BELIZE AND GARIFUNA COMMUNITY

Belize and Garifuna Culture

This page is Dedicated to Things About Belize

Page features historical, cultural and current events in Belize.

Prime Minister and Mrs Kim Simplis Barrow to visit LA (NEW)

Save Baby Daniel Fundraiser and Ways to Donate Urgent Appeal (NEW)

Fundraiser Save Baby Daniel a Celebration of Hope July 30th 2010, 7PM-10PM

Mariner's Village (Location Donated) by Mariner's Village

Mariner"s Village
4600 Via Marina,
Marina Del Rey CA 90292.

Sponsered in part by Comprehensive Home Care Services
Freda Sideroff www.comprehensivehomecare.biz
323)244-1993

Save Baby Daniel (leigh Holmes, Kelli Stember, melissa Lubaszka ,Dolores Dore Kislow

WADABU Caribbean Restaurant

Consulate General of Belize Hon.Roland Yorke

Honorary Consulate General of St Vincent & the Grenadines for the Western Reginal United States Cadrin Gill.

PERFORMERS: Von Folta, Cynthia Turner,Bootsy Rankin, David Conrad ,Daniel Conrad, Glen Garcia on Drums, Paul Maximo on Moracas & Sally Reyes. Shana

Master of Cermony D.J Labuga Rony Figueroa , D.J . Nice Cecil Guttierez
Surprise Guest to be announced.on Friday

Food : Wadabu Restaurant

If you are not able to attend this fundraiser kindly support by giving a donation. See below for ways to donate. Money is needed for the liver surgery.

Please share this video of Daniel and his parents on KTLA, or repost on your page.

There are three ways you can donate:
1. Through Wachovia Acct # 10 10 166 397 743 When using this account, you must use Daniel Guerrero (Baby Daniel’s Grandda...d) as the username.
2. Through PayPal.com, at oh.dannyboy@belizemail.net
If you are not familiar with PayPal.com, here are instructions on how to donate.

http://savebabydaniel.com/how-to-donate-with-paypal-to-save-baby-daniel/savebabydaniel.com

3.Directly through Children’s Hospital. If you choose this option and we are unable to raise sufficient funds to do the surgery, your donation would stay with CHLA to be used for other children. However, if UCLA or another hospital agrees to do the surgery before then, they can bill CHLA, and the money would come out of the direct fund.
Any funds donated for the medical treatment of patient Daniel Estell can be wired to:
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Bank of America
525 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Bank Routing Number: ABA 121000358
Bank Account Number: 14596-04240
Donors MUST designate the funds for Daniel Estell on the wire transfer.

The Education System of Belize is Failing boys and girls as well (NEW)

The Education System: Carrying Water in Baskets

The issue is that while the education system of Belize is certainly failing boys – it is failing girls as well – as it is carrying water in baskets, instead of buckets. Dramatic changes must come in the immediate future in its structure of operation, followed by the creation of a more supportive human ecology, if the education system is going to work to meet millennium goals for the youth of the country.

There are three broad problems militating against the education system meeting its millennium goals.

· First, school resources are not enough to address the needs of the nation’s children, and hence it is leaving a mass of children behind;

· Second, the school system is outdated and structurally flawed, set on a colonial frame that no longer exists in the region, one that operates to produce only a few elite students, like a fancy basket that needs to be changed to at least a cheap bucket that can hold water;

· Thirdly, the 59 schools studied are facing numerous challenges brought on by poverty and vulnerable, violent human ecologies, and poorly developed facilities for youth countrywide. This forces the schools to operate as welfare centers and robs teachers of time and energy to teach.

Social Exclusion and the Current Education System

The figures in Table 2 suggest that Belize has an extremely high school exclusion rate which has to be treated as a core contributing factor to the gang problem in Belize City and other urban centres.

Table 2: School Exclusion at the Primary and Secondary Levels

Education Level	Gender	Population	Net Enrolment	Excluded	Percentage Excluded
PRIMARY	M	35,587	29,423	6,164	17.3
	F	34,011	28,801	5,210	15.3
	Total	69,598	58,224	11,374	16.3
SECONDARY LEVEL	M	16,895	6,314	10,581	62.6
	F	16,322	7,193	9,129	55.9
	Total	33,217	13,507	19,710	59.3
ALL STUDENTS		102, 815	71,731	31,084	30.2

Source: Planning & Projects Unit, MOE, 2009

· A third of all children are excluded from education by the state’s inadequacies. At the primary level there are 11,374 excluded children. The excluded children represent 16.3% of the population of students at this level.

· These calculations cannot however be matched against the rest of the Caribbean and Latin America because Belize still maintains a peasantry elementary system where children remain in primary school until Standard VI, which is equivalent to grade 8 in secondary schools universally. By aligning primary and secondary level exclusion we can extrapolate that the exclusion of Belizean children ages 6 to 12 years old (internationally recognized as primary school age) is actually about 14 percent. Having done so, we can calculate the country’s position in terms of achieving the millennium goal of Universal Primary Education by 2015. The current situation is that Belize is far behind the rest of the Caribbean and Latin America, which in 2007 had only 7.2 percent of its children ages 6-12 out of school (UNESCO 2008).

· The problem becomes alarming at the secondary level. Here almost 60% of all the children are missing and out of place. It is important to note that while boys are more excluded than girls overall, the gender difference in exclusion in the transition from primary to secondary is not significant. Males make up 54.2% of all children excluded between standards 1 and 6. Notice also that this proportion is basically the same at the secondary level where males account for 53.7% of the excluded. These figures suggest that there is no significant gender discrimination in the failures of the education system – it is simply inadequate.

Chart 2: Increase in Exclusion in Transition from Primary to Secondary by Gender

· Chart 2: shows the dramatic increase in exclusion for both sexes between standard 6 and ‘secondary’ school life. This exclusion is 4 times greater than it was in elementary school, resulting in baffling statistics that can only be explained as a system failure. Notice that almost two thirds of all males are excluded at this level, compared to one-fifth of their Caribbean counterparts.

· The 2007/2008 data from Ministry of Education suggest that annually 7.2 percent of primary and 7.7 percent secondary school children repeated the class for which they were enrolled in for the year, with boys doing so at a rate one and a half times that of girls. The annual drop-out rate for those years was 1 percent for primary and 10.5 for secondary, again with males one and a half times more vulnerable. Teachers calculated that boys are up to 3 times more likely to drop out at some schools due to poverty and violence-related issues.

· Given that education exclusion is twice the rate of the region at the primary school level and three times at the secondary school level, we can expect to find choking statistics about tertiary education in Belize.

Tertiary Education

· Data from UNESCO (2008) suggest that at 4 percent tertiary enrolment, Belize might have one of the worse rates in the region (See Chart3). On what foundations will a government build a country if the tertiary enrolment is unmentionable? Where will Belize get the technical and social skills to solve its problems and chart its way forward in this global whirlpool?

Chart 3: Tertiary Enrolment for 2007 for Selected Caribbean and Central American States

Source: UNESCO 2008

System Failure Caused by Outdated, Colonial, Mismatched Structures: Using Fancy Baskets to Carry Water

The inadequate funds, lack of program planning for youths, and the immense poverty of households are largely to blame for the crisis in educating the nation’s children. Belize’s educational system is still based on the British colonial model.

· Largely to blame are the current problematic emphasis on primary education with secondary education as a trophy;

· the complicated system of school finance and management;

· the colonial education structure;

· and the poor response to these problems by some parents, teachers.

Upgrading Port in Big Creek While Abandoning Commerce Beight Port in Dangriga Town (NEW)

Upgrading Port in Big Creek While Abandoning Commerce Beight Port in Dangriga Town

by Wellington C. Ramos
July 27, 2010

It was reported in the news two weeks ago that the people who own the port in Big Creek which is about forty miles from Dangriga Town have received millions of dollars to upgrade their port. This is happening at a time when the oil and citrus companies are begging the government to reopen Commerce Beight Pier in Dangriga town which is now closed for over about fifteen years. This port has natural depth and has been considered for years one of the best in the country of Belize to improve long before the People’s United Party made the unwise decision to build the Deep Water Port in the shallow waters off the coast of Belize City which has to be dredged constantly in order to remain operational. There are rumors circulating that while the United Democratic Party is promising Dangriga residents that they will reopen it, this port was sold to Luke Espat a staunch supporter of the PUP while they were governing Belize. Why would the Government of Belize sell this port to an ordinary citizen which is of economic, strategic and national security interest to Belizeans is a mystery? If this is true, we the residents of Dangriga should be told the truth about this whole incident so that we can stop living on false hopes and dreams. It is not fair for Dangriganans to be told to be patient, while the port is dormant and many of our people are waiting for jobs from this port to feed and support their needy families.

When we were growing up in Dangriga town, we use to walk from our homes along with our friends to go and fishing at Commerce Beight Pier when fish was not biting our fishing lines off the main pier by Sacred Heart School. Big ships like; Kirk Star use to dock at this pier and many of our relatives and friends were unloading them to make money in order to provide for their families. Plus, to look from the pier and see the village of Hopkins and other scenes was always exciting for me. I can still remember people walking along the beachside looking for wild grapes to eat and sometimes catching crabs along the roadside until they reach Jettie Pier to go fishing. Commerce Beight Pier has played and continue to play a vital role in the economic development of Dangriga Town and was the only one that had trains delivering bananas there during the bloom of the banana industry in the valleys of Stann Creek District back in the old days many years ago.

Since the discovery of oil in Belize, tankers could be seen in droves trafficking crude oil on the Western, Humming Bird and Southern Highway on there way to the port in Big Creek. This is a total of about 115 miles totally. Also, the Citrus vehicles which are in Pomona Valley 12 miles from Dangriga Town must travel forty more miles to Big Creek to deliver their products. This is costing the oil and citrus industries a lot of money on transportation that they could spend on other things towards the growth of their industries. The people of Dangriga Town elected the members of the United Democratic Party because they were angry over the sale of this port. They waited long enough for this party to return this port back to the people. Dangriga people need to know; If the port was in fact sold and to whom? How much was the port sold for? Who received the money for the port and what was done with the proceeds? How can a man unknown to all the people in Dangriga Town come into our town and purchase something that is so important to us without the Government of Belize conducting a public hearing to hear out our views and opinions in a so-called democratic country?

I now call on all the residents of Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District, The National Garifuna Council and the Area Representatives to renew their call that a quick solution be found to resolve this problem. Currently, there are Belizean nationals and foreign investors who are collaborating to purchase the surrounding areas of Commerce Beight Pier known as Gragra Creek to build resorts, motels, casinos and other business ventures unknown to the people of Dangriga Town. I am very disappointed in the National Garifuna Council because I have never heard of them championing any cause that is of major significance to the Garifuna people in the south. In fact, it seems to me as if they are non-existent or exist to serve the interest of a very few Garifuna people. How long will they stand idly by when injustices continue to plague their people? The Mayas are fighting for their rights and they are getting positive results. We need to do the same things they are doing so that we can address our concerns.

If they have championed any, the general public needs to know of them because they are not too popular among the Garifuna people that I have spoken to over the years in Belize and the United States. This government is aware of the fact that there are Statutes of Limitations on all Civil and Criminal matters. Our people cannot wait for these Statutes of Limitations to run out and then be sorry. The time to take back Commerce Beight Pier is now, before we go into another election with new promises and if it was sold without the consultation of the people in Dangriga Town, such sale will be deemed unlawful and the title voided. A Public Hearing is always required to decide on a matter of such importance to a community and none was held by the government to the best of my knowledge in dealing with this matter. Remember, once we allow the first portion to be taken under these circumstances, it will open the gate for a lot more to be taken the same way.

Violence and the Health of a Nation by Dr Bernard E. Bulwer (NEW)

Violence and the Health of a Nation
It’s not just the victims who “get shot.”
“We, as a nation, “get shot.”

Last week, it may not go down well with my mom that I took a walk after dark (alone) in my old neighbourhood, down Rivero Street, through Kraal Road, unto Faber’s Road. (For those unfamiliar with this neighbourhood—Kraal road is synonymous with the current scourge of gun violence; this is the very street I spent countless hours playing draughts [checkers] during high school.)
Last week, Dr. Alain Gonzalez, one of our bright young doctors at the KHMH, made a timely presentation of the 2009 statistics on gunshot wounds at the KHMH. The numbers go beyond those killed and the incalculable loss of life. The numbers go beyond those maimed, or the physical scars.
Last week, a twenty-eight year old Cuban volunteer doctor, came all the way up from Big Creek to Belize City to attend the Annual Scientific Congress of the Cuban Medical Brigade—an annual newsworthy event that doesn’t make news headlines. What she sustained, however, was not a positive scientific onslaught by her fellow colleagues. Instead some debased young punk with a knife, attacked this beautiful woman … with intentions to rob and kill. She ended up maimed, requiring immediate surgery. Her fellow Cubans rallied to her bedside—they did it all, both the nursing and the surgical care. She now bears these scars for life, and with it, some unpleasant memories of Belize. I apologized on behalf of my nation.
If you’re versed in ancient hospitality, it is bad when your own gets hurt. It is worse when you do it to a stranger—worse still when it’s a stranger who volunteers to look after your sick … and a defenseless female at that. (As I don’t consider “him” a man, I entertained unmentionable thoughts about prescribing for “him” a surgical procedure commensurate with this assessment).
Face the facts. We have become a violent nation. This violence is not confined to guns and knives, but this broader definition is beyond the scope of this brief article.
We don’t need to wait for the definitive research. The cost of crime is not just the incalculable loss of life for the victims and their families … I know. My eldest brother loss his life on his Camalote farm, and worse still, it was at the hands of a convicted murderer who was supposed to be behind bars. The fallout from this tragedy to his family and children continues.
Therefore, it’s “not just the victims who ‘get shot.’” We, as a nation, get shot.
As one on the frontlines of this fallout, I say to Belize: It’s not just the five-, or ten-, or twenty- or forty-thousand dollars of your taxes that goes into emergency medical care, surgical care, nursing care, medications, medical equipment, and hospitalization (for each gunshot victim) at the KHMH—it’s the incalculable loss of life, and the near resignation of us as a people to this seemingly never-ending tragedy. Belize had 95 murders in 2009; the KHMH recorded 91 other gunshot victims who showed up alive at the emergency department. (Barbados, with a population the size of Belize, complained about their high murder rate totaling nineteen (19) murders in 2009.
Complain, but know this … Sometimes up to two dozen medical staff (and more) gets involved with each gunshot victim. It’s not just the emergency room doctors and nurses … but also the surgeons, critical care doctors, operating theater staff, ICU staff, laboratory and blood bank technicians, ventilator and respiratory therapists attendants, and people who are tasked to deal with this violent fallout. Multiply this by the number of gunshot victims and other violent acts—and you then begin to understand the burden imposed on your hospital—the KHMH—which receives almost every accident and gunshot victim in this city.
Complain, but know this … BECAUSE violent crime and accidents often leave the emergency cupboard bare—and where expensive medications, instead of going to the sick, end up diverted to the victims of violence … which causes you more frustration with your medical services—since victims of violence take priority over your child who is sick, or you with abdominal pain, or your high blood pressure or diabetes that’s out-of-control.
For this very reason, you and your children and family may go to the KHMH Emergency Room where you may wait and wait, and get angry and frustrated.
It’s not just that granny can’t go out to exercise in the cool of the evening because she is afraid of being robbed, or shuts out the nice sea breeze because of fear … or that we must spend several thousand dollars on fences, burglar bars, and other security gadgets. Left unexplored are the psychological and business costs of living in a violent city.
Deng Xiaoping, one of China’s transformative leaders in recent history, is credited with the saying, “It doesn’t matter if the cat is black or white, once it catches the mouse.” Perhaps, we need a Cuban-style approach to tackle violent crime (this was the essence of a remark by a Cuban volunteer in response to the violent attack on their colleague).
When my dad was alive—he spoke of this coming scourge of crime. He often said that the problem of our neighbourhood (which was peaceful back then) was a “problem of parenting”—and that if your parents didn’t look after you … then the law would. Although he himself was politically opinionated, he decried the culture of “dependency on politicians.” He was a real man—he raised (not just fathered) twelve kids with his wife, my mother. He abandoned none of them, nor made excuses for why he couldn’t look after them. He didn’t finish primary school. We lacked much—but he built a roof over our heads. He told us we were never born slaves. He taught us the value of hard work, of honesty, and respect for others. He decried idleness, and I learnt early that “the devil finds work for idle hands.” He worked “cabinet” furniture, supplemented his income by building cement blocks the old-fashioned way. He acquired two small farms in “Boston” on the old Northern road where we spent most weekends. When I asked to play sports at Yarborough (now Yabra) field, he called that “pappysho”—and he said the best way to get exercise was for us to go to Boston, do some planting and reaping—and at the end of the day, you won’t just burn energy. You’ll end up with more than exercise … you’ll also end up with food on your table (This was the mindset of my self-employed father who took seriously the reality of having a home with several mouths to feed). Mr. B. liked to share, but often lamented that some neighours would never once ask to go with him to the farm—yet they were quick to beg for farm produce when he returned from Boston.
My mom—who I only recently learned made more money than Dad—ran a successful food business for many years. What I learned from her is incalculable, but that’s for another place, another time (Call me sexist if you want, but the evidence is that “it takes a man to raise a boy”—and raising boys lies at the heart of Belize’s gun problem).
We have to find a way to “outlaw” idleness. All able-bodied young men and women should be in school or at work. There is no shortage of work to be done in Belize. We have an “employability” problem, not just one of employment. We have a nation to feed and a nation to build. The Mennonites aren’t known for their educational status, but they are by far, the richest people in Belize. Ignore their example at our peril (I’m referring to the over-emphasis on “book” education). We need to halt the spread of Belize City slums—where an entrenched sub-culture of violence and the stuff that feeds it, have taken root; places full of “mud-ah-waata, London bridges and mosqitto”—places where poor folk end up spending the little money they earn to fill tiny house lots where they can’t plant food or raise chickens—perpetuating an environment and a cycle of deprivation, dependency, and frustration. Worse still, too many of our children are being born, but not “raised.” Listen to the words of 2pac’s “Brenda’s got a baby”—the fallout is devastating. Just look at who bears the brunt of the death statistics or end up in jail.
Belize a very special place. It may not float on as much oil as Kuwait, but we have natural stuff that oil money can’t buy. The richness of a nation, however, lies not in its geography, or simply in its economy. True wealth lies in the soul of its people. True wealth is like when the Germans and the Japanese—despite being militarily conquered and physically destroyed barely sixty-years ago—rebuilt themselves as leading nations … rebuilding not just their physical infrastructure, but also the heart and soul of their people.
Shame on us as a nation! We are all, wittingly or unwittingly, presiding over its slow demise—especially the demise of those who call themselves natives. Many of us are pursuing our little narrow agendas … carving out our own little corners … while collectively we are losing (or have lost) our soul as a nation. The best way to boil a frog is to put him in cold water and then slowly turn up the heat. He ends up dying (comfortably) and without a fight. Belize, the heat is on. Some of us continue to fiddle while Rome burns. Many of us are being anesthetized, trying to find refuge in extraneous pursuits, entertainment, carnivals, foreign television, and stuff that is “easy on the mind”—while many of our sons (and daughters) die almost daily—handsome and strong young men who end up being disposed as rubbish, rather than treasured, and ending up as buried treasure with unfulfilled potential. I wish part of our priority for our children is to get them (or ask your relatives to send) computers with internet connection (for education, not just music), rather than just fancy clothes and name-brand sneakers.
We can complain all we want … Call the talk shows day in, day out …Vote one party in, and then vote one party out.
We, as a nation we are in need of strong medicine …perhaps even radical surgery. The challenge is—who will bell the cat? Who is prepared to swallow the pill? Look in the mirror, and then I’ll tell you the answer.

Sin cera;

Bernard E. Bulwer

Bernard E. Bulwer, MD—Director of Medical Services—KHMH
April 26, 2010.

'Catch the Overflow' by Dr Ludwig Palacio a sort of authobiographical story book about life in Peini, Belmopan and Cuba

Hi Angie

Please share the good news. A review committee is looking at the final draft of my latest book. Here is the foreword by Dr. Joe (Unc) and the introduction by me. As usual thanks.

Lud
PS I am projecting the middle of August as the publishing date.

Foreword

A mark of becoming a mature nation-state is having several writers flood our schools, homes, libraries, and work places with our literature – fiction and nonfiction, textbooks, novels, poems, etc., etc. Catch the Overflow, an autobiographical compilation, is certainly a most welcome contribution to a growing collection of written works by Belizeans about Belize. Coming from the proverbial “forgotten district”, this book vividly broadcasts that Toledo is no longer forgotten but has truly become the unforgettable district, as Rob Hiron of the Lodge at Big Falls has always reminded me. Indeed, other Belizeans may not be aware that Toledo has been steadily increasing its list of publications. The author of Catch the Overflow himself has written two books of Poetry - Sugarosi I and II, as well as a movie script entitled Agada, each covering different aspects of the rich cultural landscape of this beautiful district.

Reflecting the true meaning of its title, this book is literally an overflow of stories put together into twenty nine chapters. The author’s infectious style of weaving a tale to catch the interest of his reader left this reader asking for more on reaching the last chapter. Each chapter reveals one or more basic human characteristics often with a good dose of humour as a punch line. As a result, one is entertained while learning about the physical environment of southern Belize, the rich cultural tapestry that ties together people representing several ethnicities, while following the author as he travels from Punta Gorda to Belmopan to Belize City, and away from Belize to Cuba and back to Belize. The thread that pins the whole work together is the passage of the author from being a toddler in San Antonio to growing up as a boy in Punta Gorda, to going to attend high school in Belmopan, and eventually taking up university studies in Cuba.

Because of the focus on the youthful phase of the author’s life, the book lends itself to the young reader, who might be reading it as a textbook or for the fun of learning from the author’s experiences. But the book captures some human values that are so universal that we need to be constantly reminded of them. They include pulling oneself by the bootstrap from the difficulties of poverty by the petty trading of foodstuff; not being afraid to stand by one’s conviction even when others are quickly walking away; cherishing a deep appreciation for the several types of persons that make up one’s home community; and, most of all, seeing humour even at the darkest of times and sharing the joke with others.

Ubafu Sanchez Satoye is not producing a code of moral social behaviour in sharing his life story with the reader. There is, however, an underlying theme of social justice in his encounters. A good example was his feeling of sympathy on seeing the derelict homeless persons in Belize City. Another example was his refusal to apologize about a high school incident when he was convinced that he had done no wrong. Another example is his deep affection for his mother, who promoted him to be her home business partner at the tender age of eight. Her role in forming Ubafu’s strong moral fibre is undisputed.

From the larger socio-political terrain the book captures some significant moments in our movement toward independence in the early 1980s, putting on them Ubafu’s inimitable stamp. We see the initial stage of the populating of the new capital city of Belmopan. More especially, among those moving in were not only public officers but also poor people from Punta Gorda, who were looking for more opportunities for themselves and their children. There was the civil unrest prior to independence when Ubafu cut his political rebellious teeth. Around the same time Belize was entering into bilateral exchange relations with Cuba, now accepted as normal but had to be clandestine at that time.

In short, Catch the Overflow started as a series of stories taking place in Toledo. The painting that the author sketches for his reader gradually takes place on a canvas that extends to the rest of Belize, bringing in bits and pieces that are found as far away in Cuba and in other parts of the world. It fits on the bookshelf of all homes in Belize and wherever Belizeans find themselves.

Joseph O. Palacio

Barranco

INTRODUCTION

Catch the Overflow as narrated by Ubafu Sanchez Satoye is divided into two parts. Part I is a collage of stories, events, characters and scenarios of his home town Peini a small Garifuna town in southern Belize in the 60 to early 1980’s which coincide with Ubafu’s childhood to adult years. Part II describes life in Camagüey, as a University student from 1983 to 1989, as he saw and experienced it.

True and intimate events beginning in San Antonio are narrated in this book. These include a young child’s connection with his puppy: Othello and a conversation he had with a Prisoner.

Ubafu shares with you the reader the endurance and hard work of his dear mother who was the rock of his family. There is Nagut (A grandaunt) a typical, proud and strong Garifuna woman who was poignant in the transformation of very a desperate situation into a delicious family dinner.

Several characters are highlighted each with an aim of understanding and appreciating human nature. There is Sawmani who laughed and danced and made money from Belizean Americans. Aunt Elsie is an abused woman who lives in denial yet finds ways of maintaining her family successfully.

Mama’s coconut oil is a story of struggle and enterprise that we can all learn from.

Stefi and Benni meet at a cultural event and thrilled the crowd with the erotic Punta dance. They fall in love, get married. In spite of his constant drunkenness Stefi remained a devoted wife.

Uncle Sonny defers his sickness to go fishing in order to put food on the table. He embodies everything that has to do with caring and sharing.

Part I ends with Ubafu leaving from small Peini (during the late 70’ and 80’s), to a new evolving Capital City that lacked the soul and social life he was accustomed to.

In Belmopan, Ubafu deals with racial and ethnic discrimination. Together with his friend Phil Blesseth they organized the students of their High School to participate in national demonstrations. A school teacher at Belmopan Comprehensive becomes very instrumental in generating greater consciousness into a divided set of students; this division directly related to our colonial past. This became a big step in helping them to mature and to appreciate each other accepting their differences. Phil Blesseth, a Creole and Ubafu Sanchez Satuye a Garifuna from Peini (As Punta Gorda is called formed an unlikely alliance. Both learned the divide and conquer strategy the British employed to keep apart two brothers and sisters linked by blood to Africa.

Together they go on an expedition after being suspended as ‘troublemakers.” The trip was more than an adventure; it allowed them to see people who were living on the margins of society. These were the destitute, the mental patients abandoned by their families living on the streets.

Ubafu parts ways with Phil and goes on to Cuba at a time when the Superpowers were engaged in a ‘cold war’. Security Forces had to be eluded many times to leave Belize via Mexico to Cuba. Mexico was a crucial land bridge between Belize and Cuba and exciting events are described this include Eugenio Gonzalez the Merolico (Street Peddler) turned Patron (Business Owner) and back to Merolico. According to Eugenio’s friends He is a Thief and is better known as La Rata. Eugenio actually agrees to this name and accepts himself as La Rata. Eugenio was always ready to assist Ubafu when he was most in need.

Part II is about life in Cuba and the experiences of Ubafu on the ‘communist’ island where it was rumored that Fidel was the Devil and Cuba was ‘hell’.

Ubafu quickly adjusted into his new environment and continues to learn more about life from a wide range of people from literally all over the world.

He dates a young lady from Zimbabwe who is the daughter of a Chief. She plays a key role in his eventual success as a student.

Several situations that were potentially fatal are narrated in this section. Most of these were linked to alcohol abuse.

Mi Papa cubano is a story that relates in a simple language what

Fidel and the Revolution meant to one ‘ordinary’ Cuban family.

Ubafu after listening to many of Fidel’s long speeches became obsessed with meeting Fidel in person. However it was not until the last days of his entire six years living in Cuba that he was able to see this unique individual.

The events leading up to seeing Fidel is colored with Cuban humor. It was rainy on that 26th of July 1989. Several persons fainted and had to be carried on stretchers to ambulances. Ubafu will never forget the speed of the paramedics as they carried these persons to several ambulances, hoisted above their heads as they moved.

At the plaza where Fidel gave his address, Ubafu later discovered that the crowd that came out to hear him speak numbered around two hundred and fifty thousand people, -the same amount as the population of his country, Belize, at that time.-

The characters and essence of all the stories has some essential commonalities, such as: tenacity, the need to analyze situations thoroughly, the ability to turn a ‘bad’ situation into a positive one; and pure humor.

That said, turn the pages and Catch the Overflow, read and enjoy.

Belize Kids First - Educating Belizean Children

Belize Kids First – Educating Belizean children - one child at a time

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

DIRECTORS:

Mrs. Anne Palacio, B.PED, teacher and lecturer for 14 years at both primary and tertiary level institutions. She is the founder and director of this organization and has become an advocate in helping the children of Belize to become educated individuals. She is also pursuing her Masters degree in Counseling and hope to implement strategies from this program to assist families. She has now dedicated her time and effort in sending children to school who would not otherwise be attending.

Mr. Philip Palacio, Attorney at Law, LLB, CLE, B.Ed, - Mr. Palacio is the co-founder and vice president of Belize Kids First Organization. He is the co-founder of this organization and has always sacrificed to assist the needy children in Belize. He was a teacher at Gwen Lizarraga High School, Belize Nursing School, St. John’s College – School of Professional Studies and the University of Belize. Currently, he is the Director of Legal Advice and Services Centre in Belize City which assists those Belizeans who may not be able to afford a private attorney. His humanitarian services continue into his law profession. He was a teacher and is now an attorney at law since 2008. He has always mentored and assisted children who needed his help.

Ms. Judith Brooks is a legal secretary at Legal Advice and Services Centre and has always been a dedicated member of society. She has served the Belizean public for 22 years in various government capacities. She is ready and willing to help the Belizean children in becoming educated and productive Belizeans.

MISSION, PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

OUR MISSION

Belize Kids First is a nonprofit organization created to assist Belizean primary and secondary school students from low income families by providing tuition and book scholarships to them.

PURPOSE

Many times, our Belizean children are unable to receive a formal education because of financial constraints. This organization is dedicated to assist these children to attend and complete primary and secondary school.

By providing assistance, the students from this target group will be able to get a basic education and be given the opportunity to become effective and responsible leaders and participate in their community positively.

This organization aims at providing assistance to students who would ordinarily not be able to attend primary and/or secondary school because of financial constraints. This assistance allows students to receive formal education so that they may become self sufficient and become productive contributing citizens of Belize.

0BJECTIVES: Will be able

To provide educational assistance to Belizean students to attend primary and/or secondary school.

To provide an opportunity for Belizean children to become productive and contributing citizens

To alleviate the financial constraints on many Belizean homes

To give an opportunity to educate some, if not all, Belizean children

You are cordially invited to donate to this program. We need to save the children who are the future of Belize. Here is the website url http://www.belizekidsfirst.org/

The Cohune Belt

The Cohune Belt
posted (May 27, 2010)

You all know about the Banana Belt in the south, the sugar cane belt in the north and the citrus belt which is also in the south. But what about the Cohune belt? Well that runs through the Belize river valley where the cohune palm is abundant. But the nut gives that precious oil does so only grudgingly and now the Flowers Bank community has mechanized the process to make oil extraction a commercial, community based venture.
The plant was opened yesterday and 7News was there.

Jules Vasquez, Reporting
The cohune may be the definition of a tough nut to crack, but once cracked the cohune oil that is extracted from it is sought after and valuable. The history of the nut itself runs deep inside the Belize river Valley

Ruben Rhaburn, Community group member
"We used to do this cohune oil thing for many many years. I could remember when my dad use to go to the Mahogany work. In those days you sign up for 6 months. Then you get an allowance. An allowance with a big family will run out before they come back from Mahogany work. These same cohune use to help our family surviving until our dad comes back from Mahogany work."

But even then, nut cracking was a painstaking process.

Ruben Rhaburn
"We use to take the old axe that is not good and put a sharp stick in there then you get a rock stone and then you break the nuts. That was a very hard process. Then to refine it you had to beat it in a 'mata', a 'mata' is something that is made out of a round wood then you have a small stick to pound it until it is refined. It was very hard. We had to do it to survive."

That work is now partially done by this clanging machine which cracks the cohune nuts which were already de-husked by another machine. He manually feeds it and they roll out to be cracked by these grooves which bind and crush the nuts. It might not look exotic or high tech but it is functional and time saving:

Ruben Rhaburn
"What would take us to do maybe in a day, this machine will probably do it in an hour."

Hon. Edmund Castro
"I remember back in the days, what was done there in about 30 seconds would normally take 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to break cohune. This facility will enable the people of Flowers Bank to take care of the people of Flowers Bank much so than have to go out and depend and look for jobs. All the jobs now are here in Flowers Bank that can sustain each and every family here in Flowers Bank. "

And self sufficiency is the goal.

Hon. Edmund Castro
"This facility here in Flowers will enable the people here in Flowers Bank to produce enough cohune oil that we can send to the international market and thus bring in much needed foreign exchange for Flowers Bank and the rest of the country."

Reporter
"How will this improve your way of life?"

Ruben Rhaburn
"We will always have money to purchase some of the things that we need, not what we want but things that we really need."

There are three machines and an entire production facility funded the Belize Rural Development Program and the UNDP

Diane Wade Moore - Program Analyst, UNDP
"Cohune oil and a lot of by-products of this process have markets internationally. The idea behind this project was to grow this industry locally and then grow it to an international market."

Ruben Rhaburn
"Our dream is to produce oil by the drums. We want to produce so that if we get a market we can sustain that market. A lot of time we can get market but then we can't sustain it. So the only way we can sustain the market is to get as much oil and have it stored until we get a market."

But before they get to dreams, they'll have to get everything working right. Hear that mighty roar? Well that was the first and last gasp from the grinder: that's right, it broke because persons with no training took over and loaded it with nuts before they started. A delay-causing SNAFU but it should not stand in the way of realizing a dram.

Ruben Rhaburn
"You know sometimes when you are sleeping and you dream and then when you wake up you wish that dream was true. So, this was a dream for me and now its reality. We will try and do our best to make sure this facility is use to the best of our ability."

The machines were designed and assembled by Rodla construction and cost sixty thousand dollars. Repairs are being looked after for The one that grinds the cracked nuts. Apparently the machine has to be turned on before the nuts are put in; what happened yesterday is that the nuts were put in and then it was turned on.

The total investment is 350 thousand dollars. Further investment will be provided for bottling and labeling and a business office.

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Dr. Robert Bennett Passed Suddenly on June 27, 2010

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Dr. Robert Bennett, an all around community activist and among other things, a Pass President of the Consortium for Belizean Development. Dr. Bennett passed away suddenly on Sunday, June 27, 2010 from a massive heart attack. Unfortunately, I have no other information regarding funeral service, etc.; however, I am told that it will more than likely be held on Saturday, July 3, 2010.

Robert E. Bennett PhD, JP, MBE, BCD, LCSW, MSW:
Chairman, Belize Alliance of Social Services Inc.
Past President, Consortium for Belizean Development Inc.
Member, Consortium for Belizean Development Inc.
Member, Belizean Heritage
Ex-Chief, Social Development Officer
Counterpart to Housing International Cooperation Administration (ICD formerly LCA)
Past President, Belize Council of Voluntary Organizations Social Services (CVSS)
Member, Belize National Scout Association
Member, Belize Boys Brigade, Wesley Methodist Church

Robert Bennett was a true Belizean patriot. I am glad that I knew and worked with him on Consortium matters.

My sincere condolences to the family.

THE RULING ON THE MAYA CASE COULD HAVE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES IN THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE

By: Wellington C. Ramos

The Mayas are the indigenous people of southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala Honduras and El Salvador numbering about seven million people but among themselves their were cultural differences such as the; Yucatec, Kekchi and Mopan which led to several conflicts and division of land and territories in the region. Belize is a small country located between Mexico and Guatemala that is populated with millions of Maya Indians. Guatemala has a long history of human rights abuses against these people which have led to thousands of Mayas fleeing Guatemala to go and live in Belize even up to this day to establish new villages. While the Mexican government is not as harsh towards these indigenous people, the relationship between these people and the Mexican government is strained especially with those who live in the province of Chiapas. Centuries ago the Mayas and the Aztecs fought against each other and after the Mayas were defeated many of them fled to Belize and adopted it as their new homeland.

I am afraid that this ruling will open the gate for more Maya Indians to come from Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico into Belize set up more villages and over populate the country of Belize at the expense of the other Non Maya Belizeans who are still trying to get lots and lands but are being denied daily. When the British occupied Belize in 1638 they fought against the Spaniards in several battles which ended with the Battle of Saint Georges Caye on the 10^th of September 1798. In the days of Colonialism the game was that if you lost the war you lost the land and everything on it and that is why all the countries in the world that were colonize are having the experiences they are having today.

As a Garifuna, I will urge my people to seriously consider a case against the Government of Saint Vincent /Grenadines and Great Britain for forcefully occupying and removing our ancestors from our native homeland Saint Vincent on March the 11^th, 1797 to other islands and the island of Roatan in Honduras. Not only was our people removed but they were packed on several ships like cargo and dropped off on several other islands unknown to them and separated from their families. Their original names were changed to Spanish names to avoid any trace of their relatives and they carry these label titles up to this day.

The British encouraged the Garifuna people to come to Belize and occupy the southern part of Belize which at the time was sparsely inhabited by the Maya Indians. They gave the Garifuna people large parcels of land titled “Carib Reserves”. With this ruling the Mayas can now question the legality of this action on the part of the British as a test case. If the court rule that the British occupied Belize unlawfully and had no right to grant land to the Garifuna people then the Carib Reserves couldl be given back to the Maya people. This ruling is taking the country and people of Belize backwards rather than forward and it will benefit Mayas who were not even born in Belize.

Externally, this ruling plays right into the hands of the Guatemalan government with its long territorial dispute with Belize. Guatemala and Mexico will never allow any court in their country to rule like this because that would create havoc in their countries, due to the fact that both places have more Indians than any other race of people. The Guatemalan soldiers continue to stop native born Maya Indians from establishing villages in their own country as was confirmed by the United Nations Commission for Human Rights and that is why they are coming into Belize to establish new villages.

Unlike the Creoles and the Garifunas who continue to look at their differences even though they are both of African descent, the Mayas and Mestizos in Belize see themselves as one people despite the fact that they are from different countries in Central America. The Black population in Belize is dwindling fast because of migration to the United States and the Maya and Mestizo population is growing rapidly. The government of Belize still have the option to consider allowing Haitians to relocate to Belize as a humanitarian gesture to balance the races but that idea is not even being brought up by anyone in the media because of fear of being attacked. There presence would contribute to the development of Belize in the areas of agriculture and race balance. Belize have vast among of lands and would receive funding from various international funding sources for this worthy cause. In the 1980’s Belize made a similar offer to the government of El Salvador which led to thousands of people from El Salvador migrating to Belize granted amnesty and becoming Belizean citizens.

I am yet to see a Maya or a Mestizo demonstration against the establishment of unlawful Maya villages in the country of Belize. If the Mayas do not see borders as differences between the countries in Central America and continue to cross them as they please then the Government of Belize will be disrespected by Guatemala, Mexico and the other Central American countries. With the discovery of oil in Belize recently, this issue has become a major one for the Maya Indians. Their concern is that the drilling of oil will cause serious environmental problems that could lead to the disruption of life in their communities. Also, that the government of Belize will make oil deals against their wishes without consulting them and give them an unfair profit sharing of the revenues.

People who have purchased private lands from the government of Belize in one of these villages could also be affected by this ruling. If their land tiles are in the areas detailed in these villages, their land tiles may have to be voided and be given land elsewhere. If they insist that they want to retain these lands, then they will have to appeal against this court ruling. I am of the opinion that the Government of Belize will appeal this ruling before the Belize Court of Appeals and the Caribbean Court of Justice (C.C.J.) because they are aware of the long term consequences this ruling will have in the country when it comes to land issues.

I am in favor of the native Belizean Mayas asserting their rights to their ancestral lands but not at the expense of the other Non Maya Belizean citizens and private owners of land who obtained their properties through a legitimate purchase. The Belize government must now start the dismantling of all these new Maya villages that were established by Guatemalan Mayas in Belize before they start claiming lands on ancestral grounds later. Their immigration status should also be examined and if they cannot produce their Belizean birth certificates and other documents be sent back to their countries.

CJ: "Mayas Have Customary Land Rights"

CJ: “Mayas Have Customary Land Rights”

2010-06-28

The Mayas of Southern Belize have customary land tenure rights in 33 villages - that's the upshot of a 62 page decision delivered by Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh this morning.

It will be amongst the last judgments issued by the Chief Justice as he retires and his findings were decisively against the government.

For the Mayan Leaders Alliance, which has been formally in the struggle for communal rights since the ten point agreement of 1997, today's judgment is another rousing re-affirmation of their rights to communal lands. But then again, the courts did much the same for them in 2007, and it hardly made a difference on the ground.

And that's why the Mayas went back to court in June of 2009 to get a blanket declaration for all 33 Mayan villages in the Toledo district. The decision was handed down today one year later and the Mayas won every relief they sought except damages. Special correspondent Janelle Chanona found out what it means and what will happen next.

Antoniette Moore, Claimants Attorney
"There's a great deal of anticipation for this judgment and I of course as the lead local counsel am a little nervous. I'm also very excited to have this judgment come on this day and we'll see where we go from here."

In was in that atmosphere and to a packed courtroom that Chief Justice Dr. Abdulai Conteh handed down his decision in claim number 366 of 2008, which he referred to as a sequel to the Maya Land Rights case. Viewers should recall that in October 2007, the CJ found that the villagers of Santa Cruz and Conejo were entitled to customary land tenure rights. After the Government failed to implement that ruling, the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcades Association and others moved a new case to have the CJ declare that all Mayan villages in the Toledo District were entitled to such rights and subsequently the protection of the Constitution.

Janelle Chanona
"During the delivery of his two hour long decision, the CJ found and held that Maya Customary land tenure right does exist in all thirty-three villages in the Toledo district. That there are historical, ancestral, social and cultural continuity between the claimants and the indigenous inhabitants that entitle them to lay claim to customary land tenure rights in what is today the Toledo district. On the issue of extinguishment, the CJ found that the claimants rights to customary land tenure were not extinguished by formal distribution of leases and titles by colonial settlers or any such law or act. And finally, the Chief Justice held that undoubtedly the claimants possess rights and interest to lands in the Toledo district and those rights constitute property which entitle them under protection of the constitution to seek redress in the courts for any breach."

The CJ would go on to reaffirm his October 2007 ruling and declare that the Government is obligated to adopt and protect the Constitutional rights of the claimants regarding customary land tenure. In order to achieve that protection, the CJ ordered the Government, in consultation with the Mayans, to devise legislative and administrative measures to create a mechanism to protect land tenure practices. Finally the Chief Justice ordered that until such a mechanism is created, the Government should cease and abstain from any action that goes against land tenure practices specifically, not to issue any leases to lands or resources, registering any interest in land and that any concessions for logging, mining or petroleum exploration be done in consultation with the Mayan communities. The CJ said he made sure his decision was sweeping for the purpose of securing enforcement in these proceedings.

Cristina Coc
"All I can say at this point is that, the exercise of justice is joy for the righteous."

Greg Cho'c
"Words can't describe my emotions. Fifteen years of work, it's an overwhelming joy to know that the justice system in this country finally begins to render the justice that those seek and I can only be extremely happy that a group like the Maya community have mustered the courage to seek justice, to seek a space, to seek a voice, in their future and the future of this country."

Lois Young, Government's Representative
"I think it will go on appeal, it's huge. It's going to cause such a problem. I don't see how it can't go on appeal. It deserves to go on appeal. Not to be spiteful one party on the other but something of this size, has to be tested in an Appellate court."

Antoinette Moore
"I don't the possibility of an appeal or the eventuality of an appeal actually tempers our victory. It is a victory of justice as I believe Ms. Coc just said, it's a victory for the rights of all Belizeans and the fact of an appeal does not temper that whatsoever. We are extremely happy, extremely pleased and we look forward to a higher court confirming these same rights."

From the outset, the Government's attorneys have rejected the Mayans position, insisting that the villagers are not entitled to any relief because they do not have customary land tenure rights.

Lois Young, Government's Representative
"I think that he may not have dealt with Dr. Jaime Awe's evidence in the amount of detail that he should have or given it the weight that it should have been given. I have to read the judgment and see."

"What we are saying is that they have not proven that they are not direct descendants of the Manche Chol. Remember, they are to prove the case. It is not for us to prove that they are not you know. They are to prove that they are the indigenous people and from the very start, we have said that they are not the direct descendants of the Manche Chol."

Greg Cho'c
"The Honourable Prime Minister has had second thoughts on a number of important issues for this country. I'm hoping that this is one of those important issues that he will have a second thought. It's a quantum leap for justice in this country; it's a quantum leap for Belize on a whole. I hope that we can move towards the kind of reconciliation that the Chief Justice spoke about, we want to develop, we want to contribute and I believe the Government wants to ensure that every Belizean have the opportunity to contribute to their own development."

But while an appeal appears inevitable, Moore says the immediate impact will be respect, the first step of reconciliation.

Antoinette Moore
"The owners of the surface have something to say with respect to the exploration of resources underneath their land. Up to this point the Government was conducting itself as if that land was crown land, national land and so the Maya people were essentially blocked out from any consideration with respect to what is beneath their land. They are not claiming that they have a right and a say with respect to what happens."

"They have sat at the table with each Government, they've talked to everyone and anyone who listened, they've attempted to negotiate a resolution without coming to court and in fact one of the results of those discussions was the ten points of agreement so the Mayan people are clearly desirous of cooperating with, acting as a partner to the Government of Belize. The Maya people are Belizean, not withstanding what the Government of Belize argued in this last case, the Mayan people are proud to Belizean and proud to be indigenous peoples."

We do note that in today's judgment the CJ made reference to the fact that it would be reasonable to extend the customary land tenure rights to the five Mayan villages in the Stann Creek district, he could not make a formal ruling as such because it did not form part of the original claim. The Mayan communities have also been granted their court costs. As we noted at the top, they did not qualify for damages because the Chief Justice said they couldn't show any "deprivation" as outlined in law....

Story at http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=17213

For more Belize news, visit us at www.7newsbelize.com

HP Contest vote for "A Quest for Higher Learning

From: Darwin Blanco [mailto:aobeinc@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 22 June 2010 11:29 PM
To: Darwin
Subject: HP Contest

Hello Everyone

As many of you all know my Non-Profit Organization “A Quest For Higher Learning” base here in Houston has been working for the last year towards assisting in bridging the technological gap for the kids of Belize and the rest of the world by assisting in outfitting all the Elementary and Secondary Schools in Belize with a completed computer lab within 2 to 3 years. Recently we entered our vision for the future of Belize “our children” in a contest by HP and Huffington Post that was opened to worldwide innovators. I’m glad to say that from the large number of worldwide entries we have been chosen in the FINAL 10. As the grand prize winner, we will have access to $25,000.00 worth of HP computers for use within our “Computer For Belize” campaign. Our goal is to outfit a few secondary schools with these computers prior to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.
We’re asking that you please support us by visiting the site below and vote for our project, we are the #8 finalist out of ten worldwide. Please send everyone you know or have in your contact list to the site to vote for us and support our campaign. The more votes we get the better our chances of making our vision a reality in outfitting a few schools with a computer lab prior to the beginning of the upcoming school year as we mention earlier.
Please Go To The Link Below And Vote For The Cause. The contest is listed under the name: DO AMAZING: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
CELEBRATE THE DOERS!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hpamazing/#s95045
FYI: Please note that you can vote as many times you choose too but each computer is considered one vote. Their system as we believe has what is an IP number recognition program that recognizes each computer as a voting station/vote. So with that said you can vote from as many computers you have access too. The Belizean kids are deserving of an opportunity to excel, please take a few seconds to make one click in support of their betterment.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hpamazing/#s95045
Thanks million for your consideration and time from the staff of A Quest For Higher Learning, the Belizean kids and the many school that will benefit from your actions.
Respectfully
Darwin Blanco
President/ Founder
A Quest For Higher Learning
P.O. Box 91239
Houston, TX 77291-1239
darwin@aqfhl.org
aobeinc@yahoo.com
www.aqfhl.org
(832) 298-2379

Changing Lives Through a Vision

CRIME AND UNEMPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE MANY GOVERNMENTS TO CHANGE IN BELIZE AND THE CARIBBEAN

By: Wellington C. Ramos

I have always listened to many leaders of the world speaking about what they would like to accomplish for the citizens of their respective countries during their tenures in office and have very seldom heard any of them committing themselves to provide full time employment to all their citizens. Yet, if the citizens of a country are unemployed they will not be in the position to provide for themselves and their families which will leave the burden on the government. A caring government should always make full employment it’s top priority. Any government that does not have this issue on the top of there list is embarking on an impossible journey.

Maybe, if the government of Belize had this issue at the top of there agenda when they first came into office, crime would not be escalating in Belize at the rate it is today. I have looked at several studies over the years and it is documented that there is a direct relationship between crime and employment. When a government has failed to provide meaningful employment to it’s citizens, a majority of the criminals will use that reason as a justification to commit crimes.

Knowing my Belizean people, a majority of them will say but how come when we were growing up we grew up hard and did not have to commit crimes. Well, we grew up in different times and this new generation is a lot different from the people who grew up during our time. A majority of these young people are exposed to different things that we were not exposed to when we were growing up and the things that they are currently exposed to is what shape their thoughts and influence their actions. Some of the things as parents and guardians we have control of but a majority of them we lack control over. The common cry in Belize is that this young generation is lazy and they do not want to do anything but beg , sell drugs and steal. There might be some truth to this but time and things have changed in our country, in all the other countries in the Caribbean and the rest of the world.

It is not the responsibility of the private sector to provide full employment to the citizens of a country. That burden lies on the government of a country through a long term plan that gives incentives to private businesses to invest their funds in the economy where they can make profits for themselves and expand their businesses. A person that have money to invest will not spend his or her money until they have evaluated a government’s incentive package. If they come to the conclusion that there is nothing there for them, then they will just sit on the side and hold on to their money until the government comes out with a package that is favorable to them.

Most businesses are attracted to tax incentives, inducements and business loans. In Belize there were several of these given to political parties cronies who were not legitimate business people over the years and the tax payers money went to waste causing DFC to go bankrupt. Some of these individuals still owe the Belizean tax payers and they are not being pursued for the outstanding debts. That same money could have been given to a legitimate business owner who would have provided jobs to many citizens. Giving businesses a reasonable tax incentives for hiring people is a wise thing to do. The incentive should be measured and monitored because it will take away from the government’s revenue.

The government of Belize came out with a comprehensive plan to combat crime and it was impressive. If this is backed up by a similar plan to deal with unemployment, land reform and lot acquisition it will be difficult for them to lose re-lection. Belizeans are tired of seeing foreigners come into their country be given lots and lands while they are asked to fill out applications wait for years and never hear back anything from the Lands Department. Plus, when they go to Belmopan there is no record that they ever applied for any lot or land while watching the foreigners living in their new homes and forcefully taking lands to do their farming. There is enough land in Belize to give every Belizean citizen living in Belize, the United States and abroad a lot and a farm land so that they can own a part of their country and be proud citizens so what is causing this big delay.

The Ministers of Trade, Industry, Labor, Agriculture, Commerce and Foreign Investment must now get together and formulate a comprehensive package to tackle unemployment in Belize. I have not seen any statistics on what is Belize’s unemployment rate but my guess is that it is over 25%. When they brought out the poverty rate recently, it was alarming and this is because of the unemployment situation which has a major impact on most or the citizens’ social and economic conditions.

If the government of Belize can get a commitment to establish about three large industrial factories in each district and offer lots and farm lands to a majority of the unemployed residents of Belize City to build a home and do farming elsewhere, the country of Belize would become a more prosperous nation. Belize City is too old and is suffering from serious urban decay and decline. I use to live in Belize City many years ago and it is a different city today. To live in a city just to say you live in a city where you feel unsafe and unsecure is not worth it. In Real Estate a person who have a home is always looking for a peaceful, quiet and enjoyable environment to live.

I still believe that our country of Belize can be a better place than what it is today but for that to happen, we need to get the Belizeans who are; nationalistic, committed, qualified and possess the human resources to be at the helm of our future developmental planning to make it happen. Most of Belize’s resources live in the United States and the sooner they tap them, the faster they will have their problems resolved. Before America became a powerful nation in the world, the founding fathers sat down and planned out America’s path to world dominance. Who are going to be the Belizean’s in the group to sit down and plan out Belize’s path?

Belize @ Crossroads 2003-2010 A Perspective on Electoral Matters

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Belize at Crossroads--2003 to 2010.pdf

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Belize Glessima Research

Peters: The Essence of Belizean-ness

Peters: The Essence Of Belizean-ness
posted (June 9, 2010)

As we reported at the top of the newscast, we have lost a true legend as Wilfred Peters died of a heart attack at the KHMH this afternoon.
Estimating his significance is no mean feat. Yes, he was an icon, but he was that before the age of celebrity. We mean that Mr. Peters is the genuine article; he was famous before fame was fashion; he was known and loved before TV or music videos. And he was that because he carried a kind of musical life force that for many is the essence of Belizean-ness. His music spoke to us in a way that no other could. It came from a long gone era of mahogany camps and men far from home, stewed in the blood of the Belize river, peppered by the grit of the mahogany trails. Brukdown is essentially folk music but because of how Mr. Peters did it, it also had mass appeal.
And how he did it was that he played relentlessly. Nowadays you'd call it touring, but there wasn't a fair or a dance that Wilfred Peters would shun or turn down; his life was on the road whether that meant playing in Corozal, Mexico or Chicago.
Yes, he took the sound of brukdown to the corners of the world and played "Solomongiah" Run Peters Run and all those classics to audiences taken in by this man with the accordion. Jules Vasquez takes a brief look at his musical magic:..
This is one of his last performances done in his home village of Gracie Rock on April 30, 2010. He liked to call it The Republic of Gracie Rock where Peters played it up for his home crowd.
But throughout the years, Peters always entertained crowds with his unique style whose charm was in its rough, rustic nature: it is Belizean roots Music. Tony Wright was a disciple and a relative.

Tony Wright, Musician
"I was in a meeting a while ago at the BTB and one of my colleagues called me and mentioned that Mr. Peters just passed away. It came as a shock to me but at the same time I know Mr. Peters was pretty sick. At the same time the feeling that we have, in fact when everybody heard it in the meeting every went silent for about 5 minutes because Mr. Peters was one of the greatest person that Belize produce. He came from Gracie Rock, he use to call it the Republic of Gracie Rock of course. I remember going to Orange Walk with him a couple of years ago doing a show at Orange Walk Fest so when we were going on the road I tell Mr. Peters that my uncle was the second Black man to carry a truck from Belize to Corozal so Mr. Peters ask what was my uncle's name, I told him Papa Dario so he says that he and I are family. And from then me and Mr. Peters got even closer. I have a lot of love and respect for Mr. Peters what he did for Belize, I remember Mr. Peters doing his music releasing it on what we use to call records and "Elebem Bucotora" back in the juke box days, when you pass New Road or any where juke box is, I mean that was all that you hear and you feel proud for being a musician and a Belizean and knowing Mr. Peters and the kind of work that he did."

In 2007, he told film-maker Katia Paradis about his process.

Mr. Peters
"I was born with organ in my house because father, mother, brother and sister could play it. My dad didn't teach us to play anything, we learn ourselves. Until now I hear plenty of Caribbean music, they play good, better than me but in their style. I can't play their style and they can't play my style either."

And that's the thing, his style was unmatched and if you are a Belizean where ever you hear you know that Pete always sounds like home...

Tony Wright will feature music from Mr. Peters on his KREM Radio show tomorrow morning.

No funeral date has been set as Peters had many relatives living abroad.

Stay tuned for more as we'll end tonight with a few clips from Peters through the years....

The Great Belizean Musical Icon Mr Peters Passes

The Great “Pete” Passes....

We open tonight with sad news: we have lost a great Belizean: Brukdown Legend and Belizean Icon Wilfred Peters passed away this afternoon at the KHMH. The 79 year old had a heart attack and died around 2:30. He had been hospitalized on Sunday after an asthma attack left him in respiratory distress.
This afternoon his son Wilfred Peters Jr. told us about his father's sudden and unexpected demise.

Wilfred Peters Jr. - Son of Mr. Peters
"We were here this morning about eleven o'clock, by the time we got here, they said one o'clock we will close. So we and him was talking together, he tells us he feels fine. We ask if he had any pain in his belly or anything and how he was feeling, he tell us he feel good, nothing wrong. So we went back home cause he had a job to play this weekend so he tells us to go do it and play his songs for him cause he can't make it cause he sick right. We didn't know that he was going to die right so by the time we went home and come back, they call we bout rough 2:30 to come at the hospital and when we came we saw him dead."

Monica Bodden
"From what I understanding, he suffered from a heart attack on Sunday?"

Wilfred Peters Jr.
"Heart attack. First they tell us, they say that it was his lungs from due to he used to smoke but he stop smoke for years. But the old time thing came back on him. But when we went back they tell we now that he had a heart attack as we left. Yea when we left they call us about 2:30."

Monica Bodden
"Now on Sunday he wasn't feeling well?"

Wilfred Peters Jr.
"No, he wasn't breathing well so we rush him under full speed to the hospital. He couldn't breathe good so we get him a doctor to see him and this morning now the man talk to us strong, just like how me and you and I are talking right now, he talk to us strong, we didn't know he was going to die."

And while the passing of this legend is the headline, the significance of his passing is bigger than just news: that we are without this great Belizean, this great song man, is a cultural event and an inestimable loss.

Later on we'll speak with musician and radio host Tony Wright - a disciple of Mr. Peters - to gauge the significance and the legacy of this iconic Belizean.

Consortium for Belizean DevelopmentDonates Computers to Belize

James Lovell Yurumein A Celebration of Garifuna Heritage in Song and Dance

Prime Minister Visit to LA Agenda and Fundraisers

CONSULATE GENERAL OF BELIZE

Park Mile Plaza

4801 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 250

Los Angeles, CA. 90010

Telephone: (323) 634-9900 Fax: (323) 634-9903

E-mail: belizeconsulate@sbcglobal.net

the

June 4, 2010

Dear Community Member,

I am pleased to announce that the Prime Minister of Belize, The Honorable Dean O. Barrow and Mrs. Barrow will be visiting with the Belizean Community in Southern California including those from the neighboring communities of Northern California, Nevada and Arizona. The scheduled visit is confirmed for August 12-16, 2010.

In order to facilitate the Prime Minister’s visit, I have selected an Implementation Committee to raise the appropriate funds, as well as coordinate and implement a visitation program.

At this writing, the committee has discussed and tentatively examined a series of events. All events will first be confirmed by the Office of the Prime Minister before officially finalized. Scheduled events are:

1. Welcome Reception

Friday, August 13^th – 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

2. Banquet /Community Recognition Dance

Saturday, August 14^th – 7:00 p.m. to 12 midnight

Donation Required

3. Town Hall Meeting - Q & A Session

Sunday, August 15^th – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Free

Locations To Be Announced

Since then, the Committee has also planned the following fundraising events:

1. Father’s Day Brunch

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Little Belize Restaurant, 217 Nutwood Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301

From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Adults $20.00 children 12 and under $12.00

2. Turn Around trip to Harrah’s Rincon Indian Casino

Saturday, June 26^th (Trip #1)

Saturday, July 17^th (Trip #2)

Depart from: Christ the Good Shepherd Church

3303 Vernon Avenue

Depart: 11:00 Sharp

3. Oldies Dance/Karaoke

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Global Beat Multi-Cultural Center

3810 W. Slauson Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90043

Adults Only - $10.00

Like other Belizean communities in the United States, we too would like to have a successful visit by the Prime Minister, and therefore we ask that you support our fundraising events and most importantly join us at the various activities during the P.M.’s visit.

Please feel free to call our office at (323) 634-9900 for additional information. Allow me to thank you in advance for your support.

Respectfully,

Hon. Roland Yorke

Consul General

Consulate of Belize LA Fundraisers for Prime Minister Visit

Prime Minister to visit South Florida

New CD "Waalking St Vincent" By Bootsy Rankin

Carlton Buller voting for Next Top Spiritual Author Competition

Hello Friends and Supporters,

Thank you so much for voting for me in the first round of the Next Top Spiritual Author competition. Because of you I have advanced to the second round. Congratulations are in order for everyone concerned.

Now the real work begins, and I've been hard at it since the end of round 1. Round 2 voting begins May 24th. In this round we draft a book proposal and write the first chapter, both of which I have now posted on the site for all to see, effective tomorrow, Monday May 24th.

More than 3,000 authors participated. 250 have made it to the second round. Only 25 will move on to the 3rd round. More than 80,000 people voted worldwide from 135 countries. Despite its modest beginnings, it is starting to appear that this contest will become a pretty big deal. The promoters are now gearing up to get the news media involved with a promotional campaign.

I certainly hope you will continue to support me in the competition, and I again offer my sincere gratitude for your support in the 1st round. The free ebooks I mentioned in my initial announcement will likely not be ready until the 3rd round. Whether or not I make it that far, I will still make those available.

Future contest updates will be coming from carlton@myhabitofsuccess.com and /or carlton@thehabitofsuccessguy.com. Please add both to your contact list. Thank you in advance.

You will be hearing from me soon.

With gratitude,

Carlton
____________________
Carlton J Buller
Next Top Author Contestant # 2683
http://www.nexttopauthor.com/?aid=2683
US Tel: 305-305-9329
Success isn't final; failure is not fatal!
It is the courage to continue that counts!
http://www.facebook

US Embassy Announces Visa Fee Increases Starting June 4, 2010

May 27, 2010

U.S. Embassy Announces Visa Fee Increases Starting June 4, 2010

The United States Embassy in Belmopan, Belize wishes to alert all visa applicants that the United States Government will be increasing visa fees worldwide, including Belize, effective Friday, June 4, 2010.

All persons with interviews on or after June 4, 2010 must pay the new fees. Applicants with appointments after June 4 who have already paid the old fee must pay the additional amount at the Embassy’s consular cashier on the day of their appointment in order to be interviewed.

New fee schedule:

Visitor and Transit (B1/B2, C1) - BZ$280
Crewmember (C1/D) - BZ$280
Student visas (F1, M1, J1) - BZ$280
Temporary workers (H-1B, H-2B) - BZ$300
Intra-company transferees (L1) - BZ$300
Performers (O and P) - BZ$300
Fiancé-based visas (K) – BZ$700
Treaty Trader/Investor (E1 or E2) - BZ$780

The Department of State is required by law to recover the cost of processing nonimmigrant visas through the collection of visa fees. Periodically, independent contractors conduct a Cost of Service Study to determine direct and indirect costs to the U.S. Government of providing consular services, such as nonimmigrant visa processing. Such a study was completed in June 2009 using an activity-based costing model, which is standard for estimating the cost of government services.

The study determined that the cost of accepting, adjudicating, and issuing nonimmigrant visas will be greater than US$131 in Fiscal Year 2010, which began October 1, 2009. Also, since the last fee increase in 2008, there have been new security-related costs, new IT systems have been put in place, and there is a new mandate from Congress to charge nonimmigrant visa applicants $1 to support programs to combat trafficking in persons.

Although the treaty trader (E1) and treaty investor (E2) visa classes are not petition-based, they will now be set at US$390 to reflect the real cost of processing document-intensive visa categories.

For more information please visit the US Embassy website at http://belize.usembassy.gov

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

Vote for Carlton Buller Next Top Spiritual Author

Hello Friends and Supporters,

Thank you so much for voting for me in the first round of the Next Top Spiritual Author competition. Because of you I have advanced to the second round. Congratulations are in order for everyone concerned.

Now the real work begins, and I've been hard at it since the end of round 1. Round 2 voting begins May 24th. In this round we draft a book proposal and write the first chapter, both of which I have now posted on the site for all to see, effective tomorrow, Monday May 24th.

More than 3,000 authors participated. 250 have made it to the second round. Only 25 will move on to the 3rd round. More than 80,000 people voted worldwide from 135 countries. Despite its modest beginnings, it is starting to appear that this contest will become a pretty big deal. The promoters are now gearing up to get the news media involved with a promotional campaign.

I certainly hope you will continue to support me in the competition, and I again offer my sincere gratitude for your support in the 1st round. The free ebooks I mentioned in my initial announcement will likely not be ready until the 3rd round. Whether or not I make it that far, I will still make those available.

Future contest updates will be coming from carlton@myhabitofsuccess.com and /or carlton@thehabitofsuccessguy.com. Please add both to your contact list. Thank you in advance.

You will be hearing from me soon.

With gratitude,

Carlton
____________________
Carlton J Buller
Next Top Author Contestant # 2683
http://www.nexttopauthor.com/?aid=2683
US Tel: 305-305-9329
Success isn't final; failure is not fatal!
It is the courage to continue that counts!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=1199500643&v=wall&ref=profile

Building an airport in Placencia should be a concern of Dangriga residents

Commentary: Building an airport in Placencia should be a concern of Dangriga residents

Published on Saturday, November 21, 2009 Email To Friend Print Version

By Wellington C. Ramos

While it may be a good idea to build an airport in the Stann Creek District near the village of Placencia, Dangriga residents should get involved in the debate to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of this airport to Dangriga Town.

Currently, for almost eleven years now, Commerce Beight Pier commonly known as Jettie Pier is there dormant without being used and not creating any jobs for the residents of Dangriga like it was doing for decades. This pier is known by all Belizeans as the best port and harbor our country possesses for the loading and unloading of cargo because of its natural depth and the safety of large vessels when encountering severe storms during the hurricane season.

Born in Dangriga Town, the cultural capital of Belize, Wellington Ramos has an MA in Urban Studies from Long Island University

This is the time for our Representative, Honorable Arthur Roches, to get involved in this debate and ask some serious questions on how this project will impact the residents of his constituency. Dangriga residents have been told that this new government intended to re-open the Commerce Beight Pier one year ago. While the pier is closed, Dangriga residents are waiting and looking for work to feed their families and their children.

The decision to re-open the pier is taking too long and is causing undue suffering for the residents of our town. The past government gave a contract to one of their relatives Luke Espat to lease this facility without the consent and approval of the people of Dangriga, who are the legitimate heirs to this facility because they have been living there for years. Luke Espat is not from Dangriga and is not doing anything to improve the quality of living in Dangriga Town.

In fact, he has contributed more to the people’s suffering by denying them the right to go to the pier and fish, and keeping it closed so that no vessels can dock there to provide them with the loading and unloading jobs they have been doing over the years to survive. To engage in the discussion with this new airport project that the government is approving, is a wise thing for us to do.

If it is done under the auspices of Economic Development, then all the residents of Stann Creek District should know how their villages and towns stand to gain from it. Having two airports is not a bad idea for a growing country like ours. It could help to increase the amount of trade and commerce in Belize and lower airfares for tourist and Belizeans coming home on their vacations. However, as a native of Dangriga Town, I am looking at the wider implications this project will have to my hometown and its residents.

Dangriga Town is growing so fast that it also has the potential to become one of Belize’s best cities because it provides everything that one needs to see in the whole country of Belize within minutes of each other. With its beautiful beaches, you can be at the beach leave it and get into the valleys and observe the beautiful tropical rainforest just twelve miles on the Hummingbird Highway. It is also centrally located on the coast of Belize to reach all the other coastal districts, cayes and the neighboring countries of Honduras and Guatemala. If for some reason you need to go to the capital Belmopan to conduct your business, it is just fifty miles up the road from Dangriga Town.

If Dangriga Town is going to become a city in the near future, economic planning must be done now. All the economic activities that used to benefit the town are no longer in existence today. With the decline in farming, fishing and huge lands owned by the Dangriga families, their younger generation find themselves idle, daily looking for something to do. Dangriga residents who were born and raised in that town have seen it at its best.

For us to see this town in the condition it is in today is painful to watch. Let us pledge as Dangriga residents that we intend to do whatever we can to make Dangriga Town the true culture economic capital of Belize.

Commentary: Building an airport in Placencia should be a concern of Dangriga residents

Published on Saturday, November 21, 2009 Email To Friend Print Version
By Wellington C. Ramos

While it may be a good idea to build an airport in the Stann Creek District near the village of Placencia, Dangriga residents should get involved in the debate to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of this airport to Dangriga Town.

Currently, for almost eleven years now, Commerce Beight Pier commonly known as Jettie Pier is there dormant without being used and not creating any jobs for the residents of Dangriga like it was doing for decades. This pier is known by all Belizeans as the best port and harbor our country possesses for the loading and unloading of cargo because of its natural depth and the safety of large vessels when encountering severe storms during the hurricane season.

Born in Dangriga Town, the cultural capital of Belize, Wellington Ramos has an MA in Urban Studies from Long Island University

The oil and citrus industries are appealing to this new government to re-open this pier so that they can ship their cargoes through this port at a lesser cost. Big Creek is about forty miles away near the site where this proposed airport is going to be built. Due to the closeness of this airport to Big Creek, in my opinion they will take away more businesses from the Commerce Beight Pier and could provide more jobs and boost to the economies of the surrounding villages such as; Seine Beight, Mango Creek, Placencia, Cow Pen and others. My concern is also that the growth to Placencia and Mango Creek will allow these two villages to surpass the gain in growth by Dangriga Town, which could make them cities in the near future while Dangriga remains economically stagnant and depressing as a town.

This is the time for our Representative, Honorable Arthur Roches, to get involved in this debate and ask some serious questions on how this project will impact the residents of his constituency. Dangriga residents have been told that this new government intended to re-open the Commerce Beight Pier one year ago. While the pier is closed, Dangriga residents are waiting and looking for work to feed their families and their children.

The decision to re-open the pier is taking too long and is causing undue suffering for the residents of our town. The past government gave a contract to one of their relatives Luke Espat to lease this facility without the consent and approval of the people of Dangriga, who are the legitimate heirs to this facility because they have been living there for years. Luke Espat is not from Dangriga and is not doing anything to improve the quality of living in Dangriga Town.

In fact, he has contributed more to the people’s suffering by denying them the right to go to the pier and fish, and keeping it closed so that no vessels can dock there to provide them with the loading and unloading jobs they have been doing over the years to survive. To engage in the discussion with this new airport project that the government is approving, is a wise thing for us to do.

If it is done under the auspices of Economic Development, then all the residents of Stann Creek District should know how their villages and towns stand to gain from it. Having two airports is not a bad idea for a growing country like ours. It could help to increase the amount of trade and commerce in Belize and lower airfares for tourist and Belizeans coming home on their vacations. However, as a native of Dangriga Town, I am looking at the wider implications this project will have to my hometown and its residents.

Dangriga Town is growing so fast that it also has the potential to become one of Belize’s best cities because it provides everything that one needs to see in the whole country of Belize within minutes of each other. With its beautiful beaches, you can be at the beach leave it and get into the valleys and observe the beautiful tropical rainforest just twelve miles on the Hummingbird Highway. It is also centrally located on the coast of Belize to reach all the other coastal districts, cayes and the neighboring countries of Honduras and Guatemala. If for some reason you need to go to the capital Belmopan to conduct your business, it is just fifty miles up the road from Dangriga Town.

If Dangriga Town is going to become a city in the near future, economic planning must be done now. All the economic activities that used to benefit the town are no longer in existence today. With the decline in farming, fishing and huge lands owned by the Dangriga families, their younger generation find themselves idle, daily looking for something to do. Dangriga residents who were born and raised in that town have seen it at its best.

For us to see this town in the condition it is in today is painful to watch. Let us pledge as Dangriga residents that we intend to do whatever we can to make Dangriga Town the true culture economic capital of Belize.

Belize High School to Open in August

Welcome to our school

The Board of Governors of Belize Elementary School is pleased to announce the opening of its affiliate Belize High School at The University of The West Indies Open Campus. Belize High School (BHS) is a private, non-profit institution, with a college preparatory oriented and technology focused curriculum. Belize High School seeks to preserve and carry on in the same tradition established by Belize Elementary School of the highest standards of educational excellence and intends to continue to mold the students entrusted to it, developing them mentally, spiritually, and physically into intelligent, sensitive and positive young men and women.

BHS will seek to provide its students the greatest chance for matriculation into the University of the West Indies, other universities in Belize, at universities in the U.S.A. and elsewhere. It aims to produce a

cadre of men and women citizens whose human resource capacity makes them recurrent leaders of sustainable development at the national, regional and international levels.

The school is currently accepting applications and will open its doors at the University of the West Indies Open Campus facility on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City on September 2010. Applications are available at Belize Elementary School Administration Office. You may also access our application form by downloading it here.

For further information/interviews regarding the launching of the school, Open Day, registration information, or any other questions, please contact us at 650-0171 or at 223-5765, email: mailto:info@belizehighschool.edu.bz?subject=, P.O. Box 714, Belize City, Belize or you may contact the Secretary of the Board at 610-4677.

Contact Us

(501) 650-0171

mailto:info@belizehighschool.edu.bz?subject=

Belize High School at The University of the West Indies Open Campus
P. O. Box 714
Princess Margaret Drive
Belize City, Belize

Update on Belizean American Soldier, Kenrick Ramirez

Fellow Belizean Americans please join us in Calling, Emailing even visiting Sp4 Kenrick Ramirez at the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto California. He was injured on active duty in Afghanistan in March and was sent back to the US. Kenrick is from Punta Gorda Belize and is the son of Paul Zuniga and Diana Ramirez. His brother George Ramirez had came from PG to be with him in his recovery.

Kenrick was living in South Lakewood Washington State and was Stationed in Fort Lewis Washington before he was deployed to Afghanistan. He told us their is another Belizean name Floyd Reyes in Afghanistan who use to work at Social Security in Dangriga.

Kenrick,s memory is coming and between his computer, his punta music a few phone calls and a few visits from some local Belizean Americans can greatly help him regain faster. He lost a leg and that is all I will say about it. He could be reached at

Veterans Administration Hospital

3801 Miranda Avenue Room B136

Palo Alto California 94304

Cel 360-473-9967

Email mailto:Kenric.ramirez@US.Army.mil

George Ramirez is at Cell 240-460-8751

I write this note on his behalf because I was around his age of 22 when I joined sometime ago during Vietnam. This could have happen to me and I would have like for some Belizeans to assist in my full recovery from my injury... Seremi. .. Ayo.

Sacred Heart School in Dangriga Urgent Appeal for Help from Former Graduates

SACRED HEART SCHOOL IN DANGRIGA URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP FROM FORMER GRADUATES

By: Wellington C. Ramos

On a recent trip to Dangriga Town in Belize, I made it my business to visit Sacred Heart Primary School my Alma Mater which is the oldest Catholic School in Dangriga Town built in the early 1900’s. I was told that the football Primary School Competition had started and that the school was in need of some help to get uniforms for the football team and I wanted to know in what way I can assist the school.

When I attended Sacred Heart School back in the early 1960’s, I played for the school team along with Garincha, Brazilian, Camal, Bullet Bob Lepaul Martinez, Henry Martinez, Pennacles, Johnny Cool, Buck Palacio, Malcolm and several other football stars who later became national football players. I am convinced that the Primary School Competition that was held back then was instrumental in making Dangriga the home of many stars for Dangriga Selections and the Belize National Football team. Even up to today, our home town of Dangriga produce a significant amount of footballers compared to the other districts in Belize.

In the old days our parents provided the uniforms for us to play and I can remember when my mother’s friend Auntie Chica the late Mathildo Valentine’s mother sewed my jersey shorts along with my uncle at times Eggie Norlez. Today, there are not too many tailors sewing for free to help children have their uniforms to play sports and the economy is hard pressed. Sponsorship was not even existing then because the Nuns use to sell different types of goodies to fundraise for the team and the band.

I went to the Office and spoke to the Principal Mrs Clara Sabal and she pulled out some old uniforms and showed them to me. She stated that they have been using the same Jersey shirts and pants for years and some are missing while the others are torn. These items are very cheap in the United States and with a few people contributing we will be able to supply at least two good sets of uniforms to the team. The school also have a female soccer team and other sporting teams that they have to support. The big difference is that the football season is not as long as it use to be when we were playing back then.

I also walked around the school and noticed that the building is packed to capacity and is in need of repairs and more space for the students. This building is old but strong and sturdy because it has survived several hurricanes. I remember my late teacher Mr. William Cacho talking about his experience in the building during hurricane Hattie where the water went up all the way into the ceiling and he kept putting chairs on top of chairs saying several Our Fathers and Haily Marys until the water started to recede back to a lower level.

For me it is always a good experience to go back to my school and see the young children trying to be like us when they grow up. If it was not for some older people giving to our school at the time when we were growing up, maybe we would not have been the type of productive citizens we are today. I am now appealing to all the graduates of Sacred Heart School to come forward and lend a helping hand to our school. The Principal and the students of our Alma Mater will be proud to hear that students who graduated from this school are doing well with their lives today.

When you receive this article, please send it to all the students that you know who graduated from this historically rich institution. Sacred Heart Scholl was where it started for us many years ago and it is still dedicated and committed to produce productive citizens for our town of Dangriga and the country of Belize that are second to none. If we all come and pool our resources together, we can muster enough support to fund most of the sporting programs at this school and contribute towards the construction growth and expansion of the school. When I use to play football back then, we had several undefeated teams but over the years Holy Ghost seems to have taken over from us. With the students leaving Holy Ghost and going to Adventist school, that will take away from the amount they once had to choose from. Currently, Sacred Heart School have a good team under their Coach Mr. Wallace and they are looking nowhere else but towards victory in this year 2010. If you have any contributions to make you can send a Check or Money Order in the name of the school addressed to the Principal Mrs. Clara Sabal. The address is No.2 Church Street Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District Belize C.A. Telephone: 011-501-522-2040 Email: sacredheartpsdangriga@hotmail.com. The Principal, Staff and children are desperately waiting for you to come forward with this very much needed donation. I will be in touch with a few graduates to revive back the Alumni Assoc

Floating Doctors Stopping in Belize

I wanted to let you know that an organization called Floating Doctors is on its way to Belize in the not too distant future. You might want to check them out online. I know the young doctor (LaBrot) who heads the group. But, as soon as I get more information, it might be helpful because you can alert friends and family back home about the free medical clinics that they bring.

Fr. Martini

http://floatingdoctors.com/?page_id=214

GAHFU, Inc, Yurumein Law Immigration Workshop

GAHFU, INC.

INVITES YOU TO OUR FREE WORKSHOP

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Yurumein Law Firm

Immigration & Naturalization Workshop

Featuring Sharron Williams Gelobter.

Join us to learn about recent changes in immigration law; comprehensive immigration reform (Amnesty) and what to do to prepare; ask questions about deportation, I-9 compliance (work authorization), adjustment of status, adjustment/naturalization (citizenship) and convictions etc. Please come prepared with questions. We look forward to meeting with you.

Saturday, May 15, 12 noon

Blazer Leering Center

Home of Garifuna Culture & Language School

1517 West 48^th Street

Los Angeles , CA 90062

(323) 898-6841

http://us.mc1104.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=garifunaheritagefoundation@yahoo.com

http://www.garifunaheritagefoundation.org/

Sharron Williams Gelobter is a Garifuna attorney practicing immigration & nationality law and consumer bankruptcy in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has 15 years of experience as an immigration & human rights advocate and 10 years as a practicing attorney. Ms. Williams Gelobter represents clients in immigration proceedings throughout the U.S. and abroad and specializes in assisting clients in and from the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa . Ms. Williams Gelobter is fluent in English and Spanish. She is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law in New York City .

____________________________________________________
Sharron Williams Gelobter
ATTORNEY
IMMIGRATION LITIGATION BANKRUPTCY NDCA
Yurumein Law Firm
1736 Franklin Street, 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
TEL: (510) 288-8686 FAX: (775) 522-6586
http://us.mc1104.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sgelobter@yurumeinlaw.com
http://www.yurumeinlaw.com/

A to Z Guide to living in Belize Part 1

Thu, May 13, 2010 7:13:43 PM

A to Z Guide to living in Belize Part1

...

The first part of our a to z guide all about elements and aspects of living in Belize - so that a would-be expatriate can get to know the lay of the land before deciding upon relocation

You're here: Offshore Living Country Guides » Belize: Living in Belize the Expat's Guide

Thu, May 13, 2010 - 9:52 am EET

Despite the fact that Belize was a British colony from 1862 until 1981 and is still an independent member of the British Commonwealth to this day, we Britons know very little about this tropical paradise. Yet Belize can offer retiring Brits a tax-free place to live, and it can give anyone looking for a laid back and affordable life a very good standard of living.

So we have decided to create an A – Z guide to living in Belize, covering the main elements you may wish to know about as you do your research into whether former British Honduras could serve you well as a new destination to live, work or retire to abroad. This guide will cover many of the basic questions you have about everything from Internet access to healthcare, and should serve as a lead in to more detailed research of this really fascinating country.

If you’re looking for a new place to live, where the weather is tropical, the landscape is beautiful, the people are welcoming and the cost of living in low, Belize could tick many of the boxes on your new nation wish list. But if you want to fill in the blanks in terms of your knowledge about this country, read on…

A - Ambergris Caye - according to TripAdviser.com and their latest tourism destination rankings, this hugely popular resort in Belize is the No. 2 Relaxation & Spa Destination in Central and South America; it also warrants a place in their Top 25 Destinations in Central and South America and is in the top 10 for their best Beach & Sun Destinations in Central and South America. In other words, not only is this one of the most beautiful parts of Belize, it is likely to now become even more popular as the international push behind its tourism appeal increases.

C – Currency - the currency in Belize is the Belize dollar and it’s fixed 2 to 1 to the US dollar – although at the border you can sometimes get a slightly more favourable rate of exchange if you’re handing over US dollars. There has been low level rumblings about changing the economy to be US dollar based, but there is currently no appetite for this change. If you enter the country and have US dollars in your pocket, they will be accepted in most business establishments.

D – Drugs - despite the fact that Belize has quite a reputation as being a shipping port for drug transportation throughout the world, drugs are illegal in the nation and anyone breaching the laws face harsh punishment. A lot of the crime in the country is related to the drug trade, so stay well clear of narcotics if you want to avoid danger! Taking a risk for the sake of a quick high is just not worth it.

E – Economy - like most of the rest of the world Belize’s economy has been hit by the global recession, however even before negative external economic factors impacted on this nation, the external debt and budget deficit were high. Last year tourism revenue was down – although Belize was not as badly hit as many Caribbean countries – and this of course is worrying for the ongoing economic path of development. The government is looking at restructuring taxation – for example it has proposed an increase in VAT already, but one should expect to see further measure implemented to get the countries finances back on track.

F – Fuel Prices Belize has the highest petrol prices in the whole of Central America, and the rate of inflation in fuel terms is high. Our latest information from the beginning of this month shows that petrol has hit 5 US dollars a gallon locally.

H – Haggling - read many of our articles and you’ll see we often advocate haggling – especially in this economic day and age! However, in Belize haggling is really reserved for property and the marketplace only. I.e., haggling and bargaining are not the norm elsewhere – that said, I don’t think it ever hurts to ask for a discount, particularly on big ticket items and especially if you’re holidaying in Belize out of season for example! Just don’t haggle to aggressively otherwise you might be thrown out of the shop/hotel/restaurant.

H – Hurricanes - Belize does encounter hurricanes with the season officially running from June to November in that neck of the woods; however, history tells us that the two worst potential months for tropical storms and hurricanes are September and October and that Belize will be hit on average once every two and a half years by a serious hurricane. There is nothing you can do to stop this natural phenomenon, and you really need to think carefully about protecting your property from the potential of a serious storm. Economically a hurricane is a drain on the local economy of course – and insuring against such disasters is expensive.

M – Murder Rate - according to the latest police statistics, in the first two weeks of April there were seven murders in Belize, and according to BelizeFirst.com in 2008 there were more murders in Belize than in Manhattan. In other words, crime is higher in Belize on a proportional scale of population than in nations such as the UK and America. In part this is because of the massive wealth discrepancies that exist. As a potential expatriate thinking about living in Belize it will be important to factor in security when thinking about where you will live and how you will live.

O – Opening Hours - most shops and businesses outside the main tourism haunts are open from 8 – 5 on weekdays with many shops also opening on Saturdays at least for the morning. It’s quite common for places of business to close over the lunch hour and some banks are only open for half a day at the beginning of the week. In tourism centres the businesses stay open to serve demand.

P - Personal Safety - despite the fact that Belize’s Police Commissioner has said that the latest statistics show that crime is falling in Belize, according to people on the ground the local feeling is that they now feel less safe than they did even just one year ago. Personal safety in Belize is a required consideration – whether you’re a tourist or a resident you need to keep your wits about you. The murder rate in Belize is higher than in Manhattan – despite the fact the population in Manhattan in is about 4 times as high! From gun crime to personal robberies, crime is a serious concern, but you can protect yourself and your property from opportunistic crime by taking sensible security measures.

P – Property in Belize - Belize has a wonderful array of properties and the good news is that as a foreign buyer you have rights to own freehold title to most real estate. In terms of what your budget can buy you, it absolutely depends on where you want to live! In the most popular and populated locations from Belize City to San Ignacio from Corozal to Ambergris Caye the property prices are higher – simply because demand is more intense. What’s more, the most popular tourism resorts command high prices too – but in terms of what your money can buy you today, the local newspaper offers up the following examples: - you can buy 20 acres of development land exactly 10 miles from both San Ignacio and Belmopan for USD 225,000, you can buy a partially completed new build home for USD 23,000 near the village of Ontario or you can buy a villa on the beach in Placencia for USD 250,000. So as you can see, there are a whole host of options available to you in Belize depending on what you’re looking for.

R – Retired Persons Incentive Programme - in a bid to encourage ‘wealthy’ migrants to relocate to Belize and bring their affluence and skills to the country, Belize has a retired persons incentive programme in place that allows qualifying individuals and their families to move to live tax-free in Belize and import their household effects and a mode of transport (from a yacht to a plane to a boring old car!) to Belize also tax-free. You have to be in receipt of a healthy monthly income from a pension or qualifying investment and you cannot earn any form of income from Belize, but other than that the criteria for acceptance are very straightforward.

T – Taxation - only income sourced in Belize is taxed as income in Belize – so if you’re moving to live in the country and you earn your income from a business or investments back home, or you have an internet business with your servers and presence and income source outside of the country, you can potentially live 10% income tax-free in Belize. However, there are other taxes you need to bear in mind! VAT (known as GST in Belize) is currently 10% but rising to 12.5%. It’s charged on all the usual items! There is a massive tax on fuel – just like there is in the UK, and alcohol and tobacco products are also taxed. Import duty is charged at between 20 and 80%, personal income tax, (if you have to pay it), ranges from 25 – 45% and corporation tax ranges from 0.75% to 25% depending on the sector you’re in and your turnover. There are property taxes and property transfer taxes too…see P – Property in Belize.

V – VAT - the government has recently announced that they are going to take VAT from 10% and increase it to 12.5% in a bid to ease the budget deficit hole the Belizean economy is struggling with. VAT is called GST in Belize.

W – Weather - the good thing about Belize is that it is frost-free all year round because it’s a mainly subtropical climate – the bad thing is that a subtropical climate brings humidity, the risk of hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding and even forest fires after the long dry season! So, you have to be ready to acclimatise to Belize if you want to get the most from the weather! The country has 2 seasons, the dry season running from December to May with February, March and April the driest months and May the hottest, and the wet season that runs from June to November – and as most of the country is subtropical it can be likened to the climate in Southern Florida in America.

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Visit Belize: Living in Belize the Expat's Guide

Prime Minister Dean Barrow to visit South Florida

Vote for Battle of the Drums Competion for BTB Cultural Award 2010

Anigu,

Battle of the Drums Competition and Show has been selected as one of four semi-finalists for the BTB cultural award 2010. To win the award, friends and supporters of the initiative need to vote. Kindly visit the link below so that you can vote.

http://www.travelbelize.org/awardsvote/

I am attaching our concept note so that all can be aware of the work we have been doing to support the work of the NGC and keep our culture alive. I believe that through recognition like these we can obtain more support for the preservation of our culture.

Please visit the site listed above and cast your votes.

Seremein,

Darius Avila

Battle of the Drums Concept Note.docx

List of Belizean Doctors for Medical Brigade

This email is a humble request for your help in the compilation of a list of Belizean Doctors and/or medical personnel, who are willing and able to return to Belize on medical missions.

If someone whom you know (or know of) outside of the country of Belize is willing to participate in the missions explained in the Draft copy

These missions may be as short as 1 day and as long as a few days or weeks. The time frame of the mission and availability of the individual must match, for the services to be performed.

Please review an overall view of the Neil K. Garbutt Medical Brigade being formed, and add names and the appropriate information of those Belizeans abroad whom you believe would be willing and able to participate in upcoming medical missions to Belize.

In some cases, funding will be sought after (here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade) to cover the cost of travel. Any and all incidental costs which may be covered, will be stipulated in the request for participation of the individual mission.

At this time, we are only requesting the information for those who are willing and able to participate.

Thank you in advance for your help with this list, and please respond by May 3, 2010.

Mr. P. R. Menzies MBA, MISMC

Foreign Service Officer - Diaspora Focal Point

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

(501) 822-2167 822-2322

Neil K. Garbutt Medical Brigade

The mission of this organization is to provide an immediate embrace of high value Diaspora skills, knowledge, investment funds and technology. To deploy/channel our intellectual and economical resources available within the Diaspora; thus providing instant global capacity in partnership which benefits both participants and Belize.

The NKG Advisory Council of this Brigade includes leading medical professionals both at home and abroad such as:

· Dr. Michael Pitts – Director of Health Care Services, Ministry of Health - Belize

· Dr. Bernard Bulwer – Chief of Staff, KHMH – Belize City

· Dr. Errol Glenn Elrington – Internal Medicine & Pediatrics

A database of medical personnel from the Belizean Diaspora will be established. These medical individuals in the Brigade, will perform various missions in support of not only Belizeans here at home, but also other Belizeans in the various Diasporics.

We foresee having members/ representatives of the N.K. Garbutt Medical Brigade, serving their brethren in Belize 365 days per year. Brigade members will work hand in hand with the medical infrastructure in Belize to provide much needed medical services in both rural and urban areas of our country.

The NKG Advisory Council will also aid the Ministry of Health in its acquisition of medical equipment for medical facilities nationwide. This council will work closely with local personnel on advancements in medical procedures, and best medical practices for medical personnel and staff.

The NKG Advisory Council will also be tasked with providing SME’s (subject matter experts) to come to Belize and expound on varying areas in the medical field, to address health issues that may affect the local population. Visiting Professors from this organization will be welcomed and invited by our Medical Staff and Administrators, and by our Universities; to lecture on new developments in their field of expertise.

A link will be provided for medical students enrolled in our local Universities and those studying abroad, to Belizean Experts (in their field of study) for mentoring and advice as to the best area in which to specialize. This of course will be relative to the needs of our country and the desired area of study the student is pursuing.

The NKG Medical Advisory Council will include a Chairman, Co-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Database Administrator and a Webmaster.

Fundraiser for PG Kids

Hi Everyone,

Here we are again.
We are having a fundraiser May 15th to FANTASY SPRINGS CASINO.
Please come out and support a worthy cause. I was asked by the mayor of PG if we were able to donate
used shoes and clothing for some kids in PG.I started to pack some, and I've been promised some more.
Also we have Mrs. Rhoda Coe, who is an active member of H.O.P.E in PG, working and helping the elderly.
The land is available and they are trying to build a daytime activity center, sometime soon. Feel free to call her for more Info. I'm sure she would gladly accept any donation for this project.
I would like to thank everyone for their help ,especially in these hard times, and may God bless you all.
Respectfully Yours,
Gloria Garnett

'Young Man Don't let Your Pants Sag' Poem by Frank Palacio

Young Man Don’t let Your Pants Sag!

By Frank Palacio, author, poet (http://www.middleschoolin.com/)

Young man, have pride, look at yourself

Dress for success, they used to tell us. Be neat

Dress smart, shine your shoes, tuck in your shirt

And comb your hair. You are black, white or brown

Represent your family, community and your race

Don’t sag.

Young man, study hard, be smart, set goals,

Work hard, you are black, that counts against you

Behave yourself, help your community,

And do well in school

Make your family proud. Don’t Sag.

Young man, know your roots

You come from kings and queens

There is greatness in your

Blood and in your genes

You have so much to offer

Your race depends on you now, more than ever

Don’t let us down. You don’t have time to sag.

Young man, your brothers are falling around you

They want to be rich without doing any work

They have forgotten about the ideals set by

Frederick Douglas, Booker T, Dubois,

Doctor King and Mohammed Ali.

They are hooked on TV, MTV and BET.

They are hooked on Nike, Jordan’s and expensive things

Detoxicate from your addiction to bling bling

You can’t afford to sag.

Young man, you have things to do

Finish the work of our matriarchs and patriarchs,

Inventors and intellectuals

Make Harriet Tubman, Mary McLeod Bethune.

And Rosa Parks proud

Think of the sacrifices of Jackie Robinson,

Paul Robeson and John Johnson of Ebony and Jet

Don’t imitate the negative you see. Don’t sag.

Young man, lift up your pants

You can’t do their work if

Your pants are falling off your butt and you are

Walking bow-legged and bent down, ridiculously

Lifting them up like a bum or a circus clown.

Have pride in yourself and where you came from

Be strong always and don’t sag.

Toledo Cacao Fest May 21st to 23rd featuring the "Three Kings of Belize"

Toledo, southern Belize - the birthplace of chocolate!
Cacao - or cocoa as many of us know it - has played a dominant role from ancient times, when the Maya first discovered the 'magical' process that transformed cacao into chocolate, right through to the modern day.

The Toledo District of southern Belize is today home to the organic cacao orchards where the pods are grown, harvested and processed, and later transformed into chocolate.

Toledo CacaoFest - 21st to 23rd May 2010 - featuring the "Three Kings of Belize"

The fourth Festival promises to be better than ever! Join us over the Commonwealth Day holiday weekend for a family weekend celebration of cacao, culture, and the rich flavours of the Toledo District.

Friday 21st May
The Festival opens with its signature Wine and Chocolate evening, held on the rooftop terrace of the University of Belize. Guests will enjoy fine wine and food, chocolate delights from Goss Chocolate, live music, and a specially-commissioned performance by the Belize Dance Company - choreographed by Gregory Vernon, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts.

Photo by kind permission of www.karelkuranphotography.com - copyright applies

Saturday 22nd May
Saturday sees the return of the Taste of Toledo cookery and craft fair, this year in its new seafront location at Petillo Park and the Grounds of the Father Ring Parish Hall. The Fair showcases local and national artisans work, local food and cookery demonstrations, as well as music and dance performances and masterclasses, and a special screening of the newly released award-wining "Three Kings of Belize" DVD.

New Cacao for Kids activities include a sock-puppet class, and also creating the longest rainforest mural in Belize, with a chalk pavement art scene along Front Street. We can't hope to compete with the current world record 75,000 square feet creating, but will be setting a record for Belize!

The Sea Toledo kayaking, snorkelling and boat trips will depart from the Fisherman's Co-op wharf, giving everybody the chance to appreciate the beautiful coastal waters of Toledo. The inland Cacao Trail tours take you through the organic cacao orchards in Toledo, to learn how the pods are grown, harvested and processed before being turned into chocolate - the food of the Gods!

Saturday evening activities include a Teen Dance held in aid of the PG Library, and Beya Suites will once again be hosting "Culture in Harmony". Held on their rooftop terrace from 7pm until midnight, there'll be music from Mario and the Umalali Group, and the BZ$10 entrance includes conch ceviche, and the Avila's special fevergrass chocolate drink. The Lodge at Big Falls will also be hosting a special chocolate dinner at their riverside lodge (advance reservations required).

Sunday 23rd May
On Sunday the focus moves inland to the ancient Maya site of Lubaantun - the place of the fallen stones - and you can learn more about the current excavations being led by Dr Geoff Braswell as part of the National Georgraphic sponsored Toledo Regional Interaction Project.

As in previous years, a Maya dance will be performed in the plaza, with a special introduction by Dr Jaime Awe, the Director of the Institute of Archaeology. This year sees the villagers of San Jose perform the Monkey Dance - a tradition that goes far back in time, and performed to influence the corn harvest. Six dancers dress as "batz" and six as "max" - howler monkeys and spider monkeys respectively - with the 13th dancer representing the devil and the father of the monkeys.

The Festival closes with a very special live performance by the "Three kings of Belize," along with Carlos Perotte. The thee kings - Toledo's very own Florencio Mes and Paul Nabor, and Wilfred Peters from Belize District - are the stars of the newly released DVD which shares moments from their daily lives, and offers a glimpse of three very different cultures, whilst the musicians quietly battle to preserve their musical heritage.

Photo courtesy of Stonetree Records, copyright applies

The full festival programme will be available shortly, but please use our contact form if you have any questions about the Festival, email us at info@ToledoChocolate.com, or call the Festival Office on 722-2531.

CacaoFest 2010 is the product of a committed group of volunteers from the Toledo community, including Ya'axche Conservation Trust, Toledo Cacao Growers Association, BTIA Toledo, and Sustainable Harvest International, but it would not be possible without the invaluable help and support of our Festival sponsors:

'A Cry For Belize' Poem By Ms Zakiya Mcghie

A CRY FOR BELIZE

By Zakiya {Sunshine} Mcghie

The sky can't wait for the light of the Sun,

the cool breeze welcomes the flight of toucans.

The many cayes

rejuvenate its inhabitants' souls. Tansparent and azul waters reveal the origin of refined body scrub

contents that were stolen by its European guest.

Soon these natural spas will vanish

as the Chinese complete their conquest

and the nation will suffer a cultural famish.

My proud Belizeans, must I remind you of our motto, Sub Umbra Floreo-

Under the shade we flourish.

We can't let them demolish our diverse structure.

My Kriol, my Mayan and my Garifuna brothers and sisters, let us become the intricate sweet sap of

our beloved mahogany tree and uphold

Belize delicacy.

Let us not perish from the lack of knowledge,

but let us look to the future filled with greater prosperity.

We must go beyond high school insight, beyond college

but always remembering to treasure simplicity -

for Belize is a delicate land,

Belize is a little land, brittle land,

whose grass was fine as sand.

But hand in hand we stand proudly,

we dance boldly, and

we conquer loudly

for delicate Belize my heart so beats, beats, beats.

Name : ZAKIYA McGHIE

Birthplace:

Born in NY City

Left for BELIZE { @ age 2 } ; Returned to the US { @ age 9 }

Lineage :

FATHER:--------Wawat Napata {Formerly William Pandy} of Ladyville via Belize City

MOTHER:-------Sophia McGhie -- Born in England to JAMAICAN parents

PATERNAL GRANDFATHER

Robert Pandy------From Belize City via DANGRIGA

PATERNAL GREATGRANDFATHER

William Pandy Sr. ----From Rotan {HONDURAS}

PATERNAL GREAT_GREAT GRANDMOTHER---Petrona Riqueno {Mayan from SitteeRiver via Peten{GUATEMALA}

PATERNAL GREAT_GREAT GRANDMOTHER---- From Utila {HONDURAS}

Education:

Currently a junior @ The University of Central Florida {UCF} in Orlando FL

Hoping to continue on to Howard University { in Washington DC } for a masters degree in Secondary Education.

Source of this poem:

In the spring of this year, I represented Belize in a Caribbean pageant on campus in which I wrote &

recited

my poem & danced the jancunu & punta in full regalia.--- Had a blast.

One of my dreams:

To one day revisit Belize,---- hoping to check out the cays & rain forest to personally experience the Mayan

Temples & Pyramids, & those beautiful fauna and flora in the land of my forefathers.

GREETINGS, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS !!!

The Independents making waves in village council elections

The “independents” making waves in village council elections

Rating: 5 / 5 (1 votes)

Posted: 27/04/2010 - 02:20 PM
Author: Millicent Usher

April 26, 2010

Dear Editor,

Thanks for publishing my letter last week pointing out how many voters are choosing “independent” candidates in the village council elections.

I hear now that Esperanza, in Cayo, elected an independent Chairperson. Also in Cayo, the villagers of Blackman Eddy voted for an independent slate. Then, in Chan Pine Ridge in Orange Walk, the people also elected an independent Chairman.

And independent candidates got the majority in Burrell Boom, replacing the PUP, which had won that large village in 2007. Independent candidates also won Freetown Sibun and Gracie Rock which were once solid blue villages in the Belize Rural Central Division.

Here in Rural Central, which used to be controlled by PUP moneyman Ralph Fonseca, not a single village has voted for the PUP so far.

These latest results can be added to the other major villages that so far have voted for independent candidates, namely Caye Caulker, Placencia, Big Falls and Palmar.

It is so clear that in most cases, voters that once supported the PUP are choosing to vote for independents because the PUP has refused to change. They want to offer the voters the same old recipe. But that recipe of Said Musa and Ralph Fonseca choked us and for sure, we are not going to swallow that combination again.

The PUP leaders should remember what happened in Belmopan last March, when the VIP beat them. It happened in Belmopan then, and it’s happening in the villages now.

Millicent Usher

Teachers in Toledo Complete Diploma in Reading and Writing of Kekchi and Mopan Maya Language

Belize Association of Houston Academic Awards Gala

Subject: REMINDER: ACADEMIC AWARDS GALA SET FOR MAY 22ND

Dear Friends:

This May 22nd the Belize Association of Houston is having the First Annual Academic Honors Event where we want to recognize young Belizean Americans in our area.

If you are a Belizean parent living in the Houston area or know of a Belizean parent living in the Houston area with children attending HISD, Katy ISD, Cy Fair ISD or any of the Houston / Galveston area schools, please feel free to be a part of our event. You are invited to attend. If you do have children graduating from 5th, 8th, 12th, college or university, then please fill out the form at http://www.facebook.com/l/c7cee;www.belizehouston.org/academic-honors.html and give us the opportunity to honor your child. If your child does not fit the criteria above, but has accomplished something outstanding this school year, we would also welcome the opportunity to honor your child.

Our program has to be at the printer by the end of the month, so please don't wait to submit the name(s) of your children. We would love to see their name(s) listed in the souvenir event handout.

There are four dynamic Belizean-American guest speakers set to co-headline the event together with our distinguished honorees. The evening is set to be magical, so mark your calendars. I will submit a full program / agenda in a separate message.

COME ONE, COME ALL:

You do not have to have a child participating for you to attend the event. We wholeheartedly welcome and encourage all Belizeans in the area to support the event (and our children).

BELIZEANS SUPPORTING BELIZEANS:

If you are a business owner and would like publicity, please feel free to bring business cards, pamphlets and/or any advertising material to the event with you. We strongly encourage Belizeans to support Belizeans. During the evening mixer there will be ample opportunity for you to showcase your business(es).

Music will be provided by our beloved Houston-Belizean band called Caribbean Roots led by main singer and Master of Ceremonies Alvaro Palencia (aka Packers). There will be authentic Belizean performances by Belizean Garifuna drummers and dancers, musicians and performers.

An evening social with finger food and music by Caribbean Roots will follow the event. Belize Association of Houston t-shirts will be on sale at US$15 each. Otherwise, the event is free.

So mark your calendars for May 22, 3:00 p.m., Fondren Middle School in SW Houston (click on link above for full address).

Hope to see you all there!

Sincerely,
Wendy Auxillou
President, Belize Association of Houston

Honarable Horace Walwin Young Funeral Info

Contact: Nigel Young - nigelyoung2000@yahoo.com

St Peter Claver Building Band Concert Fundraiser

St. Peter Claver School staff and Parent Teachers Association are determined to remove the asbestos roof from its building. to this end we are organizing a Band Concert scheduled for Friday, April 30, 2010. This is the school’s only major fundraising activity for the year. The proceeds will be used to remove the asbestos roof and refurbish the existing Preschool Building for the school year 2010-2011 at an estimated cost of BZ$90,000.00.

Ii is in this light that we are seeking you support in assisting to defray transportation cost for the concert participants from Corozal Town to Punta Gorda and back. This year Corozal Community College Marching Band, a group consisting of 65 members age ranging from 5 -16 years will be coming for this event. The group would like to depart Corozal on Friday April 30, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. and return to Corozal on Saturday May 1, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.

Any contribution towards this worthy cause will be appreciated. Donations can be may in cheque or cash to St. Peter Claver School Belize Bank Account # 001555. Thanks in advance for your kind contribution and cooperation.

Marion Nolberto

Administrative Principal

Asbestos Exposure Health and Legal Concerns (HOT)

Dear Angela:

Please let me know if I can be of assistance on this issue. Prior to practicing immigration and bankruptcy law I practiced asbtesos plaintiff side law. This is a very serious issue that exists worldwide. The results of breathing in asbestos particles range in simple illness such as skin rashes and breathing problems to very serious illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. The problem is significantly more dangerous for people who smoke.

Mesothelioma (Meso), the most serious of these diseases, is quite common in people who are repeatedly exposed to asbestos and the prognosis is fatal, meaning anyone diagnosed with this disease has received a death sentence. Meso is known as the iron lung disease whereby those who contract it typically suffocate to death as the lungs become solidified with the particles.

If there are dust particles falling from the ceiling of this building, their best bet is to move out right away, as exposure could only exacerbate the situation. Prolonged exposure will result in a situation that the town is definitely ill-equipped to deal with.

There is a lot of international asbestos litigation occurring all over the world where manufacturers of asbestos containing products are being sued by plaintiffs who have been injured by this mineral. What has occurred is that once Americans discovered that asbestos is extremely dangerous they continued to manufacture products using it, but would increasingly ship the products outside of the U.S., Canada & Europe to developing countries. Asbestos can be found in common household and everyday use products imported by people in the developing world. These products include roof tiles (such as those implicated here), linoleum products, carpets, paints, wood products, car brakes and other car parts and products, screws, nails and any product that requires any level of heating. By shipping these products abroad, these companies exposed themselves to unexpected liability as they thought they would be able to victimize so called third world nations with impunity. Nevertheless, the asbestos problem and its solutions have spread worldwide and developing country nations have learned that they are able to have some recourse against these companies.

What folks down there might not know, is that they may be eligible to join one of these suits and at a minimum be compensated for the cost of removal of this very dangerous product, the rebuilding of their school and who knows what else. Whatever they do, they should not disturb the asbestos no matter how much it is beginning to flake. In order to remove it, they will need to isolate the area (clear everyone out for a mile or so) and remove it in a very protected manner, i.e. bodies completely concealed and the area completely isolated. If this is not done, then the mineral, which is very fine and light can spread of a long distance then they would have a complete disaster on their hands.

Please let me know if I can help or you may pass my contact information as well as this email on to the folks who are addressing this urgent issue.

I hope they can resolve the problem soon and I would love to be of assistance.

Best regards,

Sharron Gelobter
YLF
http://www.yurumeinlaw.com

Sharron Gelobter

Asbestos threaten health of PG Students (HOT)

Asbestos threaten health of PG students

News 5 Belize

April 13, 2010

In the deep south in Punta Gorda, residents are clamoring for assistance to ward off a health risk at the St. Peter Claver Primary School posed by its asbestos roof. The school was built decades ago and the building has been condemned by health authorities because its asbestos roof is deteriorating with the passage of time, making it a health hazard. Marion Ali visited the school today to find out how the problem is affecting the students and teachers.

Marion Ali, Reporting

This is how bad the asbestos situation was at Saint Peter Claver Roman Catholic Primary when we visited today – that is, one day after that same desk was wiped clean. Evidence of thick fibrous carcinogenic particles layered over the furniture in three of the buildings. It has caused skin and breathing problems among many of the children as the decades old buildings shed the material. Saint Peter Claver has been the venue where thousands of Toledo residents have received their elementary education. But the cancerous material has only become a problem, according to school Principal, Marion Nolberto, since it noticeably started to disintegrate about four years ago.

Marion Nolberto, Principal, St Peter Claver Primary

Marion Nolberto

“We started by moving some of the children from Infant two, that’s the building directly behind me, that’s the worst of the three buildings and we relocated them to the standard six building. The standard six then had to relocate into the Sam Daniels building but we were informed that that building is a CXC centre for students of Julian Cho from the said school as well as private candidates. So we decided then that we had to move out our children from there and unfortunately we had to place them back into one of the asbestos buildings for the meantime. You can’t even put anything on it because it leaks heavily but if you try to climb up there you would just come right down. So these roofs are about to collapse anytime now.”

And that was what triggered the alarm. Concerned parents and teachers were reluctant to subject the children and themselves to the cancer-causing agent.

Omar Requeña, Std 6 teacher

“This has been a problem from a long time ago but no one has actually set foot on it and tried to do something about it. Over the past couple months with this dry weather and now rain coming, the flakes of the roof is coming down and actually you can see the sediments on the floor and this real hazardous to our children so we can’t go in there. “

Ray Martinez, Std 6 teacher, St Peter Claver Primary

“Definitely anything hazardous we’re strictly against and I have it at heart as well that I cannot do such a thing to the thirty-six kids under my care.”

Teacher, St Peter Claver Primary

“This morning the dust had all here burning me and everyday you can’t leave your things. Look at dust.”

There was dust lining everything in the classrooms which were cleaned on Monday. But while the health of the children is top priority, their education must also continue. And that is where the Church and the government must strike common ground. And Nolberto was unyielding with the demands he and the teachers are putting jointly on the Catholic management and the government.

Marion Nolberto

“If the stakeholders, the Ministry, the management, among others do not take our plan by the end of this week we will ask the children to stay home and not come back under this asbestos roofs.”

The school has come up with an estimate for renovations to one of the buildings and there is a possibility that a company will donate another building. And while the Ministry of Education has promised two more buildings from Holy Ghost School in Dangriga as a temporary solution, whether the problem can be fixed in time for classes by next Monday is another concern.

Joseph Cayetano, Assistant Local Mgr, Toledo Catholic Schools

“We’re trying to, we’ll try all our best because come Monday we will have to be relocated from SB Daniels.”

Marion Ali

“Do you foresee that classes will have to be suspended?”

Joseph Cayetano

“I hope not, I hope not. We’ll try our utmost best that classes will not be suspended. However, if someone reneges on what they should be doing, whether it should be doing, whether it be government or management then we’ll have to be faced with the closing down of the school.”

As the saying goes, time is the best test of fate. We’ll see on Monday. Marion Ali for News Five.

St Peter Claver has an enrolment of nine hundred and twenty students, but only three hundred and fifty seven are exposed to the asbestos problem. According to Advisor to the school, Fabian Cayetano, there is a five year plan to rebuild new concrete school buildings. It will come at a cost of four point five million dollars and will be large enough to accommodate the growing school population. We’d like to thank Will Maheia of the People’s National Party for providing some of the interviews and footage for this news item.

Xanthe TV to Broadcast Live Coverage of Belize Prime Minister's Visit to Chicago

Xanthe Films to Broadcast Live Coverage of Belize Prime Minister’s Visit to Chicago

Xanthe TV to air live coverage of Hon. Dean Barrow and other Belizean dignitaries as they visit Chicago to headline a fundraising event.

Chicago, IL, April 11, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The President & CEO of Xanthe Films, Mr. Edwin Colon met recently with Mr. Linsford Pitts who is the President of Concerned Belizeans, Inc., a charitable foundation on Wednesday April 7th 2010 at Tickie’s Belizean Cuisine Restaurant in Chicago. The purpose of this brief meeting was to discuss the upcoming 4th annual fundraising event for Concerned Belizean’s school initiative.

Mr. Pitts and Mr. Colon discussed the opportunity to broadcast this historical event to be held during April 16th 2010 through April 18th 2010 to the rest of the world. Xanthe Films and its subsidiary channel Xanthe TV will provide live coverage of the fundraiser event and the Prime Minister’s visit for the entire three days while the Belizean dignitaries are in Chicago.

Prime Minister Barrow has been invited to be the key speaker at several events planned in regards to the visit. These events will take place on April 16 - 18, 2010.

The live coverage will be broadcasted through a webcast on Xanthe Films’ entire websites at http://www.xanthefilms.com, http://www.xanthetv.com, http://www.edwincolon.tk and also on Concerned Belizeans’ website at http://www.concernedbelizeans.org. This will allow viewers from all over the world to log on to any of these websites and watch the events on their computer or smart phones.

The coverage starts on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m., where there will be a Welcome Reception in honor of the Prime Minister and Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow. The reception will be held at the American Legion Hall in Morton Grove, Illinois. Prime Minister Barrow will be the Key Note Speaker. Present also will be the Ambassador of Belize Nestor Mendez, and Honorary Consul of Chicago Debbie Schell. Other dignitaries invited to attend include, Hon. Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State, the Mayors of Chicago, Evanston, North Chicago, Morton Grove, Skokie, River Grove and Waukegan, as well as other Dignitaries.

On Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. until 2:30 a.m., Concerned Belizeans, Inc. is hosting its 3rd Annual Black Tie Fundraiser event at the Hanging Garden Banquet Hall in River Grove, Illinois where the organization will present their third annual recipients of the “Make A Difference Award.”

The Prime Minister and Mrs. Barrow will be the special guests, along with other local dignitaries. Other special guest include, direct from Belize Miss Leela Vernon, Queen of Kriol Brukdong music, along with Karl Watson and the New Dynamics Band from Chicago.

On Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., there will be a children’s concert and Public Forum at the Hanging Garden Banquet Hall in River Grove, Illinois. Xanthe TV will also broadcast this forum. According to the Concerned Belizeans organization the public forum will give the Prime Minister, the Ambassador of Belize and Honorary Consulate, the distinct privilege of addressing important issues such as, working together to enhance and empower the education of young Belizean children, and U. S. A. relations with Belize. A Q and A session will follow immediately after.

About Xanthe Films & Xanthe TV

Xanthe Films is a rapidly growing independent production company that develops and produces high quality and commercially viable projects for film, television and DVD.

Founded by producer Edwin Colon in 2006, Xanthe Films is in the process of putting financing deals together to produce an aggressive slate over the next five years, shooting in the United States, Belize and in the countries of their co-producing partners.

Our mission is to support, produce, promote and present motion picture, performance and visual media that celebrate the diverse artistry of indigenous cultures in the process of establishment of a permanent cinema industry for the country of Belize.

The company was registered in the State of Illinois as a Limited Liability Company in 2006.

###

Contact Information

Xanthe Films LLC
Edwin Colon
(312) 380-5173
info@xanthefilms.com
http://www.xanthefilms.com
Fax: (510) 743-8630

Mailing Address:
6604 N Sheridan Rd #102
Chicago, IL 60626

Click here to view the list of recent Press R

Friends Supporting The Anglican Diocese of Belize

Belizean Soldier to Receive International Hall of Fame

Fort Leavenworth to honor foreign officers

Associated Press - April 5, 2010 5:04 AM ET

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) - Two more names are being added to the list of distinguished international graduates of the Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.

Two generals - one from Saudi Arabia, the other from Belize - have qualified for the International Hall of Fame as the top commanders of their nation's military. An induction ceremony is scheduled Thursday at Fort Leavenworth's Lewis and Clark Center.

Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bin Abdullah Bin Hammad Al-Marshed is commander of Saudi Arabia's land forces. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1984.

Brig. Gen. Dario Oscar Tapia is a 2005 graduate of the college and commander of Belize's ground forces.

The hall of fame was established in 1973.

Law Enforcement Officials are Engaged in Criminal Mischief

Commentary: Law enforcement officials are engaged in criminal mischief

Published on Monday, April 5, 2010

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By Wellington C Ramos

In the year 2005 I went to the Lake Independence area off Central American Boulevard to stay with my nephew and niece after I buried my sister in Belize City.

Born in Dangriga Town, the cultural capital of Belize, Wellington Ramos has BAs in Political Science and History from Hunter College, NY, and an MA in Urban Studies from Long Island University. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science and History

This is an area I know well because I used to live on Vernon Street across the street from Kiticat Bar and Restaurant and when I was playing football for Chitos Eleven we used to practice at the corner of the Boulevard and Cemetery Road and assembled at our coach Bilar’s house before and after the games.

In addition, I was a police officer who used to do beat patrol in the area on foot, bicycle and in the police Land Rover during the time I was at the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) in the year 1974.

Whilst in Belize City, I made it my business to walk around and examine the city thoroughly because Belize City during the good old days was the best place for you to go to parties and enjoy yourself.

In those days you had places like Harbour Lights, Happy Hour, Crossroads, Melting Pot, Advellos Hall, Bamboo Bay, One Barrel, Imperial Hall, The Cottage, Birds Isle, Big Apple, Riverside Hall, Tavern, several other night spots, lodge halls, christenings, house parties, birthday and wedding parties.

During my conversations with some Belize City residents, I was told by a few of them that the crimes in the country of Belize are being planned and organized by some members of the Belize police force who have gang members working for them.

When I was told this, I was in a state of shock and refused to believe it. I even defended the police force as a former member myself. When I came back from Belize, I discussed this matter with several former police officers and they confided to me that they received the same information from many of their friends and relatives who were coming from Belize.

As a former police officer, when you are given this type of information, you want to know who the police officers that are involved are and at what rank level they are because the more senior in rank the officers are, the greater the threat is to the entire public and the members of the Belize police force.

You also want to inquire if there are Ministers of Government who are aware of this because there are always some Ministers of Government, who like to call or visit the Police Station to have members of their political party released from prison after they have committed some serious crimes.

This is something I experienced constantly when I was a police officer in Belize City and Orange Walk Town. I use to hate when the Commissioner of Police would call my Inspector and have him release criminals due to an instruction that came from a Minister in Belmopan.

I can remember a time back in 1976 when I took some police officers with me on a raid at Indian Church Village, which is about forty miles out of Orange Walk Town. We arrived at the village hours after and the raid was successful. We confiscated plenty of marijuana and arrested about twelve illegal aliens from Guatemala who were cultivating marijuana in this village in our country. Upon our arrival at the Orange Walk Town police station, one of the prisoners said to me that they were working for a Minister. I laughed at this Guatemalan national as if it was a joke.

The prisoner took out his Guatemalan passport and he had the stamp of the Minister in his passport granting him permission to stay in Belize. Not only did he have the stamp but the other eleven prisoners had the same stamp also. I became disgusted because now I had to turn over the matter to the Inspector to relay the information to the Commissioner of Police.

When we left Orange Walk Town it was about 5:00 a.m. and we returned late that evening. For us to now return and experience this drama could derail all of our efforts that day. I went to have supper and when I came back, I was told that the twelve prisoners were released due to instructions that came from Belmopan after consultations between the Commissioner of Police and the Minister who had his stamp in these criminals’ passports.

I decided then and there that, whenever I get my three months leave, I was going to depart for the United States and resign from the Belize police force. I was transferred to Patrol Branch shortly thereafter and did a short tour in Hattieville and from there I took my leave and came to the United States, where I submitted my resignation from the force.

Last week, it was revealed that members of the Belize police force were caught red handed engaging in the planning and executions of a series of crimes throughout the country of Belize. I heard that the Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries held a press conference to confirm this fact. I suspect that the report may have indicated the fact that this was something that was posing a problem for the Belize police force long in advance of these incidents.

Well, now that we have the culprits in custody, we must not hesitate to deal with them accordingly because they have brought shame and disgrace on the other members of the Belize police force and our nation. I am convinced that there are still corrupt police officers in the ranks of the force and they have broken their oaths and trust when it comes to the prevention of crimes and all police duties they swore to.

I have written several articles on the crime situation in my beloved country of Belize but now is the time to declare outright war against all criminals no matter what rank or office they hold even if they are Ministers of Government. We cannot afford to have criminals running our country at the expense of innocent law abiding citizens because the core values that uphold our nation will fall apart and our people will lose faith in the government they elected to protect them.

Belizean Soldier Injured in Afghanistan War

Kenrick Ramirez was in an accident in Afghanistan on our around March 2 or 3 I can't recall right this minute. He was serving there and the vehicle he was driving was hit by a roadside bomb. All of the other seven passengers died Kenrick survived, but suffered a fractured skull and had to be amputated. He was transported to Germany and from Germany to the U.S. He is currently at Walter Reed Hospital and making progress.

To put him in perspective as a relative, he is Tia Pola (Apolinaria Petillo) great grandson. His grandmother was Concha. He is also the nephew of Anthony Noralez (your buddy from police days), and his mom is Diana Ramirez. She and another son are at the hospital now.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. All I am asking now is if
you know of any one out there who would be able to offer some moral support.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center Ors

www.wramc.amedd.army.mil

6900 Georgia Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20307-0003
(202) 782-6573

Get directions - Is this accurate?

1 review

Belizeans Get Counted in US Census 2010

A letter from Ms Karen Humes, a US census employee.

Census Instructions 2010.docx

Prime Minister Barrow and Ms Kim Simplis-Barrow to be Chicago April 16-18

735 Broadway

North Chicago, IL 60064

847-612-5768

http://www.concernedbelizeans.org/

Linsford Pitts, President

Concerned Belizeans, Inc. Organization, President, Mr. Linsford Pitts, would like to inform you that the Prime Minister of Belize, Honorable Dean Barrow and First Lady Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow has graciously accepted an invitation extended to him by the Organization. The Prime Minister and First Lady are expected to arrive in Chicago on April 16, 2010 and remain until April 18, 2010.

Prime Minister Barrow has been invited to be the key speaker at several events planned in regards to the visit. These events will take place on April 16 - 18, 2010. The events are as follows:

On Friday, April 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m., there will be a Welcome Reception in honor of the Prime Minister and First Lady. The reception will be held at the American Legion Hall 6140 Dempster Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. Prime Minister Barrow will be our Key Note Speaker. Present also will be the Ambassador of Belize Nestor Mendez, and Honorary Consul of Chicago Debbie Schell. Other dignitaries invited to attend include, the Mayors of Chicago, Evanston, North Chicago, Morton Grove, Skokie, River Grove and Waukegan, as well as other Dignitaries. A donation of $75 includes a four course meal, drinks and entertainment.

On Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., there will be a complementary, breakfast with the Prime Minister and First Lady at the Garifuna Flava Restaurant at 2518 West 63rd Chicago, Illinois 60629 for leaders of Belizean organizations and other business leaders. The President and Vice President or representatives of their organizations are invited. The invited individuals will have a chance to converse personally with the Prime Minister regarding their organization and investment opportunities in Belize.

On Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., there will be a complimentary luncheon with the Prime Minister in Waukegan/North Chicago at Bonnie Brook Golf Course Clubhouse, 2800 North Lewis Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois 60085, followed by a Q & A session.

On Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. until 2:30 a.m., Concerned Belizeans, Inc. is hosting its 3rd Annual Black Tie Fundraiser event at the Hanging Garden Banquet Hall, 8301 west. Belmont Avenue, River Grove Illinois 60171 where we will present our third annual recipients of the “Make A Difference Award.” .The Prime Minister and First Lady will be our special guests, along with other local Dignitaries. Other special guest include, direct from Belize Miss Leelaa Vernon Queen of Kriol Bruck down music, along with Karl Watson and the New Dynamics Band. Your presence and support, are important to our organization, the donation for this event is $45. In addition there will be a raffle with a grand prize of one round trip ticket to or from Belize, or $500 U.S, 2nd prize, $200 U. S., 3rd prize, $100 U. S. Proceeds from this event benefit School Supplies and Scholarships Fund in Belize.

On Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., there will be a children’s concert and Public Forum at the Hanging Garden Banquet Hall, 8301 West Belmont Ave., River Grove, Illinois 60171. We encourage all Belizeans to attend this forum. There will be no charge for this event. The public forum will give the Prime Minister, the Ambassador of Belize and Honorary Consulate, the distinct privilege of addressing important issues such as, working together to enhance and empower the education of young Belizean children, and U. S. A. relations with Belize. A Q and A session will follow immediately after.

All Belizean Organizations present at each event will be recognized and will be included in our presentations.

Your presence and support is important to Concerned Belizeans, Inc. Please purchase your tickets in advance.

Please fill out the form below and return with payment no later than March 15, 2010.

1. I/we will be attending the Welcome Reception for the Prime Minister on Friday,

April 16, 2010.

I included $____________for___________Tickets at $75 each.

2. I/we will be attending Concerned Belizeans Inc. 3rd Annual Black Tie Fundraiser

Event.

I included $_____________for ____________Tickets at $45 each.

If you would like to give a donation please make check payable to Concerned Belizeans, Inc. and mail to 735 Broadway, North Chicago, Illinois, 60064

Rudolph Castillo, Former Journalist & Career Public Officer, dies

Subject: Former Journalist & Career Public Officer, RUDOLPH CASTILLO, dies

Rudolph Castillo lovefm

FORMER JOURNALIST AND CAREER PUBLIC OFFICER RUDOLPH CASTILLO DIES
Fri, March 19, 2010

Belize's first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Canada, His Excellency Rudolph Castillo has died. Castillo served in the public service for over forty years in various posts including Permanent Secretary and Cabinet Secretary.

As Chief Information Officer he published several booklets including How we are governed , the PUP Government and the Guatemalan claim , Belizean poets book one and two. Rudy Castillo was also a correspondent for Reuters News Agency, the Caribbean News Agency and the London Daily Telegraph. He also worked as consultant to the National Geographic Magazine. In 2002 Castillo wrote a book, a personal profile on the life of Right Honorable George Cadle Price.

An official funeral service for the late Ambassador Castillo will be held on Monday March 22 at two o clock in the afternoon at our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Belmopan.

Concern About Crime and Corruption in Belize

To whom it may concern;

It is with humility that I ask you to kindly considering this email. I am a Belizean, born and raised. I am 17 years old and at such a young age I have educated myself enough to know several disturbing facts that is plaguing my blessed country. There is currently a great increase in crimes in Belize, most significanlty the crimes by the police. I remember when I was younger it use to be that you can run to the police and they will help you, but now because the police are the ones commiting the crimes we have no one to run to. I must confess that I have also gotten in the system, but after I saw an innocent young man getting killed right infront of me I have changed my ways. The young man by the name of Teddy Murillo Jr. I must admit that I am no stranger to the gun. I have been shot at and have even return fire myself. You see I was a troubled teen who grew up poor and had to find my own food on the street. What most Belizeans dont know is that most of the guns on the street is provided by the police. In Belize the police is also a gang. I have seen with my own eyes where police officers have tried to kill my fellow youths, I was one of them who is afraid to come forward because I was told that if I do I would be killed. But, know I am not afraid, if they want to kill me they can but the truth will be told. Teddy Murillo was killed my CIB police officer Griffin. He shot him six times, once in the back, once in the hand and tree times in the chest area. But first you must understand the back ground of this young man who was killed. Teddy Murillio Jr was a child of God, he was devoted to the Adventist church and had no enemies. The night he was killed he was coming from preparing for church for the Saturday morning. The reason why his death is significant is because the police officer that killed him was not alone, there was at least four of them in a red police patrol vehicle. The same police that killed him, report to the crime scene like 2 hours later which was an extreme intimidation for the witnesses that saw CIB Griffin killed Teddy. Let me give you a back ground on CIB Griffin, this is not his first murder. YOu see on the streets, CIB Griffin is known as a hit man for surprisingly the Commissioner of Police, Crispin Jefferies, I know this for a fact because whenever CIB Griffin is given a hit by the commissioner he would come to the gang i was in to do it and recruit the youngest gang members to do it, or he would just do it himself. The police officers also work with the chineese Mafia in Belize from where most of the ammunition comes to belize. Additionally, even though the entire public knows that Griffin killed this young man, the police still allows him to roam free where he comes and threaten the family of the young man he killed. He is also responsilbe for the Galvez murder and I know the commissioner knows this. Additionally the Governer General, Prime Minister knows all that's going on,but it doesnt affect them at least they feel they are protected by the Lodge of which they are apart of.
I would like to call the attention of the world to help my poor country, do not turn a blind eye to us, we need your help. Our government is destructive, and the Governer General has no purpose. Please send some one to investigate our Police force as they are the ones responsible for the murders, drugs and weapons on the street. Most important, the Grenades on the street was given out by a certain police officer to gave them to a gang to sell. Please help us! Please don't the innocent live to Teddy Murillio go without justice. As a sign of respect to him, for the first time in Belize schools and churches are closed down to observer the brutal muder of this innocent young man Teddy Murillo. The entire country knows that the police are responsible, when will they stop. We can we go to? Who can we run to except for the rest of the world to intervene. Please come, humanitairn intervention is needed. Dont ingore us that Rwhanda and cause a genocide.I am apealing to the UN. Save us from this hell that is unfolding.

God bless you all!!
Belizean Youth

Wadabu Serving Garifuna and Caribbean Cuisine New In Los Angeles

Wadabu Restaurant serving Caribbean and Garifuna Cuisine will open on April 1, 2010 in Los Angeles.

Yurumein Law in Los Angeles March 19-21

Yurumein Law Firm attorney Sharron Williams Gelobter practices Immigration and Nationality Law and Consumer Side Bankruptcy Law.  Ms. Gelobter will be in Los Angeles from March 19-21, 2010 and is available to meet with clients to discuss their immigration and/or bankruptcy needs. She is available to meet for up to one hour consultations for a minimal fee.

Please note that Ms. Gelobter is admitted to practice in all immigration courts in the United States and is thus qualified to represent you in any jurisdiction. She has practiced immigration law for 15 years and is versed in family-based and employment-based immigration as well as deportation defense, immigration and crimes, asylum, U visa applications and theViolence Against Women Act applications. You can also come in to ask about your status and comprehensive immigration reform (CIR).

Please call or email the Yurumein Law firm to schedule an appointment for a consultation at (510) 288-8686 or email at mailto:info@yurumeinlaw.com When you call ask for Sue Chung. She will be able to assist you. We look forward to meeting with you.

YLF
http://www.yurumeinlaw.com

Sharron Williams Gelobter
Attorney
YURUMEIN LAW FIRM
LITIGATION& IMMIGRATION&BANKRUPTCY
TEL:(510) 288-8686
FAX: (775) 522-6586

Haiti Fund Raiser Update

CONSULATE GENERAL OF BELIZE

Park Mile Plaza

4801 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 250

Los Angeles, CA. 90010

Telephone: (323) 634-9900 Fax: (323) 634-9903

E-mail:

belizeconsulate@sbcglobal.net

February 26, 2010

As an update I would like to share with you where we are with respect to the commitment our LA/Belizeans Haiti Fundraising Committee made to raise $7,000 US dollars as part of the worldwide effort to assist in the rebuilding of Haiti as a consequence of the recent disastrous earthquake.

For us, it is a case of the Belizean proverb which says “one …..one full basket.” It translates to “slowly but surely we will accomplish our goal.”

Here we go! On the evening of February 21, 2010 through the kind assistance of Mr. and Mrs. Moha Cornaque, proprietors of Club Exedus, our Task Force successfully raised $849.00 in an evening of Bingo Games and the selling of Belizean food.

For our next fundraiser, we ask that you join us on Sunday, February 28^th, 2010 at a “Belizean Style Sunday Brunch” to be held at the Little Belize Restaurant (newly renovated and under new management), located at 217 Nutwood Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301; contact number is 310-674-0696. All we ask of you is a donation of $20.00. Please call any of the taskforce members listed for tickets or a reservation: Consulate of Belize @ 323-634-9900, Ms. Kim Hernandez @ 323-844-0714, Ms. Helen Laurie @ 323- 496-4104 and Ms. Verona Burks @ 310-743-9172, Ms. Marva Lewis @ 562-824-3702.

Seeing you have made a decision to order your Brunch tickets, we want to share with you another “drop in the basket” event. On Saturday, March 20^,2010, our Task Force has secured a comfortable bus for a Turn-Around-Trip to Harrah’s Rincon Indian Casino departing at 11:00 AM SHARP from the parking lot of Christ the Good Sheppard Church located at 3303 W. Vernon Ave (corner of Vernon & 11^th Avenue). Expected time of return is 8:30 PM. For a small donation of $20.00 you can continue to support our fundraising drive

Why continue our fundraising efforts? Even now, despite the haunting images and the unending tales of loss and broken survival, it is difficult to fathom the scale of devastation in Haiti. While aid is rushing in and the immediate crisis will ultimately be met, the real challenge of rebuilding will begin. We want to be a part of the solution.

We asked that if you are unable to participate in any of our planned events, please make a donation in the form of a check or money order made payable to the American Red Cross (memo Belize-Haiti Fund Drive) and mail to: Consulate of Belize, 4801 Wilshire Blvd, #250, Los Angeles, CA 90010. I thank you for your continued support.

Respectfully,

Hon. Roland Yorke

Consul General

Haiti Relief Brunch and Casino Trip

Concerned Citizens of Belize Welcomes Prime Minister Barrow and First Lady of Belize

Additional information visit Concerned Belizeans

The Maya Are Not Poor, Says Felix Cal

From: James Lovell <garawoun@gmail.com>
To: mavila2@aol.com
Sent: Sun, Feb 28, 2010 12:03 am
Subject: Re: The Maya are not poor, says Felix Cal (Interesting article)

Brother Felix,
I heard you loud and clear bro. It will take the people in their ethnic group or race to define who they are. It should not be an outsider who knows absolutely nothing about your culture to determine who you are. I can relate with you, because the same is done to the Garifuna culture. Keep on writing bro, I know you and others in your race can tell your story-History, better than any outsider. Peace James

On Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 10:47 PM, <mavila2@aol.com> wrote:

The Maya are not poor, says Felix Cal

Rating: 5 / 5 (7 votes)

Posted: 18/02/2010 - 08:26 PM
Author: Felix Cal

San Miguel Village

Toledo District

February 7, 2010

Dear Editor:



Please allow me to share my personal views relating to the article: “Over 50,000 more poor — Belize City Southside, Toledo poverty rates, highest in Belize”, appearing on the front page of the Amandala dated, Sunday, January 31, 2010.



I write in regards to the Poverty Assessment that was released to determine our poverty rate in this country. I am concerned as absolutely no one has ever approached to question me pertaining to such a survey, so that my status can be determined as poor.



I am a Kekchi Maya, and it has become the norm that anyone who sees us, they have a set perception of us being deemed to be labelled as poor. What a shame and disgrace! Is it because we are being taken for granted that we are silent?



As I kept reading the article, it states and I quote, “Throughout the study,” says the report,” Belize City’s Southside and Toledo kept emerging as being concentrations of poverty and other social issues, particularly violent crime; and Toledo because of the very high incidence of poverty, its isolated location in the south of the country, and its population dominated by the indigenous Maya”.



The last statement in bold has struck me to the heart, and has disgusted and frustrated me, and that is my reason for sharing my personal view on this matter. Clearly, I can see that this statement is a real attack on us because of our indigenous status. And I daresay that it is misleading and mischievous at its highest level.



We, the Maya (Kekchi & Mopan) in Toledo, have been labelled for centuries as poor people. It now worries me that every time a poverty assessment is being carried out, the outcome is poor, and I am afraid that the generation to come might have this mentality, “Maya = poor,” because this is the sensational tune in Belize.



We, the Maya, perceive ourselves as the richest people in this country, even though we may not have three- four-storey buildings, own cars, hold full time jobs, etc. But yet we are living humbly with other ethnic groups, sharing resources with each other, and we govern ourselves accordingly, (probably unknown to some) and because of this, crime is down among us.



Agricultural subsistence farming is done to ensure that every day meals are being put on the table and as you heard, recession has popped out its big ugly head but guess what, the hard working Maya farmer is not and will not be affected. The education system has taken root and many of our Maya children are excelling at the primary school level, high school level and even at the tertiary Institutions.



Every year, thousands of tourists from around the world come to vacation in our midst, and our old and retired teachers from other ethnic groups who have taught in our villages have been ringing the bell and sharing the same sentiments that “WE THE MAYA ARE NOT POOR.”



I have the same perception as well, because the family structure is rich and very well attached. We have the evergreen rainforest to boast about, which in turn sustains our livelihood; we have our traditional healers who help us when someone gets bitten by snakes. (Rarely do you hear a Maya going to the hospital due to a snake bite.)



How many times have you heard of a lost Maya child? How many murders are happening among the Maya? How many of our children are not enjoying meals three times a day? How many Maya are homeless, or sleeping on the street sides? How many of my people are seen on the streets with their long arms stretched out asking for a dollar? How many times have you heard the Maya committing burglary? And the list can go on. I will leave you to do math, and I can guarantee you that you share the same perception as mine, but yet, the Maya is tagged as being poor.



How much longer will we as a people continue to accept whatever they perceive us to be, knowing that it is truly the opposite? I encourage others to share their views to let them stop calling us the Maya people poor.



Is that the reason why they want to plunder and rape our rainforest so as to take advantage of us? I believe not, as that will never happen again in this time and age. If you perceive us to be (POOR), then do something about it and stop singing the same old tune over and over.

(Signed)      Felix Cal

                  University student

Belize Haiti Relief

The Garifuna Collective featuring Umalali Women Singers Perform at 2010 Winter Olympics

The Garifuna Collective featuring Umalali Women Singers

perform at 2010 Winter Olympics

Feb 22, 2010
For Immediate Release

The Garifuna Collective and the Umalali Singers returned to Belize today after a two-week North American tour that included a performance at the Cultural Olympiad, part of the official festivities for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada. The tour also included shows in Seattle, Washington, San Diego and Chico, California, as well as New Hampshire.

Fronting the Collective once again were vocalists Desiree Diego, Sofia Blanco, Marcella Torres. The women were accompanied on stage by musicians Joshua Arana, Denmark Flores, Sam Harris, Wilton Lewis and Al Ovando .

This was the Collective's first return to North America since their extremely successful summer tour in 2009. However, unlike the open-air festivals that welcomed the collective last summer, this tour saw the Collective performing in "soft seat" theatre environments. Playing before a seated audience may have been a different experience for the Collective, but non the less by the end of the shows concert goers were on their feet, dancing to the music.

According to Collective engineer/musician, Al Ovando, who served as the road manager on this tour,
" We have come a long way and every tour brings a new experience. Just as audiences learn about our music and culture, we also learn from each performance and we get better every time".

Producer, Ivan Duran, of Stonetree Records continues, "This group is very original in the way they present Garifuna music to the world. Nobody sounds like them. They continue to define contemporary roots music and they keep reaching new audiences every year."

Some of the members have been playing together for over 10 years, having toured the world with late Belizean music icon Andy Palacio. The band's repertoire is comprised of Garifuna songs from the highly acclaimed Watina and Umalali albums, as well as several new arrangements of traditional songs.

The Garifuna Collective continues to be Belize's most recognized international music ambassadors. To date they have performed in over 20 countries on 3 continents. They are working on a new album at the Stonetree studios in Benque Viejo and are scheduled to tour Mexico in April. They will also perform in several European countries this July.

-end-

for more information or interviews please contact:
Ivan Duran at 610-5152

www.stonetreerecords.com
www.myspace.com/umalaliproject

Frankie Rhys Dies Morning Before his Benefit Concert

Feb 19, 2010

Frankie Rhys dies on the morning before his benefit concert

Musicians, unionists, educators and students are mourning the passing of popular jazz musician and educator, Frankie Rhys. Rhys battled diabetes for twenty five years and his health condition turned for the worse in late 2008. He lost that battle early this morning at his home. It happened on the same day that Association for Belizean Artists First is hosting a benefit concert to help the veteran musical artist with his medical expenses. But he did not live to see it. News Five’s Marion Ali discovered that Rhys died hoping to be a part of the show, an event that has around twenty performers on stage.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The show must go on they say and tonight proud fans of Frankie Rhys will fill the seats at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts in what Frankie Rhys’ colleagues have planned as not only a benefit concert but a tribute to a man they loved having around.

Tony Wright, Organizer, Frankie Rhys benefit concert

Tony Wright

“This morning we talked with Diana, Frankie’s wife, and although emotional Diana says we have to do this show because Frankie wouldn’t ah mi want anything less right.”

Raymond Gonzalez

“Unfortunately and so sadly, today was to be the show and then the guy passed away. But that doesn’t stop us from go ahead with the show. We will definitely go ahead with the show and we would like all artists to still come around and we ask the people to support us more outstandingly because the wife still has a lot of bills left behind.”

Also left behind, are a unique musical legacy and his wife Diana, shared some of them with us – first about his last days.

Diana Rhys, Frankie Rhys’ wife

“The nerve damage to his neck caused him to not to be able to swallow. It was really hard because he kept thinking it’s going to go away. But it never went away. At night when Frankie sleeps the saliva can’t go up and can’t go down so it accumulates in the throat and he gurgles and I would touch him and he would – I’m fine I’m fine. So last night when he started this and I test him he said fine. Cause I always tell him roll over on your side or let me put you sit up. And then I fell back to sleep and then I heard like somebody vomiting and I grabbed his hand and said Frankie and his hand dropped. And I put on the light and he was grasping for breath. And he was literally throwing up but nothing was coming up. And so it was just a matter of ten minutes and he was gone.”

But there are also good many good memories for Diana.

Diana Rhys

Diana Rhys

“There was a place right where Vogue’s used to be and there used to have place behind called El Patio and it was an upscale restaurant. They had Nelson Diamond used to perform there and we just had good jam session, all good musicians would come and I would come in and sing and that’s how we met. That was in 1974. I am so happy to have known Frank and even towards the end he was funny. He was so funny.”

Show organizer, Tony Wright says the entertainers were all too eager to participate, something that dancers Raymond Gonzalez and his dancing partner, Nurse Eleanor Sutherland will prove tonight.

Tony Wright

“We are really glad that we could do this for Frankie. Diana says that when he heard about it Frankie says well now I know di people still love me and dat dah di feeling we get from doing this.”

Marion Ali

“What you have planned for tonight?”

Raymond Gonzalez

Raymond Gonzalez

“Well I plan to do what they call a free-style Bolero dance. I’ll put my all out. Plenty people ask me to do that little footwork I think they enjoy seeing us do that together, so prepare for it.”

Marion Ali

“You’ll dance for Frankie tonight.”

Raymond Gonzalez

“Yeah, I think I’ll go out more for Frankie tonight.”

One person who was preparing for the concert tonight, was Frankie himself.

Diana Rhys

“He was going to because he said to me last night don’t forget we have to practice in the morning. We’ve been doing this for a while, from the time we met, and so he always plays behind me and we know how to play off each other, we have such good timing. I said to him do you realize that if you die I will never sing again and he looked at me said why? I said because my pianist is dead. And he said there are many good pianists and I said yeah but none of them have been with me for thirty-six years.”

Diana Rhys says she will still attend her husband’s concert, despite her loss and her grief. Together they have three children. Marion Ali for News Five.

If Diana Rhys has any regrets it is that her husband would have been able to go abroad for treatment long ago if a family dispute over land had not delayed the his access to his share of the property. Frankie Rhys retired from teaching in 2008 and will be laid to rest next week Saturday at his parents’ farm just outside of Dangriga To

Honorable Dean Barrow Awarded Along with Prime Ministers from Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad

BELIZE’S PRIME MINISTER DEAN BARROW AWARDED ALONG WITH THE PRIME MINISTERS FROM BARBADOS, GRENADA AND TRINIDAD

By: Wellington C. Ramos

On Thursday January the 28^th 2010, hundreds of people packed the Pierre Hotel Auditorium in Manhattan New York City, to witness the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI) $500 per plate fundraiser and grant awards to their alumnus for their life accomplishments and others for their accomplishments and support of the university over the years. The Master of Ceremony for this event was Brenda Blackman news Anchorwoman MY9, WWORTV, Maurice Dubois news Anchorman from WCBS-TV and Lola Ogunnaikke Entertainment from CNN. The alumnus that were honored were the Prime Minister of Belize The Right Honorable Dean O. Barrow, Prime Minister of Barbados The Right Honorable David Thompson, Prime Minister of Grenada The Right Honorable Tillman Thomas and the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago The Right Honorable Patrick Manning who was unable to attend.

Other honorees who received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award were; Sybil Chester, Karlene Chin-Quee, M.D., Maxine Griffith, and Janet Rolle. These individuals contributed to their communities in the areas of health, education and community development. Former President of Medger Evers College in Brooklyn Doctor Edison Jackson who restructured and advanced his college received the Leadership Award. Ann Marie Francis received the Corporate Award on behalf of Air Jamaica. Joie Lee the sister of Spike Lee accepted the Bob Marley Award on behalf of her brother Spike Lee who was unable to attend. Luminary Award was granted to the following individuals; Earl Jarrett, Lesly Kerisany M.D., R Danny Williams and Lowell Hawthorne C.E.O. and Founder of Golden Krust Restaurant and Business for his success in business and his support to the institution. He donated $250,000 dollars to the University of the West Indies at the night of the event to provide scholarships for disadvantage students in need of money to attend UWI.

Dignitaries and VIP’s included Professor Nigel Harris Vice-Chancellor for the University of the West Indies, Winston Bailey UWI Financier, Gala Committee Chairman Doctor Karl Rodney who had just returned from Washington DC to be with Professor Rex Nettleford who suffered from a massive heart attack and died this week, Sir George Alleyne, UWI Chancellor, Former Mayor David Dinkins and his wife, Harlem Congressman Charles Rangel who gave a brief speech about the need for the American Caribbean relations, Deputy Mayor David Walcott and several other corporate leaders and celebrities from the world of news and entertainment. Some of the award recipients were unable to attend or give their appreciative remarks but all awardees made a video tape clipping expressing their appreciations for the awards they received. Food and drinks were served during the break period and everybody had a chance to greet each other and pose for pictures.

In his closing remarks, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Harris thanked all the participants for coming out in the freezing temperature to show their solidarity and support to the University of the West Indies. The University of the West Indies now has about 44,000 students throughout all of their campuses in the Caribbean. The university will be accepting all the students who were attending the University in Haiti and give them the opportunity to complete their studies at their campuses until they complete their degrees. They will then be able to return back to their country to assist in the reconstruction and development of their homeland.

Punta Soul a film by Nyasha Laing in Los Angeles on Feb 14

Punta Soul

A film by Nyasha Laing

Punta Soul is the intergenerational story of a music in migration. Through its intimate portraits of Garifuna musicians such as Andy Palacio, Punta Soul chronicles the evolution of popular Garifuna music from Belize. The Garifuna, an afro-indigenous people exiled from the Caribbean to the coast of Central America in 1798, have carried on a rich and vibrant culture whose expression is found in the electric sound called ‘punta rock’ and the more soulful ‘paranda.’ Punta Soul explores the role of the music and the musicians in the cultural renaissance of ethnic communities in Belize. Punta Soul was released in November 2008 at the WOMEX World Music Expo in Seville, Spain.

CREDITS FOR PUNTA SOUL (RT 39:30)

Director: Nyasha Laing

Producer: Nyasha Laing

Cinematographers: Khary Jones, Nyasha Laing & Cybel Martin

Editors: Brent Toombs & Nyasha Laing

Film Sponsors: HIVOS

This film will be shown on February 14 at noon in Los Angeles

Punta Soul, Director & Producer

Nyasha Laing is a Belizean-American lawyer, writer, and filmmaker who has worked
for international law firms and organizations such as the ACLU, FilmAid International,
and the National Institute of Culture and History. A former free-lance writer for the
African Magazine, the Singapore Business Times, the Belize Reporter, and Black
Enterprise, she enjoys singing, traveling, and creative non-fiction writing. Nyasha
holds a degree in History from Yale University and a JD from NYU School of Law. She
is the founder of The Global Parish Project, an organization that promotes the production and crosscultural
sharing of documentary storytelling in Belize.
Director’s Statement
Punta Soul was conceived as the story of how traditional punta music evolved into the national music of
Belize, and was born out of a desire to more deeply experience my roots. The film evolved into a story
about how Garifuna artists from Belize’s isolated communities started an international cultural renaissance
that also embraced the black Creole. The rise of Garifuna music is a testament to its power to break down
barriers, and is an enduring reflection of the spirit of the ancestors.

The Popular Retiree Incentive Program is Being Scaled Down

The Belizean government's expat retiree incentive program is being scaled down due to it's own success. Applicants from Canada, United States and United Kingdom are encouraged to apply now before the rules are changed in early 2010. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica – January 19, 2010 – The Belizean government's expat retiree incentive program is being scaled down due to it's own success. New retirees wanting to settle in Belize from Canada, United States and United Kingdom are advised to apply now to take advantage of the generous current program before new rules are announced in early 2010. Belize now has 20,000 new residents thanks to the Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) program introduced by the Tourist Board of Belize in 1999. The QRP program asked for applicants to be over the age of 45 with a minimum monthly income of US$2,000 in exchange for permanent residency in this frost-free affordable country with a population in 2008 of 310,000. In the current program, a new retiree in Belize can import household goods worth up to US$15,000, a vehicle, a boat and a lightweight aircraft duty free and gain permanent residency. Currently 1 in 15 of the population of Belize settled in the country through the QRP program, which amongst it's benefits does not require expat retirees to pay tax on income derived from outside of Belize. Applicants are encouraged to start their own business if they desire extra income beyond the US$2000 that which has to be deposited each month into a Belizean bank account. New retirees are also entitled to own rental property and to operate as a 'sleeping' or 'silent' partner in a Belizean business. The monthly deposit of US$2000 can be used for one person or a couple. Wini Dean, real estate consultant at Caribbean Land and Property commented on the current Belizean real estate situation:- “We are seeing increased interest from all walks of life for Belize. For those looking for alternative living situations, a self sufficient lifestyle is possible in places like these. For those who want to live 'closer to the earth' but still maintain a bit of luxury and a sense of security, there are wonderful new development projects that are now available”. Internet search engine giant Google has 27,500 searches per month from internet users looking for information on the term Belize real estate. Caribbean Land and Property – http://www.caribbeanlandandproperty.com - promote and consult on real estate in 28 countries across the Caribbean.


Contact Info Caribbean Land and Property PO Box 1789 Roseau Commonwealth of Dominica Phone: 1 767 449 0599 Website: http://www.caribbeanlandandproperty.com

Goods and Products Restricted in Belize


	GOODS REQUIRES IMPORT LICENCE PRIOR TO IMPORTATION Waters, Mineral Water containing added sugar or sweetening matter or flavouring. Milk and Cream, not concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter. Hatching Eggs Fresh Poultry Eggs Dry Pasta Products. Aereated Beverages. Flour of Drumond Wheat. Rice Beans and Peas Other Flour. Beer Made from Malt. Maize (Corn) Fruits and Vegetables, Fresh or Chilled Peanuts Live Poultry - Fowls, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys Guinea Fowls (excluding Baby Chips) Meat & Edible Offals of the Poultry Species (Fresh Chilled or Frozen) Meat of Bovine Animals - Fresh, Chilled or Frozen Hams Bacon Chicken Sausages ( except canned) Other Sausages (except canned) Salami Sausages (except canned) Canned Meats Cane Sugar (except icing sugar) Molasses Citrus Fruit - Fresh or Dried Citrus Products including Juices. Prepared Cattle Feed, Poultry Feed, Pig Feed Gasolene, Kerosene Diesel Toilet Soap in cakes or bars Bleach Matches Toilet Paper T - Shirts (of Cotton) T - Shirts (of Other Textile Materials) Outboard Motor Boats between 12'and 32' in length for pleasure or sport made of fibreglass (except rowing boats and canoes) not applicable for bona fide tourist being imported on a temporary basis Chairs & Other Seats of Wood. Seats of Cane Bamboo Rattan Osier or Similar Material. Upholstered Seats with Wooden Frame. Wooden furniture for use in Offices, Churches, Schools Kitchen, Bedroom and Laboratories. Wooden Furniture of Rattan Bamboo Osier or Other Similar Material. Matress Support of Wood Prefabricated Building of Wood Wood in Rough Form and Articles of Wood in their Primary Form, and Articles Made of Wood. Brooms

Funeral for Chiste Garcia

Below is a copy of Russel 'Chiste' Garcia funeral. He has gone home to be with our Lord and Savior.

Chiste Funeral.pdf

RIP Honourable Russel 'Chiste' Garcia

Story at http://infobot.com/lovefm/ndisplay.php?nid=11248

FORMER AGRICULTURE MINISTER DEAD AT 59

Dec 21, 2009

The former minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Russell “Chiste” Garcia
has died. A brief statement from the Government press office says that the
fifty nine year old Garcia died on Saturday. Chiste Garcia served as
Minister of Agriculture during the Esquivel Administration of 1993 to 1998,
before retiring from politics. An official funeral for the fallen former
minister will be held in Dangriga on Wednesday afternoon. Garcia’s body
will lie in state at noon for funeral services at one o’clock on Wednesday
afternoon at the Sacred Heart Church in Dangriga. Russell Alexander Chiste
Garcia. Dead at age fifty nine.

Story at http://infobot.com/lovefm/ndisplay.php?nid=11248

Consular Report of Birth Abroad in Belize

American Citizen Services
Appointments for
Consular Reports of Birth Abroad

Beginning on Monday, January 4, 2010, customers of the American Citizens
Services Unit will need to schedule an appointment in advance to apply
for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.

The Consular Report of Birth Abroad serves as proof of U.S. citizenship
for those children born outside of the United States to one or two U.S.
citizen parents.

This change is being implemented so that sufficient time and attention
can be focused by consular staff on each individual child's application.

No walk-in service times will be available for Consular Reports of Birth
Abroad.

To make an appointment, customers will need to logon to our website at
http://belize.usembassy.gov/citizen_services.html, read the information
on required documents to apply for the Report of Birth, and schedule an
appointment online.

Emergencies involving the death, incarceration, injury or
hospitalization of American citizens will be handled as needed any time
during the week. For emergencies, American Citizens can drop-in at any
time before 5:00pm and can telephone our emergency duty officer after
hours and on weekends at 610-5030.

You may also contact the Embassy Consular Section via e-mail for
non-emergencies at our new email address: ACSBelize@state.gov.

The U.S. Embassy is located in Belmopan on Floral Park Road. The
general number is
822-4011.

Regards,

American Citizen Services Section
U.S. Embassy Belmopan
Belize
Tel: 501-822-4011
Fax: 501-822-4050
Consulbelize@state.gov

Heavenly Belize A New Photo Book

New book with really nice photos of Belize taken by ultralight.

Heavenly Belize

Mexican Belize Border Crossing Made Easy

MEXICAN EMBASSY REMINDS BELIZEANS THAT CROSSING THE BORDER HAS BEEN MADE EASY

December 18, 2009

In order to welcome Belizeans who wish to visit Mexico during the Christmas season, the Embassy of Mexico is reminding Belizeans that a VISA is not required to travel to Mexico as a tourist or in transit through to another country. The head of the press and boarder section at the Mexican Embassy, Marcelino Miranda, tells us more.

Marcelino Miranda; Head of the Press and Border Section, Mexican Embassy
“In July of this year, 2009, the Government decided to no longer ask for VISAs, for Belizean nationals. So from July of this year Belizeans don’t need a VISA to travel as tourist or in transit to Mexico to any part of Mexico. Belizeans can go to Mexico, to Chetumal, to Cancun, to Merida, even to Mexico City, or to the US without a VISA.”

Miranda explains that Belizeans who hold a Mexican Boarder card can continue using it in the usual manner to travel to Mexico with a maximum stay of three days. However that is with the exception of Merida or any other part of Mexico outside Quintana Roo, whereby a passport is required.

Marcelino Miranda; Head of the Press and Border Section, Mexican Embassy
“The border card is a card issued by the government of Mexico for any Belizeans holding a passport and these cards allows and entitles Belizeans to travel all around Quintana Roo up to three days. And this is a very useful card because Belizeans can enter Mexico easily, faster, than with a passport because this card is an electronic card so you can enter Chetumal and then travel around Quintana Roo. I would like to be precise that this card does not allow one to go to Merida. It only entitles you to travel around Quintana Roo, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Chetumal. With this card any Belizeans can stay up to three days in Mexico. They can apply for this card at the Mexican immigration post at the boarder. To apply they just need their Belizean Passport and a photocopy. And with that they can apply from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 12:00 and in a few days they can get their card.”
Marcelino Miranda, press officer at the Mexican Embassy in Belmopan.

Simon Quan, Dead at 79

WWW.7NEWSBELIZE.COM

Simon Quan, Dead at 79
2009-12-14

Tonight we acknowledge the passing of a noted Belizean. Businessman Simon Quan passed away on Friday in Gudalajara Mexico where he was receiving treatment for a heart condition. The 79 year old Quan had first been hospitalized in Belize on Sunday December sixth and was then taken to Mexico for treatment when his condition did not improve. Funeral services for Quan will be held on Wednesday afternoon at the Fordyce Chapel on the Landivar Campus in Belize City.

Quan – seen here at the queen’s birthday honors in October of this year collecting his Member of The British Empire, MBE, came to Belize from China in 1959; his trip was sponsored by his cousin Augusto Quan.
In 1965 after re-paying his cousin’s sponsorship, he went out on his own and built his business with his wife Emily. At first it was a grocery store, but his daughter Lupita today told us that initially her father and mother were destitute and literally had to sell the clothes off their backs to start up the business. And the business was selling anything customers would buy – even if it meant running up the street to buy a bottle of kerosene for 24 cents just so that they could sell it for 25 cents.

With that hard working ethic – Simon Quan steadily built his reputation and his business to where it is today, one of the largest general merchandise outlets in Belize – with warehouses and residences occupying a large part of a city block in the commercial center of Belize. His daughter tells us the organizing principle of his business was simple: “you have to sell things that people can afford.” Simon Quan was famous for many things - not least of which was his bicycle cart which he rode around town for decades – a mode of transport reflective of his extreme modesty. Indeed, he was a small man at the helm of a big business, and his family tells us he was at work until the night before he fell ill.

Quan was a two term President of the Belize-Chinese Association and was well known for his generous community contributions and scholarships. Simon Quan, the father of 9, dead at 79.

Story at http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=15754

For more Belize news, visit us at www.7newsbelize.com

Taking Ham and Turkey into Belize during the Holiday Season

Subject: INFORMATION: Taking Ham and Turkey into Belize with you during this holiday season - no duty
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:43:22 -0500

If you or any of your friends or relatives are travelling home to Belize between now and the end of December, and you want to carry a HAM and/or TURKEY with you – this information is relevant:

The Ministry of Agriculture has authorized a temporary waiver of import permit and permit fee for importation of one ham and/or turkey per adult traveller (to be for personal use only) into Belize when entering the Phillip Goldson International Airport ONLY for the period November 25 to December 31, 2009. The only charge will be a $10.00 inspection fee per item to BAHA (Belize Agricultural Health Authority). The ham and/or turkey has to be USDA inspected/certified (stamped to verify) for BAHA to allow entry.

Warmest Personal Regards,

Harry Usher, P.Eng., DTM

City Councillor - Ward 12 (London, Ontario, CANADA)

Founder and Past President: London City Hall Toastmasters Club (London, Ontario)

PRESIDENT: "Adventures in . . ." SEMINARS & SPEECHES

Board Member: Consortium for Belizean Development

Honorary Chair - Father's Day Walk/Run Event for Prostate Cancer Research Fundraising (London, Ontario)

AUTHOR: PROSTATE! PROSTATE! PROSTATE! A Problem of Men

SCA Multi-Purpose Building Fund

Greetings Alumnae, Friends and Family of Saint Catherine Academy

As you may be aware Saint Catherine Academy and its Alumnae are fundraising for the construction of a steel and concrete two story multi-purpose building which would house very needed additional classrooms, a state of the art audio-visual room and library, and indoor facility for theatre and sporting events with seating capacity for 2000 and an indoor cafeteria. This building will be used by the entire Belize community and will provide a safe haven for dances and other extra-curriculum activities. Attached is the rendering of the multi-purpose building prepared using MS Word 2007.

We have provided several options for making and honoring pledges. The web site https://secure.sca.edu.bz/payment.php
allows easy payment and may be accessed by simply clicking on the web line, then following the instructions on the link.
Other options include sending pledge payments by mail, or you may have your bank make automatic monthly deductions and mail them for you. We will be happy with any method you choose, and promise to send you a freindly e-mail reminder if needed.

Thank you so much for your support. May God continue to bless you and you family without measure.

Click on the link Below to see a rendition of the building

SCA Building1.docx

Drums of Our Father Tribute to Andy P in Dangriga

Liu's Freight Service from Los Angeles

Best Western Ad

Consulate of Belize Presents Investing in Belize Seminar

2009 International Trade and Commerce Symposium Houston and Toledo

Photos (with captions) of the 2009 International Trade and Commerce Symposium held in Houston on Thursday, October 15, 2009 are now posted to the event site at: http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=146899926047&view=all

Feel free to use the photos if you need to, but please do the right thing and give credit to the photographer, Paul Pollard of Pollard Media Productions if you do. Thanks once again, Paul.

More non-captioned photos are also available at the Pollard Media website at:http://pollardmediapro.smugmug.com/Belize/Toledo-Business-Association/9977634_ojVwd#681954027_4iUFQ

The keynote speakers were Hon. Martinez and Hon. Castro of Belize.

Houston City Councilman, Ronald Green, made Hon. Martinez an honorary Houstonian. Min. Castro and Punta Gorda Mayor, Floyd Lino received gifts.

Attending the symposium was the Toledo Association of Businesses led by Chairman, Darius Avila. Dr. Ludwig Palacio is the Vice Chairman of TAB, but he is also the Chairman of the Punta Gorda Sister-City Relations Committee which on Friday (yesterday) signed an official Sister-City agreement with the Texas Town of Prairie View.

The Tri-County International Chamber of Commerce was inaugurated at the event. Serving on the Board of Directors of the new Tri-County International Chamber of Commerce from Belize are Roger Espejo, Belize City Councilor and Darius Avila, Chairman of the Toledo Association of Businesses.

Literacy Project for Travelers to Belize

Unique Literacy Project for Travelers Launches

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:20am EDT

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For many people, vacation is

the best time to catch up on recreational reading. But once you've finished

those great reads, who wants to lug them home again? A new non-profit called

Angel Says: Read has a solution for travelers to Belize.

Founded by a former Washington Post newspaper reporter and book author, Jackie

Spinner, Angel Says: Read will collect books from tourists and donate them to

the public libraries in Belize. The official U.S. launch will be announced in

a press conference at the National Press Club on Thursday Oct. 15, 2009, at

9:30 am in the Murrow Room. The ambassador of Belize, H.E. Nestor Mendez, will

attend.

"The libraries in Belize genuinely need books, and this is an easy way for

tourists to help promote literacy, an apolitical cause we all can support,"

Spinner said, who is using Belize to launch what she hopes will be a global

literacy effort.

Belize is a country of about 300,000 people on the Caribbean coast, nestled

between Mexico and Guatemala.

"While books are taken for granted in the U.S., many visitors don't realize

that they are truly difficult to come by here," said Chris Crowell, owner of

Cotton Tree Lodge in Belize.

The board of directors for Angel Says: Read (www.angelsaysread.com) includes

such Belizean notables as author Felicia Hernandez; Lawrence Vernon, principal

librarian of the Belize National Library Service; Montserrat Casademunt,

publisher of Cubola Productions; and Neulin Nelson Villanueva, dean of St.

John's College Junior College in Belize City.

University of Belize lecturer Mathias Vairez Jr. will coordinate student

involvement with the organization, setting up a way for participants to earn

service hours as required by the government assistance awards to the

university.

"It's going to allow the tourists to give a positive contribution to the

society knowing the importance of reading materials for our students," Vairez

said. "It's not just about the coming and relaxing and having a good time.

They are going to leave something invaluable that will have a lasting effect

on the community."

Angel Says: Read is placing strategic drop-boxes in major tourist centers

throughout the country. The Belize Tourism Board officially endorsed the

project. The press conference in Belize will be held at the Leo Bradley

library at 11 a.m. Nov. 3 in the capital city of Belize City.

For more information: Jackie Spinner, 202-441-0228, angel@angelsaysread.com

SOURCE  Angel Says: Read

Jackie Spinner of Angel Says: Read, +1-202-441-0228, angel@angelsaysread.com

15th General Assembly of CABO To Be In Dangriga Dec (2-5)

ORGANIZACIÓN NEGRA CENTROAMERICANA

ONECA

CENTRAL AMERICAN BLACK ORGANIZATION

CABO

HOUNDARUN WURITIAN LAMIDAN MERIGA

HOWULAME

Resolution # 06001-1010-2009

The Board of Director of the Central American Black Organization in exercise of the powers under

the Constitution and domestic instruments to settle on issues of the organization interests, renders the following decision.

                      Whereas:

After seeing the Presidential report of the working visit to the sister Republic of Belize, in order to prepare for the holding of the Fifteenth General Assembly of the Central American Black Organization.

Having been involved in virtual reference, issued by the Presidency.

                                                                    Resolves:

UNIQUE: The Fifteenth General Assembly of the Central American Black Organization, will be held, in city of Dangriga, Belize on December 2, through 5^th. 2009.

        Issue on the tenth day of October five hours with forty minutes Central American Time, of the year two thousand nine.

Sidney Francis Martin Claribel Zulma Valencia
President CABO Secretary General CABO

Houston and Toledo Trade Mission

Belize Independence History

Independence

By the early 1900's, Belize had grown to nearly 40,000 inhabitants. Belize was hard hit by the worldwide depression and there was widespread unemployment, particularly by the timber workers who represented a large population of the work force.

Flag Monument at the main roundabout in Belize City

Combined with a devastating hurricane hitting Belize City in 1931, residents began to call for national change in the form of independence. By 1954 voting rights were extended to all adults, and by 1961, England agreed to begin the process of granting Belize self- government with Belize attaining full self-government in 1964.

In 1973, the colony's name was changed from British Honduras to Belize and on September 21, 1981, Belize's Independence was declared.
As can be expected, the journey to independence had a few stumbling blocks along the way - from labor disputes to the ongoing Guatemala claim, but the principles of democracy have remained strong with a proud record of free and fair elections, excellent voter turnout and a healthy respect for the independent judiciary.

Politics
Belize has a two party electoral democracy with general elections called 5 years. The party winning the majority of seats forms the government and names the prime minister. Since independence in 1981 the winner of every general election has alternated between the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party until 1998 2003 when the People’s United Party won a second term. They were defeated by the United Democratic Party in 2008.

All general and local elections are hotly contested by the two major political parties as well as a variety of smaller parties and independent candidates. Belizeans have definite opinions on their politics and are vocal about it.

Foreign Policy
Up until 1981, Britain retained the management of Belize's foreign affairs, including the longstanding territorial dispute with Belize’s larger neighbor to the west, Guatemala. Under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS) negotiations for a settlement to the Guatemala/Belize dispute have been ongoing for decades. There has been no military aggression and relations on the ground between Belizeans and Guatemalans are cordial.

To a large extent, Belize's foreign policy has been greatly determined by its political, military, and economic links with Britain and the United States, as well as its geographical ties with Central America and the Caribbean. Mexico is an important trading partner and development aid has been received by a wide variety of countries all over the world including Europe, Asia, North and South America. Belize is a member of both CARICOM (the Caribbean Community) and SICA (Central America Integration Committee) as well as a member of the United Nations.

Guatemala Claim
Guatemala claims to have inherited a Spanish claim to Belize when they became independent in 1821. Their claim to the settlement of Belize was made soon after Guatemala gained independence from Spain but a treaty between Britain and Guatemala in 1859 recognized the de facto boundaries of the settlement as well as Britain’s sovereignty. Since then Guatemala has revised its claim against Belize in 1930, 1945 and as late as 1999.

In December 2008, accepting that negotiations were unable to settle the issue, the governments of both Belize and Guatemala signed an agreement to conduct simultaneous national referenda to determine if the Guatemala claim to Belize should be decided by the International Court of Justice.

Pre Independence to Present Timeline

1968 - The "Webster Proposals": draft treat presented by U.S.A. mediator for Anglo-Guatemalan dispute, rejected by government and people.
1970s - Internationalization of Belize's cause.
1971 - Belize joins CARIFTA. Belmopan becomes Capital of Belize.
1973 - Country's name legally changed to "Belize". Aliens Landholding Ordinance passed.
1975 - First pro-Belize resolution passed by General Assembly of United Nations.
1976 - Belize given "special status" in Non-Aligned Movement.
1981 - Belize gains Independence and joins the British Commonwealth, United Nations and Non-Aligned Movement. George Price of the People’s United Party (PUP) is the first Prime Minister
1984 - PUP is defeated for the first time in 30 years. Manuel Esquivel of the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) becomes the Prime Minister of Belize.
1986 - Belize's first university – University of Belize - opens
1989 - PUP wins general elections and George Price is again named Prime Minister
1990 - 12 years after its formation, three Belizeans take command of the Belize Defence Force (B.D.F.) as Commandant of BDF, Guard Commander, and Commander of Air & Maritime Wing.
1991 - Guatemalan President Jorge Serrano Elias recognizes Belize's right to self determination ten years after independence. Belize is admitted into the Organization of American States (OAS).
1992 - Guatemalan Constitutional Court upholds President Serrano's decision to recognize Belize as an independent state and to establish diplomatic relations.
1993 - UDP with Prime Minister Esquivel has a second term in office after the P.U.P. government calls elections 18 months early.
1994 - Responsibility for Belize's defense changes from British Forces to the Belize Defence Force as the British garrison withdraws from the country.
1996 - Hon. George Cadle Price steps aside after 40 years as leader of the PUP. Said Musa becomes the new Party Leader.
1998 - PUP returns to power with Said Musa as Prime Minister of Belize. Dean Barrow becomes the UDP’s Party Leader.
2001 - Maya in Belize sign Declaration of Ancestral Rights. UNESCO proclaims The Garifuna Culture as a Masterpiece of an Intangible and Oral Heritage.
2003 - PUP wins general election to become the first government to serve two consecutive terms since Independence. Said Musa is Prime Minister.
2008 – UDP under Prime Minister Dean Barrow forms the new government

Here is the link Belize Independence Story-History

About Belize | Attrac

R.I.P. Bridget Cullerton

Subject: R.I.P. - Bridget Cullerton

BELIZE MOURNS PASSING OF BRIDGET CULLERTON

Sep 11, 2009

Well known Belizean social activist and entrepreneur Bridget Cullerton has
passed in her hometown Dangriga. Cullerton returned to Belize in 1992, in
fulfillment of a long-held plan to work for her country and people,
following an extensive professional career in the U.S.A. She accepted the
position of Managing Director of Belize Enterprise for Sustainable
Technology (B.E.S.T.), now one of Belize’s outstanding development NGO’s.

For five years she led the B.E.S.T. staff in the development and
implementation of programs throughout Belize to help groups of farmers,
fishers, crafts persons and others acquire financial assistance, business
skills and entrepreneurial training to help them achieve economic
sustainability. Most of B.E.S.T’s target groups consisted of women and
youth. She was recognized as one of Belize’s 20 Outstanding Women in the mid-90’s and was honored as Belize’s “Woman of the Year” in 2000 by the Belize Business Bureau. She was vested with the Member of the British
Empire as part of the Queen’s Honors that same year.

In mid-1997 she accepted an invitation from the Board of Management of Citrus Growers Association to assume the position of CEO in which she represented the country’s 1,050 citrus growers. She was also responsible for the operation of Citrus Research & Education Institute which conducts research and training for the citrus and related industries. Cullerton also served as the President of the Dangriga Rotary Club for 2007. She and her husband Brian adopted two sons in Belize, Sean and Clifton. They also have seven adult children and ten grandchildren, most of whom reside in the United States.

Travel Channel's Bizarre World features Belize

Visit this link to see the entire episode of Bizarre World filmed in Belize Bizarre World Filmed in Belize Sept 09

Press Release from US Embassy American Citizens Services Unit

American Citizen Services

Adding Appointments--Two Days Weekly

In an effort to better serve our customers, the U.S. Embassy’s American Citizens Services Unit will begin scheduling individual appointments for consular services during two days of each week as of Tuesday, September 1, 2009.

Appointments will be available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during normal business hours. Thursdays will be reserved for off-site business and the Unit will be closed to other than emergency walk-in services.

The following services may be scheduled by online appointment:

• Passports: First Time Applications, Renewals, and Additional Visa Pages
• Consular Reports of Birth Abroad
• Notary Public and Other Legal Services

Monday (8:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 4 p.m.) and Friday mornings (8:00am to 10:30am) will remain available for walk-in services for those customers unable to make an online appointment or for federal benefits inquiries.

Emergencies involving the death, incarceration, injury, or hospitalization of American citizens do not require an appointment in advance. For emergency services, American citizens may visit the Consular Section during regular business hours or telephone our embassy duty officer at 610-5030 (after business hours and on weekends or holidays).

The Consular Section may be reached via e-mail for non-emergencies at our new email address: ACSBelize@state.gov.

To make an appointment, customers will need to logon to our website at http://belize.usembassy.gov/citizen_services.html, and follow the links—providing information as needed depending upon the service being requested.

The U.S. Embassy is located in Belmopan on Floral Park Road. The general number is 822-4011.

Travel Channel's Bizarre World to feature Belize on Tuesday September 8

Subject: Travel Channel's "Bizarre World" to feature Belize on Tuesday.

Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Worlds – Belize
Premiers Tuesday, September 8

Most fans know Andrew Zimmern as the man with the stomach of steel on Bizarre Foods. Andrew enjoys exploring the fringes of culture, especially when it comes to food. He believes sharing a meal with locals, a family or a tribe grants the traveler a unique opportunity to better understand different people.

ndrew's exploration continues with his new show, Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World, where he takes his passion for other cultures to the extreme. Andrew dives face-first into the most unusual and unexpected traditions from around the globe, traveling to Belize, Cuba, Kalahari, South Africa, Sulawesi, Bali, Germany, Florida and Wisconsin.

Andrew was in Belize in April and filmed for a week in different parts of Belize. Andrews’ Belizean adventure includes swimming with sharks and sting rays, explores the hidden underworld of the caves (Actun Tunichil Muknal) and sinks his teeth into Mayan-style pork brains and the country’s most prized rodent (Gibnut – Royal Rat).

Some places where Andrew visited included Rojo Lounge in Ambergris Caye, Poustinia Land Art Park in San Ignacio, Gales Point in Stann Creek District, and the Toledo District. Andrews interesting trip included a spiritual cleansing as well as witnessing of a fertility ceremony.

The show airs in 70 countries that will see the people of Belize and show what really makes Belize tick. Bizarre World’s premiered on September 1, with Andrew venturing into Cuba, which according to Zimmern, no other show has been able to do. Belize will be the second episode of Bizarre World, to be aired on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. Be sure to mark your calendars and tune into the Travel Channel on Channel 49 at 10:00 p.m. eastern time.

Book 'Middle Schoolin' Authors Frank Palacio and Jacques Rallion Available at Amazon.com and other locations

visit www.middleschoolin.com

Book is now available!!!

Middle Schoolin'

Purchase this book at:

Read about the challenges, humor, and rewards of teaching, as well as classroom tragedies and successes, that take place in inner city public schools. These 50 vignettes describe human-interest, middle school events.

For example, have you ever feared for your life? Have you ever been accused of something that was not your fault? Have you ever had a conversation with someone and they suddenly say something disrespectful? These scenarios emerge from real-life situations experienced by two Los Angeles middle school teachers. In Middle Schoolin’, authors Frank Palacio and Jacques Paul Rallion share fifty vignettes garnered from their collective years working with teenage students.

Based on interactions with students, parents, and other education professionals, the stories both educate and entertain and include anecdotes that are humorous, sad, tragic, hopeful, uplifting, and thought-provoking. The vignettes reveal the day-to-day challenges that teachers face and the rewards that are often bestowed as a result.

From the knife-toting male to the watch-swiping student, and to the late-to-class-again girls, this collection provides a glimpse into the modern-day classroom. Addressing valuable moments in teaching, Middle Schoolin’ opens the classroom doors to provide an insight into the human element of education. It reinforces the idea that education can transform lives and that today’s youth are the world’s greatest resource.

BONUS: This book contains 25 Teaching Strategies!

Purchase this book at:
| www.amazon.com | www.bn.com | www.iuniverse.com |

Or, by calling 1-800-AUTHORS

We'd love to hear from you, the reader. Please send us your comments:
Jacques Rallion (jprallion@gmail.com) and Frank Palacio (fpalacio51@hotmail.com)

Articles written by Dr Albert Williams on Dual Citizenship

Articles written by Dr. Albert Williams on dual citizenship

Dual Citizenship and Political Office - PART TWO.docx

dual Citizenship and Political Office - PART THREE.docx

Andy Palacio Watina and the Garifuna Collective #1 of 100 Greatest World Music Albums of all Time

Amazon.com: 100 Greatest World Music Albums of All Time

Source: bit.ly

Throughout 2009, we'll be creating definitive album lists for a variety of categories. Here are the lists so far:• 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time• 100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All ...

Petition to Sign and email or mail if you Support Amendments to Article 7

SPEARHEADED

WELLINGTON C. RAMOS

And

ALBERT A. WILLIAMS

Email Addresses: we.ramos@hotmail.com/albert05@bellsouth.net

PETITION IN SUPPORT

AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE-7

Under Article-7 of the current Belize Constitution, natural born Belizeans who possess Dual Citizenships with the United States and some other countries that are not members of the British Commonwealth, are ineligible to seek office in the House of Representatives, Senate and become Prime Minister of Belize unless they revoke their Dual Citizenships from the second countries. Yet, people who were not born in Belize are eligible to seek all these offices with their Dual Citizenships. The United Democratic Party Government that is currently in charge of the government in Belize, is proposing an Amendment to the Constitution to make Belizeans eligible for those who possess Dual Citizenship with the United States and the other countries. We are in support of this amendment and would like for you to support the Government of Belize in all their efforts to ensure that this amendment is ratified by the Legislative Bodies in Belize. Please forward this Petition to the Prime Minister’s Office in Belmopan at the address posted below and to all you relatives and friends who are in support of this amendment.

I__________________________________do hereby declare that I am fully in support of the Prime Minister and Government of Belize proposed amendments to the current Belizean Constitution, to grant Natural Born Belizeans with Dual Citizenships with the United States and other countries, the right to be eligible to become members of the National Assembly, the Senate and Prime Minister of Belize and all those offices that all Belizeans citizens are entitled to. Except for those countries who claim Belize, have failed to recognize Belize’s independence and do not support Belize’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Mail to:

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

THE RIGHT HONORABLE DEAN O BARROW

BELMOPAN, CAYO DISTRICT

BELIZE CENTRAL AMERICA

Email Address: cabinet@btl.net

Here is a copy if you want to download to forward. ramos AND WILLIAMS PETITION DRIVE.doc

Amend Article 7 by William R. Cayetano

Amend Article 7
William R Cayetano
wcayetano@roadrunner.com
So this is what it feels like to walk into a hornets nest! I'm still in the dark about why this issue has so very
suddenly become a hot button topic. What precipitated this heated discussion at this time, seeing as how there
are no immediate elections on the horizon? Until I get some satisfactory answers to my query, I'll feel free to add
my two cents worth to the discussion.
I am a Belizean born and bred, and as so aptly laid out by our Belizean brother Wellington Ramos, the United
States was a relatively easy choice for migration to escape economic stagnation. As it turned out, quite a few of
my high school classmates decided it was also a good place to get some education beyond the 6th Form level.
Such education was not available in Belize prior to Independence in 1981. As many of you might recall, quite a
number of Belizeans migrated after the big hurricane in 1961, again, for socio-economic reasons. In the interim,
while already living in the United States anyway, and citizenship was within reach, one would have been pretty
foolish not to pursue it, because, all kinds of neat benefits came with the package, consider - buying a home,
getting a good paying Government job, and running for public office, the highest office in the Land being the
sole exception. Even if dual citizenship was a heavy price to pay, making the call was a no brainer.
Imagine my surprise to discover rather very recently that Belizean Americans(the so-called BelAms) returning
home are barred from seeking public office. It wasn't so long ago, late 80s/early 90s that BelAms were being
offered all kinds of incentives to return home, particularly those with the kinds of skills useful in nation building
- Medical personnel, architecture folks, scientists in the computer field, manufacturing and the like.. Dr. Arlie
Petters might very well have been one of those Belizeans, in addition to Mr. Frank Arzu, the cable entrepreneur
down South. I can't even begin to imagine that either of these well respected gentlemen would be barred from
seeking public office. Their situation in and of itself, would be reason enough to endorse the proposed change to
Article 7. The depth and breath of business savvy they could bring to the public office table would be
incalculable. Think about that for a minute! I'm not certain either is seeking office, but you get the idea. Amend
Article 7 already!
On a more global perspective, Belize is virtually an American satellite. If the irrational fear is that a Belizean
American would Americanize Belize, it is much too late to make that argument. Look around you -
geographically, geo-politically, geo-physically, and even possibly geometrically, Belize is in every sense being
Americanized, the biggest building on the block in Belmopan is the American Embassy. At the various resorts in
San Pedro, menus and other assorted prices are stated in American currency. Indeed, Belize and Belizeans cannot
escape the gigantic, all encompassing American footprint. Peek inside the various stores and inventory all the
American products available. The Free Zone and Tourist Village are geared to Americans. My examples here are
but a tiny fraction of the American reality in Belize. Given this backdrop, it's inevitable that Belizean Americans
would seek public office, since even the most detached observer recognizes political power is a precursor to
economic power. That is the inescapable reality. Amend Article 7 immediately!
I am very aware of the many anti Belizean American attitudes and sentiments currently making the rounds in
Belize, that is unfortunate on so many levels. There are any number of reasons for the behavior, yet it can't
simply be swept under the rug. The people currently in office and those who aspire to public office must,
however difficult, look at the big picture and make public policy decisions that affect the Belizean majority.
Exclusion from public office, based on the narrow criteria of dual citizenship, not of a commonwealth country is
not only short sighted in its intent and effect, it reflects a level of ignorance Belizeans can no longer defend.
Amend Article 7 now!

Response by Ms Sylvana Woods to Public email by Ms Muriel Laing Arthurs

August 3, 2009

To Editor,

Amandala, Reporter, Belize Times, Guardian, Krem Radio, Krem TV, Love FM, LOVE TV, Wave, Positive Vibes, Ch. 5, Ch. 7, Wamalali, San Pedro Sun, Ch. 3 Centaur, Plus TV, Open Learning TV, Ambergris Today, Reef Radio

RE: REPSONSE to public email being circulated by Mrs. Muriel Laing Arthurs on the matter of dual citizenship for elected representatives

No one doubts, I am sure, Belizean-Americans’ feelings of goodwill for Belize. However, some are “ded rang” (extremely in error) in thinking that us Belizeans who are resident in Belize are, in fact, being unfair to Belizeans who have dual citizenship and who do not want to give up their foreign benefits [and escape route] if they are elected to office. In an email entitled “Urgent Message” being circulated, the writer states the following: “Despite the fact that Belizeans in the US for decades have magnanimously contributed to the welfare of Belize and Belizeans…those opposed seem not to regard such generous acts as acts of true patriotism, loyalty or love of country.” The writer is very wrong. No one doubts the love for Belize of Belizeans living abroad. However, a myriad of ways exists for serving Belize. The writer mentioned one – sending back remittances to Belizeans living in the jewel. Indeed, if you are a retired nurse, you can come back and help our heath system and still retain your foreign benefits, because Belize allows for duality of citizenship, but not for its highest offices! If you want to serve in the sacrosanct role of representation of the people, then your very loyalty to Belize first should demand that you give up your duality. Remember, you can serve in hundreds of other ways. But come back to Belize 100% if you want to give your all to the highest offices of the country. Furthermore, the letter writer says that opponents to the dual citizenship for elected representatives need to be aware that the great U.S. allows its citizens to have dual citizenship. Of course, so does Belize, as stated. BUT that same great US has major restrictions against this in running for the highest offices; in fact, to be US president you MUST additionally be born in the U.S.

This then brings me to the point of similarity I do have with born Belizeans who have migrated and acquired dual citizenship, whether by choice or without choice as with those who left with their parents. Remember, the Constitution currently DOES allow you to run for electoral office IF you give up the foreign citizenship. The letter writer believes this is unfair to born Belizeans since the naturalized Belizean who, not by an act of his or her will (that is, the parents were American or Canadian or whatever) do not have to renounce the citizenship. Allow me to quote one of Belize’s popular talk show radio hosts, Evan Mose Hyde, with the following remark made on his “Wake up Belize Morning Vibes” radio/TV show, which, incidentally, I also just quoted in responding to a similar sentiment to yours expressed by a Mr. Wellington C. Ramos in the August 1, 2009 Caribbean Net News. Basically, Mose has said “noh bikaaz yu shot tyaa meenz yu mos tyaa yu pants fu mach it. Try fix di shirt!”[translation: If your shirt has a tear, would you tear your pants to match it? No. You would sew/fix up the tear in the shirt]. The point of the Opposition in Belize by Belizeans who every single day live and breathe our beautiful Belizean air (except when the garbage dump is burning) is this: No matter HOW you came to be a Belizean, you MUST NOT hold dual citizenship whether by your own act or by your birth once you represent the country at these highest levels in government.

So, in closing, I reiterate to the writer of the “Urgent Message” email being publicly ciruclated and to those with similar sentiment: no one doubts your love for Belize and the dollars you have worked very hard for and of which you sent back some over the years to help us here in the struggle. But, you see, this is exactly the point. We who are living here, day in and day out, are the ones who need the street lights fixed. We are the ones who will be agitating for our area representatives to deal with the potholes and crime. We are the ones who are tripping in the dark because electricity may not extend all the way to our areas yet. We are the ones who sit light a fish to chase away the mosquitoes and sit on our verandas fanning ourselves with a lee palm leaf because, of course, air-conditioning is only a cold blast we get when we visit the bank.

Therefore, yes, it may be that the way the Constitution currently reads on who is allowed to represent Belize may put Belizean-Americans at a disadvantage because they will lose their hard earned US or other foreign benefits. Well, most of us back here in Belize, our Belize, do not have foreign benefits nor do many of us even want such benefits. What we want is to know that our elected representatives have ONE allegiance. Service to Belize comes in many forms. Let us not amend Article 7 just to safeguard the financial retirement benefits of Belizeans who have dual citizenship. In fact, while we are at it, let us insist that elected representatives have to give up green cards too! (Although who would knowingly vote for such a candidate is beyond me.) Remember, our current Prime Minister himself had felt the noble call to do give up his U.S. paperwork when he decided to make a beeline for politics! Therefore, if any fixing of the Constitution is to occur, let it be after months and months of discussion through a clearly appointed constitutional reform bipartisan committee with civil society, and let it be, to paraphrase Mose Hyde, to fix the hole rather than to widen the chasm into which the integrity of the nation state of Belize will slowly sink.

Respectfully,

Silvaana Udz (Woods)

Citizen of Belize

Email: silvana@btl.net

cc: cabinet@btl.net

Cc: Area Representative, Hon. M. Hutchinson

Cc: The Clerk, National Assembly

The article that Ms Muriel wrote is located at In the News

Dual Citizenship and Political Office

Dual Citizenship and Political Office – Pros and Cons

Albert Williams Ph.D.

(albert05@bellsouth.net)

July 28, 2009

This debate of dual citizenship in political office is ‘hot’ throughout Belize AND among Belizeans in other countries. This is a sensitive issue with emotions running high on both sides. Should we allow a Belizean living in Florida or New York to return home to run for public office, whether local or national? Should the Prime Minister appoint someone with dual citizenship to his Cabinet?

A decision to the question will affect all Belizeans living in Belize and abroad. Presently, there is no accurate count as to how many Belizeans and their children are living abroad but a popular estimate is that that number is equal to the population living in Belize, which is estimated at 301,000 in 2008. Hence, about half of all Belizeans live outside of Belize! This is huge but not uncommon for small countries. People move primarily for economic reason.

This dual citizenship debate is not unique to Belize. Many countries in the world are dealing with this issue. For example, dual citizenship is becoming more common in today's increasingly interconnected global economies. Countries such as India, the Philippines and Mexico are utilizing the advantages of dual citizenship by liberalizing their citizenship laws. These countries have realized that dual citizenship has the advantages of broadening a country's economic base, and fostering trade and investment between the dual citizen's two respective countries. This is one way to turn the brain drain into a brain gain. (Belizeans living abroad will want to do even more in Belize.) One of the benefits of dual citizenship is the ability of dual citizens to influence economic and political decisions in the country of descent.

Having dual citizenship AND serving in political office is what is stirring the heated debate.

We are at a crossroad to decide if we want people with dual citizenship to run for political office. I will present supporting arguments for dual citizenship and political office in Belize, followed by points against it. Next, I will present some other issues of concern, followed by my position on the whole situation.

Arguments for Belizean with Dual Citizenship to Run for Political Office

First, a person with dual citizenship may have gathered a different set of expertise, skill, knowledge, experience and exposure to bring to the table. This could enhance better decision making at the public policy level, which could lead to a better standard of living for ALL Belizeans. For example, a Belizean who is part of the leadership team of a large corporation may have acquired decision making abilities and experiences that could help him/her in public life, as a representative or minister of government. Note that many Belizeans abroad have excelled in their fields. For example, if talented Belizeans who are passionate about Belize were to return home and run for political office, it would seem like a great idea as they bring a different set of talents and exposure to the table.

A second reason for allowing a person with dual citizenship to run for public office is the potential benefit of networking that he/she has developed over time. This network, most likely global, can be utilized to provide grants for projects, generate investments, and provide human resource development for Belizeans. These Belizeans can mobilize additional resources to assist Belize.

A third reason is that just having this right to political office will stimulate more Belizeans to expand his/her interest and appreciation for Belize. This can lead to more Belizean in other countries wanting to invest more in Belize. Note that many homes in Belize have been built with funds from families living abroad. This has generated income for builders, unskilled laborers, building supplies stores, and food vendors, etc. There might be an increase in gifts and funds to care for children and parents - a big part of Belizeans caring for Belizeans.

Fourth, Belizeans living abroad are patriotic and could serve Belize well. Having dual citizenship does NOT imply that Belizeans living abroad hate Belize and are traitors. In fact, Belizeans living abroad are very in-tuned with the happenings in Belize. They visit Belize regularly. They regularly read news at Channel 5 and Channel 7. They read the online newspapers and listen to the radio stations. They are concerned about the Belizean politics, crime, corruption, poverty, and education, etc. They celebrate all the national holidays in their communities. They entertain Belizean political missions in their cities. They care. When there are natural disasters in Belize, they mobilize their resources to assist. They are patriotic and could make great political leaders, regardless of dual citizenship.

I am sure that there are other arguments to support dual citizenship in political office.

Arguments against Belizean with Dual Citizenship to Run for Political Office

First, it appears unfair for a Belizean coming from a country like the U.S. to ‘take’ a prestigious political position. He/she has been living the ‘good life’ in the U.S. and is now coming to ‘takeover.’ The perception is that he/she left and should not come back and take political leadership positions. That is, he/she is a traitor for leaving and is unpatriotic. He/she can return and enjoy Belize and invest, etc. but he/she must not take political office. Many Belizeans living in Belize hold this position.

Second, Belizeans with dual citizenship may not fully serve the interest of Belize. Their allegiance might be two-fold and can use their political offices to promote the objectives of the other country. That is, a Belizean with dual citizenship with Guatemala (a whole major issue) may serve the interest of Guatemala rather than the interest of Belize. This is a major concern for most Belizeans. Note that India developed laws with exception clauses for holding dual citizenship. For example, an Indian cannot by law have dual citizenship with Pakistan or Bangladesh. Note that India and Pakistan are politically unfriendly neighbors.

Third, Belizeans with dual citizenship may not use their network for the benefit of Belizeans. They could focus on creating the majority of gains to their network parties. For example, a Chinese Belizean may have a strong network with a real estate business person. Hence, when he/she gets into political office, he will help his/her ‘friend.’ This can reduce the economic and social benefits to most Belizeans. (I am sure that you are aware that regular local politicians are accused of doing this too – a global political issue.)

Fourth, local Belizeans fear that these Belizeans living abroad will come back and ‘look down’ on them. The local Belizeans are tired of hearing, “This is how we do it in America.” Hence, if one of the Belizeans from abroad becomes a Cabinet member, he will want adopt American ways of doing things – which is questionable these days.

Again these four points against dual citizenship and political office is not exhaustive.

Other Issues of Major Concern

First, will there be an order of citizenship? Should Belize be the country of first citizenship and the other country be second for a person to be eligible to run for political office? A worst case scenario is you can have

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