Constitutionally, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Mr. Said Wilbert Musa, is in a position where he can force the payment of the $33 million Universal Health Services debt through processes which are legal. This is the problem with our political system, in that the power of the ruling party Leader/Prime Minister is so exaggerated that he can defy the wishes of the vast masses of the Belizean people. And he can do so legally. The fact that it can be legal to do something which the Belizean people reject with all their being, is testament to the fact that we are a people who are oppressed.
Most of you do not believe that we Belizeans are oppressed. This is because you have not been properly educated. You were educated by the same people who oppress you – the system of white supremacy. Whenever anyone tries to enlighten you as to the real facts of your situation, the religious instruments of white supremacy spread the propaganda that such enlightening individual does not believe in God. You remain in your ignorance, consequently, and the oppression is maintained. Sometimes, the oppression even grows.
When a mega campaign financier like Lord Michael Ashcroft holds an audience with Prime Minister Musa or aspiring Prime Minister Barrow, the Lord donates a certain amount of money based on the fact that he knows whoever becomes the Prime Minister, has the constitutional power to do almost anything he, the Prime Minister, wants. So that, if Lord Ashcroft can apply the financial leverage necessary so the Prime Minister wants what he, Lord Ashcroft, wants, then the deal is sealed. Some people call this globalization. We have another name for it.
Because what Mr. Musa will do on Thursday and Friday of this week will be hostile to the interests of the vast majority of the Belizean people, then he will doom his party to defeat in the next general elections, which are only months away. Mr. Musa will win on Thursday and Friday, but he will lose come election day. Hence, the monicker, Said Pyrrhus.
It does not really matter to Lord Ashcroft which Belizean is the Prime Minister, as long he, Ashcroft, has leverage over that person. Such a person cannot tell Lord Ashcroft, when such a person is Prime Minister, that he cannot do what Lord Ashcroft wants him to do. Lord Ashcroft knows that the Prime Minister of Belize can do practically anything he wants to do. That is the rub.
At this newspaper we represent a minority opinion in Belize. We say “power to the people,” because we would like for the majority of the people to come over to our opinion. There have been several times in the past 36 years when the power of the people has been manifestly opposed to us. In 1977, for instance, the present Ombudsman, Paul Rodriguez, topped the polls in the Belize City Council elections. The publisher of this newspaper ran dead last in those same elections. Today, Paul Rodriguez is an appointee of the ruling PUP and he has not said a word about the $33 million. In 1977, he was the people’s choice. In 2007, he is Said Pyrrhus’ appointee.
We write in order to say that our position is the people’s opinion, no matter what. The people are saying no to $33 million out of our taxes, or $33 million in new taxes. More than that, the people are saying hell no. We concur.
All power to the people.