SUNDAY February 26, 2012 ISSUE NO: 16 PRICE: $1.00 www.facebook.com/ The Independent IndependentThe ADDRESS TO BCCI Blayd Youth Voices BY PUP LEADER Christopher FRANCIS FONSECA Vernon Ring Out See pages 10 & 11 See page 17 See page 15 Lived by the gun! Ricky Valencia executed before historic first bench trial Thursday, February 22, 2012 say. Valencia was taken to the BELIZE CITY – Ricky Va- KHMH where he was official- Rhett Fuller lencia, 28, was executed last ly pronounced dead. Denied Bail night on Ceasar Ridge Road Other reports suggest between 7:00 and 8:00pm by that Valencia had stopped in a fusillade of bullets, reports front of Little Wilt Place situ- say, from a gunman who sim- ated at the Wilton Cumber- ply walked up to his vehicle batch Field and was talking leaned in and opened fire with to someone there when the an automatic pistol. gunman or gunmen rode up Police report that they and opened fire. found the fatally wounded Ricky Valencia’s name Ricky Valencia seated motion- has been in the news since his less in the driver’s seat of his late teens as far as our records white Toyota Corolla bearing can track, however his claim Tuesday, February 21, 2012 license plate BZ-C-35436 in a to notoriety is his alleged in- BELIZE CITY: Belizean pool of blood with gunshot volvement in the shooting of businessman Rhett Fuller wounds in the left and right Prime Minister Barrow’s law is in solitary confinement side of his head also the left partner Rodwell Williams in at the Belize Central Prison and right shoulder and his left what was the parking lot of his attorney Eamon Cour- fist. Valencia, reportedly a ste- their Albert Street Law Firm, tenay told the media today, vedore, was driving west in the Barrow and Williams on May after Supreme Court Justice direction of the Port of Belize 31, 2010. Adolph Lucas, Sr., denied an when he came under fire. The Ricky Valencia The incident sparked un- application for bail today. vehicle simply stopped, police Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 Detainee found dead in police custody! SSB: Merlene on Tuesday that around 5:00am Bailey resigned! San Pedro police were called out to Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Family does not nearby world-famous Phoenix Re- BELIZE CITY: This af- buy police story sort where they were handed Miguel ternoon, the board of direc- Martinez of San Pedro by the resort’s tors of the Belize Social se- security guards. curity Board issued a release Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 Martinez was reportedly de- which said in part that yes- SAN PEDRO: Miguel Martinez, tained for disorderly on the resort’s terday it had accepted CEO 31, is not the first to have died in premises while armed with a ma- Merlene Bailey Martinez’s police custody. He is now a statistic chete. According to police, Martinez resignation “due to negative in what many believe has become was taken into police custody and public criticism and its im- a disturbing practice by police to placed in lock-up at the San Pedro pact to her family and her use excessive force when detaining police station where he continued to Christian community, as well persons. The deadly result has once make noise, police say. as, to protect the S.S.B. from again resurrected public outrage at Their report says that when po- negative publicity.” the Belize Police Department. Miguel Martinez lice later checked on him when he Continued on page 2 Police issued a bland statement Continued on page 2 2 The Independent SUNDAY February 26, 2012 as well as assassination attempts be- fore. Valencia had escaped unscathed in April 2010 when two men in a vehi- cle opened up on him. His girlfriend at the time was shot in the abdomen Lived by the gun! and legs. The street talk was that Usher was Continued from page 1 Not to be left out or ignored the armed holdup of a messenger which killed because he had turned state ease throughout the nation as lo- SSG sent out a release making known netted the robbers $70,000. Valencia evidence in the bank robbery case cal medical authorities did battle their discontent but Barrow did not has become a near legend for his re- but few think it was as simple as that. to save Williams’ life before he was meet with them instead Minister of puted daring. The past few years has seen three of flown to Jackson Memorial Hospi- Police Doug Singh and CYDP Direc- Valencia had also been charged the SSG “baddest” gunned down. Re- tal in Miami, Florida for advanced tor Edward Broaster were deployed in the April 2011 armed holdup of puted SSG boss Andre “Dre” Trapp treatment. He spent six months in to meet with the SSG. the Heritage Bank Orange Walk was executed on the very doorstep of treatment and returned to work in In their release the SSG accused Branch and his alleged accomplice the nation’s courthouse in June 2010, December of 2010 with a bodyguard. the Prime Minister and representa- and neighbor, Noel “Biggs” Usher and since 2008 several young men Valencia and Akeem Thurton, 18 tives of the Government of “mak- had been gunned down just down have been shot dead in the area of years old at the time, were arrested ing their own truce with the George the street and around the corner from Kraal Road, Fabers Road and Yabor- and charged with the attempted Street Gang. GOB is using the SSG where Ricky met his end in similar ough/Cesar Ridge Road. murder. Police at the time said that as their scapegoat to mend their re- fashion. There have also been two grenade the two were known affiliates of the lationship with the George Street Usher was slain in a barrage of detonations and one live grenade Southside Gangsters (SSG). Investi- Gang,” the SSG charged in their re- shots by two men on bicycles who turned over to the police. What is be- gators had also obtained a caution lease. George Street’s main base is in caught up with him a block from his lieved to have been a deadly rivalry statement from one of the accused the heart of Barrow’s constituency home in October of last year. Three between several gangs had appeared along with a statement from the the Queen’s Square Division. months before he had barely escaped to have been calmed the past few person who loaned them the bike Ricky Valencia’s violent end was being killed when he was shot in the months and now there are some who that they allegedly used as their for many a foregone conclusion. Our neck by two assassins who apparently believe that Ricky Valencia’s death is transport to carry out the attempted reports are that he had just been bided their time only to return and part of a “mopping up” operation that hit. Police have not produced any released after being detained for complete the job. have more to do with other things evidence on who hired the men to several hours by police for question- Both Usher and Valencia had than a “mere gang rivalry”. carry out the hit and why. That was ing in the broad daylight downtown beat armed robbery and murder raps, We may never know. left to a lot of rumor and specula- tion. Rumors and speculations are again abuzz after Valencia’s execu- tion last night. He and his alleged accomplice, Akeem Thurton ap- Detainee SSB: Merlene peared before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin on Monday, February 6th, found dead Bailey resigned! for the commencement of what was billed as a landmark bench trial in police Continued from page 1 the Board had terminated Bailey- since it would have been the first in The board and the Barrow admin- Martinze over the objections of its Belize since the law was passed in custody! istration is hoping that with Bailey- Chair Lois Young-Barrow but she May of 2011. Martinez’ departure the spotlight of showed up to work yesterday. Thurton and Valencia on the day scrutiny will shine elsewhere after sev- Following a board meeting of commencement asked the court eral weeks of speculation, scandal and last night the deputy chairman, for adjournment citing that their an investigation. Dennis Jones, who acted as chair- attorneys were unavailable, one be- Almost two months ago the Gov- man in Young-Barrow’s absence cause he did not know that the trial ernment had announced that it was told Channel 5 News: “ was to start on that day and the other writing off housing loans owing to the “We had a process which be- because his attorney had informed retirement scheme that had principal gan with the placement of Mrs. that he could not represent him in loan balances of less than $50,000, and Martinez, the C.E.O. and the the matter. The case was adjourned almost immediately it was revealed internal auditor on administra- to Wednesday, February 9, 2012 and Continued from page 1 that the CEO and several of the top tive leave. When the accusations further adjourned to next month. quieted they discovered him level management staffers had bor- were being made, we felt that Valencia was remanded to pris- motionless in the cell. Although rowed from commercial banks and was the best thing to do to allow on in October 2011 after he was im- Martinez was found apparently paid down in order to qualify.