The Opposition plans to demonstrate in Belmopan on Friday

Julius Espat

The P.U.P. will be in Belmopan on Friday, and we don’t mean just inside the House. Deputy Leader Julius Espat has confirmed that the party will be organizing a protest in front of the National Assembly to coincide with the sitting of the House of Representatives. It’s not clear if other parties will be joining the movement, though there have been rumbles of discontent in different quarters for some time now. Espat says all are welcome, but whether they come or not, the P.U.P. is leading the charge to send the message to Belmopan.

Julius Espat, Deputy Leader, P.U.P.

“The party met yesterday and we got final approval to activate our people to go and demonstrate on Friday. So that is on right now. We have been organizing since this morning. And it is looking very good. The volunteerism is high, the energy is high and we are inviting all Belizeans—not only P.U.P.s, but all Belizeans—to participate in this demonstration.”

Reporter

“Are there any particular issues which are the subject of this demonstration?”

Julius Espat

“Well there is one issue…we need to recall this government. We started in Cayo Northeast, we have already collected our petitions; we are now vetting. And then now we are urging Belize Rural North to do the same. We are taking it to another level; this country is in a crisis and if what we are hearing is right; that the prime minister wants to go on an extended leave, this is unacceptable. There are so many issues affecting this country; there are so many corruption affecting this government. So it is a time now for the people of Belize to express what they feel and we will start it.”

Reporter

“Has the P.U.P. been meeting with other partners in this initiative? For example I know that some of the unions have expressed interests in demonstrating as well.”

Julius Espat

“We have been in consultation with all the social partners but not specifically with this issue of the demonstration. But we have been in close communication with them as it concerns to the Public Accounts Committee. But it is all one. All the issues, even though they are coming from different fronts, it is the dissatisfaction with how the system is being run; it is the dissatisfaction with how the country is being managed. So yes, we have been in communication and we will continue to do so.”

After Friday’s House meeting, the Prime Minister will be taking leave for health reasons. He will be in the U.S. for medical treatment for herniated discs that have been causing him pain.