Councillor Samuels gives an update on under deposits
It’s September twenty fifth, the date when the Director of Public Prosecutions was expected to deliver her decision after reviewing the Belize City Council’s file that included the audited reports and allegations of misappropriation of funds. But our efforts to find out whether that decision has been made have yielded nothing. We did find out, however, that Deputy Mayor, Dion Leslie, has written to Mayor Zenaida Moya Flowers to update her on the decisions they have taken in her absence – that of suspending the three employees whose names were mentioned in the government’s audit report. An addendum accompanies the letter to state that the Council followed the proper procedures as laid out by the Ministry of Local Government, in dealing with the suspensions. But while the Council gave its decision from last week, News Five understands that the three employees were still at work this week. When we spoke with him today, we asked Councillor Dean Samuels to share the latest on the situation with us.
Dean Samuels, City Councillor
“Up to now we’re at suspension really for the people whose names were called. That’s about it right now.”
Marion Ali
“But those people are still on the job, still on full pay.”
Dean Samuels
“Not to my understanding. From my understanding, based on the suspension they’re gonna be on half pay.”
Marion Ali
“But up to yesterday, they were still on the job on full pay.”
Dean Samuels
“Well the Council made a decision and then the technical people have to do their part. Until the people who should issue the letter or whatsoever get that problem solve then I guess then that problem will be solved.”
Marion Ali
“The Council didn’t give a deadline when that should have been done?”
Dean Samuels
“Not to my understanding. The Council just based that a suspension was to be given then it’s turned over to the technical people.”
Marion Ali
“Has the D.P.P. made a decision as far as you all are aware?”
Dean Samuels
“That again I’m not privy to. It would be premature of me to make a comment on it without really knowing.”
Marion Ali
“The Mayor was in today I was told.”
Dean Samuels
“I wasn’t privy to that. I went to City Council for a meeting and I heard the meeting was cancelled, but to say if she was in I really can’t give you a definite answer.”
The person whose job it is to officially place the employees on suspension is the City Administrator, Dr. Kiran Vanjani. Meanwhile, Mayor Moya Flowers was in office today but just for a brief moment as she is still on maternity leave. We understand that she is also doing an independent report of how the Council’s finances were managed and that report will be provided to the Auditor General’s office. We also tried to get a comment from the Mayor but we were told that she will make no statements on the matter.
