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Sunday, April 28, 2013 Capital Weekly Page 1 CapitalCapitalCapital FromFFromromWeeklyWeekly Weekly thethe HeartHeart ofof thethe NationNationNation to toto the thethe SoulSoul Soul ofof of thethe the PeoplePeople People No. 029 Sunday, April 28, 2013 Price: $1.00 Featuring Infrastructure Upgrade in Belmopan City Darrell versus Santino Another UDP Challenge in the Making? That UDP Mayor Darrell the fried chicken man, I find it Bradley has within a short time hard to believe that the mayor proven himself to be a decisive would have the spare time to even and effective political leader is think about running for another without question. And that many office. I won my seat convincingly within and outside the UDP ex- and as the leadership of the Party pect him to make the logical tran- has suggested, we could both win sition from City Hall to National our seats if he took the other di- Politics is not much of a secret. vision being suggested, which is What is not too clear is where one we lost. However, I have nev- and how exactly he intends to en- er backed down from a challenge ter that arena of National Politics. and will defend my seat with all That is until Thursday of this week my vigor from any challenger.” when Bradley confirmed to Chan- Darrell Bradley Hon. Santino Castillo It can, of course, nel Seven News that he is in fact UDP Mayor of Belize City UDP Caribbean Shores Rep just as well be argued that the interested in Caribbean Shores: challenges at City Hall, and the “Persons have approached in that area. I will say at this mo- direct collision course with UDP forthright manner in which he me from Caribbean Shores. I’m ment that is not something that Caribbean Shores Area Represen- has been confronting them, is talking about members of the I have ruled out and I am active- tative Santino Castillo, who did proof positive that Mayor Brad- Caribbean Shores Committee. ly considering that as an option. not hesitate to comment on the ley is more than ready and des- That’s an area that I have very But at this present moment, my ostensibly imminent challenge: tined for greater things. One close contacts with. I worked pre- total focus is directed at being an “With the municipal thing for sure, the United Dem- viously on Carlos Perdomo’s cam- effective Mayor. The city has a lot bond, street paving, park renova- ocratic Party has amply prov- paign. I assisted him in public of challenges and I am in no way tions, new garbage fees and vari- en itself to be a party that can relations. I have very strong con- thinking on any kind of elections.” ous disputes with waste manage- withstand any internal contest, tacts and ties in that area. Persons Bradley’s “interest” in ment companies, market vendors a mark of true intra-party De- had approached me for running Caribbean Shores puts him on a and taxi drivers, not to mention mocracy. What will be, will be! Belmopan’s Bernard Bestowed British Honour NewYanira UB President Wins! he University of Belize Stu- Tdent Body held elections over the past week, and Yanira Garcia emerged as the new President of the Student Government, beat- ing out four other candidates for the position, namely in- cumbent, Hope Abadi; and challengers, Anthony Be- dran and Caramyn Reid. Yanira Garcia garnered 234 votes. Coming in sec- Story on Page 3 ond (10 votes behind Yanira) Yanira Garcia, New President Continued on Page 5 UB Student Government Page 2 Capital Weekly Sunday, April 28, 2013 Belize’s Tourism Figures Up From the Desk for First Quarter of 2013 of the Chairman “Going forward, again, our num- bers are looking very solid. We have high hopes within the over- night sector that we will get to that 300 Thousand persons mark, Count Our Blessings! which is unheard of in Belize. So we are very hopeful for that. Economy for the first In terms of Cruise Tour- quarter of 2013, all pro- ism, our numbers project us at 700 Thousand or so passengers for the jections are that when year. Last year we ended at about 650 Thousand. the final figures come Laura Esquivel Frampton in for the current fis- We do have clearer projec- Director of BTB tions for 2014 in the Cruise Sec- cal year, we would The Tourism Statistics are tor, because it is required that the have again registered in for the first quarter of 2013, and Cruise Lines actually book their considerable growth. once again, the news is great. space with us. Those figures show that And so, those projections As we noted a few the hotel sector registered reve- for 2014, for the cruise calendar has editions ago, the story nues of $60 Million since January. us passing the million passenger mark. And, primarily, the increase of the rebounding of Overnight arrivals were as high Delroy Cuthkelvin as 93 Thousand during that peri- tourist arrivals projected for 2014 the Belize Economy, in are in the Summer, when we need Chairman, Editorial Board od. In March alone, overnight ar- the wake of the Global rivals reached a record high of 35 them the most. Thousand in a single month. Even It’s a testimony to anyone Economic Recession, Cruise Tourism, which had been in the Industry from the Minis- ast week, is remarkable, espe- lagging behind, showed an encour- ter and Cabinet, the Ministry, the B.T.B. and, of course, the property- we re- cially when one places aging increase in arrivals. Speaking with Channel owners themselves, the tour oper- printed it in the context of the Five News this week, Director of ators themselves, everybody com- a news region and the World. the Belize Tourism Board, Laura ing together when things were not Esquivel Frampton, said: so great and putting it out there; storyL from the Carib- True, there is putting in all the extra hard work; “We’re happy to say once bean about the fact much that needs to again that we have another record putting in the extra hours; visiting who we needed to visit to ensure that the Economy be done on many breaking months this year. In fact, all of this year, so far—January, that Belize would remain front of of Barbados had not fronts to sharpen Be- February and March—have been mind. So that whenever the econ- only failed to regis- lize’s competitive edge record breaking in terms of over- omy in our main market, the U.S., night arrivals. Overall, and this in- whenever they rebounded, we ter any growth during in the International cludes the airport and all the other would be prepared to take on those the first quarter of arena of the Global ports of entry, January saw 17.1 per- guests. 2013, but had actually Economy; but clearly, cent increase; February saw 11.59 And it was a lot of mak- percent increase; and March saw ing those connections with travel contracted or shrunk. given our relative suc- an 11. 03 percent increase. agents and wholesalers who are That was bad cess over the past few So, cumulatively, for the very key influencers; even if people quarter, we are seeing a 13.02 per- do not book with them, they look news for the Econo- years, we must be do- cent increase in Tourism Arrivals to them for that advice.” my of a nation which ing something right. for the overnight sector. is the wealthiest and It is no accident As you are aware, the over- night sector is the biggest income most developed in nor happenstance that generator in terms of the Tour- Capital Weekly From the Heart of the Nation the Eastern Carib- while so many nations ism Product for Belize because they stay longer and that means To the Soul of the People bean, and which has around us, even the that they are spending more mon- for some time now great United States of ey here. So, we are really proud of Published By: enjoyed one of the America, are experi- those numbers; and I know that the industry on a whole is happy Roots & Rhythm Ltd. highest per capita in- encing slow growth, with those numbers. 12 Lime Street comes in the region. no growth or negative And then, for cruise, we have also been seeing increases. Belmopan This week, we re- growth (contraction), While we can’t say that they are port on the notable in- the Belizean ship is record increases, they are. Janu- Chairman: crease in Belize’s Tour- sailing steadily across ary, we had 19.4 percent increase; February, we have 11. 39 percent Delroy Cuthkelvin ism figures, which turbulent and treach- increase; and, while March was a is only one sector of erous waters. Again, smaller increase of only 1. 35 per- Compositor: our Economy that re- cent, it is an increase nonetheless. William Cuthkelvin respect is due to the So, we think we are back on corded GDP Growth Captain and his crew. the right path in terms of growing in the past year of 5.3 Let’s keep work- the cruise tourism product and the Telephone: cruise tourism visitation. 802-1284 percent. While we do ing and praying for So, cumulatively, we have a 10.8 percent increase in cruise ar- not yet have the over- greater prosperity, Email: all figures on the per- but let us not forget to rivals for January to March. 2013 . So we are very happy about that.” capitalweeklybzebmp formance of Belize’s count our blessings.

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