Saldivar Says He is Prepared to Fight to the Bitter End
Designation aside, Saldivar’s political future hangs in the balance. The defeated politician is offering himself as a candidate in an upcoming U.D.P. convention where he is running against several others, including George Lovell, Khalid Belisle and Emil Torres. But at what point is he prepared to throw in the towel amid all the allegations of impropriety that have dogged him for the past seven years?
Isani Cayetano
“Mr. Saldivar, for several years, you have been dogged by a number of allegations…”
John Saldivar
John Saldivar, Former Minister of Government
“I have been wrongly accused.”
Isani Cayetano
“However you want to phrase it.”
John Saldivar
“Not however you want to phrase it. There is no… Noh man, this is what I am saying, this long commentary before you ask your question, that gives your opinion, because that is an opinion, that is all it is. I have accused without evidence, I have never been convicted of any crime. But proceed…”
Isani Cayetano
“Forgive me, I am not here to convict you either. I am simply saying that a number of allegations have loomed over your head as a public official when you were elected, when you were an area representative and when you held a ministerial portfolio, allegations hung over your head. My question is simple. At what point do you concede that perhaps everything that is being placed against you, whether or not you’re guilty or you’re innocent, at what point do you say, you know what, for the purpose of the party that you represent, that you love so much, do you step aside and say, you know what, let me move on with my personal, private life and allow for the party to continue on, if it’s to be viable in any form or fashion in the next coming election?”
John Saldivar
“Whenever the people of Belmopan say that they do not wish for me to continue as their area representative or standard bearer in this case, because obviously, Jules will point to me that I lost the last general election, as I have lost twice before. I have been approved by my party to be a candidate in the upcoming election and I expect that that approval will stand. When the people of Belmopan say that they do not wish for me to be their representative that’s when I step down and beside that, then it will have to be when I am found guilty of what I am being accused of. And to this date, I have not been found guilty and in this last instance, not even the evidence has been presented against me.”
