GROWING UNREST WITH PRIME MINISTER DEAN BARROW OF BELIZE AND HIS DEFENSE OF CORRUPT CABINET MINISTERS!

Prime Minister of Belize and leader of the UDP winning party, Dean Barrow
There is growing dissension in Belize over the growing corruption in the UDP government and defended by the Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow. This excerpt was taken from the list serve discussions inside Belize. Instead of firing Cabinet Ministers involved in corruption, the Prime Minister is defending them like a lawyer. Some say his own behavior is suspect also, with an ex-wife getting rich off government court cases. There does not seem any relief from corrupt politicians in Belize?

* The following article taken from the listserve discussions.




From: G. Michael Reid
Subject: Bz-Culture: apologies to the lawyers on the list
To: "Belize Culture" , "Belize Culture"
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009, 11:31 AM

“I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace, two men are called a law firm, and three or more become a Congress.” ~ John Adams

"Lawyers are people whose profession it is to disguise matters.” ~ Thomas More

“A man who never graduated from school might steal from a freight car, but a man who attends college and graduates as a lawyer might steal the whole railroad.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

It is widely accepted that Belize’s Prime Minister, Dean Oliver Barrow is an above average lawyer; a skilled practitioner or rainmaker, if you will. He is quite capable of mounting formidable arguments to convince magistrates and judges of his clients’ innocence or the opposing lawyer’s weakness of point. Adequately trained in the fine art of sophistry, he is deft at taking the weakest of arguments and making they appear to be strong. Able to convince the toughest of juries that the evidence before them is not nearly as compelling as it appears to be. Yup, without a doubt, Dean Oliver Barrow is a pretty good attorney. The problem is that attorney Dean Barrow seems to be having trouble making the transition from lawyer to leader. He approaches the role of leadership with the same satanic cunning and shiftiness that has become the earmark of his legal profession. While such characteristics will normally produce desirable results in courtrooms, in the supposedly nobler realm of politics, they appear vile and downright indecorous.

Mr. Barrow continues to present a façade of sincerity and while he walks a crooked walk, at least he talks a pretty talk. There are many in his cabinet however, that has failed miserably even in this regard. Mr. Finnegan’s recent “like it or lump it” attitude when confronted with recent shenanigans in his ministry, Mr. Faber’s continued disrespect for teachers and school administrators, evidence of blatant corruption in the Ministries of Works and Health all suggest that these “in there simply to hustle” politicians could care less about public image or perception. Mr. Barrow now, instead of showing leadership skills and doing what is necessary to rope in his rogues, has instead taken the defense attorney stance. Instead of reproving and reprimanding where necessary, he has chosen instead to take the stand in defense of his brood. Mr. Barrow comes across not as leader and Prime Minister but as defense attorney for a group of very guilty clients.

In the House of Representatives on Friday, Mr. Barrow was in his full element. In the face of overwhelming evidence of corruption being presented by the Leader of the Opposition, instead of showing concern about the breech in his primary manifesto promise, Mr. Barrow chose instead to support his deputy’s “playing the dozens” game with Mr. Briceno. In a page straight from the Jerry Springer Show, the members of this so-called honorable House displayed character more appropriate to a kindergarten recess session. The biggest item of interest to these supposed-to-be intellectuals was the Leader of the Opposition’s stumble in the pronouncing of Dubotomine. Gentlemen, have you not heard? “A small mistake should not a big point spoil”! The Leader of the Opposition was making a very big point. With evidence in hand, (vouchers and receipts of payment), Mr. Briceno was exposing to the House a glaring example of the blatant corruption and misuse of authority that appears prevalent in not only the healthcare system but in seemingly every constituent of Mr. Barrow’s administration. What glaring hypocrisy! Many will remember Mr. Barrow pontificating to the media following his Feb 2008 victory at the polls. In Mr. Barrow’s own words on that fateful night, “I certainly am determined that above all we do things properly, that we operate a government of honesty, a government of dialogue, a government of accountability. Accountability, not just to the larger population but accountability even to our public officers”. Right! Like the NICH contract, like the Juliet Thimbrel loan, like Zenaida Moya’s contracts and salaries, like Boots Martinez’s deposits and withdrawals, like Gapi’s land deals, like Finnegan’s reciprocation to voters, like the current mess at the KHMH! Really Mr. Barrow, we are not all lawyers and certainly not all as bright as you are but ask Minister Finnegan, “even blind jonesy could see” that something is going very wrong here. Please Mr. Barrow, how about a little defense for the people instead of for those who are doing us wrong!

The media now, continues to try and convince us that while all this is obviously wrong, it might be okay because at least we know about it. In his editorial of last week, the publisher praised Dr. John Sosa for speaking out about the scandalous hustling going on at the KHMH. According to the editorial, because Dr. Sosa is from a UDP family, then the UDP must also be congratulated. What kind of crazy rationale is this cat pushing down our throats? “If he was a PUP in a PUP government”, states the editorial, “he would never have been able to speak so openly.” Really! So were the G-7 shot? Did not Cordell Hyde and Mark Espat speak out openly and were in the end, even allowed back into cabinet? Ernesto Vasquez has been pushing the same line every morning on Love FM. “Well at least it’s coming out”. As if this somehow is supposed to justify or extenuate these wrongs in any way. Corruption is corruption and never to be condoned. And did not this government get elected on an anti-corruption platform? Please Mr. Mass Media, “Fools dih taak but nuh fools dih listen!”

DEBATE ON UDP CABINET BUDGETING FOR 2009

Firstly, how about passing a balanced budget amendment-they can't spend more than they take in. Reserves are critical as you mentioned for unforeseen national disasters and hardships. Another items would be to use some monies from the budget for working on infrastructure projects-most importantly roads and bridges to improve commerce and transportation. This would at least create jobs and the people hired would spend their salaries sending the money back into the economy to create more jobs. How about finally using some budget funds to make the lands department transparent with a national cadastral system. The monies earned from the sale of national lands might really go the national budget instead of to personal cronies/lands department and ministers pockets. The land title mess we are in nationally would be greatly reduced. Hey, maybe we could even get a deed upon full payment for national lands in less than 3 -15 yrs as it stands under the current system. The government could also provide tax rebate/relef incentives to companies manufacturing new products or setting up factories in Belize as long as they create a certain amount of jobs. The idea is to become more self reliant and less import reliant. Unfortunately most of the budget will go to foreign debt payments as Belize is chronically with a negative trade balance. We import more than we export. Some industries Belize could use that pay well-biotechnology (e;g; Orchid or other plant cloning for export as liners/starter plants or breeding out bad traits in plants), IT/technology, Call Service Centers, Making medicines for export. Coming from Caye Caulker I also wondered why there are no artist/dance/folkloric type troupes one can hire to perform for the tourist trade on a regular show basis to promote our culture, etc.-this could create jobs. For cost saving measures, one could cut down on the Government/Belmopan Staff in the various offices or set goals, timelines and minimum standards for all government employee jobs with how much they should accomplish in a day to be considered productive. If they can't meet their goal eliminate the position and save that salary. Just some ideas/ways and means to a balanced budget.

Sharon Urscheler SUrscheler@msn.com



Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 08:22:33 -0800
From: hillviewhacienda@yahoo.com
To: surscheler@msn.com
Subject: [Western Belize Happenings!] BUDGET CRITIQUE OF OUR UDP GOVERNMENT

THE CRITIQUE LAST WEEK ON THE UDP AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

What would you do if you were the CABINET and the UDP?
The critique last week went into the BORROW AND SPEND DEBT ECONOMICS POLICY OF THIS UDP GOVERNMENT, forecasting dire financial bankruptcy consequences due to poor budgetary planning.
In planning the budget for 2009, I would as a matter of course, plan for the WORST CASE SCENARIO! What kind of worse case scenario can you envisage to hit our economy of the country in 2009?
For starters, we live in HURRICANE ALLEY, right at the end. I personally would plan and allow funds to be set aside for TWO hurricane strikes. Also, we now know from experience, that with the deforestation of the nearby PETEN in Guatemala, that we can, during a monstrous rainfall, expect FLOODING. Right off the bat, any 2009 budget should have 300 million dollars set aside to ECONOMIC LOSSES that could be expected from these high probability events. A worse case scenario then for NATURAL DISASTERS would allocate funds be put in reserve to recover from such events and economic losses.
The next thing, our economy is a bit diversified, but our economy is based on remittances, bananas, sugar, fisheries, oil and agriculture in general. We could assume therefore, due to outside world events over which we have no control, we could lose one of these pillars of our government and economic revenues. So, it is only wise to set aside some reserves to cover the economic losses if we were to lose one of our economic legs that support our nation and government costs.
Having done that, those reserves could sit there if never used, until next year and give us some leeway for spending in 2010. If for any disastrous reason, we had to use those funds, we would have them.
The other thing is to project government revenues for 2009. Until we get the STATE OF THE NATION report from our Prime Minister later in January, we cannot draw too many conclusions about that. The mistake both politicians and bureaucrats make often, is to set too high an estimate of government revenues. It is wiser to take the least expected projections and work within that. If you should have money left over by the end of 2009, that is to the good and would go well toward building solvency, or resolving temporary budget shortfalls that might be needed.
What would you recommend for budget planning for this UDP government? After all, they are YOUR GOVERNMENT and so far, they have shown little skill at budget planning with budget revenues. THEY need your ideas and advice! TELL THEM WHAT YOU WOULD PLAN AND DO WITH GOVERNMENT REVENUES.

--
Posted By Western Belize Happenings! to Western Belize Happenings! at 1/05/2009 08:21:00 AM

BUDGET CRITIQUE OF OUR UDP GOVERNMENT

THE CRITIQUE LAST WEEK ON THE UDP AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

What would you do if you were the CABINET and the UDP?
The critique last week went into the BORROW AND SPEND DEBT ECONOMICS POLICY OF THIS UDP GOVERNMENT, forecasting dire financial bankruptcy consequences due to poor budgetary planning.
In planning the budget for 2009, I would as a matter of course, plan for the WORST CASE SCENARIO! What kind of worse case scenario can you envisage to hit our economy of the country in 2009?
For starters, we live in HURRICANE ALLEY, right at the end. I personally would plan and allow funds to be set aside for TWO hurricane strikes. Also, we now know from experience, that with the deforestation of the nearby PETEN in Guatemala, that we can, during a monstrous rainfall, expect FLOODING. Right off the bat, any 2009 budget should have 300 million dollars set aside to ECONOMIC LOSSES that could be expected from these high probability events. A worse case scenario then for NATURAL DISASTERS would allocate funds be put in reserve to recover from such events and economic losses.
The next thing, our economy is a bit diversified, but our economy is based on remittances, bananas, sugar, fisheries, oil and agriculture in general. We could assume therefore, due to outside world events over which we have no control, we could lose one of these pillars of our government and economic revenues. So, it is only wise to set aside some reserves to cover the economic losses if we were to lose one of our economic legs that support our nation and government costs.
Having done that, those reserves could sit there if never used, until next year and give us some leeway for spending in 2010. If for any disastrous reason, we had to use those funds, we would have them.
The other thing is to project government revenues for 2009. Until we get the STATE OF THE NATION report from our Prime Minister later in January, we cannot draw too many conclusions about that. The mistake both politicians and bureaucrats make often, is to set too high an estimate of government revenues. It is wiser to take the least expected projections and work within that. If you should have money left over by the end of 2009, that is to the good and would go well toward building solvency, or resolving temporary budget shortfalls that might be needed.
What would you recommend for budget planning for this UDP government? After all, they are YOUR GOVERNMENT and so far, they have shown little skill at budget planning with budget revenues. THEY need your ideas and advice! TELL THEM WHAT YOU WOULD PLAN AND DO WITH GOVERNMENT REVENUES.

ERWIN CONTRERAS, ECONOMIC MINISTER A NO SHOW!

ERWIN CONTRERAS Cabinet Minister for Economic Development and Commerce and Industry in Belize.

The main Cabinet Minister responsible for organizing research and ACTION and informing us public of how to take advantage of ALBA TRADE with Venezuela, which the Venezuelan Embassy is promoting in Belize. We have heard NOTHING! ZILCH! NADA over the last few months! We the public in Western Belize would like to know if this is something that is possible, or not possible under the terms of ALBA trade organization.
The impression is the UDP Cabinet do not want trade with Venezuela, whereas PRODUCERS in Western Belize and the Heartland of Belize do want a ready market, anywhere. The Cabinet should be informing us through press conferences of the possibilities, or no possibilities of trade with Venezuela. Why are they not? Do they know something we do not? What could it be?

Other Cabinet Ministers of the UDP government concerned with this are; Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Trade, Gabriel Martinez of Rural Development and Rene Montero the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and also our Cayo Central area representative on the Cabinet. When will these Ministers concern themselves with informing us in the Heartland of Belize, the investigation and results of trade with the ALBA trade organization of Venezuela?