U.D.P. Manifestos flip flop on 13th Senator

Feb 22, 2012

U.D.P. Manifestos flip flop on 13th Senator

Dean Barrow

In its 2008 manifesto, United Democratic Party promised to increase the twelve member senate to thirteen members. The additional seat would include a representative from a non-governmental organization and Greg Ch’oc was selected by the NGOs. But when it took office in 2008, the U.D.P. did not enforce the appointment of the thirteenth senator. The U.D.P. is now seeking a second term in office and Prime Minister Dean Barrow says that if re-elected, the Senate will still not be expanded.

Dean Barrow

“In fact we went very far with our reforms. We provided for the People’s Referendum to be moved. We provided the recall mechanisms for elected officials. We provided for prosecution and criminal penalties for breaches of the finance and audit reform act. We did not, it is quite true, proceed with the implementation of that aspect of the reform agenda that would have given the thirteenth senator. I said at the time that the experience in government convinced us that to have implemented that thirteenth senator proposal would have introduced a formula for paralysis. We saw what happened in the U.S, we saw the grid-lock….we have therefore withdrawn that from consideration and to say that you that in all honesty that a re-elected U.D.P. government will not proceed with that proposal.”

Be Real says:

February 23, 2012 at 9:31 am

The 13th Senator thing was an idea good in theory, but hopeless in practice. It would be very problematic for Belize because we know that each party always opposes each and everything that the other party proposes whether it is good or bad. So a thirteenth senator would be easily bought by the party that is not in government and the senate would oppose each and everything that the government side would propose. Even the budget. Why should a side that has failed to win general elections be able to roadblock and stone wall every proposal which is made by a government voted in by the people.It would be good if they only voted against real wrongs and not each and everything. And in Belize we know how dat go. Blue will put a spin to what the red says. While Red will do the same.
Just see how the Republicans during the debt ceiling proposals held Obama at deadlock because of their political egos and desire to score political points at the expense of America.

Vote them out says:

February 23, 2012 at 10:55 am

…one excuse after another. This government is all about lies and broken promises. All glitter, no substance. Mr. Barrow u neva give us anything…but we got something fu U. Come election day your reign is over. The UDP is no good for the economy and no good for Belize. Kind Dean, your time is up!

February 23, 2012 at 10:57 am

Orangewalkenio says:

February 23, 2012 at 12:34 pm

I agree with Be Real and with the PM. I like his honesty. However, the People’s Referendum and recall mechanism for elected officials is bogus since it is required for election and boundaries to verify signatures. Now think of the signature that you placed when you went for your voter’s ID. I know my one was more than ten years ago and i do not even remember how i signed back then. For sure its not the same. This idea of a people’s referendum and recall mechanism for elected officials is good but it has a major flaw which the government is using as a loophole. Think about it. They definitely got OCEANA with that loophole. My wife’s signature appeared on the newspaper as being disqualified. What a thing.