At today’s public consultation on the Thirteenth Amendment Bill, we caught up with Francis Fonseca, there in his role as interim chair of the National Assembly’s House Committee on Constitution Affairs. Fonseca emphasized just how important this consultation process is, not just for transparency, but for shaping the next steps in this major constitutional proposal. So, what happens after the public has had its say?
Francis Fonseca, Interim Chair, House Committee for Constitution Affairs
“I think it is an important process and I hope the Belizean people appreciate that what we are doing here is a part of the legislative process. This is a part of the House Committee for Constitution and Foreign Affairs, which this bill has to go through, the Thirteenth Amendment has to go through that committee, holding a public consultation so that we can hear from members of the public, organizations or individuals, interest group, so that we can hear directly from them, their views on the bill. How we can make the bill more effective, what we can do to make the bill more effective. What we can do to make amendments at the house committee level before it goes back to the House of Representatives. I think it is a very healthy process, democracy at its best, affording our citizens the opportunity to speak directly to the house committee members on the substance of this bill.”
Paul Lopez
“How will you determine at the end of it whether there is a majority objecting to the bill and what is the course of action then?”
Francis Fonseca
“I think we are taking careful, copious notes of everything that is recorded. We have to report back to the house committee. Of course we have to report to our Cabinet on the state of the bill and I think coming out of those discussions we will be able to determine where people stand, where the public stands on this bill and I think any government wants to ensure we are not doing something the public is totally against. But if there is an opportunity to refine the bill, to improve it, to make it more effective and at the same time achieve our stated objective, then we will find that middle ground.”