50c 1 October, 2011 Volume 2, Issue 10 El Chiclero BENQUE VIEJO TOWN CO UNCIL Thousands Turn Out In Belmopan For Funeral of Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price The common sentiment that the Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price was equally at home among kings and heads of state as among common folks and the rural poor was aptly born out by the crowd at his funeral Mon- day, Sept. 26, 2011. The giant tents erected to provide some shade from the scorching Belizean sun could contain only a small portion of the those wishing to participate in the Mass and final farewell to a man often called the Father of this country. As Aaron Humes wrote in a front page story in the Sept. 25 Amandala, “He took a small nation on the Caribbean coast of Central America, beholden to the behe- moth—the United Kingdom of Great Brit- ain and Northern Ireland - with no dis- cernible means of providing for itself apart from the flagging timber industry, and in a The Body of Rt. Hon. George Price “Father of Independence,” carried by Honor political career spanning more than five Guard from the funeral service in Belmopan, destined for burial in Belize City. decades, made it a mostly self-sufficient Prayer. carried by the Official Pall Bearers of the nation with a distinct identity, uniting the Hon. John Briceño, Leader of the Belize Defense Force, and Mass started hodgepodge o9f cultures that at times Opposition gave voice to his admira- promptly at 9:00. threatened to make Belize more like its tion of the Rt. Hon. Mr. Price, fol- Central American neighbors, which were Rev. Eugene Crawford gave the first lowed by a powerful rendition of drenched in blood.” reading, Rev. Roosevelt Papouloute the Francis Reneau’s composition for The service was impressive with the pre- second, Right Rev. Phillip Wright read orchestra and choir, “Hymn to Be- cision of the Honor Guard, the solemnity the Gospel and Most Rev. Dorick M. lize.” Wright, D.D., Bishop of Belize City and of the proceedings and the punctuality of Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister Belmopan delivered the homily. the schedule. Mayor Nicholas Ruiz said of Belize delivered the final remarks the Rt. Hon. Mr. Price would have appreci- Rev. Canon Leroy Flowers read the prior to closing prayers and the Na- ated that, as he was a punctual man. Prayers of the Faithful, Dr. John Waight tional Anthem, saying that Belize will All invited guests were at their seats delivered the eulogy and Mrs. Elizabeth never have another leader quite Zabaneh read the Belizean National when the casket arrived at 8:55 a.m., like the Rt. Hon. George Price. P a g e 2 El Chiclero October1, 2011 Because we are friends, I am biased, but where I had my first bucket bath, T h a n k Y o u he has done more for Benque in the met my first tarantula, contracted Den- It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m at home past three years than most people will gue Fever, and provided no end of here in Benque, working on the last issue ever know, and will leave the town a amusement with my attempts at Span- of El Chiclero. I wanted to write a simple better place for having served. I know ish. I was fortunate to be able to help column about thank you and good-bye, we will keep in touch. prepare for their son Cefas’ wedding, but it’s hard. I get up and play my guitar My host family, Imer and Sharon although I missed Febe’s wedding be- a bit, trying to find some words, but they Hernandez, treated me like family from cause of a hurricane. Thanks to the are slow in coming. In two weeks, I’ll be day one, and I always felt comfortable Tzib family. back in the States but a piece of my heart that I could turn to them at any time if I I’m not going to name all those at the will remain always here in Benque. were in a jam. I spent many Sundays at Town Hall who are friends, those in This is a special town, Benque Viejo Del the afternoon Bar-B-Que, arriving early business where I shopped and ate, and Carmen, cleanest community in Belize, and leaving late, and spent one memo- those who helped support El Chiclero safest, and the community has been very rable weekend at a family wedding in by placing ads; I know I would inadver- generous with me. It was your Mayor, San Esteban, much of which I remem- tently forget someone and I’m not bold Nick Ruiz who invited Peace Corps to ber. Thank you Imer, Sharon and fam- enough to take that chance. But know send a volunteer to the Town Council, but ily. that if you ever travel to the States, mi he then went out of his way to include me When I was in training in San Anto- casa es su casa…and that’s for real. in much of what makes Benque tick, and nio, I also became part of the family of Thank you all for making me feel like in the process we have become friends. Severo and Christina Tzib. That’s a Benqueño. Roger German Clarifying The July Chiclero Municipal Development Project Story It was generous of the editor of El Faro- treatment.” Which is why the World El Chiclero apologizes to Farolito lito to mention El Chiclero in his publica- Bank said it is requiring dictatorial editor if the information in the July tion, and it’s good to know people are oversight and control. SIF Project Coor- issue was written “in a casual dismal attempting to follow the convoluted path dinator Ernest Raymond said “Every column, buried on page 6, which had of the Belize Municipal Development Pro- little thing, the World Band has to ap- confusing scanty information which ject (MDP) funded by the World Bank prove and sign off.” Mr. Raymond said Engineering Co’s were invited to bid.” and administered by the Belize Social that right now the “evaluation report for We hope the information written here Investment Fund (SIF). the design consultants is being final- helps clarify a bit. But it is a very con- fusing process. For more information It appears there is still some misinfor- ized…then a supervisory consultant will please follow up at the SIF website mation making the rounds, and we would come on board.” www.sifbelize.org, click on BMDP like to clear that up to the extent that we The only things selected at the July (Belize Municipal Development Fund) can. The editor indicated that “We the 24th meeting were the six engineering or call Mr. Ernest Raymond the Project people want to have a say in selecting the contractors who would submit bids to Coordinator for the BMDP at SIF 822- contractor who has the best deal…We draw up plans for the projects for all 7 0508. He is well informed on BMDP. want to get the most streets paved…We municipalities. SIF and the World Bank want to select a Company of our own won’t be sending out a request for bids choice…We demand to know from contractors until after that engi- Mini Editorial “Now” (Farolito emphasis) what compa- neering firm is selected and then that For the Benque Independence Queen nies were invited to bid…Info Broder firm needs to draw up the plans, and to choose a time of both national (sic)!” then those plans can be sent out for bid, mourning and public celebration to All very good points. But the short an- a process that will last one month under chastise the Mayor of Benque showed swer is, we the people no longer have a World Bank guidelines. When those both immaturity and tactlessness. contractors submit the bids to SIF and say. The World Bank has made that emi- As a good friend said to me, “ THAT the committee to analyze, and those nently clear in the way they are requiring queen is hardly worth the atten- bids are then submitted to the World the loan to be administered by SIF with tion...funny how you could see so much Bank, and a contractor selected, it is their oversight. This does speak to an- character (or lack of character) when the possible some dirt somewhere will begin other demand of Farolito, “We want to other girl was crowned...of course, any to move. Perhaps as early as late De- select a Company that knows that bribing of the girls would be disappointed but cember, according to Mr. Raymond. or paying “Kickbacks” or paying money her reaction showed so, so much more.” More likely January, if history is any under the table is a criminal offence And that’s about all the ink it’s worth. to get the contract or preferential indication. October1, 2011 El Chiclero P a g e 3 introduce you to Japanese culture. The impossible to describe what Japan is Chapter 11: detail and content that I introduce to with words alone. Thus, you read my Notebook you might be not be exactly the same as articles to be introduced to Japanese another Japanese person would explain, culture, and perhaps become interested From Japan but it is what I myself feel and perceive in Japan, or you imagine what Japan is By Kota Murakami as Japanese culture. like, and that is Japan. Japanese culture is one of the most This year was a very serious year for It’s been one year that I have been unique cultures in world.