What was billed as "The March for Belize" brought the country's greatest population center to a halt when it descended on Belize City on Saturday morning. It was an event organized and funded by the UDP, but cleverly marketed as a non-partisan event. And true to the advertising, onlookers could scarcely find a single UDP flag and saw only a smattering of red shirts. Instead they witnessed non-partisan, but highly political signs and banners, condemning misuse of Social Security funds.
It’s an indication that the UDP's cause has converged with popular sentiment and that made for a massive showing. We'll look at it from two angles tonight: both as a partisan and non-partisan event. Alfonso Noble begins with the non-partisan perspective.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
Had it not been for the aggressively worded messages on the placards, the number of Belizean flags might have suggested a different picture - like some kind of national celebration. But it was not the tenth and it was not the 21st of September; on this sweltering August day thousands of Belizeans gathered under the Belizean flag to demonstrate. The placards carried the messages jokingly suggesting an Al Qaeda tie, right down to asking the big question, where is the money? Many who came out on Saturday, prepared their own banners, t-shirts, and placards and say they felt an overwhelming need to demonstrate.
Jeremy Spooner,
“If I didn’t come out here I would have felt bad on Monday. This is something I have to do. This is not personal, this is something I felt I had to do.”
Lois Young, Senior Counsel
“There is a first step and this is the first step to show the government that this has to stop. You see the banner? Enough.”
Rev. David Goff, Methodist Church
“Well I am hoping to send a clear message to the authorities, to the powers that be, that the people are concerned and the people have perhaps reached the stage of being past concerned and in many instances people are fed up and want to see positive actions in terms of how we handle ourselves and how we manage our resources in this nation.”
Jeremy Spooner,
“I have to do this. This is not politics or anything; this is how I feel inside. You just need to go out there and show your support and a lot of people may come out, there a lot of people already, but we are happy to be out here and support the feeling - the rhythm.”
And on this day the rhythm was set by the Griga United Band.
[Band Beating Drums and Chanting ‘We Want Our Money’]
The Griga United Band along with scores of other non-partisan demonstrators demanded it specifically: they want their Social Security money and an end to corruption.
Protestor #1,
“I am out here for my money. Its time and overtime for people in Belize to standup and say what they believe. This is not about party politics, this is about how much we are paying every month and we don’t know where it is.”
Protestor #2,
“We are the workers and its pure pressure out here so we have to bash.”
Snakeman,
“Well I think the PUP really gone too far; at least some ministers in the government gone too far messing with our Social Security money and the only people who suffer are the poor people.”
Dylan Reneau, PSU President
“We want change. We cannot tolerate corruption anymore we have to have our say in what is happening in this country and we want our funds to be safeguarded for the future. Remember we will get old and we don’t want to have to go through poverty so SSB funds are very important and we will not lose focus of that.”
Russell Young, BWSL
“We are out here to rally against all this Social security nonsense which is happening in the country. As you can see the turnout is very great so I hope the government of the day get the sense because we are not here to romp, we are trying to secure our future. We are in solidarity with this march because we want to see some changes.”
Rev. David Goff,
“This is above political issues really, this has to do with our future as Belizeans as citizens of this country.”
Protestor #3,
“It is a concern of all Belizeans and if there are spending our money then we should be concerned.”
Bernard Pitts,
“I take this very personal because I am paying Social Security as well. I mean this is past disgrace and we can’t accept this none at all. This should show the magnitude of the mismanagement of the fund.”
Adele Ramos, Amandala Assistant Editor
“Just like everybody else I am concerned about the public funds. I know that people are trying to paint this as a political thing but it is not a political thing and I have joined in solidarity with the Belizean people.”
Harry Lawrence, Publisher Reporter Newspaper
“We are demonstrating against the government’s secrecy in refusing to give answers to contracts and sales that they have made affecting the livelihood of the printers.”
Jules Vasquez,
Are you afraid you are being painted with a brush of partisanship?
Harry Lawrence,
“No not at all. We have made it clear we are demonstrating with this organization in the interest of the printers.”
Alberto Young, Rotary Club President
“This is about country it is not about politics and it is not about any party. It is about what is best for the country and that must be priority at this time. I think it is about time we start supporting causes like these because it is about all of us, it is about generations to come, it is about the survival of our country…our little growing country. This is just to show solidarity, this is not politics.”
Paul Perriot, BTL Union President
“We definitely have to show the country that the unions are in support of the whole process. We are not here to show any party color but we have to support the whole Social Security issue. We are losing our money and with all the bad investments they are putting our money in we have to show our support.”
Russell Young,
“We want to see a lot of transparency because this is our money it is not the government’s money. These are the worker’s money and the employer’s money so we got to take charge of this situation that is happening in the country.”
The discontent was palpable and most we spoke to are demanding transparency in the way the Social Security’s and government’s money on a whole is handled
Adele Ramos,
“As my placard at the front says and it reiterates the call for a independent audit and for a full Senate inquiry. We want this to be taken to the fullest.”
Alfonso Noble,
What specifically are you asking for?
Alberto Young,
“Well that they come clean and we have transparency in everything that government does. At the end of the day they are our employees, we hire them to do a good job of running this country and unfortunately that is not the way it seems and it is about transparency and wanting them to come clean.”
Lois Young,
“I want an independent audit of the Social Security funds.”
Alfonso Noble,
You’ll get it you think?
Lois Young,
“I think we will.”
And if they do not get it immediately, they say they are ready to keep up the people pressure until the call is heard.
Dylan Reneau,
“It may have to happen every week until we get our desired effect.”
Paul Perriot,
“As unions we have to continue press this issue and we can’t let it done just like this. I will pledge my support however we could to make sure this isn’t the end of the whole process.”
Russell Young,
“Well we will just continue our demonstration. I personally will try my best to continue this demonstration because we need results. We need results. This situation is very terrible in this country.”
Bernard Pitts,
“Well that’s another question. We’ll see how much guts we Belizeans have.”
Snakeman,
“Whether we get or not at least we made a stand. I made a stand and I don’t worry about other people.”
Harry Lawrence,
“I think the government will be very foolhardy to ignore something like this.”
Paul Perriot,
“I can’t say what will happen but I definitely know that something will happen after this.”
Protestor #3,
“I hope this definitely sends a message to Belmopan and they will realize that the people are really serious about it.”
Protestor #1,
“Two things you don’t mess with, a black man’s money and his freedom so we won’t forget.”
Russell Young,
“If this government is a sensible government and I know they out here looking on I think they will take heed and listen to the people because we need to have a change and if the government is wise they will at least meet with us urgent as possible and try to get this problem resolved.”
Now it’s left to be seen if an already shaken Belmopan will heed that call and move decisively to clean up the social security mess.
And while Belize City's non-partisan activists made an impressive showing, the UDP had a massive deployment, deploying a reported 134 busses from countrywide. Clearly, the groundswell in popular support for its cause has afforded the party some of the off-season financial swagger and largesse that had eluded it in the past.
But numbers on the ground are one thing and credibility is another, Jules Vasquez was on the street trying to find out if the UDP's newfound political muscle is the real thing.
Jules Vasquez,
Success rate today?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“Absolute success rate.”
With thousands comprising more than just party supporters - behind him, Party Leader Barrow could confidently make that boast. The UDP’s “save social security” campaign, has effectively tapped into an issue that has struck a deeply resonant chord with a wide cross section of society.
Hon. Anthony Martinez,
“Well look at all that’s happening especially with the Social Security money all we ask for…I mean it wouldn’t have hurt them for Social Security if any kind of way of could have assisted the people of Port Loyola. But when you talk about families short of one or two contributions to get benefits and they can’t get nothing as opposed to what’s happening with the people’s money man its a shame and I run into those problems every day.”
Jules Vasquez,
You think people have an understanding of the issue in so far as we hear these tens of millions of dollars figures being thrown around do you think people have a cognizance of what is happening?
Hon. Anthony Martinez,
“Well in Port Loyola I break it down in small change and it is easy for people to understand clearly what is happening which is that they are using our money to help other people and people are hustling the money.”
And for many who came out - that is the issue: wanton abuse of what should be a prudently managed fund. Demonstrably a provoking and visceral issue and more than that, strategically it’s a great success where this issue of pressing national concern has been dovetailed with a sure political bulls-eye. All good, but is it enough to get this party elected?
Jules Vasquez,
All these people are here you have a lot of people who are non-partisan who have come out to support but would these people vote UDP if elections were now? Would they vote for a party led by Dean Barrow?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“I believe so. I think people are so fed up with what’s going on, so disgusted, that they would absolutely vote for the UDP.”
Hon. Michael Finnegan,
“The turnout here today is an indication that the UDP possesses the kind of credibility. If we were a party without any kind of credibility we wouldn’t have been able to muster the kind of independent support that we have mustered from independent people.”
Jules Vasquez,
Would these people vote for the UDP Patrick? They are angry with Social Security but I am not sure they are as convinced the UDP will make a viable government.
Hon. Patrick Faber,
“Well I think the one thing for certain Jules they can be sure of is the UDP will manage the finance of this country in a far better manner than the PUP are doing it.”
Jules Vasquez,
Are they convinced the UDP are a viable alternative and that the UDP has the leadership ability?
Hon. Manuel Heredia,
“Well from the indication of the crowd that we mustered today, I think the people are saying that they have confidence in the UDP, that they have confidence in our leader Dean Barrow, and we are ready for anything right now.”
The party says it is ready now - but elections are a long ways off, a full three years and by then the taste of this victory would have long evaporated:
Jules Vasquez,
Is this a short-term victory in terms of one Saturday get a big crowd out there everybody feel happy and then the energy disappears and the government refuses to move?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“I don’t think so Jules because clearly the pressure is going to be kept up especially in respect to the immediate objectives which are to oblige the government to set up the commission of inquiry into the Social Security abuse, to give us full disclosure, and to punish those that are responsible.”
Jules Vasquez,
Suppose the government does all this then you by your recommendation would have validated them.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“No absolutely not. It would have validated the people who would have applied the kind of pressure that would have forced them to comply. Look it has taken all this and they still have not complied. Clearly if they do comply, and I would advise them to comply, it will be as a result of people’s pressure.”
But the people’s pressure can only be visibly maintained with the opposition fueling and organizing it, which will take money - a resource the UDP has always been short of. But today’s showing indicates that, financially, the party is on an upswing.
Jules Vasquez,
Is the fact that you can mobilize something like this an indication that the UDP has some major money behind it now?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“No its an indication of the fact that people have been so outraged at all that’s going on that everybody has chipped in to support, one-one full basket. We have collected contributions from all over the place from every level of society even with respect to the financing it’s a people’s thing.”
Jules Vasquez,
So it’s not Michael Ashcroft bankrolling it like what the PUP is saying?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“Well you would imagine that the PUP would say that. I wonder if they would tell us who was bankrolling the Gang of 7? But in any event in terms of us, today’s thing is a people’s thing. We absolutely insist on that and that is the truth. People from all walks of life, every business house that we have approached, everybody has contributed magnificently.”
And on this Saturday in the city it all came together - not only in numbers, but in conduct. There were no incidents of misbehavior reported. The 200 police officers who were deployed on land and sea to make sure order prevailed didn’t need to contain or discipline the crowd although the party claims that 70 of their 134 busses were intentionally delayed on the road by police searches to trim down the numbers and lessen the showing. One man who wouldn’t be held back for this though was born again UDP Salvador Fernandez.
Salvador Fernandez,
“They have touched Social Security and the Belize government does not really understand how deep that is hurting Belizeans. Belizeans know exactly and they are hurted about Social Security to an extent that I think the whole country does not understand. They do not understand and if they can only call elections tomorrow we would whip them out. We would definitely take them out of office.”
Jules Vasquez,
Have you and Dean Barrow made up?
Salvador Fernandez,
“Really I don’t have a problem with my leader. I have no problem with my leader.”
Jules Vasquez,
But your leader had a problem with you. He kicked you out of the party without a chance to defend yourself.
Salvador Fernandez,
“No, no, no. Whatsoever happened, I will do anything to take out the PUP.”
And this morning, it seemed that sort of desperation transcended the UDP into the wider population. Now the party has to make sure that the inspiration to elect this group is as great as the feeling to “Take out the PUP” - otherwise the ever changing Musa administration has a chance to convincingly clean up social security and renew itself in time for an election.
And what about the crowd estimate? Well police report a maximum of 7,500 persons. The UDP is claiming upwards of 12,000, and we come in somewhere between that at close to 10,000. That's a whole lot, but did PM Musa get their message this time? Well, in a statement today, from the Prime Minister's Director of Communications Ernesto Vasquez, PM Musa is quoted as saying that "the demonstration clearly displayed the level of concern over Social Security and he will continue to address those concerns." He added that he views it as an exercise in democracy which he fully respects.