There are new developments from the ongoing immigration corruption saga which makes a bye-election in Cayo Northeast a strong possibility. But here’s the biggest, first…Elvin Penner has been asked to resign as area representative of Cayo Northeast, effective immediately. That bombshell was delivered by his political boss this morning at a press briefing in Belmopan. […]
We’ll get to the recall process in a few, but first the evidence. According to the PM, it was enough for him to act immediately, and he has the unanimous agreement of his Cabinet who flanked him this morning at the press conference. So it must have been damning indeed. But we can only speculate, […]
So what of the man in the hot, dark seat? Elvin Penner earned distinction in 2008 when he became the first Mennonite to be elected to the House of Representatives. But now he is a public and political pariah – caught up in the middle of an immigration scam which may eventually result in criminal […]
If Penner does the unthinkable and refuses to resign that leaves a recall as the only process to get rid of him. For the past week, the P.U.P. has been trying to get the eighteen hundred signatures to trigger the recall. In that week, the U.D.P. has been actively campaigning to derail the recall process. […]
With the decision, the evidence and the recall out of the way, the PM also fielded other queries and suggestions. One of those is that Penner has enjoyed the protection of the U.D.P. thus far because if he falls, he might not go alone. There are persistent and credible reports that other ministers are partaking […]
Within two hours of the Prime Minister’s disclosure that there were more irregularities in the issuance of passports and the involvement of the former minister of state, the Opposition held a scheduled press conference. There are three scenarios playing out right now: a recall in Cayo Northeast, Penner’s resignation and both would result in a […]
Former P.U.P. standard bearer Orlando Habet lost to Elvin Penner by a mere seventeen votes in the last general elections. Habet has maintained all along that the elections were stolen because of the mass nationalization and subsequent registration of Guatemalan nationals and other Central Americans by Penner to vote in the 2012 elections. In the […]
Aside from a report on the investigation in the passport scandal and the purported sale of visas, the Opposition is also looking at another investigation. Senator Lisa Shoman first presented the notion of a senate investigation into the passport scandal during a special sitting of the senate two weeks ago. She says that an independent […]
Back to the P.U.P. Press Conference. The Opposition, as well as other social partners, amid the ongoing scandal, has been calling for an inquiry into the issue of impropriety at the Immigration Department. But while the business community and other groups have asked for an open probe into the matter, the moral authority of the […]
Last Friday, the Prime Minister was asking to give Penner a second chance and over the weekend, the PM was in full blown campaign mode. He was in Cayo on tour meeting Cayo Northeast constituents making it clear that the situation is bigger than Penner, and it was all about the U.D.P. and the good […]
The situation remains very fluid as to any resignation by Elvin Penner. A few minutes ago, News Five spoke to Penner by phone. Penner said the following… first, he clarified that he has not resigned and does not intend to do so until he has conferred with his people. He also told News Five that […]
The United Democratic Party is under sustained and heavy fire. One of their own has been implicated in massive corruption in the Immigration Department and public outcry has been unceasing. While the PM will never admit it, he expended tremendous political capital circling the wagons around Elvin Penner. With that said, there is little for […]
One man, however, who has a bundle of documents which were purportedly assigned for destruction, is attorney Arthur Saldivar. The documents include dozens of completed application forms, as well as nationality certificates and Saldivar was scheduled to call a press conference on Wednesday to unveil more evidence of wrongdoing at the Immigration and Nationality Department. […]
At a sitting in Trinidad, the Caribbean Court of Justice this morning heard an application by the Government of Belize in respect of a 2012 order on Telemedia dividends. At the time, the CCJ declared that dividends were not to be paid out to the government of Belize, the Central Bank and the Belize Social […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow hopes for an answer from Elvin Penner by tomorrow. It’s not exactly an ultimatum, but the PM leaves the country en route to LA on Wednesday. The purpose of the trip is partly official, as Barrow will be meeting with Belizean-Americans, but the PM will also be consulting on his health […]
Aside from the passport scandal, there is crime to report. A man was stabbed in Cristo Rey, Cayo District, over the weekend. At the center of the latest homicide is a cousin of the murder victim. Leroy Tzib was stabbed to death as he headed home; tonight his relative Geovanni Pech has been charged with […]
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. Week 3 of the Belikin Cup saw San Ignacio United come to the MCC Grounds Sunday evening in a bid to pick up its 1st season win against an FC Belize who themselves were desperately seeking to grab all 3 points for the 1st […]
