By Zoila Palma: The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) is calling for the immediate resignation or removal of Minister Oscar Mira from Cabinet and a full independent investigation into allegations surrounding government contracts allegedly awarded to members of his family.
In a statement issued Monday, the union said leaked SmartStream payment records indicate that millions of dollars in government supply contracts were awarded to parties connected to the Mira family during his tenure as Minister of National Defence and Border Security.
The NTUCB described this as “a direct challenge to transparency, good governance, and the rule of law.”
The NTUCB noted that one set of records shows that 44 payments totaling BZ$389,995.85 were processed in a single day to MP Farms Company Ltd., a company linked to the Mira family.
The NTUCB said the transactions raise concerns that payments “may have been deliberately structured to circumvent payment thresholds outlined in the Ministry of Finance Circular No. 1 of 2022.”
The union stressed that “public funds must never be directed to politically connected families through procurement processes that may bypass established oversight mechanisms.”
The NTUCB is demanding “a full, transparent, and independent investigation” into the awarding of contracts, the payment approval process, and the role of public officials responsible for ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
Beyond the investigation, the NTUCB is seeking “immediate accountability measures,” including Minister Mira’s resignation or removal, the release of relevant records under the Freedom of Information Act, and accountability for all public officers found to have enabled wrongdoing.
In addition, the NTUCB says that “the practice of splitting invoices to remain below the 10,000-dollar threshold be investigated across all ministries” to ensure compliance with sound public financial management practices.
The post National Trade Union Congress of Belize calls for Mira’s removal, independent investigation into alleged family contracts appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) is calling for the immediate resignation or removal of Minister Oscar Mira from Cabinet and a full independent investigation into allegations surrounding government contracts allegedly awarded to members of his family. In a statement issued Monday, the union said leaked SmartStream payment records indicate
The post National Trade Union Congress of Belize calls for Mira’s removal, independent investigation into alleged family contracts appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
