LOO Responds to Ex-Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers

Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow has written to former prime ministers Said Musa and Dean Barrow, as well as former foreign ministers Assad Shoman and Godfrey Smith.  The U.D.P. party leader began by stating, “I write to confess my utter dismay to read your statement declaring unwavering support for the Government of Belize’s wrongheaded decision to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel”.  Barrow goes on to say that he is both confused and concerned at the message of extremism and selective outrage being transmitted to Belize’s future leaders.  Barrow went on to cite several examples including conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, as well as Russia and Ukraine, to make the point that the Geneva Conventions are being applied discerningly.  Amid his lengthy response, Barrow wrote, “the south of Belize City is under siege by violent crime with genocide being the order of the day, Fort George suffers from a similar fate as I am sure both former prime ministers can appreciate yet we hear nothing from the government in this regard.  Is it okay for the government to dismiss the genocidal gang warfare in impoverished parts of Belize City and beyond, yet insert itself in a religious conflict that has been happening for thousands of years?”.