Josephine Tamai Dismisses Allegations as Political Mischief

Actually, Tamai says that all her officers are under undue pressure leading up to elections. She claims that it’s unfair, because they are all just doing a job and they see no color when on the job. Unfortunately, that’s not the perception in all quarters. There is, in fact, a healthy distrust of the Elections and Boundaries office which is a department of the government. One image which comes to mind is San Pedro Town Council Candidate Severo Guerrero sitting behind a computer at the Elections and Boundaries office. Another is U.D.P. political officers carrying files out of the Belmopan Election and Boundaries office in the dead of night. Tamai says that nothing of the sort is happening – any reports that they are is just political mischief.

Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer

“I will tell you that has not been the case. Whatever persons are taking out at whatever point in time…it’s work that we’re doing. For us to have a couple days from when elections were announced to now…staff has to be working overtime. If persons do not work overtime then I am thinking it’s reason to be concerned. Because then the public will know that work is not being done, and there’s a lot to do. And yes we continue to work and we will continue to work because we have to ensure that we have everything in place come Election Day. And persons are not taking out any documents at those hours of the night. I would really want to see where persons are taking out those documents at that hour of the night. I will say those things again are political mischief. Those things are not true.”

Josephine Tamai

Mike Rudon

“But it was caught on video. It was in the news.”

Josephine Tamai

“Those things are not true. Political persons do not have any access to elections and boundaries records. Those are strictly for elections and boundaries commission purposes…for no other purpose…for no other purpose whatsoever. If those things are happening I would really want to know about them.”