San
Pedro Daily  |
Saturday, July 4,
2009 Belize's Only Daily |
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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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Ministry of Natural Resources
Statement on Mapp Caye Surveying
Reference is made to recent stories in the
media about Permissions to
survey three parcels of land on the Northern End of Mapp Caye within
the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary by the Ministry of Natural
Resources and the Environment.
The Ministry is grateful to the media and the general public for their continued vigilance and support of the Government’s pledge for transparency and accountability. The Ministry regrets that these surveys were not caught initially by internal checks; however, we wish to assure the public that no leases for these three parcels have been issued and would not have passed final approval for issuance. The public is advised that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has initiated an assessment of the integrity of all Protected Areas within the country. It is anticipated that this process will be concluded shortly.GOB Swallow Caye Regret
At the end of May government gave
permission to survey about
18 acres of Mapp Caye – which is within the Swallow Caye wildlife
Sanctuary. It’s not a land grab – as the 6 acre plots are compensation
to three individuals for island property they lost under the last
government. But it is strictly against the law which established that
sanctuary which say that the sanctuary comprises, “all that piece
or parcel of land and water east of Belize City in the Belize District
in including Swallow Caye and Mapps Cay....” So then where does
that leave the Ministry of Natural Resources which gave permission to
survey? For the pat two days, nowhere. They’ve not issued a statement
as the CEO and the Minister were out of office. But the Minister came
back today and his press officer told us that he convened a meeting
with senior staff to discuss the situation.
A statement issued late this afternoon says that, quote: “it is regrettable that these surveys were not caught initially by internal checks; however, we would like to assure the public that these parcels have not been issued and would not have passed final approval for issuance.” And while it doesn’t say it in as many words, we take that to mean that the transaction has been cancelled. Government will now have to find other comparable property to compensate Sharon and Wayne Fraser and Rurico Alvarado. And while the Ministry’s release assures that title would not have been issued – we aren’t so sure, and if it weren’t for someone in the ministry blowing the whistle, it’s arguable that the error could have gone undetected. But thankfully it didn’t, and the Ministry’s release duly acknowledges, “the media and the general public for their continued vigilance...” While ourselves shying away from faint praise, we note that there’s no pat on the back for the brave person in the ministry who leaked out the information. The release also notes that the Ministry has started an assessment of the integrity of all Protected Areas. It ought to be interesting as it is alleged that land transactions within protected areas have been numerous.CH7 Reporter
Editorial
Harry Lawrence The
claim by the Ministry of Education that its proposed Teaching Service
Commission will do a better job of management than the church-run
management organizations now at work is wishful thinking.
One does not have to look further than the Public Service Commission, which is the organization in charge of the management of Public Officers, to see why public officers are so laid back, uncaring and inefficient. They are insulated by so many layers of red tape that they are virtually untouchable. Most public officers only have to show up for work and cruise through a leisurely day. Many don’t even have to show up. They have friends to cover for them, and they don’t have to face the public if they don’t want to. They can pretend to be busy and have somebody else do the work. Teachers, on the other hand, have to show up for work every day. They have to be on time, and they have to come prepared with a work plan.They need to teach and they have to deal with children who do not want to learn.They cannot ignore parents the way public officers ignore the public, and when they take a day off, this causes a major disruption because a substitute teacher has to be recruited to do the work. If teachers could get away with doing the things public officers do, our school system would be in chaos. The difference, we believe, is micro-management as opposed to macro-management. Schools have to be micro-managed.Classes work by the clock.There are deadlines to meet and schedules to keep, and at the end of the semester or school year, there is an assessment that comes from parents and the wider community. This is not a management job for a state-run National Teaching Commission. The Ministry of Education has been finding fault with the church-run management of schools. It wants the churches to turn out bright young students from a community teeming with social problems. It wants to take over the management of schools to emphasize the strict separation of Church and state. It is a prescription for disaster! The Teaching Service Commission cannot do any better and will do much worse than the current church-run management, no matter how much money international agencies like the IMF throw at it. Since it has no moral voice and lays claim to no moral standards, The Teaching Service Commission is destined to become one more red tape monument to ineffciency. Reporter NOPCAN ADVOCATES FOR THE ABOLISHMENT
OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
IN SCHOOL
Administering
corporal punishment at home and in the classroom has long been a moral
argument for those in favor of and those who are staunchly against this
means of chastising children.
Most recently the Ministry of Education at a meeting held in San Ignacio has stated plans to revise the Education Act barring this method of punishment in schools. Chief advocate for its removal is the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect who at that meeting supported the ministry’s move. Today Love News spoke with Executive Director of NOPCAN, Denbigh Yorke who further explained the organization’s position. Denbigh Yorke; Executive Director, NOPCAN “In 2000 we came very close to removing it from the act and I think just at the last moment it was retained. However, after nine years again we see fit to remove it from the education act. NOPCAN is being instrumental as one of the lead organizations to provide the support to the Ministry of Education by way of information, public awareness and such.” The notion to discipline children in order to correct behavior or teach self control is noble says Yorke but there have been misconceptions in the way it is carried out. Denbigh Yorke; Executive Director, NOPCAN “We are misconceived in believing that it does work and it helps to achieve those goals as a result of a number of studies that have been done. These results always show the negative effects of physical punishment or corporal punishment on children such that especially in the education system; when children go the school they need to be able to be treated in a way that is respectful. Their dignity needs to be taken into account. We also have to be able to align these methods with the current understanding of what is expected, who a child is and particularly where the convention on the rights of the child is concerned.” While it is arguable that spanking children seems to be effective to some degree in the way they turn out as adults Yorke says that there are other factors that influence who they later become and how they are affected by the experience. Denbigh Yorke; Executive Director, NOPCAN “The fact that your parent showed you some form of respect, they showed you love; in other wards they utilized alternative methods which very often we neglect. We fail to consider that those are the actual methods that have, if you will, be responsible for where we are. It can also be argued that corporal punishment does, to a certain extend in the short term get some of the desired results. Obviously, if you are intimidating or threatening a person or a child they will do what you want them to do. However, when we examine it closely what we discover is that children are subjected to emotional and psychological abuse in a way that affects their learning. It also affects their relationship with others and in fact if you look at the violence that we see in our community using corporal punishment is like legalized form of violence.” NOPCAN is presenting a detailed written submission to the ministry in support of effective legal reform to abolish corporal punishment. It is also recommending a rights based approach to ensure schools throughout the country are child-friendly and that appropriate training in positive child discipline is practiced.LoveFM OAS still hopes to reinstate ousted
Honduran president
Tensions continue to rise in neighbouring
Honduras in anticipation of
the proposed return of the deposed President José Manuel Zelaya.
But
the interim government is showing no signs of backing down. All day,
protests and rallies took place in Tegucigalpa as an OAS ultimatum for
his return draws closer. The OAS Secretary General arrived earlier
today in Tegucigalpa from Guyana and according to reports, he met with
opposition parties. It is also reported that the Supreme Court has
rejected Zelaya’s re-instatement. Insulza has said that he will not
negotiate with the interim government of the Roberto Micheletti whose
isolation continues to intensify by the international community.
Insulza will report to an OAS Special session on Saturday afternoon
which is considering the suspension of Honduras if all fails. Insulza,
however, has left a door open for Micheletti and one option is that he
may ask the OAS for more time. Meanwhile, Zelaya made stops in Salvador
and headed to Guatemala earlier today. CH5
NOTICES
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR  Train Station
Fitness Club is organizing a 10 mile cancer walk on Sunday, July 5,
2009. The walk will start at Central Park
at 5 am with a short blessing. The walk will be north to Mata Chica
Resort and back. Water will be provided at specific resorts and
breakfast will be available for sale upon the return to Central Park.
Individuals can register
for a minimum of $50. Upon registration,
walkers will receive a Life 4 Lydia T-shirt. Businesses are urged to
pledge their support. All proceeds will go towards Mrs.
Lydia Guerrero's Medical Services, supplies and treatment. San Pedro Sun
SCHEDULED POWER
OUTAGES
All that area north of the river Saturday, July 4, 9:00 to 2:00 Sunday, July 5, 9:00 to 2:00 Vacation Bible School
will be held at Holy Cross Anglican School every
week day in July. VBS is open to all children in the community from
ages 5 to 12 and is free of charge. The program starts at 9am and
finishes at 11:30am. A mid-morning snack will be served to the
children. Please send your children to this exciting time of learning,
arts and crafts, Bible stories, sports, singing and dancing! For
additional information call Holy Cross School at 226-3456. The Office
is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 2pm.
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
Control your own destiny or someone else will Jack Welch
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© SAN PEDRO DAILY, PO Box 45, San Pedro Town, Belize. Inquiries to editor@sanpedrodaily.com |
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