Cordel Hyde, Kareem Musa Invite U.D.P.’s for a Walk on Southside

Cordel Hyde

We’re not sure if they compared ideas before coming to Belmopan on Thursday, but two People’s United Party area representatives suggested similar methods for having the Government understand the plight of the poor during their Budget presentations – Cordel Hyde of Lake Independence on Thursday and Kareem Musa of Caribbean Shores today.  Basically, they propose having national leaders come to the most-affected parts of Southside Belize City to spend a weekend – or as suggested to the Prime Minister, walk through his constituency unaided by police – to see how the other half live. Both men hope this would change the compass for how Government addresses popular economic and social initiatives.

Cordel Hyde, Area Rep., Lake Independence

“Madam Speaker, I have a modest proposal – the Ministers and the Prime Minister should trade places with the poor on Southside for a weekend. Leave their feathered nests in the suburbs, and come live above a London Bridge, in a house with no windows, and a bathroom with half the flooring gone, and no toilet, and no basin except for a curtain in the corner which subs as a shower stall! (Applause) Come eat biscuit and ideal for breakfast, and noodles and a single hot dog sausage in the afternoon. Come listen to gunshots at random hours of the night and day; come worry whether the child you sent to the Chinese store around the corner makes it back home safely. The Ministers should come for a weekend; just a weekend. And then after that, maybe after that, you will see some real changes for the poor in this country. Maybe then, winning elections wouldn’t matter so much as reducing poverty in this country. (Applause) Maybe then, maybe then, less of our children would get killed each year, and more of them would graduate from high school and sixth form. Maybe then, maybe then the Government would understand.”

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Area Rep., Caribbean Shores

“Madam Speaker, I want to end off my presentation this morning by issuing a challenge to the Prime Minister of Belize. I know that he prides himself on winning his last election without so much as saying hello to his constituents in the Queen’s Square division. But I want to challenge him to take one last farewell stroll in his constituency, all by himself; not with any G.S.U. like how his son Shyne rolls, by himself. Take a walk around eight at night, just to say hello, and ask your people one simple question: has your life and the life of your family improved in the last nine years while I have been your Prime Minister? And after you listen to their answer and reflect on your tenure, tell your constituents in Queen’s Square to ask you the very same question: Mr. Prime Minister has your life, and the lives of your family, improved over the last nine years? I believe that it is only by doing this that he will realize the two very different worlds that he has created over the last nine years.”