belize times 101003

Sunday, October 3, 2010 The Belize TimeS 1

Barrow and Williams still collecting from Ashcroft

SUNDAY OCTOBER 3, 2010 Issue No. 4713 $1.00 www.belizetimes.bz www.pup.org.bz

HYPOCRITEOn Wave’s morning show “Fus

Thng Da Mawnin” this morning, the talking heads dedicating a great deal of their time to castigating Senior Counsell Godfrey Smith for a letter he wrote on behalf of his clients to the owners of Digicel. During the discussions the Prime Minister called in to add to the commentary and declared Godfrey Smith unpatriotic. On air the PM expressed his disappointment in Smith and went on to spew his venom on Senior Counsel and Senator Hon. Eamon Courtenay.

Tonight Senior Counsel Courtenay fired back, calling PM Barrow a rank hypocrite for saying that anyone who works for Lord Ashcroft is unpatriotic. He then dropped the bombshell that even today the Prime Minister’s law firm Barrow and Williams continues to serve and collect from companies connected to Lord Ashcroft. Courtenay advised the Prime Minister to take a

"No watch me watch yo self!"

(Continued on pg. 3)

Three weeks ago, the TIMES broke the story that GOB intended to coe r c e the SSB Inve s tmen t Committee into committing some BZD$50,000,000.000 (fifty million dollars) of the workers Pension Fund to buy BTL. We went on to show that the same players were involved as both sellers and buyers, creating a perfect storm of fiduciary fogginess and plain old conflict of interest as the Executive Chairman of BTL, the Seller, is also the Chair who cast the tie-breaking vote to force the SSB Investment Committee to approve the purchase of the BTL shares.

Our disclosure of the way the SSB Investment committee vote went, that the representatives from both the Unions and the Private Sector had voted against recommending the investment, undoubtedly caused the much touted announcement of the sale of BTL shares on Independence Day to be scaled back to the anticlimactic terse statement at the end of the PM’s address. In the public’s psyche, however, it sparked a slew of public commentary and outcries on the airwaves this week denouncing the use of workers monies to pay off a (Continued on pg. 3)

“private” debt.The most scathing release came

early this afternoon in the form of an official release from the Belize Chamber of Commerce (BCCI). As the entity representing the largest number of employers in the country who are mandated by law to pay into the Social Security fund, the membership of the BCCI is asking for “proper due diligence before public funds are invested in BTL”.

The release goes on to say that: “While the BCCI agrees that based on historical performance BTL may be considered a viable investment opportunity, the future of BTL is fraught with uncertainties, which increases the risk for the fund. These concerns must be neutralized before the BCCI can vote with confidence for the purchase”.

Because of the sheer magnitude of the transaction and the possibility of it becoming a failed investment, with pension fund monies tied up for years, the Chamber has asked for a fourfold disclosure of technical, legal and financial data so that it can make an informed decision on the viability

CHAMBER SLAMS GOB’S USE OF SSB FUNDS TO BUY BTL The Nat ional Trade Unions

Congress of Belize draws to the publ ic ’s at tent ion to the blatant po l i t i ca l l y mot iva ted comments a t t a ck i n g t h e i n t e g r i t y o f t h e NTUCB’s representat ive on the I nve s t m e n t C o m m i t t e e o f t h e Social Security Board, Sis. Lorelei Westby by hosts of WAVE Radio’s

“ F u s T i n g d a M a w n i n .” T h e Prime Minister’s cal l during that same show exposed the polit ical m a n e u ve r i n g s a n d p r e s s u r e t o isolate and humiliate anyone who does not accept this investment deal initiated by government.

T h rough th i s med ium , the

NTUCB NO Deh with It!


Chief Justice Conteh

SAYS ‘ADIEU’

See story on Page 35

EPH 6:12 FOR OUR STRUGGLES ARE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD BUT AGAINST RULERS AND AUTHORITIES

Time and again the Belizean people are faced with making value judgment as to the merits of arguments for and against a particular action or lack thereof by political leaders as they embark on major initiatives. The fact of the matter is that although some may shy away from being engaged the reality is that these decisions affect citizens for good or bad. One must therefore find it in their best interest to stay abreast of the arguments. It is also keen to know who are the persons who have been charged with responsibility to speak on behalf of the people and the manner in which they have sought to inform themselves in order to be able to make the best decision for Belize. The case before the Belizean people therefore is whether $50M of the people’s pension funds are to be used to invest in the purchase of shares in Belize Telemedia Ltd (BTL) or not. This writer is certain that every right thinking Belizean would agree that the Government should have


2 The Belize TimeS Sunday, October 3, 2010

THE SSB/BTL/GOB ImBROGLIO

It was apparent fairly soon after Dean Barrow was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Belize that he intended to follow a path charted in his mind and his mind alone…a path crafted by his hand leading to a destination only he would be privy to.

To subdue the groundswell of protest at this borderline dictatorship course of action, it was also apparent fairly soon that the Prime Minister was prepared to utilize his superior oratorical skills and ‘magical’ sleight of tongue where possible; use the invisibility and mute features on his superman costume when glib wouldn’t get the job done and charge ahead like a mad bull when all else failed. It’s gotten him this far, though the groundswell of protest and frustration has been upgraded to near tsunami status.

The latest imbroglio revealing the tangled web of nepotism linking GOB, SSB and BTL may be a horse of a totally different colour. Even as the stench of impropriety fills the air, the Prime Minster has utilized the option to become invisible and mute, but this mess shows no signs of going away easily.

In August of 2009 Mr. Barrow took over Belize Telemedia Limited, ousting the previous owners and claiming that it was in the public interest. He pressed the nationalism button without shame and proclaimed himself a giant for daring to wrest control of the telecommunications entity from the hands of the ‘white dictator’ and giving it back to Belizeans. He promised Belizeans cheaper rates, immediate access to VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and the chance to own a piece of BTL. Thirteen months later, the first two promises have blown away like so much confetti in the wind and nobody really knows in what form or fashion or manifestation the third will come to pass.

The crux of the current controversy is that the Prime Minister is proposing to use public funds paid into SSB by thousands of Belizeans to buy shares in BTL. Representing Mr. Barrow at BTL are his ex-wife Lois Young and his close friend Nestor ‘Net’ Vasquez. They are the legal advisor and Executive Chairman of BTL respectively. Representing Mr. Barrow at the Social Security Board are his ex-wife Lois Young and his close friend Nestor ‘Net’ Vasquez. In this entity they are the Chairman of the SSB Investment Committee and the Chairman of the Board respectively.

Two weeks ago the proposal was taken before the Investment Committee of the Social Security Board where Net Vasquez and the Government representative on the Committee both voted in favour of the purchase of BTL shares. Representatives of the unions and private sector both voted against the purchase of BTL shares using public funds. Using his tie-breaker vote as Chairman of the Committee, Net Vasquez was able to push through approval but that has proven to be just the opening salvo in what promises to be a heated battle.

In a startling revelation, representatives of the Union and private sector claim that they were asked to provide what amounted to carte blanche approval for the purchase of shares in BTL. Both entities claim that they were not allowed to view the prospectus of the Company or the current financials, but were given only a historical performance of the Company and an assurance by Net Vasquez that BTL would continue to show growth in the next five years. In a very clear cut and direct release issued today, the Chamber claims that ‘while the BCCI agrees that based on historical performance BTL may be considered a viable investment opportunity, the future of BTL is fraught with uncertainties, which increases the risk for the fund.’ In addition, the reality is that while the Company was a revenue-generating giant while under private control indications are that in the hands of the Prime Minister’s ex-wife, his son and his close friend, BTL has not been performing as it once did.

The release continues – ‘the BCCI submits that we have not been provided with sufficient information to allow us to act with confidence in a decision to support the purchase of Fifty Million dollars ($50M) worth of BTL Shares….we are guided by the fact that we have a fiduciary responsibility to the thousands of Belizeans who are required by law to support the fund, to act responsibly and with integrity and fidelity in the management of their money.’

The release ends - Further, we do not understand the unnecessary haste which accompanies the investment decision. In essence, the SSB board is being asked to make a decision on what would be the second largest investment for the fund without adequate information on the public offering (e.g. the share price, the ownership structure), or a proper determination of the value potential of the asset.

Judging from past practice, it is expected that the Prime Minister will engage option 3 and charge ahead like a mad bull, ignoring the opposition, the concerns raised by the unions and the private sector. The damage from such a move will be significant considering that Mr. Barrow has heretofore portrayed himself as a white knight mounted on his trusty steed ready to do battle to protect public funds and ensure transparency, accountability and integrity in its use. And then, of course, there is the damage which has already been done, since very obvious and pressing questions have arisen concerning the very evident intent by Mr. Barrow to remain mum on the financial aspects of the proposed deal. Barrow ran and won on a platform of openness, transparency and good governance. Nothing in this arrangement speaks to those ideas, indeed the opposite is true, proving once again that for Mr. Barrow and the UDP, it was all about the glitter and never about subtance

THE BELIZE TIMESACTING EDITOR DESKTOP PUBLISHER-Lucilo E. Alcoser Lucilo E. Alcoser

OFFICE SUPERVISOR TYPIST-Fay Castillo-Mckay Rachel Arana

PRINTING/PERSONNELSUPERVISORDoreth Bevans

OFFICE ASSISTANTRoberto Peyrefitte

PRINTEROscar Obando

Printed & Published ByThe Belize Times Ltd.

#3 Queen StreetP.O. BOX 506

Belize City, BelizeTel: 224-5757

Editor: 671-8385

mr. Barrow - You are NOT God's Gift to Belize!

Dear Editor,Last week Friday I l istened attentively to the meeting of

the House of Representat ives a t which severa l impor tant bil ls were being passed. I did so with the expectation that we would be al lowed to l isten to a healthy discussion on the issues being legislated. However, I was disappointed to hear the Prime Minister going on with his petty statements about the Opposit ion’s discussion and rebuttal on the bil ls being presented. It gives us, young professionals and many others out here, the impression that this honourable gentleman does not allow any one to question what he does. But as my grandmother would say “well I be a cocked-eye jumping jel ly fish”.

Who does this man think he is? As per his demeanour in the meetings of the House of Representatives, Mr Barrow really believes he is god’s intel lectual gift to Belize. Perhaps that is why he cannot take crit icism or input from no one…he really is a strange creature in such a diverse society as Belize where a plurality of ideas is expected.

With no offence “ Absit Invidia” to Belizean attorneys, and by the way I am not interested in pursuing a law degree, but our PM has repeatedly a t tacked our e lected members in the Opposition in an attempt to humiliate them as being academically and or intellectually challenged. Maybe its time we remind Mr Prime Minister that there are a lot more productive and important professions to society than law and cer tainly much more noble. Perhaps we should remind him that it is the farmer that puts bread on his table, the business man that ensures he can buy his commodities, the nurse and doctor and all in the medical profession who take care of his health and wil l one day save his l ife and even the policeman who ensures he is secured from the very crime he is unable to control. The conceited and supercil ious Prime Minister that we have has to understand that had it not been for our engineers, architects, and other applied scientists he would not be l iving the l ife he now leads. And most of al l , shall I remind this “honourable gent leman” of just one more profess ion that he ought to respect….teaching…because if it wouldn’t have been for his teachers he would possibly be just another numbskull .

Having said al l of the above, I find it necessary to reiterate to this “grosero e insolente” that he must respect diversity in thought, skil ls and talent; that we l ive in a society where each of us depends on the ski l ls and talents of others and that respect is crucial for a people to f lourish and for violence and crime to subside. Can we ask you, Mr Prime Minister, to get off your high horse and star t showing respect to others? Because it would, perhaps, be in vain to ask that you practice restrain or humility at least once in awhile. By your consistent behaviour, it is evident that humility is not one of your virtues.

Sincerely,Edmund Franklin


look in the mirror.He said, tell the Prime Minister

“No watch me, watch yu self !”At the chambers of Senior Council

Godfrey Smith, Smith was clear that his decision to write to Digicel was entirely in his professional capacity and was in no way politically motivated. Smith called on the Prime Minister to apologize to the Bar Association for the disrespect he has shown to Bar. He called on Barrow to apologize to Belizeans for destroying investor confidence caused by the actions of his government. He expressed discontent for the way the UDP government treated outgoing Chief Justice Dr. Abdulai Conteh, and called on the Prime Minister Barrow to apologize for

the way he has been handling contracts for judges of the Supreme Court.

This is all a part of a growing problem for the Prime Minister, who is preparing to put Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) up for sale sometime in October. Already there is a great deal of concern over the sale of Telemedia because it is expected that as much as $50 million in shares will be bought by Social Security.

This news has sparked a stir among Belizeans, including the Belize Chamber of Commerce, who in a press release issued today, signaled their serious concerns over the clear lack of due diligence in the decision by the Investment Committee to recommend to the SSB Board that they purchase shares in BTL even before seeing the

Barrow and Williams still collecting from Ashcroftprospectus.

Late this evening the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, the NTUCB, issued a release criticizing t h e U D P r a d i o s t a t i o n WAV E and its morning talking heads for comments made in reference to their representative on the Investment Committee of the Social Security Board. In their release the NTUCB called statements by the hosts of the show as: “… attacking the integrity of the NTUCB’s representative on the Investment Committee of the Social Security Board.”

Wi th r e spec t to the P r ime Minister the release said that, “The Prime Minister ’s cal l during that same show expressed the political maneuverings and pressure to isolate

and humiliate anyone who does not accept this investment deal initiated by government.”

The re lease went on to say that the NTUCB is “baff led that this government has not settled the Employees Trust issue since acquiring the shares from Ashcroft since they supported the idea when they were in opposition.”

The bottom line is that having lost the confidence of investors, Dean Barrow has now lost the confidence of the business community and the workers of Belize. The people of Belize have been watching and waiting. They too have lost confidence in this UDP administration. The latest contretemps in the Judiciary, with BTL, may yet prove to be the final straw.

(Continued from pg. 1)

of the proposed investment:“1. Legal opinions from three

separa te a t tor neys on the l eg a l options available to claimants that may directly impede the profitability of BTL and thereby negatively affect SSB’s return on Shares purchased;

2. A technical audit of the status

of the network to see where BTL is in terms of equipment lifecycle and what investments may be absolutely necessary for BTL’s viability in the short to medium term.

3. Whether there is any impending legislation which will alter the structure of the Telecommunications industry and what effect/s that decision may

have on BTL’s profitability; 4. A copy of the Investment

Prospectus; “As we go to press, the NTUCB

has reportedly scheduled a meeting to d iscuss the manner in which it will deal with this matter. The issue of their shares in BTL has yet to be cleared up and the rank and

file of their collective membership is as disgruntled as the rest of us about the heavy handed manner in which the Barrow administration is handling no less than money taken out of the workers paychecks on the understanding that it will be managed with their best interests in mind. It is the proverbial “ants’ nest” - should the PM persist, this may be just the beginning.

CHAmBER SLAmS GOB’S USE OF SSB FUNDS TO BUY BTL(Continued from pg. 1)

Pr ime Min i s te r and c i t i zens of Belize are informed that the vote taken by Sis. Lorelei Westby was based on consensus and a mandate given to her after the issue was d i scussed a t a Genera l Counc i l meeting of the NTUCB.

T h e N T U C B m a i n t a i n s i t s position because it has not been p r o v i d e d w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g infor mat ion which i s cr i t ica l in making an informed decision on such a huge investment of worker’s money:

1. The Investment Prospectus2. A n y p o s s i b l e ch a n g e t o

l ibera te the use of Voice Over In t e r ne t P ro toco l (VOIP) tha t would impact the profitability of Belize Telemedia Limited.

3. The impact that the litigation cu r r en t l y pu r sued by Ashc ro f t would have on this investment.

4. The fact that SSB is already exposed $10 million for the purchase of shares by Sunshine Ltd. for the BTL employees trust. In October 2010, SSB is due the first payment. Will this payment be received?

The NTUCB is a lso baff led t h a t t h i s g ove r n m e n t h a s n o t settled the Employees Trust issue s ince acquir ing the shares from Ashcroft since they supported the idea when they were in opposition. The nation should be aware that companies with worker ownership par t i c ipa t ion nor ma l l y per for m better.

The NTUCB would suppor t any investment opportunity which can potentially improve the viability and susta inabi l i ty of the Soc ia l Security Fund but we must fulfi l ou r f i duc i a r y r e spons ib i l i t y o f doing proper due diligence on all investments.

NTUCB No Deh with IT!(Continued from pg. 1)

nothing to hide and to expect that both they and the Social Security Board (SSB) would perform with the greatest of transparency and statesmanship.

The current incestuous investment relationship about to be undertaken between the SSB and BTL will probably go down in Belizean history as an act of unbridled arrogance if the requisite level of due diligence is not undertaken before requiring such a huge investment of the peoples monies is made. As it now stands the required standard of due diligence on this investment initiative by the SSB is lacking and as a result will undoubtedly lead to irreparable damages to the development of a viable and secure pension scheme. The Chairman of the SSB Investment Committee gave Amandala’s Adele Ramos an interview to clarify and justify the actions of the SSB as being in the best interest of the people of Belize. There are however several issues that warrant more careful review.

This includes the level of due diligence the Chairman claimed was being done by the SSB investment department which showed to have lacked several key details such as what is the price at which the BTL shares will be offered to SSB. In GOB setting a share price, they must take

into account the level of compensation due to the previous owners of BTL and the outcome of the various litigations between BTL and GOB.

There is also the issue of The underlying prospect that the BTL will continue to realize profits and retained earnings sufficient to fix a minimum of 45% of profits to be paid out in dividends assumes significant levels of concentration in the market. Since the liberalization of the telecommunication sector in 2000 and a formidable new entrant into the market SMART/Speednet Communications in 2005, over the years they have been able to secure an estimated 33% of the market for mobile services. This level of competition poses some levels of threat against BTL’s future performance. The lack of the prospectus and details surrounding the nature of the investment courtship of Digicel Caribbean is the prospect of some form of an accommodation agreement by the current administration that can support the level of returns being anticipated in BTL’s projected performance. Notwithstanding the lack of further details on BTL the justification being put forward in support of SSB’s pending decision is most alarming.

• The SSB by all indications from its Investment Committee Chairman is

eyeing the use of funds currently held with the Central Bank, some $24M to be used to meet this $50M investment. Contrary to the Chairman’s indication, those funds are earning interest at a rate of 6% as per the last financial statements, so why and how a drastic decrease to 2.7%. This action by the Central Bank of Belize that will result in significantly less income on the funds deposit could be seen as a way of forcing the use of funds for alternative investment. Furthermore, one can also infer that the remaining funds would be sourced from SSB’s funds held in the banking sector. The question as to which bank(s) would be affected, remains unknown, but a withdrawal of $25M would definitely affect the levels of credit those affected banks would have available to offer. Despite all these unknown factors the true level of risk associated with this investment by SSB is far reaching as it goes contrary to the actuary’s recommendation on the management of the long term branch of the fund. In the Actuarial Report for 2009 that was presented in the House a month ago along with financial statements on the SSB, the recommendation clearly states “The actuarial valuation advice is to maintain the liquidity of the portfolio. New allocations in shares and mortgages are not advisable. Private sector loans

should be restricted to high quality borrowers, at rates of interest compatible with the benchmark, on a risk-adjusted return basis”. Therefore, the statement made by Nestor Vasquez “…that the SSB’s actuary had recommended that SSB needs to put more assets into long-term investments” seems inconsistent. The calculated manner in which the UDP Government through its various representatives in the SSB and BTL Boards are presenting this investment as being good for the people of Belize may be considered by any right thinking person to be is just downright reckless. For an administration that campaigned on the premise of providing accountability and transparency in Government’s undertakings it has become painfully obvious that their intent and modus operandi remains rather opaque. The People’s United Party on the occasion of celebrating its 60th birthday provides full support to the unions and the private sector in their call for the exercise of greater diligence in the execution of Governments’ representatives’ fiduciary responsibility on the SSB Board and Investment Committee. No amount of jawboning can make this obvious lack of transparency and good governance in this approach to dealing with the people’s money right.

BUT AGAINST RULERS AND AUTHORITIES(Continued from pg. 1)


Sixty years ago, a g roup of caring young Belizeans decide to make history, not for fame or glory, but because they believed that each of us has a responsibil i ty to the society we l ive in. Back in the day, their society was one where women did not have the right to vote, where few British Hondurans could own land, where the natives were not al lowed to decide their own destiny and our people were divided. Out of their sincere love and concern for others, these brave soldiers star ted an association, which became an organization and later a movement. Out of that movement came a revolution.

Today, 60 years later, that revolution is roll ing on, it remains peaceful , i t cont inues to be prog ress ive and i t i s 100 percent Belizean.

At 60 the People’s United Party remains the strongest political organization in Belize. As the nation’s oldest polit ical par ty we continue to hold high the principles upon which our par ty was founded: social justice, democracy and service to the people.

By our actions we have shown that as a par ty the PUP cares. T hrough ou r Mar sha l l s and Commun i t y Se r v i c e Cor ps, the traditions of the par ty to always be engaged in community service continue. The United Women’s Group is g rowing and its work of advocacy for women in the Par ty and in Belize is not only gaining momentum, but also yielding results. The Belize Youth Movement (BYM) is today one of the strongest arms of the Par ty, engaging in activit ies from leadership workshops to assisting young people in communities al l across Belize.

At the const i tuency level our local leaders are working to strengthen their executives and to encourage par ticipation in the work of the Par ty. Soon they wil l commence the important task of f inding the best qualif ied persons to represent the Par ty as standard bearers.

In a few weeks the Par ty and i t s suppor te r s w i l l g a ther together on the sea side ( laru beya) in beautiful Dangriga for our Special convention. At this convention the Par ty wil l table a number of resolutions aimed at bringing greater focus on some of the more important national issues. Likewise, the convention wil l adopt important changes to our Par ty’s Constitution. These constitutional amendments will allow for us to further open up the party and to encourage greater participation in the decision making of the Party. It wil l also put in place a mechanism that wil l ensure that the Par ty always remain in contact with our par tners in civi l society, the unions and others involved in social work in Belize.

During this 60th year the party will be organizing a number of special events to celebrate our work while at the same time plan for the future. Soon the Par ty wil l launch its wall of heroes, a special memorial honouring 600 of our great PUP men and women whose dedicated service to the Par ty and the country wil l be recognized. Soon the BYM wil l be holding its youth in leadership conference, an event which brings together young people from all across Belize to share ideas and to learn about the history of the PUP.

O u r e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o j e c t s , w h i ch i n c l u d e s c l e a n u p campaigns, p lant ing of t rees and rehabi l i ta t ion of parks and playgrounds in rural communities wil l form a par t of the Par ty’s outreach along with the many vil lage sporting events which wil l be held at different t imes throughout the year.

We are a l l thankfu l to the Creator for the r ich b less ings bestowed upon our country. We are also thankful for the blessings granted to our Par ty. We are grateful to the Belizean people for their suppor t of our Par ty over the past 60 years and for the privi lege to be of service to the nation.

The People’s United Par ty is once again rising; the blue wave is gathering energy and we have star ted our march to Belmopan. Our mission is to return to the work of building Belize.

To al l fr iends and supporters of the People’s United Par ty, happy 60th Anniversary.

HAPPY 60TH ANNIvERSARYT h e P e o p l e ’ s U n i t e d P a r t y c o n d e m n s t h e a t t e m p t

b y t h e U D P a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o u s e S S B f u n d s t o p u r c h a s e s h a r e s i n B T L a n d e x p r e s s e s s u p p o r t f o r t h e U n i o n s a n d t h e P r i v a t e S e c t o r w h o h a v e g o n e o n r e c o r d t o r e j e c t t h e p r o p o s a l . T h e d e a l , a s p r e s e n t e d b y G o v e r n m e n t t h r o u g h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o n t h e b o a r d s o f t h e S S B a n d B T L , r e e k s o f i m p r o p r i e t y a n d l a c k s t r a n s p a r e n c y , a c c o u n t a b i l i t y a n d i n t e g r i t y .

T h e P U P t a k e s i s s u e f i r s t l y w i t h s o m e o f t h e p e o p l e e n g a g e d i n b r o k e r i n g t h e n e g o t i a t i o n . R e p r e s e n t i n g B T L i n t h e p r o p o s e d s a l e o f t h e s h a r e s a r e E x e c u t i v e C h a i r m a n , N e s t o r V a s q u e z a n d L e g a l A d v i s o r L o i s Y o u n g . R e p r e s e n t i n g S S B i n t h e p u r c h a s e o f t h e s h a r e s f r o m B T L a r e C h a i r m a n o f t h e S S B I n v e s t m e n t C o m m i t t e e , N e s t o r V a s q u e z a n d C h a i r m a n o f t h e S S B L o i s Y o u n g . D e s p i t e t h e f i r m r e j e c t i o n o f t h e p l a n b y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f b o t h t h e u n i o n s a n d t h e p r i v a t e s e c t o r , N e s t o r V a s q u e z w a s a b l e t o c a s t a s e c o n d v o t e t o p u s h t h e d e a l t h r o u g h . T h i s a r r a n g e m e n t i s l u d i c r o u s a n d i n c e s t u o u s t o s a y t h e l e a s t .

U n i o n a n d P r i v a t e S e c t o r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s h a v e b e e n a s k e d t o a p p r o v e t h e d e a l f o r t h e p u r c h a s e o f s h a r e s u s i n g S S B f u n d s , w h i l e s t i l l b e i n g k e p t i n t h e d a r k a s t o t h e f i n a n c i a l v i a b i l i t y o f B T L a n d a t w h a t p r i c e t h e s h a r e s w i l l b e o f f e r e d . I n e f f e c t , t h e s e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a r e b e i n g a s k e d t o s i g n a c a r t e b l a n c h e a p p r o v a l f o r a s a l e w i t h n o i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e f i g u r e s . A g a i n , t h e y h a v e b e e n o f f e r e d o n l y V a s q u e z ’ s a s s u r a n c e t h a t t h e c o m p a n y w i l l g r o w o v e r t h e n e x t f i v e y e a r s . We f i n d t h i s h i g h l y i r r e g u l a r , t o s a y t h e l e a s t , a n d t h e s e e m i n g l y d e l i b e r a t e a t t e m p t s t o k e e p t h e f i n a n c e s o f t h e c o m p a n y a n d o f t h e p r o p o s e d d e a l s e c r e t r a i s e m o r e q u e s t i o n s t h a n i t p r o v i d e s a n s w e r s .

T o d a t e , B e l i z e a n s h a v e b e e n o f f e r e d o n l y M r . V a s q u e z ’ s l a m e s u b m i s s i o n t h a t s o m e b o d y c h e c k e d w i t h a n i n d e p e n d e n t l a w f i r m t o v e r i f y t h a t t h e r e i s n o c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t , b u t n o f a c t s w e r e o f f e r e d t o s u p p o r t t h a t c l a i m .

T h e P e o p l e ’ s U n i t e d P a r t y r e m i n d s t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r o f h i s c o m m i t m e n t , s t a t e d i n h i s p a r t y ’ s m a n i f e s t o , t o i n c l u d e t h e s o c i a l p a r t n e r s i n e v e r y i m p o r t a n t d e c i s i o n m a d e b y t h i s g o v e r n m e n t . To r a m t h i s d e a l t o c o m p l e t i o n d e s p i t e i t s r e j e c t i o n b y t h o s e s o c i a l p a r t n e r s w h o r e p r e s e n t t h e p e o p l e o n S S B a m o u n t s t o n o t h i n g l e s s t h a n a b e t r a y a l b y t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r . W e a l s o r e m i n d t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r o f h i s r i g h t e o u s c r u s a d e a g a i n s t t h e u s e o f p u b l i c f u n d s w i t h o u t t h e u t m o s t t r a n s p a r e n c y , a c c o u n t a b i l i t y a n d i n t e g r i t y d u r i n g h i s c a m p a i g n a n d d u r i n g e v e r y p u b l i c a p p e a r a n c e . T o p u s h t h i s d e a l t o c o m p l e t i o n d e s p i t e t h e a p p e a r a n c e s o f i m p r o p r i e t y a n d s e c r e c y a t t a c h e d t o i t i s a b e t r a y a l o f t h e p e o p l e .

THE PUP SUPPORTS THE UNIONS & PRIvATE SECTOR


Prime Minister ’s seat . So what I found out is that…Patsy has been hard at work bui lding up his pecs and str iving mighti ly to get some buns of steel ( too much exposure to the Minister of Pol ice maybe?) Yup, that ’s r ight - Patsy has been spending hours ever y day working out at the g ym along with a buddy. Hmmmm! So enquir ing minds immediately wondered about the buddy who has been taking up so much of our beloved l i t t le Minister ’s mind and t ime. Turns out that there’ve been big ger thanks than Patsy’s pecs brewing in the g ym, however! Word reaching this humble columnist is that the Minister ’s buddy was recently awarded a lucrat ive contract for the renovation of the old Venus Compound in Bel ize City. How lucrat ive, you ask? Wel l don’t say we told you,

but a source at the Ministr y of Educat ion has cla imed that when bids were received for the job, there was a competing bid which came in at half the amount of the bid submitted by Patsy’s buddy. That ’s a lot of goodwil l and sweat being cult ivated in the g ym. But hey, who cares i f taxpayers are being f leeced to the tune of an al leged half mil l ion dol lars? As long as Patsy gets buns of steel we’re a l l happy, r ight . .if Da Noh Soh!

and Net’s assurance that the company is doing wel l and wi l l f lourish in the next f ive years. LIE! What a crock. The fact is that BTL is being bled dry by a combinat ion of extravagant perks for the family/cronies at the helm and a total lack of vis ion and abysmal incompetence. Doing wel l , Net says…just two weeks

ago managers were cal led in and told that the company is in dire stra i ts and so they won’t be able to get their ra ises this year. So what the hel l is Net real ly ta lking about? We understand though that Anwar continues to hold weekly par t ies in the BTL conference room complete with top shelf l iquor and he continues to be chauffeured around by a ful l t ime driver on BTL’s payrol l (not even Lord Ashcroft had a dr iver) and we also understand that Karen Bevans just got a new fancy vehicle approved. Its business as usual at the Bar row Telemedia Company…that’s for sure…if Da Noh Soh!

enquiring minds…Litt le Patsy has been MIA

lately and enquir ing minds want to know why. Wel l , what could I do but some discreet dig ging to f ind out what mini-Bar row has been up to besides scheming his way into the

one morning, tr ipped and hit his head and decided to take over BTL. Now that he has wrecked BTL and staff morale, not to mention revenue is at an al l t ime low, Baldy wants us to bai l him out. And check this out…Baldy and Loisy and

Net want the unions and the private sector to approve the deal without having any idea how much the company is wor th or how much Bar row wil l charge for the shares…WTF! I guess baldy and Loisy and Net think that people

wi l l just do what they say because they’re cute…LOL! But get this – the l izard says that UDP stooge and Bar row l ickey over at SSB Mar velous Merlene checked with an independent law f ir m and they said i t wasn’t a conf l ict of interest . Wel l hel l…a source at SSB translated that for us – Mar velous Merlene cal led Loisy to check and Loisy told her to stop her fool and keep out of big people business – end of stor y. Independent law f ir m my a$$. . .if Da Noh Soh!

No raise this year…Methinks that the l izard is

doing what he does so wel l…no, no, no I don’t mean make intel l igent statements cause he doesn’t do much of that even with Loisy’s constant coaching. I meant l ie. That the s l imy one does l ike a master ! According to the president of the NTUCB, they haven’t been provided with the prospectus of the company, but only with a historical perfor mance

Singh booted from BTB…You can say what you have

to say about the barefoot minister cause we al l know he isn’t the brightest bulb in the tool-shed, but when i t came to banging that dangl ing appendage on the table and comparing s ize, he beat out mini-Mike with room to

spare. Word out of the white e lephant BTB is that the Vice-Minister (as he l iked to cal l himself on his travels around the globe) has been given the boot. That ’s r ight…Mike Singh was told to pack up and leave. Of course, when this columnist tr ied to get the dir ty on the deal I was told that his contract was nearing expirat ion and they had opted not to renew it , but hey, we al l know what that means don’t we? Our barefoot buddy was t ired of being disrespected and insulted at ever y turn by Singh who consistent ly refer red to him as the ‘ is land dummy’ at cocktai ls and that was the end of that . Of course the brothers Singh are buddy-buddy with baldy so brother Doug made a cal l and brother Mike received word that he was being ‘re-posted’ to a new and just vacated post at the helm of Beltra ide. Late word is that in return for him taking his walking papers l ike a man, the PM has promised to appoint him an Ambassador of Investment, a posit ion which car r ies a l l the perk s of diplomacy including a diplomatic passpor t . Remember you read i t here f irst…if Da Noh Soh!

independent law fir m…Lawd but dem UDP only

scur vy! Imagine that on the instruct ions of the bald king, Loisy and the s l imy one want to sel l BTL shares to Loisy and the s l imy one at SSB. Yeah I know that sounds weird and nasty but that ’s just the way i t is. Then these fools want to te l l us that i t is not a conf l ict of interest…man leave our money alone. Baldy woke up

It’s been 839 days since the Kendall Bridge was washed away. How much

longer must we wait for a new bridge, Mr. Prime Minister?


THE BLUE MACHINEHappy Birthday PUPPARTY PAGE

We Are The PUP

PUP Celebrate 60 in Cayo South


Barrow’s bills…And no, I’m not referring to the

bills that keep going into the deep, deep pockets of Lois et al. I’m talking about all the crap that Mr. Barrow is pushing through the House of Representative in the guise of being tough on crime. In particular I’m talking about the interception of communications including phone calls, text messages and emails. First of all, could somebody please tell me how exactly allowing Mr. Barrow

to listen in on our calls and read our texts and emails will stop all the killing on the street? I mean I understand that Mr. Barrow is the ‘most brilliantest’ of them all and I’m just a humble writer, but I’m not understanding what impact intercepting communication will have on crime. That’s one – and two, can somebody please tell me if there is anybody who actually believes that Mr. Barrow is planning to intercept communication so he can stop crime. I mean REALLY. Just the other day the head of Special Branch was instructed to monitor all activities by members of the People’s United Party. Imagine, with crime the way it is, Mr. Barrow prefers to utilize his already strapped resources to spy on his political Opposition. Is there anybody who believes that Mr. Barrow would not stoop so low as to eavesdrop on political conversations and other conversations of ‘interest’ (like members of the Judiciary or Bar Association, for example)? Anybody? For that matter, is there anybody who thinks that Mr. Barrow is not already eavesdropping on these conversations? Seriously Mr. Barrow, nobody trusts you worth a damn, and it is with good reason. We applaud any serious move to crack down on crime, but this isn’t one of them. This move is bogus just like the man who came up with it…

Rhetorical f lourishes…On the 10th of September when

the Prime Minister was asked about the theme for September and what it should mean to Belizeans, he said that it ‘should mean just a kind of rhetorical flourish.’ That sounds wickedly intellectual and coming from Mr. Barrow a lot of people may have thought that it was. But a ‘rhetorical flourish’ is a fancy euphemism for ‘bullshit’ or to be a

little more tactful and nice, fancy words meaning absolutely nothing. That makes me wonder why the Prime Minister would refer to the September Celebration theme as bullshit and meaningless. Did he know what he was saying? Did he go on the Internet and find out that US President Obama had used the term ‘rhetorical flourish’ and he turned around and used it without knowing what it meant? Either way, I believe that now that the truth has come out, Mr. Barrow owes the person who came up with the theme an apology. And it makes me wonder if we haven’t been bamboozled by Mr. Barrow’s endless proclamation of his own brilliance. Maybe he isn’t as smart as he thinks he is. While I’d dearly love to take credit for catching Mr. Barrow’s slip of the tongue, I must give thanks to the reader who immediately noticed the alleged word-master’s gaffe and brought it to my attention. Mr. Barrow…you just got punked

The BTl/SSB incest thing…The unions and the private

sector have voted ‘NO’ on using SSB funds to purchase shares in the company Mr. Barrow hijacked, BTL. That’s a significant vote of opposition and should be reason for rethinking the plan, but that’s not how things work in Belize these days. This deal will go

forward despite the opposition from the unions and the private sector and despite protests from Belizeans who don’t want their money to be used to purchase shares in BTL. The whole thing stinks, not least because the same two persons who are negotiating

the sale from BTL, Net Vasquez and Lois Young, are negotiating the buy on behalf of SSB. If they were using their own money nobody would give a damn, but it is our money they’re playing with. In an interview, Net Vasquez claims that it is not a conflict of interest because an ‘independent’ law firm contracted by UDP stooge and SSB General Manager Merlene Bailey-Martinez said that it isn’t. Is it possible that the ‘independent’ law firm is that of Lois Young and Company? Hey, stranger things have happened right?. And when all is said and done, our money will be used to purchase an undisclosed amount of shares in a company with an undisclosed value, all because Mr. Barrow says this is how it should be.

industries in chaos…Little by little, incremental

inch by incremental inch, Belizeans are realizing that Prime Minister Dean Barrow is as bogus as they come…he talks real purty for sure, but it’s nothing but rhetorical flourishes (LOL, had to use that one). A very well known and respected talk show host this week quoted

from the Leader of the Opposition’s Independence Day speech where he stated – ‘The problems faced by almost every sector of agro-industry, sugar, citrus, banana and papaya, mount daily, and aquaculture faces disaster.’ The host almost nonchalantly claimed that the PUP leader was completely right because our industries are in chaos and everybody can see it. The thing is that in the Prime Minister’s speech immediately after the PUP leader’s address, he claimed that our industries were in good shape. In fact, Mr. Barrow scoffed at Briceno’s comments, saying that he had no idea where he was getting his statistics from. We can tell you where his statistics came from Mr. Barrow…have you ever heard about that little thing called reality? The Prime Minister can stand on the pulpit every hour on the hour and tell us that we’re living in a good country with a great leader in 24 different ways, but we see and feel the reality out here. The Prime Minister and his loved ones past and present are enjoying the best of times with no shortage of cash and perks, eating steak while the rest of us eat noodles…it used to be condensed milk and pack bread but under this UDP government even condensed milk is too expensive.

101 murders…By my unofficial count the

total number of murders already this year is 101…just two less than the record set last year and there are still three whole months before the end of 2010. The most recent happened just this morning when a 25 year old was shot in his head and left on a feeder road just

past the Haulover Bridge. Could somebody tell me if the Minister of Police and Public Safety and all things Carnival is in the country, because there is absolutely nothing coming from him? He has been mute on the increasing crime but that’s not surprising – he simply has no clue what to do. The Prime Minister has put on his magician hat and is pulling rabbit after rabbit out of the hat but they disappear as fast as he pulls them out. Mr. Barrow has said that he will put more BDF on the streets but has not said how they will pay for it. He seems to have conveniently forgotten the short-lived Operation Jaguar which died simply because GOB could not maintain it. He has stated that they will build a fully equipped forensics lab, but most people remember that he made the exact same promise more than two years ago when he was in campaign mode. He has made vague references to a whole bunch of initiatives to alleviate poverty, but very few people believe that those are anything more than rhetorical flourishes. The fact of the matter is that 31 months after the Prime Minister was elected to office on the strength of many of these same promises, they are still unfulfilled and he is busily rehashing them over and over again. In 31 months, there has been no concrete plan set in place to address crime. The biggest thing to come out of any crime-fighting initiative crafted by Barrow is a song, and that sure as hell hasn’t put a dent in crime. 31 months, Mr. Barrow, and you still expect us to be imagining the possibilities.

UDP Politics as usual


at www.belizetimes.bz

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The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) takes this opportunity to confirm its position on the matter of the purchase of Belize Telemedia Ltd. (BTL) Shares by the Social Security Board (SSB).

The BCCI is not in principle adverse to any investment opportunity which can potential ly improve the viabil ity and longevity of the Social Security fund. However, in discharging our duties as an SSB Board Member we are guided by the fact that we have a fiduciary responsibil ity to the thousands of Belizeans who are required by law to support the fund, to act responsibly and with integrity and fidelity in the management of their money.

In the matter of the purchase of the BTL shares, the BCCI submits that we have not been provided with sufficient information to al low us to act with confidence in a decision to support the purchase of Fifty Mill ion dollars ($50M) worth of BTL Shares. While the BCCI agrees that based on historical performance BTL may be considered a viable investment opportunity, the future of BTL is fraught with

THE CHAmBER CALLS FOR PROPER DUE DILIGENCEBEFORE PUBLIC FUNDS ARE INvESTED IN BTL

uncertainties, which increases the risk for the fund. These concerns must be neutral ized before the BCCI can vote with confidence for the purchase.

In addition to the historical performance and the projections provided to facil itate its decision making, the BCCI has asked for the following:

1. Legal opinions from three separate attorneys on the legal options available to claimants that may directly impede the profitabil ity of BTL and thereby negatively affect SSB’s return on Shares

purchased;2. A technical audit

of the status of the network to see where BTL is in terms of equipment l ifecycle and what investments may be absolutely necessary for BTL’s viabil ity in the short to medium term.

3. Whether there is any impending legislation which wil l alter the structure of the Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s industry and what effect/s that decision may have on BTL’s profitabil ity;

4. A copy of the Investment Prospectus;

To date we have not been provided with most of this information.

Further, we do not understand the unnecessary haste which accompanies the investment decision. In essence, the SSB board is being asked to make a decision on what would be the second largest investment for the fund without adequate information on the public offering (e.g. the share price, the ownership structure), or a proper determination of

the value potential of the asset. The Chamber asks the members of the board of the SSB to take the time to conduct the appropriate due dil igence and risk assessment exercises necessary to ensure utter confidence in the decision to invest such a large portion of the people’s money. In making its decision on an investment of this magnitude, the Chamber wishes to ensure to the best extent possible that the conditions are present to parallel the results of the previous investment in the shares that SSB had purchased in BTL, which to date has been SSB’s most successful investment.

Belize Water Services Limited invites applicants to fill the following vacancy at our Belize City Head Office.

STORES SUPERVISOR: Supervise stores personnel and activities of the Stores Department

STORES SUPERVISOR

DUTIES• Will be responsible for com-piling and maintaining the accounting information associated with the Stores Unit, liaise with all departments with regards to inventory usage and indicate re-order points

• Supervise clerks responsible for stores issues and receipts and in-ventory maintenance

• Prepare and submit daily, weekly and monthly reports

• Perform annual/monthly physical inventory counts

• Develop work policies and procedures for efficiency and effec-tiveness

• Other duties as assigned from time to time.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:Academic/Experience requirements include the completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Profes-sional Qualification in Inventory/Stores management with two or more years experience as an Accounting Supervisor or an Associate’s Degree with four or more years experience as an Account-ing Supervisor. Must have experience in inventory management. Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive vehicles with manual transmission. Must be computer literate.

BENEFITS:• Pay Scale $26,200 to $53,900. Starting salary is dependent on education level and experience.After successful completion of proba-tionary period:• Pension Plan • Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Plan

If you are interested in progressing with us please send your application let-ter with your detailed curriculum vitae giving your current position by 6th October, 2010 to:

Human Resources ManagerBelize Water Services Limited,

P.O. Box 150, Central American Boulevard, Belize City, BelizeE-mail : [email protected]

Note: Only qualified candidates will be acknowledged.


VEHICLE UNIT SUPERVISOR: Supervise vehicle unit personnel and activities of the Vehicle Unit.

VEHICLE UNIT SUPERVISOR

DUTIES• Responsible for compiling and maintaining the information associated with the Vehicles Unit; liaise with all departments with regards to vehicle usage, vehicle inspections and other vehicle related matters that arise.

• Manage vehicle maintenance scheduling.

• Supervise clerks assigned to the Vehicle Unit.

• Prepare and submit computer generated daily, weekly and monthly reports as required.



EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:

Academic/Experience requirements in-clude the completion of an Associate’s Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with three or more years experience as a Supervisor. Experi-ence in vehicle management will be an asset. Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive vehicles with manual transmission. Must be computer literate.

BENEFITS:• Pay Scale $19,600 to $36,700. Starting salary is dependent on educa-tion level and experience.

After successful completion of proba-tionary period:• Pension Plan • Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Plan





BELIZE WATER SERVICES LTD.

Belize City, Belize. September 27, 2010:

Environmental and Social Analysis of the Construction and Operation of a Wastewater Collection, Treatment,

and Disposal System for the Placencia Peninsula

Lodgment and Public Consultation Notice

The General Public is hereby advised that an Environmental and Social Analysis has been submitted to the Department of the Environment (DOE) by the Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) for the construction and operation of a wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal system for the Placencia Peninsula. The Environmental and Social Analysis will be re-viewed by the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) before a final decision is taken by the DOE.

The General Public is hereby informed that the Environmental and Social Analysis will be available for public review after the 27th September 2010, at the following locations: Seine Bight Community Library, Placencia Vil-lage Community Library, Independence Village Community Library, BWSL office in Belize City and Department of the Environment office in Belmo-pan. Comments can be submitted on or before 12th October, 2010, to the Depart-ment of Environment (DOE) at 10/12 Ambergris Avenue, Belmopan; Fax : 822-2862; Tel: 822-2542 or E-mail : [email protected].

Belize Water Services Ltd. – Delivering water and more…

For more information regarding this or any other BWS Release, please contact Mr. Haydon Brown at Tel: 222-4757 Ext. 234 or

via e-mail at [email protected]

CALL FOR PROPOSAL

Feasibility Study for the Design and Installation of a LandfillGas Collection, Control and Flaring Facility through the Clean Devel-opment Mechanism in the proposed Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill in BelizeBackground:In 2008 the CARICOM CLIMATE CHANGE CENTER, as part of its Enabling Activities for the Preparation of Belize’sSecond National Communication (SNC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Project, funded a Consultancy to conduct an “Analysis of the potential of utilizing the methane (CH4) emissions pro-duced at the primary solid waste disposal site for electrical energy generation as a viable economic and environmentally friendly operation, from the Western Corridor (Belize and Western Districts)”. The primary solid waste disposal site referred to was the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill of the Solid Waste Manage-ment Project (SWMP) which is currently being designed and is planned to be built in 2011. During the conduct of the consultancy, challenges were encountered in regards to obtaining reliable estimates of the generation of municipal solid waste per capita in the Western Corridor as well as on the composition (percentage by weight) of municipal solid waste. A waste characterization study is currently under development and will be finalized end of October.In 2009 United Nations Development Programme met with the Solid Waste Management Authority to discuss the possibility of integrating a Landfill Gas (LFG) collection, control and flaring facility in the proposed Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill on the rationale that Belize seeks to reduce its GHG emissions to the atmosphere in the path of a low carbon and resilient development strategy. To make possible this additional investment in this project, there is a need for the revenue stream that would derive from the sale of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) under the Clean Develop-ment Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. This revenue stream would allow for the recovery of the investment costs of the flaring system to combust CH4 and other landfill gases from the future landfill. In the absence of the CDM and carbon credits it will not be possible to reduce GHG emissions from the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill.

Objectives of the Consultancy:The objective of this feasibility study is to assess whether the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill could generate suf-ficient LFG for a CDM project to be developed that would permit the flaring of the LFG allowing Belize to reduce 20 its GHG emissions and obtain a sustainable source of revenue from the sale of Carbon Emission Reduction credits in order for the project to be financially viable. This consultancy will provide all the necessary inputs to estimate the viability of designing and installing a LFG collection, control and flaring facility in the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill through a CDM project.

Submission:Interested consultants may obtain the complete Request for Proposal (RFP) packages by sending an email to [email protected] or by visiting the UNDP Belize Country Office at:

United Nations Development ProgrammeLawrence Nicolas Office Complex

3rd FloorSouth Ring RoadBelmopan City

CayoTelephone: 822-2688

Completed proposals should be submitted to the UNDP Belize Country Office by Octo-ber 15, 2010 at 4:00pm

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encour-aged to apply.


mike Rudon Jr.As I write this on Wednesday,

September 29th, the greatest political party in the history of our young nation celebrates its 60th bir thday. That is an impressive achievement and worthy of praise, so I decided to dedicate some time to the Blue Machine on this special day and take a break from Barrow bashing (though I do enjoy that so much). As the Party celebrates 6 decades of l ife, it also prepares to move into another stage of its existence – one we’ll call Rebir th – on the road back to Belmopan and leadership of the nation and people after a stunning loss not so long ago. That the Party is once again poised to lead our jewel is a testament to its resil ience, its ability to accept change and adapt; an unwavering commitment to the people and the support of many supporters across the length and breadth of Belize who recognize the inherent goodness and greatness of the People’s United Party.

It has by no means been an easy road. Even now as the Party prepares for its National Unity Convention, the perception is sti l l that unity is f leeting and unsecured. Like with all dynamic entities, there have been ups and downs, trials and tribulations, spectacular accomplishments and spectacular failures. The past two years have been fraught with turmoil as the Party reached

Thank YOU… Muchas Gracias !perhaps its deepest low in the wake of a devastating defeat at the polls in 2008…mass rejection by an electorate which had become disil lusioned and distrustful and angry at the direction of the Party. From that ruin a new leader rose up like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes, a man courageous enough to take the helm of a Party in utter disarray…a man will ing to risk it all to rebuild a party of the people and for the people. From the onset John Briceno made a commitment to the Belizean people that he would unite the broken shards of the People’s United Party and bring it to greatness once again.

Perhaps if the young leader had foreseen the challenges in his way he would have faltered, but he didn’t…and he didn’t. Today, while the perception remains that the Party is as far removed from unity as it was two years ago, the reality is that the Party is as close to unity as it has ever been. That unity was hard fought but it exists nevertheless. Briceno proved to be everything a leader should be…persistent, patient, tolerant, visionary and firm. While being attacked at every turn by persons within the Party, Briceno counseled patience and peace, maintaining that whatever our differences of opinion, we were all members of the People’s United Party. His cooler head prevailed when hotter heads demanded response and

retaliation. His reticence at times seemed indicative of indecision, but in the end it paid off. He pulled the Party together against all odds, and under his guidance, Belizeans are once again looking to the Blue Machine to wrest the country from the grasp of the bald-headed dictator and his corrupt and incompetent minions. Just two years ago, the UDP was comfortable in the near certainty that the PUP was a mere shadow of its former self…now they are desperate and fearful because the PUP is strong and vibrant and the people are ready to answer the call of the Blue Machine.

In the end, if truth be told, it took more than the tireless and dogged persistence of the PUP Leader to pull this thing together. It took more than a mill ion olive branches offered at every turn, more than countless attempts to establish cohesion between warring factions. It took the will of the people…a will forged in iron and issued in clear directive – stop this foolishness and pull yourselves together and get the hell to Belmopan where you can help us. The people got fed up of the infernal internal bickering and told the PUP leader to move on smartly…to hell with the rest. At the most recent National Party Council meeting, the leader was told to get rid of the excess baggage in his Executive because there is work to be done – translation…all

who refuse to work and devote all their energies to undermining the Party and creating mischief must go IMMEDIATELY…all who are lazy and selfish and self-centered and greedy and power-hungry must go IMMEDIATELY…all who refuse to accept that the Party was created to serve the people and not the interests of a few must go IMMEDIATELY…all who believe that they own some part of the PUP or are entitled to some dividends or recognition without working diligently and sincerely to further the aims of said Party must go IMMEDIATELY!

So as the Party celebrates its 60th bir thday, it is not without casualties. Even now there are those who at the last hour seek to challenge the will of the people but that will not be tolerated. The train has left the station, powered by the tens of thousands of loyal, true blue supporters all across this nation. Some hard lessons were learnt along the way but the path ahead is now clear. Led by John Briceno, the PUP will return to Belmopan.

And on this occasion, it is fitting that a heartfelt and sincere thank you go out to YOU, the people who have made and continue to make the People’s United Party what it is. Thank you…from the bottom of our hearts thank you!

Que Viva PUP…Long live the PUP.



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Tropical Depression Matthew churned up in the mid-western Caribbean and in the lower reaches of Central America where as early as Tuesday, September 21, it was starting to create a stir and get the attention of local forecasters, because of underlying currents and a trough that was projecting a path our way.

And over the coming days, Matthew grew into an upstart tropical storm, threatening most of Central America as it kept a westerly track to the Gulf of Honduras, but making landfall on Friday near the border of Nicaragua and Honduras, and then making its way west-northwest past the southern tip of Belize, before entering the mountains of Guatemala.

Matthew dissipated on Sunday night before it could enter the Gulf of Mexico and regain strength, but while its presence posed no physical strength in terms of winds, it did dump a lot of rain as it swept across the region at 16 miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds at 50 miles per hour.

In the low-lying plains, it prompted the National Emergency Management Organisation officials to spring into action, putting together their action plans for the various communities most likely to feel the effects. But, like a dog whose bark is more harmful than its bite, there was no real cause to activate much of those plans for the storm. In Belize City, none of the 11 hurricane shelters had to be opened.

But in the hours that followed, Matthew surely offered a little food for some and recreation for others in the west. The areas that normally f lood when there's a heavy downpour, such as the low-lying wooden bridge that connects Santa Elena to San Ignacio, and the Iguana Creek Bridge leading to Spanish Lookout, and others along that stretch, were all inundated. But, like the residents always do in times like these, they made much of the situation. Children whose parents did not send them to school or whose schools closed for the day spent all of Monday bathing and swimming, while the older citizens paid keener attention to what blessing the storm brought their way. Some

Matthew blew over like wah lee breeze!!

went fishing and their catch proved that Matthew gave more than he took as it zipped past us.

But while Matthew’s passage through Belize is now history, Belize and the Tropics are not

out of the woods yet, as the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season still has a full two months and a few days before it is finally over. Even though it still has this much time, already this year has lived up to the prediction of hurricane experts that it would have been an above-active year. The advice now to everyone is to stay vigilant for the remaining two months and keep those hurricane supplies in the pantry, just in case.

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Twenty-six year old Sherlock "Big Boy" Syfox, a Belizean who was

Body of man found float-ing near Bliss; mother

insists its murderdeported home almost 11 months ago, was discovered sometime before six on Sunday morning floating in the sea in front of the Foreshore in Belie City. Syfox was last seen alive while drinking at Tipsy Corner Bar near the Cinderella Plaza on Saturday night. Reports are that he got embroiled in a dispute with someone who accused him of stealing a cellular phone and the contention ended up in the street where Syfox was seen running away with the occupants of a vehicle in hot pursuit of him.

While the post mortem could not definitively specify how Syfox met his death, his family, particularly his mother, is convinced that he was murdered. Beryl Syfox who lives in Forth Worth, Texas, says that the way her son was found, almost nude, is not how she knew him to act. When his bloated body was retrieved, his face and upper body were swollen. His death will more likely than not join the list of several others that remain a mystery.

Sherlock "Big Boy" Syfox

Three tourists from Europe almost drowned in the flood waters of the Macal River on Tuesday afternoon when the small canoe they had rented to take a tour down the river capsized, flinging them overboard and subjecting them to a fight for their lives in swift currents that they will never forget.

The saga started when the three got onboard a distance from San Ignacio, but their fun soon turned to disaster when the canoe tossed over. Brian Rousseau and Stephanie Lew of France and George Pembrew from Great Britain were quickly swept away. Initially Lew and Pembrew decided to grab a hold of tree branches while Rousseau tried to retrieve the canoe, but that plan was too much to accomplish in the flooded river’s swift current.

Lew and Pembrew then decided to let the currents take them where they may and they parted ways with Rousseau. They would drift for 14

Tourists rescued from canoe trip that almost turned

deadly; hotelier chargedmiles before help would come to them. The employees of Mystic River Resort saw them struggling to survive and offered them a hand, took them in and helped them to dry off before listening to the details of their frightening experience.

Tired and traumatized, the duo needed time to recoup before they were taken to San Ignacio to see if Rousseau had made it alive. He had - in fact he had already lodged a report about his missing friends and had told police that they got the canoe from Kenny Cadle, a hotelier in the town.

Cadle allegedly took the tourists near Chaa Creek for them to canoe down to San Ignacio by themselves. The voyage, usually a idyllic pastime on a placid river, is dangerous when it floods because of the swollen and swift current. Today police charged Cadle with Operating without a Tour Operator's License.


Two Bel izean men, who were wanted for the deadly ar med hold-up of the Spanish Lookout branch of Scotiabank on March 30th of this year, were ki l led in Honduras on Tuesday. Benjamin Peters and Alexander Edwards were l inked with four others to the heist , in which KBH security guard Stephen Lopez was shot dead and over $300,000 was stolen.

At f irst i t was repor ted that both Peters and Edwards were ki l led in San Pedro Sula when robbers hi jacked a bus in which they and another wanted fugit ive, Juan Salazar, were travel l ing. Salazar sur vived, but the other two perished.

But now several media houses are repor t ing that the men were attempting to board a bus at Aguas Cal ientes at the border with Honduras and Guatemala sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning when they were intercepted by pol ice because they were a l legedly car r ying weapons in their

Alleged bank robbers shot dead in Honduras

The 99th murder for 2010 occurred just after nine this morning at the Belize City limits border on a dirt road just past the Haulover Bridge at Mile 5 on the Northern Highway. It claimed the life of BeJohn Martinez, 25, a man who had had a colourful past with the law, but was never found guilty of any of the charges against him. The latest charge, however, for a robbery at Diamond Motel, gained more weight against him when another youth charged jointly with Martinez decided to become a witness for the prosecution.

Martinez had conveyed to relatives that on occasions when some members of the Police Department picked him up for investigation, one of them in particular would threaten him and tell him that his body would be

Another gunned down by Haulover!

picked up from the same vicinity. That threat now has family members having high suspicions about that officer's possible involvement in his murder. It is not certain how Martinez got to the location where he was found. His family says he'd normally drop off his girlfriend at school and then return home. This morning was different, however. After staying home for the past couple days, perhaps sensing trouble, Martinez decided to venture out today. He never made it back.

Shot once in the head, Martinez clung onto life for a little over an hour before he succumbed while undergoing treatment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. At one point he even moved his left hand while still lying on the road waiting for the ambulance to arrive. But his breathing was noticeably laborious.

He had taken a road of crime from his teenage years after he started to keep undesirables as his company. Despite advice from his family, Martinez never turned back, and it came back to haunt him. Police are following some leads but are yet to detain anyone.

The area is known as Belize’s killing field since as many as 9 persons have been reported killed in the immediate vicinity or dumped there, and there have been several stories of attempts on the lives of several others.

lug gage. The men were later found in

an area of a vi l lage cal led El Sit io in Copan, which is located in the west of Honduras. Benjamin Peters and Alex Edwards had succumbed to their injur ies but Salazar sur vived and repor tedly has infor med off ic ia ls that they were shot by three pol ice off icers

Alexander edwards

Neri Tor res, Isael Leiva Huezo and Hilber to Lorenzo ass igned to the Ocotepeque Pol ice Depar tment. They have been ar rested pending invest igat ions.

Bel ize Pol ice had charged seven persons, including a woman for the Bel ize bank robbery: Frank Edwards for murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery; Juan Salazar for abetment to commit robbery, Michael Rodriguez for conspiracy to commit robbery, and Aust in Monguia, Er vin Fernandez, Lewis Hernandez and Isol ina Perez for handl ing stolen goods. Only one third of the stolen money was ever recovered.

The guard who was ki l led,

Stephen Lopez, had just been ass igned to duties at the bank that morning. He had been joyful ly ant ic ipat ing the bir th of his chi ld, which was due around the same t ime he was ki l led.

It was repor ted today that funeral ser vices were yesterday afternoon for Alex Edwards in San Pedro Sula , Honduras by his parents who traveled to Honduras and identif ied his body. Alex Edwards was a lso under invest igat ion for the February 2009 tr iple murder in nor thern San Pedro Amberg ris Caye.

Relat ives of Benjamin Peters are repor ted to be making ar rangements to transpor t his body to Bel ize for buria l .

In The Supreme CourT of BelIze A.D. 2010

Claim No. 382 of 2010

BETWEEN Ornel Brooks Claimant Administrator in the Estate of Moses Brooks

AND

Catherine Gill 1st Defendant Noel Codd 2nd Defendant

TO: Catherine Gill of United States

Take notice that Claim: 382 of 2010 has commenced against you, Catherine Gill in the Supreme Court of Belize by Ornel Brooks of #2 Bay Street, Belize City, Belize Administrator in the Estate of Moses Brooks. This matter will be heard on Monday 13th day of September, 2010 at 9:00 O’clock in the forenoon before the Honorable Justice Legall. The Claimant’s claim is for an order for the following.

1. A declaration that the Claimant is absolutely entitled to the fee simple in possession of Lot 118 currently in possession by the Claimant and situated at Otro Benque, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District, Belize and formerly registered on Transfer Certificate of Title dated 23rd October, 1974 registered in Volume 9 folio 153 Land Titles Register.

2. An order cancelling Transfer Certificate of Title dated 19th December, 2006 and registered in Volume 14 Folio 50 of Land Titles Register in the name of the 1st defendant of said Lot 188.

3. Rectification of the Land register of Belize and issuing of a new Certificate of Title to show the Claimant as the registered proprietor of Lot 118 situated in Otro Benque, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District.

4. An injunction to restrain the 1st defendant whether by herself, her servants or agents or otherwise from selling, transferring, taking possession or dealing in any way with the said Lot 118 situated at Otro Benque, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District, Belize.

5. Such further and or other relief as this honorable court deem just.

6. Cost

AND it has been ordered that service of the Claim on you be effected by this advertisement.

AND you are required to enter an appearance within fourteen (14) days of the second publication of this NOTICE of Claim to defend the said Claim by caus-ing an appearance to be entered for you in the Supreme Court.

TAKE NOTICE that in default of your doing so, the said Claimant may proceed therein, and judgment may be given in your absence.

You may appear to the said Claim by entering an appearance in person or by your attorney at the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Belize.

Dated the 13th day of September, 2010.

Oswald Twist#16 Bishop Street, Belize City, Belize

Attorney-at-Law for the Claimant

FOR SALEBy Order of the Mortgagee

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Assignment and Transfer of Mortgage made the 15th day of December, 2006, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 46 of 2006 at Folios 327 – 354, between Development Finance Corporation (the Assignor) and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., which said property was mortgaged by Luz Carmen Vaccaro to the said Development Finance Corporation on the 18th day of September, 2006, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 34 of 2006 at Folios 25 – 68; and the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the Schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writ-ing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

SCheDuleALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Block No. 321 situ-ate in Lord’s Bank Road Layout,. Ladyville Village, Belize District and bounded as follows:-On the Northeast for 59.164 Meters by a Daylight Cut and 12.90 Meter Road; On the South-east for 47.471 Meters by a Daylight Cut and 12.191 Meter Road; On the Southwest for 59.164 Meters by a Daylight Cut and 12.190 Meter Road; On the Northwest for 47.471 Meters by a Daylight Cut and 12.190 Meter Road containing 2983.519 Square Meters as shown on Plan No. 2097 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings, erections and developments standing and being thereon.

DATED this 30th day of August, 2010.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

BeJohn martinez


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Prison sports coordinator caught trying to smuggle weed into prison

Belize CiTY, Wed. Sept. 29, 2010 Freddy Fuller, 38, a sports

coordinator at Belize Central Prison who was caugh t a t t empt ing to smuggle 83.3 grams of cannabis into the prison, was fined $10,000, yes terday in Magis t ra te ’s Cour t #5 after he pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.

Magistrate Albert Hoare gave him until December 23 to pay the fine, in default 3 years, but because Fuller owed a fine of $500 for a conviction of pipe possession he was taken to prison to begin serving time in default of payment of the fine.

The bust occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Monday, September 27. Fuller who was sleeping at the prison’s barracks, went to the prison and while he was in the control room he was searched. The search resulted in the discovery of the cannabis in the right front pocket of his pants.

F u l l e r b e c a m e s p o r t s coordinator while he was serving time for robbery and other offences. Fuller said that he was not trafficking in the cannabis and that it was for his personal use. He did admit, however,

that the cannabis trade in the prison is very lucrative.

Belize CiTY, Wed. Sept. 29, 2010 A man who allegedly attempted

to set fire to a house in Lord’s Bank while his wife was inside, was charged wi th a t tempted a r son when he appeared yesterday in Magistrate’s Court #6.

Husband tries to burn down house with wife in it

He is Sergio Guerra, 35, a truck driver residing in Orange Walk. He was also charged with aggravated assault and using threatening words. He was offered a bail of $3,000 and his case was adjourned until November 8.

Rosibel Guerra, 34, reported to the police that her husband came to her house around 5:45 p.m. on September 10, and threatened to kill her. She said he also attacked her with a piece of 2x4 lumber and tried to hit her with it but he was unsuccessful.

She said Guerra left and returned around 8:15 p.m. and tried to set fire to the house. She told police that Guerra disconnected the hose of the butane gas tank and attempted to ignite the gas with a cigarette lighter.

His attempt failed, however, because she managed to close the valve of the tank, she said.

Freddy FullerSergio Guerra

Belize CiTY, Wed. Sept. 29, 2010 A k e e m H u m e s , 2 0 , a

ca r pente r r e s id ing a t 102 Eas t Cana l S t reet , was charged wi th the murder of Jason Flores, 29,

Another man charged for Jason Flores’ murder

when he appeared in Magistrate’s Cour t #1 on Monday, September 27 and remanded in to cus tody unti l October 27.

Flores, a res ident of Neal Pen Road , was shot and k i l l ed around 6:20 a.m. on December 9, 2009. He was r iding his bicycle on Kraal Road heading for work when he was shot in the s ide of his abdomen.

H e w a s t a k e n t o K a r l H e u s n e r M e m o r i a l H o s p i t a l where he died an hour later.

Ryan Alvarez was charged w i t h F l o r e s ’ m u r d e r i n A p r i l about 5 months after Flores was ki l led, and now, a lmost 5 months la ter Humes has been s imi lar ly charged.

T h e p o l i c e h a v e n o t d i s c l o s e d w h a t e v i d e n c e t h e y have to have charged Alvarez and Humes. The motive for the kill ing has not been deter mined.

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Akeem humes

BY ORDER OF CHARGEENOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL

HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory body formed and registered under the Credit Union Act, Chapter 314 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, and whose registered office is situated at No. 1 Hyde’s Lane, Belize City, Belize District hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Chargee under and by virtue of Charges registered at the Land Registry be-tween those hereinafter named and the said Holy Redeemer Credit Union Limited.

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

ALL offers to purchase the said properties must be made in writing to HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED from whom full particulars and conditions of sale my be obtained.

SCHEDULE

1. ALL THAT parcel of land being Block 16, Parcel 3115/1 situate in the Caribbean Shores/Belize Registration Section, TO-GETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being there-on, the leasehold property of EDMOND D. PERDOMO

2. ALL THAT parcel of land being Block 23, Parcel 2664/1 sit-uate in the Santa Elena Cayo Registration Section, TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the leasehold property of ORTENCIO CAWICH, surety for MARIA CAWICH


man caught with stolen revolver and knife used to stab

security guard

Belize CiTY, Wed. Sept. 29, 2010Bryant Gentle Jr., 26, a construction

worker residing at the West Lake Community at Mile 8 on the Western Highway, one of two men who the police believe robbed and stabbed Triple A Security guard, Paul Valerio, 27, was charged with robbery and wounding when he appeared in the #8 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, September 27.

Gentle was also charged with kept firearm and kept ammunition without a gun license. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Emmerson Banner explained to him that the court cannot offer him bail because of the nature of the offences and remanded Gentle into custody until November 8.

The incident occurred 1:50 p.m. on Thursday, September 23. Valerio reported to the police that he was at work at Belize Medical Associates clinic on Regent Street when he saw two men enter the clinic. Valerio said the men headed for the receptionist area then suddenly turned and began walking towards him.

He said one of the men put a knife to his throat while the other one put a knife to his side but he said he began to struggle with the men and during the struggle, he was stabbed and his .38 revolver with 5 rounds of ammunition was stolen.

Police constable Reginald Diego, who was in the area, responded quickly to the report of the robbery and reported that he saw Gentle walking on Regent Street with a .38 revolver in his left hand and a knife in his right hand.

The officer said he ordered Gentle to stop and put his hands up and Gentle threw the firearm and knife into a fenced lot on Regent Street. When the firearm was retrieved it was found to be the .38 revolver that was stolen from Valerio.

The second suspect is still at large.

Belize CiTY, Wed. Sept. 29, 2010 Marsha Bood, 31, who is

unemployed and residing at 4238 Lock’s Alley, and who allegedly set fire to her ex-boyfriend’s apartment, was

Girlfriend sets boyfriend apartment ablaze

charged with arson when she appeared in Magistrate’s Court #2 on Monday, September 27.

Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser explained to her that she will not take a plea because the offence is indictable. She offered Bood bail in the amount of $4,000 which Bood met, and the case was adjourned until November 11.

The incident occurred around 10:50 a.m. on August 17. Godfrey Dougal, 43, reported to the police that he had a misunderstanding with Bood at his apartment located in Bootsville and Bood set fire to his bed and mattress, valued at $500.

Dougal said he managed to put out the fire before it caused any further damage. The police reported that when they arrived at the scene they saw that a window and a wall were scorched.

The police also reported that they found a gallon bottle which they believed contained gasoline.

marsha Bood

Belize CiTY, Wed. Sept. 29, 2010 Sher man Rodney, 20, who

res ides at #3 Centra l American Boulevard, was charged with the attempted murder of Rafael Usher,

Teen escapes murder attempt: 20 year old rival charged

18, when he appeared in Magistrate’s Court #5 on Monday, September 27.

Mag i s t r a t e A lbe r t Hoa re explained to him that he will not take a plea because the offence is indictable. He also explained to Rodney that the court cannot offer him bai l because of the nature of the offences and he remanded Rodney into custody until October 27.

The incident occurred around 11:45 p.m. on Thursday, September 23. Usher reported to the police that he was visiting a female friend at a house on Arlington Drive and he was on the verandah upstairs when Rodney approached. He said Rodney pointed a 9 millimetre pistol at him and fired several shots but they missed.

Usher sa id he escaped by r u n n i n g a n d j u m p i n g o f f t h e verandah.

Sherman Rodney

Bryant Gentle Jr.

All Eyes on Diabetes Are you diabetic? Do you know someone living with diabetes?

Did you know that untreated diabetes can cause blindness? Come and be informed!

The Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI), in collaboration with the Belize Diabetic Association, invites you to a public event to be held in your area

Note: Belize City is all day as we will be doing both Diabetic Awareness and World Sight Day 2010 together.

Free Sugar and Blood Pressure tests will be conducted! So come on over and let BCVI keep an eye on your vision AND your health!

For more information contact us at 227.7776!

District Venue Date Time Belmopan Red Cross 21/10/2010 2:00 PM Corozal Town Methodist Auditorium 21/10/2010 1:30 AM Belize City Lester Young Hostel 14/10/2010 9:00-3:00 PM Punta Gorda Parish Hall 26/10/2010 1:00 PM Dangriga Town Red Cross 28/10/2010 1:00 PM Orange Walk Red Cross 21/10/2010 8:30 AM


Writings ontheWALL

rod says: September 25, 2010 at 8:15 ambarrow you need to resign resign resignnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn under your leadership economy in the drain, education in the drain, tourism in the drain, exports in the drain ,imports in the drain corruption rampant , crime way way way out of control , not one good thing in this gov. you will go down as the worse gov in belizean history resign barrow get your ticket for miami hope you have made ar-rangements with your god obama for your green card resignnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

Posts are from www.belizetimes.bz, Belize Times Press Facebook Account, John Briceño Facebook Account, www.channel5belize.com

blvnjah says: September 25, 2010 at 8:33 amMR MUSA MAKES A GOOD POINT. IF THAT IS THE CASE WITH THE BILL, THAT NO REASON HAS TO BE GIVEN FOR SOMEONE TO REQUEST OR PETITION A RECAL, I BELIEVE THAT OPENS UP A WHOLE NEW CAN OF WORMS FOR ABUSE.KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS GOV’T WILL BE OUT THE DOOR SHORTLY. SO THIS BILL WILL BENEFIT THEM, IN THE SENSE THAT FOLKS ARE USU-ALLY MAD AND UPSET AT THE FOLKS IN POWER. SO THIS GOV’T, WHO WILL SOON BE THE OPPOSITION, CAN EXPLOIT THAT NORMAL TEN-DANCY.

Observer says: September 25, 2010 at 6:59 pmwhomever is blvnjah….I agree with you…the UDP know that they will loose the next general election, and they will certainly use this mechanism when the citizens are mad……I strongly encourage and welcome this kind of initiative but it should be well analyzed. First of all, there should of course be a valid reason for removal or else political interest will influence citizens to vote in their favor with the help of monetary incentives. Secondly, to remove an elected candidate, then about 51 % of the constituents of a given area should approve it or else, the same percentage of UDP that voted against will vote for the removal of the candidate.

ss says: September 27, 2010 at 1:56 pmI am neither UDP or PUP but from UDP got into power they have done nothing but seek out those who are not on their band wagon and find all kind of ways to get back at them. Some of the things that they are doing are totally illegal but because they are in power no one can contest them. This party is driven by revenge they didnt want to get in power to help the Belizean ppl but to take revenge on those who have not supported them, its obvious by the silly bills and the firing of innocent ppl when they got into office. They promised everything under the sun when they want-ed to win they knew the crime and economy needed fixing but when they wanted to get rich quick they had the plan to fix things now that they money is in the bank they are still blaming the PUP the ppl voted you in PM to fix the country not point fingers.

Dre says: September 30, 2010 at 9:16 amThe truth hurts. Government can do as they please that includes nationalize private enterprises. Any foreign investor should be aware. There is not justice only Bar-row’s justice.


The Observer's office here is cur-rently without electricity while sections of the city remains underwater, following heavy rains overnight. Rain is continuing to fall.

The Fairfield Main road is underwa-ter after the Barnett River overflowed its banks, leaving passengers stranded in mo-

tor vehicles.A fire brigade went to rescue some of

the motorists but got trapped in the water.The communities Gutters, Granville,

Pitfour are cut off from Montego Bay and their residents marooned.

Sections of the Long Hill main road have been reduced to single lane traffic.

Montego Bay under flood waters

A landslide in southern Mexico left 12 dead and 14 injured, the state-run Notimex news agency reported, citing civil protection officials. Four people were also reported missing.

The landslide happened Wednesday in the town of Amatan, in the state of Chiapas. President Felipe Calderon

12 dead in mexican landslide

confirmed the 12 fatalities on his Twitter account.

News of the landslide follows another similar incident in nearby Oaxaca state, where hundreds were feared trapped, but rescuers found that only 11 people were missing and none had been confirmed dead.

Piercing air horns sounded out Tuesday over the site where workers, drilling to reach 33 Chilean miners, passed the halfway point to the trapped men.

The celebration broke out as the Plan B drill grinded passed 300 meters, officials said. Andre Sougarret, the gov-ernment's rescue coordinator, initially said the drill hit 330 meters, but later indicated the depth was actually 303 me-ters. The drill is widening a 623-meter (2,040-foot) hole already drilled to the miners with a smaller diameter.

The men have been surviving on supplies funneled to them from above ground through earlier bore holes, each about four inches in diameter.

The initial bore hole for the Plan B drill reached them September 17, and the current operation is aimed at widen-ing that hole enough to allow a man to be lifted out.

Once a wide-enough hole is drilled to reach the miners, rescuers will begin the process of preparing the hole to lower a rescue capsule to the men and pull them out one by one. The 33 miners have been trapped since August 5.

The breakthrough came after the Plan B drill dug over 100 meters in about 48 hours.

"The advance has been one of the best we have had," Sougarret said. "It's due to better continuity with the drill-ing."

The continuity, Sougarret said, was a result of the more stable rock that drillers had reached. Earlier in the week, officials had said that drilling in solid rock packed against looser material had caused drill bits to come loose.

One drill bit fell about 500 meters and hit the mine's floor. None of the

trapped miners was hurt.Before the Plan B breakthrough,

officials said Tuesday that the Plan A drill -- a mining drill -- had reached 508 meters and Plan C -- an oil drill -- had reached 110 meters in depth.

Rescue officials said all the elements needed for the rescue of the trapped miners would be on location by the end of next week.

A specially-designed rescue capsule arrived at the mine site Saturday and two more are expected to travel there soon. Sougarret said other specialized equip-ment, such as a field hospital, was on its way as well.

The miners have been spending their days watching the news and movies on a small projector. Many are also exer-cising by working out with a trainer, who leads sessions over a video conference system. Officials have said the exercise helps the men pass the days and also will assist several of them in losing weight so they can more easily fit into the rescue capsule.

Authorities said they still believe the rescue operation would be carried out in November.

"We've always said November. I am sticking to that date because of diffi-culties we might encounter," Sougarret said. "I am sticking with the first days of November for the rescue date."

Late Tuesday, shocks from an earth-quake were felt in the vicinity of the mine. A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck near the town of La Higuera, some 270 kilo-meters to the south of the mine. Sougar-ret said rescuers were prepared for the possibility of an earthquake and that the mine was sound. There were no imme-diate reports of damage from Tuesday's quake.

Drill passes halfway point in Chile mine rescue bid

As many as 30 people in northwest Colombia were buried by a landslide Monday, CNN affiliate Caracol TV reported, citing rescue officials.

The landslide occurred in the state of Antioquia.

Between 20 and 30 people had

30 could be buried by Colombian landslide

gotten off a public bus and were walking by the edge of the road when the landslide came, Caracol TV reported.

Video from the scene showed rescuers with shovels digging into the massive landslide.

Cuba on Tuesday gave details of the severance packages it will offer state workers who lose their jobs in massive government layoffs slated for the next six months, reassuring a jittery public that nobody will be left defenseless amid the historic economic reboot.

Many of those fired will receive an offer of alternative work, and can appeal to labor authorities if they are not happy with it.

For those who cannot find new work immediately, the state will pay severance of 60 percent of their salary for up to three months, depending on their senior-ity, according to an article in the Commu-nist Party newspaper Granma.

"Cuba will leave no one defenseless," reads the red-letter headline above the ar-ticle.

The newspaper has been the pre-ferred conduit of information on the most sweeping economic changes in Cuba since the early 1990s. No senior Cu-ban official, including President Raul Cas-tro, has spoken publicly about the layoffs since they were announced on Sept. 14.

It was not clear what will happen to workers after the three-month severance period is up. Many outside economists and Cuba experts have expressed doubts that the private sector will be able to ab-sorb so many workers — one-tenth of the island's labor force — in such a short

time.When it first announced the layoffs,

Cuba said it was also reforming the econ-omy to allow for more private enterprise. Since then, the government has said it would encourage a wide-range of small businesses, allow islanders to hire em-ployees not related to them and even give credit to new entrepreneurs.

The changes have been welcomed by many, but there is also fear that they will cause upheaval in a nation where people are not accustomed to fending for them-selves.

Cuba's communist government em-ploys some 84 percent of the work force, paying workers about $20 a month in re-turn for free education and health care, and nearly free housing, transportation and basic food.

President Raul Castro has said the state can no longer afford such deep sub-sidies. He says he wants to lay off 1 mil-lion workers in the next five years, and has complained that Cuba is the only country in the world where people expect to get paid for not working.

The goal of the reforms is to both trim government payroll and spur a pri-vate sector that will increase taxes paid into state coffers. The government has said the changes are not meant to signal a break with socialism or an embrace of free-market capitalism.

Cuba says fired workers won't be left defenseless

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has appealed for peace and toler-ance in the country. His call followed a spate of murders over a one-week period. Five murders during that time, seen as a record, have prompted both government and church reaction. Prime Minister Sker-rit, in calling for a greater sense of toler-ance, said the government needed to do more in the maintenance of law and or-der in the country.

Dominica’s acting Police Commis-sioner, Cyril Carrette, has already called for harsher penalties to be imposed on convicted criminals. And one pastor who called for a resumption of hanging, said

in a local radio broadcast that “you cannot stop murder in Dominica when murder-ers are prowling the country free.” —BBC

Dominica Pm calls for peace and tolerance


Bet you didn’t know about these two special days of remem-brance which start off the month of October – International Day of Older Persons (October 1) and International Day of Non-Vio-lence (October 2).

Well, International Day of Older Persons honours and cel-ebrates older persons in our so-ciety like our grandparents and great-grandparents. It reminds us that older persons have done a lot for their country and still are in their own way.

On this day why don’t you ask to go and visit with your family some older people that you love? It could be a neighbour, a church member or better yet your grandparents or great-grandparents.

International Day of Non-Violence remembers a man you may not know. He was born on October 2, 1869 and his name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, but he was specially called Mahatma Gandhi. He fought against discrimination and for In-dia’s independence from Britain.

He believed the way to do this was by using the power of non-violence and non-co-operation/peaceful protest.

His work touched the lives of the poor, women and those treated as untouchables/outcasts.

He is respected and held dear by many persons in India and across the world. If you want to learn more about Mahatma Gandhi ask your parents to take you to the library or see if they can get the movie Gandhi.

Did you know...

Answer: WATER white water, dishwater, waterproof, water wings, water hole, salt water - Answer: TOURNAMENT

Riddle Me This, Riddle Me That…

Color Me

What's the Word?

What 5-letter word can you add to the beginning or end of the words below to make a familiar word or phrase?

white, dish, proof, wings, hole, salt

UnscrambleCan you work with the following letters to

spell a 10-letter English word?TTNENUMROA

Numbers BoggleTry to fill in the missing numbers.The missing numbers are integers between

2 and 8.The numbers in each row add up to totals

to the right.The numbers in each column add up to

the totals along the bottom.The diagonal lines also add up the totals to

the right.


While flipping through the weekly newspapers, we will realize as Christians that the whole purpose of the church is being undermined by our omissions. This Sunday the sermon was focused on the story of the Lazarus and Dives, or Lazarus and the rich man recorded in the gospel of Luke. We were reminded that the biggest sins of the persons that are the “haves” in our society is their omissions, by assumption then the plight of the “have-nots” is the actions that we take as well.

In looking at the current news stories, we realize that the church which is the first anti-virus and fire wall of moral and spiritual integrity has been down for as long as Belize has been dove tailing into the darkness of crime and immorality. Why? Few would disagree that stealing is the most indicative sin and crime.

Stealing is a subject well worth our attention for several reasons. First, stealing has become a national problem of epidemic proportions. Now we see that the criminals are starting this new thing called “home invasions” and going to your house after you have said your prayers with your kids and entering your house with duck tape, knives and guns. We shake our heads and wonder how it got to this.

Well it is easy to know how it got to this; Jesus was a common sense guy. In fact when he was here, he did not use Roman sophistry or Pharisee jargon or a Sadducee text to reach the people. Jesus was practical and real. In modern times Jesus would remind us that we have to do a lot more to address real issues. He would use the common sense and everyday language and sayings of our time. He would have said Church you need to be whipped, the tables in the temples overturned and the sleeping Christians reprimanded. He would have said you complain about crime and murders. But like Job was tested, God tested the church first and we were found wanting.

How many times have thieves and bandits broken into your church? Or while at mass, or church your car was broken into and vandalized, long before this became the norm in Belize? Is it any wonder that they will break into a stranger‘s house after they violated and soiled the house of God????

See the old saying goes that a “thief is a murderer” and everything that has an ending, must have a beginning. Where was the beginning for all this sin and evil? Secular Belize has not been made to respect the church. So they steal, rob and jack God in Belize.

I was reading a novel by Khaled Hosseini entitled “Kite Runner”. One of the characters named Baba made an interesting comment to his son, he said: “There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft... When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. There is no act more wretched than stealing, Amir." – pg 17 and 18.

Now we know that there are a cadre of sins, but the point is that theft is a particularly entrenched evil. It is a must have base ingredient for sin. When I think back, the church had been robbed and abused by criminals who were crying out for attention and correction for some time now.

In fact we remember when during mass a man followed another man into the sanctuary of the service at our catholic church on the Northern Highway, to finish his deadly assault. Yes!

Interestingly what triggered this week’s topic is an article in the news papers where burglars broke into the Methodist church. But as I sit writing this reflection, a caller called in to our Christian morning talk show, “Rise and Shine” on Plus TV and reported that over this weekend thieves broke into Kings Park Nazarene Church in Belize City and took video equipment.

So I spoke to some other brothers and sisters, I realized that one church, Central Assemblies of God, had someone go to the church-school and put chewing gums in all the locks to the doors. Another church which is literally one yard away from a police booth on Vernon Street, has been broken into so many times, there is a reluctance to report it. That church, called Zoe Ministries and Integrity Christian Radio, has had the burglar bars peeled off, walls broken with sledge hammer to get in, and roof taken off to get to God’s property.

“Facey-niss” but yet at another denominational church on West Street, the fence was plastered with graffiti with fat curse words about the police and gang allegiances. Despite repeated pleas to the police no one was ever apprehended. This is for years.

A brother told me that if I think that is bad, they found out at his church who had broken in and they told the police and made a report, as of today nothing has been done to that person. Pastors have had to batten down and hover in fear of the crime. Some churches invested in expensive fences and security systems while having earlier church services.

Yet worse is another church where persons would break in and defecate inside the church, leaving human feces smeared in the church. Other churches reported that they have found expended condoms, marijuana butts and broken crack pipes under and behind their churches. Respect for the community and Police? How about step one respect for God?????

But it is time to take the offensive on these acts. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us “ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Armed with that and the righteous stance that stealing made the shortlist of ten commandments or “ultimate sins” that God says should be banished from good and wholesome living in Exodus 20:15: one of the most direct and short commandments next to thou shall not kill is thou shall not steal; let us put on the full armor of God and fight this evil!!!!

Imagine if we had gone out and kept the society accountable and be relentless in our cause to stomp out this plague. The bible is better than the law. This is what it says about dealing with “jacking”: “When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full, and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD; and he shall be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt” Lev. 6:1-7.

Let us take the offensive church. Take pictures of all the valuables in the church. Lets us collect an offering to sponsor an organized fighting of this specific evil. Hire a private investigator, find Christian Police officers and put notices in the newspapers ( I am sure we could lobby to get for free) with the items stolen and the face of the outcast who robbed God at Gun point. This surely must be a terrible curse to break into the house of God and it must be equally sinful to sit back and do nothing as a church. Arise brothers and sisters, let us restore the fear of God to Belize. What would Jesus do……..?

AmazinGraceJacking God at Gun point

In The Supreme CourT of BelIze A.D. 2010

Claim No. 382 of 2010

BETWEEN Ornel Brooks Claimant Administrator in the Estate of Moses Brooks

AND

Catherine Gill 1st Defendant Noel Codd 2nd Defendant

TO: Catherine Gill of United States

Take notice that Claim: 382 of 2010 has commenced against you, Catherine Gill in the Supreme Court of Belize by Ornel Brooks of #2 Bay Street, Belize City, Belize Administrator in the Estate of Moses Brooks. This matter will be heard on Monday 13th day of September, 2010 at 9:00 O’clock in the forenoon before the Honorable Justice Legall. The Claimant’s claim is for an order for the following.

1. A declaration that the Claimant is absolutely entitled to the fee simple in possession of Lot 118 currently in possession by the Claimant and situated at Otro Benque, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District, Belize and formerly registered on Transfer Certificate of Title dated 23rd October, 1974 registered in Volume 9 folio 153 Land Titles Register.

2. An order cancelling Transfer Certificate of Title dated 19th December, 2006 and registered in Volume 14 Folio 50 of Land Titles Register in the name of the 1st defendant of said Lot 188.

3. Rectification of the Land register of Belize and issuing of a new Certificate of Title to show the Claimant as the registered proprietor of Lot 118 situated in Otro Benque, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District.

4. An injunction to restrain the 1st defendant whether by herself, her servants or agents or otherwise from selling, transferring, taking possession or dealing in any way with the said Lot 118 situated at Otro Benque, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District, Belize.

5. Such further and or other relief as this honorable court deem just.

6. Cost

AND it has been ordered that service of the Claim on you be effected by this advertisement.

AND you are required to enter an appearance within fourteen (14) days of the second publication of this NOTICE of Claim to defend the said Claim by caus-ing an appearance to be entered for you in the Supreme Court.

TAKE NOTICE that in default of your doing so, the said Claimant may proceed therein, and judgment may be given in your absence.

You may appear to the said Claim by entering an appearance in person or by your attorney at the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Belize.

Dated the 13th day of September, 2010.

Oswald Twist#16 Bishop Street, Belize City, Belize

Attorney-at-Law for the Claimant

FOR SALEBy Order of the Mortgagee

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition, 2000, and having its registered office at Cor. Albert and Bishop Streets, Belize City, Belize, hereby gives notice of its intention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Assignment and Transfer of Mortgage made the 15th day of December, 2006, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 46 of 2006 at Folios 327 – 354, between Development Finance Corporation (the Assignor) and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., which said property was mortgaged by Luz Carmen Vaccaro to the said Development Finance Corporation on the 18th day of September, 2006, recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 34 of 2006 at Folios 25 – 68; and the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of this notice sell the property described in the Schedule hereto.

All offers to purchase the said property must be made in writ-ing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

SCheDuleALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Block No. 321 situ-ate in Lord’s Bank Road Layout,. Ladyville Village, Belize District and bounded as follows:-On the Northeast for 59.164 Meters by a Daylight Cut and 12.90 Meter Road; On the South-east for 47.471 Meters by a Daylight Cut and 12.191 Meter Road; On the Southwest for 59.164 Meters by a Daylight Cut and 12.190 Meter Road; On the Northwest for 47.471 Meters by a Daylight Cut and 12.190 Meter Road containing 2983.519 Square Meters as shown on Plan No. 2097 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings, erections and developments standing and being thereon.

DATED this 30th day of August, 2010.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS 91 North Front Street Belize City Attorney-at-Law for Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.


This time it is with a bang! There is no stopping this Minister who it now seems does not even care what his Prime Minister thinks about him anymore. Montero as Minister of Agriculture controls BAHA (BAHA allows to be controlled) and the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC) aka "Marketing Board." Some people call it the "Bigot Montero Devastating Corporation."

We have heard frequently heard time and time again complaints from producers and importers of vegetables and fruits regarding the indiscriminate handling of importation permits for various agricultural products. It seems as if only the close friends and cronies of Montero can be importers. Speculation out there is that he has a share in all imports. And perhaps all would be o.k. if prices were to remain the same or go down to make the cost of living cheaper. But, on the contrary, the cost to the importer goes up and consequently, the consumer pays a higher price for the products.

Why have the prices of these products gone up? To start off, not allowing the regular importers to share the import volumes allows the sole importer ("Monteristas) to hike up the prices because there is no competition. Secondly, in addition to paying BAHA permit fees and custom duties, the importer now pays an additional importation fee to BMDC. The latter is illegal. There is no legislation that provides for the BMDC to collect importation fees. Thirdly, when some importers complain and emit threats, they are given permits for small volumes which cause the price on a per unit (pound) basis to increase since the transportation and distributions costs for small volumes are same as for higher volumes.

One notable item that has increased in price by hundred percent is garlic. Garlic was retailed at the markets a few months ago for $1.00 per pouch of three heads of garlic. Today, garlic retails at the Saturday market for $2.00 for the same pouch with three heads of garlic. This is all because Montero has given sole importation rights to his San Antonio Chairman. Other applications for importation of the same item have been denied even though the origin posted on the importation form is the same.

We wou ld l i ke to know the following: 1. Where is this money paid to BMDC going, what is it used for, and who authorizes its use? 2. Is the function of the BMDC that of a State Trading Institution? If the answer is yes, are we complying with the provisions as specified in Article XVII of the GATT/WTO to which Belize is signatory? We reproduce below the first two paragraphs to the said Article XVII.

1. I n o r d e r t o e n s u r e t h e transparency of the activities of state trading enterprises, Members shall notify such enterprises to the Council for Trade in Goods, for review by the working party to be set up under paragraph 5, in accordance with the following working definition:

" G o v e r n m e n t a l a n d n o n -governmental enterprises, including marketing boards, which have been granted exclusive or special rights or privileges, including statutory or constitutional powers, in the exercise of which they influence through their

Rene Xate montero and the Belize marketing Development Corporation (BmDC)

purchases or sales the level or direction of imports or exports."

This notification requirement does not apply to imports of products for immediate or ultimate consumption in governmental use or in use by an enterprise as specified above and not otherwise for resale or use in the production of goods for sale.

2. Each Member shall conduct a review of its policy with regard to the submission of notifications on state trading enterprises to the Council for Trade in Goods, taking account of the provisions of this Understanding. In carrying out such a review, each Member should have regard to the need to ensure the maximum transparency possible in its notifications so as to permit a clear appreciation of the manner of operation of the enterprises notified and the effect of their operations on international trade.

Isn't an extra fee and extra turn-a round increas ing unnecessa r y bureaucratic procedures that lead to higher transaction costs for the business sector? Shouldn't we instead be facilitating and encouraging the development of private sector capacity to participate more effectively in the

process of better regulation through public-private sector partnerships and improved advocacy?

In add i t ion , shou ld ’t we be expediting the establishment of market support institutions in the area of better regulation to ensure coordinated legal and regulatory reforms and improvement in the del ivery of commercial justice?

The BMDC appears to be an u n n e c e s s a r y, a n i m p e d i m e n t to our producers, importers and exporters. It seems to be more an instrument to create wealth for supposedly 'clandestine operations' of the government and is held in the sole authority of the Minister of Agriculture.

When will the Prime Minister put a stop to Montero? Didn’t the PM say that there would not be “the slightest whiff of corruption” under his watch?


T h e B e l i z e Ta b l e Te n n i s A s s o c i a t i o n " k i c k e d - o f f " i t s 2nd Annual Team Table Tennis A s s o c i a t i o n T o u r n a m e n t , sponsored by Bro the r s Habe t , at the Belize Elementary School a u d i t o r i u m t h i s p a s t S u n d a y, September 26, 2010, as originally planned.

T h e " t u r n o u t " w a s overwhelming with al l 13 teams r e p r e s e n t e d f o r t h e o p e n i n g ceremonies. Gracing us once again was the "violin" group of Carlos Cui, one of our top players and a member of the ACE team, also participating in the Team League, who performed the Belize National Anthem.

Present also at the opening

Rivero’s Welders 5 to 1; at Table 2 Team Bombers had defeated Suga City 5 to 4 and at Table 3 Team R a c q u e t e e r s h a d d e f e a t e d N o Mercy 5 to 2

In the 2nd Division at Table 4, Team Phoenix defeated the Assassins 5 to 0 : a t Table 5 Team Cobra defeated Team "L" 5 to 3, and at Table 6 Team Garage defeated Young Stars 5 to 1.

The competition continued in the afternoon with the following results : 1st Division, at Table 1 Team Bombers defeated ACE 5 to 4; at Table 2 Team Rivero’s Welders defeated No Mercy 5 to 4 and at Table 3 Team Racqueteers defeated Suga City 5 to 3.

In the 2nd Division at Table

BTTA team table tennis tournament begins

was Mr. Tony Habet, representing the sponsors of this year’s Team League "brothers HABET". Mr. Habet welcomed the teams and also welcomed the opportunity for his company to be able to sponsor this years League.

Following all the "formalities of the opening" the competition was more than ready to commence.12 teams began the f irst round of participation with both 1st and 2nd Division teams well represented to compete.

With the "stage" set with 6 tables, the 12 teams began the morning scheduled games.

B y m i d d ay t h e m o r n i n g r e su l t s in the 1s t Div i s ion , a t Table 1 Team ACE had defeated

4, Team Hurricane defeated the Assassins 5 to 1, at Table 5 Team Phoenix defeated Young Stars 5 to 1, and at Table 6 Team Garage defeated Team "L" 5 to 1.

In the 1st Division, teams Bombers and Racqueteers advance with a "no losses" record, and in the 2nd Division, teams Hurricane, Phoenix, Garage, and Cobra, also advanced with a "no loss" record.

All other teams recorded "losses" in this first round of competition.

The competi t ion continues next Saturday, October 2 , wi th the following 2nd Division games scheduled, star t ing at 2 :00 PM: Hurricane vs Cobra; Assassins vs Young Stars, and Phoenix vs Team "L".

T he Foo tba l l Fede r a t i on o f B e l i z e a n d t h e F o o t b a l l Federa t ion of Guatemala have ag reed to play an Internat ional Friendly between i ts two Senior N a t i o n a l Te a m s o n S a t u r d a y,

L i s b e y C a s t i l l o , H a r r i s o n Roches, Bernard Linarez, Everal Trapp, Orlando J imenez , Der is Ben av i d ez , Ju l i a n M a l d o n a d o, L l o y d N u n e z , C l i f t o n We s t , Da l ton E i l e y, V i c to r Mora l e s ,

Belize national football team to take on Guatemala October 9 th , 2010 in Pe ten a t 3 :00 pm.

The fol lowing players have b e e n b e i n g c a l l e d u p : S h a n e Orio, Elroy Smith, Elroy Kuylen, Dion Burgess, Har r ison Tasher,

W o o d r o w W e s t , G l e n f o r d C h i m i l i o , Ty r o n e Pa n d y, I a n G a y n a i r , K e n t G a b o u r e l a n d Kahl i l Velasquez

T r a i n i n g r e s u m e s o n September 28th, 2010.


Junior Cyclist Kristopher Chuc

knocked down and killed while

training

The Be l i zean cont ingent t o the XIX Commonwea l th G a m e s s c h e d u l e d f o r N e w De lh i , Ind i a , f rom October 3 r d – 1 4 t h , 2 0 1 0 , l e f t t h e count r y today.

B e l i z e w i l l h a v e

C a m p o s , E d g a r A r a n a a n d Sha l in i Zabaneh (Cyc l ing ) .

The of f i c i a l s a re Joseph ine F lowers, De leg a te , Freder i ck Evans as Coach for Ath le t i c s and Per ry Gibson as Delegate/Coach for Cyc l ing.

Belizean Athletes to XIX Commonwealth Gamesr e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n A t h l e t i c s and Cyc l ing. The cont ingent cons i s t s o f K a ina Mar t inez , K a y D e Va u g h n a n d K a t y S e a l y ( A t h l e t i c s ) , a n d B r a n d o n C a t t o u s e , B y r o n Pope , Greg or y Love l l , Ja i ro

T h e f l a g b e a r e r t o t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h G a m e s i s t h e C e n t r a l A m e r i c a n double Gold Meda l i s t , K a ina Mar t inez .

T h e C h i e f o f M i s s i o n i s Mr. Pa t r i ck Henr y.

He displayed #259 on his jersey and rode for the Cayo High Road Cycling Team. Today 17 year old Kristopher Chuc will wear that number no more. He was knocked down and kil led while training on the Western Highway.

He was only a youth and had just started his promising cycling career when his life was cut short.

Kr i s topher had p l aced 2 n d i n t h e N a t i o n a l Ro a d Championships Road Race which was held on Sunday, July 4th from St. Margaret’s Village to Belize City. He had finished the 80 mile

journey in 4 hours, 13 minutes, 04 seconds

He had also accompanied t h e B e l i z e N a t i o n a l Ju n i o r CyclingT eam to the Junior tour of Guatemala this year, in which Deezan Spence won Best Sprinter and Giovanni Choto won a silver medal.

The Belize Cycling Association executive committee and members have all expressed their deepest sympathy to Kris ’ family, his fr iends, the Cayo High Road Cycling Team and his fans. He will be missed. Rest in peace, Kris.


Science oftheTIMES

In August of this year, a columnist for The TIMES first brought up the in-crease of the threat of the debilitating form of MALNUTRITION caused by severe long term protein and caloric de-ficiency. In that article, we noted that in the South, it has been confirmed that this type of malnutrition is on the rise.

With the poverty assessment report putting forty three per cent of the popu-lation below the poverty level even be-fore last October's declaration of the country being in 'Recession', we have every reason to believe that MARAS-MUS is a threat to the very lives of our children and elderly.

That the cry is “we can only (afford) to eat noodles...not steak...” would sug-gest that almost a half of the popula-tion, both urban and rural is at risk of this form of malnutrition.

This chart gives a rough guideline to the daily calorie needs of boys and girls at different ages. Kids who are really ac-tive may need more; those who are inac-tive may need less.

Age Calories per day Boys Girls1–3 1,230 1,1654–6 1,715 1,5457–10 1,970 1,740

11–14 2,220 1,84515–18 2,755 2,110Adults 2,550 1,940Children need to be fed high caloric

meals in small servings, several times a day because their little stomachs are

mARASmUS: the serious side of the Noodles vs Steak Debate

small and they can-not ingest larger por-tions they need to get the energy to keep up with their growth re-quirements, especially as they make the transi-tion from breastfeeding to family pot, and from crawling to running around and mentally in-teracting with their en-vironment. Marasmus also results from low protein intake as would be the case if children, (and adults as well), are living primarily off the starchy “Ramen” noo-dles in a salty soup base. Protein is the body's building block and is especially important in the early years. Sourc-es of protein are fish,

meats, peanut butter, milk and dairy products such as eggs, and even green leafy veggies like spinach and chaya.

So what is Marasmus, and why should we be concerned about its in-crease among our young children? It

is a wasting form of malnutrition char-acterized by the children losing the “roundness” we lovingly call “baby fat” and become emaciated with swol-len bellies, weak cries, dry skin and that look of the head being excessively bigger than spindly legs and a scrawny body.

Children affected by this severe malnutrition are prone a number of other health risks such as low immu-nity, sores in the mouth and on the skin that take very long to heal. A baby that may have been growing normally while breastfed, if the food it is fed upon weaning is not nutritious and not enough altogether, can quickly become listless, lose its alertness, slow down in mental and physical growth and be-gin a slow march to serious illness and even death.

If we believe that our children are this country's future, then we must en-sure that families with young children get some kind of food subsidy that includes quality, high protein foods like milk and eggs and a fair quantity to meet the nutritional needs of our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. How we address: the Noodles vs Steak Debate threatens our very existence.

Twice in less than a month, Be-lizeans were faced with the threat of severe f looding from two tropi-cal systems that crossed just north and south of our borders respec-tively. Both systems dumped inch-es of rainfall on our already satu-rated land with ever decreasing catchment wetlands. This being the regular regular rainy season and all, we expect that the worse of the f looding on our river (val-ley) communities lies ahead and so we would like to send out a pre-cautionary note to advise residents along the banks of rivers that may flood, to stay out of the f loodwa-ters as much as possible -for their health's sake.

Among the illnesses that usually plague flooded communities are tetanus, hepatitis and typhoid. For-tunately, our national immuniza-tion program has minimized their impact over the years as we provid-ed free vaccines and shots. Adults may want to get the boosters where possible as a precaution:

• Tetanus - A booster for tetanus should be given to anyone sustaining an injury (particularly lacerations and puncture wounds) that has not received a vaccination within the last 10 years, 5 years for particularly major or unclean wounds.

• Hepatitis A - Immune glob-ulin is given only to those persons known to be in direct contact with a confirmed case of hepatitis A.

Since county and city water systems may become contaminat-ed and power outages are wide-spread following severe f looding,

increased foodborne and water-borne diarrheal illnesses may occur among the population. A variety of sources, including animal and hu-man waste, can contribute to water pollution. It is important for physi-cians to test for and identify agents of illnesses so that outbreaks may be prevented and controlled in a timely and effective manner. Re-porting of these diseases by phy-sicians and laboratories to local health departments is necessary so cases can be investigated to deter-mine if there is a common source.

• Diarrheal Illness - Most di-arrheal illnesses have incubation periods between one and seven days. Bloody diarrhea may occur with certain infections. Testing for illness should be performed prior to treatment with medication be-cause of the large number of caus-

HEALTH HAZARDS OF FLOOD WATERS

ative agents that may require dif-ferent antibiotics.

• Hepatitis A - If hepatitis A is suspected, the doctor should draw blood and test for IgM anti-bodies for hepatitis A. It is espe-cially important for the local health department to know if a person with this illness is a food handler or participates in a day care setting.

• Parasites - Some water-borne parasites (e.g., giardia, cy-clospora, and cryptosporidium) may also cause chronic diarrhea; testing by a physician can identify these diseases. Such diseases can be severe in children, elderly and pregnant women or persons under-going treatment for cancer or HIV patients.

• Leptospirosis - During widespread flooding of an area there may be a potential, but small,

risk for a disease called leptospiro-sis, which is caused by exposure to animal urine. It is a bacterial dis-ease that affects both humans and animals. Symptoms may range from none to high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), abdominal pain, diarrhea or rash. If the dis-ease is not treated, kidney damage or liver failure may develop as well as respiratory failure or meningitis.

Although most livestock are vaccinated against this disease, they may still excrete bacteria; however, urine from dogs, rodents, and other wild animals may also be infected. Humans can be infected through contact with water, food or soil containing animal urine or tissue. Swallowing floodwater or exposure to mucosal surfaces such as eyes, nose or skin may also produce illness. Person-to-person spread is rare. If infected, a person can become sick between 2 days and 4 weeks. The illness may occur in two phases: the first with symp-toms described above followed by a short recovery; if a second phase develops, it is more severe. Treat-ment is important to prevent more serious illness and a more lengthy recovery. Risk for this disease will be greatly reduced by not swim-ming or wading in f loodwaters. It is also helpful to wear protective clothing or footwear and gloves when possible.

We know the waters will come rolling down to the sea; let us be proactive in protecting ourselves and our children as the active trop-ical season continues.


It’s All About Trust!

SoberReflections

By: mike Rudon Jr.Man that dratted Bar Association,

getting on Mr. Barrow’s nerves again. Imagine all those learned attorneys ganging up on that poor, sweet gentleman who is obviously only trying to do the best he can to ensure that justice is properly handed down. Imagine all those learned attorneys from both sides of the political divide launching a constitutional chal lenge of our gentle leader’s policy of giving Justices of Appeal limited contracts renewable on his whim. How dare they? How dare they insinuate by their actions that Mr. Barrow would ever, ever try to exert undue influence on the Judiciary? No, not our sainted leader whose integrity is sacrosanct and whose word is his bond (chuckle, chuckle)! Those bad, bad people in the Bar Association, trying to make our beloved big cheese look bad when all it would have taken is a congenial sit-down and he would have explained the whole thing. Jeez, heaven knows Mr. Barrow has always welcomed input from the Bar Association, going out of his way to encourage dialogue between that body and his Executive in every decis ion that affects the just ice system. Heaven knows that our humble leader is always approachable, always accessible and always open minded. Ayyy, I feel sorry for Mr. Barrow…the cross that poor man must bear.

For the benefit of those idiots over there at the UDP Guardian who are reading this with puzzled looks on their faces trying to figure out how to cut and paste the previous paragraph onto one of their sick masturbatory pieces on Mr. Barrow – it’s called sarcasm. I didn’t fall and hit my head this morning and suddenly believe that Mr. Barrow is a good and great man. I still think he’s a damned idiot who isn’t fit to wear the shoes of a leader and got the opportunity solely because of his golden tongue and certainly not because of any real ability. And yeah, there is this itsy bitsy little fact that we haven’t seen any real ability from his so called brilliance since he took office, so that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Boss, nobody trusts you anymore. Your word isn’t worth two pieces of cow dung anymore. I believe, and this is just my humble opinion, that the only thing that has saved

have just come and talk to me and I would have cleared everything right up. Yeah right, buddy, did you stop to think that there’s a very good reason that the Bar Associat ion decided not to go to you but instead immediately launched a constitution challenge? Your word cannot be trusted. Nobody believes you when you say that you are only trying to regulate the Judiciary. Nobody believes you when you say that you would never, ever even think about using your influence to interfere in the Judiciary. The long and short of it is that people don’t believe you and don’t trust you. The Bar Association is governed to a large extent by diplomacy and couldn’t come out and say it but that’s the clear message – WE NO TRUST YOU and in fine print…and we believe damned well that you are making moves to tamper with and influence the Judiciary so we don’t know who you think you are fooling with your posturing and pontificating. The message is there, clear as crystal.

It’s a little scary that the leader of this nation can sit back and claim a knowledge and insight g reater than the combined wisdom of the Bar Associat ion. I t ’s more than a little scary that more than 100 learned attorneys with many years of experience in the administration

you from open revolt so far is that your proclivity toward dictatorship and blind arrogance and nepotism and megalomania is so blatant that people just can’t really get a grip on it. It’s like – nah, he didn’t just do something like that cause then that would mean that we have our very own little home grown local version of Mugabe. But yeah, the thing is that he did just do something like that…and there, he just did it again and again and again. Seriously!

Hell, it was all grins and giggles for me when I saw the newscast in which the PM in all his pomposity stated – but it didn’t even have to go so far…the Bar Association could

of justice can see something so wrong with one of Mr. Barrow’s policies, but that al l -seeing, al l -knowing gentleman can claim that they are all short-sighted and off in their perception. The truth is there, says Mr. Barrow…you all only had to ask me and I would have given it to you. But the truth according to Mr. Barrow is a horse of a totally different colour. The entire country and the region watched as Mr. Barrow appointed his brother to the Court of Appeal (by the way, is your brother being put on a one year contract as well?). The entire country watched as Mr. Barrow launched an outright and seemingly personal attack on the Chief Justice of Belize, railroading him off the Bench. The entire country and the region have watched as Mr. Barrow seeks to enact legislation which would seriously undermine the provision and administration of justice in this nation.

And then Mr. Barrow rises behind the pulpit and decries the escalation of crime and violence which have the nation in a stranglehold, even as he attacks the judicial and justice sys tems f rom wi th in . The t ime will come when Mr. Barrow will be stopped in his tracks. A leader without the trust of his people is bound to fall. Mr. Barrow is not to be trusted. Mr. Barrow will fall.


Barrow is bogus!Strictly Personal

By [email protected] both broke my heart and

yet f i l led me with the joy of admiration to see Dr. Abdulai Osman Conteh demit office this week as Belize’s greatest Chief Jus t ice. As the speakers a t a special sitting of the Supreme Court all remarked, his dignity, diligence, confidence and pride was an inspiration to all of us.

In characteristic fashion he did not remark on his leaving o r t h e i r c i r cums t ance s w i th a n y b i t t e r n e s s , b u t m a d e i t clear that he was proud of the edif ice he had built , and that his efforts had brought back a justice system that teetered on the brink when he stepped in.

I ’ ve b e e n o b s e r v i n g o u r courts from back when I knew e ve r y s i n g l e a t t o r n e y, b a ck when they cou ld a l l f i t i n to Supreme Court #1 on opening day. In those days I used to be amused to watch them in my imaginat ion “huddle” l ike so many vultures beneath the steps of the Supreme Cour t , both gowns and lips a-f lapping in all the hot air that any gathering of lawyers will inevitably produce.

T h e p r a c t i t i o n e r s o f t h e legal arts have grown ten-fold since then. Much has changed but there are some things that have remained the same and de sp i t e the f e r v id sound ing denials I for one, believe that there are still constant attempts at political interference in the administration of justice.

I won’t speculate on what is widely assumed will be the short reign of Justice Samuel Awich at the helm will be like – I am not that foolhardy at this juncture. And I will say that I believe the rumors that Justice Manuel Sosa has applied for the post. I also bel ieve that at some point he will “accept” the appointment, even in the face of widespread disapprobation by members of the Bar, as well as one jurist who whispered as much to me.

I could present a postulation, a theory of conspiracy if you will, that Dean Barrow is in the

process of stacking the courts because he knows that he has to deal with the BTL matter and Lord Ashcroft there.

( H e y, a n d r e m e m b e r t h i s is a l l hypothetical speculat ion for purposes of infor mat ion, education and enlightenment. I have to say that after watching Dean th row a h i s s y f i t ove r Godfrey Smith’s letters to the Digicel people. Who knows what will happen next in that mess if he can’t force Social Security to

buy, and Digicel backs out.)H e a l s o k n o w s t h a t h e

wi l l have to deal with myriad lawsuits over the matter of other acquisitions, such as though his chief henchman Gapi Vega has “quitared” without proper due process and for al l the wrong reasons.

Dr. Conteh had already made i t c l e a r wha t h e t hough t o f that par ticular piece of biznis – I think he ruled that it was unconstitutional and ordered the Government to pay restitution and/or compensation forthwith. A de l ug e o f such c a s e s and rulings would no doubt quickly impover i sh the Treasur y and Dean-o can’t seem to tell Gapi

no. T h e m a t t e r o f t h e o n e -

y e a r c o n t r a c t s f o r a p p e l l a t e c o u r t j u s t i c e s s t i n k t o h i g h heavens if you look at it in that light, and if there’s no attempt to rect i fy sooner ra ther than later. I suppose Dean is now in ful l despot mode and nothing i s sac red anymore. Wa i t , d id someone just whisper to me that Brother B is next in line to be President … of the court.

No play bwai!Barrow is bogus.

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Carolyn Trench-SandifordParty ChairmanEmpathy…this was cited as a

quality that is crucial to the future of the PUP. I pondered this, not be-cause I could not agree more with the school of thought, but because I asked myself how this quality can once again become ingrained in the mental construct and psychic of all members of the People’s United Party. Are you wondering where is this is coming from?

Last week Thursday evening, I joined several members of the PUP at Independence Hall at a discus-sion session which was organized as a component of the 60th birth-day celebrations of our party. Per-sonal experiences and institutional memories were nostalgically shared. As well, a myriad of national and party issues and concerns were in-troduced and ventilated, but per-

haps the one that captured my at-tention was the cry for empathy to play a more prominent role within the Party. Why, maybe because this is not quantifiable, so mind began racing. Neither is it tangible.

It was the general consensus that this was not as it ought to be, and as a result, has led to an obvious disconnect between and within the membership and the leadership, and the party and the electorate. But what is empathy? Why is it impor-tant, and how can being empathetic strengthen the party’s chances of winning elections and fulfilling its purpose?

Goleman 2001 in his book “the New Leaders” defines it as “Sens-ing others’ emotions, understand-ing their perspective, and taking an active interest in their concerns”. Accordingly, it differs from sympa-thy which is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as “sharing another per-son’s emotions; to have compassion for”. Empathy is not about agree-ing or sharing emotions. It is about understanding, thus it becomes one of several qualities that leaders ought to possess if they are to ef-fect meaningful change.

According to Goleman et al, also, “Leaders with empathy are able to attune to a wide range of emotional signals, letting them sense the felt, but unspoken, emotions in a person or group. Such leaders listen atten-tively and can grasp the other per-son’s perspective. Empathy makes a leader able to get along well with people of diverse backgrounds or from other cultures”. It also allows

Empathy….Does the Revolution Need it?them to respond to the needs of the people as they, the people see it.

Hoagland Smith 2010, in com-paring past and present leadership roles, argues that the old leadership role of "It's my way or the high-way" might have worked when ev-eryone shared the same values, the same ethnic origins and the same belief systems.

She notes that people in the 21st century are more informed and educated, not to mention quite dif-ferent than their ancestors. This was also cited by the Party Leader Hon. John Briceno in an interview on Open Your Eyes on Wednesday September 29th, 2010, when ques-tioned about differences and ap-proaches in enhancing democracy in the PUP of 2010 as against 1950.

In addition, Hoagland Smith points out that today’s generation experience more change in one year than their grandparents expe-rienced in their entire lifetime. All of this change creates additional stress, and pushes them to seek other opportunities to realize their dreams. They are also less tolerant and increasingly more impatient.

Undoubtedly, effective lead-ers must be able to relate to these changes if they want to achieve the predetermined results. Thus empa-thy is an intrinsic quality of effec-tive leadership, which is necessary if lives are to be transformed and shaped positively.

While the People’s United Party organizational structure provides for formal leadership vertically, at

the national, regional and constitu-ency levels of the Party, and hori-zontally, the United Women Group, the Marshall’s Community Service Corp, the Order of Distinguished Services, the Belize Youth Move-ment, the Campaign, Public Rela-tions, Policy and Reform and Legal Committees, informal leadership is encouraged in everyone.

The constitution of the party provides the purpose, aims and objects and clarity to roles and re-sponsibility for officers, units and committees. However, while empa-thy as a quality may not appear in the constitution, it has long being a practice of our leaders, for one cannot conceptualize or relate to social justice as a philosophy, if one does not appreciate that empathy is a quality inherent in its application. Perhaps, as we have strayed from our philosophical moorings, so has this quality fade.

Clearly, in the PUP, empathy must be elevated to take its rightful place on equal footing with those other qualities which effective lead-ership requires at all levels, whether formal or informal, such as vision, honesty and integrity, compassion, motivation, self-confidence, de-cisiveness, critical and analytical thinking skills, expertise, and flex-ibility.

For only if this occurs, will the revolution be real and relevant again, and continue….and only so will the NEW BELIZE be created, which will bring to all Belizeans a better life and a just share of the national wealth.

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE: PROPERTYNorth Piccini Area, Belmopan, Cayo District

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs. Heritage Bank Lim-ited, Licensed Auctioneer Kevin A. Castillo will sell the following property ON SITE on Tuesday the 5th October 2010 at 1:30 pm:

Parcel No. 4667 North Piccini, Belmopan, Cayo District

REGISTRATION SECTION BLOCK PARCEL Belmopan 20 4667

(Being a vacant corner lot containing 622.483 square meters or 744.50 square yards situate on a street East of the United States Embassy Hous-ing Compound in Belmopan, Cayo District, the freehold property of Ms. Janice Savery)

TERMS: STRICTLY CASHKEVIN A. CASTILLO

TELEPHONE: 224-4473Email: [email protected]

The PACT FoundationAnnounces its

2010 CALL FOR PROPOSALSThe Foundation provides grants to registered management organizations of terrestrial pro-tected areas including, non-governmental organizations and community based organizations that are involved in conservation and management for sustainable use of Belize’s natural resources and terrestrial protected areas.

Only projects which fit the following three priority areas for funding will be considered:

1. General park management-protection, environmental education and equipment2. Training3. Research

Some project activities that are eligible for funding include but are not limited to:a) The establishment, restoration, protection and maintenance of parks, protected areas and reserves;b) The development and implementation of scientifically sound systems of natural resource management, including land and ecosystem management practices;c) Training programs to increase the scientific, technical and managerial capacities of individuals and organizations involved in conservation efforts;d) The restoration, protection, or sustainable use of diverse animal and plant species; ore) Research and identification of medicinal uses of tropical forest plant life to treat human diseases, illnesses, and health-related concerns.

Maximum Grant: BZ$40,000.00 for one yearPast recipients may apply

For application forms and more information contact PACT’s Associate Director-Grants or email [email protected]

Submit complete applications and supporting documents no later than October 22nd, 2010 to:

Associate Director-Grants, PACT#3 Mango Street/P.O. Box 443

Belmopan, Cayo DistrictRe: PACT Foundation Grants


“The constitution of a modern de-mocracy governed by the rule of law, must, thirdly, guarantee the indepen-dence of judicial decision-makers, an expression I use to embrace all those making decisions of a judicial charac-ter…” The RUle OF lAW, Tom Bingham, 2010

As Belize enters its thirtieth year and third decade as an independent nation, we leave behind our turbulent twen-ties and enter what should be an era of maturity. In our age of maturity, more than ever, we must do what is best and right for our young nation.

For those not in the know, Tom Bingham is the former Lord Chief Jus-tice of England and Wales, a former Lord of Appeal and is considered by many to be “the outstanding British judge of the past quarter century.” He is, by all accounts, “a master of the ju-dicial art.” When a man of the ilk of Lord Cornhill speaks, listen. His slim, urgent, elegant book, The Rule of Law, is not only the current required reading on the rule of law, but it will become a vade mecum for all politicians, judges, jurists, lawyers and students of the law.

According to Tom Bingham: “The right to a fair trial is a cardinal require-ment of the rule of law” and there are key principles which apply. One is that “fairness means fairness to both sides, not just one.” Another is that it must be accepted that “fairness is a con-stantly evolving concept, not frozen in any moment of time.” The third is the principle set out above.

The Bar Association of Belize has filed a constitutional challenge to sec-tions 15 and 16 of the Belize Consti-tution (Sixth Amendment) Act. This means the Bar is challenging those sections of that Act which deal with changes made to section 101 and 102 of the Belize Constitution.

According to the Bar the changes made are “unconstitutional attempts to amend the Belize Constitution for the reason that sections 15 and 16 of the Act contravene the Belize Constitution are contrary to the Rule of Law, violate the Separation of Powers Doctrine and are contrary to the Basic Structure of the Constitution”. Strong words! Why has the institution, that one wag com-pared to George Gabb’s masterpiece the “Sleeping Giant”, taken this most unprecedented step?

The answer lies in the heady 100 days of post electoral sweet repose when Prime Minister Barrow decided that the crowning glory of his political honeymoon would be an omnibus act amending Belize’s constitution. Among the centerpieces of his magnificent legal architecture were such gems as term limits, recall of representatives, an expanded senate, and yes, also pre-ventative detention and deprivation of oil property without compensation or redress to the court. The possibilities were made legal reality.

Another of his legal ornaments, set into his Constitution (Sixth Amend-ment) Bill, was this beauty – “16.(1)Subsection (1) of section 101 of the Constitution is hereby amended by add-ing the following Proviso at the end thereof:-"Provided that where no pe-riod is specified in an instrument of ap-pointment, such appointment shall be deemed to subsist until further notice by the Governor-General."

That Section 16 went on to say “(2) The amendment made by subsec-tion (1) of this section to section 101 of the Constitution shall apply to all instruments of appointment of Jus-tices of Appeal existing at the date of

commencement of the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act, as well as to any future instruments of appoint-ment. Section 17 provided for a simi-lar amendment to Section 102 of the Constitution.

That meant effectively, that those Judges of the Court of Appeal, with open-ended appointment documents, would serve at the Prime Minister’s pleasure.

At the time of the first circulation of the Constitution (Sixth Amend-ment) Bill, those judges included Jus-tices of Appeal Carey and Morrison, as well as President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mottley. Mr. Justice Mottley, Q.C was appointed as Appeals Court President in May of 2004 and on the same day, the Senate ratified the ap-pointment of Mr. Justice Barrow Q.C., as a Justice of Appeal. The appoint-ments were made after unanimous ap-proval during the sitting of the Senate. There was no irregularity to those in-struments of appointment then – not while the Jewel was under the watch-ful eye of Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition.

In May 2008, the Bar Association provided the Attorney General and the Prime Minister with a written position paper which reviewed the Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Bill and offered its comments on the changes to the con-stitution in that Bill. The Bar recom-mended that sections 16 and 17 not be passed as contemplated, and posited instead that Judges of the Court of Ap-peal have a mandatory uniform retire-ment age, and to ensure independence of the judiciary, that they be appointed until that age.

That recommendation was not only ignored, but when the Belize Constitu-tion (Sixth Amendment) Act entered into force, those Judges of the Court of Appeal with open-ended contracts were, lo and behold, officially saddled with contracts that would expire within a year. Those appointments were le-gally ambushed. Sandbagged. Horn-swoggled. Henceforth, by Barrovian law, they would be valid only until April 1, 2011. No joke.

But what of the two other members of the Court of Appeal of Belize? Mr. Justice of Appeal Manuel Sosa was ap-pointed in 1999, and his instrument of appointment reflects the mandatory re-tirement age for Supreme Court Judges at that time – age 62. Mr. Justice of Appeal Denys Barrow on the other hand, was appointed in 2009, and his instrument of appointment states that he shall serve until he is 75. What a time difference ten years and 2 differ-ent administrations made.

Since the Instruments of Appoint-ment of Justices of Appeal Mottley and Morrison do not specify any pe-riod of appointment, then Sections 15 and 16 of the Belize Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act apply to those instruments held by Justices Mottley and Morrison. The very same sections do not apply, however to those instru-ments held by Justices Sosa and Bar-row.

In its constitutional challenge, the Bar argues that before the Act came into force, Justices Mottley and Mor-rison enjoyed “full lifetime tenure as justices of the Court of Appeal”, therefore, their office as justices of ap-peal could only become vacant if they resigned, or were removed pursuant to Section 102 of the Constitution.

It is the position of the Bar that be-cause of the passage of sections 15 and 16, those judges no longer enjoy the

security of tenure. The legal challenge mounted by the Bar, takes the position that since the 12th April 2010, Justices Mottley and Morrison have sat as jus-tices of appeal without the security of tenure which is absolutely required by the Constitution of Belize.

The Bar Association’s view is that it is “contrary to the Rule of Law and the Constitution for Justices Mottley and Morrison to sit as judges without secu-rity of tenure”. In the Affidavit sup-porting the claim, the Bar states that it is very concerned that is that the effect of sections 15 and 16 of the Belize Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act “ is to undermine the independence of the Court of Appeal, threaten the Rule of Law, violate the Separation of Pow-ers Doctrine, violate the basic structure of the Constitution and was not passed by the National Assembly for the peace order and good government of Belize.”

Prime Minister Barrow claimed, with regard to those open-ended ap-pointments, on Monday, September 27, 2010 to News 7 that “All we are trying to do is to regularize the position “. The PM said in a phone interview that “there is one argument that the people who were the subject of those 2 instru-ments of appointment can then stay there for life, can then stay there until they are old and almost non-functional, that in my view is unconstitutional.” He hinted that the appointments were ir-regular, and went to say, “.It is merely to regularize the situation like I said where the instruments are open ended and that in our view was unconstitutional. Once these things have been regular-ized then we start a fresh and we give a decent contract." What pray tell, Prime

Minister, will be a decent contract for a Justice of Appeal? One year? Three years? An instrument of appointment until age 62? One until age 75?

It behooves one with great power to act prudently, especially when the power is one to advise upon the appointment of Judges. The Bar Association is a major stakeholder in the justice system of Belize and sits on the Judicial and Legal Services Commission. Name-calling and fight- picking with the Bar is not only unseemly, it is conduct un-becoming.

No modern nation can call itself a democracy that does not enshrine the Rule of Law. Section One of our Con-stitution proclaims Belize a “sovereign democratic State”. For Belize, the rule of law is paramount. The independence of the judiciary is a hallmark of the rule of law. It must never be trampled or trodden upon by any government. It must not even APPEAR to be trampled or trodden.

All right-thinking citizens know that the courts in Belize are, along with their vote, their most powerful, and some-times their last, bastion against abuse and tyranny.

The very preamble to our consti-tution states that the people of Belize “recognize that men and institutions re-main free only when freedom is found-ed upon respect for moral and spiritual values and upon the rule of law”. Pow-erful and eloquent words.

Pray that those who sit in adjudica-tion of this most important constitu-tional challenge be “Daniels” come to this most critical of judgments. The very foundation of our nation’s struc-ture hangs in the balance.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE?Belize Water Services Limited invites applicants to fill the following vacancy at our Belize City Head Office.


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The Truth Shall Make You Free

El 99 asesinato para el 2010 ocurrió enseguida después de las nueve esta ma-ñana en la frontera con límites de la ciu-dad de Belice en un camino de teraceria apenas más allá del puente de Haulover en la milla 5 en la carretera norteña. De-mandó la vida de John Martinez, 25, un hombre que había tenido un pasado col-orido con la ley, pero nunca se encontró culpable de cargos hechos contra él. El ultimo cargo sin embargo, fue un robo en el motel Diamond, gano más peso contra él cuando otro joven en compli-cidad con el decidio convertirse en un testigo para el procesamiento.

Martinez había dicho a los parien-tes que ocasionalmente cuando algunos miembros del departamento del policía lo llevaron para la investigación, uno de ellos particularmente lo amenazaba y le dijo que su cuerpo seria encontrado tira-do en la misma vecindad. Esa amenaza

Baleado en Haulover!

ahora tiene a miembros de la familia con altas suspicacias sobre la implicación po-sible de ese oficial en su asesinato. No se sabe como Martinez llego a ese punto

DOMINGO 3 de OCTUBRE , 2010 Issue No. 4713 $1.00 www.belizetimes.bz

donde lo encontraron. Su familia dice que él dejaba a su novia en la escuela y después volvería normalmente a casa. Esta mañana fue diferente, sin embargo.

Después de permanecer em casa por los últimos días quizás detectando algun peligro, Martinez decidío aventurarse hoy. Para nunca regresar..

Con un tiro en la cabeza Martinez se aferró a la vida sobre una hora an-tes de que él sucumbiera mientras que trataban de salvarle la vida en el Hospi-tal Karl Heusner. Hubo un momento que él incluso movió su mano izquierda mientras que esperaba que la ambulancia llegara. Pero su respiracion era percep-tiblemente laborioso.

Él había tomado el camino del cri-men a partir de sus años adolescentes después de que él comenzara a guardar compania indeseable. A pesar de los consejos de su familia, Martinez nunca quiso reformarse y ese fue el motive de su destino. La policía está siguiendo al-gunas pistas pero todavia no ha hecho algun arresto.

S h e r l o c k “ B i g B o y ’ ’ d e Ve i n t i s é i s a ñ o s S y f o x , u n B e -l i c e n o q u e f u e d e p o r t a d o a c a s a c a s i 1 1 m e s e s a t r a s f u e d e s c u b i e r t o a n t e s d e l a s s e i s d e l a m a ñ a n a d e d o m i n g o f l o t a n d o e n e l m a r d e l a n t e d e l a p l a y a e n f r e n t e d e Fo r e -s h o r e e n l a c i u d a d d e B e l i c e . S y f o x f u e v i s t o c o n v i d a p o r ú l t i m a v e z m i e n t r a s q u e b e -b í a e n l a b a r r a d e l a e s q u i n a T i p s y c e r c a d e l a p l a z a d e C i n d e r e l l a l a n o c h e d e S á b a -d o. L o s i n f o r m e s s o n q u e é l c o n s i g u i ó e m b r o l l a r s e e n u n c o n f l i c t o c o n a l g u i e n q u e l o a c u s o d e r o b a r u n t e l é f o n o p o r t á t i l y l a c o n t e n c i ó n t e r -

Cuerpo de un hombre encontrado flotando cerca del Bliss

m i n o c o n S y f o x h i y e n d o d e u n o s o c u p a n t e s d e u n a u t o q u e l o p e r s e g u i a n .

M i e n t r a s q u e e l p o s t m o r -t e m n o p o d r í a e s p e c i f i c a r d e -f i n i t i v o c ó m o S y f o x e n c o n t r o s u m u e r t e , s u f a m i l i a , p a r -t i c u l a r m e n t e s u m a d r e e s t a n c o n v e n c i d o s d e q u e l o a s e s i n -a r o n . B e r y l S y f o x , q u e v i v e e n Fo r t h Wo r t h , Te j a s , d i c e q u e l a m a n e r a q u e s u h i j o f u e e n -c o n t r a d o , d e s n u d o, n o e s é l . C u a n d o s u c u e r p o h i n c h a d o f u e r e c u p e r a d o , s u c a r a y c u -e r p o s u p e r i o r e s t a b a n h i n c h a -d o s . S u m u e r t e e n s a m b l a r á l a l i s t a d e o t r a s q u e s i g a n s i e n -d o u n m i s t e r i o .

D o s H o m b r e s q u e e r a n b u s c a d o s p o r l a p o l i c i a e s t e a ñ o f u e r o n m a t a d o s e n H o n -d u r a s e l m a r t e s . B e n j a m i n Pe t e r s y A l e x a n d e r E d w a r d s a l c u a l d i e r o n m u e r t e a u n g u a r d a d e s e g u r i d a d e n u n c r i -m e n a m a n o a r m a d a e n S p a n -i s h L o o k o u t , S t e p h e n L o p e z y s o b r e $ 3 0 0 . 0 0 0 f u e r o b a d o.

M a t a r o n a Pe t e r s y a E d -w a r d s e n S a n Pe d r o S u l a c u a n -d o l o s l a d r o n e s s e c u e s t r a r o n u n a u t o b ú s e n e l c u a l e l l o s y o t r o f u g i t i v o d e s e a d o , J u a n S a l a z a r , v i a j a b a n . S a l a z a r s o -b r e v i v i ó , p e r o l o s o t r o s d o s f a l l e c i e r o n .

D e s d e e l r o b o d e l b a n c o , e l p o l i c í a h a b í a h e c h o c a r g o s a s i e t e p e r s o n a s , i n c l u y e n d o u n a m u j e r . S o n : F r a n k E d -w a r d s p o r e l a s e s i n a t o , r o b o y c o n s p i r a c i ó n p a r a r o b a r , J u a n S a l a z a r p o r c o m p l i c i d a d p a r a r o b a r y M i c h a e l Ro d r i g u e z p o r e l m i s m o c a r g o y A u s t i n

Hombres buscados por la ley asesinados en Honduras........

M o n g u i a , E r v i n Fe r n a n d e z , L e w i s H e r n a n d e z e I s o l i n a Pe r e z p o r m a n e j a r m e r c a n c í a s r o b a d a s . S o l a m e n t e u n t e r c i o d e l d i n e r o r o b a d o f u e r e c u -p e r a d o.

E l g u a r d a q u e f u e a s e s i n a -d o , S t e p h e n L o p e z , a c a b a b a d e s e r a s i g n a d o a l o s d e b e r e s

e n e l b a n c o e s a m a ñ a n a . É l a l e g r e m e n t e h a b í a e s t a d o a n -t i c i p a n d o e l n a c i m i e n t o d e s u

n i ñ o , q u e d e b i o n a c e r a l r e d -e d o r d e l m i s m o t i e m p o q u e l o m a t a r o n .

Alexander edwards


Hace sesenta años, un grupo de ciudadanos jovenes Belicenos decidieron hacer historia, no para la fama o la gloria, pero porque creyeron que cada uno de nosotros tiene una responsabilidad a la sociedad que vivimos. Antes la sociedad era una donde las mujeres no tenían el derecho de votar, donde pocos Hondurans británicos podrían poseer la tierra, en donde no se permitia a los naturales decidir su propio destino y nuestra gente estaba dividida. Fuera de amor y preocupación sincero por otros, estos soldados valientes comenzaron una asociación, que se convirtió en una organización y más adelante un movimiento. De ese movimiento vino una revolución.

Hoy, 60 años más tarde, la revolución está rodando encendido, sigue siendo pacífico, continúa siendo progresivo y es 100 por ciento Beliceno.

En 60 el PUP sigue siendo la organización política más fuerte en Belice. Como el más viejo partido político de la nación continuamos llevando a cabo los principios sobre los cuales nuestro partido fue fundado: justicia, democracia y servicios sociales a la gente.

Por nuestras acciones hemos demostrado que como partido el PUP si le importa el destino de nuestra patria. A través de nuestro servicio a la comunidad, las tradiciones del partido se enganchará siempre a servicio de la comunidad continúan. El grupo de las mujeres unidas está creciendo y su trabajo de la defensa para las mujeres en el partido y en Belice no sólo está ganando ímpetu, pero también está rindiendo resultados. El movimiento de juventud de Belice (BYM) es hoy uno de los brazos más fuertes del partido, enganchando a actividades de talleres de la dirección a asistir a la gente joven en las comunidades a través de Belice.

En el nivel del distrito electoral nuestros líderes locales están trabajando para consolidar sus ejecutivos y para animar la participación en el trabajo del partido. Pronto comenzarán la tarea importante de encontrar a las mejores personas cualificadas para representar el partido como portadores estándares.

En algunas semanas el partido y sus partidarios recolectarán juntos en el lado del mar (Laru Beya) en Dangriga, un sitio hermoso para nuestra convención especial. En esta convención el partido tabulará un número de resoluciones dirigidas trayendo mayor enfoque en algunas de las ediciones nacionales más importantes. Asimismo, la convención adoptará cambios importantes a la constitución de nuestro partido. Estas enmiendas constitucionales permitirán para que abramos más puertas del partido y animemos la mayor participación en la toma de decisión del partido. También pondrá en lugar un mecanismo que se asegure de que siga habiendo en el partido siempre en contacto con nuestros socios en sociedad civil, las uniones y otras implicadas en trabajo social en Belice.

Durante este 60.o aniversario el partido organizará un número de acontecimientos especiales para celebrar nuestro trabajo mientras que al mismo tiempo planea para el futuro. Pronto el partido lanzará su pared de héroes, un monumento especial que honra 600 de nuestros grandes hombres y mujeres del PUP con servicio dedicado al partido y al país que seran reconocidos. Pronto el BYM llevará a cabo su juventud en conferencia de la dirección, un acontecimiento que reúna a gente joven a través de Belice para compartir ideas y para aprender sobre la historia del PUP.

Nuestros proyectos ambientales, que incluye campañas ascendentes de limpieza, el plantar de árboles y la rehabilitación de parques y de patios en comunidades rurales formaran parte de la meta del partido junto con eventos deportivos excederan junto con los muchos acontecimientos en las aldeas que serán llevados a cabo en diversas horas a través del año.

Nos encontramos muy agradecidos a nuestro Creador por las bendiciones ricas concedidas sobre nuestro país. Tambien estamos agradecidos por las bendiciones concedidas a nuestro partido. Estamos agradecidos a la gente de Belice por su ayuda a nuestro partido sobre los últimos 60 años y para que el privilegio esté de servicio a la nación.

El PUP se está levantando de nuevo; la onda azul está recolectando energía y hemos comenzado nuestro camino a Belmopan. Nuestra misión es volver al trabajo del reconstruir Belice.

A todos los amigos y partidarios del Partido Unido del Pueblo, un feliz 60.o aniversario!

FELIZ ANIvERSARIO

Belize TimesThe En Español

EL TEmA DE SSB/BTL/GOBEra evidente bastante pronto después de que juraran a Barrow como el Primer

Ministro de Belice que él se propuso seguir una trayectoria planeada en su mente y su mente solamente… una trayectoria hecha a mano por su mano que conduce a una destinación solamente al cual el es partidario.

Era también evidente bastante pronto que el primer ministro fue preparado para utilizar sus habilidades oratorias superiores y elocuencia de su lengua en lo possible.

El embrollo más último que revela la tela enredada del nepotismo que liga GOB, SSB y BTL puede ser un caballo de un color totalmente diverso. Así como el hedor de la impropiedad llena el aire, el PM ha utilizado la opción a volverse invisible y mudo pues este lío no da ninguna muestra de solucionarse tan facilmente.

En agosto del 2009 el Sr. Barrow asumió el control Belice Telemedia limitado, expulsando a los dueños anteriores y demandando que era en el interés público. Él presionó el botón del nacionalismo sin vergüenza y se proclamó un gigante atrevido al hacerse cargo de la entidad de las telecomunicaciones con el pretexto de darselo de Nuevo a los Belicenos. Él prometió a nuestros ciudadanos tarifas más baratas, el acceso inmediato a VOIP (Internet Protocol excesivo de la voz) y la ocasión a un pedazo de BTL. Trece meses más adelante, las primeras dos promesas se han desvanecido como confetti en el viento y nadie realmente sabe en qué forma o manera o manifestación vendrá el tercero a pasar.

El quid de la controversia actual es que el PM está proponiendo utilizar los fondos públicos pagados en SSB por millares de Belicenos para comprar partes en BTL. Representación del Sr. Barrow en BTL es su ex-esposa Lois Young y amigo cercano Net Vasquez. Son el presidente del asesor jurídico y del ejecutivo de BTL respectivamente. Representación del Sr. Barrow en el tablero de la Seguridad Social es su ex-esposa Lois Young y amigo Net Vasquez. En esta entidad son el presidente del comité de la inversión de SSB y el presidente del tablero respectivamente.

Hace dos semanas la oferta fue tomada ante el comité de la inversión del tablero de la Seguridad Social donde Net Vasquez y el representante en el comité ambos del gobierno votaron a favor de la compra de las partes de BTL. Los representantes de las uniones y del sector privado ambas votaron contra la compra de las partes de BTL usando fondos públicos. Usando su voto del atar-triturador como presidente del comité, Net Vasquez podía empujar con la aprobación pero éso ha demostrado ser justa la descarga de la abertura en qué promete ser una batalla bastante controversial!

En una revelación alarmante, los representantes de la unión y el sector privado demandan que fueron pedidos proporcionar la aprobación y dar carta blanca para la compra de partes en BTL. Ambas entidades demandan que no fueron permitidas ver el prospecto de la compañía o de los financier0es actuales, pero fueron dadas solamente un funcionamiento histórico de la compañía y un aseguramiento por Net Vasquez que BTL continuaría demostrando crecimiento en los cinco años próximos. En un lanzamiento muy neto y directo al publicó hoy, el compartimiento demanda ̀ mientras que el BCCI conviene que eso basada en el funcionamiento histórico BTL se puede considerar una oportunidad de inversión viable, el futuro de BTL es cargada con incertidumbres, que aumenta el riesgo para el fondo.' Además, la realidad es que mientras que la compañía era un gigante de rédito y generación mientras que bajo indicaciones privadas ahora en las manos de la ex-esposa del primer ministro, su hijo y el suyo amigo BTL no se ha estado realizando como lo hizo una vez.

Continua el lanzamiento – 'El BCCI sostiene que no siempre se nos ha proporcionado la información suficiente para permitirnos actuar con confianza en una decisión de apoyar la compra de cincuenta millones de dólares de partes ($ 50 M) valía de BTL…. estámos guiados por el hecho de que tenemos una responsabilidad fiduciaria de los miles de Belicenos que son requeridos por la ley para apoyar el fondo, a actuar de manera responsable y con integridad y fidelidad en la gestión de su dinero'. Finaliza el lanzamiento – “además, no entendemos la prisa innecesaria que acompaña a la decisión de inversión. En esencia, la Junta SSB se pide tomar una decisión sobre cuál sería la segunda mayor inversión para el fondo sin información suficiente sobre la oferta pública (por ejemplo, el precio de la acción, la estructura de propiedad),

A juzgar por la práctica anterior, se espera que el primer ministro pueda entablar la opción 3 y cobrar por delante como un toro loco, haciendo caso omiso de la oposición, las inquietudes planteadas por los sindicatos y el sector privado. El daño causado por un movimiento de este tipo será significativo teniendo en cuenta que el Sr. Barrow se ha hasta ahora retratado a sí mismo como un caballero blanco montado sobre su corcel fiel listo para realizar la batalla para proteger los fondos públicos y garantizar la transparencia, la rendición de cuentas y la integridad en su uso. Y luego, por supuesto, está el daño que ya se ha hecho, ya han surgido preguntas muy obvias y apremiantes relativa a la intención muy evidente por el Sr. Barrow que siguen siendo inferiores a los aspectos financieros de la transacción propuesta. Barrow corrió y ganó en una plataforma de apertura, transparencia y buena gobernanza. Nada en este acuerdo habla con esas ideas, de hecho que lo contrario es cierto, lo que demuestra una vez más que para el Sr. Barrow y el UDP, era todo acerca del glamour y nada de sustancia.

ditorialDesde el Ecritorio del Lider del Partido



Por: mike Rudon Jr.Sirva que la Associacion de Aboga-

dos tiene al Primer Ministro nervioso otra vez. Imagine a todos esos aboga-dos doctos uniendose para agribillar al caballero dulce que está intentando obviamente solamente hacer lo mejor en su poder para asegurarse de que la justicia este dada correctamente. Imag-ine a todos esos abogados doctos de ambos lados de la franja política unirse para lanzar un desafío constitucional a nuestro líder apacible de dar justicias de los contratos limitados súplica reanud-ables? ¿Cómo se atreven? Cómo se at-reven a insinuar que el Sr. Barrow, inten-to ejercitar siempre influencia indebida en la judicatura? ¡No, no nuestro santo lider cuya integridad es sacrosancta y que palabra es honesta (risa ahogada, risa ahogada)! Esa mala, mala gente en la Asociación de la Barra de Aboga-dos, intentando hacer ver mal a nuestro querido gran queso cuando todo lo que habría tomado es un sentarse y entablar un dialogo agradable y habría explicado todo. Caray! Pero si sabemos que el Sr. Barrow siempre ha estado abierto al dialogo con la Barra de Abogados, ha-ciendo todo lo possible para que siem-pre haya esa com unicacion entre su y la Barra en cada decisión que afecta el sistema de la justicia. El cielo sabe que nuestro líder humilde está siempre ac-cessible. Ayyy, me siento apesadumb-rado por el Sr. Barrow… la cruz que el pobre hombre debe llevar.

En.beneficio de esos idiotas allá en el UDP Guardian que están leyendo esto con miradas desconcertadas en sus caras que intentan calcular como hacer el al corte y pegar el párrafo anterior so-bre uno de sus pedazos masturbatorios enfermos en el Sr. Barrow! - Esto se llama sarcasmo, estúpidos! No me caí y no golpeé mi cabeza esta mañana y creí repentinamente que el sr. Barrow es un buen y gran hombre. Todavía pienso que él es un idiota maldecido que no cabe en los zapatos de un líder y que obtuvo la oportunidad solamente debido a su len-gua de oro y ciertamente no debido a ninguna capacidad verdadera. Y sí, hay este pequeño hecho de que no hemos visto ninguna capacidad verdadera del tonto brillante desde que él tomó la ofi-cina, así que que es mi historia y me es-toy apegando a ella.

Sr… nadie confia ya en ti. Su palabra no es digno de dos pedazos de excre-ment de vaca. Creo, y esto es justo mi opinión humilde, que la única cosa que le ha ahorrado de la rebelión abierta

hasta ahora es que su propensión hacia la dictadura y arrogancia y nepotismo y megalomania ocultos es tan evidente que la gente apenas no puede realmente crear que el sea capaz de tanta estupidez junta. Está como - nah, él no acaba de hacer eso, porque simplemente nos negamos a admitir que el sea capaz de tanta idiotez. Pero sí, la cosa es que él si acaba de hacer algo similar… y allí, él acaba de hacerla repetidas veces y otra vez. Asi que ponga-mos nuestros pies sobre la tierra de una vez por todas! ¡Seriamente!

Sr. Barrow, se ha detenido usted a pensar que que hay una razón muy buena para que la asociación de la barra decida a no ir a usted sino que por el contrario lanzó inmediatamente un desafío de la constitución? Su palabra no es confinable Sr! Nadie le cree cuando usted dice que usted está intentando solamente regular la judicatura. Nadie le cree cuando usted dice que usted nunca ni penso siquiera en usar su influencia para interferir en la judicatura. Lo cierto es que usted es un mentiroso y no puede ser confiado. La asociación de la barra de abogados es gobernada en gran parte por la diplo-macia y no podría salir y decirla pero ése es el mensaje claro - USTED ES UN MENTIROSO y en la impresión fina… sabemos muy bien que usted está haci-endo movimientos para tartar de inter-ferer y influenciar la judicatura así que no sabemos a quien usted piensa que está engañando con su postura y pontifiado. El mensaje está allí, claramente como el cristal. .

Es un poco asustadizo que el líder de esta nación puede sentarse detrás y demandar un conocimiento y una pen-etración mayor que la sabiduría combi-nada de la asociación de la barra. Es más que poco asustadizo que más de 100 abo-gados aprendidos con mucha años expe-riencia en la administración de la justicia pueden ver algo tan malo con una de las polizas del Sr. Barrow. La verdad está allí, dice el Sr. Barrow… usted solamente tuvo que preguntarme y le habría dado todo.. Pero la verdad según Sr. el carretilla es un caballo de un color totalmente diverso, usted ve. El país entero y la región miro como el Sr. Barrow designó a su herma-no al tribunal de apelación (a propósito, es su hermano que ha sido otorgado un contrato de un año también?). El país en-tero miro como el Sr. Barrow lanzó un ataque absoluto y aparentemente per-sonal contra la principal justicia de Be-lice. El país entero y la región han mirado como el Sr. Barrow intenta decretar la legislación que minaría seriamente la dis-posición y la administración de la justicia en esta nación.

Y entonces Sr. Barrow usted se le-vanta detrás del púlpito y denigra la esca-lada del crimen y violencia que tienen a la nación en un dominio, así como él ataca los sistemas judiciales y la justicia de den-tro. El tiempo vendrá cuando el Sr Bar-row será parado en sus pistas. Un líder sin la confianza de su gente está limitado para caerse. No se le puede confiar al Sr. Barrow, es pore so que el caera!.....

SE TRATA DE LA CONFIANZA

mike Rudon Jr.Mientras escribo esto el miércoles 29 de septiembre, el

par tido polít ico más grande de la historia de nuestra nación joven celebra su 60.aniversario. Eso es un logro impresionante y digno de alabanza, así que decidí dedicar una cier ta hora a la máquina azul en este día especial y tomar un receso de Barrow ( aunque tengo que admitir que disfruto hacienda sufrir al Sr. Cavo) Mientras que el par tido celebra 6 décadas de vida, también se prepara para moverse en otra etapa de su existencia - una l lamaremos renacimiento - en el camino de nuevo a Belmopan y a la dirección de la nación y la gente después de una pérdida imponente no hace mucho tiempo. Que el par tido está contrapesado de nuevo para conducir nuestra joya es un testamento a su resistencia, su capacidad de aceptar el cambio y de adaptarse; una comisión constante con la gente y la ayuda de muchos partidarios a través de la longitud y de la anchura de Belice que reconocen la calidad y la grandeza inherente del Partido Unido del Pueblo.

Ha sido de ninguna manera un camino fácil . Incluso ahora a como el par tido se prepara para su Convención Nacional de la Unidad, la opinión sigue siendo que la unidad está efímera y sin garantía. Como con todas las entidades dinámicas, ha habido sube, bajas y tribulaciones, las realizaciones espectaculares y las faltas espectaculares. Los últimos dos años han sido cargados con agitación cuando el par tido alcanzó quizás su punto bajo más profundo como consecuencia de una derrota devastadora en las encuestas en 2008… rechazamientos totales de un electorado que estaba desilusionado y desconfiado y enojado en la dirección del par tido. De ésa ruina un nuevo l íder se levantó como la Phoenix proverbial de las cenizas, hombre bastante valeroso para tomar al t imón de un partido en desorden completo… un hombre que quería ar riesgarlo todo para reconstruir a un partido de la gente y para la gente. Del inicio John Briceno hizo una comisión a la gente de Belice que él uniría los cascos quebrados del Partido Unido del Pueblo y los traería a la grandeza de nuevo.

Quizás si el joven l ider hubiera previsto los desafíos en su camino él habría vacilado, pero él no lo hizo… Hoy, mientras que la impresion sigue que el Partido se encuentra desunido, dejeme informarle que la realidad de la opinión es que el par tido está mas unido que nunca. Que la unidad fue una lucha difíci l , es cier to, pero existe sin embargo. Briceno ha demostrado ser todo lo que un l íder debe ser… persistente, paciente, tolerante, visionario y firme. Mientras que sigue siendo atacado en cada vuelta por las personas dentro del par tido, Briceno aconsejó paciencia y paz, manteniendo la cabeza fria en todo momento. Siempre mantuvo el sentido comun y el raciocinio en los momentos mas difici les. Él saco el Partido adelante contra todas las probabil idades, y bajo su dirección, los Belicenos están mirando de nuevo a la máquina azul rescatar el país del asimiento del dictador calvo y de sus compinches corruptos e incompetentes. Hace apenas dos años, el UDP estaba cómodo con la cer teza cercana que el PUP era una sombra de lo que fue. Ahora se encuentran desesperados y temerosos porque el PUP esta fuerte y vibrante y la gente esta l ista para contestar la l lamada de la máquina azul.

Al final, a decir verdad, tomó más que la persistencia incansable del l íder del PUP sacar adelante al Partido. Tomó la voluntad de la gente… for jada en hier ro y publicada en direction clara – paren esta insensatez y adelante a Belmopan donde usted puede ayudarnos. La mas reciente session del Consejo Nacional del Par tido, el l íder fue aconsejado desacerse del exceso de equipaje en su ejecutivo porque hay trabajo que hacer - traducción… todo el que rechaza trabajar… todos que rechacen aceptar que el par tido fue creado para servir la gente y no los intereses de algunos deben irse INMEDIATAMENTE… todos que crean que ellos poseen una cier ta parte del PUP o se dan derecho a cier tos dividendos o reconocimiento sin el trabajo dil igente y sincero a debe irse INMEDIATAMENTE!

Cuando el Partido celebra su 60.aniversario no ha sido una lucha facil . Incluso ahora hay los que en la búsqueda pasada desafian la voluntad de la gente y eso no será tolerado. El tren ha salido de la estación, accionada por los millares de partidarios azules leales, verdaderos todos a través de esta nación. Algunas lecciones duras fueron aprendidas a lo largo de la trayectoria pero el camino está clara ahora. Conducido por John Briceno, el PUP volverá a Belmopan.

Y en esta ocasión, esta a la orden un sincero agradeciemiento para usted ciudadano, que ha hecho y continúa haciendo del PUP cuál es. ¡Gracias… del fondo de nuestros corazones le agradecemos!

Que viva el PUP…… Larga vida al PUP.

muchas GRACIAS…



despe r tó una mañana , d i spa ró y g o lpeó su c abeza y dec id ío a sumi r e l con t ro l de BTL . Ahora que é l h a a r r u inado BTL y l a mora l de l pe r sona l , s i n menc iona r e l r éd i to, e l Ca l vo qu i s i e r a que l o a f i anzá r amos ahora ! ¡Y e s cuche e s to… E l c a l vo y Lo i s y y Ne t qu i s i e r an

que l a s un iones y e l s e c to r p r ivado ap roba r an e l r e pa r to s i n t ene r n inguna i dea cuán to l a compañ í a va l e o cuán to Ba r row cobra r a po r l a s pa r t e s… Que Rayos ! ! ¡Puedo j u r a r que e l Ca l vo, Lo i s y y Ne t p i ensan que l a

g en t e s e e s t a chupando lo s dedos… LOL l i ndos ! Pe ro e s cuche e s to - e l l a g a r to d i c e que e l s toog e de l UDP y e l l i ckey de Ba r row o s ea SSB marav i l l o s a Mer l ene checa ron con una conse j e r í a j u r í d i c a i nde pend i en t e y d i j e ron que no e r a un conf l i c to de in t e r é se s. Ca r ay ! b i en… una fuen te en SSB t r adu jo e so pa r a noso t ro s - Mer l ene l l amo a Lo i s y a comproba r y Lo i s y l e d i j o que pa r e de me te r su s na r i c e s donde no l a l l aman ! - f i n a l de l a h i s to r i a . ¡Conse j e r í a j u r í d i c a i nde pend i en t e m i a$$… S i No Es As i !

Ningún aumento es te año…

Yo c r eo que e l l a g a r to e s t é hac i endo lo que é l

S ingh fuera de BTB… Us t ed puede dec i r l o

que u s t ed t i ene que dec i r nos sobre l a c ausa de sca l z a de l m in i s t ro que todos conocemos que no e s e l bu lbo más b r i l l an t e . S e r umora que e l e l e f an t e b l anco Mike S ingh de BTB o e l V i ce Min i s t ro ( como é l gu s t a l l amar se en su s r e co r r i dos a l r ededor de l g lobo ) l e d i e ron l a pa t ad i t a en e l t r a s e ro. Éso e s…¿Por supues to, cuando me d i j e ron e s t e co lumn i s t a i n t en to ave r i gua r y me en t e r e que su con t r a to e s t aba ce r ca de

exp i r e r y no s e l a qu i s i e ron r eanudar. Nues t ro compinche de sca l zo e s t a c ansado de que l o d i s r e spec t en e i n su l t en en l o s coc t e l e s ! Po r supues to l o s he r manos S ingh son comp inches con e l Ca l vo a s í que e l he r mano Doug h i zo una l l amada y e l he r mano Mike r ec ib io no t i c i a s que s e l e da r a un pues to Nuevo y d i gno de e l en Be l t r a i de . La ú l t ima pa l ab r a e s é s a a c amb io de que s e po r t e como todo un hombrec i to y s e vaya con d i gn idad . E l P.M . ha p romet ido de s i gna r lo emba j ador de l a i nve r s ión , una pos i c ión cuá l l l eva toda s l a s g r a t i f i c a c iónes de l a d ip lomac i a i nc luyendo un pa s apor t e d ip lomá t i co. ¡Recue rde que u s t ed l o l e yó aqu í p r imero… S i No Es As i !

¡Conse je r ía ju r íd ica independiente…

Sr. pe ro e sos UDP son l a s co r i a de l a f a s e de l a t i e r r a ! Imag íne se que a l a s i n s t r ucc iones de l r e y c a l vo, Lo i s y y e l f ang oso de sean vende r l a s pa r t e s de BTL a Lo i s y y e l f ang oso en SSB. S i , s e que e so suena ex t r año y r e pugnan te pe ro e so e s j u s to l a mane r a que e s. En tonces e s to s ton tos de sean dec i r nos que no e s un conf l i c to de i n t e r é s e s… de j en a nues t ro d ine ro en paz ! . E l Ca lvo

pa r a l a f am i l i a/ lo s c ron i e s en e l t imón y una c a r enc i a to t a l de l a v i s i ón y de l a i ncompe tenc i a ab i sma l . Hac i endo b i en , Ne t d i c e … l l amaron y l a i n fo r mac ion in t e r na e s que l a compan i a e s t a en p rob l emas c a l am i to sos y po r e so e s que no s e l e s da r a i nc r emen to de s a l a r i o s a l pe r sona l e s t e año. ¿As i que de que r ayos e s t a hab l amdo Ne t ? En tendemos s in embarg o que Anwar con t inúa l l evando a c abo pa r t i dos s emana l e s en l a s a l a de con fe r enc i a s de BTL comp le to s con e l l i co r supe r io r de l e s t an t e y é l con t inúa s i endochofe r i ado por un conduc to r a t i empo comp le to en l a nómina de pag o de BTL y t amb ién en t endemos que K aren Bevans a caba de consegu i r un veh í cu lo de l u jo nuevo ap robado. ¡ Su neg oc io como de cos tumbre en l a Ba r row Te l emed i a Company… eso s i e s un hecho !… S i Noh Es As i ! !

s abe hace r t an b i en… no, no, no hab lo de n inguna dec l a r a c ion e locuen te o i n t e l i g en t e . Hab lo de su s men t i r a s. ¡Que e l f ang oso t i ene gus to de un amo ! Según e l p r e s iden t e de l NTUCB, no s e han p roporc ionado de l p rospec to de l a compañ í a , s i no so l amen te un func ionamien to h i s tó r i co y e l a s egu r amien to de Ne t que l a

compañ í a e s t á hac i endo b i en y p rospe r a r á en l o s c inco años p róx imos. ¡MENTIRA! Qué ton te r i a ! E l hecho e s que BTL e s t á s i endo s ang r ado por una comb inac ión de l a s g r a t i f i c a c iones ex t r avag an te s


Belize TimesThe En EspañolBelicenos que no quisieran que su dinero fuera utilizado para comprar las partes en BTL. La cosa entera apesta porque las mismas dos personas que están negociando la venta de BTL, NetoVasquez y Lois Young, están negociando la compra a nombre de SSB. Si utilizaran su propio dinero nadie daría una pepino pero es nuestro dinero con el que están jugando. En una entrevista, Net Vasquez demanda que no es un conflicto de interés ¿Cuánto usted desea apostar que la Firma Independiente es Lois Young y Company? Hey, cosas más extrañas han sucedido. Y cuando todo es dicho y hecho, nuestro dinero será utilizado para comprar una cantidad sin revelar de partes en una compañía con un valor sin revelar, todo porque el Sr. Barrow dice que es asi cómo debe ser.

las industrias en caos…Poco por poco, pulgada

incremental por pulgada incremental, los Belicenos están realizando que el PM Barrow es tan falso como vienen… él habla bonito pero es pura babosada! Un anfitrión muy bien conocido y respetado esta semana cotizó del líder del discurso del día de independencia de la oposición

donde él indicó - `los problemas del sector de agroindustria, azúcar, fruta cítrica, plátano y papaya estan enfrentando tiempos dificiles.” El anfitrión declaro con tristeza que el líder del PUP tenía totalmente razón porque nuestras industrias están en caos y todos pueden verlo. La cosa está en el discurso del PM inmediatamente después de la dirección del líder del PUP, donde el declaro que nuestras industrias estaban en buena forma. De hecho, El Sr. Barrow se mofo de los comentarios de Briceno, decir que él no tenía ninguna idea de donde él conseguía su estadística. Podemos decirle donde su estadística vino Sr. Barrow?… le hemos hablado de esa pequeña cosa llamada realidad? El PM puede estar parado en el púlpito cada hora en la hora y decirnos que estamos viviendo en un buen país con un gran líder de 24 diversas maneras, pero vemos y sentimos la realidad aqui fuera. El Primer Ministro y están gozando de lo mejor de épocas sin la escasez de efectivo y de gratificaciones, comiendo el filete mientras que el resto de nosotros come tallarines… antes era leche condensada y pan de paquete pero debajo de este gobierno del UDP incluso hasta eso es demasiado costoso.

101 asesinatos…Mi cuenta no official es que el

número total de asesinatos este año son ya 101… apenas dos menos que el sistema de registro del año pasado y allí sigue siendo tres meses enteros antes de finales del 2010. El más reciente sucedido apenas esta mañana cuando un joven de 25 años fue ejecutado con un tiro en la cabeza y encontrado

en una carretera que se desvia despues del puente de Haulover. ¿Podría alguien decirme si el ministro de policía y seguridad pública ha hecho algo al respect? porque no hay absolutamente nada que viene de él? Él ha estado mudo mientras el crimen va en aumento pero ése no está sorprendiendo - él no tiene simplemente ninguna pista qué ahacer. El PM se ha puesto su sombrero de mago y está tirando de conejo tras conejo a ver cual le funciona. El Sr. Barrow ha dicho que él pondrá más BDF en las calles pero no ha dicho cómo él pagará por éllo. Él se parece haber olvidado convenientemente de la operacion Jaguar de breve duración simplemente porque el GOB no pudo mantenerlo. Él ha indicado que construirá un laboratorio forense totalmente equipado, pero la mayoría de la gente recuerda que él hizo la misma promesa hace más de dos años cuando él estaba en modo de la campaña. Él ha hecho referencias vagas a un manojo entero de iniciativas para aliviar pobreza, pero mucho screen que son solo habladas vanas del Primer Ministro. El hecho es que 31 meses después de que eligieron al Primer Ministro, todas sus promesas han sido incumplidas. En 31 meses, no ha habido plan concreto fijado en lugar para tratar el crimen. La cosa más grande para combater el crimen que ha hecho Barrow es una canción, y ésa seguramente no combatira el crimen! 31 meses, Sr. Barrow y usted todavía espera que imaginemos las posibilidades.

las Facturas de Barrow….Y no, no me estoy refiriendo

a las cuentas que él guarda en los bolsillos profundos de Lois. Estoy hablando de todo la basura que el Sr. Barrow está empujando a través de la cámara de representantes con pretexto de ser resistente al crimen. Particularmente estoy hablando de la interceptación de comunicaciones incluyendo llamadas telefónicas, mensajes de texto y email. Primero que todo, podria alguien decirme

cómo exactamente permitiendo al Sr. Barrow escuchar nuestras llamadas y leer nuestros textos y email parará toda la matanza en la calle? entiendo que el Sr. Barrow es el `más brilliante’ de todos y yo soy apenas un humilde escritor, pero no estoy entendiendo como enterceptando la comunicación hara impacto en el crimen. Ése es uno - y dos, puede alguien satisfacer mi curiosidad y decirme si hay alguien que cree realmente a la estratejia del Sr. Barrow para detener el crimen? Apenas el otro día el jefe del “ Special Branch” fue mandado supervisar todas las actividades de los miembros del Partido Unido del Pueblo. Imagínese, a como esta el crimen el Sr. Barrow prefiere utilizar los recursos ya atados con correa para espiar a su oposición política. Hay cualquiera que cree que el Sr. Barrow no se inclinaría tan bajo en cuanto a escuchar detras de las puertas en conversaciones políticas y otras conversaciones del interés de `' (como los miembros de la judicatura o barra de abogados, por ejemplo)? ¿Cualquiera? Quien nos garantiza que no ha empezado hacerlo ya? Seriamente Sr. Barrow, nadie le confía y con buena razón. Aplaudimos cualquier movimiento serio para combatir el crimen, pero éste no es uno de ellos. Este movimiento es tan falso como el hombre que lo invento…..

Rhetorica Prospera?......El 10 de Septiembre cuando

preguntaron al Primer Ministro acerca del tema para septiembre y qué debe significar a Belicenos, él dijo que `debe significar que apenas prospera una clase de retórica.' Éso suena intelectual y viniendo del Sr Barrow muchos quiza pensaron que era. Pero un `retórico prospera' es un eufemismo de lujo para decir “ tonteria o babosada” o para ultilizar

palabras poco más discretas y más agradables, de lujo que no significan absolutamente nada. Eso me causo gracia porqué el Primer Ministro se refirio al tema de la celebración de septiembre como una tonteria y sin sentido. ¿Él sabía lo que decía? ¿Quiza fue al Internet y descubrio que el presidente Obama de los E.E.U.U. había utilizado el `termino “retórico prospera' y él dio vuelta alrededor y lo utilizó sin saber lo que significaba? De cualquier manera, ahora que sabemos la verdad el Sr. Barrow debe una disculpa a la persona que creo el tema de las celebraciones septembrinas. Y me pregunto si no estaremos equivocados todos pensando que el PM es en realidad brillante? Debo agradecer al lector que se dio cuenta del desliz de la lengua del Sr. Barrow y lo trajo a mi atencion. Sr. Barrow… le agarramos!

la cosa del incesto de BTl/SSB…Las uniones y el sector

privado ha votado un rotundo NO en usar fondos de SSB para comprar las partes en la compañía que el Sr Barrow secuestro o sea BTL. Ése es un voto significativo de la oposición y debe ser razón de repensar el plan, pero eso no es cómo las cosas trabajan en

Belice actualmente. Este reparto irá adelante a pesar de la oposición de las uniones y del sector privado y a pesar de las protestas de

Políticas UDP, como siempre


BirthsAraysia Denae and Jecoliah Doshay to Gordon Robert and Erna Plett nee DueckJosh Bryon Matthew to John Bryon Henry and Adela Bowman nee MilianDerick Alexander to Elmer Isaias and Maria Anna Umaña nee AlasRamon Alberto Jr. to Ramon Alberto Se. and Nelda Montes nee LiconaTylor Nigel to Alfredo and Elena Teul nee CusLauna Lachelle to David and Stephanie Faye Friesen nee ReimerDavid Thomas Jr. to David Thomas Sr. and Natalie Nicole Wade nee CadleJames Kenneth to James McGregor and Kennisha Victoria Stewart nee GarbuttNicole to Genbo and Xue Xiang Liu nee TanDeany Clarine to Delroy Leon and Ebony Herrera nee FlowersTristen Tyler to Christopher and Ursula Nicole Gillett nee MartinezAriyanna Antonette to Kebin Samuel and Francine Gongora nee RocaSylvia Jada Marie to Elroy Glenroy and Candy Stanton Perdomo nee ArnoldBrenda Elizabeth to Daniel Isaias Martinez and Evelyn Elizabeth Martinez nee ArdonMorgan Xavier to Cody Aaron and Pamela Lee Sedacy nee KnoxSantiago Jose to Luis Enrique and Brenda Marin Mejia nee BrenesTyra Tamica to Alonzo and Cynthia Terry nee Duran

MarriagesChristopher Joseph McGann of Belmopan, Cayo to Leni Naila Ysagu-irre of Belize CityDarcy Rolf Linne to Theresa Michelle Devlin both of Colorado, USADaniel Retana to Natasha Melanie Bautista both of San Jose Succotz, CayoJohnny Edison Bush to Lydia Estela Herrarte both of Benque Viejo del Carmen, CayoRamon Alberto Benitez to Cenaida Esperanza Vasquez both of Carmeli-ta, Orange Walk Jimmy Obed Leslie to Nolberta Caliz both of Benque Viejo del Carmen,CayoPhillip Errol Guizar to Zuleica Ninethe Ramirez Portillo both Caye Caulker, BelizeDavid Darrel Smith to Indira Snoia Berry both of Belize CityJing Feng Lee to Chun Kuan Zhu both of Belize CityScott Walter Williams to Elida Emerita Ventura both of San Ignacio, CayoMatthew Steven Corcoran to Alyssa Natalie Remington both of USANathaniel Cedric Scholler to Hannah Bastiani both of United KingdomHenry Alwin James to Victoria Luciana Denise Chaneb both of Rock-ville, BelizeJosue Florencioa Tzib of San Antonio, Cayo to Elsie Carlita Pech of Bullet Tree Falls, CayoSantiago Sanchez of Boom Creek, Toledo to Josefina Arana of Moho River, ToledoMario Cesar Gonzalez of Libertad, Corozal to Mercedes Angelica Wit-zil of San Narciso, CorozalHumberto Tomas Mendez of Nuevo San Juan, Orange Walk to Yadire Yasmin Cawich of San Victor, CorozalMartin McNicoll to Julie Morrissette both of Dubai, United Arab Emir-atesModesto Eugenio Che of Cristo Rey, Corozal to Juanita Analli Chulim of Ranchito, CorozalRichard Wayne Vellos to veronica Soledad Diaz Paz both of Orange Walk TownRonald Richard Baird to Magdalena Carmen Paz both of Dangriga, Stann CreekMark Alan Pfeffer to Anne Camille Telsdort both of Texas, USARobert Edward Charles Isaac to Kristen Marie Kreymann both of Cali-fornia, USA

DeathsDorothy Mae Bradley, 82 Elston Nathaniel PetersMarl Anthony Lara, 49 Leroy David Martinez, 31Herve Joseph Cormier, 75Godfrey Hugdonald Tillett, 54Todora Ba, 59

Liquor License Notice

Notice is hereby given that Paradise Enterprise Limited, is applying for a Restaurant Liquor License to be oper-ated at “Mayan Secrets”, Terminal #4, Tourist Village, Fort Street, Belize City un-der the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Prayer To The Holy Spirit

O Holy spirit, you who are the fountainhead of all knowledge, who illuminate the pathway which enables me to reach my goal. You who share your divine gift permit-ting me to forgive and forget past insults and injustices, and who are always at my side within reach-ing distance. I desire in this short supplication to thank you for all that you have done for me, and to assure you once more that I never want to be separated from you un-der any circumstances, no matter what the incentive. I want to be with you, I along with my loved ones, cradled in your unending love. Thank you for your never failing kindness towards me and those I call my own.

(Prayer to be offered for three consecutive days; faith in the Holy Spirit will cause him to respond to your request no matter how dif-ficult the problem might be.)

Publish prayer as soon as re-quest has been granted.

S.H.M.

A t a n e a r l y a f t e r n o o n Press briefing in the room that had been his august Chambers for the past decade and where he had handed down some l a n d m a r k j u d g m e n t s , t h e honourable Chief Justice Dr. Abdulai Conteh held a briefing for the local press corps . He confirmed that he would be leav ing h i s post and Be l ize immediately. “I refuse to be d r ummed ou t o f o f f i c e , i t would be undignified…” was his opening salvo as he spoke b r i e f l y a n d w i t h h i s u s u a l eloquence about his departure on his 65th birthday without the op t i on to wrap up h i s caseload of ten or eleven cases.

“These th ings happen” h e s a i d o f t h e r e g r e t t a b l e s ituation of the outstanding judgements for which he had hoped for some “forbearance from the other side”. He trumpeted the p l ight of the l i t ig ants and attorneys who had spent time and money to bring those cases before him and who would now have to go through the process again.

He said he had always hoped that the judic iar y would not be turned into a “political football” which he likened to scoring in our own goal and thus losing a game we

Chief Justice Conteh Says

‘ADIEU’

never should have played. Shortly thereafter he went down

to inspect a Guard of Honour for the last time, host the Bar and staff of the judiciary in his Courtroom for a special sitting. Then, with the accolades of his col leagues st i l l ringing in his ear, he brought down his gavel and dismissed the Court, closing the curtain on his time in Belize. Case closed.

belize times 101003

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