An Olive Branch or an Extended Hand of Friendship?

In admitting that both campaigns have divided the people, PM Barrow has reached out to the Opposition as a show of unity.  This is despite the fact that he is yet to speak with Opposition Leader, John Briceño.  According to the prime minister, the belated effort at bipartisanship is a reminder nonetheless that it is the country that is going before the world court and not any of the political parties.  Here is his outreach to the opposition.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“The vote was yes, an emphatic yes.  I am happy for that; in particular in the sense that there can be no doubt that the result is the will of the majority of the Belizean people.  What I particularly want to do is to extend an olive branch, perhaps that’s not the best way to frame it, extend the hand of friendship, make this national unity outreach which per force must include the effort to involve the People’s United Party in the way forward.  It is Belize that is now to go to the I.C.J., not the U.D.P.  It is not the P.U.P., it is Belize and the opposition, always the government in waiting, although if I were they, I wouldn’t take that too very, very seriously, too literally I mean.  But, on a very serious note, it is critical that as we go to the I.C.J., we’ve explained that it’s a fairly long, perhaps a little bit slightly complicated process.  We need to be on our Ps and Qs and be sure from day one that we make no mistakes, that the various lawyers that we have already retained, the various legal chambers that are now in the service of the Government of Belize.  Make no mistake, we will have to appoint an agent at the Hague to coordinate everything to make certain that papers are filed when they are supposed to be filed and steps taken when they are supposed to be taken.”