US disappointed at Belize decision regarding possible Ebola victim

Saturday, October 18, 2014 | 1:53 PM    

BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) — The United States says it is disappointed that Belize had refused a couple, including a woman suspected of having the Ebola virus, from disembarking from a cruise ship and using the Phillip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) to be flown back to the United States.

“…we’re disappointed by this. We think it could have been handled differently. Decisions like these need to be made based on information and science and not fear, even though we know this is a very serious disease, serious threat,” said Marie Harf, US State Department deputy spokesperson.

“The ship is on its way back to Galveston, Texas right now. It is expected to dock on Sunday and obviously we’ll be giving any care to this individual that is needed and we’ll keep having the conversations with countries if something like this arises again,” she added.

But Prime Minister Dean Barrow held on to his administration’s position that he would not be putting the lives of Belizeans at risk.

“I stuck to my line which was that in the circumstances we couldn’t take any chances,” he said, noting that US Secretary of State John Kerry had also urged his administration to rethink its position.

“He did ask whether I would consider, whether I would explore the possibility of their sending a helicopter that would land on the deck of the cruise ship and then take the two passengers straight across to the PGIA.

“In other words he thought that an option could be explored that would mean that no Belizean would come into any kind of contact with these passengers. I said well have your people tell us what would be the logistics of that.”

Barrow said that the option was not feasible because Belizean nationals would still be engaged and adding that in the circumstances he was convinced that his original position would remain “because I could not let the circumstances be possible to do what the Americans were asking without exposing some Belizeans to some degree of risk”.

The unidentified woman is a known lab technician who may have had contact with fluids from Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan, who died earlier this month after contracting the virus for which there is no known cure. She had been exposed to his body for at least 18 days.

The woman and her companion were on the cruise ship, Carnival Magic that sailed into Belize Thursday night. They had allowed themselves to be isolated while on the cruise.

A number of Caribbean countries have since banned nationals from Libera, Sierra Leone and Guinea from visiting their shores.?

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US disappointed at Belize decision regarding possible Ebola victim

BELIZE- Police officer shot and killed

Saturday, September 27, 2014 | 7:55 AM    

BELMOPAN, Belize – Gunmen, believed to be illegal Guatemalan nationals, shot and killed a 20-year-old police constable at a popular tourist destination in western Belize.

Danny Conorquie, a Special Constable assigned to the Belize Tourism Police Unit was ambushed by the men who emerged from bushes around the Caracol Archaeological site in the Cayo district.

Conorquie was one of two police officers on duty at the time of the incident on Thursday. He was shot in the head and died at the scene of the incident.

According to a government statement, two men on horseback shot at Conorquie near the main temple in full view of several tourists and tour operators. After the shooting the men fled the scene into nearby bushes.

Conorquie was rushed to the San Ignacio town hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The government statement said that additional security personnel have been deployed to the Caracol Archaeological site to ensure the safety of visitors who frequent the area and that “every effort is being made to bring those responsible to justice.

One eyewitness told reporters that a second policeman bravely rushed to the aid of his fallen colleague and was engaged in an exchange of gunfire with the murderers.

Although the government statement said there were two men on horseback, the witness, who works as a tour guide, said there were three Hispanic men, believed to be Guatemalan nationals.

The Belize Police Department Friday said that about five men stood over Conorquie’s body before fleeing into the bushes.

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BELIZE- Police officer shot and killed

Belize police discover grenades, claim they were to disrupt “September celebration” events

BELMOPAN, Belize, Friday September 12, 2014, CMC – Police say they have recovered two grenades during a one week period and are appealing to the public to continue to provide information as to where others could be found.

“This is the second grenade that we’ve discovered within a week and we are working with the community with others who are embracing the campaign “Not in MY City” to recover more grenades of the streets,” Deputy Commander of the Eastern Division, Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster told reporters.

He said during the seizure, law enforcement authorities had also recovered a point 38 revolver.

“The area where we found this grenade is an empty lot, it’s overgrown and the grenade was found under some bushes near a fence,” the senior police officer added.

Bomb expert with the Belize Defence Force (BDF), Brigadier General David Jones, said the latest grenade found was a M2- US Army type “used by the US army some years before and I believe it is still in use”.

He said the police had originally indicated that the devise found on September 6 was a “British grenade” but the one found four days later was similar and hence his statement that both were US made.

The police have not released much information on the discovery, but have acknowledged questioning a number of people. No arrests have been made.

Police said intelligence indicates that the grenades were to be used to disrupt the “September celebration” events marking the Battle of St. George’s Cave Day and Independence Day on September 21.

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Belize police discover grenades, claim they were to disrupt “September celebration” events

Belize economic outlook “worse than envisaged” – IMF

WASHINGTON D.C. United States, Friday September 5, 2014, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says medium-term outlook for economic growth for Belize “is worse than envisaged” and that real gross domestic product (GDP) growth would be weaker than expected in the near term.

The IMF has just concluded its Article IV consultation with Belize noting that real GDP growth plummeted to 0.7 per cent in 2013, from four per cent the previous year mainly due to continued declines in oil production and weak agricultural output, especially sugarcane and citrus.

It said that unemployment stood at 14.2 per cent in September 2013 and is on an upward trend since it hit its lowest level in 2008.

The IMF said average inflation eased to 0.5 per cent from 1.3 per cent in 2012, as commodity price pressures abated.

“The external current account deficit widened to 4.5 per cent of GDP in 2013 up from 1.2 per cent in 2012, as exports of oil and agricultural products fell sharply while imports of fuel and electricity picked up. International reserves improved to 4.7 months of imports at end-March 2014…mainly owing to PetroCaribe financing and private inflows,” the IMF said.

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It said that the primary surplus for the financial year 2013/14 is estimated to have fallen to one per cent of GDP, from 1.4 per cent of GDP in the previus financial year.

The Washington-based financial institution said that revenue is expected to be better-than-budgeted, as robust tax revenues more than offset the decline in non-tax revenues.

“However, substantial increases in wages and salaries, transfers and interest payments drove up current expenditure. Capital expenditures were higher than budgeted because of the need to rebuild the infrastructure that was badly damaged by rain.

“Credit growth and monetary policy continued to be hampered by weaknesses in the financial system,” the IMF said, noting that private sector credit grew by 3.8 per cent while broad money grew by 5.2 percent.

It said that the banking system remained highly liquid with declining, non-performing loans (NPLs) remained high at 16.7per cent of total loans at end-March 2014.

“The banking system’s capital adequacy ratio (CAR) improved to 23.4 percent. The authorities stepped up their efforts to address other weaknesses of the financial system, including the adoption of new anti money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation.”

But the IMF said that the medium-term outlook is worse than envisaged during the last Article IV consultation.

“Real GDP growth would be weaker than expected in the near term but hover around 2.5 per cent over the medium term as declining oil production would be partially offset by higher output of other commodity exports, tourism and construction.

“Inflation would remain low owing to the exchange rate peg and subdued inflation in trading partners. The authorities’ policy plans would maintain the primary surplus around one per cent of GDP in the financial year 2014-15 and in the medium term”.

The IMF warned that low primary surpluses together with the assumed recognition of debt related to nationalizations will increase the public debt-to-GDP ratio.

It said also that expansionary fiscal policies, including large wage increases, would fuel higher domestic consumption and upward pressures on the external current account deficit. International reserves could decline substantially over the medium term, especially if compensation for the nationalized companies adds to external outflows.

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Belize economic outlook “worse than envisaged” – IMF

Jamaica can't compete with Belize in red peas production

The Agriculture Ministry has indicated that Jamaica is not yet in a position to grow enough red peas to match consumption so imports will continue.     
Last year, the country imported roughly one billion dollars worth of  red peas.
This has upset many local players who argue that the country should be able to produce enough of  the commodity.      
However, Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, Donovan Stanberry, states that this is unlikely to change soon.   
He pointed to Jamaica’s legal obligations plus the efficiency of other countries in growing red peas:   

Mr. Stanberry said “the real issue with read peas is that we are part and parcel of a CARICOM trading arrangement and most imports in fact comes in from Belize duty free based on the CARICOM agreement and we just have to be objective. We cannot compete with Belize given to the scale of red peas production given the level of mechanisation in Belize.

Data obtained by the RJR News Centre reveal that 85 percent of  the peas used in Jamaica is imported.

Meanwhile Mr Stanberry says the production of red peas in Jamaica is increasing annually but there are vital changes needed if  the country is to compete successfully: 
He said “we have 220 farmers, most of whom operate on a small acreage.  To get our costs down we would have to plant red pease on large acreages that are mechanized and it is in that context why the development of the Agro park is critical because what the Agro parks allow us to do is be able to engage large acreage that would give us the type of economy of scale. 

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Jamaica can"t compete with Belize in red peas production

Belize get 6-1 hammering from USA

PORTLAND, Oregon (CMC) — Debutants Belize were hammered 6-1 by the United States in their Group C opener of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at JELD-WEN Field Tuesday night.

A first half hat-trick by Chris Wondolowski helped shatter Belize’s enthusiasm as the United States took the group lead over Costa Rica, 3-0 winners over Cuba, via goal differential.Wondolowski struck first in the 12th minute with a point blank goal, added his second goal in the 37th minute by firing home a diving header at the edge of the six-yard box from a Kyle Beckerman cross, and completed his hat-trick by heading in Michael Parkhurst’s cross in the 41st minute.A minute earlier Belize pulled a goal back when an unmarked Ian Gaynair headed in Elroy Smith’s free kick from 10 metres.Pressure in the Belizean defensive third resulted in a fourth goal in the 58th minute when second-half substitute Stuart Holden knocked in Landon Donovan’s laid-off header.Donovan set up the fifth US goal as well, playing a set piece across the net where Michael Orozco headed in his second career goal in the 72nd minute.Donovan clinically finished from the penalty spot four minutes later after Honduran referee Hector Rodriguez called a handball against Belize.The United States will take on Cuba in the second game of the group stage at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday.Belize will face Costa Rica in the other match in Sandy, Utah.Earlier, Caribbean champions Cuba were beaten 3-0 by Costa Rica in their Group C opener.Michael Barrantes’ brace in the second half lifted Costa Rica after the two teams battled to a goalless first half against a stingy Cuban defence.However, Barrantes broke through the defence in the 52nd minute, taking an attempted clearance off his chest and firing a side volley into the net from 17 metres to put the Ticos in front.Jairo Arrieta doubled Costa Rica’s lead in the 71st minute, by pouncing on his own saved point-blank shot from a cross.Six minutes later, Barrantes added his second goal by tucking the ball to the right of goalkeeper Odelin Molina from 26 metres.Barrantes nearly had a hat-trick, but his goal in the 67th minute was called back when Alvaro Saborio was ruled offside.Four minutes from full time, Cuba’s Jose Ciprian Alfonso got behind Costa Rica’s defence, but his attempt was saved by Patrick Pemberton.Chris Wondolowski (left) of the United States heads in his third goal of the first half against Elroy Smith of Belize during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Tuesday at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, Oregon. (PHOTO: AFP)

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Belize get 6-1 hammering from USA