And right now, moving along for the mayor means having weekly clinic meetings with city residents who are asking for social assistance. The last mayor never did that but Wagner prides himself on having a common, compassionate touch. But, as we found out, this puts him in what could be called a prickly situation in terms of accountability. Here's how he explained it:..
Bernard Wagner - Belize City Mayor
"I have Wednesdays when I meet my people and the past mayor from what I understand here did not encourage that, but I feel that as a mayor of fledgling city, you want to be able to connect with your people, you want to hear their concerns. Most of the people, a lot of them just want to enter the office and sit and talk with the mayor for a 5 minutes - tell them about their dreams and their goals, their personal goals. You will have the occasional individuals who wants a little assistance. That is what a council is for."
Jules Vasquez
"On those Wednesdays I have received reports that you have to make out a cheque to yourself to give people assistance. It's irregular."
Bernard Wagner
"It's irregular, but it's for the people and we are all about the people. It's a situation where sometimes I take out of my own pocket, but if a person comes to me, a single parent, an elderly - these people aren't asking for much. I had this lady in here this week who essentially wanted $10-$15 to meet lunch. How can I say no to that? How can I be a cold mayor and say I can't help you? No, it's more than that. It's being there for your people."
Jules Vasquez
"But at the same time you will recall that a previous mayor, mayor Fonseca had been in trouble with social assistance. It is an irregular transaction especially now because you are acting as the accounting officer or I don't know there is no accounting officer and you are signing the cheques and making it out to yourself, so that you can distribute a social assistance."
Bernard Wagner
"Yes, but I have all accounting for that. Right on my computer, get the names, phone numbers, what is their request and if I assist with X amount, it's there in the computer. When I finish at the end of the day, print out the report, sign it off - this is the funds that I gave."
Jules Vasquez
"But you are accounting to yourself."
Bernard Wagner
"No, I'm not the accountant."
Jules Vasquez
"You are saying I have Jules Vasquez $50, maybe I get $25 and you get $25. I'm not saying that you would do such a thing mayor, but these things happen."
Bernard Wagner
"Yes, of course, but one thing I have Jules is my own conscience and if you see right here on my desk [Holy Bible], this is what guide me every day and this is what I will lead my city with - always with this."
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