We also asked the Mayor about reports that the Council is outsourcing some of the work that its paint shop should be responsible for.
The paint shop is the works department within the Council that maintains the paint jobs for speed bumps, street markings, traffic signs, and other similar jobs for the City.
The person who the City Council will engage in business for these works is Rene Castillo. He's the man in this picture holding the liquor bottle beside Mayor Bernard.
He is reportedly the mayor's close friend, so we asked about that arrangement. Here's how he answered those questions:
Daniel Ortiz
"Explain to us what the deal with that one is."
Bernard Wagner - Mayor, Belize City Council
"We don't have any contracts with Rene Castillo. What we do have is an issue with the efficiency of the paint shop. School is back - will be back. We want to ensure that we have the walkways and the curbs painted for our children because the safety of our children is very important. And we have a two-week to a three-week window to get those jobs done. And so we are looking at how we could engage outside personnel to really facilitate the paint job, which, again, when you look at the cost, is very. It is insignificant based on the amount of work we'll be doing. It's essentially just the school hot zones, which, again, they did the costs are insignificant."
Daniel Ortiz
"But sir, at the end of the day, shouldn't that cost be absorbed in-house with the paint shop department?"
Bernard Wagner
"Our paint shop will do some work. They will be doing their work, but the amount of work will not be able to be completed within the three weeks window. So, it's essentially a gap filling, yeah."
Daniel Ortiz
"What are your views on any city residents who object to that business arrangement?"
Bernard Wagner
"Listen, man, a small paint job, we won't make any - how will you bring up or issue in respect to our paint job? It's the safety of our children that should be the concern of all residents, and that is a concern of the city."
