Belmopan prepares for referendum
On Wednesday Belmopan residents will go to the polls to decide whether their home will be recognized as the capital “city” as it has always been called. Since it was established in 1970, the capital has been governed by the Reconstruction and Development Corporation, an appointed board. But some “Belmopanese” have felt the community would be better served by an elected body. The issue has been a hot topic for the quiet community for several weeks.
Agripino Cawich, Cayo South Representative
“I feel confident that the results will be in favor of a city council.”
Many residents we spoke to today say RECONDEV hasn’t been taking Belmopan forward. The Chairman of the Board says it’s more a matter of people wanting some sort of accountability.
Agripino Cawich
“Not so much whether RECONDEV had been doing a good job or not, it has done its job not to the extent that many people would like, not to the extent that I would like, but the issue is one of self determination. RECONDEV is an appointed board, including myself, I am appointed by the Minister of Finance. I was not elected as a chairman or as mayor by the residents of Belmopan, consequently there have been a group of people who believe that we should handle our own affairs and be accountable and responsible to the voters.”
Two thousand six hundred and twenty-eight people are eligible to vote in Wednesday’s referendum. Feelings appear to be mixed.
Lloyd Cabral
“Feeling good, like it will be a yes down the line.”
Q: “Why do you think it’s a good idea?”
Lloyd Cabral
“I don’t think they should have people who don’t live here running our tax money. We don’t know these people and better it goes to people in Belmopan that we really know.”
Peter August
“I would say I agree that Belmopan should be a city but I don’t understand why we’re trying to rush this issue right now. It has been an issue so many years, since 1970 I guess and people have always said we want to remain as we are in Belmopan.”
The Belmopan Citizen’s Committee has been actively trying to clarify the issues. The main concern is taxation.
Raul Castillo, Chairman, Belmopan Citizen’s Committee
“The people of Belmopan are not opposed to paying taxes but they certainly are concerned about how much and they’re concerned about how the taxation will be levied on them. The proposals that have been discussed talk about a certain minimum based on the rental of the property not on the real value or market value of the property like people are saying.
The other is the participation in the process of legislation, the preparation of that city council’s act. Those are the two big issues being discussed.
One other issue that has surfaced is the inclusion of the five communities near Belmopan and there have been allegations that Belmopan has now been outnumbered by the people in these areas. This is certainly not so. We believe the referendum will pass and I think by a very significant margin.”
Janelle Chanona for News Five.
The government has announced that no matter what the outcome of the vote, Belmopan residents who own property will have to start paying property taxes beginning in April. If there is a yes, the city council elections would be held in March. There is only one polling station, the Belmopan Comprehensive School. The poll opens at seven a.m.
