But right now, the PUP isn't running on a manifesto, because the government is running on Hugo-dollars, US$10 million worth, 9 of it in a grant to be distributed for low income housing. It's free money, and the plan seems to be to spend it freely on generic home improvement loans - for which there is very little accounting. But UDP party whip Michael Finnegan today lashed out against the big money wine.
Hon. Michael Finnegan, Mesop. Area Rep.
"It is three weeks away from the elections and you are talking about spending US$9 million of the people's money, monies which were given to the people by the government of Venezuela. You are allowed to just lavish in it and spend it freely as you want? That should never be allowed to happen here and I guarantee you that that can never happen in no democracy. And Jules if that is done, in my view, somebody or some people ought to go to jail for it."
Jules Vasquez,
Well I know the Minister of Housing and the member for Belize Rural Central is your good friend and he is the one who, as far as I can determine, is in charge of this money; is disbursing it, is talking about it, everything.
Hon. Michael Finnegan,
"This is not based on whether this is being done by the Minister in charge of Housing who is my friend, this is a position of the now government. He cannot do that without the authorization of the government of Belize. So I hold the Minister responsible and the entire government responsible for what is happening."
Jules Vasquez,
But your very emotional reaction is because as they say, it di bun yoh chest, bun ah. They have the money and it is a large amount of money to circulate before the election.
Hon. Michael Finnegan,
"But this is exactly what I am saying to you. This should not be allowed to happen in any democracy, in no democracy this kind of wholesale buying and prostituting of the electorate should be allowed to happen and I repeating to you: somebody or persons should go to jail if that is allowed to happen."
Jules Vasquez,
Are you intimidated by the Venezuelan money?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"Well I think after what I saw on Channel 7 yesterday, I think it is the government that ought to be intimidated. Those people are at Housing and they are complaining how they are getting turned around and they can't get the money and they are burning up in the sun. I think the government ought to be intimidated."
Jules Vasquez,
So you aren't concerned that if the money is disbursed, it will have a consequential effect on the electorate?
Hon. Dean Barrow,
"Jules honestly, $10 million is $10 million, US$10 million, but it can in the current circumstances never be enough. For every person you give, there are two that you cannot give and that has a consequence. And also, those persons that you do give, I am willing to wager that the Belizean people are now so waken, so aroused, so conscious, that they will take the housing grant and vote against the PUP."
