By Zoila Palma: Following a media interview in which Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton confirmed that she met with investor Lord Michael Ashcroft, public commentary intensified rapidly.
Today, Panton issued a statement saying that the narrative being promoted is “selective and absurd.”
“Whether one admires Mr. Ashcroft or not, the reality is this: the Ashcroft Alliance is a strategic investor in Belize, facilitated over decades by both major political organizations, the PUP and the UDP, through policy decisions, legal frameworks, commercial arrangements, and regulatory outcomes,” Panton explained.
“The Alliance has significant interests across key economic sectors including: tourism and hospitality; healthcare; logistics and port facilities; telecommunications; and, a major share of Belize’s banking assets. Some have argued that the Alliance has benefited from the “corrupt” practices of government institutions, and that certain structures, including trusts, have disadvantaged ordinary Belizeans. If This may be so but we must also be honest about where the primary responsibility lies: the political directorate and the regulators who enabled, permitted, or failed to exercise restrain for personal gain,” she added.
Panton also said that she does not know of any “single Prime Minister of Belize, or Leader of the Opposition, who has not met with Mr. Ashcroft or his representatives. Engagement with major stakeholders has always been part of governance and public leadership. Let me hasten to point out that dialogue is not endorsement.”
The Leader of the Opposition says that a meeting is “not surrender and conversation is not compliance. Investors are motivated by return on investment.”
Panton says that as Leader of the Opposition, she is motivated by good governance, transparency, fairness, and the public interest.
The post Leader of Opposition says “I cannot think of any Prime Minister or Leader of Opposition that has not met with Lord Ashcroft” appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Following a media interview in which Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton confirmed that she met with investor Lord Michael Ashcroft, public commentary intensified rapidly. Today, Panton issued a statement saying that the narrative being promoted is “selective and absurd.” “Whether one admires Mr. Ashcroft or not, the reality is this: the
The post Leader of Opposition says “I cannot think of any Prime Minister or Leader of Opposition that has not met with Lord Ashcroft” appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
