Attorney Sets Record Straight on Shyne’s Address

Orson “OJ” Elrington

Attorney Elrington further explains the procedures carried out by personnel from the Elections and Boundaries Department who verify the addresses of persons registering to vote.

Orson “OJ” Elrington, Attorney-at-law

“And once that has been satisfied and the Elections and Boundaries [Department] has done its due diligence and done what they feel is necessary to investigate the veracity and authenticity of that registration then you are placed on the voters’ role.  And so, the fact that the Honorable Shyne Barrow is on the voters’ role is testament to the fact that our good public officers have already done their work and have already concluded that the accusations being made by the PUP are completely false.  In fact, over and over, we have met this point and the courts have been clear, it is the reality that people always have multiple residences.  And, in fact, you would have known that on the last occasion when we brought a case against the current mayor of Belize City, who, by law, must be resident in Belize City, must be in Belize City and he is not even, he is not even registered in Belize City.  He is registered in rural.  So, you can have multiple residences.  The Honorable Shyne Barrow has been duly registered by the Elections and Boundaries Department and he has receipts to show that it is one of his residences.  Whoever registered there before has absolutely nothing to do with him.  Who registered, once you are registered at an address, there is no requirement under the law that if you are registered at this address, you must make sure that, in fact you to remove anybody who was registered at your address.  So, Isani Cayetano moves to 22 Buttonwood Bay, there is no requirement for Isani Cayetano to say, you know what, Patricia Roberts was registered here, she no longer lives here, move this person from the roll.  It‘s nonsensical, it doesn‘t make any sense and that is not the law.  So he has no obligation to try to explain how anybody who was registered there before him.”