DEMOCRACY DIDN´T LOOK TOO GOOD IN BRITAIN, OR THE USA LAST NIGHT ON TELEVISION.

Duke of York, British hereditary aristocratic ROYAL FAMILY, alleged in British Parliament to be a close PARTNER OF KING GHADAFFI. ( guy on left in photo )
King Ghadaffi, or Libya. Called an INSANE MADMAN BY A LIBYAN GENERAL.
Secretary of State, Clinton of the USA in the United Nations, condemning King Ghadaffi, but praising other Arab tyrannical self appointed monarchies.




BRITISH PARLIAMENT, MONARCHIST, ROYALIST ( "speaker of the House" in Britain ) DEFENDS DUKE OF YORK get rich quick privileges of PARTNERSHIP, WITH KING GHADAFFI OF LIBYA IN LAST NIGHT´S TV DEBATE IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

What a contrast in mealy mouthed rationalizations, euphinisms and political double talk, by the British Parliament and particularly the Speaker of the House, who cut off an Honorable members question about the close partnership´by the DUKE OF YORK, with LIBYAN, KING GHADAFFI. ( who is the Duke of York? ) The ROYALIST, MONARCHIST, SPEAKER of the British Parliament made it plain, there would be no discussion in open debate about the ROYAL FAMILY of Britain.
By contrast, later the same evening, the speech by Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, lambasted King Ghadafi of Libya, while defending other Arabian self appointed KINGS and their hereditary PRINCES and other family aristocracies. Some place else on television there was free talk in democracies, about the King of Nicaragua, King Ortega, King Chavez of Venezuela, King Morales of Bolivia and King Castro of Cuba, all hereditary tyrannies said ( I believe it was described by her, the USA Secretary of State ) described as dictatorships and tyrannies. Yet in the same breath on behalf of the USA while condemning USA enemies and their hereditary tyrannies posing as ROYAL FAMILIES, she was apologetic about the KING and Princes of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, while condemning the religious dictatorship of IRAN.

I guess we the general public have to take into consideration that some ROYAL HEREDITARY FAMILIES are not tyrannies and dictatorships imposed by subterfuge on populations of their countries, but perhaps "MIGHT makes RIGHT"? Particularly if you control the TREASURY, POWER, INTERIOR MINISTRY ( secret police and army ) and can jail, torture and murder your political opponents?

Early photos of a young 25 year old Cap´n Ray Auxillou on Caye Caulker

In the 1960´s when I was around 25 years old. I would teach at the primary school and was known in the small island village as Cap´n Ray, my magnificent yacht was that wooden dugout dory you see my daughter Sharon playing in. The fish were amber jacks, delicious eating and caught in a wire heart shaped trap set off the beach in about 5 feet of water. The fish were eaten, filleted and salted, or given away and occasionally sold a dozen for .25 cents.

Early photo of Grandpa Ray Auxillou. At 14 years he ran away and joined the Canadian Army. On his outfitting and leave before being posted, he went home in uniform and that was the end of that. His parents would not sign for him. At 15 years of age, he joined again, trying to get into the Korean War before it was over. This is a photo of him at 16, in training as a radio mechanic at the Canadian Army Signal Corps base in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The Korean Armistice ended before he completed training and at 18 years of age as an adult, he refused to sign up again for another 7 years with the Army. Instead he went back to High School and joined the Perth Regiment Black Watch infantry Reserves and served about five years in that, leaving Canada as a Seargant. At 21 years of age, he was still a virgin.

BELIZE - BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES TV PROGRAM THIS WEEK SUCCESSFUL.

Old TV program panel discussion photo.


BELIZE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES HAD THREE EXPORTERS FROM BELIZE.

You could see the chair person was out of her depth. Didn´t really know the questions to ask. All three panel people were good in explaining their business export problems.

The HIGHLIGHTS were the suggestion we make BELIZE a total FREE ZONE as a country. Do away with INCOME TAX, IMPORT DUTIES AND EXPORT DUTIES. That would certainly do it. I´m not sure I would like to live in the manufacturing country that would develop from that though. The only role model I know of would be St. Maarten in the Eastern Caribbean and understand they have been that way successfully for 50 or more years. Warehouses dot the landscape and inventory from around the world, which is then shipped to South American countries mostly. To make that work in Belize, the government would have to operate on GST tax revenues almost alone. Perhaps tax on oil exports as well. This idea has been around for more than 30 years, but no Port Town controlled Belize government by the ROYAL CREOLES has shown any interest in such a thing.
Port authority charges for moving containers, in or out, $1700 to $1800 was quoted - WOW ! There is a problem right there.
Nice to see a meaningful discussion on the panel for once without the biases of the port town merchant aristocracy.
It was a start with floating realistic ideas on making Belize a wealthy country.

WESTERN BELIZE, STAR NEWSPAPER, RAISES SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM

Star newspaper of Western Cayo District, of the nation of BELIZE.


The local STAR newspaper, our Western Belize weekly newspaper is questioning the premise of our British electoral Prime Minister system.

The revolt in ARAB countries against their police states, sometimes with Presidents, Prime Ministers, Sheiks, Emirs, Kings, Mullahs, etc., has given rise to an in depth article on the Commonwealth countries in particular. The system we use as government and the many countries that have recurring, heads of states, inherited by their children and the political parties sustained by police states, violence, torture and terror. Real Democracy provides for regular removal of leaders and their political party system.
Even in Belize, our Constitution does not prohibit more than two terms in office, or prevent sons, wives, or daughters from inheriting the political party and the top administrative position of the country. With all the trappings of power, and access to controlling government jobs, while being able to steal from the tax revenues and the national treasury. Around the world, hereditary monarchs and their aristocratic family system are being replaced with fake republican and parliamentary political heads of state models. Tyranny is a constant in most countries of the world.
The STAR newspaper is to be commended on instigating a look at our own political system.
In Belize writers like Clinton Luna in the Amandala newspaper criticizes the British Parliamentary Constitution we copy in Belize. We are controlled by British Aristocracy, recognize we belong to the Queen of England, ruled by the Queen´s Governor General in emergencies, our society is inundated with mock titles to encourage rule by Britain, such as; awards of Knighthoods, and Member of the British Empire medals and titles, by what Clinton Luna our Mayan writer calls continuous subjection by our ROYAL CREOLES of the old colonial capital, the port town of Belize City. Even in England, the British Military establishment swear allegiance to the Royal Family and not to their representative government, the parliament. The taxes of the masses are spent to reward the aristocratic monarchy hereditary system. Bright and influential people in Belize are CO-OPTED by the British MONARCHIAL ARISTOCRACY through awards of KNIGHTHOODS AND MBE´S among other things.

MOPAN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL WINS THE SCHOOLS KARATE TOURNAMENT IN BELIZE.

MOPAN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL WINS THE SCHOOLS KARATE TOURNAMENT

Mopan Technical High School in Benque Viejo del Carmen, the border town, won the most medals in the SCHOOLS KARATE TOURNAMENT. The Cayo Shotokan Karate Academy at the Benque Viejo Community Center beside La Cancha Marshalleck Statdium on Saturday night. The Mopan Technical High School won medals, 5 gold medals, two silver and two bronze.
The Pastor sisters won three of those medals in girls kumite in the under 48 kg weight division. Nerici Pastor won the gold medal, while her sister Asha Pastor took the Silver medal and Cara Pastor claimed the bronze.
The girls of St.Catherines Academy from the coast placed second. Sacred Heart Primary School of San Ignacio, Cayo District, won gold in the boys kumite in the under 55 kg division. Romain Romero of St. Ignatius High School of Santa Elena Town in Cayo won the bronze.

GUATEMALA AND BELIZE ARE MORE AND MORE, ACTING AS ONE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY IN SECURITY AND TRADE.

Guatemala green color and Belize is pink color.




GUATEMALA AND BELIZE ARE MORE AND MORE, ACTING AS ONE COUNTRY ! PARTICULARLY IN SECURITY AFFAIRS ALONG THE BORDER AND IN TRADE.

From Amandala:

Posted: 22/02/2011 - 10:30 AM
Author: Adele Ramos - adelescribe@gmail.com

Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala, H. E. Alfredo Martinez, told Amandala on Monday that there is already evidence that Guatemala’s narcotics problems are trickling to this side of the border. Martinez informed our newspaper that the Government of Guatemala is about to dispatch Special Forces soldiers to conduct regular foot patrols in the southern areas of Peten, near the border, while Belize military will do coordinated patrols on this side of the border.

These Guatemalan Special Forces soldiers were reportedly trained in secret by the US Green Beret, a group within the US Army Special Forces. Fox News reported last December on anti-narcotics training that had been ongoing inside the Peten jungle, just south of Guatemala’s border with Mexico.

This happened on the heels of a staged prison breakout to release a drug lord and the appearance of several decapitated heads on the steps of Guatemala’s parliament in June 2010—a brazen signal undoubtedly sent to the government by drug cartels. The Guatemalan version of the US Green Berets is supposed to combat cartels which openly conduct drug transactions and advertise on billboards for recruits.

Ambassador Martinez said that Guatemala’s Green Berets, or “the green soldiers”, are to look after those natural parks which have become havens for drug traffickers. Previously, efforts had previously been concentrated more in the north, in the regions of the border with Mexico, Martinez indicated.

The Guatemala Green Berets also would be helping with the increasing incursions in southern Belize, and they are expected to commence border patrols on the Guatemala side within the next week or two, he added.

Belize is expected to continue separate but coordinated patrols on this side of the very porous Belize-Guatemala border.

Not only is Belize’s western border with Guatemala infamously porous—Guatemala disputes its very existence, particularly the portion to the South of the Sibun, where anti-narcotics efforts are supposed to be concentrated. The fear is that Guatemala’s narco-trafficking problem is slowly becoming Belize’s problem.

It is against this backdrop that Guatemala’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Haroldo Rodas, met in Belize with his counterpart, Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, on Friday, February 18.

Rodas was accompanied by Guatemala’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Raul Morales.

Elrington was accompanied by his Chief Executive Officer Alexis Rosado, as well as Ambassador Martinez.

“They [the Guatemalans] wanted to tell us that operations are being strengthened in their area, so we must be on the lookout on our side,” Ambassador Martinez told Amandala.

The parties, Belize and Guatemala, have set up a mechanism of consultation as well as intelligence sharing, as Guatemala continues to step up operations in the Peten—the area of greatest concern, he explained.

Speaking with Amandala about the significance of Friday’s meeting, Ambassador Martinez said: “Guatemala recognizes that in the area of security in the region, it has to depend on Belize also.”

He added that Belize and Guatemala both form the funnel neck with Mexico for what comes through Central America from Colombia and other source countries. The drugs must pass through Guatemala and Belize, said Martinez.

As the battle against drug traffickers in Mexico rages on, more traffickers are drifting south, and Guatemala has a very serious problem with narco-trafficking, particularly the Zeta infiltration, explained Martinez.

He told us that whereas Guatemala has seen measurable improvements after it put Alta Vera Paz, just south of Peten, under a state of emergency and cut off all constitutional guarantees to crack down on the narco-trafficking, regular crime has escalated in Guatemala, on the whole. “It is a real challenge for the present government,” said Martinez.

Rodas, at his meeting in Belize Friday, outlined plans for Guatemala’s 6-month presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA), including regional and international meetings.

Ambassador Martinez informed Amandala that the countries of SICA will be hosting international meetings on regional security in June, to which they are inviting the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia and the European countries. That meeting will be held in Guatemala, but ahead of that meeting is another international gathering.

That gathering, said Martinez, is the visit of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, to Guatemala in March. The Prime Minister of Belize and the presidents of Central America have been invited to attend.

The guests at the June meeting of SICA plan to discuss how they can collaborate through financing and infrastructure to help combat this onslaught of drug-related crimes, the Ambassador said.

The countries in the Central American region are spending their own budget funds to fight, but it is not enough, and they are telling the international community that they need to help, he added.

Apart from discussing regional security on Friday, said Ambassador Martinez, the group also took the opportunity to discuss concerns on the Belize side over the illegal extraction of xate and logs from Belize’s forests, including the protected areas.

Martinez said that the parties discussed how they could cooperate more fully, and how Guatemala could dissuade its citizens from illegally coming into Belize’s national parks.

The ministries on both sides of the border under whose portfolios the environment falls would be setting up discussion groups, said Martinez.

Belize’s prized Chiquibul Forest—the country’s most expansive and richest forest—continues to be targeted for incursions and illegal extraction of both flora (plants and plant materials) and fauna (wildlife). Some of these people, said Martinez, may very well be in cahoots with narco-traffickers.

What was different at Friday’s meeting, said Martinez, is that Guatemala demonstrated the disposition and political will to cooperate with Belize on the ground.

“Incursions are increasing and we therefore need to keep those in check,” said Ambassador Martinez.

“We are doing our part; they have not been doing it along Chiquibul,” Martinez commented.

According to Martinez, both sides will do regular surveillance on foot patrols. Belize does not have the capacity to conduct regular aerial surveillance, but Guatemala does it periodically, although aerial surveillance along the Belize-Guatemala border was not specifically mentioned at Friday’s meeting, Martinez indicated.

Martinez said that they are already seeing evidence that Guatemala’s narcotics problems are spreading to Belize. When we asked him to be more specific, he cited a recent extradition as an example: In November 2010, Belizean authorities handed over Otoniel Turcios Marroquin, alleged drug lord of Guatemala, to US authorities. Ambassador Martinez declined to get into more details on observed trends.

“We have to coordinate along with Honduras very soon,” added Martinez, because, on their side, he said, there is a lot of sea-trafficking.

Martinez notes that as Guatemala continues to grapple with a murder rate of 16 bodies a day, and the parties are now in campaign mode, security is expected to be a leading campaign issue.

Campaigning started last month, January, and the first round of elections is due in September for presidential, Congress and municipal seats. There are 18 to 20 political parties running, since governments in Guatemala are normally formed by coalition—not by institutionalized parties, as is the case with Belize.

Alliances and groupings are created every four years for elections—that complicates matters even more, said Martinez. He added that should no presidential candidate get more than 50% of the votes, they have to engage in a second round of voting in November and the new government would take office in January 14, 2012.

The Ambassador indicated that the pending referendum between Belize and Guatemala, in which the peoples on both sides of the border would be asked whether they want to take the territorial dispute maintained by Guatemala to be litigated at the International Court of Justice, would not happen before the parties dispense with elections by 2013. The matter of the ICJ referendum, said Martinez, was only briefly mentioned at last Friday’s meeting.

He told Amandala that, “The political relationship between the two governments [Belize and Guatemala] has been very healthy, [and] ...security and regional issues that affect both parties are discussed very freely.”

Martinez described the drug and gang situation in Central America as “worrying.” He said that sooner or later this, too, will start trickling into Belize, but the situation is not yet as bad as in Central America, and particularly in San Salvador, Guatemala and Tegucigalpa—places he described as being “almost in a state of siege when it comes to the gang situation.”

But, Martinez emphasized, “...the problems can be aggravated in Belize if we are not careful.”

Giselle de la Fuente, or GISELLE ( AUXILLOU ) DE LA FUENTE PHOTO

Mother and daughter. Wendy Auxillou the mother on left and her eldest daughter Giselle ( Auxillou ) de la Fuente on right.

This is about Giselle my granddaughter. A member of the US National Guard, she is currently working on her Bachelors degree at the University of Houston. This photo of mother and daughter was taken on a 2010 vacation on Thanksgiving weekend to cold and snowy Colorado, where there was a big meeting of some of my grandchildren ( bunch of FIRST COUSINS ) who could make it. They all being now in the 20´s thereabouts.

3 rd Annual Belize Air Show at Central Farm, Belize, a HUGE SUCCESS and crowd!

Bunch of different size agriculture spray planes, used to spray citrus, bananas and other crops.


Can´t remember the name of this homebuilt experimental plane. A two place, for short fields, takes off in 50 ft and climbs out at a 45 degree angle, due to the configuration of the wings. Special unique deal. Being built by the owner of COMPUTER RANCH over in Spanish Lookout, the Mennonite center. Usually fitted with a 90 hp Lycombing or Continental engine. The Belizean builder is doing a good job on the kit plane.


Sacred Heart High School ( College ) has the concession at the AIR SHOW at Central Farm. They had lines waiting all day, for hot food with a delicious variety of food. Also a booth for beer products. They looked well organized this year.


Another shot of the AVID FLYER. An ultra light two place. Was missing an altimeter.


Avid Flyer homebuilt with Rotax 582, 2 cycle engine, water cooled. 65 hp engine. For sale at the show by two Mennonite young guys as they wanted to buy a Cessna 150 to get their licenses. I wanted to buy, but the wife said no. They were asking $20,000 Belize. This is a two place acrobatic plane. This is an ultra light and the two Belizean white boys said they wanted to turn professional pilots, so they had to move up to a registered trainer to get their flying hours legalized. They were looking for a Cessna 150 trainer. You don´t need a pilots license for ultra lights, or registration, but if you plan to go commercial you need to go to bigger aircraft that fit all the regulations. There are no regulations on ultra lights, and experimentals, only a 1600 gross weight limit thereabouts.


Famous long distance RV homebuilt.







Hang glider lessons, very popular site. Guy gave lessons continuously to young Mennonite men interested in hang gliding. What he needed was a tow plane, to give examples.


The AIR SHOW at Central Farm, I think it has been the THIRD annual one, was a resounding success with a BIG CROWD, bigger than ever. This year the concessionaires, the SACRED HEART SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE SERVING MEALS AND DRINKS. They had it better organized this year and were doing darned good business. It was a family time with lots of kids running around, fascinated by helicopters and toy, radio controlled aircraft. Missing were the Ultra Light crowd from Bedran´s airstrip by CHAA CREEK. I nearly bought a plane. An AVID FLYER, but my wife said NO! Too much drain on the capital we live on. Awwww shucks! Nice ultra light, with two seats, Rotax engine, 65 hp and acrobatic. Meaning it would be real tender to fly. Guys ( Mennonite young men ) wanted $20,000 Belize currency and then I would have to pay monthly hanger space of $150, plus maintainance. So my wife said NO!

The relatively HUGE CROWD were family people. 75% of them were Mennonites. I would estimate 300 people maybe? Very, very few Belizean Creoles, but lots of Belizean whites. Some Spanish mestizos. Hard working entrepreneurs are the only ones with spare cash I guess?


One Mennonite guy had a great plane half way done in aluminum on display. Forget the name of it, but I wanted one, one time. This plane can take off in 25 feet and climb out immediately with two people at 45 degrees. The way the wings are designed. Forget the name of that one.

The Radio Controlled planes were giving acrobatic displays all day. The paraglider jumping guys came on around 2:30 p.m. I left earlier and missed them. I got there around 9:30 a.m. as the newspaper ad didn´t give a time. By afternoon I was tired and needed my nap. Old man you know! ( grin )

Exprimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 1, of Belize was represented at the AIR SHOW. Couple of amateur plane builders there

Couple of ANNUAL meetings were held at the show, while the pilots and plane builders were all together. The PA was announcing for the AOPA Meeting. Rules and regulations would be my guess in dealing with our Belize government, to change amateur rulings by aviation officials with little, or no real experience. Sometimes our aviation officials in Belize come up with the most shocking and wierdest rules, trying to show their authority.

Bianca de la Fuente of Belize ( high school girl ), Momma- Wendy Auxillou

Teenage student of Muffles College and beloved granddaughter of Ray Auxillou, on the left in the photo. She would have been just a good bite for the hammerhead shark or the two big 1000 lb BULL SHARKS in the Blue Hole scuba dive.

*** Beeeg BULL SHARKS often found in the Blue Hole. They seem more curious than dangerous! Usually found on the East side of the Blue Hole.
*** This is the stalactites around 120 million years old they say, from around which the famous 120 foot BLUE HOLE MONSTER came swimming out through a party of 5 pioneering USA divers on a dive trip, on the boat ATOLL QUEEN from Caye Caulker, in the early 1960´s. The stalactites are found around 135 feet deep.
The Famous Blue Hole of Belize put on the scuba destination map, by Cap´n Ray Auxillou in the 1960´s. It became a world famous status scuba destination, for those bragging about scuba diving. Inhabited by Hammerhead sharks and Bull Sharks ( over 1000 lbs ) and once famous for the appearance of the mysterious 120 foot long BLUE HOLE MONSTER, discovered by 5 divers from the USA in the 1960´s.

*** Bianca ( Auxillou ) de la Fuente, scuba diving the Blue Hole, at Lighthouse reef atoll in Belize.

Bianca ( Auxillou ) de la Fuente, teenage high school girl of Muffles College in Orange Walk Town, Belize, Central America, 2010. Granddaughter of famous Ray Auxillou. Scuba diving for her first time in the Blue Hole of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Looking for the Blue Hole Monster and those reputed great big BULL SHARKS of 1000 lbs that inhabit the Blue Hole.

THE BEST BLUE HOLE SCUBA TRIPS ARE ARRANGED FROM THE ISLAND OF CAYE CAULKER BY THE BARRIER REEF AT -FRENCHIES SCUBA DIVING PLACE-. ABEL AND TINA are MASTER RATED DIVEMASTERS, AND WILL TAKE YOU THE OPEN OCEAN TRIP OF 90 MILES TO LIGHT HOUSE REEF ATOLL, IN A FAST BOAT, WHERE THE FAMOUS, BLUE HOLE IS LOCATED. Tina Auxillou is famous in her own right and also an ocean going boat captain. Ask for her on the island of Caye Caulker for dive lore and advice. She also has four condos right on the beach front, for overnight guests, called the Blue Moon. She is the daughter of now retired Ray Auxillou ( 74th year ) Though he has been noted to still scuba dive occasionally.

Bianca de la Fuente, is the niece of Tina Auxillou, and daughter of Wendy Auxillou, another scuba certified dive master, though in 2010 and 2011 not living on the island of Caye Caulker, as she is in the USA putting her other daughters through college and University in Katy, Texas an outer town of Houston. She works for the County School Board.

Belize possiblities in vegetables - hydroponic Wasabi?

*** Wasabi growing in flooded gravel beds, hydroponics.
*** Short lived high flavored Wasabi roots, a $100 a pound in Japan.



VEGETABLE GROWERS - WASABI ROOTS, $100 A POUND?

BELIZE DEBATE BETWEEN OPPOSITION PUP AND IMPARTIAL INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

Ray Auxillou, grumpy old man and criticizer of government performance for independent voters.


Michael Reid, aspiring PUP writer.



POLITICIAL DEBATE BETWEEN MICHAEL REID, THE PUP OPPOSITION PARTY WRITER AND RAY AUXILLOU, A NON PARTISAN CRITICIZER OF BOTH MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES. ( without fear or favor to either the PUP or the UDP )

I´ll take the debate for a couple of those issues from the other side from Michael Reid. With of course tongue in cheek, as Michael Reid is a PUP writer, writing for the opposition PUP, looking for a big paying job, the next time the PUP get in office. I doubt that will be for another 7 years as things are going.

Some items from his criticism.

Sugar according to BSI is not according to the article in the Amandala written by Bill Lindo. His facts obviously gotten from biased sources that were lying. BSI have until September to re-finance existing loans. They also report there are no current financial problems and they have cash on hand to get through this current seasonal crop. If there is a problem for me with BSI ( sugar factory ), it is that the turbines had to be dismantled for servicing in only one to three months operation. That does´t speak well for the current crop and it looks like they better get Peter Singfield in XAIBE who started this whole deal, as a Canadian Engineer as a consultant, to solve this problem with loss of turbine power. He has more experience and knowledge in his little finger of solving this problem, than all the experts in Europe and the USA put together.

The Royalistic, or nepotism privileges of a Prime Minister in power, able to give choice lawyer jobs for family within the government is troublesome. However it is PAR for every governed nation on Earth, due to human nature. I don´t like it and it is not a fair process. But then in review, I have to think, if I suffered what Barrow has suffered in the political arena to get where he is, I would damn well do exactly the same. So I´m not complaining, because people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Nor should Michael Reid if he would be honest with himself, assuming he can think in Barrow´s shoes.

The citrus is a problem, but it is not OUR government problem and therefore of little concern to PM Barrow. My only quarrel is; he has been dumping more tax dollars in grants and loans with the CGA, who have incompetent leadership with big personal ambitions and views of personal grandeur. They should be left to work out their problems on their own. NO MORE TAXPAYERS MONEY for the CGA would be my motto. I stand by to buy some of their SHARES they should sell, if they are in financial trouble. Let the market place solve the situation.

On the owners who fled with their plane, without going through government paper work. I´ve done that a few times in my life by boat, both in Honduras and Guatemala. Believe me, I don´t regret such decisions myself. I would be dead if I had done otherwise. Sometimes the bureaucracy and the greed is more than a person on a short budget can consider reasonable. Read my books if you want to know more!

I´m waiting for the BUDGET SPEECH promised in MARCH. I want to know the TRUE debt to GDP ratio. All of it! Other than that, I´m considering awarding Prime Minister Barrow up to 10 points on his political party report card otherwise. Currently at 54%. Depends on the blarney he spouts and the amount of covering up he might do, to fudge the numbers and projections. His first year, his elected Ministers were total amateurs and he had to both teach them and bring them into line. He did that and year 2 and 3, were the most difficult years, facing a world recession, subsequent loss of government revenues and the loss of the Williams Sewing Factory many jobs for the port town economy. I didn´t agree with some of his decisions, but all in all the results are magnificent. He brought the government of Belize through the two most economically trying years in the history of Belize successfully. So depending on his performance with the annual statistics, in his budget speech he can get up to 10 points for his report card. We wait and see! I have a general feeling of satisfaction that his leadership brought Belize through the most two difficult years with flying colors. I´m waiting to see the downside and judge from that the final score for his report card.

--- On Thu, 2/17/11, G. Michael Reid wrote:


From: G. Michael Reid
Subject: Bz-Culture: Reid between the lines
To: "Belize Culture" , "Belize Culture"
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 9:01 PM

One might imagine that in retrospect, our Prime Minister would have to consider his most recent performance one of his worse ever. On Wednesday last, Mr. Barrow called a press conference to recap the highlights of his first three years in office and reveal his floor plan for the next two. Many who attended or listened in on the radio came away with a lot of questions and very few answers.


As far as accomplishments, Mr. Barrow really does not have much to point to. He conceded that the sugar industry was experiencing a major setback, despite a recent ten million dollar bail-out. The tourism industry is in turmoil and in that regards, Mr. Barrow revealed that he really didn’t “know what was going on there” except that there appeared some game of “musical chairs.” For now, it seems that the Belizeans trying to make a living from that industry are the “odd man out” and are scrambling desperately to find an empty chair at that table.


Another of Belize’s vital industries, citrus, is still very much on edge and as Channel Seven succinctly puts it, “antagonism… seems to only be intensifying”. Mr. Barrow seems to be pulling a Pontius Pilate on that one and would only say that while he would “say nothing unkind about lawyers… once they get involved I think you can kiss the chances of any amicable solution goodbye." One would think that Mr. Barrow knows a thing or two about the way lawyers operate. It goes without saying that it was no consolation to the many small farmers involved in that industry who have been operating under a veil of uncertainty for the longest time.


While the press conference itself did not reveal much in terms of goals and accomplishments, the follow-up questions exposed it own impeachment. While I have been often critical of the so-called main stream media for customarily petting and powdering politicians, in particular those of this administration, last Wednesday’s line of questioning was spot on and relevant. In characteristically arrogant and belligerent form, Mr. Barrow responded to most questions with a scowl and a scold to those who dared question his royalistic prerogatives. Yet, to their credit, the journalists pressed on and even those hitherto allegiant to his every whim and cause, backed him in a corner and confronted him on the tough issues.


Mr. Barrow was pressed about his cabinet’s decision to grant his own nephew over a million acres of prime estate for use in exploration for oil. When confronted with the fact that the area had no less than fourteen protected areas, Mr. Barrow pled ignorance and proceeded to shift the blame to “the minister and his experts.” Mr. Barrow dismissed the charge of nepotism and concluded by defiantly stating that there was “not a damn thing wrong with that process and that is a position by which I stand.” With all due respect

Mr. Barrow, just about everyone else sees something wrong with this process and that is a position by which we will also stand.


Mr. Barrow was also pressed on the recent situation at the Phillip Goldson International Airport where two pilots climbed aboard a seized drug plane and flew it out of the country without permission or clearance. In a flippant response, Mr. Barrow seemed surprised that anyone would be at all concerned about that issue. “Wasn’t it their plane?” asked Mr. Barrow. Well indeed, it just might have been; the original owners even. There does exist specific process and regulations however, and given the on-going concern about terrorism, Mr. Barrow might have been better given to an aura of exigency. GOD forbid, that aircraft had taken off and crashed into some populated area or worse yet, into one of our foreign embassies. It would have resulted in a crisis of mammoth proportions but according to Mr. Barrow, “what harm was done?”


Mr. Barrow was asked a pretty straight forward question and one that has been on the minds of most Belizeans. Are we better of f today than we were three years ago when his government took office? A recent poll conducted and published by the Amandala newspaper found that seventy percent of those polled did not think so. Cost of living has risen astronomically and crime is totally out of control with more murders per capita than even the most dangerous places on earth. Respect for any kind of authority is close to none and corruption has become the normal order of the day. The UDP continues to govern in the rear-view mirror, still casting blame and finding faults on the last administration.


In an interview with Adele Ramos and published in this week’s Amandala, Mr. Barrow was a bit more candid admitting that “there are many areas in which we fall short” and that there are “definitely people who register dissatisfaction.” When presented with the results of the poll Mr. Barrow’s response was that, “the only poll that matters is the poll which takes place on Election Day.” According to Mr. Barrow, a political party must “campaign in poetry but govern in prose”. According to the Prime Minister, “when you are in opposition, you make all kinds of promises…” Let us hope that the people of Belize are taking heed.


Belizeans will have to start holding politicians and political parties to their promises. We elect them based on what they say they are going to do and must find a way to hold them to these promises. The PUP has been in the process of selecting its standard bearers to contest the next general elections. From all indications, the UDP will once again prove to be just a “one term government.” To their credit, the PUP’s have always been more realistic and committed to their manifesto of promises. Without vigilant scrutiny and compulsion however, politicians will continue to wiggle out of their obligation and duties. We the people must find a way to keep them honest and we must demand fair value for our money. A courageous and objective media makes the job much easier and their performance at last week’s press conference goes a long way toward restoring hope. Mr. Barrow’s performance was pitiful but the media came away smelling like a rose. Long live the free press!

--
G. Michael Reid
Citizen of the world

BELIZE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES TV PROGRAM REVIEW , FEB. 17th, 2011.

File photo, of older program.


BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES REVIEW, THE TV PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE BELIZE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

There were three guests this week. A port town CUSTOMS BROKER. A port town ARCHITECT. The "professional" manager of the posh CAANA RESORT in Western Belize.

A critique and what I got out of this week´s program.
______________________________________________

The subject matter was trying to deal with the SERVICE sector of our economy, in which 65% of the jobs are provided by the TOURIST INDUSTRY. There were other facets, but they were dominated by the impact of the tourism sector on government revenues and the employment jobs they provide in the economy of the nation.

The Belizean resort manager, Ian Lizzaragua, from the upscale, high end big price resort, CAANA, dealing, I always believed; mainly as a tax writeoff for the OIL INDUSTRY, people owners, had some good things to say for development. Mostly a critique of our government efficiencies, or lack thereoff, and their attempt to stagnate the development of tourism and business in general, through over regulation.

In Ian´s view the tourism product of Belize was second to none in the world. I would certainly agree with him there. Where I disagreed, was he was promoting more foreign investment, bigger facilities and copying places like Panama, or maybe Miami Beach. This is were I disagreed.

From my viewpoint as a tourism pioneer and whose grown adult children are themselves investors in the business ( we have more guest rooms than CAANA resort in total ) I would say that the tourist business is right where it should be, for the size of our population. Not for our growing and expanding tourist capacity possibilities, but more on the way we have developed over the last fifty years.

Our tourism product seperated by intention, back when Ian Lizaragua was still a child in school, from the Caribbean brand of package sealed fenced hotel beach enclaves owned by foreign colonial capital. In Belize we successfully developed the small entrepreneurial tourism businesses. There are over 600 guest hotels in the registry. Not counting the unregistered smaller outfits. For the size of our population that is a lot. As a pioneer from the beginning, this was the way we planned to go and this is what we have achieved. A diversified tourist product, up and down the scale of prices, facilities and offerings. Something for everyone. A wider participation in spreading the tourism dollars around villages nationwide than found elsewhere in the Caribbean. What Ian seemed to be proposing, is that we move on to the concentrated, skyscraper, type condo building, of 50 stories, with a bunch of them crowded like some central metropolitan area. It is an opinion of future development to be considered, but my generation wanted preservation of what is unique in Belize. We wanted to be more like Jackson Hole, or Banff, keeping the environment pristine as possible, to enjoy for future generations of Belizeans unborn. Me personally, you can take Panama, Isla San Andres and Miami, or downtown Paris and shove it. I wanted what we developed here in Belize. Something quaint, small entrepreneurial family run operations. We have it and I´m proud of it and want to keep it that way. We do have still lots of potential tourist destination areas to be developed. The mountains, the gold producing area, several places that are now protected forest reserves, but have a tourist potential for another hundred small tourist operations. These will come from population growth.
Foreign investment in Belize mostly came from immigrants from the USA and from Europe. These nearly always became Permanent residents, or Belizean citizens. Locals are heavily invested in the small scale tourist product also. I watched with dismay all the PUP generated BIG tourism promotion deals, fall into bankruptcy with ruins of speculative dreams scattered over the tourist landscape like abandoned rusted car hulks. Small investment is good and it works.
For a number of years I ran, in my off season, tourists down the barrier reef islands by sailboat, camping out and over to Puerto Cortez in Honduras and by bus to the Southern goldfields of Honduras. Wrote articles in magazines about it. ( Gold Prospector magazine and Scuba Diving Magazines ). I always wanted to do the same to the placer gold area in the Southern mountains of Belize. Unfortunately there was no four wheel drive track there and no airstrip for a small plane. You could still build a tourist resort there for that unique adventure for example, in the future.

The government obstruction, over-regulation, and inefficiencies, were noted by all parties on the panel as a big problem. The biggest problem! The reasons of course, it is a small country, and most jobs in government are politicial party patronage. The budget is small and some departments like BELTRAIDE are non-functional and wasted money. While others like the LANDS Department, or Immigration Dept. cannot keep up with the customers they have wanting service.

The question of tourism came up a bit. What was not mentioned, that in 50 years the PEAK TOURIST SEASONS, when you make the gravy to carry you through as a small operator are only 15 weeks out of a 52 week year. This is 6 weeks from 3 days before Christmas to the 28th of January. The three weeks of EASTER holidays and the six weeks of the summer holidays, July and August. The rest of the year for the 600 tourist accommodations are dribbles of guests that cannot show a profit and usually through the FALL empty months, run up lots of bills you owe, that can only be paid at the end of January after the first big winter PEAK SEASON.

Ian did bring up the nonsense promoted in new legislation by the labor department, who represent about 9% of the employment sector. He questioned the right of this department to make LAWS governing the other HUGE employment sector working in seasonal jobs. Particularly in the tourist business. The major problem being OTHER PEOPLES HOLIDAYS ARE OUR national TOURIST BUSINESS. We are in this together, both government, labor and the private sector. When our labor are expected to work the most, is during HOLIDAYS. That is what tourism is all about. Yet the new legislation he pointed out is requiring temporary hotel workers for example getting paid 3.5 times their regular daily salary for working tourist holidays. Like Christmas, New Years, etc. It is of course typical bureaucratic nonsense, unquestioned by allegedly elected representatives in the CABINET, who should know better. Enough said, I´ll leave that battle to be fought by the industry professionals. The small tourist business simply does without labor and tries to do everything themself during the HOLIDAY HIGH PEAK TOURIST SEASONS. ( Been there-done that! )

The architect of course wanted job protection from foreign competition. A MONOPOLY is what this group of professionals want, to guarantee them a good living as parasites living on the backs of the common citizen. I´m not for MONOPOLIES myself.

The CUSTOMS broker did bring up a good point. Customs Brokers are on the job training. It is not a difficult job, just repetitious. I´ve done it myself, so I know. The man did point out though, whereas import stuff paperwork is usually standard, that they as an industry, need some sort of training venue to keep up with all the foreign requirements for EXPORTERS in Belize, trying to sell their products to places like CARICOM, the European Union, to Canada, to the USA and to Mexico and Guatemala, Honduras and Salvador. That is an excellent College Level night school course should be offered some place. Instead of every small entrepreneur taking YEARS to assemble all the paper work knowledge necessary to export their product to buyers abroad. Mistakes while learning are expensive and ruinous to the small entrepreneur. The customs broker did want protection also, or a monoply to protect against customs brokers in foreign countries filling out all the paper work through online sources available.

Interesting program and a younger generation than mine in outlook. But looking back over 50 years, I would say for the growth in our population, the revenues we can afford to collect for our government have us just about where we should be. Some efficiencies in government priorities and spending seem obvious things to correct and I have the faith these will be dealt with as circumstances permit. Will everything work like a SWISS CLOCK? Unlikely! Not for wanting and trying. Simply because of the nature of political effects and dealing with new generations of inexperienced people re-learning old lessons of how to do things. An endless process in bureaucracy.

Do University of Belize 400 new graduates fit our economic opportunities?

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ACADEMIC GRADUATES FROM OUR UNIVERSITY? Are they really educated to fill our many business opportunities and grow our economy?


400 University of Belize graduates this month. Queer seeming month to graduate in February I would think. But then I don´t know anything about that subject.
Now are they educated properly for a life in Belize? That is another questions?
1) How many of them are going to be entrepreneurial business people? 2) How many will go into the speculative construction business. 3) How many of them will start the packaging business the growing economy needs? Like importing cardbard and manufacturing the boxes to export chocolates and ginger biscuits and our many tea plant varities in tea bags, etc. 4) Or how many of these graduates are going to start a distribution business for local small producers for in-country sales and collections.

We as a country have NO salaried jobs for 400 graduates a year from academia. The government jobs are maxed out according to our national debt. Trade school graduates maybe? So how is our higher education fitting people for the local job market and more importantly the entrepreneurial business opportunities and needs we are crying out for? We need people to grow the economy. Are these people going to do it?

I´d like to read a study of the aspirations of these 400 graduates from the University of Belize ACADEMIA. Are they REALLY QUALIFIED for our economic needs?

WHALE SHARK, HUGE SEA MONSTERS IN BELIZE SOON NOW!

WHALE WATCHING SEASON ARRIVING SOON IN BELIZE!

The biggest of them all, can be found on special dates at Gladden Spit, outside the Great Coral Barrier Reef of Belize, in the SPRING MONTHS, as the Gulf Stream comes closer into the Great Barrier Reef, on it´s turn from going West, to going North. The Gulf Stream finally turns NorthEAST in the Florida Straits. The huge WHALE SHARKS come to feed, to do with the fish spawning, moon phases.



Prime times to see whale sharks at Gladden Spit this year are supposed to be the following dates: March 17-29, April 16-28, May 15-27 and June 13-25

BELIZE CIVIL DEBATE ABOUT SOME STUPID GOVERNMENT SPONSORED LAWS

BELIZE GOVERNMENT SUBJECT OF NEGATIVE REVIEWS WITH DRACONIAN LAWS DEBATE GOING ON!

AMONG THEM ARE IT IS ILLEGAL TO HAVE A FLARE GUN, WHICH IS REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT IN MOST OTHER COUNTRIES LAWS, FOR BOATS. A BULLET PROOF VEST FOR PROTECTION IS ALSO AGAINST THE LAW AND CAN INVOLVE BIG FINES AND MANDATORY LONG JAIL TERMS IN A CAGE. IT HAS BEEN RUMORED EVEN CHILDRENS BOW AND ARROW SPORT SETS ARE ILLEGAL, AS ALSO B-B PISTOLS USED FOR PLINKING TIN CANS, OR PAPER TARGETS BY CHILDREN. I USED TO HAVE ONE ON CAYE CAULKER, 4 DECADES AGO AND SHOT THE CROWS WHO WOULD PULL UP MY WATERMELON SEEDLINGS. IT WORKED UNTIL THEY FIGURED OUT THE RANGE OF A B-B. THEN THEY LAUGHED AT ME. IN BELIZE YOU WON´T BE LAUGHING IF CAUGHT WITH A CHILDREN´S DAISY TOY B-B PISTOL TODAY.


.
That is sheer stupid.
Belize should take proper note of, and allow Internationally recommended safety
equipment.




On 13/02/2011 14:07, lynn . wrote:
> I heard Government is reconsidering the flare gun issue too. Can you imagine
> sailing into Belize with all the internationally recommended safety equipment
> aboard your vessel only to find the flare gun is a major offense carrying a
> $10K fine?
> lynn
>
>
> If it is any comfort the P.M. has confirmed he will repeal the anti bullet
> proof vest law B.K.'s commander in chief foisted on us - did not say when
> though........
>
>
>
>
>
> Wow!!
>
> In most parts of the US his activity is considered common and legit --
> here though -- he now faces 10 years or so in local jail.
>
> And kiss good bye the farm!!
>
> What a super downer!!
>
> Those draconian laws were instituted to stop gang banging -- and
> murderous armed robbery -- interesting to note exactly who they are
> being applied to now.
>
> When was the last time a real crook -- a true danger to we society --
> was pinned on such laws??
>
>

Tifany Simpson, Belizean genius - BELIZE -

***** Belizean Genius Tifany Simpson

Holy Moly, I remember when I took a C++ software programming course and afterwards, while it was useful to me, I decided being a software programmer was not what I wanted to be. The thing here is she taught herself to make video games from the internet after around 4 months all together.


Not trying to push a commercial product but this looks kind of interesting....

The Guardian:

Written by Shane D, Williams
Thursday, 10 February 2011 00:00
Tiffany Simpson and her Belize Trivia ChallengeTiffany Simpson and her Belize Trivia ChallengeParents and children now have the opportunity to test their knowledge of the jewel in a fun and interactive manner thanks to Tiffany Simpson’s “Belize Trivia Challenge”. According to Tiffany Simpson, the Belize Trivia Challenge is a computer program that tests an individual’s knowledge of Belize. One game on the program includes 10 questions with 4 answers to choose from. Each answer is worth 1000 points and a player has 25 seconds to answer. 25 points is deducted for every second that passes. There is also a hint button that gives a clue to the answer for each question. The clue is very effective in helping a player to identify the answer; however, if the hint button is used 300 points is deducted.

The game is very addictive and the side effects include a ton of knowledge relating to Belize’s history, geography, culture, political and educational system, etc. Tiffany Simpson is a game and software developer whose passion for “fueling knowledge” inspired her to create the game. She said, “Knowledge is key to the development of any society and this is my way to contribute to that development.” Simpson is in the process of taking a high school tour to familiarize students and teachers with the program. Though it is not her immediate goal for the Belize Trivia Challenge, the program could serve as an effective preparation tool for students preparing for the Primary School Examinations. Simpson is able to build software using the curriculum for PSE. It is a creative way to encourage studying and improve performance.

Simpson’s program is revolutionary to Belizean education because it taps into this technologically motivated generation. Sadly for us in the newspaper business and printing industry, it is a fact that electronic media is the new king of information. The screen lights are more attractive than paper; therefore, games such as the Belize Trivia Challenge could be the answer to the prayers of parents and educators. Those without educational motivation may still find the challenge attractive based on the fact that rewards could be gained by playing online. Players can challenge others online to win cash by visiting www.belizeanartwork.com to sign up for an account.

What is more impressive than her program is the way that Simpson learnt to build it. She had no previous experience in software development and said that one year ago she Googled software design training. It took her six weeks to understand the program and two and a half months later the Belize Trivia Challenge was born. A new CD is released every month with a database of a couple hundred questions. The price of a copy is $5 and they are available at the Image Factory in Belize City. Simpson hopes to have them available countrywide shortly but until then autographed copies can be ordered directly from her at telephone number 607-1088.

She also develops software that make puzzles, some of which will be featured weekly in future editions of the Guardian.

NEW ISSUE OF BELIZE AG REPORT IS OUT

***** Beth Roberson dynamic editor of the Belize Ag Report.
BELIZE AG REPORT out this quarter.

It seemed kind of late in publication this issue? Maybe my sense of time is distorted?
This new issue is okay, glossy and fancy as ever. Lots of advertising these days, and the advertising was more interesting than the articles this issue. The previous issues articles had me riveted. Was looking for articles on hog production and economics in detail. But no such thing. Had a query from an interested Canadian investor who was asking questions I could not answer about hog farming commercially here.

Was interested in Neem tree production articles and how to produce something like NEEM oil for export with details. Previous issues had got me interested in this subject. But the; no follow up was disappointing. Jatropha the same story, no follow up. Earlier articles got me interested but, no follow up.

Interesting article on plowing under charcoal to enrich your soil. We have several old articles on this BLOG about that. There was even a guy with a pickup truck of bags of charcoal for sale, came around Hillview here a month back. So there is a supply for farmers wanting to do this soil feeding additive.

Glad to see the magazine is a commercial success. Very good advertising support. I found a little advertisement, that showed there is competition for the small amount of Cacao produced in Toledo, Belize locally. Most of the cacao is exported as organic, jungle shaded at high prices in England, but if locals started to export chocolates here, there would not be enough of a crop. That was interesting, as my neighbor store in Hillview, just started producing chocolate candies and bags of chocolate powder for making chocolate drinks. The candies are out of this world for flavor. Got to get the recipe. ( Figueroa chocolate ) The new venture, small scale of course, does have a fine product for export. They told me they get the TOLEDO CACAO beans, grind them here in Hillview and are producing bags of powdered chocolate for mixing a chocolate type tea, which we like and round candies. Don´t know how we would get that way to exporting these things, with no food wrapping foils available in rolls locally, for cottage industry production. Big problem as is also printed, cardboard cartons, for packing candies and shipping chocolates. I´ve got several candy box samples saved from imported chocolates, but know of nobody locally who even produce boxes and printed containers for candies and biscuits. Without that, exporting is impossible.

Some nice statistics included in this issue. I sure like the statistics, it gives you a sense of perspective and where we are going as a small nation and investment ideas. Beth and John are doing a fine job. Good for her. I´m glad the magazine was successful.

BELIZE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES CHALLENGES THE POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS TO CHANGE THEIR WAYS!

*** Belize Chamber of Commerce - Belize TV program. This photo was of a different program, subject matter and panel. (File photo)


BELIZE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TV program this week called BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES

The Chamber on TV had a program with 3 participants. Alpuche, Canton and somebody else I don´t remember. They were all articulate, experienced and had worked inside in government jobs and outside in the private sector. I gather they were all salaried type employees. Though CANTON is reputed to be juggling a lot of balls in the air as far as businesses go. All more power to him. The three men, were all in their prime. I feel like an old FART nowadays, compared to them.
Surprisingly, I agreed with them and thought the discussion was a nice in depth look at our nation, the business practices and where the problems lie. It was nice to note that their opinions had changed since switching from working inside the government bureaucracy in their youth, to a more mature broad outlook after moving to the outside private sector. Let me see if I can remember the highlights. I´m sorry I did not take more notes at the time.
1) The biggest problem is the government bureaucracy. They are wasting their hours of paid work on useless endeavors. BELTRAIDE came to mind as mentioned as supposedly a one stop shopping for investment, which FAILED in bureaucratic malaise.
You might as well close that department, and put the money where it can be used more effectively. Buy a bridge or something. The biggest problem government has; is that departments and ministries are fighting each other for budget money and not inter-acting to best efficiency and tax payers monies spent. Lot of TURF WARS going on, between different government units. The panel said such competition has gotten worse, much worse over the last ten years. The panel had no corrective solutions to offer, but as an older man, I can offer one. The political party needs to reduce the CABINET to 7 members. Stop the Cabinet Minister padding of prestigious titles. Prune the tree so we can get inter department workability. That would boost efficiencies for money spent. This of course goes against the political grain, as it cuts Ministerial earnings, and the opportunities, for graft, bribes, and embezzlement. The British ministerial system does not work well for the country, only for the Ministers.
2) The money spent on trade shows, with the same 6 exporters participating internationally should be scrapped, the monies re-allocated to something useful. Like helping MOM and POP businesses get started. The small cottage industries need development assistance. How for instance is the government going to help the 7 or so, chocolate candy makers become exporters? They cannot fill a container with reefer cooling. Yet there are markets for niche chocolate products both in Europe, North America and Asia. Obviously so far, nobody in any government department have yet a CLUE, on how to help these small start ups get going. I tried to phone in this question to the panel, but no answer, just busy signals.
3) The patchwork legislation from colonial exploitation days was described as a CUT AND PASTE mess, that often contradicts from one page, or paragraph to another with regulations. The legislation for business was analyzed by these eminent gentlemen at the peak of their experience in Belize years, as being ARCHAIC and ANTI-BUSINESS. Particularly anti-small business against startups with their procedures, processes and regulations. I couldn´t agree more and any knowledgeable private sector person would agree. So how do you change what was legislation designed by British Law to promote comparatively BIG British interests and colonial investment exploitation on a larger investment scale, to the needs of a modern Belize just growing in both population and employment job needs, and foreign exchange earnings in a more diversified manner?
Most important, how do you change the legislation, to promote small private sector business ventures by the ambitious hardworking but basically export needing uneducated illiterate small producer, who has ambitions, but no role model other than Marie Sharp to follow.
I was helped in my day, or youth by Mr. Anderson, Bank Manager of Belize City in the 1960´s and here was my story.



Famous motorsailer, 34 ft ATOLL QUEEN, a wood boat from 1969 and our Island Traders Ltd., company Hideaway Lodge on the beach in the background at Caye Caulker. We bought the property and lodge by creating a start up company and selling shares to tourists who became family friends. Nellie Price in the port at the time, drew up the company charter and Mr. Anderson, the manager of Royal Bank of Canada taught me how to control the shares and Board of Directors of the company for the future, by creating an A class and common B class set of shares to sell. ( photo and extract taken from BELIZE CAYE CAULKER HISTORY PHOTOS PAGE, on the WESTERN BELIZE HAPPENINGS BLOG )
--------------------------------

In the 1960´s I taught these company formation lessons to a generation of 5th and 6th primary school children as their school teacher, who in turn went home and told their parents and showed them their lesson notebooks on Caye Caulker. Caye Caulker boomed as they grew up and their parents, some of them incorporated their own businesses by selling shares. All those two generations retired wealthy and passed on their knowledge to their children, who are now the adults on the island of Caye Caulker. This island is still one of the richest small communities in ALL of the Americas. They learned how to unite, sell shares, re-invest and budget.

Justin Auxillou Kuylen PHOTO

Justin Auxillou Kuylen and unnamed lady friend??? Up in the USA someplace, believed to in Chicago, during the great winter blizzards of 2011.

US Blacklists Belize?

USA BLACKLISTS BELIZE FOR US RESIDENTS?

I´ve been informed by brokerage people that Belize is blacklisted. Any trading of US securities by US resident aliens retired in Belize will be rejected. This is to new accounts, not sure if it applies to old accounts.

There goes the ability, or part of the ability to attract US retirees to Belize.

New FINRA and SEC regulations, force Brokerages in the USA to reject US citizens who are residents of Belize. So I was told.

WORLD FAMOUS - CHALLENGING - RUTA MAYA CANOE RACE - MARCH 4TH TO 7TH IN BELIZE

WORLDS LONGEST CANOE RACE, THE RUTA MAYA IN BELIZE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ABOUT 200 MILES AND HAS THREE LEGS OF A DAY EACH, CAMPING ON THE RIVER BANK IN BETWEEN.

The date is March 4th to 7th., 2011. Starts in San Ignacio about 7 a.m. when the mist is still on the river and daylight is only just brightening.