National Perspective September 18, 2011

Sunday, September 4th , 2011

www.nationalperspectivebz.org Edition 160 Vol.4 week 3

The true voice of the silent majority

Died in Police Custody

Read Story on page 5

Butane Strike On !

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

Cartel hold Belizeans Hostages sixth day today, with neither the Government of Belize nor the striking companies changing their positions.

The so-called “butane” strike, (cooking gas is a mixture of butane and propane) by Belize Western Energy Limited, Gas TOMZA and Z-Gas, has not yet crippled the supply but most industry observers believe that there will be a crunch in the next few days unless the Government of Belize finds a way to increase imports primarily from Mexico to bolster a dwindling inventory.

The three companies import gas primarily from Central America Wednesday, September 14, 2011 (Salvador and Guatemala). They BELIZE CITY – A service strike are demanding that the Barrow adcalled by three cooking gas im- ministration give them an increase porters who account for nearly in the controlled price of butane 75% of the market completed its but the government says it will not

SugarSweetAgain?

Credit Deadline Extended

BELIZE CITY – A meeting today between representatives of Banco Atlantida and the Belize Sugar Industries Workers Trust ended without incident this evening with both sides agreeing to keep the discussions on going at an unspecified later date.

The meeting had been originally scheduled for 2:00 p.m. this afternoon at the Atlantic Bank headquarters board room on Freetown Road but had to be moved to the Radisson Fort George after a bomb threat was

Continued on page 6

do so until the companies conform to a law requiring the installation of scales to protect consumers that was signed almost 6 months ago.

Although the companies claim they have complied, their consumers would attest that this is hardly the case.

Yesterday Minister of the Public Service and Sports John Saldivar refused to attend a scheduled meeting with the striking distributors saying that they had nothing to talk about until they had complied with the law and the strike had been called off.

In Belize City at least two retailers, Brown’s butane and Southside butane, have continued to sell butane and the Reyes group of companies, along with Belize National Energy, continues to provide bulk butane to industrial customers.

Today the Supplies Control Unit (SCU) in the Ministry of Economic Development, Commerce, Industry and Consumer Protection sent out a release saying that there “are two sets of controlled prices for Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)

and these prices are reflected by source”, namely the gas imported from Central America is actually $8.00 cheaper per 100 lb cylinder than the gas imported from Mexico.

Ironically it is the Mexican distributors who have remained in service so Belizeans are paying more for gas.

The Belize Natural Energy has been siphoning, storing, filtering and distributing gas from its Spanish Lookout oil field and claim they can supply as much as a third of the market at a price well below that of the importers. It is being reported that they have ramped up production.

The Barrow administration has quietly signaled the striking distributors that it is prepared to consider other options to their service, and considering that the public at large are still angry with these importers who have been accused of a massive years long scam that “shorted” the amount supplied to consumers, such a move could prove extremely popular.

Father of the Nation, Hospitalized

Read Story on page 6

Happy September Celebrations!

Page 2 The issue of the Government’s proposal to amend the Constitution of Belize via the Ninth Amendment has backfired on them. What the Ninth Amendment has done is to galvanize the People’s United Party leadership, followers and supporters and gave them a battle cry. The proposal for the amendment has also galvanized the business community and civil society due to blatant dictatorial insertion that government attempted to hide in the Ninth Amendment.

Ever since it was presented in the House of Representatives, the Government and its supporters has been desperately trying to rally support for the amendment by spending thousands of tax payer’s dollars on ad campaigns and an expensive and ineffective public consultation. All the consultations held so far have been use by the two major political parties to gain political mileage. The winner in all these consultations has been the People United Party because these consultations give supporters of the PUP a public forum from where they can exhibit their strength and get their voices heard publicly. If there was no consultation, the PUP would have been silent and dead in the water.

Now, almost every Wednesday night the Leader of the Opposition gets to flex his political muscle and supporters of the PUP get an opportunity to attack and expose the incompetence and fraudulent behavior of the United Democratic Party on

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

HOW POPULAR IS THE NINTH?

Question: “Do you know what the word amendment means”.

Answer: “I don’t know mammy”.

Yaya Marin’s, Two Cents Cam – September 14, 2011 (Krem Radio) national radio and television free of cost. And so when we say the PUPs are winning it is because of the dormancy that had set in on them prior, which would have ensured that the PUP would have been slaughtered in the upcoming Municipal Elections. However, now they have awoken and the business community has awoken as well, and now they have something to rally around and finances will start to flow the PUP way.

The Ninth Amendment which should have been design, mainly to acquire the major utilities which from any moral spyglass would have been difficult to disfigure and criticize against, because a rally point for the Government‘s oppositions. This was caused mainly because the Dean Barrow administration is hungry for absolute power. They sought to outright deceive the people of Belize by removing their rights to seek redress of the Courts of

Belize if the Ninth Amendment or any other amendment is considered unconstitutional. All right thinking Belizeans has come down hard on that section of the amendment that take away that right, and that has now crescendo to such a high decibel that people is not interested in supporting the section that seeks to acquire the utilities, so much so now that the majority of Belizeans are simple saying “NO to No. 9.”

If the UDP Government was sincere in their attempt to muscle in and possess the major utilities, they should have let the Ninth Amendment speak only of doing such acquisitions, and then they would have gotten very little opposition. However, as soon as the proposed Ninth Amendment was read in the House of Representatives a stalwart of the UDP, Audrey Matura, attacked the oppressive sections immediately on Krem Radio morning show. At

that time Mose Hyde who was blinded by the hate for Lord Michael Ashcroft attempted to man handle Matura, who promptly reminded him that she was the lawyer and not him. After allowing Matura to explain, the loud mouth Mose Hyde conceded and agreed with the learned UDP lawyer.

There is no pardoning the Government of Belize for the depressing economic conditions that they have lead the country in, because since 2008 this publication has been on top of every situation and predicted the outcomes and advised the Government on the solutions, but as any bully would behave the Prime Minister defy the logic and runs the country head first into the stone walls.

One can argue that the Prime Minister should feel right at home negotiating with Butane Distributors same as he did with the criminal gangs. The Butane Distributors has been accused of stealing from the Belize people by not giving the correct amount of gas for the monies spent. In other words, they were stealing.

However, there is nothing strange with all these self-inflicted controversies as the UDP Government is good at creating red herrings designed to distract Belizean from their real deficiency, which their incompetence and void of creative ideas to energies the economy that they brought to a screeching crash. OPEN YOUR EYES THE PEOPLE ARE AWAKE!!!

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

Page 3

Fort George Tourism Zone Operators Writes PM Barrow Denying Children a Good Education and a Better Future

By: Gilroy Usher, Sr. (PUP Port Loyola Standard Bearer) Two weeks after primary schools opened for the new school year, dozens of children in Port Loyola and scores of children throughout the country still don’t have the basic things to enter the classroom in pursuit of solid foundation for a better education and a better future.

Those future adults of Belize are not in school today because despite all efforts their parents simply don’t have the money to provide them with footwear, uniform, exercise books, schoolbags, or breakfast. .

That is a tragedy. Many of those children ,who are losing out on a solid education at the primary school level now have the potential to become future Prime Ministers, doctors, teachers ,attorneys, businessmen, soldiers, policemen , nurses ,and other community leaders in the country. It is also true that each day that these children in marginalize homes remain out of school ,the chance increase that they will drop out of school before they’ve completed Std. VI and added to the growing list of youths who get caught up in gangs and other antisocial behavior.

All parents want the best for their children. That is why with no other work available people are eager to work only 3 days for $103.00 at the end of the week.

People want to pay their bills themselves, but with light bill , water bill, groceries , house rent , school expenses ,and other basic expense for living ,there is no way

a family can survive with $103.00 per week, Boots and Mr. Barrow.

Indeed things have never been so dread in Port Loyola and other parts of the county.

Parents are unable to provide their children with the basic things for the start of the new school year at the primary school level because of four main things.

1) They can’t find good paying work to address the needs of their families because government has failed to provide to provide even one-tenth of the 5,000 jobs that it promised in its manifesto, 2) Unlike under the previous PUP administration the government did not provide any summer jobs for primary school children to earn a little money to assist their parents with back to school expenses , 3) Anthony “Boots” Martinez and the other UDP Area Representative used the meager monthly subvention for the division for themselves and their political cronies instead of to assist the most needy families in their constituencies, and 4) here is no coordination between school officers and the social department to render assistance to families ,who are in need of urgent assistance to get their children in school for the start of the new school year.

Those glaring mistreatment of the Belizean people is further proof that this UDP government is all for itself. After having a feast they gather all the leftovers and take it home. When the UDP feast they don’t even leave the scrums for the poor. That’s just another reason why some many parents can’t afford the basic things to get their children back in primary school for the start of the new school year.

This suffering of parents and their children will not last forever.

The next PUP administration will ensure that Government assistance for each constituency is given to those who need it most. And the new PUP government will work in partnership with the business community to create hundreds of good paying jobs across the county to enable families to send their children to school and uplift their standard of living.

APPLICATIONS FOR LIQUOR LICENSES

Notice is hereby given that IRMA PEREZ is applying for a MALT & CIDER LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated at IRMA”S DINER, POMONA NEW SITE, Stann Creek District under the INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSING ORDINANCE, Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that CARLA RUBIO is applying for a PUBLICAN SPECIAL LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated atBarracuda Bar/My Brother’s Pizza, Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District under the INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSING ORDINANCE, Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that JUDY CENTENO is applying for a RETAURANT & BAR LIQUOR LICENSE to be operated atVIP ZONE, BELLA VISTA, Stann Creek District under the INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSING ORDINANCE, Revised Edition 1980.

September 5, 2011 Hon. Prime Minister of Belize Office of the Prime Minister Belmopan, Belize Dear Mr. Prime Minister, We the undersigned members of the Fort George Tourism Zone Operators Management committee, a committee duly formed and recognized by The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) wish to bring to your attention the following: I) We are aware that there are presently some internal problems at the BTB. 2) We believe that at this point this is counterproductive to all the positive things that have recently been achieved by the BTB and it is our view that the present director of tourism is helping to improve Belize become a more attractive and competitive destination.

3) We fully support the present Director of Tourism, Ms. Seleni Matus and trust that she will remain in this post especially considering that the peak season is right around the corner.

4) We support Mr. Andrew Longsworth, our BTB Laison office whose goals and aims are those of this committee.

The proper functioning of this committee is assisting in improving our overall tourism product, particularly within Belize City where there is the urgent need for a more positive outlook and productive atmosphere.

We trust that better heads will prevail so as to avoid the disruption of the cruise ship tourism industry.

Thanking you for your understanding, we await your response Sincerely,

Published & Edited by:

OMAR SILVA

Assistant Editor: Saida Xiomara Silva Registered Address: # 3 Piccini Site, Third Floor

3 Mls Northern Hwy ( In front of SOL ), Belize City BELIZE, Central America Web Site: www.nationalperspectivebz.org

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Phone: 501- 635-3506

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

Page 4

Three dies in Placencia Traffic Accident

Councilor Andrew Faber among them

Mexico’s 32 Miss Earth Delegates visit Belize

Tuesday: September 13, 2011 his pickup truck and it is prePlacencia:Three persons lost their lives in a tragic traffic mishap on Tuesday around 12:30 pm just out of Placencia between miles 4 and 5 on the Placencia Road. They are being identified as 29 year old Andrew Faber, Councilor for the Belize City Council, 23 year old Gianni Taylor and 26 year old Virginia Ozaeta.

All three had just left Placencia Village and were travelling in a Mitsubishi pickup truck driven by Andrew Faber heading towards the Southern Highway junction on their way back to Belize City when the tragedy occurred. It is being reported that Taylor was for months pregnant while Virginia Ozaeta was visiting Belize during the National Day Festivities from the United States.

Reports suggest that weather conditions due to torrential rains hours before and speeding may have contributed to this unfortunate incident. Preliminary police reports say Faber lost control of

sumed that he did so during his sudden encounter with thick layers of water across the road which caused the vehicle to hydroplane, careen before flipping and finally ending into an open storm drain flooded with about five feet of water.

It is believed that the severe head and body injuries sustained by the three during the sudden violent turn of events may have caused them to pass-out before landing in the open storm drains and drowned before they could be rescued. The three bodies were transported to the Souythern Regional Hospital morgue where they now await a post mortem examination..

Andrew Faber is the younger brother of Education Minister Patrick Faber who was voted into the Belize City Council on a UDP ticket in March of 2009 but did not seek reelection because of plans to further his studies abroad.

Andrew Faber leaves a wife and children behind.

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Wednesday: 8th September, 2011 Belize City: The ‘Flag Monument’ round-a-bout at the northern off-ramp of the Bel-Can Bridge was the Center of attraction and venue for a brief visit by 32 beauty-queens from each state across Mexico who will compete among each other to represent that country at the Miss Earth Pageant later this year in Thailand. The Miss Earth Mexico 2011 delegation was joined by the reigning and designates Queen of the Bay and Queens of the Bay from New York and California.

Following the event, Belize City Mayor, Zenaida Moya told Love News that while the event was to welcome 32 young ambassadors from Mexico, it was planned as part of Belize’s September celebrations to expose Belize internationally.

The Miss Earth Pageant to select a representative for Mexico will take place

on Sunday, September 11 in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, while the international Miss Earth Pageant will take place on November 12, 2011 in Pattaya, Thailand with over 130 countries, including Belize, taking part.

A press release by Belize International Pageants Ltd. stated that Miss Monique Habet was crowned Miss Earth Belize 2011 on July 23 but unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, Miss Habet’s additional duties have compelled her to apologetically renounce the crown and her title.

The release continued stating that this ordeal has left the Belize International Pageants Committee with no other option than to entrust both crown and title to capable Kiasha Bevans, the contestant who earned the title 1st runner-up.

The committee congratulates Miss Bevans and we trust that she will be an outstanding environmental role model for Belize.

A referendum on the 9th ! …Friends of Belize launch a Petition for signatures Monday: September 12th 2011 Belize City: Considering the manipulation and politicizing of the ‘Public Consultation Process’ to influence public opinion regarding the ‘Ninth Constitutional Amendment Bill’, Friends of Belize, a ‘Non –Governmental Organization (NGO), announced the launching of a national campaign that will seek to collect 10% of the Belize registered voters on a ‘Petition’ to trigger a referendum on the proposed constitutional ninth Amendment Bill.

In a ‘Release’ issued on today, FOB stated that they are committed to encouraging and fostering economic development in Belize outlining that they specifically devote their resources to three core objectives which are: increasing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); the exploration and promotion of economic policies that expand economic capacity; and coordination of economic and social policies for longterm benefits.

The ‘Release’ said that FOB is supportive of policies that further the perception of Belize as a stable, democratic country that respects the rule of law and where the courts have the power to review government laws

including amendments to the Belize Constitution.

FOB believes that the Ninth Amendment Bill,if enacted, threatens Belize’s reputation as a reliable democratic partner in the region. By allowing a supermajority in the House of Representatives to unilaterally amend anything in the Constitution without the courts being able to question it, Belize will set the stage for being branded as an arbitrary and unstable place for FDI. FOB is calling on all registered voters in Belize to sign the petition so that the people may decide in a referendum whether they want the proposed Ninth Constitutional Amendment Bill.

It said that FOB volunteers will be going house to house collecting signatures. The petition may also be signed or copies obtained at the FOB office at 6 Eyre Street, Belize City and calls on all organizations who believe that the Ninth Amendment should be put to a referendum to encourage their members to sign the petition and support the signature drive.

FOB intends to provide updates to the Belize media on the progress of its signature collection.

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

Page 5

Man who attempts to kill commonlaw ends up dead in police custody

Elston Gentle-Young, 51

By Rhenae Nunez Sunday, September 11, 2011

BELIZE CITY - Yvonne Smith is recovering in the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital while her common-law husband Elston Young is dead after a violent domestic dispute that broke out at their residence in Mahogany Heights on Friday night around ten.

No one knows what precipitated the vicious attack. Neighbors were alerted by Yvonne Smith’s screams for help as Young stabbed her multiple times in their yard. Young was recently released from prison after spending five years for domestic abuse after he severely beat his then girlfriend, Lorna Wade in June of 2004. Young and Wade have five children together.

After pleading guilty to attempted murder, former Chief Justice Dr. Abdulai Conteh, sentenced Young to five years in prison because it was determined that Young did not understand the gravity of the charges.

On Friday night, Young once again repeated the act that landed him in jail in January of 2006. “When I look in their yard I see this man on top of Ms. Yvonne stabbing her. So I call out saying that that man is killing that lady and at that time my father-in-law grab a piece of stick and he went to whap the man to try to get him off the lady, but instead of he getting off the lady - he went after my father-in-law with a stabbing motion to try to stab him also. So he (my fatherin-law) ran out of the way and then I tried to lash him,” a neighbor said.

Young turned on neighbors who came to Smith’s rescue and then went back to stabbing her.

Neighbors did not relent as they kept lamming him with a piece of stick, said to be a 2x4. Young eventually ran off into the bushes. Police eventually caught up with him about three miles away on Sunday morning around 6:45.

After being taken into custody

by Mahogany Heights police, Young was taken to Hattieville Police Station and later to the

Queen Street Police Station in Belize City. There, the executive duty officer, a sergeant refused to take Young into custody because of his injuries.

Young was then taken to the KHMH where he was treated by Dr. Gonzalez who classified his injury as “wounding” and then released him back into police custody. On return to the Queen Street Police Station, Young collapsed at the door of the station where he is alleged to have died.

It was a dramatic turn of events and police are saying that they are not responsible for Young’s passing. Family of Young have come forward to say that the police are indeed responsible because his feet were broken, which neighbors who intervened said they did not cause because Young was able to run away from them on Friday night.

“How did he walk from Mahogany Heights to mile 31? It must the policemen and the man that caught him beat him as they were bringing him. Plus he had 3 stab wounds to his back. I just came from the morgue and I saw him,” Ann Young, his sister said.

Police Press Officer, Fitzroy Yearwood has refuted the sister’s allegations and pointed finger at the medical doctor who attended Gentle at the KHMH. Yearwood said that his officers afforded Gentle he needed and speculated that Young may have been exhausted from being out from Fri-

day night.

“I wouldn’t be in a position to say that maybe our officers did or didn’t. But I know that from the physical appearance the duty officer did exactly do what he was supposed to do and afford Mr. Gentle (commonly known as Young) immediate medical attention,” Yearwood said on Monday.

“Whether or not he was afforded it by the institution that he was taken would be up to the medical officer to answer but I know in all honesty my officers did everything that they could have done and if you go to the hospital and the doctors are saying that you are well enough to return to your normal environment - who are we as police officers to question what a medical officer has said or certified,.” Yearwood further said.

Besides the police, Young’s sister is also blaming neighbors that came to Smith’s rescue, charging that they need not have beaten him with a stick but instead should have called the police.

Ann Young said that she wants someone charged for her brother’s death, be it the neighbors, the police or the medical doctor that attended him and released him into police custody.

The KHMH has been mum on explaining why Eston Young was released back into police custody.

Yvonne Smith has also refused to talk to the media. Young’s family attests he is a repeat domestic abuser and that he was incarcerated for it. Lorna Wade, his former, has been active as an advocate against domestic violence.

KREMANDALA $ELLOUT He has been bought and paid for...

Silent on issues affecting black South-side Belizeans while pretending to be their guardian

Can’t be TRUSTED!!!

Wilfully ignores the Corrupt Practices of Barrow and the UDP

“X” CAN’T CRITICIZE BARROW & THE UDP

A PAID AD

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

Page 6

SugarSweetAgain?

Continued from page 1 called into the bank.

Two representatives of the BSI executive revealed this morning that ING Bank NV and First Caribbean Bank had extended the deadline for the repayment of a total of US$ 30million “revolving credit facility” BSI had received on November 23, 2009 by a year to next year September 30th, 2012. In the notes accompanying its 2009/10 BSI said that the loan was “negotiable on an annual basis” and was secured “by a first floating charge over the Company’s sugar stocks, related export contracts and related insurance polices.”

On September 24, 2010, ING Bank wrote BSI advising it would not renew the financing facility beyond the maturity date of September 30, 2010 and gave six months notice for the Company to put in place alternative financing arrangements. The letter plunged the industry into crisis with the sugar harvest about to commence.

It is unknown when ING decided to extend the repayment date by a year and under what terms, and the details of the latest extension have not been revealed.

The company had been counting on the revolving credit for working capital had to be bailed out be a US$5 million loan from the Government of Belize, and a US$5 million “pre-shipment financing arrangement” with its marketer Tate & Lyle Sugars, that was repaid from the value of shipments of sugar exported to Tate & Lyle from the 2010/2011 crop.

Along with the US$30 million BSI also owes the Government of Belize US$5 million at 7.5% interest per annum for 5 years, while Belcogen owes $US6 million to the Corporacion Interamericana para el Financiamento de Infrastructura (CIFI) (7 years), $US10 million to the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) (10 years), US$8.25 to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) (15 years), and a “FMO ‘A’ Loan” for US$10 million (10 years), and a loan from the Nederlandse Financierngs-Maatschappij Voor Ontwikkeningslanden NV for US5 million15.5 years, a total of $US74.25 million.

BSI’s last financial statements reported the company’s Total Assets at BZ$130,348,000, its Total Liabilities as BZ$73,709,000, and Share-

holdlers Equity (including retained earnings) at $56,639,000. It reported that Belcogen had Total Assets of BZ$114,267,000, Total Liabilities of BZ$83,319,000, Shareholders Equity of $30,948,000.

The Banco Atlantida proposal is that in return for the paying off of the US$30 million Banco Atlantida/First Caribbean debt, it would end up with 51% of the shares in BSI. BSI Employee Holdings Ltd., the trust company, is the majority shareholder in BSI Ltd, with its 35,767,600 shares comprising 81% of the company’s shareholding. At this point it is unclear if Belcogen is a wholly owned subsidiary of BSI Ltd. On October 20, 2010 BSI signed an “Engagement Letter” with CIFI to act as its “Arranger for the refinancing and restructuring of the Company’s outstanding debt with ING and FCIB banks.”

Today BSI’s Managing Director Joey Montalvo said publicly for the first time that they were aware of expressions of interest from other parties and Jaime Gongora, one of the Trust’s Protectors said that they would consider all proposals.

It should be noted that although they are the majority shareholder in BSI Limited, BSI Employee Holding Limited is only entitled to appoint one director out of the eleven directors that comprise the Board of Directors for BSI Ltd. (The other directors are 2 from the Government of Belize, 1 from Tate & Lyle Holdings, 1 from the Development Finance Corporation or Government of Belize while the Managing and Finance Directors are ex officio board members with the Board electing three more directors).

Most Belizeans will be surprised to discover that the Board of Directors of BSI Employee Holdings Ltd. is comprised of 11 members, 6 of whom are ex officio members with no voting rights. It is also interesting that the ex officio members are the 4 Protectors appointed by the BSI employees under the Trust and the two Protectors appointed by the BSI Staff under the Trust. The five other directors are the managing director, finance director and legal adviser of BSI Ltd, and two other directors elected by the Board of Directors. This means that the current management of BSI effectively runs the Trust.

The Trust deed prohibits the sale

Father of the Nation, Hospitalized

Wednesday: 14th September 2011 Belize City: As we go to Press the National Perspective has learnt that Father of the Nation, Rt Hon George Cadle Price, was hospitalized after he collapsed this morning at his humble dwelling situated on Pickstock Street in Belize City.

He was immediately rushed to the Belize Health Care Partners House

by BERT ambulance where he underwent surgery and according to a family spokesperson, he came out without complications and is now resting comfortably but still under observation.

The Elder Statesman and Leader Emeritus of the Peoples’ United Party was a founding member of the PUP and carried the struggle for Self-Government, the name change from British Honduras to be known as Belize and a decade later on the 21st September 1981 to political Independence under a security arrangement with the British.

As we unite as one people to celebrate our 30 years of Independence we must reflect on the life-long struggle of this Belizean visionary and national hero that gave us our

Belizean identity with our National Flag and National Anthem.

He safely converted us into a proud nation recognized by the world community of nations under the United Nations.

As part of the National Day Festivities, there will be a ‘First Prime Ministers’ Forum to be held tonight at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts in Belize City which will feature past and current Prime Ministers who will share their views on the Independent nation of Belize over the last thirty years to current. While Belize’s First Prime Minister, George Cadle Price will not be present, arrangements have been made for a video presentation featuring his visions and dreams will be presented.

Expected to be present at the event is former Prime Minister Sir Manuel Esquivel, the Rt. Hon Said Wilbert Musa and current Prime Minister Dean Oliver Barrow.

Each Prime Minister is expected to speak on what an Independent Belize means and reflections of their experiences as Head of State over the last 30 years.

Moderator for this forum is Dylan Vernon.

of more than 51 % of its shareholding in BSI Ltd., however, BSI Employee Holdings Ltd may sell up to 49% of its shareholding in BSI Ltd under certain conditions if its Board of Directors unanimously approves, the Government of Belize approves the sale in writing, 3/4s of the beneficiaries of the trust approve, and a Judge of the Supreme Court approves the sale as being in the interest of the beneficiaries.

The trustee of the trust can also apply to a court to approve a transaction as “expedient” which it lacks the power to do, and the court may confer the power on the trustee on such terms and conditions as the court imposes. In other words the BSI Employee Holdings Ltd (as trustee) could apply to the court to approve a sale of more than that allowed by the aforementioned clauses of the Trust deed arguing that it is “expedient” to so do and the court could approve of the sale.

The legalities are important. With the parties having been given some breathing room by the extension of the re-payment deadline to ING/ First Caribbean, the courting of the affections of the BSI Employees Holding now begins in earnest,

which was what today’s meeting with Banco Atlantida was all about. No doubt there is a sweetening of the original BA proposal that did not propose to pay US$6.2 million in dividends owed to the Trust.

It has been reported that in their last meeting with Prime Minister Dean Barrow, he told the BA representatives that they needed “bring money or no come at all.” BA had originally proposed only to pay US$20 million of the outstanding debt.

The BSCFA, once it has been allowed to do its due diligence, is expected to make an offer in excess of $US50 million within 30 days.

Distill Belize, Better San Miguel and American Sugar are all waiting in the wings, contemplating their options and weighing possible proposals.

A year ago it appeared that sugar had soured and just a week ago a showdown loomed over the industry. Today it would seem sugar is still sweet, and the honey is attracting investors like flies. It is now a soap opera whose twists and turns are playing out daily. None of the main actors have left the stage and no one can predict how it will end.

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

Page 7

Burning Issues THE SISYPHUS CYCLE

By: Nuri Muhammad A relative of mine in the Eastern Caribbean called last week to ask “What is Belize coming to when the Prime Minister is meeting with gangs?” I said to her, jokingly, “Dis ya time da no lika befo time!!!”

This is a part of the mythology process that the media has been engaged in for some time now. For the sake of selling their product the media hypes up the image of gangs and creates a false reality of what the gang issue is really all about.

It is the media that has helped to sell the idea that gangs are tightlyknit street organizations with structure and discipline and that they run the Southside of Belize City. The facts are that gangs are loosely knit with a crude organizational structure. To suggest that they control the city is to set these youths up to think they control something that they don’t. What illusive control exists is over other gangs afraid to confront their enemies’ power. It is important to note however, that giv-

If government is really serious this time about handing the process over to a coordinating body and truly empowers that body, and by empower I mean empanel it and provide it with the resource necessary to sustain it for a few years, then we will begin to see the process move along a real growth line instead of where it has been for the last twenty years, in what I call the Sisyphus Cycle: up the hill, down the hill, up the hill……

We have, as a society, been fighting the scourge of youth crime and violence for the last twenty five years with very little success to show for it. We have increased jail sentences, expanded the prison space, introduced all manner of draconian laws, used all forms of lethal weapons and even marginalized whole communities but we have not been able to bring gang violence under control, much less eliminate it. It’s time to try something new and more innovative.

I told her that while there is something eventful about the PM as the most powerful man in the country meeting with the leaders of these street organizations that the way it is being played up as a sensational story in the media has really taken the attention away from the real innovation behind this strategy.

Unfortunately, the way the story is being played in the media is that government is somehow giving in to the demands of gangs but far from it. The government is still very much in control and gangs have no real power except for the illusion that the media gives some people that their demands are in fact the deciding factor in what government will or will not do. Nothing could be further from the truth; these youths have no real power.

The media hype that the South Side Gang (SSG) were demanding some kind of compensation from government to keep the peace was just that: hype. The real story was these youths were begging for some of the same attention that was given to the other gangs.

en time, this crude structure could develop into a more sophisticated operation as it did in places like Jamaica and Trinidad.

If these youths are not engaged in the process of their own reformation ---- in other words, if they are not empowered to play a major role in establishing and keeping the peace among themselves, we will not see any real peace established.

A truce is not something that can be imposed from the outside, these youths must want that truce and they must be the ones to own it and fight to keep it alive among their peers. The truce is not between the government and the gangs, it is between the gangs themselves and they are to directly gain from keeping it. The community on a whole, because we are not separate from them, gains indirectly when that peace is maintained.

The reason we are still dealing with this gang problem twenty years later is because we continue to make it a government initiative.

While government has a leading role to play government should be the initiator and then step back after the process begins and become a facilitator of the process instead of maintaining that lead role. As long as government remains in the lead role the process becomes politicized and therefore subject to the machinations of petty-politics.

In other words opponents of the government will play mischief with the process and therefore make the process vulnerable to failure.

If government is really serious this time about handing the

Belize Business Bureau: For Equity in Industry, BSI needs BSCFA

In a Press Release issued earlier this week, the Belize Business Bureau said it joins the Citrus Growers and Banana Growers in supporting the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association in their goal of acquiring the controlling interest of the factory and jointly with the factory workers taking charge of the future of the industry.

BBB supported the last government bailout of the factory but we all knew the fundamentals of the factory still need to be revisited and restructured to reduce the debt and to increase both productivity and production in order to increase revenues. It was with apprehension that the farmers and workers learnt the willingness of the factory officials to sell controlling interest for $20 million USD (the removal of the debt to ING) and that there would be no dividends paid to the workers. The Central American model where the bank owns the factory and cane fields is not attractive to the socio-economic development of Belize.

Our democracy is based on equity in industry where farmers and workers can own the tools of production to improve their lot in life. When officials of the factory refuse documentation to farmers and keep the workers in the dark then demean productive Belizeans and promote foreign interests, despite the onerous conditions of the offers, this

official line becomes unacceptable. The factory workers, as the beneficiary of the trust are the real owners and they need to know the details of all offers and they need to decide, and then instruct their trustees what deal to accept. To seduce the workers with a dividend payoff for control and nothing else does not make business sense. And to up the ante by hoisting, on the farmers, the debt of the subsidiary (generator) as a new condition for controlling the factory is not fair when the same was not required of the bank for ownership.

Furthermore, for the factory officials to cast aspersions on the financial arranger of the farmers and question the lenders when they have refuse to allow the lenders basic financial information and access to the factory to do due diligence on behalf of the farmers, is not good corporate practice. For the farmers to question the high cost in transportation, marketing and management is natural in light of the current financial crisis the factory faces.

The factory’s inability to pay even the interest on the last bailout by government demonstrates the gravity of the situation. Despite the possible extension of the deadline of ING’s pullout, the fundamentals need to be changed.

Throwing good money on bad money is not the best formula.

The factory officials need to recognize that the extension of time

by ING also depends of the willingness of the farmers to resign the memorandum for another year. The farmers have agreed to sign so this gives the factory time to address the crisis. One of the modifications for the MOU is that having the factory accept delivery is not enough but they have to agree to grind immediately and not let the cane rot on the ground after it is delivered. Signing is set for Friday.

process over to a coordinating body and truly empowers that body, and by empower I mean empanel it and provide it with the resource necessary to sustain it for a few years, then we will begin to see the process move along a real growth line instead of where it has been for the last twenty years, in what I call the Sisyphus Cycle: up the hill, down the hill, up the hill……

By engaging gangs in the process is not suggesting that they are to be given the stature of legitimacy as some law abiding entity, no, they are a criminal organization, but as criminal as they may be they are yet an organization and must be given the respect due to any organized body. Not because you don’t like the ideology of your enemy means you can dismiss them as inconse-

quential, no, even your enemy has a sphere of influence and it is that influence that you must respect and deal with, even if you don’t like what they stand for.

In the 1970s President Richard Nixon of the US, visited China, a communist country in what was called “detente”; in the 1980s Ronald Reagan did the same when he met with the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, all in the name of easing tension between enemies and forging a new agenda forward. Even enemies can meet when there is a bigger picture involved. So when the Prime Minister of Belize meets with the gangs with the objective achieving a bigger objective I must say: Dis ya time, da no likea befo time. (Comments are welcomed at nuribze@gmail.com)

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

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Caribbean News Jamaica PM denies government in crisis

China-Caribbean forum expected to cement Chinese FDI to region

Prime Minister Bruce Golding explains need for supplementary estimates four months after the Budget KINGSTON, Jamaica, Monday September 12, 2011 – Prime Minister Bruce Golding has denied suggestions that Government is in a crisis and the medium term programme is in trouble, because of the tabling of the First Supplementary Estimates four months after the 2011/12 Budget.

“The immediate issue that informed the Supplementary Estimates, was the need to make provisions for payment to public sector workers of (the) seven per cent increase on their wages, which was not contemplated when the (original) estimates were presented,” Golding sought to explain.

He was responding to comments from Opposition Spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Peter Phillips, in the debate on the first Supplementary Estimates for 2011/12.

Golding also commented on the outstanding quarterly reviews to be undertaken by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for 2011.

“In the IMF agreement there are nine quantitative targets. We have met all, with the exception of the primary balance. In fact some of the targets we have out-performed. With this seven percent that we now have to include in the budget for payments to public sector workers, our primary balance target is not meetable,” he admitted.

“Therefore, we had to approach the IMF to say we need an adjustment in the target, particularly the primary balance, because with the seven per cent that we now have to pay the public sector workers, we cannot achieve

that target; we need some space, we need a little elasticity, a little adjustment to the programme.”

He said that the IMF was not unwilling to work on the adjustment. However, they raised a concern which the government had to address.

“What the IMF has said is, if you have a disturbance in the target at this stage, you have to indicate how you are going to manage to make that back up in the medium term, particularly because the seven per cent that we have had to make provisions for in this year’s budget is not a one-off expenditure. That $9.2 billion is going to be there next year and the year after that,” the Prime Minister said.

He said that it is the Government’s job to reconfigure its programme, to be able to say to the IMF, “now look we are seeking an adjustment in this target for the current state of the programme, but this is what we would do to get back in line through the medium term and this is how we are going to sustain the additional expenditure.”

He pointed out that there are adjustments that have to be made, but they are the subject of negotiations.

“The restructuring of the programme is something that we are working on.

The reviews have not taken place, because the circumstances have not put us in a position where we are able to go and present and say here is the reworked programme,” Golding said.

The Jamaican Prime Minister concluded, however, that the Government is confident that it will be able to achieve the timeline that it has set.

New chief US envoy to Cuba takes up sensitive post HAVANA (AP) — A career U.S. diplomat with more than 30 years’ experience has taken up his post as Washington’s top envoy to Cuba.

John Caulfield is the new chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Ha-

vana. Washington does not have an embassy there since the two Cold War enemies do not have diplomatic relations.

Caulfield was previously charge d’ affaires at the U.S. Embassy in

Barbados Min. of Finance Christopher Sinckler plans to evaluate progress of the Chinese government’s pledge to invest more than BDS$1bn in the region PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Thursday September 8, 2011 – Next Monday (September 12), will see government officials, entrepreneurs, representatives from relevant regional organizations from both China and the Caribbean come together to come up with cooperation and development initiatives that will significantly promote economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between the two.

Trinidad and Tobago is the main regional partner for the forum and its Minister of Trade and Industry, Stephen Cadiz, has said that the Forum, under the theme “Cooperation, Development Win-for-all”, would focus on key economic areas. These include, and are not limited to - Tourism, Infrastructure, Finance and Agribusiness. These areas were selected based upon careful analysis of the region’s developmental needs and the expertise of the People’s Republic of China.

The China Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum is the highest level of economic and trade dialogue mechanism between the two sides, whose mission is to facilitate trade and economic cooperation for common development. The first two Forums were successfully concluded in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica in February 2005 and in Xiamen, China in September 2007.

According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin

America (ECLAC), China was the third largest Latin America and the Caribbean direct investor, accounting for 9% of FDI in the region, and the value of China’s trade with the Caribbean and Latin America approaching US$156 billion.

However, after assessing the performance of these relationships over a ten-year period, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) stated that results indicated that high trade costs were curtailing business opportunities between China and the region.

The IDB went on to make a recommendation that policymakers should join forces to cut tariffs, transportation costs and other barriers to diversify the composition of the bilateral trade between China and the region.

ECLAC noted that, in the medium term, it expected China’s multinational corporations would continue to invest funds in the region, especially in the areas of infrastructure and manufacturing.

Barbados Minister of Finance Christopher Sinckler has stated that he expects the Forum in Trinidad to provide an opportunity for evaluating the progress of the 2007 pledge by the Chinese government that it would be spending in excess of BDS$1 billion in investments in the Caribbean, region-wide in several areas, including technical support in terms of inputs for infrastructural projects.

Venezuela.

He spent a good deal of time effectively in charge of that mission, first when Venezuela expelled the U.S. ambassador and later when it rejected President Barack Obama’s chosen replacement.

A Tuesday statement from the Interests Section says Caulfield arrived the previous day.

He replaces Jonathan Farrar, who left this summer.

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

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7 oil workers found Guatemala presidential vote headed for Nov. runoff alive in Gulf of Mexico appealing in a country with rampant poverty, including a pledge to boost salaries and social programs, to employ the death penalty, now rarely used, and to televise executions. Gutierrez said that greater support than expected for Suger also cut into Perez’s lead, but that those votes will likely go to Perez in the runoff.

Perez would be the first former military leader elected president in Guatemala after the end of the military dictatorships of the 1970s and ‘80s.

A U.N.-sponsored truth commission found that 200,000 people were killed in Guatemala’s 36-year civil war, 93 percent of them by state forces Guatemala’s presidential can- and paramilitary groups. Still, credit Perez with playing didate of the Patriotic Party many a key role in the march toward Otto Perez Molina casts … democracy, including negotiatGUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala’s leading presidential candidates are headed for a November runoff after a retired general who had a commanding lead in the polls failed to win 50 percent of the vote.

With 95 percent of the polling stations reporting Monday, preliminary results showed Otto Perez Molina of the Patriot Party with 36 percent support, followed by businessman Manuel Baldizon with 24 percent and Eduardo Suger with 16 percent.

“We are going to double our efforts, now that we are in the second round,” Perez said after learning he would be in the runoff.

In pre-election polls, Perez, who promised to get tough on Guatemala’s rampant crime, had the support of up to 48 percent of voters. Baldizon had 18 percent and Suger 10 percent. All are rightleaning. Any candidate needed more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid the Nov. 6 runoff. The new president takes office in January.

But Perez garnered far less, as Baldizon’s support increased in the weeks leading up to the election.

Baldizon’s support also may have been lower in the polls because people were embarrassed to say they would vote for him, according to former Foreign Minister Edgar Gutierrez, who heads a political think tank in Guatemala.

Baldizon, a tycoon-turned-political populist, made many promises that some considered outlandish, including that he would take Guatemala’s soccer team to the World Cup. But other promises were

ing the 1996 peace accords that ended the conflict.

Campaigning focused on fighting the street gangs and Mexican drug cartels operating in the lawless border region that have given Guatemala one of the highest murder rates in the Western Hemisphere.

The candidates almost all lean to the right after the center-left party of outgoing President Alvaro Colom failed to field a candidate.

Violence is epidemic in this nation of 14.7 million people, and organized crime has overrun many regions. Guatemala has a murder rate of 45 per 100,000, according to a report by the World Bank.

Seventy-five percent of Guatemalans live in poverty, and the indigenous and rural poor who were most hurt by the war are also bearing the brunt of the current violence.

Among a field of 10 candidates, the only leftist running is Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Mayan activist Rigoberta Menchu, who is polling with little more than 2 percent.

Perez’s strongest opponent was barred from running.

Sandra Torres, Colom’s ex-wife, was declared ineligible by the Supreme Court because the constitution bars family members of the president from running. Torres divorced Colom before declaring her candidacy, but the courts saw the move as a maneuver to evade the law.

Guatemalan political scientist Renzo Rosal said the exit of Torres from the race probably resulted in more votes for Baldizon.

www.nationalperspectivebz.org

VERACRUZ, Mexico (AP) — Seven of 10 oil workers missing in the Gulf of Mexico were found alive Sunday, according to Mexico’s state oil company, three days after evacuating their disabled rig in a tropical storm and escaping in an enclosed life raft.

Two bodies also were found but have yet to be identified, and rescuers are still searching for one worker who remains missing, Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, said in a statement.

Pemex identified the survivors as two Americans, Jeremy Parfait and Ted Derise, Jr., both of Louisiana, Kham Nadimuzzaman of Bangladesh and Mexicans Ruben Velasquez, Eleaquin Lopez, Luis Escobar and Ruben Lopez Villalobos.

They were found 51 miles (82 kilometers) off the coast of the gulf state of Campeche by the ship Bourbon Artavaze and taken by helicopter to the Campeche port city of Ciudad del Carmen, where they were admitted to a Pemex regional hospital.

The fate of the other two Americans, who have been identified previously as Craig Myers and Nick Reed, also of Louisiana, was not clear late Sunday.

The oil company and the Mexican Navy, which assisted in the search and rescue, provided no other immediate details. It was not known how the survivors and bodies were found or whether they were still in the life boat. There was also no word on the condition of the survivors.

All were working for Houstonbased Geokinetics Inc. on a liftboat owned by Trinity Liftboat Services based in New Iberia, Louisiana. All four Americans were from the New Iberia area, including Reed, who is the son of liftboat company owner Randy Reed.

Geokinetics spokeswoman Brenda Taquino could not reached for comment Sunday night.

A woman who answered the phone at Trinity Lifeboat Services said

the company can’t confirm details about the workers being found.

A girl who answered the telephone at the home of Ted Allen Derise Sr. said she was the sister of the rig worker but wouldn’t give her name.

“It’s good news to us but we’re still praying for the other people,” she said.

The oil workers called for help Thursday afternoon in the middle of Tropical Storm Nate, which disabled their vessel, the Trinity II, a 94-foot (29-meter), 185-ton liftboat, that can lower legs to the sea floor and then elevate itself above the water level. This one was being used as a recording vessel and housing for the crew, and it was in waters about 25 feet (8 meters) deep.

They abandoned the liftboat about 8 miles (13 kilometers) off shore of the port of Frontera in southeastern Mexican state of Tabasco.

Pemex and the Mexican navy led the search by air and sea, which intensified Saturday as the storm moved west toward the coast of Veracruz. A dozen fishermen who disappeared aboard two shrimp boats on Friday in the gulf during the storm.

Pemex said the search continued late Sunday with four boats, four Pemex helicopters and two airplanes making overflights.

Nate weakened to a tropical depression and then a “remnant low” late Sunday over Mexico’s Gulf coast, where officials opened shelters as a precaution but said the storm was having little impact.

Nate made landfall as a tropical storm on Sunday north of Barra de Nautla in the state of Veracruz, where Gov. Javier Duarte said there were no reports of damage or injuries and rivers remained below risk level.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said that by Sunday night Nate’s winds had weakened to 30 mph (45 kph) winds and it would not release any more advisories on the storm.

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

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Taliban attack across Kabul, Hague Court urged to investitarget U.S. Embassy gate Pope over sex abuse

KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban fighters fired rockets at the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul on Tuesday and attacked police in three other areas in the biggest assault the insurgent group has mounted on the Afghan capital.

At least 9 people were killed and 23 wounded in the four attacks, and a gun battle around a half-built high-rise building raged on into the evening as NATO and Afghan attack helicopters circled overhead.

The fighters had chosen a strategic and heavily fortified main target for the well-coordinated attacks.

Their ability to shower artillery around the diplomatic district was a clear show of strength at a time when NATO-led forces are claiming significant security gains and preparing for their exit by 2014.

Although the Taliban have attacked multiple targets in Kabul in the past, this is the first time they have organized simultaneous assaults on such separate areas.

“The scale of today’s attack is unprecedented,” said Andrew Exum, fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

“There was almost certainly either a break-down in security among the Afghans with responsibility for Kabul or an intelligence failure.”

A squad of about five insurgents took over a shopping center under construction on the outskirts of Kabul’s diplomatic district armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers, AK-47s and suicide vests.

Explosions were interspersed with gunfire all afternoon and several rockets landed in upmarket Wazir Akbar Khan district, near the British and other embassies. One hit a school bus but it appeared to have been empty at the time.

The gun battle around Abdul Haq square went on into the early evening, with three attackers killed and one or two still at large nearly eight hours after the assault began, the Interior Ministry said.

CIVILIANS, SCHOOL CHILDREN Four policemen and three civilians were killed in the attack and 17 people

wounded, said Mohammad Zahir, head of the Kabul police’s Crime Investigation Unit.

Journalists from Radio Television Afghanistan and Iran’s English-language Press TV channel were among the wounded.

Hundreds of students from two schools were stuck near the site of the attack and terrified parents rushing to rescue their children were stopped by security forces. Children cried as parents fought to get near, and two women fainted.

Four Afghans who had been waiting for visas were also wounded by rocketpropelled grenades during the attack on the U.S. Embassy compound, embassy spokeswoman Kerri Hannan said.

The U.S. and British embassies and the NATO-led coalition said all their employees were safe.

In western Kabul, a few kilometers (miles) away, a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a police building, killing a policeman and wounding two. A second bomber killed a civilian at a regional police center and wounded four.

And at a road near the airport, a suicide bomber was killed by police and 7 kg (15.5 lb) of explosives were seized, the Kabul police chief said in a statement.

The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying they aimed to support the attackers near the embassy district.

“We attacked convoys of police as they were sending reinforcements to Abdul Haq Square,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said by phone from an undisclosed location.

HEART OF THE CAPITAL Violence is at its worst since U.S.backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban government in late 2001, with high levels of foreign troop deaths and record civilian casualties The assault was the second big attack in the city in less than a month after suicide bombers targeted the British Council headquarters in mid-August, killing nine people.

In late June, insurgents launched an assault on a hotel in the capital frequented

by Westerners, killing at least 10. But Tuesday’s attack was even more ambitious.

“This incident is one of the rare occa-

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to celebrate a Mass in Ancona’s shipyard, central …

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Victims of sexual abuse by the clergy want the International Criminal Court to investigate Pope Benedict and three Vatican officials for allowing the rape and sexual abuse of children.

The New York-based rights group Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and another group, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), filed a complaint with the ICC alleging that Vatican officials committed crimes against humanity because they tolerated and enabled sex crimes.

But it seems unlikely that the ICC, the world’s first permanent war crimes court, could take on such a case.

Many of the crimes occurred before 2002, when the ICC was set up, which puts them outside the court’s remit, while the Vatican itself has not signed up to the court’s jurisdiction.

“It will be very difficult to make an argument that the Church as an organized group committed a crime against humanity and it would be debatable whether that was based on a common plan,” said Andre de Hoogh, a lecturer in international law at Groningen University.

The Catholic Church has been rocked by a series of sexual abuse cover-up scandals in Europe and the United States in recent years.

“Crimes against tens of thousands of victims, most of them children, are being covered up by officials at the highest level of the Vatican. In this case, all roads really do lead to Rome,” CCR lawyer Pam Spees said.

A Vatican spokesman said there would be no immediate comment. An ICC official referred inquiries to the prosecutor.

EVIDENCE While the Vatican has not signed up to the ICC, countries such as Italy, the Netherlands and Germany have done so, which means that their citizens are subject to ICC jurisdiction. Pope Benedict is German-born.

“The Office of the Prosecutor has received the documents,” spokeswoman Florence Olara said, adding that the prosecutor’s office “will analyze ... and make a decision in due course.”

CCR said it had lodged more than 20,000 pages of reports, policy papers and evidence of crimes by Catholic clergy committed against children and vulnerable adults. SNAP members from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States traveled to The Hague to file the request on Tuesday.

The file names Pope Benedict, former Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, current Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone and Cardinal William Levada, the top doctrinal official.

The ICC has investigated crimes including genocide, murder, conscription of child soldiers and rape, mostly in Africa, and most recently issued an arrest warrant for Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi.

It has jurisdiction over the crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, which include rape, sexual violence, assault and torture.

It has received multiple requests for investigations in the past, such as from Syrian human rights groups in June calling on the court to investigate the killing of civilians in Syria, but the court also lacks jurisdiction in Syria.

The Rome Statute that set up the court also stipulates that the ICC should be used as a court of last resort only if national proceedings are not taking place.

sions that militants have demonstrated the capability to get extremely close to the heart of the Western military and intelligence presence,” global intelligence consulting firm STRATFOR said.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the assaults were aimed at thwarting plans to hand over security to Afghan forces but they would not succeed.

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

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Sunday, September 18th , 2011

G-Line rams into D&E Bus Line from behind Is this the hard rain that’s gonna fall?

It is early in the morning hours and though the rain continuing to fall outside is normally a soothing, sleep inducing sound, I can’t sleep.

It’s been raining a lot over the past 24 hours, a normal occurrence for this time of year as another tropical wave, a weather system, makes its way across Belize. Tomorrow as I take to the streets there will be an entirely new crop of potholes in my way.

ing flooded.

The volume of traffic, (the area is home to several apartment buildings, two popular parks, and a police station), includes buses, trucks, pickups, suv’s, cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians on a daily basis, will grind the holes deeper than their 12 inch depth, and wider than the present circumferences that already span the carriage way. Area residents can only hope that the impending City Council campaign will spur somebody into action.

City residents for the most part believe based on experience that the only time you have any chance of getting your street fixed is when it’s election time. The incumbent politicians do not appear unless it is that special time when they have to go out and hustle votes, and the aspirants rarely venture out on the hustings unless there’s an election in the offing and usually all they can do is promise. It is the system, Jack, it is what it is.

...An accident waiting to happen, injures 15

Tuesday: 13th September 2011

Belize City: Those public transportation commuters who travel the Western highway on a daily basis will tell you that the near tragic collision between two rival buses and caused pandemonium and panic as it the airwaves was an accident waiting to happen.

The accident took place just around 9:00 am in the outskirts of Hattieville near Tropical Park miles 14 and 13 when I ask the ruling politicians – do you think it is right that between travelling from Hattievile village everyone else in this nation, in this economy, are taking a to Belize and both public transhuge hit, are forced to cut back, to sacrifice, to re-priorportation bused were travelling in the same direction towards Belize itize, to re-allocate, to re-structure and the government has City. made absolutely no effort to do same?

Traffic on both directions Isn’t there something wrong in you insisting that the had to be re-diverted economy is “recovering”, is doing better than 2009, that through a stretch of dirt things are getting better, that there’s improvement and access road in order to better prospects, when we clearly have historically high keep the flow of traffic running to and from Beunemployment, record foreclosures and bankruptcies, lize City. soaring crime, accelerated decaying infrastructure, and Oswald Webster, the drivdecreasing already low investment? Isn’t that what cruffy er for the D&E Bus Line call full belly di tel empty belly fu kip hart? purportedly told police that he had just picked up Why is it that we seem unable to The electorate has no way of hold- a passenger and was pullbuild better streets or even properly ing office holders accountable until ing back into the principal maintain the few decent ones that its time to vote and I feel forced to flow of traffic when he noticed in we do have? agree with the people who keep say- his rear view mirror that there was Less than a block away one of ing those times are too few and too an approaching G-Line Bus from the drains on my side of the street is far between. What seems now like behind about to overtake his bus. completely clogged by an inconsid- a long, long time ago I had hoped But witnesses say that another veerate property owner who filled it in that the advent of talk shows would hicle described as a pickup truck so he/she could access their lot to bring some accountability to our was also approaching rapidly from fill it. It’s been that way for several process but it hasn’t quite worked the opposite direction from Belize weeks now but nobody with author- that way has it? The talk shows now City towards Hattieville prompted ity and with responsibility seems appear more of a deforming factor the G-Line Bus driver to take to to care, certainly not the councilor than a redeeming one. who I see at least once a week visitThe studied indifference to the ing his relations just a few houses suffering of the electorate is making away from the clogged drain. many people frustrated and angry. I ter prospects, when we clearly have There have been two large holes hear it all the time – we need to re- historically high unemployment, on my street for the last several form the system. Ordinary citizens record foreclosures and bankruptyears. Before the last City Council need a larger say, a bigger voice, in cies, soaring crime, accelerated deelection someone did fill in one of the way our resources are allocated caying infrastructure, and decreasthe holes with some all-in but that but we don’t know how to bell the ing already low investment? Isn’t has long since turned to dust and cat. Sitting back and expecting the that what cruffy call full belly di tel mud, depending on the season, or politicians to give up any of their empty belly fu kip hart? has been washed away by the high authority is definitely not going to Do the politicians and aspirants tide or the flooding that results from get it done, to understate the case. understand that there is real fear a clogged culvert. The area which is I ask the ruling politicians – do you now all across our social spectrum? near the sea is plagued by all types think it is right that everyone else I fear the fear because I believe in of flooding and is the last place you in this nation, in this economy, are the law of momentum and a worswould want to have a clogged cul- taking a huge hit, are forced to cut ening attitude is as corrosive as salt vert. back, to sacrifice, to re-prioritize, to water on untreated and exposed During the upcoming “high tide” re-allocate, to re-structure and the iron. That’s the stuff that causes the season that comes with the passage government has made absolutely no most massive of structures to fail of the vernal equinox, the lack of a effort to do same? and fall. proper retaining wall will result in Isn’t there something wrong in We, the citizens, the electorate the street being flooded. you insisting that the economy is want to hear what you intend to do, During the current rainy season, “recovering”, is doing better than what you think you can do about it. the clogged culvert, and inadequate 2009, that things are getting better, There is near consensus on what is drainage will result in the street be- that there’s improvement and bet- wrong and really, we need neither

avoid crashing head on with the approaching vehicle and he attempted to apply brake to position himself in time behind the D&E Bus, instead he swerved violently almost losing control and slammed into the rear left portion of the D&E. The witness from inside the G-Line Bus said that their bus was not speeding and was traveling at a normal speed the witness added that apparently, the G-Line Driver believed that it was safe to pass the D&E Bus which was still stationary ahead and had not pulled out on to moving traffic lane but suddenly did.

This is a common practice by commuter busses that stop along the principal highways to pick up passengers who without due care and attention pull out from a stationary area on to the main flow of traffic without making proper and cautionary use of their rear and side view mirrors.

There were no fatalities to report

although many of the 15 injured passengers sustained superficial or concussions of various degrees or bruises, Nicole Sabal who was seated in the front right seat of the G-Line bus was seriously injured and was trapped in her seat for thirty minutes until she was rescued by fire, emergency and Police personnel.

www.nationalperspectivebz.org the constant reiteration of our problems nor the attempts to dismiss them as some other reality. We live it daily so we know as in he who feels it knows it.

I can’t help it as I listen to the rain drumming on my roof that we have passed some tipping point but I don’t know exactly what it is. Perhaps years from now, if I survive that long, perhaps with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight I will be able to put my finger on it. But not now, not right now, not in what seems to be the middle of a slide in a direction that fills me with dread, no, not right now.

I can only conclude that I have a hole in my street because my leaders, all of them, think we have holes in our heads. And in the hole in my heart is being filled with dread.

Page 13

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

maica members of specific gangs who did actions that seem to compromise the truce were taken to the “Lumba Yaad” and disciplined by their own gang.

By: Marshal Nunez When the minister was asked if he thinks this was the way to operate, he said “Yes.” I believe that just the thought of this is dangerous. Before this purported gang truce, theses gangs were operating totally unBut since the truce, these The event last week in Dangriga was perhaps lawfully. gangs now seem to, one, have the the greatest circus of September, without be- normal authority to operated legitias gangs and two, it now aping disrespectful to the staff of the National mately pears that the state has now given Assembly, the members of the House Consti- authority, acknowledgement and for gangs to operate just tution Committee and all my fellow Belizeans legitimacy as long as they don’t go out and war who attended the consultation. My referring against each other.

A gang by definition is a group to it as a circus is because it certainly does of young people who spend time not fit the criteria of a true consultation on together for social reasons and may a very important national issue. The event engage in delinquent behavior, or a of people who work togethturned out to be more electioneering or more group er for some criminal or antisocial the show of partisan political force than the purpose. So if you examine this gang truce situation that is orchestone of true consultation. by the prime minister we will The chairman of the house committee, Min- trated have to ask ourselves as law abidister Faber, changed the rules of the consulta- ing Belizeans, why is it that the minister wants to sacrifice tion many times during the same night. First prime the good will and quality of life of he allowed two members of the House of over more than 300,000 Belizeans satisfy the gangs? So if this truce Representatives, one being a fellow member to fails, who or what will guarantee us of his cabinet, to speak for far longer than the safety and security? From here on usual allotted time then he later limited the I want to challenge the prime minand his government to apply time for others and then further asked people ister the Rotary Four-Way Test before to just state their names and position, as well they make any decisions for and on of the Belizean people. The as their position as to whether they support- behalf Rotary Four-Way Test is simple: IS ed or did not support the Ninth Amendment. IT THE TRUTH? IS IF FAIR TO CONCERNED? WILL IT That certainly defeats the purpose of the con- ALL BUILD GOODWILL AND BETsultation process.

TER FRIENDSHIP? WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONficial trip to return home to meet as Dr Gayle’s work is, Dr Gayle CERNED? with the gangs. The prime minister made a very dangerous point when In my opinion, I believe that the meeting with the gangs has forged according to the police minister he prime minister is thinking as the a gang truce and it is surprising made reference to an area in Ja- area representative for the queen that one week since the truce that maica that is called the LUMBA square division where the George the government is not quick to take YAAD. The minister explained that Street Gang exists and not as the credit for the cease fire. I must ac- this “Lumba Yaad” got its name Prime Minister of Belize. knowledge that the week of calm from the gangs, and he continued Just my impartial view. is certainly good news for all of us that during the gang truce in Jain Belize. I think I speak for many when I say that it beings some level of comfort to all of us that there has been a period where there has been violence and murders in Belize City. But we have to be very careful of what has been promise to Tuesday: September 13, 2011 fore Usher will serve four years. these gangs.

Williamson reported to the poOn Monday of this week, the Belize City: In the Court Magis- lice that three men, one of them Minister of Police was on televi- trate Emerson Banner 33-year- armed with a firearm broke into sion, on a morning show and he old Wilton Usher who appeared her house and stole a quantity of may have said a lot of things that I on three charges including han- items that included a laptop comdon’t think he wanted to have said, dling Stolen Goods and keeping puter, cell phones, jewellery, two He acknowledged that these gang firearm and ammunition without a wrist watch, two digital cameras members have unemployable skills gun licence, was found guilty of and 561 dollars cash. Williamson but the government has agreed to all three today. and her family said they could not provide jobs for them. The police The third offence was handling sto- identify the culprits because they minister also said that there is no len goods that were proceeds from wore handkerchiefs over their facquick fix for the gang violence but an aggravated burglary which oc- es. Shortly after the incident the he contradicted himself in saying curred on January 22, 2010 at the Police apprehended Usher at the that the truce has to have immediate residence of Judith Williamson junction of the Northern Highway effect. So if we are to assess what in the Lake Garden area of Lady- and Lord’s Bank Road. Usher had the police minister says it will be ville. Usher was sentenced to two a point 25 automatic pistol with safe for us to conclude that what he years for each count; Magistrate one round of ammunition. He also is saying is that the truce is a bent Emmerson Banner who imposed had some of the items that were approach to addressing the gang the sentences stipulated that the stolen from Williamson. Usher violence and that the government sentences for firearm and ammu- testified and denied having any must give to pacify these guys. That nition should run concurrently knowledge of the aggravated burtherefore means that when the gov- and consecutively to the sentence glary. ernment is no longer in a position for handling stolen goods. Thereto pacify them then there will be an explosion of violence and murder.

Coincidentally, the government Large track of Residential / Commercial Land, off George brought in Dr Herbert Gayle who Price Boulevard in Belmopan. Price fix to sell by owners. has done some consultation with For serious Enquiries: Call: 601- 8100 or 650-5222 the gangs in Belize but as respected

I mpartialView

Bent thinking down in the Square

A few weeks ago, this column, Impartial View, stated that the proposed ninth amendment to the constitution has seriously affected our culture and out tradition. That continues to be an opinion of this piece.

If you are true to yourself when you reflect on the first half of the month of September the usual climate of patriotism and nationalism and the expression of our culture and unity is not the way it has traditionally been here in Belize.

There’re not much reviews of the 2011 street carnival, in fact, many people believe that this is one of the shortest carnival parade in recent memory. Very little, if anything at all, has been said about the 10th of September parade especially after the organizers allowed the parade to stop in front of the United Democratic Party Headquarters for about half an hour playing to entertain Prime Minister Barrow and his cohorts . Take a few moments and reflect, when last have the activities for the September celebration been so overshadowed?

Although there have been some other major events such as the National Song Competition which portrayed a great exhibition of Belizean talents, Soundfest, the Queen of the Bay, and all of those events are a major part of the September Celebrations, those are not the highlights of the first half of September 2011. To my mind the first half of September continues to be dominated by the consultation, discussion and debate over the proposed Ninth Amendment.

The event last week in Dangriga was perhaps the greatest circus of September, without being disrespectful to the staff of the National Assembly, the members of the House Constitution Committee and all my fellow Belizeans who attended the consultation. My referring to it as a circus is because it certainly does not fit the criteria of a true consultation on a very important national issue. The event turned out to be more electioneering or more the show of partisan political force than the tone of true consultation.

The chairman of the house committee, Minister Faber, changed the rules of the consultation many times during the same night. First he allowed two members of the House of Representatives, one being a fellow member of his cabinet, to speak for far longer than the usual allotted time then he later limited the time for others and then further asked people to just state their names and position, as well as their position as to whether they supported or did not support the Ninth Amendment.

That certainly defeats the purpose of the consultation process.

This September, despite having the circuses of the Ninth Amendment consultations, has also seen the prime minister aborting an of-

Usher sentenced for unlicensed Fire arm and Ammo

For Sale by Owner

Page 14

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

Belizean Barrier Reef Sunk

by Quiake?

How to Treat Mouth Ulcers Naturally

Mouth ulcers, also called as canker sores and aphthous ulcers, are characterized by soft, and round or oval ulcerations which are usually seen on the inside of an individual’s mouth. Oftentimes, they appear together with white to yellowish sores. Common area of affectation for the sores include the cheeks, lips, throat, and as tongue ulcers. Unlike a cold sore, a mouth ulcer isn’t contagious, and these generally heal in a week or two, but the main problem that arises during this condition is the extreme discomfort it brings as it’s really painful at times.

The specific cause for the condition is unknown, however there are some triggers pinpointed to have caused the condition such as the following: Stress, Acidic and spicy foods, Trauma or injury to the oral area due to ill-fitting braces, dentures, or tooth decay Sensitivity to chemicals If you’re faced with the situation, you know that this is quite unbearable. So most probably, you’re looking for ways on how to treat natural ulcers naturally.

Lucky you, as there are many treatments that you can do to address the issue at the comfort of your home. What are they? Let’s see.

Home Remedies on How to Get Rid of Mouth Ulcers Practice good oral hygiene. Be sure to crush your teeth on a regular basis and opt for toothpaste which doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulphate which are thought to increase occurrence of mouth blisters.

Saltwater is always the best home remedy which can help in reduc-

ing inflammation as well as fighting off bacteria which may have caused the situation. With this, you can mix half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Gargle the solution on a regular basis.

Another way on how to treat mouth ulcers naturally is by having a lemon squeezed and mixed with a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of honey. This may be drunk as home treatment for the condition.

A few amount of baking soda mixed with water until a paste-like consistency has been achieved can dabbed on the affected area.

Herbal cures such as Chamomile and Echinacea are also beneficial in addressing the issue. They may be drank atleast thrice daily.

Including foods and supplements rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin B complex are also beneficial in reducing the incident of sores in the mouth. Vitamin C, on the other hand, strengthens your immune system thus helping you when it comes to treating cold, sore throat, flu, and mouth sores.

Yogurt and Kefir can be added on the list as well. They are considered probiotic foods which help to cure or remove the problem.

When it comes to dealing with mouth sores as well as any other problem, they say prevention is always better than cure. True enough, one must take extra measures on how to prevent the situation. This can be done by avoiding acidic, spicy, and greasy foods as well as the dairy products. Ill-fitting dental accessories may be consulted to your dentist, too to prevent occurrence of such condition.

The last three decades haven’t been kind to the Belizean Barrier Reef, a 190 mile (300 kilometer) long section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system.

First, two dominant species of coral died off due to disease and an El Nino event. Then in 2009, large sections of the barrier reef slid into deeper waters and were destroyed after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook the Caribbean.

The quake, which originated 81 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of La Ceiba, Honduras, caused landslides on the undersea slopes where the corals grew.

A team from the Florida Institute of Technology recently reported on the devastation in the journal Ecology.

The researchers had been monitoring the reefs in the lagoons off the coast of Belize from 1986 to 2009. When they returned in 2010, they found that about half of the reefs in a 375-square-kilometer (144-square-mile) area had gone the way of Atlantis.

Only sediment and coral skeletal debris remained where the reefs once were.

The quake made an already dire situation worse.

Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) was the dominant species in the area for the past 4000 years, according to radio-carbon dating of reef cores. But starting in 1986, staghorn was virtually wiped out in the area by a bacterial infection called white-band disease.

By 1995, lettuce coral had taken over as top coral. Then a harsh El Nino in 1998 brought high temperatures and wiped out the lettuce coral.

“The prior losses of both staghorn

and lettuce corals drastically weakened the resilience of the coral assemblages on the reef slopes,” says lead author Richard Aronson of the Florida Institute of Technology in a press release.

“In other words, if neither whiteband disease nor bleaching had occurred, staghorn coral might have continued its millennial-scale dominance of the areas not destroyed by the quake,” said Aronson .After the staghorn and lettuce corals were gone, the area was taken over by seaweed, and an encrusting sponge which clung to the skeletons of the deceased corals.

By the time the quake struck there wasn’t much left of the reef Aronson’s team first studied in the 80’s.

Much of what was left then sank into the depths.

The possibility of natural disasters should be incorporated into conservation strategies, said Aronson.

“The rhetoric of conservation often includes the appeal of preserving ecosystems so that our children’s children can enjoy Nature’s bounty,” said Aronson. “That translates to about 200 years, but ecosystems last far longer than three generations of their human stewards. We challenge marine conservationists to plan on a millennial scale.”

“Rare, catastrophic events are the backdrop to human actions. Those rare events should be factored into determining the sizes of marine reserves and their levels of protection, whatever else might be expected to happen along the way,” said Aronson.

“After all, a once-in-a-thousandyear disaster could still occur next week,” said Aronson.

Tim Wall reports from Siguatepeque, Honduras, where he teaches journalism to fifth and sixth grade public school students.

www.nationalperspectivebz.org

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

Aries-You are playing more of a supportive role early in the week --

which should work out just fine, as far as you are concerned! Try helping friends and family with their troubles or their big projects, and you should rack up quite a few points with little effort. By Thursday, you’ll be ready to take off and do your own thing, though calling in a few of those favors you earned won’t set you back. The weekend brings financial matters to the forefront, and you should try to handle them all as quickly as possible.

Taurus-You seem to be living in the future for the first half of the week, as new technology makes your life easier or more interesting, and you find yourself wondering how you managed for so long without it. Keep looking ahead! You may want to lock up your wallet later on, as Thursday and Friday aren’t auspicious for making purchases beyond the basics. Stick to groceries and you’re fine. Over the weekend, you should find yourself enjoying events even more than you had hoped, and your

energy is definitely infectious!

Gemini-You are concerned with how others see you early this week --

maybe a bit too much for your own good. Some things are beyond your control, and as long as you’re the person you want to be, you need to let the spin take care of itself every now and then. Listen to your friends on Thursday and Friday, as they may offer you some golden advice without even realizing what they are doing. The weekend is best spent on practical matters, like paying bills, doing chores and following up on the week’s activities.

Cancer-Your intuition is strong during the first half of the week, and

you should be able to read people with great ease. You may need to take a step back at some point to get perspective, but the details shouldn’t be too hard for you to deal with. As the weekend looms, you may find more stress at work as your boss -- or the faceless bureaucracy -- makes life just a little more difficult. You’re in charge this weekend, though, so you should be able to do whatever it takes in order to relax and enjoy yourself!

Leo-Don’t expect much clarity on Monday or Tuesday -- you are either going to have to trust your gut or try to just slide by on charm and good looks. People are trying to tell you how they feel, but it’s almost hopeless for the time being. Someone you meet midweek changes your mind about some important aspect of your love life -- though that does not mean you have any interest in them in particular! Think things through before making a big change. You may have to deal with some bureaucracy or paperwork that feels directly related to you.

Virgo-You’re a bit impatient early this week, but don’t give up hope!

Everyone is moving at exactly the pace they need to move, and that just means that you’ve got to sit around for a while as they (eventually) catch up. Sharing is harder than usual for you on Wednesday and Thursday, which is most likely fine if you’re single but could add up to some serious strife if you’re coupled. Try to find a decent compromise. You’re buzzing with good energy this weekend, and it’s a really good time for you to get more information on your crush..

Libra-You need to exercise some of your world-famous flexibility early this week -- and keep it up for a few days! It’s not as hard as you’d think, but you may need to reach out and help some others who are flailing while you’re sailing. You’re all business on Thursday and Friday, and it’s easier than ever to get things done, especially when you need to persuade people to join you, or at least support you. Your social power is strong this weekend, and it’s easy for you to call in favors or expect help, even from those who may not know they’re on your side yet.

Scorpio-Your amazingly playful energy works to your advantage when it comes to romance early in the week -- you can entice almost anyone to forget their cares and just have fun! It’s a really good time for you to show off your less serious side. On Wednesday and Thursday, you transit into a more directed phase, and should find it incredibly easy to help others take care of their needs. This can score you some major points, of course! The weekend is perfect for taking bold action, like asking out someone you don’t know or making a serious proposal to your sweetie.

Page 15

Chinese businessman shot robber dead: robber shoots Chinese businessman in cold blood Wednesday, September 14, ing. Everybody went to the back of the building - the customers and the 2011 BELIZE CITY – Some observers are opining tonight that the cold blooded shooting of a defenseless Chinese grocer in Santa Elena/San Ignacio last Saturday night may have been retaliatory and intended to send a message.

Last Saturday night Zhong He Lei, 56, a male Chinese grocer was shot in the abdomen by a masked and armed robber who, according to Inspector Mai - Deputy Officer Commanding San Ignacio Police, was just “sitting down just outside the shop on a crate”, when the trio of bandits walked up and opened fire.

3 other casualties were reported in the shooting spree at Brothers Super Store in Santa Elena Town - Fule Lei was shot to the right leg, Zhou Xiang Li was shot to the right thigh and shop assistant Leyvea Valdez was grazed by a bullet on her left finger.

Zhong He Lei - owner of the store, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the La Loma Luz Hospital. According to police the men got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

According to Inspector Mai: “About 7:15pm 2 dark skin males mask; one armed with a pistol arrive at the store.

Zhou Xiang Li was they fired at him first after which the entered the build-

attendants of the store. This gave the perpetrators the time to enter the place. One went behind the counter and took an undisclosed amount of money after which they ran across the Western Highway.”

According to Mai when the duo exited the store they also fired on a purple ford ranger pick-up truck that was pulling out of this junction across the street but fortunately its occupants were not hit.

It is being reported that police still have three men in custody but have not yet charged them with the crime.

Michael Young, 27, was shot dead by a Chinese grocer in Belmopan on the night of Sunday, September 4th, around 8:45 p.m. during an armed robbery of Hong Li Supermarket on Trinity Boulevard, Belmopan City.

Ham and two other men had entered the store and held up its occupants and were exiting the store when he reported fired several shots towards Hong Ye Li, the store’s Chinese proprietor who returned fire causing the fatal injuries to Michael “Ham” Young.

Some law enforcement sources now believe that the conflict between Belizean armed bandits and the Chinese businesses the prey upon may have entered a new and deadly phase.

Robbery at Corozal Free Zone, two cops, one civilian charged

Sagittarius-You’re much more thoughtful than usual early this week,

and might dream up all sorts of new ideas, only a few of which will ever see the light of day. Still, it’s a good time for brainstorming and also for showing friends how you feel about them. By Thursday, you ought to be back in action, and plowing through projects with wild abandon!

It’s a good time for you to be bold and assertive. The weekend gets a bit thorny, especially as far as social obligations are concerned, but you can deal with any stresses.

Capricorn-Take a new step on Monday or Tuesday -- together, if you’re seeing someone, or toward someone new if you’re not. Your energy is a bit more grounded than most other people’s and you are undoubtedly surer of yourself. You may crave increased stability in the middle of the week, but that doesn’t mean that you’re rushing to shack up or make some other long-term commitment: It’s more of a state of mind. You find yourself filled with great energy this weekend, and it’s the perfect time to kick back and enjoy your sweetie -- or find someone new.

Aquarius-Offer assistance to anyone who needs it early this week --

the good karma should come back to you quickly and powerfully! Your decision to forego your own needs (temporarily, of course) catches the attention of the universe, and that could mean that things get a little crazy on Thursday and Friday. Expect new ideas to pop up from out of nowhere, many of which are well worth pursuing. The weekend brings a blast from the past that almost certainly carries an important, if cryptic, message for you.

Pisces-Monday through Wednesday is a time of great power and possibility for you. If you’ve been aching to make a transformation, now is the time to get busy and see what happens -- most likely, it takes less time and energy than you thought it might, and the results should be great. Life might get puzzling for a while after this, as you try to figure out how to operate under the new rules, but you should do fine. By Saturday, you’ll be feeling great and be ready to recommit to your partner, or head out and find a new love.

By Rhenae Nunez Tuesday, September 13, 2011 COROZAL – Two police officers are in the custody of their department accused of playing a role in a robbery that occurred at the Corozal Free Zone on Saturday, September 10th.

Cashier, Jin Mei Huang reported to police that while she was inside North America International Store counting cash from the day’s sales, a dark complexion man walked in and placed a gun to her side and proceeded to rob of an undisclosed sum of money. The

man then boarded a green Geo Tracker and made good his escape.

Later police impounded a Geo Tracker fitting the description of the one used in the robbery.

Two officers, Elston Rojas attached to the Corozal Police formation and Rudolph Azueta attached to the San Pedro formation were also detained.

Police have not said whether they have recovered the stolen loot but have levied a charge for robbery on Emmerson Skyers of a Belize City address. The two officers, Azueta and Rojas have been jointly charged for Abetment to Commit Robbery.

Page 16 Are you thinking about heading down to the beach to get catch some sun and surf? Well, you might want to reconsider the sun part. Why? This is because of the fact that too much can sun can be harmful to your skin. In fact, you can get more than just a sunburn if you stay under the sun for extended periods of time.

Dangers of Sun Exposure Short term effects can be anything from red and numerous freckles that often affect those who are light skinned. However, darker skinned people aren’t immune to it either.

Sure, some people consider freckles cute but not when they have it all over their body!

Long term effects, on the other hand, it can be quite serious and not to mention quite unsightly as well.

Have you ever heard of prematurely aged skin? Well, that’s what you can get if you stay under the sun for far too long. Your skin would get wrinkly and discolored over time.

Sure, everybody will eventually get these skin problems, but do you really want them while you’re still in your early twenties? Unfortunately, it doesn’t really end there either.

One of the most serious problems that a person can get from sun exposure would be skin cancer. Now, that’s something that you surely wouldn’t want.

Why risk your health for that coveted tan? It really is not worth it. So, what can you do to protect yourself? If you’re going outside, under the sun, then wear sunscreen. Make sure that the SPF is high enough to protect your skin and that you

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

Outdoor Skin Care – Dangers of Sun Exposure

bring along an umbrella with you.

Wearing sunglasses is necessary too in order to protect the delicate skin around your eye area. After all, that area receives the most damage since it is the thinnest.

How Moisturizers Help Your Skin The skin experiences damages due to many factors, such as prolonged exposure to the sun, smoking and

extreme weather conditions. These factors primarily target robbing the skin of moisture, thus resulting in an overly dry skin. Solving this problem is how moisturizers help your skin. Skin moisture relies heavily on its ability to retain the water produced in the deep areas of the epidermis.

Unfortunately, as water transports

from the inner layers of the epidermis to the outer layers, or the stratum corneum, much is lost due to evaporation. The rate of evaporation speeds up in the presence of the aforementioned factors. The key is to provide skin with a barrier that seals in all the moisture and prevents it from evaporating, which happen to be the main benefits of moisturizers.

Moisturizers perform three main functions: as humectants, as emollients and as an occlusive. As humectants, moisturizers replenish and add to the overall water content of the skin. They also encourage faster water production. As emollients, moisturizer soften and makes the skin smooth by repairing broken lipids and filling in gaps between dead skin cells. They also lubricate the skin, which is perfect for treating itchy and irritated skin. As an occlusive, moisturizers lessen the occurrence of transepidermal water loss. In simpler terms, transepidermal loss is the loss of water as it moves from one layer of the epidermis to another.

Moisturizers hold in moisture and distribute it among the skin cells.

As skin care technology progresses, many companies claim to put in additional elements to their formula, which yield additional benefits to the skin. There are now moisturizers with Alpha Hydroxy Acid, sloughing off dead skin cells to give way to new, young cells. There are those loaded heavily with sun protection factor. While moisturizers seem to act internally, a healthy, glowing, soft and smooth skin manifests their effects externally.

SESNECIL ROUQIL RO61FegSaPNOITACILPPA

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

“While the crisis may seem to be Europe’s problem, if it results in a break-up of the euro zone or even a growth dampening series of costly bailouts, it will reverberate from Beijing to Boston and back. Europe is the largest trading partner of both the U.S. and China. It’s home to one of the world’s largest pools of wealthy consumers. If they stop buying our stuff, everyone suffers.

Meanwhile, a dramatic depreciation of the euro or dissolution of the union would make nations from Asia to Latin America that hold the euro as a reserve currency much weaker. Even the mere effort to contain the crisis with looser monetary policy on either side of the Atlantic creates a risk if inflation and hot money that could punish emerging market….” Time

Magazine, “The End of Europe”.

I am hardly the person to comment on the esoteric and convoluted topic of economics – I have not been trained in the field. However the limited information that we get on the performance of our economy and the spindoctoring of whatever little we get to find out about our economy, I thought that I best take on the job.

Like the Auditor General’s report for this year that has been ignored for obvious reasons by the rest of the media and the Barrow administration – the Central Bank’s Report is one of those reports that does not get much if any publicity at all. The Government and its adherents in the media would much rather promote propaganda instead of telling you the cold hard truth – not that it is lost on many of us who live on Reality Boulevard and mark our addresses as Reality Check – we are in economic crisis and this government does not possess the wherewithal to extricate us. It is all well and good to point to and look to occurrences in the global economy and explain what is going in Belize as a result of that.

It still does not abdicate the Government from its inherent responsibility to the people and country of Belize.

They are to find a solution, ensure that our people have jobs and they are to make the necessary adjustments so we can ride out economic hardship.

Our 30th year of Independence is upon us and as per usual there is much talk about what it is or it is not and what it should be and if it should have been. It is a recurrent debate and discussion and this time of year evokes various sentiments about Belizeanism. If I were to deliver a speech during this time, I would find it very hard to express upbeat sentiments and I could not find a lie good enough to make people feel better. That is how cynical I have become after hoping and hoping that we would turn things around and start living the Belizean dream of living in a tranquil haven of democracy as extolled in our National Anthem.

I need not rehash our woes for we all know them, but for a brief season during these few weeks of celebration we set those aside and celebrate. We celebrate whatever aspect of being Belizean still gives us some sense of sat-

Page 17

In the eye of an economic storm The Government and its adherents in the media much rather promote propaganda instead of telling you the cold hard truth – not that it is lost on many of us, we live on Reality Boulevard and mark our addresses as Reality Check – we are in economic crisis and this government does not possess the wherewithal to extricate us. It is all well and good to point to and look to occurrences in the global economy and explain what is going in Belize as a result of that. It still does not abdicate the Government from its inherent responsibility to the people and country of Belize. isfaction - for many however, there is nothing to celebrate, nothing to smile about because we living on the gully side.

While many will cast their burdens aside for a few days and join in the revelry, the reality of our circumstances will come menacingly knocking as soon as the boom boxes have silenced.

This is September, celebration time as well, it is also the end of the second quarter of the current financial year.

There are not many signs that much has improved economically for Belize. Indications all around are that we are slipping further and further into economic decline.

It is not an easy job to comment on the current state of Belize’s economy given the government’s penchant to keep certain information as state secrets.

“The global economy continued to expand but with reduced momentum in the face of heightened oil prices and the gradual unwinding of monetary and fiscal stimulus measures instituted in the wake of the financial crisis.

Growth in quarterly output was measured at an annualized 4.3% as compared to 5.1% in the previous quarter.

A dual pace of economic activity was also being maintained with advanced economies growing relatively sluggishly due to the higher concentration of damage to their financial and housing sectors in comparison with the buoyancy of emerging economies that were supported by strong household consumption,” the Central Bank of Belize reported in its March, 2011 Quarterly Review.

It is left to be seen whether there has been any improvement in the figures at the end of the second quarter. Even though figures may relate one thing, the Barrow administration is yet to take on the critical issues of poverty and joblessness. Barrow’s dependence on the performance of other economies has not done anything for the Belizean economy. With no announced policy to return Belizeans to work, it is not clear how government intends to address these two issues – if they intend to do so at all. T The news coming out of other economies that our economy is connected to, or reliant upon, portends a dismal rest of year for us unless something

dramatic happens. The U.S. economy has failed to provide any new jobs over the past month with job growth being recorded as 0%. President Obama boldly put together a Jobs Bill and has presented it with very strong words for the U.S. congress whose Republican members behave just like the UDP at home. President Obama has called on congress to ensure that the bill passes in order to get Americans back on the job and stimulate the economy.

Not our Prime Minister Barrow who continues to pursue his imprudent agenda with his unending battle with his former friend and client, Lord Michael Ashcroft over BTL. There is silence on BEL – I don’t know for how long before the former owners of the majority shares start hounding for compensation as well. I can only surmise that the PM intends to fix the economy with the proceeds from BTL and BEL even though at the moment those two entities are costing the Belizean people precious cash that we simply do not have right now.

Since the announcement by the Statis-

tical Institute of Belize earlier this year that the unemployment was as high as 23% there has been NO response to this unprecedented crisis by government. Instead the Prime Minister and his Minister of Works, Anthony Boots Martinez treat poverty and unemployment as if it is concentrated in certain parts of southside, Belize City and only certain gang members need jobs.

Unless you are “high profile gang member” or an “affiliate” or “at risk” and come from Queen’s Square or Port Loyola, then and only then does Barrow’s unctuous “pro-poor” and “jobs program” apply to you.

When and if the Central Bank or the Statistical Institute of Belize revisits the damning economic picture of Belize at the end of this month, it will be shown that things have further deteriorated.

“GDP recorded a 6.5% quarterly increase with the main drivers being electricity and water, the Corozal Free Zone, citrus deliveries and processing of citrus juices and sugar. Deliveries of citrus fruit were up sharply and this coincided with lower production of banana and sugarcane. However, notwithstanding reduced sugarcane deliveries, there was elevated factory output of sugar as well as citrus juices due to significant improvements in crop quality. While higher electricity output was underpinned by a 25.4% increase in domestic capacity, production of crude oil fell once more as the Spanish Lookout Field continued its declining phase. Services also recorded mixed outcomes with a fall-out in hotel and restaurant activity that reflected an overall decline in tourist visitors as a 1.0% increase in stay over tourist arrivals, which pointed to a sustained but weak momentum in the overnight arrivals category, was outweighed by a significant decline in cruise disembarkations due to reduced port calls,” the Central Bank said.

Nothing so far has indicated that things have improved during the second quarter. It is left to be seen how the scenario in the Sugar Industry will be explained and how the acquisition of BEL has impacted. Still, I hear of no new package for the masses in terms of jobs and expanded services for the poor. Until the Barrow administration is able to fix it for many families who are being battered by these hard times – everything else is just habla.

Sunday,September 18th, 2011

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US: Guatemala tests were ‘shocking’ double standard

US researchers who exposed hundreds of Guatemalans to sexually transmitted diseases committed “unconscionable basic violations of ethics”, a US health commission has found.

Some 1,300 were infected with syphilis, gonorrhoea and other STDs without their knowledge in the 1940s.

Many of the same researchers had earlier sought consent from prisoners in a US study.

The commission says scientists tried to limit who knew about the tests.

A report by the US Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues said on Tuesday that the research had been a «dark chapter of our medical history».

«In the commission›s view, the Guatemala experiments involved unconscionable basic violations of ethics, even as judged against

“It is our moral responsibility to care for those who cannot protect themselves and clearly in this dark chapter of our medical history we grievously failed to keep that covenant.”

Hundreds of people were infected with syphilis bacteria during the experiments

the researchers› own recognition of the requirements of the medical ethics of the day,» said Dr Amy Gutmann, chair of the commission, in a statement.

sexually transmitted disease, chancroid.

‘Shocking double standard’

In previous tests by many of the same researchers on prisoners in Terra Haute, Indiana, those participants were asked for their consent.

It has already emerged that 5,500 Guatemalans were involved in the research by the US Public Health Service.

Of these, some 1,300 prisoners, psychiatric patients and sex workers were deliberately infected with syphilis, gonorrhoea or another

Only about 700 received some sort of treatment.

The lack of the same consideration in Guatemala showed a “shocking” double standard, Dr Gutmann said.

“A civilisation can be judged by the way that it treats it most vulnerable individuals,” she continued.

The tests were carried out with a view to applying the research to soldiers abroad.

US President Barack Obama set up the commission when the experiments, carried out over several years in the 1940s, first came to light last year.

He also apologised to his Guatemalan counterpart, Alvaro Colom, saying the acts ran contrary to American values.

Earlier this year, a group of Guatemalans who were involved in the study announced they were suing the US government over the affair.

Microsoft unveils its new Windows 8 operating system Microsoft has taken the wraps off the next generation of its Windows operating system.

Windows 8 is designed to run on tablet computers, as well as desktop and laptop PCs. The software, which is due to be released in 2012 will work on the popular ARM-designed low power processors for the first time.

Microsoft has been under pressure to come up with an answer to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms.

Unveiling Windows 8 at the Build developers’ conference in California, Windows division president Steven Sinofsky declared: “We re-imagined Windows. From the chipset to the user experience.”

The system will function through one of two interfaces; a traditional desktop, similar to that seen in previous editions of Windows, and a tablet version, known as Metro.

Metro features larger, chunky controls of the sort that best suit touchscreen use. The current lack of such an input method is widely seen as the reason why few Windows 7 tablets exist.

Microsoft said that it would also be launching its own online marketplace - the Windows Store - to sell downloadable applications.

Chip changes One of the biggest innovations for Windows 8 will be its compatibility with processors designed by ARM holdings.

ARM chips are likely to be predominantly used on Windows 8 Metro devices, and will require ARM-specific versions of applications.

Windows 8 has been designed to be used on touchscreen devices

The company has not given details on the chips that will be integrated into desktop and laptop machines.

Chips based around the ARM architecture typically use very little power, and as a result are found in the vast majority of smartphones and tablets currently available.

To date, Windows devices have required Intel or Intel-compatible processors, with the exception of Microsoft’s Windows Phone range.

Tapping into any section of the Windows market will be seen as a huge boost for Cambridge-based ARM Holdings.The company faces growing competition in the mobile device sector since Intel launched its tablet and smartphone-focused Oak Trail chipset in April 2011.

Tapping into that particular market is seen as vital for hardware manufacturers, and software-makers, such as Microsoft, as the market for traditional computers continues to be eroded.

Industry analysts Gartner predicted in April that the global market for tablets would reach 70 million this year, and grow to 300 million in 2015.

Sales of desktops and laptops are expected to continue growing, but at a much slower rate than in the past.

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$147,500.00

Sunday, September 18th , 2011

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Sunday, September 18th , 2011