Osmond Martinez Responds to Opposition Leader Barrow

On the adjournment of Thursday’s special sitting of the House of Representatives, Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow rose to demand an apology from the People’s United Party for comments made by Doctor Osmond Martinez regarding the Belize Defense Force.  Doctor Martinez raised the ire of the U.D.P. when he alleged that while growing up in his home village, members of the B.D.F. were responsible for sexually assaulting the women in that community.  Here’s what he had to say in responding to Barrow’s criticism.

 

On the phone: Dr. Osmond Martinez, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Toledo East

“When it comes to that position of the honorable Leader of the Opposition, I want to be clear that I am, I dare the honorable Leader of the Opposition to prove me wrong.  And if he cannot prove me wrong, and I have said it already on another station, if he cannot prove me wrong within twenty-four hours, twenty-four hours have now gone since yesterday, then I am demanding a public apology from the Leader of the Opposition and the United Democratic Party to the affected population.  Additionally, or on a different note, I want to be clear on one point, when it comes to the B.D.F., the Belize Defense Force as an institution, I have a lot of respect for them.  I have very good friends in there and there are some officers that work extremely hard, very honest people and they have given everything to the country, to our beautiful country Belize.”