Faced with that gathering storm of high level rejection bolstered by widespread popular disapproval, it could just as easily be argued that the Prime Minister may have had no other option than to withdraw. And that's why the Leader of the Opposition is declaring victory tonight. Dean Barrow told us as much in an interview today.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"I think what has happened is that the Prime Minister and his loan motion have been beaten back by the resolve of the Belizean people, by this coming together, the likes of which we have never before witnessed, at least not in the modern day history of this country. And it is plain and simple a huge victory for Belize."
Jules Vasquez,
But also it leaves you swinging a breeze because your forces were arched to tackle the Prime Minister because he is proceeding with this most odious legislation, so now, having withdrawn or postponed it...?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"Well its lovely to swing a breeze because you have already knocked the man down on the ground but because you are in perpetual motion, you continue to punch. The bottom line is that the UDP is still going to Belmopan tomorrow and there are several reasons for this.
To some extent it is going to be a celebration of the defeat of this motion. But it will also be to continue the fight. There is the BTL Vesting Bill. There is the fact that the Prime Minister thrashed the constitutional order of things by his behavior of the context of all that has happened.
He is now so very badly wounded that to call him a lame duck is an understatement. There is absolutely no choice but for the UDP and the people to insist that this man fix a date for general elections now. So that is clearly going to be the major battle cry of the UDP forces tomorrow."
Jules Vasquez,
But is there not something for the Prime Minister to gain in a political sense. Must you not concede that he says, 1) we have heard and we have listened and 2) We will pursue an option which is no burden on the taxpayers?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"But he has heard because he has been forced to hear. He brought the nation to the brink and only after the people made it obvious that his Cabinet would disintegrate, that his party would disintegrate, and that the nation would be put at risk by the fury that he was unleashing, that he was forced to turn back. That is no credit to him."
Jules Vasquez,
The Prime Minister says in his statement, 'I know this decision will disappoint those who are hell bent on getting power through disorder and violence. They are all geared up for that tomorrow. They now have no excuse.'
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"He also goes on to say that he know we will still come and we will still come because it was never a question of an excuse. This man has gotten the sense. As I've said earlier this week, he's gotten the sense with respect to the loan motion. Now he has to get the sense with respect to the fact that his administration is in shreds, his own credibility is in tatters, he can no longer claim any legitimacy, he no longer has a mandate to govern. He has to go."
Jules Vasquez,
Now that the Bill is not being proceeded with, the motion is not being proceeded with, is that specter violence now reduced?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"I think greatly reduced and hopefully eliminated. This is a celebration even as it is a continuation of the protest against the Prime Minister. It has to be a celebration of this magnificent victory that has been won."
And while Barrow is claiming victory, does his hard won right to protest tomorrow still have the steam that such an event needs? He says the social partners are on board and at a meeting today, the confirmed their involvement.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"I was in a meeting with the rest of the social partners, representatives of the various unions and they are very much on for Belmopan tomorrow. So to that extent, there will be at least a partial shutdown. Teachers clearly won't be in classrooms and members of the Public Service will be at the National Assembly Square as a part of the protest so it is still on."
One group that will not participate is the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As we mentioned earlier, last night, the Chamber of Commerce membership voter overwhelmingly in support of a resolution to shut down tomorrow and to withhold the payments of business and sales tax for a month. Well late this evening, the Chamber said that it is satisfied that its demands have been met and so it has withdrawn its call for a business shutdown on Friday 25th May and shelved the resolution to withhold tax payments.
Still the UDP hopes all roads still lead to Belmopan tomorrow, and that certainly includes teachers. Later on we'll tell you if you should send your child to school or not.
