7 News Belize

UDP Says Empathically, Saldivar For Leader!
posted (February 10, 2020)
So, there it is, Kingston has said John Saldivar received quote, "packs" of cash, in ten thousand dollar disbursements from Lev Dermen. 27 hours ago, we asked John Saldivar if he wasn't concerned about this very same type of revelation:

Jules Vasquez- Reporter
"Do you look to Utah next week with anxiety?"

Hon. John Saldivar- UDP Party Leader
"If I looked towards, I looked everyday with anxiety."

Jules Vasquez
"Utah, Utah."

Hon. John Saldivar
"No, not at all. I know there is nothing that is going to come from that that is going to affect me in any negative way. I've always maintained my innocence."

Jules Vasquez
"When do you expect the Prime Minister to hand over?"

Hon. John Saldivar
"The Prime Minister has been talking about after reading the budget but he and I will sit and discuss that."

Reporter
"Why did you...Dermen to become honorary council, even after..."

Hon. John Saldivar
"I will discuss nothing more about that trial. I will discuss nothing more about that."

So, Saldivar continues to deny, even though he has now been named as receiving "packs" of cash from Lev Dermen.

Which now leaves the matter in the hands of the Prime Minister Dean Barrow. What will he do about today's testimony in Utah? First, here's what he said he would do 26 days ago:

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- Prime Minister
"The evidence in this trial will be forthcoming. And what I am here to also tell you is this, if it turns out that indeed there is evidence to show that a member or two members of my cabinet received funds from Mister Lev there will be hell to pay. Might be that the Minister could make a hell of a case saying where is the proof that this was anything other than a campaign contribution from someone that I knew who supported me and there are no laws in Belize, much to my chagrin, that regulate campaign finance contributions. But I wouldn't need to get into that sort of an argument with the Minister would I? Because even if that could be shown to be true, you lied to me and you lied to the cabinet in saying that you did not receive any money- Q. E. D. That in itself is a basis for me to say, 'Sir, madam, you cannot stay in any cabinet that I lead.' I don't think I can make my position any clearer. Once there is evidence of monies having been received by any UDP cabinet member from this gentleman, game over."

And the key word in there is "evidence." And, tonight, best indications from within the UDP is that the Prime Minister is being counseled to not do anything because Kingston's testimony arguably does not meet what would be considered a standard of actual evidence that would force him to act. Of course inaction would likely be political suicide, but, many in the UDP are already closing ranks and casting aspersions on Kingston's reliability as a witness - because of his persistent confusion about Ralph Fonseca as Minister of Finance. Here's how Anthony Boots Martinez put it at yesterday's convention:

Hon. Anthony Martinez- UDP Area Rep.
"What I heard coming out in terms of testimony from Mr. Kingston, to me immediately listening to it that bore holes in Mr. Kingstons credibility. One, you talking about you are a business man, you talking about you coming to Belize in 2012 and meeting with the Mr. of Finance Ralph Fonseca. Something is wrong with his bearings. And where could he have met with Ralph Fonseca if the Ministry of Finance in Belmopan, where? Certain things and for me that bring down the whole credibility in my view. I was willing to listen but I don't know what else he knows or what he doesn't know because obviously he didn't know that."

And indeed, Fonseca is the only person who Kingston has called a Minister. again, he said today, quote, "He was the minister I was working with…He got the license for the casino business." Apart from casting some doubt on Kingston's reliability as a witness, it also helps the UDP's position by possibly establishing that Fonseca was the, quote, government official" to whom money was wired. We say possibly because clearly Kingston thought he was still a government official. Also, for the UDP, it muddies the political waters since a former ranking PUP was very much in the mix - even if he was only acting in the capacity of what appeared to be an investment consultant.

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