Is PM Barrow Getting Ready to Roll the Dice?
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Thursday, December 1, 2011 Capital Weekly Page 1 Capital FromWeekly the Heart of the Nation to the Soul of the People No. 013 Thursday, December 1, 2011 Price: $1.00 Early Elections Is PM Barrow Getting Ready to Roll the Dice? t’s been ru- again our democratic moured for instincts prevent us from Isome time now, calling the election now. that with the chronic I say, we are not going to leadership crisis in the call it now, I never said Opposition PUP and the we will not call it next wave of populist support month, or the month af- Prime Minister Dean Bar- ter, or the month after.” row and his UDP Gov- In addition to ernment appear to be the PM’s public hint, there riding as a result of its were countless corrobo- nationalist stance, the rating reports, allegedly, PM has been contem- from members of Cabi- plating early elections. net and the ‘inner circle’ But the first hint claiming to be privy to the from the PM himself PM’s private thoughts on came just over a month the matter, and they were ago on October 21, 2011 all vouching that, as one in the National Assem- person put it, “the man bly during his wrap up is dead serious about of the debate on the calling this thing early.” Constitutional Amend- If such was the ment placing majority case, the PM clearly had ownership and control (Continued on Page 2) of public utilities in the Prime Minister Dean Barrow hands of the Government Meet ‘Santino’ and People of Belize. they were starting with can’t call it now because The PM a thing lately, every time the Belizean people will was responding main- they finish making their feel so sorry for you all, ly to comments by the speech and going on and they will feel like we newly named, yet to about how things are are taking advantage be installed Leader (at bad, they would say, call of you all if we call the that time) of the PUP, the elections now. I notice elections now, because Hon. Francis Fonseca. you never said “call the you all are in such sham- “Notice one elections now” this time. bles, you all are so hope- thing: you remember And, of course, we less and worthless, that See Story On Page 6 Page 2 Capital Weekly Thursday, December 1, 2011 Early Elections Editorial Is PM Barrow Getting Ready to Roll the Dice? Belize at the Crossroads Again Continued from Page 1 thinking now is to ‘whap no intention of throw- them’ first at the municipal elections, and then ‘whap ver the past few weeks, the Belizean electorate ing at once all his cards has been deeply engaged in political debate. on the table, and at his them’ again in the Gen- This mood has been fuelled by the upcoming next grand public appear- eral Elections thereafter.” O ance, his quarterly Press Not as forthright March Municipal Elections, the conventions in certain key constituencies; and then by the big story that Prime Minister Conference on Wednes- a reply as the question Dean Barrow may be inclined to call early general elections. day, November 2, at the asked, but it did ap- Is it possible that the Opposition PUP could Biltmore Plaza Hotel, he pear to ease the anxiety defeat the incumbent UDP in snap general elections? A attempted, it seemed, somewhat. At least un- significant majority of Belizean voters seem to believe to calm the anxiety over til the PM’s subsequent that the UDP has a distinct advantage for several reasons. appearance at a major The main reason is that the PUP is still not unified. the rampant rumours Secondly, while there have been minor scandals in the UDP, of early elections with public event, that event these are minute as compared to those in the past PUP the following remarks being an economic fo- Government. Thirdly, the UDP has tried to implement social in response to a pointed rum at Old Belize titled, programs geared at the poor. This is seen as noble since the question from a local ‘Turning the Corner’. economic climate is not as good as we would want it to be. journalist as to whether This time the PM In 1993, when the PUP called early general the rumour was fact: was responding to a ques- elections, the UDP managed to wrestle victory “I’m not going to tion about whether Belize away from the PUP by a slim majority. The PUP play that game, although, Telemedia, now owned by was confident that it had a clear majority support. Jorge Espat had just defeated Owen Morrison in a there seems to be a very the Government, will any by-election in the Freetown Division in February of that tempting invitation from time soon be offering what year. That seat was left vacant by Derek Aikman’s ouster the other side. When they is known as, Voice Over due to a bankruptcy declaration. The party also won the went to the House for the Internet Protocol (VOIP) City Council Election in landslide fashion one month later. Ninth Amendment, they services, something that, The PUP had momentum; and the UDP was did not issue forth their admittedly, the UDP also divided at that time. But when the votes were all usual call for elections. had expressly pledged in in and it came down to the counting, it was the most But I see, since then, Mr. its 2008 manifesto, and tense moment for both political parties, especially the Continued on Page 19 PUP which had entered the election in an overconfident Fonseca’s enthronement mode. It was down to the wire. Areas like Collet, Orange has produced a reversion Walk North and Toledo East were the key difference. to type, and he is saying, Capital Weekly While the UDP appears to have the “Yes, call the elections From the Heart of the Nation momentum now, nothing in the political arena is ever now.” Well, if we do call To the Soul of the People sure. Some candidates have a lot ground to cover it, nobody can say that Published By: and a lot of healing to do in their constituencies. we are taking advantage The sentiments among the working class is that while Roots & Rhythm Ltd. of them, because they say 15 Gibnut Street the people are not entirely satisfied with the performance of that they are ready. But Belmopan the UDP in some areas, the PUP has not reformed enough to warrant any serious consideration to form the next government. I know that we haven’t made any decision along Chairman: In the streets, the sentiments are real. We hate Delroy Cuthkelvin to admit it, but too many votes are for sale. The asking those lines. The better price for some is Five Hundred Dollars, for others Two thinking at this juncture Editor: Hundred, others a measly Fifty, for a decision of a would certainly be that Wilbourne Cuthkelvin lifetime. Many have lost trust in politicians. Yet, among all we await the results of classes, the Belizean electorate is very educated politically. the municipal elections, Compositor: William Cuthkelvin A comment frequently made is that the UDP is not as which we are confident corrupt as the past PUP, but that the PUP spends more of winning; and then use money on the voters. At the same time the electorate Telephone: 802-1284 is aware that nothing is free. Somebody has to pay. that as a springboard for Which way will we choose? the General Elections. It does remain a wide open Email: capitalweekly_bze@ Send comments to [email protected] question; although, I re- yahoo.com peat that, as of now, the Thursday, December 1, 2011 Capital Weekly Page 3 AragonThe New Facefor Commissionerof Policing in Belize veryone is enti- We see no valid rea- tled to his opin- son why our top cop po- Eion; and it is sition should not remain our opinion that the best with a Belizean. fit for the post of Police There is no single Commissioner at this time move that can solve the is Assistant Commissioner chronic problem of a Po- Elodio Aragon Jr. lice Department that is se- With a Master’s De- Crispin Jeffries Elodio Aragon Jr. verely handicapped by a gree in Criminology and Commissioner of Police Assistant Commissioner of Police lack of trust by the general a firm but approachable public. But we do believe personality, Aragon rep- sibility and intelligence. cop for repression under that the appointment of resents the new face of And he called earnestly on the last administration, Elodio Aragon Jr. as Police policing in Belize. That the public to give their full which had completely lost Commissioner would be new face and style was support to the Police as the trust of all Belizeans; a first good step in the on full display Monday together we fight to bring which had indeed become right direction. That’s just Morning when he and crime under control. a criminal gang protect- our humble opinion. the Police Press Officer For once, it was ed by the law enforce- made an appearance on good to hear an officer of ment authorities. (We note that since Love FM/Love TV. the high command level- We know there has we scripted this article, been talk about bring- In his respons- ing with members of the it has been announced public rather than talk- ing in a foreigner. We are es to the co-hosts of the that Commissioner Jef- ing down at them.