GEL Quarry Co. Limited seems to be the preferred mining company of the Belize City Council, and they are currently working on a project to rehabilitate the streets in the Lake I area after being granted a 1.2 million dollar contract.
And while GEL Quarry - whose slogan is "You Call, We Haul" - may be experts at what they do, there's one glaring fact: the company is linked to one of the members of the council. At least up to earlier this year, Councillor Edmund Kwan was a Director of GEL Quarry, and - on Facebook at least - the company's address is the same as that of Quan's Trading Center, which is known as the councillor's family business.
So did the council approve and award a 7 figure contract to a company related to a councillor? That's what we asked the mayor today.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"I have no knowledge that Councilor Kwan is a shareholder, you'll have to show me that. To the best of my knowledge, Gel Quarry and Councilor Kwan has no relationship, the council made a decision, the council believe that Gel Quarry that could provide the necessary works to alleviate the suffering of many of our poorer people in the Southside of Belize City in the Gungulung area and the council felt very good about the project."
Courtney Menzies:
"Even if he isn't a shareholder, at the very least, on his LinkedIn account says that he's the manager."
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"Well I can't deal with speculation so I can't answer that."
Courtney Menzies:
"But he put it there."
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"You'll have to ask him that."
Reporter:
"But did that come up at any point in your meetings and did he say, I have nothing to do with it?"
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"He has indicated to us that he has no shareholding interest in Gel Quarry and we, the council, believe in that and we made the decision. It's a straight forward transaction."
Reporter:
"He participated in that vote?"
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"He did participate and the minutes is there, read the minutes and you'll see that the council made the decision and the council is a duly elected body."
After the interview, Kwan told us off camera that he sold his shares earlier this year - though he couldn't say when, and that he lost the password to his LinkedIn account - which still shows him as company manager.
And these company documents from 2018 show that Kwan was one of the company's directors, and at that time, had put up three of his properties as collateral for the company to secure a loan - a big undertaking for a company he claims to no longer has a stake in.
We also note that in 2018, G-E-L Quarry's three directors are named, Gilberto, Edmond and Luisito. Those first names, in a precious coincidence spell out G-E-L.
