But favor-granting and influence peddling are the stock in trade for all PUDP politicians.
But, in the halcyon words of the younger Barrow, he's drawing a line in the sand against corruption in public life. Those comments sounded very similar to his predecessor and father, former Prime Minister Dean Barrow. You'll remember that famous quote from the former PM back in 2004, where he insisted that he would chop off the head of corruption every time it "rears its ugly head."
We challenged the current Opposition Leader on this second generation political "big talk," and here's what he had to say:
Moses "Shyne" Barrow - Leader of Opposition
"I notice they put out that there's an Interpol - there's a red alert. Well, the same way Julius Espat wrote to the Attorney General and wrote to the Minister of Police. We will be writing to the Attorney General and to the Minister of Police that the prime minister will be investigated criminally for violating the constitution, In the matter of his interference. I hope that they will treat the Prime Minister the same way that they treat the Honorable Rene Montero. I believe that justice is equal. So nobody is above the law. I concede that certainly, there have been ministerial abuse in all administrations, since independence and before that. And certainly, under a Shyne Barrow Administration, I will not tolerate that. Everyone that knows me knows no principle I am, and I want to help Belizeans. And the only way we can hope the lesions is if we stop, as elected legislators, we stop helping ourselves. So what the prime minister did, I will never do; anybody that does that in my Cabinet will be suspended and will have to deal with the ramifications of any such behavior."
Daniel Ortiz
"There is a famous clip of your dad saying that whenever he encounters corruption, you will chop it off with his 2-sided machete. But, history has not been very kind to him when it comes to that sort of thing. You may have uttered famous last words."
Moses "Shyne" Barrow
"Well, you know, there have been many expulsions from the Barrow Cabinet, if I recall correctly. Yes. If it were a left up to-."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, the -."
Moses "Shyne" Barrow
"I'd like to finish the short answer. There were many expulsions from the Barrow Cabinet due to perceived corruption, not even that it was found so in a court of law, but in the court of public opinion, some manufactured by the People's United Party and their co-conspirators in the different areas. So, Borrow did deliver, as far as I'm concerned. But as Dean Barrow would say, 'If they bury Barrow, Dean Oliver, You won't bury 'Shyne' Barrow. So, that is him."
According to the Opposition Leader, he and the UDP will increase their public pressure against the PM by writing to the Attorney General and the Minister responsible for Police to demand that PM Briceno be criminally investigated.
