That's what came out of today's Cabinet meeting where the decision was taken to formally withdraw the Belize Constitution 8th amendment bill and its proposal for preventative detention. And it's all to make way for the 9th amendment to the constitution, which seeks to forever preserve public ownership of national utilities.

But that amendment which was tabled on Friday to popular acclaim is now generating its own share of controversy. It seeks to put the utilities amendment - and in fact, all constitutional amendments - beyond the reach of the courts - and that has stirred up the opposition attorneys.

One of the criticisms they've put forward is that with the ninth amendment changes - even preventative detention couldn't be challenged in the courts. And now they've taken it one step further; they're saying that's why government is going ahead with the ninth amendment changes - to bring back the eighth with no means to block it.

It's kind of a stretch, but the argument did get the Barrow Administration's attention. And so, today's cabinet release says the eighth amendment is being withdrawn to quote, "expose completely this false campaign." And while preventive detention - now twice raised - and twice dismissed - is gone - likely for good, government intends to forge ahead with public consultations on the proposed 9th. Amendment to the constitution. That starts on Wednesday August tenth in Belize City, time and location to be announced.

Again, the 9th Amendment is to enshrine and safeguard the acquisition and state ownership of utilities and place those amendments to the constitution beyond court challenge.