On Monday we reported that Minister of State in the Ministry of Works Edmund Castro’s driver was busted at a Customs checkpoint with a stash of contraband liquor. The Honourable Castro told us he would suspend his driver but now he doesn’t have a choice. That is because Prime Minister Dean Barrow says that pending an investigation, Castro’s driver is banned from driving the government vehicle.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“I spoke to the Minister yesterday and I made it clear that that driver has to be at least suspended. The question of perhaps his transfer or his dismissal is something that we will discuss in greater detail. But I said to him yesterday that that driver cannot be seen to be driving the government vehicle anymore.”
Keith Swift,
For good?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“As I said, at least for now. In order words, there is a suspension. I would want to hear what the driver has to say before a final decision is taken as to dismissal but that has to be a possibility.”
Keith Swift,
What if I would tell you that he was driving the vehicle as recently as yesterday?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“That is what I am saying. I spoke to Mr. Castro because I believe some other incident had occurred and I told him yesterday that that driver is not to be driving the government vehicle. So if you tell me that the driver is driving the government vehicle today then I will have a serious concern.”
Though he had been on suspension without pay, Castro’s driver was activated yesterday to drive the Minister’s Montero in a support role as Castro participated in the Ride Across Belize. But it seems Customs has issues with clear the land and they tried to stop the vehicle in a procession of service vehicles at Carmelita. The driver didn’t stop and Customs continued in a bizarre low speed pursuit for some twenty miles until they got to Gardenia.
Now, all this time, the Montero continued along with the race at about 25 miles an hour with the customs team in tow. But it ended at Gardenia because Ladyville police were called for backup and stopped the Montero with one officer coming out with his gun pointed at the driver demanding that he stop. He did but far as we could tell no search was conducted. Castro, meanwhile was on his bike, and rode into the city with the Ride Across Belize.
