Belize Times April 24, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

1

Issue No. 4741

SUNDAY April 24, 2011

Cardona Wages War OW East supporters want Dean Barrow to “kneel” before Hon. Marcel

Hon. Marcel Cardona

Orange Walk District, April 19, 2011 A bye-election in the Orange Walk East may be looming, as its area representative Hon. Marcel Cardona, seems to be strategizing his final, special farewell gift for Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the UDP. A statement released by supporters of Hon. Marcel Cardona on Monday April 18th states that in solidarity with the maverick politician, they are renouncing membership and participation to the United Democratic Party.

The supporters said they don’t want to be affiliated with the UDP; therefore, they would change the

Senior Citizen

brutally murdered

Victim was 84 yr. old brother of Rt. Hon. George Price!

Samuel Price

PUP LEADER TOURS BELLA VISTA See page 11

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 Belize’s latest murder bore no relation to the regular gang style execution, nor does it have any semblance of revenge killing or the domestic dispute scenario. In fact, it happened in the least likely of categories, the elderly, if we are to go by trends. The victim, Samuel William Price, 84, was the younger brother of Father of the Nation and former Prime Continued on page 4

Hon. John Briceno greeting Belizeans in the Toledo East area

name of their group from the UDP-connected Orange Walk East Committee, to a new, nonpartisan organization: the Orange Walk East Upliftment Committee.

The release says that the move

is a response to the effective expulsion forced on Cardona by the UDP. The group said it invites persons to fight “against the oppression and tyranny of our presContinued on page 4

SECRET BELIZE/ GUAT MEETING? Belize City, April 19, 2011 Not a word has been uttered by Belizean officials, neither in the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Defense, nor Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding a meeting which was reportedly held between Belize’s and Guatemala’s security officials four days ago.

The only notice of the

“high-level” meeting has come from a press release issued by the Mexican Embassy indicating that the April 15th encounter was chaired by Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa chaired.

According to the release Continued on page 35

Who put the hit on Eric Chang?

Belize City, April 15, 2011 Despite orders from the top that no one makes public the Customs’ raid of UDP Belize City Councillor, Eric Chang, the hairy Continued on page 35

Eric Chang

See page 15

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, April 24, 2011

From the ghetto streets

“Fronting All Along” Resign Bar Ass. Darrel Bradley!

Dear Mr. Editor, A short time ago Dean Barrow called the whole Bar Association of Belize: PUP. He threatened to pass a law to deal with that situation. There was an article in your newspaper pointing out that the Bar Association was infested with a lot of UDPs, maybe more than PUPs. The two highest posts, president and vice president, were both directly connected to Denys Barrow, the brother of the UDP Prime Minister.

That being obvious what should bother us all, is that all the lawyers who are independent minded or PUP have sat by and let the UDP use the Bar Association to launch Darrel Bradley’s campaign for Mayor. Bradley is the son of the nasty mouth/talk show host, Joe Bradley, who has been rejected by his own party in several UDP conventions.

This son of UDP Joe Bradley was recently handpicked to be Vice President of the Bar Association. He took over from UDP’s Naima Badillo nee Barrow, who took over from UDP’s Richard Stuart.

What is happening to the membership of the Bar Association of Belize, are they asleep?

If the Bar Association is a non-political organization, then they should invite Darrell Bradley to pretend to be honorable and resign. This will not happen because as is the father so is the son. The bunch of lawyers who make up the Bar Association should be concerned about how bad this looks. Or to them is it only political if the person is a PUP? If the person is UDP, then he or she, is pampered and powdered? How can Joe Bradley’s son be running for public office as mayor and still hold the post of Vice President of the Bar Association of Belize?

The president or vice president votes

on who is appointed as magistrates and judges, and I found out that they make big decisions on laws and crime. Maybe that’s why nothing has been said about the Prime Minister’s unconstitutional and treacherous “preventative detention” proposal.

The lawyers of the Bar Association should do the right thing for once and make this politically biased and publicly partisan member of the UDP resign. I vaguely remember him on a boring UDP TV show before the 2008 elections and after that as a host on the UDP talk show, of former glory, Lik Wave. Bradley has the charisma of a wet sponge and with his father’s coaching, he should be ashamed.

This is the same man who fought the case against a single mother, Sharole Saldivar, so she would not get any money to feed her children. Bradley persecuted this lady at the Court of Appeal; he sided with Zenaida Moya, who Saldivar and a group of others at City Council had blown the whistle after discovering her improper administration. Moya was later charged criminally.

Yet Bradley was the lawyer that headed the defense of Moya’s corruption and victimization of the single mother. Is this the man the Bar Association wants to help as he continues to follow in Zenaida’s footsteps and further her legacy while being protected by the lawyers at the Bar Association?

Will the real Bar Association please stand up and send this pretentious lawyer out of office? Resign or the people of Belize City who have lived in garbage and gun shots under your UDP CITCO will deal with you both!

Signed, Candise Fuller

Dear Editor As Belizeans continue struggling and live in fear, can’t even find jobs, and don’t know where the next meal will come for their family, the question we all ask ourselves is, is there a future for us with this Prime Minister? Is he taking us the correct way for better life?

Hell no..! The last three years of Dean Borrow and his worthless government gave us more pain, more crime, more tax, more hard time and more lies but no solutions to issues affecting our country and our lives.

With this government you can expect the worst of worst. When they say something they do the opposite. Here we have a Prime Minister that likes to preach and pretend that he is with the Belizean people and only the Belizean people. Well guess again, Dean Barrow is taking the Belizean people for fools out yah. The reason I say that is because it is true. Dean Barrow was fronting before the 2008 election about Lord Ashcroft and he is still fronting now. Let me take the people of Belize back to the past. Before Barrow became Prime Minister, it is well known that he worked as Ashcroft’s attorney for many, many years and how the U.D.P. received a lot of money for their campaign in

past elections. So you see Belizeans da fool the talk but da nuh fool the listen.

How could you believe Barrow when he says anything he does Belizeans will benefit from it? Remember mouth says anything. Like so much land he gave to Kimano Barrow and an oil company when we know it’s the foreigners that will get majority of the shares. Like the war he says he has against Lord Ashcroft and to fight him for the Belizean people but on the other hand the U.D.P. having secret meetings behind closed doors with that same person they call “enemy”.

I just don’t understand these two timing U.D.P. gangsters. Mr. Prime Minister, the Belizean people know you, your government and the so called Belizean who wants to be a Jew was fronting on us all along, but don’t worry your time is clicking and you will get spanking for fronting the Belizean on nothing.

P.S. Can somebody please inform those three dodo birds on Wave morning show that the UDP secret meeting with Ashcroft behind close doors is out? So they need to stop with their crap and tell the Belizean the truth because we know the true U.D.P. now and we see them for who they are. Till the next time, guidance.

Until next week, Roberto Peyrefitte

UB students protest high crime Belize City, April 18, 2011 On Thursday, April 14th over a hundred and fifty students of the University of Belize Belize City and Belmopan Campuses, SJCJC, and COLA protested along the streets of Belize City for peace in our community.

Although the numbers were not big, the message was, as the youth of our country stood in solidarity against the crime wave that is sweeping our nation.

With thirty eight murders since the start of the year, it is a

clear sign that drastic measures are needed to address the national issue of crime, and the students of tertiary level along with concerned citizens and families of victims that have fallen under the crime wave, made one step forward in voicing their concerns.

THE BELIZE TIMES EDITOR

Alberto Vellos OFFICE MANAGER

Fay Castillo McKay

Onion producers face crisis in the north Orange Walk District, April 15, 2011

By Carmelita Perez A few months ago the future of the Sugar Industry was at peril and the livelihoods of some 6,000 cane farmers were at stake. Today there is another group of farmers in northern Belize whose future is uncertain but unlike cane farmers, onion producers are not receiving the necessary assistance to sell their produce.

Ironically, the market has become a competition between the small, local producers and Belize Marketing Board, the government-appointed body that is mandated by law to protect local farmers from danger and harm.

The Marketing Board has gone from protector to abuser, as it is now hurting onion producers and putting their livelihoods at risk.

In the month of February, the Mar-

keting Board imported a huge shipment of onions from Holland, 195,000 pounds to be exact. With local production estimated at 1.5 million pounds, this caused an oversupply in the market. And that’s where the problem lies now because while the Marketing Board is selling a 50lb sack of onion for $15.00, local producers are struggling to sell their onions. Onion producers have even had to reduce their price for a 50lb sack of onion from $55.00 to $20.00 in order to compete with the Marketing Board. And even after lowering their prices, producers are millions of dollars because their produce is not being sold but is spoiling in the fields.

In San Carlos Village alone, 18 of the 26 members of the New River Farmers Cooperative have harvested some 375,000 lbs of onion or 7,500 sacks of onions. Each 50lb sack was expected to be sold at $50.00, translating to some $375,000. But due to the

oversupply, onion producers of San Carlos, similar to those of Cristo Rey and Little Belize, are unable to sell their produce.

With a $125,000 loan facilitated by the Saint Francis Xavier Credit Union, farmers were able to invest in onion production this year, but their future is uncertain.

The Chairman of San Carlos Village, Cristino Perez, had approached Area Representative Mark Pech for assistance for onion producer, but he says it was like talking to deaf ears. “I have spoken to Mr. Mark Pech, the area representative, but he says he doesn’t know much about the Marketing Board, so there’s not much he could do”.

The onion producers said they will keep toiling the soil and struggling to make a living for their families, despite the problems they are facing. They hope that at some point, Government will show compassion and listen to their plight.

PRINTING/PERSONNEL SUPERVISOR

Doreth Bevans LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams STAFF REPORTER

Carla Bradley TYPIST

Rachel Arana OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte Printed & Published By The Belize Times Ltd. #3 Queen Street P.O. BOX 506 Belize City, Belize Tel: 671-8385 Email: belizetimesad@yahoo.com editortimes@yahoo.com

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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APOLOGY Spiteful UDP makes waste of useful space inside market while poor vendors are left of the dirty street sides

Rotten CITCO

Belize City, April 19, 2011 On November 22, 2010, the public was forced to watch the then criminally charged Zenaida Moya use her office to curry favor with foul mouthed Michael Finnegan. It is public knowledge that Moya courted and flirted with Finnegan to have him hand over Mesopotamia to her. Part of the sweetening was to stroke Finnegan’s twisted ego by naming the public market after him.

This story has not been lost on the BELIZE TIMES, as part of a series of follow up investigative reports to come, we revisited the former Queen’s Square Market to find out what is the current situation after the cameras and Moya’s solicitation had been turned off.

Sadly, we found that the market situation had become worst. To paraphrase Hubert Elrington the market is a failed attempt at glitter but definitely

has no substance.

The UDP CITCO during their under depositing of the over deposits, decided that they would try to alleviate and “upgrade” the Queen Square Market. In true UDP fashion they stubbornly and without any consultation with the public and vendors of the market spent a hefty sum to create an expensive concrete cluster that no one could afford.

The idea was to clear off the Canal side and to free up traffic we remember quite well when UDP’s TV monkey, Roger Espejo, led the charge to move the squatting vendors.

On market day, we visited the unfortunately named Finnegan Market, where the complaints were steady and the conditions honestly worst. Just inches away from a high canal smell and under a sign that read “NO VEN-

“Raindrops” Swan

to spend Easter behind bars

James “Raindrops” Swan

Tuesday, April 20, 2011 Notorious figure, James “Raindrops” Swan, 53, found out that he will be spending the Easter behind bars after a police raid at this residence on Monday morning resulted in the discovery of a sizable find: a magazine said to not match Swan’s 9mm gun, 176 grams of cannabis and $15,000 in US and Belize currency.

The search by the Police was done at Swan’s house at mile 1 on Northern Highway from 4 to shortly after 10am. It unearthed quite a sizable stash: a magazine that didn’t match his licensed 9 mm, $15,715 in US

and Belize currency, and 176 grams of cannabis. The cash and magazine were discovered inside his bedroom, while the cannabis was found in two different quantities in his children’s quarters, James Jr, 25, and Christie Swan, 19. Taken to court along with him were his wife, Bernadette, son, James Jr, 25, daughter, Christie, 19, and Nicole Rodriguez, his son’s girlfriend.

In court Christie Swan pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and was granted bail of $5,000. Swan Jr and Rodriguez were charged with possession of 12 grams, to which Rodriguez pleaded guilty and was fined $3,000.

Even though Swan pleaded not guilty to his charge, he had to be remanded by the new law until May 18th.

After the Income Tax Department assessed the older Swan’s, they withheld half of the confiscated cash, which works out to almost $8,000, for the government.

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The Publisher of the Belize Times Newspaper wishes to unreservedly withdraw all assertions made by us upon the character, integrity and conduct of Mr. Anwar Barrow in the articles entitled “Make the switch” and “And Then” published in this newspaper on the 7th of February, 2010, which made varying disparaging allegations about him.

We acknowledge that there was no foundation for any of our allegations and express our regret to Mr. Anwar Barrow for having published the articles and for any embarrassment and injury to his reputation which may have been caused to him.

DORS” was a hard working fisherman selling his catch. We asked him why he was not in the market, and he responded candidly saying “Mami, me kiyah afford een deh, dey piple [CITCO] tink we dah money bag”.

Another vendor , who spoke only Spanish and was visibly afraid to be persecuted, told us, “…if we go in there, there is no space…and we will [sic] have to carry up our price, then no one will buy…”

So we ran an experiment. Outside the market, we bought a pound of red potatoes which we were able to barter down to ninety five cents a pound. Then we entered the ‘fancy’ market and attempted to buy a pound of the same red potatoes, alarmingly the price ranged from $1.25 to $1.50. None of the vendors inside would give us a discounted price, as the child selling at the stall told us “we have tu pay, we rent”.

In a society where Belizeans are sometimes more concerned with the affordability of commodities than with the quality, this market is not what bargain shoppers wanted, nor is it good for business. So who was it good for?

Upon leaving, the traffic situation was terrible, despite a huge open space inside the fenced market to the opposite end from the bus terminal, vendors clogged both sides of the West Collet Canal. In a city plagued with crime and public daylight shootings of crowded places, to have a congestion of traffic is a grenade waiting to explode, and the UDP would again be creating and adding to the crime problem in the city.

CITCO should find spaces for these vendors inside the compound. The UDP messes up everything. There is ample unused space but UDP CITCO and Zenaida see our faithful farmers and tireless vendors as dollar signs, not as people.

COLA and PSU demand Moses Sulph’s reinstatment

By Carla Bradley The Coalition Organised for Liberty through Action, the Public Service Union and Belizeans for Justice have called for the reinstatement of Moses Sulph, who was fired by the Government from his data clerk position at the Supreme Court Registry on March 8th.

It is believed that Sulph’s firing an act of UDP vindictiveness, as a result of his activism as he has been critical of the Barrow Administration.

Jacqueline Sanchez, President of the Public Service Union stated “Moses was told immediately after the sleeping over at the prime minister’s office that he must remove himself from his desk because an investigation is going to happen”.

Sulph sought the advice of the Union, and was advised to report to work even though he was told not to. The PSU advised Sulph to write a letter to his supervisor informing him of what was taking place. Following the advice, and having received no response, Sulph was stunned when he was handed a letter stating that he was

Moses Sulph

terminated immediately.

PSU’s Sanchez mentioned that workers cannot be victimized because of the political party they support and called on the government to stop victimizing the people. She stated, “you don’t want to quiet advocacy in this country. Is it that we don’t want people to know what’s going on? You don’t need any vanguard.”

The group did not indicate what it would do if the Government refused to give in to its demand, but it said it was planning another meeting to decide its next course of action.

As president of COLA, Sulph recently expressed his Opposition to oil drilling in protected areas and offshore, and carried out a camp out in front of the Prime Minister’s office in support.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Senior Citizen

brutally murdered

Continued from page 1

Minister, Rt. Hon. George Price. While it was against the least likely of category of victims, Mr Price had come under a number of attacks over recent times, in the white and green two story house called “Tarpon Cove” off the Northern Highway just past the Haulover Bridge where he lived alone.

This thirty-eighth murder of 2011 was as gruesome and heartless as could be. Someone forced open the grilled door before prying open the wooden door to Price’s second flat between Friday night and early Saturday morning, and bashed in his head. His nephew, Clement Usher, who went to take him for his usual Saturday morning shopping, made the grisly discovery sometime around eight that morning.

The attack, said investigators, appeared to have started from Mr Price’s bedroom and ended in the bathroom where his limp body was found slouched over on the floor and with his head leaning on the bathtub. The

Cardona

Wages War Continued from page 1

ent Prime Minister and his vindictive UDP Government”.

It also says that in unity the group believes will have the might to “make Prime Minister Dean Barrow, with all the power of the State behind him, bend to or kneel before the will of the people and the people’s duly elected leader for the Orange Walk East Constituency, Honourable Marcel Cardona Cervantes”.

This latest episode of what began as an intra-party drama promises to enter into a furious and unpredictable stage, with Cardona and his supporters rejecting the UDP, and the UDP now wanting vengeance, with the only remaining option to consider the UDP seat vacant; therefore, leading to a byelection in Orange Walk East.

On March 25th, in a thunderous speech inside the halls of the National Assembly, Hon. Cardona lashed out on his own Party Leader, Prime Minister Dean Barrow, for what he said was the deliberate neglect of the Orange Walk East constituency. Cardona said Barrow and his Deputy Leader Gaspar Vega masterminded his defeat at a political convention, and said the Prime Minister was far from the principled leader he claimed to be before the 2008 general elections.

Cardona was then expelled from the UDP, when its Chairman Patrick Faber wrote him indicating they found his statements to be a resignation from the party and would therefore accept his “constructive resignation”. Faber also indicated in interviews that Cardona would not be allowed to sit on the Government side of the House of Representatives.

autopsy results certify that he had suffered a fractured skull as a result of the wound.

It will be a painstaking task for Mr Price’s family to try and determine where his killer or killers stole anything other than the small .38 revolver that is missing because he lived alone. His other licensed weapon, a rifle, was intact. While a motive for the homicide is yet to be established, police have detained two minors and a man in connection with the incident. They have also taken fingerprint samples from the residence to help them with the investigations.

Mr Price will be laid to rest on Wednesday at the Holy Redeemer Church. He is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, seven sisters, and his older brother, Rt. George Price.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Honduran found dead in Placencia Lagoon Belize City, April 15, 2011 Police are awaiting the results of a post mortem to decipher whether the body of a Honduran man found dead on Thursday morning was the result of foul play.

Around 8am on Thursday Police made it to an area on the Pla-

cencia lagoon where they found the corpse belonging to 57 year old Honduran fisherman, Arsenio Reyes.

Reyes had reportedly left home on Wednesday morning to go fishing, but did not return, which raised alarms for his family.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

DEAN BARROW’S RAP SHEET

His mouthing is an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness Political leadership demands that the national interest be served first. It demands that leadership is not self-serving but that it is paramount in the best interest of the nation.

As Prime Minister, Mr. Dean Barrow has failed. For the many thousands of voters who risked a change of government, he and his administration have failed them miserably Even one of his backbenchers and former Minister, recently revealed the lack of stature in the man who only wanted to be Prime Minister. In his own delusions, he may even consider himself as Emperor, albeit without clothes.

But even as the Leader of the parliamentary opposition, he was putting his personal interests before that of the nation. It could be argued that Dean Barrow’s self interest and flagrant misconduct have been the catalyst for the escalating crime wave in Belize. Mr. Barrow, while in opposition, came under heavy criticism by the international press and the United States government for defending certain accused drug traffickers “making it possible for them to have a better than fair hearing”.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST Because of this lucrative practice, Mr. Barrow, in Opposition, displayed little or no good judgment in the type of cases he selected, given his privilege as a parliamentary leader. At times there were conflicts of interest in Mr. Barrow’s role as a parliamentarian and that as an Attorney. This was not always in the national interest. It has no doubt played a role in his inability to govern.

Mr. Barrow then resorted to calling for civil disobedience. This was in his bid for political power and to fulfill his thirst to become Prime Minister. He incited violence. This led to arson and the destruction of property in Belize City and in Belmopan. He incited civil disorder verging on the edge of anarchy.

Now, as Prime Minister, he is having a hard time looking his allied thugs in their faces, having tried and failed to negotiate a truce with these outlaws.

But his means to an end worked as he attained the lofty position as Prime Minister.

Now he has taken an about turn on civil disobedience. During the riots by cane farmers in the North he ordered the police to take out their guns. This caused mayhem and the senseless death of an innocent and hardworking father and bread winner. Never has Mr. Barrow apologized for his indiscretions.

NUMEROUS FAILED ATTEMPTS TO STOP CRIME He has, with much fanfare, tried to introduce numerous measures to stop the escalating crime and worse, the rising murder rate that is now plaguing the nation. He instituted the toothless “Operation Jaguar”. That, for all intents and purpose has failed. He grandstanded that the major cause of crime was the result of a criminal ring in the Police ranks. We are still waiting for him to present the evidence.

Then he formed a multi-layered taskforce, dubbed “Restore Belize”, to address crime and related issues. The formation of this task force was doomed to failure. From the outset it was obvious that it was layered in bureaucracy and would have been a management nightmare and doomed to fail. It is clearly not working. Yet he has chosen to ignore the grim reality presented in the Gayle report. In fact, Mr. Barrow saw this as an attack on the failure of his administration.

Mr. Barrow then appointed a new Police Minister. This followed on the apparent incompetence of his Minister of National Security, following passport scandals, corruption and other indiscretions in the Ministry of National Security that had responsibility for the Police. But he did nothing to discipline his Minister of National Security. He just couldn’t. Instead, he reduced his portfolio. He appointed a non-elected Police Minister who was supposed to have dedicated himself to fighting crime without fear or favour. Is this not what elected representatives, by oath, are supposed to do? By this simple, perhaps overlooked statement, Mr. Barrow has admitted that his politics trumps governance and hence his inability to rein-in his allied thugs.

STRONGING THE MEDIA Mr. Barrow’s rap sheet gets even longer: Like the dictator that he is aspiring to be, or maybe has already become, he has tried to silence certain sections of the media. We suspect that this move was triggered by their aggressive investigation into the passport scandal. This unconstitutional move backfired with a barrage of international criticism. He was forced into humility and reneged. Curiously, his darlings in the rest of the media did not utter any dissent. They have been silenced by being recipients of income from government advertising and in return promoting (its) government propaganda.

The PM’s high-jacking of Belize Telecommunications Ltd. from a major investor “in the national interest” is a major crime in the way it was handled.

But his Mayors made a “poppyshow” (puppet show) of him by posing in London for photos with Lord Ashcroft, the man Mr. Barrow declared as his “arch enemy”.

Then he struck, what appears to be a “sweetheart” deal with his ex-wife by paying her millions to defend this move. Shareholders in the company are yet to complain how this is affecting their dividends. She has, in fact, become the de-facto Solicitor General while the substantive holder of the post sits in his office like a paper doll.

LIES, DAMN LIES Mr. Barrow has also lied about potential investors who were “interested” in strategic holding in the telephone company. It has been months and they have not materialized. Consequently, the thousands of contributors to Social Security have been fleeced of $50 million which Mr. Barrow ordered to be invested in BTL and disguised as “an investment”. This money is exactly what is needed to role out the National Health Insurance Scheme to help mostly the poor who are dying for better medical services. A shareholder has had the guts to challenge this conflict of interest in our Courts.

If Mr. Barrow wants to fight crime there are numerous not-too-difficult things he can do.

He can stop his rude and crude misconduct and that of his cohorts in the Legislature. It does not make good listening for parents and students who are interested in our national affairs. This is also an aphrodisiac for the criminals, gangs and thugs who had helped Mr. Barrow in his vicious moves to gain power and to hold on to it.

Mr. Barrow should also stop his Party organ radio station and paper from dishing out their daily dose of vile and mean attacks and the character assassinations of those who democratically oppose him (including women), or who dare to voice their dissenting views of his administration.

These are but small steps in dealing with the national security issue of crime. It is an issue, which has become more important that the Guatemalan claim, a claim which has turned into a perennial political red herring.

But how committed could Dean Barrow be in dealing with this serious national issue when he has slashed the police budget and withdrew funding for a forensic laboratory? When only our days after the new budget came into effect, he told the nation he needed to scramble around for funds for basic police equipment. How serious is he when his Police Minister continues to humiliate the rank and file of the Police Department and publicly reveals to the criminal elements, Police strategies and deployment tactics? Ridiculous!

THE ROOT CAUSE OF CRIME A government has to tackle both crime and the root cause of crime, beginning with the naked corruption at the highest levels of this Barrow administration. His recent intention of introducing another unconstitutional move for trial without jury is worrying, especially since he has overstepped his constitutional purview by tampering with the judiciary.

Poverty, inequality, joblessness, the proliferation of guns and drugs and inhumane living conditions all provide a breeding ground for crime. Yet Mr. Barrow has given lip service to his pro-poor agenda with a paltry look-good budget allocation for poor people, but not across the political spectrum.

Mr. Barrow has more than grandstanded on this issue of crime. He has seriously lost credibility. Every word that he has spoken “is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness”, to borrow a quote from Samuel Beckett.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Accused police imposter,

Aaron Wilson,

guilty of theft & aggravated assault

Aaron Wilson

BELIZE CITY, Tues. April 19, 2011

By Roy Davis Accused fake cop Aaron Wilson, 21, who was charged with theft and aggravated assault of an indecent nature, was found guilty today in the #1 Magistrate’s Court.

Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie did not give him custodial sentences. Instead, she fined him $1,500 for aggravated assault and $700 for theft. She gave him until May 19 to pay the fine.

If he defaults on payment he will serve 6 months for theft and 2 years for aggravtaed assault.

Wilson was also charged with using threatening words but that charge was dismissed yesterday when the complainant, Malcolm Vasquez, did not appear in court to testify.

The incident for which he was penalised today occurred on July 15, 2010. The complainant, a 19 year old woman, testified that she was walking on Newtown Barracks when she met Wilson who was driving a vehicle and was dressed in police uniform.

She said Wilson offered her a ride and she accepted. Wilson drove her to Vasquez’ residence on Princess Margaret Drive and after meeting Vasquez she got back into his vehicle.

The woman said Wilson drove her to her home and while they were in his vehicle he sexually assaulted her and stole her cell phone. Wilson testified and denied he committed the offences .

He admitted to meeting the woman and claimed that the woman wanted him to take her to Palm Island. He said he told the woman Palm Island was closed and she told him to take her to Princess Hotel and Casino and he did.

Wilson said he is ging to appeal the conviction.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Belize needs a Cross Country win Belize City, April 19, 2011 Holy Saturday, April 23, 2011 is finally here. All the predictions are heated and the cooler talk is feverish. Cross country is the single most unifying sporting event in Belize. It deserves this title, as it is one of the longest standing emblems of “Belizeaness”. At eighty two (82) years running, the Cross Country is as patriotic as the national anthem and the People’s United Party.

We will all rise to the blowing of the bugle and be childishly excited to root for the Belizean riders.

The first race on April 6, 1928 was won by Elston Kerr with a total time of twenty one hours, twenty nine minutes and thirty one seconds but covered 188 miles at a grueling speed of 8.8 miles per hour.

Belizean Charles Lewis is big. He is the only Belizean to have won the garland with three record times; 1990, 1991 and 1994. His best record breaking time being five hours fifty seven minutes. He

stands there as the last real Belizean warrior amongst a host of foreigners, all of whom are Americans, who had the best time in the peloton. This includes the record holder, American Ryan Baumann who boasts the time of a lightning fast five hours forty minutes and twelve seconds.

As we are marveling at the statistics and get the ice for our coolers on Saturday, BELIZE TIMES notes that the fastest average pace has been 25.1 miles per hour in 2008.

There have been 16 foreign winners.

In 1971 the first winner was Mexican Pablo Calderon, however in the last 24 years we have had 15 foreign winners. The excuse has always been that for local riders this is a part time hobby but this does nothing to quiet the national thirst for Belizean glory.

We long for the days of Robert Ferguson, Ashton Gill, Alpheus Williams and Matthew Smiling. Belizeans are sure that Shalini Zabaneh will keep the female garland “on lock” in Belize.

Belize has had a measure of regional success in international competitions includ-

ing Central American and Caribbean Games (CACG), Central American Games (CAG) and the Commonwealth Games (CWG).

Our performance is the rated as the best in the Caribbean in the CACG amongst giants like Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia and Costa Rica. So what happens home?

The humble and articulate Shane Vasquez was the last home grown boy to win, in 2006. So who is the next Belizean to step up?

Well, here is the BELIZE TIMES short list of Belizean cyclists to watch. Our power ratings! At the top of any pundit’s list must be the tenacious Marlon Castillo. He was the envied rider to take the controversial rank of “first Belizean” at fourth place last year.

He is the king of the short race like the Krem and Belmopan classics but his big race stamina is “shakey”. He is strong and easily the most talented Belizean but the window on his age and body is closing. Reports are that he has been in Guatemala training for two weeks.

Continued on page 31

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

FROM THE DESK OF THE

PARTY LEADER

A Time to Care In the Bible it is written that Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus was buried and found it empty. The stone had been rolled away and the human remains of Jesus were gone.

Imagine the shock these two women must have felt that morning when they found an empty grave. Of course at that moment little did they know the profound effect that this would have on believers for this is our Christian salvation.

Today Christians all over the world celebrate this great moment and the acclamation: “Jesus has risen!” It is a powerful message of hope and salvation. For this reason the Easter weekend is first and foremost a very spiritual time in Belize.

While there are many who would argue that politics and religion should never mix and indeed it would be correct for us to say that pastoral leaders are much better at explaining and interpreting the scriptures than politicians, all of us in Belize can find hope in this great Easter message. This is a message of peace in a time when our nation is struggling with violence and the senseless loss of life, whether it is the shootings in Belize City or young girls taking their own lives out West in Benque Viejo del Carmen.

This Easter, Jesus’ Message is once

again reminding us to love each other, it is also a call to serve those who are in need for it is said that when we do our best to help one another and we show our humanity we become more Christ like.

This Easter many of us will go to our place of worship and pray especially for one another and for the nation. We are all weary from the struggles facing our nation. In the eyes of our children we see fear and for most of us, our young nation is in a crisis. Now more than ever the example of service, sacrifice, peace, respect for each other and kindness is needed in our nation.

Of course we cannot ignore the fact that Easter time is also family time in Belize. Whether we line the streets and highways to watch the annual cross country event or we escape to one of our beautiful villages or to the cayes, we will all gather together to relax with our family. At this time we also visit our friends and we provide special treats for our children so let us all enjoy this time together and renew our love for one another and for Belize.

My prayer this Easter is for peace in our land, for an end to the senseless violence and for us to respect one another.

And on behalf of the People’s United Party have a restful, safe and blessed Easter.

EASTER MESSAGE

REV’D CANON LEROY FLOWERS, MBE The Empty Tomb means life - Luke 24:5 “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”

When Mary the mother of Jesus along with Mary Magdalene, and the other women came to the tomb where Jesus was buried, imagine their surprise to not only find the Tomb empty, but guarded by Angels. The great mystery. The Empty Tomb: this is the foundation of the Christian Faith.

Jesus struggled in the garden the night before he died, to accept God’s plan. He had to trust God not only to die but that God would raise Him on the third day. Imagine Jesus’ fear, doubt and struggle in trusting God to keep the promise of bringing Him back from the dead. Nevertheless, He had enough faith in God to submit to God’s will. He was obedient to the end:- “Not my will, but thine be done,” said Jesus.

Obedience to God’s will gives us peace, strength, success and confidence in the midst of our daily struggle and challenges.

Paul reminds us in the letter to the Romans, Chapter 8 that nothing can separate us from God. That assurance

is ours today as well.

Christianity has stood the test of time, with all its errors. We his children are redeemed by His death and resurrection.

Therefore the resurrection of Jesus offers:New beginning New hope New life The restoration of man to God and his fellow man Light over darkness Love over hatred Reconciliation over separation.

As we Christians recall the anguish and triumph of Jesus, it behoves us to join in restoring man to God, and to each other. To shine the light of peace, hope, joy and love in the midst of the darkness of evil that is seeking to engulf us all.

We have a right to celebrate and give thanks for what Christ has done for us. May the risen Lord lives in our lives and guide us in our dealings with the world in which, we are called to live.

A blessed, joyful, peaceful Easter to one and all.

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8

THE BELIZE TIMES

101 Reasons

against Barrow’s Budget

55

. We are sick and tired of the excuses in this budget. We can’t do this, we can’t do that but when it comes to Ministers’ salaries, new vehicle, travelling expenses, etc. there is no shortage here – as if to say one ride for us and one ride for the rest of us. . In the land of the blind, the one eye man would be king. This budget lacks insight of the rest of UDP Ministers and back benchers for example how could Cayo be getting more money in the cash transfer program than Toledo which is No. 1 in impoverished areas? . No new taxes. What a big fat lie! Yet the cost of gas is going up and up.

The high cost of super, regular, diesel and kerosene – which is passed on to the people in every other thing – from food, cost of living to burying the dead. . Zero dollars in this budget for a National Cycling Team. Santino says all we need is about ½ million to get this going, but when we checked there is zero cents, zero dollars, under Barrow and the UDP, no National Cycling Team. . Where is the money to fix the civic? Where is it?

The civic has been declared unsafe, for several months now.

With the high level of crime, one wonders why the civic is still in this sordid state. . There is nothing in this Budget for capacity building for City and Town Councils which are all UDPs. Yet with the worst track record with a UDP National government, there is no Budget money for strengthening Town or City Council to ensure that they deliver a better service to the people. . We got to ask over and over again, where is the money for a Forensic Lab? Where is it? With crime at an alltime high, one would think that this government would get it. But no, not an aluminum cent in this budget for a Forensic Lab. Shame! . Not a single cent to strengthen the DPP office’s to gather evidence and get better results in courts. With a dismal conviction rate, one would think that a sense of urgency would apply there but to no avail – what a shame too! . This Budget does not address the need for Belize to increase its production in oil. BNE’s record speaks for itself and the question is what would the Government have done in this budget had we not have oil revenues? Lack of vision in the oil industry. . What is even more troubling in this budget is our right, yes, our Constitutional Right to education is being undermined because of waste and lack of vision by this UDP government. How can we get rid of crime with 30 thousand school children out of school and the numbers growing every year? Somebody needs to be flogged – and make that flogging at the foot of the Swing Bridge.

56 57 58 59

60 61 62 63 64

MORE TO COME NEXT WEEK

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Customs Officers accused of extorting U.S. National BELIZE CITY, Tues. April 19, 2011

By Roy Davis Two Customs Officers, Linsbert Godoy, 35 and Herbert Matute, 32 were charged with extortion yesterday in the #1 Magistrate’s Court.

Godoy was charged with 2 counts of extortion while Matute was charged with one.

According to the allegation, Godoy who resides on Nargusta Street in Belmopan, extorted $2,000 U.S. currency from American national Jules Fred Wetckamm on April 6 at Philip Goldson International Airport.

Also, it is alleged that on the same day, April 6, Godoy and his co-worker, Matute, who resides in Belize City, demanded $5,000 U.S.

Linsbert Godoy & Herbert Matute

currency from Weteckamm.

Wetckamm, who had arrived in Belize from the U.S. via Philip Goldson International Airport, reported to the police that he brought with him a gold and silver coin collection and the two Customs officers wanted him to pay them $5,000 U.S. currency in lieu

of customs duty.

Wetckamm said he gave Godoy $2,000 U.S. currency, but his coin collection was not released to him.

Godoy and Matute pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were released on bails of $10,000 each and their case was adjourned until July 22.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

EASTER MESSAGE – 2011

By Rev. Dr. Oliver Ottley District Superintendent Emeritus Church of the Nazarene

TEXT: Matthew 28: 6, 11-15 6. He is not here; he has risen just as he said. 11. While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13. telling them: “You are to say, ‘his disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep’ 14. If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15. So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated. among the Jews to this very day.

FAITH IN THE FACT OF THE RESURRECTION The word Easter appears only once in the King James Version of the Bible (Acts 12:4). It is taken from the Greek word transliterated pascha, meaning the Passover. For us, Easter has come to mean The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is of note that not only the masses did not believe the report of the resurrection of Jesus, but one of His own disciples, namely Thomas, said he would not believe unless he had visible proof. When he saw the risen Christ and touched Him he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “You believe because

you have seen, blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed.”

Conversely, so many professing Christians say they believe but whose lives do no evidence that faith. The story is told of a man who reportedly planned to walk across the Niagara Falls on a single cable stretched from one side to the other. Many came to watch him practise for this feat on a tight cable rigged up in his spacious backyard. Some laughed at him, but one person said to him, “I believe you’ll do it.” The man was so excited by that expression that he said to the person, “Sir, I am heartened by your expression of faith in me. I am also planning to push a wheelbarrow across on the cable and I have been waiting for someone who would be willing to sit in the wheelbarrow; would you be willing? That was the end of that man’s belief; he was not willing. Here is the difference between a mere verbal expression of belief and total commitment.to a cause.

HE IS RISEN! In John 3:16 Jesus promises eternal life to all who truly believe on Him. The Easter message calls on all professing Christians to be totally committed to the cause of Christ and to the Kingdom.

On behalf of the Church of the Nazarene in Belize HAPPY EASTER! HAPPY RESURRECTION! GOD BLESS YOU!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

PARTY PAGE

11

OPERATION REBUILDING

PUP Leader Tours Bella Vista Toledo District

Hon. Briceño & Mike Espat on house to house visits

PUP Leader Hon. John Briceño with Bella Vista mother & child

Toledo West Standard Bearer Oscar Requeña, Stann Creek West Standard Bearer Rodwell Ferguson, PUP Leader Hon. John Briceño, Toledo East Standard Bearer Mike Espat & Corozal South West Standard Bearer Ramiro Ramirez during tour of Bella Vista Village

Hon. Briceño tests his football skills with local female footballer

12

Team Belize wins Bronze in international cricket

Suriname, April 13, 2011 Team Belize won the bronze medal after they finished 3rd in the International Cricket Confederation Americas Division 2 tournament in Suriname last week. Belize had the same record of 3 wins and 2 losses as Panama, who finished second because of a better Net Run Rate, even though Belize had beaten Panama in regular competition.

Team Belize’s 3rd win was a 158-110 victory over the Bahamas on Wednesday, but they lost their 5th and final match to the Turks & Caicos

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, April 24, 2011

BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

Team Belize

Other games: Belize vs. Brazil

166 Belize

90 Brazil

Belize vs. Panama

87 Belize

Warren Antnohy batted 50 runs

81

Panama

Islands.

Mykelt Anthony was the Man of the Match,

against Bahamas, taking 5 wickets; and Conway Young batted 42 runs.

Team Belize’s strong performance means Belize has now moved up in the International Cricket Council rankings, and will remain in the ICC Americas Division 2 Tournament. The team came home on Sunday morning.

Team Panama took on Suriname in the championship final on Friday.

Kruzzars

conquers BTL U-17 championship Orange Walk, April 16, 2011 The Kruzzars of Belize City won the Belize Telemedia Under-17 national basketball championship at the Orange Walk multipurpose complex in Orange Walk Town over the weekend.

In Game 4, the championship final on Saturday afternoon, the Kruzzars crushed the Foreshore Spartans 10141. Devin Daly led with 22 points. Spartans’ Hubert Usher Jr. had 16 points and Lucien Hasbun had 13 points, but Kruzzars’ Tariq Middleton scored 14 points and Kyle Middleton’s 12 points took the lead to 47-24 at the half.

Kruzzars led 77-34 by the end of the 3rd quarter, and then added 24 points to the Spartans’ 7 points to deliver the crushing defeat.

The Belize Basketball Federation president Paul Thompson presented the championship trophy and individual trophies to the Kruzzars at the awards ceremony after the final game, and the Spartans got 2nd place trophies. The Benque Eagles received 3rd place medals and the Most Valuable Player award went to Kruzzars’ Devin Daly.

Kruzzars are champs

Foreshore Spartans were 2nd

Spartans’ Lucien Hasbun with a lay up Benque Eagles were 3rd

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

13

Rising Stars

win U-15 basketball champs BELIZE'S #1 SPORTS PAGE

Other games: Rising Stars vs. Orange Walk Technical

82 46

Rising Stars

OW Technical

Junior Spartans vs. Cayo Harlem

51 47

Junior Spartans

Cayo Harlem

Orange Walk Tech vs. Cayo Harlem

70 62 OW Tech

BTL wins women’s softball marathon Belize City, April 17, 2011 The BTL women won the allday marathon opening the 2011 Belize City softball competition at the home of softball at the Rogers Stadium on Sunday.

The BTL ladies extinguished their final opponents, the Orchid Blazers, 8-0 in 5 innings to win the marathon and a 1st place trophy.

Other games: BTL vs. Hurricanes

BTL

0

Hurricanes

Mirage Lady Rebels vs. Orchid Blazers

9

Mirage Lady Reb

Rising Stars are champs

Cayo Harlem

Orange Walk Town, April 16, 2011 The Rising Stars of Belize City won Belize Telemedia’s under-15

19

Jr Spartans won 2nd

6

Orchid Blazers

national basketball championship at the Orange Walk multipurpose complex over the weekend.

The Rising Stars blew away the Junior Spartans of Dangriga 80-44.

Centro Escolar Mexico girls & men win ATLIB northern football regionals How they advanced: SJCJC vs. Belize Adventist College

2

SJCJC

2

Belize Adventist

Centro Escolar vs. CJC

4

Centro Escolar

0

San Andres, Corozal, April 17, 2011 The Centro Escolar Mexico female and male teams won the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) northern regional championship hosted by the Corozal Junior College at the CJC campus in San Andres, Corozal on Sunday, April 17.

The Corozal Junior College girls and men both won 2nd place, so the four teams will represent the north when CJC hosts the ATLIB national football championships on Saturday, April

BTL

13

4

Centro Escolar

2 SJC

CJC vs. Belize Adventist Junior College

4 CJC

0

Centro Escolar Mexico girls team

Belize Adventist

Centro Escolar vs. Belize Adventist

3

Centre Escolar

0

Belize Adventist

CJC vs. SJCJC

2 CJC

1

Centro Escolar Mexico boys team

SJCJC

Muscle Mania Strongman Contest in Orange Walk

1

Rebels

6

Hurricanes

Orchid Blazers vs. Mirage Lady Rebels

8

Orchid Blazers

5

Mirage Lady

The Centro Mexico girls won 3-0 in a penalty shootout after regulation time had ended in a 1-1 draw. Jackie Gonzalez scored first for CJC in the 2nd half, but Centro Escolar’s Lucy Dominguez equalized for a 1-1 draw. Centro Escolar converted 3 penalties, while the Corozal girls missed all.

The men’s tournament was played in a round robin format, and Centro Escolar Mexico won all 3 of their games while CJC men finished with a 2 win - 1 loss record to take 2nd place.

Centro Escolar vs. SJC

Orchid Blazers vs. Hurricanes

Orchid Blazers

30.

CJC

BTL vs. Rebels

3

game. The Orange Walk Technical boys received 3rd place medals and Most Valuable Player award went to Roderick Williams, who also got Most Points and Most rebounds.

The championship trophy and individual trophies were presented to the Rising Stars and 2nd place trophies to the Junior Spartans at the awards ceremony after the final

BTL girls won marathon

Orange Walk, April 19th 2011 Competitors are invited to participate in the Muscle Mania Strong Man contest that will take place on May 1st at the Fer Lani’s Sports Center in Orange Walk Town.

There will be competitions in the following areas: Bench press (200lbs), Leg press (250lbs), Squats (200lbs), Bend over pull ups (100lbs). Cash prizes will be awarded to first and second place winners in each category.

The event will be held at the Fer Lani’s Gym at 2pm. Interested persons can register by calling 6055856 or 302-2737. Registration is only $10 per person.

14

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

This Week’s

15 BELIZETIMES SUNDAY APRIL 24, 2011

see full color at www.belizetimes.bz

E-NEWS TANYACARTER

Follow her on Facebook/Tanya Carter

Chino

set to drop debut project

Dancehall artiste Daniel ‘Chino’ McGregor is all set to release his debut album, Chino, on May 24, on the VP Records imprint. The highly-anticipated studio effort from one of reggae’s dynasties, Chino being the son of reggae icon Freddie McGregor and brother of acclaimed producer Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor, composes a new formula in reggae and dancehall music.

A fusion of reggae, dancehall, pop, alternative rock, world and other global influences connect for 15 tracks from the young act. The essence and image of Chino have earned him various awards from his reggae peers, including Best Male Sing-jay of the Year at Jamaica’s Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards (EME) in 2010. It has also gained him numerous corporate sponsorships in Jamaica, including being the spokesperson for Coke Zero and Nestle Supligen, as other offers reportedly continue to roll in.

Reggae icon

ShabbaRanks

CATWALK FASHIONS

TOP MODEL

part of Blockbuster lineup in Miami The legendary Shabba Ranks has officially been added to the long list of artists who will converge on the City of Miami May 26th-30th for Best Of The Best Weekend 2011. Ranks joins an already stellar list of performers who will perform on day two such as Stephen and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, DJ Khaled, Vybz Kartel (who will appear with his band live via satellite from Jamaica), Tarrus Riley, Alison Hinds, Trina, Assassin, Etana, Sanchez, I-Octane, Ace Hood, Stephen McGregor, Chino, Richie Loop, Demarco, Gappy Ranks, Romain Virgo, Big AC and ZJ Liquid.

JERALDYN • • • • •

Manager/Translator Lives in Belize City Aquarius Likes: Modeling, Swimming Career Plan: Masters in Business Administration

% 7 OFF

MS

ALL ITE

16

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

17

Where is the Beef?

Excerpts of 2011 Budget Presentation by Senator Lisa M. Shoman, March 29, 2011 On July 14, 2008, Prime Minister Dean Barrow presented his government’s first budget. The Prime Minister said that the people of Belize will look at it as a benchmark budget, a tone setting and a mood shaping budget. He was right.

For the past three budget cycles, and now into the fourth, the People of Belize have been forced, not to imagine the possibilities, but to live the unwanted certainty of the prospect of no direction nor vision from their mandated rulers.

The benchmark so far has been lack of imagination or innovation. PUP programs have simply been repackaged to look like new “dan-dan”.

The tone since then has been relentlessly blame-laden, backward-looking, defeatist, pessimistic, lazy, mendacious, and generally one of incompetence.

The mood of Belizeans- after 3 long years of ALL HYPE and NO SHYNE, to put it mildly - is angry. Belizeans feel betrayed and know NOW that their trust was violated.

A Government’s budget is the way in which it can deliver on promises made to the Belizean people. This budget, is like the three others that precede it, to use a phrase in Spanish, “puro tilin-tilin, y nada de paletas”. It is, in other words, replete with windy assertions and hollow words, and rife with the absence of beef - or cheese.

Take the food support program hailed by the PM in his presentation, for example, are only families in Southside Belize City, San Ignacio and Santa Elena hungry? What of disadvantaged families in Toledo, in Stann Creek, in our very own capital, Belmopan?

How shall this Government alleviate the “food cost of living” with 2.5 million dollars for the next fiscal year? It cannot hope, with that sum to rival the miracle of the loaves and the fishes. Not even this PM is THAT brazen. So, many poor Belizeans’ will go without - even if they are the politically correct color.

Even if you are the right color, the conditional cash transfer, the child-care subsidy and every other government handout is not enough. Belizeans want a hand UP; not a hand-OUT. Belizeans want to know how $5.00 per week per child budgeted for child care subsidy will allow “time and opportunities to mothers to take up employment and become engaged in income-generating activities knowing that quality care is being provided for their children”. It is either a cruel joke, or a LIE. In respect of health care for the poor, it is NOT enough to promise that you will “protect the level of funding for NHI”. GOB had already cut this funding WAY back.

It is not enough to “provide for increases in enrollments of persons in the Southern Districts.” What of other Belizeans in Belmopan, Corozal, Cayo, the cayes? NHI was supposed to be rolled out for all Belize.

What did this administration do? Borrow to buy vehicles for Ministers and pay expensive consultants, instead of funding NHI for all.

The quality of life laws touted by the PM do nothing to enhance the lives of Belizeans and serve, selectively enforced as they are, only to criminalize the civilian population and target the youth. THERE IS NO HARMONY IN HARMONYVILLE. Our young adults and youth continue to be at risk.

The Prime Minister’s lack of focus on the massive youth unemployment and employability in our country is evident from his complete failure to propose any concrete measure to address what is fast becoming an explosive situation. Sending 15 “high energy” gang members from Belize City to jobs in rural areas in three districts shows a bankruptcy of any positive ideas.

Why not have a National Service Program that would provide a meaningful engagement for hundreds of post secondary students/school-leavers to work in a structured campaign to teach basic literacy and numeracy. Why not?

How about a real clean-up campaign (not just Boots for Hire) in all our cities, towns and villages working with the communities to spread the message of healthy lifestyles, wholesome recreation and sports, awareness of our fragile ecology and the environment we must protect.

Our young people should be able to count on finding jobs, entry to schools, academic and technical, and fair access to good apprenticeship programs which will facilitate their employment prospects. Everywhere I go in Belmopan, I am told the same – no job no deh.

The BYM, Belize Youth Movement, the youth arm of the PUP has issued a statement on the budget which highlights the utter failure of this administration to confront the crisis facing our youth.

The statement points out that “today’s young people are facing increased pressures, and are living in unsustainable conditions. Our leaders continue to ignore the social and economic benefits of direct and meaningful investments in our youth.”

The statement highlights another important factor affecting the entire society and that is the very high incidence of teenpregnancies: children having children; a vicious cycle swirling around the growing poverty especially among so many single mothers.

The fundamental problem is the failure/inability of this incompetent administration to generate economic opportunities; without the enabling environment for investment and wealth creation, our people will continue to suffer; poverty, hunger and disease will continue to plague our beautiful Belize and more and more of our young people will fall to a life of utter despair-desperation-deadly violence and crime.

Where is the Love in this budget?

Where is the love shown to the Police in the budget? Sadly, we had to live out a chronicle of crime foretold in the police sub-station in Belama , where young PC Nigel White, 23 years of age was left alone, in the dark cruel city night to be ambushed and shot.

Thanks to almighty God, his condition is stable.

Lawyers are not immune, politicians’ families are not immune. The Police are not immune – and no place is off limits to violent criminals, not police stations, not court premises, maybe not even in our churches.

The solution does not lie in shutting down the police sub-station in Salvapan and converting them to fire stations. It lies in opening and manning more police stations. We need one right now in Las Flores.

As to physical infrastructure – the PM claims to “believe in infrastructure development not only for its own sake, but as a means to create employment”.

What infrastructure? PUP projects which are only now being implemented??

What employment? The Reporter Newspaper for this past weekend reported that CDB was lending Belize $350 thousand dollars to pay for a feasibility study by consultants for a highway study!!

Employment for consultants – “puro tilin-tilin, nada de paletas”.

The Kendall bridge that killer of Belizean lives, and we pause to mourn those deaths- it was announced that again, monies were being budgeted $5 million for the Kendall and Mullins River Bridges – last year - $6 Million.

On the issue of Land, this government prefers to spend monies on Attorneys who deny the Belizean origin of the Maya of Belize, who deny their very indigenous nature, rather than work with these communities on being righteous stewards of our national patrimony.

The Sword of Damocles in the Jewel, Madam President is not rising world oil prices, NO. It is as the Belizean Poet X famously declaimed - hunger in the eyelashes of our eyes; and hatred give us fever.

It is the righteous wrath of the Belizean mother who has to break a ramen noodles in half to feed the hunger in the eyelashes of her children.

It is the fever of youth turned down

for the hundredth time for a job, any job.

It is the quiet desperation of fathers who work or hustle ceaselessly all day, and then lie awake worrying all night.

That is the noxious hatred brewing in our once peaceful Jewel.

That, Madam President, Mr Prime Minster, is YOUR sword of Damocles. It hangs over your head.

On Election Day, come when it does – AND IT WILL COME - BEFORE FEBRUARY 8, 2013.

Come when it does, what will you do? Celebrate your recovery? Belizeans WILL decide. WE CANNOT SUPPORT THIS BUDGET. God Bless Belizeans.

God Bless Belize.

18

THE BELIZE TIMES

SCA’s Karen Munnings receives award

Debate War

St. Catherine’s Academy dazzles crowd, falls by 9 points Belize City, April 18, 2011 Despite the half an hour delay and last minute changes to the debate rules, the semi-finals and finals of the Belize National Library Service and Information System (BNLSIS) secondary schools debate got under way. The debates follow the theme for Women’s Month 2011 which is: “Valuing Ourselves, Promoting Shared Responsibilities”. The debate topic was: “Be it resolved that in providing their value to society women should have shared responsibility with men”.

The debate competition had been crippled with continued controversy, lack of organization, uncertainty and unexplainable delays.

Nonetheless, it is a commendable effort from the BNLSIS, and for that we take off our hats to the persons in charge. The participants and the kids unquestionably enjoyed it.

Visibly absent were any representatives from the Ministry of Education or the Women’s Department for the entire circuit of the debates.

The semi-finals began with the teams who had prepared to debate each other, St John’s College (SJC) and St. Catherine’s Academy (SCA), being informed that the format would be changed at the last minute. This squared SJC against the males of Canaan High School and left SCA to grapple with the ladies of Ladyville Tech.

To the shock of the SCA and Canaan High School participants, they were further informed by the organizers of the debate that there had been substantial rule changes which should have been sent to these schools in packages but were never received by either institution.

This aside, the Catholic high schools made short work of their opponents in the semis in front of a very energetic University of the West Indies Auditorium on Thursday, April 14, 2011.

By high noon the smoke cleared and the suspense was stretched to

two in the afternoon for a confident SJC team to face a feisty and very crafty SCA duo.

Several observers and teachers, quietly voiced a concern with the make up of judging panel, which included the Ombudsman and Ernesto Vasquez of Love FM. The BELIZE TIMES was made to understand that Vasquez is an alumni of SJC and was familiar with one of the debate participants who had recently won an essay competition and appeared on Vasquez’s Love FM morning show. Nonetheless, Vasquez remained as a judge throughout the entire day of debates.

During the finals, the competition was tooth and nail. Clearly, SCA was better prepared with solid local statistics and second former Karen Munnings, took commendations from the judges for her performance. But the SJC boys Alamina/Williams were clearly more coherent as a group and noticeably performed with more “swagger” – as a SJC student put it.

The judges who commented on the difficulty to score the teams, eventually gave the nod to the deserving SJC boys, with a photo finish of nine points difference.

Third place was taken by Ladyville Tech, a team full of promise.

The fourth place trophy went to Canaan High School boys, whose rookie performance should make other teams worry for future debates.

The BELIZE TIMES takes this opportunity to commend all the participants and schools. The hard work by the teens was evident.

We encourage the public servants who tried to organize this event all by themselves and look forward to them taking out the kinks and match the preparations of the students, but to have more debates so that we can hear from our children.

In the future, this revolution, we argue, must be televised.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Belizeans 1 Submitted on 2011/04/18 at 10:43am barrow is fake…he will SELL you a dream and then give you a NIGHTMARE for FREE! Belama Resident says: April 19, 2011 at 10:52 am All this crime and Belama Police Station still locked down..They should reopen this station with three vehicles and some 15 police men to patrol this area. this is fast becoming the business center of the city. Imagine the gas they spend from Racoon Street or Queen St to this area for patrols. Only in Belize!!!!!!!!!

Lex Submitted on 2011/04/16 at 4:29pm I’m telling you. How much more hypocritical can this bunch get? Look how they are laughing in our faces, waging a fake war against a so-called enemy of Belize yet going all the way to London wasting our tax money to eat, drink and beg Ashcroft. Let Barrow explain this picture.

Orange Walk Voter Submitted on 2011/04/15 at 12:39pm Liad r@*s Barrow sending his incompetent Mayor’s to hustle some change for their reelection, but that will never work, because the people in this jewel have had enough of those incompetent individuals just wasting the tax payer’s money…but hey, someone is missing from the picture, the most incompetent of all UDP Mayors, Phillip De La Fuente.

O well, he has never represented OW in anything, so we can expect that of him…he might as well start making way for a new Mayor in town, and that is no other than a young dynamic leader in the youth movement of our Nation, which for now we shall only refer to as, KB…get ready Phillip, and all other UDP Mayors and corrupt representatives…the young people, who make the majority of the voting population is fed up and has started the movement to bring back this nation to its roots and principles under new vision and new leadership which will only come under, John Briceno, and the People’s United Party!

Conscious Youth says: April 15, 2011 at 2:11 am This is all too funny…suddenly the Mayor has a heart and just don’t want to take the “peoples money” to pay the light bill…but she could have taken the “people’s money” to over-pay herself and build the big house though. What she could do, is sell the mansion on the road and pay the bill…I am sure the residents of the city would get back their money and all would live happily ever after… “Z” political career is over… ivan cal Submitted on 2011/04/14 at 12:17pm dean barrow good fi nothing,no plan for Belize, he has no vision to lead our nation only intrested in victimization, and their tooooo much nepotism under his government, all his family members,sons,daughter,ex-wife,best friend,wife,cronies all have better salaries while we Belizeans have to pay the high prices of fuel,high cost of living,bad health conditions,bad infastracture,etc and still no have the shame to tell us to continue “IMAGINING THE POSSIBILITIES”.

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Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Strictly Personal Barrow is bogus

By glenntillett@yahoo.com “The problem with the Tinting regThis week I am spending time in the courtroom of Acting Chief Justice Samuel Awich listening to attorneys spar over the interpretation of certain “Acts” or laws while Senior Counsel Lois Young tries to avoid looking at me. My mind wanders at times, especially when Dr. Lloyd Barnett gets up and starts speaking in a voice almost devoid of inflection or emotion.

Dr. Barnett is Lois Young’s attorney, and by all accounts he is an attorney’s at-

Over fifteen years ago I wrote an admiring piece about Lois Young when she became the first woman to be named Senior Counsel. Back then I thought she stood for principle and rectitude. Today I think the opposite.” torney. He has yet to change expression as far as I can see, and as I mentioned, he rarely changes inflection either. Even though his arguments are well constructed and sounds eminently logical, listening to him is as interesting as watching paint dry.

Lois, on the other hand, goes from grimace to grin in a cavalcade of expressions depending on whether or not she agrees or disagrees with the various points in the submissions.

I am the claimant in the case and I vacillate between moments of utter boredom when I verge on the point of falling asleep to the drone of Dr. Barnett’s unchanging tenor and tone to moments of fleeting anger as I think how the col-

lection of potential, talent, skill expertise resident in the court room could be put to more positive use fighting the rampaging poverty that is killing Belizeans at a record rate.

We are all gathered before Justice Awich because I am asking the Belize Supreme Court to declare the decision by the Barrow administration to have the Belize Social Security Board purchase $50 million worth of Belize Telemedia Limited shares unlawful and void. I am also asking the court to prohibit Lois Young and Net Vasquez from taking part in any future decisions by the Social Security Board on whether or not to invest in BTL so long as they remain government representatives to Social Security Board and maintaining their positions with Telemedia.

Lois Young is famous or notorious, depending on your perspective, for collecting millions of dollars in fees representing the Barrow administration.

She is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Belize Social Security Board, and is the company secretary of the Board of Directors of Belize Telemedia Limited.

Net Vasquez is the Chairman of the Belize Social Security Board Investment Committee and the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Belize Telemedia Limited.

Last November the pair used their respective casting votes to break their deadlocked board and committee on whether or not to “invest” in BTL. In the case of the investment committee, the two government appointed representatives were for the purchase but the man and woman representing the employers and workers whose contributions make up the fund disagreed.

In the case of the SSB’s board of directors the four government representatives voted for the proposal but the two employers’ representatives and the two workers representative balked.

On Monday Justice Awich heard arguments on the admissibility of three applications by both the claimant and the defendants. I am writing this Monday night and by the time you read this on Wednesday, on Thursday he will have ruled on the applications. Whether or not the case continues further will depend on his acceptance or rejection of the defendants’ application to strike out the action due to an archaic, anachronistic law that basically says that you have to give the public authorities thirty days notice that you are going to sue them.

The law was no doubt useful way back in 1893 when it was originally enacted but it is hardly necessary or applicable today. The filing of a suit is not an irrevocable process. The parties can settle at any moment. Because the court procedures have long since been amended to allow for mediation, the respondents are made aware of the grievance from the moment they receive notice of the action and can move to vacate it at any time.

They do not require any statutory notice or time limit anymore.

In this case my attorneys filed on November 9th and there’s still time for Lois Young et al to address my complaints thereby making a ruling redundant or

otherwise unnecessary.

The fact is that at the heart of all this is the Barrow administration’s penchant for political tribalism, nepotism, cronyism, victimization and authoritarianism.

Over fifteen years ago I wrote an admiring piece about Lois Young when she became the first woman to be named Senior Counsel. Back then I thought she stood for principle and rectitude. Today I think the opposite.

Back then Lois Young wouldn’t have needed anyone to tell her that you can’t serve two masters equally.

Back then Lois Young didn’t need anyone to tell her that to use an anachronistic law, a relic from the colonial era, to avoid a full ventilation of the issue of how $50 million of Belizean workers’ money was put at risk, is shameful and to be despised.

Heck, just 4 short years ago Lois

21 would’ve been the one filing suit in the Belize Supreme Court, on behalf of the workers and the tens of thousands of ordinary Belizeans who have contributed to the Fund, and depend on it for their retirement.

Damn it man, wasn’t it just 4 years ago that Lois Young thought our workers’ representatives, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, were heroes and people to be respected and listened to?

And who could’ve imagined the possibility back then that today she would be the one defending the oligarchical interests that is now the Barrow family, friends and cronies?

And you better believe that her exhusband would’ve been standing right next to her…well, you don’t have to imagine, we’ve seen that play before.

Barrow is bogus.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

REALITY CHECK! When perception turns into cruel reality

By: Carla Bradley “Belly knack like empty barrel” as children search innocently and hopelessly looking for food and hustling on the streets as they try to help their families.

Some families have no choice but going to bed without a crumb in their stomach and waking up not knowing if they will eat that day. The poor people of Belize have yet to see a silver lining in this storm, a storm which has lasted 3 years and counting, a storm which could be referred to as the Perfect Storm.

Mothers working endlessly to make ends meet, as kids go hungry to school, and whimper at every growl hoping that when they get home there is something on the table. Recession has been the plague all around the world, and Belize is no exception to this. Unemployment has gone up, figures of which this government refuses to speak of, and a number of people on the streets begging are

a clear signs that things are only getting worse. Yet this government speaks of a “Pro Poor” policy, a policy that is not only bogus, but a national scam.

The U.D.P. introduces their little basket of food and expects it to be the solution, and many Belizeans on the south side have said this is a “SHAM!” They pay for the food anyways, so how will it be helping? People are dying, and children are crying, some babies are drinking sugar and water, because single mothers cannot afford formula or even plain milk to feed their children. Ministers are traveling the globe and driving all these fancy vehicles, while they drive by and see the homeless sleeping on the cold ground, kids begging on the street sides and at the supermarkets, single mothers wandering the streets in search of jobs. Why not take the money spent on fuel, traveling, and liquor and use it instead to help the poor Belizeans around you? The people elected you to protect them, to help them, to be their voices and yet you do nothing of what you were duly elected for. The honorable Marcel Cardona stood up for his people in his constituency and you shun him out as if he was a leper, when he only did what he was elected to do.

In a study done by Latin America Public Opinion Project along with Vanderbilt University of Nashville Tennessee, they have conducted two survey projects in our region and other parts of

the world for the years 2008 and 2010 comparing life based on satisfaction with government, economy and other topic of 2008 and 2010. In a survey done based on Perceptions of Changes in Life Satisfaction, 2008 vs. 2010, Belizeans stated that 43.1% of the population, a decrease in life satisfaction, in just 2 years of this current administration, showed a clear sign that the economy and the people of our country are clearly not satisfied with life in Belize. In a survey done based on Perception of Government Economic Performance in the Americas, 2008 vs. 2010, Belize showed a significant decrease. In 2008 it was recorded at 41% and in 2010 it fell to 31.5%, a difference of 9.5%. People are not satisfied with the way the current UDP administration is handling our country, the economy decreases, unemployment increases, and UDP government pockets sky rockets!

Barrow and his government are and will always be “pro self ” and never

Sunday, April 24, 2011 “pro poor”, it is just a word they misuse to get the poor Belizeans to follow them. Come Election Day, all the money they kept from the people these past years will miraculously reappear. I pray and hope that our Belizean people will look pass the blue bills coming in and realize that the same money they are being given could have been used to create more jobs for many of us out here and people could have been spared the suffering and pain endured these past three years. Super Bond, is the UDP’s government most popular anthem, but when asked where the four hundred and fifty million dollars borrowed in the past three years went, they quickly jump and say Super Bond did it. The people are tired of excuses, quit blaming the past and show us what you were elected to do, what you promised in your “imagine the possibilities” campaign. Protect the people; guide the people to better days and most importantly SERVE THE PEOPLE THE RIGHT WAY!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Have You Ever Thought of His Life?

By Carolyn Trench-Sandiford – Deputy Leader People’s United Party - Belize

A

But perhaps, what simply captures it all is contained in a poem which I keep with me at all times, as a reminder of the life of another, and which we must strive to follow. I read it often to myself, and to those who find it difficult to define, understand and appreciate their purpose in life, and who become disillusioned, cynical and frustrated, and lose hope.

I shared it with the two staff members of the BELIZE TIMES, and now thought of sharing it with you, the readers of the BELIZE TIMES, on the occasion of Easter.

Perhaps it can also be a reminder to you of the life of another.

conversation last week Friday with two staff members of the BELIZE TIMES imprinted my mind and prompted me to write this article, perhaps because it is Holy Week, and a time when Christians celebrate the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Perhaps also, it is beOne Life cause it is a time which normally calls for reflection of one’s life and He was born in a stable, purpose on earth, and inevitable In an obscure village, mortality.

From there he travelled, The conversation surrounded Less than 200 miles. what they considered my ability to “be strong”, their words, despite He never won an election, all the attacks that have been levHe never went to college, ied at me from all corners since He never owned a home, entering politics. They found it He never had a lot of money. amazing that I have not given up, or have not allowed myself to be He became a nomadic preacher, deterred.

Popular opinion turned against In replying to them I laughhim, ingly said, while repeating Barack He was betrayed by a close friend, Obama’s action of throwing the And his other friends ran away. criticism over my shoulder, that it all falls off akin to water thrown He was unjustly condemned to on a duck. On a more serious death, note, however, I said that to be- Crucified on a cross among comlieve that life is a smooth road is mon thieves, being naïve. To accept life is to acOn a hill overlooking the town cept what comes with it. And that dump, means everything. This also apAnd when dead, laid in a borplies to politics. rowed grave.

However, to survive and not lose sight of your cause, and pur- Twenty centuries have come and pose in life, requires staying true gone, to what you believe in, and every Empires have risen and fallen, decision you make, any action Mighty armies have marched, you take, must be a reflection of And powerful rulers have this. This is anchoring your decireigned. sions and actions in your value Yet no one has affected men as system. But how does one define much as He, their value system? For me, it is He is the central figure of the huthe result of a combination of the man race, teachings and influences of many He is the Messiah, the Son of persons, circumstances and expeGod, riences.

JESUS CHRIST.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

www.belizeandiaries.com

Why did you get married?

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e constantly hear the saying, ‘we have to move/change with the times’ because of the way things are constantly evolving. But while we have progressed in technology, medicinal treatments, etc. – have we progressed in capturing the essence of our beings? What our parents and grandparents once looked for in love and relationships – is that the same thing we look for today? What once urged them to marry and build a family – is that the same thing that urges us?

Perhaps what I seek is a thing of the past but I firmly believe that what I am looking and yearning for is what will bring about a peaceful and happy home. Observing all the family units around me (that of my friends and family members and even coworkers) I realised that marriage has become more of a business transaction than anything else. Yes, at first there is the dating and courting and the emotional connection and physical attraction but many relationships I see around were not built on compatibility of our inner beings.

Most marriages today are done due to the unplanned pregnancy, family pressures to marry from your own social class, desire of secure financial future, spontaneity among other reasons. This is what has caused such an alarming increase in the breakdown of families, divorces, infidelity and even domestic abuse.

Yesterday while talking to an old friend, he asked me what it was that I would want in a relationship should I decide to venture down that road again. I was a bit hesitant to respond for fear of sounding silly. Nonetheless, my reply to him was that while physical attraction and satisfaction is important, those were secondary to me and what I really wanted was an individual who I can have meaningful conversations with; someone who I can express myself to and I wouldn’t be condemned or criticized harshly for my points of view. In my mind, if or when the frequent sex diminishes to an occasional act and when the wrinkles start showing, I would want to have many good conversations ahead with my partner.

In addition to all this, I want a

companion who offers me the feelings of security, safety, respect and love. Don’t get me wrong, I am well aware that no relationship is perfect and arguments and misunderstandings will abound but these feelings are garnered when a man is not afraid to show little courtesies to the woman. As the legendary R&B artist, Luther Vandross, said in his song, “buy me a rose; call me from work; open a door for me, what would it hurt...show me you love me by the look in your eyes, these are the little things I need most in my life...”

In this era, from my observations and research, there are independent women who are not looking to be fully taken care of by a man but are seeking a partner who can share the financial, domestic and child rearing responsibilities yet still be the rock they can lean on during their emotional woes. In my mind, there is absolutely nothing wrong in building a marriage with these expectations providing it is built on mutual love, understanding and respect. After all, how wise is it to have a partner who doesn’t contribute to your well being or gives little and expects much.

On the flip side, there are those women who desecrate the sacrament of marriage. These women, I find to be the young ones coming up who are looking only to see how they can benefit financially. These are the ones who want to get their hair done, the nails and facials along with the latest fashion but rather than receiving these as genuine tokens of love, respect and/or admiration they trade it for physical satisfaction. Many of these women tend to disrespect marriages by consenting to affairs with married men simply because they are benefiting financially and don’t have the obligations of a wife.

None of these women are looking at the aspects of love and respect; rather these marriages are simply a means to an end for them. Where the problems set in is when children come in the picture and the woman becomes overwhelmed with her responsibilities or when the novelty of the relationship fades and there is nothing left to hold on to because it was built on nothing in the first place.

This is where the divorces kick in or

the constant disrespect and cheating by either party. Perhaps our leaders or organisations for families need to look into a session for teenagers and young adults with an objective of building their standards for life, understanding what it means when you enter into a marriage and the effects it can have in your life if not entered into on the right grounds.

In the final analysis, I will venture to say that while many things have evolved, marriage remains a beautiful partnership if entered into with open communication and a mutual feeling of love and understanding. And while we can’t change the world and help all marriages we can start with ourselves. If you haven’t taken that step yet then you still have

Sunday, April 24, 2011 time to assess your relationship. Ask yourself: when beauty fades and sex diminishes would you still appreciate your partner? Can you hold open conversations on anything without any feelings of hostility or resentment? And, if you are already married, ask yourself why did you get married? If your marriage is on the rocks, try and reflect on the first answer. I am a divorced woman and while I am getting older each day, I do long to find my complement somewhere down the road, who will see and appreciate my worth and who will feel privileged to have me wear his name.

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Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

HANG ‘EM and THEN WHAT? By: The Critic Universally, there are hot button issues which have long sparked and continue to spark fiery and passionate debate among the world’s citizens.

Such hot button issues include: Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage, Gun Control, Euthanasia, Human rights and Capital Punishment/Death Penalty among others. Indeed, all of these issues evoke strong sentiments causing us to take either the position of “for” or “against”.

Faced today with a Belize City under siege, an inept government scrambling to find answers, a weak and ineffective Judiciary, and a badly shaken citizenry that is crying out for protection, the issue of Capital Punishment has now returned to the forefront of the national debate. Across the length and breadth of the Jewel and particularly here in Belize City, the words that reverberate are “Hang ‘em High!!”.

In the past, there have been numerous and extensive studies conducted on Capital Punishment all aimed at trying to determine whether or not the Death Penalty serves as a real and effective deterrent to crime, particular capital crimes such as murder. All in all, the findings of the myriad of studies seem to suggest that Capital Punishment fails to serve as a real and ineffective deterrent to crime.

Simply put, the threat of death doesn’t “faze” the world’s criminals.

Here in Belize, this obtrusive truth could be rather easily understood.

Consider for a moment a poor, in many cases, black, marginalized Belizean adolescent who wakes up each and every morning to a world where he is denied opportunity and treated in his own country as a second-class citizen. Talk to the young brotha and assuredly, he will tell you that he does what he has to do to survive, that he has nothing to lose and that as far as he is concerned, he is already “dead”.

Then, ask him whether or not he fears getting caught and getting locked up. Invariably, he will tell you that he ain’t scared to go to jail, that the

streets raised him and going to jail is nothing more than a homecoming for him.

The young men who are creating mayhem in Belize City today are rebelling against a political system that ignores their plight and that of their families. For these young men, the language of words is of no use to them; therefore, to get the attention of the Government and the wider society, they speak with brutal violence.

It’s been decades since the Death Penalty has been exercised in Belize and while several murderers have been sentenced to death by hanging, they’ve all escaped the hangman’s noose. The vast majority of us, Belizeans, are law-abiding citizens and we are justified in our collective call for the Government to move swiftly and decisively to arrest the burgeoning crime problem. In it’s zeal to bring calm to an uneasy and anxious public, however, the Government is threading on dangerous ground. Indeed, desperate times call for desperate measures but our civil liberties must always be upheld and preserved.

On the issue of Capital Punishment, I appeal to the good reason of all Belizeans. We are all sick and fed up of being held hostage in our own homes and being deprived of our personal sense of safety and security. We must, however, react with rationality.

Admittedly, this provides no comfort to the growing number of Belizeans who’ve lost their loved ones to the senseless and pervasive violence.

Consider for a minute, though, what really is to be gained from killing someone who has already declared himself “dead”?

Perhaps, the argument against Capital Punishment as a real and effective deterrent to crime could be best summed up in a statement I once came across while walking in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Printed on a bumper sticker, that statement read: “Why do we kill people who kill other people just to prove that killing is wrong”?

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Crime – It’s way out of hand!

By: Councilor Kevin Bernard - BYM President The increase in violence in the nation’s most populated urban area has cost the lives of our fellow young people and has endangered the entire community for many others.

It is my view and the view of the

THE BELIZE TIMES

Belize Youth Movement, that crime has spiraled out of control in Belize. It is an issue which has been poorly dealt with, and is now consuming and crippling our nation. We believe that our leaders are responsible for their actions and inactions, and in this case, the inactions of the Government of Belize and the Minister responsible for Public Safety.

Over the past three months there have been 33 murders and it is just the first quarter of the calendar year. Last week Prime Minister Dean Barrow held a press conference, and it reminded me of one he did just last year when he introduced Operation Jaguar, now gone extinct. However, at his press conference, the Prime Minister is once again trying to pull the preventative detention law whap on us Belizeans. It seems that the Prime Minister’s only solution to anything is to legislate the country away. This proposed legislation will not only infringe on our

Opening old wounds

By G. Michael Reid My attention was brought to an article in the Amandala, dated Sunday, April 3rd 2011, by a good friend who recognized that a story being told therein, did not coincide with her recollection of the facts. Titled “When fish come from River bottom….”, the article was the narrative of a drama in which I was a main player. Let me first of all pledge to my readers, that I will in no way be engaging in any back and forth on this subject and will subject none to the rehashing of this story, long told and grown old. There are just too many fallacies and inconsistencies however and too blatant an attempt to defame my character for me to not at least try to set this record straight.

This is a story that began way back in 1991 when I first returned to Belize after living abroad for two decades. I met and became involved with a young journalist by the name of Audrey Matura. That union produced a male child who turns eighteen this summer and of whom I am well proud.

I will be forever grateful to Audrey for facilitating his arrival on this plane. The relationship did not last long after my son was born and Audrey has gone on to remarry more than once since then. I was hesitant to even comment on this matter because I did not want my son to be affected in anyway. I believe however, that nothing that either myself or Audrey writes at this point will influence his psyche or affect his care or attitude toward either of us. Children have a way of forming their own opinions based on personal recollections and by observing the treatment given to them by parents or guardians. I seriously contemplated simply

ignoring this attack but again, too many lies are being told.

What I cannot figure out, is why Audrey would want to this Pandora’s Box again? Quo animo; what does she hope to gain? I can only figure that she is seeking favor in the eyes of her new boss. She has begun a weekly column in the Amandala and of course, G. Mike is the quintessential archenemy of that empire and to speak against him is to find favor behind the Zinc Fence!

Audrey begins her story by explaining to Belizeans the meaning of the old Belizean proverb “when fish come from river bottom and tell you that alligator have belly-ache…believe ah”. Indeed! Problem is that in this case, it is the alligator that has surfaced with the story and the fish that is left with the bellyache.

In her article, Audrey paints herself as this poor, defenseless victim of abuse and as the subject of a conspiracy by an entire government who wanted her “OUT! Wow! Who can remember any major impact that Audrey had as either a Senator or as the editor of the Guardian? According to Audrey, she was a “one-woman Opposition” having founded the Guardian newspaper all by herself and “travelled the entire country…campaigning.” Wonder if that had anything to do with her UDP losing two consecutive elections by large margins?

Audrey goes on to give her account of the particulars of a trial that was held before the Belize Family Court. She is right about one thing; it is a long story that might require a book. I will not bore you with any details but address a few mistruths that she presented.

After Audrey and I broke up, she refused to allow me access to my son. I spent many years fighting in court and finally acquired visitation rights for my son. The court ordered that I see my son every other weekend, which in my opinion was hardly enough, but I made the most of my time with the child.

Audrey spoke of Cynthia Pitts as some incorruptible judge who “could not be manipulated and threatened to agree to Continued on page 33

rights and freedom, but it will create more harm than good.

As a Youth Leader myself and young Politician, I condemn such actions by the Government and Prime Minister, and I call on the Government to take the necessary steps to integrate the community in coming up with a stakeholder driven response to the problem of crime in our country. As a people and country, we stand prepared and committed to fight for our nation’s security and the preservation of our generation.

While I would be the first to say, that I openly support the issue of “an eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth; we must also remind ourselves of an old saying “Show me your company and I’ll tell you who you are.” Just recently in Jamaica, the Prime Minister of that country had to go through a Commission of enquiry because of an alleged involvement or affiliation with a well known criminal. In his case, he was able to defend and clear his name.

However, in our little Belize, it seems that it has become the norm or a right-ofpassage for political leaders to associate themselves with known thugs. Is this the kind of leaders we need in our country?

I don’t think so. One can only look at the behavior of some of our leaders in the House of Representatives, and see the hatred coming from across the floor. Their hate is full of slander, vengeance and malice towards all, but while they preach in their violent ways, they look to us youths and ask that we must be law abiding citizens of this country.

At a recent convention held to elect a standard bearer in one of our political division, it was plain to see a sitting

27 member of the House associating with well-known thugs of that division. In the North, we have top leaders of our country surrounding themselves with these same thugs. If one was to have looked back five years, this same individual would never have walked into a room with these individuals, and neither would he two years from now. But for now, it seems it has become a norm for these political leaders to associate themselves with certain thugs, and be accepted.

I mentioned those points just now, to drive my point home, that our youths are looking up to our leaders as role models, and if they are not getting the right example, then we as leaders are to blame for our actions and inactions. Remember, show me your company, and I tell you who you are.

I cannot support the Prime Minister and his Government in their attempt to reintroduce a draconian law that will take away our rights and freedom and have us live in fear. This Government needs to start doing the right thing, and focus on addressing the real issues of crime. Provide opportunities for our people, open up new market opportunities, provide more educational opportunities, create more jobs and grow our economy, while taking care of the poor people.

There is a lot that can be done, it will take a concerted effort from all of us as Belizeans, but the Government must lead us into the right direction, and not into a direction that has no vision, no hope, and no real possibilities. We need to stop imagining the possibilities and deal with realities.

“Show me your company and I’ll tell you who you are!”

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, April 24, 2011

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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Selected By Chris Williams

Last Supper was a day earlier, scientist claims Mon Apr 18, 7:47 am ET LONDON (AFP) Christians have long celebrated Jesus Christ’s Last Supper on Maundy Thursday but new research released Monday claims to show it took place on the Wednesday before the crucifixion.

Professor Colin Humphreys, a scientist at the University of Cambridge, believes it is all due to a calendar mixup -- and asserts his findings strengthen the case for finally introducing a fixed date for Easter.

Humphreys uses a combination of biblical, historical and astronomical research to try to pinpoint the precise nature and timing of Jesus’s final meal with his disciples before his death.

Researchers have long been puzzled by an apparent inconsistency in the Bible.

While Matthew, Mark and Luke all say the Last Supper coincided with the

at all. But if we use science and the Gospels hand in hand, we can actually prove that there was no contradiction.”

In Humphreys’ theory, Jesus went by an old-fashioned Jewish calendar rather than the official lunar calendar which was in widespread use at the time of his death and is still in use today.

This would put the Passover meal -- and the Last Supper -on the Wednesday, explaining “The last supper of Tongerlo” by Leonardo da Vinci is pictured during the exhibition how such a large number of “The European Genius”, in 2007 in the National Basilica of Koekelberg, Brussels. events took place between the Christians have long celebrated Jesus Christ’s Last Supper on Maundy Thursday but meal and the crucifixion. new research claims to show it took place on the Wednesday before the crucifixion.

(AFP/File/John Thys) It would follow that Jesus’ arrest, interrogation and separate trials did not all take place start of the Jewish festival of Passover, “Whatever you think about the Bi- in the space of one night but in fact ocJohn claims it took place before Pass- ble, the fact is that Jewish people would curred over a longer period. over. never mistake the Passover meal for Humphreys believes a date could Humphreys has concluded in a another meal, so for the Gospels to con- therefore be ascribed to Easter in our new book, “The Mystery Of The Last tradict themselves in this regard is really modern solar calendar, and working Supper”, that Jesus -- along with Mat- hard to understand,” Humphreys said. on the basis that the crucifixion took thew, Mark and Luke -- may have been “Many biblical scholars say that, for place on April 3, Easter Day would be using a different calendar to John. this reason, you can’t trust the Gospels on April 5.

AIDS prevention pill study halted; no benefit seen

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer Researchers are stopping a study that tests a daily pill to prevent infection with the AIDS virus in thousands of African women because partial results show no signs that the drug is doing any good.

Women taking Truvada (true-VAH’duh), made by Gilead Sciences Inc., are just as likely to get HIV as other women who have been given dummy pills, an interim analysis of the study found. Even if the study were to continue, it would not be able to determine whether the pills help prevent infection, since the results are even this far along, researchers said.

The finding is disappointing because another study last fall concluded that Truvada did help prevent infections in gay and bisexual men when given with condoms, counseling and other prevention services. Many AIDS experts view that as a breakthrough that might help slow the

epidemic.

Family Health International, a nonprofit involved in AIDS research, announced the new results on Monday. The group launched the study two years ago and had enrolled about half of the 3,900 women intended in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. As of last week, 56 new HIV infections had occurred, half in each group.

No safety problems were seen with Truvada. However, women taking it were more likely to become pregnant than those on dummy pills.

“That’s both a surprising finding and one that we can’t readily explain” by what is known so far about Truvada’s effects on women using hormonal contraceptives, said Dr. Timothy Mastro of Family Health International. The study was sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gilead provided the drugs

for the study.

Truvada already is sold for treating HIV. It’s a combination of two drugs, tenofovir and emtricitabine, or FTC, made

by California-based Gilead Sciences Inc. Using it or its components for prevention is still “very promising,” Mastro said, although benefits and risks may vary by gender and by the way the virus is spread — sex between men and women or riskier anal sex among men, for example.

Last year, a study in South Africa found that a vaginal gel spiked with tenofovir cut in half a woman’s chances of getting HIV from an infected partner. Protection was greater for those who used it most faithfully.

A similar effect was seen in the study of Truvada in gay men. The drug lowered the chances of infection by 44 percent, and by 73 percent or more among men who took their pills most faithfully. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently gave advice to doctors on prescribing Truvada along with other prevention services for gay men, based on those encouraging results.

In the new study, “it’s difficult to understand why they did not see protec-

tion,” but blood samples may tell more about whether it’s related to how faithfully women took the pills, said Dr. Robert M. Grant of the Gladstone Institutes, a private foundation affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco.

He led the study of Truvada in gay men and said, “we are very confident that this approach is useful” for them.

The new study’s result “must be seen as what it is — the closure of a single trial in a field that has generated exciting results in the recent past,” said Mitchell Warren, head of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, a nonprofit group that works on HIV prevention research.

Two other large studies testing AIDS drugs for prevention are under way in Africa, in heterosexual women and in couples where one has the virus and the other does not. Results are expected within two years. The studies have mostly been in countries with high rates of new infections because that makes it easier to see whether a prevention measure is having an impact.

Truvada costs $5,000 to $14,000 a year in the United States, but as little as $140 a year in some poor countries where it’s available in generic form.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Easter Word Search

Happy Easter Easter is here!

Hurray!

Mein I was longing for a break!

My family goes to Corozal every Easter, so I’m hype about going on di road!

We go to church on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, of course.

How about you? Well, hope you have good Easter and to keep you busy. Hope you will have fun with our Easter page!

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chocolate www.ActivityVillage.co.uk

Can you help the little chick find her Easter basket?

www.ActivityVillage.co.uk

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THE BELIZE TIMES

How Long Can We Survive?

t is Easter time now and every one will be going to the fish market to purchase their fish for the holidays. This is a blessed time for fishermen as everything will be selling out really quickly and they will have to fight to keep supplies for the demands. I am not much of a fisher man, but for the past year have been quite frequently at the edge of a cliff going fishing! I have been fortunate to make a few catches regardless of my ignorance. The complete process of fishing is an amazing experience to me. Matthew 4:19 “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

A fish is generally lured with bait, caught by the mouth, and dragged out the water environment, into another that is sure to cause its death!

This so many times remind me of human beings. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that life and death is in the power of the tongue. We would catch the fish and put them in an empty bucket. I look with amazement as the fish flutters out of control and tries to breathe in air! After a couple minutes the lifeless body awaits its turn in the frying pan.

I listened on Plus TV the other morning as two knowledgeable and sober lawyers discussed crime and the way forward. They were looking at methods to curb the crime problem and saying that the answer does not necessarily reside in the rule of law. I for one agree. God has given us the commandments and laws, yet still we continue to break them, if we break His laws what would stop us from breaking man’s laws? The crime condition is nothing more than a man existing outside his environment, trying to catch oxygen and is therefore fluttering all over the place. That fluttering is what we call crime, and the ultimate result is the death of individuals.

2 Timothy 3:13: “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Many people do not like this scripture and prefer to believe that man can turn around the state of our world. That would be a hard task to accomplish, eventually turning the scriptures into a book containing lies! The scripture says things will get worse and that the last days will be like in the days of Noah! Man is like a fish saying I don’t want to live in water anymore I want a house and a car and will live on land! I tell you it doesn’t matter how long it takes but that fish will not make it without destruction.

Ok, so I hear you saying get to the point what is your answer to this?

Well two things since you asked.

Firstly, God gave us Ten Commandments that can be broken down to two. Love God with all your heart mind soul and strength, and then, love your neighbor as yourself! Living in obedience to God is the same as a fish living in water. Everything we need is there, oxygen, food, shelter, and a future. We must first return to the environment we were created to live in.

Secondly, it is written that the last days will be like the days of Noah (Mat 24:37-38) There was no intention in the people of the world to change, they were given to partying and marrying, it was all about fun!!

At that time God told Noah to build an ark - a temporary environment that could save or sustain life – allowing God to “reset” the earth. Our ark today is the liberator, Jesus and there will be a time when He removes us from the earth so that He can do a final ‘reset’. This time He promises to cleanse the earth by fire! (2 Peter 3:10). Our responsibility in this case is to be sure to enter the ark and to invite as much guests inside as possible.

Our time on earth then should first be one of right connection with God, naturally followed by right connection with each other and thirdly one of dominion over the earth and all creatures, plants and fishes of the sea!

In closing I must add that Easter is a great celebration and we must keep in mind that the purpose of this historic celebration is the redemption of mankind. Let’s not get distracted by the Easter bunny and eggs as these cannot give us eternal life but rather let’s focus on accepting the person who gave his innocent life as a ransom so that we might have eternal life!

Until next week God bless and enjoy your Easter holiday!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Belize needs a Cross Country win Continued from page 6

Giovannie Leslie must be second. Last year the rider known as Froggie might have put a red dot on his own head but he is surely capable of backing up his chats. Leslie is in good form and is respected in the industry for his pre-race preparations and discipline.

Leslie’s sharpness has increased steadily over the past three to four years. Although he has only scratched fifth in 2009, as creole says “this bwai da no nuh nothing fi play wid.” Hopefully, he does not say a mouthful again this year.

Darnell Barrow is young and impressive.

If his last exploits are any indicator then his second place in the Digicell Valentine’s Day Classic justifies his ranking at third. If he rides a smart race and puts himself in the thick of the gettings, the gods may hand him the race and he is talented enough to take it.

Never count out a champion, and Shane Vasquez is the poster boy for a Belizean champion. He is a heady rider and in 2006 he rolled into the city as a party of one all the way from before Gracie Rock. Recently he has flexed his venom by easily taking third in the Krem Cycling Classic.

Top five is rounded off by featuring no other than the “Belizean Bullet”, Greg Lovell, who has been raising his stock by strong arming the Belmopan Classic at second place.

Yes, he was towed in by his Mexican teammate last year but as he adjusts his race strategy and gets better coaching, Belizeans can get behind him.

Belize’s wild card may be the Choto brothers: Geovanni, Jose and Peter. There is something special in these boys. They are blue collar cyclists and they will gut out a Belizean win if it kills them.

The BELIZE TIMES cannot take its eyes off old veterans like Quinton “the baddest” Hamilton, who may have his last good shot at it this year. Also worth mention are David Henderson, Erwin Middleton and Geon Hanson, together with Byron Pope, Allen Castillo, Hernan Ochaeta, Brandon Cattouse, Deandy Ordonez, Anidez Rivas, Nissan Ara-

na, Bertram Brown, Kyne Gentle, Henry Moreira, and Ted Shabbaz.

We all cross our fingers and get ready to celebrate. Boys, the BELIZE TIMES, the People of Belize and the People United Party are here sending you positive energy. Please work together and do us proud.

We are still waiting for a Belize National Team but under the UDP there is no vision. Despite the UDP we believe in Belize first.

Belize over team. Belizeans over foreigners.

No bottle throwing, if we are not the best then the spoils to the winners. We are people of integrity. Be safe this Easter and enjoy the race.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

en Español

Dean Barrow y su “charlataneria” Su “charlataneria” es una mancha innecesaria entre el silencio y la nada Su “charlataneria” es una mancha innecesaria entre el silencio y la nada Un liderazgo político exige que el interés nacional se sirva primero. Exige que el liderazgo no sea egoísta, sino que de suma importancia al mejor interés de la nación.

Como Primer Ministro, el Sr. Dean Barrow ha fallado. Para los miles de votantes que corrieron el riesgo de un cambio de gobierno, él y su gobierno les han fallado miserablemente. Incluso uno de sus diputados ordinarios y ex ministro, reveló recientemente la falta de estatura en el hombre que sólo quería ser primer ministro. Este Primer Ministro haciéndose sus propias ilusiones, incluso se considera a sí mismo emperador, aunque sin ropa.

Pero aun cuando era líder de la oposición parlamentaria, siempre puso sus intereses personales antes que el de la nación.

Se podría argumentar que el interés propio de Dean Barrow y su flagrante mala conducta han sido el catalizador para la creciente ola de delincuencia en Belice. El Sr. Barrow, mientras en la oposición, fue objeto de fuertes críticas por la prensa internacional y el gobierno de los Estados Unidos por la defensa de ciertos acusados traficantes de drogas “haciendo posible para ellos tener una audiencia más que justa”.

CONFLICTO DE INTERESES Debido a esta práctica lucrativa, el Sr. Barrow, mientras en la oposición, dio muestras de poco o ningún sentido común en el tipo de casos seleccionados dado el privilegio como líder parlamentario. A veces hubo conflictos de interés en el papel del Sr. Barrow como parlamentario y como abogado. Esto no fue siempre en el interés nacional. No cabe duda que esta falta de juicio ha jugado un papel en su incapacidad para gobernar.

El Sr. Barrow entonces recurrió a llamar a la desobediencia civil. Esto fue en su empeno por el poder político y para cumplir con su sed de convertirse en Primer Ministro. Incitó a la violencia. Esto dio lugar a incendios y la destrucción de propiedades en la ciudad de Belice y Belmopán. Incitó a los disturbios civiles que rayaron en el borde de la anarquía.

Ahora, como Primer Ministro, está teniendo dificultades para mirar a sus matones aliados a la cara, después de haber tratado infructuosamente de negociar una tregua con estos bandidos. Pero sus medios justificaron su fin cuando alcanzó la elevada posición como Primer Ministro.

Ahora él ha tomado una media vuelta en la desobediencia civil. Durante los disturbios por los agricultores de caña en el Norte ordenó a la policía sacar sus armas. Este caos causo una muerte sin sentido de un padre inocente, trabajador y el sostén de su familia.

Nunca el señor Barrow se disculpó por sus indiscreciones.

Numerosos intentos fallidos para detener el crimen El, con mucha fanfarria, trató de introducir numerosas medidas para detener la escalada de la delincuencia y peor aún, el aumento de la tasa de homicidios que hoy

azota a la nación. Se instituyó el desdentado “Operación Jaguar”. Que, para todo propósito ha fracasado. El ha dicho que la causa principal de la delincuencia fue el resultado de una banda criminal en las filas de la Policía.

Todavía estamos esperando a que presente las pruebas.

Luego formó un grupo de trabajo de varias capas, denominada “Restauración Belice”, para hacer frente a la delincuencia y cuestiones conexas. La formación de este grupo de trabajo estaba condenada al fracaso. Desde el principio fue obvio que era capas de burocracia y habría sido una pesadilla de gestión y condenada al fracaso. Evidentemente, esta operación tampoco ha rendido frutos. Sin embargo, él ha optado por ignorar la cruda realidad presentada en el informe Gayle. De hecho, el Sr. Barrow vio esto como un ataque contra el fracaso de su administración.

El Sr. Barrow luego nombró un nuevo ministro de Policía. Esto siguió a la aparente incompetencia de su Ministro de Seguridad Nacional, a raíz de escándalos de pasaportes, la corrupción y otras indiscreciones en el Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional que tenía la responsabilidad de la Policía. Pero él no hizo nada para disciplinar a su Ministro de Seguridad Nacional. Simplemente no pudo.

En cambio, redujo su cartera. Nombró a un no-electo Ministro de la Policía que se supone que se dedicó a la lucha contra la delincuencia sin temor ni favor. ¿No es esto lo que los representantes electos, por juramento, se supone que hacen? Con esta simple decisión el Sr. Barrow ha admitido que su política de gobierno triunfa sobre la gobernanza y por lo tanto, su incapacidad para controlar-a sus aliados matones.

Intentando callar a LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN La hoja de “hablador” del Sr Barrow es aun mas larga…..l Al igual que al dictador que aspira llegar a ser, o tal vez se ha convertido ya, ha tratado de silenciar a ciertas secciones de los medios de comunicación. Sospechamos que este movimiento fue provocado por la investigación agresiva de estos medios sobre el escándalo de los pasaportes. Esta “movida” fue un fracaso inconstitucional que provoco un aluvión de críticas internacionales. Se vio obligado a la humildad. Curiosamente, sus “incondicionales” en el resto de los medios de comunicación no articularon ningún tipo de disidencia. Fueron silenciados al convertirse en receptores de ingresos de publicidad oficial y a cambio de la promoción de (su) propaganda del gobierno.

El secuestro del PM de Belize Telecommunications Ltd. de un inversor importante “en el interés nacional” es un delito grave en la forma en que se manejó. Pero sus allegados hicieron un “poppyshow” (teatro de títeres) de él, posando en Londres para las fotos con Lord Ashcroft, el hombre al cual el Sr. Barrow declaró como su “archienemigo”.

Luego, llevo a cabo un” acuerdo” con su ex esposa pagándole millones para defender esta “movida”. Los accionistas de la compa-

ñía todavía no se quejan de cómo esto está afectando a sus dividendos. Ella, de hecho, se ha convertido en la Procurador General defacto, mientras que el titular de este cargo se encuentra en su oficina como un muñeco de papel.

Mentiras, malditas mentiras El Sr. Barrow también ha mentido acerca de los posibles inversores que estaban “interesados” en la adquisición estratégica de la compañía telefónica. Han pasado meses y no se han materializado. En consecuencia, a miles de contribuyentes de la Seguridad Social se les ha desplumado de $ 50 millones que el señor Barrow ordenó que se invirtieran en BTL disfrazados de “una inversión”.

Este dinero es exactamente lo que se necesita en el National Health Insurance Scheme (por sus siglas en Ingles) para ayudar sobre todo a los pobres que se están muriendo por falta de mejores servicios médicos. Un accionista ha tenido las agallas para desafiar esta situación de conflicto de interés en nuestros tribunales.

Si el señor Barrow quiere luchar contra la delincuencia hay numerosas cosas no muy difíciles que puede hacer. Él puede detener su mala conducta grosera y cruda y la de sus compañeros en la Legislatura. No es bueno que padres y estudiantes que están interesados en nuestros asuntos nacionales escuchen esto. Esto también es un afrodisíaco para los criminales, las pandillas y matones que han ayudado al señor Barrow en sus movimientos vicioso para ganar poder y aferrarse a él.

El Sr. Barrow también puede detener a su papel y su estación de radio de repartir su dosis diaria de ataques viles y la difamación de caracteres de los que democráticamente se le oponen (incluidas las mujeres), o que se atreven a expresar sus puntos de vista disidentes de su administración .

Estos son sólo pequeños pasos para hacer frente a la cuestión de la seguridad na-

Sunday, April 24, 2011 cional contra la delincuencia. Se trata de una cuestión, que se ha vuelto más importante que el reclamo de Guatemala, una reivindicación que se ha convertido en una planta perenne cortina de humo político.

Pero cuan en serio podría estar el Sr. Deán Barrow de hacer frente a este grave problema nacional, cuando se ha reducido drásticamente el presupuesto de la policía para la financiación de un laboratorio forense? Cuando sólo días después de que el nuevo presupuesto entró en vigor, le dijo a la nación que necesitaba buscar fondos para equipo de la policía. ¿Qué tan grave es cuando su Ministro de la Policía continúa humillando a las filas del Departamento de Policía y revela al público los elementos criminales, las estrategias y tácticas de despliegue de la Policía? Ridículo!

La causa fundamental del DELITO Un gobierno tiene que hacer frente tanto al crimen como a la causa de la delincuencia, empezando por la corrupción desnuda en los niveles más altos de esta administración Barrow. Su intención reciente de la introducción de otro movimiento inconstitucional para el juicio sin jurado es preocupante, sobre todo porque se ha excedido en su competencia constitucional por la manipulación del poder judicial.

La pobreza, la desigualdad, el desempleo, la proliferación de armas y drogas e inhumanas condiciones de vida de todos constituyen un cultivo para la delincuencia.

Sin embargo, el Sr. Barrow ha dado palabras vacías en su agenda en pro de los pobres con un presupuesto ínfimo con aspecto de buenas intenciones para la gente pobre.

El Sr. Barrow tiene que hacer más que solo hablar sobre este tema de la delincuencia. Ha perdido credibilidad en serio. Cada palabra que ha hablado “es como una mancha innecesaria entre el silencio y la nada”, tomando prestada una frase de Samuel Beckett.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

George St. resident charged for crack cocaine

Kareem Westby

BELIZE CITY, Tues. April 19, 2011 Kareem Westby, 30, an unemployed residing at 100 George Street was charged with Drug Trafficking when he appeared today in the #2 Magistrate Court.

Westby pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He was offered a bail of $6,000 which he met and his case was adjourned until June 20.

The incident occurred around 5 a.m. today. The police reported that they went to an apartment building at 100 George Street

to search for firearms and ammunition. The police said when they searched Westby’s apartment they found the crack cocaine in one of his socks. The suspected drugs weighed 11.8 grams.

As a result, Westby was taken into custody and charged. According to a report, the drugs were not found in Westby’s apartment. Sources say it was found in the yard.

Opening old wounds Continued from page 27 the ploy” of getting her a criminal record.

What a joke! The truth is that said case did not begin under Cynthia Pitts. The matter began under Margaret Nicholas who was kind enough to grant me visitation rights.

Audrey then approached Cynthia Pitts, who confessed to me that she and Audrey were very good friends. Pitts removed Margaret Nicholas and placed herself over the case in order to frustrate the situation and continuously rule in Audrey’s favor. When Audrey refused to abide by the court order and grant me access to my son, I kept going back to the court in order to have her comply.

What Cynthia Pitts did was to give Audrey a restraining order which she wielded like a heavy axe. I spent no less than five weekends in the piss-house just for daring to try and see my son.

It was on one of those occasions, while I was being dragged off to jail, that Lois Young became involved. I was at an SJC Expo Fair when I saw my son and went over to say hello. Audrey immediately called the Police and reported that I had violated the order by going too close to her. I will be forever grateful to Lois Young for her unselfish dedication to my cause. I remain convinced that for the simple reason that she saw a wrong being perpetrated against another human being that she took my case and brought almost a decade of misery to an end.

I am glad that Audrey admits that she has a criminal record but it had nothing to do with any conspiracy against her. The case of contempt was a criminal matter and could not be handled in the Family Court.

The magistrate handed down a sentence of three months imprisonment but suspended the sentence in consideration of the children. What was interesting was that the day the judgment was delivered, Dean Barrow presented himself in the court room and sat directly staring at the magistrate. If there was anyone that could not be “threatened or manipulated” it was Sharon Frazier, who still ruled the way she saw fit in spite of Mr. Barrow’s attempt to intimidate her.

The part of the story that Audrey left out, was that just a few months after receiving said leniency, she kidnapped my son and took him to live with her mother in Los Angeles while she went to study in Guyana.

For that reason, Audrey Matura should now be in jail. She should not have been called before the Bar for how can one swear to uphold the statutes of any institution that they have so blatantly disrespected.

There is an organization in the United States that I would be remiss in not making mention of and offer thanks for their assistance. The National Committee for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is an organization that does remarkable work in assisting families whose children are kid-

napped or abused. That organization found my son after Audrey had changed his name and took the case to court on my behalf.

They eventually succeeded in obtaining a court order for my son to be returned to Belize.

There is so much more to this story but I promised not to bore you with details. Suffice to say, nobody conspired against Audrey and to accuse me of being abusive is an outright lie. Audrey really should leave well enough alone for if the real story was to be told, she would forever hang her head in shame!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT ATTACKING TINT Here comes another fool-fool law. This time they are attacking tint. The law will take effect 1st of June. All the vehicles in Belize with tint which is different from what the fool-fool law requires, the tint will have to be changed.

What is the problem with dark tint?

Some people want to see inside the vehicle? Is it a traffic hazard? It is used by some criminals on their way to commit crime. If so, why punish all law abiding citizens who wish to have privacy and protection from prying eyes of criminals and the interfering Betsy.

How many crimes have been committed by persons using heavily tinted vehicles?

Taking away citizens’ right to have privacy in their vehicles is just another way of punishing the many innocents for the few bad eggs.

Will the government refund persons who have to change their tint?

WHAT! THEY HAVEN’T BEEN MEETING? The law sets up a Crime Control Council. The Council is made up of a wide cross section of important persons in Belize. There are representatives from the two major political parties. The Commissioner of Police, a Judge, Chief Magistrate, Security personnel, Church representative and many others.

They are required to meet and review the crime situation and make recommendations to the government. The Chairperson is Lawyer Michael Young, a favoured UDP. In the shocking revelation on Plus TV Monday morning show, Lisa Shoman, informed the nation that the Council had not met since June of last year or did she say since two years ago?

This is as irresponsible as the government can get. The crime situation in Belize has been described as one of crisis proportions and yet such an important body is not meeting, discussing and analyzing or strategizing. Now we know another reason why we are in crisis.

And let us remember that the UDP government in its rampant victimization had dismantled the CIB, Crime Investigation Branch, and scattered the team of seasoned and experienced officers who knew Belize City inside out. The same has happened in some district towns.

NEW SENATOR NEEDED The present Senate has six Senators from the ruling party, three from the Opposition and three from civil society. Civil society Senators are representatives of the Labour Unions, The Chamber of Commerce and the Council of Churches.

The Senator from the Council of Churches means well but has distracted himself with legal and constitutional matters rather than representing his religious community. All the other Senators are required to represent their organizations. Only the Council of Churches is not getting a full blast religious perspective into the affairs of the Senate. This is where Pastor Louis Wade or Canon Leroy Flowers or other soldiers of Christ who are burning with the Gospel are needed.

Pastor Wade would make an excellent Senator at this present juncture of his religious career. Because he is bubbling to represent the man from Galilee.

A Senator who represents the Council of Churches should bring a religious perspective to the discussion. He has to resist the temptation of speaking like the other Senators. They represent the material and secular world and they see things through the eyes of that wicked system. What the Senator for the Churches should represent is a religious and Christian perspective which is completely absent from the House of Representatives.

The Senator for the Churches has a unique responsibility to promote Christian

values in the highest law making body in the nation. This has not been happening. But as the nation continues its downward trend to destruction the voice of such a new Senator can make a difference.

POLICE HAVE NO RESOURCES Arthur Saldivar, Attorney-at-Law, was a guest on Plus TV Tuesday morning show, Rise and Shine. He stated that the new budget shows last year’s expenditures. Under the Ministry of Police and the Police Department some three million dollars WERE NOT SPENT. Nothing is a more telling indictment of the government’s failure and negligence to tackle crime than the budget that provides no resources for the police.

On Tuesday’s show attorney Saldivar said the amount shown in the budget as having not been spent for 2010 amounted to THREE MILLION DOLLARS. That says it all.

HELL THIS EASTER WEEKEND In order not to look bad for the Easter weekend the government has given the go ahead to the police to sweep the poor neighborhoods and streets and lock down as much youth as they can.

It is a form of preventative detention but it is entirely illegal and unconstitutional.

There is no justice for poor people.

MOSES SULPH Moses Sulph has been victimized.

Moses has taken issue with several matters concerning the Prime Minister. Moses has also been brave enough to sign an affidavit for a recent Supreme Court challenge asking the court to declare that the Prime Minister is abusing his authority in refusing to bring into force the law for a Reform Senate in which the non-governmental groups will have a representative Senator.

For these things the government has kicked Moses Sulph out of his job at the Government Department known as The Registry.

It should be noted that another voice of activism, Nigel Petillo, who has been championing land for the landless, nameless, faceless people has also incurred the wrath of the Prime Minister. Petillo is under attack by the government.

Let it also be noted that union activist Paul Perriott was recently kicked out of his job at the government owned Belize Telemedia.

Perriott is still in shock at the treatment the government has brought down on his head.

INFINITY Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn, one of the most talented basketball players that the country has produced, recently celebrated his birthday. We know because his family put it on Love FM Birthday Display. The ad showed a photo of the great “Pulu” in the days when his afro hair style was a fashion and a statement. There was another photo showing Pulu in his now famous dreadlocks a la Bob Marley style and statement.

There was the word “INFINITY”. This we understand is a favourite of Pulu’s son. It’s belated but we join in with all the bless-up to a brother who did so much in taking basketball to the levels that he did.

Infinity.

SPANISH WITH CREOLE SHAPE There was a time, hammock was said to be the cause, as a way of trying to explain to Creoles, why it was that their Spanish sistrens had flat buttocks. But that was back then.

There ain’t no flat Spanish no more. They all have Creole shape. Nuff said.

EASTER Have a Blessed Good Friday and Easter Sunday and remember what all Jesus put up with and had to suffer just to show the love. It’s all about love. The love God for us and the love we should have for one another.

Try put in an appearance at church.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Who put the hit on Eric Chang?

Continued from page 1 cat was let out of the bag, and it has opened a Pandora’s Box for the oncepresumed saintly character.

As the reports indicate, the Customs operation was carried out after it was found that Chang had not paid duties for a late model green-colour Isuzu D-Max he has been cruising in throughout the city for several years.

Chang has called it all a “minor” understanding, but he is clearly merely trying to let it blow like wah lee breeze.

The entire debacle is worth a thorough investigation, but anyone who knows how the Chinese operate in Belize could tell you it would mean that the investigator’s life would be at risk.

The question is: why would the Customs Department, which comes directly under Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s Ministry of Finance portfolio, carry out a raid at Chang’s residence?

That raid was reportedly followed by a Police search as a result of suspicions of illegal gambling at Chang’s residence.

We understand the cops found more than the usual poker cards and chips, and we’ll wait on them to do the right thing before we say more next week.

So who put this hit on Chang?

THE BELIZE TIMES

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UDP losing grounds in Belize City BY: CP Mathers The United Democratic Party is rapidly losing grounds in the old capital as more and more people are staying away from their political conventions, a clear sign that they are fed up with the UDP government.

Of the 13 seats, 10 of which are within city limits, 7 of them have UDP candidates. Three were contested, three endorsed and one candidate had a secret endorsement. In all these conventions and endorsements, there has been a poor turnout and it clearly shows that they are losing grounds in Belize City.

The Caribbean Shores convention held in December last year saw

Well, for starters the UDP is in power so the fingers point at them. Was it Prime Minister Dean Barrow who was embarrassed by the well-orchestrated, Chang-led Chinese anti-crime demonstration which carried the coffins of two Chinese nationals killed in the recent crime wave throughout the streets in Belize City? Or was it Lee Mark Chang, who unlike the Councilor, was present at the demonstration, and was later dissed by some Chinese who withstood the hot sun and type of public display that is not common to them.

It is said there were many who looked for Lee Mark’s leadership on that day, but instead were stood up. After being burnt for his non-presence, one would see why Lee Mark would want to remind the Councilor where they both sit in the hierarchy of the Chinese society.

a turnout of around one thousand voters, the PUP got 1200. Lee Mark was endorsed in the Freetown Division with less than four hundred persons attending, very poor turnout despite the Chon Saan giveaways. Port Loyola was yet another endorsement, but despite the $5,000 in cash prizes, Boots had very little support in numbers. In the Collet division, because of major favoritism, and a clear fear of the horns of Barrow, no one dared to challenge Patrick Faber.

In Mesopotamia, no warning was given that the foul mouthed Michael Finnegan would magically remain the standard bearer for that division. Money spoke at

the Albert convention according to Tom Morrison, as Herman Longsworth’s 423 supporters collected money to turn up at the convention. After bawling, begging and crawling with his tail tucked between his legs, Mark King managed to contest for the Lake I seat and won his division, a Southside division of mass numbers, with only little over seven hundred voters coming out.

If the United Democratic Party has not gotten the memo, let us spell it out, your time is up! Convention after convention, endorsement after endorsement, the people are speaking, enough is enough!

SECRET BELIZE/ GUAT MEETING? Continued from page 1 the meeting was held at the Mexican Navy Headquarters in Mexico City.

Attending the meeting was Belize’s BDF Commander Dario Tapia, along with Guatemala’s Ministryof Defense Chief of Staff Brigadier General Juan Jose Ruiz. Also present at the meetings were Mexican officials representing the National Immigration Institute, Center for National Security, and U.S. officials.

The release does not disclose the specific purpose of the meeting,

the agenda, nor what was agreed on.

It is highly suspect when the Government of Belize can operate in such a secretive manner. The issue of the unfounded Guatemalan claim is dear to every Belizean’s heart and every meeting in which Belize-Guatemala relations are discussed should be announced and made public. That the Barrow Administration would treat the matter so frivolously, it demands Belizeans to stand at guard.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, April 24, 2011