The Belize Tourism Board sent out a sheepish release this afternoon confirming what everyone knew yesterday: Director of Tourism Laura Esquivel-Frampton has resigned. The release tries to gloss over her tumultuous departure, saying that was resigning the position for personal reasons. It adds quote, "During her tenure, she conducted herself with integrity, genuine concern for the industry and fiscal accountability." That last part, about "fiscal accountability" alludes to the concerns raised about the multi million dollar deficit the BTB finds itself it. The consequent across the board budget cuts for the coming fiscal year is what seems to have tipped the entire situation and led to the unprecedented mutiny by the BTB senior managers. Seven of them signed a letter of no confidence and sent it to the minister one week ago. After that, Esquivel Frampton's fate was all but sealed, and the fact of the deficit left Cabinet with its hands tied.
And so, the daughter of the UDP's two time Prime Minister was pushed out of the job after two years, serving only a few months longer than her predecessor Seleni Matus who was also pushed out. Overall, it does not create a favourable impression of the BTB as a well-governed or stable organization. And so, the Director of Revenue Collection Javier Paredez, now takes the helm as Interim Director – his second stint in the job – that he last took up when the previous Director was pushed out.
In that case, it wasn't as messy because there wasn't an ugly no confidence letter. And that letter would make anyone wonder how do 7 managers in a quasi government body become so bold as to take on, and take out their Director – and one with a high level of political protection. Well, best guesses are that they had to have been provided with some assurance from someone high up that their grievance would not fall on deaf ears, and that they wouldn't be endangering their own jobs. The managers even promised their bigger boss, the Minister, political protection, saying, quote, "we are fully conscious of the political ramifications…and we are fully prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder to ensure a process that will have the least impact on your position as Minister of Tourism."
And while Heredia at least had that offer of political protection, there was very little for Laura Esquivel Frampton, the eldest daughter of the former UDP Leader Manuel Esquivel. In this regard, it is of note that Sir Manuel Esquivel was recently bounced as Chairman of the Central Bank of Belize. That appointment is year to year, and after one year, Esquivel's appointment was not renewed by the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dean Barrow. Sir Manuel remains on contract as Advisor to the Prime Minister, and an appointee to the Boards of BTL and BSI.
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