…and express support for unions
For Lake I representative Cordel Hyde, it was all about the welfare of his constituents.
Cordel Hyde, Area Representative, Lake Independence
?Let me say upfront that I stand in full support of the unions in their struggle. In our struggle, power can cease nothing without a demand. To paraphrase the American Journalist, Frederick Douglas, ?If there is no struggle, there is no progress?. Those who say they want freedom and justice but against agitation and demonstration are men who want props without ploughing up the ground. They want to raid the barn, but they don?t want to plant the corn. They want rain without thunder and lightening. You can?t have it both ways. If you want freedom and justice then there must be a struggle. Douglas says that struggle may be a moral one or a physical one or it may be both. But the unions have to stay the course. We will stay it with you. This is not about politics. This is about economics, this is about the people. Madam Speaker, I don?t stand before you as a saint, none of us are. In hindsight, we should have been more open with the people. We should have done more and said more and for those shortcomings, I accept full responsibility. Our politicians, all of us need to return to the earth. We need to leave the skies and walk with the common man. We need to remind ourselves of why we serve and why we do what we do. Madam Speaker, we are not elected as representatives of people to just tour the party line. There are times in history when the interests of the nation must come before the interest of the party. This is one such moment. I come not against the Government but for and on behalf of the people of Lake Independence. I am not here against the party. I am here for the people of Belize. Madam Speaker, I am a member of the Peoples United Party but I cannot support this budget. Madam Speaker, the Southside of Belize City is hurting and when they hurt I hurt.?
?Madam Speaker, I need to say this to my people because I think it is relevant. We need to start living within our needs. We need to start buying the things we need and less of the things we want. We have to be for real. Things are not getting better. If we used to eat shrimp and steak and drink a lot of beer we will have to hold it down a little. We might be able to eat and drink as we used to. Madam Speaker, I am not resigning from the Peoples United Party or from the House of Representatives. I will remain as the area representative for Lake Independence for as long as my people want me there. The seat is not mine or for the Peoples United Party. The seat belongs to the people of Lake Independence.?
