“She made allegations of rape.” – Shyne Barrow

Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez is on an indefinite leave of absence from Cabinet.  The Minister of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation is embroiled in a nasty sex scandal that has undoubtedly brought disrepute to the Briceño administration.  The alleged incident between the well-known San Pedraño and Wendy Auxillou, a legal professional from Caye Caulker, also threatens to upend his political career.  Perez’s transgression has sparked public outrage and the United Democratic Party has been all over the matter since we broke the story on August seventeenth.  A release issued by the Government of Belize on Monday states that during Perez’s time away, an investigation will be conducted by Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre to determine whether there has been, “any actionable wrongdoing”.  Earlier today, Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow commented at length on Perez’s indiscretion.  We begin our newscast tonight with the latest in an ongoing saga involving the embattled government minister.

Shyne Barrow

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“It gives me and my party absolutely no pleasure to even be discussing this very sordid matter, tragic matter that highlights what is the P.U.P., a train wreck, totally out of control, lack of decorum, lack of caliber in the people that got the privilege of administrating our country.  I pray for the victim, the alleged victim in this case, and the family of Mr. Perez.  There is so much wrong that the PUP is doing that this is not something that I would have cared to be an issue.  We have crime, we have corruption, we have the cartels taking over the north, cost of living, healthcare facilities, et cetera, et cetera.  However, this is not what some people are trying to make it seem to be, downplaying the severity of the accusations.  We have to be a fair society. There has been an attempt by some to make this a personal affair, two lovers. I saw, you saw, the statement by Ms. Wendy Auxillou that she rescinded because she was not ready to release it officially, but it was a statement, nonetheless, that totally rejects the minister’s proclamation that this was consensual and, in fact, she made allegations of rape.”