And while that UDP politician has now faced criminal charges for alleged misdeeds in office, a former PUP politician who never even answered to allegation of corruption and money laundering made against him - is now under a fresh wave of public scrutiny.
That's Moises Cal - who, as we have been reporting - is the Prime Minister's choice for Chairman of the Public Service Commission.
As we told you, the Opposition has rejected Cal's proposed appointment because of the lingering question over his integrity - and the PSU has also raised red flags.
And that's because in 2007, Cal was accused of landing in Panama with a million dollars cash in a briefcase and then bribing two customs officers there. The allegations were made by Panamanian authorities, but Cal has never publicly addressed those charges. In fact, amid the scandal about the Panama situation, he quietly stepped down as a then PUP standard bearer for Belmopan.
But, PM Briceno has resurrected his career in public life with this proposed two year appointment. This morning in a brief press encounter after a morning show appearance - he explained why he thinks that Cal would make a good Chairman of the Public Service Commission:
Daniel Ortiz
"Explain your justification, sir."
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"Well, I think we need to start off by saying it's no other than the Leader of the Opposition who is always asking for a second chance. We all make mistakes in life, and it's not something that then you should - you can reform your life. Whether Mr. Cal did or did not do it was an allegation. It has never been proven in court. He was never arrested. So, he, I believe, has been an active citizen in Belize, in Belmopan in the past, and has been, I believe, a good citizen. He's always helping and assisting people. Many people don't know this, but helping poor people helps them for Christmas. He has several families with food and children. So I believe that he had the qualities to be able to handle the public - to be the chair of the Public Service Commission. Now, they have been raising concerns. A number of people have been raising concerns and other people from within the public service. So, it is something that we have taken. We will take a closer look. It has not been sent to the governor-general. So it is we will take a look. We will listen. We don't believe that we have all the answers. And so we are taking a look at it."
Alindy Marisol-Amaya - News Director, KREM News
"He is someone who fled from justice. He hasn't faced it at all."
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"As I said, we're taking a look at it."
Alindy Marisol-Amaya
"You all have not to use the phrase forgiven, the Leader of the Opposition, because you keep members on your side, keep pushing that he has been in jail, that sort of thing. You need to move on as well, and you haven't from that point. So how are you asking the public to move on from there?"
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"It's not for us to forgive him. There's nothing to forgive. He has spent his time. But it does not mean that you know, in the banter of politics, we've been back and forth that sometimes some of our members would remind him. But that's part of the hurly-burly of politics here."
Alindy Marisol-Amaya
"Is that okay, PM, because then you're showing the youth there that this is how they will be treated."
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"That's, that's fine. Okay. Can we have another [question]? I really have to go."
The PSU took a poll of its membership on this proposed Chairmanship yesterday - and the results are expected to be known tonight.
