And while Montero will face a judge - the DPP has a long list of parliamentarians and two city councillors who have failed to make filings as required under the Prevention of Corruption in Public Life Act. That requires that persons in public life shall make annual filings with the Commission, of their assets, income, and liabilities. This is a transparency measure to, nominally at least, make sure that elected officials are not enriching themselves while in office, or, if they are, that the public can see it in their annual filings.
But, as has been the norm over many PUDP years, a fair number of them just don't file. And that's what the Integrity Commission has listed in the Gazette of October 21st.
The law says, quote, "where a person in public life failed to file a declaration…without reasonable cause…the Commission shall publish the fact in the Belize Gazette and shall send a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action."
And the facts are laid out in the Gazette - a whole 15 pages of it, listing 79 elected officials from both parties - who we'll call the PUDP anti-integrity all stars.
Prominent names include Cayo North's Michel Chebat. Orange Walk South's Jose Mai, Caye Central's Alex Balona, Belmopan's Oscar Mira, President of the Senate Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, Vice President of the Senate Collet Montejo, Senator Erica Jang, Senator Bishop Alvin Benguche, Belize City Council, City Councillors Allan Pollard, Michael Novelo, Khalid Belisle, Jacklyn Burns, Sheran Palacio, as well as former UDP Parliamentarians John Saldivar, Anthony Boots Martinez, Rene Montero, Edmond Castro, and Frank Mena.
Like we said, it's a long list, 79 names, many of them appearing for different years. And the penalty is supposed to be a 100 dollar per day fine.
Now, the list should go to the DPP for action since they are, in fact, breaking the law. Today, she told us she hasn't received anything yet.
