Yesterday, shockwaves resonated across the political landscape as Minister of State Edmund "Clear the Land" Castro was removed from the Barrow Cabinet.
The official explanation was that he had failed to live up to the standards of propriety set by the government - and the unofficial information suggested that he had swindled land from a Belizean American woman.
Today Castro did not flinch from the harsh glare of public scrutiny which comes down upon those accused of corruption. He faced the music, went to the National Assembly building for a House Sitting - and had to find his new place at the far, far end of the back bench - here's more on that:…
Belize Rural North Area Representative Edmund Castro sat at the very far end of the back bench this morning. He had been relocated from the middle of the back bench to the spot beyond former Minister of State Marcel Cardona. He spent most of the day going over notes with Cardona or going over his voters list in preparation for his new life as a full-time area representative.
Reporter
"The removal for the Honorable Castro from his ministry of state, can you tell us what us behind it?"
PM Dean Barrow
"You saw the press release? I don't propose to say anything more than that except to indicate that it was over an incident having to do with land and I say that because I gather all sorts of rumors are flying and I do want to make it clear that it was over an issue having to do with land. It is not my intention to embarrass Honorable Castro. As I said in the press release I was satisfied that the standards I expected to be upheld weren't upheld as has not been the case in the past where you think about ministers' visa having been pulled by the US, you think about one who sold land to Poper which turn out to be the wrong land. I - as I have always indicated - will act when I come in to possession of evidence that convinces me that any member of my government has not stuck to the straight and narrow in what I expect. I won't go beyond that."
Jules Vasquez
"Is there an indication of fraud - obtaining property by deception, perhaps theft?"
PM Dean Barrow
"I won't go beyond what I just said. it's an incident involving land."
Jose Sanchez, Reporter
"Are there funds to be returned?"
PM Dean Barrow
"What funds, I never told you about any funds. I heard about Channel 7's news and Channel 7 suggested that it had knowledge of certain details. This is a small country, the media will no doubt do its job, the media will no doubt probe and probe. I ask you to understand my position. I am of the view that people will accept that I have done my duty and will accept that it is not my intention to embarrass anyone more than just the fact of the removal is an embarrassment. I won't say anymore."
Jules Vasquez "Is it not your intention though to set it right if a citizen or a Belizean American has been wronged?"
"To the extent that anybody has been wronged and that it is within the power of the government to set it right, you can be assured that I will set it right."
Jules Vasquez
"Now obviously all of us hear all types of stories about "ministerial hustles" and rarely is proof forthcoming, but again we hear all kinds of stories. Was there an exceptional circumstance that created a situation where you felt that it was right to act."
PM Dean Barrow
"I don't know about an exceptional circumstance. I repeat what I just said to you, no human being is perfect, no government is perfect, this government is certainly far, far, far better that the last government but there may well be things happening that I don't know about or that I hear about but that I cannot prove. Whenever there is any proof given to me concerning wrong doing on the part of any member of my government I will act."
