News from the Nation

Compiled by the Vibes Newsteam

City Council axes Davis, Vangani, ‘Fada’ and Cassanova, suspends Buhdrani

Belize City, Monday, October 26, 2009

Reports are that last Friday the Belize City Council fired City Administrator Dr. Kiran Vangani, and suspended Kiran Budhrani. The women had both been charged along with Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers and former City Financial Director Dwain Davis, who was fired late last Thursday, in the so-called under-depositing scandal.

Reports are that Kim Cassanova, who also worked in the finance department, and Philip “Fada” Henry, who is a close associate of Moya, were also fired.

Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers is expected to officially report back to her office on Monday, November 2nd even though her party reiterated at a National Party Council meeting last Saturday that they have every intention of expelling her from their ranks.

FIU Director named to political party’s ethics committee

Several prominent citizens are questioning the appointment of and acceptance by the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit Attorney Marilyn Williams to an ethics committee of the United Democratic Party.

Her colleagues before the bar are saying that the blatantly partisan appointment is not befitting of her official government position as FIU director, and erodes public confidence in her integrity and independence.

Belizean American retiree murdered in Hattieville

Belize City, Monday, October 26, 2009

A retired resident of Hattieville was found partially decapitated on Friday. The victim was 59 year old Hubert Tillett who lives alone at the far end of the Dollar Bank Road in the village.

Family members said they became suspicious when they went to the house on Friday evening at around 4:00pm and found Hubert Tillett’s pickup in the driveway but he was nowhere in sight. The house had also been ransacked. They searched the property and found Tillett floating face up in a manmade pool in the back of his yard. He had a large cut wound on his face and neck. Bloody stones were found in the area next to his body.

Hubert Tillett is a Belizean American from Los Angeles who often returned to Belize following his retirement. A post mortem conducted has certified the cause of death as partial decapitation.

Citco summoned councilor’s business for non-payment

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Belize City Councillor Leila Peyrefitte just two days ago rushed to have her family’s business Peyrefitte Brothers, pay off almost $2,000 in Trade License fees and fines for being in arrears for seven months.

The documentation shows that Peyrefitte Brothers had been summoned to appear in Court to answer for the failure to pay from July of this year but apparently no judgement was made against the councilor’s family business.

Councilor Peyrefitte has been embroiled in controversy over her Council portfolio responsibility for the collection of Trade License and other fees during the Council’s 2006-2009 term since an audit recently revealed the Belize City Council failed to collect over four hundred thousand dollars in said fees.

Councilor Peyrefitte has acknowledged the shortfall but claims it is as a result of trade offs and write offs to businesses, but the audit points out that not only is this practice illegal, but the accounting for how much was traded-off for what product or service is sketchy at best, and non-existent in many cases.

Minister of Health’s new $160,000 Toyota

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Minister of Health Pablo Marin just two days ago took possession of a brand new $160,000 2010 white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, having bought his previously assigned Government issued 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser for a quote, unquote “very favorable price.”

The Belizean electorate is left to wonder why the Minister of Health needs a brand new expensive vehicle when there are persistent reports of chronic shortages of drugs, equipment and services within the public health system.

No Obama visit, says US Ambassador

Belmopan, Tuesday, October 27, 2009

New US ambassador to Belize Vinai Tummalapally officially met with the Belize media for the first time today and discussed a number of issues. During the discussion he was asked if US President Barak Obama will actually come to Belize. In April Prime Minister Dean Barrow met President Barak Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and said that the US president would come to Belize.

Ambassador Thummalapally said quite diplomatically that he did put that question to the president, and that President Obama had said he would love to come, but is not sure that with all that he has on his plate if it would be possible.

Ambassador Tummalapally also spoke on the matter of G.O.B’s taking over Belize Telemedia. The Ambassador said, and we quote, “The United States views the B.T.L. takeover by the government of Belize with some concern in that the United States hopes and expects Belize to conduct itself in a respectful fashion. We believe that’s going to happen in terms of compensating the shareholders appropriately and follow all the international rules and regulations and laws. So it kind of raised a lot of eyebrows when that happened, but clearly we do not have a position or a stance or a huge concern in that at this point. We believe that the government of Belize will conduct itself in a proper manner.”

Mennonite welder electrocuted

A Mennonite welder of Shipyard in Orange Walk was killed after he was accidentally electrocuted. On Monday, 37 year old David Schmidt was welding his boat on the New River along with Juan Martinez, also of the village, when the incident happened.

Apparently a sudden surge sent Schmidt into the water. The body was later retrieved and transported to the Northern Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Anti citrus greening law signed

Belmopan, Thursday, October 29, 2009

Following the signing into law of Statutory Instrument No. 122 of 2009 on October 26th, 2009 by the Minister of Agriculture anyone wishing to move citrus plants will be required to obtain a plant movement permit from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority. The restriction is being implemented to limit the spread of the devastating disease citrus greening in the nation’s citrus industry.

Anyone who moves citrus plants without a permit is liable upon summary conviction to a fine or period imprisonment or to both fine and period of imprisonment. A plant movement permit will only be granted for the restricted movement of plants within certain areas as to be outlined in the permit. Citrus greening reduced production in Florida’s citrus industry by as much as 16% this year.

Cayo cops arrest two for love murder

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Police in San Ignacio have arrested and charged Saidi Salazar and David Uk, a sister and brother of Santa Elena, with last week’s fatal slaying of taxi operator Mario Chi.

Police Inspector Dinsdale Thompson told the media that they believe the motive was jealousy and that the department is still seeking a third person. He believes that person would be able to assist the police in determining who the gunman was, where the murder weapon is, as well as how the murder was planned and executed.

Chi was shot last Sunday night as he sat with his family around his dinner table, by a lone gunman who entered his home with his face masked by a white T shirt.

GOB makes BWS final payment

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

It was reported today that the Government of Belize has made the final payment for the re-purchase of 83% of the shares of the Belize Water Services from former owners Cascal. It was the fourth two point seven million U.S. dollar payment since GOB initially paid fourteen point nine US million dollars in October 2005.

Today BWS is asking for a 25% increase in water rates.

Burglars rob Griga Museum

Dangriga, Wednesday, October 27, 2009

Burglars made off with a huge haul that included two computers, a printer, 2 UPS, a flat screen television, a radio, a computer monitor, a scanner, a Kodak digital camera, two DVD players and a variety of cultural DVDs from the Gulisi Museum in Dangriga Monday night.

The Belize Times is asking anyone who knows anything about this to call the authorities or call the Crimestoppers Hotline. Vibes news is also urging all Belizeans not to buy anything you believe may be stolen.

Negligent driver heavy fines

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Primary school teacher Andre Torres of Belize City pleaded guilty to manslaughter by negligence in the court room of Justice Michelle Arana today.  On December seventh 2008 seventeen year old Emelio Armando Santiago a student, lost his life in a traffic accident, between miles four and five on the Western Highway after Torres lost control of the Mitsubishi pick-up truck they were travelling in and collided into a lamp post.

Justice Arana ordered Torres to pay $7,000 to the court by November 20^th, 2010. He was further ordered to pay a compensation fine of s$6,000 to the family of the deceased by December 20th, 2010. In default, his assets will be seized. Torres’ license was also revoked for the next two years.