Was Saldivar Shyne’s Favored Candidate in Upcoming U.D.P. Convention?
Disgraced former Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar is hosting a press conference for Thursday afternoon here in Belize City to address the allegations that have led to his recent designation by the U.S. State Department. It will be the first time that the embattled U.D.P. politician will be facing the media in the wake of last week’s bombshell announcement by the office of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. But on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow met with reporters and was grilled for the better part of an hour to speak on the issues surrounding Saldivar candidacy, as he will be offering himself in an upcoming U.D.P. convention. Here’s how the party leader responded.
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Mr. Saldivar has a right to do whatever he feels is in his best interest, but my responsibility is to the best interest of the United Democratic Party. And so, before we get to discussion of any convention, we need to get through this special committee. So for me, it is one step at a time.”
Reporter
“It was widely perceived that Mr. Saldivar was your favorite in the upcoming Belmopan convention. If in fact he is allowed by the special committee to continue his candidacy, will you show him favor? Because factually, nothing has changed, the only thing that has changed is a designation by the United States, but all the facts about Mr. Saldivar’s alleged corruption were well known in Belize.”
Shyne Barrow:
“I’ll be honest with you. The passport issue, I was not aware of. I did some inquiries and I understand that it was an issue and Mr. Saldivar admitted that it was an issue with the former prime minister and that’s why the former prime minister moved him from immigration. But I was not aware of that, I never heard Mr. Saldivar’s name called in the select committee, the Senate Select Committee, so that is news to me. But on my campaign for party leader, I made a promise that I would not support any candidate for standard bearer, so I am not involved in any of the candidacies for standard bearer.”
