John McAfee receiving commendation for his contributions to Belize security forces. Image Credit San Pedro Sun.

Software antivirus pioneer, philanthropist and expat John McAfee has made world headlines for Belize in not exactly the way the government of the day would have liked it to be. He practically invented the software antivirus industry, made a bundle then flamed out in the world recession with a fraction of his fortune. Mr. McAfee then decided to retire in a tropical paradise and selected Belize. And what a grievous mistake this now appears to have been.

Belize is a much sought after tourism and retirement destination popular with North Americans and Europeans. A former British colony, it is the only English-speaking country in Central America. The Belize Tourism Board invests around one million dollars every month on public relations encouraging visitors, investors and retirees to come hither. The country is tiny, smaller than Massachusetts. Wedged in between Mexico and Guatemala. It borders the Caribbean Sea on the east and has spectacular diving, snorkeling and archaeological attractions, warm and friendly people – and nothing much else.

But it has crime, corruption and poverty. And of course you will not read about it in the glossy tourist brochures or the government funded websites.

Mr. McAfee earlier this week had the misfortune of receiving a visit from the local police SWAT team backed up by the army – some 30 soldiers. And they were not there to acknowledge and thank him for the couple million dollars he has donated to the security forces since coming to live in Belize. On the contrary. He claims they were there to give him some comeuppance. But the GSU says they were there to uphold the law.

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Belize 4 May 2012 – Jeremy Browne, Foreign Office Minister for Latin America, today commented on the agreement between Guatemala and Belize to hold simultaneous referenda on 6 October 2013 on referring their territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) according to a press release issued by the Belize Government. According to the release Mr. Bowne said: “I welcome the agreement, announced last Friday by the Foreign Ministers of Belize and Guatemala, to hold referenda on 6 October 2013 on the question of referring the Guatemala-Belize territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“The UK supports the ICJ route as a means to finding a long-term and sustainable resolution which is acceptable to both states. The resolution of the territorial dispute continues to be a long-term priority for the UK. Our funding for the Organization of American States (OAS) office in the Adjacency Zone, and our contributions to the legal fees fund to assist both countries during the ICJ process, confirm our long-standing support. This agreement is an important step towards increasing stability, development and trade in the region.”

The territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala dates back to 1859. The two countries have been unable to agree their mutual border and Guatemala has maintained a territorial claim on part of Belize. Since 2000, Belize and Guatemala have held a series of
meetings under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS) in an attempt to resolve the dispute through negotiation.
The referenda will take place simultaneously in both countries.

The question to be submitted to referenda will be: “Do you agree that any legal claim of Guatemala against Belize relating to land and insular territories and to any maritime areas pertaining to these territories should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for final settlement and that it determine finally the boundaries of the respective territories and areas of the Parties?”

Belize delegation at Belize-Guatemala talks in Washington.

Washington 27 April 2012 – Belize and Guatemala have agreed on a date for simultaneous referanda to be held in both countries on whether they should take their centuries old territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, according to a press release issued today by both governments. The press release issued by the Belize government:

At the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) today, delegations from Belize and Guatemala, headed by their respective Foreign Ministers, Wilfred Elrington and Harold Caballeros, met with OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, to determine the date on which the simultaneous single issue referenda will take place in both countries in compliance with the Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala to submit Guatemala’s Territorial, Insular and Maritime claim to the International Court of Justice.

In a cordial and cooperative atmosphere and with a view to advancing with the process, the Ministers agreed that the simultaneous referenda will take place on October 6, 2013. To this end, the Ministers stated that they would now take the necessary steps to begin informing the populations in their respective countries to sensitize them as to the territorial dispute, as well as on the need to find a peaceful and permanent solution to the differendum.

The Secretary General congratulated both Ministers for this important decision and reiterated the General Secretariat´s willingness to support the process, as well as to seek the concrete support of the international community towards this end.

The Ministers also agreed that they would convene a high-level meeting during the month of June to examine compliance with the confidence-building measures, as well as to identify activities directed at strengthening cooperation between the inhabitants of the Belize-Guatemala Adjacency Zone.

Belize was represented by the Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Attorney General of Belize, H.E. Senior Ambassador Alfredo Martinez, Ambassador Nestor Mendez, Ambassador Lisa Shoman and First Secretary Kendall Belisle.

Belize Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and Guatemala Foreign Minister Harold Caballeros

Belmopan, Belize 24 April 2012 – The Belize government has taken stringent measures in an attempt to defuse an escalating spate of gang-related  violence that has left 14 people dead in two weeks and the largest commercial centre Belize City in a virtual stage of siege. A little over a month following a narrow victory in General Elections, the government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow is facing is toughest challenge yet – how to confront the serious problem of criminal gangs.

The ruling United Democratic Party has had limited success in papering over the country’s gang problem by a combination of tough enforcement coupled with providing jobs to gang members from the public purse so long as they “keep it down”, in essence buying them off to not create trouble. But in a country with a deteriorating economy, record unemployment and escalating cost of living – the plan has failed evidence the out of control events over the past two weeks that left a trail of bodies including that of one gang leader Arthur Young who was in police custody.

Now today the government has lurched into a new security operation that is seen as a desperate attempt to confront the gang problem head on. A press release issued today details this plan, including the dubious policy of converting soldiers into policemen. That the security operation was launched on the eve of Belize BETEX 2012 – a travel agent convention in Belize city – may be merely coincidental:

The Ministry of National Security wishes to inform the General Public of the details of their planned operations in Belize City. With effect from 4 pm yesterday, 23rd April, 2012 the following measures have been taken:

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Succotz Festival Drum Corps Belize Band Fest Champions

1 April 2012 – The San Jose Succotz Festival Drum Corps from Belize’s western Cayo district has successfully defended its title as the Best Marching Band in Belize at the annual Belize Bandfest held yesterday in Corozal Town. The Succotz Festival Drum Corps scored high points for choreography and music and barely beat out the Corozal Community College that had won the competition in 2010, but lost it in 2011 to Succotz.

The usually serene town of Corozal at Belize’s northern border came alive with one of the biggest events in the country as thousands of Belizeans and tourists flooded the streets for the early-morning parade of bands preceding the competition. The 11 participating bands gathered in front  of the bus terminal and then under the precision drumming, music and choreography that is now a signature of the event, marched through the principal streets of the town. Judging was conducted at the Santiago Ricalde stadium. The Corozal Community College Marching Band was voted the most popular marching band. Succotz Festival Drum Cops won the title of best uniformed marching band. The Holy Redeemer Marching Band won the drum line competition.

In the drum corps category, Delille Academy Marching Band from Dangriga won first place and took home $4,000. as prize. They also took home a trophy and individual medals. First runner up was the Sarteneja United Drum Corps while the second runner up was the Holy Redeemer Marching Band.

In the Marching Band with Wind Instruments category, the top prize was captured by the defending champions, Succotz Festival Drum Corps. They took home $6,000. plus a trophy and individual medals. Second place was captured by the Corozal Community College Marching Band, while the third place winner is the Western Xunan Marching Band. The event is held in a different town every year, but the breezy seaside venue of Corozal town is ranked one of the best for an event that is held during the dry season in Belize when daytime temperatures are often in the 90s.

Prime Minister Barrow inspects guard of honor at opening of parliament 2012

Belmopan, 21 March 2012 – Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow says his re-elected government will continue its pro-poor plan for the new term and consolidate state control of public utilities. The PM was speaking today at the ceremonial opening of parliament at the City of Belmopan where the Senate and House of Representatives met in joint session to be sworn in. The ceremonial opening was held under a tent in front of the National Assembly building at Independence Hill and was attended by invited guests and supporters of the ruling United Democratic Party.

Speaking in 90 degree weather at the start of the Belize dry season, Mr. Barrow said he will continue with a series of projects including cash and food handouts and loan forgiveness programs to alleviate the crushing poverty suffered by a large portion of the Belize population. These projects have been criticised by the opposition Peoples United Party and non government organisations in Belize who say it amounts to the use of state resources to buy support from voters and encourages a culture of dependency and reliance on political patronage among Belizeans.

The Belize Prime Minister said he will create a state-controlled bank to compete with established commercial banking and financial institutions such as credit unions, so as to make money available to the poor. And he reiterated his vow to engage Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez to obtain support for cheap fuel under the Petro Caribe project promoted by that South American country.

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