Said Musa, The House Battler Ends 36 Years In Parliament

Last night the news flash came at six minutes past 6:00 - after 36 years in parliament - 76 year old Said Musa had finally announced that he would be stepping down from electoral politics.

Now, politicians do retire - and in the normal course, it's not headline news. But, Musa's grudging departure is what made this news. He suffered a stroke on the night of May 7th, but refused to truly call it quits until last night, four months later - and with two months to go before a general election. And that reluctant departure was because, our information says, that even with major improvement in his overall condition, and ongoing physical therapy, he just wouldn't be able to make another run.

So, Musa ends 8 terms of representing the Fort George Division, from 1979 to 2020 - interrupted by one loss in 1984. In that time, Musa became Party Leader for 12 years, and Prime Minister for 10 years, or two terms.

His legacy in public office is surely not without taint or controversy, but tonight, our story focusses instead on Musa, the House Battler, as discussed by three of his most senior Parliamentary colleagues, Michael Finnegan and John Briceno, who've both been in the House for 27 years each, and Dean Barrow who's been there, like Musa, for 36 years. Jules Vasquez has the story:

Said Musa's public life as a politician span five decades. He is an 8-term area representative and a two-term prime minister.

In all this year, he has earned the respect of his opponents on the other side of the floor:

Hon. Michael Finnegan - UDP Mesop Area Rep, 1993 - 2020

"I am glad to see my friend going - I know the people of Fort George division will miss him but that is the way life is, you've got to move on."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - UDP Queen's Square, 1984-2020

"I am sorry that it is an illness, it is an affliction that has laid him low and so that his departure at this point is enforced. He has, and I don't think he was joking - indicated in the house when was in relatively good health, that he had no thoughts of retiring for this upcoming election. So, it's a pity that he's been obliged to by illness. So, I certainly hope for his recovery from the stroke."

Hon. John Briceno - Leader of the Opposition

"It is something that was expected. I met with him when he got back from medical attention abroad. I saw his condition, and he, at that time, was telling me that he is considering his options. He told me, it's taking a lot of work, a lot of therapy. He's getting stronger every day. When I saw him yesterday, I was very pleased with what I saw. I started to see a lot of the old Said Musa, with that zest for life, that energy."

And that energy, the fighting spirit is what has always characterised Said Musa, the battler:

Hon. Michael Finnegan

"Said is a warrior, Said is a soldier, if I was to go to war, I would want him to be on my side."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow

"He was absolutely tenacious, even when he was wrong, or even when I thought he was wrong, he was tenacious. He clung to his positions with a ferocity that had to be admired."

And Barrow also admires Musa for that time in 2019, when Musa didn't vote along with his party on the ICJ matter:

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow

"And then in these closing, years in those closing months of his career I cannot forget and I know the nation will not forget that he in fact had a wonderful encounter with high principle, in the sense that despite the position taken by his party he came out firmly in favour of a "yes" vote with respect to the referendum on going to the ICJ. For him to do what he did, stand on principle and disagree with his party was something that I thought is absolutely, the stuff upon which congratulations should be based."

But confrontation, not congratulation is what mostly characterised the relationship in parliament between Musa and Barrow:

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow

"I have to concede of course all Belize knows it that he and I have has our epic struggles but I've got to say that personally, especially in the old days, when I first knew him as a lawyer and even at the start of my political career when we were on far better terms. I always found him to be very affable, Said has a fine sense of humour and you always had the conviction that he was not personal, he was not vindictive."

Hon. Michael Finnegan

"We remained friends over the years and I believe we are still friends at this time but when it comes to out parliamentary duties in the house, he do for his job, I do my job, we get after one another, we don't carry it too far but we remain respectful to one another. I could remember one thing he do with me a time, I was giving a speech on some bill, I don't remember the quote but the quote was from the bible. When Said turn was to answer now, when Said turn to answer, I had to buss out a laugh, Said look at me and look at the speaker and said, you know madam speaker up to the devil quote the bible (laugh) because he was a witty parliamentarian, he was a witty debater, he was a tricky while debating and you have to be on your p and q in order to handle him."

And as Musa, Finnegan and Barrow leave with a combined 97 years in parliament, so ends an era of post-independence politics:

Jules Vasquez

"It is the end of an era because you all have dominated post-independence politics in Belize, and now that you all are departing both in 2020, it signals that some new era is upon us."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow

"Younger people who deserve their chance, who come with new skills, who are from a different time in terms of, of the culture and in particular the technological advances which provide the context in which they were nurtured are being very much younger than Said is, and that I am. So, it is as it should be, this is a rite of passage that is a part of life, the old must always give way to the new. I think that certainly speaking for the new leader of the UDP, there is no doubt in my mind, that he has what it takes."

And the same for the man who took up Musa's mantle, now finally and fully out of his shadow

Hon. John Briceno

"You know, you kinda are expecting this happen, and that [it] will happen. But, when it happens, you still feel a sense of nostalgia, a sense of - you know. Here is the life of this man that has done so much good for the PUP, and for this country, Belize, saying to everybody, you know, it comes to an end."

Channel 7

The Political career of Said Musa

76-year-old Said Musa has been a member of the PUP since the 1970s. He has served as the Prime Minister of Belize for two consecutive years (1998-2008). According to a release from the PUP yesterday Musa was quoted saying, "My love for the people of the Fort George constituency who elected me to serve them in these past eight elections remain undiminished. It has been my pleasure and honor to be your representative with much gratitude to you for all the love and affection shown to me." End of quote. Like the old adage says, don't wait until a man is dead to tell him he is good, we are conforming to that proverb as we took a look at Musa's political career in a snapshot.


Michael Finnegan Remembers Musa's Wittiness in the House

Speaking on Musa's legacy and political influence was senior U.D.P. politician Michael Finnegan. Finnegan and Musa got into many heated debates across the political aisle inside the National Assembly building in Belmopan. They would exchange blows but never on a personal note. Finnegan recounts Musa's wittiness in the House and his lasting contributions to Belize.

Michael Finnegan, Area Rep., Mesopotamia

"We remain friends over the years and I believe we are still friends at this time but when it comes to our parliamentary duties in the House, he does his job and I do my job. We go after one another. We don't take it too far but we remain respectful to one another. I remember one thing he did with me one time. I was giving a speech on some bill and I got up and made a quote. I don't remember the quote but the quote was from the bible. Said turn was to answer now when Said turn to answer, I had to burst out a laugh. Said looked at me and looked at the Speaker and said you know Madam Speaker up to the devil quotes the bible. That was funny to me and very witty because he was a witty parliamentarian. He was a witty debater. He was tricky while debating and you have to be on your p's and q's in order to handle him."

Said Musa Making Remarkable Progress

And while Musa is stepping aside, he is not going anywhere. He still plans to stay involved in the division though his activities may be limited and not the typical knocking on doors that characterized his way of keeping in touch with his constituents. His son, Caribbean Shores Area Representative, Kareem Musa, says his father is making remarkable progress, health wise.

Kareem Musa, Area Rep., Caribbean Shores

"He is making remarkable stride in terms of his health. His mobility is improving. His voice is improving. Certainly it is going to be him for the first time beng on the sidelines. I want to thank the Belize people for all their prayers during these very tough times for him but I can tell you that his spirits remain very high. He is making excellent progress with his physiotherapy but he would want just communicate that to the Belizean people, how much he appreciates all the text messages, all the Whatsapp he has been getting and how much truly values the support of the Belizean people.

Channel 5