Also contributing to the debate was former Minister of Education and Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber. He says that he is not anti-American but questions what the U.S. wants from Belize in exchange for the two hundred and fifty million dollars. Faber cautioned Belizeans to stay woke and remain cautious. He also chastised the Briceno administration over the composition of the M.C.C. Belize board of directors. Faber contended that four handpicked government C.E.O.s will be appointed to the board.
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collett
“The way how some of my colleagues get up and sing you would think America is doing this out of some great love for Belize. In fact, no they are doing it out of great love for the P.U.P., the wonderful Plan Belize that they put into effect. The Wonderful leadership of John Briceno, wonderful practices. This is why the U.S woke up and said let us develop this Millenium Challenge and let’s have Belize be a part of it. Please nobody misquote me or say anything contrary. In fact, the U.S have their ears to the ground for sure. I am not anti-U.S.A, but what I am saying is whenever you see the U.S doing something it is part of a larger plan. This is historical. I watched as President Biden laid out his plan to NATO and they are celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary as NATO. They are clear of what the agenda is, to keep the U.S as a superpower and so everything the U.S does is geared towards and agenda for the U.S. We have long been struggling with poverty and the U.S has not changed its geographical location; in fact, I skip to Mexico and cross the border and we are in the U.S. And I don’t blame America, America has its agenda. We should have ours too. When they give us this gift, it is not a loan. Two hundred and fifty million dollars gift, you best believe there is some agenda. I am not saying it is a bad agenda, but I am hoping the prime minister can tell us what the U.S will get from this.”
Today, Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow called for an amendment to the standing orders of the House of Representatives to say that no regular sitting can occur without five business days’ notice. As we have reported, the opposition boycotted the last sitting on grounds that they were not given adequate prior notice. This morning, Barrow contended that this lack of proper notice infringed on his privileges as a parliamentarian to present questions to the ministers. Speaker of the House, Valerie Woods recused herself for the privilege motion to be heard. Here is what Barrow had to say.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Mister Speaker, I would like to draw the House’s attention to standing order nineteen three which is a privilege that is afforded members of the opposition in particular questions to ministers. At the last sitting of the house, June twenty-eight the opposition [parliamentary caucus wrote to the honorable speaker to bring to her attention that the notice given was not consistent with the established protocol under her tenure which was five business days’ notice before any house sitting. Why is this important? This is important because if the members of the opposition are not given the five days’ notice that immediately strips us of our privilege to raise questions to the minister. For a member of the opposition to present a question to the minister they have to give five clear business days’ notice to the ministers. In this honorable house the ministers are afforded statements by ministers where they get to report to the honorable house and citizens of this great nation what they are doing in this great nation. We as opposition travel all over this country. I as the leader of the opposition represent all constituencies. I travel across the nation and get many questions that the citizens have of the honorable minister. Mr. Speaker rather than coming to the house and cast aspersions and impute importer motive, rather than go to the media and say anything defamatory about my colleagues, since the beginning of this term of parliament myself and others have been using standard order nineteen three to ask questions to the ministers.”
In response to the motion, the deputy speaker of the House noted that the standing orders do not include a timeframe within which notice must be given. He further clarified that questions to ministers can be submitted at any time. Considering these facts, it was determined that the matter presented by the opposition leader does not affect the privileges of the House of Representatives. Prime Minister John Briceño also weighed in.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“This is a special sitting so the reason why is because we need to pass legislation. As you are aware by the end of this month all of this is going to be removed, demolished because we are going be refurbished. But the George Price Center where we will be having the meetings will not be ready by September. So we have to have a meeting now. So that is the only reason. It is not a matter that we are abusing. The only other time this happened was the last house meeting. I want to make it clear that our good friend the Cabinet Secretary reached out to you to explain what happened. It was human error. There was no ill intent or trying to pull something on you. It was a human error why you was not given enough notice.”
The National Security Bill was also debated inside the House of Representatives. The council has been in operation since the early nineties, but it has never been formalized. This bill seeks to do just that. Prime Minister John Briceño explained that the legislation gives teeth to this important arm. The Leader of the Opposition rose to support the bill. He also addressed the current state of citizen security in Belize, while once again calling on the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Police to resign.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I rise to support this bill. We do live in a constant state of emergency under this administration who promises citizens security. We have had anything but that yet the honorable member for Caribbean Shores will blame it on the media. He says it is social media that makes us feel like there have been a forty percent increase in murder. When you are talking about national security madam speaker the domestic threats that we have faced under this Briceno administration as far as the rampant crime waves, the increase in murder has been unparallel. Never before have I seen in the glorious years of the U.D.P. administration did the commissioner of police house get shot up, sprayed with bullets on the day that the S.O.E. was declared. One of the criticisms I put to the public is that we never heard from the chair of the National Security Council. Who is the chair of the National Security Council? That would be the honorable prime minister. He has a hapless minister of national security, worthless commissioner of police, they both should go. Both of their expiration date have come.”
Kareem Musa, the Minister of Home Affairs, responded to the Leader of the Opposition’s criticisms. Musa addressed Barrow’s call for him and the Commissioner of Police to resign. He also spoke to the opposition leader’s position that crime is the most rampant it has ever been in the nation. Here is a portion of what he had to say.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“He spoke about leadership, but the cute thing about leadership and being a leader is that you have to have somebody that follows you, somebody that sees your vision, somebody that, anybody at all in the U.D.P. to believe in what you stand for. The current leader of the opposition is properly despised within his own party. Who would have thought that Yellowman would turn on the leader of the opposition? Who would have thought that the mob, Juliet Thimbriel would have turned on the leader of the opposition? All the Fat Joe parties, Diddy parties, DJ Khalid parties, none of that ever amounted to anything because he is a whotless leader. My brother Phillip Willoughby is sitting right up there. The leader of the opposition turned the lord of the ring, he wants back the ring. I cant believe that he has the nerve of leadership when absolutely no one, not even the member for collet. I am surprised you are here and not a part of the boycott, because the only boycott happening is that you are cutting that boy. Nobody is supporting him. So it is very strange that he wants to venture down a discussion of leadership when he has no followers at all. He also spoke about crime being out of control like never before. I don’t invent statistics. They are in black and white you cant cook those book. So, the black and white does not lie. When the U.D.P. was in government, we was ranked by Insight Crime, we were ranked under the U.D.P. by the third most deadly country in this region, in Latin America.”
Schools are out and children all over Belize are finding unique ways to pass their time. Among the variety of summer camps and programs available for students to participate in, Carlos Perrotte’s Music Camp has been a constant source of music education and fun for students for over two decades. In this week’s episode of Belize on Reel, we sat down with the man that has inspired a love for music in children and adults for over twenty-five years.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
For those with a passion for music and the essence of Belizean culture that is expressed through song and sounds, the name Carlos Perrotte is a very familiar one. For the past two decades, the Cuban transplant has spread his love for music through musical projects such as Omolewa Osain. The name of the album which translates to Powerful Mind, is a unique blend of Jazz, Garifuna music and the West African roots of Cuba. He has also played a hand in the beloved Pan Yaad Festival for several years. However, it is through teaching that Perrotte has always been able to connect with youths and spark a fire for music that would transcend to adulthood.
Carlos Perrotte
Carlos Perrotte, Music Instructor
“I believe this is the most important thing, to teach children in an early age, like yourself, you can remember your time at Grace Primary. Give me the opportunity to meet them, and feel the love that they give you. Those children they have more love than the rest. It is easy for you to reach them, and then the early age is the most important part of life, for them to get knowledge. I believe you should treat them well from a younger age, then they will grow with a different attitude and with a different approach of life and that’s what I try to do in terms of music.”
Perrotte has been teaching music in Belize for over twenty-five years, but his love for melody began at a much earlier age. It is his belief that children should be given the opportunity to develop a love for music while it can still be nurtured.
Carlos Perrotte
“I started when I was six years old. Although my mom and my dad were engineers and doctors, I have a uncle who told me don’t worry about that, just play music But, we have a system that allows you to do that. In my country, with all the problems we have, we have a system that makes music education from the beginning, to the end. So I started when I was seven years old and then got my master’s degree in music with no stop. So from the beginning age I fell in love with music, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Perrotte’s students describe his classes as fun and energetic. Six-year-old Elijah Lorenzo tells us that he’s been coming to Perrotte’s class since he was four years old and plans to keep coming back.
Britney Gordon
“Are you having fun doing these classes? What do you feel when you play the instruments?”
Elijah Lorenzo
Elijah Lorenzo, Student
“I feel great, I feel nice.”
Britney Gordon
“Do you really like music?”
Elijah Lorenzo
“Yea I do really.”
Britney Gordon
What do you like about music?”
Elijah Lorenzo
I like that it likes to make me dance and sing and do stuff.”
Perrotte’s love for music is also alive inside his home. His daughter, Ala Perrotte, says music has been a part of her life for as far back as she can remember.
Alma Perrotte
Alma Perrotte, Perrotte’s Daughter
“I would say from I came out the womb I’ve been learning music because of my dad. And, but playing instruments I’ve, it’s been like, around, I would say fifteen to sixteen years since I’ve been playing music.”
Britney Gordon
“What would you say is something admirable about the way your father goes about teaching music?”
Alma Perrotte
“I think it’s because of how much love he has for music and he, and how much he wants to give the love that he has. And he wants to teach it to other students, especially young kids, because the young kids are the future of our country. So him spreading his love about music to other students so that they could be also in love with music is what I think lets him go on like that. And that’s why everyone likes the way, the way how he teach.”
Perrotte’s Camp focuses primarily on percussion instruments such as drums and xylophones. Lourdes Mora, a student at this year’s camp, says that her favorite instrument is the steel pan and she enjoys hearing herself improve after every lesson.
Lourdes Mora
Lourdes Mora, Student
“I get to learn new stuff and I could remember it in my head, so the next day when I come I could remember it and do better from last year.”
Britney Gordon
“What’s your favourite part about making music?”
Lourdes Mora
“It’s cause I feel special. And what do you like most about Mister Carlos and his class?”
Lourdes Mora
“Because he is fun, about him, he lets us play music and once we ask a question. Like if I ask if I want play the drums, mister Carlos would let me play the drums.”
Perrotte plans to retire next year, but he does not believe that it will be the end of his time as an instructor. He says that once there is a passion for something, it does not simply go away.
Carlos Perrotte
“I say I will retire, but I didn’t say I would stop teaching. Teaching is something that when you passion, it’s hard to give up so easily. But I encourage others to bring up their talent and help others to build up their skill. It doesn’t have to be only me, so what I say, we have more camps now, but I don’t believe they have a camp like this. We focus in percussion instruments. The rest of the camps is a little bit of something. So I hope somebody else, comes on, we have more talent and they can do it too, I hope.”
An annual summer camp organized by Doctor Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, a tenured professor in the United States, concludes on Friday. The past few days have seen children from across Lake Independence attend educational and recreational sessions at Swift Hall and Saint Martin de Porres School where they are learning very important life skills, including financial literacy. As part of this year’s program, the Belize Bank Limited joined forces with the program and spent the day with the young participants teaching them about financial responsibility. News Five’s Isani Cayetano stopped by and filed the following report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Summer camps are melting pots of diversity. Children interact with peers from various backgrounds, cultures and communities. The exposure they receive helps them to develop essential social skills like communication, empathy and teamwork. They also learn the value of friendship, sharing and resolving conflicts amicably. Here at Summer Bond, a camp that has been established in the St. Martin’s area, kids are building positive relationships.
Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty
Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Organizer, Summer Bond
“We know that through social bonding, attachment, commitment, involvement and belief helps students to succeed. [It] helps all of us to succeed, no matter age, money, exposure. Once you take away all of those, the number one factor is bonding… and those four things, somebody being attached to social activities, engage in pro social activities, believing in the value of what they are working towards, and committed, being a member of something.”
Summer camps are transformative experiences that equip children with essential life skills, values, and lasting memories. Among them is financial literacy, the ability to understand and effectively use various skills, including personal financial management, budgeting and investing.
Denise Godfrey
Denise Godfrey, Marketing Manager, Belize Bank Ltd.
“In our arts and craft session, we are teaching them about financial inclusion, the importance of money and then they get to draw what money means to them or what they would do should they come across or when they start working what they are going to do with their earnings, whether it’s building a house, furthering their education, they get to draw that out on paper.”
The annual recreation offers a wide range of activities. Children can explore new hobbies, discover hidden talents, and honing existing skills. These experiences teach perseverance and dedication. Nine- year-old Elon Gordon attends Ladyville Evangelical School, he is a participant at this year’s camp.
Elon Gordon
Elon Gordon, Participant
“I thought it was gonna be fun and I am gonna make lots of new friends and lots of new people and I was kind of waiting for school to open back.”
Isani Cayetano
“What have you learned so far?”
Elon Gordon
“Lots of things, some more about sports, service, gratitude and education.”
Isani Cayetano
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Elon Gordon
“I want to own my own business.”
With rising childhood obesity, physical activity is crucial. Summer camps provide ample opportunities for active play, sports, and adventure activities. This not only improves physical health, but also promotes mental well-being.
Michelle Murray-Gordon
Michelle Murray-Gordon, Teacher, St. Martin de Porres
“I love this camp particularly because it caters to four aspects of the children’s development. They focus on art, education, service and gratitude and sports. My area where I assist is with service and gratitude, so the kids rotate for an hour in each session for the day, every day. And then we help to develop their skills and knowledge within the area. We try to do hands-on stuff, like yesterday they wrote to thank you notes to persons who are important to them, as well as help clean the perimeters of the compound and read to their peers. So they are very eager and receptive to the skills and that has pleased us greatly.”
So consider giving your child the gift of growth, discovery, and joy that only a summer camp can provide. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
Earlier today, the Government of Belize and the International Labor Organization signed an agreement with the umbrella union, as well as the business community regarding decent work. Decent work is described as employment that respects the fundamental rights of the human person, as well as the rights of workers in terms of conditions of work safety and payment. This is applied to both the formal and informal sectors. The Briceño administration, under its Plan Belize agenda, is invested in Belize’s sustainable economic growth.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“It is a comprehensive and practical plan aimed at addressing the multifaceted challenges in our labor market, building the skills of Belizean workers and ensuring that every Belizean can attain decent and productive employment. In our Plan Belize manifesto, we committed to building sustainable economic growth. This means delivering decent work for all. Our administration understands that, again, decent work is a fundamental human right and a driver of sustainable development and we are dedicated to creating opportunities for work that are productive to deliver a fair income, ensure workplace security, provide social protection for families and offer better outcomes for social integration. Our gold, then, is to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender, age or background can work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.”
Dr. Joni Musabayana
Dr. Joni Musabayana, Dir., ILO Caribbean Office
“Decent work, as has already been articulated, is a fundamental human right that lies at the heart of human progress. It encompasses opportunities for productive employment, fair wages, social protection and freedom to organize and participate in the decisions that affect the working lives of men and women. Ensuring decent work for all, we can create a more equitable society, a more inclusive society where individuals have the opportunity to fulfill their potential, contribute to the wellbeing of their families and communities.”
Present at this morning’s signing event were Labor Commissioner Rissela Dominguez-Pott and C.E.O. Kim Aikman of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Rissela Dominguez-Patt
Rissela Dominguez-Patt, Labor Commissioner
“In 2015, the International Labor Organization launched the decent work agenda to help achieve goal eight of the new 2030 agenda for sustainable development, aiming to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. The Belize Decent Work Country Program for 2024/2029, sets out the common commitments of the Government of Belize, workers and employers organizations, and the International Labor Organization to promote decent work. This program reaffirms the commitment of all partners to ensure that decent work is at the heart of nation’s development in Belize.”
Kim Aikman
Kim Aikman, CEO, Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry
“This moment marks a significant milestone in our continued commitment to fostering a work environment that upholds the highest standards of fairness, inclusivity and productivity. The B.C.C.I. reiterates its steadfast commitment to the tripartite process and the invaluable practice of social dialogue. Our engagement in this process is not merely a duty, but we see it as a privilege, as we recognize that we have a symbiotic relationship to be shared among the tripartite constituents: employers, workers and government.”
Tonight, a man is out on bail after freelance journalist, forty-three-year-old Joseph Budna accused him of assault during a visit to the Transport Department in Belize City. He is fifty-year-old, Martin Carcamo, a security officer employed at Novelo’s Bus Terminal. Allegations are that on Wednesday, at around three forty-five p.m., while visiting the Transport Department Office, Budna was informed that it was closed and he began preparing equipment to conduct a live report to his Facebook page. He claims that Carcamo approached him and proceeded to call him a derogatory term and threaten to hit him. Budna further reports that after completing his recording, he attempted to leave the premises, asking Carcamo why he was insulting him. It is during this interaction that Budna alleges Carcamo punched him on his shoulder, causing him to stumble backwards. Carcamo appeared unrepresented in court today, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of common assault. He was offered bail in the sum of one thousand dollars, plus one surety of the same amount which he met. He is due back in Court on September twelfth, 2024. This is Carcamo’s second criminal charge in eight days, after he was arraigned on the charge of theft on July second.
