How Does Leave of Absence Affects Embattled John Saldivar?

Minister of Defence John Saldivar has been placed on leave of absence for one week as of Tuesday. A press release issued on the same day stated that legal advice is to be obtained by the government on whether the steps Saldivar took were, “enough to effectively sever the business relationship established between the Minister and William “Danny” Mason by the formation of the company.” That is in reference to the Bandits Sporting Club Limited, which Saldivar now says is defunct. This comes after documents came to light showing that Mason was a minority partner in Bandits Sporting Club Limited, holding thirty percent of shares. But what exactly does leave of absence mean in this context? Clerk of the National Assembly Eddie Webster explained that Saldivar is only banned from Cabinet and ministerial duties. He will still receive his pay for the week and returns to Cabinet thereafter, assuming things go in his favour. But his seat as Belmopan area representative will only be affected if he is censured by the House of Representatives under what is known as a privilege motion.

John Saldivar

Saldivar has from the very beginning been under scrutiny regarding the extent of his relationship, both business and personal, with Mason, who claimed many connections with ministers of government, senior police and other party officials. In some cases, Saldivar is named by colleagues as the man who had introduced them to Mason. But Saldivar himself says that he severed ties with Mason when the shadiness of his character came to his attention. Saldivar proceeded in December of 2015 to form a different company, Bandits Sports, and this was registered in August of 2016, a year after the first company. As a footnote, the Opposition has raised the issue of the other Saldivar—John’s sister, Candelaria. The former C.E.O. of Immigration has been home with full salary for over a year because according to the P.M., she did not get on well with staffers.