From the Belize Culture Listserve debates on how to make a better country.
For the gang leader Dean Barrow to give tax money ( as Finance Minister ) to elected representatives of his party, disbursed for an unknown purpose, with no receipts, or book keeping required, to my mind is criminal theft, embezzlement. Listening to Finnigan, this is the practice the major one, that lost the PUP the election when they were in. I would like to see the NGO´s and lawyers get together and take Dean Barrow to court for theft. Finnigen also, as a receiver of stolen goods. Lets see what the courts system says about this corrupt criminal practice. Undoubtedly they have it covered somehow in law, but I would like to know the process exactly used, to cover stealing, for just some people, from the tax revenues of the treasury. A welfare situation could be justified if there was a government entity involved and monies were accounted for, ( with receipts and rules of disbursement ) distributed to ALL TAX PAYERS equally and not by political persuasion, by amount, and the government auditors could check their books. Or for instance a GRANT to the SALVATION ARMY to distribute Christmas meals for the government. This way is morally and ethically wrong, and a criminal act of THEFT. Dean Barrow needs to resign over this immediately. You would have to, and should have to, meet requirements for largesse from the government, as a welfare recipient.
If we had court cases on this, we could then define legally, the stealing system used by political parties and change the laws, or make new laws to correct this practice of criminal corruption.
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From: MEL
To: Alvaro Rosado
Cc: Belize Culture
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 3:14 AM
Subject: Re: Bz-Culture: Caribbean Shores UDP Convention
You've got to rotate the two corrupt Parties so they don't get too entrenched. If a third alternative becomes viable then include them in the rotation. So long as Belize sticks with the system of ministerial discretion. It's not a solution -- just a way to cope with Party politics and the spoils system in Belize. Even if the PUP don't say it -- they too enjoy the spoils system when they're in power.
MEL
From: Alvaro Rosado
To: MEL
Cc: Belize Culture
Sent: Friday, December 9, 2011 8:47 AM
Subject: Re: Bz-Culture: Caribbean Shores UDP Convention
If saying that with all their faults the PUP was a better government then I suppose I am a pom pom shaker. Barrow lied and continues to lie to the Belizean people - just before the last general elections he went on Public TV and promised that there would be no victimization - then he promised that under his watch he would not tolerate the "slightest whiff" of corruption. The ink had scarcely dried on the ballots when his government went on a political purge of the civil service and the statutory boards. Within 3 months he and his ministers started amassing personal and family wealth from the public trough. In all my memory I do not recall PUP campaigning on what they would NOT do - they campaigned on what they WOULD do. Barrow made promises on what he would NOT do and in the blink of an eye reneged on those promises. I will not condone corruption in any form and whereas I think a new government has the right and obligation to put their supporters in sensitive positions (e.g. Cabinet Secretary) I will not condone petty political victimization of crossing guards, clerks etc..
If you did not believe the UDP mantra of no corruption why did you advocate a change - UDP's platform was based on PUP alleged corruption - not on incompetence or mismanagement. Come on - at least try to be consistent in your position - if you did not believe UDP mantra of no corruption then there was no need for a change. Just calling a spade a spade - no offense meant and non taken.
Alvaro
On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 9:24 AM, MEL
Alvaro, I still believe the voters did the right thing last general elections. You've got to rotate these politicians. I never believed the UDP's mantra of no corruption. C'mon - not with the system of government we inherited from our colonial masters. They will eventually need to be rotated out as well.
I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong... I'm beginning to think I may be wrong in my perception of you. I took you at your word when you said you were someone who calls a spade a spade, but lately, you're sounding like a pom pom shaker too. That's just me calling a spade a spade - no offense meant.
MEL
From: Alvaro Rosado
To: MEL
Sent: Friday, December 9, 2011 7:12 AM
Subject: Re: Bz-Culture: Caribbean Shores UDP Convention
Mel,
I have never pulled punches and I certainly will not engage idle rhetoric. If I wanted to say that PUP does not buy votes I would have said that. Read my lips - UDP ran on a ticket of no corruption, no victimization. I am talking about UDP - if you want to talk about PUP you can do that. You are back on the "dem mi di do it" defense yet you preach "time for a change". Make up your mind - either its wrong or its justifiable because "dem mi di do it". Its no sin and its never too late to say "Mea culpa" I was wrong!
Alvaro
On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 8:57 AM, MEL
Are you saying the PUP don't buy votes and are as different as night and day in this regard as well?
I recall when the funds from Venezuela were being doled out just before elections. $20 million gawn. Both the UDP and PUP have done thier share to corrupt the democratic process in Belize and to create a society where everyone is looking for a handout from politicians and government. SAD!
MEL
From: Alvaro Rosado
To: Belize Culture
Sent: Friday, December 9, 2011 6:02 AM
Subject: Bz-Culture: Caribbean Shores UDP Convention
Plans to evacuate the farm are now are on fast forward since the Farm Manager informed me that he will be resigning as of the end of December. I hired a family friend to go to the farm yesterday to help in dismantling the solar systems and transporting the generator and other large pieces of equipment for storage in Belize City. During the day many things were discussed but the biggest eyeopener was the amount of money that was being given away at the UDP Caribbean Shores Convention last Sunday. The worker said that he had 78 cents in his pocket last Sunday and decided to see if he could hustle something at the convention. He said that he did not expect hustling to be so easy. He identified the paymaster for Santi who was sitting in a vehicle (with security guards) and asked for the going rate for a vote and was told $50. According to him he brought 12 family members to the paymaster who dished out $50 each and they in turn gave him $20 each. After running out of family members he decided to try to collect for his own vote ( he lives in Caribbean Shores but because of his family's loyalty to Castro the whole family transferred to Belize Rural North using a fictitious address). He described how he approached a voter coming out of the voting area and asked for the tissue that he was using to wipe the ink off his finger. He used this to color his own finger then went to the paymaster to collect. When he resented his red finger the paymaster gave him $100 as a bonus. His take for the day was a cool $340 plus free booze. Previews of coming attractions?
Alvaro
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