P.U.P. Decides It Will Take a Conscience Vote on the I.C.J.
Henry Charles Usher
The People’s United Party’s National Executive today also took a decision on whether it will support taking the territorial claim to the International Court of Justice. Recently, the P.U.P.’s Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat and the party’s southern caucus have both said ‘NO’ to the I.C.J. This is in contradiction to the P.U.P. Leader’s personal view on the matter. John Briceño supports a ‘YES’ vote, but the party will not adopt an official stance on the matter. According to P.U.P. Chairman, Henry Charles Usher, members of the P.U.P. will be allowed to vote their conscious, but the party will continue with its education campaign in the constituencies.
Henry Charles Usher, Chairman, People’s United Party
“The National Executive has adopted the position which will be then taken to the National Party Council that each member is free to vote by his or her conscience. The party leader and the members feel that this is such an important issue, such a personal issue, that most people have taken really a personal view of this matter and each person can then search his or her conscience and make the proper vote after consulting with their constituents, consulting with the Belizean people and of course going to the education campaign. We want to stress that that campaign is critical so that the Belizean people are aware of both sides of this issue. We also took a position that the government is failing on their part, on their duty to carry out this education campaign. We are at the end of August and this campaign has not started as yet. There are a few commercials we are seeing, but those commercials are not saying anything. We want and are requesting that the Government carry out its mandate to educate the Belizean people before the Referendum because that vote that is done on April tenth is an informed vote and it is a vote that the Belizean people will feel comfortable with going forward. Because of the personal nature of this issue, that each person if you want to say no or say yes, you have that opportunity, but we will still carry out our duty to educate people. We believe firmly that the education process is the most important going into thing in the ICJ Referendum day.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So, is the stance of the PUP Southern Caucus – is that legit – because they put that out as a caucus of the P.U.P.?”
Henry Charles Usher
“The Southern Caucus did come out and they have put out their position and we are saying they are free to put out that position and any other caucus that wishes to do so can put out their position.”
Usher says that the government has failed in properly educating the masses on the topic. The referendum has been set for April tenth, 2019.
