So, while the PUP stands to gain some political mileage out of the Lev Dermen scandal, observers have not missed the fact that they could take some blows because of it. As we told you, Ralph Fonseca's name has also been called, as one of Dermen's business associates, while he was in Belize.
As we told you, Kingston has testified that back in 2013, he and Dermen were looking at properties for a casino, which was to be named Lion's Casino. According to the evidence, Dermen and another Turkish businessman were in talks with Ralph Fonseca, known him as the minister of finance. They settled on a property and instructed Kingston to buy it. Kingston said that on June 24, 2013, he wired 1.5 million Belize dollars to Fonseca to purchase the property. Kingston said, quote, "He was the minister I was working with," he said. "He got the license for the casino business."
Now, as viewers are aware, Fonseca's time in politics ended in 2008, when he and the Musa Administration were voted out of office. So, is it inconvenient for the PUP that Fonseca's name has been called in this election year when they're trying to convince voters that the PUP has reformed? Here's what the Party Chairman answered that one:
Reporter
"John Saldivar is not the only name coming out of Salt Lake City and it does somehow I dont want to say shadow, but somehow it reminds the people of why PUP was voted out of power back in 2008, because the name of Ralph Fonseca is back, came up in the Dermen trial of receiving money."
Henry Charles Usher, Chairman, P.U.P.
"I believe that is news. Ralph Fonseca resigned from politics many years ago. He is a private citizen. He is a businessman. If he has anything to do with the person in question he can resolve those issues on his own. That has nothing to do with the P.U.P. Ralph Fonseca is not on any ballot but I believe John Saldivar is on the ballot and he is the one who has to answer that."
Reporter
"Sir, the situation is though that was the reason why your party still remains out of government from since 2008. The people of Belize sent a strong message of anti-corruption against the administration of that day. Are you concern that since the public relations element of the UDP keeps reminding the people that that happened, that they would prey upon the voters' trepidation that they are changing monkey fi black dog."
Henry Charles Usher, Chairman, P.U.P.
"I would never disrespect the Belizean people into thinking that you can always change your mind just like that. When they make up their minds they make up their minds and I believe that they have made up their minds already. I believe that they realize that the only way we can fix what has gone wrong in this country is first: there needs to be an early election and there needs to be a change of government and I believe that will happen sooner rather than later, because it's important to realize and you've said that this was why that - that was 12 years ago."
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