House Galleries Cleared Following Repetitive Outbursts
The galleries inside the Assembly Building during today’s Sitting of the House of Representatives came alive with supporters from both sides of the aisle. Valerie Woods, the Speaker of the House, noted that it was a welcomed sight, because it had been some time since the galleries were wholly occupied. However, the full house did present a challenge. The continuous outburst from the opposition’s side of the gallery became a distraction to the business of the House, so much so that during the meeting, the Speaker of House requested that the police clear the galleries. Outside, we spoke with the former U.D.P. Area Representative for Belmopan, John Saldivar who was among the crowd of U.D.P. supporters. He told us that they were there to support their party leader in the face of the Eleventh Amendment.
John Saldivar, Former U.D.P. Area Representative
“We are here in support of our party leader because one for the things in that amendment is to target our party leader because it is despicable and it is almost criminal to try to eliminate your enemy by way of such a law which we content will not stand the light of day. It is unconstitutional if they push it through and it will not stand in any court of law. But we are here to support our party leader. On Sunday we will be endorsing our party leader leading up the next general election. And so, we just wanted to be out here to support him. So I thank my colleagues who travelled from near and far to be here in solidarity with our party leader. I think that one it was brought back today, that commission should resign because really it is undermining their purpose and I call on Anthony Chanona and those on that commission to resign cause obviously the government doesn’t respect the process that they have been asked to undertake on behalf of the Belizean people with respect to this important task of constitutional reform.”