Faber Claims BTL Vote Was Attempt to Hoodwink Belizeans
News Five caught up with Lead Opposition Senator Patrick Faber today and we asked him about his decision to lead Tuesday’s Senate walkout. Faber says he has no regrets about walking out of the Senate meeting, even though there were important debates to be had and important votes to be taken. He says that it was an opportunity to sound the alarm and send a loud signal that the vote inside BTL’s boardroom was an attempt to hoodwink Belizeans. UDP Leader Tracy Panton also weighed in.
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Lead Opposition Senator
“What was attempted to be done there was that we were to conduct the business as normal. I am discounting the importance of any of what was going on in there. The CARICOM Freedom of Movement Bill we were about to debate is very important. At some point we intend to get out our views on that. We had just concluded an information session with the deputy director general of foreign trade and we raised many concerns on that bill. So that business was important. But I think we would have missed an opportunity to sound the alarm and send the signal loud and clear that what was happening in the board room at BTL was much more important and that the government and BTL was trying to hoodwink the Belizean people into a deal that of course all of us understand by now. It is not only the UDP. It is not only the independent senators, the business community, the church, everybody has pretty much sounded the alarm that we don’t want this deal without the proper process for accountability being followed and they were trying to push that down.”
Tracy Panton
Tracy Panton, Leader, United Democratic Party
“I think it sent a very strong and clear message and certainly we have our lead senator here that lead the charge, and we are very proud of him. For the first time in Belize’s history we had that kind of collaboration and it sent a very powerful signal, or should have sent a very powerful message to the government that we will not sit by idly and allow them to do as they please in this country.”
Faber Says Wade Missed Key Senate Moment
Senator Patrick Faber says Church Senator Louis Wade may oppose the proposed acquisition, but he missed a key opportunity to send a stronger message to the Briceño administration. Wade was the only independent senator who did not follow Faber’s lead in walking out of the Senate meeting. Faber argues that if Wade had joined the walkout, the meeting would have lost quorum and would have been adjourned. We asked Faber what he makes of Wade’s decision.
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Lead Opposition Senator
“I would merely say that I know from his position with some of the other media heads, Jules Vasquez and Mose Hyde, and he himself at one point held an entire press conference to say how strongly they oppose this. And I think he missed a wonderful opportunity to send that message loud and clear, particularly since it affects his business. But we understand that he did not sit there in his capacity as a private businessman. But more so because we know the church’s position I believe he should have left with the other senators and made the powerful stance. I want people to understand that had Senator Louis Wade walked out with the rest of us the meeting would not have been able to continue, because they would not have had a quorum in the Senate. The Opposition has three members and there are four Senators there. So it would have been seven to six, and the quorum necessary would not have, I believe that is the case, would not have been possible, and the meeting would have had to close down for a time. And maybe that is a signal we want to explore for the future. While the matters before the Senate may not at all be the matter has to do with BTL and Smart, listen if you are not exercising proper judgment, doing things right and by the book, and I believe even members of the prime minister’s own Cabinet has signaled this, then we cannot close our eyes and behave that everything is ok. So we will have troubles down the road.”
The Senate meeting did go on, and a couple bills were voted on in the absence of the opposition and three independent senators.
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