COP 28 - it's the most important international climate summit - and it starts in 2 weeks in the United Arab Emirates - 9 thousand miles away. Tonight, many Belizeans are questioning the size of the delegation that's going to represent Belize after a list with 60 names was circulated on Whatsapp.
From the formatting, presentation and the names listed - it appeared legit to this newsroom, but when we asked the Cabinet Secretary today if its legit - he hadn't seen it, but still called it nonsense because, he says, nothing has been finalized:
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"I am not sure where that list came from on behalf of the Prime Minister, applications for travel comes into the cabinet secretary, and the cabinet secretary, then release this information to the Prime Minister and then the list goes over to the Ministry of foreign affairs. I have not seen any list because the entire delegation is not set. I don't know I have not seen the list. I don't know who are on the list I know you mentioned to me some 30 something names to this date I have not on the Prime Minister has not given permission or approval for 30 people the travel. So I don't know where that list came from, and I can tell you right now, as far as I know the minister responsible for sustainable development, the minister with responsibility for the blue economy. A representative from the Ministry of finance. those are the people that I know have applied to travel. I don't know of anybody else who has applied to travel and saw at this point I can't tell you what the delegation is because it's not finalized."
"It's not been a process for us to put out a list of who is traveling, but if that is going to make you happy then I'm sure it's public information now most of the people who go to COP, for example, I know because approval has been granted for journalists to go. Well, I know one journalist but for a journalist to go and that is funded most of the delegation that is going to see COP is being funded by, Either the United Nations environmental program or some other organizations, some other UN organization, some environmental agency to go to COP so as far as I know right now, the taxpayers, I don't know of any expense from the taxpayers right now other than the time lost away from your job but I can tell you that open till today I can see all I have seen is maybe six or seven people who have applied to go to COP."
REPORTER
"So would you chalk up this list to simply say it's mischief making?"
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"I don't know I haven't even seen the list, but if you want me to say it's mischief then I can say it's not a fact it's nonsense."
REPORTER
"Based on the list there are persons who have been deemed as support one of them is a wife of a minister. Persons might see this as clear cut nepotism?"
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"I don't want to cut you across my brother but you are asking me to comment on something thing that I honestly don't know. I have not seen that list. I saw what your colleague showed me on her telephone just now which I haven't seen because I don't have on my glasses I'm not dodging the subject I really do not know."
