Saldivar Says He Only Got Campaign Contributions from Lev Derman
Lev Dermen
In regards to the Lev Dermen scandal that has dogged John Saldivar, in his opening statement at today’s press conference, he says he did tell the former Prime Minister he had been receiving campaign contributions from Dermen. He says, however, he did not want to contradict the former prime minister who spoke about the Dermen scandal at a January fifteenth, 2020 press conference. We replay the former Prime Minister’s comments from that day, and then we take you to what Saldivar had to say today.
Dean Barrow
Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister [File: January 15th, 2020]
“What I did was yesterday in our Cabinet meeting, I required each Cabinet member to say whether he or she could have any reason to believe that he or she would be the person or that they would be the persons to which the material is referring. Let me put it another way, did anyone in this room, talking about the Cabinet room yesterday, receive twenty-five thousand U.S. dollars per month over a period of time from this Mr. Lev or Mr., what’s the name of the associate, Mr. Kingston or some third person that at one time Mr. Kingston said was used as an intermediary? And the answer came back, “No.”
John Saldivar
John Saldivar, Former Area Representative, Belmopan
“I spent the last few days trying to get some finances to finish up my pig farm project and to get into production so that I can sustain my family and pay my bills. Which poster bway of corruption would have to do that? I am still struggling to pay my mortgage. Which poster bway of corruption would have to do that? I am still paying the bank the car note for my car. Which poster boy of corruption would have to do that? I repeat again, I have never accepted a bribe. I have never been a part of a corrupt scheme. I say now though, that I had informed the Prime Minister prior to that faithful Cabinet meeting, that I have been receiving campaign contributions from Lev Dermen. I did not come out to clear my name, because to do so would have put me in contradiction with my Prime Minister and what was said at that faithful press conference.”
