Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The man known as the father of the United States, George Washington, served 2 terms as president of his country (1789-1797), and then retired from politics! He did so knowing that he could have been president for life; but being the honorable man he was, he declined the entreaties of the country and went home to Mount Vernon, Virginia, to retire, and where he died in 1799 at age 67! John Briceño, who will be serving his 2nd term as Prime Minister of Belize after elections later this year, has suggested that this will be his final term. He said this while knowing that he could serve in perpetuity, seeing that there’s no Opposition to worry about!
I am happy to see that at least one of my 2025 predictions might be correct! Mr. Briceño also dissed the lord of lords of Belize, Ashcroft, diplomatically telling him to f# off! Under his leadership, Precio and Goldson will replace Queen Elizabeth on our Belizean currency! He criticized the Purple One for wanting to take the Panama Canal back! He limited Starlink’s access to Belize, although with a creep like Musk, that could be dangerous! (We would never want him to hold our country hostage as he has done with the Ukrainians, cutting Starlink off, and then on, when he felt like.) The economy is chugging along under his administration! Damn, it almost makes me want to become a member of the PUP! Wat a ting!
I have to say I have developed some admiration for JB, especially after that interview with Jules. He seems relaxed and confident about the country and its future, and in his leadership role as Prime Minister. He seemed aware of all the challenges ahead for the country, which some leaders, including Trump, are clueless about when it comes to the America he will leave behind, after his dysfunctional presidency ends in 2028.
I’m not here to praise John Briceño; I’m here to give him respect and pay him his well-deserved dues. There are parts of his governance that I have problems with, especially when it comes to protecting our sovereignty; but the man has come through for his constituents for the most part. No government is without fault; but when the good exceeds the bad, that also has to be celebrated. He has listened to his constituents. Will Bauer Flats, offshore drilling, Vulcan, most of which could’ve contributed to the economy, were denied the right to disturb our fragile environment and ecosystem! These are commendable examples of his administration!
Anyway, I never thought that in my lifetime I would be praising the PUP for anything. But as you grow up and become more mature, you begin to realize that your country, your community, and its wellbeing is first, and politics is way down the list of your immediate concerns. Country first always, the rest will fall into place, or a change of course should follow.
I have felt a renewed sense of hope, and hope again, for the direction of our country. But that hope is tempered by the fact that we are still too cavalier in selling off our lands to foreigners for little or nothing. We have to have rules as to how much land can be in the hands of those that don’t have Belize’s best interests at heart, only their own personal agendas. Make “yah dah fu we Belize” a reality, not just a mantra!
As the Romans would say, Mr. Briceño, I salute you!
Glen