Mora Claims “Surprise” Over Neal’s Remarks

Marvin Mora

Mora claimed that the recording was done without anyone’s knowledge, including the person on whose device it was recorded, and then a portion of it was cut and given to someone as a means of refuting rumors of racism by Mora. Apparently it was recorded off a loudspeaker by someone else and this is the version that Mora says got out, although the recording appears clear to our ears. But who would do such a thing, and what would be their motive against Mora and Neal? Mora contends that his record should be enough to convince anyone that his remarks – those he admits to saying – were not intended and should not be taken as evidence of discrimination against the Garinagu or others. But he also says Neal surprised him with the strength and virulence of his remarks.

Marvin Mora, General Secretary, Belize Energy Workers’ Union

“I have absolutely no idea; as you know, when it comes to being the media and a public figure, you have more than one enemies, especially for the things I have said in the past. So I have absolutely no doubt that there may have been some sort of ill-intention, but I leave that up to God; God knows exactly the type of person I am, and the persons I associate with know that too.”

Reporter

“Sir, are you in some sense throwing Eldred Neal under the bus, insofar as you are distancing yourself from some of the most unfortunate remarks, the most racist remarks in the whole thing let’s say; you are distancing yourself and saying that Eldred made those remarks; are you throwing him under the bus? Dah only three  a unu mi deh eena di conversation?”

Marvin Mora

“Let Eldred answer for what Eldred said; Marvin Mora will answer for what Marvin Mora said.”

Reporter

“But to go back to the purpose of the conversation in the very first place; you said you approached him for a specific reason. Was it because you in fact believed that he believed these racial principles?”

Marvin Mora

“No! I tell you it came as a surprise to me, his comments afterwards. Because we honestly thought that it was a smaller union against bigger union situation. And that was our premise [for] approaching him; because we realized that the only person that we believed was capable and has the qualification to hold that post has been removed by the P.S.U., so we approached him on that premise. But what came out of that … honestly, right now, I’m still in shock as to what happened then. But to me, it was done because it was a private conversation between private citizens.”

The B.E.W.U. annual general meeting is set for May thirty-first.