Amid Warning on S.S.B., Cordel Zings John Saldivar

Cordel Hyde

After castigating the Government for not providing less vague assurances about how it will address the repayment of the Superbond and Belize’s other debts, Hyde turned his attention to the contemplation of the selling of shares in the nationalized utility companies Belize Electricity Limited and Belize Telemedia Limited to the Social Security Board. S.S.B. is projected with the sale to own around a third of shares in both companies and while the rate of return on the investment is said to be good, Hyde questioned what happens when that avenue of supply runs out. Targeting John Saldivar, he quipped that a certain accused murderer might be called upon again.

Cordel Hyde, Area Rep., Lake Independence

“The question I have is this: after the Government has sold all its shares in B.T.L. and B.E.L. to S.S.B., what will they have to sell next? Weh unu wah sell next – John, Rene, Pablo? Nobody wah buy! The only person weh wah buy John, da Mista Mason (laughter and applause) and he deh behind bars. But seriously, Madam Speaker, I am really uncomfortable… (Pause) Ah tek it back. (Laughter) But seriously, Madam Speaker, I am really uncomfortable…(laughs) with the relative ease with which these deals can be shepherded through, using S.S.B. money like a Government piggy bank; it just makes me nervous. Because, Madam Speaker: you see the City Council workers? That’s their money. You see the security guards all over this country? That’s their money. You see the secretaries and the police officers and the B.D.F. soldiers? That’s their money. We just need to be very careful with S.S.B. money; just because it’s there doesn’t mean that it’s for the Government to use as they please.”