And to try and allay the kind of panic that was evidence in the city today, at 12:30 the Prime Minister made a national address on the radio. He urged calm and promised to maintain a level of comfort for the populace even in the face of possible water and electricity outages. The PM also took a political swing at Opposition Leader Dean Barrow; here are remarks from both leaders.
Dean Barrow, Opposition Leader
"This budget then with unbelievable gall and faciness demands that we pay for the plunder of DFC and SSB, for Intelco and Mahogany Heights, for Los Lagos and Galleria Maya. This budget demands that we pay for all the scandals and the waste, the corruption and the rape of the past 6 years. But this budget is the last straw, the final insult, and the positive proof of the complete and absolute illegitimacy of this government. There is now not only a total lack of confidence in the current administration but a disgust and anger that is at boiling point. If there is one ounce of good sense remaining, if this administration can care even a wit for our devastated country, they will finally do the right thing, the decent thing, and the democratic thing. And so I implore them, do not let our nation become ungovernable. Do not let it slide into chaos. For all our sake and for all the Belizean people, go and go now."
Said Musa, Prime Minister
"It is unfortunate that the constitutional Leader of the Opposition has chosen to make a call to our peace loving people that can only be interpreted as a summons to civil unrest and lawlessness. We are faced with threats to interrupt our essential services and in particular our water supply. As a responsible government we will not stand idly by and allow our people to remain without that essential of life, water. We cannot allow our children, our mothers, our elderly, or any of our people to endure the real suffering that lack of water will entail. Rest assured that we will protect you and ensure that you have the water and electricity you need to continue to enjoy the basic comforts of life."
For the full text of the Prime Minister's message click here.
