Mayor Bernard says PM’s personal attack on him unwarranted
Kevin Bernard
The Prime Minister also punctuated his tongue-lashing of the Orange Walk Town Council with a personal jab at Mayor Kevin Bernard. In questioning the managing of the town’s finances by the Council, the PM has raised his eyebrows at a vehicle being driven by the Mayor. Today we reached Mayor Kevin Bernard, who reacted to the PM’s refusal to help, and was offended by the PM’s personal attack on him which he says was unwarranted.
Kevin Bernard, Mayor, Orange Walk Town
“I would personally like to mention to the Prime Minister via this interview that I would want him to know that this has been one of the only council that has been able to publicly publish its reports. Whenever we have events, like the fiestarama, I mean you could look at our financial reports that we published on the fiestarama. Immediately after these events, we go out there and we publish our financial reports. You can look at our website at www.owtc.bz and he can view all of our monthly financial records. If the prime minister is requiring for us to personally send him a copy, then that’s not a problem. This is sent every month to the Ministry of Local Government who then in turn forward these to the respect ministries. I am happy to report at the same time that during today while all of these things were going on, I wasn’t just sitting down here in my office not doing anything. we were lobbying and trying to negotiate with the bank at the same time we were making sure that we were able to meet the payroll for employees which we had done that. All our employees were paid and they went home happy and I believe operations will continue here at the council. We were able to reach somewhat of an understanding with the Belize Bank and of course further lobbying needs to continue. In reference to the Prime Minister and all due respect to him, I would want to state then that when he brought up the issue of my personal vehicle. I want to make it absolutely clear that ever since I got into this office as mayor, I have not used any nor have never asked any government to purchase any vehicle for the mayor or for this council. In fact, when I came into this office, I had my own vehicle. I had a 2002 Ford Escape that I was using. I later on sold that vehicle, to my father actually. And decided to go to the credit union recently to get a loan where I purchased my vehicle that I use. That is my personal property. I use my personal vehicle to carry out the council’s work as well. I’m not one of the mayors that would run to the ministry of finance and ask the prime minister for them to purchase a vehicle like what some of the previous mayors had done. But this is not the case. I mean for the PM to have gone in the national assembly to attack me and my vehicle when I am not there to defend myself—I am not a member of the national assembly—but I believe that I had to answer this issue for as a matter as clarity, we need the people to know.”
While there has been some short term accommodation at this time, News Five understands that the bank still intends to collect its money, one way or the other, sooner rather than later.
While I applaud the Mayor for buying his own vehicle, the town board should have a Mayor’s vehicle. Nobody will remember that he was saving the town’s money by using his own vehicle. Quite a noble thing to do, but some people will even say he stole the town’s vehicle after he stop being a mayor, or he sold it to himself for a pittance. The PM already said they raised their salaries, that is why there is no money. If it was a UDP town council, nothing of the sort would ever be heard! He would have most likely praised the mayor though for using his own vehicle!
So sad on the pm side ,looks like he has pain abelly due to all those corruption scandals that are circling him due to their incompetence and arrogance,he said that he will chop corruption under his govt’ with a 2 side filed machete? where is it mr barrow? u da real talker and LIADDDDDDDDD.We Belizeans da no fools anymore,like d saying goes “da foool d talk but da no foool di listen”. corruptions,corruptions looks like dean barrow split up his face and the split just dropped back a eh face again! corrupt dean barrow coverups ,planes landing late at night with chinese nationals,KHMH inquiry of over spending and other corruptions involved,NOH MUL,KHMH 13 babies that died and no justice was made due to the ministry of health/GOB incompetence, minister castros’ scandals? passssports scandalsssssss bu ELVIN PENNER AND CRONIES? mein and more are to come just wait/watch and see.
SIF SCANDALSSSSSSSSSS AND MORE,BARROW U SHOULD RESIGNNNNNNN.
Dear Barrister Beano,
Speaking of govt vehicles, how is that Faber investigation going?
Not the right upright minister faber, his brother.
you remember (maybe) the time, allegedly drunk off hours GOB employee faber totals a brand new GOB vehicle and runs from the scene of the accident.
anything come of that UDP investigation?
i guess you have run out of investigators with so many under way.
tell the country how many destroyed GOB vehicles the UDP has trashed.
I know contrerrass has personally (including family members) wiped out three, his ministry has wiped out three more in including fabers. Did you at least get the license plates back from faber?
estimated UDP bad driving: $30 million in crashed vehicles. your guys need to take driving lessons, stop drink driving, and only use the vehicles for official business.
I commend Mayor Bernard using a personlal vehicle. your guys would refuse work if the did not have a new vehicle to be seen in.
Beano, you still can run, some country might take you.
Or negoiate a deal to share a cell with Penner, you can pass the gas talking about the fun you once had with someone who will kiss your ring.
congrats on answering Mayor because when Mrs. Dolores had commented about Yellowman they raised hell and high water on her because they said he was not there to defend himself.I totally agree that you come on and defend yourself because he doing the same shit that they were protesting against.and if I were u I wouldnt be out there sharing my personal business.thats none of their business and you do not owe any of them an explanation.
well done mayor. yes just caz OWTC da PUP, barrow d seh all kinda thing caz he no find no fault ina OWTC.