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Like we said, inexplicable, but the PM then went on to wind up the debate - and end the meeting. When he came out he spoke about the dubious history that his party made today:...

Reporter
"A historic day in the house. I am not sure it's the type of history you would want to preside over. What is your emotional feeling? Obviously the word of this will go all over, that a government brings a motion and then votes down its own motion. It just doesn't happen in parliament."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Not now really. That is true. But I think it is consistent with the legal advice we've received and with the constitutional requirement that in fact for any monies to be paid, there must be a parliamentary vote."

Reporter
"It shouldn't have even brought forth. It didn't have the recommendation of the cabinet."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"That may have been an oversight, in terms of not mounting the words it has the recommendation of the cabinet. But I don't know that that is of any real moment, especially in view of the way the vote turned out."

Reporter
"However, what do you make then of the PUPs position, in terms of they stayed? They extended the debate. What do you make of that?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Clearly, despite what they say, because if you went by what they said, you would have thought they were going to vote yes. But they obviously understand that despite all their interventions, the Belizean people in the main do not want this money to be paid and they also understand that despite their best efforts, nobody will be fooled into forgetting that this is their deal."

Reporter
"At the end of the day you are the person responsible for the long term wellbeing of the Belizean people. Is it irresponsible to just simply kick the can down the down, so to speak, and leave it for someone else to deal with?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"I don't think it's irresponsible. That's what we had to do with the super bond. Clearly, in the long run, the day may welcome when the judgement can be paid. Also, it may be that in perpetuity successive parliaments determine that they will not vote the money to pay. So this can go on perpetuity."

Reporter
"Isn't that all pre-supposed? I don't want to get too deep into the philosophy of your governance. But isn't it all pre-supposed in the assumption that at all times members of parliament will act within the ambit of the law, the requirements of the law? The law states that if a debt is owed it must be paid."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"But the constitution says such a debt cannot be paid, except parliament votes to pay it. That is the higher law. Nobody can say to members of parliament "you must vote in a certain way." That goes against every notion of the independence of parliament."