| San Pedro Daily |  |
Friday, October 30,
2009 Belize's Daily- 7 Days a Week |
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ISLAND
SUPERMARKET "Best Prices - Best Quality - Best Service" Phone: 501-226-2972 or 501-226-2973 FREE DELIVERY IN TOWN |
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Hol Chan Coastal Clean Up
 On
Saturday, October 24, 43 students ranging from several primary schools
around the island, as well as the high school, participated in a
cleanup campaign held by the Northern Marine Reserves. This activity
took place at the turtle nesting beach in Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve.
This area was selected since it is where the turtles come to nest on Ambergris Caye. In addition, turtle monitoring that was conducted by the reserve staff, revealed that a total of 18 nests were identified in the area during this year’s nesting season. Therefore it is important to keep the area clean. A total of 30 garbage bags of trash were collected from the beach, which was transported to town and properly disposed at the San Pedro dump site. The office of Hol Chan Marine Reserve thanks all the students who took part in this conservation activity and they look forward for their participation in other future activities. Ambergris Today POLICE REPORT
SAN PEDRO
BURGLARY Investigations continues into a burglary called in by Vishal SABNANI, 27yrs, businessman and owner of Cellular World located on Pescador Drive, San Pedro Town. On the 18/10/09 his business place was burglarized and stolen there from were an assortment of cellular phones and other electronic equipment. Quick Police response has lead to the recovery of almost half of the stolen items and the arrest of Troy COLE, 19yrs, of San Mateo Area, San Pedro Town for the crime of BURGLARY. Police PM Barrow Declares
A Recession
The Prime Minister held his long delayed
quarterly press
conference today. Actually, it’s become bi-annual because his last
press conference was 6 months ago. We point out the interval – because
the farther apart the events – the longer the event – and today’s
topped all records – with the press conference ranging unto two hours
and ten minutes. It opened with an hour long update on all relevant
matters by the Prime Minister – ranging from the sagging economy to
discounts on trade licenses at City Hall. There wasn’t very much good
news, and the prognosis on the economy was the worst of it. Here’s more.
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister “To be blunt, the news is not good.” PM Barrow was talking about the economy – all indicators are down and Belize. Hon. Dean Barrow, “It has to be well and truly said that our economy is in recession.” Barrow says it’s caused by the global financial crisis. Tax revenues are down sharply, almost 10% compared to last year – due mostly to a sharp decline in imports which fell by a staggering 20%. Overnight visitors also went down by 5% - meaning tourism spending went down by $12 million. It is a dismal picture. Hon. Dean Barrow, “The Statistical Institute of Belize had forecast GDP growth for this fiscal year at 2.5%, I think marginally higher than the IMF had done. But the indicators now suggest in fact a dramatic swing of at least 3% which if these indicators hold will result in a contraction, a negative GDP growth for 2009.” And the only hope is project funding. Hon. Dean Barrow, “We are able looking forward to feel relatively comfortable with respect to the developmental agenda still being able to at least inch forward.” And that uneasy way forward will be watch-dogged by another Cabinet subcommittee. Hon. Dean Barrow, “We have formed a Cabinet subcommittee to look particularly at the operations at Customs and at the GST to see how we can come up with way to assist in providing the kind of efficiencies that will make absolutely sure that we are not being short-changed with respect to revenue collections. I am not pointing any fingers but it is clear that as things tighten, the incentive for people to avoid taxes as much as possible increases.” Imports into the Corozal Free Zone were hardest hit, those experienced a decline of 38.9%. And more than all that, next year the superbond interest rate will see a step-up, meaning payments go up by US$10 million. On the very slender upside, the Prime Minister says he expects that with the US economy rebounding, tourism spending should increase next year. CH7 OAS FUNDS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMUNICATION NETWORK IN BELIZE
The Organization of American States has
provided Belize with
funding
for the development of a Public Affairs Communication Network. The
purpose of the network is to get citizens involved in activities that
will affect change as it relates to the Government’s agenda, the
national goals of the country and the development of a vision to take
the country forward. This will be done by educating and informing the
people of Belize on local, regional and global issues. Kim Osborne is
the OAS Representative for Belize.
Kim Osborne; OAS Representative in Belize “For the OAS PC-PAN represents and opportunity to really focus on our agenda with regard to democratic citizenship. We believe very strongly that for citizens to truly participate in the democratic process they must be well informed. They must have access to as much information as possible whether it be on agreements that are negotiated on their behalf the decisions that the government is making or programs and opportunities that are available within the international or regional arena. They need to be aware of those things and be active participants in the decision making process of their country. We truly believe that PC-PAN will be one way of getting more of better citizen participation in the political, economic and social discourse of the country.” A sum of 36 thousand Belize dollars has been provided for the development of phase one of what is being called the Belize Communication Public Network or PC-PAN. PC-PAN will reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of Belize and will utilize radio, television and the internet. Kim Osborne; OAS Representative in Belize “Essentially the Minister of Foreign Affairs had a discussion with our Secretary General in San Pedro Sula during the general assembly in June. He raised the idea with the Secretary General and he thought it was a very good opportunity to look more closely or to effect, if you will the OAS’s agenda with regard to participation in the democratic process. The OAS is very instrumental in ensuring that we remain real democracies in this hemisphere. Out of that discussion came the funding to begin that process of staring this public information network in Belize so we have taken it from there. So far we have committed the funds to put the concept together to design the network and to put the proposal together that will be shopped round for funding to bring the plan to realization.” Osborne says that the first phase, which involves designing and development of the proposal, is expected to be completed within six months. The project will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with its partners. Love FM NATIONAL CHILD LABOUR POLICY
INTRODUCED
Child labor, by and large, remains an unseen
ill affecting all aspects
of our Belizean society. As such there has been little research done on
the extent, appearance and opportunity cost of child labor in the
country. That was before the Ministry of Labor partnered with the
Chamber of Commerce and the National Trade Union Congress to embark on
a series of consultations on the issue; the end result being a National
Child Labor Policy. Its objective is to improve steering and direction
towards eliminating all forms of child labor including commercial
sexual exploitation. That plan of action along with a Decent Work
Country Program were officially introduced this morning before members
of the public and private sectors. The goal of the latter is to update
and standardize the National Labor Legislation; improve the skills and
employability of women and youths and the strengthening of social
partners. Present at this morning’s ceremony were Minister of Labor
Gabriel Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Labor Michael
Hutchinson as well as representatives from the NTUCB and the
International Labor Organization Sub-Regional Office. Love
FM
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Saga Humane
Society Pet Contest,
The Saga Humane Society staff and
volunteers would love to invite
the community and all our visitors on the island to a Halloween Bash,
Saturday, October 31st at BC's Beach Bar. Fantastic food, snacks and
delicious sweets will be sold starting at noon. Children's games start
at 1 pm with the Witches Stew Relay Race, followed by the balloon toss
at 2 pm and the sack race at 3 pm. Saturday, October 31st And what would Halloween be without the Pet Costume Contest. This year we have four categories to compete in. Who will be the scariest? And the cutest? Or the most creative with their pets costume? And we all love the entries for the best owner/pet costume duo!! Costume Contest will start around 4:00 pm so remember to sign-up early so we can get everyone in!!! What a great way to spend a Saturday. On the beach, with your pet, friends and good food!! We hope to see everyone there!!!
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© SAN PEDRO DAILY, PO Box 45, San Pedro Town, Belize. Inquiries to editor@sanpedrodaily.com |
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