And while there are legitimate question marks about the circumstances
of the shooting, the Prime Minister today announced that while he is not opposed
to the naming of a Commission of Inquiry, he will not commit to do so at this
time. In his general remarks, he expressed regret, but maintained that maintaining
law and order must be the government’s first priority.
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“Government was absolutely right to signal that it intended to do
whatever was necessary to restore law and order. We very much sympathize with
the cane farmers but the cane farmers are not the entire nation of Belize and
we have a duty to all the citizens of this country. The manner in which the
farmers were going about their protest could not ultimately be countenance.
And I hope that there will be no resort to that sort of thing again because
if there is that duty that we all know is a constant one, that will of course
come back into play.
I really do not understand how elements of our society could become so
self-destructive in a way that puts their own industry and a huge portion of
our national economy in such serious peril.
While yesterday was a sad day for our country though, let me just suggest
that to some extent this is what happens in a growing, thriving, robust society.
We are becoming a modern nation and the life and work of the new Belize will
continue, not withstanding the setbacks that are part and parcel of the rhythms
that make up the right of passage of and developing country.”
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