OW Mayoral Candidate in Court

Here at News Five we can’t remember any time when so many politicians have seen the inside of a Courtroom on such a variety of charges…serious and frivolous. In Orange Walk, two politicians from the P.U.P. side were charged criminally two weeks ago, and this morning it was U.D.P. mayoral candidate, Yvette Lui Torres, who was taken before the Magistrate. Local artisan, Frederick Tillett, claims that Torres owes him money for two wood carvings he gave her on consignment way back in 2011. At that time Tillett was a member of the Sugar City Artisans Group and Torres was the President of that group. Today Torres pleaded not guilty, and at the request of her attorney Michael Young, the case was adjourned to March twenty-seventh, 2015. Outside the Courtroom about twenty supporters crowded around Torres as she emerged to make the time-honored claim of political victimization.

Yvette Torres, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Orange Walk

Yvette Torres

“I am here this morning because there is a lawsuit against my person, and this is definitely a political attack on me, and I stand firm in my belief that I owe no one, and that is why I am going to Court because I don’t owe no person that is taking me to the Court.”

Reporter

“Was this lawsuit just brought against you after you announced your candidacy as Mayor?”

Yvette Torres

“Definitely! It has been brought to the lawsuit when I decided to run as mayoral candidate for Orange Walk Town.”

Reporter

“You mentioned it’s a political thing from the Opposition. But Mr. Tillett is a former member of your own group that you formed.”

Yvette Torres

“At this point in time Arturo I would like to tell the entire Orange Walk and Belize that it was a joint venture with all the artisans and at this point in time that is all my comments that I will share with you all. It will be taken to Court because I don’t owe Mr. Fred Tillett nor no artisans nor no one in Orange Walk.”

Reporter

“Do you feel that this will have any impact at all on your race for Mayor?”

Yvette Torres

“Definitely no! This is a great motivation for my person to continue the fight, because it’s a cheap blow from the political Party, the PUP, who are bringing this forth against my person and they are defaming my character, so at this point in time I thank all you my supporters and even you, the media, to vote for Yvette Liu Torres and her six UDP Councilor candidates on March fourth, because together we can, and together we will to bring transformation to orange Walk because I am a firm believer that it is time for us to take the helm as a woman, as a leader, and under my true leadership, that is definitely going to be a win and a win for you Orange Walkenos…you the women, you the children and you the men of Orange Walk Town. Thank you.”

News Five spoke to Frederick Tillett off the record, and he told us that he is not the only member of the group who was jilted, and allegedly owed, by Torres. He says that he has been trying to get his money since 2012, so it is ridiculous to claim that the lawsuit is politically motivated.