The House of Representatives is meant to be among the most dignified, exalted settings in the country: the seat of the legislature, perched proudly atop Independence Hill, a pillar of the state, and the national high ground for the display of statesman and stateswoman like behavior. But that's the ideal, and the real...well, it's often a far ways off. In fact, on the house floor, it often seems more like ancient Rome, modern day gladiators equipped with razor sharp with and blustery comebacks as their swords and shields.
Today it got downright ornery from the outset when the Leader of the Opposition and the always tempestuous Finance Minister tangled. We pick it up where Barrow is required to ask a question, but first tries to slip in a rebuttal to a previous Fonseca statement.
Round 1:Hon. Dean Barrow Vs. Hon. Ralph Fonseca
Barrow:...You try floating any bond again; nothing less than 12%. I will proceed. Your bond failed. Will the Minister of Finance, and let us see how many more lies will be told, will the Minister of Finance say what...
Elizabeth Zabenah, Speaker of the House: Ask your question.
Fonseca: I must insist on an apology. You were addressed as Madam Speaker and then he used a word that cannot be used in parliament. The Leader of the Opposition must apologize to me immediately.
Barrow: Which word? I said 'would the Minister of Finance say'...
Elizabeth Zabenah, Speaker of the House: No you said let us see how many more lies are going to be told. I heard it.
Barrow: Did I say by him?
Elizabeth Zabenah, Speaker of the House: You just said how many are going to be told.
Barrow: What are you telling me Madam Speaker? Let me move on.
Fonseca: Madam Speaker I will accept no more questions from the leader of the opposition unless he apologizes.
Elizabeth Zabenah, Speaker of the House: You need to apologize.
Barrow: Apologize for what? I have done nothing to apologize for and I will not apologize. If you will not allow me to ask my question so be it but you will not get me to apologize. I won't do it.
Elizabeth Zabenah, Speaker of the House: Well then if you won't apologize then don't ask the other two questions and we move on.
Barrow: Can you tell me why you are disallowing the questions?
Elizabeth Zabenah, Speaker of the House: Because you need to apologize.
Hon. Dean Barrow: Where does it say that in the standing orders?
Elizabeth Zabenah, Speaker of the House: Because you used language that was not necessary.
Barrow: If I used words that aren't necessary you can issue some sort of reprimand but you cannot stop me from asking my questions. No.
Round 2: Hon. Francis Fonseca Vs. Hon. Anthony 'Boots' Martinez
Boots: Would the Minister of Education please say in light of the rising cost of education and growing poverty how and where exactly can the people of Port Loyola access scholarships for secondary school and tertiary education. And can he say whether his Ministry intends to allocate funds for Primary School assistance this year especially for textbooks to Port Loyola students and if so how much exactly and when and through what office or mechanisms will it be disbursed.
Francis Fonseca: The good people of Port Loyola have been and can continue accessing scholarships for secondary and tertiary education as well as primary school by applying to the Ministry of Education...the honorable member from Port Loyola should know that the residents from Port Loyola who have been trying to help themselves are particularly concerned that their area representative and his pre-election travelling caravan of goods and services has moved out of Port Loyola.
Boots: If you notice I come to the house with lot of respect but if that is what they will start I will start to do personal attacks also because they got personal...you are getting personal. I try to bring the issues from Port Loyola and I don't try to be personal.
Ralph Fonseca: Madam Speaker a point of order. The representative is trying to mislead the Belizean people and as the Minister of Finance we are paying him to open an office. If he does not have the office open he will be investigated. You will be investigated.
Elizabeth Zabenah: I am standing up will you sit. When I stand you are supposed to sit. Give me a break.
And if that testy little exchange leaves your faith in democracy a little shaken, fear not, after the meeting the bad boys of the house floor were glad handing and jawing in the margins.