FEBRUARY 7 SET AS ELECTION DAY

January 07, 2008

Election date has been set for Thursday February 7. This announcement was made official this afternoon by P-U-P party leader Said Musa after meeting with the other thirty standard bearers.  

Prime Minister Said Musa:

“In accordance with the constitution of Belize, His Excellency the Governor General today issued a proclamation dissolving the National Assembly. Nomination day has been set for January 21^st, and the general elections will be held on Thursday February 7^th,2008. The governor general has also issued rates of a referendum and the question of an elected senate to be held also on February 7^th,2008.”

The Prime Minister said that he believes holding general elections and a referendum on the same day should not be confusing for the electorate as it will follow the same procedures as general and municipal elections in 2003.

Prime Minister Said Musa:

“it will be held like I said on the same day in all 31 constituencies. The details will be explained by the chief elections officer but basically it will be conducted similar to the way it was done when we had two elections the same day for the general and the municipal elections. There are very simple questions; do you want an elected senate? Yes or No. First of all we believe Belize is ready for another bold advance in the making of the modern democratic Belize. We have been the champions of political and constitutional reform. It was our government that appointed the political reform commission, our party has completed an internal consultation and we have decided that the senate has a new and important role to play in modern Belize. In our view, for it to properly and effectively perform its new functions, the senators should be elected by the people.”

Musa said that holding the referendum on the same day as general elections will cut the cost of holding a referendum by itself.  He added that the government’s work does not end there as this is only the first step in knowing if the people of Belize want an elected senate.

Prime Minister Said Musa:

“The holding of a referendum can be expensive so by holding it at the same time as the general elections, there is considerable cost savings bearing in mind that this referendum will only settle the question whether or not the people want an elected senate, and thereafter there will be full consultation if the people vote yes about the type of senate that we should have elected by the people. Our party will be presenting a suggestive model for this elected senate by next week and of course this is not the final product. We will hold a suggestive model of what people can look at in making up their minds whether they want an elected senate or not. Even after they make up their minds, there will have to be detailed consultation and robust debate about the type of elected senate that we want, a senate that would be good for Belize, a senate that will not have increased oversight powers over the executive for instance, the type of senate that will enhance the democratic will of the people and all that will come and there will be lots of time for that. In other words we are not envisioning an elected senate like next month. We’re saying that the time has come for the people to decide now to make this move whether or not they want an elected senate.”

After a prayer breakfast this morning with members of the clergy, Musa said that he was honored that the clergy had come out in support and he asked them to pray for peace during the campaign period.  Musa went on to say that the meeting he and his cabinet had with members of the clergy went good and that he has listened to the concerns brought up by them.

Prime Minister Said Musa:

“I think it was a very successful broadcast. It’s the first time to my recollection that we’ve met not just with the council of churches but the evangelical group as well and met them together as well as met with other religions like the Muslim, Mennonite communities and their representatives and so did the Indian community and so I think it was a very broad based group of religious leaders meeting with members of the cabinet. We discussed the question about trying to ensure and to pray for peace during the days ahead as we go into the final lap of this political campaign and calling on all the political parties and all candidates to maintain a level of respect. We’ve been discussing the issues as oppose to indulging in character, assassination, and to ensure that we have a campaign free from violence and that the people be allowed to exercise their democratic franchise freely and voluntary, free from intimidation, free from threats and free from violence.”

The Prime Minister said that one of the issues raised by the members of the clergy was the previous date set for elections; February 6^th.  Musa said that because February 6^th is Ash Wednesday and church leaders were concerned about holding elections on this date, he reconsidered and moved the date to February 7^th.  At this afternoon’s press conference, party leader Said Musa said the P-U-P’s manifesto will be launched within two weeks.  Musa briefly said that it will concentrate on lowering the cost of living for Belizeans. 

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