Belizean Joshua Perdomo: Where Is He?

Joshua Perdomo is the son of Belizean politician Carlos Perdomo, the former Minister of National Security in Belize. Joshua Perdomo failed to return to Belize after studying forensic genetics abroad and incurred substantial debt. The Belizean government wrote off this debt, causing controversy and leading to discussions of legal action. Joshua Perdomo currently works at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas, Texas.

Joshua Perdomo's loan write-off

The Joshua Perdomo loan write-off refers to an incident where the Belizean government wrote off a $40,000 loan taken by Joshua Perdomo, the son of a former cabinet minister and current cabinet secretary, Carlos Perdomo. Joshua Perdomo had failed to return to Belize after completing his studies in forensic genetics in 2011 and did not repay the bonded loan. The write-off was approved by the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, and members of the cabinet, despite substantial public opposition. This decision sparked outrage among the Belizean people and led to criticism from the opposition party, the People's United Party (PUP), and youth groups such as the Belize Youth Movement (BYM).

The PUP, led by John Briceño, threatened legal action against the government and the Prime Minister, arguing that the write-off was unjustified and that the bond was collectible within 12 years, contrary to the government's claim of a six-year statute of limitations. They also highlighted the preferential treatment given to Perdomo compared to financially challenged students struggling to repay their loans. In response to the backlash, the Perdomo family repaid the initial loan amount of $40,000, but Briceño argued that the total loss to the government was more substantial when considering factors such as interest, Perdomo's salary during his studies, and the cost of replacing him while he was away.

The Senate, with the support of social partners and opposition senators, voted down the write-off motion, citing moral and legal concerns. Senators like Ashley Rocke and Marvin Mora emphasized the need for accountability and fairness, suggesting that the government should have done more to recover the monies. The opposition senators Michel Chebat, Isabel Bennett, and Dr Luis Zabaneh also criticized the double standard of favouring government-connected individuals over ordinary Belizeans. Despite the Senate's rejection of the write-off, it is unclear what the final outcome of the matter was.

The incident has brought attention to the issue of student loan debt in Belize, with the BYM demanding that the government write off loans for all Belizean students, not just those with political connections. They argue that the government's actions are despicable and that they have failed to present solutions that benefit all students. The group has called on Belizean youths to rise up and demand better from their elected officials.

The Belize Youth Movement's response

The Belize Youth Movement (BYM) has responded to the news of Joshua Perdomo's loan write-off by issuing a statement demanding that the Government of Belize afford all Belizean students the same privilege. The BYM calls on all Belizean youths to rise up and demand that their student loans be written off as well.

The group expresses outrage at the actions taken by Prime Minister Dean Barrow and members of the cabinet, who voted to write off Joshua Perdomo's $40,000 loan. They argue that it is "utterly despicable" that all members of the government voted to forgive the loan, yet none of them have presented a single solution that would benefit all students. The BYM urges young people to demand better from those they elect and the government.

Joshua Perdomo, the son of a former cabinet minister and current Cabinet Secretary, Carlos Perdomo, failed to return to Belize from his studies in forensic genetics in 2011 and never repaid the bonded money. The government wrote off the loan, citing that Perdomo could not be located. This decision has sparked controversy, with the Opposition and social partners voting down the write-off and questioning the morality and fairness of the decision.

The BYM's response highlights the need for solutions that benefit all students and not just those with government connections. They call for collective action from young people to hold their elected officials accountable and demand fair treatment when it comes to student loans.

The group's statement has brought attention to the issue of student loan debt in Belize and the perceived favoritism towards those with political connections. The BYM's call for youth empowerment and better representation from their government is a direct response to the Joshua Perdomo case, which has left many young people in Belize feeling frustrated and disenfranchised.

Joshua Perdomo's employment status

The Belizean government provided financial support for Perdomo's studies through a loan, which amounted to over $40,000. However, Perdomo failed to return to Belize after completing his studies in 2011 and did not repay the loan. This prompted discussions and debates among senators and government officials in Belize. The Senate voted down the write-off of Perdomo's loan, emphasizing the moral responsibility to repay the debt. Despite the opposition, the loan was ultimately written off by the government, citing the inability to locate Perdomo.

Perdomo's employment status in the United States has been a point of contention. While he was employed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science in Texas, he did not return to fulfill his three-year bond obligation to Belize. This caused a loss of more than just the loaned amount, as argued by John Briceño, the Leader of the Opposition. Briceño highlighted that Perdomo collected 80% of his salary while studying abroad, and the cost of hiring someone to fill his position in Belize during his absence added to the overall expense.

The People's United Party (PUP) considered legal action against Perdomo and even consulted their legal advisors. However, Perdomo's family repaid the substantial debt, and the PUP had to decide whether to continue with legal proceedings. Briceño emphasized the need for equal treatment for financially challenged students in Belize, requesting the Prime Minister to write off their student loans just as Perdomo's loan was forgiven.

Perdomo's LinkedIn profile suggests that he has been a student at National Louis University since July 2013 and worked as an Aquatic Center Supervisor at the Wheeling Park District from June 2001 to September 2013. He also mentions teaching roles, including as a Fourth Grade Teacher at Hawthorn District 73 and a Kindergarten Teacher from August 2007 to August 2010. Perdomo's profile lists his current position as Assistant Principal at CUSD 300, located in Wheeling, Illinois, United States.

The Perdomo family's repayment of the debt

Joshua Perdomo incurred a substantial debt of over $40,000 from his studies abroad, which the government of Belize wrote off despite public opposition. The Perdomo family repaid the principal amount of this debt in October 2019, eight years after Joshua failed to return to Belize and never repaid the money.

The repayment came after the People's United Party (PUP) threatened legal action against Joshua and his guarantor, claiming that the bond was collectible within 12 years and not statute-barred after six as the Prime Minister and Attorney General had argued. The PUP argued that the total loss was more than just the $40,000 principal as no interest was paid on the debt, Joshua collected 80% of his salary while abroad, and someone had to be paid to do his work in his absence.

The Belize Youth Movement (BYM) also demanded that the government write off the loans of all Belizean students, not just Joshua Perdomo. They called on the youth of Belize to rise up and demand better from the government, stating that it was "despicable" that the government had not presented any solutions to benefit all students.

The repayment of Joshua Perdomo's debt by his family partially resolved the legal concerns of the PUP and likely eased some of the public outrage over the initial decision to write off his debt. However, the PUP continued to argue that the total loss was more substantial than just the principal amount and that the government should write off the loans of financially challenged students.

The Senate's rejection of the loan write-off

Joshua Perdomo, the son of a former Cabinet Minister and current Cabinet Secretary, incurred a substantial debt of over $40,000 from his studies in forensic genetics. Perdomo failed to return to Belize after his studies and did not repay the bonded loan. The Belize Senate rejected the loan write-off for Perdomo, with Senators Ashley Rock, Marvin Mora, Michel Chebat, Isabel Bennett, and Dr. Luis Zabaneh joining the opposition in their rejection.

The Senate's decision was influenced by the fact that Perdomo had not returned to Belize or repaid the loan, despite knowing that his specialty was sorely needed in the country. Senators also raised concerns about the potential favoritism shown to government-connected individuals, while ordinary Belizeans struggled to repay their student loans. The opposition argued that the government should write off loans for financially challenged students rather than privileged individuals like Perdomo.

The Perdomo family repaid the substantial debt after the Senate's rejection, but the Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño, did not rule out legal action. He argued that the government's quick decision to write off Perdomo's loan set a precedent for doing the same for struggling students. Briceño also highlighted the loss of interest and other costs associated with Perdomo's studies, which amounted to more than just the $40,000 loan.

Frequently asked questions