UDP Sweet Deals?

Dear Editor,

Please allow me space in your newspaper to express my views in the following article.

At the last sitting of the House of Representative on Friday December 11^th, P.M. Barrow went on a tirade to berate and humiliate former P.M. Musa for making secret deals with Lord Ashcroft. He then compared himself and his Ministers to be accountable, transparent and above board. He was also very descriptive in presenting a scene where former P.M. Musa was seen at a private gathering with a silly grin on his face, while Lord Ashcroft had him cornered against a concert wall pointing in his face in a threatening way.

Little did P.M. Barrow know that this very scene would be played out within minutes after the House adjourned by one of his Ministers. This was in the person of non other than the Hon. Rene Montero playing the part of Mr. Musa. Instead of having a silly grin on his face, he looked more lie concerned and frightened hog against the concrete background. Playing the part of Lord Ashcroft was Jules Vasquez. Instead of pointing in the Hon. Montero’s face, it was a microphone that was pointed in his face.

On a more sober note, what I found to be disturbing is that with the overwhelming opposition to this deep sea joint venture, the Hon. Montero could not satisfy the public when he was asked by Jules Vasquez if he could categorically state that these Jamaican fishing boats would not be allowed to fish now and hereafter in our waters. Instead, what the Hon. Said was come next March 2010, he would assign a managing team to put place rules to regulate and monitor deep sea fishing in our waters. This statement raised more questions then answers.

1. Are the Jamaicans, Koreans, Venezuelans, Japanese and hell knows who else’s fishing fleets temporarily put on hold until March 2010?
2. What was it that convinced the Jamaican fishing fleet to travel all he way to Belize with fishing gears designed for shallow water fishing?
3. It is strongly rumored that large sum of money was paid out. Did the Jamaicans paid people in high places, so much so, that they came ready to fish?

While we cannot prove that money was passed, it would be very difficult for this government to convince John Public otherwise. Let’s not forget that there exist documents to prove that a certain minister in this present administration who was at this time a civil servant, once stole twenty- two (22) hogs from Central Farm. When the P.M. George Price did not entertain him in his shameful and dishonest practice, he had to pay back for the hogs.

I would like to end by asking all Belizeans to let’s put pressure on our area representatives, who in turn will have no other choice but to put pressure on our area Rene Montero to scrap this deep sea joint venture or else they, the area representatives will have to face the wrath of their constituency.

Respectfully,

____________________

Paul Robinson

| | | | | |