He's been rapping and spinning records on the radio since the mid-1980's, so for most of us Kenny Morgan was already a household name, but, he went from entertainer to rebel without a pause on Friday when he defied the speaker's authority and lashed out from the gallery of the national assembly. And so it is that Belmopan, that most calm of capitals, has emerged as ground zero for political protest. But we wondered who really does protest best? Is it the UDP or the PUP? Certainly in terms of numbers, mobilization and just sheer intensity the UDP is in no class with a well-oiled pup opposition, which is a nearly matchless political beast. But in terms of personalities, the stars of the protest, it's a neat comparison...and Jules Vasquez put them side by side.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
It's a now famous scene, a resistant Kenny Morgan getting kicked out of the National Assembly Building. But there are historical parallels for Kenny Morgan's outburst. And while he rules the national conscious with these images right now, is Morgan really the best House of Representatives Rabble Rouser ever? Well, we're not so sure, the only thing we know is that he is in esteemed company. The nominees are Eamon Courtenay, Godfrey Smith, Max Samuels, Alberto August, and of course Kenny Morgan.
Courtenay is perhaps the most famous of the lot. He was daring enough to touch a Dragon Unit Officer's M-16 rifle and go on to taunt that officer. Just touching the officer.... that was assault, but even in opposition, who would charge Eamon Courtenay for a criminal offence? After all he's no Kenny Morgan.
Hon. Eamon Courtenay,
"We came here for peace. He has come with a machine gun. Who he will use this on?"
Godfrey Smith. He's probably got the best shoulder in the business, excellent for pushing up against those riot shields even when it's his brother Norman who's holding him back. And while Eamon wanted to play gun with the Dragon Unit officer, Godfrey, he's a tad disorderly, but really, who wouldn't be, when you just want to free the people?
Godfrey Smith,
"Our democracy is at stake and here we are just trying to help our leader and we are unable to do that."
Max Samuels. And while Morgan pointed at the Speaker and the representatives on the Government side, Max made history maybe when as the PUP staged a house walkout, he pointed, not at the speaker, but to the sky, his finger, a bird.
Alberto August. Well he carried shades of Courtenay on Friday, but he is no Eamon Courtenay. While he pushed and shoved, he could never point. But August gets extra points for leading the charge into the House, and being the first to get thrown out on Friday.
And the new star Kenny Morgan. He learned a little from all his predecessors and put his own style and spin on it. From Max, he got the disrespect fro the speaker, from Eamon he got the police friendly dialogue - even if he wasn't so daring - or maybe lawless - to touch an officer's weapon, and from Godfrey, he got a that style to toe the line, and perhaps encouraged by Alberto he made ruckus in the house.
But more than just whose the baddest house hooligan there is a lesson in all this and maybe it is that the more things change the more they sound the same.
Hon. Mark Espat,
"We have a state now where police are pushing us back. We cannot even stand here. Can you believe that?"
Kenny Morgan,
"Why is it a problem for us to stand here and exercise our constitutional right? The police should be here to protect and serve we not the politician them."
Eamon Courtenay,
"My bwoy put down your gun. All of these people love you. We love Belize. Put down the gun. Show they bally that Barrow and Esquivel can't fool you."
Kenny Morgan,
"I want the policeman they understand that all respect due to the uniform and the office but we will not be intimidated by these kind of police presence because those people in the House wrong."
Alberto August,
"The voice of the people need to be heard. We are tired of this abuse."
Godfrey Smith,
"This is the will of the people. How do you expect us to react when we have been pushed time and time again? This is the result of that."
Hon. Godfrey Smith,
"Madam Speaker 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 aberrant. This is the National Assembly of Belize."
It is the National Assembly and clearly where you stand depends on where you sit.