And while you've heard the new tax measures and the reactions from all concerned, the real news of the day was happening outside, not inside the House. 7NEWS has team coverage with Jules Vasquez and Alfonso Noble. Alfonso picks up the story at 9:30 this morning.
Alfonso Noble Reporting
The day started off normally with the protestation led by some Garifuna drummers, in now almost trademark fashion.
Then there were some problems with people not being able to get seating in the gallery and being dissuaded from even trying to get into the National Assembly building, even union presidents were unable to get seating but even so the day progressed without much more than more people filing in to take their place at the protest lines.
It was not until some persons tried to make their way onto the National Assembly that the line was clearly drawn by Sr. Superintendent Crispin Jeffries who ensured that no one broke the cordoned area.
Soon enough it was the Prime Minister's entrance walking over from his office in a confident gait, he was flanked by backbenchers and ministers alike while his driver scuffed off LOVE FM's Rene Mendez's attempt at an early interview. By the time he came into view of the jeering crowd he walked undisturbed and even gave them a hearty, mocking wave.
A few minutes after his entrance came the two new additions to the backbench, Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde who notably did not enter along with the Prime Minister.
By the time the budget was being read the UDP crowd began to get agitated as they wanted to get into the galleries and even the UDP's Secretary General Phillipa Bailey was turned back. As they continued to test the police's line, they were joined by the unions and notables like Jackie Willoughby and Horris Patten.
It was not long before the police's recruits were face to face with demonstrators to make sure no one crossed line. And it remained that way until a quick breather was given to the demonstrators for a quick photo op to show their banners. But then it was back to normal and as the crowd got larger with union people and the UDP supporters on one side and the police and the National Assembly on the other, the riot squat was always on standby.
This however did not change things at the line as there were those brave enough to test the lines. But with Sr. Supt. Jeffries manning the line there would be none to cross over into what was called the sanitized zone. And then the testing continued with the UDP's yellowman leading the way. And soon enough the pushing and shoving began calling the riot ready squad into action. Fully armored and armed with batons, they would be the new barrier between the crowd and the National Assembly building.
While Jeffries was the general in charge of not allowing the line to be broken even if that meant roughing up a few UDP stalwarts like Delroy Cuthkelvin and virtually picking up Doug Singh and carrying him to where he belonged. It was then a standoff with demonstrators on one side and the police's riot squad on the other. With their batons in hand the police managed to keep the testy crowd at bay even while bearing some choice words by some of the more vocal demonstrators
The shove and shove back game carried on while Jeffries disarmed a few of the demonstrators of some of the sticks they carried. While this atmosphere carried on outside, inside it was another matter and the UDP then walked out because they were not given a copy of the budget and bringing with them their battle cry.
Dean Barrow, Opposition Leader
"And the Prime Minister will stand up in the face of all this and say to all these people, say to this nation, and to this Opposition that he wants to raise taxes. We are not going to participate in that kind of a charade. No new taxes and the Opposition must not be treated with discourtesy."
Jules Vasquez,
We cannot go?
While we tried to follow Barrow into the crowd, the sanitized area had to be maintained and Jeffries made that very clear.
Crispin Jeffries, Senior Superintendent
"Just go around."
Jules Vasquez,
This is unacceptable.
Crispin Jeffries,
"Okay but just go around."
Jules Vasquez,
That is unacceptable and I...
Crispin Jeffries,
"Go around, go around."
Jules Vasquez,
I am not an agitator here.
Crispin Jeffries,
"We want the media to go around. We don't want the media among the police. Go around."
And we did, right into the thick of things as Barrow made his party's resolve known to those gathered.
Dean Barrow,
"This is the start of the public protest and we will also try to collaborate with the social partners because I am saying that business tax is going up on professionals from 4% to 6% and in other categories from 1.25% 1.75%. Everybody will have to come together and hopefully we can cause some kind of nationwide shutdown. This is a time for action. I believe this is the start of a massive people protest."
Jules Vasquez,
Mr. Barrow are you all acting responsibly in encouraging a nationwide shutdown? There is a reality of a fiscal shortfall of....
Dean Barrow,
"They created the reality of the fiscal shortfall. Why should we the people be burdened with paying for a fiscal shortfall that is primarily the consequence of corruption? There is no power greater than the power of the people. If everybody comes together."
Michael Finnegan, UDP Party Whip
"It's the people who will shut down this country. This country has got to be closed down by any means necessary."
Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Port Loyola Area Representative
"I think right now the time is right. I think right now we don't even have enough police to hold we. I don't think we have enough jails to jail we. We have had enough. They di thief we. We have had enough of the People's United Party. They give no service to the people of this country."
But before Boots could continue the crowd had become further agitated again pushing at the police line. While the UDP area reps were allowed passage beyond the line, party supporters were not. It was not until a woman in the crowd fainted and had to be carried out that the crowd that they were given some easement.
And as Martinez tried to continue his walk up to the National Assembly building his free ride was over and was forcibly detained in his tracks. This enraged boots so much so that even within the firm grasps of no other than party leader Dean Barrow could he be contained. It was during this struggle that a stick hurled from inside the crowd hit both Martinez and Barrow in the face causing them minor injuries. Barrow was struck on the cheek and while Boots got hit on the left eyebrow. After some further confrontations he was allowed passage to expose his bloodied injury and an equally disturbing temper. By the time he arrived at the national assembly steps he vented on the use of force.
Anthony "Boots" Martinez,
"I always said that when it come do this, I am not afraid so once we are fighting for the rights of our people, I will always be here. And like I said, I don't they have enough police to hold us. I don't think they have enough prisons to put all of us in."
But while there may not be those, what the police did have today was enough riot-ready forces to stave off members of the Opposition party who by now were trying to make their way onto the National Assembly all be it through another avenue. While the crowd waited to push forward the police readied to defend the National Assembly even if it meant using tear gas.
In the end nothing further happened and the crowd returned to their original position and awaited until the budget reading ended with no further incident.
