There is a protest planned for Friday morning in Belmopan where activist Nigel Petillo, the membership of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow will demonstrate in the wake of government’s recent purchase of a fifteen-acre parcel of land. That property, acquired by the Ministry of Natural Resources at a significant markup, will be the site of the University Hospital. The acquisition of the undeveloped acreage from businessman Kenny Zheng has proven to be controversial, since he bought the property in question from RECONDEV for a little under six hundred thousand dollars in 2018. When Zheng sold it back to the government, the profit margin was eleven and a half times the actual purchase price. On August nineteenth, N.T.U.C.B. President Luke Martinez wrote to U.B. Chairman Godfrey Smith, in respect of the proposed University Hospital. Earlier today, Senior Counsel Smith responded to Martinez’s letter, explaining that the final decision to relocate the proposed site of the University Hospital rested with the Government of Belize via the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Notwithstanding its disappointment with the government’s decision, Smith said that the board was willing to accommodate the proposed medical facility should the ministry change its mind. Elsewhere in his response, the U.B. Chairman made the point, quote, I believe that the board should reiterate its commitment to have the University Hospital built on U.B. land and seriously consider your proposal of asking the government to gift the purchased land to U.B., should the government maintain its decision to build the University Hospital on the purchased land, end quote. That issue will be discussed at an upcoming meeting of the Board of Trustees on September eleventh.
Tag: 2024-08-22
N.T.U.C.B. President Berates Briceño Government
The President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, former Senator Luke Martinez, has been vocal about the N.T.U.C.B.’s position on the outrageous sale of private property to government for the building of the University Hospital. In criticizing the Briceño administration for the questionable land purchase, Martinez also expressed displeasure with the Minister of Health and Wellness.
On the phone: Luke Martinez, President, N.T.U.C.B.
“Di government di bullsh*t the people and the government needs to do what was agreed upon in the Senate which is to build the hospital on UB land, done. No negotiation, dehn noh need fi knock up dehn head bout goh pay this one or goh pay da one or goh look fi cheaper land or whatever. Dehn get free land from UB, can’t get better than that. That da weh di government need fi do. Dehn need fi stop bullsh*t the people. My message to the Minister of Health is that I am extremely disappointed in the Minister of Health because he appeared to have been a promising politician. Everybody loved him when he was the mayor of Orange Walk and now for him to be participating in what appears to be some very funny transactions is very disappointing and I am disappointed in him.”
N.T.U.C.B. Calls on All Unions to Join Land Protest
Going back to the peaceful demonstration that will be held in front of the Prime Minister’s Office in Belmopan, the N.T.U.C.B. has issued a release calling on all unions, including the Communications Workers Union, the Belize National Teachers Union, Progressive Teachers Union, as well as the Water Services Workers Union, to join the protest. A release from the N.T.U.C.B. states, quote, this peaceful demonstration is a call for all workers and citizens to act now, to stand up against corruption and demand accountability from our leaders. We will be joining forces with Nigel Petillo and various civil society organizations to advocate for a better future for Belize, one free from corruption, misfeasance and kleptocracy, end quote.
Nigel Petillo, “Unu Lef My Ma Lone”
One day ahead of a demonstration organized by community activist Nigel Petillo, a campaign has been launched to smear his name. News Five has obtained land transaction documents leaked from within the Ministry of Natural Resources that led us to seek an interview with him for clarification. The documents reveal that Naomi Petillo, the mother of Nigel Petillo, recently sold point six acres of land on Forest Drive to Ceiba Grove L.L.P. for four hundred thousand dollars. One document reveals that the land was initially purchased for just over seventy-eight thousand dollars, while another shows that Miss Petillo acquired the land title in 2022. The argument is that while Petillo is making an issue over the government’s seven-million-dollar purchase, point six acres was sold for four hundred thousand dollars in Belmopan. Now clearly, this is a private transaction between two private entities. Furthermore, when we spoke with Petillo, he told us that they had been living on the property for almost four decades. He urged those behind the smear campaign to leave his mother alone.
Nigel Petillo, Community Activist
“The other day my ma gone dah Quality Poultry and she buy some chicken, beef, cheese and I nuh know how deh never gone study that transaction. Honestly to tell you the truth, I cant speak on my mother’s transaction. My name is no way on that transaction. I know we have lived on that land for at least forty years. My mom had a restaurant built on that land. She has a bar built on that land as well. She had a huge house at the back built. She even had some apartments on that land. She had some serious investments on that land. I know she and my dad developed that land for some time. After they divorced my mom went ahead and continued developing the place, but I don’t know how much she bought that for, how much she bought that for. I don’t know why we the discuss my mom affairs. What does Naomi Petillo transaction has to do with anything. Why we the talk about that? I want know, if my mom could sue someone for this. I don’t think it is fair, a sixty-five-year-old citizen going through an issue like this. Unu wah give my mom heart attack. She wah feel like she did something wrong. By the way, this dah nuh government, tax payers transaction any at all. This has nothing to do with government money or nobody else money. Are we going to talk about everybody else transaction now? Should we start digging up all those individuals around here who own five thousand acres up north, who own so much in San Pedro and Placencia. Should we start digging up all those transactions? Bway, unu lef mih mah lone.”
Paul Lopez
“I think what is being questioned is the land value in Belmopan, the fact point six acres can be sold for more four hundred thousand dollars. Yet, you take issue…”
Nigel Petillo
“This is point six acres of developed land. I just list the amount of buildings on that land. She has been paying tax for that land for umpteen amount of years. We grow up on that land. We start off on a bus. When we get it we plant cassava, plantain, pineapple, we get an old bus from Mr. Shaw and we live in that bus for years and then mih mah build a lee cohune roof with stick, bush. And later ih gone dah bank again and ih put an apartment. The apartment help her build another piece. And, poor Naomi Petillo is being prosecuted? What kind of government we have that would come down on poor people like this now. This is not fair because we the speak out, because Naomi son the speak out. Bway unu leff mih mah lone you know.”
Nigel Petillo Says U.B. Chairman’s Release Welcomed
We also asked activist Nigel Petillo for his thoughts on the press release from the University of Belize’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Godfrey Smith. Petillo says that it was necessary to hear from the chairman. In the same breath, he invited U.B. students to join the demonstration scheduled for tomorrow in front of the prime minister’s office in Belmopan.
Nigel Petillo, Community Activist
“First of all, I appreciate him speaking out. A lot of people still nuh the seh nothing. A lot of people in high places to and it was very necessary for us to hear from the chairman’s perspective. So, we support what he is saying as far as we want a U.B. land, everybody want a U.B. land. That was the promise for the loan and everything. That was the attractive idea of that loan. That made it easy for any lender to lend us that type of money knowing you will build a medical hospital on a U.B. land. That is attractive. Now, it looks like the poor U.B. students can’t speak out. It looks like they are being held hostage. The poor students, but I the tell unu students, don’t wait until anybody tell you that you cant, come out. This is about you and your future and your children. Your unborn kids already have bills, while these people with these transactions done own lots of lands and cattle and buildings over this place from our taxpayers money. Dah time fih wake up you know.”
Boots to Gilroy Usher, “It’s over now, sir.”
Former Port Loyola Area Representative Anthony “Boots” Martinez is back and is gearing up for a showdown with his successor. After failing to trigger a recall of sitting area rep, Gilroy Usher Senior, the seasoned politician has decided to come out of retirement and run once again for the United Democratic Party. According to Martinez, he is back by popular demand and is ready to take out his political opponent. This afternoon, we caught up with Boots in his former stomping grounds and here’s what he has to say about his comeback.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola
“I retired in 2018 from elected politics overall, and especially as the area representative for Port Loyola. In 2020, two months before the election, Sedi Elrington stepped aside and I was asked to fill the vacuum as a party man. Ah need fi clarify that because even fi the people of Port Loyola, even dealing with the petition that was the question that was asked, “Why yoh mi leff we?” Of course, I had a long time as the longest serving area representative for Port Loyola and I worked hard. It is about service, it is about wanting to see better for the constituency. You wah tell me, my God, eena five years’ time, by his own admittance, the area representative is saying that at the rate ah weh house di gih weh and how dehn di build house, he only wahn get two and a half house fi five years. Furthermore to that, I will say that to me, as an area representative, he has neglected his duty because I think, moving across the constituency and he inherited a constituency that was properly balanced. To that end, I will say to Gilroy Usher, this is my slogan, “It’s over now, sir.” And to use Steph Curry’s symbol, “night, night.””
What’s the Latest on Boots’ Recall Petition?
Martinez’s effort at ousting Gilroy Usher from his office as Port Loyola area rep may have been frustrated by all the hurdles that he says were intentionally placed before him, but he is intent on mounting a challenge to take back his seat in the next general elections. According to Martinez, the matter of the failed recall petition is presently before the High Court where it will likely undergo a judicial review.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former Area Rep., Port Loyola
“That is going to judicial review, but also, too, what is holding that back, in my view, I think that won’t be able to materialize based pan what the law says. The law says that one year before the election, ih cyant happen and eighteen months after, so I think that to me, that will be like an exercise in futility eena my view. But furthermore to that, the main objective is that Mr. Usher’s test is coming up. And let me say this, for the record, I have beaten Mr. Usher two times in a row, and yoh sih, when yoh play softball, baseball, dehn she three strike you are out, and it will be fortunate for me to strike him out.”
Can “Boots” Help to Heal Broken U.D.P.?
The endorsement of former Area Representative “Boots” Martinez and two other U.D.P. standard bearers, amid a division within the United Democratic Party, has been met with criticism by the Alliance for Democracy, a faction within the U.D.P. But what role, if any, will he play in the reconciliation process that is so desperately needed in the fractured opposition? That’s what we asked Martinez this afternoon when we caught up with him in Port Loyola.
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former Area Rep., Port Loyola
“I will be joining in with the leadership of the party to see of there could be some impasse, to see where my advice could count politically, and so I will be involved as a party because [there’s] nothing like a united front. But also too, da like ah seh, in my humble opinion, I think that on both sides of the coin, I think that you must not lose focus of the prize. The focus of the prize are the people, your constituency and the country and especially the country which wants a viable opposition and I think the infighting is not helping at all. And so the national issues are being put on the backburner. And so I believe that we must get our act together.”
Ministry of Education Launch National Accreditation Council
Today, the Ministry of Education took a milestone step that has been almost two decades in the making. The ministry officially launched its National Accreditation Council. According to the legislation that accompanies the establishment of the council, its primary function is to improve and maintain the quality of education being offered in Belize. The National Accreditation Council Act lists a total of eighteen functions towards improving education in Belize. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Ministry of Education today officially launched the National Accreditation Council of Belize. According to Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry, Dian Maheia, the establishment of such a council has been in the pipeline for the past eighteen years. She explained that its role is to ensure that the quality of education delivered in our country meets the highest standards.
Dian Maheia, Chief Executive Officer, MOECST
“We have to have the answers when people ask us, what are you doing, where do you want to go, how is it going, where are you going next? Those answers have to come from us. We can’t get those answers if we don’t engage meaningfully in the work we do, the work of education, the thinking work, the planning work, the vision work, as much as the day to day work. Every person in this room, I think, has lived that, where you have to divide your responsibilities. You have to spend some time doing the day-to-day work, managing, checking papers, making plans, signing off on things, that is important. You don’t accomplish anything if you don’t do that. But you also have to spend some time doing the thinking, the planning, to understand ok, what did we actually accomplish.”
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“That Act defines accreditation as follows. Accreditation is a status granted to educational institutions or program by a competent authority ion the basis of an informed evaluation, indicating that the program and courses offered by an institution and its awards meet or exceeds stated criteria of educational quality. The functions of the council shall be to promote the advancement of education in Belize, to ensure the quality of education delivered in Belize meets the standards set by the council for the qualifications and certificates conferred and that the appropriate standards are being maintained and improved to protect the interest of students and to promote the free movement of skills across the region. I wanted to share with you some of the key responsibilities of the council. Registering the institutions, both local and foreign which offers courses in Belize, maintain a register of approved institutions, providers and courses, accrediting and recrediting programs and institutions. Validating new courses and programs of institutions operating in Belize.”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of State, Ministry of Education
“Now we must go beyond having all our children in school. We must ensure that while they are in school that they receive a quality education. Otherwise, if we are not providing the quality they need they may end up going out there and perpetuating a situation where we are not getting the quality of students we need, which has been our experience. This is an important step towards sustainable human development for our country. We might not see these things when we might say we have an investment summit, and we are bringing in millions dollars. This time we are talking about strengthening our institutions. For example, when we strengthen our judiciary or strengthen our systems in the police force. This is now strengthening our systems in the education sector.”
“This morning one of you said, but now the work really starts. That is true. And that is great that we recognize that, because if we think that the work is done. Then we are in trouble. We didn’t have people who started this eighteen years ago and we are just going to bring everybody together, and clap when the ministers talk and get those lovely mugs and go home and think we are done. We are not done; we are just beginning.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
G.O.B. and N.G.O.s to Form Task Force to Review Amendments to PACT Act
About a month ago, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organization (APAMO) called for a meeting with the prime minister to seek his intervention, following amendments to the National Protected Areas Systems Act and the PACT Act. APAMO felt that a proper consultative process was not followed. The P.M. met with the N.G.O. on Monday during which both sides established a working group comprising of representatives from both the government and conservation non-governmental organizations. The body will spearhead the revision of the National Protected Areas Systems Act and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act. APAMO’s Vice Chair, Amanda Acosta told News Five that there is still a clear definitive course to be charted moving forward.
Amanda Acosta, Vice Chair, APAMO
“The task force does not have a terms of reference yet. It is anticipated that at the first meeting we will have that conversation as to what exactly will be the deliverables. Um, there, for instance, pact, um, there were more things that could have been added to amendments within the act and they were not mentioned. Um, however, we have been given the kind of green light to have these conversations now. The timeline is actually very short. It’s three months. That’s what the prime minister has indicated to us.”
Isani Cayetano
“What has been, perhaps, the reception of the membership of APAMO, now that there has been, um, with the Prime Minister to address some of these concerns that were raised recently?”
Amanda Acosta
“So, I think we are cautiously optimistic. I think we have gotten the audience that we were desiring and the government has extended it actually because if we look at their press release, they have also invited the Marine Protected Areas Network to be a part of the working group, task force, sorry. As well as BNN, but specifically an environmental NGO. So, we have, um, gotten to a point where I think we can be at the table. However, internally we will still have to have internal communications to make sure the correct message from the membership of those entities is, um, highlighted at the task force level.”