Public Lecture on Constitutional Reform Addresses Rule of Law in Belize

The northern zone of the People’s Constitution Commission held a lecture in Orange Walk last night, to further engage the public about the ongoing efforts to reform Belize’s Constitution. The PCC held the lecture at the Muffle’s College auditorium. The keynote speaker was attorney Marcel Cardona, who presented on the rule of law. Cardona opened with an outline of the different systems of government in the world and which system Belize utilizes. He then went into the importance of the rule of law.

Marcel Cardona, Presenter, People’s Constitution Commission: “The third pilar of the constitution wich we have been asked to deal with tonight is referred to as the rule of law. Under this topic falls the preamble to the Belize Constitution, the Judiciary, the Fundamental Rights Freedoms and liberties of Citizens and individuals. There is also the issue of citizenship, Belizean Citizenship and the principles as to the rule of law. There are two other pillars, that of accountability and that of public finance, and public service. I will not be delving into those neither. So let me focus my comments tonight, my presentation on the third pillar which is the rule of law. And under this pillar as I said there is the preamble, the judiciary, fundamental rights, citizenship and principles. Very briefly, the Belize Constitution is the highest law in the land of the Belize and there is no other law greater than the Belize Constitution. In fact, under Section 2 of the Belize Constitution, also referred to as the Supremacy Provision or Supremacy Clause it clearly states have followed, and I quote, Section 2 “This constitution is the supreme law of the law and if any other law is inconsistent with this constitution, that other law shall, to the extent of inconsistency, be void.” So it’s saying that if the constitution says something no other law, no police officer, no Commissioner of Police, no Prime Minister, no other person, no other public official, no other law can derogate from the rights that are found under the Belize Constitution.”

The PCC also used the opportunity to engage participants in a survey about the constitution and the reform process.