And while Smith is a former PUP Minister who is now seen to be lending his efforts to help along the administration - one prominent PUP is saying his party has lost its way. William Bill Lindo is as staunch a PUP as they come - but he has penned an online column saying that people - including PUP generals are angry with the Party - and for good reason.
The article is named "Fair Warning" and it details at length how the PUP's governance has lost its. Touch and alienated supporters. He also. Heaps criticism on the two unelected Ministers, Eamon Courtenay and Chris Coye - who were law partners before ascending to Cabinet.
Today we asked the PM about it - and it's clear he had read the article and was ready with a non confrontational response to his old friend Bill:
JO
"Bill LINDO, who is an ardent supporter of the PUP yesterday posted an article named fair warning, which says: "Make no mistake, they, the unions, and a lot of ordinary people, and especially the generals of the PUP are angry with the government." Your response to this."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I want to start off that, Bill has been my friend for many many years. From the time I started politics 30 years ago. We've always maintained that friendship, but Bill has a way of doing things and trying to call attention and he believes that that probably there are certain things that we need to be able to improve and do better and we are prepared to take a look at, but I think that at the end of the day the people will decide whether we are doing a good job or not and that will be determined on 6 March. We are confident that whilst things are not perfect, I think that Belize is much better than where it was when we took it over in November 2020. more can be done? Of course, more can be done. Are you trying to do more? Yes, we are trying to do more so I respect Bill Lindo for his views. I do not necessarily agree with him, but it is a democratic country, and everyone is, what should I say? As they like to say, you know you have a right to your views, but not to the facts."
JO
"So you would say that you disagree with him and what he is saying aren't facts particularly where he says that the average man and woman in Belize is not only the PUPs are very angry, because of
the stealing by the big boys wrapped up in inflation. That's in his article, sir."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well when he talks about that, that I think he is referring to the stores where inflation is where people feel the inflation that's the only thing I can think about. I don't think any other thing else that he can talk about because there is a problem. And the people at supplies control have pointed out to us in cabinet they say that at the wholesale level Competition amongst them and they are cutting down prices, but when it goes to the retailers, the retailers do not bring down the prices they continue to increase the prices and they do that because it's a small group of people that control the retail business in Belize. What have we done? We have changed the law to be able to issue tickets. We've been issuing tickets for many of them. We have now even posting their names on social medias and even on the news so that people can see who are the people that we see are taking advantage of our citizens. And lastly, just in cabinet we see that the statistical Institute of Belize compiles a lot of data as to prices in different stores. So we are asking the SIB now to be able to compile the data to be able to say in Orange Walk these are the stores that have the lowest prices these are the stores that have the highest prices and do the same thing in Belize on all over the country so that then people can know where to go to be able to buy the lowest prices."
You can find a link to the full article on our Facebook page.
