I said the statement was irresponsible, inaccurate and misleading, as it relates to the SATIIM v Forest Department judgment of 2006.  I stand by my words.  I do not wish to read the 2006 Judgment or the National Parks System Act to justify my response to the Prime Minister’s statement.   What I wish to do, instead, is to challenge every Belizean to demand that government and our political leader make decisions that enhance and not corrode our patrimony because of vested interest.     What good is it that we know what the judgment of 2006 and the National Parks System Act say and we do nothing to keep their promises?  We all know too well that it is open for the government to legally change any existing law by legislation, if it considers it to be in the way of a contract or agreement or to cause the whole contract or agreement to be legislated into law.   It has been done before. The rhetorical question today is whether we will continue to allow our government to circumvent, altar, or amend law written to protect us in order to benefit a few.   That issue translates to the urgent matter at hand, “To drill or not to drill”.   These are questions that we as Belizeans, in the spirit of nationalism, cannot afford our political leaders to answer for us.

We, in Belize, have been entrusted with some of the Earth’s natural wonders and as a people; we have taken collective responsibility for them.    This is an enormous responsibility, one that I think those of us here today do not take lightly.   These natural wonders have become a part of us.  They have defined our culture, our livelihoods, and for some the basis of their world view.    So our generation is beckoned once more, to fight, to keep our duties to safeguard these natural wonders that have become a part of us.   How we answer the questions I posed earlier, will determine who we are and what our values are as a people.

In 2006 when SATIIM challenged government’s permit for seismic testing inside the Sarstoon Temash National Park, not many Belizeans were moved to support and take action.  Had I presented this map then, which shows our entire country divided into different oil development concessions; the response may still have been minimal.  Perhaps, many of us thought this was impossible.  Today, as we all know, this is our sad reality that we must confront collectively.

Since SATIIM’s court ruling in 2006, I have journeyed to distant lands to speak with communities and see for myself the realities of oppression, human rights violations, environmental destructions, toxic rivers, militarized zones, etc, that have accompanied oil development. The images that I am sharing with you were taken in Coca, Ecuador, among the indigenous peoples of the Amazon.  Let us not make the mistake of thinking that this cannot happen here in our beloved country.   It can.   When it happens, we will be the ones that allowed it to happen because we were too afraid to stand up and demand that government protects our country.

Our government’s, ‘drill baby drill’ position, has only, what the Prime Minister calls, “legitimate contracts” as its basis.  It cannot be economic, as it is common knowledge that only BNE is benefitting from our oil.

It’s duplicity on the part of our government and it is a demonstration of lack of compassion for the Belizean People.   I want to remind the Prime Minister, that the Belizean people also have a legitimate contract.  We have a contract among ourselves as Belizeans that we will protect some of the God given natural wonders entrusted to us.   As a people, we have bound these contracts in law – the National Parks System Act- that protects sites such as the Sarstoon Temash National Park and our great barrier reef.  These are certainly not outlaw contracts. Furthermore, we have bound ourselves to the international community through conventions such as RAMSAR and World Heritage, in which sites, such as these are further protected. We have a legal obligation to fulfill the articles of the said conventions.

Furthermore, the communities who live around these protected areas throughout the country have made unimaginable sacrifices in accepting these contracts when these protected areas were established.   Through the instrument of law, these communities that live around protected areas, have been denied their traditional resources for their livelihoods by denying them access to these protected areas.  Therefore, government has a moral and legal obligation to respect these protected areas laws and honor the sacrifices our communities have made and keep making.

So Hon. Prime Minister, you have said you will not break legitimate contracts.   Is it then that our laws, which bind and commit us, as a people to protect our natural wonders not worth the paper it is written on? Furthermore, are the international conventions that Belize has signed on also rendered meaningless in this country?  Are you saying that the only legitimate contracts recognized by government are those signed to accommodate special interest groups, at a specific time?  We know the choices are difficult; but we must never abandon the duties thrust upon us by our future generations.

I hope you will choose to stand with us and reason with us.  We are all aware of the state of our economy; it requires bold and swift actions.   The actions we take must not only be for the purpose of creating jobs, but must lay the foundation for dignity, equality and opportunity for all our people. Rebuilding our economy requires innovation and creativity – certainly not by destroying its foundation.

I thank you.

In a recent interview with the media, on January 7, 2011 with Channel 5 Belize, you stated:

“…In terms of the national parks, we are hopeful that the U.S. Capital Energy people in the south will be able to proceed. Everything is coming up roses in terms of seismic that has been shot. And I’m telling you, since that matter has already went to court, if they say they are ready to drill they will be allowed to drill. That matter I was involved in the issue when it went before Mister Justice Awich and that’s been cleared and so I believe that’s also part of your breech. But while I can’t give you a definitive position on offshore, I am giving you a definitive position on that one. Drilling will be permitted.”

I am shocked that you would make such inaccurate statements about the Supreme Court ruling. As former Lead Council for SATIIM, you shouldn’t have to be reminded of the the 2006 Supreme Court Decision regarding SATIIM v the Government of Belize.   That case was specific to the seismic testing aspect of oil exploration in the Sarstoon Temash National Park (STNP).   You said so yourself in a September 28, 2006 interview with Love FM:

“…we asked for the decision of the forest department to issue that permit be quashed. It has been quashed. The sole release sought was the quashing of the permission granted by the forest department to the US Capitol energy to enter the national park and to conduct and to conduct seismic surveys.That permission has been quashed.”

SATIIM wanted the Supreme Court to find seismic testing (setting off explosives below the ground to generate seismic waves to test for oil) illegal in the park.  However,  the court accepted seismic testing as “research” as provided for in the National Parks Act.   The court quashed the permission granted by the Forest Department because by law it required an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Hon. Prime Minister, your statement to the press gives the public the perception that the court also gave a green light for oil drilling inside the national park.  Your statement is not only irresponsible, but also inaccurate and misleading.    It is not a done deal Mr. Prime Minister.

Respectfully yours

Gregory Ch’oc

December 6, 2010

Hon. Gaspar Vega

Minister of Natural Resources

Ministry of Natural Resources

Belmopan

Dear Minister Vega,

I write to you on behalf of Mr. Gelacio Thomas Quewell.  Mr. Quewell has been occupying a parcel of 80 acres of land for the past 35 years in the Santa Familia area which borders the Village of Billy White.  This land he farmed with his father Francisco Quewell who died some 12 years ago and which he also farmed for an additional 30 years.  Gelacio has a standing lease of 40 acres.  However, his survey done 25 years ago by one Mr. Johnston shows a parcel of 80 acres. He did not obtain a lease for the previously un-leased 40 acres until October of 2007.  However, he had occupied by clearing, working and establishing his farm on the 40 acres.  Apparently, the surveyor for the leased 40 acres included the second forty acres in the plan and so Mr. Quewell while occupying 80 acres was paying for only 40 acres, albeit the fact that he was using the entire 80 acres.

On October 14, 2010, the Hon. Elvin Penner wrote you a letter which was signed by both Hon. Penner and Mr. Gelacio Thomas Quewell.  In this letter, it stated that Mr. Quewell was giving up the rights of 20 acres of the 40 for which Hon. Penner states Mr. Quewell never had a valid lease.  This land is according to Hon. Penner to be used for village expansion.  He further states that Mr. Quewell is surrendering any claim to the 20 acres.

Firstly, Mr. Quewell is not able to read or write and thus this letter clearly illustrates acquisition by deception on the part of Hon. Penner.  In my view, no sane person would give up compensation for hard work invested for more than 35 years, especially Mr. Quewell who is the father of 11 children and whose wife is frail and recovering from Cancer. Secondly, the land in question is in the Santa Familia territory and not in Billy White village even though it borders with Billy White.  Thirdly, there are other vacant lands in Billy White proper that can be acquired by government for public purposes. Fourthly, if land is to be acquired within the Santa Familia boundaries then these lands should be designated as Santa Familia lots and not Billy White lots. If the acquisition is indeed for Billy White then legal measures must be taken to first acquire the Santa Familia lands, redo the boundaries and then assign the lands to Billy White.  Fifth, there are unused and abandoned lands immediately adjacent to the Quewell lands which on the contrary to Quewell’s lands which are productive are being used for speculation purposes by foreign and Belizean owners.  Sixth, before acquiring lands in Santa Familia boundaries for Billy White, unused lands in Billy White should first be acquired for public purposes and these lands are indeed available within the confines of Billy White village.   Lastly, let me reiterate that Mr. Quewell received a lease for the said forty acres in question (CYO 483/2007) from the lands department on October 26, 2007. If this lease is not considered valid for whatever reasons, then Mr. Quewell is indeed entitled to such lands as you know, by reason of “Squatters rights’ (40+ years) as stipulated by Belize law for illegal occupation of 12 + years without ever being asked to do otherwise by the competent authorities.

Hon. Minister, I trust that in your good and learned judgment, the unreferenced letter from Mr. Penner is disregarded and that Mr. Quewell retains his lands which he is entitled to as a born Belizean Mayan descendant and productive citizen of this country of ours.  In addition, this type of deception and coercion is in violation of a citizen’s rights, is a violation of human rights and is ‘unbecoming’ of a Minister of Government. It might even be punishable in Court!

Respectfully,

Orlando Habet

Chairman

Western Caucus

People’s United Party

I write to you as a citizen of this great nation, however I thought long and hard prior to putting ink to paper for the mere fact that our country has a long history of victimizing differences of opinion. However, I am confident that your administration and you by extension is not the type to engage in such behavior and that you all are open and honest enough to see the difference between disagreeing and malicious intent on my behalf.

Your recent decision to sever the government’s relationship with Channel 5/Great Belize Production however well intended on you and your administration’s behalf is not commensurate with the principles of democracy and free speech. Dissent is natural and healthy in any democracy and remains one of the pillars and foundation of a free state. I do not believe that anything aired on Channel 5/Great Belize Production has posed a threat to Belize’s internal or external national security which I think would be the only reason to put such a ban on the station.

What Channel 5/Great Belize Production is doing is what all other politically partisan media houses have been doing in this nation for generations and we must also recognize that they are a privately owned business and as such can engage in whatever they see fit to air within the parameters of the law. As representatives of the people in the form of a democratically elected government the message you are sending is that the people is severing ties with Channel 5/Great Belize Production which is not the case since people can already exercise this option by simply changing the channel/station on their television if they so choose. If this station is purposely skewing the issues, then I would humbly suggest that those talking to the media receive some type of training in how to deal with the media, so as not to be snared by the said media house.

This decision, however well intended will potentially have the effect of scaring other media houses into airing or publishing items that are solely pro government which is not the job of a free media in any democracy. As the democratically elected leader of this country I beg you to reconsider this decision and remove the ban on Channel 5/Great Belize Production since this totally erodes the values of free speech and democracy. This is not a defense of this station but rather a defense of democracy and total freedom of the press in this nation. If this situation was reversed and was done by any other administration to an opposition media house, I would be the first to say so. Honestly I find the practice in this country of politically partisan media houses a disservice to the Belizean public since truth, propaganda and impartiality have all been blurred, but because we still live in a democracy, we must be tolerant of it. In an era of globalization, openness and massive technological advances in communication, we cannot continue to allow partisan party politics to dictate our lives…we are all Belizeans.

I have every confidence that you will do the right thing and reverse this decision and restore total freedom of the press and once again instill the high principle of democracy in this great nation.

Sincerely

Neri O. Briceno

Citizen of Belize

On February 8, 2008 the people of Belize gave you and your party an overwhelming mandate to govern our beloved country. Prior to the election you made many promises to improve the quality of life and the way we are governed. The reality is that over the last two years we have regressed as a nation and the quality of life has deteriorated significantly for the masses.  In fact, the Belizean people have become more cynical about the political process and about the future of our country.

As a resident of Caribbean Shores, I would like to voice the concerns of many who live in the division regarding the deteriorating infrastructure and the accumulation of garbage that can be seen all over the place. What I am talking about can be visualized and experienced on the majority of streets in Caribbean Shores but since you traverse Newtown Barracks on a daily basis that would be a good place to start the rehabilitation process.

I must state that your disregard for this situation in the Caribbean Shores Division and for the rest of the country is really disheartening. I say this because with a little effort the situation can be rectified. I simply cannot grasp your total disregard for an area where you pass through on a daily basis. Do you not see the filth on the street-sides, especially that old mattress that has been rotting for the last 2 months?

Mr. Prime Minister this has become so much more important than just petty politics. It has become a betrayal of the public trust, a betrayal of the people who elected you into office and believed that you would be a good leader. You are surely not blind, Sir. Please look around you and see what has become of us. Our people ask for no special dispensation, no extraordinary attention – no magical overnight cure-all. We ask only that you act responsibly to fulfill your obligations as leader and keep firm to the oath to which you swore so passionately.

The people deserve no less.

Anthony Mahler

Caribbean Shores Resident

Please allow me space in your newspaper to register my disgust with the driver and conductor of one of the Tillett buses which services the Corozal district. I don’t know what has become of our society when we treat each other like animals and seem to have given up any hint of decency.

My cousin has a child who is chronically ill and is forced to use a wheelchair. The therapy he needs periodically is not available in Belize because of this useless UDP and incompetent fool Pablo Marin, who I am sad to say is my Area Representative. Anyway, I was shocked this week when my cousin told me about the problems she has every time she takes her son to Chetumal for his treatment. I literally could not believe it.

According to her, the conductor of the Tillett Bus gives trouble each and every time she tries to take her child on the bus. First he refuses to allow the wheelchair on the bus. I mean what is wrong with people. This is a small child and a small wheelchair. For her to get her son on the bus she is forced to pay the conductor two times the fare that she would normally pay for passage for both of them, and even then she has to practically be begging for him to allow them on.

I would like to tell this conductor and the bus driver that the world is indeed round and the hatred and suffering that they give to others will be returned to them tenfold. I would also like to ask the owners of Tillett bus to look into this matter and deal with it if possible, because I am sure that they would never approve of the actions of people like this.

Especially in times like this which are very hard, we cannot forget to offer each other the hand of kindness at each and every opportunity. Right now it is my cousin’s child who has to suffer the indignity of bad treatment at the hand of callous individuals. But tomorrow it could be your child. I will continue to pray for all of us.

One in God

Catherine Pate

Corozal Town

Re – Unlawful Decision of Belize Social Security Board to purchase shares in Belize Telemedia Ltd.

I am a contributor to the Belize Social Security Board (BSSB) Fund and an insured person under the provisions of the Social Security Act (the Act).

Yesterday, November 2^nd 2010, the BSSB by a vote of 5 to 4 took a decision to purchase 20% of the shares in Belize Telemedia Limited (Telemedia) at a price of $50 million.  The two trade union members and the two private sector members on the BSSB voted against the Board’s purchasing shares in Telemedia. The five members appointed by the Minister of Finance voted in favour of making the investment.  As Chairman of the BSSB you presided over that meeting and voted in favour of decision to purchase shares in Telemedia while being the company secretary for Telemedia.

As company secretary of Telemedia you had and have an interest in the matter of promoting the sale of shares in Telemedia and as Chairman of the BSSB you presided over and participated in the discussion and voting on the question of purchasing shares in Telemedia in breach of Section 10 of the schedule to the Act.  We also note that your son is a director of the board of Telemedia and also has an interest in the sale of shares in Telemedia.

Further, on or around 21 September 2010 Mr. Net Vasquez, as Chairman of Investment Committee of BSSB, voted in favour of recommending that the BSSB purchase shares in Telemedia, a company of which he is the Chairman.

The situation is further compounded by the fact that the unions and the private sector organizations which sit on the Board as independent, non-government appointees, have serious questions about the investment decision.

As a result of your actions and clear conflict of interest in this matter, I have been advised that the decisions of the Investment Committee and the BSSB yesterday are unlawful and void for the following reasons:

First, section 10 of the Second Schedule to the Social Security Act provides that

“If any member of the Board or other person present at a meeting of the Board is directly or indirectly interested in any contract or proposed contract or other matters he shall, at the meeting and as soon as is practicable after the commencement of the meeting disclose the fact of his interest and shall not take part in the discussion, consideration or voting on such a contract or other matter.” (underlining supplied)

Second, section 50 of the Interpretation Act of Belize prohibits any member of any board or committee who may have a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any matter under consideration by such board or committee from participating in any vote on such matter.

Third, BSSB is a public body and decisions of this body must appear independent and impartiality, which they did not in this instance.

In light of all this, I am respectfully requesting that you immediately bring this matter to the attention of the BSSB and my request that this illegal decision to invest $50 million of contributors’ money into acquiring shares in Telemedia be formally reversed immediately.

Grateful for your urgent attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Glenn Tillett

I write this letter to say thank you for giving me your endorsement and choosing me to represent you as the new PUP Party Chairman.

As a staunch PUP, my heart was bursting with pride to see the overwhelming support at our National Convention on Sunday.  At a time when being a PUP means being victimized and discriminated against by a corrupt UDP Government, it is reassuring to know that our Party and our Party supporters will no longer be kept down, will no longer be suppressed.  At times like these, it is reassuring to know that you have heard the battle cry to unite, to come together, to work together to remove the shackles that the UDP has used to try to imprison our minds and our spirits.

Like the phoenix, we have arisen from the ashes of slumber and hopelessness with the cry “P.U.P. All the Way.” We are ready! We want change and we want it now!

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Belize needs a change.  Our beautiful country, that was once so ripe with potential, has seen some of its darkest days recently.  Crime is out of control, the economy is stagnant and suffering, the standard of living has declined significantly. The government has figuratively devalued our dollar. We are saddled with a government with no vision.  Yes, we have a UDP Government that chooses to serve only its chosen few-those who are more equal to them and has forgotten about the country and its people.  We have a UDP Government who uses victimization and oppression to keep Belizeans afraid to speak up.  We can remain quiet no longer.  We can remain afraid no more.

It is time for us to begin the work of rebuilding the country.  It is time for us to work together, UNIFIED under the leadership of Hon. John Briceño, to take back Belize.  It is time for the PUP. The party is nothing without its supporters.  We need you all.  We need you to stand together and work for Belize.

As the new Chairman, I will do my best-to serve you, to keep the Blue Machine moving forward.  I will do my best to keep the Party working.  I will do my best to make sure that all your interests and concerns are always represented and considered.

Serve the People – the Party’s motto – my promise – I thank you.

Que viva PUP!  Que Viva Belize!  Long live our Party!  Long live our Belize!

Sincerely,

Henry C. Usher

As our party heads to Dangriga for the National Convention, we must for a moment pause to think. Are we ready to put aside our differences, egos and pride for the benefit of the party? If the answer to this question is yes, then we are ready for Dangriga.

There were many questions concerning the leadership of the party. The main concern was who was going to lead us to battle as we try to rid ourselves of the current government? But I guess that question is already answered. That will be no other than John Briceno!

As current leader he has had to revamp a broken party and change the modus operandi of our machinery. Of course the never-ending power struggle within the echelons of our Party has been a constant obstacle, and so the Party’s performance in the municipal elections of 2009 and the village council elections of 2010 were said to be not quite up to par. But with all that, while the Party Leader’s progress has been slow and painful, it has been productive. John Briceno has brought much needed change, and make no mistake – he is still there because he never forgot the real rank and file of the Party. Personally, I like to refer to these people as our soldiers. These are the folks that never stop fighting for our Party, our women who are the backbone of our house to house visitations, the youth that do most of our logistical work and our elderly statesmen that never stop advising us. These people are the Party – not those who use the Party at their convenience and call themselves the rank and file.

As our soldiers congregate in beautiful Dangriga on the 17^th of October there will be no doubt that we are ready to do battle. We are united and strong. And those who do not want to be a part of this battle kindly step aside and make way for the thousands that will join in. Because in this great Party of ours there cannot be three factions going into battle, there can only be one leader and that leader will be endorsed on the 17^th of October. We da Blue! We da PUP!

Sincerely,

__________

Jason Neal

Last week Friday I listened attentively to the meeting of the House of Representatives at which several important bills were being passed.  I did so with the expectation that we would be allowed to listen to a healthy discussion on the issues being legislated. However, I was disappointed to hear the Prime Minister going on with his petty statements about the Opposition’s discussion and rebuttal on the bills being presented. It gives us, young professionals and many others out here, the impression that this honourable gentleman does not allow any one to question what he does. But as my grandmother would say “well I be a cocked-eye jumping jelly fish”.

Who does this man think he is? As per his demeanour in the meetings of the House of Representatives, Mr Barrow really believes he is god’s intellectual gift to Belize. Perhaps that is why he cannot take criticism or input from no one…he really is a strange creature in such a diverse society as Belize where a plurality of ideas is expected.

With no offence  “ Absit Invidia” to Belizean attorneys, and by the way I am not interested in pursuing a law degree, but our PM has repeatedly attacked our elected members in the Opposition in an attempt to humiliate them as being academically and or intellectually challenged. Maybe its time we remind Mr Prime Minister that there are a lot more productive and important professions to society than law and certainly much more noble.  Perhaps we should remind him that it is the farmer that puts bread on his table, the business man that ensures he can buy his commodities, the nurse and doctor and all in the medical profession who take care of his health and will one day save his life and even the policeman who ensures he is secured from the very crime he is unable to control.  The conceited and supercilious Prime Minister that we have has to understand that had it not been for our engineers, architects, and other applied scientists he would not be living the life he now leads. And most of all, shall I remind this “honourable gentleman” of just one more profession that he ought to respect….teaching…because if it wouldn’t have been for his teachers he would possibly be just another numbskull.

Having said all of the above, I find it necessary to reiterate to this “grosero e insolente” that he must respect diversity in thought, skills and talent; that we live in a society where each of us depends on the skills and talents of others and that respect is crucial for a people to flourish and for violence and crime to subside.  Can we ask you, Mr Prime Minister, to get off your high horse and start showing respect to others?  Because it would, perhaps, be in vain to ask that you practice restrain or humility at least once in awhile. By your consistent behaviour, it is evident that humility is not one of your virtues.

Sincerely,

Edmund Franklin