Salvadorans in Belize Cast Votes in Historic Presidential Election

Salvadorans from across Belize got a chance to vote in their country’s presidential election. The voting took place at the Belmopan Civic Center on Sunday where several Salvadorans gathered to exercise their right to vote. This is the first time in history that this has happened in Belize. Minister of foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca spoke to Love News about the Government of Belize’s role in the process.  

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “That’s a part of the law in Salvador. They have the right, wherever they live in the world, Salvadorans have the right by law to vote in their elections. So that was a request made through the Salvadoranian Embassy to the Government of Belize. It was made so that was facilitated and a station was set up, that was done completely with the Salvadoranian Embassy. They were responsible for it, for conducting those elections. So, you know, that’s the process that took place.”

Reporter: What role did our government play in that process? 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “None except making sure they had access to a facility to use. We have nothing to do with the conduct of elections in Salvador.”

Fonseca added that this is an initiative that should be implemented in Belize’s constitution. 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “We have not reached that point in Belize. I think it’s a good issue for discussion whether we want Belizans in the diaspora to participate in elections. I think now that we’re going through the process of reviewing the constitution, the PCC process, I think that’s an ideal opportunity for us to discuss an issue like this one. I think it’s definitely something worthy of debate, worthy of discussion. At the end of the day, I think it’s something we can look at, but we’re not there yet. In the case of Salvador they already have that as a part of their law. We are not at that point yet. So as I said, this represents, I think the PCC represents an opportunity for us to have that discussion and perhaps coming out of this PCC process that is something that Belize may want to do.”

President Nayib Bukele won the elections after garnering 1.3 million votes.