Guatemalans Everywhere – C.O.L.A. Says Beware And Begone!

There is also an online report alleging that one George Orellana, a member of the Board of the National Institute of Culture and History, has Guatemalan origin and close ties to Minister of Culture Elodio Aragon and other Belizean and Guatemalan officials. It suggested that he had recently been asked to tender his resignation from the Board and that a company owned by Orellana was given a contract for the refurbishment of the Bliss Center for Performing Arts.  NICH issued a statement of its own on Sunday denying both allegations. But today, Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action lashed out. President Geovannie Brackett questioned how someone from a country that has been openly hostile to Belize wind up in a position of influence?

Geovannie Brackett

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA

“How is it right now in a time when Guatemala not only has an unfounded claim over Belize, but we are in a very volatile situation with Guatemala—especially with their last speech that they gave at the United Nations—we believe that no Guatemalan should sit on any governmental board—whether statutory or government or part private, part government, quasi—should sit on any board; worse on an institution that is responsible for the distribution of our history and our heritage. That doesn’t make sense—not to COLA and it shouldn’t make sense to any right-thinking Belizean. How is it that this guy sits on our NICH board? And it brings us to another person we are questioning right now because we have been made to understand that a gentleman, the representative who has link—I am not sure if he is owner or representative from Santander—a Mister Rodriguez, sits on the Export Processing Board. Now this board…they suggest or can recommend for concessions. Santander is a company that got concessions. This person now if he sits there, then it is a conflict of interest. Not only that, but what is his nationality? If he is Guatemalan…again he should not be sitting there.”