Belize Land Owners Association rejects 9th Amendment

On the heels of several organizations who have publicly expressed their opinions, the Belize Landowners Association Limited (BLAL) has announced its opposition to the proposed ninth amendment of the constitution, saying that the bill aims to negate the rights of the people. In its release, the association refers to the sixth amendment bill of 2008 which sought to vest petroleum and other minerals in government and similarly to the ninth, that bill would have blocked access to the courts. However, it was challenged by the landowners along with the late Sir Barry Bowen and then Chief Justice, Abdulai Conteh, ruled in their favor and the bill was modified before an appeal filed by the Attorney General’s office could be heard. BLAL says that the proposed ninth amendment goes even further than the sixth, because it seeks to deny the right to challenge ANY constitutional change, even it infringes on the rights provided to citizens in the constitution. It also raises concern that if the ninth is passed, future amendments could affect fundamental rights and freedoms, including “protection from deprivation of property”, which the association says is an issue that it would want to be able to challenge in court.