Union Senator Advise to the Peoples’ Constitution Commission

The inaugural meeting of the Peoples’ Constitution Commission was held last Thursday and over the course of eighteen months, they will be responsible to review and make extensive amendments and revise, where necessary, the Constitution of Belize. It is a profound task that has been placed on the twenty-three members of the commission.  While it is not under similar circumstances, Senator Elena Smith, having been a part of a commission of inquiry, spoke on the role of the commission and gave the members some advice. 

Elena Smith

Elena Smith, Union Senator

“When I look at the representation on that commission, we see where we have some important stakeholders. I think the role for them now is to go out and ensure that the persons that they represent are informed, are able to provide input, suggestions and recommendations, but also that as a commission that they ensure that they do their work of going out and getting feedback from the entire population. So they’ve had their first meeting, yes I don’t know what has been the decision in terms of the steps forward. But hopefully they will progress as planned and we will be able to see the end of this process at the time that it should conclude. When we do these things, sometimes we tend to look at what we want and what we think as opposed to what others are saying to us. So it is important that they understand that – and I do believe that they do – that it is not about what they want, but it is about what the people are saying. And so they must go out, get that information, put that in writing and then see how they can include all of what they have received within the suggested amendments to the constitution.”