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Northern STAR -Tel: 629-1308 or 636-1409 - Email: [email protected] - Thursday, February 9, 2012 Page 1

No. 08 Thursday, March 1st, 2012 Price: $1.00

RE-NEGOTIATE THE SUPER BONDage!THE UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY SHALL

“ I was deliberate in announcing the date of theelection, deliberate in saying that the U.D.P wasasking for a new mandate to among other things,do something about the Super Bond.

Now, that really set the cat amoung the pigeons.And, you say that the so-called rating agenciesfell all over themselves to say oh wi di down-grade Belize Bonds. Explain to me how Mr. Mandowngrading the Belize Bonds hurts theBelizeans People?

The Belize Bonds are the Bonds that are ownedout there by all those that loaned the People’sUnited Party this one point one billion dollarsfor which there is nothing to show. And if youdowngrade the bonds so that the bonds have lessvalue, I say that, that strikes me something like

Continue on page 2

THE PRIME MINISTER OF BELIZE HON. DEAN BARROW

The Prime Minister Tour Marches on to the 7th.

poetic justice, because while the greatest blame for the share of saddling this country withthe Super Bond must lie with the P.U.P; the creditors, the bond holders, the commercialentities agreed to that Super Bond knowing full well that the kind of burden it was placing on

Impressive display of love and unending support, physically and visibly expressed throughout thecountry of Belize

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Page 2 - Northern STAR -Tel: 629-1308 or 636-1409 - Email: [email protected] - Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Northern StarNewspaper

Publisher:The Northern StarNewspaper Ltd.

Executive Director:Vernon CutkelvinManaging Director/

Editor:Maira Montejo

Printer:National Printers Ltd.

#129 New Road Belize City

#80 Otro Benque RoadOrange Walk Town

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Tel: 629-1308or

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THE UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY SHALLRE-NEGOTIATE THE SUPER BONDage!

Continued from front page

EditorialContinue on page 8

Continue on page 8

the Belizean people isabsolutely uncon-scionable and merci-less. Those peoplealso have a share ofthe blame.

Therefore, this eightand a half percentthat we have to beginto pay as of August ofthis year, whichmeans ninety-fourmillion dollars of ourre-current revenuethat ought properlyspeaking to be spenton you the people ofthis country. Thiseight and half per-cent interest rate, wewill not suffer. Belizeis a country that is a

country of honor; wedo not easily renegeon commitments butif there are commit-ments that in effectrepresent a jack booton the throat of theBelizean people, thenunless those that areapplying that jackboot are prepared tore-negotiate, theywill see that theBelizean people arenot going to take it.

We won’t lie down sothat anybody couldtek chance on us andthe bottom line is,‘Mr. Bond holder, Mr.Bad creditor, come tothe table to and re-negotiate withBelizeans. You are

obliged to give us afairer deal.” ThePrime Minister wasspeaking at the PressConference held lastweek at the officiallaunching of theUnited DemocraticParty Manifesto rein-forcing the aggressivebut progressively pro-people statement hemade during his tourof the Orange WalkEast in the village ofPalmar, “There is nodoubt that thePeople’s UnitedParty, in terms of thisSuper Bond, did ahorrible thing to thepeople of Belize.

But, I know for a longtime: a wise man said

it ions ago; you can’thave a borrower ifyou don’t have a badlender. So, all of youout there... who werehappy to lend thePUP this money andburden us till king-dom come with thisSuper Bond, wellhear this; we arecoming back to you,and we are tellingyou that you will re-negotiate that, youwill take down theinterest rate; youwill spread the matu-rity period over a farlonger time. We willstop paying that 8.5percent interest andeighty odd milliondollars a year, be-

We must take issue with

Green Imperialists and post/neo colonial corporate oil in-terests who not so secretlyfund others who range fromunwitting to witting and will-ing volunteers, employees,agents and operatives in ablatant attempt to dictateagainst our country enjoy-ing the benefits of our hy-drocarbon or oil resources.

Worse these corporatecolonialists agent provoca-teurs come with movie starsand use all means of influ-

ence to advance their realpurpose which is oil captureand control: corporatecolonization of our oil andcountry. In international en-vironmental context whichalready secured increasedliving standards for their citi-zens based on the industrialrevolution era - so called justworld - are the energy glut-tons or greedy. They areego-centric and NOT eco-centric. As Bob Marley said“every need got an ego tofeed”. Their (corporate)citizens take it that they areentitled to secure their heavy

demands for whatever allowthem to maintain their con-sumption lifestyle, eg. gasguzzling SUVs etc andboats and other expensiveitems and toys and no mat-ter what the cost to the en-vironment or if it results instarvation on the other sideof the planet, or even theirneighbors.

At the same time they at-tempt to preach and dictateto poor underdevelopednations with great naturalbeauty and cleaner air that

[email protected]

“We must maintain Belize SovereignManadate and insist that they compen-

sate, not dictate”

contributed by Sharon Pitts-Robateau







THOUGHTS ACROSS THEMILES

Dr. Errol Elrington

Democracy asks that the

PEOPLE protect it fromdespots. The reason for thisis very easy to see: Democ-racy declares that the powerrest with the PEOPLE.

There are some individualsin this world who are verydishonest, greedy, criminal-minded, unfaithful, untruth-ful, power-hungry and out-right corrupt. Those “badindividuals” prey on thegood folk, but; because evilwill never win out overgood, hate will never defeatlove nor will lies ever over-come truth; the known PUPcon artists will be disap-pointed; the PUP will NOTprevail. It is the responsi-bility of the voter to protectthese “bad individuals”even from themselves. Thisis no a time to feign confu-sion. Do not put knownthieves in charge of theNational Treasury - that wasdone in the past and we nowcarry the SUPERBONDyoke around our necks.

Remember that the Biblestates that the love ofmoney is one of the rootsof all evil. Also rememberthe popular phrase thatpower corrupts and abso-lute power corrupts, abso-lutely.

Now, this election is verysimple to understand. Iknow of a very greedy bil-lionaire who did not wantto pay taxes in the countries

that he made his money sohe sat out to “own” smallminded politicians in theCaribbean. He gave mon-ies to greedy, corrupt poli-ticians and they turned overthe PEOPLES’ countries tohim! They literally had himwrite the contracts, lawsand AccommodationAgreements! The plan wasto use Sovereign Guaranteeand Sovereign Immunity toprotect themselves (billion-aire and cronies, master andpuppets) from prosecutionfor their corrupt deeds.

Today, we all know how thewicked and greedy haveused LAYERS of Corpo-rate Protection to try to hidefrom parliament, share-holders and the taxman. Inthis case LAYERS meanscompany 7 is owned bycompany 6 which is ownedby company 5 which isowned by company 4which is owned by com-pany 3 which is owned bycompany 2 which is ownedby company 1. Further,there are SHIELDS of Sov-ereign Immunities becausethe different companies areregistered in DIFFERENTcountries! That is how de-vious the scheme was!

Fortunately, we are living inthe Information Age and itis thus extremely difficult tohide misdeeds; the detec-tives are on the case. It isimpossible for the greedyand corrupt to hide, impos-

sible! Jail is where theyneed to be!

You would be perfectly cor-rect to ask what the heckdoes the above have to do

with Belizeans voters andthe 2012 elections? I sub-mit that the Criminal Orga-nization in Politics is des-perately trying to get backinto power. This is why thiselection is so important.

We have fish coming upfrom the river bottom tell-ing us that alligator hasbelly ache. Are the votersunderstanding why Markand Cordel have walkedaway from Fonseca andMusa? Are the voters un-derstanding why Mahlergot off the Fonseca & MusaPUP Candidate Boat?

I hope that the voters havenot forgotten the stealing,scandals, misdeeds.... of theFonseca & Musa PUP. Ihope that the voters remem-ber the good work that hasbeen done since 2008. Iwould like to remind oneand all that much morework needs to be done andwe all know that theFonseca & Musa PUP isNOT about work; com-pletely different fromPrice’s PUP. Fonseca &Musa PUP is ready to bringway more distress onBelizeans, social injustice;the voters must keep thesnakes out!

Belizeans need to protectself, family, friends, coun-try and its assets from thethieves.

I want the natural wealth ofthe Jewel to be vested col-lectively in the CITIZENS- not a greedy billionaireand his corrupt politicalcronies. The election is assimple as that.

Blue vote goes directly into

the billionaire’s bank ac-count just like the$20,000,000.00 that wasSUPPOSED to go to thepoor!

To those who arebegging for referen-dums my humblesuggestions are:

1) Ask the VOTERS toreject the Fonseca &Musa PUP this electioncycle.

2) Ask the VOTERS forthe powers to repel ALLthe corrupt contracts.

3) Ask the VOTERS toagree to invest the na-tional wealth of the coun-try in the CITIZENS col-lectively; then the CITI-ZENS OWNERS willgladly support safe, re-sponsible drilling!!!!

ELECTION 2012:DEMOCRACY VERSUS DESPOTISM









MESSAGE FROM THE CLERGY

Rev. Dr. Rudolph AnthonyPriest of the

Anglican Dioceseof

Belize

Last Sunday after theEpiphany

Today is the Last Sundayafter the Epiphany (TheManifestation - The Show-ing fourth of Jesus - TheSeason of Green). ThisSunday is referred to asTransfiguration or Trans-formation Sunday. {This isthe Last Sunday when Al-leluia will be used untilEaster.} Transfiguration ortransform means to changethe form or condition of; tomake seem glorious.

This season started off withJesus showing forth him-self (Epiphany) and theseason will end with Jesusagain showing forth him-self in the Transfiguration;in heavenly form, in heav-enly glory as the Messiah.

Simon Peter, James andJohn were witnesses to thisnon-earthly appearance ofJesus, having Moses andElijah appeared with himand speaking with him. Hisclothes became dazzlingwhite such as, no one onEarth could bleach them.You see, anything that isdone in God’s name musthave Witnesses, who cantestify to what occurred. IfGod is only talking to you

alone and no one else; be-ware; you might be goingkoo koo.

Elijah and Moses are two ofGod’s greatest prophets -Primary prophets. Elijahrepresented the Prophetsand also the new covenant,while Moses representedthe Laws. That is why theOld and New Testamentsgo hand in hand and makeup the Holy Bible. We can-not do without either part.

St. Matthew’s Gospel Ch.11 Ver. 14 tells us thatElijah came in the form ofJohn the Baptist, therebyintertwining the Old andthe New. The transfigura-tion also reveals to us thatboth Moses and Elijah arealready in Heaven. Theywere alive and speaking toJesus when they appeared.There are other great Saintsin the Church’s Historywho went straight toheaven without even expe-riencing death.

The real blessings arefound in small churches,small gatherings and wherea sound of sheer silence ispresent. There is a sayingwhich says “still waters rundeep”.

In scripture and in our livesMountains are very impor-tant. Upon a Mountain, youcan see things you wouldnever see if you were on flatland. You see things allaround you and not just ina straight line. On a Moun-tain one feels lighter andcloser to God. God lives ona Mountain.

The transfiguration hap-pens on a Mountain; Mosesreceived the Laws (TenCommandments) on aMountain top and then hewas changed (transformed).The Beatitudes (Sermon onthe Mount) were givenfrom a Mountain. AfterJesus was baptized, one ofhis temptations took him upa high Mountain. Noah’sArk floated above the

My friends your challengetoday is to make a transfor-mation in you life. We canbe transformed too, but likeElijah, we need to be trans-formed by God. We can-not continue to do our ownthing. (Christ must be thecenter of everything we do.For us to be changed wecannot continue the gossipto be irritable, resentful,miserable and always find-ing fault with everyone.We cannot be transformedwith lipstick, pretty clothes,alcohol, drugs, and a fakesmile. We need to turn ourhearts inside out and Lovelike Jesus did (Agape). Wecannot be transformed if welove for one second, thenrejects the individual thenext minute, if we think he/she threatens our compla-cency, or will expose ourselfishness. We need to betransformed like John theBaptist. We need to betransformed like Jesus.Like the Martyrs, Like theApostles, we need to betransformed. BarackObama is a transformation.

We will be transformedwhen we stop discriminateagainst women, children,people of color, and againstthose that are not of our lik-ing. We need to stop thefear and rejection and startshowing some awe and af-fection. We need to loveour neighbors as ourselves.Let us believe in Jesus evenwhen there is despair andgrief. And as 2nd Peterconfirmed, “not just menbut yes women, will bemove by the Holy Spiritsince its proceeded fromGod”.

Let us make an effort as westart the Lenten Season, totransform ourselves.

In the 1st reading, it tells usa little about Elijah, how hewas ordered by the Word ofGod to stand on Mt. Horeb,the Mount of God. He wasto receive a Mountain topexperience when the Lordpassed by in a sound ofsheer silence. And yes, wecan hear silence becauseElijah heard it.

Most times my friends, thereal blessings are not wherethe most noise is; they arenot where the MegaChurches are with 10 to 15thousand people at a time.

Mountain. There are Mt.Sinai, Mt. Olive, Mt. Zion,Mt. Gerizim, Mt. Ararat, allassociated with some Won-drous Works of the Lord.Joseph’s ladder demands ofus that ‘up’ is the way to go.

Therefore, let us “look up”and not out, or down, oracross, because Jesus is“up”. And Heaven is up be-cause he dwells in Heaven,on Earth, and everywhere,since he is God. He is theAlpha and Omega; TheOmnipotent, Omnipresentand Omniscient God.

-END-

There is a sayingwhich says “still wa-

ters run deep”.





FROM THE PUBLISHEREUPHORIA

The People of Belize throughout the entire country was in astate of euphoria when the candidates for the United DemocraticParty (U.D.P) took to the streets on both Wednesday and Fridayof last week parading on their way to get nominated to contest theupcoming Elections on March 7th. The excitement, pure joy andjubilation of Belizeans in their open and most boisterous displayof affection, gratitude and support for the United DemocraticParty’s Government; exploded in every city and town of thiscountry in an unprecedented fashion that has never before beenseen in the history of politics in Belize.

The United Democratic Party has done an excellent job in bringingstability to our country’s economy in a time when the entire world’seconomy, globally is unstable.

Our great leader, Hon. Dean Barrow as Prime Minister of Belizeand our U.D.P Government has won the admiration and supportof the People of Belize because in four and a half years they havesuccessfully achieved the repayments of loans owed by thecountry, the servicing of the despicable Super Bond debt thatwas foisted on the People of Belize by the corrupted former P.U.PGovernment, the largest investment in education and infrastructureever in the History of Belize, the rebuilding of institutions such asthe Development and Finance Cooperation, the re-configurationand instituting of a dedicated and hard working management teamthat saved the Corozal Free Zone from collapse, the reconstructionof the Social Security Board, the retrieval and transparent equitablydistribution of the twenty million dollars Venezuelan Grant thatwas diverted by the former P.U.P Government to the Belize Bank,the restructuring and re-establishing of the National EmergencyManagement Organization (N.E.M.O) to a standard that is nowthe envy of the entire region, the buildings of thousands of newhomes free of cost for the most needy throughout the entire countryof Belize, the issuance of over twenty-two thousand house lots into first time land owners countywide, the constructing andupgrading of numerous new water systems for the people in manyareas that never before had clean water, the electrification ofnumerous areas of the country that never had electricity, the writing-off of millions of dollars owed by the hard-working middle andlower income Belizean families to the Ministry of Housing, SocialSecurity and in other cases the Heritage Bank, the establishing ofthe Restore Belize Program, the Food Pantry Program, theConditional Cash Transfer Program and many other assistanceprograms geared towards addressing the needs of those otherwisesevered from society, the re-activation of the Gang-Truce and therepatriation of the control of our utilities(B.T.L, B.E.L) to Peopleand Country of Belize enshrined in the Constitution of our countryand many other achievements that are today as real as thepossibilities that were imagined just four and a have years agowhen the People of Belize voted for this United Democratic Partyto govern the affairs of this nation.

It is for the afore-mentioned reasons that the People of Belizetook to the streets in jubilation, celebrating in what must beconsidered the most massive show of support for the UnitedDemocratic Party in the History of Politics in Belize.

PRIME MINISTERHON. DEAN BARROW

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERHON. GASPAR VEGA

U.D.P CHAIRMANHON. PATRICK FABER





Nomination Dayin Belize City





THE UNITED DEMOCRATICPARTY SHALL

RE-NEGOTIATE THE SUPERBONDage!

Continued from page 2


cause we need thatmoney to spend onthe development ofBelize, on the Peopleof this Country.

After the GeneralElection on Wednes-day of next weekwhen the U.D.P iselected to continuewith the develop-ment, the people ofBelize can look for-ward for even moreof the type of benefitsthat has been derivedfrom this Administra-tions Pro-PeopleAgenda.

Many Belizean Fami-lies who have hadtheir respective loanswritten-off at theHousing Department,Heritage Bank andSocial Security areever thankful to thisgovernment whileothers eagerly awaitstheir assistance at the

Development and Fi-nance Cooperation(D.F.C).

In reality the onlyway government canfind monies to con-tinue with this andother types of finan-cial assistance andsocial interventions isif we as a country isnot as burden as weare today with the“Bullet Payments”attached to the SuperBond.

Hence, the PrimeMinister’s insistenceof a new, re-negoti-ated, Belizean-friendly paymentsterms.

This is the only wayforward for a countrythat inherited themost horrific debtpayment arrange-ment ever recorded inits history.

they must just say NO tousing their found resourceswithin their sovereign terri-tory to meet the basic food,survival, health and otherneeds of citizens who arebelow the poverty line intheir own countries and be-

low the barest existence lineby just world standards.

There must be compensa-tion to countries whichsafeguard their natural envi-ronment to provide a healthybreathy ground for the restof the world as these coun-tries have obligation to meet

the basics food, shelter,health and human needs ofpeople. This is recognisedin the international environ-mental community as well onthe international economicfront.

Poor underdeveloped coun-tries which are asked toforego use and exploitationand development and appli-cation of the benefits ofnatural and mineral re-sources have to bargain andnegotiate with others whichhave already attained theirstandard of living and wantother countries to hold back.There must be economicoffset. The economic costof the foregone alternativemust be secured!

This has been therecognised new geo-politicalparadigm shift from NorthSouth (developed countries)dictate to South/South (en-vironmentally pristine unde-veloped countries) mandate.

The geo-political South hasclamoured and insisted thatthe North must compensatenot dictate as a critcal com-ponent in the arena of con-servation and sustainabledevelopment amongst think-ers, theorists policy makersand environmentalists andeven economic realists.

Brazil for example can bankon its provision of the Ama-zonian Forests as the longto help the planet earth as awhole breathe clean air, bothnaturally (and figurativelyless worry for the future).Belize has an early exampleof carbon trading. A spe-cial consensus and term ofart was adapted into inter-national environmental con-ventions and fora. “Com-mon but differentiated re-sponsibilities” was the meet-ing point and fundamentalcommitment and bargainingbase: CONSENSUSamongst developed nationsand underdeveloped. In-stead of being dictate to, thedeveloped nations (north)

came to realization that thepoorer (south) must becompensated so as to beable to protect and preserveon a basis of dignity and re-spect for the right of theirpeople and basic countryto be able to climb out ofpoverty to achieve theirstandards of living and wellmaintain their quality of life.Sovereignty is the most criti-cal stance that must be ad-hered to.

A fair warning and the onlysafe assumption is that thevery multi-national corpo-rate oil and technologicalgiants (corporatecolonialists) sponsor andfund operatives and agentprovocateurs as these multi-national corporation gameplan is to CAPTURE riches- like in the days of expedi-tions to the new world - thenatural resources, mineralsand hydrocarbons biologi-cal properties species offlora and fauna which arecapable of patent for bigpharmacy and commercefor themselves. This is thenew frontier.

Be careful to ensure we donot “save” for them as ingeo-prospecting and bio-prospecting. There is cor-porate bio-piracy and geo-piracy. Be very clear andtake notice and warning thatthese multi-nationals havecontracts and arrangementsin other countries neighbor-ing and its a game of “thedevil takes the handmostwhen they come acrosspeople in countries wherethey feel we are docile andnaive”.

We have a constitutionalmandate as Belizeans withrespect to sovereignty overour land and sea includingour Exclusive EconomicZone. Sovereignty has tobe our national stance andwe must subject to scrutinyall who suggest that we doNOT carry out activities in

continue on Page 24

“We must maintain Belize SovereignManadate and insist that they compen-

sate, not dictate”





My dear readers, do youremember the three blindmice? I always say that ifone does not know history,one is destined to repeat past'stupid' mistakes.

This article is about phraseslike: "What goes around,comes around." ''Don't spitin the well, you might oneday need a drink of water.""Don't burn your bridges.""GOD don't like ugly.''...andso on and so forth. Before Igo any further, please recallthat it was none order thanthe Motor Mouth of Belize,Miss $3.34 Million Give-away Lisa who THREAT-ENED that she would be thefirst in line to fightAGAINST the UDP Gov-ernment (possibly encour-age a revolt) if it tried toamend the Belize Constitu-tion in favor of allowing herown fellow Belizeans withdual citizenships to qualifyfor national office.

Then the Mighty Cordel,who gave up the Lake I seat,had his say. Ms Kreole Udz,who was not happy her ownbirth name, also spoke outagainst her fellowBelizeans. If you think thatonly those three participatedin that hateful fight, youwould be surely wrong!

Friday we saw MotorMouth, as she always does,running back and forth toCourt, trying to get her ownway. The sheer arrogance ofsome of these low life law-yers, misusing the Courts!(Yes, I am a little peeved asI am typing). Her behaviorreminds me of Aschroft su-ing everyone on his radarscreen; fortunately for usBelizeans, he now findshimself under the scrutiny ofScotland Yard's microscope.He has so much hangingover his head that he cannot

fund the crooked PUP.Please allow me to go backto Lisa. She needs toLEARN that the laws andthe courts were not createdfor her personal indulgence.

They are for the PEOPLE;but I guess that in the samecallous way that she gaveaway the PEOPLES' $3.34Million, she wants to haveher way in everything.

I submit that if the very wiseKing Solomon was on ourbench; Lisa, Ralph, Said,David, Carolyn and manyothers in the lying, thievingPUP would not be out freetoday! Motor Mouth andCrew did not want BORNBELIZEANS with dualcitizenships to run for na-tional office, BUT on Fri-day, I saw them fighting tonominate a BORN Guate-malan with Belize and USpassports for national office.Now, if that is not crazy,then I do not know crazywhen I see it! I am sure thatHubert won't object if wecall them ''Crazies Glues!"

PM Barrow is NOT perfect,in that regard he is like everother human. What PM Bar-row did since 2008 was to

carefully show ALLBelizeans what can be donewith the PEOPLES' monieswhen politicians do NOTsteal it but instead use it tohelp the PEOPLE.

When you work the monies,there is none to steal! Bril-liant! In this regard Barrowis 100% different from Said,Ralph, Lisa, Carolyn,Johnny....and that is theNUMBER ONE reason whyI strongly recommend thatEVERY voter completelyREJECT the PUP and voteRED on March 07, 2012.

No Schakron, No Lisa, NoSaid, No Carolyn, NoPUP...Do not blame 'singlemother status.' Do not blame'big wig lawyers.' Do notblame Mark King. Do notblame the electoral officer.Do not blame the civil ser-vants. Do not blame theCourt. Do not blame a ficti-tious 'anti-women agenda.'Do not blame Jules. Do notblame the Media. Do notblame the Government.Most of all do not blameDean Barrow.

I encourage people to betruthful. Every Belizeanknows that PM Barrow tried

to pass an amendment to al-low dual nationals toqualify for national ballot.

Schakron, it was yourpeople in the PUP, led byMotor Mouth Lisa andMighty Cordel who did ev-erything possible to blockthe amendment. They wereadamant and insistent.

You should therefore turnto the very HYPOCRITESbehind you and lay theblame on them. Further, theunsafe environment thattook you nephew's life isalso a legacy of the corruptPUP (former PoliceMinister's, now deceasedson, tried to take over agang - do you rememberthat?).

The proper place then, todirect your anger, hate,meanness, frustration,threats and venom is at thefeet of the PUP. I tell youthat the PUP fowl has comehome to roost. AGAIN, ifthe PUP did NOT block theamendment, the nameYolanda Edmee Schakronwould have been acceptedinto nomination for theMarch 7th ballot - the PUP,led by Motor Mouth Lisa isthe cause of your disap-pointment - and I speak thetruth!Allow me a personal note.Belize was NOT harmed bydual nationals, but byworthless crooks! GeorgeCadle Price was totallyagainst Belizeans outsidethe country voting becausehe knew fully well that wewould have voted him outof office the first chance wehad. If there is one thingthat travel and educationdoes, it is expands one'sscope of thinking. Despo-tism and dictatorship cannever survive in the arenaof freedom. As "X" says:''Power to the PEOPLE.''

Dr. Errol Elrington

THOUGHTS ACROSS THEMILES

LISA AND THE PUP WERE BITTEN BY THEIR OWN HATE









MessageFrom

1. Check your motor vehicle to ensure that everything is in good workingcondition. Example – brakes, all lights, horn, wipers, tires, spare-tire, tiretools, oil, water, brake fluid & dash board gauges.

2. Ensure that your driver’s license is valid and that your vehicle is licensed andinsured.

3. Wear your seat belts at all times when on the highways. (It is an offence fordrivers and front seat passengers not to wear seat belts on the highways).

4. Don’t carry passengers in the back of open pickup trucks. (Vehicle onlyinsured to carry amount of passengers as stipulated on certificate of registration/title).

5. Don’t drive if you are consuming Alcoholic beverages or taking medication(drugs). Have designated driver (alcohol and drugs affect your vision andjudgement).

6. Avoid making calls on cell phone when driving, it is best to pull off to theright to make calls or to answer your cell phone, don’t text whiles driving.

7. Wear your helmet at all times when operating or being carried as a passengeron a motor cycle.

8. Only overtake if you have a clear view of the road ahead, never overtakearound blind curves or when driving over a hill.

9. Drive within the speed limit at all times.

10.Obey all traffic laws and signs.

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVETHINK!

The Department of TransportTHERE’S A THIN LINE

BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.TRAFFIC SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVERS









Fun Spot

Start

End

A maze is a tour puzzle in the form of a complex branch-ing passage through. Try and find a route that leads fromthe start to the end.

Party Leader’s Message

ALWAYS FORTHE

PEOPLE

Reproduced from the UDP manifesto Action Plan 2012-2017

Although not new, the focus on agriculture has to shift gears. wehave to do much more to ensure broder access to credit and bettermarketing efforts. heightened agricultureal activity will have to beattuned both to greather local self- sufficiency, and to increased pro-duction for export.

Generally, government must become more efficient. Red tape has tobe cut, bureaucracy made leaner, and a culture of quick, courteousand effective service made the hallmark of the next administration.

in the first term, the UDP set great store by its pro-poor initiatives, itshousing, education, employment and infastructure drive. Government,as a matter of policy and deliberate strategy, became bigger. At a timeof shrinking private sctor activity because of planetary conditions, thiswas the right thing to do, the only thing to do. But the second termshould see a gradually improving wprldwide economic climate, withan eventual return to previous levels of foreign direct investment andinternational tourism activity. this now requires greater emphasis onthe Belizean private sector; and that Government should do more toensure the kind of enabling climate that will spur greater job-creatingand wealth-enhancing business activity in Belize.

VOTE

UD

P

This, then, will be the challenge for thenext UDP Gvernment: to consolidateand expand public sector investment inpeople and the economy, while at thesame time harnessing growth and devel-opment firmly to an enhanced driver’srole for the private sector.

The UDP’s dedication, commitment andtrack record are such that I believe noone will doubt our ability to handsomelymeet and overcome this challenge, andall challenges.





The Public Utilities Commission (PUC; the Commission) serves no-tice this day, February 14, 2012, that, in exercise of the powers con-ferred upon it by Section 15 of the Belize Telecommunications Actand Section 5 of the Telecommunications (Licensing Classification,Authorization, and Fee Structure) Regulations 2002, S.I. 110 of 2002,and all other powers thereunto enabling, it proposes to grant an InternetNetworks License to each of the following applicants:

1. STELLAR LINKS LTD. 2. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLO- GIES LIMITED. 3. ALLIANCE IP (BELIZE) LTD.

An Internet Networks License is an Individual License that authorizesa Licensee to provide Internet Service to the public and to build anetwork for the provision of such service.

Reason for proposed granting of Licenses:The Commission intends to grant Licenses to the above applicants inorder to promote further competition in the provision of High SpeedInternet Service.

Comments/Objections:Interested persons may submit written representations or objectionswith respect to the proposed Licenses on or before March 6, 2012, tothe Public Utilities Commission, P.O. Box 300, #14 Gabourel Lane,Belize City, Belize.

Commission Commission

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Other Side of the CoinBy Norman RodriguezCollateral Damage

In an already lax society

where a ‘couldn’t care less’attitude permeates even tothe core of Guyana, beingcaught in the crossfire be-tween picketing and demon-strating students and staffand the greater administra-tors of the University ofGuyana is surely a big issueto the foreigner who hastraveled thousands of milesto read for a degree in law.wherever uprisings rear itsugly head in any society,nobody is spared and visi-tors and temporary residentsare bound to find themselvescaught in the ugly net of dis-comfort or even danger. Toa fleeting passerby or tour-ist, who collects a dailynewspaper such as theStabroek Newspaper orKaiteur News, an opinionthat dictatorship rules inGuyana is easily formed;however, others like me whoreside in Guyana tempo-rarily, a conclusion that amentality of submission tocircumstances is at the heartof Guyana’s problems is nottoo far-fetched.

As a final year law studentat the University of Guyana,I, like other colleagues fromJamaica, St. Kitts, andTrinidad find it more benefi-cial to focus on our purposesat the University rather thanto become entangled in themany displays of dissatis-faction stemming from po-litical divides and differ-ences. Of course, some ofus do not like to stand by onthe side and quietly watch

injustice, but my fatherused to say that “Cow nohbusiness eena haas gal-lop” and I have come tolearn that the wise wordsof our elders are wellheeded: Guyana politicsis for Guyanese. In life,though, there are timeswhen a man has to “takethe bull by the horns” and

step into the forefront tospeak and act when the cir-cumstances threaten hiswelfare. Today, I think I amheeding the wise words thatinjustice anywhere is athreat to justice every-where by writing this articleand presenting to the widerworld what dark cloudsgrace Guyana’s horizon.

Over the past two weeks,following the dismissal ofthe contract lecturer whohappens to be an opposingpolitical activist to the re-cently re-elected PPP/Cgovernment, staff and stu-dents, in a display of soli-darity with Mr. FrederickKissoon, have been demon-strating their feelings ofdissatisfaction against whatthey call “dictatorship” andpolitical interference in theaffairs of the University ofGuyana. The Universitypresently experiences a sitin complemented by a dailywalk through of those stu-dents since Tuesday, 31stJanuary, 2012 following alockout of classroom onMonday, 30th January,2012. As I pen this paper,the disgruntled group ofdemonstrator’s is finalizingplans for tomorrow’s shut-down and who knows whatelse. To the those who arenot affected by this smalleven seemingly “unimpor-tant and unimpacting” ac-tion, it warrants no morethan an eyecast, butBelizeans know only toowell, what this can germi-nate into as the previousPrime Minister and his fol-

lowers regretted believingthat small demonstrations“Blow ovah like waah leebreeze” and like Mr. Jonesof Animal Farm, Guyana’sleaders would do well topay keen attention to UG’spresent situation.

To those of us who are onlypart time residents, thewhole situation would havewarranted no more than aglance since it involves ascene which plays out inmost, if not every Carib-bean society to which weare no strangers. The gen-esis of this display is thealleged termination of alecturer before his con-tracted expires. One lec-turer calmly opines that thedecision to “fire” Mr.Kissoon was not a prudentact since the lecturer’s con-tract was to expire in just afew months. However,from a discussion with le-

gal scholar, ProfessorCalvin Eversley, I under-stand that the appointmentof Mr. Freddy Kissoon wasnot valid, thereby makinghis contract invalid, sincethe people who signed hiscontract were not autho-rized to do so. That is not amatter for me but since itimpacts on the overall dis-comfort I am experiencing,it was necessary to mention.

My focus in this article ison the impacts of the ac-tions of dissidents on thoseof us who “have no axe togrind”. To the widerGuyanese society, it mayseem as “dah lee breeze”ex-Prime Minister Musaonce mentioned, but withinthe grounds of the univer-sity, it blows like a hurri-cane especially when thewhole university decides to

Continued on page 21





HEALTH AND NUTRITION


Love and RomanceWe’ve all experience love.We’ve loved (and beenloved by) parents, brothers,sisters, friends, even pets.But romantic love is differ-ent. It’s an intense, newfeeling unlike any of theseother ways of loving.

Why Do We Fall inLove?

Loving and being lovedadds richness to our lives.When people feel close toothers they are happier andeven healthier. Love helpsus feel important, under-stood, and secure.

But each kind of love hasits own distinctive feel. Thekind of love we feel for aparent is different from ourlove for a baby brother orbest friend. And the kind oflove we feel in romantic re-lationships is its ownunique type of love.

Our ability to feel romanticlove develops during ado-lescence. Teens all over theworld notice passionatefeelings of attraction. Evenin cultures where people arenot allowed to act on or ex-press these feelings, they’restill there. It’s a natural partof growing up to developromantic feelings andsexual attractions to others.These new feelings can beexciting - or even confus-ing at first.

The Magical Ingredientsof Love Relationships

Love is such a powerfulhuman emotion that expertsare constantly studying it.They’ve discovered thatlove has three main quali-ties:

1. Attraction is the “chem-istry” part of love. It’s allabout the physical - evensexual - interest that two

people have in each other.Attraction is responsible forthe desire we feel to kissand hold the object of ouraffection. Attraction is alsowhat’s behind the flushed,nervous-but-excited waywe feel when that person isnear.

2. Closeness is the bondthat develops when weshare thoughts and feelingsthat we don’t share withanyone else. When youhave this feeling of close-ness with your boyfriend orgirlfriend, you feel sup-ported, cared for, under-stood, and accepted for whoyou are. Trust is a big partof this.

3. Commitment is thepromise or decision to stickby the other person throughthe ups and downs of therelationship.

These three qualities oflove can be combined indifferent ways to make dif-ferent kinds of relation-ships. For example, close-ness without attraction isthe kind of love we feel ofbest friends. We share se-crets and personal stuffwith them, we supportthem, and they stand by us.But we are not romanticallyinterested in them.

Attraction without close-ness is more like a crush orinfatuation. You’re at-tracted to someone physi-cally but don’t know theperson well enough yet tofeel the closeness thatcomes from sharing per-sonal experiences and feel-ings.

Romantic love is when at-traction and closeness arecombined. Lots of relation-ships grow out of an initialattraction (a crush or “loveat first sight”) and develop

into closeness. It’s alsopossible for a friendship tomove from closeness intoattraction as two people re-alize their relationship ismore than “just like” andthey have become inter-ested in one another in aromantic way.

For people falling in lovefor the first time, it can behard to tell the differencebetween the intense, newfeelings of physicalattractuib and the deepercloseness that goes withbeing in love.

Lasting Love or Fun Fling?

The third ingredient in alove relationship, commit-ment, is about wanting anddeciding to stay together asa couple in the future - de-spite any changes and chal-lenges that life brings.

Sometimes couples whofall in love in high schooldevelop committed rela-tionships that last. Manyrelationships don’t last,though. But it’s not be-cause teens aren’t capableof deep loving.

We typically have shorterrelationships as teens be-cause adolescence is a timewhen we instinctively seeklots of different experiencesand try out different things.It’s all part of discoveringwho we are, what we value,and what we want out oflife.

Another reason we tend tohave shorter relationshipsin our teens is because thethings we want to get outof a romantic relationshipchange as we get a littleolder. In our teens - espe-cially for guys - relation-ships are mainly aboutphysical attraction. But bythe time guys reach 20 or

so, they rate a person’s in-ner qualities as most impor-tant. Teen girls emphasizecloseness as most important- although they don’t mindif a potential love interestis cute too!

In our teens, relationshipsare mostly about havingfun. Dating can seem likea great way to have some-one to go places with anddo things with. Dating canalso be a way to fit in. Ifour friends are all datingsomeone, we might putpressure on ourselves tofind a boyfriend or girl-friend too.

For some people dating iseven a status thing. It canalmost seem like anotherversion of cliques: Thepressure to go out with the“right” person in the “right”group can make dating a lotless fun than it should be -and not so much aboutlove!

In our late teens, though,relationships are less aboutgoing out to have fun andfitting in. Closeness, shar-ing, and confiding becomemore important to bothguys and girls. By the timethey reach their twenties,most girls and guys valuesupport, closeness andcommunication, as well aspassion. This is the timewhen people start thinkingabout finding someone theycan commit to in the longrun - a love that will last.

What Makes a GoodRelationship?

When people first experi-ence falling in love, it of-ten starts as attraction.Sexual feelings can also bea part of this attraction.People at this stage might





HEALTH AND NUTRITION

daydream about a crush ora new BF or GF. They maydoodle the person’s nameor think of their specialsomeone while a particularsong is playing.

It sure feels like love. Butit’s not love yet. It hasn’thad time to grow into emo-tional closeness that’sneeded for love. Becausefeelings of attraction andsexual interest are new, andthey’re directed at a personwe want a relationshipwith, it’s not surprising weconfuse attraction withlove. It’s all so intense, ex-citing, and hard to sort out.

The crazy intensity of thepassion and attractionphase fades a bit after awhile. Like putting all ourenergy into winning a race,this kind of passion is ex-

Continued from page 13Love and Romance

hilarating but far too ex-treme to keep going for-ever. If a relationship isdestined to last, this iswhere closeness enters thepicture. The early passion-ate intensity may fade, buta deep affectionate attach-ment takes its place.

Some of the ways peoplegrow close are:

1. Learning to give andreceive. A healthy relation-ship is about both people,not how much one personcan get from (or give to) theother.

2. Revealing feelings. Asupportive, caring relation-ship allows people to revealdetails about themselves -their likes and dislikes,dreams and worries, proudmoments, disappointments,

fears, and weaknesses.

3. Listening and support-ing. When two people care,they offer support when theother person is feeling vul-nerable or afraid. Theydon’t put down or insulttheir partner, even whenthey disagree.

Giving, receiving, reveal-ing, and supporting is aback-and-forth process:One person shares a detail,then the other person sharessomething, then the firstperson feels safe enough toshare a little more. In thisway, the relationship gradu-ally builds into a place ofopenness, trust, and supportwhere each partner knowsthat the other will be therewhen times are tough. Bothfeel liked and accepted forwho they are.

The passion and attractionthe couple felt early on inthe relationship isn’t lost.It’s just different. Inhealthy, long-term relation-ships, couples often findthat intense passion comesand goes at different times.But the closeness is alwaysthere.

Sometimes, though, acouple loses the closeness.For adults, relationshipscan sometimes turn intowhat experts call “emptylove”. This means that thecloseness and attractionthey once felt is gone, andthey stay together only outof commitment. This is notusually a problem for teens,but there are other reasonswhy relationships end.

Low Fat Apple & CinnamonMuffins RecipeRecipe Makes:

9 servings

Ingredients:2 apples1/2 lb plain flour2 1/2 teaspoons bakingpowder1/2 teaspoon salt175g Castor Sugar2 eggs3/4 cup Low Fat Milk120g Extra Light Spreadmelted1 teaspoon vanilla essence1 tablespoon water1 teaspoon ground cinna-mon

Directions:

1) Peel, Core and Dice theapple. Place in a saucepanwith water and cinnamonand simmer for approxi-mately 10 mins until soft-ened. Take off heat and setaside to cool down.

2)Preheat oven to 190C andlayout 9 muffin patties in-side a muffin tin.

3) In a bowl sift the flour,baking powder, salt, thenstir in Equal sugar soevenly combined. Make a

well in the centre.

4) Now with the mixer, mixin the eggs, milk, meltedspread, essence.

5) Once all combined stirin the apple mixture with a

wooden spoon. Make sureyou do not over mix thismixture.

6) Place mixture into pattypans until full to make 9muffins.

7) Bake in oven for 25 - 30mins, checking with askewer.

Muffins are one of thosethings that many thinkcant’t possibly be a part ofa weight loss diet. Fortu-nately, this isn’t completelytrue.

These low fat Apple andCinnamon Muffins haveonly 2.9g of fat per 100g,but don’t taste much differ-ent that regular muffins.

These Muffins make awonderful low fat dessertor snack.





Belize Water Services LimitedPublic Relations Office

7 Central American Blvd, P.O. Box 150Belize City, Belize Tel: (501) 222-4757, Ext. 281

www.bws.com.bzContact: [email protected]

Public NoticeJanuary 19, 2012

YOUR BWS HARD AT WORK!

Millennium Goals Water ProjectsBWS takes this opportunity to proudly inform its customers, especially those eagerly awaiting water in newly expanded areas, thatwe are diligently working to bring connections to your households. BWS has an aggressive expansion program aimed at deliveringwater to existing residences and residential developments.

The table below shows our recently completed as well as approved pending expansion works and projects.District Area Area/Description of Expansion No. Of

HouseholdsCost $ Status

Belmopan Camalote Village, Kaimat Street, Rose Garden Street,Suriname Street, Off Peru Street, Colombia Street, RiveraRoad, George Price Boulevard

138 BZ$91,110.57 Complete

Iguana Street, Camalote Village, Entrepreneur Road, Hum-mingbird Highway, Roaring Creek, University Boulevard,Teakettle Village, Mountain View Area, Tulipan to Flor DeMayo Street, Roaring Creek Football Field, Another WorldRoaring Creek, Maya Mopan Area, Calle Las Americas,Panama to Calle Las Americas Layout

Collins Boulevard, Hillview Area, Santiago Juan Layout,Daniel PereiraSanta Cruz Area, Galvez Street, Martin Galvez Street

Rodney Moguel Area, Diego Street Extention

Santa Rita Road, Na Chan Can Street, Altamira Layout, BaezaLayout, Xaibe Village

San Ignacio/Santa Elena

Corozal

West Trial Farm, Stadium Street

Rear Stadium-Iglesia De Dios

Belize City/Rural

Orange Walk

12 1/2 Miles Northern Highway, Lord’s Bank, East Wind-mill Area, Vernin Leslie Crescent, Belama Phase 4, Superin-tendent Street, BDF Layout, Belize American Site, 4 MilesWestern Highway

Coney Drive, 8 1/2 Miles Western Highway, 27 Hattieville/Bood Road, Ladyville, West Lake, Marage Road, Joy Av-enue, Drift Wood Bay, Los Lagos, Tropical Park, BelamaPhase 4

Dangriga 1st Site, West Wagierale Area, Rivas Estate, Street of MelindaRoad Monument Site

Monument Site

544

108

248120

92

10016

140

288

232

36

BZ$424,898.52 Pending

BZ$46,807.06 Completed

BZ$122,901.59 PendingBZ$60,119.58 Completed

BZ$31,465.36 Pending

BZ$110,100.00 CompletedBZ$13,085.75 Pending

BZ$61,085.83 Completed

BZ$147,368.50

BZ$142,328.72

BZ$40,382.48

Pending

Completed

Pending



http://www.bws.com.bz




For the past six years or

so, you have been servedby municipal bodies witha UDP majority in everytown and city. You havealso, over the past fouryears, been served by aUDP Central Governmentwhich you elected with anoverwhelming majority in2008.

As leader of the UDP, letme first thank you for thehonour and confidenceplaced on representativesof our great party of ser-vice to the Belizeanpeople.

In the face of enormouschallenges, external anddomestic, the excellentcollaboration betweenyour UDP central and lo-cal governments has en-abled us to weather thestorms and deliver qual-ity service to you the resi-dents in our municipali-

ties countrywide, while in-stitutionalizing the kind oft r a n s -parencyand ac-c o u n t -a b i l i t ythat isthe UDPbrand ofg o v e r -nance.

With as-sistancef r o mCentralGovern-m e n tand pru-d e n tmanage-ment of their own resources,your UDP city and towncouncils have done a com-mendable job, especiallyconsidering the financialconstraints, maintainingand upgrading infrastruc-ture, overseeing the deliv-ery of basic services for the

comfort, safety and clean-liness of our municipalities

and resi-d e n t s ,a n dhelpingto leadthe wayin creat-ing theright at-m o -s p h e r efor eco-n o m i cand so-cial de-v e l o p -ment.

V e r yshortly,

the physical transformationof our cities and towns willenter a new phase as fundsfor the Municipal Infra-structure Project, securedfrom the World Bank bythis UDP administration,are set to roll out. Alreadyin progress is the Solid

Waste ManagementProject financed by theIDB and various other ini-tiatives for which monieshave been secured throughthe honest and prudentstewardship of the UDP atall levels of government.

It is before this kind ofbackdrop and with the ex-citing vision of continuingprogress ahead, that I ex-hort you to renew the trustand confidence in all thecandidates representingour great United Demo-cratic Party in the upcom-ing municipal elections, sothat together we can con-tinue the important workwe have started. Onceagain, on March 7, 2012,let it be for Belize, let it beUDP down the line, andmay God bless this beauti-ful land of ours.

I thank you.

My councilor candidatesand I have been honoredat the overwhelming sup-port that we have receivedfrom the residents of Or-ange Walk Town. Yourexpressions of kindnessand understanding is tes-tament to your knowledgeof the difficult times thatOrange Walk, Belize andthe rest of the world haveencountered as a result ofthe global financial crisis.Your recognition that, de-spite these challenges,much infrastructure workhas been done by the cur-rent UDP town council isgreatly appreciated, andour team of candidatesbelieve that you deserveeven more, and more isabout to come.

The UDP Government is

Message from Prime MinisterTown Council 2012-2015

Orange WalkMayorial Candidate Message

about to roll out the Mu-nicipal Infrastructure

flects the UDP’s vision ofimproving the quality of

Project which is funded bythe IDB/World Bank andwill see Orange Walk Townreceiving millions of dol-lars to do infrastructurework over the next fewyears. This is an unprec-edented program and re-

life of Belizeans in all dis-tricts, no matter their color,race or party affiliation.

Our team is committed toensuring that these fundsare used to not only pavestreets and install drainage

but to improve parks andsidewalks and to generatemuch needed jobs and in-come for the residents ofOrange Walk.

Your UDP 7 believes inteamwork and we intendto involve the communityin our decisions and ouractivities. We invite youto become an active part-ner as we strive to improvethe quality of life for allresidents of Orange Walk.Our unity is strength andthis strength will deliverthe greatest period ofprogress that our Townresidents has seen.

On March 7, 2012 we askall Orange Walk residentsto unite with us and to sup-port the UDP 7.

Mayoral Candidate Ivan Leiva

Prime Minister of BelizeHon. Dean Barrow





PledgesINFASTRUCTURE:

♦ Identify a location and implement a New Cemetry.♦ Expand and remodel Fort Cairns Market Square.♦ Complete the San Lorenzo Boulevard.♦ Implement Bylaws that will integrate that all construction within town limit be approved by Town Council.♦ Reconstruction of the Queen Elizabeth Park.♦ Restore and maintain existing parks.♦ Develop a new bus terminal.♦ Paving of streets.♦ Street signs placed all over town.♦ Install more speed limit bumps and traffic signs like for speeding etc.♦ Enhance a more upgraded driver’s license.♦ Welcome signs to both entrances of Orange Walk.♦ Remodel the roundabout near establo- work in conjunction with Ministry since it causes many accidents from

time to time.♦ Beautify the entire Queen Victoria Avenue.♦ Construct a sidewalk on stadium street for students from the neighboring highschools.♦ Development and continuous maintainenance of drains.♦ Ensure that empty lots with over grown grass be dealt with accordingly.

TOURISM:

♦ Work together with hotel and tour operators to bring more tourists to Orange Walk - making it a tourist destination as part of their packages.

♦ Bring back the Lamanai River Challenge Canoe Race.♦ Collaborate with Banquitas House of Culture to promote culture in Orange Walk.

SOCIAL:

♦ Collaborate with Police Force to help prevent crime in the town.♦ Development of the Riverside recreational area by La Inmaculada School.♦ After school programs for the youth - music, sports and educational programs.♦ Weekend Social Club to involve citizens to adopt a park to maintain clean.♦ Develop programs to equip single mothers.





Your Weekly Horoscope

Pisces

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

February 19 - March 20

March 21 - April 19

April 20 - May 20

May 21 - June 20

July 23 - August 22

August 23 - September 22

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 21

June 21 - July 22

Jokes of the Week

SagittariusNovember 22 - December 21

CapicornDecember 22 - January 19

A couple came upon a wishing well. The wife leaned over,made a wish and threw in a penny.

The husband decided to make a wish, too but he leanedover too much, fell into the well, and drowned.

The wife was stunned for a moment but then smiled, "Itreally works!"

AquariusJanuary 20 - February 18

You need to try out newthings this week - your en-ergy is terrific, and it’s crav-ing novelty. You may evenwant to launch a new busi-ness or take on a big, com-plex project around thehouse.

Try not to worry too muchabout the events of theweek - everything can bewritten up to karma, pureand simple. If it’s good,that means you’ve beengood in the past; if not,well, you can still make upfor lost time!

This is the right time to con-sider the future - the presentis well accounted for, andthe past, as ever, is in thepast. You have the rightkind of mental energy todream up amazing plans!

You can’t control what oth-ers say about you (well, forthe most part, anyway), andthat could be quite frustrat-ing this week. Your repu-tation is at the mercy of oneperson, but the effects aretemporary.

You know exactly what’sright for you - that knowl-edge is just sequesteredaway in your right brain.Make sure you’re listeningto your intuition so you canget the clue before it’s toolate!

Try not to get involved inany deals involving moneythis week - you need tomake sure that you’re flex-ible when things start to getweird later on. That’s notto say you need to stuff yourmattress with twenties,though!

Remember that everythingcan change - and on a weeklike this week, anything ispossible! Your energy isbetter spent on coping withit all instead of trying tokeep it from happening.

Try to help those aroundyou live better lives thisweek - in whatever smallway you can. This couldmean giving someoneflowers or helping them toavoid making the samemistake for the hundredthtime.

You need to indulge yourartistic sensibilities thisweek - all that energy can’tgo to waste! If you canmake something beautifulor just find a new way topass the time, you shouldbe proud of yourself.

You’ve got plenty of storiesswirling through your lifethis week - so many thatyou might lose track ofthem all! See if you can getyour friends to listen as yourattle them out one after theother.

Someone asks for help -maybe someone you barelyknow - and you need to an-swer quickly. Even if youfeel put on the spot, it’s agood idea to reach out andgo for the karmic boost.

You need to draw a line be-tween your spiritual sideand your practical side - butyou should feel free to crossover, especially on a weeklike this week! Just take onone element at a time.

A woman went to her doctor's office. She was seen by oneof the new doctors, but after about 4 minutes in the exami-nation room, she burst out screaming and ran down thehall.

An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem

was, and she explained. He had her sit down and relax inanother room.

The older doctor marched back to the first and demanded,"What's the matter with you? Mrs. Terry is 63 years old,she has four grown children and seven grandchildren, andyou told her she was pregnant?"

The new doctor smiled smugly as he continued to write onhis clipboard.

"Cured her hiccups though, didn't it?"





Commission Commission

PUBLIC NOTICEPublic Utilities Commission (PUC)

In exercise of the powers conferred upon it by the Public Utilites Commission Act, Chapter 223 of the Laws of Belize, the Elctricity Act, Chapter 221of the Laws of Belize, the Electricity (Tariffs, Fees, and Charges) Byelaws, and all other powers thereunto enabling, the Public Utilities Commission(hereinafter referred to as “the Commission) hereby notifies the general public that it has made, and issued the 2011-2012 Full Tariff ReviewProceeding Final Decision (hereinafter referred to as “the final Decision”) for the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL: the Licensee).

Initial Decision adopted as the Final Decision:On January 12, 2012, the Commission made and issued the 2011-2012 Full Tariff Review Proceeding Initial Decision (hereinafter referred to as“the Initial Decision”). The Licensee and Interested Parties representing users of at 10% of the electricity consumed in the previous calendar yearwere subsequently afforded 15 days to submit written comments and to make objections to the Initial Decision. No objections were received.Therefore, pursuant to Byelaws 22 of the Electricity (Tariffs, Fees and Charges) Byelaws, on January 30, 2012, the Commission adopted the InitialDecision as the Final Decision for the 2011-2012 Full Tariff Review Proceeding.

Summary of the Final Decision:a) The Final Decision determined Regulated Values, Mean Electricity Rates, Tariffs, Fees and Charges for the Full Tariff Period (FTP) of July 1,2009, to June 30, 2016.

b) The Final Decision approved a Mean Electricity Rate of $0.4455 for July 1, 2009, to January 31, 2012, and a Mean Electricity Rate of $0.4181 forFebruary 1, 2012, to June 30, 2016.

c) The Final Decision approved a Target Rate of Return of 10%, a Rate of Return Lower Limit of 9% and a Rate of Return Upper Limit of 12% forthe FTP.

d) The Final Decision approved total investments of some $121.7 million for the period January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016.

e) The Final Decision approved no adjustments to all previously approved Fees and Charges.

f) The Regulated Values and Mean Electricity Rates approved in the Final Decision resulted in the following approved Tariffs to be levied by theLicensee for the sale of electricity:

Approved Tariffs for Full Tariff Period (FTP) - July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2016

Period July 1, 2009 - January 31, 2012 February 1, 2012 - June 30, 2016

Customer Class

Social

Residential

Commercial

Industrial 1

Industrial 2

Street Lights

Service Type/Consumption Block

Rate/Tariff$/Mth; $/KVA; $/KWhr

Service Type/Consumption Block

Rate/Tariff$/Mth; $/KVA; $/KWhr

0 - 50 KWhrsMinimum Charge

0 - 50 KWhrs51 - 200 KWhrs

> 200 KWhrsMinimum Charge

Service Charge0 - 10,000 KWhrs

10,001 - 20,000 KWhrs> 20,000 KWhrsService ChargeDemand (KVA)

EnergyService ChargeDemand (KVA)

EnergyEnergy

Issued by the Public Utilities Commission on February 15, 2012

0.264.000.350.440.475.00

100.000.450.440.43

100.0035.000.33

100.0021.000.280.55

0 - 60 KWhrsMinimum Charge

0 - 50 KWhrs51 - 200 KWhrs> 200 KWhrs

Minimum ChargeService Charge

0 - 10,000 KWhrs10,001 - 20,000 KWhrs

> 20,000 KWhrsService ChargeDemand (KVA)

EnergyService ChargeDemand (KVA)

EnergyEnergy

0.244.000.330.410.445.00

100.000.420.410.40

100.0033.000.31

100.0020.000.270.55

sit-in during the time whenstudents must finalize theirregistration and need to makechanges to their list of coursesit sure makes the passengerseat uncomfortable. Gradua-tion draws near, so all thingsmust be in place before weleave at the end of May orearly June or we will beforced to find another month’srent and payment for utilities,transportation, food, etc. Thisplace is not home to us andfor the more mature students

The Other Side of the CoinCollateral Damage By Norman Rodriguez

Continued from page 14like me, I lean only on me,unlike the younger studentswho can call back home andthen head over to WesternUnion or Money Gram.

The conflict within rages andthe discomfort continues; yes-terday, one of our lecturersinformed us that the lecturersin the law department havebeen warned about not coop-erating with the others in theactions taken. Here in theLaw Department, classes are

never suspended and holidaysare few, except for thosewhich are national. Great lec-turers, such as Justice DukePollard are so flexible that heis willing to sacrifice his Sun-days to lecture to those stu-dents who ask that he holds aclass. The Law Departmentis always criticized for beingthe only department to haveclasses when other depart-ments waits not for us in a se-mester which seems too shortfor us. In the meantime, the

discomfort continues and lifegoes on. Hopefully, the ac-tions will end soon becausethere are signs of intensifying.My prayer is that the strongurging from the governmentto the staff and students par-ticipating in this action doesnot see the need for police in-volvement or we may see a re-peat of what happened in De-cember where Mr. Bonds hadthirteen rubber bullet marks inhis back.

-End-





Present

Western Bus RouteBenque Viejo to Belize City





Western Bus RouteBelize City to Benque Viejo

Present

Southern Zone Schedule - Belize City - Punta Gorda

Continue on Page 22





Southern Zone Schedule - Belize City - Punta Gorda

Southern Zone Schedule - Punta Gorda - Belize City

our territory marine andland. We must ask why thematter of compensation forholding in abeyance exploi-tation of our mineral re-sources has not been clearlyat the forefront of our col-lective consideration.

We must clearly ARTICU-LATE our SOVER-


EIGNTY MANDATE. Wemust TASK ourselves onalternatives which need tobe discussed and rational-ized so that we can as in theinternational environmentmaintain and exercise con-trol and sovereignty over allour constitutional territoryof our sovereign nation ofBelize.

We have our cake, let ourpeople feed and find suste-nance. Alternatives need tobe earmarked as well suchas bio-prospecting for phar-maceutical/medicinal aes-

thetic purposes: comes withthe duty to safeguard de-velop our own patents andrevenue even as we developscientific research. Wemust ensure our traditionalhealers: Creole, Mayan,Garifuna, East Indian getthe recognition - proprietaryas well as historical for thisintergenerational knowledgeof Belizean bush medicine,not just Kodak moments butthe right to sue and recoverin event they are taken ad-vantage of and that the cor-porate raiders and academicoperate with them on inter-

national environmental legalbasis of “prior informedconsent” and all the proto-cols which we can apply asalready adapted by us in in-ternational arena, otherwisewe fall prey to being dic-tated to by corporatecolonisers who are alreadyin process of hijackingthrough back door of fund-ing our resources.

They say save but for who?Most definitely not forGuatemala! Ask Getti.We better not GETTI it!

“We must maintainBelize sovereign

manadate and insistthat they compensate,

not dictate”





Organization of American States Electoral Observation Missionarrives in Belize

(Belize City, Belize, March 1, 2012) Ambassador Frank Almaguer, the Chief of Mission for the Organization of AmericanStates Electoral Observation Mission in Belize (OAS/EOM) arrived today in Belize City to lead the team that will be deployed forthe general and municipal elections of March 7, 2012. Ambassador Almaguer is the former U.S. Ambassador to Honduras andpreviously served as OAS Secretary for Administration and Finance. The OAS/EOM will be observing the election in response toa formal invitation received from the Government of Belize and will formally begin its work today following the signing of theelectoral observation agreement between the OAS and the Elections and Boundaries Commission.

“I am delighted and honoured to lead this first ever OAS/EOM to Belize,” Ambassador Almaguer. “One of the guiding principlesof this OAS/EOM is to help create an atmosphere of public trust and encourage citizen participation in the electoral process. Inthis light I will be meeting and conducting interviews with the electoral authorities, political, governmental and internationalcommunity representatives, as well as with members of the media and of civil society in Belize to gain a thorough understandingof the electoral dynamic,” he added.

The mission’s headquarters will be installed today at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza in Belize City. The OAS/EOM team willobserve the electoral process in the days leading up to the election as well as election day activities from the opening of the pollsto the counting and dissemination of the results.

In the days following the election, the OAS/EOM will present its findings during a local press conference and will subsequentlypresent a report to the Organization’s Permanent Council in Washington, D.C.

OAS Electoral Observation MissionsFact Sheet

What is OAS Electoral Observation?International Election Observation is a process whereby organized groupof individuals from outside the host country carries out a series of sys-tematic activities to observe an electoral process. The subject of theobservation is the process.OAS Electoral Observation Missions (OAS/EOMs) are deployed inresponse to an invitation from the Member State. For an Electoral Ob-servation Mission, the OAS enters into two agreements with the hostcountry; these establish the conditions for the observation process.

Objectives of OAS Electoral Observation MissionsTo observe the performance of the principal actors in the electoral pro-cess in order to verify compliance with election laws and regulations inplace in the host country; to analyze the development of the electoralprocess in the context of standards adopted by OAS Member Statesand to take note of what is observed and inform the Secretary Generaland the Permanent Council.To work with government and electoral authorities, and with citizens ingeneral, to ensure the impartiality, transparency and reliability of the elec-toral process.To help create an atmosphere of public trust and encourage citizen par-ticipation.To serve as a channel to seek and build consensus in situation of conflictamong the different participants in the electoral process, as requested.To make recommendations in order to help improve the electoral sys-tem.

The Concept of Democratic ElectionsThe OAS methodology to evaluate elections takes as its starting point adefinition of the concept of democratic elections, that includes the fun-damental rights recognized in the instruments of the Inter-American sys-tem:

Principles of Electoral ObservationNon-substitution of national actors in the process. EOMs do notsubstitute any of the actors in an electoral process. The ultimate andexclusive responsibility for carrying out an electoral process falls on theinstitutions and leading actors in the host country. It is not up to interna-tional observers to approve, disapprove or correct the decisions of theelectoral authority; replace or question political party poll-watchers; or

increase the human or material resources of any participant in the pro-cess, including the competent national authority, which is the only arbiterof the process.

Objectivity and neutrality. The work of an EOM depends on itsimpartiality, neutrality, and independence. These basic characteristicsof OAS/EOMs are reflected, among other things, in the actions of theinternational observers as well as in the statements and declarations ofthe OAS/EOM.

Respect for the host country’s domestic laws. Observation impliescomplete respect of the constitution and laws of the country where theelectoral process is taking place.

Activities of an OAS/EOMLeading up to the election day the Chief of Mission and members of theOAS/EOM team will meet and conduct interviews with the electoralauthorities, political, governmental and international community repre-sentatives as well as with members of the media and of civil society inthe host country.The observation focuses on the process involving the opening of pollingstations, the voting, the vote count, and the tabulation or transmission ofresults to the regional and national tallying centers, operating with a gen-der-sensitive electoral observation methodology.Apart from the role as an observer, the OAS/EOM has the function ofreceiving formal complaints about the proces, i.e, information, evidence,ordocuments on the alleged commission of a crime or offense related tothe electoral process. The role of the OAS/EOM is to receive com-plaints and to monitor their timely handling by the competent authoritiesin the host country.A detailed verbal report on the observations and recommendations ofthe OAS/EOM will be presented to the OAS Permanent Council inWashington D.C. A final written report will be distributed to all memberstates.

OAS Electoral Observation in the CaribbeanBetween 1984 and 2011, the OAS observed 36 elections in 11 Carib-bean member states. Since 2006, missions have been requested for thefirst time by the governments of Antigua & Barbuda, Bellize, Dominica,Jamaica, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Saint Lucia.

On March 7th, 2012Vote UDP!





INTERNATIONAL NEWSMaya Doom Teaches Climate Lesson

By Alan Boyle

Scientists have long as-sumed that the ClassicMaya civilization was donein more than a millenniumago by a series of droughts,but now they say naturalrecords suggest thosedroughts were “modest”,with no more than a 40 per-cent reduction in rainfall.And that, in turn, suggeststhat similarly modest cli-mate changes over the nextcentury could have a not-so-modest effect.

The study - conducted byMedina-Elizalde and EelcoRohling, a colleague fromthe University ofSouthampton - appears inthis week’s issue of thejournal Science. It ad-dresses one of the big mys-teries of Maya history:What caused a civilizationthat dominated areas ofpresent-day Guatemala andMexico in the year 800 tocollapse by the year 1000?Deforestation and droughthave figured prominentlyas the prime suspects, butjust how dire did thosedroughts get?

To shed additional light onthe mystery, the two climate

experts analyzed chemicalsin lake sediments, marineshells and cave stalagmitesto track variations in rain-fall. For example, the ratioof oxygen-16 to oxygen-18in a particular layer of min-eral can tell you how muchrainfall fell during the sea-son when the mineral waslaid down. Such variationscan be read year by year,

The elements in different layers of stalagmites in YucatanPeninsula caves, such as this one, were analyzed todetermine how rainfall varied through the centuries.

like tree rings.

The researchers found thatthere was indeed a deficitin rainfall in the period be-tween the years 800 and1000. But that deficit wasmodest, amounting to a 25to 40 percent reduction inthe drought years. Medina-Elizalde and Rohling as-sume that the droughts took

the form of reductions inthe frequency and intensityof tropical storms duringthe summer.

Today, much of the YucatanPeninsula’s rural popula-tion still relies on summerrainfall to support theircrops. Medina-Elizaldesaid access to fresh waterisn’t so much of a problem,thanks to modern pumpingsystems. But he noted thatlower-than-average sum-mer rains still “have fairlydire consequences” for lo-cal farmers.

The current models fromthe IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Changepredict that there could beannual rainfall reductionsof up to 50 percent in theYucatan Peninsula by theend of this century,Medina-Elizalde said. Heand his colleagues arestudying how such reduc-tions might affect freshwa-ter supplies in the region.

What do you think? Doesthis research merely add aninteresting twist on the cen-turies-old story, or does itserve as a warning aboutour future fate?

Mexican Journalist on Drug Lords: "If they're goingto kill you, they're going to kill you'

By Erika Angulo and WilmaHernandez, NBC News

Miami - “If they’re going tokill you, they’re going to killyou,” said Luz del CarmenSosa, a reporter in CuidadJuarez, Mexico, and motherof two, who spends most ofher day running from onemurder scene to another.“Even if you arrive sur-rounded by police, securityescorts, whoever wants tohurt you will hurt you.”

Just 20 miles from CiudadJuarez, photojournalistAlejandro HernandezPacheco did get hurt. OnJuly 26, 2010, Hernandezwas part of a TV news crewvideotaping at a prison inthe city of Gomez Palaciowhen he was kidnapped atgunpoint, along with twocolleagues. “They took usto a place that was coveredwith dried blood, with teethand hair stuck to the walls,”said Hernandez. He

stopped himself from de-scribing the room any fur-ther, saying it brings backterrifying memories. Headded that the gunmen alsothreatened to burn himalive. The men were re-leased five days later. Au-thorities believe the kid-nappers were members ofthe notorious Sinaloa car-tel.

Mexico has become a kill-ing field for reporters, ac-

cording to a study releasedthis week by the New Yorkbased Committee to ProtectJournalists. Theorganization’s “Attacks onthe Press in 2011” studyshows 48 Mexican journal-ists have disappeared orhave been killed in the lastfive years across the coun-try.

CPJ’s survey found the






INTERNATIONAL NEWS

incease in crimes againstmedia workers began with the start of Mexican Presi-dent Felipe Calderon’s es-calated war against narcot-ics traffickers, a crusadewhich has led rival cartelsto fight for control of theprofitable drug routes intothe United States.

Pressure from internationalpress organizations likeCPJ prompted the Calderonadministration to launch aninitiative to protect thecountry’s journalists. Lon-don-based writers groupPEN has called for “imme-diate and definitive action”to end the killings of jour-nalists in Mexico.

But the killings andkidnappings continue. InCiudad Juarez, a city thatsees an average of eightmurders a day, Sosa saysjournalists put competitionfor exclusive stories asideand call each other whennews breaks, so they cantravel to cover develop-ments as a group. A 23-year veteran crime reporterof the award winning ElDiario, Sosa and other ex-perienced journalists havealso gotten used to givingup their byline for a simple“staff” byline when theywrite a story that may infu-riate a cartel leader or gov-ernment official.

Journalists complain thethreats have led to thespread of self-censorship.Mexico City-based corre-spondent Ana Arana saidmuch of the country is suf-fering from what she calls“news black holes”.

Mexican Journalist onDrug Lords: "If they're

going to kill you, they'regoing to kill you'

Continued from page 26Arana runs FundacionMEPI, and independent in-vestigative nonprofit. In aneffort to determine how per-vasive self-censorship hasbecome, the group studiedthe coverage of drug-re-lated crimes by 11 regionalnewspaper, as well as thenational edition of Milenioand El Universal in 2010and then again in 2011.

MEPI found that in NuevoLaredo and other crime-rid-den cities, the press wasbarely covering ganglandexecutions and other drugrelated crimes. And if theypublished stories on thosetypes of crimes, they did sowithout mentioning sus-pects.

Some Mexican authoritiesseem to be censoring theirinformation too, accordingto many reporters.

That increasingly leaves thepublic depending on socialmedia for information.Many turn to Facebook andTwitter for the latest oncrime hot spots. But eventhat source of informationis being curtailed, espe-cially after the murder ofMarisol Macias Castro.

The 39-year-old Twitteruser posted notes on thecriminal activities of localcartel members last Sep-tember. She was found de-capitated shortly after. Twoother murders have alsobeen linked to the use ofsocial media to denounce adrug cartel.

-END-

Marines killed in copter train-ing collision identified

Los Angeles - Three of theseven U.S. Marines killedin the collision of two mili-tary helicopters during atraining exercise along theCalifornia-Arizona borderhad previously served inIraq, Afghanistan or both.

Marines on the ground ifthey’re called in to assist,”said First LieutenantMaureen Dooley, a spokes-woman for the 3rd MarineWing.

Television images showed

conducting nighttime train-ing operations when theystruck one another onWednesday night andplunged to the ground.

The cause of the accidentremained under investiga-tion, and Marine Corps of-ficials declined to say ifdarkness, dust or weatherconditions were believed tobe factors.

Five Marines aboard theHuey and two aboard thesmaller Cobra copter diedin the crash. No other air-craft were flying with thetwo helicopters thatcrashed, and nobody on theground was involved in theaccident.

There were no survivors.The two choppers belongedto 3rd Marine AircraftWing, headquartered at theMarine Corps Air StationMiramar, but both werebased at nearby CampPendleton, in SouthernCalifornia.

The types of helicopters in-volved in the crash typi-cally fly at very low altitudein combat as they are de-signed to “provide close-to-the-ground air support for

Among the dead were threecombat veterans, identifiedon Friday as: Major Tho-mas Budrejko, 37, whoserved three deploymentsin Iraq and one in Afghani-stan; Sergeant JustinEverett, 33, who served onedeployment in Iraq; andCaptain Nathan Anderson,32, who served three de-ployments in Iraq.

The other four were identi-fied as: Captain MichaelQuin, 28, Captain Ben-jamin Cerniglia, 31, LanceCorporal Corey Little, 25,and Lance CorporalNickoulas Elliott, 21.

Six of the Marines killedwere from Pendleton. Theseventh, Anderson, wasfrom Marine Corps Air Sta-tion Yuma, close to thecrash site.

Dooley said the crash in-vestigation would likelytake months to complete.

More than a dozen militarypersonnel have been killedin recent years from acci-dents involving the sametypes of helicopters thatcrashed on Wednesdaynight, most of them basedin the San Diego area.

Two lighta t t a c khelicop-ters, anAH-1WC o b r aand aU H - 1 YH u e y ,w e r e

ascorchedd e b r i sfield inthe desertwhere thest r ickenhelicop-ters fell.








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Northern - Belize Newsbelizenews.com/NorthernStar/NorthernStar008.pdf · 2012. 3. 2. · Title: Northern Author: User Created Date: 3/2/2012 1:53:05 PM