Valentino Shal Calls Out CDS for Its Funding

Like Tony Rath, Consultant Valentino Shal is also undecided. Shal, after reading the legal opinions, believes that Belize has a strong case but there are still risks. On Open Your Eyes, this morning, Shal took aim at Assad Shoman’s recently formed N.G.O. “Citizens for the Defence of Sovereignty’ and the source of its funding.

Valentino Shal, Consultant

Valentino Shal

“A lot of the billboards and the ads you see are playing on people’s nationalism, identity, sense of patriotism. That is not education. That is propaganda. You can’t tell me that you form an NGO and have all of this money. That does not work. I have been part of NGOs for ages so I know how these things work. That money has to be coming from somewhere. It is very important, transparency. We are not talking about a bus stop; we are talking about a country. You are you trying to influence the way the future of this country through an NGO set up specifically for this purpose.”

Reporter

“It would be more alarming if one were to find out that CDS is being funded through the  public purse, correct?”

Valentino Shal

“Exactly. Nothing would surprise me but think it is important to declare that, to make people aware. So that I know that your message to me is genuine, that you are not just a mouthpiece for a faceless person in the background. I don’t like that.”