| As we told you at the top of the newscast, it was Budget Day in Belmopan. And while the Budget was the biggest news of the day, the hottest news came on the adjournment when opposition members spoke on matters of national interest. Representative for Orange Walk Central John Briceno raised an issue that his bosum companion Eamon Courtenay raised in a letter to the Amandala two weeks ago -in which Courtenay questioned the competence of current foreign minister Wilfred Elrington. Briceno got a fiery reply from Elrington, only thing is Elrington was answering to Courtenay - who was also a formers foreign minister. Here's how it started:
Hon. John Briceno
"Isn't it in the best interest of Belize now that negotiations are over that the Foreign Minister brings to this Honorable house a amendment to the Maritime Areas Act to claim the full amount of our territorial sea Mr. Speaker."
Hon. Wilfred Elrington
"When we go to the maritime borders we will have to agree particularly down south with Belize, Honduras and Guatemala. But the basic international position is that it is going to be the equi-distant point between the three countries. That is the basic
position, but it does not yet been established definitively in international law. I don't like to enter gutter politics but I know where the skeletons are buried, I know because I have live long and I've been very careful and I note and store things down. I don't want to be provoked. I don't want to enter into unnecessary discussion and debate and certainly I don't expect to be guided in my job by a person whom the leadership of the other side to which he has always belong. Found him to be unworthy to represent the nation and in such a serious manner as demonstrated by withdrawing his credentials and recalling him even while he was in the midst of an international meeting. That kind of person can't guide and inform me, don't have anything to say to me that I am prepared to listen to."
We should note that while the rancor between Elrington and Courtenay is playing out at the political level, the two also have a legal battle ongoing in court.
And the other heated moment came when Toledo West Representative Mike Espat was speaking on a matter of public interest - but the Government side was trying to shut him down because the matter had already been raised by one of his colleagues. That led to some hard talk from the speaker:..
Hon. Mike Espat
"I am talking about people who paid and can't get their surveys. I am not blaming the Minister."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"You sit down; I have a point of order."
Hon. Mike Espat
"What's your point?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Sit down and I will proceed."
Speaker of the House
"I want both of you to sit down. How about that. Sit down."
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