NTUCB Says No Elections Before Redistricting

Another reform the National Trade Union Congress is demanding before any next election is called is the long‑overdue redistricting exercise. For years, the Government of Belize has committed to redrawing the country’s thirty‑one constituencies to ensure roughly equal voter representation, as required by the Constitution. Yet, another year has come and gone without the process being completed. We asked the President of the NTUCB whether they would tolerate another election being held without redistricting.

 

Ella Waight, President, National trade Union Congress of Belize

“The conversation has been going on for years with redistricting. We have had in various manifestos from various political parties that they would address this issue. I would not go into the case of why redistricting is important, because we should know that by now because the discussion has been held so much, but the PM along with his with his government team indicated that they are looking at the redistricting, and he has committed to completing the process by the end of 2026.”

 

Shane Wiliams

“Will the union tolerate, I don’t know if that’s the right word, accept the calling of another general election before a redistricting takes place?”

 

Ella Waight

“For me to answer that, we definitely have to meet with the general council for NTUCB. Again, I do not make any decisions on behalf of NTUCB. We are guided by the Congress, which is from the eleven unions. But I can see because the seriousness of the issue is on our agenda and one of the main agenda items, I do not see us, I do not see us promoting such event to happen. I would see that we would definitely have to have some kind of input in it and some kind of way to show that we are not happy if they would go ahead and do another election, especially a general election without redistricting because we see the importance of it.”