We also asked the Prime Minister for his opinion about Belize City Councillor Micah Goodin's request for leave with pay from the City Council to attend law school.
As we told you, the Council hasn't made a decision on that request, but the Opposition is agitating for him to resign to pursue his education. That would, of course, trigger a by-election, and so the media asked the PM about that. He went on a sharp defensive. Here is that back and forth:
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"I think this is a good story. This is a very good story. You all know Micah Goodin's life. Micah Goodin, I think, grew up in Majestic Alley, a very, very poor family, a very, very poor family. He had a hard life. He had to fight hard to struggle to get where he has. I know we don't like to use color, but here is a young black man that worked his way, crawled his way, and fought his way to get to the top. And now here, he gets an opportunity to be able to go to study law. We should encourage him. We should not discourage him. We should be proud of him and then make a story, a negative story about it. And this is sometimes why people get upset with the media when they make everything look dirty, look nasty, or negative. Try to be positive sometime. Encourage Micah Goodwin here. He's trying to improve his life and to be an attorney. Why shouldn't he have that opportunity?"
Daniel Ortiz
"But he's a serving-."
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"Wait! Wait!"
Daniel Ortiz
"He's a serving councilor."
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"Wait! Wait! That has happened under the UDP, and you did not say anything. Channel Seven kept its mouth shut. Here, he is saying that he is going to go away, and he is prepared to continue through zoom meetings in participating in the work of the council. And then, when he comes in for holidays to be able to try to work as best as he possibly can, give the young man a chance. That's what you're supposed to be doing."
Daniel Ortiz
"So, that should qualify him for a stipend, though, sir?"
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"Well, that's another matter that needs to be discussed by the City Council, not by me. The City Council have its own bylaws, and they should discuss that. They could look at what the precedent was before. And if the precedent was that they can get a stipend, then probably he should get the stipend."
Reporter
"What does this say at the political level, though? If he is to resign from his seat as a councilor, it would trigger a by-election, which means it comes back to the PUP fielding a candidate."
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"Well, we are not afraid of a by-election. You've seen what has happened in the elections so far for the municipal elections. We want everyone except one mayorship in San Ignacio/Santa Elena, Mayor Trapp, and one seat there."
