National Perspective 25 September, 2011

Sunday, September 4th , 2011

www.nationalperspectivebz.org Edition 161 Vol.4 week 4

The true voice of the silent majority

Nine year old a victim of City Street Violence READ ON PAGE 13

Belize Mourns!

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

‘...Father of the Nation Passes’

Fa (L) Prince Michael of Kent , ( L Centre) Prime Minister Rt Hon George Cadle Price, (R Centre) BDF Commandat Allan Usher, (R)Governor General Dame Minita Gordon (Picture taken Independence Day 21st September 1981) were pessimistic in their progno- Price’s body will be transported Price’s body will leave the George Thursday, September 22, sis of his condition. He never re- from the morgue at the Karl Heu- Price Centre at 8:15 am and will 2011 covered consciousness.

BELIZE CITY – The Right Honourable George Cadle Price will be laid to rest at the Lord Ridge Cemetery in Belize City after a week of mourning, and following his death last Monday morning.

He was 92.

Mr. Price succumbed to the effects of a head injury incurred after falling while at home on Wednesday, September 13th.

Following an operation at Belize Healthcare Partners to relieve the pressure of an intracranial hemorrhage he was placed in an induced coma but privately his doctors

Since his death tributes to Belize’s best known citizen have been pouring in from ordinary citizens and organizations, as well as national organizations, governments and world leaders.

The government of Belize announced on Tuesday that a State Funeral for the former two-time Prime Minister and National Hero will be held at nine o’clock on Monday morning at Independence Plaza in Belmopan, in front of the National Assembly building. The official communiqué said that on Saturday, September 24th. Mr.

sner Memorial Hospital in a procession will be led by the Belize Defence Force starting at seven thirty in the morning, through the streets of Belize City to the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts where it will “Lie in State” from 8 o’clock in the morning until three o’ clock in the afternoon.

On Sunday, September 25, Mr. Price’s body will lie in state at the George Price Centre for Peace and Development in Belmopan from 8 o’clock in the morning until five o’clock in the evening.

On Monday, September 26, Mr.

be taken by the BDF Hearst to Independence Hill. Following the funeral service, the BDF Hearse will take Mr. Price’s body to the entrance to Belmopan. Thereafter, it will be taken by closed hearse to Belize City and at Faber’s Road Junction the casket will be transferred to the BDF open hearse for transport to the Lord’s Ridge Cemetery for the interment mass in the family’s burial plot.

His eulogy will be delivered by his nephew Mr. John Waight to be followed by remarks by the

Continues on page 14

Page 2

As a young democracy Belize has had its shares of controversies. In the years leading up to Independence the National Independence Party (NIP) and then the United Democratic Party (UDP) was totally against the Independence of Belize. They used all types of gimmicks to promote their objections such as accusing the Rt. Honorable George Price of “selling out” the country of Belize to Guatemala, who at the time and still has an international known territorial claim against Belize.

It is now amazing to see the opposite reactions of these same detractors of Independence and of Mr. Price at this time of his death. Since his illness, two weeks ago the Belizean people, without any instigation, concluded that reverence and honor must be bestowed on Mr. Price, Belize’s first Prime Minister.

This was done via all mediums of the media and the public at large.

Sensing this out pouring of popularity that was dormant for many years, the detractors decided to chime in, knowing well that to oppose meant immediate sanction by the people of Belize.

So, for the UDP, it is now a popular political platform for them to hail the praises to Mr. Price. In the past, the UDPs have said some of the most derogative things publicly about Mr. Price and his quest for the independent nationhood of Belize. Today, the same things that they opposed, the UDP is rallying around because it looks good politically.

Their support for the accomplish-

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

POLITICAL HYPOCRISY

“Hypocrisy knows no bounds” - John Henry a.k.a. Doc Holliday (1851-1857) ment of Mr. Price is purely political, and they know, deep down, it is the politically-correct thing for them to do at this time.

While many will argue against our conclusion, one need only to have listened to the speech of the Prime Minister on Independence Day, and they will agree with us that nothing has changed with the UDP Government. This was a political campaign speech riddled with campaign promises.

This was a Prime Minister, who spoke for an hour speaking only of things that are normally in a political manifesto. We say this was a manifesto presentation because none of the things he mentioned that the Government will do, will happen, simple as that.

For us at this publication, manifestos from the UDP are the presentation of their imagination. Lie and deceitfulness were the mantra of the PM’s speech. The promise of removing GST off internet charges does nothing for the poor people of Belize. However, the

Prime Minister needed to have something that can be referred to as a benefit being derived from the takeover of Belize Telemedia Limited, since Belizeans have been claiming that the service was worse than before, and the cost was still high.

To Belizeans, George Price was a man for all people. As Leader of the People’s United Party and Prime Minister, he championed the credo that the party is there to serve the good of the people.

A credo he lived his life by until his passing at ninety-two years.

There is also the raging debate as to where he should be laid to rest (buried). To date, the family has decided that he be interred at the Lord Ridge Cemetery, where the Price Family burial plot is. They also claim that was a request that Mr. Price made prior to his passing.

It would appear to most that the popular Belizean sentiment is for his body to be buried in Belmopan. This is the capital

of Belize, and its creation was the brainchild of George Price after he witnessed the devastation of Belize City by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. He felt that Belize City, being on the coast will always be vulnerable to hurricane and that this was very disruptive to the economy of Belize, because at that time the seat of Government resided in Belize City also. The construction of Belmopan started in 1969 and it grew slowly, but today it is a growing city where the seat of Government exists and with all the infrastructure of Belize City.

Belize City is still considered the sentimental capital and definitely the commercial capital of the country as most of the economic activities of the country starts and finishes in Belize City.

There were also the concerns raise on many of the morning shows that vandals and detractors may want to desecrate the grave since grave vandalism is a new-wave criminality that is occurring in recent times. Furthermore, with Belize City in the hurricane belt it could be affected by storms heading Belize City way.

We take this opportunity to issue our condolences to the family of Rt. Honorable George Price and even if the Government refuses to acknowledge him as the “Father of the Nation,” we do so without hesitation, because he made us a free and sovereign nation. We are also advocating that January 15th of each year is made a National Holiday and is used to commemorate the life work of Belize’s primary builder. Rest in Peace Mr. Price. OPEN YOUR EYES THE PEOPLE ARE AWAKE!!!

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Page 3

Barrow’s bombastic ‘State of the Nation address

’

“The Prime Minister’s speech yesterday was clearly a speech launching his political campaign....he made his way up Independence Hill bearing gifts.” Facebook comment Wednesday, September 21, 2011 BELMOPAN CITY – In a 45-minute “State of the Nation” address as the keynote speaker at today’s 30th anniversary Independence Day ceremonies here, Prime Minister Dean Barrow boasted of his wife’s decorating prowess, his gang truce negotiating skills, “extraordinary” economic growth, a plethora of stimulus and poverty alleviation programs, and enhanced foreign investment in Belize.

It was a speech long on his trademark rhetorical flourishes and liberal with promises, but short on verifiable details. It may have also been the opening salvo in his administration’s re-election effort.

After declaring that Belize’s “political well-being is secure” and extolling an enhanced democracy courtesy of his administration, Mr. Barrow boasted that the nation’s economy as measured by year on year GDP grew an “extraordinary” 6% in the first quarter of this year.

He claimed that this was as a result of higher oil prices and strong tourism growth and further claimed that despite a return to the previous anemic or no-growth pace in his outlook for the rest of the year, he fully expected overall annual growth of not less than 3%.

Most observers will note, though, that just released Statistical Institute of Belize figures show that the economy receded by -1.1% in the second quarter of 2011, and today oil prices fell on the futures market to below US$80 per barrel, the lowest price it has been in over a year.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance failed to mention, however, that the growth spurt was pushed by the coming on-line of the Belcogen plant which helped to increase electricity production by 33%.

Barrow then recited and in several cases repeated a short list of infrastructure projects he claimed was and/or would stimulate the economy. There included the ongoing paving of the Blue Creek to Orange Walk Town, and Dump to Jalacate roads, as well as the continuation of the Southside Poverty Alleviation Project (Phase II), and the Northside Belize City project, the commencement of the Municipal infrastructure project, construction of the San Ignacio Visitors Welcome Center, and the resumption of construction of the Marion Jones Sports Complex.

He boasted that the Mexican government had extended a $15 million grant for the reconstruction of the Belize City Center but gave no date for the start of the project, and said that $10m would soon be spent on the construction of the approach roads to the proposed new Macal River crossing to replace the rapidly deteriorating 60 year old Hawksworth Bridge.

He further claimed that 5,000 per-

US government and CARSI, the regional crime strategy initiative, funding had been secured for the DNA lab and for training of its personnel. He further claimed that they had acquired what he called 3 “new mobile interdiction vehicles” that were to be deployed in the northern and southern districts and that 6 electronic fingerprinting machines were being installed in police stations across the country.

He said that they were upgrading to a new 911 call center capable of handling 70 calls simultaneously, and that there was massive improvement underway to the crimes electronic management system.

He concluded by reiterating his administration’s determination to pass the controversial Ninth Amendment Bill, declared a new internet pro-

motion as of Oct 1 from BTL, and promised a 20% lower rate for 1010 calls to fifteen countries.

He boasted that the company had continued its capital investment program to the tune of $60m since the takeover, including the provision of the free internet for schools program.

He accused the former operators/ owners of the Belize Electricity Limited of “inflating asset value” to increase profits, and declared that not only had the new board of directors formally withdrawn the company’s request for a rate hike, but that “light bills are coming down” following the next full tariff review.

Before waxing philosophically about celebrating Belize’s independence Barrow attempted to refute criticism that his “nationalization” policies were deterring foreign direct investment by pointing to the proposed re-opening of the Libertad factory, a palm oil production proposal, and interest in medical tourism, and said that there would soon be the prospect of 4 call center operations opening up in Belize and hiring as many as 1,000 persons.

The lofty rhetoric aside, there was little in the Prime Minister’s roundup to believe that economically Belize is doing, or will do any better than the stagnated status quo that has prevailed the past few years. And if the economy does not improve, neither will his political prospect because neither will the quality of life for the majority of the Belizean people.

As has been the pattern over the previous three such speeches on this occasion, Mr. Barrow was long on promises and short on real accomplishments.

Published & Edited by:

OMAR SILVA

Prime Minister Dean Barrow (File Picture)

sons in Belize City were the beneficiaries of his administration’s weekly food basket program and that another 7,000 persons in San Ignacio and Benque Viejo would soon be added to the roll. He said that there were 4,300 single mothers enrolled in Operation Boost, a cash transfer program aimed at helping single mothers, and that nationally there were 1,500 young persons enrolled in the apprenticeship and second chance programs.

He promised that the government, with assistance from the Government of Mexico, would soon initiate a low cost housing program, even as his government was spending $5m this year on home repairs and improvements.

He also promised that a new land distribution program of 1,000 acres per district would soon be implemented for first time land owners, and that they were in the process of implementing a new land management program to clear the snail pace at the Lands Department.

These were wrapped around his pledge to forgive 9,200 “historical” loans valued at $62.5m owed by Belizeans to the Housing Department.

Near the 25th minute mark of his speech Barrow declared: “A truce was agreed. It was a historic breakthrough and I am happy to tell you there have been no gang-related murders since.” He then cautioned himself about speaking too soon but the words were already out of his mouth.

It was the most unfortunate of timing since within minutes of his selfcongratulatory posturing a nine year old boy was slain, the unintended victim of a gang-related shooting on Belize City’s streets.

Barrow then went on to charge that they had already spent $1.5m more than had been budgeted on law enforcement, and that a CSI vehicle had been procured and would be in operation by next month. He said that through funding from the

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Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Page 4

Procession Route ‘Father of the Nation’ Body The Jamaica Gleaner editorial, Thursday, September 22, 2011

Remembering George Price

It is quite in character of the man that while acknowledged, his death, except in his native Belize, has been of no apparent great public notice or moment.

George Price, we suspect, would have wanted it no other way.

But it would be wrong to assume that this persona was the sum of the man, who died on Monday, aged 92. For as the Belizean prime minister, Mr. Dean Barrow, remarked, Mr. Price was “a giant of a man, the greatest architect of Belizean nationalism and Belizean independence”.

Indeed, Mr. Price was among the last of that generation of pre-independence Caribbean nationalists who guided their countries from British colonial rule to statehood, except that in his case, Belize is on the mainland of Central America and used to be called British Honduras.

Profile

Most of the basic facts about George Price are well known: that he entered politics in 1947 when he ran for and won a seat on the Belize City Council; that he was a founding member, in 1950, of the People’s United Party (PUP); that he led Belize to independence in 1981; served two terms as prime minister (1981-84 and 1989-1993); that in 1998, aged 80, he served in the Cabinet of the man who succeeded him as PUP leader; and that in 2000 he was declared a national hero of Belize.

But mere facts do not portray the essential element of the man that marked him as different from the average politician, including many of his contemporaries across the Caribbean. He lived his decency and it invaded his governance.

Known for his trademark white guayabera and dark slacks, Price, who entered, but left the seminary, was part Aquinas, part Jesuit and fully human and Belizean. As prime minister, he lived in a simple single-room home, drove an old Land Rover and was in the thick of things with people, whether it was in Belize’s capital of Belmopan; or, as was the case in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, strolling the streets outside his hotel in the evening during a summit of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders.

Worth much honour

That lack of affectation and committed simplicity was real. It makes sense that during his long, up-and-down political career, no scandal or claim of corruption was attached to Mr. Price.

But this asceticism masked, perhaps, what underpinned a strong will and de-

termination, reflected in his country’s independence, despite the threats of military-ruled Guatemala and his rooting of Belize firmly in the brotherhood of CARICOM nations.

George Price would, perhaps, be quite content to have passed his time without fanfare, unconcerned with whether he was remembered, once he had done what he was convinced was right.

He, happily, won’t totally control this one. Too many people are aware that Mr. Price is, even in stillness, worth remembering and celebrating.

Statement by Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, Prime Minister, On the Passing of The Right Honourable George Cadle Price, 20 September 2011 It is with sadness that I learned of the death yesterday of the Rt. Honourable George Cadle Price, the first Prime Minister of an independent Belize who was considered the “Father of the Nation” and was one of the principal architects of its independence.

On my own behalf and that of my colleagues and the Government and people of The Bahamas I offer condolences to the family of the former Prime Minister as well as to the Government and people of Belize.

In 1961 George Price became First Minister of Belize (then known as British Honduras) subsequently serving as Premier after the attainment of internal self-rule. In 1981 after independence he became Prime Minister. Having served as Prime Minister and in Opposition since 1981 he retired from active politics in 1996.

In 2002, for his service to Belize, George Price became the first person to receive his country’s highest honour, the Order of National Hero. He was also conferred with the Order of the Caribbean Community for his service to Caricom and the people of the Caribbean and received various honours from a number of governments in the Caribbean and Central America.

The Bahamas joins the Belizean people, Member States of Caricom, and the wider Caribbean, as well as the regional and international community in expressing profound gratitude for the life of George Price and the role he played in the promotion of human dignity, human rights and human development throughout the world.

He was a fine son of Belize and the Caribbean and a true citizen of the world.

ROUTE FOR THE PROCESSION OF RT. HON. GEORGE PRICE’S BODY THROUGH THE STREETS OF BELIZE AND FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF HIS BODY TO BELMOPAN

On Saturday, 24th September 2011 at 7:00 a.m., Rt. Hon. George Price’s body will be transported from the Karl Heusner Morgue in a procession led by the Belize Defence Force (BDF) through the streets of Belize City to the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts where it will lie in state from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The route for the procession is as follows: From Morgue at the KHMH, into St. Thomas Street, LEFT into Freetown Road, RIGHT into Mapp Street, LEFT into North Front Street, RIGHT over Swing Bridge, into Albert Street, LEFT into Treasury Lane to the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts.

At 3:30 pm, Rt. Hon. George Price’s body will be transported to the Holy Redeemer Cathedral where a private mass will be held by the family of the late Rt. Hon. George Price to celebrate his life.

The public is informed that at 2:00 pm on Saturday, 24th September 2011, North Front Street at its junction with Hyde’s Lane, in addition to, North Front Street

at its junction with Queen Street, will be closed to vehicular and foot traffic, until the end of the Rt. Hon. George Price’s private funeral service.

The body of the Rt. Hon. George Price will then be transported to the City of Belmopan using the following route: Holy Redeemer Cathedral LEFT on to Queen Street, Left into New Road, Left into Hydes Lane, Left on to North Front Street, RIGHT over Swing Bridge, Albert Street, RIGHT into Orange Street, Cemetery Road, Central American Blvd Roundabout, Western Highway, LEFT into the Hummingbird Highway, Left into Constitution Drive, RIGHT onto Culvert Road, on to Ring Road, RIGHT into Price Center Road and RIGHT into the George Price Center for Peace and Development.

On Sunday 25th September 2011, Mr. Price’s body will lie in state from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the George Price Center for Peace and Development in Belmopan.

Further details will be provided to the general public as they become available.

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Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Page 5

Orange Walk man shoots and kills his girlfriend

...“If you are not for me, you will not be for nobody”

By Rhenae Nunez Tuesday, September 20, 2011

ORANGE WALK – Police were called out to the scene of an apparent homicide on Tuesday around 4:15 pm in August Pine Ridge Village in the Orange Walk District.

There, they saw the apparent lifeless body of housewife Nelsi Chuc, 25, lying in a pool of blood with an apparent gunshot wound to the neck. Their initial investigation revealed that Chuc was in the company of her boyfriend, Freddy Amir Blanco, a laborer of August Pine

Ridge and another female friend. Chuc and Blanco got into an argument shortly after which he left. Blanco returned about an hour later with a shotgun and said to Chuc, “if you are not for me, you will not be for nobody.” With that he fired the fatal shot which struck Chuc in the neck.

Her body was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Police have since detained Freddy Blanco and charges are pending.

Unconfirmed reports are that the argument and subsequent fatal shooting precipitated from an alleged love triangle – investigations are still ongoing.

Note of Condolences from BCCI a man. May his passing remind us

In a Press Release sent out this Thursday, the Chamber extended condolences to the family of the late Right Honourable, George Cadle Price.

The Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry extends its deepest condolences to the family of the late Right Honourable, George Cadle Price, Belize’s first Prime Minister, and father of our nation; and joins the nation of Belize in mourning his passing.

Today we take our identity as citizens of Belize for granted and seldom reflect that we owe our identity as Belizeans primarily to the work and dedication of this giant of

of the pride we hold in our Belizean identity.

Mr. Price once told the Miami Herald, “I would like to be known as a good Belizean, one who went through life on a pilgrimage and left the world a better place than I found it”. In life he inspired us to nationhood, in death may he inspire us to be “good Belizeans” buoyed by a fierce national pride and a greater sense of the responsibilities of citizenship.

Belize has lost a great patriot and National Hero. May we always seek to honor and protect his legacy and may he rest in Peace.

PEOPLE’S UNITED PARTY FREETOWN DIVISION Statement by the Hon. Francis Fonseca, PUP Freetown Area Representative, on the Passing of the Right Honourable George Cadle Price September 19, 2011 - On behalf of the Freetown Community, Area Representative, Francis Fonseca, wishes to record our profound sadness on the passing of the FATHER of the NATION, NATIONAL HERO and LEADER EMERITUS of the PEOPLE’s UNITED PARTY, RT. HON. GEORGE CADLE PRICE which occurred in the early hours of September 19, 2011.

The Rt. Hon. George C. Price lived a life of service to his nation and people, leading us out of the dark days of colonialism and guiding us along the path of SelfGovernment toward an Independent and Free Belize.

We, in Freetown, like to believe we have a special claim on George Price as our former and first PUP Area Representative. Mr. Price touched the lives of many Freetown families and made lifelong friendships with longtime residents of the Old Kings Park Area which today still forms a part of the Freetown Constituency.

Today, we pray for Mr. Price, his family, our Party and our Nation. Mr. Price was a man of deep abiding faith and we wish him eternal peace and glory in God’s Kingdom.

We shall mourn his loss with heavy hearts but we will celebrate his life and his enduring legacy of service and humility.

It is our responsibility to carry on his work and to ensure that generations to come can appreciate the lessons of his simple yet distinguished life.

--- END ---

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 25th , 2011

Page 6 By: Ivan Frank Roberts J.P. Email:belcredit@yahoo.com Phone: + (501) 665-6143 HISTORY: I first heard the words in the Supreme Court of Belize. Here I take an extract from Insert 20 Of the Belize Times dated Sunday, September 20, 2009, “The Chief justice told lawyer Lois Young Barrow she should consider the Goldsonian Principle, Young Barrow looked perplexed, not knowing what was coming her way, and the learned Chief justice said - Counsel, perhaps you should apply the Goldsonian Principle, Mr. Goldson had said that the time to save your country is before you lose it. So the time to save your rights is before you lose them, The Chief justice was bantering over a ma¬jor constitutional issue before rim. Sir, Barry Bowen, I and the Landowners “-\ssociation filed applications requesting the Chief justice to strike down the government constitutional amend¬ment relating to Section 17 of the Constitution. This section guarantees to all persons the right of access to the court and the right of reasonable compensation within a reasonable time whenev¬er the government properly and lawfully acquires any property. The government has attempted to amend the Constitution to take away this guar¬antee from all land owners in Belize. This is un¬heard of.

It is unheard of because no government in a democracy seeks to take away the constitutional rights of its citizens in order to facilitate oil com¬panies. The government has told Belizeans that all oil found in Belize should belong to the gov¬ernment. As such the government in one of the many amendments it is making to our Constitu¬tion has put forward this sttange amendment that it is taking away the oil from the people of Belize and vesting it in the government. Government has gone much further in its amendments to pre¬vent every land owner and potential land owner from ever being able to get any compensation for the loss of oil under their land.

Worse, they are being prevented from going to the Supreme Court to uphold their rights, which are guaran¬teed under the Belize Constitution in Section 17” HOW QUICK DO WE FORGET. Back then the Barrow Government was seeking to give every thing to do with oil to the New King of Belize. Alex Cranburg. When you call this man’s name be prepared to die. He has no other than Barrow and Williams protecting his interest in Belize. This is the very same Barrow and Williams who did protect Michael Ashcraft for many years.

When the Belize 6th Amendment Bill came out the Bar Association told the nation that nothing could be done about the bill until the Bill became law. I begged to differ because there is Section 20 of the Constitution which tells me that if I feel that my rights, is been, has been, or is likely to be contravened, that I have access to the Supreme Court for redress. The same Section 20 exists today so why is

The Goldsonian Principle Belize 9th Amendment Bill

the Bar Association not filing suit. by taking the words “any other The same Goldsonian Principle Law” out of section 2 by saying exists today. that “any other Law” do not apply when they are changing, altering, THE 9th AMENDMENT amending the Constitution. The Those Belizeans who worked on protection given to us by the conthe preamble to the Belize Consti- stitution against bad laws will now tution were inspired enough to re- be lost. alized that the day will come when The very next thing they did is evil men will sit in the House of to make themselves GOD by add Representative to whom they a new subsection (9) to the prewould be giving power to make sent section (69). To hide what laws in section sixty nine (69) for they are really doing, they do not the Constitution of Belize. There- change any thing in section (69) fore they, in the creation of our but they say, “it is hereby declared Constitution, in section 1 spelt out that the provisions of this section what type of political stance Belize are all ¬inclusive and exhaustive will adopt and where Belize will and there is no other limitation, reside in the world. Immediately whether substantive or procedural, for placing Belize on the world on the power of the National Asmap, those wise man and women, sembly to alter this Constitution; went about to protect Belize from and a law passed by the .National any evil law maker of Belize. They Assembly to alter any of the provicreated Section 2 which states, sions of this Constitution which is “This Constitution is the supreme passed in conformity with this seclaw of Belize and if any other law tion shall not be open to challenge is inconsistent with this constitu- in any court of law on any ground tion that other law shall, to the ex- whatsoever”. WHAT DOES THIS tent of the inconstancy, be VOID”. MEAN? Let us first look at the I want to remind you all that we word inclusive. It means, “all is are a English speaking nation with one”. Now lets us look at the word other languages coexisting within exhaustive which comes from the the nation. The English language word exhaust which means, “to is structured in such a way that we consume entirely, burnt out”. Add have hierarchical position (relating “ive” to “exhaust” and we have to or arranged in a formally ranked “exhaustive” which means, “testorder) when we number our writ- ing all possibilities or considering ings. Therefore section two (2) car- all elements”. So what is Dean Olries a heavier weight than number iver Barrow saying to us all? sixty nine, (69). Knowing that in I will take out the big words and section sixty nine they were going put little ones so that we can all unto give elected men and women derstand. the power to make laws, in section THE REAL MEANING of Secseventeen (17) they gave the law tion 69 (9):makers the right to take away your “(9) For the removal of doubts, property but spelt our the manor in (so that you know exactly what I which they can do such taking and am saying), it is hereby declared, in section twenty (20) they gave (by we your Area Rep.) that the the nation protection from any provisions ( all in section 69 besuch law maker who seek to de- fore this proposed change) of this prive them of their rights through section (69 before the proposed access to the court for redress. change) are all ¬inclusive ( are Then before they gave the law now considered an one thing) and makers the power to make laws exhaustive (are all burnt out, conagain from a hierarchical posi- sumed totally, like when fire burn tion (relating to or arranged in a it up, no good any more) and there formally ranked order) meaning is no other limitation, ( and since in section sixty eight (68) told the they are all one which we have just law makers what type of laws they burnt up, there is no other limits were suppose to make. They told on our power no matter how you them that the laws you make must look at it) whether substantive or be for good Governance. Then and procedural, on the power of the only after sections 2, 17, 20 and 68 National Assembly to alter this did the creators of our Constitu- Constitution; and a law passed by tion gave to the elected members the .National Assembly to alter of the House of Representative the any of the provisions of this Conpower to make laws. The Constitu- stitution which is passed in contion makes it clear that there shall formity with this section (which is be three arms of Government; The passed by this new change which Executive (which is Her Majesty we are now making) shall not be the Queen of England), The Legis- open to challenge in any court of lative (Area Reps), and The Judici- law on any ground whatsoever.(no ary (The Court). There is a separa- court “Judge” can hear a case filed tion of powers. None of the three against what we have done under arms of Government has more any section of this constitution)” power over the other.

Section 20 just got killed with out touching it.

We Want To Be GODS The present Law makers want to Then in the new Section 145 promake themselves GOD over us posed in the 9th Amendment they all. Since they have what they la- seek to push sections seventeen bel the SUPER MAJORITY, they (17) and twenty (20) aside so now seek to take power over the that they can do what ever they other two arms of Government. so choose. How do they do this?

To do this they, in this 9th Amend- They do it by using the English ment, immediately change section language to its max. One word, 2 of the Constitution. They do this “NOTWITHSTANDING”. That

one word pushes sections seventeen (17) and twenty (20) aside with out changing it in any way.

The Oxford Dictionary tells us that the meaning of “NOTWITHSTANDING” is, “although”, “in spite of the fact that”. Now lets us read the proposed new Section 145. Next to “NOTWITHSTANDING” I will insert the words “in spite of the fact that” and hope that you will see what your Area Representative is doing to you and the taking of your rights and property.

Remember that 20 give you rights and 17 protect your property. Let us Read:HOW THEY TAKE OF THE BATE” 145. (1) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the acquisition of certain property by the Government under the terms of the(a) Electricity Act, as amended, and the Electricity (Assump¬tion of Control Over Belize Electricity Limited) Order, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as “the Electricity Acquisition Order”); and (b) Belize Telecommunications Act, as amended, and the Belize Telecommunications (Assumption of Control Over Belize Telemedia Limited) Order, 2011, (hereinafter referred to as “the Telemedia Acquisition Order”), was duly carried out for a public purpose in accordance with the laws authorising the acquisition of such property, and no court shall enquire into the constitutionality, legality or validity of the said acquisitions (notwithstanding, anything to the contrary contained in section 17, section 20 or any other provision of this Constitution or any other law or rule of practice.)

Change the word notwithstanding to it real meaning Belize Telecommunications Act, as amended, and the Belize Telecommunications (Assumption of Control Over Belize Telemedia Limited) Order, 2011, (hereinafter referred to as “the Telemedia Acquisition Order”), was duly carried out for a public purpose in accordance with the laws authorising the acquisition of such property, and no court shall enquire into the constitutionality, legality or validity of the said acquisitions (in spite of the fact of anything to the contrary contained in section 17, section 20 or any other provision of this Constitution or any other law or rule of practice.) (no matter what sections seventeen (17) and twenty (20) says it do not apply when they are changing, altering, amending the Constitution.) This is where all your rights has just been taken from you that are contained in sections seventeen (17) and twenty (20).

Now for all of you who were so stupid to sell out your country for one day’s meal, like Toledo People, who boldly shouted that they support the 9th Amendment, and Cannon Flowers who run to tell the nation that the Counsel of Churches support the 9th Amendment, let us look at the possibilities.

Cannon Flowers have you seen

Continues on page 10

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Page 7

“ Farewell...oh Father of The Nation”

“ ...A Greatful Nation of Belize”

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Page 8

Caribbean News

Cargo ship crash leaves supermarkets and shoppers up a creek

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Thursday September 8, 2011 – A five-day delay in a cargo shipment at the end of August has left wholesalers and supermarket owners counting thousands of dollars in losses after having to discard a large amount of their produce and vegetables.

The Tropical Shipping cargo ship ran aground in a British Virgin Island marine part on the night of August 28. The ship, which was originally from Miami, stopped off in Tortola on route to St. Maarten, where it ran aground in a national marine park and the most popular dive site in the British Virgin Islands, the Wreck of the RMS Rhone.

Included in the cargo was goods belonging to the up-market The Epicurean and Island Provisions Limited in St. John’s.

Both companies operate supermarkets and were forced to operate with limited stock for several days but now have returned to

normal operations.

Epicurean’s general manager Richard Buoni said his four Tropical Shipping containers were transferred to another ship that arrived in Antigua on Monday, a week behind schedule.

The containers were supposed to arrive on Monday, August 29, but eventually arrived on Monday, September 5, forcing the retailers to discard many crates of food, including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, mushrooms, onions, leafy vegetables, which were all condemned.

Buoni said they were still calculating their losses but they estimated that it would be in the range of thousands of dollars.

At Island Provision, chief operations officer Everton Michael said the losses were constantly being revised because produce items which were thought to be good are turning bad very quickly on the shelves.

CARICOM takeover code coming for regional exchanges

Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Securities Exchange Commission Deborah Thomas-Felix, underscored the fact that effective regulators in this globalised world should be provided with the much need resources to conduct effective surveillance and monitori PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Thursday September 15, 2011 – An urgent need for cross-border co-operation among regulators on the takeovers and acquisitions of companies within CARICOM has prompted heads of regional securities and exchange commissions to work on a common policy to govern such transactions.

Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Securities Exchange Commission Deborah Thomas-Felix said at a regulators roundtable during the T&T Unit Trust Corporation’s recent Inaugural Investor Conference, that regional regulators were close to developing the common code and choice of law rules, which were now in the final stages of development.

Speaking on the theme: Reset Your Investment Strategy, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of-Spain, ThomasFelix said the aim was to streamline the way companies with large capital reserves, seeking to buy more wealth, did so. “Regulators need to combine their

strengths to carefully monitor and manage risks by information sharing in order to ensure greater efficiency, transparency and integrity in the market. Ultimately, the burden placed upon regulators globally, is to bring order and sanity back to the table; all for the sake of renewed investor confidence and growth of the economy,” she said.

Thomas-Felix underscored the fact that effective regulators in this globalised world, not only need to be knowledgeable about new and complex structured products, but should be provided with the much need resources to conduct effective surveillance and monitoring of the market. Regulatory bodies across the board, she said, had generally been funded by the public purse and consequently had always competed, albeit unsuccessfully, for the best talent in the world of finance.

“Commissions such as the SEC must continue to be staffed with experienced and well qualified experts who are adequately remunerated.”

Regional governments urged to support Palestine’s statehood application ideologies should not be confused with political realities, while pointing out that Arab countries have significant financial resources, which the region badly needs at this time.

He said governments should not be worried about backlash from the United States, one of Israel’s strongest allies, since according to him, it has tightened its immigration policy over the years, and has not been pumping considerable funds into the region.

Antigua & Barbuda’s Prime Humphrey also criticized Minister Baldwin Spencer said trade unions for not being this decision and its implications more proactive on this issue. are expected to be discussed at could trade unions in a CARICOM Caucus of Perma- “How the Caribbean aloof nent Representatives to the UN. from the voteremain on PalesST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Monday tine…and how could we stand idly September 19, 2011 – Caribbean by and allow our governments to governments been warned of “se- abstain on such a crucial vote?” he vere implications” for the region queried. if they do not support Palestine’s To date, Belize, Guyana, Suriapplication for statehood at the name, and St. Vincent and the UN Security Council.

Grenadines have recognised PalThe caution was issued yesterday estine.

by General Secretary of the Car- Antigua & Barbuda’s Prime Minibbean Congress of Labour (CCL) ister Baldwin Spencer said this Senator Chester Humphrey, ahead decision and its implications are of Friday’s bid by Palestine. expected to be discussed at a “It has serious implications for CARICOM Caucus of Permanent governments who are straddled Representatives to the UN. with serious constraints in terms The US has said it will use its of falling revenues, growing so- veto to block Palestinian’s bid for cial demands and poverty and statehood within the 1967 borders large unemployment,” Humphrey ,which include the West Bank and told a trade union conference Gaza Strip, and insists that direct here. “This is why we need a very talks between Israel and Palestine robust foreign policy.” is the only way to resolve the con“It’s the right and just thing to do. flict.

The Palestinians need a state and The US and European countries the occupation of their country are negotiating ahead of the vote must come to an end,” he said. to avoid a showdown at the UN Humphrey stressed that biblical General Assembly in New York.

Ophelia less organised but still a strong tropical storm

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday September 22, 2011 - The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) is reporting that Ophelia is now a less organised system packing high winds.

The 11 a.m. AST NHC report indicated that Tropical Storm Opehlia was located near 13.6 north 47.6 west or about 975 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands.

The 11 am AST NHC advisory indicates that maximum sustained winds are near 65 miles per hour with higher gusts and tropical storm force winds extend 230 miles mainly to the north of the system.

The estimated minimum central pressure for the system has dropped to 994 mb.

Tropical Storm Ophelia is the 15th named storm of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Page 9

Guatemala seeks genocide trial for former general

NEBAJ, Guatemala (AP) — Juana Matom was just 8 or 9 when soldiers marched into her remote village in the highlands of Guatemala. Horrified, she watched them take her older brother and beat him bloody.

When the soldiers turned to her, Matom fled barefoot into the dense jungle near her village in Nejab, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Guatemala City.

“They told us we had to go with them,” said Matom, an indigenous Ixil who is now about 38. “I thought that if I stayed, they would kill me.”

The next day, villagers found the body of her brother and 12 others.

This week, 29 years after her brother’s death, Matom hopes to find a measure of justice: A judge is expected to decide Wednesday whether a former army general should be tried for genocide in connection with 635 massacres of indigenous people that reportedly took place during the 36-year civil war between the government and leftist guerrillas. If the general goes to trial, it would mark the first genocide case in Guatemala’s history.

Former Gen. Hector Mario Lopez Fuentes was detained in Guatemala City in June on charges that he planned and ordered about 300 massacres when he was chief of staff of the Guatemalan military between 1982 and 1983, under the dictatorship of Gen. Efrain Rios Montt.

The charges against Lopez are a first not just for Guatemala.

“No one else in America has answered to this type of atrocious crime,” said lawyer Edgar Perez Archila, who is representing survivors and families of victims of the massacres. “There have been allegations in the past in Guatemala, but they didn’t get anywhere.”

Countries like Argentina, Chile and Uruguay have pursued charges of human rights violations against military figures from their respective civil turmoil, but no genocide charges.

According to a United Nations investigation, the killings in Guatemala oc-

4 earthquakes rock Guatemala

Residents look on inside their damaged house after an earthquake in Cuilapa, Guatemala, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. Four earthquakes curred between 1978 and 1984. About struck the southeastern part of Guatemala in less than two hours 95 percent took place in Matom’s home Monday afternoon, causing at least one death, authorities said. At state of Quiche during a brutal war that least three people were reported missing. wore on from 1960 to 1996 and claimed 200,000 lives.

Francisco Chavez, 35, says he was 6 years old when soldiers appeared in his town, also in Quiche, and killed his father. He was kept at a military compound for six months, then spent the next dozen years in an orphanage. He was not reunited with his mother until he was 18.

“What we want is justice,” said Chavez, a founding member of the Association for Justice and Reconciliation. “They were not criminals, the people who were being seized. They were our families.”

A few weeks ago, Lopez’s lawyers filed a motion seeking to dismiss the charges because the 81-year-old former general has prostate cancer, suffers from depression and is no longer coherent. The judge, Flores, rejected the motion.

Lopez’s lawyer, Edgar Leonel de Leon, declined to speak with The Associated Press.

Other activists and human rights advocates have sought to have similar charges pressed against Rios Montt, but the former dictator now enjoys immunity because he is a legislator in Guatemala’s Congress.

Rios Montt told a local radio station in June that he would be willing to face justice as well for the events of the early 1980s.

“It was a time of war, of guerrilla wars,” Montt told the Emisoras Unidas station.

“If there is no justice, there can be no talk of peace.”

The U.N. investigation said 90 percent of the civil war’s human rights violation were committed by the army or allied paramilitary forces under the government’s “scorched earth” campaign. The rest were blamed on rebel guerrillas.

Indigenous communities were targeted by the government because they were considered recruiting grounds for guerrilla forces, the United Nations says.

Mario Merida, a former army colonel who is now a political science professor,

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Four earthquakes struck the southeastern part of Guatemala in less than two hours Monday afternoon, causing at least one death as some walls collapsed, authorities said. At least three people were reported missing.

President Alvaro Colom urged calm after the temblors were felt across much of the Central American country, the largest a 5.8 magnitude. All were centered in an area about 30 miles (51 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Guatemala City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

“There is no reason to think there will be anything bigger,” Colom said at a news conference.

He said all rescue forces and government agencies had been activated to deal with the aftermath.

USGS geophysicist Rafael Abreu said all four quakes were connected to the same fault running through the area.

A 38-year-old woman, Floridalma Divas Escobar, died when a wall fell down in her house in Cuilapa, the epicenter and one of the areas most effected, said Mariano Laz, spokes-

man for the local Volunteer Fire Department.

Colom said there were at least three people missing and others injured, though he didn’t say how many or in what locations.

Besides Cuilapa, the areas of Santa Maria Inhuatan and Oratorio were most affected, Guatemala’s seismology institute said. Public buildings were evacuated and school classes canceled.

Many people camped out in tents Monday night because of damage to their homes or worries about further quakes.

The quakes also caused landslides along the main highway to El Salvador, and at least one car was buried, authorities said.

The largest quake hit about 12:34 local time, a half hour after a 4.8-magnitude temblor. Another 4.8-magnitude quake hit at about 1:20 p.m. A fourth of 4.5-magnitude was reported in an area south of the others at 2:30 p.m.

The depths of the quakes varied from 23 miles (37 kilometers) to 38 miles (61 kilometers).

disputes that allegation.

He said that there was no intent to commit excessive killings and that military leaders never wanted unarmed communities to be targeted. It’s “perverse” to try Lopez for crimes committed by people not following orders, he said.

The civil war ended in 1996 when peace accords were signed. But daily life hasn’t changed much in Matom’s village.

She and many of her neighbors go barefoot. There’s no running water in their village and no bathrooms in their homes.

During the rainy season, the village is not accessible. Most here live on subsistence farming, growing corn for their needs.

Many here don’t know about Lopez’s

arrest.

Matom remembers that survivors of the raid returned to the village and hurriedly buried the dead in two mass graves before they disappeared again into the hills.

The bodies remained there until 1999, when they were exhumed as part of an investigation. Most had been beaten or stabbed to death. Family members identified their loved ones by their clothing or their placement in the mass graves.

In 2000, the victims were memorialized with a formal funeral.

“Finally, we could bury them,” Matom said during a recent visit to her brother’s grave, where she brings flowers to each month.

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Page 10

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is pressing ahead Tuesday with his diplomatic campaign to gain full U.N. membership, brushing aside heated Israeli objections and a promised U.S. veto as the issue of Palestinian statehood takes center stage with world leaders gathering for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly session.

Abbas had meetings scheduled Tuesday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, among leaders, as he sought to line up support ahead of his speech Friday to the General Assembly when the Palestinians vow to submit a letter formally requesting U.N. membership.

Envoys of the Quartet of Mideast mediators — the U.S., the U.N., the European Union and Russia — planned to meet again Tuesday in an effort to avert a divisive showdown over Palestinian statehood by crafting a way forward that would be enough to persuade the Palestinians to drop their bid and have enough caveats for Israel to get its support.

As the Palestinians edged closer to seeking statehood recognition from the United Nations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Abbas to meet with him in New York. The Israel leader said he wanted to resume peace talks, upping the pressure on Abbas and building on the frenzied diplomacy swirling around the Palestinians’ bid.

Regardless, Abbas said he had not been swayed by what he called “tremendous pressure” to drop the bid for U.N. recognition and instead to resume peace talks with Israel. Senior aides to the Palestinian leader said Abbas was undaunted by threats of punitive measures.

“Abbas says to every one: it’s enough, 20 years of negotiations are more than enough, the world should intervene and end the Israeli occupation as long as the USA can’t,” said Mohammed Ishtayeh, an Abbas aide.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, however, there was still time to find a solution to the diplomatic crisis.

Clinton told reporters in New York that the U.S. is talking with all sides to defuse the standoff, noting that there were still several days to seek a compromise before Abbas’ speech.

She joined Netanyahu in calling for new talks and repeated the U.S. position that the only path to a separate state for Palestinians is through negotiations with Israel.

Nabil Shaath, senior aide to Abbas, told The Associated Press that the Palestinian leader informed U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during their meeting Monday that he would present him with a letter requesting full membership on Friday, ahead of Abbas’ speech to the General Assembly.

Any candidate for U.N. membership must submit a letter to the secretarygeneral stating it is a “peace-loving” state and accepts the U.N. Charter. Ban is expected to examine the Palestinian letter and then send it to the 15-member U.N. Security Council, which must give its approval before a vote in the larger General Assembly.

Ishtayeh said the letter will state: “Pal-

Palestinians will submit UN membership letter

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, bottom, signs a book while surrounded by his advisors before a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the 66th session of the General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. estine is a peace-loving state and has contributed to human civilization, that it has succeeded in building state institutions.” It would also cite the need to consider the pre-1967 Mideast War borders as those of the Palestinian state, he said.

Although any submission by the Palestinians could wait weeks or months for U.N. action, it has sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity with Mideast mediators scrambling to find a way to draw the sides back to the negotiating table.

Shaath said last ditch efforts to dissuade the Palestinian president from approaching the Security Council had failed. He said Palestinians had been threatened with harsh punitive measures but had decided to move ahead nonetheless.

The comment appeared to refer to the warnings by some in the U.S. Congress that current and future financial aid to the Palestinian Authority could be in jeopardy if they move ahead with the membership bid. The U.S. gives some $500 million a year in aid to the Palestinians.

Israel has not said how it will respond to a Palestinian declaration of independence, though hardliners in Netanyahu’s government have called for a variety of measures, including annexing parts or all of the West Bank or withholding tax funds that Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinians.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said that by going to the U.N., the Palestinians are violating “the spirit and the word of signed commitments” that pledged to resolve disagreements through negotiations. “Israel reserves the right to respond,” he said Tuesday, refusing to elaborate.

Each side in on-again-off-again IsraeliPalestinian talks has accused the other of being an untrustworthy and intransigent participant in the peace process.

In a statement issued late Monday, Netanyahu called on Abbas to begin “direct negotiations in New York and continue

them in Jerusalem and Ramallah.” It provided no other details or indications that Netanyahu was willing to cede to any of the Palestinians’ demands.

Ban “reiterated his support for the twostate solution and stressed his desire to ensure that the international community and the two parties can find a way forward for resuming negotiations within a legitimate and balanced framework,” U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said after the secretary-general met with Abbas.

The comment underscored the desires of some members of the Quartet of Mideast mediators that Palestinian statehood should not be granted before a resumption of peace talks. While the four international mediators have repeatedly called for renewed negotiations, Russia

supports U.N. membership for Palestine.

The long-stalled negotiations have been unable to solve key issues including Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and the status of east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their capital. Israel captured both areas in the 1967 Mideast war.

Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov agreed at a Monday night meeting that the Quartet envoys should meet again for the third straight day on Tuesday, officials said.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic work, said progress was being made on a joint Quartet statement that would include a modest upgrade to Palestinian status at the U.N., address Israel’s demand that it be recognized as a Jewish state, and set a broad timeline for renewed negotiations.

The timeframe wouldn’t be a deadline, as such, but would be aimed at addressing the Palestinian desire to see quick action. The offer would come with an unchanged message that Washington would veto the Palestinian bid at the Security Council for U.N. membership, but at the very least it would represent a dignity-saving compromise for Abbas’ U.S.-backed government.

By already promising a veto in the Security Council, the U.S. has blocked that course for the Palestinians before they even submit the request.

Alternatively, the Palestinians could seek the approval of a majority of the General Assembly’s 193 member states to upgrade their status from a permanent observer to a nonmember observer state — a designation that would leave them with a symbolic victory despite years of failed negotiations and waning hopes for statehood.

In either scenario, the Palestinians will have shown they have the power to force action on the issue at a time when Israel is feeling increasingly isolated in the region.

The Goldsonian Principle Belize 9th Amendment Bill country and not Belize, were to Contyinued from page 6

any printed promise of what would be changed? Did it go to and was passed by the House of Representative? Would it not be a new bill if there was a change to this bill? Being a man of god did not Jesus say to render to Sesser what is Sesser and on to GOD that what is God’s? Did the bible in the book of Hosea not tell you, “wow to the man who scattered my flock”. You need to revisit Hosea and address the entire 4th chapter then revisit your action of miss leading the nation. Was it for your own gain?

THE POSSIBILITIES Lets us suppose that then years from now, a nation such as Taiwan, Chaina, even Guatemala was to finance thirty one born Belizean, whose parents are of that country’s decent and who were brought up, at home, to love the parents native

win a super majority in a general election. This 9th Amendment, would have opened the doors for that super majority to amend section 1 of the Belize Constitution to read, “Belize shall be a sovereign state of , Taiwan, Chaina, even Guatemala in Central America by the Caribbean Sea”. Yes! I know that this lot will tell you that this is scare tactic. You know what! You better get bloody scared because I am. Vote! Support! Back this 9th Amendment and look at the possibilities.

One of the Area Rep wants your land. With Section 17 compromised he doesn’t have to prove that his taking it is for Public Use. He can just take it legally. Physically will be the through question?

I beg all of you adopt the Goldsonian Principle. * * * Ivan Frank Roberts J.P. * * *

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Sunday, September 25th , 2011

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$152,500.00 ( SATURDAY’S SEPTEMBER 24th, 2011 Jackpot )

Page 12

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Waking up to George Price’s death

“Hon George Cadle Price left us a legacy we need to cherish and go back to. His early thoughts were for Belizeans to own Belize, the poor to be less and the more affluent to be more caring. He tried to be middle of the road between socialism and capitalism. Today we need to reflect and see if Belize is where it is because his principles were not followed and corruption and greed has prevailed.” - Romel Perdomo on facebook, September 19th, 2011.

Among those of my generation the general feeling is that a part of Belize died when the Right Honorable George Cadle Price died.

His death punctuated the end of an era, of a simpler time, and we can only hope that hope itself did not die with him. For the generations who longed for the dignity of self-actualization, he offered hope, and a hope that we could believe in.

There will be many encomiums offered for the colossus of Belizean politics, and many a story or anecdote because GCP, as I used to refer to him in my mind, not only touched the lives of nearly every Belizean, but met and remembered tens of thousands.

I met Mr. Price many times during the course of my life, literally from I was a child until October of last year, and always found him cordial and courtly, inquiring but not quite intrusive, paternalistic without being patronizing, and insistent without being demanding.

I asked someone who knew him very, very well what he thought of Mr. Price and that person said that he was “visionary but not an idealist … a visionary with a complex sense of realism”, and pointed out that he had a “mystical quality” and could “totally focus on you” in his conversations with you, among other things. I agree.

GCP was a poet, a philosopher, and a politician, and had all the attributes of being a priest. I remember meeting him twice on Election Day, June 1993, early as the polls had opened, and late when the polls had closed. Both times he preferred to discuss literature rather than politics, even though near the end of the day his machinery had gone into hypergear because it seemed there was a chance he could lose.

My most enduring and endearing memory of meeting GCP was

in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 1992. I was one of many revelers streaming out of the Big Apple Disco on North Front Street as the dawn broke and the new year revealed itself, and encountered the good gentleman on his way to Mass. (I am not sure but current Prime Minister Dean Barrow may have been one of the revelers there that night. He was not among the group that left at the time I did, though).

Mr. Price recognized me. I was nonplussed but he made no comment on my hedonism but instead wished me a Happy New Year, offered me God’s blessing, and in typical avuncular fashion, suggested I needed to get some sleep.

In turn I wished him a Happy New Year and he replied that he was truly grateful for each new day.

As I listened to the tributes being paid and played, for a moment I wondered if In death GCP had not managed one more time to unite the PUP and UDP and if one of the most polarizing politicians of our times had not become a symbol of national unity. I was taken aback to hear Dean Barrow and Finnegan in particular speak in generous terms about him. In all my life I had never heard either say a kind word publicly or privately about Mr. Price. In fact quite the opposite was the case.

There is something particularly hypocritical and false about Finnegan paying tribute to him by reading Walt Whitman’s “Oh Captain My Captain”. In my day you didn’t “read” poetry, you recited poetry – anything less was “bush”. In my encounters with Mr. Price he would often recite from memory a few lines or verses from poems as object lessons to me, for example. I am sure that he would’ve amused by Finnegan’s shenanigans.

The Walt Whitman poem Finnegan read was written for US President Abraham Lincoln after he had been assassinated just 5 days after the Army of the Confederacy had surrendered to the Union Army, and the Confederate government had fled its capital. It meant that the US Civil War was ending but the nation’s President had paid the ultimate price and would not be around to help “bind up the wounds of the nation.”

I am unsure what it is that Finnegan was trying to say or if he just chose that poem because he found it emotional and evocative rather than illustrative and attributive.

I rather the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “A Psalm of Life” (What the heart of the young man said to the psalmist): Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! -For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they

Men accused of shooting Rodwell Williams to stand trial in Supreme Court

Ricky Valencia, 28

By Rhenae Nunez Wednesday, September 21, 2011 BELIZE CITY – It was the shooting that reverberated across the land when Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s law partner and long time friend, Senior Counsel Rodwell Williams, now fifty-four years, was shot in front of their Albert Street law office on May 31, 2010.

Williams had exited his office around eight that night and was being escorted by their security guard when two men appeared – one of them took out a gun and shot Williams once to his abdomen. He was rushed to the Belize Healthcare Hospital where a team of six doctors worked all night to save his life. The bullet ruptured his intestines and damaged his liver and barely missed his heart.

After heroic efforts to save his life, Williams was flown to Miami Florida where he underwent further treatment at the Ryder Trauma Center. Williams returned to Belize in September of last year and in December returned to his practice.

The two men accused of carrying out the attack, Ricky Valencia, 28 and Akeem Thurton, 19 will face a Supreme Court judge. It is left to

Akeem Thurton. 19

be seen whether the men will be tried without a jury since the law was passed earlier this year.

Preliminary inquiry presided over

by Magistrate Ed Usher on Friday, September 9, 2011 concluded that a prima facie case had been established and that there was enough evidence to stand trial in the Supreme Court on charges of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm. Both men were offered bail in the amount of Eight Thousand dollars each – Thurton posted bail and was released on bail while Valencia was remanded to the Hattieville Central Prison after he was unable to meet bail.

Although the motive for the attack remains unknown – the attack on Rodwell Williams is believe to have been a paid assassination attempt. PM Barrow who was visibly shaken after the attack said that he had no knowledge of any plot to execute Williams.

A few weeks prior there was an attack on the office when a projectile went through the upstairs window of the office. Barrow and police denied that it was a bullet – no casing or any evidence of what the projectile was – was collected from the scene. Neither PM Barrow nor Williams appeared concerned about the attack on either of them.

www.nationalperspectivebz.org seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe’er pleas-

ant!

Let the dead Past bury its dead!

Act, -- act in the living Present!

Heart within, and God o’erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o’er life’s solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.

In other words, to quote George Cadle Price, it is time to “Wake up and work.”

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Sunday, September 25th , 2011

I mpartialView By: Marshal Nunez

“Just as the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28).

This scripture describes the Right Honorable George Cadle Price in a nutshell. The nation of Belize woke up in mourning Monday morning when we learned of the passing of the father of the nation between 6:30 and 7:00 am.

Since then there have been hundreds and hundreds of testimonials from Belizeans at home and in the Diaspora expressing their personal experience of meeting the Right Honorable George Cadle Price.

The government of Belize lead

by Prime Minister Dean Barrow gave an official announcement of the passing of Belize’s first prime minister and the father of the nation. The prime minister notified the nation that the Government of Belize and the Price family will be organizing a state funeral for the Right Honorable George Cadle Price who the prime minister described as a gentle giant and further stated that there is none among us who will be able to live up to the expectations of the Right Honorable George Cadle Price.

The prime minister also noted that the government had sent out a diplomatic note informing the world of the passing of the Right Honorable George Cadle Price.

Even as I write this article the government, the media and the Price family continue to be inundated with letters of condolences and sympathies for this true hero.

The Right Honorable George Cadle Price was not only a hero for Belize but he is a political icon in the Western hemisphere, especially in Central America and the Caribbean. Some words that the people use to describe Mr. Price are hero, great leader, gentle giant, humble man, and a spiritual man. And I’m sure there are other words that can be used to describe the Right Honorable George Cadle Price.

A hero is somebody who is admired for outstanding qualities or achievements or somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character.

Again these definitions certainly explain or quantify what Mr. Price is.

A leader is described as the head of a nation, political party, legislative body, or military unit. Mr. Price has been a political leader for decades, starting in 1950.

While his hallmark is the attainment of political independence, he’s also responsible for attaining universal adult suffrage and self government. But when we reflect on what has kept Mr. Price as the leader of that political party for so

In death, the Right Honorable George Cadle Price unites the nation

long it has to be his type of leadership.

The many testimonials over the past couple of days have one central theme - that Mr. Price will be forever remembered as being a charismatic and spiritual leader.

Charismatic leadership is leadership based on the leader’s ability to communicate and behave in ways that reach followers in a basic, emotional way, and so inspires and motivates. We often speak of some political leaders as charismatic.

Spiritual leadership insists on humility. Humility is the attitude that puts others ahead of you, that considers others more important than yourself. I had my personal experience with Mr. Price like the tens of thousands of other Belizeans. When I got involved in electoral politics in 1996 Mr. Price called me to Independence Hall and gave me a history of my father’s involvement with the PUP. Mr. Price told me that my father was one of the founding members of the PUP and he was involved at the time with the likes of Lee Richardson, John Smith, Phillip Goldson, Nicolas Pollard, Norman Lianfiesta, Ducho Thomas, Desmond Vaughan, and Mike Rosado. My father was the secretary of the Christian Workers Union and was involved with the workers union movement which became the People Committee and later the People’s United Party.

Mr. Price told me that my father was once detained in “piss house” when he along with Mr. Price and others were arrested.

So, like many other Belizeans, I also had a personal contact with Mr. Price. And his conviction to service will continue to resound in me for as long as I live.

When I listened to Love FM the morning after he had passed away and to the outpouring of sympathies to the family, I was touched by the numbers of politician’s who called to the radio program, but more so the number of UDP politicians who have called and expressed their sympathies and their experiences that they’ve had with Mr. Price. It is therefore very pleasing to me to recognize that many of the current politicians seem to have some level of influence based on Mr. Price persona.

Last week Impartial View stated that the first half of September has gone and the country was so divided and how the ninth constitutional amendment has divided us.

While it is sad that the father of the nation has passed away during these times, it is also very important because Mr. Price who has been this exemplary leader for our nation, who has always reminded us that we should be united as a nation, even in his passing is able

to unite us once again. Mr. Price has always reminded us that we are Belizeans first regardless of our political ethnic or religious beliefs.

The last couple of days people of different political views, different religious doctrines, different ethnics groups have all come together to express sympathy with the family of Mr. Price. It is my belief that this time, at 30 years of independence, is as important to this nation as the 21st September, 1981, when we were freed from British colonial rule and became

an independent nation. Mr. Price has given us our Belizean identity through his attainment of political independence in 1981. And 30 years after independence in his passing, he once again unites us as a nation and brings us back united as Belizeans.

Allow me to use this opportunity to also express my deepest sympathy and condolences to this nation and to Mr. Price’s family on behalf of my own family. And as I pray and ask God to bless Mr. Price as he ascends to that place up under that his soul rests in eternal peace.

And I just want to leave with this quote. The Right Honorable George Cadle Price is the father of this nation, the father of our independence and the architect of our Belizean identity and in his death being the leader that he was, he has been able to unite us once again before he leaves this earth.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

www.nationalperspectivebz.org

Nine year old a victim of City Street Violence

Joshua Abraham, 9 years.

By Rhenae Nunez

Wednesday, September 21, 2011 BELIZE CITY – It is hard to convince anyone living and breathing in Belize City that the assassination of nine year old Joshua Abraham on Victoria Street on Independence Day was not gang related or at least gang motivated.

Joshua is not a member of a gang, however he is the son of Carlos Abraham of George Street who was recently brutalized in a GSU operation following funeral for Charles Woodeye about three weeks ago.

According to police report, nineyear-old Joshua Abraham was shot in the left side of the rib cage. Initial investigation revealed that two male persons riding on separate bicycles rode pass on Victoria Street and New Road where they fired several shots randomly causing the fatal injuries.

Joshua’s mother, Marcia Argalles told the media that it was in the middle of preparing for guests that she expected at her home that she heard the shots and heard her son yell, “Ma!”. She ran to him but by then neighbors had put him in a car which she jumped into and

rushed him to the hospital – he was bleeding profusely and she was unsure of where he got injured since his face was covered with blood. By the time they made it to the hospital, little Joshua had succumbed.

The shooting happened shortly after midday almost simultaneously with the Prime Minister claiming in his Independence Day speech that the gang truce is holding. Re-

ports of incidences of shootings and stabbings suggests otherwise. While speculation is that Joshua Abraham was not the intended target of the gun men and it was not gang related, there is widespread unease over what may be the aftermath of the shooting because he is the son of a George Street figure and the shooters are said to be gang members who were settling their own matter.

Reports are that the men shot into a crowd that was reveling on Victoria Street following the Independence Day Parade. The men fired randomly into the gathering injuring Joshua. A neighbor who was in the gathering said that she told Joshua to run which he did as called for his mother - soon after she noticed him being brought out of a yard bleeding profusely from his nose and mouth.

Joshua Abraham is the third child below the age of ten to have been murdered over the past year in the City’s unrelenting gang war. One female child has survived but she remains paralyzed. Joshua’s murder brings the number of deaths by violence in country to one hundred so far for 2011. Police have picked five persons for questioning; up to press time, no charges have been levied.

Page 14

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Belize Mourns!

‘...Father of the Nation Passes’ Continues from p[age 1

Tips for a Healthy Liver and Kidney

The liver and the kidney play a vital role in our body. The liver which is considered to be the second largest organ of the body do important tasks everyday as well as the kidney. Have you ever thought what will happen to you if you take advantage of them? Don’t you feel they need to be taken cared of? Well, the answer is still on your hands but there are ways so you could have a healthy liver and kidney.

Know how important your livers and kidneys are.

Kidneys task is to filter the blood and removing the waste, gives contribution on the production of red blood cells and controls blood pressure as well. The kidneys are important as with the liver. You have to pay back to your liver for it cleans and filters the things that we intake everyday including air, fluids and food. The body is given strength by the liver for it stores and releases vitamins that the body needs to be healthy.

Health Tips for Your Kidney and Liver Keep a healthy diet. Maintain a good weight. Overweight people are those who are prone to having failures in the liver for they develop fatty liver. Consume just a little amount of fatty food items. Everything must come in moderation.

We all believe that medication will simply help us get back to the regular functioning of our system but be careful with the medication for you might take them incorrectly that will harm the kidneys and be unhealthy for your liver and so before taking any medication, you have to consult a physician first.

Stay away from alcohol and quit smoking as well. Do not ruin your internal system. Avoid chemicals, they are harsh to the liver and kidney. Those who have exposure to these things have a greater possibility of having liver cancer or cirrhosis. Wear protective mask when dealing with some chemicals. Stop drinking alcohol and smoking to keep your liver and kidney well- functioning.

Eating a healthy diet and not over using yourself will help you much to maintain a normal functioning of your kidney and liver. Eat fruits and vegetables and grains that will make them function well.

Your wellness all depends on your lifestyle. Discipline yourself and choose wellness. There are ways.

Keep these tips for a healthy liver and kidney.

The urinary system which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra is one of the most important systems in the human body. One of its functions is to flush toxins out of the system through urine. But due to a person’s lifestyle, one of the greatest part of the urinary system, the kidney, becomes overloaded with too much toxins which therefore leads to a couple of kidney infections, stones and diseases.

Yes, they may seem like small, but your kidneys should not be taken for granted as it’s one of the most important organs of the human body. The kidney’s location is usually found on the lower back just below the rib cage. They are usually seen on either side. As early as now, one should give importance to these organs as once they malfunction, you’ll be left suffering with the painful infection that can potentially harm your body. With this, let’s list some of the things you can do on how to take care of your kidneys. Read on.

Taking Care of your Kidneys Drink adequate amount of fluids as this is one of the best ways to combat infection and stone formation in your renal system. Water helps in flushing out toxins, need I say more?

Limit salt intake to prevent build up of calcium which poses you for kidney stone formation.

Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Fruits and vegetables should always be included in your diet. Moreover, fatty and oily foods should be limited.

Keep your blood pressure and blood sugar level at bay. High blood pressure can trigger damage in the small vessels which can result to harmful conditions such as kidney damage. Elevated blood sugar level can also lead to diabetes which will result in diabetes nephropathy later on if not treated.

Avoid straining your kidney by maintaining optimal weight. Exercises such as walking, jogging, running, yoga, and other cardiovascular exercises are beneficial in losing weight. Moreover, it keeps your entire body healthy as well.

Eliminate alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. Smoking can predispose a person in a couple of heart illnesses and kidney diseases since it damages small vessels. In addition, when you drink alcohol, you give your body another more task of getting it out of your system.

Make shift Memorial Street side in front of his humble Pickstock Street house

PUP Party leader, John Briceno.

Monday has officially been declared a public and bank holiday.

Last Monday the Government of Belize announced that except for Independence Day, the country would officially observe a week of mourning with all flags at half mast until his funeral.

There has been some contention among his immediate family and some of the loyalist members of his PUP party over the decision to bury Mr. Price at Lord Ridge.

Some of his adherents have been vocal in calling for him to be buried at the George Price Center for Peace in Belmopan but the Government of Belize is respecting the family’s decision on this matter.

“George Price has not only shaped the new Belize but to the end remained faithful to the cause ... What a fitting time to pass! May he rest in peace.”

George Price’s death did not mar the annual September Celebrations but may have enhanced the call for national unity and patriotism. Well-wishes flowed as soon as the nation learned that he was gravely ill and may be in extremis but it was nothing compared to the fountain of expressions of condolences that erupted, and has continued unabated following the official announcement of his passing Monday morning.

Dubbed the Father of the Nation by his supporters and admirers, and the Father of Independence by his political opponent, the United Democratic Party administration, he is Belize’s best known citizen.

His official biography records his birth on January 15, 1919 and that he the “first” First Minister, first Premier, first Prime Minister, and first two-time Prime Minister of Belize.

He was born in Belize City to William and Irene (née Escalante)

Price, and entered politics in 1947 with his election to the Belize City Council. Three years later, on September 29, 1950, he cofounded the People’s United Party, which he led for four decades until he was succeeded as Leader in 1996 by Said Musa.

In September 2000, Price became the first person to receive Belize’s highest honour, the Order of National Hero, for the prominent role he played in leading his country to independence. He has received similar honors in other Caribbean and Central American countries. In 1982, he was made a member of the Privy Council.

“His humble personality belied the stature of his statesmanship.

His courage, wisdom, and good humor were a gift not only to Belize but to all of the Americas.”

- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and The Carter Center.

The bland recital of the facts hardly describes his impact and influence on Belize’s life. He was the first Belizean politician of national, regional and international stature. He traveled the country extensively visiting every nook and cranny and meeting and greeting his fellow citizens everywhere he went.

His devotion to the nation was of legendary proportions since he seemed to forsake almost everything else. And he was beloved, revered by his supporters and even if only grudgingly so, admired by his opponents and detractors.

For the first time the nation of Belize will live without George Price in the flesh, but certainly his legacy will continue to live on, certainly as long as there is a nation-state called Belize.

There will never be another quite like George Price, and certainly his accomplishments cannot be duplicated.

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Page 15

Burning Issues YFF WAS THE BEST IN THE REGION

By: Nuri Muhammad Belize, like the rest of the Caribbean, is a region where over 60% of the population is young people. As a region our youth are doing comparatively good but there are some serious vulnerabilities affecting youth development, especially at risk youth. It is well known that some of the major social problems facing youth in Belize and the region are unemployment, violence, crime, drugs, teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, males dropping out of school, and high percentage of young black males in prison, to name a few.

These problems present a serous challenge to the present and future development of our youth and therefore require innovative and pro-active interventions that will empower and capacitate them to become actively involved in meeting the challenges that face them and the rest of our population.

The role of government therefore, is to work with the private sector and civil society to put initiatives in place that will facilitate this process through innovative initiatives like YOUTH FOR THE FUTURE (YFF).

Having been the first Executive Director of Youth for the Future in 2002, and recognizing the vast potential that that program had, I am frustrated to see how that concept was made to evaporate and loose its impact on the critical issues affronting youth in this country, all in the name of politics. Today, there is a reinvention of the wheel process going on, where government, after letting the initiative die over the last three years, is now attempting to start from scratch, like Sisyphus rolling the stone back up the hill only to let it roll back down again.

Governments change but the challenges facing youth over the last 30 years have remained the same and in some cases have become worse. Historically scatter-shot approaches have been used to address these problems with little results. It was out of this dilemma that YFF was born in 2002 now, nine years later, it has not been replicated as a viable, comprehensive approach to youth development in this country.

The then Prime Minister, Rt. Honorable Said Musa, who already had a record of innovative risk taking, showed a commitment to make youth development a major focus of his administration. Upon his return from the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting held in Colum, Australia, in March 2002, where the concept of a Commonwealth wide initiative called YOUTH FOR THE FUTURE was first conceptualized, Musa returned to Belize determined to make this idea a reality.

Two months after that historic meeting, YOUTH FOR THE FUTURE was launched on Commonwealth Day May 24, 2002, at a ceremony attend-

The Government under Said Musa’s leadership made a commitment to invest 5 million dollars in a Youth Enterprise Development Fund over a 5 year period. That Fund was to support the effort to enable youth to participate in the economic development of themselves, and by extension the nation as a whole. Close to a half a million dollars was dispersed through this Enterprise Fund and over a hundred young entrepreneurs received loans to start their business. ed by over 10,000 young people from throughout the country of Belize at the Marion Jones Stadium. Mr. Musa therefore became the first Head of State in the Commonwealth to launch a YFF; and to give added importance to the initiative he placed its coordination directly out of the Office of the Prime Minister.

While YFF in Belize encapsulated the major areas of ‘youth leadership and governance, youth enterprise development, youth mentoring and youth volunteering’ it also addressed the critical areas of youth crime and violence and the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Rather than a separate initiative for each area of youth concern YFF become a coordinated, umbrella organization, under which all government directed efforts to address youth issues fell. Therefore, under YFF there was a Governance Unit whose responsibility was to coordinate the development of a National Youth Council (NYC). The goal of the NYC was to build the capacity of youth to participate meaningfully in the development of the country through volunteering and to engage them in national issues as active citizens of the country.

There was a Conflict Resolution Unit that dealt directly with those marginalized street youth involved in crime and violence through interventions to reduce incidences of violent conflict among this vulnerable population as well as prevention strategies in the schools through a national anti-violence campaign. This Unit effectively replaced the former CYDP initiative and had better coordinated results. In cooperation with the Police Department this Unit also established the Operation Positive Reinforcement Program which engaged over 500 high risk youths throughout Belize City in job training and was successful in placing many of these youths in jobs through the support of the private sector.

There was a ‘one/stop’, youth centered, Resource Center at the YFF Secretariat in Belize City, equipped with 10 computers with internet access, donated by a local telecommunications company (Intelco) which offered young people, especially those without access to this technology, an opportunity to bridge the digital divide. It was envisioned that

these centers would have been opened throughout the country. This idea has recently resurfaced as a new concept and renamed: Youth Friendly Spaces or Peace Zones by the Restore Belize program.

YFF was also responsible for two training centers: National Youth Cadet Service Corps at 22 miles on the western road and the National 4-H/Youth Development Center in Belmopan, both of which were one year residential training programs, which together, offered over 100 youth training in character development, communication skills and marketable skills training.

It was clearly recognized that the job market in Belize could not absorb the numbers of young people who graduate yearly. This lack of opportunities fueled more frustration and resentment among youth who felt cheated after attending school and finding no jobs at the end of their schooling. There was need to be innovative and to increase the opportunities for youth to become selfemployed and creators of employment for themselves. Because of this need a major aspect of the YFF initiative was the Enterprise Development and Job Creation Unit.

The Government under Said Mu-

sa’s leadership made a commitment to invest 5 million dollars in a Youth Enterprise Development Fund over a 5 year period. That Fund was to support the effort to enable youth to participate in the economic development of themselves, and by extension the nation as a whole. Close to a half a million dollars was dispersed through this Enterprise Fund and over a hundred young entrepreneurs received loans to start their business. Through our partnership with the University of Belize and the Belize Business Bureau, YFF was also able to provide both training and mentorship to our loan recipients.

The Enterprise Development and Job Creation Unit of YFF had two functions: firstly, to provide access to training, mentoring and support, as well as access to micro credit to young entrepreneurs between the ages of 17-30; and secondly to provide access to jobs through an employment agency concept which provided pre-employment training and referral for those seeking jobs.

This also formed a part of the Operation Positive Reinforcement program mentioned earlier.

We also experimented with a concept called Youth/Build, where youth formed their own construction groups and were provided with contracts by government to build low-income houses through the Ministry of Housing.

This is another initiative being duplicated by the Ministry of Works today.

YFF was an idea whose time had come and its success in its first three years of operation was proof that there was a need for such a holistic, comprehensive approach to youth development. But in Belize politics is the deciding factor in the life of anything and so in 2008 YFF went into hibernation.

Now we hear from the Director of YFF that they are going through a Youth Policy exercise to canvass youth to see what young people in Belize want. This reinventing the wheel; we already know what is needed; just do it!

It is said that every new venture takes a cycle of least 3 years to become viable. In its first three years of existence in Belize YFF was already standing out as a model of what our partners in the rest of the Caribbean and by extension the Commonwealth was learning from. Goggle YFF, (2002-2005), and see for yourself the regional and international reaction to this timely experiment in Belize. (Comments welcomed at nuribze@gmail.com).

Page 16 You are probably one of those women who do not know the difference between applying make up for everyday vs. occasional use. This is the common problem of most women. Since they do not know how to apply the right make up, they usually end up looking inappropriate for the occasion.

There are a few things that you should consider when applying make up for everyday vs. occasional use. Here are some of the things that you should consider.

• Facial Make Up. For everyday use, you should just use liquid foundation and concealer to hide blemishes and dark spots. If you really want to feel comfortable, loose powder will do. Just make sure you apply it evenly on your face. You can also wear light blush on to give colors to your cheeks. For occasional use, you can try wearing foundation with shimmer especially if you are going out at night. Wearing blush on and concealer is also a must.

• Eye Make Up. You do not want to wear heavy eye make up on every day use. You can use clear mascara to enhance your eye lashes. Or a natural colored eye liner. You can also use eye shadow but make sure it looks natural. For occasional use, you can try on different eye make ups in rich colors. Make sure that they complement your skin color. You can also add glitters around your heavily lined eyes

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Everyday vs. Occasional Use— Tips for Applying Make Up

for a more dramatic look.

• ¬Make Up for the Mouth. You can wear nude or light colored lipstick for daily use. There are some women who only use lip gloss, especially students. For occasional use, you can go for darker or brighter colors like red and chocolate brown for a sexier look. You should also apply lip liner around your lips to make sure that they are shaped like full and bow-shaped lips.

Tips for Applying Blush If you want to add color to your pale face, you should consider using blush on your cheeks. This is one way to instantly make your cheeks rosy and to make you look less like a person who just came back from the dead.

Blush make up comes in two basic types cream and powder. If you have oily skin, you should consider using powder blush. If

you have dry skin, on the other hand, the cream type is your best bet. In applying this facial make up, here are some tips that you should know.

• After exercising or exerting yourself, check the color of your cheeks. Your cheeks are usually flushed after doing some strenuous physical activity. This is the color that you should go for. This is the natural radiance of your cheeks. Choose a cheek make up that has the same or similar color as your natural glow.

• You should apply this cheek make up after the foundation and your eye make up. It should complement all the other make ups on your face.

• When applying the powder type, you should use a round brush for easy application. It also makes the color more even and natural. For cream blush, you can use the tip of your finger.

• Look in the mirror and smile.

Find the apple of your cheeks.

This is where you should apply your cheek make up. You should apply the make up from your cheekbone to your hairline. This will make the color look more natural. You would look like a clown if you have two big spots of red or pink on your cheeks.

• You can also apply the make up on the whole area of your cheeks to make it even more natural.

• Wash your hands thoroughly once you are done with your make up. This can stain your hands.

SESNECIL ROUQIL RO61FegSaPNOITACILPPA

Sunday, September 25th , 2011

Page 17

Rhett Fuller’s swan song perhaps?

I remember George Price like it was yesterday I cannot recall not ever knowing Rt. Honourable George Cadle Price. I was a little girl in Punta Gorda, living with my grandmother, Mrs. Lucille Melendrez who was a PUP and a Catholic. I must have been about seven years old – one day when she woke me up to tell me that George Price is coming to PG and there are a number of things that she had to get done to prepare for his visit therefore I would have to help myself to breakfast and pick some of the best from the backyard to take to Ms. Ben’s (Senator Venancia Petillo) restaurant where George Price will be hosted for lunch.

is where non-supporters would sit and watch and sometimes heckled. Premier Price was undeterred by them even the hecklers who were much more audible like the town drunks. They provided a special type of entertainment and were actually missed when they did not show up. There was a couple who always made a grand entrance reeking of alcohol – my attention would divert as Nelson and his bride often offered a great side show to a seven year old. I remember once when Premier Price had finished his speech which he rendered in English and Spanish – another of the town drunks walked right past the podium and

By: Rhenae Nunez

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

BELIZE CITY – The entire media in Belize has chronicled Rhett Fuller’s saga since 1998 when the United States Embassy issued a request for his extradition to Miami, Florida to face a charge of First Degree Murder. The charge stems from the March 1990 shooting death of American Larry Miller in Dade County, Miami which Rest peacefully dear Father of our Na- Fuller is alleged to have been the man. Fuller however has tion, for you have served us well – you trigger maintained his innocence. will forever be remembered for the After a series of court appearancmany great things you have done, for es and appeals all the way to the Council which spans almost the kindness you have shown – Rest in Privy thirteen years, Rhett Fuller may Peace Leader Emeritus, Right Honor- have reached the end of his rope. able George Cadle Price. Rest In Peace. On August 9th of this year the Privy Council dismissed Fuller’s My grandmother would leave yelled at him in Garifuna, “say it appeal on grounds of abuse of to round up the members of the in Garifuna!” I started to laugh power and that the Supreme Court United Women’s Group to assist but was promptly nudged by my and the Chief Magistrate had juin the preparations. There were grandmother who told me not to risdiction in an application of hamen who were always readily pay Beebee any mind. It is still District. available to assist. They could be funny when remember it today. considered a PUP men’s group or Premier Price spoke about pro- My grandmother, Mrs. Lucille an extension of the Toledo chapter gress in the Toledo District, his Melendrez was a PUP! She would of the United Women’s group. I meeting with farmers in San An- always tell us that she will be two can recall Mr. Bernard Cayetano a tonio and San Pedro Columbia things until she died – that was robust figure but a total gentleman and lauding them for their hard a PUP and a Catholic. George who was always compliant with work and giving his approval of Price’s picture had a fixed place in orders from my grandmother. their contribution to the peaceful our living room along with other The men collected chairs and as- constructive Belizean revolution. PUP memorabilia. sembled them and prepared the I remember him telling us about It was either 1977 or 1978 when venue for what was always a ro- growing our own food and eating Guatemalan gun boats lined up bust meeting in the night at Rice healthy. One time he asked me to on the PG horizon – we were sent Mill Plaza in downtown PG. It tell him about my Habanero pep- home from school as British harwas always a main attraction since pers and corn that I had growing riers flew overhead – their sonic there wasn’t much to attend – so a behind the house. I was only too booms made me cringe every meeting featuring Premier George proud to give a full lesson in farm- time. The day was sunny but I felt Price was quite an event. ing. I remember one time gather- a foreboding miasma of fear as my Mr. Price usually arrived in his ing my toys to give to George blood curdled. I thought it would Land Rover (he very seldom flew Price when he came – don’t know have been my last day on earth. down) because his visits would what he had over me but I was I was scared – that day I learned to fear Guatemala. George Price include a tour of villages along smitten. the way or some scheduled visit My grandmother raised chickens addressed the nation reassuring to some remote village in the dis- and marked eggs that were for us us that we will be safe and reastrict. Nowhere was too far for Pre- to consume and those that would sured that the British will defend mier Price to reach. be set to hatch. No one was al- us. That day I also learned reasThe meeting always opened with lowed to eat of those eggs once surance from his calm steadfast the recitation of the National they were designated – in comes and resolute leadership. When I Prayer (not embraced by all Be- my uncle one day and cracks one got home that day, my grandmothlizeans – only the PUP) and the and fried it – well we had it out. er reassured me same – I think I National Anthem. And then those But When Premier Price was went on to enjoy the day off forscheduled to speak would address coming – well of course, no egg getting about Guatemala and their ridiculous claim. the meeting before finally Premier was too special for him!

Price.

Before wrapping up his addresses Through the years especially those My grandmother and I would al- he would express appreciation for years while my grandmother was ways sit on the remains of milling the work that my grandmother alive, I had sporadic contact with equipment under a shed near the and the UWG, Toledo Chapter Mr. Price. He never forgot me and podium where Mr. Price spoke had done and encouraged them to always acknowledged me as “litfrom. Across the street on a fence keep the PUP alive in the Toledo tle Melendrez”. I remember once

beas corpus in an extradition case.

Subsequent to that, Fuller handed himself in to police at the Queen Street Police Station on Monday, August 22, 2011 and was remanded to the Hattieville Central Prison pending a hearing before Foreign Minister Wilfred Sedi Elrington which Fuller hopes that his extradition could be quashed.

Legal luminary, attorney at law and Justice of the Court of Appeal, Denys Barrow was added to Fullers defense team. According to reports, the hearing was conducted two weeks ago in which Fuller’s attorneys submitted that it would be unjust to extradite Fuller after considering all the circumstance.

It was announced on Tuesday by Minister Elrington that the application has been denied.

What’s next for Rhett Fuller?

There will now be a judicial review of the Minister’s decision.

Fuller has 15 days within which to apply. Prior to the Foreign Minister’s decision, Fuller’s attorneys sought and got an anticipatory injunction. That injunction has stalled Fuller’s immediate injunction. If that fails, Fuller will be extradited to face the First Degree Murder Charge which could mean either life in prison or the death penalty according to Florida State laws.

Fuller was not allowed out of prison to attend the hearing before the Minister. His wife and long time friend John Mencias attended with attorney Godfrey Smith who held brief for Eamon Courtney and Denys Barrow. when he visited the Belize Times and asked to see the feisty one who penned “Hard Hitting” column. I shivered as I was being led to Mr. Price. He goes, “so you are the one!” “I like your writing – keep it up.” My heart resumed its original position in my chest. That was George Price! - not any ordinary person. I was surprised two years ago when a group of friends held a luncheon in Mr. Price’s honor that he remembered me as a child in PG with my grandmother, Lucille Melendrez.

I also recall seeing him walking in Belmopan picking up trash and urging Belizeans not to litter. I recall seeing him walking to Holy Redeemer Church – Honorable George Price may not have been a lot of things to many folks but to a majority he was a hero – he was mine. I know that there is a big homecoming party going on in heaven and my grandmother, Joe Erales and many other great Belizeans are together having a blast. Rest peacefully dear Father of our Nation, for you have served us well – you will forever be remembered for the many great things you have done, for the kindness you have shown – Rest in Peace Leader Emeritus, Right Honorable George Cadle Price.

Rest In Peace.

Sunday,September 25th, 2011

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Nazarene High girls win silver in CODICADER softball

���������� San Salva� dor, September 12, 2011The Nazarene High School softball girls won the silver medal at the XVI Central American junior Scholastic Games (CODICADER) held in San Salvador from September 4-13.

The Nazarene girls began their victory roll when they blew away last year’s champions, D.I.G.E.F. of Guatemala, 13-4 by mercy rule in five innings on Sunday. The Belize girls got two hits off the pitching of Guatemala’s Blanca Alvarez as Arneek Baptist of Burrell Boom and Sherrie Gillett of Ladyville opened the scoreboard with two runs in the first inning.

The Guatemalan coach changed pitcher with Sofia Romero relieving Alvarez, but the attrition continued as Ashley Lucas, pitcher Amber Wade, Rebecca Nicholson and Shanelly Ho got four hits to score in the third inning, while Silvia Gomez scored the first run for Guatemala in the bottom of the third.Maria Carmen replaced Romero on the mound for Guatemala, but the Belize girls got three more hits as Lucas, Wade and Nicholson scored three more runs in the fourth inning.

Guatemala’s star pitcher Sharon Castro took the mound, and the Belize girls walloped her pitching to get three more hits as Deannah Garbutt, Kaylie Mcfadzean and Lucas scored three more runs in the fifth. Aileem Mendez, Esther Espana and Maria Inis Marroquin scored three more runs for Guatemala in the bottom of the fifth, when the game was called.

The Nazarene girls also eliminated the girls of Panama’s Instituto Urraga 13-2 by mercy rule in the third inning on Monday morning. Pitcher Ashley Lucas struck out seven batters, while the Belize girls collected nine hits off the pitching of Panama’s Irania Bulitrago and her relief L. Aguilar. Deanna Garbutt scored the first runs in the first inning, and Arneek Baptist, Garbutt, Lucas, Gillett and catcher Georgia

runs. The undefeated Salvadoran girls won the gold medal with a 4-0 record, while Salvador’s pitcher Karla Sermeno won the award for Picher with the most wins at the award ceremony following the final game in which Salvador won 9-7 over Guatemala. Guatemala’s Sharon Castro won the wards for Most effective pitcher and for the Most Strikeouts -16. Salvador’s Tanya Andrea Murillo won the award for Best batting average: 0.806 and Diana Alejandra Rivas had the most RBI’s -12.

Shalini won gold in the women’s road race on Sunday, when she clocked 2:03:05 over a distance of 43 miles, which was six laps over a seven mile course. At the finish she outsprinted Dahlia Palmer of Jamaica who took silver and Esther Miller-Rosemont of Barbados who took the bronze.

Williams scored five more runs in the second inning, and repeated the feat with five more runs in the third inning.

Only Arlen Mendez and Maite Guerra scored two runs for Panama in the first inning.

The Nazarene girls also walloped the Nicaraguan girls 17-7 to win by mercy rule in four innings. Pitcher Ashley Lucas allowed only Yelba Hodgson to score for Panama in the first inning and struck out six batters to give up no runs in the second and third innings. Meanwhile Arneek Baptist scored in the first, Rebecca Nicholson, Gillett and Georgia Williams scored in the second, and Garbutt, Macfadzean, Lucas, Wade, Nicholson, Shanelly Ho, Gillett and Georgia Williams scored 7 runs in the third to lead 13-1. Baptist, Tyra Moreira, Lucas, and Wade scored four more runs in the top of the fourth.Nicaragua’s Shanny Burton picked up three RBI’s when she hit a grand slam in the fourth and Earth Hebbert, Shelzeida Tinkom and Yelba Hodgson also scored, and Yaneysi Cuthbert and Dashley Loban followed, but the game was called at the end of the inning.

The Belize girls finished with a 3-1 record, as they had lost their opening game 5-19 to the hosts, the girls of Instituto Santa Cruz. Arneek Baptist scored in the first, and Baptist, Gillett, and Reney Leal scored three more runs in the second and amber Wade hit a home run in the third, but the Salvadoran girls walloped Ashley Lucas’ pitching for 11 hits to score 19

Shalini Zabaneh wins gold marathon Jamaica, September 18, 2011

Shalini Zabaneh won the gold medal in the Caribbean Cycling championships held in Jamaica over the weekend.

Tamiko Butler of Antigua was 4th in the sprint, while Solimar Torres of Puerto Rico was 5th. Su Brown of the U.S. Virgin Islands was six and Guyana’s Hazima Barrett also in that sprint took 7th place.

Jaimca’s Ina Daley took 8th place, clocking 2:21.3.

Shalini had also won the bronze in the 12 ml time trial over a 7.2 mile course from ‘Whitter Village to the Sea Castle resorts the day before.

Belizean cyclist Roger Troyer had also competed in the male category in this event riding 10 laps over the same course for 72 miles, but he did not finish the course, placing 50th overall.

Sunday,September 25th, 2011

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CYDP ties Interoffice basketball finals 2-2

Belize City, September 9, 2011The Conscious Youth Development Programme have tied championship finals series of the Belize City interoffice basketball competition at 2-2 after winning the fourth game of the series 72-54 over the Belize Bank Bulldogs at the Belize City Center on Friday, September 9.

Marcel Orosco led C.Y.D.P. with 17 pts 11 rebounds, as they led from the outset and 22-14 at the end of the first quarter. Jacob “Snake” Leslie added 16pts, 11 rebounds as they jumped to 42-22 lead at intermission. Andrew “Head” Staine added 11 pts, two rebounds and with Jermaine “Gumbi” Tillett’s seven points, five rebounds, C.Y.D.P. continued to lead 53-36 at the end of the third quarter.

Rupert Brown had kept the Bulldogs in the game with 18 pts, eight of those scored form the charity stripe, while Kachief Thomas had added nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Roy Rruz added eight points, nine rebounds, Darren Neal added six points and four rebounds, while Darwin “Puppy” Leslie was held to miserly five points. Roscoe Rhys and Macario Augustine tossed in four points each.C.Y.D.P.’s Earl Johnson had added seven points to the 72-54 blowout win, in which Darwin “Dawgy” Elijio added six points and Ernest Broaster chipped in three points and grabbed six rebounds.

CYDP’s biggest lead was 22 pts, they had also had a 17-pt scoring break. They had out-rebounded

the Bulldogs 48-43, and had a deeper bench, with 21 pts. coming off the bench, while the Bulldogs had only 17. C.Y.D.P. had also scored 13pts on fast breaks, compared to only 11 for the Bulldogs. Game 5 of the finals comes up on Friday, September 16.The fourth finals was preceded by an exhibition under-14 game between the San Cas and Rising Stars. Shaquille’s Crawford with 22 pts, the Rising Stars had led 15-13 in the first quarter, but Andrew Vasquez’s 14 pts and Dmitri Fabro’s 12 pts gave San Cas a 30-21 lead at intermission. They extended the lead to 45-27 by the end of the third quarter, and held on to the

Shannon White & Leon O’brien win CitCo’s 10k run Belize City, September 17, 2011 Shannon White and Leon O’brien won their respective categories of 10 kilometer run, while Ajanny Carr and Denroy Nembhard won their respective categories of 5 kilometer run on Albert and Regent Streets of Belize City organized by the Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers and the Belize City Council as part of the Mayor’s the first Get Up and run keep-fit program on Saturday morning.

Shannon White clocked 39:00 minutes in the 10k while Jamie ChanonaUsher clocked 41:52 to take 2nd and Tasneem Tewogbola clocked 46:47 to take 3rd in the women’s 10k, which Mayor Moya also finished.

Leon O’Brien clocked 30:13 in the men’s 10 km run, while Kenrick Duncan clocked 32:11 to finish 2nd and Jesus Mai clocked 33:40 to finish 3rd.

Ashonti Carr clocked 18:48 to win the 5 kilometer run, while her big sister Ajanni Carr clocked 18:58 to take 2nd. Her twin Ashanti Carr clocked 19:01 to place 3rd.

Denroy Nembhard clocked 14:19 to win the men’s 5 kilometer run, while Wilhelm Leslie clocked 15:04 as he ran 2nd and Nance Card clocked 15:41 to place 3rd.

The first place winners in each category received trophies from Mayor Moya-Flowers in an award ceremony at Battlefield Park after the race.

It was also the third award ceremony for participants of the “Get Up & Run” program. Mayor Moya also presented

certificates to the Oldest participants; from Zone 2: Rodman Petzold, 80, and Ms. Erlean Jones, 70; from Zone 3 Bernard Adolphus, 63 and Ethel Nicholas, 58, from Zone 3B, ms Lita Smith, 67 and from Zone 4: Wallace

Staine 72 and Ms. Anselma Ford, 55.

Belize Amateur Athletic Association president Ian Gray thanked all participants in the marathon, which the Association hopes to make an annual event.

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Sunday, September 25th , 2011

NOTICE

HRCU informs its members and the

general public that it will be closed for business on Monday 26th Sept. 2011