Equal Opportunities Bill consultations come to Belize City

By Aaron Humes: St. John’s College Gymnasium hosts tonight’s consultation on the Equal Opportunities Bill.

The panel consists of CEO in the Ministry of Human Development, Judith Alpuche; Crown Counsel Randall Shepherd of the Attorney General’s Ministry; Attorney Rashad Braithwaite, consultant, and moderator Joan Burke.

The Bill has attracted criticism for seeming to target certain groups to the benefit of others.

CEO Alpuche referenced the Constitution, stating that the Bill hopes to give life to the provisions that all persons are treated equally and do not face discrimination. The State, she points out, has a responsibility to protect everyone.

She said the provisions come from data and the stories those in authority have been told – and now it was time to come back to the people it is supposed to protect. “It is about fairness, it is about equality and equity… in a multi-ethnic, multi-plural society, how do we put that together?” she questioned.

She cited instances of potential discrimination against the sexes, disabled and so on that inform how we are seen by each other and for our values.

There is written and oral feedback available and after the Bill is presented to the National Assembly, the relevant Committee of the House of Representatives will host its own consultation.

We’ll have more coming up.

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