BELIZE CITY, Tues. Apr. 29, 2025
Introduction: A persistent call for electoral justice
For well over a decade, I have been a consistent and vocal advocate for the re-divisioning of Belize’s electoral boundaries in accordance with our Constitution. Through newspaper articles and public forums, I have sought to raise awareness about the persistent and serious constitutional violations committed by successive PUDP government administrations, who shamelessly and unlawfully hold elections under a grossly malapportioned system of electoral divisions.
My stance remains unwavering: if Belize is to realize a more equitable and just system of representation, electoral re-divisioning (a.k.a. redistricting) must fully comply with the Constitution. This is not merely a legal requirement; it is a moral, political, and constitutional imperative rooted in the vision of our nation’s founders. No government should be allowed to hold elections while knowingly violating the Supreme Law they are sworn to uphold.
The Last Election: A preventable constitutional crisis
In the days leading up to the last general elections, I instructed my attorney, Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, to issue a Pre-Action Protocol Letter to the relevant authorities, including the Attorney General, the Speaker of the House, the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, and the Governor General. The letter, sent before the Prime Minister called the election, was a final appeal to avert another unconstitutional election that would involve innocent Belizeans in an illegal election process.
It is important to recall that, as early as 2012 and again in 2015, the Organization of American States (OAS) urged successive governments to undertake redistricting reform. Similarly, the Belize Peace Movement had entered into a Consent Agreement with the Government of Belize to fairly apportion electoral boundaries before the election. These served as repeated reminders to the Prime Minister of his constitutional mandate to act.
Yet, despite clear warnings, the Prime Minister pressed ahead to deliberately undermine the Constitution and called for early elections under the existing, severely flawed system. The Elections and Boundaries Commission, crippled by conflicts of interest and blind allegiance to political party agendas, failed to act. Even the Minister of Constitutional Affairs—the sitting area representative for one of the most egregiously malapportioned divisions—oversaw this constitutional breach, resisting necessary reforms to protect political advantage.
Institutional failure and betrayal of the Constitution
It is now undeniable that every branch of the state, including the Governor General, Prime Minister, Attorney General, Cabinet of Ministers, Speaker of the House, and Elections and Boundaries Commission, knowingly enabled the severe malapportionment of Belize’s electoral divisions, thereby betraying the Constitution and the people. Their shameless complicity in sustaining unlawful elections and blatant disregard for the people’s right to fair representation expose a profound failure of personal and professional integrity. This habitual disrespect is the true face of the PUDP administrations and their puppets. They trample citizens’ rights, violate constitutional principles, sideline public consultation, and behave less like public servants and more like arrogant rulers over the very people they are sworn to serve.
We constantly observe this in how they make secret and unaccountable policy decisions, including elite salary adjustments, the greedy destruction of protected areas for short-sighted gains, and condescending attitudes towards indigenous land rights. Their arrogance treats the nation as if it were their personal real estate and kingdom, often placing Belizean communities and the nation in a defensive position to undo the chaos of their blatant pomposity.
Seeking Redress: Filing a Constitutional Claim
In that context, I, along with fellow claimants Jessica Tulsey and Rudolph Noralez, filed a constitutional claim on February 10 to compel the Government to undertake redistricting before any new general election, especially since the Prime Minister had explicitly promised this would be done within his term of office. We were guided by the principle that the Court, as the guardian of the Constitution, holds the power, duty, and jurisdiction to enforce governance standards. No government, regardless of its power, stands above the people’s will as enshrined in the Constitution.
Judicial Response: A troubling dismissal
Our case was assigned to the Honourable Mr. Justice Tawanda Hondora, who dismissed our injunction request on largely procedural grounds. Instead of addressing the substantive constitutional issues, the Court focused on technicalities related to digital signatures and the commissioning of affidavits. He also issued a wasted costs order against our attorney, Mr. Anand Ramlogan, SC—a highly skilled, diligent, competent, and courageous legal advocate who stepped forward when most in Belize’s legal fraternity have remained silent and complicit. Thus, Belizeans were again condemned to another five years of an unconstitutional election, as the Court prioritised digital signatures and procedural missteps over the profound violation of our Constitution’s guarantees. Where, then, can we, the people, turn when our constitutional rights are repeatedly violated by a corrupt government sworn to protect us?
Serious allegations of judicial misconduct
On Wednesday, April 23rd, I took the extraordinary step of filing a formal complaint with the Honourable Chief Justice and other members of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission against Justice Hondora for judicial corruption in the administration of justice. This action was based on serious evidence indicating judicial bias, including a disturbing conversation that was inadvertently broadcast from the judge’s active microphone during the lunch recess, before we completed our oral submissions. The conversation, part of which was recorded by attorneys in Trinidad who were listening to this virtual case, not only revealed a distinct bias but also violated the Code of Judicial Conduct and Etiquette for judges in Belize. This grave breach has cast a dark shadow over the integrity of the proceedings, raising serious public concerns about the fairness and impartiality of the Court.
Upholding the Rule of Law: A national responsibility
Given the constitutional importance of our case, where ordinary citizens sought electoral justice against a well-resourced government, we rightfully expected fairness, integrity, impartiality, and respect for the rule of law. Instead, we were confronted with troubling evidence of judicial misconduct behind closed doors. This misuse and abuse of judicial power to the detriment of innocent citizens necessitate public investigation and scrutiny. Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done. No one, including a judge, is above the law.
Accordingly, I have formally requested the Honourable Chief Justice to conduct an immediate investigation and remove Justice Hondora from this case. I have no confidence in his ability to render a fair and unbiased judgment on this matter of profound national importance. The troubling facts suggest that entrenched forces within Belize’s governance structure may have conspired to thwart our legitimate, peaceful quest for electoral justice. This issue is not a personal one. Instead, it is a national crisis.
Conclusion: The urgent need for vigilance and reform
In Belize’s downward-spiralling democracy, transparency, accountability, and public scrutiny are not luxuries; they are urgent necessities. That is why I have made my complaint public: to safeguard our fragile democracy from further erosion by corrupt practices and entrenched interests. As we await a swift and fair resolution, I remain resolute in my quest to transform Belize into a better-functioning democracy, true to the vision of our founding fathers.
We must never forget the words of Belize’s national prayer: “May all our endeavours tend to peace, social justice, liberty, national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge.”
After centuries of colonialism, and now that we are politically independent, our sacred duty is to protect the Constitution, not merely for ourselves, but for future generations. The words in our national anthem, “Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee”, also remind us that tyranny must find no refuge in political parties, government institutions, or the judiciary. Those elected must abide by the Constitution and serve the national interest. Those entrusted with judicial authority must uphold the highest standards of integrity. Only then can we secure a Belize that truly belongs to its people. Only the people can save the people.