And while that is Jules Vasquez's political commentary on the options for Saldivar, tonight it looks like he isn't going anywhere.
In a Facebook post he says, quote, "The actions of the United States Department of State to today designate me as a corrupt official due to bribery in immigration matters is completely out of left field, baseless, and malicious. As a minister of government I have conducted myself with absolute probity and integrity. I am at a loss as to why the State Department would want to target me and my family and without providing absolutely any evidence to explain their conclusion. No due process has been observed, no contact has been made with me, no evidence has been provided to me, but the mighty United States has chosen to impugn my character and malign my reputation. I cannot begin to guess what or who may be behind these malicious allegations and who could be so powerful to get the State Department to invoke such a declaration. I am consulting with local attorneys fully cognizant that I will need a US attorney to fight this the United States if I so wish. I am also consulting regarding recourse for my wife and children who have been maliciously persecuted by this action. Some person or persons want me out of Belizean politics and they seem to have powerful allies in the United States State Department. There will be those who will rejoice at this without any regard to the fact that absolutely no evidence has been presented. But, I will not allow these unfounded and malicious allegations to drive me out of politics. My resolve is even stronger now." End quote.
So, there you heard it, Saldivar is going to fight the designation and he is remaining in politics - where he has again offered himself as a candidate for the UDP in Belmopan. And, his leader Shyne Barrow is holding the line for him. He issued a statement a short time ago, saying:
"We treat very seriously the allegations of corruption being made by the U.S. State Department against former Minister John Saldivar.
Notwithstanding our zero tolerance of corruption by public officials we must be guided by the fundamental principles of due process and in the Belize Judicial system all are innocent until proven guilty.
The Opposition will take steps to gather all the facts presented by the U.S. State Department and the accused as we determine the way forward to implement our anti corruption policy in a fair and just manner demonstrating to the Nation we have zero tolerance for corruption."
We take that to mean, Saldivar remains in good standing as a potential candidate until the party, quote, "gathers all the facts." Of course, those facts are very well known in both the public domain and within the UDP - so it's another wait and see for the opposition as pressure will surely mount on the party leader to act decisively in the face of the unprecedented US designation.
