Mayor Darrell Bradley comments on his deputy’s involvement in passport scandal

Eric Chang

The current passport scandal involving the fraudulent issuance of an official Belizean travel document to imprisoned South Korean businessman, Kim Wonhong, in Taiwan has seen the dismissal of Cayo Northeast area representative Elvin Penner from Cabinet.  While the prime minister’s decision to fire Penner from his post as Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration was swift, Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley is awaiting the return of his deputy, as well as the outcome of an investigation into the matter, to determine the fate of councilor Eric Chang at City Hall.  Chang, who is presently away in Taiwan, is accused of participating in the facilitation of the passport by taking the document along with him to his home country where Kim Wonhong was being held in detention.  Like P.M. Barrow, Mayor Bradley says he too has zero tolerance for misconduct in public office.

Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor

“We are very serious about accountability and transparency and holding people to account for their actions in public offices. I profess that because it is very important and if any impropriety is shown as a result of any of the investigations then we will deal with those very harshly. And we will hold him to account for what he did. Councilor Chang is presently out of the country; he is coming into the country on the third of October. I intend to speak with him on the third of October; I will get what’s his explanation or everything from him. There is also an immigration investigation that’s going on. I have made inquiries in terms of receiving copies of that whenever it is finished. And we will with that and what councilor Chang is saying take the appropriate actions as a result of what is going on. I have heard a lot of things from the media, I have been privy to some conversations with persons in the central government; we are taking the situation very seriously, but we will take a decision when councilor Chang returns and I have an opportunity to speak with him. And then also when we get a report as it relates to the investigation.”

Reporter

Darrell Bradley

“If he is found culpable for his participation in this entire issuance of the passport, what does the gamut of the disciplinary measures run?”

Darrell Bradley

“Well in terms of the council itself, I think the allegations that have been raised are very serious, they are very troubling. And it is very difficult for somebody to continue in office as a deputy mayor representing the city publicly; it is very difficult for somebody to continue as a holder of a portfolio and there is also the question in relation to whether or not you used your office as a profit which will be a disqualifying means in terms of holding public office. I say all of those things because we want to deal with this and we mean to deal with it very, very seriously. I also wish to say that it is very preliminary in terms of the reports that are coming out. We have a role to ensure that all holders of public office act accordingly and act with integrity and they accord with the trust that has been placed on them with the public, but also with the process that needs to go on. There is an investigation going on. I myself am not privy to many of the facts in relation to what actually transpired. This is why we are tempering our final decision and our comments in relation to when that investigation is finished and to when Councilor Chang returns to the country, which he is going to return on the third of October.”