Missing

It's not uncommon for things in Belize to go missing.

Seven little girls went missing a few years ago. We've somehow managed to lose common decency and respect, though I hear it's hiding in a few villages in the rural. Asphalt often goes missing from our highways and roads. {That one still amazes me}. We've even managed to lose several million dollars. (I hear that this too is hidden somewhere. If I were you, I would check under the mattress for this!) Most of all, I miss our small town ways and manners... respect and fear...that made living in Belize so safe.

But, all these lost things aren't the focus of this article. What I can't believe went missing are 24 grenades from BATSUB. What the hell? Am I the only one shocked that this is only being disclosed to us four years after the fact?

I wonder what happened...

**Picture, a solider counting grenades**

"Four hundred seventy-nine, four hundred eighty.... uh oh!"

** Runs to his commanding officer**

"Sah, Sah, twenty grenade missing!"

**Officer**

"It's okay, son. I'm sure they'll show up somewhere..."

And they have shown up. In our streets. By the feet of our country's children. We need fi come betta than this, Belize. Share in my indignation and outrage! Enough is enough. I'm ready to take back the streets of Belize from hooligans and Neanderthals. Just as long as someone would kindly return all the asphalt that's missing...

Mayor & Friends

We all know that Zenaida was doing stuff she shouldn't have been doing, but what amazes me are those that are throwing the stones are just as bad if not worse. Z is not doing anything that her predecessors or current councilmen haven't done before. In fact, some are doing far worse. Well all know that Boots and Finney enjoy the funding of the Lord. Mark King, Anthony & Lela have their own side parties going one, ensuring they have a nice cushy parachute. I am not condoning Z actions..not in the least. But, when we put it in perspective of Belizean politics and even her own councillors, she is but a small fry. A small fry about to be thrown to the wolves.

The UDP needed Z at a critical time in the past. And She delivered. She was the only person that could have delivered, except for maybe Ms. Esquivel. Now the UDP are creating a public spectacle of discarding her. Instead of handling the matter behind the scenes, they are enjoying M.A.D (Mutually Assured Destruction).

And who do they want to replace her. A man that can't speak proper english, a man that believes Belize City is Rich vs Poor, a man that thinks he needs a "Special Tourism Zone" to "put proper garbage bins on Albert Street" Eeesh! But a man that has political aspirations of a constituency. Now there is the real story.

We all know Z was not perfect, but at least she was intelligent. At least she represented our city well abroad. At least she started the UDP wheels of change, and for that she deserves a better send off than a kick in the pants from a bunch of hypocrites.

The Northern Highway

What a disgrace the Northern Highway between Belize City and Ladyville has become. In fact, it has become the symbol for the sorry state of the country we live in.

When it is dry it becomes a dust bowl. When it is raining it becomes a swamp. In between, it is a mixture of potholes, badly patched tarmac, half-fixed tarmac and Indianapolis speedway for buses, taxis and blue plated vehicles. If this is not just like our country, what is? Everything is falling down, while the few elite breeze on through. GOB attempts to patch itself, but it keeps raining on them, and bigger holes soon appear. When it does stop raining, they are so relieved that they forget to work on the issues that cause the disrepair in the first place.

As we continue to dodge countless potholes and drive through chassis high salt water on a regular basis, we must wonder...are we really living in a country moving forward? Where are our priorities? And shouldn't the highest priority be to fix the one piece of road in the country that is not only the most driven, but the first stretch of road that visitors, investors and the IMF see? The people that keep Belize going.

We've thrown down millions for a now trash littered Marine Parade, but those tour buses still have to chug through the eyesore we call "Friendship Street". They still drive on the stretch of road that is a killing field for pedestrians and motorists. Several years ago, someone coined the term Kamikazi Junction. Well, this road should be called Snipers Alley. Every time you take a drive on this road, you are risking your life, dodging holes, vehicles, people, water and even the odd real bullet. Mostly we avoid all the perils, but occasionally we fall in that big new hole and never come out. Will Belize finally fall into a really big hole and never come out? Some would argue that we already have.

Lets fix the road, fix ourselves, and fix our country. We deserve it. Our children deserve it.