John Saldivar sues to protect his reputation
John Saldivar
As we reported in Wednesday’s newscast, Minister of National Security John Saldivar has filed a lawsuit against Belmopan’s Plus TV and Patrick Andrews for libel and defamation. The claim arises from remarks, allegedly slanderous, that were made by Andrews during an installment of the station’s Rise and Shine morning show in late 2012. The comments, in a conversation with Minister of Education Patrick Faber, were expressed as Andrews’ opinion on the distribution of public funds in Saldivar’s constituency, through government’s Christmas Cheer program. Those words have landed Andrews, as well as the station’s managing director, in hot water. Saldivar told the media this morning that despite being a public figure he has a reputation to uphold.
John Saldivar, U.D.P. Area Representative, Belmopan
“I value my reputation and I believe that the words uttered by Mr. Patrick Jason Andrews was assailing my character and reputation. They disagree and that is why they refuse to apologize and retract. They feel that they were within their rights to say what they did. Only a court can decide that and that is how these matters work, you’re in the media you know how it works. If they feel that they had the right to say what they did then take it to court. I feel that they wronged me, that they falsely accused me of something and they assailed my reputation and I am going to court to vindicate.”
Marisol Amaya, Krem Radio
“What exactly is it that they’ve accused you of?”
John Saldivar
“That is a matter before the court and I don’t want to comment. I simply say that the words that they uttered, I feel, attacked my reputation and that will be decided by the court.”
Jules Vasquez, Channel 7
“On the Wave morning show this morning you were talking about fifty thousand dollars which the government gave you and you spent on gifts for your constituents, Christmas gifts for children…”
John Saldivar
“Turkey really. Turkey was what it was spent on. I gave out close to two thousand turkeys as a part of the Christmas Cheer.”
Jules Vasquez
“Has there been an accounting for those monies? It’s public funds.”
John Saldivar
“Those can be accounted for at the ministry that disbursed it. The Ministry of Human Development was responsible for that program as far as my constituency is concerned and the bills were paid directly to Quality Poultry Products.”
His reputation is a joke. Just pay him what it’s worth, you’ll get change back from a penny.
If you thief you thief and everybody know you thief.
He is not the only thief, they all do it look at PM Barrow with all that money in the USA
Bank of America, People he will run with his Green Card, and live happy. Giving you all the big finger In the USA free done of information, file for it and you get it, that easy
you can’t hide nothing in America he knows that.
the easiest solution to this problem is to perform an independent audit of his budget and quit wasting tax payers dollars taking such a ludicrous claim to courts. As a public figure he should be aware that this is part of the job being scrutinized for any and everything he does. So if he doesnt like the heat then get out of the kitchen.!!!!!
LOL @ the Garnaches Man
WHAT REPUTATION? The one that comes in the crakerjacks?
I didn’t know that Mr Andrews is a formidable opponent to Mr. Saldivar.
He who throws stones looses ground.
I think Saldivar is principally just making Andrews feel better and bigger.
Where is our democracy, where is our freedom of speech. So then if so b d case, since he is sewing plus tv and Patrick Andrews then i believe that John have to sue everybody who calling him a thief. Becaz he is nothing but a thief. All politicians enter into government to fill their pockets. It took me 5 yrs to build my house and they build a mansion in less than a month. Can u plz tell me how that work. Saldivar shud b ashame of himself promise the people transparency but he is the face of evil and corruption.
Correction on my misspelled word i meant SUING. …and SEWING….
Weh wrong wid dis minister now? Y he tuhn so jumpy an seem willing to waste our tax dollars to oppose d free press. wat he afraid of..Let d scrutiny flow, bredda man! after all dat is d only little comfort we people seem to have about weh uno public officials do with our money and Y? Come on, get to d business of work and stop waste time. May b , nxt time he should start thinkin of diverting funds to sponser real shows like d plus dat benefit all we people with a common good at heart! repent my brother…
what is dis minister problem? He stil no happy with al he has gotten away. Come on, get to d business of doing what we pay him for an let d scrutinization flow. dats healthy for Belmopan an healthy for belize.Weh he got against Christians We need more shows to help us know where our heard earned dollars are going and Y? We need some of dat ham and turkey money to sponsor d free press! dats the only little comfort if any dat we seem to have these days!!!
When wrong with dis minister now. wat he afraid of.He forgets he accountable to all of us for our hardearned tax money? Y not get down to d business of work and let d free press do its work. After all, dats d only little comfort we seem to have these days?
this is what happens when you vote for people and when told the truth can’t take it, they should get the sense that once you’re voted into power expect all kind of criticism either you like it or not but they feel offended damn!!!!! where’s the free of speech. hope this guy is not voted into power next time people open uno eyes and it goes for all of dem politicians pudp
i sense that saldivar is guilty of wasting these $$$$. he d try mek Mr. Andrews back off caz he d nak d nail rite on d head. n hard too.
Reputation? Can’t even explain to a “Jack–s” bout dih Rosewood movement and exportation? If ih quack like a Duck, walk like a Duck, !@-! like a Duck, den da wat dehn?
HERE’S WHAT ONE U.S. PRESIDENT SAID ABOUT GOVERNMENTS THAT TRY TO STAMP OUT FREE SPEECH AND CRITICISM — DOES IT APPLY TO HON. JOHN SALDIVAR AND GOB? IS BELIZE HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION UNDER UDP?
“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.”
– Harry Truman, in a speech opposing communism