Opposition Leader’s Address to Follow PM’s Address

If you were listening keenly, the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation address is similar to the speech that would be given during the Independence Day ceremony in Belmopan. Well, that was intentional. Prime Minister Briceño and the Leader of the Opposition have agreed to give what would traditionally be their Independence Day addresses ahead of the actual day. PM Briceño explained that they are trying to avoid the political mudslinging that plays out at the official ceremony.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Under the Musa government, he use to do the state of report to the nation as to where we are. But it stopped with the previous government. But now that we have recontinued that tradition, it is unfortunate what is happening with the leader of the opposition. He is going and saying some most outrageous stuff and it is an embarrassment to all of us, not only to himself, not only to his party but to the entire country. I remember many ambassadors, they are afraid to say anything, but usually when we are talking on a side they would tell us, what is wrong with this person. So, to avoid that embarrassment with our visitors, we decided it is best to do this today. We consulted with him, and I guess he will probably have a press meeting or briefing with you all, supposedly tomorrow to answer back. But at least it is not on Independence Day. I have always said, Independence Day should be one day that we should set our differences aside. We will always have these differences, be it in politics or relationships. But the twenty-first is one day we should leave all of that politics behind and come to be proud and patriotic Belizeans and look what we have accomplished in those short forty-three years. We are still  a baby as a nation, but it was important to take whatever corrective measures where we are going wrong and fix that. That is what we are doing. We want to avoid that travesty. So, on the twenty-first the leader of the opposition will be given an opportunity to give a greeting, a short message for the twenty-first and I will do the same.”