Nep•o•tism
Noun: the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
The People’s United Party were swept into office on a promise that they would put an end to corruption and nepotism. Throughout the entire just under 13 years that the United Democratic Party was in office, the PUP accused the UDP of corruption and nepotism. The pointed to the fact that a few family members of UDP officials were either employed by the government of were appointed to boards or governmental entities. Never one day did they ever question the professionalism or other qualifications of such persons. Now that the PUP is in the driver’s seat, one would have thought that the PUP would be leading by example and would have made such appointments and hires from among the professionals and suitably qualified persons. Not so! With the PUP, nepotism and cronyism is all that has been happening with almost all the hirings and or appointments they have made since they won the election. It appears that it is only family members or very close associates of the Ministers, Area Representatives and most senior officials who are being hired.
Let’s take a closer look at the BTL new Board of Directors. It is being chaired by former Senator Markhelm Lizarraga. Beside two other things which we will not speak of today, he is most noted for doing the bidding for the PUP in the Senate by opposing 99.99% of the Bills that went to the Senate under the UDP. His appointment as the Chairman must be a reward for those almost 13 years of doing the PUP’s bidding in the Senate. Then there is Director Marconi Leal Jr., who is the son of the Belize Rural North Area Representative, Marconi Leal Sr. Leal Jr is also the person who signed as marketing officer, a contract with Tropical Vision, for which its owner was at BTL at the time and is now taking heat for it. That could present a major conflict of interest, since BTL is trying to recover monies from Tropical Vision’s owner. There is even a greater conflict of interest whereby as a director of the company, Leal’s loyalty should be to the company; however, he is the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Public Utilities and Logistics, which is the government ministry under which the REGULATOR, PUC falls.
Next there is Jermie Usher. He is Rodwell Ferguson’s son-in-law. Ferguson happens to be the Minister under whom the telecommunications company falls. Having two directors, on BTL’s Board places the minister in an advantageous position, where he could exert undue influence on the board.
Another Director is Jose Urbina Jr., the CEO in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and E-Governance. Urbina was selling insurance out of his home until he was given a job at Prime Minister Briceño family’s Smart telecommunications company. He, we were told, is very close to the PM’s brother Jaime who is like the PM’s shadow. Having Urbina on the BTL board and with his loyalty to the Briceño family it could create another conflict of interest. It is almost like the running one’s competitor’s company.
Then there is Director Denise Courtenay, who is the wife of Eamon Courtenay. Eamon besides being a very powerful Cabinet Minister is Ashcroft’s primary attacker and is believed to be the de-facto Prime Minister.
Another Minister’s wife on the board is Director Melissa Balderamos-Garcia. Her husband is Minister Anthony Mahler. Prior to being elected Anthony Maher worked as one of the managers at Smart. Once again the Briceños may very well have another friend on BTL’s board. The other two Directors are Michael Bowen of the Bowen & Bowen Group of Companies and former long-time Public Officer Eric Eusey, who besides working his way through the Public Service, served in several senior positions at the very top of the Public Service. Bowen and Eusey are professionals who are not known as party hacks, but they will be on a board where they are outnumbered, so they may not be able to do much, and we may see them leaving the board in the not too distant future. Once again we need to ask the ordinary Janes and Jacks of Belize, ARE YOU WINNING?
