Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Capital Weekly Page 1 No. 044 Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Online Publication NEW YEAR- NEW MANDATE Extraordinaryhankful, Truthful, and thatOpportunity we see our way clear - Extraordinary Results Realistic, Reassur- to another successful year.” ing and Optimistic Speaking candidly of – that is how we must the challenges, he informs Tsummarize and characterize that the reduction in PetroCa- Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s ribe flows is perhaps the most New Year’s Message for 2016. pronounced, and that this The Prime Minister combined with the dizzying starts out recounting the na- fall in oil prices, we expect to tion’s blessings in 2015, having get much less from these Ven- been spared from hurricanes ezuela loan funds than we did and social upheaval, and hav- in 2015. In fact, he noted, the ing as he puts it, “steered our 2015 intake was already only way through the complexi- half of 2014. “This, combined ties of the relationship with with the drying up of earn- Guatemala; and politically we ings from our own petroleum capped everything with the exports, will put a severe crimp peaceful and historic gen- in Government revenues,” the eral elections of November.” Prime Minister admits. It is be- Turning to economics, cause of this, the fact that pay- the Prime Minister notes that ments on the Superbond will despite the challenges pre- have to be stepped up, and the sented by disease and the long inevitability of the Compensa- drought, which played havoc tion Award for the acquisition with shrimp and grains, and an of vital public utilities, that earlier than expected decrease the Government has had to in the export price of sugar, the raise the duty on fuel imports, productive sector performed the Prime Minister explains. respectably well overall, as “And with this, which tourism saw record advances, is the only tax measure we cost of living fell markedly, will take, Government will and there was an overall spurt be able to meet debt obli- in the rate of employment. gations and pay for expan- “Our public works pro- sion in services, particularly gram reached its high point, so regarding national security that there was tremendous in- and the acquisition of assets frastructural development and such as the three BDF helicop- huge knock-on effects in jobs, ters and the two latest model income and spending. Govern- Coast Guard boats,” he assures. ment and quasi Government Notwithstanding the salary increases, commercial acknowledged challenges, bank liquidity, greater access the Prime Minister affirms to credit and lower interest that his government’s trade- rates, also helped to boost con- mark infrastructure drive sumer confidence and well-be- will continue, financed now ing,” the Prime Minister notes. by a mix of funding sources. Turning the page into “There is enough that we the New Year, the Prime Min- have set aside from the PetroCa- Honourable Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize ister notes and assures, “Look- ribe days of plenty, to complete ing ahead to 2016, I say at the countrywide BIL sporting on the Lamanai Road, the Cris- waiti Fund, will in turn finance once that the landscape is projects (such as the Belize City to Rey/San Antonio Road, and the rehabilitation of the Philip changed and the dynamics Center) and the tourism road the North Ambergris Road to Goldson Highway from the Air- will be different. But I also say network improvements that we the new Efrain Guerrero Inter- port junction to Belize City; the immediately that there are still began in the last quarter of 2015. national Airport. IFIs including new Macal River crossing; the multiple reasons for optimism, So construction proceeds apace CDB, IDB, OFID, and the Ku- Continued on Page 6 Page 2 Capital Weekly Wednesday, January 6, 2016 EDITORIAL TRANSFORMATION Highways and Bridges THE PATH AHEAD IS CLEAR he physical transformation that has been occurring nationwide, which has become a hallmark of the UDP administration un- der the leadership of Prime Minister Dean TBarrow, was certainly a central cause of the party’s un- precedented political success which came to a climax in 2015 with four election victories in one single year. Politics aside, for the sake of the nation and de- velopment, most Belizeans are certainly hoping this The Highway from Belize City Across Haulover to Airport Junction transformation will continue into the New Year. And n 2015 the Government’s Road with a bridge over the Be- while there are financial challenges that have arisen Transformation agenda lize River and extending from and others that are anticipated, all indications are that gathered full momentum, behind Gentrac to around Mile and the pace of develop- 8 on the George Price Highway. the Government will be able to continue its transfor- Iment should continue in 2016. Also, the Road to Caracol will be mation drive, even if a little less vigorous, in 2016. High on the list of important upgraded with funds from the As Prime Minister Dean Barrow acknowledged projects slated for 2016 is the United Kingdom Government rehabilitation and upgrading Caribbean Grant initiative. in his New Year’s Message, there have been, and will of the Phillip Goldson (North- Indeed, 2015 was a year likely continue to be, significant reductions in flows ern) Highway from the Airport of extraordinary physical trans- from Petrocaribe, even as revenues from local petro- Junction to Belize City, a neces- formation nationwide; and with sity underscored by the deadly God’s continued blessings in leum exports are drying up. The Prime Minister was traffic accidents in that area the New Year, 2016 promises to also candid about the fact that stepped-up payments over the New Year’s weekend. be just the same, if not better. on the Superbond and the Compensation Award for public acquisition of essential utilities will fur- ther increase the demand on government’s finances. Having acknowledged the challenges, the PM was nevertheless able to assure Belizeans that gov- ernment’s trademark transformation drive would continue, and he outlined how exactly it would be sustained, through a mix of sources, which in- cludes funds already set aside from “the PetroCar- ibe days of plenty” together with a number of con- Artist’s Rendering of Design for New Macal River Crossing in Cayo cessionary loans and grants well-targeted to foster Construction also pro- E sustainable economic growth and development. ceeds apace on the Lamanai The government’s ability to meet its finan- Road, the Cristo Rey/San An- CAPITAL cial obligations, while continuing to advance its tonio Road, and the North Am- bergris Road to the new Efrain transformation agenda, is also premised on the Guerrero International Airport. overall good performance of the productive sec- Also on the list of WEEKLY tor and the significant foreign direct invest- ground-breaking projects is the ments, such as in Tourism and the Sugar Indus- new Macal River crossing, link- ing the highway at Santa Elena, Published By: try, which are now beginning to earn dividends. through Loma Luz Boulevard The formula to cope and succeed is further un- and Joseph Andrews Drive, re- Roots & Rhythm connecting with the San Igna- derpinned by the government’s own demonstrated cio - Benque Viejo Road. The Limited commitment to good governance and expeditious full 54 Miles of the Humming- execution of public projects through proper moni- bird Highway is also being re- habilitated, with all 8 outdat- toring mechanisms like Belize Infrastructure Limit- ed, narrow, one-lane bridges Editor: ed (BIL), a special purpose vehicle now designated as being replaced with modern Delroy Cuthkelvin the Government’s Public-Private Partnership Unit. two-lane bridges. The George Price (Western) Highway from In life nothing is ever guaranteed, but all things Belmopan to Benque Viejo considered, notwithstanding the challenges ac- will also be fully rehabilitated. Email: knowledged, the plan seems practical, and the path Approval has already e.capwklybmpbelize @ been secured for funding to gmail.com ahead quite clear; so let the Transformation continue! construct a new PGIA Link Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Capital Weekly Page 3 BELIZEAN ‘GIANT’ PASSES MAJOR CRIMES e note the pass- eral elections on June 30, 1993. ing of a for- A retired public officer, DRAMATICALLY mer Speaker BQ had worked his way up from of the House a clerk of court to a magistrate, REDUCED IN ofW Representatives and for- later becoming an attorney. Dur- mer Attorney General, Ber- ing his distinguished lifetime, he nard Quentin Augustus Pitts, was bestowed multiple honours, SOUTHSIDE affectionately known as BQ most notably Commander of Pitts. Pitts passed way over the the British Empire (CBE). As a BELIZE CITY Christmas Holidays as a re- practicing senior attorney, he enior Superintendent of Police Chester Wil- sult of complications resulting was a partner in the law firm liams, back from legal from a stroke and cardiac arrest. of Pitts and Elrington. He was studies and now a full BQ Pitts served as Attor- married to Valda Icene Pitts and Sattorney at law, was posted ney General from 2010 to 2012, in was the father of nine children. as the new officer command- Personally, we knew BQ accordance with an amendment ing Eastern Division South, as a soft-spoken but firm indi- which allows for the Cabinet which is characteristically the vidual, whose advice was invari- position to be held by an official most violent, crime-ridden ably sound and always offered who is neither a member of the part of the Country. Williams House of Representative nor in good faith. One of the things The Late Bernard Quentin adopted a style of law enforce- the Senate.