And since he is also the Minister responsible for BTL, the nationalized telecoms company, we asked Ferguson about the Government business that BTL has lost to its competitor, Smart.
As viewers are aware, some government departments have decided to switch to Smart as their telecoms provider.
Here's what he had to say about how the state owned phone company, BTL no longer has business with some government agencies:
Jules Vasquez, Host
"Where do you stand in terms of that the government shifting some ministries, some departments shifting their services to Smart instead of BTL. BTL as you know is our national phone company. The people own it."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"That is determine by the minister of a particular ministry. After 20% budget cuts it hurts, even though we are in a serious financial hard time. So I think the different ministers decide that if I can cut here and there, to make sure I have money to run my ministry until March of 2022. My ministry responsible for public utilities, I never entertained any other company. I am the minister of BTL, so I make sure that we work with them."
Jules Vasquez, Host
"But shouldn't a big argument be made that man, one of these is the people's phone company and the other one is owned by the prime minister's family and the Ashcroft Alliance. That's the owners of Smart, Speednet."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"It's a good argument, but neither UDP nor PUP had put any policies in place to say since this is BTL own by us then you should in place that all business should get done with them. UDP was there for 13 years and so now it's something that we have to contemplate and figure what is the best way forward."
Jules Vasquez, Host
"But you can put in place. I don't think you would be successful."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"I can't put in place. I could make the recommendation."
Jules Vasquez, Host
"I don't think that recommendation will be successful in a cabinet lead by John Briceno."
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson
"Whatever the case may be, but I can attempt it."
Compol: Noble Not Going Anywhere
Yesterday we told you that Superintendent Chris Noble was getting ready to pack his bags and move from his post in San Pedro. That's after a record of about two years with only one murder - and most recently, one shooting and a stabbing. Sources told us that Noble said that the senior command wanted him gone - and he was ready to call it a career after 30 years. But, today, our reporter Courtney Menzies asked his boss, Commissioner Williams about it. Well, here's how the ComPol put it:
Care For Kids Left Out Of School Feeding Programs
Even though students are still receiving doing school online, the Ministry of Education and UNICEF, are concerned about those school children who are missing out on school feeding programs - and come from homes that can't afford to adequately feed them.
And so, these two agencies teamed up to organize 500 food hampers which will be donated to 10 schools that have feeding programs for their most needy students. The roll-out of that donation began today, and the organizers invited the press to stop by for a short ceremony.
7News attended, and here's what the representatives of UNICEF and the Education Ministry had to say:
The schools which are receiving these food hampers include Saint Martin De Porres, Saint Ignatius Primary School, Saint Luke's Methodist, Muslim Primary School, Calvary Temple, Salvation Army, Unity Presbyterian, Trinity Methodist, Central Assembly, and Queen Street Baptist School.
GOB Missed Jalacte Deadline
4 months ago, we told you how the Mayan village of Jalacte won a major judgment against the Government of Belize. The Acting Chief Justice has ordered GOB to pay the Mayan claimants damages in the sum of 6.3 million dollars.
As we told you, the dispute came about as a result of that major road upgrade project for the highway that runs from the Dump area in Toledo, all the way to the edge of Jalacte. In order to complete it, the Barrow Administration made a compulsory acquisition of over 31 acres of customary lands that belonged to villagers of Jalacte.
Due to the destruction caused to their land by the road works, the villagers sued the government and won. Shortly after the judgment was handed down, the press asked the new government about how they will handle that situation. In multiple interviews on the topic, the new GOB officials insisted that they would appeal the case, but the best information reaching 7News is that they failed to file their notice of appeal within the required 21-days deadline.
So, does the judgment remain final? That's what we asked the spokesperson of the Toledo Alcaldes Association this evening, and she told us that as far as the Maya are aware, GOB is still pressing to get their appeal filed, even though it is late.
Here's what she told us in a Zoom interview this evening:
Cristina Coc - Spokesperson, TAA
"That judgment was brought down on June 16, 2021, and then, the judgment was perfected on July 19, 2021. And so, as soon as the judgment was perfected, our attorneys, the attorneys on behalf of the Jalacte community, served that perfected judgment to the other side, which is the Attorney General's Ministry. And so, by July 20th, 2021, the Attorney General's Ministry had been served with this perfected order. What that means is that the rules of the Court of Appeal stipulate you have 21 days after the perfected order has been served to then put in your notice for appeal. We did not get a notice within the prescribed time limit of 21 days, although you would know, through the various media houses, several people in government, including government ministers, the Prime Minister himself, indicated the government intends to appeal the Jalacte case, and specifically to appeal on the quantum that was granted in damages. Jalacte as a community had reached out, through, of course, their legal representatives, to the Government of Belize, to extend their hand to the government to say that they would be willing to consider a settlement, given the dire economic situation that our country is in. Unfortunately, the government did not accept that extension of a good faith settlement. Instead, they repeatedly indicated and promised that they were going to appeal this judgment."
"We learned, shortly after the time had passed, that in fact, they had just - somebody had dropped the ball. Basically, somebody in the Attorney General's Ministry forgot the deadline. The reason that they cited was that it was an administrative oversight. They have now since scrambled to apply for an extension to submit their notice of appeal, and they're asking for permission to now submit even while the prescribed time has passed. Our position is that we would object to that extension."
According to Cristina Coc, the claimants are aggrieved by the fact that GOB isn't pursuing similar court losses with the same level of intensity. She pointed to Julius Espat's award in damages which he won against the Government for his ugly ejection from the House of Representatives, which appears to be final and uncontested.
A Bike For A Vaxx
TODAY quite a few got vaxxed for the chance to win a bike.
It's an incentive that was offered by the Belize High School Honor Society, with the hope that it would encourage young people to turn out in their numbers for the Pfizer jab.
Viewers may remember that at last count that high school had managed to vaccinate 93.5% of it's student population, a feat that their principal refers to as a quote: "Wonderful statistic."
And this morning at the raffle's official drawing we spoke to Belize's High School Principal Jaime Usher who told us why the school's vaccine drive is about more than just their statistic.
The honor society also told us that the bike should help recipients avoid public transportation and in doing so steer clear of a greater chance to contract COVID-19.
Rocket Kids
That project, it seems, was a resounding success but the school has quite a few remarkable projects going, case in point a student-made weather Balloon. We stopped into the high school this afternoon for the launch and found out just how hard it is to make a plastic cube fly.
PM Addresses UNGA In NYC
The Prime Minister John Briceno gave his address to the United Nations General Assembly 80 minutes ago. He spoke on several issues, including how climate change is affecting the country and about the crushing effect of the COVID 19 pandemic. Here is a snippet of his speech, which he gave at 6pm Belize time:
We leave you tonight with the dulcet tones of Richard Pitts on the Saxophone as he appeared with Bastic on Sunup on 7 this morning…
