BNTU President weighs in on work of People’s Constitution Commission

We also asked BNTU National President Senator Elena Smith about the newly formed, People’s Constitution Commission. The group, led by former Belmopan Mayor Anthony Chanona, has the next eighteen months or so to gather views from various groups and then recommend to the Government changes to the country’s supreme law. Senator Smith laid out her expectations of this important work of the commission.

Elena Smith, President, Belize National Teachers Union: “I believe it is and when I look at the representation on that commission we see where we have some important stakeholders. I think the role for them now is to go out and ensure that the persons that they represent are informed, are able to provide input suggestions, recommendations but also that as a commission that they ensure that they do their work of going out and getting feedback from the entire population. So they’ve had their first meeting yes I don’t know what has been the decision in terms of the steps forward but hopefully they will progress as planned and we will be able to see the end of this process at the time that it should conclude.” 

 Reporter: What are your expectations for the work of the Commission?

Elena Smith, President, Belize National Teachers Union: “That they will reach out to the public, hear from them, listen to them because sometimes when we do these things sometimes we tend to look at what we want or what we think as opposed to what others are saying to us and so it’s important that they understand and I do believe that they do that it’s not about what they want but it’s about what the people are saying and so they let’s go out get that information, put that in writing and then see how they can include all of what they’ve received within the suggested amendments to the constitution.”