Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues

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Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Vol. 24 No. 9   Sunday, February 28, 2021
Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Page 2                                                         The GuardIan                                        Sunday, February 28, 2021

GOB’S Manza-Malice can cost millions
     The vindictiveness of             five days administrative leave             Now that the MoHW has           disappearance of two children,
the John-Briceño-led PUP               effective Tuesday. He was being      accused the DHS, an agent of          Mayan villagers of San Marcos
government may soon cost the           investigated for misconduct. The     the state, of being responsible       Village burnt down the place
Belizean taxpayers millions in         nature of the misconduct being       for causing the deaths of those       they believed the children were
damages stemming from wrongful         dereliction of duties. According     persons, their families could         being held, which was a crocodile
death lawsuits. These wrongful         to our sources, Dr. Manzanero        now sue the government for            recovery compound outside of PG
deaths could come because of the       is being blamed for the number       wrongful death. Law suits from        Town. Prior to the burning down
PUP’s fixation on getting rid of the   of COVID-19 deaths going up.         those 300+ families could run         of the property, approximately
Director of Health Services Dr.        He allegedly refused to take up      us into the hundreds of millions.     100 armed villagers visited the
Marvin Manzanero. On Tuesday           an offer from BAHA for them to       Already there is legal precedent      Punta Gorda Police Station and
of this week, the CEO Minister         conduct Covid-19 testing at their    for such legal actions because        demanded that police accompany
of Health and Wellness wrote           lab in an effort to have a shorter   back in August 2010, there was        them there. They ended up going
to Dr. Manzanero informing             turnaround time for testing during   a situation in the Toledo District,   by themselves, and because
him that he was being place on         the second quarter of 2020.          whereby two weeks after the           police didn’t show up when they
                                                                                                                  said they would, a small group

                      Armed robbery at Lark Caye
                                                                                                                  went on the compound and burnt
                                                                                                                  it down. It was not until after the
                                                                                                                  property, ‘American Crocodile
     In recent months, there has       Gusenbauer on Friday, February       p.m. when he saw three or four        Sanctuary’, was completely burnt
been an increase in the number         1, 2021. But it was not until a      men, all of dark complexion,          down, that the police showed up
of piracy incidents and both the       number of Facebook posts stating     creeping outside his home. They       and detained the mob. Along with
Police and Coast Guard have            that he had been shot made it        gained access to the home by          the destruction of the property
become more active in their            to the public that the police        firing shots at his glass windows.    13 of the 18 crocodiles on the
efforts to diminish the attacks.       became aware of the situation.       Gusenbauer locked himself             property were killed.
Commissioner of Police Chester         Gusenbauer wrote several pleas       inside his bathroom but the men            The owners then filed legal
Williams commented on these            to the public and to the police      fired shots at the door. They         action against the government.
occurrences, explaining that it        for assistance and within an hour,   demanded money and fearing for        That matter went to the Supreme
seems to be three groups working       the police had made their way to     his life and safety, Gusenbauer       Court and two years later in August
within southern Belize to carry        the island. They met someone         complied. They were able to           of 2012, the Supreme Court ruled
out these crimes. Some persons         waving from a window of a            make off with items including         that the Security Forces who
known to police have been              two-storey building where they       an undisclosed amount of cash         were agents of the state, should
arrested for fisheries offenses as     met at least two glass windows       as well as the keys to his boat,      have done more to stop the mob
well as being members of gangs.        completely shattered. After          Private Haven. They used this         from torching the property and
He further stated that two of          making their way inside the          boat to make their way off the        held the Government liable
the groups seem to specifically        home, they found Gusenbauer          island after firing shots in his      to pay compensation to Vince
operate between the Stann Creek        with a gunshot wound to the          direction, one of which caused        and Cherie Rose, the owners of
District and Honduras.                 buttock. He was transported to       his injury. Police have since         the property. The Government
     One of the most recent of         and stabilized at the Southern       been able to recover the boat         appealed that decision and
these incidents took place exactly     Regional Hospital for treatment      near Sittee Point but not before      two years later, the Court of
in the Stann Creek District, six       to his injuries and has since been   the men managed to remove the         Appeal upheld the decision of
miles off the Placencia Peninsula.     visited by the COMPOL, as are        boat’s engines. Police further        the Supreme Court. At the time,
Armed robbers descended on             many shooting victims.               conducted searches for evidence       the owners of the property were
Lark Caye, owned by the 46-                 Gusenbauer has since            in the area where the boat was        asking for just over $900,000 in
year-old victim of this crime          reported to police that he was       found as well as other fishing        compensation.
and retired Austrian, Christian        inside his home at around 6:45       camps.
                                                                                                                    The Guardian
                                                                                                                    Protecting Freedom Rights Democracy

                                                                                                                             Editor:
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                                                                                                                          Louis Thompson
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Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Page 3                                                           The GuardIan                                         Sunday, February 28, 2021

  Half a million for Contract officers
    in Office of the Prime Minister
     In the run up to the General      scale as Polanco is Marcelino          will be an advisor. We are not         he is. All his hard work in the
Elections, the PUP took umbrage        Avila, who for the same salary as      certain who he will be advising        early mornings seems to have
to the number of contract officers     Polanco, was rehired on contract       and on what matter as there is no      meant nothing. So while he is
that were hired by the UDP             also last year to be a Senior Policy   ministry under which he falls. He      more talented than those who
administration and pledged to          Advisor in the Office of the Prime     apparently is just an all-around       will never be hired by the PUP,
not do the same. Well, it is easier    Minister and Cabinet. Again, the       talented individual.                   it seems that the Animal Farm
said than done as immediately          lack of talent within that ministry          With all the hiring taking       still applies.
after the elections they had to        has forced the government to           place, there apparently will be              Staying in the public
find a place for the talented few      supplement the little talent there     much more clerical work to be          relations arena the Ministry
Belizeans that are out there who       is by placing a $76,340.00 burden      done, so two new Executive             of Finance has hired Michelle
happen to be affiliated with the       on the Belizean taxpayers.             Assistants in the Office of the        Yvonne Rodriguez for a salary
PUP.                                         Diana Price Murillo is yet       Prime Minister were hired.             of $27,403.00.
     Based on a document of            another hire costing $64,410.00.       These are Graciana Nah who                   There are also a number of
new hires forwarded to the             She too was brought on in the          will earn $40,000.00 and Solymar       Drivers and Minister’s Aides
Guardian Newspaper, there have         Office of the Prime Minister and       Angeles Itzab, who apparently is       hired like Bernardo Guadencio
been a marathon of hires in the        Cabinet as an Administrative           being short changed, receiving         Bennett in the Ministry of
various ministries. Some of the        Officer I. We are not certain          $39,600.00                             Human Development, Families
more amorphous and needless            if Alex Peter Vega will be a                 We are hard pressed to figure    and Indigenous Affairs for
positions are all contract officers.   kind of teacher to the talentless      out how a social worker fits           $31,200.00. Karim Adle is also
Among some of the hires is             individuals in Cabinet but we do       in the portfolio of the Prime          one of those Aides receiving
Digno Polanco, who was hired           know that he is being hired for a      Minister’s Office but there he is      $24,000.00 in the Ministry of
on contract last year as a Senior      significant $63,600.00 as a Safe       Emanuel Alejandro Yama who             Health and Wellness. Jervis
Technical Advisor in the Ministry      School Coordinator within the          will serve as a Social Worker          Jevon Banner has also been hired
of Agriculture, Food Security and      Office of the Prime Minister and       for $22,680.00 in the Office of        at $24,000.00 as a Minister’s aide
Enterprise. He is being paid a         Cabinet.                               the Prime Minister and Cabinet.        in the Ministry of Infrastructure
whopping $76,340.00 in salary.               Then there is Ian Beresford      All told these positions will          Development and Housing. By
Apparently, there is not enough        Courtenay, who for $54,900.00          be costing the government an           all appearances, this minister
talent within the ministry that this   will be a Senior Officer in            additional $421,530 during the         has a lot of aiding that is needed
gentleman had to be rehired.           Investment & E-Governance in           most financially trying times this     as another Henry Moreira has
     It appears that the Office        the Office of the Prime Minister       country has ever seen.                 been hired for $24,000.00. Also
of the Prime Minister was              and Cabinet.                                 But the story is far from        needing aid is the Minister of
also in much need of talent                  A position which caught          being done here. The hiring of         Home Affairs and New Growth
and subsequently had a number          our attention was that of Evan         needless individuals continued         Industries who hired Susana
of persons hired. On the same          Hugh Tillett who for $60,000           across ministries. Manuel Matus        Daniels for $24,000.00.
                                                                              Jr. secured a post as Director               The secretarial pool in the
                                                                              Projects and Programme in the          government service seemed
                                                                              Ministry of Health and Wellness        to not be good enough for the
                                                                              for $40,000.08 a year. Sonia           new ministers and so Sherwin
                                                                              Lissette Blanco is now an              Kent Garcia was hired in the
                                                                              Instructor in the Ministry of          Ministry of Home Affairs for
                                                                              Education, Culture, Science            $24,891.00. The same applies
                                                                              and Technology receiving               to the Ministry of Infrastructure
                                                                              $36,720.96.                            Development and Housing where
                                                                                    While those positions are new,   Christie Racquel Reyes and Fiona
                                                                              so too are the positions of various    Elvia Gillet were both hired for
                                                                              public relations officers. As we       $24,891.00 each.
                                                                              understood it the Government                 Some other hires which
                                                                              has a press office, which deals        seemed odd to us are Obidio
                                                                              with all matters related to public     Estrada, who is now the
                                                                              relations. It seems that there         Assistant Technical Supervisor
                                                                              are ministries who need to do          in the Ministry of Infrastructure
                                                                              their own thing such as the            Development and Housing;
                                                                              Ministry of Agriculture, Food          he will work for a contract of
                                                                              Security and Enterprise, who           $28,056.00. Geoffrey Anthony
                                                                              for redundancy’s sake rehired          Waight was hired as Project
                                                                              Luis Pook as Communications            Manager in the Ministry of Health
                                                                              Director for a $36,000 contract.       and Wellness for $20,406.96.
                                                                                    Then you have the man who        Wrapping up this list is Samuel
                                                                              is as old as time, Omar Silva,         Calles who for $19,641.12 is some
                                                                              who for a $27,403.00 contract          kind of Building Superintendent
                                                                              becomes the Public Relations           in the Ministry of Infrastructure
                                                                              Officer in the Ministry of             Development and Housing.
                                                                              Home Affairs and New Growth                  Other hires that caught
                                                                              Industries. He cannot be too           our attention were 22 drivers/
                                                                              happy, after all his counterpart,      handymen, who were hired
                                                                              Pook, is being paid far more than      across all ministries.

                                                                                                     See News                          207-5346
                                                                                                      in the                             Guardian

                                                                                                     Making?
                                                                                                                                         Newspaper

                                                                                         Call the Guardian
Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Page 4                                                             The GuardIan                                          Sunday, February 28, 2021

       Is Manza’
                                                                                    Double Dipping PUP Style
   Misconduct a Joke?                                                                 It would seem that Johnny         vehicles are assigned to the
                                                                                Briceño learned well from Said          individual Ministries and then
                                                                                Musa, who had infamously                they get to be ferried around
                                                                                claimed that “sometimes a leader        in them while claiming that
                                                                                has to lie”. Regrettably though,        they don’t have an assigned
                                                                                Johnny has apparently taken it to       government vehicle?
                                                                                another level. We can recall what             And then how does that
                                                                                the media in the US did by having       work? Do they still get a big fat
                                                                                some sort of Trump-o-meter to           vehicle allowance and all the fuel
                                                                                keep count of all of Trump’s lies.      they want for their private vehicle
                                                                                Similarly, Belizeans will soon          on top of having a Ministry’s
                                                                                need to do the same thing to keep       vehicle available at their disposal
                                                                                track of all of Johnny’s and the        to ferry them around? So are they
                                                                                PUP’s falsehoods.                       using their own personal vehicle
                                                                                      For example, every                only for the commute from home
                                                                                opportunity that he gets, Prime         to work but government vehicles
                                                                                Minister Briceño says that the          take them everywhere else? If
                                                                                UDP left no vehicles for them to        that is the case, isn’t that real
                                                                                use but our former Prime Minister       double dipping?
                            Dr. Marvin Manzanero
                                                                                the Rt. Hon Dean Barrow just                  L a t e l y, t h e P M w a s
Contributed                             of approximately 2,182 PCRs             testified last week that something      complaining about public officers
     The rumor mills and                at the central lab waiting to be        like 19 vehicles were parked at         who retire and then are rehired
Facebook are running like wild fire     processed. People being tested          the Vehicle Care Unit for use by        for one or two years under a
on Director of Health Services, Dr.     are not being given their results in    the incoming PUP Ministers and          contract. He called that “double
Marvin Manzanero’s suspension.          time. This has contributed to the       CEOs when they took office.             dipping”. But how can that be
Reportedly, he has been placed          spread of COVID. Despite a clear              We have all grown tired of        double dipping when these public
on five days administrative leave       offer from BAHA and the IAEA in         hearing Johnny, Julius Espat,           officers earned their retirement
effective Monday. In a letter from      April to assist with PCR testing to     Andre Perez and others keep on          and, in many cases, are rehired
his CEO, Dr. Manzanero was              the MOH, this offer was not taken       claiming that they are using their      because of their skills, expertise
told that he is being investigated      up. Our government hospitals are        own personal vehicle, or golf           and experience?
for misconduct. The misconduct          not fully ready to deal with a surge    cart in the case of Andre Perez.              Before he starts accusing
arises from accusations that he         in cases should the need arise, this    They insist that they do not have       hard-working public officers
has contributed to the number of        is despite the fact that the MOH        a government vehicle assigned           of double dipping, the Prime
COVID-19 mortalities by failing         had ample time to rectify and           to them. However, we can still          Minister needs to look at himself
to take up BAHA on an offer to          address these gaps. The Ministry        see them being ferried around           and his Ministers. Rehiring retired
use their lab to speed up testing       of Finance reduced the budget for       in apparently newly purchased           public officers doesn’t even
results.                                all ministries including MOH by         government vehicles with blue           compare to the apparent double
     This latest development            40% and this is despite the fact        plates.                                 dipping that the PUP might be
seems to signal a new level             that MOH is required to respond to            Case in point, just last          doing with using their private
of frustration and desperation          the pandemic. Overtime for health       Friday evening, PM Briceño was          vehicles as well as apparently
within the Ministry of Health and       care workers was cut, there were        seen getting into an apparently         having government Ministry
Wellness. It is outright disgraceful    restriction place on the hiring of      brand new black SUV with blue           rides available at their disposal.
and an abuse of power, not to           staff, there are limited masks and      government license plates outside             The Belizean taxpayers and
mention a clear violation of            PPEs for health care workers.”          his office at Mile 3 on the Philip      public officers who are currently
The Public Service Regulations                While we are not possessed        Goldson Highway as he was               being threatened with wage cuts
revised edition 2014 (PSR), Part        with the date the offer was made, we    about to head to the airport to fly     need answers on that. Perhaps
10 which speaks to Discipline of        can safely say the Ministry knew        to Punta Gorda.                         the Prime Minister can answer
Public Officers.                        of the incident since November 26             So is this the ‘whap’ being       that question at his first press
     Section 81 subsection 3(a)         2020. According to PSR 81 (3)(a),       attempted on the Belizean               conference whenever he drums
says, “the Chief Executive Officer      the Ministry had two weeks from         taxpayers? So maybe they do             up enough courage to actually
shall submit the case of alleged        November 26 2020 to take action         not have the vehicles assigned          have one and face the nation?
misconduct to the Commission            and they did not. The Ministry          to themselves but instead the
within two weeks from the date          therefore cannot now come three
the alleged misconduct occurs.”
Research of news clips at
                                        months later and lay misconduct
                                        charges. They have missed their                 Clean sweep firing at
                                                                                        San Antonio Polyclinic
7newsbelize.com shows that the          opportunity and now seeks to
Minister of Health and Wellness         create mischief.
possessed knowledge of the non-               If we should take this
acceptance of the BAHA offer            allegation serious, it may fall               Since taking office in            in the far reaches of the Toledo
since November 26 2020, and             under PSR 82 (1)(d), negligence         November of last year, the new          District.
did absolutely nothing about it.        in the performance of duties, a         PUP administration has been on                The Guardian Newspaper
February 23, 2021 falls three           minor misconduct. Under the PSR         an apparent never-ending rampage        was informed that two drivers,
days short of 3 months since the        minor misconduct is subject to the      of firing persons throughout            two security officers and an
Minister of Health and Wellness         following penalties:                    ministries and statutory bodies.        administrative data entry clerk have
told the world about it. See                  (i) caution; (ii) surcharge;      The most recent report reaching         been fired from the San Antonio
transcript of news clip below.          (iii) fine; or (iv) suspension of       the Guardian Newspaper tells us         Polyclinic in the Toledo District.
     Chebat On Current COVID            increment;                              that the firings continue. This time,   The firings by all indications
Readiness posted (November 26,                or                                the reports are out of the Ministry     are politically motivated as new
2020) by way of 7newsbelize.                  refer the public officer to the   of Health and Wellness where            persons are already being sought
com                                     following programmes (i) coaching       Belizeans are being victimized          to fill the positions.
     Hon. Michel Chebat -               or mentorship programme; or (ii)
Minister of Health and Wellness:        employee assistance programme                      The Guardian online at
     “Currently there is a backlog      under Regulation 206.                                www.guardian.bz
Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Page 5   The GuardIan   Sunday, February 28, 2021
Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Page 6                                                           The GuardIan                                       Sunday, February 28, 2021

         Swearing In of                                                                Diaz-Musa’s not
       the Elections and                                                              qualified to be DHS
    Boundaries Commission                                                         The Public Services
                                                                            Commission (PSC) met on
                                                                                                                        (3) Where more than one
                                                                                                                   public officer is eligible for
                                                                            Friday, February 19 for the            appointment to act in a post, such
                                                                            first time since the change of         public officers may be rotated to
                                                                            administration. One of the items       act during the period of acting.
                                                                            on the agenda for consideration             The regulations go even
                                                                            was the appointment of Dr.             further at Section 38 (1) where it
                                                                            Melissa Diaz-Musa as the new           categorically states that, “a public
                                                                            Director of Health Services            officer shall not be promoted
                                                                            (DHS). She has been acting in          to a post for which he is not
                                                                            that position since mid-December       qualified.
                                                                            when she was given the post                 A layman’s reading of the
                                                                            as the DHS was on sick leave,          regulations then, tells us that
                                                                            suffering from Covid-19.               Diaz-Musa cannot legally hold
                                                                                  After meeting on the matter,     the position of DHS. By our
                                                                            the PSC did not appoint Diaz-          investigations, she is not qualified
                                                                            Musa as the DHS since the post is      to hold the post. As we understand
                                                                            not vacant. Notwithstanding that,      it she holds a Bachelor’s Degree
               Elections and Boundaries Commission sworn in                 the public services regulations are    in medicine and surgery from the
    Belmopan. February 24,             the Elections and Boundaries         clear on how an appointment can        University of the West Indies. The
2021. 2:45 p.m. At a brief             Commission is responsible for        take place.                            post requires the holder to be a
ceremony held this morning             the direction and supervision              Section 27 of the regulations    practicing medical practitioner as
in Belmopan, the Governor              of the registration of voters as     states that:                           well as hold a post graduate degree
General H.E. Sir Colville Young        well as the conduct of elections,          (1) The Commission shall         in public health or equivalent
swore in the newly appointed           referenda and all matters            not allow a public officer who is      with an additional eight years in
members of the Elections and           connected with such matters. The     appointed to act in a vacant post,     experience. No matter how long
Boundaries Commission.                 Commission cannot be subjected       to act for more than one year          Dr. Musa has been practicing,
    The members are:                   to the command or limited by         if that public officer meets the       she has no experience with a post
    Mr. Oscar Sabido Puga,             any other person or authority.       criteria under regulations 38 for      graduate degree because she has
    Chairman                           This body is accountable to the      promotion to that vacant post.         none.
    Mr. Orlando Espat                  provisions of the Constitution             (2) The commission may                Even further was that Diaz-
    Mr. Conrad Lewis                   and must act in accordance with      appoint a public officer to act in a   Musa was not in line for the
    Mrs. Phillipa Griffith Bailey      the Representation of the People     post that is not vacant for which      promotion as there were other
    Mr. Alberto August                 Act or any other law, rule or        he is qualified, for a specified       persons that ought to have been
    As dictated by Section             regulation relating to elections.    period.                                considered for the position.
88(13) of the Constitution,                    -Press Release-

 Public Services Commission                                                     Former Lands Minister
                                                                              unaware of sale of Dolphin
      resumes functions                                                             Park reserve
     On Friday February
19, the Public Services                                                          There is much consternation
Commission (PSC) met after                                                  in the public over the sale of a
being at odds with the new                                                  portion of a sea front reserve
Briceño government since the                                                land in the Caribbean Shores
elections on November 11,                                                   Area. It abuts the Dolphin Park
2020. Since that election, there                                            in Belize City and was reserved
was only one meeting held by                                                as far back as October 2007. The
the PSC where they met with                                                 process of acquiring the reserve
the Chief Executive Officer               Charles Gibson, chairman public   began in January 2020 and was
and the Minister of the Public                  services commission         completed in June of the same
Service. At that meeting, the          The situation remained as such       year.
commission members were                up until February 19 when the             A few days ago, the owner of
told to step aside in order to         commission met to review             the property, Teck Multi-Service
give the new administration            files that had been referred to      Limited, moved to subdivide
the opportunity to appoint their       them.                                the property and demarcate it,
representatives to sit on the               Among those files were at       much to the dismay of the West
commission. The commission             least 98 requests for pension        Landivar Action Committee,
was none too pleased with the          by public officers that had          which had fought for the land
request and did not heed to            reached retirement age as well       to be reserved. That committee
it. They remained in office,           as two very live issues. These       has now sought legal advice and        Construction at Dolphin Park reserve
contending that they were              included the appointment of a        a letter of cease and desist has       added that this is something that
constitutionally appointed for         new Director of Health Services      been written to the new owner.         he would never countenance as
a period of two years and they         and the appointment of a new              We reached out to former          the Minister especially because
would live out that appointment.       Comptroller of Customs.              Minister of Natural Resources,         of the significance of the piece
                                                                            Hon. Hugo Patt to find out how         of land both for environmental

          The Guardian online at                                            it was that the land could have
                                                                            been sold by government and he
                                                                                                                   and aesthetic reasons. He said
                                                                                                                   he would like to find out how it
            www.guardian.bz                                                 told us he was not aware of how
                                                                            this could have happened. He
                                                                                                                   was that the land was transferred
                                                                                                                   to the new owner.
Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Page 7                                                           The GuardIan                                           Sunday, February 28, 2021

   Economy declined 13.1%                                                      Imports down, domestic
    in fourth quarter 2020                                                    exports up in January 2021

                            Gross Domestic Product
     The Statistical Institute of        Water’ industry.                                              Imports and Domestic Exports
Belize’s (SIB) preliminary fourth              In summation, preliminary            For the month of January           unchanged when compared to
quarter Gross Domestic Product           annual estimates for 2020 indicate   2021, Belize imported goods              exports of last January. This
(GDP) estimates showed that,             that the economy contracted          valuing almost $131.9 million.           was despite a marked decline
during the months of October to          by 14 percent during the year,       This represented an 18% or a $29         in exported quantities of this
December 2020, the overall level         with the total value of goods and    million decrease from the same           commodity, as the first month
of production for the country            services produced in the country     month in 2020, when imports              of 2021 saw improved prices
of Belize declined by 13.1% in           falling from $2,880.9 million in     totaled $160.8 million. According        for sugar on the world market.
comparison to the same three             2019 to $2,475.1 million in 2020.    to the Statistical Institute of Belize   Animal feed experienced a more
months in 2019. The total value          Throughout most of the year, the     (SIB), this decrease was caused          pronounced increase during
of goods and services produced           country suffered the devastating     by the following. Imports fell           the month, with revenues from
within the country for this period       economic effects of COVID-           across most commodity categories         this product growing from $0.4
stood at $592.6 million, down            19, which hit the tertiary sector    during the month, with decreased         million in January 2020 to over $2
$89.6 million from $682.2 million        particularly hard and greatly        expenditures on ‘Mineral Fuels           million in January 2021. Marine
produced in the fourth quarter of        overshadowed growth experienced      and Lubricants’, ‘Machinery and          products, on the other hand,
2019.                                    in the primary and secondary         Transport Equipment’ and goods           recorded the most noticeable
     The services sector remained        sectors during the second half       destined for ‘Commercial Free            decrease from among major
the most severely impacted by            of the year, as the country began    Zones’ accounting for most of this       exports, falling from $4.3 million
COVID-19, decreasing by 18.8%            to recover from the prolonged        decline. Despite these downturn          in January 2020 to $2.7 million
during the fourth quarter. Despite       dry weather conditions of 2019.      in overall imports, the categories       in January 2021, due mainly
the reopening of the international       International travel resumed in      of ‘Beverages and Tobacco’ and           to an almost 50% reduction in
airport to international travelers in    October 2020; however, tourist       ‘Designated Processing Areas’            exported quantities of lobster
October of 2020, only a marginal         arrival numbers, which had           both grew notably during the             tails during the month. Earnings
number of tourist arrivals were          dwindled to near zero for much       month, by $5 million and $1.4            from citrus products went down
recorded. Additionally, significant      of the year, remained extremely      million, respectively.                   by almost $0.5 million, from $2.4
decreases were seen in the               low. During the second quarter of          Total domestic exports for         million to $1.9 million, the result
‘Wholesale and Retail Trade’             2020, the largest quarterly GDP      January 2021 amounted to $16.2           of decreased exports of orange
and ‘Transport, Storage and              decline to date was recorded, as     million, up a negligible 1.1% or         concentrate and lower world
Communication’ industries as             the economy contracted by 23%,       $0.2 million when compared to            market prices for this commodity.
well as in ‘Taxes on Products’. On       mainly due to decreases within       exports for January 2020, which          Revenues from bananas, likewise,
the other hand, the primary sector       the services sector. This rapid      were valued at $16 million.              declined marginally in the month,
increased by 0.6%, attributed            decline in tertiary activities was   Sugar exports amounted to $1.3           falling by $0.2 million from $5.7
to growth within agricultural            also evident in a reduction in       million in January of this year,         million in January of last year to
industries, while the secondary          the sector’s relative contribution   with earnings remaining virtually        $5.5 million in January 2021.
sector expanded by 22.5%, mainly         to total GDP for the year, when
due to a rise in the ‘Electricity and    compared to previous years.
                                                                                          Children will return
        More for the Belizean                                                               to school soon
        people: increases in                                                       It has now been just under
                                                                              a year since the coronavirus
                                                                                                                       a phased approach at restarting
                                                                                                                       in-person learning. He says that

         price for premium,
                                                                              pandemic seeped its way into the         he believes that there are some
                                                                              country and caused a nationwide          groups which need more focus

        diesel, and kerosene
                                                                              shut down of most services and           than others and, as such, expects
                                                                              activities, including schools.           that they will be engaging in in-
                                                                              Since then, students have been           person learning first.
     After just over 100 days in         $6.46 to $6.75 per gallon; and       participating in distance learning,            A COVID-19 Education
government, the PUP government           diesel will increase by 42 cents     receiving learning packages              Task Force has been appointed
has once again announced                 from $9.20 to $9.62 per gallon.      from which they learn and are            by the MOE to develop a model
increases in the pump prices of          Thankfully, the price for regular    assessed in some cases. We are           for restarting schools. They will
fuel effective this Friday. There        gasoline will remain unchanged       now approaching the start of a           focus on students which special
will be changes in the prices for        at $9.81 per gallon.                 new school year and we are left          education needs and TVET
premium gas, diesel, as well as               These sharp increases in        with the question: when will             students in need of specific skills
kerosene. Premium gasoline will          prices come just after months of     schools reopen for in-person             trainings. This timeline should
increase by 51 cents from $9.89          campaigning on part of the PUP,      learning? According to our               start by April and be done in time
to $10.40 per gallon; kerosene           who promised that there would        country’s Minister of Education,         for September when schools are
will increase by 29 cents from           not be increases in gas prices.      the ministry is looking to take          to reopen at all levels.
Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Page 8                                                           The GuardIan                                            Sunday, February 28, 2021

 Consumer Prices rise 1%                                                           1,000 COVID-19 vaccines
in January 2021 compared                                                               arrive in country
      to January 2020

                                                                                      Arrival of the donation of 1,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines
                                                                                    The donation of 1,000                    The AstraZeneca vaccines
                                                                              AstraZeneca COVID-19                     falls on the World Health
                                                                              vaccines to Belize from our              Organization (WHO) Emergency
                                                                              CARICOM sister country of                Use Listing despite not having
                          Consumer Price Index (CPI)                          Barbados arrived into the country        gone through a series of clinical
      The most recent figures from       price reductions in footwear         on Wednesday, February 24,               trials due to the strength of the
the Statistical Institute of Belize’s    for women, clothing, and hotel       2021. They arrived at the Philip         pandemic. For now, it can only
(SIB) monthly Consumer Price             accommodation rates.                 Goldson International Airport by         be used on persons 18 years and
Index (CPI) survey show that,                 While inflation rates are       cargo flight at the airport where        older and has a six-month shelf
for the first month of the year in       generally calculated as the          they were officially received by         life and 70.4% efficacy. So far,
2021, the All-Items CPI stood at         percent change in prices for         representatives of the Ministry          there have been no COVID-19
101.3, an overall increase of 1%         specific items between the           of Health and Wellness. These            related admissions after use
from 100.2 in the first month of         current time period and the          first 1,000 doses will be given          of this vaccine and there are
the year in 2020. This indicates         same period of the previous          to some 500 willing healthcare           most minimal side effects. They
that, on average, while prices           year, another useful measure for     workers in the first instance, who       include pain and tenderness at the
for some types of goods and              tracking short-term changes in       will receive two doses that must         injection site; headache; fatigue;
services increased and others            consumer prices is the month-        be given within 8-12 weeks. An           myalgia; malaise; arthralgia;
decreased, the goods and services        over-month or inter-monthly          official presentation of this first      and nausea (flu-like symptoms),
most typically purchased by              inflation rate, which measures       COVID-19 vaccine arrival will be         which last around two-days. Side
Belizean households cost 1%              the percent change in prices         done through a press conference          effects after the second dose are
more in January 2021 than they           between the previous month           early next week where additional         milder.
did in January of 2020. This             and the current month. During        information will then be publicly              As mentioned before, the first
overall change was the net effect        the one-month period between         shared.                                  sets of vaccines which come into
of higher costs for food items,          December 2020 and January                  Aside from these 1,000             the country will be administered
personal care products and home          2021, consumer prices rose by        vaccines, Belize continues               to willing health care workers and
rentals being counteracted by            0.5% on average.                     its negotiations in procuring            other allied health professionals.
considerable reductions in prices             Across the various              additional vaccines for our adult        Also in Phase One of distributions
for hotel accommodations and             categories, ‘Food and Non-           population, some 58% of our              are persons 60 years and older,
fuel.                                    Alcoholic Beverages’ had the         total population. The Ministry           persons with diverse abilities,
      A m o n g t h e c o u n t r y ’s   most pronounced inter-monthly        is also anticipating the arrival of      and members of the National
municipalities, Punta Gorda              change, with an increase of          COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines                 Assembly and Judiciary. In phase
Town experienced the highest             1.1%, primarily as a result of       Global Access) vaccines at the           two, police officers, customs and
rate of increase in consumer             higher prices for fresh vegetables   end of March or the beginning of         immigration officers at ports of
prices for January 2021, with            and fruits. The ‘Transport’          April but it has been understood         entries, persons within the tourism
an inflation rate of 2.3%.               category saw a 0.9% rise between     that this would only provide             sector, teachers, transportation
Consumers in this municipality           December 2020 and January            for approximately 30% of                 workers, and prison guards will
saw above average increases in           2021, due mostly to a rise in all    the population. The specifics,           be included. Phase three includes
prices for food, pharmaceutical          types of motor vehicle fuels.        however, are not final including         members of the Belize Defense
products, and home rental costs.         The ‘Housing, Water, Electricity,    a final cost nor number but a            Force, Coast Guard, firemen, and
Corozal Town, on the other hand,         Gas and Other Fuels’ category        last allocation is expected soon.        utility workers while Phase four
recorded the lowest inflation rate,      recorded a 0.6% increase over        After this, there will be a letter       covers all other public officers.
with prices going down by 0.2%           the one-month period, as higher      to the Pan American Health               Lastly, in phase five, persons 18-
on average when compared to              LPG prices were recorded in          Organization (PAHO) which will           59 years of age who do not fall
January 2020. Consumers in this          January 2021 when compared to        work with COVAX to determine             in categories 1 through 4 will be
town saw greater than average            December 2020.                       costs and purchasing.                    vaccinated.
Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Page 9                                                                  The GuardIan                                             Sunday, February 28, 2021

MOU signed for Good Governance Curriculum
       The Ministry of the Public                                                                                               of the Senate; Senator Elena
Service, Constitutional and                                                                                                     Smith; Dr. Osmond Martinez,
Political Reform, and the                                                                                                       CEO in the Ministry of the
Love Foundation signed a                                                                                                        Public Service, Constitutional
memorandum of understanding                                                                                                     and Political Reform; Dr. Rene
(MOU) for good governance,                                                                                                      Villanueva, Love Foundation’s
t r a n s p a r e n c y, a n d e t h i c s                                                                                      Chairman; Deborah Sewell,
c u r r i c u l u m a t a n o ff i c i a l                                                                                      Love Foundation’s Managing
ceremony on Friday.                                                                                                             Director; and Gerald Henry,
       The curriculum is fully                                                                                                  President of the Public Service
funded by a grant from the                                                                                                      Union.
U.S. Government’s Central                                                                                                              In her remarks Senator
America Regional Security                                                                                                       Elena Smith said that the Belize
Initiative Economic Support                   Signing of MOU between the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform,   N a t i o n a l Te a c h e r ’s U n i o n
Funds (CARSI-ESF).                                                     and the Love Foundation                                  (BNTU) is very proud of the
       Work on the curriculum                orders of our country. These               efficient service.”                     partnership, as teachers are also
began three years ago under                  initiatives are not merely words.               Minister Usher also                being trained with the modules.
the previous administration and              It is a solemn pledge by this              remarked that a member of the                  “It takes a village to raise
provides anti-corruption training            Government to always govern                opposition will now be able to          a child…it takes groups of
and will be implemented as a                 in the best interests of our               review Government contracts.            people to make things work,”
component of the mandatory                   bosses, the people of Belize. A                 Also present at the ceremony       she said.
training offered to public officers          new era has dawned, an era of              were Ambassador Stuart Leslie,                 The full-fledged course on
seeking promotion within the                 openness, an era of sustainable            Cabinet Secretary; Carolyn              transparency now on offer offers
Belize public service.                       development, and an era of good            Trench-Sandiford, President             a maximum of two credits.
       In his remarks, the U.S.
Embassy in Belize’s Chargé d’
Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges said,
“By supporting this memorandum
of understanding, the United
States is backing Belize’s
commitment to improving good
governance because we strongly
believe that such efforts are
instrumental to guaranteeing
that economic and social
development benefits all people.
The United States is proud to
have funded this important
initiative and we congratulate
the Love Foundation and the
Ministry of Public Service on the
successful culmination of their
cooperative efforts.”
       Keith Gilges also said,
“Requiring transparency is at
the heart of any Democracy.”
       H e n r y C h a r l e s U s h e r,
Minister of the Public Service,
Constitutional and Political
Reform said, “Belizeans have
entrusted us with a task, insisting
that Government lead in setting
the example in complying with
and conducting all its affairs
by respecting the rule of laws
as defined in the Constitution,
ancillary laws, and government
Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Vol. 24 No. 9 - Previous Issues
Page 10                                                        The GuardIan                                     Sunday, February 28, 2021

          Pregnant 18-year-old and 12-year-old
            perish in Coastal Road accident

          Janet McNab                          Leea Valencia
     It was a horrific and tragic   Belize District. Police responded
accident which has left at least    to reports of the accident at
two, including the mother to an     around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday,
unborn baby, dead and many          February 20, 2021 and arrived
others injured. A group of 22       on scene where they saw the van
people were travelling inside a     with all four tires in the air. The                        Crashed Ford Econoline van
10-seater Ford Econoline van        group had gone down south for         the worst.                          was six-months pregnant, were
from Dangriga to Belize City        an annual family trip and it was           When the dust settled, 12-     fatally injured. Video footage
when the van overturned around      just friends and family inside the    year-old Leea Valencia as well      from the scene shows a number
Miles 16.5 on the Coastal Road,     van when things took a turn for       as 18-year-old Janet McNab, who     of persons recording the tragic
                                                                                                              incident. That has caused quite
                                                                                                              the upset on social media since
                                                                                                              people have voiced their opinion
                                                                                                              that the video takers should
                                                                                                              have instead assisted. Valencia’s
                                                                                                              mother was inside the van and
                                                                                                              says that at the time, Leea and
                                                                                                              two of her other children were on
                                                                                                              her lap when the van overturned.
                                                                                                              She lost consciousness and when
                                                                                                              she came to, her 12-year-old child
                                                                                                              was under the van. McNab’s
                                                                                                              family are hurting as well, losing
                                                                                                              both their loved one and her baby,
                                                                                                              whose gender was to be learnt
                                                                                                              soon. Other injured parties were
                                                                                                              transported to the Southern and
                                                                                                              Western Regional Hospitals.
                                                                                                                   Police are still working to
                                                                                                              determine what exactly caused
                                                                                                              the van to overturn and Sr. Supt.
                                                                                                              Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head,
                                                                                                              National Crimes Investigation
                                                                                                              Branch, says that they are
                                                                                                              following several theories
                                                                                                              including the loose gravel on
                                                                                                              the road. Likewise, when they
                                                                                                              got on scene, they noticed that at
                                                                                                              least two of the van’s tires were
                                                                                                              blown out.
                                                                                                                   According to police, the
                                                                                                              driver Oscar Gonguez Jr.,
                                                                                                              McNab’s brother-in-law and
                                                                                                              Valencia’s uncle, refused to
                                                                                                              provide a specimen for them to
                                                                                                              determine if he was under the
                                                                                                              influence. As a result, he will be
                                                                                                              charged with refusing to provide
                                                                                                              a specimen. Police are continuing
                                                                                                              their investigations.

                                                                                                                    For the
                                                                                                                   latest in
                                                                                                                    news -
                                                                                                                    it’s the
                                                                                                                  Guardian!
Page 11                                                               The GuardIan                                          Sunday, February 28, 2021

 Governor General Receives                                                       PUP against our youths
  Letters of Credence from
 New Ambassadors to Belize

                                                                                            Allan Kelly, aspiring UDP Belize City Councilor candidate
                                                                                       The PUP doesn’t really              has now ventured into his own
      H.E. Sir Colville Young and Archbishop H.E. Fortunatus Nwachukwu           want our troubled youths to turn          small business Kelly’s Fast Food,
                                                                                 their lives around and become             which is located in the Holy
                                                                                 productive citizens. Proof of that        Emmanuel Area (Gungulung).
                                                                                 is their attack on Allan Kelly,           Being a small business owner
                                                                                 who is one of the UDP’s Belize            himself, Allan is naturally driven
                                                                                 City Councilor candidates. It is          to assist other small businesses
                                                                                 so hypocritical that the PUP is           and those other persons in Belize
                                                                                 pointing to the fact that Kelly,          City, who may wish to become
                                                                                 who has never denied that as a            entrepreneurs.
                                                                                 youth he gave trouble, and now                 In attacking Allan Kelly
       H.E. Sir Colville Young and H.E. Mr. Khaled AbdelRahman Shamaa
                                                                                 he has reformed himself to a              the People United Party’s
                                                                                 point where he is now seeking             attack page, ‘The Association
                                                                                 office. Kelly is a shining example        of Concerned Belizeans’ has
                                                                                 of what proper mentorship and             attacked one of its own. Do
                                                                                 educational opportunities, can            they forget that Micah Goodin
                                                                                 do for our youth.                         infamously confessed on ‘I Am
                                                                                       “AK” as Kelly is known,             Belize’ that he too had taken the
                                                                                 always speaks of the fact that            wrong path as a youth ? This
                                                                                 not only did the Hon. Michael             is what Micah said in 2011, “I
           H.E. Sir Colville Young and H.E. Mrs. Terézia Šajgalíková             Finnegan take him off the streets         had gotten into drugs use, gang
                                                                                 after the 2008 UDP victory and            activity and negativity.” Micah
                                                                                 gave him a job at the Ministry of         is now a sitting City Councillor,
                                                                                 Housing, but then Hon Finnegan            who is seeking re-election. If
                                                                                 also mentored him, kept him out           Micah is good enough to be
                                                                                 of trouble and encouraged him to          elected why should Allan not
                                                                                 go back to school. With the help          be good enough to be elected to
                                                                                 of Ministers Finnegan and Faber,          office? Did not both individuals
                                                                                 Allan enrolled into the Gwen Liz          give trouble in their youth and
                                                                                 ACE program, and he graduated             then change their lives?
                                                                                 in 2016, gaining a High School                 Check out this piece of
                                                                                 Equivalency Certificate. Allan            history. ACB, heal thyself.

             H.E. Sir Colville Young and H.E. Mr. Masaya Fujiwara

                                                                                 Tractor crushes CPBL driver
                                                                                      A tractor operator for Citrus
                                                                                 Products of Belize Limited
                                                                                 (CPBL) has lost his life in a
                                                                                 freak accident on the job. Juan
                                                                                 Garcia, a senior tractor operator,
                                                                                 was tasked with spraying one
                                                                                 of the company’s orange groves
                  H.E. Sir Colville Young and H.E. Mr. Zvi Tal                   with herbicides onboard a tractor
     Belmopan. February 24,               Slovak Republic; H.E. Mr. Masaya       when he, somehow, got caught
2021. 12:40 p.m. The Governor             Fujiwara, non-resident ambassador      under the machine and was
General of Belize, H.E. Sir Colville      of Japan; and H.E. Mr. Zvi Tal, non-   crushed to death. It took place
Young, virtually received letters of      resident ambassador of Israel.         on Monday, February 22, 2021
                                                                                 at Mile 12 in Pomona Village,                          Juan Garcia
credence of five new ambassadors                The ambassadors thanked the
accredited to Belize on Tuesday,          Governor General for welcoming         Stann Creek and while his family          afternoon but when he failed to
February 24, 2021.                        them and expressed their wishes        is attempting to come to terms            show, the farm’s supervisor set
     Presenting letters of credence       for strengthening bilateral            with his death, the police and            out to look for him. At around
were Archbishop H.E. Fortunatus           relations between Belize and their     CPBL are trying to ascertain              4:30 p.m., his crushed body
Nwachukwu, non-resident                   respective countries. For his part,    what exactly happened.                    was found under the overturned
ambassador of the Holy See;               the Governor General welcomed               A representative from CPBL           tractor he was operating. Both
H.E. Mr. Khaled AbdelRahman               the ambassadors on behalf of           explained that Garcia was given           the Police and the health and
Shamaa, non-resident ambassador           the people and Government of           the task to do and was expected           safety unit of the company
of the Arab Republic of Egypt;            Belize and thanked them for their      to be done within two hours. As           were contacted and both have
H.E. Mrs. Terézia Šajgalíková,            expressions of cooperation.            a result, he was expected back            launched an investigation into
non-resident ambassador of the                  -Press release-                  at work at around 3:30 p.m. that          this sudden death.
Page 12                                                               The GuardIan                                          Sunday, February 28, 2021

       Creating opportunities at the
San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Council
     Members of the SISE Child                                                                                             Development Foundation, the
Advisory Body and Members                                                                                                  Inter-American Development
of No. 27 Santa Elena Jaguar                                                                                               Bank and the Government of
Scouts of the Scout Association                                                                                            Japan. Such efforts will be
of Belize recently went on                                                                                                 focused to develop innovative
a farm tour at the Research,                                                                                               projects for San Ignacio and
Development, and Innovation                                                                                                Santa Elena, ensuring that there
Center in Central Farm now                                                                                                 is guidance and assistance for
being managed by the Ministry                                                                                              small business owners and
of Agriculture. The purpose                                                                                                entrepreneurs, coming up with
of the tour was to learn about                                                                                             a COVID-19 plan, develop a
growing community gardens.                                                                                                 new bus terminal and enhance
     The Community Garden                                                                                                  more than 30 streets (including
Project is a collaborative project                                                                                         drains and culverts) in flood-
between number 27 Santa Elena                                                                                              prone areas.
Jaguar Scouts, the San Ignacio                                                                                                  Mayor Trapp sincerely
and Santa Elena Town Council,                                                                                              believes that it is his duty as
and the Child Advisory Body.                                                                                               Mayor to oversee the successful
The initiative is to create several                                                                                        implementation of the plans
community gardens within San                              Child Advisory goes on a farm tour in Central Farm               that were put forward by the
Ignacio and Santa Elena and               Council. Working in partnership            Government of Belize and              residents of San Ignacio and
is the focus of a curriculum              with varied sectors much can be            partners such as UNICEF, the          Santa Elena and outlined in
that incorporates nutrition,              achieved for the Twin Towns.               Caribbean Community Climate           the Municipal Development
public health, horticulture, and               During its next term of               Change Center, The Government         Plan and the Local Economic
environmental education.                  office–if so, granted by the               of Taiwan, the Pan American           Development Plan.
     The preceding is one                 people of San Ignacio and Santa
example of a collaborative effort         Elena–Mayor Earl Trapp Jr. and                                            NOTICE
being undertaken by the San               the new Council will increase                                     GLOBAL FLOWER LTD.
Ignacio and Santa Elena Town              its efforts at working with the                                 OVERSEAS VENTURES LTD.
                                                                                                           WORLD EQUITIES CORP.

      Press Freedom Webinar
                                                                                                           Blue Marlin Investments S.A.
                                                                                                                (“the Companies”)

       held in the Caribbean                                                           Notice is hereby given that the Companies have been dissolved and
                                                                                       struck off the Belize International Corporate Affairs Registry with
                                                                                                        effect from February 22th, 2021.

                                                                                                      Orion Corporate & Trust Services Ltd.
                                                                                                               Registered Agent

                                                                                                                    NOTICE
                                                                                                                  NAPAU LTD.
                                                                                                                (“the Company”)

                                                                                       Notice is hereby given to all interested parties that NAPAU LTD.
               Webinar held for journalists across the Caribbean                       incorporated under the Belize IBC Act (Chapter 270), commenced
      A press freedom Webinar             is that “Freedom to speak only               dissolution on February 19th, 2021 and María Verónica Iezzi of
was held for journalists across the       inoffensively is not worth                   Casado de Alisal, 4, 4 derecha , 28014, Madrid, España is the
Caribbean on Wednesday, with              having.”                                     Liquidator of the Company. Any claims against the Company should
support coming from the Public                 Latchoo also adds, “We have                    be forwarded to the Liquidator by March 11th, 2021.
Affairs Office at the United States       to balance right and freedoms.”
Embassy in Barbados. It was held               Legal regimens are now                  OVERSEAS MANAGEMENT COMPANY (BELIZE) LIMITED
under the title: “The Challenges          being placed in several territories                         Registered Agent
and Status of Press Freedom in            in the Caribbean, which protects
the Caribbean”. The Guardian              from malicious speech.
                                                                                                                   NOTICE
Newspaper was a participant at                 Participants in the Webinar
                                                                                                        TANENT MANAGEMENT CORP.
this event.                               lauded the reality that media
                                                                                                         STEVENS MANAGEMENT S.A.
      Among the presenters was            houses are collaborating across
                                                                                                              (“the Companies”)
Justice Kathy Latchoo, who                borders, especially with sports
was called to the bar 23 years            news. Reporters are also reaching
                                                                                       Notice is hereby given to all interested parties that TANENT
ago in Trinidad and Tobago.               out across the region to collaborate
                                                                                       MANAGEMENT CORP. and STEVENS MANAGEMENT S.A.
Justice Latchoo’s basic tenet             on business stories.
                                                                                       incorporated under the Belize IBC Act (Chapter 270), commenced

                   Classifieds
                                                                                       dissolution on February 19th, 2021, and Mr. Elias Neocleous of
                                                                                       195 Arch. Makarios III Avenue, Neocleous House, 3030 Limassol,
                                                                                       Cyprus is the Liquidator of the Companies. Any claims against the
                                                                                       Companies should be forwarded to the Liquidator (Email: info@neo.
 Liquor License Notice - Notice is hereby given that under the Intoxicating
 Liquor Licence Ordinance Chapter 150 of the Laws of Belize, Revised                     law and telephone No. +357 25 110110) by March 11th, 2021.
 Edition 2000, that Maria Lilian Castro is applying for the renewal of a
 Restaurant Liquor License for the year 2021 to operate “Lilys Restaurant                             Orion Corporate & Trust Services Ltd.
 and Bar” located at Maskall Village, Belize District.                                                         Registered Agent
Page 13   The GuardIan   Sunday, February 28, 2021
Page 14   The GuardIan   Sunday, February 28, 2021
Page 15   The GuardIan   Sunday, February 28, 2021
Page 16                                                        The GuardIan                                       Sunday, February 28, 2021

            Second charged in                                                     Francis Ramos attacks
           relation to shooting                                                   civilian and responding
            of Jervis Valencia                                                          police officer
     Less than a month ago,                                                       An unprovoked chopping
an attack was made on the life                                              incident left one man hospitalized
of a notorious criminal figure,                                             on Valentine’s Day weekend while
Jervis Valencia, also known                                                 a responding officer, who came
as Jervis Diamond. Even after                                               under attack himself, was lucky
being shot multiple times, he                                               to escape unharmed. According
lived to tell the tale. Police                                              to police, on Saturday, February
made an arrest into the shooting                                            13, 2021, they made their way
incident and Valencia’s cousin,                                             to Marine Parade to respond to
21-year-old Kareem Kelly, was                                               reports of a chopping. 22-year-
arrested. Now, a second man has                                             old Akeem Patterson was seen
been identified and arrested in                                             with a cut wound to his head
this incident: as his neighbor,                 Calbert Humes               and reported to the officers                   Francis Ramos
25-year-old Calbert Eugene            could not be offered. He now          that he was attacked by Francis      a machete upon Harold Garbutt,
Humes.                                joins Kelly on remand at the          Ramos. Ramos, who has no             the officer. He appeared before
     Humes, a fisherman and           Belize Central Prison until April     fixed address, further attempted     Senior Magistrate Stephanie
construction worker who now           30 when they will both appear         to attack one of the officers with   Gillett and pleaded not guilty to
claims to live in Hopkins             in court.                             his machete but that officer was     the charge. He was offered bail in
Village, was once a resident of            Kelly was charged with           quick on his feet. He managed        the sum of $2,000 plus one surety
Mayflower Street. He appeared         three indictable criminal             not only to dodge Ramos’s attack     of the same. Unfortunately, he
unrepresented before Magistrate       offenses of attempted murder,         but withdrew his weapon and fire     was not able to meet bail and was
Stephanie Gillett and was read        use of deadly means of harm,          a shot which caught Ramos to         remanded to the Belize Central
a charge of abetment to commit        and dangerous harm. Valencia          the foot.                            Prison until April 22, 2021.
murder. He stands accused of          was hit as many as four times all           For his injuries, Ramos was         In court, he was not levied
facilitating Kelly in his attempt     over his body and his shooting        hospitalized under police guard      charges in connection to the
to kill Valencia on January 26.       is believed to be a part of the       and has since been released into     incident against Patterson. It
No plea was taken and due to          internal warfare in that gang         police custody and arraigned on a    appears that he has not yet
the nature of the charge, bail        controlled area.                      charge of aggravated assault with    requested court action.

   Two more home invasions
      There have been a number
of crimes taking place all over the
country from incidents of piracy
to home invasions. In Yemeri
Grove, Toledo, William Haught
was a victim of an armed invasion
at his residence from where a
number of items including a
licensed firearm were stolen.
It took place on Wednesday,
February 17, 2021 when, as
Haught explains, he was returning
home from conducting business                   Omar Mitchell
in Punta Gorda Town. He had           Mitchell, who was accosted by
left home at around 10:00 a.m.,       five men on Sunday, February 21,
leaving his caretaker behind, and     2021. He reported that sometime
when he returned sometime after       after 7:00 a.m., he heard his
noon, he was accosted by three        dogs barking and when he made
persons all of dark complexion.       checks, he was approached by a
The men all wore masks and were       male persons who subdued him.
armed and managed to bind both        He was then joined by four other
Haught and his caretaker. They        persons who bound Mitchell
demanded money and went on to         before ransacking his home. The
ransack the home before making        thieves were able to make off
off with his licensed shotgun,        with both his vehicles, a Toyota
which was inside his vehicle.         Hilux and a Toyota Prado. After
The men left and after freeing        they left, Mitchell shouted for
himself, Haught made his way          his neighbor’s assistance and
to his village’s chairperson who      called the police. ACP Joseph
called the police.                    Myvett, Head, National Crimes
      Just a few days later, there    Investigation Branch, says that the
was another home invasion,            police have spotted the vehicles
this time in San Ignacio, Cayo.       crossing into Guatemala through
The victim of this incident           Arenal. Investigations into both
is Contractor General Omar            incidents are underway.

           The Guardian online at
             www.guardian.bz
Page 17                                                        The GuardIan                                      Sunday, February 28, 2021

   Bail for machete incident                                                   Man critically chopped
                                    altercation, Baizar reportedly            Two people are awaiting
                                    used a machete to assault           charges of attempted murder by
                                    Sacasa.                             police while a third man, identified
                                         He appeared in court before    as 36-year-old Jose Gonzalez, is
                                    Magistrate Khadeen Palmer and       fighting for his life at the Karl
                                    pleaded not guilty. There was no    Heusner Memorial Hospital. What
                                    objection to bail and was granted   started off as a social affair ended
                                    bail in the sum of $3,000 plus      in a chopping incident, which has
                                    one surety of the same amount.      left Gonzalez in a critical condition
                                    Baizar was ordered to stay away     in the hospital. It took place on
                                    from Sacasa both directly and       Saturday, February 20, 2021 in the
                                    indirectly or can see his bail      Young Bank Area of Camalote,
           Rennick Baizar           revoked. He is due back in court    Cayo. Gonzalez and two men                         Jose Gonzalez
    A past soldier of the Belize    on April 22, 2021.                  were consuming alcohol when             and made his way home, not too
Defense Force, who is now                Baizar is no stranger to       they became involved in a verbal        far away. There, he supposedly
employed as a prison officer,       the court and has previously        disagreement. That argument,            asked his mother for a machete
was taken to court on a charge      been convicted on a charge of       however, soon turned physical           to defend himself but was not
of aggravated assault with a        wounding upon his estranged         and before long, Gonzalez was           given one. Shortly thereafter, the
machete. Police say that on         girlfriend. For this crime, he      suffering from serious chop             men made it into his yard and
Saturday, February 20, 2021,        served time in prison and was       wounds. The men had chopped             proceeded to chop him several
Rennick Baizar was involved in      also in court on a breach of        him multiple times to the head          times. The police were called
a physical struggle with Mark       protection order from the Belize    and body with a machete.                to the scene and transported an
Augustine Sacasa. During their      Family Court.                             The nature of the argument        injured Gonzalez to the Western
                                                                        is unknown but reports suggest          Regional Hospital before he was

     One injured in Partridge                                           that Gonzalez foresaw the attack
                                                                        on his life. He left the yard where
                                                                                                                taken to the KHMH. They were
                                                                                                                later able to detain two persons but

         Street shooting                                                he and the men, one of whom is
                                                                        his cousin, started the argument
                                                                                                                charges have not yet been brought
                                                                                                                against them.
      Police seem to have more

                                                                         Teenager shot on New Road
questions than answers when
it comes to a shooting on
Partridge Street in Belize City
on Saturday, February 20, 2021.                                               Police are investigating a
Walter Longsworth is in a stable                                        shooting incident that landed a
condition at the Karl Heusner                                           19-year-old Belize City resident
Memorial Hospital after being                                           at the KHMH. Reports indicate
the sole victim in that incident.                                       that around 7:05p.m. on Monday
Investigations into this shooting                                       February 22, Kareem Barona
has revealed that Longsworth                                            was socializing with two other
and other persons were inside a                                         men in front of #91 New Road
yard on Partridge Street when a                                         when a tall light-skinned man
gunman approached and opened                                            approached them through nearby
fire. The 33-year-old sustained                                         Pitts Alley onto New Road. The
multiple shots to the body and                                          man set his target on Barona                      Kareem Barona
was rushed to the hospital for              Walter Longsworth           and fired a number of shots                 Barona was rushed to the
treatment. Police have yet          motive but their investigations     injuring him to various parts of        KHMH where he remains under
to determine a suspect and          continue.                           the body.                               medical care.
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