We also asked the Prime Minister to weigh in on embattled Senator Ray Davis. Davis is Barrow's former classmate from his high school days at Saint Michael's - and the PM holds him in high regard. He says he too was disappointed in Davis's abstention - since he wanted the Senator to vote "yes" to the Petrocaribe Loan Motion, The union wanted him to vote "no" - but never made that clear to Davis - and the PM says it would be unfair to banish him for that:..
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I can't understand why some people in the NTUCB, in particular, the vice president would be going after him in this fashion, especially because he seems to be able to show that he did not receive specific instructions. If you don't instruct the man, in effect you're leaving it up to him to make his individual determination. How then are you going to fault him for the determination that he did make. It is my sense that he certainly didn't vote for the bill, but it is my sense that Ray bore well in mind the fact that public officers and teachers have benefited so handsomely from Petrocaribe. They have a seat on the National Bank through which they are benefiting. They have a seat on BIL, so that largest infrastructure projects, they are able to provide oversight for. And that while the argument is that they are 'quarrelling' with the legislation rather than with the program, in a sense the lines are blurred. And so it doesn't strike me as at all surprising that, left to his own devices, Davis didn't feel that this was something he should vote no on. I'm a little disappointed he didn't actually vote yes, but as I said, that apart he's an outstanding fellow and I would hope for the sake of the NTUCB that they don't let go of, really, a person who's a stellar performer."
Today the Belize Chamber of Commerce - whose Senator did vote "no" to Petrocaribe - sent out a release further condemning the legislation. The release says, quote, "new Act undermines and effectively reverses all efforts made by the Chamber and the unions in 2005 toward greater accountability and transparency in the handling of public funds.."
It adds, quote, "The Chamber is alarmed that the government retroactively validated what were clear violations of the Finance and Audit Reform Act 2005..."
But, trying to have it both ways, the release adds that quote, "we are all for development of the Country and are certainly not against the Petro Caribe initiative."
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