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Today two opposition members were present for the Special Sitting of the House of Representatives, unlike the last meeting, which their side boycotted. And the reason behind the boycott was that they believed there wasn't adequate notice given, since they were informed three days ahead, as opposed to the customary 7.
And today's meeting began with the Leader of the Opposition raising a privilege motion to discuss this matter, and why he feels it is a threat to Belize's democracy.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"We as opposition members travel all over this country, I as the Leader of the Opposition represent all 31 constituencies and I traverse the nation and I get many questions that the citizens have of the honorable ministers. Mr Speaker, rather than come into this House and cast aspersions or impute improper motives. Rather than go on the media and cast aspersions and say anything defamatory about my colleagues, since the beginning of this terms of parliament, myself and others have been using standard orders 19-3 to present questions to the honorable ministers. Thus a deviation from the standard protocol by the honorable Madam Speaker, it totally imperils the opposition's ability to use the limited tools to hold this government to account, ask the questions that our constituents want answers, thus giving us a few days days notice that falls below the clear 5 days required for a question to minister is a serious matter, Mr Speaker."
"Why can't we, I'm pleading with you to amend the standing orders as we've done in this term. We've amended the standard orders to allow for women's parliamentary caucus, we commend that and we respect that but if the Speaker herself in her response is saying that these are some of the irregularities that we have in the standard orders and that is why we need to revise the standing orders then why can't we come together and amend that standing order to provide that no regular Sitting of the House will be conducted without the 5 clear business days."
