Senate votes on the motion

Now back to the Wednesday’s marathon session of the senate. At close to six in the evening the parting shots had all been fired and it was time for the senators to vote on the motion for the appointment of the Special Select Committee. Even for House meetings the media is generally packed up and gone by four, but on Wednesday everybody waited for the voting on the motion. Despite the writing on the wall, there were some very notable moments. Mike Rudon has that story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

After nearly two hours of debate on the motion, Opposition Senator Lisa Shoman threw the gauntlet down.

Lisa Shoman, Opposition Senator

Lisa Shoman

“I ask Mr. President that the decision be put and I claim a division in this matter.”

After the official spiel by President of the Senate Mark Pech, the clerk began the process by calling on the government senators, one by one.

Eddie Webster

Eddie Webster, Clerk, National Assembly

“A division has been called and in a division each senator will be called by name. Senator Godwin Hulse “No”, Senator Juliet Timbrell “No”, Senator Joy Grant “No”, Senator Charles Gibson “No”, Senator Lisel Alamilla “No”, Senator Jeraldo Sosa “No”, Senator Lisa Shoman “Yes”, Senator Karen Bodden “Yes”, Senator Collett Montejo “Yes”, Senator Mark Lizarraga “Yes”, Senator Father Reverend Noel Leslie “Yes”, Senator Ray Davis “Yes”

With a deadlock at six-six, the Clerk made his way to the President of the Senate for the casting vote, but Senator Lisa Shoman had a wrench handy and threw it into the works.

Lisa Shoman

“As a point the president doesn’t have a casting vote in this order, I refer to the constitution at section sixty-one subsection three. The president should have a casting vote in the event of equality of votes in respect of any business at the meeting of a senate providing that the president is a senator she shall have an original but not a casting vote and (b) if he is a senator, he shall have a vote. He shall not have a vote when the senate is deciding of any matter referred to in section sixty-one A2D of this constitution. I am sorry Mr. President but you don’t have a vote in this matter.”

President of the Senate Mark Pech obviously had no clue what was happening – so he forged gamely ahead as if Senator Shoman had not made a point of order. So she did it again.

Mark Pech, President of the Senate

Mark Pech

“Senators I will read the outcome of the division. This is the outcome. Six senators in favor and seven against so I guess the no’s have it.

Lisa Shoman

“No Mr. President you don’t have a casting vote it is six, six there may be a deadlock but under the constitution of Belize you don’t have a casting vote with all due respect.”

At that point the President was completely lost, and it was with palpable relief that he greeted intervention by leader of government business Godwin Hulse.

Mark Pech

“I recognize the leader of government business.”

Godwin Hulse

Godwin Hulse, Senator of Government Business

“Mr. President I move that the senate now do adjourn.”

Mark Pech

“Honorable members the question is that the senate is now adjourned, all in favor say I “I”, those not in favor say no “No”. The senate now stands adjourned

Mike Rudon reporting for News Five.