Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1 NO. 3450 BELIZE CITY, FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021 (28 PAGES) $1.50 GoB and Joint Unions in standoff Unions say no to cuts, GoB says it must PM Briceño to present BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 8, 2021 The negotiations between austerity budget the Joint Unions Negotiation Team and the Government of Belize have come to an end. The parties are now at a deadlock, with neither of the two showing any intention of budging. The Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceño, released a statement on Wednesday evening, following a string of emergency Zoom meetings that were held by the Public Service Union (PSU), whose members had received Please turn toPage 27 BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 days before the 2021-2022 budget The Prime Minister, Hon. John presentation, scheduled for Friday, Briceño, issued a statement on April 9, 2021. Woman killed by Clifford Hyde Wednesday evening in which he gave The Prime Minister is expected to citizens yet another snapshot of the present various austerity measures, brother’s girlfriend murdered; fiscal state of the country. This statement was delivered just two Please turn toPage 27 on Easter Sunday daughter shot Belize receives 33,600 vaccine Joint Unions doses from COVAX say no to 10% salary cuts (See story on page 25) PSU asks PM to “rein BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 1, 2021 At around 11:30 a.m. on in” Chebat GRACIE ROCK, Belize District, Mon. Wednesday, March 31, the Ministry Apr. 5, 2021 of Health and Wellness received (See story on page 27) On Easter Sunday, tragedy struck a 33,600 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca family in Gracie Rock Village, Belize CAMALOTE, Cayo District, Sat. COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the District. Venecia Staine, 24, was Apr. 3, 2021 country from the COVAX Facility. At reportedly stabbed and killed by her The Hyde family in Camalote, the Philip Goldson International COVID-19 brother’s common-law wife, Leanne which has been grappling with the Airport, where the first batch of the Davis during an altercation on what was violent deaths of several members of COVAX vaccines arrived via an air to have been a peaceful Easter Sunday the family over the last few years, is carrier, Minister Michel Chebat, update morning. (See story on page 25) She was Please turn toPage 26 Please turn toPage 26 Please turn toPage 26 Page 2 AMANDALABelize Friday, April 9, 2021 Vaccination of tourism PAHO calls for Better workers begins Labeling of Foods Early this year, the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Anthony Mahler, negotiated an allocation of eight thousand vaccines to be administered to members of over forty key tourism entities in the country. The vaccination of workers in the tourism industry may fast- track its bounce-back and aid in the rebounding of our economy. The first set of tourism stakeholders received their first dose of the COVID-19 by Kory Leslie (freelance writer) working conditions, discrimination BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 1, 2021 vaccine on Thursday, April 1, at the and social exclusion. Globally, the The Government of Belize is Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 vast majority of vaccine doses inviting frontline workers in the in Belize City. Among those Each year April 7th is observed as administered have been in a few tourism industry to get vaccinated as vaccinated were Nicole Solano, CEO World Health Day, which is aimed at wealthy countries or those producing Phase 2C of the country’s inoculation of the Ministry of Tourism and creating awareness for specific health vaccines. Thanks to the COVAX program begins. With the recent Diaspora Relations; and Ted Tejada, themes and highlight priority areas of initiative, more nations are now arrival of a shipment of vaccines president of the Belize Hotels focus for the World Health beginning to receive vaccine from the COVAX facility, the country Association. Several other senior Organization (WHO). For over fifty supplies, but most people in low- and has secured a sufficient supply of tourism industry stakeholders were years, World Health Day has middle-income countries still must vaccines to ensure its inoculation also present to receive their first jab. provided an opportunity to shed light watch and wait. Such inequities are program can continue without a The initial allocation of vaccines on issues affecting physical health, immoral, and they are dangerous for pause. At this time both phase one for the tourism industry can only fully mental health, maternal and childcare our health, our economies and our and two of the program are underway. vaccinate 4,000 members of the and climate change. This year’s societies. As we recover from the During phase two, vaccine jabs are industry. According to CEO Solano, events fell under the theme: “Building COVID-19 pandemic, we must being administered to teachers, the remaining workers in the industry a Fairer, Healthier World.” And implement policies and allocate police officers, parliamentarians, and will be vaccinated during the other included was a webinar to discuss resources so all can enjoy the same an initial set of tourism stakeholders. phases of the vaccine rollout. front-of-package labeling of products health outcomes. That means in the Caribbean. achieving the Sustainable The webinar was hosted by the Development Goals by 2030. And it Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) means delivering universal health Two female cops fined for in partnership with PAHO, the OECS coverage so everyone, everywhere, Commission and UNICEF as a part can thrive. On this World Health Day, talk show appearance of a regional campaign entitled: let us commit to work together for a “Now More Than Ever: Better healthy, equitable world.” Labels, Better Choices, Better The webinar also revealed that Health”. The webinar’s extensive CARICOM member states are in the panel of experts from regional public process of voting to adopt a health institutions, academia, civil Caribbean Regional Standard to society and UN agencies discussed introduce specifications for these the diseases being faced in the front-of-package warning labels. The Caribbean, such as obesity, diabetes, panel discussed the importance of etc., due to individuals’ ignorance this standard as well as taking regarding their dietary choices. Prior advantage of the use of octagonal to the start of the discussion, the warning labels on food items, which United Nations Secretary General have been proven to be most effective shared this message on the topic: with consumers. The HCC’s “On this World Health Day, we campaign is expected to continue for highlight the inequalities and a year and is intended to highlight injustices of our health systems. The WHO’s constitutional principle that COVID-19 crisis has revealed how “the enjoyment of the highest unequal our societies are. Within attainable standard of health is one countries, illness and death from of the fundamental rights of every BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 who initiated the legal battle with the COVID-19 has been higher among human being without distinction of In late January, we reported of a department appeared on Channel 5’s people and communities that contend race, religion, political belief, groundbreaking legal victory in favor Open Your Eyes morning talk show with poverty, unfavorable living and economic or social condition.” of two female police officers who to speak about their journey and faced disciplinary charges for discuss some of the trials they faced refusing to remove their dreadlocks. along the way. Following their The Supreme Court ruled that the appearance on the morning show, the regulation which prevented them from two officers, Alleeya Wade and Easter blaze leaves wearing this particular hairstyle was Shantel Berry, were subjected to an infringement on the constitutional disciplinary charges by the Police 18 homeless rights of the officers. Department. Following the landmark ruling, According to the Commissioner of COROZAL TOWN, Sun. Apr. 4, of this fire. Commissioner of Police, Chester Police, they breached the media 2021 An initial investigation revealed Williams said that the department policy regulations of the Belize A little after midnight on Easter that the blaze could have been caused would respect the decision of the Police Department which mandate Sunday, Rosita Gilharry was alerted by candles that were being used at court and amend their regulations that officers obtain the permission of that one of the houses in her yard was the time. Fortunately, no one was pertaining to the specific hairstyle, the Police Commissioner before on fire. That single blaze soon spread injured in the fire, but all the property but he stuck to his personal position making any media appearance to to three other small houses in the yard, of the residents of the homes were that the women’s dreadlocks were not speak on internal matters. The which were all burned to the ground. destroyed. Police are currently suitable for their job. According to police, a total of 18 awaiting an official report from the In early February, the two officers Please turn toPage 3 people were left displaced as a result National Fire Service. Friday, April 9, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 3 Curfew extended to Mid-April Poultry prices up by Kory Leslie (freelance writer) BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 7, 2021 Earlier this week, news outlets began reporting that poultry prices would be rising. Belizeans will now be paying six cents more per pound for whole chicken, ten-cents a pound more for special chicken, and sixteen cents more per pound for chicken cuts. The inflation of prices is reportedly attributed to the increase in the prices of soybean and corn, which are used for animal feed. The manager of the Belize Poultry Association, Armando Cowo, provided the following explanation as an invasion of African Swine Fever, BELIZE CITY, Weds.