So it’s now official: Belize’s general election will be held on February 7th, 2008, but this general election has an extra wrinkle thrown in. It appears that Belizeans will be asked to vote in a referendum, a vote as to whether Belizeans want an elected Senate in addition to choosing a new government for the next five years. Maybe I should rename this column “Confusion Band,” because I have serious, and I mean serious reservations about the wisdom of and the appropriateness of conducting this referendum along with what appears to be a crucial and contentious general election.

Things do not have to remain the same, the People can change things.

Belize is a democracy. In a democracy the people elect a parliament to govern and exercise power on its behalf.

Veteran radio broadcaster and public officer, Eustace Usher, has died.

Last week I had promised in my column that I would write about the THIRD FORCE this week but, I have decided that the subject of this article is more urgent.

What I mean is that governments take holidays as a great opportunity to do rass! The reasons are fairly simple: they count on the reputation Belizeans have as lovers of holidays and what often seems to be the single-minded devotion to celebration and partying. Of course it’s a bit more complicated than that, but the analysis does have some merit, although it’s true that a large group of people, particularly teachers, justifiably find the Christmas holidays, the Easter vacation and the 30-day July vacation to be the only period where there is sufficient time for travel to visit relatives in other districts or relatives living abroad. Whatever the reason, governments realize that if they want to stay even a bit “under the radar” while pulling off some controversial move, these are the most favorable times because they are less likely to draw the concentrated fire of a population that’s largely fixated on personal things.

The title of this essay is a slogan, and like most slogans, it has the ring of truth. This slogan has more. It has the deep desire to fulfill a need that is at the heart of all societies which feel oppressed. Can it then refer to a democracy, which is government of, by and for the people? It is hard to conceive that there can be circumstances where the people might find it necessary to save themselves in a democracy, which provides that each individual has the right to express his or her preference in the form of a vote at elections for representative government.

You know the old story. You take your vehicle to be inspected because you hear a noise, or feel something shake, or a thump when you land in a hole.

There seems to be a conspiracy amongst the manufacturers of greeting cards not to produce cards with a Christmas theme like the Madonna and Child, the Nativity scene - the Christ Child in a manger with animals around, the Three Wise Men, the star of Bethlehem and angels singing Joy to the World. Instead they concentrate on the festivities - Frosty the Snowman, mistletoe and holly, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, candy cane, etc., etc., but no Christmas themes.

House of Representatives and PUP and UDP Party Headquarters (Third Parties are exempt for now)

I once thought that Belize had the makings of a new Israel - a country where the people had a single faith in God, the Most High and, were warm hearted and generous, where the government was concerned for the well being of all its citizens and strove mightily to improve their living conditions.

It’s not a good thing when your only defense for criticism is, “Well it was a lot worse before.” That, in essence, was the Kolbe defense for what has been happening in Hattieville. Granted, the prison is better than it used to be and for that I say, “Okay. You did a reasonable job in some respects.” Of course there was probably no way in the world to have made it worse, such was the state of the prison before Kolbe took it over! Doing well in some respects, however, should not be a reason for not being criticized when criticism is warranted, and believe me, there are things going on up there that aren’t right.

“People may plan all kinds of things, but the Lord’s will is going to be done. It is a disgrace to be greedy; poor people are better off than liars”.” (TEV - Proverbs 19:21-22)

On Monday, November 19, Felicita Arzu, Miss Belize World, along with 19 other Miss World delegates, were selected to record the official song for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay.