Andre Perez, “My Story has not changed, it remains the same.”
While the Attorney General had been tasked with conducting an investigation into the allegations made by Perez’s accuser, there has been no public statements made by the Briceño administration in respect of the outcome of that probe. When we spoke with Perez this morning and asked if Prime Minister Briceño has reached out to him regarding a possible re-institution in Cabinet. We also inquired about the likelihood of the allegations made against him being dealt with in the courts.
Isani Cayetano
“Has there been any indication from the prime minister as to when you will be allowed to return to the fold as a cabinet minister?”
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
Andre Perez
“Well, he has assured me that I will return to the fold, but that‘s for him to decide the dates. But yes, he has assured me that I’m coming back to cabinet. But that, for now, is for him to decide and I will not lose any sleep over it. I don‘t see it as I am losing, but rather I am seeing the other side domestically that I am here serving the people and hearing the concerns, doing the work. There‘s many issues to solve right now, pushing for the hospital is important as well. So I‘m able to get more information as to when is a day to open the hospital. And these are the concerns that many in the community are more concerned [about]. While it might be seen as a national thing, as a scandal, if you come here to Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, [it‘s] much ado about nothing. They carry on. They want to know about when is the hospital going to be built. We have issues at the high school, the structure itself. Caye Caulker has issues with infrastructure at the high school and that‘s what I am working [on.] The streets need to be paved again and we are on top of it. The high cost of living, that‘s another matter. So all of these things are really on the plate of all members of Belize Rural South and they say the last thing to worry about is the personal issues of our elected area representative. That‘s the last thing to be worrying about. So I‘m very grateful for that and I give that a lot of value certainly it‘s a lesson learned but we move forward. That is why walking on the streets, driving, with my head up high, knowing that the people of this town and Caye Caulker support me. Case in point, this Thursday, we‘re having a meeting in Caye Caulker and I‘m heading there. Next week, another meeting, going there to do the work. So it‘s all back again to where I started to get the pulse of the people, that sets the stage that, you know, bigger things are going to come up for 2024.”
Isani Cayetano
“My final question. Is there any legal outcome from all of what has happened over the past few months in respect of the allegations back and forth?”
Andre Perez
“Listen, of course I have my attorneys and they have done all the work, everything, and I know on my side I didn‘t do anything wrong. So it‘s not for me to go out there and make any kind of noise or whatever. I have my attorneys and so far I carry on. It‘s not about going back and going after people. I know I did not do anything wrong, so I leave it to my attorneys and I will move on from there. I am not worried about who‘s making a report or not. I know that I am on the right side and we made the report out a couple of months ago and it remains at that, no changes. My story has not changed or nothing it remains the same.”
