Friday, January 8, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1 NO. 3428 BELIZE CITY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 (32 PAGES) $1.50 Former Works Minister and CEO under investigation Rene Montero, former Minister of Works, Detainee Reportedly refutes all allegations made against him by Minister Julius Espat. Hangs Himself In BELMOPAN, Wed. Jan. 6, Police Cell Block 2021 During a press conference held by the Ministry of BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Jan. 7, Infrastructure Development 2021 (MOID) on Wednesday, The Commissioner of January 6, 2021, Minister Julius Police has ordered an official Espat alleged that former investigation into what Minister of Works, Rene appears to be a suicide by a Montero, while he held the reins mental patient in police at the Ministry, used human and custody at the Queen Street physical resources from the Police Station. The deceased, Ministry to carry out Gregory Bowen, 38, was development of private lands in taken into custody over the which he allegedly had personal weekend and was found dead interest or investments. Espat in the cell block on Monday, claims that this misuse could January 4 — after reportedly not have occurred without the using his pants to hang knowledge of former Chief himself. The police, in a press Please turn to Page 30 release issued on Monday, asserted they were unaware that Bowen was mentally Health Ministry speaks on unstable, but Bowen’s family Please turn toPage 31 morgue mix-up COROZAL DISTRICT, Thurs. Jan. 7, First Cabinet 2021 The family of the late Francisco Cante, who were already grieving his Meeting of 2021 recent death, were further traumatized when there was a mixup at the morgue at the Northern Regional Hospital that resulted in his body being handed over for burial under the name “John Doe” on New Year’s Eve. The Ministry of Health and Wellness, after investigating the matter, released a public statement dated January 6, 2021, outlining the events leading up to this unfortunate mishap. According to their report, on December 24, 2020, the body of an unidentified elderly man was found and labeled “John Doe” by the Police Department before being transported to the Northern Regional and the usual testing procedures were Hospital. carried out, including swabbing of the Upon the transfer of the unidentified body to determine whether the man’s body to the hospital, doctors at the facility pronounced the man dead, Please turn toPage 30 (See story on page 31) Page 2 AMANDALABelize Friday, January 8, 2021 COMPOL gives thumbs up to cannabis industry In the case of the trade of a negative impact, because one of the other out. I think that it could have marijuana, however, police issues we have right now is that many a some positive impact in terms of them busts and subsequent times these gang members are warring being a part of the industry and perhaps prosecution in court could or going at each other over turf for the what can also happen is that instead of soon become a thing of the sale of marijuana. So if it is that you giving license to plant to big-time past. The PUP made clear in have a market where they can sell their companies or big-time people, we can their manifesto their intentions marijuana legally to a company that is maybe give license to some of these to introduce a controlled going to process the marijuana and do same young men that they can grow, marijuana industry as a means whatever needs to be done with it, then and then they can sell to the companies of revenue-generation for the there is a market for all of them, as that are going to engage in the nation. Several Ministers, opposed to them fighting to sell here processing of the marijuana. So I think including the Minister of New or fighting to sell there or killing each it can work for them.” Growth Industries, Hon. Kareem Musa, have gone on record to support the launch of this endeavor. Back in December, Hon. Musa highlighted that the hemp and marijuana industries were regulated through “unusual” laws, and with the right BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Jan. 7, 2020 mechanisms and legislation in place, The war against the illegal drug trade these industries could be very has been a driving force in many of profitable to the country, particularly the major operations carried out by our if they are linked with our currently law enforcement officers and officials. ailing tourism industry. In addition, the Only a few days into the New Year, Cabinet has approved the formation police officers have already made of an inter-ministerial committee tasked several drug busts, the most recent of with reviewing the country’s existing which occurred in Orange Walk on drug legislation in order to recommend Tuesday when officers found multiple amendments and facilitate the parcels containing a total of 6.3 development of the hemp industry. pounds of marijuana at an abandoned Referring to the conversation on location in Orange Walk Town. legalization of marijuana, even Notably, three members of the Commissioner of Police Chester Immigration Department of Belize were Williams expressed the view that it recently able to walk away free from could alleviate some of Belize’s charges that were brought against them problems in relation to crime. These in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court were his remarks made earlier this Food Assistance for drug trafficking after they were week during an interview with Channel busted with seven pounds of marijuana 5 Belize: in August of 2020. “I don’t think that it is going to have Program Reopened Two new Public and Bank Holidays in Belize BELMOPAN. Wed. Jan. 6, 2021 any assistance through BOOST or On Wednesday morning, the BCCAT, households not receiving a Ministry of Human Development, pension, single-parent families and Families and Indigenous Peoples’ families with children, elderly family Affairs announced that applications are members, or members with diverse now open for the newly configured abilities. Food Assistance Program. Applicants These persons are asked to apply are asked to visit the Ministry’s online online at the previously listed online platform at address, or call the Ministry of Human BELMOPAN, Mon. Jan. 4, 2021 traditionally celebrated on October 12, www.humandevelopment.gov.bz/status Development or their Social Assistance Two new public and bank holidays has been removed from this year’s to register. Program hotlines for assistance. Those were proposed by the Government of calendar of holidays. This day was This program is a consolidation of the numbers are 0-800-643-4357 for DIGI Belize and gazetted on December 30, previously designated as Christopher COVID-19 Food Assistance Program customers or 0-800-2255-643 for 2020. On January 15, Belizeans are Columbus Day, but has been widely and the Grocery Bag Program once SMART customers. Those numbers scheduled to observe the first ever, criticized across the world in recent known as the “Pantry”. The Ministry is will be active between the hours of 8:00 George Price Day. The holiday is years. asking all citizens who were beneficiaries a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from Monday to dedicated to the Father of the Nation Many believe it paid homage to the of either of these programs to apply for Thursday and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 and National Hero, Rt. Hon. George European conquerors who plundered the new Food Assistance Program. The p.m. on Fridays. Cadle Price. Of note, January 15 is also and pillaged the New World of its program is specifically geared toward The application process will be open George Price’s birthday. human and physical resources. In some making basic provisions available for the for only 9 business days, from January Also, for the first time in Belize’s parts of the globe, it has been renamed very needy within Belize’s population 6, 2021, to January 18, and those history, there will be a public and bank Indigenous People’s Day. This year, in and the most vulnerable households applications will be evaluated by teams holiday in the country on the day that Belize, it has been completely removed across the country. at the Ministry before they are approved. marks the emancipation of slavery in the from our list of holidays. The release states that priority will Those persons whose applications are British Commonwealth. August 1 is These changes were put forward by be given to households in which no one approved will start receiving food widely recognized as Emancipation Day the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. is working, those who are not receiving assistance on January 22. across the Commonwealth. Since August Kareem Musa. A motion to confirm 1 falls on a Sunday this year, however, these new holidays will be tabled in the the Government of Belize has declared House of Representatives at its next AMANDALA - The best there is! August 2, 2021 as Freedom Day. sitting, scheduled for Friday, January AMANDALA - The best there is! Of note, Pan American Day, 8, 2021. Friday, January 8, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 3 COVID-19 Update: 11,108 Confirmed Cases, 10,312 Recoveries, 536 Active Cases, 260 Fatalities BELIZE CITY, Wed. Jan. 6, 2021 — one from the Toledo District, the According to the Acting Director of other from Cayo. A total of 16 Health Services, Dr. Melissa Diaz- hospitalizations were recorded on Musa, recent data reported by the January 6th as well. Of those 16 Ministry of Health and Wellness persons, two were admitted to an (MOHW) is showing a fluctuation of intensive care unit on that day.