P.U.P. Leaders Says Diasporans’ Concerns Must be Discussed Further

John Briceño

Persons wanting to re-register must prove that they have been living at their address for at least two months. This is one of the requirements that some Belizeans living overseas are resisting and believe should be amended since it disqualifies them from registering and casting their votes.  But there is no indication whether the law would be amended to favor those living abroad. When we spoke to Opposition Leader John Briceño on Thursday, he said the matter must be seriously discussed.

John Briceño, Leader of Opposition

“That is something that requires a lot of discussions and a lot of thought. I have a lot of respect for the Diaspora and I think we are very grateful for a lot of the work that they do. If they can do more for us? I believe that they can do a lot more. But when it comes to the issue of determining who are going to be our representatives and who are going to be our leaders in the country I believe that we who live here know best who should be able to lead us. So for allowing the Diaspora to vote from the United States because we are such a small country, I think it needs a lot of discussions. In the United States there are tens of millions of people that vote in the elections and the people that live outside of the United States is a fraction of a percent. It does not necessarily have a direct impact. But in our elections ten votes, twenty votes, fifty votes can make a different. We need to have a serious discussion before we can make such decision or such determination.”