Switching now to politics, tomorrow, some sparks are expected to fly in the House of Representatives when the government side tables the Belize Constitution 11th Amendment Act.
It seeks to amend section 58 of the constitution which prohibits convicted persons who are serving sentences from being in Parliament.
But the insertion of a new paragraph would seek to include anyone who has, quote, "served a sentence of imprisonment for more than twelve months, imposed by a court in or outside of Belize."
That would certainly seem to include Leader of the Opposition Shyne Barrow - who served 9 years in a US jail for a shooting. Shyne says the amendment is discriminatory and he will challenge it in the House and in court.
But, will the former leader of the opposition Patrick Faber stand by Shyne? That's what we asked him last night on Uncut. Here's his surprisingly non comital answer:
Jules Vasquez
"Is Shyne Barrow fit to be the leader of the opposition?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"I will not comment on that. If the people of constituency elect a person after meeting the criteria to be elected to parliament."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir he is representative for 8 months; you are representative for 18 years."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Well if you're asking me if I'm better qualified than him, that's a no brainier but that does not take away anything from his qualifications."
Jules Vasquez
"So, is he fit? We've never had a leader of the opposition in parliament with so little parliamentary months under his belt".
Hon. Patrick Faber
"There is a lot that he's still have to learn, I will leave it there."
Jules Vasquez
"Where will you sit tomorrow in the house of representatives?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Your guest is as good as mine."
Jules Vasquez
"Will you sit after Sista B?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"I don't know, I really don't know."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you prepared to take seat number 5?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"I told you on Friday in the press conference that I will sit anywhere that the leader of the opposition designates for me to sit."
Jules Vasquez
"From what you indicated, you may have to sit even if they move to the seat after Sista B, you may be able to take her seat because from what you indicated at the press conference on Friday, she's not longed for these house meetings."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Have you seen that?"
Jules Vasquez
"I have observed it sir."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"So, I don't need to say anything."
Jules Vasquez
"But sir where will you stand on the 11th amendment?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"You know I have not seen the details of the 11th amendment. I know that late this evening a copy of it was circulating".
Jules Vasquez
"He characterized it as an ad hominem legislation targeting him so that he cannot run again. I'm saying that he has described as that because it basically says that you can't run ever, there is no redemption, it's not like your banned for 10 years, you can't, that is his interpretation and that is what he shared. Would you opposed to such a thing because it would prevent him from running again?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"I beg the opportunity to go through..."
Jules Vasquez
"This should not require contemplation."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Really? This is a constitution amendment, and you want me to give you an answer based on what you said the leader said and what you who..."
Jules Vasquez
"You have to stand with your king, this man is the leader of her majesty's opposition in the parliament."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Like he stood with his king when I was king. Anyway, I'm not going to go down that road sir."
Jules Vasquez
"So, you won't make a call on it?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"Not tonight at least."
Jules Vasquez
"Wow. Who would you support if you cannot lead and the delegates say no you're damaged goods, we don't want."
Hon. Patrick Faber
"To be honest with you, I would support one of my colleagues in the house and I will leave it at that, I don't want to get into."
Jules Vasquez
"One of your colleagues, would that be Tracy Taegar?"
Hon. Patrick Faber
"It would not be Shyne Barrow and it would it not be Denise Barrow, I'll make that clear and I'll leave that there. I don't hate Shyne and I don't hate any of my colleagues, I don't like what they have done and it hurts me as a UDP, hurts me as somebody who has sacrificed that as much as I have my short comings, I did not deserve for this kind of thing to happen to me by the hands of those whom I've tried to serve, so it hurts me yes, but hatred is not in me to say I want to wish destruction on any of my colleagues. You asked me about the 11th amendment, I think it is unfortunate. I agree that people should have second chances, rather than angry at him and maybe this might be my therapy kicking in, I feel sorry for him, I sympathize with him because when you do that and you build up a relationship with other people and you talk the game you talk but then what you do is completely different, then I have feel sorry for you because I'll be okay, I'll survive but I'm glad that I have support from all over."
