Tonight, we have the first picture with Lev Dermen, Jacob Kingston and a Belize Government official. It is Belmopan Mayor, the UDP’s Khalid Belisle. He is seen in a 2015 picture in an embrace between Dermen and Kingston, flanked by two of John Saldivar’s side-men. The picture is taken in front of a private jet at the Phillip Golden International Airport. Â
Now, it fits in perfectly with testimony from Jacob Kingston yesterday in Utah in which he said he and Dermen, quote, “had dinner with ministers from Belize, (and) mayors…â€, end quote. Â
Belisle was quick to put out a statement this evening saying, quote, “the group picture…was taken in late April or early May of 2015 at the conclusion of a brief meeting I had with them at the Phillip Goldson International Airport ahead of their departure from Belize that afternoon.â€
He goes on, “I had recently been elected Mayor of the city of Belmopan and agreed to the meeting after their expression of interest in exploring investment opportunities in the City. Believing that the gentlemen were completely legitimate and above board businessmen, and after cursory checks revealed nothing to the contrary, I proceeded with meeting them. This was my last encounter with both gentlemen and there was no subsequent follow through on the part of either partyâ€. End quote.
So, there you have it, Mayor Belisle did meet with Dermen and Kingston - and, in a telling aside, the other men filling out the group picture, are two of Saldivar’s closest functionaries, Douglas Grant on screen right and Jason Neal on screen left. Being the mayor of Belmopan, which is Saldivar’s constituency, Belisle is considered a protege of John Saldivar. Additionally, he is offering himself as Deputy Chairman in Sunday's convention.Â
With the photo, the taint by association on the Saldivar camp is even more pronounced as they head into Sunday’s National Convention. But, it remains to the seen if this will make any difference to the party’s 570 delegates, which are its most faithful supporters. Â
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