Viewers support reduced government term and fixed general elections date
In its last National Party Council meeting on Saturday, the People’s United Party approved a resolution to reduce the term of government to four years and set a fixed date for general elections, if it were to take office. We put the question to our viewers on Tuesday, asking if they would support such legislative changes. Sixty-eight percent said yes while thirty-two percent voted no on our e-poll. One of the comments on our blog read “Any political party that comes with a commitment of a reduced term of office and a fixed date for general elections is sending a serious message of hope and determination.”
To skin a country to the bone; to trample upon the defenseless; to do what the UDP has done to my Belize and to my people, five or four years makes no difference. As an example, see what Mayor Moya did with Belize City and all in just three years cause the damage was done on her first term. The immigration laws in place are good and see what the UDP has done. What guarantees do we have that even if the laws are changed, it will not be abused again. If specific dates for nationalizations are set, and no matter how far apart from any elections, it can and will still be abused. What the PUP are proposing are only cosmetic and offer no change at all. Real change would be for example, to propose that the post for Police Commissioner, for Obudsman/lady, for immigration head, chief justice, chief election officer etc. etc. be elected and not appointed. An elected official is responsible to the people and fears the people but a political appointed official serves and fears a politician and opens the way for such abuses as just wittnesed these days. I am very sad but I and many other independents like me are convinced that the PUP is not really commited to change while we Belizeans point fingers and in frustration wait for someone else to do something instead of oneself doing something. I and others like me believe that real change can only come with a govt. of the people and for the people but by FORCE OF ARMS. Believe you me; it will happen sooner than expected.
I do not think we need reduced term because if we have a government in place which most are happy with we do not want to interupt that too soon. What I would suggest is to have a fixed election day people will not have to wonder and wait at the mercy of a government that is not doing a good job.
In addition to this a recall provision would be good addition. The people would not have to wait for four years for an election when their representative is not doing what he should or disrespecting the office: drunk driving, taking away people’s land, etc…
I agree with CEO. I do not think we need to reduce term. What we need to do is:
1) set an election date. so that it would be fair for everybody running for office. so that the party in power does not have the advantage of the ruling party.
2.) Set a term limit for a person to be a prime minister. Just like a president.
3) give autonomous to the ministries. Elected officials/cabinet officials are there to create policies and govern. they are not there to micro manage the ministries nor to use them as a tool for their election purposes. Their should be an autonomous group that hires and fire people. Create a sense of competition, reward those that do good..etc
4) Our institutions should be stronger and accountable to the people of Belize.
We do not need to reduce term. What we need to do is:
1) set a date for elections so that the ruling party doesn’t have an advantage over the rest. So that the plan is nice and level for everybody
2) Set a term for those serving as PM, just like a president.
3) ministries should be autonomous. Ministers/ cabinet officials are there to create policies. they are not there to micro manage the ministries. Autonomy will stop nepotism and ministers using the ministry for their own election purposes.
4) make out institutions stronger (check and balances) and accountable to the people. Starting from the the Central Bank to the local level.