In a heated parliamentary session on October 20, 2025, Lead Government Senator Eamon Courtenay concluded the debate on the controversial Fortis acquisition with a sharp and unexpected rebuke. Courtenay criticized the opposition for their ‘Who Thief Budna’ t-shirts, which were worn during a previous session, and controversially suggested that only those who support pedophiles could dismiss the benefits of the Fortis deal. He emphasized that the government’s decision to purchase Fortis Belize Limited was driven by national interest, as Fortis had threatened to sell to a foreign entity. Courtenay stated, ‘It occurred to me when I listened to senators opposite that only if you love a pedophile and support Budna and publicly come out and embrace him that you can rationalize away this project.’ UDP Senator Shenna Pitts countered Courtenay’s remarks, calling his accusations uncharacteristic and unrelated to the core issue of the Fortis acquisition. She questioned the relevance of the ‘Who Thief Budna’ slogan to the debate, asserting that it had no bearing on the matter at hand. The debate highlighted the deep political divisions surrounding the Fortis deal, with Courtenay defending the government’s actions as necessary for national security and economic stability.