Sunday, February 28, 2010 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 1 *STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR AR T S * R A T S * R A T S * R A T S * R A T S *STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR8*8TAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR* No. 218151 Sunday, SUNDAY, February MAY 28, 11,2010 2008 PricePrice $1.00$1.00 FRIDAY, February, 26, 2010: located at #24 St. Joseph Street A further search inside the On Wednesday, February 24, in that western municipality. yard resulted in the discovery a man and his mother were The search inside a room of a point 25 pistol in a plastic arrested and charged for the resulted in the discovery of a bag concealed among a pile of possession of weed and a weapon. grey plastic bag containing four garbage. Benque Viejo Police executed individual black plastic bags The discovery led to the arrest a search warrant on a premises with loose cannabis. of the occupier of the house PRINCESS INTERNATIONAL SAN IGNACIO LIMITED, Cayo, Thursday, February 25, 2010: The fundraiser, spearheaded by Princess International San Sentenced to two years Ignacio Limited, in support of the in jail, earthquake victims in Haiti, was Ovidio Garcia Aguallo, 21 held on Sunday, January 31, 2010, and today a cash donation Ovidio Garcia Aguallo, 21, of over ten thousand dollars, Belizean construction worker proceeds of the event, was and his mother, Estela Aguallo, handed over to the Red Cross. 48, Belizean domestic who was Fresh in town from an visiting at the time of the search overseas business trip, the but residing nearby at #21 also General Manager of Princess on St Joseph Street International San Ignacio The mother, son, weed and the Limited, Bulent Yesilyurt, was weapon were transported to the on hand to personally present the General Manager, Bulent Yesilyurt (L), handing over cash Benque Viejo Police Station manila envelope with exactly donation to Local Red Cross Chairperson, Cynthia Ellis (R) where the drugs was weight at $10,079.00 in cash to the Red 575.5grams. Above, the space betweenbe thhalfe dofo uthbel Ree fdloo Crro pssa wnelas Ms. Cross. Chairperson of the San Ignacio On Thursday, February 25, Cynthia Ellis in her capacity as Receiving the donation on Please Turn To Page 11 Please Turn To Page 11 We’re not Expensive, We just look that Way!” C U @ the Fly In Central Farm Airstrip Sunday, Free Local Drink with purchase February 28th 10 am. Aviation Fun and Lots of of any food item off the menu. Food and Drinks. Fun Famliy Day!! www.aguadahotel.com Expires March 7, 2010 [email protected] 804-3609 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com Page 2 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Sunday, February 28, 2010 Life Would Have Been Much, Much Worse Under A PUP Government. Challenges confronting the national economy are by no means minuscule as publicly announced by the Nation’s Prime Minister/Minister of Finance, Hon. Dean Barrow. There is an estimated $M60 deficit in the up-coming budget. This is the current reality. However, we can only imagine what life would have been like if there was not a change of government two years ago. Prior to the United Democratic Party (UDP) victory at the polls on February 7, 2008, for all intents and purposes, the international financial structure was still intact. It was only subsequent to the UDP victory at the polls, two years ago, that the international financial collapse began. Belize’s finances however, began to feel the strain around midway in the second term of the Musa administration. We recall that the nation was defaulting on its debt payment. Belize’s financial ratings was at the very bottom of the barrel. International Financial Institutions like the World Bank, the BELMOPAN CITY, Cayo, Dominican Republic in San Caribbean Development Bank and the Inter-American Friday, February 26, 2010: Salvador. He will be accompa- Development Bank were simply refusing to do any business The office of the Prime nied by the CEO in the Ministry with the previous administration primarily because of the Minister today informed that of Economic Development, Cabinet met in special session Commerce & Industry, and nation’s poor credit ratings. In desperation, the government of on Thursday, February 25, 2010, Consumer Protection, Mrs. the day was forced to scramble for expensive money and so to continue discussion of the Yvonne Hyde. they turned to loan sharks just to keep the national economy budget for FY 2010/2011. from total collapse resulting in the ballooning of the national The budget for the upcoming MEETING WITH U.S. debt to almost 3 Billions dollar with nothing to show for it as, in fiscal year will be presented in SECRETARY OF STATE most instances, the expensive finance was consumed in the House of Representatives by On March 5th the Prime recurrent expenditures primarily for salaries and wages. the Prime Minister and Minister Minister will travel to Guatemala All of this was taking place while a privileged of Finance, the Hon. Dean O. City to participate in a meeting “accommodated” few dodged paying their rightful share of Barrow, on Monday, March of Central American Heads of taxes while others were outright stealing the expensive money. 15th. Government and US Secretary In those days the financial credibility of that administration of State Hillary Clinton. was virtually nonexistent. We emerged from that era when, in PRIME MINISTER TO Deputy Prime Minister and the face of natural disasters, donor agencies routinely bypassed SAN SALVADOR AND Minister of Natural Resources the elected government of the day and instead channelled GUATEMALA CITY and the Environment, the Hon. assistance to those affected through private institutions. Prime Minister, the Hon. Gaspar Vega, will act as Prime Dean O. Barrow, is scheduled Minister while Prime Minister Life today in Belize is certainly not a bed of roses, to be away from Belize March Barrow is out of the country. but imagine what it would have been like today if the 3rd-6th. PUP was returned to government. Assistance from On March 4th-5th he will NEXT MEETING international financial institutions evaporated at least 2 1/2 years participate in the IDB’s XXIV The next meeting of the before the PUP was booted out of office. Meeting of the Governors of Cabinet is scheduled for The expensive money was getting out of control and like Mark the countries of the Central Tuesday, March 2, 2010. Espat predicted “One of those bullets will eventually strike American Isthmus and the OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER through the heart of the Belizean economy”. There was a change of government on February 7, 2008. The Tel: 626-8822 change, coupled with the hard work and dedication on the part or of the new Prime Minister/Minister of Finance, signalled the 626- 3788 gradual restoration of fiscal credibility for a collapsing [email protected] nation as new affordable financing and grants are now Publisher: Alberto August beginning to trickle in. “The Newspaper that Editor: Nyani Azueta-August Circulation: Errol Gonzalez The opposition says: “No Job Noh Deh”. The reality is that cares and dares to bring the pervious administration was heading to the point, like a out the truth” Visit us online at : Caribbean sister nation, of being unable to meet their wage bill. belizenorth.com/ 42A Western Highway, thestar.htm And like the other sister Caribbean nation state having to turn belizenews.com/thestar to the dreaded International Monetary Fund for bail out Santa Elena, Cayo, star.belizeanlife.com financing Belize, Central America guidetobelize.info/star “No Job Deh” the opposition cries. The reality, under a PUP they were routinely paid with promissory notes. government, would have been far worst as while public officers The bottom line is that we must be thankful for small mercies worked, their pay would have been delayed or even worse they and we must count our blessings. Life is certainly not a bed of would get no pay at all. This would have been nothing new for roses but we must take comfort in the fact that it would have the PUP as some public officers still recall those days when been much, much worse under a PUP government. PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com Sunday, February 28, 2010 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 3 centers in these areas. A cordial invitaion is especially extended to everyone BY: Alma Crawford There are apecial days set District will commence the month to make that extra effort to Cayo District Education Center, aside where all preschools will of activities by parading in attend the Festival of Arts which Santa Elena, Thursday, February be simultaneously doing the Belmopan City as well as in the is will be held at ITVET in San 25, 2010: same activities. towns of Santa Elena/San Ignacio Ignacio on March 9 and 10 This year's Child Stimulation Some of the activities for and Benque Viejo. commencing at 6 p.m. Month in Belize will be cel- this year are: Church Service, Parents and the general In Belmopan the Festival of ebrated from March 1-26, 2010 Uniform Parade, Hug Day, public are encouraged to come out Arts will be held at the Seventh under the theme: "Investing In Flag Day, Festival of Arts, and support the children of our Day AdventistAuditorium com- Early Childhood Education = Sports Day and Parade/Rally.