Minister of Works comments on possible Cabinet reshuffle
Anthony "Boots" Martinez
In the next few days it will be two years since the U.D.P. government took office and it is becoming patently clear that Prime Minister Dean Barrow is heading to a Cabinet reshuffle. Today’s issue of the government newspaper, quoted the Prime Minister as saying that “as it relates to the Minister of National Security, for sure there will always come a point in time when you will want to try a different approach. Barrow said that nobody is there forever and that nobody is there indefinitely.’’ Coming from the government’s mouthpiece, that’s a pretty good admission of the imminent changes around Barrow’s cabinet table and an indication that the head of Carlos Perdomo is likely on the chopping block. But the question really is not if there will be a reshuffle, it is over who will be the winners and losers in the shake-up. While it is never a good thing to engage in speculation, the hot topic today was who will succeed Carlos Perdomo and for that matter the minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington for his “artificial” comments made in December. With all the talk going on, Elrington is far away. He is currently on an official visit Libya. There is also talk about the Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega and the allegations of crooked land deals in his ministry. If indeed they are be cut down, it is safe to assume that some will gain and one name popping up is Patrick Faber, the Minister of Education, who is being touted as next in line to the throne. The disillusionment over the ineffectiveness of many ministers can be heard on the morning talk shows, and from where most people stand, any change will more than likely have the semblance of musical chairs, since there is more brawn than brain in Cabinet. News Five caught up today with senior minister, Anthony “Boots” Martinez for his take on the reshuffle and according to Martinez, he does not want the Ministry of National Security.
Anthony “Boot” Martinez, Minister of Works
“This idea of Cabinet reshuffle is in the hands of the Prime Minister. I think the prime minister in an interview last night, said we might have a reshuffle looking down the road but that is his right. Also too at Cabinet on Tuesday we had discussion of having a selection of committee from the National Assembly, which means from both PUP and UDP to look and consult with the people countrywide so that they make recommendations in terms of the best way forward. I think that is a noble idea by the prime minister and I hope that we can get together as a country and get this crime situation solved. The Prime Minister has a whole deck when he wants to reshuffle, I don’t want to even speculate and comment. One ministry, I think that the Minister of National Security has been doing his best but that is not my judgement call where any reshuffle at all is going to take place. That is the Prime Minister’s call.”
Marion Ali
“As a Minister of government, what are some of the areas that we could tap into to help address the crime situation?”
Anthony “Boot” Martinez
“I think we need to go more on intelligence. I think that that is a, in my view, a shortfall. I think we need to go a lot more on intelligence and less on emotions. I think we need to go a lot more on intelligence. I think that once we start to do proper intelligence gathering we will get rid of this situation.”
The person for the Minister Of National Security should be Priminister.And have Boots/Finnagan
working along with him .They are all Minister for that area who know the people , .It is the same people who vote them into office .Now is the time for them to deliver to the people.As you see Mr.Perdomo have the nort side in check.I would like to know how my are kill on the south side comapred to the north side.They all talk about education to get job.but the problem is that education is most common and commonsense is scarce.The timing for them to try and win the people trust is a bit 2 late.The people need new faces who will work for them.someone who have peace within them self that can feel the people pain.
About time!!! Of course we need a reshuffle, but mines would include Dean too. They are not doing anything for Belize. They get up on their thone and look down on us, ” they must be thinking of us, what set of idiots” Well Dean remember the day you came to ask for our vote. Next term don’t come!! You promises the moon and stars and you can still be compared to the previous administration. DEAN Wake up and smell the coffee. The problems of the poor may come knock on your door.
Well said Marleni! NO BRAINS
I’m very disappointed with this government, look what the Minister’s did in Benque with the titled property owner that has been helping the community in the fight against crime, helping them and they still try to mess him up, they are elected to help not to be messing up all of Belize more.
Look at the Minister’s comments on “intelligence” these days in cabinet there is none! God help us. Can we take more of the abuses, corruption, ignorance, incompetence, and disrespect for the Law?
Its time for change! for our survival.
Boots smart, he no really want speculate on anything cuz, he might get shuffle too…
The crime situation will not change in belize for a number of reasons. First off, police is easily bribed by anyone who has a little bit of money, one of the reasons being that they are under paid. We have to take into consideration these people risk there life every day, it is easy to sit on the other side of the fence and criticize. Another reason is the quality of people the police force has, I bet if the money was better the quality of officers will go up.
Another thing is equipment, a taxi driver can have a car but if he dose not have gas its useless, what I’m saying is police in belize walk around with a cb radio, no gun, no vest , the criminal has better equipment than the police.
Why can’t the police have a standard color for there patrol cars which they need more of, but what this would do is show their visibility, prevention is better that cure.
Mr minister try some of my ideas they will help you.
Another thing about crime is the poorer the country the more crime they will have, belize is heading towards being like haiti if we are not already there.
Yes we do want crime to stop but if the police are doing nansense how in the world corruption will stop! Government needs to educate it self frist then its people ! Talking about patroling , seldom u see police patroling and if they do its something else they are doing . yeah they use d vechicle to jalgy!
serious ! Police needs to be educated !
Politicians cannot solve the problem. The Police is not the answer. Belize as a society has fallen. Why cant we acpet it? Well remember Ross Kempt (the british journalist with the grenade? Remember the magazine that listed Belize as the murder Capital of the world? Well you have to acept it. It is here. Belize has fallen. We are doomed.
Politicians, Police, Society has failed.
CHRISTIANS! It is yours Only you can save the nation! DO IT!