New book by Dr. Dylan Vernon tackles political clientelism

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Amandala Newspaper

by Khaila Gentle

BELIZE CITY, Tues. July 26, 2022 Political clientelism—or the act of exchanging political support for resources or favors—is the topic of discussion in former ambassador Dr. Dylan Vernon’s new book, titled Political Clientelism and Democracy in Belize: From My Hand to Yours. The book, which was published by the University of the West Indies Press (UWI Press), tackles an issue that is quite prevalent in Belize.

According to UWI Press, Dr. Vernon revisits the nation’s modern political history, starting from 1954 through to 2013, and presents it as “an illustrative and critical case of rampant and damaging political clientelism” that persists throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean.

According to activist and historian Assad Shoman, the book is the first comprehensive study in decades on the negative effects of political clientelism on politics and the damage it does to the social democratic goals of freedom, justice and equality. The book also looks at how political clientelism can be controlled both in Belize and similar Caribbean states.

“Many politicians use public and private resources to meet some need of enough voters that they will vote for them and put them in power, put the party in power. The political game is that if you can do this with just enough voters to win power, that’s all that matters,” explained Dr. Harold Young, who reviewed Dr. Vernon’s book at the launch ceremony and panel

discussion held on Tuesday at the UWI Open Campus on Princess Margaret Drive.

Former senator Osmany Salas, who also gave a review of the book during its launch ceremony, has described it as “a riveting read” and one that is essential for the political science student, aspiring and current politicians, and anyone who wants to see a significant improvement in the way Belize is governed.

Political Clientelism and Democracy in Belize: From My Hand to Yours is currently on sale at a discounted price of $70 from now until August. It can be purchased online at Amazon.com as well as at the UWI Open Campus.

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Pharmacy Express Limited addresses public criticism

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Amandala Newspaper

The pharmaceutical company has finally broken its silence after a Public Notice of Investment by the Social Security Board informing of the intent to loan the company $7 million was met with public criticism.

By Khaila Gentle

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. July 28, 2022

Pharmacy Express Limited has issued a statement regarding the recent backlash that it has received after the Social Security Board (SSB) issued a public notice that it intends to loan the company $7 million.

According to the statement released by the company, Pharmacy Express Limited (PEL), which was incorporated in 2003, is one of only a few Belizean-owned companies operating in the Fort Street Tourism Village—something it says it has been doing since 2001.

“Our business caters strictly to foreign clientele who arrive on cruise ships. Noteworthy is that our products have never and will never be distributed in the local market,” noted the company in its statement.

It further indicated that it has, over the years, contributed to the development of Belize by “keeping its investments in Belize unlike other foreign-owned companies” and that it employs a number of Belizeans, “most of whom are residents of Southside Belize City.”

The loan from the Social Security Board, says the company, will assist in “providing much-needed employment opportunities to those who most need it.”

We note, however, that the Public Notice of Investment issued by the SSB states that the $7 million loan would be used for “refinancing and inventory purchases.”

The company also stated that its consistent success over the years combined with the Government’s commitment to boosting tourism in Belize will allow it to meet its obligations with the SSB.

Earlier this week, the CEO of the Social Security Board, Deborah Ruiz, told KREM News that Pharmacy Express Limited had put up collateral that is three times the value of the loan—one of the reasons the Board saw no issue with investing in the company.

“The rate of return from this loan will assist the Belizean workers by helping to increase the Social Security funds rather than benefitting foreign-owned banks,” said PEL.

According to a Cabinet brief released on Thursday, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health and Wellness—which had openly expressed concerns regarding SSB’s proposed loan to PEL—had informed Cabinet of the growing public criticism. In response, Cabinet stated that, while it fully respects the SSB’s autonomy, it also acknowledges the importance and necessity of ensuring that all relevant information regarding Pharmacy Express Limited is shared with the Board before a final decision is made.

“Cabinet understands that SSB funds are the people’s money and should always be subject to the highest levels of care, scrutiny, transparency, and management,” said the release.

As reported in the Tuesday, July 26th issue of the AMANDALA, the Ministry of Health had issued a press release in which it expressed concerns about the proposed loan.

The AMANDALA article made mention of the response of the CEO of SSB, Deborah Ruiz, to the Ministry’s concerns. She is quoted as saying, “The Ministry of Health might have information that we are not privy to, so we wait to hear from them, whatever information they have or the nature of their objection.” 

The article additionally stated, “AMANDALA understands that the company Pharmacy Express Limited may have ties to Julius Zabaneh, as he is named as one of the company’s shareholders and Directors in a 2013 court case brought against him. The background information from that case also indicates that the company leases four stores in the Fort Street Tourism Village, and supplies those stores with pharmaceutical goods, which they sell to cruise ship tourists.”

Reference was also made in the article to a reported connection between Pharmacy Express Limited and Medigen International Limited, which “had been awarded tender for the importation of Pharmaceutical and Related Medical Supplies shortly after appearing on the list of licensed pharmaceutical establishments” in 2021.

According to a 7News report this week, “The Ministry of Health … had issues with Medigen … which won a number of tenders last year—but with whom they have had supply problems.”

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Moises Cal has been “a good citizen,” says the PM

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Amandala Newspaper

By Khaila Gentle

BELIZE CITY, Wed. July 27, 2022

The Opposition and several others, including the Public Service Union, have rejected the July 1st appointment of disgraced former diplomat Moises Cal as the Chairman of the Public Services Commission (PSC). Despite this, Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño has fully supported Cal’s appointment, and today he told the media that everyone deserves a second chance, including Cal, who he says has been an active and a “good” citizen, despite his being accused of bribery and money laundering by Panamanian officials.

“It’s none other than the Leader of the Opposition that is always asking for a second chance. We all make mistakes in life, and you can reform your life. Whether Mr. Cal did or did not do it—it was allegations. It has never been proven in court. He was never arrested,” said the Prime Minister.

And while it can be said that Hon. Moses “Shyne” Barrow has spoken of the importance of a “second chance,” it is also true that the current administration has never missed an opportunity to remind the Leader of the Opposition of his past misdeeds that led to his incarceration and deportation from the US. When this was brought up to the Prime Minister, however, he bristled at the topic.

In 2007, Moises Cal allegedly flew to Panama with a briefcase containing one million U.S. dollars in undeclared cash and a diplomatic passport, despite no longer being a diplomat after leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be a PUP standard bearer seeking to represent Belmopan. According to Panamanian authorities, Cal, after being detained, reportedly paid over $100,000 to Panamanian officials to bribe his way out of the country before he could be questioned by police. Prior to his detainment, he had reportedly come under scrutiny by Panamanian authorities after reportedly making 14 trips to that country in a 3-month period.

The allegations faced by the PUP stalwart are serious ones, and ones that he has not addressed up to today. But the Prime Minister has maintained that Cal’s good deeds in Belmopan make him fit for the position of PSC Chairman.

“He, I believe, has been an active citizen in Belize, in Belmopan, and has been, I believe, a good citizen. He is always assisting people, and—many people don’t know this, but—helping poor people. For Christmas he helps several families and children with food. So, I believe he has the qualities to be able to be the Chair of the Public Service Commission,” he said.

Prime Minister Briceño did state, however, that the Government plans to take into consideration the mounting concerns that have been raised by those within the public service.

“We will take a look. We’ll listen. We don’t believe that we have all the answers,” added Hon. Briceño.      

This is not the first time that the current administration has come under fire for placing a controversial political figure back into a seat of power. In November, 2020, the Government was harshly criticized for the re-appointment of Amalia Mai as the CEO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after she was one of the persons seen as responsible for not ensuring that BZ$40 million from a Venezuelan grant was properly accounted for.  

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Stann Creek woman falls to death at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Amandala Newspaper

Lucero Aguirre, 35, of San Juan, Stann Creek District, fell to her death while on a hike within the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

By Charles Gladden

STANN CREEK, Thurs. July 28, 2022

On Tuesday, July 26, Lucero Selena Aguirre, a 35-year-old mother of 3 who resides in San Juan in the Stann Creek District, reportedly fell to her death after losing her footing while hiking with her family at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Tiger Fern Trail.

According to initial reports, Aguirre; her husband, 44-year-old Estuardo Aguirre, and her sister, Guadelupe Martinez, had left the compound of Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary early in the morning—reportedly about 6:30—and had, in the company of a tour guide, commenced a trek to a waterfall in the jungle which lasted almost two hours. When they arrived at the waterfall, they reportedly began walking down a slope that was steep and slippery, and at some point while she was on that slope, she lost her balance. The slope apparently hovered over large rocks, and it was onto those rocks that Aguirre fell after tumbling over the slope’s edge.  

Her head reportedly hit the rocks when she fell, and she became unconscious. Her left arm was also fractured. Her husband immediately rushed to assist her, but she was unresponsive.

Aguirre was rushed to the Southern Regional Hospital by the Southern Emergency Service, which was called to the scene as soon as the accident occurred. However, she died upon arrival at the hospital.

Delisia Martinez, vice principal of the San Juan Bosco RC School where Aguirre’s children are enrolled, told a local media outlet that Aguirre often served as a mediator between the Spanish-speaking parents of students at the school and the school administration.

“A lot of parents would go to her because she speaks very good English, so she would have that communication with [the] admin. A lot of them would go to her for advice. A lot of them would go to her if they need to get something across to us that we [were] not getting, then they would go to her. She would motivate the parents—not only motivate, but mobilize them as well,” Martinez said.

Martinez told local media that Aguirre was always involved in the school’s activities and always was willing to assist when asked to do so.

“It was [a] cultural day that we did. It was done with a twist this year, that she and the parents organized. And our infant one, even though her son isn’t in infant one, she was also a part of that cultural day that we were doing for Child Stimulation Month. So she was always involved with whichever level I needed her to be, she would’ve been involved at that level. I don’t know what will happen right now, and I don’t know how we’re going to get past this,” Martinez added.

After the tragic accident, the Belize Audubon Society (BAS) issued a statement regarding Aguirre’s death and mentioned that four trained personnel stationed at the sanctuary immediately responded after learning that someone was injured on the Tiger Fern Trail. BAS further announced the closure of the Tiger Fern Trail to its tourism partners and the public until further notice.

Aguirre was an active member of her community, an avid Christian, and supportive parent of her two sons and a daughter whom she leaves behind. Her untimely death occurred a week after her 35th birthday.

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Des unit?s sp?cialis?es d?ploy?es, la PHN ? l’offensive

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Le Nouvelliste

Vingt-quatre heures apr?s l’horreur qu’a v?cue le centre-ville de Port-au-Prince, le mercredi 27 juillet 2022, dans le cadre de la bataille opposant des gangs, la Police nationale d’Ha?ti dit passer ? l’offensive.

Plusieurs unit?s sp?cialis?es de la Police nationale d’Ha?ti sont d?ploy?es depuis le jeudi 28 juillet 2022 au Centre-Ville de Port-au-Prince, Bas-Lalue et Croix-des-Bouquets.

Sur les r?seaux sociaux, ce vendredi, la PNH a indiqu? que ce d?ploiement s’inscrit dans le cadre des diff?rentes mesures prises par le DG a.i de la PNH, Frantz Elb?, pour rassurer la population.

<>, a inform? la PNH.

Avant le d?ploiement des unit?s sp?cialis?es, la Police nationale d’Ha?ti rappelle avoir accentu? sa pr?sence ? travers les rues du Centre-Ville de Port-au-Prince et dans d’autres quartiers de la capitale pour continuer ? pr?venir et ? rassurer la population. <>, a fait savoir la PNH invitant la population ? garder son calme et appelle ? la collaboration de tous dans les efforts visant ? maintenir l’ordre public

Depuis l’assassinat par des bandits, le dimanche 24 juillet 2022, de l’inspecteur de police R?ginald Laleau, 45 ans, affect? au commissariat de la Croix-des-Bouquets, la Police nationale d’Ha?ti (PNH) intensifie sa traque des gangs arm?s sur plusieurs points du territoire. Le mercredi 27 juillet 2022, La PNH a annonc? avoir interpell? Jean Andr? Guillaume “alias ti Andr?, proche de Izo de la Baz 5 Segonn. <>, a inform? la Police nationale d’Ha?ti sur les r?seaux sociaux.

<>, souligne la PNH

A Bellad?re, le 26 juillet, la police a interpell? Charles Junior, alias “Ti Jiny?” du gang Krache dife. <>, a indiqu? la PNH.

<>, a ?crit la PNH, soulignant que pour l’instant, Charles Junior et sa femme sont plac?s en garde ? vue en attendant les suites n?cessaires.

Le lundi 25 juillet, la Brigade d’intervention du commissariat de St-Louis du Nord a proc?d? ? l’arrestation de deux pr?sum?s bandits notoires, Rochelet Mar?us et Fedner Simon, qui ?taient <> pour leur implication pr?sum?e dans les violences arm?es pendant la p?riode pascale dans les bandes de rara et des actes de banditisme li?s aux gangs bas?s dans cette commune. <>, a d?taill? la PNH pr?cisant que les deux bandits ont ?t? conduits en ?tat au commissariat de Port-de-Paix pour ?tre gard?s ? vue.

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Un seul juge d’instruction fonctionnel pour tout Port-au-Prince et ses environs

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Le Nouvelliste

Walter Wesser Voltaire. Le seul juge d’instruction op?rationnel actuellement pour toute la juridiction de Port-au-Prince, la plus grande juridiction du pays qui compte environ une trentaine de juges d’instruction. Ce magistrat instruit ? la fois le dossier de l’assassinat du pr?sident Jovenel Mo?se, le dossier du secr?taire g?n?ral du barreau de Port-au-Prince, Me Robinson Pierre-Louis, et est le seul ? qui le doyen du tribunal de premi?re instance de la capitale peut confier un dossier. Pourquoi ?Parce que les cabinets de tous les autres juges de la juridiction de Port-au-Prince sont actuellement occup?s par le gang de Village-de-Dieu, ces magistrats sont au ch?mage technique depuis le 10 juin dernier. Le juge Walter Wesser Voltaire sort du lot parce que tout simplement son cabinet ne se trouve pas au Palais de justice. Puisque c’est lui qui enqu?te sur le dossier de l’assassinat du pr?sident Jovenel Mo?se, le gouvernement l’avait log? ailleurs…

<>, a d?clar? jeudi matin sur radio Magik9, le juge Jean Wilner Morin, pr?sident de l’Association nationale des magistrats ha?tiens.

<>, a-t-il dit.

Le magistrat Morin a fait remarquer que malgr? que le Premier ministre et son ministre de l’Int?rieur se sont accord?s pour dire que les bandits n’occupent pas le Palais de justice, <>

A qui profite cette situation ? se demande perplexe le juge d’instruction avant de d?clarer qu’il <>, a avanc? le juge d’instruction.

Le pr?sident de l’Association nationale des magistrats ha?tiens, Jean Wilner Morin se demande pourquoi les autorit?s ne font rien face ? cette situation… ?

Il faut rappeler que le doyen du tribunal de premi?re instance de Port-au-Prince avait d?sign?, le lundi 30 mai 2022, le juge Walter Wesser Voltaire pour enqu?ter sur l’assassinat du pr?sident Jovenel Mo?se chez lui le 7 juillet 2021. Le cinqui?me magistrat ? qui ce dossier est confi?.

Selon une source proche du minist?re de la Justice et de la S?curit? publique, pour permettre au juge Voltaire de mener son instruction en toute s?r?nit?, le gouvernement a mis ? sa disposition <> loin du Bicentenaire o? se trouve le palais de justice contr?l? par des gangs.

<>, a ?num?r? notre contact au minist?re de la Justice.

Contact? par Le Nouvelliste le lundi 4 juillet 2022, le juge Voltaire avait confirm? au journal qu’il ?tait en train d’auditionner des gens dans le cadre de l’enqu?te sur l’assassinat du pr?sident Jovenel Mo?se.

Robenson Geffrard

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1 350 enseignants entrent bient?t en formation

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Le Nouvelliste

1 350 enseignants ? travers les d?partements du Sud, de la Grand-Anse, des Nippes, du Nord-ouest et du Nord-Est, en raison de 270 par d?partement, vont prendre part ? un vaste chantier de formation initi? par le MENFP dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre des grands chantiers de la rentr?e scolaire 2022-2023.

En conf?rence de presse, le ministre Nesmy Manigat explique que ce plan de formation des enseignants rentre dans le cadre des 12 mesures, en particulier la mesure num?ro 1 relatif au permis d’enseigner.

“Le pays n’ira nulle part sans un syst?me ?ducatif fort et une ?ducation de qualit?”, a rappel?, de son c?t?, le directeur g?n?ral du MENFP, Meniol Jeune.

“L’enseignement est un m?tier difficile. N’importe qui ne doit pas se trouver dans une salle de classe. Le minist?re est contre l’int?gration des gens d?pourvus de formation et de comp?tence. Il n’y aura pas d’?ducation de qualit? avec des enseignants charlatans”, a soutenu le num?ro 2 du MENFP qui reconna?t qu’il y a beaucoup de cas dans les ?coles o? les enseignants n’ont aucune qualification.

“Tous ceux qui se trouvent dans les salles de classe dans le secteur public doivent trouver une formation p?dagogique et une ?valuation aura lieu pour juger leur niveau”, a annonc? M. Jeune.

Le programme de formation sera dispens? par les enseignants des Universit?s publiques en r?gions (UPR) et des professionnels de l’enseignement sur une p?riode de deux ans, et sur la base d’un cursus de 270 heures devant d?boucher sur l’obtention d’un Certificat d’aptitude ? l’enseignement (CAE), a inform? un communiqu? du minist?re de l’?ducation nationale publi? le jeudi 28 juillet.

Apr?s deux ans de formation, ces enseignants vont subir une ?valuation qui va leur permettre d’exercer ou non la profession d’enseignement, a averti Georges Wilbert Franck, directeur de la formation et de perfectionnement au MENFP. Cette formation permettra aux enseignants de suivre les cours au niveau de sept mati?res professionnelles et six disciplinaires y compris les didactiques, a pr?cis? Georges Wilbert Franck.

La premi?re session de formation d?butera par deux disciplines ? savoir la planification p?dagogique et th?orie d’apprentissage. La deuxi?me session : didactique g?n?rale et sociologie de l’?ducation. La troisi?me session : gestion de classe et l’?valuation de l’apprentissage, a confi? Georges Wilbert Franck.

La formation portera sur les gestes p?dagogiques de base, les connaissances disciplinaires et les didactiques n?cessaires pour enseigner ? l’?cole fondamentale, poursuit le communiqu? soulignant que l’objectif sera atteint ? travers l’administration de 13 modules dont cinq disciplinaires et huit professionnels.

Cette initiative du MENFP est financ?e par le Fonds national de l’?ducation (FNE). Elle s’inscrit dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre de la Politique sectorielle en ?ducation accordant une grande place ? la formation des enseignants, soutient le minist?re de l’?ducation nationale qui dit vouloir am?liorer la qualit? de l’apprentissage en formant progressivement les participants ? un enseignement efficace des mati?res inscrites au Plan d’?tudes de l’?cole fondamentale.

Pr?sent ? la conf?rence de presse, le directeur g?n?ral du FNE, Jean Ronald Joseph, a montr? toute l’importance de supporter une ?ducation de qualit? dans le syst?me. C’est pourquoi, annonce-t-il, le FNE a allou? un montant de 84 000 258 gourdes pour la s?rie de formation. Selon lui, ce fonds sera r?parti dans les diff?rentes Universit?s publiques r?gionales. Chaque UPR re?oit un montant de 14 millions 948 mille 100 gourdes. M. Joseph dit attendre en retour les r?sultats p?dagogiques et les redditions de compte.

Le MENFP en a profit? pour faire appel ? tous les acteurs ?ducatifs pour une forte implication et leur contribution ? ce grand <> au b?n?fice des ?l?ves en bout de piste. Les repr?sentants de syndicats d’enseignants seront impliqu?s dans la d?marche comme formateurs de formateurs, annonce le MENFP.

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Jacques Sampeur:

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Le Nouvelliste

Le pr?sident de l’Association nationale des m?dias ha?tiens (ANMH), Jacques Sampeur, a ?t? l’invit? d’une ?dition de panel Magik sur l’ins?curit? le jeudi 28 juillet. Le journaliste senior a peint un tableau tr?s sombre de la situation marqu?e notamment par l’effondrement de l’autorit? de l’Etat. <>, a-t-il fait remarquer.

Face ? la gravit? de la situation, M. Sampeur, pr?sident de l’ANMH qui a d?j? r?alis? deux ?missions sp?ciales sur le m?me ph?nom?ne, appelle ? un sursaut national pour redresser la barque. <>, a-t-il appel?.

Jacques Sampeur a r?v?l? avoir rencontr? le chef du gouvernement qui a voulu ?couter l’opinion de la corporation sur la situation. Le journaliste croit que le pays est pr?t ? supporter toutes les initiatives visant ? combattre les gangs. <>, soutient-il. Jacques Sampeur a ?galement r?pondu au premier ministre qui dit d?plorer que des m?dias accordent la parole ? des bandits. <>, croit Jacques Sampeur.

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CB-certificaat moet vertrouwen in Surinaamse munt helpen herstellen

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

door Ivan Cairo PARAMARIBO — Om ook de kleine man en bedrijven, het zogenoemde retail segment, te laten profiteren van

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‘Blacks’ shot dead a day after being freed of gun charges Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News
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The Westmoreland police are probing Thursday afternoon’s murder of a man who was shot and killed by yet unknown assailants at a plaza in the parish capital, Savanna-la-Mar, just a day after he was freed of charges in the Western Regional Gun Court.

The deceased has been identified as 34-year-old Shawn Smith, otherwise called ‘Blacks’, of a Savanna-la-Mar address.

Smith recently surrendered to the Westmoreland police after being placed on a wanted list. He was subsequently charged with wounding with intent and illegal possession of firearm.

No motive has yet been established for the deadly attack on Thursday.

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