He's one of the most controversial figures in all of politics, and one of the most sought after for interviews, but John Saldivar hasn't held a press conference in about four years. But this afternoon - when his name is most scandalized - he ended his long absence from the media frontlines with a bold press conference inside a BIM conference room in Belize City. Saldivar pulled in about 5 standard bearers and other UDP personalities to his press conference, proving he still has some inter party clout as the leader of the party's Caucus for Change. And more than just bold, Saldivar was unapologetic. He opened up by declaring that the US State Department's designation of him as, quote, "significantly corrupt" is not only an assertion without proof, but also - as he put it, a concoction:
John Saldivar, Rejects US Designation
"I am innocent of any allegations that have been made against me. At no time have I participated in any corruption at the immigration department while I was the minister of even before or after. There can never be any proof brought out against me in that respect. I challenge the United States government to provide that proof. I have no difficulty in facing a trial whether here in Belize or abroad in the US once those evidence are presented to me so that I may answer properly. I am not a corrupt person; I can only believe that the United States embassy and up the chain all the way to the state department have been misled purposefully mislead. The allegations against me, I don't know what they are but because I know I have not been involved in corruption, I have to say whatever it is, it has to have been concocted."
