Despite his disgraceful and shameful record as Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo gets to be Acting PM

Belize City, January 18, 2011

This is scary. For the next five days Belize’s maximum leader of government will BY DEFAULT be a failed Minister of Government whose disgraceful record of protecting Belize’s national security caused national embarrassment and forced his replacement as candidate in the upcoming elections.

Belizeans cannot sleep well at night knowing Carlos Perdomo is presently the acting Prime Minister of Belize. Perdomo has been the worst Minister of National Security Belize ever. Under his watch, the nation’s security came under constant attack and the scandals over allegations of visa and passport sales were abound. Planes carrying drugs and trafficking humans landed on our national highways and our airport late at night. Suspect individuals carrying legit visas entered and passed through our country, with little security checks. In fact, even after Perdomo’s National Security portfolio was stripped, and he was given Defense and Immigration – the blunders continued. It was under his watch that the Belize Defense Force compound was breached and the highest security officers’ armoury was broken into. The result was that dozens of high-powered weapons were stolen. It is also under his watch that Belize’s borders are under constant attack, with absolutely no intervention from Government. Is this how the Barrow Administration rewards incompetence and shame?

While having the disgraced Minister as the maximum decision-maker is frightening, the reason behind it is worrying. The actual PM is on another 5-day hiatus. Actually, since November last year, Prime Minister Dean Barrow has been exiting the country every three weeks. Barrow left the country on Saturday once more to accompany his wife who is receiving chemotherapy as part of her breast cancer treatment in Miami.

Since coming to office, Barrow has been flown out of the country constantly. Our checks between 2009 and 2011 show he was away in February 2009, April 2009, June 2009, August 2009, November 2009, April 2010, June 2010, July 2010, August 2010, October 2010, January 2011, August 2011, September 2011 and October 2011, just to name a few instances.

Prime Minister Barrow’s approach to governance over the last four years has been about ‘que sera, sera’… ‘whatever will be, will be’. This is why the economy is now in shambles, the infrastructure all over the country has crumbled, crime has become deep-rooted and poverty has increased. Belizeans are not better off today – four years after under the UDP.

Now, even after having abandoned the nation in times of great need, Barrow says he will continue to be Missing In Action. At his most recent press conference he announced that he will be leaving for a full week every month, to travel with his wife as she undergoes chemotherapy. It sounded a bit as if Barrow was calling it a quits, but we didn’t quite hear him say he was giving up his salary and perks. How can Barrow expect to run the country for three weeks every month? How will he deal with the severity of poverty eradication, crime fighting, job creation when he will be away a great deal of the time, when his administration has failed tremendously after four years? Can someone please explain this?

Belize City, January 17, 2012

Never before in the history of any Belize City Council has there been so much infighting, backstabbing, stealing and under-the-table dealing as under the UDP Belize City Council. How Belizeans have been able to stomach the nasty, public fights remains a mystery, but there could be no better feeling than knowing it all comes to an end soon, on March 7, 2012.

One of those episodes worth revisiting, for the level of political ‘upstartness’ and more so for its still unexplainable ending, was when the rise of one of the least liked Councillors was treated like blasphemy by seven of the most influential Councillors.

Councillor Phillip Willoughby has had more than his fair share of controversy. Aside from losing public support for always ‘nosey-ing’ into others’ businesses and for his bungled record as Councillor in charge of markets or sanitation, Willoughby apparently made serious enemies within his political circle. That much was obvious when his rise to Deputy Mayor was challenged, criticised and even cursed by seven of his Councillors.

Willoughby was selected during a meeting of six Councillors (including himself) and the Mayor on February 16 2010, but soon after, the four Councillors who did not attend the meeting initiated a vicious campaign against the Mayor, liking her to a dictator.

“All the conflicts that have come about have come about because of non-adherence to the law. It has come about because of the council finding out about agreements being made, contracts being signed, and recommendations being made of the Liquor License Board and the Trade License Board without the input and knowledge of the council. These have been systematic actions of the Mayor… all the conflicts have resulted out of some sort of activity that took place outside of the knowledge of the council which is outside of the letter of the law,” said Councillor Laura Esquivel-Frampton.

Flanked by Councillors Roger Espejo, Dion Leslie, Eric Chang, Andrew Faber (deceased), Kevin Singh and Leila Peyrefitte, Esquivel-Frampton went on the explain that the Mayor had been managing the Council like her private fiefdom and was making “unilateral decisions and by intimidation of staff members as well as some councillors”.

But what none of the UDP Councillors explained was why they chose to remain serving in such a tyrannical Council, and under the leadership of a tyrant. In fact, those same Councillors had already served a term under Moya (2006-2009) and offered their candidacy once more under her leadership in 2009. Believe it or not, a majority of those very same Councillors are offering themselves once more.

We don’t have to call them hypocrites. Mayor Moya did. She blasted Esquivel-Frampton calling her an absentee Councillor who missed 19 of the 29 Council meetings held up to that period and even exposed former Deputy Mayor Dion Leslie and his involvement in funny business.

Moya accused Leslie of making deals with an unknown company without the Council’s approval.

“I have a letter here for October 8th 2009 whereby with a particular company, with just a stroke of a pen, the then acting Mayor Dion Leslie, signed off just like that, without even taking it to council, to make payment for $707,000 and not even take this council for us to vote on if and how we will pay it. Also he went ahead and it is noted in here that we will pay the sum of $1.9 million. Now this hasn’t even come to council for us to decide upon and for we to agree. This didn’t come to council,” fired off Mayor Moya.

Our checks show that Leslie never proved the allegation wrong. Neither did Moya pursue to have him expelled for his actions. The UDP did quite a lot of back-stabbing during their time, but they also covered each other’s backs from wrong doing, keeping things secret from the public to avoid more embarrassment.

The name-calling and accusations slinging fizzled, and so did the responsibilities and work of the Council as the City slipped deeper into garbage and abject disarray.

The UDP City Council era will be known as the worst period for Belize City. Long before economic recession hit the country, Belize City has fallen into depression thanks to UDP mismanagement and incompetence. It is a long stretch from the “gold standard” UDP Leader and Prime Minister said they would be. But what can we expect when even his leadership of the country leaves much to be desired.

Belize City, January 18, 2012

If Belizeans were expecting relief from the high cost of living in the New Year, ‘nuttin noh go soh’. With the cost of fuel already high, for Belizeans, the news that the prices were going up once again felt like pushing a knife deeper into an already painful wound.

At midnight on Tuesday, January 17th, prices jolted past $11.00.

Premium gasoline went up by 32 cents, and now costs $11.22 a gallon. Regular gas jumped by 27 cents, and now costs $10.82. Diesel fuel saw the largest increase, as it went up by 45 cents and now stands at $10.49.

The increase in prices is the second in about two weeks. The last increase in prices was January 1st.

By Gilroy Usher, Sr. – P.U.P Standard Bearer for Port Loyola

Following Boots Martinez’s victory in 2008 as Area Representative for Port Loyola, he was appointed Minister of Works with millions of dollars at his disposal monthly for road construction and maintenance countrywide.

As the Area Representative for Port Loyola, Boots Martinez is also given thousands of dollars as a monthly subvention to assist the People of Port Loyola.

Additionally, following Hurricane Richard, which hit many residents of Port Loyola severely, Boots Martinez was allocated even more millions of dollars to assist affected persons with housing assistance. This is his RECORD as the area representative of Port Loyola

Item

1. Maintenance of Streets Grade F – Total Failure.

Although Boots Martinez is the Minister of Works, Port Loyola has the worst network of streets in the entire country. Some of the water holes on streets such as Jane Usher Blvd, Curl Thompson St., and Levi Slusher St. are so huge that people refer to them as “Bacab”.

2. Cleaning of drains Grade F – Total Failure

For over 4 years nothing was done. Only with pending election are a few drains being hurriedly cleaned.

3. Sports Development Grade F – Total Failure

Absolutely nothing has been done to improve any of the basketball courts or football fields in the division. Not even light has been provided at any of the ball fields or courts.

4. Electricity expansion Grade F – Total Failure

Again, despite millions of dollars at his disposal yearly to serve the people and his ministerial influence, Boots has done absolutely nothing to provide street lights in at least three separate areas of the division in which over 100 families live. In those areas it’s so dark at night that it’s almost impossible to see your hand.

5. Housing

Grade F – Total Failure

Because people are poor, Boots Martinez has built a few tiny incomplete matchbox houses for the few persons that are lucky to get housing assistance. The houses are often built in swamps and are so small the people can hardly turn in the bathroom. To add insult to injury, in 2012 poor people are given houses by Boots Martinez that are without bathroom connection for proper disposal of body waste, and without proper casing which makes them hot like oven. The houses are also hurricane traps as they are weak due to the use of inferior material.

6. Education Grade F – Total Failure

After more than 4 years in office, Boots Martinez has not assisted the primary schools or pre-schools in the division with even one cent. In a similar way he has done absolutely nothing to get scholarships for high school and beyond for deserving students in Port Loyola.

7. Assistance to small businesses in Port Loyola

Grade F – Total Failure

Small businesses create a lot of jobs in any economy. Despite that fact for the past four years the many small businesses have gotten absolutely no assistance from the Area Representative, and despite repeated requests for such assistance.

8. Job creation Grade F – Total Failure

Jobs. Jobs. That’s the most important thing to people as it enables them to pay their bills themselves and uplifts their standard of living. The UDP don’t understand that, as they see providing jobs for people as a little treat that is short term and only to gain votes.

With Boots Martinez as Area Representative for Port Loyola the division has lost hundreds of jobs. People are so eager for work in Port Loyola that they agree to work with government for as little as $103.00 for 3 days. At the same time hundreds of graduates and others in the division can’t find jobs for the past 4 years.

Many more needs of the division can be listed but the grade for uncaring Area Representative Boots Martinez is the same F – Total Failure.

Boots Martinez has been a total failure for Port Loyola. And for that he deserves to be voted out of office.

For the neglect of the good people of Port Loyola, Boots gwein down in Port. Boots going down in Port for failing to remember that charity begins at home.

Forward with Gilroy Usher Sr. and PUP in Port Loyola! As a result of the many good things Gilroy Usher Sr. has done in the division, many people have pledged to make him the next Area Representative for the division.

By Alton Humes

If you ever go to a bakery to buy the freshest, most delicious breads, buns, cakes and pastries, chances are you’d want (or demand) that whatever is sold to you was at least made in sanitary and well-kept conditions, otherwise you wouldn’t even bother to eat it.

But nobody, it seems, got that ‘memo of quality’ to the Asian-Belizean (mostly likely Chinese or Taiwanese) owners and operators of the Isaray Bakery and Restaurant, located on Mahogany Street Extension. They were shut down on December 22nd, 2011 and currently remain so at this time.

In an interview with the BELIZE TIMES, Mark Bernard, the Senior Public Health Officer at the Environmental (Public) Health Unit in the Ministry of Health had much to say about the magnitude of the infractions found, and how his unit is giving the Asian owners a chance to make amends.

The magnitude of the aforementioned infractions is staggering, and ranges from rat-bitten ‘pack bread’ and moldy dough, all the way to reeking dog feces and a meta-infestation of roaches. (All of those, including the pans, would be destroyed immediately after.) Yet for all of that, the fines that the owners would have faced had the unit been willing to take them to court would be, in Mr. Bernard’s own words, “not much to talk about”….or maybe that’s just his own mild-mannered response to this already unbearable and morally wrong situation.

But while the neighborhood that bought from, and thereby bore the brunt of these infractions will not have mercy on the owners, the Environmental (Public) Health Unit will, giving the owners of the Bakery (doubling as a grocery and restaurant) an opportunity to make amends by cleaning up the messes and getting things up to code. Whenever that happens, the EHU will re-inspect and make its recommendations as to how the owners should proceed.

The newspaper organ of the United Democratic Party has vindicated PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca of any wrongdoing whatsoever, adding their support to the PUP’s pledge that Hon. Francis will be a better Prime Minister than the current one.

In last week’s issue, Sunday January 8th, 2012 El Guardian printed an apology which exonerated the PUP Leader of allegations they had made. The apology said “The Guardian Newspaper takes this opportunity to retract any claim or suggestion that Honorable Fonseca is or was involved in any thievery or misconduct or that he took public funds and we express our regret and apology for any embarrassment that the image caused him.”

In those short 45 words, the UDP newspaper let people know that Hon. Francis is more than fit to lead the nation out of the misery caused by Dean Barrow. Hon. Francis’ integrity as a leader in Government and representative of the people is impeccable, and any attempt to smear it, will not be taken lightly.

But while the Guardian is feeling apologetic, we may best remind them that there is still an outstanding apology due to the many women in Belize for their low-down attacks on women. The Guardian truly has no shame as in their binge of hatred they even attacked their own founder and past UDP Senator, Oceana President Audrey Matura-Shepherd. No, the women of Belize have not forgiven, and certainly they won’t forget. The boycott of the newspaper could very well last forever.

All indications are that 2012 will be even tougher and tighter for the Belizean people in the face of the failed economic plans of the Barrow regime. Since taking over in 2008, the economy of this nation has plummeted to new levels in the history of independent Belize, including a decline that led to zero growth in 2009.

Everyone will agree that the past four years has yielded nothing but higher cost of living, victimization, and unbearable and unprecedented taxation. In a Channel Five online poll conducted for the Christmas holidays, a wide majority admitted that Christmas of 2011 was their worst yet.

The figures will show that since March 2008, direct foreign investment has taken a downward spiral with no hope for any immediate improvement. It went from $139m in 2007 to a meager $38m in 2011. Without new foreign investment, the economy shrinks.

The Unemployment rate shot up to 33% in 2011. The youth unemployment rate is at 50%.There are more graduates each year that can’t find jobs. Just imagine that today one in every three employable person does not have a job to feed or help their families.

But that is not all. Coupled with this reality is the fact that investments that were already made have been lost by the closure of hundreds of businesses. Just a quick check with the weekly newspapers reveals that more and more businesses and homes are closing or are up for sale, no matter their size: Juanitas, Malics, Central Drug Store, Caribbean Tobacco Company Limited, A&R Gas Station, Mena Group of Companies, Fabros, British Forces Radio Station, JMA Motors, and Royal Motors were just a few.

Just after Christmas, Channel 7 did its own investigation into the business climate, and discovered that for many retailers 2011 was a nightmare.

“The year was sluggish, and it was sluggish all the way up to early December,” remarked Hofius Hardware Limited’s Managing Director.

At another retail store, Wellworth, the Manager reported that his sales were down by as much as 10 to 15 percent.

Earlier in the year, the auto industry reported a massive 60% contraction.

People have also been losing their homes and their livelihoods at alarming rates! This only results in loss of existing jobs and a higher crime rate. No doubt that 33% unemployment status has skyrocketed as a result.

Still yet, we need to factor in another area that influences Belize’s decline: major losses in tourism. When was the last time you heard that there has been record tourism arrivals in Belize? You will only hear that there has been a slight increase over the last year, and that increase was possible because the previous year’s figures had declined. The last time this country saw real growth in tourism arrivals was when the Ministry of Tourism was steered by the PUP.

But this government doesn’t want people to look at these very real issues. Barrow prefers instead to further insult us by talking about an insignificant cut in electricity rates. Let’s be real, Mr. Barrow, no one will be better off by $4 or $5 off their light bills. What you should have done if your efforts were genuine was to remove the 12.5% burdensome GST that your government imposed upon poor Belizeans. Your flimsy election gimmicks are paper-thin. You will get the message on Election Day.

The reeking incompetence of the Agriculture Minister Rene Montero, his CEO Gabino “Gambino” Canto, and the head of the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation Roque Mai has been exposed time and time again.

We’ve seen how they singlehandedly caused the local onion industry to nearly collapse by importing unnecessary onion from Holland, causing thousands of dollars in losses in the industry. Then they threatened to create disorder among the corn farming community with the illegal attempt to test GMO corn. Their idiotic reign then caused the rice industry to go to ruin when imported rice was found in the market. This caused several major rice producers to close down because of the unsustainable market.

Despite the glaring ineptitude, the Prime Minister has refused to remove any or all of the three stooges causing even more pain for local farmers.

The BELIZE TIMES has obtained a copy of a permit granted to Rene Canto, a favourite crony of Montero and UDP Chairman of San Antonio Village, to import thousands of pounds of cabbage just before the Christmas holiday. The permit, dated November 28, 2011, allowed Canto to import 10,000 pounds of Cabbage, 3,000 pounds of lettuce, and 2,000 pounds of carrots from a store “La Poblanita” in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Belizean local farmers never reported a shortage in their supply of home-grown cabbage. In fact, they were preparing to harvest enough for the Christmas season, but the importing of cabbage disrupted their hopes, and instead many local producers had to throw away their produce.

Something sinister is taking place in our country. Local farmers and our agriculture sector are under sustained attack from the very same people elected and employed to protect the industry. It appears, they are motivated by greed and self-interest, and the pain caused on local farmers is only, as the Prime Minister would say, collateral damage.

The Opposition People’s United Party has maintained its call for Minister Montero, CEO Canto and Roque Mai to be removed immediately. The call is supported widely by local farmers, but it is the Prime Minister who refuses to listen.

The cost of living may be at its highest point in history, but that’s not stopping the Barrow Administration from continuing to hike commodities.

Fuel prices increased on January 1st, perhaps as a late Christmas gift for Belizeans, but it’s not a Christmas bonus or free hams. In fact, it was increased in secret, and there has still not been any official announcement as yet.

The price for premium increased by 30 cents, to past $10.90per gallon. Regular gas was hiked by 38 cents and it is also just below the $11.00 mark. Diesel saw a minor decrease of 3 cents, which commuters will find a joke.

In addition to the fact that consumers will no have to dig deeper into their pockets to pay for fuel, what the hike means is that inflation continues to affect the cost of goods, which does not bode well for Belizeans.

Important to note is that fuel prices continue above the $10 mark, even after Government promised in 2009 that it would go beyond $8.00.

Belize City, December 13, 2011

In a letter that appeared in the Sunday, December 11, 2011 issue of the BELIZE TIMES, a parent expressed her anger and frustration at the Minister of Sports, John Saldivar and the UDP Government for allowing the Belize City High School Basketball Competition to be played at the Belize City Centre. As the parent explained in her letter, Saldivar and the Government had publicly declared the City Centre “condemned” and were therefore placing the lives of the students at risk.

Despite the letter, and previous concerns from other parents, the competition continued as if all was well. But that is not the case. What Saldivar and the UDP have allowed is nothing less than shame and disgrace. The finals of the competition were held on Friday, December 9, and while the boys of Sadie Vernon Technical High School played valiantly against St. John’s College and the girls of St. Catherine Academy (SCA) triumphed over the girls of Wesley College, in their victory they were also silent victims of downright neglect from the Barrow Administration.

By now, everyone who has passed by the City Centre over the last few months would agree that the building has become a public eyesore. The condition of the building’s exterior shows that much, but the inside is appalling, as if a storm had passed through the building. Piles of wooden debris could be seen all over the floor. Water from the rains flood the perimeter of the basketball court. The scorekeepers table is broken in half, bleachers are collapsing and a roof leaking all provide for a depressing experience.

No basketball competition should have ever been allowed to take place at the City Centre as its dilapidated condition exposed our young athletes to great danger and injury. As it were, we learned that during a recent volleyball game, a player was terribly injured following a nasty fall she suffered as a result of being forced to play on a wet/slippery court.

In 1998 the then UDP Government had spent millions of dollars on the purchase of a “synthetic” court and the importation of foreign coaches. Today, that highly priced synthetic court remains but all in ruins as sheets of plywood have had to be nailed down to cover the broken areas. While the 2011 Belize City High School Basketball Competition has concluded, the reckless behavior of the Minister of Sports and his Government cannot go without reprimand.

Belize boasts enormous talent among her young citizens and this fact was evidenced last Friday as our young athletes displayed their incredible skills and potential. It is incumbent upon us to give these young athletes the respect and treatment they rightfully deserve. But Saldivar and the UDP have greatly disrespected and mistreated our young people. While their peers in the region get the opportunity to compete and train in modern, state-of-the-art facilities, our young people are forced to compete and train in broken down facilities. Saldivar and the UDP couldn’t care less, however, and will never care about the welfare of our young people. Like the good parent, we say to John Saldivar and the UDP, SHAME on YOU!