And while that dispute plays out, the opposition will surely be watching and waiting for another government humiliation.
The UDP needs all the help it can get heading into 2025. Shyne Barrow told Jules Vasquez yesterday that spending was a big part of the PUP's popular success:
Shyne Speaks On Faber And Saldivar
But can the other likely contenders to the UDP throne - Patrick Faber and John Saldivar break his spirit?
Barrow refused to entertain that conversation:
Jules Vasquez
"Should you be upset with Patrick Faber? You know, your strategy for Belize City was that if you could bring out certain numbers, and Patrick Faber only brought out 48% of the vote in the Collet constituency."
"But should he have brought out more votes for the UDP? Did he let you down? Because I get the impression he didn't really put in the work."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"No, no, I won't say that."
Jules Vasquez
"There's no PUP presence in Collet."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I wouldn't say that."
Jules Vasquez
"He could have bring out 300 more."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I wouldn't say that. Patrick and I had a conversation this morning. It was one of the first people that I spoke to. And we had a very indepth, and to me, what I thought was a great conversation, discussing the way forward, and some of the very things that I'm talking about, and some of the things that he talked about."
Jules Vasquez
"When you seek an alliance with him to protect you against John Saldivar's Caucas for Change?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I've already been working with everyone. Why are you trying to pit me against anybody? You saw the press conference."
Jules Vasquez
"Because John Saldivar is untouchable because of the caucus for change."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Yes, but listen. I have not said a bad word about John Saldivar."
Jules Vasquez "Dare not. Every time you do that, you try to kick him out of the party, you failed. And he's holding you hostage with his caucus for change."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"JV, brother, I'm not fighting with any of my brothers and sisters, as I told you."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, lead follow, or get the hell out of the way. Som
e of them have to get the hell out of the way."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Yes, and as I was saying about brother Faber, it is something that he tried to do when he was leader, and he did not have success doing it. I think I did as much as I could do to give everybody a chance. But where we are now, it is win or die."
Jules Vasquez
"Shyne Barrow, as leader of the UDP, you're not going anywhere."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I'm not going anywhere. The decision has been made by the NPC. There was no contingency on the municipal elections, and I did well by my colleagues."
"John Saldivar, everybody, Tracy Panton, Patrick Faber, everyone, I supported all of my colleagues. I did not hold back from anyone, and people appreciate that, but there are things that we need to do as a party, and that certainly does not include the leadership."
Shyne Says, I'm Fine
And despite intrigues within the UDP - these are the things that will arise after any big defeat. Shyne Barrow says he's not stressed even one bit:
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I felt very emotional this morning. But my emotions were not for me. I'm okay. I have worked long and hard enough over the last 45 years that I am fine, my daughter is fine, my family is fine, and I will be fine without politics."
"What I shed tears for, what I hurt for are the Belizean people. They have created a monster."
Jules Vasquez
"They have spoken, sir."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Excuse me sir, they were induced. You said it. Don't try to turn it back now. You said they were buying votes and you said they outspent us 10 to 1. Whatever you want to say. How can you say that the will has been done when it has been tainted?"
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, people operate in their own best interest. The voters wisdom cannot be questioned."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Listen, the bottom line is the voter has a right to exercise their wisdom. They have a right to change their mind."
PM Deflects UDP Claim Of Foreign Interference In Elections
And one of the main issues that leader of the opposition Barrow has harped on after the election is that there was foreign interference in the process - in the form of foreign funding that the government received.
We asked the PM about that today:
Prime Minister, John Briceno
"I have no idea what he is talking about ok both instances on both accusations that he has made. Probably he must be talking about the former government that use to use openly government resources and government funds on Election Day. We were very clear that nobody should use a government vehicle during the entire campaign. You need to use your own vehicle, you go on your own, you go on your own time and pay your own expenses. In most instances for people who are campaigning around you I would pay the ones that are there for political work. I think that the leader of the opposition needs to start off by looking in the mirror and take a hard look at where he is going wrong and what he can do to make those changes but if you are not prepared to do that you are bound to commit the same mistakes. But who am I to advise him."
"For him to continue his ways for us we would be very happy with that so let's keep him because he is one of our best assets."
Jo
"To add to Paul's question is it in the PUPs interest to see Shyne stay on as a leader?"
Prime Minister, John Briceno
"It doesn't matter who is the leader or the UDP we depend on the work we have been doing very well when you look at the work bank report the IMF report both of them have glowing reports on the work that we are doing and this work we did on our own we did not follow the usual formula that the IMF would give you and the world bank in cutting costs and cutting expenses and firing people and raising taxes. We did it the right way working with the Belizean people."
Hard Right Christians Stage Protest In The City
Switching subjects now...
It's been 153 days since the conflict in Gaza began, and since then, over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, almost half of which are children.
While there have been documented attacks on Gaza before, this five month military campaign by the IDF began after Hamas soldiers launched an attack on an. Israeli music festival happening only 3 miles from Gaza.
On November 14th, Belize suspended diplomatic ties with Israel after the death of 11,000 Palestinians.
That suspension has remained in place, which the hard right Christian Alliance of Ministers and Leaders of Belize took a stand against today. They held a parade through the streets of Belize, and then a rally at Memorial Park. The event only drew a few handfuls of supporters - but they say they made their point.
What was the point? Courtney Menzies challenged them on that:
Courtney Menzies:
"How do you rationalize the support for Israel when you see images coming out of Gaza showing I think more than 30,000 dead civilians?"
Patrick Menzies, President, Alliance of Ministers & Leader of Belize
"This is the problem with Belize, you guys swallow line hook and sinker everything you're told. Tell me this, if Guatemala is your enemy, and Guatemala tells the world we killed 1,000 people in Chiquibul, even though we only killed 50, but the world is following Guatemala, we would be mad. That's what happening over there."
"Why doesn't our PM tell us what he think about the fact that the Houthis who he supports, because he supports Hamas, he will say he doesn't support, yeah, he supports Palestinians, but their government is Hamas, they put their government there. Over 70% in a survey said they support the attacks against Israel on the 7th of October, if you can tell me how you can justify..."
Courtney Menzies:
"How can you justify Israel terrorizing Palestine from before October 7th. They've been in Palestine, occupying that land, for almost 8 decades."
"Now Palestinians are fighting back, and you're saying that that's wrong?"
Patrick Menzies
"I don't know where you get your information from."
Courtney Menzies: "From the news."
Patrick Menzies
"If you're watching BBC, something wrong. If you're watching Al Jazeera, something wrong. The bottom line is that I believe in God and my Bible tells me, Jeremiah 30 and 3 and you went to Sunday school, my bible tells me that all the land will once again belong to Israel."
Courtney Menzies:
"Even if they have kill all the Palestinians, if they have to ethnically cleanse them?"
Patrick Menzies
"Who said 12,000 children?"
Courtney Menzies:
"The media is reporting that."
Patrick Menzies
"Hamas, hamas!"
Kids Fly Kites In The Park
And finally tonight, we're heading into the long weekend - to celebrate Heroes and Benefactors.
For most, it's the best long weekend of the year, as cool March winds push in from the coast. Which means you'll probably be seeing a lot of kites in the sky.
Today at Memorial Park, the staff of St Mary's Primary School took the kids out of the classroom and taught them to fly kites. We spoke with the principal.
