And that's why so much excitement was created last night when making his weekly appearance on the KREMANDALA Show, the PUP's Deputy Spokesperson Bill Lindo said that 7 ministers, a majority of Cabinet, were prepared to endorse devaluation now. A stunning declaration from a man who has been given a wide berth on the party's bully pulpit and speaks, presumably, with the authority or consent of Belmopan. But, not last night, at least not according to his boss Party Chairman Francis Fonseca who today pulled rank and said that Bill was just plain wrong, nobody's endorsing any devaluation.
Francis Fonseca, PUP Chairman
"With all due respect to Bill, he is a good member of our Party, he does not speak for the government of Belize and that is not the case; I can say that very empathically. I sit in Cabinet and I am a member of the Public Finance Committee of Cabinet, which is the committee charged with direct responsibility for engaging with the IMF, and that is not the case. Even the IMF, let me be very clear about this, even the IMF are saying that devaluation is not good for Belize, that is not the answer for Belize. So certainly we reject any suggestion that Belize is headed towards a devaluation."
Keith Swift,
So there are no voices or dissension, as the case may be, within the ranks of the Party, people who are saying we should take a serious look at devaluation?
Francis Fonseca,
"No, absolutely not. There is no member of Cabinet who has expressed that view."
Keith Swift,
How about the Party?
Francis Fonseca,
"No, absolutely not. I am not aware as the Chairman of the Party of any individual in the Party who has suggested that we head into that direction."
