Fayemarie Anderson Carter

Another Victim of Vehicular Homicide Just Buried Under Complacency And Old School Bullshit by Fayemarie Anderson Carter

/ Twocanview LLC / 4 Comments

Ken Emmanuel

Ken Emmanuel was one of them, a Police Constable who risked his life in service to his people everyday. But instead of justice being sought for his death, the “good old boys club” is wielding its influence and he is just another dead black boy not worth worrying about. I mean who is going to demand justice in his name? His dad and his mom are already dead. I don’t know where his granny, Ms. Gwennie is or even if she is alive still…He’s just a no count nobody right? After all, this Mr. Carlos Santos is a pillar of the community. Everybody loooooves him. He is such nice man.

I didn’t want to have to talk about this because when it comes to Kenny, his life has always been difficult and I knew that it would just bring back a flood of memories and feelings. You see, Kenny is my cousin. I was there when his mother Arlene Kuylen met his father. She was a tragic figure herself, an illegitimate child for my Uncle Eric Kuylen, (he died during my 4th and my brother’s 1st joint birthday party) being raised with her brother “AK”by our spinster Aunt Olive Kuylen. She was brown and poor; her cousins, rich and white. When I was three, we went to live with them while my father studied in Jamaica.  I was the passport when she went to meet Kenny’s father. She would tell my aunt that she was taking me for a “walkabout” when really she was meeting him. She was giggly and happy, in love. When she got pregnant, I was there stroking her hair as she cried because my aunt was yelling and cussing. I remember her squeezing me so tight I couldn’t breathe but I didn’t dare tell her because I loved her so much. (Yes, I do have memories from waaay back…I remember crawling on the black and white floors in the house in Jamaica. It can be a curse and a blessing.)

But of course, everyone got over it and Kenny was Christmas and random visits in the evening on the farm. His father died when Kenny was very young from complications of diabetes. They moved away and the visits became far and few. But that didn’t mean we didn’t know about Kenny. We all worried about Kenny because his step father was a very violent man. A few times, Arlene would run to us to get away from him. But she would go back so we tried to be there for Kenny even if indirectly. She and my mom were very close so that eventually when she moved to Belize City, my mom was able to get her a job working for her uncle at HL’s Burger. When I was in sixth form I would visit her and get my $2 burger. My paternal grandmother made sure she sent Kenny clothes and shoes and of course, candy. Bless her heart. When Kenny was 17, he met us again and it was like the first time because he did not remember us at all. He was ecstatic to find out who “his people” were. He went to the cayes and got to be a “Kuylen” for the first time in his life.

We lost contact after that because we moved out of the country so all we knew was the violent deaths of his mother and sister. It’s funny how murder can separate rather than bring you together but that is what happened. We drifted apart because of the pain…and Kenny went on to live his own life, we, ours.

And now this.

I don’t want to unfairly accuse Mr. Carlos Santos if this truly was an accident and he really did get blinded by the light and hit Kenny. If that is all to it then so be it. What I don’t want is a shitty investigation because Mr. Carlos Santos is a prominent member of his community and married to George Price’s niece. Rumours are flying about that he wasn’t even driving; that his daughter was and he is taking the blame. Another rumour is that he was drinking and driving….

I don’t “know” this…it is “yeriso”. But I am putting you people on notice. He deserves only the most thorough investigation done on his behalf. He was a police officer for god’s sake. One of you. It is what you do as brothers and sisters in this very special family. And while it is sad that an old man is the offender, if he were negligent or if he is lying on behalf of his daughter, they both need to be charged. Kenny was a person, a human being. He had family who loved him his whole life. He mattered.

R.I.P. Kenny

Links to Kenny’s story:

http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/71489

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=22665&frmsrch=1

http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?id=12652

Daily Dingleberry 06-11-12 Don’t Hang Capital Punishment On This Little Girl

/ Twocanview LLC / 2 Comments

While I absolutely understand and appreciate the public’s reaction to the case of Jasmine Lowe, I feel the need to caution those of you hollerin’ about “Hang them!” “Bring back capital punishment” “Flog these monsters in the town square!”.That is an “end to the story” consideration…there is so much we have to do to get there.

The Jasmine Lowe case is about firstly, cultural issues. We have to address the fact that girls are extremely vulnerable in our society because of many issues surrounding how parents talk to their children about predators, sex, violence, self defense. We continuously treat sexual abuse and violence against women and children as taboo and “not my business”. The victims are avoided and shunned while the abusers continue to hold their position in society and walk around free.

Secondly, it is about immigration issues. Our communities have changed dramatically because of the influx of immigrants. Someone pointed out that half of our cab drivers are immigrants. That means that we don’t know our neighbours anymore and as such, there must be other ways to ensure safety.

Which brings me to the third point. We have to stop accepting archaic laws and stop fighting attempts to modernize our laws and policies. I understand that the issue of registering/licensing cabs/drivers was already addressed and that it was met with refusal and outright defiance. The cab drivers cited cost as their main reason.

This brings me to my fourth point: we need to stop being so damned MYOPIC. Yes that was one aspect of changing the law: cost to the cab drivers BUT did you consider that it is a public safety issue? We have to be able to accurately identify “friendlys” from enemies and predators.  And Jasmine’s case clearly points to how children become victims but what about the elderly? tourists? and the cab drivers themselves who are exposed to danger when criminals use them to commit crimes disposing of them when they are finished? If there were better tracking devices/practices we can deter people from victimizing cab drivers themselves and when they do it anyway, we can better pin point who is the responsible criminal.

Along these same lines: why do we always find reasons to NOT do something? When Mary K Cariddi proposed the Jasmine Taxi Law, people attacked it for all kinds of reasons and yes there are valid considerations BUT the underlying message was: “why bother trying? It will never pass.”  Well crap! If you think like this? Sure it wont get passed! Nothing wrong with examining obstacles BUT only if your intent is to find ways around them….That was NOT what I saw happening…What I want us to do from now on is appreciate someone’s good intentions. Stop nit picking things to death and find ways to OVERCOME limitations. Stop being so negative and narrow minded. That is why Belize is stagnating swamp of a place…our goddamned attitude.

So then…here’s the fifth point: Jasmine Lowe’s case is about INVESTIGATIVE PROTOCOL. We can’t talk about bringing back capital punishment when we can’t even collect evidence, determine cause of death, arrest a suspect, prosecute him/her then finally get to the sentencing part???????? HOLY JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH! For me, the salient point to alllllll of this outcry about Jasmine is: We have been sold a bill of goods. We were told that we could hope for justice because we have a police force dedicated to its job of protecting and serving. BUT that just wasn’t true and the friggin powers tht be knew it ALLLLLLLL along. The main character in any investigation into any violent crime is your goddamned medical examiner…and this mudderfucker has been giving us NOTHING for years. You can’t convict anybody without proof people!

I am stunned  that this injustice has been perpetuated for decades…and I will accuse the entire justice system, any and everybody who works in it of being an accomplice. No wonder defense lawyers have such an easy time getting off alllll their friggin clients?! And shame on you for letting it go on….lawyers, police, magistrates…you all knew something was wrong and you didn’t address it…Anyway…now it’s out…and we need him out…so I need your help…You owe us…

Which brings me to my final point: YOU WORK FOR US. ALL OF YOU HAVE A JOB BECAUSE OF ‘WE THE PEOPLE”.

This divide between law enforcement and the public has to be bridged. The public is afraid of you, does not trust you and with good reason. We feel hopeless and frustrated with the dismissive way we are treated by the police. There are many stories of abuse and misconduct. I have been through it myself and it is awful. Even when citizens are trying to do their duty, you make it so difficult. You have taught us not to depend on you and you are cultivating a culture of vigilante justice.

So I hope I have made my point very clear: Jasmine Lowe is NOT about capital punishment….so please stop yellin about it….now is not the time…I know you are angry and feel this is an answer but at this point, it is only detracting from getting real solutions to the real problems…

There is a monster in our midst. The story of Jasmine’s demise by: Aria Lightfoot

/ Twocanview LLC / 10 Comments

Jasmine Lowe – victim of a child predator

The average person sees a young, lanky and carefree child going about her business. She laughs and finds simple joys in the innocent things in life. She may still play with dolls or dream up a marriage to her prince charming. She may still watch cartoons or chat all day with her giggly friends about insignificant consequences. She probably says a prayer every night as she fades into a dream state, her mind anxious to relive the day of hanging out with her friends and enjoying simple pleasures.

The child predator sees the same thing, except he has an unquenchable thirst filled with lust for the child he sees every day. So powerful is the feeling, he begins to stalk her, he knows everything about her. He salivates with every laugher and with each movement of her body, his loin throbs. He transforms into an animal. He loses all sensibilities and is motivated on pure unadulterated aching lust. His fixation seals her destiny. She remains innocent to a sadistic plan that will cause her demise. Each day seeing her, the compulsion to rape and kill grows and he becomes less human. Initially he attempts to fight the monster within and tries to adjust to some semblance of humanity; but he enjoys the pleasure of stalking and ruining innocence too much. The other victims left in his path paints a scary story. He has no internal conscience of right or wrong. He sits and waits for a window of opportunity.

On June 4, 2012, the window of opportunity opened up when Jasmine was spotted alone heading to meet her mom. He probably befriended her in the past, or may be a family friend or a familiar face. She felt an element of safety to accept his generosity to take her to her mom. He was elated his plan was coming to fruition. He drives off with young innocent Jasmine into oblivion leaving behind a traumatized country frantically, desperately and prayerfully demanding her safe return. As night drew nearer, the father, family and friends feels a surreal panicked fear knowing Jasmine would never just run off.

Jasmine probably told her abductor he missed the turn. He pretends to have made a mistake or probably convinced her that he needed to do something else first. An instinctive fear probably builds in her as she knows something is wrong. He offers to calm her down and maybe even offer some treat to her. He drives her to a safe place. A place other victims have seen before. A place where he fulfills his despicable inhumane desires.

He takes pleasure ripping away everything innocent in her. All her moments of happiness destroyed. Her soul leaves her fragile, battered and ravaged body. He savours as life escapes her …then she takes her last gasp for air; her eyes become dim as he temporarily satisfies his insatiable thirst. He no longer has any use for her, so he dumps her body on the Cristo Rey road.

He drives off, probably not even looking back. He could care less that he stole Jasmine’s innocence, life, and future. He could care less that he robbed a community of its peace of mind. He could careless that he devastated a family. Where was all this concern when his innocence was stolen? He probably headed back to a viewing area looking at the kids running around and laughing and playing…suddenly his attention is drawn to a young, pretty, twelve year old giggling with her friends…he feels a familiar stirring..

I perused the internet for child serial killers and chatted with a person who is a behavioral specialist. It is horrifying what these men admit to. Many come from very disturbing origins and kill without remorse. Many get an intense pleasure from living and killing in the their communities. He may be a psychopath. For more on how psychos see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy

Don’t be surprised if the monster is someone you would least expect, and may explain why he has been able to move around undetected. He may be well respected and may be wishing the family his “sincere” condolences while smirking inside. He may be your family or friend. He may be a “stable” family man with his own children. He will be monitoring the news and social sites for the latest. There is no picture of who he is. It is the biggest secret he keeps to himself and it gives him immense pleasure that he knows the answer while the entire community is left in a state of shock and despair. There is a monster in the midst….he will strike again!

The Community Reaches Out to Jasmine Lowe’s Family 06-06-12

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ImageBarton Creek Outpost Belize is organizing a fund raising effort  to help Jasmine’s family at this time of great despair and need.

Chris and Jasmin Lowe worked the peanut butter/granola business together. She was an important part of that operation. We are taking a collection to help take the pressure off of Chris to get straight back to work. We will shortly announce a San Ignacio drop off point for funds. Additionally we will receive Paypal and credit card donations through our Paypal account. If you have paypal you can send your donation to belizebritts@yahoo.com. If you want to make a donation otherwise please contact us and we will send you a paypal invoice that you can pay with a credit/debit card. Any amount at all will be helpful. If you want to do something, this is it.

Donations to help Chris Lowe through this time can be made at the Pacz Tours office on Burns Ave. We can also receive your donations via credit/debit card or Paypal account. Please contact us if you wish to help in that manner. This is something significant, something real, we can do. Let’s come together.

-Reprinted from Barton Creek Outpost Belize Facebook Page

Daily Dingleberry 06-05-12 No Jubilee Fuh Me

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We cut off the hand the could have fed us.

England is celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years of rule with a grand show of pageantry and seemingly genuine sentiments of gratitude and pride. I’m going to say something that is NOT going to be popular but I have long held this opinion, even as a child. One could accuse me of being influenced by my father who opposed independence in 1981. While his son, Henry Jr.,  was meeting the Duke, my dad was at the cayes building his house, refusing to be a part of what he saw as a premature move on George Price’s part.

However, I am unwilling to say that it is his influence which makes me have this very strong conclusion still to this day: we should not have asked for independence when we did. I really believe that we were unprepared as a people to take over the role of leadership. I believe that it was a very self serving agenda upon which George Price embarked. He cared more about his legacy than the shambles in which his decision would leave us.

See, what we refuse to admit is that we did not have the tools for rule. Not yet. We are a small nation with a small population with little and poor infrastructure. Old George asked us to enter the game very late and compete globally with economic giants. We didn’t have roads; functioning medical clinics; developed industries; an educated and experienced pool of people from which  to chose our new government; an army; a proper airport….and the list goes on. You can say to me now: “Well we have all of that now.”

Really? At what cost? Our crime rate is ASTRONOMICAL! We owe sooooooo much money and our people are suffering with a truly disgraceful number of 50% BELOW the poverty level. Our justice system is a JOKE. Yeah. I said it. There is NO justice when lawyers run our country into the ground, using their knowledge to intimidate and STEAL from our people.

We should have prepared ourselves BEFORE jumping up and down like impatient children waiting for the ice cream truck. We did not need to get independence in order to develop as a nation. We should have made the British Empire develop allllll that stuff for us first. After all they owed us. They took all of our resources and left us with nothing. And we let them because we had stupid, blind, false pride. We were gonna show them we didn’t need ’em. So we kicked them out and left ourselves stranded and struggling. Nowhere is safe in Belize anymore. Is this what we imagined? Was our precious independence worth all this killing and strife?

Our best minds keep leaving, never to return, afraid, because the risk hardly seems worth it. Our children are raped and murdered with no recourse. Our people are dying in record numbers from all kinds of diseases and cancer is ravaging our population. Guatemala is still claiming us and forcing us to have a referendum over something that should be moot by now. Our citizens are having to fight ignorance and archaic laws to just establish basic rights. Children are going to school hungry or none at all. Our land is soon to be ours no longer since the only way to make money is to sell the one asset we do have to the Americans or the Chinese.

Don’t get it twisted people. I have no love for colonialism nor any allegiance to royalty but I sure as shit would have preferred making them give us what we deserved as their subjects before kicking their asses out because now we sure are in the crapper and I don’t know how we are going to get out of shit hole we dug ourselves into.

Kim Simplis Barrow Says Thank You

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Yesterday, we finally got to hear from the First Lady herself, expressing gratitude to all those who sent her messages of encouragement:

My fright and panic after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and learning of the severe heart damage that the chemotherapy drugs have caused me, were greatly relieved by the knowledge that so many of you were praying for me, and willing me to survive this. I am truly grateful and it is impossible to properly describe the comfort that your outpouring of support has brought me. I thank each of you and want you to know that you motivate me to keep on fighting. It has been a draining, wrenching past few days. But while my heart will continue to be literally weak, it and my spirit are strengthened by your emails, texts and FB messages. The journey continues and I and my family will always be grateful. With God, your support and my determination, I look forward to the future. I ask all of you to continue to pray for all those on the battlefield of diseases. Thank you ALL!!

-Kim Simplis Barrow on her Facebook page 06-01-12

US provides US$100,000 grant to foster business between local and global Caribbean…

/ Twocanview LLC

Caribbean Idea Marketplace

 

Caribbean Idea Marketplace Fostering Local & Diaspora Business Partnerships for Development APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 31, 2012

The Caribbean Idea Marketplaceis a business competition platform that aims to foster collaboration  between local and global Caribbean diaspora entrepreneurs to develop and  expand innovative projects that generate employment and economic growth  by providing US$100,000 grant funding for winning projects.CIM is a dynamic funding initiative that seeks to:

  • Engage Caribbean entrepreneurs with Caribbean diaspora and other  entrepreneurs in the US, Canada and the UK, to encourage the development  of new and innovative business ideas that can foster economic growth in  the region;
  • Promote entrepreneurship, and business development in new and innovative areas;
  • Share knowledge and create learning networks with and among diaspora communities.

Click here to download a press release about the launch of this competition.

Participating in the Competition Information about the Caribbean Idea Marketplace, eligibility requirements, and how to apply can be found at www.caribbeanidea.org. Applications must be submitted by May 31, 2012.
IdEA was launched by The Secretary of State’s Office of Global Partnerships Initiative in May 2011 at the Secretary’s first Global Diaspora Forum. IdEA is being incubated and managed by the Migration Policy Institute — an independent, nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, DC — in collaboration with the State Department, USAID, and other partner institutions.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Caribbean  Partner

  • Must  be a citizen of one of the following CARIFORUM countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The  Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana,  Haití, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and  Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Must  own a legally registered business, or intend to establish a business in a  CARIFORUM country.
  • Have  an innovative idea of how to expand a business or introduce new goods or  services to my community.
  • Submission  of a Project Concept Note with a partner from the Caribbean diaspora.
  • Must  have a diaspora partner committed to contributing at least 25% of the funding  to the proposed venture.
  • The  partner must be of Caribbean heritage/origin or have strong ties with the  Caribbean and be a citizen/permanent resident of the USA, Canada or the UK.

Diaspora  Partner

  • Must  be a citizen/permanent resident of the USA, Canada or the UK with Caribbean  heritage/origin or have strong ties with the Caribbean.
  • Interested  in establishing a new business or expand an existing business in the  Caribbean.     
  • Submission  of a Project Concept Note with a partner who is of Caribbean origin and who  resides in a CARIFORUM country.  
  • Must  have a Caribbean partner committed to contributing at least 25% of the funding  to the proposed venture.
  • The business will be  established in one of the following CARIFORUM countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados,  Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haití, Jamaica, Saint  Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and  Trinidad and Tobago.

Proposed Business Project

  • The Project Concept Note must demonstrate how it will develop either a new product/service,  or a new export market for an existing product/service.
  • The project must have the potential to create sustainable  jobs for Caribbean men and women.
  • Firms  must have the resources available to at least match the grant amount of  US$100,000.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

You can apply  online. Please visit the  Caribbean Idea Marketplace Application page.  You will be guided  step by step through the application process.

If you are  unable to access the website, send us an email to diasporacim@iadb.org or send  us a fax at (246) 429 8869 to Compete Caribbean, and someone from the team will  answer your requests. In addition, prospective applicants may submit questions  or request clarification in writing to this address, no later than May 1, 2012.  Compete Caribbean will respond to questions and requests for clarification by  May 15, 2012 and share them with all potential applicants.

  • Call for proposals: Project Concept Notes may be submitted from March 1st to May 31st, 2012.
  • Proposal selection: Project Concept Notes will be evaluated by a team of experts and the best  project ideas will receive a small grant for developing an Innovation Business  Plan (IBP).
  • Business Plan Competition: The Innovation Business Plans will be submitted for review by an Investment  Panel, who will determine which projects should be awarded the US$ 100,000  matching-grant.
  • Winners:  Winners will be announced at a special awards  ceremony and will receive matching-grants of US$100,000 based on merit,  innovation, and need.

 

KEY DATES

March 1st, 2012 Call for Project Concept Notes  opened
May 31st, 2012 Deadline for submission of Project  Concept Notes
June 1st – June  30th, 2012 Evaluation  of Project Concept Notes
July 1st, 2012 Announcement  of selected projects to receive technical assistance to prepare an Innovation  Business Plan
July 1st – August 31st, 2012 Selected projects prepare Innovative  Business Plans
August 31st, 2012 Deadline  for submission of Innovation Business Plans
September 1st –  September 30th, 2012 Evaluation of  Innovation Business Plans
October 13th-15th, 2012 Ideas Marketplace Exhibition of  projects that submitted Innovative Business Plans
October 15th,  2012 Awards  Ceremony

ACCESS TO CREDIT

Scotiabank has pledged $100,000 in cash contributions to CIM as well as access   to credit with favorable terms to CIM winners, subject to credit approval,   credit score and other terms & conditions. Please note, Scotiabank cannot support   credit requests for Haiti or Suriname.

 

ACCESS THE CIM APPLICATION FORM

GET MORE INFORMATION

Melissa  Martinez-Nadal   Enterprise  Innovation Challenge Fund   Direct Firm  Support Coordinator   Compete  Caribbean Program     Office:  (246)227-8507/Barbados             (809)784-6400/Dominican Republic Email: melissama@iadb.org

Why do I vote for PUP /UDP by: Aria Lightfoot

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It seems that Belizeans cannot separate thoughtful debate without the need to know party affiliation. Faye and I encounter this quite a bit. We have been unable to effectively engage in debates without the constant accusatory finger pointing to party affiliation. The party affiliation addiction has created an impasse to meaningful discussion  and solutions. It would actually be hilarious if it wasn’t a sad statement of where we stand  as a nation. Does knowing which team someone plays for diminishes or compliments the discussion at hand? If an idea is a good idea, does it matter if it was a PUP or UDP idea? It seems that we lose a sense of humanity, fellowship, goodwill towards each other and ultimately our sense of citizenship and  civic duty because it does not reflect our party’s agenda.  I would like to believe we are Belizeans before we are PUP, UDP or anything else in Belize. I decided to interview two friends from different sides of the coins. I promised both I would not share their identities for this piece but I chose people who one may consider “die hard” supporters. Please read below:

Why the People’s United Party?

I support PUP because they are for the people.

Can you give me examples of this?

NHI; we [PUP] boost the economy unlike the UDP that kill the economy and don’t have a clue to boost it back even though they [UDP] say PUP wreck it. They [UDP] claimed they would be able to fix it within four years and they have not been able to get the country moving yet.  PUP gave salary increases accordingly unlike UDP who since elected has given zero raises but spend millions on fancy rides and paying gangs. PUP built Southern Highway, Orange Walk over pass, ITVET North, South and West.  They brought back the country after 5 hurricanes.  We [PUP] had some bad investments that if we could have done it again we would never do it that way but we are not afraid to take risks like a government should.  We [PUP] had a massive housing project, we put judges on tenure and UDP came and put them on yearly contracts to control them.  PUP stand and protect its supporters while UDP is about a few, even their own supporters complain about them.  PUP had foreign investments at 300 million and now the P.M said that we are only at 13 million. Our country imports 90% of what we use hence we need U.S currency from foreign investments to back us up. We will begin having problems to import stuff.  We [PUP] started the Cuba nurses and doctors program. We increase scholarships in Latin America and the Caribbean.  We started the polyclinics in the rural areas and water plants. Finally the UDP is taking four and a half years to build the Kendal bridge which is important to the South.

What does Democracy mean to you?

Democracy means freedom to function. The basis should be that majority rule and should be practiced.

What about minority rights?

They have the choice to and extend in conformity to what the majority says and we should champion the majority.

What about children and women? Majority rules but the rights of all should and must be adhered to.

There are people to champion those causes.  Lobbying by different groups.

Anyone can find themselves in the minority position at anytime in their life.

Yes, but politicians adhere to the majority and just look [ignore]  the minority.

Why the United Democratic Party?

I support UDP because of the economic policies, I like that their policies where they are people focused. It seems to me that PUP treat the country like it is a corporation and especially in 1998 . After 1998, because  of the economic policies of the PUP, the country was sent into to downward spiral. Law and order declined and the entire climate of Belize changed to a corruptive society  We [UDP] are trying to address even today.

Can you give me examples of some of the things that UDP do that you like?

UDP is transparent; I like the pro poor program as poverty is a major issue in Belize especially after PUP turned the country into a place with a few millionaires and a lot of poor people. UDP is  attempting to address crimes, however I don’t like the idea of paying gang members.  UDP  spend time trying to fix the economy. The nationalization of public utilities was important for Belize. We are not a country that can afford for investors to feed off our industries that benefit us all. I also like the way they dealt with Michael Ashcroft. It tells the world that Belizeans are looking for honest investors and not parasitic investors. I also like Restore Belize. Unfortunately the UDP cannot fix everything quickly and people do not see the immediate effects. We [UDP] care about Belize. Restore Belize  is dealing with the people psychological, educational and parenting. They are changing Belize but it we will not see the effects immediately.   We [UDP] did the first infrastructural changes in Belize with the fixing of all the roads.  Stann Creek road, Placencia Road, Western Highway. We [UDP] attempt to clean up Belize and have us looking decent.  We [UDP] spend time trying to put the country on track. In past elections, after we fight to fix the economy, PUP comes in and takes the credit and then reward all their friends with bloated contracts and wreck our economy.  The Superbond is a problem for me. PUP put the country and many generations of children on the hook for repayment of this bond.

Also when it comes to  leadership in UDP, it is by far better than PUP leadership. UDP gives Belize a facelift as how we are perceived by the world. UDP is more respected and Mr. Barrow represents Belize well and does a good job in making Belize a credible country. PUP has a mafia, sinister shady finish which UDP does not have. I think UDP actually tries to govern, PUP is about rewarding friends and family.  I think PUP tries to do a lot of things however,  it has no sustainability because they borrow money to give the impression the economy is good but they don’t make money.  PUP always looks good because UDP fixes the economy and PUP benefits from their projects.

In reflection, I don’t think either of the two parties do much for the middle class. The rich benefit through hook ups by being related or friends with party members and the poor  also benefit from our taxes while the middle class who pay  all the taxes receive no benefit from either party. Some of issues with my party is that unlike PUP, they tend to forget their supporters. We vote for UDP because we love our country and not for how we can benefit but it irks my nerve that they tend to forget us at times.

What does democracy mean to you?

A system for the people. You are allowed choices and the majority speaks in a democracy.

What about minority rights?

Democracy needs a vibrant constitution and a judiciary that enforces and keeps democracy alive because you have right to go court enforce your human rights. We are lucky that way in Belize. Many times the minority gets their way once they assert their rights.  We complain a lot in Belize but we have a vibrant democracy.  We sign on to many conventions of the UN that protect the rights of the minority.

In conclusion I believe that all Belizeans want a better Belize. I believe that no one is all good or all bad and no party is all good or all bad.  I got that both my interviewees love Belize and believe that  their party is the solution for Belize’s success. I believe that each and every Belizean is the formula for the success of Belize. Party affiliation should be the least important characteristic we focus on when engaging in a discussion with anyone. If we respect our Constitution of Belize, we should respect people choose their party affiliation  as part of their constitutional right. Willingness to contribute…now that is the kind of Belizeans we need more of!  Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. (John F. Kennedy)

The responses of the interviewees are their personal opinions and in no way reflect the views of twocanview.

Do you trust experts? By: Aria Lightfoot

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Lately I have been getting into trouble with several people on discussion boards. I start-out thinking it is a logical, fact-based discussion. I try to use scientific information and studies and findings based on other people’s research or personal knowledge based on my own study. Before the discussion is over, it moves from discussing an issue to a personal attack, name calling analysis of my “immovable position”.  People seem to become offended when I question their information and logic. In a discussion, I expect more than feelings and inclinations. In a discussion, I will ask about facts and dispute information or simply point out the flaw in people’s argument.  However, when it deteriorates into the personal realm, I retreat, as I realize there is nothing more to discuss.

I was having a conversation last week with someone who said that Belizeans do not accept studies and information when it is presented to them from a fellow Belizean; however, if a foreigner would present the same information, they would be more open to it and more willing to accept it. I am inclined to believe such is true.  Prior to elections, Belizeans saw an onslaught of overnight “expert” pollsters who were actively conducting unscientific polls.  When I offered my opinion, or asked for scientific data to make a determination, it became a source of contention for some people.  I think that Belizeans are not fact loving people.  Many people argue points clouded with feelings and emotions, even if good scientific research suggests otherwise. Belizeans dismiss good scientific or expert information as biased, agenda based, unreliable or just unacceptable because it offends their belief system. Instead of examining their own failed logic, they dismiss experts in the field of study and conclude the study is faulty with no supporting evidence.  I have seen people dispute information based on the heading of an article without actually reading the article.  However, if you dare question positions and information source;  and if the person is unable to defend their position, they will attack you as a trouble maker and assert personality defects as opposed to addressing the said subject.  It is a phenomenon I have been noticing in many discussion forums.

The information age created a crisis for Libraries everywhere.  Suddenly people were no longer conducting research using libraries and as such the information superhighway initially caused libraries to close and book stores to close.  Now guess what? Libraries are now making a comeback as the information superhighway is now a cesspool of bad, confusing, and misleading information; creating a generation of pseudo experts reinforced by Wikipedia. This is the age of information and with so much information out there, people are unable to filter out the good from the bad information. As a result, people begin accepting information that supports their position regardless of source or credibility. Imagine spending thousands of dollars to study a subject, to have someone Google search a topic and use Wikipedia to dispute information.

Wikipedia can be a good source to help start a search for information, but it is NOT a reliable information source and just about any Tom, Dick or Harry can update Wikipedia.  Case in point, last week I was having a discussion with someone who decided to weigh in on the Trayvon Martin case and update Wikipedia. At no point did the person ever review the basic 911 tapes to form an opinion. His entire opinion was based on opinion pieces that he read from other people, rendering his opinion useless in the matter. However, he updated Wikipedia and many people are likely using his opinions as fact. When searching the internet, there is plethora of opinion based, biased based and non-scientific based information available through Google, Bing or any search engine.  When searching a subject, the results will not tell you whether you are getting back reliable information, it is merely giving you back information based on words you put in your search.

Belize has a wealth of intelligent people, but as Belizeans we need to learn to respect people’s expertise. We as Belizeans need to understand that someone who is an attorney, doctor, engineer, Ph.D. and Master’s degree holders are not experts in every subject; however, they are experts in their fields of studies.  An attorney with a LLB or JD should have the basic understanding of the laws of the country or state they studied in; a doctor is an expert in medicine etc.  We need to start appreciating that people who study for years to gain degrees, knowledge cannot be undone by one internet search.  And we need to learn to disagree without becoming disagreeable or personal.  Just because someone is an expert doesn’t mean that they are always right.  However, when disputing information, use reliable information to support your argument. Which brings be to my next point.  We don’t know to effectively argue in Belize.

We engage in debates to get our points across without appreciation for the other side point of view.   When our points are failing, we act offended, reduce the argument to derogatory and personal comments.  We refuse to examine our weakness in our argument, instead it is just easier to be rude and disparaging with our comments yet we sit and speculate why young people cannot work out their differences!  Our society is a reflection of us!  We are petty people!  Yes I said it!

We seem to be at a stalemate in our development in Belize. Never before have we had so many experts and yet it seems that maybe jealously, immaturity, pettiness, and negativity have hampered our growth.   We need to read some more, we need to spend time researching information, open our minds to experts in the field, accept we don’t know it all, respect differences and encourage healthy debate.  We need to grow up Belizeans and get over the tender egos that inflict us.

Finally, my last advice is that politicians are never a good source of information; like Wikipedia, you should use the information as a start and not as a conclusion to form an opinion.  My hope is that Belizeans can behave with civility and decorum in discussing our future, because we are creating the framework for our children and right now, the future is not looking good when adults are still behaving like a bunch of bickering, temper tantrum throwing 5 year olds!