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PUP Calls For Saldivar’s Removal, Independent Investigator
posted (July 20, 2016)

And the PUP says that both Saldivar and Blackett’s police department have to go. The party held a press conference today to say that Saldivar is compromised by his past connection to Mason, and that also comprises the police department.  PUP Leader John Briceno explained why the cops cannot investigate their own boss:…

Hon. John Briceno - Leader of Opposition
"Minister Saldivar confessed that Mr. Mason had helped to sponsor his very expensive Belmopan Bandits semi-pro football team but insisted quote "He has never contributed to my political campaign." End of quote. We won't argue with national security Minister Saldivar with financing his semi-pro team isn't part and parcel of financing his political campaign but in September of last year both the police and Minister Saldivar had an opportunity to bring in Mr. Mason for questioning and possible arrest and expulsion from Belize and they didn't. If they had we submit Pastor Lucas would probably be alive today."

"It would seem that Mr. Mason, Ouellet, Rajeh, Ferguson whatever his name is provided unlimited financing to well-connected people and no doubt expected in return unlimited protection and financial gains. Everything we know this surd affair between William Mason and members of Mr. Barrow's Cabinet and by extension several police officers lead us to believe that the police cannot be expected to properly and exhaustively investigate this case. We therefore demand that an international impartial investigator be immediately commissioned. We also demand that a fully qualified forensic expert be brought in to gather and analyse the forensic evidence. All we have seen in the Penner passport scandal and the Edmond Castro visa scandal has convinced us that an impartial investigation is impossible under the circumstances."

"In light of this I call on the prime minister to urgently remove the minister of police from his post. We believe he can no longer be expected to preside impartially and without fear or favour over the ministry of national security and now how can we expect the police to investigate their own boss? The head of the GSU should be made to stand down. His character in now questionable and also minister of education and youth by his imprudent association to an international con-artist should at the very least be publicly reprimanded."

But – judging by the Prime Minister’s comments today – he isn’t even considering removing or re-assigning Saldivar.  So what will the PUP do if government ignores their demands – as the Barrow administration always seems to do?  That’s what we asked the party leader and his deputy:….

Hon. John Briceno - Leader of Opposition
"So what we are going to do is that we want to meet also with the social partners and for them and us to jointly do something. This is not an issue that only affects the PUP; it affects every single one of us and we need to get everybody involved; our social partners, the churches, the unions, the teachers, the private sector. We have to be united and speak with one voice so that the prime minster can understand that the people are fed up and that he must and needs to make changes in his cabinet."

Hon. Cordel Hype - PUP Deputy Leader
"I think this is an issue that goes beyond party politics. This is an issue that has hit very hard across borders, across party lines and I think that every live Belizean feels passionately about what’s happened and we have a responsibility to do something. We have a responsibility to engage the partners and if they don't come around then we have a responsibility to stand up and do something on our own. So we are going to make every effort to get them on board but if for any reason they are unwilling to so do then we as the responsible opposition has to take the lead and do what we have to do."

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