Coldblooded Murder in Santa Elena Sat
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1 BELIZE CITY, TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2021 (20 PAGES) $1.00 T NO. 3455eachers str ike “…tell them to come to the table, bring some concrete solutions to the issues that we are having right now. Come to us seriously, bring the draft to us, and then we can talk,” Elena Smith, the BNTU’s national president, said. BELIZE CITY, Mon. Apr. 26, 2021 Today marked the first day of strike Deputy PM Hyde action by the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU). Teachers beseeches unions countrywide staged a walkout from classes at 11:30 a.m. today, just after “It’s better for us to do something delivering the morning lessons. They now and find out a year from now later gathered at the Marion Jones that maybe we went too far, than Sports Complex, where they began a for us to not do anything and six cavalcade through the streets of months down the road we rue the Belize City. day we never took the 10%.” The union members walked in Deputy PM Hyde warned. Please turn toPage 19 Unions punta on Independence Hill NTUCB stands Elena Smith, national President of the BNTU, broke into dance in front of the with Joint Unions National Assembly Building as budget debates continued for a second day. The NTUCB release urged GOB to enact 9 good governance reforms BELIZE CITY. Mon. Apr. 26, 2021 Late this evening the National Trade Union Congress of Belize issued a release calling on the Government of Belize and Joint BELMOPAN, Fri. Apr. 23, 2021 Unions to return to “good faith The first speaker on the second day discussions and mandatory of the 2021-2022 budget debate was negotiations.” Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Cordel BELMOPAN, Fri. Apr. 23, 2021 Hill to engage in continued The release states, “As great Hyde. He delivered a heartfelt On the second day of the budget demonstrations, even while trying leaders, we have a responsibility to speech, rallying the embattled unions debates, a reinforced crowd of union settle our differences and concerns to step back temporarily from their members amassed on Independence Please turn to Page 14 for the benefit of all Belizeans and a resistance against the newly elected stable yet reformed economy.” PUP government. Unions reject land credit offer Please turn toPage 18 Please turn toPage 19 Two shootings; 2 dead in PG (See story on page 14) GoB short of legal drafters, says AG (See story on page 17) by Dayne Guy of increasing concern in Punta Gorda Town. In a span of 3 days, two men Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, were murdered less than a mile away Coldblooded murder in Santa Elena Sat. Apr. 24, 2021 (See story on page 16) Gun violence has become an issue Please turn toPage 18 Page 2 AMANDALABelize Tuesday, April 27, 2021 Hon. Fonseca tells DOE takes steps to protect UB prez to leave Belize New River by Dayne Guy BELMOPAN, Thurs. Apr. 22, 2021 In the latest sitting of the House of Representatives, the Minister of Education called on the University of Belize’s board to find innovative and modernized solutions to improve the level of education in the country. He further addressed the need for reform at the nation’s university due to its lack of growth in over a decade. In his address, Minister Fonseca described the University of Belize as the “flagship of our education system.” Fonseca believes that over recent years this “flagship” was who are not performing, not fulfilling neglected. He said, “I place on record their duties and responsibilities to my deep disappointment at how very our UB community,” said Fonseca, little progress our national university who called for action. While he has made over the past decade. Sadly, thanked Professor Clement Sankat for by Dayne Guy each key zone. The department also in many respects, it has regressed.” his time as the president of the plans to partner with international Due to the alleged regression of the University of Belize, Fonseca said he ORANGE WALK TOWN, Fri. Apr. researchers to enhance the monitoring education at the University of Belize, believes that it is time for the 23, 2021 and research efforts at the site. Fonseca says that the newly elected professor to part ways with the The Department of the The Department of Environment government has appointed a board of institution. Environment (DOE) has strengthened has called on stakeholders who have competent and diligent persons who “I thank President Professor Sankat its efforts to monitor the activities at a vested interest in the protection of will align the university’s vision and for his service to the University of the Belize New River. For over 2 the river and surrounding businesses goals with Belize’s development Belize, but as a new government, a years the Belize New River has been to join the call for preserving and goals. new Ministry of Education, I believe beset by depleted oxygen levels and improving the river’s water quality. These board members entrusted it is time for us to move in a new an increase in large-scale fish deaths Since the start of this initiative, “40 with the university’s development direction. I believe UB needs new with no known cause. out of the 79 light industries in Orange will be extensively monitored by the leadership. UB needs Belizean Since becoming aware of the crisis Walk Town have improved their Ministry of Education. “I will not leadership,” said Fonseca. at the Belize New River in 2019, the wastewater and greywater discharge hesitate to exercise my authority Professor Clement Sankat has department has been monitoring the from their facilities,” says a under the law to ensure greater served as the president of the river’s water quality and actively Government of Belize Press Office accountability, better quality University of Belize since 2017, but investigating industries and urban release. Additionally, the department instruction, improved student has been under heavy scrutiny since centers to ensure compliance with the has ensured that the major sugar performance and a stronger the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. environmental laws, in addition to companies in the surrounding areas demonstrated commitment to national According to reports, the University monitoring agricultural systems to improved their wastewater treatment service and commitment,” said of Belize’s president has been minimize runoff into the river. systems and develop cooling towers. Fonseca. directing the operations of the A release by the Government of “The DOE, within the Ministry of Minister Fonseca said that there national university remotely from his Belize Press Office says that the Sustainable Development, Climate are many issues that need to be home in Trinidad and Tobago since department will develop an Integrated Change and Disaster Risk addressed at UB, and that reform is the onset of COVID-19. For over a New River Watershed Management Management, stresses that the required to ensure that this is done. year, he has reportedly been away Plan. This plan will be devised in restoration of the New River “There are many outstanding from his office, making himself October of this year and will present ecosystem health must be an members, faculty, staff and available for board meetings only via all corrective measures that will be integrated and collaborative administration, but there are others Zoom. brought forward to improve the process,” stated the Government of current condition of the river. Belize Press Office. The DOE has The DOE has also received since reconvened the New River funding that will finance continuous Task Force and is currently asking Judiciary goes digital water quality monitoring and for participation in the river’s research that will span over 2 years. restorative process. The DOE This research include the monitoring encourages all who wish to be E-Filing”. This makes Belize a of 20 key sample zones between the involved, to contact the Chief pioneer in the digital transformation inland lagoon and the Corozal Bay Environmental Officer, Martin of judicial systems in the Caribbean on a monthly basis, and the collection Alegria, at 822-2819 for more region. and analysis of water samples from information. The introduction of this platform to Belize’s courts was made possible through the signing of a memorandum feature presentations from the Acting to securely access case files of understanding (MOU) between the Chief Justice, Hon. Michelle Arana; anywhere and at any time,” said Attorney General of Belize, Hon. the Acting President of the Court of Chief Justice Arana. “This is a Magali Marin Young, and the Appeal, Hon. Minett Haffiz- significant step in our journey to Caribbean Agency for Justice Bertram; the Registrar General, Ms. modernizing our systems and Solutions. The system utilizes the Trienia Young, and Executive equipping our Courts with the tools Curia Court Management Suite, an Director of APEX, Mr. Bevil and capabilities to deliver quality APEX product that was created to Wooding. justice services to all,” she said. manage court operations. APEX has This partnership with APEX will Those who intend to take part in become a stakeholder in the improve the efficiency of the the virtual launch may register at by Dayne Guy digitization of courts since its provision of legal services in Belize https://apexjustice.org/ establishment in 2016 by the and will allow for faster processing belizemediaevent. Jurists and BELMOPAN, Fri. Apr. 23, 2021 Caribbean Court of Justice. of court documents, resulting in a attorneys from across the region are The courts of Belize have joined On April 26, 2021, Belize’s courts reduction of the time and money expected to join as Belize reaches the Caribbean Agency for Justice will host a launch event for the required for lawyers and litigants to an important milestone in the Solutions (APEX) in the launch of a “Folio E-Filing” platform from 9:30 access important files.