PM Dean Barrow's intentions are suspect

The Barrow Administration will propose to 1. prescribe a three-term limit for holders of the office of the Prime Minister, 2. provide for a recall of elected representatives, 3. continue the UDP agenda of the Empowered Senate, and 4. amend Chapter 4 of the Belize Constitution.

The setting of a term ceiling for Prime Ministers is ridiculous because Prime Ministers are not elected. More importantly, because it is the people who elect in a democratic fashion the political party (ies) that make up the Government. The leader of the party that wins the majority seats then becomes Prime Minister. The UDP’s desire is to take away this right from the people. Does Barrow not trust the will of the people anymore?

The second proposal to “recall” elected officials is outright deceitful because it will have no effect on the present UDP Government, several who have been hungry Opposition members for the last ten years. Now that the UDP is in power, with the public coffers and resources in their hands, they want to introduce a recall mechanism, which they are immune. So what will the people do when the corrupt men that sit among them start to show their true colours?

The third proposal which seeks to introduce the UDP’s deformed Senate is slap on the faces of the almost 60% of total voters who supported the call for a more representational Elected Senate at the last General Elections.

From the onset Dean Barrow opposed the idea of an Elected Senate. He warned that if the UDP won, he would push through his version of an empowered senate. The difference is that in Barrow’s version, the people won’t have a direct say on whom they want to represent them in the Senate. The Elected Senate would have allowed every single voter to decide who they want as Senators. Barrow’s false democracy vs. true democracy.

The fourth proposal is the most controversial of all. Barrow will introduce a new sub-section to the Constitution which would make “any law relating to detention of persons suspected of being involved in a serious crime” automatic and paramount.

The majority of Belizeans have already expressed outrage at Barrow’s proposal to introduce “preventive detention” measures which would see the wire-tapping of phone calls, eavesdropping of mails, and arbitrary detention of individuals.

Barrow needs to explain what “any law” means, and if such a law has been concocted by his Government, he needs to let the people know what it is before it is joined to the Constitution. If not, this would give the Barrow administration supremacy over the introduction on any legislation, draconian or not.

Of interest is that the U.S. is putting heavy pressure on the Central American nations to accept the “Merida Initiative”, a program that supports wire-tapping and arbitrary arrest and imposes heavy and dangerous rules on the citizenry. Barrow recently attended several meetings in the U.S., including a special meeting with President George W. Bush. Could this be the impending “any law” Mr. Barrow speaks about?

The proposals to be presented by the UDP administration are a far cry to those which the people are truly in need of. The UDP has not answer for the sky-rocketing price of food items, the high cost of gasoline, and the spate of violent crime which has almost double since they took office. These are the issues the Barrow administration should be tackling through whatever means necessary.