Artificial Intelligence – Panelist: Dr. Amin Davoodi
Dr. Amin Davoodi is Assistant Professor of Bilingual and ESL Education at the University of Texas Permian Basin. He earned his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in ESL, Technology, and Teacher Education from Texas A&M University in 2021. His research interests include AI-Assisted Language learning, Robot-Assisted Language Learning, educational equity, TESOL, and bilingual education. Dr. Davoodi is widely recognized for his exemplary work with pre-service teachers and English language learners, having received numerous awards. His 18 years of teaching experience, combined with his international accreditation as a teacher trainer, has enabled him to train ESL and EFL teachers from over 25 different countries. Dr. Davoodi has captivated audiences around the world as an active researcher and keynote speaker, delivering inspiring speeches and presentations in numerous countries such as the USA, Canada, Mexico, Iran, Armenia, Turkey, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Egypt.
Artificial Intelligence – Panelist: Antonio Cano
Antonio Cano is currently a Lecturer in the Science Department at the University of Belize. Prior to this role, he served as the GIS Manager at Total Business Solutions Ltd. Antonio holds a MSc. in Environmental Science from the University of West Florida, and a MPA and a BSc. in Environmental Geosciences from Valdosta State University. He has worked on various projects of national significance including the development of management plans for the Belize River and the New River. Antonio’s area of specialty is in Geographic Information Systems with a focus on environmental management.
The Orange Economy – Panelist: Delvin “Pen” Cayetano
Delvin “Pen” Cayetano
Born in 1954 in Dangriga, Stann Creek District, Belize, Pen Cayetano is a painter, singer, songwriter, percussionist, guitarist, the leading cultural revivalist, and ambassador for the Garinagu. His favorite medium is of oil on canvas with genres of modern art and contemporary realism.
From 1990 to 2009 Pen Cayetano has lived with his family in Germany, where he had a studio and a busy schedule of international art exhibitions, workshops, and performances. He has become one of Belize’s foremost cultural ambassadors. His art is represented in several museums and public collections.
Perhaps the strongest representative of a people’s culture and history is the artist, his role is to educate and document.
He and his German wife, Ingrid, returned to Dangriga in July 2009 and they opened the Pen Cayetano Studio Gallery in Dangriga. Cayetano has three children (Malí, Beni and Ibo). He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 New Year Honors.
Pen received numerous awards by the Government of Belize for example
2022 George Gabb Award for Visual Arts
2020 Artist Emeritus Award
2018 Meritorious Service Award and many more from several organizations home and abroad.
Pen Cayetano is regarded as the “King” of Punta Rock music which he created to revive and preserve Garifuna music amongst the younger generations. Along the way he inspired a new generation to apply their talents to their own ancestral forms and unique concerns.
In his studio on 5 Moho Road, in Dangriga, Pen fused traditional Garifuna instrumentation including the garawoun (drum), rattles, and turtle shells with modern electronic instruments. His legacy, however, lies in his lyrics, which gave the political, social, and economic issues of the Belizean Garifuna people a global platform, and along the way inspired a new generation to apply their talents to their own ancestral forms and unique concerns.
Punta Rock is a force in the process of developing cultural awareness and strengthening national identity for all ethnic groups in the nation of Belize.
BIOGRAPHICAL DATES:
- 1954 born in Dangriga, Belize
- 1960 – 69 Primary education Holy Ghost school, Dangriga
- 1970 freelance work as musician and artist (self-taught)
- 1980 creation of Punta Rock music
- 1990 -2009 residency in Ahrweiler, Germany
- July 2009 residency in Belize
- Member of Bildkunst, Gema, Bscap
Contact: Pen Cayetano Studio Gallery
3 Aranda Crescent
Dangriga
628-6807 www.cayetanos.com, [email protected] or [email protected]
The Orange Economy – Panelist: Ubaldimir Guerra
Ubaldimir Guerra is a poet and lecturer from Belize City, Belize. He works as a full-time lecturer of English and literature at the University of Belize and is currently the Chair of the Arts department. His poetry appears in PREE: Caribbean Writing, BIM: Arts for the 21st Century, Interviewing the Caribbean, Apalachee Review, and Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, among others. Ubaldimir was shortlisted for the Bocas Emerging Writers fellowship in 2022, longlisted for the Bocas Breakthrough Fellowships 2023/4 and won the Poetry Archive Now Wordview 2022 competition.
Ubaldimir enjoys being a father to his two sons, teaching, reading, performing poetry and creating videos of his performed works.
Ubaldimir is interested in reading as many writers from across the globe but is particularly fond of writers from the Caribbean, Africa and Latin America.
He finds it hard to select a favorite poet, but, his poet-brother, Sean Taegar, surely stands out as one of the most passionate Belizean poet he knows. One of his favorite lines from Sean’s work is taken from his poem, “The Seed Maker”:
“Imagination journeys the cosmos/Making seeds for a cosmic garden/Building stories from the skull/Creating the narration of seeing”
LINCOLN BLAKE, JR.
PERSONAL DATA
Address: #10 Earlies Street, City of Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize
Email: [email protected]
Marital Status: Married
Date of Birth: December 16th 1972
Gender: Male
Country of Origin: Belize
Present Nationality: Belizean
Languages and Fluency Level: English (first language) and Spanish (Fluent verbal & written, resided in Mexico City for 7 years)
PROFILE:
Lincoln Blake, Jr. has his formal training as an economist with a Master’s Degree in Economics and International Trade from the Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Economia, in Mexico City. He has worked up the ranks in the Government’s public service, starting in the year 2002 at the Ministry of Economic Development as an economist in the Public Sector Investment Program Section. He was then established as a Senior Economist in the year 2012 at the same Ministry with the responsibility of several investment portfolios, which included the management of the Export Processing Zone program, the Gaming and Lotteries Programs and in preparing and assessing investment policy issues.
From 2014 to date, he is the director of the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit at the Ministry of Investment. He is responsible to administer and regulate the two incentive programs under the Ministry of Investment (Designated Processing Areas Program what used to be the Export Processing Zones and the Fiscal Incentives Program); administer the Gaming and Lotteries Program in Belize, prepare investment policy recommendations; conduct economic assessments of applications under the several incentive programs or proposals submitted to the Government of Belize; work with internal and external stakeholders to review, evaluate and deliver strategic activities and plans in line with Government’s objectives and legal responsibilities regarding the investment portfolios.
He has been and is on several boards and committees representing the Ministry of Investment, these include: the Designated Processing Areas Committee, the Corozal Free Zone Board of Directors, the National Free Zone Authority, the National Environmental Appraisal Committee, the Belize Trade Negotiating Team, the Gaming Control Board, the Lotteries Committee, among others.
He has been appointed to several task forces, and assessment committees to report to the Belize Government’s Cabinet and participated on several missions for Belize to many countries.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
2014 to date
Director, Ministry of Investment, Investment Policy and Compliance Unit, Belmopan, Belize,
- Management of the Unit
- Administer the Export Processing Zone now the Designated Processing Areas program under the Ministry of Investment
- Prepare Cabinet papers on various investment policy matters
- Forward Fiscal Incentive requests to Cabinet
- Conduct economic assessments and Cost to Benefit Assessments on investment proposals forwarded to Cabinet and the Ministry
- Administer the Gaming and Lotteries program under the Ministry
- Represent the Ministry on investment policy matters
- Review and assess business plans forwarded to government
- Prepare project concept papers to forward to multilateral lending institutions and foreign governments
- Meetings with Designated Processing Areas stakeholders on resolving issues affecting them
2012 to 2014
Senior Economist, Ministry of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection, Investment Section, Belmopan, Belize,
- Head of Section
- Manage the Secretariat of the Export Processing Zone program under the Ministry
- Manage the Secretariat of the Free Zones program under the Ministry
- Prepare Cabinet papers on various investment policy matters
- Prepare Fiscal Incentive requests for Cabinet
- Conduct economic assessments on investment proposals forwarded to Cabinet and the Ministry
- Manage the Secretariat of the Gaming and Lotteries program under the Ministry
- Represent the Ministry on investment policy matters
- Review and assess business plans forwarded to government
- Prepare project concept papers to forward to multilateral lending institutions and foreign governments
- Meetings with Export Processing Zone and Free Zone owners on resolving issues affecting them
2006 to 2012
Senior Economist, Ministry of Economic Development, Investment Section, Belmopan, Belize,
- Head of Section
- Manage the Secretariat of the Export Processing Zone program under the Ministry
- Manage the Secretariat of the Free Zones program under the Ministry
- Manage the Secretariat of the Gaming and Lotteries program under the Ministry
- Represent the Ministry on investment policy matters
2002 to 2005
Economist, Ministry of Economic Development, Public Sector Investment Program, Belmopan, Belize,
- Public sector projects evaluation
- Public sector projects monitoring
- Preparation and review of project concepts for the Ministry
- Review of project concepts for the Ministry
- Administer the Organization of American States projects desk for the Ministry
- Administer the Commonwealth Secretariat projects desk for the Ministry
1999 to 2000
English Professor for businesspersons, Harmon Hall Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
- Preparing classes
- Proficiency level classes both oral and written
APPOINTMENTS
Corozal Free Zone Board of Directors, Representative of the Ministry of Economic Development, 2008 to 2012
Corozal Free Zone Board of Directors, Representative of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, 2012 to 2020
Export Processing Zone Committee, Representative of the Ministry of Economic Development, 2008 to 2012
Export Processing Zone Committee, Representative of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, 2012 to 2015
Designated Processing Areas Committee, Coordinator, 2020 to date
National Free Zone Authority, Board of Directors, Representative of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, 2012 to 2015
Gaming Control Board, Secretary to the Board, 2008 to 2016 and 2019 to date
Lotteries Committee, Representative of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, 2010 to 2016 and Representative of the Ministry of Investment 2019 to date
National Environmental Appraisal Committee, Representative of the Ministry of Economic Development, 2008 to 2012, 2018 to 2020, and 2022 to 2023
National Council on Ageing, Representative of the Ministry of Economic Development, 2004 to 2006
Belize/El Salvador Partial Scope Agreement, Trade Negotiation Team, lead on the Investment chapter of the Agreement. 2013
Belize Trade Technical Team member, Representative the Ministry of Economic Development, 2005 to 2012
Santander Sugar Mill and Farms Investment Proposals Economic Assessment, Cabinet Sub Committee on Investment, 2012.
Norwegian Cruise Lines Harvest Caye Cruise Ship Port Economic Assessment, Cabinet Sub Committee on Investment, 2013.
Belize LPG Terminal Project, Cabinet Sub Committee on Investment, 2014 to 2018.
Seminar “Capacity-Building Seminar on Secured Transactions Reform”, San Salvador, El Salvador Organization of American States (OAS) and the International Financial Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank , 2014
Belize Outbound Investment Mission to Taiwan, Belize delegation, Republic of China, Taiwan, Cabinet Sub Committee on Investment, 2015.
Belize Business Zone Free Zone Proposal Economic Assessment, Cabinet Sub Committee on Investment, 2016.
Mission of Deputy Prime Minister’s official visit to the Republic of Cuba, Belize delegation, Havana, Cuba, 2017
Belize Mission to European Union and Caribbean Seminar on Tax Governance, Trinidad and Tobago, 2018
Belize Trade Technical Team member, Representative the Ministry of Trade and Investment, 2012 to 2020
Belize Trade Negotiating Team member, Representative the Ministry of Trade and Investment, 2012 to 2020
Belize Trade Negotiating Team member, Representative the Ministry of Investment, 2020 to date
BELTRAIDE Board of Directors, Representative the Ministry of Economic Development, 2008 to 2012
Belize/Guatemala Partial Scope Agreement, Trade Negotiation Team, lead on the Investment chapter of the Agreement. 2021 – to date
Executive Planning Committee of the Belize Investment Summit 2021, San Pedro Ambergris Caye, November 2021
Port of Magical Belize, Port Coral and Port of Belize Cruise Ship Ports projects in Belize District Economic Assessment, Cabinet Sub Committee on Investment, 2019 – to date.
Belize Mission to the LATAM Investment Summit, COPARMEX, Cancun, Quintana Roo Mexico, 2022.
EDUCATION
Masters Degree in Economics and International Trade, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Economía, Casco de Santo Tomas, Mexico City, Mexico, 1999 – 2002
Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Economia, Casco de Santo Tomas, Mexico City, Mexico, 1994 – 1999
Associates Degree, Corozal Junior College, Corozal, Belize, 1990 – 1992
High School Diploma, Saint John’s College, Belize City, Belize, 1986 – 1990
TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Strategic Management and Project Management Course, Commonwealth Secretariat, St. Lucia, 2004
Regional Cooperation Meeting between Central America and the EU, SICA, El Salvador, 2006
Administrative Law Course, University of the West Indies Belize Campus, 2006
CARICOM Information and Communication Technology Strategic Plan Development, CARICOM Secretariat, St. Lucia, 2006
Regional Meeting for Ombudsmen on Project Financing, IACHR, Nicaragua, 2006
Management and Leadership Course, Belize Institute of Management, Belmopan, 2007
Information and Communication Technology Seminar for Central America, organized by the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Guatemala City, 2007
Best Practice Exercise on Free Zone Administration, Colon Free Zone, Panama, 2009
Best Practice Exercise to Establish an African Palm Oil Industry, ACEYDESA, Honduras, 2009
Free Zone Financing Meeting, Cancun, Mexico, 2010
Regional Meeting on Fiscal Incentives Compliance with WTO, Dominica, 2010
Best Practice Exercise on Gaming Regulation, The Bahamas Financial Intelligence Unit, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, 2010
Training on Bilateral Investment Treaties and Caribbean Investment Code, CARICOM Secretariat, Grenada, 2010
Regional Meeting on Competitiveness, OAS, Dominican Republic, 2011
Training on International Trade Negotiation Simulations , Country Training Exercise, WTO, 2018
Seminar by Gaming Laboratories International on the Global Gaming Industry, Gaming Laboratories International, 2019