Government Public Consultation

The meeting was scheduled for yesterday night at 6:00 p.m. At that time, there was only one individual at the assigned meeting place of the San Pedro Lions Den. By 7:30 p.m. 10 people were in attendance to hear the Government's position on the Constitutional Amendements which they are proposing. The rain fell and would not subside and the Government party decided to instead have the public consultation during the Good Morning San Pedro Show at the Reef Radio.

(l-r) Honorable Ramon Wittz, Honorable John Saldivar and Randine Twist from the Solicitor General's office.

The consultation highlighted many changes which are to be made to the Constitutions Sixth Amendement Bill. As explained by Honorable Ramon Wittz and Honorable John Saldivar both of the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee. Present from the Solicitor General's office was Randine Twist.
AN ACT to amend the Belize Constitution, Chapter 4 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000-2003 are as follows:
*to provide for the vesting of all property rights in petroleum and minerals in the Government and people of Belize
*to prescribe a three-term limit for holders of the office of the Prime Minister
*to provide for the recall of elected representatives before the expiry of their normal term of office
*to enlarge the membership of the Senate to ensure that the Senators nominated by the Opposition and non-governmental organizations together constitute the majority
*to extend the powers and functions of the Senate and to enable the Senate to initiate and conduct public inquiries into mismanagement or corruption by persons in the central government or public statutory bodies
*to include the Belize National Coast Guard Service in the definition of ‘security services’ and to make consequential provisions
*to reconstitute the Judicial and Legal Services Commission to conform with the position in other Commonwealth jurisdictions
*to provide for the expeditious submission of reports by the Auditor General to the National Assembly and
*to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Copies of the bill may be picked up at the offices of the San Pedro Town Council or the National Assembly. Other such consultations have been held in Punta Gorda, Corozal, Orange Walk and San Ignacio with Belize City and Belmopan to follow.