And, the leader of the opposition tonight is championing one of those social values which is often championed in the US. That's freedom of the press - and while it is always enjoyed in Belize - the role of the free press is often undermined by ruling politicians of both political stripes.
An example of this was last week, when the Prime Minister ditched the media at the airport by arriving through the departures area - and having his vehicle pick him up there.
While he denied that that was his intention, the Leader of the Opposition said today that the PM wouldn't have to be dodging and ditching if he just made himself available to the media.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"That has to have a balance. I do believe that if the Prime Minister made himself available to the media every week, similar to what I do, at least once a week, do a briefing, then he wouldn't have to try to avoid the media."
"Because, you know, it could be you're dealing with a lot on the plane, you're outing fires, and so there may arise a cause for the vehicle to pick you up on the tarmac because you need to head out. But the media should have access to the Prime Minister, and so that is the problem."
"So the media has to stake out the Prime Minister because he doesn't give that type of free access to the free press. And that is a problem. I really believe that the Prime Minister is disconnected, as I always say, he's tone deaf."
"And he really feels here in his cabinet that they're doing us a favor by leading this country, and they're not. They ask for the job. And part of the job is to give accountability every step of the way."
"You guys know that no matter what is happening in the UDP, it could be burning. And I make myself available to you guys. I take the tough questions when I win, when, you know, I suffer what some may consider a setback."
"I always make myself available. And so this idea, this contempt, this heartiness, this dismissiveness of the free press is a dismissive attitude of the public because you represent the public. You are the access. You are the gateway from the public officials to the public. So it's not as if you're asking Marisol, you're asking Isani for you. You're asking for the people. And so the Prime Minister needs to find a way to make sure the press has access to him as much as practical."
