Peyrefitte on the 11th Amendment

Michael Peyrefitte

Today, Senator Michael Peyrefitte was asked if he believes there is any connection between the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and Belize’s proposed Eleventh Amendment.

Michael Peyrefitte, U.D.P. Senator

“Indeed UNCAC talks about raising the bar for a number of different things; but UNCAC’s main thrust was transparency and firmness and frankness. And no convention, in my view, can override the fundamental principle of our criminal justice system which is reform. When the Honorable Shyne Barrow put his name down to be elected, the people of Mesopotamia knew that he had spent ten years in prison, you know? This is a matter where the people knew the circumstances of the candidates that they had to choose from and the people said that we believe that a person can reform and a person can change and a person can serve us and it is the will of the people from Mesopotamia that have the Honorable Shyne Barrow there. Even though the Constitution is the supreme law, I don’t think that it is more supreme than the will of the people. So, what you are telling people is that there is no reform for a person who has spent more than a year in prison. I do something regrettable at nineteen years old and at forty-five years old I am a change person I can do anything within a society except represent the people; it is ridiculous. And even though UNCAC talks about raising the bar on so many things, it definitely didn’t go so far that anybody with any criminal record or who has spent a certain amount of years in prison cannot run for office.  So, I am not aware that any major nation, per se has a major rule where you spent a year in jail you cannot run for office again. I think as long as that is disclosed and people know that you have a record and people can decide whether you are reformed or not. But I don’t think that any document or any convention or any UN charter makes no provision for reform.”