Minister Comments on Her Ministry’s New Indigenous Affairs Director

In March, the Government of Belize appointed Gustavo Requena as the Director of Indigenous People’s Affairs. And his appointment has not come without criticism. The Toledo Alcalde Association has raised concerns over familial ties. He is the brother of Minister Oscar Requena. The Belize National Indigenous Council has also come out swinging, referring to the appointed as set up marred in partisan politics and lacking in integrity. Today, we asked the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, about the concerns raised. She says Requena was not hired because his brother is a minister.

 

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs

“We no longer have a commissioner for indigenous people’s affairs. We won’t be using that anymore. We have appointed a director which we feel it is best to have a director as opposed to a commissioner and the director is the person of Mr. Gustavo Requena. He happens to be the brother of Mr. Oscar Requena. But I can say categorically that Mr. Requena was not hired because he is the brother of minister Requena. He interviewed, he applied, he has vast experience in community work, having worked as a teacher at the Julian Cho Technical High and also, he was an outreach officer. We are very pleased because he made his application, he comes qualified, he is committed, and he has really hit the ground running in terms of our office in the south at the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs. So, let me take this opportunity to dispel whatever notion there might be that there was any nepotism or any such thing. Belize is small, very small and so we have to go with the talent and experience and what an individual brings to the table. So I have to say so far that we are pleased with Mr. Requena and we will continue our work.”