Sunday, January 16, 2011 Capital Weekly Page 1 No. 001 Capital Sunday, Januar Weeklyy 16, 2011 Price: $1.00 From the Heart of the Nation to the Soul of the People No. 001 Sunday, January 16, 2011 Price: $1.00 NotNot AA RedRed CentCent ForFor TheThe WhitedWhited Sepulchre!Sepulchre! GOB will Continue to Resist Paying Arbitration Award s the old year will continue now to do so, came to an end, certain in the knowledge that ABelizeans were re- this is a campaign of, by, and minded of the enormous cost for, the people. an entire nation is being forced Mr Barrow was, in effect, to pay as a result of the irre- answering the question raised sponsible actions of a few un- in the local media as to whether principled and unpatriotic poli- or not his government would ticians, those who led the last be appealing this latest ruling administration. on the matter by the retiring Su- The painful reminder came preme Court Judge. The an- in the form of a judgement swer, of course, is an emphatic handed down by retiring Su- “YES!” preme Court Justice John Further expounding on his Lord Michael Ashcroft, Muria upholding an arbitartion Prime Minister Dean Barrow government’s decision to ap- Defending the Interest of the Modern-day Slave Master and award of $ 43 Million which a Belizean People Enemy of the Belizean People peal, Prime Minister Barrow London Tribunal Court had told Channel Seven News last ordered the Belize Govern- Message, the Prime Minister paying their just taxes to Be- Wednesday, “We are going to ment to pay the British Carib- stated,“This award was in lize. It was as with the simi- appeal it naturally. The ap- bean Bank and Belize Bank, connection with a grossly im- larly outrageous telecommu- peal will be filed this week, I owned by British Billionaire moral, grossly illegal “Settle- nications Accommodation would think by tomorrow, cer- Lord Michael Ashcroft who, ment Deed” made by the last Agreement also given to tainly not later than Friday needless to say, is all too ea- administration. Under that Ashcroft by the PUP. And this and we are going to be ask- ger to collect. accord, Ashcroft’s billion dol- government decided, from the ing for a stay of execution Well, not so fast, says lar banking conglomerates start and in the name of sov- while the appeal is being Prime Minister Dean Barrow. were, contrary to law, ex- ereign justice, to resist unto the In his 2011 New Year’s Day empted in perpetuity from skies this serial perfidy. We (Continued on page 8) Belize Economy Rebounds Highest Growth Rate in Caribbean It is said that a good news that Belize’s Netherlands Antilles (0.8%).” New Year, if Economy is on the rebound, The Prime Minister noted nothing else, and sustainably so. In fact, as that the figures for Belize’s invariably brings the Prime Minister noted, third quarter are in and the hope. Well, for Belize’s economic growth rate Statistical Institute has revised Belizeans the hope over the past year has been the that mid-year preliminary that the New Year highest in the entire Caribbean, assessment of 3.5% growth (2011) brings is not a trend that, by all projections, down to a confirmed growth a vain one, but is expected to continue into the rate of 2.4% for the period up hope based on New Year. to September. “But we are tangible evidence The Prime Minister quoted still ahead of the pack,” he that prosperity is from the Caribbean Centre for maintained, “and the Central right around the Money and Finance, which Bank of Belize’s forecast for corner. stated, “in the first half of this coming year is yet more In his 2011 New 2010 most Caribbean encouraging. That forecast is Year’s Message countries reported negative or for 3.7% growth in 2011.” Prime Minister low growth rates, the Belize, like the rest of the Prime Minister Dean Barrow Dean Barrow exceptions being Belize Minister of Finance confirmed the (3.5%), Guyana and the (Continued on page 10) Page 2 Capital Weekly Sunday, January 16, 2011 No Amnesty at this Editorial time, says PM Barrow Greetings and Welcome! would have to wait 5 years to become nationals. There has In this the first edition of Capital Weekly, been this great hue and cry we take the opportunity to wish you a about this. Prosperous New Year; and we are pleased to I am here to tell you today welcome you to this first installment of what, that while we still believe that God willing, will be a weekly publication. that ultimately has to be Emanating from the Nation’s Capital, done—it’s a practical thing to Belmopan, this newspaper will report on, and do—it’s all a matter of timing. address any and all issues affecting the Nation We have not had the money and its People. We will not confine ourselves Prime Minister Dean Barrow to do it here before because it to politics, but neither will we avoid it. We will will require additional staff; That the government has it will require a fair amount be guided by the wisdom of the elderly, and been contemplating an fuelled by the energy of the young. of additional expenditure. amnesty program to regularize In terms of this 2011 Even the name and address of the undocumented immigrants publication (Capital Weekly) shall NOT limit us, agenda which is seriously living in Belize is no secret or concentrating on spending on for even as we report on local happenings in rumour, although there has the Capital City, we will NOT abandon the Old infrastructure and pro-poor been much rumour-mongering programs, we will not have Capital; and there will certainly always be a over how many immigrants it the money; so that is officially special place in our hearts for Culture Capital, would affect and what exactly shelved.” the municipality located in the district in which would be the status those The communities we were born and bred. persons would attain under the surrounding Belmopan have Because we love this Country, we will program, whether permanent one of the largest immigrant without reservation or apology applaud and residency or full nationality. populations in the country, support anyone or anything that seeks to This week, the Prime many of whom are still not protect, preserve or promote the best interest Minister cleared up all that in documented. They would of the Nation and its People. Nor will we an interview with Channel naturally benefit from such a hesitate in pronouncing our strongest Seven News. program whenever it occurs. condemnation against those who by their An Immigration Amnesty words or deeds have declared themselves will have to happen at some enemies of Belize and of the Belizean People. point, but it apparently won’t Capital Weekly be anytime soon, the Prime From the Heart of the Nation And, while we will always uphold the principles To the Soul of the People and ethics of clean and objective journalism, Minister said. where a good old-fashion beating is deserved, Here is the full text of his Published By: we shall pull no punches. comments to Channel Seven Roots & Rhythm Ltd. We welcome every perspective on the on the matter: 15 Gibnut Street issues, every account or interpretation of the “There was never any Belmopan program contemplated that events and developments, but if your agenda Editor & Business would have given anybody is anything but noble and patriotic, don’t waste and Sales Manager: your time writing us for you simply won’t be nationality. Wilbourne Cuthkelvin afforded an outlet through these pages. What was contemplated Finally, we are no saints, but it’s our very was a program to give Chairman permanent residence to some Editorial Board: frailty as humans that constrains us most of Delroy Cuthkelvin all to acknowledge the power and supremacy people who are here admittedly illegally; similar to of the Almighty, and to promote and defend what Jorge Espat did in the the godly ideals which represent the only real Telephone: last PUP administration. hope and inspiration to forever strive to be the 610-1284 So you were never talking best we can as individuals, as a people and a about creating voters; they Email: nation. would have to get their [email protected] Greetings, Welcome, and God Bless! permanent residence and they Sunday, January 16, 2011 Capital Weekly Page 3 “Taking the Bull By its Horns” PM Hammers Out New Deal for Belizean Tender Operators But Cruise Line Representatives Equivocate e’s certainly no time tender operator. Messiah—and that Longsworth would therefore Hwould be blasphemy— be leading negotiations for the but Prime Minister Dean Barrow is new proposed contract with as much a saviour these days as is Carnival and other cruise humanly possible. He’s certainly companies, since according to the promising no miracles, and the PM the Government would want latest challenge proves there’s no to see that Belizean entity fulfil easy fix, as hopes have been such a mandate not only for raised, then dashed, then raised Carnival Cruise but for all cruise again with guarded optimism. companies operating, or wishing First the Prime Minister had to to operate in Belize. In fact those rescue the Sugar Industry, negotiations would begin right providing an emergency loan and away as representatives of the forging a memorandum of cruise companies were coming to understanding that has brought Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow at Monday’s Press Conference Belize that very same day for a remarkable improvement in quality The Government learnt of the had gotten a commitment from the meeting of the Florida Caribbean and efficiency.