And after Mayor Palacio dropped drones on the diplomats assembled in the gallery - Shyne Barrow and John Briceno could only disappoint with their straight line speeches. Jules Vasquez found that they kinda did:
With the 156th Army Band going the BDF Band to liven up the proceedings, the leader of the opposition Walked in solo. While the Prime Minister arrived in the rain under the cover of blue umbrellas with a phalanx of security in tow.
The Governor General Froyla Tzalam Inspected the guard of honor. And it was unto the speeches with the main addresses from the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"From birth we were built to be bold, built to be our best, we are Belizeans."
And from the patriotic to the political - the leader of the opposition got in his political blows:
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"The embattled Briceno administration, mired in the Portico corruption, Senate investigation, accusations of ministerial sexual assault, murderous land corruption, among other dubious acts of bad governance has borrowed almost a billion dollars in three years, yet we are further away from that economic independence."
He segued from economy to crime:
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Gun license and impunity being sold to the highest bidder. Thanks to a hapless minister of police and a dinosaur Prime Minister who is merely an artifact in the museum of disconnect."
When he took the podium, the Prime Minister was dismissive:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"To the leader of the opposition, my brother, I say no more..."
From there the Prime Minister went into a speech that stuck closely to his well rehearsed script of economic success:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"The results of our constant labors since the election of November 2020 show that #PlanBelize, our national plan, our north star, is not just working but working far better than the optimists imagined."
"Presently, unemployment is at a historic low, 2.8 percent. That's as close as Belize has ever been to full employment. Especially pleasing is the forecast for domestic inflation, expected to fall from 6.1 percent last year to 3.7 percent this year."
"In sum, then, the economy is booming, Belizeans are working, our dollar peg is safe, and the medium-term prospects are exceptionally promising."
The Prime Minister ended on a high note barely glancing domestic controversies:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I renew our unshakeable commitment to a more equitable, a more prosperous and a more inclusive nation, at peace with itself and with the community of nations."
And after all the political bombast, the day ended on a high note with a kind of palette cleanser, the musical item Umoja performed by the Pallotti Orchestra, the Independence Day Choice and soloist Denise Castillo.
Jules will have his full, savage review of the Independence Day speeches on Monday Morning Beef.
