I asked two good friends of mine, whose judgement I respect, what they thought about my views on the four- or five-year term of office for our elected representatives. This is a habit I’ve formed because our readership very rarely write letters to the editor commenting on articles appearing in Amandala. They discuss them among themselves, even when they feel passionately on the matters but, it is important for writers to know what readers think about what they write or, if they make any impression at all on people’s minds.
One of my friends said the subject should be discussed widely, and that my arguments were persuasive. The other said he didn’t see much difference between forty-eight and sixty months, which is four years and five converted to months. I have been thinking about these last remarks and it occurred to me that if you had to carry a heavy load for four miles or five, you would be glad to have it removed after four. Or, if you were being beaten for four minutes or five, you would be glad if it stopped at the end of four. I can think of many more comparisons.
Some thoughts about the Constitution:
Firstly, I think that the Constitution of Belize is a great gift to the nation. It should be preserved and revered. Do I think it is perfect? Almost. Sure, in the light of experience, it will have to be amended from time to time, but, I don’t like this constant tinkering with it. It is a democratic constitution based on what is called the Whitehall model. We are not a republic. If the prevailing opinion is that it would be better for us to become a republic then, let the question be put to the nation in a referendum.
However, I am fairly convinced, for the reasons already stated, that there is one feature of the Republican Constitution of the United States of America that would be an improvement on ours, that is, the term of office for members of the House of Representatives should be four instead of five. Also, the date for general elections should be fixed.
There seems to be a misconception about when the term of office of the elected representatives of the House begins. It is clearly stated in Section 59(1). Every member of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House at the next dissolution of the National Assembly after his election, and Section 84(1) states: “The National Assembly unless sooner dissolved shall continue for five years from the date of the first sitting of the House of Representatives after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved.”
It should be noted that the first sitting of the House after the last general election was 3rd April, 2003. According to Section 85(1) of the Constitution, general elections have to be held within three months of the end of the five-year term. So. The next general elections have to be held by July 3, 2008.
It would be of interest to the elected representatives who are not members of the Cabinet, that elections are held as early as possible after their term ends because, they will have reverted to the status of ordinary citizens. They will no longer enjoy the privileges of office, including salary, while the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet will. This is so, because they have to continue to administer the functions of government in the period between House dissolution and general elections.
It has been the practice of People’s United Party governments to ask the Governor General to dissolve the House and call for general elections before the end of their term but, that’s what it is – a practice.