Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626 ... Artemio Virgilio Acosta, 32, Belizean,...

16
Santa Elena, Cayo, Belize www.aguadahotel.com [email protected] 011-501-804-3609 Comfortable & Secure Accommodations Full Service Restaurant and Bar Swimming Pool Conferenc e Facilities Excellent Venue for Wedding, Parties and Social Ev ents Christmas is Coming...Aguada will help you start saving! Receive a 25% Discount on your next meal !! You must bring in this ad to receive special promotion. Not valid on To Go Orders. Not valid with any other offers. “We’re not Expensive, We just look that Way!” No. 151 SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2008 Price $1.00 No. 208 Sunday, December 6 , 2009 Price $1.00 SAN IGNACIO TOWN, Friday, December 4, 2009: He stands accused of deceiving people from Ladyville, Belmopan and San Ignacio Town. He has been brought before the court in Belize City, Belmopan and this week in San Ignacio. He has been identified as Artemio Virgilio Acosta, 32, Belizean, businessman. He told the police that he resides on Neal’s Pen Road in Belize City. He professes to be a T-shirt/ Please Turn To Page 15 The Accused Con Artist, Artemio Virgilio Acosta, 32 ST. ANDREW’S ANGLICAN SCHOOL, San Ignacio Town, Cayo District, Wednesday, December 2, 2009: Bearing gifts of musical instruments, the Governor General of Belize, Sir. Colville Young, this morning visited St. Andrew’s Anglican Primary School in San Ignacio Town, Cayo. Students and staff gathered on the school compound for the Governor General’s one hour visit. He arrived to a cheering crowd at 10:30 a.m. signalling the commencement of the short and compact program which including an opening prayer by Vice Principal Alma Quiroz, the playing of the national anthem on keyboard by Karina Lemus, a standard V student while the Please Turn To Page 15 Addressing Students, the Governor General of Belize, Sir. Colville Young SAN IGNACIO TOWN, Thursday, December 3, 2009: One man is today recuperating from a severed left arm resulting from a chopping incident that occurred shortly before midnight on Friday, November 29, in the village of Buena Vista, Cayo. San Ignacio police reports that acting upon information received, they arrived in the village during the first few minutes of Saturday, November 28, where they received report of a chopping incident. By the time the police arrived the victim, along with the chopped off left hand was already transported to the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan. Please Turn To Page 15 *STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR* STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR *STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR8*8TAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR* STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Transcript of Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626 ... Artemio Virgilio Acosta, 32, Belizean,...

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 1

Santa E lena, Cayo, Be lize ww w.aguadahotel.com

[email protected] t 011-501-804-3609

♦ Comfortable & Secure Accommodations ♦ Full Service Restaurant and Bar ♦ Swimming Pool ♦ Conference Facilities ♦ Excellent Venue for Wedding,

Parties and Social Events

Christmas is Coming...Aguada will help you start saving!

Receive a 25% Discount on your next meal !! You must bring in this ad to receive special promotion.

Not valid on To Go Orders. Not valid with any other offers. “We’re not Expensive,

We just look that Way!”

No. 151 SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2008 Price $1.00 No. 208 Sunday, December 6 , 2009 Price $1.00

SAN IGNACIO TOWN,Friday, December 4, 2009: He stands accused ofdeceiving people fromLadyville, Belmopan andSan Ignacio Town. He has been brought beforethe court in Belize City,

Belmopan and this week in SanIgnacio. He has been identifiedas Artemio Virgilio Acosta, 32,Belizean, businessman. He toldthe police that he resides onNeal’s Pen Road in Belize City. He professes to be a T-shirt/

Please Turn To Page 15

The Accused Con Artist, Artemio Virgilio Acosta, 32

ST. ANDREW’S ANGLICANSCHOOL, San Ignacio Town,Cayo District, Wednesday,December 2, 2009: Bearing gifts of musicalinstruments, the GovernorGeneral of Belize, Sir. ColvilleYoung, this morning visited St.Andrew’s Anglican PrimarySchool in San Ignacio Town,Cayo. Students and staff gathered onthe school compound for theGovernor General’s one hourvisit. He arrived to a cheering crowdat 10:30 a.m. signalling thecommencement of the shortand compact program whichincluding an opening prayer byVice Principal Alma Quiroz, theplaying of the national anthemon keyboard by Karina Lemus,a standard V student while the

Please Turn To Page 15

Addressing Students, theGovernor General of Belize,

Sir. Colville Young

SAN IGNACIO TOWN,Thursday, December 3, 2009: One man is todayrecuperating from a severed leftarm resulting from a choppingincident that occurred shortlybefore midnight on Friday,November 29, in the village ofBuena Vista, Cayo. San Ignacio police reports thatacting upon information

received, they arrived in thevillage during the first fewminutes of Saturday, November28, where they received reportof a chopping incident. By thetime the police arrived thevictim, along with the choppedoff left hand was alreadytransported to the WesternRegional Hospital in Belmopan.

Please Turn To Page 15

*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*

STA

R*S

TAR

*ST

AR

*STA

R*S

TA

R

*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR8*8TAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*STAR*

STA

R*ST

AR

*STA

R*ST

AR

*STA

R

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Page 2 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Sunday, December 6, 2009

Making Life A Little MorePleasant For Senior Citizens

Life is an ever changing and dynamic cycle. It requiresconstant evaluation geared towards making the inevitablepassage a pleasant experience for all. It is in this light that we applaud the authorities for providingthat much needed social assistance to senior citizens by way amonthly allowance through the Belize Social Security Board. Regardless of the small financial assistance, the evidence ofits worthiness is manifested at the beginning of each month asthose benefiting from the program make the pilgrimage toSocial Security offices countrywide. The anticipation to collect the allowance is further evident asin the Santa Elena, San Ignacio and surrounding communitiesscenario, these senior citizens brave the elements as they standin line on the Social Security compound in Santa Elena Townfor at least an hour before the office opens at 8:00 am. Instituting the program is a good gesture. However, webelieve that the time has now come for the program to beevaluated with a view towards making this life experience justa bit more pleasant for senior citizens and in the processmaking it more manageable for Social Security both in terms ofits material as well as its human resources. The human brain is into rocket science. We are in that erawhere humankind has ventured into outer space, exploring themass expanses of the universe and in the process placing man,and other living organisms, on the moon. The human brain has created laser guided missiles andunmanned, remote controlled, bomb carrying aerial vehicles ofwar. The human brain is rapidly closing the digital divide and hasventured into the era of instant communication busting speedlimits on the information superhighway. In a nutshell, the sky is hardly the limit for the capacity of thehuman brain. With all these advances in technology and the seeminglyunlimited capacity of the human brain, why is it we ask that, inthese modern times, senior citizens are required to make thatmonthly pilgrimage to Social Security offices to access thelittle social assistance. The time has come to upgrade the system. The upgrade hardlyrequires the mental capacity of a Rocket Scientist. In thisundertaking we offer the following suggestions. 1. Facilitate the opening of bank accounts for those seniorcitizens who do not yet have one. 2. Dispatch one cheque to the various banks where theseaccounts are held. This will certainly eliminate the need to makehundreds of individual cheques and should ease the monthlycongestion at Social Security offices countrywide. It willlikewise eliminate the need for senior citizens to make one stopat the Social Security office and another at the bank as in manycases, because of mobility challenges and the distance fromSocial Security offices, many of these citizens must pay busand taxi fares out of the already small allowance. 3. Safeguard social security funds by legislating harshpenalties for anyone who, by deception, redeems SocialSecurity cheques assigned to deceased senior citizens.Legislations already exists for the imposition of three times thevalue for the evasion of custom duties why not the same, oreven harsher penalties, for those convicted of infringing on theprocess of making this life experience more pleasant for seniorcitizens.

Tel: 626-8822 or 626- [email protected]

Publisher: Alberto AugustEditor: Nyani Azueta-AugustCirculation: Errol Gonzalez

Visit us online at :belizenorth.com/thestar.htm

belizenews.com/thestarstar.belizeanlife.com

guidetobelize.info/star

“The Newspaper that caresand dares to bring out the

truth”42A Western Highway,

Santa Elena, Cayo,Belize, Central America

SAN IGNACIO TOWN, Cayo,Wednesday, December 2, 2009: The Belize Karate Federation(BKF) in conjunction withthe Community Agency forRehabilitation and Educationfor People with Disabilities inBelize (CARE) is launching the“Karate for Disabled Youths”Program in the Belize, Cayo andStann Creek Districts. The objective of this programis to: 1) To provide opportunities

for individuals with disabilitiesto develop independence,confidence and fitness throughparticipation in the sport ofkarate. 2) To support the verticalintegration of disabled athletesinto the Belize Karate Federationon an equal basis. 3) To acknowledge theUNESCO Charter of PhysicalEducation and Sports, whichrefers to the right of access ofevery human being to sports,which is essential for fulldevelopment of physical,intellectual and moral powers. For information and registra-tion please contact: 1) Sensei Herman Pastor Jr.Cayo Shotokan KarateClub - Cell Phone # 678-1158 2) Sensei David Diego CayoShotokan Karate Club-Belmopan City- Cell Phone #624-0390 4) Sensei Frank McKenzie,Belize City Center Dojo, BelizeCity- Cell Phone # 602-1391 5) Yasmini Guerra, Rehabili-tation Field Officer, CayoDistrict, Community Agency forRehabilitation and Education forPeople with Disabilities inBelize (CARE) Cell Phone-623-7035

We are located off Joseph Andrews Drive in San Ignacio Town.Call us at 824-2076 or 662-4842 E-mail: [email protected]

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 3

SAN IGNACIO TOWN, CayoDistrict, Friday, December 4,2009: It was at around 2:40 am thisFriday morning when, a team ofpoliceman for the San Iganciostation were on vehicle patrol on

Bullet Tree Road, San IgnacioTown when they observed blacksmoke coming from the BishopMartin R.C. Primary Schoolbuilding. The team rushed to the areawhere they discovered that a

large portion of the building wasalready taken over by flames. The San Ignacio FireDepartment responded promptlyto the call for assistance. The building measuring about80ft by 20ft with zinc structure

material was completelydestroyed. Total value of thebuilding and its contents is yetto be determined as policeinvestigation continues. In the meantime members ofthe San Ignacio Fire Serviceare conducting a forensicexamination in an effort todetermine the origin of thefire.

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Page 4 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Sunday, December 6, 2009

BY: Mike Hernandez Jr. J.P.,Director Public Relations,Social Investment FundTRIO VILLAGE, ToledoDistrict, Wednesday, Decem-ber 2, 2009: A project providing safe andclean potable water to over 850residents in 170 households inthe Southern Village of Trio,Toledo District was todayofficially inaugurated. The project was implementedby the Social Investment Fund,a statutory body under theauspices of the Ministry ofEconomic Development. The total cost of the projectwas $388,000. Of this amount,the European Union provided$291,000, and the remaining$97,000. in counterpart fundingwas provided by theGovernment of Belize. The project is part of an Euros732,916 (Bz $1.9 Million)funded agreement between theEuropean Union and theGovernment of Belize to con-struct new water systems in thevillages of San Pablo, Trio,Bladen and San Isidro in theToledo District as part of theE.U.’s Banana Belt CleanWater Project. These villages are consideredpoor communities along the

banana belt that constantlyexperience critical shortages ofsafe drinking water. This situation has continuouslyposed health hazards in therespective villages by waterborne illnesses due tocontamination. The project, therefore, aims toprovide universal access to safepotable water for the fourcommunities and in the processeliminating health hazardsposed by current water sources. Upon completion of the fourwater systems, over 2,035persons in 420 households willbenefit from a supply of qualitypotable water.

The project scope in TrioVillage included the constructionof a ground level 20,000 gallonwater tank at the highest pointin the village, a pump house andchlorinator and a network ofdistribution pipes. A generatorwas also provided to supply thesystem with electricity. Trio village is located 3 milesoff the Southern Highway in theToledo District. Prior to the construction of thenew system, the villagers reliedon a nearby creek for theirwater supply.

Hon. Eden Martinez,Area Representative and Minister of Human Development and

Social Transformation, delivering the main address

The new water system willserve to improve the living andhealth conditions of thevillagers, especially the children,who previously were primarilyresponsible for collecting thewater from the creek for theirindividual household needs.With the elimination of thisresponsibility, these childrenwill now have more time tostudy, recreate and becomeengaged in other productiveactivities. The keynote speaker at theofficial inauguration of theproject was the Hon. GabrielMartinez, Minister of labor,Local Government and RuralDevelopment. Other main speakers includedthe Hon. Eden Martinez,Minister of Human Develop-ment and Social Transformationand Area Representative forToledo East; Mr. CosimoLamberti-Fossati, E.U.Program Officer for Belize, whois currently visiting the country;Mr. Ian Mcmillan, ExecutiveDirector of the Social InvestmentFund as well as representativesof the National AuthorisingOffice (NAO), Officials from he Trio Village Council andWater Board among others.

Hon. Eden Martinez, officially commissioning the new watersystem in Trio Village, Toledo District

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 5

Western Health Region, Ministry of Health/Belmopan City Council Clean-up Campaign 2009

RECENT TRAINING - Western Health Region·Evaluation of Vital Sign Skills for Nurses Aide and AuxiliaryNurses·Public Relations training for all staff·Standards/Protocols-Maternal and Neonatal Tools forMaternity Ward Nurses·Public Service Regulation – Procedures – for all Nurses

December 1st is celebrated as WorldAIDS Day. In Belize, December 1st isalso designated as the National Day forHIV testing. As part of the activities toobserve this day, a joint ceremony washeld between the Ministry of Educa-tion and the Ministry of Health at theRadisson Fort George Hotel, BelizeCity. The highlight of this year’s eventswas an award ceremony to honortwo retiring psychiatric nursepractitioners (PNPs) who have beintricately involved in HIV testing andcounseling. Nurse Elizabeth Blancocurrently working at the CorozalCommunity Hospital and Nurse JaneAvila attached to the Punta GordaCommunity Hospital were honored fortheir active involvement in providingVCT services to their communities

Nurse Jane Avila and Nurse Elizabeth Blanco were honoured at this year’s ceremonysince 2003 and because of their 30years of service to the Ministry ofHealth,Government of Belize. The ceremony also served to launchthe 2010 HIV calendars and present thewinner of the poster competition, thisis a joint initiative undertaken betweenthe Ministry of Education and the US Embassy.Christopher Pulido, one of thewinners of the competition gave a shortaddress. The gathering was addressed byofficials actively involved in theNational Response being spearheadedby Mrs. Kathy Esquivel, Chair of theNational AIDS Commission. Remarkswere also delivered by Ms. KristineBlokhus, Chair of the UN theme groupand by United States Ambassador toBelize, His Excellency, Mr. Vinai

Thummalapally. A special address wasgiven by Hon. PatrickFaber, Minister of Educationand the keynote addresswas given by Hon. PabloMarin, Minister of Health.Both ministers stressedthe importance of oneNational Response and thecommitment this currentadministration has in thisresponse.

To launch the National Day for HIVtesting, Ministers Faber and Marin gottheir HIV test done on site and sodid US Ambassador to Belize, Mr.Thummalapally. Forty one total tests were done on

site at the hotel and a further 106 testswere done in Belize City at the NICHParking lot. Multiple sites were alsoset up across the country and theactivities will continue in this regarduntil mid-December.

NORTHERN REGION - COROZAL-ORANGE WALKWorld Health Day Activities for the Northern Health

RegionNov. 26th, 2009 - Workshop with the Psychiatric Consumers’s Groupand Drug Rehabilitaion Group on HIV stigma and discriminationNov. 27th, 2009 workshop with support group on HIV and nutritionNov. 28th, 2009 - Workshop with teachers and parents from trinidadon HIV and STI’sNov. 30th, 2009 - Workshop with barbers and hair dressers on HIV &AIDSDec. 1st, 2009 - World AIDS Day Health Fair at Queen Victoria Park- General Distribution of health information- Condom Demonstration and distribution.

The Ministry of Health, under thedirection of the Minister of Health, Hon.Pablo Marin and in collaboration withthe Ministry of Education and theNational Sports Council, initiated a pilotprogramme entitled FRIEND–“FocusingResources in Education and NutritionDevelopment” to encourage and promoteHealthy Lifestyles in primary schools. The programme is a skill basedapproach to health and nutrition educa-tion which will focus on the developmentof knowledge, skills, and attitudes neededto make and carry out positive healthdecisions through nutrition education andphysical education. FRIEND’s target group is primaryschool children. Nine Standard 4 classesin Corozal Town are participating in thepilot project. The programme waslaunched six weeks ago and is proving tobe a success based on the participationand reception by students, teachers andparents.Objectives of the programme include: To improve knowledge, attitudes andbehaviour that are directly related tohealth living. To lay a foundation forlifelong health eating based on acquiringskills and knowledge. To improve nutritional status andreduce the likelihood of childrendeveloping chronic diseases such asobesity, diabetes and hypertension. To emphasize the importance ofphysical activity and promote increasedphysical activity in children which canlead to lifelong practices. To increase public awareness andencourage health living practices. Activities already executed include

Purpose: To break the transmissionof Dengue in the communities ofSalvapan, San Martin, Maya Mopanand Las Flores through a clean-upcampaign, thereby significantlyreducing the number of mosquitobreeding sites and Dengue in thesecommunities.Objectives: To prevent thetransmission of Dengue through en-vironmental activities.Community Participation—Environment Health Workers/PublicHealth Inspectors have beendeployed in the designated areasinforming and educating residentsabout the clean-up campaign. Eachhousehold or family will assist in thecleaning of their surroundings.Collection of containers—Refusemust be set out by the residents toallow quick and easy flow for the

truck to pick up the garbage in the area.Note. The clean-up campaign will becarried out in three consecutiveweekends.1) 28th, November 2009 - Las Flores.2) 5th December, 2009 – Salvapan & 3) 6th December, 2009 – Maya Mopan12th December, 2009 – San Martin All residents in these areas areasked to actively participate in theclean-up campaign to make it asuccess.

Hon. Pablo Marin did his HIV teston National Testing Day

FRIEND PROGRAMME

assessment of the children participating,establishing a healthy corner forstudents in the classroom and sports meet. The Teacher Wellness/Weight LossChallenge is another aspect of theFRIEND Program which focuses on theteachers developing good nutrition andincorporating wellness into theirlifestyles. A total of 25 teachers from the nine townschools in Corozal participating in thisinitiative. During the second week of October allof these teachers were weighed, BMItaken, Diabetic check, blood pressurecheck. They received nutrition counselingsessions and they have gym and aerobicclasses being provided to them. Wednesday Nov 18th marked one monthafter their first assessment. They wereweighed and evaluated for a comparisonto their previous measurement. The FRIEND pilot programme in theCorozal Distr ict will conclude onDecember 18 at the close of the first termfor the students.

The Ministry of Health, Governmentof Belize will be receiving a grant fromthe World Bank valued at US$501,744.00.This short-term grant will be used tostrengthen the Government’s ability todetect and respond to potential H1N1Influenza Epidemic. Grant funds will beused to train health providers, establishdiagnostic laboratories at air and seaports, purchase and distribute protectionequipment such as masks andgloves, maintain and expand a public

RECEIVING GRANT FROM THE WORLD BANKbeen collaborating closely with PAHOand other stakeholders to produce itsinfluenza pandemic preparedness plan.Furthermore, consideration was given tothe support given by the Government tothe Ministry of Health by providingemergency funds to effect mitigatingmeasures against H1N1. The Minister of Health, Hon. PabloMarin and Chief Executive Officer, Dr.Peter Allen will be signing theagreement with the World Bank shortly.

Hon. Pablo Marin at the sportsmeet for the FRIENDProgramme

information campaign, andstrengthen the diagnostic capacity ofthe National Public Health MedicalLaboratory Building. The Ministry of Health, Govern-ment of Belize is receiving the grantbased on its response to the H1N1pandemic. Prior to the H1N1pandemic, the Ministry of Health had

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Page 6 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Sunday, December 6, 2009

ARIES: March 22 to April 20This week sees you trying to balance the pull of twocontrasting forces. You will be keen on giving a releaseto your creativity, as new ideas find their way at work.The other pull is from spiritual pursuits. Blend insensitivity and practical wisdom in relationships tomaintain harmony. Lucky Numbers: 09, 34, 68.

TAURUS: April 21 to May 21 It is a time for caution, especially in case of businessdeals. You need to be clear in your communication. Incase things do not work out in your favour, do not getdesperate and give in. Also you will need to make surethat you do not bend your principles to get things done.Lucky Numbers : 6, 22, 81.

GEMINI: May 22 to June 21 You will will train your guns on few work relatedtargets. These will feature high on your mind and includeestablishing connections with influential people. Takelogical routes in thinking about serious issues. Keepemotions, and anxiety out at all costs. LuckyNumbers: 05, 17, 94.

CANCER: June 22 to July 23 People around you will expect you to render help in everyway. You could feel as if you have to cope with too manydemands and difficult people. What sustains you in thisphase is warmth from loved ones. Take care to getadequate rest or the stress will affect you. LuckyNumbers: 02, 48, 53.

LEO: July 24 to August 21You may find yourself hurting. Even if you find thatsomeone has been dishonest with you, do not respondwith extreme emotion, rather look at the situation as athird person would and then work out a solution. Becautious about expenses and try to curtail allunnecessary ones. Lucky Numbers: 01, 50, 75.

VIRGO: August 22 to September 21You desire to make personal breakthroughs and this is agood time. You find courage within you, to make someradical moves. There could be some reliable personalityaiding you. However, there could also be sudden changesin a way that you take on a completely new route toachieve your ends. Nothing happens overnight though.Lucky Numbers: 04, 23, 71.

LIBRA: September 22 to October 23 It will be a favourable time for you, provided you useyour intelligence to alter your approach based on thesituation. Adjust to win is the mantra for the week. Goodcompany is what you will be seeking after a long spell ofsolitude. Lucky Numbers: 07, 36, 79.

SCORPIO: October 24 to November 21New and unusual events are likely to take place. Makesure that you do not make promises in haste, especially ifit is about money or your emotional involvement. You maybe on the edge about a particular family situation.Maintain a safe level of detachment. Towards mid weekyou may feel that you have found the key to what willwork for you. Lucky Numbers: 14, 42, 88.

SAGITTARIUS:November 22 to December 21

You could be undertaking a responsibility in an altogethernew line of work. Although at this time you can getadventurous with professional aspects, you should steerclear of any emotional involvement in personal life, nomatter how enticing it appears. Lucky Numbers: 03, 20,96.

CAPRICORN: December 22 to January 20You are committed to leaving no stone unturned to makeyour work life successful. People who are close to youpersonally may behave erratically and this may leave youquite confused. It will be best to give them space at themoment. Also, romance may be a roller coaster ride. LuckyNumbers: 25, 51, 98.

AQUARIUS: January 21 to February 19 Tread wisely with your money. Do not get into any dealon an impulse. You may want to do a lot for your lovedones, but you have to see the ground realities and yourexisting commitments before making any promises. Healthmay take a beating. Lucky Numbers: 11, 27, 84.

PISCES: February 20 to March 21There will be little irritants lining the path to your goal.Try to keep them from pulling you down. Your owntemperament may be detrimental to your interests aspessimism threatens to overshadow all the hard work thatyou have put in. You will have to keep yourself motivated.Keep the company of people who brighten up your mood.Lucky Numbers: 16, 67, 73.

00

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 7

UNITEDVILLE VILLAGE,Cayo District, Monday,November 30, 2009: San Ignacio resident HartGillett Sr. today donated threevolleyballs and a volleyball netto St. Vincent Pallotti RC Schoolin Unitedville, Cayo. The humanitarian gesturecame about when three daysearlier Gillett was passing theschool and he saw the childrenknocking a volley ball across amake-shift net made of police“Yellow Caution Tape”. In aninstant he decided to make adifference in the lives thesechildren. He arrived at the school ataround 3:30pm on Monday

In the company of students, Hart Gillett (back center) alongwith Principal Gilbert Cocom on his left

afternoon where he handed overthe donation to the school’sPrincipal, Mr. Gilbert Cocom. In accepting the donationPrincipal Cocom expressed

both surprise and appreciationfor the gift. In commenting on the goodwillgesture, Hart Gillett said “Idrove by the school on Friday

when I noticed a yellow cautiontape stretched between two postsbeing used as a volleyball net.It really touched my heart to seethis, so I decided that insteadof receiving for my birthday onNovember 28, I should give. Iam sure this donation willbenefit the school in many waysand it will provide betterincentives to keep students offthe street and out of trouble byplaying a healthy and safesport". Principal Cocom said that thedonation was a blessing for allthe students and teachers. He isvery thankful for the kindgesture. The students surroundedboth the principal and the donorwith joy and gratitude on theiryoung faces and went straightoff to play the game with theirnew balls and net.

Notice is hereby be given that under theIntoxicating Liquor License OrdinanceChapter 150 of the Laws of Belize,Revised Edition 2000, that TARCISIOCOC is applying for the renewal of hisMALT & CIDER LIQUOR LICENSEfor the year 2010 to operate COOL SPOTBAR located in San Antonio Village inthe Cayo District.

Notice is hereby be given that under theIntoxicating Liquor License OrdinanceChapter 150 of the Laws of Belize,Revised Edition 2000, that JORGEGUERRA is applying for the renewal ofhis PUBLICAN SPECIAL LIQUORLICENSE for the year 2010 to operatePICCADILLY BAR located #35Churchill Street, Benque Viejo Town inthe Cayo District.

Notice is hereby be given that under theIntoxicating Liquor License OrdinanceChapter 150 of the Laws of Belize,Revised Edition 2000, that ZI CHAOLIANG is applying for the renewal of hisRESTAURANT LIQUOR LICENSEfor the year 2010 to operate ALWIN’SRESTAURANT located on the WesternHighway, Santa Elena Town n the CayoDistrict.

Notice is hereby be given that under theIntoxicating Liquor License OrdinanceChapter 150 of the Laws of Belize,Revised Edition 2000, that MARIAMENDEZ is applying for the renewal ofher PUBLICAN SPECIAL LIQUORLICENSE for the year 2010 to operateROOF TOP located at #35 Wyatt Street,Benque Viejo Town in the Cayo District.

00

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Page 8 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Sunday, December 6, 2009

You might not have an actualDiploma but you are an Engineerif: 1. At Christmas, it goeswithout saying that you will bethe one to find the burnt-outbulb in the string of lights. 2. In college you thoughtSpring Break was a metal fatiguefailure. 3. The clerk at the electronicsstore can't answer any of yourquestions. 4. You have ever saved thepower cord from a broken

Here are the reasons I'd like tothank the bank for having 6 tellerslots and only 2 open at any

appliance. 5. You have used coathangers and duct tape forsomething other than hangingcoats and taping ducts. 6. You see a good design andstill have to change it. 7. You spend hours repairingyour child’s $3 broken toy. 8. Your laptop computer costsmore than your car. 9. You've already calculatedhow much you make per second. 10. You've tried to repair a $5radio.

You Are An Engineer

given time: 1. I can re-read all the textmessages on my cell phone.

2. I can be one of thoseannoying cell phone users andcatch up on all my phone callsto my mother-in-law, and AuntieAnne and other persons that willmake me look important in theline. 3. I can catch a quick naprather than falling asleep on thedrive home. 4. I can finally apply my topcoat of nail polish with plentyof drying time. 5. I can gaze at the otherspecies in front and behind mein the line.

6. I can clean out my sling bagof all the unwanted garbage likechewing gum wrappers and oldshopping receipts. 7. I can buy the frozen chickenacross the street before enteringthe bank and it will be defrostedin time to prepare lunch for thechildren and I don’t have to pourhot water on it when I get home. 8. I can count along with thetwo available tellers as they givepeople their money. 9. I might just be present insidethe bank when a hold up takesplace.

Waiting In The Bank The tourist got off the ship lastWednesday morning and sheentered the terminal inside thetourist village.. The tourist shopped around andshe bought several little clay

kitchenware for a Mayan vendor. As she was re-boarding the boatfor the ride back to the ship apoliceman stopped her and askher if she had anything of valueto declare. "Not really," replied thetourist, “All I bought was somepot.” She was instantly taken in fora full body search.

The Challenges Of The English Language

Mon. to Fri. 5 to 7 P.M

00

Monday:Draft Beer -$2.50

Tuesday:Local Rum -$2.50

Wednesday:Margaritas $6.95

Thursday:Piña Colada -$6.95

Friday:Micheladas -$3.50

Tel: 501-824-2730E-mail: [email protected]

Web: Rolsons.com

Mon. to Fri. 5 to 7 P.MHAPPY HOUR

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 9

Belize City, Belize, December 02, 2009:BWS objects to PUC Initial Decision on BWS FTRP Application

The Public Utilities Commission issued its Initial Decision (2009 Full Tariff Review Proceeding) for BelizeWater Services Limited (BWS) on November 17, 2009. BWS had submitted its Full Five-Year BusinessPlan (FFBP) report on October 1, 2009, for the period April 1, 2010 through to March 31, 2015 to the PUCfor their review.

BWS has submitted a formal objection to the PUC regarding the Initial Decision. There are a numberof reasons for this objection, including:· The Initial Decision ignores BWS’ proposal to reduce the monthly bills for some 7,000 or solower-consumption residential customers who use 750 gallons or less. The BWS proposed tariffs werespecifically designed to minimise the impact on lower income and lower consumption residential customers.For the 5,000 households (11% of the customer base) who use 500 gallons or less of water monthly, theirbill would actually REDUCE by an average of 20%. Also, recognising the cries from San Pedro wherethe tariffs are higher than on the mainland, the percentage increase in San Pedro was kept much lower.· The Initial Decision ignores the company’s regulatory mandate to provide a fair return to the over 1,300shareholders who invested their hard-earned funds.· The proposed Rate Setting Methodology (RSM) does not seem appropriate for a water utility which hasconstraints on cash generation and therefore on obtaining debt financing. The effect of such a methodologyon a cash-short water utility can be disastrous.· The proposed Regulated Asset Value (RAV) embodied in the RSM reduces the overall asset value bysubtracting contributions to assets and misses the key fact that these contributions were necessary as BWSwas unable to fund them due to lack of cash. Furthermore, the RAV uses historical cost rather than marketvalue or replacement cost on assets. The proposed RAV therefore significantly understates the cost ofproviding the services to customers.· The proposed regulatory changes, which would impose mandatory annual reviews, will add additionalcosts and overhead to both BWS and the PUC.· The issues identified above, combined with various other elements of the Initial Decision, will create anenvironment of uncertainty for BWS, which, especially with the need to obtain financing for major projects,will have a negative effect when reviewed by lending institutions.

Overall, the Initial Decision seems to ignore a number of requirements, issues, influences, and economicassumptions included in BWS’ Business Plan submission as well as the company’s requirement to ensure“that the company can meet the investment needs of population growth, handle emergency/disastersituations, provide fair return to shareholders and ensure the overall viability of BWS”.

BWS feels that this Initial Decision can be improved for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Belize Water Services Ltd. – Delivering water and more…For more information regarding this or any other BWS Release, please contact

Mr. Haydon Brown at Tel: 222-4757 Ext. 234 or via e-mail at [email protected]

BELIZE WATER SERVICES LTD.PRESS RELEASE

BENQUE VIEJO TOWN,Cayo, Tuesday, December 1,2009: Acting upon informationreceived Benque Viejo Police, ataround 7:30 on the morning ofTuesday, December 1, 2009,visited the bus terminal locatedon the main street in thatwestern municipality wherethey detained three young menon drug charges. Police reports finding asuspected marijuana cigarette onthe ground near the young menand that further search lead to thediscovery of a black plastic bagcontaining suspected marijuanaamounting to 100.9 grams. Those arrested on drugpossession and drug trafficking

charges were identified as AlexWade, 21, Belizean, labourerwho told the police that he

resides in San Pedro Town;Ovidio Garcia, 20, Belizean,labourer of #24 St. Joseph Street,

Benque Viejo and Edwin Flores19, Belizean , labourer of BurnsStreet, Benque Viejo.

Alex Wade, 21 Ovidio Garcia, 20 Edwin Flores 19

00

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Page 10 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Sunday, December 6, 2009

BY: John AcottBULLET TREE FALLSVILLAGE, Cayo District: “It is a dream come true,” saysthe Chairman of Bullet TreeFalls Village, Manuel Balan, ashe proudly concluded theofficial opening ceremony forthe new childrens’ playground inBullet Tree Falls Village. Yes, it was a dream come trueand through the efforts ofRotarians in Belize and Canadaand the Emmanuel Foundation,the children of Bullet Tree nowhave the best playground in thecountry. A second playground wasalso installed in the nearbyvillage of Santa Familia. Theplaygrounds are valued at BZ$180,000. Rotarian and Vice Chairmanof Bullet Tree Falls Village,André Lopez and RotarianStephen Lindop of the Rotary

Club of Nisku-Leduc, Canadahad been working on the idea ofbringing playgrounds to Belizefor nearly two years prior to thisinauguration. They were unable to bring this

(L to R): Stephen Lindop; Wendy Andrews; San IgnacioRotary President Dan Habet; André Lopez; Betty Serepnek

idea to fruition until Stephen metRotarians Wendy Andrews andBetty Serepnek of the RotaryClub of Edmonton Glenora,Canada. These two dynamicladies searched out and met Lyle

Johnson of the EmmanuelFoundation who specialises indispatching playgrounds aroundthe world. The BZ $40,000 cost ofactually getting the playgroundsprepared and shipped to Belizewas paid for by CanadianRotarians, as was the thick layerof sand spread around theapparatus to prevent injuries tothe children. As part of the agreement forproviding the playgrounds, thevillage councils of Bullet TreeFalls and Santa Familia agreedto pay all of the in-countryexpenses associated withtransporting the containers inBelize, provide the labor to erectthe playgrounds, provide mealsfor all the volunteers, providesignage, and maintain theplaygrounds. Members of the Interact Clubof Nisku-Leduc, flew to Belizeat their own expense to helpinstall the apparatus. In addition, besides the twoplaygrounds in the container, theRotary Club of Nisku-Leducsent an electric solar system tothe village school of LosTambos, and a huge amount ofschools supplies for EdenPrimary School in Santa Elena. In his remarks to the gatheringduring the inaugurationceremony, Chairman Balanthanked all of the people who sogenerously contributed tomake this dream come true andpromised that his villagecommittee would take good careof the apparatus. The thanks of the people ofSanta Familia are joined withBullet Tree’s in saying “gracias”to all of these wonderful peoplewho came together to make thispossible.

The Playground in Bullet Tree Falls Village, Cayo

BELMOPAN CITY, Thurs-day, December 3, 2009: The Belize Trade and Invest-ment Development Services(BELTRAIDE) informs that aspart of its commitment todevelop and enhance the capac-ity and competiveness of Small& Medium Enterprises (SMEs)in Belize, the Service, inconjunction with Scotia Bank ofBelize, Belize Chamber ofCommerce & Industry (BCCI)and sub-contractor ECONOLERfrom Canada, is activelyparticipating as strategic partnersin an Energy Efficiency &Renewable Energy TechnicalAssistance program calledGREENPYME launched by the

Inter-American InvestmentCorporation (IIC) in March2009, targeting SMEs in LatinAmerican and Caribbeancountries that have high energy-saving potential. The objective of this programis to provide SMEs withknow-how, tools and technical &financial support for implement-ing energy efficiency measuresand clean technologies based ona Walk Through Energy Audit(WTA) to be conducted byconsultants from ECONOLER. In Belize, GREENPYME hasfocused its attention to SMEs inthe tourism sector, particularly,restaurants, hotel & resorts.Initially a list of potential SMEs

was submitted to IIC byBELTRAIDE, Scotia Bank &BCCI from which IIC made ashort listing of 12 SMEs toparticipate in the WTA, some ofthese companies are: San IgnacioHotel & Resort, Robert’s Grove,Coco Plum Island Resort,Caribbean Paper Company, andKA’ANA Boutique. Theconsultant Mr. Eaton Haughtonis in Belize doing the Walkthrough Audits from November22nd 2009 to December 9th2009. For further information, pleasecontact Jose Herrera, Director ofthe SME Capacity Building &Development Unit at 822-3737 orvia email, [email protected]

We AMS To Please

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 11

BY: Millard TunVice ChairmanSanta Familia Village CouncilSANTA FAMILIA VILLAGE,Cayo District: It give me real pleasure toreport that Santa Familia Villagenow has a first of its kindplayground for the use andenjoyment by all our children. This dynamic venture broughtrenewed excitement to ourchildren as their little heartsscream with joy. This park was made possiblethrough the grand effort of theRotary Club of Canada workingin conjunction with the RotaryClub of San Ignacio. “I used to see this type of playground on TV in those firstworld cities abroad like UnitedStates of America. I neverdreamt that such a play groundwould ever be built at myvillage Santa Familia. I’m veryproud of this play ground and Ihope that my people will alsobe.” said Vice Chairman MillardTun Some might say, “So what, it’s

The Belize Airports Authority is securing funding for an Airport Development Project with theprimary aim of improving safety standards at the Municipal Airport facility in Belize City. TheAuthority hereby invite suitably experienced and qualified civil engineering consultants withbusinesses registered in Belize to submit bids for the provision of engineering services for thisproject.

Information relating to the scope of works and the terms and condition of the project will beavailable at the offices of the Belize Airports Authority during normal working hours fromDecember 7 to December 18, 2009.

Interested parties are advised to contact: The General ManagerBelize Airports AuthorityMunicipal AirstripP.O. Box 1572Belize City, Belize

Telephone: 23-3784 or 223-4200.

just a play ground”. But thereis the old but yet familiarproverb that says: “All work andno joy makes Jack a dull boy”.Our children have the right toplay and have fun! The villagers of Santa Familiawould like to thank theMinister of Sports, Mr. Elvin

Penner, who providedfinancially for the installation ofthe equipment and Mr. DavidCarillo, who spearheaded theproject and motivated the youngpeople of Santa Familia, Mrs.Joana Yulik and PauletteRabinette for their effortsthrough the Rotary Club of San

Ignacio. A special thank you also goesout to Mr. Cecil Garbutt fromthe local Ministry of Works forclearing and filling the site. Alsoto Mr. Neil Blackburn, whosupported us in many ways. Wealso thank the Rural CommunityDevelopment Officer Mr.Orlando Jimenez for histechnical support, and thevillagers, who cooked andvolunteered to undertake themanual labour culmination intomaking the project a reality. A special thank you is alsoextended to Mr. Lyle JohnsonDirector of The EmmanuelFoundation of Canada,- theEngineer who made it allhappen. Mr. Johnson supportedthe project with his professionaladvice and instructions as wellas with his active engagement. We encourage our children tofirst of all take care of theequipment and secondly tomake good use of it. May God bless Belize, theRotary movement and the kindpeople of Canada we wish thema pleasant stay in Belize and asafe trip back home.

Residents of Santa Familia Village also came out toprovide labour for the project and for this we say

“Thank you so very much”

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Page 12 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Sunday, December 6, 2009

BY Nestor Vasquez,ChairmanBoard of DirectorsBelize Telemedia LimitedBELIZE CITY, December 2,2009: Three months have passed sincethe Government of Belize acquired ownership of Belize Telemedia Ltdon Tuesday 25th August 2009. TheBoard of Directors felt that it wastime to meet with the media andthrough you to update the Belizeanpublic on the status of the company. We know that there has been somedelay in sharing information with thepublic, but this has been becausewe have had to spend the timereviewing the status of the companyand addressing the issues which wehave found. All of this is leading upto the successful re-privatization ofBTL, which is the final objective ofthis interim Board of Directors.

The status of the Company atacquisition

So what did we find when the newboard took control of the company onthe afternoon of August 25, 2009? We found that in the three daysbetween Sunday August 23 andTuesday August 25, the previousowners of BTL caused it to pay outmillions of dollars. For example: * Even though the company hadtop local management, the companyinsisted on paying one of itsown shareholders, Ecom Ltd.,management fees. Ecom Ltd. costBTL $5.51 million per year inmanagement fees. On the 24th ofAugust 2009, the day before theacquisition was concluded, EcomLtd. ended its management contractand charged BTL $6.8 milliondollars in termination fees, of which$3 million was paid immediately. * The foreign lawyers for BTL,Allen and Overy, also ended theirrelationship with BTL. They werepaid $1.6 million between August24th and 26th and they have notaccounted to BTL for any moneythey received on the basis of anengagement letter signed with themon 19 August 2009. From April 1,2008 until the acquisition, BTL paidAllen and Overy $7.3 million. Thereis no copy of their engagement letteror contract on the Company’spremises. * Price Waterhouse Coopers UKwas paid a total of $1.3 million onAugust 25th. They have offered toreturn a portion of the money but havenot accounted for any work that theyclaim to have done to justify keepingroughly $500,000. To date we do notknow what they were contracted todo. There is no copy of their engage-ment letter on the Company’spremises. * On 24 August, the previousdirectors wrote off approximately$10 million worth of debt owed byGreat Belize productions Ltd.(Channel 5) to BTL. This $10

million included the cost ofpurchasing the shares in GreatBelize Productions, the cost of thebuilding on Coney Drive, and bills fortelephone services, salary payments,Christmas party, bonus etc. The newBoard found that this write off hadnot been implemented and has takena decision to reverse it. This is amatter that will likely requiresettlement in the courts. On August24th, BTL also paid $86,000 inadvance to Great Belize Productions[Channel 5] for unspecifiedadvertising services to be delivered.

Loan Situation In July 2007, BTL took a loan ofUS$22.5 million, from Belize Bank(Turks & Caicos) at a rate ofinterest of 12% to be repaid over 4years (2 years interest and 2 yearsinterest and principal). These wereterms that the former directors mustand ought to have known BTL couldnot meet. The company has not madeprofits at the rate required to repay aloan under those terms. In fact, onJune 18, 2009, BTL sent a letter toBelize Bank (Turks and Caicos), nowknown as British Caribbean Bank,formally asking to defer the firstprincipal payment - in effect torestructure the loan. There is norecord of a reply from the Bank tothis request We have discovered that thisUS$22.5 million was used by thecompany to purchase its own shares.The new board has been advised thatunder the laws of Belize, this wasunlawful and void and this board willnot be a party to this kind of transac-tion. The Bank is now also claimingan additional 10% as legal fees in thelawsuit which they have broughtagainst the company. This is a claimbased on a loan facility agreement ofwhich no copy has been found on thecompany’s premises. The shares that were bought withthis loan were distributed toshareholders and Mr Ashcroft’saffiliated companies received 94% ofthese shares without paying BTL acent for them. This means that thoseshares should not have received adividend because they were sharespurchased back by BTL. In 2008, the year following the loanof US$22.5 million, the companypaid out dividends of $70 million -this, in a year when the companymade $37 million in profits. This $70million was given to Belize Bank whogave shareholders loan notesindicating that they would receivetheir payments sometime in thefuture. The only rationale for thistransaction that the current directorscan see is that it was designed toextract cash from Belize Telemediaand at the same time benefit the Be-lize Bank. It is clear to us that the formerowners have been bleeding thecompany for years on the assumption

that any losses would be made upthrough the AccommodationAgreements. I should mention, at this point, thatthe filing cabinets in the DeanBoyce’s office were cleaned out andleft practically empty. The identify-ing labels remain in the cabinets, butthe contents are gone.

The relationship with Speednet We also found, on taking overcontrol of the company, that therewere a series of agreements withSpeednet Ltd that are detrimental toBTL and concessionary to Speednet. BTL is prepared to compete, butcompetition must be arms length andtransparent. The agreements are notfair to BTL or to the Belizean peoplefor the following reasons: First, the two companies wereowned substantially by the same own-ers. In February 2004, an Ashcroftcontrolled company owned 24% ofSpeednet. By March 2006, twoAshcroft controlled companiesowned over 50% of Speednet and byJanuary 2009, three Ashcroft control-led companies owned 77% ofSpeednet. Furthermore, the rates set out inthese agreements placed BTL in theposition of providing services toSpeednet below the cost of such serv-ices. In other words, BTL was madeto subsidize Speednet. For example: * Under a Tower Lease Agree-ment, Speednet was being charged$1,100 per month to put its antennaon a million dollar tower which costs$100,000 a year to maintain it. * Under an Agreement for termi-nation of incoming international calls,BTL and Speednet would share therevenue in a 75/25 split, withSpeednet getting 75% of the revenue. Critically, the Main Agreement pur-ports to bypass the Public UtilitiesCommission and take disputes to ar-bitration in Miami under the LondonCourt of International Arbitrationrules. Why would the directors put BTLin this unfair position? Why woulddirectors of a company act to thedetriment of the company? Is it thatthey were following the instructionsof the “Shadow Director” and werenot thinking for themselves? It is clearto the new board that the Accommo-dation Agreements were designed sothat any revenues that BTL gaveaway to Speednet through theseagreements would be paid back toBTL by the Belizean people under theprovision which required theGovernment to make up anyshortfall in BTL’s revenue below a15% rate of return. The arrangementwas such that the single personexercising control of both companiescould benefit at both ends. We leave that to you to consider.The fact is, the agreements were notarms length arrangements and wereunfair to BTL. The PUC has now declared theseagreements to be unlawful andinstructed that they be re-negotiatedbefore the end of this year. We are

prepared to move ahead with thenegotiations and have invitedSpeednet to the table to commencethe negotiations. We are awaitingtheir reply. We are prepared to cooperate withthe Public Utilities Commission forthe benefit of BTL, the telecommu-nications sector and the country.

The way aheadWhat happens now? In addition totaking measures taken to address theproblems we have found - the Boardof Directors is moving ahead withpreparing the company forre-privatization. Real competitionis here and BTL is fully capable ofcompeting and winning at faircompetition. We have streamlined the internalorganization of the company forbetter management. We have givenstaff the opportunity to work the waywe know they can: to bring theircreativity to bear on the solutions tothe current challenges and the futuredirection. BTL is a knowledge basedtechnology company and our humanresources are the key to the future. We are putting the company on asolid footing, financially andtechnologically: * We have cut significant waste -legal fees, the Ecom contract, specialarrangements for related companies,for example, no longer apply. * We are successfully regainingmarket share which was lost throughunfair competition. The Make theSwitch campaign is a part of thateffort. We are also rolling out a rangeof new and improved services for ourcustomers over the next severalmonths: pre-paid mobile internetwhich was launched a few days agois an example of those new services. * We have almost completed theinstallation and testing of a majoradvancement to our GSM network.This is a key project that was facingsome challenges in its completion.This project is already deliveringimproved and expanded coverageand new services to our customers.We have already achieved muchbigger DigiCell coverage with newcell sites in the Pomona Valley,Progresso, Big Falls, BermudianLanding, Ladyville and very shortly,Sarteneja. * We are also completing theimplementation and testing of theCDMA network that will providequality telecommunication services toareas that are not served atthis time - especially in ruralcommunities and marine areas. Thisservice will be rolled out early in thenew year. We are establishing a strategicdirection for the company. BTL isreadying itself for the future when itreturns to private ownership. Weare committed to our target ofcompleting the re-privatizationprocess on a timely basis, althoughwe recognise that it would be betterto do it properly than to do it quickly. Thank you for your attention, wewill now take questions.

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 13

SAN IGNACIO TOWN,Friday, December 4, 2009: San Ignacio police reports thearrest of Nigel Vernon, 21,Belizean supervisor of BelizeWestern Energy Limited’sbutane outlet in Santa Elena. At around 8:00 a,m., onTuesday, December 1, 2009,Alex Linez, 25, operationsmanager of the companystationed at its depot inHattieville, visited the SanIgnacio police station where hereported receiving a call fromVernon informing him that hetook the cash from the days’ saleon November 28 and November30 to his home where itreportedly went missing. Linez, informed however thatthe sales for the 29th Novemberwere deposited by Vernon as isrequired by the company. Police visited Vernon’s SantaCruz, Santa Elena residencewhere they reportedly found nosign of forced entry into thehouse. While the investigationcontinues, it appears that neither

the police nor BWEL’Soperations manager arebelieving Vernon’s account ofthe money going missing from

his residence. The investigation hassubsequently led to the arrest andthe formal laying of two counts

of theft against Vernon. The firstcount is for the sum of$1,099.36 being the sales forNovember 28 and the secondcount is for the sum of$1, 130.05 being the sales forNovember 30. Again, in the absence of aMagistrate in San Ignacio,Vernon appeared beforeBelmopan’s Magistrate, ArethaFord, where he pleaded notguilty to the charge and wasoffered bail in the sum of $5,000(2 sureties) to reappear onFebruary 3, 2010.

The Accused, Nigel Vernon, 21

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Page 14 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Sunday, December 6, 2009

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Page 15

National and School flags wereraised by elements of theschool’s Police and DefenceForce Cadets. The other item on the agendawas the performance of aspecial welcome prepared bystandard III students, otherpresentations included thesinging of “Gud Mawning MissLady” by infant 1 students anda Garifuna dance by standard V

logo designer. In the Cayoline-up of charges he standsaccused of obtaining property bydeception amidst report by theprincipal of Bishop Martin RCSchool, San Ignacio. It is alleged that around 10:00a.m. on September 23, 32009, hevisited the school offering hisservices. He was contracted toproduce 1,000 uniform badges

Continued From Front Page for which he received $500advance payment in the form oftwo $250 Scotia Bank cheques.When he walked out of thecompound with the cheques inhis position that was the last timeanyone from Bishop Martin RCSchool saw him. He also stands accused ofwalking away with a $120Atlantic Bank cheque fromCornerstone Foundation being

deposit for the printing of shirts.That cheque was reportedlyhanded to him on September 9,2009 and he was not heard fromsince. He also reportedly walkedaway with $75 from a BurnsAvenue businesswoman asadvance payment for producingT-shirts for her fast foodestablishment. Again, neitherAcosta, money nor merchandiseresurfaced. In this instance, thebusinesswoman is reportedly

Continued From Front Page

Continued From Front Page students. The Governor General wasthen invited to address thestudents where he related thestory of the lady who went to themarket and bought a pig withwhich she wanted to get homebefore the sun went down. The Governor then invited theprincipal, Ms. Kathleen Staineand a random selection of 6students and presented themwith 6 silver plated flutes alongwith an “ELEGANCE” brandpiano with 54 standard keys,LCD display, 100GM standardtimbre, 100 popular rhythm, 10demonstrative songs, 2 teachingmodes, 5 percussions andvibrato/sustain/echo/. In accepting the gift of musicalinstruments, Principal Staine,thanked the Governor Generalfor his generous donation. Shealso took the opportunity toextend a personal invitation tothe Governor General on theoccasion of the very firstmusical performance by studentsusing the instruments hedonated. The program ended with theGovernor General playingkeyboard for a song by standardVI members of the school choir. The Governor Generaldeparted at exactly 11:30 am.

The police later visited thehospital where they encounteredAndres Linares, 20, Belizeanlaborer of Buena Vista Villagewith his left hand chopped offmidway between the elbow andthe wrist. Linares told the police that hewas drinking at the local barwhere he encountered MiguelAngel Trejos, 21, Belizeanlaborer of the same village whoreportedly owed him $15.According to Linares, when herequested payment a confronta-tion erupted resulting in Trejospulling out a machete andchopping off his hand. During the morning hours onSunday, November 29, theaccused Miguel Angel Trejoshanded himself to the villageChairman who transported himto the nearest police stationlocated in the MennoniteCommunity of Spanish Lookoutfrom where he was subsequentlytransported to the San Ignaciopolice station where he wasformally arrested and chargedfor the crime of maim. Contrary to the victim’saccount of the incident, theaccused informed that he wasreportedly approached by thevictim, brandishing a machete,at the local bar. He reportedlywalked away to a panades shopin the village where thevictim reportedly followed him,

electing not to proceed withcriminal charges. In the absence, this week, of aMagistrate in San Ignacio,the accused was transportedto Belmopan on ThursdayDecember 3, where he appearedbefore Magistrate Aretha Ford.He pleaded not guilty to thecharge and was offered bail inthe sum of $2,500 (1 surety) andordered to reappear in court onFebruary 3, 2009. The accusedremains in police custody as heis being held on a commitmentwarrant.

threatening to chop him with themachete. He reportedlydisarmed the victim whoreportedly continued charging athim. This was when he raisedthe machete with the victimsimultaneously raising his hand,the accused reportedly camedown with the chopping motionand with the sharp machete hechopped the victim’s handcompletely off. Miguel Angel Trejos appearedin San Ignacio’s MagistrateCourt where he pleaded notguilty to the charge and wasoffered bail in the sum of $5,000.He was ordered to return to courton January 26, 2010.

Governor General Presenting to the Principal and Students

Now Offering 6”Cement Blocks

For Only $1.00 each

Also providing topquality Dressed & Rough

Hardwood andMahogany Lumber,

Sand, Cement, Steel,Plywood, Celotex,

Roofing, Doors And AWhole Lot More.

Efficient Service andLow Prices Everyday!

Call Us At:824-2959

Jose Marin, Manager

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Page 16 - STAR - Tel:- 626-8822 & 626-3788 - Email:[email protected] - Sunday, December 6, 2009

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com