Foreign Affairs Minister Shrugs Off Action as “Arrogance”

Wilfred Elrington

The Minister of Foreign Affairs contended that business continues as usual for Nagel, and he has already brought results, including a closer relationship with the I.A.E.A., who has sent teams to Belize to observe the situation with cancer caused by various agents, among other things. While it’s hard to believe that what is essentially ‘gossip’ would be enough to bring down a high official or that the Government of Austria would seemingly stoop so low, Elrington says Belize has learnt its lesson from it. He also denied a suggestion that the Supreme Court case in which Nagel was held liable for misrepresentation to a client in Belize as a chief official of Caye International Bank Limited had nothing whatsoever to do with his European activities.

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“I can tell you that we have received no official communication from them whatsoever indicating any wrong that he has done. We can show you nothing.”

Reporter

“So then why is he out?”

Wilfred Elrington

“Well, countries behave in their own way. You know recently you had a spat between Holland and Turkey where Holland – the Dutch government – refused to allow Turkish ministers of government from coming to their country; and you have diplomats being expelled peremptorily when you have disputes; so apparently there’s no real protocol, and these countries, especially when they are dealing with a smaller country, they tend to be kind of arrogant; so there’s not much, really, that we can do. But I can honestly say that we have received no indication, no documentation, nothing, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlining what he was supposed to have done in Austria that was wrong; we have not received any such thing.”

Reporter

“And do you have any knowledge of the case that the Lead Opposition Senator referenced in the Senate about him being involved in some activities here…”

Wilfred Elrington

“I know nothing of that; I know nothing of that; but I am experienced enough to understand and know how people use these information and misrepresentation, and for political purposes, so I pay it no mind.”