P.U.P.’s Mai tells U.D.P. ‘Don’t blame us’

Jose Abelardo Mai

There is more on the U.H.S. issue…Since the Caribbean Court of Justice made the order on November twenty-second for the repayment of a ninety-million dollar loan to the Belize Bank Limited to recoup an investment in the former Universal Health Services Limited, there has been mounting outrage over the high bill. The U.S. Supreme Court two days before denied without comment a request for certiorari by the Government. Interest on the original thirty-four million dollars now dwarfs the original payment. As you heard, a scheduled House meeting set for this coming Friday has been called off late. Whenever that happens and it has to be no later than December fifteenth, the thirty-one members of the House of Representatives are expected to debate a motion addressing the loan. It presents a moral dilemma for both major political parties. The People’s United Party believe, as expressed by deputy leader for the North and Orange Walk South representative Jose Abelardo Mai, that while the original deal was not the best, it is the ruling United Democratic Party’s procrastination and obstinacy in refusing to pay the bill that has brought Belize to a sorry pass. Therefore, says Mai, the U.D.P. don’t get to blame the P.U.P. for this one.

Jose Mai, Area Representative, Orange Walk South

“The investment in a private company may not have been the best thing to do; but [former Prime Minister] Said Musa at the time outsourced money – not from any taxpayer.  He got grants from Venezuela and Taiwan, not from any taxpayer, and he paid that money. So he dealt with that completely. But to go back and bring that back to life, and then now have to pay ninety million dollars – when you had nothing to pay. That is very, very simple and clear people have to understand that. From thirty million dollars to ninety million dollars, just to grandstand and to play arrogant; no, that is unacceptable. And then to turn around and blame Said Musa? No. You cannot do that.”