Fonseca responds to Assad Shoman’s comment on P.U.P. non-position on Referendum

Francis Fonseca

When we caught up with the leader of the opposition earlier today we also asked him about the claim made by former Foreign Minister, Assad Shoman, that despite the P.U.P.’s lead in the process of the resolution of the territorial claim, the party is slow in taking a position on whether or not, the claim should land before the International Court of Justice.

Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition

“We respect obviously Assad Shoman; I consider him a friend and we have great respect for him in the People’s United Party. Particularly on this issue, he has been involved with it for a very, very long time and is obviously our foremost expert if you like on this issue; Belizean expert on this issue. So we respect what he has to say, but I have made it very clear on many occasions that the P.U.P. will proceed on this matter at its own pace. We believe that we are taking the right course of action. We have made it absolutely clear and I made it clear from the very beginning of the process that we would participate fully. We are united as a people in ensuring that the Belizean people at the end of the day decide whether or not we proceed with the matter yes or no. We are united in that regard. But the P.U.P. he is right in saying we have not yet taken a decision as to whether as a party we will vote yes or no. And we believe that we are on the right track. Yes he is right that the People’s United Party started this process and we have an obligation to respect the process. And we are treating it with the seriousness that it requires and it demands, but we will not be pushed in the wrong direction. We will be very deliberate and we will be very consultative in arriving at the right decision in the interest of the Belizean people. This is not Assad Shoman’s People’s United Party; this is not the P.U.P. of 1950; this is not the P.U.P. of 1981; this is not the P.U.P. of 1998; this is not even the P.U.P. of 2008. Political parties are not static bodies; they change, they involve and new people come into those organizations with new ideas and we have to respect that and we have to grow from that.”