“I find it deplorable” – PM Barrow on the Action of U.S. Authorities

Dean Barrow

Not only were embassy officials denied access to Verde, they were also kept in dark about the reason for his detention.  It wasn’t until several days later that they were informed via public statement of the charges being brought against Verde.  PM Barrow says the actions of the U.S. authorities are shameful.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“They finally allowed personnel from the embassy to see him, I think like maybe the Thursday.  Admittedly, the embassy was able to maintain telephone contact with him.  But I find it deplorable that not only was the embassy not given any information pursuant to their requests, which requests were grounded in their obligation to try to look after the welfare of a citizen of Belize.  Not only were they denied the requests to see and talk to Mr. Verde, they were even denied requests for information.  When they knew what it was that Mr. Verde was being charged with was when the F.B.I. or the U.S. authorities chose to issue a public statement.  My God man, we have an obligation to all our citizens and furthermore, Mr. Verde is innocent until proven guilty.  So I, for my purposes, I am not going to get into the merits or otherwise of the charges against him, but I do complain bitterly about the fact that he was not, or the Government of Belize, and therefore Mr. Verde, we both were disrespected by this failure, this refusal on the part of the U.S. authorities to allow our consular personnel to have access to Verde until way down in the week after he was detained on the weekend.”