Opposition Leader and UDP Chairman briefed on constitutional reform by People’s Constitution Commission Chair

The Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow, and UDP Chairman, Michael Peyrefitte, have received a comprehensive update from the People’s Constitution Commission Chair, Anthony Chanona. According to the opposition leader, the group discussed the judiciary, equal opportunity, criminal justice, the importance of the Opposition in our democracy, freedom of the press, and the role of the diaspora. Today, during a press conference, Barrow explained the importance of the meetings and the opposition’s input.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Overall the view of the opposition is that this undertaking, this hallowed undertaking should be guided by two main principles that is to strengthen the protection of the rights that Belizeans have enshrined in the constitution and to expand rights of Belizeans such as freedom of the press, such as equal opportunity to prevent against things relating to gender based discrimination, ethnic discrimination. Really the constitution is the guard, is the shield of our society so we should be looking at ways again to strengthen the rights that are already enshrined in our constitution and to expand,  to give more rights to have a more free, a more democratic, and a completely sovereign nation. We also discussed anti-corruption, strengthening the oversight bodies, ensuring that there are not political witch hunts but at the same time politicians, public officers are not excused from any Commission of crime while discharging their duties.” 

Barrow noted that the opposition is now calling for all the PCC meetings to be broadcast live on all television stations and streamed on all social media platforms