And while mild storm related panic percolated across the country - it was politics as usual in the National Assembly which - for the first time in our recall - held a session while the country was under a tropical storm watch.
And it was a political storm inside the chamber as both sides went at each other. The opposition ranks were depleted by the absence of three of its parliamentarians: Mark Espat, Cordel Hyde and Florencio Marin Junior, but the old soldier Said Musa and the current leader John Briceno debated mightily against a raft of new crime prevention measures which were slated to be passed by the house today.
Most explosive among those was the "Interception of Communications Bill" - which will permit police to get court orders and legally wiretap telephones and intercept other communications.
The Opposition Leader said it is giving the government the power to act as Big Brother, peering over every citizen's shoulder, while the Prime Minister - in an explosive revelation - disclosed that Big Brother has been in effect since Independence - without any law or knowledge of the public - here is that testy exchange:
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"Basically what is going to happen is that Big Brother is going to be watching. They are going to be watching on everything that we do. Just last year Mr. Speaker here in this Honorable House the Honorable Member of Belmopan got up and boasted that he intercepted a copy of my speech and the law doesn't even exist. Remember for the budget debate he got up and said, "See, I intercepted your email," this is already happening even before the law is put in place. These are the concerns that we have to bring to the attention of the government Mr. Speaker. I would never dare argue the law with the Prime Minister and like how i would not argue with him about the law I am sure that he would not be able to argue with me when it comes to running a business because that's my forte. But he will come here to this national assembly Mr. Speaker and use beautiful language and explaining the sections in bill where he would tell us that where he would attempt to ease the fears of the Belizean people that the proper checks and balances are in place, but truth be told Mr. Speaker that the bill the way it is worded I believe it is open to too many abuses I honestly believe that's its simply just way too dangerous and I would urge the government to reconsider the passing this bill in its present form."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"The police provided us with a summary of the lawful intercept orders issued by various ministers of internal affairs as it sometime was of national security going back to the 5th of October 1981. (Reading from document) "Reference your verbal request on today's date for summary of intercept authorized and directed by previous administrations, kindly see results as follows: Warrant dated 5th October 1981 signed by Minister CLB Rogers."
Targeting a particular individual or particular individuals without the knowledge of the individual - which is perhaps to be expected - but without the cover of any judicial authority, without the society knowing that this kind of thing was happening?
Warrant dated 31st - full disclosure. December 1985, signed by Curl Thompson. Other warrant signed by Curl Thompson, other warrant signed by Curl Thompson warrant dated 4th January 1990 signed by Prime Minister and minister of Finance, Home Affairs and Defense, George Price. Warrant dated 22nd November 1990 signed by Prime Minister and minister of Finance, Home Affairs and Defense George Price. You know when this stopped? When I became Minister of National Security! I refused to sign any such document. The police also make the point in their report that during the last administration - let's forget George Price - let's forget way back then. During the last administration headed by the member for Fort George, the police continued to intercept communications of members of the public, this time doing so without using any warrants and since it's not just what the police say, since we took over Telemedia, you see, it was confirmed to us by the Telemedia people that under your last government Dean Boyce gave the instructions upon the request of your government, the government of the member of Fort George ran wires from the exchange at St. Thomas Street to a room on the ground floor, they describe it as the basement of the Raccoon Street police station, used that infrastructure to tap land lines. It wasn't just the installation of the equipment on a once for all basis, only a certain number of lines could be tapped in any one go so from time to time Dean Boyce sent back the BTL technicians to change it, so that new lines, different land lines of members of the public could be tapped by the People's United Party government, at the police department, at that time. So understand, what we are doing, man. We are making it so that that kind of thing can never happen again. You want to legitimately intercept the communications of people that you know are involved in criminal activities? You go to the court and you prove that this is fit subject for interception. The Leader of the Opposition looks shocked. I would hope that he didn't know that this was something that the then Prime Minister and leader of the party kept from you. I would hope that you are not guilty of what happened."
Hon. Said Musa, Former Prime Minister
"I advert to that statement and I ask the Prime Minister to withdraw it."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I have the evidence that your government....."
Hon. Said Musa, Former Prime Minister
"You can have the evidence that our government did so and so but you can never have evidence that I did anything like that."
Speaker of the House
"Honourable members, what is your point of order? Member for Fort George?"
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Are you saying you didn't know? you were the leader, you must know."
Speaker of the House
"Honorable Prime Minister, please proceed."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"That's why Mr. Speaker I am careful I am not accusing the then Attorney General, I am not even accusing the Leader of the Opposition except that they were part of the government and they bear collective responsibility."
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