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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials


The San Pedro Sun

PM Barrow welcomes revocation of Commerce Bight Lease
Prime Minister Barrow has welcomed the decision of the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Rene Montero, to revoke the lease of Commerce Bight Port. The Prime Minister says that the decadent state in which the Commerce Bight Port was found after being in private hands for over 11 years shows the ugly face of the misguided policy of unbridled privatisation pursued by the PUP Government when vital national assets were sold out for short-term gains. The port privatisation exercise relentlessly followed by the previous Government has proved to be a dismal failure, says the Prime Minister. The so-called 'strategic investor', Port of Belize Ltd. Owned by businessman Luke Espat, to whom Port Loyola was sold and Commerce Bight Port leased in 2002, is now in receivership. All the grandiose development plans for the two Ports which were given as the reason for privatization are now no more than a dream.

Government of Belize Revokes Lease Granted to Port of Belize Limited
On Thursday, August 15, 2013, The Honourable Rene Montero, Minister responsible for Ports, as authorized by Cabinet, and in accordance with Clause 16 of the Lease, signed an order revoking the Lease granted to Port of Belize Limited (PBL), to operate and manage the Commerce Bight Port, and arranged for possession and control of the Port by the Belize Port Authority with immediate effect. The revocation came as a result of the breach of the following terms and conditions: (a) Clause14.1. PBL has failed to submit a development plan or to carry out any development works at the Port as required by this Clause. This breach alone is sufficient under Clause 16 to revoke the Lease. (b) Clause 4.1. PBL has failed to operate and manage the Port or to carry out the necessary dredging of the approach channel and the dock basin, as required under this Clause. (c) Clause 10. PBL has failed to pay the lease rental to the Government of Belize in accordance with this Clause.

Belize Rotary Club helps address water challenges affecting San Mateo
Rotary Club Distributes Filter Buckets-1Water is one of the basic needs for all humans and it has been the center of world discussion in almost every international forum. The statistics worldwide gives a wider picture of the challenges faced by mankind to tackle water related problems. One community that contributes to the alarming global statistics is San Mateo, situated in the heart of Belize's prime tourism destination, Ambergris Caye. For that reason the Rotary Club of Belize, working along with US expatriate Ann Kuffner, are leading a cause that will help minimize waterborne illnesses by providing water filter buckets. Water and the globe According to the United Nations (UN), 11% of the world's population or 783 million people are still living without improved sources of drinking water. In fact, currently 2.5 billion people, including almost one billion children, live without even basic sanitation due to a shortage in water. The UN also reports that every 20 seconds a child dies as a result of poor sanitation; it is equivalent to 1.5 million preventable deaths each year. Worldwide, diarrhea continues to be the leading cause of illness and death, and 88% of diarrhea deaths are due to a lack of access to sanitation facilities along with inadequate availability of water for hygiene and unsafe drinking water. But with improved sanitation and safe drinking water, 90% of diarrhea related diseases could be reduced.

Ambergris Today

Giant Squid Carcass Found at Belize Blue Hole?
Remnants of Large Squid Found by Amigos Del Mar Dive Shop - The crew of Amigos Del Mar Dive Shop seems to always have the best of luck when it comes to new discoveries while they are out at sea during their daily tours. A while back they discovered a prehistoric-looking creature that looked like a cross between an eel and a large-mouthed fish, clearly a deep sea dwelling creature. Earlier this week, they found remnants of a very large squid! "It's a giant squid!" remarked many residents when they saw this elongated body part. The crew of Amigos Del Mar made the discovery once again during one of their trips to the Great Blue Hole of Belize. They picked up this dead creature out of the water and were startled by its size.

Norwegian Cruise Line Plans To Develop $50Mil Eco-Friendly Destination In Belize
Norwegian Cruise Line (NASDAQ: NCLH) announced today that it has purchased approximately 75 acres in Southern Belize for the planned development of an eco-friendly cruise destination. The land, called Harvest Caye, is made up of two adjoining islands in the Stann Creek and Toledo districts that had previously been approved for a resort development with an air strip. Norwegian plans to invest $50 million in the project. "As our fleet continues to grow to 15 ships by 2017, we expect that we will double the number of guests sailing on our Western Caribbean itineraries and, once this new destination is complete, bring four times as many guests to Belize than we do today," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's president and CEO. "In our quest to continuously look for new and exciting destinations for our guests, we plan to develop a cruise destination focused on sustainable design and eco-friendly principles that will retain the natural beauty and local culture of this tropical paradise."

Misc Belizean Sources

Junior DJ Spin-off
Courts is having their Junior DJ Spin-off tomorrow at their Belmopan store, from 9:00am until noon. The competition is for 13 to 19 year olds, and the winner will get a $500 school grant. DJ Richie will be the host, and Cloud 9, Eclipse Sounds, and Black Chiney will make special appearances. Remember DJ's: No talking over the music, people don't want to hear your voices, that's what MC's are for. Big difference.

Conference for Life at GPC
The George Price Centre is having a Conference for Life tomorrow, starting at 9:00am, and all females ages 10 and over are invited. The United Christian Women's Alliance Belize is organizing the event, and it includes food and snacks. For more information, email [email protected].

Belize Bank Presents Scholarships
Getting ready for the upcoming school season, Belize Bank awarded 13 students scholarships. Congratulations to the students, and a big thanks to Belize Bank! "The Belize Bank gives thirteen scholarships to high school and sixth form students across the country. The scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum 2.75 average. But the bank is also lending its human resources to the program. In each district that has recipients, a bank employee will become a mentor for the student. The students are also obligated to be accountable for absences and their performance. During a brief ceremony this morning the bank also gave school supplies to the scholarship recipients. In 2012, 25 scholarships were given to students."

Courts Presents Scholarships
Courts presented 10 scholarships to students throughout Belize, and 5 of them were from Cayo. Congratulations, students, and a big thanks to Courts for investing in the future of Belize. "A hearty congratulations to our scholarship recipients....we are so proud of you... Keep up the good work!"

San Joaquin Festival and September Celebrations
The 47th San Joaquin Festival is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 16 through 18 Aug 2013, in San Joaquin, Corozal District. Also, we have posted the schedule for Corozal Town's September Celebrations: To see the schedule for the San Joaquin Festival, click on each of the icons on the Calendar above. For the September Celebrations, go to the full calendar page and click on any of the icons there.

Channel 7

Stevedores Continue To Press Against "Pancho"
Last night, 7News told you about the meeting at the Bishop Sylvester Memorial Center in Belize City, in which the Waterfront Workers met with the other members of the Christian Workers Union to try to get their support to rally against Union President Antonio Gonzalez. As we've reported, they're trying to get Gonzalez and General Secretary James McFoy to step down, and they had given him until midday yesterday. But all indications are that he ignored their demands, and that the earliest date which he intends to step down is in March of next year. So, we were imbedded in that meeting last night, we've prepared a short excerpt on the presentations made by the different speakers: Raymond Rivers - Waterfront Workers Representative "When was the last time Mr. Antonio Gonzalez and James McFoy ever submitted anything at all? Financial reports, being present at the jobsite - look at the conditions of the work, especially in Stevedores. That is why we have come to this point and say that it is time -- you used to do good for us but it's really time now." Dion Ras Pitta - Waterfront Workers Representative "Are you satisfied with Mr. Gonzalez and Mr. McFoy conducting business on your behalf? Anyone satisfied?" Audience "No"

Port Receiver Says No More Negotiations Until CWU Stabilizes
So, there is turmoil within the Christian Worker's Union, as we have been showing you all this week, and the direct effect that this has on one of their functions is to negotiate on behalf of the stevedores with the Port of Belize on a Collective Bargaining Agreement. This agreement has, in fact, been long-delayed for years because each side held on to their strong positions with very little compromise. Well, because the stevedores are the ones leading this campaign against Antonio Gonzalez, the negotiations have stalled yet again. Additionally, both sides have agreed in principle that until this issue is cleared up, the CWU cannot continue to negotiate with the Port of Belize's Administration. We confirmed this as the Port's position today when we spoke with CEO and Receiver, Arturo "Tux" Vasquez, who explained that this movement was foretold. Here's how he explained why: Arturo "Tux" Vasquez - CEO, Port of Belize "As far as the negotiation is concerned, it appeared that there was something happening because the union - four weeks in a row - had postponed our weekly meetings since we last met with the Labor commissioner to confirm and to agree in front of him that these negotiations would continue. Just before we met with the labor commissioner, the problem that the union had at the time was that their negotiating team had fallen apart and that's one of the reasons that they needed to regroup their negotiating team and then they would continue. All these delays have never been because of the Port of Belize so when we met with the labor commissioner 5 weeks ago, it is in that presence that they agreed that they would remain with their same negotiating team and they would resume their weekly meetings from then on.

GOB Cancels PBL's Lease For Commerce Bight Port
But, Vasquez as the Receiver of the Port has his own urgent issues to deal with; that's after the Government of Belize announced today that they are revoking the lease for the Commerce Bight Port in Dangriga. GOB is citing that the revocation is justified because the Administration of the Port of Belize Limited and the Belize Ports Limited has breached 3 clauses in the lease agreement with Government. They say that the administration has failed to submit a development plan or to carry out any development works at the Commerce Beight Port; they've failed to operate and manage the port or to carry out dredging of the approach channel and dock basin; and finally that they've failed to pay lease rental to Government. Viewers may remember that Government attempted to revoke the lease in March 2008, but the Administration, which was being run by businessman Luke Espat, filed an injunction against government. GOB's Attorney, Denys Barrow, was finally able, to convince then Justice of the Supreme Court Hafiz-Bertram to discharge it in July of last year. Employees of the Belize Port Authority were activating to assume control of the Commerce Bight Port, when we spoke to Vasquez today. He explained that the administration is seeking legal advice to determine whether it is possible to reverse the take-over:

FCD And Guat's BALAM Work To Protect Chiquibul
Today in Poptun Guatemala, Executive Director of the Friends for Conservation and Development, Rafael Manzanero signed a bi-naiton plan for the protection of Chiquibul Maya Mountain Range. If that sounds like two different places: "the Maya Mountains" and "Chiquibul" mashed up into one, it isn't - that's what they call the area in Guatemala. And the agreement is a Guatemalan one, an initiative of the Food and Agricultural Organization and BALAM - a Guatemalan Organization for the conservation of natural and cultural resources. But BALAM has teamed up with FCD because what happens in Southern Peten is directly related to what happens in the Chiquibul Forest. Byron Castellanos, the Executive Director of BALAM told Jules Vasquez and KREM Radio's Marisol Amaya - who are in Poptun, what the agreement signifies: Byron Castellanos, Executive Director, BALAM "And basically, the convention we signed today is a convention focused on developing a bi-national project that has actions in Belize and Guatemala to reduce illegal logging in both countries. FCD is our partner in Belize and we as Balam will implement the activities on the side of Guatemala. The importance of this project is that it is focused on reducing illegal logging in Monta�as Mayas Chiquibul, taking into account that it is a very important protected area, a natural area from the perspective of Belize and Guatemala.

Salvadoran Caught With 85 Lbs Of Weed
Tonight, 44 year-old Saldvadoran National Jeremias Pichinte is at prison tonight spending a 3 year sentence after he was busted by the Gang Suppression Unit with 85 and a half pounds of marijuana early this morning. According the GSU, they conducted an operation at around 1 a.m., at the uppler flat of the St. Anthony Trading Center Building, located on Princess Margaret Drive. There they found Pichinte in the second flat, and when they tried to enter, they found him on the back verandah trying to throw away a crocus sack. They detained him, and took him down stairs, where they retrieved the sack. The opened it up, and found 52 pounds of marijuana in 12 small parcels. They also searched his room, and found another 35 and a half pounds in a black garbage bag. This second amount was packaged off in 62 small plastic bags.

NCL's Floating Pier Concept At Harvest Caye
For the past two nights we've been telling you all about the proposed cruise terminal that Norwegian Cruise Lines has planned for the south of Belize at Harvest Caye. It's a lot of minutes of coverage, but, to be fair, the details of the project have been shared publicly in unprecedented fashion. With past cruise terminals, or proposed terminals, we've never gotten a public ventilation of the Memorandum of Understanding. Tonight, we'll look at the concept of a floating pier, which would become Belize's first berthing facility, plus the issue of jobs - how many and when. Here's our final look at Wednesday's press conference: Daniel Ortiz reporting The single pier will be designed, they say for minimal environmental impact, supported by 25 piles Hugh Darley - Bze Project Manager - NCL "We've got a floating pier system - why floating? Because that is a smaller impact, small foot print - we saw a lot of this in Alaska. When you talk about sensitive waters and where you are, the less concrete, the less structure and the less construction that it takes - floating piers allow us to build it on land and be floated out and put in place; it has minimal amount piles.

BTIA Placencia: Speak Up On NCL Project
And so while the idea there is not to inundate the south - it kind of also is. And that's because while Norwegian is developing a destination on Harvest caye where they hope their visitors will stay and spend all their money, their also zoning in on as many as 60 villages in the south that hardly get any tourism. But Placencia Chapter President Stewart Krohn says you can't have it both ways. Here's more form our conversaiton with him yesterday:.. Stewart Krohn - President, Placencia BTIA "I am just speaking on behalf of the Placencia BTIA chapter, the national BTIA has a board - that board has to consider things, please make it clear I'm speaking from one little small organization. But don't make the mistake of thinking that it's just the BTIA that is against this thing, if you look at the Belize Hotel Association, Placencia Tour Guide Association, Toledo Branch of BTIA, Southern Environmental Association - and there are more environmental groups that have not put things to paper. So this is not just some BTIA thing, it's not just a Placencia thing, it's not just a Southern thing - this is a National thing. I realize for someone to go and stand up and fight the government, it is not easy - I have to say, I cannot blame anyone, no matter how against this thing they might be - I can't blame you if you don't come out and make a big fuss on the TV like I am. But there are other ways that you can support what we're doing - speak to your area rep and say that 'this thing can't work, this thing doesn't make sense' - listen to the arguments. No one has to stand up and wave your flag and make yourself an enemy because we know that people have to live, people want scholarships for their children, people want land and everything from government because they play such a large role in our lives."

New Special Constables For Belize City
Tonight, the Belize City Council has a 13 shiny new Special Constables who have been trained by the Belize Police Department. It's been quite a while since we've heard from this effort at community policing, so today, we attended their graduation and passing out into active duty. Here's how the Senior Special Constable explained his confidence in these new officers: Clifton Perez - Senior Special Constable "I am confident that they have learned these things and that the practical implications when they hit the streets tomorrow, Sunday or next week that they are prepared for any challenges they face." Andrew Morgan - Special Constable "As one of the 13 candidates who took and completed the special constable course which was held from the 5th - 16th of August, 2013. This course was timely as enforcement officers, we were taught the basic art of policing."

Belize Host's CA Table Tennis Masters Tournament
The Belize Table Tennis Association is preparing to host the 15th Central American Table Tennis Masters Championships. It is a big opportunity for Belize because it is the first time Belize will be housing the tournament, and because the Central American Table Tennis Confederations are adding a new category. The President of the Association told us more: Arturo "Tux" Vasquez - Belize Table Tennis Association "The 15th Central American Masters Tennis Champions will take place in Belize from the 13th - 16th of September right in the middle of the September Celebrations. It's a first for Belize, it's the 15th of course and it's all the Central American countries, masters or veterans and it's a tournament that will be played between 5 categories, starting with 30-39, 40-49, 60-64, 65-70 and 70 and above. All individual matches will be played within their age category and for the first time in Belize and for the first time in this tournament, a team tournament is being introduced so Belize will be the first in having a team in this event. A team will be the same players playing within the same category as team members - two to a team."

"Ballers For Life" Was Successful
Last week, we showed you the Ballers For Life camp organized by the Basketball Federation of Belize. It was an effort by the Federation to train the young generation of ballers by giving them an outlet for the summer, and to brush up on their skills. It concluded today with a tournament where the ballers showed off their skills, and 7News dropped by to see how much they've improved. The President of the Belize Basketball Federation told us about its success: Paul Thompson - President, BBF "The Belize Basketball Federation is conducting a countrywide summer camp, it started August 7th and its finishing today with this big rally that we're having. This camp is our hall mark initiative that we have for our youths programme, so this year we had little over 700 participants in the countrywide camps. Today where it's culminated all the campers from the different districts come to Belize City and participate in a competition verses each other. At the end there will be a champion and there will be a prize. This is annual Ballers for Life summer camp that's held and this is our third one and it has been successful so far, this accomplishes many things and it brings together the basketball community from across the country - so we're building a community, a family. Also what it does for us, it gives us an opportunity to see the talent that we have at the younger ages, we as a federation participate in the youth categories internationally, u14, U-16, U-17 and this is a grand opportunity for us to see what we have out there and it's also a good opportunity for each district to compete against each other. We love to compete, that's a part of our makeup, it accomplishes many things here by having this camp."

The Third Fiyaa Haawth Festival
If you are a lover of some good ole fiyaa haawth cooking, then on Saturday Willow's Bank Village is where you might want to be. It's the village 3rd annual Fiyaa Haawth festival - and yesterday one of the organizers' stopped by our studios to tell us why this year's event is considered bigger and better. Natalie Palacio - Vice Chairman, Willows Bank "Well this year we have the radla for the Fyah Hawth competition which is the featured event, as well as Coconut Husking, bicycle racers, slow bicycle race and also greasy pole, watermelon eating competition, beer drinking competition and I can't forget the two for $5.00 Kubuli beer special. The Willow's Bank kitchen is going to be a base kitchen and we also have villagers coming from near and far to have booths that they will also be selling food and desserts, so that's the place you want to be."

Ras Indio's New Single
Last night, we showed you the Belizean launch of the Garifuna Colletive album called "AYO", for which they toured heavily in cities in the North America to promote. Well, another well-traveled artist is Ras Indio, who's performed all over the world trying to promote Belizean music. He's been in Belize shooting a music video for his new single, and he dropped by to explain why he teamed up with several very talented artists. Here's how he explained the song and the video: Ras Indio - Artist "Well it speaks for itself as we've been saying - the time is now. It's time now for Belizean artists to buss out and make themselves known to the world. We have some artists here who have represented themselves in different sectors in Belize and I have someone all the way from Nigeria on this track." Deadly on the Beats - Belizean Hitmaker Productions "Basically this track is called 'Time is now" with Belizean artists, Belizean producers, Belizean directors, we're all making a statement saying that it's our time to take it up another notch."

Channel 5

Another G.O.B. Takeover�this time Port of Belize's Commerce Bight
Since entering into receivership in January 2012, Port of Belize Limited, under the administration of Arturo Vasquez, has undertaken significant expansion of its daily operations.� The company was appropriated from [...]

Government says appropriation was necessary, PM welcomes it
The revocation, according to the release, states that Port of Belize Limited failed to honor three essential requirements, including the submission of a development plan to carry out any development [...]

Stevedores want Christian Workers Union Execs to resign
The executive of the Christian Workers Union, led by president Antonio Gonzalez, has been experiencing an upheaval within its membership, particularly from a gang of stevedores, who contend that they [...]

Negotiations between stevedores and Port at a standstill
Amidst the apparent implosion of the Christian Workers Union is the Port of Belize Limited (P.B.L.).� The stevedores, one of nine entities represented by the union, are contracted by P.B.L. [...]

N.T.U.C.B. indefinitely suspends Christian Workers Union
And with all those issues surrounding P.B.L. and the Christian Workers' Union, the announcement that the C.W.U. had been suspended from inclusion in the National Trade Union Congress of Belize [...]

National Trade Union Congress Supports restructuring PAC
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is one of the most underrated yet important group that promotes and fights for good governance. The PAC makes judgments on government spending by examining [...]

No oil in commercial quantities, unions still negotiating
And since we were on the subjects of finances and benefit to the Belizean people, News Five asked Reneau for an update on the salary adjustment issue. It's been months [...]

Belmopan resident chopped to the head
A forty-two year old Salvadoran national is currently in serious condition at the Western Regional Hospital. Amilcar Alvarado Cortez was chopped to the head and hand on Thursday evening while [...]

GSU busts north side resident with 85.5 pounds of weed
What does a person do with eighty five and a half pounds of marijuana? Get busted by the police of course. On Friday August sixteenth, 2013 the Gang Suppression Unit [...]

U-20 women football national team headed to UNCAF competition
The under-twenty female football team is leaving Belize on Tuesday to represent Belize in the UNCAF tournament in Comayagua, Honduras. The team has been preparing since July for the tournament [...]

Belize currently ranked at 10 in 8th Wonder of the World Competition
The Blue Hole is at the top ten slot to possibly become the eighth wonder of the world. That's the news coming out of the Belize Tourism Board following its [...]

Ras Indio's new video "The Time is Now"
Ras Indio, the offspring of Bredda David has grown into his own brand of music a long time ago. Indio is not just a reggae singer, but also a promoter [...]

Trained Special Constables dispersed to city streets
A cohort of thirteen special constables was sworn in this afternoon during a brief ceremony at City Hall.� The commencement exercise saw a group of men and women, mostly employees [...]

Corporate sponsors get serious about youths' hoop dreams
The Ballers for Life Basketball Summer Camp closed this morning with a rally and inter-district competition at the Saint John's College gymnasium in Belize City. It's a program hosted by [...]

CTV3

San Joaquin Prepares To Celebrate Its 47th Fiesta
The center stage for the 47th annual San Joaquin Fiesta is set for this weekend in the village of San Joaquin in the Corozal District. The entrance of the torch from Bacalar was brought in on the 8th of August which marked the initial commencement of the festival. The site is already being prepared for this year's event which promises to be bigger and better. Yarely Pol - Committee member "Tomorrow being the 16th, the Feast day we have the last novena at five, then at six we have the mass and then the inauguration of the fair at the park grounds at seven thirty more or less, then after that we have the dance with Youth Connection from Orange Walk plus the games and food, that's for tomorrow Friday."

Teachers Trained To Be Counsellors
Teachers in the Orange Walk District are currently partaking in a number of workshops with the aim of improving their teaching skills. In the Orange Walk District, teachers are out in full force acquiring the necessary tools that will aid them in tackling two of the biggest challenges in the teaching profession; reading and problem solving. Noel Lopez, Teacher "It has exposed us to a whole lot of strategies that need to be used in language arts and mathematics." Irvin Aragon - Reporter "What are some of those strategies?" Noel Lopez, Teacher "For example we were just now being exposed to using pictures, how you can rearrange pictures in different orders and you can be telling different stories from the same set of pictures. In Language Arts first of all we know that children well English not their first language so now with material that they can relate to children will feel more comfortable for example looking at a picture they will able to make up stories just by looking at it."

Teachers Attack The Challenges Of The Profession
Primary School teachers are not the only ones receiving assistance for effective delivery of the two most important subject areas, Problem Solving and Language Arts. High School teachers are currently taking part in a workshop that is teaching them how to indentify if a child is going through issues that may impede his/her learning. Counseling is an important area especially at the high school level; however, due to lack of resources, a teacher's terms of reference must be modified to include also being a councilor. In order for teachers to carry out the job well, they received the necessary training. Licia Castillo, School Councillor, OWTHS "This workshop was to equip teachers with basic counseling skills in the classroom."

PM Says No To Restructuring Of PAC, NTUCB Says Yes
At the House of Representatives last week the Chairman of the Public Account Committee Julius Espat presented a motion to change the formation of the committee in charge of scrutinizing the spending of the government. While for taxpayers, the configuration of the committee might have sounded like a good idea, the motion was highly criticized and rejected by the Barrow Administration. Here are the Prime Ministers critiques about the motion. Honorable Dean Barrow- Prime Minister of Belize "Mr. Speaker I am very sorry, this motion is entirely and wholly misconceive, shot through with procedural and substantive errors from beginning to end and I after I finish speaking ask you for a ruling Mr Speaker because it is my submission that is it out of order and has to fall without merits of the motion being debated. First of all, we are told that it is a motion under 25 of the Standing Orders, even that is wrong, when you look at the substance of what the member has set forward it is really a motion that oath to have been brought pursuant to section 89 of the standing orders. Section 25 talks about how you move motions and amendments procedurally, tell you in 26 the period of notice which I see Mr Speaker in the case of a private member, but 89 is what talks particularly about a motion to amend the standing orders and that is what the member is proposing, a motion to amend the standing orders, so it oath to have been brought pursuant to section 89 and such a motion requires as I see it here in 89 (1) Mr Speaker, not less than eight clear days' notice. I see that the speaker is at liberty to contract the noticed period so I imagine that it was put in the order papers in consequence of the Speaker having exercised that jurisdiction but even if we get by that particular procedural difficulty there is another procedural difficulty that it strikes me even you Mr Speaker do not have the authority to waive. Let me read 89 (1) Mr Speaker, unless the Speaker shall otherwise direct not less than eight days' notice of a motion to amend the standing orders shall be given, presumably you directed and so it is less than eight days and the second part, and the notice shall be accompanied by a draft of the proposed amendment, where is the member draft of the proposed amendment."

Finally San Estevan/Progresso Road To Be Paved
Works for the upgrading of the San Estevan/Progresso Road was set to commence on the 21st of November 2011 and completed by May 21st 2013, but so far the rehabilitation of the 16 miles stretch of road is nowhere in site. As mentioned last night, the deplorable conditions of the road have been affecting thousands of residents who live in Corozal Southeast and find the need to commute to Orange Walk daily. With their livelihoods affected, residents decided to take a stand and demanded answers from Government. Particularly, they wanted to know why the road had not been fixed; after all, the contract was signed close to two years ago. In order to get the attention of GOB, residents threatened to block the road and even the Pueblo Nuevo Ferry. If it was just a bluff, we will never know, what we do know though is that it surely caught Governments attention and tonight residents of Chunox, Copper Bank, Progresso and other surrounding villages, have received a commitment from the Ministry of Works that work on the road will commence in ten working days. This was reveled during a very heated meeting held between residents and representatives of the Ministry of Works yesterday in the Village of Progresso.