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Yolanda Schakron Fires Back At Rosado: “Oscar Needs Help”
posted (February 22, 2011)
But after he hears what his former president Yolanda Schackron has to say about him, he might want to reconsider that position.

We caught up with the President today to put to her the allegations that Rosado made, and she took it none too lightly. Here are her fiery remarks:

Yolanda Schakron, Belizeans for Justice
"Mrs. Joan was here and then he said that he believed that we have lost our focus because we dealing with the 13th Senator and that I was the only one who knew about it. I recall that when we spoke about this 13th Senator. I called all of them and he spoke with the attorney about it and they all agreed that it was a very good idea because it's good for the NGO to have representation in the senate so we can have checks and balances in the system. Oscar was very much involved, he was very much for it but it amazes me that as soon as he switches parties, suddenly he found a problem with Belizeans for Justice. He found a problem with the 13th Senator. Doesn't he see the importance of a 13th Senator? Not only for this government. Even if this government changes and we have another government, it's important for the Belizean people. It's important for a government to be accountable, to have transparency."

"I still am Oscar's friend and I am asking Oscar 'turn to God Oscar, pray, don't go around accusing people of things Oscar. Don't do it, it's not right.'"

Jules Vasquez
"So then how would you respond to the very specific criticism he made that in fact your attorneys presumably Anthony Sylvestre and Said Musa have hijacked the Belizeans for Justice and are using it as political pawn?"

Yolanda Schakron, Belizeans for Justice
"That is a blatant lie. I have never seen Mr. Musa in one of our meetings. I have never actually sat down and spoken to Mr. Musa and it's not right for him to be accusing Anthony Sylvestre of that. Anthony Sylvestre is a lawyer. He is a member of the People's United Party I agree but he is somebody who is there for the people. So I tell Oscar to think about what you are accusing people of Oscar."

Jules Vasquez "But at the same time you will agree that Mr. Musa is one of the attorneys on the matter. I saw him walking out of court. I know he has contacted me reference an affidavit regarding the Dean Barrow interviews. He is an attorney on the case?"

Yolanda Schakron, Belizeans for Justice
"He is, but the leading attorney is Mr. Sylvestre. But usually they always have a senior attorney to help a junior attorney. I don't see that as political thing. Mr. Barrow promised us the 13th Senator. I voted for him, we already have the 13th Senator in place; it's just to sign the thing and put him there. Why are you afraid? Why is Oscar taking such an issue with the 13th Senator? That's what i am asking? Why? He has to be because his party who is not.....I am not liked by the United Democratic Party, I am not liked by the government but I really don't care and I have no political aspirations. I do not want to get into politics Jules."

Jules Vasquez
"Now he also said as treasurer - a post from which he resigned - he never handled any of the money from the fundraisers which Belizeans for Justice had. He did not accuse you of impropriety, but he said all the money went to you. He did further state that he expects that many times you went into you own pocket to support the Belizeans for Justice but he said there is no accounting and there is at the end of the year when papers have to be filed, he certainly left no records as the treasurer so there are no financial records. How do you respond to that?"

Yolanda Schakron, Belizeans for Justice
"Well Jules we don't have much money. We did use to do fundraisers, we did two fundraisers. Jules I "don't have why" to thief $50 or $100 you know that, right? Jules I used to go out of my pocket, yes, I agree, to help people many times and I still do and yes the money we used to fundraise, we used to go and give it to hurricane victims we did one time, we help other victims - people to bury their love ones and people can tell you that. I don't know why is Oscar sinking so low?"

Jules Vasquez
"But he did not lie."

Yolanda Schakron, Belizeans for Justice
"He is not lying; I am not saying he is lying. I agree he is not lying but I am not going to steal Jules and i am shocked that Oscar would be - he never did tell you directly - but that he is accusing me of stealing and I really don't appreciate that because Oscar knows I don't need to steal money."

Jules Vasquez
"He says that the organization has betrayed its core values or is not living up to the promise of its core values - is not making the interventions that it should on behalf of the mothers who cases have gone dead, that you all are no longer visiting the families of those who have lost a loved one."

Yolanda Schakron, Belizeans for Justice
"That's such a lie. I don't know what Oscar wants to do. We have visited....actually when the young boy - the twin that was shot, we visited the mother and we went to the funeral, we helped them with a little money. We didn't help with a lot because we don't have a lot of money. We have been there. Oscar probably doesn't recall but he was there when we went to visit the mother. I don't know what happen, is he suffering from amnesia or something. I don't know what's happening to him."

"Now I wonder Jules, he is my friend and now I think and I wonder and I am saddened by the fact that I believe that Oscar was using this organization and the mothers for his political gain and I will not allow that because we are mothers who have lost our children and we will not be brought down, we not be used and we will not be accused. He can come and check my records anytime he wants if that's what he wants to do because he is now a member of the government. Is he being used to bring down my organization? Not my organization but the organization of all the mothers who are suffering and who nobody cares and who people seem to have forgotten and I tell Oscar I am really amazed at how low he has stooped. What he has become since he joins a party, since he joins the government, since he joined the United Democratic Party. I am amazed and I would advise Mr. Barrow - that's my leader too you know and I respect him because I am a Christian - and I would advise Mr. Barrow - you need to speak to Oscar, maybe Oscar needs some medical help. Don't you guys be using him like this!"

Schakron says the group will have its next general membership meeting in March….

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