| In a recent Belize Rural North convention, UDP Minister of State Edmond Castro proved his popularity when supporters turn rout in record numbers to support him. But while he still enjoys popularity in the 27 villages between Bomba and Boom, in the wider society, his public image has taken a pounding over the last 18 months. And today, he can add one more humiliation to that meltdown: he threw in the towel on the libel case against Channel 5 and Alvarine Burgess - and, to boot, he has to pay their 30,000 dollars in legal bills.
Oral arguments in the case were supposed to start this morning, but before that could happen, Justice Abel called both parties into his chambers and essentially indicated that he does not consider the case presented by Castro to be strong and prevailed on him to withdraw, lest he face an adverse judgment. After due consultation, Williams presented the motion to discontinue the case. It's kind of like a technical knockout in boxing - where Castro didn't leave the ring on a stretcher, but his reputation is certainly battered and bruised.
That's because Alvarine Burgess who made the allegation of corruption against Castro, stuck to her guns when she testified in May, insisting that Castro had taken money to recommend unknown Asian nationals to come to Belize. Under cross examination, Castro was forced to admit that he had done everything except take money.
When Castro exited out of the court, he declined comment to awaiting reporters. Burgess, who no longer has to worry about there being legal consequences to her allegations, was a more forthcoming with the press. Here's what she had to say:
Alvarine Burgess, Defendant - Castro Lawsuit
"I am very disappointed by it. Because I feel that I was dragged to court and so I told the truth. Mr. Castro just backed out. I am very surprised and disappointed."
Reporter
"Mr. Castro told us that because he felt that he had done enough damaged to you as his friend. So he withdrew his case."
Alvarine Burgess
"He withdrew because they knew that Alvarine Burgess came and told the truth and they had a losing case."
But, as we told you, it was highly unusual for Castro to have decided at this moment that he wanted to discontinue the case. We tried to get him on it the last time around, and he declined then as well, but on another occasion, he granted a press encounter, a few days before his convention.
There was no indication then that he had intentions to stop this push to protect his reputation:
Daniel Ortiz
"Bad timing for you as a convention candidate."
Hon. Edmund Castro - Belize Rural North Area Rep
"My friend, I cannot discuss that case, that case is in front of the judge and I can't discuss that."
Reporter
"Do you still expect the prime minister to support you given what transpired in court?"
Hon. Edmund Castro
"Did I say that matter is in front of the court? So if it's in front of the court."
Daniel Ortiz
"Political consequences."
Hon. Edmund Castro
"That matter is in front of the court, let the court for what they do. It wasn't them suing me, I sued them."
Daniel Ortiz
"Ought you not to have left good enough alone, politically speaking."
Hon. Edmund Castro
"My friend, I'm not here to try prejudge nothing, I took them to court."
Daniel Ortiz
"I'm talking about the political consequences."
Hon. Edmund Castro
"There is no political consequence. Let me tell you this, there is no political consequence you know."
Daniel Ortiz
"But she is alleging illegal activities sir. Must have some sort of consequence"
Hon. Edmund Castro
"We will go through convention, I will increase the margin on who ever come. We'll win the general election and I will defeat who ever else come. And if the want to come out in 2s and 3s, I will still win. I fight out here to represent my people. We are here doing a very good job to represent my people. I don't know what Emerson Burke, that crazy man is taking about."
Reporter
"But sir, that is like saying I was wrong but I shouldn't be criticised for it, it was in the past."
Hon. Edmund Castro
"So you were wrong to buy vegetables."
Reporter / Daniel Ortiz simultaneously
"We're talking about the court case sir."
Hon. Edmund Castro
"Man, I no done answer you and say that thats in front of the court? Why are you asking about court case. I am not talking about no court case."
Reporter
"But does it have political consequences?"
Hon. Edmund Castro
"My friend, you the talk about court case, then you go to the judge and find out. I no the talk about now court case."
We understand from his attorney that he felt that he had done enough in the case to discredit Burgess to ensure that nobody believed her claims. Having sat in court ourselves, we've since heard Burgess' account first hand, and so that's a tough position to take. His attorney didn't believe so, however. He explained weeks ago that he had done enough to show that when intensely questioned on her stories, there was an accumulation of small inconsistences which add up to call her integrity into question:
Daniel Ortiz
"Would you reject the suggestion that no matter how hard you tried to pose Miss Burgess' story, you failed?"
Rodwell Williams, SC - Attorney for Edmond Castro
"Not really. I think were you to seek to count the inconsistences they do add up. They may appear to be little inconsistences. She sat on the defence. She doesn't want to jump over that side or this side of the fence. 'Fencing' as Mister Smith referred to. That's all she did, fenced and when the questions were too probing she simply didn't respond to them "I don't remember," "I don't remember," "I don't remember." "
Channel 5 issued a statement today saying quote, "it has been vindicated...because while public figures have a right to safeguard their reputations, they should expect to be subject to a greater degree of public scrutiny and criticism." The statement continues, "It is also a huge victory for whistleblowers who bravely expose wrongdoings by public officials.
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