And, the Prime Minister also struck what might be called an off note last week when he said that Leader of the Opposition Shyne Barrow had "attention deficit disorder." Now, that is a mental health diagnosis and a condition many struggle with - and for it to be weaponized as a political insult, well that can be interpreted as insensitive.
But, the PM didn't mean that Shyne had ADD - he was turning it around, using the term to mean that Barrow was also courting and crave attention.
Today, when KREM's Marisol Amaya asked him about it - he said that his words are being twisted - what he meant was that Shyne Barrow has a personality disorder:
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"I lament that people are trying to twist it around because I was in no way trying to suggest that it was any issue of a mental disorder it was simply because the leader of the opposition loves to call attention to himself, and so I felt that you know he has personal disorder, not mental, a personal disorder, wanting attention for himself."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So, it was in fact an error of language on your part, correct?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"You could call it an error I just..."
Reporter
"Or confusing because Wanting attention is different from having a disorder."
John Briceno, Prime Minister Of Belize
"Well, he has a disorder, a personal disorder, not mental a personal disorder in trying to get attention but yes we have to be careful as leaders in how we use terms I would accept that."
