Tonight, Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa is under fire - after a storm of social media and trade union outrage about his CEO's special advisor, retired Deputy Compol Aaron Guzman.
Musa is the one who told us on Wednesday, quote, "Aaron Guzman has been very valuable to the ministry and valuable to the CEO in the conduct of her duties." End quote. He explained that Sharole Saldivar had an administrative background, and needed the assistance of someone with a policing background.
But after major backlash against that, today he changed his tune, or at least his lyrics. He says Guzman is not a special advisor to the CEO - he's a special advisor to the ministry.
Today Musa backtracked and explained the contract - which has been renewed for the second year - fully. Here's what he told us.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I know that the media has run with this as some sort of new scandal but anyone can tell you that Mr Guzman is not a crony of mine, this is not a crony contract. You're talking about someone with institutional experience and knowledge, a deputy commissioner of police. And as the deputy prime minister mentioned yesterday, the act of governance, no doubt today, requires all hands on deck. None of you are asking, how is it that you get the results each year that you do that right now we stand 14 murders less than last year even that was a record year. And I'm not saying that all of that is attributed to Mr Guzman, I'm saying that there are several pieces to this puzzle, starting first and foremost with the officers of the police department who have been doing a phenomenal job in terms of the training that they've been getting, in terms of the LIU interventions we have, in terms of all of these programs that have been implemented and the way that
crime has evolved so much. We're not talking now just about gang violence or domestic violence, we're talking about cybersecurity, we're talking about right now about how our ministry is being asked and tasked to deal with animal welfare as you recall the incident that happened with the horse. And so there is a lot of policies and strategies that somebody like Mr Guzman can offer his advice to the ministry, not to the CEO because you ran with that as if it was some special advisor to the CEO, I think it was you that said that, Courtney. It's not just the CEO, it's to the entire ministry that he assists in terms of the policies, programs and strategies and so I just want to make that clarification that there are many pieces to a puzzle and this is not your usual UDP crony contract."
Reporter:
"Why not rely on the expertise of the commissioner who is as senior and is already on salary and is already hired?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Mr Guzman has been at the ministry while the commissioner was there, actually it was that commissioner that recommended it, commissioner Williams. So Mr Guzman has been on for two years, during the tenure of the former commissioner of police."
"He is an advisor the ministry, he's not limited to just advising the chief executive officer, the way Courtney had spun that."
Courtney Menzies:
"You didn't clarify. I asked, yes, but you didn't clarify."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"One of his duties does require him to advise the CEO as well. But it's to the ministry with you, Paul, because you want to see it. But it's to the ministry."
Reporter:
"Isn't the fact that you are buying this vehicle...?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Which vehicle? The vehicle was bought a year ago or a year and half ago. I don't know what you want me to say. You just want to create some scandal go ahead."
Courtney Menzies:
"Why not just give him fuel allowance? Where all does a special advisor need to go?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"A lot actually. In two weeks he's going to have to be at a stakeholder meeting for the animal welfare bill that we're going to have with all of the stakeholders, that's going to require him to be in Belize City. You'll probably be able to see the vehicle then."
According to Musa, it's likely that this will be the last year the contract will be renewed.
