Patrick Faber: Budget Debate “a red herring” to national problems

Published by BBN Staff at April 30, 2021

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Posted: Friday, April 30, 2021. 10:54 am CST.

By Aaron Humes: Leader of the Opposition Patrick Faber opened today’s press conference with a general statement on the Budget debate experience, his first since 2008.

He pointed out that the ruling People’s United Party is using issues such as the Nature Conservancy and NICH lease to be a “red herring” to distract from the country’s problems.

“The fact of the matter is that there is an uproar in this country, and the people are not happy with them (the Government),” Faber said, referencing industrial action by the trade unions.

The UDP says it must set the record straight for the benefit of the country.

Faber also personally responded to the situation with a leased property that the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) bought on behalf of Myrna Manzanares, a UDP supporter and Artist Emeritus as recognized by NICH.

Artistes Emeritus such as Manzanares, Gerald “Lord” Rhaburn and others were eligible for a small stipend, but the body wanted to do more for Manzanares, who also happens to be a UDP supporter.

Faber clarified that the payoff of the mortgage to the Social Security Board was to allow Manzanares to live her days in the property in Coral Grove, Belize City, and potentially turn it into a Kriol cultural museum after her passing.

It was “low” of Senator Eamon Courtenay to leave out certain facts in service of his agenda, but the UDP, the unions and others, Faber said, will not buy it.

We await the statement of the first deputy and former Minister of Natural Resources on the Nature Conservancy deal.

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