Belize Gets Upgraded on Human
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THE REPORTER Sunday, July 7th, 2019 Page 1 Volume 52, No. 27 Sunday, July 7th, 2019 Price: $1.00 FELIX BROTHERS EXECUTED Police & City Brace for Retaliations Pg. 3 Thursday, July 4, 2019 By Marion Ali wo brothers, Maurice 34, and Emory Felix, T33, were riddled with bullets when their kill- ers – reportedly two persons - pounced on them while they were playing pool at Sky Deck on Bay- men Avenue in Belize City on Wednesday evening. The pair were on the second flat of the establish- ment sometime around 6:45pm, when they were targeted. Preliminary reports indicated that Mau- rice was shot first, and died on the ground beside the pool table. Emory managed to run, but he did not get very far. He was shot and collapsed on the street in front of the business. Emory Felix was reportedly shot at least seven times, and 13 expended shells were found on Bay- men Avenue near where he fell and died. Maurice Felix was shot, sources say, at least three times, and 17 expended shells were found in the area near his body. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ale Dangriga Man PUP Calls Out PM on BTL Scandal Killed and Dumped Thursday, July 4, 2019 he People’s United Pg. 3 TParty (PUP) has written to Prime Minister Dean Barrow requesting full public disclosure regarding documents that show that BTL po- tentially owes the GST Department upward of $50 million in outstand- ing taxes, penalties and interest. PUP leader John Briceño and the party’s Pg. 3 shadow minister Tangled Web at BTL Pg. 4 Who is Lying? Page 2 Sunday, July 7th, 2019 THE REPORTER Social Security Fleecing Belizeans n the last three years rain has become a big- Iger danger from hurricanes than the strong Dear Editor: over 56 million dollars a year. What is SSB doing winds. Windspeed is used by meteorologists to This week, July 1st, the new social security with those funds? forecast the danger that a hurricane poses. But the contributions for the working Belizeans kick Remember, SSB also has investment portfolios rain factor which can cause flooding in areas far in. As an employee I am paying the maximum in BTL and BEL that they collect interests on from the coast has now become an area of concern contributions of $15.68 weekly for the period every year. resulting from climate change. July 1st, 2019 to January 5th, 2020. After that The disbursements of the social security money Weather experts are now showing that a slow- my weekly rate will increase after January 5th, are not being done fairly. I have a disabled uncle moving, category 1 hurricame can do as much 2020. My employer will now be paying $21.72 and an aunt who have reached retirement age and damage than a faster-moving, nore powerful weekly for every employee. are very poor, and they were not qualified to re- hurricane because of its capacity to dump vast As I understand it, my benefit will only apply ceive any funds from social security, according to quantities of water on the land. Water laden winds from my weekly contributions and nothing will SSB. This is very unfair for our older generations. also have more bruising force than wind without come from the employer’s contributions, in the I believe part of the employers’ contributions the water. event I am sick or in the event of retirement at should be used to take care of our most vulner- With warmer seas providing a more abundant the age of 65 years old. able population. supply of water vapor, the new genre of hurricanes What most Belizeans don’t know is where I also believe that the retirement age of 65 to can distribute an unbelievable quantity of water do the employers’ contributions go and who receive a pension from SSB is not realistic. Let’s over the land. gets it? Remember the employer pays in $21.72 be real. Very few people in Belize will reach age Hurricane Harvey two years ago brought more weekly for every employee who makes a salary 65 in this day and age. And by the time you are than 50 inches of rain which it let loose on parts of $420.00 and over, weekly. 65 years old, you won’t be able to enjoy your of southeast Texas. In the past three years, as the Let’s look at this scenario here: Let’s say there pension. impact of climate change has become more appar- are 50,000 employers’ contributions weekly at Thanks for publishing my letter, Editor. ent, rain has pushed aside storm surge to emerge $21.72, multiply that by 52 weeks for a year. as a principal cause of death and damage. That’s a staggering $56,472,000. Imagine, that’s M. Brown As sea temperatures become warmer, more wa- ter vapor becomes available. As the climate sys- tem warms, there is more fuel for tropical storms to become hurricanes. One study completed in Long Distance Advisors Commentary 2017 showed that climate change on warmer Dear Editor: competition? Grant you, we paid a high price water can increase rainfall by more than a third. Why are there still Belizeans who do not for the renationalization of our utilities. I quote Belize is a country blessed withmany rivers believe in the ability to compete on an equal from the Briceño article – “The nationalization and numerous lakes or lagoons. These rivers and footing with the white establishment? of BEL, BTL and BWS which I was also against lagoons will hold and storewater during moderate In a recent article in the Reporter, by Mr. brought us no relief in terms of rate reduction, rains, but in times of deluge they will spill over Neri Briceño, he chastised the Government for but rather gave us massive levels of corporate and cause havoc. repossessing our utilities; emphasizing that in corruption, nepotism, pilfering and the state The Maya Mountain range which is like a huge the past, governments were not able to manage having additional control over a large number backbone supporting the rest of the country, keeps these facilities. I am sure Mr. Briceño is aware of employees.” Belize gently watered throughout the year, so that of the disastrous, trickle-down economics which Can he reveal those instances of MASSIVE we do not suffer extremes of drought like so many was introduced to small economies when they corruption, nepotism or pilfering? These are other countries. But as we have seen this year, were coerced to sell their utilities to foreign inflammatory accusations. Today BTL, BEL climate change can upset the balance of things. conglomerates. Well. Sir, can I inform you that and BWS are 99% locally managed, contrary to From now on Belize will have to assess tropi- Belize is one of the few countries which has what Mr. Briceño says. These utilities are private cal storms and hurricanes by their wind force, recovered from that disaster? sector/public sector owned. All profits remain but also by their capacity to suck up water vapor Do you remember the occasion when these in Belize. Contrast that to what used to happen from a warmer Caribbean Sea and let it loose in foreign owners refused to comply with the deci- before nationalization. the form of rain over the land. sion of our regulatory bodies, refused to allow Outages are minimal. Expansion is ongoing. interconnection, and refused to upgrade or allow One of these utilities has been awarded an inter- national award. Are there shortcomings? I would be stupid not to admit. To those Belizeans abroad. Come home – get New Banking Fees Put Pressure on involved! The air is 100% pure and you can still get 8 oranges or 10 bananas for US$0.50. If you don’t see life as a challenge, you are Business Community not living. Thursday, July 4, 2019 Mr. Briceño, please continue to write, objec- of cheques above $100,000. tively. he Central Bank of Belize introduced “These fees will be used to offset the costs T new fees to commercial banks in the associated with maintaining and upgrading Henry V. Young Sr. country for use of its Automated Payment the system so that the Belizean people can and Securities Settlement System (APSSS), continue to enjoy a modern and secure finan- which was first implemented in 2016. The cial system. Furthermore, the fee structure THE REPORTER fees, which became effective as of July 1, was strategically designed to encourage the Phones: 501- 227-2503 / 227-1767 have been passed on at an increased rate from usage of the more efficient payment instru- Fax 501-227- 8278 P.O. Box 707 e-mail: [email protected] the bank to the customers on simple transac- ments,” the Central Bank said. As a result of the fees implemented by Central Bank, [email protected] tions, making it even costlier to do business website: http://www.reporter.bz in an economic climate where salaries across banks have adjusted their service fees for the the country have been affected by a contribu- customer as well. The banks, however, have Publisher Harry Lawrence tion raise to Social Security. passed on those fees with additional rates, Editor Mike Rudon Jr. The fees being charged by Central Bank with some banks charging $2.25 to process Assistant Editor Marion V. Ali Financial Controller Rosa Maria Lawrence to financial institutions using the service checks from other banks. People United Party Leader, John Briceño, are as follows: $3.50 per transaction for General Manager Lisbeth Ayuso Electronic Funds Transfer over $50,000 said this week “we have a tax and spend Lithographer Rodolfo Castro or time critical transactions of any value, government.