Budget debate ends with fireworks from Faber

The 2006-2007 budget was passed into law this afternoon after the second day of debate. The new budget calls for expenditures of six hundred and sixty-seven point nine million dollars and targets a two point nine percent deficit. The 2006-2007 budget comes into effect on April first.

And while the bill was passed without much fuss, the same cannot be said for the adjournment of the House, which ended abruptly this afternoon when Speaker Elizabeth Zabaneh and the U.D.P.’s Patrick Faber got into a heated exchange. According to the Collet Area Rep, when he got up to speak on adjournment regarding the missing funds at the Belize City Council, Prime Minister Said Musa asked Zabaneh to rule on point of order sub judice, claiming that the matter is before the court. Faber counters that that’s ridiculous because no charges have even been filed as yet. The Speaker, not surprisingly, however agreed with the P.M., telling Faber he cannot speak on the matter without presenting evidence and besides, David Fonseca was not in the House to defend himself. When Faber said he could indeed produce the evidence because he’s got the voucher numbers and amount in his hands, he says Zabaneh got angry and said she won’t allow him to continue and using her general powers in standing order 91, adjourned the House. Faber says the U.D.P. Party Council will be meeting on Monday to decide what move they will take in this latest incident. Viewers may recall a similar ending of the House last year involving U.D.P. Area Rep for Mesopotamia, Michael Finnegan.