"I never yet feared those men who set a place apart in the middle of their cities where they gather to cheat one another and swear oaths which they break." Herodotus
Our national Coat of Arms features a shield. Above that shield, rises a mahogany tree. Below the shield is the motto scroll. On that scroll is inscribed our national motto. Most reliable sources translate this Latin phrase as "Under the shade I (We) flourish." Some however, give the slogan a more sinister, less desirable meaning: "I (We) flourish in the shadow." Forgo the attractive side-argument as to whether this meant under our colonial masters or under the mahogany tree. Stick with the main thing – What can flourish in shadow?
Mushrooms and UDP Ministers, apparently. Do not be tempted by fun fungus jokes, this is not the time. Focus, rather on the shadows, for therein our democracy is currently lodged.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Belize, "with immediate effect, removed Hon. Edmund Castro as a Minister of State.” Sacked him. Cleared him out of the Ministry of Works, and from his Cabinet.
According the Press Release which was issued yesterday by the Office of the Prime Minister, “The decision was taken following a report made to the Prime Minister about an incident involving Hon. Castro. The Prime Minister was satisfied, after due consideration, that the report was substantially accurate; and that Hon. Castro had engaged in behavior inconsistent with the high standards of propriety to which the Prime Minister seeks to hold his ministers."
So of course, like the sacking, with immediate effect, the entire country went into an overdrive of speculation, rumor, gossip, innuendo and yes, good, good, "yeri-so". We all became inquiring minds who demanded to know. Leave that there for the moment.
Every member of the National Assembly, including the Honorable Edmund "Clear The Land" Castro" is subjected to the Oaths Act, Chapter 130 of the laws of Belize. Under section 2, the Oath of Allegiance and Office "shall be in the following form:
"I, , do swear [or solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare] that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Belize, and will uphold the Belize Constitution and the Law, and that I will conscientiously, impartially and to the best of my ability discharge my duties as [ ] and do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. [So help me God.]
According to section 3 of the Oaths Act, "The oath of allegiance and office shall be taken and subscribed by every member of the National Assembly previously to his taking his seat as a member thereof, and such oath shall be tendered by the Speaker or presiding member at a meeting of the said Assembly."
According to 7 News, "No details are provided of the so called “incident.” But the only conclusion which can be drawn is that Edmund Castro was fired for engaging in corrupt or questionable behavior." Ominous if true, and this serves only to throw MORE fuel on the already raging bonfire of speculation.
Luckily, we have some illumination on the matter from 7 News' Jules Vasquez who spoke to the "characteristically upbeat" Castro. That exchange revealed that Castro "had a meeting with the PM yesterday" and they went over "whatever the allegation was.”
Asked by Vasquez if he "could speak of what that incident is", the bold reply was “Jules I don’t think it was to that magnitude and I don’t wish to comment on that because I am not seeing it so but nevertheless we have to move on.” Yes, well.
Undaunted, the veteran newsman pressed on. Undeterred, Clear the Land stated that "the entire story is not quite the way it turn out.” Sic.
But as News 7 puts it so well, "the burning question that everyone wants an answer to is: what did Castro do that got him fired from Cabinet?
Channel 7 and Jules had the scoop, however, and informed the Jewel that "a Belizean American woman went to the Prime Minister complaining and offering documentary evidence establishing that she had paid Castro just under 50 thousand Belize dollars to privately purchase 20 acres of land from him".
The news item went on as follows : "Our information says that an initial amount of ten thousand US dollars was paid in 2009 – and then – she claims – Castro asked for additional amounts to finalize the transaction. Eventually when no title was forthcoming, the woman who lives in the United States got fed up and took her complaint to a good many people before she finally got to the Prime Minister. They met this week – and – our sources say – she provided documentary evidence that she had transferred monies from her bank in the United States to Castro. Again, our understanding is that it was a private land purchase – but according to our information, the complainant had not received title – or any document entitling her to any piece of land."
Simply sensational. Amazing, astounding and alarming. According to the oracle at Channel 7, "The proof she provided was enough to convince the Prime Minister who called in Castro and acted decisively to remove him as Minister."
According to another reliable media source, Prime Minister Barrow has "confirmed that he fired Junior Minister Castro because of wrong doing involving land transaction. When asked by Channel 7, the PM said whatever wrong was done will be righted. He did not want to go into details to publically embarrass Mr. Castro." Such delicacy of spirit is novel and fascinating when found in our fearless Head of Government.
Why not, Prime Minister? Why no detail? If the wrongdoing was sufficiently substantiated to warrant removal, then the Minister must have broken his oath. Either he did not bear true faith and allegiance to Belize, or did not uphold the constitution or the law; or maybe it was failure to comply with the part about doing right to all manner of people. Not discharging duties to the best of ability is not reason enough in this cabinet to be sacked. Just ask Carlos. Plus, the PM's knows the full extent of Castro's ability, and has known its limits for some time now.
So, what does the wrongdoing amount to? Does it rise above moral turpitude to the level of criminal wrongdoing? Only the PM, the complainant(s) and Castro know for sure. If the Minister's wrongdoing does amount to an offence under Belize's Criminal Code, does the PM have a legal duty to inform the DPP? If he does, and he does not, is there a cover-up? Citizens have a right to know.
When it comes to scandal, whether whiff or more, oftentimes the cover-up is worse than the initial wrongdoing. Just ask former US President, Richard Nixon.
Whatever the truth is, in respect of former Minister Castro, as well as the Ministries of National Security & Immigration, and Police, it must come out of the shadows and face the light. The Prime Minister's high standards of propriety, to which he seeks to hold his Ministers, demands no less.
No citizen is above the law, not even ones who can claim parliamentary privilege in the National Assembly, but not outside. Thanks to this government in fact, there is a particular legal remedy put in the hands of the good citizens of the Jewel. As from December 1, 2010, any elected representative of the people who has disgraced or disappointed those electors whom he represents, may, according to this Prime Minister, now be subject to the Recall of Elected Representatives Act which provides for the recall of Members of the House of Representatives before the expiry of their normal term of office.
Before you lament, stalwart daughter and son of the Baymen's Clan, like Herodotus, about men who set a place apart in the middle of their cities where they gather to cheat one another and swear oaths which they break; take heed from our anthem. Put on your armour. Clear the Land. Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee.
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Source: The Belize Times
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