Not easy maintaining National Unity

The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize News.

By Delroy Cuthkelvin:We know it’s NOT been particularly easy for our two major political leaders to maintain the national unity in co-chairing Belize’s response to Covid-19 (Coronavirus). And, realizing how absolutely necessary this national unity is, we want to acknowledge and express appreciation for the maturity of both gentlemen in maintaining it and resisting the temptation to return to politics as usual.

At Wednesday’s Joint Press Conference, both leaders admitted that in preserving this positive and purposeful partnership, they have had to fight off pressures from within their own respective parties.

Prime Minister Right Honorable Dean Barrow remarked: “There are people on my side, I believe there are people on the Leader of the Opposition’s side, who don’t particularly like the fact that we are working together. But this is a national crisis. I decided from the get go, from jump, that I would reach out to the Leader of the Opposition and invite him into a partnership; and that is the way in which I have continued to operate. And, I am happy to say he has responded in kind; he has reciprocated.”

“So, when I tell you about all the relief measures, these relief measures are a consequence of agreement between us, and agreement also on the part of the members of the oversight committee. But it is critical that we continue to operate in this absolutely, NOT bi-partisan, but non-partisan (manner). This is a work, a task for all of us. And so, the approach which sees the main political parties partner with the social partners, is absolutely the way to go. There is just no other script from which we can read; no other template from which we can operate,” Right Honorable Dean Barrow explained.

For his part, Honorable John Briceno declared: “I am going to do my best to be able to work as much as we can. And the Prime Minister and I, both of us are under pressure from within our political parties; and I am under more pressure than him. He is the Prime Minister; so, I am just the Leader of the Opposition…But it is very important, and I appeal to my colleagues to help me for us to be able to work (together) as much as we can…That’s the only way we are going to keep it together, ladies and gentlemen; by us working together. We are in this together…So I want to assure the Prime Minister and this Nation, I will do my best; and I’m going to continue push the Prime Minister (to do) as much as we possibly can.”

Notwithstanding the existential nature of the threat that Covid-19 poses to the country and its people, maintaining national unity in 2020 is rendered particularly difficult by the fact that this is a general election year. The primary purpose of political parties is to win elections; so for the PUP, election fever having been high over the past few months, it is understandably tough resisting the temptation to exploit for political gain the government’s misery in the face of such a daunting and unprecedented challenge, the national response to which is bound to expose some shortcomings.

Meanwhile, for the UDP, things are further complicated by the fact that the party is confronting an unresolved leadership replacement question, and aspiring personalities are now being summoned to set aside their personal ambitions to lead the party, when the nation’s preoccupation is that of preserving the people.

Nevertheless, as tough as it is, the current leaders of both parties have been able to keep their eyes on the ball and the national unity intact at the highest level. To them we say, thanks a million, and maximum respect. May God continue to bless Belize!

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