BPM Takes GOB to Court Over Redistricting Delay

The Belize Peace Moment (BPM) is once again taking the government to court in hopes of triggering the redistricting exercise. Last week, the organization filed a motion in the High Court to try and force the government to conduct a re-districting exercise before the next general election. The group believes that while the report has been tabled in the house, the government is intentionally dragging its feet. Since then, the government has enlisted two prominent attorneys, Eamon Courtenay and Godfrey Smith, to represent them in the case. On Friday, Prime Minister John Briceno was asked about the case and why GOB felt it was important to hire Smith and Courtenay. 

John Briceño, Prime Minister: “We’re not going after them, we’re just defending ourselves. We did not go after them, they are coming after us as a government and we have to defend ourselves. This has been a long drawn out process and we all recognize that it’s something that has to be done. Unfortunately, the report that was given to us and it has been tabled in the House it’s still in the House Committee. I don’t know, it seems that they can’t come to an agreement and we can’t force them to do whatever it is that needs to be done. But we’re waiting for that. But at the same time, we have to defend ourselves. In many instances, we don’t give it attention and by the time we’re putting the proper attention, it’s already too late. So we want to ensure that we defend ourselves and to show to the Belizean people that we are trying as best as possible we can to follow the law. I must also remind you that it is, the redistricting is not in the hands of the government, it’s in the hands of the Elections and Boundaries Commission and they do their research, they do their list of recommendations, they bring it to us and we know it’s our responsibility to bring it to the House, and we have done that.”

The BPM is being represented by attorney Sharon Pitts.