Over $2 Million spent on incomplete Marion Jones Fence
Herman Longsworth and David Craig were not present at this morning’s Supreme Court hearing. Longsworth’s attorney Michael Young conceded that the matter must now be trashed out in court. Young argued that Longsworth’s contract was successfully completed on April eleventh 2011 with a liability period of six months that expired on October twenty-fourth, 2011. Young provided that information in an affidavit from Longsworth which included a statement from Duane Thurton of Thurton and Associates.
Michael Young, Attorney for Herman Longsworth
“There was a contract for certain works to be done which was signed back in August 2009, but that contract was completed, the works under that contract were performed and that was certified by the architects and designers, Anthony Thurton and Associates and they have provided a letter to that effect. So our fundamental position is that you have a contract between two parties and the two parties are saying that that contract is at an end. It ended at the very latest on the twenty-fourth of October 2011. And the architects responsible for the carrying out of the contract are also saying that it was finished on the on the twenty-fourth of October 2011; then that contract must be finished. It doesn’t mean that the court is saying that they agree with the position of the petitioner, but the court is saying that this is a serious issue and that there is a ground for having this matter ventilated; dealt with before the court and so it will be dealt with.”
Jose Sanchez
Michael Young
“Mister Young in regards to the layman’s point of view, they will look at the fence and say the fence is not complete. Does that play a role in regards to the contract?”
Michael Young
“I made the point in court that the documents which were presented by them are not complete. As a matter of fact it’s only a couple of pages. Contract drawings and papers must be a whole lot of documents that include exactly the description of the works to be done. I’m saying that even looking at their documents; you can’t really determine that there remain things to be done because it all depends on what both parties have put in documents are the details of the things that ought to be done. It is not a matter of somebody just picking up a camera and going somewhere and taking pictures; because in fact this was phase one fot he contract which suggests that there would be further phases. It might be that you have—and I don’t know—it might be that you have other works to be performed which might impact on the fence; I don’t really know. The fact is that what the court has to go on would be the material that was presented to the court and that material was seriously deficient; in my view.”
Jose Sanchez
“So in your summation you would say that the election petition would fail?”
Michael Young
“I am not god if you notice to predict how any matter is going to go. I can only tell you that I feel that we have a strong case. I do believe that it is the position that Herman Longsworth did not have any contract with the government as declared with the affidavit as at Election Day and before that at Nomination Day and he does not have a contract with government today. So he is qualified to sit in the house.”
Musa’s argument hinged on Section fifty-eight 1H of the Constitution of Belize which says “No person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives who is a party to, or a partner in a firm or a director or manager of a company which is a party to, any contract with the government for or on account of the public service and has not, within one month before the day of election, declared publicly and in a newspaper circulating in the electoral division for which he is a candidate a notice setting out the nature of the contract and his interest, or the interest of any such firm or company therein.” Pundits say that section of the constitution will also be used against Mark King and possibly at least one more elected U.D.P. Area Representative before the end of the week.
Michael Young …IS NOT god, if you noticed…..seems closer to the other place right now.
Lets pretend it is indeed finished-for 2 million dollars-this is what Longsworth thinks is great looking and well built? a portent of things to come as Minister? I would not be bragging that it is complete. It is either poor contraction or poor design by turton architect who is now trying to cover all their @$$#$
Nonsense…..lets call bi-election we want our money worth. Longsworth is not worth it, get him out.
Over two million dollars paid for an “incomplete” fence. Does anyone, irrespective of your party allegiance, see anything wrong with this picture?
Come on Belizeans, better yet civil society (if you’re out there), wake up and let’s do something! Or are we going to settle, as usual, and phone the morning talk shows and do nothing more?
Belizeans, its time to hold our elected officials accountable, not for political gain, but in the move toward engendering Good Governance practises!
GOd does not predict, mr. young. so you don’t need to be God to predict.
Country can not build a fence correct.
That puts everything else in perspective.
Wow 2 million for a fence???damn corruption mi seh!!!
tasteless for a national stadium. Up to Standard for Belize though, so… whatever i guess
OBVIOUSLY WE NEED BETTER MANAGEMENT OF OUR PUBLIC FUNDS…WE NEED HONESTY AND UP-RIGHTNESS. People who WANT TO SERVE instead of getting served.
BOTTOM LINE WE NEED TO START PRACTICING “INTEGRITY” and “HONESTY”…or WHAT WILL THE CHILDREN THINK???
I AGREE WITH THE BIG QUESTION BEING ” WHETHER COMPLETE OR STILL INCOMPLETE ARE THE WORKS TO-DATE WORTH AT LEAST CLOSE TO $2 MILLION”? SOUNDS LIKE TOO MUCH FOR A FENCE TO ME…SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER CASE OF PARTY CRONIES GETTING RICH OFF THE PEOPLE’S PURSE.
In other countries election & boundaries are not biase and are for the people not to any party. It would be so good for this to happen in Belize. And I applaude to all this people that want to show the public how things are done when we as a beautiful country are run down & taken advantage by this government…
Well you people down south can forget about the Kendall Bridge if this is the caliber of Ministers Dean Barrow has hand-picked for “The Best Government” Belize will ever see. Imagine the realities……2 million dollars…contract complete….fence incomplete….more works possible….
On another note, the VIP should have concentrated on filing some petitions against some key politicians who did not disclose their campaign financing. There is a new teaching here. Elections lost at the poles can be vindicated in the courts. Come on VIP and Independents. Take notes. It may be a while before you guys win a seat in the house, but you sure reek havok on corrupt politicians who breach the law as it relates to elections in Belize. What say you Paco Smith…..
2MILLION for a fence, just that should disallow Longworth. corruption was rampant in the first UDP government. brace yourself for much worse!!
ITS OBVIOUS THAT WITHOUT INTERVENTION THE MARION JONES STADIUM WILL NOT FINISH WE MIGHT AS WELL CALL THE TWO MILLION DALLAS DEAD
You are correct Paco Smith. The “people” who could have done something have struck a compromise with Barrow: 1) minister hulse 2) minister of super bond, M. Espat, 3) Ambassador Queen, Ms. Young-Barrow.