P.U.P. releases details of elected Senate proposal

The People’s United Party today released details of their model for an elected Senate. Stating that the elected body’s main function would be increased oversight of the executive branch of government, the proposal calls for an expanded role in approving key appointments, the review of an annual report from each ministry and the power to conduct independent investigations. Composition of the Senate would be three members from districts with over fifty thousand population—presently only Belize and Cayo—with two each from those with less than fifty thousand, for a total of fourteen members. Those members would be elected from three or two person slates presented by the political parties, while independents could also run on their own. The seats would be awarded on a proportional basis depending on the percentage received by each party, although it is difficult to imagine very accurate proportions where you only have two or three members. We asked Eamon Courtenay, one of the proposal’s chief architects, to elaborate on the key concepts.

Eamon Courtenay, Chairman, P.U.P. Policy and Reform Com.
“I think there are perhaps three. The first is the greater transparency and accountability that is going to be required because all ministries, all statutory bodies, the Auditor General report—the Auditor General himself would have to report to the senate on an annual basis. And their reports will be tied to the budgetary process to ensure that it is done on a timely basis. Secondly, I think the manner of the election by proportional representation will allow always for there to be a significant opposition presence regardless of the party. Because it’s on the basis of proportional representation, there will always be a significant opposition presence. And I think thirdly a fundamental departure is that the Senate is going to be elected, Senators are going to be elected. It is not somebody who is appointed like I was in the gift of a prime minister who could remove you whenever he wish or whenever she wishes.”

Stewart Krohn
“You realize, of course, that had an elected senate been in operation during the last term, a person who is generally thought of to be one of our best foreign ministers ever would never have had the opportunity to hold that position. Don’t you think that the present provision in our constitution that allows the Prime Minister to appoint people to the Senate and get the best possible talent in his or her Cabinet is a vital importance to the governing of the country?”

Eamon Courtenay
“I think it’s of vital importance, Stewart, but having lived it, having lived it, I think that if you are going to go into government, if you are going to go into a position where you decide one way or another on a trade treaty, one way or another on Belize-Guatemala treaty, on very important issues; you have to have some mandate. You have to be able to say I have the ability to take part in making this decision because the people have put me here. It’s very difficult, very difficult to take positions which you want to take if somebody at the stroke of a pen can remove you. Secondly, there are other ways to use talented people. You don’t have to make a person a minister. I have always argued that a person can do something, let’s take—there are many examples of excellent public officers throughout our system who are not ministers.”

While stressing the importance of oversight and separation of powers, Courtenay was asked whether the proposal for an enlarged appointed Senate put forward by U.D.P. leader Dean Barrow was not a better solution.

Eamon Courtenay
“The flaw in that, as far as I am concerned, is exemplified by what we have right now. We have a representative of the churches who has not been present for upwards of a year, probably two years … has just never come, never turned up and nobody has done anything to it; one. Two, I think if we talk about N.G.O.s you would ask yourself well what is an N.G.O. and who is an N.G.O. I think you might find that if N.G.O.s are going to have a role, they are going to start having twenty, thirty, forty, fifty N.G.O.s being formed in the next few weeks. And then all of a sudden you’re going to have a whole lot of people saying “oh I am an N.G.O. and I want to be in the Senate. The broader point is this: anybody, Godwin Hulse can be removed tomorrow. Godwin Hulse can be removed tomorrow regardless of how good he is doing a job he’s doing simply by the business community deciding you know what, Godwin di go lee bit to far lets remove him even though what he is saying is right. I think our democracy has reached the point where if you are going to exercise that type of power of oversight you need to have a mandate from the people not appointed by some politician, not appointed by some small N.G.O.”

Stewart Krohn
“Given the past record, do you think the kind of people who would be elected to the Senate could adequately perform that function?”

Eamon Courtenay
“What I would have to say is: if you look across the political spectrum today, there are very good people who are currently in office and there are very good people who are pursuing office. Obviously there are far more people who we can all sit down and criticize. At the of the day, Stewart, at the end of the day we are a young democracy and if anybody believes that he or she has some skills, anybody who believes in public service and think that they have a role to play; they have to get out of their arm chair, they have to get away from in front in front of the television and join the fray. To build a better Belize you have to take part in the process and if the process requires you seeking political office, it’s a noble profession even though its name and its performance and some the characters have smeared it. Public service is good and I think that if we do this thing right and if the Senate is properly resourced and is able to have exercise oversight I think we will find serious people coming forward and saying if that’s the role and that is the way it’s going to function, I am prepared to put my hat in the ring.”

Stewart Krohn
“Eamon, after you left the Cabinet you publicly announced that it was your intention to seek public office sometime in the future. Could it be that you might be one of the very first senatorial candidates of your party if this proposition passes?”

Eamon Courtenay
“If this model passes or a model that has sufficient teeth in it, If we have a model in which senators will work on a full-time basis to monitor, to investigate, to inquire into what the executive is doing, I think it is a very, very important role that will be played. It is a role that I will certainly look seriously at being a part of.”

According to the P.U.P. proposal, the first Senate election would be held in 2009, presumably in conjunction with municipal elections and every four years thereafter.