“Stand Up For Your Rights

Dear All,

I really considered whether it was worthwhile writing this piece especially since we may still be in holiday mood and celebrating in peace and tranquility.  However, what moved me to still write this piece is the simple fact that not many people had much to celebrate with and many also, did not really see Christmas as they have done in past years.  In Cayo, the overall complaint this year is that things are BAD. Things are Rough.  There is no money to spare to buy stuff for the home, the family and even the children.  The business community has been complaining for quite some months now and it has exacerbated now at the end of the year when a large percent of the holiday items bought will remain in stock because the public did not come out to “big shop” as per usual.

In many countries, both local and central governments control their citizenry by sponsoring large public events like musical concerts, subsidized cinematographic events etc. etc.  In these times they would put out large Christmas trees and decorate with lights, musical instruments, depict the birth of Christ et. etc.  The Public would bring out their children and the entire family to watch the public displays.

In Cayo there was no such public display.  The Town Council could not bother to entertain its taxpayers with a small treat for the solemn occasion.  However, the Hon. Elvin Penner, known in San Ignacio as the “Impressionist”, did live up to his name.  His home was lit up from foundation to roof and in addition he has large, expensive decorations and displays on top of the roof.  The Penners really went on a spending rampage with “Taxpayer’s money” and of course the electrical costs are borne by the public purse.  The entire street on which he lives has very few if any lights displayed on their verandas and elsewhere due to the hard conditions everyone is experiencing.  It seems as a Slap in the face for the public, especially the citizens of Morathon in Cayo Northeast, for Penner to dress to Impress his house in this fashion.  This is Extravagance at its Best!

My friend and I were making some comments and we both agreed that Penner is NOT a smart politician.  As a matter of fact he is not a Smart anything.  You see, he lives immediately beside the Falcon Field which is a public park currently administered by BECOL on agreement with the Sport Council.  A smart politician would have dressed up a Christmas Tree and use all those decorations to make it a public display instead of a Private display.  Families could have taken their children to the park at night to view the Christmas tree with all its decorations, lights and other amenities.  But No!  Penner who probably doesn’t even believe in Christmas had to impress as he usually does, when he calls the Radio station ever so frequently just to hear himself speak.

A few residents complained because they claim Hon. Penner, this year, sent them a little bag with corn and two plantain suckers. Ninety nine % or more of town residents do not have farms, do not have space in their little backyards to plant the trees and cannot raise pigs in town due to public health legislation.  So, what should they do with the corn, Mr. Penner?

Extravagance for Elvin Penner however is not only left for Christmas.  On August 28, he celbrated the 15 year party for his daughter at Cahal Pech Tavern where some 60 cases of Tecate, Sol and Corona beer were consumed.  There was not one Belikin beer available.  Were these beers brought in legally?   If they were, were duties levied on the imported beer?  there are pictures of the unloading of this stock, so don’t fear that Mr. Penner can deny it or can threaten to sue on libel.  So, is this the way our government officials support our local and now failing industries?

Indeed we have some illiterate, self serving, carefree and vindictive monsters governing us today.  It is only time that now awaits the tell-tale of their demise and loss of power at the next elections.

Maybe one of the TV stations would like to video Penner’s house so that the public can witness the exuberance of this man and the extravagance he has exhibited while others in the community hardly have anything to eat.

Belizeans, Stand Up for Your Rights.  Stand Up and Be Heard!

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