Was Belize duped by a South Florida scammer? That is the question on everyone's mind after developer Jorge Jaen's credibility has come into question. Jaen appeared last week as the point-man for the hundred million US dollar airport project at Basil Jones on northern Ambergris Caye.
But he has no track record in airport development - and neither does his company, International Airport Alliance. Jaen has also been accused of fraud in 2006 - including allegations of Conspiracy to Commit Extortion and voter fraud.
While a statement from International Airport Alliance says that Jaen has never been prosecuted, it still raises major concerns about the legitimacy of his partnership with Belize and the future of the Airport. Today we asked Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber about it and he says all this might just be mischief making - people trying to jeopardize the project. Here is how he put it.
Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"Regarding the new airport on San Pedro, there is some questionable information or documents that have surfaced regarding the South Florida investor Jorge Jaen. They are questioning in terms of his past there are several allegations that he is a con man. How are you guys dealing with this? Have you all done your own investigation and if so how will you more forward with this? Is the information actually true?"
Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister
"I am not able to say. Actually the last meeting if the cabinet sub-committee on investment I was out of the country. I think it was around the time I was in Antigua for Cuba CARICOM and so I really did not have a chance to see, but what I can tell you is that the cabinet sub-committee on investment aided by Beltraide and headed by Minister Tracey Panton - we do our due diligence. So there are thorough checks. Things are in such a way that things happen way back in the past, but because of course of those who are trying to make mischief they go and dig up things from way back in the past."
Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"Apart from as you said mischief, you said that the committee did do their background. They did the due diligence and all of that. Did the information first of all did they stumble upon this information in his past and then also didn't that raise any red flags?"
Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister
"This is why I am telling you I may not be the best person to ask, as I was not at that last meeting. What is for certain is that we have no negative intention. We want to build the best possible airport in the northern Ambergris to serve not only Ambergris Caye but the wider Belizean population and we will continue to look for information to make sure that we have the right people and if for some reason there is a misstep in that direction, then we will correct that."
As you heard, Faber directed us to Minister Tracey Panton and her committee to get the full scope of the background check that was done on Jaen. We will keep following this story.
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