Godwin Hulse is the New Minister of Police

Dean Barrow

On the face of it, the move may appear to be little more than a slap on the wrist – to improve the optics of the situation, to borrow a term from the PM. For Saldivar, though, the optics and substance of the shuffle are bad – perhaps even a death blow for his dream of one day becoming Prime Minister of Belize. He wasn’t at the press conference, and we did not see him emerge from the Cabinet Room this morning. Still, the message from the PM is loud and clear – clearer yet this afternoon just in case there was any ambiguity.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I had told you on Friday that Minister Saldivar had made clear that he terminated the relationship in September; he said this long ago at that first press conference. He continues to maintain that position; he said maybe he is off by a few days, a week or so. But he assures me that contrary to things that are being said, he did not maintain a relationship with Mister Mason through to—as I have heard it—the end of last year and some people say even extending into this year. I also indicated to you on Friday, if that turns out not to be true; if in fact, evidence—and I mean evidence—is unearth, presented to me that would show conclusively that the minister continued in a relationship with Mister Mason, well beyond the point where he’s assured me it stopped, then that’s an entirely different matter. I repeat what I said to you on Friday…if that ever happens, that is a whole different conversation. In fact, let me be absolutely straight forward and blunt. The minister understands and accepts that if that were to happen, he would have to leave the Cabinet entirely.”