UDP wants Oscar Mira gone as the party calls for his resignation based on incompetence

The Opposition United Democratic Party says its wants Oscar Mira’s resignation.  The call follows the party’s declaration that crime has spiraled out of control. It goes further to accuse the government of failing to effectively address the country’s escalating violence.  During a press conference held today, Patrick Faber pointed to a series of recent murders and shooting incidents, arguing that Belizeans are increasingly concerned about public safety. Faber contrasted the current situation with the approach taken during the administration of former Prime Minister Dean Barrow, claiming that stronger leadership and more decisive action were taken to confront criminal activity.  Faber was particularly critical of Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira, whom he accused of showing little concern for the country’s crime situation. He went as far as calling for the minister’s resignation, citing what he described as a lack of urgency in addressing the recent wave of gun violence.

Patrick Faber, UDP Senator: “The crime and violence in this country is out of control. I was right there when we would have one murderous weekend and then after that the prime minister moves into action. He goes up in the, Mr. Broaster you remember, up at Raccoon Street where all the water is raining through right now and there would be a press conference and the prime minister would address the nation with the full top brass of the police. And we make the call before we go any further that Mr. Mira must go.”

Following Faber’s call for Mira’s resignation, UDP Leader Tracy Panton went further to call for the release of the contracts, and related documents surrounding Mira and his family members.

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “These are matters that speak to the integrity of the government itself. When ordinary Belizeans hear and see about luxury vehicles, expensive boats, several apartment buildings, land deeds, extensive estates, lucrative contracts and lifestyles that cannot reasonably be explained by public salaries, they have and we have the right to ask the questions. When companies connected to politically exposed persons appear to benefit from public contracts, we the people have a right to demand disclosure. When invoices appear “questionable,” when contracts appear inflated, when procurement appears selective, we, the people, have the right to demand answers. And when the government refuses to answer, the people, we the people, have a right and can only assume that the silence is deliberate. So what are we asking for? What are we demanding? Through the Mira FOI request we are demanding the full paper trail. The full paper trail. We want to know to whom were these contracts issued? What contracts were issued? What was the value of these contracts? What were tenders publicly advertised? Who evaluated the bids? Who approved the contracts? Were procurement procedures followed? Were conflicts of interest declared? Were political persons, politically exposed persons involved? Were payments made before goods or services were delivered? Were invoices stacked, split, inflated, or structured to avoid scrutiny. Were public officers pressured to approve payments. We’ve heard a few stories. Were the goods and services actually delivered ? Did the Belizean people get value for money ?”