Math. So, they will go to the House on Friday. The Reds have maintained all along that all these bold/failed Blue projects were “pension schemes for the old boys club”, that they took it off the top.  If that is true…

The Blue brain trust says it was because of Love. And things gone awry because of wind and rain, high oil prices, and assorted other bad luck. Indeed, even if you try to give them the benefit of the doubt (politicians thrive on that), you still have to wonder why some pus is still oozing out from under the band-aid. And why no one has come forward to explain the MATH. For example, how would NHI have paid for tertiary level health care for poor people at UHS when the hospital was privately owned, that is, for the purpose of turning profit?

UHS. I read, cover to cover, the stories from Universal Health Services, and the Belize Medical Associates in last week’s newspapers. The stories originate from the houses of the most highly trained minds in the nation. No one ever said the most highly trained minds have the patent on the business math, mind you. In a nutshell, one is a story of great dreams, high finance, and it failed. And the other is a story of great dreams, pragmatism, and it succeeded.

The past is always instructive. There is a story about another private hospital set up in Belize a few decades ago. I expect the one that succeeded knew the story behind that story, and the other didn’t.

Of course, to the rank and file who can’t afford these types of services, it is all about general hospital. Years ago when you got hurt in BMP and surrounds, there were X-ray services in the hospital. Now the population in the area is at least ten times greater and there are no X-ray services available. The reason I know this is because one of our girls got hurt on the softball field last week in Roaring Creek and they had to take her to Belize City.

Bus. I overheard a small gossip on the bus a couple weeks ago that the BBOC (Belize Bus Owners Co-operative (I think that’s their name)) had sold out to National Bus Line (purportedly Novelo’s). Yes, even non-pathological eavesdroppers hear things. So, I made a query, and yes, it sounded like the gossip was true. Then I read a story in the Reporter last week…and the knot tightens.

Here we go again. Mr. Philip Brackett, formerly of the Transport Department, told me that some foreigners did a study a while back (reportedly cost us a whopping sum) and made some recommendations as to how we should run our transportation business. Mr. Brackett has promised to lend me his copy of the report. I know I will give credit where I believe it is due, but off the top, without even seeing the introduction, I will say I expect they have some bright ideas, but that nobody can come from foreign and solve our problems. Anyway, until such time, check out what is going on in the industry right now.

I have heard the Novelo’s claim that a gentleman in Belize City who they had bought out, had started running buses again on the same route he had sold. I see (ride) a Shaw bus sometimes. Wait, didn’t the Shaws sell out to Z-Line? I was in Corozal sometime ago and I saw a bus with the Gilharry name on it. If it is for real then we also have to ask, didn’t Gilharry sell out to Z-Line? Gentlemen and ladies, some people are feeding at the trough two times. And as for the Novelos, the bulk of whose loan we are reportedly paying, how can they find money to be buying out other lines?

I do not care too much about WHO bites into the transportation pie. But I hate monopoly…also called capitalism gone mad! As for the Shaws (I am partial to them because they are my village brothers) and the Gilharrys, maybe they can argue that they were forced out of the business by the government, and the money they owe for getting back these runs is already paid for in full…by revenues lost when they were out.

Third what? I see where Mr. Charles X suggests that a man like Mr. Derek Aikman could help to galvanize a Third Force into a political party. Possibly so, but why bother…if it would be another third party? In our system only two parties have the potential to win. When people go to the polls there is not room in their minds for three. So, a third party is not an option.

For another party to make any sense it must be deadly serious about its business. It would have to make one of the existing parties…third party. Is that possible? Thanks to recent revelations from the pillow to public talk, you can put this one in the realm of the incredible, but true. Yap, the banker has made it very possible. Blimey, the way the man from Maggie Thatcher stables has former local heroes tripping over themselves…to please Maasa; sending messages and threats…for Maasa; writing letters to prove they belong to Maasa…THAT is enough to cause a ballot revolt.

P.S. Old money is snobbish. New money is crass.

No capitalist. Someone called me a capitalist (well, told me I have a capitalist philosophy) recently. I grinned, but the person doesn’t know that he hurt my feelings badly. No Braa, I am a left leaning socialist…living in a capitalist country. When I was a young man I worked for somebody. I did well by the workers in my gang. One day a big man called me aside and said guy, you see all that love you give to those workers? Well, the day you do something they don’t like, they will turn on you. I said, so what?

My workers put out like heck for me, and I put out like heck for them. The day came when I got a tidy raise. I went to the accountant and asked, what about my workers? The end of that story is that very soon I pak my patakí. I live in a capitalist country.

(Signed) Colin 

Aye

The outlook wasn’t brilliant
For two great Rods that day
Primo had called for a division
And tu much Bloo had said nay

The score stood fourteen 7 in favor
When the ball passed to the Rod door
If all eight of them were to hold ranks
Pillotaak’s games would be o’er for sure

Oh woe, woe on bad judgment
Who can forego great gobs of fat
Who will sacrifice dining on caviar
For love of those who have not

Six of the saints sat there, ecstatic
Believing the victory had been won
Not knowing that two of the eight
Had made a sudden change of plan

For if the two had done as promised
Voted nay as they had schemed
Daag mi wahn eat dehn soppa
Fat checks would have gone unredeemed

One by one they called them
Till fourteen 13 was the draw
Two brave men to save the people
From the clutches of Pillotaak’s claw

Oh what horrible blank, said Fynlee
We should have kip cool an shet wi mouth

Now even blind eye Jamsie
Will figure why wi shiff from north to south

Stop fret, it is nothing, said Primo
Watch the master play the game
When I am done jiving this gallery
Even greater will be my fame

Then Primo stood before them
And recited volumes upon the law
Long did he make his grand stand
As his stunned audience gasped in awe

Oh, ‘tis a strange and wondrous world, quoth he
Though hard at times on the comprehension
Someday you will get the sense my friends
It was just for you, we change position

Yes, if truth be told, he told them
This Bloo Band is a gang of crooks
Thus it falls upon me an poor Fynlee
To honor what done ink inside the books

WE owe what THEY owe, declared he
Yes, in flesh we have to pay
Even if we lose the house and lot
We morally cannot now say, nay

Yes! Yes! hollered Fynlee
An impish gleam upon his eye
And he shouted shame, pox on the Bloo House
Then sheepishly said…AYE!

Six pairs of eyes incredulous 
Realizing that dehn just get tek
Astounded that they had betrayed them
For Pillowtaak’s open check

A pause, to fit the moment
A white kerchief dabs a bald dome dry
The dastardly deed is consummated
When Primo, too, says AYE!

Six little Rods crestfallen
Their heads sagging upon their breasts
Could it have been just moments ago
They had pounded boldly on their desks?

Six little hearts crestfallen
But follow their leaders they must
Now they swallow vomit and knock head
Fu explain di need fu trust
It was a long cock and bull story
Chanted next day on the olas
Yu si, and if, and a mountain of tripe
To cover their leaders bolas

It was a long cock and bull story
Spewed out on the ferocious waves
Will-E. alone stood against it
Though Juang-A. frothed, for days

Oh glory, glory, gory
Pillotaak still rules in the market place
After the big soprize turn around
Stuck it again in the people’s face.