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THE BELIZE TIMES
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Local genius,
Jonas Sanchez, passed 16 CXCs BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 By Alton Humes Genius is not an accident. It can be a gift, sure; sometimes it’s a curse….. but it is not an accident. And for a Belize City-based student being blessed with such genius, it’s become a reminder to the rest of us who continue to dabble in doing nothing with their gifts to take a second look inside our selves and ‘harness’ the best within us. In May of this year, the BELIZE TIMES published a pair of stories with regard to the flurry of activity surrounding ‘Graduation Season’. I interviewed a pair of extremely gifted Edward P. Yorke High School students, Jonas Sanchez & Shameca Acosta, while they were in the middle of preparing for their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams (CSECs for short, and colloquially known in the Caribbean and Belize as the CXC’s). Well, we are mighty pleased to report that Jonas and Shameca are amongst the top students in this iconic and prestigious exam. But the “person” of the hour (or moment, as it were) is Jonas. He is (by private estimates) the first Belizean candidate to take – and pass – 16 CXC exams. [The Ministry of Education’s “official” findings will not see the light of day until at least November, and we failed to get any early indicators via phone on Tuesday.] In no particular order, the 16 CXC passes (13 Grade 1s, 2 Grade 2, and a Grade 3) were in the following subject areas: Office Administration, Physics, Social Studies, Spanish, Technical Drawing, Visual Arts, Building Technology (Woodworking), Chemistry, Electronic Documents Preparation and Management (EDPM), English A (Language), English B (Literature), Human & Social Biology, Information Technology, Inte-
The Party is nothing but the vanguard of the people, the active organ of the people, working at all times in the service of the people.”
From the ghetto streets
Mayhem
grated Science, Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering Technology. (A total of BZ$750.00, paid with the support of EPYHS principal Mr. Roderick Cardinez, was invested to take these subjects.) For the ever-humble Jonas, the routine was fairly easy, even if some of the subjects (Mechanical Engineering Technology, Visual Arts and Woodworking, for instance) were not. Over two weeks of intensive preparation, including 11 School-Based Assessments, was part of the overall game plan to success. But there were snags in the ‘web’: a busted home computer and having to commute to a local library to do his work, the Visual Arts SBA being a complete surprise which ended up costing many candidates a good grade, and most unfortunate of all, having some moderate anxiety just before the CXCs were to start. But with the ease and grace befitting a dignified performer, he conquered it all, and he’s not about to rest on his laurels. Although he is currently not attending UB due to its Engineering Program (his chosen major) not meeting his gargantuan expectations, he’s settling for gaining his A.S. in Mathematics and Physics at St. John’s Junior College. But here’s the kicker: he’ll stay at SJCJC in the interim, while making preparations to sit the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE) in technical engineering and other subjects. And he will maintain some courses at UB, in hopes of earning a degree there in the future, and he’s even making plans to
Dear Editor, The year 2008 was when this U.D.P. government came to power and that was the same year mayhem came down upon the people of this country. What went wrong? That is an answer we all would like to know. It was like fire falling from the sky. That year was a disaster, and right then I knew that this country was heading in the wrong direction. When you think of U.D.P. you think of Mayhem because that is what they are. The way Belizeans are living today, killing up each other without any meaning, it shows that Dean Barrow doesn’t care about what happens in this country and in the streets. Mr. Prime Minister, I know you watch Channel 7 News every night and I know you see the mess you and your government
sit a Cambridge A-Level Exam in Mathematics. While he has some slight concerns with his performance (wondering if he’s done enough to earn Mathematics honors from the CXC Committee, querying about his results in Social Studies and English B (Literature)), it is crystal clear he’s a genius in Belize. And while Jonas can all but enjoy being at the top, his fellow alumni at EPYHS, including Shameca, can celebrate too. Shameca achieved 11 CXCs (shares with at least 10 of her fellow students), while 2 more earning 12 CXC passes a piece. (St. John’s College unofficially has 2 students gaining 15 CXC passes a piece.) As noted before, Jonas, despite being confident, had his ups and downs. But since being ‘up’ is far better, let us, as Belizeans seek to emulate nothing else but the strong examples of our own Belizean brothers and sister not ‘bowed down’ by the tragedies of our own lives, and in so doing, create something real for all Belizeans to respect and behold.
have brought upon us. So if you did care you would have already adjusted the problem and bring solutions to the people. But the best solution this Prime Minister came up with is this bogus G.S.U. that stands for Government Simple Unit. All that this crowd is doing is making chaos and bringing more violence and crime to the streets of Belize City. On the television sometimes we watch what is happening on the world news and maybe what’s happening in Mexico and its drug war. Why I say that is because Friday night on my way back to work it was about 7:30p.m. when I noticed three police trucks coming towards me, but when they passed me I noticed something different about these officers. They were the G.S.U. and what was different about them? They were all wearing masks! It made me feel as if I was in Mexico that night when the G.S.U. passed me to go on a raid. We only see this type of action on the television. Belizeans my point is that this U.D.P. government is a disgrace to society. Mr. Barrow, do the Belizeans a favor and call elections now! Increase the peace. Until next time, Roberto Peyrefitte
THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR
Alberto Vellos OFFICE MANAGER
Fay Castillo McKay PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR
Doreth Bevans
LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST
Chris Williams
MARKETING/ADVERTISING
Rafael Sosa
STAFF REPORTER
Bar tells AG: “No means No” August 30, 2011 On August 25, 2011, the Bar Association of Belize issued a press release confirming the position of the Bar Association of Belize (the “Association”) following the press releases of both the Government of Belize and the Churches on August 22, 2011. The Attorney General in a press release dated August 26, 2011 called on the Executive to withdraw the Association’s release. The issuance of the press re-
lease by the Executive was within the powers of the duly elected Executive and in consonance with the position taken by the membership on July 27, 2011. That position clearly called for the removal from the Belize Constitution (Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2011 of the proposed amendments to section 2 and section 69 of the Belize Constitution. In the circumstances the Association will not withdraw its press release. (Press release)
Carla Bradley TYPIST
Rachel Arana OFFICE ASSISTANT
Roberto Peyrefitte Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd.
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