It's rare that we see Belize's political leaders of different hues in the same room and being civil to each other. But that's just what dean barrow and Said Musa did today when they both endorsed the national plan of action for children and adolescents. What makes the plan worthy of such rare bi-partisanship - Alfonso Noble tells us:
Alfonso Noble Reporting
Hon. Dean Barrow – Leader of the opposition
“There are not too many things that government and opposition ever seem to agree on. indeed apart from what is taking place this morning, the joint endorsement of this national plan of action I can think only of the Guatemala issue that yielded this kind of agreement and joint effort.”
Hon. Said Musa – Prime Minister
“At a time when our society seems so polarized because of the politics of hate and personal vilification. At a time when the discussion of issues take a back seat while some politicians choose instead to demonize their opponents it is so refreshing that the welfare of Belizean children has brought us together to work for the common good.”
It’s not everyday that anyone can get the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, the wife of a former UDP prime minister and the wife of a the current PUP prime minister to all agree on anything. But today they did; in fact both Musa and barrow signed on to the document in a rare show of bipartisan-ship.
So what is it that brought about this great convergence? It’s this: the national plan of action for children and adolescents in Belize. It’s a massively ambitious 11 year plan that’s been in the compilation for 18 months with contributions from more than 50 technical experts in all fields.
Judith Alpuche – Director NCFC
“I don’t think it is an unrealistic plan. The people on the working group especially the political representatives and certainly the technicians that inputted into this document made sure that it is very realistic and very doable”
“You might say that it is trying to achieve utopia. I don’t think so. i think that every child irrespective of their ethnicity, socio economic status need to have those basic things that ensure their dignity and worth. That at least provides the environment for them to grow and develop to their full potential.”
The plan covers 6 main areas education, health, child protection, HIV/AIDS, family and culture that should affect the lives of children and adolescents.
Jules Vasquez - 7News Director
“A child being born into poverty right now in southern Belize or in Belize city in one of the urban settings in the city, how will this plan change their lives from the lives they might have led without it?”
Judith Alpuche
“The plan is looking at the basic issues that that child would have to be dealing with. How does that child access education? How does that child access proper prenatal and postnatal care? How do we provide opportunities for that child’s family to rise out of poverty?”
It’s a noble idea, but one that’s difficult - and hopefully it will result in more than just a photo opportunity.
The plan will now be refined into an implementation strategy.