Senator Salas Resigns to Avoid Conflict of Interest at WWF Post

Osmany Salas

Senator for Non- Governmental Organizations, Osmany Salas, has tendered his resignation as Senator, after five years of service in the seat, to take up a post at a conservation N.G.O. Senator Salas was elected to fill the seat of the thirteenth Senator back in 2017. That seat had been promised by the Barrow Administration in 2008, but it was not until 2016 that the Prime Minister signed the order to appoint the thirteenth Senator. He broke the news of his departure this morning.

Osmany Salas, Senator for NGOs

“I, as of the end of this month madam President, and colleagues, I will be stepping down as Senator representing NGOs. I have tendered my resignation to the steering committee of the Belize Network of NGOs. The reason I have decided after much contemplation and deliberation is that, and the advice that I sought, is that I have applied for and have offered to work for the World Wildlife Fund in the position of Country Lead for the Project Finance for Permanence. That three year undertaking will inevitably require negotiations, discussions and agreement with the government. So, I made that discussion because I do not want even the appearance of conflict of interest in the work that I will be charged of leading as of next month. One of the few things I completely own is my integrity and I hold that dear to my heart.”