The findings of Ms. Moya’s report for the subcommittee on fishing cooperatives on Belize’s largest cooperative allege that uncollateralized loans and salary advances running in the millions of dollars had been given to the nine-member management committee. According to the report, the managing committee “members abuse their positions to issue large and unsecured loans to themselves and their associates [while] the by laws of the cooperative do not allow for loans to staff [and] no promissory notes exist for these advances and no collections are being done.”

The day after the report was issued, Ms. Moya was transferred to another department.

Transparency Watch (TW): You lost your post as Registrar of Cooperatives and Credit Unions after raising the allegations of corruption at the Northern Fisherman Cooperative society, one of the largest cooperatives in Belize. Did you fear further reprisals?

Zenaida Moya (ZM): I did what I felt was the right thing to do and so I did not fear any repercussions. I knew they were inevitable. Corruption is common among members of the current central government administration, so I felt that it was time that someone, even if only one person, stand up and take a stance against it.

TW: What measures are in place to protect whistleblowers in Belize, and how will you strengthen these measures in your position as Mayor?

ZM: Currently, no specific measures exist to protect whistleblowers in Belize. In my administration, I have openly supported whistle blowing. I will also support the Whistleblowers Protection Bill that the Public Service Union is attempting to get drafted and passed into law.

TW: What accounted for the landslide victory of the United Democratic Party in this year’s local elections? Were voters aware of your role in exposing corruption? How strong a role did this play?

ZM: According to the polls, the reason for the victory was citizens’ discontent with government corruption and poverty. Seventy-nine percent of those polled said they would vote for a candidate because they felt he or she had integrity. I believe my position on anti-corruption played heavily in voters’ minds.

TI: Have you encountered corruption since taking up your post as Mayor of Belize in March 2006?

ZM: Yes, this new City Council has uncovered instances of corruption by the previous Belize City Council that has cost the residents of Belize City.

TW: What measures have you taken to combat corruption in Belize? What more will you do?

ZM: I have been ensuring that internal controls are put in place at the Belize City Council, as I believe one has to clean its own house before looking to clean another’s. I will also continue to increase citizen’s awareness of government policy with the help of the media.

TW: What role did journalists play in bringing this scandal to public attention? How independent is the media in Belize?

ZM: Journalists were key in bringing this scandal to public attention. The media is fairly independent and keen on exposing corruption in every form.

TW: What is blocking the way to a world free of corruption?

ZM: The disillusionment of citizens with the abuse of authority by key public officials and misuse of public funds; it is citizens’ acceptance of corruption that continues to block the way.