And in political news, as we've been reporting, Patrick Faber's secure seat in the Collet constituency is up in the air after the UDP rejected his application.
It's an unheard of decision - for the party to turn its back on its most senior parliamentarian and the lockdown representative for its most secure seat. But the party says the decision stands as long as Faber refuses to accede to the directive of the National Party Council which ordered that all posts criticizing the party's leadership be taken down.
So while that conflict remains unresolved, according to Faber's successor as Minister of Education, the situation was handled with a great deal of disrespect. Minister Francis Fonseca today took the opportunity to score a few "brata" political points when he took up for Faber and warned Belizeans to keep an eye on the moving hand behind Faber's great fall from grace.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"I don't pay a great deal of attention to what's happening in the UDP, that's their business and it's not my place to interfere or comment on their affairs. But I will say that the honorable Patrick Faber I think has been treated with a great deal of disrespect by his own colleagues, I know him, I consider him a friend and it's very unfortunate, I think it's a cautionary tale for all Belizeans, if the leader of the UDP can treat a senior parliamentarian, a senior member of the UDP in the manner in which he has treated the honorable Patrick Faber, Belizeans should take note of that. If he can treat him that way, imagine how he will behave if ever given the opportunity to hold power at the highest levels of our country. So I think it's an important cautionary tale."
Factions loyal to Faber are now reportedly trying to gather signatures from part delegates to trigger a recall of leader Shyne Barrow.
