Leader of Opposition’s Christmas greeting

Francis Fonseca

As we said, there was smooth sailing at the House today and if you’ve been following the sittings, you’d know that they are usually characterized by high theatrics. Well we don’t know if it is the spirit of the Christmas that swept through the House today, but the sitting was not only short; it was so cordial, you wouldn’t believe you were in parliament. Prime Minister Barrow offered greetings and Francis Fonseca replied in kind when he made his first statement as Leader of the Opposition.

Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition

“I want to thank the Prime Minister for his gracious words. There will be a lot of time for politics in the year ahead Mister Speaker, but today with your permission, I would like to use this opportunity as well on my own behalf, but also on behalf of the members of the opposition bench and on behalf of our wider People’s United Party, I would like to extend our sincere best wishes for a blessed and happy Christmas season and New Year to all Belizeans. This is a time for us to open our hearts to each other; to be guided by the principles of respect, love and charity. We know that many of our brothers and sisters are going through very difficult times, so let us not only remember them but reach out to them and share with them and care for them during these difficult times. And on a personal note, I want to join with the Prime Minister in extending my personal best wishes for the Christmas season to all members of this honorable house, their families as well; to you Mister Speaker, to your family, to your staff, the clerk and his staff and their families as well and I want to assure the Prime Minister that during this Christmas season, we in the People’s United Party will be offering up our thoughts and prayers to you, your wife and your family as you go through this difficult time—I know your wife has also lost her father. And so we will be praying for all of you during this time. So thank you very much Mister Speaker and may god continue to guide and bless our country.”