BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC—Prime Minister John Briceño has announced the return of the embattled senior minister Andre Perez to the government, coinciding with the announcement of a Cabinet reshuffle.
Perez had been on leave since August last year while an investigation was being conducted into allegations against him. The Rural South Area representative was embroiled in a scandal involving a female attorney.
Media reports said a demand had been made for a criminal investigation to be launched, given the graphic descriptions shared by the attorney in her account of what purportedly took place involving Perez.
In August, a government statement stated, “aft” r the investigation, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs will advise the Prime Minister on whether there has been any actionable wrongdoing.”
In” its latest statement announcing PerePerez’surn to the government, the government noted that “the” Cabinet, under Hon. John Briceño, remains committed to strengthening government performance and to the service of the people of Belize.”
I said that after due consideration and consultation, Prime Minister Briceño had also announced changes to the current composition of the Cabinet and that he has “invited” Pe” ez “to return as a Minister of Cabinet, with responsibility for the portfolios of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management.
“Min” ster Perez now assumes control of NEMO and the National Fire Service. Prime Minister Briceño is now the Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment, Civil Aviation, and Immigration.
“The” e adjustments and assignments come on the heels of an overwhelming mandate at the polls, a reminder not only of the confidence and trust in this government but also of the tremendous responsibility we have to the people of Belize,” the” statement said.
Perez has consistently denied the allegations against him, and his attorney, Wendy Auxillou, took to social media on hearing that he had been reinstated to the Cabinet.
“To “ate no one in the government has contacted me to ask to review my evidence or to hear my side of the story,” she,” wrote on her Facebook page.
But Auxillou, who also claimed that she had to flee Belize because she feared for her life, has yet to make an official complaint to the police.
“I s “w the Facebook post, but in terms of a report from here, there is none,” Po” ice Commissioner Chester Williams told News Five television.
Asked whether the police would be following up on the Facebook post as it had been done on previous occasions, the top cop replied, “It “‘s different.
“We “‘re not in the business of witch-hunting people. If she has a complaint against the minister, then her duty is to go to the police. We don’t like people like that.
“Now,” if I see a Facebook post with people fighting, it is a matter where the police can be the complainant. I can take that, but regarding a report like what she is commenting on social media, it is not our job to bring her in to make a report.”
M” Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa said that he had seen the attorney’s statement on Facebook and that the post was defamatory without a police complaint.
“I k “ow that the Attorney General, (Anthony) Sylvestre, was tasked to conduct and investigate those allegations. WhatsApp has shared a lot of posts, which are being shared on social media.
“So, I don’t know if anything went beyond that. Based on the information that was coming out, it seemed to have been a consensual relationship, so I don’t think there was anything done further.”
The Home Affairs Minister said that neither party had come forward to the police department to make any police report, and I think that is where that ended up.
“I am” only now seeing a Facebook post in which I don’t want to answer a question because we might be committing defamation of character when a police report has not been made.
“So,” it is always encouraged if you have any allegation to make, whether true or false. The court will decide if it is true or false, and perhaps the chips will fall where they may then. But this seems to be some new allegation,” Mu” said.
and then 