And while there were no fireworks at today's meeting, the UDP as well as the Belize People's Front are outraged at the way Channel 7 Reporter, Cherisse Halsall, was treated yesterday. As you know, Halsall was attempting to do a stand up after seeing another regional journalist do the same. However, she was thrown out of the grounds by police officers, after they wrestled her cellphone away from her. The Special Enjoy, Rossana Briceno, came to her rescue after she saw the officer acting aggressive toward Halsall. But the officers were only acting upon instruction of the press office director, Mike Rudon. And yesterday, the UDP called for his resignation.
In their release, they cited two other instances during which Rudon's actions caused, quote, "national embarrassment." The first being when he reportedly ordered the interruption of the live feed from the Commissioner of Inquiry during commissioner Luke Martinez's speech. The second instance was when he made, quote, "distasteful Facebook comments to concerned Belizeans during the butchered Independence Day broadcast." End quote. They are now calling on the government to apologize for what they refer to as a state sanctioned attack on the press and for the fair treatment of all media houses.
And the BPF is right behind them, also calling for an apology to Halsall. Their release says, quote, "Everyday, women in Belize are crying out loud for help concerning different types of abuses and the inability of our government to act on a plan of action to alleviate the situation, yet; we have the highest office in our country bullying, and distressing a woman who as a journalist has all the right to exercise her job by promoting transparency, and of informing our people of what is taking place within the political sphere." End quote.
