Last week when the Prime Minister postponed the vote on the Universal Bill, the Leader of the Opposition promised bigger crowds at today's event. But yesterday, when the Prime Minister put off the vote altogether, or for the time being, the question was, would anyone come out? - after all the Universal Motion that created all the uproar was off the table.
Well the news tonight is that they did come out and with good support from the Teacher's Union, Barrow delivered: the crowd was by most estimates larger than last week. But the real good news is not about the numbers; it is about the mood. The crowd was firm but not fighting, standing but not stoning, and committed but not confrontational. And Barrow maintained that they had no reason to be, because it was a celebration. That's what he said as the day started.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The Leader of the Opposition was the first to arrive on Independence Hill at a little after nine in the morning. He was the first to meet with the press and told them why he feels a strong showing on the Hill is vital.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"We feel that he has to get the message that he no longer has a mandate and that he has to fix the date for general elections."
Jackie Woods, News 5
"Mr. Barrow you've called today's protest as an act of celebration as well as calling on the Prime Minister to call elections now. Yesterday he did mention that nine months is not a long time to wait."
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"Well I think it is far too long to wait. One of the reasons for calling it a celebration though was to try and set a tone in which we could indicate that we are doing our level best to eliminate any possibility of violence. People this morning need to understand there is n absolutely no place for violence in today's demonstration."
Barrow and a team of his representatives, went down to the crowd minutes later where he had an extended press fleshing session and then re-iterated the message of urgency.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"In the end this is about one thing, the Prime Minister and his government have got to go. You have got to go, call elections now. The man said last night he is not a monster but his behavior is monstrous. If you behave in a monstrous way then you are a monster and the people of this country will get rid of the monster." [Crowd Applauding]
After the UDP's were done, new backbenchers Mark Espat and Cordel Hyde came
up the Hill and went into the House, where they would choose to take the very last two seats on the back bench.
And after that, the Prime Minister and his team, all in white came from the Administration Building. Notably he was flanked by his hawks Godfrey Smith and Ralph and Francis Fonseca. As they heard a resounding round of boos, bringing
up the far rear guard about 20 paces back was Deputy Prime Minister John Briceno who had threatened to resign earlier in the week. And while he was booed on the outside, inside the House, the PM was greeted with uproarious applause from his supporters in the gallery.
While Opposition supporters held the frontline on the Hill, teachers were rallying nearby inside the Belmopan Civic Center. Senator Godwin Hulse was the main speaker.
Senator Godwin Hulse,
"I want a statement from the government saying we will not use any creative means whatsoever to try to settle this and then argue it wasn't taxpayers' money and it was a grant or some asset we sold or something we did. No public resources shall go to pay for any private debt."
And after that pep walk, the teachers marched over to the Hill chanting their union song.
[Teachers Chanting: 'Solidarity for ever']
Once on the Hill, the teachers joined a crowd of thousands that had flooded Independence Square, the area in front of the police station, and the Belmopan Market Square. The UDP supporters arrived in droves. Some came from as far as Punta Gorda. This woman woke up at 3 am and traveled 5 hours to attend today's protest.
Woman #1: We came to support the UDP because the PUP is killing the poor.
KS: Explain what you mean by that.
Woman #1: Because we can't buy our things in the shop, it is too high.
Right is dollar a pound, soup is two dollars a pound, sugar is 50 cents to 60 cents a pound. How can we buy? We are poor, we don't have any jobs there.
KS: If Mr. Musa was in front of you right now what would you tell him?
Woman #1: I would tell him that he is killing us.
The PNP made its presence known and of course there were the unions.
Jackie Willoughby, Public Service Union
"I am out here because no means no and I am tired of the abuse, no more. Every single time anything happens in this country, public officers take the lik."
It was different groups but it was one message which really had nothing to do with UHS and it was directed at the Prime Minister.
Woman #2: We want him to resign, that is what we want him to do now.
Woman #3: Tell Mr. Musa to call elections now.
KS: You came with your son, why did you bring him?
Woman #3: Because in a couple years my baby will be in the same position or worse.
Man #1: We have to fight for we and for our kids because if we don't
fight for we and our kids, they will never be a future for our kids.
Man #2: I just had a baby boy and my daughter is almost two years old and by the time 2029 come, I might be already dead but they'll be paying for the thing.
KS: But the Prime Minister says he's changed his mind on the Universal issue.
Man #2: He hasn't changed his name. If this thing goes through, you still will get taxed. No matter how we put it, we will still get taxed so the best thing we have to do is try get over this. Today we have to done it.
Woman #4: Musa tried to trick us and tell us that the thing is called off but we can't fall for that. We cannot trust his administration, they are a bunch of crooks. They have rubbed salt in our eyes for too long and now we are not taking it. We are standing up for our rights and if at any moment Dean Barrow says let's go, we will be ready.
Man #5: I just want the youths like myself, I came way from Dangriga,
I want the youths get the common sense. Youths have to wise up and get the sense.
Man #6: I came from Independence and we are Indians and we have to pick firewood for us to sell. Where are the jobs? Musa has all the money and no jobs are here.
Man #7: The big man, here what is going on: I voted for PUP two consecutive five and all I got is jail time and here what is going on, all I want to tell Musa is to stop play because we don't want to pay fifty cents for a shilling ideal.
But while the issues were serious and emotions were raw, the morning was calm
- even though the crowd was bigger. At times the mood was festive like here when UDP deputy leader Gabby Vega felt the beat of the Garifuna drummers.
Gaspar Vega, UDP 1st Deputy Leader
"The people are demonstrating that they want new leadership, they want leadership that has compassion, that has love for one another."
And while he danced - most just stood resolute with their placards - listening to proceedings inside the house on their nearest radio. And that is how the day remained - calm with little tension. In fact the police recruits manned the frontlines the entire day. The riot squad which was on standby became restless and some even used the opportunity to sleep. And the day would remain peaceful until the adjournment of the House.
Later on we'll show you how the day ended, a stark contrast to the chaos of last week.
