And while the House business proceeded inside, outside a group of about 15 picketers gathered to protest two things: first, the proposed increase in water rates; and second, the privatization of the boledo. It was a very small crowd and their effect on the House proceedings was nil, but they were spirited and determined. The boledo vendors numbered about eight and they were all from Benque Viejo – where the fear of what’s being called “Brads-ledo” is powerful. They got support from inside as leader of the opposition John Briceno said he was also concerned.
Protestor,
“They said they will take it off to sell it off in a next kind of lottery and we want them to send it like how it is because like how they say with control, we don’t use that and maybe they will give it to the Chiney heard and the Minister prefers the Chiney than the Belizean people and I think they should prefer the Belizean people first than the Chiney. We want the same system. We all come because we need the money and we have family to maintain.”
Hon. Johnny Briceno, PUP Leader
“The life of the Brad’s contract is ten years and Brad’s and only Brad’s will get to set the rules and to decide who will sell his product. And yes it is his product and that of his business partner of course. Mr. Speaker I ask, why is Brad’s so lucky and as for those who will be allowed to sell, are they going to be allowed under the same terms, the same current arrangements where they get 15%. Will they be able to maintain that level of relationship with the customers? Is it worth destroying a grass roots industry for the sake a multimillionaire party supporter and well known host of the UDP city reps, weekend black sticks and barbecue fiesta? Mr. Speaker these people and all of us who buy and sell boledo were never consulted.”
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“While I am no sympathizer of his when he turns himself into sort of a laughing stock, even I feel it. He occupies a constitutional office in this country, he should try discharge his obligations with some regard to dignity and to not operating in a way that proves him to be a complete ignoramus. There is a lotteries legislation in this country. Whatever ultimately will be done with the boledo will require changes to the law. This matter will come to the National Assembly and it will be properly ventilated and debated. If don’t know and it appears you don’t, then ask questions and don’t make accusations and allegations that are clearly justice plat formed built of sand so that you can take pot-shots but at the same display how shallow your attack is.
He talks about Brad’s and a UDP crony being rewarded. Aha, right there you get it. Right there you get it. Let me point out the difference between the UDP and the PUP. In terms of agreeing that we wanted to give a private company a management contract for the boledo, because that’s what it is, we formed a committee to preside over the whole process, chaired by the Auditor General whose objectivity cannot be questioned comprising people like Senator Godwin Hulse who was asked to chair but who couldn’t do it because of other duties but who sat on the committee.”
And while Briceno backed up the Benque boledo vendors – Jorge Aldana and his San Pedro crowd – who were there to protest a proposed hike in water rates didn’t need any help because they relied on his trademark histrionics. Aldana was joined by a some prominent PUP personalities from San Pedro like the former Mayor and standard bearer – and a few others – but we get the sense he didn’t even need their presence, because he was in a zone of his own.
For the record, Nestor Vasquez resigned as a commissioner of the PUC before assuming his post as Chairman of BTL. As regards water rates, the PUC must appoint an Independent Expert to review the decision by December 18th and he will submit his findings a month later on January 18, 2010.
