And while that was the business of the day, as we mentioned earlier the drama was when House Speaker Elizabeth Zabenah instructed police to remove opposition supporters from the House gallery. But while they might have been ejected, they weren't quieted and 7NEWS was there as it unfolded.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
Modest in size, but militant in tone, the UDP crowd was cordoned off at the crest of Independence Hill waiting to jeer the prime minister, who was apparently unfazed and just waved hello. Much the same was done for Ralph Fonseca who also waved, stirring an angry reaction in the crowd which got to pushing and shoving. But the angry mob found something to be happy about when the Leader of the Opposition arrived. Barrow pressed the flesh with his supporters even as the police kept the crowd at bay. After their leader came, the crowd decided to go inside?, which would eventually lead to more worries.
The noise predictably went from outside to inside and the prime minister was loudly jeered, the Speaker stood up to make her point by the rules.
Elizabeth Zabenah, Speaker of the House
"Strangers, or in this case visitors, must preserve silence and must conduct themselves in a fit and proper manner during a sitting. To my mind, and in my opinion, some of you are not behaving properly. This is my last warning. I would not want to have to clear the gallery because the people that shout out are not man enough to jump up and leave. If I have to clear the gallery at the next outburst, I will do so. I will then ask you to please…"
Man in Gallery,
"We have lost the respect for our leader. I am man enough to say what I have to say and I want the Prime Minister to resign." [Inaudible]
[Applause]
Elizabeth Zabenah,
"Officer…you are not supposed to be speaking because I am standing up and that is proper order so I will have to ask the officer to remove the person that said that."
[Inaudible from man who spoke and applause from gallery]
With that two more were put out but that would still not be the end of it, a clearly incensed Prime Minister was then defended by the representative for Pickstock and Minister of foreign affairs.
Hon. Godfrey Smith,
"I am urging you madam speaker to please take the necessary actions under the standing order. I need not remind any of us here this is the national assembly of Belize not a United Democratic Party circus and I refuse to stand or sit here being held hostage to a group of…this is the national assembly of Belize."
[Outburst, Speaker stands and there is booing]
Elizabeth Zabenah,
"I have said that if there is another outburst I will ask the gallery to be cleared. Can I have your next question?"
With that the business continued but about an hour later, the crowd stirred up again
[Said Musa looking around at crowd in above gallery as they shout.]
Just a few minutes later there was more ruckus led this time by Kenny Morgan.
Kenny Morgan,
"See the criminals there." [Point to PUP members of the House.]
The government press office cut the sound which feeds to our camera so that the outburst would not be picked up by the radio and TV stations but as Morgan was escorted out he shouted that they are lucky, "that he doesn't have a grenade." While the government side looked on with mild contempt, with that Madam Speaker asked that the crowd be cleared out of the gallery which earned an angry rebuke from Boots Martinez.
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez,
"83 year old people they are removing from the gallery man let us be reasonable."
Elizabeth Zabenah,
"I will now suspend the sitting until the gallery is cleared."
The crowd continued to make noise as they were cleared, but senior supt. Crispin Jeffries came on the scene to make sure the situation was settled. Young and old were cleared form the gallery by a phalanx of police who were on the ready at the national assembly. Inside the house remained adjourned on a forced 10 minute break as opposition members made their displeasure known
The crowd now gathered outside angry, hostile, and vocal, drums included. With the special branch taping from above and government cameras on the ground big brother was looking on as Sr. Supt Jeffries walked in to move the noisy crowd ten feet back, Morgan didn't like it
Kenny Morgan,
"Mr. Jeffries I have to object to this because we are exercising our constitutional rights. What is the problem with us being in front of the house and exercising our constitutional right? They are misusing the police to fight against we. They can't do this Mr. Jeffries."
But Jeffries was undeterred and un-emotional patiently putting the crowd back despite bitter protestations. Even the drummers had to move but the song didn't stop.
[Drummers Chanting: 'PUP dah di problem.']
And as government contract officers looked on befuddled, Jeffries was undeterred and continued to move the 50 or so protestors steadily back. Still, Morgan had found a pulpit.
Kenny Morgan,
"We as citizens of Belize we own this country. Ralph Fonseca, Said Musa, and Zabenah they don't own this, we own this."
And while Morgan continued the rant, Jeffries would take no more.
Kenny Morgan,
"Just remember if you don't answer to the law you will answer to the lawless. Its your choice. You answer to the law or you answer to the lawless because we could turn like that."
Sr. Superintendent Crispin Jeffries,
"I saying again I want you to be behind that rope. Please move now!"
Kenny Morgan,
"Mr. Jeffries I'll move but I want you to know I'm moving under strenuous objections because I think its wrong. Its wrong for the politician to manipulate the police force and use them against the population like this."
Sr. Superintendent Crispin Jeffries,
"Please move."
And when Morgan finally relented and with the crowd behind the line, the matter was settled though the noise continued but from up at the National Assembly it didn't seem so threatening.
An hour later the crowd would catch and cajole teachers union general secretary George Frazer? who they took to task about teacher's salaries? the Christmas pay which is due next week Friday.
George Frazer,
"If you see next week Friday they don't pay well hell will bruk loose. If by 17th of December we don't get pay the whole bloody world will let loose ya."
And with that declaration, it was clear that once quiet critics have been emboldened by the failings of an administration in the grips of serious financial woes.