Blame Game Grows as Belize’s Redistricting Process Stalls

There’s growing pressure over Belize’s long-delayed redistricting process and now the lines of responsibility are being drawn. Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre says the government isn’t calling the shots here, insisting the Elections and Boundaries Commission holds the constitutional power to redraw electoral maps and propose any changes. But as that process stalls, concerns are building. Activist Jeremy Enriquez is now pushing for answers, filing a Freedom of Information request and warning that uneven voter numbers across constituencies are undermining fairness at the polls.

 

Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General

“I know that the claim  from Mr. Enriquez is the one is foremost in our mind, I agree. But I need to point out that there was a claim previously, brought by Parco Smith and the Belize Peace Movement. In that matter, essentially Mr. Enriquez seeks to do the same thing that they did. In fact, actually, what had happened is that there was a consent order that was agreed with the government in that Parker Smith matter, where it was agreed that we’d proceed to do a redistricting. The Prime Minister, the government has indicated that we proceed. We’re proceeding to do a redistricting. Now, care or caution must be, be had here because the Election and Boundaries Commission, which is the constitutional body which has the authority to address the issue of redistricting, they’re the ones to do that. That’s separate from the government. So the government can only signal its intention, but ultimately, the commission will have to be the body that actually carries that or gives life to that. With respect to the request, if the request is one that would have been made, I haven’t seen any written request being addressed to the Attorney General prior to this being made to the government. If it were one that was made to the Elections and Boundaries Commission, I would not be able to speak to that. That would probably have to be addressed by Elections and Boundaries Commission.”

 

Reporter

“I know you had mentioned previously that in terms of any potential amendments to the Constitution arising from the redistricting that’s been outsourced. But I imagine that once those recommendations are made to the EBC, it has to come  to your office because it’s you who will do the execute.”

 

Anthony Sylvester

 “Yeah. So, ultimately what would happen is that the Elections and Boundaries Commission would, ultimately they have to sit, consider, and make a determination, okay, and then submit to government to say, “Look, we  think that perhaps maybe this constitutional amendment or that constitutional amendment should be made.” And obviously,  the government will have to consider that and then remove, inform their instructions or give it to the Elections Commission to proceed.”

 

The government had originally pledged to complete the redistricting exercise by the end of 2025, but repeated delays have slowed its progress.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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