Panton: “Political Leadership is Not a Licence to Enrich Yourself”

“Being a political officer or being elected to political leadership is not a licence to enrich yourself, to enrich your family, to enrich companies that are affiliated with your family.”

Opposition Leader Tracy Panton made the statement as she called for the resignation of Home Affairs Minister Oscar Mira amid allegations involving government contracts linked to members of his family.

Speaking on the programme Open Your Eyes, Thursday morning, Panton said public office comes with a “sacred duty” to protect the public purse and warned against the misuse of political power for personal or family gain.

“I invite the Belizean public to join me and to join every advocate for the position I carry. Oscar Mira must go. He must resign. He must be removed from cabinet,” she said.

She went on to criticise what she described as the lack of response from senior government officials, including the Prime Minister. “I am angry, and I think every citizen in this country should be angry- there has not been a single indication from the Prime Minister of this country who happens to sit as the Minister of Finance,” she said.

Panton further pointed to transactions in the government’s SmartStream system, which she said support the allegations and warrant urgent action. “These are not just allegations. We have proof, 44 payments in one single day to an Oscar Mira-related family member. That is nepotism, and that is the heart of corruption,” she said.