Former P.U.P. Mayor Anthony Chanona Now P.C.C. Chairman

Anthony Chanona

P.M. Briceño confirmed with reporters that former Belmopan Mayor Anthony Chanona has been appointed to chair the People’s Constitution Commission. There are those who criticize the appointment as a conflict of interest, given Chanona’s history within the party. On the other hand, Prime Minister Briceño defended Chanona’s appointment asserting that he best fits the criteria necessary to fill the post.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I think everybody knows that Anthony Chanona is highly regarded, highly respected. I am disappointed in the Leader of the Opposition when he wrote, because when I called him he immediately jumped at the idea and said that Anthony Chanona is a man of high regards, I have great respect for him, and he would be the ideal person to Chair the Commission. Anybody you speak to that would want to be truthful would regard Anthony Chanona as a person of integrity and somebody that would do a good job as Chair of that Commission. Respectfully, at the end of the day somebody had to hand pick and I as the Prime Minister felt that I need to try to find the person I believe can best be able to move this process forward, and I believe that Anthony Chanona meets that criteria. When the U.D.P. did something well, for example with citrus, Anthony Chanona had no trouble praising the U.D.P. government and the U.D.P. Prime Minister. So, he is somebody that stands on principle and that is why I believe he would be the best person, in my mind, to be able to lead the Commission.”