The murder of 21 year old Teddy Murillo in the early hours of Saturday morning, as the young man was heading home, has resulted in a hailstorm of criticism and anger and hate aimed squarely at the Belize Police Department. The accusation from Murillo’s family is that their brother and son was shot multiple times by a man who is sworn to serve and protect, a Corporal in the Department. Members of the family have said that Murillo was heard calling the officer’s name just before he was shot to death from a vehicle. A media tour by Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries has done nothing to allay the fears of citizens, little to restore or inspire public confidence in the Police Department and certainly nothing to convince Murillo’s family members and other Belizeans that their beliefs and fears are groundless.

Jeffries’ rounds in the media, rather, seem a patently political ploy to make him the face of the Police in the midst of this crisis, while shielding the man who is the chief policymaker and the man at whom the buck must stop, Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo. Perdomo’s last media tour was less than successful and his appearance did nothing to obtain public confidence. So this week, while Commissioner Jeffries was taking the heat for the accusations threatening to tear the department apart, Minister Perdomo was taking advantage of a photo opportunity to hand out motorcycles and tools.

But Belizeans are not in the mood for the political games being played in the Police Department, not when residents are being shot down in the streets and the criminals allegedly doing the shooting are those who should be providing protection. Young Teddy Murillo is the third victim of a fatal shooting recently in which Police Officers have been directly implicated.

In late December, Chris Galvez was shot to death on the Western Highway, and his family and an eyewitness claimed that it was a policeman who pulled the trigger. On February 13^th, a Jamaican, O’Neil Jones was shot by Police in Ladyville. Witnesses say that he had no weapon and was shot in the back as he tried to leave the scene.

Rather than pacifying Belizeans, statements in the media by the Commissioner of Police have added credibility to persistent reports that there is a rogue element within the Police Department. Jeffries himself confirmed this in an appearance on Krem’s WUB morning show on Wednesday, and worse than that admitted that there is very little they can do about it. Even the hosts of the show appeared incredulous when Jeffries made his frank admission. Jeffries went further to state that he hopes to include psychiatric testing in the police recruiting process, as he insinuated mental instability within the ‘rogue element’ which leads to the behavior for which the Department is now under serious scrutiny.

The Commissioner, on that same morning show, also confirmed a street report circulating that there are policemen on active duty in Police vehicles wearing ski-masks. Not only that, but he revealed that the Corporal being fingered in the murder of Murillo had been found with a ski-mask just a week ago and had to be pulled in. While the logical speculation, as pointed out by the hosts of the show, is that policemen in masks demonstrates a criminal intent, the Commissioner attempted to brush it off as some kind of strange fetish or fantasy.

Before the Commissioner left the show, a call came in from the mother of Teddy Murillo, who related that the same officer they are accusing for his murder was in front of her home issuing threats the day after the killing. At the time, said Murillo’s mother, the Corporal was in the company of another policeman. That policeman is the same man who was accused of the murder of Chris Galvez in late December. The Commissioner, while admitting that it is a problem that the Corporal accused of Murillo’s murder lives right in front of Murillo’s home, said that there is little they can do because the officer has rights too.

Calls to various morning shows all this week have focused on the very real possibility that there is a rogue element within the Police Department acting as a death squad. In his interviews, though, the Commissioner could give no assurance that this was not so.

The Police Department has been the source of much controversy in recent times, fueled by allegations of political manipulation, cover-ups, corruption and incompetence. The Minister of National Security has been a non-entity despite his pre-election proclamations of ridding the country of the criminal element. There have been repeated calls for his removal, and the Belize Times has been reliably informed that faced with overwhelming public pressure there will be an announcement of changes at the head of the ministry within the next month. That will be none too soon for Belizeans faced with crime out of control.

Teddy Murillo, the latest murder victim, was a deacon of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In protest against his senseless murder, the Belize Union of Seventh Day Adventist Churches has issued a release announcing that all 25 schools under its management will be closed on Friday, March 5.

The release states that “As a Church, driven by Jesus’ command to go into the world and teach, preach and baptize, we endeavour to call people to repentance and in so doing we create safer environments for our citizens. Yet the ongoing murders (some from the very same persons who ought to be protecting us) have instilled fear and chaos in citizens and visitors alike…we take this opportunity to call on the government to ensure that justice is served and that proactive measures be instituted to restore law and order in our nation.

Sir Barry Mansfield Bowen, a businessman, investor, entrepreneur and friend of the environment was also a man who loved to fly planes and an avid photographer.  Mr. Bowen died in a plane crash on Friday in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.

Sir Barry Bowen started many successful businesses and was always looking for the next potential investment.

At his death, he was the Chairman of the Bowen Group of companies, which included the Coca Cola franchise, bottlers of Coke, Fanta, and Sprite.  His other beverage companies included Crystal Water and Crystal Juices and Belize Brewing Company which bottles Belikin beer and stout and Guinness stout.  He was also in the automotive business and was the owner of Belize Estate and Produce Company, the Ford dealership in Belize. One of his more recent ventures was Belize Aquaculture Limited, which is the largest and most efficient shrimp farm in Belize.  This company also provides electricity to Belize Electricity Limited. The Gallon Jug agro company produces cotton, lumber, coffee, hot sauces and jellies. Also on this facility is the eco adventure hotel known as Cahn Chich.

Sir Barry came to wide attention in Belize for his entrepreneurial spirit.  He never stopped investing in Belize and for those who knew him; he was never shy about sharing his ideas with those he thought would listen.

Starting out as a partner with his brother and sister, Mr. Bowen built his reputation in business by buying their shares in the bottling works company in 1978. After fully taking over the company, he expanded its growth and was soon diversifying into other investments in Belize.

As his company grew, so did his reputation and soon he was Belize’s biggest businessman.  Along with this reputation came many who sought his advice and financial assistance, including politicians. In San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, he joined with the Town Council and financed the construction of a bridge that connected northern Ambergris with the rest of the island.

Sir Barry Mansfield Bowen, Knight Commander of St Michael and St. George, was born on 19^th September 1945, in Belize City.  He attended St. Catherine’s Elementary School and later completed his formal education at Cornel University in Ithaca, New York.

Barry Bowen was never afraid of challenging the system; his last fight involved a law suit against the Government of Belize over the Sixth Amendment Act. Together with other land owners he challenged the decision by government to remove access to the courts on the matter of land and mineral rights.  Bowen believed that government was trampling on his constitutional rights and succeeded in making his case in court.  In his always plainspoken manner he said, “Let’s take an issue with this one simple point; can or should someone change the basic right, the basic choice of the individual?”

Sir Barry Bowen also made his contribution to public service and was appointed Senator in 1998.  He served in this position for 7 years.   Although appointed a Senator by the Government, he was never afraid to challenge the government’s position on the issues.

He also contributed significantly to the social sector, playing an important role in the development of amateur sports in Belize.  In education he built schools in San Pedro and in Gallon Jug and his soft drink company is the sole sponsor of Belize’s annual Spelling Bee.

Barry Bowen loved to take photographs; especially of buildings and construction sites.   Wherever he travelled he took his camera, always capturing the architecture, colour and flavour of the area.

He was also a person who loved grass and green space.  Any property where a Bowen Company is located can be easily identified by its manicured lawns and wide open green space.  His buildings were always well maintained and he insisted that they be kept spotlessly clean.

Sir Barry was married to Dixie Summerscales; he is also survived by two daughters Shelly and Courtenay, four sons, Kevin, Michael, Dustin and Zander, a brother Bruce, and ten grandchildren.

John Searle his friend from youth said that his long time friend Barry Bowen “will always be remembered in Belize and abroad as an icon in our time, a man of the people and for the people.”

For all his accomplishments Sir Barry Bowen was a man who loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest.  His son Michael said he will always remember his dad saying:  “life’s too short, you gotta have fun.”

“THIS IS AN INTOLERABLE SITUATION.”

Harold Crooks

The Crooks Report

The prevalence of violent crime and criminal behavior in Belizean cities and towns continue to plague the Barrow administration. The daily reports of shootings, murders and robberies have dominated the evening news and are negatively impacting the lives of all Belizeans.  Today streets and communities, especially in parts of Belize City, have become hotspots for violent crime and random shootings.

Added to an already volatile situation is the fact that a number of grenades went missing from the British Army Training Unit here in Belize.   Already two of the grenades that were detonated have resulted in death and injury.  Currently 17 grenades remain in the hands of the criminal segment of the population.

In October 2007, in the heat of the UDP election campaign, the UDP candidate for the Caribbean Shores Division and current National Security Minister, Carlos Perdomo stated: “The UDP therefore proposes a three sixty degree multi-prong strategy for restoring the respect for law and order in Belize. This dynamic and creative three sixty degree approach will enable us to focus simultaneously on the various social culprits and problems in order to execute a sustained full court press attack on each issue, from all angles, in a well planned strategic and synchronized manner which with immediate medium and long term courses of implementation will restore the respect for law and order and recuperate our people’s confidence in our national system of law and order by initiating a multiple front, simultaneous and energetic engagement of the causes of crime and poverty and existing widespread corruption and on the alarming intensity of criminal activity.”

For the past two years, this 360 degree approach, which was supposed to be a “sustained full court press…” has not resulted in a turnaround in crime and violence in Belize; instead the opposite effect occurred.  Today Belizeans live in fear that they or a member of their family could be next.

In June 2008, the Ministry of National Security hired Mr. Harold Crooks, a Jamaican Law enforcement specialist to do a study on the Belize Police Force.  Six months later the Minister informed the nation that the report was completed.  While the report was only recently tabled, it was comprehensive and offered 167 recommendations.

In the report Mr. Crooks stated that the level of criminal activity in Belize had reached to a level where everyone is now convinced that the government and the law enforcement authorities have lost control. This will not “restore the respect for law and order and recuperate our people’s confidence in our national system of law and order.” Any nation that cannot guarantee the safety of its citizens has failed in its most basic function.

Added to the challenges facing the Ministry of National Security is the issue of the erosion of confidence in the police and the Department as a whole.  In his report Mr. Crooks said: “Left unattended police service delivery will cause continued deterioration in public estimation of the police to a tipping point where it will take years to restore public trust. This will also be powerfully influenced by festering police corruption – if creeping corruption is left unchecked.” He went on to say that “there is ample evidence of creeping corruption among members of the Belize Police Department. International studies have shown that left unchallenged this will fester, and given sufficient time become endemic. This must be confronted with urgency.”

Considering the fact that the Crooks Report was delivered to Perdomo more than a year ago, and in light of the fact that more Belizeans are openly accusing the Police Department of corruption, it is clear that the Minister and his team did not take the warning issued by Mr. Crooks seriously.

The report stated that confronting police corruption has to be integrated with national anti-corruption measures.  His sixty-first recommendation was that “an anti-corruption policy, strategy and public awareness programme be designed along with a NATIONAL ANTI CORRUPTION UNIT consisting of specially vetted and selected staff be organized as a matter of urgency.”

To date there has been no public announcement that this recommendation has been accepted and for sure there has been no urgency to its implementation.

At the last sitting of the House of Representatives, Opposition Leader the Hon. John Briceño asked the Minister of National Security if the recommendations from the Crooks Report were being implemented.  The response from the Minister was long on rhetoric but short on substance.  Certinaly the question was not answered. When Mr. Briceño tried to push further on this issue of great importance to Belizeans, the Speaker of the House, Emil Arguelles, cut him off, a clear abuse of his power and a violation of the standing orders, which allows for follow up questions.

There is a growing frustration among Belizeans over the crime situation and the complete failure of the Minster of National Security and by extension the Barrow Administration to find any lasting solution to this serious problem.

Given all that is occurring in Belize and this administration, Mr. Barrow should remember that the next time the UDP face the electorate it will be their turn to account to Belizeans for their record on the fight against corruption, crime, violence and drugs, which remains at the top of the electorate’s agenda.

This week our selection panel decided to bestow the dubious honour of outstanding double-speaking, double dealing, self-serving personalities of the week to three deserving individuals, charlatans of the first order – Drs. John and George Gough and the little incompetent crime minister Carlos Perdomo. While the poor minister has been featured before and, if not kicked out of Cabinet, will be featured again, the ‘good’ doctors have just recently come under scrutiny after a recent event.

On February 15^th, Dr. John Gough threw all aspects of his sacred Hippocratic Oath to the winds and did great harm to Carlos Zelaya, a minor. Reports are that Gough and another person beat this boy almost beyond recognition, then left him on the street bleeding. He was allegedly rushed to the hospital in serious condition by friends. That was more than two weeks ago, and Dr. John Gough has yet to be arrested by the Police, has yet to go through the procedure of law and order which any other individual would have been forced to endure. After repeated entreaties by the parents of the victim, he was picked up for a short while, but there entered his brother, UDP political aspirant George Gough. Calls were made and John Gough was released. Not only that – the parents of the victim were allegedly intimidated by a senior police official in an attempt to get them to drop all charges.

It is understood that the Police Commissioner has said that the file has been handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will then decide if any charges should be brought against Gough. While we would love to claim objectivity in this matter, quite frankly this entire case stinks of political interference and political manipulation, and there enters Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo.

The fact is that any other common individual like you and me without UDP protection caught in the same circumstances would have been arrested and charged immediately – no ifs, ands, buts or maybes. It is obvious that on this UDP operated farm, some animals are more equal than others, and some animals can act with impunity and without reprisal.

Dr. John Gough swore an oath to do no harm, but harm he did. Dr. George Gough swore the same oath but that apparently didn’t mean anything when it came to protecting his little brother from facing justice. And UDP minister swore an oath to serve all without fear or favour, but that was very obviously a sick joke.

There’s a new oath all UDP insiders must take – it’s called the Hypocritic Oath. You’ll hear a lot more about it.

And since the last time we asked he didn’t have a clue, would the Prime Minister be able to say now how he plans to bridge the projected $60million shortfall in the budget?

Would the Minister of Health please say when the National Health Insurance scheme will roll out into Corozal, since that district has been declared the second poorest in the country?

Would the Minister of National Security please say if he is now prepared to resign his portfolio in light of the recent scandals of corruption and incompetence in the Belize Police Department?

Would the Minister of National Security, before he leaves office, also be prepared to give a status update on the investigation into the murder of Chris Galvez, the beating of minor Carlos Zelaya, cane farmer Atanacio Gutierrez and Teddy Murillo?

This columnist takes some time out from throwing out the UDP trash to pay tribute to Sir Barry Bowen, a man whose contributions to our nation can never be overstated. His achievements will always be remembered. Nuff respect Sir Barry…!

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Let them eat cake…

And now on to the people’s business of disposing of the trash…! Rumour has it that at some function or the other just a week or so ago one of Belize’s royal princesses from the Barrow clan (well, they sure act like they’re royalty) was holding Court and issued a stern proclamation. According to the princess, she and the other royals of her clan won’t sleep until the staff of our humble newspaper (we dratted PUP) is forced down into the depths of depression and poverty and has trouble putting food on the table. Wow…sounds drastic, doesn’t it? I mean, here at the Belize Times we’d love to oblige the princess. We sure wouldn’t want her to lose any beauty sleep – God knows they need as much as they can get. But hell, why be modest, your royal highness? Why stop at impoverishing the staff of this newspaper? Damn, thanks to that royal clan, more than half of the entire country is having trouble putting food on the table. Your highness, haven’t you read the latest poverty assessment report? That’s the reality out here. And as to your proclamation…well, let’s leave it at that before I’m accused of treason and the Queen Lice orders my head lopped off…If Da Noh Soh!

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Keep ‘em coming…

And speaking of frivolous lawsuits, we got another letter by e-mail today. This time it’s on behalf of the good doctor himself, the one who brutally beat up a minor and then left him on the ground bleeding. Yeah, you know who, the man without a heart who says he can heal yours. Seems he’s pissed off because word of what he did is getting out there. According to the letter, we’re causing him distress and embarrassment. Well, then maybe he shouldn’t have beaten up a child. He’s worried about distress and embarrassment – imagine what the minor and his family are going through. Embarrassment my @$$, we’d love the good doctor to spend some time behind bars for what he did to that minor. Seems like that won’t happen because he has some political connections, but we can always hope. So if the good doctor wants an apology, he needs to go somewhere else. He won’t get one here. And if he thinks that the threat of another lawsuit will intimidate us, he’s even more stupid and misguided that we think he is…If Da Noh Soh!

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From jester to Chancellor

When the previous administration tried to get rid of Cadet Henderson, the UDP decided that it must have been political, so they snapped him up in a jiffy. Not only that, but they elevated the fellow to CEO in the Ministry. But the joke’s on them. That guy just can’t seem to get anything right…seriously. Look at the Kendall Bridge – washed out two years ago and the CEO is still at the stage of talking about proposals for funding. A simple thing like replacing a bridge, and he and his Minister measured it wrong. Now look, they decided to give Castro the bridge and even that they can’t get right. The bridge was too small for Kendall and it is too big for Gardenia where Castro’s land is. So the bright star CEO decided that they needed to widen the creek so that it would fit the bridge…seriously. Ask about the progress on that one? They’re still at it months and months after. And how about the works at mile 7 on the Northern Highway…we can practically see the CEO scratching his head on that one. In fact, it looks like he’s given up. Anybody who can name one spectacular infrastructural and works improvement under this UDP with Cadet as CEO will get a prize…If Da Noh Soh!

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Silent but deadly…

Has anybody seen the rotund minister of the public service lately? Almost seems like he’s gone into hiding. We can’t tell you where he’s been or where he is, but we can tell you what he’s been doing. For the past month, John has been lobbying desperately for the position of Minister of National Security. John wants to be the man who carries the big stick around the country, or at least he wants to command a couple thousand men in uniform carrying big sticks, if the first don’t work. Everybody knows that the writing’s on the wall for the disgraced Carlos Perdomo. Even he knows it and has been slinking ever so quietly into the background. The only reason he’s been kept around so long is that his family has more than a little pull in the UDP, but with recent events, even that won’t save him. Look for it in the next couple weeks…If Da Noh Soh!

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A compromise of sorts…

Embattled and bitter Saint Sedi managed to hold onto his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs against some fierce detractors in Cabinet. Man, those were some heated days in that Cabinet room as just about everyone including the PM’s chief ear-whisperer Lice called for Sedi’s head. Of course we all know why Lice called for Sedi’s head, right? Anyway, as we understand it, a compromise of sorts has been reached. Sedi has apparently agreed to let go of the AG’s ministry without a murmur on the condition that he hold on to his foreign affairs portfolio. The play has already been set. Remember Sedi’s humble apology to the judiciary for his dutty remarks – all because he didn’t want to leave on a sour note. Remember Sedi in the House just a couple weeks ago claiming that the AG’s portfolio is just too much for him and he can’t handle it? Another set play. Again, look for the announcement within the month…If Da Noh Soh!

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Told you it would happen…

Remember not so long ago I wrote in this very same column that the Board of BTL had requested a list of employees suspected of being PUP. I believe we also mentioned that everyone concerned should expect the worst from that bunch of UDP despots. Well, it’s happening. Word out of the Barrow Telemedia Limited is that terminations are being handed out left right and center. One junior management technician who has been with the company for close to 16 years was told that suddenly his post has become redundant. Several other longtime employees were told that their contracts won’t be renewed. And trust me, there’re a lot more in the pipeline. We’ll keep you updated on the happenings inside the red infected BTL…If Da Noh Soh!

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Flooded Dread…

Some residents of Maskall are on the lookout for the man we fondly call Barbie Dread, or even worse at times. See, it looks like the man built some houses for residents at the bottom of a pond which was dry then. But guess what happened when it started to rain. So there’s a bunch of people not too happy with the dread right at this moment. But what did they expect? This is the same man who used mud from the bottom of a lagoon to construct a causeway and the same man who built tilapia ponds right next to outdoor latrines…If Da Noh Soh!

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Flippin’ trespasser…

Word coming out of the beautiful town of Dangriga is that longtime District Education Officer and popular personality Gwen Nunez Gonzalez has been arbitrarily transferred out of that district. Word is that even the UDP Area Rep in Dangriga is not too happy, since he believes that the flippin’ Minister, who apparently made the request, is trespassing on his turf. That’s bad enough, but people are saying that Nunez’s replacement is a political appointee who is not qualified for the job. That, of course, would be nothing new under this UDP government. We use this opportunity to say kudos to Gwen, whose performance in Dangriga has been stellar. We are confident that she will excel wherever she goes…If Da Noh Soh!

During these past few days Belizeans got to know even more about Barry Bowen and for the most part, the stories spoke of a man who was among the best, brightest and most daring entrepreneurs in Belize.

At the funeral service at St. John’s Cathedral, we found out that Barry had an incredible drive to be first in everything he did. In his eulogy, Mr. John Searle, his long time friend told us that as children, Barry would always fight tooth and nail to win. Second place did not exist for him and when he felt he couldn’t win, he preferred to walk away.

This incredible drive to excel, to be first, to be the best, helped him to become probably the most successful entrepreneur in Belize. At twenty, he graduated from university and got married. By the time he was thirty-three, he had bought over all the shares of the family business Bowen and Bowen.   After that Barry was ready to conquer bigger mountains.

Now the sole owner of the Coca-Cola franchise and Belikin brewery, it would have been easy for Barry to sit on his verandah in San Pedro and enjoy life. But of course, he was just getting warmed up. He bought over Belize Estate, a company with land holdings larger than some countries in the Caribbean.

With that land, he went into logging, ranching and farming, utilizing his lands in an environmentally friendly manner.   He even helped to establish Program for Belize, a forest reserve of over 260,000 acres of land in the Gallon Jug area.

When Sir Barry decided to go into the shrimp business, he knew he had to have the best. He brought in some of the brightest scientists, engineers and planners to set up a shrimp farm second to none. He succeeded, and now Belize Aquaculture is considered one of the best shrimp farms in the world. Their quality and production per pond is among the finest in the region, if not the world.

While Sir Barry may be one of those rare Belizean entrepreneurs, there are a few others.  Last week Saturday I visited Mr. Jacob Wall, another ambitious Belizean entrepreneur who lives in Shipyard, a Mennonite community in the Orange Walk District.

Several years ago, Mr. Wall moved to Little Belize, Corozal where he started a poultry business which very quickly became a very successful enterprise. After several years, he sold his business and moved to Shipyard.

In Shipyard, he continued investing in agriculture and grew rice, and turned that into another successful venture.

Later when oil was discovered in Belize, Mr.  Wall and his partners decided to take on the challenge of building an Oil Refinery in Belize. They believed that with the discovery of crude oil, there was no reason why Belize should not be able to build its own refinery to produce diesel for Belizean consumers. They knew that they could produce cheaper fuel at the pump and save on Belize’s much needed foreign currency.

Mr. Jacob Wall is no engineer and has no formal training in petroleum engineering.  He has spent most of his life around machines and all that he has learnt has been through trial and error. Nevertheless he decided to take on the challenge of building an Oil Refinery in Belize.

After several attempts, one of which resulted in his blowing up his building, Mr. Wall succeeded in building a small, efficient and environmentally friendly oil refinery.

Presently his refinery has the capacity to produce around 3,000 gallons of diesel daily and he is ready to produce reliable and cheap diesel for Belizeans.

Sir Barry Bowen and Mr. Jacob Wall come from two very different backgrounds. Bowen, a member of a well established Belizean family, Wall a relatively unknown farmer in Shipyard. Though very different in upbringing and lifestyles, there are some interesting similarities.

Both men are known for their incredible drive; for not being afraid of taking on risks; for believing in themselves and for knowing that with hard work and determination any challenge can be conquered.

The legacy of both gentlemen is one that will impact Belizeans for generations. Those who follow their work ethic and who believe that anything is possible with hard work, determination and who are confident in their abilities will find Belize a great place to invest.

We live in a country with incredible opportunities and endless potential. Sir Barry Bowen knew this from an early age; so does Mr. Jacob Wall.   The examples set by these two men, their hard work and dedication has helped to make Belize a better place.  It is now incumbent on us to continue their legacy.

As a citizen of Belize and a Corozaleño I kindly request that you publish my letter.

It was indeed with great pain in my heart that I learnt through the recently published Poverty Assessment Report that the Corozal District is now considered the second poorest district in our nation.

When I first heard this I could not believe it! But better than that, there are some people in the Corozal District that fail to understand what has happened to a district that was considered one of the most prosperous for decades.  Among these people we have the three UDP Representatives who seem oblivious to this fact and the challenges faced by us Corozaleños on a daily basis.

Only two or there years ago, the Corozal District used to boast the lowest unemployment rate in the country.  The district was booming and business was being generated. Today all this has come to a halt. Workers by the score at the Free Zone, the Casinos and the Papaya Industry are losing their jobs daily.  And when they don’t lose their job outright the employers employ them for fewer hours; thereby reducing their salaries by up to about fifty percent.

It’s no wonder that we are now considered the second poorest district in the country.  As Corozaleños we believe that this is indicative of the lack of government leadership in the district.  We demand that the Government of Belize urgently addresses this poverty issue which can be done by ensuring that employment is generated.  Corozaleños are willing and able to work.

Since we are now considered the second poorest district, Corozaleños request that the NHI is rolled out to this district without hesitation and with urgency.  This is where the Minister of Health, who hails from our beautiful district and won the election on a platform of Reformed Health Care, could be instrumental.  In fact, if the NHI is to live its fundamental principles it should be rolled out to all the country.  The people of Corozal, like all other Belizeans, are desperately in need of good, effective and efficient health care.

We cannot wait for the Horizon in 2030! We need jobs, good health care and education, better roads, and more employment now!

Sincerely,

Leticia Vasquez

Greetings from the Southside of Belize City!

The purpose of writing this letter is to create awareness on the issues we face on a daily basis as ordinary citizens in Belize City.  So, I ask if you would be so kind as to publish this letter in your newspaper  because we need to ensure all understand the environment in which we live today in Belize City and more so in the south side.

I am an older citizen who has retired from the world of work and hoped to live a peaceful and decent life the rest of my days.  But if you watch the evening news and listen to the talk shows you would know that this is no longer possible here in the city. It is unbelievable what is happening. Murders and shootings on a daily basis, home invasions everywhere, hold ups, allegations of police brutality and corruption in the security forces and the list can go on.  Every day I ask myself if this is the same Belize where I grew up. And every day I remind myself that indeed it surely is not.

I hardly go out as I am terrified of doing so…even if only to buy something at the corner shop.  Many times I have to do without basic stuff because I will not risk my life being taken away by some stray bullet in the street or by some bullet meant for a grocer where I will go to buy a pack of bread and half pound of cheese or even by a grenade explosion.  Through the kindness of a good friend, I manage to do my weekly shopping in a neighbourhood which we believe is safer.  However, we are quickly starting to realize that there is no safe neighbourhood here in Belize City.

Recently I have been even more perplexed with all that is said in the media about the allegations that some Policemen are involved in recent murders in the city.  With all of this it is becoming really stressful living here in the city as I keep thinking who will assist me if I am assaulted or my home is invaded. I am indeed alarmed for the safety of our neighbourhoods and especially our children and youth.

I am appealing to the Government and the relevant authorities to please address this situation.  Many people are afraid but don’t voice it, my neighbours are even scared of going to Church now. When will this stop! It is crazy!

Sincerely,

Daniel Samuels

A caller to one of the morning shows today said that he certainly won’t be asking for any rides from any members of the Police Department anymore. He claims that he actually hid when he saw a Police vehicle circling. That’s the reality on Belize’s streets even before the murder of Teddy Murillo this past weekend. The young man was shot from a vehicle while heading home, and reportedly witnesses say that he called the name of a Police Officer just before he was shot. Witnesses also say that another officer in the vehicle told the shooter that since his face had already been seen, he might as well finish the job. So a young boy who was by all accounts upstanding with a bright future was murdered. Truth be told, the Police Commissioner seemed almost nonchalant in his discussion of the matter. There was none of the determination to see justice done, none of the righteous anger at the very real possibility that a Police Officer had cold-bloodedly murdered a young man. The ComPol is asking witnesses to come forward. But does he really expect them to with the track record the Police Department is amassing? What seems missing from the Police Department in this and other cases before is the real will to do the right thing. Police Officers have been implicated in murder and other wrongdoing before, and absolutely nothing has come of it. Where is the report on the death of Chris Galvez, allegedly with the involvement of the Police? Where is the report on the death of a young man who was found ‘hanged’ on the BTIA compound, with alleged Police involvement? Where is the report on the murder of the cane farmer in Orange Walk more than a year ago? It is a serious thing when the community loses confidence in the Police and trust in the Police. But the community is not to be blamed. The Police Department is digging its own grave. Nobody…absolutely nobody believes that a Police Officer did not kill Teddy Murillo. There is no doubt on anybody’s mind. That’s how bad it is.

No witness…they say!

It’s been two weeks since cardiologist Dr. John Gough, the brother of UDP political aspirant George Gough and UDP insider Sandra Bedran, savagely beat up a minor on the street near his home. The incident is no secret. The minor, SJC student Carlos Zelaya, was allegedly pistol-whipped and brutally beaten by John Gough and a friend. The father of the minor says that he found out about it from Gough, who claimed that it was a misunderstanding. The minor has allegedly been dating Gough’s teenage daughter for the past two years. Now my problem is this – Gough has not denied beating the minor, though he says it was a misunderstanding. The hospital records will show that the minor had to be hospitalized after the severe beating. The Police have been given the reports and have allegedly questioned those concerned. So why hasn’t Gough been arrested? Why hasn’t he been made to go through the same process as any other Belizean (not UDP affiliated, that is) who has been accused of a similar crime? The Police say that they need a witness to the crime to be brought to them before they can do anything at all. That is just bulls@#t. That is police-speak for – sorry, we’ve received orders from our political masters to leave Dr. John Gough alone because he has strings in the UDP. Apparently the Police don’t do investigations anymore, from what they’re saying. They sit in their offices and wait for those who have been victimized to find witnesses and bring them in. Shades of the keystone kops fi real…

Keystone Kops…

Our Commissioner of Police has always been a man people love to hate. From as far back as I can remember, Mr. Jeff has been hated by some and feared by others, but by and large respected by all. His brusque no-nonsense manner, with the media most times, gave the impression that he didn’t have time to waste in the spotlight – his job was not in front of the camera but on the streets fighting crime. But that was then. Unfortunately, Mr. Jeff’s credibility has been struck a deadly blow recently. As the Police have bumbled through gaffe after gaffe, the ComPol’s rep is taking a beating. As corruption threatens to tear the Department apart, the ComPol’s new job seems to be slipping and sliding and bobbing and weaving. He’s still brusque and blunt with the media, but now it seems part of the political game more than anything else. I can certainly be excused for saying that the credibility of the Police Department is at an all time low. I can also be excused for saying that confidence in the Police Department is lower than that. Those things will go on Mr. Jeff’s resume, though it is less his fault than that of his political masters who have been allowed a free hand with the manipulation of law and order. The Police Department just isn’t the Police Department anymore…maybe they should think about changing the slogan.

The Mask

Rumours on the street in the past weeks have indicated the presence of police officers circling in police vehicles with masks on. Those rumours have led to speculation that there is a rogue element of the Police Department – a Special Execution Unit, so to speak. An email has been circling which makes serious allegations of a criminal police unit and hit men within the police. The email makes some other allegations which maybe just weeks ago would have seemed ludicrous and out of this world. But with recent events, those allegations just don’t seem so far-fetched any more. On a morning show, the Commissioner of Police confirmed that a police officer had been pulled in after reports of him wearing a mask on duty. He confirmed that the mask was found and proved those reports credible. If I heard the Police Commissioner right, the very same police officer whose name has been circling as the executioner of young Teddy Murillo is the person who was caught in this mask scenario. Is it just me or do the pieces of this heinous, nasty, frightening puzzle seem to be falling together? This is some scary s#@t. Even more scary is that the Commissioner appeared to want to dismiss the mask-wearing episode as some kind of fetish wiht nothing absolutely to do with criminal behavior.

Do the right thing…

On a morning show, the Commissioner of Police did his best to explain the M-16 thing where they paid the man who they caught with the weapon to return it to the authorities. Mose and Sharon appeared as confused and discontented by his explanation as I was. See, the man being touted as the citizen of the year by Police; the man who out of the goodness of his own heart and love of his fellow man bought an M-16 off a ‘crack-head’ so that ‘crack-head’ couldn’t do any harm with it, didn’t take the weapon into Police. As I understand it, he was fingered by the same ‘crack-head’ and tracked down by Police. In my book, seems like he should have been arrested for handling stolen goods at the very least, and for sure possession of a prohibited and unlicensed firearm and ammunition. But no, this bastion of integrity was paid by Police, reimbursed for the money he had allegedly given the ‘crack-head’ for the weapon. To borrow a word from one of my colleague’s seeming endless repertoire, I was left dumbfounded. The Commissioner said he felt that the end justified the means – a dangerous weapon was taken off the street. Hey Commish, could we get the name of this sterling individual because we have an award we’d like to bestow on him as well. But seriously, word is that the person in question has ties to the political bigwigs and the Police were told – hands off and pay the man some money on top. That version of events seems a whole lot more credible to me.

Cold Comfort…

The Commissioner did admit to a rogue element of police officers within the department. That’s plenty bad enough, but the Commissioner also said that there is precious little they can do about it. Now that admission I’m sure is cold comfort to many and a downright scary thought to most. Hell, I’m writing this and wondering if I should. Imagine, there is a bunch of armed officers with basically a license to kill compounded by rogue tendencies and amplified by the Department’s inability to control them. That’s a damned unsavoury stew. Serious! I’ve got to say I don’t have the same warm, comforting thoughts when the Police Department comes to mind. I guess like that caller to the morning show, I’ll stop taking rides with members of the Police Department – no telling where I may end up.

That Chris Galvez thing…

The mother of murdered Teddy Murillo called in to the morning show. She claimed that the police officer who it is said murdered her son came on the scene the day after and threatened some people in her yard. She said that he was accompanied by the police officer who was allegedly implicated in the murder of Chris Galvez not so long ago. More pieces of that damned scary puzzle falling into place. So what’s up with the investigation into the Chris Galvez murder? Didn’t an eyewitness come forward? Wasn’t the report concluded and a copy placed on the desk of the Minister of Police Carlos Perdomo? Why is the police officer who was implicated in that murder still on the street? And in the company of the police officer being accused of the murder of Teddy Murillo, no less. There’s something seriously wrong with this picture.

With all that said…

With all that said, the fact is that there are still many good men and women left in the Police Department. That fact has been obscured by the corruption and incompetence and negligence and cover-ups and political manipulation of a few people in the Department, unfortunately. There are still good men and women who wear their uniforms with pride and serve and protect the citizens of this nation with integrity. But until all the bulls#@t is cleared up, the good works of those individuals will go largely unremarked.