N.A.B.R. says Government disrespected their leader
It’s been twenty four hours since the announcement from the office of the Prime Minister that elder statesman Philip Goldson was being relieved of his ministerial duties due to illness; but like a bad hangover that won’t go away, followers loyal to the seventy five year old leader of the National Alliance for Belizean Rights are saying it ain’t going down so easily. At an emergency meeting of the central executive this afternoon in Belize City, the party discussed the announcement and in the end agreed that while they cannot undo the damage, it doesn’t mean they have to sit idly by.
Emma Boiton, Deputy Leader, NABR
“What we do not like is the disrespect to Mr. Goldson, because if it had been discussed with us, we would have found a way to have the Honorable Faith Babb do her duties as Minister, she could have taken the whole Ministry and left Mr. Goldson with what he likes, September Celebrations and Patriotism, do a little reshuffle and that would be enough to keep him busy and not over tax him. First of all we spoke to Mr. Goldson and discussed with him what had happened and Mr. Goldson informed us that it had been, it was sudden news to him, then, but we were concerned because we knew that, from other source that the Cabinet Secretary spoke to him yesterday afternoon and the rapidity with which the news, the information was released by B.I.S. did not give Mr. Goldson time to discuss the matter with us.”
A government press release Monday evening announcing the move, said that the elevation of junior Minister Faith Babb to Goldson’s Ministerial portfolios of Human Resources, Women’s Affairs and Youth Development was done with his full consent.
But while that may be the Government’s side of the story, N.A.B.R. is claiming that Monday’s announcement is the culmination of a series of maneuvers by the government to oust the veteran politician.
Emma Boiton
“They used the word that it is temporary, but with elections looming around the corner it?s as permanent as they could make it because elections is right around the corner and they are the ones who will decide how temporary this is. It pains me to see them in government making a success of doing the wrong thing at every wrong turn, you are not surprised at what happens. We don’t know why they do it, nobody can tell. But it seems that every time there is a choice, there is a right way and the wrong way, the wrong way is always chosen.
Well that’s a long, long story. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again that there have been elements within the U.D.P. who have not wanted the coalition and for some reason they feel intimidated by Mr. Goldson’s life. They think, those that are doing this, because if you note that it is done while Mr. Esquivel is away, but back dated to when Mr. Esquivel was here. So we don’t know and we are not asking, who or whom or how many planned it. We’re not asking that. We just know they have done it. They have disrespected Mr. Goldson and disrespected every single Belizean one of us and disrespected the whole nation. You do not treat your patriots and statesmen in that manner.”
Boiton says that upon his return from the CARICOM meeting in Grenada later this week, she and the rest of the party’s central executive will seek an audience with the Prime Minister to discuss the issue. Meanwhile, when News Five made a telephone call to his home in Belmopan today, we were told that Goldson’s health was progressing slowly and that he had been placed on long term treatment three months ago and advised to get lots of rest. The person who answered the telephone told News Five that Mr. Goldson’s agreement to be relieved of his ministerial duties was in the best interest of his health.
