Barrow: referendum postponement a “disaster”
The major reason for this morning’s meeting of the House of Representatives may have evaporated, but the politicians still had plenty to talk about. News 5’s Janelle Chanona was on hand in Belmopan.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
It was a full house on Independence Hill today as Belize’s elected representatives prepared to debate those bills before the House. But there wasn’t much to argue about, especially after the last minute withdrawal of the bill to pave the way for a referendum on the Guatemala issue. For Leader of the Opposition Dean Barrow, the latest development was nothing less than a disaster.
Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“It was made clear from the start that the two countries would have to be full partners in this process. So it really seems to me that there’s going to be a huge factor of credibility, a huge credibility gap. And I fear… I hope otherwise but I fear, being realistic that really, this is the collapse of the process.”
According to the United Democratic Party, the delay in a date for the referendum has put their conditions on the back burner. But Barrow says the concerns raised will always be crucial.
Dean Barrow
“Well in advance of any referendum those conditions would have to be addressed. But as I said, I think it would be silly to say that they must be addressed within the next two weeks, when obviously, the referendum is not going to be, in my view for at least six months, if it is going to happen at all.”
Across the floor, Prime Minister Said Musa was admittedly disappointed…but maintained an attitude of optimism.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“I don’t think its damning; I don’t think anything is irretrievably lost. I think the process, we must preserve those proposals. We will hold the Guatemalans to them. Let’s assume for instance that the referendum does not take place before a change of government in Guatemala, just for argument sake. We will hold any government of Guatemala to nothing less than what is in those proposals. In other words, we will not derogate from that in any further discussions with them.”
Later discussions in the House focussed on the subject of contract renewal for Ombudsman Paul Rodriguez…a touchy subject for both sides.
Dean Barrow
“Everybody knows there’s going to be a change of government next year, let us serve notice. (laughter) You can laugh all you want, but unu can’t know weh the happen out deh. I think unu well know. Let us make it absolutely clear, Madam Speaker, that we feel that the original error in appointing somebody political to this most important office is being compounded by this effort to extend his appointment beyond the age of sixty-five and certainly, at least two years into the life of a new government. And when the government changes, we want to make it absolutely clear that we will expect Paul Rodriguez to offer his resignation straightaway…Absolutely! He is a political appointment and that office should not contain a political person as its appointee.”
Prime Minister Said Musa
“They had it in their budget for years, voting ten dollars every year and they never say fit to appoint an ombudsman because they were scared of the corruption that took place during their term that would come to life. We are not afraid Madam Speaker, we have appointed the ombudsman, we have appointed the Contractor General. There is far more transparency and openness in government today than ever before. So the Leader of the Opposition is really talking nonsense today in trying to attack Mr. Rodriguez. I find it even more amazing that he should question Mr. Rodriguez on the grounds of his politics. Mr. Rodriguez was a founding member of the United Democratic Party. He is one of those that founded his party and now he’s attacking the man that created the U.D.P.”
In the end, the I’s had it. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
