Will There Be Any Repercussions for Belize’s Rejection of Cruise Ship Passengers?
Dean Barrow
Will there be repercussions for rejecting a U.S. request to allow the quarantined passenger to be brought on shore? The government was being assured that the lab technician was low risk for the Ebola virus, but the U.S. was persistent in the face of what the Prime Minister says was a firm refusal. So persistent, and perhaps even arrogant, that a plane was still sent notwithstanding the stance of the leader of the nation. Perhaps the superpower felt that when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called, the PM would bow. But he didn’t. That move has earned the PM the respect of a nation that panicked in the face of a perceived threat. But we very much doubt it has earned him any brownie points with the U.S. Today, Barrow told us that as unpleasant as it may have been to be refused, he doesn’t expect repercussions.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“I hope not and I think not. I tried to be clear that why the decision was made early on after the discussion with the Secretary of State I pronounced myself willing to look at the options that he was proposing. Willing to at least explore those actions, so I believe I can say in good conscience that we gave the request a fair hearing. I hope and think that the United States and certainly Secretary Kerry are mature enough to recognize that ultimately even small states and perhaps especially small states must act in what they consider their best interest. So while they might not have been pleased with the decision, I expect that they will respect our position.”
Channel 5 news: “That move has earned the PM the respect of a nation…”
Well, maybe it earned *your* respect.
You don’t see what’s at play here? The pm used this opportunity to redeem himself after a recent series of capitulations to the United States. As usual, he, with his pugilistic ceo in close tow, axiomatically used the occasion to tack in the opposite extreme. He especially needed this in the wake of Conorquiegate and Hunting Cayegate.
The pm lost his moral high ground long ago. I don’t see why Ch. 5 should pull out the olive branch in knee-jerk fashion under the guise of amor patriae.
The man is profiling and you can’t even see the nudity.
As to whether there will be repercussions. I don’t know… was kojak bald? Is sharapova noisy in bed? Is the speaker of the house overweight? Have you yourself ever met anyone magnanimous?
The suspect individual could have been flown out from the PGIA. They should have hazmat-clad her, allowed her to pilot herself from the ship to the aircraft, and torched both vessels immediately after their use. Alternatively, the helicopter arrangement would have worked.
next time stop them from entering Belize waters; and if the ship is already in they should leave immediately no one should disembark it.
As a nation, PM should have given the US the pass to transport the person in question.
What he did was to show how look of knowledge, he and the rest of the nation is, shame I am a Belizean.
Ebola will get to Belize it is just a matter of when, and the US will turn the other cheek on us.
The sad thing is that Belize is so unprepared, being dependent PAHO for help is wasting time, but i guess the Mafia organization that is MOH, will F*** the nation.