Senator Courtenay Says SI is Unlawful and Counterproductive

Earlier this week the P.U.P. filed a claim against the attorney general and the governor general seeking a determination from the court to declare the Sarstoon Law unconstitutional. Senator Eamon Courtenay, provides a legal explanation why the law should be rescinded.  Not only is the statutory instrument unconstitutional, Courtenay also maintains that it is counterproductive.

Eamon Courtenay, Senator, People’s United Party

Eamon Courtenay

“We believe that the law is unconstitutional and unlawful for the simple reason that there exists no threat of civil commotion nor existence of a threat of civil commotion and that was the basis on which the law was supposedly passed.  In the absence of that it was an unlawful exercise of power by the Governor General.  We are going to try and take steps to get the hearing of the matter expedited so that it can happen before the actual expiration of the law.  We still strongly encourage the government to rescind the law.  It’s a law that is against Belizeans rather than against Guatemalans and we say the government should not be stopping Belizeans, they should be stopping Guatemalans.  They should not be looking at what Belizeans are doing, they should be looking at what Guatemalans are doing and that is the point that we are making.  As a matter of law and as a matter of policy, the law is wrong.”