Faber Makes No Apology for Payment of S.S.B. Loan for U.D.P. Supporter
During today’s U.D.P. press conference, Leader of the Opposition Patrick Faber also responded to reports that under his leadership, funds were used from the National Institute of Culture and History to pay off a Social Security debt for a staunch U.D.P. supporter. Faber confirmed that one hundred thousand dollars from NICH’s account was used to pay off a loan for Artist Emeritus Myrna Manzanares, who had defaulted on her loan payment and was facing foreclosure on her property. The Leader of the Opposition says he makes no apology for assisting Manzanares, explaining that in lieu of payments made, the property now belongs to NICH.
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Leader of the Opposition
“We found a situation where one of Belize’s most recognized artists was in a predicament with her home. In fact, this individual, who I will name, I do not think that I can hide that now. I saw that while Courtenay did not call the name, he called the family name in his presentation on Wednesday, and it is artist emeritus Myrna Manzanares, who all Belizeansknow to be the champion of the Creole language, one of the main champions of the Creole language, a storyteller, a poet. It so happens that Myrna happens to be a U.D.P., but that is neither here nor there. She is one of Belize’s greatest talents. Myrna was in a situation financially with her home. Once we found the situation with Miss Manzanares, we thought that we should try to assist. And as far as I recall, the proposal that the board put forward, and voted on and passed, saw that Merna would not necessarily receive that stipend that she would receive as a result of here designated artist emeritus and that we would try to help her secure a dwelling space, because she lived in the house that was supposed to be foreclosed on by the Social Security Board. So NICH contacted the Social Security Board and sought to find out how the transaction could be done. I want to make it clear that at no time did NICH intend to pay off the debt on behalf of Miss Myrna and she could continue owning the property. The transaction was such that NICH would own the property. I believe the transaction concluded for about a hundred and ten thousand dollars for a property that is well over two hundred thousand dollars. It is in a very well-to- do neighborhood.”
According to the Leader of the Opposition, NICH acquired the property in the hope of undertaking a cultural preservation project at the site. He also confirmed that NICH gave Myrna Manzanares the go ahead to live on the property for the remainder of her life.
