Attorney Says Claim Against Him is Driven by Greed
News Five contacted attorney Orson Elrington for a response to the claim being brought against him. While Elrington told us that the matter is before the court, he did mention that the matter was initially taken on as a pro bono case which he believed was a landmark case for gender equality. He explains what created the disagreement with his former client.
On the phone: Orson “OJ” Elrington, Attorney-at-law
“We effectively did the matter almost on a pro bono basis, on a contingent basis because the person said they essentially had no money to bring this claim. But I often tell people that I went to law school not to gain any money but because I want to do what is just and what is right for people. So what it is essentially is that we brought a claim on behalf of Dozieh [Ifeanyichineke] based on the fact that a provision in the Social Security Act discriminated against men. Effectively, a provision in the Social Security Act treated men differently than it treated women. It had a higher threshold where there were persons where their wife would have died, were treated differently than a woman if their husband had died. And so, we thought that the matter had very good merit and therefore we took the matter to the court on behalf of Dozieh. However, when the date that the matter was supposed to go before the court, Dozieh contacted us and effectively said that how he no longer wants to accept what he had already accepted because he discussed with his family. That is the crux of it. We informed Mr. Dozieh that that is simply not something that we can do. We informed him that the matter was completed, that we had entered into a consent agreement based on his instructions and, therefore, we could not simply just go back and say we no longer want to accept what he had already accepted. And so, that is where the issue lies. We thereafter told him that he could provide us with his banking information and he subsequently said that he wanted not only the sums which the Social Security had settled on, but he also wanted for us to surrender what would have been our agreed portion and so for me it seems and I believe it is nothing more than greed.”
On February second, the Belize City Council issued a letter to the Christian Workers Union informing them of the implementation of a Consensual Workplace Agreement. The Belize City Council claims that it was created to avoid discrimination, exploitation, favoritism, and harassment. The document is to be signed by both parties involved in the relationship, as well as a witness, and it states that, “while a social relationship continues between them, neither of them will request, apply for, seek in any way, or accept a direct supervisor or reporting relationship with the other”. Here’s what president of the CWU, Leonora Flowers, had to say on the matter.
Leonora Flowers
Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Worker’s Union
“The feedback from the union has to be that our members were never consulted on that. It was never brought to CWU. All we got was the document that said, this is a consensual relationship agreement. At first glance, and I’m no lawyer, but at first glance for the common man, the reasonable man will look at that and say, we cannot go ahead, I cannot sign on to this. So we’ve indicated to our members, give us your feedback, did you have any input, and there has been no input from our members to the council. So we’re at a loss as to why or where that originated from. But, CWU will not have any of our members signing on to such an agreement.”
Reporter
“So you expect that, having sent that letter to the union, at some meeting, it’s going to be raised by the council?”
Leonora Flowers
“We don’t know what to expect. To me, it should be a dead issue because that, that is something illegal to me. You cannot go ahead asking people to sign away their rights when a CBA exists. The most the council can do is to create a policy to say we will not allow fraternizing, and if fraternizing has happened, these are the pitfalls and this is what the council will do. But you cannot say you can sign on to a consensual relationship agreement between persons working under this establishment. We cannot bring like that.”
Reporter
“When you say sign away their rights, you are talking about privacy rights, for one.”
Leonora Flowers
“Privacy rights, and you may be in a relationship, so you’re going to make it, put it in an agreement for the council to, to do what? You cannot have people sign away that kind of rights.”
On March sixth, the electorate will go to the polls to vote for a municipalgovernment in their respective city or town. Until then, the political parties are visiting with voters in their area and presenting their platforms on which they seek office. The U.D.P. team consists of mayoral candidate, Hubert Lucas and councillor candidates: Frank Caliz, Adlene Estero, Cindy Fajardo, Anthony Garbutt, Stephen Laurie, and Dwayne Sampson. The P.U.P. team consists of Mayor Robert Mariano and councillor candidates Martha Robinson, Gilroy Flores, Liberato Teul, Howard Flores, Howard Melendrez, and Hilberto Bernardez. In tonight’s episode of Meet the Candidates, we speak with the mayoral candidates and their teams from both major political parties.
“My name is Hubert Alexander Lucas. I’m the UDP male candidate for Dangriga.”
Marion Ali
“Yes, Sir. What are the issues that you are campaigning on?”
Hubert Lucas
“Some of the issues that we are campaigning on are proper drainage in Dangriga, proper streets, employment and more activities for the youths. I will go and solicit funds from Central Government and from other countries. I will become a partner with sister cities around the world so that Dangriga can be the envy of the nation.”
Robert Mariano
Robert Mariano, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Dangriga
“The main accomplishment has to do with the amount of roads that we have paved. We have paved at least 18 streets around Dangriga during this short period of time. We have also opened 15 new roads around Dangriga, especially in the Rivas Estate, New Site and Wagierale area. Those were important to the people of Dangriga because the past administration had given out lots in those areas but the people didn’t have access to their own properties. So what we did was to open the lot so that they have access. We have dealt with the playgrounds.”
“I run up as a third party [candidate] with the Belize People Front.”
Marion Ali
“Why have you joined the UDP in this round?”
Dwayne Sampson
“I decided to join the UDP in this round because when I look at the UDP visionand mission it shared the same sentiment as the philosophy that I carry for the people? We work for the people and that is why I decided that I will join the UDP.”
“I have years of leadership working with youth groups. I’m working with women’s groups. I work with the diaspora. I’m a past president for National Garifuna Council, Dangriga Branch.”
Marion Ali
And what would you like to see get done if you’re elected term?
Martha Robinson
“I need to work a little bit more when it comes to empowering women, women’s groups as well. I will work with them and make sure that they have more opportunities when it comes to entrepreneurship and so that’s why I’m looking at that.”
The campaign efforts were as vibrant in Dangriga on Sunday as they probably are in all other cities and towns, with the municipal teams for the various political parties making their rounds. In the blue corner are the incumbents, Mayor Robert Mariano and his team and in the red corner are the hopefuls, led my Hubert Lucas. Mariano feels that, as mayor, he has done enough in his first term to be re-elected. The U.D.P.’s Hubert Lucas says that Dangriga needs and deserves much more and he is willing to seek help from the central Government and international donors in order to deliver. In the middle are the voters, who have also listed what they want to see happen within the next three years. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Dangriga Mayor, Robert Mariano is seeking re-election for another term. He believes that while there is much more that needs to be done in Dangriga, he and his team have delivered on quite a few accomplishments to seek another term at town hall.
Robert Mariano
Robert Mariano, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Dangriga
“We have paved at least 18 streets around Dangriga during this short period of time. We have also opened 15 new roads around Dangriga, especially in the Rivas Estate area, New Site and Wagierale area. We have assisted with tuition in relation to schooling for some students. We had a center where we had people who have jobs can call what we refer to as the employment center, and we also have people who are looking for employment who can come, they apply at the Dangriga Town Council and then whenever people say that they need somebody to be employed, then we would call them and tell them and they can go to a certain area and you can get a job.”
The incumbent mayor is banking on his successes; however, his political opponent says that he and his team have been listening to the people. Hubert Lucas shared that plan should the UDP team be voted in.
Hubert Lucas
Hubert Lucas, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Dangriga
“The first a hundred days we will look at drainage because when it rains in Dangriga, the kids cannot go to school or the parents got to carry the kids on their back. We going to create an employment center at the Town Council so that people who don’t have a job can get jobs. Say you have an opportunity for somebody to come and work at your house, we’re going to create a center where they can come to the office – where you can call the office and we can call someone that qualifies for the position that you have.”
While both mayoral candidates have their own ideas of what Dangriga needs, a few of the voters shared with us what issues are affecting them in Dangriga.
Daytha Rodriguez
Daytha Rodriguez, Dangriga Voter
“My son da friend with the youths them and they come the full up my yard. So I try help them fi mek they would ah do wa lee – I mek drums, so I would ah use them fi mek they like bark the log, help me – give them jobs, yes, give them jobs.”
Zane McLaughlin
Zane McLaughlin, Dangriga Voter
“The main thing da the road how the road deh soh look, because it kinda rough, and the dust and the thing deh always di affect when wi wash and deh thing deh soh a lot of dust will raise up, and lotta hole. And then the next thing, the drain, because when it rain, all the water run off of the road and we get flood out. One or two times they come and they fix it up, but ih need like more maintenance, the drain and the thing deh.”
Rachel Ramirez
Rachel Ramirez, Dangriga Voter
“Sometimes for a whole month we don’t have garbage collection and then the dog come along and the, even the horses now, they lift up the barrel top and they just take all the garbage. My kids with the drain again, the drain. They can’t go to school, sometime they go to school, in the water. I have to make me one bridge, make the cross. And that’s not right.”
Mayor Mariano says that if he is re-elected, he wants to buy more heavy-duty equipment for sanitation and infrastructural work. He wants to introduce a low-income housing program collaboration from the DFC. He wants to improve the drainage system and partner with private businesses to open a jetty pier to cater to small cruise tourism from Honduras to Dangriga. Meanwhile, Hubert Lucas said that a municipal government under his stewardship will lobby locally and internationally for funds to carry out the necessary infrastructural projects. He said he will reach out to the Central Government through the Dangriga Area Representative for whatever assistance they need. And while he was campaigning, Area Representative, Dr Louis Zabaneh stopped by to greet Lucas. We took that opportunity to ask Zabaneh about his willingness to work with either team that is elected.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Area Representative, Dangriga
“My doors have always been open and will continue to be open, and I look forward to the visit of our friend to come in and discuss whatever it is we need to discuss. It’s all about the people at the end of the day.They are the ones who decide who they want to serve them. And whoever gets in there needs to come with a level of humility and a level of service. And I think that’s characteristic of Dangriga, of the people of Dangriga. We work together and we try to do the best that we can. I have to, work with whoever is there, absolutely. That goes without saying.”
Come March sixth, the people will decide. Marion Ali for News Five.
Earlier this week, we told you that Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams brought charges against his own brother, Arthur Williams, under the Cybercrime Act. Arthur Williams was charged with two counts of using a computer system to disseminate false information with the intent to cause another person to be subjected to public ridicule or embarrassment and one count of using a computer system to intimidate a person. Arthur Williams was fined ten thousand dollars for the offense. Today, reporters caught up with ComPol Williams and asked him about his decision.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“During my mother’s ailing time before she passed, my brother went to social media and referred to my mother with the W and B word. No man should refer to a woman, especially his mother, using the W or B word. I took offense to it and went after him and told him he ought not to refer to our mother in such a way. Because I did that, I became the bad one. He and I had always had a very good relationship. Every time he reached out to me for help I always helped him, but since that particular incident he turned against me and almost every day he was on social media posting negative comments about me trying to belittle me in every way possible. I reached out to our older brother to reach out to him to discontinue. My older brother spoke to him and he did not stop. I reached out to our uncle to speak to him and he did not stop. I reached out to the Ombudsman, because he is a driver for the Ombudsman, and sent him the screen shot of what he posted on social media and asked the Ombudsman to please speak to him to discontinue because he is out there doing what he can to have the public see me in a light I am not. The Ombudsman spoke to him and he still continued. I guess as a person there is nothing much you can do with all efforts made to have him stop doing what he was doing, he did not. So I am hoping now with the matter before the court, the court will be able to get him to discontinue. It is sad that it reached to this. He is my brother. I don’t dislike him. I love him. We share the same mother and father and I wish that he would have taken my advice in the light which I had given him when he referred to my mother with the W and B words.”
The Belize Police Department and the Human Trafficking Institute has solidified their efforts in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling. On Thursday, the department and the institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Through the partnership, the Human Trafficking Institute will provided needed support to the Belize Police Department to decimate human trafficking in Belize. ComPol Williams told us more.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Yesterday we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Human Trafficking Institute. That MOU has to do with enhancing the capabilities of the Anti-Trafficking Unit in Belize. When we talk about enhancing the capacity we are looking at training as well as other resources we need to be able to carry out our duties properly. You would know that human trafficking is a crime against humanity so as democratic nations we must do our best to ensure we rid ourselves of the scourge. That is why we are partnering with the Human Trafficking Institute to see how they can enhance our capabilities to be able to discharge that very important function. We also discussed expanding the Unit. About two years ago I expanded the unit with additional personnel and I am expanding it again whenever the next recruit squad graduates we are putting an additional three officers there. With that we are also ensuring we have the capabilities to address human smuggling.”
On Thursday night, police captured a suspected murderer that has been on the run since October twenty-fourth, 2023. Twenty-two-year-old Lewis Blake was wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of Joel Andrews and Martin Sho in Hattieville. Well, after months in hiding, it appears that Lewis was spotted in the village and an off-duty officer pursued him. Commissioner Williams gave us more details.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“You would know that for some time now we have been looking for Blake Lewis, and again Blake Lewis is wanted in respect of two incidents. The double murder that took place in the back of Hatieville and a recent shooting where a person was shot and survived. Since then he has been eluding the police. We try to work as best as we can to do Ops and surveillance and these kinds of things to capture him but he has always been able to stay one step ahead of the police. Last night the Gi3 committed themselves to conduct investigation and go into the area and do certain work and the work that last night they were able to flush out Blake Lewis. He was spotted by the team riding a motorcycle and he practically rode into the police vehicle and fell off the motorcycle. He ran and the police pursued him he escaped. A couple minutes later he was encountered by a police officer from Hatieville CIB. He fired two shots at the police and the police returned fire and he dropped his weapon and ran. He was able to escape. We found the weapon he had, it was picked up and proceed and sent to the lab. Today the GI3 and CIB went back into the area, determined to locate him and we knew that he was injured following the fall. They were able to locate him across the river so he is now in custody. “
Joseph Budna is once again making the news, and, as has been the case in the past, it is not for good reasons. He is wanted by police in connection with a cybercrime allegation. Reports are that Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes filed a police report against Budna for cyber bullying. ComPol Williams says a warrant is out for Budna’s arrest.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The Cybercrime Unit in Belmopan has been extremely busy. People are becoming more familiar with the law and are making these reports as they occur. The unit is tasked with making sure they do follow up on these reports as they occur. The unit is tasked with making sure they do follow up. Yes I am aware that Minister Cervantes has filed a report against Joseph Budna in respect to cyber bullying. Police is again looking for Budna to follow through with that report to see if there is anything there he can be charged for.”
The explosion of firecrackers and the clashing of cymbals down the streets of Belize usually indicate the celebration of Chinese New Year for the Asian community in Belize. A time when members come together, to dance, eat and make some noise. This year, however, the Chinese Belize Association has opted for a more subtle celebration. We caught up with honorary CBA Chairman, Edmund Kwan to hear how the festivities are going this year.
Edmund Kwan
Edmund Kwan, Honorary Chairman, CBA
“Year is the lunar New Year, lunar new moon of every year. It usually falls in January or February.”
Britney Gordon
“What’s the theme for this year’s Lunar New Year, what’s the animal that represents it?”
Edmund Kwan
“This coming year is the year of the Dragon. Basically it’s a zodiac sign, something like horoscope. The entire year is drag is dragon. So if you’re born this in 2024 you’re born in the year of the dragon.”
Britney Gordon
“What kind of activities and festivities does the association usually have during this time of year?”
Edmund Kwan
“We usually have the banquet and the lion dance parade. However I think the association have some private personal matters. We’re not doing it this year.”
Britney Gordon
“So instead, you mentioned that everyone will be celebrating privately within their homes. What kinds of activities does that entail, having a celebration within your house?”
Edmund Kwan
“Tonight is New Year’s Eve. Traditionally, we on New Year’s Eve, we sit down at home and everybody have dinner. They call it basically like a full table. We’re all you know, brothers, sister, usually sit down and have a dinner together. Something like Christmas Eve, and then the New Year’s, then there’s an opening year dinner. That is usually the New Year’s banquet that we have, but, people will make more than likely celebrate it at home with their family and stuff like that, but everybody choose a different date.”
Britney Gordon
“So I know it can be a bit disappointing that we’re not going to have the parade this year. Are you looking forward to next year? Maybe we’ll try and bring that back?”
Edmund Quan
“Definitely. Definitely. Definitely. It’s just some personal issues and some things like, the chairman, have some problems and so we don’t, we’re not, we’re skipping this year. We’re skipping it. We’re not, it’s not forgotten.”
February tenth marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year celebrations for 2024. Every year, around this time, families come together to cultivate luck and good fortune for the New Year. This is an especially significant time of year for members of the Taiwanese community in Belize, who use this opportunity to commune and take part in their traditions together. We visited the embassy of Taiwan to hear how they are celebrating this year.
Jimmy Tseng
Jimmy Tseng, Secretary, Embassy of Taiwan
“Chinese New Year is also known as the Lunar New Year because it’s not just celebrated by the Chinese, it’s also celebrated by a lot of Asian countries. For example, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines; in these countries, because they all use used to use the lunar calendar, which is why that lunar New Year is also their national Holidays. So in these Asian countries, obviously including Taiwan , we all celebrated the Lunar New Year. So Lunar New Year is the inner ancient agricultural society is the only long vacation that people have that they can gather around with their families and hang out with their friends. Normally it lasts like one to two weeks, so people can have a proper rest and start fresh for New Year.”
Britney Gordon
“What are some of the traditions celebrated on this holiday?”
Jimmy Tseng
“So in this Lunar New Year holiday, in our tradition, that red is the auspicious color. So we use red to decorate our house, and we use the spring couplets to put it on the front door of our houses, and then to show people this is an auspicious place and also, that because today is the New Year’s Eve, and so the members of the family, they will go back to their parents house and then they unite for a out reunion dinner.”
Britney Gordon
“Being that so many of you are far away from your family members, what’s the significance of celebrating it here in Belize together?”
Jimmy Tseng
“It is really important that you can see that Belize is a multi ethnicity, multicultural society. We have the Creole, we have the Mayans, Latin people, Garifuna, and obviously the Asian community. So it is all these people that we live together in harmony, and then we have a diverse cultural and but it is also really important that we go back to our cultural roots and to keep our traditional cultural and this is, I believe, what makes Belize really special and very vibrant society.”
