The Belize Times » News from the Nation

The Year That Was…A Political Review!

editor2 — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:50:31 +0000

2009 was a most tumultuous year and one that most observers will agree was a far better year for the Peoples United Party than 2008, and far better for them than it was for the UDP. More troubling though, it has proved to be the worst of modern times for the people and nation of Belize.

It would be too much to ask any one person to “review” all the events of 2009, so I will attempt to put it within the broad perspectives of politics and the economy, and try to conclude by saying what it may mean for the outlook going forward.

The year started with the holiday season a mere respite from the political stirrings of a municipal elections campaign even as Said Musa and Ralph Fonseca had been arrested the month before. In retrospect it is now obvious the strategic timing of the arrests.

By mid-year the charges against Fonseca would be dropped and Musa would be exonerated by a ruling by the Chief Justice.

In January the Barrow administration had brought suit against two former ministers in the former PUP government after it had been forced to drop charges and other efforts against Joe Coye. By August the suit would be dismissed almost stillborn by the Chief Justice but the determined persecution of PUP supporters would continue at all levels and to all degrees.

By mid January the PUP had announced its slates and was soon mounting a surprisingly spirited campaign, especially in Belize City and Orange Walk Town, and the results reflected this.

Less than a year after its most devastating defeat and even though its leadership was still very much divided, there was the sense that the PUP was regaining popularity. Or to put it another way, less than a year into its term, and even with the PUP not regarded as much of a threat due to dissension, it was clear that the UDP was rapidly losing the popularity it had ridden to victory in the General Elections.

And while the UDP did go on to sweep all the municipalities in the election early in March, its margins of victory had been narrowed considerably in nearly every polling area.

Perhaps more damaging is that the PUP’s persistent campaign of exposing rampant corruption and mismanagement at the Belize City Council was to reverberate throughout the year, culminating with the unprecedented arrest and charges being laid against a serving mayor.

This in turn resulted in her fighting back, calling the Prime Minister and her Party Leader names publicly and then, so far successfully suing to continue to be counted among the membership ranks.

The PUP campaign had also accurately pointed out that the Belize City Council was broke, and had been bankrupted by mis-management and corruption, again culminating with sanitation workers striking and demonstrating in front of City Hall for the wages they had earned.

The Barrow administration for its part, at the first meeting of the House of Representatives had tabled and passed an amendment to the Belize City Council bylaws with respect the fees for the collection and disposal of garbage accumulated by commercial establishments in an effort to “solve” the city’s garbage problem. They end 2009 by calling for an additional tax on household garbage.

The Barrow administration for its part was also to pass an amendment their media sycophants dubbed the “Zenaida Moya Bill,” giving onto itself the authority to appoint a financial overseer for any municipal government. It is now obvious that rather than being prescient, it was more of a case of trying to close the stable after the horse had bolted.

Quite possibly in any other year this would have been the major political story of the year but no, not by a long shot. This Dean Barrow administration and his UDP were to outdo even themselves.

By February the economy was being rocked by a strike in the sugar industry which culminated with the Barrow administration shooting several cane farmers protesting at Tower Hill, killing one. Dean Barrow has yet to express regret for the loss of life or to offer condolences to the widow and children. In fact in less than a week after the incident he flew to the United States to get married.

Barrow’s “I don’t have a clue” attitude towards Belize’s worsening economy, went beyond his manifest unconcern for the plight of caneros. By this time the continued weakening in our agro exports, sugar, citrus, papaya and banana, had already been eclipsed by concerns about a rapidly worsening international economic climate, decreasing remittances and foreign investment, declining tourism revenue, increasing capital flight and increasing litigation at home and abroad.

The story broke in January that the airport management company Newco had filed a multi-million dollar against the Government of Belize. GOB was soon to lose the suit but that story soon paled in comparison to the year’s biggest story, the forcible takeover of Belize’s largest and most lucrative private company, Belize Telemedia Limited.

All told the Barrow government now has Belize in jeopardy of being liable for almost an astonishing $1 billion in debt and the prospect of nearly limitless litigation because he decided to expropriate BTL to bring an end to multi-million dollar judgments and litigation.

Despite every sign that economically Belize had already taken a decided turn for the worse, and was worsening rapidly, Dean Barrow and his financial experts continued to pooh-pooh the reports of impending economic devastation.

In his budget presentation Barrow instead raised taxes and tried to masquerade his Capital III spending program as a “stimulus package.” Just returned from the Summit of the Americas, he apparently had “borrowed” the term from newly elected US President Barack Obama.

The enormity of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance’s ability to mis-calculate can be neatly summed up in his imposition of what he called a one dollar per gallon gas tax, and his promise made in the House of Representatives on March 6, 2008.

Barrow told the nation: ““The increase we are proposing is only $1.00 per gallon on gasolines and diesel. This amounts to less than one half of the taxes that were removed over the last year alone. It will still keep diesel at below the $6.00 per gallon mark, and gasoline at below $7.00 per gallon mark. Butane, on which there is no tax, will not be affected. In doing our calculation we were guided by best estimates of where the acquisition costs for the refined products will be over the next year. If for any reason these turn out to be significantly higher than the experts predict, it is my promise that we would then come back and take off as much of this dollar increase as would put things back in alignment for the Belizean people.”

At the time Barrow had formulated his plan, a gallon of regular gas was retailing for $5.22 and just two days before that House meeting on March 20, it had spiked to $5.73. By April 1 it had shot up to $6.99 and Barrow was already backtracking on a clearly spelled out promise. Today the price of regular gas per gallon is just about $9.00 per but the tax remains.

The year is replete with stories of the Barrow administration’s miscalculations, incompetence and corruption.

In March Barrow sacked a Cabinet minister, Marcel Cardona, for daring to speak out against a secret contract, a sweetheart insider deal signed by Cardona’s CEO, one of Barrow’s personal favourites.

Again in any other year this would’ve been one of the biggest stories of scandal and corruption but it was soon eclipsed by the goings-on at the Belize City Council and then the Ministry of Health and the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital.

A revolt by the doctors and other staff at the institution forced the prime minister to appoint a tribunal commission of inquiry into the allegations of mismanagement and corruption. We end the year awaiting the commission’s report, but the drama has been playing out since May when at a press conference Leader of the Opposition and PUP Party Leader John Briceno gave voice to the allegations.

The goings-on at the Ministry of Health/KHMH have over-shadowed a failing public health system and the deaths of seven children therein amidst allegations and charges of incompetence and negligence. Certainly the decision by the Barrow administration to approve the purchase of a $160,000 SUV for the Minister of Health, complete with heated seats nonetheless, seems grotesque, an incomprehensible reward for monumental incompetence?

The story that highlights and exemplifies nearly all the political goings-on is perhaps the story of Charles and Hirian Good. Almost every week since the 2008 General Elections there have been reports of the victimization of acknowledged and suspected PUP supporters either through the cancelling of their leases or the taking away of their jobs and other economic opportunities.

The so-called independent media has turned a blind eye to these allegations and protestations no matter how obvious the cries and lamentations. In August of 2009, however, a story appeared that they could not, no matter studiously they tried, they could not ignore.

On August 3^rd, Hirian Good, 38, was dismissed from her job as a school warden at Trinity Methodist Primary School, a job at which she had toiled with distinction since September 2006.

Two weeks later in interviews with the media Mrs. Good was able to produce several certificates of appreciation and merit that were testament to her excellence.

Her tale was simple and straightforward. She had received her letter from her immediate supervisor, and she had climbed the rungs of the ladder of authority and responsibility seeking the reason for this callous and unwarranted act. Ultimately she had been told by the Minister of Education himself that he had decided to dismiss her so he could give her job to one of his supporters.

An incredulous media then interviewed the Minister who unabashedly confirmed her story. It should have died there but Hirian is married to Charles Good, a man of formidable presence and lifelong experience as a military leader.

Together the Goods began to protest the injustice with a determination and courage long unseen in social or political intercourse in this country. Through inclement weather, hostile taunts and threats, police intimidation, lies, blandishments and imprecations they stood their ground publicly in front of no less an august institution than the Supreme Court of Belize day after day, week after week.

On Tuesday, November 3, Captain Charles “Charlie” Good, Ret. died at the KHMH, his family believes from the injuries he received after being rough up by the police the month before. He had undergone two major operations in the previous two years and had never fully recovered. In his death Charlie Good has inspired a spirit of resistance among the Belizean people that is becoming more and more apparent with each passing day.

Hirian Good’s suit against the Government of Belize has been accepted by the Supreme Court and a full hearing is scheduled for early next year. No amount of money, though, will soothe the grieving widow and her four school age children. Her plight and Charlie Good death are now a lightening rod and rallying point.

We began 2009 with the PUP seemingly on the ropes and the UDP the triumphant victors, their star seemingly inexorably ascending. We end 2009 with the many headlines of the issues arisen throughout the year still reverberating through the national psyche along with the names of 93 murder victims as well as several notables who have passed away – Oscar Ayuso, Dwayne Davis and Ricardo Magana, among others.

Along with the controversies such as the land grabs and quitars, import licenses, Boledo giveaway, etc, the scandals of missing money at Treasury, Border Management, Beltraide, and National Security, and the declining economy, we end the year feeling even less secure with the rampant and growing incidences of armed robberies, kidnappings, murders, and home invasions. We end the year knowing we are worse off than when we started.

What will 2010 bring? What else can 2010 bring? To paraphrase Betty Gable’s famous movie line: Re-tighten your seat belts, it seems we’re in for an even bumpier ride.

News From the Nation

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:40:58 +0000

Police officer shot over the weekend

San Ignacio, Monday, November 3, 2009

Dimas Pinelo, a Belize Police Department constable was shot around 7:00 p.m. last Saturday night on the Calla Creek Road in Cayo, in what is believed to be a resurgence of the banditry in that area by Guatemalans coming across the border.

Pinelo was reportedly part of a four-man squad riding in the pan of a borrowed pickup truck that was accosted by four armed and masked men all dressed in black, while they were reportedly responding to reports of criminal activity.

Pinelo, who was transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, is in a serious but stable condition, and is expected to recover from the wound to his right shoulder.

All English speaking Caribbean countries are in a recession

Belize City, Monday, November 2, 2009

The Economist Intelligence Unit, a respected think tank, says economic conditions in the Caribbean will get worse before they get better.

Its analysis of economic indicators in the region show that tourism’s performance is weak, remittances are not picking up, consumers are borrowing and spending less, unemployment is rising and government budget deficits are widening.

The Unit says that given these dynamics it estimates that there will be continuing recessions in 2009 in all the countries in the English-speaking Caribbean with the exception of Dominica. Dominica has a relatively low reliance on tourism and is enjoying a construction boom thanks to fiscal stimulus measures funded mainly by donor aid.

In 2010, the EIU says growth will remain negative in some countries and even in those that begin to recover expansion will be very weak.

Belizean arrested in Mexico with 36,000 counterfeit pesos

Belize City, Monday, November 2, 2009

A Belizean was busted with 36 thousand counterfeit pesos in Mexico last week Wednesday. The Diario de Quintana Roo reports that 19-year-old Manuel Eduardo Martinez – a Belizean of Corozal and Mexican Javier Martinez Vidal, 39, of Quintana Roo attempted to pay for services at the Hotel Ucum in Chetumal with the fake money.

The hotel called the Mexican State Police who told the newspaper that the duo had allegedly paid for the services of a prostitute with 800 counterfeit pesos. They also claim that the pair led police to their hotel room where they found 98 – two hundred pesos bills, 36 – five hundred pesos bills, 4 Belizean five dollar bills, and 20 Belize dollars.

According to the newspaper the men confessed that they bought the money in the Corozal Free Zone from one Jose Luis for $4,000 Belize dollars. The men remained detained pending charges. In Mexico counterfeiting is a crime punishable by sentences of up to 15 years imprisonment.

Smart says Barrow is lying

Belize City, Monday, November 2, 2009

Speednet, the operators of the Smart telecommunications service apparently feel PM Barrow crossed the line when he discussed private negotiations involving BTL and Speednet. Mr. Barrow at his press conference last week revealed what he apparently considered were salacious details related to interconnection and lease agreements of BTL towers. Barrow claimed that the agreement had not been approved by the PUC, and that they were anti-competitive, and therefore illegal. He said Government would challenge them in Court.

Speednet has issued a press release criticizing Barrow saying: among others thing that: “The comments made by the Hon. Prime Minister were unfounded, and in the opinion of Speednet, clearly intended to negatively influence public opinion against Speednet in order to create a competitive advantage in favour of the now Government controlled Belize Telemedia Limited.”

The release defends the 2004 interconnection and tower lease agreements, indicating that not only were they agreements negotiated by private companies but also that the interconnection agreement was submitted and approved by the Public Utilities Commission, contrary to Barrow’s assertions.

Speednet argues that the 15 year interconnection license given to them is standard, because it is meant to safeguard customers from prolonged interruption of services. As to the Prime Minister’s complaint that the $1,000 rental of 18 BTL towers is too low and should be increased to $5,000, Speednet challenged that the pricing is ordinary because players in the industry view the duplication of networks as an inefficient use of valuable resources in an industry that is capital intensive.

Speednet also clarified that the rental fee which they pay is reflective of the bulk of towers rented, and fair and reasonable in comparison to the fees paid by Speednet to non-Telemedia tower owners.

Cecil “Chubby” Reneau is the new Chairman of the Marshalls

Monday, November 2, 2009

A new Chairman of the Marshalls’ National Service Corps was elected over the weekend at Independence Hall in Belize City.

On Saturday, October 31 delegates from 29 constituencies from around the country met to hold elections for the Chairman’s seat for the Marshalls’ National Service Corps, an arm of the People’s United Party. Two members of the PUP vied for the position, namely, Leni Jo Usher and Cecil ‘Chubby’ Reneau. Votes were cast by way of ballot and the final count was Reneau with 43 votes while Usher received 36 votes.

Prior to the delegates casting their votes in the weekend’s elections, the Chairman of the PUP announced that the Chairman’s seat is the only one being contested as the other posts each had only one candidate. The Vice-Chairman of the corps is now Robert Cadle, while the Treasurer is Jesus Sosa. Dorla Vaughan is the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary is Maurice Martinez.

It should be noted that this coming Saturday, November 7, the United Women’s Group will be meeting at Crocland’s Resort for their annual conference. The UWG is another arm of the People’s United Party currently being headed by Gina Tillett as president.

BTB Executive and Financial Directors contracts not renewed

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

A letter to industry stakeholders obtained by Vibes News confirms that the contracts of Belize Tourism Board Executive Director, Tracy Taegar-Panton, who has held that top post for a more than ten years, and Evan Tillett, the Director of Finance, and which expire at the end of the year will in fact not be renewed.

Both have been told to go on vacation immediately which will carry them through the end of their contract on December thirty-first.

In the letter Taegar-Panton confirms that her contract has not been renewed and gives no indication why but industry sources say that Taegar-Panton may have run afoul of the political executive in the Ministry of Tourism.

Did Corozal housewife commit suicide?

Belize City, Tuesday, November 3, 2009

A housewife of San Narciso Village in the Corozal District may have committed suicide last Friday night. According to a local newspaper, 39 year old Antonia Campos told a patron in a bar that said she was having domestic problems and wished to die. Campos then reportedly got up from her seat and ran onto 4th Avenue and right into the path of a car driven by Nigel Sanker.

Campos suffered severe facial and head injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Corozal Hospital. The body has been transported to the KHMH where a post mortem examination is scheduled for today.

EP Yorke female student nation’s top CSEC performer

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 3009

5 female students are the top performers in the annual CSEC results. Athina Swasey of Edward P Yorke was the top student in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Swasey obtained eleven Grade Ones in her subject exsaminations, and in addition to being this year’s Most Outstanding CSEC Candidate, Swasey also achieved first place subject awards in Human and Social Biology and English B.

Virginia Hsu, of St Catherine’s Academy tallied the second highest scores, attaining ten Grade Ones in her subject examinations.

Stacey Karyn Grinage of St John’s Junior College was the most outstanding candidate in the May-June 2009 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE). She is also the winner of the Belize Scholarship for this year. Grinage obtained grade twos in six subjects and achieved first place subject awards in History Unit 2, and Sociology Unit 1.

Other outstanding CSEC candidates for National Awards are Leonie Eileen Magdaleno of Stann Creek Ecumenical College, as well as Lila Estephan and Lilian Lai-Fung Shen both of St. Catherine Academy.

The National Award Ceremony will be held later this month.

Another home invasion

Belize City, Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Police report that they are investigating a home invasion which occurred last weekend in Ladyville. William Tennyson, 58, reported that whilst at home along with his aunt, an eighty one year old retiree, at about 8:15 pm on Saturday, October 31st he was accosted by a Creole man who placed a knife on his throat and ordered him to open the front door grill. He complied and another Creole man with his face covered entered. The complainant was then taken upstairs to his aunt’s room where the men demanded and received cash, and escaped with an assortment of jewelry and cell phones.

CFE Cancels Guaranteed Power Supply to Belize

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The Belize Electricity Limited announced in a press release this morning that its Mexican power supplier has canceled its guaranteed power supply contract. The release reads: “Comisiόn Federal de Electricidad (CFE) has advised Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) that it is cancelling the guaranteed power supply contract (Firm Contract) with BEL, due to Force Majeure reasons. This contract was to expire in December 2010.

“CFE has stated that their generation capacity has been significantly limited, as a result of problems with gas availability, generation equipment and shortfall in hydroelectric production.

“While CFE canceling of the firm contract is due to Force Majeure reasons, they are proposing to negotiate a new contract to provide up to 50 MW of economic and emergency energy to Belize. The rates under this new contract are expected to be higher than they were under the former contract.”

BEL maintains that there is sufficient local generation to meet Belize’s energy demand without supply from CFE. It says that since CFE’s initial notice in April, advising that it needed to suspend guaranteed power supply to Belize through to September 2009, BEL has been able to maintain power supply to Belize by relying on local generation sources, including the hydroelectric facilities at Belize Electric Company Limited and Hydro Maya Limited; the heavy fuel plant at Belize Aquaculture Limited and BEL’s own Gas Turbine Unit.

Tots badly burned in Cayo fire; family now homeless

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Two young children were badly burned in a fire on Monday night in Georgeville Village, Cayo District.

Reports allege that 14 year old Bridget Martinez was left home alone with her 3 year old and 5 month old sisters. Her mom Audrey Martinez says that around 8:30 she went to her cousin’s house next door and in what seemed like only a split second after that, the fire started.

She dashed home but by then the fire had already engulfed the house. Besides the injuries to her daughters Audrey Martinez and her 10 children are now homeless and have lost everything.

It is believed that the fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring.

The family needs help and anyone who wishes to assist can contact Audrey Martinez at 620-1609.

She also needs help in locating the father of her children Alford Castillo. He is reported to be somewhere in Belize City.

National Security Minister’s office burglarized

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Caribbean Shores area representative and minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo was in the news recently over a piece of land that he took from a single mother, a constituent of Minister Michael Finnegan. Today the news is that someone broke into the minister’s constituency office over the weekend, right across from the lot he had taken from Ms. Jerguson, and stole the minister’s computer and accessories.

This is the second time that the Caribbean Shores constituency office has been burglarized in recent months, and as with nearly all other such reports, Minister Perdomo seems unable to do anything about it.

Police arrest six for weed, three for gun, ammo possession

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009

According to the police press release for today, the police have arrested and charged six persons in four separate incidents for possession of marijuana.

On Tuesday, Police arrested and charged Sandra Thompson and Patrick Flowers with drug trafficking after discovering 11 ounces of weed during a search of their Belize City residence.

Similarly they report that yesterday they arrested and charged Mathew Alexander Gonzales of Corozal Town after a search was conducted on him which led to the discovery of nearly a pound of suspected cannabis.

Police report that yesterday they detained Gildon Rivers of Belize City after a search of his bag at a vehicle check point in Benque Viejo Town yielded four and a half pounds of weed.

The further report that after searching a house in Orange Walk occupied by Honduran nationals Victor Moralez and Jacinto Sorto, they decided to detain both pending charges after finding 3 ounces of marijuana.

Police are investigating an alleged carnal knowledge report by a 12 year old minor who reported that in the month of July 2009 a male person of Orange Walk Town had sexual intercourse with her. The suspect has since been detained pending investigation.

Police also report that they’ve arrested and charged three men on weapons and ammunition possession charges.

Police have arrested and charged Steven Edward Stults, American national of Cayo District, with kept prohibited firearm and kept prohibited ammunition after they conducted a search on his residence which led to the discovery of a 45 caliber automatic pistol along with 6 live rounds. They have also arrested and charged Isaguias Mai and Urbina Chan, both of Cayo District with Kept Firearm without a Gun License and kept ammunition without a gun license after they a search of Mai’s residence led them to the discovery of a 9 millimeter pistol with 33 live rounds, 5 expended shells and 2 slugs.

Charlie Good to be buried Saturday

Belize City, Thursday, November 05, 2009

The family of the late Charles Good has announced that they are dissatisfied with the conclusions drawn by Medical Examiner Mario Estrababran from his autopsy of his body yesterday.

Dr. Estradabran has certified the primary cause of death as “Neurogenic shock” secondary to acute pancreas hemorrhage, diabetes type 2, hypertension and chronic heart disease. He also listed the time of death as 4:55 a.m.

Good’s widow this morning said that the family is dissatisfied with Dr. Estradabran’s inability to properly answer their questions regarding her husband’s condition and what impact his being brutalized by the police on September 23rd may have had on his death.

Charles Good constantly complained of pain after being roughed up by the squad of policemen. He had received two major surgeries, including a heart bypass operation, in just the past three years, and was still recovering from a massive stroke.

His widow Hirian Good has also announced that funeral services for the late Captain Charles Alexander Good, Retired, will be held on Saturday, November 7th at St. Joseph’s Church in Belize City starting at 10:00 a.m., after which his body will be transported to San Ignacio, Cayo District for interment.

Shooting up of minister’s car raising questions

Belize City, Thursday, November 05, 2009

A report that Minister of Works and Port Loyola area representative Anthony Boots Martinez’ private vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Maxima, was shot up by a supposedly irate citizen yesterday morning on Reggae Street in Belize City is giving rise to many questions.

According to Martinez his driver Michael Sutherland was approached by one Kevin Sutherland who shot the vehicle three times because he could not meet with the minister.

Boots claims that Kevin Sutherland is not one of his constituents and they do not transact any business that would result in that kind of violence.

He also claimed that the police had advised that the matter be treated as a civil one, and so far there are no reports that Kevin Sutherland has been arrested or is even wanted by the police.

It is the third incident involving Boots Martinez and shots being fired over the past few years.

Coyes et al money laundering case adjourned to November 9th

Belize City, Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Yesterday the case with the million dollar money laundering case against the Coye family, their business Money Exchange International and employees continued in Magistrate’s Court No. 3 before Magistrate Kathleen Lewis.

The Financial Intelligence Unit, which brought the charges against the Coyes made a request to the court to amend the charge sheet to now reflect changes in line with the revised Money Laundering and Prevention Act, which is now the Money Laundering and Terrorism Act, that came into effect after the charges were initially brought.

Attorney Dickie Bradley, who represents Jude Coye, Michael Coye and James Gerou, completed his submissions yesterday morning. In an interview afterwards Bradley maintains that none of the statements presented as evidence against his clients had anything to do with the charges against any or all of the defendants. He had previously described the prosecution’s case as mainly quantity but no quality. He said that of the 86 statements tendered into evidence only one, Shaun Oliva’s, makes any accusation. He called her accusations in the statement unsubstantiated by any report by the Central Bank or any other relevant authority.

In the afternoon attorney Arthur Saldivar, who represents Marlene and Melanie Coye, also made submissions on behalf of the defendant, again highlighting what he termed the complete lack of evidence to substantiate the charges.

The case was adjourned until November 9th, when attorney Anthony Sylvestre will make submissions on behalf of Athlee Matute and Dietrich Kingston.

The Financial Intelligence Unit’s case is being presented by attorneys Antoinette Moore, Mikail Arguelles and Tricia Pitts. They have tendered 86 statements as evidence that included statements by persons whose identities had been purloined from the Belize City Council Traffic Department database, attesting to that they had neither sent through or received money from a Moneygram agency the Coyes operated on Central American Boulevard.

There were also statements by CIB Chief ASP Julio Valdez and Sergeant Bernard Reyes, who carried out the police investigation, assorted F.I.U. personnel and former Money Exchange International Country Coordinator Shaun Oliva.

The Coyes et al were variously charged with money laundering after nearly US$1.5 million was discovered stashed inside a suitcase in one of the bedrooms during a search of their home on Johnson Street in Belize City on New Year’s Eve last year.

The case has attracted wide attention, and even more so after Dean Fuller, the manager of Omni Networks Limited was arrested and charged on Monday, July 13, 2009 with laundering $6.5 million as part of the scheme. Omni directors and shareholders include Dean’s wife Diana Fuller, sister Susan Fuller, as well as the CEO of the Ministry of Tourism Michael Singh, who is also the brother of UDP chairman Doug Singh, and Ruth Esquivel, the daughter of former Prime Minister and UDP Party Leader Manuel Esquivel.

The court records show that Fuller is accused of being “engaged, directly or indirectly, in transactions involving property to Wit: $6,588,702.21 that is the proceeds of crime or knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe the same to be the proceeds of crime” between October ninth, 2007 and January first, 2009.

It is the third time that the Singhs have been linked to a company under investigation for money laundering. In February 2003 it was reported that Doug Singh was the registered agent for a Canadian owned international business company called Goldman and Stein that was being investigated by US authorities tracking the transfer of large sums of money.

On July 21^st, 2004 Belize Transportation Agencies Limited was stripped of its authority to conduct Western Union money transfer business by the Central Bank of Belize. In a press release the following month BTALCO’s General Manager Mike Singh confirmed that his company had halted operations as a result of a Central Bank investigation.

Of note is that the appointment of and acceptance by the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Attorney Marilyn Williams to an ethics committee of the United Democratic Party by its chairman Doug Singh has raised more than eyebrows.

Her colleagues before the bar in particular are saying that the blatantly partisan appointment is not befitting of her official government position as FIU director, but erodes public confidence in the integrity and independence of office.

The defense attorneys are also on record as saying that when the money was seized and counted in front of witnesses, it totaled some $1.64 million, but on the charge sheets and other court documents that sum has been reduced to $1.54 million and so far there have been no explanation as to reason for the difference, or any accounting for the difference.

News from the Nation

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:20:20 +0000

Compiled by the Vibes Newsteam

City Council axes Davis, Vangani, ‘Fada’ and Cassanova, suspends Buhdrani

Belize City, Monday, October 26, 2009

Reports are that last Friday the Belize City Council fired City Administrator Dr. Kiran Vangani, and suspended Kiran Budhrani. The women had both been charged along with Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers and former City Financial Director Dwain Davis, who was fired late last Thursday, in the so-called under-depositing scandal.

Reports are that Kim Cassanova, who also worked in the finance department, and Philip “Fada” Henry, who is a close associate of Moya, were also fired.

Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers is expected to officially report back to her office on Monday, November 2nd even though her party reiterated at a National Party Council meeting last Saturday that they have every intention of expelling her from their ranks.

FIU Director named to political party’s ethics committee

Several prominent citizens are questioning the appointment of and acceptance by the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit Attorney Marilyn Williams to an ethics committee of the United Democratic Party.

Her colleagues before the bar are saying that the blatantly partisan appointment is not befitting of her official government position as FIU director, and erodes public confidence in her integrity and independence.

Belizean American retiree murdered in Hattieville

Belize City, Monday, October 26, 2009

A retired resident of Hattieville was found partially decapitated on Friday. The victim was 59 year old Hubert Tillett who lives alone at the far end of the Dollar Bank Road in the village.

Family members said they became suspicious when they went to the house on Friday evening at around 4:00pm and found Hubert Tillett’s pickup in the driveway but he was nowhere in sight. The house had also been ransacked. They searched the property and found Tillett floating face up in a manmade pool in the back of his yard. He had a large cut wound on his face and neck. Bloody stones were found in the area next to his body.

Hubert Tillett is a Belizean American from Los Angeles who often returned to Belize following his retirement. A post mortem conducted has certified the cause of death as partial decapitation.

Citco summoned councilor’s business for non-payment

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Belize City Councillor Leila Peyrefitte just two days ago rushed to have her family’s business Peyrefitte Brothers, pay off almost $2,000 in Trade License fees and fines for being in arrears for seven months.

The documentation shows that Peyrefitte Brothers had been summoned to appear in Court to answer for the failure to pay from July of this year but apparently no judgement was made against the councilor’s family business.

Councilor Peyrefitte has been embroiled in controversy over her Council portfolio responsibility for the collection of Trade License and other fees during the Council’s 2006-2009 term since an audit recently revealed the Belize City Council failed to collect over four hundred thousand dollars in said fees.

Councilor Peyrefitte has acknowledged the shortfall but claims it is as a result of trade offs and write offs to businesses, but the audit points out that not only is this practice illegal, but the accounting for how much was traded-off for what product or service is sketchy at best, and non-existent in many cases.

Minister of Health’s new $160,000 Toyota

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Minister of Health Pablo Marin just two days ago took possession of a brand new $160,000 2010 white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, having bought his previously assigned Government issued 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser for a quote, unquote “very favorable price.”

The Belizean electorate is left to wonder why the Minister of Health needs a brand new expensive vehicle when there are persistent reports of chronic shortages of drugs, equipment and services within the public health system.

No Obama visit, says US Ambassador

Belmopan, Tuesday, October 27, 2009

New US ambassador to Belize Vinai Tummalapally officially met with the Belize media for the first time today and discussed a number of issues. During the discussion he was asked if US President Barak Obama will actually come to Belize. In April Prime Minister Dean Barrow met President Barak Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and said that the US president would come to Belize.

Ambassador Thummalapally said quite diplomatically that he did put that question to the president, and that President Obama had said he would love to come, but is not sure that with all that he has on his plate if it would be possible.

Ambassador Tummalapally also spoke on the matter of G.O.B’s taking over Belize Telemedia. The Ambassador said, and we quote, “The United States views the B.T.L. takeover by the government of Belize with some concern in that the United States hopes and expects Belize to conduct itself in a respectful fashion. We believe that’s going to happen in terms of compensating the shareholders appropriately and follow all the international rules and regulations and laws. So it kind of raised a lot of eyebrows when that happened, but clearly we do not have a position or a stance or a huge concern in that at this point. We believe that the government of Belize will conduct itself in a proper manner.”

Mennonite welder electrocuted

A Mennonite welder of Shipyard in Orange Walk was killed after he was accidentally electrocuted. On Monday, 37 year old David Schmidt was welding his boat on the New River along with Juan Martinez, also of the village, when the incident happened.

Apparently a sudden surge sent Schmidt into the water. The body was later retrieved and transported to the Northern Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Anti citrus greening law signed

Belmopan, Thursday, October 29, 2009

Following the signing into law of Statutory Instrument No. 122 of 2009 on October 26th, 2009 by the Minister of Agriculture anyone wishing to move citrus plants will be required to obtain a plant movement permit from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority. The restriction is being implemented to limit the spread of the devastating disease citrus greening in the nation’s citrus industry.

Anyone who moves citrus plants without a permit is liable upon summary conviction to a fine or period imprisonment or to both fine and period of imprisonment. A plant movement permit will only be granted for the restricted movement of plants within certain areas as to be outlined in the permit. Citrus greening reduced production in Florida’s citrus industry by as much as 16% this year.

Cayo cops arrest two for love murder

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Police in San Ignacio have arrested and charged Saidi Salazar and David Uk, a sister and brother of Santa Elena, with last week’s fatal slaying of taxi operator Mario Chi.

Police Inspector Dinsdale Thompson told the media that they believe the motive was jealousy and that the department is still seeking a third person. He believes that person would be able to assist the police in determining who the gunman was, where the murder weapon is, as well as how the murder was planned and executed.

Chi was shot last Sunday night as he sat with his family around his dinner table, by a lone gunman who entered his home with his face masked by a white T shirt.

GOB makes BWS final payment

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

It was reported today that the Government of Belize has made the final payment for the re-purchase of 83% of the shares of the Belize Water Services from former owners Cascal. It was the fourth two point seven million U.S. dollar payment since GOB initially paid fourteen point nine US million dollars in October 2005.

Today BWS is asking for a 25% increase in water rates.

Burglars rob Griga Museum

Dangriga, Wednesday, October 27, 2009

Burglars made off with a huge haul that included two computers, a printer, 2 UPS, a flat screen television, a radio, a computer monitor, a scanner, a Kodak digital camera, two DVD players and a variety of cultural DVDs from the Gulisi Museum in Dangriga Monday night.

The Belize Times is asking anyone who knows anything about this to call the authorities or call the Crimestoppers Hotline. Vibes news is also urging all Belizeans not to buy anything you believe may be stolen.

Negligent driver heavy fines

Belize City, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Primary school teacher Andre Torres of Belize City pleaded guilty to manslaughter by negligence in the court room of Justice Michelle Arana today. On December seventh 2008 seventeen year old Emelio Armando Santiago a student, lost his life in a traffic accident, between miles four and five on the Western Highway after Torres lost control of the Mitsubishi pick-up truck they were travelling in and collided into a lamp post.

Justice Arana ordered Torres to pay $7,000 to the court by November 20^th, 2010. He was further ordered to pay a compensation fine of s$6,000 to the family of the deceased by December 20th, 2010. In default, his assets will be seized. Torres’ license was also revoked for the next two years.