DPP Reviewing Rene Montero's Case Municipal Nominations 2021 Arita
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Tuesday, February 16, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1 NO. 3438 BELIZE CITY, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 (20 PAGES) $1.00 Barrow appears before Commission of Inquiry BELIZE CITY, Mon. Feb. 15, 2021 During the morning’s proceeding, of what takes place within The first proceeding scheduled by he took a little over 45 minutes to government ministries, and the newly formed Commission of present to the commission what he what procedures are Inquiry into the sale of government knew of the sales, and within that undertaken, when public assets took place on Monday, time he described the procedure that assets are sold. February 15, at the Belize City was followed when Government “In the normal course, House of Culture. As previously vehicles and other public assets government departments reported, three persons were called were sold. In some instances, he and government ministries by the commission: former Prime pointed out that particular sales would write to the Vehicles Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow; were authorized and executed Care Unit, indicating that a Financial Secretary, Joseph Waight; without his expressed consent, particular vehicle has and Ruperto Vicente, Head of the although he had given oral approval crashed or had for one Vehicle Care Unit. of the overall process. reason or the other become Former Prime Minister Dean In typical Dean Barrow fashion, disabled, was not in, for the Barrow was the first to give the former PM first preempted the most part, in running testimony and to answer the questions from the Chairman of the condition, or even if a questions put forward by the three commission by embarking on his members of the commission. own shrewdly woven presentation Please turn toPage 19 COVID-19 Update DPP reviewing Rene Belize’s passport Montero’s case system is failing, says CEO Dr. Middleton BELIZE CITY, Mon. Feb. 15, 2021 The COVID-19 epidemiological curve in Belize has flattened considerably since late 2020 when we had thousands of cases across the BELIZE CITY, Fri. Feb. 12, 2021 country. Since our last update, no new death In early January 2021, Hon. Julius Espat, related to COVID-19 has been recorded. The Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, lodged Please turn toPage 19 an official Please turn toPage 19 BELMOPAN, Mon. Feb. 15, 2021 The CEO of the Ministry of Immigration, Dr. Gilroy Middleton, released a statement outlining what he calls an “imminent threat” Arita Vanzie to the nation’s entire passport system. The CEO Municipal says that the system’s failure is due to the non- functionality of its technical service provider, Nominations 2021 accident update 3M Technologies. According to the CEO, the licenses required for the data capture and (See story on page 2) (See story on page 17) biometric machines have Please turn toPage 17 Page 2 AMANDALABelize Tuesday, February 16, 2021 PSU says no pay cuts GOB plans to vaccinate teachers “The teachers have to be vaccinated so that we could look at without an action plan opening up the schools, safely.”— Prime Minister Briceño used. In an interview with 7News, BELIZE CITY, Fri. Feb. Vice-President Flowers pointed out, 12, 2020 “As we speak, we still have not been On Friday, February told how much savings were 12, Prime Minister John realized from the cost-saving Briceño told local media measures that have been in place that he had concluded, since April of [this] year. Is it 1% after conversations with of GDP as perhaps — I don’t know the Special Envoy for the if that is what the Prime Minister Development of was alluding to when he said that Families and Children, our cost-saving measures would his wife, Mrs. Rossana only yield 1% GDP, I don’t know. Briceño, that teachers BELIZE CITY, Fri. Feb. 12, 2021 If it is that, then that would translate should be vaccinated before the Hon. Briceño further informed the In an interview with local media to what, 18 million, 20 million reopening of schools. He said that he media, “Our aim is by September last week, the 1st Vice-President of dollars, somewhere around there? hopes to have a sufficient number of enough people have been vaccinated. the Public Service Union (PSU), What are we going to use those 20 educators vaccinated by September, The teachers have been vaccinated so Dean Flowers, stated that the PSU million dollars for?” just in time for the new school year, that we could look at opening up the would only consider pay cuts if a He questioned whether the saved so that the government can officially schools, safely.” clear plan for how the savings would funds would be used to service our reopen schools. He outlined that the reopening of be used is presented by the enormous wage bill, or if it would “Rossana told me, if you want to schools is one of the important Government of Belize. When he be used to continue to support the open schools, safely vaccinate the decisions his administration is faced was questioned about this position food assistance programs. He teachers. I think it is a great idea, and with, and the government, along with that he and his union are taking, reasoned that if the funds would be I think she will be discussing that with the Minister of Health and Wellness, Flowers went on to assert that the used to finance current expenses, the Ministry of Education. We will is currently working on a plan for the pay cuts must be viewed in the then the cost-savings which the push that the teachers get vaccinated placement of teachers in priority context of the impact that such cuts measures are supposed to achieve, early so that we can open schools groups for vaccination, according to would have on the country and its wouldn’t be realized. safely.” PM Briceño explained. the PM. public servants at large. “Will [it] be placed in a sinking He stressed that a decrease in fund, so that when those bullet salary would further damage the payments come, we have money morale of employees in the public there to pay? Or will it be used to Municipal Nominations 2021 service who already at this time meet the government’s excesses that (From page 1) have very low morale. Flowers also currently exist? Then, we wouldn’t cautioned that the Government be realizing any savings,” Flowers by Kory Leslie (freelance writer) municipality for the UDP, while would also have to look at the told 7News. Sharon Palacio will lead her team impact the pay cut would have on He added,” You cannot just throw BELIZE CITY, Tues. Feb. 16, 2021 of six aspirants for the PUP. the general economy of the country, a blanket statement out there, that Monday of this week was Dangriga’s team will be led by and lastly, how the savings obtained we’ll cut people’s salaries without Nomination Day for the 67 mayoral incumbent mayoral candidate through the salary cut would be having a clear plan of action.” and councilor-candidates who will Francis Humphreys and his team of be participating in the upcoming six for the UDP while Robert municipal elections. Across the Mariano heads the team for the Minister Courtenay country, the candidates along with PUP. In Benque Viejo Del Carmen, their two registered voter-endorsers Miguel Guerra and his team of six visited various nomination stations are trying to maintain local condemns Arbitrary across the nine municipalities. government influence for the UDP, While the UDP has enjoyed a while Jorge Rosales and his team Detention of foreigners stronghold in six of the nine of six are contending for the PUP. municipalities, including a minority Returning mayor of San Ignacio/ signed the declaration. seat in Dangriga, the leadership of Santa Elena, Earl Trapp has been In his opening remarks, Hon. the cities and towns is up for grabs nominated alongside his team of six Courtenay stated, “Today, the following a historic defeat of the UDP councilor-candidates, while Government of Belize stands with UDP in the general elections. Ramon Quiroz and his team aspire like-minded States to lend our In Belize City, returning mayor to shift the leadership in that area unequivocal support to the Bernard Wagner and his team of in favor of the PUP. Farther south, declaration against Arbitrary eleven candidates — returning Hansel Warrior will lead the UDP Detention in State-to-State Relations. candidates Allan Pollard Jr., Javier and their six hopefuls to the polls Like Canada, which we applaud for Castellanos, Micah Goodin and on March 3, while Charles Selgado leadership on this issue, Belize Albert Vaughan alongside new has been nominated to lead his six considers that the arbitrary arrest or aspirants Kaya Cattouse, Natasha for the PUP in Punta Gorda. detention of persons by a state as a Pipersburgh, Stephanne Hamilton, In the north, Ruben Gonzalez has means of exercising leverage over Michael Novelo, Deannie Requena been selected to push for a victory another state is contrary to and Edmund Kwan — have been for the UDP in San Pedro, while international law, detrimental to nominated to represent the PUP, Wally Martinez and his six have been by Dayne Guy friendly relations among States and while mayoral candidate Orson nominated to vie for office for the corrosive to the international human Picart, alongside Alisha Craig, PUP. Rigo Vellos and his team will BELMOPAN, Mon. Feb. 15, 2021 rights regime.” Allan Kelly, Anazette Olivera, defend their stronghold for the blue Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister Hon. Eamon Courtenay further Andrew Bradley, Alan Gonzalez, in Corozal, while Roger Arana has of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and declared that arbitrarily arresting or Leon Guild, Meagan Tasher, Shane entered the race to lead the UDP 7.