And while the big debate was over money from Taiwan, there were compelling issues discussed throughout the day. Some of that came when the audit for Social Security's 2004 accounts was presented to the House as is required by law. And according to Opposition Leader Barrow, it discloses much useful information, and there is much for contributors to condemn, particularly in relation to the two thousand acres of land that Social Security bought on Ambergris Caye. As we have reported, in August of 2004, in the middle of the G7 uproar, Social Security Board, under pressure from GOB, invested $6 million in two thousand acres of undeveloped land on Northern Ambergris Caye. When we reported on it in last year September, SSB had paid government it's money but had still not gotten title. As Barrow reported in the National Assembly today, the auditor reports that government has still not gotten title.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"Madam Speaker the auditor has had to say that the last two 2,000 acre for in excess of $6 million, that the title was not in order, that the title is being perfected. Madam Speaker I find that extremely worrying. I would think that (if) you are going to buy land, before you purchase, before you pay your money, you make sure the title is in order so that when you pay your money the title can be transferred to you. The fact that months after the sale was completed, or the purchase was completed by SSB, the title is still to be perfected, meaning that the Board does not yet have title is a glaring instance of the way the monies that come from the contribution of workers and employers to the Social Security fund, the way those monies are being utterly mismanaged."
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"From what I been told, contrary to what a certain section of the media reported at the time, especially in his presence, it's a solid investment which will pay handsome dividends in the future. And contrary to that report, it's not swamp and bush and all that, it's a good solid investment as time will tell. That is usually the case with most of these aspersions and allegations, they're made at the time but time always brings out the truth in the end."
Of course, the Prime Minister refers to the investigation 7NEWS did on San Pedro when I visited the vast swathe of swamp. Though politically blustery, his disclaimer is actually pointless because if Social Security has no title for the land, as the auditor has certified, he cannot verifiably point us to where he claims it is.
