Briceño and Panton Clash in Heated House Exchanges

As is customary with every meeting of the House of Representatives, today’s sitting delivered its share of intense debates and pointed exchanges across the floor. These moments often highlight the political tension and contrasting policy positions that shape national discourse.  Tonight, we bring you two notable exchanges between Prime Minister John Briceño and Leader of the Opposition Tracy Taegar Panton.  The first exchange unfolded during the morning session, presided over by House Speaker Valerie Woods, after remarks from the Prime Minister prompted a response from the Leader of the Opposition.  

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I’m sure you’re wondering why all of us are in orange we’ll have the Honorable member the Minister for Human Development will give a statement. But I want to make a big difference between the opposition and our side. The opposition came with T-shirts defending a criminal, defending a predator, a child predator, wanted by INTERPOL and here we all are.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Madam Chair, Madam Chair.”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I would not give a point of order, Madam Speaker.”

Speaker: “I need to know the point of order. But I need you to have a seat, Prime Minister.”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “What’s the point of order?”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “The point of order is that he’s attributing some kind of, what’s the term?”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “There’s no point of order.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “A motive, some kind of clandestine motive of the opposition, Madam Speaker, when he well knows that is not the intention. The intention of the…”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Madam Speaker that isn’t a point of order , Madam Speaker. She’s trying to give an explanation Madam Speaker.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “The intention of the opposition, Madam Speaker, is to ensure that all the—“

Speaker: “I hear the point of order regarding that that was not the reason why I believe on a previous meeting, opposition wore some shirts. That point of order has been noted, Prime Minister, while the specific point of order was incited, I gather it’s the insinuation of improper motives.”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I am not insinuating anything. I’m just stating a fact. Here we come standing up for gender-based violence for the 16 Days of Activism and you could see a big difference. I’m not making any insinuations. So that said Madam Speaker I think I’ve made the point.”

Speaker: “I can’t have two members standing on their feet, we know this. No you have to state your point of order.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Well would you allow me ?”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “You need to state what section.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Allow me to, would you allow me to……”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “What is the section ?”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Would you allow me. Are you the speaker of the house Prime Minister? When did you become judge, jury and executioner ?”

Speaker: “No, no member for Albert.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “When did you become judge, jury and executioner ?”

Speaker: “Simply state the point of order ?”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Again Madam Speaker the Prime Minister insists on suggesting that we were here in whatever we chose to wear as a matter of improper motive and that is not acceptable Madam Speaker.”

Speaker: “I have just note for the record, I had noted earlier as stated to the Prime Minister what the point of order was and that the motive insinuating was not what the Prime Minister, to clarify that that was not the insinuation and the Prime Minister promptly stood up and stated that was not the insinuation and then moved to state why your side of the house is in your shirts. Can we now move on ? Thank you.” 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “There’s a Kriol saying Madam Speaker, Du soh noh like du soh, that is the problem.” 

By the afternoon session, tensions resurfaced as debate shifted to another national issue. This time, Deputy Speaker Marconi Leal Jr. guided the proceedings, intervening at points to maintain order as the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader again found themselves in a direct and animated exchange. 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “You know what gets to me, Mr. Speaker, just the hypocrisy of these people. My brother from Queen square, don’t read about things you don’t know about. I love you. You’re a really cool guy, but don’t let Hugo Patt set you up, let him come here and read it. Because he knows better because he was in cabinet for thirteen years under the UDP. When there was the drought, 2018/2019 that hit the north probably one of the worst droughts in recent history that farmers literally lost millions of dollars because of the dry it was the same member from Corozal North and the then Prime Minister Honorable said that they were going to help the cane farmers of the north. That’s what they said. Leader of the Opposition do you know how much your government gave them ? They gave them zero, not a single dollar to help them. And then you come here like a hypocrite to talk about we not doing anything ? Look at the PetroCaribe money. No Mr.Speaker I’m not yielding.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “On a point of order Mr.Speaker !” 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: What is the point of order ? 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: ““On a point of order.”

Speaker: “Honorable what is the point of order ?”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: ““Parliamentary language Mr.Speaker.”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize:  “Hypocrisy is not unparliamentary language.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: ““Parliamentary language you’re not going to refer to me as a hypocrite in this House.”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “You are.” 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “I am not !”

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Well let the record speak.”

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “I am not and it shouldn’t be allowed Mr.Speaker and I’m asking for it to be struck off the recoding of this house.”

Speaker: “Member from Albert your point is noted.”

More highlights from today’s sitting will follow in our upcoming newscasts