from the heart of the nation to the soul of the people no...

Wednesday, March 2 , 2011 Capital Weekly

No. 007 Wednesday, March 2, 2011 Price: $1.00

From the Heart of the Nation to the Soul of the People

Capital Weekly

New Roads, New Bridges

No New Taxes! Prime Minister Presents New Budget Next Friday

Contractor John Woods and Works Minister Anthony Martinez sign contract on Monday in Belmopan for paving of Southern Highway from the Dump to Jalacte

Prime Minister Dean BarrowMinister of Finance

See Story on Page 17

Over $100 MILLION fOr SOutherN BeLIze

Next week Fr iday March 11, Prime Minister Dean Barrow will present his new budget for fiscal year 2011-2012. We do not yet know the full details of the budget he will present, but the Prime Minister has already given us a good indication of what the figures will look like. And while he has not gone as far as to say, “Read my lips”, he has emphatically declared that there will be “no new taxes!”

“We expect that this will be a good budget, certainly and principally because, I repeat what I said a couple of weeks

ago, there are going to be no new taxes on the Belizean people this fiscal year,” the Prime Minister stated.

It’s a pledge he has made earlier and repeated in his quarterly press conference three weeks ago. And with the old fiscal year (2010-2011) almost completed, he laid out some of the preliminary figures indicating the government and the country’s financial position as we prepare to begin the new fiscal year (2011-2012).

“So far, as the numbers are looking at this point

This Monday, 28th February in Belmopan City a construction agreement was signed between the Government of Belize and Cisco Construction Ltd. who was awarded the contract for the upgrading to paved standards of approximately 23 miles of the road from Big Falls Village to the Belize Guatemala Border. The Contact totalling some Bz. $47,995,867.50, was awarded to Cisco Construction Ltd.

The contract is the largest this company has received to date. Notable is that Cisco Construction Ltd. bid as much as $10,000,000.00 below the

Continued on page 6

Continued on page 12

Capital Weekly Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Capital Weekly From the Heart of the Nation

To the Soul of the People

Published By: Roots & Rhythm Ltd.

15 Gibnut Street Bel-mopan

Editor & Business and Sales Manager:

Wilbourne Cuthkelvin

Chairman Editorial Board: Delroy Cuthkelvin

Telephone: 610-1284

Email: [email protected]

It’s here again, indeed, the La

Ruta Maya River Challenge, an annual

event that is only fourteen years old

but is already an entrenched tradition

and a major international attraction.

As we enter the holiday weekend,

the event is getting underway, the first

leg taking place on Friday, March 4. It

takes off from the Hawksworth Bridge

in San Ignacio/ Santa Elena, the first

leg ending at Banana Bank.

On Saturday March 5, the second

leg starts at Banana Bank, but rather

than ending in Bermudan Landing as

in previous years, that leg will now

end in Double Head Cabbage. (The

reason for the change, according to

organizers, is that the second leg

was too long and ended too late in

the night, causing safety concerns,

as rescue teams must remain on the

waters in standby mode until the last

vessel comes in.)

The third leg of the race takes

place on Sunday March 6, starting in

Double Head Cabbage and ending in

Burrell Boom.

The fourth and final leg is

scheduled for Monday, March 7, a

Public and Bank holiday, National

Heroes and Benefactors Day, in lieu

of March 9th, previously Baron

Bliss Day. That leg starts in Burrell

Boom and ends at the Belcan Bridge

in Belize City.

Who will win this year? We

can’t say, but a quick look back at the

standings in the past two years might

give us an idea of what teams have a

good chance of coming on top after

four days of fast and furious paddling.

In 2009, Belize Bank, always

a fierce contender, won first place in

the main race, the male professional

category, paddling a canoe called Tek-

It-Back, a quite fitting name as they,

being the 2007 champions, had lost

in 2008 to CPBL (Citrus Company of

Belize), and were determined to take

back the title in 2009, which, as we

noted, they did. They won in 2009

with an overall time of 17hours, 54

Minutes, 5 seconds.

In 2009, second place in that

category went to Koop Sheet Metal

and Caribbean Pride came in third.

In the pleasure craft category,

Print Belize came in first and Little

Big Hearts took second place.

In the Mixed Category, Bismillah

took first place and Don’t Blink came

in second.

In the Master Category, Program

for Belize took first place and Team

Jancunu came in second.

In the intra-mural category, Break

Away from the Pack came in first and

second place went to Baptist Blazers.

In the Dorey Category first place

went to D 3 E’s and second place to

Vida Purified Water.

Finally, in 2009, in the Female

Category, Rob’s Angels were

champions, with Team Police coming

in second.

Last year, 2010, Zip Rider

were champions in the main race

(Male Professional Category) with

Belize Bank coming in second, and

Caribbean Pride settling for third

place. The overall best time (Zip

Rider) was 18 hours, 41 minutes, 7

Paddle Yuh Own Canoe La Ruta Maya River Challenge Is Here Again!

(((Respecting the greatness of La Ruta Maya River Challenge, we’ve yielded our editorial space this week to accommodate a preview and historical perspective by one of the best sports analysts from the Belmopan/Roaring Creek area)

By Raynord Barbutt

Raynord Garbutt on the banks of the river at Banana Bank where the first leg of the race will finish

Continued on page 7


Belmopan Council Finds Resources to Fix Up the City By Vernon Cuthkelvin

Making Love Out of Nothing at all!

T h e B e l m o p a n C i t y Council is one that must be admired country-wide. Mayor Simeon Lopez and his team of active, hardworking Councillors coupled with an able staff of dedicated professional men and women have efficiently delivered quality service to the residents of Belmopan.

Traditionally, attention is given to elected bodies embroiled and engulfed in scandal; well at this desk we are proud to boast from the hill-top that this City Council works and works hard.

Several streets have been repaired and uplifted: Nim Li Punit, Trio, University Cresent, Cadena Mountain, Baldy Beacon, George Price Blvd, Mandarin,

Price Center, El Salvador, Raccoon, Humming Bird Drive, Ramirez and San Martin have all been graded and compacted.

The Salvapan Bridge is being repaired. A new sidewalk for pedestrians along with the replacement of a metal rail for this bridge is near completion. The clearing, cleaning and straightening of the ‘Ten Cents’ Creek which runs underneath the Salvapan Bridge is about to commence.

Notably is the fact that all these works are being done prior to the commencement of the Municipal Development Project (MDP) which is slated for later on this year.

Accord ing to Mayor Simeon Lopez the reason the Belmopan City Council has been able to address the needs of the residents of Belmopan prior to the MDP is because the Council is at its ‘high-season’ in revenue collection.

The Belmopan Civ ic Centre roof was gutted after the last hurricane and the entire roof has

since been replaced. The bus stop at the roundabout at the entrance of Belmopan also had its roof shredded by the storm, that roof has since been replaced as well.

New walkways are being constructed behind the Civic Centre to in front of the First Caribbean Bank and on both sides of Corozal Street which previously

had a missing section. The entire Paloma Street was paved through a grant from the Ministry

Street being wet and rolled in Mountain View Area Salvapan Bridge being rebuilt by City Council

Streets being graded and rolled in Mountan View Area of Belmopan

Continued on page 7

The Mayor and members of his technical team on the ground


PRESS RELEASE

BWEL STANDS BEHIND GOOD BUSINESS ETHICS

February 17, 2011: Belize Western Energy Limited (BWEL) first entered the Belizean market and LPG sector

some 20 years ago. Over the years, we have grown with the Belizean community and have now uccessfully expanded our services countrywide with distribution centers in all major towns and cities. Our company’s growth would not have been possible without the assistance, support and trust of you our valued customers.For this reason, we place a high premium on offering trusted service, value for each customer’s investment and establishing high standards and ethical procedures for ourservices and product delivery protocols.

BWEL stands by its customers and its commitment to high professional and ethical standards. Our company’s guiding principles emphasize fairness and offering quality andvalue for our customer’s money, as well as high safety standards. For the past years, we have progressively demonstrated our commitment to fairly serving our lients,guaranteeing quality and implementing all policies that will see not only to the service of our customers but the professional and ethical development of the LPG industry for Belize and Belizeans.

With that in mind, we have always diligently pursued several company protocols and initiatives. These include:

Α. Established safety protocols at our distribution centers.Β. Established a complete schedule and rigorously implementing that schedule for quality

assurance, operations and maintenance for all our plants and distribution centers. Aside from these internal procedures, we have been pursuing and will pursue other initiatives to continue to demonstrate our good faith and commitment to professionalism in our operations.

C. Continuing to work with local energy providers and business partners like BNE and the Government of Belize to establish a LPG sector that will offer quality and significantly more affordable LPG to our customers and the entire Belizean market.

D. Establishing a program that allows the client to witness the service and quantity of the product being pursued

E. Working with the Bureau of Standards to not only build on our internal quality assurance as well as operational and safety mechanisms and programs, but as well in establishing protocols for the entire sector that will ensure quality, value and safety in product and service for the Belizean people.

F. An official invitation has been issued to the Bureau of Standards to visit our LPG depots countrywide to do their own inspections for quality & safety compliance.

We continue to refute any attempt to malign our company and we are pursuing legal advice to ensure the restoration of our company’s good name and image.

We have worked successfully with Belizeans from all over the country to build a reputation and product that is of high quality and service that is fair and ethical. We will not stand by and allow any media house to injure our good name.

We thank you, our clients, customers and business partners who have stood by us over the years, and we assure you that our service and operations have been worth your confidence and trust.

BWEL“Energy is the Difference”


Math Fever Hits Belize City SSB Olympiad Central Regional Championship

The St. John’s College Gymnasium was filled with excitement as it hosted the last two regional competitions in the 2011 Belize Math Olympiad. St. Catherine Academy with team members Suraye Solis, Yelina Gough, Annie Li and Xux Ek’ Novelo won the Central A Regionals in the morning with a total score of 5,251 points advanced to the National Championship game. Gwen Lizarraga High School came in second in the Central A Regionals. A total of seven high schools competed in the Central A Regional game: Belize Rural High School, Gwen Lizarraga

High School, Nazarene High School, Pallotti High School, Sadie Vernon Technical High School, San Pedro High School and St. Catherine’s Academy.

I n t he a f t e rnoon , the Central B Regional Competition was also thrilling as the following six high schools competed to represent the i r r eg ion : Angl ican Cathedral College, Canaan S.D.A High School, Edward P. Yorke High School, Excelsior High School, Ladyvil le Technical High School and St. John’s College. At the end of the interesting game,

St. John’s College ended victorious as the Central B Regional Champs with a record score of 6,201 points. The record holders were Einer Marin, Yun-Te Teng, Aaron Stock, and Romel Rudon. Edward P. Yorke High School came in second place.

T h e o t h e r 2 0 1 1 Regional Finalists to compete in the National Championship on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 starting at 9.00 a.m. at the University of Belize Gymnasium in Belmopan are: Julian Cho Technical High School for the Southern Region, Belize Christian Academy

for the Western Region, and Corozal Community College representing the Northern Region.

The Social Security Board takes this opportunity to thank the 40 High Schools that participated in the 2011 Belize Math Olympiad and invites you to join us at the Belize Math Olympiad National Championship.

(Information and Photos provided by Marinela Vasquez Guerra of SSB)

Central A Champions St. Catherine’s Academy Central B Champions St. John’s College

Central B Sub-Champions E.P. Yorke Central A Sub-Champions Gwen Lizarraga

The Gwen Lizarraga Team in action Nazarene in Action though not as successful


BELIZE SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUND

BELIZE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

PROJECT STAFF – Administrative Assistant

STATEMENT OF CAPABILITY

The Government of Belize (GOB) has applied for financing from the World Bank (WB) towards the cost of a municipal development project to improve and maintain municipal service delivery in selected towns of Belize. The project comprises small-scale infrastructure improvements; capacity building for the municipality councils; technical assistance to central government in municipal management; and project management and administration. GOB has appointed the Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF) as the implementing agency for the project. It is intended that part of the proceeds of this financing will be applied to contracts for consultants to enhance the capacity of BSIF through the establishment of a Project Implementation Unit that will be responsible for project implementation.

BSIF is seeking to recruit an individual to fill the following position, the critical minimum requirements for the position is listed however, applicants are asked to view the detailed terms of reference:

Administrative Assistant

An Associate Degree in the Arts or Business Studies

Three years experience in the required field

The consultancies are expected to be for an initial period of twenty-four (24) months commencing in April 2011.

BSIF now invites individual consultants interested in undertaking the assignment to submit their Statements of Capability. In submitting their Statements of Capability, applicants should be aware that they will be assessed based on the following areas:

(a) Qualifications(b) Experience of the individual relative to the particular

assignment (c) Availability of Candidate for the proposed consultancy period.

The terms of reference for the assignments can be viewed on-line at GOB’s official portal http://www.belize.gov.bz or can be requested from [email protected].

One original and two (2) hard copies of each submission in the English language must be delivered by 3:00 pm on 4th March 2011 to:

Executive DirectorBelize Social Investment Fund3rd Floor, PAPI’s BuildingConstitution Drive Belmopan CityBelize

The sealed envelope containing the Statement of Capability must include the name and address of the applicant and should be clearly marked “Statement of Capability: Administrative Assistant, Belize Municipal Development Project”

BSIF shall not be bound to assign any reason for not selecting any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by the applicant in the preparation and submission

PUBLIC NOTICE Public Utilities Commission (PUC)

In exercise of the powers conferred upon it by Section

19(12) of the Belize Telecommunications Act, No. 16

of 2002, and Section 11(3) of the Telecommunications

(Licensing Classification, Authorization, and Fee

Structure) Regulations, 2002, and all other powers

thereunto enabling, the Public Utilities Commission

(PUC; the Commission) serves Notice this day, March

3, 2011, that the Class Licenses granted to the following

entities have been cancelled effective February 21, 2011.

a) Cyberbel

b) Internet Solutions of Belize

c) Satellite Connections

d) @applied Technology Co. Ltd.

e) Full Contact Ltd.

f) Clear Contact Ltd.

g) Mycuz.net

As a consequence these former license holders are not

authorized to provide telecommunications services in

Belize.

Issued by the Public Utilities Commission on March 03, 2011

No New Taxesin time, Total Revenues and Grant Receipts are currently at 559.6 Million Dol lars ,” the Pr ime Minister noted.

“Total expenditure is at 566.7 Million; so that there is an overall deficit, at this point in time, of 7.1 Million.

The good news is that currently there is a Recurrent Balance of 72.4 Million, and there is a Primary Surplus of 44.5 Million Dollars.

Total Revenue so far is 544.8 Million. That’s up by 44.5 Million compared to the similar period for fiscal year 2009-2010.

Where there has been a sharp decline is with respect to the Grant Receipts. In fact, those

have gone from 78.7 Million to 4.8 Million. (Of course, all sorts of pressures have come to bear on our traditional sources for grants.)

T h e i n c re a s e s i n revenue receipts from the Domestic Petroleum Industry, and from GST compensated to some degree for the slump in grants. Business Tax and Royalties from Petroleum totalled 49.3 Million dollars, and that’s 27.4 Million Dollars higher than the similar period in fiscal year 2009-2010.

In the case of the GST, collections rose by 24.8 Million to 140.9 Million, but I have to point out that that is still below the

Continued from page 1



seconds.

In the Mixed Category, No Limit

Soldiers (BDF) were first, while Lost

and Found certainly found their way,

coming in respectably at second place.

In the Pleasure Craft Category

won their third championship in this

division, and Crime Fighters (the

Police male team) came in second.

In the Masters Category, Jancunu

took first place and Grumpy Old Men

came in second.

In the Intra Mural Category, St.

Francis Xavier School were first,

with second place going to UB Black

Jaguars.

In the Female Category,

first place went to the Police Team

(Peacemakers), who had come in

second the previous year.

And, rounding off the 2010

winners, in the Dorey Category, Can’t

Ketch Me Down came in first and

Santa Familia took second place.

So, if you want to know who

are teams to watch this year, looked

back at who won in the last two years

should give you some indication. Of

course, in any competitive sport, there

is always some new and dangerous kid

on the block, and surprises can always

be expected. Then again, surprises

are only surprising if they are not

expected.

Male- Zip Rider, second place

Belize Bank, Third Team Caribbean

Pride (18hours, 41 minutes, 7 seconds)

Mixed category: No Limit Soldiers

(BDF), second went to Lost and Found

Pleasure craft: Print Belize (Three

time winner of this event- going for

their fourth)

According to the experts, some of

the teams to watch this year include

Zip Rider who are looking strong with

the same team of paddlers headed by

Jerry Rhaburn; Belize Bank, who are

always tough contenders; CPBL who

won in 2008 and Agro-Tech sponsored

by Minister of Agriculture Hon. Rene

Montero.

In the pleasure craft category,

Print Belize is certainly on top of the

list of favourites with two of its three

paddlers being seasoned contenders,

one of them Rudolph Gentle who has

been the team’s captain for 8 straight

years.

In the female category, the

favourites are the Police Team called

Peace Maker, featuring Jane Usher Jr.,

an experienced paddler and two new

team mates.

Zip rider is bringing the same

team- Team Captain (Jerry Rhaburn)

(2009 took in mixed category- didn’t

do good bounced back in 2010)

Print Belize will have two of the

paddlers, one new paddler (Rudolph

Gentle is the captain for 8 years)

So there you have it, the stage

having been set for the fourteenth

paddling of the La Ruta Maya Belize

River Challenge.

Some quick historical notes on

the event: The idea was born back in

the muid-1990’s when Jorge Garcia

of a Cayo based Radio Station called

Radio Ritmo led an environmentally

conscious cleanup of the banks of the

Macal River which passes though the

twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa

Elena. While on his cleanup campaign

the thought suddenly came to Garcia

that of organizing a canoe race down

the river. Garcia organized a one-day

race which was considerable success.

In 1997, Orlando Harrison,

expanding the dream, put a committee

together under the name of Belize La

Ruta Maya River Challenge, organized

the first four-day event which was an

instant and massive success.

Today, fourteen years later, is

an entrenched tradition and a major

international attraction with a huge

fan-base, who follow the race from

start to finish.

As to the participants in the race,

they come from as far away as Japan,

and include teams from England,

Canada and Houston (USA).

According to the current president

of the organizing committee, Roberto

Harrison, about 95 canoes are expected

to participate in this year’s race.

So competitive has the sport

of canoeing become in Belize, our

local teams are now travelling and

winning canoe races abroad.

Last year ’s La Ruta Maya

Champion, Zip Rider, paddled and

won first place in the Texas white

Water River Challenge 2010. Belize

Bank, previous champions, had also

done it.

The President of La Ruta Maya

Belize River Challenge is even

talking about preparing a team for

the upcoming Olympics.

Paddle Yuh Own Canoe, and let’s

get it on! Long live La Ruta Maya!

Paddle Yuh Own Canoe

Making Love Out of Nothing at all! of Finance to the Belmopan City Council.

The Belmopan City Council has even launched an Incentive Package for property owners in the city of Belmopan offering a discount package of up to 25% for early payment

of Property Fees. Senior Citizens, who are 65 years or older are also eligible for an additional 5% discount for any property in which they reside.

Absolutely no one would argue the need to pay

taxes to a Council that so efficiently serves its people. The Belmopan City Council is undoubtedly a shining example of what can be accomplished when the elected and the electors work hand in hand to accomplish a

common goal. Respect to Mayor

Lopez, the Councillors, the City Administrator and all the staff of the Belmopan City Council who work hard to serve Belmopan City. Keep up the good work.

Belmopan Civic Centre, roof replaced after Hurricane Richard Belmopan Bus Stop, roof replaced after Hurricane Richard




Sports Update

IIIsmael “Miley” Garcia National Sports Coordinator

Ministry of Sports

With Ismael “Miley” Garcia

T h e E X E C U T I V E DIRECTOR of the National Sports Council, Mr Anthony Michael, vacates office on Monday 28th February. Two months ago he indicated to Government that he would not renew his contract at its expiration and that time has now arrived.

In communicating to the Prime Minister his decision not to renew his contract Mr. Michael stated “The opportunity given to me by your Government for the last two years as Executive Director of the National Sports Council is one that I will cherish and be very thankful for the rest of my life...Nevertheless, there comes a time in one’s life where one must move on.” The Ministry of Sports expresses its gratitude to Mr. Anthony Michael for his service and wishes him well in his new undertakings. Mr. Patrick Henry will take up the Post of Acting Executive Director in the interim.

Things have heated up in the Interdepartmental Dominoes tournament and one of the finalists, Fire/Fisheries Departments , qualified this Thursday. The next finalist will be decided on Tuesday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Police Training Academy Canteen between Labour/NEMO and the Police Department Team. All are then invited to attend the Championship Match on Thursday March 3 at 7:00 pm at the E&L Sports Bar in Belmopan where ONE winner will take home $2,000.00.

The Sports Investigation Committee travelled to Corozal, Orange Walk and Belize Football Districts this week. The members interviewed representatives of the FFB in all these districts. All Districts have now been visited. The Ministry of Sports is keenly awaiting the report from the Committee with a view to moving this National Sport forward. While it is not the intention of the Government to run any national sport, the Sports Act clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of any and all National Associations representing or purporting to represent Belize internationally.

The Honorable John Saldivar salutes all those valiant canoeists who will brave the Belize or Old River (the oldest Western Highway) this March 4th weekend in the BELIZE LA RUTA MAYA CANOE RIVER CHALLENGE.

See CAPITAL WEEKLY Online in Living Colours at:

BelizeNews.com/Capital Weekly

The Ministry of the Public Service, Governance Improvement, Elections & Boundaries and Sports reminds the general public and, especially members of the football family, that the Sports Investigation Committee continues its work countrywide. The Sports investigation Committee is a special t e a m a p p o i n t e d b y Statutory Instrument 125 of 2010 in December, 2010 to review and establish the validity or otherwise of the appointment of the executives of the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) members, and the validity or otherwise of the FFB election of an Executive Committee held on the 18th December. It is also is investigating the validity of the decision of the FFB to disallow nominations for election to the executive by one of its members the Belize Premier Football League (BPFL).

The Ministry is awaiting the report to be submitted by the Committee at the end of its commission. In the meantime the Ministry notes that it does not recognize the new FFB Executive elected in that December 18th election. Similarly noted is that no application has been received by the National Sports Council by the

FFB for registration as a sporting organization for 2011. The Ministry will only recognize those sporting organizations that are duly registered with the National Sports Council as per the Sports Act Chapter 19. This clearly states that 3)”Every registered sporting organisation shall in the month of January in each year submit a list of the names and addresses of its office bearers to the Council” and 4) “ A sports organisation that has not been duly registered shall not be entitled to any of the privileges (Including use of equipment and facilities), concessions or exemptions granted to a registered sporting organisation and shall not be able to participate in any competitions or functions held under the auspices of the Council”.

Registered sporting organisations are reminded also that the Sports Act empowers the Minister to make regulations in respect of “the selection of national sports teams to represent Belize”. The Ministry, through the National Sports Council stands ready to work with all sporting organisations that are in compliance with the Laws of Belize.

END

MINISTRY OF SPORTS PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, March 2, 2011


Just the facts!Tropical Gaming Company of Belize Limited shares some Quick Lotto facts:

The Lotto Jackpot prize has BEEN AS HIGH AS $182,500.00

Lotto contributes to the Belizean economy in several material ways:

It pays 12.5% of its gross sales to the Government!

It pays Business Tax.

It pays commissions to its agents:

It withholds & remits to GOB 15% from all prizes paid out!

It paid a total of $1,474,519.00 in prizes last year!

Lotto: Easier to understand! Easier to play! Easier to win!

Look out for some more Lotto facts next week!

Groundbreaking Cermonies held in Maskall Old Center Brings New Center

Breaking Ground to Re-construct the Community Center The Old Delapidated Community Center

A project that will upgrade the Maskall Village Community Centre into a full hurricane shelter was officially launched on Tuesday March 1, at the project site. The project will benefit over 1,200 residents of Maskall Village, located along the old Northern Highway.

T h e p r o j e c t w i l l b e implemented by the Social Investment Fund and financed by the Government of Belize at a total cost of $176,000 under the Commonwealth Debt Initiative (CDI). The community of Maskall will contribute labour towards the project.

The project’s work scope includes replacing the existing corrugated zinc roof with a concrete slab and properly connecting the walls to the roof, strengthening of the foundation, construction of new columns to reinforce the roof, improvement to the walls, replacement of wooden windows with aluminum louvers, replacement of wooden doors with metal ones, construction of a four-unit bathroom facility by converting the exis t ing l ibrary in to bathrooms, rehabilitation of the kitchen area, rehabilitation of the electrical system including the installation of ceiling fans, and supply of picnic benches to support social activities.

An upgraded community centre will bring a sense of pride to the residents of the Village and provide them with a sense of security in the event of a natural disaster while visitors to the village will enjoy better facilities. Although Maskall has lost its centrality as a hub



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTBelmopan Bus Terminal, City of Belmopan, Belize C.A.

Tel: 501- 822-2038 Fax: 501- 822-3317 E-mail- [email protected]

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Department of Transport advises members of the public of the following aids to traffic safety:-

1) Put on lights when travelling on roads at night

and during early morning, late evenings and

conditions of dust, mist, fog and rain.

2) Don’t drive on the wrong side of the road

3) Don’t overtake going up a hill or any incline

4) Don’t over take when you cant see clearly ahead

5) Try to stop driving in the middle of the road

6) Make sure vehicle rear lights are working

7) Heavy equipment, houses and other oversized items

cannot be transported nor can big farm tractors and other

farm equipment be driven on roads after 6:00pm.

Old Center Brings New Center

Signing of Tri-partite agreement

for travelers passing through to the northern districts due to the construction of the new highway in 1980, it still prides itself as the largest village on the old Northern Highway and the host of the annual sporting activities such as football where other communities in the proximity are invited. More importantly, the upgraded facility will be used for numerous social activities including teachers in their homework program as well as members of the Public Health Department and the Belize Defense Force, and the soon to start first aid training program.

Maskall Village is located 38 miles North West of Belize City and 27 miles south east of Orange Walk Town on the Old Northern Highway. It is a predominantly Creole community but there has been a recent settlement called Spanish Town comprised of Mestizo persons. Maskall is a very old community, which was very vibrant before the construction of the new Northern Highway and is the second to last of eight villages on the Old Northern Highway including Boston, Lucky Strike, Rockstone Pond, Corozalito, Santana, St. Ann’s and Bomba.

Farming has remained the mainstay of Maskall Village but recent developments in eco-tourism are now providing jobs at local resorts, for tour guides and manufacturers of wood carvings that are mainly sold to the tourists. With tourists coming from San Pedro and entering the river from the sea, landing at Bomba and taking a tour bus to

Groundbreaking Cermonies held in Maskall Altun Ha, sometimes stopping at the well known Maruba Resort, this Village is once again recovering its vibrancy. A few of the residents travel to Belize City and Ladyville Village where they work as teachers, public servants and in the service industry.

The CSO 2000 Census lists the population of Maskall at 585 with 141 households showing a decline from 805 and 151 households in 1991. However, population is estimated at 1,200 as there is indication of recent settling on the periphery of the

village including Spanish Town.The guest speaker at the

project launching was the Hon. Edmond Castro, Area Representative for the Belize Rural North Constituency. Other speakers inc luded representatives of the Social Investment Fund and the Maskall Village Council.

(Information and Photos provided by Mike Hernandez Jr. J.P., Director of Public Relat ions of the Socia l Investment Fund)



The Transport Board hereby serves notice to all interested bus operators of the available schedule now in the Northern Zone as detailed below. Interested Operators are hereby encouraged to submit Road Service Application to any of the Department of Transport

Offices Countrywide no later than Monday 28th February, 2011. (Ministry of Transport, Communications and National Emergency Management)

NORTHERN ROUTE - BELIZE CITY TO SANTA ELENA FINAL FEBRAURY 16, 2011

NORTHERN ROUTE : SANTA ELENA TO BELIZE CITY FINAL FEBRUARY 16, 2011

Continued on Page 11


NORTHERN ROUTE : SANTA ELENA TO BELIZE CITY FINAL FEBRUARY 16, 2011


next competitive tender, and was the only Belizean Company that tendered for the job. This Big Falls- Belize/Guatemala Border Road Project which falls under the Project Execution Unit (PEU) of the Ministry of Works is financed by a loan to the Belize Government from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic D e v e l o p m e n t a n d O F I D (OPEC Fund for International Development) including the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), with counterpart funding contributed by the Government of Belize.

This project is expected to create hundreds of new, much-needed jobs in the South of the country. The project is estimated to be completed within three years.

Upon completion, the new highway will serve to enhance trade with countries within the region while making life easier for Belizeans who reside in that area and who traditionally load up their donkeys with corn to sell in Guatemala, where they are able to fetch a proper market value for their produce.

The need to establish a second and official Border Crossing with Guatemala in this location would help to prevent the numerous illegal incursions

into our territory. The official Press Release from the Ministry of Works states that the highway “will allow the villages located in the western part of the Toledo District improved access to Punta Gorda and the rest of the country”.

This latest signing comes on the heels of the Placencia Road Upgrading Project (PRUP) which was also signed by the Government of Belize and Cisco Construction Ltd. The Civil Works was completed in November of 2010. Funding

Completion of paving of Southern Highway from Golden Stream to Big Falls




Continued from Page 11 No New

Taxes !target of 155Million that we had expected to reach at the 9 month mark.”

The Prime Minister said the Statistical Institute of Belize had already given him an indication of what their preliminary GDP Growth estimate was for 2010, and that, in their belief, growth would be at least 2.5 percent.

That, as the Prime Minister had indicated in his New Year’s Address two months ago, is the highest growth rate in the entire Caribbean coming out of the economic recession, as only two other countries in the region are recording positive growth, those countries being Guyana and the Netherland Antilles at 0.8 percent growth. What better is that the Central Bank of Belize’s forecast for this coming year is yet more encouraging. That forecast is for 3.7% growth in 2011.

As we noted earlier, the Prime Minister will deliver his new budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 next Friday inside the National Assembly in Belmopan. The parliamentary debate is scheduled to take place the following week, and implementation of the new budget will begin on April 1st as is customary.



More Roads, More Bridges Over $100 MILLION fOr SOutherN BeLIze

for that project was provided by the Caribbean Developing Bank along with counterpart funding from the Government of Belize.

The scope of work for the PRUP included the upgrading of 20 miles of road to paved standard. This project extends from the Southern Highway to the airstrip on the outskirts of Placencia Village in the Stann Creek District.

A m a z i n g l y, a f t e r t h e completion of the tendered project for the Placencia Road, Government realized a savings which was then put towards the construction of the roundabout to facilitate the flow of traffic

within the adjoining main road into Placencia and the Southern Highway. This roundabout is presently under construction and nearing completion.

During the life span of this project, hundreds of new jobs were created by the Ministry of Works in the South.

The r ehab i l i t a t i on o f the Middlesex Bridge was successfully completed in August of 2010 and was officially inaugurated in December. That project included the replacement of the Truss Centre span of the existing crossing and the

widening of the entire structure to accommodate the flow of two-way traffic.

T h e K e n d a l B r i d g e Rehabilitation Project is well underway and is expected to be completed approximately in May of 2012. This project after a short evaluation period was signed by the Government of Belize and Cisco Construction Ltd. on the 28 September 2 0 1 0 f o r a p p r o x i ma t e l y $12,000,000.00 BZ for the execution of the prescribed Civil Works which commenced on the site on November 22, 2010. The scope of work includes

What the Kendall Bridge will look like when it’s completed, a new elevated and re-inforced design that will be resistant to flooding

Piles being driven for the new Kendall Bridge being constructed

Preparation of the approcahes for the bridge and re-training of the river at Kendall




Public Notice Public Utilities Commission (PUC)

On January 31, 2011, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), issued an Initial Decision in respect of the 2011 Annual Review Proceeding (ARP) conducted for Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL).

There were no objections made by BWSL or any interested parties in regards to the Initial Decision. Therefore, as required by Section 32 of the Water and Sewerage (Tariffs) Byelaws (Statutory Instrument No. 67 of 2002), the PUC hereby serves Notice this day, March 3, 2011, that it has adopted the said Initial Decision as the Final Decision in respect of the 2011 ARP for BWSL.

The Final Decision approves that there be no adjustments to the Schedules, Business and Investment Plan, the regulated parameters, or the rates, tariffs, fees and charges, as approved in the Belize Water Services Limited 2009 Full Tariff Review Proceeding Final Decision (Amended).

Consequently, the rates, tariffs, fees and charges approved in the Final Decision for the 2009 Full Tariff Review Proceeding (FTRP) for the Annual Tariff Period (ATP) of April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012, will remain in effect.

The full texts of the 2009 FTRP Final Decision and the 2011 ARP Final Decision are available for viewing at the office of the Public Utilities Commission, 41 Gabourel Lane, Belize City, and on the PUC website, www.puc.bz.

Issued by the Public Utilities Commission March 03, 2011


the construction of a 90m long structural steel truss bridge founded on driven steel piles complete with a reinforced concrete deck.

The injection of well over $100,000,000.00 in projects in Southern Belize under this UDP administration through the Ministry of Works has resulted in the creation of thousands of jobs. As a direct result of this Government’s investment confidence in the south, the private sector has responded in kind and has embarked on numerous multimillion dollar projects. This revived atmosphere, while creating a significant boost to the overall infrastructure stock of the South; has stimulated an unprecedented growth in the Construction Industry in which thousands and thousands new jobs have and will be created.

Private Sector Investment Projects in the south includes, The Ara Macao Resort in Placencia that is constructing a major marina which will cost well over one billion dollars. There is a new Airport which is presently being constructed in the south that will meet international standards and will no doubt compete with the existing International Airport in the not too distant future.

With over $100,000,000.00 invested by this Administration in the South and over a Billion by the Private Sector the people of Southern Belize can rest assure that more jobs, opportunities, infrastructural development and economic growth will be coming their way.

Roundabout being constructed at the junction of the newly paved Pacencia Road and the Southern Highway Continued from page 14


For more information visit your Belmopan City Council Offices at 36/38 Trinity Bld., Belmopan

Or call: 822-2271, 822-2319 or 802-3679


The Min is t ry o f Works has been doing a remarkable job countrywide. The Minister Hon. Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez humbly credits his all-star team of extremely competent and dedicated professionals with ensuring ‘value for money’ while maintaining a ridged time-frame in which projects must be completed.

Regular on site supervision of phase by phase of contracted works country-wide valuing millions are a routine for this high-powered team which is headed by the C.E.O in the Ministry of Works Mr. Cadet Henderson (an experience and technologically advance Engineer himself) along with the Chief Engineer Mr. Lennox Bradley, the head of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) Mr. Edgar Puga, the Manager of the PEU for the European Union Mr. Deon Pascasio all of whom are qualified Engineers. Zone Engineers responsible for their respective areas are Southern Zone Mr. Zerick Calles, Northern Zone Mr. Graciano Medina, and Western/Belize Zone Mr. David Novelo. The Engineer heading Belize City Southside Alleviation Project Mr. Ervin Timbrel and two new Engineers: Mr. Rolando Chan and Mr. Esmond Segura. There are two architects who complete the team Mrs. Natalie Pelayo and Mr. Guerra.

Over the last fiscal year much as been accomplish for the people of Belize by the Ministry but the seemingly never ending works continues. In September of this

Minister of Works says It’s all about Team Work


Hon. Anthony MartinezMinister of Works

The Newly Paved Placencia Road


Official launch for National Dialysis Program

The Government of Belize and The Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with World Organization of Renal Therapies (WORTH), Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) and La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital (LLLAH) launched two new Haemodialysis Centres, one at KHMH, Belize City and the other at La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital (LLLAH), Cayo District

on Friday, February 4th, 2011. An official ceremony was held in Belize City for both centers, following which there was the unveilingof commemorative plaques at both KHMH and LLLAH.

D r. Wa y n e T r e b b i n , P r e s i d e n t , W o r l d Organization for Renal Therapies (WORTH) and a small team were on hand for the official opening. Dr. Michael Pitts, Director of Health Services and chair of the Haemodialysis program celebrated with the team on finally seeing the realization of this project.The task force gave contributing remarks along with other officials of the Ministry of Health

on the special occasion. Nurses and technicians of the program for both units were also present for the opening. They have experienced both theory and practical training in the program and they also haveparticipated in the treatment of several patients since September 22nd, 2010.

Both dialysis units have the capacity to dialyze up to eight cases per day with four

functioning haemodialysis machines and two addi-tional stand-by machines. A patient selection committee has been established. They will be responsible for the selection of patients for dialysis treatment based on criteria set by the Manage-ment Committee.

This venture by GOB, MOH, WORTH, LLLAH and KHMH wi l l cos t approximately BZ$1.8 Million annually which is largely subsidized by the Government of Belize. The Belize Social Security Board, Belize Natural Energy (BNE) Limited and The Challenge Golbe Foundations of BNE also contributed towards the completion of the program.

Mental Health Training for Community Nurses

The Ministry of Health, Mental Health Program in collaboration with the Pan Amer i can Hea l th Organization and the Mental Health Association, hosted a launching ceremony for a training project in Mental Health for Community nurses on Friday February 18th, 2011 at the University of West Indies Auditorium, Belize City. Deputy Director of Health Services in Nursing, Ms. Marjorie Parks gave remarks at the launch. She mentioned that the training will enhance the ability of nurses to provide a holistic care to patients not only in the physical and social

Dental Department receives donation

The Dental Department of the Ministry of Health was pleased to receive a donation of three portable dental chairs from the Humanitarian Endeavors Foundation of Utah, U.S.A. A humanitarian mission of the foundation visited Belize during the week of February 20-26th, 2011 to assist the dental department with its school’s campaign program. Flouride cleaning and treatment was offered to students and teachers at the Ladyville Roman Catholic

School, Ladyville Seventh Day Adventist School and at Ladyville Evangelican Primary School. Dr. Raphael Samos, Senior Dental Surgeon, Ministry of Health received the donation from the team leader of the Mission, Dr. David Hadley.

The training will covers approximately 170 community nurses over a 3-month period from February to May 2011. The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus will conduct the training through a curriculum they have developed. Participants will be receiving a UWI certificate at the completion of the project course.

Ministry of HealthBelmopan822-2325/2363

Ribbon cutting at KHMH Dialysis Unit Jose Cruz Dialysis Unit, LLAH, San Ignacio

Deputy Director of Health Services - Ms. Marjorie Parks

Dr. Raphael Samos, Senior Dental Surgeon receiving chairs

Ministry of Health Monthly Publication

well being but also in mental care. The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the conditions of mental health services in primary health care and also to improve the competencies of the community nurses in mental health.


Paving is Underway on the Orange Walk - San Lazaro Road

Making Life Better for all Belizeans Countrywide

-The Ministry of Works and Your UDP Government


BELIZE WATER SERVICES LTD.and

THE BELIZE WATER SERVICES WORKERS UNION

PRESS RELEASEBWS and BWSWU signs new Collective Bargaining Agreement

The Board and Management of BWS and the Executives of the BWSWU proudly announce the finalisation of our new collective bargaining agreement which was successfully renegotiated and made effective December 1, 2010.BWS’ Management and the BWS Workers Union, recognizing the importance having a satisfied work force and fair work practices, made every effort to improve on the previous agreement. The BWSWU represents over 95% of BWS’ permanent non-management employees. Negotiators on both sides worked cooperatively and tirelessly to complete the revisions to the previous agreement, which had time-expired in November 2009, but remained effective until the new agreement was finalised. In this Picture : From Right to Left.

Mr. Herman Longsworth - Chairman BWSMr. Alvan Haynes - Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Ivan Williams - Labor CommissionerMs. Lorelei Westby- BWSWU President

This new agreement has been reviewed and endorsed by the Labour Commissioner, Mr. Ivan Williams. The Agreement was officially signed on February 21st 2011 in the presence of the Labour Commissioner. The Board and Management of BWS extend their appreciation to all those involved in the process and offer their congratulations for a job well done.As provider of the most essential service to the Belizean populace, BWS and BWSWU are pleased with our long history of working cooperatively together to continuously improve the level of service to our customers and consumers. We continue to focus on improving the delivery of service, both to our existing customers and to as much of the population of Belize as we can reasonably reach.

We are proud to be the best water utility in the Caribbean, and to be recognised by our customers as the utility delivering the best continuity of service within Belize! Needless to say, we are proud of our hard-working employees who help to make it happen!


year the San Ignacio/ Santa Elena Bypass Project will commence. This project involves the construction of the new high level bridge structure across the Macal River including the upgrading of several main arteries linking the San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town. (See story: Capital Weekly dated January 23rd.2011)

There is a new bridge for the Haulover Creek that has already been approved with funding coming from the Government of India to the tune of 10millionUS dollars.

The Northern Highway Corridor Project is for the rehabilitation of the Northern Highway between Buttonwood Bay and the Burrell Boom Road Junction.

The Rio Hondo International Crossing Project which involves the redesigning of the traffic circulation within the Border Management Facility and the upgrading of the road from the Police Check Point to the Santa Elena Border in Corozal is expected to commence this month.

The Grand Daddy of all these projects is in its second phase that is the Southside Poverty Alleviation Project Phase 2. This phase will cost approximately 32 million dollars and is funded by the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) with counterpart funding from the Government of Belize. This project is expected to commence this month beginning with the infrastructure works and thereafter the implementation of the Housing, Social, and Educational components.

Much has been accomplish by this Minister and his Ministry over the last Fiscal Year. In Belize City the City Council had more than its share of problems. The Ministry of Works went in to resurface, redress, pave and build several streets and drainage. The last disaster that devastated the Southside of Belize City saw the Minister Hon. Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez and his team of dedicated professionals and labourers rise to the occasion to replace and repair many homes while removing fallen trees and debris left on the streets, in the yards and in the homes of many Belize City residents. This Ministry with the full support of the Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow was able to accomplish this feat in record time never before seen in the history of this country or the region for that matter. Kudos to the Prime Minister, the Minister and his team, your work was not in vain.

Minister of Works says It’s all about Team Work

The Newly re-constructed Middlesex Bridge



Making Life Better for all Belizeans Countrywide

Riding Quality so good now, you can cruise on your Horse and Carriage with your Cell-Phone to your ear

Big Improvement on Little Belize - Chunox Road

-The Ministry of Works and Your UDP Government

from the heart of the nation to the soul of the people no...

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