Independent reformer

independent210 ( .pdf )

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The testimony of Mr. Troy Gabb,
Former CEO of the Development Fi-
nance Corporation (D.F.C.) com-
menced Monday, March 5, 2007 in the
D.F.C. Commission hearing at the
B.I.M. Building in Belize City. His
former boss, Glen Godfrey is expected
to take the oath later today and is ex-
pected to be accompanied by legal
counsel as were Gabb and David
Courtenay before him. The majority of
witnesses, mostly employees and
former employees, did not have the
added security or luxury of having legal
counsel to provide aid & comfort.
The hearing was aired live on at least
three radio stations as public interest is
quite high, supremely so. But we can
expect no explosive testimony as the


Ad


Testily


Former D.EC. CEO Troy Gabb testifies before the Commission of Inquiry.


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witnesses today will be guided by legal
counsel and there is nothing to suggest
that Mr. Godfrey will be pointing to
where the bodies are buried, despite his
earlier public overtures to elements of
the other mass party, the UDP
While there has been constant ref-
erence to DFC legal advisor Gian
Ghandi, there is no indication or tes-
timony that he Ghandi directly partici-
pated in the fleecing of D.F.C. He sim-
ply gave legal advice, some of which
were taken while others were not. Mr.
Ghandi has served in various capaci-
ties in both the Musa & Esquivel gov-
ernment with seamless transitions.
Whether Queen's Council Gian
Ghandi will be called to testify remains
to be seen.



I fizzles


B.T.L. provision of Internet Service
was abruptly interrupted on Monday,
March 5, 2007 and when available it
has been spotty.
The Union had issued an ultimatum
three days earlier warning that mid-
day on Monday would be the dead-
line for reemployment of all four B.T.L.
employees terminated earlier, or else.
As INdependent Weekly goes to
press on Monday, we are monitoring
the situation with the other services
B.T.L. provides.
Many are claiming that Lord
Michael Ashcroft is calling the shots
at B.T.L. and has decided to flex his
muscle again by firing chief Union
Negotiator Christine Perriott, in the
middle of negotiations.
It will be recalled that whilst the
Honorable Chief Justice had numer-
ous rulings ignored by Ashcroft-con-
trolled B.T.L., that company has sim-
ply refused to comply with the rulings,
leading to much speculation from the
callers to the morning call shows that
this company is above the law.
The legally recognized chairman
(from a ruling by the Hon. Chief Jus-
tice himself), Jeffrey Prosser, has been
trying every avenue to take back


B.C. W.U. leader Paul Perriot calls for a
show of hands to support the union's
position after BTL dismissed his wife,
Christine Perriot last Tuesday.
what is legally his; but the Lord, with
Musa's obvious blessing, has muscled
Prosser out, literally.
Prosser's recent efforts may have
triggered apparent suspicion in the
Ashcroft camp that the Telecommu-
nication Union leadership has been
coluding with Prosser. Musa has to
be worried about Prosser because
Prosser's legal team has stated in a
Florida mediation court that monies
were paid out to Musa in excess of
what government claims. The Musa


government has been adamantly tell-
ing the people that all they got from
Prosser was a promissory note.
We have previously opined in this
paper that the Lord is indeed the ma-
jor force that wields tremendous in-
fluence over the executive and legis-
lative branches of Government. Un-
due influence.
Therefore, Mrs. Perriott's extraju-
dicial termination is simply another
manifestation of a highly compromised
Musa government crippled by its love
for money, at the expense of the rule
of law. Mrs. Perriott has become the
victim of political enrichment policy at
B.T.L., a policy engineered by the
Musa regime and apparently executed
flawlessly and ironically by the former
head of the Financial Intelligence Unit.
Let's not forget B.T.L. has engaged
in a massive money laundering scheme
as documented in their 2005 annual
report to shareholders.
The only solution lies in the Prime
Minister's hands. He had better talk
some sense into the Lord's head or head
back to Whitehall to give him another
tongue lashing. Let us see how much he
loves this good country and its laws that
have been so good to him.


Inside this Issue


The Independent &
Alternative Parties
pg 3


Buds-get Reading
2007
pg.4


Tourism Minister
ignoring PG
pg.10


Jaguar Express
pg. 15


N J Ll








Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 2


Edtoia Dieco























MebCulac


















!]I fEX e ditor TT

Karla Heousn ero


GtSt pt meneral' Manager J


TreorVeno


W YES!


SHADY

Dear Editor,
I noticed during the past town
board elections the propensity of
politicians and political hopefuls to
don 'shades', the black opaque
type or, my favourite, the reflective
type, while campaigning.
The ever stylish shade is being
worn for more than just protection
from the sun. They are most useful
when you have something to hide,
like those stoned red eyes, or if you
want to avoid eye contact. They
can help you 'look cool', or they
can provide you some anonymity.
But what does it do for politicians
and those hopefuls? It leaves them
looking shady. Why can't politi-
cians, bureaucrats and other offi-
cials meet the public or press with-
out their eyes being covered? What
are you afraid of? Getting a little
sun in your eyes? Can't take the
limelight? Afraid of being recog-
nized? Afraid people will see your
shifty eyes? Or that people may
catch a look in your eyes and see
the 'real' truth? That people will
see you for who you really are?
That you are trying to hide some-
thing? As politicians shouldn't you
want to connect with people?
Show them they can trust you?
One of the most important things
you can do when looking for sup-
port from people is to look them in
the eyes when speaking to them,
make eye contact when talking to
a crowd. Connect with people us-
ing the sincerity and honesty that
comes from your eyes....unless you
don't have either of those qualities,
and in that case keep the shades on!
With elections once again loom-


Sherry Gibbs
San Ignacio


ing upon us political hopefuls will be
coming out in droves wanting to
meet us, talk to us, and to ask us
for our vote. And all the time they
will be decked out in some faux de-
signer pair of opaque shades, while
spewing about 'their vision', the
'clarity' of issues, and where they
'see' the country going. Maybe
they should try taking off their
shades to get a good look of what
is really going on. And we could
then get a good look at them.
My first impression upon picking
up the Feb 23 edition of The
INdependent was "who is this guy?
He looks like a thug!" Then I read
he is the PNPs party leader, I
thought, "I can't trust someone who
doesn't have the decency to re-
move his shades while meeting with
the public, how rude!"
And then I thought he looks like
so many other guys with shades on.
Maybe this is all being done on pur-
pose. Maybe they really don't
want you to know who they are so
if they lose, with the shades off they
don't have to hang their heads from
a loss; but if they win, with the
shades off they won't look like the
person you voted for, thereby let-
ting them get away with what ever
they want.
I challenge all those planning on
running in the next election to ex-
pose themselves to us, the elector-
ate. Let us look you in the eyes as
you ask us for our vote. No shades,
please!
It is "Under the shade we flour-
i'h", not "Using shades we flour-
i'h", so step out of the sun if you
can't take the heat.


independendent.newspaper.bz@gmail.com
P.O. Box 2(666
Bclic Ciit. Beli/c
Send me 6 months of the INdependent Reformer for as little as
BZ30(00 ()( IS$30.00 international)


1 1 '11. I P I

.itlit

t-SIii. W.

I m -iii tilit


ESTAP deaf?!?
Dear Editor,
As I read more and more articles
on the Toledo Eco-Park, I am tempted
to write something I know about the
concept. The eco-park plan consists
of the ecotourism development and
conservation of forests, caves, Mayan
temples, waterfalls, sink holes and the
(Maya and Garifuna) people along
with their traditions and culture.
I can recall that in 1995-2003 TEA,
PGCC and community leaders be-
came very active and were enthusi-
astic to begin the implementation of
the eco-park plan. But unfortunately,
ESTAP never listened, nor even
helped promote this concept of a
park.
In 2003 a Memorandum of Under-
standing was signed by TIDE, PGCC,
TEA, Peace Corps, TDC, Alcades
Association, Village Council Associa-
tion. These major organizations and
important personnel signed because
they believed that the eco-park plan
is ready and worth a trial. During the
last five years the TEA executive
board was dormant, but now we have
new officers that are eager to revive
and disseminate more information
concerning the Eco-Park.
As a Mayan from Toledo, it hurts
me a lot to read reports from surveys
conducted in Toledo which reveals
that 1 out of 10 children is classified
as suffering from mal-nutrition. Now
after every workshop and meetings I
attended, it is very clear to me that
there are many financial support to
fund viable projects. My question is
"Why permanently keep Toledo in
poverty?" It is time to make a change.
We suggest that the Government of
Belize, NGO's and funding agencies
(Please Turn To Page 15) E r


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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 3


Parties


By: RavAuxillou
The new trend in the INDEPEN-
DENT newspaper is encouraging. That
they are serious about trying to achieve
political reform I find beneficial for the
future direction of Belize as a strong in-
dependent nation. The stronger the
debate, the more successful the even-
tual results.
Since this is an election year and
events to the next general election are
rushing at us faster than water pouring
over Clarissa Falls, I think the Indepen-
dent newspaper should be lending or-
ganizational advice to the new budding
political parties attempting to overthrow
the entrenched two party system. How-
ever it works out, such furor and de-
bate can only be for the betterment of
the country down the line.
The entrenched two parties are al-
ready polluted by natural "greed and
self interest" from elected representa-
tives. It should be kept in mind by the
Independent Newspaper that any third


By: Des Parrette
WOW! We have a whole litter of
new alphabet clubs willing to stand up
and challenge the deeply ingrained Blue
and Red Party fascism, and although we
have to admire the courage displayed,
and their lofty goals, no one seems to
have any real plans to get the jobs done.
It's sort of like a group shipwrecked
on an isolated island trying to elect a
king, with all the candidates promising
to rescue them. How? Well, don't
know yet, but elect me king and then I
will figure it out. Sorry, but that boat
won't float.
The People's National Party (PNP)
promises accountability in courts and
government, and accountability is a key
issue. Within 100 days PNP says it will
collect all the monies stolen from the
People. Now wouldn't that be some-
thing? And the first thing they are going
to do is clean up corruption. Holy Grou-
per! They are also going to make it
easier for children to go to school, and
focus on people needing jobs. Lofty
and desperately needed goals, but Will
Maheia, having shown some good
leadership qualities over the years, may
eventually devise the way to a rescue.
Vision Inspired by the People (VIP)
has a full, detailed and reasonable plat-
form published. VIP doesn't really have
a plan of action but they want to reduce
corruption by adopting good adminis-
trative procedures and legal safeguards,
elect honest and competent represen-
tatives; take some of the power away
from the cabinet and give it to the legis-
lature and courts; strengthen the Gov-
ernor General's Office; establish the
public referendum; institute campaign


parties will also become quickly pol-
luted should they achieve elected office.
It is only human nature at work! It is
very important that new third parties
have their philosophies and political re-
form manifestos printed in the newspa-
per for the public at large to debate and
decide to whom they will vote. Most
effective to my mind, is that besides
political reform promises, time limit of
120 days to achieve those reforms, if
they get a landslide majority should be
made.
The PUP did something like this nine
years ago and then disappointed us all
with sham charades of cosmetic reforms.
The Referendum Act comes to mind.
The Senate Reform is another disap-
pointment as examples.
The new third parties should print and
spell out in detail what they intend to
reform and when, with a time limit, if
elected to office. Without these things,
I would vote for the old guard. Better
the devil you know, than one you don't.



is but N

reforms; and generally build a bigger bu-
reaucracy. This party has some good
ideas... at least on paper... but there
doesn't seem to be clearly defined lead-
ership. Paul Morgan carried the flag
for the Mayor's race in Belmopan, but
nowwhat....?
I have yet to see that We The People
(WTP) has any real plan of action... but
they are the only party that has proposed
the Senate be an elected body. This is
probably the most important innovation
on any platform right now. Whois their
leader right now? Is Francis Gegg still
involved, or is the party lead by
Hippolito Bautista? Enquring voters
want to know....
Cornelius Dueck's National Reform
Party (NRP) has a full slate of candi-
dates and a few good goals, but like
the rest of the parties it has no plan of
attack. NRP is going to eliminate cor-
ruption (join the crowd), crime and
poverty; and they promise better
schools and hospitals. They don't know
how they are going to do it though. I
am concerned however by the state-
ment of their leader, "If Christians ran
Belize there would be no corruption."
By the Prophet's Beard and Buddha's
Belly! Christianity has the bloodiest
history ever, filled with murder, corrup-
tion, treachery... you name it. And
which Christianity are you talking about?
It seems there was also a Green Party
wandering around PG for awhile, but it
seems almost invisible already. That's
a real shame because Belize has some
serious environmental issues that need
attention.
So what do we have? Well for one
thing we have a lot of voters who are


Teaching them how to conduct a vot-
ing campaign and funding same are two
different things. No sense having some-
body run for the party who can't pay
bus fare to party meetings. Most WTP
runners in the last election couldn't even
pay their own $200 entry fee into the
political arena. It is not unusual to see
new elected representatives get swell
headed and unable to handle the au-
thority given to them by the voters.
Government by committee is not al-
ways effective either and budget posi-
tions, formulas for paying for national
development are subjects that new as-
pirants in new parties are going to have
to have workshops and study groups
quickly, to bring third parties up to speed
in time for the new election.
There is the matter of party and vot-
ing organization, with party block cap-
tains, getting out the vote chapters or-
ganized and making voting lists, moni-
tors of new names being added to the
roles as well as ballot box supervision


during the election. Certainly each new
aspirant of any third party should know
his electoral division voters intimately
and it is too late to start a few months
from now. It must be started right now
to be effective.
Good coverage by the Independent
which claims to be a rebel political re-
form newspaper can do much to help
these newbies get organized in this po-
litical contest. Reporting on individuals
aspiring for office and how prepared
they are would stimulate activity from
all parties.
Time is indeed running out very fast
and these third parties need encourage-
ment and assistance in organizational
political campaign skills from now. It is
not enough to throw the pirates out of
office, you don't want to end up with a
new set of on the job political trainees
learning the ropes as they go along,
especially once the power of ministe-
rial discretion takes hold.


O Substance

fed up and disgusted with the corrup- Enough voters in fact, that if you put
tion and incompetence in government. (Please Turn To Page 13) U ,







V\
A > 1 ^ \b __ JCK


mlt


VISTA DANCE STUDIO

Director: SISTIE FAIRWEATHER -HARMES
10th annual

DANCE RECITAL

to be held at the

BLISS Performing Arts

6;00 p.m. on Sunday April 1, 2007

TICKETS; Adults $20 Child $15

Phone: 225-3064 or available at door







Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 4



Buds-get reading 2007


By: Karla Heusner Vernon
I am stretched out in the hammock
listening to the reading of the budget at
the House on the radio. No longer con-
fined to the prim and proper behavior
of the press box, I can suck my teeth,
even shout at the speakers (on the con-
sole, not in the National Assembly) like
the rest of the Belizean public.
Somehow the whole thing seems so
utterly divorced from the reality real
Belizeans face. The presentation is so
dull, I feel rather sleepy....
Madam Speaker I rise this morning
to present what the Buddies-get for
2007-2008. Unfortunately the Prime
Minister could not be here due to ah,


er, illness. Yes, I have the doctor paper
right here, signed by the CEO, I mean
a doctor.."
"Thank you, Minister of Money-we
do appreciate your standing in for the
leader of the nation this morning and we
wish him a speedy recovery."
"Madam Speaker, I wish I had good
news to share with this good country.
But I do not. Basically Belize is broke
and this exercise isjust that, exercise. I
have lost a good five pounds carrying
these books and receipts around with


me to the various Ministries trying to get
some accounting of how they spent the
money we did not give them last year,
although they submitted detailed plans
of proposals of the various projects and
wage bills. The truth is simply we did
not have the money we allocated for
them because it had to be spent on in-
ternational debt servicing, related fees
and commissions and expense accounts,


vehicles for the ministers and their driv-
ers.
"But enough of the pleasantries. It
says here that the Consumer Price In-
dex rose by 4.3% and that all major
commodity groups were affected espe-
cially Transport, Communications, Rent,
Water, Fuel and Power. Madam
Speaker, I admit this figure is slightly
understated. It is probably more like a
43%, particularly for fuel. Bu we in gov-
ernment believe the consumers have
brought this on themselves due to their


mismanagement of their salaries and
savings. And sheer laziness. Sorry to be
so blunt.
"Why can't Belizeans take a couple
of hours off each month to go to Mi-
ami, Panama, or Montevideo, or even
Chetumal? They too could save on gro-
ceries and access duty free gas like
those of us in government. Why do they
insist on having flush toilets when out-


houses, even canals, were good enough
for their grandparents and still are for
thousands of people in the rural areas?
"It is this avaricious imitation of US
lifestyles they see on television that is
driving up the consumer index, Madam
Speaker!
"Would you pay $9.35 a gallon for
premium fuel for an old gas hog some
relative sent you from the States because
they are trying to get rid of it? Of course
not, you would do the sensible thing like
we all do and sign a voucher for diesel
and change your SUV every two years
to keep it current and from being dam-
aged by all those potholes being im-
posed on the Ministry of Works by all
these trashy old cars!
Government is working so hard to try
and make a better life for our friends
and family, to acquire as much land and
property as we can during this, our last
term in office, but we are continually
being asked for handouts to pay for
luxuries like water, electricity, school
books! Belizeans were historically a
humble people, Madam Speaker, but
now they want us Area Reps to pay for
(Please Turn To Page 13) l*W


Basically Belize is broke and this
exercise is just that, exercise.


, "Buay! He mi tink dot he da I)onald Trump! Now 2008,
dey kicka eena e rump!"


<,


Z7 t=-








Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 5


EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS: whl we must take stick


By: Trevor Vernon


A Psychology professor of mine told
me almost any discussion of race pro-
duces an "emotional trigger" in the au-
dience. These emotional triggers are
universal, affecting most people to some
degree or another, no matter where they
were born and raised, no matter what
colors) their parents are, or their own
perception of their own skin color.
Too many of us allow others to drop
phrases, turning our world upside down.
We simply flip when they pull our trig-
gers, cast aspersions on our class, our
color, our children's complexions, the
texture and color of our hair...
The theory is, if you know what your
triggers are and can control your reac-
tion when someone tries to control you
this way, you can better control your
life, your destiny, your everything. In
other words, knowing yourself is an in-
dispensable defense whenever you are
under attack, in any setting, including the
political arena. Correction: Especially in
the political arena.
Our leaders, both political and cul-
tural, have gotten very good at making
people feel bad about things their par-
ents, grandparents, even ancient ances-
tors, did or decisions they made in
some other time. Their ability to draw
on an arsenal of collective feelings of
guilt or inadequacy has given them a big
negotiating advantage. Be aware of that.
Don't let them rent space in your head.
Recently we have been hearing a lot
of people saying they are being discrimi-
nated against because of their color.
People call the radio stations and relate
how they were at a certain restaurant,
or shop or hotel and they felt they were
treated like second class citizens. They
believe tourists, or even Central Ameri-
can immigrants have more privileges
than Creole, BlackBelizeans do in their
own country.
Ironically, often the incidents occur in
restaurants and other public places
where young migrant girls (who barely
speak the Queen's English) work as
waitresses and/or shop assistants. This
too is a super-sensitive issue between
the groups of non-Spanish speaking
Belizeans and non-English speaking


migrants who now just happen to have
gotten a passport and voters card. Elec-
tions are fast approaching and the rul-
ing politicians are alleged to be regis-
tering aliens left, right, and center. Huge
powder keg. Beware.
Some of these incidents are unfortu-
nate and probably more frequent that
we care to admit. There are many inse-
cure, racist people in this world. But I
suggest to you perhaps Belize has not
really changed for the worse, that his-
torically, "race issues" typically get most
inflamed WHENEVER and WHER-
EVER economic stagflation becomes
the order of the day and the side effect
of elections looming large.
Life in Belize today has become a
major economic nightmare with sky-
high prices on consumer goods and
basic food stuffs, consumption taxes
(10% GST) on the poor-- fuels
(100%), utilities, runaway inflation,
coupled with a mounting external debt
brought on by unspeakable and despi-
cable acts of blatant and shameless rap-
ing of the nations assets by the political
gangs.
People, of all colors, are suffering.
Badly. Worse of all, they feel helpless
to change their own situation, feel vic-
timized by "the powers that be." Vic-
timized-just as their ancestors were
victimized- by those other "powers
that were" way back when.
We must be careful and responsible
enough not to allow the economic deg-
radation of our country by the political
establishment to push us into the realm
of raw racial insensitivities, of uncon-
trolled emotions getting the better of our
logic and reason. Of people getting so
incensed by perceived slights and insults
that they begin to react with mindless
violence and with hate... like they tend
to do in T&T and Guyana, for example.
Because this is precisely the reaction
the politicians crave. Remember, most
of them are cold, callous creatures that
will most certainly push this country to
the point of no retum just to protect their
ill-gotten gains and their dubious politi-
cal power. We CANNOT allow this to
happen. We must learn the lessons of
history to ensure that we keep the po-
litical directorate in check to preserve
our once tranquil haven of
democracy... as well as to ensure the
maintenance of the stable race relations
and diversity that we all prize so much.
Each of us must look inward and
identify our emotional triggers. We must
acknowledge that certain issues, even
words, not only make us uncomfortable,
they make us angry. That we might say


and do hurtful things, in response to
someone throwing words at us or im-
plying we are less important than an-
other group or individual.
If we are able to honestly say to our-
selves: these are the things I will not al-
low anyone to try and bait me with, to
distract me from the REAL problems
of the day, we will not only sleep better,
but be better Belizeans.
You simply cannot pre-judge
people, expect them to present them-
selves in a certain way all the time,
and spend your entire life waiting for
the boot to drop. If you do this, you
will never hear what that person re-
ally has to say because you may be
so obsessed with the expectation of
an emotional trigger you may well miss
the beauty of a perfectly normal in-
teraction with people who don't look
exactly like you do, or speak exactly
like you, or share a same cultural
value, but who have values that may


not be so different from yours.
This race issue is a big emotional
trigger and a great many people, be-
cause they can't handle it rationally,
get turned off by any discussion of it
or go to the radical extreme of play-
ing it up... I believe we need to cel-
ebrate the diversity that is Belize while
at the same time rationally and con-
sciously identifying and controlling our
emotional triggers, specifically as they
relate to race. We need to focus on
what has REALLY gone wrong in this
country and fix it, instead of allowing
ourselves to be sidetracked, or set on
each other like wild animals for some-
one else's political or financial gain.
We have the greater responsibility
to guard against this because we have
the greater vision for a better Belize.
We obviously care, about Belize and
each other. If we didn't, we would
have given up and left already.


Mf-AM SUS.TolFre 80-2-33


The operations of the United Nations agencies resident in
Belize (PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF, which are
all organized in the United Nations Country Team) are guided
by the Belize United Nations Development Assistance Frame-
work 2007 2011 (http://www.undg.org/content.cfm?id=331)
and cover the following thematic areas: Human Rights and Mil-
lennium Development Goals, Governance & Decentralization,
Education, Child Protection, Health Systems & Services, Sexual
& Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS, Adolescent Mobiliza-
tion and Development, Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable
Natural Resources Management, Social Communication and
Results-oriented Monitoring and Evaluation.
The UNCT wishes to establish a joint database for a more
efficient and harmonized process of recruiting national con-
sultants for the agencies' programmes and projects in the above-
mentioned thematic areas. The UNCT therefore is now inviting
experienced and skilled national consultants, individuals as well
as legally established firms, to submit the necessary informa-
tion to be included in this database. Consultant firms are re-
quested to submit the profile of each individual member of
staff. The provided information should contain the following
information fields: a) an up-to-date CV containing name, mail-
ing address, telephone & email, legal status, education qualifi-
cations and relevant work experience; b) thematic areas) of
expertise, and; c) a listing of consultancy services & products,
delivered over the past 4 years.
Information should be forwarded electronically to UNDP
Belize at undp.bze(@btl.net







Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 6


Rich Nations prodded


on


By: Emad Mckay
Industrialised countries that knowingly
lent billions of dollars in "irresponsible"
debts to corrupt and dictatorial regimes
in poor nations should cancel the debts
and reconsider their harmful policies, a
new study says.
The study by international anti-debt
campaigners argues that some debts
owed by developing countries should
not be paid at all.
"This is because creditors bear a large
part of the responsibility for having ex-
tended loans irresponsibly and negli-
gently, says the study, "Skeletons in
the Cupboard -Illegitimate Debt Claims
of the G7".
The report says that the Group of
Seven (G7) most industrialized nations
- Canada, France, Germany, Japan,
Italy, Britain and the United States -
lent money to regimes they knew to be
corrupt or repressive in order to buy
political allegiance.
The non-governmental organizations
behind the report contend that the G7's
newfound emphasis on corruption,
good governance and transparency
lacks seriousness since those nations still
refuse to apply the same principles to
their previous economic practices.
"Creditors need to be held account-
able for the bad decisions they have
made and share responsibility for mis-
takes," said Gail Hurley, of the interna-
tional debt think tank EURODAD.
"It is not acceptable for the G7 to
preach good governance to developing
nations while at the same time collect-
ing debts that were corruptly made,"
Hurley said.
She was referring to politicians in
industrialized nations who have recently
put fighting graft high on their agendas,
saying they want to make sure that tax-
payers' money is well-spent and not
wasted by corrupt elites.
Other groups behind the report in-
clude the Italian group CRBM,
Erlassj ahr in Germany, PARC from Ja-
pan, Plate-forme Dette et
Developpement from France, the Jubi-
lee Debt Campaign in Britain, Jubilee
USA and Probe International in
Canada.
Some of these loans, the report says,
were designed to help rich country com-
panies do business abroad and in many
of these cases loans were provided at
excessive interest rates.
"Development was never their origi-
nal purpose," says the report.
The study highlighted cases ofunnec-
essary goods or services being sold,
blatant overcharging, the sale of military
hardware or weapons to authoritarian
regimes which were widely known to


be corrupt or to abuse human rights, ex-
tortionate interest rates and proj ects with
huge negative social and environmental
impacts.
For example, the report cites the
case of Germany selling warships to
Indonesia during the Suharto regime
despite concerns over how the ves-
sels would be misused in internal con-
flicts.
Japan also supported the develop-
ment of an aluminum project in Indo-
nesia designed to serve the interests
of Japan's aluminum exporters and
which did not benefit Indonesians, the
report says.
The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant
built by former dictator Ferdinand
Marcos, who ruled the Philippines
between 1965 and 1986, was fi-
nanced by The Export-Import Bank
(EXIM), the U.S, government's ex-
port credit agency, which provided
loans and guarantees totaling 900 mil-
lion dollars for the project.
The Filipino people continue to pay
this debt and are projected to con-
tinue to do so until 2018, even though
they have never received even a single
watt of energy from the
project, which ended up costing more
than 2.3 billion dollars.
Italy sold three hydroelectric tur-
bines to Ecuador when only two were
needed, and despite evidence that the
hydropower plant was unviable and
had destroyed the local
environment and communities.
The calls by the campaigners to deal
with such debts are not without pre-
cedence.
In October, Norway decided to


cancel 80 million dollars in debt owed
by Ecuador, Egypt, Jamaica, Peru
and Sierra Leone after it determined
that the loans were not granted in a
good faith effort to promote develop-
ment.
Anti-debt campaigners want
Norway's decision to serve as a
model for other wealthy creditors to
follow in order to ease the global debt
crisis that has squeezed many devel-
oping nations.
The report recommended that G7
countries open official and impartial
audits of illegitimate debt and that the
enquiry's recommendations be pub-
lic, involve debtor nations fully and
"lead to the cancellation of debts
found to be odious or illegitimate. "
The International Monetary Fund
estimates that total public external
debt for the 54 lowest-income coun-


ILT I ?T- -A -


tries, which Gross National Income
per capital of less than 860 dollars a
year, stands at some 460 billion dol-
lars.
These countries include Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Kenya, Senegal, Ethio-
pia, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Gambia,
Nepal, Vietnam, Ghana, Niger,
Yemen, Nigeria and Zambia.
"Debts which are found to be cor-
rupt, fraudulent and illegitimate must
be cancelled and responsibility shared
between the two parties," Hurley
said.
Rich nations, especially in the pow-
erful group of bilateral creditors
known as the Paris Club, and through
multilateral lenders like the World
Bank and the IMF, have long denied
promoting illegitimate debt to corrupt
governments or failed policies in de-
veloping countries.


.1


nature's way tiuesmouse
InPunta Gorda.

Welcome To Nature's Way Guesthouse

Clean, Safe, Affordable, "

Central Location Sea Front View & Breeze

Single $23BZD, Double $33BZD

.. Triple $48BZD '

Get offbus at Catholic Church on"

Main & Church Streets, walk ...own'j.

hill 75 yards to Guesthouse.


Visit


The Belize Zoo


0
rslUllegiotiommiateg Lewu







Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 7


By: Meb Cutlack
As we head into the next General
Elections and the flurry of promises that
lie ahead, we might want to revisit one
promise that turned into what may be
the biggest swindle of the PUP admin-
istration.
The full story ofthe Mahogany Heights
housing fiasco illustrates perfectly the
perfidy, the corruption and the greed of
the PUP. It also contains, within it, the
evidence that could pull both Mr. Musa
and Mr. Fonseca from their perches on
high and dash them down to face the
legal consequences of their misdeeds.
The land chosen for what was touted
as the "satellite city" was first surveyed
in the 1950's by the Belizean City Plan-
ner and surveyor, Henry Fairweather,
as a possible site for the new capital of
Belize. He rejected the location as un-
suitable and warned that the land lay in
a giant basin "lower' than the Belize
River passing to the west and that
therefore it would always present a
drainage problem.
Initially Premier George Price re-
jected this advice and intended to pro-
ceed with the project at La Democracia.
It was only after British surveyors and
engineers (Britain was funding the
project) agreed with Mr. Fairweather
on the unsuitability of the site, that was
Belmopan chosen.
Now, all this information was avail-
able when the PUP announced as elec-
tion gimic in 1998 their grand 10,000
new home housing scheme. Afriend and
close associate of the PUP hierarchy,
Lebanese businessman Abdul Hamze,
stepped in and 'bought' the land via
government for around $1,000,000. He
borrowed the million from Taiwanese
entrepreneur Johnny Kuo.
According to a recent article in the
Amandala, Kuo was to get back his
money after the land was resold. "The
balance of $7.5 million was to be split
50-50 between the two of them." That
brings the new value of the land to
$9,500,00 (plus or minus)bringing
Hamze's profit to an amazing
$7,000,000, which he was duly paid by
Government.
This payment did not, of course, take
into account the 50/50 split with Johnny
Kuo and neither did Hamze.
Something went wrong at this point -
for Hamze and the Musa/Fonseca Gov-
ernment. Johnny Kuo still had title to
the land! The PUP Government, with
all its resources, had not bothered to
see if Hamze actually owned it! Nor,
inexplicably, did they appear to care.
Here Amandala picks up the story
again: "Even though, according to
Elrington (Johnny Kuo's lawyer) GOB
has deposited $2.5 million at the Reg-
istry, Kuo will not touch it because he


togany n
will now go to the Court of Appeal to its eco-tourism projects that are com-
get the $3.5 million portion of the $7 patible with those traditional roles.
million GOB paid to Hamze. In fact, his Twenty-four young women, for ex-
argument will be that the Government ample, have benefited from Janus culi-
paid the wrong person, and it must now nary arts program to the extent of op-
pay Kuo his portion." rating baking businesses from their
Oh, what a tangled web we weave homes."
when we practice to deceive because Well, Janus (before their web of re-
not only was the land not in Hamze's spectability was swept aside and their
name but there had not been a 'legally boss was chased out of the country as
required' subdivision done either. The an alleged molester of young girls) in-
government, in their hurry to announced produced Mr. Musa'a government to the
their bonanza housing proj ect, based German building firm in El Salvador.
everything on a hurriedly carried out land This brought Janus a considerable fi-
survey. nancial commission from the German
The plot thickens. According to firm and it also brought in a huge amount
Amandala, Kuo's US$1 million contract of duty free equipment and hundreds of
for the land purchase was reportedly Salvadoran laborers at considerable
lodged at the Musa and Balderamos law cost to the Belizean taxpayer.
firm the Prime Minister's law firm All that was missing now were the
while a second agreement, described as houses and the money to buy them.
a 'mortgage', was lodged at Barrow and The houses were found and bought, at
Williams law firm, the firm of Opposi- great expense, in unassembled nock-
tion Leader Hon. Dean Barrow. together plywood units from a housing
(Hmmm...) company in Miami. The funds, the many
But getting the land was only part of millions of dollars to put the whole equa-
the plan. To have the housing proj ect, tion together, was located at Mr. Musa
the government also needed a building and Mr. Fonseca's usual milk cow -
firm and houses! the DFC.
About this time a German backed Buthereistherub: GlennGodfreywas
housing company was going broke over the nominal operating boss of the DFC
a project they had undertaken in El at the time and he did not like either the
Savador. Mr. Musa'a government was type of houses being imported or the
introduced to them by a group called "contract" signed (and the money to be
Janus Foundation, then based near paid by the DFC) to another Miami firm
Georgeville on the Mountain Pine Ridge to assemble the bits of houses.
road. He refused to sign off on the deal and,
Janus was an NGO of sorts which presumably has, to this day, in his pos-
raised money in Europe by presenting session a signed order from the Mr.
Belize to the world as a half starved Musa/MrFonseca duo instructing him
backward country in need of help. They to go ahead despite his doubts.
wrote in their propaganda: "In Belize, He was right, by the way. The sec-
as in many developing countries ond housing company took their money
... women are typically confined to do- and promptly declared bankruptcy! The
mestic activities and have few opportu- questions to be asked of Mr. Godfrey,
cities for supplementing their families' Mr. Fonseca, and Mr. Musa if, and
income." when, the DFC Commission continues
They added: "Janus has initially is; 'Just how much money was spent
brought women into those segments of on the entire Mahogany Heights fiasco?'


exist

To this day there has not been a single
legal title issued to home owners at
Mahogany Heights and not even a shred
of paper published to account for the
untold millions of taxpayers money
'wasted' on this 'crony' deal.
The $9,500,000 is only the tip of the
Mahogany Heights iceberg (or should
we say Titanic?) for over $140 million
was estimated as having been wasted
on the project and other housing
'schemes' which included moving a lot
ofthese crap houses elsewhere in Belize,
including San Pedro.
Here too, according to San Pedro
sources, Mr. Godfrey again registered
his disagreement with the whole project
especially the so-called 'houses'. For
many years the unassembled structures
rotted in an enclosed fenced-in prop-
erty in unsightly piles at Mile 30 near
the Belize Zoo. Others can be seen to-
day 'assembled' in unattractive disre-
pair in both Mahogany Heights and San
Pedro.
Lawyer Elrington told Amandala re-
cently that Hamze has fled to Leba-
non with the money, while his client,
Kuo, has not gotten any of the pro-
ceeds of the $7 million Government
had paid Hamze for the Mahogany
Heights land.
The question remains, was money
handed over by Mr. Hamze for the PUP
election 'victory'? Again, only Mr Musa
and Mr. Fonseca (and Mr. Hamze)
possibly know the answer to this ques-
tion.
We also haven't heard the last of 'Ja-
nus' because one oftheir former bosses,
who is now facing charges of child rape
in Germany, is one of the principal back-
ers of a new project "Belize Barefoot
Properties".
Under this 'project' parcels of land
are being sold and resold to foreign in-
vestors from prime Reserve Land along
the Macal River. More on this at a later
date...


\Iili a


te


Tropical T ist


Anita Tupper

Christine Tuppe


Opening Hours V
Monday Saturday 6 a.m- 8:30 p.m.
Sunday & Holidays 7 a.m. 7:30 pm.
Breakfast Lunch and Diner


Tel: 822-8014
Res:/Fox: 820-2062
Int.: 501-822-8014


r Mile 31 14
Western Highway
BELIZE, Central America
Mailing Address: Box 346, Belmopan
E-Mail: chrissy@cheersrestaurant.bz








Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 8


ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20)
Take time to do something nice for
yourself. Romantic opportunities will be
plentiful if you get out and mingle. Un-
certainty about your relationship is
prevalent. Get more involved in group
efforts at work. Your lucky day this
week will be Saturday.
TAURUS (Apr. 21- May 21)
Listening can be more valuable than
being a chatterbox. Your mate will ap-
preciate your honesty. Don't rely on oth-
ers to do your work. Take the time to
help those less fortunate. Your lucky day
this week will be Saturday.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21)
Your dynamic, determined approach
will win favors as well as a helping hand.
Recognition will be yours if you meet
your deadline. Y Give everyone in the
house a physical chore that will help
bum off some of the excess energy. Op-
portunities to get ahead will be evident.
Your lucky day this week will be Mon-
day.
CANCER (June 22-July 22)
You can expect to have a passionate
time if you go out with someone you
are romantically interested in. Your own
small business on the side sounds pretty
lucrative. Problems with relatives and
friends could surface. You may find
yourself in an uncomfortable situation if
you have overloaded your plate unin-
tentionally. Your lucky day this week
will be Friday.
LEO (July 23-Aug 22)
You are best to stick to yourself this
week. Get together with those you find
mentally stimulating. Plan anice evening


for two. Being unappreciated by your
boss could make it hard to do your work
effectively. Your lucky day this week
will be Monday.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)
Difficulties will result if you have to
deal with controversial groups this
week. You will feel tired and rundown
if you have allowed yourself to get into
a financial mess. You may find that fam-
ily members may not be too easy to get
along with. Throw yourself into your
work. Your lucky day this week will be
Thursday.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)
Your devotion will be persuasive. Be
prudent and don't be led down the gar-
den path. You will have to help family
members sort out unfortunate difficul-
ties. Your efforts won't go unnoticed;
however, someone you work with may
getj ealous. Your lucky day this week
will be Wednesday.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24 Nov. 22)
Don't use the interstate as a racetrack.
Difficulties with females you live with
could cause emotional stress. You must
not lead someone on or show interest
in them for the wrong reasons. Try
spending the day catching up on any re-
sponsibilities that need to be taken care
of. Your lucky day this week will be Fri-
day.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)
Try to spend some time on your own.
You will accomplish the most in the work
environment this week. Make sure all
of your travel and driver's documents
are in proper order. You will be able to
get your own way if you use your intel-


Your weekly

r" MO^^^1^!"" ^


lectual charm and know how. Your
lucky day this week will be Friday.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)
Opportunities to make financial gains
through investments look promising.
Find a quiet spot where you can work
diligently and stay out of the way. Don't
play on your partner's emotions. Don't
avoid situations that may deteriorate; try
to mend them. Your lucky day this week
will be Sunday.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)
You can make financial deals that will
bring you extra cash. You can make
some money if you get involved in a con-
servative financial prospect that is pre-


Press release--The VIP categorically
condemns the decision of BTL and Mr.
Michael Ashcroft to dismiss without good
cause the employment of the BCWU
General Secretary, Mrs. Christine Perriott.
Mrs. Perriott's dismissal comes against the
backdrop of her vocal and unwavering
support forthe actions taken by her union
in defense of workers.
It is clearto the VIP that Mrs. Perriott's
dismissal is in violation of-
(1) The constitution of Belize- Chapter
4 -Protection of Fundamental Rights and
Freedoms
(2) The Trade Union Laws of Belize
(3) The Belize Labour Laws
(4) The Trade Union and Employer's
Organization (Registration, Recognition
and Status) Act
(5) ILO Conventions # 87 Freedom
of Association and Right to Organize
(6) ILO Convention # 98 Right to Or-
ganize and Bargain Collectively
(7) The CollectivebargainingAgreement
between The BCWU and BTL
Workers andBelizeans on whole must
not take lightly the violation of our laws


sented to you. Keep a lookout for any
individuals eager to confront you with
unsavory situations. You can anger oth-
ers quickly this week. Avoid overspend-
ing on items for your home. Your lucky
day this week will be Wednesday.
PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)
Praise will be yours if you have been
pursuing your goals. The talk you have
may be eye-opening with regard to your
present situation. Insincere gestures of
friendliness are likely to occur. Secret
love affairs may be enticing; however,
you must be prepared for the restraints
that will follow. Your lucky day this
week will be Sunday.


T HEh|





CAMBRANES


FOOD


Freetown Road Belize City

They once used to be a little corner shop, but now they have turned into
the hottest thing since sliced bread... oh, wait... they ARE SERVING
BREAD! I started going there some time ago, when the lines were short
and the selection small. Now, between 3-6pm, the place is bustling with
all sorts of people buying everything from Johnny Cakes for tea, French
Bread, Coconut Pies, Creole Bread and Bun, and Panadero to the very
popular Cheese Buns. The demand is now so great that if you don't get
there early, sometimes you don't get any. In fact, their legend has grown
so much that I often get a request via e-mail all the way from Ladyville to
"please buy $4 Johnny Cakes (which is 12) and drop it by for me on your
way home". I oblige, in a cooler, to keep them warm and soft. No extra
charge for the freight!


OPEN MONDAY ATRA


I frigs
and the protection provided by interna-
tional conventions. We must also safe-
guard the integrity of our Judiciary at all
times. We can recall that this same com-
pany had also refused to accept the deci-
sions of our Chief Justice and our Supreme
Court!
Belizeans must be reminded that the
protection of worker's rights have been
fought for and obtained at the expense of
workers lives and livelihood. It is there-
fore imperative that every effort be made
to safeguard these fundamental rights and
freedoms. It is very clear that sole inten-
tion of this particular employer is to insti-
tute a system of slavery which puts the
welfare of a selected few or a single indi-
vidual above the welfare of the people of
Belize.
In the interest of our nation, we call upon
theGovemmentofBelizetoimmediatelytake
steps to reinstate Mrs. Perriott and to re-
solve this matter once and for all. We also
calluponBelizeansandworkerstostandfirm
in the struggle to rid ourselves of those di s-
tasteful elements within our society who are
hell bent on creating social disorder.


pw








Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 9


the country from its export dependence
on 'old' uncompetitive industries and
move into the world's fastest growing
tourism area- ecotourism which is, and
can remain, Belizean based.
Rampant killing


It all sounds bananas!
Just last week the head of the Euro-
pean Commission in Belize, HEAmbas-
sador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni
signed over thirteen million dollars in
funding to improve competitiveness in
the banana and sugar industries in Belize.
As Channel 7 reported: "...this
sounds grand, but it's actually just stay-
ing alive money for an industry that ex-
perts say will wither without European
subsidies that are being phased out."
The European Union has committed
$5.4 Million of this money to ensure the
Belizean industry can remain competi-
tive.
However last week also brought
news that Ecuador, a good friend of the
USA and which accounts for about a
quarter of all banana exports to Europe
and the US, has appealed to the WTO
to get rid of the competitive edge Car-
ibbean and African bananas have in
Europe over bananas from Latin
American countries. These currently
have to pay 176 euros ($225; 119)
per tonne on banana imports.
In contrast, annual imports from the
Caribbean and Africa are currently duty-
free unless they exceed 775,000 tonnes.
For St Lucia all is not lost!
There, just when bananas were going
the way of the dodo and banana farm-
ers were "hanging up their machetes and
ready to turn their steep hillsides back
to forest..", fate has intervened,
One of Britain's largest food chains,
Sainsbury's, has stepped in and an-
nounced that all the bananas it sells from
now on will be fairly traded, and that
nearly 100 million of these will come
from St Lucia!
Bananas, sugar and shrimp
all dodoes?
The more evidence we see that Belize
is becoming less competitive in the
above industries, the more that our gov-
ernment appears to artificially encour-
age their survival. They do so at the ex-
pense of Belize's entire future.
Instead of opting to encourage and
stimulate the uniqueness of Belize's
natural environment for overnight and
ground based tourism, which trickles
down to everyone, the government
keeps centering all its efforts on cruises
ship and mega tourism projects.
These only benefit the cronies in-
volved and the megabuck promoters
from abroad.
It truly is 'bananas' notto slowly wean


Guatamalan style
Four top rank Guatemalan policemen,
arrested in connection with the murders
of three politicians from El Salvador,
have been killed inj ail.
The bodies of the three Salvadoran
lawmakers and their driver were found
in their burnt and bullet-ridden car near
Guatemala City last Monday.
The policemen were evidently arrested
after the 'transponder' on their vehicle
revealed their whereabouts near the
burnt car at the time.
Caribbean hurricane fund
launched
Caribbean nations hit by future hurri-
canes will be able to draw on emergency
funding immediately under a new initia-
tive by the World Bank.
The bank has launching an insurance
fund designed to enable countries to fi-
nance key services in the aftermath of a
natural disaster.
While Belize is not among the coun-
tries listed to benefit, which include the
Bahamas Barbados, Montserrat ,
Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, it IS
certainly among Caribbean countries
which have lost up to $16bn from hur-
ricanes since 1979!
Cancer detector






0%-of all WV lmxrl'






US scientists have devised a colour
test sensor which shows up unique
chemical changes in the breath of people
with lung cancer.
The hues of a series of 36 dots detect
lung cancer accurately in just under
three out of four people with the dis-
ease. The sensor, which is slightly big-
ger than a quarter dollar or a two pound
coin, is inexpensive and easy to use.


Experts have known for many years
that the chemical composition of a
person's breath changes when they de-
velop lung cancer and that dogs and
other animals with a very keen sense
of smell are able to distinguish the
breath of patients with lung cancer from
that of healthy people!
Who was the hero?
The group of 12 tourists from the
Carnival cruise ship Liberty, who were
attacked by three armed muggers in
Costa Rica last week, made it safely
back to Port Everglades in Fort Lau-
derdale on Sunday.
One of those tourists, a man in his
70s who has not been identified, broke
the neck of one attacker, killing him,
according to police in Lim6n.
The other two assailants ran off and
none of the tourists were hurt, despite
the fact that the muggers were armed
with at least one knife and a gun.
The story received national attention
and reporters and photographers
waited at the exit gate of Terminal 19
in Port Everglades early Sunday, but
the "Hero of the Liberty ," as he has
become known, didn't identify himself
and avoided the media.
Send Clinton packing?
'No way!' Said Sen. Hillary Rodham


Clinton in front of a huge crowd in the
Democratic stronghold of San Fran-
cisco, raising campaign funds.
In response to a question from the
audience, she called her husband "the
most popular person in the world right
now" and said that when she reached
the White House, she would "..con-
tinue the tradition of using former presi-
dents" ...as diplomats around the
world.
Foreign companies face huge
US fines
Foreign companies seeking to ac-
quire sensitive US assets could face
fines running into tens of millions of
dollars if they violate agreements with
a secretive US government panel that
vets deals on national security
grounds.


The inter-agency panel, the commit-
tee on foreign investment in the US,
or CFIUS, is applying pressure on
companies to agree to potential finan-
cial penalties. One attorney familiar
with the situation says the government
in one case opened negotiations by
proposing penalties worth 10 per cent
of a company's sales.
The threat of fines provides further
evidence of the growing obstacles fac-
ing non-US companies as they seek
to gain regulatory approval for take-
overs in sensitive sectors such as tele-
communications and defence.
Mexico on Monday became the lat-
est nation to file a complaint with the
World Trade Organization over the
Chinese government's alleged pay-
ment of illegal subsidies to manufac-
turers.
The action signals Mexico's grow-
ing frustration with a flood of Chinese
imports, which has led to a soaring
trade deficit with Beijing. It follows
Japan's announcement last week that
it would join the United States in for-
mally protesting state subsidies that it
claims make Chinese steel, paper and
consumer products artificially cheap.
The actions represent an orches-
trated effort to pressure China live up
to its WTO agreements more than five
years after the Asian nation joined the
world trade body. And it underscores
growing impatience by trading part-
ners who say they are losing jobs and
market share as a result of China's
illegal trade practices.
Pain killers can kill!


Popular painkillers such as aspirin,
ibuprofen and acetaminophen can
raise blood pressure and thus the risk
of heart disease among men, U.S. re-
searchers reported on Monday.
Men who took such drugs for most
days in a week were about one-third
more likely to be diagnosed with high
blood pressure than men not taking
them, the researchers found.
Millions of people take the painkill-
ers as pills every day to treat head-
aches, arthritis, muscle pulls and other
aches and pains.







Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 10


Tourism


nister I


PG


PG correspondent for
INdependentWeekly
Minister of Tourism Godfrey Smith
recently asked in his article in the
Belize Times: "Where should we take
Belize tourism?" The part that sticks
out is the "we". The recent Govern-
ment of Belize Strategy and Action
Plan for the development of tourism
in Toledo has five projects listed un-
der Enterprise Development and the
Toledo Gateway Program. It also lists
a budget for a three year time frame,
and the source of funding and imple-
menting agencies for these projects.
Although the Minister of Eco-
nomic Development says a partici-
patory planning process created this
plan, the truth is that when repre-
sentatives of the groups and agen-
cies mentioned were interviewed,
(see Friday, February 16, 2007 is-
sue of the INdependent Reformer,
page 9, "A perfectly good plan,
going to waste" http://
w w w. beli z north. com /
Independent27.pdf ) and asked
about the Gateway Program for


Toledo, not one had ever heard of
it-including the CEO of the Min-
istry of Economic Development and
the area representative for Toledo
East Michael Espat.
Minister Godfrey was sent a reg-
istered letter in December 2006
which he ignored, and another one
in February which has as of today
remained unanswered. Both asked
him what the Gateway Program in
the Strategy and Action Plan is.
In his article he writes, "com-
pared to any other single activity,
tourism creates the most new jobs
each year. Market trends suggest
that tourists are looking for experi-
ential tourism, that brand of heri-
tage, cultural, and adventure tour-
ism, not the usual kind of tourism."
This description of what tourists
are looking for, is a good definition
of what the tourism part of the To-
ledo People's Eco Park Plan offers.
So why has the People's Plan been
left out of the government's plan for
tourism development in Toledo?
Why does the Ministry of Tourism
refuse to answer our letters? Why,
after representatives of the Belize
Tourism Board met with represen-
tatives of the Punta Gorda Conser-
vation Committee, and the Toledo
Eco Tourism Association, where
they heard about the Six Day Eco
Cultural Nature Conservation Tour,
and proposal for a small cruise ship
for Toledo-have both the Minis-
try and BTB refused to respond to
our people's cries for help?


Guatemala becomes


Ungovernable


Is it just out-right racism because
the people of Toledo are mostly of
Maya and Garifuna descent? Why
has our area representative,
Michael Espat told our groups re-


peatedly that these and other min-
isters refuse to listen to his pleas for
help for our district that remains for-
gotten?


Full Service Airline

With over 180 daily

scheduled flights

throughout Belize

and Flores in

Guatemala


Charters also available


i


Im
El


The Airline of Belize


If the killing of three Salvadoran
deputies showed fissures in the
Guatemalan legal system, the ex-
ecution of police tied to the crime
corroborates the government's in-
competence to control national se-
curity.
"We are very worried because
this confirms a crisis in the entire
security apparatus, with severe con-
sequences," Human Rights attorney
Sergio Morales said.
Guatemala has been the center of
world attention since the Salva-
doran deputies killing last week, but
concern increased when it was re-
vealed that four organized crime
police were the alleged authors of
the crime.
Amid the negative impact of the
incident on the reliability of the se-
curity corps, the agents were mur-


dered at a maximum security prison
this week.
Local analysts consider Guate-
mala is dangerously becoming "a
failed country, where institutions do
not operate."
As repercussions of the scandal
continue within the country and
abroad, calls for the resignation of
Government Minister Carlos
Vielmann and National Civil Police
Chief Erwin Sperisen have in-
creased.
Both will be summoned by Con-
gress to explain the execution of the
agents, considered key elements in
the deputies' murder.
In a panorama marked by impu-
nity, authorities' lack of control, and
indifference of the State powers, all
indications point to a flourishing un-
governability.


w
ulmrmM
MMEM








Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 11


An Ugly Belizean Secret


By: Rev'd LeRov Flowers
There are many Belizean fathers, step-
fathers, cousin, and brothers who are
destroying the lives of innocent girls and
sometimes even boys, through sexual
impropriety. It is time that mothers,
daughters, family members and the
wider society hold these men account-
able for their behavior by confronting
them. The stories about incest are pain-
fully numerous in our society.
Supreme Betrayal:-
The majority of incest cases involve
children between the ages of 5-17.
Molestations are most commonly car-
ried out by step-fathers, uncles, cous-
ins, fathers and brothers. Diane Russell,
psychologist, calls the father-daughter
incest the "Supreme Betrayal." What
kind of man would assault his daugh-
ter? What kind of uncle would molest
his niece? Surprisingly, research shows
that many of the molesters are highly
moralistic and devoutly attached to re-
ligious doctrines (Gebhard 1965).
These men are often traditionalists.
Father-daughter incest tends to, but
does not always occur within a troubled
marriage where there is a lack of values
and purpose in the home. The man
may abuse his wife as well as his daughter
and turn to the daughter sexually when
his wife rejects his advances. Many
times the wife/mother pretends not to
notice because she is afraid of her
husband's violence, or she may blame
her daughter for threatening to break up
the family.
The Easy Road:
Often men do not realize how easy it
is to become sexually involved with their
daughters or nieces if they do not have
the right sense of values and purpose.
The unique relationship between fathers
and daughters can sometimes lead to
inappropriate relations if there is dys-
function in the family. Remember, church
people are not exempted either!
The incest relationship usually starts
very "innocently". Daughters look up
to their fathers. They have a deep trust


and respect for the man who provides
for her and her mother and gives a sense
of security. When a husband and wife
are having marital difficulty, the husband
sometimes turns to the daughters to
meet the needs that the wife usually
provides. This may begin with cleaning
his shoes, ironing his shirt, waking her
up late at night to cook for him. She
would do it because she "loves her fa-
ther". This may lead to extended warm
embraces and cuddling. Why would a
little girl not enjoy such attention, for it
is her father? This type of behavior soon
intensifies until the love is betrayed when
the father crosses the boundary and
engages in a sexual activity with his
daughter that may include caressing,
petting, kissing inappropriately and
eventually intercourse. He then per-
suades her to keep what they did a se-
cret.
He may even threaten her and the re-
lationship may go on for years; result-
ing in long-term emotional effect on the
daughter.
Life-long pain:-
Studies show that "female" survivors
are severely conflict-laden, experience
rage and ongoing hostility to both par-
ents, and hold all women in contempt.


its


Also they develop a distain for men.
These female survivors almost never
develop meaningful, lasting relation-
ships. The most pervasive problem
faced by survivors in relationships is
around issues of intimacy.
Psychologists Lundberg Love and
Crawford state that a majority of these
women have an inability to trust people
and difficulty dealing with close relation-
ships. Many survivors also become
victims ofdomesticviolence. They may
feel unlovable and not worthy of being
cared for. Thus, they often choose
someone who is not very loving and who
also perceives them as unworthy of be-
ing treated well.
There are also sexual dysfunctions
that survivors usually have as a result of
incest. These include desire disorder
and orgasmic disorder. Survivors may
also suffer from learning difficulties and
poor attention spans. In addition, they
may have symptoms of depression and
low self-esteem, suffer from nightmares,
insomnia and fear of sleeping alone.
Research indicates that the physical/so-
matic results of incest survivors are
chronic tension, migraines and gas-
trointestinal disorders. Wow! That's a
lot!! And I haven't given you the com-
plete list.....but I will stop here. I hope
you get the point. Incest is wrong and
the long-term side effects are devastat-
ing to the victims and very distractive to
the perpetrators as well.
We must begin to break this cycle of
abuse by seeking help. By protecting
our children and holding our males ac-
countable for their actions. When chil-
dren are sexually molested their capac-
ity to trust can be shattered forever.


Their sense of who they are and what
sex is about; it's often totally or sub-
stantially shaped by the sexually abu-
sive experience.
Dads, uncles, step-fathers,
brothers.... stop raping our nation's
daughters and sons. Too many family
members cover up the hurt inflected on
our children. Have we tried to find out
why there is so much anger and so many
dysfunctional families are in our soci-
ety? Relationships of trust are broken
every day..
Who is responsible for this di-
lemma? The perpetrators are respon-
sible, but Mothers you too must take
a stand. It's about the well-being of
your child. The larger society is also
responsible for being passive towards
such vice, creating the stage for moth-
ers to cover up, deny and sometimes
even support such relationships.
If our children and family members
are to come forward we need to pro-
vide protection and support for them
in a confidential and safe environ-
ment, which is lacking today with the
organized system. They will need
counseling as well, which is difficult
to find in the wider society.
Yes, even within the legal frame-
work, it is not easy to get a convic-
tion. So often the victims are abused
again going through the legal system.
We must all change our attitude to this
Belizean secret.
We must put an end to this vicious
crime being inflicted on our children.
Let's protect our children! Defend
them. Give then the right values! Call
the police! Stop raping our nation's
innocence!


Boat for SALE for US $10,000

-21' open fisherman
- double hull
-flooring recently refurbished
-live bait well (a must for any real
fisherman)
-14 rod holders
-6 holders for trolling
-dependable 200hp Yamaha with 120
hours
-new stainless steel prop with spare .
aluminum prop
-new center console
-Bimini top
-all stainless steel fittings
-Captain chair doubles as fighting
chair
- all running lights & bildge pump
operational w/new switches
-new bottom paint/anti-fouling paint -
-60 gallon tank
-new seat belts 4
-she flies no brakes available.


Contact owner:

tel. 225-3520







Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 12


San Ignacio Police hold Public Forum


Western Formation O.C. David Henderson and Area Representative Mario Castellanos listen to community concerns.


Press Release-- Police in the
Cayo District held a public forum
on February 26 at the Saint Ignatius
High School in Santa Elena Town.
The purpose of the public meeting
was for there to be an information
exchange on the status of crime in
the District and to spur community
action in combating crime. In his
report to the meeting, Senior Su-
perintendent David Henderson re-
ported that there were a total of
thirty one murders in the District in
2006. He expressed concern given
that the Cayo District is a major
tourist destination. He reported
that alcohol was a major problem
and that some premises were serv-
ing alcohol to minors. Superinten-
dent Henderson informed that some
eleven persons were about to un-
dergo training in community polic-
ing. Henderson said that
neighbourhood watches have
worked very well in the Corozal
District and they can do the same
in the Cayo District. He urged par-
ents to send their children to school
or they will be arrested. Some three
parents have been arrested thus far
for not sending their children to
school.
Present for the meeting was Area
Representative for the Cayo Cen-
tral Division, the Honourable Mario
Castellanos. Minister Castellanos
urged members of the public to take
community action. He informed that
the Belize Electricity Limited BEL


was charging Government for street
lights within the Cayo District even
though they were not functioning.
He suggested that community
groups can bring pressure to bear
on BEL via a petition, given that tax
payers' money was being lost in
paying for unused lights. Minister
Castellanos counselled that educa-
tion is the way to go and that par-
ents should send their children to
the Centre for Employment Train-
ing to learn a trade.
In his report to the public, Police
Constable and Zone Beat Liaison


Officer Darius Martinez announced
that a female from Eden High School
in Santa Elena had won under the
"Do the Right Thing" Program for
the month of February. The female
had reported to authorities the
presence of Cannabis sativa in
'fudge' to the authorities. Princi-
pal of Eden High School Erodito
Pineda, in attendance at Monday
night's meeting, thanked San
Ignacio Police for assisting in cre-
ating a safe learning environment for
his students. Also present was Mr.
Andrew Lopez, former President of


the Crimes Committee.
Superintendent Henderson esti-
mates that there is one police of-
ficer for every eight hundred resi-
dents in Cayo. The Police Brass
confirmed that more man power is
needed to serve the Twin Towns of
San Ignacio and Santa Elena. With
only two neighbourhood watches in
the area, police are targeting for five
more in coming months and to acti-
vate citizens on patrol. Another
Police forum is planned and this will
be announced later.


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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 133




Buds-get reading 2007


--" (Continued From Page 4)

everything. So we'll set up a charities
fund and that's it. No more aspirin. No
more weekly handouts at the clinic. I
don't know who started these damned
clinics anyway...
Moving on...goods and services.
Madam Speaker, once more there was
a bumper crop of sugar cane. Well,
okay, this is the first time it went up in
15 year, but we are so optimistic this
Government has decided to reopen the
Libertad Refinery. We have a buyer in
Panama who wants to see Sugar City
live up to its name once more. He also
has plans to convert part of the facility
to an orange processing plant. And a
laundromat. But more on that
later... closer to campaign time. The
place is called Orange Walk, a perfect
match.
"Madame Speaker, it is with great ex-
citement I also announce that oil rev-
enues to government are being included
for the first time in this budget. Yes, they
were there before, but somehow never
made it on the books. Poor accounting
procedures. But, this time they are here,
in black and white. I cannot vouch for
their accuracy, it is difficult to keep track
of all the buddy payments made since
oil was discovered and offshore ac-
counts do not issue statements with the
same regularity as our local banks, but
one must try. The official figure here is
that with the commencement of collec-
tion of royalties on petroleum this year
we took in $6 million. Not a bad start.
This should more than cover the cost of
front load commissions on our interna-
tional loan payments.
Madame Speaker this year our debt
service payments of $169.5 million will
of course exceed the budgeted amount
of $145.7. But what is a few million
anymore? Some of my colleagues sit-
ting near me right now have homes
abroad worth that much. I could write
a check right now and cover the whole
thing!
"We must not be afraid of spending a
little money to make more. Belize has
land selling like hot cakes, or should I
say hot "cayes"? (tittering all around)
for that right now, as soon as the land
around them is reclaimed. As we speak
Italian film stars are lining up to pay for
their own private island. And when we
run out, we can dump some sand and
stick a few coconut trees and make
some more!
"Madam Speaker, "the Belizean
people are crying out for this govern-
ment to embrace land speculation. And
so are the international markets. Ameri-
can and European baby boomers want
to retire here. This government will soon
be announcing a retirement housing
scheme in an area just outside of


Belmopan called Meighan Heights. Just
as soon as the DFC hearings are over
you will be hearing more about that, and
also an area in San Pedro called Croft-
Ash, beautiful retirement villas for mem-
bers ofBritish Parliament.
"Yes, in the upcoming year, Govern-
ment will continue to improve financial
management and accountability. Per-
sonally, I think that sort of thing will only
slow down the economic train and de-
crease the trickle in the trickledown to
droplets, but these are the buzz words
the international lenders want to hear,
not to mention the electorate.
"And yes, of course the Village Council
Elections are approaching. So of course
let me take this opportunity to announce
we will be providing school books for all
the children of Belize, increased electrifi-
cation and potable water systems of the
countryside, reliable digicell service for
Burrell Boom and Cattle landing and the
eradication of all stray dogs and poverty
in the Southside ofBelize City. And yes,
in addition to Libertad reopening, Orange
Walkenos will be happy to see we have
budgeted $10m for the Orange Walk
Bypass so Naranj as can bypass all the
mess in town."
"Excuse me, Mr. Minister, that project
is already completed."
"Oh, really.., .that was just on the tem-
plate we used for the past 8 budgets.
Take that one out then. Computer er-
ror. Will have to send that program
back to Canada, get the bugs out.
"And of course, let us give the poor
people some satisfaction to see that
wealthier Belizeans will soon have to
pay more income tax. Yes, yes, I know
we just lowered the threshold for pay-
ment to $20,000 but Belizeans are be-
coming so prosperous so quickly we will
be raising it again to $24,000.
Our friends across the floor are al-
ways saying we tax the people too
much, but Belizeans DO NOT mind. In
fact they are happy to pay more so they
can have good roads, better schools,
lower crime. If you don't believe me,
just look at this figure: theGST-so
criticized by the Opposition-took in
$20 million more than even we estimated
it would! The Belizean people, only
280,000 strong, somehow found $20
million to pay in sales tax even though
the Opposition says the economy is at
an all time low! Does this sound like a
poor country to you? People who can
spend $20 million and not even notice
it?
This is precisely why we knew the
Mortgage Securitization Plan would
work. Belizeans are a hard working
people and they will ensure they pay
their mortgages so we can sell them and
get the money to develop our banks
accounts abroad, provide foreign ex-
change security and capital resources


abroad for years to come.
And to all those of you who have cast
aspersions on the character of one of
our standard bearers, let me tell you
about this man. He inconvenienced him-
self, not once, but 14 times, to make
those trips to Panama. Had to put up
with the indignities of having to pass
through customs although he had a dip-
lomatic passport... Our detractors will
stop at nothing to paint a picture of this
government as falling down on thej ob
when all we do is work! Morning, noon
and night, we are working to take ad-
vantage of global markets, position our-
selves advantageously, why we just


broke ground with our recent bond of-
fering.
"Now, there are a great many more
numbers here in front of me, but these
are for statisticians and accountants, so
don't worry about what's written here
people, we have a nation to build! The
path ahead is clear now. The horizon
has the glow of hope and promise of a
brighter few; the work of reform must
continue... Together we can, we are liv-
ing in a good country."
Oh my, I must have dozed off for a
bit. I guess the House meeting ended
while I was asleep. But I had the funni-
est dream...


v Words but



Substance


-- i(Continued From Page 3)
them all together they could make a
definite change and send the pirates
walking the plank. The way things are
going though, it looks more like four
rowboats trying to attack a clipper ship.
The new parties are giving a new
meaning to divide and conquer; only
they have it all backwards. If there is
any hope of being effective, the parties
must unite their efforts. What is so dis-
turbing about this is that it is so obvious
you have to wonder why the leaders
don't understand. Unite or perish!
The new party movements are a re-
action to the desperation Belizean vot-
ers feel, realizing that if they continue to
vote for the same traditional Blue or
Red parties they are going to get the
same traditional Blue or Red bandits
stealing public lands and moneys and
peddling influence, protection and fa-
vors fortheirpersonal gain. This ground
swell from the voters is a great and won-
derful opportunity to organize for bet-
ter and more effective representation.
Good generals are masters of tactics,
strategy and leadership. Their goals are
clearly defined and they know how to
develop effective plans of attack to at-
tain their objectives. Anything else is
only dreaming.
Four or five little parties attacking
the Goliath of entrenched government
is like four little monkeys each crawling
up a separate leg of an elephant with
seduction on their minds. It is going to
take more than desire and good inten-
tions to unseat the power structure. It
is going to take solid planning and
preparation and the combined effort and
cooperation of all parties involved. The
voters want new choices and are now
demanding it, but they are also demand-
ing results. These parties should con-
sider uniting into a Party of Indepen-


dent Candidates. The PIC should de-
velop a broad basic approach such as
opposing corruption, recovering stolen
lands and money, punishing corrupt poli-
ticians, promoting an elected Senate,
etc.
And then each Individual Candidate
should prepare his own personal platform
describing what he stands for, how the
people can expect him to vote on issues,
and his or her plant achieve goals. The
individual personal platforms should be
published. The voters are ready and de-
manding changes and improvements in
ourgovernment. The press that's notBlue
or Red controlled is ready to help pro-
mote the positive values of the new re-
form parties.
The first important point we have to get
clear is where we wantBelize to go. It is
great to say we will clean up corruption,
orwe will takeback all the land andmoney
our Misleaders have stolen from us. But
what do we want Belize to be? None of
the parties seem to have thought much
about this. You can't get somewhere un-
less you know where you are going.
Morality can never be a goal of gov-
ernment. What we need are the straight-
forward values ofhonesty, integrity, honor,
dedication, commitment, loyalty.
Listen, Leaders of the new parties, lis-
ten to the voice of the people and respond.
Listen to the voices crying out for reform
and take action.
Listen to the desperation of our citizens
enslaved by their government and create
solid plans to free them. Bible thumping
and personal glorification is the past not
the future.
Listen to the voices of today pleading
from every comer of our oppressed coun-
try and UNITE FOR STRENGTH.
The time is right. The people are offer-
ing an opportunity for victory if you use it
well.








Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 144


23


YEARS


LATER


By: Richard Harrison
I am a proud graduate of Belize Tech-
nical College. In 19811 enrolled in the
General Studies Program to pursue the
study of what was referred to as pure
sciences Mathematics, Chemistry and
Biology. I also had to take a course
called General Paper, which was basi-
cally English reading, writing and com-
prehension mixed with some Literature.
At the time, that course (which I en-
j oyed so much) was being thought by
Dr. Colville Young, the now Governor
General of Belize. Dr. Young would
probably still encourage me to improve
on my poor punctuation skills.
At the time, most people I knew as-
pired to go to Saint John's College,
which had an image of being more pol-
ished and upper-class, as well as with
better academics and chances of get-
ting scholarships to pursue further stud-
ies.
Technical College, as we referred to
our school, had the image of being for
the underprivileged and persons of lower
academic merit. However, a couple
years before I entered, a healthy aca-
demic rivalry had developed between
Saint John's and Technical.
The likes of Dr. Egbert Grinage had
left stories of very disciplined study and
work habits, as well as winner of the
prized OPEN SCHOLARSHIP, only
two of which were awarded each year.
John Mencias and Ambrose Tillett, one
year ahead of me, and both Cayo
bwoys like myself, continued in the foot-
steps of Dr. Grinage. They took both
open scholarships the year they gradu-
ated in 1982. So, by the time I com-
pleted my first year at Technical, I was
proud to be a part of an under-dog in-
stitution that was raising its head in aca-
demics. My colleague and friend Dr.
Arsenio Figueroa, also from San
Ignacio, took one open scholarship for
Technical in 1983, and Dr. Paul


Balderamos (also a good friend) took
the other for SJC. Another Cayo bwoy,
CEO in the Ministry of National Devel-
opment, Hugh O'Brien followed suit in
1984. I was an average student, more
interested in making friends with the in-
teresting students that came from all
across the country, and opening up to
this whole new world.
I invited my BTC friends to go with
me to SJC parties, and vice-versa. In
my small way, I feel I played a role in
diminishing the negative portions of our
rivalry, so that we could up-play the
healthy academic rivalry. By the time we
graduated in 1983, SJC students had
gained great respect for Technical stu-
dents, and vice versa, at least in the Gen-
eral Studies Department.
At the time, it seemed that General
Studies was the face of the institution.
We were physically in front, facing
Freetown Road, and 'we' were facing
off with the powerful SJC and making
great strides to improve the academic
image of our institution.
Yet.....there were many other things
going on at Technical.
At the 'back'......... there was the
Building and Engineering
Department... .and Secretarial. I recall
our principal, Mr. Owen Morrison, calling
meetings with the entire student body on
the steps of the Building and Engineer-
ing Department. Even within BTC, I un-
derstood that General Studies people felt
themselves above "those at the back",
who were the people learning to do
plumbing, drafting, electrical, etc. Again,
I crossed all over those silly barriers, and
made many good friends from those
departments, whom I consider friends
until today, although I only get to see
them on rare occasions these days.
Now.....at that time.....itwas not nor-
mal to see women pursuing building and
engineering studies. I distinctly remem-
ber seeing a pretty young lady hanging


out with the boys I knew to be from
"back-a-building". I found out her
name was Christine Quan, from
Corozal. She was a pioneer for women
studying in that department, I believe.
She looked quite comfortable and well
liked among her colleagues. She
seemed an equal among them. She is
now Christine Perriott, a professional
engineer in her own right, earning her
honest keep by serving in our nations
telecommunications company.
I fondly remember a tall beautiful girl
from Secretarial. Very charming and
friendly, always smiling and ready to
help organize school activities. I think
her surname was Duncan then, but she
is now Karen Bevans. She is using her
tremendous 'people' skills to advance
the work of our nations telecommuni-
cations company.
It is my understanding that most of
Karen's and Christine's co-workers
were also fellow students at BTC.
When I moved from San Ignacio to
The City in 1981, Belize City was over-
taken by the Heads of Agreement dem-
onstrations. Belize Technical College,
teachers and students, featured promi-
nently in the scheme of things. BTC as
an institution it seemed, encouraged
free thinking and free spirits, and were
very vocal and activist in its demon-
stration of that progressive 'human'
spirit. This was all new to
me... coming from the relatively tran-
quil western town. I loved the lively
debates that took place on the creaky
wooden veranda during breaks and
after classes. The institution spent the
resources necessary to keep its doors
open for us to study and debate in the
classrooms, until very late at nights.
They understood that some of us did
not have appropriate study environ-
ments at the cramped quarters we
could afford to rent.
Christine and Karen are both prod-


ucts of that very progressive 'human'
environment.
I understand that the 'modem' cor-
porate world can transform people, es-
pecially those who do not have 'good'
morals and values to guide them.
Belize is a small place, and changes
are rapidly occurring.
Governments have been changed.
Board members can also change. Some
board members are from abroad and
are here for one purpose and one pur-
pose only. They can get up and leave
tomorrow, or be voted/bought out.
Changes can happen very quickly and
unexpectedly.
As Belizeans, who do not always
have somewhere else to go.... and
knowing that we live in a small place....
and it is very likely our paths will cross
many times before we expire.....it be-
hooves us to act with respect towards
our colleagues.....to show empathy and
compassion in our dealings with one
another. It does not help us to be axe
men and women against our colleagues.
Although it may pay offin the short term,
it surely will have its negative repercus-
sions in the long term.
At BTC, I recall....we learned to
debate our ideas openly and
honestly... without fear of discrimination
or retribution. Many times we had dif-
ferent opinions about a subject....
sometimes the differences were very
wide... .but we always respected the
opinions of others... and that is how we
earn respect for our own positions.
In conflict management, all parties
must do what it takes, to preserve re-
spect for each other, even as differences
seem insurmountable and the horizon of
solution seems far off.
In the heat of things...... it's good to
be reminded that we have 'good' mor-
als and values to fall back on... .this
goes for all sides of any 'story'. Calm
heads will prevail.


The newlywed wife said to her
husband when he returned from
work, "I have great news for you.
Pretty soon, we're going to be
three in this house instead of two."
Her husband ran to her with a
smile on his face and delight in his
eyes.
He was glowing of happiness and
kissing his wife when she said, "I'm
glad that you feel this way since to-
morrow morning, my mother moves


in with us."
A burglar has just made it into the
house he's intending ransacking, and
he's looking around for stuff to steal.
All of a sudden, a little voice pipes
up, "I can see you, and so can
Jesus!"
Startled, the burglar looks around
the room. No one there at all, so he
goes back to his business.
"I can see you, and so can Jesus!"
The burglar jumps again, and takes
a longer look around the room. Over
in the corner by the window, almost
obscured by curtains, is a cage in
which sits a parrot, who pipes up
again, "I can see you, and so can
Jesus!
"So what," says the burglar,
"you're only a parrot!"
To which the parrot replies,


"Maybe, but Jesus is a rottweiler!"

Mrs. Peterson phoned the repair-
man because her dishwasher quit
working. He couldn't accommodate
her with an "after-hours" appointment
and since she had to go to work, she
told him, "I'll leave the key under the
mat. Fix the dish washer, leave the
bill on the counter, and I'll mail you a
check. By the way, I have a large
rotweiler inside named Killer; he
won't bother you. I also have a par-
rot, and whatever you do, do not talk
to the bird!"
Well, sure enough the dog, Killer,
totally ignored the repairman, but
the whole time he was there, the
parrot cursed, yelled, screamed,
and about drove him nuts.
As he was ready to leave, he


couldn't resist saying, "You stupid
bird, why don't you shut up!"
To which the bird replied, "Killer,
get him!!!"

A preacher is buying a parrot.
"Are you sure it doesn't scream,
yell, or swear?" asked the preacher.
"Oh absolutely. It's a religious
parrot," the storekeeper assures
him.
"Do you see those strings on his
legs? When you pull the right one,
he recites the lord's prayer, and
when you pull on the left he recites
the 23rd Psalm."
"Wonderful!" says the preacher,
"but what happens if you pull both
strings?"
"I fall off my perch, you stupid
fool!" screeched the parrot.








Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 155



Jaguar Express Miss Rainforest out to


What way to see The Belize Zooel protect Chiquibul


Miss Rainforest Margarita Valle with Friends for Conservation and Development staff.


By Sharon Matola

Let's face it. Belize can get HOT, and
some folks find our soaring tempera-
tures, combined with the long and wind-
ing Belize Zoo pathways, just a bit too
difficult to deal with.
Well, check it out!!! if seeing The
Belize Zoo is high on your list, but walk-
ing the pathways isn't, here is some
"Thumbs Up" news for you!!!
MEET THE JAGUAR X-PRESS!!
This is your own cushioned and cus-
tomized ride thru -the zoo.
The Jaguar X-press chauffeurs are zoo
professionals who will not only wheel
you through the zoo, but will enthusias-
tically provide an introduction about the
happy animals who call The Belize Zoo
their home.
The Jaguar Express maiden voyage
was recently taken by Mrs. Neileen


Hufford, mother ofBelize's one and only
Sue Hufford, the energetic "Queen of
Amigo's" restaurant on the Western
Highway.
Neileen is a youthful over 75 year old
lady who likes to save her energies for
fun evenings atAmigos, so yes she was
more than ready to take the Jaguar X-
press around The Belize Zoo.
With her chauffeur, Allie Gomez,
Neileen met most of the zoo's happy
inhabitants, and as a special "maiden
voyage" treat, she even helped feed
Panama the Harpy Eagle, who didn't
seem bothered at all by the colourful
vehicle parked next to his exhibit.
Keep it in mind!!! the Best Little Zoo
in the World is ready to accommodate
ALL levels of energies from our zoo visi-
tors! !
It is a zoo visit that is simply TOO
WILD FOR WORDS!!


San Jose Succotz, Cayo District,
February, 2007
Miss Margarita Valle from Hondu-
ras was selected as Miss Rainforest
on February 24th of 2007. The event
had brought several contestants from
Honduras and Guatemala and the
Dominican Republic together with a
representative from Belize for two
weeks of activities aimed at promot-
ing awareness about the importance
and plight of the rainforests.
Rainforests are dramatically de-
creasing throughout the tropics. In
Belize, we still have approximately
60% of the country under forest cover
but this is under considerable threat
from forest fires, logging and agricul-
ture based activities moving into slope
areas.
Friends for Conservation and
Development [FCD] based in San
Jose Succotz, partnered with the
Director of Miss Rainforest Inter-
national this year, Mrs. Nancy Juan
Marin to promote the importance
of the rainforests. Prior to the con-
test, Mr. Oswaldo Sabido, Miss
Hannah St Luce of the Forest De-
partment and FCD staff explained
to the contestants the status of
rainforests globally, regionally and
nationally. Mr. Rafael Manzanero
explained the importance of the


Chiquibul-Maya Mountains as one
main block of thirteen protected ar-
eas with high biodiversity in Belize.
He noted that an initiative led by the
Forest Department in collaboration
with FCD and other multiple part-
ners is currently underway to de-
velop an integrated management
program that will be able to pro-
tect this block consisting of ap-
proximately 1.3 million acres of
land. He further noted that FCD is
now entering into a co-management
program with the Forest Depart-
ment for the protection of the larg-
est protected area in Belize the
Chiquibul National Park.
The reigning Miss Rainforest,
Margarita Valle will now join FCD
members and its supporters in pro-
moting awareness about the forests
of Belize and in particular the con-
servation work currently underway
in protecting the Chiquibul National
Park. She will serve as our ambas-
sador in promoting the importance
of this beautiful forest located in the
Cayo District and which shares a 30
mile border with Guatemala.
The Chiquibul forest faces several
threats from unregulated develop-
ment, lack of a management pres-
ence and illegal xate extraction con-
ducted by Guatemalans.


Belize Zoo attendants demonstare how comfy the Jaguar Express can be!


lE (Continued From Page 2)
to at least put more focus on the fur-
ther development of the Eco-park
plan. We recommend its time to start
building a co-management plan with
the participation from the people of
Toledo. At the end result, we are sure
that the eco-part will help to elimi-
nate poverty in the Toledo District.


I congratulate Mr William "Chet"
Schmidt for his help to establishing the
TEA Guest house and Ecotrail pro-
gram. This guest house is working for
the people and like wise establishment
of the Toledo Eco Park.

Sincerely,
Reyes Chun


Mrs. Neileen Hufford checks out a scarlet macaw.









Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 165


SE'


(71


TIES


DDLE UP


Where the seven political parties stand on the issues


Please find on page #16 a compara-
tive analysis grid of the various politi-
cal parties in Belize today who are ac-
tively preparing for the upcoming gen-
eral elections. The grid lists the parties
and the issues of the day. It is a work-
in-progress and we expect the parties


to clarify their positions as we
lead up to the election an-
nouncement.
Belizeans will most certainly
have multiple choices in every
electoral division for the up-
coming general elections. There


are possibilities that amalgamations
are in the works as efforts are con-
tinuing.
We intend to keep running the
grid with updates as well as explor-
ing the possibilities of providing
other comparative analysis plat-


forms for you the people to decide.
Some parties provided direct input
(about half) while we gathered in-
formation from various sources on
the others. [Coming next week, pro-
file of the leadership of these par-
ties]


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PAGE 1

Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 1 INdependent for the PeopleVol. 2 No. 10 Friday, March 9, 2007 $1.00TheReformer Inside this Issue The Independent & Alternative Parties pg 3 Buds-get Reading 2007 pg. 4 Tourism Minister ignoring PG pg.10 Jaguar Express pg. 15 BCWU Strike Countdown fiz BCWU Strike Countdown fiz BCWU Strike Countdown fiz BCWU Strike Countdown fiz BCWU Strike Countdown fiz zles zles zles zles zles B.C.W.U. leader Paul Perriot calls for a show of hands to support the unionÂ’s positon after BTL dismissed his wife, Christine Perriot last Tuesday.The testimony of Mr. Troy Gabb, Former CEO of the Development Finance Corporation (D.F.C.) commenced Monday, March 5, 2007 in the D.F.C. Commission hearing at the B.I.M. Building in Belize City. His former boss, Glen Godfrey is expected to take the oath later today and is expected to be accompanied by legal counsel as were Gabb and David Courtenay before him. The majority of witnesses, mostly employees and former employees, did not have the added security or luxury of having legal counsel to provide aid & comfort. The hearing was aired live on at least three radio stations as public interest is quite high, supremely so. But we can expect no explosive testimony as the TR TR TR TR TR OUBLEMS: OUBLEMS: OUBLEMS: OUBLEMS: OUBLEMS: B.T.L. provision of Internet Service was abruptly interrupted on Monday, March 5, 2007 and when available it has been spotty. The Union had issued an ultimatum three days earlier warning that midday on Monday would be the deadline for reemployment of all four B.T.L. employees terminated earlier, or else. As INdependent Weekly goes to press on Monday, we are monitoring the situation with the other services B.T.L. provides. Many are claiming that Lord Michael Ashcroft is calling the shots at B.T.L. and has decided to flex his muscle again by firing chief Union Negotiator Christine Perriott, in the middle of negotiations. It will be recalled that whilst the Honorable Chief Justice had numerous rulings ignored by Ashcroft-controlled B.T.L., that company has simply refused to comply with the rulings, leading to much speculation from the callers to the morning call shows that this company is above the law. The legally recognized chairman (from a ruling by the Hon. Chief Justice himself), Jeffrey Prosser, has been trying every avenue to take back Troy Testily Testifies Troy Testily Testifies Troy Testily Testifies Troy Testily Testifies Troy Testily Testifies witnesses today will be guided by legal counsel and there is nothing to suggest that Mr. Godfrey will be pointing to where the bodies are buried, despite his earlier public overtures to elements of the other mass party, the UDP. While there has been constant reference to DFC legal advisor Gian Ghandi, there is no indication or testimony that he Ghandi directly participated in the fleecing of D.F.C. He simply gave legal advice, some of which were taken while others were not. Mr. Ghandi has served in various capacities in both the Musa & Esquivel government with seamless transitions. Whether QueenÂ’s Council Gian Ghandi will be called to testify remains to be seen. what is legally his; but the Lord, with MusaÂ’s obvious blessing, has muscled Prosser out, literally. ProsserÂ’s recent efforts may have triggered apparent suspicion in the Ashcroft camp that the Telecommunication Union leadership has been coluding with Prosser. Musa has to be worried about Prosser because ProsserÂ’s legal team has stated in a Florida mediation court that monies were paid out to Musa in excess of what government claims. The Musa government has been adamantly telling the people that all they got from Prosser was a promissory note. We have previously opined in this paper that the Lord is indeed the major force that wields tremendous influence over the executive and legislative branches of Government. Undue influence. Therefore, Mrs. PerriottÂ’s extrajudicial termination is simply another manifestation of a highly compromised Musa government crippled by its love for money, at the expense of the rule of law. Mrs. Perriott has become the victim of political enrichment policy at B.T.L., a policy engineered by the Musa regime and apparently executed flawlessly and ironically by the former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit. LetÂ’s not forget B.T.L. has engaged in a massive money laundering scheme as documented in their 2005 annual report to shareholders. The only solution lies in the Prime MinisterÂ’s hands. He had better talk some sense into the LordÂ’s head or head back to Whitehall to give him another tongue lashing. Let us see how much he loves this good country and its laws that have been so good to him.Former D.F.C. CEO Troy Gabb testifies before the Commission of Inquiry.

PAGE 2

Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 2 Editorial Director Meb Cutlack Editor Karla Heusner Vernon General Manager Trevor Vernon Design/Layout William G . Ysaguirrre Published by: Independent Publishing P.O. Box 2666Telephones:(501) 225-3520 Email: independent.newspaper .bz@gmail.comPrinted by:National Printers New Road Belize City, BelizeCompany Ltd.“Quote of the Week” Send me 6 months of the INdependent Reformer for as little as BZ$30.00 (US$30.00 international) INdependentReformer The Name (please print) Address Apt. City State Zip Email Address Payment Included Bill me later Prices for subscription and postage may vary for subscription outside Belize. independendent.newspaper.bz@gmail.com Belize C.A.For an online version of the INdependent Reformer visit us at http://www .belizenor th.com/ independentr eformer .htm OR http://belizenews.com/ independentonline.pdfYES! P.O. Box 2666 Belize City, Belize Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (Please Turn To Page 15)SHADYDear Editor, I noticed during the past town board elections the propensity of politicians and political hopefuls to don ‘shades’, the black opaque type or, my favourite, the reflective type, while campaigning. The ever stylish shade is being worn for more than just protection from the sun. They are most useful when you have something to hide, like those stoned red eyes, or if you want to avoid eye contact. They can help you ‘look cool’, or they can provide you some anonymity. But what does it do for politicians and those hopefuls? It leaves them looking shady. Why can’t politicians, bureaucrats and other officials meet the public or press without their eyes being covered? What are you afraid of? Getting a little sun in your eyes? Can’t take the limelight? Afraid of being recognized? Afraid people will see your shifty eyes? Or that people may catch a look in your eyes and see the ‘real’ truth? That people will see you for who you really are? That you are trying to hide something? As politicians shouldn’t you want to connect with people? Show them they can trust you? One of the most important things you can do when looking for support from people is to look them in the eyes when speaking to them, make eye contact when talking to a crowd. Connect with people using the sincerity and honesty that comes from your eyes….unless you don’t have either of those qualities, and in that case keep the shades on! With elections once again looming upon us political hopefuls will be coming out in droves wanting to meet us, talk to us, and to ask us for our vote. And all the time they will be decked out in some faux designer pair of opaque shades, while spewing about ‘their vision’, the ‘clarity’ of issues, and where they ‘see’ the country going. Maybe they should try taking off their shades to get a good look of what is really going on. And we could then get a good look at them. My first impression upon picking up the Feb 23 edition of The INdependent was “who is this guy? He looks like a thug!” Then I read he is the PNPs party leader, I thought, “I can’t trust someone who doesn’t have the decency to remove his shades while meeting with the public, how rude!” And then I thought he looks like so many other guys with shades on. Maybe this is all being done on purpose. Maybe they really don’t want you to know who they are so if they lose, with the shades off they don’t have to hang their heads from a loss; but if they win, with the shades off they won’t look like the person you voted for, thereby letting them get away with what ever they want. I challenge all those planning on running in the next election to expose themselves to us, the electorate. Let us look you in the eyes as you ask us for our vote. No shades, please! It is “ Under the shade we flourish ”, not “ Using shades we flourish ”, so step out of the sun if you can’t take the heat. Sherry Gibbs San IgnacioESTAP deaf?!?Dear Editor, As I read more and more articles on the Toledo Eco-Park, I am tempted to write something I know about the concept. The eco-park plan consists of the ecotourism development and conservation of forests, caves, Mayan temples, waterfalls, sink holes and the (Maya and Garifuna) people along with their traditions and culture. I can recall that in 1995-2003 TEA, PGCC and community leaders became very active and were enthusiastic to begin the implementation of the eco-park plan. But unfortunately, ESTAP never listened, nor even helped promote this concept of a park. In 2003 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by TIDE, PGCC, TEA, Peace Corps, TDC, Alcades Association, Village Council Association. These major organizations and important personnel signed because they believed that the eco-park plan is ready and worth a trial. During the last five years the TEA executive board was dormant, but now we have new officers that are eager to revive and disseminate more information concerning the Eco-Park. As a Mayan from Toledo, it hurts me a lot to read reports from surveys conducted in Toledo which reveals that 1 out of 10 children is classified as suffering from mal-nutrition. Now after every workshop and meetings I attended, it is very clear to me that there are many financial support to fund viable projects. My question is “Why permanently keep Toledo in poverty?” It is time to make a change. We suggest that the Government of Belize, NGO’s and funding agencies

PAGE 3

Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 3 VISTA DANCE STUDIODirector: SISTIE FAIRWEATHER -HARMES10th annualDANCE RECITALto be held at theBLISS Performing Arts6;00 p.m. on Sunday April 1, 2007 TICKETS; Adults $20 Child $15 Phone: 225-3064 or available at door The new trend in the INDEPENDENT newspaper is encouraging. That they are serious about trying to achieve political reform I find beneficial for the future direction of Belize as a strong independent nation. The stronger the debate, the more successful the eventual results. Since this is an election year and events to the next general election are rushing at us faster than water pouring over Clarissa Falls, I think the Independent newspaper should be lending organizational advice to the new budding political parties attempting to overthrow the entrenched two party system. However it works out, such furor and debate can only be for the betterment of the country down the line. The entrenched two parties are already polluted by natural “greed and self interest” from elected representatives. It should be kept in mind by the Independent Newspaper that any third By: Ray Auxillou The Independent and Alternative Par The Independent and Alternative Par The Independent and Alternative Par The Independent and Alternative Par The Independent and Alternative Par ties ties ties ties ties parties will also become quickly polluted should they achieve elected office. It is only human nature at work! It is very important that new third parties have their philosophies and political reform manifestos printed in the newspaper for the public at large to debate and decide to whom they will vote. Most effective to my mind, is that besides political reform promises, a time limit of 120 days to achieve those reforms, if they get a landslide majority should be made. The PUP did something like this nine years ago and then disappointed us all with sham charades of cosmetic reforms. The Referendum Act comes to mind. The Senate Reform is another disappointment as examples. The new third parties should print and spell out in detail what they intend to reform and when, with a time limit, if elected to office. Without these things, I would vote for the old guard. Better the devil you know, than one you don’t. Teaching them how to conduct a voting campaign and funding same are two different things. No sense having somebody run for the party who can’t pay bus fare to party meetings. Most WTP runners in the last election couldn’t even pay their own $200 entry fee into the political arena. It is not unusual to see new elected representatives get swell headed and unable to handle the authority given to them by the voters. Government by committee is not always effective either and budget positions, formulas for paying for national development are subjects that new aspirants in new parties are going to have to have workshops and study groups quickly, to bring third parties up to speed in time for the new election. There is the matter of party and voting organization, with party block captains, getting out the vote chapters organized and making voting lists, monitors of new names being added to the roles as well as ballot box supervision during the election. Certainly each new aspirant of any third party should know his electoral division voters intimately and it is too late to start a few months from now. It must be started right now to be effective. Good coverage by the Independent which claims to be a rebel political reform newspaper can do much to help these newbies get organized in this political contest. Reporting on individuals aspiring for office and how prepared they are would stimulate activity from all parties. Time is indeed running out very fast and these third parties need encouragement and assistance in organizational political campaign skills from now. It is not enough to throw the pirates out of office, you don’t want to end up with a new set of on the job political trainees learning the ropes as they go along, especially once the power of ministerial discretion takes hold. WOW! We have a whole litter of new alphabet clubs willing to stand up and challenge the deeply ingrained Blue and Red Party fascism, and although we have to admire the courage displayed, and their lofty goals, no one seems to have any real plans to get the jobs done. It‘s sort of like a group shipwrecked on an isolated island trying to elect a king, with all the candidates promising to rescue them. How? Well, don’t know yet, but elect me king and then I will figure it out. Sorry, but that boat won’t float. The People’ s National Party (PNP) promises accountability in courts and government, and accountability is a key issue. Within 100 days PNP says it will collect all the monies stolen from the People. Now wouldn’t that be something? And the first thing they are going to do is clean up corruption. Holy Grouper! They are also going to make it easier for children to go to school, and focus on people needing jobs. Lofty and desperately needed goals, but Will Maheia, having shown some good leadership qualities over the years, may eventually devise the way to a rescue. V ision Inspired by the People (VIP) has a full, detailed and reasonable platform published. VIP doesn’t really have a plan of action but they want to reduce corruption by adopting good administrative procedures and legal safeguards, elect honest and competent representatives; take some of the power away from the cabinet and give it to the legislature and courts; strengthen the Governor General’s Office; establish the public referendum; institute campaign By: Des Parrette Words but No Substance Words but No Substance Words but No Substance Words but No Substance Words but No Substance (Please Turn To Page 13)reforms; and generally build a bigger bureaucracy. This party has some good ideas… at least on paper… but there doesn’t seem to be clearly defined leadership. Paul Morgan carried the flag for the Mayor’s race in Belmopan, but now what….? I have yet to see that W e The People (WTP) has any real plan of action…but they are the only party that has proposed the Senate be an elected body. This is probably the most important innovation on any platform right now. Who is their leader right now? Is Francis Gegg still involved, or is the party lead by Hippolito Bautista? Enquring voters want to know…. Cornelius Dueck’s National Reform Party (NRP) has a full slate of candidates and a few good goals, but like the rest of the parties it has no plan of attack. NRP is going to eliminate corruption ( join the crowd ), crime and poverty; and they promise better schools and hospitals. They don’t know how they are going to do it though. I am concerned however by the statement of their leader, “If Christians ran Belize there would be no corruption.” By the Prophet’s Beard and Buddha’s Belly! Christianity has the bloodiest history ever, filled with murder, corruption, treachery… you name it. And which Christianity are you talking about? It seems there was also a Green Party wandering around PG for awhile, but it seems almost invisible already. That’s a real shame because Belize has some serious environmental issues that need attention. So what do we have? Well for one thing we have a lot of voters who are fed up and disgusted with the corruption and incompetence in government. Enough voters in fact, that if you put

PAGE 4

Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 4 By: Karla Heusner V ernon Buds-g Buds-g Buds-g Buds-g Buds-g et reading 2007 et reading 2007 et reading 2007 et reading 2007 et reading 2007 (Please Turn To Page 13) Basically Belize is broke and this exercise is just that, exercise. I am stretched out in the hammock listening to the reading of the budget at the House on the radio. No longer confined to the prim and proper behavior of the press box, I can suck my teeth, even shout at the speakers (on the console, not in the National Assembly) like the rest of the Belizean public. Somehow the whole thing seems so utterly divorced from the reality real Belizeans face. The presentation is so dull, I feel rather sleepy…. “ Madam Speaker I rise this morning to present what the Buddies-get for 2007-2008. Unfortunately the Prime Minister could not be here due to ah, er, illness. Yes, I have the doctor paper right here, signed by the CEO, I mean a doctor..” “Thank you, Minister of Money—we do appreciate your standing in for the leader of the nation this morning and we wish him a speedy recovery.” “Madam Speaker, I wish I had good news to share with this good country. But I do not. Basically Belize is broke and this exercise is just that, exercise. I have lost a good five pounds carrying these books and receipts around with vehicles for the ministers and their drivers. “But enough of the pleasantries. It says here that the Consumer Price Index rose by 4.3% and that all major commodity groups were affected especially Transport, Communications, Rent, Water, Fuel and Power. Madam Speaker, I admit this figure is slightly understated. It is probably more like a 43%, particularly for fuel. Bu we in government believe the consumers have brought this on themselves due to their houses, even canals, were good enough for their grandparents and still are for thousands of people in the rural areas? “It is this avaricious imitation of US lifestyles they see on television that is driving up the consumer index, Madam Speaker! “Would you pay $9.35 a gallon for premium fuel for an old gas hog some relative sent you from the States because they are trying to get rid of it? Of course not, you would do the sensible thing like we all do and sign a voucher for diesel and change your SUV every two years to keep it current and from being damaged by all those potholes being imposed on the Ministry of Works by all these trashy old cars! Government is working so hard to try and make a better life for our friends and family, to acquire as much land and property as we can during this, our last term in office, but we are continually being asked for handouts to pay for luxuries like water, electricity, school books! Belizeans were historically a humble people, Madam Speaker, but now they want us Area Reps to pay for me to the various Ministries trying to get some accounting of how they spent the money we did not give them last year, although they submitted detailed plans of proposals of the various projects and wage bills. The truth is simply we did not have the money we allocated for them because it had to be spent on international debt servicing, related fees and commissions and expense accounts, mismanagement of their salaries and savings. And sheer laziness. Sorry to be so blunt. “Why can’t Belizeans take a couple of hours off each month to go to Miami, Panama, or Montevideo, or even Chetumal? They too could save on groceries and access duty free gas like those of us in government. Why do they insist on having flush toilets when out-

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 5 By: T r evor V ernon EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS: why we must take stock EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS: why we must take stock EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS: why we must take stock EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS: why we must take stock EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS: why we must take stock A Psychology professor of mine told me almost any discussion of race produces an “emotional trigger” in the audience. These emotional triggers are universal, affecting most people to some degree or another, no matter where they were born and raised, no matter what color(s) their parents are, or their own perception of their own skin color. Too many of us allow others to drop phrases, turning our world upside down. We simply flip when they pull our triggers, cast aspersions on our class, our color, our children’s complexions, the texture and color of our hair… The theory is, if you know what your triggers are and can control your reaction when someone tries to control you this way, you can better control your life, your destiny, your everything. In other words, knowing yourself is an indispensable defense whenever you are under attack, in any setting, including the political arena. Correction: Especially in the political arena. Our leaders, both political and cultural, have gotten very good at making people feel bad about things their parents, grandparents, even ancient ancestors, did or decisions they made in some other time. Their ability to draw on an arsenal of collective feelings of guilt or inadequacy has given them a big negotiating advantage. Be aware of that. Don’t let them rent space in your head. Recently we have been hearing a lot of people saying they are being discriminated against because of their color. People call the radio stations and relate how they were at a certain restaurant, or shop or hotel and they felt they were treated like second class citizens. They believe tourists, or even Central American immigrants have more privileges than Creole, Black Belizeans do in their own country. Ironically, often the incidents occur in restaurants and other public places where young migrant girls (who barely speak the Queen’s English) work as waitresses and/or shop assistants. This too is a super-sensitive issue between the groups of non-Spanish speaking Belizeans and non-English speaking migrants who now just happen to have gotten a passport and voters card. Elections are fast approaching and the ruling politicians are alleged to be registering aliens left, right, and center. Huge powder keg. Beware. Some of these incidents are unfortunate and probably more frequent that we care to admit. There are many insecure, racist people in this world. But I suggest to you perhaps Belize has not really changed for the worse, that historically, “race issues” typically get most inflamed WHENEVER and WHEREVER economic stagflation becomes the order of the day and the side effect of elections looming large. Life in Belize today has become a major economic nightmare with skyhigh prices on consumer goods and basic food stuffs, consumption taxes (10% GST) on the poor-fuels (100%), utilities, runaway inflation, coupled with a mounting external debt brought on by unspeakable and despicable acts of blatant and shameless raping of the nations assets by the political gangs. People, of all colors, are suffering. Badly. Worse of all, they feel helpless to change their own situation, feel victimized by “the powers that be.” Victimized— just as their ancestors were victimized— by those other “powers that were” way back when. We must be careful and responsible enough not to allow the economic degradation of our country by the political establishment to push us into the realm of raw racial insensitivities, of uncontrolled emotions getting the better of our logic and reason. Of people getting so incensed by perceived slights and insults that they begin to react with mindless violence and with hate…like they tend to do in T&T and Guyana, for example. Because this is precisely the reaction the politicians crave. Remember, most of them are cold, callous creatures that will most certainly push this country to the point of no return just to protect their ill-gotten gains and their dubious political power. We CANNOT allow this to happen. We must learn the lessons of history to ensure that we keep the political directorate in check to preserve our once tranquil haven of democracy…as well as to ensure the maintenance of the stable race relations and diversity that we all prize so much. Each of us must look inward and identify our emotional triggers. We must acknowledge that certain issues, even words, not only make us uncomfortable, they make us angry. That we might say and do hurtful things, in response to someone throwing words at us or implying we are less important than another group or individual. If we are able to honestly say to ourselves: these are the things I will not allow anyone to try and bait me with, to distract me from the REAL problems of the day, we will not only sleep better, but be better Belizeans. You simply cannot pre-judge people, expect them to present themselves in a certain way all the time, and spend your entire life waiting for the boot to drop. If you do this, you will never hear what that person really has to say because you may be so obsessed with the expectation of an emotional trigger you may well miss the beauty of a perfectly normal interaction with people who don’t look exactly like you do, or speak exactly like you, or share a same cultural value, but who have values that may not be so different from yours. This race issue is a big emotional trigger and a great many people, because they can’t handle it rationally, get turned off by any discussion of it or go to the radical extreme of playing it up… I believe we need to celebrate the diversity that is Belize while at the same time rationally and consciously identifying and controlling our emotional triggers, specifically as they relate to race. We need to focus on what has REALLY gone wrong in this country and fix it, instead of allowing ourselves to be sidetracked, or set on each other like wild animals for someone else’s political or financial gain. We have the greater responsibility to guard against this because we have the greater vision for a better Belize. We obviously care, about Belize and each other. If we didn’t, we would have given up and left already. UNITED NATIONS The operations of the United Nations agencies resident in Belize (PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF, which are all organized in the United Nations Country Team) are guided by the Belize United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2007 – 2011 ( http://www .undg.or g/content.cfm?id=331) and cover the following thematic areas: Human Rights and Millennium Development Goals, Governance & Decentralization, Education, Child Protection, Health Systems & Services, Sexual & Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS, Adolescent Mobilization and Development, Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Natural Resources Management, Social Communication and Results-oriented Monitoring and Evaluation. The UNCT wishes to establish a joint database for a more efficient and harmonized process of recruiting national consultants for the agencies’ programmes and projects in the abovementioned thematic areas. The UNCT therefore is now inviting experienced and skilled national consultants, individuals as well as legally established firms, to submit the necessary information to be included in this database. Consultant firms are requested to submit the profile of each individual member of staff. The provided information should contain the following information fields: a) an up-to-date CV containing name, mailing address, telephone & email, legal status, education qualifications and relevant work experience; b) thematic area(s) of expertise, and; c) a listing of consultancy services & products, delivered over the past 4 years. Information should be forwarded electronically to UNDP Belize at undp.bze@btl.net

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 6 Visit The Belize Zoo The Best Little Zoo In The World Industrialised countries that knowingly lent billions of dollars in “irresponsible” debts to corrupt and dictatorial regimes in poor nations should cancel the debts and reconsider their harmful policies, a new study says. The study by international anti-debt campaigners argues that some debts owed by developing countries should not be paid at all. “This is because creditors bear a large part of the responsibility for having extended loans irresponsibly and negligently, “ says the study, “Skeletons in the Cupboard -Illegitimate Debt Claims of the G7”. The report says that the Group of Seven (G7) most industrialised nations — Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Britain and the United States — lent money to regimes they knew to be corrupt or repressive in order to buy political allegiance. The non-governmental organisations behind the report contend that the G7’s newfound emphasis on corruption, good governance and transparency lacks seriousness since those nations still refuse to apply the same principles to their previous economic practices. “Creditors need to be held accountable for the bad decisions they have made and share responsibility for mistakes,” said Gail Hurley, of the international debt think tank EURODAD. “It is not acceptable for the G7 to preach good governance to developing nations while at the same time collecting debts that were corruptly made,” Hurley said. She was referring to politicians in industrialised nations who have recently put fighting graft high on their agendas, saying they want to make sure that taxpayers’ money is well-spent and not wasted by corrupt elites. Other groups behind the report include the Italian group CRBM, Erlassjahr in Germany, PARC from Japan, Plate-forme Dette et Développement from France, the Jubilee Debt Campaign in Britain, Jubilee USA and Probe International in Canada. Some of these loans, the report says, were designed to help rich country companies do business abroad and in many of these cases loans were provided at excessive interest rates. “Development was never their original purpose,” says the report. The study highlighted cases of unnecessary goods or services being sold, blatant overcharging, the sale of military hardware or weapons to authoritarian regimes which were widely known to cancel 80 million dollars in debt owed by Ecuador, Egypt, Jamaica, Peru and Sierra Leone after it determined that the loans were not granted in a good faith effort to promote development. Anti-debt campaigners want Norway’s decision to serve as a model for other wealthy creditors to follow in order to ease the global debt crisis that has squeezed many developing nations. The report recommended that G7 countries open official and impartial audits of illegitimate debt and that the enquiry’s recommendations be public, involve debtor nations fully and “lead to the cancellation of debts found to be odious or illegitimate. “ The International Monetary Fund estimates that total public external debt for the 54 lowest-income counBy: Emad Mckay Rich Na Rich Na Rich Na Rich Na Rich Na tions prodded tions prodded tions prodded tions prodded tions prodded on ‘Ille on ‘Ille on ‘Ille on ‘Ille on ‘Ille gitima gitima gitima gitima gitima te’ Lending te’ Lending te’ Lending te’ Lending te’ Lending be corrupt or to abuse human rights, extortionate interest rates and projects with huge negative social and environmental impacts. For example, the report cites the case of Germany selling warships to Indonesia during the Suharto regime despite concerns over how the vessels would be misused in internal conflicts. Japan also supported the development of an aluminum project in Indonesia designed to serve the interests of Japan’s aluminum exporters and which did not benefit Indonesians, the report says. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant built by former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the Philippines between 1965 and 1986, was financed by The Export-Import Bank (EXIM), the U.S, government’s export credit agency, which provided loans and guarantees totaling 900 million dollars for the project. The Filipino people continue to pay this debt and are projected to continue to do so until 2018, even though they have never received even a single watt of energy from the project, which ended up costing more than 2.3 billion dollars. Italy sold three hydroelectric turbines to Ecuador when only two were needed, and despite evidence that the hydropower plant was unviable and had destroyed the local environment and communities. The calls by the campaigners to deal with such debts are not without precedence. In October, Norway decided to tries, which Gross National Income per capita of less than 860 dollars a year, stands at some 460 billion dollars. These countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Senegal, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Gambia, Nepal, Vietnam, Ghana, Niger, Yemen, Nigeria and Zambia. “Debts which are found to be corrupt, fraudulent and illegitimate must be cancelled and responsibility shared between the two parties,” Hurley said. Rich nations, especially in the powerful group of bilateral creditors known as the Paris Club, and through multilateral lenders like the World Bank and the IMF, have long denied promoting illegitimate debt to corrupt governments or failed policies in developing countries.

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 7 Opening Hours Monday Saturday 6 a.m. 8:30 p.m. Sunday & Holidays 7 a.m. 7:30 pm. Breakfast Lunch and Diner By: Meb CutlackAs we head into the next General Elections and the flurry of promises that lie ahead, we might want to revisit one promise that turned into what may be the biggest swindle of the PUP administration. The full story of the Mahogany Heights housing fiasco illustrates perfectly the perfidy, the corruption and the greed of the PUP. It also contains, within it, the evidence that could pull both Mr. Musa and Mr. Fonseca from their perches on high and dash them down to face the legal consequences of their misdeeds. The land chosen for what was touted as the “satellite city” was first surveyed in the 1950’s by the Belizean City Planner and surveyor, Henry Fairweather, as a possible site for the new capital of Belize. He rejected the location as unsuitable and warned that the land lay in a giant basin “lower’ than the Belize River passing to the west and that therefore it would always present a drainage problem. Initially Premier George Price rejected this advice and intended to proceed with the project at La Democracia. It was only after British surveyors and engineers (Britain was funding the project) agreed with Mr. Fairweather on the unsuitability of the site, that was Belmopan chosen. Now, all this information was available when the PUP announced as election gimic in 1998 their grand 10,000 new home housing scheme. A friend and close associate of the PUP hierarchy, Lebanese businessman Abdul Hamze, stepped in and ‘bought’ the land via government for around $1,000,000. He borrowed the million from Taiwanese entrepreneur Johnny Kuo. According to a recent article in the Amandala, Kuo was to get back his money after the land was resold. “The balance of $7.5 million was to be split 50-50 between the two of them.” That brings the new value of the land to $9,500,00 (plus or minus)bringing Hamze’s profit to an amazing $7,000,000, which he was duly paid by Government. This payment did not, of course, take into account the 50/50 split with Johnny Kuo and neither did Hamze. Something went wrong at this point – for Hamze and the Musa/Fonseca Government. Johnny Kuo still had title to the land! The PUP Government, with all its resources, had not bothered to see if Hamze actually owned it! Nor, inexplicably, did they appear to care. Here Amandala picks up the story again: “Even though, according to Elrington (Johnny Kuo’s lawyer) GOB has deposited $2.5 million at the Registry, Kuo will not touch it because he will now go to the Court of Appeal to get the $3.5 million portion of the $7 million GOB paid to Hamze. In fact, his argument will be that the Government paid the wrong person, and it must now pay Kuo his portion.” Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive because not only was the land not in Hamze’s name but there had not been a ‘legally required’ subdivision done either. The government, in their hurry to announced their bonanza housing project, based everything on a hurriedly carried out land survey. The plot thickens. According to Amandala, Kuo’s US$1 million contract for the land purchase was reportedly lodged at the Musa and Balderamos law firm – the Prime Minister’s law firm while a second agreement, described as a ‘mortgage’, was lodged at Barrow and Williams law firm, the firm of Opposition Leader Hon. Dean Barrow. (Hmmm...) But getting the land was only part of the plan. To have the housing project, the government also needed a building firm and houses! About this time a German backed housing company was going broke over a project they had undertaken in El Savador. Mr. Musa’a government was introduced to them by a group called Janus Foundation, then based near Georgeville on the Mountain Pine Ridge road. Janus was an NGO of sorts which raised money in Europe by presenting Belize to the world as a half starved backward country in need of help. They wrote in their propaganda: “In Belize, as in many developing countries …women are typically confined to domestic activities and have few opportunities for supplementing their families’ income.” They added: “Janus has initially brought women into those segments of its eco-tourism projects that are compatible with those traditional roles. Twenty-four young women, for example, have benefited from Janus culinary arts program to the extent of operating baking businesses from their homes.” Well, Janus (before their web of respectability was swept aside and their boss was chased out of the country as an alleged molester of young girls) introduced Mr. Musa’a government to the German building firm in El Salvador. This brought Janus a considerable financial commission from the German firm and it also brought in a huge amount of duty free equipment and hundreds of Salvadoran laborers at considerable cost to the Belizean taxpayer. All that was missing now were the houses and the money to buy them. The houses were found and bought, at great expense, in unassembled nocktogether plywood units from a housing company in Miami. The funds, the many millions of dollars to put the whole equation together, was located at Mr. Musa and Mr. Fonseca’s usual milk cow the DFC. But here is the rub: Glenn Godfrey was the nominal operating boss of the DFC at the time and he did not like either the type of houses being imported or the “contract” signed (and the money to be paid by the DFC) to another Miami firm to assemble the bits of houses. He refused to sign off on the deal and, presumably has, to this day, in his possession a signed order from the Mr. Musa/Mr Fonseca duo instructing him to go ahead despite his doubts. He was right, by the way. The second housing company took their money and promptly declared bankruptcy! The questions to be asked of Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Fonseca, and Mr. Musa if, and when, the DFC Commission continues is; ‘Just how much money was spent on the entire Mahogany Heights fiasco?’ To this day there has not been a single legal title issued to home owners at Mahogany Heights and not even a shred of paper published to account for the untold millions of taxpayers money ‘wasted’ on this ‘crony’ deal. The $9,500,000 is only the tip of the Mahogany Heights iceberg (or should we say Titanic?) for over $140 million was estimated as having been wasted on the project and other housing ‘schemes’ which included moving a lot of these crap houses elsewhere in Belize, including San Pedro. Here too, according to San Pedro sources, Mr. Godfrey again registered his disagreement with the whole project especially the so-called ‘houses’. For many years the unassembled structures rotted in an enclosed fenced-in property in unsightly piles at Mile 30 near the Belize Zoo. Others can be seen today ‘assembled’ in unattractive disrepair in both Mahogany Heights and San Pedro. Lawyer Elrington told Amandala recently that Hamze has fled to Lebanon with the money, while his client, Kuo, has not gotten any of the proceeds of the $7 million Government had paid Hamze for the Mahogany Heights land. The question remains, was money handed over by Mr. Hamze for the PUP election ‘victory’? Again, only Mr Musa and Mr. Fonseca (and Mr. Hamze) possibly know the answer to this question. We also haven’t heard the last of ‘Janus’ because one of their former bosses, who is now facing charges of child rape in Germany, is one of the principal backers of a new project “Belize Barefoot Properties”. Under this ‘project’ parcels of land are being sold and resold to foreign investors from prime Reserve Land along the Macal River. More on this at a later date… Maho Maho Maho Maho Maho gan gan gan gan gan y Heist y Heist y Heist y Heist y Heist

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 8 ARIES (Mar. 21April 20) Take time to do something nice for yourself. Romantic opportunities will be plentiful if you get out and mingle. Uncertainty about your relationship is prevalent. Get more involved in group efforts at work. Your lucky day this week will be Saturday. T AURUS (Apr. 21May 21) Listening can be more valuable than being a chatterbox. Your mate will appreciate your honesty. Don’t rely on others to do your work. Take the time to help those less fortunate. Your lucky day this week will be Saturday. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Your dynamic, determined approach will win favors as well as a helping hand. Recognition will be yours if you meet your deadline. Y Give everyone in the house a physical chore that will help burn off some of the excess energy. Opportunities to get ahead will be evident. Your lucky day this week will be Monday. CANCER (June 22-July 22) You can expect to have a passionate time if you go out with someone you are romantically interested in. Your own small business on the side sounds pretty lucrative. Problems with relatives and friends could surface. You may find yourself in an uncomfortable situation if you have overloaded your plate unintentionally. Your lucky day this week will be Friday. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You are best to stick to yourself this week. Get together with those you find men tally stimulating. Plan a nice evening for two. Being unappreciated by your boss could make it hard to do your work effectively. Your lucky day this week will be Monday. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Difficulties will result if you have to deal with controversial groups this week. You will feel tired and rundown if you have allowed yourself to get into a financial mess. You may find that family members may not be too easy to get along with. Throw yourself into your work. Your lucky day this week will be Thursday. LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Your devotion will be persuasive. Be prudent and don’t be led down the garden path. You will have to help family members sort out unfortunate difficulties. Your efforts won’t go unnoticed; however, someone you work with may get jealous. Your lucky day this week will be Wednesday. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 Nov. 22) Don’t use the interstate as a racetrack. Difficulties with females you live with could cause emotional stress. You must not lead someone on or show interest in them for the wrong reasons. Try spending the day catching up on any responsibilities that need to be taken care of. Your lucky day this week will be Friday. SAGITT ARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Try to spend some time on your own. You will accomplish the most in the work environment this week. Make sure all of your travel and driver’s documents are in proper order. You will be able to get your own way if you use your intellectual charm and know how. Your lucky day this week will be Friday. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.Jan. 20) Opportunities to make financial gains through investments look promising. Find a quiet spot where you can work diligently and stay out of the way. Don’t play on your partner’s emotions. Don’t avoid situations that may deteriorate; try to mend them. Your lucky day this week will be Sunday. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You can make financial deals that will bring you extra cash. You can make some money if you get involved in a conservative financial prospect that is presented to you. Keep a lookout for any individuals eager to confront you with unsavory situations. You can anger others quickly this week. Avoid overspending on items for your home. Your lucky day this week will be Wednesday. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Praise will be yours if you have been pursuing your goals. The talk you have may be eye-opening with regard to your present situation. Insincere gestures of friendliness are likely to occur. Secret love affairs may be enticing; however, you must be prepared for the restraints that will follow. Your lucky day this week will be Sunday. Press release-The VIP categorically condemns the decision of BTL and Mr. Michael Ashcroft to dismiss without good cause the employment of the BCWU General Secretary, Mrs. Christine Perriott. Mrs. Perriott’s dismissal comes against the backdrop of her vocal and unwavering support for the actions taken by her union in defense of workers. It is clear to the VIP that Mrs. Perriott’s dismissal is in violation of:(1) The constitution of BelizeChapter 4 – Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (2) The Trade Union Laws of Belize (3) The Belize Labour Laws (4) The Trade Union and Employer’s Organization (Registration, Recognition and Status) Act (5) ILO Conventions # 87 Freedom of Association and Right to Organize (6) ILO Convention # 98 Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively (7) The Collective bargaining Agreement between The BCWU and BTL Workers and Belizeans on a whole must not take lightly the violation of our laws and the protection provided by international conventions. We must also safeguard the integrity of our Judiciary at all times. We can recall that this same company had also refused to accept the decisions of our Chief Justice and our Supreme Court! Belizeans must be reminded that the protection of worker’s rights have been fought for and obtained at the expense of workers lives and livelihood. It is therefore imperative that every effort be made to safeguard these fundamental rights and freedoms. It is very clear that sole intention of this particular employer is to institute a system of slavery which puts the welfare of a selected few or a single individual above the welfare of the people of Belize. In the interest of our nation, we call upon the Government of Belize to immediately take steps to reinstate Mrs. Perriott and to resolve this matter once and for all. We also call upon Belizeans and workers to stand firm in the struggle to rid ourselves of those distasteful elements within our society who are hell bent on creating social disorder. VIP condemns BTL firings VIP condemns BTL firings VIP condemns BTL firings VIP condemns BTL firings VIP condemns BTL firings

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 9 TOPICAL TIDBITS TOPICAL TIDBITS TOPICAL TIDBITS TOPICAL TIDBITS TOPICAL TIDBITS It all sounds bananas! Just last week the head of the European Commission in Belize, HE Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi—Alemanni signed over thirteen million dollars in funding to improve competitiveness in the banana and sugar industries in Belize. As Channel 7 reported: “…this sounds grand, but it’s actually just staying alive money for an industry that experts say will wither without European subsidies that are being phased out.” The European Union has committed $5.4 Million of this money to ensure the Belizean industry can remain competitive. However last week also brought news that Ecuador, a good friend of the USA and which accounts for about a quarter of all banana exports to Europe and the US, has appealed to the WTO to get rid of the competitive edge Caribbean and African bananas have in Europe over bananas from Latin American countries. These currently have to pay 176 euros ($225; £119) per tonne on banana imports. In contrast, annual imports from the Caribbean and Africa are currently dutyfree unless they exceed 775,000 tonnes. For St Lucia all is not lost! There, just when bananas were going the way of the dodo and banana farmers were “hanging up their machetes and ready to turn their steep hillsides back to forest..”, fate has intervened, One of Britain’s largest food chains, Sainsbury’s, has stepped in and announced that all the bananas it sells from now on will be fairly traded, and that nearly 100 million of these will come from St Lucia! Bananas, sugar and shrimp all dodoes? The more evidence we see that Belize is becoming less competitive in the above industries, the more that our government appears to artificially encourage their survival. They do so at the expense of Belize’s entire future. Instead of opting to encourage and stimulate the uniqueness of Belize’s natural environment for overnight and ground based tourism, which trickles down to everyone, the government keeps centering all its efforts on cruises ship and mega tourism projects. These only benefit the cronies involved and the megabuck promoters from abroad. It truly is ‘bananas’ not to slowly wean the country from its export dependence on ‘old’ uncompetitive industries and move into the world’s fastest growing tourism area – eco tourism which is, and can remain, Belizean based. Rampant killing Experts have known for many years that the chemical composition of a person’s breath changes when they develop lung cancer and that dogs – and other animals with a very keen sense of smell are able to distinguish the breath of patients with lung cancer from that of healthy people! Who was the hero? The group of 12 tourists from the Carnival cruise ship Liberty, who were attacked by three armed muggers in Costa Rica last week, made it safely back to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday. One of those tourists, a man in his 70s who has not been identified, broke the neck of one attacker, killing him, according to police in Limón. The other two assailants ran off and none of the tourists were hurt, despite the fact that the muggers were armed with at least one knife and a gun. The story received national attention and reporters and photographers waited at the exit gate of Terminal 19 in Port Everglades early Sunday, but the ‘’Hero of the Liberty ,’’ as he has become known, didn’t identify himself and avoided the media. Send Clinton packing? ‘No way!’ Said Sen. Hillary Rodham The inter-agency panel, the committee on foreign investment in the US, or CFIUS, is applying pressure on companies to agree to potential financial penalties. One attorney familiar with the situation says the government in one case opened negotiations by proposing penalties worth 10 per cent of a company’s sales. The threat of fines provides further evidence of the growing obstacles facing non-US companies as they seek to gain regulatory approval for takeovers in sensitive sectors such as telecommunications and defence. Mexico on Monday became the latest nation to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization over the Chinese government´s alleged payment of illegal subsidies to manufacturers. The action signals Mexico´s growing frustration with a flood of Chinese imports, which has led to a soaring trade deficit with Beijing. It follows Japan´s announcement last week that it would join the United States in formally protesting state subsidies that it claims make Chinese steel, paper and consumer products artificially cheap. The actions represent an orchestrated effort to pressure China live up to its WTO agreements more than five years after the Asian nation joined the world trade body. And it underscores growing impatience by trading partners who say they are losing jobs and market share as a result of China´s illegal trade practices. Pain killers can kill! Guatamalan style Four top rank Guatemalan policemen, arrested in connection with the murders of three politicians from El Salvador, have been killed in jail. The bodies of the three Salvadoran lawmakers and their driver were found in their burnt and bullet-ridden car near Guatemala City last Monday. The policemen were evidently arrested after the ‘transponder’ on their vehicle revealed their whereabouts near the burnt car at the time. Caribbean hurricane fund launched Caribbean nations hit by future hurricanes will be able to draw on emergency funding immediately under a new initiative by the World Bank. The bank has launching an insurance fund designed to enable countries to finance key services in the aftermath of a natural disaster. While Belize is not among the countries listed to benefit, which include the Bahamas , Barbados, Montserrat , Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, it IS certainly among Caribbean countries which have lost up to $16bn from hurricanes since 1979! Cancer detector US scientists have devised a colour test sensor which shows up unique chemical changes in the breath of people with lung cancer. The hues of a series of 36 dots detect lung cancer accurately in just under three out of four people with the disease. The sensor, which is slightly bigger than a quarter dollar or a two pound coin, is inexpensive and easy to use. Clinton in front of a huge crowd in the Democratic stronghold of San Francisco, raising campaign funds. In response to a question from the audience, she called her husband “the most popular person in the world right now’’ and said that when she reached the White House, she would “..continue the tradition of using former presidents” …as diplomats around the world. Foreign companies face huge US fines Foreign companies seeking to acquire sensitive US assets could face fines running into tens of millions of dollars if they violate agreements with a secretive US government panel that vets deals on national security grounds. Popular painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen can raise blood pressure and thus the risk of heart disease among men, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. Men who took such drugs for most days in a week were about one-third more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure than men not taking them, the researchers found. Millions of people take the painkillers as pills every day to treat headaches, arthritis, muscle pulls and other aches and pains.

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 10 T T T T T ourism Minister ignoring PG ourism Minister ignoring PG ourism Minister ignoring PG ourism Minister ignoring PG ourism Minister ignoring PG By: Chet Schmidt PG correspondent for INdependent W eeklyIf the killing of three Salvadoran deputies showed fissures in the Guatemalan legal system, the execution of police tied to the crime corroborates the government’s incompetence to control national security. “We are very worried because this confirms a crisis in the entire security apparatus, with severe consequences,” Human Rights attorney Sergio Morales said. Guatemala has been the center of world attention since the Salvadoran deputies killing last week, but concern increased when it was revealed that four organized crime police were the alleged authors of the crime. Amid the negative impact of the incident on the reliability of the security corps, the agents were murGuatemala becomes Guatemala becomes Guatemala becomes Guatemala becomes Guatemala becomes Ungovernable Ungovernable Ungovernable Ungovernable Ungovernable dered at a maximum security prison this week. Local analysts consider Guatemala is dangerously becoming “a failed country, where institutions do not operate.” As repercussions of the scandal continue within the country and abroad, calls for the resignation of Government Minister Carlos Vielmann and National Civil Police Chief Erwin Sperisen have increased. Both will be summoned by Congress to explain the execution of the agents, considered key elements in the deputies’ murder. In a panorama marked by impunity, authorities’ lack of control, and indifference of the State powers, all indications point to a flourishing ungovernability. Minister of Tourism Godfrey Smith recently asked in his article in the Belize Times: “Where should we take Belize tourism?” The part that sticks out is the “we”. The recent Government of Belize Strategy and Action Plan for the development of tourism in Toledo has five projects listed under Enterprise Development and the Toledo Gateway Program. It also lists a budget for a three year time frame, and the source of funding and implementing agencies for these projects. Although the Minister of Economic Development says a participatory planning process created this plan, the truth is that when representatives of the groups and agencies mentioned were interviewed, (see Friday, February 16, 2007 issue of the INdependent Reformer, page 9, “A perfectly good plan, going to waste” http:// www .belizenorth.com/ Independent27.pdf ) and asked about the Gateway Program for Toledo, not one had ever heard of it—including the CEO of the Ministry of Economic Development and the area representative for Toledo East Michael Espat. Minister Godfrey was sent a registered letter in December 2006 which he ignored, and another one in February which has as of today remained unanswered. Both asked him what the Gateway Program in the Strategy and Action Plan is. In his article he writes, “compared to any other single activity, tourism creates the most new jobs each year. Market trends suggest that tourists are looking for experiential tourism, that brand of heritage, cultural, and adventure tourism, not the usual kind of tourism.” This description of what tourists are looking for, is a good definition of what the tourism part of the Toledo People’s Eco Park Plan offers. So why has the People’s Plan been left out of the government’s plan for tourism development in Toledo? Why does the Ministry of Tourism refuse to answer our letters? Why, after representatives of the Belize Tourism Board met with representatives of the Punta Gorda Conservation Committee, and the Toledo Eco Tourism Association, where they heard about the Six Day Eco Cultural Nature Conservation Tour, and proposal for a small cruise ship for Toledo—have both the Ministry and BTB refused to respond to our people’s cries for help? Is it just out-right racism because the people of Toledo are mostly of Maya and Garifuna descent? Why has our area representative, Michael Espat told our groups repeatedly that these and other ministers refuse to listen to his pleas for help for our district that remains forgotten?

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 11 “The Airline Of Belize” An U An U An U An U An U gl gl gl gl gl y Belizean Secr y Belizean Secr y Belizean Secr y Belizean Secr y Belizean Secr et et et et etInspired Insights Inspired Insights Inspired Insights Inspired Insights Inspired Insights By: Rev’d LeRoy FlowersThere are many Belizean fathers, stepfathers, cousin, and brothers who are destroying the lives of innocent girls and sometimes even boys, through sexual impropriety. It is time that mothers, daughters, family members and the wider society hold these men accountable for their behavior by confronting them. The stories about incest are painfully numerous in our society. Supreme Betrayal:The majority of incest cases involve children between the ages of 5-17. Molestations are most commonly carried out by step-fathers, uncles, cousins, fathers and brothers. Diane Russell, psychologist, calls the father–daughter incest the “Supreme Betrayal.” What kind of man would assault his daughter? What kind of uncle would molest his niece? Surprisingly, research shows that many of the molesters are highly moralistic and devoutly attached to religious doctrines (Gebhard 1965). These men are often traditionalists. Father-daughter incest tends to, but does not always occur within a troubled marriage where there is a lack of values and purpose in the home. The man may abuse his wife as well as his daughter and turn to the daughter sexually when his wife rejects his advances. Many times the wife/mother pretends not to notice because she is afraid of her husband’s violence, or she may blame her daughter for threatening to break up the family. The Easy Road: Often men do not realize how easy it is to become sexually involved with their daughters or nieces if they do not have the right sense of values and purpose. The unique relationship between fathers and daughters can sometimes lead to inappropriate relations if there is dysfunction in the family. Remember, church people are not exempted either! The incest relationship usually starts very “innocently”. Daughters look up to their fathers. They have a deep trust and respect for the man who provides for her and her mother and gives a sense of security. When a husband and wife are having marital difficulty, the husband sometimes turns to the daughters to meet the needs that the wife usually provides. This may begin with cleaning his shoes, ironing his shirt, waking her up late at night to cook for him. She would do it because she “loves her father”. This may lead to extended warm embraces and cuddling. Why would a little girl not enjoy such attention, for it is her father? This type of behavior soon intensifies until the love is betrayed when the father crosses the boundary and engages in a sexual activity with his daughter that may include caressing, petting, kissing inappropriately and eventually intercourse. He then persuades her to keep what they did a secret. He may even threaten her and the relationship may go on for years; resulting in long-term emotional effect on the daughter. Life-long pain:Studies show that “female” survivors are severely conflict-laden, experience rage and ongoing hostility to both parents, and hold all women in contempt. Also they develop a distain for men. These female survivors almost never develop meaningful, lasting relationships. The most pervasive problem faced by survivors in relationships is around issues of intimacy. Psychologists Lundberg Love and Crawford state that a majority of these women have an inability to trust people and difficulty dealing with close relationships. Many survivors also become victims of domestic violence. They may feel unlovable and not worthy of being cared for. Thus, they often choose someone who is not very loving and who also perceives them as unworthy of being treated well. There are also sexual dysfunctions that survivors usually have as a result of incest. These include desire disorder and orgasmic disorder. Survivors may also suffer from learning difficulties and poor attention spans. In addition, they may have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem, suffer from nightmares, insomnia and fear of sleeping alone. Research indicates that the physical/somatic results of incest survivors are chronic tension, migraines and gastrointestinal disorders. Wow! That’s a lot!! And I haven’t given you the complete list…..but I will stop here. I hope you get the point. Incest is wrong and the long-term side effects are devastating to the victims and very distractive to the perpetrators as well. We must begin to break this cycle of abuse by seeking help. By protecting our children and holding our males accountable for their actions. When children are sexually molested their capacity to trust can be shattered forever. Their sense of who they are and what sex is about; it’s often totally or substantially shaped by the sexually abusive experience. Dads, uncles, step-fathers, brothers….stop raping our nation’s daughters and sons. Too many family members cover up the hurt inflected on our children. Have we tried to find out why there is so much anger and so many dysfunctional families are in our society? Relationships of trust are broken every day. . Who is responsible for this dilemma? The perpetrators are responsible, but Mothers you too must take a stand. It’s about the well-being of your child. The larger society is also responsible for being passive towards such vice, creating the stage for mothers to cover up, deny and sometimes even support such relationships. If our children and family members are to come forward we need to provide protection and support for them in a confidential and safe environment, which is lacking today with the organized system. They will need counseling as well, which is difficult to find in the wider society. Yes, even within the legal framework, it is not easy to get a conviction. So often the victims are abused again going through the legal system. We must all change our attitude to this Belizean secret. We must put an end to this vicious crime being inflicted on our children. Let’s protect our children! Defend them. Give then the right values! Call the police! Stop raping our nation’s innocence! Boat for SALE for US $10,000 -21' open fisherman double hull -flooring recently refurbished -live bait well (a must for any real fisherman) -14 rod holders -6 holders for trolling -dependable 200hp Yamaha with 120 hours -new stainless steel prop with spare aluminum prop -new center console -Bimini top -all stainless steel fittings -Captain chair doubles as fighting chair all running lights & bildge pump operational w/new switches -new bottom paint/anti-fouling paint -60 gallon tank -new seat belts -she flies no brakes available. Contact owner: tel. 225-3520

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 12 1/2 acre lots in Burrel Boom starting at $10K Call 600-1627 for details 10 acre plots in Burrel Boom starting at $50K Call 600-1627 for details Single-12 acre plot in Ladyville $120,000K Call 600-1627 for details VacancyThe Independent Reformer Weekly is looking for a sales person and/or agency to handle ad sales and collections. Part-time, flexible working hours. Applicant need not be based in Belize City or Ladyville, but must have own phone, email access and transportation. Commissions negotiable based on experience. Contact the General Manager at 225-3520 or email trevor_c_vernon@yahoo.com Press Release-Police in the Cayo District held a public forum on February 26 at the Saint Ignatius High School in Santa Elena Town. The purpose of the public meeting was for there to be an information exchange on the status of crime in the District and to spur community action in combating crime. In his report to the meeting, Senior Superintendent David Henderson reported that there were a total of thirty one murders in the District in 2006. He expressed concern given that the Cayo District is a major tourist destination. He reported that alcohol was a major problem and that some premises were serving alcohol to minors. Superintendent Henderson informed that some eleven persons were about to undergo training in community policing. Henderson said that neighbourhood watches have worked very well in the Corozal District and they can do the same in the Cayo District. He urged parents to send their children to school or they will be arrested. Some three parents have been arrested thus far for not sending their children to school. Present for the meeting was Area Representative for the Cayo Central Division, the Honourable Mario Castellanos. Minister Castellanos urged members of the public to take community action. He informed that the Belize Electricity Limited BEL was charging Government for street lights within the Cayo District even though they were not functioning. He suggested that community groups can bring pressure to bear on BEL via a petition, given that tax payers’ money was being lost in paying for unused lights. Minister Castellanos counselled that education is the way to go and that parents should send their children to the Centre for Employment Training to learn a trade. In his report to the public, Police Constable and Zone Beat Liaison Officer Darius Martinez announced that a female from Eden High School in Santa Elena had won under the “Do the Right Thing” Program for the month of February. The female had reported to authorities the presence of Cannabis sativa in ‘fudge’ to the authorities. Principal of Eden High School Erodito Pineda, in attendance at Monday night’s meeting, thanked San Ignacio Police for assisting in creating a safe learning environment for his students. Also present was Mr. Andrew Lopez, former President of the Crimes Committee. Superintendent Henderson estimates that there is one police officer for every eight hundred residents in Cayo. The Police Brass confirmed that more man power is needed to serve the Twin Towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. With only two neighbourhood watches in the area, police are targeting for five more in coming months and to activate citizens on patrol. Another Police forum is planned and this will be announced later.Western Formation O.C. David Henderson and Area Representative Mario Castellanos listen to community concerns. San Ignacio Police hold Public Forum

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 13 13 everything. So we’ll set up a charities fund and that’s it. No more aspirin. No more weekly handouts at the clinic. I don’t know who started these damned clinics anyway... Moving on…goods and services. Madam Speaker, once more there was a bumper crop of sugar cane. Well, okay, this is the first time it went up in 15 year, but we are so optimistic this Government has decided to reopen the Libertad Refinery. We have a buyer in Panama who wants to see Sugar City live up to its name once more. He also has plans to convert part of the facility to an orange processing plant. And a laundromat. But more on that later…closer to campaign time. The place is called Orange Walk, a perfect match. “Madame Speaker, it is with great excitement I also announce that oil revenues to government are being included for the first time in this budget. Yes, they were there before, but somehow never made it on the books. Poor accounting procedures. But, this time they are here, in black and white. I cannot vouch for their accuracy, it is difficult to keep track of all the buddy payments made since oil was discovered and offshore accounts do not issue statements with the same regularity as our local banks, but one must try. The official figure here is that with the commencement of collection of royalties on petroleum this year we took in $6 million. Not a bad start. This should more than cover the cost of front load commissions on our international loan payments. Madame Speaker this year our debt service payments of $169.5 million will of course exceed the budgeted amount of $145.7. But what is a few million anymore? Some of my colleagues sitting near me right now have homes abroad worth that much. I could write a check right now and cover the whole thing! “We must not be afraid of spending a little money to make more. Belize has land selling like hot cakes, or should I say hot “cayes”? (tittering all around) for that right now, as soon as the land around them is reclaimed. As we speak Italian film stars are lining up to pay for their own private island. And when we run out, we can dump some sand and stick a few coconut trees and make some more! “Madam Speaker, “the Belizean people are crying out for this government to embrace land speculation. And so are the international markets. American and European baby boomers want to retire here. This government will soon be announcing a retirement housing scheme in an area just outside of Belmopan called Meighan Heights. Just as soon as the DFC hearings are over you will be hearing more about that, and also an area in San Pedro called CroftAsh, beautiful retirement villas for members of British Parliament. “Yes, in the upcoming year, Government will continue to improve financial management and accountability. Personally, I think that sort of thing will only slow down the economic train and decrease the trickle in the trickledown to droplets, but these are the buzz words the international lenders want to hear, not to mention the electorate. “And yes, of course the Village Council Elections are approaching. So of course let me take this opportunity to announce we will be providing school books for all the children of Belize, increased electrification and potable water systems of the countryside, reliable digicell service for Burrell Boom and Cattle landing, and the eradication of all stray dogs and poverty in the Southside of Belize City. And yes, in addition to Libertad reopening, Orange Walkenos will be happy to see we have budgeted $10m for the Orange Walk Bypass so Naranjas can bypass all the mess in town. “ “Excuse me, Mr. Minister, that project is already completed.” “Oh, really…that was just on the template we used for the past 8 budgets. Take that one out then. Computer error. Will have to send that program back to Canada, get the bugs out. “And of course, let us give the poor people some satisfaction to see that wealthier Belizeans will soon have to pay more income tax. Yes, yes, I know we just lowered the threshold for payment to $20,000 but Belizeans are becoming so prosperous so quickly we will be raising it again to $24,000. Our friends across the floor are always saying we tax the people too much, but Belizeans DO NOT mind. In fact they are happy to pay more so they can have good roads, better schools, lower crime. If you don’t believe me, just look at this figure: the GST—so criticized by the Opposition—took in $20 million more than even we estimated it would! The Belizean people, only 280,000 strong, somehow found $20 million to pay in sales tax even though the Opposition says the economy is at an all time low! Does this sound like a poor country to you? People who can spend $20 million and not even notice it? This is precisely why we knew the Mortgage Securitization Plan would work. Belizeans are a hard working people and they will ensure they pay their mortgages so we can sell them and get the money to develop our banks accounts abroad, provide foreign exchange security and capital resources abroad for years to come. And to all those of you who have cast aspersions on the character of one of our standard bearers, let me tell you about this man. He inconvenienced himself, not once, but 14 times, to make those trips to Panama. Had to put up with the indignities of having to pass through customs although he had a diplomatic passport…Our detractors will stop at nothing to paint a picture of this government as falling down on the job when all we do is work! Morning, noon and night, we are working to take advantage of global markets, position ourselves advantageously, why we just (Continued From Page 4)broke ground with our recent bond offering. “Now, there are a great many more numbers here in front of me, but these are for statisticians and accountants, so don’t worry about what’s written here people, we have a nation to build! The path ahead is clear now. The horizon has the glow of hope and promise of a brighter few; the work of reform must continue…Together we can, we are living in a good country.” Oh my, I must have dozed off for a bit. I guess the House meeting ended while I was asleep. But I had the funniest dream… Many Words but Many Words but Many Words but Many Words but Many Words but No Substance No Substance No Substance No Substance No Substance them all together they could make a definite change and send the pirates walking the plank. The way things are going though, it looks more like four rowboats trying to attack a clipper ship. The new parties are giving a new meaning to divide and conquer; only they have it all backwards. If there is any hope of being effective, the parties must unite their efforts. What is so disturbing about this is that it is so obvious you have to wonder why the leaders don’t understand. Unite or perish! The new party movements are a reaction to the desperation Belizean voters feel, realizing that if they continue to vote for the same traditional Blue or Red parties they are going to get the same traditional Blue or Red bandits stealing public lands and moneys and peddling influence, protection and favors for their personal gain. This ground swell from the voters is a great and wonderful opportunity to organize for better and more effective representation. Good generals are masters of tactics, strategy and leadership. Their goals are clearly defined and they know how to develop effective plans of attack to attain their objectives. Anything else is only dreaming. Four or five little parties attacking the Goliath of entrenched government is like four little monkeys each crawling up a separate leg of an elephant with seduction on their minds. It is going to take more than desire and good intentions to unseat the power structure. It is going to take solid planning and preparation and the combined effort and cooperation of all parties involved. The voters want new choices and are now demanding it, but they are also demanding results. These parties shoulld consider uniting into a Party of Indepen(Continued From Page 3)dent Candidates. The PIC should develop a broad basic approach such as opposing corruption, recovering stolen lands and money, punishing corrupt politicians, promoting an elected Senate, etc. And then each Individual Candidate should prepare his own personal platform describing what he stands for, how the people can expect him to vote on issues, and his or her plan to achieve goals. The individual personal platforms should be published. The voters are ready and demanding changes and improvements in our government. The press that is not Blue or Red controlled is ready to help promote the positive values of the new reform parties. The first important point we have to get clear is where we want Belize to go. It is great to say we will clean up corruption, or we will take back all the land and money our Misleaders have stolen from us. But what do we want Belize to be? None of the parties seem to have thought much about this. You can’t get somewhere unless you know where you are going. Morality can never be a goal of government. What we need are the straightforward values of honesty, integrity, honor, dedication, commitment, loyalty. Listen, Leaders of the new parties, listen to the voice of the people and respond. Listen to the voices crying out for reform and take action. Listen to the desperation of our citizens enslaved by their government and create solid plans to free them. Bible thumping and personal glorification is the past not the future. Listen to the voices of today pleading from every corner of our oppressed country and UNITE FOR STRENGTH. The time is right. The people are offering an opportunity for victory if you use it well. Buds-g Buds-g Buds-g Buds-g Buds-g et reading 2007 et reading 2007 et reading 2007 et reading 2007 et reading 2007

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 14 14 I am a proud graduate of Belize Technical College. In 1981 I enrolled in the General Studies Program to pursue the study of what was referred to as pure sciences Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology. I also had to take a course called General Paper, which was basically English reading, writing and comprehension mixed with some Literature. At the time, that course (which I enjoyed so much) was being thought by Dr. Colville Young, the now Governor General of Belize. Dr. Young would probably still encourage me to improve on my poor punctuation skills. At the time, most people I knew aspired to go to Saint John’s College, which had an image of being more polished and upper-class, as well as with better academics and chances of getting scholarships to pursue further studies. Technical College, as we referred to our school, had the image of being for the underprivileged and persons of lower academic merit. However, a couple years before I entered, a healthy academic rivalry had developed between Saint John’s and Technical. The likes of Dr. Egbert Grinage had left stories of very disciplined study and work habits, as well as winner of the prized OPEN SCHOLARSHIP, only two of which were awarded each year. John Mencias and Ambrose Tillett, one year ahead of me, and both Cayo bwoys like myself, continued in the footsteps of Dr. Grinage. They took both open scholarships the year they graduated in 1982. So, by the time I completed my first year at Technical, I was proud to be a part of an under-dog institution that was raising its head in academics. My colleague and friend Dr. Arsenio Figueroa, also from San Ignacio, took one open scholarship for Technical in 1983, and Dr. Paul 23 YEARS LATER Balderamos (also a good friend) took the other for SJC. Another Cayo bwoy, CEO in the Ministry of National Development, Hugh O’Brien followed suit in 1984. I was an average student, more interested in making friends with the interesting students that came from all across the country, and opening up to this whole new world. I invited my BTC friends to go with me to SJC parties, and vice-versa. In my small way, I feel I played a role in diminishing the negative portions of our rivalry, so that we could up-play the healthy academic rivalry. By the time we graduated in 1983, SJC students had gained great respect for Technical students, and vice versa, at least in the General Studies Department. At the time, it seemed that General Studies was the face of the institution. We were physically in front, facing Freetown Road, and ‘we’ were facing off with the powerful SJC and making great strides to improve the academic image of our institution. Yet…..there were many other things going on at Technical. At the ‘back’………there was the Building and Engineering Department….and Secretarial. I recall our principal, Mr. Owen Morrison, calling meetings with the entire student body on the steps of the Building and Engineering Department. Even within BTC, I understood that General Studies people felt themselves above “those at the back”, who were the people learning to do plumbing, drafting, electrical, etc. Again, I crossed all over those silly barriers, and made many good friends from those departments, whom I consider friends until today, although I only get to see them on rare occasions these days. Now…..at that time…..it was not normal to see women pursuing building and engineering studies. I distinctly remember seeing a pretty young lady hanging out with the boys I knew to be from “back-a-building”. I found out her name was Christine Quan, from Corozal. She was a pioneer for women studying in that department, I believe. She looked quite comfortable and well liked among her colleagues. She seemed an equal among them. She is now Christine Perriott, a professional engineer in her own right, earning her honest keep by serving in our nations telecommunications company. I fondly remember a tall beautiful girl from Secretarial. Very charming and friendly, always smiling and ready to help organize school activities. I think her surname was Duncan then, but she is now Karen Bevans. She is using her tremendous ‘people’ skills to advance the work of our nations telecommunications company. It is my understanding that most of Karen’s and Christine’s co-workers were also fellow students at BTC. When I moved from San Ignacio to The City in 1981, Belize City was overtaken by the Heads of Agreement demonstrations. Belize Technical College, teachers and students, featured prominently in the scheme of things. BTC as an institution it seemed, encouraged free thinking and free spirits, and were very vocal and activist in its demonstration of that progressive ‘human’ spirit. This was all new to me….coming from the relatively tranquil western town. I loved the lively debates that took place on the creaky wooden veranda during breaks and after classes. The institution spent the resources necessary to keep its doors open for us to study and debate in the classrooms, until very late at nights. They understood that some of us did not have appropriate study environments at the cramped quarters we could afford to rent. Christine and Karen are both products of that very progressive ‘human’ environment. I understand that the ‘modern’ corporate world can transform people, especially those who do not have ‘good’ morals and values to guide them. Belize is a small place, and changes are rapidly occurring. Governments have been changed. Board members can also change. Some board members are from abroad and are here for one purpose and one purpose only. They can get up and leave tomorrow, or be voted/bought out. Changes can happen very quickly and unexpectedly. As Belizeans, who do not always have somewhere else to go…. and knowing that we live in a small place…. and it is very likely our paths will cross many times before we expire…..it behooves us to act with respect towards our colleagues…..to show empathy and compassion in our dealings with one another. It does not help us to be axe men and women against our colleagues. Although it may pay off in the short term, it surely will have its negative repercussions in the long term. At BTC, I recall….we learned to debate our ideas openly and honestly…without fear of discrimination or retribution. Many times we had different opinions about a subject…. sometimes the differences were very wide….but we always respected the opinions of others…and that is how we earn respect for our own positions. In conflict management, all parties must do what it takes, to preserve respect for each other, even as differences seem insurmountable and the horizon of solution seems far off. In the heat of things……it’s good to be reminded that we have ‘good’ morals and values to fall back on….this goes for all sides of any ‘story’. Calm heads will prevail. By: Richard HarrisonThe newlywed wife said to her husband when he returned from work, “I have great news for you. Pretty soon, we’re going to be three in this house instead of two.” Her husband ran to her with a smile on his face and delight in his eyes. He was glowing of happiness and kissing his wife when she said, “I’m glad that you feel this way since tomorrow morning, my mother moves “Maybe, but Jesus is a rottweiler!” Mrs. Peterson phoned the repairman because her dishwasher quit working. He couldn’t accommodate her with an “after-hours” appointment and since she had to go to work, she told him, “I’ll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dish washer, leave the bill on the counter, and I’ll mail you a check. By the way, I have a large rotweiler inside named Killer; he won’t bother you. I also have a parrot, and whatever you do, do not talk to the bird!” Well, sure enough the dog, Killer, totally ignored the repairman, but the whole time he was there, the parrot cursed, yelled, screamed, and about drove him nuts. As he was ready to leave, he in with us.” A burglar has just made it into the house he’s intending ransacking, and he’s looking around for stuff to steal. All of a sudden, a little voice pipes up, “I can see you, and so can Jesus!” Startled, the burglar looks around the room. No one there at all, so he goes back to his business. ”I can see you, and so can Jesus!” The burglar jumps again, and takes a longer look around the room. Over in the corner by the window, almost obscured by curtains, is a cage in which sits a parrot, who pipes up again, “I can see you, and so can Jesus! ”So what,” says the burglar, “you’re only a parrot!” To which the parrot replies, couldn’t resist saying, “You stupid bird, why don’t you shut up!” To which the bird replied, “Killer, get him!!!” A preacher is buying a parrot. ”Are you sure it doesn’t scream, yell, or swear?” asked the preacher. ”Oh absolutely. It’s a religious parrot,” the storekeeper assures him. ”Do you see those strings on his legs? When you pull the right one, he recites the lord’s prayer, and when you pull on the left he recites the 23rd Psalm.” ”Wonderful!” says the preacher, “but what happens if you pull both strings?” ”I fall off my perch, you stupid fool!” screeched the parrot. T otally ly Teens

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 15 15 San Jose Succotz, Cayo District, February, 2007 Miss Margarita Valle from Honduras was selected as Miss Rainforest on February 24th of 2007. The event had brought several contestants from Honduras and Guatemala and the Dominican Republic together with a representative from Belize for two weeks of activities aimed at promoting awareness about the importance and plight of the rainforests. Rainforests are dramatically decreasing throughout the tropics. In Belize, we still have approximately 60% of the country under forest cover but this is under considerable threat from forest fires, logging and agriculture based activities moving into slope areas. Friends for Conservation and Development [FCD] based in San Jose Succotz, partnered with the Director of Miss Rainforest International this year, Mrs. Nancy Juan Marin to promote the importance of the rainforests. Prior to the contest, Mr. Oswaldo Sabido, Miss Hannah St Luce of the Forest Department and FCD staff explained to the contestants the status of rainforests globally, regionally and nationally. Mr. Rafael Manzanero explained the importance of the Miss Rainforest out to Miss Rainforest out to Miss Rainforest out to Miss Rainforest out to Miss Rainforest out to protect Chiquibul protect Chiquibul protect Chiquibul protect Chiquibul protect Chiquibul Chiquibul-Maya Mountains as one main block of thirteen protected areas with high biodiversity in Belize. He noted that an initiative led by the Forest Department in collaboration with FCD and other multiple partners is currently underway to develop an integrated management program that will be able to protect this block consisting of approximately 1.3 million acres of land. He further noted that FCD is now entering into a co-management program with the Forest Department for the protection of the largest protected area in Belize the Chiquibul National Park. The reigning Miss Rainforest, Margarita Valle will now join FCD members and its supporters in promoting awareness about the forests of Belize and in particular the conservation work currently underway in protecting the Chiquibul National Park. She will serve as our ambassador in promoting the importance of this beautiful forest located in the Cayo District and which shares a 30 mile border with Guatemala. The Chiquibul forest faces several threats from unregulated development, lack of a management presence and illegal xate extraction conducted by Guatemalans.Miss Rainforest Margarita Valle with Friends for Conservation and Development staff. Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (Continued From Page 2)to at least put more focus on the further development of the Eco-park plan. We recommend its time to start building a co-management plan with the participation from the people of Toledo. At the end result, we are sure that the eco-part will help to eliminate poverty in the Toledo District. Jaguar Express Jaguar Express Jaguar Express Jaguar Express Jaguar ExpressWhat way to see The Belize Zoo!! What way to see The Belize Zoo!! What way to see The Belize Zoo!! What way to see The Belize Zoo!! What way to see The Belize Zoo!! Let’s face it. Belize can get HOT, and some folks find our soaring temperatures, combined with the long and winding Belize Zoo pathways, just a bit too difficult to deal with. Well, check it out!!! if seeing The Belize Zoo is high on your list, but walking the pathways isn’t, here is some “Thumbs Up” news for you!!! MEET THE JAGUAR X-PRESS!! This is your own cushioned and customized ride thru -the zoo. The Jaguar X-press chauffeurs are zoo professionals who will not only wheel you through the zoo, but will enthusiastically provide an introduction about the happy animals who call The Belize Zoo their home. The Jaguar Express maiden voyage was recently taken by Mrs. Neileen By Sharon Matola Hufford, mother of Belize’s one and only Sue Hufford, the energetic “Queen of Amigo’s” restaurant on the Western Highway. Neileen is a youthful over 75 year old lady who likes to save her energies for fun evenings at Amigos, so yes she was more than ready to take the Jaguar Xpress around The Belize Zoo. With her chauffeur, Allie Gomez, Neileen met most of the zoo’s happy inhabitants, and as a special “maiden voyage” treat, she even helped feed Panama the Harpy Eagle, who didn’t seem bothered at all by the colourful vehicle parked next to his exhibit. Keep it in mind!!! the Best Little Zoo in the World is ready to accommodate ALL levels of energies from our zoo visitors!! It is a zoo visit that is simply TOO WILD FOR WORDS!!Mrs. Neileen Hufford checks out a scarlet macaw. Belize Zoo attendants demonstare how comfy the Jaguar Express can be!I congratulate Mr William “Chet” Schmidt for his help to establishing the TEA Guest house and Ecotrail program. This guest house is working for the people and like wise establishment of the Toledo Eco Park. Sincerely, Reyes Chun

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Friday, March 9, 2007 The INdependent Reformer Page 16 16 ISSUES UDP PNP WTP VIP NRP GREEN-P ARTY PUP Corruptionit’s a pup t hingstamp it outWhistleblowers Protection Actstamp it outstamp it out/praystamp it out what corruption? [Same as WTP] proposedf or guidance (it’s the price for growth) Elected Senateno real inte restnot primary issue “holy grail” absolutelyyesyesno Real Education Reform see website definitely performance-based high impact budgetyesyesbig budget item to affordable to all (deterioriation) Cruise vs Overnight tourismsee website overnight focusbalance needed balance bothbalance both overnight healthier cruise focus Republican Form of Government not an issue referendum needed studying itstudy itstudy itstudy itnot so fast Strengthening the Integrity in Public Life Actsystem is fineyeswith stiff penaltiesfine & confine yesyesno Campaign Finance Reform Actwe don’t needyes urgently needed full disclosure for all yesyes“not necessary” Position on Money Launderingnot an issues trengthen laws with stiff penaltiesstrengt hen lawsstrengthen laws strengthe n lawsno such activity exist Prosecution of FAT CATS“no witch hunts”yes vigorously pursued definitely with jail time yesyes loaded question where applicable Primary sources of funding undisclosedfundraising dinners& membership and small toSmall contributions prepared to spend undisclosed undisclosed except friends of PNP medium-sized businesses from Belmopan $50-100 million Sir Barry’s million businessmen-mostly Specific Reform actionspublished bookletsee flyer60 specific actionssee websitesee website see releasenothing new but many with WTP (see release) new promises Seeking pre electionmaybe w/ WTPyesroad to general election victory willing to spearheadnot interested not activelynot an option, yet coliation arrangementfor Alternative Parties aggressively website address www .ud p.org.bz comingcoming www .vip.org.bz coming www .pupbelize.bz email info@pnpbelize.org wethepeople_belize@yahoo.com nationalreformparty.com Sticking Point “its our turn!!!” transparency“reform, reform, reform clean up the systemmorality environmental living in a good countissues protection ry; lazy beggars the people have become SEVEN(7) P SEVEN(7) P SEVEN(7) P SEVEN(7) P SEVEN(7) P ARTIES SADDLE UP ARTIES SADDLE UP ARTIES SADDLE UP ARTIES SADDLE UP ARTIES SADDLE UP Please find on page #16 a comparative analysis grid of the various political parties in Belize today who are actively preparing for the upcoming general elections. The grid lists the parties and the issues of the day. It is a workin-progress and we expect the parties to clarify their positions as we lead up to the election announcement. Belizeans will most certainly have multiple choices in every electoral division for the upcoming general elections. There are possibilities that amalgamations are in the works as efforts are continuing. We intend to keep running the grid with updates as well as exploring the possibilities of providing other comparative analysis platforms for you the people to decide. Some parties provided direct input (about half) while we gathered information from various sources on the others. [Coming next week, profile of the leadership of these parties] Where the seven political parties stand on the issues Where the seven political parties stand on the issues Where the seven political parties stand on the issues Where the seven political parties stand on the issues Where the seven political parties stand on the issues