Half of Gill St. from its junction with Caesar Ridge Road has been totally neglected for an even longer time.

About three months ago the authorities aired a lot of advertisements on the radio and television stations in which they stated that both streets would be given a long needed upgrading.

According to the plan the entire length of Louis Bevans St. would be upgraded with gravel, and the full length of Gill St. would be resurfaced with concrete. Well, all that talk has turned out to be just political propaganda or hot air because huge waterholes and large muddy areas on those streets continue to be a major discomfort to all those who have to use them.

The contracted work on both Louis Bevans St and Gill Street has not been completed. Nevertheless, the rip-off that occurred with the Dangriga market has now spread to the infrastructure work in the city. The tax payers of this country have been taken to the cleaners again.

That’s because as with the market in the south, the golden eye UDP overnight contractors, who were hired to fix those two streets as a result of good connection in the ruling party, seem to have pocketed large amounts in the provision of paid services to the city.

It is therefore only a matter of time before the hard working people of this city are further burdened with additional expense to complete these streets.

While the people of this municipality brace themselves for that financial blow, a large stockpile of sand, stone, and tar which is surface material scraped off the streets fixed with concrete, remain unused in the city. This is very good filling for the bad spots on Louis Bevans and Gill Streets as well as other streets in the city that are in dire need of attention.

People therefore want to know

why doesn’t the Belize City Council and the Government make the necessary arrangements to use that surface material as filling to alleviate the terrible condition of those specific streets referred to in this article as well as many other streets on the Southside of the city that are also in a terrible state of wear and tear.

Did UDP Contractor pocket all the money to concrete Gill St. and left the job half complete?

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THE BELIZE TIMES

BY ORDER OF CHARGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL

HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of a Charge registered at the Land Registry between CLINTON SUTHERLAND of the one part and HRCU of the other part.

HRCU will at the expiration of three months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the Schedule below.

ALL offers to purchase the said property must be made in writing to Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited from whom full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained.

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 450.86 square yards (376.523 square metres) being Parcel 712, Block 45 in the St. Martin De Porres Registration Section situate at No. 6809 Aloe Vera Street , Belize City, Belize District, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of CLINTON SUTHERLAND DATED this 30th day of September 2014 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) invites application for a consultancy to develop the capacity of Community Health Workers, health promoters and other community volunteers in Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) Strategies in the prevention and control of dengue and malaria in Belize. This also include the provision of technical support at the community level in developing community specific programmes in all six district of Belize as part of the EU contribution agreement on the “Strengthening of the prevention and control of Dengue and Malaria in Belize”.

Duty station: Qualifications/ Experience:

Skills:

Belize City Master’s degree or higher in Communication Studies, Behavior Change, Health Education, Social Work or related field Background in Environmental and Community Health Highly Desirable Experience in working in rural communities in social services, health promotion and community mobilization will be an asset.

Additional experience conducting training with diverse communities, and working with adult learners will be an asset.

•

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Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy and tact to effectively communicate with senior level officials, multiple stakeholders and professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

Resourcefulness, initiative, leadership qualities and skills to deal with difficult situations and sensitive areas Enables utilization of knowledge and information sources.

Delivers relevant knowledge and information in most appropriate form

Languages:

Very good knowledge of English and Spanish

Deadline:

Letters of application and resume, including two current letters of recommendation should be sent to P.O. Box 1834, Belize City no later than October 20, 2014

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. For further details visit our website http://new.paho.org/blz/ PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

15

The Guatemalan Occupation: Dangerous Accommodationism

Flashpoint

October 8 2014 Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington publicly took the view that there was The assassination-style no “proof” that the killers were Guatemalans. Over a week later, having had a Godfrey Smith killing of Special Constable Danchance to reflect on the matter - and in the face of seething public outrage - his ny Conorquie by Guatemalan position, shockingly, remained much the same. He justified his deplorable Poninvaders on Belizean territory tius Pilatian passivity by saying he had a “duty” to maintain the good relations at a marquee destination - the with Guatemala, which was at its “best ever”. sacred ground of the Caracol The Foreign Minister’s position not only echoes with accommodationArcheological Reserve - in front ism, it also displays manifest incompetence and stupidity. First, as a lawyer, he of tourists who filmed the killing knows that positive identification of a killer is not indispensable to a conviction which later went viral has, finalin any court of law. Circumstantial evidence can secure a conviction. There is ly, catapulted the crisis in the sufficient circumstantial evidence to place beyond reasonable doubt that the Chiquibul Forest to the forefront killers were Guatemalans. Too bad that the Foreign Minister never bothered to of public discourse. ask those persons who have been monitoring, documenting and studying the This is where it should patterns of the Guatemalan invasion systematically over years - men like Rafael have been a long time ago, exManzanero who has made protecting the Chiquibul his life’s mission. cept that the government - and Secondly, the Foreign Minister’s statement about not upsetting good rethe nation - were not paying lations is incomprehensible drivel. Belizeans do not make armed illegal incurattention, despite the best efsions into Guatemala on a daily basis, pillaging the forests, poaching wildlife and Manzanero - Chiquibul doyen forts of Chiquibul doyen, Rafael shooting at Guatemalan Armed Forces when confronted. The Guatemalans do Manzanero. He and his team at that to us in protected Belizean territory.

Friends for Conservation and There is therefore nothing wrong with summoning the Guatemalan AmDevelopment (FCD) have struggled to get the country to underbassador to deliver a diplomatic tongue lashing or even to lodge a more genteel Diplomatic stand what’s going on back there.

Note as a formal protest at the highest levels to Guatemala concerning the well-documented The Guatemalan occupation of the Chiquibul - for that is pattern of occupation culminating in the shocking murder of a Belizean security officer at what it is - is the biggest national security issue the country facthe hands of Guatemalan campesino bandits. Yet this minister took no such diplomatic es. For most countries of the world, national security concerns measure as would be accepted by any diplomat in chief as normal in a situation such as are a matter of urgent national importance and, accordingly, rethis. ceive the necessary budgetary priority and allocations. This is not Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s own response to the situation suffers from a clear lack yet the case in Belize. But it should be. of any conviction or vision about what needs to be done. His public response to this crisis The Chiquibul Forest Reserve, an area four times the size of has been limited to announcing, grimacingly, that helicopters would be obtained (he later Barbados, is one of the most important biospheres north of the seemed to balk at the $10 million price tag) and, secondly, the scheduled commencement Amazon and is of massive ecological and economic importance of “Incisive Gallop”, a periodic operation by Belizean security forces to disrupt Guatemalan to Belize. Its economic significance is not yet properly underoperations in the Chiquibul. stood or appreciated.

Such statements from our leaders will do nothing to stem the growing occupation That armed citizens of a foreign power, which maintains a of Belizean territory by the Guatemalans. The government must summon the intestinal claim to Belize, are in virtual occupation - by the hundreds - of resolve to lead the nation in urgently devising and implementing a national security plan of sovereign and ecologically sensitive Belizean territory should suffice action which must involve the Opposition, civil society and the support of all Belizeans to to establish this as the national security concern par excellence. The reverse this creeping occupation. The plan should include the following. growing numbers of these invaders should have been enough to Firstly, Prime Minister Barrow and at least his minister of national security and forget the attention of the government. More, obviously, is required eign minister should become properly for the political directorate to feel the urgency to drive them back. acquainted with what the Chiquibul is, If the killing of Special Constable Conorquie has sparked the fire of what happens there and why it is worth urgency, then his death may not be in vain. fighting for. This is where George Price The Chiquibul isn’t just any piece of bush. This is a protected was incomparable. He took the view that area by national legislation that restricts hunting, fishing, logging and if his primary responsibility was to exerall forms of interference with that ecosystem. The renewable, exploitable economic value of cise sovereignty over a country then he natural resources in that area has been conservatively estimated by Dr. Percival Cho, a Belizean should get to know it first hand. And he forestry expert, to be in the billions of dollars. Its importance as a critical water source for 45% did - without a helicopter. of the Belizean population is incalculable.

Secondly, in the same way a SecIts touristic potential as world travellers seek more pristine and unfamiliar spaces is treretariat was set up to deal with preparamendous. And with the staggering diversity of its wildlife, tropical rainforest and caverns, its tions for a stillborn referendum on taking contribution to global ecology makes it qualified for UNESCO world heritage status. the Belize-Guatemala dispute to the ICJ, The Guatemalans don’t live in the Chiquibul. They effectively occupy it by making a dense, so too some kind of unit needs to be esintersecting network of trails from their multiplicity of bordering villages in Guatemala not far tablished, led by a suitably competent from its southwestern boundary with Belize. and committed person, to coordinate the These armed campesinos set up camps in Belize and clear and burn pristine protected various aspects of the plan. forests for their milpa farms. They loot Mayan temples for ancient artifacts; they chainsaw Thirdly, the plan itself could consist and extract valuable timber in a wanton and wasteful manner; they hack and overharvest xate of the following: collaborating with all apBarrow - uncommitted plants for exportation to international flower markets in the developed world; they poach wildlife propriate environmental NGOs to build showing callous indifference for endangered species, pan for gold and poison rivers and streams national awareness of the critical situawith mercury and, in general, pollute and contaminate precious water sources and desecrate tion among all Belizeans. The struggle to Belizean forests. preserve our national patrimony will confront us forever so it is fundamental that Belizean The Guatemalans are, on a daily basis, exercising de facto acts of sovereignty over this area. children be inculcated with a thorough awareness of the problem.

Belize, the sovereign owner, has restricted Fourthly, government must provide significant resources, financial and material, to itself to mounting inadequate and ultimateFCD - the pre-eminent and nonpareil authority on and guardian of the Chiquibul - and must ly futile operations periodically, designed to assist FCD in identifying and lobbying the appropriate international environmental NGOs disrupt their illegal activities in the Chiquibul. for continuous and adequate funding since the level of funding required is not available in At best, we succeed in temporarily disruptBelize on a sustained basis. ing their illegal activities. But that is all that it Fifthly, Belize and its government need to ‘woman up’ and take full and proper reis: a fleeting disruption against a landscape sponsibility for our own border security. Successive governments have applied millions of of steady, unrelenting depredation. taxpayers’ money to politically expedient, quixotic projects such as mortgage forgiveness There has been an embarrassing failfor delinquent borrowers. ure on the part of successive governments Our government must get and take the necessary expert military advice, earmark of Belize to genuinely prioritize this problem and spend the funds needed for helicopters and approach our allies the Americans or the and put together any serious plan to sysBritish for the necessary help with the training and maintenance required. tematically push back Guatemala’s expandSixthly, the government should put some effort and resources into presenting a case ing human footprint in Belize. to the international community for support in clearing the border for the greater good of More troubling yet, following the death preservation of peace and of natural resources of world heritage importance. of Special Constable Conorquie and the FCD and its Guatemalan counterpart, Asociaciòn Balam, have engaged in highly comsubsequent threat by a band of 40 armed mendable cross-border collaboration aimed at raising the awareness of border communiGuatemalans to burn Belize’s Valentin Conties and exploring alternative economic activities in the area. This is the kind of approach Elrington - incomprehensible servation Post near the border, the governthat must influence the Government of Belize’s long-term strategy. Taxpayer’s money is drivel ment’s response has been timorous and its perhaps better deployed in protecting our natural resources than in a campaign to go to reaction limp. the ICJ, which the Guatemalans will never agree to.

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Reid Legalize or Decriminalize

By G. Michael Reid In June 2004, then Assistant Commissioner of Police Maureen Leslie sent what was supposed to have been an internal memo to her commanders. The memo reminded commanders of a change in policy which recommended more discretion when charging, in particular young people, who are found in possession of 2 grams or less of marijuana. The policy made perfect sense but was for the most part being ignored. Marijuana busts are safe and easy to make and it gives Police Officers a chance to come off the streets, hang around the office and do paperwork until their shift ends.

Somebody within the department leaked the memo to the press and what ensued was later described as “a storm of controversy”. At the time, everything was being leaked to the press even matters discussed in Cabinet and everything was turned political. Objection to the directive was fierce, in particular from the then Opposition, and it seemed that those objections were sustained. Things went on per normal and the ridiculous prosecution of persons for even tiny quantities of marijuana, a few seeds even at times, seemed to intensify instead of letting up. It might be time for us to take a second look at these ridiculous laws which cause much harm and does little good in the improvement of our quality of life.

Evidently, a big reason for our stringent enforcement of laws against marijuana is precipitated by pressure coming to bear from the United States. This in itself ranks of staunch hypocrisy. As early as 1973, twelve states of the US including Oregon, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oregon have in some manner altered their existing laws to reduce the penalties for marijuana possession. A number of states have decriminalized marijuana to varying degrees while most states have created exemptions specifically for medical use of marijuana. Two states, Colorado and Washington, have totally legalized the recreational

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use of marijuana following the approval of state referenda in the 2012 elections. Those states have reported huge financial benefits and propositions in Oregon and California which barely failed in their previous effort are once again on the ballot. The state of Maryland recently passed legislation that decriminalized possession of 10 grams or less and simultaneously created a medical cannabis regulatory framework to dispense marijuana to patients and caregivers in the state. New York and Minnesota have also passed medical marijuana laws.

Again, these measures were being put in place from as early as 1973 but yet, as late as 1984, shortly after be-

the Belize Mission at the UN in 1984, ‘’While we share the American concern about the drug problem, because it is our problem as well, we feel that we have an obligation to proceed responsibly. If you say that aerial eradication is the only efficient way to do it, O.K. We just want to make sure that whatever we do will not be to our detriment.’’ Mr. Esquivel went to wax prophetic as he stated that ‘’For example we have a growing honeybee industry, and it is felt that if we were to spray paraquat over a wide area, particularly in the north, where we have a lot of honeybees, that we run the risk of destroying that industry.” Esquivel even recommended another chemical called “glyphosate” which he claimed tests had proven to be less damaging to honeybees.He ended his interview by exclaiming, “Well, we’ll see.’’ Boy, did we ever see!

In an interview given to Channel Seven television just last week, long time bee farmer Daniel Gutierrez of San Ignacio had this to say “I have worked more than 30 years with the bees and at the time when we started out we were producing up to 60 drums of hon-

ic substance both at home and ironically, to markets in the US. The extent of the damage to our people, our wildlife and to our environment might never be fully realized but needless to say, it has been significant. I believe that it is time for us to hold the US government responsible and for us to demand some reparation for the damages caused.

Of course, our ultra conservatives continue their objections to the easing of any restrictions against marijuana; in spite of many studies debunking their arguments. Their main arguments are that firstly, it is a gateway drug and leads to the use of harder drugs. There is absolutely no evidence to support this and there are lifelong marijuana users who have never touched cocaine, meth, heroin or any type of hard drugs. If anything, what might lead to the use of hard drugs is more the unavailability of marijuana. Life is rough at times and for many, marijuana offers “a bridge over troubled waters”. Unlike alcohol and tobacco, both of which are perfectly legal and which follows more of a daily pattern use, marijuana smokers tend to follow a more occasional use pattern. Studies show that marijuana users are disproportionately younger males and suggest more of a youthful experimentation pattern than that of any enduring or steady lifelong pattern. The majority of marijuana users do not graduate to more dangerous drugs and most tend to wean themselves off eventually. I speak from experience here, as one who has used plenty marijuana growing up but now will not touch the stuff.

Objectors also try to make a link between marijuana use and criminal behavior but that argument also has little merit. What has been proven and what makes much more sense is that the easing of marijuana laws would save the country a lot of money in enforcement expense and would free up the Police to address the real and more serious crimes.

Let us be sensible and rational about this whole matter; legalize or at the very least, decriminalize. American hypocrisy should no longer dictate our local policy. Belize for Belizeans!

80 percent of all of our marijuana fields had been sprayed and much of our pristine jungles lay saturated with paraquat. Our “growing honeybee industry” was just about totally wiped out! ing elected to office for the first time, the United Democratic Party called in the US and gave them permission to destroy marijuana fields in Belize. At the time, Belize was producing some of the best marijuana and the Belize Breeze was highly coveted, especially in the US. The destruction of the fields was carried about by the spraying of a deadly chemical known as paraquat.

Interestingly enough, in 1983, the year before they came to spray in Belize, the US had banned the use of Paraquat in its own national forests citing serious environmental concerns. Reliable medical studies prove Paraquat to be exceedingly toxic to human beings, animals and the environment. According to one medical report, “Breathing in Paraquat causes lung damage and can lead to a disease called Paraquat lung. Paraquat causes damage to the body when it touches the lining of the mouth, stomach, or intestines. You can get sick if Paraquat touches a cut on your skin. Paraquat can also damage to the kidneys, liver, and esophagus.”

Then Prime Minster Manuel Esquivel apparently had some reservations and had this to say in an interview conducted at

ey for the year. After we were wiped out after they had this eradication of marijuana fields – that (is) when they wiped out all the bee hives and from then it never came back.” The pressure from the US was apparently too great to withstand or the compensation too irresistible because in less than a year, 80 percent of all of our marijuana fields had been sprayed and much of our pristine jungles lay saturated with paraquat.

Our “growing honeybee industry” was just about totally wiped out!

Not willing to lose all of their investments and labor, marijuana growers in Belize salvaged what they could of the destroyed fields and sold the tox-

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12 OCT

THE BELIZE TIMES VACANCY:

Tender Bar & Grill is looking for an experienced, energetic Trainer. Applicant must have at least 6 years experience in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Please email resume to tenderbarandgrill@gmail.com

VACANCY: S.R.S. Shop needs a Sales Clerk. Must be male, 20-30 years old. Call 6531866/652-9567 for more information.

LOOKING FOR A JOB I am looking for a job. Willing to do Babysitting or House Cleaning. Call me at 662-7672, ask for Jacqueline.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that EMILCAR BURGOS is applying for a Malt and Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Island Pub”, situate at #4 Lovers Lane, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that DUSTIN BOWEN is applying for a Night Club Liquor License to be operated at “Riverside Tavern”, situate at 2 Mapp Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that DUSTIN BOWEN is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Riverside Tavern”, situate at 2 Mapp Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

“We are not a beggar nation” Continued from page 1 day, October 6th, Hon. Francis said that unlike the Barrow Administration, he would not have compromised Belize’s national security for a “gift” from the United States.

“There must be some nationality security risk in having a Guatemalan company building a military facility.

It’s badly needed, but I can say categorically that if the American government had said to me as the leader of this country – ‘listen we’re gifting you these monies to build this base on Hunting Caye, but the contract has to be given to a Guatemalan company’, I would have said ‘thanks, but no thanks’. We can do it ourselves, and find some way to do it ourselves”, said the People’s United Party leader.

The Barrow Administration continues to face heavy public criticism for allowing a Guatemalan company, Bonatti Ingenieros Y Arquitectos Sociedad Anonima, to construct a military base for the Belize Coast Guard on Hunting Caye located in Southern Belize.

This security threat was exposed nationally by the Opposition Leader at last week Thursday’s Special sitting of

the House of Representatives. Prime Minister Dean Barrow was caught like a deer staring at incoming bright headlights as he claimed that he did not know about the involvement of the Guatemalan company, even though the construction has been ongoing for almost three years. This claim of ignorance was very strange and highly questionable since the Prime Minister heads the nation’s National Security Council, which monitors, reviews and makes policies for every possible national security issue or threat in the country.

In a disgracing attempt to diffuse the alarm raised by the Opposition Leader, Minister of National Security John Saldivar showed how detached he is from public sentiment and well-known anti-Guatemalan emotion when he capitulated, claiming that the Belizean people should be thankful for the “gift” and should accept the involvement of the Guatemalan company even though it doesn’t make us “comfortable”. “…the question has to be whether we would look a gift horse in the mouth”, Saldivar said, confirming that the Government was putting national security and our defence against territo-

2014

rial on the back burner for special gifts.

Not even the Prime Minister had a good grip of things.

“I imagine there is nothing we can do. The contract must be well in the stage on execution and I don’t think we want to overreact and say to the Americans you know what stop it,” Barrow concluded in his responses to the media.

The public is not convinced by the Prime Minister. They also feel extremely betrayed.

There is a real sense that the Government, even after somewhat recognising their error, is refusing to recognise the distress level caused by the news of the Guatemalan’s involvement.

Up to today, the Minister of National Security still didn’t seem concerned by it.

The Leader of the Opposition, however, is not snoozing like the UDP Government. H on. Francis is as concerned as every nationalist Belizean. He said the Government, however, has been dangerously asleep.

Hon. Francis also lambasted the Government for giving poor explanations to the Belizean people. He said Belizeans deserves a Government that knows when to place the integrity of our sovereignty over gifts.

“We’re not a beggar nation”, he said.

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE

BY ORDER OF THE CHARGEE HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED, a Licensed Public Auctioneer will sell on site the following property at the time as listed.

At No. 2 St. Joseph Street, Belize City, Belize District on Wednesday 15th October 2014 at 10:00a.m.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 411.11 square yards being Parcel 770, Block 45 in the King’s Park Registration Section situate at No. 2 St. Joseph Street, Belize City, Belize District, TOGETHER with a two-storey residential building having on the ground floor a two-bedroom apartment the freehold property of MARION WEBSTER JONES. DATED this 1st day of October 2014

Notice is hereby given that RAMON ERNESTO VILLANUEVA is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Rene Store” located 75 Cemetery Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that XUE HONG TAN is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “Southside Crispy Fry Chicken” located 40 Fabers Road, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that CHONGWU TAN is applying for a Publican Special Liquor License to be operated at “Bian Wen Diner” located 34 East Canal Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

All sales are strictly cash and deemed final. For more information contact: HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Tyrants and Traitors!!

Barrow allows affront to Belize’s sovereignty Continued from page 1 he did know of this asserting “that in the normal course this is not something that would be communicated to me.”

The Prime Minister either lied or he simply did not want to know. His government has also been lackadaisical in dealing with national security and the increasing number of incursions deep inside the western border region until it happened - a Belizean security officer was slaughtered by a Guatemalan bandit.

While there continues to be numerous unanswered questions that the Prime Minister appears to be too anxious to sweep under the rug, there are two very fundamental questions that have to be answered: 1. How could the Prime Minister not know about the award of the contract by a US government agency to a Guatemalan company to build what is fundamentally a military base for the Belize Coast Guard in a security sensitive area of the country which is claimed by Guatemala?

2. Could the United States government or one of its agencies have acted unilaterally in awarding the Coast Guard contract to a Guatemalan company? If it did, it means that it acted extra territorially.

THE PRIME MINISTER CANNOT PASS THE BUCK The Prime Minister is the Chairman of the National Security Council (NSC).

He is also the Chief Executive of this country. These two facts cannot be separated.

The NSC considers and appraises all actions which affect the national security interest of this country.

The building of a military base in a politically sensitive area like Hunting Caye in the Sapodilla Range of barrier islands in Southern Belize should be high on the list of security considerations for the government, the NSC and the people of Belize.

It is inconceivable that this matter was not debated and discussed at the NSC under the Chairmanship and guidance of the Prime Minister.

The Sapodilla Range, which includes Hunting Caye, figures prominently in the Maritime Areas Act. This is an area of security interest to both Guatemala and Honduras. This is in accordance with the Law of the Sea Convention of 1982.

RISING TENSION BETWEEN BELIZE AND GUATEMALA Under these circumstances, the NSC had to have taken a keen interest in this against the backdrop of the heightening tension between Belize and Guatemala.

We are particularly concerned that the people of Belize are suspicious of any activities linking Guatemala to the security of this country, as can be seen from recent events and there are probably a dozen of them.

The Prime Minister, again, who is the Chairman if the NSC, has said that he was not aware that Guatemalan Contractors (a Guatemalan Company) had been contracted to construct a security installation on Hunting Caye.

PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY We are not questioning the Prime

Minister’s veracity. In this case – THIS CASE - it would appear that it is not in his interest to lie.

However, how could it be explained then, the Prime Minister’s lack of knowledge, or his stated lack of knowledge, of the Guatemalan Company’s involvement in the construction of a military installation of this level of security importance to Belize?

The explanation is described as complicity or plausible deniability.

It is possible that the Prime Minister was not present to chair the relevant NSC meeting at which this matter was discussed (since he spends more time out of the country than in). Or did the PM delegate the Chairmanship of the NSC to his Deputy and neglected to inform himself of the decisions taken with regard to this very important and sensitive matter?

Is it possible that the PM chose not to be informed so that he could deny knowledge and still speak the truth? This is the principle of plausible deniability.

Chief executives often use this ploy to hide their complicity in unpopular or politically suspect circumstances. They use this ploy to hide complicity either by choosing not to know or directing not to be informed of the details of certain matters and plausibly deny any knowledge.

This has become the Prime Minister’s modus operandi. Because we know this, we have to be skeptical of his public pronouncements - he never knows.

DID THE US GOVERNMENT ACT WITH EXTRA TERRITORIALITY? Belize has a natural right to exercise its sovereignty. If any other country derogates from that natural right to exercise their sovereignty, that country, in this case, the United States, would have acted with extra territoriality. We have no quarrel with the USA and their interest in our security affairs. Unlike the Minister of National Security of Belize, we believe that we SHOULD look a gift horse in the mouth having the historical example of the Trojan horse.

The United States would, in our view, be acting properly in its bi-lateral relationship with Belize, if it consulted with the Belize government and its security establishment and received approval for both the military installation AND approval to whom the Contract was awarded.

It is doubtful that the US government, or any of its agencies, would have acted unilaterally in a matter that concerns the security of another State – except in exceptional circumstance. Afghanistan and Iraq come to mind.

Consultation and consensual agreements - these are the hallmarks of proper behaviour between States.

DID THE US EMBARK ON AN ADVENTURE? If in fact the United States or its agencies embarked on an adventure which jeopardized the security and integrity of Belize, and if in fact it was done without the consent of the security establishment of Belize and the Prime Minister, then we must question the failure of the Chief Executive to safeguard the security interests of his people and of Belize.

Who should we fear most? The Prime Minister, Guatemala or the United States?

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THINK ABOUT IT GUATEMALA AND BELIZE A little history might help.

In 1975 the Leaders of the Belize government embarked on taking the claim of Guatemala to the country, direct to the United Nations.

This was part of a program of internationalizing the claim of Guatemala to our country. The U.S.A. did not vote for or against the U.N. Resolution supporting Belize. In 1981 with Jimmy Carter as President, the U.S.A. supported our independence.

In March 1981, the British Government proposed a document for themselves, Guatemala and Belize as the basis for finalizing the claim and for Belize to be accepted as an independent nation.

That document was called the Heads of Agreement and carried sixteen “Heads” as basis for further negotiations.

Led by the Public Services Union, large numbers of Belizeans rejected the document. There were riots and acts of civil disobedience and Belize abandoned the document and went on to achieve its independence in September, 1981.

Of the sixteen “Heads” we reproduce six: 2. ‘Guatemala shall be accorded such territorial seas as shall ensure permanent and unimpeded access to the high seas, together with its rights over the sea bed thereunder.’

3. ‘Guatemala shall have the use and enjoyment of the Ranguana and Sapadillo Cayes, and the rights to those areas of the sea adjacent to the Cayes, as may be agreed.’

4. ‘Guatemala shall be entitled to free port facilitation in Belize City and in Punta Gorda.’

5. ‘… a road from Punta Gorda to the Guatemalan Frontier shall be completed, Guatemala shall have freedom to transit on these roads.

13. ‘The U.K. and Guatemala shall enter into agreements designed to reestablish full and normal relations between them’.

16. ‘The controversy between the U.K. and Guatemala over the territory of Belize shall therefore be honourably and finally ended.

Please go back and read over the above, especially Head 2 and Head 3.

If you did not know, let it be told that a brand new fully paved road has just been completed from Punta Gorda to the “Guatemalan Frontier” at Jalacte Village.

Heads 13 and 16 have of course been implemented and the United Kingdom and Guatemala are best of friends and trading partners.

The recent shocking revelations that a so-called Forward Observation Base is under construction on Hunting Caye is cause for alarm.

Firstly, the U.S.A. military machine is building this military base. The base will be used by our tiny little coastguard with their tiny little boats. Eventually Guatemala’s military and coastguard will be allowed to use that base.

Secondly, the alarming information that a military base is being built by America in the sensitive Southern waters of our national territory, came not from the government but from radio journalist and talk show host Mose Hyde, based on a personal on site visit at the invitation of activist Wil Maheia.

What kind of government we have that this information is kept from the nation? In any

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other democracy the Minister of National Security would have to resign.

And how dare the Prime Minister who kept silent all these months, tell this nation a naked lie that he did not know the base was being constructed by a Guatemalan company? Shucks, you take us for the fools some of us indeed are.

Thirdly, the Base is being constructed

by Guatemalans. The U.S.A. government, known for its faciness and arrogance, really treated us the way we deserve. They did not offer Belizean contractors to build the base. They did not offer the Mayans and the East Indians and other groups in Toledo to be a part of the work force. Belizeans should teach them a lesson and go down to Hunting Caye and leave behind nothing but rubble.

But the truth is the Americans did notify our Prime Minister and National Security Minister of exactly what was happening.

This Hunting Caye debacle came to national attention only last week while Belizeans were in the midst of another alarming situation following the murder of special Constable Danny Conorquie by suspected Guatemalan bandits a few miles from the Belize Guatemala border. Government’s slackness caused this young man’s death.

He was accompanying a group of tourists to Caracol without the required Belize Defence Force support. The negligent Ministry of National Security’s response is that the B.D.F. could not be present as they were having vehicle problems.

Back to a little more history.

Guatemala got a new President in January 1991. By 6th August, 1991 the Belize Government proposed a new law- The Maritime Areas bill. For the first time in the puss and dog party politics of Belize the U.D.P. opposition supported this proposal. They even agreed to tour the country with the P.U.P. to explain it to Belizeans. Yes, George Price, their sworn enemy, would be joined

by Manuel Esquivel and Dean Barrow.

By 14th August, 1991 the new President, Jorge Serrano Elías, announced that Guatemalan “recognized” the right of the Belizean people to “self determination”. On 5th September 1991, the Serrano government announced it “recognized the independent state of Belize” and would pursue negotiations to reach a definite settlement to the Belize/Guatemala dispute.

Watch this – the very next day 6th September, 1991 the British government announced it was spending some sixty odd million dollars for the joint project to renew and extend the road network linking Guatemala and Belize.

The proposed Maritime Areas Bill ran into opposition from a large section of Belizeans, including Phillip Goldson who publicly rejected it. The U.D.P. held a national executive meeting at Bird’s isle and sought to kick out Goldson over his public stance. Goldson resigned and along with him in resigning were Hubert Elrington, Derek Aikman and Samuel Rhaburn – all former Ministers of U.D.P. government.

The Maritime Areas bill became law in 1992. It claimed Belize’s twelve miles of territorial seas as it is entitled to under international law. But in the area in front of the Sarstoon River where Belize borders Guatemala, Belize only claimed three miles up to the Ranguana Cayes. Belize would give up territorial seas as a temporary measure and when Guatemala settles its dispute with us we could cede or not cede.

Phillip Goldson never returned to the

U.D.P. and formed his own party –the National Alliance for Belizean Rights-NABR. An early General Election was called in June 1993. Mr. Goldson formed an alliance with the U.D.P. and so a coalition government of U.D.P. 15 seats and NABR 1 seat became government with P.U.P. getting 14 seats.

Mr. Goldson and the people of Belize were publicly promised by the U.D.P. in their written manifesto that if the U.D.P. won the elections they would repeal the Maritime Areas Law. No such thing happened.

Mr. Goldson had told several persons, that Esquivel and Barrow could not be trusted when it comes to the Guatemalan issue; that those two were actively collaborating with the British government.

Before we pose the question whether or not Barrow can be trusted with the Guatemala claim to Belize, let us look at one other significant historical development.

Within weeks of becoming Prime Minister in 2008, Mr. Barrow flew to Washington and was taking pictures with President George Bush. Yes, tiny Belize was suddenly so important that Barrow and Bush were smiling for the cameras. Did Bush, through the usual conservatives/oil groups finance the U.D.P. campaign?

General elections were held in February 2008. By April 2008 the new U.D.P. Prime Minister already had an amendment to the Constitution published in the Gazette concerning oil. The amendment was to take away the rights of the Belizeans if oil was found under their piece of land or sea. This right would be given to oil companies. The right to go to the Supreme Court to protect Belizean rights to be fully compensated has always existed under the Constitution. That too was to be taken away. Where did this proposal come from?

In March 2008 the U.D.P., by the skin of their teeth and help from traitors who were clothed as P.U.P. candidates, won the general election. Before the year was out, the government signed a compromi document committing the people of Belize to hold a referendum on whether or not they wished the Guatemalan claim to be decided by the International Court of Justice. Where did THIS come from?

The British government donated a hefty sum of money to the government to conduct a public information campaign on the march to the referendum. Prime Minister Barrow promised Belizeans that government would remain neutral. He lied. But as with his promise to repeal the Maritime Areas Law, he switched and within six months announced he and his government would be voting yes to the referendum.

Then he got his U.D.P. party to adopt a resolution that all party members are to vote yes in the referendum. That referendum was scheduled for 6th October, 2013. It never happened because the Guatemalans pulled out and said that they would announce a new date.

That date is coming next year. In the meantime the behavior of the government is one of appeasement and collaboration with those who seek to take away our sovereignty and portions of our territory.

BRUTAL REGIME Credible reports of the ongoing brutality and abuse against Belizeans continue to be a regular feature of media reporting.

It cannot be that all the various citizens are lying on the G.S.U. and rogue elements of the Police. Neither the Commissioner, C.E.O. nor the Minister responsible for national security has said a word on the matter. They have a duty to see that the Police conduct themselves in accordance with the law.

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Belizeans are now subjected to two criminal elements. The civilian criminals who are looting and shooting and the rogue elements of the Police who use their uniforms to extort and abuse people.

The situation is dread.

ALLAN McKOY Of the many reports piling up against the G.S.U. comes a particularly disturbing one.

Popular mechanic Allan McKoy left a night spot and was heading home by the Bel-Can bridge in Belize City in his pickup.

He was intercepted by the Goon Squad and accused of causing a minor accident.

And the nightmare began. He was systematically slapped–up, punched, kicked and whapped by each member of the Goon Squad. All in uniform, all night at the entrance of the bridge in broad view of passers-by. The well-known strapping female G.S.U. took a metal rod and repeatedly poked Mr. McKoy in his abdomen and chest causing great pain. None of his protestations were to any avail.

What is alarming is that the high and mighty U.D.P. head of the Gang personally arrived on the scene and instead of putting a stop to the unprofessional and criminal behavior, he physically assaulted Mr. McKoy. When McKoy was taken to the Police Station he had to be rushed to the hospital, and with severe chest and back pain.

It turned out that at the time of the minor accident Mr. McKoy was socializing at a night spot. This was supported by security video recording and there were impeccable witnesses, including Police security.

This is an outrage.

It highlights what happens when the Prime Minister allows the Police to abuse their duties to Belizeans. Not only are young people systemically beaten and abused and wrongfully detained, but now law-abiding citizens are inevitably caught up by this gang of marauding goons who have been told the government supports their unlawful behavior.

McKoy has dutifully reported the matter to the Police Complaint Unit and the Ombudsman. We can dutifully report that nothing will come out of it.

We also have a duty to say that when government changes, the G.S.U. members who are violating the rights of the Belizean will face charges in the Courts. Citizens should be told to keep copies of their medical reports, photos of their injuries and get a Justice of the Peace to record their complaints.

There has to be retribution against those who do wrong to the people. Whether or not such wrong doers are still in the Police or have left, they must be made to face Justice. This should apply to the C.E.O. and the Minister.

BELIZEANS ARE RIGHT Belizeans are right in expressing their disappointment with the government over the response to the shooting of Danny Conorque and the “armed incursion” by Guatemalans as they marched against a small B.D.F. outpost on our national territory.

Once again the government has been found lacking. Sadly lacking.

To top it off, the government gave approval for a Guatemalan company using one hundred percent Guatemalan labour to build a military base on Hunting Caye. This project is being financed by the U.S.A. Guatemala has recently renewed its historic claim to half of Belize and along with Britain and the U.S.A. has succeeded in getting Belize to go to an international court I.C.J. to “settle” their claim.

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COROZAL IN CRISIS prove that the Corozal District has been hit the hardest by the economic failure of the UDP. This is very very bad news.

The menace of hopelessness and joblessness is spreading.

The BELIZE TIMES, is reminded that the craziness with the road works is of greater disappointment, because the UDP have created a huge unemployment issue in this Northern most district. Remember, 65% of Corozalenos depended on the Commercial

Free Zone for employment.

This was no problem as the Free Zone was booming under the PUP, however, the Zone has seen a dangerous spike in closure of businesses and consequently the firing of hundreds of Corozalanos. Recently, as a direct result of UDP fiscal failure, a major business in the Zone sent home over four hundred workers.

According to the Statistical Institute of Belize, the

PUP OW East Marshalls celebrate Orange Walk, September 30, 2014 The PUP Orange Walk East office in Orange Walk Town was the venue for a very lively meeting and celebration of both the Party’s birthday and the successes and work of the Marshalls Corps Unit. Two women were recognised and presented with award certificates – Mrs. Gregoria Marin and 84 year old Ms. Juanita who have served the Party from a young age. Everyone thanked them for their loyalty, dedication and hard work.

CARTOON

Corozal Town, October 6, 2014 In the Corozal Bay Constituency, the PUP’s Gregorio “Papas” Garcia has been flooded with complaints from residents of Corozal about the on-going road works to the Pan American Highway, which passes through the heart of beautiful Corozal Town.

It is no surprise that the politically incompetent Pablo Marin and the UDP have taken what was to be a simple project to remedy their neglect of Corozal Bay and corrupted it into another scandal.

The first wave of complaints from irate residents includes none other than the controversial political crony, Imer Hernandez who was fingered in the UDP road scandals of Orange Walk. The UDP bypassed every single contractor in the Corozal District. This is no laughing matter and the photographs above show the state of 10th Avenue Extension which was just recently asphalted by the Imer Hernandez company. Within literally three bouts of rain this thoroughfare has been mashed up and our information is that the UDP are trying to decide whether to leave it as is or whether to pour another hundred thousand dollars into the pocket of a UDP contractor.

Such inferior work is just flat out criminal and the people of Corozal Bay are awake. One resident pointed out to us that Hernandez’s work on the Pan American Highway is a huge problem. First, the road itself which will have to hold up against huge tow heads and heavy duty vehicles is only 4 inches thick. Four inches? Not even a residential driveway is that thin, but this is a way to cut corners and increase the money the UDP make off the road.

Secondly, the work is being done by a single mixing truck. This is of note because the UDP was boasting about the employment value of the road works nationally; well in this case the UDP is pumping the money into a fat crony and cement truck. The few manual workers who are employed are paid minimum wage and work conditions are insulting.

One worker has informed us that the UDP are working the construction crew longer hours than what is allowed for in the Labor Law and are refusing to pay over time. Any mild complaints or inquiries are met with immediate dismissal.

Now this is just “chancey”. Pablo Marin, who no one has any faith in, has completely turned his back on the bubbling embarrassment.

The wider context of UDP economic failure in Corozal is also important.

The national statistical numbers

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National unemployment rate up to April 2014 was at 11.1 %. Corozal, which is responsible for 12.6 percent of the labor force, is under serious hard times with the UDP dismantling of the Commercial Free Zone.

Then to use this to exploit the families depending on the other piece work of construction is heartless. Pablo Marin has completely failed Corozal and the people of that breathtaking district.

What sustains the hardworking and honest Corozalenos is the hope of change, of new vision, compassionate leadership and a PUP push to restore the economic strength in Corozal. The BELIZE TIMES was assured by the PUP standard bearers that the new PUP Government, with political leaders like Gregorio “Papas” Garcia will bring back dignity and jobs to Corozal. Adelante.

Change is coming for Corozal Bay, with the PUP and Team Papas.

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