Eric Chang back in the country, but still no word to City Council

Eric Chang

Councilor Eric Chang returned to Belize on Tuesday after an extended stay in Taiwan but his boss, Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley, is yet to have a meeting with Chang to discuss the issue of his alleged involvement in the Penner passport scandal.  Despite efforts to contact Chang while he was away, the Mayor was snubbed and not personally informed of his arrival on Tuesday.  In fact, that confirmation came from a fellow councilor who spoke with Chang late Tuesday afternoon.  In the wake of allegations made against Chang for his purported role in attempting to pass off a fraudulent Belizean passport to Won Hong Kim while in prison in Taipei, Mayor Bradley told the media that a sit-down would be held immediately upon his homecoming.  Today the mayor told News Five that he hasn’t had an opportunity as yet to speak with the demoted councilor.

Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor

Darrell Bradley

“I was advised that he came back into the jurisdiction yesterday evening.  I understood that came back around two o’clock on the second flight and I became aware about this around four.  I have not had an opportunity yet to reach out to him to indicate to him to come in and let’s sit down and discuss.  I had maintained this from the very beginning that my dealing with him in relation to the decisions that the council makes is as it relates to his performance as a city councilor.  He, at that time, was the deputy mayor.  He was the works councilor, we felt that we wanted, we needed to have persons filling those posts within the jurisdiction and we’re doing a lot of infrastructure programs. When he and I sit down and he and I meet it will be for the purpose of getting an assurance from him that he is prepared to continue in office and to discharge his function, the function for which he is being paid and for which he was elected; that is to be a councilor in the Belize City Council and to continue in office.  He had missed two meetings, there are consequences if you miss four meetings.  I don’t expect that since he is here he is going to be missing any meetings, so that I want an assurance from him which I’m sure and confident that I will get that he is serious about being a councilor and serious about serving the people of Belize City and continuing the work which I feel is good work that the city is doing in terms of infrastructure.”

Isani Cayetano

“Now Mayor Bradley, in the wake of the Penner passport scandal and allegations made regarding his possible involvement, you had mentioned in previous interviews that a sit-down with councilor Chang was necessary and you had mentioned that this would have been done upon his arrival.  Have you had that opportunity to express this to him seeing as though you tried, I would want to think in vain, to communicate with him while he was away in Taiwan.”

Darrell Bradley

“Well I haven’t and we’re doing other things.  Our focus at city council is delivering on the commitments that the people elected us for.  The issue with the passports, I would call it fiasco, is an unnecessary sidetrack because it derails us from the focus and the reason why we’re here.”

Since returning to Belize, Chang has remained well below the radar.  News Five has made an attempt to contact him for comment but he has not returned our call.