Jules Vasquez,
That ended at about 5:45 pm and a just about 10 minutes later the Prime Minister called a very abrupt end to the day's House sitting. Citing the unrest outside, the Prime Minister said he would wrap up the session. This left many of the debaters without an opportunity to make their presentations, specifically two of the most anticipated presentations from backbenchers Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde, who, as we've been reporting all week would not support the budget thus making modern parliamentary history. Well with the abrupt ending, they were denied the chance to make lengthy presentations against the budget, but they did register a "no" vote when the Leader of the Opposition asked for a division. As the House meeting finished we had a chance to speak to these representatives as well as the Prime Minister, even as he was again, brushing past the press.
Keith Swift,
Mr. Prime Minister anything you want to say about what transpired out here today?
Said Musa, Prime Minister
"Well its most unfortunate. We respect the right of people to peacefully demonstrate but we certainly condemn the acts of violence with missiles being thrown at the police. We think it is unacceptable and should never have occurred."
Keith Swift,
You made an offer to the unions today to review the taxes after 6 months.
Said Musa,
"That's correct. That's what we intend to do."
Cordel Hyde, Lake I Representative
"Under the circumstances, with all the chaos and all the upheaval outside, the Prime Minister decided to cut the debate short. He has that right underneath the standing orders of the House. It was put to a vote and each member got an opportunity to vote and we voted against the budget."
Keith Swift,
Why?
Cordel Hyde,
"Because the budget does not support poor people and my constituents are poor people."
Keith Swift,
About a month ago you were in this Cabinet. If you were still in this Cabinet today would you have voted for the budget?
Cordel Hyde,
"If I was still in the Cabinet and this budget was presented, I would have voted against this budget and what it would have signaled would have been my resignation from the Cabinet."
Keith Swift,
Any comments about the protests today?
Cordel Hyde,
"I could not see all that was happening because I was inside the House but I understand it was pretty nasty and very ugly."
Keith Swift,
Mr. Espat if you had gotten to chance to speak in the House what would you have said?
Mark Espat, Albert Representative
"Well Keith as you know on behalf of my constituents in Albert I did not support the budget. I voted against the budget. I voted against the budget because I believe that the $91 million in new taxes will unnecessarily and harshly punish the working poor and middle class, and those who can least afford it. I voted against the budget because I don't believe that it's a realistic budget. I think once again we are, as one journalist said, cooking the books. And I voted against the budget because I believe that the consultation for such a significant adjustment in the finances of our country, and the money we demand from our people, is far too excessive for the period of time that we've consulted. Finally I think that those who have been to the party over the last 6½ years should pay their fair share and I don't think that this budget proposes to do that."
Keith Swift,
Mr. Espat you were in the Cabinet just two weeks ago. If you were still in the Cabinet would you have been singing a different tune?
Mark Espat,
"Well Keith I will answer that question by telling you that I see today as a continuation of the events in August. In August, six Ministers and I went to the Prime Minister and one of the things we asked was for us to come clean with the figures. The government has said at various times during the last 16 months that first we were going to have a deficit of 2.7%, then last year we said it would be 2.1%, then we told investors it would be 3.7%, and last week the Prime Minister said it was 8%. Four months ago before the so-called G7, we did not consider DFC to be insolvent. Four months ago we did not consider as a fact the situation at Social Security Board where $53 million is tied up in mortgages, where $43 million is owed to Social Security Board by the DFC, etc, etc and so things have changed significantly over the last 4 months. I do not oppose this budget because I am on the backbench, I am on the backbench because I oppose this budget."
Keith Swift,
Being against the policies of the Cabinet, as it seems apparent, what does future hold for you? Will you remain on the backbench of a government whose policies you obviously oppose?
Mark Espat,
"Well Keith the Prime Minister asked me to work on the backbench, he did not ask me to clap on the backbench. I am working for my constituents and I will continue to do so. I am a member of the PUP today but I believe today is a vote of conscience. Earlier this week African-Americans and all of us celebrated the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. and at critical times in his career, in his march for civil rights, he said that there is such a thing as the trumpet of conscience and that trumpet sounded today. It sounded loudly and it was a vote of conscience I believe for Hon. Cordel Hyde and myself."
Keith Swift,
Speaking about today, is that down the road we want to go?
Mark Espat,
"Well Keith just listening to what took place from my seat in the House, I did not come out because the proceedings continued for the entire day, but certainly what I heard and what I've been told it is extremely unfortunate. I think that it is a reflection of the sense of powerlessness of the people. I think it is a sense of how harshly people view these $91 million in additional revenues the government is seeking and I think that it is a reflection of the short period of consultation. I am in no way endorsing violence. I respect the role of the police and the prudence of maintaining law and order but certainly I think things got out of hand today and that is very regrettable for our country and for our democracy."
Keith Swift,
Given all that's happened today, all you just said actually, what can we expect from you one month from now at the PUP national convention?
Mark Espat,
"For the last 2½ weeks since the changes in the Cabinet I have been consulting with people in my division, I have been continuing to work in this constituency, and preparing for this budget. So I will continue to talk to people, our committees, and we will see what will happen between now and then."
Dean Barrow,
"I've said earlier Belize will never be the same again. I think that while some of what happened is certainly unfortunate, the fact is that the people of this country are obviously angry, are prepared to stand up, and are prepared insist that things be done differently. This government, any government, has now to heed the cry of the people."
So Jules at the end of this, what can we deduce first about the state of the nation on the night of January 21st., 2005?
Jules Vasquez, News Director
Well Indira, clearly we had a day of unforgettable violence and clashes in the capital, and very fortunately the security forces showed notable restraint and no one was seriously hurt. But the situation is that the unions appear even more hardened in their resolve and after that unfortunate ending with the police well they have something more than taxes to complain about. And more than that we continue with a national business shutdown which is expected to ease tomorrow. And as we speak, the water supply in the city remains cut off. And with this the unions say they still have a plan B, so its left to be seen if any middle ground can be reached between GOB and the unions, this I would classify as a matter of urgency.
But Jules while the government has its own emergency to deal with, how does this bode for the Opposition, the escalation?
Jules Vasquez,
Well, Indira, it depends on whether you believe physical violence is justified in the face of what is called economic violence. If people believe these times call for unmatched militance and bulletproof resolve, then the UDP scores points, if people feel repulsed, well then, that's a different story for the UDP. But one thing the Opposition has gained are two at least kindred spirits with Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde who did as their members did, and voted against the budget.
Well Jules we'll continue to watch it over the weekend and have more hopefully encouraging news for our viewers on Monday.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited for the internet by Keith Swift
