7 News Belize

PUP’s Imer Inquiry
posted (October 20, 2017)
Going back now to today's house meeting, the issue of the Faber's Road contract continued to dominate the debate. Speaking on the adjournment, Leader of the opposition didn't directly attack the Faber's Road project - he attacked the contractor Imer Hernandez - who is Gaspar Vegas nephew and a favorite of the UDP. Briceno outlined what he says are Hernandez's failures - and then drew the framework of an insider trading deal - which the PM shot down - here's the exchange:...

Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"How can anyone say that Imer Hernandez, as the Prime Minister said, as far we are concern "a good contractor." Madam Speaker, look at some of the picture of the work that Imer Hernandez has done at the Santa Elena Border. Look how it's breaking up. This is the work of Imer Hernandez's Development Company. Millions of dollars. Look at the roundabout that was constructed in Santa Elena Border, the cement is already breaking up. I am not making this up. Here is the picture. Yet Imer Hernandez is a good contractor."

"What he was not telling Belizeans that Imer Hernandez has recently gotten another 7 million dollar contract from the Belize Airports Authority to upgrade the Caye Caulker airstrip. Check this out, who gave Imer Hernandez this 7 million dollar contract, the Belize Airport Authority. From where did the Belize Airport Authority get the 7 million dollars loan? It was a loan from Belize Social Security. Our workers money they borrowed. Who sits on the board of Belize Airport Authority?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Madam Speaker, as a point of order. That's not true. You are talking about the Caye Caulker airstrip. Imer Hernandez built the Barry Bowen Airstrip and in deed that was done by way of an SSB loan. I do understand that there is an application on the part of the Belize Airport Authority in front of the Social Security Board. It's not for 7 million dollars. It's for 4 million dollars and that has not yet been decided on."

Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"The point is that if it is 1 million or 2 million or 5 million or 7 million. This man through this contract, since you say it's not been approved, they are getting monies from social security. Who sits in the Belize Airport Authority? Leticia Vega. Who is Leticia Vega? She is a general manager for services management at the Belize Social Security."

"Now interestingly who is Leticia Vega married to? She is married to Omir Vega who is the engineer and I am told a shareholder in Imer Hernandez's Development Limited. The same Imer Hernandez Development Company who got the contract to upgrade the Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airstrip. Did Leticia Vega recused herself when that decision was being made? We don't know. I am asking the question."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Madam Speaker, as a point of order. You are wrong and I believe dishonest to suggest that Leticia Vega has anything to do with social security board decisions on loan applications. She is the secretary to the board. She is not a voting member of the board, so she plays no role in any decision. Why are you maligning the lady?"

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