According to reports, Mayor Zenaida Moya will be arrested tomorrow. Indications are that she will be asked to present herself at the police station to answer a summons for her arrest. It will, we are told, be handled similar to the arrest of other high profile personalities such as Said Musa, Joe Coye and Ralph Fonseca. Moya and two other City Council employees will be charged for two criminal offences. One of those counts is “failure to comply with city council regulations.”
It is an event that has sent shockwaves through the city’s political community - a UDP Mayor being arrested and charged under a UDP government. And she is not just any Mayor – she is the best known female political figure in the modern era – and has single name recognition throughout the country, after all there’s only one Zenaida.
Well today we asked Deputy Mayor Dion Leslie and Councillor Phillip Willoughby about the arrest of their elected leader. Leslie deferred comment but Willoughby did.
Dion Leslie, Deputy Mayor
“I haven’t seen anything in writing and so it is alleged and as far as my knowledge, no charges have been brought against the Mayor as yet.”
Keith Swift,
“But if she would be charged what would be your reaction?”
Dion Leslie,
“The council will meet because the council needs to find a way forward and we will see what we do from there.”
Keith Swift,
“I am telling the police have gotten the instructions to charge, what’s your reaction to that?”
Dion Leslie,
“I like print Keith, I want to see something in print or action being taken. I haven’t seen anything, it is just alleged, we haven’t seen anything out here and you know what they say about assuming.”
Keith Swift,
“But one thing you have seen is the audit report. Do you believe after reading that report that the Mayor committed any wrongdoing?”
Dion Leslie,
“I have my personal opinion that audit report and I will not share it with the media.”
Keith Swift,
“What’s your reaction?”
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
“Like I told the persons within the document that the allegations are being made in, all I can do is pray for you. All I can do is pray for you and forgive you from myself. But the system doesn’t work that way.”
Keith Swift,
“You feel sorry for her, you think she is being persecuted?”
Phillip Willoughby,
“No, no. I am saying I am praying for her. You know what praying for someone does? I am sorry for her.”
Moya did not respond to our requests for comment today or yesterday.
