Smith says arson was politically motivated

Francis Smith

Smith believes that the arson was politically motivated, but says revenge is not on his agenda. He also told News Five that he will not tolerate any acts of retaliation from his supporters because he has always been against dirty politics.

Dr. Francis Smith

“I’m just appealing to all people, to all voters irrespective of political party to remember that basically we’re just two candidates applying for a job in upper management one would say. And when all this is over it’s really about Belize and about Belizeans—we’re all Belizeans. So to set a vehicle on fire in a gas station is really something really awful and it’s definitely something that’s against humanity and I want no part in it. I have told my supporters in no uncertain terms that I will not tolerate retaliation and if that would occur, I will resign so I don’t want to play a role in this, I don’t want this cycle to continue and I feel like it should end today. There was some precedence, they have been about tearing down signs and pictures and that sort of thing. I for one have always been against putting up flags and this sort of thing. I surely hope that the day will come when Belizeans can vote without all this paraphernalia and I have tried in the past to appeal to the opposition to respect signs and that sort of thing. I certainly don’t encourage my supporters to be going around throwing paint on people’s faces and that kind of thing.”

Smith’s vehicle was totaled and police are treating the case as arson. There’s another violent incident in the west in which it appears politics was involved. We’ll have that story on Thursday.