Is there money mismanagement in the Punta Gorda Town Council? That's what 5 councillors alleged in a signed letter to the Minister of Local Government one month ago on June 6th.
They alleged, quote, "ongoing financial irregularities", and unilateral decision making on expenditures of public funds, among other things.
Today we spoke via telephone to the Minister who received that complaint, Oscar Requena - and he said it's not mismanagement, just miscommunication:
Voice of: Hon. Oscar Requena, Minister of Local Government
"After we receive the letter, I personally went to Punta Gorda along with our CEO and our local government director. That was on June 15th. We had a meeting with the mayor and the town councillors. We discussed the issues that was raised in the letter. An opportunity was afforded to everyone to express their concerns and whatever issues they had. I believe that the issues were ventilated and at the end of the meeting all 5 agreed to continue to work together."
Jules Vasquez
"However, these people raised substantial issues of public concern that the public should be concern about which is, are tax payers funds, are public funds being properly managed or are they being mismanaged as is claimed in the letter?"
Voice of: Hon. Oscar Requena, Minister of Local Government
"I believe that the funds of the town council are being managed adequately. I believe that the issues raised are a matter of the mayor having more frequent meetings with the council. I believe that is one of the major issues and we did discuss that."
Jules Vasquez
"However, these statements made in the letter, there is no resiling from them, they are declarations of what these people believe to be fact. The cost or deal to get purchase of certain road equipment, the finances of the council. I understand you are saying it's a communication issue. However, what the public sees in this is mismanagement of funds and respectfully, what we are hearing from you is okay its PUP council and a PUP ministry of local government, elections are near and we can't rock the boat too much, we just have to try to get everybody on the same team. But will there be an audit of the funds spent?"
Voice of: Hon. Oscar Requena, Minister of Local Government
"Absolutely not. I think you certainly have it wrong. Listen, as the ministry of local government we have a responsibility for oversight for all town councils across the country and that's why I stated off my interview by saying that we provide monthly support and oversight to these town councils, particularly where we find town councils that a little bit lacking. We go in there, we have been auditing their books, we are checking what they are doing and where there are certain areas that have to be improve, we point that out to them, we hold them responsible to ensure that they meet the standards that are required of them."
"So, please. We have a responsibility and we will execute our responsibility. I think it is important to point out to you that its unfortunate that these allegations are out there. They were made by the councillors, but at the same time during the meeting it was made absolutely clear that with all the challenges that they have and no council goes without any challenges - you're dealing with human beings."
Jules Vasquez
"Should there for the satisfaction of the public be an audit of the financials of the town council?"
Voice of: Hon. Oscar Requena, Minister of Local Government
"Listen, we are doing what we have to do as I said in terms of the oversight. If we find that necessary then we will certainly commission that."
We'll keep monitoring that situation - where we are reliably informed there are substantial claims of lack of accountability and reckless expenditure of public funds.
The UDP today issued a release on this story saying, quote, "This Briceno administration has chosen to ignore credible allegations of corruption in municipal governments across the country, choosing instead to treat each allegation as party matters to be diffused by internal PUP mediation. While party intervention has helped to diffuse public spats, nothing has been done to address allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption in city and town councils across the country."
The United Democratic Party...call on Prime Minister Briceno to appoint Financial Comptrollers in the Punta Gorda, Belize City, Belmopan, Benque Viejo and Corozal town councils.
