Ecuadorian Minister Has No Knowledge of Floyd Ebanks Case
Christian Ebanks
In the absence of an extradition treaty between Belize and Ecuador, thirty-nine-year-old Christian Ebanks, also known as Floyd Ebanks Jurado, wanted in that country for murder, remains a free man. In mid-May, Ebanks made headlines when he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison after being found in possession of an unlicensed firearm. He was subsequently granted Supreme Court bail after being indicted for the offense of keeping an unlicensed firearm. During his brief stay in prison however, Ecuadorian authorities requested his surrender to answer a charge of murder. But, since he is Belizean and there is no agreement between both countries, the request could not be honored. Today, the media asked visiting Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino if he was aware of the matter. Interestingly, his response is that he is unaware of the case.
Reporter:
“If we could ask you about two famous names when we think of Ecuador, Julian Asange and we have another one here, Ebanks, Floyd Ebanks who we see on the internet as one of Ecuador’s most wanted but he’s also a Belizean citizen who lives in Belize.”
Reporter:
“You’re not familiar with him?”
Ricardo Patino, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister (Translated)
Ricardo Patino
“I don’t know.”
Reporter
“It’s on the internet, some Ecuadorian, he’s from Ecuador and he’s wanted and he’s in Belize.”
Reporter
“Is there any extradition or any legal assistance, agreement or anything like that?”
Wilfred 'Sedi' Elrington
Wilfred Elrington
“What we are doing Jules is this is just the first and the initial formal agreements we are entering into with Ecuador. It’s a new, I imagine that sometime down the road we will probably entertain that but right now we are just putting into place the first building blocks for a formal relationship with Ecuador subsequent to our signing of the diplomatic relationship with them. So these are just the initial steps.”
Patino also spoke of the strides Ecuador is making in education where drastic measures were taken to improve the quality of education.
Elrington you are a farse and a disgrace to your country give up your brother he is wanted as a thief in the USA he needs to be extradited and face justice how can you as the minister shield a thief and a fugitive from the law what a disgrace you are to this country.
Hey, that question about Ebanks was fair game. Why doesn’t Elrington let the man answer the question. Mr. Patino is a grown man and should be able to handle himself. And he should be (have been) comprehensively briefed before traveling to Belize, a country with a tradition of free and assertive journalists.