Last night we told you about the Belize City Council's contract to expand the Eternal Gardens Cemetery at mile 13 on the George Price Highway. Reliable reports suggest that Cattouse Trucking - which had the lowest bid at $92,000 dollars - had gotten the nod for what we are told are urgent works.
But, that company is owned by the father of councilor Kaya Cattouse. So today we reached out to the councillor in charge of cemeteries to find out if he supports such a contract award. Michael Novelo told us he would be opposed to a contract awarded to a councilor's family member - even if it is the lowest bid:
Michael Novelo, Councillor Responsible for Cemeteries
"I got the same information you got probably about a week ago. I scheduled a meeting with the mayor. I went in and I spoke to the mayor and I ask him about those same concerns. He told me that this situation will be tabled at caucus by myself and that caucus will decide. I believe it's the same answer he gave you all on your newscast last week, so as far as I am concern it is supposed to be tabled at caucus. However, we do have a sense of urgency in regards to grave spaces at the council, but in the past, it has been done that just small portion to hold over until we can do the bigger portion."
Jules Vasquez
"But is that happening in this case?"
Michael Novelo
"Not to my knowledge. I also expressed to the mayor that I don't want no shady looking situation with this particular incident, because we know Cattouse Trucking is affiliated with a councillor and we also have other bids that are associated to other councillors. I expressed to the mayor fully that the council cannot handle another political situation like that. So, if it was left to me, none of those ones would have even been considered."
Jules Vasquez
"But fair is fair, the argument can also be made well Cattouse Trucking has the lowest bid at $92,000, the closet bid to that is $94,000."
Michael Novelo
"For $2,000 I would not risk my political career of any smear. I would not do that for $2,000. I am sorry. If the council have to pay $2,000 more so that someone neutral can get it, then that is the way I am willing to go."
Jules Vasquez
"Mr. Novelo, at the same time you have to understand how politics works and I am sure you do. A lot of times when persons are elected, you have to help out who helps you out, because you haven't reach there by yourself."
Michael Novelo
"I did not get into this for the wrong reasons. I got into this for the right reasons I believe and the right reason is to do right. This situation is not one farfetched, it has not gone beyond repair at this point, I believe so and I don't believe so. And I am confident that the mayor will find a suitable resolution to this."
Jules Vasquez
"When we spoke to the mayor last week, we ask him if any family or related parties would be receiving the contract and he couldn't say that they wouldn't, so I took the mayor's equivocation as an indication that things may head in that direction. Were you at any point told that well we would like this to go in a certain way?"
Michael Novelo
"None at all, Jules. I have not been approach. I've not been asked, because everyone in the council knows that I am not that person you should come to like that. I try to play it as clean as I can. This expansion of this cemetery is not a situation I want my name to be dabbled up in."
We'll keep following the story.
