GOB sets political reform time frame

The government has announced its time frame for implementing the recommendations in the Political Reform Commission’s yearlong study. Last week the Prime Minister Said Musa and his Cabinet Ministers reviewed the report at length and indicated they accepted sixty-three of the one hundred three recommendations and will keep the remainder under review. The time frame for carrying out the sixty-three has been divided into four categories: immediate implementation, introduction at next House Meeting, to be adopted over the coming year and to be carried out during this term of government. Cabinet felt twenty-nine of the recommendations called for no change to the constitution or are already underway. These included keeping the Parliamentary Executive model of government, continuing the way ministers are appointed and the Prime Minister is selected, that election dates not be fixed and that the Alcalde system of local government in Maya villages be maintained. Among the recommendations to be included in the Constitutional Amendments Bill to be introduced at the next house meeting are extending the rights of Belizeans to include access to health care, education, and the right to vote and strengthening the judicial and legal services commission and legal aid office. Recommendations for the next twelve months cover areas such as the limited use of statutory instruments, anti-defection in the house, and the establishment of an office of the leader of the opposition. Recommendations to be implemented this term include reform of the land laws and distribution and campaign finance regulation. The list of all recommendations and their timetable is available on the Government website at www.belize.gov.bz.