The January 6, 2016 issue of The Capital Weekly is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

  • NEW YEAR- NEW MANDATE:
    Thankful, Truthful, Realistic, Reassuring and Optimistic - that is how we must summarize and characterize Prime Minister Dean Barrow's New Year's Message for 2016. The Prime Minister starts out recounting the nation's blessings in 2015, having been spared from hurricanes and social upheaval, and having as he puts it, "steered our way through the complexities of the relationship with Guatemala; and politically we capped everything with the peaceful and historic general elections of November." Turning to economics, the Prime Minister notes that despite the challenges presented by disease and the long drought, which played havoc with shrimp and grains, and an earlier than expected decrease in the export price of sugar, the productive sector performed respectably well overall, as tourism saw record advances, cost of living fell markedly, and there was an overall spurt in the rate of employment.
  • Editorial: THE PATH AHEAD IS CLEAR:
    The physical transformation that has been occurring nationwide, which has become a hallmark of the UDP administration under the leadership of Prime Minister Dean Barrow, was certainly a central cause of the party's unprecedented political success which came to a climax in 2015 with four election victories in one single year. Politics aside, for the sake of the nation and development, most Belizeans are certainly hoping this transformation will continue into the New Year. And while there are financial challenges that have arisen and others that are anticipated, all indications are that the Government will be able to continue its transformation drive, even if a little less vigorous, in 2016. As Prime Minister Dean Barrow acknowledged in his New Year's Message, there have been, and will likely continue to be, significant reductions in flows from Petrocaribe, even as revenues from local petroleum exports are drying up. The Prime Minister was also candid about the fact that stepped-up payments on the Superbond and the Compensation Award for public acquisition of essential utilities will further increase the demand on government's finances.
  • Transformation: Highways and Bridges:
    In 2015 the Government's Transformation agenda gathered full momentum, and the pace of development should continue in 2016. High on the list of important projects slated for 2016 is the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Phillip Goldson (Northern) Highway from the Airport Junction to Belize City, a necessity underscored by the deadly traffic accidents in that area over the New Year's weekend. Construction also proceeds apace on the Lamanai Road, the Cristo Rey/San Antonio Road, and the North Ambergris Road to the new Efrain Guerrero International Airport. Also on the list of ground-breaking projects is the new Macal River crossing, linking the highway at Santa Elena, through Loma Luz Boulevard and Joseph Andrews Drive, reconnecting with the San Ignacio - Benque Viejo Road.
  • BELIZEAN 'GIANT' PASSES:
    We note the passing of a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Attorney General, Bernard Quentin Augustus Pitts, affectionately known as BQ Pitts. Pitts passed way over the Christmas Holidays as a result of complications resulting from a stroke and cardiac arrest. BQ Pitts served as Attorney General from 2010 to 2012, in accordance with an amendment which allows for the Cabinet position to be held by an official who is neither a member of the House of Representative nor the Senate. Pitts had previously served as Speaker of House during the UDP Manuel Esquivel Administration of 1993 to 1998.
  • MAJOR CRIMES DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IN SOUTHSIDE BELIZE CITY:
    Senior Superintendent of Police Chester Williams, back from legal studies and now a full attorney at law, was posted as the new officer commanding Eastern Division South, which is characteristically the most violent, crime-ridden part of the Country. Williams adopted a style of law enforcement with a heavy emphasis on community policing. It seems to be earning early dividends as the major crime rate in Belize City overall and Southside specifically has plummeted dramatically since Williams took charge. In fact, for the last two months of 2015, not even a single case of murder was reported in Southside Belize City.
  • THE FUTURE OF THE UDP: Who Will Preserve and Advance The Party's Legacy?:
    The outcome of the 2015 general elections wasn't any shocking news, at least not the overall results. There were a few surprises in specific constituencies, but that the UDP won a majority of seats to once again form the government was certainly no riveting head line. For both political parties, the real news of these elections is yet to come. It's about who will emerge as the new leaders. For the PUP, it's quite impending, Francis Fonseca having already announced his resignation after leading his party to a second consecutive general election defeat (although he has since indicated he will once again seek to become the leader). In the case of the UDP, Dean Barrow is riding the wave of his unprecedented accomplishment as the only Prime Minister to lead his party to three consecutive victories, a luxury he has already indicated he has no intention of bringing to an early end.
  • Prime Minister's New Year's Message 2016:
    My Fellow Belizeans: There were many things to be grateful for in 2015. We were spared from hurricanes; there were no social upheavals; we steered our way through the complexities of the relationship with Guatemala; and politically we capped everything with the peaceful and historic general elections of November. Economically it was also a good year. Disease and the long drought played havoc with shrimp and grains. And an earlier than expected decrease in the export price was unwelcome news for our sugar cane farmers. But tourism saw continuing record advances, cost of living fell markedly, and there was an overall spurt in the rate of employment.
  • Setting New Pace For National Transportation:
    As highlighted in our last edition, Minister of State Edmond Castro, having been assigned the additional responsibility for National Emergency Management, had hit the ground running, as he was pressed into active duty in response to flooding in his own constituency and other parts of the country, especially the southern districts. In that respect, it is generally accepted, he passed the first test with flying colours. With the floods having subsided, the focus now shifts to The Ministry of Transport, which also falls under Castro's portfolio. It is an area which the Dean Barrow Administration intends to place great focus on in its third term, as signalled in the UDP 2015-2020 Manifesto, in which the government promises to "develop and implement a National Transportation Master Plan to address the need for efficient and cost effective movement of people and goods."
  • 2,000 Strong and Growing, Belize Police Force Adds 167 New Recruits to its Ranks:
    When the Belize Police Department held its newest passing out parade on December 18, 2015, it was adding another 167 recruits to its national ranks, thereby doubling its size in less than three years. Minister of National Security Hon. John Saldivar highlighted this fact when he spoke at the graduation ceremonies for the new intake, Squad # 92, held at the Belize Police Training Academy in Belmopan: "Even though this is the sixth recruiting squad that I have had the privilege of addressing as Minister of National Security since my appointment in 2012, each ceremony, including this one, has been of great importance and significance to me. Important because every new squad we send out carries the collective responsibility of the entire Department.
  • 2015 - THE YEAR OF ELECTIONS:
    The year just passed could be described in various ways, but for Belize there is perhaps no better way to characterize 2015 than 'The Year of Elections'. For the UDP that meant a year of unprecedented political success. It started off early in January with the bye-election in Cayo North which had become necessary after the PUP area representative in that constituency, Joesph Mahmoud, resigned, leaving the seat vacant. The political machines of both national parties, the PUP and UDP, faced off on January 5, the day of the bye election. But the PUP was clearly lacking in organization and motivation, proving to be no match for the UDP which was highly motivated and well organized.
  • Foward Operating Base In The South:
    Ground-breaking ceremonies were held on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 for the construction of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at the mouth of the Sarstoon River which forms the natural boundary between the territories of Belize and Guatemala in the south. A delegation headed by Minister of National Security Hon. John Saldivar travelled to the location in a miliCoast Guard Commander Rear Admiral John Borland. They were accompanied by a group of police officers and two observers from the Organization of American States. This was the official ground-breaking contingent. In addition, the Belize Coast Guard transported members of the media in one of their Boston Whalers boats.
  • Belize Heads Caricom:
    Prime Minister of Belize Hon. Dean Barrow has just taken up chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Mr. Barrow chairs the regional organization for a period of six months starting January 1, 2016. Taking over from Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart of Barbados, Mr Barrow promises to improve the quest of the regional organization to improve the standard of living and to provide a "safe, viable, and prosperous Caribbean Community". In his message to start the new year, Barrow said he looks forward to increasing the pace both of the reform process and the implementation of the Community Strategic Plan 2015-2019."The plan, which is designed to build Caricom's economic, environmental, social and technological resilience, has the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) as an important vehicle in that drive for greater resilience," he said.
  • SUGAR CANE CROP-SEASON WELL UNDERWAY:
    The Sugar-Cane Crop Season is well underway. It began an entire month ago on Monday December 7, 2015 and quickly picked up pace. We had the privilege of witnessing first-hand some of the harvesting taking place in the Santa Marta area of Orange Walk, these farmers making their invaluable contribution to this essential local industry which is a major component of the Belize Economy. Speaking to the media at the launch of the season in early December, Chairman of the Sugar Cane Production Committee, Jose Novelo, commented, "It is a function of the wet period; we're having a slow start, so to speak, in terms of delivery, but we expect that this will improve.
  • "Belize Feels So Much Like Home To M,e" National Geographic Filmmaker Warmly Welcomed By DPM Gaspar Vega:
    Hon. Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Environment & Sustainable Development met with Alexandra Costeau, National Geographic filmmaker, ocean explorer, Oceana Senior Advisor and granddaughter of the legendary Jacques Costeau. Jacques Costeau explored Belize's marine environment in the 1970's, becoming the first person to document and reveal the mysteries of our Great Blue Hole. Her week-long trip included a visit with the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss sustainability in management and greater protection for Belize's marine resources. Costeau said of Belize, "My husband and I fell in love in Belize and with Belize. This is where he and I took our first trip together. This is also where I taught him how to dive. Later, our daughter touched the ocean for the first time in Belize. Now, we're looking forward to bringing our newborn son to Belize.
  • ANOTHER VITAL ROAD PROJECT, Upgrading The Highway From Haulover Bridge to Airport Road:
    The Government of Belize secured a Loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for the Fifth Road (Phillip S.W. Goldson Highway Upgrading) Project. This project, located in Belize City and Ladyville, is divided into several components, two of which directly address road infrastructure: Section A (Airport Road Junction to Haulover Bridge) and Section B (Haulover Bridge to Buttonwood Bay Boulevard Roundabout). Section A of the project involves the upgrading of Phillip Goldson Highway from its intersection with the Airport Road to the northern approach of the Haulover Bridge. Included in the scope of works is the construction of retaining walls in areas where there is the threat of erosion on the road foundation, the installation of erosion protection baskets and rock rip-rap, widening of the road cross section to include paved road shoulders, pavement restoration and re-surfacing. The project also includes installation of road lighting and safety features, such as signs, reflectors, road marking and improved visibility through the clearing of the road reserve.
  • Belize Appoints Ambassador to Cuba:
    On Tuesday, December 22nd, Belize's Ambassador to Cuba, H.E. Annie Burns Martinez, participated in a ceremony at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana where she presented her credentials to Vice President and Comptroller General of the Republic of Cuba, H.E. Mrs. Gladys Bejerano Portela and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Marcelino Medina Gonz�lez. Both parties discussed new areas for cooperation in Trade, Culture and Tourism. Ambassador Burns Martinez also recognized the contribution of the Cuban Medical Brigade and the general medicine and specialization scholarships that have helped to further develop Belize's public health sector.
  • Queen's New Year's Honours:
    The Office of the Governor-General announces that Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to make the following appointments to THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER BRITISH EMPIRE on the occasion of NEW YEAR HONOURS 2016. To be a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.), Michael Harwell Manfield Bowen, for Contribution to Business and Industry; to be Ordinary Officers of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.), Mrs Eleanor Rubina Herrera Hulse, for Contribution to Education; Mrs Dilcia Christina Feinstein, for Contribution to Business and the Community; to be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.), Ms Emelda Leticia August, for Contribution to Nursing; Mrs Sarita Elena Westby JP, for Contribution to Education and the Community; Mr. Juan Cansillo Nunez, for Contribution to Education and Sports; Dr. Aaron Paul Lewis, for Contribution to Science; and Mrs Janet Patricia Gibson, for Contribution to Environmental Protection. The Date for the presentation of awards will be announced later.
  • Five New Ambassdors To Belize, Credentials Presented To The Governor General:
    Five ambassadors presented their credentials to Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young on December 7, 2015 at Belize House in the City of Belmopan. H.E. Rabah Hadid, Ambassador of Algeria; H.E. Petros Panayotopolous, Ambassador of Greece; H.E. Alfonso Manuel Portables Vazquez, Ambassador of Spain; H.E. Vehbi Esgel Etensel, Ambassador of Turkey; and H.E. Valdrack Jaentschke, Ambassador of Nicaragua expressed pleasure at being representatives of their respective countries in Belize and extended warm greetings to Belize from their governments. Each ambassador conveyed to the Governor General that his country's purpose is to continue to develop and maintain strong relations with the Nation of Belize. The Governor General graciously received their credentials and welcomed the ambassadors to Belize.