Former C.E.O. sings of corruption in Cane Farmers Assn’s
A month ago he was told his contract with the Cane Farmers Association would not be renewed. The C.E.O., Carlos Magana, was pretty shaken up at the unexpected news. Today, he held a press conference in Orange Walk Town and unleashed a string of allegations of corruption, politics and misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The aggrieved Magana, who led the farmers in the now historical protests of core sampler in February, delivered a long list of counter allegations to those made by the Chairman of the Committee of Management, Eric Ek. For background, on July eighth, Ek told News Five that Magana’s contract was not renewed because the Committee thought that he did not bring value for the money he was paid. Ek said that they were prepared, however, to reduce the contract, but Magana did not agree. The former C.E.O. was earning sixty thousand dollars per annum with a benefit package of twenty percent gratuity, seven thousand dollars medical insurance and close twelve thousand dollars house rent. One of the sticking points was that Magana did not reduce the Association’s two point six million dollar debt. Well today, Magana lashed back and the allegations he made were heavy. He said he felt he lost the support of the Directors and that he was kept out of the loop. According to Magana, he was not responsible for financial irregularities and he accused openly those he thought were responsible for the misappropriation of a total of almost four hundred thousand dollars.
Carlos Magana, former C.E.O., Cane Farmers Assn.
“These studies were carried forward and together with the accountant, he was the one who prepared the document that I have with me here, which has the names of the individuals and the total. To each one of them there is a value which the value totals three hundred and eighty-six thousand, seven hundred and thirty-nine dollars; almost four hundred thousand in the following manner. Alleged—I used the term alleged because until being confirmed by law, then it will be so. Alleged, Valerio Chuc; sixty-two thousand nine hundred and eighty-five, Nicascio Medina; alleged seventy-eight thousand eight hundred and fifteen dollars, Silvino Bacab; alleged forty-four thousand six hundred and nine, Enrique Carillo; alleged thirty-seven thousand three hundred and forty, Alvaro Sanchez; alleged forty-one thousand two hundred and fifty, Adonai Blanco—he was the then accountant—alleged; eighty-three thousand five hundred and four and Javier Marin; alleged thirty-eight thousand two hundred and thirty-six – giving a total of three hundred and eighty-six thousand seven hundred and thirty nine. I am not condemning them of fraud; I said alleged.”
“While all this was going on members of the Committee of Management of the Corozal Division kept telling me to leave this thing alone, specifically Mr. Jose Majil. And today I asked him the question why he wanted me to cover corruption. I refused to let this corruption be covered up and that’s the reason why today I am without a job. When the documentation of the office of the C.E.O. was transferred, all the documents, all the vouchers, all the supplementary documents to the cheques were there and it was clear enough. They couldn’t find anything in my office that there was the alleged mismanagement or none accountability from the C.E.O.’s office. Everything was proven cheque by cheque and receipt by receipt.”
While there is no offer on the table, Magana says he would take back his job under certain conditions.
