And the government side also brought back an interesting Pair of bills bill for second and third readings. They require constitutional amendments for the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Coast Guard as a security service. One requires a two-thirds majority, the other a three-fourths majority - but they were both bundled together in the same bill. And the Opposition in a previous meeting gave indications that it did not support the Caribbean Court - so it would also be forced to not support the Coast Guard. And that's why in introducing it, the Attorney General was on the offensive.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Attorney General
"This morning we saw them standing against an elected senate and now Madam Speaker they seem to be wanting to stand proudly against judicial independence and sovereignty. Madam Speaker, our friends on the Opposition bench like tot talk about change and reform. Talk, Madam Speaker, being the operative word. Well Mr. Leader of the Opposition, today is not about talk. This is no press conference at the Radisson Hotel or no cozy interview with Channel 7 in your law offices. This is for real. Are you and the UDP for change or not? Are you and the UDP committed to Belize's judicial independence and sovereignty or not? Are you prepared demonstrate true leadership on an issue that rises above party politics or will Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition continue to shamelessly hang on to the coat tails of the Privy Council and continue to question the capacity of Caribbean judges vis a vie their British counterparts?"
Hon. Patrick Faber, Collet Area Rep.
"He has started Madam Speaker a quarrel even. He is in a quarrelsome mood. He is attacking the opposition before he can even find out what position we are going to take and that is not an approach. That is not approach that we are open to whatsoever. Why is it that a failed government, a failed government Madam Speaker is now bringing back a Bill in this form, trying to push it through, merely days before the end of their term. At least they are trying to give the
impression that they want this to go through, in the same format Madam Speaker that they tried to give the impression not so long ago this morning that they are serious about an elected Senate. That this kind of legislation, mixed in the ham with the hammer, when you are trying to change the constitution of your country is total and utter nonsense."
Hon. Ralph Fonseca, Minister of Home Affairs
"For the sake of politics, they are voting against this thing. You are so sure you're going to win. You know what's happening out there, you don't understand the people are against the Privy Council? They don't hate the Privy Council, they just believe that we should have our own appellate
court, the Caribbean Court of Justice. Nobody hates or dislikes the Privy Council, they just want us to move forward. They want us to get out oft his colonial thing completely and that is the last linkage we have with it. Even most of our British friends agree with us and you know that you are just doing this for politics. I am appealing to you all, I am trying to stay away from provocative language, although it is very very tempting. I am appealing to you all to reconsider this thing. Please reconsider this thing. You are going to go down in history with, today, some serious black eyes."
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"Once again Madam Speaker the Opposition, it seems very clear they will vote against this matter. They know unless some of them were to vote for it, so we have a three-fourths majority that the Bill will not pass. It is sad day, another day of infamy brought on by a recalcitrant Opposition."
But that same so called "recalcitrant opposition" is what the government side needed to pass the constitutional amendment. So while the simple majority carried the bill, they did not have the super-majority to carry the constitutional amendment - kinda like winning a game, but losing the series. And the House Speaker Elizabeth Zabaneh went as far as to talk about opposition members voting with "sense" - which raised the ire of the opposition. Here's the testy exchange.
Speaker Elizabeth Zabaneh,
"There may be members who may want to vote alongside with sense. You usually
ask for a division when you want it honorable member."
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"No but I don't want it. You said there may be members on the opposition side who might want to vote for the government with sense. How dare you make any kind of characterization or value judgment? You're supposed to be the Speaker, you're supposed to hold things even and balanced. Don't you presume to be judging us and the position we take on any legislation. You can't side with that, what's wrong with you."
Speaker Elizabeth Zabaneh,
"Honorable Member for this bill to have been passed they would have needed 21 votes. We are at 19 for, there are two absences, and there are 8 against. But because the 19 is not three quarters then it cannot be carried so the Bill is not carried."
[Patrick Faber: 'Madam Speaker what did you expect?']
Speaker Elizabeth Zabaneh,
"Look young man, you are trying to make me look small? If you want to be the Minister of Education you straighten up."
And while those were the biggest bits of news from today's House sitting - they weren't the juiciest. That was in the adjournment where the Leader of the Opposition disclosed names and properties in what he described as a land grab under Florencio Marin. It happened late in the day - so we won't be able to bring you the full story on that until tomorrow's newscast.
