"Clear the Land" fires back

As it happens, while our reporter and video journalist were heading out of Crooked Tree Village, they met Edmund Castro with his campaign entourage and stopped to chat with him about the claims made by his constituents. Castro reiterated that what he said on the Morning Show is absolutely the truth.

On the issue of Maypen village, Castro said that he cannot do everything the way the residents want, but that what is in place, is far better than it was before.

Once again it is the people of Belize Rural North who will have their say on Election Day.

OLIVIA MOODY

Edmund “Clear the Land” Castro … he is the incumbent representative for the Belize Rural North constituency.  He is being challenged for the seat by two aspiring representatives.  Today, Love News was on the campaign trail in Belize Rural North where constituents say they are not happy about Castro’s job performance.

RAKEEN DAWSON

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the lives of people, particularly children.  In Belize, its youth affiliate, Circle K International is looking for new members for its calendar year which starts on April first.  Its president, Rakeem Dawson, told Love News how volunteers can join its ranks.

 Currently the local branch of Circle K International has a membership of twenty-five.  Any youth between the ages of 15 and 19 who would like to volunteer their time for the betterment of a child’s life may contact Rakeem Dawson at 625 7969.

FRANCIS ARZU

Plans are in place for a major event for the Toledo Community College in Punta Gorda town. Correspondent Paul Mahung reports.

DEREK AIKMAN

On Friday while everyone was busy with the nomination of candidates vying for the general elections, a mock election was being carried out at the St. Mary’s Hall in Belize City.  Former politician turned pollster Derek Aikman, and a team from his company were carrying out the latest poll in an effort to try and look into the future to see what the outcome of the March seventh dual elections will be.  The mock election was carried out by contacting every tenth voter on the official voters list, by telephone.  According to Aikman he did this to try to get the undecided to start deciding, however after the results were in, there still seem to be at least 45% of the eligible voters who are still undecided as to who they will give their “x” to. But Aikman says that his poll puts the ruling United Democratic Party back in Belmopan for another term.

 Aikman says he plans on repeating the mock election on March seventh to see if people have changed their minds.

Dalila Ical reporting

An off-duty policeman stationed in Belize City is tonight in hot water for allegedly shooting a civilian in Orange Walk.  Love TV’s Dalila Ical reports from Orange Walk town.

ANA REYES

It was a sad day for the students and teachers at the Pancotto Primary School in the Village of Sandhill today.  The school’s office was broken into and items of sentimental value were stolen.  Ana Reyes, the principal of Pancotto Primary School told Love News what happened.

 Reyes says the school has been broken into three times during her twelve year tenure and she is very disheartened and discouraged that the police will find the person or persons responsible.  She says she hopes that she hopes that whoever broke in can return the items.  If you have any information or would like to lend assistance to the school you can contact Reyes at 225-5146 or the manager, Mrs. Vaccaro at telephone number 225-6073.

PUP Manifesto launch

The People’s United Party today laid out its blueprint for the nation in the event that the electorate chooses them as the next government on March seventh.  Love TV’s Marion Ali and cameraman Myles Gillett were present at the PUP Manifesto launch and brihg you the following report.

MIGUEL MARTINEZ

A San Pedro family is tonight looking for answers after a loved one turned up dead inside the holding cell at the town’s police station. Love TV’s Maria Novelo reports.

MERLENE BAILEY MARTINEZ

The embattled Chief Executive Officer of the Belize Social Security Board Merlene Bailey Martinez employment with SSB is over.  According to a statement from the Board, Bailey Martinez tendered her resignation on Monday.  The official statement says that the reason for Bailey Martinez’s decision to resign was due to negative public criticism and its impact to her family and her Christian community as well as to protect the SSB from negative publicity.  Bailey Martinez and internal auditor Denise Mahler were placed on suspension to facilitate a special investigation into whether or not there was any wrong doing committed in the government’s housing mortgage debt write off scheme. The investigation, carried out by the accounting firm of Panel Kerr Foster Belize certified that no member of management and staff who made additional payments to reduce their housing mortgage balance below the fifty thousand dollars threshold after September thirtieth, 2011 benefited from the SSB Housing Loans write off.  The PKF-Belize investigators emphasized that the Internal Auditor is responsible tot eh Board of Directors and not to the CEO, hence the suspension of Denise Mahler, who manages SSB’s internal audit services was lifted and she returned to work on Monday.  With the departure of Merlene Bailey Martinez, Leticia Vega continues to act as Chief Executive Officer of the Belize Social Security Board.

MICHAEL FINNEGAN

When it came time for the United Democratic Party to get their candidates nominated the route to the Charles Hyde Building was transformed into a sea of red for the UDP nomination.  Love News spoke with some of the candidates who are seeking to get the UDP returned to Belmopan.

FRANCIS FONSECA

Outside of the Yolanda Schakron saga, Nomination Day proceeded without a hitch for both major political parties.  The People’s Untied Party were first to be nominated this morning and they arrived with huge motorcade that started from the Berger Field on Vernon Street. Inside the compound where the nominations were carried out, Love News spoke with a few of the PUP hopefuls.

YOLANDA SCHAKRON

The saga of the eligibility of Yolanda Schakron to run for elected office in the Lake Independence constituency ended today.  Her nomination as the PUP standard bearer was rejected by returning officer Noreen Fairweather.  Schakron’s eligibility to seek the nomination came under question when it was revealed that she is a dual citizen of the United States and Belize.  Schakron fought to the bitter end to have her name included on the ballot paper, but in the end the full weight of the constitution was applied and she was turned back.  The PUP even went to the Supreme Court to challenge the rejection; but that too was denied and in the end, Mrs. Schakron attempt to become the PUP Standard Bearer for Lake Independence ended.  Her only public statement on Nomination Day was made on the steps of the Charles Hyde Building this morning, when Schakron tearfully lashed out at her opponents but vowed to continue the fight, even if not as an elected representative.

DEAN BARROW

When he arrived at the government complex to be nominated this afternoon, the leader of the United Democratic Party, Dean Barrow responded to Schakron’s assertions and said her undoing in the nomination process is of her own making.

MARTIN GALVEZ

When it was apparent that the battle to have Schackron contest the Lake I seat, the People’s United Party quickly went to plan B.  That involved the bringing the rejected candidate’s brother Martin Galvez into to replace her.  After being nominated, Galvez spoke with the media outside of the nomination center.

GALVEZ SUPPORTERS

CARLOS DIAZ

Following his nomination, Galvez and the small group of PUP supporters were escorted under police guard through the back door of the Charles Hyde building.  It was also through the back gate that Galvez and his team were allowed to leave the compound to avoid the crowd of UDP supporters who were still standing by inside and around the perimeter of the government complex compound.  When it was uncertain as to what would have become of Schakron’s candidacy, a former PUP minister Carlos Diaz decided to enter the race as an independent candidate.  Diaz told Love News that his decision to enter the race was made because he feared that the UDP’s candidate Mark King would have won by default, which he says is not good for democracy.

So to recap what was an historic day in Belize’s political history:  Yolanda Schakron was rejected as a candidate for the PUP in the Lake Independence constituency.  The PUP went to the Supreme Court seeking constitutional redress; but they were denied the relief they sought. And at the last minute, Schakron’s brother Martin Galvez was brought in by the PUP as their candidate in the Lake Independence division.

The Crime Beat

A jury of six women and three men is deliberating the fate of 26-year-old William Stevens today in the court of Justice Adolph Lucas on charges of five counts of theft for a total of $43,000.00.  The thefts occurred between March 2007 and October 2007 at Caye International Bank in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye where Stevens worked in the customer care service.  The crown, represented by Crown Counsel Trienna Young alleged that Stevens stole $5,000.00 on two separate occasions by depositing the money in Earett Cain’s account.  The prosecution also alleged that Stevens stole $10,000.00 to purchase an Isuzu D Max from Bravo Motors, $17,000.00 to purchase land and $6,000.00 which he asked Cain to buy a car for him.  The chief witness for the prosecution was Joy Flowers, the executive Vice President of Caye International Bank.  Flowers testified that Stevens did not get a loan from the bank.  Stevens gave a statement from the dock in which he denied he committed the thefts and that he got a loan from the bank.  Stevens was represented by attorney Tricia Pitts Anderson.

HILDA KELLY

Thirty four year old Hilda Kelly, a mother of seven who allegedly stabbed Shirley Leslie was charged with attempted murder when she appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court today. Kelly was also charged with dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm.  No plea was taken from her because the offences are indictable.  Chief Magistrate Ana Marie Smith could not offer her bail because of the nature of the offences.  Kelly was remanded into custody until March 20. The incident occurred on Wednesday in front of Payless Store on Jasmine Street. Leslie reported to the police that Kelly stabbed her in the neck.  Leslie was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where she was admitted to ward.

MERLENE BAILEY MARTINEZ

Multiple sources have indicated that the Board of directors of the Belize Social Security Board has voted to terminate the services of Chief Executive Officer Merlene Bailey Martinez and internal Auditor Denise Mahler. The two senior executives of the SSB were place on suspension last month following allegations that they used privileged information to get staff to adjust their loans in order to take advantage of the government’s debt write off scheme for non-performing loans.  An independent audit was carried out by the Panel Kerr Foster accounting firm, but the results of that audit have not been made public.  Love News has been attempting to get information on the employment status of the suspended Martinez and Mahler; but we are told that the Chairman of SSB, attorney Lois Young is out of the country, and the acting CEO has been in meetings since yesterday.  Multiple staff of Belize Social Security Board who contacted Love News indicates that a petition is being circulated for them to sign, claiming that they, the staff want the Board to reinstate Merlene Bailey Martinez and Denise Mahler.  Today the Christian Workers Union which represents SSB workers issued a press release expressing dismay and dissatisfaction with the alleged move to reinstate the CEO and Internal Auditor.  The CWU says it is categorically not in support of this effort and furthermore that it did not formulate and is not responsible for the circulation of any such letter.  The CWU release also says that if the Board of Directors has decided to fire CEO Martinez and the internal auditor, then it should not interfere and just let it be.  It ends by calling on all unionized SSB workers to refrain from signing any letter of petition calling for the reinstatement of Martinez and Mahler.

Kinich Ahau Festival coming up

On Sunday February nineteenth the grounds of Altun Ha Mayan Site will be the location for the Kinich Ahau Art Festival that is being sponsored by the National Institute of Culture and History through the Institute of Creative Arts and in conjunction with the Kinich Ahau Art Committee.  It is also the second event held under the Maya 2012 Calendar.

Transportation will be provided for those attending the festival.

House of Culture Seminar

A four day workshop being carried out at the Belize House of Culture came to an end today.  The workshop is part of an upcoming development program for which Belize is receiving an estimated eleven million dollar fund to develop a major part of the City.  Communications Officer for NICH is Shari Williams.

Williams said that the Belize City Master Plan project was challenged to find out what was wrong with Belize City and to come up with strategic plans for development.  As a result of this they put a proposal out to ICDF who liked the idea and decided to fund the implementation of the development project.

Ann Gordon

The weather doesn’t make the headlines on a regular day.  But is the topic on the agenda today, or more so, the climate.  It’s the Third National Communication and Workshop leading to the Caribbean Climate Change Project launch.  It’s all aimed at setting certain goals to adjust to the changes in the climate.  According to the Director of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Paul Flowers, Belize falls within a specific category and has its own goals.

Focal Point, Climate Change, Ann Gordon, says that Belizeans also have to be a part of the effort and need to start thinking along those lines.  To do that, there are decisions that individuals and households can do to be ready.

According to Paul Flowers, there is also a transportation sector plan that will be presented to the public shortly in which those in climate change discussions will present an energy policy.

Belize Rural South Candidates

The candidates vying for the Belize Rural South seat in the House of Representatives continues to campaign on the offshore islands.  Love TV’s Maria Novelo reports.