Opposition Senator Leaves Senate Debate After Only Thirteen Minutes

While political freedoms are not practiced in many countries across the world, Belize enjoys the liberty of such.  Today, however, this right that we enjoyed was spat upon when there was no one on the opposition side to counter or debate the country’s national budget.  The Senate convened today at nine o’clock this morning with only one UDP Senator, Anthony Herrera, seated …. But, within thirteen minutes, Herrera got up and left.  It stirred a reaction in the Senator for Government Business, Eamon Courtenay, that he even interrupted his presentation to place on record, the empty seats on the opposing side.

Eamon Courtenay, Senator, Leader of Government Business: “You should bow when you’re leaving Senator Herrera. Good. Make sure that we all see it. You’re leaving for the day ? Alright have a happy day. Madam President with your leave I will recall historically that it is a disgrace and a stain on the democracy of Belize that on the debate for the general revenue appropriation bill for the next fiscal year the United Democratic Party is not present in this chamber. I say it is a stain and it is a disgrace like it was in the House last debate.”