By Belize Live News Staff: Minister of Culture Francis Fonseca says he welcomes scrutiny and has nothing to hide when it comes to the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH). His comments come after calls from the Joint Union Negotiating Team (JUNT) and PSU President Dean Flowers for audits on all statutory boards—including NICH.
Fonseca said that NICH undergoes annual audits and maintains audited financial statements, all of which are shared through the Ministry of Finance. “We’ve discussed that many times with the JUNT,” Fonseca told reporters. “Every time they ask for information, we’ve made it available.”
He dismissed any suggestions of secrecy or wrongdoing, describing the renewed demands for transparency as “a bit of showmanship.”
“There’s a process and a structure in place. These are serious matters and we deal with them around the table—not in the circus,” Fonseca added, signaling that NICH is open to oversight but firmly grounded in its procedures.
