Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
  I grew up in a country where rumors were so prevalent that they eventually became the news, then facts, then legends; and even if in the end it was all made up, those legends would persist through the ages. The legend of Jackie Vasquez comes to mind.
  It would be very easy to jump on the bandwagon and complain about the latest rumors and scandals surrounding this PUP government. It would be easy to say that all the gossip is true; after all, there have been whispers, mostly unsubstantiated, about members in the government, about where their loyalties truly lie, for some time now.
  But, while we go chasing these dark shadows that hover about us, we should never forget about the events of the last few months, one of the most frightening and illegal events that is still a mystery, hidden in coverups and obfuscations, and in brazen attempts to pretend that there is nothing to see here.
  Mr. Budna is the most imperfect vessel to shine a light on the apparent corruption of a government that is rapidly sinking into that rabbit hole that is hard to escape from. We cannot allow what happened to this man to become legend, a fairytale, that it was not real, imperfect as he is.
  He was kidnapped by police officers. He was beaten (it is on video), violently assaulted, and forced into a vehicle, ending up in the custody of Guatemalan authorities. Those are facts, not legends or rumors. The Compol lied about the incident, and still remains our chief law enforcer. That is blatant hypocrisy and corruption. That such behavior should be allowed is on us, the voters who put their trust in a government that promised transparency, and an administration that was for the people, and not for the few, and definitely not for their self-entitlement and enrichment.
  Until we find out what happened to Budna, who gave the orders for his kidnapping, his being illegally shipped to foreign, especially to Guatemala; until we have a new Police Commissioner, one whom we can trust, one who is beholden to law and order, and who is not constrained by politics (which is a fairytale unto itself), we, especially the press, and anyone else who cares about our sovereignty, should push for answers to this stain on our Jewel. We are still a democracy. I want to believe that.
  Meanwhile, we have a case at the ICJ. Guatemala is watching us as we try to find a way to deserve our sovereignty. They are judging us; they, who have some of the most atrocious human rights violations in history, are judging us, hoping we will implode, to give them a more favorable chance of owning us.
  Most of all, Uncle Sam is watching us. And they don’t mess around. Ask Fidel or Arbenz or Maduro, or the many leaders whom they have brought down, or have tried to bring down, because they weren’t serving the best interests of Washington.
  This current PUP government should never lose sight of the fact that they are being closely watched. That although we are a democracy, we aren’t. That the way they made Budna disappear could happen to any one of them also, metaphorically, and more frightening, physically.
  This government has forgotten the face of its father, quoting Stephen King. You were elected to make life better for your citizens. To make them feel safe and secure in their homes, in the streets, in their country. The citizens of Belize come first, second and third. Stop putting others at head of the line, and take care of your own. Budna is your Epstein tapes!
  I was listening to Morning Vibes on X this morning, and a caller made the comment that if you are a little guy and call out corruption, they will get to you. It is important that, big or little, PUP, or UDP, or no P at all, you call out wrongdoing when you see it. Maybe they will listen and correct their mistakes. We can only hope that they will.
  Donald Trump and I have something in common, after all: America first! It should also be Belize first! Wat a ting!
Glen
