Dr. Gregorio García

ParaísoClinic

Belize, C.A.

16/11/2009

Mr Gordon Smith

The National Perspective

Belmopan

Dear Mr. Smith

Since  our  defeat in the  2008 elections  I have been confined  to my  cave in Paraiso Village taking  care of  my own  business and  do not have  much time  to  keep abreast with anything but  work.  I must thank you, however, for the free copy of the National Perspective of November 15, 2009 sent to my office.

I did  take  sometime  to  read  the newspaper  and  your column where you make mention of  myself  and  decided  to take time  out to make  some clarifications.  I was  most  amused  by  your  diatribe but  take no issue for  I guess this is part of having been involved  in politics…

The first  time  I ran for office  was  actually in 1984  in the Corozal Bay and was defeated by  an outstanding and experienced UDP politician, Israel Alpuche  who incidentally is  a friend  and  for whom I have great  respect.   As you mentioned I won the Corozal Southwest Constituency in 1993 and 1998 and lost in 2003 and in 2008.  I gather I did not meet the expectations of the voters in the area and hence they booted me out.  That is what elections are about Mr. Gordon and it is no big deal.  People simply vote for which they believe can help them more and represent them best.

You cared to mention the friendship of Said Musa with myself.  I must  confess that I have been and to this moment, am still somewhat fond  of  our  former Prime Minister and  that I do keep  some level of respect  for him.  I need to believe that despite whatever “mistakes” were committed by him he had our country at heart.  He contributed in many ways to the development of this nation and I believe he still has quite a bit to contribute.  Perhaps, as you mention, I was  a bit  shaken  when he chose to order  the  Social Security Board to dismiss my  wife  from the post  of General Manager.    And that was simply because he had chosen to find a scapegoat to a situation that he, as the Minister of Finance, had created.  I lost great respect for him because I realized that he did not have the balls to accept that he had been, as Minister  of  Finance,  the person responsible  for the  mess, since it  was he who had signed  a sovereign  guarantee  for the  entire Securitization process.  Mrs Garcia was found responsible by the Senate Special Select Committee to be the person responsible for having taxpayers pay for the losses of the Securitization.  But the fact remains, that the person responsible for taxpayer’s monies is the Minister of Finance, not the Manager of Social Security.   She did her job of protecting the Social Security monies. In effect, the person who placed the taxpayer’s monies at risk was the Minister of Finance.  Even the report of the Special Select Committee stated that there were no monies missing from Social Security.

The Manager of Social Security Board at the time was only protecting the Government of Belize and the Prime Minister. How could she go against the word of the Prime Minister…that was a no-win position? The situation now  will be  whether the  word  of  the former  Prime Minister  will be  able  to supersede  the  version of the  former  Manager of Social Security Board when  she publishes, in the near future, her  version of the happenings and of the “unfaithful day”.

I am certain that you were present at the National Party Council where Said Musa tendered his resignation as leader of the People’s United Party.  You may be able to remember that I was the only person amongst the faithful who rejected his resignation. I did so because I am a true believer that he made his biggest political mistake on that day.  I tried to pass a motion at the Party Council in respect to that.  However, not one person seconded the motion. Not even the close friends and family, sons et al, would support it.  You see Mr. Gordon; people sometimes boot you out with the ballot.  Sometimes they do so with their silence.

It would seem to me that you consider yourself a part of what you term an “old PUP guard”.  And you sound very bitter that your choice for leader was not John Briceño.   There seem to be people who believe they should own the PUP by merit of their bloodline or heritage and can’t believe that one Icaiche Indian from Orange Walk could actually lead the membership of this great party. The family business, as someone put it, should, and you seem to believe, is to be led by only from among the chosen few. You cannot actually believe that PUP delegates are so stupid to be “hoodwinked” into voting.   Mr. Gordon, people vote for you when they believe in you; when they don’t, they boot you out. I have been there.

I find it quite amusing  that you say that  “Narda must  call on Yasser for guidance for he has the know  how  and he  did  a tremendous  job”.  Frankly, I cannot opine on whether she is doing a good job or not but then after that resounding defeat of ours in the past elections 2006/2008, I don’t think that is indicative of any “tremendous job”.  But if your view is correct, then she better get assistance elsewhere.

Your little jab with respect that Narda is the smarter half of us confirms my view.   Actually I think you are perfectly right, and I have always known that. I am very proud of being married to a woman smarter than me, and I find no shame in that.  I also assure you that I would never beat her for that.

Have a great Garifuna Settlement day!

Always thought you was a bobcat

But you’re just an alley rat

Sincerely,

Dr. Gregorio Garcia

C:

Belize  Times

Amandala

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