Lately not many people can be found making complimentary remarks about politicians and the way politics is being practiced in Belize. In fact most people find certain comments by some of our local politicians simply contemptuous. To add insult to this, it seems that the intellectual capacity of too many representatives, some holding high office in the nation, is noticeably inadequate.  

            It may be an overworked cliché, but given the current climate it seems appropriate to reiterate that in democratic societies people get the politicians they deserve.  Whether Belizeans approve of it or not, too many times politicians are allowed to get away with behavior that is unfit for the high office they hold.  Equally disturbing is that political tribalism seems to have reached that point in Belize where it is now simply political barbarism. This means that only those with the thickest political skin and the toughest exterior can survive the slaughter or what passes in Belize for political red meat.

To say that our political climate is on the decline is an understatement, from the insults hurled across the floor in the National Assembly to the politicians who make no apologies for actions which hurt and destroy families - the trail is long and ugly.

            Who would have thought it necessary for the Hon. Cordel Hyde to have to remind the government that “PUP’s have to eat too.”  It was never this bad, the shameless firing of people simply because they supported the other party.    When in the life of our political history would we have expected to hear that if you happen to support the losing party that you became “collateral damage?”  From the scathing insults to politicians openly admitting to being involved in hacking into people’s personal emails, it seems as if gutter politics is now institutional in Belize and there is no shame in this.

            Last night reached another low, when a desperate mother took her cries to the streets only to be told that she is yet another victim of collateral damage.   In an interview on channel 7, Minister of Education Patrick Faber spoke unapologetically about what can only be described as political barbarism.  This was his reaction to a Belizean mother and voter who had just lost her job:

            “And we must understand that there certain positions and there are some who will not agree and I understand that but there are some positions within these Ministries that the politician could be allowed or should be allowed or have played politics with over the years and I am saying that the school wardens, everybody knows that that is some of the positions that that happens with. Does that mean that the quality of education will be any less at Trinity because Ms. Good is not there? I don’t think so and these are un-established workers, these are not established workers so again I can stand here if you want me to be and pretend that there is politics involved and that we should be fair with everything, I am here to improve the quality of education and I am a politician as well as long as I can continue to do my job to improve the quality of education and get away with certain things politically then that is what I’ll do.”

            Is this what Belizeans deserve from their elected officials?  Are we now living in a time when the loser absolutely must fall, even those who work for minimum wage?

            Last night at the Official Memorial Service for Mr. Harry Courtenay, his brother Derek in his remembrance tribute spoke of a time in Belizean politics when the campaign was about ideas and when our leaders kept the tone civil. The winners got to work not just for their people, but for the nation.  Of course there were those instances where a few people would fall victim to political malice, but never to the extent that is being witnessed today.

            Unless the Belizean people demand better; unless more of us condemn Minister Faber’s actions and call for an end to this kind of barbaric behavior, Belize will continue on this destructive political path.

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