The ongoing controversy over the Corozal Free Zone continues to brew and tonight, it's getting just a little bit crazy. It all started earlier today when two directors, who were elected on Monday resigned in solidarity with Winston Smiling, the former acting Chairman who lost in Monday's election. Those two directors are Gulab Sharma and Mexican Carlos Parra and both tendered their resignations today. Sharma came to our office to say that with two of the four directors having now resigned, they hope to force a new election where proxy votes can be used.
Gulab Sharma,
"The elections were not conducted in a traditional form. The proxies were not allowed at all. Every other time proxies were allowed but this time they were not. And also, the Vice Chairman is always elected from our board of directors and the Minister nominee is always a public servant who works for the government. So we would urge the government to call the re-election for the Corozal Free Zone Board of Directors."
Jules Vasquez,
Are you sweating a fever for Mr. Winston Smiling?
Gulab Sharma,
"No way at all. I feel that it was not, the elections were not run in a proper way. If we used the proxies we would have gotten more votes than anyone of the opponents."
Jules Vasquez,
Are you convinced that if you have another election that you would win and Mr. Smiling would win without the use of proxies?
Gulab Sharma,
"Yes, we could."
But Sharma's plan fell into trouble this afternoon when Parra revoked his resignation. Parra has not communicated to us in person about any of his letters, but a signed letter sent faxed from the office of the Corozal Free Zone Management Agency says he declares any letter declaring his resignation null and void and he commits to serve on the board. It's an issue we will continue to watch.
