Rockstone Pond gets potable water, improves quality of life for residents

The 2007 Human Development Index Report ranks Belize at 80 among the 177, just ten spots from entering the high human development bracket along with countries like Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago. Belize has made significant improvements, last year it ranked 95.

Year after year the Government of Belize looks at what programmes and projects it could carry out to boost the living standards and conditions for Belizeans.

The Southside Project which is transforming what used to be the UDP’s Southside of London Bridges and filth is one reason why the HDI report gives Belize a better grade.

The investments in an improved infrastructure, through the upgrading of the Southern Highway (which will be completed by the PUP Government), the new Coney Drive, University Heights Boulevard, Marine Parade Boulevard, better access roads to villages and communities, and the improvements to the airport road are reasons better opportunities have been created.

The housing boom under the PUP – Los Lagos, Mahogany Heights, Sunset Park, Lake I Housing Project, Belama Phase II, III and soon to come IV, University Heights, Chula Vista and Joseito Layout in Corozal, and massive housing projects in Orange Walk, Dangriga, Punta Gorda, Belmopan, which empower Belizeans with the right to their own homes, is another reason why Belize’s human development has soared.

It is the PUP which has widened the economic basket for Belizeans. Unemployment fell to 8.5 which means more people are working; over 1,000 scholarships are available through Government which means more young Belizeans have access to education; the textbook program in primary school, removal of stamp duty, discounts in DFC loans for housing and student loans, increase in the minimum wage, start of pensions for female senior citizens and the recent increase and inclusion of male senior citizens - all reasons Belizeans have more spending power.

Conversely the UDP in their crazed quest for power are going to unheard of lengths to discredit the positive things the PUP government has accomplished. UDP leader Dean Barrow is now so desperate that he has resorted to using two North Americans- Allen Saum and Jim Cavanaugh – of questionable background in his negative propaganda campaign.

Both Cavanaugh and Saum have checkered histories. Jim Cavanaugh- the self proclaimed “Jungle Jim” has a rap sheet from the United States five pages long. On August 9, 1994 he was charged with felony counts of Conspiracy to Commit Fraud, Bank Fraud and Bankruptcy Fraud. He became a fugitive, fled the US, was apprehended and served time at Federal Department of Corrections facility in Englewood, Colorado. As for Allen Saum, the former low level covert intelligence operative, was according to information posted on the internet, intricately involved in the nefarious Iran Contra Affair (mid 1980s) coordinated by his cohort Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North. The Iran Contra Affair in a nutshell was the CIA circumventing US Congress and financing the Contras of Nicaragua through cocaine sales. A shady character- very shady.

What an unsavory duo Barrow (who regularly defends accused high profile drug traffickers) has enlisted in his anti-government propaganda. Cavanaugh is trying his best to undermine our fledgling oil industry- destroy Belize’s credibility and Saum is attempting the same “destabilization” techniques in learned as a covert intelligence  operative to screw up the government. The saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” The UDP have gotten cozy with two devilish types- all too fitting.

The people’s choice is clear- the PUP who are making good things happen for Belize! Or the UDP and their North American rabble-rousers who are hell bent on destroying Belize.