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Cola To GOB: Build The Base Now!
Thu, August 27, 2015
Last week when the Prime Minister held a press conference to say that the Guatemalan Navy was wrong for coming into Belize to bully the territorial volunteers - the government hoped it would stem the political hemorrhaging over the Sarstoon Island and River. But, the pressure just keeps building - and today the pressure group COLA tried to ramp it up a few notches with the launch of a campaign called "Build The Base Now." They're referring to the forward operating base on Sarstoon Island and today the group held a fiery press conference at the Radisson to launch their campaign:..

Jules Vasquez reporting
Supporters were bussed in to the Radisson for the event where they filled up the VIP Room which was plastered with vinyl all weather banners - complete with Hollywood style logos and branding all the trappings of a political party - so we had to ask.

Jules Vasquez
"Will COLA be activating itself as a political party? I ask this because I see you all mobilizing like a political party. You brought a bus with supporters - that's fair. I counted 16 all-weathered banners across the room, quite sophisticated."

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA
"Well I don't know. The Prime Minister asked you in his press conference Jules, how did you get there? I think I have to ask you the same question. We are not going to try to play soft ball when the government is playing rugby. That's foolish. The government has money. The government is coming hard and we believe in our position and the conviction. Therefore we will give it our all."

And their all means delivering a political message, even if it was not expressly partisan sense

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA
"COLA therefore is calling for three things: 1) to build the base now. Not next year. Not after you try to win an election. But to build this base now. We want this base to establish and build now. 2) We are calling again for the removal of Sedi Elrington as Foreign Affairs Minister. Any foreign minister that openly sides with a foreign organization over its people is no longer fit to work on behalf of its people. Resign! Resign! Resign now! 3) The third thing is for us to revisit every single agreement with Guatemala that has ever been signed. It is time for us to reevaluate the pros and the cons."

And today's event was not a one-off thing - COLA says it will keep up the pressure:

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA
"This campaign has fuel. This campaign has energy and this campaign has the support of the people."

But, while COLA is a grassroots organization - these things - everything here - has a cost - form the bus to the signs to the supporters:

Jules Vasquez
"But you all are a grassroots organization. So we have to ask, I estimate an event like this cost upward to $15,000 to stage."

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA
"Wow. No. Jules..."

Jules Vasquez
"Just my experience. I have to ask you are you all being funded by some external group. I am saying this Geovannie because I've been tracking COLA from before you were in COLA and COLA use to have signs made out of construction paper."

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA
"But we still do."

Jules Vasquez
"Thats fine. You should grow up. But I am saying these things cost money. I love it. Money is spending and money is making. I am just saying who is paying?"

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA
"Jules, the first thing is this. You don't hold the political parties accountable, but yet you and the government want to hold any other group accountable. So all I will say Mr. Vasquez take that level of accountability to the Prime Minister and you take it tea - dinner - tea."

Jules Vasquez
"You don't have to shout after me. I have good understanding."

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA
"I won't ask you what is between your two ears like the Prime Minister. We will be kind and generous to you."

Moses Sulph, Past President - COLA
"There is nothing legitimate happening at COLA. We don't have money. We depend on people who have a heart and who love the country and who want to hold politicians accountable."

Jules Vasquez
"I understand that if you demand accountability, you must also give accountability."

Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA
"But then you are not a member of COLA and we didn't pay money for you to come here either."

But some did get paid - and it's clear COLA has the guts and the gas to keep this campaign going.

As noted in the story, COLA says it will be the first in a series.

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