P.M. responds to the Opposition on relief efforts
While they had the attention of the public and the Opposition, the United Democratic Party took time out to respond to comments made by the People’s United Party at a press conference this week.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“It really is a pity that those on the other side who were non-existent during the crisis, nowhere to be found, took the opportunity to try to be negative about what all have agreed was the wonderful response of the official agencies and the private sector…for them who did not participate at all in the efforts—at solidarity, at rehabilitation, at repair, at reconstruction—to turn around and try to pour scorn on the process seems to me to be a most shameful act.”
Gaspar Vega, Area Rep., Orange Walk North
“Mr. Speaker, we must thank the thousands of Belizeans who, when hardship visits our people, are able to put aside partisan politics and unite and lend a helping hand. That is what defines us as Belizeans. That spirit, Mr. Speaker, we must not be like the Leader of the Opposition who believes that the sole responsibility to help the need is of the government.”
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“In the context of our being able to enter into loan agreements in the aftermath of a disaster, I gathered that somebody on the other side suggested that we were underestimating the losses suffered by this country. At every stage when we spoke, we indicated that the assessments were given as a consequence of the damage assessment committee reporting to the minister and through the minister to me, were preliminary. I don’t know if those on the other side did not add the two assessments together. but the point I want to make is this, the Minister of NEMO, the Foreign Minister, anybody who was involved, they tell you Mr. Speaker, that after Tropical Storm Arthur, the international community said to us, for god sake don’t be like the P.U.P., do not inflate and tag you damage assessment reports because that’s what the P.U.P. did the last time. The international saw through it and this country has been burned as a consequence of that. Do not let it happen again, but that it seems is what they would have wanted us to do.”
In related news, today the Prime Minister introduced a bill to amend the Disaster Preparedness and Response Act to formalize the declaration of disaster areas in the aftermath of a natural disaster. That reading went through all three stages at once so that the Red Cross could access a four hundred thousand dollar grant from the I.D.B. once G.O.B. makes a formal declaration under the act.
