| On Friday in the House of Representatives, former Prime Minister Said Musa made history. He got a standing ovation from the other side of the house when he announced that he would abstain on voting on the Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Bill. That was a form of implicit support for the government side - and a definite diss for the opposition, whose leader had said they would all stand against the bill, which was introduced by the government as a way to fast track and re-schedule the referendum which its currently stuck in the courts.
So, that was Friday. Today was Senate day - and all eyes were on Senator Valerie Woods. She has publicly stated that her position - like Musa's - is against the party line: she favors going to the ICJ. So how would she vote today when the bill - which is trying to push ahead with referendum, against PUP wishes - went to the Senate?
She didn't disappoint. Senator Woods made it clear that she had arrived at a position after long soul searching.
Hon. Valerie Woods- PUP Senator
"I swear to bear true faith to Belize, allegiant to Belize in discharging my duty as a Senator on my a vote of such an overarching national issue. My decision cannot be influenced for selfish reasons. I cannot be a selfish one, influenced by that notion of self-preservation. The interest of Belize is paramount. It should be for all of us. So, given the approach I take, I have to always finely balance, Mr. President, it has to be finely balanced with respect to the party that appointed me and that has afforded me the position to serve the country, with the dictates of principle and my conscience. Balancing those interests for country, party and guided by my conscience I am compelled to abstain on today's voting. And if it should be my swan song, Mr. President, I am comforted that it should be on an issue of existential importance to this country. So, if my head will be rolled, let it roll on this most critical national issue. And let the chips fall where they may."
And, again - just like Musa - that was applause from the other side of the floor - not from her own party.
As she alluded - there have been rumors swirling form this weekend that the PUP wants to replace Woods as a Senator. In her words, "Let it roll…". We'll see where that one now goes - because the PUP - which has only one woman in both chambers of the house - can hardly be seen to cut her off, especially now when it looks like a punitive measure for taking a vote of conscience. Punitive measures have already been publicly threatened for another senior PUP woman who took and independent stand, Ambassador Lisa Shoman.
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