PEACE Movement awaits National Assembly debate on redistricting as court sets aside case

Published by BBNTEAM at August 30, 2024

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Posted: Friday, August 30, 2024. 1:21 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: The Belize PEACE Movement has issued formal comment on the results of Claim 55 of 2019 which was heard in the High Court in May of 2024 following the presentation of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2024 which re-organizes Belize’s 31 electoral districts.

The court found that the Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) had complied with the terms of the Consent Order agreed by the parties in November of 2022 and that the material breaches claimed by the applicants “were outside the strict enforcement of the terms of the Consent Order”. The Judge also said that the application was not the avenue to challenge the Commission’s proposals.

Presiding Judge Nadine Nabie’s opinion further stated: “The courts are the guardians of the Constitution and quite rightly, it is for the National Assembly to accept the proposals by the EBC and not the Court. However, the court still has a role if a proper case is mounted under section 20 of the Constitution and/or on judicial review applications of the administrative actions/ decisions of such public authorities as the EBC.”

The Judge concluded by saying: “In this matter, where the parties had agreed that it was necessary for there to be an amendment to Schedule 1 of the ROPA, the applicants’ cause of action was one of merit. This affects all citizens of Belize in that the applicants are trying to [make sure] that elections are free and fair and that each vote has as equal weight as possible and that malapportionment is avoided or reduced. I bear in mind that this is a matter of public interest and of constitutional importance as it touches and concerns the election process. Accordingly, there shall be no order as to costs.”

Those alleged breaches include that the deviation threshold for voters per division is out of line with the Constitution and international standards and that there was not genuine consultation with the report of appointed court expert Sean Trende, which recommended a ten to 15 percent deviation from the national mean. The proposals by the Commission apply a deviation of 25 to 35 percent.

The Belize PEACE Movement now calls on the National Assembly to “comply with the Belize Constitution and to do right by the people who have entrusted them with power. The BPM also urge Belizeans to [keep watch over their most precious democratic right zealously, the right to vote, and for that vote to have equal weight.”

It cites, as it thanks supporters, several achievements – the movement for a ‘better,’ though still not acceptable – proposal for voter equality and stimulation of the national and political consciousness.

As a second reading remains outstanding, the movement says, “We reserve all our options to act, as we monitor the redistricting process.”

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