Pedro Briceno was voted out as PUP Chairman of Trial Farm Village at the now controversial village council elections held on Sunday March 23rd. That's the same election where UDP standard bearer Chendo Urbina was charged for assaulting CTV-3 journalist Jorge Aldana.
But before being voted out of office as Chairman of Trial Farm, Pedro Briceno was voted out as treasurer of the Orange Walk District Village Council Association. He was kicked out at elections held in November after a no confidence vote and he was supposed to hand over all the money and property belonging to the Orange Walk Association. But now there is a claim that he didn't do that.
On February 21st the new DAVCO, as it is called, took office but the National Association of Village Councils treasurer Fidelmar Hernandez says there were funds outstanding. Hernandez says that is why they took the embattled Briceno to court today. He explained the stalemate to our affiliates at the Northern Cable Company outside the Orange Walk Magistrate's Court.
Fidelmar Hernandez,
"Last year November the new DAVCO was restructured and from then the new association sent a letter to Mr. Briceno asking for the financial reports and all belongings of the district association. We realized afterwards that some money was missing at the bank. Working with the Ministry we realized that yes some money was missing. Mr. Pedro Briceno accepted that he owed this money.
On the 21st of February he did his first payment, $10,800 and promised to pay the rest by the following week. Two weeks after he paid $9,000. It was a total of $19,800 - a balance left to be paid was $2,300.
We decided to come to court so that the court could find who is lying. Is it Mr. Luis Salazar, present President for the District Association of Village Council Orange Walk or is it Mr. Pedro Briceno."
Records indicate that there is $2,300 outstanding. Briceno's court case has been adjourned to May 11th. CEO in the Ministry of Local Government Hugh O'Brien told us this evening that his Ministry is disappointed that the full balance was not handed over during course of official handing over.
