Today Independence Police arrested and charged Manuel Peck, 79, with murder for allegedly stabbing his 81 year old common-law wife, Maria Chen to death.

The two were reportedly at home in San Pablo Village, Toledo, sometime after six last Friday May 4th evening when the Police believe that a dispute broke out between them. When they responded to calls made by villagers who heard Chen’s screams, Police found Peck lying inside a hammock in the house and Chen’s body on a bed. She was in a pool of blood lying face up, and had suffered a vicious stab wound to her throat, severing her windpipe. Peck had a broken arm and a small cut wound to his chin.

But in his report to police, Peck had an entirely different story.  The Guatemalan farmer told investigators that he and his common-law wife went to lie down.  He said that he was in a hammock and that he heard Chen exclaim that “someone is killing us”. Peck said just then he felt an excruciating pain to his face and realized that someone had hit him. He continued that he couldn’t see because the house was dark.

Police, however, have a different theory of how things went.  They say that she was cut to her throat with a blunt object and during their search of the house, discovered a piece of stick with blood stains at one end. They also say that based on their investigations and after interviewing several persons in the area, they have enough evidence to charge Manuel Peck with Chen’s murder.

The Barrow Administration has unofficially announced that it cannot continue to sustain their Poverty Alleviation scheme and other programs under its “pro-poor” policy.

The Poverty Alleviation scheme is the first to be trimmed. Through this scheme, the UDP hires over 600 persons who earn low income salaries. The program has no defined social purpose and merely gives persons a small income and temporary employment. GOB started the program since 2010 and despite criticisms that the program lacked depth and was bleeding Government funds, pressed by political needs it continued through to the elections. But now the elections are over and the UDP politicians don’t need voters, so they can take the risk of cutting down the program.

Another scheme that is getting the axe, even if just partially, is the gang truce. The UDP has over 200 persons, acknowledged members of 13 gangs throughout Belize City, on the Government’s payroll.

This program is the Barrow Administration’s most controversial yet. Through negotiations with gang leaders and now gang ambassadors, gang members are offered a portion of jobs in exchange for a weekly salary. The Barrow Administration says this is the most effective way of reducing gang violence and the shootings that have plagued Belize City, yet both the number of shootings and gang-related murders are on the rise.

The BELIZE TIMES understand that the Barrow Administration’s financial troubles extend beyond those two programs.

The National Health Insurance Scheme which has been at a standstill since 2008, will continue on freeze and even worst, will see a cut to its meagre budget. The NHI, introduced under the former PUP administration, was geared to provide health care to poor and low income families. It was rolled out initially in a pilot phase in Southside Belize City. The result was tremendous. Health care became accessible to many who could not access services because of affordability factors. The program was beginning to roll out in Southern Belize when the UDP administration came to office and applied the brakes. Now its viability is on the line.

Reports are other programs in health, education, youth, sports and culture will see cuts.

The 2012-2013 Budget, which should reflect the financial status and outlook of the Government, has not been presented.

BELIZE CITY, Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

By Alton Humes

Oceana in Belize could be facing off in the Supreme Court against the stiff-necked Barrow administration’s continued denial against the original volume of petitions to hold a national referendum on offshore oil drilling and drilling in protected natural areas.

When Oceana in Belize and the Belize Collation to Save Our Natural Heritage joined forces to collect roughly 20,000 signatures for a petition intended to trigger a national referendum before the double General and Municipal Elections that were held this year, they played their cards fair-and-square. Of course, GOB decided to not play fair, and thereby triggered their unlikely yet monumental ‘fall-back plan’.

Oceana along with interested parties, Thomas Henry (Tom) Greenwood and Audrey Bradley, have applied to the Supreme Court to challenge the disqualification of over 8,000 from the 16,000 presented to the Governor General Sir Dr. Colville Young, as required by the referendum act.

But well before this action, there was much going on. This included letters between Oceana Vice-President Audrey Matura-Shepherd and the Governor General as well as Charles Gibson, the former CEO in the Ministry of Public Service and Elections and Boundaries turned Minister, demanding a formal explanation on the rejected signatures.

When the slew of letters yielded responses that were not up to any sort of respectful standard, Oceana and their allies rolled up their sleeves, and prepared for the litigation they would now have to face. The key now, says Mrs. Matura-Shepherd, is directly challenging the flawed and politically-motivated amendment by the Barrow Administration to the Referendum Act, Chapter 10 (amended several years ago), which hasn’t been done quite like this. By going after (in paraphrase) the ‘right’ to ‘enable the general public to call a referendum on any issue of national importance’, and then to have it slammed down due to outright political interference and intransigence; well, that’s a powerful motivator enough, and why this lawsuit is a make-or-break event for all parties.

Make no mistake about it, whatever happens will mark the Barrow Administration in every way possible, and will also potentially up-end the continued political dominance of the State over its citizens.

A date for the hearing of the application has not been set, but the BELIZE TIMES will continue to follow and report on this matter.

Ancient peoples must have been awed by the sheer majesty of the sight. Especially as it changes colour from a pinkish crimson, to yellow and a little later to white.

The once a year closeness of the moon to the earth is awesome. Scientists say the moon appears 14% bigger and about 30 percent brighter when it made its annual pass so close to the Earth on Saturday 5 May 2012. It was about 15,300 miles closer to Earth.

The Moon is about 238,000 miles from the Earth. God’s great Sun is about 92 million miles away.

The brightness of this special moon not only lit up the sky but lit up the waters in front of Belize City – so that it glistened.

Beautiful.

GOING TO COURT

Belizeans are being asked to agree to going to Court with Guatemala for the Court to decide how to settle Guatemala’s claim to our country.

Belizeans are being told that they will be required to vote in a National Referendum next October 2013.

The referendum will be on Sunday to facilitate Guatemala which prefers to hold its elections on Sunday.

In Belize, Sundays are a day of prayers, worship and church attendance as well as outings to recreation spots or rest at home.

The UDP Government is committed to following the British, Guatemalans and Americans in having the claim settled by the International Court.

There is no doubt our government will be campaigning to have its supporters vote yes in the referendum and that there will be the usual bribery and other corrupt practices to influence the outcome of the referendum.

We should all remember the shameless behavior of government bringing up its supporters and gang members to bleat out “yes, we support the 9th Amendment (to the Constitution)”.

The official position of the Opposition has not yet been made public but they will be under pressure from the British to tow-the line.

It is highly likely that the Court will award Guatemala portions of Belize land and sea. That has always been the position of the USA, Britain and Guatemala.

Guatemala is asking the Court for the whole of Stann Creek and Toledo. They are prepared to accept Toledo and a big chunk of sea and some islands.

Is there not a single man or woman with some of the blood of George Price and Phillip Goldson??

George Price said “Not even a square centimeter of land or sea is to be given up to Guatemala”.

Phillip Goldson said “The time to fight four our country is before we lose it”.

VOTE OF RAGE

The people of Greece voted in their general elections over the weekend.

They now have no government. In their anger they have voted out the government and given power to many parties.

Under their system of proportional representation, several parties are trying to join forces to form a coalition government.

The voting was all about austerity measures which their previous government said was necessary as an economic solution.

Austerity is another word for hard times.

FRANCE GOES SOCIALIST

In Presidential elections on Sunday, Francois Hollande was elected by the French people to lead their country in a new direction.

The main issue in the election was austerity. The people said no to more hard times.

Hollande becomes the second Socialist in decades to win a Presidential election. In Europe the governments are usually right wing and conservatives.

Hollande has said “my true adversary in this battle has no name, no face, no party … it is the world of finance.”

He has already stated he is pulling French soldiers out of Afghanistan war in six months’ time.

BOCO-T, ANOTHER LIE

Remember the last lie?

Arthur Young, wanted for murder is cornered in a building in Ladyville. He is badly beaten by Police, handcuffed and thrown in the back of a pickup with more than four police therein – heavily armed. They are seen stomping and kicking him. He is screaming.

He never reaches the Police Station.

His body ends up in the morgue.

At a press conference the Police Minister reads from a statement that Arthur Young was trying to get hold of a police gun and was shot.

Yeah! Yeah!

Now comes another incredible report from San Pedro, Belize.

Boco –T is being escorted to the Station. He escapes. He falls trying to go over a fence. Police recapture him. At the station he is said to be fainting. He is later dead.

Official Police report. He apparently broke his neck when he fell over the fence.

Yeah! Yeah!

Official autopsy: Death from internal bleeding. This is the same as death from internal beating.

DON’T CUT ME

The poor people who are being used and abused in the so called Poverty Alleviation Programme suspected that after the elections they would be thrown one side.

They just didn’t believe it would happen so soon.

Twenty-five poor people given jobs at City Council to bribe them to vote in the elections were sent home one week after the elections.

Now several hundred attached to the Poverty Alleviation programme have been told that their pay is being cut. Straight up like that.

Instead of the dignity of going to work six productive days they are being told only to work “for three or four days”. It is a gimmick to justify reducing their already small wages.

Not a single big shot UDP has had a pay cut or asked to go home.

Remember how the government Ministers were paying for aliens to get citizenship papers?

Remember how all 31 UDP politicians were given three million dollars to share up among themselves for the general elections.

But now that they got elected they don’t need poor people anymore.

VERTIGO

Whether it be Vertigo or any other ailment.

Whenever the Prime Minister is ill, and it disrupts his official work schedule the country has a right to know.

It is with disrespect that the government three weeks after the fact tells the nation that yes, the Prime Minister could not start Cabinet on time.

The rumor mill was in full swing. All kinds of talk about the Prime Minister. One respectable person even mouthed that God di lash Barrow for his evil deeds. Such is the inevitable results of covering up.

Our take is that when the Prime Minister is ill, the deputy Prime Minister is the lawful person to run the country.

Which brings up this other matter.

It is now two months since the general elections. The nation is running without a lawfully approved budget. There has not been a single meeting of the new Parliament and to top it off a huge decision on a referendum with Guatemala is signed by the Foreign Minister, WITHOUT the permission or even a debate in the National Assembly.

MOTHER DEAR

“Your brows are slightly furrowed, Mother Dear,

A sliv’ry tinge has crept into your hair;

But still you’re dear and wond’rous fair to me.

I pledge my love – and in eternity

Will glow a warm and constant shining hue

To mark the heavenly path that leads to you.

God’s blessing on your earthly sojourn here;

Can I forget you? Never, Mother Dear!

By Belizean Poet, Hugh F. Fuller

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Jesus told this parable. It is found only in Luke Chapter 10 verse 29 to 33.

A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was attacked and robbed. They took everything and beat him, leaving him half dead on the roadside.

After a while a Priest passed and saw the man. The Priest looked at him and passed on the other side.

A Levite later passed. Saw the man and walked on the other side.

Then came a Samaritan. When he saw the man, he had compassion for him. And he went and attended to him. He treated his wounds and put him on his donkey and took him to an inn.

At the inn he paid money and told the inn keeper if more was used he would pay the extra on his way back.

And Jesus asked the question, now which of these three persons was neighborly unto the man? And Jesus answered “He that showed mercy on him. Then go and do thou likewise.”

In Belize there are those who are paid to look after the poor, the elderly and the mentally disturbed.

Those who are paid are the Ministers of government, the public officials and the NGOs.

The Ministers see the poor, elderly and mental people, but the Ministers drive pass quickly.

The non-government organizations who get money also see the poor, elderly and mentally disturbed, but are too busy hurrying to a conference at the Fort George Hotel.

At the conference the Minister gave the keynote speech. The public officials chaired the workshop. Someone mentioned the parable of the Good Samaritan but an NGO raised a point of order, that the issue of the poor, the elderly and mentally was not specified on the agenda. The point of order was debated at length and upheld, so the issue was not discussed or addressed.

A Priest blamed the gathering and ate the lavish food along with the participants. On his way from the Fort George conference he passed the poor, the elderly and the mentally but he didn’t stop as he was hurrying to attend a funeral.

And that same Jesus had said “leave the dead to bury the dead” – Matthew 8:22.

My issue was that although I felt this way about her I would never, based on the principles I was taught and the way I think, try to get in between them. I found myself wailing on the bed as if I was sick with intense pain. When they finally broke up I remember receiving a loving warning from my friend. He said ‘buddy I just hope she doesn’t do the same thing to you that she did to me!’ I was so in love that his statement was given a direct line from one ear to the next disappearing into thin air. Well to cut a long story short everything he told me, which of course I ignored, eventually came to pass and I found myself sitting in the same boat that he sat, licking my wounds.

Regardless of all the well intended information he gave to me there was a heart condition better known as “IN LOVE”, that I was suffering from and this condition makes one not only blind, but sometimes even destructive to self and others!

I want to tie back in to my story a little later but this topic brings up a myth that we all seem to buy into because it sounds politically correct! You hear all over our nation a belief springing up time and time again that poverty causes crime and that education would reduce crime.

IF this was true the wealthy would never commit crimes nor would the well-educated! Stealing would be limited to the poor probably for the raw sake of survival and not necessarily for luxurious living!

In the scripture (2Timothy 3:1, 13) it tells us that in the last days evil men will get worse and worse, and thereby I do find it difficult to see our world having complete order, peace, and harmony, based on this reality!

Whether by intention or innocence, looking to education as a solution for crime will quickly bring us to a ‘dead end’ as it somehow subtly ignores the need for the most important ingredient in the lives of humans, and that is Godliness!

Crime comes from a condition of the heart and not the lack of information or knowledge. If I have a thief for example, and I educate him on the repairing of vehicles he then becomes a car thief, or if I teach him to be an auditor, or treasurer he now becomes a money thief and the list goes on and on.

Our challenge then is not necessarily to educate citizens but rather to answer the question how do we work on their heart condition! In the story earlier, my heart condition was that I was ‘in love’! My friend educated me that this girl might do to me the same thing she did to him, but all I heard was what I wanted to hear and that was the intelligence that they had broken up. The education or information then that I received was used to my advantage of getting the girl for myself!

Yes education would solve crime but not the type of education we are thinking about. In (Proverbs 22:6) we are instructed on how to deal with the crime situation from the root and that is to train up that child in the way he should go. The crimes we are seeing now and the young faces of criminals,  forces us to ask the question have we been training our children or are we depending on the television set, teachers, and the child’s own initiative?

While formal education equips us for the world of work and business, it falls short terribly in the area of ‘moral’ and ‘crime free’ nation building!

I believe the only education capable of solving our crime issues is the education of Godliness!

I urge you as we continue to look for solutions to curve these devastating realities, to let us begin looking into the right places as the answer is not far away and resides within the tender but powerful pages of the Manual for Life or ‘the bible’ as it more popularly known!

Until next week. God bless!

Students viewing special Coca Cola art displays

By Katie Usher

For almost fifty years, Belizeans have been enjoying panades, ducunu or rice and beans with Coca Cola and making the internationally successful beverage, a Belizean staple. To commemorate this golden achievement, Bowen and Bowen Limited teamed up with artist Gilvano Swasey to actualize the Open Happiness competition. This competition invited the participation of professional and student artists from each of the six districts to create their version of a Coca Cola moment. The art competition, also a traveling exhibit, commenced its tour of the country at the House of Culture (Government House) in Belize City on May 8, 2012. Another element of the competition is an auction in support of Lifeline Foundation, which supports children.

Thirty professional artists were invited of which twenty seven participated in addition to the invitation of thirty schools, of which twenty three participated. Each participating artist or school was given a canvas and a stipend to purchase art supplies. A total of 50 submissions were entered from which a panel of judges, comprised of a photographer, a sculptor, a graphic designer and a representative from Bowen and Bowen Limited, selected a first, second and third place winner from the two categories.

It was definitely a challenge for the panel to select only three pieces from the twenty seven artists, as the competition received entries from Pen Cayetano, Lita Krohn, Carolyn Carr, Eduardo “Papo” Alamilla, Deborah Usher, Rachael Heusner, Terryl Godoy (Man at Work), Manuel “Daza” Gonzalez, Lola Delgado, Briheda Haylock, Kelvin Baizar and Daniel Cano, to name a few. Viewing all 27 pieces together was a sight, as these Coca Cola displays were unique to the artists’ flavors.

Teryl Godoy and his 1st place artwork

The task was not easier for the panel in the second category, as all the participating schools brought their ‘A’ game to the competition. The youth, humour, and vivid chromatic displays offered by the entries from Corozal Community College, Pallotti High School, Sacred Heart College, Orange Walk Technical High School, Delille Academy, Toledo Community College, and the other 17 entries, were truly spectacular. The interest, enthusiasm and appreciation for art which the students of the twenty three participating schools showed must be commended and their teachers and principals recognized for fostering and nurturing the talent of the young Belizean.

Still, winners had to be chosen, and for the professional artist category Carolyn Carr placed 3rd, Eduardo “Papo” Allamilla placed 2nd and Terryl “Man at Work” Godoy placed 1st. Mount Carmel High School, with an entry from Jose Martinez, placed 3rd, Muffles College, with and entry from Jareny Rivera placed 2nd, while Maud Williams High School, with and entry from Michael Martinez, Gaynel Vernon, Marlon Ack, Kiara Vargas, and Ruel Riverol, took the 1st place.

All these pieces showed the artists’ representation of a Coca Cola moment and these, along with the other forty four paintings are currently on display at the Government House until May 25. You can swing by to see for yourself how each artist expresses Open Happiness.

By Alton Humes

The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) has announced increased visitors’ fees for both Belizean and tourist visitors to some of the most recognized Maya ruins in Belize, such as Altun Ha in the Belize District. The price hikes were delayed when they were first announced in November 2010, which then led to a testy back-and-forth with the Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize (FECTAB) and other stakeholders linked with the tourism sector.

Although NICH has said that they need the revenue, tourism stakeholders are still saying the increase could hurt the industry. One notable tour operator working for the popular Cavetubing.bz operation, Yoni Rosado, told the BELIZE TIMES via phone today that the whole idea of an increase in the middle of a never-ceasing recession is ‘ridiculous’. He pointed out that increases rates are always unwelcome news for tourists.

Rosado also said local stakeholders are very concerned about the conditions of the parks and the access roads which make their job infinitely harder, and that one wonders why an attempt has not been made to repair the conditions with the fees already collected.

But will FECTAB, on whose executive board Rosado sits as a treasurer, stage any sort of mass-action as they did in 2011 when they forced NICH to delay the fee hikes? This was where Rosado turned to conspiracy theories, when he essentially told the BELIZE TIMES that FECTAB wouldn’t raise any trouble about the increase, for fear that the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) would make trouble for him, his family as well as the other workers and their families. FECTAB, said Rosado, would want to ‘work with the Government’ despite this latest lack of tact because, as he put it to us, ‘There’s nowhere to run [from this]…”

The BELIZE TIMES could not, despite numerous attempts today, reach FECTAB president Tom Greenwood, for comment on this matter.

BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 9, 2012

By Roy Davis

Peter Carter, the president of a new lobby group named the “National Belizean Right To Bear Arms Group”, is calling on the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, to publicly apologize to American national John McAfee for what he says was a gross injustice done to him around when members of the police’s Gang Suppression Unit and the Belize Defense Force raided his home in Orange Walk on Monday, April 30.

Carter said that PM Barrow should not only apologize but should also financially compensate McAfee for his losses.

“How can Prime Minister Barrow so callously destroy investor confidence in Belize by putting McAfee through such an ordeal”, commented Carter.

Carter suggested that instead of assisting the Government (McAfee donated a boat to the Coast Guard), the American investor should use the money to help poor and needy families in Belize.

“The money would serve a much better purpose”, said Carter.

Carter pointed out that Belize’s economy, which is already in shambles, would suffer a further breakdown if McAfee decides to let potential investors know the treatment he was subjected to in a country he has invested in and has chosen to make his home.

The GSU and BDF members extensively searched McAfee’s compound which houses his Belize Ecological Foundation Limited. They were unable to find anything incriminating.

The National Belizean Right to Bear Arms Group is a registered company that has about 20 members. The group has a direct interest on the McAfee ordeal, since MCAfee was being persecuted for having ten firearms and a large quantity of ammunition. Carter held that persons in Belize should have a right to protect oneself and their property, especially when crime is so rampant in Belize.

Carter explained that the group is a lobby group that will look at the interests of Belizeans. He said there are many issues regarding firearm holding that need attention. Persons wishing to find out more about the group can reach Carter at 630-0383.

Facebook is the “in” thing. Everyone has a facebook page.

There are over 800 million active users in the world. That is a lot. The Americans just found out that 20 million pickney are on facebook.  Facebook does have a minimum age. A user has to be 13yrs old. Yet, more than one third of the users are kids younger than 13yrs.

This is a bad recipe. There are no laws about the internet in Belize. The Ministry of Health or Social Development is doing absolutely nothing to protect our children on the internet.

This is unacceptable.

Lova Boy Guilty

Daniel Cacho is Lova Boy. He is the third best punta rock artist in Belize. He is high energy. He looks like rap star Lil Wayne. Talks like Press Cadogan. He sings like Supa G.

Talented.

Lova Boy is charismatic. Life gave him lemons but he is a lemonade superstar.

Cacho shared that he felt guilty coming off the plane. The murders are too much. He told us he could not ignore the shots. Things are out of control. Shots were literally fired next to the stage while he was performing.

The Punta Prince has to be warned. The problem is the red devils in Government.

Lova Boy felt guilty. He brought a new music video with Dean Barrow’s wife.

Healthy males are dying. They are not dying of cancer. They are fatalities of incompetence.

Lova Boy should scold the government. He knows jail. He knows bad life. He knows gangs. He knows pain. He knows what it is like to be failed.

Lova Boy is an artist. An artist is a prophet. This corrupt government is the enemy of the prophet. Other artists have led the way.

Supa G kill off the rapists and child molesters.

Ras Indio has stared down the government. He has a song. The title of the song is “politician dem a fraud.”

Yes, Lova Boy, your feeling of guilt is justified.  We want to see more from you.

Cover Up

The government is hiding the truth from us. All around the city gun shots are ringing. The Gang truce has gone belly up. Gun men are out in the streets reaping souls. There are legions of failed assassinations and shoot outs.

The incidents are not being reported in the news. Citizens hear the shots. We see the parade of GSU trucks and ATVs.

There have been several incidents of unreported shootings. The public is in danger. They do not know the truth. They will walk right into a bad situation. This will be because the government is ashamed. They are dishonest. They are more concerned with statistics than truth.

Belizeans demand to know the truth. The full truth and nothing but the truth or so help you, God.

Government murders Pinky

Belizeans are not fools. Shelton Tillett was the largest street figure in Belize. His alias “Pinky” was as misleading as the notorious American gangster “Baby face Nelson.” He was the boss of bosses. He was untouchable. Top of the food chain.

Pinky was Belize’s Teflon Don. Only two things were as big as Pinky. Arthur Young and the Government.

Pinky’s death was a “hit”. The last “hit” this brazen was Andre Trapp. His contract killing was outside of the courthouse. Down town. High noon.

The murder of Pinky was too facey. It was too organized. It was ordered.

The gangs will figure this one out.

Life and Labour

“You have been told that life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what is said by the weary. And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,

And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge, And all knowledge is vain save when there is work, And all work is empty save when there is love,

And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.” The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.

Hit List

Look at the gang bosses who have been executed while the UDP control the police and Government. It is beginning to add up. There is nothing to smile about. Pickney time is over.

This does not end well.

Kraal Road boss, “Killa” Gentle murdered on a CYDP project for the Government.

Southside Gangster’s boss, Andre Trapp, executed in front of the Government’s court. He was executed in full view of Police officers.

Brick City boss, “Nose” Lauriano, was trailed and slaughtered, Police style. His mother knew that it was the government that did it. She told them that to their face.

Boss of George Street Gang, Pinky Tillett was the victim of an obvious contract killing.

Boss of Taylor’s Alley, is killed by the Police while handcuffed. He is killed by the Government before he could point fingers.

This is no coincidence. Will the public believe after the new George Street boss “Shiny” Tillett is erased in the same way? Or when Ghost Town boss, Roger Anthony, is surgically murdered too?

The government should stop these assassinations. They should strengthen the justice system. They should let justice work. You cannot fight criminals with crime. It is unrighteous.

Maybe the public is ok with a Government execution squad.

Burning the Evidence

The body of Arthur Young was cremated. This is weird. It is not normal for poor people to cremate our loved ones. Creoles always say that Christmas and funerals bring their own money. Gangsters are normally buried. Not cremated. That is just the way it is.

Arthur Young’s death was suspect. His body is a crime scene. His body is all the evidence against his killer. A genuine forensic examination would have exposed the lies being told. Burning his body is to destroy the only link to the truth.

The Government killed Arthur Young. The government pays the doctor that does post mortems. Burning the body is evidence of the level of desperation.

The slaying of Young is creepy. It reminds us of the Lee Harvey Oswald murder in the US. Oswald was the sniper who assassinated JFK on November 22, 1963. He was then killed under suspicious circumstances. Check the history.

The truth is to remain hidden at any cost.

Trick me twice

Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn has some senior stats. He has been warning Belize. The gold in south Belize is not oil. It is fresh water.

He is right.

There will be a global water crisis. It is a gloomy thing. By 2030 half of world’s population will not have enough fresh water. The UN’s World Water Assessment Program forecast said this.

Water is priceless. There will be water world wars.

Water is already scarce. Wars are already brewing over thirst.

Israel and Palestine have serious hiccups over water consumption. Water is the problem between Lebanon and Jordan.

Turkey quarrels with Syria and Iraq over the use of water from the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.

Belize is the Saudi Arabia of fresh water. Belize was tricked by the sugar addiction. Belize was tricked by the tourism whore. Belize cannot be tricked by the oil high. Chiquibull is a gold mine.

Water is the new oil. Listen to Pulu. Get at least one thing right.

Getting away with Murder

There was a big press conference. It was to publicly explain the gang violence. It was to lie about the gang truce.

The media let us down. There is a minister of gang truce. Mark King is responsible. Yet, not one question was asked of him.

King has to take fault. He cannot hide behind John Saldivar’s frock tail. He cannot hide in the vault of Commissioner Henderson’s “intelligence”.

This is the person that is supposed to have the answers. He is being paid for this. Not a word from him.

The media did a bad thing.

Guess who’s talking…

Everyone except Cordel talks for Cordel. At one point in time Evan spoke for Cordel. Then KREM spoke for Cordel.  Then Whylie spoke for Cordel at meetings. Then Mark spoke for Cordel.

Recently, the UDP cabinet was speaking for Cordel. Then Sedi spoke for Cordel.

The latest Cordel ventriloquist is Bill Lindo. This must be a joke. He took time out from his UDP job to talk for Cordel. He spoke for Cordel in the Reporter.

Belize has no idea what Cordel’s voice sounds like. It has been years since Belizeans have heard Cordel.

Cordel should speak for himself. Can he?

Blackouts

The power outages are unbearable now. Every other day there is a power surge or a blackout. It is blowing out appliances. Hundreds of poor people are put through serious expense. BEL is not helping.

Light bills went down by a “pilinki” three cents. Then the Government blows out our TV for four hundred dollars. We own BEL, they say. We want to see the benefits.

BEL is putting us in danger. Darkness and crime are friends. The blackouts are the worst thing ever during this murder season. Gun men will use it to do their deeds.

Oh my Godwin

Godwin Hulse borrows Emperor Barrow’s new clothes. This dude is full of it. The world knows he is a big fanatical UDP. That secret is done. Come on. Please stop pretending, Godwin.

Minister Godwin was on Love FM. He was asked about the appointment of the controversial Judge Awich. The lawyers association said he is bad news. They said he should be fired. Relying on that recommendation Dean Barrow promotes the guy.  What say Godwin?

Godwin says he has no concern about substance. If the procedure was followed Dean could appoint a hickatee.

That was the dumbest answer yet. As a Minister you are a policy maker. You are there to check for substance. Not to rubber stamp your pay check. Not to play “yes sah massa”.

Godwin is a primate example of the proverb, the higher monkey climb…

The Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation is inviting applications for the following scholarships for the 2012 – 2013 school year:

1.       High School Scholarships tenable at any recognized high school in the country of Belize. These scholarships cover the cost of Tuition, Other Fees and Books for a maximum of four years.

2.       University Scholarships:

(a)    Associates degree scholarships tenable at Galen University. These scholarships cover the cost of tuition only for the duration of the program.

(b)   Certificate program or short course scholarships tenable at the University of the West Indies Open Campus, Belize.  These scholarships cover the cost of Tuition only for the duration of the program or course.

Application Forms are available at Bruce Bike Shop at No. 1834 corner Chancellor Street and Blue Marlin Boulevard, West Landivar, Belize City. For more information call 223-5674/600-6665. Completed applications forms must be returned at Bruce Bike Shop on or before 15th. June 2012.