OAS Observers are not need for re-registration

Josephine Tamai

In a letter dated May thirtieth, Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño wrote to the Prime Minister Dean Barrow, calling on the Government to invite O.A.S. observers to oversee the re-registration process. In his letter, Briceño reminded P.M. Barrow that as a signatory to the Inter-American Democratic Charter of the Organization of American States, Belize has the responsibility for conducting and ensuring free and fair electoral processes. With the re-registration commencing on Monday, there is no indication that Government will request the presence of O.A.S. observers. However, Tamai today told the press that while there is no need for the O.A.S. observers, it wouldn’t hurt.

Josephine Tamai, Chief Elections Officer

“I can’t say that there is a need because what we do the process continues if we have observers or if we do not have observers. Having served myself as an observer in other countries, yes it is always good to have people. Sometimes it helps the department because many times you hear political parties or persons and certain groups coming up with certain accusations during a process and many times these things are false accusations. So when you have a mission in place, it helps because those are the persons on the ground to get the information, bring together the parties, to assist and to show that his is not the case. And to make statements to the public to be rest assured that certain things that are being said are not so. So it actually helps the process.”

Hipolito Novelo

“It would be better for them to be in country for this re-registration exercise?”

 Josephine Tamai

“Well if they can.”