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To: ROSARIO who wrote (9607)	7/29/1998 7:03:00 AM
From: STRTYZ	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 43774

Some news on Belize (has anyone read this yet)? POPULATION-BELIZE: WHAT IS DEVELOPMENT ANYWAY? BELMOPAN, (July 14) IPS - The government and some sections of the indigenous community in Belize are having a difference of opinion over the meaning of the term "development" these days. For the government, it apparently means modernization -- building roads and making health and other social services more accessible for instance -- but for some members of the Mayan community, it means preserving their ancestral land and keeping it safe from invaders. It also means continuing to cultivate the land and preserving its natural beauty. So the government's ambitious plan to link one Mayan community in the interior called Toledo to the rest of the country by putting in place a major highway is not very popular with some members of the group. "When the highway is fully completed, foreigners will want to come in and buy up all the land," said Pio Coc, coordinator of the Toledo Maya Cultural Council (TMCC), a group that is championing the cause of the Mayans in Belize. The district of Toledo consists of some 445,000 hectares of land, and while government is assuring the population (numbering 20,000) that the paving of the highway will not bring about any major disruption to the life of the Mayans, they are not convinced. "The reservation land will not be increased or decreased. This assurance was given to the Mayans by Prime Minister (Manuel) Esquivel," said Lindsay Belisle, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources. The project, which is being funded by the British government to the tune of $12.75 million, is referred to as the Southern Highway Project. "The current isolation of much of the population of Belize prevents people from gaining access to basic services such as schools and health care. This project aims to help remedy that," said Britain's Secretary for International Development, Clare Short. The highway would link an area which is often referred to as the "forgotten district" to the rest of the city. It is located in the deep south of the country, in the general area of Punta Gorda with roads that are often referred to as being similar to a journey through the desert. Punta Gorda, a two-hour boat ride from neighboring Guatemala, is home for Mayans, East Indians, Garifuna and Creole. According to a 1980 census, Amer-Indians account for seven percent of Belize's population of 230,000; Creoles -- of mainly African descent-- comprise 40 percent, Garifuna or Black Caribs who are of mixed Amer-Indian and African blood, for eight percent and Mestizos -- of mixed Mayan and European descent, for 33 percent. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Development, Yvonne Young said the government feels that by building this highway, the standard of living of these indigenous people would be greatly improved. For instance, they would be able to transport their agricultural produce to markets in Belize City much more easily. It would also mean greater access to schools and health facilities in the city and would no doubt have a positive impact on the tourism industry. In the 1980s Belize attempted to develop its tourism industry based on Mayan heritage, appealing mainly to the U.S. market. Belize also developed an eco-tourism industry based on its natural environment, particularly the rain forests and barrier reef known to be the second largest in the world. A major hotel construction program began in 1990, but it was not as successful as was hoped. This was attributed to the recession in the United States. In the latter part of 1992, the industry began to show some improvement in the number of visitor arrivals totalling just under 248,000, and the tourism industry contributed 16.8 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product. The government wants this trend to continue. However, the Mayans are still suspicious of this latest project. For some it brings back memories of two years ago when the government granted a 20-year logging license to a local company, Atlantic Industries -- backed by Malaysian companies to cut down trees in their communities. Coc says it is still fresh in the minds of the Mayans how they were not even allowed access to those areas once the logging had started. There are some who feel that this could take place all over again - - all in the name of development -- and they feel the need to guard against this trend.

To: ROSARIO who wrote (9607)	7/29/1998 7:07:00 AM
From: STRTYZ	Respond to of 43774

Some more Belize news POLITICS-BELIZE: NO TAXES FOR LOW INCOME EARNERS BELMOPAN, (Jul. 22) IPS - Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel has made a move which is likely to guarantee him another five years at the seat of government in this capital city as Belizeans go to the polls next month to elect a new government. In a recent announcement in front of some 15,000 supporters which was aired by national radio, Esquivel stated quite clearly that beginning immediately, Belizeans who earn less than $10,000 per year will no longer pay income tax. So many teachers, nurses, police and public officers, as well as soldiers will find themselves saving approximately 25 percent of their salaries that they would normally pay in income tax. Some 48,000 persons are set to benefit from this move -- a move which has invited both praise and criticism. "I welcome the income tax relief which allows me to have more money," said one Belizean who did not want his name to be mentioned. But the opposition People's United Party (PUP) has been one of the first ones to attack the move. "It pretends to relieve the average worker but instead burdens him or her with higher prices and less opportunities for earning a living," said the PUP in a news release. The PUP says while government is abolishing income tax for some categories of workers, the amendment in the business tax will mean that additional costs will be passed on to the consumers so what they will save on income tax will go back into paying more for goods and services. "The government gives it in one hand and the merchants will take it in the other in higher cost of goods," said one Belizean who requested anonymity. "The effect of the gross receipt tax on business will result in a much higher cost of living for these same (low-income) people, and in the end they will be worse off," said the PUP statement. Whereas in the past companies were charged 35 percent on net profit, they will now be required to pay tax on gross sales or receipts. The additional amount which will be collected from businesses should cover the shortfall from the income tax. Income tax collected for the last financial year of April 1, 1997 to Mar. 31, 1998 brought in approximately $14 million. Last year workers who were earning less than $5,520 per year were excluded from paying income tax. But the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) said it is not only pinning its hope of re-election on this move to abolish income tax for some workers, but also added that its achievement over the past five years would also allow Belizeans to see that it deserves another term in office. The PUP said it has created 5,500 jobs since it was elected to office in 1993 and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown by 2.9 percent. "Inflation (has) declined, the balance of payments has improved and reserves have strengthened," said Esquivel. "Our dollar remains the only currency that has not suffered devaluation in the entire region." he added. It now takes two Belizean dollars to purchase one US dollar whereas in the northern Caribbean island of Jamaica, it takes just under $36, in Trinidad and Tobago six units of the local currency and in Guyana $135. Inflation in Belize now stands at one percent.