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Vol. 24 No. 5 Sunday, January 31, 2021 Page 2 THE GUARDIAN Sunday, January 31, 2021 Playing Fast and Loose With History Belizeans were generally revoked that legislation. It was While it is regrettable, if it and who did nothing during their floored by an interview by the felt at the time that at least the is true, that Dame Minita did not 1998 – 2008 term to rectify that Prime Minister John Briceño in Governor General’s portion have a pension when she retired situation when most of the PUP which he complained about how should have been left in place as Governor General, did she not was too busy hustling to the value the late Dame Minita Gordon but, apparently, even that was have a pension for the years of of the Superbond to remember to (may she rest in peace) was revoked by the PUP. service as an Education Officer? do anything decent. treated so badly on her retirement. We can also recall that Some big media houses quickly One other thing that should As usual, he was playing fast and one of the main reasons that and happily ran with Johnny’s be noted about Dame Minita’s loose with history. prompted the 1984 -1989 story about the former Governor removal in 1993 is that we We can all remember Esquivel Administration to enact General getting nothing, not can all recall that it happened clearly how the UDP, under pensions for the Executive is that even accommodation but that is a to the backdrop of the alleged Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Manuel they already saw early signs of blatant lie. We can all remember PUP attempts to buy over two Esquivel during their 1984 – corruption, rearing its ugly head that Sir Manuel Esquivel and the UDP representatives to try and 1989 term had legislated pensions under the PUP in the late 1970s UDP arranged for Dame Minita induce them to cross the floor for members of the Executive, and the early 1980s. Corruption to get a house in the Newtown and up end the slim UDP 16-13 specifically for the Prime in public office was invented Barracks for free. majority in the House after the Minister, his Deputy, Ministers by the PUP from way back So if it is anyone needs to June 1993 UDP election upset and the Governor General. then. Having a good and decent hang their heads in shame for victory over the PUP. There had However, after their surprise pension in place was seen as a how Dame Minita was treated, it been talk and allegations that if election victory in 1989, the Rt. means to discourage or preempt is not the rest of us Belizeans but the crossing of the House floor Hon. George Price famously Ministers from corruption and it should be he and the PUP since by those two representatives had declared that he did not want any trying to pad their bank accounts they were the ones to revoke the been secured, the PUP were then pension and the PUP promptly for retirement. GG’s pension legislation in 1989 going to go to Dame Minita, behind the government’s back, to swear in a new PM. There were allegations Statutory Instrument backfires on Lands Minister of secret meetings that took place not only between the PUP opposition leaders in 1993 and the two UDP representatives but also with the PUP and the then Governor General. Because of these allegations, the UDP had completely lost confidence in Dame Minita and asked to have her replaced in late 1993. We can also recall that Said Musa was even charged with attempted bribery of the two UDP representatives as part of Long lines outside of Lands Department in Belize City that saga back in 1993. On December 4, 2020 the including banks. The SI stated subjected to brave the elements It would seem that some Minister of Natural Resources, that payments could only be outside of ministry offices in people have conveniently or Cordel Hyde, enacted a new made to the cashier in the order to make payments. What deliberately forgotten history Statutory Instrument, which ministry responsible for lands. is more is that with an ongoing or are trying to do their best to discontinued the ability of T h e n e w S I i s n o w pandemic there is also greater rewrite it to suit their purposes. persons to make land payments backfiring on the Minister as risk to exposure to the deadly Belizeans have not forgotten through financial institutions now hundreds of Belizeans are Covid-19 virus. though. The Guardian Protecting Freedom Rights Democracy EDITOR: Alfonso Noble ADVERTISING Louis Thompson COMPOSITOR: Kristen Jimenez REPORTER: Jem Smith RECEPTIONIST/ACCOUNTS CLERK Vanessa Gillett Published by The Guardian Newspaper Limited Cor. Ebony St. & Bel China Bridge, P. O. Box 1898 Belize City, Belize Telephone: 207-5346, 207-5347 Fax: 227-5343 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Website: www.guardian.bz Printed by The Guardian Press Cor. Ebony St. & Bel China Bridge, P. O. Box 1898 Belize City, Belize Page 3 THE GUARDIAN Sunday, January 31, 2021 Ratifying Foreign Arbitral Awards for Ashcroft? On Thursday, January 28, Can I repeat it again? It has Nations are active parties to this international best practices, with there will be a special sitting nothing to do with Michael important Convention. the added benefit of assuring of the Senate specifically to Ashcroft. Period. Okay? And he The purpose for which prospective investors, especially Ratify the United Nations has not come to us to try to pass Government now sets about this in the current, depressive Convention on the Recognition anything so he could collect his formal ratification, apart from economic conditions, that this and Enforcement of Foreign money, so please.” fulfilling Belize’s international Administration, as pledged Arbitral Awards. Briceno had stated that obligations, is to facilitate repeatedly in its march to It would appear that the “We are doing some delicate the possibility of a debt-for- Belmopan, will abide by and move is specifically designed so negotiations with issues of some conservation related transaction advocate for the rule of law.” that awards which are outstanding of the debt that we have and to which has the potential to It smells like private on Michael Ashcroft-related able to address then we need to materially improve the state of interests, outside of the Ashcroft judgements to now be legally pass this UN convention so that the public finances.” Alliance may be waiting in the paid. we can be able to proceed. But I f n o t f o r A s h c r o f t wings. And like any investor The Government of Belize we have been very careful and then, the release hints that they want to ensure that, given has awards which are outstanding we have been assured that this it is possible that the PUP the PUP’s history, that their to the Ashcroft Alliance but have cannot be then used by any other government may be entering pound of flesh is guaranteed. not been paid since it needs persons who have any other into other private financial After all, they are looking to parliamentary approval and case against the government of arrangements. “Regularizing ratify a 41-year old convention the Government had not yet Belize, of monies owed to them Belize’s membership to this vital where there was previously no ratified the convention. The to be able to collect.” Convention is consistent with need to do so. move now paves the way so The disassociation went that the Ashcroft Alliance can be further with a press release with paid the sums which are in the a bold header stating that “GOB hundreds of millions of dollars. Advances Belize’s International Police and BDF charged During an interview on Obligations.” The release goes to Channel 5 and Krem News, pains highlighting that, “Having with manslaughter Prime Minister John Briceño recognized this Convention An officer of the Belize that Salazar had taken her cell went out of his way to deny the in October of 1980, before Police Department and a soldier phone. The eight officers brutally assumption. He tried to explain, Independence, and consenting of the Belize Defence Force have beat the men, leading to Salazar’s making gesticulations never to its continued applicability in been charged with manslaughter murder at his home. before seen from a national September of 1982, Belize is one for the 2018 death of Ariel The case against the men, leader, holding his head and of only 33 countries that has failed Audinette Salazar in Orange however, was struck out after bowing repeatedly that: “This to formally ratify the Agreement. Walk. PC Lennart Cajun and the police failed to carry out a has nothing to do with Michael Globally, as of August 2020, 162 BDF soldier Bladimir Escarraga directive from the Office of the Ashcroft. Can I repeat it again? member countries of the United were among a group of eight law Director of Public Prosecution enforcement officers including (DPP). That is until now and BDF soldiers, who were arrested because that order has been and charged for Salazar’s murder carried out, an order for their re- and the attempted murder of Oscar arrest and charge has been issued. Payes. It is said that the lawmen Investigators are seeking the responded to an incident at the other men for them to be arrested home after a woman reported and charged. Minister does not know how many, which and when Covid-19 vaccines will come During a handing over when the vaccines would arrive ceremony at the Karl Heusner in country.

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