I.E.’s Daniel Arguelles Responds to P.U.P.’s Allegations

Daniel Arguelles had his say on the revelations made by Espat.  He says that Espat misrepresented the facts.  Arguelles addressed the matter of the new Foreign Affairs Building in Belmopan before explaining that the request for one hundred percent import duty exemption was because he urgently needed a safe vehicle to assist with visits to the sites.

Daniel Arguelles, International Environments

“What I want to make clear is that the building at fourteen point nine million dollars is an inaccurate way of putting it. Fourteen point nine encompasses professional fees, both local and international. It includes landscaping which isn’t to be included a building cost per square foot and then a building that is and you must understand IE being the entity that we are, the profession that we are in. We do design built. We do most of the high profile projects in Belize; our clients and the Government of Belize require that we put first world standard construction.  I think everyone can see from all the projects we execute are of first world standards. So the cost per square foot is going to be slightly higher priced point but justifiable. So when he says fourteen point nine that is not entirely accurate. The Foreign Affairs building we have low-e glass. It is an energy efficient glass structure that allows the building to be eco friendly building. So again the bloated contracts is not accurate.”

Hipolito Novelo

“That letter you wrote to Financial Secretary Joseph Waight to have that Range Rover exempted from tax entirely, one hundred percent, why?”

Daniel Arguelles

Daniel Arguelles

“Well very simple. I used to drive a jeep. There is a lot of accident in the road and in the letter I made it very clear that I like to get a vehicle because I would be travelling every day up and down the highway and I need something sage. Not a little truck. I need a proper vehicle. I have two kids under the age of three that I have to be alive for so I take it upon the opportunity to get a vehicle to protect me so that I can execute the supervision on a daily task. I chose a Range Rover because I liked it and that’s that.”

Hipolito Novelo

“So how do you respond to anybody who might say to you is that you use this to try get thousands of dollars off from this Range Rover, you excuse of having a safe vehicle. You took advantage of the system.”

Daniel Arguelles

“I don’t think I took advantage. I pay GST taxes on it. The duties that I saved are on a used vehicle.”