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He started off by mocking the theme of the Prime Minister's budget presentation which was called "Celebrating Growth and Sustaining Recovery."…

Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the opposition
"Last year's empty moto of "Recovery today; Prosperity tomorrow" Seems more like an insult to the struggling over burdened tax payers of Belize. We are in crisis, more in free fall and much less than free to fly.

The Prime Minister's wings are like those of mythical Icarus, riddled from going much too close to the heat of the sun. The Prime Minister promised last year that he would spend a million dollars for a food pantry program and all he spent was a shameful $10,000. Apprenticeship Program - he promised to spend one million on the apprenticeship program, but of that only a meager $50,000 was actually spent. Conditional Cash Transfer - he promised four million dollars and the poor got a sting thirty Thousand dollars. Of the six million promised to help the poor, The Prime Minister spent less than one hundred thousand dollars. According to the Prime Minister, in 2010, total revenue was projected at $739.8 Million and it was not realized. Where is the additional $50 Million coming from? I'll tell you where it's coming from. Two days ago the Prime Minster put another whap on Belizeans. He increased import duties on fuel by an average of $1.00 per gallon. He will try to squeeze out another $50 Million from the fuel tax increase on our over taxed Belizean consumer, our over burdened business community and our struggling productive sector. That is what he is going to do, squeeze out more money from the fuel, from the poor people of this country. Shame on the Prime Minister! And if you notice Mr. Speaker, The Prime Minister famously said to the public that he will not be increasing any taxes in his new budget and he was right, but he increased the tax less than 10 days before the new budget started. He is trying to take the Belizean people for "Cunu munu". No more false promises, no more lies, no more "mentiras" (lies). Only we, only we the people can save our selves. This crowd has to go!"

We'll have excerpts from the Prime Minister's response tomorrow.

But while the opposition Leader gave a strong speech you may have noticed that beside him were two empty chairs. That's because the Representatives for Albert Mark Espat and Lake Independence Cordel Hyde were absent from the meeting. It looked bad; they are two of the opposition's best speakers and are known for well prepared and well delivered debate presentations.

When we asked Briceno about their absence he told us to keep out of his party's business.

Hon. John Saldivar, Belmopan Representative
"The member for Albert and the member for Lake I find their leader to be very uninspiring. Otherwise they would have made their presence here today Mr. Speaker on this very important day when we are discussing the budget. I dare to say that they like Godfrey Smith are not satisfied with the leadership of John Briceno."

Jules Vasquez
"How significantly is your debate effort weakened by the absence by the absence of two of your parliamentarians?"

Hon. John Briceno
"Absolutely nowhere."

Jules Vasquez
"Did you expect or did you expect them not to come?"

Hon. John Briceno
"That is a question that you need to ask them."

Jules Vasquez
"But again will you take any disciplinary measures against them? This is the big show."

Hon. John Briceno
"I am not going into a debate with you over the work of the party. Whatever we do in our party that is our business."

Julius Espat, PUP Treasurer/Standard Bearer
"We welcome Mark and Cordel anytime they want to participate but if they don't want to participate, they party will win and the party will move on."