On Friday Belize City Councilor Dean Samuels was charged for aggravated assault with a firearm and for driving while under the influence of alcohol. While the most serious charge of aggravated assault has been dropped, today councilor Samuels announced he was surrendering his portfolio of traffic and special events until after his criminal trial. The announcement was made in a taped statement aired on WAVE Radio this morning. Here is a clip of that.
Dean Samuels, Belize City Councilor
"Today I come to you as a result of an incident that arose in the early morning of Friday July 20th 2007 in which I was involved in an unfortunate altercation on Newtown Barracks. As you all know, I was detained by police, charged, and later taken to court. Some of my charges have been dropped and others are pending the results of a urine test which I voluntarily gave up while in police custody. I must say that I have never been detained or charged by police for any criminal act before. I am confident that the test will prove that I was not intoxicated the morning the incident occurred.
In the spirit of transparency, I now announce that I am voluntarily relieving myself from serving under the portfolios of traffic and special events, pending the conclusion of the court case which is set to be heard in early September. This decision was taken to ensure that this incident does not overshadow the hard work that our City Council has been doing since being in office and the work towards the goal of the United Democratic Party to represent the people of Belize at a national level."
A press release from the City Council says that the council met in special caucus and decided to accept Samuels' voluntary suspension of his portfolio. Mayor Zenaida Moya will be assume responsibilities for traffic and special events. The charges Samuels has pending against him are driving without due care and attention, discharging a firearm in public, possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol, and driving a motor vehicle with blood-alcohol level above the prescribed limit. The incident arose after Samuels' allegedly hit a car driven by Reece Rudon. Rudon told police that Samuels pulled a gun on him. On Friday afternoon, Rudon retracted his story in front of a Magistrate.
