7 News Belize

Mayor Swazo Blazes SIF At Griga Market's Ceremonial Opening
posted (October 23, 2014)
Our next story shouldn't be about politics, but, it kinda is. The story should be about how Dangriga Town finally got its market back - completely refurbished with 44 new stalls, and all the bells and whistles. But, as it turns out, the story is about how the Dangriga Mayor just dropped bombs on the Social Investment Fund and its minister at the handing over today. 7News was at the ceremony, and here's how it went..

William Lamb, Executive Director - SIF
"So with pride and thanks to God I can say to the Dangriga residents; enjoy the new market."

Jules Vasquez reporting
But there wasn't much for SIF or their minister to enjoy today when the Dangriga Mayor - backed up by the PUP political bosses of the south - blazed them:

Gilbert Swazo, Mayor - Dangriga
"Today is a special, a momentous, but a bitter sweet day."

Bitterness because SIF delivered a market 400 thousand dollars over budget and 15 months late:

Gilbert Swazo, Mayor - Dangriga
"We handed over our market to SIF and the government of Belize in May of 2012 and we were expecting that it be handed over back to us in July of 2013. Nearing the expected end of July 2013, we notice that the market was less than about 30% completed and we said SIF had failed us. Ladies and gentlemen, July 2013 came and past. We all the troubles no apology. Our council like the rest of the world learned that the contract for the then contractor Mr. Kennard Smart was terminated. We now know the story very well, don't we? - Corruption. Corruption caused the contract to be terminated. SIF whose mission is well articulated had failed in Dangriga. In April, the people of Dangriga was deal another serious and devastating blow. This overt frontal assault, took the form of a reallocation of funds. The funds of a minimum of about $400,000 was reallocated. $400,000 was taken from our phase two project to rehabilitate our street. We have been made poorer as a result of 30 months of waiting. Mr. Government of Belize, you may expect forgiveness, however your actions towards the people of Dangriga speaks volumes. You have not uttered a word of apology, so your silence us also communicating a message."

Hon. Santiago Castillo Jr., Minister Of State
"So let me take this opportunity to offer my profound apology to the people of Dangriga for the inconvenience caused by the unfortunate delay in the completion of the market due to problems with the original contractor. I respectfully thank you for your patience."

And after a touch of grace, Castillo threw in a political jab - one someone else's turf!

Hon. Santiago Castillo Jr., Minister Of State
"I am always amazed by people that cry wolf and I'll give you an example of what I mean; in the house of representatives at our last sitting, there was a lot of outcry and the members on that side were jumping up and down about the Guatemalan company BINARQ which was hired by the US Corps of Engineers for the Coast Guard base at Hunting Caye. Low and behold we have now found out that this was a contract signed by their then Prime Minister Said Musa in 2007, so the same people crying wolf were the actual wolves in this case. So when the mayor cry wolf - I don't panic at all."

Crowd shouting
"Don't come back here...move on."

Hon. Santiago Castillo Jr., Minister Of State
"Dangrigana, moving on positively, what I will tell you..."

And after that what he had to tell the mostly PUP crowd didn't matter much. SIF signed over the market to the care and management of the town council and with a surprisingly amicable handshake handed over the key - accepted with grave reservations:

Gilbert Swazo, Mayor - Dangriga
"There is nothing state of the art; no air conditioning; no refrigeration unit; no tiled floor; no rack for the vendors to weigh their product. SIF said that it is what it is. Mr. SIF, since you are so confident and considering the principles of transparency, accountability then come clean, show us everything. Show us what you spend our pennies - please show us."

After that it was unto the ribbon. And while Castillo tried to put a good face on it - the mayor portends that the cuts run deep:

Gilbert Swazo, Mayor - Dangriga
"We are grateful for all the pain. We are grateful for the improved market that we are seeing. Our people deserves just that and more."

And so what does the social Investment Fund have to say about all the allegations by the Dangriga Mayor? Later on - we'll have the reaction to that form project manager Ernest Raymond.

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