Still no word of communication from Eric Chang

Eric Chang

It’s been two weeks since former deputy mayor of Belize City, Eric Chang, was stripped of his title and portfolios with the City Council. It comes on the heels of the passport scandal that broke on September nineteenth in which South Korean national Kim Wonhong received nationality and a passport while incarcerated in Taiwan. Chang’s name was called along with former Minister of State, Elvin Penner as a facilitator in the passport scheme and illegal issuance of the Belizean birthrights. Chang was expected to return to the country on October third, but has since not responded to calls, emails, nor has there been any kind of communication by the councilor to the council. That led to his removal as deputy mayor and councilor responsible for works. Mayor Darrell Bradley says that the position taken by the council was communicated to Chang via email, but since then there has been no response. According to Bradley, Chang’s absence is very disturbing and is unsatisfactory.

Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor

“No word from him. you know we had a meeting with the City Council; we took a decision to remove him from his deputy mayor-ship and also from all his portfolios including his critical portfolio of works. What we did is that we communicated that to him in writing so that he is aware of that. We tried to reach him by telephone; could not reach him. The current situation then is that we have had, since that removal, no communication with him. We are monitoring this situation very closely because there are certain consequences if you continue to be in non-communication with the Belize City Council. We are monitoring the legislation in terms of the number of meetings that he is allowed to miss and it will be a consequence upon him.”

Duane Moody

Darrell Bradley

“I know he has missed one meeting. How many meetings is he allowed to miss and is he still getting his salary?”

Darrell Bradley

“He is allowed to miss three more. And he is still getting his salary. His salary is paid to him by direct deposit into his account and he still holds the title as councilor; he was elected. He could be removed in certain ways. One of the ways that he could be removed is as a consequence of his missing of meetings so we are concerned about that because he has a responsible being an elected person. We are continuing to hope that he would return to the jurisdiction as soon as possible so that he could give account on the issues, allegations that have been named. And also so that he could resume his position as a councilor and continue to do the people’s business—what they are paying him for.  I think that it is very unprofessional and it is very unsatisfactory. I remember that I was on a talk show and I had used the comment with two of the hosts that if one of the hosts who was the employee of the other just left on approved vacation and said that she was going to come back at a certain point, did not come back, did not communicate with her employer and just stayed away and for a period of a month have not been communicating. In the private sector, you would call that abandonment of employment. So that this is very…it is something that is shocking to me, it is something that we would rather not deal with. We are treating very, very seriously and he really has to explain himself strong when you come back to the jurisdiction.”

Bradley says that despite Chang’s absence, as head of the council, he is ensuring that the mandate of the city council is accomplished nevertheless. Several projects include the completion of a paving or cementing of one hundred streets by November, the completion and launch of B.T.L. Park and the creation of a budget for the council which is to be submitted to Central Government.