The June 16th, 2013 issue of The Capital Weekly is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

  • PM Barrow: "Bring it On!" Restoring Honour to our National Flag!:
    The announcement first came in a brief Press Release on Monday June 10, which read, "The Ministry of Finance announces that the Management Services Agreement between the Government of Belize and Belize International Services Limited, to manage the International Business Companies Registry (IBC) and the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) comes to an end, today, 10 June 2013. Accordingly, the Government of Belize will assume control of the two Registries with effect from tomorrow, 11 June 2013." The release promised that the Prime Minister would give a full briefing on the matter on Wednesday, June 12; and he did. At his Press Conference, the Prime Minister recounted that a master agreement was first signed on June 11, 1993, only days before the June 30th snap elections called by then Prime Minister George Price; a ten year agreement wih Belize International Services Limited which managed IMMARBE and the IBC Registry with the option to renew for another ten years. When that ten years was about to expire in 2003, the Government's legal Counsel, Mr. Gian Ghandi, advised in writing to BISL that because of a fundamental change of circumstances, they could no longer exercise the option to renew for another ten years.
  • "The More Things Change...":
    Delroy Cuthkelvin Chairman, Editorial Board. In our edition of last week, in an article titled, "The Case of the Crawl Caye Project - a Lesson in Transparency, Thoroughness and Thoughtfulness", we had just reiterated the stark difference between the Government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the administration that preceded it, led by former Prime Minister Said Musa, with regards to their respective modus operandi in entering agreements and undertakings that have far-reaching implications for the Nation and its People. We had just recounted the fact that, in contrast to the open, cautious and methodical manner in which the Barrow Administration handled such matters, the Musa Administration was one that, besides being hasty and reckless, was characterized by serial style secrecy. As if we needed one more reminder of this, news broke this week of yet another secret agreement signed by the same two who endorsed the infamous Accommodation Agreement, Musa and his former Attorney General, Francis Fonseca. This one was for the purported 'extension of an extension' of a contract for a company called Belize International Services to manage the International Companies Registry (IBC) and the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE).
  • Chile Donates Computers:
    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through a donation from the Embassy of Chile, presented Six (6) laptop computers to Our Lady of Guadalupe High School in Belmopan, on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 12:00pm. The Government of Chile is donating computers to one high school in every CARICOM country as a symbol of its commitment to assisting CARICOM countries in education. The Chilean Government has always provided support to Belize through the provision of specialized training courses for officials in areas such as diplomacy, cooperation and language training, and provides scholarships for higher studies. His Excellency Renato Sepulveda Nedel, the Ambassador of Chile to Belize with residence in San Salvador was on hand to present the Laptops on behalf of the Chilean Government. Receiving them on behalf of Our Lady of Guadeloupe High School was the institution's Principal, Mrs. Barrette Belisle.
  • Support Our National Football Selection::
    FFB Official Telethon, Saturday June 15, 2013, MCC Tennis Court, Newtown Barracks, Belize City
  • Exciting Softball in Cayo District: Ismael 'Miley' Garcia Competition in Progress:
    In the Cayo District, there's an exciting Softball Competition that is in progress, and, as of this week, we're bringing you regular updates on it. The Competition is sponsored by UDP Cayo South Caretaker, Ismael 'Miley' Garcia. This past weekend, Camalote United, Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy and Esperanza Wolverines were all victorious in games played at the Joan Garbutt Stadium in Esperanza, on Sunday afternoon to be exact. The first game featured Camalote's star pitcher, Francine Salazar, who earned a 15-0 shutout victory over the Las Flores Shooting Stars in three innings, as the mercy rule was applied. She struck out 6 batters in the process. In that game, the Las Flores Shooting Stars committed 5 errors and stranded 2 runners on base.
  • Speaking Truth Even When We'd Rather Not:
    By Zelda Hill. Belizeans, in general, were once thought to have been a non-confrontational, complacent and cowardly species. That notion has been overruled as individuals and groups all over Belize are openly demanding better quality of life, good governance of our wealth, equity of access and answers from our stewards. Those who prefer to accept their plight or to not "rock the boat" may do so out of fear or hopelessness, or perhaps the matter that would cause them to break their composure has not yet raised its head. For the Church in Belize that time has arrived. Truth, which we value and honor, is under attack! We must rise to its defense even in a time when it may seem inconvenient to do so and even when we'd prefer to be silent. Those who prefer to accept their plight or to not "rock the boat" may do so out of fear or hopelessness, or perhaps the matter that would cause them to break their composure has not yet raised its head. For the Church in Belize that time has arrived and the truth, which we value and honor, is under attack. We must rise to its defense even in a time when it may seem inconvenient to do so and even when we'd prefer to be silent.
  • Elections and Boundaries Department: Results of Village Council Elections:
  • UB Graduation Coming UP:
    Students who have successfully completed their course of study at the University of Belize will receive their diplomas at the Associate, Bachelor, Certificate and Diploma levels on Saturday June 15, at the University's Seventeenth Commencement Exercises, Central Campus, Belmopan. The ceremony will commence at 10 a.m. Of the total number of 471 graduates, 298 are females (63.3%) and 173 (36.7%) are males. The largest number of graduates are from the Faculty of Management & Social Sciences (FMSS) totalling 153, followed by the Faculty of Education and Arts (FEA) with a total of 133, the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) with 132, and the Faculty of Nursing, Allied Health & Social Work (FNAHSW) with a total of 53.
  • Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, and Public Utilities Responds to Oceana:
    The Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities notes with regret a recent press release by Oceana in which it persists in putting its spin on the judgment delivered on April 16th, 2013 by Justice Legall concerning certain oil exploration contracts awarded by the previous government. In that judgment, His Lordship made certain declarations against the Ministry but not against the oil companies. Most importantly, the Judge specifically refused to quash the oil exploration contracts. The legal consequences that follow from what the Judge ordered as well as what he refused to order are purely a legal issue. For that reason, the Ministry has obtained and has acted upon legal advice from one of the nation's most respected attorneys at law , which states in the clearest possible terms that the effect of the Judge's refusal to quash or terminate the contracts is to leave them fully enforceable by the oil companies. That advice emphasized that no order or judgment was made against any oil company, none of which was even a party in the court case. This point was fully made by the Ministry in its written and oral arguments to the Honourable Chief Justice on its recent application to stay the effect of Justice Legall's judgment. Consistent with the legal advice received, the Ministry is obliged to treat the contracts as binding and enforceable against the country of Belize by the oil companies.
  • Crawl Caye Off Limits: Cruise Tourism NOT Off the Table :
    We doubt many of you caught it, but last week in our story titled, "The Case of the Crawl Caye Project - a Lesson in Transparency, Thoughtfulness and Thoroughness", we mistakenly reproduced a photograph of Hunting Caye instead of Crawl Caye. For that we sincerely apologize, although we will hasten to point out that the error on our part did not minimize in any way the principal point of our story, which is that the current government, unlike the one that preceded it, is an administration that thoughtfully and thoroughly considers pertinent issues and concerns before entering into agreements and undertakings that have far-reaching implications for the Nation and its People, and that it invariably conducts the entire process in a transparent manner. And while we admittedly erred, we should be readily excused, we contend, for having mistakenly brought you that splendid aerial view of Hunting Caye, also in Southern Belize, which is no less precious an island than Crawl Caye. Furthermore, in following up this week on the substance of the story, we get the opportunity to print for you, not one, but two photographs of the real Crawl Caye, hoping that in so doing, we make it up to you.
  • Drill & Discipline Course Completed at National Police Training Academy:
    Graduation ceremonies were held this past Friday, June 7, for close to Twenty Police Officers who completed a two-week squad drill course conducted at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan. The course was for non-commissioned officers, corporals and sergeants who are attached to the various formations and sub-formations around the country; and its purpose was to have the participating Police Officers sharpen up their drill-skills, something which keynote speaker at the Ceremony, Acting Director of Training, Senior Superintendent Chester Williams reminded them is an integral part of their discipline as members of one of the nation's leading security forces. Williams noted that everywhere in World, disciplined forces must engage in such drills, which though they vary in specifics from country to country, have the same basic objective, mainly that of instilling discipline in the individuals who are part of a uniformed and coordinated team that operates as a single unit in executing its functions.
  • One Week to Go: UDP Extends Lead in Village Council Elections:
    This past week, the UDP again scored overwhelming victories nationwide in the Village Council Elections, which are nearing completion. In Corozal, the UDP swept all 7 seats in Libertad, Caledonia and Paraiso, and won five seats including the chairmanship, in Patchakan, leaving the PUP with only 2 councillors. In Orange Walk, Deputy Prime Minister and Orange Walk North Area Representative, Hon. Gaspar Vega won the last two of the villages in his constituency, San Jose and San Luis, completing a 9 out of 9 sweep over his PUP opponents. The UDP also won August Pine Ridge in Orange South. In Cayo Central, Hon. Rene Montero is also 8 out of 8 to date, with only one village to go. This past week, he took San Antonio, where the UDP slated was unchallenged.
  • Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat Bounce Back in Game 4 Against Spurs to Tie the Series:
    LeBron James was going to deliver on his Game 4 guarantee, no question about it. He's simply too talented and too battle-tested to be held down this long. But Game 4 was more than just redemption for James. It was Dwyane Wade living up to his reputation and Chris Bosh living up to the hype. It was Miami's celebrated Big Three, maligned after their no-show performance in Game 3, wresting back control of the NBA Finals with a collaborative effort for the ages. "It was on our shoulders, honestly," James said. "When all of us are clicking at the same time we're very tough to beat."
  • Spelling Bee in Belmopan: The Champion Comes from the South:
    Following two rounds of eliminations countrywide, 12 finalists participated in the exciting grand finale of the 2013 Coca-Cola National Spelling. The competition, which began in February with the participation of 271 primary schools, culminated on June 7 at the UB Sports and Recreation Center in Belmopan. A tie for the first and second place spots emerged at the end of the first eliminating reserve list round; the contest rules then allowed for the spell-off for third place to proceed, and it was Toledo's Hilda Saki of St. Benedict R.C. that emerged in the Fourth Round as the third place winner with the spelling of the words "fylfot" and "nappe." She received a $1,500 educational prize from Bowen & Bowen Ltd., parent company of Coca-Cola in Belize, and a tuition and book grant for one year from the Ministry of Education.
  • Belmopan Kids and Youth Cup 2013:
    Playoff Results for Weekend - June 1 & 2