Said Musa words resonated, reverberated in Cardona’s being

Marcel Cardona

On the government’s side, most of the two day debate was spent arguing over ten years of past P.U.P. budgets.  There was also a protest, ejection of party supporters from the gallery, and a no show by two P.U.P. representatives. And then of course there was Cardona, who ended his speech like the Visa advertisement that says… “Priceless”. He compared Belize to the Apartheid days in South Africa and quoted the former Prime Minister, Said Musa, whose words resonated and reverberated in his being.

Marcel Cardona, Orange Walk East Representative

“Let me very clear; I intend to continue to serve out the remainder of my term of office under the U.D.P. banner and only god knows what lies further ahead or beyond the end of my term of artists. So let me be clear, my speaking out for the rights of the people has nothing to do with any resignation from my part either from the U.D.P. Party or as a member of the House of Representatives but it has all to do with my standing up to defend and protect the rights and privileges of our people who deserve to be treated as equals and not as inferiors or subordinates to others. This is not South Africa and I am not aware of us practicing an apartheid system in Belize. But perhaps we can be enlightened by our honorable colleagues and so the Honorable member of Fort George question about; where is the love resonates and reverberates in my mind and in my being. The then leader of the opposition was fully aware of my family background and that I derived from a predominantly P.U.P. family that had always, that had always voted in black for the P.U.P. In fact, my maternal grandfather was a founding member of the People’s United Party in Orange Walk Town, while several of my uncles held public office as councilors, mayors and even senators under the P.U.P. Perhaps, perhaps. The honorable member is saying they don’t need people like us in the U.D.P. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Perhaps due to youthful inexperience or naivety, I believed in and placed my full confidence in our Prime Minister who has stood up before this honorable House and self proclaimed himself to be undeniably a fair man. It is my sacred duty as the duly elected area representative of the Orange Walk East Constituency to speak up on behalf of the people of Orange Walk East no matta what.”