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And while that’s the legal part of the case – it is a politician that was accused, no less than the former Prime Minister, so the political dimension of this morning’s session at court can’t go unmentioned. Our camera found that it had the air, if not the combustion, of a political festival.

Jules Vasquez Reporting,
The DPP and the Leader of the Opposition happened to arrive at the same time – but they were only two of dozens of well known political personalities, and Musa supporters who showed up at the courtroom. Many had to wait outside as it was full to capacity inside with about 50 close supporters and relatives filling the gallery seating.

Outside in the Battlefield Park there was a scattering of support –around a hundred people bussed in from out-district. They waited in the park while the flags did most of the work.

And when it was over around noon, the usually staid atmosphere of the courthouse, took on the air of a political carnival, with applause and a parade of PUP politicians – mostly old guard- streaming out of the courtroom. Everyone was smiling, glad-handing, and the mood was festive.

Musa came out the sound of a bugle and was led downstairs with a coterie reminiscent of the kind that leads prize fighters into a ring. And while he wasn’t taken on anyone’s shoulders as had become the custom, downstairs, a gaggle of supporters and the sound of the bugle made it clear that it was politics time again – the scale and the scene may have been different, and a faulty, funky megaphone may have replaced a thunderous microphone – but the message didn’t change.

Said Musa Speaking to Crowd,
“Hello can you hear me…I want to thank all of you for coming out to show solidarity with Said Musa and the People’s United Party.”

And probably just so that it didn’t look like he was there just to backstop his former boss, Leader John Briceno also said a few words.

John Briceno, PUP Leader
“The government has been unable to deal with the real problems facing Belize and so they trying to persecute the former leaders of the PUP and we are going to bring it to an end.”

After that, Musa and a queue, hardly a throng, of supporters left the courtroom victorious, if not triumphant and dissolved into the rush hour traffic.

And while that’s the most politics you’ll see at the Supreme Court this week, coming up later on in the week, there are a number of important cases being heard by the Chief Justice, and we’ll be reporting on those.