The issue of the Carmelita land scandal just won't go away. Today, PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay brought it up in the Senate as something the government has to act upon with deliberate haste because the society demands action:...
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, PUP Senator
"It begs the question Mr. President and members what if anything we as a country we are going to do about this. What if anything we sign a convention that commits us fighting corruption. We have institutions that are available to fight corruption and here is something that requires attention. It is interesting Mr. President, members of the senate that 2 days ago I believe it was or a day ago, the Prime Minister was asked about this and he was very clear and I want to quote him, he said "there is no need for an investigation if the facts are as you say. We are prepared to accept what is wrong and we are prepared to ensure that consequences attached to the wrong doer." There is an obligation on the government to do something about it. I have done a little bit of consultation and I am told that the estimate of land title acres of land in Carmelita Village is roughly, someone says $800 an acre, someone says $1,000 an acrea. Suffice it o say Mr. President and members of the senate, there is a question here. These 1,600 acres were sold at a pittance and flipped to members of the minister's family at a loss to the government and people of Belize and the question I posed this afternoon in light of what the prime minister has said, that they are prepare to ensure that consequences attached to the wrong doer, what is going to be done? Something needs to be done, something needs to be done now and madam attorney general, the two weeks left on your term is sufficient time for you to do right by the Belizean people."
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