Belize: In a recent interview, the leader of the Opposition, Tracy Taegar Panton, has strongly condemned Prime Minister John Briceño for his recent announcement related to Joseph Budna’s kidnapping of a Belizean citizen. The PM stated that “kidnapping of a Belizean citizen will be handled solely by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), calling it “no independent investigation.”
According to Tracy, this act of Prime Minister John is a betrayal of public trust as he stated that justice always demands and depends on independence, no one is above law and cannot change it if they have power.”
Taegar Panton further stated that the people of the nation believed him and his words as he promised them to conduct an independent investigation into the matter and now he is backing out from his promise. She also added that “this is what the people of the country fear the most, that the system is protecting themselves not the public.”
Additionally she emphasised this move as “damage control disguised a due process” as she stressed that “the government of this country cannot investigate themselves and still call it justice.” This is no longer about one person but it involves the whole nation and their trust who is about to collapse because of this one act”, she further added.
Panton also described it as the dangerous precedent of a government that believes it can operate above the law just because they are in power.
While addressing the gravity of the allegations, the Opposition leader stated “when the agents who are hired by the authority are the ones who are accused of delivering a Belizean into hostile foreign custody forcefully, by passing the legal process and violating constitutional rights, then the nation have full right to demand transparent, and independent inquiry.”
Concluding her statements she said “I and my team will not support or allow the erosion of our constitutional safeguards” and she also mentioned “we the people of this country will not allow the government or the ones who have the authority to go unanswered to our questions.”
“We will protect and safeguard the principle that no one ever can put themselves above the law even though the person is Prime Minister” she said. While ending her statement in the end she claimed that “We the people of Belize are watching.”
Background of Joseph Budna’s case:
On August 22 the victim Joseph Budna was abducted by the police of Guatemala and the video of the incident comes into the light after 12 days. The video shows that the Budna was being chased from Banquitas to the courthouse and police station when men chased him and started beating fearlessly. The video also shows that some moments later a police official arrived at the scene and the suspect waved at him.
The attorney of Budna stated that “he has not seen a judge, nor has he been told if they are resuming his 25 year sentence which he escaped from in 2019.” He also said that Budna continues to demand that the government of Belize should work to ensure his return since he was abducted by state agents.
His attorney also emphasised that his client alleges that the Embassy in Guatemala has been colluding with prison authorities to make sure he does not have a phone or internet access so that he can’t communicate with this media house.
