Friday, April 2, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1 NO. 3449 BELIZE CITY, FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 (40 PAGES) $1.50 Weekend showdown: GOB vs Unions BELIZE CITY, Mon. Mar. 29, 2021 On Monday night, after hours of discussions with government representatives, the National COVAX vaccines to President of the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU), Elena Smith, provided the members of her arrive Wednesday union with an update during a private livestream. Smith was not able to divulge what was discussed in the meeting, but told her members that the day was long and that the negotiations were intense and challenging. She also informed them that the meeting which Please turn toPage 39 Unions say GOB rejected their proposals BELIZE CITY, Fri. Mar. 26, 2021 With less than two weeks before BELIZE CITY, Tues. Mar. 30, 2021 COVAX facility will arrive in the the scheduled reading of the national Today the government of Belize country of Belize on Wednesday, budget for the upcoming fiscal year, announced that the first batch of the consultations between the Joint COVID-19 vaccines allocated by the Please turn toPage 39 Unions Negotiating Team and the Government of Belize are still dragging on. Recently, the unions have Kevaughn “Blue” Covid-19 made the claim that the Briceño administration has rejected their Morris murdered Update proposals. (See story on page 37) The unions put forward on home turf recommendations that outlined various cost-cutting measures that A crime of they said could be implemented in passion in Please turn toPage 39 Silk Grass F-150 slams into car; two dead (See story on page 37) Jaguars win 5-nil over GEORGEVILLE, Cayo District, traffic accident which took place Mon. Mar. 29, 2021 near Georgeville, in the Cayo Turks and Caicos in Two men lost their lives on Friday Please turn to Page 37 WC Qualifier night as a result of a fatal road (See story on page 33) (See story on page 36) Page 2 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 2, 2021 PSU says Health Ministry CaribNOG calls on network employees pushed out office specialists to participate in BELIZE CITY, Fri. Mar. 26, 2021 CaribNOG21 During a virtual press conference with the media on Friday, the 1st vice president of the Public Service Union (PSU), Dean Flowers, said that two employees inside the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) were recently handled in an utterly disrespectful manner by the Ministry and their immediate superiors. According to Flowers, on Friday a medical adviser from inside the Ministry instructed two public officers to clear their desks and go home. One of the persons had already received a letter informing him of an imminent transfer before the request was made to him. He made no attempts to resist the order to leave. The other, a female public officer, by Dayne Guy computer networks. was allegedly victimized for wearing public officer was approached by This meeting, scheduled for March a yellow shirt as an expression of Minister Chebat and CEO Mendez and BELIZE CITY, Sun. Mar. 28, 2021 30 and 31, 2021, addresses two key support of her union. Flowers said that was accused of not giving them the The Caribbean Network Operators networking concepts — Networking she was told that she had the “respect and regard” that was due to Group (CaribNOG) is calling for Security Best Practices, and DNS and “audacity…to come to work in yellow them. participation in their twenty-first DNSSEC. Expert panelists and shirt, to resist 10% cut, and now di eat “The officer rightfully responded regional meeting. speakers from around the world will da yu desk.” respectfully to them to say, it’s difficult CaribNOG is an active community deliver presentations with hands-on She then decided to pack her things to construct a budget when, when there of network specialists committed to technical training. It will be launched and leave before she was advised to is no consultation within the ministry. improving the Caribbean region’s virtually under the theme “Network return to work, which she did in the They are bringing in advisors upon network systems. Their purpose is to Infrastructure Security.” A release afternoon. She received a letter later advisors, they’re dismissing people, extend the capacity of those who from CaribNOG says, “CaribNOG21 that day transferring her from MOHW they’re hiring aides, so these things develop and secure networks while will provide participants with the effective the end of this month, stated affect any budget,” Flowers pointed out. reinforcing relations between all opportunity to network virtually, and Flowers. According to Flowers, Hon. Chebat participants on the Internet space. gain actionable insights into the He then went on to mention an and CEO Mendez allegedly wanted the CaribNOG plays a vital role in the technical elements of Network alleged meeting between a senior financial officer to vacate her post, and Caribbean. It bolsters the rapid Infrastructure Security.” financial officer inside the Health she resisted, citing Public Service transition to online services and CaribNOG21 will be hosted in Ministry, Minister Michel Chebat, and Regulations. focuses on establishing a greater collaboration with the American the CEO in the Ministry, Dr. Deysi “I think it’s important that we human resource capacity in the Registry for Internet Numbers Mendez. understand the kind of abuse that this cybersecurity, autonomous networks, (ARIN), the Internet Corporation for During that meeting, the senior administration is effecting on public IPv6 deployments, and Assigned Names and Numbers financial officer, who has held that post officers, the same kind of abuse and interconnection and peering fields. (ICANN), and the Internet Registry for for about 25 years, was told that she political interference that they accused Since the community’s formation in Latin America and the Caribbean would be transferred to the Ministry of the Barrow Administration of. The 2010, the gathering of specialists has (LACNIC). Immigration by Minister Chebat, exact same kind. They are no different,” become a staple in the regional Interested applicants are according to Flowers. He said that the Flowers said. calendar, and the unprecedented times encouraged to submit their of COVID-19 have highlighted the applications online via the CaribNOG Migrant child on way to US need for quality, resilient, and secure site https://www.caribnog.org. says she is Belizean Joy Grant completes tenure as Central Bank Governor BELIZE CITY, Tues. Mar. 30, 2021 The Central Bank of Belize has announced that Ambassador Joy Grant’s tenure at the Central Bank has come to an end. According to a Central Bank of Belize press release, the Board of Directors, management, and staff of the bank wish to express thanks to Ambassador Grant for her US/Mexican Border, Mon. Mar. 29, interviewer then asked the child years of service and extend best 2021 where she was from, and she wishes to her in her future endeavors. This week a video surfaced on responded, “I am (from) Belize.” “Ambassador Grant expressed her social media of a 12-year-old “But have you been in the United appreciation for the support afforded migrant girl on a trek to the US in a States before?” the interviewer then her during her more than four-year group of five, all children. Shockingly asked. The child replied, “No. I’m tenure, noting special appreciation to the girl said that she is a Belizean Belizean. I actually learn English everyone at the Central Bank,” the citizen and has left her home in from Belize.” release stated. Sydney Campbell, a previous Central Belize. According to her, her father, She then told the interviewer that The Governor of the Central Bank Bank governor, being appointed an American citizen, is somewhere she and the other children in her of Belize is appointed by the Chairman of the Board. in Houston, Texas. group were all alone and met each Governor-General upon the advice of At this time, the two Deputy In the video, an interviewer can be other on the journey and started to the Prime Minister and serves as the Governors of the Central Bank, heard remarking to the child, “You talk. They were on their way to turn CEO of the Central Bank. Recently, Kareem Michael and Marilyn speak English very well,” to which themselves in to the US Border Patrol a new Central Bank board of Gardiner-Usher, remain on active the child replied, “Yes, Sir.” The authorities. directors was constituted, with duty. Friday, April 2, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 3 Hon. Bernard and Hon. Grocery Bag Program Marin seek to improve will continue this year, Belize Youth Challenge says Hon. Dolores new fiscal year.” She also aimed the blame for the uncertainty surrounding the program’s future at the UDP administration, who she said had left the program in “dire straits” before the general elections. Last week, however, Hon. Balderamos Garcia informed the media at a press conference that the program will in fact remain in operation into the new fiscal year, but for a limited period. These were her sentiments when asked about it during by Dayne Guy academic skills. The program a press conference last week: encourages young adolescents to be “The Government will try our very BELMOPAN, Mon. Mar. 29, 2021 more responsible, patriotic and best to continue the food assistance The Ministry of Youth, Sports and productive citizens of Belize. by Kory Leslie (freelance writer) into the new financial year for a E-Governance, in collaboration with Hon. Kevin Bernard, Minister of limited period. I cannot speak to what the Ministry of National Defence and Youth, Sports and E-Governance, and BELIZE CITY, Fri. Mar. 26, 2021 period of time, because that will have Border Security, met to discuss Hon Florencio Marin, Minister of Back in January, the Minister of to be a Cabinet decision,” she stated possible improvements to the National Defence and Border Human Development, Hon.