April 13, 2016 issue of The Capital Weekly is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

  • The Race for Deputy is On! Caretakers Support Saldivar - Faber Counting on Delegates:
    It has been one of the dominant stories for the past month and will certainly remain so for the next six weeks. It's the contest to fill the post of Deputy Leader for the United Democratic Party. The post was left vacant by Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Gaspar Vega when he announced his decision not to seek re-endorsement as the Party's Deputy at its National Convention in Dangriga on Sunday, March 20, 2016. The day after that national convention, Monday March 21, 2016, two aspiring candidates publicly confirmed their intentions of seeking to fill the position. Collet Area Representative Hon. Patrick Faber did so in at a press conference; Hon. John Saldivar made his via a televised announcement aired nationally. But the date was yet to be set for the special convention to decide who would become the new UDP Deputy Leader, and that would have to occur at a National Party Council meeting which the party announced would not happen until shortly after the Easter Holidays. That meeting occurred this past Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the UDP Headquarters in Belize City.
  • Deputy Prime Minister Endorses Aspiring Deputy:
    The Post of UDP Deputy Leader was made vacant by his voluntary resignation a month ago; and now he is making it known who he wants to succeed him as Deputy Leader of the Party. In a press release issued by the Saldivar campaign late Tuesday night states, "Deputy Prime Minister and Orange Walk North Area Representative Hon. Gaspar Vega is endorsing Hon. John Saldivar for First Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party, a position which Vega recently relinquished voluntarily. In so doing, Hon. Vega joins 12 other Cabinet Colleagues and a total of approximately 20 Standard-Bearers countrywide in their support for Saldivar to become the UDP's next Deputy Party Leader.
  • The Travails of Transition:
    In our editorial a few weeks ago, we characterized the dramatic developments surrounding the leadership of both major political parties (the PUP and UDP), though seemingly earth-shattering, as being part of the normal course of political transition in a dynamic democracy. True, change is, for the most part, a desirable and inevitable thing, but it also, much too often, a messy, divisive and tumultuous undertaking. Whatever the case, across Belize's political landscape, change is certainly in the air. For the United Democratic Party (UDP), the first round of change features a spirited race to fill the position of Deputy Party Leader left vacant by the voluntary stepping aside of the three-time Deputy Prime Minister. But everyone knows, and the Prime Minister himself has indicated, there are deeper and wider implications for the highest position, as he prepares to retire sometime before the next General Elections which must occur by 2020.
  • Economic Development in the South, Norwegian's Harvest Caye Cruise-Port Ready for Business:
    Belize's Tourism Industry should receive a major boost as a massive multi-million dollar project nears completion. The project involves the construction of a new cruise tourism port at Harvest Caye in Southern Belize just off the Placencia Peninsula. The new cruise tourism port with alongside docking facility is set to go into full operation when the new cruise tourism high-season opens in November of this year. Last week, the owners of the project, Norwegian Cruise Lines, invited the Belizean media for a local launch of the facility and updated them on the status of the project. Head of Destination & Port Operations, NCL's Senior Vice President Colin Murphy, stated, "So, this is the beach and the beach look fabulous I gotta say. More trees and more shade; but the beach came out extremely well and we are very happy with the outcome.
  • enviTransformation in the North, Corozal Rehabilitated Town Market Annex & Streets:
    The newly rehabilitated Corozal Town Market Annex and surrounding streets, built by the Government of Belize at an estimated cost of $298,757.30 and $390,543.00 respectively, through a loan from the World Bank under the Belize Municipal Development Project (BMDP) with counter-part funding of three-per cent by the Corozal Town Council, was officially inaugurated on Friday April 8, 2016. The market facility occupies over 220 square meters. This will create opportunities for vendors to foster and enhance their livelihoods, serve as a central meeting point for the people of Corozal and surrounding communities to exchange goods, produce, ideas, interact and create meaningful opportunities in the pursuit of continued socio-economic development. Vendors and shoppers will also enjoy the convenience of 15 market stalls due to the ambiance of a more spacious, pleasant and safer environment for all.
  • Transformation in the South, Fresh Images of Maura Lopez Market in Punta Gorda:
    The inauguration of the Rehabilitated Market in the northernmost Town of Corozal comes less than three months after another upgraded municipal market in the southernmost Town of Punta Gorda was officially inaugurated. Renamed the MAURA LOPEZ MARKET, tribute to one of the outstanding women of Punta Gorda, it was refurbished at a cost of almost a Million Dollars with financing from the European Union and the Government of Belize. That project included the refurbishment of the old structure to accommodate 11 new individual stalls and reconstruction of the Civic Centre with 12 new stalls and bathrooms for Fruit & Vegetable vendors. Another outstanding feature of the market project is that the design of the existing layout was improved to accommodate Arts & Craft and Food vendors.
  • Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Development Program Holds Meeting in Belize:
    There are seventeen Sustainable Development Goals named by the United Nations Development Program, and this week, Monday April 11, 2016, the UNDP convened a meeting to discuss Belize's drive to fulfill them. These Sustainable Development Goals (The Path to 2030) constitute the natural progression from the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) which were used by nations around the world to chart a path to development in areas such as Education, Health, Economic Growth and Gender Equality. Karen Barnard, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP, explained, "Fifteen years later we are able to say what we have accomplished, or what we haven't accomplished with those goals in each country; and Belize has successes...But now, with that whole process concluded in some way - the millennium development goals - we have a bigger project, a bigger framework called sustainable development goals...It gives us something to work towards. Belize has to decide which of these
  • Transformation in the West, Led by Minister of Works & Cayo Central Representative:
    The physical transformation of the nation's infrastructure network has been evident under the Dean Barrow administration, particularly during its last term (2012-2015). It is on the strength of this physical transformation and the promise that "The Best is yet to Come" that the Administration secured a historic third term in the November 2015 General Elections. Putting this into perspective, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow proclaimed in his recent budget presentation on March 8, 2016, "It is because of all this that we premised last year's election drive on the theme "The Best is yet to Come". So it was not just a campaign slogan, but a call to arms based on past performance and future promise. It was a declaration of confidence. It was an expression of resolve.
  • Peace Process Progresses, Belize Guatemala Discussions Filicitated by OAS:
    In the face of increasing tensions near the western and southern borders, Belize and Guatemalan diplomats at the highest levels continue to push forward with their efforts towards peaceful co-existence and a lasting solution to the age-old territorial dispute. On the diplomatic front, despite the challenging border incidents, such as the recent shooting of a Belize soldier, presumably by Guatemalan civilians, much progress appears to have been made in the peace process this past week as very cordial bilateral meetings took place between high-level teams from both countries under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS). The teams were led by foreign Ministers of both countries; for Belize, Hon. Wilfred 'Sedi' Elrington; for Guatemala, Carlos Raul Morales.
  • Fighting Crime & Narco-Trafficking:
    United States Ambassador to Belize H.E. Carlos Moreno and the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Belize Dean Barrow signed the 16th Amendment to the Letter of Agreement (LOA) implementing the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) program through the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) on Thursday, April 7, 2016. The U.S. Government has provided over $35 million in programs and grants to Belize through the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) since 2008. The current agreement provides USD $6,450,000 in funding to be used for the following projects: Improved Border Inspection, Vetted Units, Capacity Enhancement, Justice Sector Reform, and Community Policing.
  • FOUR NEW AMBASSADORS TO BELIZE:
    Four ambassadors presented their credentials to the Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young on Monday, April 11, 2016 at Belize House in the City of Belmopan. H.E. Aitzaz Ahmed, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Yusra Khan, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Ibrahim Obeidat, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and H.E. Mohamed Saadat, Ambassador of Palestine, all expressed their pleasure in being a representative of their countries in Belize and extended warm greetings to Belize from their respective governments. Each ambassador conveyed his country's intention to continue to develop and maintain strong associations with Belize.
  • CODICADER comes to BELIZE:
    It's a big deal, indeed, that Belize is this year hosting the CODICADER (Central American Council of Sports & Recreation) Games. The games themselves will be held from July 6 to 11, 2016, but the official launch took place this past Friday, April 8 at the Marion Jones Sports Complex in Belize City. CODICADER is an organ of the Central American Integration System (SICA) whose goal is to contribute to the strengthening of integration, solidarity and peace between our peoples of member countries which include Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Belize. The Games will host student athletes between the ages of 6 to 12 years, and the sporting disciplines will be table tennis, football, basketball and volleyball. The competitions will be held across the country simultaneously in Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Belmopan and Belize City.
  • Youth and Community Transformation Project:
    The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, the executing agency for the Youth and Community Transformation (YCT) Project, hosted a ground-breaking ceremony on Monday, April 4, 2016 at the site on Chetumal Street Extension in Belize City for the much anticipated Lake Independence Resource Center (LIRC). Speaking with Channel Five News, Minister of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Anthony 'Boots' Martinez stated, "It is a welcomed initiative, in my view. I think that I support it wholly because, by extension, this project is not only for Lake Independence, you know; it is for the south-side. Fortunately enough, Lake Independence had the land space and the infrastructural project running through it, and so it is very welcomed." In her address at the ground-breaking ceremony, Melissa Miralda, Human Development Coordinator at the Community Rehabilitation Department, remarked, "This is an occasion whose time has come after years of planning and aspirations towards the commencement of this essential facility. I can attest that this dream has been shared by our director, Miss Bradley, for some time now. We dreamt of a space that is protected and safe, that is owned by the community, and where the germination of programs such as sports, arts and culture, literacy and life skills can be honed and shared."
  • Belize Joins 'Mesoamerica Without Hunger':
    In order to strengthen national and local institutional frameworks for food security and family farming, Belize officially joined the 'Mesoamerica without Hunger' program. Mesoamerica without Hunger is a South-South cooperation agreement that runs on the Central American countries, the Dominican Republic and Colombia, with the support of FAO and the Government of Mexico, through the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID). In Belize, Mesoamerica without Hunger is oriented in a first phase for the design and development of a pilot experience of sustainable schools in the Toledo district, whose young population is mostly indigenous. coordinates efforts with several Belizean institutions, such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education. The participation of local farmers as a key role in providing safe and quality food has special emphasis in this process.
  • Major International Recognition for Career Belizean Woman Immigration Officer:
    Belizean Debra Baptist-Estrada was named one of 14 Women of Courage award winners for 2016, the US Department of State reports. Baptist-Estrada was commended by the State Department for her refusal of bribery. In a summary of her biography, the State Department stated, "In an institution largely dominated by men, 20-year Belize Department of Immigration veteran Debra Baptist-Estrada has consistently refused bribes and other incentives to look the other way." As Port Commander of Belize's only international airport, Ms. Estrada worked with US officials last spring to crack open a drug and human smuggling operation to the US and Europe.
  • Police Minister Tours Out-District Formations:
    As Minister of National Security, Hon. John Saldivar is currently on a nationwide tour of Police Formations to re-assess and re-evaluate the effectiveness of the Police and explore ways of improving the work of the Department in its fight against crime and its function of increasing safety and security throughout our communities. On Wednesday, March 30, 2016, Hon. Saldivar visited the Toledo Formation headquartered in Punta Gorda. He was accompanied by Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie and Southern Region Commander Senior Superintendent Ralph Moody. He inspected a guard of honour and held indoor discussions with local commanders and members of that formation.
  • BELTRAIDE SHOWCASES ITS WORK At Corozal Community College Expo:
    Over 1,000 visitors to the Annual Corozal Junior College (CJC) Business Expo held on Friday 8, 2016 on the school campus in Corozal Town had lots of fun, but they also learnt how BELTRAIDE works in attracting trade investment, as well as trade promotion and facilitation in Belize. Some 31 companies from the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts displayed their wares and information on their products which ranged from candles, food and drinks, arts and crafts, financial, agricultural services and motorcycles among many others. BELTRAIDE was among those exhibiting companies and its booth showcased numerous brochures on the work of its various units.