I'll just say it right now, just shoot it straight from the hip: Z is no fool. Okay, there, I've said it.
But I'll say this as well: as smart as she is, she is utterly lacking in ethics and morals, and she has absolutely no sense of personal responsibility. In place of these things, she has survival skills second only to the legendary cockroach, the one who is expected to survive nuclear winter. Mark my words, Z will survive this latest episode, and will have no conscience whatsoever about having to sacrifice a few of her minions, her order-takers, to do it.
Mr. Davis, you're a fool. Kiran Squared, so are you both. You remain silent, you protect her; your names are in the news nonstop. The way things are shaping up, your fingerprints, and only yours, apparently will be found on the shovels that were used to bury the metaphorical bodies. So...TALK!
Throughout history, the most basic of leadership lessons have included the rule that the leader takes the blame for what happens on her watch. It's why the captain of the Titanic went down with his ship. I have yet to hear the mayor display enough maturity and leadership to take the blame for all these misadventures at City Hall. At the same time that she's not responsible for the bad deeds, she seems to be the only person who can be credited for what goes right, and her Councillors are so cowed or compromised that they too opt to remain silent in the face of it all.
At the higher levels and the party levels, Z enjoys the protection of powerful ministers, the kind who are also incapable of distinguishing right from wrong beyond making sure the law works for them and theirs and that the votes and the money flow their way. She is therefore the anointed heir to the Mesopotamia throne, misdeeds be damned. We are led by financial sociopaths, it seems. Their mantra? We can do whatever we want, the PUP did worse. That truth is fast fading away for you guys, nor did we vote you in so you could be ten percent less corrupt. You've turned out to be the same breed of dog in a different collar.
No, the guiltiest heads will never roll, and Belize is worse off for that fact.
Showing posts with label Zenaida. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zenaida. Show all posts
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wanted: An Honest Mayor
Remember West Landivar? The residents won their first round against David Gegg, but it's not over, I'm sure. As for King's Park, you can't have forgotten so quickly what happened there. Mr Wagons, a confirmed racist himself, decided to whip out that often-abused word to defeat the residents, and when it didn't work, he got Zenaida on his side...he's pretty blunt and open about how he did that. Now, residents can't park in their driveways and a formerly peaceful, family-type neighbourhood is overrun by traffic and container trucks, and the peace is gone. This one has been a public and nasty battle, and is a classic example of what Zenaida is and does -for herself, with no regard for right and wrong, legal or illegal.
But how many of you know about the quiet battle that Bella Vista has been fighting? The only neighbourhood in the country with zoning legislation in place, a quiet area of hardworking families, Bella Vista is now under siege from David Gegg and other unscrupulous individuals who think laws are for suckers. David Fonseca's City Council developed Bella Vista's legislation at the urging of the residents, and it is a model for the rest of the city's neighbourhoods to follow. Unfortunately, lack of political will (moral weakness, as I think of it) prevented his City Council from following through with enforcement.
Now, this UDP City Council is itself acting in contravention of its own legislation solely on the Mayor's orders. And where is Zenaida? Well, according to the evidence, firmly in the camp of the wrongdoers...Mr Gegg isn't shy about saying how he got her there either, and he has publicly and viciously insulted those residents who are simply asking that he abide by the law. One resident recently wrote a letter to the City Councilors as a last-ditch effort before taking the matter to court, and it is damning in its account of Her Lordship's inaction, obstruction and outright sabotage. The letter is also copied to the Prime Minister, to Doug Singh, and to Lee Mark Chang, but you may be sure that none of them will do anything to thwart the Mayor. Such is her power (and their weakness), and such is her untouchable corruption.
When she's under attack, the Mayor's standard practice is to sit with her questioners and say whatever comes into her mind as an answer people want to hear -usually lies, and often blatantly self-contradictory, not to mention self-congratulatory. Today she'll blame Cabinet for her ineffectiveness, then tomorrow she'll blame her Council. However, in all this the pattern is that she is never effective, and it is never her fault. A little bit of martyrdom, some implied gender bias, the humble mention of God, and the recipe is prepared for her continuing without recrimination from those who could control her.
Meanwhile, laws and morality become less relevant each day her rule continues.
But how many of you know about the quiet battle that Bella Vista has been fighting? The only neighbourhood in the country with zoning legislation in place, a quiet area of hardworking families, Bella Vista is now under siege from David Gegg and other unscrupulous individuals who think laws are for suckers. David Fonseca's City Council developed Bella Vista's legislation at the urging of the residents, and it is a model for the rest of the city's neighbourhoods to follow. Unfortunately, lack of political will (moral weakness, as I think of it) prevented his City Council from following through with enforcement.
Now, this UDP City Council is itself acting in contravention of its own legislation solely on the Mayor's orders. And where is Zenaida? Well, according to the evidence, firmly in the camp of the wrongdoers...Mr Gegg isn't shy about saying how he got her there either, and he has publicly and viciously insulted those residents who are simply asking that he abide by the law. One resident recently wrote a letter to the City Councilors as a last-ditch effort before taking the matter to court, and it is damning in its account of Her Lordship's inaction, obstruction and outright sabotage. The letter is also copied to the Prime Minister, to Doug Singh, and to Lee Mark Chang, but you may be sure that none of them will do anything to thwart the Mayor. Such is her power (and their weakness), and such is her untouchable corruption.
When she's under attack, the Mayor's standard practice is to sit with her questioners and say whatever comes into her mind as an answer people want to hear -usually lies, and often blatantly self-contradictory, not to mention self-congratulatory. Today she'll blame Cabinet for her ineffectiveness, then tomorrow she'll blame her Council. However, in all this the pattern is that she is never effective, and it is never her fault. A little bit of martyrdom, some implied gender bias, the humble mention of God, and the recipe is prepared for her continuing without recrimination from those who could control her.
Meanwhile, laws and morality become less relevant each day her rule continues.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Much Ado About Absolutely Nada
So Z loaded her favorite currency into the matrimonial purse. So what? By which I obviously mean, "Congrats Z, on making it official!" Anyway, other than the fact that after much speculation we are thrilled to know she opted to marry locally, this ain't no big deal in the scheme of current affairs. It doesn't stop crime or lower the cost of living or clean up the city...except for the parking spots along the wedding route for one afternoon.
I do congratulate the Moyas on mixing work and play for their honeymoon in Barbados. Being the above-board lady that she is, I am absolutely certain that Z's paying the tab herself for all the plane fares and hotel and such, so kudos to the newlyweds on not fleecing the country to pay for the pleasure portion...not everybody would be so straight-up, you know?
For the media, can we PLEASE not see anymore wedding pictures? Please, let it go. I mean the fact that the Mayor got married and that the colours were white and cotton candy pink and that they kissed for the paparazzi -that did set tongues wagging though, didn't it- and that all the uppercrust of a specific political hue were present...eh, enough! The defiance of swine flu protocols...well, some are more equal than others, according to a story about a certain farm in which the (oops!) swine ruled. So those leading boars et al deemed worthy of attending would automatically be deemed impervious to the virus, no?
As I said, let it go. In a city where the Mayor rules as an absolute monarch over subjects living and dying in unnecessary poverty and squalor, it is somehow fitting that a royal wedding be held in the midst of the misery. Ah, let them eat [wedding] cake!
I do congratulate the Moyas on mixing work and play for their honeymoon in Barbados. Being the above-board lady that she is, I am absolutely certain that Z's paying the tab herself for all the plane fares and hotel and such, so kudos to the newlyweds on not fleecing the country to pay for the pleasure portion...not everybody would be so straight-up, you know?
For the media, can we PLEASE not see anymore wedding pictures? Please, let it go. I mean the fact that the Mayor got married and that the colours were white and cotton candy pink and that they kissed for the paparazzi -that did set tongues wagging though, didn't it- and that all the uppercrust of a specific political hue were present...eh, enough! The defiance of swine flu protocols...well, some are more equal than others, according to a story about a certain farm in which the (oops!) swine ruled. So those leading boars et al deemed worthy of attending would automatically be deemed impervious to the virus, no?
As I said, let it go. In a city where the Mayor rules as an absolute monarch over subjects living and dying in unnecessary poverty and squalor, it is somehow fitting that a royal wedding be held in the midst of the misery. Ah, let them eat [wedding] cake!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
On The Move
Those of you who follow these scribbles of mine will know that Friday night’s revelations on Channel 5 regarding Mayor Z’s possible ineligibility to run gave me nothing less than the kind of laughter that sets your whole body shaking and sends tears streaming down your face.
However, it does take the fun out of it if this is how the race ends, so after I got done laughing, I got down to some serious thinking –well, sort of serious. First, what sort of proof was provided that she’s now fully resident at the palatial estate beyond the river and overlooking the sea? Did someone provide pictures of (shudder) her underwear drawer? Did they find a dresser full of hair-teasing tools and lotions and potions meant to keep her looking adorable for all except the Belize Times? In other words, what constitutes incontrovertible proof? I look forward to seeing if Z deems this one worth answering come Monday.
I will say that I do agree that if you’re not willing to live in a municipality, you ought not to wish to govern it either. Therefore, I think that the quoted amendment was not only appropriate, but too long in coming. Kudos to the UDP lawmakers no matter what their motivation was –and I hope they are not now persuaded to reverse course on the matter. Remember the various City Councillors in the past who went abroad and ‘forgot’ to resign? But maybe, since Z built and moved out to her mansion when she was Mayor, she kind of knew how her leadership of the City would turn out, no? Call her desertion more of an admission, if you will.
Over not a few drinks this weekend, I and some of my friends did wonder who spilled the beans re HomeGate. I gave it 50/50 that it was her own party, and one or two others agreed. Others in the group tended to cling to their faith in the diabolical nature of the PUP, and I gave them their props too. Either way, this is an unambiguous test of the UDP leadership: will they suffer their own law to be overturned so as to maintain their candidate at any cost? Or will they use this as the ‘out’ to rid themselves of a serious political liability? Also, will Jules get his groove back where City Hall scoops are concerned? Either way, Monday’s news should be interesting; let’s see what happens next.
However this latest episode turns out, I will wend my unwilling way to the polls come Wednesday to cast my vote for God-knows-what to lead the City. While I may vote for Chubby, let me make it absolutely clear that I do not regard him as anything other than a ‘NO’ vote for Zenaida. Let’s face it, the man is so boring I can’t even stay awake long enough to mock him.
Yuh knoa, I wonder if Z has a spare floor in The Bates Motel in case we all need to move out of Belize City –or in case Creole Waggans wants to open a Ladyville branch. She and Mr$ Moya can’t be using all three, can they?
However, it does take the fun out of it if this is how the race ends, so after I got done laughing, I got down to some serious thinking –well, sort of serious. First, what sort of proof was provided that she’s now fully resident at the palatial estate beyond the river and overlooking the sea? Did someone provide pictures of (shudder) her underwear drawer? Did they find a dresser full of hair-teasing tools and lotions and potions meant to keep her looking adorable for all except the Belize Times? In other words, what constitutes incontrovertible proof? I look forward to seeing if Z deems this one worth answering come Monday.
I will say that I do agree that if you’re not willing to live in a municipality, you ought not to wish to govern it either. Therefore, I think that the quoted amendment was not only appropriate, but too long in coming. Kudos to the UDP lawmakers no matter what their motivation was –and I hope they are not now persuaded to reverse course on the matter. Remember the various City Councillors in the past who went abroad and ‘forgot’ to resign? But maybe, since Z built and moved out to her mansion when she was Mayor, she kind of knew how her leadership of the City would turn out, no? Call her desertion more of an admission, if you will.
Over not a few drinks this weekend, I and some of my friends did wonder who spilled the beans re HomeGate. I gave it 50/50 that it was her own party, and one or two others agreed. Others in the group tended to cling to their faith in the diabolical nature of the PUP, and I gave them their props too. Either way, this is an unambiguous test of the UDP leadership: will they suffer their own law to be overturned so as to maintain their candidate at any cost? Or will they use this as the ‘out’ to rid themselves of a serious political liability? Also, will Jules get his groove back where City Hall scoops are concerned? Either way, Monday’s news should be interesting; let’s see what happens next.
However this latest episode turns out, I will wend my unwilling way to the polls come Wednesday to cast my vote for God-knows-what to lead the City. While I may vote for Chubby, let me make it absolutely clear that I do not regard him as anything other than a ‘NO’ vote for Zenaida. Let’s face it, the man is so boring I can’t even stay awake long enough to mock him.
Yuh knoa, I wonder if Z has a spare floor in The Bates Motel in case we all need to move out of Belize City –or in case Creole Waggans wants to open a Ladyville branch. She and Mr$ Moya can’t be using all three, can they?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
PUDP...It's All The Same To Me
What the hell is going on with our leaders?! City Council allegedly couldn’t make their payments to Social Security (yet Mayor Zenaida could pay her brother’s business) for several months. Her only answer to the ongoing accusations on the matter is to, in her usual arrogant way, state that she has answered the matter already and that the previous City Council was equally irregular in its payments. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that why we fired that crowd?!?! And didn’t you promise us that you’d be better? Well, saying they were just as bad doesn’t exactly scream improvement, does it? The more things change....
Speaking of how bad things are at City Hall, where’s our Municipal Audit? Mr. Auditor General, are you allowing yourself to be compromised by political necessities? Because I’ll tell you this: you are paid by us and as such you answer to us, and we want our audit -before March 4th. Hell, if you’re just a little behind, feel free to give us what you’ve got and tell us when the rest will be ready. You readers remember when Ralph wouldn’t allow any criminal charges against his brother? This crowd promised to be better. The more things change….
Connected friends can avoid paying taxes with impunity while businesses that already pay more than their fair share get taxed further to pay for those friends. Try avoiding your SSB payment for a month and see what happens. Try owing money for your trade and liquor license and see how long you can stay open. Try to keep from paying your property tax and see how that goes over with Zenaida & Co. Try talking Customs down on the duty they want to charge you and see how helpful they are. Ever made a mistake of a few cents on your GST or Business Tax or been late by a day on either? But there are those who can do all that and much, much more. It's just not Archie Lee's turn anymore. The more things change….
The Labour Ministry wants businesspeople to pay more severance to their employees –three and five times more than they’ve planned for. Not a bad idea, until you look around you and see how quiet things are with businesses. Then the government complains about businesses not lowering their prices. How can they? What costs have declined for them? Not taxes, labour, or utility costs, that’s for sure. You see, the PUP claimed to be all about social justice, then proceeded to help their favoured few shred the economy. The UDP claim to be all about social justice, and are doing everything to help their favoured few take what’s left. The more things change….
The current Prime Minister says that “corruption has been eliminated at the topmost level of government,” meaning him personally, one assumes –or maybe the Governor General. Who the hell cares that one athlete is clean when the whole rest of the team is on steroids? Same argument goes for any member of PUP who sanctioned what happened by keeping silent while it was happening. Guilt by association, it’s all the rage around here. The more things change….
Look guys, economic patriotism does not mean killing the cow for a steak dinner tonight then wondering why you can’t have milk with your cereal tomorrow. Economic patriotism means keeping your local businesses in business and able to do business without the constant fear of starvation through taxation. Economic patriotism actually means embracing certain free market principles so that consumers have a choice and local businesses have to learn to compete and work toward exporting their products in order to thrive –protectionism kills innovation and quality, did you know that? Have some pasta and think about that. Hell, economic patriotism even means creating a climate that allows shoppers to be able to afford to shop in their own country -but remember, do it without starving businesses to make it happen.
You know, you can at least try to pretend you love your country. So far you aren’t fooling anyone into thinking that you want to win the job again in 2013. Did you notice that there’s a global crisis on? Has anyone told you it’s now hitting home and that your actions determine how Belize comes out of it? Trust them, they’re not the ones telling lies.
Speaking of how bad things are at City Hall, where’s our Municipal Audit? Mr. Auditor General, are you allowing yourself to be compromised by political necessities? Because I’ll tell you this: you are paid by us and as such you answer to us, and we want our audit -before March 4th. Hell, if you’re just a little behind, feel free to give us what you’ve got and tell us when the rest will be ready. You readers remember when Ralph wouldn’t allow any criminal charges against his brother? This crowd promised to be better. The more things change….
Connected friends can avoid paying taxes with impunity while businesses that already pay more than their fair share get taxed further to pay for those friends. Try avoiding your SSB payment for a month and see what happens. Try owing money for your trade and liquor license and see how long you can stay open. Try to keep from paying your property tax and see how that goes over with Zenaida & Co. Try talking Customs down on the duty they want to charge you and see how helpful they are. Ever made a mistake of a few cents on your GST or Business Tax or been late by a day on either? But there are those who can do all that and much, much more. It's just not Archie Lee's turn anymore. The more things change….
The Labour Ministry wants businesspeople to pay more severance to their employees –three and five times more than they’ve planned for. Not a bad idea, until you look around you and see how quiet things are with businesses. Then the government complains about businesses not lowering their prices. How can they? What costs have declined for them? Not taxes, labour, or utility costs, that’s for sure. You see, the PUP claimed to be all about social justice, then proceeded to help their favoured few shred the economy. The UDP claim to be all about social justice, and are doing everything to help their favoured few take what’s left. The more things change….
The current Prime Minister says that “corruption has been eliminated at the topmost level of government,” meaning him personally, one assumes –or maybe the Governor General. Who the hell cares that one athlete is clean when the whole rest of the team is on steroids? Same argument goes for any member of PUP who sanctioned what happened by keeping silent while it was happening. Guilt by association, it’s all the rage around here. The more things change….
Look guys, economic patriotism does not mean killing the cow for a steak dinner tonight then wondering why you can’t have milk with your cereal tomorrow. Economic patriotism means keeping your local businesses in business and able to do business without the constant fear of starvation through taxation. Economic patriotism actually means embracing certain free market principles so that consumers have a choice and local businesses have to learn to compete and work toward exporting their products in order to thrive –protectionism kills innovation and quality, did you know that? Have some pasta and think about that. Hell, economic patriotism even means creating a climate that allows shoppers to be able to afford to shop in their own country -but remember, do it without starving businesses to make it happen.
You know, you can at least try to pretend you love your country. So far you aren’t fooling anyone into thinking that you want to win the job again in 2013. Did you notice that there’s a global crisis on? Has anyone told you it’s now hitting home and that your actions determine how Belize comes out of it? Trust them, they’re not the ones telling lies.
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