It is a good day where it is calm and partly cloudy which means it is a superb day for diving. In fact lady Boss is doing a second dive with Ambergris Divers this morning. We will be meeeting her at Estelles for ribs-what a great day.
Mr Perez Molina says it is time to consider alternatives to the war on drugsGuatemalan President Otto Perez Molina has said the war on drugs has failed, and it is time to end the “taboo” on discussing decriminalisation.
He was addressing a Central American summit in the Guatemalan city of Antigua.
Mr Perez Molina convoked the meeting to consider decriminalisation as a way of reducing drug-related violence.
But the presidents of Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras all cancelled their attendance at short notice.
Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, Mauricio Funes of El Salvador and Porfirio Lobo of El Salvador decided not to attend.
All three countries were represented by senior officials, and Mr Perez Molina was joined by President Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica and Ricardo Martinelli of Panama.
“We have seen that the strategy that has been pursued in the fight against drug trafficking over the last 40 years has failed,” he said.
“We have to look for new alternatives. We must end the myths, the taboos, and tell people you have to discuss it,” he added.
Central America is a major transit route for South American cocaine heading north to the US.
The rising power of drugs gangs has fuelled corruption and soaring murder rates in the region, with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador particularly affected.
‘High price‘
President Perez Molina caused widespread surprise when he announced in January that he thought it was time to consider decriminalising the consumption, production and trafficking of drugs.
The former army general was elected last November after promising an “iron fist” approach to organised crime.
But he has argued that the price Central America pays in human lives for the war on drugs is too high.
Mr Perez Molina is the first Latin American president to propose decriminalising drugs while in office, though several prominent former leaders have backed the idea.
The subject is also likely to be discussed at the Summit of the Americas in Colombia on 14-15 April.
The US has made clear its continued opposition to legalisation of drugs, while acknowledging it as a legitimate subject for debate
Hello poker friends, (more…)
It is a fantastic day. Good breeze slightly overcast. Everyone is happy.
Last night there was a huge raid by the special dragon unit who are normally only used for major drug busts. The Three kingdom bar has become markedly popular with the single man or indeed the unhappily married ones. It is situated on the opposite side of the road and slightly north of the Maya Island Air Terminal.
There were many unhappy people hanging around. Further updates to come.
Trivia will start at 7.30pm tonight. Allare welcome and Cindy the dominatrix will be asking the questions.
Today’s weather is again overcast and it is pleasant with a strong breeze. A warning for all our guests and visitors to the island is that the clouds do not offer any protection from the suns ultra violet rays. So my advice is to make sure that you all use plenty of sunscreen.
It will be a slow day for the boss and I suspect he will take Jambo and I down south for a waddle. Still Jambo will run around like a psycopathic demented Tottenham supporter.
It looks like it is going to be a fabulous day with a strong breeze which is supposed to die down tonight. The sun will be out and I suspect will be great for sun bathing.
The bosss is cooking which means the wine will come out and that will be the end of wednesday. i wonder why our lord turned glorious water into wine it just makes it taste awful to drink.
Rumours have hit the Ambergris Daily that property taxes are to be raised by over 200%. This, if everyone pays, will give the town council an enormous war chest but in the previous mayors speech she said they collected less than 40% (real number around 30%).
So does this mean the same old people will just pay for all the deadbeats who say we cannot afford to pay anything. It is a connundrum as we must have tax revenues but it is obviously wrong and unfair for the same old people to pay a lot more for the same service that they receive at the moment.
It may be politic of the Town Board to enlighten the public on how much money is needed, and what they are going to do with it. Our new mayor has promised an open book policy, and if this is so then it will be possible to see where the money is collected and where the money goes. Also it will be interesting to hear his views on the people who have not paid their taxes in the last few years and who are very likely not to pay them this year.
We wait the answers with baited breath.
Well not much of a walk yesterday and today looks much of the same as the boss is hobbling around like a 90year old with broken bones.
The weather is again overcast but I suspect we will see the sun in phases throughout the day. It appears the weather is fine for diving as I see lots of people heading towards the dive boats. The breeze is fabulous and I think Jambo myself and Splat will spend the day by the pool. Hopefully the bosses will be serving drinks and snacks throughout the day.
