“Bad Precedent”, Flowers Hits Briceño Over Mira Case

Criticism is growing louder over how the Prime Minister is handling the growing scandal at the Ministry of Defense. Public Service Union President Dean Flowers says Prime Minister John Briceño has effectively sent Minister Oscar Mira on what amounts to a paid vacation. Mira is currently on administrative leave while an audit unfolds, but Flowers is questioning why it took so long for that step to happen. He argues the Prime Minister only acted after Mira himself requested the leave, warning that the move could set a troubling precedent for how public officials are treated when they’re at the center of controversy.

 

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“I think the response from the Prime Minister so far is lacking and wanting and it is signaling that if at the highest level, when scrutiny is placed on you or the spotlight is placed on you, that you may have bene involved in nepotistic behavior or in any other allegation that comes with that, because the audit will determine whether there is corruption and breach of procurement process, that you can immediately write to your boss and say boss, put me off, because I don’t want to face the music. Is the message that the PM want to send to public officers is that whenever there is a suspicion that you will be held accountable, that you can immediately write to your CEO and say put me on paid vacation leave. I think it is unfortunate that the PM would come to us and say that Mr. Mira made that request, rather than he as the Prime Minister who promised this country to do good by them did not decisively take any action when that was brought to him. Belizeans need to stop holding their breaths, because we would have seen this before and the prime minister did absolutely nothing where corruption is concerned.”

 

Mira is expected to be on administrative leave for at least three months, while the audit is underway.

 

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