Mar 15, 2021
B.T.B. Issues Official Release on Termination of Karen Bevans
Today, the Belize Tourism Board issued a very sparse statement confirming what News Five first reported on Friday: Tourism Director Karen Bevans no longer holds the post. Following a meeting of the B.T.B. Board of Directors, a unanimous decision was taken on March twelfth that the “time had come to part ways with Misses Bevans.” The release ends by saying that current chairman, Evan Tillett, will take on the management and leadership responsibilities of the B.T.B. The release, however, does not explain the grounds for the termination. As viewers recall, an investigation was conducted into what if any role the now former tourism director and other former members of the Board of Trustees played in the misuse of the B.T.B. Pension Fund. Close to four hundred thousand dollars was reportedly spent to pay salaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. News Five attempted to get additional comment from Chai
Jan 13, 2021
Karen Bevans
On Friday, the contract for B.T.B.’s Tourism Director, Karen Bevan’s, was leaked to the public. Since that time, the details of the employment agreement signed on April first, 2019 have been causing much debate as the public continues tallying up the benefits outlined in the lucrative contract. The five-year contract starts with an annual salary of one hundred and seventy-three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars; that’s not including salary increases of up to ten percent based on performance or the twenty-five percent yearly bonus. Add to that, allowances for housing and communication expenses. The director’s salary alone is more than what the current C.E.O. in the ministry earns. Former employees of B.T.B. are most annoyed as in March of 2020, over fifty percent of the staff was issued separation packages due to the economic crunch caused by COVID. So, where is Bevans? Well, she’s at work at the B.T.B.’s office. In an e
Jan 8, 2021
Karen Bevans
We got a chance to ask Prime Minister John Briceño about Bevans’ contract today. Bevans has threatened, through Barrow and Williams law firm, to sue Prime Minister John Briceño for defaming her in a previous media interview when talking about her contract. Briceño is sticking to his guns, telling Bevans that she does not want to go down that road.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“If Misses Bevans wants to sue me that is her right as a Belizean citizen. I stand by what I said. I don’t think she wants to go to court because when we set up all the evidence of what has happen during her time it is not going to be a pretty picture. So, I would hope that she decides to go to court but if she wants to go to court then that is her right and I support that.”