Email

Print

And that's when the sparring began - first with the leader of the opposition Francis Fonseca and Prime Minister Dean Barrow. Speaking on the adjournment, Fonseca said that the debt renegotiation has been going so poorly that the PM has been throwing tantrums:..

Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of the Opposition
"And I have to say, Mr. Speaker, that temper tantrums thrown by our Prime Minister in moments of frustration do not help the process; in fact, it further erodes the confidence of the international community in the restructuring exercise. Calling out the IDB President, and the US President, is in my view personal; it's petty, and offers no answers to the Belizean people. And keep in mind, Mr. Speaker, that this is the same IDB President - and Mr. Moreno has been the IDB president now, I believe - if I am not mistaken - for about 8 years, and has been very helpful to Belize in other initiatives. Now, we're at the point where we're scolding - the Leader of our country - is scolding President Obama. I don't know who this helps, Mr. Speaker. It may be for the Prime Minister's ego, but it sure isn't good for Belize. We have to, of course, place in context the Prime Minister's remarks, you know. He was doing all this chest thumping and name calling, standing of course in front of the Zinc Fence, the Kremandala Empire, where of course he goes from time to time to renew his nationalist credentials. So, maybe that's all it was; maybe we shouldn't read too much into it. Maybe that's all it was, a lot of hot air. Despite the disrespect, despite the lack of information, we continue to sincerely hope - as I said - that even at this stage, the restructuring exercise meets with success."

Prime Minister Dean Barrow - Prime Minister of Belize
"I hear the leader of the opposition saying that they wish the process well. I don't believe that. They have no credibility whatsoever when they say that. They are in league with Michael Ashcroft who is out there trying to make it impossible for us to reach agreement with the bondholders, urging them to resist any deal at all with Belize. He has been campaigning among the bondholders - urging them to resist any deal at all with Belize. And locally, he has two websites that he is running in league with a known-"

Hon. Francis Fonseca
"Absolutely not."

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"Let me finish, you don't even-"

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Speaker of the House
"One second, Mr. Prime Minister, yes, Leader of Opposition."

Hon. Francis Fonseca
"The Prime minister is stating an absolute untruth, man; that is not the case. He is being very irresponsible. The People's United Party."

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte
"Leader of the Opposition, when he is finished, I'll give you an opportunity to respond. I'll give you a chance."

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"I am saying that that debtwatch website and the friends of Belize website - these things are being run in conjunction with agents of the People's United Party. So don't tell me you have any kind of goodwill with respect to the process, but not withstanding your lack of goodwill, we will success. Belize will restructure this debt, Mr. Speaker. When later on, he suggested that perhaps what I said was by way of renewing my nationalist credentials. I want to tell him that he must be the possessor of an extremely warped mind, if he thinks that saying that is in any way offensive to me. Indeed, I am a nationalist, unlike him and those on the other side. Indeed, I am proud of my nationalist credentials, and of the nationalist credentials of those of this side of the House. I was extremely sober in what I had to say, both with respect to the IDB and the US Treasury, but if he thinks that I am going to cower like he does, and like the PUP do, and that I will be afraid to stand up to anybody for Belize, he better think again. And as a consequence of my making it plain that as much as that is the case, Belize not be pushed around. Belize will not be trampled upon. The bank is anxious to repair the relations with Belize. And the Vice-President is coming next week with a team to see me to talk about the way forward, in terms of the Bank assisting Belize."