Email

Print

Safeguarding Belize's National Symbols In Perpetuity

And in more civil news from the House of Representatives - the Minister of Culture presented legislation to formally prescribe and regulate the National Symbols of Belize.

He explained the importance of this:

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture
"There must be some regulatory structure in place for the use of our national symbols or national anthem or prayer. And that's why we have proposed this bill. And the bill, among other things, Madam Speaker, the design, the description, the words, the lyrics of the national flag, very important. The lyrics, the national anthem, the prayer, the coat of arms, the national symbols are for the first time statutorily specified and declared as set out in the schedule to this bill. That the copyright, the copyright in the words, the music of the national anthem, which we sing so proudly, design of the national flag, the national coat of arms is vested in the state in perpetuity."

"So we're making it very, very clear that it is to the state that these national symbols belong and copyright is vested in the state."

Car Dealer Says Customs And Brokers Hustle Hard At Czl Border

Government's proposals to change the processing procedures for car dealers at the northern border caused an uproar earlier this week.

The dealers say under the new rules they would end up paying a lot more for importing vehicles. It would drive prices up and their earnings down.

Of course with the election being around the corner, government quickly backed off. But, after the election - they are likely to go ahead and re-introduce it. And that's why a Belizean American car dealer Darwin Blanco did a Facebook live video yesterday explaining the perils and pitfalls of driving vehicles down through Mexico - only to be met with a hard hustle here in Belize. Here's how he explained his experience:

Darwin Blanco, Car Dealer
"But I can call names that I know for a fact those customs officer and the brokers are crooks."

"I took in 3 Sienna vans last year, 3. Along with some other people. The brother that I was dealing with made it clear time that the customs officer gotta get his portion. And for each one of those vans. He changed me 1,800 dollars. $1,800 dollars for each one of those vans. AND OUT OF THAT 1,800 dollars that he charged for each one of those vans, 800 dollars went to his pocket. 3 vans: $800, $800. $800. That was only one me. That was only for my four vehicles!"

"That did not include the other guys that were in line waiting to be seen by the same broker and customs officer."

"There was at least about 20 vehicle that had to clear customs and was being worked through this brother who was dealing with this customs agent. So for that day, that customs agent with at least about 6 grand."

"This happens everyday at that customs department in Corozal. Everyday. Everyday those customs agent are stealing money from the Belizean government the Belizean people."

"I say it as it is, Prime Minister you guys have to. Do something about these customs officers. They ar robbing people. It's just a matter of time that one of them is going get a bullet."

"So I'm begging your Prime Minister re consider the choice you guys have made as far as increasing eon these fees that you guys are going to put on these young me. Because a lot of these young men, they are not making a lot of money."

Blanco posted that on his Facebook page yesterday. It aligns with anecdotal reports we have heard about how this trade works - with willing participants on both sides, looking for a deal.