P.U.P. Goes after Vegas for ‘Get-Rich’ Scheme with Lands

This afternoon, the People’s United Party registered its disgust with the latest revelations. In a forty-five minute press conference at its headquarters, Independence Hall, leader John Briceño assailed the Prime Minister for his failure to act sooner and for what he called attempts to downplay the involvement of his ex-deputy, and set out a list of demands the party was making to Government to address the situation. Briceño contended that the current Lands Minister can no longer afford to ignore the sins of his predecessor.

John Briceño

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“What this is, is a Prime Minister making light of one of his Ministers’ land hustle. What it is, is a case of self-dealing on the part of his former Deputy Prime Minister. What it is, is a Prime Minister who chose to do nothing, while the nation’s patrimony was being looted and stolen. What it is, is a well-orchestrated get-rich scheme by the Vega family. That is what it is. For too long, the Prime Minister has turned a blind eye to what was happening in the Ministry of Lands, under his former Deputy Prime Minister.  We in the P.U.P. demand that the Prime Minister take the following immediate actions: one, ensure that the Commissioner of Police instruct the Criminal investigation Branch of the Police Department to open an investigation into the fraudulent scams of the Vega family; two, as the current Minister of Lands, we demand that the Prime Minister immediately cancel all land titles issued since 2008 by the Government of Belize to members of the Vega family; three, establish a Commission of Inquiry into the ‘hotbed of corruption’ in the Ministry of Lands for the period 2008 to 2015. Four, we demand that the Prime Minister instruct the Attorney General to initiate a claim for misfeasance in public office against Gaspar Vega, and ensure the recovery of all the ill-gotten gains by his family and associates, and damages in the millions for the loss suffered by the Belizean people.”

Briceño also paid his respects to Amy Forte for stepping forward, and said that the P.U.P. would table motions in the House of Representatives and Senate at their next meetings to formalize the call for a full and thorough investigation of the Ministry of Natural Resources during Vega’s tenure.