Belize City, Mon. Aug. 16, 2021– The Commission of Inquiry resumed its investigations this week into the sale of government assets during the term of the previous (UDP) administration. The Commission called several witnesses and UDP insiders to be interviewed, as it delved into the circumstances surrounding the sale of multiple government vehicles at exceedingly low prices.
This week, Alpheus Gillett, who is the current chairman of Biscayne Village and a former Rural Coordinator for NEMO up until July 15, 2021, appeared before the commission to answer questions about his alleged purchase of two Great Wall Wingles between February and March of last year.
According to the Commission’s records, Mr. Gillett purchased a 2017 Wingle in February, and one month later, on March 2, 2020, purchased a second vehicle, a 2010 Wingle. When questioned by the commission, however, Mr. Gillett could only recall the purchase of the 2010 vehicle at a price of BZ$1,000. The then Rural Coordinator stated that the purpose of that acquisition was to enable him to visit the twenty-three villages that were within his jurisdiction, because the department “did not provide any vehicle for it.” Gillett went on to confirm that he submitted a $600 bid for the vehicle and received approval for him to make the purchase at a price of $1,000. Gillett was unaware that the bid had been approved by the then Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, and he said he did not how a price of $1,000 was arrived at. He noted, however, that the vehicle was purchased without a functioning engine and he had to have it towed.
Mr. Gillett was subsequently read a letter that he allegedly penned. That letter contained a bid for another Wingle for $500. That letter seemingly restored Mr. Gillett’s memory of his attempt to purchase a second government vehicle. He then confirmed that he did, in fact, apply to purchase the vehicle.
However, he said that he changed his mind and did not proceed with the attempted purchase because the vehicle had a gasoline engine rather than a diesel engine. Despite his claim that he opted out of the bid, however, the Commission was in possession of documents that confirmed a sale to Gillett of a Wingle for the proposed $500, which was allegedly paid in cash. Mr. Gillet then flatly denied paying for or receiving that vehicle.
Also appearing before the Commission of Inquiry during its most recent session was Mr. Junior Lopez, former driver for Minister Frank “Papa” Mena, who was questioned about his bid to purchase a 2019 Toyota Prado for $20,000, and his subsequent purchase of the vehicle at a price of $25,000. Lopez, like Gillett, said that he did not know how the selling price was arrived at, but asserted that he simply received a notice of approval for his bid. Chairman of the commission, Andrew Marshalleck, then asked Mr. Lopez to verify if he had paid $10,000 in September of 2020 as a downpayment on his purchase, which he confirmed. According to Marshalleck, there was no record of Mr. Lopez paying the balance for the vehicle; however, Lopez was able to provide digital proof of payment of the remaining $15,000 via his cellphone. Lopez went on to state that he still uses the vehicle to provide private transportation services to former Cabinet minister Frank Mena following a number of repairs to the engine and body, which he said he had to pay for.
Next to appear before the commission was Dr. Angel Campos, UDP standard bearer for Corozal Southwest, who answered questions about his purchase of a 2008 Izuzu D-Max in January of 2020 — when he was a Minister of State in the UDP administration. Dr. Campos claims to have purchased the vehicle for the acquisition of parts, and during the most recent session of the commission of inquiry, he explained how he went about making the purchase:
“I wrote a letter, because I had a D-MAX, and I stated in the letter that I had another D-MAX that I wanted to fix, and I was looking around for parts. And then someone told me that there was a D-MAX in Belize City for almost two years, and it wasn’t moving. So, it was a government vehicle, so I called the Vehicle Care Unit and asked them if it was true that that vehicle was unserviceable. And they said that they would look into it. And I called back again, and I asked them what procedure does it take to apply for a vehicle so that I can get the parts, and they said, well, just write a letter. I didn’t even present myself as the Minister of State, because it was not my intention that I wanted it for any lucrative measures or anything. It was for parts. So, I wrote a letter with a letterhead as Dr. Angel Campos, and I never did put anything else as being part of government. Because I wanted it to be, if it was a bid, as if I was a normal person. So, I placed the bid and sent it to the Vehicle Care Unit,” he said.
Dr. Campos offered $500 for the vehicle, and later received approval by former PM Barrow for him to purchase the vehicle at a price of $3,000 as opposed to the bidding price. Dr. Campos also denied knowing how the price for his purchase was arrived at.
The Commission then went on a recess and resumed in an afternoon session, during which Mr. Armin Aleman, Dr. Javier Zuniga, and Mr. Glen Sheppard appeared before the commission. Mr. Aleman had submitted a bid for a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup truck on behalf of Capital Jewel Quick Loans, a business he managed, and offered $10,000. The truck, which he said was recommended to him by a former employee of the company, was subsequently sold to him for $15,000. Mr. Zuniga, who is the director of the Policy Planning and Project Management Unit at the Ministry of Health, also placed a bid for a 2010 Izuzu D-Max, which he said he became aware of due to his job in the Ministry.
Dr. Zuniga placed his bid at $3,000 via the then CEO in the Health Ministry, Dr. George Gough, which was then forwarded to the Vehicle Care Unit. The sale was later approved at a price of $3,500, which Zuniga paid in cash, and the vehicle was deemed irreparable by the GOB. Zuniga claims he had to conduct major repairs and to carry out an overhaul. He also stated that he purchased the vehicle for commuting purposes and was also unaware of how the selling price was arrived at.
Finally, the day’s proceedings concluded with testimony from a Mr. Sheppard who purchased both a 2009 and 2013 Mazda pickup truck from the GOB. Sheppard was made aware of the availability of the vehicles by his brothers, who informed him that the trucks were parked at a garage and had been written off by the GOB due to various mechanical issues. Sheppard made a bid of $1,200 for the 2013 truck and a bid of $500 for the 2009 truck via a letter to the then head of the Vehicle Care Unit, Ruperto Vicente. Both sales were later approved. However, the 2009 truck was sold for $1,000. There was also a discrepancy in Sheppard’s case, since the approval for one of the vehicles was issued to a Mr. Ernesto Thimbriel, who Sheppard claims not to know. Sheppard denied this, and stated that he received two letters which were addressed to him, approving both bids.
Notably, none of the day’s witnesses had arranged for any prior appraisals of the vehicles before submitting their bids.