Union Senator Glenfield Denison was also present at today’s demonstration in Belmopan. As a member of parliament, Denison says the government is pulling the wool over the eyes of the citizenry. He says that the Briceño administration was clever in how they presented the Saudi loan motion in the recitals versus the resolution. Denison placed the Briceño administration on notice, signaling incoming court actions.
Glenfield Denison
Glenfield Denison, N.T.U.C.B. Senator
“The social partners senators will be putting out a release next week. But, to look at the loan motion itself. I think the government is really pulling wool over our eyes, because they did something very clever. They put in the recitals that they would build the hospital on the UB land. They removed that wording from the resolution. They put that the hospital will be built. In Belmopan, and nobody said anything then. So, I think it is important that we acknowledge that the governance structure is broken. The legislature and the executive just are one and with the exception of the four social partners who are barely holding it together, the legislature is just done. The executive is the legislature, and it is incestuous. The important thing is that there is a third branch of government and thankfully it was recently fully staffed with a lot of technical people from out of Belize who are not tainted with the politics of Belize. I clamored against the filling of the judiciary with foreign judges. I still do, but I think a surprise will come for the executive very soon when the judges start issuing judges against the government and surprise, surprise they all security of tenure. These judges are all appointed until sixty-five. You might not be afraid for the union or so, but when the court actions start coming, I really hope the executive starts to pay attention.”
During today’s interviews with union representatives at the demonstration in Belmopan, N.T.U.C.B. President Luke Martinez sought to put the Belmopan land acquisition into perspective. In this light, he pointed back to the U.D.P. administration that was heading the municipality when the fifteen acres were sold to the Asian couple back in 2018.
Luke Martinez
Luke Martinez, President, N.T.U.C.B.
“The man weh sell out Belmopan, that man cant even come out of his hole that he went to build, can’t even come out. Listen, talk about vex, vex with dah bally deh. Dah bally deh give weh fih we.Which bally dah, he nuh weh ih deh the hide in a hole, he and John Saldivar, every single piece of green space, sell out everything f**king thing for free.”
Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“But the People’s United Party did not get elected to continue in the way of past transgressions. That is not what the P.U.P. got elected for. We cannot justify current transgressions by bringing up past transgressions. The people of this country voted out the U.D.P. for all of these crimes that you are now brining up and they will vote out this government if they don’t correct these actions. So, the people are not out here for now U.D.P. or P.U.P. The people are out here for what is right for the Belizean people. And, this is absolutely wrong.”
Dean Flowers, President of the Public Service Union, shared similar thoughts as he reflected on the sale of the hilltop property back in 2018 that the union once owned. This is the same year when this fifteen-acre property was sold to these Asian nationals. It’s also the same year that a portion of what had been designated as Las Flores Primary School property was sold to private investors. Flowers contends that it all points back to some very questionable transactions within a short time span.
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U.
“In 2018 we were confronted with that hilltop situation with an Asian businessman form Corozal. We know the minister of land was also from Corozal. The las flores primary school, the children were deprived of their land, that was in 2018, again under the same group, the Belmopan City Council, RECONDEV, Ministry of Lands. We are here today, another Asian from Corozal. So, it would appear that between 2017 and 19 there was some very corrupt selling of land in Belmopan. Now, fast forward to today. It shows there is absolutely no difference between the quality of the type of people we are putting into office. This is a spinoff effect of what happened there. I always challenge this administration. You came into government on a platform of good governance. But nothing you are currently executing and doing is proving that you are committed to investing in the lives of Belizeans and addressing he issue of corruption.”
Ashley Longford, the president of the National Student Union of Belize spoke frankly with the media about the lack of support for today’s demonstration from students. Longford was one of two executive members from her union out at the demonstration. But aside from them, there were no signs of representation from any tertiary level student body. She referred to the lack of support from students, especially those from the University of Belize, as a disgrace.
Ashley Longford
Ashley Longford, President, N.S.U.B.
“I am the only one out here, where are the U.B. students, where is the U.B. student government, where is the U.B. student body? Where are they? It is a disgrace that they are not out here right now. That hospital was to go on U.B. land. Look at what the government did, pay six point nine million dollars. Where is the U.B. students? Where are the youths of the country? We are the future of this country. I am twenty-four years old. They are suppose to stand up for us right now, stand up for our future man.”
Paul Lopez
“Do you think they don’t care?”
Ashley Longford
“I care. The students have to care. That hospital was to go to U.B. land. The government said to U.B. that land was to be accessible to U.B. medical students. Where are U.B. medical students. We are in Belmopan right now. The university is here. Where are the students of this country? I tried to mobilize students. I called every student government in this country, every tertiary education student government. Some said it is too short notice. You can’t tell me U.B. student government can’t come here. You can’t tell me Galen can’t come here.”
P.S.U. President Dean Flowers also had a few words for Doctor Vincent Palacio, the President of the University of Belize. Flowers says he is extremely disappointed in the president’s response to the government’s decision.
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union
“And I want to say, Doctor Vincent Palacio I am extremely disappointed with your lack of emotions on this stinking deal. Saying you are disappointed leaves a whole lot to be desired as the president of U.B. Valuing bush for six point nine million dollars, what is wrong with you brother? When the P.S.U. just help the government require two hundred and twelve acres of land for three point three million dollars. This is madness and the commissioner of lands needs to be held accountable for that foolishness. How will you subdivide the thing and buy the thing when dah just bush. And I will say this. My son broke his hand, double fracture. I went to Western Regional and all they did was wrap his hand. I had to go to Saint Lukes and pay five hundred dollars. That six point nine could have done a whole lot for Western Regional to make it the key primary hospital in the west and then we go to the tertiary center.”
Unlike the students and the president of the University of Belize, the tertiary institution’s faculty and staff union has taken a clear stance on the government’s decision to reject the university’s land offer. The union issued a release on Thursday night expressing its discontent with the six point nine million dollars, fifteen-acre purchase. U.B.F.S.U. says it firmly believes that the land currently owned by the University of Belize, as initially proposed, would successfully meet all required environmental assessments and receive approval from qualified, objective building engineers. Today we spoke with Doctor Pio Saqui the President of the union who urged the board to call on the government to reconsider their position.
Dr. Pio Saqui
Dr. Pio Saqui, President, U.B.F.S.U.
“I think the reaction of the union is exactly the same as every national of Belize should have. The motion that was passed in the House of Representatives and Senate clearly indicates that this hospital was to be built on the U.B. property. Any change or deviation to that decision should have gone through some type of rigorous process and a transparent one that we should see. U.B. has very good land and if there is any kind of evaluation or assessment done that says this property is not good enough, we should have been able to see that to determine that. For the union this is a sad day because we do believe in transparency, accountability and good governance. This speaks to the heart of that. This is not just a U.B. employee, U.B. student issue, this is a national issue. U.B. faculty and staff union, as well as the students, need to be a part of the discourse. We have not been approached or communicated with in any official way.”
Paul Lopez
“Does the union have a position on the university’s president’s response to this entire situation?”
Dr. Pio Saqui
“I can’t speak for the president. I have not communicated with him personally on the issue. I have only seen the response of the chairman of the board. But we have spoken and one of the things that we have really said is that the board of trustees did not have a say in deciding when this hospital was going to be moved and where it was going to be moved. There was some discussion and objection particularly from the faculty and staff union voting against the move. But we are just one vote on the board.”
Normally, whenever we hear of signing of an economic Memorandum of Understanding, it’s to benefit women. Today, however, the governments of Belize and Taiwan extended a project to include men. Taiwan, which has been funding social programs to uplift the lives and livelihoods of Belize’s women, has now agreed to do the same for Belize’s men. The initiative came about through the efforts of Belize’s Special Envoy for Women and Children, Rossana Briceño, who sought the assistance of the Taiwanese Embassy and got the green light. At a special signing ceremony, representatives of both countries attached their signatures to documents, making the agreement official. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Men and boys who sign up for an empowerment project stand to gain endless economic opportunities through partnership between Belize and Taiwan. It aims to improve stressful domestic situations by offering men and boys economic opportunities. Special Envoy for Women and Children, Rossana Briceno sought the funding.
Rossana Briceño
Rossana Briceño, Special Envoy for Women & Children
“We had young people there trying to figure out and, and in consultation with our communities to see what’s the best approach for police to end poverty, to end abuse, to end gender-based violence to have more equality in our communities, in our homes. And this engaging men and boy rightly with its title, we were focusing on the men and trying to change mindsets, trying to reach out to boys, getting them at an early age to start working on their attitudes and beliefs and all of that, because if we – whatever we grow up with, whatever we get in the house, that’s what we’re going to give back. So that’s our goal.”
Taiwan came through once again, through its ambassador to Belize.
Lily Li-Wen Hsu
Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Belize
“When I look at the proposal, I just been struck to see that how serious the violence against women, the issue in Belize. It is – this is surely affecting women, not physically, but mentally and their own development and any opportunity. So the training like this targeting our future leaders. The men and boys, young men and boys, is a very strategic way to tackle this issue from bottom up or in the long run in a fundamental way. And I think our Women’s Empowerment Project As previous speakers mentioned, mainly we want to build up women’s capacity and if they earn money or they want to get out to learn new skills without a safe family net back home or a safe environment back home, there’s no point to do that. Or they don’t feel comfortable enough to work outside of their family.”
The existing Women Empowerment Project has had notable success throughout Belize for at least seven hundred women. The C.E.O. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amalia Mai says that extending it to men is expected to do far more than create economic opportunities.
Amalia Mai
Amalia Mai, C.E.O., Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“I think this new component of the project will assist 600 young men. And I very much applaud the Special Embassy for going farther outside the box of only women. Because really and truly, while we have our own struggles and we have our own challenges, certainly we don’t live alone. And so including the men, the young men, is very important. It takes them away from crime. It gives them a more productive life. And really at the end of the day, what do we want? Strong families.”
Today, an American national is enjoying his vacation in Belize with lighter pockets after being busted for entering the country with marijuana. He is forty-nine-year-old Roderick Boone, who was caught with twenty-two grams of Class B cannabis on Thursday. Reports are that Boone arrived at the Phillip Goldson International Airport on a flight from North Carolina when a customs officer allegedly smelled a strong odor from Boone’s person. The officer asked him if he had anything to declare, and Boone allegedly admitted to having weed on his person for medical uses, which he handed over to the officer. Upon weighing the contents of the bag, it was discovered to be above the legal limit. Boone was charged with importation of a controlled drug. He appeared unrepresented in court today and while he pleaded guilty to the crime, he maintained that he was sure the contents of the bag were only about thirteen grams and attributed the rest of the weight to the bag itself. Boone was told that the charge typically carries a fine of three thousand dollars or a three-year prison sentence. However, due to his early guilty, plea, he was given a one third deduction of the fine. Boone has until next week Wednesday to pay the fine.
Belize City resident, Timothy Elijio pleaded guilty today to possession of over a hundred grams of marijuana with intent to supply. He was fined five thousand dollars and was spared from a stiffer fine, plus three years in prison since he is a first-time offender. Police had also detained Elijio’s common-law wife, but Elijio confessed that the weed was his. Initially he didn’t agree with everything that was read as part of the facts of the case and said the weed belonged to his common-law wife. He was offered bail and taken into the holding cell. Sometime later, however, he decided to change his plea to guilty and was taken back to the courtroom where he pleaded guilty. The forty-three-year-old was ordered to pay the fine by December 31, 2024, or he will spend a year in prison. On Wednesday, police visited Elijio’s house with a body cam and began to search the place. They found some jackets hanging and inside their pockets police found the weed.
In just a few short days, Belizeans all over the country will tune in for the finale of KTV the Remix Season Six. With just three contestants remaining, the competition is more tense than ever, as fans have until Sunday to cast their vote for the winner. On Thursday, we brought you the story of finalist Elijah Noralez and how he is preparing for next week’s big show. Tonight, we feature two other finalists who are eagerly awaiting that day. We travelled all the way to San Pedro to speak with contestant Flor Augustin. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with that story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Flor Augustin’s love for music began, like most things in her life, with her mom. She was just eleven years old when she began singing at church. And since that moment, she has never stopped.
Flor Augustin
Flor Augustin, KTV the Remix Finalist
“My mom was actually the one that gave me that little push. She asked me to, you know what, canta conmigo. She was Spanish, so sing with me, sing this beautiful hymn with me. So I was like, okay, why not? Which I was really scared ’cause it was in front about 40, 40 persons I think in church. But, we did a precious him. And that’s where it all started from there to school, to high school, and now to KTV.”
Marion Ali
“And that’s where you said you discovered the talent?”
Flor Augustin
“Yes. That’s where I said, you know what, my mom, actually my mom and she had always believed. Believed a lot in God. Me too. She said, you know what? I think. You’re given a gift and you should use it. And it hits me a lot lately cause I think I should use it.”
Making it to KTV the Remix has been on Flor’s bucket list since she first watched the show back in high school and, as she explains, this year was her year to take the stage.
Flor Augustin
“It’s like a goal that I had to try out. Which I did last year. With my online audition because I was busy at work, so I couldn’t attend the live ones So I sent my online audition, but unfortunately, I didn’t make it but that didn’t stop me I was like no next year I’m going to the live ones and I will tell them I came back just to prove you guys that you know I think I got the voice and I deserve a shot.”
Flor spends most of her days working as a restaurant supervisor at Margaritaville Resort in San Pedro. She is here, all the way from Independence Village in Stann Creek, where she visits her five-year-old son Juliyan whenever she can. All that travelling is arguably Flor’s greatest challenge. Her support team has been there every step of the way. As a friend, Luis Diaz describes what it’s like being her fan and critic.
Luis Diaz
Luis Diaz, Flor’s Friend
“I’m not the only one that comes together and listens to her when it comes to her singing her rehearsal We have other servers and bartenders that also join in and listen to her and then everyone we sit around the bar She sings at the other side and at the end of her music everyone just tell her like we are the judges to her and then we let her know what we think about this where she can do better where and then we debate among each other. So that’s the process for most of the weeks.”
If Flor were to win KTV the Remix Season Six, the money, she says, would go towards building her home in Independence. The love and support she’s received has been overwhelming so she sends a message to all her supporters that the road through life may be difficult, but it is worth the journey.
Flor Augustin
“It’s tough. We will meet our challenges and a lot of people will leave us. A lot. And it’s gonna be hard, but we just have to have faith in God and never give up. Because we have other people that, you know that love us and that they don’t, they wouldn’t want to see us giving up or crying all the time or feeling sad. They want to, they want the best in us too. So for those other special holding on to life and be grateful for every single person you have around you.”
