Belize City, February 1, 2012

The Barrow Administration has called it quits just four years into what should have been a five-year term, admitting that they have failed the people of Belize miserably.

In one of his most lacklustre speeches as Prime Minister, Dean Barrow’s farewell address delivered on Tuesday afternoon was expected by an electorate whose sympathy for a bungling Government administration was withering fast and whose patience for political change has been growing thin.

Barrow claimed to be in need of a new mandate, but fittingly chose to ignore the mandate given to him in 2008 when he promised to bring down the cost of fuel, the cost of living and to create economic development and jobs. The UDP administration failed to deliver its 2008 mandate so miserably the Prime Minister should be ashamed to say he is in need of a new one.

What Barrow isn’t telling Belizeans is that his quick trigger on the elections was spurred by an impending UDP budget bomb, one filled with higher taxes and even more debilitating financial measures. Having nearly collapsed Belize’s economy, to one which saw an unprecedented negative growth in 2009, Barrow cast Belize down a slippery slope. International creditors see no hope for the country under the Barrow Administration, while more powerful financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are demanding changes their way if they are to lend monies.

Under the UDP, Belize is at its knees and the only relief Barrow can find is to run to the IMF for support. This has occurred every year since 2008, and Barrow has had to bend to the IMF’s demands. Under the IMFs command, the General Sales Tax was increased by 25% to 12.5%, while public officers’ wages have been frozen. This year alone, the Barrow Administration signed on to a new tax administration system proposed by the IMF – one of the stipulations for country funding.

But the worst has not yet come as the harsh IMF recommendations of higher taxes, increases in fuel prices and mass retrenchment would have been revealed in Barrow’s 2012-2013 Budget. Barrow has offered no credible reason for not waiting until his full term was completed, but it is known that the IMF’s policies have been gaining prominence with the UDP administration.

Belizeans must be warned. The UDP’s next budget will be one of higher taxes and more hardships. This early elections is simply to avoid facing the people of Belize before imposing tougher measures, but while Barrow can choose to ignore his failures and the disaster he created, Belizeans cannot ignore the suffering, and will speak clearly through the power of the vote.

Minister of Tourism, Manuel Heredia, has failed to provide leadership in the Cruise Tourism Industry

Royal Caribbean and Carnival “fed up” with Belize GOB

Belize City, January 25, 2012

Members attending the annual FCCA (Florida Cruise Companies Association) meeting in Florida this weekend got the clear message “present operating conditions in Belize endanger the future of Belize’s Cruise Tourism Industry”. Operating companies such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival stated openly that they were “fed up” with the indecisiveness of this government and its relevant parties to resolve issues such as tendering, crime and marine safety.

Attending the meeting for GOB were, among others, Lindsay Garbutt, the CEO Tourism, and Kevin Gonzalez, BTB’s CEO. Some of the most well known personalities in the Industry were there including Mike McFaden, Cruise Tourism renowned specialist. Mention was made of last week’s cancellation of two of Carnival’s newest and largest ships, the MV Valor and MV Glory. Each cancelled ship hits Belizeans in the pocket by some $320,000. Thanks to a “Do Nothing” government, last week Belizeans lost $640,000 that could have put food on the table for their loved ones.

Ten years ago when the then PUP Government absorbed an abundance of criticism by taking the bold and visionary step of working with the private sector to develop the Belize Tourism Village, Cruise Tourism soared from 43,000 to almost a 1,000,000 tourist coming to our shores to spend and buy our goods and services. Thousands of jobs were created, hundreds of new productive opportunities were invested in. Belize was on the move with its many attractions and loving people to become the crown jewel in the Cruise Tourism Industry. Since then, the PUP advanced the agenda every year to keep the companies involved interested in growing Belize as a destination.

The next step was to build a facility to dock the ships providing more safety and security for the Cruise Tourist and their hosts. Since the Government changed absolutely nothing new has happened, as a matter of fact when we hear on the news about this industry it is because someone was robbed, arrested or there is utter chaos in some corner of a now misgoverned industry.

If the Valor and Glory (4,500 passengers) find our facilities lacking, how will we attract the Oasis class (5,000 passengers plus) or worst the upcoming Genesis class (6,000 passengers plus)? These new ships along with the competitiveness of the industry demand constant attention and innovation. The plans and financing are available to solve the docking and safety problems, and reduce crime significantly.

This Government must understand, as the Companies said at the FCCA meeting last weekend “if there is not a precise date for the execution of the required plan to solve their problems, Belize will be off their charts”! Thousands more Belizeans will be left destitute without a means to make a living!!

Disgraced UDP Mayor Zenaida Moya is running the affairs of the city without a watchdog

Tillett had exposed serious financial mismanagement at City Hall under the UDP Council

Belize City, January 18, 2012

Hundreds of thousands of Belize City residents’ tax dollars are once more exposed to the wasteful spending, greed and abuse that the UDP Belize City Council is notorious for since they took office in 2006.

The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that since late 2011, the Council has been operating without its assigned watchdog, Financial Controller Patrick Tillett, because he was mysteriously placed on leave.

Tillett was assigned to the Council in March 2009, on the same day the UDP Belize City Council was sworn into office for a second term, with the authority of the Minister of Local Government and the Minister of Finance. His role as controller was singularly to rein in the Mayor who had been wreaking financial havoc. In the words of the Prime Minister, Tillett was to stem “any tide of red ink” that the UDP Council had become accustomed to creating since 2006 when they took office.

That much he did and even blew the whistle against the Mayor, when four months later he discovered serious financial regularities at the Council. According to Tillett’s investigations, the Mayor couldn’t account for over a quarter of a million dollars. Tillett said that between January and March, $274,667.46 was used without a proper record of what it was used for. That amount was broken down as follows: $52,493.59 in January, $86,534.61 in February and a whopping $101,948.81 in March.

The Mayor claimed the money could not be accounted for because it had been under-deposited. She was later arrested and charged, but the case fell apart and she was later freed.

With all the scandals and deeply-entrenched suspicions of financial waste, abuse and wrongdoing at City Hall, removing the watchdog seems counterproductive, especially with this UDP bunch. There was no announcement of Tillett’s placement on leave, and no indication if the leave precedes his termination. Since he was placed by the Prime Minister, only the PM can tell, but he is out of the country.

Perhaps the UDP wants to save itself some embarrassment, as it nears the 2012 municipal elections, for Tillett’s installation meant it had regressed the Council’s autonomy. The UDP had promised to increase the Council’s autonomy, but it has done exactly the opposite, placing a tight leash over the Council and its affairs.

The UDP has made the Council so dependent on Central Government that it has been unable to pave a single street without the Ministry of Works’ funding. This is terrible evidence of mismanagement, as the Council which collects up to $17m annually, cannot find resources for even its most basic responsibilities throughout the city.

The UDP Council has less than seven weeks left in office. Until then, who is watching the cheese at the Council?

Bailey-Martinez is under investigation for perceived insider-trading

Loyal ex-wife, Young-Barrow, does damage control for the UDP

Belize City, January 11, 2012

The UDP Government’s latest election gimmick of writing off millions of dollars in loans held by the Social Security Board has backfired, and has been exposed for what it truly is, a hustling programme for special UDPs cronies.

The BELIZE TIMES was the first to expose the Barrow Administration’s devious scheme last week, which triggered suspicion and increased concern and demands for transparency. Based on information received, the BELIZE TIMES reported that the scheme would allow for insider trading at SSB and government departments, because it enabled dozens of well-connected, upper-class UDPs to benefit from the write-off after they reduced their loans to below the $50,000 mark only upon learning of the plan.

This week, the BELIZE TIMES received even more credible information that the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Security Board, Merlene Bailey-Martinez, had herself taken steps to benefit from the scheme supposedly meant only for the poor people.

Bailey reportedly had a loan balance of $69,000, but paid $20,000, just enough to bring it below the $50K the Prime Minister said would be required for the write-offs to qualify. It is understood that other senior employees did the same, by accessing smaller loans from private banks with the strength of recommendations from the SSB. It is alleged that they were encouraged by the CEO.

These allegations were also revealed by the Opposition People’s United Party on Tuesday, in a press release which called for an immediate investigation into the write-off program. Almost on cue, the Prime Minister’s ex-wife Lois Young-Barrow, who sits on Social Security’s Board as the Chairperson, came to the rescue and sanctimoniously pretended to have been totally unaware of everything.

But the cat had been let out of the bag, and the UDP was forced to scramble and do damage control.

At 2pm on Wednesday afternoon the Board met at its office in Belize City, and after discussing the disaster that loomed, they agreed to carry out a closed-door investigation into the SSB staff’s involvement. The Board also recommended the immediate termination of CEO Bailey-Martinez and Internal Auditor Denise Mahler, but we understand that Young-Barrow disagreed and talked them into accepting an indefinite suspension for both.

Bailey-Martinez becomes the first SSB CEO to be suspended for suspicion of serious wrongdoing. She may be on her way to becoming Belize’s Martha Stewart. Bailey-Martinez will have to answer to an external audit, but will avoid the spectacle of a public commission of inquiry, which is what Belizeans deserve.

And while Bailey-Martinez has been halted in her tricky tracks, it appears Prime Minister Barrow is too ashamed to even discuss the matter. When asked by the media on Wednesday about his knowledge of what is happening, Barrow hopscotched everywhere before admitting that he does know if Bailey-Martinez was guilty of unethical practices at SSB.

“I believe I know the answer”, is all the Prime Minister said, clearly refusing to be totally honest and transparent with Belizeans.

The Prime Minister’s ambiguous talking shows he still wants to hide things from Belizeans. This egregious abuse of taxpayers’ dollars for electioneering purposes scheme is as good as the Prime Minister’s cunning attempt to buy votes by giving his political candidates $1.2m to spend on ham during Christmas. Guess who got the better end, the greedy candidates who dipped their hands deep into the cookie jar, or the residents who got small bags of onion and rice?

You have been exposed Barrow. Soon you’ll become expired.

Who paid for Carlos “Piggy” Perrera’s trip to the Miami Heats game? Was it funded by the KHMH “Piggy” Bank?

Belize City, January 4, 2012

Despite evidence of gross mismanagement, nepotism, and at least one case of stealing, Prime Minister Dean Barrow never acted appropriately on the findings of the 2010 Commission of Inquiry. That report found that near a quarter of a million dollars were lost due to mismanagement or fraud at the public hospital, and it laid out the many cases imputing negligence against high-level employees, from the hospital CEO to its financial director.

But the Prime Minister cannot afford to ignore the allegations that have now surfaced against some of the very same people, who had the doctors and nurses threatening to go on strike just three years ago. Not when the allegations of corruption are being levied by KHMH’s own senior staff.

A reliable source has shared with the BELIZE TIMES a copy of a memo sent by KHMH’s Director of Operations, Mrs. Angela Wade to CEO Gary Francis-Longsworth on March 2010. Wade titled the document “LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW KHMHA POLICY”, and in it, she accused Finance Director Carlos “Piggy” Perrera of serious mismanagement, carrying out illegal transactions, meddling with tender processes, nepotism, and abuse of authority.

Wade had provided evidence to CEO Longsworth of payments made by Perrera from the KHMH account without her consent. Those payments were to Alfred Williams, a well-connected UDP supporter in Orange Walk. In the memo Wade told the CEO, “You are aware of how I feel about the verbal contract with Mr. Williams and that his prices being very high.  Where we use to spend $500.00 or less a week we are now spending over $1,000 weekly.  It seems to me that because of this, the past two weeks cheques were made and paid to Mr. Williams with no authorization from me.”

Wade added that she suspects that there may be other cheques issued by Perrera without her authorisation.

Citing a blatant case of abuse of authority, Wade said Perrera had seemingly singlehandedly meddled with the tender process for the hospital’s medical ward renovation. She accused Perrera of disrupting multiple tender processes and manipulating decisions, to allow UDP cronies like Ministry of Foreign Affairs CEO Alexis Rosado and former Senator Rene Gomez, an opportunity to benefit from KHMH contracts.

Wade states, “…no matter what line of authority we have in place, Mr. Perera is left to do as he pleases and push people into all Directorate and cause conflicts.  This is exactly what went wrong with Belize Waste Control when he and yourself called in the media and Councillor Willoughby to a meeting in the CEO’s office and he then gave the media information on BWC which were all lies and caused us now to have to be burning in Belmopan our red waste and taking our green waste to City Council dump site.”

From Wade’s complaints, one can deduce that Perrera has been acting like King “Piggy” at the KHMH, and may have turned the public hospital into the ‘Piggy’ bank. It appears not even the CEO could have dealt with the situation and reigned Perrera in, as in a letter written by Perrera to Wade in October 2010, he launches personal attacks at her.

In that letter, of which the BELIZE TIMES also obtained a copy, Perrera fires off, “It can be concluded that it is the Office of Director of Operations that reflects inefficiency and lack of effectiveness by offering less than the basic responsibility the institution requires. The Director of Operations is a nice person on a personal basis and I don’t have any problem with her as a person and hope the best for her. However the Director of Operations does need much development to perform as a leader and does not have the mental agility”.

We are told by reliable sources, that the relationship between Wade and Perrera continues in a contentious tone. Wade has recorded even more instances of abuse and mismanagement, but the CEO seems unable to do anything.

“I feel CEO that you have no control of the Hospital as you seems to leave it all to Mr. Perera to decide,” Wade commented in her March 2012 letter.

Our source has indicated there is more evidence of corruption under the current management of the KHMH. We will follow-up on the allegation and promise to bring more next week, despite any threats from agents of the UDP Government who want to keep the truth in the dark.

PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca declared on Vibes Radio that the PUP is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder against the UDP and fight back for the rescue and restoration of Belize

Belize City, December 19, 2011

Opposition Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca says the People’s United Party is ready for the double elections expected next year, 2012.

“People want to see us fight and stand shoulder to shoulder against this vindictive Government and I am saying that fight we will,” declared Hon. Fonseca as he appeared as a guest on Vibes morning show on Monday.

Hon. Fonseca was responding to a question regarding Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s recent announcement that he would call the general elections in 2012 either before, after, or on the same day as the municipal elections slated for March 7^th.

“We won’t be intimidated by Barrow or any of his ministers. Belizeans want the PUP to fight back, and they are prepared to join us,” said Hon. Fonseca.

The Opposition Leader said Belizeans are looking to the PUP for hope.

“Belizeans want to know that we are going to be a good and credible alternative. We are working on a solid plan which we will present to the people of Belize to rescue our country out of the disaster caused by the UDP Government,” he remarked.

Hon. Fonseca added that the PUP is presently focused on re-organising. Its units such as the youth arm, Marshals movement and women’s group recently went through elections and are headed by new persons with revitalised mandates. The roles they play in mobilising and attracting supporters are vital.

Its nine slates for municipal elections are also ready, as well as the 31 standard bearers who will vie for general elections.

Upon taking up the PUP’s leadership, Hon. Fonseca admitted that the task would be challenging. But the Party has sprung to life since, and even the loudest critics have been silenced. Hon. Fonseca said one reason for this is that many persons have been volunteering and assisting the Party to get back on track. Even individuals and business donors have been assisting.

“We’ve gotten a lot of help from volunteers and donors, and I have remained steadfast in my message that the assistance is non-conditional. We will remain unwavering about our Party’s values and philosophy of serving the people,” Hon. Fonseca said.

The PUP Leader has also been travelling and holding key meetings with stakeholders across the country. He has travelled to several communities in the Corozal District including Chan Chen, San Narciso and Paraiso; Blue Creek and Orange Walk town where he met Mennonite rice farmers and the Belize cane Farmers Association; San Pedro where he met business representatives; Dangriga for national Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations; and most recently to Punta Gorda where he met with supporters and the Chamber of Commerce in Belize City. He said he will continue to travel and meet with Belizeans throughout the country, getting feedback and spreading the message that the PUP – the party that fought against colonialism and for independence and a Belizean identity – is back.

“The feedback I get is clear everywhere I go. The people of Belize are tired of the victimization, empty promises and rhetoric offered over and over by the Barrow Administration,” commented Hon. Fonseca.

The PUP leader said Belizeans deserve a better life than the one we are having under the UDP. The economy is at a standstill, the business sector is haemorrhaging, and investors have lost confidence in the country. Moreover, the poverty level has increased, the unemployment rate has doubled, and criminal activity is rampant with more than 400 murders in three years.

Belizeans are tired of the UDP’s rhetoric over the last four years, and are looking to the PUP for substance and real solutions to the nation’s problems. That is exactly what the PUP offers under the leadership of Hon. Francis. The PUP is ready. The Blue Machine is revving…any day now, call the elections Mr. Prime Minister.

As Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, Alberto August should be impartial, but he is a UDP fanatic. Here, he is caught distributing UDP flags outside a House Sitting this year. August is key part of the UDP’s plot to steal the upcoming elections.

Belize City, December 14, 2011

As the rumour mill continues to grind faster of early general elections, perhaps as early as February, you have to pull back and ask yourself this question: Why is it that a government, which is so bitterly unpopular as this worthless UDP bunch, can feel so confident about an early election?

We at the BELIZE TIMES have unearthed the reason: it is the UDP’s control and manipulation of the Elections and Boundaries Commission and Department.

At the helm of the Election and Boundaries Commission as its Chairman is a demented and fanatical UDP and former SIS operative, Alberto August. Anyone who knows August knows that he is not the Chairman of the Commission because of smarts or leadership qualities. But he is ruthless and dogged at pushing the UDP’s agenda. And so he has been for the past almost four years as Chairman of this distinguished constitutional body.

In democratic countries the world over, analogous bodies like the Elections and Boundaries Commission play a most vital role. Their mandate is to safeguard the democratic process by ensuring the electoral process is fair and transparent. What’s the purpose in having an election that is not fair and which result is already pre-determined?

As it is undeniable an office of great importance, its members therefore are required to be persons of integrity and high national standing. Such was the former Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Karl H. Menzies. In other countries in the region, the Chairmen of their Electoral Commission are similarly persons of integrity and high national standing. In Jamaica for instance, which go to general elections on the 29th December, the Chairman of their Electoral Commission is a well-respected Professional, Errol Miller.

Similarly, the Chairman and members of the Commission are not to be under the direction or control of any politician or political party. In addition to August, two of the remaining four members of the Commission are UDP fanatics and executive members: Dean Lindo and Phillipa Bailey. Their loyalty and allegiance is first and foremost to the UDP; not to Belize.

How in the world then could an Alberto August be the Chairman of this body and persons like Phillipa Bailey and Dean Lindo, all UDP fanatics, serve as members of this important constitutional commission? And why should this be important to Belizeans?

Throughout history and the world over, unpopular leaders try to steal elections by rigging and controlling the electoral process. And the script being played out by Alberto August and the UDP is classic. Find a not too bright, ruthless party fanatic and place him in charge of the electoral process.

Since being placed in charge of the electoral process as the Chairman of the Commission, Alberto August has abused his position by interfering with the daily operations of the Elections and Boundaries Department.

With August as Chairman of the Commission too, an idiotic and unsafe amendment to the law regarding the counting of ballots is being proposed. As the law now stands, after the close of voting in an election all ballot boxes in a division are taken to a pre-agreed upon polling station where the votes are counted. This provides an effective safeguard in an election. Now August and the UDP are hell bent on changing this and have counting be done all over the place in all polling stations where voting took place. The problems that this can create in rural constituencies such a Belize Rural North, Toledo West, Stann Creek West, Toledo East, or Corozal South-West, which the PUP are projected to win, are readily apparent. Can you imagine counting taking place in a village like Crique Sarco in the Toledo East constituency where there is no reliable electricity supply and the lights were to go out? The ballot boxes under the present law would have been transferred from the village of Crique Sarco to St. Peter Claver in Punta Gorda under police guard where counting would then take place along with the ballot boxes from the other villages and polling stations. Now the UDP and August want to replace this with an unsafe and dangerous system. This is clearly an attempt to steal the elections.

As Chairman of the Commission, August has also presided over the most obscene cases of gerrymandering in the history of electoral politics that is presently being carried out by the UDP incumbent representatives such as Dean Barrow in Queen’s Square, Boots Martinez in Port Loyola, Michael Finnegan in Mesopotamia and John Salvidar in Belmopan. It is no coincidence that Saldivar, who is the Minister responsible for Elections and Boundaries and to whom August is indebted to, has had the largest mass voter influx in his constituency since 2008.

PUP Standard Bearer Gilroy Usher Sr. had brought this fact to the nation’s attention in September of this year when he objected to over 140 voters who did not live in the constituency, yet Boots Martinez was trying to transfer in the division.

Additionally, although he had neither power or authority to do so, August in the 2009 municipal elections created ID cards for himself and the other UDP fanatics on the Commission to enter polling stations and give orders to the registering officers and clerks. By law, the Chief Elections Officer, who is a public officer, is the only person with such authority.

The integrity of our electoral process has been called into question and tarnished with Alberto August as the Chairman of the Commission and Phillipa Bailey and Dean Lindo as members. The three will out vote the other two members of the Commission when any decisions such as the UDP’s idiotic proposal are brought to the Commission.

The Commission under the control of August and aided by Phillipa Bailey and Dean Lindo cannot be trusted to ensure that there will be a fair and free next general elections.

Things the Commission should be at work at, such as ensuring the Chief Elections Officer complies with the law and have the petitions Oceana submitted be verified in time to have a referendum in March, 2012, or have the Elections and Boundaries Department begin to prepare for the implementation of the re-registering of voters in 2012, Alberto August, Phillipa Bailey and Dean Lindo are not interested in. They will help to derail such things.

Their sole interest on the Commission is ensuring the UDP is re-elected at any cost, clearly, even by stealing the election.

Belize City, December 7, 2011

Leading to the 1998 general elections, the Esquivel/Barrow-led UDP administration was so unpopular with the people that they delayed the elections until August just to spite Belizeans who had begun to show deep scorn at the UDP’s failed leadership.

Belizeans were disgusted at the UDP administration for leading Belize down a spiral in only 3 years in Government. There was gross abuse of workers, the economy was in shambles, life was hard yet PM Manuel Esquivel and his Deputy Dean Barrow had raised taxes to an all-time high with the 15% VAT Tax at the recommendation of the International Monetary Fund.

There are many close similarities between 1998 and 2011. The UDP is at the helm, the nation is in total crisis, the economy is at its weakest and the IMF has once more found it necessary to place serious ultimatums on a UDP Government which could see the killer VAT Tax return in another form.

A recently formulated IMF document delivered to the Barrow Administration advises the UDP that unless they increase the General Sales Tax to a whopping 15%, they are bound to face a $22m decrease in GST revenues next year.

When the UDP took office, GST stood at 10%. It was Prime Minister Dean Barrow, advised by former PM Manuel Esquivel, who increased the tax by 25% because of their inability to grow the economy. Now Barrow faces further economic dangers, and possibly the IMF’s rebuke, if he doesn’t do as the financial institution says. Barrow is currently waiting on several loans from the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, and whether he dances to the IMF tune or not, may have an impact on any future loan disbursements.

To underscore the severity of Belize’s economic troubles, the IMF makes it clear that the Barrow Administration has created very little breathing room. It points out that the current fiscal strategy is “insufficient to place the public debt ratio firmly on a downward trajectory and to address the large financing needs that are projected to emerge over the medium term.” It also makes it clear that the Barrow Administration’s expropriations of the telecommunications and electricity companies have worsened the situation. Not only have they turned away investors and investments, but the actions have also increased Government’s liabilities to around half a billion dollars.

Today there is much talk about Barrow calling an early election in January or February. There is also talk that he wants to do this because he doesn’t want Belizeans to impede his plans to increase taxes at the next Budget reading due in March 2012. Barrow doesn’t know Belizeans have had enough of his administration’s incompetence, and believes he will get the people’s mandate to do whatever he pleases. Have no doubt, the killa VAT is back with the UDP and Barrow.

Dean Barrow has no answers to rescuing the economy

“…people have this perception that we are incompetent in Government, and 9 times out of 10 they are correct.” Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Old Belize meeting with private sector, November 23, 2011

Belize City, November 30, 2011

Exactly a week ago, fresh from his umpteenth personal Miami-trip in just three years, Prime Minister Dean Barrow pulled a one-of-a-kind political stunt before members of Belize’s business community. After three years of bullying, ignoring, taxing and ostracising the private sector, Barrow went before them to call for a partnership.

According to PM Barrow, the economy has been “on the right track”. But the line didn’t sell so easily for the audience. The business owners and representatives who were invited to the meeting have felt the tremors of an economy that has been anything but on the right track. Sales have reduced, stocks have become more expensive to acquire, taxes have increased and profits have dwindled. Those who have been able to survive have had to endure increasing operational costs, faced taxes and other financial obligations, and have had to fire employees. Those who haven’t survived have seen years of investment and work flushed down.

The economy is so bad under the Barrow Administration that businesses as big as Caribbean Tobacco Company Limited, Old Belize and Fresh Catch Limited; and as small as Juanitas and Central Drugs Store in the downtown area have shut down. To declare that the economy is on the right track is a sick joke, which the private sector did not take lightly.

In his three years as Prime Minister, Barrow has treated the private sector with utmost disdain. The National Economic Council established by the former PUP administration was disregarded and dismantled. Barrow claimed he did not need the advice of such a Council, since he was guided by his senior advisor, VAT-man Manuel Esquivel. Barrow’s arrogance may have allowed him to puff his chest a bit, but it showed just how he regarded the business community. For several years, the Economic Council advised and assisted the PUP Government through difficult economic storms. Together, the business community and the PUP Government worked to uplift the Belizean economy and at its peak the economy boomed.

There was a time when Belize’s economy allowed businesses to flourish. That was a time Belizeans could easily start their small businesses and expect that it was an honest and realistic way to make a living. Foreign investment flowed into the country as Belize’s buoyant economy was a sure investment. Today, the dream is a nightmare. Belizeans cannot afford to even start-up a business, much less to keep one floating. Foreign investment is a pittance and no longer provides serious revenue for growth. The Barrow Administration has stifled the economy.

And so it wasn’t amusing when PM Barrow admitted, in the same breath, that his Government has been an almost total failure. Barrow got into a quarrel with his Ministry of Agriculture CEO Gabino “Gambino” Canto, who recently was in the middle of an illegal GMO corn importation controversy, about the exporting of cattle. Canto was explaining that the exporting had not occurred because of Government bureaucracy. Barrow immediately scoffed at Canto and scolded him, pointing out he was evidence that 9 out of 10 times the perceived Government incompetence was accurate.

Perhaps Barrow’s frustration over the fact that he is surrounded by buffoons had hit the roof, but no one could have best described the UDP administration. 90% of the times they are incompetent indeed, while the 10% they are just plain wrong and out of touch.

If Barrow can readily admit that his dodo bird Government is barely getting things right at the expense of Belizeans, it’s about time the people of Belize demand for a Government that run a country right. Mr. Barrow, please pack up and prepare to exit.

Dean Barrow has no answers to rescuing the economy

S&P downgrades Belize’s ratings AGAIN

Belize City, November 22, 2011

Magga season normally comes to Belizeans in January after the high spending gear that Christmas gets everyone into comes to an end, but the bad news that Belize’s credit worthiness has been downgraded a few more notches means magga season is already here, right now, even way before December and the jolly season.

Having placed the economy on long-term depression, Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his administration have found it difficult to meet its debt obligations. Furthermore, he has increased Belize’s public sector debt following the expropriations of Belize Telemedia Limited and Belize Electricity Limited. With the weakening economy, Barrow has also had to rely a lot on borrowing. Every year, he announces millions in loans, much of which doesn’t come to fruition, but which indicates the Barrow Administration’s inability to sustain its own development. This is what makes the announcement from Standard and Poor’s that it has revised Belize’s credit rating outlook from stable to negative, very troubling.

In August, S&P downgraded Belize’s currency credit ratings but kept its outlook as stable pending a review.

The recent downgrade which affirmed Belize’s B-minus/C sovereign long-term foreign currency credit ratings, say S&P, is the result of “rising crime, public-sector wage pressures and budget constraints may reduce political incentives to pay debt service”.

The credit rating agency also called out “Belize’s external imbalances, weak political institutions and large general government debt burden, which constrain the rating at the B-minus level”.

So far, there has been no official reaction from the Government of Belize on how they see the announcement impacting the economic conditions. PM Barrow has attempted to brush off the S&P downgrade, but no one falls for that trick anymore, especially members of the private sector who have been facing the brunt of the Barrow’s Administration’s inability to resuscitate the economy.

Barrow has failed to rescue Belize’s dying economy under the UDP. His litany of promises has become an assault of lies and misleading hope, which Belizeans are tired of hearing. Just two years ago when he admitted to taking the economy in a downward spiral, he promised an “economic stimulus” of over US$100 courtesy the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank that would get the economy going. Two years later, Barrow has nothing to show.

Barrow’s quick dismissal of S&P’s announcement is hypocritical. As Opposition Leader, he was the first to jump on anything credit rating agencies had to say about Belize when the PUP was in Government. Now, he knows better than they do. His immediate brush of the real hard times is also proof that he is living in denial, drowning in a false pretense that Belizeans are enjoying life the way he and some of his rich friends and cronies in Government are. Nothing noh go soh Mr. Barrow. From Albert Street to Jane Usher Boulevard, the cry is the same: life is haada out yah. Mr. Barrow wake up and smell the coffee, Belizeans are tired of having nothing. It’s the economy, stupid!