Bills introduced for constitutional amendments
The Lower House met this morning in the nation’s capital to make some amendments to the supreme law of the land. Jose Sanchez was there.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
A bill to amend the Constitution was introduced at today’s meeting at the House of Representatives. The primary changes will be to shift the composition of the Belize Advisory Council by introducing senior members who will hold office until the age of seventy-five. But more importantly, the membership in the Senate has been increased. And according to Prime Minister Said Musa, it’s simply to improve the efficiency of the bodies.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“Under these proposed amendments, the number of senators are increased from eight to eighteen as follows: ten are to be appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is to ensure that of that ten at least one comes from each of the six districts. Four are appointed on the advice on the leader off the opposition. And most importantly, four are appointed under the Belize Council of Churches and other church organisations, the National Trade Union Congress, the Civil Society Steering Committee and the private sector, respectively. It is our belief, Madam Speaker, that this new composition, especially the senators representing the four large independent representative bodies will be more inclusive and will bring a new level to the quality of debate and analysis of the legislation coming through the National Assembly.”
Included in the bill is a proposal to finally end the sale of Belizean passports under the Economic Citizenship Programme.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“The next amendments deal with the citizenship of Belize. Firstly, the repeal of section 26-C of the Belize Constitution has the effect of completely abolishing economic citizenship. We are aware Madam Speaker, that our manifesto commits us to putting issues of national importance such as citizenship to a national referendum. In this case, however, we believe that the mood and feeling of the clear majority of Belizeans is that we should put an end to the Economic Citizenship Programme. This amendment is in accordance with recommendation twenty-four of the Political Reform Commission.”
While the sale of passports will no longer be a problem, Minister of National Security Jorge Espat is facing challenges with the Police Department. Espat made reference to the recent trial of an officer who was charged with the murder of Daniel Tillett, who died from injuries he received while in police custody.
Jorge Espat, Minister of National Security
“The Supreme Court trial was held on the thirteenth of March 2001 and the accused was acquitted on the charge of murder. The due process of law was observed. I am, however, aware that there is a very great dissatisfaction among the public with the way the case concluded in the acquittal of the accused in the Supreme Court. The Commissioner of Police has been directed to continue further investigation into the matter to consider whether any disciplinary action can be taken departmentally against the person or persons responsible.
In the meanwhile, police officer Jesus Canton will remain under interdiction until the matter is finally determined. I must add that having considered the matter in detail, the Cabinet has decided that adequate compensation should be paid to the family of the deceased. We have therefore directed the Attorney General’s Ministry to negotiate the amount of compensation.”
Espat also said that whenever officers are charged with a criminal offence, the matter will be handled in the courts and not departmentally as was done in the past. Reporting for News 5, Jose Sanchez.
