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COLA March Fizzles... Was It Poor Turnout?
posted (June 15, 2011)
Two nights ago, COLA President Moses Sulph came on this newscast and urged Belizeans to come out for a protest in support of the Belize Bus Association, but also against taxes and high fuel costs.

The event was planned for 9:30 this morning form Constitution park. But while a handful of supporters gathered in the park, they never left there; the event sputtered and stalled. We heard it was because they didn't have enough support, but Sulph denied that report. Here's what he had to say:



Moses Sulph - President,COLA
"The principal of the march was BBA, to sign the bond off of the demonstration. They asked us to call off the march, so what other options did we have, since they were the principal of the march? So we had to - it's like you're a lawyer representing a client, and if the client said that they don't want to go any further with legal action, then you have to respect that."

Jules Vasquez
"Why did they wish to call it off?"

Moses Sulph
"Well, they said they had an emergency meeting because they got some calls from some of their members asking for an emergency meeting."

Jules Vasquez
"Isn't the fact though, that you wanted to call it off, or that you were forced to call it off, because not enough people showed up?"

Moses Sulph
"Well, as I said before, this wasn't COLA's march. This was the BBA march, supported by the executive of-"

Jules Vasquez
"But it's you who went out there, inviting people. You told me, 'If you are unemployed, if you have issues, come out. Let's keep up the pressure.' Nobody showed up - a few handful showed up, Moses."

Moses Sulph
"Yes that is a fact that about 30 people probably showed up, which we understand. As I said before, it's not like it was one issue; we're fighting for the squatters, or cane farmers then-"

Jules Vasquez
"But you were indeed, the bus people plus unemployment. Wow-"

Moses Sulph
"The reality, Mr. Jules, is that the bus people called off the march. They are the principal, and I'm saying this is the permit right here-"

Jules Vasquez
"Yes, your name - your credibility - it was you that went on my channel and said, 'Please come out.' Unemployment 23% of the population, that is 60,000 people, and you could only get 30?"

Moses Sulph
"I would -"

Jules Vasquez
"It's a credibility issue."

Moses Sulph
"No, I was out there. I cannot determine who partakes in a march. I was out there."

Jules Vasquez
"Yes, but you are a leader - you failed to energize and excite the masses."

Moses Sulph
"No, I don't believe that, Mr. Jules. I believe that, unlike the politicians, we don't pay people to come out, and we don't victimize people, so that we cannot determine who comes out."

Jules Vasquez
"In 2005, you were there, I was there, we excellent mass protest. The issues were substantial. People came out no matter what. People did come out by the thousands."

Moses Sulph
"Well I-"

Jules Vasquez
"In that case, I'm saying that the reason people don't come out, is that your issues don't excite them, as did the issues in 2005."

Moses Sulph
"No, the issues remain the same as in 2005."

Jules Vasquez
"How can they remain the same? These issues are superficial - those issues were profound."

Moses Sulph
"These issues are same, brother, I will give you that. But the amount of persons that we represent, that cries to us, is 10 times the amount that comes out because they're afraid of being victimized by this Government."

Jules Vasquez
"Okay, well then, knowing that now. Knowing that its very difficult to stage any effective mass protest without money, or fearlessness, how will that guide your future activities. Will you finally give up the ghost and say, 'You know what, It doesn't make sense to do mass protest, because we just look simple.'"

Moses Sulph
"That will never happen, and I don't believe that we looked simple at all. I believe that-"

Jules Vasquez
"But if you have 90 people like you did last week, and today you only had 30-"

Moses Sulph
"I am saying that everything is a process, and I believe that even in 2005 when you had the mass demonstration, it didn't just get to that point. There were little fractions weak protests, first, leading up to that. I assure you, before the year is out, or before the next election is called, you will see people more sensitized, and people will be more willing to come out in masses then. I am planning-"

Jules Vasquez
"You are assure me?"

Moses Sulph
"I'm assuring you."

Jules Vasquez
"If you are wrong?"

Moses Sulph
"If I am wrong, then-"

Jules Vasquez
"You should step down as head of COLA."

Moses Sulph
"Yes, the people will determine that. If I am wrong, then the people are not ready. Moses is out there, I cannot say that I am wrong - I cannot say that I am right, I am just saying that when the people are ready-"

Jules Vasquez
"You just said that you are assurng me, brother"

Moses Sulph
"I will assure you, if the people are ready."

When we left Sulph the members of the Belize Bus Association were having what we are told was a heated meeting at the new Belizeans for Justice Office.

The official outcome of that meeting is not known - as no executive member would speak to us on the record.

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