By Benita Keme-Palacio

Copyright greaterbelize

Opposition Pressures for Independent Investigation in Budna Case

The silence behind Joseph Budna’s abduction has drawn sharp criticism from Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton, who says the government’s response has only deepened public distrust.

“It is clear to me, and I think it’s clear to every right-thinking Belizean, that an order was given,” Panton said in Monday morning’s episode of Open Your Eyes. She described Rosado’s 45-day leave as a “vacation leave,” adding that 45 days out of office while being paid appears designed to allow the “story to quiet down in Belize and we get back to business.”

Budna was abducted on August 22 in Orange Walk Town, just steps from the police station. Within 24 hours, images confirmed Budna in Guatemalan police custody, and weeks later, there’s still been no suspects named, no charges laid, and no ‘full’ report or footage has been released.

Prime Minister John Briceño described the report he received on Friday, September 5, as “incomplete and therefore unsatisfactory,” to which Panton questioned why the Prime Minister admitted he had to “demand” a report from the Commissioner and Police Minister Kareem Musa.

“Even if he claims he does not get daily briefings, there’s a daily briefing to the prime minister’s office on matters of national security, and even if he got a weekly briefing, he should have gotten two by the time he decided to answer questions to the local media,” Panton said.

She argued that the response has only fuelled public distrust, stating, “There’s so much distrust already in the police department that for the avoidance of any doubt, there must be an independent investigation.”

Panton stated, “The police cannot and should not be investigating itself in this case.”