Corruption in Belize and a new political party the VIP complains.

BELIZE HAS CONSTITUTIONALIZED LEGAL CORRUPTION. THE MOST GLARING EXAMPLE IS " minister´s discretion clauses in the Constitution". There is also the constant use of PERMITS AND LICENSES by CABINET MINISTERS TO SOLICIT FUNDS, OR STEAL BUSINESSES, WHICH MAKES LOCAL INVESTORS STAY SMALL, RATHER THAN EXPAND.




Courtesy of Love FM TV

VIP CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO SIGN UN CONVENTION ON CORRUPTION
Thu, December 1, 2011

The Vision Inspired by the People is today calling on the government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow to show its commitment to oppose corruption. VIP issued a statement in which it calls on the Prime Minister to sign on to the United Nations Convention on Corruption. Paco Smith was designated to speak with Love News today about the issue.

Paco Smith � Vision Inspired by the People
�What we have found is that the United Nations in conjunction with Transparency International, they have designated December 9 as International Anti Corruption Day. In doing our research we came across several very, very perplexing things one of which is that Belize is not a signatory to this convention. It�s a very, very telling sign with regards to Belize not being a signatory. In relation to a map which depicts the world, the entire globe and those countries which are signatories and those which are not of course Belize stands out as being in the latter. It�s very unfortunate because with regards issues of corruption, as a Belizean I am quite certain that you know it unfortunately permeates virtually every aspect of our society and I think it is quite significant that neither of the two previous administrations, I am talking neither PUP nor UDP has chosen to sign onto this convention, it is quite telling.�

Patrick Jones - Reporter
Are you calling on the Government to sign onto this UN Convention against corruption?

Paco Smith � Vision Inspired by the People
"Absolutely, absolutely. If you look at the depiction on the map, it is an eyesore. The map itself depicts all the countries that have signed in blue and those that have not signed are distinctly identifiable in red. In regards to the Americas and you can check the map, only Belize and Surinam appears to have not signed this convention, it is really, really telling.�

In addition to calling on the government to sign the UN Convention on Corruption, VIP is calling on all Belizeans to join the International Community in the observance of International Anti-Corruption Day on December ninth with the theme: ACT - Against Corruption Today.