PUP Responds to Protest with National Assembly Rally

And while police are now warning of possible legal consequences stemming from Wednesday’s UDP protest, today’s atmosphere outside the National Assembly struck a very different tone. What many expected to be another opposition‑led demonstration instead turned into a rally‑like gathering of PUP supporters, after the UDP boycotted the House sitting and unions pulled back from planned protests. News Five’s Shane Williams breaks it all down.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

In the days leading up to today’s sitting of the House, a protest seemed all but certain. The Opposition and joint unions had been signaling another public demonstration, and many expected it to play out this morning on the steps of the National Assembly. But just minutes before the ten o’clock start time, the script changed. The United Democratic Party issued a late release announcing it would boycott the sitting altogether, calling the move round three of its ongoing protest strategy. The release states: “We refuse to sit and participate in a Parliament that is being turned into a rubber stamp for a deal designed to enrich a Briceno family while saddling Belizeans with millions of dollars in debt. This boycott is not political theatre: It is an act of conscience and common sense; It is an act of resistance and reasonable resolve to strip the deal of any credibility; and, it is an act of duty to the people and country of Belize.”

 

And soon after, the Commissioner of Police confirmed that the unions had also pulled back, cancelling their plans to demonstrate.

 

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“We did receive two application: one from the NTUCB and one from the PUP. The one from the NTUCB, they decided to cancel their application for today protest. No application was received from the Opposition.”

 

What followed was not confrontation but celebration. With drums beating and supporters dancing, dozens of PUP supporters gathered outside the National Assembly, creating a rally-like atmosphere, even as the purpose of the crowd remained unclear.

 

Collet Montejo, Secretary General, PUP

“Basically what happened here today was we had intended to have our, some of our supporters come out and to fill the galleries. But as the word went out, a number of area representatives said, man, our people wanna come out and support. So we couldn’t stop them. We couldn’t stop them.”

 

Montejo says the gathering was meant to show general support for party leaders and to mark the opening of the new National Assembly building, the first House sitting open to the public since the PUP’s election victory in November 2020. Party Chairman Henry Charles Usher offered another explanation, that supporters came out to back the passage of the Occupational Health and Safety Bill.

 

Henry Charles Usher, Party Chairman, PUP

“They are here to support the OSH Bill. It is a very important bill that will be introduced in the House today. It is a historic piece of legislation. It is a shame that the Opposition is not here to support this bill.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Yes, they had placards and they seem to have done away with the placards. Was that at the request of you all to not get the BTL issue involved?”

 

Henry Charles Usher

“They are here to support the OSH Bill. I welcome them. I’m happy to see them. I’m always happy to see my party supporters.”

 

But Toledo West Area Representative Oscar Requena said the gathering wasn’t about politics, adding that people simply wanted to be part of the House sitting.

 

Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West

“We invited them so that they can come and have the experience of witnessing the opening of the newly renovated parliament.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How concern are you about the political image that this will send? Some people will interpret this as the PUP supporting the acquisition.”

 

Oscar Requena

“No, absolutely not. I already explained why they’re here.”

 

But the largest turnout came from Pickstock. And street captain Shaheed Hauze, who said his division alone brought out about one hundred supporters, explained they were there for one main reason, to show support for BTL’s acquisition of Speednet.

 

Shaheed Hauze, Street Captain, PUP Pickstock 

“I don’t see why they hustling and bustling about this acquisition. On a personal note, I support it a hundred percent and I believe it’s good because at the end of the day, it wa benefit us, the people you know, and I see it as something that we are moving forward and I see as something beneficial. I’m a leader and I bring out one hundred and ten people today. And they support it and they’re not people weh can’t think for themselves, da people weh think for themself and people weh know weh di happen.”

 

Shane Williams

“How yo the enjoy the rally earlier?”

 

Shaheed Hauze

“We mi expect – we noh come fight you know – we mi expect the UDP mi wa deh out ya today but it’s nice to see the People’s United Party Supporters and wa get some drumming in the next hour and a half.”

 

Shane Williams

“And if the UDP supporters mi de out ya, weh mi wa happen?”

 

Shaheed Hauze

“No, we noh come fight or nothing. We make it clear to our people that we are civilized people and we come and cheer on the government. And we come and support the decision that the government are doing. And we noh come fight with nobody. We are one democracy, one country and move forward.”

 

Two hundred people, mixed messages, no protest. The Opposition stayed away, the unions stepped back, but both are expected to stage separate protests next week. Shane Williams for News Five.