CJC Hosts First Roundtable with People’s Constitution Commission

And this morning, Corozal Junior College hosted the first Round Table Discussion in collaboration with the People’s Constitution Commission. The discussion is entitled, Young Minds Conferring- The Belizean Perspective. The theme for today’s discussion was Modernizing Belize: Is Reform the Way to Go? All fourteen student presenters were given a topic from the Constitution of Belize to speak on. Here is a brief look at the discussion with conversations on protection from arbitrary search and entry and citizenship.

Jeah Que

Jeah Que, Presenter

“For example there has been like instances where I have heard from people around, not to say mention names, the police like knock on your door and enter without permission. And, a lot of people know that you need a paper but at that time you don’t have the chance to ask, excuse me do you have a warrant, excuse me well what is the reason. And they are like, oh well sorry but we need to search your house and they just come in with force. So I think it is something Belizeans go through every single time and there are different situation where Belizeans aren’t really educated that they have the right from arbitrary search or entry. So I was researching and I found this phrase from the Amandala and it commented something like, police officers who randomly stop search and in some cases photograph private citizens violate such citizen’s rights.”

Aliayna Watkis

Aliayna Watkis, Presenter

“No person can be a citizen if he or she shows any allegiance to or is a citizen of a country that does not recognize the independence, sovereignty or territorial integrity of Belize, provided that the minister may at his discretion grant Belizean citizenship to persons falling under this subsection under certain situations or conditions. So If someone is from a country that does not recognize Belize’s independence, who does not recognize Belize at its own country, they may not become a citizen unless they get permission or the Minister of Immigration at his discretion can give them. My question is, what  determines the Immigration Minister to choose which person he gives citizenship to, is there a criteria or a standard for those under this section to meet before citizenship is granted. Is too much power vested in the minister to make such a decision based entirely on his discretion?”