Heavy rains that occurred in the early morning of Monday, January 23, in different parts of Belize, have caused massive flooding on the Western Highway, bringing traffic to a halt, cutting off the western and southern districts from the rest of the country.

The rains also flooded many communities and inundated parts of Belize City.

It has been brought to our newspaper?s attention that a couple from Punta Gorda, Toledo, reportedly of East Indian descent, have been impersonating the parents of a heart patient, Renola Gillett, 6, and soliciting unauthorized donations for her surgery in and around the Belize City area.

The couple, who claim to be Arnold and Natalie Gillett, told us in December, 2005, that the child needed a $50,000 surgery, but they are still short $15,000. Their latest request says the surgery costs $75,000.

Ricardo Gallego, 44, a.k.a., ?Tire,? a resident of Mile 10, Northern Highway, was found dead shortly before 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, while in detention at the Ladyville Police Station.

The Police Department is today saying his death is related to a ?liver ailment condition,? and that he died in his sleep, even though there has been no post-mortem done on the body.

Sentencing scheduled for Monday, January 23

The largest body that represents workers countrywide, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), which had so much muscle in early 2005 that it was able to move the masses to protest and bring Government to the negotiation table over taxes and public spending, has been quietly in limbo.

Brother Dylan Reneau, president of the Public Service Union, has written Brother George Frazer calling for an urgent meeting, as, ??we seemed to have had a relapse of a prognosis of eventual death?? Reneau has also called for clarity over the NTUCB?s leadership.

Eleizer Obed Dominguez, 20, the ex-boyfriend and lover of Benque teen queen, Heidi Claribel Itza, 19, whom he strangled to death, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment yesterday by Judge Michelle Arana in the Supreme Court.

On October 24, 2005, Dominguez pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, instead of facing a jury of 12 persons who would have determined his fate on the charge of murder.

The Government tried to put a tight lid on the Registry scandal by quickly terminating the privatization contracts and announcing the refund of $2.25 million in stamp duties, but the country?s premier private sector agency, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), has sought recourse in the Supreme Court, essentially asking the court to order the Government to reclaim all monies it believes were due to be paid into the public treasury, but which had instead gone into private hands.

?PUC colluded with BEL to gouge customers ?it gave BEL a blank check.?

While highlighting the major accomplishments made in the last year of the judiciary of Belize, Chief Justice Dr. Abdulai Conteh also shed light on a number of challenges that affect the judiciary.

At the opening of the 2006 legal year for the Supreme Court on Monday, January 16, CJ Conteh pointed to two congratulatory events: first is the elevation of Mr. Ellis Arnold and Mrs. Denise Courtenay to the status of senior counsels (SC). Mr. Arnold was admitted to the Bar in 1986, while Mrs. Courtenay was admitted in 1989. Second is the appointment of Madam Justice Michelle Arana to become the first woman judge of the Belize Supreme Court.

The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is issuing a public notice this week, saying that it has replaced Kevin Castillo as receiver of Novelo Bus Line and its subsidiaries with Roy Pandy, DFC?s Financial Controller. Pandy will proceed to liquidate the Novelo assets used to secure the $30 million loan to DFC. But who will buy?

One of the big assets in the Novelo pool is the Belize City terminal. Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Said Musa, told us Wednesday that the current proposal is to turn the Novelo terminal into a complex that can be used by several bus lines, who would lease space on the premises.

Municipal elections are 47 days away, March 1, and things are heating up in Belmopan, where a new third party, Vision Inspired by the People (VIP), will challenge the ruling People?s United Party and the Opposition, United Democratic Party.

The newest entrant in the political race, VIP of Belmopan, says emphatically it will win on an $18,000 budget; there is no need to spend more, party officials asserted.

?Nothing illegal has happened? with SSB-Glenn Godfrey transactions

?If we find oil in commercial quantities, if we are blessed by the Almighty with that, then we should export it,? said Prime Minister, Hon. Said Musa, in an interview with Amandala on Wednesday, January 11, 2006.

P.M. Musa said that it is very encouraging that Belize Natural Energy (BNE), the company extracting oil from Spanish Lookout, Cayo, is preparing to export 45,000 barrels oil via a barge from Big Creek.