And while Barrow says corruption is still rampant in the police department, he has been trying to root it out in the UDP - starting with John Saldivar. As you know, the NPC voted that Saldivar should be allowed to run in the Belmopan Convention, after a Special Committee rejected him. But Barrow said in his New Year's Speech that Saldivar should be held criminally accountable, and he reiterated that today, saying that if Rene Montero can be charged, so can Saldivar. Barrow also added emphatically that any of the UDP's Belmopan candidates would make a better choice for standard bearer than Saldivar.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"We took great measures to hold Mr. Saldivar accountable for all of the allegations that have dogged him and to send a message to the public that that is not what we want to be. Whatever you were not happy with for the 13 years of the UDP administration past, we are not presenting that same formula to you. But what more could I do?"
"When the Commissioner says he is investigating a former sitting minister, we expect that either way - it may be that the DPP says, you know what, no, there is nothing here. Then I will have to rest my case and move forward leading the opposition the best way I know, but I was making the point that I, along with other colleagues have done what we can to say no to corruption, to send a message against endemic corruption. But what is the government doing? If there is a charge, certainly I would raise the matter with the NPC again and I am confident that this time Mr. Saldivar will not get away by a narrow margin."
"The bottom line is the opposition and the government have to have non-partisan issues and so of a wilful suppression charge could be slap on Mr. Montero, I don't see why it can't be applied to Mr. Saldivar. And if they are not prepared to do that, then there are not serious about fighting corruption and they can have nothing to say to the nation as we proceed. While I hope, I implore all eligible voters in Belmopan that can vote in the U.D.P. convention for Belmopan to vote for anybody except Mr. Saldivar. Either one of the candidates would be better for Belmopan, better for the U.D.P. and better for the country."
