So while the constitutional amendment to enshrine control of utilities in the hands of the government and people of Belize now takes center stage - and preventive detention is in the refrigeration, it's not in deep freeze - and government may re-visit it after it consults on the Utility Control amendment.
PM Barrow told the press this morning that he's gotten death threats over preventive detention but something has to be done - and he's open to ideas:
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
If we - after we deal with this more pressing issue for us - if we became convinced at any time, that the vast majority of the people of this country, or a significant majority of the people of this country, do not want us to proceed in that way. Then we won't so proceed. I believe that the times require some drastic measures, but if the public - if the electorate says, 'Fine, let there be drastic measure, but just not that one.' I have to listen. That's the whole idea of consultation. What's the point of consulting if you've already made up your mind that it doesn't matter what the consultation process throws up, you will proceed?"
Jules Vasquez
"Yes, but you had said that, that was your position, with respect, outside the house."
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"I never said that at all. I said that I have every intention of seeing this one through, but Jules, that has to be inherently subject to what the democratic process is. Either we're democrats or we're not; let me make something clear, I've been threatened, you know, over preventative detention. My thoughts along those lines are on the basis of wanting to protect the society including the very people who are most being murdered. You look at it. It's not the middle-class people. It's not the business people that are getting murdered, you know. It's young black males, and so the notion that somehow we came up with this as a sop to the business people is simply not true, and the point I'm trying to make is that I have to have sleepless nights from a number of points of view with respect to this thing. And I have conceded squarely from the very start that this is contentious. I feel - I felt at that time - and still feel - that something along these lines is necessary. But ultimately, man, if it is clear to me that I am pretty much alone in that feeling - and that alone would be an overstatement. But if it is clear to me that the democracy in this country is saying, 'Find another way.' I will have to listen."
And while Barrow told us he is a democrat, he didn't sound that open to suggestion back in April when he re-introduced the proposal. At the time, he said regarding the wide public disapproval for the idea, quote: "we will simply have to proceed in the face of whatever opposition there is."
He was speaking at a press conference after a weekend that witnessed four murders in 24 hours...
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