And while the Opposition was making noise outside BTL's headquarters, something unprecedented was happening in the Senate Chamber. For the first time that we have witnessed, the independent senators-or a supermajority of them at least-walked out of the meeting. They did so in protest of the just-announced decision to acquire Speednet.
They followed the lead of UDP Senator Patrick Faber who led the charge after the Senate returned to a public session following what is called "a meeting of the whole."
He rose to speak after the Leader of Government Business-and here's how it went:
Patrick Faber
"We have sat here, and to be honest with you, we're very, very uneasy that we are here doing the people's business, yes."
"But while we're doing the people's business, Madam President, the government is seeking to purchase Smart from its owners in a deal that the Belizean people, Madam President, the Belizean people have said they don't want."
"The government, Madam President, is ramming down the throats of the Belizean people as we speak, Madam President, ramming down the throats of the Belizean people as we speak the Smart acquisition. We are against that acquisition, Madam President. The Belizean people are against it Madam President, and we expect that we will be heard, we will not stand here and behave like it is business as usual in this honorable chamber."
Madam President
"I am suspending this session."
Patrick Faber
"The Belizean people don't want it. The Belizean people don't want it."
"I am speaking for myself and for thousands of other Belizeans who don't have a voice, who you're ramming this down the throat. And we can't have that, Madam President."
"We have made our position, and we're hoping that you're genuine in terms of valuing what contributions we've made and that they can see their way into whatever amendments you put in the Committee of the Whole."
"But we will not continue to sit here and behave like it's business as usual."
The President declared the Senate meeting suspended, the microphones were cut, and so was the feed-which went to logo. They came back in a few minutes and, like a magic trick, the Opposition and the independent senators-except for religious sector Senator Louis Wade-were all gone.
The independent senators issued a joint statement saying, quote: "We remain aligned with the positions adopted by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) and the Opposition that there has been no substantive information provided to address concerns raised of the legality, competition and valuation independence in relation to this proposed acquisition. We maintain that any decision to take decisive steps to turn the telecommunications landscape into a monopoly is regressive and we believe, is contrary to Section 42(4) of the Belize Telecommunications Act." End quote.
In closing, they also refer again to a "unified block"-adverting to their power to block legislation that comes to the Upper House for approval, along with the Opposition.
