Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELIZE434
2006-05-15 20:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:
BELIZE: SOLICITOR GENERAL KASEKE ON THE WAY OUT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0013 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBE #0434 1352010 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 152010Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BELIZE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0037 INFO RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS BELIZE 000434
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK
L/LEI - MARGARET TAYLOR
DOJ FOR OIA - PATRICIA PETTY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SNAR CJAN SOCI KJUS KCRM BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: SOLICITOR GENERAL KASEKE ON THE WAY OUT
REF: A) BELIZE 289; B) 05 BELIZE 965
UNCLAS BELIZE 000434
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK
L/LEI - MARGARET TAYLOR
DOJ FOR OIA - PATRICIA PETTY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SNAR CJAN SOCI KJUS KCRM BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: SOLICITOR GENERAL KASEKE ON THE WAY OUT
REF: A) BELIZE 289; B) 05 BELIZE 965
1. (U) The contract of Solicitor General Elson Kaseke will
not be renewed; Attorney General Francis Fonseca made the
announcement at a press conference on May 11. Fonseca cited
Kaseke's legal successes for Belize and competence as an
attorney, but said that it had been a mutual decision, and
"Mr. Kaseke felt it was time for him to move on and we felt
it was an opportunity for us to have a new beginning."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
2. (SBU) Though generally successful in the courtroom,
Kaseke has had several embarrassments of late (REFTEL A): an
arrest and conviction in the U.S. for drunken behavior on a
plane flying into Ronald Reagan National Airport; reprimand
by the Belizean Chief Justice for unseemly courtroom
conduct; and the recent Integrity Commission's finding that
he violated the code of conduct for public officials in his
directorship of the BELIPO company registry (REFTEL A).
Kaseke's dismissal thus comes as no surprise. The
increasingly powerful Association of Concerned Belizeans
(ACB) has been calling for his termination in much the same
way as it successfully demanded the resignation of the
former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Keith Arnold
last November (REFTEL B).
3. (U) The Attorney General also went on, honoris causa, to
state that he had enjoyed working with Kaseke, who will
continue his duties until the end of the month, when Fonseca
expects to name a new Solicitor General from within the
internal Belizean bar.
DIETER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK
L/LEI - MARGARET TAYLOR
DOJ FOR OIA - PATRICIA PETTY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SNAR CJAN SOCI KJUS KCRM BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: SOLICITOR GENERAL KASEKE ON THE WAY OUT
REF: A) BELIZE 289; B) 05 BELIZE 965
1. (U) The contract of Solicitor General Elson Kaseke will
not be renewed; Attorney General Francis Fonseca made the
announcement at a press conference on May 11. Fonseca cited
Kaseke's legal successes for Belize and competence as an
attorney, but said that it had been a mutual decision, and
"Mr. Kaseke felt it was time for him to move on and we felt
it was an opportunity for us to have a new beginning."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
2. (SBU) Though generally successful in the courtroom,
Kaseke has had several embarrassments of late (REFTEL A): an
arrest and conviction in the U.S. for drunken behavior on a
plane flying into Ronald Reagan National Airport; reprimand
by the Belizean Chief Justice for unseemly courtroom
conduct; and the recent Integrity Commission's finding that
he violated the code of conduct for public officials in his
directorship of the BELIPO company registry (REFTEL A).
Kaseke's dismissal thus comes as no surprise. The
increasingly powerful Association of Concerned Belizeans
(ACB) has been calling for his termination in much the same
way as it successfully demanded the resignation of the
former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Keith Arnold
last November (REFTEL B).
3. (U) The Attorney General also went on, honoris causa, to
state that he had enjoyed working with Kaseke, who will
continue his duties until the end of the month, when Fonseca
expects to name a new Solicitor General from within the
internal Belizean bar.
DIETER