Sampson: constitution amendment is political game

The bill to amend the constitution was tabled in early September and should be debated in the House of Representatives by early December. But while government continues to stand by its decision, according to Simeon Sampson, President of the Human Rights Commission of Belize, the move is part of a political game.

Simeon Sampson, President, Human Rights Commission

“They know that this is not a deterrent, but let’s us teach them an example. Given that this is happening within an election year, the Human Rights Commission of Belize is now convinced that this is a political gimmick. You vote for me and I will hang. Two parties are saying…one party started it, you vote for me and I will hang and the other party has picked it up [saying]: no, no, no, I can hang better than you or quicker than you. So they have now combined and say let the hanging party start, let go to the electorate, everybody want to hang, so the politicians must promise to hang. It seems to me, a cheap political gain…that’s the bottom line in my view and the Human Rights view.”

The objection by the Organisation of American States to Belize’s proposed constitutional amendment came on the heels of a statement by the European Union which also asked Belize to reconsider its decision. Under the proposed constitutional changes, Belize would remove the Privy Council as its final court of appeal for Class “A” murders. Those include murders committed in the course of theft, murder by shooting, murder committed in the course of resisting, avoiding or escaping arrest, as well as murder of a police or prison officer in the execution of his or her duty.