“Mira Millions” Debate Shifts as Shyne Calls Out His Own Party
As the fallout from the “Mira Millions” scandal continues to dominate the political conversation, former Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow is taking a notably different approach, turning the spotlight inward. Instead of piling onto the controversy surrounding the Mira family, Barrow used the moment to call out past scandals within his own party, while mounting one of the strongest defenses yet of the Mira contracts. He also went on the offensive, criticizing Panton for supporting Patrick Faber and John Saldivar during their own controversies.
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Former Leader, UDP
“The Miras are in the vegetable business. In all fairness, I’m not defending them. I don’t know why they were doing these irregular transactions. I think that- that is what is the red flag because the Miras have been doing business since the UDP, since John Saldivar was the minister of defense. The BDF was purchasing from them in their vendor capacity. So it’s not a overnight company that just pop up and is getting millions of dollars from the company. But at least the Prime Minister is taking action, Mira is on leave, and there will be an investigation. So but then the same people that are calling for Mira’s head, when John Saldivar was designated by the State Department as significantly corrupt, never in the history of Belize has a politician been designated as significantly corrupt or anything related by the US State Department which is our number one partner in the world. Tracy had an opportunity to stand up against corruption, the same corruptions she’s condemning now, and she abstained, and that is how Saldivar was able to continue on as the candidate for Belmopan.” Look at Patrick Faber. He was arrested and charged for assaulting a police officer. What did Tracy do as leader? Tracy say, “Oh, it’s political witch hunt.” No discipline, no investigation, no leave, no nothing. Tracy can’t stand up literally to corruption within the UDP. She has never done it. She will not do it. Heaven forbid she should ever lead the country with a cabinet, and that is what bothers me, troubles me.”
Shyne Barrow says he is raising the alarm because the country needs to have a strong and viable Opposition but there is none.
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