Lions Cancel Annual National Convention

At the bi-weekly San Pedro Lion’s Club meeting held last Thursday, May 27th Belize Lions Zone 59 Chairman Baldemar Graniel announced that there would be no National Lions Convention held this year.

This will be the first time in 32 years that Zone 59, which represents all Lions Clubs country wide will not be holding a convention. Typically the National Lions convention includes Lion members from other clubs country-wide and is usually held over a weekend. With opening ceremonies, hospitality booths hosted by visiting clubs, organizational workshops, regional tours, receptions, dances and cultural presentations the event usually ends with a parade celebrating Lionsim in Belize.

According to Graniel, the Zone 59 Cabinet recently decided against holding the annual convention based on the fact that the Zone does not have the funding to host the event. Months ago Zone 59 had over $10,000 in their bank account but learned in March that the monies had been embezzled by Zone 59 Secretary/Treasurer Kainie Manuel.

The story, first ran in The San Pedro Sun on April 29th, Vol.20 - #17, (http://sanpedrosun.net/old/10-172.html) reported that Ms. Manuel confessed to a Zone investigation team that she had exhausted the Zone’s funds. On April 27th, Manuel appeared in San Pedro Magistrate’s Court where she was charged with 15 counts of theft. Although a court date on May 26th was scheduled, the hearing was adjourned to a later date.

Although the Zone is struggling to replenish their hard earned funding they maintain their commitment to the community. According to Chairman Graniel, there is now talk about organizing an informal retreat sometime later this summer where all regional clubs can participate at a minimal expense.

SPSUN Employee, Kainie Manuel Confesses to Embezzling

PRESS RELEASE

Valdemar Graniel, Chairman,
Lions Zone 59
San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize, C. A.

RE: Belize Lions Zone 59 Clubs: San Pedro Town, San Estevan, Burrell Boom, Belize City and Belmopan City

April 26, 2010

The Belize Lions Zone 59 hereby announces that Ms Kainie Manuel is no longer associated with the Lionism movement in Belize. Her dismissal as a Lions Member follows an unfortunate incident that has brought embarrassment to the efforts of Lionism in Belize.

Ms. Manuel was nominated and elected to serve as the Belize Lion Zone 59 Cabinet Secretary/Treasurer for the year 2009-2010 and as such was given the responsibility to oversee the funds pertinent to the Zone. Sometime in March 2010, the members of Lions Zone 59 Cabinet were informed that monies raised for a past Lions member receiving medical attention in New York, USA were not delivered by the Zone Secretary. In addition, the Cabinet members were also informed that a check from the Belize Lions Zone 59, written to the Belize City Lions Club, was returned because of insufficient funds.

As a result, the Cabinet voted that the Belize Lions Zone 59 carry out a complete audit and investigation into the Zone’s funds. As part of the audit and investigation, Ms. Manuel was questioned and she confessed in embezzling and exhausting the Zone’s funds. After agreeing she had misappropriated the Zone’s funds, Ms. Manuel signed a promissory note in which she outlined how she would repay the Zone of its funds. Ms Manuel refused to comply with the promissory note she signed. Furthermore, Ms. Manuel has continuously refused to hand over financial documents belonging to the Belize Lions Zone 59. As such the Chairman of the Belize Lion Zone 59, on behalf of the Lions Organization in Belize, has proceeded to file criminal charges against Ms. Manuel.

We regret that the Lions Organization in Belize has had to go through such embarrassment by one of its members, but at the same time promise to make every effort to investigate the matter to the fullest and press charges accordingly. We want to reassure the Belizean people that despite the unfortunate incident, we remain committed to serving the nation of Belize with pride and dignity.

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PRESS RELEASE

Ron and Tamara Sniffin
Owners/Editors
PO Box 35
San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize, C.A.

April 26, 2010

In June, 2008 Ms. Kainie Manuel, an employee of The San Pedro Sun confessed to embezzling over $50,000 from the business over a period of three years. In an attempt to give Ms. Manuel the opportunity to redeem her self, as well as repay the amount embezzled, San Pedro Sun owners, Ron and Tamara Sniffin gave Ms. Manuel the option to enter a binding, legal agreement in lieu of pressing criminal charges. Two months later, in August, 2008 the contract, drafted by Barrow and Williams Attorneys-at-Law, was signed by all parties and filed with the Supreme Court.

Manuel remained to be paid her full salary of $452/week until March 2009 when her wages were garnished by $200/week. In July, 2009 based on non-compliance with her contract, and within the binding agreement The San Pedro Sun began to retain her salary in full to expedite the repayment process.

Although a portion of her debt has been paid, there remains a balance of over $45,000. Since then Ms. Manuel has been in violation of the contract on several occasions and has admitted to embezzling at least an additional $7,000 from the company and misrepresenting the company on her behalf.

In light of Ms. Manuel’s indiscretions with the Belize LIONS Zone 59, as well as an on-going investigation of additional criminal acts, The San Pedro Sun has the legal right to terminate the contract and press criminal charges accordingly, which they are in the process of doing so.

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Follow-up story: Channel 7 News

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=16766&frmsrch=1