UDP Politics as Usual…

More taxes to come…

Some months ago, when it was revealed that there would be something like a $60million shortfall in the budget, the Prime Minister was asked what he would do to bridge that deficit. He claimed that he had no clue at the time. Just weeks ago, when the question was again raised, the Prime Minister again claimed ignorance, saying that he and his Cabinet were working on a couple options. On Friday, when the Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega was asked the same question, they were still working on options, according to him. But get this – one of those options is more taxation. The Deputy Prime Minister, who still hasn’t been able to read the memo which expressly forbids him from opening his mouth in public, revealed that an increase in taxes is definitely on the table. Now Belizeans know what they can expect when the Prime Minister reads the budget on Monday – an increase in taxes; digging even deeper into our already empty pockets. Soon after that, you’ll hear the announcement about retrenchment. The writing is on the wall. You saw it here first…

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Priorities…

And the questions continue to come up. With the economy in recession and with the Prime Minister on national television and radio announcing that the coming year will be the worst ever, why is GOB spending money where it is not necessary. For example, now that we common Belizeans have to tighten our already worn belts, the $1.5million paid to Lois Young leaves a distinctly sour taste in our mouths. The fancy government rides which continue to be bought for privileged UDPs leave another sour taste. The enrichment of a few while the majority starves continues apace, notwithstanding the announcement of recession. So what gives? Will the coming year be another year of plenty for the Barrow clan while we struggle to put food on the table? Only time will tell.

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Little Napoleon…

The little man from down south is in the news again. Seems like whenever UDP Minister Jr. Juan Coy is in the news it’s for something he did wrong. The last time it was all about contraband, and this time he sicced six police officers on a villager who dared to disagree with him at a public meeting. What the hell? Apparently Coy was presenting his slate for the upcoming village council elections and one gentleman, Mr. Bartolo Teul, stood up and voiced his disagreement with the slate. Coy wasted no time in ordering the police officers on duty, six of them armed to the teeth, to forcibly eject Mr. Teul from the meeting. Mr. Teul, the husband of UDP Senator Pulcheria Teul and a well known conservation activist in his own right, was also issued with a bogus charge for assaulting a police officer while he was being ejected. Witnesses say Teul slipped when he was pushed out and held onto one of the officers for support – thus the charge of assault. Apparently crime is not so much of a problem, because the UDP area rep can summon six policemen armed with rifles and pistols to provide security at his public meeting. One villager stated that this is the first time there has been such a police presence at any public meeting. What’s going on down south? We’ll watch with interest to see how the Prime Minister handles this one, since Coy is known as one of the expendable ones.

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Eco-Green Nepotism…

When Minister of Agriculture Rene Montero was on national television the other day singing the praises of the new Eco-Green company which has been granted a lucrative contract by government, one could have been forgiven for thinking Montero was getting a little bit on the side as a paid PR consultant. He just went on and on and on. So then it was no big surprise to hear that the company is part owned by Montero’s son. That was the rumour on the street anyway before it was confirmed by the paper trail. Apparently what this UDP did was cancel a contract given to a Belizean investor without any reason and award it to the company part owned by Montero’s son? Is that nepotism or what? Will the Prime Minister have anything to say about this particular case? Or will he be silent since Montero is actually just following in his footsteps, since Barrow is the acknowledged king of nepotism?

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Not enough…

Finally, after weeks of public outcry, the Police arrested and charged Dr. John Gough for beating up a minor. The hopelessly incompetent Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo was quick to jump into the media spotlight and boast that no matter who breaks the law, they will be dealt with as long as he is in charge. That’s just bogus – a bunch of political bulls@#t which means absolutely nothing. Perdomo needs to explain why it took almost a month for a man with UDP connections to be charged for an act of violence when the evidence was crystal clear. Perdomo needs to explain his role in a senior Police Officer showing up at the Police Station in shorts trying to intimidate the parents of the victim so they would drop charges against Gough. Perdomo needs to explain why the good doctor was charged only with wounding when the minor is alleging that he was beaten with a metal object resembling a gun – an action which carries a charge of aggravated assault and brings with it some jail time. Those are the questions Perdomo needs to answer. But you know what – nobody believes the crap coming out of his mouth anyway. People already know what went on and what’s going on. People already know that if it was not for the pressure and stink, the good doctor would have been given a political pass – a UDP don’t go to jail don’t face charges do whatever the hell you want card, so to speak…

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As for the rest…

And as for the rest of it – those who have eyes to see are seeing it, minus the red-tinted glasses. The report on the investigation into the death of Chris Galvez seems absolutely bogus. Hey, call it what you will and pat Perdomo on the back if you want, but the thing is that the report just doesn’t hold any water. Investigations show that the entire thing wasn’t handled properly, from the Police arrival at the scene to the improper securing of the scene to the inability (or unwillingness) to provide first aid to a man lying on the ground dying to the logging of events to the detention of a suspect to the release of that suspect. Absolutely nothing was done right. The report says that. But that same report claims that investigators found no evidence of professional misconduct. WTF!!! What more evidence do they need? But anyway, the report was prepared by a few civilians acting at the behest of the politicos who had first dibs on the finished product, so what did we expect anyway?

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RIP Teddy…

The young brother Teddy Murillo was laid to rest on Sunday, but the upheaval over his death will continue for a long time to come. The family is still convinced that a police officer killed him and the appearance is that the Police Department seems hell-bent on protecting one of their own. The man in uniform accused of the murder, the man found with a mask just a week before the murder, is still walking the streets armed and dangerous. It is doubtful that anything will come out of this, at least from the official side. Just ask the mother of murdered businessman Jason Coombs what has come out of the investigation? Just ask the widow of murder cane-farmer Atanacio Gutierrez what has come out of that investigation? That’s the reality out her today.

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Two more dead…

Two more men died at the hands of Police this past weekend – one by a bullet shot from a gun wielded by a policeman, the other while in police custody. The reality is that the official stories in both these cases may be the perfect truth. Young Customs officer Matias Duran may have jumped out of a Police pickup to his death. Yong Mr. Neal may indeed have been pointing a weapon at the police officer who then shot him in self-defense. But the reality is that nobody believes the Police anymore. There is no trust in the Police anymore. There is no confidence in the Police anymore. Today there is an active hate and fear and distrust of the Police Department, those who are sworn to protect and serve us. That’s not a good thing. How much more will it take for Mr. Barrow to tell Carlos Perdomo to pack up and leave. Crime is at an all time high…corruption within the department is at an all time high…political manipulation is at an all time high…morale within the department is at an all time low and trust in the department is at an all time low. What more will it take, Mr. Prime Minister?

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