At the top of our newscast we told you that the Prime Minister today delivered his first official statement on the unrest that has been brewing since last week. Unlike his interview session on Monday from which we were excluded this morning we were invited to the Central Bank Building where the Prime Minister had a press conference which opened with a statement. He made it clear that he remains very much in control even if the state's patience for illegal protest has worn thin.
Said Musa, Prime Minister of Belize
"The events of yesterday evening and last night have cast a long, dark shadow over our beloved Belize. The blocking of the Belcan Bridge, the lighting it on fire, and the subsequent acts of looting, vandalism, and that rioting that occurred in downtown Belize City are flagrant and unforgivable acts of criminality and violence that is totally devoid of any just cause. Let the message go forth today. The patience and restraint of this government have been severely tested. Enough is enough. We will no longer negotiate with those whose clear objective is to force out this government and destabilize the country. We will no longer overlook clear breaches of the law as it relates to strike action. The laws of this country will be strictly and fully applied. The country of Belize is at crossroads. How we resolve our present situation will determine the future course of this country. Whether we continue to settle our differences according to the constitution, our democratic system, and the rule of law, or whether we resort to unconstitutional means to change the government. If we are pushed down the road of unconstitutional action, we must bear in mind that it is a slippery road which will lead to a state of ungovernability and affect the well-being of all Belizeans, not only now but for the future."
This morning the Prime Minister discounted any citizen or student led direct action and said that all that had happened particularly last night's looting and unrest was the fault of the Opposition.
Said Musa,
"Responsibility for last night's callous and dangerous acts of hooliganism and criminality must lie squarely at the feet of the Leader of the Opposition and his United Democratic Party. The evidence is clear. At Monday's UDP press conference the Leader of the Opposition called for sustained civil disobedience, for the workers of the water and electricity companies to join in shutting down their companies. The clear implication was that certain people and business places would be targeted. There are many who have expressed shock and consternation that a man who aspires to lead our Belize, this tranquil haven of democracy, could endorse violence and unconstitutionality in such an open and arrogant manner. There is abundant evidence that Mr. Dean Barrow himself has been personally in the forefront of the activities involving BTL over the past five days. His party officials have been methodically inciting disorder and the destabilization of our country's essential services. Yesterday they moved from school to school getting innocent students involved in their political agenda to gain power through illegal means."
