Last week, we told you about how the senate debate over the Petrocaribe Loans Amendment Act was extensive, and fiery, and quite the opposite of the House Debate on the bill where the PUP walked out.
One issue which has been cause for some raised eyebrows is the vote that Father Noel Leslie, the Senator Representing the Churches casted in favor of the General Revenue Supplementary Appropriation Bills approving Petrocaribe spending which were passed by The House of Representatives. In the debate, we showed you the PUP accused the Government of wasting public funds in a wanton manner, and so, quite a few observers thought that the Church Senator would vote no once again. But, instead, he voted in favour.
But, this weekend, the Catholic Church sent out a release saying that they voted one way, but felt another. Now it's not quite as high as Simon Peter's three acts of denial - but it is an odd turn. The release says that he and the Roman Catholic Church and its Senator would have wanted to vote no to everything connected to the Petrocaribe Loans Act, but the other members of the Council of Churches, who are the majority, have now begun supporting the law since the amended changes.
Senator Noel Leslie - Representative of the Churches
"That was much better than what was before. And so after some dialoguing, discussions and so forth, a little consensus in the matter that this is much better than before. It's not perfect, not the ideal. The law was still there but the amendments, we can look forward to some kind of reporting. Some kind of accountability, transparency, and so forth and that little consensus there with the nod, this is the way it should be. It should be like yes. Now, that does not determine from the fact that, when I look at the original for myself, and the Bishop Wright, looking at the original law itself, we didn't like the law period. And so we just want to make the people know that it's a law we are not pleased with as a church."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is the church in full consensus including the Roman Catholic Church in supporting the amendments, now that you've seen the changes that you would have wanted to be in the original?"
Senator Noel Leslie - Representative of the Churches
"Let's put it this way, those who are present did not say no. so there was a general satisfaction, I recall the Prime Minister asking about the nature of, I don't know his exact words, but something like 'is this much better? Is this something you will go with?' I mean go along with the amendments and such that it's better and well that's a general consensus thing."
Daniel Ortiz
"And so then, finally, what is the position of the Roman Catholic Church which represents 40% of the entire body? Are you all calling for a complete repealing of the law or just making changes to better the law?"
Senator Noel Leslie - Representative of the Churches
"In terms of the Bishop, I believe that, and I can't speak for myself because I represent, I will say that he would like to see the law go. Coming back to just having money placed in the consolidated fund and that the request be made to the House of Representatives and they move it from there."
In the press release sent this weekend, Senator Leslie further explained, quote, "The Roman Catholic Church of Belize, which shepherds 40% of the Belizean population, respectfully holds a different position from the one I presented in the Senate on the 1st of July 2015."
Of course, the release goes unto say.
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