UDP pickets Social Security

The United Democratic Party, still riding high on the success of the March for Belize a week and a half ago, today picketed the offices of the Belize Social Security Board countrywide. Secretary General Philippa Griffith Bailey says the UDP is determined to keep pressuring the government of Prime Minister Said Musa to launch an independent inquiry into the perceived scandal at the SSB. For Opposition Leader Dean Barrow, who joined in the picket of the Belize City offices of Social Security, the party may soon be getting what it wants.

Philippa Griffith Bailey, UDP Secretary General

?We have been calling for an independent query; the Prime Minister is ignoring this. He is blowing over what happened with ten thousand plus people and what we have to keep it going until he calls and independent inquiry. And we are not talking about an inquiry with two PUP?s, the Opposition, no. We want independent people to investigate; get to the bottom of all this corruption, the misuse, the mismanagement of our funds.?

Dean Barrow, Leader of Opposition

?To force the government to come to terms with that demand and in fact to give in to that demand.?

Patrick Jones

?Do you think you will get that??

Dean Barrow

?We are positive that we will have the cry of the people heeded. I can tell you that already the Prime Minister has sent an emissary to see me in the person of Minister Shoman and the government has already offered a proposal as to the way in which an inquiry might go. We are studying the proposal, we will consult with the members of the central executive of the party and more important, we will also consult with the social partners before we respond formally to the Prime Minister. But it is clear that the march for Belize that we staged a week and a half ago has had the desired effect, has obliged the Prime Minister to deal with this issue and so today?s picketing which as you might know is taking place countrywide will we feel reaffirm the absolute determination of the party on behalf of the people of this country to get what we consider a just demand and so we are very happy about the way events have been developing.?

This morning’s picketing in Belize City lasted for about an hour and a half and was incident free.