7 News Belize

A Halt On Hunting Caye Construction By Guatemalan Company
posted (October 9, 2014)
"Stop it!" That's the letter that the United States Army Corp of Engineers - sent to the Guatemalan Company that's building the Coast Guard Forward Operating Base on Hunting Caye.

A press release from the Ministry of National Security half an hour ago announced that all construction at the Base has ceased. The release says, quote, "This action came about after consultations between the Ministry of National Security, the Belize Coast Guard and the United States agencies in Belize."

It continues, "this remains in effect until a satisfactory policy decision can be arrived at among all parties…" The Ministry has committed to keep the public informed as soon as an agreement is reached with the United States Army Corp of Engineers.

And while that's sure to garner popular public sentiment, the release takes it one step further by seeking to exculpate National Security Minster John Saldivar in the quite embarrassing mess. It says, quote, "BINARQ, the Guatemalan company in question, was contracted to build the Hunting Caye Base in 2011, months before the current Minister of National Security, Hon. John Saldivar assumed the portfolio." And it goes further to say quote, "there was no obligation or requirement on the part of the new Minister to report the details of these contracts to Cabinet."

This seems to throw former minister Doug Singh rather squarely under the bus. And while Saldivar let his former cabinet colleague take the force of the blow, the fact it that as current minister didn't attempt to put a stop to the contract - as he could have, proven by the fact that he successfully did so in less than a week since it was exposed.

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