And before that interview - the Prime Minister appeared on Sunup on 7 with what we might call, a full clip. He wasn't taking any prisoners - as he clearly came to this studio to settle some old beef. Which is great by us - it makes for good television - and a lively exchange.
But, it turns out the beef the PM came to settle wasn't even with this station; he blamed Channel 7 for a story which aired on Channel 5 about the murder of Dyandre Chi who was killed by police in Orange Walk more than three weeks ago. In that story, the PM's comments on the killing were used - comments which some took to be tone deaf.
That story aired - again on Channel 5 - on Monday and it may have led to a spontaneous protest in front of the Prime Minister's house on Tuesday night. Channel 7 didn't even touch the Prime Minister's remarks until Wednesday - when we gave him a chance to provide context.
Still, he - wrongly - blamed it all on Channel 7 this morning:
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"When Channel 7 cut my interview and pointed out when, remember when the guy in Orange Walk got shot and I was interviewed the following day on Monday, on Channel 5 and my first thing was well you know, well I can't comment it's going to court. Secondly, my next comment is my heart goes out to the family, my sympathies go out to the family and I said all of that and then after that when I said but your question, if the police stop you why didn't you stop and you all hone into that part on your news, that I said that, you didn't say well, you know, and then you had people get upset with me in Orange Walk as if I did not care."
"What if one of those people had come and try to hurt someone in my family because of that?"
Renata:
"I understand where you are coming from I think it's just in the context of what was said at that moment people were hurt by that loss."
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"But you missed out on an important part."
"Renata, Renata, Renata. You missed an important part, but the following Wednesday you covered it and you covered everything that I said and everything was calm after that."
"You only took what sounded sensational and you forgot and you didn't put everything that I said. And, so people hear that, Bwoi, you hear what John said about those people you know, you can't do that people could get hurt."
Host:
"That's true."
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"So you have a responsibility."
Host:
"Yeah."
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"You are not tabloid journalism you are doing the media, and not only channel 7 everybody. So, that's all."
Host:
"I agree the media has a responsibility and it's a very good point of reflection, you know as an individual that's a spokesperson that is a public figure and also like being conscious about the way you would say things the words you would use, because you know people, people, in a moment of grief and a moment of anger, that kind of thing, you would hear where their coming from."
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"I understand and the irony is that the young man that was killed is a far relative of mine, so how would I not care?"
"But, let's move on, I just think it's important though that you all challenge people when they say things outlandish and don't just put it on TV, no."
Host: "Thank you for that reminder I'm sure Jules is tuned in and he's gonna have people on their toes and there is a conversation."
Renata: "Two of us have homework to do two of us have to be mindful of how we are airing these things and also to look at our public figures and how they are saying things, as a point of reflection."
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"But the point is that…."
Renata:
"Both of us have homework to do."
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"Agree, Agree, but on that issue, I don't think I was out of order because I did start by grieving with the family."
