Fellow councillor defends ex-mayor as “man of integrity”

He gave interviews to a number of media houses yesterday, this one included. But what was supposed to be an exercise in candor did little to dispel public doubts about the propriety–or legality–of ex-mayor David Fonseca’s granting himself around two hundred and fifty thousand dollars of city funds. Today we spoke to a number of Fonseca’s former colleagues on the Belize City Council as well as several current city employees … all in an effort to find out how such an obviously unacceptable practice was allowed to persist for years. While their willingness to dish ranged from the enthusiastic to the reluctant, there was only one former councillor who was ready to go on camera. Eloisa Trujeque says that while the ex-mayor probably should have done things differently, she is convinced that his intentions were noble and he is a man of integrity.

Eloisa Trujeque
?I did not touch any money, we couldn?t touch any money because there was no money to be touched, and all that money transaction was done by the finance department.?

Janelle Chanona
?So but then I?m confused, if there was no money to touch, how was the Mayor able to get his hands on so much money??

Eloisa Trujeque
?Well I really don?t know. I don?t know.?

Janelle Chanona
?And that doesn?t scare you??

Eloisa Trujeque
?Well I wouldn?t say it scares me, but I guess when the taxes came in that is when, how he accessed the money. The money was given to him.?

Janelle Chanona
?You think the way things were going it was being operated properly? You know, instead of just increasing the social assistance programme, do you think it was correct for him to get it through personal loans??

Eloisa Trujeque
?Well I don?t think he should have done that because then now the burden is on him. And I believe that all of us should have taken responsibility for that. It?s not only the mayor, you know.?

Janelle Chanona
?So all of you are responsible??

Eloisa Trujeque
?Well I believe all of us are responsible because then we did not really notice what was going on and we did not know where he was getting the money to help the people.?

?I wouldn?t say that it looks fishy, because honestly I believe in David. I strongly believe in him and I feel that he is a person of integrity. The only thing that he did was to really got that money in his name when it should have been putted into the assistance programme. That?s the only thing that didn?t go right, but I am sure that he used all that money on the people.?

Eloisa Trujeque
?I was a part of the council for two terms and we have never been told about advances and bounced cheques, because that is the business of the finance manager.?

Janelle Chanona
?But as members of the council, you were able to access that information. Would you all have been able to find it you think??

Eloisa Trujeque
?Yes I think we would be able to do that. But we have never interfered with the finances. We have a committee that is set up to do that sort of things and also we have the internal auditor that does those things. And those things should have been brought to our attention. But whatever money has been used by the Mayor, I believe that he did it with good intentions because a lot of people everyday goes to his office and he gives them assistance. We call it the poverty alleviation assistance programme and that, whatever money he accessed, that is what he used it for, as far we know. Because there is no doubt about it, everyday people goes there, every day. And he himself, he couldn?t manage without using the city council funds, I believe you know.?

Janelle Chanona
?But to residents, especially those that voted for you for those two terms, don?t you think that yourself as councillor and other councillors should have been more aware of what was happening. You all should have been checking up on these things??

Eloisa Trujeque
?Well as I said before, we have never really had a really good report about the finances. When I say that, we didn?t have a balance sheet, I didn?t see a balance sheet you know, so we really didn?t?the finance officer, I would say the finance officer should have brought that to our attention.?

Janelle Chanona
?That would be Mrs. Wade.?

Eloisa Trujeque
?Mrs. Wade, she should have brought that to our attention and say, well this is the way the finances are going or this is the way it?s not doing well or let us know what is happening.?

?Personally if people get advances that?s not my business. That?s their own affairs and I don?t like to get into anybody?s affairs. I don?t think that?s the city?s business, personal allotment.?

Janelle Chanona
?Even though it?s the taxpayer?s money??

Eloisa Trujeque
?Yeah, but if they get advances, they must be paying it back. I don?t know. I know I didn?t get any, I couldn?t get any and I would never get any. I would never ask for any.?

Janelle Chanona
?Do you think Mr. Fonseca should be the one to pay back all this money??

Eloisa Trujeque
?Well personally I don?t think that they should let him pay back all that money. I don?t think so, because actually he really used it for the people. Maybe they could work up something and he maybe could pay a part of it, but I would not agree that he should be paying back all that money.?