belize times april 19, 2015

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The Belize Times The Truth Shall Make You Free Established 1957 19 APRIL 2015 | ISSUE NO: 4941 www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00 SCAN HERE 36 Murders ALREADY!!! Senator Andrews Condemns Firing at Belmopan City Hall Belize’s Voter’s List LEAKED to Guatemala? U.S. Banks Blacklist Belize PUP WILL REPEAL THE BARROW LAW PM Barrow cries into the wind, claims “damnation by innuendo” Belize City, April 15, 2015 Belize’s economy which is already on life-support and barely kept alive by the slew of loans made by the Barrow Administration has received another heavy blow with the announcement that United States’ banks could soon end their correspondent banking arrangement with our local banks. This arrangement, which has existed since the early years of Belize’s economy, has allowed a customer of a bank in one country to send money to someone in another coun- try, even if the bank in question does not have a branch there. U.S. Banks are at the center of the global financial system and Belize’s banks are strategically linked to them. The threat by U.S. banks to cut off Belize is believed to be a direct result of the country’s Pg. 4 Pg. 4 US President Barrack Obama is cracking down on money laundering and terrorism financing Bring Back Deon!! Pg. 2 Pg. 8 Pg. 6 Leon Leslie Jermaine Welcome Edward Usher Michael Foreman

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Belize Times April 19, 2015

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Page 1: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 1 The Belize Times

The Truth Shall Make You Free

Established 1957

19 APRIL 2015 | ISSUE NO: 4941 www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

SCAN HERE

BARROW BREAKS

THE LAW

36 Murders ALREADY!!!

Pg. 11

Senator Andrews Condemns Firing at Belmopan City Hall

Belize’s Voter’s List LEAKED to

Guatemala?

U.S. Banks Blacklist Belize

PUP WILL REPEAL THE BARROW LAW

PM Barrow cries into the wind, claims “damnation by innuendo”

Belize City, April 15, 2015Belize’s economy which is already on

life-support and barely kept alive by the slew of loans made by the Barrow Administration has received another heavy blow with the announcement that United States’ banks could soon end their correspondent banking arrangement with our local banks.

This arrangement, which has existed since the early years of Belize’s economy, has allowed a customer of a bank in one country to send money to someone in another coun-try, even if the bank in question does not have a branch there. U.S. Banks are at the center of the global financial system and Belize’s banks are strategically linked to them.

The threat by U.S. banks to cut off Belize is believed to be a direct result of the country’s

Pg. 4

Pg. 4

US President Barrack Obama is cracking down on money laundering

and terrorism financing

Bring Back Deon!!

Pg. 2 Pg. 8 Pg. 6

Leon Leslie Jermaine Welcome Edward Usher Michael Foreman

Page 2: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 2

serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

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

EDITOR

Alberto Vellos

LAYOUT/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Chris Williams

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Roberto Peyrefitte

Printed and Published ByTIMES NEWSPAPER LTD.

Tel: 671-8385#3 Queen StreetP.O. BOX 506

Belize City, BelizeEmail: [email protected]

[email protected]

The Belize TimesThe Truth Shall Make You Free

Established 1957

14 APR 2013 | ISSUE NO: 4840 www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

SCAN HERE

CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD): $ 0.64

Guatemala Quetzal (GTQ): $ 3.82

Sterling Pound (GBP): $ 0.34

Euro (EUR) : $ 0.47

Eastern Caribbean (XCD):$ 1.35

Barbados (BBD): $ 1.00

United States (USD): $ 0.50

CHINESE YUAN (CNY): $ 3.14

Trinidadian (TTD) : $ 3.19

INDIAN RUPEE (INR): $ 31.31Exchange rate

of One Belize Dollar

Continued on page 25

02

LOCAL WEATHER20 Apr 22 Apr21 Apr19 Apr18 Apr17 Apr

Bring Back Deon!!Belize City, April 15, 2015

The Government of Belize has been put to shame! It has taken a cam-paign launched by a group of Belizean youth to raise funds to pay for Deon McCauley’s travel to Belize so he could join the Belize National Football team as it prepares for its upcoming World Cup 2nd round qualifier match against the Dominican Republic on June 8th.

This campaign came about be-cause neither the Minister of Sports John Saldivar nor the Football Federation of Belize has offered to find the resources to bring Belize’s number 1 striker to play for Belize.

It appears that Saldivar and the FFB Executives have a per-sonal and petty beef against Mc-Cauley and are placing their ven-detta above the interest of the country.

Saldivar’s beef with McCau-ley appears to stem from McCau-ley’s decision to leave the Belmo-pan Bandits football club and sign up with the North American Soc-cer League in 2013. Saldivar is the owner of the Bandits. The team appeared to have resisted and blocked McCauley’s efforts to reach international levels. The Bandits were reportedly demanding a large payment from the U.S. football club, Atlanta Sil-verbacks, in order to release McCauley. After heated negotiations, the Bandits agreed to let McCauley go.

McCauley has become Belize’s most internationally acclaimed football player.

He scored the first goal and first hat-trick of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

He scored a total of 13 goals, which gave him the title of top goal-scorer in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. This is more than Argentina’s Lionel Messi or Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo.

He also led Belize’s goal scoring in the 2007 UNCAF Nations Cup and the 2013 Copa Centroamericana.

Despite McCauley’s proven strik-ing ability, he was not invited to play in the first round of the World Cup quali-fier match against the Cayman Islands two weeks ago. Belize did not score a winning goal (including a penalty kick) and the home and away games end-ed in ties. Luckily, Belize’s Elroy Kuylen scored a goal in the 1-1 away game, which gave the Belize team point ad-vantage. Most sports experts believe

that had McCauley been on the team’s ros-ter and on the field, the result of the matches against the Cayman Islands would have been different.

Those reasons motivated the local Beliz-ean group to form the “Association of Beliz-eans Concerned with Bringing Deon Home” and launch the fundraising campaign. They kicked it off on Facebook, showcasing a 5 Gal-lon Water Bottle which they said they wanted to fill up to raise enough money for McCauley.

The group’s target is $5,000. With this they plan to purchase McCauley’s plane tick-et ($1,500), cover his weekly allowance ($300 weekly) and miscellaneous expenses ($500).

Up to Thursday midday, they had raised over two thousand dollars with the support of Belizeans all across the country.s

Up to our deadline the FFB Executive had not reached out to McCauley with any plans for his travel. The team will kick off their train-ing camp on May 10th.

Owner of Bandits John Saldivar is re-ported to oppose Deon’s participation

Ruperto Vicente appears to be an accomplice in Deon’s exclusion

Thursday April 16th 2015After careful review and

research of the Alba Petro Ca-ribe Bill passed in the House of Representatives on March 27th 2015, the Chamber be-lieves that this bill undermines the spirit and intent of the re-vised Finance and Audit Act of 2005. In 2005 the Chamber, in conjunction with the unions, fully recognized the importance of reforming the Finance and Audit Act to provide for greater accountability and transparency in the handling of public funds.

Subsequently, Part II Sec-tion 7(2) of the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act, 2005 was amended to state that “Any agreement, contract or other instrument effecting any such borrowing or loan to the Govern-ment of or above the equivalent of ten million dollars shall only be validly entered into pursuant to a resolution of the National Assembly authorizing the Gov-ernment to raise the loan or bor-row the money:”

This means that any loan to the government exceeding ten million dollars would have to go to the National Assembly and be the subject of public debate prior to approval, thereby achiev-ing greater transparency for the Belizean people.

The PETROCARIBE LOANS ACT, 2015 states that:

1. (1) Notwithstanding any-thing contained in the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act, 2005, or any other law to the contrary, it shall be lawful for the Govern-ment of Belize to borrow money from ALBA Petrocaribe (Belize Energy) Limited in any amounts without the prior authorization of the National Assembly and to enter into a loan agreement with APBEL for the said pur-pose.

(2) The money borrowed from APBEL may be kept in a special account at the Central Bank of Belize and may be with-drawn from time to time as the need arises.

Chamber says Barrow’s Law undermines

accountability and transparency

(3) No limitations shall apply to the use of the money borrowed from AP-BEL and it may be used to finance capital projects as well as to provide social and community assistance to the poor and the socially marginalized, and any other legitimate purpose as the Government may consider fit.

The Chamber is alarmed that the government retroactively validated what were clear violations of the Finance and Audit Reform Act 2005, and in respect of which specific penalties were prescribed by the said Act.

The Chamber believes that this new Act undermines and effectively revers-es all efforts made by the Chamber and the unions in 2005 toward greater ac-countability and transparency in the han-dling of public funds. Transparency and accountability should be given greater prominence by the Government of Belize particularly due to the absence of a fully functional Public Accounts Committee to report on Government Expenditure. It is for this reason that the Chamber endors-es the Business Sector Senator’s vote against the Petro Caribe Act in the Senate on the 30th of March.

The Chamber emphasizes that we are all for development of the Country and are certainly not against the Petro Caribe ini-tiative. In view of the fact that these loan funds must be repaid by the people of Belize, the Government must spend them responsibly and account for their use.

Page 3: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 3 03

Francis Fonseca

WOMAN HATERS

...then Barrow Law, GOOD for Barrow

BAD FOR BELIZE!

If the UNIONS are Against it!

If the CHURCHES Rejected it!

If the BUSINESS COMMUNITY Opposed it!

If the ACTIVISTS Do Not Support it!

BARROW LAW, BAD

Marvin Mora, President - NTUCB

Senator Father Noel Leslie, Churches

Senator Mark Lizarraga, Business Community

Yaya Marin Coleman – Activist

Page 4: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 4

Officer Down!

Continued from page 1

04

WATCH LIVE on CCV CH9

CBC CH50/60Southern Cable CH18

Call 650-8429 Text 600-1074 VIBES RADIO 90.5FM | 102.9FM

Santi Quits!!

U.S. Banks Blacklist BelizePM Barrow cries into the wind, claims “damnation by innuendo”

designation by the U.S. 2015 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) as a “Major Illicit Drug Producing, Ma-jor Drug-Transit, Major Money Launder-ing” state [see page 07 of April 5, 2015 edition of the BELIZE TIMES].

The United States Government, in a move to enforce rules at preventing mon-ey-laundering and starving terrorists of funds, has toughened up on big interna-tional banks in America for lapses in their controls relating to money-laundering, sanctions and the financing of terrorism. In response, the banks have imposed strict-er controls and those on clients that resist end up suffering consequences.

This could lead to a very serious dilem-ma for Belize. The looming consequences are dire. Denying local banks access to U.S. accounts for transactions could affect credit card services or online ordering ser-vices.

More serious is the news that even the Central Bank faces the threat, which means that the Government could be blocked out of international financial trans-actions deriving in the United States.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow appeared puzzled or attempted to play the sympathy card by appearing perplexed at last week’s 7th Summit of the Americas held in Pana-ma. He blamed everything and everyone but his Administration’s failure to comply with international accountability and trans-parency standards for what is taking place.

While addressing the dozens of lead-ers present, which coincidentally did not include U.S. President Barack Obama, Bar-row blamed the measures on wronghead-ed United States policy. He complained about the US’s annual reports and classifi-cations and criticised that they were “de-signed to put our offshore sector out of business”.

He then grumbled that despite “ev-ery effort” to comply with legislative and enforcement measures imposed by the United States, Belize is still blacklisted and made to suffer “damnation by innuendo”.

Barrow cursed at the U.S. accusing them of offering “no bill of indictment listing any specific instances of viola-tion”.

But Barrow was not telling the truth.The U.S. 2015 International Narcot-

ics Control Strategy Report, for exam-ple, makes specific mention of areas of concern for the United States Govern-ment. The report also warns that the U.S. Government may take steps to sanction countries who do not comply with mea-sures.

In August 2013, the Prime Minister apparently understood very clearly what measures needed to be taken to meet standards requested by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). If he was not aware, as he claims now, he wouldn’t have been able to rush through new legislation, among them poorly draft-ed bills, in response to the pressure and

to avoid sanctions.Barrow’s rhetoric did not impress

anyone at the summit. It made no inter-

national headlines nor captured the attention, except for a puny side-note, of the U.S. delegation. While he com-plained bitterly about U.S. policy and the “superpower in our midst”, the day after when Obama arrived at the sum-mit, Barrow could not help but pose as many times next to the U.S. president for photo ops.

36 Murders ALREADY!!!Belize City, April 16, 2015

Despite Belize already having the reputation of a dangerous and crime-filled country, the Barrow Administration refuses to fight crime by tackling the root causes seriously. The result has been more gun violence and killing.

This year is turning out to be a very deadly one. Bullets are flying as angry and armed youth living in poverty and lured by gangs and broken down turfs turn at eat each other, while the Government turns a blind eye.

There are already 36 murders since the year began. But more fright-ening is that the first 13 days of April have been filled with murders. There have been 8 murders and we are only in the middle of the month. The whole of April in 2014 had 12 murders.

In the last four murders occurred on Thursday, April 09, as Michael “Popeye” Foreman was shot in the back of his head as he sat on a bucket in a yard through Taylor’s Alley in Belize City. On Saturday April 11th as 24 year old Jermaine Welcome and his friend 24 year old Allan Garbutt were at a residence in Roaring Creek on their home veranda when some-one fired at them with an M16 automatic rifle. Both men were shot but Welcome was fatally injured. That same day in Belize City, Edward Usher was gunned down in Belize City in his own neighbourhood – known as the Ghost Town area. On Monday April 13th, two children discovered the viciously beaten and decomposed body of their father, Leon Leslie, at his home in the community of Maxboro.

Despite the escalating crime, Minister of National Security John Saldivar has remained totally mum, as if the lost lives and the deadly spike in violence are of no concern to him.

Page 5: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 5

A Nation in Crisis

05

EDITORIAL

The newscast Monday night was a stark and disheartening reminder of where we are as a society under the present government. It is the worst possible indictment of the incompetence and heartless nature of the Dean Barrow-led government.

The television news reported the sickening array of weekend murders. These included a man found stabbed to death inside his house at Maxboro. This murder followed the fatal shooting of an unarmed man at the reported hands of a member of his own neighborhood. Then two youth were shot and one killed in Roaring Creek. The past weekend was not one for unusual news events. It is the weekly diet of a cracked and tattered social structure reeling under a burden too heavy for our people to bear. We live in despair.

Our society is in crisis.And it is getting worst.For eight years the country has been experiencing a visible and

rapid decline where the failure of leadership, lack of commitment and neglect of the society and its citizens are pronounced.

The weekend shooting of Edward “Ghost” Usher in the Ghost Town area of Belize City known as “Bailer” is an example. It was an assassination carried out in broad daylight in one of the most overcrowded neighborhoods of the city. There is a Police booth, two lots away from the entrance to “Bailer’s” neighborhood. A cold-bloodied killer entered one of the yards and released a deadly barrage of gun fire.

This type of news story has been repeated hundreds of time. In-deed, the cold-bloodied facts are that since 2008 when Mr. Barrow became Prime Minister, he has presided over one thousand such murders at the rate of 110 to 130 murders each year. His response has been zilch. This is unbelievable and unacceptable-eight long deadly and bloody years in the highways and byways of Belize. Murders in front of the Supreme Court in broad daylight. Mur-ders in front of schools, business places, inside offices, inside homes. Innocent little bodies have been victims, bright talented teenagers, the elderly fall gone to their untimely grave. The only place the murderers have not gone is inside the holy sanctuary of churches. But church attendance has fallen dramatically as so has attendance at social events as fear entered our society. People know they are not safe in their homes much less being out in the streets or at public events.

The television footage of the living conditions in “Bailer’s” neighborhood has left a wrenching image in the minds of Be-lizeans. Decrepit houses crowded together, dozens of family members and neighbors in close proximity to each other. Large numbers of young people at home idle without any gainful oc-cupation or employment. In the eight years, there has not been one single physical, infrastructure or social improvement in a small area crying out for attention. This scenario is replicated in hundreds of other neglected areas in Belize.

This is the indictment against Mr. Barrow and his government.We endorse the view that eight years ago these murderers now

marauding through our society were once little nine and ten year

old kids. Kids for goodness sake. These are the neglected children the Prime Minister and his government turned their back on. Today eight years after, these kids have turned cold-bloodied killers.

There is no money to help unfortunate children in Belize. They cannot vote and so in the eyes of the Prime Minister and his Ministers they do not count. How does the Hon. Patrick Faber justify his criminal neglect of the “Bailer’s” area in his constituency, just three house lots from the junction with Cen-tral American Boulevard? How does his Prime Minister sleep at night knowing the painful, hopeless conditions in his and the other constituencies across the country? Are they so cold that once they can bribe the poor families with handouts and food pantry the future of the children is not their concern?

The flip side of this neglect of our society and its vulnerable poor children is the Police Department. Undertrained, undereq-uipped and understaffed the Police have become a part of the problem rather than a part of the solution. In addition to robust, well-funded social and community programs is the need for a professional and effective law enforcement agency. Were it not for dozens of vehicles gifted to the Police by the U.S.A our Police today would not even be mobile. Such is the level to which our institutions have fallen.

With no clear protocols of how to conduct themselves in our communities an increasing number of Police have gone rogue. Citizens now fear the Police as much as they fear gang members. Indeed, while Police are underpaid and forced to work in atrocious conditions and always unable to collect their allowances, gang members receive weekly allowances and stipends. No wonder gangs continue to proliferate and are now in districts and villages. Always on the look-out for voters, the government has been paying gang members for years now.

The very recruitment process has been subverted by the Prime Minister and his government. To be considered for a job as a Police an application is guaranteed if he receives a letter from the Ministers of Police. Invariably, the majority of recruits come from his constituency. Don’t look a gift horse in his mouth.

Has he announced any police initiative to tackle the social and economic conditions which are the breeding grounds for crime? Has his government demanded of his Ministry to produce solu-tions to the cancer of crime eating away at our society?

Don’t hold your breath. This is not a government of solutions. This is not a government which places priority in tackling the root causes of problems or engage the society in a search for solution.

This government has succeeded in wasting away an extra, once in a lifetime bonanza of finances. In addition to one billion dollars of taxes received from the budget, they have secretly been spending the Petrocaribe millions these past three years and have very little to show for the almost three hundred million dollars that have gone up in smoke. With not a penny for the children, the students and young people whose lives have become meaningless under this government.

Belize is in crisis.And it just keeps getting worse under this government.

Page 6: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 606

Senate Trashes PetroCaribe Bill

In loving memory of

In loving memory of

The Peoples United Party family notes with much sadness the passing of Fred-rick Avilez Sr. also known as “Pandrix”.

He was predeceased by son Michael Avilez.

He leaves to mourn his wife: Emily Avilez, daughters: Rose, Catherine, Lorna and Mrs. Martha Carter; son:

Fredrick Jr; 16 grandchildren; 15 great grand children and a host of relatives

and friends.

Funeral services were held at 2 pm at St. Martin de Porres Church in the

Lake Independence area on Thursday April 16th 2015.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Without any warning or preparation a flower gets plucked from the garden of our life. We need not worry, for our

God has the entire world in his control.

In sweet repose, loving cherished and never fading memory of his beloved

soul with the Lord. May he have eternal peace. Vaya con Dios.

From your wife, children, grandchil-dren and great grandchildren and

God-daughter.

Fredrick Avilez Sr. “Pandrix”

Ainsworth Karsten Morrison Grant

Sunrise May 15th, 1924Sunset April 8th, 2015

Sunrise: 14.02.1930Sunset: 11.04.2008

7th Remembrance Anniversary – April 11, 2015

Senator Andrews Condemns Firing at Belmopan City HallCity of Belmopan, April 13, 2015

The grand puppet master John Saldivar is already pulling the strings attached to his puppet, Mayor Khalid Belisle, at the Belmopan City Council.

Last week Thursday, April 9th, 2015 Javier Novelo, who was employed as the Head of Engineering Section at the Council and who has worked at the Mu-nicipal Government body for over 10 years, was suddenly given the boot.

In a statement released on Thurs-day, PUP Area Representative Senator Patrick Andrews described the move as an “example of the political arro-gance”.

There has been no rational explana-tion for the firing by Mayor Belisle, but indications are that it was a political de-cision to get rid of someone who does not conform to the UDP’s orders.

The injustice in this firing is blatant. Novelo’s post at City Hall has already been taken up by the brother in law of UDP Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar. This disrespect to the residents of Belmopan could not come any more obvious.

The decision to fire Novelo was tak-en by Saldivar’s sister, Angela Wade, a former City Administrator who worked with Novelo in the past. According to former Mayor Simeon Lopez, Wade and Novelo often clashed as Novelo is the type of employee who is strict on trans-parency and accountability.

Wade’s husband has been hired to head to Engineering Section.

The City Council is now the po-litical fiefdom of the big UDP players in Belmopan. This is a situation which Senator Andrews has become con-cerned about and condemned. He said in his statement that Novelo was “respected and capable manag-er of engineering services”.

Andrews pointed out that Novelo became a target of the UDP when he refused to certify payments for infe-rior quality streets works done with City Council funds. He noted that to now have someone closely connect-ed to the UDP in charge of validating such payments is “appalling” and like

“placing the rat to mind the cheese”.Andrews ended his statement

saying that Mayor Belisle was disre-specting the residents of Belmopan by condoning nepotism and corruption at City Hall.

Page 7: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 7 07

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE

A Tyrant here lingers!!

By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

“O Land of the Free by the Carib Sea; Our Manhood [and Womanhood] we Pledge to Thy Liberty! No Tyrants here linger, Despots must flee; This tranquil haven of democracy”. No need to say where these lyrics come from. Every Belizean schoolgirl and boy can sing these lines. The last time I helped to sing our National Anthem was at the opening of the One Hundred Year Anniversary Extravaganza for the Salvation Army at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts last Friday night.

These words are powerful, and are packed with meaning and with the aspirations of all Belizeans.

I have written already about the experiences in the House of Representatives as they pertain to the Leader of Government and Prime Minister of Belize. They have mostly been unpleasant to

use a polite understatement. To say that there has been down-right rude, uncouth, bullying conduct by the Prime Minister towards his colleagues, those of us across the aisle, would be more forthright. Those who have witnessed his behavior shake their heads at his penchant for quarrelling, hectoring, and per-sonal casting of aspersions at those who oppose him.

The latest examples came at the last meeting of the House before the Debate on the 2015 to 2016 Budget, when the Leader of the Opposition rose to object to the indecent haste with which the Governing side wished to pass the now infamous Petro-caribe Loan Act. Using his right to reply to submissions made, the Prime Minister proceeded to disparage and insult the Hon. Member for Freetown, calling him “ignorant.” The primary dic-

tionary meaning of ignorant is “lacking knowledge or awareness in general.” However, there are two secondary meanings of the word, according to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary. One is “discourteous,” and the other is “easily angered”.

Now, I am positive that when the Prime Minister called Hon. Francis Fonseca ignorant, he wasn’t merely saying that the Leader of the Opposition lacked knowledge. We all know that when Belizeans use this term in a particular context, there is a pel-lucidly clear intention. I witnessed the sneer on his face and the ugly manner of his utterance. I im-mediately jumped up, and, using Standing Order 38(4), I objected strongly to the Speaker. Standing Order 38(4) provides: “It shall be out of order to use offensive or in-sulting language about Members of either Chamber of the Legisla-ture.” The Prime Minister tried to laugh it off and make light of the objection, but his intention was, as I said, crystal clear. He meant indeed to disparage and belittle. Of course, the next day I received my share from the poison tongue of the Leader of Government, with all the sarcasm and derision he could muster. There has also got to be misogyny there, as he seems not to be able to help him-self.

Our country’s leader revels in

berating anyone or everyone who dares to question him or to even criticize. In the House of Representatives, with a nod of his head to one side, he frequently says: “Mr. Speak-er, I don’t mean to be unkind, but.....” before unleashing his accustomed ad hominen at-tacks on members of the Op-position and all other critics. He behaves like... yes, a Tyrant.

But, that is not the worst of it. He invariably uses his skills as a speaker to muddy the wa-ters and to give the wrong im-pression during debates. This is exactly what he did when he wound up the debate on the Petrocaribe Loan Bill. He well knew that he could not excuse the egregious nature of this leg-islation. He therefore dissem-bled and distorted the argu-ments in order for it to appear that what he was doing was somehow alright and even per-chance unavoidable. His Lead-er of Government business in the Senate followed suit a few days later, cavorting and twist-ing himself into a frenzy of spu-rious non-explanations. No one was fooled, except maybe the senator for the Unions!! Beliz-eans Beware!! The actions of the Prime Minister have once more laid bare the awful truth in our country today – A Tyrant Here Lingers!!

Page 8: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 808

Belize’s Voter’s List LEAKED to

Guatemala?

– Freetown’s Mr. Quitar?

Maya Communities await CCJ hearing of land rights

Belize City, April 16, 2015The electoral list which con-

tains very sensitive information about voters in Belize has been leaked to Guatemalan authorities, according to credible sources.

Reports are that several weeks ago, Guatemalan author-ities requested the data from Elections and Boundaries officials. The request was reportedly de-nied “officially”, but the list con-taining name, age, date of birth, birthplace, nationality, registration number and constituency regis-tered for each voter ended up be-ing leaked to Guatemala officials, our sources say.

Guatemalan officials are mak-ing preparations to hold a refer-endum exercise in November of this year. This referendum will put to their citizens the question whether their territorial claim (UNFOUNDED CLAIM!) should be taken before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as required by the Compromis Special Agree-ment signed by Guatemala and Sedi Elrington in 2008.

The conditions of the Special Agreement require that the refer-endum also held in Belize on the same day. Will Guatemala force Belize into holding a referendum this year also? And are they inter-ested in learning our voter demo-graphics to find a way to sway the results of the referendum in their favour with majority yes votes?

Guatemalan officials have expressed concerns that the Ref-erendum Law contains a 60% threshold of voter turnout to vali-date the process. They have pro-tested this and have expressed doubt that the Barrow Adminis-tration will be able to meet the threshold requirement. This doubt caused them to back out of the initial October 6, 2013 referendum date which had been agreed on.

Belizeans beware! While no confirmation of the report has been forthcoming, with an “ac-commodationist” UDP Govern-ment and Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington who called our border “artificial”, just about anything is possible.

Toledo District, Monday, April 13th, 2015

The Toledo Alcaldes Associa-tion’s (TAA) General Assembly met on Saturday April 11th to discuss the upcoming land rights appeal before the Caribbean Court of Jus-tice (CCJ). The Alcaldes, who are the traditional leaders of the Maya communities in Toledo, strongly endorsed their continued support of the land rights struggle and the case before Belize’s highest court. This position of the Alcaldes is echoed in the words of the deputy Alcalde of Indian Creek, “we start-ed the long journey to defend our lands and lives together. To-day we gather to agree that we will see it to the very end togeth-er”.

Cristina Coc, spokesperson for the MLA, said, “We are honoured that the CCJ is coming to Belize to hear this case of monumental

Alcaldes from the 39 Maya Villages at TAA Assembly meeting.

importance to the Maya peo-ple and Belize. We are confi-dent that the outcome will be positive and believe that the concessions made by the government bode well for reconciliation between the parties. We are cautiously op-timistic that the government will do what is necessary to implement our land rights”.

In a related matter on March 21st in Washington, DC, the MLA and members of its inter-national legal team met with a government representative and the Inter-American Commis-sion on Human Rights (IACHR) to provide an update on the government’s compliance with the Commission’s recommen-dations. Commissioner Rosa María Ortiz attended as the IACHR’s Country Rapporteur

Continued on page 23

Page 9: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 9 09

Continued from page 7

0909TOPMODELTHE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015

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Belize CityJaselBelizean Beauty

• Career Plan: Pursuing Degree in Biochem at UB• Sign: Taurus• Favourite Food: Sea food• Likes: Enjoys time with family & friends, sleeping, eating• Lives in: Santa Elena, Cayo• Fav. Quote: “In the end, we only regret the

chances we didn’t take.”

Page 10: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 10

IMAGINE THE DESPERATION

TEAM DIGICELL 4G DOMINATES

Gentle Touch & Triple B’s

Top 5: Douglas Lamb, Calman Williams, Rob-ert Mariano, Kent Gabourel & Warren Coye

10 SPORTS THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015

Weekend Warriors Cross Country Cycling ClassicRay Cattouse

wins Weekend Warriors ‘B’

division Cross Country Cycling

Belize City, April 11, 2015Latrell Solis won the 3rd Annu-

al Don Omario’s Cup table tennis tournament for under-19 players or-ganized by the Belize Table Tennis Association at the Belize Elementary School Auditorium on Saturday.

The top 32 best players compet-ed in a double elimination format, which included the back-to-back de-fending champ Fabio Carballo; the No.1 ranked junior - Gian Lisbey; the 2014 Junior Player of the Year - Latrell Solis; and the 2015 Primary Schools champ Bjarne Gabourel.

Two-time winner Fabio Carballo looked to make it a 3-some to keep the cup, but many other juniors chal-lenged him for those bragging rights. Carballo made it to the semi-finals by wins over Kevin Chen, Taye Parkin-son, Trevon Brown, and Latrell Solis, before falling to Bjarne Gabourel. He then sought to fight his way back out of the losers’ bracket when he faced a rematch with Latrell Solis, but Solis won the rematch, relegating Carbal-lo to 3rd place.

The No.1 under-13 player, 10-year old Taye Parkinson, also had an impressive run, still making it among the finalists. Taye progressed further into the draw with his aggressive and consistent game, winning 4th place by a win over Sergio Pech in the 1st round. After a loss to Car-

Latrell Solis wins Don Omario’s Cupballo, Taye fought his way back out of the losers’ bracket by wins over Jarerd Mena, Amiri Hoare, Luis Bardalez, Trev-on Brown, and John Delcid, before his 2nd loss, this time to Solis in the quar-terfinals.

Solis was the No. 2 seed entering the tournament, his game had been flagging as he had not placed in his last tournament, the 1st Bi-Annual RF&G National Ranking Tournament. Solis ad-vanced to the finals with wins over Ja-son Rong, Daryl Palacio, Luis Bardalez, and after his loss to Carballo he fought his way back out of the loser’s bracket by wins over Eric Liu, Taye Parkinson to win his rematch with Carballo. He then challenged the up-to-then unde-feated Bjarne Gabourel in the finals.

Gabourel had reached the finals by wins over Rohit Pagarani, Terry Su, John Del Cid and Carballo, and Latrell won the 1st finals match narrowly: 3-2. It was Gabourel’s first loss, and by double elimination, Solis needed to win a 2nd time over Gabourel to win the Cup. This time Solis won handily: 3-0.

BTTA Membership Director Mrs. Janine Carballo and Executive Com-mittee Member Mr. Hector Lopez presented trophies and the Champi-onship Cup to the winners on behalf of the sponsors: Travellers, who con-tinue to support the development of junior players in table tennis.

Taye Parkinson

Latrell Solis

Bjarne Gabourel Fabio Carballo

Belize City, April 12, 2015Team Digicell 4G’s Robert Mariano won

the annual Weekend Warriors’ Cross Coun-try Cycling Classic, a 68-mile ride from the Loma Luz clinic in Santa Elena to the finish at CISCO construction on the George Price Highway on Sunday. Team Digicell 4G domi-nated with 4 cyclists in the top 10.

1st Robert Mariano - 3:33:00 - $100 prize & a trophy

2nd Kent “Bob” Gabourel – Team Ben-ny’s Megabytes - $75 prize & a trophy

3rd Calman Williams – Team Bel-Cal - 3:33:15 - $50 prize & a trophy

4th Warren Coye – Team Santino’s - $25 prize & a trophy

5th Douglas Lamb – Team Digicell 4G - $25 prize & a trophy

6th Wilbert Jones – Team Benny’s Megabytes

7th Fitzgerald “Palas” Joseph – Team Lampaz

8th Ronald “Jack” Sutherland – Team

Digicell 4G9th Gilford Perez – Team Digicell 4G10th Kenneth Butler - Team Belize

Water Services11th Alicia Thompson – Team Ben-

ny’s Megabytes12th Collet “Bunas” Maheia - Team

Benny’s Megabytes13th Derrick Mahler - Team Bel-Cal14th Fredrick Sutherland – Team Bel-

Cal15th Albert Vasquez – Team BWS16th Dean Belisle - Team SMART

Zoom17th Colin Maheia – Team F.T. Wil-

liams18th Mark Gentle – Team F.T. Wil-

liams19th Andrew “Pawpa” Brown -

Team Benny’s Megabytes20th Kirk Sutherland – Team Digicell

4G21st Stephen Bisset - Team BNE

Belize City, April 12, 2015Team C-Ray Road Addikz’ Ray

Cattouse won the annual Week-end Warriors’ B Division Cross Country Cycling Classic, a 48-mile ride from Garbutt’s Service Sta-tion in Roaring Creek Village to the finish at CISCO construction on the George Price Highway on Sunday.

1st Ray Cattouse - 2:18:07 - $100 prize & a trophy

2nd Nehru Gilharry - Team Santino’s - $75 prize & a trophy

3rd Isaiah Willacey - Team F.T. Williams - $50 prize & a trophy

4th Santino “Chief” Castillo – Team Santino’s - $25 prize & a trophy

5th Clarence Tesecum - Team F.T. Williams - $25 prize & a trophy

6th Mark Lisbey – Team F.T. Williams

7th Roland Lewis – Team Bel-Cal team was seventh

8th Antonio Escarpeta – Team

F.T. Williams9th Ernest Olivera - Team

F.T. Williams10th Mark Reid – Team

Santino’s11th Kaya Cattouse - Team

C-Ray12th Salvador Alvarado -

Team F.T. Williams13th Albert Conorquie –

Team Santino’s14th Willie Chan - Team

Stationery House/Medina’s Jewellry

15th Manuel Esquiliano - Truckers Posse

16th Michael Phillips – Team Santino’s

17th Kevin Hope of Digicell 4G

18th Edwardo Villanueva - Team Stationery House

19th Charlie Slusher – Team Santino’s

20th Ian Abraham – Team SMART Zoom

Page 11: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 1111SPORTSTHE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015

Moen Stars, Jaguars & Rebels win volleyball matches

No Limit & Dangriga

Warriors hunt for playoff

spot

Belize City, April 11, 2015The Moen Stars outshined the Belmo-

pan Mystics 3-1, the Jaguars mauled the S.Q. Dragons 3-1 and the Rebels went the full 5 sets for the 3-2 win over the Scorpi-ons in the Belize District Volleyball Associ-ation’s senior competition at the BES audi-torium on Saturday night.

Stars’ Kelsey Balderamos, Sherika Bur-ton, Nelissa Ramirez, Leandra Betson and Jahshema Saunders scored hits at the net on plays set by Karen Bevans to dominate the Mystics: 25-17, 25-27, 25-15 and 25-9.

The Mystics had to go to extra points to win the 2nd set: 27-25 as Kori Diego, Krystal Jones, Kaylani Reid and Kayla Daw-son scored points on plays set by Daniela Gibson and Kimanie Flowers, and Loren Henry and Jhonique Anderson came off the bench to reinforce their attack.

The Jaguars’ Karym Coleman, Shane Gentle, Bryton Codd, Jared Marin and Ra-

heem Flowers hammered home kills to win the 2nd game of the night: 28-30, 25-18, 25-15 and 27-25. The Dragons had started out brightly enough by win-ning the 1st set: 30-28 as Tarik “Soup” Campbell, Keith Castillo, Fenton James and Roman McBride scored points on balls set by Frank Thompson and Elton Anderson.

In the nightcap, the Rebels won nar-rowly 3-2 over the Scorpions who took the first 2 sets: 25-23 and 25-21 with points scored by Arvid Arnold, Jamal Galvez, Kleon Coleman, Alyson Revers, and Anwar Zetina on balls set by Oscar Arnold.

The Rebels fought their way out of this hole with Nuani Cayetano, Daril Avila, Gabby Nunez and Edgar Martinez scoring kills at the net on balls set by All-wyn Mahung and Leon Leslie to win the last 3 sets 25-23, 25-22 and 15-13. Mystics’ Daniella

Gibson serves

Rebels’ Allwyn Mahung blocks Scorpions’ Kleon

Coleman

Kayla Dawson hits vs Nelissa Ramirez &

Sherika Burton

Team Lampaz’ Eustace Ireland wins C Division Cross Country

Top 4: Valentine Sosa, Eustace Ireland, Glen Sheppard & Alejandro Moralez

Belize City, April 11, 2015Belize City’s No Limit and the

Dangriga Warriors are both in the hunt to make it in National Elite Basketball League playoffs as both squads have a 3 wins and 5 losses record. No Limit posted their 3rd win 59-56 over the Yellow Pages Hurricanes, even after they were down 34-45 at the end of the 3rd quarter at Bird’s Isle on Saturday night.

The Dangriga Warriors tamed the Orange Walk Running Rebels: 70-55 at the Orange Walk Multipur-pose complex on Saturday. Dan-iel Nolberto led with 25pts, Edgar Mitchell scored 13pts and Jamir Fores added 12pts. Frank Williams scored 5pts, Shai Peters – 4pts and Macario Augustine – 3pts, 10 re-bounds.

Rebels’ Randy Usher scored 24pts, but Ian Carcamo had only

amiserly 7pts, while Roger Reneau and Ty-rone Knight scored 6pts apiece.

Out at la Isla Boni-ta, the NEBL defending champs - San Pedro Tig-ersharks avenged their loss to the Cayo West-ern Ballaz at the start of the season at the Sacred heart Auditorium by a 79-75 overtime win, to tear up the Ballaz clean sheet with their first loss at the Angel Nunez auditorium in San Pedro on Saturday night.

The NEBL’s All Star

game is scheduled for Satur-day night at the Sacred Heart College auditorium in San Igna-cio, with the Scotiabank 3-point shoot-out and the ‘Mek Mi Rich’ slam dunk contest to follow the game.

Upcoming games, Friday, April 17

Tigersharks (6-2) vs. Yel-low Pages Hurricanes (6-2) at BES auditorium

No Limit vs. Running Reb-els at Orange Walk Multipur-pose Complex

Belmopan Taigaz vs. Dan-griga Warriors at Ecumenical High School auditorium

No Limit’s Greg Rudon scored 38pts

Page 12: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 12

BY ORDER of the Mortgagees, Messrs. Scotiabank (Belize) Limited, Licensed Auctioneer Noel J. Codd will sell the following properties Orange Walk Town and Corozal Town at the

dates and times below:

ON Wednesday 29th April, 2015 at the time and place below:

AT 8:00 a.m. on site AT 9:30 a.m. on site

AT 11:00 a.m. on siteAT 1:30 p.m. on site

AT 8:30 a.m. on site

AT 10:00 a.m. on site

AT 11:30 a.m. on site

AT 2:00 p.m. on site

AT 9:00 a.m. on site

AT 10:30 a.m. on site

AT 11:45 a.m. on site

AT 2:30 a.m. on site

AT 1:00 p.m. on site

All that piece or parcel of land being the Northern portion, of Lot No. 240 situate in Otro Benque, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District. Locat-ed at LOT # 240, CORNER PHILLIP GOLDSON STREET AND BELMO-PAN STREET, O/WALK TOWN. Holding a bungalow house with 2 bed-room, one bath/living/ kitchen. Fee simple of Margarita Rivas Ayuso

ALL THOSE LOTS, PARCELS OR PIECES OF LAND, BEING BLOCK 4 PARCELS 1127,1128,1129,1130 & 1131 ORANGE WALK TOWN REG SECTION being the Freehold proper-ties of Jems Quality Imports

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land con-taining 627.220sm being BLOCK 4 PAR-CEL 640 TRIAL FARM REGISTRA-TION SECTION. The Subject Lot hosts 2 structures. Building #1 (main residence)

ALL THAT piece or parcel being lot # 101, LUSIANA FARM WEST WHICH IS NOW PARCEL # 3939, ORANGE

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 558.466sm being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 287 ORANGE WALK REGISTRATION SECTION. The Subject Building is a one storey con-crete bungalow with a gross floor area of 1200sft. The same is occupied as a 1 large bedroom, 1 bathroom resi-dence with kitchen/dining and living room areas. House is fully tiled, plas-tered and painted on both the interior and exterior. Fee Simple Property of Ramiro Custodio

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 284/1, TRIAL FARM REG. SECTION BLOCK 4, O/WALK. Property contains 3 bed-rooms, 1 bathroom, Living and kitchen area. Property for Lisandro Vargas

ALL that piece or parcel property being Block 4 Parcel 923 Orange Walk Town Registration Section, Orange Walk Dis-trict containing 551.338 square meters as shown on R.I.M. Subject Property is located along Santa Clara Street be-tween San Narciso and San Francisco Street two storey concrete/wooden. Main level: 3 bedrooms, laundry room, 1 bath, dining, living, kitchen. Second level: 1 bedroom and 1 full bath being the Freehold property of Everind Perez.

ALL THOSE (2) pieces or parcels of land together comprising 1116.932sm being BLOCK 4 PARCELS 313 & 314 ORANGE WALK REGISTRATION SECTION. The subject building is a 2 story ferro-concrete structure with a gross floor area of 3325sft of which includes 1307sft open space and 2018sft is living area. The ground floor hosts 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with kitchen/dining and living room areas. Sec-ond floor is used as a family/entertainment room. Ricardo Villanueva.

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 4 Parcel 421 Orange Walk Town Regis-tration Section, Orange Walk District and containing 711.11 square yards as shown on R.I.M Subject property is lo-cated in front of the B.S.I. football field. Property belongs to Amory Jacobs

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land be-ing lot 219 situate in Dr. George Estate, Orange Walk Town being the Freehold property of Mario Navarette.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land con-taining 1040.4 s. m. being Block 4 Par-cel 12 Trial Farm Reg Sec. Land with structure the freehold of Ismael Teck.

All that piece or parcel of land being lot No.72 situate at the corner of Evelyn & St. Peter Street,Orange Walk Town, Or-ange Walk District. Being Block 4 Parcel 1618 Orange Walk TownRegistration Section, Orange Walk District and con-taining 479.3 square meters. The subject building is a 2 storey concrete struc-ture. Main level having 8 bedrooms, 1 part-bath,and living area. 2nd level 3 bedrooms,2 full bath, family room, laundry room, living, dining and kitch-en. THE LOWER FLOOR IS USED AS DOCTOR’S OFFICE THE UPPER AS RESIDENCE. BUILDING IS IN VERY GOOD STATE being the Freehold prop-erty of Ricardo Fabro

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 4 Parcel 3252/1 Louisiana Farm Area.Lo-cated at Lot No. 1119 Louisiana Farms Layout, Orange Walk District. Land con-taining 464.454 Sq M. Building is an ele-vated concrete structure with a floor area of 600 sft. 3 bedroom, 1bath, ktichen, dining and living room area being Leas-hold property of Alva & Alfonso Ayuso. Continued on page 13

is a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of 2154sft. The same is occupied as a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom residence with kitchen/dining ,living room & laundry room areas. House is ful-ly tiled, secured, plastered and painted on both the inside & outside. Building #2 is a small one bedroom structure, tiled, plas-tered and painted with gross floor area of 272sft. Lot is fenced. Being the Freehold property of James Moreira

WALK TOWN REG SECT BLOCK 1, Located Corner Guanacaste Street, Lou-isana Farm West, Orange Walk Town. Holding 2 bedrooms one bath, living dinin and kitchen area. Property for Fer-nando & Emilia Ayuso.

NOEL J. CODDCarmelita Village,

Orange Walk DistrictTel: Office: 677-5184

cell: 624-5184Email:[email protected]

Page 13: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 13

Continued on page 14

Continued from page 12

AT 3:00 p.m. on site

At 4:00 p.m. on site

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 567.75sm being Parcel 2053 Block 4 Orange Walk Town -Lot No.149 situate on Asuncion Street, Or-ange Walk Town as shown on a Plan of Survey Book No.7, Folio 12. The sub-ject building is a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of 844sft. 4 bedroom, bathroom kitchen/dining and living room areas. Property of Allan Heredia

ALL THAT piece or parcel being Block 4 Parcel 90 san Jose Palmar Registration Section and containing 1127.3 square meters as shown on R.I.M. Develop-ment consists of a 32 feet by 37 feet con-crete building with a verandah in front and open verandah beside. Holding 2 bedrooms, bath/living/dining/kitchen. Fee Simple for Naila Trejo.

AT 9:30 a.m. on site

AT 9:00 a.m. on site

AT 1:30 a.m. on site

At 2:30 p.m. on site

AT 3:30 P.M. IN FRONT SCOTIABANK (BELIZE)

LTD. Orange Walk Branch on Thursday

30th April, 2015

At 10:30 a.m. on site

At 10:00 p.m. on site

At 11:00 p.m. on site

ALL THAT piece or parcel being Block 4 Parcel 1250 Ann Gabourel Registra-tion Section, Orange Walk Town and containing 545.03 square yards located at the end of San Martin Street. Vacant Land being the Freehold property of Danny Duran

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 1803, ANN GABOUREL REG. SECTION BLOCK 4, ORANGE WALK being Ann Gabourel Registration Section Block 4 parcel 1803 Laura D Cuello.

ALL THAT piece or parcel being Being Block 4 Parcel 4225 Orange Walk Town Registration Section, Orange Walk Dis-trict and containing 522.534 square me-ters. Parcel is vacant mowed regularly. Fee Simple property of Benedicto Ramos

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 452.01sm being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 1422 ANN GABOUREL REGISTRATION SECTION, Orange Walk District. Fee Simple property for Marco Yama

ALL that piece or parcel of land being Block 4 Parcel 1946 Orange Walk Town-measuring 1199.638 sq yds. being the Freehold property of Ricardo Fabro.

ALL that piece or parcel of land being BLOCK 1 PARCEL 499 SAN ESTEVAN REGISTRATION SECTION in San Es-tevan Village, Orange Walk Town. Land measuring 461.9 S.M. Building:Concrete bungalow house with 3 bedrooms, full bath, living, Dining, Kitchen Area and laundry room. Being the Freehold prop-erty of Eudaldo & Macaria Patt.

Lease property being lot no. 309 Guin-ea Grass Village, Orange Walk District, containing 1200.467 sqyds Two storey concrete structure; 2400 sqft Main: 1 liv-ing, dining, kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 2 bath rooms,laundry room Second Level - 80% completed: 1 living room, dining, kitchen , full bath, 4 bed rooms being the Leas-hold property of Primitivo Chan

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 348.33sm being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 1473 ANN GABOUREL REGISTRATION SECTION. Located at #49 Yo Creek & San Joaquin St., Or-ange Walk Town. The Subject Building is a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of 1971sft, includ-ing open area. The same serves as a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom residence with kitchen/dining and living room areas. House was originally constructed in 1998 and renovated in 2011. House is 50% tiled, plastered and painted. There is also a second structure within the lot that is currently used as a store room. Property of Edison & Rosita Johnson.

ALL THAT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 1550/1, ANN GABOUREL REG .SECTION, BLOCK 4, ORANGE WALK TOWN. LOCATED JUST OFF THE YO CREEK STREET MAIN ARTERY. Building is 580 SFT with 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, living dining and kitchen area. Lease hold property of Flotida Zac

ALL that piece or parcel of land being Block 4 Parcel 1493 Ann Gabourel Regis-tration Section, Orange Walk District, Or-ange Walk Town and containing 416.67 square yards as shown on R.I.M. Subject property is located in the Marcus Can-ul Area along San Felipe Street 5 blocks north of San Andres Street being the 4th parcel from the junction of Yo Creek and San Felipe Street on the southern side of the street. Rosalba Rosado.

AT 11:45 a.m. on site

ALL THAT piece or parcel being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 1444 ORANGE WALK TOWN REGISTRATION SECTION, ORANGE WALK DIS-

On Thursday 30th April, 2015 at time and place mention below:

TRICT AND CONTAINING 522.563 SQUARE METERS. Subject property is located along Goff Street which is the last street before reaching the Dr. George Farm It is the third parcel on the eastern side of the street It ends at the People’s Stadium in a dead end. Development consists of a 36.5 by 38.5 split level. curtilage is concrete. Main level, 2 bedrooms, 2 full bath, living, dining and kitchen area.Second level, 2 bedroos, 1 bath, and living area. One upper room needs to be completed. Chury’s Store

ALL that piece or parcel Being Block 1 Par-cels 228, 229, 230, 231 San Estevan Regis-tration Section. Land measuring 657.1 sm, 710.8 sm, 641.7sm, & 729 sm respectively in San Estevan Village, Orange Walk. 39 x 39 feet Concrete bungalow structure: 3 bed-rooms, 2 full bath, lkitchen, dining and liv-ing room. There is also an open shed, which is used as an additional kitchen & washing area. Being the Freehold property of Wil-ber & Erica Vega.

ALL that piece or parcel Being Block 1 Par-cels 485 & 486 San Estevan Village Lots Lay-out, Orange Walk and containing 1,084.1 square meters (parcel 485) and 1018.6 square meters (parcel 486) respectively. Land only Property of Amelio Cansino

Fee Simple Property BEING PARCELS 157 AND 158, DOUGLAS REG. SEC-TION BLOCK 1, ORANGE WALK. LOT 158 CONTAINS 1045.159 S.M. AND IS THE CORNER LOT ON ROADSIDE. LOT 157 CONTAINS 1040.57 SQ. ME-TERS AND IS THE INSIDE LOT FOR WHICH THE STREET IS NOT YET OPENED. BOTH LOTS ARE PRESENT-LY IN ITS NATURAL STATE. Property of Erica Cabral

Page 14: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 14

Lennox Castillo defends against Matthew Leal

Fee Simple Property Being Block 4 Parcel 523 Indian Hill East Registra-tion Section, Orange Walk District and containing 2201.267 square me-ters. Parcel is situated approximately 100 meters east of the O/Walk bypass and the San Estevan junction in a pri-vate sub-division along Petville Area San Estevan Road Orange Walk. Va-cant land being the freehold property of Roberto Santos

ALL That piece or parcel being Parcel 188 Block 1 San Jose/San Pablo Village.Containing a one storey concrete bun-galow with a gross floor area of approx-imately 700sft. Holding 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living/kitchen area.Being the Freehold property of Otilio Cace-rez & Macedonia Chi.

ALL THAT piece or parcel being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 428/1 SAN JOSE/SAN PABLO REGISTRATION SEC-TION containing 1646.7 square me-ters being the Leasehold property of Miguel Briceno.

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land con-taining 20acres being BLOCK 4 PAR-CEL 65 DOUGLAS RURAL REGIS-TRATION SECTION. Located in San Jose/San Pablo Village being the Free-hold property of Vicente Escalante.

ALL that piece or parcel of land being Block 1 Parcel 37 Doulas Rural Regis-tration Section, Orange Walk District.Containing 19.59 acres being the Free-hold property of Teodocio Chuc

All That or piece of parcel being Lot No. 475 situated in Trial Farm Vil-lage Extension, Orange District now declared as Trial Farm Block 4 Parcel 87/1. The Subject Lot hosts an incom-plete concrete structure with an ap-proximate floor area of 700sft. Lease-hold for Jaime Cocom

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 975.376sm being BLOCK 4 PARCEL 354 SAN JOSE PALMAR REGISTRATION SECTION. The Sub-ject Building is a one storey concrete bungalow with a gross floor area of 520sft. It is 85% complete with roof, internal and external walls complete as of May 2014. Plumbing and electrical are pending. House is designed to be occupied as a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom residence with kitchen/dining and liv-ing room areas upon completion. Free simple property of DIAMANTINA P QUIROA

1. ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Parcel 206/1 Block 1 Miller’s Bight Registration Section containing 36.7 acres being the leas-hold property of Apolonio Ramirez.

2. ALL THAT piece or par-cel of land being Parcel 15 Block 1 Douglas Rural Registration Section being the Freehold property of Allen Development/ Fredi Patt.

Continued from page 13

AT 8:30 a.m. on site

At 9:00 a.m. on site

At 10:00 a.m. on site

AT 9:30 a.m. on site

ALL that piece or parcel of land being Parcel 2157/1 Block 1 in Corozal North situate in Hall’s Layout, College Road, Corozal Town Land - 727.06 sqyds, Building 47.5ft x 32.5ft-split level concrete house, Main level holds 5 bedrooms, 2 full bath, 1 kitchen and living room. Sec-ond level 2 bedrooms and a storage area. There is also a 13ft x 15 ft single building in the yard being the leasehold property of Ezekiel Gilharry.

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, BEING PARCEL # 1844/1 COROZAL NORTH REG SECTION, BLOCK 1, COROZAL. THE HOUSE MEASURES 37’ X 35’. IT IS A 4 BED-ROOM FULLY CONCRETE AND TILED on the Main floor and on the 2nd floor is 25’ X 35’ [875 SQ.FT. being the freehold property of Enrique J. Romero

ALL that piece or parcel of land being PARCEL # 1077, BLOCK 1 COROZAL NORTH REGISTRATION SECTION. Located on Narcist St. Alta Mira Area, Corozal Town. CONCRETE 2 -BED-ROOM, BUNGALOW WELLING HOUSE WITH GAGLE STYLE ZINC ROOFING. MEASURES 20 FEET X 20 FEET PLUS AN ANNEX 9FEET X 5 FEET PART BATHROOM being the Freehold property Keith Nugent.

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 1 Parcel 282, situated at No. 96 5th Street North, Corozal Central, Corozal Town, Land measuring 669.91 SqYds, Build-ing - Concrete bungalow structure containing 3 bedrooms, 2 full bath, kitchen, living room, dining room, and office being the Freehold property of Froylan & America Gilharry.

Continued on page 15

ON FRIDAY 1st May, 2015 at Corozal Town at the

following time and Place:

AT 10:30 a.m. on site

ALL that piece or parcel of land being Corozal Central Registration Section Block 1 Parcel 278, located at No. 8th Street North, Corozal Town, Corozal District. Land - 505.33 sq yds. Building - One single storey bungalow house with 1 bedroom, 1 bath, living, dining and kitchen area. The original house is 21 X 31 fully complete, with an exten-sion that is considered 40% completed and measuring 17 X 31 being the free-hold of Abimael & Monica Catch.

AT 11:00 a.m. on site

At 11:30 a.m. on site

ALL that lot, parcel or piece of land, being Parcel No. 2163, Corozal North Registration Section, Block 1, Corozal. Located in PORT SAUL AREA. Hold-ing a bungalow concrete house with 2 bedroom, one bath, living/dining/kitchen area. Land Measuring Approx 575.52 SQ YDS. Being the Freehold property of Roque & Maria Martinez.

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, BEING PARCEL # 31 Block 1, PARAISO/ SANTA RITA REGISTRATION SECTION. Build-ing:2 ½ storey with 5,013 sq. ft. with Main:- 2,294 sq. ft 2 Bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, 1 part bath, with kitchen, dining and living room areas and laun-dry room. Second:- 2,077 sq. ft. 2 Bed-rooms, 2 full bathrooms, 1 part bath, with kitchen, dining and living room areas and laundry room. Third:-642 sq. ft. and is used as an additional living room space being the freehold of Ra-mesh Buxani Co Ltd

AT 1:00 p.m. on site

ALL that piece or parcel being Parcel 62 Block 1 COROZAL CENTRAL REG. SECTION. Located at No 3. 4th Ave Corozal Town. Building is FUL-LY CONCRETE, DWELLING COM-PRISING OF A PARTIAL BASEMENT WHICH CREATES A TWO-STOREY. Measuring aprox. 1800 sq ft. Property of Albertico Gongora

NOEL J. CODDCarmelita Village,

Orange Walk DistrictTel: Office: 677-5184 cell: 624-5184

Email:[email protected]

Page 15: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 15

Wesley College & ACC girls show no mercy

AT 3:00 on site

At 1:30 p.m. on site

AT 2:00 p.m. on site

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 1710, COROZAL NORTH REG. SECTION, BLOCK 1, COROZAL. CONTAIN-ING 555.6 SQ YARDS. It IS LOCAT-ED ON CACAO STREET HALLS LAYOUT. THE BUILDING IS FULLY CONCRETE, TILED AND BURGU-LAR BARRED with 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, living/dining/kitchen. Freehold property of Sylvestre Chi.

ALL THAT LOT, PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND, BEING PARCEL # 1450/1 CONSEJO ROAD S.E REG SECTION BLOCK 1, COROZAL District being the Leasehold of Jose Cawich

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land containing 675.348sm be-ing BLOCK 1 PARCEL 1774 COROZAL NORTH REGIS-TRATION SECTION. Located in Paraiso Village, Corozal District. The Subject Building is a one sto-rey ferroconcrete structure with a gross floor area of 1804sft, at-tached to the building are also 2 open area garage with a floor area of 942sft total. The same is occu-pied as a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom residence with kitchen/dining and living room areas. House is fully tiled, and 75% secured with bur-glarbars. Fee Simple Property of Roberto Tun

ALL that piece or parcel being Block 1 Parcel 682 Libertad Village Registra-tion Section, Corozal District Land: 10,811.87 s. y Building is a two storey concreted dwelling - Main level con-tain 3 bedrooms, 1 full bath, kitchen, dining, living and laundry room, Sec-ond level is incomplete. According to the owner it has been sub-divided into 4 large lots. There is also a thatch house on the property a open trench that may have been initial work for a swimming pool. Being the Freehold property of Herman Botes.

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 28,CAR-OLINA CALCUTTA REG. SECTION, BLOCK 1, COROZAL containing 907.43 SQUARE YARDS. THE PROP-ERTY IS IN KEN’S LAYOUT, AN EXPANSION OF XAIBE VILLAGE AND IS FIVE LOTS OFF THE MAIN ROAD. Building is a one storey con-crete structure with 1 bath, living din-ing and kitchen area. Property is de-signed for more bedrooms but is not complete. Fee simple property of Val-entin Nicholas

ALL THAT LOT PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND BEING PARCEL 57/1, BUE-NA VISTA REG. SECTION BLOCK 1, COROZAL. Containing Approximately 1310.6 S.Y. THE SUBJECT PROPER-TY IS NEAR CENTRALLY LOCAT-ED LOT IN THE VILLAGE AND TWO STREETS PARALLEL TO THE NORTHERN HIGHWAY.Holding a two storey concrete building: main lev-el has 1 bed room, living and dining area. Second level has 3 bedrooms, liv-ing, dining and kitchen area. Leasehold property for Florencia Pott

Fee Simple Property being PARCEL # 552, LIBERTAD VILLAGE REG. SECTION BLOCK # 1, Corozal Dis-trict, Belize. THE PROPERTY IS A BIG AND LONG LOT containing 1799.63 S.. IT IS DEVELOPED WITH 2 HOUSES. THE 1ST HOUSE IS A TWO-STOREY WOODEN AND CONCRETE STRUCTURE WITH 5 BEDROOMS, 1 FULL BATH, KITCHEN, DINING AND LIVING. IT MEASURES ABOUT 2100 SQ. FEET. WHILE THE 2ND AT THE BACK IS WOODEN WITH A CON-CRETE, BACK ADDITION WHICH GIVES IT SORT OF AN L - SHAPED and HAS ABOUT 1300 SQ. FEET. IT HAS 3 BEDROOMS LIVING DIN-ING AND KITCHEN. PROPERTY OF EMILIO & MELVA SARMIENTO (EMILA & BALDOMINIO MONTE-JO)

ALL that piece or parce being Block 3 Parcel 614 Sarteneja Registration Section, Corozal District. Vacant land measuring 1106.8 s.m. being the Free-hold property of Juan Perez.

Continued from page 14AT 3:30 P.M. IN FRONT

OF SCOTIABANK (Belize) LTD. Corozal

Town Branch

ALL THAT piece or parcel being PAR-CEL 539/1,SANTA CLARA/ SAN ROMAN REG. SECTION, BLOCK 1, COROZAL being the leasehold prop-erty of George Moralez.

All that piece or parcel containing 1.17 Acres being lot 5 situate approx 10 1/2 Miles On the Belize Corozal Road. Land Only being the freehold property of Noguera Sugarcane Derivatives

All that piece or parcel containing 639.4 Square Meters, being Regis-tration Section Grants Land Block 1 Parcel 322/1 Copper Bank, Corozal District. The property is appraised under the assumption of good mar-ketable title in fee simple volume 28 of 2002. The property in review has a single family bungalow residence with a gross square footage of 980 sq ft at ground floor and 260 sq ft at first floor and land 639.4 S.M. being the freehold property of Sarah Cobb

NOEL J. CODDCarmelita Village,

Orange Walk DistrictTel: Office: 677-5184 cell: 624-5184

Email:[email protected]

Public Notice: Public Notice:

VACANCY:VACANCY:

The Registration Certificate #Czl-0177 for boat vessel “Evita” belonging to Edi-son Ordonez of Corozal Dis-trict, was Lost. A new Reg-istration Form as required by Part III of Harbours & Merchants Shipping Act, Chapter 234 of the Con-solidated Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000 has been requested.

The Registration Certificate #BZ-2057 for boat vessel “Blue Pearl” belonging to Izra Lauriano of Belize District, was Lost. A new Registration Form as required by Part III of Harbours & Merchants Ship-ping Act, Chapter 234 of the Consolidated Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000 has been requested.

A vacancy exists for a Salesperson at Adelita’s Store located at 27 Albert Street. Call 628-2965.

A vacancy exists at Yasin Store for a Cashier and Sales Clerk. If interested, kindly apply at our store located on Cemetery Road by Pound Yard Bridge. Or call 669-4212.

Page 16: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 16

For SaleBy Order of the

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Com-panies 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 Mortgage made the 16th day of September, 2008 between AGATHA GORDON and ANTHONY MOORE of #8416 Hyde Street, Belize City, Belize, of the one part, and Scotia-bank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 42 of 2008 at Folios 271 – 342, 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 writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

SCHEDULEALL THAT piece or parcel of land situate near Mile 12 on the Northern Highway, Belize District, Belize and is a portion of a 20.069 acre parcel of land more particularly delineated on Plan 147 of 1985 the piece or parcel of land is Lot No. 41 on a Plan of Survey of Subdivision prepared by Henry D. Flowers, Land Surveyor and reg-istered at the Lands Department, Belmopan in register 2 Entry 3964 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 16th day of April, 2015.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP91 North Front Street

Belize CityAttorney-at-Law for

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

For SaleBy Order of the

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Compa-nies 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 Mortgage made the 4th day of February, 1999 between ANGELA LAMMEY of 2326 New Site Area, Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District, of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 4 of 1999 at Folios 209 – 232, 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 writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotia-bank (Belize) Ltd.

SCHEDULEALL THAT LEASEHOLD INTEREST IN ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 1533 situate along the Stann Creek Valley Road, Rivas Estate, Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District, and bounded as follows:- On the Northeast for 15.237 Meters by the Stann Creek Valley Road; On the Southeast for 26.997 Meters by a creek; On the Southwest for 15.353 Meters by Lot No. 1538; On the Northwest for 29.035 meters by Lot No. 1532; containing 509.34 Square Yards as shown on Plan No. 1670 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 16th day of April, 2015.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP91 North Front Street

Belize CityAttorney-at-Law for

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

For SaleBy Order of the

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Com-panies 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 Mortgage made the 20th day of October, 2010 between GERALD WALTER PETERS of Del Oro Site, Pomona Village, Stann Creek District, Belize of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 32 of 2010 at Folios 285 – 312, the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd. will at the expiration of two months from the date of the first publi-cation of this notice sell the property described in the schedule hereto.

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

SCHEDULEALL THAT piece or parcel of land being a portion of Lot No. 66 comprising of 722.193 Square Meters situate in Pomona Village, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 462 of 2010 dated 8th September, 2010 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 462 of 2010 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 16th day of April, 2015.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP91 North Front Street

Belize CityAttorney-at-Law for

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

For SaleBy Order of the

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Compa-nies 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 Mortgage made the 22nd day of December, 1986 between SELVIN DAVIS and MATILDA DAVIS of Sand Hill Village, Belize District, of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 12 of 1986 at Folios 21 – 42, 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 writing and full particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained from the said Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

SCHEDULEALL THAT piece or parcel of land being a portion of Block No. 1132 situate at Mile 19 on the Belize-Corozal Road in the Belize District of British Honduras granted to the said Egbert Nathan Laign by the Crown on the 15th June 1960 and more particularly delineated and described on Plan No. 7 of 1960 signed by James A. Waight, Director of Surveys and bounded as follows:- On the North 500 yards or thereabouts by land the property of the said Egbert Nathan Laing, on the South 500 yards or thereabouts by land the property of the said Egbert Nathan Laing, on the East 75 yards by the Belize-Corozal Road, TOGETHER with buildings thereon.

DATED this 16th day of April, 2015.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP91 North Front Street

Belize CityAttorney-at-Law for

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

Page 17: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 17

Chiquibul

Illegal Guatemalans caught panning for gold inside the Chiquibul forest

Reid

By G. Michael ReidI visited the United States for

the first time at the tail end of 1968. I remember disembarking after the first leg of my journey and thinking how misled my father had been about America. “You will need this”, the ole man warned me, as he handed me an old heavy overcoat which he had hustled off a friend who had returned after a visit. I imagine I must have looked pretty silly getting off in Miami all bundled up like an Eskimo; heck, States was almost as warm as Belize. I made a mental note not to be caught like that again and made space in the old gray valise to stash away the coat. First chance that I got I would ditch that old useless relic and the ole man would be no wiser. I made the connecting flight, exchanging space on the old Tan/Taca double engine plane for a seat on the mod-ern jet that would take me to my final destination.

The New Year met me in the skies half way between Florida and Maryland and I was amazed at the fuss that was made over that event. Champagne was passed around and everyone was all happy and greeting each other. Growing up in Belize, we celebrated Christ-mas with much gusto and fanfare but New Years was not such a big deal. In recent times, as we have with many other customs of the north, we have adopted the cele-bration of the New Year and it has grown even bigger than Christmas.

I remember preparing to exit the plane in Baltimore, proudly aware that I had finally made it to States. It was the first day of January and what awaited me outside of that plane I could not have prepared for. Holy mother of meatless tamales!!!! Nowhere in my wildest thoughts had I ever imagined that anywhere could be so freaking cold. I rushed back in-side scrambling for the old overcoat but it was no match for the vicious bite of “the hawk”. I don’t think that I ever really got used to the winters

in the US but still, spent all of two de-cades sloshing in the mush and hun-kering ‘gainst the cruel winds of some very cold winters. I have been home now, longer than the twenty years that I spent abroad and while I do have fond memories, I no longer yearn to live any-where but Belize.

While there is no absolute figure, it is estimated that anywhere between a hundred thousand and three hun-dred thousand Belizeans now make their home in the Diaspora. Many have gained valuable experience and exper-tise and without a doubt, Belize could benefit from this huge pool of poten-tial. Many Belizeans make the pilgrim-age home each year and a few have even repatriated. There are however, a few Belizeans who will tell you out-right, that they could never again live in Belize. Many have buried their roots so deep in foreign soil that it would be practically impossible to uproot and transplant back to the motherland. Then there are those who would have

their cake and eat it too.Justin Williams’ victory in the an-

nual Cross Country Classic has added more fuel to the ongoing debate re-garding the role of the Diaspora in Be-lize’s present and future affairs. It is a healthy debate and one that must be approached with some degree of ur-gency. If Belize is to survive in this at-mosphere of increasingly aggressive corporate globalism, it will need every hand on deck. The prodigal children of this land would do well to come

we seek a compromise and bring this impasse to an end. We are brothers and sister, neighbors and friends and cannot continue to view each others as rivals.

Interestingly enough, the two sides of this argument are not that far apart but as usual, personal agendas complicate the matter and present obstacles to any amicable solution. Many inject fallacies into their argu-ments and keep stuffing straw men, dragging red-herrings and even going ad hominem.

There is one particular individual in the Diaspora who obviously has aspi-rations for high office in Belize. Hubert Pipersburgh has made it clear that he has no intention of giving up his Amer-ican citizenship, and does not even want to live in Belize, but believes that by virtue of his being born here that he should be allowed to just come in anytime and run for office. He is busy lobbying support for his cause and has convinced a few in the Diaspora that this is not only about him but about them too. Pipersburgh preaches that the Constitution violates the rights of those in the Diaspora and makes vir-tual second class citizens of all Beliz-eans. Sec. 58 (a) of Belize’s Constitu-tion states that: “No person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives who is by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedi-

ence or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

According to Pipersburgh, he cannot wait for the UDP to gain an-other super majority in the House because, according to him, Dean Barrow has promised that he will then amend the Constitution to al-low people like him to run for office. Belizeans would be crazy to give this power drunk administration another super majority. For obvious reasons, it would also be most imprudent to

The Diaspora Debate

give any government more than two consecutive terms in office.

Pipersburgh points to exam-ples where people like Ralph Huang who was born in Taiwan and people like Denny Grijalva, who was born in Guatemala of all places, are allowed to run because their dual citizens are not “by virtue of their own act”. That is definitely a flaw in the law and maybe that particular caveat should be omitted. I agree that these indi-viduals should not be able to run for Parliament; in particular Grijalva. In-terestingly enough, both are running on a UDP ticket. Elvin Penner, who is also a UDP and who continues to be active in that party, despite blatantly disrespecting and violating our laws and trust, is also rumored to carry a Canadian passport. By all means, we should amend the law to also exclude these people but it makes absolute-ly no sense to allow anyone who has pledged allegiance to “a foreign power or state” to just waltz in and dictate our policies and procedures of government. Yes, we have some very smart people in the Diaspora and they can contribute in a myriad of ways, but we also have some very smart people at home too. These are the ones who have stayed in the trench-es, made the sacrifices and endured the hardship of life in Belize. Let us never disrespect or underestimate their worth or ability to contribute.

Belize needs its people who are out there in the Diaspora but why does ev-eryone believe that the only way to contribute is through politics? I have always maintained that the Dias-pora should have at least a Senator in Parliament but to represent the Diaspora, not to formulate policy that affects the entire country from which they are so re-

moved. By all means, come home, establish residency and pledge alle-giance to this country and then, only then, should you be allowed to be a part of the decision making process. Let us continue this debate but let us be mature in our arguments and let us reason from a point of com-monsense and not emotion. Let us forward toward an end to service to our country and not just to our own selfish agendas. Belize for Belizeans and May GOD bless Belize!

Pipersburgh points to examples where peo-ple like Ralph Huang who was born in Taiwan

and people like Denny Grijalva, who was born in Guatemala of all places, are al-lowed to run because their dual citizens are not “by virtue of their own act”.

home and they should be welcomed when they come. There is a miscon-ception that Belizeans who stayed at home are somehow resentful of those who had the oppor-tunity to travel. I find this a ridiculous notion and generally as untrue as the suggestion that Belizeans in the Diaspora think that they are better than and look down their noses at Belizeans who have stayed at home. There are issues; and there is in particular, one rather tick-lish “sticking point”. It is important however, that

Page 18: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 18

For Sale

By Order of the

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 Mort-gagee under a Transfer of Mortgage made the 1st day of February, 2011, between THE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION (the Assignor) SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., and ANDREA MICHELLE LORD, which said property was mortgaged by the said ANDREA MICHELLE LORD to the said DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION on the 15th day of October, 2010, and recorded at the Land Titles Register in Deeds Book Volume 32 of 2010 at Folios 579 – 624, 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.

THE SCHEDULE

ALL THOSE Leasehold interest in all that piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 362 situate in the Sandhill Development Project, near Mile 16, Northern Highway, Belize District bounded as follows: on the North for 31.489 metres by Lot No. 341; on the South for 31.489 metres by Lot No. 379; on the East for 29.640 metres by a forty feet Road Reserve and on the West for 29.640 metres by Lot No. 363; containing 933.334 square metres as shown on Entry Plan No. 4844, Register No. 21 at the Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, TOGETHER with all Buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 31st day of March, 2015.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP91 North Front Street

Belize CityAttorneys-at-Law for

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.

¡Fútbol! ¡Fútbol! ¡Fútbol!Gran Torneo de Fútbol

Six - a - Side

The David Castillo CupLa Copa de David Castillo

Empezando el 26 de abril 2015En La concha de Fútbol de la aldea de San

Andrés.

Ingreso - Gratis, hasta el 23 de abril 2015Equipos Interesados favor de llamar al

Coordinador Glenford “Choco” Melvin, al número: 663-7230

Habrá primer lugar, segundo lugar y tercer lugar con trofeos, medallas

individuales y premios con dinero.

Para más información llame al #:663-7230

JL’s Real Estate Loans

Designed to fit your budget

As low as $39.00per month for $1,000.00

#11 Douglas Jones StreetBelize City

Tel# 223-5845/2283

Driver/ Warehouse Assistant

Ideal person would be someone who has additional skillsin multiple-tasking, including small repair jobs and handymanprojects. Applicant must have a B2 driver’s license. Applicant

must be mature, responsible, flexible, and a team player.

Warehouse Assistant and Sales Assistant

Must have minimum of a high school certificate.

Apply in person to Hofius Ltd. Must bring along a recent police record, along with copies of references.

Page 19: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 19

G.S.L. Law & Consulting Limited # 100,976(“the Company”)

Pursuant to Section 102 (4) of the International Business Compa-nies Act, Chapter 270 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, notice is hereby given that G.S.L. Law & Consulting Limited:

a) is in dissolutionb) commenced dissolution on the 8th day of April, 2015; andc) Alexander Alekseev whose address is Apt. 55, Aviatorov

Str. 6, bld. 1, Moscow, Russia is the Liquidator of the Compa-ny.

Cititrust International LimitedRegistered Agent

NOTICE OF COMMENCED DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given SIZEMORE HOLDING S.A. and ALCINA GROUP LTD. both commenced dissolution on 20th March, 2015; and Belizean Liqui-dators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the companies. Notice is hereby given ASOCIACION CIVIL DEMOCRACIA Y DESARROL-LO S.A. commenced dissolution on 23rd March, 2015; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Notice is hereby given GAMGEE HOLDING S.A. commenced dissolution on 24th March, 2015; and International Liquidator Services Ltd. whose registered office is at Withfield Tower, 3rd Floor, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize, is the Liquidator of the company.

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Limited

NOTICE OF COMMENCED DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given RUDE ENTERPRISES LIMITED commenced dissolution on 27th March, 2015; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Notice is hereby given OPTICE MARKETING LTD. and STANSON DEVELOPMENT INC. both commenced dissolution on 30th March, 2015; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the company.

Notice is hereby given PRIORY HOLDINGS INC. commenced dissolution on 31st March, 2015; and Mr. Anthony Harry Hyams of Insolve Plus Ltd. Allan House 10 John Princes Street, London W1G 0AH is the Liquidator of the company.

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Limited

NOTICE OF COMMENCED DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given MILLCROFT ENTERPRISES INC. commenced dissolu-tion on 31st March, 2015; and Mr. Fulvio Rivera of Panama Viejo, Puente del Rey, Calle #2 Anayansi, Casa A138, Panama, Republica De Panama, is the Liquidator of the company. Notice is hereby given SUCCESS HILL COMMERCIAL CORP., MUMFORD HOLDING S.A., MORIOCA INVESTMENT LTD. and ODYSSEY HOLDINGS GROUP LIMITED all commenced dissolution on 31st March, 2015; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the companies.

Notice is hereby given MR INTERNATIONAL LTD., PICTON DEVELOPMENT INC., RESEARCH STATISTICS CORPORATION, BEDELIA HOLDING S.A. and EVELEIGH CONTINENTAL S.A. all commenced dissolution on 31st March, 2015; and Belizean Liquidators Services Inc. whose registered office is at 50 Shirley Street, P.O. Box CB-13917 Nassau, Bahamas, is the Liquidator of the companies.

Morgan & Morgan Trust Corporation Belize Limited

Page 20: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 20

Page 21: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES19 APR 2015 21

Page 22: Belize Times April 19, 2015

THE BELIZE TIMES 19 APR2015 22

THINK ABOUT ITSAID ON THE ALBERTS

Friday morning around ten thirty there was stirring on Albert Street. People were turning their heads, some were inquiring, and others were hasting their walk to go greet him. Said Musa strolling casually on Albert Street by Hofius Store.

For younger Belizeans the two-terms Prime Minister is little known. Said Musa comes from humble parents who like most of us were themselves humble folks. Said grew up selling tamales in the streets of the city.

He graduated from that famous Angli-can institution known as St. Michael’s Col-lege which has produced the Governor Gen-eral, the present Prime Minister, the current Attorney General and many other illustrious citizens.

Said won a scholarship and studied law in Britain. Returning to Belize he worked in the Public Service as a Magistrate. He be-came a leader in the Public Service Union. He also started getting involved in social and political activities.

Along with Assad Shoman, Lionel Del Valle (of Wagner’s Lane), and other young graduates returning from foreign universi-ties during the late 1960, Said became in-volved in trying to make a better Belize.

He helped found a bookstore. He was on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Be-lizean Studies with Joseph Belisle, William Heusner and Assad Shoman.

He and Shoman travelled the country organizing workers unions and eventually formed an organization called P.A.C (Peoples Action Committee). They had a newsletter called FIRE.

Eventually, George Price co-opted Said Musa into his political movement. This is what led to Belize finally getting indepen-dence which by the early 1970’s was going nowhere. Said, Assad, Harrison Courtney, Lindy Rogers and a group of others set out on a quest to inform and solicit the coun-tries in the world to support Belize becom-ing an independent nation. This, in the face of threats from Guatemala, which vowed to invade Belize as soon as the British troops left.

Said became involved in party politics with socialist, revolutionary/reformist ten-dencies. He won the Fort George constitu-ency in 1979. Lost in 1984 and returned in 1989 never to lose again.

He was well loved in Belize City and the Districts. After bitter internal battles, he emerged Chairman of the People’s United Party and eventually its Leader and Prime Minister in 1998 and again in 2003.

The Said Musa we see today and hear about in the political propaganda is a differ-ent person from the young lion of Judah we knew back in the halcyon days of the 1980’s and 1990’s.

As a former Minister of Sports he took sports through some of its greater mo-ments. He introduced legislation to remove sports from public service bureaucracy into the hands of the sports men and women. He established the National Sports Council and appointed Evan X Hyde the Chairman. Massive improvements followed with Sport-ing spectacular events held to overflowing crowds of spectators. He also oversaw structural changes in the way sporting asso-ciations were managed.

As Minister of Culture Said rejuvenated poetry writing, drama performance, danc-ing under the tutelage of world class Cuban trainers. He renovated the Bliss Institute through Rudolph Anderson aka “Sir Andie” with a special area for artists to display their works.

He was the most progressive Educa-tion Minister with new legislation and his

R.E.A.P initiative- Rural Education and Ag-ricultural Programme. Scholarships were increased by leaps and bounds and a new vision in education took hold, with special emphasis on sending qualified teachers to the neglected village and District schools. It was Said Musa who made the University of Belize a reality, a vision from which he never wavered.

Said mi di come!He brought in numerous intellectuals

and thinkers into the government service, appointing outstanding achievers to import-ant Boards, committees and institutions.

As Prime Minister his achievements fall short to only those of Belizean Moses, George Price. Legislative Reforms. A thor-ough revision of the entire volumes of the laws of Belize was completed. The Public Service was de-politicised and Heads of Departments were removed from under po-litical control to become secure in their em-ployment under the Service Commission. He appointed a Political and Governmental Reform Commission which ushered in mas-sive reforms to our system of governance. He built ten thousand houses for Belizeans, one thousand new classrooms, dozens of new schools and several colleges. He in-troduced country wide Centers for Employ-ment Training. He brought scores of villages into the modern world by electrifying their rural areas and putting in portable, potable water.

His achievements are too numerous to list here but one other major change of a lasting structural nature was his commit-ment to better health care and service to the ordinary men and women of Belize. His Na-tional Health Insurance-N.H.I. has become the biggest single upliftment to poor peo-ple’s health needs.

The UDP have destroyed the program of giving financial assistance to elderly cit-izens through Social Security, but have been unable to dismantle NHI, despite un-der-funding and under-staffing it.

The lies and vicious statements hurled at Said Musa are so false and malicious that for those who know better it must be pain-ful.

Said’s fault was to tolerate disloyal and traitorous politicians in his own team who did him more disservice than his political op-ponents in the other party. Their lies led to Said appointing two public inquiries into the Social Security Board and the Development Finance Corporation. None of them, lengthy and comprehensive and headed by anti-Mu-sa persons found any illegality, impropriety or criminality. That is a fact. If anything was found, Dean Barrow, Mark Espat and Lois Young-Barrow would have put Said in jail. That too is another fact.

Like Fidel Castro, history will absolve Said Musa. He made his mistakes, he had his faults, he was too soft too often but this was a brother, a genuine Belizean who did a ton of good for Belize and thousands of Belizeans.

His heart was in the right place.“Good morning Mr. Musa”. “How are

you Sir?” “But eh, you look much differ-ent from how you look pan TV”. These were some of the comments as our former Prime Minister exited Brodies and crossed Albert Street, shaking hands and briefly chatting.

Scribbled during the lunch period 12:00 to 1:00 p.m, this blessed Friday morning 10th April 2015.

P. S. For all the years Said Musa was Prime Minister and multiple years before that, he always found time to sit in his con-stituency office every Wednesday and meet a wide variety of citizens as well as his vot-ers. This is a noble tradition introduced by George Price and among many salutary ben-efits. It allowed the poorest and the most

vulnerable persons to see the nation’s high-est authority when all other avenues have failed them. The Wednesday clinic helps to keep Ministers less arrogant and more in tune with the many wrongs visited on the defenseless citizens.

FOUR MONTHS FOR FOUR GRAMS

The foolish Police for foolishness sent a man to jail for a foolish law.

The man had a small amount of mari-juana. After roughing him up and chancing him, they locked him up in the Belama Po-lice Station. The next day 24th March they took him to court.

The man thinking if he pled guilty he would pay a fine and go home to his family, got the shock of his life when he was told he would go to jail for FOUR MONTHS.

His family didn’t know where he was until a friend called with the bad news.

The man, 32 years of age, who is not entirely mentally stable is the latest victim of the system.

Nobody goes to jail for drinking five stouts or ten beers or a whole quart of rum, but in a foolish system with a foolish gov-ernment using foolish Police enforcing a foolish law, the taxpayers now have to pay fifteen dollars each day for four months, ap-proximately $1,800. to keep a man in prison for four dollars’ worth of weed.

Idiots. On behalf of the family we appeal to

the Chief Justice to intervene and convert the punishment to a fine.

DRUG COURT

We unreservedly support the Chief Justice’s initiative to set in place a drug court for our citizens.

We are of the view that the govern-ment has done nothing to support this im-portant initiative.

We are disappointed in the Attorney General for lifting not a finger to see that our society move in a progressive direction of providing rehabilitation and alternatives to imprisonment for persons who become victims of drug abuse. Recycling such vic-tims in and out of the prison system is a stupid and costly non-solution.

The solution clearly must be extensive public education on the pitfalls of drug use, drug abuse and addiction and a drug court with specially trained Magistrates who are guided by special rules rather than this “fine and confine” mandate that continues to take place- to no avail.

We condemn the Prime Minister and cry shame on his government for once again showing their heartlessness toward the unfortunate victims of drug addiction by not providing any funds for the start of a Drug Court.

ISAIAH MORTER

Almost at the Corner of Albert Street West and Racecourse Street in Belize City is a statue of Isaiah Morter.

Isaiah Morter was the coconut king of Be-lize. He was probably the first black millionaire Belizean. He helped finance the visionary Mar-cus Garvey who made three visits to Belize.

The statue and its immediate environs do not credit his industry and achievement.

The statue is ugly and the place is without grass or roses and flowers.

Isaiah deserves better.

LOOK, NO CAMERAS

Despite wasting almost three hundred million dollars from Petro Caribe, the govern-ment could not be bothered to buy dozens of surveillance cameras to position at strategic areas in Belize City, the crime capital of the country.

Murders and cold hearted murderers con-tinue to kill others with impunity each week and not one single solution other than police

brutality has been the response.Talk about shiten government. Seems the

only thing they good at is to manipulate and bribe poor people to vote for them.

WASTING PRECIOUS MONEY

The government has borrowed fifteen million dollars from Taiwan to do a renovation of the former Governor House. It is present-ly called the House of Culture, but it is not a house of culture nor is it managed by persons committed to the development and strength-ening of our culture.

This project is a major waste of money at a time when singers, dancers, painters, sculp-tors, and dramatists are starved for funding.

This massive waste of millions is taking place in Belize City where thousands of single mothers cannot find some basic work to feed their children.

Why not open a craft and souvenir center for single mothers? Why not sponsor music lessons, drama, and dancing in every school in Belize.

Why are we not promoting our artists re-gionally and internationally?

The same mentality that disrespected Lord Rhaburn, Super G, Tanya Carter, Melonie Gillett, Ras Indio, Nello Player and LoverBoy to appoint an ineffective and lost Music Ambas-sador, is the same mentality behind wasting money on the former slave master House.

VAUGHAN LOITERING LESSON

When dozens and scores of sanitation workers protested in front of the Belize City Council late last year it was a sensational story.

Like most of the media, the opposition radio and newspaper was represented by the one and only Albert Vaughan.

When the sanitation workers were all ar-rested, the government-controlled Police made sure they arrested Vaughan. The charge: loiter-ing.

All charges against all the sanitation work-ers were quickly dropped on the public instruc-tions from the Prime Minister to Superinten-dent Broaster. One person faced a charge of loitering.

The prosecution of Mr. Vaughan is an em-barrassing for the government. How can a jour-nalist covering a public event on a public street be loitering? The Constitution protects freedom of movement and freedom to express and communicate information.

But the lesson is clear. The hands of po-litical victimization reached into the Police and Court system. The tyrants in Belmopan will stoop low to harass those who do not bend down.

Proud of attorney Kareem fearless com-mentator Vaughan.

THE END OF THE WORLD

“Then I saw the angel with the Seven Seals… Babylon a soon gone down, gone down. Babylon will soon fall down.” From the song Rastaman Chant by Bob Marley.

Bob is using words from the Bible - Reve-lation. In which God holds a book that is bound with seven seals. A lamb (most likely Jesus) is the only one who can break the seals. Each time a seal is broken, disaster follows.

The first seal when opened, there ap-peared a White Horse and he that sat on the horse went forth conquering and to conquer.

Second Seal- a Red Horse- he that sat thereon has power to take peace from the Earth; that they should kill one another.

Third Seal- a Black Horse- he that sat on it had a pair of balance scales in his hand; mea-suring wheat for a penny; three measures of barley for a penny, and they were not to hurt the oil and the wine.

Fourth Seal-a pale horse, “Death rode this horse and Hell followed with him. They had power over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword and with hunger and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

More next week on the rest of the Seven Seals, the Mark of the Beast and Armageddon.

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Continued from page 8

VACANCY:A vacancy exists for a Cashier at Caribbean Charm at Brown Sugar Market Place. Call 628-669-2737 for more information.

and the PUP Corozal Town Council Team

CA

RTO

ON

Belize NOT READY for an Oil Spill! Dem Fraid Fu Albert Vaughan

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICES

Notice is hereby given that ABDUL KADER is applying for a Malt and Cider Liquor License to be operated at “Blacked Cool Spot”, situated at #33 Queen Victoria Ave-nue, Orange Walk Town, Or-ange Walk District under the Intoxicating Liquor License Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Maya Communities await CCJ hearing

of land rights

for Belize along with two attorneys for the Commission. The government was represented by Ardelle Sabido, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Belize, Washington DC, who was present to receive information but not authorized to discuss the case.

This meeting was part of the fol-low up to the IACHR recommenda-tions in its 2004 Final Report in the Case of the Maya Indigenous Com-munities of the Toledo District vs. Belize. Those recommendations par-allel the Supreme Court of Belize’s land rights judgments and thus the IACHR’s assistance in implementing any CCJ order would result in com-pliance with the IACHR recommen-dations.

The MLA representative in-formed the IACHR of the ongoing in-terference with Maya lands by those purporting to hold government issued leases and permits and emphasized the need for Belize to formally title and demarcate Maya lands to pro-tect against these intrusions. These threats to Maya land and resources continue despite the government’s recent concessions in the appeal. The Maya leadership anticipates that the government will now demonstrate its good faith intention to recognize Maya land rights and reconcile with their communities by cancelling un-lawfully issued leases and permits.

Belize City, April 16, 2015For the umpteenth time, the Mag-

istrate’s Court adjourned the trial in which outspoken Vibes Radio Morning Co-host Albert Vaughan is accused of “loitering”.

With all the time the lower court is spending on this case, you would not think that it’s a misdemeanour charge. But Vaughan apparently is a threat to the UDP and they are trying their best to punish him.

The charge stems from Vaughan’s coverage of the August 2014 protest held by sanitation workers in front of City Hall. Vaughan was working for BE-LIZE TIMES and Vibes radio, but to the Police he was “loitering”.

This week, Vaughan’s attorney Kareem Musa entered a no case sub-mission against the Police’s so called evidence. Musa indicated that the Po-lice’s case is riddled with inconsisten-cies and contradictions and shouldn’t even be entertained by the Court.

The Court adjourned the trial for May 6, when a decision on the no-case submission will be delivered.

April 15, 2015“Belize does not presently have the

capacity to address a large oil spill!” Com-mander Paul Lattanzi of the Regional Ac-tivity Centre/ Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Cen-tre RAC/REMPEITC succinctly stated on the situation of Belize’s lack of prepared-ness to address oil spills.

The comment emanated from a dis-

cussion at the Oil Spill Prepared-ness Sensitization Workshop being held today by the Department of the Environment. It is clear that Be-lize is not ready for an oil spill from existing threats such as tankers, therefore extremely far off from being prepared for an oil spill from oil exploration in sensitive areas including in watersheds, protected areas and the offshore.

While the DOE was quick to note that Belize Natural Energy (BNE) has an oil spill contingency plan and that the planning process to complete the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan is ongoing, the fact remains that Belize does not have a comprehensive overarching National Oil Spill Contingency Plan to allow for adequate response to an oil spill. In addition, the current incomplete draft of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan has been in its draft form for the last 8 years and the current exercise to revise and complete the Plan appears bogged down due to lack of finan-cial resources and political will.

In light of existing threats from oil concessions in sensitive areas, including the offshore, it is clear that the decision to issue oil

concessions in these areas were made without sound scientific analysis of risks, using tools such as site specific oil spill modeling. Such risk assessment would help to identify the impact of an oil spill to the economy (industries such as tourism, fisheries and marine aquaculture), environment and cul-tural/traditional resources use.

As the oil industry continues to operate without an overarching National Oil Spill Contingency Plan and proper risk assessment, the Government is pushing forward the Petroleum Exploration Zona-tion and Exploration Guidelines that has key sensitive areas includ-ing protected areas, watersheds and the entire offshore as opened for oil exploration.

As we approach the 5th anni-versary of the Deep Water Horizon disaster, on April 20, it is undeni-ably clear how unprepared Belize is to take on oil and oil spills, es-pecially in sensitive areas. After five years, the U.S. Government is still trying to address the oper-ational problems that caused the disastrous oil spill by introducing new regulations. The Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill is a reminder that oil spills are not a matter of “if” but “when” and their impacts are long-term and far reaching.

The Coalition recognizes the importance of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan to address exist-ing threats such as from tankers, fuel installation and storage sites, onshore (outside of sensitive ar-eas) oil exploration, etc. It is clear however, that presently Belize does not have the capacity and re-sources to adequately address an oil spill.

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