Belizetimes August 14, 2011

Sunday, August 14, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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The Will of the People The Government-paid officials in support of the 9th Constitutional Amendment have been claiming that because they won an election which gave them a ¾ majority in the House of Representatives three years ago, whatever decision they make and anything they do today could be considered the Will of the Belizean People. During the debate on LOVE FM last week the new Solicitor General even contended that if the Government wanted it has the power to turn black into white. This rationale and thinking, coming from such intellectuals, is absolutely idiotic, it is treacherous, and shows how drunk with power the Barrow Administration has become.

If the People’s Will would prevail, the Government would be focused on pursuing anti-poverty measures, sensible crime-fighting strategies, education reform to ensure access and affordability, job creation, and economic growth. This is the Will of the People.

But the sad reality is that Belizeans have become poorer under the Barrow Administration with 43% poverty rate, violent crime and murders seemingly unstoppable, the cost of education being so high with little Government support for families, the unemployment rate at the highest ever at 24%, and economic despair as rampant as it is today. It is under the Barrow Administration that the economy saw negative growth in 2009-2010, and it continues to stutter with businesses shutting down because of hard times.

The hopelessness in the streets and communities is very obvious. Our young people have nowhere to turn to for help, and many end up trapped in crime and violence.

The lack of job opportunities is turning our people into prostitutes, beggars and hustlers, but this is not something the Barrow Administration would admit.

In fact, they have turned their backs on these issues and have created distractions for Belizeans. That is why every time Prime Minister Dean Barrow takes the national stage, he never addresses the real issues. Instead, he has been successful in convincing many that his fight with Ashcroft is the “the people’s fight”.

But words can’t full empty bellies, and whether BTL is privatised or nationalised it doesn’t improve the poverty, crime or unemployment rate in our country.

The pain on the streets of Belize is real, and it is not the Will of the People to be suffering the way they are today. It is also not the Will of the People to be turned into subjects of the Government, and that is exactly what the 9th Constitutional Amendment seeks to do. Let the true Will of the People prevail!

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Leiva Brothers acquitted of Drug Charges BELIZE CITY, Wed. Aug. 10, 2011

By Roy Davis Two brothers, Steven Leiva, 35, and William Leiva, 38, were acquitted of charges of drug trafficking for 7,300 grams of cannabis and possession of a controlled drug for 50 grams of cannabis at the conclusion of their trial in the #4 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, August 8.

After the prosecution closed its case their attorney, Dickie Bradley, submitted that they do not have a case to answer to because the 7,300 grams of cannabis that was in a suitcase in the name of someone identified as “Quan” was found in a building that was not

connected in any way to his clients.

Bradley also submitted that the quantity of the cannabis was not established in court and that the integrity of drug was tampered with because the tag on the exhibit was dropping off and the cannabis was wet.

In relation to the 50 grams of cannabis that was found in a knapsack that was in the back of a taxi car, Bradley said the car was brought into evidence as exhibit.

Magistrate Roberto Ordonez said that because of the discrepancies, a prima facie case was not established and that the court cannot ask the defendants to answer the charge. He upheld

the no case submission and acquitted the defendants of both charges.

The incident occurred on the morning of February 12, 2009.

The police, with a warrant to search for stolen goods, went to Amelia’s Store, located at Mile 2 ½ on the Northern Highway, which is owned by Steven Leiva. They searched the store and they did not find anything incriminating. They then went to a building that adjoins the store and forced open a locked door and found the suitcase with cannabis.

Besides the 50 grams of cannabis the police found $1,544 in the glove compartment of the car.

Steven Leiva

William Leiva

One fatality in highway accidents BELIZE CITY, Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

By Alton Humes Two separate accidents in different parts of the country ended deadly for one of the victims.

In the first, which occurred on August 7th on the Northern Highway, just outside Ladyville Village, a grey Toyota 4-Runner vehicle which was heading towards Ladyville and driven at the time by 37-year-old Mr. Marvin Daras, and

a Toyota Land Cruiser being driven by 47-year-old Trinidadian-Belizean national Mr. Lyndon Guiseppi, wound up crashing into each other and careening off the road between Miles 6 & 7.

Daras received severe injuries to his right foot and abrasions to his head, while Guiseppi received abrasions to the right hand and complained of pain to his hip.

In the second incident, the driver of one of the vehicles lost his life. It oc-

curred yesterday, August 9th in Dangriga Town. At about 11:15 a.m., Mr. Franco Gentile, aged 69 years, was driving his grey 2006 Toyota Prado on the Southern Highway coming from the direction of Stann Creek Valley Road and going towards Silk Grass Village. In tow with him was a domestic, one Ms. Jennifer Augustine, aged 48 years.

Mr. Gentile lost control of the vehicle upon reaching between Miles 1 and 2, and careened off the road and flipped

into the bushes nearby. The impact and Mr. Gentile’s head and body injuries killed him instantly. He was transported to the Southern Regional Hospital but pronounced dead on arrival, while Ms. Augustine was admitted in critical yet stable condition, with abrasions above her left eye, forehead and complaining of pain to her neck and back.

No word on any causes or potential charges in either accident. The police investigation continues.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

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THE BELIZE TIMES

How to murder a country Belize City, August 3, 2011 There is no room to sensationalize violence in Belize. The perpetrators do not leave any margin for a propaganda spin. The fierce frenzy of criminal carnage is the worse it has ever been. Still it appears to be gearing up to shatter unflattering historical markers.

But what are these records? You might be shocked as the BELIZE TIMES, makes the connections and projections.

For the past three years, the UDP has openly orchestrated and encouraged illegal, criminal and violent action.

There is a dangerous pattern which screams from a string of murderous explosions. We at BELIZE TIMES noticed this fact after the latest attempted barefaced execution.

On Friday, the “Scarface” like hit of 29 year old Jeffery “Rednin” Flowers took its normal course through the media industry’s assembly line for the evening news. His bullet riddled body fell motionless after frequenting the political office of Michael Finnegan and inches from the front door of the UDP politician’s office.

This is a big news item. We should not just tally it as another “gangster” whose sins found him. Let us check our change. Is it a coincidence that he was gunned down after just going to the UDP constituency office? This UDP office is literally right around the corner from the Dean Street Police substation.

Coincidence? Maybe. But remember on June 29, 2011, notorious gangster and serial killer, Edward Lord Jr., was sprayed with more than twenty bullets when he was hanging out with UDP standard bearer, Mark King at the gang turf of Brick City. King conveniently had stepped away just in time not to get hit by any of hail of gun fire. This is just a couple houses from the Mahogany Street Police substation.

Coincidence again, right? After all, the city is infested all over with violence. But then how about on April 15, 2010 when the law partner of this UDP Prime Minister, Rodwell Williams, was gutted at close range by a shotgun in what looked like a mob hit on the south side of Belize City by a local gang?

Coincidence? Then again, like an introductory chapter in the Laurie Gunst’s, Born Fi Dead, 24 year old leader of the South Side Gang (SSG) Andre Trapp was slain almost on the steps of the Chief Magistrate’s Court room. This was just ten days after the hit on the UDP Prime Minister’s law partner and well within the retaliatory period. In fact, while on national television during a Channel 7 interview, the sister of the assassinated under lord can be heard calling Dean Barrow’s name as being responsible for the death of her brother.

Fluke, right? But what about the July 19, 2010, hit on Brick City gang associate, Giovanni “Nose” Lauriano, who was 33 years old? His relationship with Sister B, Dean Barrow and Anwar Barrow was well known in the streets.

This is how Jules describes this mobster in the news item “[he].. was one of the most notorious crime figures in all of Belize charged over the past twelve years for a number of high profile stickups, home invasions and shootings.

But to our knowledge, despite being charged about a dozen times, he was never convicted of any of the offences.”

Wow how is that possible? Take a

guess. In fact, numerous times during the UDP administration tenure when Lauriano was locked down high profile phone calls were made ordering his release.

BELIZE TIMES sources inside CIB report to us that just before his death he was carelessly and openly angry with the royal family, and made various threats publicly if his demands were not met he would take action. Then he was ambushed and murdered. No one is yet to be held responsible. Why? We invite anyone to go and see the God-fearing Rosalie Lauriano, mother of “Nose” and ask her who is responsible for the death of her son.

She will tell you.

But we are dealing with chance, right? Then how about the butchering of UDP operative and attorney, Richard Stuart and his wife on October 17, 2010, in what appeared to be a Columbian-style merciless rage? What sort of sick jail type psychopath bludgeons and hacks a couple on the other side of the screams of their children. Why would this well-known UDP intra-party politico be killed?

No, this is all coincidental, fate, misfortune, strokes of bad luck. Right?

Go back further, how about on November 4, 2009 when Kevin Sutherland, shot up the Nissan Maxima of UDP Minister of Works vehicle, Anthony “boots” Martinez? Remember the March 20, 2011 PUP Port Loyola Convention, when Boots was caught on tape with his gang, heckling voters?

How about the June 9, 2011 Quarterly Press conference where the UDP pulled out their goons and gangsters to intimidate reporters? Even Jules had to comment on it.

Why is it that the UDP’s so called Southside Poverty Alleviation Project, consists only and solely of paying gangsters and gang leaders? Why are they exporting these criminal gangs to peaceful, uncorrupted areas throughout Belize? Why was Prime Minister Dean Barrow so ready to acquiesce to the demand, according to him, from one of “the most-feared” gang leaders to give 15 of them a salary and rented house in disguise of “jobs” across the country? Why only 15 of them?

But the most questionable move was not the shooting or bullet projectile that rang through the UDP Prime Minister’s Law firm on April 15, 2010, which was played off by this media slave, two streets down.

Neither was it the deployment of gangbangers to destroy the homes of Belizean families on Chetumal Street on June 1, 2011. No. It was the evil concoction of the demonic preventative detention which could lock up a list of “gangsters” without need for evidence or crime for fifty two days at a time!

What is happening is that the UDP are trying to play with the violent gangs in the Belize City streets. Why do you think they ignored Youth for the Future and brought back in nostalgia, CYDP, the Gang program led by none other than Sr. Sptd Broaster?

The UDP leadership knows what they do and what their connection is to the murderous George Street Bloods Gang (GSB). But like those boys keep on telling us, no one can control them.

They are not happy either, by the way, Mr. Barrow. They want to know what happened to the promise to release “Rique”?

Belizeans on a whole should be very concerned because this UDP is playing a nasty violent game. It was cute when the call was “civil disobedience”, the wielding of chainsaws and the threats to drop “grenades” in the House of Representatives. Now, as we gear up to municipal and national elections against a tyrannical UDP government and the first dictator, we need to be prepared - very prepared.

This is the same government who says Barrow and his legislature have absolute power.

They try to blame things on easy scape goat of “old beef” and “gang rivalry” but this UDP administration is right in there and calculatingly are pushing and playing with the criminals on the streets.

Can you see the line between violence and politics being mudded together by this UDP? Belizeans are not “born to die”. We are born to live, in the tranquil haven of democracy. He that has ears to hear…

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Sunday, August 14, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Restore Belize – A waste of critical resources Belize City, August 8, 2011 For a national anti-crime initiative which is chaired by none other than the Prime Minister and five other powerful Cabinet Ministers, Restore Belize has been an exceptionally embarrassing endeavour which has failed to deliver significant results.

The programme has had up to $5 million available through the Inter-American Development Bank, but the majority of the budget has gone towards administrative expenses, which includes almost $100,000 on annual salaries alone.

The scheme was launched with much fanfare on June 2, 2010. At that event which was attended by all the attention-grabbing big-wigs, Prime Minister Dean Barrow vouched that he had found the “effective solution to this [crime] problem”. The Prime Minister was facing tremendous pressure. The streets of Belize City have turned deadlier under his watch. Gun violence and murder statistics have escalated, but the PM was not reacting to the overall murder rate. But a shooting incident in the downtown area on May 31st involved a different kind of victim. The victim of the attempted assassination was not a poor Southside child, this time it was none other than the PM’s rich law partner, Rodwell Williams. And so, two days later the PM rushed to act.

While he promised that “the public will be able to see measurable results very quickly”, PM Barrow also warned that his Government was acting prematurely since there was no money yet for the scheme. He indicated that financial institutions had bought into the programme and funding would become available two months later.

Though obviously jet-lagged from being “up in the air” for weeks, the first “huge” anti-crime measure was launched by Restore Belize on August 3rd. This “measurable result” came in the form of a song, complete with video. While the song blasted the radio waves for a few weeks, the program organisers eventually lowered its volume and it has been completely tuned out.

On July 26th this year, Restore Belize celebrated its first year. One would think that after a full year, any scheme with political muscle and financial backup and in the face of huge public concern would have a long list of accomplishments and tangible outcomes to show, but for Restore Belize there are none worth mentioning. The best the programme coordinator, Mary Vasquez, can do is rant away that without multisectorial support the programme will be doomed. Nothing we haven’t heard before.

Restore Belize has had no measurable impact on our society whatsoever.

The small number of projects it has actually undertaken is really a duplication of what existing organisations have been doing. It’s only visibility has been through a video it sponsors and likely pays to air weekly on a news channel owned by the coordinator’s family.

Perhaps Restore Belize, with its labyrinth bureaucracy of committees and subcommittee, was really doomed from the start and only meant to serve the illusion that the Barrow Administration cares about solving high crime rate. Today it looks more like a scheme that only has ensured that more UDP friends and family have jobs. A year

23 after the programme’s launch, gun violence and crime are still out of control.

The murder rate is almost at 90, and if the trend follows, the total number will exceed last year’s.

In her humdrum commentary on July 26, coordinator Mary Vasquez whined about the lack of confidence on the Barrow Administration’s programme. The truth is how can people have confidence in what has become a waste of critical resources? Apart from the $100,000 in salaries, Restore Belize has also misspent more: $20,000 for office renovation; $26,600 for computers, materials and consultancy; $25,890 on July/August expenditures alone; and $7,500 to study “Gangs in Belize”.

All that money, and so much more which is yet to be uncovered could have been used for direct social intervention programmes that would assist in many ways than those rich UDP friends and family would ever understand.

Carrie says on August 10, 2011 at 10:39 am

Barrow no care cause he no give one damn about the north. He di fight fi utilities nationalisation cause there he could put his family to work for huge money but he know that in the north he can’t do that plus he no understand nothing bout cane so he no care and we Pablo Marin de? He is a joke for the north, nevah do anything for his people, truly a waste to this government. Farmers stand in solidarity for your bread and butter and knock down whosever gets in your way to prosperity….long live los caneros.”

I voted UDP says August 9, 2011 at 11:34am

They came in with a promise to be tough on crime, but what a joke that has turned out to be.

2 ministers later and 3 compol changes we at the worst point ever. Murder rate is the highest ever, Guatemalan crossing our borders with total impunity, police stations permanently closed down or open during “normal business hours” 9 to 5. Contraband sugar, corn and rice crosses our borders daily and their solution to all of this is a WE ARE BELIZE jingle and to remove dark tint from certain vehicles only…I honestly believed in his crowd when I voted in 2008.”

Belizean says on August 9, 2011 at 2:14pm

I Voted UDP…I voted udp to. It’s a damn shame though, we can’t take it back now, Barrow is actually the reason the party is failing and I’m ashamed to call myself that. Now I get ticketed as soon as they won, my job was cancelled paying a portion of our bonus due to losses at this company and so did my other family members. From my point of view is that fair knowing that my heard earned tax dollars are paying Louis and her family!! Hell no, never again will I vote UDP, and I call on all patriotic Belizeans to vote them out. These are real gangsters here, there are no jobs being created, no opportunities for further education and higher job levels. If UDP had a different leadership we would be in a better position, but sadly all other ministers are afraid of him and wont stand up knowing he is wrong, so they’ll run contraband at the borders, use ministries and departments to issue cash to their voters to buy votes and continue to rape Belize, I will never vote UDP again!”

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Reid By the time you read this, what could have been done would have been done and whether we escaped or not, will do much to determine what course Belize will take as a nation hereafter. Wednesday’s Ninth Amendment consultation has potential for dire consequences, in particular after remarks made by UDP Street-General Boots Martinez. In a televised interview on Monday, Minister of Works Martinez made some rather inflammatory remarks that anywhere else in the world, would have been condemned and Martinez would have been held to task.

Martinez was explaining to Jules Vasquez of Channel Seven television that he was planning to bring out a thousand young people from his constituency to give support to the Bill.

When asked about the potential for chaos, Martinez replied that it was not “his business.” If Martinez’s motive was to get his people informed and educated then his comments could be forgiven and his actions even applauded. If the last appearance by Martinez’s mob is any indication however, then we can expect much rowdiness and hooliganism. On June 8th of this year, Martinez gave a preview of what his street army can do when they totally intimidated media personnel who tried to question Dean Barrow’s strong arming of BEL. Prime Minister Barrow has given Boots Martinez almost unlimited funds for what is supposed to have been a Southside Poverty Alleviation Project.

As one astute observer put it, “the only person lifted out of poverty on the Southside has been Boots Martinez.” One can drive around Belize City on any given day and see pockets of young hoods just sitting around or hanging listlessly while collecting weekly stipends. The more notorious the figure, the more likely they are to be taken on and given what amounts to basically be, “retainer fees”. Like firemen sitting around waiting for fires to put out, these “rascally yea forsooth knaves” hang around until called upon to intimidate or bolster numbers for false appearance. They have been used to fill the gallery at the National Assembly Meetings and to give the impression of support wherever they are needed. It is easy money and is all being paid for from the public coffers.

The Prime Minister meanwhile, has been busy trying to convince Belizeans that this Ninth Amendment Bill is confined primarily to retaining government control of BTL, BEL and BWSL. Nothing could be further from the truth. Close and careful examina-

tion reveals that the wording of the Bill gives unlimited power to any Cabinet with a super majority as is now enjoyed by the United Democratic Party. Given our style of governance where no individual member can ever vote against his party or be considered “crossing the floor”, this gives unbridled power to any domineering, power-hungry, wanna-be dictator like Dean Barrow. Even if this is not Dean Barrow’s ultimate objective, and very few doubt that it is, it would in effect, open the door for possible abuse of such power in the future. This bill has far reaching implications and must be resisted with every last bit of resolve.

Unfortunately, or deliberately, Michael Ashcroft played right into Barrow’s hands when on August 3rd he filed an injunction at the CCJ to stop the passage of the bill. Mr. Barrow has since been using that to present this as an Ashcroft versus Belize scenario, thereby utilizing or neutralizing all Ashcroft “haters” and fear-stricken. Barrow has spared no expense, financing expensive ads and spokespersons to voice support for what very few people even fully understand. Most appalling was to watch our newly imported Solicitor General talking down to Belizeans and making us out as fools for not “getting it”. Fact is Cheryl, we do “get it” we just don’t “want it.” No amount of persuading or fancy legal jargon can convince us to surrender our civil liberties and the right to challenge perceived wrong in a court of law.

A close look at both sides of this argument reveals some very interesting differences. Those who oppose the amendment seem all intellectuals with structured viewpoints from logical thought. Those in support seem mostly emotional and blindly loyal to anything red or anti-Ashcroft. Those opposed seem genuinely concerned about the possibilities and dangerous effects of such a bill while those who support are mostly paid protagonist and political party-liners. As Lauren would say, “who you gonna trust?”

Interestingly enough, in the middle of the potential debacle, the Prime Minister decides to take a vacation. Is it only me or does it seem that every time Belize faces any type of difficulty, the Prime Minister is always away; either vacationing, getting married or simply checking up on property abroad. It is a known fact that Mr. Barrow is normally elected mostly by voters from the Diaspora and he must maintain contact but the country needs a resident steward.

It is unfair for Mr. Barrow to leave Belizeans at the mercy of irrational and illiterate madmen. Wednesday’s parados was set by Mr. Barrow and it is only fair that he should have been here to oversee the roll of that dice. There was just too much at stake!

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

No to the Ninth Amendment

By Gilroy Usher, Sr., PUP Standard Bearer for Port Loyola Belizeans are rejecting the proposed ninth amendment to the Constitution of Belize by the thousands. Prime Minister Barrow says that the legislation is only being introduced to ensure that majority ownership of the utility companies by Belizeans cannot be changed. 99% of the Belizeans including PUPs, UDPs, and independent voters support that position. If that is the sole objective of the Government, there is no need for the ninth amendment as it is. The Constitution as it is now exist already gives the Government permission to acquire utility companies for the public good; therefore only a few words need to be added to that section to ensure that Belizeans maintain majority ownership of such essential services.

The truth is that the proposed amendment is being introduced for other reasons. This was stated publicly by Minister of Public Utilities John Saldivar on Tuesday August 2nd on Krem Morning Talk Show where he was a guest.

It is also true that the proposed amendment gives the Legislature which is controlled by the Executive under P.M. Barrow absolute power to change the Constitution in any shape or form and explicitly bars the court from determining whether its actions violates the fundamental rights and freedoms of Belizeans that are currently guaranteed by the Constitution.

If passed, the ninth amendment will give the Prime Minister the power of a dictator as head of the Executive which controls Legislature. This amendment will give the Prime Minister legal authority to do as he pleases in the country regardless of what anybody thinks. And if passed, the ninth amendment will prevent the court from acting as the guardian of our fundamental rights and freedoms that are presently guaranteed by the Constitution which is currently the supreme law of the land. With the ninth amendment people will only be able to go to court to see if the government followed the correct procedure in passing a constitutional amendment and nothing else.

With the amendment people will not be able to turn the court for justice against any constitutional law passed by the government

regardless of how unjust and unfair that law might be. In other words unlike as is presently the case, with the ninth amendment the court will no longer be able to hear the meat or substance of a complaint against the government initiated as a result of Constitutional amendment.

With the ninth amendment Prime Minister Barrow will have the legal authority to pass laws in the Legislature among other things: 1) Determine which media house are allowed to operate in Belize 2) Seize private property at will and determine how much, if any, compensation should be paid and when 3) Bring back preventative detention and jail members of the opposition for months on the grounds that they are suspected of encouraging crime or social unrest 4) Cede or give away our land to Guatemala 5) Change the law to say a Constitutional Amendment only requires a simple majority in the House instead of the present 3/4 majority 6) Make Belize a one party state and declare himself Prime Minister or President for life 7) Pass a huge pension for himself, his wife, his children, and his first set of grandchildren.

The Churches, the Chamber of Commerce, dozens of non-government organizations, and thousands of Belizeans are against the ninth amendment to the constitution because they realize the danger of giving absolute power to the Legislature with an amendment that prevents the court from serving as a watchdog against violation of our constitutional rights.

The ninth amendment is a very serious matter. If passed we could lose many our fundamental rights and freedom that we enjoy today.

To prevent its passage it’s very important that we attend the Consultation hearings in our community and oppose this bill as we’ve been doing in the newspapers, on the radio and television stations, and in talking with our relatives, friends and neighbors.

If we don’t make every effort to force the government to withdraw the ninth amendment now, we will have to confront bullets, clubs, and teargas in the streets later to regain our freedoms that are currently guaranteed by our constitution.

Venezuela in South America was a democracy like Belize. That was until Hugo Chavez wrapped himself in nationalism and changed the constitution gradually until he became a dictator. Let’s not make the same mistake in Belize. Say no to the ninth Amendment at every opportunity.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Wanted: A leader for the ACP

By Sir Ronald Sanders The 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries should use the strength of their combined number and access to their natural resources to demand a voice in global economic and financial arrangements that directly affect their economic well-being and the welfare of their people.

With resources ranging from oil through gold, diamonds, timber, bauxite and a range of natural resources to which the rich countries of the world want access, the ACP countries miscalculate the clout that they could exercise in unison to demand a better share of the world’s wealth.

They also underestimate how powerful a force they could be in international organisations if they could agree to vote together. Effectively, they could be a blocking force or a strong bargaining entity with the rich and powerful countries that need wider support to achieve their own national ambitions.

They could also bargain more strongly and with more advantageous results if they could agree – and adhere – to standards that they would apply to foreign investors who now play them off against each other.

The problem is that, even though the agreement that established the ACP, allows the grouping to bargain collectively with any third party, the ACP has confined its activity to negotiations with the European Union (EU).

Further, the group lacks unity – a fact well-known to the EU and to other rich nations. This lack of unity has been exploited by the EU, and others, to keep the ACP divided and weak. Therefore, the group has failed to realise the enormous potential it has for bargaining more effectively for its member states.

Of course, there is an argument that the interests of ACP countries are so diverse, and even competitive, that it would be difficult (some would argue that it would be impossible) for them to agree on objectives and negotiating positions that would serve their collective interests.

That is the defeatist position – one that has served the interests of those rich countries and investors that have benefitted from a weak ACP organisation that does not bolster the bargaining strength of its individual members.

This was obvious in the negotiations between the EU and the ACP countries over Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) when the ACP allowed the solidarity it had shown in negotiating previous aid and trade agreements to dissolve by the creation of separate groups within the ACP to negotiate with a combined 27-nation EU. The result was wholly unequal and unfair EPAs that will not stand the test of time, and will eventually end up in failure because many disadvantaged ACP countries will not be able to deliver on the pledges they were forced to make.

On the flip side of the coin, the 27 countries of the EU also have diverse interests and objectives, but they negotiate common positions amongst themselves and then argue them collectively in their bargaining with others such as the regions of the ACP. The point is that “diverse interests” are no barrier to several like-minded countries reaching a common position

if they have the will to do so in their collective interest. And, the evidence is that when, in 1972, the Europeans expanded membership of their Economic Community from six counties to nine, including Britain, forcing new trade arrangements between the EU and the then independent states in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, the ACP was created on the basis of the strength in their unity. It was that unity that allowed the ACP to bargain for the Lomé agreement under which poor countries enjoyed both development assistance and preferential access to the EU market for their products. African, Caribbean and Pacific countries stood-up for each other refusing to accept better conditions for some countries if other members of the group were being short-changed.

It is equally significant that the rich member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), even though they too have diverse interests, manage to reach agreement on the standards they wish to impose on the rest of the world. It cannot be that the rich have a greater capacity than the poor to subjugate special interests for a wider good. The history of the development of Caribbean society proves such a supposition to be wrong. For instance, it is the strength of collective bargaining by trade unions that unified workers and brought exploitative companies to the negotiating table for the delivery of better conditions in the late 1930s and early 1940s and laid the foundation for today’s middle-income countries.

But, there will be no strong, vibrant ACP group that demands a voice in international economic arrangements or that sets common standards for foreign investors unless the leaders of the ACP countries themselves decide to imbue it with that authority and provide it with the resources that it needs to do the job.

Right now, the ACP is in no condition to do so. The governments of the ACP countries do not see it as a powerful instrument for their countries economic and social advancement. The ACP Secretariat remains dependent on hand-outs from the EU to conduct critical aspects of its work, including work that affects its relationship with the EU itself. What possible independence and vigour can it show in such circumstances?

Yet, ACP countries bear the brunt of the world’s crises – including climate change caused by rich countries, and the effects of the financial crisis in the US and Europe. In any truly democratic system, the ACP group, which comprises almost half of the world’s states, should have a say in the governance of global matters that materially affect their people. But, they have no collective voice in the G20, no voice of their own in the IMF and World Bank, no strategic place in the World Trade Organisation. And, no one is about to give it to them unless they fight for it.

With proper cultivation and development the ACP group could become a real force for advancing the neglected interests of the people of its 79 countries. Will the leaders of the ACP stand-up?

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

THE BELIZE TIMES

Churches Promoting the Wrong Product In my final attempt to clarify why churches are empty, I would like to discuss the product the church is offering! Please remember the church is NOT a building but a people with a message! The message is of extreme importance as it is life and death! We should therefore be careful of the message we are communicating.

As mentioned in previous articles, God is not the author of religion. Religion is man-made and therefore can be “man adjusted”; consequently, religion does not always reflect the heart of the Kingdom of God. Religion is simply man’s organizational attempt and effort to reconnect with God. Even being an atheist is a religion because, by definition, they say there is no God. Legally and officially that is considered a religious category. In reality it is.

Of course God’s description of those who say “there is no God” is very rough! Read Psalm 14:1 & Psalm 53:1 for yourself. Religion seeks to chart out a way to make things right with the creator and attempts to cut out a pathway for man to travel to make it back in right relationship with God! Some believe Joseph Smith is the right connection, others believe Buddha, some Muhammad, some Selassie, and the list goes on! But to top it all off, even Christianity is a religion!

God hates religion. Religion kills, brings division, and confusion. In the manual we find Jesus being extremely harsh on the religious folks but very understanding towards the sinners. He would forgive them of their sins and tell them to sin no more.

Did you know it was the religious Christians who wanted to and eventually killed Jesus Matthew 26:4. That is why you might find the word ‘Christian’ in the scriptures but not ‘Christianity’ as this is also a religion that man created.

Because Religion is a search for God, many people in many religions are still on that search and are not satisfied! God does not have a religion. He owns a kingdom and His desire is to make every man a citizen of that kingdom.

Religions point you towards heaven yet God has us on earth. Religion points out your sin yet God forgives you of them. Religion gives you a set of rules yet God sets you free!

So what product should the church offer? Man fell and lost connection with God (yes), but man also lost dominion, or control over his life, he lost his understanding of purpose, his sense of identity. We need to begin focusing on selling the kingdom of God and the keys of this kingdom rather than a bunch of rules, or a trip to heaven when we die. All these are important but are automatic once the kingdom is received.

We need to begin advertising, by word and also by setting the example, that you can enter the kingdom now and not only when you die, that the keys in the kingdom can make you have a successful business, or marriage, make you into a better leader, politician, make you healthy, more intelligent, a better employee, and I could go on and on. In other words this goes beyond saying a prayer and then its finished you’re in!

The kingdom of God is a place, a country that you live in. A place where the King is God, the heavenly father, and His son Jesus is the Savior. It is this country that tells us how we should live on earth, what is lawful and what is unlawful. I must repeat !The Kingdom is NOT a religion but a country that owns earth the same way Belize owns San Pedro, and has it operating under its laws and enjoying its benefits.

Our product is the ‘Kingdom of God!’ As we begin to offer more of this and less of religion, we will find an increase as those searching for a reconnection with a ‘Higher Power’ will gravitate almost instantaneously!

Have a good week and I look forward to connecting with you next week and we pray that God watches over the national consultations on the 9th Amendment Bill.

God Bless and continue to pray for our country!!

THE WORLD IS READING

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

BELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

SCIENCE & TECH R

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Selected By Chris Williams

Will members of the hacker group Anonymous try to bring down Facebook?

By Joe Pompeo | The Cutline Some members of Anonymous, the nebulous group of hackers whose high-tech activism has wreaked havoc on law enforcement agencies, government ministries and corporations, appear to have a new target in their cross-hairs: Facebook.

A threatening message on YouTube was allegedly disseminated by affiliates of the shadowy collective, which in recent days has hijacked the websites of the Syrian Defense Ministry (in protest of the restive nation’s autocratic regime) and dozens of rural police offices in the United States (in retaliation for the recent arrests of some of the group’s suspected cohorts). “If you’re a willing activist or guy who just wants to protect the freedom of information then join the cause and kill Facebook for the sake of your own privacy,” implores the narrator of the message, using a voice scrambler.

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly been criticized for his alleged lack of concern for the privacy of his 700 million users.

“Facebook has been selling information to government agencies and giving clandestine access to information security firms so they can spy on people all around the world,”

Apple ruling blocks Samsung Galaxy Tab shipments across EU Josh Halliday guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 August 2011 European customs officers have been ordered to seize shipments of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab computers after Apple won a preliminary injunction against the Korean electronics giant in an acrimonious patent dispute.

Samsung on Wednesday said it would act immediately to lift the blockade, which prevents sales of its flagship tablet computer in the European Union, except the Netherlands.

Tens of thousands of Samsung Galaxy Tabs are thought to have been seized after the ruling late on Tuesday by a German patents court.

Apple has accused Samsung’s Galaxy range of smartphones and tablet computers of “slavishly” copying the design and functionality of its popular iPhone and iPad lines.

Apple will apply to have the injunction extended to the Netherlands before the patents court in the Hague later on Wednesday.

A Samsung spokeswoman said on

Wednesday morning: “Samsung is disappointed with the court’s decision and we intend to act immediately to defend our intellectual property rights through the ongoing legal proceedings in Germany and will continue to actively defend these rights throughout the world.

“We will take all necessary measures to ensure Samsung’s innovative mobile communications devices are available to customers in Europe and around the world.

“This decision by the court in Germany in no way influences other legal proceedings filed with the courts in Europe and elsewhere.”

Apple alleges that the Samsung tablet infringes 10 separate patents in areas such as data transmission and wireless technology.

A spokesman for Apple said: “It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging. This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.”

Earlier in August the Californiabased company forced Samsung to delay the launch of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia after it won a preliminary injunction in that country. Apple, which overtook oil group Exxon as the world’s most valuable company on Tuesday night, is also seeking to block sales of the rival tablet computer in the US. Samsung has countersued Apple in its native South Korea, as well as Japan, the US and Germany.

Florian Mueller, an intellectual property analyst who has followed the dispute between the two electronics giants, said that to win the EU injunction Apple must have convinced the Dusseldorf judge that it would be likely to win the main court proceedings.

“A preliminary injunction is ordered only if the court believes you’re likely to prevail in the main proceeding, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will,” he said. “In the event you lose the main proceeding, you’re liable for damages.”

the Anonymous message, titled “Operation Facebook,” claims. (It was uploaded on July 16, but it only began circulating widely around the web on Tuesday. You can listen to it above.)

“Everything you do on Facebook stays on Facebook regardless of your privacy settings, and deleting your account is impossible,” the statement continues. “Even if you delete your account, all of your personal info stays on Facebook and can be recovered at any time.

Changing the privacy settings to make your account more private is also a delusion. Facebook knows more about you than your family. ...

You are not safe from them nor from any government. One day you will look back on this and realize what we have done here is right. Think for awhile and prepare for a day that will go down in history: Nov. 5, 2011.”

If successfully carried out, the allegedly pending attack would coincide with Guy Fawkes Day, a British celebration that commemorates a failed assassination attempt on King James I of England in 1605. Members of Anonymous are known to don masks resembling Fawkes.

A spokesman for Facebook declined to comment. But Anonymous weighed in on its Twitter account. The group initially claimed the YouTube video was a hoax, but later clarified: “#OpFacebook is being organised by some Anons. This does not necessarily mean that all of #Anonymous agrees with it.” A subsequent tweet reads: “We prefer to face the real power and not to face to the same medias that we use as tools.”

Some observers are skeptical about the authenticity of the threat.

“Why didn’t this news spread like wildfire three weeks ago?” writes Emil Protalinski on ZDNet. “Whenever Anonymous or [affiliated hacker group] LulzSec declare a new target, the world definitely notices.

Furthermore, while Guy Fawkes Day is a perfectly understandable choice, it’s very far away. There are 112 days between July 16, 2011 and November 5, 2011: Anonymous rarely gives more than a few days notice, if at all.”

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en Español

L

La Voluntad del Pueblo

os funcionarios bajo la nómina del Gobierno basándose en la novena Enmienda Constitucional han afirmado que debido a que ganaron una elección que les dio una mayoría de tres cuartos en la Cámara de Representantes hace tres años, sea cual sea la decisión que tomen y todo lo que hacen hoy en día podría considerarse la Voluntad del pueblo de Belice.

Durante el debate en Love FM la semana pasada el nuevo Fiscal General, incluso sostuvo que si el Gobierno quería tiene el poder de convertir lo negro en blanco. Este razonamiento y pensamiento, procedentes de intelectuales, es absolutamente idiota, es traicionera, y muestra cómo los de la Administración Barrow están ebrios de poder!

Si la Voluntad del Pueblo prevalecería, el Gobierno se centraría en tomar medidas contra la pobreza, tomar sensible estrategias para combatir el crimen, trabajar en la reforma educativa para garantizar el acceso y la asequibilidad, la creación de empleos y el crecimiento económico.

Esta es la voluntad del pueblo.

Pero la triste realidad es que los beliceños se han empobrecido más con la Administración Barrow con la tasa de pobreza del 43%, los delitos violentos y asesinatos aparentemente son imparables, el costo de la educación es tan alto, con poco apoyo del gobierno para las familias, la tasa de desempleo creció en el país como nunca antes lo había hecho, un 24 %, y la desesperación económica es terrible en la actualidad.

Es bajo la administración de Barrow que la economía registró un crecimiento negativo en el período 2009-2010, y continúa trastabillando, con empresas cerrando sus puertas debido a los tiempos difíciles.

La desesperación en las calles y las comunidades es muy obvia. Nuestros jóvenes no tienen a dónde recurrir para pedir ayuda, y muchos terminan atrapados en el crimen y la violencia.

La falta de oportunidades de empleo están convirtiendo a nuestro pueblo en prostitutas, mendigos y buscavidas, pero esto no es algo que la Administración de Barrow admitiría.

De hecho, han dado la espalda a estos temas y han creado distracciones para los beliceños. Es por eso que cada vez que el primer ministro Dean Barrow, sube al escenario, no se dirige a los problemas reales. En cambio, él ha tenido éxito en convencer a muchos de que su pelea con Ashcroft es la “lucha de la gente”. Pero las palabras no pueden llenar estómagos vacíos, y si se privatiza el BTL o si están nacionalizados eso no mejora la tasa de pobreza, la delincuencia o el desempleo en nuestro país.

El dolor en las calles de Belice es real, y no es la voluntad del pueblo sufrir de la forma que lo están haciendo hoy en día. Tampoco es la voluntad del pueblo convertirse en objetos del Gobierno, y eso es exactamente lo que la novena enmienda constitucional dicta. ¡Deje que la verdadera voluntad del pueblo prevalezca!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Sunday, August 14, 2011

An Open Response to the Letter from the Prime Minister of Belize....

Continued from page 2 courts in other parts of the world, who have written constitutions like Belize, who are doing precisely what the Prime Minister says cannot be done - allowing challenges to amendments to the constitution. These include India (Kesavananda v State of Kerala), Bangladesh (Anwar Hossain Chowdhary vs. Bangladesh), Uganda (Ssemogerere et al v Attorney General), Mauritius (The State v Khoyratty (Mauritius), and, of course, Belize in the Bowen case.

The Kesavananda case makes it clear that a constitution has a basic structure which cannot be altered beyond recognition. To state that the legal principle in that case, “has been rejected everywhere else except by Conteh in Belize”, is to wilfully ignore the fact that the constitutional doctrine of basic structure is in fact a solid part of Canadian Law. Basic Structure doctrine has been applied in cases in Mauritius, Bangladesh and Uganda as well.

There are many other countries in which the position has not yet been determined by the courts. This is because few, (if any) democratic governments are blatant enough to attempt to interfere in the court’s jurisdiction and undermine the rule of law in the manner proposed by the 9th Amendment. In St. Vincent, in 2009, in fact, the Government proposed sweeping constitutional amendments, but took the matter to its citizens in a referendum.

That the National Assembly does not have unlimited power to pass laws is obvious to Belizeans, even if the Prime Minister refuses to agree with their view. There is a basic structure to our Constitution which cannot be altered without changing the entire nature of the Constitution upon which the legal order of our nation is founded.

Paragraph (f) of the preamble to our Constitution states that the people of Belize “desire that their society shall reflect and enjoy the above-mentioned principles, beliefs and needs and that their Constitution should therefore enshrine and make provisions for the achievement of the same in Belize.”

This means that our fundamental rights and freedoms are guaranteed for all time and that Belize shall continue to be a democracy. It also means that the Legislature cannot remove the jurisdiction of the Courts over interpreting the laws of Belize, including the Constitution, by a mere act amending the constitution. Such a law would undermine the basic structure, and all that which we enjoy, and the framers intended.

Our basic structure is grounded on a separation of powers between the judiciary, the legislature and the executive. The executive/legislature can make laws, but cannot prevent the judiciary from interpreting them; while the judiciary must interpret the law, but cannot pass laws itself.

The Privy Council, Belize’s highest court until very recently, established (in relation to a case regarding the Mauritius Constitution) that there can be aspects of a written Constitution that are so deeply entrenched that they cannot be overridden. This must include the role of the courts in the Belize legal system, the separation of powers and the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Privy Council further made clear that amendments to the Constitution must themselves be Constitutional. The Government is therefore not

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entitled to pass amendments infringing fundamental rights that remain part of, and are guaranteed by the Constitution.

Otherwise, the Government would be permitted to remove fundamental rights by the back door without any of the safeguards preventing such changes that are enshrined in Section 69. Every tyranny requires a tyrant. The citizenry are justified in rejecting this.

The Belize Constitution does, however, provide the “textual support” (which the Prime Minister claims it lacks) to limit our Legislature’s power to amend the Constitution. Such support is found not only in paragraph (f) mentioned above, but also in the words of Section 2, which states that the Constitution, not the National Assembly, shall be Supreme.

Those Belizeans who do not support the current draft of the 9th Amendment hold the opinion that the Constitution of Belize does not grant Parliament unlimited power to amend. Given the track record of this Administration in the past three years on presenting in the House of Representatives the 6th, 7th, 8th and now 9th constitutional amendments before consulting, can Belizeans be blamed for the belief that unlimited Parliamentary power is a sure opendoor to abuse? It would be un-patriotic NOT to worry.

It is cold and empty reassurance to say that the proposed amendments would not prevent the right of access to the courts to challenge constitutional amendments and those claims could still be heard. The bleak reality is, that with the 9th Amendment in place, if proper procedure has been followed, no remedy against parliamentary constitutional abuse could be granted by those courts.

There would be no point in expending energy and resources to go to court to have such a claim heard. The supposed right of access to the courts would be entirely empty – as hollow as the claim that redress would be available.

It is precisely because in Belize, there DOES exist the kind of democracy, tradition, and people power that is the ultimate safeguard against abuse, that there are so many Belizeans united in their concerns about this 9th Amendment.

Let me throw out a bold challenge and a patriotic offer - to the proponents of constitutional change. I will presume that the assurances of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister are genuine and that the Government will consider itself bound by the outcome of the public consultation process. Let the National Assembly use its power, under the Referendum Act to hold a referendum on the 9th Amendment Bill. Let Belizeans have their rightful say.

Better yet, convene a Constitutional Convention. Let all stakeholders, political parties, civil society and concerned Belizeans, engage each other in civil discourse, for the good of our nation, the development of our democracy, and the love of our Jewel.

We can, and we must rise above our mutual distrusts, be the partisan or personal. We must go beyond our deeply held suspicions, and rise, in this hour of Belize’s need to work, together, under the shade of our tree of liberty, to strengthen our democracy.

Our children, our future, our freedom demand no less.

Lisa M Shoman (Senator)

PUP says NO 9th Amendment August 4, 2011 On Friday July 22, 2011, the Prime Minister introduced the Belize Constitution (Ninth Amendment) Bill in the House of Representatives.

This constitutional amendment bill, the fourth introduced by this Government in the past three years, states that it is “to provide that the Government shall at all times have majority ownership and control of public utilities; to clarify the provisions relating to the amendment of the Constitution; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.

Whereas the decision to decide as a matter of policy that the Government of Belize should retain majority control of public utilities in Belize is a power which the Legislature can exercise, what is contained in the rest of the Bill is fraught with peril for Belizean Democracy.

The proposal to add a new subsection (9) to Section 69 of the Belize Constitution is not “for the avoidance of doubt”. It is actually intended, as the wording used plainly states, to ensure two things. The first is that,” there is NO OTHER LIMITATION, WHETHER SUBSTANTIVE OR PROCEDURAL, ON THE POWER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY to alter this Constitution”. This means clearly that the National Assembly can pass any kind of change to the Constitution without limit as to kind or content whatsoever, and without need to consult Belizeans.

Secondly, the language of that section says that laws passed by the National Assembly to change any part of the Constitution, as long as it follows the procedure of Section 69, “…shall not be open to challenge in any court of law ON ANY GROUND WHATSOEVER.” Those proposed changes would make the National Assembly more powerful than the Constitution, and would remove from the Courts in Belize, two of the most important responsibilities of the Judiciary under the Constitution, which are the obligation to act as a check and balance on the Legislature; and to safe-

guard the basic structure of our Constitution, so that it is not changed beyond what our founding fathers intended our supreme law to be.

The amendment proposed to section 2 of our Constitution, to add a new subsection (2), would in fact further cement the attempt to make the National Assembly more powerful than the Constitution, and would allow the Legislature in Belize to pass any change to the Constitution as long as Section 69 rules are followed.

The Bill also includes language to shut out the Court’s jurisdiction and create an absolute bar to the power of the Court elsewhere under the same Constitution by stating in the Bill that “no court shall enquire into the constitutionality, legality or validity of the said acquisitions notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 17, section 20 or any other provision of this Constitution or any other law or rule of practice”. In case any Court does not agree that the bar is in fact absolute, and the unlimited original jurisdiction granted to them under the Constitution has in fact been cut down, the same section goes on to state that “… no court shall assume jurisdiction ON ANY GROUND WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, any alleged ground of lack of jurisdiction in the persons making the said Acquisition Orders, or any ground alleging breach of the rules of natural justice.”

All Belizeans are rightly concerned that unlimited power to change our Constitution should not be granted to any Parliament in Belize; nor should the role and responsibility of our Court to act as a guardian of our democracy be diminished in this drastic and imperious manner.

The Opposition, therefore, calls upon the Prime Minster and the Government to listen, with appropriate respect to the voice of the People of Belize, expressing their will in the public discourse and through the constitutional Opposition, to cease the naked power grab, remove the offending sections proposed in the 9th Amendment Bill, and to focus instead on the task at hand – passing laws for the Peace, Order and Good Government of Belize.

CARTER’s CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY New sofas, love seats, chairs, bed mattresses, car seats, head liner rugs, boat, plane, reupholstering, etc.

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Proprietor: Darrell Carter Cell: 623.4863 E-mail: dcart_10@yahoo.com

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Sunday, August 14, 2011

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Alma Martinez – A True Belizean Hero Belize City, August 3rd, 2011

By Rafael Sosa In our society, there are many ordinary men and women living among us who, by virtue of their kind and humble acts of humanitarianism toward their fellow brother and sisters, are worthy and deserving of the title “HERO”. Earlier this week, I had the honor and privilege of meeting one such “HERO” in the person of Mrs. Alma Martinez, proprietor of Alma’s Beauty Salon/Academy of Cosmetology & Hairdressing.

Founded sixteen years ago in 1995

by Mrs. Alma, as her trainees affectionately call her, Alma’s Academy of Cosmetology & Hairdressing continues to train young women from across Belize in the areas of nail technology, facial treatment, manicure, pedicure, hair styling, haircutting, and hair treatment. A professional cosmetologist and hairdresser by trade, Mrs. Alma proudly shared that hundreds of young women have passed and continue to pass through her hands.

The latest cadre of young women to be taken under Mrs. Alma’s wings includes Crystal from Belize City, Cathy from Sandhill, Odette from Cayo and Brenda from Punta Gorda. Crystal, a full-time employee and mother, shared that she signed up for the training program in order that she could enhance her skills in nail art. Crystal is currently undergoing the final component of the training program after having completed training in facial treatment, hair treatment, hair styling, haircutting, and scalp treatment. Crystal further shared that she offers hairdressing and nail design services to customers at her home in the evenings and on the weekends. Nail design, as explained

by Crystal, is a procedure that could last for as long as an hour or more.

Cathy, a resident of Sandhill and a full-time employee, explained that the knowledge and skills acquired from the training program would provide her with alternative employment to “fall back on” or “Plan B” as she refers to it in the event she may lose her current employment. Like her fellow trainee Crystal, Cathy is also completing the final component of her training, i.e. nail technology.

Odette, originally from the Cayo District and a full-time employee, enthusiastically shared that she plans to open her own beauty salon in the future and to apply the knowledge and skills passed on to her by Mrs. Alma.

Odette has completed the haircutting, hair treatment, and scalp treatment components of the training program and is excited about progressing to the nail technology component.

Brenda, originally from Punta Gorda and a full-time employee, wife and mother, plans to either open her own beauty salon or to work at a resort as a cosmetologist/hairdresser. Like Odette, Brenda is also preparing to move on to nail technology.

At the time of my interviewing the four trainees, Crystal and Cathy were designing nails. Odette was hair styling and Brenda was doing a couple facials.

During my interviews with Crystal, Cathy, Odette and Brenda, they all shared the common sentiment that in order to succeed at a training program such as the one at Alma’s one has to have a “passion” for hairdress-

ing and cosmetology. During my short time at the Academy, I saw clearly that “passion” in these four ladies. All four commented that they would gladly encourage other females to enroll in the training program.

Interestingly, they all agreed that they would also encourage males to participate. As they pointed out, some of the world’s most-renowned hair stylists are males. Though I didn’t observe it during my short visit, both trainees and Mrs. Alma confirmed that they cut the hair of both female and male customers.

When asked about Mrs. Alma, all trainees shared that more than an instructor they see her as a mentor. They explained that Mrs. Alma is extremely helpful and guides them every step of the way.

Mrs. Alma explained that she obtained her qualifications as a professional cosmetologist and hairdresser in Honduras in the early 1990s. While in Honduras, she had participated in several hair shows held by personal care products giants, Clairol and Revlon. Mrs. Alma has also participated in hair shows in Florida, U.S.A. and just recently, in May of this year, she attended a huge hair show in Cancun, Mexico.

What I found most admirable and rather incredible was Mrs. Alma’s revelation that she essentially started her Academy singlehandedly without turning to any financial institution for a start-up financing. As she explained, she has been able to provide her training program for the past sixteen years because of its sustainability derived from an unbroken enrolment of trainees.

Speaking about the program’s Continued on Insert 4

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Alma Martinez A True Belizean Hero Continued from Insert 1

structure, Mrs. Alma explained that she accepts enrolment twice annually, i.e. in March and September. Trainees can opt to complete the training program in a period of six months to one year. At the end of a year’s training, trainees would’ve covered a total of twenty-one (21) subjects. During the program, trainees are tested in both theory and application and must sit an exam at the end of the program.

Mrs. Alma shared that this year marks twenty-three (23) years since she has been a professional hairdresser, having opened her beauty salon back in 1991. In speaking of the beauty salon industry, Mrs. Alma commented that a beauty salon could be a profitable business venture provided one ensures quality standards and good customer service among other important features. She emphasized, “Treat each and every client special and always attend to them promptly”.

I felt compelled to ask her what keeps her going after sixteen years as a training instructor. Cracking her signature smile, she responded, “Before I’m even finished with one group, I’m bombarded with calls from other young women wanting to enroll in the training program. Far beyond imparting my knowledge and skills to these young women, I feel, more so, that I’m providing a social service to them.

I see myself giving a lot of them an opportunity to rise up out of their often challenging circumstances”.

Asked what her greatest satisfaction is, Mrs. Alma stated, “My greatest satisfaction is seeing my trainees hard at work applying the knowledge and skills I’ve passed on to them and valuing the business of their customers”.

Mrs. Alma shared that several of her former trainees have gone on to open their own beauty salons, jokingly stating that they now represent her “competition”.

The story of Mrs. Alma Martinez and Alma’s Beauty Salon/Academy of Cosmetology & Hairdressing is truly a success story. It is a success story that may never be written into the pages of a book. It is our hope here at the BELIZE TIMES, however, that after reading this article, Belizeans will come to know about this extraordinary individual. Certainly, we can and should all be proud that the realization of the dream of one visionary and self-sacrificing Belizean woman has caused and is causing many other Belizean women to realize their own dreams.

Mrs. Alma Martinez – a TRUE BELIZEAN HERO! KUDOS Mrs. Alma!

THE BELIZE TIMES

Sunday, August 14, 2011