…And country’s leaders pay their respects
But before the funeral service, Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Minister of Housing, Michael Finnegan, shared fond memories of Ayuso’s work in politics and his younger years.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“What I most recollect about him is the fact that when he was in politics, he was always humble in terms of dealing with people and he was always very feeling. When his constituents had problems and he tried to help, you had the sense that he was doing it more out of his sense of humanity than as a politician who had to react out of a sense of duty in order to get elected. He was genuine, he felt for people, he was completely empathetic I believe is the word in terms of suffering of poor people and he always tried to assist and that’s how I remember him. Of course, my condolences to his family, to his wife, his children, his mother, his father, his sister; really sad, really tragic.”
Michael Finnegan, Minister of Housing
“Oscar was a nice and humble person. When I heard about his death and the way it happened, I was a shocked person. His daughter and my son were in the same class together at Belize Elementary School. So we usually meet with one another. I know God will forgive him whatever lee sins ih gat because we have wah merciful God.”
Ayuso died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound last Saturday night. It is reported that he caved in to financial debts. He is survived by his wife Halima and two children.