22 SEP
THINK ABOUT IT HAPPPY BIRTHDAY We Belizeans have much to be thankful for as we celebrate 32 years of becoming an independent nation. We are still a God bearing nation. We have excellent relationship among our diverse ethnic groups. We have a reasonable working form of democracy although it is currently crippled and mocked by a handful of politicians in office. We are a poor people but need to remember the words of our national Anthem that nature has blest us with wealth untold and that with good leadership and proper government we all can and will enjoy the benefits of that blessing. Despite the shocking revelations in the recent report by the Inter American Development Bank, a large number of our young people are still able to get into school across the nation thanks to the efforts of their parents. There are still decent numbers of our people who get up each day and have some form of work to go to. Our hearts bleed for the large number who can find no work. It is unsatisfactory that workers like the Police, BDF, teacher, nurses and Public Officers have been slaving in the trenches and their wages are unable to keep up with the rising cost of living. We have a good country. We are a good people. We can live a better life and deserve to live a better life. And if it is to be, it is up to we. Lord we are grateful for our blessings. Happy Birthday Belize. LEADERSHIP The 10th September is a part of the official program of events for the celebrations. The 10th commemorates the Battle of St. George’s Caye in 1798. George Price did not believe the British version of this so-called battle. He was right. The opposition to George Price, NIP, UDP believed everything the British said and wrote about the battle. It is our prerogative if we wish to believe or choose not to believe. The UDP as a party whole-hearted embraces the British version of the Battle of St. George’s Caye. This year the Prime Minister attended the official ceremonies in a red shirt. Several of his Ministers and party officials attended in red shirts. Red is the colour of the UDP. It is an insult to the people of this country for the Prime Minister to attend an official event, decked out in his party’s colour. When a party wins a general election the government represents all the people, red, blue and Belizeans who support no party. The Prime Minister need to be more mature and bigger than the party fanatics who are a source of division and bitterness in this country. Francis Fonseca, the leader of the Opposition, which represents almost FIFTY percent of the people of Belize, attended the 10 September ceremony. There are those in his party who wish he would snub these partisan events; but he attended. He wore no blue. He wore neutral colours. Big Respect OH NO It is about nine months since Belizean started seeing the television news and documentaries on Al Jazeera. In many ways Al Jazeera is superior to the British BBC and to the American CNN. Thanks to Al Jazeera we learn of events in countries which got no coverage on CNN. We hear the views of other people and other leaders not covered by CNN. Al Jazeera helps to open up the world for our people and our students. This is so important for a country which does not read and has been deprived of information on the wider world of which we are apart. Two weeks ago the cable providers
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THE BELIZE TIMES
2013
switched from Al Jazeera to a watered down off shoot called Al Jazeera America. It is like CNN. The intention is to keep Americans poorly informed and biased towards the non-white people of the earth. We Belizeans deserve more than CNN. We deserve more than Al Jazeera but at least leave us with an alternative to just CNN. The Cable company owes its customer a proper explanation. And if it ain’t satisfactory we need to do something. Information and knowledge is a vital part of our people’s needs if we are to move out of our neo-colonial bondage. “Emancipate yourself from Mental Slavery” - Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”. 32 YEARS 32 years after bearing independent, Belizeans are subjected to eating and drinking and more foreign products. Look at the quantity and variety of imported drinks and foods, all stocked with cancer-causing chemicals and preservatives. Belize is blessed with sufficient rich land and products to keep ourselves eating fresh, healthy and nutritious food. As for fruit drinks the social variety can be staggering. Pineapple, grapefruit, mango, tambran, coconut, golden plum, may plum, cherry, grapes. The list is endless. People stop drinking or eating imported products and help support Belizean farmers. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE 32 years after Independence, the Legislature of Belize has been exposed as a wishywashy, shallow and flakie institution, unworthy of any respect. One long standing UDP member of the House exposed himself and his colleagues by stating publicly that NONE of the Committee of the House are functioning. NONE. This includes the Public Accounts Committee whose very composition is designed to fail. Even if this one Committee wished to do something, it cannot. Its membership is two opposition and four government members. It is the only committee which must be chaired by an opposition member. Recently, the Chairman of the Public Account Committee was candid enough to say, not only that the current committee is getting no work done, but he proposed one way of improving the committee by adding independent Senators form the private sector. The suggestion has been ridiculed and rejected by the Prime Minister, who offered no alternative proposal as to how to better the ineffective committee, which is the only legislative oversight required to monitor the spending of taxpayer’s monies. Respect is therefore in order to the tame National Trade Union Congress which fully endorsed an improved committee. The same respect need to be repeated for the Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to Mark Lizarraga and Kay Menzies for speaking out. It is an important aspect of our democracy for Union leaders, church leader, community leaders and others to speak out on national issues which affect our country. Especially so, where the political leaders show themselves to be too immature, irresponsible and partisan to put the national interests above narrow party political interest. Shame on Dean Barrow and the UDP and major respect to those who support improvement and reform. MAGISTRATE USHER Magistrate Usher is a former high ranking military officer in the BDF. He received the Baton of Honour from Britain top military academy – Sandhurst. Apart from his other academic achieve-
ments he holds a law degree from the University of Guyana. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in law with emphasis on legislative drafting. He was a Magistrate of the Family Court and the regular courts. He has published two poetry books Last month he received a letter that his contract as a Magistrate will not be renewed. Letters also went to re-employ three foreigners as Magistrates, including the foreign Magistrate in Cayo who continues to disrespect the citizens whom she routinely sends to jail for petty matters. A Belizean Magistrate with years of experience, who has done nothing wrong or improper has been sent home while foreigners are brought in to disrespect our people. When is the next general elections? There will be changes. Much. A MINOR MYSTERY There is a half page advertisement of sorts in the Amandala newspaper of 15 September, 2013. Actually, it is not an advertisement. It is a mystery of sorts. The Government of Guatemala, through its Ministry of Foreign relations was expressing its profound condolences to the family of Colin Elrington, and especially his Excellency the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Belize, Wilfred Elrington. Colin Elrington is a brother of Hon Wilfred Elrington. He lives in New York. To our knowledge he holds no government position there. We want to think that is out of the greatest of respect for Hon. Wilfred, that the Guatemalan government has publicly done what they did. And leave it at that. But things are never what they seem. A little healthy skepticism can do no harm or disrespect for that matter. So we
limit the speculation to this. Why the open, public announcement that the Republic of Guatemala is in condolence over the passing of Colin. The usual Protocol is for a letter and maybe even a phone call from Hon Wilfred’s counterpart, the Guatemalan Foreign Minister. The Great George Price used to say that missing a Christening or birthday is one thing but the loss of a loved one is a major matter to a family and we should pay respect and condolences if we know the family. Maybe the Guats are practicing some of those words of wisdom. CAROL CABRAL We offer our condolence to the family of Carol Cabral who was laid to rest in Belize City at the cemetery. Carol led an illustrious life and was a pleasant person always willing to help her fellow human beings. At the time of her passing she was an Accountant at the Port Authority office on North Front Street. She was an active member of the Lions Club and became the first woman Lion head in Belize. She also travelled as far as Russia for training in her worker’s union days. She was much loved and will be greatly missed. TINY On Wednesday morning 18th September his worship the Mayor of Belize City around 10:30am had some kind of ceremony on the new Four Hundred Thousand dollars Battle field Park. A new bust of labour hero Antonio Soberanis was unveiled. A tiny group of 25 person mostly city council employees attended The pedestrians and passers by look and went their way.