Peoples United Party Secretariat

Serve the People!

#3 Queen Street, Belize City Telephone: 674-9958 Facsimile: 223-3476

Email: pupsecretariat@yahoo.com

PUP PRESS RELEASE

September 9, 2014

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT A PRIVATE MATTER

The Women of the PUP, the United Womens Group, the Women Standard Bearers of the PUP,

the Party Leader and National Executive of the Party are appalled and profoundly troubled by the

incident which took place at the Lords Bank home of the Honorable Patrick Faber, Minister of

Education and Member for the Collet Division, involving him and a female employee of the

Ministry of Education.

We note that the Minister has not at all denied that an incident involving him and the said female

employee did, in fact, occur at his home, but that the Honorable Faber only disputes the leaked

version of what purportedly occurred, saying only that the situation did not occur as it was

reported.

Minister Faber has refused to divulge what did take place, saying he is human, is a young and not

an old man, has private activities and that the matter that occurred is a private matter. It is

only public if there is an issue with the police.

What is particularly egregious is that it is the Minister himself, the alleged assailant who

contends that the report made to the Police was withdrawn and that there is no such issue any

longer.

What is even worse is that the Belize Police Department contends that in fact no report exists,

while simultaneously saying that it was actually withdrawn, and that the Department will

therefore not investigate the matter any further. The Police have a duty to investigate all the

circumstances of the matter, interview any witnesses and ensure that the report made to the

Department was not withdrawn either under duress or any promise of either fear or favor by

anyone.

Patrick Faber is an elected Member of Parliament and a high ranking Cabinet Minister and

Government of Belize Official, as well as the Minister responsible for the Ministry in which the

complainant works. Faber therefore owes a sworn duty, by virtue of his several oaths of office to

Peoples United Party Secretariat

Serve the People!

#3 Queen Street, Belize City Telephone: 674-9958 Facsimile: 223-3476

Email: pupsecretariat@yahoo.com

the nation and people of Belize, to categorically state what did occur in his home, and must give

a full and truthful statement to the Police about the said incident.

Minister Faber cannot simply pretend that this is a private matter, and he must not be allowed by

Belizeans to believe that he can therefore get away by saying nothing about the matter whether

there is a friendship at stake or not. A complaint was in fact made, it involved him, and it is in

fact a public matter and the business of the public.

We therefore call upon the National Womens Commission, as well all NGOs who advocate on

behalf of women and against violence, and also on all Belizeans to join us in demanding a full

investigation into the incident by the Belize Police Department and to denounce any attempt to

cover up or ignore this matter.

Finally, we call on the Prime Minister to at the very least suspend Minister Faber from Cabinet

pending the outcome of a full and proper investigation into this matter.

ENDS

Contact person: Senator Hon. Lisa Shoman, 610-3575