While last week the talk was about the abolishing of the Privy Council and the expeditious hanging of convicted murderers, in yesterday's cabinet meeting decisions were made to begin the slow wheels of legislation turning to have at least one of those issues addressed. Cabinet has announced that a decision has been made to draft a constitutional amendment to restrict appeals to the Privy Council in criminal cases. The legislation will in effect have cases of murders or of a heinous nature not be subject to appeal to the Privy Council. But while cabinet may be apparently working at abolishing the Privy Council in criminal cases, Belize's lead man against executions, Simeon Sampson, today told us that Cabinet is being emotionally swayed and the proposed changes are merely cosmetic.

Simeon Sampson
There seems to me to be some panic and excitement in Cabinet, or Cabinet has been ill-advised, or some issues have been put before Cabinet which is misconceived because at the very, at this moment, the Caribbean Community, the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community have already agreed to the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice in substitution for the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Fifteen members signed that agreement last year. As I understand it, appeals to the Privy Council in criminal matters was to stop anyway and that only civil appeals could proceed to that body. So to draft legislation, for Cabinet in Belize to draft a legislation within the few months forthcoming to prevent appeals to desist to the Privy Council within the short time remaining in heinous cases is, I think, is a deprivation, is an assault, is an insult, to our constitutional rights enshrined to us in the Belize Constitution.

Alfonso Noble
Is this proposed draft of the Constitutional amendment relevant to anything?

It is hogwash. It is simply political. The politicians are trying to appease the public outcry for blood. It will not, in my humble opinion, deter crime.

While Sampson believes that hanging is no deterrent to crime and believes that the proposed amendment is hogwash, the man who's taking credit for starting the ball rolling on the abolishing of the Privy Council as the final appeal avenue, Hon. Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition, today told us he is pleasantly surprised at Cabinet' decision.

Hon. Dean Barrow
As I gather, Cabinet yesterday announced that it had approved the initiative and that the government would now move ahead with the drafting of the appropriate legislation.

In other news from cabinet they have agreed to the funding for equipment to computerize the finger-printing process. Other initiatives to be taken in the combat of crime include the formation of neighborhood watches in neighborhoods countrywide as well as the establishing of a press commission. This commission will be tasked with working with the local media to encourage responsible coverage of criminal activities.
On a lighter note cabinet has approved three development concessions for the establishment of tourist facilities at San Pedro and Calabash Caye. La Perla del Caribe Resort will construct 12 buildings in San Pedro to target the luxury and adventure travel market from the U.S. and Europe. The second concession will be given to The Belize Yacht Club which will upgrade its facilities and expand to accommodate 150 rooms in addition to entertainment centers, cinemas and a bowling alley. The last and most sensitive development will take place at Calabash Caye where a 26 room resort called Castaways Reef Resort will be constructed on the Atoll. Of note is that Calabash Caye forms part of the Turneffe Islands and lies on the barrier reef itself. This puts it in a sensitive area. In combination, all three developments will cost some 110 million dollars and are expected to create some 400 jobs.