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The divided Kremandala

EditorialThe divided Kremandala


It would not be fair to condemn those Kremandala voices which have decided to stay true to the PUP ruling faction. The benefits which they receive, and which they have three more years to receive, are their just due after the work they have put into the joint PUP/Kremandala cause.


On December 28, 2004, the publisher of this newspaper, who is also the chairman of KREM Radio, quietly ended his alliance with the PUP ruling faction. There was no directive issued to Kremandala people to follow suit. Kremandala is not a political party, or even a friendly organization. It is a loose understanding among people who have shared similar outlooks and opinions. The strength of Kremandala is the freedom of thought which it encourages and protects amongst its people. That is also, to an extent, the weakness of Kremandala.


This is a situation – division on Partridge Street, which has taken place before. In 1973, the organization which is the foundation of Kremandala ? the UBAD, experienced a historic division which led to UBAD?s dissolution in November of 1974. UBAD had been in informal alliance with anti-PUP elements from 1971. These anti-PUP elements began organizing themselves formally in 1973, and established the new Opposition party ? the UDP, which included the NIP, the PDM and the Liberal Party, in September of 1973. Half of the 1973 UBAD executive wanted to join the new UDP. Half of that UBAD executive preferred to emphasize UBAD?s independence. UBAD broke apart, divided.


The lesson of 1973 and the lesson of 2005 are the same. The major political parties are much more powerful than Partridge Street, and so, while we can benefit from alliances with any of these parties, the size and wealth of the major parties enable them to dispense with Partridge Street alliances whenever it suits them, the major parties, that is.


This, then, will become a period of uncertainty and some confusion for our true believers, because of the difference in perspective of traditional Kremandala voices. The official voice of this newspaper, the leading newspaper in Belize since 1981, is heard in this editorial space. We have no personal problems with those of our friends who want to remain loyal to the ruling PUP faction. We at this newspaper, however, do have policy and philosophy problems with the ruling PUP faction, and there appears no resolution in sight where these problems are concerned.


We believe that the ruling PUP faction does not have the credibility to ask the people of Belize to make personal sacrifices. For this and other reasons, the ruling PUP faction has quickly returned to the ?borrow and spend? policies which have wreaked havoc on our public finances. It has become clear that this administration cannot make a fundamental policy/personnel change where public finances are concerned.


This is very dangerous for Belize, because we are putting off the day of financial reckoning in order to cherish political priorities. The people of Belize have to pay bills which are continuing to mushroom in size since 1998. The ruling politicians and their friends have increased their personal wealth and their party?s wealth, and they will continue so to do. But the wealth of the people of Belize has shrunk, while our debts have become excessive. At this newspaper, we believe that this has to change.

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