Acting PM Cordel Hyde Apologizes for Media Lockout at Swearing-In Ceremony

Acting Prime Minister Cordell Hyde has apologized to the media for keeping them locked out of the swearing-in of Dr. Osmond Martinez on Tuesday. Due to protocols set out by the Governor General, the press was forced to wait on the roadside as the politicians gathered inside the Belize House for the event. Yesterday, Minister Francis Fonseca was critical of the situation and called for greater respect of the press. And, today, Minister Hyde joined him in that call. 

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister: “That’s unfortunate and you must know that that is not a decision the government made. That’s not a decision that the ministers or the Prime Minister made to not have the media have access to a big swearing in like that for a very important constituency and very important for grassroots people. I think that going forward we’ll have to make sure that something like that never happens again because you’re an important part of this democracy, an important part of the government and so you have to have the access. You have to have that front seat access so that you can transmit to the rest of the entirety of this country. So that’s really unfortunate and I would like to apologize on behalf of the government to the media and the rest of the country that you missed that opportunity.” 

It was not the first time reporters have been left to the mercy of the elements in the line of duty.