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Battle of the Drums 2010 and Drug Plane on Belize's Southern Highway


What was the probability of the one time I'm going to Punta Gorda I witness a Drug Plane in the middle of the Southern highway? Extremely unlikely! Of course I had to write about it. 


I had taken a short hiatus from blogging since I was too busy with school, work and a personal project which I am extremely excited about but it's confidential for now – all I can say is that I have officially launched one of my career goals. Finally after finding some extra time, I am now writing a post to satisfy various requests of people who were concerned with my blogging going M.I.A.  I will write about my weekend experience – a very interesting weekend.

Currently I am taking an applied arts class at Galen and it happens to be drumming, Garifuna drumming and singing to be more specific. I'm having a lot of fun in this class but I can’t seem to get the best of it because I presume I am not artistically driven – my colleagues can testify to me not being able to make the most difficult drumming techniques.  

This weekend our class traveled to southern Belize to partake in the fifth annual Battle of the Drums Competition which takes place every year in Punta Gorda town, Toledo.

It is not secret that Belize's strategic position as the bridge to North America has always been a prime location for drug smugglers as they move to their central locations in Northern Mexico. But as the US Govt. and Mexican Federales continue to crack down on the cartels, they are going to continue being pushed down more and more.. unfortunately resulting in Belize becoming one of their retreats. This is something that should already be on the discussion board for the GoB because when it hits, it will hit hard and 'silly' unprepared BDF or the Police won't be able to do anything! Just imagine, the US & MX Govt. can hardly put up a good fight with the Narcos, how will our untrained, unequipped officers?

Belize Politics? An Oligarch Sport 

For those people who personally know me, you know that I am not politically driven(If that’s a term) but I am more of a concerned citizen who isn’t loyal to any one of the only two parties that rule Belize. I am similar to most of my friends whom believe education will free Belize from the shackles of the present oligarch and corrupt politicians, after all, information is what elects the politicians –either wrong information, or the lack of. I once posted a status update on facebook and twitter saying: "If everyone in Belize had a 6th form degree, we would have a better country." The reaction from people was surprising, many were against the thought, suggesting Belize wouldn’t properly survive without the uneducated poor since they are needed to do the 'dirty' work.