News Five Asked Mira the Questions Everyone’s Asking

For weeks, Oscar Mira has maintained that he knew nothing about the contracts awarded to his siblings or the hundreds of invoices now under scrutiny. But that explanation raises an obvious question: if these transactions were happening around him, how could they have escaped his attention while serving first as Minister of State and later as the substantive minister? We put that question directly to Mira, pressing him on whether the issue ever surfaced in official discussions, or even in conversations with family members. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Paul Lopez

“How is it that you could not have known?

 

Oscar Mira, Area Representative, Belmopan

“I will leave it to the audit that is happening. I do not want to prejudice that audit. I can say that I do not know if minister get involved in the way payments are made or provide services to their ministry. I certainly as not involved. I do not get involved. That is why you have a finance officer, and an accounting officer. I was neither of those. I do believe it is now perhaps time to modernize our system. It gives us time to modernize our system.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How is it that you could not have known that your siblings and these businesses were earning so much income from the ministry of defense when you all are a close knit family. You mean to tell me, no Sunday dinner conversation?”

 

Oscar Mira

“Let the audit take its course. Let the audit bring out there report. I do not want to speak out of term. But the audit is there to do a job and will bring out a report. I believe that as a Belizean citizen, every citizen is entitled to do business with government. It is a rigid process, it is not an easy process. The process as I understand it, it is not an easy process. It is a hard process.”

 

Critics Cry Conflict, Mira Says Equal Opportunity

 

The controversy surrounding government contracts awarded to businesses linked to Oscar Mira’s family continues to fuel debate. But Mira says the issue is being viewed through the wrong lens. He argues that government opportunities should be open to all qualified Belizeans, regardless of who their relatives may be, and rejects the notion that family members of elected officials should be automatically excluded from doing business with the state. Tonight, Mira defends that position and explains why he believes kinship alone should not be grounds for disqualification. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Oscar Mira, Area Representative, Belmopan

“And for their hard work and whatever professional services they have provided to the government, I think that is what they have been paid. They as a Belizean citizen are entitled to apply, are entitled to apply for a job like anybody else. You know, I don’t subscribe to the notion that if you have anyone in government then you are not supposed to apply and get any work done in the government. We are a small nation and probably related somehow. But, you know if the work that you provide is to the standard and if it is competitive, then I don’t see the reason why. As the previous prime minister mentioned, yes, I gave my brother the job because he knows what he is doing and yes we got the work we paid for. So, I will leave it as that. It is in the hands of our attorney, and they will do their job.”

 

Paul Lopez

“That is to say that you can guarantee that whatever services or products were paid for that they were delivered?”

 

Oscar Mira

“And to a very high standard, yes.”

 

Mira Welcomes Corruption Investigation, Says He’ll Be Vindicated

 

The Integrity Commission is preparing to take a closer look at Oscar Mira. Following a corruption complaint filed by UDP caretaker Edward Broaster, the commission says it will launch an investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office. Tonight, Mira says he welcomes the scrutiny, insisting he has nothing to hide and remains confident the findings will clear his name. As the probe moves forward, attention now turns to what investigators uncover and whether the allegations can be substantiated.

 

Oscar Mira, Area Representative, Belmopan

“It is their job, that is what an integrity commission is there for. I welcome the investigation. Someone has made a complaint and it is their job to make sure they do the proper investigation. I don’t want to be prejudicing anything. Someone make a complaint then it is their job to investigate. The investigation will bring out the truth. I fear nothing and as I said, I do also have legal representation on that. And I will leave it at that.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Do you think that investigators will find you acted corruptly in your office?”

 

Oscar Mira

“No, I made no payments. I don’t think so. But I welcome the investigation. We are a democratic country and those things are there for this and I will make sure I clear my name.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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