The Prime Minister returned to the country today after a weekend in Houston. The United Airlines flight landed at 12:05, and all the Belize City media houses, Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV and KREM TV were lined up waiting to ask him what he plans to do about the 90 million dollar payment to the Belize Bank. But, he did what he very rarely does and avoided the media by having his driver pick him up on the tarmac - whisking him and his wife away, right as they got off the plane. To our recollection, PM Barrow has only done this once before and that was right after he got back surgery. Today, a senior UDP government official who was on the flight told us that the PM had severe back pain - thus the hasty exit.
So, while we were all waiting to hear what he has to say about the compelling executive and parliamentary intrigue where 9 UDP Representatives have told us they will vote "no" to paying the money - tonight we are no closer to knowing - and the uncertainty grows.
And there seems to be uncertainty even at the very top. We say that because this morning we got a notice for special house meeting this Friday in Belmopan - which would have surely been the meeting to present and vote on the motion to pay the 90 million dollars to the Belize Bank. But by 5:00 pm - another notice had been sent to say that special sitting has been postponed.
That kind of postponement is also rare, and that's because - sources tell us - the Prime Minister is taking advice from international attorneys on just how to proceed with this difficult decision.
And it is made more difficult by the fact that 9 UDP Representatives have said they will vote against it, that is, vote against an appropriations measure brought by their own Prime Minister. When we left you on Friday, that number was eight: Mesopotamia's Michael Finnegan, Belmopan's John Saldivar, Port Loyola's Anthony Boots Martinez, Albert's Tracy Taeger Panton, Corozal Bay's Pablo Marin, Corozal North's Hugo Patt, Dangriga's Frank Pawpa Pena and Corozal Southwest's Angel Campos. And this weekend, Pickstock's Wilfred Elrington told us he would also vote against. Elrington told us he doesn't have confidence in the CCJ.
On the other hand, the PUP's Cayo South Rep Julius Espat says he will vote yes to pay because to do otherwise would be irresponsible. He said he will try and convince his party to do the same. Here are two sides of the argument from Finnegan and Espat:..
Hon. Michael Finnegan, UDP Party Whip
"But the Prime Minister can bring it to the National Assembly, but I as a parliamentarian, I am not oblige to vote for it and no other member is oblige to vote for it."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"You are oblige to support your Prime Minister, sir."
Hon. Michael Finnegan
"I am not oblige to support what I think is illegal and what I think is morally wrong."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"You realize that would be history."
Hon. Michael Finnegan
"But I am telling you, I am not oblige to do it. I don't care. The way how parliamentarians feel right now talking to them, history might be made. Jules, parliamentarians and the people of Belize believe that they are chancing us."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"But it were to happen that the Prime Minister brings a motion for this money to be paid..."
Hon. Julius Espat - PUP Deputy Leader/Cayo South Rep
"He has to, by the way and he doesn't gets support from his side, he will get proceedings by the court, the CCJ that will probably have criminal ramifications."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"But at the same time, parliament is supreme."
Hon. Julius Espat
"It's not supreme, you're only supreme when you are in parliament. Right or wrong?"
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"I don't agree with you. You are more the parliamentary expert that I. But sir, if they don't vote with the Prime Minister..."
Hon. Julius Espat
"Jules, I am telling you don't change the whole scenario. They will have to vote what Dean Barrow tells them to vote."
Party Leader John Briceno has not made his position known. The next regular House Meeting is set for December eighth.
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