By Zoila Palma: Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton says that after viewing a press interview on the Love FM Morning Show by the Prime Minister, the case of Ryan Budna leaves more questions than answers.
“The Prime Minister has now indicated that his government intends to negotiate with their counterparts in Guatemala to secure Mr. Budna’s return through a prisoner-swap arrangement.
Here are the facts: a Belizean citizen was beaten; unlawfully detained; and, handed over to hostile territory. His constitutional rights were violated in the most egregious way. This is not a minor administrative error. It is a grave breach of the rule of law and of the fundamental duty of the Belizean Government to protect its citizens. Belizeans are not asking for damage control, we are demanding accountability,” Panton said.
Panton says that the Prime Minister’s indications that this case rests strictly in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions, who concluded that the case file her office received on this matter was “less than nothing.”
“That explanation raises more questions than it answers. If the case file was “less than nothing” :
Who prepared it?
Who authorized the actions that led to the illegal transfer of a Belizean citizen?
Who will ultimately be held responsible for this violation of Mr. Budna’s constitutional rights?
No government in a democratic society should be allowed to unlawfully remove one of its citizens from the protection of the law and then simply move on without consequences. We must continue to insist that the perpetrators of this unlawful act be identified and held fully accountable,” Panton said.
Panton says that the rule of law must prevail in Belize.
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By Zoila Palma: Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton says that after viewing a press interview on the Love FM Morning Show by the Prime Minister, the case of Ryan Budna leaves more questions than answers. “The Prime Minister has now indicated that his government intends to negotiate with their counterparts in Guatemala to secure
The post Leader of Opposition says Budna’s case raises more questions than answers appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
