Hello everyone!

What a great summer it has been so far!

I know that globally we are all suffering from the economic collapse but at
the People's National Party (PNP), we remain positive no matter what.
Thanks to people like you, we can continue to do what we are doing and make
positive changes in our community and world.

This summer has been an incredible one so far. As most of you know, we hold
a summer camp for youths every year. Our party is young and we believe that
we must focus and target the youths that will be of voting age shortly. We
hope that they are paying attention to our vision and mission for this
beautiful country of ours. Our summer camp objective focused on Belizean
traditions and customs and having the elders pass down this knowledge to our
youths. So this year's summer camp project was to build a dugout. Last
week Monday, we ventured out and found a big tree that happened to be struck
by lightning. The tree was dying so it was the perfect tree to build the
dory (dugout). Within a few hours, we had the tree laying on the ground and
with the help of all the kids there, the dory was being dug out. Day after
day, we trekked up to the forest and worked on the tree. As the dory slowly
took shape, it was finally finished and the dugout was about to set sail on
its maiden voyage after one week of digging.

On Friday, we loaded the hand-made dory onto a trailer and headed to the
seashore. You should have seen these kids' eyes - they were as large as
saucers and so excited. The dory is big and heavy and we were all thinking,
"Is it going to float or is it going to sink?" We all started to push it
off the trailer and into the water and it floated like a cork! What a
surprise and relief! The kids were so happy and proud of their work, as
were the adults. As the kids paddled around in their dory, it was obvious
that they were having the best time of their lives and so was I. This was
such a great project and it's because of people like you that such endeavors
are possible. So while I know that things are not ideal in the global
economic world, I want to thank all those who helped to make this camp
happen. I believe it is important for the kids to have a bit of traditional
knowledge. Later this week, we will continue down this path and teach the
kids how to throw a cast net.

As in previous years at the conclusion of summer camp, we will be having a
back-to-school concert in the park and providing school supplies to help all
those needy kids. I have been speaking with Lee from Chicago, who will soon
be contacting you to help with the school drive. This is such a worthy
cause and I know that the kids really appreciate it. If anyone would like
to assist with this cause, please contact Lee at her email cc'd here. Lee
will organize and arrange for the truck to bring the supplies to Belize.
You can help out by donating pens, pencils, backpacks, bags and whatever
else kids need to go back to school. If everyone donated a few pens or any
school supplies, that would be greatly appreciated. These things go a long
way in these parts. Again, thanks for all you do for the people of this
beautiful country of ours and for allowing PNP to pursue our mission. We
look forward to your support.

Attached are pictures of the tree and the finished dugout from that tree.


Have a great day everyone!

Wil Maheia
Leader of the PNP