CARICOM Chairman expresses concern over Belize
Dr Runaldo Venetiaan
President of Suriname and
CARICOM Chairman.
AFP PHOTO/Evaristo SA
by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Senior Correspondent
E-mail: rc@caribbeannetnews.com
Monday, May 2, 2005
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) Chairman, Dr Runaldo Venetiaan, has expressed deep concern and alarm
at media reports of "violence, looting and deliberate acts of sabotage, which
have affected the personal security of the people of Belize and have had a
negative impact on its economy".
Media sources in Belmopan told Caribbean
Net News that the trouble began last week when workers at Belize's
Telecommunications Limited (TL) engaged in industrial action, which shut-down
the country's telephone or Internet services for several days thus blocking
contact with the rest of the world.
The TL workers, supported by their trade
union, are seeking to have the government sell or grant them a 37.5 per cent
stake in the company. The situation is reportedly reaching the point where
some are calling for Prime Minister Said Musa’s resignation.
Venetiaan, who is also Suriname's President,
speaking via a statement on behalf of the CARICOM heads, said: "The Bureau of
the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, having been
seized of ongoing events in Belize, expresses its deep concern over the
situation in that member-state.
"The bureau wishes to call on all Belizeans,
at this time, to respect the rule of law, to abide by the Constitution of
Belize and to engage in a process of dialogue in order to resolve in the
national interest, such outstanding issues as confront the nation.
"The bureau also reminds all Belizeans of
the need to adhere to the principles enshrined in the Charter of Civil Society
of the Caribbean Community and in the Inter-American Democratic Charter, both
of which endorse their right to the free expression of their political
beliefs, in a peaceful manner.
"The bureau, on behalf of the entire
Community, will continue to follow closely, developments in Belize, and stands
ready to assist the people of Belize at this time."
Meanwhile, in a resolution adopted by consensus earlier this week, the
Permanent Council of Organization of American States expressed its “full and
decisive support for the constitutional government of Belize, led by Prime
Minister Said Musa, and for the democratic institutions in Belize.”
Belize's Ambassador, Lisa Shoman, gave an
outline of the political and social developments now affecting the Central
American country and its constitutionally elected government, including the
interruption of electricity and telecommunication services, which has resulted
in the loss of millions of dollars both in the public and private sectors.
After Shoman's presentation, the Council
stressed its “categoric rejection” of any action that disrupts the democratic
order, and condemned the use of violence and “any actions that threaten
democracy, governance and the rule of law in Belize.” The Council’s resolution
further reaffirmed, as essential elements of democracy, the principle of “the
constitutional subordination of all state institutions to the legally
constituted civilian authority” as well as respect for the constitution and
the rule of law by all institutions and sectors of society.
Ambassador Shoman informed the Council that
“there is a clear, serious and mounting threat to democracy in Belize.” She
explained the unfolding of events since April 14, marked by protest against
the government. “The protest has evolved into acts of public disorder and of
sabotage directed at essential services in Belize, resulting in the
interruption of international and local telecommunications, electricity and
water”, said Shoman. The resolution supported
the call for a national dialogue in Belize to strengthen the democratic
institutions and foster the economic and social development of the Belizean
people. It called on all sectors of Belizean society to engage in that
dialogue. The coordinators for the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM), Central American, and Latin American Integration
Association (ALADI) groupings in the OAS, as well as other member state
representatives, joined the Permanent Council’s Vice-Chair, Ambassador Rodolfo
Gil of Argentina, in reiterating their full support for democratic order and
for the rule of law to be upheld in Belize.
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