Belizean children to go to the polls later this month
The term of office for the current National Assembly will expire at the end of next month and although their vote won’t make a difference in who gets to make up the next government, some very important people will get to make their mark well in advance of the General Elections. News Five’s Julietta Burrowes reports.
The Children’s Elections date has been set for Thursday May twenty eight. The exercise is being coordinated by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF with assistance from the principals and teachers of primary and secondary schools across the nation. The electorate for this first Children’s Elections is made up of boys and girls from the age of eight to under eighteen years who will get to vote on major issues of interest to them.
Althea Spain, Child Care Center
“I think it’s very important because most of the Belizean children don’t have a voice to say what is the most important rights to them so I think this will be a big help to Belizean children.”
According to UNICEF, the election process will be conducted in a way which will teach the children, in as realistic a manner as possible, about the real life voting process.
Rosemary Feith, UNICEF Country Officer
“These elections as you will see from the material are not based on politics, we’re not trying to get into the political arena in that sense. They are based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
One is the children’s right to express an opinion and to have that opinion listened to and taken into consideration. And the second right is to have them participate in matters that affect them. A major part of our country program, has been and is to promote children’s participation in Belize, to make it become ah, culturally accepted. And to make it sort of the norm that children are able to express their opinions when people are planning things for them.”
Although there are nine separate items on the ballot sheet, including the right to rest and play, the right to go to school and the right to protection from abuse, the children will only get to put their “X” beside one of them. In this way it will be easier for organizers to know which one of them is of most importance to Belizean children.
Althea Spain
“Most kids that are in the Child Care Centre have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents, and the important issue that they told me was having a family, being in a family like ordinary kids and they would really like that to happen.”
Kimberly Cacho, YWCA/HELP
“Most of all it’s our opinion, our own speech and maybe our own respect and to make teachers, parents… most of them listen to what we have to say.”
William Smith, Anglican Cathedral College
“Well I would say like neglect, like some of the children you just see them on the street, no place to go, like they don’t have no recreational facilities. I think we need more recreational facilities in Belize, like more swimming pools, more basketball centers opening up, more people volunteering to give like children who are less fortunate so that they can tutor them, so that they can at least have a level of education to a certain point.”
But the process does not end with the close of polling on May twenty eight. After the ballots are reconciled and the votes counted, the results will be presented to the leaders of the two main political parties for their consideration and possible inclusion in any future policy regarding children.
Althea Spain
“After they have tabulated the issues I guess I want the political leader who will be in position to uphold this issue and to make it the most important issue and to look on children’s rights.”
Besides promoting the participation of children in the development of a society that will ultimately be theirs to govern, the elections will teach participants a life-long lesson. Ballot boxes will be placed in schools, institutions and public places where even those children who don’t attend classes will be able to exercise their franchise. Each voter will be provided with a single ballot paper, they will then enter their choice, fold the paper and drop it in the ballot box. A quick dip of the finger in the red ink, and the process is complete.
William Smith
“I think it’s a big step for Belize and UNICEF here in Belize because I think this is the first children’s election we are having and it gives the children themselves… They will be exposed to the election process so that when they become eighteen or older when the next General Election or City Council Election, they will have that feeling of how they should go so the process will be simple and smooth.”
It is hoped that the concerns of the children arising from the elections will form an important part of the political agenda in this election season. Julietta Burrowes for News Five.
Members of the Children’s Advisory Committee will over the next few weeks, be on the campaign trail trying to reach out-of-school children as well as appearing on radio and television to talk about the elections.
