Earlier this week we told you about the legal opinions solicited by the Bar Association from two international experts on the ninth amendment.
IT was a split decision, one of the opinions was firmly opposed to it the other was tentative.
Today the Prime Minister said the opposing opinion does not change his mind about the ninth one bit:
Prime Minister Dean Barrow - Prime Minister of Belize
"I won't - again, in terms of my new charitable incarnation - say anything negative about Fair Joe, except that he is a well - known consultant for the PUP Government. During the last administration, he had been their arbitrator - didn't very well in the New Co. matter. He had given various opinions that - at huge costs, some of which I have detailed in the National Assembly. But I will say that perhaps - that no doubt, his opinion is professionally held. It is an opinion that I utterly and completely reject, and it is an opinion that will make absolutely no difference. In fact, it strengthens the Government's determination to proceed with the effort to pass the 9th Amendment."
And the PM also spoke about the signatures being collected by the PUP.
As we told you last night, the pup western caucus is boycotting tonight's meeting - and says it has collected 1600 signatures - part of fifteen thousand that the PUP has collected nationally to trigger a referendum.
The PM says he doesn't believe them:
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"First of all, I don't Believe them, and even if they did have that required number of signatures, the whole matter of verification - the procedure, the time line for a referendum is such that they would not be able to trigger any such referendum before we go back to the House. If we go back to the house, and they are able to pass the amendment, it seems to me that you can hardly expect to have a referendum on what is a done-deal. I am not speaking, now from any informed legal point-of-view, I haven't researched it, but I don't think that they will be able to get off the ground, once the matter has become law."
Jules Vasquez
"However, at that point, will you all still go ahead and hold the referendum, even if the horse having bolted, will you still, for the symbolic purpose? That's what the PUP is hoping."
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"I would have to go and check to see exactly what the law mandates. In my view, that will be pointless, futile, and expensive. And I certainly will not do it, except that I am obliged to."
But back to those legal opinions, where does UDP mayoral candidate Darrell Bradley fit in all this? He is a member of the bar executive and voted to have the opinions rendered.
We asked his role:
Jules Vasquez
"How do you reconcile yourself? You are now a prominent figure in the UDP, but you are also a member of the Bar Association. I know you are a member of the Bar, who voted to -"
Darrell Bradley - Bar Executive Member
"Be careful, Jules."
Jules Vasquez
"I know you a member of the Bar -"
Darrell Bradley
"I am a member of the Bar."
Jules Vasquez
"Who voted to have foreign legal opinion sought on the 9th Amendment."
Darrell Bradley
"Well, in terms of the discussions as it relates to that, but I want to make it clear that I am a practicing attorney. I am a member of the Bar Association; I am a member of the Bar Association executive. But first and foremost, I am a member of the United Democratic Party, and I support the policies and the platforms of the UDP, and one of those things is the 9th Amendment."
Jules Vasquez
"So you do that above any support that you have for the Bar Association, which does not support the 9th Amendment."
Darrell Bradley
"But, I don't think that that is any secret. If you - the Bar Association is an association comprised of attorneys. The resolution that the Bar passed was not unanimous. There were some attorneys who dissented. And I recall that my fellow candidate, Alifa Elrington, she attended one of the consultations, and she was open in terms of her dissent. So, it's not a situation where you would say that just because there is a resolution, every single attorney supports it."
Jules Vasquez
"So, But you did vote to go and solicit foreign opinions - opinions from foreign experts on the 9th Amendment. One of those opinions is predictably very adverse."
Darrell Bradley
"And one of them is not adverse. So the idea of getting people to weigh in, who are internationally respected, and who could give the opinion on the discussion is nothing controversial."
