Missing seven minus one
Seven men went fishing on November 4 and did not return. After six days of intensive searching by the Coast Guard, BDF and private boat owners, the body of one of the seven was discovered near Glovers Reef on Saturday, November 10. The postmortem examiner’s report is that his death was the result of the infliction of violent blows, not from drowning. It is suspected that the blows may have been inflicted by a party or parties unknown. No other bodies have been found since, which suggests that the other men may have been taken out of our waters. This calls for the kind of thorough investigation that our security forces may not be equipped to perform. It would be no reflection on us if we asked for assistance outside Belize. It calls also, for an increase in our security consciousness when going to sea.
A slippery slope
No man should allow himself to be used as an attack dog. Not by a friend, not by a political party, not even for a good cause. To use your talents to perform the role of an attack dog in a single sally, or on occasion may be considered worthy, in the sense that the end may justify the means. But, not day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. To do so is to descend to the level of a lower animal. A man who is used in this way takes on an animal’s characteristics then, after a while, these characteristics become a part of him and, he will be unable to resume the character of an ordinary human being. In the end, it will be a great tragedy for such a man because the time will come when he will have lost the respect of all those whose opinion he values but, worst of all, he will lose his self-respect.
Name the islands
London has the famous Piccadilly and Oxford Circus. New York City has Columbus Circle. These are islands around which traffic circulates in the big cities.
It is customary everywhere else to name islands where a number of roads converge and, it makes sense to allow traffic to flow around it, on a first-come first-enter basis, conforming to the rules governing vehicular movement on the roads. It is usual, also, for motorists to exercise some discipline and regard for orderly movement so as to avoid accidents, particularly during the rush hours. It makes sense for vehicles proceeding from the Northern Highway to the City to form two lines – the right line with the intention of going to Save-U or to cross to the Southside over the Belcan Bridge, and the left line to proceed up Freetown Road.
It is observed that some disorderly and inconsiderate motorists, to gain time and frustrate responsible drivers, go down the middle between the right and left lines to proceed in any direction they choose on entering the roundabout (that is the name by which everyone refers to the island).
It is time to give this and the other island at the intersection of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road, a name. Perhaps, there should be a contest to find the most suitable name, instead of having it chosen by officialdom.
Also. Posting a traffic warden at rush hours on the highway side of the overpass might produce some much needed revenue for the City Council, as well as regulate traffic.
History chair at UB
I have to commend the Government of Belize for establishing a Chair of History and Culture at the University of Belize. History and culture are closely related so, perhaps, it is all right now to have one chair responsible for both. It may have been a question of economics. Personally, I would have preferred a chair of history alone.
It is not beyond the realms of probability that in the next five years we may produce someone to undertake an authoritative account of our history, starting with the establishment of a settlement on the sea coast by privateers. This is my hope.
Borly Jones
I have just finished reading an advance copy of Colin’s new book. It is about an adventure of a young hero named Borly Jones. It is about a country boy who undertakes an impossible mission and suffers the consequences of his daring. He would not have survived but for his good friend Soopa, also from his village, who joins up with him. Colin is a fine story teller. Young people, especially, will enjoy this book. It will be out in time for Christmas and will make a nice gift for anyone you want to encourage to read. It may inspire him or her.