PRIME MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS THE ISSUE OF AN ELECTED SENATE AT LAST SITTING OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR 2007

January 04, 2008

During the last sitting of the House of Representatives for 2007 Prime Minister Said Musa had on his agenda the issue of an elected senate. By the end of that meeting it was agreed upon by a majority that the issue of an elected senate will have to be decided by the people through a referendum. Since then it has sparked discussions among many about the pros and cons of having an elected senate. Today, the National Belizean Alliance joined the many voices by calling on the government to hold the national referendum and the approval of a nationally-accepted elected Senate before the next general election. In a release issued by the party today, the N-B-A is requesting that Government convene a special sitting of the House early this month to table its elected Senate model and in laying the groundwork, to introduce a constitutional reform bill for an elected Senate. At the same time, they request that Government set aside two months for intensive national consultations and media campaigns on its recommended model in all the major population centers to complement the consultations that have been held recently. The National Belize Alliance says that only an elected Senate will have the legitimacy to effectively hold Governments accountable to the Constitution and the rule of law as well as good governance with accountability, transparency and fair play. The N-B-A is also calling on Government to hold the national referendum on the sixty-first day after Government’s introduction of the elected Senate model to the National Assembly.

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