The May 26thth, 2013 issue of The Capital Weekly is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

  • World, Here We Come! Belize Prepares for CONCACAF Gold Cup:
    Whatever our differences, if there is one thing that unites Belizeans it is our National Selection playing abroad in an international sports tournament. In this case the sport is Football or Soccer, and the tournament is the CONCACAF Gold Cup to be played in the United States, starting July 7, 2013. Belize secured its place in the tournament a few months ago when it took fourth place in the UNCAF Copa Centro-America in Costa Rica back in January. The Belize Selection performed remarkably well in that tournament, making history and making all Belizeans proud. It goes without saying that all Belizeans will be rooting again for our National Team as they head to the Gold Cup in the USA. But before we take to the international stage, there are some important house-keeping issues to address. The cost of sending the team to the tournament is roughly Half a Million Belize Dollars, and the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) simply does not have the money.
  • Belmopan Market Rehabilitation Project Begins: Market Day Temporarily Moved to Agric Show-Grounds:
    Block by block, the face of Belmopan is being transformed, thanks to the vision and determination of the Belmopan City Council, in concert with the Central Government, aided by grants from friendly governments and concessionary funding from multi-lateral international agencies. On Monday, May 20, 2013, a new project got started, which will see the entire area adjacent to the original Belmopan Market rehabilitated and transformed. The project, at a total cost of around 2 Million Dollars, is being funded by the European Union (EU) under its Belize Rural Development Program (BRDP), a designation which this particular project fits by virtue of the fact that it will facilitate mainly rural framers and vendors who come to the Capital City to market their produce and goods.
  • Strained Comparison - Flawed Conclusion:
    Delroy Cuthkelvin Chairman, Editorial Board . Last week, our respected friend at the Amandala, in his editorial titled "a flawed political system", drew some comparisons and conclusions regarding the Dean Barrow Administration and the Musa Government which we feel compelled to dissect and rebut. Seizing upon a few controversial and troubling developments and incidents which, admittedly, present for Prime Minister Barrow and his Government some of the greatest challenges since taking office in 2008, the Editorial somehow draws the conclusion that this Administration in 2013, as did the Musa Administration one year after being re-elected in 2003, has "lost its moral authority". A flawed conclusion, we respectfully submit; and if we must, we'll explain why in a little.
  • New Police Vehicles for the North:
    On Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Minister of National Security, Hon. John Saldivar, handed over two (2) new Mahindra Pickup Trucks to the Police Department. Receiving the vehicles on behalf of the Police Department was Deputy Commissioner Elodio Aragon, who then handed them over to the Officer Commanding the Northern Region, Senior Superintendent Joseph Myvette. He was accompanied by the newly appointed Officer Commanding the Orange Walk Formation, Superintendent Dennis Arnold; and the Officer Commanding the Corozal Formation, Superintendent Andrew Ramirez.
  • Exposure to Bush Fires:
    the General Public that due to recent bush-fires around the country, particularly around the Cayo District, there is a risk for vulnerable individuals of overexposure to smoke. The smoke associated with these bush-fires has the potential to irritate eyes, trigger prolonged coughing spells and cause respiratory distress or breathing problems. Individuals with chronic lung conditions, especially asthma, are advised to avoid areas with intense smoke if possible. In the event that you cannot avoid the smoke, the use of masks or wet rags may alleviate the worst effects. Also, visit the nearest health facility for respiratory support if needed. In addition to smoke exposure, intense heat may be experienced. The public is reminded of the following preventative measures for heat stroke: drink sufficient water, dress adequately and keep in the shade as much as possible.
  • Appreciation and Award Ceremony for Police Department - Belize City Precincts:
    The Belize Police Department held an evening of appreciation and award ceremony on Friday May 17, 2013 at the Princess Hotel and Casino in Belize City, where 41 persons from Eastern Division Headquarters, the 4 Precincts and community members were awarded. The event is the second in the series, and was hosted by Police Press Officer Raphael Martinez. Speakers for the occasion included the CEO in the Ministry of National Security Lt. Col (Ret.) George Lovell, Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie, and the Officer Commanding Eastern Division Assistant Commissioner of Police Miguel Segura, and his two deputies, Senior Superintendents of Police Dezerie Phillips and Marlon Allen who delivered the Vote of Thanks.
  • Will Belize Conform or Be Transformed? By Zelda Hill:
    After 31 years as an independent nation, Belize has another opportunity to prove her independence, choose her own direction and show the world that an economically struggling thirdworld country can be a leader and not a follower. The court challenge to Section 53 of Belize's Criminal Code has also exposed the strong influence of foreign organizations and nations who are pressuring us to conform to their standards of morality and to drastically alter our way of life. These ambassadors of debauchery reason that the "whole world" is choosing that path so Belize must follow. The pressure to conform to foreign ideologies and practices is not new to our young nation; but never before has the Church in Belize risen to the occasion to intercede and take such a formidable and united stance. The world awaits Belize's decision: will we choose to conform to this world's pattern or will we choose to be transformed by godly values?
  • Elections and Boundaries Department Results of Village Council Elections May 19, 2013:
  • Highway Cleaned Up for Earth Day, City Council and Citizens Combine with Civic Pride:
    "It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it." Well, in this case, the people doing it did not have to do it, but chose to do it. It wasn't their occupational obligation, but their civic duty that they were discharging. It was the annual cleanup campaign, organized this year by the Belmopan City Council who was filling in for the Audubon Society, which normally spearheaded in this years' cleanup campaign included: OLOG High School; MP BAPTIST HIGH; BMP Comprehensive High- School; Garden City Primary; OLOG Primary School; Klic Pre-School; Police Cadets; Belmopan Scouts; Department of the Environment/ Forestry; Panariffix the undertaking, but had to focus its efforts this year on the Belize City area.
  • Crime Level Goes South in the North, Minister of Police Presents Awards for April - 2013:
    On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, Minister of National Security, Hon. John Saldivar presented a Certificate of Award and a Cheque of $1,000 to Senior Superintendent of Police Joseph Myvette, who heads the Northern Zone and has also been the Officer Commanding the Orange Walk Formation, which forms part of the Northern Zone. The Cheque of $1,000 is for the best performance by the Northern Zone in reducing Major Crimes during the month of April; and the Certificate of Award is for the best performance by the Orange Formation for the same period. The Minister made the presentation at the start of his monthly meeting with zone, formation and branch commanders held at the National Police Training Academy in Belmopan this afternoon.
  • LeBron Wins Game One:
    As we go to press Wednesday evening, LeBron James has just propelled the Miami Heat to victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. King James did it in overtime with an aggressive drive into the paint with 2.2 seconds remaining on the Game Clock.
  • 29 Graduate from Special Warfare Operations Course:
    Graduation Ceremonies were held last Wednesday, May 15, 2013, for Twenty Four (24) members of the Belize National Coastguard and Five (5) members of the Anti-Drug Unit (ADU) of the Belize National Police Force, who all completed a five-week intensive Special Warfare Operations Course.
  • Belize Gets 10 Million More from Taiwan:
    His Excellency Mr. David C. K. Wu, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) last week presented a cheque in the sum of US Dollars Five Million to the Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Belize. The cheque represents a Grant to Belize for the year 2013 under the Bilateral Cooperation Program between Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) for the period 2013 to 2016. The proceeds of the Grant are for the general benefit and well being of the people of Belize.
  • Three Simultaneous Courses for Police:
    Course for Adjudicators and Presenters, mainly officers involved in tribunals within the Belize Police Department. Lecturers for this course included attorneys, magistrates and other legal experts, including Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith Lino, who holds an LLB Degree.
  • Major Infrastructure Project in San Ignacio/Santa Elena:
    One of the most painful things about the onerous Superbond left behind by the Said Musa Administration-although, thankfully, made substantially easier by the current Dean Barrow Government's bold and successful renegotiations- is the fact that the People and Nation of Belize have virtually nothing to show for it. Imagine, had those monies been truly spent on the People and Country, how many roads could have been rehabilitated and upgraded; how many new bridges built and old ones replaced; how many schools established and expanded; how many water systems constructed and rebuilt; how many villages and communities electrified; how many hospitals, health centers and sporting facilities built and refurbished; how many hurricane shelters erected and retrofitted.
  • Belmopan Kids and Youth Cup 2013: