Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

This is typical we "cruffy". We me know that, we no need a foreigner to tell us, but are we doing anything to fix it, NO.

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

THANK YOU!

Perfect Bulls-eye!

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

another nice article.....like always superlative!

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

LM: No, this is not typical we "cruffy". This isn't typical anything.

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

Well Done!!! My hope is that his report will not sit ona shelf and gather dust, but be used, especially in formulating the Restore Belize Plan.

Quite frankly I am at a lost as to what Restore Belize is, I have a feeling that it is alot of hype and very little substance...how sad!!!

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

As for "are we doing anything to fix it?" Well I can speak for myself. I'm a recent college grad trying to pick up positive experiences in the foreign country where I studied that will give me some transferable skills that I hope will help in some part to slow down the "degenerative cycle of ignorance." And I know I'm not the only one with this mission.
My greatest fear, however, and I believe the fear of other young Belizeans in the same boat, is that it will be difficult to find a niche, a support group that will encourage and foster progress. Scared that I will feel alienated, alone, discouraged.
And this article greatly demonstrates why my fear is warranted, but at the same time we have to try, right? Belize is home.

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

I may be an oxymoron, a Belizean optimist, always hoping that we together are rolling the rock up the right hill. If we can ever again stand shoulder to shoulder we just might make it over the hill, but only to find that the "ham bush" we seek is just another "ambush". Belize every day lives up to the derivation of its name, oBelize, "a monument to proceed with extreme caution because of very uncertain passage". I suggest we change the name of the capital to Sisyphea.

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I agree that the reaction to Dr. Gayle's findings has been too hum hum and business-as-usual. When did we become this complacent? Mediocrity has long been considered a goal to strive for by too many of us. Is a large segment of our population retarded or does it only seem that way? Why is it that so many of us excuse our slovenly attitude with a sentence beginning with, "at least..." (as in: at least I tried, at least i get one). Aiming for "at least" is going to be the death of this nation as we know it, while we wait for hand outs.

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

Godfrey seems to be wallowing in dog shit these days, acting as though he has been but a casual observer in Belize for the last fifteen years. He had and has a lot to do with the degenerative nature of our society. This man sickens me with his cynicism.

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Very profound message, Mr. Smith. Out society has degraded to where we cannot even call ourselves ostriches any more, as the heads are no longer in the sand, but we have become numb, paralyzed by our own incompetence to take action. Planning has never been in our vocabulary, as we move from failed adminstration to failed administration. The silence in the void of leadership is deafening. Unlike all the pundits that choose to criticize the Restore Belize initiative, I choose to have some hope that like a recovering alcoholic, our current PM has taken the first step of accepting that we have a problem, and has invested in an initiative to inspire Belizeans to change. The leader of the opposition, for a very brief moment agreed to bipartisan support, but quickly fell off the wagon from pressure by the same sketels that fed us the dollar beer that solidified our alcoholism in the first place.

Perhaps, my fellow bloggers, we need to somehow encourage a national rally for change, and for now, Restore Belize is all we have. Perhaps, we can choose to rise above the usual shallow criticisms and take-down, and perhaps we, including Mr. Smith may try to carry a torch instead of cursing the darkness, and maybe move on to the other proverbial 11 steps of recovery. A song wont solve our problems, but a national decision to change our sordid ways will, and true leadership comes from those that choose to inspire that change.

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Let me just say, your writing style leaves little to be desired and I'm most appreciative for finally coming across an outlet for Belizean people with real opinions. I've been trying to post comments of Channel 5 and other media websites, but the comment feeds are shallow at best.

Your depiction of a society of self-proclaimed experts is spot on.

However, I think some care should be taken when criticizing the peoples dislike of his delivery. His approach was reminiscent of an elementary school teacher scolding his class. Indeed, his approach leaves much to be desired. That's not to say that his findings are invaluable, quite the contrary.

Still. I hope that one of your future blogs contains some solutions. It's easy to complain about our situation, It's more difficult to make suitable suggestions.

Great work. I look forward to reading more.

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

The multitude of self proclaimed experts that crowd the morning talk show have one thing in common; they all know what needs toe done, but few actually practise what they preach. A quick check on each and every one will reveal rampant promiscuity, domestic abuse, corruption, and substance abuse.

The degradation in Belize goes deep. In the past it has traditionally been kept underground, but is now bubbling to surfacing in the face and actions of our youth, with an eruption emminent. Anyone who expects that government action, short of draconian measures (eg the Singapore story) that will curtail freedom of choice will work, is sorely wrong.

Since we want it all, freedom, rights, liberty, and fun, fun, fun...perhaps the eruption is a necessary part of the process, perhaps we should just continue to fan the flames, knowing that the fire service has no water to put out the fire, and just let the motherf**ker burn; or perhaps we the intelligent option to the ignorati can change our message, become role models, and inspire others to do the same.

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Nuff Respect!! Keep up the good work and keep writing informative messages.

Bless!!

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This is not a government problem. It is about individual pride. It has to do with men standing or sitting at a coversation that is above their level of comprehension and NOT admitting it to themselves. It is about men and women agreeing that it is a crime to steal but are willing to steal if they feel that they can get away with it. It is about adults pretending to understand what they don't understand. Posing has long been a way of getting by, check the streets of Dangriga and Belize City. As soon as an able reader explains to the ingnorati what is said in this piece they will react with predictable indignation to what they deign to be an insult to their alleged intelligence. Our problem is the result of uneducated adults being listened to by ANYBODY.

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I will come out and disagree with Godfrey Smith and Evan X (lives in the past) Hyde. I think the report was "amateurish" as described by another writer. Why? because the approach Dr. Gayle took in his delivery and his writing style is childish. His descriptions are more befitting of the space in front of Brads on a Friday evening than in the report of an expert. The problem that people are having with the critics of Dr. Gayle is that they assume that us critics are discrediting the findings in the report. This is not so. My problem is with his approach and delivery. I feel that it could have been done in a more professional manner. Having said this, we all agree that Belize is in a sorry state, this has been the spawn of many many governments, includng those with which Godfrey Smith was involved. Alas, he seems to have all the answers when nobody is asking him for them.

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

Good article but easy on the thesaurus Godfrey - reading these are becoming painstaking.

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Godfrey, a beautifully written piece!

I too am shocked at some of the reactions to Dr Gayle's report. You are smack on regarding our aversion to proper research and until we change that attitude we will remain in the dark ages.

I especially like the part about our political leaders with their "proud ignorance and unjustified confidence" sad to say the beat goes on.

I think that the core of our problem lies with our political leaders, if we elect morons, thieves and scoundrels to lead our country how can me expect advancement. What does it say about us as Belizeans when we elect such people to office? And why aren't the educated, competent and well-meaning citizens are offering themselves for high political office.

Restore Belize must start with me...a better me equals a better Belize.

Nuff said, I love you Belize

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

I know of a few educated and justifiably confident people who I certainly would not like back in public office, who are brilliant but extremely selfish, pretentious and hypocrytical.
But to answer your question Major Jones as to why good educated people do not offer themselves one needs to look at the sacrifice they would have to pay at the hands of irresponsible journalists and at the hands of a demanding, uneducated electorate.

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I agree with you Citizen. The reason why the good brilliant honest people do not get involved in politics is because it is a dirty game. You need to grovel in feces just to get on your party's ticket. Then comes the business of getting elected by an ignorant electorate. In order to get good candidates we need to reform the whole political landscape by passing new laws on campaign funding, advertisments etc. Then we need to empower an independent elections and boundaries comission to oversee the entire process. It only in this fashion that you would eliminate the advantage now enjoyed by those who are willing to slither on their bellies in order to get elected.

As it stands right now, all those persons from the past administration and those in the current one have no desire to help this country. They are either on an ego trip or on a get rich quick trip!

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

The perfect case in point to all the talk about uneducated people in power and being on a quick rich trip could have been seen last week when our Minister of Health was on the teevee. He should have not come off the script because it is painful to know that such an idiot holds one of the highest offices of state in Belize. The fellow could not even put together a coherent sentence in English on his own. Downright sad.

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Hey, I remember one politician who had so mastered the English language that he even wrote a book. Anyone remembers "The Sinner's Bossanova?" I am sure you would not want that person back in public office even though he could give the best interview to any journalist, huh?

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

You guys miss the point of what Godfrey is doing here. He is saying that everyone else is selfish, that everyone else is greedy, that everyone else is corrupt. He writes as though he was not one of the greediest, most selfish and corrupt politician in the history of this country.

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

Proof of the "amateurish" approach of Dr. Gayle to his report can be found in his response to his critics published in last week's edition of UBADANDALA. He basically told everyone that he is so smart because his education cost him half a million Belize Dollars in the United Kingdom and that we are so lucky that he decided to take a pay cut to come to Belize because he had soooo many other offers to make much more money and that he charged less than 30% of what his lowest fee would be. He also made sure to stress that he attended many international conferences etc. He sounded like a real school boy beating his own chest! Now, don't get me wrong, I do not doubt that he is brilliant and that his report is very important for Belize. I just dislike his arrogant childish approach and I think this does him a disservice because it may discredit him with others.

Re: Spent Condoms and Dog Shit

Looks like smithy is getting funded from the national perspective. All of a sudden he is smart after contributing to the mess he speaks about in all of his articles. All his solutions we will fling ina di dirt box. The only mule is you smith you cant fool anyone you hypocrite. -- check!