Less 105

They weren’t 105 pigs. Neither were they 105 dogs.

One hundred and five living breathing human beings have been killed, thus far this year in Belize. That’s more than most high schools graduating classes. That’s 105 families affected, 105 empty beds at night, 105 smiles that we’ll never see again.

The tears in my eyes are no match to the weeping of my heart. My very soul bleeds. I can drop to my knees and scream my frustrations to God; I can blame every politician under the moon; I can call every radio show and talk until my voice is lost… but none of these actions will constitute change in our tiny damaged beloved Belize.

How badly I wish we could truly restore Belize. How badly I wish there was a fast solution.

But, it took a generation to get us to this point, and it’s going to take at least one generation for us to fix it.

We, the ordinary citizens need to recognize that we instigate change – back to the Belize of our memories. We need to live truly lawful lives. In small things, like traffic laws and littering. If we take personal responsibility for our own actions, if we obey each and every law, then we’ve made a beginning. Every level of our society does what they want, when they want to do it. Is it any wonder that we’ve degraded to this extent? There is no respect until tragedy occurs.

I don’t mean to sound class-ist, but this kind of personal responsibility must trickle from the more educated echelons of society down. We need to learn and live by example. Also, we need societal checks in place that ensure that every child is in school, every belly is fed, and every individual in Belize lives with HUMAN DIGNITY. Once each Belizeans has his or her basic needs met, we’ve made a beginning.

Because sometimes I think we’ve lost our respect for human life. To kill Raylene Dyer where they slaughter pigs, chop off her head, and throw her remains in the river. Her murderers don’t fear God. And if they don’t fear God, surely they have no fear for the Belizean Judicial System!

It’s the murder of the children that hurt me most of all, one as she slept in her own bed at night. Who did these children hurt or threaten? We can’t afford to lose another child. We can’t afford another murder.

I challenge each of you to be personal responsible. I know there is hope for Belize. Societal support of Tarrel Sutherland and baby Daniel Estell shows me that there are still traces of the old Belize left, under the dried blood and guns.

[ insert name here ]'s Belize

How do you feel about Belize?

Please, tell me. I want to know.

I used to feel that Belize was a land of untapped potential. A viable diamond-in-the-rough, just needing a caring hand to shine it to lustrous brilliance! I felt as though we were just a few baby steps away from success. Sustainable success. We just needed a stringent visionary (mayhaps an economist) to lead us and tap into the deep well of our natural and human resources.

... Now I don't feel the same.

I don't know how; I don't know when, but we took ten steps backward... haven't we? Do you feel the same? Perhaps it's just me... the last bright vestiges of youthful optimism are fading from me. Also, living away has certainly broadened my thinking. I'm just another common jaded ol' cynic.

Yet... if I had my optimism again, I'd say... "To progress, we need a home-grown solution. We need a solution that comes from those aged 20 to 35."

NOTE: *{I can't comment on crime, because that problem is just too overwhelming.}

I would begin with immigration, if I were part of this imaginary committee. No more accepting immigrants who have nothing to contribute to our economy and growth. I feel many immigrants drain Belizean resources without returning not one tangible benefit. At the same time, as new immigration laws were being implemented, I'd set a plan in motion that aims to retain the young educated masses. {Basically, decrease migration} Too many university-educated Belizeans aren't sure if they want to return to Belize after obtaining their degree, because they don't see a place for themselves in Belize. They are so wrong... we need them more than ever!

Then, I'd establish some sort of manufacturing enterprise. We need to offer the globalized market something they can't find anywhere else for cheaper. Some agro-product, I'm sure, holds the key to our future prosperity.

Next, I would implement and enforce very strict environmental laws and policies. Our ecosystems are among one of the most unique features of Belize. And I, for one, am DAMN tired of seeing politicians sign away cayes, swamps, lagoons, and rights without a sweet clue of the ramifications of their actions. No more, sir!

After that, I would focus on converting all our sources of energy into renewable sources. This would be the hardest, and most expensive step. But in the long run, it would be the most beneficial. I'd have us create so much energy, we would have a surplus to sell.

I applaud the 20-year plan that GOB is creating now, headed by Dr. Carla Barnett. But, I ask you, are the right people spearheading this process? Let's be real. In twenty to thirty years, all the present major players in the current political platform will be retired or dead. Sir Barry Bowen's demises shows us how fragile life is -- even a life full of familial and economic success.

The future is in the youth. It's past time for us to man up and take the reigns.

So, I'll leave you as I began. How do you feel about Belize? Tell me; I want to know.

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...

Looking back before running ahead

I usually take the time to look back on my life on my birthday. Since the birth of our nation is forthcoming, I think I'll take a little time to look at our country. Only in knowing the past can we fully and successfully take advantage of future opportunities.

I feel that we're at a crossroads. The documentary by Kemp, no matter how much I disagree with it, is a wake up call. Crispin Jefferies said it, and I'm agreeing with him {I can't believe I share an opinion with this man.} In this world ruled by the G7, where relations are governed by the rich for the advantage of the rich, we cannot live by the conventional rules of the so called first world countries.

We have to define our own Belizean reality. You know the days we used to yell, "Belize for Belizeans?" We need to relive those times. My knowledge of the past, however, is limited by time. Because I'm an Independence Baby... born Nineteen-Eighty-something, I've flourished under the shade of the mahogany tree...somewhat. Like those of my era, in my words, thoughts, and deeds, I've come to define what it is to be Belizean. I follow American fashion, I have a cell phone on my hip, and I eat rice 'n' beans with gusto every Sunday at noon.

There is so much of the history of Belize that isn't transcribed. I miss the blank spaces. They say you can't miss what you don't know... I have to contradict this long standing opinion. I've read and re-read 13 Chapters from cover to cover and I'm left wholly unsatisfied. There are stories whispered on screen covered verandas as neighbors pass to buy Boledo in the moonlight. There are so many things only the dying old people remember, stories and memories that are dying with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. I find it ironic that in a country where we so praise ourselves on our cultural richness and diversity, we're becoming quickly diluted in the "bling, bling" mentality of North America. The British were supposed to have left on September 21, 1981. So I ask you, why are our minds still shackled? Why are we yet to be freed? We're no longer slaves, yet we work hard to spend every dollar on 21st century skin and credit for our pre-paid phones.

We're composed of contradictions, we Belizeans. "This tranquil haven of democracy" our anthem cries out. Have you seen this haven recently? Between the bullet ridden bodies, skeletons in sugar cane fields, grenades launched in from of the hospital, and gun shots during Carnival? My homeland by the Sea.... I feel you slipping through my fingers, and all I can do is cry, because I wonder if we'll ever return to the days of open windows at night instead of sliding down a slippery slope into urban terrorism. Are we so in-confident in being Belizean that we must create an alternate ego? We have to be ourselves... or we'll lose everything.

Bottom line, the way to thrive, nationally {as well as personally} is by living within our means. Things may not move at the pace that we all wish, but brick by brick, we'll build our own success. On our own terms.

WHAT! Flour gwain up?

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, fresh off the press! The price of flour is almost doubling... from 58c to damn near a $1. Didn't the Chicken Association announce last week that the cost of chicken {our Belizean staple} is increasing as well?

Now, if we add that to the price of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene... As a matter of fact all petroleum based products, with one barrel of the Black Gold floating somewhere around $110US... then we have the US economy in seriously recession and falling currency problems, so there goes the majority of our tourism industry. Does anyone remember the BTIA commercials? "Almost 40% of jobs in Belize are directly related to the tourism industry."

Does anyone have a calculator? Where the hell does that leave the common man?

We're in dire straits. Someone... come hold me! I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and desperate!

Here we are, developing nation, 2008. We have oil. We have some of the most beautiful biolife the world has to offer. We have a great number of naturally intelligent people. We have fertile farmlands.

Here we are, developing nation, 2008. We have an oil company paying us somewhere around 7% of their earnings. We have our reefs being destroyed by the cruise tourism industry where we barely get one freaking dollar for every "tourist" that touches our blessed soil. We have a people unable to afford education, and those who can, flock to America, Canada, England, anywhere but here. We have foreign developers coming and buying our most prime pieces of land and Central Americans squatting on our sovereign territory.

We're living in a world of ever widening social disparity. The rich ARE getting richer. The poor ARE getting poorer. And it is getting harder and harder every single DAY for a man to jump this social gorge.

1 murder every 3 days. If I hear ONE more mother bawling on the TV saying, "My son wasn't bad," I'll scream! Our streets erupting in violence was NOT an overnight occurrence. No honey, from the time Johnny was a boy, he was running amok. What happened to discipline? What happened to respect? What happened to the BELIZEAN WAY. You shoulda mi BAX all rebel outta that boy long time and teach him to be a gentleman. You shoulda mi erase all this "thug this" "gansta that" nonsense outta his head LONG time and guide that boy toward some real dreams.

I am so disgusted with the direction my country is headed. I have to ask, how much lower do we need to go before we RISE as a community? What depths must we reach before we CLEAN our streets. From the Legislature, from the Judiciary, from the Police, from the churches, from the schools, and most of all from the average Belizean home, baby, we gotta make some BIG changes. The question is, are we ready?

Flour price going up. I need to get me some land and start to farm. How can I starve in a country such as this? With the grass so green. With the breezes so gentle? With the sun so warm? And with a people, who I believe -- I have to believe -- so wonderful?

Think, my brothers and sisters, think! How are we gonna solve the problems -- so many problems riddling such a small nation.