And while Senator Woods did exactly what her leader told us on Thursday she would NOT do - the party's Senior senator, Eamon Courtney held the party line and opposed the bill. In a lengthy presentation he went through a long list of substantial objections. He urged full disclosure and a spirit of bipartisanship in open dialogue:,..
Hon. Eamon Courtney- PUP Senator
"Let us sit down as Belizeans and analyze the risk identified by persons like senator Hulse, Mr. Gandhi, Sir Eli, assess it and provide not an absolute guarantee that Belize will not lose any territory because we cannot honestly do that; but tell Belizeans what is the measurement of that risk so that people can make an informed decision. Secondly, Mr. Barrow is advising that if the referendum says yes, as soon as possible thereafter there should be an amendment to the constitution. We on this side say that that amendment should predate the referendum. Well, it doesn't matter, both sides agree that as soon as possible an amendment to the constitution should take place. In order to that, in the interest of the Belizean people we can only achieve that if we have a 2/3 vote which means both sides need to be on the same page on that issue Mr. President. And I say, now is the time for us to come together and address these issues. And I say the same thing about the maritime areas act. It is agreed on both sides that the Maritime Areas Act should be amended. Then pray God, tell me why the Belizean people are being asked to vote in the referendum and then they will show them how they will amend the Maritime Areas Act. Why not tell us now what that amendment is going to be? Why not pass that into law before so that we can make an informed decision on the Maritime Areas Act. We all want to go to the referendum. We all want Belizeans to have an opportunity to vote in the referendum. We all want them to be able to express their choice in an informed way. We want a legally binding referendum that meets international standards. But it must be done right."
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