Council of Churches Cannot Support Equal Opportunities Bill in Present Form

The Council of Churches is taken a position on the Equal Opportunities Bill. It Council is of the view that having now had the opportunity to review and discuss the proposed legislation with its attorneys and membership, the Council is unable to support the bill in its present form. As you may know, the Bill is being lobbied by Special Envoy for Women and Children and the National AIDS Commission and identifies nineteen vulnerable groups of people, including the LGBTI community and persons living with diverse abilities. The proponents have maintained that the Bill will regulate specific conduct in areas of public life in order to protect individuals and will not affect the work of the church. Well the Council believes that the Bill, in its current state, has grave and negative implications for the Churches of Belize, particularly in the areas of constitutional rights and freedoms, civil liberties, marriage, education, employment and business. Today, President, Bishop Philip Wright spoke with News Five about it.

Philip Wright

Bishop Philip Wright, President, Council of Churches

“The Council of Churches will support any effort to protect the rights of every individual in this country and also would never support anything that would be deemed as discrimination. However, after several consultations, the members of the Council of Churches have agreed that this Bill in its current form is not what we need at this point in time and therefore, at this point in time, rejects this Bill in its current form.”

Duane Moody

“Were you guys even consulted o this Bill?”

Bishop Philip Wright

“Yes, we’ve had conversations with the Special Envoy and the AIDS Commission and also the Ministry of Human Development, but we also had consultation with our own attorneys and I think it is out of that that the Council emerged with the position that it has taken.”