Well, I guess I am blind. Dr told me that after I got to &% years old, I would need glasses if I did not stop ...
Anyway, the site I went to was
belize.gov.bz
And for those who want to read for themselves, here is what I found:
BELIZE INFORMATION SERVICE
Press Releases
Belmopan, July 27, 1998 (B.I.S.) - The Commission of Inquiry, established by Statutory Instrument No. 20 of 1998, completed its report on 24 July and released it
for publication through the Office of the Prime Minister today, 27 July, 1998.
The Commission's conclusions are as follows:
1. Notwithstanding Mr. Musa's refusal to testify as a witness, sufficient evidence was gathered and confirmed by the various witnesses that acts of wrong-doings
were committed.
2. That irregularities and flagrant disregard of government's rules and regulations were the order of the day.
3. That because of deliberate disregard for the provisions of the Act, its Regulations and attendant policy and administrative guidelines, the Government of Belize lost
$7,535,833.38 in revenue.
4. The Commissioners are satisfied, after having sought legal opinion on the relevant provisions of the laws that governed Economic Citizenship Program(ECP) for
period l989 to l993, that former Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Immigration and Nationality, Hon. Said Musa,
(a) Deliberately and with impunity varied the prescribed fee on an individual basis contrary to customary and constant practice;
(b) Deliberately waived the prescribed fee for which he did not have authority under the Act nor its Regulations;
(c) Deliberately waived the important documentation of medical, Aids test and Security records, endangering the internal and to some extent the external security of
Belize, and the health and welfare of Belizeans, and by his actions, deliberately encouraged Public Officers to ignore government's rules and regulations and in some
cases to neglect their duties, and deliberately instructed Public Officers to lie.
5. Consequently, it is the Commission's view that Hon. Said Musa is responsible for the loss of $7,535,833.38 and that he knowingly and deliberately acted in
contravention of the requirements of the ECP and therefore may have committed a criminal offence.
The Commission's recommendations are as follows:
1. The Commission considers the testimony of two witnesses Mr. Winston Smiling J.P. and Mr. Jose Shoman Jr. to be in contradiction with the testimony of other
witnesses who confirm that they participated as facilitators or expediters in the acquisition of Economic Citizenship for the applicants. In this regard, the Commission
would ask that the Director of Public Prosecutions be requested to review the relevant testimonies with a view of bringing charges of perjury against the two
witnesses.
2. The Commission considers the action of Hon. Said Musa in refusing to testify before a duly constituted Commission of Inquiry as a serious and dangerous
precedent being set. In this regard, the Commissioners feel that the authority given to them under the Act has been abused by Hon. Said Musa and would ask that
the Director of Public Prosecutions be requested to examine whether Hon. Said Musa contravened any provisions of the Commission of Inquiry Act and if such is
the case, that charges be brought against Mr. Musa.
3. That Mr. Musa be asked to reimburse the Government of Belize the sum of $7,535,833.38
4. That civil action be brought against Mr. Musa for the recovery of the loss incurred in the Economic Citizenship Program.
The entire report, including the testimonies of witnesses, is available to interested parties on application to the Office of the Prime Minister.
End
BELMOPAN, 29 July, 1998. -(BIS)- The Trade Investment Promotion Service (TIPS), Ministry of Trade and Industry will be conducting a one-day seminar on
August 5, at the Lamanai Room of the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City.
The seminar will focus on Market Access issues such as Standards and Technical Barriers, Rules of Origin, Tariffs and Non-tariff Barriers, Sanitary and
Pytho-sanitary Measures.
According to TIPS Director, Mr. Mario Castellanos seminar will sensitize Belizean Exporters and Potential Exporters to be able to penetrate Caribbean and Latin
American Markets.
Presenters will include Mr. Ivor Caryl from the CARICOM Secretariat, Mr. David Lewis, a consultant from Caribbean Export and Mr. Gilroy Graham who will be
presenting the Belizean experience in exporting to these markets.
Other guests include Mr. Richard Reid of the Ministry of Trade and Mr. Godwin Hulse, Chairman of the board of Directors of TIPS.
(ends)
BELMOPAN, 29 July, 1998. -(BIS)- The Belize Certification Programme, a project of $250,000 to provide financial, legal and technical assistance to CREI, the
Research and Extension Arm of the Belize Citrus Growers Association will shortly be implemented.
The programme which will benefit citrus farmers and the citrus industry is expected to eradicate pests and diseases of citrus and will assist in the rapid identification
of other exotic pathogens before registration and mandatory certification.
The programme is being funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
(ends)
BELMOPAN, 27 July, 1998. -(BIS)- The Ministry of Finance has announced that the Caribbean Development Bank, (CDB) granted approval of a loan and a
grant amounting to $7,080,000, to the Government of Belize.
The loan and grant will be utilized for the upcoming Community Initiated Agriculture and Resource Management Project (IARMP) in Southern Belize.
IARMP aims to reduce poverty by developing the potential of sustainable agricultural production systems and to enhance community capacity by ensuring accessible
support services to poor families in the Project Area.
The CDB approved the loan and grant for Belize at its meeting held on July 16, 1998.
IARMP will be funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in collaboration with CDB and is scheduled to start in the next few months.
IARMP is also expected to develop group management and leadership skills with a gender focus in communities and local organizations in order to generate,
formulate and implement small-scale sub-projects, especially those related to income- generating activities and strengthen public and private institutions so that they
deliver more effective non-financial services.
(ends)
BELMOPAN, 8 July, 1998. -(BIS)- The Ministry of Health advises the public in general and especially the residents in the Cayo District, that the Cholera Bacteria
has been found in the Mopan and Roaring Rivers in Cayo.
Other rivers can become contaminated if necessary measures are not taken.
The Ministry of Health appeals to the public, especially those living in the areas of greater risk, to take the following preventive measures:
- boil or treat your water before drinking it or using it to prepare foods and drinks
- drink only liquids made from treated water
- make sure foods are prepared properly before eating them
- wash hands before cooking, eating, after using the bathroom or latrine, and after handling faeces
- store food safely
- avoid eating raw foods, e.g. conch, ceviche
- wash uncooked foods, e.g. vegetables with treated water
- dispose of waste properly; use a latrine or bathroom, and burn or bury your garbage regularly or bag it properly for the truck to pick-up
- eat in a screened or clean area
- use insecticides, e.g. insect spray which will destroy the insects such as houseflies which can contribute to food contamination
Cholera is a dangerous but preventable active bacterial disease which can be contracted by drinking water and other liquids contaminated with fecal matter (stool)
containing the Cholera bacteria, or by eating food contaminated with the bacteria.
If you or any member of your family should develop uncontrollable diarrhoea please report to the nearest Health Post, Health Centre or Hospital immediately.
(ends) |
