"The UDP has won the elections. YEAH! YEAH! They promised to be a transparent government. YES! Belize will be betta. Out with the PUP and the corruption. They were not transparent. The PUP were corrupt. Nobody knew what they were doing since the PUP were NOT transparent.
And since no one knew what they were doing we KNOW that they were corrupt."
Hi Everyone! So glad that you are reading my little rantings. Thank you. I was on the road yesterday and was toggling with the logic of the word transparent.
First, let me supply my opinion on government transparency.
I believe that governments cannot tell the people everything. Even if they want to do so, they will never tell us all. First there is the impossibility, next there is the security issue and thirdly there is the societal reality. People hate bad news and governments will always try to find a way not to give us the bad news unless they have to do it.
So why lie and tell people that they will be an open government and not have secrecy. I would not want a government that does not have confidential stuff. Not even in a state of utopia would that happen.
Transparency literally means that you can see through and through and that things are clear. This can only happen in perception with governments. So if a government is transparent what does it mean? It is said over and over. If it means that we will know how every penny is spent. No can do. A lie. Accounting systems are not that detailed and not in Belize and not even in the wealthy USA. What else can it mean?
I have put one day of thinking into this and all I could come up with is that it sounds good.
WE WILL BE TRANSPARENT! (Please do not ask for a definition.)
Some try to define it by saying that the books will be audited every so often and a report will be made. And when people see these reports, say, every six months, we will say(or will we) "Yes, this government is transparent." Or we will wonder, what are they hiding?
This is elementary, the reports will not have all the answers.
At best, the report will be selectively transparent. The 'financials' will show what they want us to see.
The UDP Political slogan would be more truthful if it would have said "Continuing to be Selectively Transparent", that would hold more of the truth. Then again the perception will be that they are lying about something.
A vicious circle people. Maybe the word transparency should be shelved. It does not exist in political circles. Its buzz is indefinable.
There I got that out of me. Phew!
In an earlier blog, I took a line from our National Anthem that is super powerful. Sing along with me... By the MIGHT of TRUTH and the GRACE of GOD...
When we speak, let us just say the TRUTH... can one be more transparent?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Haters
Intelligentsia... The Russian form for 'the educated people in our society' has a flair that rings in my ears. The ring is sweet. This honey is one that I would like to daub all over us. We all ought to start from scratch. Let us notice, and squeeze from our surroundings that that we are oblivious to from our everyday lives.
I will make a list. And my challenge to you is think... 'Do I do that?'
Are you thinking...'Do I do that?'
Next 7...
Truthfully: I refrained from talking about haters because then I might be hating on haters. Nah! I love my fellow human beings. They are all as imperfect as I am.
Smile guys... Oh and... do you want to add to my list? Be happy, you will then part of the intelligentsia.
I will make a list. And my challenge to you is think... 'Do I do that?'
- Be amazed by a rainbow or a double rainbow... one is inverted.
- Think that dogs are talking to us as they bark.
- Walk in a garden after the rain and see how the rain beads on the petals of that rose.
- It is raining and you do not run. You are wet and feel rushed with energy.
- Wait for the next full moon... and eclipse... and stars... and dusk... then dawn (with a lil yawn).
- Count seconds after a flash of lightning waiting for the thunder... and all the crackles.
- Go to a Caye or somewhere only to see the sun rise and breathe in the air.
Are you thinking...'Do I do that?'
Next 7...
- Are amazed with technology...even though you own the latest Ipod and fastest of computers.
- Observe a fruit from the time it was a flower...day after day... and finally bite into it.
- Ogle a green green leaf and be amazed by the crisp venation.
- Drop a stone into a well and listen to the water splash. (Pull up a bucket of water)
- Go to your church services and be glad for these things.
- Wake up early in the morning to relish the dew that's all over.
- Watch ants build a nest and mischievously fill up the hole and see them start over.
- See how pastry being baked raises and browns right before your eyes. (Thru a glass)
Truthfully: I refrained from talking about haters because then I might be hating on haters. Nah! I love my fellow human beings. They are all as imperfect as I am.
Smile guys... Oh and... do you want to add to my list? Be happy, you will then part of the intelligentsia.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Culture of Complaining
Hey OW... what is this with these desperate looking killings? Why are the 'animos' that hyped up? Why go for the jugular? Why deprive another of their life to satisfy some feeling? Why go to jail? Is that a better option?
I have seen horrendous killings in our OW in my lifetime and it will continue. It is just the way society goes.
Is crime getting worse in Orange Walk?
Let me opine, since that is what I do and let us hypothetically solve.
Over my little lifetime I have heard three statements over and over and over.
1. Prices di go up.
2. Crime di get worse.
3. No Job di out deh.
4. Things haad out ya.
Ooops...! I said three and went to four.
We Belizeans have not developed the skill of praising our successes. If we hear someone expressing something of themselves, it is 'breggin." We would rather ignore Andy walking down the street than throng. We then throng when he passes; make him a demigod.
Prices of fuel go down, we yawn. Our Prime Minister is OPEC's number one enemy since he was responsible for the drop in oil prices. Well at least someone did not yawn.
Some prices do go down but that is not lionized; some business people whistle to the ceiling hoping no one would notice that he did not go along with the price drop. He/she is ready to hike when it happens the next time.
No jobs are out there...funny. Thousands of us have jobs. Make a poll and everyone wants another job. Life shuffles the jobs and everyone is satisfied for a while and state... "no moh job di out deh."
I call it the culture of complaining. I do not know if it has gotten worse but we Belizeans are good at it.
Let me suggest, that if we start to praise a lot more it will do wonders for Orange Walk. Then maybe that can trickle to the rest.
Maybe then we can "stimulate" ourselves to work a lil more and be happier. And by the way, if the price is too high do not buy it.
When I hear a complaint, I would think 'so what is your solution?' After the complaint, I often do not hear solution suggestions from intelligentsia or the heart.
See you next blog!
I have seen horrendous killings in our OW in my lifetime and it will continue. It is just the way society goes.
Is crime getting worse in Orange Walk?
Let me opine, since that is what I do and let us hypothetically solve.
Over my little lifetime I have heard three statements over and over and over.
1. Prices di go up.
2. Crime di get worse.
3. No Job di out deh.
4. Things haad out ya.
Ooops...! I said three and went to four.
We Belizeans have not developed the skill of praising our successes. If we hear someone expressing something of themselves, it is 'breggin." We would rather ignore Andy walking down the street than throng. We then throng when he passes; make him a demigod.
Prices of fuel go down, we yawn. Our Prime Minister is OPEC's number one enemy since he was responsible for the drop in oil prices. Well at least someone did not yawn.
Some prices do go down but that is not lionized; some business people whistle to the ceiling hoping no one would notice that he did not go along with the price drop. He/she is ready to hike when it happens the next time.
No jobs are out there...funny. Thousands of us have jobs. Make a poll and everyone wants another job. Life shuffles the jobs and everyone is satisfied for a while and state... "no moh job di out deh."
I call it the culture of complaining. I do not know if it has gotten worse but we Belizeans are good at it.
Let me suggest, that if we start to praise a lot more it will do wonders for Orange Walk. Then maybe that can trickle to the rest.
Maybe then we can "stimulate" ourselves to work a lil more and be happier. And by the way, if the price is too high do not buy it.
When I hear a complaint, I would think 'so what is your solution?' After the complaint, I often do not hear solution suggestions from intelligentsia or the heart.
See you next blog!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Post-Election Blues...or is it Reds
Hi everyone,
I had mentioned to you some blogs ago of the "defrocking of one of our very own." I said it vaguely like this since I was not sure it would actually happen. What I meant was the removal of Marcel Cardona as a minister of government. Of course, the timing of this move like so many other things needed to be in sync with the municipal elections.
These TWO are the biggest: The 'reshuffle' or the reissuing of Cardona's portfolio and the reading of the General Revenue Appropriation Bill (budget).
In December or so when fuel prices went below the level thousands of us Belizeans can even fathom, I thought that money was being wasted. Prices should have been held steady at about seven dollars and all the difference could have been used to do worthy stuff. But no; our Prime Minister had to TRY to fulfill his 'lower the cost of living' promise.
I know very well that NO government has control over prices. The economy of the world is daunted by forces that no 1 government can control. Certain governments can sway economies but control does not entirely exist.
Obama's 'stimulus' is only that, it is an attempt to jolt the US economy out of negative growth...not control.
Why would someone tell the country ad nauseum that he is responsible for the low fuel prices? The sad part for him is that people will take the April 1st realignment as a definite raise of prices. I believe he should have steered it the 7 dollar level from the time it was plummeting.
Notice how many businesses that raised prices because of the 'high fuel prices' ($11) did not miss a beat in order restore prices. The last time fuel prices were that low some of these businesses were not even open.
Let me explain a bit... Fuel is an import. We therefore need to produce and export something first before we can have the foreign exchange ($US) to pay ESSO for the a new batch of fuel. This means millions of US dollars every two to three weeks. Get the picture? Yes, we need fuel to produce things but that is where government can help... help to cane farmers, farmers, producers etc. The problem there has always been that our Belizeans find a way to subvert the system by using this fuel for personal means and there goes the government's help.
When we are at home. What happens to any grocery that your mom/dad buy a lot of... We waste it. The same happens with fuel. I know of some people that "circled"in their vehicles a lot more since the price allowed them. Well reality will set in again.
Anyway peeps... it all goes back to looking into the mirror and making the best decisions for ourselves and our town. It does help the country on the longer run.
I had mentioned to you some blogs ago of the "defrocking of one of our very own." I said it vaguely like this since I was not sure it would actually happen. What I meant was the removal of Marcel Cardona as a minister of government. Of course, the timing of this move like so many other things needed to be in sync with the municipal elections.
These TWO are the biggest: The 'reshuffle' or the reissuing of Cardona's portfolio and the reading of the General Revenue Appropriation Bill (budget).
In December or so when fuel prices went below the level thousands of us Belizeans can even fathom, I thought that money was being wasted. Prices should have been held steady at about seven dollars and all the difference could have been used to do worthy stuff. But no; our Prime Minister had to TRY to fulfill his 'lower the cost of living' promise.
I know very well that NO government has control over prices. The economy of the world is daunted by forces that no 1 government can control. Certain governments can sway economies but control does not entirely exist.
Obama's 'stimulus' is only that, it is an attempt to jolt the US economy out of negative growth...not control.
Why would someone tell the country ad nauseum that he is responsible for the low fuel prices? The sad part for him is that people will take the April 1st realignment as a definite raise of prices. I believe he should have steered it the 7 dollar level from the time it was plummeting.
Notice how many businesses that raised prices because of the 'high fuel prices' ($11) did not miss a beat in order restore prices. The last time fuel prices were that low some of these businesses were not even open.
Let me explain a bit... Fuel is an import. We therefore need to produce and export something first before we can have the foreign exchange ($US) to pay ESSO for the a new batch of fuel. This means millions of US dollars every two to three weeks. Get the picture? Yes, we need fuel to produce things but that is where government can help... help to cane farmers, farmers, producers etc. The problem there has always been that our Belizeans find a way to subvert the system by using this fuel for personal means and there goes the government's help.
When we are at home. What happens to any grocery that your mom/dad buy a lot of... We waste it. The same happens with fuel. I know of some people that "circled"in their vehicles a lot more since the price allowed them. Well reality will set in again.
Anyway peeps... it all goes back to looking into the mirror and making the best decisions for ourselves and our town. It does help the country on the longer run.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Much ado about nothing
The body politic of Orange Walk Town has spoken and there is a myriad of angles as to why the results are what they are. These angles may be as numerous as there are electors. I will not even attempt to hint that I have the best angle. I do not.
What I can say is that our Orange Walkeño voters spoke as opposed to the silent majority in the rest of the nation. Our democracy is built to give those who wish to remain silent to do so innocuously. Again, why did they stay home will be an endless debate. All I can say is this; if you do not like a restaurant then you do not go and buy food from it.
IMHO the PUP candidates had too much of rookie in them. At the polls, people will many a times go with name recognition and how long the name has been under the spotlight.
I know, maybe, all the 14 candidates from both parties in Orange Walk. Having this information in mind I had made my assertions and had gotten a general feeling. But the majority obviously could did not see what I saw.
I have never liked the ideas of split votes, not in Belize. The politics is still too petty. Mr. de la Fuente asserted that he will work with HIS new council. My take is that when a council is split then the town suffers since you have less people to serve them. When I think of the people that surround Mr. de la Fuente all I get is victimization, party politics galore and anti-PUP venom. None of these three are good for Orange Walk. It is left to be seen what responsibilities will be given to the 3 PUP councilors.
I knew too that the cane farmer issue was not going to pan out either way. The cane farmers involved are not so much from OW town. Dean Barrow was not running for councilor or mayor; he would have lost. I would not have liked the PUP winning because of that issue. I did not support the cane farmer stand anyway. I also did not support the Dean Barrow approach to quell.
All in all, the PUP is still in convalescing. It showed signs of getting up but the cancer imposed by the terrible twins is yet to be stricken totally. The People's United Party will need to go beyond remission before they can savour another win at the polls. March 4, 2009 was a step towards the total CHANGE that has been envisioned. The loss for all intents and purposes and ODDS was inevitable.
Too many people stayed away yesterday. They are like a sleeping giant that needs agitating. The PUP needs to show why they are NEW and IMPROVED. Belizeans did not see it; nor did they feel it. It is back to the drawing board to find that formula of success for the PUP and benefit for our invaluable people of the jewel.
For the new Orange Walk Town Council and Mayor this is like 2003 for the PUP. We need the best for our town. After all, there was much ado about nothing. Our democracy in Orange Walk prevailed. The majority have decided who they want to take care of their affairs.
I have always been one to go with who rules, PUP or UDP. Our leaders must be given a chance to make decisions and then elections come.
I will follow here and the electorate will also follow.
Later.
What I can say is that our Orange Walkeño voters spoke as opposed to the silent majority in the rest of the nation. Our democracy is built to give those who wish to remain silent to do so innocuously. Again, why did they stay home will be an endless debate. All I can say is this; if you do not like a restaurant then you do not go and buy food from it.
IMHO the PUP candidates had too much of rookie in them. At the polls, people will many a times go with name recognition and how long the name has been under the spotlight.
I know, maybe, all the 14 candidates from both parties in Orange Walk. Having this information in mind I had made my assertions and had gotten a general feeling. But the majority obviously could did not see what I saw.
I have never liked the ideas of split votes, not in Belize. The politics is still too petty. Mr. de la Fuente asserted that he will work with HIS new council. My take is that when a council is split then the town suffers since you have less people to serve them. When I think of the people that surround Mr. de la Fuente all I get is victimization, party politics galore and anti-PUP venom. None of these three are good for Orange Walk. It is left to be seen what responsibilities will be given to the 3 PUP councilors.
I knew too that the cane farmer issue was not going to pan out either way. The cane farmers involved are not so much from OW town. Dean Barrow was not running for councilor or mayor; he would have lost. I would not have liked the PUP winning because of that issue. I did not support the cane farmer stand anyway. I also did not support the Dean Barrow approach to quell.
All in all, the PUP is still in convalescing. It showed signs of getting up but the cancer imposed by the terrible twins is yet to be stricken totally. The People's United Party will need to go beyond remission before they can savour another win at the polls. March 4, 2009 was a step towards the total CHANGE that has been envisioned. The loss for all intents and purposes and ODDS was inevitable.
Too many people stayed away yesterday. They are like a sleeping giant that needs agitating. The PUP needs to show why they are NEW and IMPROVED. Belizeans did not see it; nor did they feel it. It is back to the drawing board to find that formula of success for the PUP and benefit for our invaluable people of the jewel.
For the new Orange Walk Town Council and Mayor this is like 2003 for the PUP. We need the best for our town. After all, there was much ado about nothing. Our democracy in Orange Walk prevailed. The majority have decided who they want to take care of their affairs.
I have always been one to go with who rules, PUP or UDP. Our leaders must be given a chance to make decisions and then elections come.
I will follow here and the electorate will also follow.
Later.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Undecided!
Folks, like everyone in Orange Walk I also have family on both sides of the political fence. I have never worn a 'sloganed' T-shirt in my life but have always respected those that do. Who I vote for has been and will always be a secret. It is so interesting how people can be clairvoyant and KNOW who you will vote for. I so hope that this is ALWAYS so in our little invaluable jewel.
I have followed our politics for as long as I have life and now find this medium as one where this knowledge can be self-exploited in something basic as my opinion.
This will be a very short blog as I want to show you one of the reasons (other than the Central Park "Christmas Tree") why I am weighing to one side. You look at the picture and make up your mind.
The street lights are a good thing for Orange Walk but then these are on a list that is way, way too short. I will say no more.
I have followed our politics for as long as I have life and now find this medium as one where this knowledge can be self-exploited in something basic as my opinion.
This will be a very short blog as I want to show you one of the reasons (other than the Central Park "Christmas Tree") why I am weighing to one side. You look at the picture and make up your mind.
The street lights are a good thing for Orange Walk but then these are on a list that is way, way too short. I will say no more.
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