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Why the British Embassador was recalled.

taken from daily mail newspaper UK.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1038876/Britains-man-Belize-PMs-girlfriend-sudden-exit.html?ITO=1490

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Britain's man in Belize, the PM's girlfriend and a very sudden exit

By Dennis Rice
Last updated at 11:44 PM on 26th July 2008

Comments (8) Add to My Stories
A senior British diplomat has been ordered back home from his post in Central America following allegations about his behaviour at a party.

The abrupt departure of John Yapp from his job as British High Commissioner in Belize comes just ten months into his three-year posting.

Rumours began circulating after a local TV channel reported that he was forced out because of ‘behaviour not consistent with his status as a diplomat’.

Whispering campaign: Were the rumours about John Yapp started by a woman he spurned?

The 57-year-old denied any wrongdoing but the Foreign Office ordered him to remain in Britain pending an investigation.

According to a Mail on Sunday source, Mr Yapp, who is believed to have been divorced three times, was accused of ‘inappropriate’ behaviour towards two women at a charity event in April.

The first woman was identified by local sources as Kim Simplis, the live-in girlfriend of the country’s Prime Minister, Dean Barrow. She was not available for comment yesterday.

The second, businesswoman Lauren Reardon Smith, defended the diplomat.

Kim Simplis (left) with a friend at the Black and White Gala held in Belize on April 29

She said that, far from making advances on Belizean women, Mr Yapp was shocked by their forwardness – and she suggested that perhaps a woman ‘spurned’ by the diplomat had made the allegations.

She added: ‘John was very outgoing when it came to social events but ran his office completely differently.

‘He was very direct and demanding of people, which did not go down well with everyone at the High Commission.

‘John even took to taking a little bell into work, which he would ring if people were not meeting the deadlines he had set.

Lauren Reardon Smith (right) with Gwynneth Dieter

‘I think he had either put too many backs up at the High Commission or that some woman he has spurned has made up some allegations about him.

‘He was a pretty dashing guy and received a lot of attention while here on Belize. Maybe it was too much for some people.’

Mr Yapp himself believes that the allegations were made against him ‘by one person’ after an entirely different party – a private event in January.

At his flat in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, yesterday, he said he had been told not to comment until the investigation was complete.

But he added: ‘I would like to have the opportunity to put my side of the story, and as I see it the right side. I obviously upset someone. I think it is easy to do in my business. A famous British politician said about the Foreign Office, “they appease foreigners – sometimes at the cost of their own”.’

President of Belize Dean Barrow with Kim Simplis in the background
The initial news report about Mr Yapp’s sudden exit was broadcast by Channel 5, a commercial station popular among Belize’s 290,000 population.

Chief executive Amelia May said: ‘Several highly-placed sources told us that the High Commissioner had behaved improperly towards these two ladies. You will have to ask the ladies concerned what form the behaviour took.’

David Spires, Mr Yapp’s second in command and now Acting High Commissioner, would only confirm that his former boss had left Belize.

The country is a former British Dependent Territory and the only Commonwealth country in Central America.

Asked to explain exactly why Mr Yapp had gone, Mr Spires said intriguingly: ‘My instructions from the Foreign Office are to tell you that Mr Yapp left for operational reasons.

‘It is not for me to comment on his private life.’

Inquiries by The Mail on Sunday suggest that the rumours centre around a glittering charity dinner and dance – attended by the US Ambassador Robert Dieter and his wife Gwynneth – in April.

Mr Yapp came alone and was seated with several women from the Belize Lifeline Foundation for disadvantaged children.

Among them were Lifeline’s founder Miss Simplis and Mrs Reardon Smith, a patron of the charity.

Mr Barrow was also present. Mrs Reardon Smith rose to Mr Yapp’s defence yesterday when asked about the rumours of ‘improper behaviour’.

She told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I know that John has had his share of troubles in Belize but they have not stemmed from how he has behaved towards the island’s ladies.

‘If anything it has been the other way round. During a cocktail evening at the High Commission about a week into his posting he told me had been shocked at just how forward the women were here.

‘He said they all wanted to see his sleeping quarters and had no qualms about asking him out.

‘A woman ran up to him when he was out somewhere with the US Ambassador and said, “You’re single, aren’t you? I can be your date for any engagements you may have”.’ It didn’t totally surprise me, but John was absolutely gobsmacked.’

Mrs Reardon Smith said that she had a clear memory of the night of the party as she had stuck to soft drinks.

‘John was drinking bubbly like most of the people at the table.

‘He was what I would call merry but certainly not staggering around drunk.

‘He also danced with every lady at the table, including me. My main memory of that night was that John was a really bad dancer.’

Mrs Reardon Smith is a close friend of Miss Simplis. She said that if there had been any misbehaviour by Mr Yapp towards her friend she would have known.

She added: ‘I find it incredible that a man’s career can be damaged in this way on the basis of little more than misinformed gossip.’


Whispering campaign: Were the rumours about John Yapp started by a woman he spurned?


Kim Simplis (left) with a friend at the Black and White Gala held in Belize on April 29


Lauren Reardon Smith (right) with Gwynneth Dieter


Yappy di Yap

Sad to see what this new gov't has done to beautiful Belize in just 6 months. Crime and cost of living spiraling, and Barrow's answer is to reduce duty on cigarettes. Yet the koncas crowd can still only waddle thru the mud of personality attacks. Grow up. Open you eye. Wi country di go to rass under the UDP. They are openly saying that all they want is 5 years to grab and tek what they can. Some say only 2.5 years enough. Look how they done di war Zenaida gainst Michaels, Simeon against Khalil Belisle, even Juliet against the Brief Thief Berges and his brother the gambler. This with no blue intervention. This Yapp business, however, is quite funny, even though a waste of news time. I can't help but thinking that Barrow, Courtney and Louis Sylvestre must be joining the chorus in saying to the British Foreign Office to tell Yappy di Yapp, Don't come back!


U.K. HIGH COMMISSIONER _ UPDATE

How Britain's man in Belize was ordered home after groping an ex-minister's wife - and making a lewd joke about the full moon

By Dennis Rice
Last updated at 9:08 AM on 03rd August 2008

Comments (11) Add to My Stories
The full story of why a senior British diplomat has been ordered home from his post in Central America can be revealed today.

John Yapp was withdrawn from his job as British High Commissioner in Belize ten months into his three-year posting.

Rumours spread that that the 57-year-old veteran diplomat had behaved ‘inappropriately’ at a charity event. The tawdry affair scandalised the country’s expat community.

Party: Kim Simplis, British diplomat John Yapp and Denise Courtenay pose together at an earlier event

Now, following an investigation, The Mail on Sunday can disclose that Mr Yapp is facing dismissal over claims that he drunkenly accosted the wife of the country’s former foreign minister.

Initial speculation suggested that the woman at the centre of the allegations was either Kim Simplis, the common-law wife of the country’s prime minister Dean Barrow, or businesswoman Lauren Reardon Smith.

But The Mail on Sunday has established that it was Denise Courtenay, 44, who made a formal complaint to the Foreign Office, which sent a former ambassador to investigate the incident.

Mrs Courtenay alleged that she briefly found herself alone with the then High Commissioner at the end of a charity dinner dance at the House of Culture in Belize City in April.

'In shock': Denise Courtenay made a formal complaint to the Foreign Office
She claims that an inebriated Mr Yapp patted her bottom then pointed at the sky before making a joke about how he became sexually excited only when there was a full moon.

Mr Yapp, who is now at home in Kent awaiting his fate, has denied any wrongdoing. The Foreign Office will say only that he has been withdrawn for ‘operational reasons’.

According to a Mail on Sunday source, however, Mrs Courtenay’s husband Eamon has held an hour-long meeting with Mike Gifford, a former British ambassador to Yemen, who was sent to Belize following the incident.

Until his resignation last October, Mr Courtenay was Belize’s minister for foreign trade and foreign affairs.

He is also the lawyer who acts for the Conservative Party deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft in Belize and he sits on the Standing Commission of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Last week he and his wife were on holiday in Spain, and neither was available for comment.

But the source said: ‘Denise was in shock at the time. She didn’t tell Eamon until they got home and he was understandably angry.

‘He is a close friend of David Spires, the deputy high commissioner, and out of respect for that friendship he did not go public at the time about what had happened with his wife.

‘Instead it was agreed that Mr Yapp would be sent to England while the Foreign Office conducted a thorough investigation.

‘Eamon and Denise agreed to not even tell their closest friends and when they met up with the official from the UK it was at the Radisson Hotel in Belize City so that no one at their work places or homes would get wind of what was going on.

‘There are still some people in Belize who have a chip on their shoulder over the perceived mistreatment of their ancestors when we were a British colony.

Angry: Denise Courtenay's politician husband Eamon
'Denise and Eamon are not among those, but are acutely aware that this had the potential to become an international incident.’

Another associate of Mr Yapp’s on Belize claimed that he had developed something of a reputation as a ‘lech’ during his brief stint there.

He said: ‘Mr Yapp made no secret of the fact that he considers Kim Simplis and Denise Courtenay to be the most beautiful women in Belize.

‘But admiring a lady from afar is one thing and allegedly manhandling her while making some disgusting remark is something else entirely.

Unfortunately, Mr Yapp is something of a lech when he drinks to excess and that is simply not acceptable for someone in his position.’

Mr Gifford, who spent more than a week in Belize investigating the incident, allegedly also recorded complaints about Mr Yapp from nearly a quarter of the High Commission’s staff of 21.

The source said: ‘Ironic as it may sound given his position, Mr Yapp was not particularly diplomatic when it came to working with people.

‘A lot of the staff found him to be somewhat overbearing. He was demanding and didn’t care one jot what people thought so long as his deadlines were met.

‘He and David Spires also did not get on. Their houses were both in the same compound but if a mutual friend was visiting one of them it was made plain that the other one was not welcome across the doorstep.

‘Although the Foreign Office is stressing to all concerned that nothing has been decided yet, the case against him as regards how he treated the staff is considered to be extremely damning on its own.

‘But it is the allegations concerning how he behaved towards Mrs Courtenay that are the most worrying for the Foreign Office. Belize is a vital staging post for the UK in both Central and South America. This is literally a diplomatic disaster.’

Belize is about the size of Wales and has a population of only 290,000. Nearly a quarter of its inhabitants live below the World Bank poverty threshold – meaning they earn less than £370 a year.

It finally received its independence from Britain in 1981, although the Queen still remains the head of state.

It is home to about 1,000 expats, many of whom run businesses that enjoy good relations with the government there, including virtually tax-free status.

Prime among those is the vast business empire of Lord Ashcroft, the billionaire entrepreneur who has ploughed millions of pounds into the tiny country.

Among the businesses he owns in Belize are a telecommunications company, a bank, and a hotel.

Friends of Mr Yapp claim that his apparent downfall after a diplomatic career spanning almost 40 years has more to do with Belize’s internal politics than any alleged goings-on at a party.

One said: ‘John Yapp was the first British High Commissioner we’ve had in a while who actually wanted to go out and meet people.

‘He worked bloody hard while he was here and that did not suit certain people at the commission who were used to an easy life. Suddenly they had to work for a living and that did not go down well with them at all.

‘There were also a few local politicians in Belize who had their noses put out of joint by John’s determination to put Britain’s interests first.

‘They are the ones who have complained about him. As regards the Courtenays, only Denise herself was there during the alleged horseplay. I am quite certain she has heard a lot worse in her time.’

Last week one of the few people prepared to speak publicly in support of Mr Yapp was the country’s prime minister, Dean Barrow. He said: ‘I have not been privy to what has gone on. It is an internal matter for the Foreign Office and really none of our business.

‘But I can tell you this: I liked John Yapp and found him to be a willing and committed partner in promoting relations between our two countries.

‘I only ever attended one dinner party at his home but found him to be an entertaining and gregarious host. He was good for Britain in my view.’

Mr Yapp, who is believed to have been married and divorced three times, has previously said: ‘I would like to have the opportunity to put my side of the story and, as I see it, the right side. I obviously upset someone. I think it is easy to do in my business.’

It is understood Mr Yapp has already been told of the exact nature of the allegations against him and will be given an opportunity to defend himself at a formal interview in London.

At his flat in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Mr Yapp refused to answer questions over the allegations, saying: ‘This investigation is still under way. My position is as it was and as I have explained.’

A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We are unable to comment as the matter is subject to an ongoing inquiry.’

"Knowledge is true opinion"


Cat is put of the

Cat is put of the Bag.........

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1040962/How-Britains-man-Belize-ordered-home-groping-ex-ministers-wife--making-lewd-joke-moon.html


HOW LOW

I FIND THIS ARTICLE DISTURBING. IF THIS MAN WAS SENT FROM BELIZE BECAUSE OF PUM PUM THEN SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THIS CURRENT GOVERNMENT. THERE IS NO NEED TO TAKE SOMETHING "MINOR" THIS FAR AND DESTROY SOMEBADY CAREER. IF DEAN BARROW IS ANYBADY WITH SENSE HE WOULD NEVA HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE DAT. WAT DA FI U DA FI U. IF KIM SIMPLE DA FI HE DEN DA FI HE


Ladies and Gents

Yapp gets re-called and they'll send another. What has his re-call affected?
Men will be men and women, women.

"Drink Up, Smoke Up, Juk Up...nothing else really matters"


belizeanpearl

Before I stand-down I just have to say that its the same story where ever I have lived Jamaica, Honduras, Belize and the US.

The constant equation is (money + power) = abundance of pussy

Now I stand down and live you with this Lenny Kravitz song brought to you buy reading radio:

"Stand By My Woman"

There were times I wasn't kind
And there were times I wasn't even around
And there were times I made you cry
So many times I had to say goodbye
When you want to talk
I'm on the phone
But now baby, yeah, I am here for you alone

I'm gonna stand by my woman now
I'm gonna stand by my woman now
'Cause I can't live my life alone
Without a home

There were times I didn't understand
And there were times I wouldn't hold your hand
But baby now I'm here for you
'Cause baby, yeah, I am so in love with you

I'm gonna stand by my woman now
I'm gonna stand by my woman now
'Cause I can't live my life alone
Without a home

I'm gonna stand by my woman now
I'm gonna stand by my woman now
'Cause I can't live my life alone
Without a home, yeah

I'm gonna stand, stand, by my woman now
I'm gonna stand by my woman now
'Cause I can't live my life alone
Without a home

Stand, yeah, by, yeah my woman now
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah ...
I'm gonna stand by my woman now
'Cause I can't live my life alone
Without a home [X2]

-----------------------------------

And no John Yapp did not clap my woman atleast I don't think so. LOL!!!


Interesting.

I wondered what was the deal...tho of course, the daily mail is a crap newspaper always publishing non-PC seedy stories.

Just look at the journalism in this piece:

First they talk about the PM...then they have a picture of DEan barrow with the caption:
President of Belize Dean Barrow with Kim Simplis in the background

haha. Belize's president, Dean Barrow! haha.

After briefly describing Belize's geographical location in Central America, all it takes is a few paragraphs and Belize has become an island!

IT is little more than a tabloid.

-Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati-


Some things, road fly,

you just can't defend and deny, the evidence is just too much.


I think everybody likes

to fuck. I know you have ladies that are attracted to money and power but its not specific to Belize only. All across the world its the samething. My point is that in defense she attacked Belizean women as oppose to just defend and deny.


i aGREE w reardonSMITH...

...well that much of these bzeBITCHES r quite LOOSE & EASY...esp when it comes 2 WHITE MEN...u only have 2 b old enough 2 rem d era of d SOLDIER BAITS or in more RECENT times cruiseSHIP DAYS 2 realize that ye olde BRIT diplomat was not completely off his rockers when HE intimated that d brown & whiteWANNAbee LADIES of Bze were more than a MITE willing 2 b BEDDED ostensibly by HIM!!!


now this seems like gossip and socialite bullshit!!!

But the only problem I have with it is the way that Lauren Reardon Smith defended the ambassador. She pretty much called Belizean women sluts and easy.

She told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I know that John has had his share of troubles in Belize but they have not stemmed from how he has behaved towards the island’s ladies:

‘If anything it has been the other way round. During a cocktail evening at the High Commission about a week into his posting he told me had been shocked at just how forward the women were here.

‘He said they all wanted to see his sleeping quarters and had no qualms about asking him out.

‘A woman ran up to him when he was out somewhere with the US Ambassador and said, “You’re single, aren’t you? I can be your date for any engagements you may have”.’ It didn’t totally surprise me, but John was absolutely gobsmacked.’
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