Do You Support the Controversial Thirteenth Amendment?

On Monday, Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado asked Belizeans to support the 13th Amendment, following the murders of Evadnie and Luke Jones on Cedar Street on the south side of Belize City.

He said, “I want to beg and implore the public to support the police department as a united front as resolute support for the amendment for the gang and gun laws being proposed in the 13th Amendment of the constitution. I do believe that 13th Amendment is a needed enhancement of the legislation that will assist us, not only in protecting the community and in ensuring the the rule of law is upheld but also in assisting us to dismantle the entrenched network of violence that exist.”

But the sweeping constitutional amendment proposed by the Government has ignited fierce national debate, with critics warning of a dangerous erosion of civil liberties and democratic norms.

The Belize Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Prime Minister John Briceño, seeks to expand the government’s powers to declare “special areas” for public safety, establish a Gun and Gang Court, and retroactively validate past States of Emergency (SOEs) and related actions.

The government argues the amendment is necessary to combat rising gang violence and to resolve legal uncertainty following conflicting High Court rulings in 2023 (Claims Nos. 613 and 818), which questioned the constitutionality of previous SOEs.

“Crime evokes strong emotions from the citizens of a country… They all deserve strong and decisive action from their government,” said Prime Minister Briceño during the bill’s introduction.

This is what the bill proposes.

Special Areas: The Governor General, advised by the National Security Council, could declare any part of Belize a “special area,” where rights such as freedom of movement and protection from warrantless searches may be suspended.

Gun and Gang Court: A new court with powers of both the Magistrate and High Courts would be created to fast-track gang-related cases.

Retroactive Validation: Past SOEs and regulations, including those ruled unlawful, would be deemed constitutional under the new law.

However, critics are sounding the alarm.

Civil society groups, legal experts, and opposition leaders have condemned the bill as a “shortcut to repression” that threatens the very foundation of Belize’s democracy.

“This is how democracies die—not in a moment, but in amendments,” wrote columnist Nuri Muhammad in an op-ed.

The Belize Association of Defense Attorneys issued a letter warning that the bill “threatens civil liberties, weakens the rule of law, and gives too much unchecked power to the executive.”

Labour Senator Glenfield Dennison also criticised the bill’s retroactive clauses, stating, “When you lose the High Court, you go to a Court of Appeal and then after Court of Appeal you go to CCJ. They never teach me that when you lose the High Court you’re going to change the constitution to make it suit you.”

Legal observers have raised concerns that the bill could normalise emergency powers and lead to arbitrary detentions, particularly in marginalised communities. Past SOEs have disproportionately affected young men in Southside Belize City, with reports of detentions lasting up to 90 days without charge.

The public will soon have the opportunity to weigh in. The Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee has scheduled a public consultation for Wednesday, July 16th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Swift Hall in Belize City.