The President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel is making a major state visit to Belize on Sunday. It is a historic first to have a Cuban head of state visit - and he is traveling with a huge delegation. He will be welcomed by a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives at the Government House.
But, the two leading opposition figures won't be there. UDP Leader Shyne Barrow and the UDP's most senior Senator Mike Peyrefitte will be absent.
For his part, Peyrefitte says it's nothing personal - it's just that he, quote, has "important endorsement conventions in Cayo on the same day at the same time."
But, for the Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow it is personal; he's boycotting the visit. He told us why a few minutes ago:
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Well, the bastian of democracy that is Belize should never take for granted the privilege that we enjoy to have human rights, to have a free press, to have a opposition party. How could I as leader of the opposition celebrate a head of state of a country that only has one party. No free press, has jailed thousands. Just in the last year thousands that protested against this dictatorial regime. They were incarcerated some minors. The human rights violations are atrocious in Cuba. I don't want anything to do with people who are suppressing other human beings. This is about human rights. This is not about the medicine that Cuba provides for Belize or whatever niceties those diplomatic relations allow for. This is about human rights. This is about who we are as Belizeans. We say that we are a christian nation. Where in any religious doctrine does it allow in the 21st century for human beings not to have the right to choose, to choose who they want to be their representatives, to choose who they want to be their president, to choose and to question and to hold to account the government that is running their affairs. What should human beings in the 21st century still be subjected to a dictatorial regime. I don't know, but I believe I can only do what it is I feel is best. I can only advocate with the platform that I have and there is absolutely no way that I could escort the president along with the prime minister and participate in anything to do with a dictator visiting Belize."
Of course, we did challenge Barrow on his pro-US, anti-Cuba position, and we'll have that for you in tomorrow's newscast.
