Usually when you think about warships, the last thing that comes to mind is a grand tour. Well today the media got one of The Royal Navy Warship: The HMS ARGYLL. It arrived yesterday and it is here to meet with the coast guard and the BDF in order to improve relations. The media got to see the 4.9 inch Mark 8 naval gun, the harpoon anti-ship missiles among other war weapons as well as inside the Bridge. Here is what the Executive Officer had to say about the visit to Belize.
The HMS Argyll recently conducted successful Counter Narcotics Operations in the Caribbean Sea and is also equipped to provide humanitarian aid. The ship leaves Belize on the 4th.
PM Visibly Uncomfortable With Faber Domestic Abuse Questions
Today, the media asked the Prime Minister about all kinds of stuff including his bad back which had him wincing and rocking in pain for much of the house meeting. He said that was caused by a muscle he pulled trying to strengthen his back.
We also asked him about the allegations of domestic abuse against his Minister of Education Patrick Faber. The story isn't exactly fresh - in fact the allegations emerge din the first week of September. But, the Prime Minister has never commented on the prickly issue - and today he did so with some visible discomfort:..
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"The fact that the lady withdrew the complaint, I don't know that you can argue that. That means that perhaps there was never any real substance in the complaints. I wouldn't think so; I would think that there was. And if there was, then clearly that sort of thing is extremely regrettable and cannot be condoned, but I certainly can't take any formal action, except that there is a complaint that is going to be pursued by the victim."
Jules Vasquez
"However there was no complaint against Minister Edmund Castro, Minister of State in your first term. In fact only an allegation made directly to you contents of which we still don't know but I am saying that he didn't need to be criminally charge for you to act decisively against."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"No, but you are talking there about, I don't want to get in the nature of the thing for Castro, but that - husk of a different color. This was obviously some sort of domestic misunderstanding. I gather that the complainant afterwards posted lovey-dovey pictures of herself and the minister - that a different thing."
Jules Vasquez
"Yes, but do you agree that violence against women is an extremely significant issue in our society."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Indeed, but it shows how difficult an issue it is because it appears that those that are victims in too many cases themselves don't want anything to happen in consequence and very often make-up with their perpetrators of the violence and pretty much say to the authorities in a case where the so called perpetrator might be a public official - stay out of this."
Jules Vasquez
"yes, but that is symptomatic of abuse. I don't want to get into the psychology of it but Ray Rice from the NFL married the woman and they still suspend him."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Whether that's symptomatic of abuse - that's another thing. I don't have that sort of expertise. All I will tell is that I agree with you; domestic abuse cannot be countenance. In the circumstances of that particular incident, complaint having been withdrawn, the lady obviously being prepared to say that all is good between herself and Faber. There is no telling how much farther she would have taken that - she may well have been prepared to say you know that complaint I was just off at the time and did that and it's not true. So it really was impossible for me to pursue that in those circumstances."
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