And so what about Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington. He won his seat in the Pickstock Division while going into a strong headwind of public opposition. And, so - you might think that as a reward - he gets to hold unto his job as foreign minister. But, it's not that simple. Prime Minister Barrow said he picked Elrington again, for a third term, because he's the best man for the job.
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"When it comes to Sedi, nobody can doubt that this man is a brain. This man is an intellect. I will tell you that abroad, Sedi Elrington as our Foreign Minister is held in extremely high regard."
"Now again admittedly, the people abroad doesn't vote here and I take the point that we do have to be concern about perception. But some of the criticism of the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, I would admit, I would allow in so far as the relate to form. I would not make one concession in so far as they relate to substance and I prefer substance over from any day. There are times when Sedi puts things in a way that's not calculated to win him any points from certain sections of the public. I don't say the media. I am not going to get into a quarrel with the media, because I don't think it is just the media. I concede that there are sections of the public that do have this sense of disquiet. I've asked Sedi and I think I am supported by this by the cabinet to bear in mind whenever he is making his public pronouncements - the fact that if we can avoid a controversy we ought to. But I cannot go beyond that, because I insist and this is a conviction in deed a knowledge that I will take to my grave. In substance, he is an excellent first class foreign minister."
But making some nod to public opinion, there will now be a standing Cabinet Subcommittee on Guatemala. The Prime Minister explained how this will work:...
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Of course Guatemala remains a central preoccupation and it is so that the minister can know that he is being backstop by this subcommittee of his colleagues and really the remit is as wide and as open-ended as the subject matter suggest that cabinet will together with the minister be looking at all aspects, every aspects of the relationship with Guatemala. Appointing the cabinet subcommittee is also not a sop to public opinion, but some way of trying to meet public opinion halfway."
Keeping it on Guatemala for a minute, the Belizean ambassador to that country, Alexis Rosado has met with new president - elect Jimmy Morales. Later on in the news, you'll hear what they talked about.
Email
Print