Yesterday, Mayor Zenaida Moya gave one of the most remarkable political performances
in recent recall when she emerged from the courtroom where she had been assessed
with 24 charges letting off with a snarling, fiery political invective. She
accused the party leader and Prime Minister of carrying out a personal agenda
against her and of victimizing her when she was nursing her newborn child.
Well, moya isn’t the only one that’s angry; she ticked off a lot
of party higher up’s with that bravura performance – and tomorrow
the entire situation will be reviewed by the party’s top brass at a national
party council meeting. 7News is informed that Moya will be asked to appear to
defend herself before the party executive. While no formal proposal has been
tabled to propose her expulsion – we can confirm that the idea is very
live in the UDP and that matter will likely be put on the table at the Saturday
morning meeting.
And while that matter is pending, so is Mayor Moya’s status at City Hall.
As she said she would, she’s gone back to her office at City Hall but
now the Ministry of Labour and Local Government is telling her that she cannot
stay there. And it’s not because she’s being suspended or anything
like that; it’s because according to Belize’s labour laws, new mothers
must take maternity leave of at least 7 weeks after a child is born. It’s
the law which says that that leave is mandatory, not optional for all new mothers.
The sitting council – which comprises the ten councillors including the
Deputy Mayor has been apprised of this. But it appears Mayor Moya has not gotten
the memo as she called for a meeting of the council this morning, but according
to our sources – it could not be held – because a sufficient majority
of the councillors have taken the position of the Ministry of Labor which is
that she is not validly holding the mayor’s chair at this time.
Even more complications, but one man who isn’t in on this one is Phillip
Willoughby; the councillor with responsibility for sanitation today confirmed
that he has dengue.
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