Opposition Leader Criticizes Government’s Handling of Redistricting Report

Opposition Leader, Moses Shyne Barrow wasted no time in responding to the government’s press release on the redistricting report.  A press release from the UDP denounced the government’s attempt at silencing the media and suppressing the publication of the Redistricting proposal.   Barrow wrote, quote, “The Election & Boundaries Commission has zero authority to invoke the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives. The Elections & Boundaries Commission is not a part of the Legislature.  In fact the Constitution, Section 58 if you are a Member of the Lower House and Section 62 if you are a Member of the Upper House Senate, is explicit in its prohibition of any member of the National Assembly/Legislature having anything to do with elections which is why the Opposition wrote the Governor General to demand she remove Collet Montejo from the Senate after he was appointed to the redistricting task force.”  End of quote.  Barrow concluded by noting that no Standing Order of the House of Representatives can prohibit the media from sharing information related to any motion, bill or paper to be laid on the table in the House.  He added that, all House Committees are open to the public and 90 days of widespread public consultation is constitutionally required for amendments to the Constitution.  The Leader of the Opposition called for the Elections and Boundaries Commission to rescind that preposterous Press Release and adhere to the Constitution of Belize which allows for freedom of expression and should enshrine Freedom of the Press to publicly scrutinize and criticize this Redistricting report that falls woefully short of the Constitutional requirements.