At this newspaper, we have major policy problems with the PUP Deputy Leader turned Cabinet columnist, but as we discuss his latest column in this editorial, it should be plainly said that, in this particular column at least, the Cabinet columnist was obviously sending up a trial balloon on behalf of his treasured Party Leader/Prime Minister. In fact, the Cabinet columnist’s loyalty to his Leader has been exemplary and expanding since December of 2004, and the columnist has been well rewarded.
As part of his general election campaign, the PUP Leader now wishes to invite Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez to Belize and award him the Order of Belize. According to the Cabinet columnist, on page 3 of THE BELIZE TIMES dated Sunday, August 5, 2007, “The Government of Hugo Chavez has so far given a US $5.6 million grant to Belize, US $50 million loan to assist with the bond offering and a further US $10 million grant is in the pipeline. Leaders of other countries have received the order of Belize for doing much less. Mr. Chavez should be invited to Belize. He would most likely be received by Belizeans with great interest and acclaim.”
The Cabinet columnist says that if United States reaction to such a visit by the controversial Chavez “would be based on its interpretation of the ideology of the inviting government, then the Government of Belize should not fear any negative reaction from Washington. The most influential men in the Government of Belize are considered by the media and local analysts to be committed capitalists.”
The Cabinet columnist goes on to say, however, that the PUP “government has shown a penchant for socialist leaders. Its first official visit in 1998 was to Cuba. The Prime Minister enjoyed (sic) a reputation in the early years of his political career of being a socialist.” “In this context, it can be seen where uncertainty about the leader’s ideology could creep in and gain currency.”
The Cabinet columnist goes on to mention several developments which he describes as follows. “For those anxious that the party re-establish its ‘social justice’ credentials, these might be interpreted as hints that a new attitude is creeping back into the party.”
But, categorically declares the Cabinet columnist, “ Socialism in Belize is an idle dream. Idle because Belize cannot afford to become socialist. Before wealth can be distributed, it has to be created. … Wealth in Belize must be generated by foreign direct investment and local investment. Socialism, especially in tiny states, is anathema to investors. Secondly, in the US’s backyard, it would not be tolerated.”
In his closing paragraph, the Cabinet columnist proposes a government strategy of “wealth generation through strategic foreign direct and local investment in the growth industries. From its share of the wealth generated, collected through taxes, the party (sic) should redistribute wealth primarily on social projects in a sustained way. The idea is to address the perceived injustices of capitalism through wealth redistribution, regulation and intervention in the system where necessary.”
This sounds to us like nothing less than the Cabinet columnist saying to us that the government (even though he committed the Freudian slip of saying “the party”) should be capitalist and socialist at the same time. In the words of Millie Jackson, “The angel in your arms this morning, is gonna be the devil in someone else’s arms tonight.”
From the day it was first elected on August 27, 1998, until this very day, August 6, 2007, the Said Musa government has been a big business administration which believed it could buy elections. Now they want to bring Hugo Chavez to Belize so the 2007 PUP can pose as friends of the poor and friends of the people. This would be classic election politics – the creation of a designed perception by means of a specific tactic.
The Chavez initiative would force the Opposition UDP on to the defensive. The UDP would have to decide whether to attack such a visit vigorously, or downplay its significance. The Opposition would not be in a position to support such a visit.
According to the Cabinet columnist, “But few analysts would dispute the perception, if not the fact, that the northern districts are more prone to leftist leanings than perhaps any other part of the country. If Hugo were to come, the cañeros of the North would undoubtedly welcome him.” The Cabinet columnist is saying, in other words, that a Chavez visit would play out differently in different parts of Belize.
The whole scenario is interesting, especially the part where the UDP is forced to react. A Chavez visit would be a political gamble by the PUP, but most observers believe the blue have to roll the dice, in some fashion or the other, in order to be returned to office. We shall see.