Minister Requeña Details Sunday’s Traffic Mishap
Oscar Requeña, the Area Representative for Toledo West, was involved in a traffic mishap on Sunday night that left several villages in Toledo without electricity for a short period. Reports are that sometime around eight p.m., Requeña was driving from San Antonio Village to Mafredi Village when he swerved off the road and crashed into a lamppost that snapped in half. Requeña emerged from the mishap unscathed. He told police that he saw a cyclist in the middle of the highway and decided to run off the road to avoid hitting the cyclist. As a result, Requeña’s government assigned Chevy Silverado received a substantial amount of damages. But, what was Requeña out doing in his government assigned vehicle on a Sunday night? This was the question put to him by reporters earlier today in Belize City. We also heard from police on the matter.
Oscar Requeña
Oscar Requeña, Minister of Labor
“First and foremost, I want to say that we have a country to build and we have to work hard every day to be able to, you know, move this country forward to make life better for our people. Yes, over the weekend, unfortunately, I was, you know, carrying out my constituency duties. And on my way back, unfortunately, there was a cyclist that came into my way, you know, right where I was coming. And to be honest, I had to decide between having the potential of knocking down someone or diverting away from that individual. I chose to do the latter. Praise God, you know, it was a very close call. I had to really maneuver the vehicle. Yes, you know, the vehicle did receive some damage, but praise God, I’m here. I’m okay. And, no one was hurt.”
Reporter
“Some were complaining that you were using the vehicle, you know, after hours on a weekend, but you said that you were doing it for work business.”
Oscar Requeña
“Let’s be real. Let’s be real. There are persons out there, political mischief makers. And I want to say it’s unfortunate that, you know, out of potential tragedy. That people would want to make all kinds of allegations and it’s unfortunate that, you know, you should not use someone’s misfortune to be able to make these kinds of petty, mischievous allegations. You know, honestly, I am a very hard working minister. I am in my constituency. I am out there working. Over the weekend, we were running the third annual Requeña Football Tournament every weekend. We do that. Our people are out there working very hard. I am out there, you know, and in fact, I was coming from one of the villages when that happened. So I’m here. Praise God for that. We continue to work.”
Reporter
“The police report says that the vehicle was removed from the scene before they could do their sketch plan. Shouldn’t you have followed all police procedures as they are regulated?”
Oscar Requeña
“Well, let me see. Obviously when it happened, I have to tell the people who were the first responders were there, they were obviously concerned about my safety. And, what happened is that the persons who reached to, you know, to check on me, asked me to leave because obviously I was shaken. Yeah. And I left. And, you know, thereafter, I had people who came to support and they moved the vehicle. I was already, I had already left by then, so it’s, that’s what transpired.”
Reporter
“Did you offer a urine?”
Oscar Requeña
“I went home, you know, I went to rest because I was shaking. I didn’t see the police. Of course, of course, I have to make a formal report.”
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I was briefed by the officer commanding Toledo District that the minister was involved in an accident where he ran off the road. From my understanding he was there when police first arrived and he dealt with the matter as they would do with other accidents.”
