G.O.B. Repossesses Heavy Equipment from Boots’ Property

The repossession of government assets from past ministers continues. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development, formerly the Ministry of Works, is pursuing the recovery of missing inventory. Earlier today, at mile three and a half on the George Price Highway, the police retrieved heavy equipment from former Minister Anthony Boots Martinez’s property.  A bitumen batching plant, which is equipment used in road construction, has been sitting on the compound since 2010. At that time, Martinez was the political head of the department. In a memo issued on Thursday by C.E.O. Victor Espat to the Commissioner of Police, the ministry requested assistance from the police department to retrieve the equipment.

Julius Espat

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development

“Just now, Madame Speaker, ah geh wahn lee call.  Dehn tell mih dehn find wahn machine coming outta Belize City fi di past administration minister.  Da neva di one before, da mi di one lee bit before.  Da di one weh does wear sohn bulky thing eena ih socks.  Ih seh wih find wahn piece ah equipment just now, dat da di equipment dehn use to use fi patch road.  Madame Speaker, that is a fact.  An hour ago, an equipment was retrieved from a property that was managed by the ex minister that is for the property of Belize through the infrastructure development ministry.”

Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House

“Honorable Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, I am just going to ask again, please let’s be careful with language and let’s be careful of language and let’s be careful of standing orders, particularly Standing Order 38.”