Tonight we continue our coverage of Minister of State Osmond Martinez and those contracts awarded to a politically favored contractor in Bella Vista village. The transactions were first flagged in a Special Investigation into the affairs of the Toledo Teachers CreditUnion where there was blatant fraud committed with members' accounts. But, the accountant leading the investigation also found transactions which originated at the Ministry of Economic Development under Martinez's hand which did not have a proper source of funds. 7News wasldaked copy of that report and we applied one month ago to the Ministry of Finance for the missing information. Tonight we start looking at the pieces they have provided us:
This is contractor Jose Felipe Flores at Osmond Martinez's swearing in last year - which only a handful of a politician's most loyal supporters are invited to attend. So, you could say he's part of the Minister's inner circle. Reports tell us he also recently did work to renovate the Minister's office in Belmopan, and the restroom, and the IT office.
But right now these three contracts are the ones under scrutiny. They were awarded to companies co owned or operated by Flores:
Jules Vasquez
"It seems like this is your contractor of choice because of your close personal friendship and obviously contractors should be chosen not on their allegiance to the minister, or their allegiance to the ruling party. They should be chosen on their merit."
Osmond Martinez, Minister of State - Foreign Trade
"But that's inaccurate, Jules. And, and so, for example, I have signed, I don't know how much millions of dollars as a CEO, you know, and he's not the one who got all the contracts."
"So that's an inaccurate statement that you're putting out there to the Belizean people."
Jules Vasquez
"In these contracts which were flagged, it was all to these companies owned by Jose Felipe Flores. Sir, Jose Felipe Flores was at your swearing in. In that same office where you are, Jose Felipe Flores did the works. He came way from Bella Vista to do the works at your office in Belmopan. And he renovated also the restroom at the ministry there in your office."
"So obviously he is a preferred contractor. And whenever we see these arrangements, it is the natural conclusion of the man or woman on the street to say, well, obviously there is a kickback situation."
Osmond Martinez, Minister of State - Foreign Trade
"But there has been more work, more work that has been done here in the ministry, you know, and you can come and see."
Jules Vasquez
"Yes, but if you bring a contractor from Bella Vista to work at your office here in Belmopan, something wrong with that, that's unusual."
Osmond Martinez, Minister of State - Foreign Trade
"But Jules, I want us to focus on two things here, right? Because I know you are trying to make news, but let us focus on two things, which is the big problem, no, but wait, the source of the funds. Right. Which is, I mean, if the source of the funds are not legitimate, that's money laundering. right? So that's that's the important part."
So we got to the source of the funds
These are the disbursements we asked about in our freedom of Information request - they all went to three companies owner or operated by Flores, Express Construction, Savannah Construction and Allan Construction.
Last night - in response to our inquiry a month ago - at about 7:00 pm, the Ministry of Finance sent a sheaf of documents and pictures electronically
And yesterday Martinez sent these three contracts which we'll start with. These are the ones Martinez sent to the TTCU General Manager.
They are for Savanna, and Express Construction - notably Allan construction which received contract disbursements is not included.
This is a February 2024 contract for Savana Construction at August Pine Ridge for 45 thousand dollars, although the printed amount differs from the written amount
It is for the remodeling of a roof ceiling and walls.
Another awarded in March 04 2024 is for the Remodeling of the roof, ceiling and wall at San Jose Succotz R.C. Primary School and it is for 48,975 dollars. Notably we could not find that Express Construction was registered as a company or business.
Another, also for 48,000 dollars to Savana Construction - which is a legally registered company - was for the fixing of drains and roof at the Southern Regional Hospital, Dangriga Town.
All the contracts are signed by all the parties - including Osmond Martinez as CEO. They are all under 50 thousand dollars, and that is because any figure greater than that has to go to the contractor general. Martinez said that is one lesson learned.
We'll continue covering the story in the days ahead as we unpack the documents sent to us by the Ministry of Finance.
