Elections & Boundaries Gets Green Light for Redistricting Exercise

Josephine Tamai

The Elections and Boundaries Department has finally gotten approval to commence a long overdue redistricting exercise which will effectively see all thirty-one constituencies across the country being redrawn. This has not been done since 1998, resulting in an unequal distribution of registered voters in many constituencies. Government has identified funding for the activity and the Elections and Boundaries Commission has appointed a taskforce to make the necessary preparations. Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai spoke with the media this afternoon and explained how the process will work.

Josephine Tamai Chief Elections Officer

“These persons included persons with technical expertise in the area of geographical information systems, legal studies, statistical analysis and electoral management.  As the release says, myself was appointed as the chairperson for this taskforce. We also have Ms. Paula Hender who is a crown counsel with the Attorney General’s ministry and she will also deal with the legal aspects. We have Ms. Shirley Humes who is the principal planner from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining, she is also a member. Mr. Alfred Cal who is a senior Lands Officer also at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining and also Mr. Martin Aldana who isthe statistical analyst. The planning started a couple months ago and now with the appointment of these persons, we are ready to go and start the work for this exercise. We know that this is a huge exercise, it’s an important exercise and as the commission mentioned to us as members of the taskforce, in terms of the expectations that they have, we know that many times people were saying, “Oh, you were behind in terms of conducting this exercise.”  But again, here we are today and going full steam ahead with getting this exercise done as the Government of Belize has already provided funding for us to do so.”