Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1

NO. 3450 BELIZE CITY, FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021 (28 PAGES) $1.50 GoB and Joint Unions in standoff Unions say no to cuts, GoB says it must PM Briceño to present BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 8, 2021 The negotiations between austerity budget the Joint Unions Negotiation Team and the Government of Belize have come to an end. The parties are now at a deadlock, with neither of the two showing any intention of budging. The Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceño, released a statement on Wednesday evening, following a string of emergency Zoom meetings that were held by the Public Service Union (PSU), whose members had received Please turn to„Page 27 BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 days before the 2021-2022 budget The Prime Minister, Hon. John presentation, scheduled for Friday, Briceño, issued a statement on April 9, 2021. Woman killed by Clifford Hyde Wednesday evening in which he gave The Prime Minister is expected to citizens yet another snapshot of the present various austerity measures, brother’s girlfriend murdered; fiscal state of the country. This statement was delivered just two Please turn to„Page 27 on Easter Sunday daughter shot Belize receives 33,600 vaccine Joint Unions doses from COVAX say no to 10% salary cuts (See story on page 25) PSU asks PM to “rein BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 1, 2021 At around 11:30 a.m. on in” Chebat GRACIE ROCK, Belize District, Mon. Wednesday, March 31, the Ministry Apr. 5, 2021 of Health and Wellness received (See story on page 27) On Easter Sunday, tragedy struck a 33,600 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca family in Gracie Rock Village, Belize CAMALOTE, Cayo District, Sat. COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the District. Venecia Staine, 24, was Apr. 3, 2021 country from the COVAX Facility. At reportedly stabbed and killed by her The Hyde family in Camalote, the Philip Goldson International COVID-19 brother’s common-law wife, Leanne which has been grappling with the Airport, where the first batch of the Davis during an altercation on what was violent deaths of several members of COVAX vaccines arrived via an air to have been a peaceful Easter Sunday the family over the last few years, is carrier, Minister Michel Chebat, update morning. (See story on page 25) She was Please turn to„Page 26 Please turn to„Page 26 Please turn to„Page 26 Page 2 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 Vaccination of tourism PAHO calls for Better workers begins Labeling of Foods

Early this year, the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Anthony Mahler, negotiated an allocation of eight thousand vaccines to be administered to members of over forty key tourism entities in the country. The vaccination of workers in the tourism industry may fast- track its bounce-back and aid in the rebounding of our economy. The first set of tourism stakeholders received their first dose of the COVID-19 by Kory Leslie (freelance writer) working conditions, discrimination BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 1, 2021 vaccine on Thursday, April 1, at the and social exclusion. Globally, the The Government of Belize is Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 vast majority of vaccine doses inviting frontline workers in the in Belize City. Among those Each year April 7th is observed as administered have been in a few tourism industry to get vaccinated as vaccinated were Nicole Solano, CEO World Health Day, which is aimed at wealthy countries or those producing Phase 2C of the country’s inoculation of the Ministry of Tourism and creating awareness for specific health vaccines. Thanks to the COVAX program begins. With the recent Diaspora Relations; and Ted Tejada, themes and highlight priority areas of initiative, more nations are now arrival of a shipment of vaccines president of the Belize Hotels focus for the World Health beginning to receive vaccine from the COVAX facility, the country Association. Several other senior Organization (WHO). For over fifty supplies, but most people in low- and has secured a sufficient supply of tourism industry stakeholders were years, World Health Day has middle-income countries still must vaccines to ensure its inoculation also present to receive their first jab. provided an opportunity to shed light watch and wait. Such inequities are program can continue without a The initial allocation of vaccines on issues affecting physical health, immoral, and they are dangerous for pause. At this time both phase one for the tourism industry can only fully mental health, maternal and childcare our health, our economies and our and two of the program are underway. vaccinate 4,000 members of the and climate change. This year’s societies. As we recover from the During phase two, vaccine jabs are industry. According to CEO Solano, events fell under the theme: “Building COVID-19 pandemic, we must being administered to teachers, the remaining workers in the industry a Fairer, Healthier World.” And implement policies and allocate police officers, parliamentarians, and will be vaccinated during the other included was a webinar to discuss resources so all can enjoy the same an initial set of tourism stakeholders. phases of the vaccine rollout. front-of-package labeling of products health outcomes. That means in the Caribbean. achieving the Sustainable The webinar was hosted by the Development Goals by 2030. And it Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) means delivering universal health Two female cops fined for in partnership with PAHO, the OECS coverage so everyone, everywhere, Commission and UNICEF as a part can thrive. On this World Health Day, talk show appearance of a regional campaign entitled: let us commit to work together for a “Now More Than Ever: Better healthy, equitable world.” Labels, Better Choices, Better The webinar also revealed that Health”. The webinar’s extensive CARICOM member states are in the panel of experts from regional public process of voting to adopt a health institutions, academia, civil Caribbean Regional Standard to society and UN agencies discussed introduce specifications for these the diseases being faced in the front-of-package warning labels. The Caribbean, such as obesity, diabetes, panel discussed the importance of etc., due to individuals’ ignorance this standard as well as taking regarding their dietary choices. Prior advantage of the use of octagonal to the start of the discussion, the warning labels on food items, which United Nations Secretary General have been proven to be most effective shared this message on the topic: with consumers. The HCC’s “On this World Health Day, we campaign is expected to continue for highlight the inequalities and a year and is intended to highlight injustices of our health systems. The WHO’s constitutional principle that COVID-19 crisis has revealed how “the enjoyment of the highest unequal our societies are. Within attainable standard of health is one countries, illness and death from of the fundamental rights of every BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 who initiated the legal battle with the COVID-19 has been higher among human being without distinction of In late January, we reported of a department appeared on Channel 5’s people and communities that contend race, religion, political belief, groundbreaking legal victory in favor Open Your Eyes morning talk show with poverty, unfavorable living and economic or social condition.” of two female police officers who to speak about their journey and faced disciplinary charges for discuss some of the trials they faced refusing to remove their dreadlocks. along the way. Following their The Supreme Court ruled that the appearance on the morning show, the regulation which prevented them from two officers, Alleeya Wade and Easter blaze leaves wearing this particular hairstyle was Shantel Berry, were subjected to an infringement on the constitutional disciplinary charges by the Police 18 homeless rights of the officers. Department. Following the landmark ruling, According to the Commissioner of COROZAL TOWN, Sun. Apr. 4, of this fire. Commissioner of Police, Chester Police, they breached the media 2021 An initial investigation revealed Williams said that the department policy regulations of the Belize A little after midnight on Easter that the blaze could have been caused would respect the decision of the Police Department which mandate Sunday, Rosita Gilharry was alerted by candles that were being used at court and amend their regulations that officers obtain the permission of that one of the houses in her yard was the time. Fortunately, no one was pertaining to the specific hairstyle, the Police Commissioner before on fire. That single blaze soon spread injured in the fire, but all the property but he stuck to his personal position making any media appearance to to three other small houses in the yard, of the residents of the homes were that the women’s dreadlocks were not speak on internal matters. The which were all burned to the ground. destroyed. Police are currently suitable for their job. According to police, a total of 18 awaiting an official report from the In early February, the two officers Please turn to„Page 3 people were left displaced as a result National Fire Service. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 3 Curfew extended to Mid-April Poultry prices up

by Kory Leslie (freelance writer)

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 Earlier this week, news outlets began reporting that poultry prices would be rising. Belizeans will now be paying six cents more per pound for whole chicken, ten-cents a pound more for special chicken, and sixteen cents more per pound for chicken cuts. The inflation of prices is reportedly attributed to the increase in the prices of soybean and corn, which are used for animal feed. The manager of the Belize Poultry Association, Armando Cowo, provided the following explanation as an invasion of African Swine Fever, BELIZE CITY, Weds. Mar. 31, 2021 expressed concerns that a relaxation when interviewed by the media: which resulted in the disposal of 50% The nationwide nightly curfew was of that measure may cause a third “The price increase is being of China’s pork industry. Now the set to end on April 3, but a joint wave of infections in the country. attributed to the increase in the price nation’s economy is looking to decision handed down by the Minister “It is going to be extended until of our raw materials, which is rebound, which has caused them to of Home Affairs, Hon. Kareem Musa, the fifteenth of April. By that time, basically corn and soybean. The corn consume a higher quantity of feed, thus and the Minister of Health and the Cabinet would have been able to price currently on the market is at increasing the feed’s market value, as Wellness, Hon. Michel Chebat, has meet and to review the numbers, and thirty cents a pound. Usually at this explained by Mai: led to its extension until mid-April. a decision will be made at that time.” time of the year we’re buying corn at “The industry now in China is just In the middle of April, when the new Minister Chebat said in an interview 24,25,26 cents per pound, whereas rebounding, and in rebounding they expiration date for the curfew with local media. with the soybean it would be around are rebuilding and expanding their approaches, the regulation will once The tourism industry is also being 44, 45, 46 cents in some instances, new pork industry. The main again be revisited and Cabinet will affected by the nightly curfew. The up to 48 cents, but right now the price ingredient in animal feed is soybean decide whether or not the time has CEO of the Ministry of Tourism, is at 62 cents per pound of soybean. and corn. The US is the largest come to lift the curfew. Nicole Solano, has said that the The soybean and the corn is what producer of soybean in the world. Since mid-December 2020, the industry would hope that the makes up the bulk of the feed that China is buying all the soybean that curfew has been in place, and the restrictions can be lifted in their feeds the birds. Therefore, once the the US produces. Last year this time, country has since seen a drastic totality, but a pushback of the time at price of your raw materials go up, the US reported that they had sold, I reduction in the huge number of which the curfew starts to at least anyone in business would know, then think, only nineteen metric tons of Covid-19 cases that were within the midnight would be suitable. She the price of your final product will soybean. Today, with the demand country at that time. The Ministry of pointed out that the restrictions on be affected. What we can try to do as from China, they have sold sixty Health and Wellness attributes this bars, restaurants, and transportation best as possible is to minimize the million metric tons of soybean. So, reduction in cases largely to the are limiting the capacity to generate impact, but we can’t absorb the shock the Chinese are just voraciously implementation of the curfew and has revenue within the tourism industry. of the prices of the grains. But this is buying out all the soybean. Belize cyclical. This goes in cycles. This produces only 20% of the soybean goes up, then it goes down, then it we use in animal feed. We import repeats itself year in, year out. So, 80%. So, the increase in poultry is Gunplay in Roaring Creek it’s not a permanent situation with due to the increase in price and the prices,” he said. high consuming effects of China. The While Mr. Cowo asserts that this is corn went up a little, not as significant after Hyde’s death a cyclical occurrence, the Minister of as the soybean cost. Soybean cost Agriculture, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, went up from eight dollars a bushel gave a more nuanced explanation of to, I think, fourteen dollars a bushel.” reportedly occurred on the same street the increase during a separate media Minister Mai stated that they are on which the business is located. An interview. Mai attributed the rise in monitoring the situation carefully and 18-year-old, Nelson Nunez, Jr., was prices, to the recent increased demand said that he instructed his technical grazed in the neck during that shooting by China for soybeans and corn. personnel to meet with the Poultry and was rushed to the Western According to Mai, China’s Association and grain producers. He Regional Hospital. Fortunately, he consumption of feed decreased too asserted that the increase will not survived the attack. drastically due to the pandemic as well last forever. Reports are that he was walking in the “Hattieville” area of Roaring Creek when a gunman exited an SUV and fired in his direction. Boy crushed by cement wall SAN ROMAN, Corozal District, Two female cops Tues. Apr. 6, 2021 Over the Easter weekend, a boy ROARING CREEK, Cayo District, fined for talk show died following a terrible accident, in Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 which the wall of a concrete portion Police are investigating a string of appearance of a structure collapsed on top of him shooting incidents in Roaring Creek and his mother. village and its surrounding areas, Continued from Page 2 Reports are that on Holy Saturday, starting with the Saturday evening „ 30-year-old Norely Marin and 11- murder of Clifford Hyde. officers were both found guilty by a year-old Jamir Marin were relaxing Two of the shootings occurred police tribunal, adjudicated by in a hammock at the residence of close to Hyde’s Meat Shop in the Superintendent Reymundo Reyes. Euphemia Cawich in San Narciso village. On Monday morning around According to News5, the officers village when the incident occurred. 9:00 o’clock, a lone gunman opened were charged $150 each, to be paid Police reported that the walls were fire on two persons standing in front in two installments. However, they not supported by any concrete post, of the establishment. The men were also reported that the officers may since, according to ACP Joseph later identified as relatives of the appeal the decision at the National Myvett, the building was still under deceased Clifford Hyde. The police Security Commission level and construction. are looking for one person in undertake yet another legal battle — Villagers rushed to remove the connection with this shooting. this time for breach of their freedom rubble that was on top of the mother to the Northern Regional Hospital, but The most recent shooting of expression. and son and promptly rushed the boy he was pronounced dead on arrival. Page 4 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 Agriculture Ministry to give Belizeans seedlings

Agriculture. healthier product. So, these three things According to Hon. Mai, the important for us, and if we do this technicians were proposing that seeds constantly, we will drop the import bill be issued to farmers, which would definitely.” have required the importation of Mai also shared that there are roughly potting mix at a high cost; however, over 100,000 seeds stored in a he recommended the use of seedlings warehouse which are to be placed in and the use of local resources (i.e. nurseries across the country and need humus, soil, etc.), which saved the to be transported across the country, Ministry over $60,000. Mai and his which requires additional spending. In Ministry are also looking into having order to avoid these additional costs, a similar seedling structure in all he said, it is important that nurseries districts, and even into growing be placed in all districts. When asked vegetables in Belize City using if the program is sustainable, Minister enhanced technology. He also detailed Mai also had these sentiments to share: by Kory Leslie (freelance writer) a total of 18,000 seedlings will be how the seedlings will be distributed, “This is as a result of COVID. This distributed to farmers and producers” stating: is in support of COVID. Instead of BELMOPAN, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 at all levels, including backyard “That is where we are today. Giving giving a bag of food, you give them The Ministry of Agriculture is gardeners”. The seedlings were out these seedlings to people who were seedlings for them to grow. It’s the increasing the government’s efforts to donated via the OIRSA Regional affected and people who are doing same in schools. If you ask me, if school strengthen vegetable production in the Emergency Fund to aid producers who family gardens. In the next month we feeding programs are sustainable, the country on a wider scale. On were affected by flooding caused by are preparing to give to the schools. way they’re doing it? No. Nobody will Wednesday, the Minister of hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020. Again, this is in line with our agriculture give you rice every day and beans and Agriculture, Food Security and Seedlings of lettuce, cabbage, policy, that we must produce more, we chicken to feed the children. Children Enterprise, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, tomatoes and sweet peppers, among must import less. The more we have to learn how to grow their food. published a press release highlighting others, are being grown by the Central produce, the less we have to import, So again, this is an alternative, but it is these efforts in collaboration with the Farm Horticulture Unit. A presentation and the less pressure we put on the US also educating the persons out there and OIRSA. of nursery management practices, from currency, which is now scarce. We also, showing them, it is not impossible to Hon. Mai embarked on a tour of a soil-mix plant mediums to the sowing by doing this, we’ve lowered the cost grow peppers in your backyard. It’s not seedling nursery along with OIRSA of seeds, was also demonstrated at the of food on the table. We eat a safer impossible to grow lettuce in the Representative, Fermin Blanco at event, which was followed by a media product, because we know they are not backyard. It can be done with a little Central Farm. According to the release, briefing with the Minister of applying chemicals to it, and we eat a effort.” BELTRAIDE creates web platform for female entrepreneurs

by Dayne Guy that strengthen their business model and BELMOPAN, Thurs. Apr. 1, 2021 enhance Via a live zoom session, the competitiveness in Belize Trade and Investment the private sector. Development Service This site serves to (BELTRAIDE) introduced a newly provide encouraging developed mentoring platform for and facilitating aspiring female entrepreneurs. This environments for site encourages and promotes women to thrive in creative growth and competitiveness the business sector, and serves as an extension of enabling them to Belize’s first female enhance their entrepreneurship program which abilities and was inaugurated in May 2019 in entrepreneurial skills conjunction with the Regional while creating Center for the Promotion of Micro sustainable business and Small Enterprises prospects. In addition (CENPROMYPE). to fostering a network Through the site, a panel of mentors of like-minded will share their industry experience entrepreneurs, the site to help entrepreneurial women to will also host a variety of courses, opportunities to bolster the Mentorship Network as we focus on make informed and strategic decisions workshops and business promotion entrepreneurs’ business model. the success, challenges, and At the launch hosted on April 1, experience of our women 2021, the entrepreneurs in attendance entrepreneurs,” said Mrs. Narda shared experiences of their Garcia, the new Chair of Man knocked off entrepreneurial journey and partook in BELTRAIDE. the discussion of “Women in The latest release from Leadership: Achieving an equal future BELTRAIDE encourages interested motorbike and killed in a COVID-19 World.” partners to visit https:// “This platform secures our femaleentrepreneurs.bz/ and sign up BELMOPAN, Tues. commitment to the success of the to become a member of the Female Apr. 6, 2021 women of Belize and allows for the Entrepreneur network as a mentee A man was killed in a advancement of the Belize Female or mentor. road traffic accident on Monday, April 5, 2021. occurred around 6:30 p.m. on going in the same direction as her Wilson Gonzalez was Monday. Gonzalez reportedly died when she collided into the knocked off his on the scene after sustaining head and motorcycle rider who was riding in motorbike by a car that body injuries. the opposite direction,” ACP was being steered by a The vehicle which hit him was Joseph Myvett of the Police driver who was being driven by Dani Palacio, a Department told local media. overtaking another resident of Roaring Creek. Palacio was detained at the time, vehicle on the George “She told police that she was pending an investigation, and Price Highway. westbound in the area and was in charges were expected to be brought The accident the process of overtaking a vehicle against her on Tuesday. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 5

Elections are over— time to fix our finances

In his “Make Every Dollar Count” 2020/21 budget, then Prime party lost control of government, but change of the status quo Minister Dean Barrow boasted that his party, in the twelve years didn’t come with a change of administration. during which it steered government, had almost doubled The new ruling party, the PUP, on taking office after the recurrent revenues, from $591 million in 2008 to $1.184 billion general election, introduced some measures to increase in 2019, and he declared it a stunning accomplishment of his earnings in some quarters, and they brought a new energy governments that the remuneration for the nation’s 14,000 and direction to the management of the pandemic, which has public employees and 1,000 pensioners “amount now to $540.5 been successful thus far, but most major issues that had to million, up from $276.3 million in 2008.” be addressed were left to lie — why: because there was another In the same breath with which he celebrated his governments’ election up ahead. Quite likely, much of what the government achievements, he noted that every dollar must count, because will present today in its budget would have been implemented our economy had decelerated, lost ground in three consecutive in November if municipal elections weren’t due four months quarters; and that global growth was below target in 2019 and later, in March. the forecast was that the downward trajectory would intensify In short, the UDP, to a great extent, and the PUP, to a much in 2020. He said it was likely we would not be able to squeeze lesser extent, bled out the last of our resources, the former to sufficient funds from our economy to go much beyond needs help its chances in the November 2020 general elections, and at home — needs which he said would not be “paused or the latter to keep its momentum for the March 2021 municipal pruned.” elections. Fortunately, there are no elections on the immediate In reference to the new coronavirus, which had recently reared horizon, so we can at last get on with the critical business of its ugly head, Barrow warned that an economic collapse was trying to steer our ship through these very tough times. “entirely plausible if (it) evolves into a worldwide pandemic”, In the forefront of the news of late are the negotiations taking and that the negative implications of a pandemic were “truly place between the leadership of the Joint Unions, representing alarming for Belize.” The fact is that even without the new the government’s employees, and Prime Minister John Briceño’s coronavirus exploding into a pandemic, our former prime government, which had called for public workers to take a 10% minister already knew that our economy was dead in the water, cut in salaries and freeze of increments for three years. hence his noting that we might not generate the surplus we Both the unions and government agree that our economy is needed to service our international financial obligations. in a terrible state, and the unions, in finding a solution to the The facts show that there was a very stiff wind in our face shortfall in public finances, forwarded recommendations to when PM Barrow read the help revenue collection and cut waste; but on Wednesday 2020/21 budget, but there was night the Prime Minister announced that the “near moribund no pausing of projects that state” of the economy left his government no choice but to weren’t immediately essential insist on excising $80 million from the public wage bill. or pruning of wasteful The government made a tough decision that will hurt its Amandala(estb. 1969) practices and unnecessary employees, the majority of whom are living paycheck to Business and editorial offices: high-ranking personnel. For paycheck. They, like most Belizeans, haven’t had a substantial 3304 Partridge Street, Belize the UDP 2020, it was open sail, increase in earnings in decades, and it is no secret that inflation City, Belize, Central America to hell with the rocks, and one rates in our country are higher than our SIB has been reporting. is printed twice weekly by the simple explanation for that This tough decision will cause our economy to contract even Amandala Press. was that there was a general further, at least in the near term. At the same time that our Telephones: 501-280-4703/ election up ahead. government announced that it would be proceeding with its 501-202-4477 The new coronavirus cuts, the Guardian (UK) reported that the IMF had called for continued to spread. On March higher taxes on the rich — with “the better off being asked to Publisher: Evan X Hyde 11 it was declared a pandemic pay more on a temporary basis to meet crisis-related financial Editor-in-chief: Marco Lopez by the World Health costs.” Business Manager: Jacinta Hyde Organization, and coupling The Prime Minister has said that his government will not Make-up & Design that with three consecutive increase the already high taxes on goods and services in the quarters of economic country, but today we find out how far it will go to close the Artist: Andrea Dennison shrinkage, we were in the loopholes in the tax system, and what, if any, structural Executive Secretary: Odessa midst of the storm of our lives. changes will be introduced to improve revenue collection and Robinson Smith Yet, although the leaders of production. Glaring is the matter of outstanding land taxes Compositor: Tyra Welch our government’s employees owed by large land owners. Lithography: Clive Smith begged our political leaders to There are times when standing pat is a good move, but for Printers: Kent Brooks cut the excess and wastage in Belize that hand was played out from April 2020 to March government, Barrow’s 2021, and all we got was more debt. Our country borrowed government barely shifted an estimated $30 million per month for twelve months, never Please email Correspondence: moving away from the modus operandi. We still haven’t made [email protected] course. For close to eight months we any attempts to engage in light manufacturing so that we can Advertisements to: continued on a path which process and preserve the produce of our farmers, so that we [email protected] almost everyone knew was become less dependent on food from abroad. unsustainable in normal It’s been a particularly difficult year, and more difficult times Mailing Address: times, a path which had hit a are ahead, but today, with all elections behind us, we find out Amandala Press dead end because of the what medicines our new government will bring (and not bring) 3304 Partridge Street pandemic, because the to treat our financial disease. We don’t know how much we c/o P.O. Box 15, governing party was shoring up will like or not like what is presented in the budget, or how Belize City, Belize its chances for the upcoming much will work and how much will not, but at least, at last, we general election. On can get our 100% focus on what matters most: the business Amandala’s website: November 11, 2020, Barrow’s of our country. amandala.com.bz Page 6 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 Young Belizean to moderate session at United Nations Economic and Social Council Youth Forum 2021 - Caribbean Session

states. This gives the youth leaders from around the world on Recovery from the COVID-19 an opportunity to positively solutions to challenges affecting Pandemic” influence the policies that youth wellbeing. It also serves as a The Caribbean Session can be will be implemented at the unique space for young people to viewed via the UN WebTV or on UN level and in countries share their vision and actions as well Webex. Details to view on Webex such as Belize. In fact, by as to provide youth perspectives on are as follows: having Ms. Noralez present the implementation of the 2030 ECOSOC Youth Forum – in the forum, Belizean youth Agenda and the SDGs. Caribbean Session will be well represented in Facilitated and organized by The Thursday, April 8, 2021 this policy making process. United Nations (UN) Major Group 11:20 AM (UTC-04:00) Ms. Noralez has worked for Children and Youth (UN MGCY), Georgetown, La Paz, Manaus, New extensively in youth in collaboration with several other York, Port of Spain, San Juan development both locally regionally based UN agencies, as Event address: https:// and regionally. She is the well as the Caribbean Regional eclac.webex.com/eclac/onstage/ former Chairperson of the Youth Council (CRYC), and the g.php?MTID=edb04de1a42650f1c National Youth Council of Commonwealth Youth Council db02d776780cd38e Event Number: Belize, and has worked with (CYC), the Caribbean Session of the 157 962 2104 organisations such as the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2021 will Event Password: 5X6GkBRR2jf Commonwealth Secretariat focus on “Sustainable and Resilient - END CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA: A , the Commonwealth Youth Council young Belizean is slated to moderate (CYC), the Caribbean Regional at this year’s United Nations’ Youth Council (CRYC), and the ECOSOC Youth Forum. Dominique Caribbean Development Bank Noralez, an executive member of the (CDB). Through Ms. Noralez, Sunday Review National Student Union of Belize Belizean youth have been given a will moderate the forum’s chance to let the world hear their News Review Talk Show Caribbean Session. The speakers of voice. On Krem TV & Krem Radio the session include youth from Ms. Noralez feels that this year’s Barbados, Jamaica, the Dominican forum is critical in the context of Live-streaming on Krem Television Face Book Page Republic, St. Vincent and the positive youth development. When Host: YaYa Marin Coleman Co-Host: Alba Grenadines, and Trinidad and asked about her views on the forum, Tobago at the Caribbean Session. she explains that “the ECOSOC Date: Sunday, April 11, 2021 Time: 10:30 a.m. to noon The session will be held on April Youth Forum is another space to Guest: Dr. Rony Castillo/OFRANEH activist scholar 8th, 2021 from 11:20 AM (Trinidad enhance and advance youth’s and Tobago, Atlantic Standard Time collective call for positive youth Sunday Review will be repeated at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, 2021 GMT-04:00). development as an intrinsic fixture This year the ECOSOC Youth of global development. She then Forum will be held virtually and elaborated that she is “honoured to aims to identify critical challenges, be a part of the ECOSOC youth solutions and opportunities for youth movement”. in a context of COVID-19. The The 2021 ECOSOC Youth Forum Caribbean session, guided by the is convened annually by the speakers, will contribute to this aim President of United Nations by making contributions from the Economic and Social Council region’s unique perspective. (ECOSOC) and is co-organized by Noralez, along with the other youth several UN agencies that focus on leaders who will attend the forum, youth. It provides a global platform will elaborate a set of for a candid dialogue among United recommendations for UN member Nation Member States and young

St Luke Hospital #3 Mountain view Blvd Belmopan, Belize, CA Phone: 822-2379 Email: [email protected]

VACANCY Exist for: Radiology Technician At St. Luke Hospital Ltd.

Minimum Qualification: . Associates Degree in Radiology . Valid License from the Ministry of Health (Allied Health License) . At least 1 year experience as an X Ray Technician/Radiology Technician

Please send application to:

Manager St. Luke Hospital Ltd. #3 Mountain View Boulevard Belmopan, Belize

Deadline April 30, 2021 St. Luke Hospital Ltd: Caring from the Heart Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 7 UWI to provide augmented reality content

by Dayne Guy Eon Reality-UWI partnership, is the This rollout will cover all the largest grant ever received by the University of the West Indies’ campuses MONA, Jamaica, UWI Regional Caribbean university and will allow and will pioneer the introduction of Headquarters, Tues. Apr. 6, 2021 EON Reality, to enter a post-COVID augmented reality to the Caribbean. The global leader in Augmented and Caribbean market as a leader in This partnership demonstrates UWI’s Virtual Reality-based technologies for educational development. dedication to providing its students education, EON Reality, has pledged Through this new partnership with with the best technologies available, to distribute an international grant of The University of West Indies Open irrespective of their geolocation or US $25 million to the University of the Campus, the company will launch an ability to access a classroom. This West Indies. This donation, through the EON-XR rollout across the Caribbean. serves as a key component in meeting the university’s financial vision of “converting its global reputation into sustainable revenue.” countries and territories, the St Luke Hospital Dr. Luz Longsworth, principal of the opportunity to witness state-of-the-art UWI Open Campus and Pro Vice- extended reality (XR) content, and will #3 Mountain view Blvd Chancellor of Global Affairs, is allow teachers to incorporate XR into Belmopan, Belize, CA spearheading the project and leading their daily teaching routine while Phone: 822-2379 the transformation of the ten-year-old learning more about developing and Email: [email protected] Open Campus into a UWI Global creating extended reality content. campus. Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir VACANCY “The Open Campus is excited about Hilary Beckles said, “This is a major this new project with EON Reality and very timely step for the university Exist for: and its potential to position the as it rolls out its ‘finance revolution,’ Receptionist Campus and The UWI at the cutting according to our strategic plan. We are At St. Luke Hospital Ltd. edge of technology-enabled education determined to succeed, but success across the Caribbean,” said Dr. Luz comes with an orderly and systematic Minimum Qualification: Longsworth. “As the online Campus approach and effective leadership. Dr. . Associates Degree of UWI, the Open Campus is perfectly Longsworth is to be commended for . At least 1 year experience asReceptionist positioned to introduce this high-end her sophisticated negotiation skills . well versed and trained in Customer Service is a priority. technology to both students and faculty and commitment to our strategic Please send application to: while improving the quality of vision.” education experience it delivers,” she Professor Beckles further notes that Manager said. the university’s financial trajectory is St. Luke Hospital Ltd. As one of the most prestigious rapidly approaching their financial #3 Mountain View Boulevard universities in the Caribbean, the goals. This Eon Reality collaboration Belmopan, Belize University of the West Indies, through serves as one of many funding its Open Campus, offers an array of initiatives in the university’s global Deadline April 30, 2021 students across a multitude of pipeline. St. Luke Hospital Ltd: Caring from the Heart Page 8 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021

Las elecciones se acabaron, es hora de arreglar nuestras finanzas

En su presupuesto 2020/21 “Haciendo contar cada dolar”, En definitiva, el UDP, en gran medida, y el PUP, en menor el entonces primer ministro Dean Barrow se jactó de que su medida, desangraron lo último de nuestros recursos, el primero partido, en los doce años durante los cuales dirigió el gobierno, para ayudar a sus posibilidades en las elecciones generales casi había duplicado los ingresos recurrentes, de $ 591 millones de noviembre de 2020, y el segundo para mantener su impulso en 2008 a $ 1.184 mil millones en 2019, y declaró que era un para las elecciones municipales de marzo de 2021. logro asombroso de sus gobiernos que la remuneración de los Afortunadamente, no hay elecciones en el horizonte inmediato, 14.000 empleados públicos y 1.000 jubilados de la nación por lo que por fin podemos continuar con la tarea crítica de “asciende ahora a $540,5 millones, frente a los $276,3 millones tratar de dirigir nuestro barco a través de estos tiempos tan de 2008”. difíciles. En el mismo aliento con que celebró los logros de sus En la vanguardia de las noticias recientemente están las gobiernos, señaló que cada dólar debe contar, porque nuestra negociaciones que se están llevando a cabo entre la dirección economía se había desacelerado, había perdido terreno en de los Sindicatos Conjuntos, que representan a los empleados tres trimestres consecutivos; y que el crecimiento global estaba del gobierno, y el gobierno del primer ministro John Briceño, por debajo de la meta en 2019 y el pronóstico era que la que había pedido a los trabajadores públicos una reducción trayectoria descendente se intensificaría en 2020. Dijo que del 10% en los salarios y la congelación de los incrementos era probable que no pudiéramos obtener fondos suficientes durante tres años. de nuestra economía para ir mucho más allá de las necesidades Tanto los sindicatos como el gobierno están de acuerdo en internas, necesidades que, según él, no serían “pausadas o que nuestra economía está en un estado terrible, y los podadas”. sindicatos, al tratar de encontrar una solución al déficit de las En referencia al nuevo coronavirus, que recientemente había finanzas públicas, enviaron recomendaciones para ayudar en asomado su fea cabeza, Barrow advirtió que un colapso la recaudación de ingresos y reducir el desperdicio; pero el económico era “completamente plausible si evoluciona hacia miércoles por la noche el Primer Ministro anunció que el “estado una pandemia mundial”, y que las implicaciones negativas de casi moribundo” de la economía no dejó a su gobierno más una pandemia eran “realmente alarmantes para Belize”. El remedio que insistir en escindir 80 millones de dólares de la hecho es que incluso sin que el nuevo coronavirus estallara en masa salarial pública. una pandemia, nuestro ex primer ministro ya sabía que nuestra El gobierno tomó una decisión difícil que perjudicará a sus economía estaba muerta en el agua, de ahí su observación de empleados, la mayoría de los cuales viven de sueldo a sueldo. que podríamos no generar el excedente que necesitábamos Ellos, como la mayoría de los beliceños, no han tenido un para cumplir con nuestras obligaciones financieras aumento sustancial en sus ingresos en décadas, y no es ningún internacionales. secreto que las tasas de inflación en nuestro país son más Los hechos muestran que hubo un viento muy fuerte en altas de lo que ha informado nuestro Instituto de Estadísticas nuestra cara cuando el primer ministro Barrow leyó el de Belize. presupuesto 2020/21, pero no hubo pausas en los proyectos Esta difícil decisión hará que nuestra economía se contraiga que no eran inmediatamente esenciales ni se eliminaron las aún más, al menos en el corto plazo. Al mismo tiempo que prácticas derrochadoras y el personal innecesario de alto rango. nuestro gobierno anunció que continuaría con sus Para el UDP 2020, fue a vela abierta, al diablo con las rocas, y recortes, The Guardian (Reino Unido) informó que el FMI había una explicación simple para eso fue que había elecciones pedido impuestos más altos para los ricos, y que “a los más generales por delante. acomodados se les pedía que pagaran más de forma temporal El nuevo coronavirus siguió propagándose. El 11 de marzo para cubrir los costos financieros relacionados con la crisis”. fue declarada pandemia por la Organización Mundial de la El Primer Ministro ha dicho que su gobierno no aumentará Salud, y sumado a tres cuartas partes consecutivas de los ya altos impuestos sobre bienes y servicios en el país, contracción económica, estábamos en medio de la tormenta pero hoy descubriremos hasta dónde llegará para cerrar las de nuestras vidas. Sin embargo, aunque los líderes de los lagunas en el sistema tributario, y qué cambios estructurales, empleados de nuestro gobierno rogaron a nuestros líderes si los habrá, se introducirán para mejorar la recaudación de políticos que redujeran el exceso y el despilfarro en el gobierno, ingresos y la producción. Es evidente la cuestión de los el gobierno de Barrow apenas cambió de rumbo. pendientes impuestos sobre tierra adeudados por los grandes Durante cerca de ocho meses continuamos por un camino propietarios. que casi todos sabían que era insostenible en tiempos Hay momentos en los que mantenerse firme es una buena normales, un camino que había llegado a un callejón sin salida jugada, pero para Belize esa mano se jugó desde abril de debido a la pandemia, porque el partido gobernante estaba 2020 hasta marzo de 2021, y todo lo que obtuvimos fue apuntalando sus posibilidades de cara a las próximas elecciones más deuda. Nuestro país tomó prestados aproximadamente generales. El 11 de noviembre de 2020, el partido de Barrow $ 30 millones por mes durante doce meses, sin alejarse perdió el control del gobierno, pero el cambio del status quo nunca del modus operandi. Todavía no hemos hecho ningún no vino con un cambio de administración. intento de involucrarnos en leve fabricación para poder El nuevo partido gobernante, el PUP, al asumir el cargo procesar y preservar los productos de nuestros agricultores, después de las elecciones generales, introdujo algunas medidas de modo que seamos menos dependientes de alimentos del para aumentar los ingresos en algunos trimestres, y trajeron exterior. una nueva energía y dirección a la gestión de la pandemia, que Ha sido un año particularmente difícil, y se avecinan hasta ahora ha tenido éxito, pero la mayoría de los principales tiempos más difíciles, pero hoy, con todas las elecciones asuntos que debían abordarse no se tocaron: ¿por qué?: atrás, descubrimos qué medicamentos traerá (y no traerá) porque había otra elección más por delante. Es muy probable nuestro nuevo gobierno para tratar nuestra enfermedad que gran parte de lo que el gobierno presentará hoy en su financiera. No sabemos cuánto nos gustará o no de lo que presupuesto se hubiera implementado en noviembre si las se presente en el presupuesto, o cuánto funcionará y cuánto elecciones municipales no hubieran estado programadas para no, pero al menos, por fin, podemos enfocarnos al 100% en cuatro meses después, en marzo. lo que más importa: el negocio de nuestro país. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 9

I think a lot of Belizeans assumed has grown, even while my frustration the local media. Basketball, which had in the Peten. The presence of British that I had pushed my second son into and pain have increased as I watch this moved from the Northside under the troops in pre-self government British politics here, in 1994 thereabouts, in bigoted, hypocritical, racist power Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) to Honduras was convenient where order for me to pursue an agenda of structure here dance all its different the Southside at St. Ignatius court (and American foreign policy in the region some sort through him. Such Belizeans pachangas. later Bird’s Isle) under a liberalized, was concerned. would not know that the Hyde family I Looking way back, I believe that a secular administration, in the middle So, Belize becomes self-governing come from is different from most, at critical period in Belize’s history which 1960s, had become too lower class and in 1964. This means that we are on the least the one my father led, in that sons we almost never analyze and discuss is combative for “some Belizeans cusp of independence, and Belize, as are encouraged to become adults at an the move into self-government in early somewhere,” I would say. A very we have pointed out, is a strategic spot early age. The evidence shows that I 1964. I was a teenager entering Sixth powerful element in Belize’s upper where Guatemala and Cuba, bitter have never interfered in Cordel’s Form at St. John’s College at the time, classes began to push volleyball as a enemies at the time, are concerned. politics except from the standpoint of and my understanding, if I remember recreational sport which was not polluted Belize is in a strategic spot, therefore, rendering what limited support I could correctly, was that the British retained by dangerous street passions. I’m talking where the movers and shakers in to his campaigns. He is his own man. control of defence and foreign affairs, about more than three decades ago. It’s Washington are concerned, because Since he became Deputy Prime but that Belizeans now enjoyed a long story, and it has never been told. Washington is friendly to Guatemala Minister, would you believe he and I constitutional control of all the other There is a power structure in Belize, and and hostile to Cuba. Washington would have never had a conversation except disciplines, the most important of those whistle blowers can get hurt. like Belize as an ally. a couple times through his younger probably being the Ministry of Finance A bloody civil war began in Guatemala Birth control began to pour into brother, Michael? and the Ministry of Home Affairs. in 1960. Some historians prefer to see Belize around 1980. It entered Belize in Why am I saying all this? It is to free Correct me if I’m wrong, por favor. 1966 as the start of that civil war. I can’t the black seacoast municipalities myself to write in an environment where The big reason why this period is so tell you why the discrepancy in dates running from Belize City to Punta I accept all the responsibility for my critical historically is because I now where the beginning of the war was Gorda as clinics for reproductive utterances, and so that those utterances think that many influential and qualified concerned, but there is general agreement health. Certainly, reproductive health is do not reflect on my children in any people in the politics and business of that the Guatemalan civil war did not end a laudable goal. But the birth control kind of way. Can you dig it. the United States at that particular time until 1996. aspect of the program didn’t make any One of the discussions that was began to study Belize (a British colony The people who see 1960 as the sense, because all the development interesting to me at university in America officially named “British Honduras”) beginning of the Guatemalan civil war experts had been saying for decades was how much an artist, as a person closely and plot a course for our see the war as beginning in November that British Honduras needed more and an individual, has to do with his destiny as a people, without our being of 1960 with the rebellion of nationalistic population, not less. In Belize, young art, per se. In other words, can’t an aware of all the future implications and cadets in the Guatemalan army, led by ladies have been encouraged to have artist be a sinner and produce work repercussions. Belize in 1964 and Belize Marco Yon Sosa and Luis Turcios tubal ligations performed on them since which is sacred? Places like the United in 2021 are two very, very different Lima, against the CIA training of Cuban then. Check the stats. States, for example, have huge places. This is a discussion which could exiles in Guatemala for the invasion of Meanwhile, our young men shoot populations, and when there is some last a very long time. Fidel Castro’s Cuba in 1961. each other night and day. Over the new and exciting event or trend in arts And so, I will return to the new, The Guatemalan economy, Easter weekend, a young lady stabbed and culture, the people in large societies spectacular Civic Center, all alone in a incidentally, is dominated by American another to death in the bucolic village do not spend a lot of time trying to sea of Southside desperation and death. and American-controlled companies. of Gracie Rock. And, at the corner of figure out who the artist is and analyze The first thing none of our local As a British colony with a large and Central American Boulevard and St. his or her characteristics, quirks, and media ever, ever discuss is what porous border with Guatemala, British Jude Street, the very expensive Civic so on. The example that pops into my happened in Belizean basketball, the Honduras in 1960 presented an escape Center stands in dusty isolation. Life mind is that of Charlie Parker. He died sport which became so popular that the route for anti-government guerrillas in goes on. What’s it all about, Alfie? We when he was only 34. Charlie Parker People’s United Party (PUP) Cabinet Guatemala and a potential source for fight for survival. was a heroin addict, but recognized of Belize easily passed legislation worth Cuban propaganda and military internationally as one of the greatest jazz five or six million to refurbish the Civic assistance to reach those same guerrillas Power to the people. musicians ever. America held and has Center of that time, which had become held him in high esteem. too small to contain the crowds of Anyway, all this is by saying, again, 1992, the inaugural year of Belize semi- that what I write here today has nothing pro basketball. The money intended by to do with Cordel and his politics. It’s the Cabinet, presumably, to enlarge, St Luke Hospital only his old man looking on and trying upgrade and modernize the Civic #3 Mountain view Blvd to understand stuff. Center was instead diverted in large part Every time I pass the expensive white to ensure the election of Ralph Fonseca Belmopan, Belize, CA elephant that the Civic Center has to the new Belize Rural Central Phone: 822-2379 become, at the corner of Central constituency. Ralph’s political rise Email: [email protected] American Boulevard and St. Jude Street paralleled and occasioned the strangling near the Belcan Bridge, I think things. of the dreams of many Southside youth. VACANCY One of the things I think is how different The Civic Center project of 1992/93 it would have been if such a structure was abortive, so to speak, and the Exist for: had been built and maintained in the basketball auditorium became, for all Dermatologist early 1990s on the Southside of Belize intents and purposes, an oven. To a At St. Luke Hospital Ltd. City. certain extent, weekend basketball in Looking back on my life, I told a Belize City was a fashion show and Minimum Qualification: . Degree in Dermatology friend recently I thought I had been beauty contest of sorts, and the . Valid License from the Ministry of Health (Allied Health License) humbled. What I meant was that when conditions inside the Civic in and after . At least 2 year experience as a Dermatologist I was a young man I was certain I knew 1993 were severely deleterious to the a lot of things for real. Nowadays, I survival and growth of the new semi- Please send application to: feel that life here has moved beyond pro basketball industry. The me, that I am a student trying to catch undermining of the Civic Center Manager up on things. atmosphere was one of the main reasons St. Luke Hospital Ltd. As I’ve watched my people trying semi-pro basketball collapsed in Belize #3 Mountain View Boulevard to survive since this coronavirus struck in 1998. This was an authentic, roots Belmopan, Belize us a little more than a year ago, I have Southside industry. marveled at their resistance and In the middle and late 1980’s, Deadline April 30, 2021 strength, their ability to survive great something sociological had occurred St. Luke Hospital Ltd: Caring from the Heart stress. My admiration for my people which, again, is never, ever discussed in Page 10 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 Belize and Guatemala engage in fisheries research

by Kory Leslie (freelance writer)

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 Belize and Guatemala have been partnering to conduct maritime research in what has been deemed “the most underrepresented habitat in the marine protected areas system of Belize and Guatemala” — known as the Corona Reef or Cayman Crown. The area is believed to be an important biological hotspot, a fish spawning aggregation site (FSA), and a habitat for deep-slope snapper and bottom-dwelling species. On Wednesday, the Ministry of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, the Belize Fisheries Department and the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) issued a joint press release to highlight the project. The initiative was agreed upon via a Statutory Instrument that was signed by the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development for the expansion of the Sapodilla Caye Marine Reserve, and it included protection of a portion of the Cayman Crown. Following the acquisition of a research permit by TIDE from the Fisheries Department, data collection started in February of 2020. During their research initiatives, TIDE was accompanied by a research team from FUNDAECO Guatemala, which was responsible for the Guatemala side of the site. According to the release, “The FUNDAECO team obtained a valid research permit from the Belize Fisheries Department to participate in the research trips within Belize’s territorial waters, and TIDE intends to access research permits from Guatemala when conducting research in the Guatemalan marine protected area. TIDE, FUNDAECO and the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative have pledged through a cooperation agreement to work jointly on research, protection, and management of the newly formed transboundary marine protected area.” The information gathered is intended to inform the effective management of the Cayman Crown zone within the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 11 WHO - approved vaccine is no threat when compared to bat virus

by Colin Hyde Shoman, she who said that she’d be read somewhere that the world because of the Global Polio glad if the gay crowd kicked down experts have doubled the forecast for Eradication Initiative which began There are studies that claim that our fence, well, she was Guyana’s economic growth this year, in 1988, the number of paralytic the animal we know as modern man ehm…bumped off a social media from 8% to 16%? Yap, the Caribbean cases was reduced by 99.99%, with appeared on the earth about one and page. I should feel sorry for her, will give the nod to the Guyanese 42 cases reported in the world in a quarter million years ago, and if because love is all I have in my candidate. 2016. we go to the Judeo-Christian Bible, nature, but in this instance, I don’t. I Forgive me for drifting from my Smallpox, one of the diseases that we learn that God put man on earth wouldn’t have the-you-know-what mission, which is to show that I Europeans brought to the Americas, some six thousand years ago. I’m not fortitude to throw anyone off my support the vaccine. The first block killed three out of every ten people a “literal creationist”, but I like the page, but she tried to bully the wrong in my case comes from it infected. History says that when six-thousand-years thing and use it as person, pushed against the wrong encyclopedia.com, where I found this the disease was introduced to the a kind of reference for the point at fence, and she got rebuffed. statement that “in Western Europe, in Americas it cut down our ancestors which modern man started trying to If you want more juice there, the around 1800, the expectation of life here “by the tens of millions.” give up some animal behaviors. person who came to her aid was Ms. at birth was about 35 years; by 1900 The vaccine that began the end of According to the story, God told Carla at-the-mercy-of-the-world it was about 50 years; and by 2000, this scourge was discovered by a Abraham and the Jews to go forth and Barnett, and the last I heard about her 75 years (with a six to eight-year British doctor, Edward Jenner, who multiply, which they and all the tribes is that Vaughan Gill is plugging for difference favoring the female noticed that milkmaids who got in the world did, happily because it’s her candidacy at some great population).” infected with cowpox, a milder a happy thing, and because in the age organization in the Caribbean. This other block I have comes from virus than small pox, seemed before robots you couldn’t do Vaughan said that if she got the job Our World In Data, which says that immune to the more dangerous anything without human labor, and in she would give us status, but then he 6,000 years ago the world’s disease. The vaccine Jenner the age before gun powder you said the other candidate for the big population was 28.3 million; 2,000 developed would be the tool used couldn’t win any war without job is from Guyana, so I say Ms. Carla years ago the world’s population to eradicate smallpox from the numbers. Ah, some of the people who can go back to defending Ms. Lisa’s was around 188 million; 1,000 years planet, an achievement that was promote/accept gay things say they right to write what she wants, because ago it was 295 million; 500 years ago announced by the WHO in 1980. understand why in bifo times those she is out of the running. it was 461 million; in 1600 it was The story scaring off some people who were not into multiplication Braa, every country in the 554 million, in 1700 it was 603 from using the AstraZeneca vaccine were frowned upon, but the Caribbean will be looking to Guyana million, in 1800 it was 989 million, is that in rare cases it is associated multiplication having been so for some Petro Caribe-style largesse. in 1900 it was 1.65 billion, and in with blood clotting, and it is tremendously successful, that’s no That country is sitting on this crazy- 2008 it was 6.8 billion. understandable that people would issue now. large oil field, and they don’t have a You’d have to be suffering from become less enthusiastic when they Ooh, I have to rat that one of their spectacular barrier reef, so they can advanced myopia to not see the think about that risk, if they haven’t highly placed advocates, Ms. Lisa just drill baby drill. What, did I just incredible difference in life span looked at all the facts. between 1800 and 2000 in Western BBC News says that as of March Europe, from 35 years to 75 years, 24 there were 30 cases of blood more than double, and the population clotting associated with 18 million growth in the world, growing 386 doses administered in the UK, while million in the hundred years between a German medicines regulator found 1700 and 1800, growing 661 million 31 cases in the nearly 2.7 million between 1800 and 1900, and growing people who had received the vaccine over 5 billion between 1900 and 2008. in that country. A person would have to be out of Every life is sacred, but in reality their mind, preposterous to attribute the number of blood clotting cases the explosion of human beings on the associated with the vaccine is planet to something other than the extremely small. The possibility does advancement of medicine, and no exist that if we vaccinate all our development in medicine can people, we might have a case of compare to the development of blood clotting, but that is a vaccines. disturbance in a teacup compared to Vaccines for diseases such as the full-blown hurricane of Covid- polio and small pox changed the 19 which has thus far killed hundreds world, as vaccines for Covid-19 and sickened thousands of us. will do one day, hopefully soon. Health Research Institute said History, at the website history.com, “recent data from the said polio was never a raging Netherlands and France suggest that epidemic, but people in the US of the patients with coronavirus who feared it almost as much as they are admitted to intensive care units feared a nuclear war. Polio was no (ICU), 30-70% develop blood clots Spanish Influenza, but the highly in the deep veins of the legs, or in the contagious virus killed or crippled lungs” and “around one in a large number of the people it four coronavirus patients admitted to infected. ICU will develop a pulmonary Dr. Jonas Salk developed and embolism.” WebMD said “the rate for tested a killed-virus polio vaccine getting clots is about 0.3% to 1% over in 1952, and after trials on monkeys 10 years for a woman on the pill.” he vaccinated himself, his wife, and My, if people were as smart in the three children to prove that it was old days as we are now, if they safe. Salk did not patent his vaccine, sneezed on vaccines the way people partly because the March of Dimes, are doing now, I don’t think we would a fundraising initiative started by have been rid of deadly viruses such polio victim and US president, as polio and small pox. Franklin Roosevelt, had supported Please, there is risk in everything, his research. but the risk of taking a WHO- Our World in Data says large approved vaccine isn’t near equal to outbreaks of polio continued around that associated with a disease that the world into the 1980s, with more should never have jumped from bats than 350,000 cases per year, but into human beings. Page 12 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021

John Crow Holiday

On the 21st of September, 2021, of days which are used to celebrate developments are from the profits Belize will be completing its 40th all kinds of events except for the earned by the selected class. anniversary as an independent nation. “John Crow” (Jancrow) holiday. It is a fact that the national debt However, according to those who sing Mind you, they deserve it, because must be paid by all Belizeans, their song of eternal discovery and those are the ones that clean the earth including those who continue to live who lament that there is no money, that by feeding themselves from rotted under the poverty level. We come to the coffers are empty, that there is an dead animals. After learning that this the conclusion that justice in Belize economic crisis, the COVID-19 country is in a detrimental economic is unfair. But, then, who are the ones thinkers. After all, we are stuck in pandemic is the fault of the UDP’s crisis, we wonder how certain that distributed such unfairness upon this ridiculous society, like it or not, corruption. Previous to 2008, Belize businesses are surviving very well. its own people? It is proven that and it is obvious that for many of us was a heaven where God and his gods Where does the money come from that man’s worst enemy is fanaticism and there can never be a way out as long sat. No wonder Belize has been called people can use to make such high ignorance. It is also proven that for a as the change is not radical with a “Land of the Gods”. Belize is the only purchases of goods? We asked country to be progressive it is view to general equality. place in the world where the gods ourselves, could it be that the necessary to have a people who are have their dwelling place. Yet, with borrowing of money to pay salaries prepared through a good-quality [email protected] all that, 70% of its inhabitants are is what has these businesses making education system, and who are open April 5, 2021 living in poverty. big profits? So much so, that it seems to different ideologies. Otherwise, it Finca Solana Meanwhile, there are a whole lot that the construction and other will continue to suffer from mediocre Corozal Town Searching for the Black Population in Quintana Roo

Historians have written about while others built houses similar to and would like to share with you: in large groups but little by little by people who had moved in 1902 from those owned by the wealthy class of land, almost no researcher before Corozal (Sarteneja and Punta British Honduras. The majority of by Laura Machuca Gallegos* - Cunin had been concerned with Concejo) to live in and develop what Afro-descendants stayed and lived SCIELO reconstructing their migratory context. is today Chetumal, the capital of there for the rest of their life. My Quintana Roo is a new state of Quintana Roo. What they had put grandmother, Sofia Soto, an Afro- *Center of Investigation and Mexico, whose creation dates back to under the rug are the Afro- Mestiza, was one of them, but she Superior Studies in Social 1902. It is a territory that Cunin descendants — Creoles or Mulattos came back and died in Belize City. Anthropology — Peninsular, considers a national and ethnic border. who worked in the chicle industry Below is an intriguing article I read, Mérida, Yucatán, México In his imagination, there are two [email protected]* founding elements of his identity: Gonzalo Guerrero, considered the After several years of work in the father of miscegenation, for having been Yucatan peninsula — Mérida and the first to marry a Mayan woman, and Quintana Roo— and Belize, Elisabeth the Caste War — it should be Cunin synthesized her results in this remembered that the Talking Cross was book, which has several contributions. in the town Carrillo Puerto and that Among the most outstanding are, on the made official a movement that was one hand, its approach to a territorial born precisely against the established space with its own dynamics and logic, power. At the beginning of the 20th located between Quintana Roo and Century, the population from Belize Belize; on the other, his in-depth was the majority. In 1904, out of a total analysis of the Afro-descendant of 680 inhabitants, 190 were from population and Mexican migration Mexico and 454 from neighboring policy in the first decades of the 20th British Honduras. What we know today Century. Both the region and the subject as Belize was formed with the impulse were completely forgotten in history of forest exploitation in a territory in and official discourse. The figure of which the borders between Mexico the black foreigner, in particular the and Guatemala were non-existent. chiclero from Belize, allows him to Thus, a region was created that the establish a link between the nation states would be in charge of construction of the State and the ethnic dismantling little by little. and racial criteria on which it was Chewing gum production required based — supported by the idea of a temporary labor, which was the trigger miscegenation between only two for economic development. The actors, white and Indian — and the chiclero, whose image has been application to a regional case. Thus, constructed as Mayan and Mestizo, has miscegenation and race are key also gone down in official history as a concepts throughout the book, and the symbol of a way of life and a model of author wisely warns of the dangers of society. The hundreds of dark-colored not placing them in a socio-historical Belizean chicleros were simply erased framework. from history. Cunin made a real Although the “third root” of Mexico immersion in the local, regional and has been claimed in recent years, it has national archives. She also used visual not been so much in the Yucatan material — photos and films — and peninsula, which has also been the land music. Some sources, such as the of various migrations. Cunin shows that National Registry of Foreigners (RNE), in the 1930s and 1940s, although foreign which could have been very useful migration was encouraged, there were because it classifies individuals by closed filters to enter, and one of them race, despite being very rich, are not was directed precisely towards people practical in the case of Belizeans of “color”. However, since the because they are registered in the migration of Belizeans was less visible, because they did not arrive by boat or Please turn to„Page 14 Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 13

Ministry of Finance

TENDER NOTICE

Supply of Vehicles

Procurement Type: Procurement of Goods – Vehicles

Procurement Method: Open Tendering Procedure (National Competitive Bidding)

Procurement:Six(6) Crew Cab Pick Up Trucks for the Ministry of Health and Wellness to be used for the transportation of Covid-19 vaccines in Belize

The Government of Belize (GOB) will be entering into a loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank to assist the Government with a project that will contribute to the reduction of the morbidity and mortality caused by Covid-19, and to mitigate other indirect impacts of the pandemic. One component of this project will assist to facilitate vaccine accessibility to the population of Belize.In this regard, the GOBwill be procuringone vehicle per districtto be used for the transportation and delivery of the Covid-19 vaccines in the country.

The Ministry of Finance, now invites eligible and qualified bidders to submit quotations for the supply of six (6) Crew Cab Pick Up Trucks, as per the below specifications: • New 2019, 2020 or 2021 model • Minimum 2.0L 4 Cylinder • 4 Door Crew Cab • Truck Camper Installed • Bedliner Installed • Power Windows and Door • Air Conditioning • Warranty: Minimum 3 Years/100,000Kms • Price should be duty and tax free • Delivery of all 6 vehicles to Ministry of Health, Belmopan, within 2 weeks of date of contract award

TENDER NOTICE 1. In the assessment of quotations, consideration will be given to compliance to the specifications, and the delivery time of the The Government of Belize is inviting the submission of tenders for vehicles. the purchase of four aircrafts (2Gulfstream GII (white & tan) and 2 Hawker Sidley H5125 Aircrafts). 2. Three (3) hard copies of your quotation should be placed in a sealed envelope marked “Quotation for the Supply of Vehicles These aircrafts will be sold as a package and not individually, where for Ministry of Health”, and addressed and delivered to: is and as is. Financial Secretary The aircrafts can be viewed by appointment only (where possible). Ministry of Finance rd Interested bidders can call 828-4038 between 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Sir Edney Cain Building (3 Floor) during working days to make appointments. The contact person is Belmopan Mr. Ruperto Vicente. 3. Along with your quotations youmustalso submitrecent letters of good standing from the following entities: Tenders should be submitted to the Ministry of Finance no later than (1) Belize Companies Registry 12:00 pm Friday, April 30, 2021 in a sealed envelope marked (2) Belize Tax Service “TENDER for the purchase of Aircrafts” and should be addressed (3) Belize Social Security Board to: 4. The deadline for receipt of your bid submission at the Ministry The Financial Secretary of Finance isApril 9, 2021at4pm. Ministry of Finance Sir Edney Cain Building 5. Quotations by Fax or Email are NOTacceptable. Late quotations City of Belmopan will be rejected. Belize 6. Requests for clarifications may be done via email (only) and Tenders will be opened Friday April 30, 2021 at 2:00 pm and will be should be sent to the following email address:[email protected] open to representatives of bidders who wish to attend. The highest tender will not necessarily be accepted. Unsuccessful 7. GOB reserves the right to accept or reject any quotation or to tenders will be notified in writing. cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety, at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any NOTE: Terms of payment - Cashier’s Cheque or Wire transfer liability to the affected prospective supplier(s). It will not be payable to the Government of Belize within 14 days of winning the bound to assign any reason from GOB action and will not defray bid. any cost incurred by any firm in the preparation and submission of quotations. Page 14 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 Searching for the Black Population in Quintana Roo

Continued from Page 12 workers increased. Likewise, the black „ chiclero was acquiring a category of category of “English.” threatening and non-integrable individual. In the midst of these empirical data, Even so, in the period from 1924 to 1935, full of traps and paradoxes, Cunin the racist legislation produced in central discovers the images of the “black”, Mexico was used ambiguously in which change according to the social Quintana Roo and was only applied in actor who apprehends them. The vision some cases. The situation changed of the intellectual is not the same as that precisely after 1935, with President of the migratory agent from Mexico, nor Lázaro Cárdenas. The entry of the black that of the northern border or in population continued to be prohibited Chetumal. There are various discourses with more sophisticated migratory around the black migrant and a huge measures, but no longer alluded to race heuristic distance between them. Even but to compatibility with the Mestizo of in the discourse of the intellectuals in the Mexican nation. Of particular charge of building the Mexican identity relevance was the scientific expedition in the first decades of the 20th century, of 1937, led by Luis Rosado Vega, the premise was to relegate the Afro- Yucatecan poet and writer, of which there descendant to a colonial past, when is an extensive report, several essays and slavery existed, and start from the idea literary work. As the author points out, that the national construction was based unlike previous reports, in this one there on the racial and ethnic homogeneity of are evocations of the black population; the population. To learn about the policy in fact, several parallels are made between that was developed from the center to the jungle of Quintana Roo and that of cement the territory of Quintana Roo, Africa. With Rosado Vega, the border Cunin analyzes the reports of the is Mexicanized and any culture shared scientific commissions, the expeditions with Belize is denied. In Cunin’s words: and the visits of officials and academics. The challenge in these years of Regarding immigration policy, it analyzes Cardenismo and post-Cardenismo is to debates, laws and decrees, from the 1908 invent a Mestizo popular culture, law, with which the immigration files are different from the Mayan culture, a inaugurated and which is a first step to symbol of rebellion and archaism, and define and control migration when no at the same time from the Belizean Afro- allusion was made yet to skin colors. Caribbean culture, a double symbol of The first limitation for the entry of Afro- a foreign invasion and a descendants to the national territory is rapprochement with the black found until 1923. In the following ten populations (p. 227). years, the final policy will be defined, At the same time that the government which coincides with the creation of the disappears intermediaries such as Migration Consultative Council in 1930, Turton, and resumes its role, it also and later, with a 1933 circular in which begins to stabilize the floating races and individuals are specified, and populations and offers them land. There blacks are first prohibited and yellow the the policy is no longer so clear and Cunin entrance to Mexico. finds evidence that several Belizeans It is the opening of a new migratory accessed the land and became Mexican, chapter, in the midst of an administrative that is, they became Mestizos, even and academic discussion and a racialized though they were quite dark in color. representation of society, in which nation Photo albums don’t lie. The history of and race become interchangeable: the the Mexicanization of Belizeans in the Mexican people could only receive decades after 1940 remains pending. I assimilable “races”, in accordance with think it is important to underline that a “Mestizo idiosyncrasy”. Of particular Elisabeth Cunin made sure that the interest is the attention that Cunin pays research was published at the same time to the figure of Robert Sydney Turton, in Spanish and in French. Undoubtedly, one of the concessionaires authorized to the Spanish version is of high quality exploit forest resources. Turton was a and with a very well-done translation. Belizean by birth and a character of The content is practically the same, but some relevance in the history of that in chapter 6 of the book in Spanish, for country. In Quintana Roo he has been example, a part is included on the found since the beginning of the 20th “Mexicanization” of music, the Belizean century, with workers who used to go rhythms that were nationalized and from one side of the border to the other. whose origin was forgotten; it is included He experienced firsthand the onslaught in the French version. It is worth of immigration policy. Apparently he was mentioning that the French version also classified as black. For Cunin, belongs to a collection called Esclavage, “Turton knew perfectly how to take which publishes research on slavery or advantage of his intermediate situation, “racialized” representations, whether between England and the United States, built, inherited, updated or claimed. With between Mexico and Belize, between her analysis, Cunin vindicates the entire colonialism and independence, between black population that moved between capitalism and nationalism.” (p. 201). At the borders of Mexico and Belize for the end of 1925, Turton could not re- decades and stayed in Quintana Roo. enter the territory, because the Her invitation is to read this excellent immigration department pointed out that book that offers a lot of material to think “the overabundance of blacks in the about in the current moments of intense territory of Quintana Roo has made it a migratory flows around the world. kind of Colonial State” (p. 203). Turton continued his business [email protected] clandestinely and became a headache for April 2, 2021 the authorities. Cunin notes that gum Finca Solana smuggling and illegal migration of Corozal Town Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 15 Page 16 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021

Local Football Results and Clippers Updates will be at In local football action, the Belize the third National A Team crushed Turks & spot, “Press” Predictions: 85-38-48 Caicos 5-Nil, Carlos Bernardez Garcia LeBron Boledo stats thru 9th to 16th April, scored James and 2021 twice. Then the LA In boledo news, 40 finally played Jessy Lakers will in Lent. These are my lucky numbers Smith, be at the for this week: 85-38-48-16-28-50. Deshawn fourth spot, by Gilroy “Press” Cadogan These are my lucky jackpot numbers: Nembhard James will 7822-6917-4764. These are my lucky and Deon be back in 3-point lead on FC Barcelona. Real PICK-3 numbers: 637-101-245-962- McCaulay less than 2 Madrid is at the third spot with 63 818. There are 4 doubles that are left got one weeks’ points. Lionel Messi leads with 23 to play; 11-22-55-99. 77 is the first goal time. There goals, doubles to play twice. The ending 6 apiece. But will be a playoff for 4 teams that are Kareem series has one number left in 16, all our clances seeded between 7 and 10 in both Benzema of the rest of ending 6 numbers played to win the group is still very hard, conferences. In the East, the Brooklyn now has 17 already. The thirties series is long because Nicaragua beat Turks & Nets will be seeded number I, The goals, Luis overdue. The teens and the fifties series Caicos 7-Nil, and the Haitians will Philadelphia 76ers will be at the Suarez still are the hardest series to play, those 2 crush them at least 10-nil. The FFB number 2 spot, the Milwaukee Bucks has 19 series only played 3 times each President was at the game in Santa will be at the third spot; there will be goals; these already. There are only 2 series not to Domingo on Tuesday. The National some upsets in this year’s playoffs. Joel 3 players play on a Sunday, the forties and the Team’s next game will be in June Embiid is the leading MVP candidate, are fighting sixties series; there are 9 numbers out against Nicaragua, next week more Russell Westbrook had 35 points 14 for the over 1 year and more: 02-17-47-32- stats. rebounds and 21 assist in a game the Pichiti. The El Classico is coming up. 59-68-70-79-85. Keep your eyes open other night. Anyone can beat anyone on In the EPL, Manchester City will be for an ending 8 to play this week, from a given night, the NBA has parity right the new champions. They have a 15- 08 to 98. Good luck to all buyers, now. Next week more stats. point lead on Manchester United; remember to read your Psalms: 75- manager Pep Guardiola is the best in 92-63, next week more stats. the business; Bayern Munich will beat The Brooklyn Nets is the Team to PSG in the UEFA Champions League. Beat There are 8 teams left, Liverpool and NBA Results and Predictions FC Barcelona will win the La Liga Chelsea are still around. There were In NBA action, the Utah Jazz will be International Football Results some World Cup Qualifiers for the The Belize National A Team seeded number I in the West. The In International Football results, in 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Next week crushed Turks & Caicos 5 Nil Phoenix Suns will be number 2, the LA the La Liga, Atletico Madrid still has a more stats. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 17

1 in 3 Have Neurological, Psychiatric Problems Post-COVID

by Ernie Mundell and Robert “Services and resources will need after COVID-19, and show that serious neuropsychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital Preidt HealthDay Reporters to be allocated for this care,” said Dr. disorders affecting the nervous system in New York City. Reading over the Andrew Rogove, medical director of [such as stroke and dementia] occur, too,” findings, she theorized that “the virus may WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2021 stroke services at South Shore Harrison said in a journal news release. ‘unmask’ or accelerate the presentation (HealthDay News) — Doctors are University Hospital in Bay Shore, N.Y. “While the latter are much rarer, they are of certain underlying psychiatric and seeing such cases around the world: The new study was led by Paul significant, especially in those who had neurologic conditions.” About a third of COVID-19 patients Harrison of the University of Oxford severe COVID-19.” In other words, “it’s possible ... that go on to develop “long-haul” in England. His team looked at Just how COVID-19 affects the brain an individual has underlying risk factors neurological or psychiatric conditions electronic health records to track remains unclear. “We now need to see predisposing them to development of months after being infected, new outcomes for 236,379 COVID-19 what happens beyond six months. The these conditions and the virus stresses research shows. patients, mostly from the United States. study cannot reveal the mechanisms the system enough so that these symptoms The findings suggest a link between About a third did go on to experience involved, but does point to the need for become clinically significant,” LeMonda COVID-19 and a higher risk for later some kind of neurological or mental urgent research to identify these, with a said. mental health and neurological health issue within six months of their view to preventing or treating them,” study More information disorders, researchers report. coronavirus infection. Anxiety (17%), co-author Max Taquet, from the The U.S. Centers for Disease Control The new analysis of data from more mood disorders (14%), substance abuse University of Oxford, said in the release. and Prevention has more on the long-term than 236,000 COVID-19 survivors disorders (7%) and insomnia (5%) were According to Rogove, the study effects of COVID-19. focused on 14 neurological and mental the most commonly diagnosed disorders, highlights an “increased risk for SOURCES: Brittany LeMonda, PhD, health disorders. It found that 34% of the team said. neurological disease and diagnosis in senior neuropsychologist, Lenox Hill patients were diagnosed with such Overall rates of neurological problems COVID-19 infected persons with further Hospital, New York City; Andrew disorders in the six months after were much lower, including 0.6% for increased risk in hospitalized and Rogove, MD, PhD, medical director, infection with the new coronavirus. brain hemorrhage, 2.1% for ischemic critically ill COVID-19 infected patients.” stroke services, South Shore University Most commonly, these disorders stroke, and 0.7% for dementia. All of this means “there will be a great Hospital, Bay Shore, N.Y.; The Lancet ranged from anxiety disorders to Neurological conditions were more need for more neurological care Psychiatry, news release, April 6, 2021 substance misuse disorders, insomnia, common in patients who had been following COVID infection,” Rogove brain hemorrhage, stroke, and (much seriously ill with COVID-19. For added. This article was first published by more rarely) dementia. example, among patients admitted to Brittany LeMonda is senior WebMD News from HealthDay. For 13% of those patients, it was intensive care, 7% had a stroke and almost their first such diagnosis. 2% were diagnosed with dementia, “Sadly, many of the disorders Harrison’s group reported. Two officer cadets graduate identified in this study tend to be Neurological and mental health chronic or recurrent, so we can diagnoses were more common in anticipate that the impact of COVID- COVID-19 patients than in flu or from Mexican Naval Academy 19 could be with us for many years,” respiratory tract infection patients over Jonathan Rogers, of University College the same time period. That suggests BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 awarded their degrees under an London, wrote in an editorial COVID-19 has an impact that’s unique Two officers in the Belize Coast initiative between the governments of accompanying the new study. Both among viral infections, the study authors Guard recently graduated from the Belize and Mexico. were published April 6 in The Lancet said. Mexican Naval Academy with The Ministry of National Defence Psychiatry. “These are real-world data from a Bachelor’s degrees. Officer cadets and Border Security said that the One U.S. expert who was not part of large number of patients. They confirm Ruby Jimenez and Anthony Aguilar cooperation with the Mexican Navy the study agreed. the high rates of psychiatric diagnoses completed their studies and were allows Belizean servicemen and women to have access to information exchanges, training, and professional military education. These two highly trained members of the Belize Coast Guard will now rejoin the ranks as officers of the maritime security agency. Page 18 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021

Creo que muchos beliceños pensaba que había recibido una Gabinete, presumiblemente, para asumieron que yo había empujado a lección de humildad. Lo que quise ampliar, mejorar y modernizar el Guatemala para la invasión de la mi segundo hijo a entrar en la política decir es que cuando era joven estaba Centro Cívico se desvió, en gran Cuba de Fidel Castro en 1961. aquí, aproximadamente en 1994, para seguro de que sabía muchas cosas de parte, para asegurar la elección de La economía guatemalteca, dicho que yo pudiera proseguir una agenda verdad. Hoy en día, siento que la vida Ralph Fonseca a la nueva sea de paso, está dominada por de algún tipo a través de él. Tales aquí se ha ido más allá de mí, que circunscripción del Área Rural empresas estadounidenses y beliceños no sabrían que la familia soy un estudiante tratando de Central del Distrito de Belize. El empresas controladas por Estados Hyde de la que vengo es diferente de ponerme al día con las cosas. ascenso político de Ralph fue Unidos. Como colonia británica con la mayoría, al menos la que dirigió Mientras observaba a mi gente paralelo y ocasionó el una frontera grande y porosa con mi padre, en la que se alienta a los tratando de sobrevivir desde que este estrangulamiento de los sueños de Guatemala, Honduras Británica en hijos a convertirse en adultos a una coronavirus nos golpeó hace poco muchos jóvenes de la Zona Sur. 1960 presentó una ruta de escape edad temprana. La evidencia muestra más de un año, me he maravillado El proyecto del Centro Cívico de para las guerrillas que nunca he interferido en la política de su resistencia y fuerza, su 1992/93 fue malogrado, por así antigubernamentales en Guatemala y de Cordel excepto desde el punto de capacidad para sobrevivir a un gran decirlo, y el auditorio de baloncesto una fuente potencial de propaganda vista de brindar el apoyo limitado estrés. Mi admiración por mi gente se convirtió, a todos los efectos, en cubana y asistencia militar para llegar que pude a sus campañas. Él es su ha crecido, incluso mientras mi un horno. Hasta cierto punto, el a esas mismas guerrillas en el Petén. propio hombre. frustración y dolor han aumentado al baloncesto de fin de semana en la La presencia de tropas británicas en Desde que se convirtió en ver a esta estructura de poder Ciudad de Belize era una especie de la Honduras Británica anterior al viceprimer ministro, ¿creerán que él intolerante, hipócrita y racista bailar desfile de modas y un concurso de autogobierno fue conveniente en lo y yo nunca hemos tenido una aquí todas sus diferentes hanky belleza, y las condiciones dentro del que respecta a la política exterior conversación, excepto un par de panky. Cívico en 1993 y después de 1993 estadounidense en la región. veces a través de su hermano menor, Mirando hacia atrás, creo que un fueron muy perjudiciales para la Entonces, Belize atiene el Michael? período crítico en la historia de supervivencia y el crecimiento de la autogobierna en 1964. Esto significa ¿Por qué digo todo esto? Es para Belize que casi nunca analizamos y nueva industria del baloncesto que estamos en la cúspide de la liberarme para escribir en un entorno discutimos es el movimiento hacia el semiprofesional. El socavamiento independencia, y Belize, como hemos en el que acepto toda la autogobierno a principios de 1964. de la atmósfera del Centro Cívico fue señalado, es un lugar estratégico en responsabilidad por mis Yo era un adolescente que ingresaba una de las principales razones por lo que respecta a Guatemala y Cuba, declaraciones, y para que esas a la prepa en el Colegio San Juan en las que el baloncesto semiprofesional enemigos acérrimos en ese declaraciones no se reflejen en mis ese momento, y mi comprensión, si colapsó en Belize en 1998. Se trataba momento. Belize se encuentra en un hijos de ninguna manera. ¿Pueden mal no recuerdo, era que los de una auténtica industria de la base lugar estratégico, por lo tanto, en lo entenderlo? británicos retuvieron el control de la en la Zona Sur. que respecta a los impulsores y Una de las discusiones que me defensa y los asuntos exteriores, pero A mediados y finales de la década agitadores de Washington, porque interesaron en la universidad en que los beliceños ahora disfrutaban de 1980, había ocurrido algo Washington es amigo de Guatemala Estados Unidos fue cuánto tiene que del control constitucional de todas las sociológico que, nuevamente, nunca, y hostil a Cuba. A Washington le ver un artista, como persona y como demás disciplinas, siendo la más nunca se discute en los medios gustaría que Belize fuera un aliado. individuo, con su arte, en sí mismo. importante probablemente el locales. El baloncesto, que se había El control de la natalidad comenzó En otras palabras, ¿no puede un artista Ministerio de Finanzas y el trasladado de la Zona Norte bajo la a fluir en Belize alrededor de 1980. ser un pecador y producir una obra Ministerio del Interior. Corríjanme Organización de la Juventud Católica Ingresó a Belize en los municipios sagrada? Lugares como los Estados si me equivoco, please. (CYO en inglés) a la Zona Sur en la de la costa negra que van desde la Unidos, por ejemplo, tienen La gran razón por la que este cancha de St. Ignatius (y más tarde Ciudad de Belize hasta Punta Gorda poblaciones enormes, y cuando hay período es tan crítico históricamente Bird’s Isle) bajo una administración como clínicas de salud reproductiva. algún evento o tendencia nueva y es porque ahora creo que muchas secular liberalizada, a mediados de Ciertamente, la salud reproductiva es emocionante en las artes y la cultura, personas influyentes y calificadas en la década de 1960, se había un objetivo loable. Pero el aspecto la gente de las grandes sociedades la política y los negocios de los convertido en una clase demasiado del control de la natalidad del no pasa mucho tiempo tratando de Estados Unidos en ese momento en baja y combativa para “algunos programa no tenía ningún sentido, averiguar quién es el artista y particular comenzaron a estudiar beliceños en alguna parte”, diría. Un porque todos los expertos en analizar sus características, Belize (una colonia británica elemento muy poderoso en las clases desarrollo habían estado diciendo peculiaridades, etc. El ejemplo que oficialmente llamada “Honduras altas de Belize comenzó a impulsar durante décadas que Honduras me viene a la mente es el de Charlie Británica”) de cerca y a trazar un el voleibol como un deporte Británica necesitaba más población, Parker. Murió cuando solo tenía 34 rumbo para nuestro destino como recreativo que no estaba contaminado no menos. En Belize, se ha alentado años. Charlie Parker era un adicto a pueblo, sin que fueramos conscientes por peligrosas pasiones callejeras. a las jóvenes a que se realicen una la heroína, pero reconocido de todas las implicaciones y Estoy hablando de hace más de tres ligadura de trompas desde entonces. internacionalmente como uno de los repercusiones futuras. Belize en décadas. Es una historia larga y Vean los datos. mejores músicos de jazz de todos los 1964 y Belize en 2021 son dos nunca se ha contado. Hay una Mientras tanto, nuestros jóvenes se tiempos. Estados Unidos lo tuvo y lo lugares muy, muy diferentes. Esta es estructura de poder en Belize y los disparan entre ellos mismos día y ha tenido en alta estima. una discusión que podría durar delatores pueden resultar heridos. noche. Durante el fin de semana de De todos modos, todo esto es mucho tiempo. Una sangrienta guerra civil Pascua, una joven mató a puñaladas diciendo, de nuevo, que lo que Y así, regresaré al nuevo y comenzó en Guatemala en 1960. a otra en el bucólico pueblo de escribo hoy aquí no tiene nada que espectacular Centro Cívico, Algunos historiadores prefieren ver Gracie Rock. Y, en la esquina del ver con Cordel y su política. Es solo completamente solo en un mar de 1966 como el comienzo de esa guerra Bulevar Centroamericano y la Calle su viejo mirando y tratando de desesperación y muerte en la Zona civil. No puedo decirles por qué la St. Jude, el costoso Centro Cívico se entender las cosas. Sur. discrepancia en las fechas en lo que encuentra en un polvoriento Cada vez que paso junto al costoso Lo primero que ninguno de nuestros respecta al inicio de la guerra, pero aislamiento. La vida continua. ¿De elefante blanco en el que se ha medios locales ha discutido es lo que hay un acuerdo general de que la qué se trata, Alfie? Luchamos por convertido el Centro Cívico, en la sucedió en el baloncesto beliceño, guerra civil guatemalteca no terminó sobrevivir. esquina del Bulevar el deporte que se hizo tan popular hasta 1996. Centroamericano y la calle St. Jude que el Gabinete del Partido Unido Las personas que ven 1960 como ¡Poder al pueblo! cerca del Puente Belcan, pienso del Pueblo (PUP) de Belize aprobó el comienzo de la guerra civil cosas. Una de las cosas que pienso fácilmente una legislación por valor guatemalteca ven la guerra como es lo diferente que habría sido si tal comenzando en noviembre de 1960 de cinco o seis millones para AMANDALA estructura se hubiera construido y restaurar el Centro Cívico de Belize con la rebelión de cadetes mantenido a principios de la década de ese tiempo, que se había vuelto nacionalistas en el ejército The newspaper with de 1990 en el lado Sur de la Ciudad demasiado pequeño para contener la guatemalteco, encabezados por de Belize. multitud de 1992, el año inaugural Marco Yon Sosa y Luis Turcios the greatest Mirando hacia atrás en mi vida, le del baloncesto semiprofesional en Lima, contra el entrenamiento de la circulation in Belize! dije a un amigo recientemente que Belize. El dinero destinado por el CIA de exiliados cubanos en Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 19 Taiwan to help Belize fully digitize

by Dayne Guy for further cooperation. addressed many topics. Among the important issues of mutual concern. The Ambassador Extraordinary and topics discussed were Taiwan’s Ambassador Pitts underscored the BELMOPAN, Belize, Tues. Apr. 6, Plenipotentiary of the Republic of promise of future cooperation in the importance of Belize-Taiwan 2021 China (Taiwan) to Belize, His development of Belize’s transport relations and conveyed appreciation To strengthen the close and cordial Excellency, David K.C. Chien, met system, the further implementation of for Taiwan’s continued cooperation relations between Belize and Taiwan, with the Minister of Youth, Sports and renewable energy, the increase in in funding projects beneficial to the ambassadors of both nations met E-Governance, Hon. Kevin Bernard, training workshops and the increased Belize, including the strengthening of with ministers of each other’s to discuss initiatives to pave the way efficiency of utility services in Belize. Belize’s readiness to fend off the government to discuss bond- for a modern, digital era in Belize. Similarly, in Taiwan, H. E. COVID-19 pandemic. strengthening measures and intentions The ministry in Belize aspires to Candice Pitts presented her Ambassador Pitts commented that achieve 95% digitization of credentials as Belize’s newly she expects the economic cooperation services. Together, the appointed Ambassador Extraordinary agreement signed between Taiwan officials of the two countries and Plenipotentiary to the Republic and Belize in September 2020 to discussed means for building of China (Taiwan) to the Minister of come into fruition and hopes that e-governance in Belize and Foreign Affairs in Taiwan, Joseph Taiwanese investment and trade also how Taiwan could help Wu. Minister Wu and H.E. Pitts used groups will visit Belize following Belize achieve such a goal. this opportunity to discuss many recovery from the pandemic. Those in the meeting showed particular interest in providing internet access to rural communities. A press release from the Government of Belize Press Office, said, “The Ministry of Youth, Sports and E- Governance looks forward to continued discussions and collaborations while building on the friendly relationship between Belize and Taiwan.” H.E. Chien also met with the Minister of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics, Hon. Rodwell Ferguson, at a breakfast meeting. The meeting Scotiabank’s branding removed as merger transition continues

BELIZE CITY, Weds. Mar. 31, 2021 group. The end of an era was witnessed The Bank of Nova Scotia has on Friday, March 31, as branches of operated in Belize for 52 years and Scotiabank Belize removed its logo is leaving the jurisdiction as part of from its locations nationwide. an overall scaling back of its Two to stand trial for 2019 This is a part of the 12-18-month operations within the region. The transition being undertaken by bank has also decided to leave Caribbean Investments Holdings various other Caribbean countries. triple murder Limited (CIHL), an Ashcroft company The customers of Scotiabank are which is the parent company for not expected to be affected by the BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 prosecution has compiled a plethora Belize Bank, as it merges the assets transition, as the two entities are On Tuesday, April 6, 2021, the of evidence against the accused, of the Bank of Nova Scotia Belize working together to make the preliminary inquiry into the June 2019 inclusive of more than a dozen Limited with those of Belize Bank. transition as seamless as possible. triple murder of former Excelsior statements, photos, compact discs, and This merger will make Belize All services to these customers will High School principal, Alarice other material to bolster their case Bank (which will hold 37% of all continue to be provided from the Andrewin and her two companions, against the alleged killers. loans and 36% of all deposits in the current offices of the Scotiabank security guard Vidal Cacho and his In June 2019, police found the three local financial system at the branch where they would typically girlfriend Maria Juarez, came to its bodies of the victims bound and shot completion of the merger) the largest do their banking, but operations will completion. in a bedroom in the home of the well- financial institution in the country. be carried out under the name “Belize Two men, Kyle Zetina and Shawn known educator. The house had The bank said that this merger will Bank Corporation Limited”. Flores, will stand trial for the heinous apparently been ransacked and was not only extend the reach of its The banks are in the process of triple murder which took place on June reportedly burglarized three weeks banking operation in Belize but will integrating their core banking systems 4 at Andrewin’s residence near Mile prior to the incident. All the victims also play an integral part in the as a major part of the transition at 10 on the George Price Highway. were reportedly shot execution-style, creation of a Pan-Caribbean banking this time. According to reports, the in the head. Page 20 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 Belize nominates Dr. Carla Barnett for CARICOM Secretary-General post

by Dayne Guy UWI and an award for academic exceed five years; however, achievement at St. John’s College, as the Revised Treaty of BELMOPAN, Thurs. Apr. 1, 2021 well as an insignia of the Commander Chaguaramas stipulates that The Government of Belize has of the British Empire (CBE) for the Conference may reappoint nominated former Vice President of the distinguished public service. a Secretary-General. Senate, former Minister of State in the Dr. Barnett was the first woman to The Community Council of Ministry of Finance and former Deputy be appointed as Deputy Governor of Ministers will convene at a Secretary-General at CARICOM, Dr. the Central Bank of Belize, and later Special Meeting by mid-April Carla Barnett, for the prestigious post the Financial Secretary of Belize, and to consider nominations and to of Secretary-General at CARICOM. was also the youngest person to hold make recommendation to the “The pandemic is forcing us to the post of Deputy Secretary-General Conference for the post. The recalibrate and set new priorities for of CARICOM. Heads of Governments will regional development. ‘Do more with Dr. Barnett’s involvement in many subsequently convene at a less’ has a new meaning for all of us. CARICOM working teams has Special Meeting of the Heads This does not mean less effective yielded for her the executive, of Government by the end of work”, says Dr, Barnett. Barnett, if professional and consulting April or early May to decide granted the position, intends to use her experience needed to excel at the task. on the appointment of the new years of experience and her towering Barnett was a member of the working Secretary-General. resume to guide the future of the team for the CARICOM Development Caribbean Community without fear of Fund in 2008, a member of the adaptations in a changing market. Regional Advisory Council to the Dr. Carla Barnett is an accomplished Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on BOOK REVIEW economist, with cumulative experience the CARICOM Single Market and both in Belize and in the Caribbean Economy from 2003 to 2006 and a by Lawrence Vernon Charles Bartlett Hyde Building: Community. Dr. Barnett holds a Ph.D. member of the CARICOM Regional “C.B. Hyde is great but not in Economics from the Consortium Central Bank Team that recommended Charles Bartlett Hyde. Janus: A controversial. He is one of the top Graduate School of Social Sciences, a criteria for Economic Convergence in Collection of Ideas and Opinions three essayists in Belize.” Like the graduate school that pre-dates the Sir CARICOM in 1992 to 1994, among 2007-2012. Belize City, 2020. 240p. great French essayist, Michel de Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and other working teams. Montaigne, Hyde writes in a rather Economic Studies at the University of The Secretary-General at “The only thing necessary is that crafted rhetoric which is designed to the West Indies, and has been the CARICOM is appointed by the the thing or the thought should be intrigue and involve the reader. In recipient of many awards, including Conference of Heads of Government, vividly apprehended, enjoyed, felt moving effortlessly in a stream of Alumnae Achievement Awards for upon recommendation of the to be beautiful, and expressed thought from topic to topic, he at other Excellence in Community Council of Ministers. The with a certain gusto. It need times employs a structured style that Economics and Development at term of a Secretary-General must not confirm to no particular rules.” at once gives more emphasis to the (Arthur Benson: The Art of the didactic nature of his work. His topics Essayist) span the entire spectrum, from the profound to the trivial, encapsulated The occasion of another book under eight main headings, as he saw being written and published by a his era as one steeped in party Belizean is always a genuine reason politics, political reform, corrupt to celebrate, because one more governments, lawlessness, literary piece has been added to our immorality, and gangs. On the gentler sparse output. What makes this book side, his essays deal with sports, as by C.B. Hyde most unique, though, is he described legendary Belizean that not many of our writers have athletes and sportsmen; as well as ventured into the genre of essay faith and culture, as he wrote about writing. The author is an illustrious the creation of the world and man’s public figure in Belize society who procreation and existence. has held many positions in support The title of the book, Janus, takes of our national development; and can us back to ancient Roman religion and be truly termed a ‘disciplined’, myth, whereby Janus, represented by respected, and patriotic Belizean. a double-faced head, presided over Gleaned from the chosen 46 essays the beginning and ending of conflict – in his book, we can discern that C.B. and hence war and peace. Described Hyde is a writer who has used his as the god of transitions, Janus had acumen for words, research, and a functions pertaining to birth; and as deep curiosity about life to depict the month of January is named for him, social change by making many artistic he is also associated with a passage statements. Indeed this ‘collection of and a doorway into a new dimension. ideas and opinions,’ which originally C.B. Hyde has taken readers into a totalled 139 essays, and which he new dimension, not exactly like a composed over a five-year period for twilight zone, but one where the subject weekly publication in the Amandala, of the essays does not matter as much has served to provide readers with as the charm of the personality that prosaic gems focusing on subjects of shines through in the writing. discussion. In essence, then, his The very diligently thought-out chosen literary device has allowed essays of C.B. Hyde in Janus him to say almost everything about comprise a work that is timely and almost anything! scholarly. The essay topics, placed in C.B. Hyde might not hold the title the context of all the social ills for being the only essayist in Belize, affecting Belize, will no doubt be most but certainly he is the most prolific welcomed in its present book form by in topics chosen. A great friend of his, the reading public. This reviewer is Paul Rodriguez, had this to say of him hopeful that the remaining essays by in December 2008 at the re-naming C.B. Hyde will constitute a Janus of the Administration Building to the volume two. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 21 Beware

DEANS the Traffic FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT & SOCIAL SCIENCES (FMSS) FACULTY OF EDUCATION & ARTS (FEA) FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (FST) Hit Man! SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES 7KH'HDQLVDVHQLRUPDQDJHURIWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI%HOL]HZKRUHSRUWVWRWKH9LFH3UHVLGHQWDQGLVWKH([HFXWLYH+HDGRIWKH)DFXOW\FRQFHUQHG$VWKHDFDGHPLF OHDGHULVUHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKHVWUDWHJLFSRVLWLRQLQJDQGSXUVXLWRIWKHVWUDWHJLFJRDOVRIWKH)DFXOW\DVGHULYHGIURPWKH7UDQVIRUPDWLRQDO3ODQ7KHVXFFHVVIXO by Charles X DFFRPSOLVKPHQWRIWKHVHDLPVUHTXLUHVWKHDSSURSULDWHHQJDJHPHQWZLWKWKHUHOHYDQWRI¿FHVRIWKH8QLYHUVLW\VXFKDV)LQDQFH+XPDQ5HVRXUFHV,QIRUPDWLRQDQG &RPPXQLFDWLRQ7HFKQRORJLHV2SHQ'LVWDQFHDQG/HDUQLQJ4XDOLW\$VVXUDQFH)DFLOLWLHV6HFXULW\HWF Tues. 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Didn’t SKILLS/COMPETENCIES you see, I just stopped to pick up some • .QRZOHGJHRIWKH/DERXU/DZVRI%HOL]HDQGJRRGLQGXVWULDOUHODWLRQVSUDFWLFHV bananas and be off again? It’s just a • &RQWUDFWPDQDJHPHQWFRPSHQVDWLRQDQGDGPLQLVWUDWLRQ little wait; I wasn’t parked but for a • 5HFRUGVPDLQWHQDQFH • 3HUIRUPDQFHPHDVXUHPHQWDQGPRQLWRULQJ few moments.” • +HDOWK,QVXUDQFHDQG3HQVLRQVFKHPHV The officer is cool, stern and • &RQÀLFWUHVROXWLRQDQGPHGLDWLRQ • .QRZOHGJHRIFRPSHQVDWLRQVVFKHPHVUHZDUGVDQGUHFRJQLWLRQ adamant. “You see that sidewalk edge • Experience in collective bargaining agreements painted red all the way up to the • $ELOLW\WRVXSHUYLVHDQGWUDLQHPSOR\HHVWRVXSSRUWWKHZRUNRIWKHLU'HSDUWPHQWVLQFOXGLQJRUJDQL]LQJSULRULWL]LQJDQGVFKHGXOLQJZRUNDVVLJQPHQWV • 1HJRWLDWLRQVNLOOV pedestrian crossing? All that is a no- • 0XOWLWDVNLQJVNLOOV parking area.” • 6WURQJLQWHUSHUVRQDODQGFRPPXQLFDWLRQVVNLOOVDQGWKHDELOLW\WRZRUNHIIHFWLYHO\ZLWKDZLGHUDQJHRIFRQVWLWXHQFLHVLQDGLYHUVHFRPPXQLW\ I am flabbergasted; angry, but COMPENSATION &RPPHQVXUDWHZLWKWKHOHYHORITXDOL¿FDWLRQDQGH[SHULHQFH helpless. The officer is right, technically and legally, maybe. But, INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO APPLY AND VIEW FULL JOB DESCRIPTIONS: morally? Something is, oh so wrong Online: https://www.ub.edu.bz/work-at-ub/ 4XHULHVPD\EHDGGUHVVHGWR about this situation! Or by Mail, Email or Courier: XEMREV#XEHGXE]25   “Officer, you mean you couldn’t 2௻FHRIWKH3UHVLGHQW 32%R[ Deadline to Apply just give us a warning that you would 8QLYHUVLW\RI%HOL]H st begin enforcing this long neglected +XPPLQJ%LUG$YHQXH 21 May, 2021 %HOPRSDQ&LW\&D\R'LVWULFW%HOL]H Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Please turn to„Page 22 Page 22 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 A Beguiling Lull Restaurants and bars still

months as we embark on a restricted to 50% capacity gargantuan task of mammoth proportions to trim the sails of the BELIZE CITY, Wed. Mar. 31, 2021 In reference to the operation of economic storm we find ourselves During an interview with local restaurants and bars, as mentioned in and rein in this sinking ship? media, Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. earlier, he told the public that the 50%- Regardless of the reason, when Kareem Musa, reminded the public that of-seating-capacity limit would remain put all together, there is this restaurants and bars must remain within in place. existential beguiling lull that hangs 50% of their serving capacity (the During the interview, he said, “It is over. As we endeavored to celebrate number of patrons that could be seated still unlawful for you to host any event. Easter and set out to enjoy the within their establishment) when What you can do is have fifty percent weekend (now gone), in the minds operating. seating capacity for your restaurant. of many it was a must. Because, He spoke, prior to the Easter break, Anything beyond that is unlawful. So perhaps, it would be the last of such warning persons in the country to adhere it’s a very important reminder, and that trips for the next few years. It would to the protocols which restrict social is not one of these ticketable offenses probably mean the last splurge of gatherings. He reminded Belizean that results in a five-hundred-dollar enjoyment we would get by tapping citizens that it remains unlawful to hold fine. In this instance, the hosting of into disposable income to mark a any sort of party or event at any events, you are actually going to be festive weekend. One celebrated location, inclusive of booked hotels or charged five thousand dollars, and amid turmoil, with dwindling hope private rooms. also you will have to be detained.” Well, I tell you, this Easter was a and uncertainty looming. So, it now good one! Every corner and nook of begs the question: what happens the country that offered a tourism next? product was full. Each island and Well, as was the case before the Beware the Traffic Hit Man! islet, each cove and cavern, each Easter, the economy remains under nestled getaway and every sandy dire economic strain. The crisis still Continued from Page 21 crossing fifty yards west; and in the beach were left with an imprint. The looms over us, and the prognosis „ brief moments when the bus makes its local tourism industry came alive remains grim. The Easter was a rule?” (Actually, I hadn’t noticed the stop, a parked vehicle there would be this past weekend and was teeming chance to put the ails that plague us red sidewalk before.) No luck. He an obstruction, so enforcing no-parking with Belizeans, coupled with some on the back burner momentarily, hands me a pink ticket. there makes sense. But the rest of the visitors in various parts of the while a more celebratory and For a two-minute pick-up of some sidewalk from the fruit vendor country. We celebrated in kindred relaxing mood prevailed. But, with bananas, I now must pay a parking westwards, except for one driveway, spirits with family; we took leisure that now done and gone, we are now ticket for twenty-five hard-earned is perfectly accommodating for road trips and did barbecues, and we faced with the same grim reality that dollars. It feels so much like our city users needing to stop and make a generally had a good time, while was shut away for a weekend. That traffic officers are deployed, not to purchase. And, the rest of the road spending our dollars at home. To that same grim reality that brews facilitate traffic flow, but just to being more than wide enough for two- I say, all good and well-done! uncertainty and fear. Melancholy and pounce on us to raise funds for the lane traffic, the only inconvenience But now, with the passage of the despair have now returned to take city in the name of managing traffic; would be for the same parked cars re- Easter weekend and with that now center stage. So perhaps, that and rumor has it that they get a entering traffic during the rush-hours. behind us, as I look forward through explains the beguiling lull that looms commission. If the objective of the Traffic austere lens, there is a beguiling lull over us. Did somebody complain? Department is to knock the fruit vendor that looms over and around us! Stop! The budget is set to be tabled in Passing by the same corner an hour near the Buttonwood Bay Roundabout Take a minute... just look outside. the next couple of weeks. It’s later on an errand, I noticed five cars out of business, then it should proceed Look around. It’s quiet. There’s like anybody’s guess as to what it entails. parked beside the same red-painted with this new strict enforcement of that an eerie mistiness that hangs over But one thing I’m certain of is that it sidewalk edge, stretching from in whole area as a no-parking zone. the place, that of a beguiling lull. will have a lot of austerity and cuts! front of the fruit vendor to near the Some drivers will think twice about What can it be? What is causing it? Yup, we are in a precarious position. pedestrian crossing, with no officer walking fifty yards plus to that fruit The air is dense, and the silence is And as a people we know it. Though in sight. But when I returned after half vendor; perhaps better to try the one deafening. There’s no buzzing and we ignored it for a few days to enjoy an hour, no vehicles were there on Coney Drive across from swarming of activities, and ourselves, it has cast its shadows anymore; instead, there was a Buttonwood Bay Nazarene school, movement has come to a standstill. over us once more, and its dark different traffic officer with a where there is no sidewalk to paint What is this beguiling lull that has clouds hover over the periphery. fluorescent vest, apparently doing red. I am sure the impact of this no- taken over us? Best indications suggest that very foot patrols in the area. I wondered, parking policy, along with nowhere to Truth be told, it can’t be said with little is being birthed from the are there five more angry drivers park, is also affecting other businesses certainty what is causing this lull to ongoing negotiations between with tickets to pay? in downtown Belize City. which I make reference. But I know government and the unions, further Let’s be reasonable. Wherever there are spaces that a few weeks ago marked 1 year exacerbating the beguiling lull. Parking is indeed a nightmare in this available for vehicle parking, it since Covid-19 really affected us Nothing haunts more than the dismal old fashioned, congested city. It seems makes sense to evaluate the situation, here in Belize and altered our course unknown, and the sheer uncertainty that everywhere there is now a and determine if the community of life as we once knew it. So, given is producing quite an eerie lull. sidewalk edge painted red. And my would be better served if some time- the trending low numbers at Easter One can only say that this humble opinion is that in some of these restrictions were placed instead. time, one could understand why beguiling lull that we are areas it is quite unnecessary, and Because, if some drivers are allowed everybody wanted to get out. It experiencing is an eerie and a misty extremely inconvenient to motorists. to use up all the “green” parking wasn’t a celebration that we have one. It evokes a deep and abiding Examples? spaces, and leave their vehicles Covid-19 under control, but it was feeling of nostalgia and has one Take in front of Atlantic Bank on parked for hours, what are other a soulful liberation that one needed dreaming of better days! But in the Freetown Road. That road is wide drivers to do when there is nowhere — to just free the mind a little from midst of this lull lies the great enough for four traffic lanes heading to park? This has seldom been a all the woes and strife that plagued unknown. What happens next? What east towards the Central Assembly problem at my roundabout fruit us for a year. happens to our collective security compound gate. The only vendor or at Atlantic Bank Freetown, But now, after the Easter getaway, and overall standard of living? Is inconvenience to anyone for vehicles where drivers usually stop to do their there lies this beguiling lull that this lull a sort of warning that the parked along this stretch of sidewalk, business transaction, and then move looms and hovers eerily above us. storm’s brunt may be rolling in? Or is for the drivers of those same on. Perhaps it is time for parking Is it despair? Is it that we didn’t is this beguiling lull a subtle chance vehicles when re-entering traffic, and meters in Belize; or at least enforce want the Easter to end and we would for reflection that will in turn brew that is only when traffic is heavy; you parking tickets only for those who have rather stayed in our sweet and change and chart a path to rebound just have to wait a little. Those parked abuse the precious parking space for serendipitous bliss? Is it that the and sustainability? Well, truth is, it’s vehicles have zero impact on the flow more than a determined time limit. vacation evoked a keen feeling of anybody’s guess, and I don’t know! of traffic; but in the present situation, Of course, bus stops would remain nostalgia, and now we sit awake Like all else, time will tell — time it could cost you a parking ticket. (Ask strictly no-parking areas. clamoring for the days of old? Or is will tell. Until then, un dia a la vez! G. Mike.) Until there are some changes, it the sheer uncertainty of what lies And that same Buttonwood Bay motorists are advised, wherever you ahead for us as a country and a Unchained Reflections Of A Roundabout fruit vendor area. There see a red sidewalk, beware the people in the ensuing weeks and Liberal Pragmatist. is a bus stop just before the pedestrian Traffic Hit Man. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 23 IDB STP II to improve tourism infrastructure in Belize

Where Belize stands in World Cup 2022 Qualifiers

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 8, 2021 withdrawn from the Qualifiers. So, The brief moments of football with four teams remaining, we each fever, the week in late March when have three games to be played, and our Belize national football team, the we have already played two: a 2-nil Jaguars played two FIFA World Cup loss to Haiti, and a 5-nil win over 2022 Qatar Qualifier matches on Turks and Caicos. Our only foreign soil, have long dissipated, as remaining match is against Nicaragua the nation resumed its focus on our in Nicaragua on June 4. economic crisis and the still present The way FIFA/CONCACAF have threat of Covid-19, which, thankfully, arranged the groupings, there is one we have managed to keep in check. favorite team, Haiti, in our Group E. by Dayne Guy directional signs throughout the We pray that there was no major And with only the winner from each reserve and extended this to the spreading event over the past Easter group going forward to Round Two, BELMOPAN, Weds. Mar. 31, 2021 Caracol access roads. The total cost weekend. our loss to Haiti means our chances Through the InterAmerican of construction is estimated to be There was some rejoicing, but no are extremely slim. In the 35-member Development Bank’s five-year BZ$542,323.23. major fanfare in Belize when the CONCACAF, Haiti is ranked #10; development program, the The current managing entity of this Jaguars registered a 5-nil win over Nicaragua is #16; Belize is #23; Sustainable Tourism Program (STP reserve, the Forestry Department, Turks and Caicos Islands in the most Saint Lucia is #24; and Turks and II) in the Ministry of Tourism and will have the responsibility of recent Qualifier match on March 30 Caicos Islands is at #32. Belize vs Diaspora Relations is overseeing maintaining the site. in the Dominican Republic. It was not Saint Lucia would have been sustainable improvements in new The STP II had invested in like when they had returned home to considered a good match-up. Belize and emerging tourist destinations. numerous consultancies centered on a motorcade in 2013, after qualifying #23 was expected to beat #32 Turks The most recent development via the improvements in the Mountain Pine to our first ever participation in the and Caicos. The fact that we only STP II is the development of the Ridge region, including a CONCACAF Gold Cup. That was a won 5-nil, while Nicaragua beat them Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Feasibility Study, Environmental major achievement. But not so in this 7-nil, means that we would have to Reserve. This program was Management and Operational Plan, recent Qualifier outing, although we defeat Nicaragua to move above them established in 2016 and is geared at a Tourism Investment Plan, and a can say we did hold up our heads, in the group standings. A Belize draw developing new and emerging sites Conservation Management Plan. considering the setback of a whole with Nicaragua would still give them in nature-friendly areas. Other sites The IDB has intentions of year with no competitive football in a +2 goal difference above us. in the program include the Corozal broadening support of an extensive Belize. In a post-game interview, our For any chance at clinching first District, Toledo District/Punta maintenance plan for the newly superstar, Deon McCaulay did place in our Group E and advance to Gorda, the Mountain Pine Ridge/ developed investments, as well as implore our health authorities to give Round Two, we would have to see Chiquibul/Caracol complex, and fleshing out a Tourism Development the green light to local football Nicaragua defeating Haiti; not Caye Caulker. and Visitor Management plan. competitions. In Atlanta, where he impossible. And then we would have Two major sites in the Mountain Through these plans, the Tourism currently resides, football is to beat Nicaragua, and also prevail Pine Ridge area received upgrades. Ministry can determine how these continuing, despite the pandemic. But above both Haiti and Nicaragua in The Rio On Pools now features a communities may better adapt to then, they are in the mighty USA, with the final goal difference column, visitors’ pavilion, a scenic viewing change while enabling resilience in a stimulus package to try and rebound since all three of us would then be area, and two public restrooms with these tourism-focused, nature- their economy; we are in little Belize, tied at 6 points apiece. Of course, accompanying changing rooms; based communities. where there is no stimulus, only tough nobody is giving Turks and Caicos while the Rio Frio Cave’s Through support programs like the financial times ahead, and our best any chance against Haiti, which could enhancements now include three STP II, governments can promote hope is to keep Covid “under score their needed goals to ensure picnic palapas, a restroom, and new disaster and climate resilience and manners” while we slowly try and their number one spot in the goal access trails. In addition, the sites environmental sustainability in crawl out of this economic hole we difference column. now contain eco-friendly sewage tourism destinations; and create have dug ourselves in. So, that’s where Belize currently systems, with a solar-powered conditions conducive for private While we all celebrated the big 5- stands in relation to the FIFA World water supply. Additional parking sector investment in tourism, in nil victory by the Jaguars over Turks Cup 2022 Qualifiers. Our most upgrades are to be carried out in the addition to bolstering and Caicos, those who understand the realistic hope, a tall task itself, is to foreseeable future. The ministry also employment and increasing game and the tournament, know that defeat Nicaragua and thus secure installed informative and tourism traffic. our big challenge is ahead, against second place in the group. Haiti, Nicaragua; and by comparison, we which didn’t employ all their are actually at a 2-goal deficit with artillery against Belize, won’t be Nicaragua, who had previously taking any chances with Nicaragua. defeated the lower rated Turks and Remaining Group E games are Caicos by a 7-nil score. (home team listed first): June 4 – There were five teams in Group Nicaragua vs Belize; June 5 – Turks E, but Saint Lucia, which should have and Caicos Islands vs Haiti; June 8 – been a home game for Belize, has Haiti vs Nicaragua. Page 24 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 Janus – a review Covid: Brazil has more

by Glenn Tillett Charles Barlett Hyde when I first met than 4,000 deaths in him 40 years ago in 1978 or “Can there be any gift greater than thereabouts. He had retired from his 24 hours for first time the human mind?”, Charles Bartlett duties in the then civil service and had (CB) Hyde asks rhetorically in Janus, assumed his role as the manager of the A collection of Ideas and Opinions AMANDALA newspaper, where I was 2007 – 2012. Indeed, as I re-read the a cub reporter. 46 essays in this compilation, all He was a quiet man of silent dignity, columns previously published in the who only volunteered to speak after AMANDALA newspaper during those deep consideration. I was impressed years, I enjoyed his display of wit and not so much with his economy of words wisdom, and revelled in his as I was with the construction of his ruminations and reminiscences. sentences. It was obvious that the I was reminded that one does not compendium from which those have to agree with another’s opinion, compositions were derived was vast. but that there is intrinsic value in the I learned that his encyclopaedic mental ability to share and discuss our storehouse came from a lifetime of differences, our likes and our love for reading, and from hours of meditation, each other. tested in discussions with his I was also again struck by the sheer contemporaries. cogency of the thoughts of the Old Man, There cannot be another CB Hyde, as his famous son, Evan The X Hyde, a truly self-made intellectual and Brazil has recorded more than suggested without evidence that they always with great respect and affection, achiever. He is among the last of the 4,000 Covid-related deaths in 24 were linked to obesity and would refer to him. His powers of icons of the colonial civil service, who hours for the first time, as a more depression. He did not comment on observation and cognition have been a through discipline and determination, contagious variant fuels a surge in the 4,195 deaths recorded in the great gift to all. intelligence and application, ascended cases. previous 24 hours. I enjoyed my discussions with Mr. the ranks from messenger to its very Hospitals are overcrowded, with To date, Brazil has recorded more highest levels. people dying as they wait for than 13 million cases of coronavirus, As a callow and headstrong young treatment in some cities, and the according to the health man in 1979, his compelling arguments health system is on the brink of ministry. Some 66,570 people died convinced me to vote for the party of collapse in many areas. with Covid-19 in March, more than Independence, despite my partisan The country’s total death toll is double the previous monthly record. antipathy. His was always a higher now almost 337,000, second only to “Brazil now... is a threat to the calling to duty to God and county. the US. entire effort of the international You will not always agree with his But President Jair Bolsonaro community to control the pandemic,” opinions sprinkled in his sparse style continues to oppose any lockdown Dr Miguel Nicolelis, who has been as conclusions to columns on politics, measures to curb the outbreak. closely tracking cases in the country, FOR SALE faith, culture, sports, government, He argues that the damage to the told the BBC. philosophy and the like, but you will economy would be worse than the “If Brazil is not under control, then FOR RENT: A 3-bedroom house appreciate the wisdom of his words, effects of the virus itself, and has tried the planet is not going to be safe, in Los Lagos. A 4-bedroom house, and will be grateful for his distillation to reverse some of the restrictions because we are brewing new variants large living and dining room, of a lifetime of experience. imposed by local authorities in the every week... and they are going to downtown area. Call 631-2920. We your fellow citizens owe you courts. cross borders,” he said. FOR RENT: Bungalow house. 3 eternal gratitude and respect, Speaking to supporters outside the large bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, area Honorable Charles Bartlett Hyde. presidential residence on Tuesday, he Full article can be viewed at: for washer/dryer, food dispenser, Salute, Sir. criticised quarantine measures and https://www.bbc.com/news/world- spacious, fenced yard. $900.00 latin-america-56657818 monthly. #2A Topnachick Rd., Ladyville. Call 614-0323. AstraZeneca vaccine: How do you This article was first published by BBC news. FOR SALE weigh up the risks and benefits? by Robert Cuffe Regulators are continuously FOR SALE: Caterpillar diesel Head of statistics combing through the details of the rare generator, 125 KVA! Manufacture clots that have occurred to work out AMANDALA date – 2000, with ATS! 547 working For most people currently being how many might be caused by hours! PRICE NEGOTIABLE - offered the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccination. SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY! Call vaccine, the benefits clearly Assuming the worst - that they all 604-0380 or 604-0369 for further outweigh the risks. are - we can do some ballpark Letters to information. But the UK’s Joint Committee on calculations to get a sense of the risks. Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) Based on the figures announced on the Editor has recommended that - because of an Wednesday by the UK medicines NOTICE “extremely small” number of cases of regulator, if 10 million imaginary blood clots in some who have had the people were given the AZ vaccine NOTICE: If drinking is a problem jab - people under 30 should you might expect to see 40 of these and the problem is drinking. There is be offered other vaccines. clots - with about 10 clots having a solution. A group of us who have Everyone’s choice is different - fatal consequences. recovered from drugs and alcohol are weighing up the risk of potential side Ten deaths out of 10 million people here to help. Call 633-2849. effects against the chance of vaccinated is a one-in-a-million contracting coronavirus and perhaps chance. becoming seriously ill, or even dying. That’s roughly the same risk as LIQUOR LICENSE We don’t know enough to be able to being murdered in the next month or plug the data into a calculator and get a - if you get in a car and drive for 250 NOTICE simple, exact answer tailored to you. miles - the risk of you dying in a road But here’s the best information we accident on that journey. LIQUOR LICENCE NOTICE: currently have on the possible risks Notice is hereby given that Jose and benefits. Full Article can be viewed at: Chacon is applying for a Shop Liquor The events are so rare, we need to https://www.bbc.com/news/ Email to: Licence, to be operated at Five J’s start off with a huge number of people explainers-56665396 Supermarket, 3029 Albert Hoy Ave, to make sense of them. [email protected] under the Intoxicating Liquor Licence So, let’s take a figure of 10 million This article was first published by Ordinance Revised Edition 2000. imaginary people. BBC news. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 25 COVID-19 update (From page 1)

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 8, 2021 Between 1st and 6th April, a total Last Wednesday, on March 31, the of 22 new cases were recorded from country received its first batch of a batch of 2462 tests processed over allocated vaccines from the COVAX those days. This is a 6-day positivity facility. This first set of 33,600 rate of 0.90 %. A total of 12 new vaccines arrived at a perfect time to cases were logged as recovered and ensure that the inoculation program 1 active hospitalization was within the country continues without recorded. No person needed delay. intensive care. During those days, At this time, the Ministry of Health however, one new death was and Wellness is calling persons from recorded: a female person from the Phase 2 B and C to reach out to Cayo District. authorized vaccination centers to On April 7, eight new cases of the receive their first jab. Persons virus were found from a batch of 762 eligible to receive vaccines during tests processed. The Ministry phase 2b include members of the recorded 4 recoveries on that day and National Assembly and the Judiciary, three active hospitalizations. No new as well as Customs and Immigration death was recorded. On April 7, a workers. Phase 2C includes those total of 1,891 persons were persons working in the tourism sector vaccinated, taking the total number who are over the age of 40 in the first of vaccinated persons within the instance. country to 23,958. Within the coming months, our On April 8, 632 tests were recovered. month. While the mutated variant may vaccination campaign is expected to processed and 2 new cases were A total of 318 deaths have been be more transmissible or deadly, continue as the country tries to inch found. The data revealed 12 recorded. April 6, 2021 marked one health officials around the world have closer to herd immunity. recoveries on that day and one active year since the first death in Belize yet to consider it a variant of concern. On March 31, a total of 688 tests hospitalization of a person who related to this deadly virus — that of This past week, the country of were conducted and 5 new COVID- needed intensive care. No new death the late Hubert Pipersburgh. Brazil recorded 4,000 COVID-19- 19 cases were identified. Two was recorded on that day. A total of A total of 109 women and 209 men related deaths in just one day. The additional recoveries were recorded, 19 cases are currently under have passed away as a result of virus continues to overwhelm that and 4 infected persons were listed investigation. COVID-19 complications. Our case country’s hospitals, leaving many as being in an Intensive Care Unit. Recent data in Belize as of April 8 fatality rate currently stands at dying while waiting for treatment. No new death was recorded on that shows that a total of 104,005 tests 2.55%. The country’s death toll now stands day. have been processed since the start The new double variant of the virus at 337,000, as President Jair A total of 784 persons received of the pandemic in the country, with that was first identified in India has Bolsonaro continues to fight against their COVID-19 inoculation on that around 95,424 persons being tested. been found in the US. This is after calls for lockdown measures to curb day. At this time, a total of 12,487 researchers from Stanford University the uncontrollable surge. The epidemiological team from the confirmed cases have been recorded identified the new strain in a patient Internationally, since the start of the Ministry of Health and Wellness across the country since the pandemic from the San Francisco Bay area. COVID-19 pandemic, a total of recorded data from the 1st to the 6th started, with 41 of those currently They shared that this is the first 132,730,691 confirmed cases have of April — the period during the being active infections. confirmed case of the new variant in been identified. As of April 8, 2021, Easter holiday. Prior to the holiday, A total of 12,118 recoveries have the US. a total of 2,880,726 deaths have been government officials warned citizens been recorded since the start of the This new variant has two mutations reported to WHO. And as of 7 April and visitors to adhere to all the outbreak in Belize —thus 97.0% of in its spike protein, the part of the 2021, a total of 650,382,819 vaccine restrictions and protocols in place to those in the country who were coronavirus which allows it to attach doses have been administered avoid any mass spread of the virus. infected with the virus have to cells. It was first detected last globally. Joint Unions say no to 10% salary cuts (From page 1) submitted to the government would thrown in” — alluding to the have to be accepted and put into effect government’s proposal to reduce the in order for them to be willing to work-week by 4 hours and offer suffer the wage cut. “When it is that public workers a line of financing of you feel that you are putting forward around 10 million dollars that would something that could be accepted, at be made available through DFC and least by the majority, and that would the National Bank in an effort to benefit the majority and, you know, persuade public workers to accept those are not looked at thoroughly, the salary cut. He said that they asked then it makes you feel as if though for a five-hour reduction, to make the we are not serious about what it is workday a 9-5, but said that even if that we are looking at,” she said. this is granted, an agreement between Gerald Henry, president of the the two parties would not necessarily Public Service Union, said that his be a done deal. BELIZE CITY, Sun. Apr. 4, 2021 According to Elena Smith, union’s mandate will ultimately come The President of the APSSM After more than a month of president of the BNTU, the unions from its membership as well. During (Association of Public Service negotiations between the Joint Unions met to cement their position after an appearance on Channel 5’s Open Senior Managers), Sharon Fraser, has and the Government of Belize, the meeting with their membership. She Your Eyes, he emphasized that the said that the members of her union unions have rejected the 3-year, 10% said that they presented to their union’s members drive their are still not open to a salary cut. “Our salary adjustment and increment members an outline of the decisions, no matter how many times no was a conditional no, “ she told freeze that Government proposed as government’s proposals and provided they have to go back to them to get a the media, and explained that their a cost-cutting measure to address the them with an explanation of what is mandate. “no” is not absolute, but is based on huge shortfall in the budget. The being proposed, and its implications, “We cannot make the decision on the belief of many members of her government is now looking at before asking them to respond to a our own simply because we are union that the government is still counter-proposals from the unions survey. considered the leaders of our various engaged in unnecessary and wasteful amidst preparations for the reading of Smith said that some of the unions,” Henry remarked. spending while saying that the wage its first budget as the ruling members of her union feel that some He also made reference to administration in the country. of the counter-proposals they “additional carrots [that] were Please turn to„Page 26 Page 26 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 Belize receives 33,600 vaccine doses from COVAX

Continued from Page 1 PAHO. „ “The past year along with other Government has plunged officials, were on the tarmac to Belize into a officially receive the much- humanitarian and anticipated vaccine supply. socio-economic The vaccines delivered on crisis — Wednesday were facilitated through upending the the PAHO Revolving Fund. lives of “PAHO’s Revolving Fund, which is societies, responsible for the procurement of communities, COVID-19 vaccines for the and families, countries of the Americas under the especially COVAX Mechanism, sent 33,600 children. As doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford over 108,000 vaccine, manufactured by SK children prepare Bioscience of South Korea,” a to return to the release from PAHO stated. classrooms in “We extend appreciation for the the upcoming team effort coordinated through our months, the partners, PAHO/WHO, UNICEF, arrival of the and IDB for negotiating, purchasing, vaccines and handling the shipment logistics advances us one on behalf of Belize and the other 36 step closer to countries participating in the creating a post- COVAX Facility,” Minister Chebat COVID environment that is safe for the vaccines through [the] COVAX means that more people will be able remarked when the shipment children to return to schools and Facility is very reassuring, and it to be protected from COVID-19.” arrived. regain a sense of security and The country is expected to receive normalcy,” Alison Parker, a total of 100,800 doses that will be Representative for UNICEF Belize, delivered in smaller batches like the said. Woman killed by brother’s one received on Wednesday, over the Dr. Noreen Jack, PAHO first two quarters of this year, representative in Belize, girlfriend on Easter Sunday according to the release from commented, “Seeing this arrival of Continued from „Page 1 Clifford Hyde murdered; the neck before family members could bring an end to the fight between the two women. Staine, who daughter shot lived in Belize City on Antelope Street, was visiting family members in the village for the Easter holiday. Continued from „Page 1 Reports are that there had always mourning the loss of yet another loved been tensions between the brother’s one, and praying for the survival of girlfriend and his side of the family. another. On Saturday evening around After being wounded, Staine was 4:00, police visited the residence of transported from the village in a the late Russell Hyde, where they canoe which crossed a bordering found the lifeless body of his younger river, and she was then rushed to the brother, Clifford Hyde. He had been Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, but shot by a lone gunman while leaving she was pronounced dead on arrival. crime of murder. She has since been the premises and died on the scene. Police have since recovered the arraigned for a single count of murder His daughter, Anya Galvez, was shot murder weapon and have arrested and remanded to the Belize Central in the head by the gunmen and rushed and charged Leanne Davis for the Prison. to the Western Regional Hospital before being transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Joint Unions say no (KHMH). She is in a critical condition at this time. This murder is the latest in a string to 10% salary cuts of fatal shootings that have taken the He said that a number of persons lives of one member after another of were detained in connection with the disrespected by the Government, since Continued from Page 25 the Hyde family. Readers would recall investigation into the shootings and one „ they ignored various proposals that had the 2015 double murder of Russell was expected to be charged. That bill is too large. been put forward by the union reps and Hyde and his girlfriend, Marcy person has since been identified as During an interview with News5, she addressed only the salary cuts. During Humes, which took place at the same Hugh Middleton of Roaring Creek said, “Government is asking us to cut, a local morning show, he commented residence at which this most recent Village. but yet they were seeing new hiring, that the government was given murder occurred, on August 28, 2015. The 26-year-old was arrested and they were seeing rentals, unnecessary proposals for the implementation of the Reports from the police are that charged by police for the murder of rentals of buildings, they were seeing Good Governance legislation and Hyde got into an argument with Clifford Hyde and the attempted purchasing of vehicles, and they were enhancement of the tax system but another man who was present, along murder of Anya Galvez and was seeing ads going out advertising for the ultimately disregarded those proposals with Hyde, in a gathering of around 7 arraigned inside the Belmopan increase of staff in certain ministries from the unions, choosing to focus only persons. Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, and departments.” on the salary cuts. The Police Department’s ACP April 7, 2021. Following a meeting with The Government held a Cabinet Joseph Myvett, Head of the National Clifford Hyde was recently government representatives on Easter meeting on Tuesday, at which these Crime Investigation Branch (NCIB), released from prison, just four months Monday, the Joint Unions once again matters were presumably discussed. said that the gunman fired several shots ago, after serving a 15-year prison gave a counter-proposal to the These developments are occurring just at the two while they were leaving the sentence for murder. He had been Government of Belize after consulting days before the scheduled reading of scene, which caused the fatal and convicted for the murder of Allyson their members. The president of the the budget for this new fiscal year on critical injuries. Castillo, which took place in 2004. PSU said that the unions were Friday of this week. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 27 PM Briceño to present austerity budget PSU asks PM to “rein in” Chebat (From page 1) Continued from Page 1 fiscal year 2021-2022. I will detail my „ government’s carefully crafted plan,” PM BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 the most notable of these being the Briceño shared. He stated that the government took a Last week, just before the start of the proposed salary cuts and increment long Easter weekend, the Public freezes which will be imposed on public close look at the country’s finances, given Service Union (PSU) issued a statement officers and teachers. the dire state of the economy, and During his remarks, the Prime Minister concluded that they must cut expenditure. in which it called on the Prime Minister, informed the country that the Belizean A 31% cut in spending on goods and Hon. John Briceño, to address and economy contracted by 14% during the services will be proposed at the budget control the conduct of the Minister of last fiscal year, largely due to the impacts presentation. This cut will reduce Health and Wellness, Hon. Michel of the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost expenditure by an approximate 77 million Chebat, “before it’s too late”. 64,000 Belizean citizens lost their jobs, dollars, according to the PM. Also, a According to the union, the Minister he announced, after which he declared 10% cut in subsidies and transfers will of Health and Wellness, Hon. Michel that his Government must now create also be implemented, reducing Chebat, has, with the approval of the thousands of new jobs. expenditure by a further 19 million dollars. Ministry of Finance, employed a PM Briceño pointed out that the The Prime Minister also said that they transition team, and the advisors on that country collected significantly less expect to renegotiate the super-bond to team have since initiated what the PSU revenue than the projected amount that it achieve savings of upwards of 50 million, calls a “herd retrenchment” of public had expected to receive. The new budget a further reduction of the Government’s officers inside the Health Ministry. is projecting a 27% decrease in revenue; debt service outlay. The union said that they received The release comes after about a GST alone fell by 32%, according to the The Prime Minister reminded the public several letters of termination which month of consultations between the PM. that with the present wage bill and were signed by the Ministry’s CEO, Government of Belize and the unions Total spending in the country, however, government finances, they are forced to Dr. Deysi Mendez, and had been regarding government’s proposed only decreased by 15% — falling way borrow around $1 million each day, about handed to healthcare workers who, salary adjustments. The parties have yet short of the reductions that would be $30 million each month, to meet their according to the union, were fired to reach an agreement, and the PSU has needed to ensure that spending decreases salary commitment to public servants and “without any value or justified reason.” since rejected the Government’s match the drop in revenue, and as a result teachers each month. “Also concerning, is what appears proposals. “The position is critical. Public the primary deficit is estimated to be a to be the inability of the Prime Minister In its release, the PSU, while finances are on life support. The raw and staggering $300 million at this time. to [rein] in the Minister of Health and acknowledging that the “conduct and “In effect, we do not have enough unpolished truth is that we inherited a Wellness and his political lackeys, professionalism” of government’s money to pay salary, rent, and the light broke and plundered treasury from the whose bullish behavior are not only bills. Like the economy, the need to return UDP,” PM Briceño said. consultation team has been admirable, public finances to a sustainable path As mentioned, the budget presentation making it uncomfortable for Public pointed to the behavior of some cannot be overstated. On Friday, the is set for this Friday, April 9. The budget Officers within the Minister of Health ministers who, according to the union, House of Representatives will meet and I debate usually takes place 2 weeks after and Wellness but is also promoting the have acted in bad faith against the will read the government’s budget for the that presentation. abuse of Government assets and public workers. The actions of these wasteful spending of Government funds particular ministers have diminished on electronic gadgets and unwarranted confidence in the new administration, purchases, the PSU release further the PSU release said. GoB and Joint Unions in standoff states. “The actions of certain Government The release states that the contracting Ministers acting in bad faith against Continued from Page 1 Unjust Enrichment legislation. of the “nonessential advisors” adds no Pubic Officers and glaringly „ In contrast to the Joint Unions’ value to the Ministry and “has merely disregarding the call for prudency and approval for the time-off from the Ministry assertion that salary cuts have been the added to the already burdensome wage austerity in these tense and challenging of Public Service earlier that day. sole measure deployed by the government bill whilst turning the administration of times, has only served to diminish Following those meetings, about 70% to reduce spending, the Prime Minister’s the Ministry into a charade.” confidence in the new administration, of the PSU’s membership voted to give statement listed a number of cost-cutting The union calls on the Prime thus causing public officers to question GOB notice of an existing trade dispute measures that will be put into effect by Minister to take note of the misconduct the sincerity of the pronouncements — in essence, a warning that there will be the government, and he mentioned that they have allegedly uncovered within made during the consultation and industrial action. The Prime Minister, his administration has put forward several the Ministry of Health and Wellness and labeling them as mere posturing,” during his address to the country, proposals to win the support of the to take action. informed the public of Cabinet’s decision unions. Included among these, said remarked the PSU in the release. to proceed with its proposed salary cuts. Briceño, are a reduction of $77 million in officers and teachers. The release went on to object to the “After careful analysis and the amount of money that will be spent During his presentation he also Ministry of Finance’s issuance of a consultation, we remain convinced that a to secure goods and services — a 31 mentioned that government has pledged memorandum to enforce section 47 of salary adjustment of 60 million dollars is percent cut; as well as a 10 percent cut in to protect those persons earning the the Public Service Regulations, which absolutely necessary. Additionally, we the amount to be spent on subsidies and lowest wages from salary adjustments and prevents public officers from propose to continue the increment freeze, transfers, which will result in an additional also, to remove stamp duty for mortgages disclosing information about activities which will account for another 20 million $19 million reduction in expenditure. He for those workers. He shared that they inside their Ministries. The PSU says dollars annually. Unfortunately, [the] also said that the government would have also agreed to proceed with an that this goes against the spirit of the unions have not, so far, agreed with us achieve savings during this upcoming additional decrease in the salaries of Whistleblowers Act and seeks to that these adjustments are needed,” Prime fiscal year through super-bond Ministers, Ministers of States, and CEOs implement “old-fashioned regulations Minister Briceño stated. negotiations that could reduce the amount in the Government, who will see a 15% to muzzle Public Officers.” After meetings between the Joint that government spends this year on debt- payout. The memorandum was signed by the Unions and the government over the serving by $50 million. Briceño also referred to the dismal state Financial Secretary, Joseph Waight, on Easter weekend, the Joint Unions In light of these other reductions, the of the country’s finances, which, he says, March 30. informed the Government of their Prime Minister stated in his address that has prompted these efforts at cost-cutting. Finally, the PSU expressed its position, and according to president of the government “took a close look at “Earlier today, the Financial Secretary disappointment in the Ministry of the PSU, Gerald Henry, they received a every aspect of Government’s revenue informed me that the Central Bank Public Service, which, the union says, response from the government on Easter and expenditures with a view to righting confirmed that after mid-April salaries are has allowed itself to be used as “a Monday. According to Henry, however, the ship of state.” In his statement, he paid, the Government will have pawn in executing unfair and punitive the response from the government was shared that they agreed to a five-hour insufficient monies and will be forced to transfers.” centered only on the government’s reduction of the workweek for public borrow again to meet its obligations at The PSU release commented, position on the salary cuts and did not sector workers, among other the end of April. The position is critical; “Contrary to the commitment by the address any other proposed measure put concessions, including a willingness by public finances are on life support!” he Government, the MPSCPR continues forward by the union. the government to have a Joint GOB/ said. to engage in continuous and While the Joint Unions assert that the Social Partner Monitoring Committee At this time, all indications are that the unnecessary hiring within the Public government has failed to discuss other monitor the performance of the budget Government of Belize intends to carry measures proposed to achieve fiscal every 6 months. out the proposed salary cuts without the Service while hypocritically balance, seemingly ignoring proposed Hon. Briceño also said that the blessing of the unions. This Friday the professing that the Public Service wage cost-cutting and revenue enhancement Government secured an agreement with PM is expected to present the budget for bill is too big.” measures, PM Briceño told the public in the Central Bank to extend leniency on the upcoming fiscal year 2021-2022, The PSU, in its release, calls on his address that they had a wide-ranging defaulting loans for public service which began on April 1. It is expected those who have not yet joined the union discussion and have agreed to fast-track workers; also he shared that the DFC and that the wage bill adjustment will formally to do so, and for those wrongfully the reform agenda, including the National Bank have agreed to extend a 5- be put into effect by the government at terminated to reach out to the union for implementation of the Whistleblowers and million-dollar line of credit to public that time. advice and assistance. Page 28 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021