In our first segment we had the latest political news - and now we have news of politics in the Supreme Court. Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner spent four hours on the witness stand today in a grueling cross examination by Magali Perdomo. She's the attorney for former City Administrator Candice Miller, who the council terminated on the grounds of gross dereliction of duty. Now, she's suing them for wrongful termination, and claiming damages of almost half a million dollars.
Today, the mayor was first questioned about public statements he made in television interviews suggesting that he wanted certain overpaid contract officers gone. He rejected suggestions that this showed he wanted to fire Miller from the day he was sworn in.
Then he was questioned for more than an hour about the reasons for suspending Candice Miller. After that he was questioned about the grounds for her termination, whether they were justifiable.
It was a very long day on the witness stand, so much so that in the final half an hour, the mayor's attorney Anthony Sylvester had to ask that his client be given a seat so that he could sit and testify.
And, it was not only grueling, but the exchange between Mayor Wagner and attorney Perdomo also got testy - with the Mayor raising his voice and snapping at Perdomo. They were discussing the time in which Miller was blocked out of certain office functions - and Wagner - in describing a difference between two statements, said, sharply to Perdomo "I know what I meant!" In response she told him that he cannot raise his voice at her.
His testimony continued for 3 hours after this and sparks did fly from time to time.
At the end of the day, his attorney Anthony Sylvester said the testimony will continue tomorrow:
Anthony Sylvester, attorney
"We can't comment at this point, unfortunately. But as the judge indicated hopefully everything will be concluded by Friday. As indicated if all goes well he may give his decision by Friday evening, so thats where we are."
The mayor's testimony resumes tomorrow morning at 10:00 and the case is expected to go into Friday. Justice Courtney Abel has said he hopes to deliver judgement as soon as possible.
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