Tuesday April 19th As you saw in an ad earlier in this newscast government's spin doctors hope to demonstrate that the Trade Union Congress had no mandate to call for the Prime Minister's resignation. But still, the request to resign has been committed to paper and when the Trade Union Congress did, for the Opposition it presented an opening in the clouds, the chance to show that the party that garnered 46% of the popular vote in 2003 is a government in waiting. But conventional wisdom says the UDP has to convince many skeptics of their worthiness and readiness. Today the party held a press conference to demonstrate that in ruff times they are ready to govern. How convincing was it? We'll let you be the judge.
Jules VasquezReporting,
Doing its best to look like a government in waiting the smartly dressed representatives and standard bearers of the UDP gathered at the head table to say they have an appointment with history.
Dean Barrow, UDP Leader
"This government, it is clear, must ultimately go and we are all determined it must go sooner rather than later. As the long nightfall of the PUP departs, it is the UDP that cometh in the morning."
And to get to that morning the UDP promises to institute civil disobedience.
Dean Barrow,
"Turning to the larger picture ladies and gentlemen the consensus objective it is now clear is the resignation of the government and the fixing of fresh elections. Given that objective the United Democratic Party calls for and will urgently seek a formal alliance with the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, the Association of Concerned Belizeans, and all other interest groups that are determined to realize the objective. The UDP will for its part begin now a sustained campaign of civil disobedience. I have chosen that word deliberately in contrast to any other that may conjure up the specter of violence. We are convinced that the objective can be achieved without any resort to violence. This is to be a peaceful or velvet revolution."
But Barrow would not lay out the party's plans, he only swore against violence.
Dean Barrow,
"We are not going to encourage violence and we are going to do everything in our power to discourage violence. There are times of course when a peaceful gathering turns ugly. The provocative behavior of certain extremely senior officials of the security forces, that needs to stop."
But in Barrow's view violence will not be necessary because other events will force a regime change.
Dean Barrow,
"Things are not only not going to return to normal anytime soon but that in fact they are going to escalate. And I am not talking necessarily about the confrontation of people in the streets with the security forces, I am talking about the sorts of things that would be akin to what is happening with the disruption in telecommunication services. I believe the wise bet would be on similar actions such as we have seen in telecommunications occurring. That sort of thing even more than any street action is what will force this government to resign."
But right now the ones applying the force are the communication workers of BTL. Barrow also presented a plan to get them that 37% and it's not for free.
Dean Barrow,
"It would provide a sovereign guarantee for a loan to be raised by the BTL workers to purchase the 37% shares in BTL currently held by government and it would dispatch its Financial Secretary and others to accompany the workers' representatives to shop for the financing package that would make that purchase possible. We would also then require that the employees make available a portion to be agreed upon, a portion of the shares that they buy for onward purchase by the larger Belizean public. As a final point on this issue the UDP would repossess the special or golden share that the PUP gave to Jeffrey Prosser. The two directors that the government would thereby be entitled to appoint to the BTL board would be chosen from among BTL staff."
Barrow also committed that the UDP would also issue a guarantee to buy Prosser's shares, which represent another 30% of BTL. Barrow says it is a solution, not a "gimme."
Dean Barrow,
"Pandering would be to say that we would transfer the shares to the unions and to the employees for a dollar or nothing. You notice I've very clearly said that that cannot be the case but with respect to offering a sovereign guarantee, my God the current administration has offered sovereign guarantees to every conceivable crony you can imagine. I am positive that the Belizean people will applaud the offering of a UDP's government sovereign guarantee."
And for those sovereign guarantees that this present ogvenrm3ent has given to dubious private projects, Barrow had a proposal as well.
Dean Barrow,
"The UDP commits now to honoring the findings of the Senate investigation into SSB and to removing the obstacles that this administration have placed in the way of the Commission of Inquiry into DFC. We will therefore prosecute those that the inquiry finds to have made off with our money. But even more important we will use the current comprehensive international regime of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters to trace abroad and have returned to Belize all the public monies that have found their way in foreign bank accounts."
Many plans, and it's left to be seen if the electorate that rejected the UDP two years ago will have warmed up to this largely untested cast of political hopefuls.
Today we asked Communication Workers Union President Paul Perriot to comment on the offer made by the politician who's also his attorney.
Jules Vasquez,
Paul how do you respond to the Leader of the Opposition saying that if they are elected and they foresee a regime change if they were to be elected they would give a sovereign guarantee for a loan they would not give you the shares they would give a sovereign guarantee for a loan?
Paul Perriot,
"Jules that's a very important question because the first day when we met with the Prime Minister which was I think Sunday we asked the Prime Minister if he could do something like that and he said in no uncertain terms that because of our credit problems they cannot give any sovereign guarantee for a loan. That is what we asked him and he keeps on saying that we stood by the paying a dollar or giving it for a gift. He keeps on saying and said that last night when he was interviewed but that was one of the questions we asked him, could you put up a sovereign guarantee for a loan. He said because of the problems they have been having, because of their debt, they can't assist us with that so that is something we had requested from him and I am pretty sure Jules and everybody out there that this government does not have, nobody believes them, nobody would give them any more money. I think that if we get people who are interested in Belize within to govern Belize I am pretty sure 100% that we will be able to get those guarantees if that is what we need to assist us in garnering shares for the workers of BTL."
Later in our newscast we'll have more from BTL as sixth form students march on BTL to show solidarity...but first we look to crime news.
