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Finnegan Says He Never Paid Gangs
posted (January 23, 2013)
Two weeks ago, in the aftermath of the Dean Street Massacre, the area representative for Mesopotamia Michael Finnegan interceded quickly to get leader of the George Street gang into an emergency meeting with the Prime Minister in Belmopan.

This was widely and roundly criticized - and then it was followed by a rumor that Finnegan had sponsored an all-expense paid retreat for the gang leaders in their Gales Point Manatee hide-away.

That was never more than a rumor but it gained traction - and even the Chamber of Commerce bit on it. So today, since we had him in a game mood, we asked Finnegan, did he pay the GSG to take a vacation?

Hon. Michael Finnegan
"Of course, I got involved because I was afraid of the repercussions, so I got involved, and I heard the Chamber of Commerce sent out a release saying that we were in negotiations these gang members. That is not true. We were no negotiation with the gang members in that meeting with the Minister of National Security, the Prime Minister, and myself. That is not true, but let me go one step further. There are things in these republics around us, and in Africa, groups that you call rebel groups. Right now in Colombia, these rebel groups are opposed their governments, their philosophies, and their ways of doing things. These governments bomb these countries infrastructures, knock down their water, their bridges, and so forth. And these governments turn right around, and end up in negotiation with the leaders of those countries. So, even if I talk to gang members I have a right as politician, as an Area Representative, and as a Minister of Government to talk to these people because I want to bring them into the mainstream of things. I want to rehabilitate them. So, why should I not talk to them? Should I just leave them out there so that they continue to be antagonistic toward the people of this country, and toward the status quo? The initiative of this government is to try to bring those people into the mainstream of things. What is wrong with that? And after a period, if our attempt is abortive, then I believe that we must still try. Look at me, Jules. I am a striking example. You don't know me, Isani. I was a young uneducated man who used to hang out at Yabra, who used to do everything that was terrible in this world. I hung out with John Scorn, John King, Johnny Mass, and Dean Lindo, BQ Pitts and those who knew me never closed the door on me. They brought me in to the mainstream of things. Striking example, here I am, and that is what I am trying to do for these people. Here I am. I am one of the 18 people who make decisions for this country. Here I am, amazing story."

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