fbpx
Interpol issues red alert for Argentinian entrepreneur believed to be in Belize
April 5, 2019
Renee Wentz is US Embassy’s April Wonder Woman!
April 5, 2019

Government explains Supreme Court ruling on ICJ referendum 

Posted: Friday, April 5, 2019. 9:48 am CST.

>

By BBN Staff:   On April 3, 2019, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin delivered his ruling on the injunction case on the referendum planned for April 10, 2019. 

 
The case was brought before the Supreme Court of Belize by the Opposition, People’s United  Party (PUP). 
 
 The Opposition had asked the Supreme Court to stop the referendum because they contend that there are serious issues to be tried.
 
 The main points presented to the Court by the Opposition were:
A substantive point, that the 2008 Special Agreement was illegally and unconstitutionally approved; and
A technical point, that the Writ of Referendum (formal written order) was not done properly as per the Referendum Act.
 
In response to those two points, the Chief Justice ruled that:
The 2008 Special Agreement is valid because it was properly executed. The Chief Justice rejected this substantial point.
However, the Chief Justice agreed that a technical point, as to the validity of the Writ of Referendum, is a serious issue that should be tried and, therefore, granted an interim injunction until the trial of this technical point.
 
The Chief Justice’s injunction ruling means that the April 10th referendum is to be postponed until further order of the Court.
 
GOB, however, is appealing the decision of the Chief Justice and asking the Court of Appeal to overrule that decision so that the referendum can still take place on April 10th.  
 
GOB is asking the Court of Appeal for an expedited hearing with the hope of having the appeal heard by Monday, April 8th.
 
If the Court of Appeal agrees to hear the case, there may still be a referendum on April 10th depending on the outcome.
 
 If the Court of Appeal ruling comes out before April 10th and reverses the Chief Justice’s ruling, the referendum will proceed. 
 
The Court of Appeal can discharge the injunction, in which case the referendum would proceed. 
 
The referendum will only remain delayed if the ruling comes out before April 10th and upholds the injunction.
 
Since the only issue the Court of Appeal may find is that the procedures to announce the referendum were not fully proper as per procedural technicalities, the referendum would not be canceled or deferred to another year.
 
The GOB says that a worst-case scenario is that there may have to be a Meeting of the House of Representatives to ensure that all the technicalities are done properly. 
 
In that event, the referendum would be delayed for no more six to eight weeks  

 

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-601-0315.

 

© 2019, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.

Comments

  • Galen University
  • Belmopan Aggregates
  • larry waight
  • Belmopan Aggregates
  • cahal pech village resort
  • Galen University
  • Shindaiwa
  • Belmopan Aggregates