“Dirty boxing” is a term that has been appropriated by “MMA” or Mixed Marshal Arts. Elbows, knees, etc. are legal in an “MMA” contest. They are not permitted in a regular boxing match. Politics goes far beyond dirty boxing. The modus operandi is, a win is a win a loss is a loss, therefore do whatever is necessary to be elected, regardless of the tactics employed.
When I write an article that makes what I believe to be factual statements, I do my research. I will talk to people who have been straight with me for decades and I will also ask for written documentation to support a particular position. There also is a history here. During the 2004-2005 struggles with the PUP government, it was essential for union organizers and leaders to watch each other’s backs. The trust that resulted from then is still there among some of us.
Mayor Zenaida Moya is being attacked by members of her own party. Why is this happening? I wrote an article a few weeks ago supporting her. When I asked her for written documentation of the situation it was provided without hesitation. That alone is a positive signal, because people who are doing shady business will go to any lengths to avoid providing a paper trail.
I have in front of me a document written by and signed off on by Mr. Dwain Davis, who is currently the Director of Financial Services for the Belize City Council. In this document, dated August 19th, 2008, the third paragraph has the following statement, “As Director of Financial Services I can state categorically that at no time has the Mayor directed me to make any illegal payment (s) to herself or to anyone else for that matter; and as far as I know have not received any funds from the council that was not legally due her.”
What follows are records of all payments that had been made for road construction up to that date. Ironically, the City Council pays WAVE Radio $1,500 per month plus GST so it can have access to air anything it wants to air. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!
Those papers also include a letter from Councilor Wayne Usher documenting the breakdown of the City Council bulldozer in July, and therefore the requirement to hire a private bulldozer for three weeks until the City Council bulldozer could be repaired. The letter is dated 28th August, 2008. Oh by the way, the last sentence of that letter states: “This decision of private acquisition definitely prevented the creation of a monstrous problem which was at the hand and could have turned out to be devastating to the Council and city residents.”
So, what is all this turmoil about? Looking at and analyzing these documents certainly doesn’t point to financial wrongdoing as some of the Mayor’s accusers appear to be claiming, therefore it must be something else. I am, of course, speculating, but I have worked at one job or another for five decades, so maybe I do know something.
I wonder if elected politicians look at their election as a responsibility to do a job for the constituents who elected them! It often seems that politicians who are Elected, look at their victory as making them “king of the hill.” “I was elected just like you were! What gives you the right to give me directions?” Well, as the old blues line goes, “I got news for you.” There is no organization anywhere that can be successful without structure, and along with structure comes a hierarchy! If everybody is running around doing what they feel like doing, nothing is going to get done. This applies to City Councils, political parties and governments as well as to privately owned companies.
Elected politicians who refuse to give a wink and a nod when they see their fellow politicians putting their hand in the cookie jar, are not going to be very popular with their colleagues. We have already seen what that policy has resulted in. Corruption began in small increments during internal self-government. It grew and grew until it almost destroyed Belize. The jury is still out as to how long it will take us to recover from the deeds of the previous government, if we are even capable of it.
Please don’t try to tell me that gender discrimination doesn’t exist. It sure as hell does. Some female executives anticipate problems and overcompensate. Most do an excellent job, but are never given the credit they deserve by male subordinates or by society at large. Just look at the number of women who have won elective office in Belize. You can count them on the fingers of one hand! How will a society progress if 50% of the population is relegated to second class status? The answer should be obvious.
Finally, politics is all about power. 99% of politicians are voracious sharks! When they think they see an opening that will increase their power they all go for it, the electorate be damned! Where were all of these guys on the Council when Mayor Moya and others of us were being tear gassed, shot with rubber bullets, sprayed with pepper spray in the face and then dragged into the Belmopan police station and assaulted by rogue cops, followed by police, threatened with the loss of our jobs and having to not only deal with threats to our own lives but to the lives of our families too? Only Phillip Willoughby paid his dues out there.
The National Football League has a name for something like this. There are players who become known as “JOP’s,” short for “Jump on Pile.” These players wait for others to make the first hit on a big, fast running back with even bigger blockers in front, where you can get hurt real bad. Once the back is down they make a show of jumping on the pile, trying to get credit for the tackle now that there is no longer any danger. ‘Nuff said.