You just saw the UDP's reaction to ICC's declaration of war on the government of Belize. But earlier in the day, the UDP was declaring its own war - this time on the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
As has been widely reported, at the end of the last House meeting on June 17th, the House meeting was abruptly adjourned after an ugly dispute between the Speaker and the UDP's Area Representative Michael Finnegan. That event famously culminated in Opposition Leader Dean Barrow hurling a cup of water to the Assembly floor in angry protest.
Well today the UDP was back in the House of Representatives for the first regular session since that bitter ending. As its first order of business, the Leader of the Opposition asked if it could present a motion that would condemn the Speaker for her actions. That's where we pick up the action.
Dean Barrow, Opposition Leader
"Madam Speaker in my view the free speech right of members of the House is the most sacrosanct of the privileges that attach to all members of the House. Accordingly in that context there is a resolution that I would wish to move on that matter. It is for you to decide whether I am to be allowed to move my motion since according to the Standing Orders you must state whether in your opinion the matter may or may not affect the privileges of the House and I will take it from there after you indicate to me what your position is."
Elizabeth Zabenah, House Speaker
"Honorable member according to Standing Order 4, provided she deems it necessary I am going to defer my decision until the next regular sitting of the House."
Dean Barrow,
"Madam Speaker the Standing Order in fact gives you that prerogative but this is a matter that is long outstanding. I would ask you to take into account the fact that on this side of the House we consider it to be an extremely urgent, in fact a burning issue, and that while you have the right to delay which we must respect, if you do so on this side of the House we feel that the original error is being thereby terribly compounded. I would ask you Madam Speaker to reconsider your position and to give us leave to move this motion now so that we may dispose of this once and for all and try to move on with the business of Belize's parliamentary democracy."
Elizabeth Zabenah,
"I am still sticking to my opinion that I will defer my decision until the next regular sitting of the House."
Dean Barrow,
"In that case we will come back when you allow us to move the motion."
[7 Opposition representatives walking out and House sitting continuing uninterrupted.]
Stewart Krohn, Channel 5 News
"Looking at the motion itself, it was really just a statement, because it would be defeated anyway, so why the play today?"
Dean Barrow,
"Well if what you say is correct, why is there a need to defer a decision? The Speaker really was very wrong and that this is a decision that is a no-brainer. Allow us to debate, as Stewart has said, we know that we're going to lose the debate because of the numbers but at the very least give us our chance to vent because that is what our democracy and the standing orders of our particular House provide for."
Stewart Krohn,
"Assuming that most Belizeans agree you are right, what you have done in fact however is deprive the public of a chance to hear your party's view on a very important matter that is being debated today."
Dean Barrow,
"Agreed Stewart but we can propound that view by way of interviews with you and the other media which does not that take away from the point you are making and so we had to do a balancing act. We feel though that it is more important to make the point that we think we make by today's action than to come to the House and debate this BTL matter."
Michael Finnegan, Mesopotamia Area Rep.
"We are not in the House for no joke. We are representing people and we are very serious about the conduct of the Speaker of the House at the last meeting and we came here this morning with Mt. Barrow's motion to throw it into the House, debate the motion, and done away with it once and for all. Se has decided that she will take another route and decide on what she's going to do at the next meeting, whenever that may be; that may be next year.
She believes that she is there to protect Said Musa and the government and that is not the role of the Speaker. The role of the Speaker, in my view, is like a mediator to make sure that the business of the House is conducted in a fair manner etc. and that is her to keep; balance in the House."
Jules Vasquez,
And in your mind she has not been doing that?
Michael Finnegan,
"Oh Lawd that is a terrible woman man. That woman is almost like Idi Amin."
The Opposition will now seek an assurance that the motion will be allowed debate at the next sitting.
