Belmopan 10 March 2009 (Belizean.com) Mininister of Youth, Sports and Culture Hon. Marcel Cardona has been kicked out of office by Prime Minister Dean Barrow following a spat over a a multi-million dollar tourism contract. Hon. Cardona tangled with Barrow National Institute of Culture and History appointee Dianne Haylock over the award of a license to establish a restaurant and tourism trinket shop within a protected conservation area.
Belize Telemedia reports that "For weeks speculation had been rife that a Cabinet reshuffle would be imminent after the municipal elections. Well today, the first order of business, even before Cabinet met, was the announcement of the anticipated reshuffle, the first for the Barrow Administration. It did not amount to a major shake up in Belmopan and the loser is Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Marcel Cardona, who has been removed from Cabinet and will now sit in the back bench."
Belize Telemedia reports that "For weeks speculation had been rife that a Cabinet reshuffle would be imminent after the municipal elections. Well today, the first order of business, even before Cabinet met, was the announcement of the anticipated reshuffle, the first for the Barrow Administration. It did not amount to a major shake up in Belmopan and the loser is Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Marcel Cardona, who has been removed from Cabinet and will now sit in the back bench."
According to a statement from the Government Press Office, effective today, Cardona's
ministries have been split between Minister of State in the Ministry of Natural
Resources, Elvin Penner and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Manuel Heredia. Penner has been promoted to Minister of Youth, Sports, Information and Broadcasting, while Heredia was given responsibility for Culture. Moving into Penner's former state position is Area Rep for Orange Walk South, Marco Pech. Cardona declined an interview and said that he would issue a release later, but up to news time he had not.
The official announcement states the changes were made in the interest of the smooth
functioning of the business of government.
However, it's not far fetched to believe that the dressing down has something to do with the public spat last December between Cardona and his NICH President, Diane Haylock over her decision to sign a concession agreement without conferring with him.
Things turned ugly with Cardona and the NICH Board calling for Haylock's termination, the NICH administrator resigning his post, and members of the board at one point locking Haylock out of her office. After appearing in front of the Cabinet ministers to defend her actions, Haylock was not fired, but rather suspended for a month, much to Cardona's embarrassment, who also had to publicly apologize to the P.M.
ministries have been split between Minister of State in the Ministry of Natural
Resources, Elvin Penner and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Manuel Heredia. Penner has been promoted to Minister of Youth, Sports, Information and Broadcasting, while Heredia was given responsibility for Culture. Moving into Penner's former state position is Area Rep for Orange Walk South, Marco Pech. Cardona declined an interview and said that he would issue a release later, but up to news time he had not.
The official announcement states the changes were made in the interest of the smooth
functioning of the business of government.
However, it's not far fetched to believe that the dressing down has something to do with the public spat last December between Cardona and his NICH President, Diane Haylock over her decision to sign a concession agreement without conferring with him.
Things turned ugly with Cardona and the NICH Board calling for Haylock's termination, the NICH administrator resigning his post, and members of the board at one point locking Haylock out of her office. After appearing in front of the Cabinet ministers to defend her actions, Haylock was not fired, but rather suspended for a month, much to Cardona's embarrassment, who also had to publicly apologize to the P.M.
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