U.D.P. Demands Answers on Budna Abduction Scandal

The Joseph Budna abduction case is now at the center of a political firestorm. Tonight, the United Democratic Party is calling it one of the gravest threats to Belize’s democracy and sovereignty. Leader of the Opposition Tracy Taegar-Panton says the video-recorded abduction, allegedly carried out by police officers, strikes at the very heart of our constitutional rights. And she’s questioning why, two weeks later, the Prime Minister had to demand answers from his own police high command.

 

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“The abduction of Mr. Joseph Budna, who was beaten and handed over to hostile territory reportedly by officers of the state, strikes at the very heart of democracy and our sovereignty. To clarify, this is not a defense of Mr. Budna’s past. His criminal history is well documented. To remove any doubt, Joseph Budna was convicted in Guatemala for kidnapping and extortion and sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. He has faced multiple charges in Belize, including abetment to commit murder. Joseph Budna unquestionably is a controversial figure. But this is the thing, he is a Belizean citizen entitled to due process and constitutional protections. The video-recorded abduction of Mr. Budna is nothing short of alarming. This incident represents one of the gravest threats to the fundamental rights and freedoms of every Belizean citizen. It has been two weeks and the Prime Minister of this country, the head of state, had to demand a report from the Minister of Police and the police high command. I gave him some grace as the prime minister and I called him to find out how the government had intended to deal with these allegations. According to the prime minister, the  matter of the abduction of a Belizean citizen was not discussed in Cabinet.”