For its part, the Government has said the Smart bid was the lowest, and, quote,"The process was open, transparent and fair."
And while the government has yet to disclose the signed contract - they also have no disclosed how much they paid the used governor of the Central Bank to go home in a confidential settlement agreement.
Manuel Gustavo Vasquez had a 5-year contract - but only served 5 months, and we are told that the final settlement figure was in the upper 6 figures - meaning close to a million dollars. Well, the UDP is demanding to know exactly how much it was.
A release demands to know what was the cost to the taxpayers of Belize, quote, "particularly at a time when, according to the government itself, its finances are under such severe constraints that it had to reduce the salaries of public officers and teachers by 10 percent. The UDP calls on the Briceno Government…to fully disclose to the nation what is the compensation package agreed to with the former Governor of the Central Bank, and what exactly is the associated monetary cost to the Government of Belize and, by extension, the People of Belize." End quote.
