And that skirmish over language was only the start of a much bigger war over the actual terms of the deal – contained in the deed of settlement and
compromise. and how it was negotiated by the Prime Minister and Michael Ashcroft. Again, the business senator had a whole lot to say about that – in
fact, he said, it signals the end of democracy:..
Hon. Mark Lizarraga - Business Senator
"We seem to have before us today a settlement bill that in fact doesn't settle very much at all. What has now proven to be ill-advised and heartiness
driven protracted arbitration proceedings have led to what was once a 45 million dollar loan, now being settled at 76 million dollars. This decision to
litigate, rather than negotiate; as was advised by the business community then, has cost us today 113% in interest alone. An unnecessary 51 million
dollars Belize, wasted."
"Now if I know for 6 years that I owe this money; and in the last 2 or 3 years I have had at my disposal 1% and 2% of it; why did we not attempt to
take some of the famous Petro dollars to try and pay off this loan make we never had to pay 51 million dollars in interest."
"Why was the prime minister the only one negotiating; as he reviled himself. Why was he the only one negotiation with the Ashcroft Alliance? The pm
should have at least for appearances sake; or some token compliance to the constitution brought government officials along with himself, or advisors or
attorneys."
"How can the prime minister on his own negotiations bind a country to make 162 million dollars in payment, In addition to potentially hundreds of
millions more without the prior knowledge and consent of anyone else. Not his cabinet, not parliament; the total arrogation by one man of both
executive and legislative power, this no longer a democracy.
In effect what the prime minister is doing is coming to government and saying you will approve this deed because I have already signed it and I have
already committed."
Hon. Lisa Shoman - PUP Senator
"So he just did it on his own. He did it on his own. Mr. President the question then is; is in fact this deed a valid and binding deed of the
government of Belize or is it the act of one man without the requisite executive authority to do what he has done."
Hon. Godwin Hulse - Leader of Government Business
"The significant difference today is that whether you agree or do not agree with whatever is being presented is that you cannot argue with the fact
that is it transparent, open; that is why you can stand here and debate it, that is why the nation hear it, that is why the media is there. And you can
call it arrogant, stupid but every last detail has been presented; and we have gotten in this situation because 10 years ago no detail was presented.
Absolutely to no one, I'm not sure whether to the cabinet."
"That is why when this government came to office and discovered this really objectionable bill; this vile, dirty, low down, unconscionable bill, they
had to acquire BTL to stop this. And if another government comes to this office they will not find a bill like this because it has been ventilated
today in the house and in the senate and for the whole world to see; whether you agree or not, that is the fundamental difference."
"I will say simply this, I will say simply this; that it's not perhaps or maybe it is. I too, I too am troubled about the element of uncertainty; I
think everybody would be; I heard the business senator talking about it and I hope it comes in our favour. But I am satisfied of two things, we finally
coming to a conclusion of this thing but I am more satisfied Mr. President of one thing that sticks out; regardless of who shouts, regardless of who
clap, regardless of who criticize, regardless of who condemn, it has all been put in the face of the public."
Hulse was referring to a pair of secret settlement deeds involving BTL and signed by the then Prime Minister Said Musa on the 19th of
September, 2005.
Email
Print