The UDP has been on the political offensive for the past week - which is rare for a third term incumbent administration. But the party has gotten its teeth into PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay, and is holding on as tight as Courtney does to the Ashcroft Alliance. Today, the UDP upped the ante with a protest action by an ad-hoc group called "BALAC", Belizeans Against Lord Ashcroft and Courtenay. Our camera was there when they marched on Courtenay;s office which is in a King's Park residential neighborhood:...
Jules Vasquez reporting
There was extra security at the Courtenay law firm - both from police and a private security firm. Armed and uniformed officers secured the office compound while others secured it from the street.
When Courtenay pulled in from court, he was casual, relaxed and appeared unperturbed.
At about 10:25 we could see the protestors coming down "A" Street. The crowd of about 85 led by UDP regulars was chanting, you heard it right, "Eamon Courtenay - Demon Courtenay."
But more than a few of them appeared very camera shy. But the leaders weren't shy on the microphone
Alfonso Noble - BALAC
"This is about this man Ashcroft. This is about Courtenay, this is about the reserves of the country that are being threatened by Courtenay and Ashcroft. He's a political representative of the People's United Party and by such he has an obligation, a duty, a responsibility to the people of Belize to ensure that our assets are protected abroad. But here is this man who is supposed to protect our assets and instead of protecting our assets, he is there challenging the protection that has been given him to our assets. What kind of a person is that? What kind of vulture that? What kind of individual that?"
Reporter
"How is it that the Prime Minister's law firm is also on retainer representing Lord Ashcroft's interest as well, what's the response to that?"
Alfonso Noble - BALAC
"I am not concern about what the Prime Minister did, has done, or will do? I am concerned about what Courtenay is doing now, today. If this man is successful at the Supreme Court level, he will be able to unlock the security features that have been put on our reserves. They will be able to challenge our reserves, take hold of our reserves and then, bread and butter is no longer. We won't be able to import wheat, we won't be able to import butter, is that something that we should taking lightly? This is a public enemy number one, you know. There's no other attorney out there who has taken on the championing of Ashcroft interest as Courtenay has. Come on, let's be real."
Reporter
"He has the right to earn a right to earn a living as an attorney?"
Alfonso Noble - BALAC
"Yes he has a right to earn a living. That is perfectly fine and good, but he has a right to the Belizean public because he represents the People's United Party in the senate. So what comes first, Ashcroft or the people?"
Allan Kelly - BALAC
"When the leader of the opposition said this is the reason why Courtenay is a senator because, he found a lot of things in the senate inquiry but Courtenay prove to the Belizean people on that day the Belizean situation wasn't that important. It wasn't important. The senate inquiry wasn't important that day that's why he jumped on the plate and went serve his master."
But we did ask who was the paymaster on this day.
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"How do you respond to the criticism that the mighty UDP pull out a little crowd of 70 and its rent a crowd."
Alfonso Noble - BALAC
"Jules, you can say what you want. This is not the mighty UDP. This is a group of people, Belizeans against Lord Ashcroft and Courtenay. This is not the UDP, you know better than that Jules. When the UDP are ready to mobilize it'll mobilize. This is not the UDP. This is a bunch of people who are discontent. Who are not happy with what is happening. You know why? When they can't bring Ramen in Belize, people will take lick."
And today, the crowd took its liking from the blazing sun - where the protest continued for another 20 minutes or so.
At no point did they threaten the law firm.
And they marched off at about 10 to 11 - 25 minutes after they arrived. But they say this is just the start:
Because now they have an informal association called Belizeans Against Lord Ashcroft and Courtenay
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Will there be other actions from this ad-hoc group?"
Alfonso Noble - BALAC
"Wait and see."
This isn't the first protest on the residential "A" Street. A few years ago, a PUP politician led a protest against the Guatemalan Embassy - which is directly across the street from Courtenay;s office.
Email
Print