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Moreno Says It's Mischief Making
posted (February 11, 2013)
For the other side of the story, today we caught up with Moreno in Cayo. We asked him about the catalogue of complaints against him. He responded today calling it mischief-making and rumors being spread around:

Daniel Ortiz
"You were aware that there was a rally that is basically a campaign against having you being re-elected as president of the Cycling Association. The members of the cycling team we spoke to on Saturday are saying that they would rather you step aside and have a new president to run the organization. They are saying that you haven't done a good job for the 4 years that were elected. How do you respond to that?"

Emil Moreno
"That's their own opinion. Of course the last time we intended to have the election in Cayo riders came out here and the rumors were out that those riders were paid $50 to come out and protest the affair here. I don't know what the rally was all about in Belize City. I do know that I did get an email that Ms. Leticia Westby sent out with a notice that there will be a rally and what was the rally all about but over the social media you read a lot of stuff as well. In one of the letters sent to Mr. Pat Henry they want to re-elect the incumbent president, so I don't know what or who is behind all this mischief. Everybody knows what the financial position is. A main sponsor like Santino's used to sponsor events with the Belize Cycling Association but he has moved over to another league - the Weekend Warrior league. I have tried to have the Weekend Warrior come under the Belize Cycling Association's umbrella but they don't want."

Daniel Ortiz
"Let's be frank Mr. Moreno, they want you out. They would rather see someone else lead the Cycling Association for the next 4 years. They are basically treating you like another Bertie Chimillio, in which that you have no confidence of certain members of the riders. How do you respond to those people?"

Emil Moreno
"It has been a total confusion. The National Sports Council recognizes one constitution that was registered by the treasurer. Legally, if you want to look at the legal aspect of it only the President and the Secretary could have lodge the constitution with the National Sports Council, but never mind that, it has been lodge. The issue is there, you want to deal with the issue now and go to election and we are elected back again by the different associations that were formed."

And what about that stand-still at executive level of the BCA? Viewers will recall that the National Sports Council and the Ministry of Sports don't recognize Moreno or his executive because they were supposed to have elections last year.

However, the Minister of State with responsibility for Sports, Herman Longsworth, appointed an interim committee to govern the association until new elections are called.

These elections are pending, and today Moreno told us that the president of the Pan-American Cycling Federation, is here in Belize. This international cycling body will oversee elections scheduled in the next few days, and Moreno told us that the president will meet with Minister of Sports to finalize the arrangements:

Emil Moreno
"The President of COPASI just came into the country yesterday; he is in Belize City at the moment. We were schedule to meet with the Minister of Sports Mr. Longsworth. I've tried to reach him but it has been unsuccessful since the President is here. I do know that some of the people from the other party had contacted me asking if the President was here. I have mentioned to them that yes he is here, he is in Belize City at the moment. We should be catching up with him sometime this afternoon and go from there. In his stay basically he will first wanted to meet with the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Council to discuss what his objective is in the upcoming elections."

Those elections are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, which will be determined by the meetings between the president and each party.

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