So while we have heard from the Prime Minister and the Chief Elections Officer - right now, they are just re-actor's; the actor who is in the driver's seat is the leader of the opposition John Briceno. So what is his end game? Is it just a chess match to put the government in check? And to what end? What does his strategy mean for the referendum? Does he wish to put it - as others in his party have proposed - in a 25 year deep freeze? This evening he sent out a statement saying that he supports the referendum but government has to get it right. Here's an excerpt:..
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"We are therefore fully committed to the holding of a referendum for we know having a referendum is the right thing to do and is in keeping with our democratic principles. We regard the recent judgements in the courts as victories by the people of Belize and not as a victory for the opposition. We hold sacred the right of Belizeans to vote in a referendum to decide whether we go to the ICJ. We also stand firm to our sacred duty to ensure that Belize is on the strongest legal footing if we go to the ICJ."
"I am seriously concerned about comments made by the prime minister during his press conference yesterday. He attributed comments to me that were totally untrue. He also blamed the opposition for the judgements and at times we openly attacked Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin for his decision to grant and interim injunction which effectively put the referendum on hold. We are of the view that the prime minister should not so openly criticised the chief justice and so blatantly attack the judiciary. I have said again and again that we have to get this right."
Briceno closes the statement by saying he stands ready to meet with the Prime Minister to, quote, "find a way to work together." End quote.
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