Kareem Speaks Up on China Visit

Kareem Musa

And speaking for himself, Kareem Musa once again reiterated the purpose of the trip, despite the optics or the impression it has given to the masses of Belizeans.  Here’s how he defended his visit.

Kareem Musa, Area Representative, Caribbean Shores

“I think the prime minister characterized it as some sort of putting his government in jeopardy, but we see now why they were all getting very jumpy on that side of the house, why they were all getting nervous because they had a hundred million dollar loan that was coming their way.  And so now we see why the UDP has put out a press release… Well you need to read your own press release sir, because they were saying I am putting your loan in jeopardy which I did not, clearly.  And Madam Speaker, the point that I wanted to make earlier is that I was invited to visit Beijing and Shanghai, Mr. Prime Minister, by none other than the president of the Belize Chinese Association.  His name is Johnston Ou and it is unfortunate that we live under somewhat communist circumstances where businessmen like Johnston Ou are victimized and attacked that they then have to put out press releases, that all they went to do in China was to translate.  I can tell you, Madam Speaker, we visited so many facilities, agricultural facilities, technological facilities and not one day did Mr. Johnston Ou provide any translation services.  So as you know Mr. Prime Minister and I am sure you have learned by now that Mr. Ou is a business partner of my opponent and so a little pressure came down on Mr. Ou which, you know, I have to understand Mr. Prime Minister, I can‘t blame the man because we live in a country where businessmen have to survive.  And so I totally understand the predicament that he was placed in and why he had to say that he went to China as a translator, which again he did not.  But moving on from there Madam Speaker, I was invited unofficially Mr. Prime Minister, I don‘t know if you‘ve been watching the news, but unofficially and not as a member of the People‘s United Party, although there were other members there.  I was invited, also not as a member of your government, so you don‘t have to worry about diplomatic relations being, you know, put at risk as you want to try to suggest.  It was really a learning and educational experience for me because we learned of effective poverty alleviation strategies that have taken China, we‘re talking about eight hundred million people out of poverty.  Today they only have eighty-seven million people in poverty and it is their strategy and goal to have zero poverty by next year.  Unlike Belize, we have a poverty alleviation strategy that has not been working.”