There is a certain media house in Belize which is always on the good side, so to speak, of the nation’s corporate giants, which include the Belize Bank, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), Belize Natural Energy (BNE), and now Citrus Processors of Belize Limited (CPBL). This business approach is wonderful for that media house’s bottom line. And isn’t that what business is all about – the bottom line? Big up, Big Man.
Kremandala is not an integrated operation. The newspaper, radio and television arms have different managements. Because these arms are not integrated, there is a level of competition amongst them, which can be healthy at times. There are, however, absolute benefits to be derived from cooperation amongst the Partridge Street branches. And, indeed, cooperation should be leading Kremandala towards integration, which would provide maximum efficiencies where the upside is concerned.
The reason we are writing this editorial is because the marketplace in the media business has become quite hectic. One big reason for this is that special interests, which include leading party politicians, religions, foreign corporations, and even indigenous organizations with foreign subsidies, have made big time investment moves in the print and electronic media.
We have explained to you over the years that this Belize is a rich nation where strategic placement and natural resources are concerned. A lot of people, and these include people from all over the world, want a piece of the Belizean action. Some of these individuals and groups are very wealthy. They operate at a high level of sophistication. As such, they have the ability to influence the roots people of Belize into making decisions today which may not be good for us down the road. These business individuals and business groups want their cake fast, and they want it big. Sustainability is not a concern of the globalists we are seeing in Belize. For them, it’s all about the numbers – today!
The managements of the Kremandala newspaper, radio and television are business managements. As businesses, they sell advertising space and time in order to accumulate the revenues which will meet their payrolls, maintain their machines and equipment, and invest in the modern technologies necessary to be competitive. But not everyone who wishes to purchase advertising space and time will have the best interests of the Belizean people at heart. As a matter of fact, some of these people are actually enemies of the Belizean people, in that they only care about their own profits, and therefore view the Belizean people as weak pawns in their financial game and silly victims of their technological expertise.
If we say to the managers of the Kremandala businesses that they must screen their advertisers, it is as if we are placing restrictions upon them. Those against whom they are competing, and we gave you an unnamed example in the opening paragraph, have no such restrictions. They gobble up all revenues without analyzing the actual or potential impact on the Belizean nation. So, the Kremandala managers sometimes feel that we are placing handicaps on them, while still expecting them to compete in the marketplace. We understand their frustration. It’s not fair, but it’s real.
On Wednesday, February 10, 2010, six former officers of UBAD and four former members attended a private dinner to mark the 41st anniversary of the organization’s founding. Most of you would not believe this, but there was no politics discussed at this dinner. None. There was no need for any of the people there to discuss the devastation within our community. It’s in the news almost every day. These are terrible times for our young people, which means that our future here as a people is in substantial jeopardy.
Kremandala began with small financial donations from the people of Belize way back in 1969. In 1973, there was a serious rift inside the leadership of the movement, which had begun as a cultural organization but had been pushed into politics. The 1973 rift in UBAD was a political rift. (That rift no longer exists.) By 1977, the original UBAD movement had become a business enterprise, a newspaper which focused on job creation in the community. The newspaper became a success, and spawned the radio station, followed by the television station, all of which are located on Partridge Street on Belize City’s Southside.
Through these four plus decades of struggle, the people of Belize have been loyal to us. In a real way, Kremandala is a product and production of the people of Belize. There was a time when we had to be going to the Belizean people weekly, sometimes even daily, asking for this and asking for that. We were babies then, and we required sustenance. This sustenance was provided by the people. So, we owe a debt of gratitude to the people.
With all that said, let us consider the issue today in the citrus business. The chairman of Kremandala, Evan X Hyde, has always supported Mr. Denzil Jenkins in his citrus industry initiatives. This is not a scientific way to behave. But, we make no apologies. We believe Mr. Jenkins is sincere, and therefore we will go wherever he goes.
There was, however, no overall mobilization in Kremandala where support for Mr. Jenkins and the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) was concerned. Three weeks ago, the Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) held a march/demonstration which we considered an important exercise. But, again, there was no real mobilization in Kremandala for that march/demonstration.
There are business pressures on Kremandala which have become a priority concern. And yet, there is an institutional history on Partridge Street which must be respected. For us, the nation must always come before the business. What this will mean down the road, we cannot say.
In conclusion, let us say that whatever the future may be, we give thanks to and for the Belizean people. If we should stumble and fall, we would have only ourselves to blame. At all critical times, the people of Belize have stood for us. The burden of proof is upon Kremandala to stand for the nation of Belize. The nation of Belize has stood for us. Blessed.
Power to the people. Power in the struggle.