G.G. tells Oceana to negotiate with Minister
Dean Barrow
Another issue that is simmering is the referendum. Over twenty-thousand signatures were collected to propel a vote on oil exploration. Eighteen thousand were required but last week, the Elections Boundaries Commission said eight thousand had been rejected since the signatures could not be verified because of poor penmanship. The signatures were presented to the Governor General back in December and this past Monday, he wrote to OCEANA which was at the forefront in collecting the signatures on behalf of the Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage. The G.G. says he has reached his limit and that “the proper course of action would be for OCEANA to take up the matter with the Minister responsible for Elections and Boundaries or the Prime Minister.” The VP for OCEANA, Audrey Matura has been at the forefront of the campaign. She says she had confidence that the referendum would have been allowed because of the following statement from the Prime Minister last May.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“Recently Oceana and the Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage announced that they are at a point where they’ve almost secured a sufficient number of signatures to trigger the referendum that they want in which the people of Belize would be asked to decide on the merits or otherwise of offshore drilling for oil and also on the merits or otherwise of drilling onshore for oil in protected areas. Now, when Oceana in fact does get to the point where it is able to trigger this referendum that will no doubt be a victory for Oceana. But I want to make a point to you today; it will also signal a victory for the government and people of Belize and for our democracy in this country. And I want to recollect for you that prior to 2008; this would not have been possible. The law on referendums as it then was was such that apart from the question of Guatemala, only the government of the day, via the National Assembly, could decide if an issue were of sufficient importance to have a referendum. The people of the country had no input into this. It was this government that changed the law to provide now for a group such as Oceana or any interest group in this society to start a drive and if they get the required number of signatures, to have a referendum, to oblige the government to hold a referendum on a particular issue. The significance of this is that it deepens our governance structure and too often, we get so carried away with the hard issues, with the hard questions of economic development, infrastructure development that we forget that just as important is this question of democracy, this question of making government more responsible to people, more accountable to people; of deepening and strengthening the culture of governance in Belize.”
For 150 more murders this coming year and next year vote Fu bald head barrow if you want more of the same for another 5 years then 150×5 is the amount of murders that you will have if udp wins again I hope you are not in that number or one of your family members so if this is what you want then please vote Fu barrow vote udp worse gov and pm in the history of our great nation of Belize.
To have a referendum simultaneously with the elections is not even sensible. I perfectly understand that the govt dont want it to happen. It confuses the people and throws em off course. Good Decision!!
Rod, are we to assume that when PUP wins the murders will stop? I say implement the death penalty and lets see how it goes from ther, however, neither PUP UDP VIP or anyone else runing for office has the balls to do this…am I right or am I right????
I do believe even if we gather the amount of signatures to have capital punishment. There is a higher chance that it will get tossed out just like they are doing to OCEANA. I don’t understand how is it remotely possible for a Government AKA Dean Barrow not to notice that off shore drilling is not safe or healthy. This only shows that HE does not care about US Belizean people. However, what makes it even worse is that he can do and undo whatever he wants and how he wants to do it. So to me the only way is to remove him from power , he is power greedy and he laughs at US telling US that he makes the decision not US. So lets get him out before we OUR country declares bankruptcy and not be able to walk the streets freely. LETS VOTE FOR THE PERSON NOT FOR A COLOUR. This way we can ensure our generation may still have a country to look forward to Tomorrow.
Hope we do not see Ms. Matura takes a post, if PUP wins, just like Ms. Shackron, people are able to see genuine people without a political agenda, but where can we find them?
KNOW GOD KNOW SOLUTIONS – NO GOD NO SOLUTIONS 😉
Matura. Shakron, Cola, and some other groups should be rasing funds to build a place for the poor. They should be working hand in hand selling bbq to raise enough funds to feed the poor in Belize City. It’s big bucks they are looking for. I can imagine how Matura handles her husband. You do it now! Ask questions later attitude. God bless Belize. Too much trash going on right now in our country by intellects. Love FM, Unibam ohhhhhh and the list goes on. Hypocrites!!!
Jahkid – you need to be educated. These people are fighting for what is yours and mine. If you are that concerned bout the poor – why don’t you go and do something bout it….