Bishop Wright Says Consultation Needed Before Referendum on Cannabis Bill
The Council of Churches is standing in solidarity with the National Evangelical Association of Belize in the call for a referendum on the cannabis bill. But, the Council of Churches has yet to decide whether it will support the petition being circulated to trigger the referendum. Bishop Phillip Wright, the President of the Council of Churches, told News Five that while the Council has received a draft of the petition, schools under the Council’s jurisdiction are not yet issuing the petition to parents. Bishop Wright says the Council is of the view that greater public education on the bill should be advanced, even before a referendum is held.
Bishop Phillip Wright
Bishop Phillip Wright, President, Belize Council of Churches
“We feel a referendum, ideally for us, should follow a period of education and if possible, a period of open forum where people could discuss the matter and so on. It is not so much to rush to a referendum immediately, especially if it is going to be a national referendum.”
Paul Lopez
“So, that leads us to conclude that you are not necessarily satisfied with the level of consultation that the government has said happened?”
Bishop Phillip Wright, President, Belize Council of Churches
“Yes, I would have to say yes. The objections of the Council of Churches in particular, and bear in mind, we are in much solidarity with our other Christian organizations, but we feel that for a bill and a decision that will so impact our people’s lives, how many of our people know what this thing is all about. And, we became convinced that is not the case. Therefore, an opportunity ought to be provided for our people to learn more about the pros and cons and then be able to make a better decision hopefully in the form of referendum, if it comes to that.”
Paul Lopez
“Are you aware whether schools within the Council of Churches are using students to take the petition home to their parents and whether or not the government has in fact asked for that to be halted?”
Bishop Phillip Wright, President, Belize Council of Churches
“That is not happening in our management, so I cannot speak to that.”
Paul Lopez
“What is not?”
Bishop Phillip Wright, President, Belize Council of Churches
“We have not made that decision in our management at this point in time. We did receive a draft petition form which is still being reviewed, because we have not made a decision on that as yet as a council.”
