belize times september 28, 2014

THE BELIZE TIMES 28 SEP2014 4

Officer Down!

0404

by Opposition Leader Hon. Francis W. FonsecaIndependence Day Address

City of Belmopan, September 21, 2014

My Fellow BelizeansUnlike any other day in our Na-

tional Calendar, September 21st imbues us with patriotic senti-ment and a deep sense of national pride whether you are here, or you live elsewhere. Indeed the entire month of September is regarded as our most patriotic month with homes, parks, office buildings and vehicles lavishly adorned with dec-orations and our streets and mon-uments festooned with flags and streamers in our national colors.

In between savoring the soul-ful Afro-Caribbean rhythms of sweet steel pan music and delight-ing in the wildly creative costumes of Carnival, our abiding sense of history and gratitude should oblige us to pause to pay collec-tive tribute to the founding fathers of Belize’s nationalist movement: George Price, Antonio Soberanis, Philip Goldson and Leigh Richard-son.

It was the vision, courage, sacrifice and tireless work of these national leaders, over decades, that swelled the powerful head-waters of our freedom movement and burst the dam of colonial resis-tance to sweep us to our rightful date with independent self-deter-mination.

But we must take care not to fall victim to the tendency of history to focus solely on leaders. Let us not forget the tens of thou-sands of courageous Belizeans all across the country who rallied to the call to throw off the shackles of colonialism, courageous in the belief that we were ready for In-dependence and could construct a free state on the foundation stones of self-government.

On the morning of that first September 21st in 1981 George Price, the Father of the Nation de-clared that Independence was not just a changing of the guard but a chance to create a new society in which each Belizean man and woman would be assured of a fair opportunity to improve his stan-dard of living in the new Belize.

Our task, as contemporary national leaders, is to strive with a sense of purpose, direction and urgency to deliver on this promise of Independence.

We recognize that Indepen-dence is not a single isolated event. It was just the first import-ant step in the ongoing task of building a nation.

This involves a sustained commitment by all Belizeans to work towards a national vision; to toil tirelessly in the fields of na-tional endeavor; to respect other cultures and ethnicities; to protect and uphold the rights of our indige-

nous peoples and to forge a society united in its commitment to justice and equality for all.

We celebrate the 33rd anniversary of our independence amidst a world in tur-moil. The emergence of ISIS threatens to once again unleash the dogs of war and fragment global stability in to alliances of “good” and axes of “evil” and draw the in-ternational community inexorably in to the global war on terror.

The continuing crisis in Northwestern Europe portends the coming of a new cold war between NATO and the west and Pu-tin’s Russia.

The latest seven-week war between Israel and Hamas has left an estimated 2100 Palestinians dead, mostly civilians and children, and some 64 Israeli soldiers have also lost their lives.

Viewed against this global tapestry of terror and turmoil, Belize remains relative-ly peaceful-even while we are not quite the tranquil haven of democracy we once boasted of. Our challenges even appear by rigorous comparison to be tame. But they are real nonetheless.

Real for the hundreds of families who have lost loved ones to senseless violence unleashed in the urban terror that besieg-es Southside Belize City and is slowly spreading to other population centers of the country.

Like the global war on terror, the bat-tle to stem the rushing tide of violence by marginalized Belizeans, especially our youth who have very little to lose, can nev-er be won with brute force and aggression and without understanding and focusing on the root causes of the problem and without investing more in people and less in meager, unsustainable handouts.

The political rewards may be less tan-gible immediately but ultimately our nation will be better off socially and economically.

While we are grateful that we do not have to face incoming rocket fire across our borders as in Israel and Gaza, we rec-ognize that we are nonetheless at war. A war we are currently losing.

Even as we celebrate in our towns and cities across Belize, deep inside the magnificent Chiquibul and other protected rainforest areas of our country, hundreds of acres of our pristine national patrimony are being lost to illegal farmers, miners, and extractors of xate and rare artifacts. Virtually all originate from our neighbor, Guatemala.

Precious hardwoods and important wildlife, including endangered species are being illegally harvested and hunted.

And our water security is being im-periled from contamination and pollution through illegal and indiscriminate activities from those coming across our borders.

We are a country of limited financial resources but the situation demands that we re-prioritize so that we can invest in adequate security infrastructure, including helicopters.

Without the ability to quickly reach our borders, patrol our seas and safeguard our natural resources, proclaiming our sover-eignty and territorial integrity risks becom-ing nothing more than empty, clamorous

rhetoric.I say to every Belizean in cities, towns

and villages; in sugar cane fields, in cit-rus factories, on banana farms, on the seas fishing, in the tourism sector, in our schools and churches, in our health insti-tutions, to public officers and the workers preserving our rainforest and marine re-serves, keeping our communities clean, caring for our elderly and disabled, to the youth of Belize;

I say to you: RISE UP. AWAKE. It is NOW tomorrow’s noon. And each and ev-ery one of us has our part to play in build-ing on the hopes, dreams and aspirations of independence.

We are the sons and daughters of George Price, the inheritors of Soberanis, the heirs of Richardson and Goldson. God’s goodness may have given this land to us, to honor and to love-but it was given, above all for us to sustainably develop and preserve. Let us join hands, hearts and minds in the service of that sacred task for our nation.

Belizeans do not expect miracles from their leaders. What they want, what they truly expect is that we act to fulfill the true promise of independence which was so hard-won 33 years ago.

They expect us to recognize and ac-cept that we are servants of the people and that each day we are honored with the responsibility of public service, we work tirelessly to resolve the many challenges facing our nation.

We cannot buy our way to a safe soci-ety; we all must make the necessary sac-rifice and investment to achieve it.

We cannot protect the ordinary cit-izen against abuse of power by keeping our eyes closed and our mouths shut, we must speak out against injustice and cor-ruption whenever or wherever we see it, in our homes, our businesses, our com-munities, on our streets, and in our gov-ernment.

A publication at the time of Indepen-dence in 1981 entitled: “The Road to Inde-pendence” states:

“With Independence a serious task faces the Belizean people-not only to trans-form a society marked by centuries of co-lonial exploitation and dependency, but to build a national unity shattered by decades of political strain under the weight of the Guatemalan claim.”

In 2014, we are unquestionably united in our rejection of the unfounded claim but new threats to national unity of our own making have arisen.

A growing political divide grounded in a troubling brand of governance which offers no regard or respect to duly elected representatives of the people who do not belong to the Party in Government.

Political Parties are important and nec-essary but once elected to Government, that Political Party and its Leader have a solemn duty and obligation to serve the people of Belize wherever they may live and regardless of whom they voted for.

The nation’s resources are not the pur-view of any one political party. There must be equity and respect for all our communi-ties across the country.

Today, my fellow Belizeans, we must quietly resolve that ours will be a united and dedicated mission of nation-al renaissance, renewing our commit-ment as a people to build an egalitarian society based on social justice and eco-nomic achievement.

I myself am resolved, unshakeable in my belief that together we can build our nation with pride in ourselves.

We can become an efficient, for-ward-thinking, forward-planning and united nation of 350,000 people that uses its natural resources in a sustain-able way, secure in social justice and confident in the hope of real political and economic change.

A country where our children will raise our grandchildren and their chil-dren with a shining future to look for-ward to. That should be our dream, our hope, our goal. Not just to promise change. To deliver change. To achieve change.

That change must result in real, purposeful economic reform, gover-nance reform and health and education reform.

Economic reform is about building a creative, innovative, dynamic econo-my which attracts investment and cre-ates jobs.

In 2014 no one credibly questions the importance of investment, both domestic and foreign, to national de-velopment. The challenge is to attract investment that is compatible with the goals and aspirations we have set for ourselves as a nation and people.

Similarly, by focusing on sustain-able employment we assure sustain-able economic growth and develop-ment.

Governance is about the systems and structures in place which deter-mine how the collective wealth and resources of the nation is managed, allocated and distributed, and ultimate-ly the quality of life that each of us as citizens enjoy.

Governance is about you, your family, your community, your country.

It is entirely unacceptable that as we celebrate 33 years of Indepen-dence there is no functioning Public Accounts Committee and no Integrity Commission.

The absence of oversight means waste, inefficiency and corruption.

Education and health reform re-main essential ingredients for real na-tional development. These reforms are about preparing our youth, our work-force, our people, both mentally and physically, for full and active participa-tion in the work of nation building.

As written in the “Road to Inde-pendence”: “ the victory of Indepen-dence belongs to each and every Be-lizean throughout this history who in no matter how small a way, demonstrated by his or her action, their conviction that nothing is more abhorrent than slavery in any form, and that nothing is more precious than freedom and indepen-dence.”

I wish you all, on behalf of myself, my family, my Party, a peaceful, safe and Happy Independence Day!

¡Feliz Día de nuestra Independen-cia a todos en nuestro país!

May God Bless each of you, your families and our beloved Belize!


– Freetown’s Mr. Quitar?

THE BELIZE TIMES28 SEP 2014 15

Rule 46

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE REGISTRATION RULES

(CAP. 9)

RegistrationOffice CayoNorthElectoralDivision 28 West Street SanIgnacioTown

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoareregisteredaselectorsintheCAYO NORTH ELECTORAL DIVISION,andwhomayhaveobjec-tiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.

DATEDthis1stdayofOctober,2014

Signed: Jerrylyn Bruce REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo North Electoral Division

Rule 46


(CAP. 9)

RegistrationOffice CayoNorthEastElectoralDivision 28 West Street SanIgnacioTown

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoareregisteredaselectorsintheCAYO NORTH EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION,andwhomayhaveobjectiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.


Signed: Jerrylyn Bruce

REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo North East Electoral Division

Rule 46


(CAP. 9) RegistrationOffice CayoCentralElectoralDivision 123GeorgePriceHighway SantaElenaTown

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoare registeredaselectors in theCAYO CENTRAL ELECTORAL DIVISION, andwhomayhaveobjectiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.


Signed: Isabel Gentle AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo Central Electoral Division

Rule 46


(CAP. 9)

RegistrationOffice CayoWestElectoralDivision KennedyStreet BenqueViejoDelCarmen

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoareregisteredaselectorsintheCAYO WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION,andwhomayhaveobjectiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.


Signed: Brendalyn Staine AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo West Electoral Division

Rule 46


(CAP. 9)

RegistrationOffice BelmopanElectoralDivision ConstitutionDrive BelmopanCity

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoareregisteredaselectorsintheBELMOPAN ELECTORAL DIVISION,andwhomayhaveobjec-tiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.


Signed: Eneida Vargas REGISTERING OFFICER Belmopan Electoral Division

Rule 46


(CAP. 9)

RegistrationOffice CayoSouthElectoralDivision ConstitutionDrive BelmopanCity

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoareregisteredaselectorsintheCAYO SOUTH ELECTORAL DIVISION,andwhomayhaveobjectiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.


Signed: Eneida Vargas REGISTERING OFFICER Cayo South Electoral Division

Rule 46


(CAP. 9)

RegistrationOffice DangrigaElectoralDivision 19YemeriRoad DangrigaTown

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoareregisteredaselectorsintheDANGRIGA ELECTORAL DIVISION,andwhomayhaveobjec-tiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.


Signed: Georgia Bell AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Dangriga Electoral Division

Rule 46


(CAP. 9)

RegistrationOffice StannCreekWestElectoralDivision 19YemeriRoad DangrigaTown

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoareregisteredaselectorsintheSTANN CREEK WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION,andwhomayhaveobjectiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.

DATEDthis1stdayofOctober,2014 Signed: Georgia Bell AG. REGISTERING OFFICER Stann Creek West Electoral Division

Rule 46


(CAP. 9)

RegistrationOffice ToledoEastElectoralDivision 41APrinceStreet PuntaGordaTown

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoareregisteredaselectorsintheTOLEDO EAST ELECTORAL DIVISION,andwhomayhaveobjectiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.


Signed: Mildred Guzman REGISTERING OFFICER Toledo East Electoral Division

Rule 46


(CAP. 9)

RegistrationOffice ToledoWestElectoralDivision 41APrinceStreet PuntaGordaTown

NOTICE TO ELECTORS

ALLPERSONSwhoareregisteredaselectorsintheTOLEDO WEST ELECTORAL DIVISION,andwhomayhaveobjectiontotheretentioninthatregisterofthenameofanyotherpersonenteredthereinpriortothe30thdayofSeptember,2014,arenotifiedthattheymuststatetheirobjectioninForm14Atotheundersignedbythe31stdayofOctober,2014.


Signed: Mildred Guzman REGISTERING OFFICER Toledo West Electoral Division

ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT - NOTICE TO ELECTORS - 2014


For SaleBy 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 Mortgagee under a Deed of Mortgage made the 17th day of May, 2011 between Crispin Jeffries of 189 Belizean American Site, Hattieville Village, Belize District, Belize, of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 912 of 2011 at Folios 1217 – 1284, 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.

SCHEDULE

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 152 containing 827.78 square yards situate South of the Western Highway, near Mile 17, Hattieville Village Ex-tension, Belize District, and bounded and described as shown by Plan attached to Minister’s Fiat (Grant) No. 846 of 2005 TOGETHER with all buildings, erections and developments standing and being thereon.

DATED this 16th day of September, 2014.

MUSA & BALDERAMOS LLP91 North Front Street

Belize CityAttorneys-at-Law for

Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd.


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 February, 2005 between MARCUS NUNEZ of Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District, Belize, of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 7 of 2005 at Folios 125 – 192, 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.

SCHEDULE

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 142A comprising 800 square yards situate in Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District and more particularly shown on a plan of survey of lots laid out in Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District by Government Sur-veyor W. P. Christie dated July 12th 1965 registered at the Lands and Survey Department, Belmopan in Tracing No. 6 of Hopkins Village TOGETHER with all buildings, and erections standing and being thereon.






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 12th day of July, 2004 between REGINA BAIDE of Pomona Village, Stann Creek District, Belize, of the one part, and Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd., of the other part, and recorded in Deeds Book Vol. 22 of 2004 at Fo-lios 59 – 88, 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.

SCHEDULE

ALL THAT piece or parcel of land being Lot No. 2 and comprising 835.844 Square Metres situate in the New Pomona Village Site, near Mile 11, Stann Creek Valley Road, Stann Creek District, bounded and described as shown by Plan No. 10 of 2004 attached to Minister’s Fiat Grant No. 10 of 2004 TOGETHER with buildings and erections standing and being thereon.





BY ORDER OF CHARGEENOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL

HOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED a statutory bodyformedandregisteredundertheCreditUnionAct,Chapter314oftheLawsofBelize,RevisedEdition2000,andwhoseregisteredofficeissituatedatNo.1Hyde’sLane,BelizeCity,BelizeDistrictherebygivesnoticeofitsintentiontoexerciseitspowerofsaleasChargeeunderandbyvirtueofaChargeregisteredattheLandRegistrybetweenKenrickJones(Deceased)SuretyforNessieJonesandthesaidHolyRedeemerCreditUnionLimited.

HRCUwillattheexpirationofthreemonthsfromthedateofthefirstpubli-cationofthisnoticesellthepropertydescribedintheSchedulebelow.

ALL offerstopurchasethesaidpropertymustbemadeinwritingtoHOLY REDEEMER CREDIT UNION LIMITED fromwhomfullparticularsandconditionsofsalemaybeobtained.

SCHEDULE

ALL THAT pieceorparceloflandcomprising508.9squareyardsbeingParcel63,Block16 in theCaribbeanShores/BelizeRegistrationSectionsituate atNo. 5865CornerSeashoreDrive andBroasterAvenue,BelizeCity,BelizeDistrict,TOGETHER withallbuildingsanderectionsstandingandbeingthereon,thefreeholdpropertyofKENRICK JONES (Deceased) Surety for NESSIE JONES

DATED the11thdayofSeptember2014

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

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


HABET AND HABET ad

In my perspective…We all could learn from Sir Barry!

by Rayford YoungOn September 21st Belize celebrated

its thirty third year of independence. How-ever you may feel about Independence it’s a month of parades, floats, concerts and people just having a good time. What always amazes me is the turn out and how people can enjoy themselves and be patriotic after seven years of hardship and unemployment being the highest in modern times.

You cannot tell people are hurting from the smiles and the joy you see on their faces in the parades. I was told so many times that I had to check out the Sir Barry Belikin Bash. Everyone said to me it’s the best festivity, you got to come. Well I was kind of embarrassed to say the least; I didn’t know what was the Sir Barry Bash but it gave me a chance to do a little research and what I found is amazing indeed. This is my kind of guy.

Eric Bowen, originally from San Ignacio District, Cayo, District, founded a lemonade factory called Bowen and Bowen (and also known as the Crystal Bottling Co.) in 1930. The company would eventually grow into Belize’s largest bottler under his son, Barry.

Barry Bowen completed his bachelor’s degree at Cornell University and returned to run Bowen and Bowen with his father Eric. They began distributing Coca-Cola products throughout what was then known as British Honduras. Barry Bowen became the manager of his father’s company in 1968. In 1971, the family-owned Bowen and Bowen acquired the Belize Brewing Company, maker of Belikin, which was first brewed in the late 1960s.

As of 2010, the Bowen family-owned brewing company controls virtually the entire beer market in Belize, as imports of brands from Mexico and Guatemala are prohibited. Belikin is now the country’s only domestical-ly produced beer, following the failure of its competitor, Charger beer. The company cur-rently brews several brands of beer - Belikin, Lighthouse lager, Belikin Supreme lager, and Belikin stout, as well as Guinness stout under a licensing agreement.

In December 2007, Queen Elizabeth ll knighted Bowen as a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. Bowen was killed around 5:30 p.m. on February 26, 2010, when the Cessna 206 he was piloting crashed on approach to the airstrip at San Pe-dro Town, Ambergris Caye. Bowen was 64 years old. (Wikipedia.com)

What I like most about Sir Barry is that he never forgot where he came. Every year in September for three nights Bowen & Bowen sponsors free live concerts as a way of saying thank you to the people of Belize. A time to bring the whole family for fun and entrainment and the people come out in huge numbers.

What I also like about Sir Barry is that he made his wealth from hard work, innovation, experiment and taking chances. That’s what entrepreneurship is all about: taking risks and if you succeed you are entitled to all the financial rewards it brings.

As of lately thought that idea is not the norm anymore. Too many have found an-other way to gain wealth without the hard work or innovation. Today there’s an eas-ier way: become a politician. In Belize the system is set up for this kind of behavior you are accountable to no one. The ruling party is in control of everything, from the finances of the country to the judges and the police department. Therefore the politi-cians can do as they please with no fear of being caught or investigated. The Govern-ment Ministers are Kings. They have the authority to hire and fire as they please. No government employee better cross them.

Many of the government Ministers today were average citizens before they became Ministers. In seven short years they are millionaires living large in man-sions, driving SUVs and many of their kids are in Universities abroad. Unlike Sir Barry these politicians don’t produce a product or take the risk of marketing a product, in-stead they are takers. They are the worst kind of human beings that take from the poor to enrich themselves and their family and friends. How can you live in Belize City and drive around and see the conditions so many of our citizens live in and drive to your mansion knowing your fellow citizens are living in deplorable conditions? The problem in Belize is that we don’t have a system of check and balances.

How many of these politicians, like Sir Barry, would consider giving back some-thing to the community. After all it’s not yours anyhow. Do you think the Hon. Boots Martinez Minister of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Allevia-tion, could donate one of his pool tables to some poor youth so they have something positive to do after school? Or give one of your many apartments to a single moth-er who is trying to raise her kids but just need a helping hand? Or what about Hon. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Natural Resourc-es and Agriculture? This man has provided so much land for his family and friends it should be a scandal. How about giving a poor family a parcel of land since you have so many? How about the Prime Minister returning BTL to its rightful, legal owners? Don’t hold your breath. Thieves don’t give back or share. They are always in search for more and it’s never enough.

This thirty-third anniversary of Belize’s Independence I would say it’s a mixed bag. For the politicians, it’s been a great ride into prosperity. But for the masses, it’s been a horrible, dysfunctional economic disaster especially these past seven years. People that were elected to be the watchdogs and the protectors of the country’s treasurers and resources have turned out to be its big-gest looters.

Sir Barry’s contribution and patriotic love of country will live on for eternity. To-day’s politicians will be marked as the most corrupt, self-indulging hypocrites known to man and rightfully so. You were elected to lead the country to a better place. Instead, you took and took and that makes you an unpatriotic Belizean who chose to serve self rather than the people you were elect-ed to serve.

Rayford Young is a Belizean-American, who currently lives in Michigan, U.S.A. Send comments to [email protected]


GOB Ignores Home Mortgage Crisis Barrow’s BandaidBelize City, September 24, 2014

In his unwrapping of yet another political gimmick that will once again see the UDP Gov-ernment use public funds to lure votes, Prime Minister Dean Barrow exposed the ignored crisis in the mortgage sector which has seen thousands of Belizeans lose their homes and properties.

These losses are a direct result of the eco-nomic decline under the Barrow Administration. While the Prime Minister beats his chest about an imagined 8.7% GDP second quarter growth, Belizeans are living zero growth with the high cost of living, heavy taxation, high unemploy-ment and no salary increases. The hundreds of homes that are advertised “FOR SALE” in the weekly newspapers are proof of this.

Barrow has, in the past, complained about the private banks’ killer interest rates and has even threatened to use his executive power to force the interest rates down through regulation by the Central Bank, but it has been nothing but talk and talk. This has been disappointing and unfair, especially considering that in Belize ev-eryone is affected by Government’s policies or in this case, inaction. The UDP Government pre-tends that their poor management of the econ-omy has nothing to do with the loan mortgage failures.

The Prime Minister is well aware of the magnitude of the crisis, and his so-called “re-lief” for those feeling the brunt of it, the home mortgage owners, is short-sighted and de-ceptive. Barrow’s version of relief is that GOB will pay the December interest rates for all home mortgages that were originally less than $100,000. That’s it!!

There is no new policy that addresses the long-term challenges of this crisis. No cap on interest rates for mortgages bases on family in-come. No new regulation requiring banks to join the rest of the world in reducing their interest rates. No protection for thousands of Belizeans trapped in the foreclosure madness. The Gov-ernment simply put a band-aid for December and maintains the status quo.

Belizeans have reacted to the Government’s proposal. Most are concerned that GOB will once more dipping its hands into public mon-ies to finance its political gimmick. This type of politics is deceitful and very detrimental to our country’s growth and development.

5 year old accuses classmate of sodomyCity of Belmopan, September 24, 2014

Belmopan Police are investigating a report by a 5 year old boy and his family that he was sodomized by another child at his school.

The child reported to the Police that he was assaulted by a 5 year old boy in-side the bathroom of the school. Follow-ing their report to the Police, the child was examined by a medical doctor who confirmed that there had been anal pen-etration.

The mother told the media that last week Tuesday she picked up her son at the school when she noticed that his un-derwear and pants had blood stains. She said she asked her son what took place, and he told her what happened. Feeling terrified, she reported the incident to the school authorities and then the Police.

She added that she is disappointed that

no one has taken action. She feels that the school and Po-lice authorities are dragging their feet.

This week, when class-es resumed on Tuesday the

allegations. They have also disput-ed that if the incident had occurred in the school’s bathroom, it would have been detected by one of their school wardens who is always posted near the bathroom.

mother and concerned resi-dents held a protest outside the school gates, calling on the school officials to act.

The school has reported that they are investigating the


The Queen of the Bay Committee thanks all who by their generosity and support made the selection of the 69th Queen of the Bay Pageant a successful event including those listed below. Thank you.

Prizes – Queen of the Bay Pageant 2014

QUEEN DESIGNATE, MONISHA STUART, MISS BELIZE CITY – REPRESENTING PITTS HOUSE – RECEIVED:

Coronation Dress sponsored by Joycelyn Codd: Elda HulseDegree Scholarship to UB from Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education$1,000.00 from Hon. Dean BarrowOne TABLET from FultecOne Digicel Prepaid Package from Belize Temedia One Necklace from Cynthia Nunez$100.00 Beauty Treatment from Mapye’s Beauty World$100.00 Beauty Treatment from Joyalel’s Beauty LoungeGift basket from Grace Kennedy BelizeGift basket from Francis Coye$100.00 Gift card from James Brodie and Co.Two $100.00 gift cards from MIKADO

1st Runner-Up, Jasmine Rhamdas, Queen of the Bay, Belmopan – Received:$1000.00 from Simon Quan & Co.Tablet from Courts Belize1 Gift Basket from Roses Paper Products2 Gifts from HofiusFrom Ellison Flowers – one gift certificate at Becky’sA gift card from Habet & Habet

2nd Runner Up, Carmelita Lara, Queen of the West – Received:$500.00 from Barrow & Williams$300.00 from Douglas SinghGift basket from Southside MeatsFrom the Beverage Division at Karl H. Menzies a gift basket

4 scholarships from a Belizean in New York

Prizes for other finalists sponsored by Public Service CommissionConsolation Prizes sponsored by Social Security Board, SMART Belize, Price Premier Products

Miss Amity – Tamika Miranda - $200 from Bradley’s ImportsMiss Photogenic – Jasmine Rhamdas - $300.00 from Atlantic BankMiss Eloquence – Carmelita Lara – St. John’s Credit Union $200.00 Saving CertificateBest Talent – Monisha Stuart – Civil Service Credit UnionBest Dressed – Monisha Stuart - $100.00 from Beas Creations, $200.00 from Brother’s Habet

The Om Shanti & Reiki (pronounced rake-e) Center hosted a yoga session for the candidates.

Each Candidate Received: A handbag from Geraldine Kingston, photos of the week’s activities – a fan from a Belizean in New York

Bouquets prepared by Florasol; by Mark HulseTabulators – Jason Pascual & crewSecurity provided by KBH Security

Sponsored by September Celebrations were: the Pageant Venue, the Lights/Sound & Music, the Sashes and posters which were prepared by Creative Marketing, Reggie Rodriguez the Pho-tographer for the week, AND Expenses for the 10th and 21st 0f September.

The Venue & Refreshment for Sashing Ceremony was sponsored by SPOONAZ Café

Expenses during year of Queens’ reigns sponsored by Central Bank.

Sponsors:Prime Minister, Hon. Dean BarrowHon. Manuel HerrediaBliss Centre for Performing ArtsBelize Biltmore Plaza – one week accommodation for Queen/Candidates/ChaperonesEuphrates Auto Rental & Price & Co. - transportation for Queen & Candidates from 24th August to 10th SeptemberFx Auto Body ShopPrint Belizie – TicketsDevelopment SolutionsKBH SolutionsKBH SecurityCarpet PlusHorse & CarriageBiWay Gift ShopJules BoutiqueThe BELIZE TIMES POSITIVE VIBESWAVE TV, LOVE, KREM, LIK ROAD, BBN, The Guardian, MORE FMMatus TaxiSuprem Creations

Restaurants & Persons who provided mealsHon. Manuel HerrediaMayor Darrel BradleyCommissioner of PoliceMarlin’s RestaurantMr. and Mrs. Dean FullerMarvas RestaurantChateau CaribbeanChon Saan PalaceConningsby InnK&M RestaurantMr. and Mrs. Ian MorrisonPUCDiversified Life Solutions