Today the fallout from that clandestine union recording continued. As we showed you last night, the recording is of a conversation between three union members about Garifuna members of the PSU and the public service in general. Claims are made by male persons speaking that Garifunas seek to control the PSU and the senior posts in the public service generally. We received 20 minutes of a conversation which we are told was about 90 minutes long.
The National Garifuna Council put out a statement two hours ago saying, quote, "(The NGC) condemns and is disheartened to listen to the derogatory comments against Garinagu made by the President of the Public Service Union (PSU)." It continues, quote, "This is unacceptable, NGC supports the letter from the Concerned Members of Council of Management. Mr. Eldred Neal's remarks compromise his position and effectiveness as president in serving a multicultural organization as the PSU."
So, tonight you'll hear all sides of this story. First off, there are apologies and denials from both PSU President Eldred Neal and Belize Energy Workers General Secretary Marvin Mora. We start with Mora who spoke with the media outside of his workplace this afternoon. He apologized for offending anyone.
Marvin Mora - BEWU, General Secretary
"The first thing I want to say: I want to openly and sincerely apologize to the Garinagu people, if it is that there is anything in there that they believe that I said that they believe is also insulting or demeaning to their culture, to their people. I have absolutely nothing else but admiration for the Garinagu people. I've been working, as you know, in the reparations committee for years and in there we've also championed the cause of the Garinagu people. So I have absolutely nothing against the Garinagu people. I do not believe in racism, if that's what you want to hear. And if some of the things that are attributed to me in there sound demeaning, I give you my 100% assurance that I said nothing in that conversation that was in fact demeaning or insulting to the Garinagu culture. There is nothing that I would do or say, and even if it sounds exact what is on that record, I am confident of myself and I know who I am and I know what I've been standing for all my years and all my life actually, that there is nothing that I will say against the Garinagu people; no way no how. My best friends are Garinagus. The whole thing again Jules is taken out of context. I was approaching the whole thing from the beginning so that I could draw a circle and explain to them why is it that where we are and how we can start to bridge the gaps."
Marisol Amaya - reporter
"At the end of the day it does look bad."
Marvin Mora - BEWU, General Secretary
"Even if you are to believe that I said those things, it's never in my heart to say anything against the Garinfuna people. There is nothing in me that would ever do that."
Jules Vasquez - reporter
"May 31st you have an election. Are you concerned that this may affect your chances of being elected?"
Marvin Mora - BEWU, General Secretary
"I am concerned that because of this ill perceived situations that yes definitely that might have an impact on my candidacy. But at the end of the day Jules, I am being honest with you and I guess that my people know that."
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