B.P.M. and Government Enter into Consent Order Over Redistricting Exercise

Since the Belize Peace Movement filed a claim against the Government of Belize a few years ago, pertaining to a long overdue redistricting exercise, the matter has been languishing in the Supreme Court.  The most recent development where that lawsuit is concerned involves a decision taken before Justice Genevieve Chabot where both parties have entered into a proposed consent agreement which will effectively pause all further proceedings related to the claim.  Instead, the Belize Peace Movement and the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, well as the Attorney General’s Ministry, will consider the distribution of voters and make recommendations for the amendment of the First Schedule to the Representation of the People Act to redefine current electoral boundaries.  The Elections and Boundaries Commission will also identify and explain in a written report its recommendations and all proposals considered necessary for redistricting, as provided by the Belize Constitution, and shall share the report with the Belize Peace Movement on the date the report is laid before the National Assembly or by July seventeenth, 2023.  Attorney Arthur Saldivar represents the Belize Peace Movement.

Arthur Saldivar

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney, Belize Peace Movement

“One of the indicators of a failing economy and a failing system is the exodus of people from urban centers.  Cities are places where you have a concentration of population, but over the past fifteen or twenty years we have seen that the city’s population has been stagnant or declining while the rural population has been burgeoning.  Yes, a lot of it has to do with the migrant population coming in and these accommodations that are afforded them, but a lot of it also has to do with the fact that there are no jobs in the city anymore.  As a result of this, our people cannot cope, our people cannot cope with what’s taking place and this is one of the reasons why we have to, as a matter of duty to ourselves, our children, our children’s children, hold these governments accountable to doing what they ought to do under the constitution and also be vigilant about this constitutional process that we are undertaking.  This case is a perfect example of why we need to do that.”