PM Lashes Back at Chamber of Commerce

The Office of the Prime Minister has responded to a letter from the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  In late January, B.C.C.I. wrote to Prime Minister John Briceño voicing their concerns around law enforcement and G.O.B. ensuring that the rule of law is upheld during strike actions. In particular, they cited the incidents at Tower Hill between A.S.R./B.S.I. and cane farmers and then at the Port of Belize with stevedores.  In response, the Office of the PM says that it is “unfortunate that the B.C.C.I. would pen a letter with such false allegations because on both occasions the government intervened and that the outcomes were negotiated in the best interest of all stakeholders.” The letter goes on to say that security forces present kept the peace and protected property and did not infringe on the constitutional rights of anyone. In the correspondence, the PM makes reference to the killing of Atanacio Gutierrez by law enforcement authorities back in 2009 under the U.D.P. administration saying, “We would hope and expect that such actions and deadly results are not the method of upholding rule of law your organization contemplates, but rather, the civilized approach taken by this administration in the two instances you cited.” The release goes on to say, “My government is cognizant of the need to preserve the rule of law to ensure investor confidence and has been working hard in this regard.”