And while UDP leader Shyne Barrow was welcoming to Majid Khan, his party's leadership and tank and file is saying the complete OPPOSITE - and they're doing it on public space, on the news, on social media and today in the House of Representatives.
Speaking on the adjournment of today's house meeting - former leader Patrick Faber said maybe the State Department briefed his leader and got him onside but not so for the rest of the UDP:
Patrick Faber, UDP Collet Rep.
"For the State Department directly of the United States, I don't know if it was the ministry of foreign affairs who reached out to the leader of the opposition. But let me say for the record that members on this side of the house were not consulted about that and while I cannot speak on behalf of the greater United Democratic Party who still have not discuss this issue in its detail and taken a position. I can tell you that there are many in my party who are railing just like the Belizean people out there, who are not happy that this decision is made and who would want very much to see the matter rescinded, so that if a pronouncement was made on behalf of the UDP it cannot be for all of us, because in as much as they are jumping up for joy to hear me say that if there was a pronouncement made it wasn't on behalf of all of us. They have also made a very big pronouncement on behalf of the Belizean people when you agree to take Mr. Khan without any consultation with the Belizean people on this matter that is of big, big national security and so this matter could have been brought to the parliament here. The prime minister in his position as leader of the government side could have brought that issue to light and could have ask the Belizean people what we think about this. But that was not done. You are elected to govern, but there are some matters that so big. You are elected to govern, but that does not give the right to bring a convicted terrorist who we don't know his capabilities in some secret corner of the country. This is not what people elected you to do."
"As I understand it Mr. Khan landed yesterday morning, is taken to some location where he will enjoy the luxuries of a home paid for by the United States. If I am not correct, please correct me when you get up Prime Minister, but many Belizeans tonight don't know or all Belizeans don't know, but just a few who served on the committee know exactly where Mr. Khan is located in this country tonight. It might be your next door neighbour and you don't know and why is that important? maybe not so much, because Mr. Khan is dangerous, because if he is reformed that's fine, but what about those persons who Mr. Khan turn his back on in the Al Qaeda movement who he had to maybe he squealed on them or whatever the case may be or who are not happy that is now a reformed person and not in their movement anymore and might be seeking some kind of retaliation on him and just happens to know that he is living right there in Placencia or right there in San Pedro or right there wherever he is. Why is it that he cannot be deported to the country of his birth? Why is it that we must take it on here in Belize? Yes, we agreed the terminology use which is very ironic is that it is a humanitarian act on the part of our country for the United States. All of these inhumane things were done to Mr. Khan, but all of a sudden now this is a humanitarian act. What is it that Belize is getting in return for this for our good nature in accepting this man as a humanitarian act. What is it that Belize is getting? But why is it that Belize is going to take on this risk? Why is it that we are going to do that? Can we not do without some level of that excitement, any level of that excitement."
Francis Fonseca, PUP, Freetown
"This is a serious matter. This a matter of international diplomacy, it's a matter of national security. This is not a matter to play politics with and it's not a matter for you to engage in loose talk and irresponsible statements. That is not what we need trying to create unnecessary concerns among the people of Belize, creating some - feel like somehow you are doing something good by creating panic among the Belizean people."
"The bottom line and what is important and what is the responsible position to take is that based on the expert advice. You can go on social media and try be experts if you all want to be, the experts, the US based experts, our local national security experts - are you saying you don't have any confidence in our experts? They are saying that this individual is not a threat to the national security of Belize, not a threat to the Belizean people. Let is accept in good faith that expert advice from our people and let us be what we have always been as Belizeans welcoming people to immigrants who are coming here, resettling here from all over the world."
