Panton Calls for Cancelling of Minister’s Son’s 30 Year Contract

The controversy surrounding a thirty-year logging license issued to a company owned by the son of Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet is drawing sharp criticism from Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton. Panton says she does not accept claims that the minister was unaware of the arrangement and argues that the contract represents nepotism and a serious breach of public trust. Here is Panton calling for the contract to be canceled immediately.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“Amazing. It blows my mind. It blows my mind the members of the administration stand up and look into a camera and blatantly lie to the Belizean people. You will tell me that the minister had no idea that he was giving his son a thirty-year – thirty years no. Not five years, while I’m in office – thirty years logging contract. That should be canceled immediately. The Prime Minister should have already issued a statement saying that has been canceled. That is not acceptable on any level. It is nepotism. And it is again, a betrayal of the public trust.”

 

There is currently a moratorium on the issuance of logging licenses, which makes the value of a thirty-year contract even more attractive and lucrative.

 

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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