Barrow denies any responsibility

But as the Prime Minister pointed the finger of blame at the Opposition, the Leader of the United Democratic Party, Dean Barrow, was pointing right back.

Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
?I think he really is in denial and I think he came across as being disrespectful, as unwilling or unable to assume any blame at all for all that has happened, and as determined to point a finger at good decent courageous self-sacrificing citizens who have decided to make a stand because of the shambles that the Prime Minister?s administration has created.?

Janelle Chanona
?Is it the United Democratic Party?s position that no responsibility rests with the party as far as the political aspirants and known associates of the party being out there when this was taking place. Do you accept any responsibility whatsoever??

Dean Barrow
?Well we accept what is a fact, that we were out there, but we do not think that there is anything negative about being out there. What happened before the looting–everybody condemns the looting–what happened before the looting is in the best tradition of democratic dissent, of democratic protest. The term civil disobedience is a hallowed one from ancient times, so that the U.D.P. has no apology to make at all for being involved in any kind of protest action that is not violent, that does not seek to harm physically the Prime Minister or any of his ministers, and that does not engage in sabotage of national resources.?

Janelle Chanona
?Following your call for civil disobedience and seeing what transpired last night, what would you say to the people who knowingly went out into the streets and vandalized and looted, what would be your message to them??

Dean Barrow
?That really is tragic, it is most unfortunate, it in fact gives what is legitimately happening a bad name, it discredits those people who in fact are protesting in a righteous fashion. But that having been said Janelle, I don?t believe it is fair to shift the focus of concentration now primarily onto those people. In a sense, while what they did cannot be excused, must be condemned, it also certainly can be understood. These are people who are wretchedly poor, these are people who are suffering, and these are people who will seize any opportunity that we have to get what they can for themselves. So while it is clear that it is not to be countenanced, on the other hand, let us not forget that what has caused all this, what has given those people the opportunity to do what they did last night is the behavior, is the default of the current administration.?