06 6
5 FEB
THE BELIZE TIMES
‘Optical’ Barrow Runs from Ruth’s Testimony
Tuesday, 31 January 2017 Following Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Dean Barrow was asked about the allegations of electoral and immigration fraud made against members of his Cabinet by a former Director of Immigration, Ruth Meighan. The most adroit of dodgers, Barrow responded, “Can we wait until the inquiry is concluded and the report is submitted before you ask me to comment in any detail...what is happening is public and conclusions are no doubt being drawn and facts are in the public domain. I don't think there is any need for assistance from me for that process." When pressed a little further, Barrow withdrew to his usual ‘optical’ position, “I don't know that I have heard anything that would suggest to me that any minister has been guilty of any kind of actionable corruption. There are some terrible appearances. From what I have seen, you might want to question people's judgment. You might
even want to draw some conclusions that some of us might say are ineluctable, but that's not the same as evidence that is convincing that ministers engaged in wrongdoing." Mr. Barrow will go down in history as the Prime Minister who has never seen any evidence of corruption in his Cabinet, even as he is being whaled in the head with that very corruption. When Ruth Meighan was speaking before the Senate Inquiry, she was not speaking as a pass-
Party Unity in OW 30th January 2017 On Saturday the National Party Council of the People's United Party met in Orange Walk Town. This was the first quarterly meeting for 2017 of the second highest governing body of the PUP, which includes the members of the National Executive and delegates from all thirty one constituencies. True to his leadership style of reaching out to the people, the Party Leader Hon. John Briceño endorsed having the NPC outside of the Party Headquarters in Belize City, and has pledged to rotate the venue throughout the country. Welcoming the delegates to Orange Walk was Mayor Kevin Bernard who spoke of the work of the Town Council and the challenges they have faced having to deal with a vindictive central government. Despite that he said that with the support of the people he and his Council have gotten the job done, paving streets, renovating parks and providing quality service to all residents of Orange Walk Town. He called for all sections of the Party to awake to action to rescue Belize from the grips of this oppressive UDP regime. Party Chairman Henry Usher went through the proposed changes to the Party's Constitution, highlighting that after wide consultation, the Party Leader had recommended to the National Executive Terms of Reference for the Regional Deputy Leaders and restructured roles for the National Strategic Manager, National Campaign Manager and Treasurer. These recommendations were approved by the National Executive and ratified by the National Party Council, which also approved unanimously the appointment of Servulo Baeza as National Campaign Manager. Four resolutions were read and approved by the Council. The first on taxation calls on the Party to resist the UDP government's plan to levy more taxes on the already-over taxed citizens. On the issue of the national debt, which has ballooned to $3.3 billion because of the recklessness and incompetence of Dean Barrow, the Council demanded that the Government immediately engage in genuine consultation with all Belizean stakeholders including the PUP. The PUP must be included in the re-negotiation with Bondholders so that the best terms can be achieved for the long-term benefit of Belize; that there be full disclosure of fees paid to local and foreign advisors, including Hallmark, and that a comprehensive audit be done on the squandering of the Petrocaribe funds. The Council then called for an independent audit to be carried out at the Ministry of Natural Resources, that the unlawful compensation packages paid out to Andre Vega and Sharon Pitts be returned immediately, and that those responsible at the Lands Department for the wanton corruption that permeated throughout in the last eight years be brought to justice. The Council further resolved to initiate a recall of Gapi Vega in Orange Walk North, if he refuses to resign. On the issue of immigration, the Council called for a full criminal investigation into the issuing of nationalities at the Immigration Department from 2010 to present, a complete audit of the Immigration Department from 2010 to present, that the Penner file be handed over to the DPP, and that the re-registration exercise be completed before the 2018 Municipal Elections. The meeting concluded with speeches from the Regional Deputy Leader from the North, Hon. Jose Mai, Deputy Party Leader Hon. Cordel Hyde and Party Leader Hon. John Briceno. They all focused on the proud track record and legacy of the Party, fighting for Independence in the face of unjustified opposition from the UDP naysayers, opening up the sugar cane industry for the farmers and growing the economy for the benefit of all Belizeans.
erby on the street. She was speaking in the capacity of Director of Immigration during the period in question, the person entrusted by Dean Barrow to approve
nationality documents and passports. So when Meighan admitted, “I am aware that the Ministers were trying to get people processed for nationality during that period (just before 2012 elections)," she is in the position to know. Meighan further admitted under examination that “Ministers were heavily involved in speeding up the processing of nationality for many individuals in the run up to that election.” She then admitted that the purpose of the intervention by
2017 Ministers was to get persons registered to vote. Shortly after, she went on to admit that the documents for many of those persons were ‘fraudulently prepared,” and many of them did not qualify for nationality and thus did not qualify to be registered to vote. It is not clear exactly what the Prime Minister needs – perhaps a notarized confession of wrongdoing and corruption by his Ministers would do, assisted with photo and video evidence of those Ministers doing wrong, of course. It is incredible that the man who even now claims to be incorruptible and strait-laced, of such sterling character, is so blinded by greed for power that he is willing to ignore and even condone wanton, blatant corruption by his Ministers. The testimony of Immigration Officers who allegedly received instructions from those UDP Ministers to issue fraudulent documents will be heard in the next weeks. It will be interesting to see the Prime Minister’s response.
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES) BELIZE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT II WATER AND SANITATION REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CONSULTING SERVICES Loan No. 3684/OC-BL Project No.: BL-L1021 Contract/Bid No. 002-2017/2018 The Government of Belize has received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments under the project Belize Solid Waste Management Project, BL-L1021, for hiring a specialized engineering consulting firm to perform the function of Design - Supervising Engineer for the Provision of complete Design Package; Preparation of Bidding Documents; Assistance in Bid Evaluation and Contract Negotiations; Supervision and Construction Quality Assurance and Quality Control for landfill cell expansion and associated ancillary facilities and appurtenances (liner works, surface water and leachate collection and treatment systems, gas venting etc..) of the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill (RSL). The purpose of the expansion is to extend the life and disposal capacity of the RSL to serve as the country’s only sanitary landfill. The Solid Waste Management Authority (SWaMA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development as Executing Agency on behalf of the Government of Belize now invite eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information establishing that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications. Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the InterAmerican Development Bank: Policies for the Selection and Contracting of Consultants financed by the Inter-American Development Bank, GN-2350-9 of March 2011 and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the policies. The selection process shall be the “Quality and Cost Based Selection, (QCBS)” method. Interested consultants may obtain further information at the website and address below during office hours, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM local time. Expressions of interest must be delivered via direct mail, email or hand delivered to the address indicated below by 4:00 PM on March 20th, 2017. Solid Waste Management Authority of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development Attn: Mr. Gilroy Lewis, P.E., Project Director Queen Elizabeth II Blvd., Cohune Walk Belmopan, Belize, C.A.
Tel: (501) 828 4864; Fax: (501) 802 1527 PO Box 285 E-mail:sw.director@naturalresources.gov.bz; belizeswama.com