Faber Says Resources Must Be Governed by Written Contract
Another U.D.P. minister who has come under fire recently is John Saldivar. The Belmopan area rep was photographed ferrying his team to San Pedro using coastguard vessels donated by the United States Embassy. DPM Faber says he sees no wrongdoing in the use of the vessel. So, if faced with a decision to use government resources for a private interest would Faber have made the same decision as Saldivar? Here’s what he had to say.
Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister
“Well it depends on what agreements were made. I know that, indeed, for instance in my own constituency we had summer camp and we took some young boys from Collet some years ago – about thirty of them who would never ever get to see the ocean and who would never get to snorkel and there is a coast guard station I think around the area where the camp was being held out there in the cayes and the coast guard assisted in the transportation of the young boys to the camp. Now, if I understand Minister Saldivar correctly, there is no crime in that. And unless there was some specifics in the agreement of the donation to the Government of Belize then I don’t see any major wrong doing there; I don’t see any wrong doing there, I should say. I have not seen those agreements and that is something that is yet to be seen. I don’t know those agreements where they might have said listen you can’t use the vessel for x ,y, z – I don’t know. But, listen, if it is being used for the betterment of the Belizean population and being used to curb some of the issues that we are facing in this society, like we did.”
John Saldivar
Reporter
“How do you reconcile him using the coast guard vessels to transport his privately owned team to San Pedro; isn’t there some conflict of interest there?”
Patrick Faber
“Listen, I will say this, given the very ticklish predicament that I will be in – you know that Mister Saldivar and I aspired to be the Deputy Prime Minister and you know well the situation that exists. It is very difficult for me to say anything other than I have said and I won’t go any further. You have asked me for my position and I have told you where I think it is okay to do it. If it is a different situation that is you who is saying that. I will not comment any further.”
Reporter
“But your formal Minister of State Junior Minister Elodio Aragon has said that –“
Patrick Faber
“So, you are going to bury me if Aragon dies?”
Reporter
“No, sir. But I am saying that he has said as a Minister with similar type of resources at his disposal, it is not proper?”
Patrick Faber
“Well, if you want me to say that if it were me, would I have done things differently? I probably would have. I leave it at that.”
