Belize Times August 16, 2020- #PlanBelize Historic Launch

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The Belize Times

16 AUG

THE BELIZE TIMES

APP

2020

Established 1957

The Truth Shall Make You Free

16 AUGUST 2020 | ISSUE NO: 5211

www.belizetimes.biz | $1.00

#Planbelize

HISTORIC LAUNCH This Wednesday August 12 was by any measure a historic day for Belize and for the People’s United Party.

Since his election as leader of the PUP in January 2016 and even before that John Briceño has been listening to the people of Belize. George Price has set a pace for him and Hon. Briceño means to follow it like clockwork. The policies in #planBelize can be accessed by anyone at planBelize.bz. The dates can also be followed there. Join the movement, register into the site.

John Briceño’s constant visits to every constituency of Belize and his savvy for understanding the very complex spirit of Belizeanism has him poised to be the next Prime Minister of Belize.

Today was the day that John Briceño and the PUP are opening up their #planBelize to commence the move from figurative to real. The people of Belize are

Pg. 2

COVID-19 AFFLICTS BELIZE’S FRONTLINE Pg. 2

PUP Education Policy Unveiled

S&P DOWNGRADES BELIZE AGAIN

FLYING IN THE

CORONAVIRUS Pg. 9

EVERYBODY FI WIN!

Pg. 2

planBelize

Pg. 8 Student Union Protects Itself From the UDP Government

Officially Joins the NTUCB

Pg. 9 TODOS GANAMOS!

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16 AUG

THE BELIZE TIMES

#Planbelize

HISTORIC LAUNCH

Continued from page 1

ready to enrich their lives. The young people of Belize are excited to know that they are at the forefront of the PUP’s plans to make Belize’s resources work for everyone.

When the young can see that they have great futures, the present will flourish with great alacrity. When parents’ experience and expertise are employed optimally Belize will be churning at all cylinders— especially our Agroindustry with Tourism and others. All industries will feel the fervour. Hope is a fuel that had drained out of Belize and John Briceño and the PUP are poised to fill our tanks with more than enough. People are asked to help with opening their tanks and using it for the good of Belize. #planBelize is the way forward for a Belize that works for everyone. It is a roadmap to build a Belize where everybody wins. This is a comprehensive vision made possible by paying attention to the hopes, aspirations, ambitions, needs of the Belizean nation. Together we will take Belize into a brighter future with #planBelize.

PUP Education Policy Unveiled

Of the ten major Policies to be launched over the next few week, Education was the choice to begin #planBelize. Our children begin their life with a sound education and the rest follows. The same pattern was adopted by #planBelize. For Belize, Education must have a wider and deeper meaning.

One which challenges us to ensure that all our people are provided with an equal opportunity to acquire the capacity and attitudes for full and active participation in the development of our nation. The education we provide today must therefore equip our people at any and every stage of their lives with the tools they need to create value out of that education.

2020

COVID-19 AFFLICTS BELIZE’S FRONTLINE In the first day of August 2020 the year of Covid-19 and nine months since the first documented Covid-19 case, Belize is shocked into a calm panic as we absorbed the news that a female police officer had tested positive. This opened the sluices to a flood of positive cases for the SARSCOV2. Our Covid-19 free status was jerked by 20 or 30 and 40 positive cases in subsequent days. The numbers of active case have swollen to over 200 in a matter of a week.

Mixed among the numbers are healthcare frontline heroes the police, the nurses, the doctors, the Coast Guard. The UDP has failed them. The PPE’s that were voiced over and over in donations and by the PM, where are they? Use them if available. Now. These frontliners are the ones that Dean Barrow promised extra “monies” and transportation and housing. He did just as he did almost 100 thousand unemployed Belizeans in late March. Half of those received not a penny from taxpayer’s money.

All frontline workers received nought.

Party Leader Hon. John Briceño: “I can recall the Prime Minister stating on national television that if anything, the Ministry of Health would be faced with an oversupply of resources and equipment to deal with the pandemic.” – PUP August 11, 2020 Release It is a pattern now. Prime Minister Dean Barrow seems to be deliberately lying and at the very least deliber-

Continued on page 21

STATEMENT ON HEALTH

ately misleading the public. Barrow slyly has weighed that if he “dodges” a question today hoping the issue will fly into the radarless skies of Belize. The topic of this piece isn’t lying so we will NOT say that you Barrow remind us of Trump in your postulating of alternative facts.

Pablo Marin, my apologies for blaming Barrow for your negligence and malpractice in the Ministry of Health. We at the Belize Times keep, in your words, “putting you over and over.” We won’t put you this week. That will give you time to go buy your 20,000 rapid tests. Was this why you rejected SICA’s help?

The health care workers, students, teachers, stevedores, et al are all routinely disrespected by Barrow/Faber duo of incompetents.

Meanwhile UDP operatives and standard carers are illegally offering land and little chump change to transfer. While the UDP politicize and electioneer the PUP plans and listens to the people.

The frontline workers have the support of Belize and this the People’s United Party. We all want Faber/Barrow to leave...the people have suffered their disorder for too long.

In the Statement the Party Leader also states clearly that “With the first week of the spike in cases, our health monitoring system has for all intents and purposes collapsed.”

-Ahead we can read the rest of the statement and the Healthcare workers’ releases.

By the Leader of the Opposition Tuesday, August 11, 2020 Today, and every day we express the nation’s gratitude to our front-line workers – our doctors, nurses, health-care support staff, law enforcement officers, social workers – all those who have selflessly contributed to keeping us safe and secure, and continue to do so. With the news that several of our healthcare personnel have contracted COVID-19, I pray that God watch over you and your families as you do what you can for your people and country.

This is an unprecedented time in Belize. It is not a time for pretty words or political agendas. This virus does not see party colours. In recent weeks we have seen press conference after press conference hosted by the Prime Minister. We have heard the many promises and assurances that the government has it all under control. At one point, I can recall the Prime Minister stating on national television that if anything, the Ministry of Health would be faced with an oversupply of resources and equipment to deal with the pandemic. Every week we heard about the many millions that would be available for health and programs to alleviate the many hardships present long before the pandemic, but now drastically worsened.

So where are we, five months after we prepared for a first wave? The reality is this. We are faced with a disastrous second wave. Every day of testing has yielded numbers which are staggering for our small nation. With the first week of the spike in cases, our health monitoring system has for all intents and purposes collapsed. We are unable to muster the resources to continue adequate contact tracing – we must now ask persons who feel that they have been infected to call in.

The reality is this. There are six ventilators at the nation’s largest referral hospital, the KHMH, and the training of many of our healthcare personnel to operate those ventilators is only now being conducted – now, five months after a first wave. Health facilities have been overwhelmed by persons asking to be tested. The Ministry of Health is scrambling to provide PPEs to front-line health personnel, and there are never enough. We have seen letters from these front-line persons describing how woefully inadequate their

see page 9

For Immediate Release

facilities are to deal with the pandemic.

While there is little doubt that the government misspent the last five months instead of preparing for a second wave that we all knew was imminent, this is not the time for judgment. But it is time that we as a nation call for the government to get serious.

While we hear the cries of our health care personnel and note the lack of resources, the brother of the Ministry of Works has gotten a nearly $2 million contract to build a tourism facility. That is irresponsible and ludicrous. If we do not get this situation under control, there will be no tourism industry in the foreseeable future. The greed and corruption of this government has nearly destroyed us. It cannot continue.

The Government must bolster the human resources of the Ministry of Health, utilizing properly trained public officers to assist with effective mapping, contact tracing and monitoring.

Health facilities countrywide must be properly equipped, and our personnel must be properly resourced. Every primary health facility across the country must operate an effective COVID-19 unit, and there must be strict rules, guidelines and protocols written in stone. Money must be prioritized where it can do the most national good, and not where it can be siphoned into the pockets of politicians.

All this should have been done months ago but wasn’t.

The government has not listened to sound advice and has refused to listen to those on the ground who know what is happening. Because of that, our health care system is falling apart even before the real battle starts. Imagine that at this critical stage, we are only testing symptomatic patients, while asymptomatic individuals can walk around and infect others, simply because our systems are overworked almost before the work starts.

Please, do not wait for an announcement of a lockdown before you restrict your movements and practice proper, extreme hygiene. We know what it is that we must do to protect ourselves and our families.

--Ends--

The Belize Times

Established 1957

14 APR 2013

|

ISSUE NO: 4840

The Truth Shall Make You Free

www.belizetimes.bz

|

$1.00

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

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

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Email: belizetimesadvertisement@yahoo.com

editortimes@yahoo.com

16 AUG

THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

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EDITORIAL

T

102,000 Reasons Why

he UDP have been nothing if not consistent. They have consistently not provided value for money. So it has been with the multitude of ill-conceived and constructed infra-structure projects and similarly with the education service our children and young people receive. Plan Belize puts the emphasis squarely back on her people, their wellbeing, prosperity, safety, health and growth.

Over the last twelve years we have lost countless in a generation of young people, even while the budget for education in our country has increased to almost twenty five percent of the total fiscal budget. Yet, each year test scores plummet and many more children drop out of school.

The Education policy of the PUP seeks to address those issues that most affect our young people’s ability to take full advantage of education and seeks to increase the educational opportunities presently available.

The Education policy unveiled at the Princess this week is a comprehensive and well thought out plan of action that begins with the National Healthy Start Feeding Program that will provide especially at risk children with food security and encourage parents to send them to school. The Universal Pre-School Education and the guarantee of Free Education from Preschool to Junior College seeks to establish a more even playing field for students to flourish. The Equal Opportunity Rural Education Grant Fund and the Fair Access Higher Education Loan Fund are two programs that seek to increase the access and equal opportunity for a quality education to students who must face more challenges than others.

This revolutionary plan seeks to use technology to aid the access of quality education even in remote areas of the country through the use of laptops from Standard four to fourth Form.

In addition the use of electronic copies of text books will mean that monies currently spent on replacing hard copies can now be allocated more wisely. Education requires investment in students, but it also necessitates the edification of our teachers with continuous timely and relevant instruction. Aware of this the PUP reaffirms its commitment to teachers by focusing on Leadership, Administration and Teacher Training and the establishment of a Teacher and Learning Institute. The streamlining and reform of the Ministry of Education along with the elimination of wastage and leakages of funds will provide ample funds to once again invest in Special Education needs.

There are currently 102,000 important reasons why we must succeed in the reinvigorating of the educational system in Belize. Each of them equipped with the necessary tools that can help to break the cycles of poverty, violence and crime in their own families. Instead of labelling them as peasants, little monsters and discarding them we need to embrace the arduous task to ensure these students become productive, healthy and happy members of Belizean society. We cannot afford to lose anymore children to the streets, to poverty, to crime or to hunger, while we continue to allow red tape and bureaucracy to eat away at the resources, we must pour into the education of young Belizeans. Education is the tool young Belizeans will use to change the current social narrative, transform our society and revitalize the economy. #planbelize #everybodyfiwin

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THE BELIZE TIMES

EDITORIAL

E

16 AUG

2020

en Español

102.000 Razones

l UDP no ha sido nada más que consistente. Consistentemente no han proveído valor por dinero. Y así ha sido con la multitud de proyectos de infraestructura mal concebidos y construidos y de manera similar con el servicio educativo que reciben nuestros niños y jóvenes. Plan Belice pone el énfasis directamente en su pueblo, su bienestar, prosperidad, seguridad, salud y crecimiento. En los últimos doce años hemos perdido innumerables en una generación de jóvenes, a pesar de que el presupuesto para educación en nuestro país ha aumentado a casi el veinticinco por ciento del presupuesto fiscal total. Sin embargo, cada año los resultados de las pruebas se desploman y muchos más niños abandonan la escuela. La política de educación del PUP trata de abordar las cuestiones que más afectan la capacidad de nuestros jóvenes para aprovechar plenamente la educación y trata de aumentar las oportunidades educativas disponibles.

La política de educación presentada en el Princess esta semana es un plan de acción integral y bien pensada que comienza con el Programa Nacional de Alimentación Saludable que brindara a los niños especialmente en riesgo, la Seguridad Alimentaria y alentara a los padres a enviarlos a la escuela. La Educación Preescolar Universal y la garantía de la Educación Gratuita desde el Preescolar hasta el sixth form buscan establecer un campo de juego más equitativo para que los estudiantes prosperen. El Fondo de Subvenciones para la Educación Rural de Igualdad de Oportunidades y el Fondo de Préstamos para la Educación Superior de Acceso Equitativo son dos programas que tratan de aumentar el acceso y la igualdad de oportunidades para una educación de calidad a los estudiantes que deben enfrentar más desafíos que otros.

Este plan revolucionario busca utilizar la tecnología para ayudar al acceso de la educación de calidad incluso en áreas remotas del país a través del uso de computadoras portátiles desde el cuarto año primaria hasta el cuarto de secundaria. Además, el uso de copias electrónicas de libros de texto significará que el dinero que actualmente se gasta en reemplazar las copias impresas puede ahora ser asignado más sabiamente. La educación requiere una inversión en los estudiantes, pero también requiere la edificación de nuestros maestros con una instrucción continua, oportuna y pertinente. Consciente de ello, el PUP reafirma su compromiso con el profesorado centrándose en el liderazgo, la administración y la formación de maestros y en la creación de un Instituto de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje. La racionalización y reforma del Ministerio de Educación, junto con la eliminación del despilfarro y la fuga de fondos, proporcionará amplios fondos para invertir una vez más en las necesidades de la educación especial.

Actualmente hay 102.000 razones importantes por las que debemos tener éxito en la revitalización del sistema educativo de Belice. Cada uno de ellos equipado con las herramientas necesarias puede ayudar a romper los ciclos de pobreza, violencia y crimen en sus propias familias. En lugar de etiquetarlos como campesinos, palurdos, pequeños monstruos y descartarlos, debemos emprender la ardua tarea de asegurar de que estos estudiantes se conviertan en miembros productivos, saludables y felices de la sociedad beliceña. No podemos permitirnos perder más niños en las calles, en la pobreza, en la delincuencia ni en el hambre, mientras seguimos permitiendo que la burocracia y los trámites burocráticos corroan los recursos que debemos destinar a la educación de los jóvenes beliceños. La educación es la herramienta que los jóvenes beliceños utilizarán para cambiar la actual narrativa social, transformar nuestra sociedad y revitalizar la economía. #planbelize #everybodyfiwin

16 AUG

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

BELLY of the

BEAST

#planBelize Kudos to the PUP for coming up with a real, concrete plan for education in Belize. It shows real vision and a determination to do right by the people. The next Prime Minister of Belize, our favourite cousin John Briceño said it best – this is not about casting blame. The PUP is not about that. This is about working together to ensure that ALL our youths have access to a relevant education – end of story. The UDP also has a plan for education. It’s the same plan Patsy Faber has had for the past 12 years, where they make education more and more expensive while harassing and abusing teachers. But now, because of COVID, the UDP has tweaked the plan. In addition to not doing anything for our children, they have now decided to cut the education budget, so those who are already struggling in the face of the pandemic can struggle some more. Can you imagine the possibilities?

This crowd hafto goh!

Time to panic Because Dean Barrow spent the last months scratching his old, shrivelled bolas, the nation is now facing an unprecedented health crisis. We all knew the second wave was coming. You would think that the UDP would have used the time to procure essential equipment, build proper facilities and train frontline personnel in critical areas. Can you believe that we still only have a few ventilators in the country and the Ministry of Health is now scrambling to train medical personnel in the use of those ventilators? Frontline health staff are complaining all across the country because their lives and the lives of their loved ones are being risked every day simply because those in power can give instructions from the comfort and safety of their mansions. We are not ready. We had months to prepare and we’re still not there yet. A couple weeks into this crisis and the Ministry is already overwhelmed and frontline staff are being infected with this deadly virus. We are living in dangerous times. Do whatever you need to do to protect yourselves and to protect family members. Stay at home as much as possible,

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limit your contact with other persons, wear your masks at all times and practice the proper hygiene protocols. It’s obvious that we can’t depend on the UDP and its bogus Minister of Health for any guidance in this. We’re on our own, people.

Dih Plane For a while now Grampa Dean and his mini-me, Uncle Mike have been bashing Belizeans for the pandemic being out of control.

Uncle Mike says we are irresponsible because we can’t follow the rules. Grampa Dean says that we love bacchanal so much that we are responsible for the second wave. Damn those border jumpers, he said. We will lock them up, Big Mike said, while he played pretend soldier in the 500 yards of material needed to make that stupid looking camouflage uniform. But how when we find out that planes have been landing at the PGIA, sanctioned by the UDP. Barrow tried to play the fool at a press conference, suggesting that a plane landed which may have brought in an American with the virus. Then Heredia jumps in and says Barrow lied and the plane never landed. Then we get news that Heredia gave ‘special permission’ for the plane to land. Then CEO of National Security Lovell says that yes the plane did land, but revealed that it is not the only one that has landed since the PGIA was closed. In fact, apparently a lot of planes have landed carrying a lot of people. Belizeans need to know the truth. Who gave the permission for those planes to land? Who was in those planes?

Were they properly vetted before being allowed in? The truth must come out.

Good Lord Like all Belizeans we heard the reports that Boots Martinez would be running in Pickstock. We didn’t believe it. Hell, we still find it hard to believe even after Grampa Dean confirmed it. How desperate does the UDP have to be to bring back Boots after he ran from Gilroy in Port Loyola? Remember that Boots got into this thing as a pool repair man and turned into a multi-millionaire quick, fast and hurry. Remember this is the man with buildings all over the city.

Remember his company, Housing for the Poor, which got rich off contracts from the Ministry of Works for houses that were never built. Remember the fake contractor who got money from Works and then had to deposit it into Housing for the Poor. Boots is a sick joke and would have been beaten like a cracked drum in Port. Now that he’s in Pickstock, Mahler will send him the rest of the way into the political grave. It is time for all the UDP to go. Call elections now, Grampa Dean.

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16 AUG

THE BELIZE TIMES

QUESTIONS TO THE MINISTERS

1. Will the Minister of Aviation, the Party Leader Elect, or the Prime Minister let us know who authorized the private flights into Belize during a period of lockdown potentially causing a super spread of the COVID-19 in Ambergris Caye?

2. Will the Minister of Education say why during a period of rapid increase of COVID-19 cases are teachers being forced to attend work?

3. Since Minister Boots Martinez is now presumably running in the Pickstock division, will the Minister of Finance say what he is doing with the monthly subvention for Port Loyola?

4. Will the Minister of Tourism please explain why, when there are no tourists visiting Belize, is the government spending 2 million dollars on a visitor’s center?

5. Stay safe Belize, please wear your mask in public, practice social distance and wash your hands frequently.

2020

BY ORDER OF CHARGEE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of a Charge registered at the Land Registry between HENRY GUILLERMO GOMEZ and LINA CARMEN MENJIVAR of the one part and HRCU of the other part.

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

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

SCHEDULE ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 378.5 square yards being Parcel 24, Block 45 in the Lake Independence Registration Section situate at Corner Peter Seco and Consuelo Streets, Belize City, Belize District, Belize TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of HENRY GUILLERMO GOMEZ and LINA CARMEN MENJIVAR (Jointly).

DATED this 27th day of July 2020 HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED 1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Phone: (501) 224-5644 Fax: (501) 223-0738 E-mail: foreclosures@hrcubelize.org

CARTOON

16 AUG

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

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Remarks by Party Leader

Hon. John Briceño

At the Launch of the PUP Education Policy “Education Nation” Princess Hotel, Belize City 12th August 2020 Thank you, Francis, for that very comprehensive roll out of our Policy on Education. Let me also thank the other members of our Education working group who helped to develop this policy. Our education working group included teachers, students, businesspeople, and former ministers in education, religious leaders, and other stakeholders. We consulted broadly and so what we are delivering today comes from you the people. As I said, we have listened; we will deliver.

For those watching on tv or via social media this entire document can be found on our website at planbelize. bz. I invite everyone to check out our website where you can see our policies in real time, or as we roll them out.

We are incredibly happy to be joined today here at the Princess by some of our PUP Members of the National Assembly, the mayor of Belize City Bernard Wagner, the mayor of my own home town Orange Walk, our National Deputy and regional Deputy Party Leaders, Party Chairman, Standard bearers, Representative of the Belize Youth Movement, and the President of our United Women’s Group. We are glad you can be here with us at the Princess Hotel this morning.

We are also happy to be joined virtually by other members of the National Assembly, excellencies of the diplomatic corps, educators, members of religious and civil society, parents, teachers, and of course our beautiful Belizean people as well as other friends from at home and abroad.

Two days ago, our children were supposed to be back in our classrooms with their new uniforms, meeting their new teachers, reconnecting with old and making new friends. Regrettably, the alarming number of persons infected with the coronavirus has delayed that exciting first day experience.

Like many in our nation, I believe we should wait until we are sure that all our children will be safe. We should wait until all our teachers have the tools they need to protect themselves as well as our children. And we must wait until our parents are assured that their children will be learning in a safe environment. So that when that first day of school comes, and it will, we will all be happy and free from fear.

My friends, as we face life with this awful coronavirus pandemic we must all realize what it will do to our lives, not just for now, but for a long time to come. When it passes and we go back to our regular lives it will be under a new normal. When that time comes, for sure we will all be living in a moment when our country will be dealing with some serious economic challenges. Even now, it is safe to say that we are living in a time of change. We are living in a time of uncertainty.

Today we all have family and friends who are struggling to find work. Struggling to stay safe and they are worried about the future.

How do we get through this? We get through it together.

It is in this spirt that today we launch our plan for Belize starting with our policy on education. Yes, education is about the present but more so it is about looking ahead—it’s about the future. Every day we educate each other. Every hour we learn.

Our education system will educate us for sure, but what we are seeking is much more.

We want to build a culture of learning that will change us, so that we can go out and change our families, communities, and yes, change this nation.

Es un orgullo estar hoy aquí participando en el lanzamiento de una de las políticas más importantes de un nuevo gobierno del Partido Unido del Pueblo.

La fuerte y muy bien estructurada inversión que haremos en los próximos años en la educación del pueblo Beliceño…les prometemos y nos comprometemos…que será inigualable.

El Partido Unido del Pueblo se compromete a construir un Proyecto Educativo que va a realizar en el país… el ideal educativo de formar en Belice una niñez y juventud saludables, vigorosas y alegres.

Formar una ciudadanía proactiva, participativa y responsable, que realice la búsqueda para la aplicación de soluciones económicas, sociales y políticas en la búsqueda de una sociedad más justa y equitativa.

También se compromete a proveer una educación que reestablezca los valores y principios como formas de convivencia humana y de armonía con la naturaleza.

Actualizar los contenidos y metodologías del sistema educativo de conformidad con la realidad multicultural y multiétnica de Belice, promoviendo el conocimiento, la valoración, el respeto mutuo y la unidad nacional.

Vamos, como gobierno, a garantizar la cobertura con calidad, pertinencia y equidad en todos los niveles, proveyéndole los recursos necesarios.

Teachers are our frontline workers in this fight for change. We must first see them as nation builders, invest in them, so that they can use their creativity and critical thinking abilities to engage in solutions that will benefit our children.

One of the boldest objectives in our Education plan is our commitment to teachers. When we pledge to achieve 100 percent trained teachers, for improving salaries for teachers, then we will be putting our money into the lead learners inside our system– the true transformers.

When we plan for an expansion of the African and Maya History program we are pressing forward, dedicating ourselves to learning about who we are first, before we can go forth and participate in the way we conduct ourselves as citizens.

Good civics learning will only flourish when we practice freedom, the freedom to think for ourselves, to think for the advancement of our communities and to act for inclusion instead of exclusion.

Friends, I am confident that our Party is prepared to tackle the task of making education work. I am not interested in casting blame or pointing fingers, we are past that. I also know that in the current economic situation some of these issues will be more challenging for us to accomplish in the first half of our term, but we will get there.

I am laser focused on the healthy start feeding program; laser focused on the education loan fund, the teacher and learning institute, the rural education grant, the harnessing of technology for our benefit, and laser focused on making sure that our students are at the centre of learning.

I am here because families matter and because we need to do things differently.

Our education must be relevant, and it must seriously address the needs of our nation today and prepare our young people for the realities of tomorrow.

Let me say it plain to the members of my Party and to you fellow citizens, yes it was the teachers of Belize who were the first to rise up. They took the lead and demonstrated on behalf of all of us. I think we can all agree that a better Belize is possible.

For this reason alone, I cannot get this wrong. I am prepared today to reach out and embrace a new partnership, one that is ready to work on day one of a new PUP government.

Now is the time for us to make decisions about what that future looks like. Together we have to decide if we are going to be a country where only five percent of our children will reach their potential and do spectacularly well, while the others will struggle to get by, or whether we will do right by the next generation.

A while ago we heard from young Samiyah who wants to help people, she says her dream is to one day be a doctor. I say let us give Samiyah and all our children a chance to pursue their dreams so that they all have the opportunity to succeed. Let’s get it right so that we can ensure a future for Samiyah and the rest of her generation because we believe that everybody fi win.

Thank you.

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S&P DOWNGRADES BELIZE AGAIN

Belize Foreign Currency Ratings Lowered To ‘SD/SD’ From ‘CC/C’ Following Announcement of Debt Exchange Overview - “On Aug. 10, 2020, the government of Belize announced it had reached an agreement with the bondholders of its U.S. dollar bonds due in 2034 on amendments to the terms of such bonds.

- Proposed amendments center on the capitalization of the next three interest payments on the bond. We consider this a distressed exchange offer given the nature of the request amid stressed financing conditions.

- We therefore are lowering our long-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating on Belize to selective default (‘SD’) from ‘CC’. We are also lowering our issue rating on the exchanged foreign currency bond (due in 2034) to ‘D’.

- Upon completion of the bond restructuring, we will raise the ratings based on our assessment of Belize’s post-exchange creditworthiness.

Rating Action On Aug. 12, 2020, S&P Global Ratings lowered its long-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating on Belize to selective default (‘SD’) from ‘CC’. In addition, we lowered the short-term foreign currency sovereign rating to ‘SD’ from ‘C’.

We also lowered our rating on the bonds included in the sovereign’s debt exchange to ‘D’ from ‘CC’ (foreign currency bonds due in 2034).

At the same time, we affirmed the ‘CC’ long-term local currency sovereign credit rating and the ‘C’ short-term local currency sovereign credit rating. We also removed the long-term foreign and local currency ratings from CreditWatch with negative implications, where we had placed them on June 30, 2020. The outlook on the long-term local currency rating is stable.

Our transfer and convertibility (T&C) assessment remains unchanged at ‘CC’.”

PRIMARY CREDIT ANALYST/ Omar A De la Torre Ponce De Leon, Mexico City (52) 55-5081-2870 / omar.delatorre@spglobal.com SECONDARY CONTACT/ Livia Honsel, Mexico City, + 52 55 5081

THE BELIZE TIMES 2876 / livia.honsel@spglobal.com Rationale “The hit from the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the fragility of the Belizean economy.

Liquidity pressures have mounted as a result of the health care and economic crisis. Due to rapid deterioration of global economic conditions and lockdown measures, we expect a sharp decline in tourism in 2020. The tourism sector accounts for 10%-15% of Belize’s GDP and around 60% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

On Aug. 10, 2020, the Belize government announced the results of its solicitation of consent of holders of Belize’s U.S. dollar bonds due 2034 to defer and capitalize quarterly interest payments falling due from Aug. 20, 2020, through Feb. 20, 2021. Holders representing 82.0% of outstanding bonds have consented to the amendments to the terms of the bonds. The collective action clauses relating to the U.S. dollar bonds specify the voting threshold at 75% of bondholders.

Above this threshold, the proposed amendments become binding to all holders of such bonds. According to the proposed amendments, interest due on the interest payment dates after Feb. 20, 2021, and the final maturity date of the bonds will not be affected. The government expects that all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the amendments will be met around mid-August.

Once the restructuring process is completed, we are likely to review the ‘SD’ foreign currency rating on the sovereign and ‘D’ rating on the 2034 bonds. We will consider raising the ratings once the new terms and conditions of the 2034 bonds come into effect.

We believe the government is less likely to default on its local currency-denominated debt, and it has made no mention of its intention to restructure this debt.

Given already high debt, low international reserves, and a weak economy, Belize has limited scope to effectively counter the pandemic shock and maintain timely debt service. In addition, Belize’s creditworthiness is constrained by institutional weaknesses that include a track record of poor capability to maintain sustainable public finances across administrations. Despite a commitment to reduce the fiscal imbalances under the terms of the March 2017 debt restructuring, high debt remains a difficulty for the government and has long been an obstacle to economic prosperity.

Belize also has a track record of default when its fiscal position comes under pressure. The government underwent three episodes of debt restructuring between 2006 and 2017.”

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2020

llegal transfers into the Dangriga Constituency

By Dr. Louis Zabaneh, PUP Standard Bearer, Dangriga Our team in Dangriga has documented persons who live in Hopkins and Toledo East being brought in by UDP operatives to transfer into the Dangriga Constituency. It is illegal to transfer to a Constituency and not live there. This is desperation move by the UDPs to try to “regain lost ground” before the upcoming elections. They will try all possible schemes and gimmicks right now before elections.

Recently, senior UDPs made a request to the Leader-elect of the UDP to remove the present area rep because in their own analysis the UDP “has lost too much ground” in the Dangriga Constituency. Their analysis is absolutely correct on the people’s total loss of confidence in their UDP leadership.

In my home to home visits throughout the Constituency, from Hope Creek to Sarawee to Dangriga, the vast majority of voters have decided to vote for the PUP and the new authentic, transformation-

al leadership that I am humbly offering. Once the voters carry through with their decision on Election Day there will be a huge swing and a big change in the Dangriga Constituency. It is this eventuality that the UDP fears in Dangriga and that is driving the desperate and illegal actions this week.

The good people of Dangriga.

Hope Creek and Sarawee want the election process to be democratic and free of corruption. They do not take lightly these types of behaviour.

This will stimulate them to come out in full numbers on Election Day to reject this corrupt and incompetent UDP government.

I urge all constituents to stand up against this vile and repugnant activity and to encourage all who have not yet registered to do so ASAP. We must stamp out these old ways of trying to steal elections from the people. We believe in higher values of transparency and democracy and truthfulness! Together We Change!

May God bless you and your families and keep you safe during these challenging times.

16 AUG

2020

FLYING IN THE

CORONAVIRUS In March, yours truly asked a panel made up of PM Dean Barrow, Minister of National Security and other Ministry Officials what they were doing to manage our borders. Little was the realization that the virus could be flown a la narcotics.

The question was then placed with the background and precedence of unabated Guatemalan insurgency and free flowing Botes contraband. But as has been said umpteenth times the coronavirus knows no boundaries and with a little UDP help it spreads its infamy in unhindered fashion.

So alas, leave it to the UDP to be ingenious in one thing: they are masters of deception and if it is corrupt they will dabble deeply into it. The UDP and their very wealthy have allowed the coronavirus into our jewel. The UDP is needy for dollars are was about to bend in any direction to afford itself as many. This is beyond criminal and definitely beyond incompetence. In his early August press conferences, Dean Barrow rendered details on how the very wealthy can have their own set of rules and protocols to enter the country even with the Airport being closed by law and by public opinion. There was plenty a slip mangles in his utterance of Manuel Heredia’s request and just a one day pass.

At that press conference when he realized like Doug Singh that he, Barrow, was being recorded then he backtracked faster than Bolt ever could. But the damage was done, irrevocable. If there is any issue that could single-handedly bring down the Barrow government it is the unsanctioned private jets for the wealthy into Belize.

Let’s be fair... Faber and Barrow had already crash-landed into their own wall of infamy. The many planes that flew into Belize was just the follow-up explosion that has ended their political life. The nerve... the facelessness, of the UDP is unknown to the normal Belizeans. The aero importation of coronavirus is the worst insult to Belize.

Note this Belizeans, these flights are not the drug unidentified planes from South America. We are talking about Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) sanctioned flights for the very rich who had unfettered access to our country when by decree we the people had given no permission for access. The UDP forgot the fact that the people gave no permission for access to their very lives. No Barrow, no Faber, no Heredia, no Oversight, no Cabinet has that authority to give access.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES Notice is hereby given that Merlyn Moreira is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be operated at “Bayview Oasis” located at # 4 ½ Mls. Philip Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that Jingmin Mei is applying for a Convenience Store Liquor License to be operated at “People’s Shop” located at # 68 Albert Hoy Street, Belize City, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

099

THE BELIZE TIMES Student Union Protects Itself From the UDP Government Our students enrolled in the University of Belize and who subscribe to their Student Union have joined their faculty in documenting and accessing their rights of association. As they go under the massive umbrella of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize(NTUCB) their voice multiplies manyfold even as they become protected.

One would think that students would automatically be protected by a Belizean government. But not this one... Subvention and Faculty cuts have UB students fighting for their scholastic life and their actual futures. We hope that under the NTUCB and under strong leadership that they will see a way forward.

As John Briceño and the People’s United Party launch their #planBelize policies along with the their Education Policy the UB students can begin to see that there is hope beyond the immense darkness of the virus called the UDP. The vaccine will soon be announced.

Everyone should be sure to inoculate themselves from the Barrow/ Faber UDP disease.

---Ahead is the NTUCB announcing the acceptance of the National Student Union of Belize.

VERY important note, this was happening when poor dialysis patients and other emergency patients were disallowed into Chetumal. Problem: They can leave but cannot return since they are not super rich.

Returning would mean quarantining for 14 days. Who can afford that?

The super-rich were given one day officially, who was counting, access to our precious jewel and thus over very lives. Not even our very own Belizeans have that access. No one!!

The UDP will be castigated. Let there be no doubt.

COVID-19 AFFLICTS BELIZE’S FRONTLINE

Prayer To The Holy Spirit O Holy Spirit, You who are the Fountainhead of all knowledge, Who Illuminate the path way which enables me to reach my goal. You Who shares your Divine gift permitting me to forgive and forget past insults and injustices, and Who are always at my side within reaching distance. I desire in this short supplication to thank You for all that You have done for me; and to assure You once more that I never want to be separated from You under any circumstances, no matter what the incentive. I want to be with You, I along with my loved ones, cradled in Your unending love. Thank You for your never-failing kindness towards me and those I call my own.

(Prayer to be offered for three consecutive days: Faith in The Holy Spirit will cause Him to respond to your request no matter how difficult the problem might be. Publish prayer as soon as request has been Granted .)

Thank You Holy Spirit.

C.A.B.

Prayer To The Holy Spirit

NEEDED: Domestic worker needed in Mango Creek Village, Stann Creek District. Call 628-9755 for more information.

Dr. Pharma Supplies Company have vacancies for a cashier, supervisor & a sales person.

Visit # 1 7th Avenue, Corozal Town for more information.

Shop Attendant to work in grocery store located in Las Flores, Belmopan. Call 6608936 for more information.

LOST BOAT REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE: Notice is hereby given that Yik-Wah Chan, owner of a motor vessel namely “Miss Piggy” bearing registration number BZ- 1982 is declaring the lost of his boat registration certificate.

Description as follows: black & white hull, cream in colour deck approximately 45 ft & 5.5 ft.

O Holy Spirit, You who are the Fountainhead of all knowledge, Who Illuminate the path way which enables me to reach my goal. You Who shares your Divine gift permitting me to forgive and forget past insults and injustices, and Who are always at my side within reaching distance. I desire in this short supplication to thank You for all that You have done for me; and to assure You once more that I never want to be separated from You under any circumstances, no matter what the incentive. I want to be with You, I along with my loved ones, cradled in Your unending love. Thank You for your never-failing kindness towards me and those I call my own.

(Prayer to be offered for three consecutive days: Faith in The Holy Spirit will cause Him to respond to your request no matter how difficult the problem might be. Publish prayer as soon as request has been Granted .)

Thank You Holy Spirit.

E.Y.P.

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2020

Continued on page 18

16 AUG

2020

Continued from page 10

THE BELIZE TIMES

11

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16 AUG

THE BELIZE TIMES

VACANCY – ATTORNEY 2020

FARMERS GET LICK AGAIN

The Human Rights Commission of Belize is inviting applications for the positi Attorney. The Applicants must satisfy the following: REQUIREMENTS:

VACANCY –– ATTORNEY ATTORNEY VACANCY

An Attorney who has been called to the Bar. The Human Rights Commission of isis inviting applications TheLaws Humanof Rights Commission of Belize Belize inviting applications for for the the position position of of Knowledge of theAttorney.

Belize, Human Rights Principles/Mechanisms/ Inst The Applicants must satisfy the following: Attorney. The Applicants must satisfy the following: Knowledge of theREQUIREMENTS: Rules, Procedures, and Practices as they relate to all Court REQUIREMENTS: Last Year 2019, the farmers and the entire agroindustry of Belize experienced a drought that decimated crop output and increased debt that is dragged down by the recession.

The UDP government keep lying about aid to farmers at Press Conferences but nothing ever really reaches the farmers. For example, PM Barrow offered a 2 million dollars that will be sprinkled to farmers. This was almost a year now. It is still in their imagination.

During the beginning of the Covid pandemic he dangled 50 mil-

OUT

AnAttorney Attorneywho whohas hasbeen beencalled calledtotothe theBar. Bar who has knowledge of : An

THE POST–HOLDER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE The Laws ofofBelize; Knowledge the Laws of Belize, Human FOR: Rights Principles/Mechanisms/ Instruments.

lion. Laughter was the reaction.

Our Trump is criminal. Not even the Courts can move him to do what it right.

Hon. Jose Mai: “First it was the drought!!

Then came the government’s lock down on cattle exports to Guatemala together with the COVID 19 pandemic!

Then the heavy rainfalls in June!

We got away from the Ravaging Locust, But we ain’t getting away from the wrath of the Frog Hoppers as they convert green and luscious pasture to yellow brown burnt-like dry matter which forces grazing as the last resort!

Above is an image of pastures in Blue Creek... but cane farmers are concerned of the havoc it will cause on an already economically stifled, agonizing industry.

How much more will farmers have to bear?

1 Corinthians 10:13 ...... but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able...”

Knowledge of the Rules, Procedures, and Practices as they relate to all Courts in Belize.

Human Rights Principles/Mechanisms/ Instruments;

The Rules, Procedures, and to Practices as they relateincluding to all Courts inpersons Belize.

Providing functional legal support individuals, of concer THE POST–HOLDER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR: The Belize Refugee Act, Cap. UNHCR; The Immigration Act as it relates to asylum seekers and refugees Providing functional legal support to individuals, including persons of concern to Monitoring protection UNHCR; standards, operational procedures and practices in pr THE POST–HOLDER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR: Monitoring protection standards, operational procedures and and practices delivery in line; with International Refugee Standards Lawsinofprotection Belize; Providing functional legal support to individuals, including persons of concern to delivery in line; with International Refugee Standards and Laws of Belize;

UNHCR;

Monitoring protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection SUBMISSIONS SUBMISSIONS Interested should submit the following as and one Laws file/document delivery in candidates line with International Refugee Standards of Belize; (i) cover letter Interested candidates submit following one file/document (i) c describingshould his/her academic andthe relevant professionalas experience (ii) resume (iii) 2 recent reference letters to Project Coordinator – info@hrcbz.org SUBMISSIONS

describing his/her academic and relevant professional experience (ii) resume Interested candidates should submit the following as one file/document (i) cover letter recent referenceDEADLINE letters to Project Coordinator – info@hrcbz.org describing his/her academic and relevant professional experience (ii)thresume (iii) 2 The deadline for submission of all applications is Monday, August 10 , 2020 recent reference letters to call our office at 822-0373 or email info@hrcbz.org For more information please

president@hrcbz.org DEADLINE The deadline for DEADLINE submissionONLY of SHORT-LISTED all applications is Monday, August 10th, 2020 APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED The deadline for submission all applications is Monday, August 10th 2020 For more information please call ourforoffice at 822-0373 or email info@hrcbz For more information please call 610-3624 or email president@hrcbz.org

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTY ONLY SHORT-LISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED ONLY SHORT-LISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED Toledo District DER of the Mortgagees, Licensed Auctioneers Kevin A. Castillo & Christiana R. C PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTY g property at No 170 Beltex Avenue, BelamaToledo Phase 1, Belize City on Monday 24 District

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Licensed Auctioneers Kevin A. Castillo & Christiana R. Castillo will sell the following property at No 170 Beltex Avenue, Belama Phase 1, Belize City on : Monday 24th August 2020 at 1:30 pm: ************************Toledo District****************** ************************Toledo District************************ Parcel No. 926 Far West Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District: Parcel No. 926 Far West Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District:

!

Dear Editor, I know you can’t do anything about it but… let me state. Why is the Ministry of Education insisting on us teachers going to an empty school? Is it because they are paying us and feel they need to get value? And if we get sick, we will cost Belize. And worse…

This is how I feel readers. I feel the UDP needs someone to blame for their bad decisions. They remind me of bullies who have to get their way.

We need leaders not bullies. We have seen too much of that in 13 years.

The United Democratic Party reminds me of slave owners in that they believe Belizeans are their slaves. No we are not!

Look Mr. Faber and CEO and the like... show us teachers a plan and let us buy into it. We are smart.

After 12 years of your workshops and our upgrades we are even more equipped.

Stop treating us worse than 12 years ago. Yes, your treatment has gotten worse. You have gotten worse.

It is not our fault that you do not have a plan.

When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is your reality Mr Faber.

Am still amazed on how you entered yourself to be the leader elect of a Party that’s dead. Pssst Leader elect means you are NOT the leader.

That felt Good!

REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCEL Punta Gorda 42 926

REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCEL Punta Gorda (Being an incomplete elevated dwelling house42 [932 sq. ft.] containing 2 bedrooms + 1926 bathroom + living/dining/kitchen and lot [533.33 S.Y.] situate on Far West Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, ng an incomplete elevated dwelling house [932 sq. ft.] containing 2 bedrooms + 1 b the freehold property of Mr. Rene Pennell) g/dining/kitchen and lot [533.33 S.Y.] situate on Far West Street, Punta Gorda Tow TERMS: STRICTLY CASH KEVIN A. CASTILLO eehold property of Mr. Rene Pennell) Thanks Editor TELEPHONE 223-4488 E-mail: belizeauctionsales@gmail.com Already Waiting for the Blu EducaTERMS: STRICTLY CASH Face Book: Belize Auctions tion Plan Execution

16 AUG

2020

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THE BELIZE TIMES

TOLEDO United Women’s Group

DIALOGUE WITH THE DIASPORA

zens but yet you want our monies. And treat others better Government again spending and than us.” misusing government funds and hir“I think the recovery of the economy should be divering the CEO in the Office of the Prime sifying away from Tourism” Minister. The CEO is head of the com“It’s a double sided message, making all those preps pany called Color Blind. When you see for the repopening of the PGIA but failing to keep social them on Television and FB you should distance in the studio” know that it is only UDP propaganda “Maybe airport not open yet cause bracelets still not paid for with your tax dollars. available” Last year 2019, the United DemThe Women of Toledo East and West met over Watch the show and see the UDP connoving and ocratic Party in parliament voted to the earlier this month to discuss the way forward HOPING that people give them another five years of husNOT allow the diaspora to vote in the and expanding membership in the UWG. tling and looting of the Belizean purse. Watch them waste ICJ referendum claiming all types of Toledo Women are Fearless. your money. mumbo jumbo. Now they plagiarize Our HOPE will be changed to reality when EVERYThey are ready for Victory. the name of a show out there on SoBODY WINS with the People’s United Party and John cial Media and come on TV as if they #Chaptergettingstarted.

Briceño. Hurry UDP, you GOT to GO!! are all wise. The UDP is quite the opposite.

To add insult to injury, the ambassador to Belize Daniel Gutierrez is hosting. It seems that our ambassadors have nothing to do other than campaign for the UDP. We have no Port of Belize Limited is having a Auction Sale on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 10:00am sharp at the Port of Belize Limited Facility, problem with that if they give up their Caesar Ridge Road, Belize City, Belize stipends/salaries/perks and whatever Licensed Auctioneer-Mr. Gregory Moguel August 15, 2020 at 10:00am else they get from our taxpayer dePort of Belize Limited is having a Auction Sale on Saturday, pendent government. sharp at the Port of Belize Limited Facility, Caesar Ridge Road, Belize City, Belize For example, we know Shyne has never been an Ambassador but we Licensed Auctioneer-Mr. Gregory Moguel know he has been campaigning yieldWE ARE INVITING MERCHANTS AND THE PUBLIC TO THIS SALE lessly in an effort to con the people WE ARE INVITING MERCHANTS AND THE PUBLIC TO THIS SALE of Mesopotamia to, for the first time ever, vote for a US deportee.

Well, Gutierrez and Barrow seem Description SHIPNAME Voy ATA Qty Unit to have one thing in common they 2002 FORD RANGER SAGA 9 7/23/16 1 VH would like to go back to the US as 2000 FORD FOCUS S/W VANQUISH 17 9/11/16 1 VH quick as they can. At least one of them 2004 INFINITI G35 VANTAGE 75 4/20/19 1 VH can.

2006 AUDI A4 CARIBE MARINER 543 6/8/19 1 VH Comments of FB during the show: 2007 DODGE CARAVAN SX CARIBE MARINER 545 6/29/19 1 VH “U treat us like second class citi-

CARIBE NAVIGATOR CARIBE NAVIGATOR CARIBE MARINER

550 553 490

CARIBE NAVIGATOR CARIBE NAVIGATOR CARIBE NAVIGATOR CARIBE NAVIGATOR CARIBE MARINER WASABORG CARIBE MARINER VANQUISH CARIBE NAVIGATOR CARIBE MARINER VANTAGE CARIBE MARINER

563 563 563 565 573 11 475 4 491 511 26 465

10/26/19 11/30/19 11/18/17

3/13/20 3/13/20 3/13/20 3/28/20 4/18/20 8/21/15 10/6/17 4/22/16 7/15/18 5/27/18 1/27/18 3/17/17

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH VH

2011 INFINITI G37 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1997 FORD F150 P/U FORD FOCUS- WHITE MITSUBISHI SPYDER-GREEN DODGE NEON-WHITE 2000 FORD RANGER 2007 FORD E-450 BUS 2007 INFINITI QX56 2016 BUICK ENCORE 2007 FORD ESCAPE 2003 BMW 3251 2005 DODGE NEON 2006 SATURN ION 2012 CADILLAC SRX 2001 CADILLAC DURADO 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT 2007 CHRYSLER SEBRING 2007 POLARIS RANGER 2 SEATER

2010 POLARIS RANGER 2 SEATER 2007 POLARIS RANGER 1 SEATER 2007 EZGO GOLFCART SINGLE SEATER

20FT CONTAINER TRAILER #25 20FT CONTAINER TRAILER #20 40FT CONTAINER TRAILER #17 40FT CONTAINER TRAILER #23 20FT CONTAINER TRAILER All Sales are strictly cash and are deemed final. The Port of belize Limited sells as is and shall not be held liable for any after claims. For further information contact Port of Belize Limited at Tel: # 223-2439/49

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2020

SIX STEPS TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE ACCOUNTABLE First, we will ensure an Independent Public Accounts Committee. One that is strengthened so that substantive ministers cannot be members of the PAC. As well, all House Committee meetings, including PAC meetings will be open to the public and streamed live.

Second, the Integrity Commission must do its job effectively. To do so it should no longer be controlled by the Party in Government. Likewise, we will put in place a mechanism to ensure the financial independence of the Integrity Commission with a budget to be approved by the National Assembly. They need the tools and personnel to get the job done!

Third, the recent cases of misappropriation of government funds is a clear indication that we need a strong and independent office of the Auditor General.

• The next PUP Government will ensure that the Auditor General’s Office has unrestricted access to information and with full powers of investigation, including subpoena powers to ensure that requests for information and documentation are complied with expeditiously.

• The Auditor General’s office will be permitted to submit their budget directly to the National Assembly for approval.

• Most important, we will ensure that the Auditor General is allowed to present reports directly to the National Assembly and not only to the Prime Minister.

Fourth, the PUP will not only implement UNCAC, but we will also enact Campaign Finance Legislation.

• In the first 100 days, the new PUP government will direct the Office of the Attorney General to draft Campaign Finance legislation which will be subject to national consultations and review before a final bill is tabled and passed into law.

Fifth we must make the National Assembly function as the centerpiece of our government, complete with all requisite checks and balances.

• That means that the next PUP Government will ensure a minimum of one House Sitting per month.

And sixth now that Senator Aldo Salazar has finally released the findings of the Senate Select Committee on the hustle at the Department of Immigration.

• We demand follow up action including criminal investigation and prosecution as deemed necessary.

16 AUG

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2020

STANDARD BEARERS

Cayo West: Jorge ‘Milin’ Espat

ON THE MOVE Mesopotamia: Candice Pitts

Stann Creek West: Rodwell Ferguson

Corozal Southwest: Ramiro Ramirez

Toledo West: Oscar Requena

Collet: Oscar Arnold

EVERYBODY FI WIN!

planBelize

TODOS GANAMOS!

60 16

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THE BELIZE TIMES 2020

16 AUG

16 AUG

2020

2020

18 JAN

THE BELIZE TIMES 2015

EDUCATION Our financing reform measures combined with our focused commitment to eliminating waste and inefficiency will allow us to fully finance our Plan of Action for 2020 to 2025:

12th August, 2020

1. Free Education from Pre-School to Junior College 2. Universal Pre-School Education 3. Establish A Teacher and Learning Institute 4. 100% Trained Teachers 5. 4 to 4th Laptop Computer Program 6. Fair Access $5m High Education Fund 7. Equal Opportunity $3m Rural Education Grant Fund 8. National Healthy Start Feeding Program 9. Free Textbook/e-Book Program Expansion To High School 10. Expansion of African and Mayan History Program 11. Civics Education At All Levels

Nuestras medidas de reforma de la financiación, combinadas con nuestro compromiso, centrado en la eliminación del despilfarro y la ineficiencia, nos permitirán financiar plenamente nuestro Plan de Acción para 2020-2025: 1. Educación gratuita desde el preescolar hasta junior college 2. Educación preescolar universal 3. Establecer un instituto docente y de aprendizaje 4. Maestros al 100% capacitados 5. Programa de ordenador portátil (laptop) de 4 al 4th 6. Fondo de préstamos para la educación superior de 5 millones de dólares 7. Fondo de subsidio para la educación rural de 3 millones de dólares para la igualdad de oportunidades 8. Programa nacional de alimentación para un comienzo saludable 9. Expansión del programa de libros de texto/elibrosgratuitos a la escuela secundaria 10. Expansión del programa de historia Africana y Maya 11. Educación cívica en todos los niveles

The goal of a PUP government in education is to efficiently allocate the necessary resources with appropriate incentive mechanisms to align and streamline the roles and objectives of all key stakeholders- students, teachers, parents, management, communities and government- with a view to not only deliver quality education but also enhance overall student learning using measurable results not only in increased enrolment but more importantly in clear, improved student learning outcomes.

El objetivo de un gobierno del PUP en materia de educación es asignar eficientemente los recursos necesarios con mecanismos de incentivos, adecuados para alinear y racionalizar las funciones y objetivos de todas las partes claves interesadas -estudiantes, maestros, padres, administradores, comunidades y gobierno- con miras, no sólo para impartir una educación de calidad, sino también a mejorar el aprendizaje general de los estudiantes utilizando resultados mensurables no sólo en el aumento de la matriculación, sino lo que es más importante, en unos resultados de aprendizaje claramente mejorados..

The next PUP government will form a team of creative thinkers who are bold, passionate, smart and progressive to reform and advance our Education Policy Agenda. This team will come from the public and private sectors as well as our social sector partners.

El próximo gobierno del PUP formará un equipo de pensadores creativos audaces, apasionados, inteligentes y progresistas para reformar y avanzar nuestra Agenda de Política Educativa. Este equipo vendrá de los sectores público y privado, así como los interlocutores sociales.

With over 100,000 students enrolled in our education system from pre-school to university, we have a unique opportunity to shape the future, change the future, build the future.

WE MUST NOT LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY! WE MUST NOT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY! WE MUST MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE! THE PUP WILL MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE!

Con más de 100.000 estudiantes inscritos en nuestro sistema educativo desde el preescolar hasta la universidad, tenemos una oportunidad única para dar forma al futuro, cambiar el futuro, construir el futuro. ¡NO DEBEMOS PERDER ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! ¡NO DEBEMOS DESPERDICIAR ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! ¡DEBEMOS HACER QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE! ¡EL PUP HARÁ QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE!

TODOS FI WIN! BLU GANAMOS! EVERYBODY

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STANDARD BEARERS

16 AUG

2020

OW North: Ramon ‘Monchi’ Cervantes

ON THE MOVE Corozal North: David Castillo

Corozal Southeast: Florencio Marin

Cayo Central: Alex Balona

Belize Rural Central: Dolores Balderamos Garcia

Orange Walk South: Jose Mai

EVERYBODY FI WIN!

planBelize

TODOS GANAMOS!

16 AUG

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

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THE BELIZE TIMES

VOICE OF THE COMMON MAN

A GLANCE AT POVERTY AND CRIME AND VIOLENCE

By Hilly Bennett Journalists have been reporting on the damaging impact, the useless violence in the streets of the ‘Old Capital’ and other areas of Belizean society.

An editorial has identified the “root cause of crime as today’s criminals being bred in economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods.”

The article identified poverty and joblessness as the culprit and cause for crime. Writers advocated for monies to be allocated to social programs with more government involvement in the downtrodden communities of this country. Corruption has also been cited as the root cause of poverty, crime and other social ills.

However, the American Journal of Psychiatry, suggest that the root cause of crime may be biological and not social. The theory proffered that some people may be born with brain deficiencies making these individuals prone to violence. These shortcomings are said to be brought about because of insufficient nutrition, due to poverty. The result is that children up to three years of experience have a degeneration of the many millions of nerve endings not getting linked up, or not combining suitably.

Consequently, parts of the brain become deficient, resulting in various kinds of learning disorders reflected in slow learning skills. Quite possibly, this is where the climate of violent tendencies is cocooned. The offshoot to a criminous environment.

Criminogenic environments are environs where the negative forces are more numerous than those forces that create decent law-abiding citizens. These become the habitations of inner-city children growing up surrounded by adults and older youths who themselves are delinquent. They will, undoubtedly, negatively influence the character of these children.

Often times, it is the adults who entice the children into criminal activity.

These environments are pernicious to the moral growth and development of

children.

Moral poverty has been defined as the poverty of being without loving, capable and responsible adults who teaches the young right from wrong. The child fails to feel joy at other people’s joy, pain at others pain, satisfaction when one does right, and remorse when one does wrong.

Additionally, the absence of individuals who teach morality by their own everyday example and who insist that the children follow their example contributes to moral poverty is counterproductive.

Thus, the underlying cause for the festering situation of crime and violence is the crumbling of the primary social institutions - the family, schools, churches, honest politicians in government - at a time when they are needed to be towers of socializing strength.

Most importantly, governments disregard to address the vicious cycle of poverty and inequality contributes significantly to the festering anomaly. Therefore ‘Sedi’ Elrington’s words, “the root cause of the problem is poverty,” lends a hollow ring.

As Senator Isabel Bennett, in her Belize Times contribution ‘UDP Needed to Have Done the Work’ alluded to that “what is of utmost importance is the Work or No Work on the part of the government” to create and sustain a society that has ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRIME.” She submits that incidents of corrupt behavior by politicians, police officers and public officials have a negative impact on the ‘fight against crime’.

I must warn that the war will be lost unless the principles of representative democracy are honored and enforced. It is hoped that engaging with this article, written in all humility, will help to point out where we are as a Belizean society and help us to figure out where we can go in the matter of revitalizing our society. Aluta Continua, the struggle continues!

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2020

Belize Deceived…

By Ricardo Moguel Rosado As kids we had to learn English in school and forgot the Castilian language and our Mayan mother tongue, To be civilized we had to change our traditions, customs, stop using the slate, pizarra, and start using pencil and paper. We had long been weaned from the Amate tree bark paper. To be modern, we had to become consumers of canned goods imported by ‘Brodies’, and forget our chaya, corn and fruits from our milpas, or so they taught us in our school. Nobody cared how the distraught young kids trapped between 3 cultures survived under the weight of the Mighty British Empire and the Catholic nuns teaching us how to be subservient within the British Empire. Kids with no shoes and hungry being confused instead of educated. And we survived and thrived under a strong work ethic and dedication to family and church, something the Catholic King Ferdinand inherited us or they would kill us.

So we lost our Maya tongue because the power structure saw it as a symbol of rebellion, of autonomy and the shadow of war. They built Fort Cairns and Fort Mundy in Orange Walk not to protect us but to enslave us because in the Yalbac Hills they were burning our villages and destroying our crops. Being Maya was a threat to the status quo. So in order to ensure cultural and physical survival, our parents stopped using the Maya language and switched to Castilian and made us learn a bastard English in school in order to survive and serve the British Empire. We were no longer Maya but proud British subjects with absolutely no right or privilege from England, not even the right to enter England without a visa. Yet, we were Maya living in Maya land as proud citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies. Some of us still believe this stereotypic garbage and believe they are proud descendants of the Baymen, mental slavery. Everything from Europe is perfect they think. To decolonize our minds, we need to teach our verifiable history in our schools by properly trained historians and not be repetitive of all

the distortions they have taught us to justify their land robbery from the Maya.

I was going to use the word Spanish language but I remembered my ‘tatito’ telling us as kids that he spoke “Castilian,” Castellano. He was right, Spain did not finance the voyages of Christopher Columbus to the new world. We were taught wrong in school.

When the 87 Europeans left the port of Cadiz on August 3, 1492 in the Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria, Spain did not exist. They sailed under the auspices of Ferdinand from Aragon and Isabela from Castile who joined both kingdoms by marriage in 1469.

Other kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula were Leon, Navarra, Granada and other smaller entities.

Hernan Cortez, Francisco de Montejo, and all other conquistadores were Castilian. With their conquest they enriched and developed Castile and Aragon. With the riches of the American continent, from Aztec, Maya and Inca, we developed the Iberian Peninsula beyond anyone’s imagination. Gold, silver, Jade, exotic fruit and spices, and many other riches were extracted from our continent and took to Europe leaving nothing behind but misery. When Carlos I swore as the first King of Castile and Aragon in 1516 Spain was still 12 years from being born.

It was in 1528 when there was a Kingdom of Spain ruled by Carlos I. We are the mother country of those European nations that developed because of the resources extracted from our lands. Those were the times of philosopher kings in Yucatan, the Maya who loved mathematics, astrology, advanced agriculture, good warriors who loved flowers, literature and death by an obsidian blade.

And as tradition would have it, the Yucatan Peninsula considered itself Castilian because most of the rulers in Yucatan had been from Castile. And that tradition, can be traced all the way back to my grandfather and his father in 1847 when they were living in Icaiche having migrated from Campeche. This makes us Icaiche Maya. ‘Wáayanone,’ aquí estamos. The Maya Nation.

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THE BELIZE TIMES

21

CATION

EDUCATION EDUCATION POLICY SUMMARY

Resumen De La Politica Educativa

Our cause is Education. Our will is strong. Our commitment deep.

Nuestra causa es la educación. Nuestra voluntad es fuerte. Nuestro compromiso es profundo.

For Belize, Education must have a wider and deeper meaning. One which challenges us to ensure that all our people are provided with an equal opportunity to acquire the capacity and attitudes for full and active participation in the development of our nation.

Para Belice, la Educación debe tener un significado más amplio y profundo. Uno que nos desafía a garantizar que todo nuestro pueblo tenga la misma oportunidad de adquirir la capacidad y las actitudes para una participación plena y activa en el desarrollo de nuestra nación.

The education we provide today must therefore equip our people at any and every stage of their lives with the tools they need to create value out of that education. It must be relevant to the needs of our public and private sectors and it must train our people to be productive and engaged citizens of Belize and the global community.

This philosophy and vision is grounded in the simple yet fundamental truth that the ultimate goal of education is improving quality of life. The more knowledge, information and skills you possess, the greater the likelihood of you leading a more productive and meaningful life and the more likely you are to contribute positively to the development and upliftment of your family, community and country.

Por lo tanto, la educación que ofrecemos hoy debe equipar a nuestro pueblo en todas y cada una de las etapas de su vida con las herramientas necesarias para crear valor a partir de esa educación. Debe ser relevante para las necesidades de nuestros sectores público y privado y debe capacitar a nuestra gente para ser ciudadanos productivos y comprometidos de Belice y de la comunidad mundial.

Esta filosofía y visión se basa en la simple pero fundamental verdad de que el objetivo final de la educación es el mejorar la calidad de vida. Cuantos más conocimientos, información y habilidades usted posea, mayores serán las probabilidades de que usted lleve una vida más productiva y significativa, y de que contribuya positivamente al desarrollo y la elevación de su familia, su comunidad y su país.

Continued on page 22

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Continued from page 21

Access, Equity and Quality are central to our Education Agenda from pre-school to University. All our people wherever they live and whatever their ethnicity, religious preference, political affiliation, gender, or economic status MUST have equal access to quality education.

MAKING EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE shall be a national priority for the next Government of the People’s United Party.

Government oversees the delivery of education by almost 5700 teachers in approximately 630 educational institutions to some 102, 000 students. Over $266M was spent on education in 2019 amounting to some 25 percent of the Government’s total recurrent expenditure. Yet despite this level of expenditure, Government has presided over a striking deterioration in access to and quality of education at all levels in Belize over the past decade.

Our teachers are not being empowered to be bold, creative, critical thinkers who will passionately motivate, inspire and uplift our students. Too many of our teachers feel undervalued and unappreciated.

We must do everything we can to attract the best and the brightest into the teaching profession.

A PUP administration will be student centred and focus on student learning outcomes not on administrative control or teacher licenses.

The PUP Education Policy will focus on the following key areas: 1. Education Financing Reform 2. Early Childhood Education and Development 3. Leadership, Administration and Teacher Training 4. Special Education 5. Higher Education and Development 6. Technical and Vocational Education 7. Technology: Transforming Belize 8. Reform The Ministry of Education Our financing reform measures combined with our focused commitment to eliminating waste and inefficiency will allow us to fully finance our Plan of Action for 2020 to 2025: 1. Free Education from Pre-School to Junior College 2. Universal Pre-School Education 3. Establish A Teacher and Learning Institute 4. 100% Trained Teachers 5. 4 to 4th Laptop Computer Program 6. Fair Access $5m High Education Fund 7. Equal Opportunity $3m Rural Education Grant Fund 8. National Healthy Start Feeding Program 9. Free Textbook/e-Book Program Expansion To High School 10. Expansion of African and Mayan History Program 11. Civics Education At All Levels

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2020

El acceso, la equidad y la calidad son fundamentales para nuestra agenda de educación desde el preescolar hasta la universidad. Toda nuestra gente, dondequiera que viva y cualquiera que sea su etnia, preferencia religiosa, afiliación política, género o estatus económico DEBE tener acceso igual a una educación de calidad.

HACER QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE será una prioridad nacional para el próximo Gobierno de Partido Unido del Pueblo (PUP).

El Gobierno supervisa la enseñanza impartida por casi 5700 maestros en aproximadamente 630 inst i tuciones educat ivas a unos 102.000 estudiantes. En 2019 se gastaron más de 266 millones de dólares en educación, lo que equivale al 25 por ciento del total de los gastos recurrentes del Gobierno. Sin embargo, a pesar de este nivel de gastos, el Gobierno ha presidido un deterioro notable del acceso a la educación y de la calidad de ésta en todos los niveles en Belice durante el último decenio.

Nuestros maestros no están siendo capacitados para ser pensadores audaces, creativos y críticos quemotivarán, inspirarán y animarán apasionadamente a nuestros estudiantes. Demasiados de nuestros maestros se sienten subvalorados y poco apreciados. Debemos hacer todo lo posible para atraer a los mejores y más brillantes a la profesión docente.

La administración del PUP estará centrada en el estudiante y se centrará en los resultados del aprendizaje del estudiante y no en el control administrativo ni las licencias de los maestros.

La Política de Educación del PUP se centrará en las siguientes áreas clave: 1. Reforma de la financiación de la educación 2. Educación y desarrollo de la primera infancia 3. Liderazgo, Administración y Formación del profesorado 4. Educación Especial 5. Educación Superior y Desarrollo 6. Enseñanza técnica y profesional 7. Tecnología: transformación de belice 8. Reforma del Ministerio de Educación Nuestras medidas de reforma de la financiación, combinadas con nuestro compromiso, centrado en la eliminación del despilfarro y la ineficiencia, nos permitirán financiar plenamente nuestro Plan de Acción para 2020-2025: 1. Educación gratuita desde el preescolar hasta junior college 2. Educación preescolar universal 3. Establecer un instituto docente y de aprendizaje 4. Maestros al 100% capacitados 5. Programa de ordenador portátil (laptop) de 4 al 4th 6. Fondo de préstamos para la educación superior de 5 millones de dólares 7. Fondo de subsidio para la educación rural de 3 millones de dólares para la igualdad de oportunidades 8. Programa nacional de alimentación para un comienzo saludable 9. Expansión del programa de libros de texto/elibrosgratuitos a la escuela secundaria 10. Expansión del programa de historia Africana y Maya 11. Educación cívica en todos los niveles Continued on page 23

16 AUG

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

23

Continued from page 22

The goal of a PUP government in education is to efficiently allocate the necessary resources with appropriate incentive mechanisms to align and streamline the roles and objectives of all key stakeholdersstudents, Our financing reform teachers, measures parents, combinedmanagewith our focused commitment to eliminating waste ment, communities and governmentwith a view and will allow us education to fully finance ourento inefficiency not only deliver quality but also Plan of Action for 2020 to 2025: hance overall student learning using measurable results not only in increased enrolment but more importantly in clear, improved student learning 1. Free Education from Pre-School to outcomes.

Junior College The PUP government will form a team of cre2. next Universal Pre-School Education ative thinkers who are bold, passionate, 3. Establish A Teacher and Learning smart and progressive to reform and advance our Education Institute Policy Agenda. This team will come from the pub100% Trained Teachers lic4.and private sectors as well as our social sector partners.

5. 4 to 4th Laptop Computer Program

6. Fair Access $5m High Education Fund With over 100,000 students enrolled in our educa7. system Equal Opportunity $3mto Rural Education tion from pre-school university, we have Grant Fund a unique opportunity to shape the future, change the build the future.

8. future, National Healthy Start Feeding WE MUST NOT LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY! Program WE MUST NOT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY! 9. Free Textbook/e-Book Program Expansion High School WE MUST MAKETo EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE! THE WILL MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BE10.PUP Expansion of African and Mayan LIZE! History Program 11. Civics Education At All Levels

El objetivo de un gobierno del PUP en materia de educación es asignar eficientemente los recursos necesarios con mecanismos de incentivos, adecuados para alinear y racionalizar las funciones y objetivos de todas las partes claves interesadas -estudiantes, maestros, administraNuestras medidas de reforma de padres, la financiación, dores, comunidades y gobiernocon miras, no sólo combinadas con nuestro compromiso, centrado en para la eliminación del despilfarro y lasino ineficiencia, nos impartir una educación de calidad, también a mejorar permitirán financiar plenamente nuestro Plan de Acción el aprendizaje general de los estudiantes utilizando resulpara 2020-2025: tados mensurables no sólo en el aumento de la matriculación, sino lo que es más importante, en unos resultados aprendizajegratuita claramente mejorados.

1.deEducación desde el preescolar hasta junior college El próximo gobierno del PUP formará un equipo de pen2. Educación preescolar universal sadores creativos audaces, apasionados, inteligentes y 3.

Establecerpara un instituto y de aprendizaje progresistas reformardocente y avanzar nuestra Agenda de 4.

Maestros al 100% capacitados Política Educativa.

Este equipo vendrá de los sectores público 5.

Programa de ordenador portátil (laptop) de 4 al y privado, así como los interlocutores sociales.

4th 6. Fondo de préstamos para la educación superior de Con más de 100.000 estudiantes inscritos en nuestro 5 millones de dólares sistema educativo desde el preescolar hasta la universi7.

Fondo de subsidio para la educación rural deforma 3 dad, tenemos una oportunidad única para dar al futuro, cambiar el futuro, construir el futuro. millones de dólares para la igualdad de oportunidades ¡NO DEBEMOS PERDER ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! 8. Programa nacional de alimentación para un ¡NO DEBEMOS DESPERDICIAR ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! comienzo saludable 9.

ExpansiónHACER del programa de libros de texto/e¡DEBEMOS QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE! librosgratuitos a la escuela secundaria ¡ELExpansión PUP HARÁ QUE LA EDUCACIÓN 10. del programa de historiaFUNCIONE Africana yPARA BELICE! Maya 11. Educación cívica en todos los niveles

EDUCATION The goal of a PUP government in education is to efficiently allocate the necessary resources with appropriate incentive mechanisms to align and streamline the roles and objectives of all key stakeholders- students, teachers, parents, management, communities and government- with a view to not only deliver quality education but also enhance overall student learning using measurable results not only in increased enrolment but more importantly in clear, improved student learning outcomes.

El objetivo de un gobierno del PUP en materia de educación es asignar eficientemente los recursos necesarios con mecanismos de incentivos, adecuados para alinear y racionalizar las funciones y objetivos de todas las partes claves interesadas -estudiantes, maestros, padres, administradores, comunidades y gobierno- con miras, no sólo para impartir una educación de calidad, sino también a mejorar el aprendizaje general de los estudiantes utilizando resultados mensurables no sólo en el aumento de la matriculación, sino lo que es más importante, en unos resultados de aprendizaje claramente mejorados..

The next PUP government will form a team of creative thinkers who are bold, passionate, smart and progressive to reform and advance our Education Policy Agenda. This team will come from the public and private sectors as well as our social sector partners.

El próximo gobierno del PUP formará un equipo de pensadores creativos audaces, apasionados, inteligentes y progresistas para reformar y avanzar nuestra Agenda de Política Educativa. Este equipo vendrá de los sectores público y privado, así como los interlocutores sociales.

With over 100,000 students enrolled in our education system from pre-school to university, we have a unique opportunity to shape the future, change the future, build the future.

WE MUST NOT LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY! WE MUST NOT WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY! WE MUST MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE! THE PUP WILL MAKE EDUCATION WORK FOR BELIZE!

Con más de 100.000 estudiantes inscritos en nuestro sistema educativo desde el preescolar hasta la universidad, tenemos una oportunidad única para dar forma al futuro, cambiar el futuro, construir el futuro. ¡NO DEBEMOS PERDER ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! ¡NO DEBEMOS DESPERDICIAR ESTA OPORTUNIDAD! ¡DEBEMOS HACER QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE! ¡EL PUP HARÁ QUE LA EDUCACIÓN FUNCIONE PARA BELICE!

TODOS FI WIN! BLU GANAMOS! EVERYBODY

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THE BELIZE TIMES

THINK ABOUT IT

COVID CRISIS BUT…..

Belize is now in the grips of the Covid crisis. Our worst fears are coming through. Each day the medical authorities are reporting more and more infections.

As of Thursday morning 13th August there are 300 persons suffering from coronavirus. Some 32 have recovered. The morning news is saying a further amount too fast for this column. Persons have been tested positive. The area with the highest infections is San Pedro Island.

San Pedro is the tourist capital of the country. The short and long term effects of the virus spells disaster of a major kind for San Pedranos.

Orange Walk is the second hottest coronavirus area. A few of its villages are infected and infections are slowly spreading to Belize City which is now the area to watch and protect. Infections are recorded in the city. A few. But a few is all it takes in this overcrowded, poverty stricken, population dense area.

Belize City now has the challenge to rise to the challenge and defeat the spread of the deadly virus. The media, the politicians, the church leaders, the business community and every resident needs to do more. Public education campaigns need to be ramped up.

We can defeat the virus. We have a long history of overcoming. We overcome devastating hurricanes. Fires have ravaged our city. We been through 114 years, 1724 to 1838, of cruel slavery. Thereafter, we overcame 143years, 1839 to 1981 of colonial domination by the Neglectful British. We even manage to survive 12 years of Dean Barrow and his gang of gangsters from 2008 to 2020.

We must stay at home as much as we can. We must keep social distance.

We must wear our masks. We must sanitize, sanitize. We must. The virus is now among us.

We give thanks and praises to our Mighty God. There are no recent deaths.

Let us do everything to keep it that way. Our health facilities cannot handle the virus. An infected lady had to be rushed from Belmopan “Regional Hospital” to Belize City with serious respiratory difficulties. Belmopan like the other hospitals countrywide Do Not Have Equipment.

Belize City KHMH only has SIX Ventilators. You read it right. A mere SIX Ventilators. And why? Because our arrogant Prime Minister squandered out every dollar in the Treasury. Circa 780 million dollars paid out for BTL. 600 million dollars wasted and stolen on Faber’s Road, Airport Road, Expensive roundabouts, basketball center, unusable National Stadium etc. 90 million not collected from favored land owners. Millions of millions given to Brads and a family member from the Boledo & Lottery.

These things are criminal.

Now Covid has arrived and the nation is bankrupt.

But brothers and sisters, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, Belizeans all, we by ourselves will defeat this virus.

We can and we will.

Let us do what we all need to do.

Stay home as much as possible. Eat healthy. Wear your mask when you go out. Keep social distance.

EDUCATION FOR ALL BELIZEANS With general elections less than 80 days away, the People United Party unveiled its policy on education for all Belizeans.

The policy in the brain child of Honorable Francis Fonseca.

Francis is uniquely qualified to have mastermind the new government’s commitment to a new approach to education. He holds two university degrees. One in Economies and another in law in addition to two additional year’s lawyers must complete at the Norman Manley Law School.

Furthermore Francis was Chief of staff in the dynamic 1998 to 2003 Said Musa government and went on to become one of the most progressive Education Ministers.

On Wednesday 12th August, Honorable John Briceno introduced the new education strategies his government will implement when the voters kick out the stale uncaring, cold hearted crew that have ruined our country and condemned thousands of young people to poverty, unemployment and life without any future.

All that will change and soon.

We love the big proposal that education will be free from primary through college to sixth form.

NO BAR BUT CASINO In the “rabbit hole” type of thinking by the government, they ordered that all bars be closed, but casinos will remain open during the Covid crisis.

Why? Only regular citizens go take their drinks in bars. The Minister and their cronies cock up in the casinos spending large amounts of our tax dollars they do not earn through working.

BOOTS-PORT TO PICKSTOCK The Honorable (Some would say dishonorable) Boots Martinez is the official candidate for the Pickstock Division, which was recently vacated by Honor-

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2020

able Wilfred Elrington.

Boots is collecting salaries, allowances and all type of extra monies because he was elected by the people of Port Loyola. How can he be collecting any taxpayer’s monies now that he is officially campaigning in Pickstock, having abandoned Port Loyola?

Neither should he be allowed to sit in meetings of the House of Representative and collect allowances because he, from his own mouth, is not interested in port. He is campaigning in Pickstock.

It is being reported that boots is offering land and money for persons to register in Pickstock.

COLD HEARTED CARLA Honorable Carla Barnett, Minister of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development has once again been put in charge of Covid relief monies. This time the monies are not for unemployed persons it is for those who lost their jobs due to Covid.

This time the monies will be used as part of the UDP election gimmicks.

The last time Carla refused to pay one hundred dollars to more than 41,000 persons who applied. She & Barrow claimed the needy Belizeans were trying to fraud the project when untrue. What is that called?

16 AUG

2020

The Time to Uplift Belize is Now

Karim Adle As Belize spirals out of control with government seemingly having lost control of the pandemic, we again sit at a very dire position. Our little Jewel was blessed to be one of the last countries on earth to provide a positive case and even after what was dubbed the first wave, we were again blessed with a 6 month period before the numbers began to skyrocket. It is in this time that a

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prudent and visionary government should have taken to preparing for the inevitable. It is in this time that government should have stacked up on more, needed equipment.

It is in this time that government should have fixed their mistakes and righted the ship and, for once, place the lives and wellbeing of people above their greed. Did this happen? In short, let me respond with an emphatic, NO! Instead of listening to the people they invested in more projects, I can recall the FFB bleacher project in Belmopan and many others. While people were struggling to make ends meet, government continued to borrow and borrow.

I guess this is what you get when you elect a Barrow as PM (no pun intended), his now infamous words, “I will borrow and borrow until I cannot borrow no more.� All these debts incurred have gone unaudited, unaccounted for and more importantly they have not been going where it is needed as

can be seen by the explosion of cases and the dire conditions of our health facilities in this country.

The present day government continues to hide and dismisses any revelations against their incompetence as a time of politicking during a pandemic. They however, forget that they are elected to serve and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all the people.

Let us look at the global tragedy that occurred in Lebanon, as a result of that the entire government resigned as they had clearly not represented the people; it is time for that to occur here in Belize. It is time for all of them to go!

It is time for them to make way for a government that will invest in health and out the safety and wellbeing of the people over the personal needs. We need a government that is revolutionary and will not see borrowing as the only means of sustaining a dying economy.

As the second wave wreaks havoc on our beautiful Belize, we are again back at square one with people losing their jobs, food on the table being hard to come by and with the small relief program lagging applications and processing them in a snail-like manner.

Let us remember all that when they come with their new slogan that states because your future matters. If our future mattered to them they would have invested accordingly. They would not have placed priority on a 180 million dol-

lar road project to nowhere while our health facilities dwindles in mediocrity. It is time for real and meaningful change and now more than ever we need a government that can take us out of the economic depression and get people back to work and on the right path.

I would like to end off this article by encouraging all our readers to continue practicing the safety protocols and to wish those infected with the virus God’s blessing and to remind them that they are not alone in this fight. May they be granted the strength and mental fortitude to overcome it.

Also I appeal to all those who stigmatize the infected to urge them to please consider the idea that no one choses to get infected and anyone can get infected!

Stay safe Belize, we will overcome!

CALL

671-8385 or

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To place advertisement in the Belize Times Newspaper

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THE BELIZE TIMES

Incompetence breeds corruption At the expense of Democracy Last week’s blast in Belize was of a previously unimaginable now astounding numbers of 20plus and 30plus positive virus cases. The country was reeling and the threat of a lockdown had us on edge. We already know that to shut down the country is an ordeal and the economic cost not to mention the health is extremely high. All this is added to the UDP denied fact that their administration has no control of Belize anymore. Governance is out the window in even greater part than it had been before.

Covid-19 has exposed UDP’s third recession and added salt to their wound that by extension in felt by us Belizeans.

As is their expertise, the UDP locks up the country without medicine, food and water and hopes that two weeks later the area will have survived on their own. The UDP is expert at inaction and when they do move they are experts at being very bad at execution—they are incompetent. This incompetence at the very top reeks and spreads a la coronavirus and manifests itself in corruption at every level especially the cabinet level. UDP Ministers are not trusted anywhere. Ask the International Monetary Fund why Belize did not qualify for the rapid financing that Jamaica qualified for a few months ago. Jamaica’s present financial status had shownthpositive markers. On the contrary, Dean Barrow’s ‘borrow, borrow till I can’t no more’ policy is definitely not sound. It shows why the IMF has disqualified the UDP government from Rapid Financing.

The Barrow Administration and its minions have been doing their best to electioneer their way into a position where they could connive and steal the upcoming Elections from the very desire of the Belizean people.

Since the UDP lacks imagination to device any plan in 13 years and much less in the times of Covid-19, they are attempting to transfer votes their way to an election win.

Why couldn’t they have good governance and a positive record? Then that would negate any need for electioneering and manipulation of the election process. The new UDP chair for the Elections and Boundaries Commission has been silent in the face of all the UDP illegal transfers.

See Mr. Perrera, for there

to be illegal transfers your E&B personnel has to be in cahoots.

If they are in cahoots, then it is your responsibility. The buck takes a heavy stop at your feet.

Your impartiality needs to remove itself from dormancy. Democracy must prevail and even the coronavirus cannot be an excuse for its erosion. What is E&B’s plans to have an election with the coronavirus raging?

Postponement is NOT on the table.

The article above was inspired by the one below which is in excerpt form. You will read the similarities.

Fareed Zakaria, CNN on August 9, 2020: The blast was so incredibly strong, it was felt 150 miles away on the Island of Cyprus. We won’t know the true death toll for a long time, but thousands were injured and hundreds of thousands were displaced from their homes.

The first question on everyone’s mind of course, was, is this a bomb? No. It turns out that that massive amount of explosive material had, for reasons that defy logical explanation, been stored at the port since 2014. And the central

government has over the years ignored multiple warnings and requests to move it.

In a sense, it is a reminder of the tragedy of Lebanon incompetent, inefficient and deeply corrupt government. At the time of the blast, Lebanon was already in a state of major crisis.

He estimated that more than 50 percent of Lebanon lives in poverty today. The signs of collapse are everywhere. Electricity is incredibly scarce, garbage collection barely takes place. Late last year the streets erupted in discontent, as they did this weekend, pouring onto the rubble-filled avenues to voice the concerns of the incompetence of their leaders.

To make matters worse, the port of the epicenter of the blast, thus utterly destroyed, was the main artery for goods to come in and out of the country. Some 60 percent of Lebanon’s imports came through Beirut’s harbor.

Remember that the country is surrounded by war on one side and enemy on the other most of its land borders with Syria, the rest with Israel so where to start on rebuilding this nation that was already so deeply damaged?

Let’s start with the price tag. Es-

16 AUG

2020

timates run into tens of billions of dollars to fix what the blast broke.

Over the course of the week, nations across the globe have pledged their support and President Macron of France hosted a donor conference today.

But Fawaz Gerges, Lebanese-American academic and author with expertise on the Middle East, U.S. foreign policy, international relations, doubts the integrity of Lebanese officials to distribute the aid without lining their own pockets. President Macron apparently has similar concerns. When he visited the shell-shocked city on Thursday, he pledged that his country’s aid to its former colony would not go into corrupt hands.

Rami Khouri Professor of Journalism at the American University in Beirut tells “GPS” he has a plan to make sure all aid money gets where it is supposed to go. He proposes a competent of NGOs, academics, professional and civic leaders to work alongside the government to oversee fair and efficient distribution of the promised aid.

He says such an arrangement would help not only rebuild Beirut but also build back public confidence in Lebanon’s leaders. Sometimes these kinds of crises can have the effect of a wake-up call and jolt a country to a change and reform.(For more on the Article, go to globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn. com

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTY San Jose, Succotz, Cayo District RDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs.

The Belize Bank Limited, Licensed Auction PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTY Jose, Succotz, Cayo District iana R. Castillo will sell the following San property, ON SITE, Lot No. 295 San Jose

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs. The Belize Bank Limited, Licensed Auctioneers Kevin A. Castillo & R. Castillo will sell the following property, ON SITE, Lot No. 295 San Jose Succotz, Cayo District ay 17 August 2020 at Christiana 1:30 pm: on Monday 17th August 2020 at 1:30 pm:

ALL THAT leasehold piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 295 situate in San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo District bounded as follows: On the Northeast for 15.243 metres by Lot No. 294; On the Southeast for 30.487 metres by Lot No. 297; On the Southwest for 15.423 metres by a street & On the Northwest for 30.487 metres by Lot No. 293 containing 555.790 square metres as shown on Plan No. 1701 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

(Being concrete bungalow dwelling house [25 ft. X 28 ft.] containing 1 bedroom + 1 bathroom + living/dining/kitchen + verandah situate in San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo District, the leasehold property of Mr. David Perez)

THAT leasehold piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 295 situate in San Jose Suc ed as follows: On the Northeast for 15.243 metres by Lot No. 294; On the Southea 97; On the Southwest for 15.423 metres by a street & On the Northwest for 30.4 ning 555.790 square metres as shown on Plan No. 1701 at the Office of the Co TERMS: STRICTLY CASH KEVIN A. CASTILLO ys TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

TELEPHONE 223-4488 E-mail: belizeauctionsales@gmail.com ng house [25 ft. X 28 ft.] containing 1 bedroom + 1 bathroom + living/dining/kit Facebook: Belize Auctions ADDITIONAL INFORMATION www.belizebank.com (foreclosure listing)

THE BELIZE TIMES 27 2020 United Democratic Party Commitments 2015 Manifesto

16 AUG

PART I (16 TO 30 OF 44 BROKEN PROMISES, UDP STYLE) #

Broken Promise

16.

Expand internet penetration to 50% countrywide

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

Outcome

Whatever does this mean? One of every two persons will have easy access to the Internet? Not even close. The Internet is still prohibitive as is UDP’s usual ways of incompetence. Today in 2020, many in rural parts of Belize still do not know what it is to use the internet daily. During the Great and other lockdowns lack of the Internet is dangerous for our society. It is right up there with water, light and maybe food.

Construct three new hospitals: Western Regional, San Pablo was busy acquiring medicines for hospitals that routinely lacked the basics.

Pedro & Punta Gorda Many building have been misnamed ‘Polyclinic’ where they are only the Health Ministry’s version of Imer’s infrastructure. So New Hospitals are the UDP’s sick joke.

Implement solid waste systems in the Northern & Just maybe they meant the corridors of some of the mansions built by the INSANELY Southern Corridors rich UDP. Poor Belizeans got poorer. PUPs Expand electricity to remote rural areas using solar en- Is this like the electric cars promised by the PM at his Independence Day lecture? ergy technology Construct a forward operating base at the Sarstoon A building that faked at being an FoB was build but is Inadequate, Unsafe; A BDF soldier lost an eye there; The UDP and Saldivar FAILED to build it right ON Sarstoon Island.

Procure two helicopters to enhance the work of our Procure probably meant that the UDP has to routinely rents helicopters. This even security forces & emergency personnel as Belize has a couple helicopters always grounded since UDP’s incompetence is so virulent and contagious. Talking about Helicopter we are still waiting for the final report on the downed Helicopter that caused the death of four of our airmen. Family compensation?

Invest $70 million in national security initiatives Via Dermen? When will this initiate?

Offer free specialized clinics in all residential & non-res- Pablo dreamt this one day and is his broken promise number umpteenth. Now with idential centers for the elderly as a way to control COVID-19 cataclysm threatening, the UDP might was to apologize for building roads chronic & non-communicable disease. These special instead of hospitals clinics will be established in centers where the elderly can feel comfortable Expand the Food Pantry program to other districts Who is really helped in this “politically contaminated” program?

And, no it hasn’t been rolled out to other districts. No surprise there. The Covid food program the UDP piddled all over it Restructure the overall taxation system to ensure eq- There was no change in the instance of equity. Imagine the new General Tax Services uity & fairness in collection, & to encourage economic made a multimillion dollar loan. For what? They should collect taxes and make loans. stimulation Transition to a Single Revenue Authority that coordi- A last minute introduction marred by the appointment of the wife of a tarred politician nates all government tax collection agencies & intro- rewarded to diplomat that might be remanded without passing Go. The investigation duces a common Tax Identification Number to this tarred NY diplomat is still on brakes and his wife still have the job she is so unqualified for at the Tax Services department.

Put more people to work through job matching & train- Ask your favourite UDP rep(try finding them in this COVID-19 time) what they mean ing based on market demand by this.

Reduce the cost of high speed internet to bolster eco- BELIZE is in FULL economic recession and the UDP is blaming Covid. The recession nomic growth began officially when a 2nd quarter of contraction was announced I December 2019.

Barrow “dodged” the IMF then when the SIB updated their numbers. Poll: Was this a deliberate omission?

Strengthen National Standards & Quality Controls to Belize still massively imports even basic food items that could be locally produced. Toprotect consumers & enhance competitiveness day, the Government doesn’t know how to handle local food, it marketing and its sale to bolster local consumption and increase exports.

Allow homeowners a chance to retain their hard earned The pages of the newspapers are continually laden with properties that are being equity by enabling banks to extend the period to write foreclosed. off residential mortgages to 10 years

Get to the Next Edition of the Belize Times to see the last of the UDP broken promises of November 2015.

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2020

PUP Councils braving COVID in spite of the broke no-help incompetent UDP Corozal Town Council: Street Work Mayor Rigo Vellos and Volunteers hit the streets to make much needed repairs to potholes in the intersection of 1st St. North and 5th Av. Motivation is key in accomplishing our goals. We face them working hand in hand. One day at a time - One street at a time. We thank everyone who came out today to lend a helping hand.

Mayor Vellos has issued an appeal to Corozaleños to practice safety measures and to ensure that our community contains the further spread of COVID-19.

Tax Discounts You can get 25% Discount on all arrears until 14th August, 2020 or all year if you are over 65 and living on the property. (15% rest of Aug.) Take advantage of this great promotion. Online payments can also be made. Info at 4802072. Authorised Collection Agents are ready to assist you.

Orange Walk Town Council: “The Work Continues.”

Belize City Council, Always ‘Bout the People The Belize City Council Works Department, under the guidance of Councilor Albert Vaughan, recently began preliminary work on Cemetery Lane and Nurse Seay Street. #theworkcontinues Youth Shadow Council.

The Belize City Council wishes to thank all young residents who applied.

Today we are excited to announce and extend congratulations to our official 11 youth leaders who will be working directly with the Mayor and Councilors to develop projects and gain a deeper understanding of managing a municipality./// Belize City Council Accelerator Program The program continues as our 2nd cohort of participants received start-up

contributions from Councilor Javier Castellanos, with responsibility for Economic Development and Small Businesses, as a part of the completion process for our skill set trainings.

We look forward to impacting the lives of more business men and women as this program continues to develop and thrive. Congratulations to all participants thus far!// Three-day women upliftment forum under the theme “Molding Resilient Women In collaboration with the PUP United Women’s Group, our very own Councilor Aisha Gentle, responsible for Market, Citizen Engagement, Parks and Beautification, hosted the forum. This featured a series of discussions and talks led by the likes of Mayor Wagner, Councilor Dr. Pitts, Councilor Hylton, Councilor Castellanos and Councilor Arnold.

16 AUG

2020

THE BELIZE TIMES

29

30

16 AUG

THE BELIZE TIMES

2020

Faber, Patrick Jason Classless UDP 1st/2nd/3rd Term Final Progress Report

Issues

Term

Final

1st

2nd

3rd

Minister of Education

F

F

F

F

Retrenchment/Victimization of School Wardens

A+

A+

A+

A+

Incomplete Belize Civic Center; two deaths

U

U

F

F

Union Busting ($1Million Easter Cheer)

A

A

A

A

Herman Longsworth/Patrick Henry Money Missing

F

F

F

F

Marion Jones Stadium 2.7 Million

-

F

F

F

Visa Recommendations for Unknowns

U

U

U

U

Crime (high dropout rates)

F

F

F

F

Vega and all the Land Issues

U

U

U

U

BNTU Issues

F

F

F

F

Respect for Teachers

F

F

F

F

School Retention of Students

F

F

F

F

Danny (250K??), Intelco Hill

U

U

U

U

Lev Dermen

U

U

U

U

Sanctuary Bay (Kanantik Education Courses)

A+

U

U

U

Corozal Pibil Tacos

-

-

A+

A+

Belizean economy

U

U

U

U

Women’s Issues

F

F

F

F

Submerging/Wrecking Government Vehicles

-

-

A+

A+

Useless Music Ambassador at NICH

F

F

F

F

Sports(Local and International)

F

F

F

F

Our Children’s Access to School

F

F

F

F

Julian Cho HS/Simeon Coc’s misused $2Million

-

-

F

F

Teacher’s Commission

-

F

F

F

Scholarships for Cronies(Fraser, Willoughby, Perdomo)

A

A

A

A

Secondary Education Financing Formula

-

F

F

F

Yellow Man’s Hiring & Firing Issue

-

F

F

F

Economy in Collet

F

F

F

F

Crime in Collet

F

F

F

F

Housing in Collet

F

F

F

F

Land Programs in Collet

F

F

F

F

Job availability in Collet

F

F

F

F

The Hub still closed

-

-

F

F

Covid State of Education

-

-

F

F

University of Belize Subvention Cut

F

F

F

F

U – Ungraded meaning that is not assessable since he was guilty of inaction.

F – Definitely did not do anything to help the people of Belize.

A+ – He seemed to be happy with helping himself.

Future Outlook: With so much inaction on BIG issues happening around him, Patrick Joshua is eons away from being a leader. When half of a few delegates from a divided party vote for you there is a Patrick Joshua Faber demise awaiting. Since Patrick Joshua has to go through an election against a politically-inert Saldivar and the outcome is a virtual TIE then Patrick Joshua should start thinking of an improbable 2035 run.

Recommendation: Mr. Faber should go to John Briceño and request tips on how to beat Oscar Arnold. The UDP will be extremely lucky to come out of elections 2020 with a person in the House to be the UDP Leader of the Opposition.

16 AUG Editor’s Choice: International

(eluniversal.com)

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2020

Obtiene prisión domiciliaria Mauricio Góngora, excandidato a gubernatura de Quintana Roo

Por Adriana Varillas 8 de agosto - El excandidato del Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) a la gubernatura de QR en 2016, Mauricio Góngora, obtuvo el beneficio de la prisión domiciliaria y abandonó este sábado el centro de reclusión en que se encontraba interno en Playa del Carmen.

Al determinar que no hay riesgo de fuga, un juez de control concedió al también expresidente municipal de Solidaridad, la modificación de la medida cautelar que le fue dictada en una de las vinculaciones a prisión que le fueron dictadas, por lo cual podrá seguir el proceso judicial que se le sigue en su domicilio.

Fue detenido en la Ciudad de México el 25 de enero del 2018.

Desde entonces, fue vinculado a proceso en tres ocasiones, por delitos de peculado y desempeño irregular de la administración pública, en agravio del ayuntamiento y por el caso de la transportadora aérea VIPSaesa, en perjuicio del estado.

En entrevista, la fiscal Rosaura Villanueva Arzápalo informó que, “basado únicamente” en un análisis de riesgo, el juez concedió la prisión domiciliaria a Góngora Escalante, quien salió esta tarde de la prisión en donde estaba internado. (Lea más en eluniversal.com.mx)

Natalie Hutchinson, Senior Development Officer, High Commission of Canada to Barbados and OECS along with Dr Yitades Gebre, PAHO/WHO Representative to Barbados and the EC handed over the donation to Lt Col Jeffery Bostic, Minister of Health and Wellness at the PAHO/WHO Office in Barbados on July 15. (Photo credit: PAHO).)

CDC tells travellers COVID19 risk high in Barbados, resources limited

By loopnews Two days after the Chief Medical Officer in Barbados, prompted by the PM, disclosed that Barbados has over 100,000 COVID-19 tests available on island, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has cautioned travellers that if they get sick in Barbados "resources are limited".

Dr Kenneth George on Wednesday (August 5) during a televised and streamed press conference: "I would like to assure the public that there we have on-island sufficient testing kits, all equipment and supplies that are required to mount a COVID response whether that be from PPE we have several stores of PPE and we have also gotten kind donations from PAHO, kind donations from the Chinese government, the UAE, so Barbados has been able to replenish a lot of our supplies based on kind donations from overseas."

Prime Minister Mottley confirmed that Barbados has "just over 100,000 test kits" and "in terms of PPE and others we now have a significant supply as a result of not just PAHO but WHO sent in last week (July 26) as you saw when I went to the airport to meet the Canadian plane that brought them for Barbados and the rest of the region.” Thanks to the United Arab Emirates for their very kind donation to Barbados but to the Caribbean Community."

usgs.com)

Se siente temblor en Chetumal, Quintana Roo Por Grupo Sipse 10 de agosto Chetumal.- Habitantes de la capital reportan a través de redes sociales que esta mañana se sintió un sismo en Chetumal.

De acuerdo con publicaciones en Twitter y en Fb, el movimiento telúrico se sintió a las 9:13 de la mañana.

Un reporte similar fue emitido por el Servicio Geológico Colombiano, que señala que la magnitud fue de 5.6, con profundidad superficial, al norte de Honduras.

Protección Civil QR confirma el temblor: La Coordinación Estatal confirmó el movimiento telúrico en QR e informó que se mantiene en contacto con las Direcciones municipales para descartar daños.

Información difundida a través de redes sociales indica que el sismo se sintió en algunas partes de la zona hotelera de Cancún y también en la localidad Alfredo V. Bonfil. (Lea más en Sipse.com) ((FILE) Senator Lisa Cummins)

Minister's attendance disrupts Senate despite negative COVID-19 test

By Christina Smith, loopnewsbarbados.com

Newly-appointed Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins ruffled feathers when she attended a sitting of Senate after completing self-quarantine and being tested for COVID-19.

She was one out of a group of government officials and media personnel who entered into self-quarantine after attending a welcoming ceremony of 95 nurses from Ghana last Thursday, on the orders of Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kenneth George. Nine of the nurses were confirmed to have the COVID-19 virus.

There were strong objections from other members.

"This isn't 14 days yet and if she comes I gone cause I am not staying in here with somebody who they told to stay in quarantine. You want to pass a Bill and you will bring the lame and the blind and everybody inside here. This is foolishness," Senator Franklyn exclaimed.

The Tourism Minister, before casting her vote on the Bill before the House, criticized the actions of her fellow Senators calling it a "most unfortunate and despicable display".

She explained during the times she interacted with cruise ship passengers at the Bridgetown Port in recent months, she had never been treated with such "scorn" from her colleagues. man

COVID-19 Spread Case Study: Initial Case: 56-year-old

A 56-year-old man with the coronavirus attending a single church service in Ohio led to the infection's spread to at least 91 other people across five counties.

Gov. of Ohio, Mike DeWine, posted this graphic to his Facebook page Wednesday detailing how the virus spread over a three-week period from the date of the church service on June 14 to July 4.

"It spread like wildfire," the governor said at a news conference Tuesday where the graphic was displayed. "Very, very scary."

"We have been very careful throughout this pandemic to exempt religious services from any regulations," the governor said.

"The only exception to that is that we are now asking people who attend church to wear a mask."

He noted on his Facebook page that while this case of community transmission stems from a church, it can happen anywhere.

After the man with the coronavirus went to the church service in Ohio County in June, 53 others who had been at the same service became infected, according to the graphic shared by DeWine.

Eighteen of these 53 spread the virus to at least one other person, the graphic shows. The man's wife, a son and a daughter also got sick.

All 91 others infected after the service showed symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, the governor said.

Note: This graphic cannot show the persons who were asymptomatic and were still spreading the virus. (Read more at nbc.com)

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THE BELIZE TIMES

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2020