So, now, Francis Fonseca will assume the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs, adding it to his Cabinet portfolio of Education, Culture, Science and Technology.
It's a loaded portfolio, but Peyrefitte asks how it will make Belize look on the international front if the new Minister of Foreign Affairs has to play catch up.
Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Senator
"When you ask Francis Fonseca as the substantive Minister of Foreign Affairs, this Guatemala issue, ask a man who is not even a minister, because he know more about it than me."
Jules Vasquez:
"Is it insulting for Minister Fonseca, who is a senior minister, has served many m ore years than Eamon Courtenay, and has earned his time as an unbeatable area representative, which you know well."
Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Senator
"Well I don't know about unbeatable, he beat me, but that doesn't make him unbeatable."
Jules Vasquez:
"Yeah but I'm just saying, undefeated area representative, it has to be a disrespect to him for them to say, you are minister but only for these certain affairs, for the most important existential matter in Belize's history, you are just to observe."
Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Senator
"Well, this is where I disagree with you that he's resigning, he's not leaving, he's not gone anywhere. So it's like you can hold the Foreign Ministry, and if you look at Francis, the last person from his team you would think the Foreign Minister would be Francis Fonseca, he's not sociable, he's not outgoing, and that's not a knock on him. You cannot judge a fish's greatness by its ability to climb a tree. that's not his thing. But I believe this is the plan, he's only holding it until Mr Courtenay comes back. I believe that Mr Courtenay will leave for a while then come back and take his Foreign Ministry back, because that's the only thing that makes sense."
Jules Vasquez:
"But why would that make sense?"
Michael Peyrefitte, UDP Senator
"How about this, so why not make, the disrespect also goes to Louis Zabaneh. So Francis now will take on a whole new baba, and you can't even leave to do that if that is more important and elevate Louis Zabaneh to full Minister of Education, you know why? Because if you [elevate] Louis to full Minister of Education and Eamon comes back and takes his ministry, there is nothing for Francis."
