Belizean

Belize Moves for enforced National I.D. Cards

2008-10-06T06:32:25Z

5 October 2008 - BelizeBlog.com - In what is seen as a trial balloon, the Government of Belize is making a move to introduce a forced National I.D. system as part of new Anti Crime legislation being promoted by the U.S.A. and the British Governments. Both foreign governments have helped formulate a new Crime Control Council Plan chaired by a Belize Government hired lawyer Mr. Michael Young.
]]> Amandala cites the Plan Belize thus:

"Crime has become the main topic of the national discussion in recent months, mainly because all Belizeans are affected by it, whether directly or indirectly.

Today, the Ministry of National Security and the Crime Control Council presented their plan for tackling the ever-growing problem, which they said could not be done without the active participation of all Belizeans."

Hidden in the 54 page text of the Plan Belize which to date has not been supplied to international media in electronic form is the keystone element - a forced national I.D. card system for Belize.

"In the long-term, the CCC's plan would include strengthening the Police Department and criminal justice system, including the eye-opening suggestion that all Belizeans would be made to register with Social Security, young and old, in order to assist with the development of a national criminal records and statistics unit coordinated by the police.

"Asked to clarify whether not having a Social Security card would be considered an offense, Young said he didn't think so, envisioning offenders as paying a fine and being given the opportunity to comply."

Some independent journalists have now questioned how not having an I.D. card will not be an offense but will require "offenders" to be fined and or confined for not carrying the card.

In a related development, an expert from Jamaica imported to help the Belize Government address crimes by crooks and hoodlums has finally submitted his long-delayed report for a solution to Belize's escalating crime problems. Mr. Harold Crooks has submitted his report to government and it will be released in November after it is reviewed and sanitised by the Belize Government.

Belize Celebrates Independence Day

2008-09-22T06:16:05Z

Belize 21 September 2008 (Belizean.com) Belize today celebrated the 27th anniversary of its independence from Great Britain with nation-wide parades and festivities.

The celebrations began at midnight on 20th September with the raising of the Belizean flag in all major population centres followed by fireworks and general partying.

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Today September 21, parades and carnival activities were held in Belize City, the capital Belmopan, and district towns.

This despite an attempt by the ruling United Democratic Party's best efforts to downplay Indepedence which it had opposssed and boycotted on 21 September 1981 - the date of Belize's independence.

What was officialy designated as a uniformed parade - consisting only of service corps such as the police, military,and other organisations such as the Salvation Army - was swept aside by popular fervor.

All of today's activities were described by independent observers as being true Independence Day parades with traditional Belizean revelry, music,jump ups, carnival dancers, floats, fireworks and dancing on the streets.

Festivities continue tomorrow September 22 which is a public and bank holiday with all-day street celebrations and partying in most major populaltion centres.

Belize is located in Central America and is the only English -speaking country on the Central American isthmus. It has a population of some 375,000 and is mainly inhabited by Latinos with secondary populations consisting of African and Mayan descent ethnic groups.

Guatemalan Coach to Sue Football Federation of Belize

2008-08-08T07:41:22Z

7 August 2008 - Belizean.com - Guatemalan coach Palmiro Salas says he will take the Football Federation of Belize and its president Bertie Chimillo to court for Bz $26,000. that he claims is owned to him. In March the Football Federation fired national team coach Palmiro Salas after questions arose about his immigration status.

You can say what you want about Salas, who is a Guatemalan by nationality, but he is the only coach that has led a Belize football selection to victory in a World Cup qualifying match. He did that in February when Belize beat St. Kitts 3 to 1 in game one in Guatemala. That was the only game Salas coached and the only game we won. Salas was fired in March and he then quietly left the country and the team he led to victory. More information here.

New Miss Belize Selected

2008-08-03T09:25:07Z

Belmopan 2 August 2008 - (Belizean.com) - Miss Charmaine Chinapen has been selected as the new Belize 2008 and will represent her country at the Miss World Pageant in the Ukraine next year.

The new Miss Belize was crowned by the second runner up, Iris Jessie Medina, after Tanisha Vernon, Miss Belize 2007-2008, was stripped of her crown earlier this year. She competed against five other Belizean ladies, chosen from among eleven applicants for the position.

Chinapen is no stranger to the stage, as she has been modeling for print ads in the U.S.A. for Pantene Pro-V. She is currently majoring in chemistry at St. John's University in New York and is studying to be a neurosurgeon. She also plays the piano.

Chinapen said that she believes the competition was fair and was made to understand that this is the way it is normally held in other countries. She adds that it is indeed a very great feeling to be Miss Belize, and having always been patriotic, she can now represent Belize on an international level. She intends to do her best to make Belize shine in the Miss World pageant, said Chinapen.

Jessie was originally born in El Salvador, grew up in Guatemala and came to Belize at age 13 and became a Belizean. She speaks English and Spanish fluently, works at the Corozal Free Zone as the Assistant Manager of the Corozal Free Zone Development Company.

Jessie's dream is to own and manage a chain of fine restaurants that specialize in Latin and Belizean cuisines in keys tourism areas of Belize. She enjoys dancing, cooking, working out, Supa G music, photography and modeling. Jessie is no newcomer to pageants. She was Señorita Jaripeo in El Salvador, second runner-up in the Miss Pan-American Pageant in Orange Walk, and was Señorita Traje de Baño in Orange Walk.

Jessie has also represented Belize in the Miss PJD2 annual Caribbean Pageant recently held in the island of St. Maarten with 30 other delegates in March 2008, and is now competing for Belize through Pageants Belize in the Dominican Republic at the Miss America Latina Pageant along with over 27 delegates. The Miss America Latina finals will be held on June 28th and Pageants Belize wishes her the very best.

Belize Government Moves To Take away land from cane farmers

2008-07-24T09:09:45Z

Commentary by Peter Singfield. 24 Juky 2008 - Belizen.com - "The farmers have banded together in efforts of fighting for the land thatthey have worked so hard to cultivate, land that feeds their families on a daily basis, and they will not allow their land to be taken away from them without a fight"
The land was sold for peanuts to that big Mafia Man in Panama!!

But that land was bought from Petrojam by our GOB using the people's money
for redistribution to the cane farmers!!

So -- now they shaft these Maya -- to the death!!

This is a difacto declaration of war!! Sleep on you to delusional!!

And kiss Belize "Good-bye"!!

White Lilly can't sell it out from under we all fast enough!!

Hon. Dean Barrow - NCN, Belizean Voice, Thursday Nov.1, 2007 "Vamos a
quitar los terrenos no importa si los nuevos dueños tienen títulos o tienen
lease no importa."

Basically -- Barrow promises that the cane farmers will get these lands -- that traditionally belong to them!! Not to worry -- he "promises" it so!!

There you go folks -- another white lilly promise bites the dust!!

"G" must be happy about this one though!! Sets a good precendent for getyting rid of those pesky Toledo Maya that will not give over their traditional lands!!]]>