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But, first to the PUP. They held their parliamentary caucus today at party leader John Briceño's office suite in the Charter House Building. It finished an hour ago and the press spoke to the party leader who said that they didn't take a decision on how they would vote - instead they discussed the facts of the case:...

Hon. John Briceno - Leader of the Opposition
"We are not at the point of making a decision as to whether it is going to be a yes or a no or whatever. It is important for us to be able to get the facts."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"For the UDP they have said or the party leader has said that it is a conscience vote and that you can vote your conscience. Will you exercise that sort of latitude with your members?"

Hon. John Briceno
"Well, that is a cap out. That's a coward's way. We are in this situation today because of Prime Minister Barrow, because of his spitefulness, his vindictiveness and bad-mindedness decided that he was going to undo a settlement. This has been a pissing contest between Mr. Ashcroft and Mr. Barrow and unfortunately, that piss is falling on us because we are bearing the cost of that. So, Mr. Barrow is being a coward when he is saying, 'O, we are going to be doing a conscience vote.' He as a lawyer knows what he is supposed to do."

Jules Vasquez
"Would the PUP, if they had the majority in parliament, support paying it?"

Hon. John Briceno
"Well, let us put it this way, we would have never been in that position because we had solved it already. So, there is nothing about speculation if we would have voted or not. We would not be in this situation where we are today. And now he has to pontificate as if he is fighting for the Belizean people. Give me a break. He is the one that has created this problem and created this crisis and as the saying goes, you broke it, you own it, you fix it."

Jules Vasquez
"They won't, they want you to fix it."

Hon. John Briceno
"Well, then that is their problem. That is their problem."

Reporter
"Respectfully, though, there is a possibility that the PUP can take office in 2020. By then the interest would have continued to compound. What would your administration do then should you be in that position come 2020?"

Hon. John Briceno
"Well, let us put it this way, when we get in there we are going to deal with that issue."

Jules Vasquez
"I have asked 12 representatives how they will vote, 9 UDP, all UDP, they have all said they will vote against. The Prime Minister is one of those who said I don't know yet, well he didn't say that he said to wait and see. What do you say, sir? How will you vote?"

Hon. Jon Briceno
"Wait and see."