And we got into other news with the Prime Minister as well. We received a report this morning that defeated PUP Mesopotamia candidate Lawrence Ellis had gotten a city council contract to cut the city's grass for 33 thousand dollars a week.
Now, if you know the history, 10 years ago, the City Council took over operations and 160 staff from Belize Maintenance Limited, or BML - which was owned by Lawrence Ellis.
Well, now, it seems that at least a portion of these services are going to be re-privatized and go right back to Ellis. We're told it passed the City Council Caucus because it has the PM's backing. So we asked him about it:
Jules Vasquez
"PM, we've heard reports that A former politician, Mr. Lawrence Ellis, had received a contract from city council to cut the grass for $35,000 weekly and that you support it."
"Do you know about it? What can you say?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, I don't know the details, but, any colleague of mine that come to me and tell me that they they want to provide some services or whatever within the government, of course I would. I would support it. But that isn't for the council in this instance to make the decision."
"I just saw Mr Ellis and asked him about it and what he was pointing out to me that it is, I think $33,000, but he is going to take over that service that the council is doing. The council, what I've just found out, the council is spending more than that money to be able to clean with the grass and everything, so, he believes and they believe the council, the mayor believes that then they will be able to save money by having a private group to be in charge of the cleaning."
"All I did. like many instances colleagues would ask me, would you support, I said of course, I support. But that's something that has to be worked out within the, the, the institution."
"So, I don't know the details, so let's not back and forth, please?"
Jules Vasquez
"But, it's millions a year."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I do not know, so please speak to the mayor."
Jules Vasquez
"But you endorsed it."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Yes, I did. We don't...but then it's for the institution to say yes or no. I never instruct."
Jules Vasquez
"Who will go against the Prime Minister?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"You always do so?"
Reporter
"Jules has no responsibility to you. He doesn't."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Can we ask another question?"
We'll be trying to speak to the mayor over the next few days to get clarity on the contract.
