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Dr. Carl Meggs answers Joe Bradley

LettersDr. Carl Meggs answers Joe Bradley
January 30, 2007
 
Editor Amandala
Sir,
 
We’re all familiar with the twin colours of Belize – blue for the PUP and red for the UDP. But, sad to say, certain UDP elements at WAVE radio station have introduced a new colour – black. I say this because WAVE morning talk show host Joe Bradley consistently uses his show to “blacken” the names and reputations of those who disagree with him, or those he merely doesn’t like.
 
While I’m all for dissemination of factual information and even some comedy on our airwaves, time and again Bradley goes too far. His rantings might seem entertaining to the ill-informed, but they have severe consequences for those whose names he blackens. I say this from personal knowledge.
 
Although, unlike Bradley, I am not one who seeks publicity or notoriety, he has decided to attack my good name and spread scurrilous lies about me. In the old days I could have taken care of him in combat, but we live in more civilized times (although he doesn’t seem to realize this) so I appreciate this forum to undo the damage he has done in blackening my name and reputation with a series of on-air lies.
 
First of all, Bradley insinuates that I have overstepped my authority and misused government property because I have allocated a mobile dental van to the Mennonite community at Shipyard. What Bradley failed to mention is that the dental van is my personal property. Through my extensive contacts in the U.S., I sought a fully equipped mobile dental clinic to use in the rural areas of Belize. On the strength of that appeal, the vehicle was donated to me and I paid import duty in full. It could be that Bradley was unaware of that, but it seems to me that any responsible journalist would have checked with the Ministry of Finance and GOB’s Vehicle Care Unit to learn the status of ownership.
 
I utilized the vehicle for dental clinics in the rural villages, but its operation is rather expensive and GOB itself was unable to finance its productive use efficiently, thereby causing it to be parked at the Orange Walk Hospital compound, where it became a sight for sore eyes. Since it was not being utilized for its original purpose, it had deteriorated, thus, I made it available to the Mennonite community, which has the resources to salvage something from it. I also use my 2004 SUV to conduct my dental program, without any cost to GOB. Should I be concerned that Mr Bradley’s friends fail to mention that also?.
 
Second, Bradley has falsely implicated me in the Dr. Reynaldo Silvestre Castenada incident. To those who might have forgotten, Dr. Castenada was the false “plastic surgeon” who was arrested in Belize back in 2004. Bradley’s allegation that I was negligent, rings hollow, since, as head of the Belize Medical Council, I was the one who uncovered Castenada’s false identity way back in November, 2000 and had refused recognizing and registering him for practice in our country. As a matter of fact, eminent Belizean journalist Jules Vasquez of Channel 7 interviewed me at the time, and I showed him the letter of rejection dated November 30, 2000. The news item made international news on Hard Copy, CNN and the Miami evening news.
 
Third, further misinformation has been given to Bradley concerning a doctor from the Consejo Shore area. This occurred because of a confidential fax passed to Bradley by a disgruntled, non-productive, egocentric senior Ministry of Health employee. Again, this was properly dealt with by the Belize Medical Council and Ministry of Health. The issue was properly investigated and dealt with according to MOH protocol.
 
Fourth, and most ridiculous. Joe Bradley is rabidly foaming at the mouth, accusing me of using my relation to Minister of Natural Resources Johnny Briceño to acquire land “all over the country”. I believe my relationship to the Minister is well known, but there is nothing sinister about that. My family history goes back to the 1800s in the Northern districts, especially Orange Walk. Furthermore, the Briceño family is one of the most extensive in the area. People sometimes joke that 75 percent of Orange Walkeños are related to some branch of the Briceño family. The Briceño family is one of the most egalitarian, nondiscriminatory and loyal families in our country.   I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of because of my relationship to the Briceños. We are a close and protective farmily. So what?
 
As to the land issue. I own two parcels of land; one at Honey Camp Lagoon, which I use as a retreat from the daily grind of my job. The other is at an island. This is for the Meggs family, a parcel which is so far undeveloped. But what is wrong with that? Our country is a signatory to many international protocols allowing foreigners to own land, establish businesses and retire here. Should I, or any other Belizean, be treated any less?
 
I think Joe Bradley is confusing Minister Briceño with a former UDP Minister who was rumored to have engaged in wholesale land shenanigans by his own party. Why didn’t that administration reform the land management back then? You’re barking up the wrong tree, Joe.
 
Could it be that Joe Bradley takes issue with me because it is beyond his understanding why a young Belizean-American doctor would return to the land of his birth and go about quietly trying to help his people? I was only a teenager when Michael Finnegan escorted me to the Belize International Airport way back in 1974 and set me on the path I would ultimately follow.
 
Just to set the record straight, I am one of those rare folks who made a conscious choice to return to the land of my birth to serve my country—that’s no rhetoric, Joe, I did the same for eight years in a US Army uniform. My qualifications and professionalism could earn me ten times what I earn in Belize, but money is not my main objective. Like others who have furthered their education abroad and chose to return to the land of their birth, I truly believe in service. Even now, many of my foreign contacts are trying to lure me away. But my choice is to be here at the moment.
 
Since my return to Belize for the last seven years. I have made many documentable contributions to our country. I’ve been personally responsible for millions of dollars of medical supplies and medical service being donated to the Northern Regional Hospital. I have personally initiated assistance from the U.S. Army and medical institutions valued at far beyond my meager salary. I have established a nationwide dental program for school children, have sought to have a better understanding of what causes our young people to be attracted to crime, and am currently working along with Ms Joan Burke, where we just secured a house to establish a home for battered women in the Northern Districts of Orange Walk and Corozal, to be funded by our friends in the USA—this was accomplished with the assistance of Johnny.
 
I hope the public understands that I do not mention such personal items for egoism or self-aggrandizement, but merely to set the record straight. I am not an elected official and have not sought publicity. This public matter was thrust upon me and I felt forced to clear my good name.
 
Joe Bradley might scare others as he goes about blackening their names, but he doesn’t scare me because those who truly know me know better. The people of Orange Walk know better. Even in Belize City they know better. I just hope other young Belizean-Americans do not take Bradley’s diatribes to be the sentiment of the people of our country. I know better and all true Belizeans know better.
 
Sincerely,
(Signed) Dr. Carl Meggs
 

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