The value of betrayal varies widely over time and situation. The payment scale may start with small change for minor disloyalties all the way up to enormous payments for those most serious betrayals that we call treason and for which we retain the most severe penalties. It is true that some betrayals are motivated by conviction rather than by payment but these are extremely rare. Most betrayals involve a payment of some kind – the proverbial thirty pieces of silver.
It has been said that every man (and woman) has his price, but while some people can be bought at bargain basement rates others with greater strength of character are not swayed even by the promise of fabulous wealth. Traitors are not born to be bad and do not suddenly lose all integrity. Like all moral failure, betrayal starts in small ways; a lie to get out of trouble, an extra marital affair that betrays one’s partner, diverting monies from their intended purpose. Temptation is everywhere and those who readily succumb to temptation in any of its forms are easy prey for those seeking bigger treacheries. These purveyors of betrayal make it their business to discover and exploit the weaknesses of those they wish to buy. The payment does not necessarily involve cash but may be in many forms, tailored to the individual concerned. Some crave land, others- access to sexual partners or globetrotting in executive jets, meeting famous people or exercising power and the purveyor can supply any or all of these and many other inducements as necessary.
Sad as it is, it comes as no great surprise to hear of the recent exploits of Godfrey Smith and Eamon Courtenay. It is no secret that they long ago sold their souls and put the interests of Lord Michael above those of Belize and Belizeans. They followed the leadership of the PUP, to which they belong, that made a pact with the devil to do whatever was required to satisfy their pursuit of power.
The betrayal was not that they accepted employment with Lord Michael, though it may be questionable to work for a man whose history suggests that he is no friend to Belize. The betrayal is rather the nature of the work they performed which involved bad mouthing Belize to potential investors and to international financial institutions. This cannot be justified on any grounds because even if their statements were true and not a distortion of the facts (which they are not) it cannot be in the best interests of Belize to spread it about. When there is a conflict of interest between what is best for your country and what is best for your employer it should be easy to make the right choice. We are left to wonder about the nature of the thirty pieces of silver that persuaded Godfrey and Eamon to choose Lord Michael’s interests over those of their country Belize. No doubt generous salaries and perks were a factor as well as such intangibles as revenge on Belizean voters for rejecting them.
The two traitors have tried to introduce a red herring to tar anyone who accepts work from Lord Michael with their own treasonous brush but this is disingenuous to say the least. It would imply that anyone who, for instance, banks with Belize Bank or sells any goods or services to the Ashcroft group of companies is guilty of treachery. The betrayal is not in whom an individual works for but in the way they have chosen to do that work. Only when there is a discrepancy between the legitimate interests of your employer and those of your country is there a need to make a decision about which master to serve. For example, Roman Catholics and Anglicans in Belize look to their respective Bishops for guidance but an RC electrician shows no disloyalty if he performs electrical works for an Anglican bishop or vice versa. However, if the RC electrician starts to badmouth the fundamentals of his faith, especially to an Anglican congregation, he betrays his Bishop and his denomination.
It is disappointing that Lord Michael shows no real loyalty to his adoptive nationality but not shocking because his ties to Belize are not of birth or even real residence. That Godfrey and Eamon who have benefited so much from their Belizean nationality should chose Lord Michael above their fellow Belizeans is scandalous. They have become anathema and must be cast out of the body of politics together with all others who make the same choice. No matter what the value of the thirty pieces of silver it can never be enough to betray one’s country.
