7 News Belize

PM Says Yellowman Was Wrong, But Not Wrong Enough to Be Fired
posted (June 1, 2017)
And then to that other subject that's been getting so much bad press for his administration. We're referring to the incident where Brian "Yellowman" Audinett threatened and assaulted the media.

Barrow has been silent on it both as Party Leader and Prime Minister - but today he made it clear that the Mase-bearer's actions were inexcusable.

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I think that Yellowman's behavior is absolutely regrettable. What the chairman of the party wished to do, attempted to do: shine a light on Eamon Courtenay and the PUP and their hypocrisy and political dishonesty was well done. But Yellowman's behavior in terms of the media cannot be countenanced and so I certainly deplore it, out of hand. Again, though, as I understand he sent a letter of apology to the speaker - I think it would be good if he also sent a letter of apology to the media, in particular to you, madam."

"And thereafter it is, as the speaker has now said, a matter for the staff, of the National Assembly staff Committee, but you countenance that sort of thing, it really is extremely regrettable."

"It must not happen again and I think Yellowman is as much aware of that as anybody else."

And while Yellowman will have to go before the House Staff Committee, in the world or "Realpolitik" - the most he can get is a slap on the wrist, basically, because political parties never leave their soldiers behind:

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"But ultimately the ruling party controls the majority on that House Committee, so it will be what the party decides, and let's be honest, Mr. Prime Minister, you cyaah send home Yellowman, he's a soldier of the party, and "the party over all.""

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Well I am glad you raised that. I don't know how the staff committee will decide, but indeed if I were a member of that staff committee, while I would insist that some kind of punishment be administered, I certainly would not send him home."

"So this man has not been charged with anything - as a consequence as I said, of a degree of goodwill, on the part of those whom who he in fact (gestures) attempted to intimidate. Indeed, when things in this country politically, economically, socially, were at an all time low, when we felt that there was a kind of creeping dictatorship taking place, when all the scandals involving secret agreements and the efforts to sign guarantees that we all knew were illegal, when all that was happening, Yellowman was out there on the frontlines of the protests being manhandled by the authorities, going through all sorts of changes in my view while that does not excuse what he did at the Senate Select Committee Inquiry...when you weigh things on the scale, when you weigh things up in the balance, as I said, speaking for myself, the punishment that I would personally mete out to Yellowman would not rise to the extent of terminating him not at all."

Reporter
"How about having him banned from the Senate Hearings which has been a request of the media?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"The matter of whether Yellowman is to be allowed back into those hearings is a matter for Salazar. In my view, its mute, Yellowman is not going to go back and quite frankly I have advised him that he ought not to go back. So it's mute, but in the event he decided that he wanted to go, that's a matter for Salazar to deal with."

Reporter
"Did you personally advised August and the initial group of around 7 to go into the Senate Hearings and do this?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"That was an initiative of the chairman, but an initiative as I said, I certainly in fact appreciated when it came to my knowledge that this was taking place. It was just spoilt by the behavior of Yellowman."

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize