But first...though he must have hardly noticed it, President Fox was lucky to have the attendance of the entire House at today's ceremonial session. We say lucky because up to last night at newstime, the UDP were meeting still uncertain as to whether they should break their temporary boycott of the National Assembly to attend today's ceremonial event. That meeting ended just after 7:00 pm when the party executive in a close vote, reportedly with Leader Dean Barrow dissenting, voted to attend today's session. Today, Barrow told us why and what it means.
Dean Barrow, UDP Leader
"We felt that we could not take the risk that a boycott might be misinterpreted. We didn't think that the Mexicans would see it as a sign of disrespect but we feared that the Belizean public might see it as a sign of disrespect to the Mexicans. All of us of course value tremendously the good relations between Belize and Mexico. We were very conscious of the fact that people would want to see us join in honoring and saluting the Mexican President, so it was in that context that we took the decision to come."
Jules Vasquez,
So if anything you all have not reached a final and formal decision on what the future of the Opposition in the National Assembly will be?
Dean Barrow,
"That is correct. This we felt was something that had to be treated as separate and apart from the ongoing crisis, as we see it, between ourselves and the Speaker."
Jules Vasquez,
Is there any resolution or any final determination in sight for that?
Dean Barrow,
"No because I met with the Speaker yesterday and the meeting was not at all reassuring. I don't want to go too much beyond that, but from our point of view it was not a satisfactory meeting."
Jules Vasquez,
Should I take that to mean that the Speaker has not accepted what you call an error in the parliamentary procedure as exercised?
Dean Barrow,
"I think that would fair. I think that would be absolutely fair."
