Following several requests from private citizens to have a financial report of 2012 to 2014, the San Pedro Town Council finally invited Elito Arceo, Standard Bearer for the PUP, and Giovanni Solorzano, Mayoral candidate for the PUP, to view the financial report in his office. The media comprising of Ambergris Today, Reef TV and San Pedro Sun as well as Town Councilor’s legal advisor Estevan Perera were also invited to have a glimpse of the hard copy and ask a few questions before the aforementioned candidates.
Arceo and Solorzano were welcome by the Mayor and told to have a few minutes to look at the document and not to take notes or photographs. Mayor Daniel Guerrero mentioned that the public would have an opportunity to appraise the financial report either on Monday, July 14, 2014 or Tuesday, July 15, 2014.
In the short span given to look at the document, both Arceo and Solorzano had relevant questions on Christmas gifts/bonus to staff, outstanding loans, collaterals, donations and how they are recorded, on accountability of certain transactions, staff requests for salary increases, closed accounts by businesses, among others.
The mayor responded to most of the questions, while Acting Town Administrator Marion Mejia promised to look up the figures and have them ready for the public meeting. The Mayor also explained that this report is only for the period April 2013 to March 2014, or the second year of his administration only. According to the Mayor, the last audit of Town Council finances was done in 2007 under the Mayor Paz’s administration.
After a brief period of questions, the Mayor announced that he had an important and urgent meeting to attend with NEMO and accepted only two more questions. Mayoral Candidate Solorzano said he had tons of questions but opted to air them at the public meeting that is supposedly coming soon. The opportunity to view the documents was deemed to be cordial and respectable but vague with nothing concrete so as to be able to make sound judgment. The public is invited to attend the public meeting which is scheduled for next week. Details on this meeting will be publicized as it becomes available.
