Embracing brutal honesty will be the path to change in Belize

Posted: Sunday, July 9, 2017. 7:19 am CST.

By Charles Leslie Jr.: Let’s face it: most of us know that Belize is pretty much in a state of failure..even the people who benefit handsomely from the system as it is, knows this.

More and more of us want and are calling for change, but we are ranting and railing and fighting people.

The reality is: Belize’s current politicians are simply a manifestation of a dysfunctional system.

“Once we focus our energies on Changing The System, it will purge itself of any and all politicians who do not have the best interest of the Belizean people at heart. Quality leaders from all walks of life will then be able to vie for office.”

“But, how?”

The system is our Constitution. It is the Supreme Law.

“But….HOW?” BY MAKING SPECIFIC DEMANDS.

“But, what specific demands?” Let’s focus on what is needed first before we can move to changing the ENTIRE SYSTEM to where it needs to be.

Fair and democratic elections: Look, Belize has not had a fair and democratic election for 20 years. Twist it as you will, the brutal fact remains that our voter’s list has not been cleaned for 20 years.

All elections since then: village, town, city, general, have all been a fraud. Period.

“But, what should I demand?!” You – all Belizeans – DEMAND RE-REGISTRATION NOW!. No need to listen to any debate from anyone. Re-registration is needed. It will make upcoming elections (closer to being) fair and democratic.

“Then what?”

Fair, proportional allocation of the nation’s resources: Belizeans, absolutely nothing in our nation’s SYSTEM has equity. As is, our Constitution gives the Prime Minister’s office – Price, Esquivel, Musa, Barrow, Rogers – the power to discriminate against Belizeans via the National Budget.

The PM can punish a constituency for not voting his/her party, by simply not giving the person who won as Area Representative, the resources he/she deserves to develop that constituency.

It gives the PM powers to completely circumvent democracy, by ‘appointing’ a Caretaker for that constituency, and anyone who needs assistance, needs to go begging on their hands and knees…and you also better show loyalty to the party in power…or else.

“So, what do I do?” DEMAND THE REMOVAL OF PROVISO TO SECTION 16 OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMAND PROPORTIONAL BUDGETARY ALLOCATION.

“But, what will that do, really?”

Well, once the PM, whomever that person may be in the future, cannot arbitrarily decide how to spend our national financial resources, it will move us towards establishing equity.

If your constituency voted an 18-year-old just out of college into office, because he/she was charismatic, and most of all presented a very solid plan to develop your constituency, but he/she decided to run as an independent, it will not matter which party wins the majority, since each constituency will be guaranteed a proportional allocation of the nation’s resources.

That 18-year-old will stay in office and has the opportunity to become Prime Minister, based on his/her merit and integrity, not what political party he/she represents and is a member of.

“If we do not start to make…specific…demands…we are wasting our time.”

Here is the bottom line: Power concedes nothing without a demand, as Frederick Douglass pointed out a long time ago.

In other words, if we do not make specific demands for a fair, just, balanced system, and if we are not persistent, and laser-focused…it will never happen. Period.

“What can I do right now?”

• Talk to your family.
• Talk to your friends.
• Talk to your employees.
• Talk to your co-workers.
• Talk to your union members.
• Talk to anyone and everyone you can.

If they do not support having a country with: fair and democratic elections, and fair and equitable distribution of our nation’s resources…

you may want to reconsider your relationship with these people.

Start with these steps, in order:

1. Awareness: a person will learn that having a fair, democratic and equitable system creates a healthy and safe society.
2. Interest: once a person realizes step # 1, they will want to know what they can do to be a part of the solution.
3. Decision: At this stage, a person will actively seek how to be involved in being a part of the solution.
4. Action: At this stage, a person will continue learning more, finding and interacting with like-minded people, supporting and being members of groups and political parties that have these principles as part of their core beliefs.
5. Share/growth: at this stage, a person will become a part of getting more people to go through steps 1 – 5.

“Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them.” Frederick Douglass

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