The appointment of a new ombudsman also stirred debate. As we told you two weeks ago, he is 45 year old Toledo resident Lionel Arzu. He takes up the post in January after it has been vacant for a year.
And while Arzu is a teacher and an academic, the Leader of the Opposition says he fears that Cabinet gave him the job because he is a UDP supporter.
Hon. Francis Fonseca
"I certainly hope that this is just not just another case of the UDP government finding a job for a good UDP. It certainly does not instill any confidence in us on this side Mr. Speaker when we see that Mr. Arzu's two primary references; the two persons offering strong references for him for this job and these references are attached to this application or the former UDP representative for the Toledo East Mr. Peter Eden Martinez."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"For them now to taint old Mr. Arzu as a UDP - I don't know Mr. Arzu and in fact several others of the Cabinet members don't know Mr. Arzu and that was why we had to ask who is this man and in fact the former mayor and the former representative did give their nod to say that they know Mr. Arzu to be a man of good character - that don't means to say that the man is a UDP flunky - he did not put
Peter Eden Martinez as his recommender. He did not put Floyd Lino as his recommender. Who he has Mr. Speaker and in fact my friend from Toledo West can certainly bear me out as well as my friend from Toledo East that these persons who he has as his reference on his resume; Mr. John Nunez, who is now Dr. John Nunez from the University of Belize, Toledo Campus; Dr. Simeon Coc, who is the principal of Julian Cho Technical High School and Dr. Kent Arzu, all highly qualified educated in fact my friends from Toledo might even tell you out of these names you might have a PUP in them - I don't want to specify which one, I don't want to get anybody into trouble."
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"This man has a Master of Science Degree in International Commerce and Policy from Valparaiso University in Indiana. He got his Bachelor of Science of Liberal Studies from Knoxville Tennessee and he graduated summa cum laude. I wouldn't go into the rest of the CV but please I invite the members on the other side to with a fine tooth comb look at the CV, examine it in order to come to the conclusion that we on this side have certainly come to that Lionel Arzu is a fit and proper person."
Faber says that two other applicants for the post were known UDP Activists and were not considered.
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