But the PM did regain some of his trademark wit when we asked him about that letter that former Foreign Minister Lisa Shoman sent him yesterday. The open letter complains lyrically about the many failings of current Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington.
And with clear relish, the PM suggested that the letter may have gotten Shoman into some trouble:...
Jules Vasquez, reporter "Former Senator Lisa Shoman, former foreign minister has written you a letter. Will you respond to it, what do you make of it?"
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "I am not sure if I will respond to that letter. I just something today from the IDB you see a while ago. Ms. Shoman is a member of a tribunal that deals with staff matters. There is now a complaint made against her in consequence of what she said with respect to the foreign minister and the whole issue of borders and so on. I don't know what the details are. I haven't seen the letter that she sent to me, but I better leave that alone in the event that Ms. Shoman might want to rethink her position in consequence of what is happening at the IDB."
Aimee Flores On Making It
And that's it for politics tonight. For a more refreshing perspective, we have a little leftover from our interview with Belizean Biochemistry Researcher, Aimee Flores. In our profile last night we told you about the groundbreaking stem cell research team which she led. But, breaking into the research world wasn't as simple as it might seem from the outside. She had done her masters in Pathology and got into the research setting by volunteering in a lab. That's where she met some of the most highly regarded published researchers, and top international students entering the Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research. We asked her how she competed with the best in the US and the world:
Jules Vasquez, reporter "How is it that you were able to compete alongside people who had been primed in the best schools and colleges for this their whole life?"
Aimee Flores, Doctoral Student - UCLA "I feel like if you are determined enough, you can do whatever you want. I, yes, you know, was there as part of the programme with people from all over the world, people who had research experience many years before I did, people who were primed for it from high school, but at the end of the day, I put in the work I needed to put in. I studied what I needed to study and I worked in the lab, and I was determined enough to do it. And I think it's possible for anybody. I don't think that you necessarily need to come from a terribly strong background to be able to survive, I feel that you just need to want it enough."
"Most people think that, you know, if you or your kid is interested in the sciences, you can only become a doctor, you know? But there are many other things that you can do in the sciences, you can be pathologist, you can work in the lab, you can do research, you can go into teaching, there are many different avenues. It just so happens that I chose to be a scientist."
Aimee is only in town for a week and returns to California this weekend.
CODICADER Kids
On Sunday, 110 Belizean youth athletes will embark on a journey to Tegucigalpa, Honduras where they will participate in the 2017 CODICADER students sports games. This evening at the Marion Jones conference room, a press conference was held to introduce the team and here's what they had to say:
Jones and the sports council also donated 2 motorcycles to Police Superintendent Moody. The bikes will be used to heighten security around the area while those who use the facility are exercising.
Mayor Loves Track and Field Athletes
And that wasn't the only attention given to young athletes today. Earlier on in the afternoon, a few of Belize City's youngest and most talented track and field stars were invited to City Hall for a small award ceremony. Mayor Darrell Bradley and his Councillors distributed plaques as well as a monetary token as a way to recognize their achievements. We spoke to Bradley after ceremony about why he felt the ceremony was an important gesture...
Bradley also presented awards to the parents and coaches of the athletes.
But the PM did regain some of his trademark wit when we asked him about that letter that former Foreign Minister Lisa Shoman sent him yesterday. The open letter complains lyrically about the many failings of current Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington.
staff matters. There is now a complaint made against her in consequence of what she said with respect to the foreign minister and the whole issue of borders and so on. I don't know what the details are. I haven't seen the letter that she sent to me, but I better leave that alone in the event that Ms. Shoman might want to rethink her position in consequence of what is happening at the IDB."
"I feel like if you are determined enough, you can do whatever you want. I, yes, you know, was there as part of the programme with people from all over the world, people who had research experience many years before I did, people who were primed for it from high school, but at the end of the day, I put in the work I needed to put in. I studied what I needed to study and I worked in the lab, and I was determined enough to do it. And I think it's possible for anybody. I don't think that you necessarily need to come from a terribly strong background to be able to survive, I feel that you just need to want it enough."