Friday, February 12, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1 NO. 3437 BELIZE CITY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 (40 PAGES) $1.50 Belize’s 2021 economic analysis “At 134.1%, Belize now Commission of has the highest debt-to- Inquiry summons GDP ratio in the entire Caribbean and Central former PM Barrow American region.” BELMOPAN, Thurs. Feb. 11, 2021 The Government of Belize has released its preliminary analysis into the state of the country’s economy as of February 2021. The analysis, which highlights thirteen key aspects of the economic situation, has been released to the Please turn toPage 39 Haylock’s BNTU president on BELMOPAN, Wed. Feb. 10, 2021 judicial review budget consultations Former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow is the first person from application the past UDP administration that has granted leave Please turn toPage 4 Salesman shot and thrown out of truck BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Feb. 11, budget consultation talks. BNTU BELIZE CITY, Tues. Feb. 9, 2021 2021 president, Elena Smith, in On Tuesday, February 9, the The executive members of the describing what took place during Supreme Court of Belize granted Belize National Teachers Union met the meeting, said that the union got (See story on page 2) with a team from the Government Please turn toPage 39 of Belize today to commence Please turn toPage 36 COVID-19 Senate defers 2nd reading of three Bills Update (See story on page 2) (See story on page 36) Page 2 AMANDALABelize Friday, February 12, 2021 Progress in the Chiquibul forest resources (such as Xate leaves) and poaching endangered wildlife. The Executive Director of the FCD, Rafael Manzanero, spoke with the media following his flyover and explained that the trip was key to the effort to engage the Ministries more fully in border matters and the oversight of protected areas. Manzanero also mentioned that the flyover enabled the Ministers to get a firsthand view of some of the issues being faced in the management and protection of these areas. When asked by Kory Leslie (freelance writer) what is the next step moving forward, Manzanero stated, “What we wanted the ground.” back into natural forests. You can see BELIZE CITY, Wed. Feb. 10, 2021 to project on this trip was basically In regards to measures needed to the difference in colors where young On Monday, the Minister of Home for them to look at the true conditions. see progress, Manzanero said that a trees are coming up… We were able Affairs, Hon. Kareem Musa; the Based on that, we would hope that more efficient system is needed on to visit the conservations posts that Minister of Sustainable the strategies that the Government will the ground in the form of a “joint are there almost close to the border Development, Hon. Orlando Habet; employ will certainly go on line of forces operations” as well as where they can do their patrols, and and the Minister of Border Security, better securing the Western border. increased mobilization capabilities we also have been told by FCD that Hon. Florencio Marin, joined the We flew over the conservation posts and better equipment to conduct foot the risks that were there before really Friends for Conservation and starting from the Machakil Ha, which patrols. Manzanero has indicated that no longer exist… I believe that we Development (FCD) for a helicopter is near the Colombia River, and way he hopes that the Government will are in a good position. We are talking ride above the Chiquibul Forest up to the northernmost, one of which continue to dialogue with the FCD to to FCD because there are certain followed by a discussion about better is the Caballo Conservation posts. So, roll out more collaborative measures areas that we think that another co- management of the reserve. from there they got the angle about and de-sensitizing campaigns as it management agreement can come Due to the Chiquibul’s close the incursions, agricultural farming, tries to address border between FCD and maybe other proximity to our Western border with cattle ranching, so I am hoping the encroachments. NGO’s and the Government of Belize Guatemala, encroachers are often strategy then can be much more in line Minister Habet also spoke with the to mange the larger landscape instead found in the forest harvesting valuable with the actual reality occurring on media following the overhead tour of only the Chiquibul.” and had this to say: Habet stated that there are very “In terms of what we saw, we can little incursions occurring at this time nd see that the work that the FCD has in the Chiquibul and some of Belize’s Senate defers 2 been doing has paid off and continues exotic resources such as the Xate leaf to pay off. And their being able to are beginning to flourish and could reading of three Bills co-manage these vast landscapes for be the basis of future, sustainable the Government of Belize – for the industries. Gold panning is still (From page 1) people of Belize, a lot of the occurring; however, it has been deforested areas where some of the reduced to a lower scale, according incursions occurred is now growing to the FCD. Salesman shot and thrown out of truck (From page 1) BELMOPAN, Wed. Feb. 10, 2021 of the Bills at this sitting until the Bills The second reading of three bills are examined and considered by the that were passed during the last sitting Committee of the Whole Senate,” he of the House of Representatives on said. February 5, 2021, was deferred in the Senator Courtenay noted that all upper house of Parliament during a senators agreed to the deferral. special sitting on Wednesday, In an interview held after the short February 10. The Lead Government Senate meeting, Lead Opposition BELIZE DISTRICT, Wed. Feb. 10, Initial reports are that Escalante’s Senator, Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Senator, Michael Peyrefitte, said that 2021 body was found with gunshot wounds explained that the second reading of they were ready to engage in a debate, On Wednesday afternoon, police on the roadside near Mahogany the three bills — the Central Bank but were not given the opportunity. found the body of 47-year-old Heights village and that his truck was Amendment Bill 2021, the Finance “I got hype up for nothing. It is like Michael Escalante lying on the stolen. Police are currently trying to and Audit Reform Bill 2021 and the you get ready for a game and then the roadside between Miles 33 and 34 on piece together the sequence of events, Public Contract Commission Bill man said, ‘we will postpone the the George Price Highway. Escalante, which seems to be a robbery-turned- 2021 — would be put off until the game’. We always ready, you know.” a resident of Orange Walk and murder. bills are examined and considered by Senator Peyrefitte said. salesperson for Vegas Imports, was In December of last year, Escalante the Committee of The Whole Senate. He added, “I think even the apparently ambushed and shot in his was also robbed of $18,000, a “Madam President, in accordance government knows that there would vehicle, then was thrown from his red firearm and his truck, the same red with Standing Order no. 83, I move be some issues with those bills being Wingle pickup truck and left for dead Wingle which was stolen in this recent a motion for the suspension of passed in the Senate. So I think that is on the roadside. Police are currently incident. Following that incident, Standing Order no. 49(1) not to maybe why they decided to hold off trying to recover the vehicle and police had recovered the truck. proceed forthwith the next stage of on them so we can talk about them hopefully the perpetrator of the We will have more on this story as the Bills, which is the second reading some more.” broad-daylight murder. the police investigation continues. Friday, February 12, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 3 Assistance for the laborers of Foreshore employment in Belize these gentlemen here represents a City. business on its own. When we look Through a at it, it’s seven to eight businesses partnership between starting up today. So, we as the City the City Council, Council, we nurture these types of Prestige Auto Sales events. We nurture this type of Co. Ltd., Westrac Ltd. assistance that we can do to impact and Hofius, seven the lives of those valuable residents individuals who living on the margins.” regularly wash cars in The owner of Prestige Auto, the area were awarded Amado Badillo, as well as the branch with their own manager for Westrac Belize City, Neil personalized washing Wolfe, also shared their hopes that the equipment, cleaning recipients will make the most of this supplies and opportunity, not only to continue customized shirts. what they’ve been doing, but to also Mayor Wagner and broaden their horizons and develop representatives from their services into a full-fledged each of the partnering business. One of the recipients who companies attended a wished to be called Ferguson also BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Feb. 11, 2021 shoppers, workers and even tourists private handing-over ceremony held expressed his gratitude when asked For years, the downtown and who visit the area. The Belize City at the Prestige dealership compound what the project means to him: Foreshore areas have been areas Council’s most recent initiative has on Tuesday. “I work hard and do my best every where self-employed men have been geared at empowering these Following some remarks and day. This is something that we’ve sought to earn an income by men to expand their services, and well wishes, the seven recipients been doing.