Opposition Leader Scolds Elections and Boundaries Commission

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

Last Friday, the United Democratic Party issued a press release denouncing what they referred to as an attempt by the Government of Belize to muzzle the free press on matters pertaining to the redistricting exercise. The opposition’s release was in direct response to a statement from the Elections and Boundaries Commission cautioning media houses against the publication of the re-districting exercise report that is to be tabled before the House of Representatives. The release was issued after one version of the report was leaked to the public. According to the commission, such action is “a violation of the privileges and Standing Order of the House of Representatives”. Well, the Leader of the Opposition contends that the commission has no authority to invoke the standing orders of the House of Representatives. He chastised the commission for taking such a stance.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“There is no way that any standing order from the House could bind any public member, any media member. I don’t, again, I don’t know who is advising the government who is advising the chair of the elections and boundaries, but it’s absolutely absurd that they would have put out that press release in an attempt, in my view, to silence the voice of the media and the public, and suppress freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The fact of the matter is the election and boundaries are not a part of the legislature. The fact of the matter is the constitution of Belize prohibits the commingling of the legislature and the election and boundaries in subsection fifty-eight section sixty-two. Any member of the house would have to vacate their seat if they are to be involved in anything having to do with elections. So the House of Representatives and elections and boundaries have zero to do with each other. As far as the standing orders pertaining to members of the House, such as me, there is no standing order prevents me from disclosing information to the public as far as what has been proposed to our election and boundaries commissioners.”