Marcel Cardona wears hard hat to House in fear of being assaulted
Marcel Cardona
Before the prime minister introduced the constitutional amendment, the House sitting opened with an unusual sight and it came from area rep, Marcel Cardona, who has been banished to a seat on the opposition side. During the last sitting of the House on July fourth, a member of the gallery, an avid supporter of the ruling United Democratic Party, hurled an object at the Orange Walk East area representative as he left his unaffiliated opposition seat. Cardona had just lambasted his government for the re-nationalization of Telemedia. It was his second appearance in the House after being canned by the party. But while the projectile did not hit Cardona, it prompted him to show up at today’s meeting wearing a hard hat, the type used by employees at the embattled B.S.I. Factory. The stunt undoubtedly attracted the attention of government parliamentarians who called him out, saying that the use of a hat inside was a violation of House rules. Cardona argued that he simply did so after being the first elected official to be assaulted within the confines of the House.
Marcel Cardona, Representative, Orange Walk East
“It is with tremendous dismay that I had to endure what took place on the last meeting of the House of Representatives. The dishonor and the disrespect was not only to myself, but to the entire Honorable House of Representatives. For the first time in history, someone, a member of parliament has been not only assaulted in Belize, but within the sacred precinct of this House of Representatives. That was not an isolated case Mister Speaker, it was a case of whereby those that were responsible for those supporters coming up there and making all that noise—carrying on themselves as absolute hooligans—and trying to intimidate the voices of dissent and opposition. That sort of behavior Mister Speaker, I would humbly urge not only you, but all members of parliament to be cognizant of the fact that when you start things sometimes it is difficult to stop it, to put an end to it. If members of parliament are now to be threatened with physical violence from those members of the gallery who disagree with the views of members of parliament, where is this country going to; where is our democracy going to Mister Speaker?”
Emil Arguelles
Emil Arguelles, Speaker of the House
“Honorable Minister, I accept your words and I have assured you that it was an isolated incident; that I will do whatever I can in my power to prevent that from occurring again. Accordingly, you need not wear the hard hat.”
The speaker instructed ruled that Cardona should remove the hard hat and advised that he should have filed a complaint to the police.
Hundreds of years ago, a Roman Emperor ( Caligula) named his horse a SENATOR. People who are not familiar with this piece of ancient history think it is just a joke but, it is a true historical fact. Years down the road when Belizeans hear that a Belizean Representative in the House of Representative wore a hard hat, they may think it is just a joke. But it is historically true. Caligula was CRAZY. I wonder if Cardona is not TOO.
Mr. CARDONA, is a man to be admired of his patience and endurance and of his true commitment to represent not only his constituency but the people who think they way he thinks, he is not crazy but at some point in time he has been taken the advantage off and his form of approach has offended those who only tend to see on one side and not true aspect of things that eh talks about…its all about politics..its s pity that the members of parliament has to be harsh with the guy…
the person who threw the missile is a paid worker of Finnegan, solet him put his manhood on the table and accept responsibility. no throw stone and hide yu hand
the Speaker of the House, told the nation on national tv that he is an addict gambler and that he spent the week in Las Vegas at the World Series of Poker. so you think he had time to call police or worry about Cardona’s rights. he and his fellow cabinet and city council colleagues who suffer from this illness need to seek help.
I don’t blame the man the person that did it should have been put in jail but nothing happened to him because he was a udp agent sent by barrow himself to do this despicable action but I tell you barrow your day is near que viva la revolution que viva Los Latinos barrow judas bigot your time is near pack your pajamas.
Cardona isn’t crazy…there is just too much ridiculous corruption and opposition one man can confront. Everything he’s said are not lies……he is suppose to be with the majority and made himself part of the minority by speaking out
Lucas, years down the road when Belizeans hear of Cardona wearing a hard hat, they MIGHT think he was crazy, but ONLY FOR FEARLESSLY STANDING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY….YEARS DOWN THE LINE PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT HIM AND WONDER WHY…..WHY NO ONE ELSE WHO CALLS HIMSELF A ‘MINISTER OF PARLIAMENT’ HAS HAD THE BALLS TO STAND UP THE TYRANT WE HAVE REGRETFULLY PLACED AS ‘PRIME MINISTER’…….SADLY THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE LIKE YOU OUT THERE WHO CANT STOP ADORING BARROW WHO HAS GONE FROM BEING A DIC-TATOR TO BEING JUST A !!!!……If Cardona does NOTHING and this horse$#!% goes on…..years down the line THE PEOPLE OF BELIZE WILL HAVE ONLY ONE THING TO ASK……”WHY DIDN’T ANYONE DO SOMETHING TO STOP THAT CRAZY MAN, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE LIVING IN BELIZE TODAY ……ASK ANYONE… THEY WILL LEAD YOU TO THE REAL CRAZY MAN WHO IS ‘HIGH’ ON POWER…….BARROW THE ……OR IS THE ???!!!
Lucas, you have proven that a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous. Some things are said and they are impliedas well. Do you research within the Westminister political system and you will find out that many time politicians from within the same rank ask for vote of confidence of the leader of the Party, such was the case with the iron lady Margaret Tacher of Great Briton. If I’m not mistaken the same thing happen to John Major. Dean Barrow is been supported because his lickys does not want to lose the perks that they are enjoying. Who was Finnegan and Boots before they became honorable?. As a human being I respect them, but I have no professional respect for them and the rest for that matter.
I’m intrigued by your humor Cardona!!
Wearing a green hard hat might look stupid, but there are many other stupider things that happen all the time in that house.
Continue to be creative!! LOL
Friends: I have come to respect Cardona. and I am not a voter in his Constituency. You remember how it all began. He really believed Barrow when he said he would not tolerate ” whiff or corruption” when he was campaigning. Remember he was a minister. Remember that he fired Diane NICHE when she began her corruption with one of the tourist attractions in Cayo.. and Cardona believing that he must do the right thing , fired Diane… so what happened??? He got fired by Barrow.. and that was the beginning of his unfortunate downfall… JUST FOR DOING THE CORRECT THING in not accepting any corruption in his ministry.
And the wearing the hardhat by Cardona was a strong message for barrow and his minions. I imagine they must have felt somewhat ashamed to see Cardona who was one of their own, show the world what a disgrace this udp bunch have been to Belize.
And finally, let me tell you something, no one else under barrow dare tell him the wrong direction he is leading Belize. He is truly a dictator… something we must be careful… really careful.
But all in all, Cardona had the balls to speak up against the tyranny.. the corruption.. etc that Barrow is doing. That’s why I admire Cardona… just like I admired Mayor Moya for no trembling in front of barrow.
Benqueno, I finally heard some sense come out from you.
I concur will all, Hon Cardona is a Hero….and Lucas, you must be one of Barrow’s cronies…you mussi di reap lotta cash….just like all the Barrows.
I LUV DUETS so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Belize is really a screwed up country ,if someone can go into the House of the National assembly and throw an object at a minister, and only be escorted out.He should have been thrown in Jail.To me he is disrespecting the country by doing something like that.Not to compare Belize to any other country,but no one can’t even attempt to do something like that in the US because he would have probably gotten shot.Looks like once you support a certain party you are above the law.All Dean Barrow is doing is gathering up his money so in the next couple years he can leave with all the money and don’t worry what happens to Belize after that.He makes laws to suit the UDP not to suit the people of Belize.He is the reason all the crime is happening.He has a lot of those guys who are doing the killing on his payroll.What happens when someone doesn’t want to listen anymore? They what they want to do and that is what is happening to the Prime Minister.He can’t control his “goons” now.They are calling the shots now,not you Mr. Prime Minister.They banned tinting and people are still getting killed.They will probably ban sun shades next because they want to see your eyes.To hell with this goverment.