And on the other end of this dispute is CEO of Local Government, Valentino Shal. We caught up with him today at another event and he was careful not to get into a name calling bout with the mayor after she posted that he was both racist and incompetent.
He said the matter is actually very simple and if the directive for the acting mayor is not followed, it will have to be enforced:
Valentino Shal, CEO, Ministry of Rural Transformation, Local Government and Labour
"The situation with the Belmopan city council is actually very simple. There is a process that takes place when a mayor leaves the country and goes out of the jurisdiction or goes on leave for some reason. The deputy mayor assumes the role of the mayor when the mayor is on leave and that is according to the act. And so that's all that needs to be followed and that's all we are reminding the mayor of."
Jo- "So you're saying she is not following that procedure?"
Valentino Shal
"That procedure was not followed no. It wasn't followed and we are saying you have to follow the procedure that is in the law."
Jules Vasquez
"But his term as deputy mayor and on October 9th that I believe is her argument."
Valentino Shal
"The term of the deputy mayor ends when there is an election of a new mayor. And that's what's in the law so whatever arrangements they have made it doesn't follow the law then the law applies."
Jules Vasquez
"She also called you a racist, sir. She referred to you as a racist in one of her posts."
Valentino Shal
"That is very unfortunate, that is very unfortunate I don't think we should be thinking about each other like that. When people attack you personally it's because they normally have run out of arguments to attack you and start to attack you personally but that is not what we are here for we are here to ensure that there is governance at the municipal level and that the act that governs each council is followed that's what we are really about."
Jules Vasquez
"Mr Amadi told me he is going to stay there, he is not going anywhere he told me he is appointed by the mayor and he won't move until she instructs him to leave and he's in there today. Will there be some type of showdown sir?"
Valentino Shal
"I don't think so. I think the law is very clear, the law must be followed and the law will be enforced. That's really what it is."
Jules Vasquez
"So enforcing the law means ejecting him from that office though?"
Valentino Shal
"Well if the law doesn't give you a right to be there you don't belong there."
Jules Vasquez
"In one of her posts she claims she's a victim of gender based violence directed against her by your ministry."
Valentino Shal
"We are simply reminding the mayor to abide by the provisions of the Belmopan city council Act. That's really what we are doing."
At noon today, the mayor's choice to hold over, Hope Amadi told us via text, quote, "I wait on the Mayor's instructions." He added that he will be out working tomorrow following the mayor's instructions.
