belize times april 27, 2014

The Belize TimesThe Truth Shall Make You Free

Established 1957

27 APRIL 2014 | ISSUE NO: 4892 www.belizetimes.bz | $1.00

SCAN HERE

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US ForenSiCS ProBeS Shooting

oF iLLegaL gUatemaLan in

ChiQUiBULPg. 6

14 Yr. oLd KnoCKS down 2 Yr. oLd in orange waLK

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Vehicle belongs to DPM’s driver

Canada, US iSSUe traveL adviSorieS againSt BeLiZe

Lowering the Bar at UBBelize City, April 24, 2014

The Prime Minister and Min-ister of Education seem to have thumbed their noses at the aca-demic professionals at the Univer-sity of Belize and Belizean intel-lectuals at home and abroad with the appointment of a new interim President.

Allan Slusher has been ap-pointed interim UB President ac-cording to the President of the UB Board of Trustees Harrison Pilgrim. Slusher, who has been an old and loyal UDP scout, has been tapped on the shoulder to replace Dr. Cary Fraser who is currently on admin-istrative leave as instructed by the Board, pending a fi nal settlement

on his departure.But all is not well with Slusher’s

appointment. There is major contro-versy brewing within the University Faculty because Slusher is the holder of a Bachelor’s degree. The University of Belize requires its lecturers to have a Master’s degree. All previous Presi-dents, and Acting President, have held Doctorate degrees – from Dr. Angel Cal, Dr. Corinth-Morter Lewis and Dr. Santos Mahung.

The announcement has been seen by many as a mockery to the in-stitution which seeks to impart higher learning on Belizeans. How can Slush-er lead the University when there are about 20 other members of the UB-faculty who hold a Doctorate degree

and are deemed better qualifi ed than him? Couldn’t the next President come from the esteemed academia that exists in Belize?

Slusher, it appears, is highly fa-

voured by his political friends in the Barrow Administration for po-sitions on behalf of the Govern-ment. He served as Central Bank’s Governor, was appointed to the BTL Board, serves on the BEL Board, is an advisor to the Minis-try of Finance, and up to recently, was reportedly serving as an advi-sor to the UB Management Team.

This special relationship with the Barrow Administration could be a major reason behind the ap-pointment. The UDP Government has wrecked the University. This

Allan Slusher

Belize City, April 23, 2014A vehicle belonging to the driver of Dep-

uty Prime Minister Gaspar Vega, but reck-lessly driven at the time by a 14 year old minor, almost killed a two year old child in Orange Walk Town on Holy Thursday.

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THE BELIZE TIMES 27 APR2014 2

Continued on page 19 Continued on page 19

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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 ByTHE BELIZE TIMES PRESS 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

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6 Feb

LOCAL WEATHER26 Mar 27 Mar30 Apr29 Apr28 Apr27 Apr26 Apr25 Apr

OPINIONOUT OUT

OUT

!!

!Stewart Krohn’s

tough questions for NCL’s Colin

Murphy

The UN Report and Why Are We

Ignoring Structural Violence?

Gilroy Usher, Sr. writes “Boots”

Martinez, lobbies for streetlights in

Port LoyolaApril 22, 2014

Hon. Anthony “Boots” Martinez

Area Representa-tive for Port Loyola

Dear Minister Martinez,The residents of Port Loyola

behind the Jane Usher basketball court, on Pen Road extension, and to the west of Arlington Drive would like to know when will you take the necessary steps to ad-dress their cries for streetlights in the division? This is a concern that was brought to your attention more than eleven years ago when you were fi rst elected as their Area Representative. The service is justifi able and long overdue as an average of fi fty to seventy-fi ve homes are within close proximity in each of the affected areas; the poles of Belize Electricity Limited (B.E.L.) on which the streetlights can be fi xed have been in place for over a decade, and by paying their electricity bill dutifully every month, the residents contribute to the millions of dollars in yearly profi t for the company.

With absolutely no street-lights in place the three areas mentioned are jet-black from 6:30 p.m. and very conducive to all types of criminal activities which make them very dangerous to travel at night. Due to the lack of streetlights in these sections of the division robberies, burglaries, and murders are only some of the crimes the residents of these ar-

DEAR EDITOR:

I viewed with in-terest the hosting of a press tour by Norwegian

Cruise Line and the explanation by NCL executive Colin Murphy of why the establishment of a cruise port at Harvest Caye would be such a wonderful blessing for Belize. What particularly prompts me to write is his astonishingly candid – and frightening – statement that “Re-ally, what we are doing is locking ourselves into Belize”. Remember that word, “locked”. Although no longer a member of the Belizean media I could not help but think of a few questions for Mr. Murphy had I been present. Specifi cally could he explain:

–why Belizean taxpayers should pay NCL over a hundred million Belize dollars in direct cash subsi-dy over the course of its exclusive concession, thus allowing NCL to recoup its entire capital investment at Harvest Caye?

–why Belizeans should be thrilled with the creation of 200 low paying part-time seasonal jobs?

–why NCL needs to reserve 25% of the jobs on Harvest Caye (no doubt the best paying jobs) for foreigners?

–why NCL needs to divert thou-sands of passengers from Belize City where a new and modern port will be built on Stake Bank?

–why, if NCL so badly wants

DEAR EDITOR,

Before I get to my main point I take this opportunity to denote how our psychological

wiring and thought process often times have us inaccurately prioritiz-ing issues that affect our lives: The Availability Heuristic says that we will react to what is most available to us and easy for us to mentally process/digest. In this case, I am speaking about the fact that Belize has been branded by the United Nations as the third most ‘danger-ous’ country in the world due to our murder rate per 100,000 people, and how we reacted to it.

We must also take into con-sideration our Arbitrary Coherence, which says that once we get some-thing established in our minds, that ‘something’ will shape how we react and mentally process it to-day and in the future. Buzz words such as murder, dangerous, vio-lence make the UN report, Coher-ent, it sends us in a frenzy, we get emotional, we get mad, we feel ashamed of the accolade...and the media feeds this frenzy, since often times the media naturally gravitate towards stories due to their Avail-ability Heuristics.

Let’s look at some facts. Do you know what the top ten causes of death of Belizeans are?

1. Diabetes Mellitus2. Coronary Heart Disease3. Road Traffi c Accidents4. Stroke5. Hypertension6. HIV/AIDS7. Infl uenza & Pneumonia8. Violence9. Other Injuries10. Liver DiseaseWhen we hear the word ‘vio-

lence,’ we think of stabbings, beat-ings, shootings. That’s behavioral violence. What we don’t hear about is inequality and how it is killing us.

It’s like an odorless, colorless, highly toxic gas that we’re just not aware of.

Meta-analysis are now fi nding that the main causes of deaths world-wide stems from inequality, now more popularly being referred to as Structural Violence - which is a form of violence where some social structure or social institution may harm people by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. It kills us from the usual diseases: Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure. It’s the structure of our society, the gap between the rich and the poor, that creates the inequality that kills us from all the usual diseases.

As a Belizean you are statistically susceptible to 7 other ways you are more likely to die before an act of be-havioral violence. And these 7 other ways are directly linked to our health. We have a serious health problem in Belize, and there is not enough public education, outcry and mitigation.

I implore the media and remind them that they are a very important tool and have a very important role in our society when it comes to educat-ing and properly informing the Peo-ple. I also implore the Government to prioritize attention and allocation of resources towards the health system and thus the

health of Belizeans.Structural violence kills far more

people than the behavioral variety. That’s what we need to change.

Winston Churchill once said, “Healthy citizens are the greatest as-set any nation can have.”

Yours In Service,Charles Leslie Jr.Placencia

THE BELIZE TIMES27 APR 2014 3

Continued from page 1

03

Francis Fonseca

GOB increases fuel prices on eve of Holy Week

ow PoLiCe SeeK identitY oF

armed roBBerS

Belize City, April 23, 2014Just when thousands of Beliz-

eans prepared to go on their Eas-ter travelling plans, the mean Dean Barrow Administration sneaked in higher fuel prices.

On April 16th, just a day before Holy Thursday, the cost of Diesel and Regular fuel increased by 30 cents cumulatively.

Diesel fuel increased by two cents from $10.39 to $10.41 per gallon, while Regular fuel went from $11.28 to $11.56 per gallon, an increase of twenty eight cents.

Fortunately, Premium fuel was not affected by the price in-crease and continued at $11.67 per gallon.

Higher in other districtsThe new prices mentioned

above are for Belize City only. In other parts of the country, the prices are much higher. For exam-ple, in Orange Walk the price of Regular fuel per gallon is $11.64, Diesel is $10.49, and Premium is $11.75.

To the west side, the cost is a bit higher. Premium fuel is $11.77,

Regular is $11.66 and Diesel is $10.51.

It went higher further south. In Punta Gorda to cost a gallon of Premium fuel is a whopping $11.92. Regular fuel is $11.81 and Diesel is $10.56 per gallon.

Gouging commutersThe Government of Belize is

taking advantage of fuel consum-ers with their pricing formula. In effect, the Government, which should regulate cases of over-pric-ing of consumer goods, is itself gouging Belizeans at the fuel

pumps.First, the Government collects

a fuel tax formula that was initially only deemed sustainable if the pric-es remained under $8.00.

Second, the Government is skimming off the high taxes from fuel prices while it is selling low-qual-ity, cheaper fuel by mixing the north american imported fuel with Venezu-ela’s Petro-Caribe fuel

This Petro-Caribe fuel is gifted to Belize through a bi-lateral agree-ment initiated by the former PUP Government to reduce the econom-ic hardships facing Belizeans. But the Barrow Government is instead using it to take advantage of Beliz-eans who are struggling with the sky high cost of living in the country. They are charging Belizeans for Ven-ezuelan fuel which the Government gets at a discounted cost. The prof-its, collected by GOB, are then used for political gimmicks such as their Christmas ham give-away programs which are really schemes to keep Belizeans poor and dependent.

Someone from the Venezuelan Embassy should heed this warning and report the truth to its leaders in Venezuela instead of playing political games with the Barrow Administra-tion. The Petro-Caribe initiative has been misused and abused by the UDP Government to further oppress the people of Belize.

14 Yr. oLd KnoCKS down 2 Yr. oLd in orange waLK

Vehicle belongs to DPM’s driverThe toddler, Rachel Chan, was

standing on Sapodilla Street in Trial Farm when she was hit by the pickup which was driven by the 14 year old.

Baby Rachel was rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital and then transferred to the Karl Heusner Memo-rial Hospital because of her severe con-dition. Hospital authorities report that Baby Rachel suffered a large wound on her forehead and three broken ribs. She had to undergo a major surgery which resulted in the removal of her spleen which had been damaged.

The vehicle, a Ford pickup truck, is owned by Christopher Hendricks, who is Deputy Prime Minister Vega’s driver. It is reported that he gave the vehicle to the 14 year old to drive just minutes be-fore the careless accident.

Orange Walk Police detained the 14 year old minor but released him on the same day of the near fatality, while is-suing a Notice of Intended Prosecution. The vehicle involved in the accident has

also been released back to its owner. This seems to be special treatment, since the Police normally holds onto ve-hicles involved in accidents.

The Police took very long to admit that they were investigating this serious incident involving a political high-roller in Gaspar Vegas’ camp. However, late Wednesday they informed that they have prepared courts summons for the minor and Hendricks. Both are expected to appear in Court on April 29th and the minor will answer to charges of driving a motor vehicle without due care and at-tention, for negligent and grievous harm, failing to report an accident, and driving a motor vehicle whilst not being the hold-er of a valid driver’s license, while Hen-dricks will answer to the charge of allow-ing a person to drive whilst not being the holder of a driver’s license.

The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that Baby Rachel’s family is being pressured by UDP offi cials to keep away from the media and have been offered money for their silence.

Orange Walk Town, April 23, 2014Orange Walk Police have not been able to determine the iden-

tity of two men who robbed a thrift store on one of Orange Walk town’s busiest shopping areas, despite having captured the entire robbery on surveillance security camera.

The men, one of dark complexion and the other of Hispanic descent, entered the Orange Walk Bargain Center located on Main Street around 9:45 in the morning and held up the cashier on duty.

They stole money and cell phones valuing a total of $7,250.

The dark complexion man wore a hat and sunglasses, while the Hispan-ic man covered his face with a shirt to conceal their identities.

The Police is asking for the assis-tance of residents in this case.


Officer Down!


04

PUP at 60% of threshold

is the reason why Dr. Fraser, UB’s 4th President, took office in August 2011 and was entering his third year when he felt compelled to announce that he was leaving the University early.

In a November 2013 letter writ-ten to the Prime Minister, Dr. Fraser frowned upon the challenges he faced at the University which included the Government’s low priority signaled by the “the chronic inability of the Min-istry of Education to meet its debts to the University of Belize”, as well as unnecessary intervention by the Board the running of the University which “has undermined the capacity of the University of Belize to foster institutional stability at leadership levels, especially at the levels of the President and the Provost.”

Dr. Fraser held back no punches when it came to discussing the Gov-ernment’s lack of vision, or financial support for the University. Those were critical matters that have stymied the institution’s growth and development, and ability to prepare a high caliber cadre of young men and women that will be able to fill the demands across the board to meet the development expectations of this nation.

The appointment of one of the members of the old boy’s club which Prime Minister Dean Barrow belongs to, is further proof that the political di-rectorate is too myopic to comprehend the need for a long-term vision for the University beyond a short-term politi-cal agenda.

Lowering the Bar at UB

Will Belize demand investigation of Belizean killed in Melchor?

CoLd UdP government

Belize City, April 24, 2014The case of another Belizean brutally

murdered in the neighboring Guatemalan village of Melchor de Mencos might just turn into another unsolved homicide, as the Belize Government has refused to apply any pressure on Guatemalan author-ities to provide conclusive answers to the killing of 22 year old Edwin Javier Chan over the Easter holidays.

On Saturday morning, Chan was found dead inside Auto Hotel in the Barrio

Campito area of Melchor. He had a gunshot wound to the left side of his head.

Chan had travelled to Melchor on Friday April 18th afternoon with several friends. They returned to the Belize side, while Chan remained.

Around 4am the following day, a gunshot was heard within the hotel.

Police say Chan had other bruises on his body, indicating that he had gotten into a fight with some-one.

The Belize Government has not intervened in this matter. They have left a Belizean family to grieve and worry with many unanswered ques-tions about their loved one. Not even a letter of con-dolence from officials or a note of assurance that the Government will ensure that the murderer(s) face justice.

It is the same cold treatment given to the fam-ily of 23 year old Benqueno Miguel Gonzalez, who was killed in Melchor in October 2012 and no one has been arrested. Cold UDP Government.


How Commercials Stop Violent Murders

05

EDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIAL

In Belize there is a direct connection between the health of the Belizean economy and the safety and security of our citizens. � ere is an undeniable connection between jobs and crime. � ere is a direct negative correlation between the capitalist business community and the jackals of gangland.

No matter how mischief-makers and media leeches spin it, a healthy and vibrant economy is the best home remedy to the crime virus.

� e greater observation is that to the BELIZE TIMES, there is a choking hypocrisy and a � amboyant insult to claim that major crime is “down” by 32%.

� ere are a few things that need to be said about the expen-sive, seemingly Jules Vasquez-endorsed commercial saying that crime is down. � e � rst point is that this ad proves that there is a daily Channel 7 marketing campaign for the UDP. We are reminded of the casual assessment of Jules Vasquez, which says “Jules is the most independent news personality until it counts”. � is always holds true to form.

Second, the UDP are extremely consistent. � ey have always rede� ned words and molested � gures to suit their political ends. We know that the UDP are fond of employ-ing the Crispin Je� eries strategy of statistics. � is school of thought is that when the real statistics are against you, create your own. No matter how ridiculously unbelievable they might be, just release your own � gures.

� e third truth that is pointed out by this insultingly un-realistic commercial is that the UDP have the worst Public Relations team ever. At BELIZE TIMES we recall that God-frey Smith had pointed out this Achilles heel to the current Government in a hotly discussed Flash Point article.

Not very many are surprised by the frail, propaganda ma-chine, which has as its brain-thrust an endomorphic UDP who barely managed to scrape 18 votes in a Stann Creek West constituency of over 32,166 people and over 6470 voters. Stann Creek West was ranked as the largest constituency nationwide, yet the UDP mouthpiece and public relations “guru” got a whopping 0.056% of the people living in that constituency to vote for him as a UDP. � is is a record.

For context the UDP propaganda campaign that Belize is a Garden of Eden sprung into action on the heels of a UN report, using data collated from 2012, which placed Belize as the third most murderous country in the world. Rather than � xing it, the UDP ran to Jules and put the worst propaganda ad into rotation.

� e stupidity of it is that days before this ad, Boots Marti-nez was soiling his trousers in Mikes Club as he witnessed a brazen assassination and Santi Castillo, admitted the failure of his own government to deal with the violent crimes and murders.

Any social scientist or informed observer could tell you that crime would burst at the seams around this time.

Owing to the public interest and sensitivity of the matter and the irrefutable incompetence of the UDP on both the

economy and crime, the PUP have been warning diplomatical-ly, candidly, and with a commendably responsible reserve that the way the UDP are handling things is plainly unsustainable.

� e PUP’s warnings have all proven true. Breaking rocks for the short term does not erase unemployment and crime. � e leader of the opposition spoke with an eye opening tone during the Budget debates:

“Once again the Prime Minister beats his chest and boasts about boost and pantry…well, Mr. Speaker, we all know, I just said it, the Belizean reality is hard and ugly. So, life is hard and people need help but do not take pride in the fact that under your Government, under your UDP administration more and more people have to line up at politicians’ offi ce to get on a list to get a little bag of groceries or get help with their bills – that is nothing to boast about and to keep people poor is the greatest social injustice. Where are the jobs? So, our people can live with pride and dignity…Mr. Speaker, there is pride in all work but don’t sing to us about ‘bruk stone pan street’ – where are the jobs for our young graduates? Th ey need jobs too. Th e single mothers need jobs too; many young professionals are looking for work. Where are their jobs? Th e UDP’s jobs plan is to send you to break stones on street – that is their jobs’ plan.”

It is no wonder that crime continues to skyrocket, and that it has spread to out district with rural massacres, while the perennial kill zone of Belize City keeps plaguing our confused Police Commissioner.

In England and Wales, ironically, where crime rates have dropped not because of PR stunts but because of real reform, a recent crime survey by the O� ce for National Statistics (ONS) points to a dip of 15% in household crimes and overall crime down by 10%. � e Crime Prevention Minister of the UK, Norman Baker, cites the statistics, which he considered to be “more good news”, and attributes them to “police reform” amongst other economic factors. In Belize there is no reform, as the top brass follow political dictates and interference.

We should be reminded in the Mosquito Coast of the words of Adam Pemberton, assistant chief executive at Victim sup-port, who said in a humanitarian breath of context that “It is important to remember that for many of the victims of …crimes committed last year, the impact will have been severe and long-lasting.”

No commercial � xes that.In Belize, while the propaganda ads are running, a young

naked woman was killed and le� � oating in our savannah, innocent people are wantonly executed as criminals “test” their guns, daylight assassinations continue and Belize marches past civil war status.

It’s all about the economy. It is not about Public Relations. It is not about commercials. It is about lives. It is about a clue-less government. It is about a dangerous attempt to re-write and rede� ne failure.

In the mean time, Belizeans are being murdered.


Prayer To The Holy Spirit

May sacred heart of Jesus be Adored, Glorifi ed, Loved and Preserved throughout the world,

now and forever.Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray

for us; Saint Jude worker of miracles pray for us; Saint Jude Helper of the helpless, pray for

us.

H.C.

LIQUOR LICENSE NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that AUGUSTINE RAMOS is applying for a Beer Liquor License to be operated at “One-Ah-Wi”, situate at Hat-tieville, Boom Road, Belize District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Notice is hereby given that YAN PING CHEN is applying for a Publican Special Li-quor License to be operated at “Mosul Street Cool Spot”, situate at 65 Cemetery Road, Belize City, Belize District un-der the Intoxicating Liquor Li-censing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980.

Belize City, April 24, 2014In a show of utmost disrespect

to Belize’s law enforcement offi cers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ac-ceded to Guatemala’s demands for a third party to investigate the fatal shooting of an Guatemalan who ille-gally inside Belize’s border.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sedi Elrington has conceded that the Bar-row Administration caved into the de-mands, and a U.S. forensics offi cial identifi ed as Dr. James Hamdi was brought into Belize by Guatemala to carry out a parallel investigation.

This is after the Belize Defense Force submitted a detailed report. Also, after the Belize Police Depart-ment carried out its investigation which corroborated the BDF’s ac-count of the March 28th incident.

There is, after multiple investi-gations, no doubt that Guatemalan 26 year old Tomas Ramirez was well within Belize when he was shot, in self-defense, by Belize’s BDF sol-diers.

The Police’s report, issued on March 31st, indicated that “a pa-trol of Forestry offi cers, police and B.D.F personnel were some (7) ki-lometers north of Rio Blanco and some (3.4) kilometers east of the border line when they encoun-tered some armed male individu-als. They were ordered to stop and in doing so they opened fi red at the authorities who returned fi re and resulted in one being fatally injured”.

The Police offi cial, who was part of the patrol team, searched the in-dividual and found a Maverick Moss-berg Model 88 12 gauge pump action shotgun and in the area they also

US ForenSiCS ProBeS Shooting oF iLLegaL gUatemaLan in ChiQUiBUL

found a plastic bag containing 171.1 grams of cannabis seed. Nearby, Po-lice also found a live 12-gauge ammo and 5 expended 12-gauge cartridges from the shots fi red at the Belizean patrol team.

Minutes before the encounter and shooting, the joint patrol had uproot-ed a small marijuana fi eld of about 40 plants that measured between two to four feet in height.

Shortly after the incident, the Gov-ernments of Belize and Guatemala is-sued a “joint statement”, only issued in Belize, in which Belize’s Government emphasizes that they would prosecute

the BDF soldiers if they are found to have committed criminal wrong. This did very little to build the confi dence of our BDF soldiers who put their lives at risk to safe-guard our borders against constant incur-sions and illegal activity by Guatemalans.

Meanwhile in Guatemala, false re-porting has been done by the media without any form of offi cial correction from the Government. Prensa Libre, for example, has reported that Ramirez was in his “area of work” within the “imag-inary border” (sounds familiar Minister to Sedi’s language?) when he was am-bushed by the BDF patrol who opened fi re at him.

Canada, US iSSUe traveL adviSorieS againSt BeLiZe

Belize City, April 24, 2014The international reactions to the

high levels of crime and violence that currently exist in Belize and the Barrow Administration’s failure to properly safe-guard citizens and even visitors have come hard and strong, with travel advi-sories issued against Belize by the pow-erful United States and Canada.

The Government of Canada issued a travel warning a week ago, on April 17th 2014, to Canadians who may be interest-ed in visiting Belize, cautioning about the levels of violence in our country.

According to the Canadian gov-ernment’s warning, “criminal activity, including armed robbery, mugging and sexual assault, is a signifi cant problem throughout Belize. Robber-ies and assaults have been reported in resort areas. There has been a not-ed increase in violent crime targeting tourists since the end of 2013.”

The latest travel advisory indicates that Canadians “should exercise a high degree of caution due to a high rate

of violent crime throughout the coun-try”. This advisory has been in effect up to today, April 24, 2014.

The United States’ travel warning on Belize also admonishes their citizens about the risky safety and security in the country.

“The Embassy has noted an in-crease in crimes against tourists at re-sorts and on the roads and river ways. U.S. citizens are primarily the victims of opportunistic crime. There is no evidence suggesting criminals specif-ically target U.S. citizens, but foreign-ers have been targeted for crime due to their perceived wealth,” states the warning.

The advisory adds that Belize’s Police do not effectively investigate crime and apprehend serious offenders because of “a lack of resources and training”.

This week there was another spike in the number of murders, with one fa-tal daylight shooting in the city and three other suspected homicides in other parts of the country.

PUP NOTICEMunicipal Elections – Dangriga Town

� e People’s United Party is inviting interested applicants for the upcoming Dangriga Town Council Elections to submit their applications. A Convention is slated for Sun-day, August 17th, 2014.

Applications are available from the Constituency Com-mittee Chairperson Myrick Marshall or the PUP Secre-tariat, Independence Hall, #3 Queen Street, Belize City.

Completed applications must be � lled and returned to the Chairperson and the Secretary General. � e non-refund-able fee must be submitted to the Secretariat along with the necessary documentation to complete the application.

Deadline for submission is June 27th, 2014.

THE BELIZE TIMES27 APR 2014 7 07

woman in the hoUSe

A Little Jazz By Dolores Balderamos Garcia

April is Jazz Appreciation Month.

A few weeks ago a BBC Cor-respondent named Serena Field emailed me to ask if she could interview me by telephone or Skype. She was, she said, doing a series of interviews with per-sons from the Commonwealth about the music they liked, asking them to send a piece of music that represented their respective countries. This is in connection with the upcom-ing Twentieth Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland this year in July and August.

Immediately I thought that I would like to share, and to talk

about in the interview, the mu-sic of the Lord Rhaburn Combo, particularly two selections from the early 1960’s Lord Rhaburn al-bum “Tropico y Ritmo,” which on the CD release is titled “Tropical Rhythm.”

Serena had asked me to choose one piece, but when I listened again to the album, I felt that the songs are so short that perhaps she would let me choose two. I picked “Bud Bank Wedding” and “Suddenly It Hap-pens.”

When I listen carefully to these two Lord Rhaburn pieces I hear a little Jazz! “Bud Bank Wed-ding,” a Gerald Rhaburn composi-tion, is a classic. Great the pity

that it is so short. You get the guitar introduction, the horns of George Matthews and Pablo Clarke, and that quintessentially Belizean bruk-down rhythm. It is impossible to sit still when listening to it! Of course the Lord Rhaburn-sung lyrics are fabulous as well. Who says Beliz-eans don’t know how to bram and party – and what better party than a river ‘benk’ village wedding!? I believe that this selection is Lord Rhaburn’s finest hour.

“Suddenly It Happens” is a Herman Bennett and George Mat-thews composition. Both gen-tlemen were members of Lord Rhaburn’s early 1960’s lineup, Ben-nett, the guitarist and Matthews, the tenor saxophonist. When you listen to this piece you hear fan-tastic composition, a Jazz-inflected Latin rhythm, and even improvisa-tion on the alto sax of Pablo Clarke and the tenor sax of George Mat-thews. The song clocks in at only two minutes; twenty eight sec-onds – what a shame, since it is an excellent example of the artistry and keen musicality of the combo, their command of their idiom, and their wonderful versatility in many styles. You also hear the influence of the Caribbean and Latin Ameri-

can music forms that the combo had thoroughly mastered.

The whole album is a Belizean gem that is not to be missed. It also features their jazzed-up ver-sion of Henry Mancini’s “Moon River,” Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Desafinado” (wrongly attribut-ed to Joao Gilberto), Count Dug-geler’s calypso “World’s Laziest Man,” and another Herman Ben-nett composition “Diane Bossa Nova.” And you should hear them play and sing the ‘Spanish’ selec-tions!

Lord Gerald Rhaburn is our greatest music man/calypsonian, and I was more than honored to share two pieces from what I con-sider his best album with Serena Field, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and millions of listen-ers from throughout the Common-wealth at this time of the upcom-ing Commonwealth Games. The interview was recorded on April 11, 2014, and one should be able to access Ms. Field’s programs at BBC World on the internet.

In this April Jazz Appreciation Month take time to listen to the Lord Rhaburn Combo’s “Tropico y Ritmo.” It is more than a little Jazz!!

STATUTORY NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE ESTATE OF Dudley Rudolf Simmons, deceased of Awe Street, San Ignacio, Belize

NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 36 of the Administration of Estates Act, Chapter 197 of the Laws of Belize that all creditors and other persons having any claims and demands upon or against the Estate of Dudley Rudolf Simmons, deceased, late of Awe Street, San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize, who died on the 30th day of March 2006, and in whose estate Grant of Probate has been granted to Arman-dina Simmons of Awe Street, San Ignacio, Belize should lodge such claims of demands with the said Armandina Simmons, c/o MUSA & BALDERAMOS, Attorneys-at-Law of No. 91 North Front Street, Belize City, on or before the expiration of three months from the first publication thereof AND NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that at the expiration of the said three months the said ARMANDINA SIMMONS shall proceed to distribute the assets of the said Dudley Rudolf Simmons, deceased amongst the beneficia-ries entitled thereto, having regard only to claims and demands of which they shall then have had notice.DATED this 10th day of April, 2014

MUSA & BALDERAMOSAttorney-at-Law for ARMANDINA SIMMONS

Executrix in the Estate of Dudley Rudolf Simmons


PUP

– Freetown’s Mr. Quitar?

THE BELIZE TIMES27 APR 2014 9 09


THE TRUTH DEBUTS

NEW SINGLES

09TOPMODELTHE BELIZE TIMES27 APR 2014

visit us at www.belizetimes.bz or Facebook/ Belize Times

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• Height: 5’ 7”• Career Plan: Paralegal• Sign: Capricorn• Favourite Food: Mexican Food

• Likes: Music, Outdoor Adventures• Lives in: Belize City • Fav. Quote: “Without struggle there

would be no compassion”

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Markeisha

Two new singles by the effervescent and versatile group known as “Di Turth” will debut this Sat-urday on the “Seh Somting” youth ra-dio show.

The singles are titled “Sweet and Love” and “Island Girl”, dancehall/reg-gae medleys.

Since debuting on Channel 5’s talent competitions, “Di Truth” has matured from a mere enter-tainment group to a local artist group composing poetry and musical lyrics. The group brings a unique blend that consists of Denzel’s rap style, Bryan’s reg-gae flavor, Stephen’s soul blend and Ra-mon Rosado’s poetic groove.

Whether Di Truth will be making an appearance on the radio show has not been confirmed.

The Seh Somting” youth radio show airs at 1pm on Vibes Radio 90.5/102.9.

THE TRUTH THE TRUTH NEWSENTERTAINMENT


mexican Juan Pablo magallanes

by KELSEY Hemsley

VEGAS COME UP AGAIN!

Espats will join UDP ranksWesley College

Police United defeats

wins Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic

10 SPORTS THE BELIZE TIMES 27 APR2014

Verdes with 8-man squad

Belize City, April 19, 2014Team Benny’s Megabytes’

Mexican import Juan Pablo Magallanes won the 86th Holy Saturday Cross Country cycling Classic, clocking 5:45:03 on his 140-mile ride from the BTL Park in Belize City to the Columbus Park in San Ignacio and back on Saturday, April 19.

Magallanes had to take 2nd place to Darnell barrow last year, but this time he took the $6,000 1st prize, the winner’s gar-land of roses presented by and 3-time Cross Country champ Kenrick Halliday, plus 8 trophies, as well as a $400 shopping spree at Mirage, a return tick-et to the USA from United Air-lines, a return ticket from Maya Island Air, a bull from Cuello’s Distillery, a 2-night stay at Bar-rier Reef Lodge in San Pedro and a weekend’s stay for two at Captain Morgan’s Retreat in San Pedro, $250 from LC Distribu-tors and an MP4 player from Go Wireless. He had also cleaned up over $6,850 in station prizes when he and Mexican rider Flor-encio Ramos of the Predators team broke away from the lead breakaway of 5 riders in Cama-lote, running all the way to San Ignacio, where Magallanes won the halfway prizes, and back to the city until they were caught by Hector Jugo Rangel at mile

THE BELIZE TIMES 27 APR2014

36. Team SMART’s Guatema-

lan import Alejandro Miranda Padilla, who fi nished 20th last year, clocked 5:54:06 as he won the $3,000 2nd prize, a trophy, a return ticket to the USA from United Airlines, an overnight stay at the Magic Island Resort in Caye Caulker, a return ticket from Maya Island Air, and the Altreith Smith memorial plaque.

Florencio Ramos won the $2,000 3rd prize and a trophy from Belize Electricity Ltd; as well as an overnight stay at the Barefoot Caribe in Caye Caulker, and a return ticket from Maya Island Air. He had also cleaned over $8,800 in station prizes as he went sharing the lead with Magallanes and back.

Team Bel-Cal’s David San-tos of the USA won the $1,000 4th prize and a trophy from At-lantic Bank.

Benny’s Megabytes other Mexican import, Hector Hugo Rangel, won the $800 5th prize and a trophy from Barrow and Co. Rangel had also cleaned up over $9,050 as he swept 19 station prizes from the Amigos Restaurant at mile 33 to Prosser Fertilizer at mile 7.

Team SMART’s Guatema-lan import Julio Miranda Padilla won the $600 sixth prize and a trophy from Bowen & Bowen

Ltd. Team Hincapie’s Scottie

Weisse of the USA won the $400 7th prize and a trophy.

8th was Team Telemedia’s Marlon Castillo, the fi rst Beliz-ean, clocked 5:45:50 to win a $300 prize from BML.

Other fi nishers9th Giovanni Lovell –

Team Telemedia10th Gregory Lovell –

Team Telemedia11th Cory Williams –

Team Bel-Cal12th Isaac Enderline –

Team Hincapie13th Luis Fernando Her-

nandez14th Byron Pope - Ben-

ny’s Megabytes15th Henry Moreira –

Team Predators16th Dwight Lopez – Bel-

Cal17th Shane Vasquez –

Team Western Spirits18th Manuel Ayala Balam19th Brandon Morgan –

Benny’s Megabytes20th Chris Harkey – Team

Hincapie

Henry Moriera, Darnell Bar-row & Byron Pope lead start

Top 3

Belmopan, April 19, 2014Police United FC toppled Verdes

FC 1-0 to cement their lead in the 2014 Belikin Cup closing season foot-ball competition.

Danny Jimenez struck the win-ning goal in the 37th minute against Verdes at “La Cancha” Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo last Satur-day night. The plays were fast and furious with the referee having to send off Verdes’ defender Everald Trapp and 3 Police players, the visi-tors were down to 8 men by the end of the game, but held off Verdes’ at-tacks to secure the 1-0 win.

The Police had also sacked the defending champs, the Belmopan Bandits, 2-1 at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan last Wednes-day night. Clifton West scored the fi rst goal in the 35th minute. Bandits’ midfi elder Denmark Casey equalized

1-1 in the 55th minute, but Harrison “Kafu” Roches struck the Police’s second winning goal in the 83rd minute.

Police FC leads the Premier League of Belize competition with 22 points from 7 wins and 1 draw.

Other matches:Belmopan Bandits vs. FC Be-

lize - 4-0Goals by Denmark Casey, Elroy

Kuylen, Jerome “Jaro” James (2)Verdes vs. San Ignacio - 1-1Goals by Anthony Gonzalez,

Marlon “Matador” MezaBelize Defence Force vs. FC

Belize – 1-0 Goal by Stephen MartinezSan Ignacio United vs. Free-

dom Fighters - 4-3Goals by Franz Vernon, Dar-

waine Castillo (2), Tremayne Gentle (2), Tony Gonzalez, Wilmer Garcia

Police lead PLB

Elroy Kuylen scored Bandits 2nd goal


Costly Corporate Greed

Edmund Castro

Elvin Penner

Godwin Hulse

11SPORTSTHE BELIZE TIMES27 APR 2014

mo Cal & rigo vellos

win Placencia Easter Fest Placencia, April 20, 2014

Placencia drew a large crowd to the annual Tipsy Tuna’s 14th An-nual Easter Fest which featured the Clean & Classy Swimsuit Com-petition and male Fitness Contest as one of its highlights on Sunday, April 20, 2013.

This year’s competition saw the entrance of new fi tness athletes. It

11SPORTS

April 20, 2013.This year’s competition saw the

entrance of new fi tness athletes. It

also saw Mr. Belize, Rigo Vel-los, defending the title for an-other year.

Vellos, has had a three-year winning streak in Placen-cia, and he did not disappoint his fans after putting off a show that convinced the judg-es that he was still #1.

Second place in male Fit-

ness went to Placencia’s very own Edgar Rogers while Belize City’s Edward Burns won 3rd.

In the female Clean & Classy Swimsuit Com-petition contest, Mo Cal won 1st Place followed by Annilyn Apolonio who made a successful transformation from bikini model to fi tness mod-el to win 2nd place, followed by Charlyn Flores.

The winners received special prizes.

Annlyn Polonio, 2nd place in swimsuit competition

Rigo Vellos fl exes

Belize City, April 12, 2014SJC’s defending under-19 ta-

ble tennis champ Fabio Carballo won the 2nd annual Don Omar-io Cup table tennis U-19 tourna-ment to become the back-to-back champ in a tournament organized by the Belize Table Tennis Associa-tion at the “home of table tennis” the Belize Elementary School au-ditorium on Saturday, April 12.

The fi nal rankings were: 2nd- Joshua Gegg - Corozal Commu-nity College, 3rd - Gian Lisbey - St. Johns College and 4th - John Delcid - St. Joseph Primary School.

The top 32 best Under-19 junior players started out in a double elimination format event with the top seed, and Carballo remained undefeated. He ranked No.3 entering this tournament, and he defeated Maurice Alva-rez, Mario Galindo, Amiri Hoare, Joshua Gegg and Gian Lisbey to make it to the fi nals.

Trophies and the Champion-ship Cup were presented to the winners on behalf of the Spon-sors “Travellers” by BTTA Mem-bership Director Mrs. Janine Carballo and Executive Commit-tee Member Mr. Hector Lopez.

Fabio Carballois U-19 Table Tennis Champ

Central Division wins 25 Golds in athletics

Delile academy’s Kenia Flores win 1500m

LTHS Jervis Myvett wins 100m & 200m

Jaryn Lino wins long jump


Beatriz Garcia


Reid

Race for the Garland

When the time drew near and it was obviously not going to be ready, he said that there was no rush because the Prin-cess Margaret Drive wasn’t ready. We have had one excuse

after the other but the fact is that after inheriting a project that was already well underway, this gov-ernment has done nothing but stuff Longsworth’s pocket with cash. He built a fence for a million dol-lars and apparently has gotten enough. Maybe we should shift our focus to fencing instead of cycling.

By G. Michael ReidThe 86th running of the annual

Cross Country Classic is history and after two years of home town dom-inance, the garland has once again gone abroad. As per usual, there is the sentiment of what almost borders xe-nophobia as the organizers and spon-sors again face criticism for bringing in foreigner riders. Since 1971 when Mexican Pablo Calderon became the first foreign rider to win the classic, the fear is always that some foreign rider might come in and leave us heartbro-ken. Since being allowed to participate, foreign riders have done so 18 out of the 28 times they have participated.

This year there was the usual in-flux of foreign riders and once again, much to the chagrin of many locals, top honors went to one of the invaders. Mexican Juan Pablo Magallanes, rid-ing for the Benny’s Megabytes Team, crossed the line first and sent Beliz-eans to finish the rest of the Easter hol-idays disappointed. But really, should we be? Isn’t it high time that Belizeans started viewing this race in the same light that the French view the Tour de France? That we stop clamoring for a local rider to win and start looking at this race instead, from the perspec-tive of quality and economic benefits. The Tour de France is the world’s most prominent and popular cycling race and has lengthened its reach to extend around the globe. Riders from as many as 33 countries compete and the last Frenchman to win the tour was Ber-nard Hinault way back in 1985. Yet, one would not hear the French expressing the type of indignation that Belizeans do and it might be because of the reali-zation that the Tour pumps millions into the France’s economy each year.

Throughout the race, radio an-nouncers kept lamenting the fact that Belizean riders were being left be-hind. One announcer seemed almost in tears as he declared that it did not “look good”. I was listening and think-ing, ‘Well, it doesn’t look too bad for those five guys in the lead’. Of course, they were all foreign riders and in the end, the first seven cyclists to cross the finish line were all foreign riders.

Megabytes apparently had a plan and it worked to perfection.

This year, for the first time in sev-eral decades, cycling enthusiasts and the man most singly responsible for bringing in foreign riders, did not put a team in the race. The man who likes to be called “the chief” will tell you how difficult and frustrating it is to keep our local riders focused. Santino, him-self a rider, was known to go to great lengths to accommodate his riders. He would pick them up from home and pay them extra to practice. He hires many of the guys who ride on his team, gives them easy jobs and time off to train. Yet he could always

be heard complaining that his riders did not want to practice. Belizean rid-ers keep complaining about the level of competition that comes in but why can’t we reach that level? All year long you see these guys on the road train-ing and there are races throughout the year. This is our turf; we should be overly familiar with the terrain. The big-gest problem is that Belizeans riders are just too damn undisciplined and need to step up their game. Second

place finisher Padilla said this about our local boys: “The problem they have is their mentality - they want to be taken to the finish and that won’t happen”.

Since I first started writing articles, way back in the early nineteen nineties, I have been crying out for a national team. Why is it that our best riders are made to ride as domestiques for imported rid-ers? It is time for us to assemble the best of our best and establish a National Cy-cling Team. The guys could ride for their respective teams throughout the year but come Cross County or any other in-ternational event, it is time to represent country. These guys should be paid to train and sent out regularly to compete against formidable teams in different environments. Cycling means a lot to Belizeans, and few would balk at some money being spent to promote our local cyclists. Heaven knows, we throw away enough on cronyism and wasteful proj-ects.

What also has to happen is for cy-cling to keep the dirty embrace of poli-tics from around it. Recently we saw a move where government assisted in

removing a legally elected president and replaced him with a politically connected individual; same as they did with football. This move apparently paid dividends as Channel Five was this year blocked from covering the race. Government-owned Belize Telemedia Limited poured mega-bucks into sponsorship of a team and station prizes along the way. If the com-pany is indeed owned by the people, then shouldn’t the people have a say in how the company’s money is spent?

Wouldn’t that money have been bet-ter used to sponsor a national team instead of financing a team that also involved foreign riders?

Earlier this year, Minister of Sports Herman Longsworth was on television boasting and promising that the Marion Jones Stadium would be ready by Cross Country. When the time drew near and it was obvious-ly not going to be ready, he said that there was no rush because the Prin-cess Margaret Drive wasn’t ready. We have had one excuse after the other but the fact is that after inher-iting a project that was already well underway, this government has done nothing but stuff Longsworth’s pocket with cash. He built a fence for a mil-lion dollars and apparently has gotten enough. Maybe we should shift our focus to fencing instead of cycling.

There is one incident involving cy-cling that gnaws at my craw and I will continue to write about it until some-one takes notice. It occurred in 1961 when the races were finishing near the pound yard bridge. At the finish

line, there was one rider, Ed-ward Miguel ahead of every-one else. Duncan Vernon and Edward’s brother Arthur was close behind. Realizing that he had won, Edward threw up his hands in victory. Unfortu-nately, unbeknown to most in-dividuals and riders even, the association of the time had implemented a rule that stated that no one should take their hands off their handlebars. It was a silly and most ridiculous rule. Fortunately, it has long

been removed from the books and we saw this year’s winner do the very same thing. That decision must be re-versed. It is too late for Edward for he is already deceased, but for the sake of the association and cycling fans of Belize, Edward Miguel should be given his championship, albeit post-humous-ly. This is important because it would move Edward into the elite rank of four-time Cross Country champions where he rightly belongs.


Illegal Guatemalans caught panning for gold inside the Chiquibul forest

hope is a renewable option

By Dr. Angela Banner Joseph“If you run out of it at the end of

the day, you get to start over in the morning.” - Barbara Kingsolver

What is hope? Hope is something that we all feel at some point in our lives. Today’s hurried lifestyle may leave us weary or burned out. At times, we search for hope through life’s adversi-ties as we look for a sense of purpose and understanding to engage in all our challenges. In moments of despair, we question the meaning of living.

Daily living provides us with mul-tiple dilemmas, but how we embrace life’s changes, whether good or bad, is what inspires us when we feel like every step forward takes us two steps back. Journeying through moments of despondency teaches us to look within ourselves to find the strength to search for guidance from a higher power when we feel like there is no way to go on.

Have you ever wondered why some people are born into wealth and others into poverty? Do you question why some on this planet suffer or ex-perience disappointment after disap-pointment? Do you ever question why a healthy person suddenly becomes ill? Do you know how to pull yourself together during life’s emergencies? Life offers many strategies for daily living, and yet many of us do not be-lieve strongly enough in ourselves to persevere when we encounter difficult situations. Think of moments of uncer-tainty as a welcome gift, for they may encourage us do things for ourselves or others when a lack of action would cause later regret.

We all struggle with our purpose on this planet and we all have some days when we seek guidance because we feel discouraged or powerless. On such days, we fight hard to take care

of ourselves and our families or to spend quality time with friends. Still, we must continue to deal with internal pain and heartache as life’s difficulties weigh us down with exhaustion and make us feel confused. The burden is heavy to bear, and once again, we may feel hopeless or question our sense of purpose.

Feeling discouraged may allow our minds to wander into a dismal abyss or may cause us to feel like we are falling over the edge of a cliff. The darkness of life’s destruction can weigh heavy on our minds. Through these trying times, we should not question God, but in-stead should understand His plan. His plan is greater than our needs and He understands our pain. We must lis-ten during those moments of despair as He guides us and nurtures us to a deeper understanding of how to deal with the challenges in front of us.

Even though we may feel broken or lost, it is important that we fight through disillusionment to seek help from our spiritual advisor: God. He is our strength during our moments of despair, pain, or anger, because he soothes our souls and provides us with the stability and strength to go on.

We are on this planet for a reason. We all are on a specific assignment from God; some are placed on short-term assignments and others have long-term responsibilities. Some of us may question why He does what He does, but during such moments of hopelessness, we must find solace by meditating, going for a walk, visiting others, or just sitting quietly to accept the hand extended to us. Rise above the pain, hurt, anger, or confusion. Sometimes we may feel that we are void of hope and possibilities. We may find ourselves in the trenches of futility that beckon for us to give up. It is these times of desperation and despair that can spur the fire and de-sire of hope. Therefore, steady the course, because without hope as a human being, we are lost. Rid your-self of hopelessness and open your-self to the idea of wonderful new pos-sibilities.

Dr. Angela Banner Joseph holds a doctorate degree in Educational Lead-ership and Change from the Fielding Graduate University

For SaleBy Order of the

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edi-tion, 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 18th day of March, 2011 between ADRIANNE SARAVIA of Hope Creek Village, Stann Creek District, Belize of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in Deeds Book Vol. 7 of 2011 at Folios 1517 – 1542, 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 Lot No. 109 comprising of 766.202 square metres situate in Hope Creek Village, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 351 of 2010 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 351 of 2010 and also delineated on Plan No. 2080 Comp. No. 77 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 19th day of March, 2014.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS91 North Front Street

Belize CityAttorney-at-Law for

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.


Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., a company duly registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 250 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edi-tion, 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 5th day of March, 2012 between NAZARIO ITZA JR. of San Jose Succotz Village, Cayo District, Belize of the one part, and SCOTIABANK (BELIZE) LTD., of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in Deeds Book Vol. 5 of 2012 at Folios 1163– 1170, 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 lot, piece or parcel of land being Lot Nos. 284 and 285 comprising of 609.718 Square Yards and 495.109 Square Yards respectively situate in Succotz Village, Cayo District, bounded and de-scribed as shown on Plan No. 1151 of 2003 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 1151 of 2003 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 4th day of April, 2014.





HABET AND HABET ad

The Dynamics of Domestic Easter Tourism

Home Economics

By Richard HarrisonDomestic Easter tourism expen-

ditures is the biggest for Belizeans of all levels of income. This year Beliz-eans spent an estimated $60 million on domestic and foreign travel...to va-cation spots, to visit families/friends in a different part of the country, to meet new people in a new place, or for parties with family and friends at home.

Most of the foreign travel is to Mexico’s Riviera Maya beaches...where Belizeans who can afford it perceive better value for money...wid-er variety of entertainment choices, newness, difference...more safety....better and more reliable services.

Domestic travel is mainly to the islands, principally San Pedro and Caye Caulker, with Placencia and Hopkins catching up fast. San Igna-cio, a scenic inland town, has tradi-tionally attracted large numbers as well, but it seems to be in decline.

The sun, sea and sand gives nat-ural advantage to the coastal areas during these summer days, with the very pleasant weather resulting from the north-easterly winds and Easter full-moon effects...so the inland des-tinations wanting to grow their share of this pie have to work much harder to make their offers more attractive for vacation planners.

San Ignacio used to have a very popular horse race in the 1970’s and 80’s which attracted large crowds from across the country. Since then, while the capacity and capability of the tourism offers in the islands and Placencia has increased signifi cantly, San Ignacio has settled for an Eas-ter fair that features the same old, same old...ferris wheel, food, drinks and games. It has not found a way to attract more than food/drinks sales from the large following of the annual cross country cycling classic...which appears and disappears rapidly. It needs to re-invent its Easter offer if it plans to see its declining market share turn around. The community leaders need to take their job more seriously, and become more creative and entrepreneurial...working more closely with the private sector to make cohesive plans and then adver-tise them appropriately...instead of disappearing themselves to the Riv-iera Maya and coastal areas...sleep-ing with the competition.

Belizean Easter vacationers are looking for fun activities for singles....others for families. They search for good deals that offer value for mon-ey in terms of room, food, drinks and tours...and for a safe place to social-ize with existing friends or to meet new ones.

The vast majority (about 70%) of vacationers are between the ages of 16-30....and “entertainment” of-fers focus mostly on liquor and sex...

wrongly assuming, in my opinion, that this is what this group is look-ing for. These younger vacationers usually pool their resources to ar-range for rooms, meals and tours...however, the most dollars are spent by those over 30 years who travel with their families and/or partners. There is not much there for families traveling with children. So what hap-pens, is “confused” parents suck in the gory stage acts cheering along-side their now-not-so-innocent chil-dren. There is not much creativity in terms of decent “entertainment”.

Both coastal and inland tour-ism vacation providers need to do a better job at planning to receive the growing numbers of Easter vaca-tioners, if Belize is to avoid sinking

further into the dark pits of drunken gory tattoo-exposing sexiness...and not much more.

There is obviously a rapidly grow-ing appetite among the Guatemalan elite to vacation in Belize during Easter week. A small, well executed budget for promotions in Guatemala leading up to Easter could grow the revenues for this weekend signifi cantly in the years ahead.

Much more domestic vacation trav-el would take place if the public trans-portation system did not shut down for the weekend. Not only those who have a private vehicle want to vacation and there are also many tourists in the country who want to move around. There should be a reliable schedule of suffi cient, safe public transportation throughout the vacation weekend.

Inspections need to be carried out before the Easter...of piers/marinas, ferries, water taxis, planes, buses and other public infrastructure and trans-port vehicles that are important to pub-lic safety during this period of heavy-load traffi c. The transport department and police should facilitate smooth, orderly and safe travel throughout the weekend…not only on Saturday.

Belize’s unique public and bank holiday of “Easter Monday” is a spec-tacle that adds revenues to the week-end and allows for easing the crowds back home over a longer period with-out the drunken Sunday night rush that can be seen in other countries. Am starting to think we should make “Easter Thursday” a public and bank holiday as well...LOL

In short.....Easter tourism is al-ready big business for Belize...with an even bigger potential....both from a domestic and foreign tourist per-spective....and our community plan-ners should put more into planning and execution....not depend solely on the Belize Tourism Board. They cannot be all things to all people....especially when the Minister in charge is from the coastal region. The key words, I would suggest, are “differentiation”, “segmentation”, “value-for-money” and “advertising”.

Richard Harrison is a local busi-nessman and investor in the manu-facturing and service industries. Mr. Harrison holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from Lancast-er University, United Kingdom. Send comments to [email protected]

PUBLIC AUCTION SALE

BY ORDER OF THE MORTGAGEE HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED, a Licensed Public Auctioneer will sell on site the following property at the time as listed.

At Front Street, Caye Caulker Village, Belize District on Monday, 5th May 2014 at 1:00p.m.

FIRSTLY ALL THAT lot, piece or parcel of land comprising 451.347 square yards situate on Front Street, Caye Caulker Village, Belize District bounded on the North by the property of Leopold Franco and there measuring 96 feet on the South by the land of Belizario Martinez and there measuring 105 feet or thereabouts and on the West by land the property of the Roman Catholic Mission and there measuring 44 feet 10 inches (marked 19D) save and except a portion of the said lot, piece or parcel comprising 60.589 square yards (marked 19C) SECONDLY, ALL THAT piece or parcel of land comprising 91.069 square yards (marked 18A) being a portion of the land comprised in a Conveyance dated 6th July 1978, recorded at the General Registry in Deeds Book Volume 9 of 1978 at folios 95 to 1000 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon, the freehold property of ORVILLE J. HOLDEN and PATRICIA HOLDEN (Jointly)

DATED this 10th day of April 2014

All sales are strictly cash and deemed fi nal. For more information contact:

HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED1 HYDE’S LANE, BELIZE CITY, BELIZE

Phone: (501) 224-5644Fax: (501) 223-0738




Recipe of the week

Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted but-

ter3 tablespoons vegetable

shortening2 cups all-purpose fl our1 tablespoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt3 tablespoons sugar3 large eggs1 cup milk1/2 cup chocolate syrup, plus

more for topping1/2 teaspoon vanilla extractCooking sprayConfectioners’ sugar and/or

berries, for topping (optional)

Chocolate Waffl esMother’s Day is coming up and we’re going to share simple and delicious recipes that will help make any mom feel cherished on her special day.

DirectionsMelt the butter and shortening in a

small saucepan, stirring to combine; remove from the heat and set aside. Whisk the fl our, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl.

Whisk the eggs, milk, chocolate syr-up and vanilla in a large liquid measuring cup or a separate bowl. Whisk the egg mixture into the fl our mixture until combined. (The batter will be slightly lumpy.) Whisk in the butter mixture until combined.

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Preheat a waffl e iron and spray with cook-ing spray. Ladle some of the batter into the waffl e iron to within an inch of the edge (1/3 to 1/2 cup batter, depending on your waffl e iron); cook until crisp. Transfer the waffl e to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Divide the waffl es among plates. Dust with confectioners’sugar and top with berries and/or chocolate syrup.

eas have had to endure.With the exception of Port Loyola,

the government provides street lights throughout each community where the homes are supplied with electrici-ty. In 2014 this necessity is provided in even the smallest villages, where the homes have access to electricity 24/7. Therefore as the Area Representa-tive for Port Loyola for the last twelve years, why have these three areas in the division been without needed streetlights for more than a decade?

The only time when the residents behind the Jane Usher basketball court benefi t from lighting in the area is when I have repaired the lights at the court. However, that is a costly venture which is only sustainable with fi nancial assistance from the govern-ment, which you have never provided. Furthermore, it is a fact that ensuring adequate lighting at any public bas-ketball court in the country is the full responsibility of the Government and the relevant Area Representative.

Putting the necessary streetlights

OUT OUT

Gilroy Usher, Sr. writes “Boots”

Martinez, lobbies for streetlights in

Port Loyola

in Port Loyola will only cost a few thousand dollars, which is like a drop of water in the ocean out of the $1 Billion budget for this new fi scal year. Funding for the nec-essary streetlights in Port Loyola could therefore be provided from the over $84,000.00 you receive yearly (at least $7,000.00 month-ly) specifi cally to address the con-cerns of the division. Funding for this vital community need could also be provided out of the $5 mil-lion set aside in the budget year af-ter year for Poverty Alleviation for which you are the Minister. Better still, since the government has been the owner of BEL for the last fi ve years, you could lobby your colleagues in Cabinet to have the energy company provide the nec-essary streetlights in the affected areas of your division.

Like Belizeans countrywide the hardworking people of Port Loyola behind the Jane Usher basketball court, on Pen Road extension, and to the west of Arlington Drive are tired of the endless broken prom-ises of the government following the last two general elections.

They are therefore calling on you, Hon. “Boots” Martinez to be-gin fulfi lling your responsibility as the Area Representative for Port Loyola by taking the necessary steps to have their need for street-lights and other basic services in their community addressed imme-diately.

Sincerely yours, Gilroy Usher, Sr.

You can leave comments at Facebook/gilroyushersr

Stewart Krohn’s tough

questions for NCL’s Colin

Murphy

Belize to benefi t from the proj-ect, they insist upon opening a duty free emporium on Harvest Caye that sells only foreign luxu-ry goods; plan to build a zipline on the caye when there are already two ziplines in southern Belize in need of more visitors; will operate their own tenders between the caye and the mainland instead of contracting with local tender op-erators; deal only with tour oper-ators that “meet their standards” to the total exclusion of the inde-pendent tour operators who form such a large part of the Belize City based cruise industry; and loudly proclaim that if Belizeans do not take advantage of the business opportunities on the caye NCL will bring in “Filipinos and Europeans” to do the job?

The fact is that the NCL cruise port at Harvest Caye is a project that may seem like a big deal but

in fact produces a net econom-ic impact to the country about equal to the opening of a single medium size hotel—and that’s not counting the hundred million in cash the taxpayers will send to NCL’s Miami headquarters in ex-change for the privilege of being exploited.

Mr. Murphy may talk big but the fact is that he and his bosses are scared. They need this project far more than Belize needs them. When confronted by residents of the South at the EIA public con-sultation in January they were ex-posed as the con artists they re-ally are. Not even their well paid lackeys could or would come to their defense. But we really can-not blame Mr. Murphy–or even his local cronies—because that is what they get paid to do. Who we can blame—and the ones who re-ally need to answer these ques-tions—are those politicians, on both sides of the aisle, who allow the Colin Murphy’s of this world to buy them off so cheaply.

We look forward to seeing the proposed fi nal agreement with NCL that the Prime Minister promised would be brought to the National Assembly for approv-al. We are confi dent that when the Belizean public has a chance to see exactly what Mr. Murphy has in store for them they will put a stop to a disastrous project that should have been rejected out of hand over a year ago.

Respectfully submitted,Stewart KrohnChairman, Placencia Chapter,

Belize Tourism Industry Associa-tion


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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 in-tention to exercise its power of sale as Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 13th day of June, 2012 between GREGORY CRICHTON and PATRICH GARBUTT both of No. 2 Piccini Site, Buttonwood Bay, Belize City, Belize of the one part, and Scotia-bank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded at the Land Titles Unit in Deeds Book Vol. 15 of 2012 at Folios 339 – 408, 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 lot, piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 45 a portion of the land being known as “Dew-drop Farm” situate at Mile 11 ¾ on the Old Be-lize-Corozal Road in the Belize District of Belize as shown in Subdivision Plan registered at Entry No. 5325 Register No. 16 TOGETHER with all buildings and erections standing and being thereon.

DATED this 26th day of March, 2014.




CREDIT MASTER SYSTEMSBONDED COLLECTION AGENCY

WE ARE CURRENTLY RESEARCHING INFORMATION.

CONTACT CMS IF YOU KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF ANY PER-SON LISTED AT

www.cmssearch.bz

CREDIT MASTER SYSTEMS#11 DOUGLAS JONES STREET

BELIZE CITYTEL# 223-5845/2283


SCIENCE & TECHBELIZE TIMES WEEKLY

R E V I E W

Brazil approves use of genetically modified mosquitoes

23 April 2014 by Hal HodsonMozzies in Brazil could soon

be dropping like flies. On 10 April, Brazil became the first country to approve the commercial use of genetically modified insects when it gave the green light to GM mos-quitoes designed to control the spread of dengue fever.

Dengue fever affects more than 50 million people worldwide every year and can be deadly. Now biotech firm Oxitec of Oxford, UK, has genetically engineered males of the species Aedes aegypti so that their offspring die before reaching maturity. If released GM males mate with enough females, a population crash should ensue, dramatically reducing the chance

they will pass the dengue virus to humans.

Field trials of GM insect control have been under way for some time, including a recent test of Oxitec’s mos-quitoes in the Brazilian city of Jacobina, where mosquito populations plummeted by 79 per cent between June and December last year, the com-pany claims. In the US, where dengue has recently begun to reappear, the insects are up for approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

Thomas Scott, an ento-mologist at the University of California, Davis, says the modified mosquitoes could

help, but that the main problem with dengue control is that the traditional method of spraying insecticide often isn’t done correctly. “If you look at most endemic areas, people aren’t doing larval control thorough-ly enough,” he says. “By the time someone is sick, the virus has gone far beyond the 100 metres they spray around the house.”

Blanketing a country the size of Brazil with GM mosqui-toes would also be prohibitively expensive, he adds. But for targeted control on the scale of towns and small cities, the modified insects could prove to be a useful tool.

Giant solar farm uses molten salt to keep power coming

23 April 2014 by Hal HodsonIN THE searing heat 130 kilo-

metres south-west of Phoenix, Arizona, 3000 mirrors carpet hect-ares of desert. Part of a power plant that produces about 900 gigawatt-hours of electricity a year, they gather enough sunlight to power 70,000 homes.

This is Solana, the largest so-lar plant of its kind in the world, directly coupled to the biggest non-hydroelectric energy-storage system in the US. Opened in Oc-tober 2013, it’s a zero-carbon pow-er plant that could underpin the energy grid of the future.

I’m standing on a raised plat-form at its centre, decked out in clunky safety boots and a high-vis jacket. Thick pipes run away be-neath me like arteries, pumping oil out to the mirror field. There, it is channelled into thinner piping that runs right through the focal points of the mirror troughs, absorbing the heat of the Arizona sun until the oil reaches nearly 400 °C. It

then returns to the plant, where the oil superheats water vapour that spins two 140-megawatt turbines.

Six enormous white tanks sur-round the platform. Filled with mol-ten salt, they can store enough heat to keep those turbines spinning at full capacity for 6 hours. The oil from the mirror field unloads its heat into the salt when the generators are at capac-ity. These tanks are what make Solana truly useful, not just producing car-

bon-free energy for Arizona, but storing it for use whenever the grid operator needs it.

According to Haresh Kamath, who manages energy storage research at the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, Solana does a similar job to the coal and gas plants that provide the baseload supply un-derpinning renewable power. “It’s renewable energy but it’s also a balancing resource, which con-ventional photovoltaics are not,” he says. “PV is variable and can drop off very suddenly. You’ve got to have something there to pick up for it.”

A concentrated solar power (CSP) plant like Solana can play the baseload role because, un-like solar cells, it produces energy in the form of heat. Heat can be stored far more efficiently than electricity, as it does not need to be converted to other forms.

“The attractive thing about thermal storage, particularly with

Greening the desert..with mirrors (Image: Ed Gunter)

CSP, is that the round-trip efficiency is very high,” says Charles Barnhart, a physicist at the Global Climate and Energy Project at Stanford Universi-ty in California.

Brad Albert of Arizona Public Service, one of the state’s utilities, says Solana is a game changer. APS has agreed to buy Solana’s electrici-ty for the next 30 years.

More plants like Solana are due to come online in the next year or so. In California’s Mojave desert, Abengoa, the company which built and runs Solana, is constructing an even larger plant. Globally, CSP capacity is set to roughly double over the next three years as more plants come on stream, and a fur-ther 10 gigawatts of CSP has been announced worldwide.

For now, Solana is one of the few of its kind. Albert says its flexi-bility has already proved invaluable. “In the wintertime when it’s cold, we have a morning peak in demand at 6 to 7 am, an hour or two before the sun comes up. We’ll ask Solana to store energy overnight and start up a couple of hours before sunrise. How cool is that?”

Genetically modified mosquitoes could stop dengue fever spreading (Image: Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

Renewable energy could help underpin the grid now that the world’s big-gest concentrated solar storage plant is up and running in Arizona

belize times april 27, 2014

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