Diaspora Bill Voted Down in Parliament

Kareem Musa

For several weeks, Caribbean Shores Area Representative Kareem Musa has been pushing for the introduction of a piece of legislation under the Private Members Bill that would consider the eligibility of Belizeans in the Diaspora to participate in the upcoming I.C.J. referendum, notwithstanding existing requirements.  Late Tuesday night, during the final minutes of the budget debate, Musa rose to introduce the proposed law but was met with strong objection from the government side.  When it was finally allowed to be read, the yeas and the nays were seemingly indistinct, resulting in a division of the House.  That led to each member being asked for his or her vote individually.  In the end, however, the motion was struck down.  Here’s how it went.

Kareem Musa, Area Rep, Caribbean Shores

“Madame Speaker, I rise to introduce a private member’s bill pursuant to Standing Order 83 of the House of Representatives and it is a bill to amend the Representation of the People’s Act, Chapter Nine of Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011 to provide the right to vote and register as electors in the Belize/Guatemala referendum to citizens of Belize living abroad, notwithstanding the failure to satisfy the two-month continuous residence requirement and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.  Madame Speaker, as you are aware, the Section 83 for private bills, 83 – 4, states that the petition shall be presented by being lodged with the clerk.  This has been done and shall be read at the first ordinary sitting of the House after it is so lodged and thereupon the Speaker shall put the question that the promoters be allowed to proceed.”

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“My application is that this is out of order.  It is an abuse of process because the objectives that, according to the honorable member, the petitioner, the objectives that the bill is designed to achieve cannot happen, not on the basis of things as they are and we must proceed on that basis.  So what is the purpose of this Madame Speaker?  And to say that I must… da noh me put anything pan di order paper.  What I have to do with when your thing got on or what it got on?”

Speaker

“Honorable members, the question is that the promoters of this bill be allowed to proceed.  All those in favor, kindly say I.  Those against, kindly say no.”

Kareem Musa

“Madame Speaker, may I please have a division of the House?”

Speaker

“That’s what I thought.”