And while the PM seems to be buying time with Mira's tenure at the Ministry of Defence, he's not wasting any time at RECONDEV. That's the Reconstruction and Development Corporation, which is chaired by Oscar Mira's brother, Brian. It's responsible for land management, and infrastructure planning of the capital city, Belmopan. Channel 7 News has received credible reports alleging predatory land grabbing practices and insider trading at RECONDEV.
And it seems the PM has been hearing stuff too because he says, he's ordered the installation of a new Board of Directors:
Jules Vasquez
"Are you concerned about the extent of the family enterprise and the signal this may send about well if he di do that and he da just wah second term, what are others doing? That it creates a public perception that, My God, PUP really di eat!"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It's certainly not it's not good for us. And it certainly puts me in a very uncomfortable, position. But, without really get the into defending anybody on any issue. What what I've been informed is that the Mira's have been in this business and doing business with the BDF from as far back as 2005. So even during the UDP days, they were also selling to the BDF, maybe not to this extent, I don't know. But it certainly leaves a lot for you to be able to be able to question and to look at. "
Jules Vasquez
"But there are other pressure points…"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"If you, if you were to… No, I'm just saying just allows for the process to. I don't want to prejudice anything and just just give it a break."
Jules Vasquez
"But the entirety of the picture includes FAST construction. It includes Recondev, itincludes, FT Williams. I'm saying that there appears to be an entire network that is feeding at the trough of public funds."
John Briceno, Prime Minister "But one of the things that I did mention to, to the cabinet secretary is that, I will also ask to appoint a new board at RECONDEV, so that we can, to remove any semblance of of any kind of issues of whether, you know, supposedly, as you, you allege that the Miras are, controlling there at RECONDEV."
Jules Vasquez
"Well, his brother is the Chairman."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Yes. So we we will change. I said, I told the Cabinet Secretary that we will go through the process of appointing a new one."
