Prime Minister Faces Up to “Wrongdoing” in Government

Gaspar & Andre Vega

Monday’s bombshell announcement was that former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega had tendered his resignation as a member of Cabinet with immediate effect.  His departure from government follows information revealing that his son, Andre Vega, was compensated to the tune of four hundred thousand dollars for a parcel of privately held land near the Haulover Bridge.  That roughly two-acre spread is located near mile five on the George Price Highway and extends to the nearby seafront.  As it turns out, the Mek Mi Rich businessman wasn’t the only one to benefit from a substantial government payout.  In fact, attorney Sharon Pitts was also compensated a hefty sum of four hundred thousand dollars and a smaller parcel of land.  During the Prime Minister’s press conference on Monday, he indicated that Vega’s resignation had been accepted.  He also mentioned that an efficiency check has also been concluded which looks at similar questionable transactions that may have occurred under Vega’s tenure as Minister of Natural Resources.  Despite Vega’s stepping down and government’s intent to recover the monies, did the Orange Walk North Area Representative get off easily?

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“An audit has been completed.  The findings of the Auditor General will no doubt be released shortly.  The question of the compensation in this case looms large, taxpayers want to know that we will seek to recover the compensation and I told you that we will and the investigation is ongoing.  The Minister of Lands tried to detail for you all that happened, but expressly said that there are certain things that are still unclear.  I don’t know that I can usefully add anything more.”

Reporter

“Does it take glaring, inescapable evidence for you to force your hand against ministers within your government?”

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I don’t know why you dress it up and add all the adjectives.  It takes evidence, plain and simple, and when that evidence is forthcoming I will act.  I have acted in the past and I will continue to act.  Listen, I am sworn to carry out my duty to the public and I will always strive to do just that, in some cases the discharge of that duty is personally painful to me.  But notwithstanding, I will, as long as I am here, as long as I continue to be here, continue to act always in accordance with my notions which are sound because it is a self-evident matter; my notions of what is required of me.  I don’t give two frigs about legacy sir… and while, of course, no doubt taking a cue from your news director, you premise your question on this declaration that if everybody who is guilty of wrongdoing in the U.D.P. government who is removed, the U.D.P. government will fall.  I have to say that I don’t accept your premise that the corruption you describe is as you describe it but I do accept that there is wrongdoing.  It, in my view, my acting when there is evidence of wrongdoing, as I continue to repeat I will act, I don’t see how it can ever reach a stage where there will be nobody left standing.  But if that’s what it comes to sir, that’s what it comes to.”