March 8, 2011
Dear Editor,
The political debate in this country is going nowhere. The UDP are falling short on their promises and the PUP is hopeless. Where does the PUP believe that this obsession with Prime Minister Dean Barrow will take them?
Besides the daily radio tracks on everything Barrow, the PUP have installed these billboards attacking Barrow’s leadership. I agree – Mr. Barrow has made some poor decisions, for example, by initially placing his son on BTL’s board and now by allowing his nephew to be party to an oil contract.
And there must be lawyers other than Lois.
But the big problem for the PUP is summed up in the Creole saying: “Da pot di cuss kettle.” For many people, Johnny Briceño was far worse than Mr. Barrow when he was Deputy Prime Minister for almost 10 years. Briceño’s Ministry facilitated the sale of hundreds of thousands of acres at prices as low as $50 per acre to the wealthiest Belizeans.
Briceño signed almost every oil deal, including the BNE one which robs the Belizean people of the majority of oil revenue.
Briceño allowed massive logging to take place in our national parks. Briceño’s family made that Speednet deal with Ashcroft.
And now as PUP Leader, Briceño has surrounded himself with lackeys and cronies. He refuses to reform the PUP.
This is why Briceño is so weak. He knows his conduct as Deputy Prime Minister was shameful. He has no moral standing to take on Barrow and the UDP.
Step up, VIP and PNP. We need credible opposition if there will be any real choice for the people in the next general election.
Thanks for publishing my letter.
Clinton Smith, Freedom Street, Belize City