Belize Blog

U.S. Company Harvesting Xate Palm Leaves in Belize

2010-02-25T15:49:55Z

Local media reports say a U.S. company based in Miami is harvesting Xate leaves from Belize's rain forests. Xate (pronounce: shatay) are the leaves from 3 Chamaedorea species of palm tree (Chamaedorea elegans, Chamaedorea oblongata and Chamaedorea ernesti-augustii). The leaves are used in the floral industry because of their popularity for flower arrangements. The harvesting of Xate has been a controversial issue in Belize. Belize's Channel 7 reported on 24 February that:

"Whenever it comes up the issue of Xate is always a troubling one. That's because most times, the stories are about illegal harvesting of the ornamental leaf in Belize's jungles by Guatemalans. Recently, the Government of Belize had agreed to issue a number of licenses but those also proved problematic because they provided Guatemalan harvesters to extract Xate with a license, and in so doing muddied the waters for authorities who could no longer make an easy differentiation between legitimate and illegitimate operators.

"According to Belize's Ambassador to Guatemala Fred Martinez, it was frowned upon by the OAS and he told us that the Government of Belize had put a stop on all Xate concessions. And that's why today we were taken off guard when the Government Press Office sent video of a fully outfitted Xate operation in western Belize. It's called Eco-Green a subsidiary of a Miami based company that specializes in this. The processing factory is just outside Cayo and they had an official opening today - except that we weren't invited to ask the tough questions - like who's going to be harvesting the Xate? Specifically, are Guatemalans going to be harvesting it in Belize's jungles?

That's a worrying prospect - but a question for which we have no answers - as the Minister and the investor soft shoed through their interview with the Government Press Office."
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"Eco-Greens Company Limited will be involved strictly in the harvesting, packaging and the export of Xate leaves to the US and Europe. It is very important for this area, Cayo Central which I represent, and also to Belize. It has the potential of becoming a major foreign exchange earner and most importantly it will create jobs especially women, about 75% of the workers will be women. Right now we have 70 people employed, about 40 doing the harvesting and about 30 people here doing the packaging and selecting.

"Government will be collecting revenue in terms of the royalty being paid to government and because previously 90% of the xate was being harvested illegally and taken over to our neighbouring countries. But now Belize will benefit from this vital natural resource that we have here. We will be able to harvest it and we the Belizeans will be able to benefit from it."

Representative, Eco-Green

"We have been involved in this business in Guatemala and in Mexico for 31 years and we got involved with Belize because we found out that Belize had the product also and so now we are involved in Belize. Our job is to take the product from here, take it to the United States, repackage it to different customers in the United States and Europe.

"This product is a very interesting product because it is product that is 100% organic. It is a product that it is not only a product that is very interesting and needed in the floral industry but it is also a product that is 100% natural."

We note that the Minister spoke of employment for a hundred while the investor spoke about employment for one thousand. The company is named Eco-Green.

Belize Guest Editorial: Shaft of Brilliance?

2010-02-21T02:57:59Z

By G. Michael Reid - The Prime Minister took the podium this past week to apprise Belizeans of the current state or our nation and as could have been expected, the prognosis was grim. Not even the normally glib and gifted orator could find the words to make the landing of his message soft. Things are dread and gonna get dreader!

Anyone living in this country at this time will tell you that things are...well in a word, terrible. Cost of living is astronomical and climbing higher each day, unemployment is bad and getting worse, crime is ridiculously out of control, our security forces make us more ashamed than secure and corruption seems the normal and acceptable modus operandi among public officials. Hustling is the order of the day.

Mr. Barrow let loose sighs and phrases like: "huge deficit""the worst is yet to come" and "The upcoming fiscal year will be the hardest." In a rare and unusual display of humility, Mr. Barrow asked Belizeans for their "support and understanding". Well for sure, that request could be more readily considered if Belizeans would see the same inclination to austerity from Mr. Barrow and his band of bungling bandits. For Mr. Barrow to shake his Rolex in our faces and asking us to keep our Timex ticking, is unreasonable. We are basically being asked to patch our bikes and keep peddling while we watch his clueless ministers and hand pick hustlers high roll past us in their Infiniti's and custom fitted SUV's.

Belize folk are not known to be unreasonable and have in fact, been often criticized for being too complacent and lenient with politicians. This current administration in particular, has been given a long rope when we consider the number of misappropriations and blatant misuse of public trust; from the halls of Capital Hill to the corridors of local government. Yet, shielded by a shamelessly partisan media (probably embarrassed by their obvious misdirecting of the people), this government has been allowed to function, or malfunction as the case may be, free and san souci.

]]> With the opposition finally seeming to find some ground underfoot, with the unions obviously disgruntled and with growing turmoil in the citrus, sugarcane and fishing industries, the Prime Minister might have a tough time getting that "support and understanding." Seems the Belizean people have given his government enough rope and their challenge is now to keep it from around their necks.

Mr. Barrow's flirt with humility was brief and fleeting as it wasn't long before he was back to fine arrogant form. He made it clear to teachers that they could "expect no quarter" and informed those that would hold him to his promise of a national oil industry that it was out of the question. Leaves one begging the question as to who is Mr. Barrow really representing on this issue.

The best of Mr. Barrow's effrontery was yet to come however, as he explained to the nation that he was making no apologies for enriching his ex-wife and daughter at the expense of the very taxpayers that he was now asking to their tighten belts. According to Mr. Barrow, his ex-wife did much pro-bono work leading up to his being elected and therefore deserves to be compensated. Not sure how much pro bono work his daughter did but apparently she also deserves huge "support and understanding".

It is widely accepted that Lois Young is a reasonably proficient attorney but Mr. Barrow's justification for channeling every single lucrative government law case through her firm falls way short of legitimate. And what about our well paid and supposedly experienced solicitor general touted as "an attorney at law who practices extensively throughout the wider Caribbean"? Would he consider maybe doing some practicing here in Belize or do we just pay him to write articles totally unrelated to Belize?

The function of a Solicitor General is clearly defined. "Supervise and conduct government litigation in the Courts. Virtually all such litigation is channeled through the Office of the Solicitor General and is actively conducted by the Office. The Solicitor General determines the cases in which Supreme Court review will be sought by the government and the positions the government will take before the Court. The Office's staff attorneys participate in preparing the petitions, briefs, and other papers filed by the government in its Supreme Court litigation. The Solicitor General personally assigns the oral argument of government cases in the Supreme Court. Those cases not argued by the Solicitor General personally are assigned either to an attorney in the Office or to another government attorney. The vast majority of government cases are argued by the Solicitor General or by one of the Office's other attorneys." http://www.justice.gov/osg/aboutosg/function.html Sounds more like Lois's terms of reference.

After exalting his ex-wife, the Prime Minister rubbed salt in the wound by inculpating his fellow attorneys. According to Mr. Barrow, they were all in Michael Ashcroft's pocket; except for two of course, Ellis Arnold and Richard Stuart. That left some very prominent UDP lawyers hanging under suspicion. We know Rodwell Williams is comfortably in pocket but how about Michael Young, or the Pitts father and daughter team, or the Elringtons, Audrey Matura, Michael Peyrefitte, etc., etc.?

Mr. Barrow then opened the microphones and as per usual, responded to every question by blaming the PUP. The PUP, he said, was responsible for all the litigation that government finds itself in. Well pray tell Mr. Barrow, who was it that strong-armed BTL with a supposed purpose of ending litigation when you well knew that it would only open doors for more? Who was it that took the attempt to deny the Belizean people the right to a referendum all the way to the Privy Council, despite losing in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals? All this of course, has presented an excellent opportunity for us to make good on our enormous debt to poor Lois.

The crux of the matter is that Mr. Barrow's presentation was fraught with fraud, disrespect and sanctimony. Belize is blessed in that we have few chickens and eggs in several baskets. We have a mere 300,000 people and an opportunity for much diversity in industry; Sugarcane, banana, citrus, papaya, fish, aquaculture, oil, cattle, rice, etc., etc. We lack no opportunity or wherewithal; what we do lack is honest and competent leadership. Enough of the finger-pointing, the blame gaming and the lame excuses, Mr. Barrow! You had all the answers while in opposition and you said you could do the job. It is time to do the job or vacate the chamber pot!

Belize Facing Union Problems

2010-02-14T05:39:57Z

Belmopan, Belize (13 February) The United Democratic Party of Prime Minister Dean Barrow continues to be haunted by economic woes and now problems from the very same trade unions that helped bring him to power. Former strategic ally - the Belize Teachers Union - has now turned on the government accusing it of "pussy footing" around agreed upon salary increases.

In a a radio interview monitored today in Belize, Mr. Jaime Panti - President of the Belize Tachers union stated that:

"We are demanding from government first, to respect the principles of good industrial relations. We started negotiations, lets continue the process. So what we're demanding from them is to come to the table so we can continue the process. We're not in for having any public debate as to our proposal. So that's basically what we are demanding. Respect and lets come to the table"

President of the Public Service Union and key ally in bringing Mr. Barrow to power - Jaquelin Willoughby - told the media that:

"Government is government. They are always going to sensationalize and highlight the politics. They highlighted the issue of the salary increase so as to hide the disrespectful way in which they have been treating the unions. So I'm not going to buy into that. If the government desires for us to negotiate this agreement in the public, then they need to put that in writing and let us know. But we have agreed on the 12 September 2008 that we would not talk about the proposals unless we have come to an agreement.

So I can only conclude that them raising the issue is definitely politicizing it and trying to bring the Belizean people to that place of confusion. But there is no confusion where the unions are concerned. We say they are disrespectful. Come to the table. So I can't even take what they are saying as anything official, because we have not started discussions."

Belize Cabinet Reshuffle May Be In The Works

2010-02-05T07:05:11Z

A reshuffle of the Belize Cabinet may be in the works, according to local media reports monitored in Belize. Increasing poverty, political corruption and out of control crime may force Prime Minister Barrow to fire ministers as his government completes two years in office. More Information Here.

U.S. National Allegedly Coerced to Guilty Plea in Belize

2010-01-22T08:56:35Z

Belmopan, Belize 21 January - U.S. national and alleged fugitive, William Russell Jewett Jr., has been in the news since Monday because he was found in Belize with a large bundle of cash. Jewett was busted with over a hundred and twenty thousand dollars on his boat and slapped with charges from the F.I.U., Customs and Immigration.

But now, thirty-three year old Jewett is making serious allegations against the FIU. Today he indicated to the court that he wanted to change his plea for Money Laundering from not guilty to guilty. But before the plea was taken, his attorneys, Dickie Bradley and Ellis Arnold, addressed the court both indicating that they were withdrawing from the case because Jewett rejected their legal advice.

According to Bradley, while remanded, Jewett had a visit from personnel of the U.S. Embassy and the F.I.U. and was allegedly threatened with eleven years in prison if he did not plead guilty. Bradley says that Jewett was also told that his wife will be charged and their two year old child would be placed in the custody of Social Services. This was confirmed by Jewett to freelance reporter, Anita Nembhard, via a telephone call from prison. The alleged threats apparently contributed to Jewett's change of heart. Although Jewett is no longer his client, Bradley gave us details of what happened. ]]>
"He became outraged and he sent for attorneys early Sunday morning. Myself and Ellis Arnold went and saw him, we explained to him the law that governs money laundering. We told him there was the possibility that they would come with a customs charged. But how can you be charged for breaking the law by importing a boat into the country, when the boat is registered here in Belize? When that is his means of transport, he is coming in and has in fact advised Immigration that he will be leaving with his boat.

"He advised his wife, since she was not charged for anything, she is not wanted, because they are using his wife and his child to bring pressure on his to change his plea. He advised his wife to leave Belize. My understanding is his wife left and was somewhere in Mexico on her way to her home country. There is nothing wrong with that, there is nothing illegal about that. Yesterday, officials from the FIU, attorney and officials from the United States Embassy--since you say he spoke to you he may have given you the names. You know my many years of talk show, "Noh call no name"--they came to the prison and he was told you need to change your plea otherwise you will spend eleven years in prison, your wife is going to be charged and you will lose your child. Yeah right. They say why you don't believe us? You think your wife is over there? They gave him a call, he speaks to his wife and his wife is allegedly in Belize. they even show him pictures to satisfy him that his wife is right here and if he doesn't change his plea, his wife will be charged and his wife will go to jail." In court, Jewett's allegation against the F.I.U. was questioned by Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb McKenzie who said that a plea should not be induced by threats or fear. Attorney for the F.I.U.,

Mikhail Arguelles, professed to the court that while he was present at the prison, he was not privileged to the conversation. Jewett had with the F.I.U. Gabb-McKenzie then told Jewett that the penalty for money laundering is in the range of fifty to two hundred thousand dollars that must be paid forthwith. Jewett said he would not be able to pay a fine of that magnitude and requested time. His case was later adjourned until January twenty-seventh after he requested time to speak with the U.S. Embassy for advice.

Airfares to Belize as low as $149.

2009-12-04T17:42:01Z

Belmopan, Belize (4 December BelizeBlog.com) Belize is a much sought-after travel destination but airfares tend to be high. We will be posting airfare sales as soon as we find them. Today American Airlines is offering cheap air fares to Belize. Some samples:

Departure     Destination     Fares
Chicago     Belize City     $179 OW
Dallas     Belize City     $172 OW
Hartford     Belize City     $149 OW
Kansas City     Belize City     $170 OW
Los Angeles     Belize City     $189 OW
Miami     Belize City     $149 OW
New York     Belize City     $149 OW
St. Louis     Belize City     $149 OW
Washington D.C.     Belize City     $149 OW

Travel Dates: January 1 through March 31, 2010.

Advance Purchase Requirements: A 14-day advance purchase is required.
Expiration: 12-22-09

Minimum/Maximum Stay: A Saturday-night minimum stay is required, and a 120-day maximum stay is allowed.

Blackout Dates: January 3 and 4, 2010.

Additional Fees: Fares do not include a federal excise tax of $3.60 per U.S. domestic flight segment, up to $18 per roundtrip in local airport charges and the September 11 security fee of $2.50 per enplanement originating at a U.S. airport. Additional fees may apply.

For more information check out the American Airlines Promotion.

Belize Electricity Ltd. Asks for Brother of Prime Minister Barrow Recusal

2009-11-25T05:51:05Z

Belmopan 25 November (BelizeBlog.com) Belize Electricity Ltd., a subsidiary of Canadian energy giant Fortis Inc.has asked for the recusal of the brother of Prime Minister Dean Barrow in a a critical Belize Supreme Court of Appeals action.

Channel Five reported today that: There have been many unusual developments in the judiciary lately, including a public war of words between the Attorney General and the Chief Justice.

Today, News Five has learnt of an application being made by the Belize Electricity Limited seeking leave to rehear an oral ruling by the Court of Appeal given on October twenty-seventh before a reconstituted panel of judges, which would not include Justice Denys Barrow. B.E.L. is also requesting the court to hear the application before a written judgment is handed down. Justice Barrow sat as a justice of the Court of Appeal along with Justices Mottley and Morrison in the case between B.E.L. and the Public Utilities Commission of Belize in which B.E.L.'s appeal was over the jurisdiction of the P.U.C.

B.E.L. wants the matter reheard because Justice Barrow's son Kimano is a Commissioner on the PUC in whose favour the Court of Appeal ruled. Kimano was appointed commissioner by his uncle Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who is the brother of Justice Barrow.More Here

Essay: Lord Michael Ashcroft and Kremandala

2009-10-27T07:09:10Z

Lord Ashcroft has been a pivotal figure in the financing of David Cameron's revived Tory party. Without his money and his clever strategy in targeting marginal seats, the party would be nowhere.

...if the Tories win the next general election, he(Michael Ashcroft) will want Tory policies that benefit international business and they will be in a weak position to deny what he wants.

~ David Hencke - Guardian's Westminster correspondent

Although the United Kingdom has what is considered a multi-party political system, the so-called first-past-the-post or winner-take-all electoral system has allowed for the dominance of two major political parties. Though both has at some point required the help of a third party to deliver a working majority in Parliament, since as far back as 1920, political power in the UK has been in the hands of either the Labour or the Conservative Party. The Conservative Party or Tories as they are called, has maintained control of government for about two-thirds of that time but has been in opposition since losing the 1997 elections to Tony Blair's Labour Party. Current indicators suggest that another change is in the making however, and the Conservatives are poised to once again take control of Britain's parliament. Recent results show the Labour Party falling far behind in the polls and barring some miraculous turnabout, come next spring, England will once again be flying the dark blue colors of the Conservative Party. Should these polls and predictions prove correct, then this would no doubt have major implications for us here in Belize. What makes Britain's coming elections so significant to Belize is the treatment that we have given to one man in particular; a man who incidentally, holds dual citizenship to both countries.

Sir Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron of Chichester in the County of West Sussex was vested as a Knight Commander, Order of St. Michael and St. George (K.C.M.G.) in the year 2000. For two years prior to that, 1998 to 2000, Ashcroft held the office of Belize's Ambassador to the United Nations. More significantly, from 1998 to 2001, Sir Ashcroft held the post of Senior Party Treasurer to this self same Conservative Party which is set to assume governance of one of the world's most powerful countries. The truth of the matter is that the name Michael Ashcroft is practically synonymous with the Conservative Party and he remains a prominent player therein. With David Cameron occupying #10 Downing Street, Sir Ashcroft would no doubt be wielding significant influence and would be in a position to help or hurt whomever he pleases. Michael Ashcroft, for his part, is not an easy man to predict. He has often been described as rather enigmatic, prompting one British journalist to write, "Or is part of the Tory deputy chairman's delight in being a man of mystery - like his own admission that he loves his nickname of Ernst Stavro Blofeld - the specter villain in James Bond novels. He even has a toy white Persian cat which he enjoys stroking."

Michael Ashcroft has made it known publicly that he has a profound love for Belize. He stated in a recent interview, "If home is where the heart is, then Belize is home." Unfortunately, in recent times, the feeling has been far from mutual. The Zinc Fence in particular, has spent considerable air-time, ink and energy trying to convince the Belizean public that Michael Ashcroft is a demon, a "virus" or the latest, "a pulpo". Unfortunately, some supposedly intelligent and well-meaning Belizeans have swallowed the agitprop hook, line and sinker. Many, some of our current politicians in particular, have grown fat feeding at Michael Ashcroft's money trough, yet readily grab stick and stand in line to partake in Hyde's "hazing" of the man. Many believe that the UDP's recent strong-arming of BTL was little more than an attempt to pacify Hyde's deep-seated animosity toward Michael Ashcroft. Since assuming office, the UDP has bent backwards to accommodate and placate Evan Hyde's whims, fancies and his insatiable greed and ego. Someone ought to tell Dean Barrow the story of the scorpion, which was once told by Hyde himself in an apparently "sober" moment. In his editorial of last Friday's Amandala, Hyde warned that "turmoil...is coming to be visited upon Belize". Hopefully he is wrong but possibly, he doesn't know the half of it!

Hyde, as he does with every problem that Belize faces, tried to tie the recent UB problems to Michael Ashcroft. Was Ashcroft ever the Chairman of UB? Was Ashcroft ever the Minister of Education? I for one do not believe that Michael Ashcroft is the monster that he is being made out to be. Michael Ashcroft is a businessman and a very astute and successful one at that. What Belizeans should realize is that Michael Ashcroft did not come to Belize and "dead-raise." Ashcroft brought money and was investing in Belize when no one else was. Ashcroft took a fledging Royal Bank of Canada and turned it into a robust, internationally-acclaimed and hugely successful financial institution. He did the same for BTL and a number of other Belizean businesses. Yes he makes money, but that's what business people do! To suggest that Michael Ashcroft does not pay any taxes is an outright lie. He does and so do the thousands individuals employed by his various business enterprises. He also donates generously to a number of charitable organizations, in particular to education, and yes, to UB.

Now my objective here is not to try and defend Michael Ashcroft, I do not know him and have never ever met the man. It would be most presumptuous of me to believe that I can help Michael Ashcroft in any way; about as presumptuous as Hyde believing that he can hurt Michael Ashcroft in anyway. The point of my essay is to suggest that maybe we should be more careful about picking up picket and falling in line behind every two-bit pied piper that blows a flute. The story is told of the little sparrow that was late flying south and got caught in a deep freeze. Lying on the ground practically frozen, a cow comes by and drops dung on his head. He gets warm and is so happy, he starts to sing. A cat hears him and comes by and promptly pulls him out and has the sparrow for lunch. The moral of the story of course; not everyone one who is accused of shitting on you is your enemy and not everyone who purports to help is your friend. Beware of the real wolf, Mr. Red riding hood.

-- G. Michael Reid

Commentary: Former Belize A.G. on Government Expropriation Belize Telemedia

2009-09-07T04:02:01Z

Belmopan, Belize 6 September (BelizeBlog.com) Former Belize Attorney General Godfrey Smith has published a commentary on the recent expropriation of the largest company in the country - Belize Telemedia Ltd. by the government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow. Entitled, "And Now For My Second Trick', the essay gives an excellent insight into the behind-the-scenes machinations involved in the takeover of the telephone company once owned by British peer Lord Michael Aschcroft:

The magician's assistants worked feverishly behind the scenes to prepare him for the second part of the show. The second part would be more difficult to perform, especially since there was no script for it. It would have to be played out in real time with unknown actors and no script.

And Now For My Next Trick

A political magician confidently takes center stage before a national audience of 300,000.

He is staking his reputation and maybe also his career on this trick.

Carefully but with poise, he draped his black magician's cloth over the cash rich, $30 million-a-year private phone company and before Belizeans could say "Badass Barrow!" he deftly yanked it away.

Voila! The private phone company was government owned.

The magician he bowed deeply from the waist in appreciation for the spontaneous standing ovation of deafening applause ripping across the nation.

He had outdone himself. Not only had he magically converted a real, live private company into a government-owned one, but he had made its mighty, larger-than-life, feared and ruthless billionaire owner, Lord Ashcroft, actually disappear.

His name, to be sure, would go down as one of the most dazzling political magicians in the country, if not the region.
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The magician took a deep draught from his silver cup of success, savoring the taste of that abundant, warm, fortifying political goodwill.

From his private dressing room he could hear the people, his audience, milling around and marveling at how neatly and adroitly the black man's magic had been performed.

Political tricks were all well and good but audiences, he knew, were fickle. They liked to be entertained by bold new political tricks but could soon turn nasty if these were not backed up with economic tricks.

The show was not over. Far from it. He had made the British peer disappear but knew that not far off-stage the man was planning a dramatic and explosive re-entry onstage before the curtain fell and everybody went home.

Somewhere backstage

The magician's assistants worked feverishly behind the scenes to prepare him for the second part of the show. The second part would be more difficult to perform, especially since there was no script for it. It would have to be played out in real time with unknown actors and no script.

The assistants knew the country's debt to GDP ratio hovered around 80%. This was in itself alarming. The International Financial Institutions considered that a government's debt-to-GDP ratio should be below 60%.

Even using the lower figure of BZ $300 million as the compensation cost of the company, this would take the public and publicly guaranteed contingent liabilities up by another 15%.

This kind of wildly escalating debt-to-GDP ratio would wreak havoc on the country's international credit ratings unless the rating agencies and the IFIs could be satisfied that a quick sale of the company's shares would completely extinguish the cost of compensating the shareholders for the compulsory acquisition.

So who will buy the shares?

The magician's assistants calculated that the Belize Social Security Board could pick up a substantial portion of the shares. This was the only quasi-government entity that had any substantial amount of liquid cash to speak of anyway.

But SSB is only good for, at a stretch, $50 million worth of shares. And even to achieve this, it would have to mop up its cash deposits held at the various local commercial banks.

This they knew was not easily accomplished. The banks have lent money against the presumed stability of those SSB deposits. To suddenly remove those deposits could introduce a significant degree of volatility into the banking sector.

If SSB drew down on its deposits with the commercial banks to pay for a portion of the shares, the banks which are required by the Central Bank to maintain a portion of deposits in liquid form, would experience a tightening of liquidity. They couldn't seriously expect the magician to work from such a script.

How about a concessionary loan from Taiwan to pay off a substantial portion of the total compensation to be paid for the shares?

First, the new KMT government of Taiwan has publicly announced that it is moving away from dollar diplomacy since it is pursuing more cordial relations with mainland China. Bad relations with mainland China had spawned the dollar diplomacy with both sides essentially buying diplomatic allies with hard currency.

Secondly, even had there not been a change of policy, Belize's quota of loans from Taiwan is fully subscribed. Taiwan could not easily lend Belize another $50 -$100 million without coming under pressure from its other diplomatic allies in Central America, the Caribbean and Africa for similar favorable treatment.

Thirdly, typhoon Morakot has caused billions of dollars in damage to Taiwan. The loss of life and destruction of housing has already cost the government some political goodwill which it can't afford to further dissipate by giving away money to a beggarly nation.

But even factoring in the unlikely $50 million from the Social Security Board, to achieve the much ballyhooed majority Belizean ownership of shares will require local businessmen to fork up over $100 million liquid cash, assuming the price tag for the company is indeed BZ $300 million.

Belizean businessmen can't come up with that kind of liquid cash. On paper they are good for it. But most of them are already heavily indebted.

The handful who have positive net worth and several millions on deposit with US banks are conservative and will not easily be induced to draw down on their reserves accumulated over many years for a politically inspired venture the outcome of which is uncertain.

That leaves the foreign investors. This is the playing field of Michael Ashcroft. He has played before in a scene similar to this, in fact.

A previous government had decided it wanted him out of the telecommunications picture in 2003 and purchased his Carlisle Holdings' 52% stake in the company.

By March 2004 the government had sold the company to US businessman Jeffery Prosser who paid with promissory notes. The only thing not accurately predicted by Ashcroft was the day that he would have re-acquired the company.

He went to work making it impossible for Prosser to raise the money and indeed ended up with Prosser's shares as well as those of the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago which held some shares as security for loans advanced to Prosser. The whole episode proved to be a thoroughgoing fiasco for the government.

This, of course, was a very different government.

The magician's assistants had read Dirty Politics, Dirty Times, Ashcroft's story of his personal war with the British Labour Government and the London Times. So they had an idea what to expect from him.

They projected that he would launch a series of timed lawsuits locally and internationally to tie up the company in litigation and make it unattractive.

He was capable of threatening and intimidating potential investors if it furthered his interest.

He could be expected to name investors in long, drawn out lawsuits forcing them to incur expenses and explain themselves to their own shareholders.

He would pay a high priced reputable firm of publicists to tell his story to investors, governments institutions and anyone who cared to listen.

His would be a story of the investor who bailed out a reckless and irresponsible government which had presided over its own economic meltdown, funded an opposition to the tune of millions only to be turned upon, vilified and victimized.

He could, with some credibility, demonstrate with characteristic thoroughness that Belize is a place of corrupt, greedy politicians who shaft investors to reward their cronies.

He will say, "If you don't believe me, ask Stan Marshal from Fortis, the power company or Cascal, the previous owners of the water company who were forced to sell and leave Belize."

All that before making his own unscripted, unannounced appearance, like a deus ex machina in the middle of the magician's second act.

Inside the national gallery intermission had ended and the crowd had taken its seat waiting for the show to resume.

Architech of Belize Constitution Hon. V.H. Courtney R.I.P.

2009-08-18T05:19:10Z

Belmopan, Belize 17 August (BelizeBlog.com) One of the founding fathers of modern day Belize and key architect of the Belize Constitution, Hon. Vernon Harrison Courtenay died on Saturday August 15.

V.J. as he was affectionately known, was a key player along with the Hon. C.L.B. Rogers, Rt. Hon. George Price and Hon. Assad Shoman in the quest for Belizean independence from the British colonial masters.

Hon. V.H. Courtenay was an outstanding Belizean patriot. An attorney-at-law by profession, he was a partner in Belize's largest and best known law firm W.H. Courtney and Company.

V.H. Courtenay won three General Elections to the Belize House of Representatives. He was Belize's first Attorney General and served in the Belize Cabinet as Minister of Works, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

An accomplished orator and Senior Counsel, he was feared by political adversaries during debates in the House of Representatives. A memorial service for the late V.H. Courtenay will be held this Wednesday at St. Mary's Church in Belize City. A biographical summary of this Belize son of the soil follows:

VERNON HARRISON COURTENAY, S, C. born Belize, 1932; admitted, 1960, England and Belize. Education: Belize and Lincoln's Inn, London. PRACTICE AREAS: Administrative Law; Business Law; Chancery Practice; Civil Law; Commercial Law; Company Law; Constitutional Law.

Expat Highlights Belize Ministry of Health Woes

2009-08-12T06:22:38Z

Belmopan, Belize 11 August (BelizeBlog.com) Retired U.S.A. Judge and current Belize Expat resident Kenneth Gale recently wrote an analysis on the foibles of the Belize Minister of Health:

Baby Jayden's tragic death resulting from his chocking on a bean has exposed gross deficiencies in Belize's medical care. The failure of two medical institutions to timely treat baby Jayden in a manner so as to save his life is both shocking and alarming. Adding the request for $15,000 to be paid up front before treating his life-threatening emergency indicates an insidious situation. A situation that can place the health care and lives of all Belizeans in jeopardy. Neither medical facility attempted the Heimlich procedure.
]]> Anyone who was properly trained in first aid should have recognized a situation that lent itself to the necessity of attempting the Heimlich Procedure (maneuver). The procedure is so common that one does not have to look to a medical dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as "a first aid procedure for dislodging an obstruction from a person's wind pipe in which a sudden strong pressure is applied to the abdomen between the navel and rib cage".

The procedure is more fully described on the internet; click on "choking for the conscious infant, or choking for the unconscious infant". The procedure is so simple that, in an emergency, adults can perform it on themselves. It can be accomplished while bending over an object that asserts pressure on the body at the right location.

It appears that the doctors at Belize Healthcare Partners Ltd. (BHPL) overlooked such a procedure that would have taken only seconds and should have cost no more than $100, to be paid up front. However, they requested $15,000 up front before they would commence Baby Jayden's treatment.

The Government's Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan, after failure, directed the patient to BHPL for treatment. The directing of patients to BHPL by Government medical facilities is a common practice. The practice results from the Government's failure to provide Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) with the necessary equipment and personnel to diagnose and treat many medical conditions.

Though the Government has failed to fully equip KHMH, the prior Prime Minister guaranteed a $34,000,000 loan to Universal Health Services, a private hospital, and predecessor to BHPL. The money that the prior Government loaned to cronies and failed to attempt to recover would have equipped KHMH as a first class hospital that did not have to transfer patients.

The Government's transfer of patients to a facility that will not treat patients unless they are able to pay for the treatment prior to its commencement is a common practice. In doing so the Government is putting out the poor and the middle class, who cannot raise the money, to suffer and possibly die, without treatment.

How many patients are there that can raise the $15,000 that the father, Eckert Guy, was requested to raise before treatment of baby Jayden would commence? How many patients would die while such an attempt to raise money was in progress?

It has been made abundantly clear that the life and health of the poor and the middle class have had a very low priority with the Government. Is it contempt for the poor and the middle class that results in their denial of proper medical care?

Or is the issue, for some questionable reason, that BHPL be able to maximize its profits? Or is it stupidity on the part of elected officials? The same officials who do not require ambulances to be properly equipped with life-saving equipment and medicines necessary to maintain the patient's life during transportation, so that the patient will not be dead on arrival at the hospital?

How frequently does one read in the newspapers that the patient was dead on arrival at the hospital? Ambulances are to save lives.

Kenneth Gale

Belize Costa Maya Festival In Full Swing

2009-08-08T06:24:07Z

Belmopan, Belize 8 August (BelizeBlog.com) The Belize Costa Maya Festival is in full swing in its 18th year.

The festival held at top tourism spot San Pedro, Ambergris Caye provides a welcome respite from the slow summmer tourism season.

It features a varity of activities including a Beauty Contest, international music stars, all night parties, sports events and model shoots.

This year's singing star is Mexico's Christian Castro.

The winner of the Miss Belize Reina de la Costa Maya is Miss Nicaraqua Maritza Rivas.

Belize: U.D.P. Moves to Allow Dual Citizens to Run for Office

2009-08-05T03:57:24Z

Belmopan, Belize 5 August (BelizeBlog.com) The ruling United Democratic Party Government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow has opened a can of worms in an attempt to amend the Belize Constitution to allow dual citizens to run for political office.

The move has created a firestorm of opposition within Belize and a bellicose debate as to the rational for this action, Many Belizeans believe it is an attempt to allow non-resident Belizean-Americans who form a strong plank of supporters of the U.D.P., to run for office.

Prominent Belize Activist and University of Belize Founding Lecturer Sylvana Woods summed up this debate in the following essay:

"It is with a sense of dismay that I listened to the tabling of a Bill to amend the Constitution to allow for persons with dual citizenship, one of them being Belizean, to be allowed to serve in the House of Representatives or Cabinet.

"I strongly believe, feel and intellectualize this to be to the detriment of our sense of identity as Belizeans, our allegiance to Belize, our integrity as a nation, and an insult to the average citizen, citizens in whom one would hope the Government of Belize would do all it could to ensure policies and practices never compromise the integrity of being Belizean.

"I object to the proposed amendment and strongly urge the Government of Belize to rethink this devastating blow to nationhood. Below, I detail four concrete reasons why I strongly renounce such an amendment:

]]> 1. Integrity of the Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities of the Legal Representatives of the People of Belize: One who is in the House of Representatives or the Cabinet is accorded rights, privileges and responsibilities. The character of one's representative must not only be integrally linked to his or her actions in shaping and implementing policy that affects us all, but we, the people, MUST believe that the Representatives truly have OUR best interests at heart.

How can a Minister or Representative who holds dual citizenship, for example in the US and Belize, truly represent, say, my health needs when he or she can run away to the US for more advanced medical care or as an escape route when things get bad?

If a Belizean with dual citizenship feels driven to serve the country at the highest levels of the House of Representatives and Cabinet, then he or she should Constitutionally be told to give up the other citizenship and keep JUST the Belizean citizenship.

Indeed, Sir, I go further and recall that when I served on the Political Reform Commission in 1999/2000, I recalled suggesting that the Constitution further insist that not only must those with dual citizenship be barred from seeking election to the House or to sit in Cabinet, but that such aspirants must also have spent their formative years in Belize, in addition to much longer years of residence in the country prior to seeking office.

Of course, further defining formative years would have become part of that larger debate had it taken root. Indeed, if it is within the purview of the House Committee on this matter, via a formal letter I have also sent to the National Assembly, I also ask that this further consideration on the Representative's having spent his or her formative years in Belize be tabled.

2. Allegiance and Adherence to ONE Nation in All Matters: The Representative's or Minister's ability to guide policy must never be compromised by dual allegiance.

Moreover, it must be Constitutionally clear that this is so and perceived as such by the citizenry. Truly, one poet said it best when he said "my homeland or my death." There must be NO question of pluralizing homelands when it comes to the people's representation! If one also pledges allegiance to another country, as one must in acquiring citizenry, then one cannot have, or indeed be expected to have, 100% allegiance to Belize.

3. Patriotism and Education by Example: There is no question that effective leaders and effective teachers are those who inspire not just by what they say, but very importantly, by what they do. Our actions often DO speak louder than our words. How can we be expected to instill patriotic ideals in our youngsters, that deep and abiding love for Belize and all things Belizean, if we also say it is okay to have our policy-making citizens hold that same allegiance to another country?

4. Avoidance of Positioning our Representatives to Compromise Belize and Engage in Conflict of Interest: Allowing for dual citizenship for Representatives or Cabinet members sets the stage for potentially damaging decisions to the national good or for exploring strategic alliances that are compromised by thinking with two national hats.

Above all, leadership ought to radiate positive energy. This negative energy being radiated by even the thought of allowing persons with dual citizenship with Belize to represent Belize does not bode well for the sustainability of the wonderful Belizean identity.

Incidentally, I listened to the Prime Minster's June 19 tabling of the Bill to amend the Constitution in this regard, and I must say that he presented no clear rationale that justifies the changing of the Constitution.

As I recall, the PM mentioned that it would be a deprivation of the rights of the Belizean with dual citizenship to not accord him or her the full rights of citizenship, which includes running for office.

I disagree with the PM's reasoning, because in terms of being allowed to represent the people of Belize, the law demands several things of our Representatives and Cabinet ministers that it does not demand of the average citizen, such as the disclosing of their sources of income, their spouses' sources of income and their dependent children's sources of income. Demanding that they give up their duality of citizenship MUST be one, as well.

Of note is that I have also written these concerns directly to the Clerk of the National Assembly or his office to forward to the relevant House Committee on this matter.

Sincerely,

Silvana Woods

Citizen of Belize

Belize Now Has Flights To Honduras

2009-07-30T06:48:21Z

Belmopan, Belize 29 July 2009 -(BelizeBlog.com)- Maya Island Air will start daily flights to San Pedro Sula Honduras this Saturday August 1st, according to a press release issued today to local media houses.

Saturday's flight will be the inaugural flight but thereafter there will be a flight that departs San Pedro Sula at 9 am and arrives in Belize at 10 am. The return flight leaves Belize at 3 and lands in San Pedro Sula at 4. The prices are US$299 for the round trip from Belize to San Pedro Sula and US$460 for the round trip from either Guatemala City or Cancun to San Pedro Sula.

Accoring to the company's C.E.O., "We will be using the very renowned ATR 72s. These are naturally made for seventy-two passengers. We have taken out one of the rows of the aircraft to increase comfort and safety. We'll be flying to Cancun twice a day, to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, once a day, and to Guatemala City, once a day."

Belize Media Confirms President Obama Visit

2009-04-22T05:03:18Z

Belmopan, Belize 21 April - (BelizeBlog.com) Three days after the Belize News Blog Belizean broke the story, a Belize T.V. station has confirmed that U.S. President Barack Obama wants to visit Belize.

In today's broadcast, TV7 which has close connections to Belize's United Democratic Party, reported that: US President Barack Obama and Belize's Prime Minister Dean Barrow shared a table at the official Summit of the Americas dinner in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Saturday night and it seems they hit it off. This picture of President Obama kissing Prime Minister Dean Barrow's wife, Kim Simplis-Barrow taken at that event made the paper in Trinidad and has also appeared on the internet, most notably the much-trafficked blog, the Huffington Post.

Today's Amandala cites Prime Minister Barrow saying that, quote, "He said that he'd love to come to Belize." And more than that, he says that President Obama will nominate a very good friend to be ambassador to Belize and, quote, "that will make it easier for him to work on the logistics of coming to Belize.