And while the spate of Cayo South murders made it to the house meeting today - another security issue did as well. But it’s not about crime, it’s about police protection for the UDP’s Gaspar Vega. PUP Orange Walk South Representative Jose Mar alleged that Vega has 24 hours police security - which is straining police resources in that town. Here’s how he put it, and how the PM responded:….
Hon. Jose Mai, PUP, OW South
"But what is disgusting Madam Speaker is the fact that we have 3 policemen in a 24 hour shift minding the premises of an area representative, not a minister no more. On top of that Madam Speaker, the member for Orange Walk North son - a special branch officer goes every day to that high school to ensure that everything is right and nobody is trailing his son."
"The Prime Minister Madam Speaker, for all the bad they say he is don’t have that kind of security."
"Tax payers can’t be paying for this kind of luxury. Policemen are tight, they have to move all over the place to look at crimes. We can’t afford that kind of luxury."
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"After the circumstance which saw him resign from cabinet, there were all sorts of threats made against him and his family, as far as we can determine, promulgated in particular by his defeated PUP opponent from the last election. Any citizen and in particular somebody who is a member of this national assembly, confronted by that kind of specific is in entitled to protection from the police. I hope now that the campaign against the member for Orange Walk North and his family. I hope that campaign has stop and if it has and the threat as accordingly moderated or disappeared then we can take away the security, but you all know, especially those of you from Orange Walk how his defeated opponent behave."
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"I have never heard Mr. Cervantes at any time or his people call or try to throw aspersions or try to threaten the former deputy prime minister. It is very important for me to put this on record, because he is not here to defend himself."
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