7 News Belize

The Integrity Issue
posted (October 11, 2016)

On September 19, National Service Day, the PUP parliamentarians went to the National Assembly in Belmopan to declare their assets to the non-functioning integrity commission. That’s the body where all elected officials from parliament, and all the city and town councils, are required to make such filings – just that no one does, because it is non functus. The law was designed on the principle of transparency to ensure that these elected politicians aren’t unfairly enriching themselves.

We have since learnt that PUP Senators Eamon Courtenay and Valerie Woods did not join their Opposition colleagues on that date of filing. So, while we had the opportunity today, we asked Woods, why she didn’t do so. Here’s how that conversation went:

Hon. Valerie Woods - PUP Senator
"But for myself there's no mal-intent, I have every intention of putting up my report for the integrity commission whether there's one that exists or not I have absolutely nothing to hide. I'm a new comer to this thing it's just a matter of timing for me when that happen but I've assured the party leader that I'll get mines in, that's no big deal for me."

Aaron Humes
"On that I know other parties and persons have added that in terms of the deadline there is some sort of late fee, late payment that those who miss the deadline are supposed to pay. That would not be limited to yourself it would be the other parliamentarian and so on, are you prepared to pay that as well?"

Hon. Valerie Woods - PUP Senator
"Whatever the case is Aaron, I'm not so sure quite frankly with government what the status of integrity commission is. So it's a matter for us to understand that but there's no issue there. If there is a penalty to be paid and it's all legitimate then yes penalties will be paid so too should the government ones as well. So this is not an issue, those who may try to make it is just trying another distraction."

Briceno told us that all PUP Parliamentarians would make filings.

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