People’s National Party Urges Government to Conduct Redistricting

Political third party, the People’s National Party (PNP) is calling on the Government of Belize to hold a redistricting exercise, despite its recent court victory against the Belize PEACE Movement. As we reported yesterday, the High Court ruled last Thursday in favor of the government and dismissed the PEACE Movement’s application to have Schedule 1 of the Representation of the People Act struck down.  PNP Party Leader Wil Maheia says that the court victory does not mean that GOB is in the right, as the current voters’ list is still not in line with the proportions dictated by the Constitution of Belize. Maheia says that as long as the government continues to use the voters’ list as is, voters in various parts of the country are being disenfranchised, as the power of their vote is decreased.

Wil Maheia, Party Leader, PNP: “Of course we are disappointed with the fact that the court dismissed the case but also we are even more disappointed in the fact that the bill that was presented to the government on the redistricting case went to parliament and has never been heard since. You know we know that there are situations and instances where you have your bills are introduced and it goes through all the readings one day and we just find it disrespectful that the Belizean people have been neglected in this very important issues where for the past fifteen years there should have been redistricting exercise for both UDP and the PUP have failed to deliver to the Belizean people their constitutional right to have voting equity. This redistricting should have been done from the UDP days. When PUP was campaigning they campaigned saying that they would have conducted the redistricting exercises once they get into office. They’ve been in office four years now there’s no redistricting. We believe that this is vital to the Belizean people. This is not about the peace movement. The peace movement is just the messenger in this case. It’s the Belizean people, one person one vote. We cannot continue like this where a voter in Fort George or Mesopotamia have more than a voter in Toledo East or Stann Creek West. It’s just unfair. We are all Belizeans we should be treated fairly and equally.”

Maheia says that all Belizeans should be involved in the call for the government to hold the redistricting exercise since the power of a vote is a national concern. He has also called on civil society organizations to join in the efforts to ensure that a redistricting exercise is held before the next general election.